1. Make a list. Remember the more times you return to the grocery store the more times your going to buy things you may not need.
2. Shop in bulk for non perishables. Even if hamburger is on sale, you don't save any money if you have to throw it away before you can get it all eaten.
3. Coupons are great...for the manufacturer! They put them out to entice you to buy their product, but don't fall into the coupon trap! Don't get me wrong, in the hands of a professional couponer they can be great. Just remember saving a few cents to buy brand A may not be so great if brand B is already cheaper!
4. Don't assume the bigger package is the bigger deal. Go into that store armed with your best weapon...a calculator. You can find out the true cost of something by dividing the cost by the unit. For example one package of toilet paper may cost $1.50 for 6 rolls versus a bigger package that may cost $6.50 for 24 rolls. That calculates out to be .25 cents per roll versus .27 cents per roll. Two cents may not sound like a big deal but remember, that's .02 cents per roll. That means you actually spent .48 cents more! Now multiply that by how many times a year you buy toilet paper!
5. Plan your meals around what's on sale. If chicken is on sale, then I'm feeling like chicken tonight!
6. If you want to use coupons, double up on them. There are several ways to get more than one copy of your Sunday paper. Ask your friends and family to set them aside for you. You can also call your local recycling center. They may be willing to let you sort through and let you dig out those inserts. Also, your local dollar or less store probably has the newspaper for sale for less then you could buy it off the stand. And while you're there, look at the magazines, they sell those cheaper as well.
7. Having a pantry full of food is not cost effective if your not going to eat it. Plan your meals out for the week and buy only what you will use. For help with this you can follow one of my other blogs Seven Dinners for Seven Days. In it I plan an entire week full of dinners, along with a shopping list of only what you will need for that week.
8. Look at the entire shelf both high and low. Grocery stores tend to place the more expensive items at eye level. A quick glance down could save you big bucks.
9. I have three words for you: Generic, Generic, Generic. They aren't always the best tasting items but for staples like flour and sugar they will do the same job for a fraction of the price.
10. Beans, beans, the magical fruit. The more you eat, the less you spend on meat! Oh wait, that didn't rhyme. But you get my point. We all need protein in our diet but consider alternative sources. Beans are an excellent source of protein and fiber and a lot less expensive then meat.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Ten Ways To Save Money this Holiday Season.
1. Create a budget AND STICK TO IT. I know, I know. That is easier said than done. But creating a budget for each person just forces you to be a bit creative.
2. Send Ecards instead of mailing your cards. Everyone has an email address these days. A few good places to find Ecards 123greetings care2.com riversongs.com
3. You Make it They Bake it gifts. Have you ever received a gift that someone took the time to make? Those can be the best of all. Try some of these gifts you can make at http://pennypincherkitchen.blogspot.com/
4. Make a homemade calendar. This can be great for extended families. Access to a computer might make this project easier but isn't required. You can dig out your family photos and assign one to each month. Another neat addition would be to include birthdays and anniversaries!
5. Make your own wrapping paper. This works best if you have young children who love to color, unless you like to color. A roll of blank paper and a box of Crayons can keep a child entertained for hours!
6. If #5 isn't worth the trouble, then don't spend full price for already made paper. You can check out your local dollar stores. Remember, it's just going to get ripped off and thrown away.
7. Have an old fashioned Christmas. Instead of spending money shopping for expensive decorations by yourself, spend time with your family making your decorations instead. Can you imagine the wonderful family memories of gathering together to string popcorn, linking up paper chains, and covering cardboard stars with tin foil. Don't forget the hot chocolate.
8. If you still feel you need manufactured decorations, then you can head to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or similar store. You will be amazed at the volume of dirt cheap decorations. And you will be giving to charities that need your help the most during the holiday season.
9. Entertaining can be very expensive for even the smallest of families. Instead of going to the movies or dinner, how about try movies and dinner...at home. Netflix offers a one month free membership for new members. And dinner at home can cost a fraction of what it costs to eat out.
10. Give coupons. No, not for Cheerios, for yourself. Some good ideas are a coupon to wash their car, help clean their house, babysit their kids, anything that is a gift of your time.
2. Send Ecards instead of mailing your cards. Everyone has an email address these days. A few good places to find Ecards 123greetings care2.com riversongs.com
3. You Make it They Bake it gifts. Have you ever received a gift that someone took the time to make? Those can be the best of all. Try some of these gifts you can make at http://pennypincherkitchen.blogspot.com/
4. Make a homemade calendar. This can be great for extended families. Access to a computer might make this project easier but isn't required. You can dig out your family photos and assign one to each month. Another neat addition would be to include birthdays and anniversaries!
5. Make your own wrapping paper. This works best if you have young children who love to color, unless you like to color. A roll of blank paper and a box of Crayons can keep a child entertained for hours!
6. If #5 isn't worth the trouble, then don't spend full price for already made paper. You can check out your local dollar stores. Remember, it's just going to get ripped off and thrown away.
7. Have an old fashioned Christmas. Instead of spending money shopping for expensive decorations by yourself, spend time with your family making your decorations instead. Can you imagine the wonderful family memories of gathering together to string popcorn, linking up paper chains, and covering cardboard stars with tin foil. Don't forget the hot chocolate.
8. If you still feel you need manufactured decorations, then you can head to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or similar store. You will be amazed at the volume of dirt cheap decorations. And you will be giving to charities that need your help the most during the holiday season.
9. Entertaining can be very expensive for even the smallest of families. Instead of going to the movies or dinner, how about try movies and dinner...at home. Netflix offers a one month free membership for new members. And dinner at home can cost a fraction of what it costs to eat out.
10. Give coupons. No, not for Cheerios, for yourself. Some good ideas are a coupon to wash their car, help clean their house, babysit their kids, anything that is a gift of your time.
Ten Ways to Spend Less then $10 on a Gift
1. Magazine subscriptions. Amazon.com has several popular magazine subscriptions for $10 or even less. This is really good for out of town friends because there are no shipping costs, they are just mailed directly to their door. And every month for a year they'll think of you.
2. Do you think our grand kids will be reading our emails years from now? I don't. Letter writing is a dying art. Why not give pens and stationary to your friends and family?
3. Speaking of writing. How about giving a young person in your life a journal with a special inscription. You may give someone the writing bug.
4. Go to http://www.etsy.com/. Last time I checked there were close to two MILLION items for less than $10. Check the left hand side of the page so you can narrow down your results. Ooh! Then try less than $5!
5. Handwritten recipe cards. This is an especially nice thing for family members to keep old recipes, and memories, around for the next generation.
6. A copy of your favorite book with an inscription inside, or a gift certificate to your favorite used book store. It's always good to support local businesses. And the hours spent rummaging through an old bookstore can be priceless.
7. Do you have smart friends (or friends that just think they're smart)? Head on over to http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/giftsunder10/ . They have hundreds of gifts, from practical to the silly, all under $10.
8. Don't forget to show your child's teacher you appreciate all they do? Give them a gift basket YOU made. Some themes they might appreciate could be movie night (movie rental gift certificate and dollar store candy and popcorn), relaxation (scented candles, eye mask, trashy novel, Do Not Disturb Sign for bathroom door) or nail salon (emery boards, polish, remover, cotton balls). Let your imagination go wild.
9. Gift cards are a good way to treat someone to something they may already be buying for themselves. Do you know someone with an iPhone? Get then an iTunes gift card. Ten bucks might buy ten songs. Do you know a coffee drinker? Get them a gift card to Starbucks. A college student? How about ten bucks to Burger King?
10. Introduce a child to reading. You can find lots of books for ten bucks or less at any book store. You may even open the door to a lifelong love of reading. And who could put a price on that?
2. Do you think our grand kids will be reading our emails years from now? I don't. Letter writing is a dying art. Why not give pens and stationary to your friends and family?
3. Speaking of writing. How about giving a young person in your life a journal with a special inscription. You may give someone the writing bug.
4. Go to http://www.etsy.com/. Last time I checked there were close to two MILLION items for less than $10. Check the left hand side of the page so you can narrow down your results. Ooh! Then try less than $5!
5. Handwritten recipe cards. This is an especially nice thing for family members to keep old recipes, and memories, around for the next generation.
6. A copy of your favorite book with an inscription inside, or a gift certificate to your favorite used book store. It's always good to support local businesses. And the hours spent rummaging through an old bookstore can be priceless.
7. Do you have smart friends (or friends that just think they're smart)? Head on over to http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/giftsunder10/ . They have hundreds of gifts, from practical to the silly, all under $10.
8. Don't forget to show your child's teacher you appreciate all they do? Give them a gift basket YOU made. Some themes they might appreciate could be movie night (movie rental gift certificate and dollar store candy and popcorn), relaxation (scented candles, eye mask, trashy novel, Do Not Disturb Sign for bathroom door) or nail salon (emery boards, polish, remover, cotton balls). Let your imagination go wild.
9. Gift cards are a good way to treat someone to something they may already be buying for themselves. Do you know someone with an iPhone? Get then an iTunes gift card. Ten bucks might buy ten songs. Do you know a coffee drinker? Get them a gift card to Starbucks. A college student? How about ten bucks to Burger King?
10. Introduce a child to reading. You can find lots of books for ten bucks or less at any book store. You may even open the door to a lifelong love of reading. And who could put a price on that?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ten Ways to Make Travel Easier this Christmas
1. If flying, please, wear slip on shoes. It will make it so much easier (and faster!) to get through security.
2. Travel light! That's something that may not be so easy to do but consider the benefits. You will have less to keep up with, less to carry through the airport, and less to pay for if all your luggage can be carried on.
3. Don't pack all of your stuff in one suitcase. If you're traveling with a partner, pack half of your stuff in their suitcase and half of their stuff in your suitcase. That way if one suitcase gets lost or stolen, neither of you will be totally at a loss.
4. Prepare for delays. With more people traveling during the holidays, delays can be even longer then usual. Mix in a higher probability of bad weather and you have a recipe for disaster. Be sure to bring plenty of snacks and activities to pass the time...especially if you're traveling with children.
5. If you require medication be sure to take plenty of it to cover the entire trip INCLUDING delays.
6. If you take medication be sure to have it clearly labeled or in the bottle it came in. You could be questioned by airport security if you have suspicious appearing drugs in an unmarked container.
7. If you must check your bags, tie brightly colored ribbon around the handle to make it easier to spot on the luggage carousel.
8. If flying, don't wrap gifts, they may be unwrapped by security!
9. If you are driving don't wear tight socks. The constriction of blood flow combined with long periods of sitting could lead to blood clots.
10. And finally, road trips can be rough on active kids. If your kids are restless and fighting just stop the car and let them out. Just don't "forget" to let them back in.
2. Travel light! That's something that may not be so easy to do but consider the benefits. You will have less to keep up with, less to carry through the airport, and less to pay for if all your luggage can be carried on.
3. Don't pack all of your stuff in one suitcase. If you're traveling with a partner, pack half of your stuff in their suitcase and half of their stuff in your suitcase. That way if one suitcase gets lost or stolen, neither of you will be totally at a loss.
4. Prepare for delays. With more people traveling during the holidays, delays can be even longer then usual. Mix in a higher probability of bad weather and you have a recipe for disaster. Be sure to bring plenty of snacks and activities to pass the time...especially if you're traveling with children.
5. If you require medication be sure to take plenty of it to cover the entire trip INCLUDING delays.
6. If you take medication be sure to have it clearly labeled or in the bottle it came in. You could be questioned by airport security if you have suspicious appearing drugs in an unmarked container.
7. If you must check your bags, tie brightly colored ribbon around the handle to make it easier to spot on the luggage carousel.
8. If flying, don't wrap gifts, they may be unwrapped by security!
9. If you are driving don't wear tight socks. The constriction of blood flow combined with long periods of sitting could lead to blood clots.
10. And finally, road trips can be rough on active kids. If your kids are restless and fighting just stop the car and let them out. Just don't "forget" to let them back in.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Ten Ways You May Have Never Thought to Recycle, Reuse, or Repurpose.
1. Have you ever bought a storage bag? You know the ones made to store your clothes, bedding, etc. How about a big plastic tub? Have you ever thought to save the bag your new comforter came in? Come on...they're perfect. And it's one less thing to buy and one less thing to throw away.
2. Do you have an under ware gnome in your home? I do. And when I'm not home he walks around my house wearing my most comfortable bra and panties and only one of my socks. Teach that gnome a lesson! Use that mismatched sock for dusting. ,
3. Buy a real razor. Disposable razors are made to wear out forcing you to throw out the old ones and replace them with new ones. You can break the cycle and get a better shave in the process.
4. Here's a fun way to repurpose. Does your family eat oatmeal? Don't throw out the container when you're done. Instead fill it with flour, sugar, cornmeal, or any other dry good. But, of course, not before you've decorated it first. The same can be done with old coffee cans as well.
5. Don't buy shipping boxes! Instead, look around your kitchen. Cereal boxes, pasta boxes, any food box can be used. And the best part is, you save a trip to the store to buy them!
6. How many nights have you laid awake and wondered what to do with your old dryer lint? Well, those nights are over. Dryer lint is highly flammable. You can stuff it inside empty toilet paper tubes and place it your fireplace (even better take it camping). That's a two for one way to save.
7. One mans trash is another mans treasure. If you have something that is still useful, just not by you, put it on the curb with a free sign. Then sit back and see how long it takes to disappear. You may be surprised. Don't want to lug all that stuff down to the curb? There are many organizations, such as the Salvation Army, who will pick the larger stuff up for you. Or you can go to www.freecycle.org , and enter the name of your hometown. You can then enter your items to be given away to whomever may be looking for....say... and unused refrigerator that is avocado green. You never know.
8. Junk mail is awful! Turn it into something great by shredding it. You can use that shredded paper for shipping packages, to line the bottom of a gift basket, or line the bottom of a bird cage. Don't have a bird?
Then stop the mail altogether. Follow these links to sites that will help put an end to all those fruitless trips to the mailbox. www.optoutprescreen.com or www.dmachoice.org . Or for a fee, 41pounds.org. will take care of just about all your junk mail with one visit the their website.
9. I love magazines. I have hundreds of them and they need to go...but not in the trash. Did you know your local library takes them? Most libraries have tables set up for patrons to leave old magazines on. And it's a great place to find the latest issue of whatever magazine you usually spend five bucks on.
10. And the best way to recycle, reuse, or repurpose... teach your kids to do it! Remember, we do not inherit the earth from out parents but borrow it from out children.
2. Do you have an under ware gnome in your home? I do. And when I'm not home he walks around my house wearing my most comfortable bra and panties and only one of my socks. Teach that gnome a lesson! Use that mismatched sock for dusting. ,
3. Buy a real razor. Disposable razors are made to wear out forcing you to throw out the old ones and replace them with new ones. You can break the cycle and get a better shave in the process.
4. Here's a fun way to repurpose. Does your family eat oatmeal? Don't throw out the container when you're done. Instead fill it with flour, sugar, cornmeal, or any other dry good. But, of course, not before you've decorated it first. The same can be done with old coffee cans as well.
5. Don't buy shipping boxes! Instead, look around your kitchen. Cereal boxes, pasta boxes, any food box can be used. And the best part is, you save a trip to the store to buy them!
6. How many nights have you laid awake and wondered what to do with your old dryer lint? Well, those nights are over. Dryer lint is highly flammable. You can stuff it inside empty toilet paper tubes and place it your fireplace (even better take it camping). That's a two for one way to save.
7. One mans trash is another mans treasure. If you have something that is still useful, just not by you, put it on the curb with a free sign. Then sit back and see how long it takes to disappear. You may be surprised. Don't want to lug all that stuff down to the curb? There are many organizations, such as the Salvation Army, who will pick the larger stuff up for you. Or you can go to www.freecycle.org , and enter the name of your hometown. You can then enter your items to be given away to whomever may be looking for....say... and unused refrigerator that is avocado green. You never know.
8. Junk mail is awful! Turn it into something great by shredding it. You can use that shredded paper for shipping packages, to line the bottom of a gift basket, or line the bottom of a bird cage. Don't have a bird?
Then stop the mail altogether. Follow these links to sites that will help put an end to all those fruitless trips to the mailbox. www.optoutprescreen.com or www.dmachoice.org . Or for a fee, 41pounds.org. will take care of just about all your junk mail with one visit the their website.
9. I love magazines. I have hundreds of them and they need to go...but not in the trash. Did you know your local library takes them? Most libraries have tables set up for patrons to leave old magazines on. And it's a great place to find the latest issue of whatever magazine you usually spend five bucks on.
10. And the best way to recycle, reuse, or repurpose... teach your kids to do it! Remember, we do not inherit the earth from out parents but borrow it from out children.
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