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How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
in Your Kitchen the Frugal Way
Tightwad Tips
Daily Tips for Frugal Living
Get Daily Tips for Frugal Living! Packed with money saving tips and financial how-tos to enrich your life.
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Couponing Basics
Save Money – Print Grocery Coupons Anytime.
The best way to save money is to pay less for items you’re going to buy anyway. Manufacturers’ coupons allow you to do just that. With the changes manufacturers and stores have made to their coupon policies in recent years, you don’t even have to invest in the Sunday paper to take advantage of huge savings. Here are a few great tips to help you save a bundle at the store:
Frugal bloggers
There are dozens of “mom bloggers” who make it their business to track down the latest and greatest coupons and store deals, and list them out, week by week. They specialize in matching store specials to manufacturers’ coupons to make sure you’re paying the absolute lowest prices. They’ll tell you exactly when the coupon came out, which stores are offering what deals, and how to “stack” the store sales with the coupons. Check out sites like MoneySavingMom.com, DealSeekingMom.com, and CouponMommie.com, just to name a few.
Manufacturers’ sites
Got a favorite detergent, snack brand, or soda? Stalk the manufacturers’ websites for coupons, and make sure to sign up for their mailing lists. You can get announcements of sales and promotions, as well as coupons and frequent buyer deals, sent directly to you.
Coupon Sites
Remember how I said you don’t even have to shell out the cash for a Sunday paper anymore to get the coupons? That’s because many coupon manufacturers now offer their coupons online. Redplum.com, Coupons.com, and SundayCouponPreview.com are just a few of the services that offer printable coupons online. Be sure to check with your local store to confirm their policy on Internet coupons. Though they’re widely accepted, policies can vary from store to store.
Coupon swaps
Got a collection of dollar-off Huggies coupons but your kids are finally all potty trained? Don’t toss those good-as-gold savings; swap them instead! Local communities have coupon clubs where members gather to offer up their unwanted coupons. But, if you can’t locate one near to you, Google “coupon swap” for a selection of online virtual swaps. Warning: Find a site that vets members or requires a minimal amount of personal information to make sure you don’t get stiffed with outdated, invalid coupons.
Double coupons days
If you’re going through the effort of clipping (or downloading) coupons, why not make the most of your savings? Many stores regularly offer double savings on manufacturers’ coupons. These savings are not always advertised, so ask your store management about their policies. Those dollars can add up quickly!
You may not have ever considered yourself a “couponer” but when you see the savings you can rack up with smart coupon shopping, you’ll be convinced it’s the way to go for big savings on everyday necessities.
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How to Never Pay Full Price
Whether you’re in search of snowshoes, an acoustic guitar, or a power mower, you don’t have to pay full price! From apparel to automobiles, the best deals are often available with just a little bit of legwork. Here are some of the most widely used sources for bargains:
eBay.com
eBay is the gold standard for online auction sites. If you’re not familiar with the service, it’s simple. Sellers auction off their wares online to the highest bidder, and bidders can scoop up bargains and hard-to-find items at rock-bottom prices. The best way to look for a specific item is to find the model number and description (and retail price) on a retail site, and then search eBay for a current auction. With the specs in hand, you can determine what’s a fair price. Read the details carefully. You are typically responsible for shipping, so that $10 bicycle becomes a $300 nightmare when it ships from Singapore. Because eBay offers a fairly rigid tracking process, you can see your seller’s rating based on previous transactions.
Craigslist.com
Known as the world’s largest garage sale, Craigslist offers a variety of goods sold classified-ad style. Goods are usually used, and quality can be all over the map. The database is searchable by location, and prices can range from downright steals to highway robbery. Unlike eBay, you can make offers and arrange to see items before you purchase them.
Freecycle.com
Freecycle is the place to find used furniture, household items, and the like – yours for the taking! There are around 4900 Freecycle groups so far and over 7 million members around the world. If you’re a fixer-upper re-purposer type, check it out!
Bizrate.com
With the tagline, “Search. Compare. Conquer.” you know that Bizrate is in the business of comparison shopping. With a few clicks of your mouse, you can find the best online deals for new and refurbished electronics, clothing, furniture, and more. You can also sort your results by which sites offer free shipping or coupons. It makes comparison shopping a breeze!
Garage sales
While decidedly low-tech, garage sales are still the source of some of my biggest bargain coups. The key is to shop ahead – if you know your son is going to need skis in a certain size for next winter, start shopping NOW because garage sales don’t stick to a season, as department stores do. You have to strike while the iron’s hot, so know sizes, what you’re looking for, and reasonable prices for used equipment. And don’t be afraid to make an offer, particularly later in the day! The owner will most likely let that doll-house go for less when it gets close to the end of the day and she’s thinking about having to haul it back into the garage or tote it off to Goodwill.
It’s quite disturbing when you buy an item at full price only to see the same item sell for a lot less somewhere else. Do your homework and you won’t ever have to be disappointed again!
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16 Money Saving Tips For Road Trips on a Shoestring Budget
By Bill Belei
The phrase “budget travel” can have a scary ring to it, conjuring up images of grubby highway motels, fast food, and bunking with relatives until you’re all sick of each other. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
You can turn your next holiday road trip into a fun and fantastic budget trip with just a few sensible changes that won’t hurt a bit. So in the spirit of frugality, here’s our list of the 16 best ways to cut costs on road trips and scenic drives.
Save on Fuel & Repairs
1. Check Your Vehicle. There’s nothing more inconvenient and annoying than car trouble on the road. So before you go, get a tune up. Bonus savings: A new air filter and spark plugs are proven to reduce gas usage.
2. Drive Smarter. Believe it or not, you can shave about 1/3 off fuel costs just by driving less aggressively. Save another 10% or more by going the speed limit. After all, scenic drives shouldn’t go by in a blur.
3. Use the Cruise. The cruise control reduces fuel consumption by keeping your foot off the gas pedal.
4. Don’t Idle More Than 30 Seconds. Turn off the engine and save another 20% on budget trips. Isn’t this fun?
Save on Meals
5. Eat Better and Cheaper. Avoid tourist traps; ask the locals where they eat.
6. Pack a lunch. It’s better for your health, your budget, and your fun quotient. When was the last time you stopped for a picnic on a scenic drive?
7. Seek Free Brekkie. Hotels that offer a free breakfast cut the cost of one meal a day.
8. Bring Coupons. Many chain eateries offer 2-for-1 specials, free beverage coupons, etc. You can also find discounts for hotels and attractions by combing travel magazines and websites.
Save on Lodgings
9. Use Your Points. Many reward programs let you use your points for accommodations and meals.
10. Low Season, Low Prices. When hot spots are off season, rates are down and so are the crowds. Take the kids out of school if permitted.
11. Travel on Weekdays. Plan road trips for weekdays instead of weekends and save on lodgings, meals and entrance fees.
12. Military Discounts. Service members, active or retired, can get low cost lodgings on bases, rec centers, and Armed Forces vacation club rentals. You’re also eligible for discounts at some commercial hotels.
Save on Fun Stuff
13. Gift Cards. For birthdays or other occasions, ask friends and family for gift cards that are good for amusement parks, restaurants, gas stations, etc.
14. Free Scenery. US National Parks have free admission weekends. Check online before you go and plan for a veritable smorgasbord of scenic drives through our eye-popping parklands.
15. Meander. See a cute town whizzing by on your road trip? Pull over, get out of the car and explore. Downtown is a good place to start. Then just meander down side streets discovering historical architecture, tucked-away parks, quaint little shops, and of course friendly people only too happy to tell you about their town.
16. Take a 24-Hour Vacation. Can’t get away for a holiday? Then take budget day trips down roadways you haven’t traveled before. All it’ll cost is the fuel and a meal. You’ll feel refreshed and renewed.
There you go – 16 tips that prove the best things in life are either free or very reasonably priced. So start planning your next budget trip or scenic drive today.
About the author:
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Bill Belei is a seasoned road trip enthusiast and the founder of BestRoadTripPlanner.com, an information sharing site where members report on their favorite road trip adventures. You’ll find honest, unbiased travel plans, maps and photos of scenic drives, attractions, urban highlights, points of interest, and even warnings on where not to go. Use BestRoadTripPlanner.com as your next road trip planner or to share your latest adventure. You can earn points for your best trips and may win a prize! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Belei |
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Top Tips for Thrifty Living
By Janet B Pearson
Learning to be thrifty, to create a budget, and live by your budget is one of the most valuable money skills you can have. Unfortunately, most of us have trouble living within our means. It seems that today we are all more concerned with having it all. And having it NOW!
Thrifty living and developing a budget can be a hard and time consuming task. Lots of people believe value shopping takes too much time and discounted items are not the same quality as expensive ones.
You need to learn that these are myths that steal from your wallet!
Face it, we all lead busy lives and it’s often easier to pay full price than finding sales or discounts. But the reality is that if we take time to be a smart shopper and have a budget (is that a bad word?), we can save enough to make the time worth it.
Living within your budget (there’s that word again!) and spending less than you make may sound impossible. However, with some sensible planning and frugal shopping, it is certainly something we can all do! Being frugal and thrifty does not mean doing without things; you just have to plan for them.
A budget is simply a spending plan. To go into more detail, is another article, but – to create a budget, you must first know where you currently spend money. All of it. Keep a spending record for at least a month.
You CAN learn to be a smart shopper and set up a budget. You may even find that it can be fun!
To help get you started, here’s 7 Ways to Save on Groceries:
1. Drink water and skip the sodas. Saves money and is better for you.
2. Pick the frugal shopper in your home. If your spouse is the better bargain shopper, they should have the task.
3. Reduce snack food purchases such as chips. They are expensive and high in fat.
4. Be sure to check expiration dates.
5. Take a calculator to the store with you. This will make unit pricing and comparisons easier.
6. Request price matching. Find a store in your area that will honor competitors’ ads. You save time, money, and gas.
7. Shop alone if possible. Children tend to talk us into buying things we don’t need.
Remember, peace of mind is what living frugally is all about. Whether you are paying off debt, saving more, or simply living under your means, you’re trying to avoid the fear and stress that people live with when they don’t control spending.
About the author:
Janet B Pearson is the editor of thrifty411.com. She is married and a mother of two. She recently completed an ebook “Thrifty Living: Be Thrifty, Make A Budget, and Save Money”. Her website, http://www.thrifty411.com , offers thrifty living tips, money saving ideas, and help on how to create a personal budget.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_B_Pearson
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