OK - my friends know how much I LOVE Disney World. We go every year. Here is how I save some money so I can shop, shop, shop.
1. My husband has a conference down there in the fall - this year it was an awards conference for Six Sigma at a Disney hotel (which is on the property but not owned by Disney - confusing, I know). We pulled the girls out of school and DROVE down - yes, I said it, DROVE 11 1/2 hours with my girls.
How does this save money? His company would pay for him to stay there and for the transportation to and from. We tack on the additional nights and that reduces our out of pocket costs. Also, driving, while it might seem downright horrible, saves us over $500, as the cost of gas versus airline tickets for 3 is just obvious (plus, if you travel for work, some mileage could be included). This is one of those time versus money things each family has to consider.
2. We booked a package online. Since we go every year, we had a special offer emailed to us and I jumped on it - free dining plan. The more you go, the better your email offers from Disney become! Many people got this dining offer but only after the coupon code people booked theirs (I know this because my friends Paige and Krista got the public offer about a month after I got my code). As a matter of fact, I got an offer to book our 2010 trip before we left and get free dining AGAIN!
How does this save money (besides the obvious)? Even Disney is a bit hurt by the economy, in that every quarter it seems they are offering a new package to lure people down there. Last spring it was buy 4 nights, get 3 free. Then it was get a dining plan for free this last quarter (depending on the room cost) - now it is back to buy a few nights, get a few free (though check the website if you really want to know). It seems that 2009 is the best time to go - I've never seen more offers by the Walt Disney company in my years of trekking down there.
3. I have a Disney VISA by Chase. This helps you in a few different ways:
A - if you buy a Disney vacation package, you get 6 months with no finance charges
B - it is a rewards card to I set it up to pay our bills with it and gas for my car and rack up money in the form of a gift card to be used either toward the package, to buy tickets, or in the parks
C. it has a 10% off any $50 merchandise purchase all around The World.
SOOOO - we had my rewards gift card AND I made sure that we didn't nickel and dime spend but bought it all together so I could use the 10% off as much as possible
4. The Disney Dining Plan - there are four different plans now but we get the basic one, which is one sit down meal, one fast food meal and one snack. I use this even when it isn't free because we like character dining AND we get tired of eating fast food all the time.
Here's how I decided to do the dining plan - add up the number of sit down/character meals you plan to have. If it averages out to one a day, get the meal plan. A character meal is about $100 for a young family of four; the cost of the meal plan is less than that.
This is an iffy one and some families don't use it or need it and that is totally FINE. But we don't eat with characters every day, as WDW has some of the best food out there. And even with the dining plan, we brought juice and water and bought milk and a resort mug (free refills) to save because when it is 95 in Florida you sweat and 3 drinks a day just doesn't cut it.
5. Staying on-site saves us time and $14/day in parking fees. Add that plus the cost of gas to your room and you might find that it is reasonable to stay on-site. Plus you get more bang for your buck, like enjoying the park before and after hours for on-site resort guests only. So unless you have hotel rewards coming out of your ears, consider staying in The World.
6. I have many other tips to share but will save them for another time... like bibbidi bobbidi boutique, making a budget, etc
SOOOO - with my rewards gift card and saving 10% with the VISA and using my beverages wisely, I got to keep the money I saved... and bought myself two new tops, pajamas for the girls and me and some princess treats for the girls.
Anyway, these are the things I do to save money, and I hope they can help you, too!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Budget Budget Budget
As I was driving home from class tonight, I made an unscheduled pit-stop at Target to pick up some things on my list. But I didn't have my coupons and I was hungry and I was SPEECHLESS at the cost of men's razor blades - $18 for 8, what were they kidding?? Well Wes needs them and I said bad words in my head as I trekked back to the checkout, thinking I should have remembered them at CostCo when I went this morning (and next time I go, I'll buy 100 razor blades and use a coupon and save money). But I had a list and I stuck to it, except the Cheetos at the checkout, which were $1.24 (a bag 4 times as big is only twice as much... oops).
Do you make a budget? You should. You need to, really.
Make a list of all your regular expenses. Itemize the silly stuff, like oil changes or car repairs, stamps and birthday gifts (we have two or three a month, it seems), magazines and movies (under entertainment, I suppose), pet food and vet bills, etc. Then write down what you earn, what you save, what you give and what you spend. Pray it balances (because I do this regularly - prayers are good).
Need to trim your budget? Here are some of my suggestions:
1. Plan out at least one year of your expenses in advance - you can view most of your past bills on line for the last 6 months, and your gas and power bills for a year. Really look at your spending realistically.
2. Check out your cell phone plan - sprint has an optimizer that analyzes your last 6 billing cycles and then tells you if you need a higher or lower plan. Do you really need lots of cell phones? For YEARS we had just one - whoever was OUT or OUT OF TOWN had it.
3. Call around for cable/phone/internet combos and determine if someone has a better deal. I just called for no reason (well, I was missing a channel I like all of a sudden) and they lowered my bill because that channel wasn't premium any more but included in my regular lineup.
4. Talk to your power people about the budget plan. I generally don't advocate this but if it helps you maintain your spending, go for it.
5. Pay your bills early. PERIOD. Since my husband is paid twice per month, I get up the morning of payday and pay ALL THE BILLS due in those 15 or so days - and we live on the rest. Could be lots, could be not-so-lots, depending on the month. No late fees is better for your credit and better on your budget.
6. Use coupons - I don't care if it is for eating out, buying birthday presents, or household goods, just find a coupon (see my rather lengthy post on coupons). If you have fluff room in your budget, pay the full amount due and get back the coupon-amount and donate it, give it to your kids, or buy a small treat (this is how I afford hardback books here lately).
7. INSURANCE - call and get quotes on this, too - car, house, personal property, identity theft, flood, etc. We use one company for just about everything, but my husband went with insure.com (or something like that) and got a super-duper rate on his life insurance, which couldn't be matched by his employer OR or primary insurers so we switched that one.
The bottom line is that you need to know where your money is going. You need to make a budget. You need to balance your bank account. You need to file your receipts away. You need to save, and you need to give. You need to take the time to call everyone from the trash company (VWS has the cheapest backyard service in Hampton Park, by the way) to the insurance company to make sure you have the best, least-expensive deal.
Anyway some of those suggestions have worked for me and enabled me to pick up extra treats (specifically the coupons at CostCo give me money to buy books, since I don't like used ones). I hope you'll make a budget, stick to it, and use some of these cost-cutting tips to buy your own treats!
Do you make a budget? You should. You need to, really.
Make a list of all your regular expenses. Itemize the silly stuff, like oil changes or car repairs, stamps and birthday gifts (we have two or three a month, it seems), magazines and movies (under entertainment, I suppose), pet food and vet bills, etc. Then write down what you earn, what you save, what you give and what you spend. Pray it balances (because I do this regularly - prayers are good).
Need to trim your budget? Here are some of my suggestions:
1. Plan out at least one year of your expenses in advance - you can view most of your past bills on line for the last 6 months, and your gas and power bills for a year. Really look at your spending realistically.
2. Check out your cell phone plan - sprint has an optimizer that analyzes your last 6 billing cycles and then tells you if you need a higher or lower plan. Do you really need lots of cell phones? For YEARS we had just one - whoever was OUT or OUT OF TOWN had it.
3. Call around for cable/phone/internet combos and determine if someone has a better deal. I just called for no reason (well, I was missing a channel I like all of a sudden) and they lowered my bill because that channel wasn't premium any more but included in my regular lineup.
4. Talk to your power people about the budget plan. I generally don't advocate this but if it helps you maintain your spending, go for it.
5. Pay your bills early. PERIOD. Since my husband is paid twice per month, I get up the morning of payday and pay ALL THE BILLS due in those 15 or so days - and we live on the rest. Could be lots, could be not-so-lots, depending on the month. No late fees is better for your credit and better on your budget.
6. Use coupons - I don't care if it is for eating out, buying birthday presents, or household goods, just find a coupon (see my rather lengthy post on coupons). If you have fluff room in your budget, pay the full amount due and get back the coupon-amount and donate it, give it to your kids, or buy a small treat (this is how I afford hardback books here lately).
7. INSURANCE - call and get quotes on this, too - car, house, personal property, identity theft, flood, etc. We use one company for just about everything, but my husband went with insure.com (or something like that) and got a super-duper rate on his life insurance, which couldn't be matched by his employer OR or primary insurers so we switched that one.
The bottom line is that you need to know where your money is going. You need to make a budget. You need to balance your bank account. You need to file your receipts away. You need to save, and you need to give. You need to take the time to call everyone from the trash company (VWS has the cheapest backyard service in Hampton Park, by the way) to the insurance company to make sure you have the best, least-expensive deal.
Anyway some of those suggestions have worked for me and enabled me to pick up extra treats (specifically the coupons at CostCo give me money to buy books, since I don't like used ones). I hope you'll make a budget, stick to it, and use some of these cost-cutting tips to buy your own treats!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Picky About Produce? Shop in-Season
You know by now how much I love shopping in-bulk. Here's my latest story:
I do most of my fresh produce shopping at the local farmer's market, the Chesterfield Berry Farm, from about May - September or October. They are closer than CostCo, they are in many instances cheaper than CostCo, and I'm supporting the local growers. Every week, CBF features a new crop, usually what is in-season. This week and for the next few weeks, it will be green (and yellow) squash.
As always I purchased the box, which is 13 pounds of zucchini for $10. Sometimes I am lucky and they'll mix up 1/2 squash and have zucchini but I have to wait a few more weeks, they told me. At present, zucchini is $1.89/pound. With all my zucchini I make:
I do most of my fresh produce shopping at the local farmer's market, the Chesterfield Berry Farm, from about May - September or October. They are closer than CostCo, they are in many instances cheaper than CostCo, and I'm supporting the local growers. Every week, CBF features a new crop, usually what is in-season. This week and for the next few weeks, it will be green (and yellow) squash.
As always I purchased the box, which is 13 pounds of zucchini for $10. Sometimes I am lucky and they'll mix up 1/2 squash and have zucchini but I have to wait a few more weeks, they told me. At present, zucchini is $1.89/pound. With all my zucchini I make:
- breakfast (sausage, egg, zucchini casserole - eat one and freeze one),
- lunch (zucchini soup, garden vegetable chilil, and sliced raw with ranch dressing),
- snacks (zucchini muffins -like bread but in muffin form),
- dinner side-dishes (grilled with olive oil or sauted with butter or simmered with tomatos and italian spices) and
- dessert (chocolate cake with shredded zucchini disguised in it)
One good thing - saving money.
Second good thing - eating healthy - my kids have no idea how much zucchini they eat and I know where the food is coming from
Third good thing - the produce lasts about TWO WEEKS in my fridge because it is farm-picked fresh.
And of course you're helping the local economy, a win-win for everyone.
If you want any of these recipes, just email me - they aren't mine to post but they are favorites that my whole family eats, especially the garden chili - towards the end of the summer, we make the whole thing solely from our garden. And because there are so many ways to eat zucchini (or other foods in-season, which gives me a whole 'nother idea for a set of blogs) we don't get tired of it. Finally when you are totally over zucchini, shred it and freeze it in 2-cup freezer bags and make fresh zucchini bread in the fall (but don't forget to add it to your freezer list so you don't forget about it).
Wes grilled it for me last night and I had it sliced with ranch this morning. Purchasing food at less than half price makes me so happy - it helps my food budget and I hope it gives you inspiration in the kitchen and within your own food budget!
Magazines - Have You Heard?
I love magazines. I mean I get a LOT of magazines - People, Us, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, Southern Living, Taste of Home, Scrapbooks ETC... more... and then Wes gets a bunch too. And that doesn't include what I trade with friends on the street.
DISCLAIMER
Magazines are an excellent place to save money. Don't buy them and don't subscribe to them if you're watching money. Read them at the library. But I don't like the library and don't like used paper products... so I cut somewhere else to get my magazine fix.
Have you heard about Maghound.com? A few months back I got an email about it and just can't figure out what's the catch! I've been a subscriber for a white now and am totally hooked. And I've hooked my family, too!
Here's how it works:
DISCLAIMER
Magazines are an excellent place to save money. Don't buy them and don't subscribe to them if you're watching money. Read them at the library. But I don't like the library and don't like used paper products... so I cut somewhere else to get my magazine fix.
Have you heard about Maghound.com? A few months back I got an email about it and just can't figure out what's the catch! I've been a subscriber for a white now and am totally hooked. And I've hooked my family, too!
Here's how it works:
- Inventory all the magazines you subscribe to and all the ones you buy at the store (and if you're buying them, you should buy them at CostCo)
- Go to maghound.com and see if any of your regulars are listed (most of mine are)
- pick a plan of 3, 5, 7 or more and pay one monthly fee to maghound.com
There are 300 magazines to choose from. The weeklies have a small surcharge, but the bonus is that if you select a magazine published bimonthly, maghound gives you SUBSTITUTES for free (like getting two subscriptions for the price of one). You can update your choices AT ANY TIME. You can stop your membership AT ANY TIME. The only comment I have is that you don't get to select your substitues, so if Maxim doesn't arrive one month, there's no guarantee that Men's Health will arrive in its place (but I've emailed them my suggestion).
NOTE, subscriptions through maghound.com no not affect your current subscriptions so if you have one, call the publisher directly to cancel it immediately.
Here's how I rationalize saving money: 1 issue of Southern Living costs $4.99 - one issue at CostSo is $3.50; a subscription is $20 for 13 issues if I recall, or $1.66/issue. But where you get caught are RENEWALS! Those costs aren't cheap! Or if you're like me, you get mad because the issue is in the stores before it arrives on your doorstep.
I have selected the 7-magazine tier for $9.95/month but I get People, which has a surcharge because it is a weekly. For the cost of what I would pay for People at CostCo PER MONTH, I get 6 other magazines for free (or what my budget perceives as free).
If you're looking to save money, this isn't the best 'save' for you, but if you're saving money within your magazines budget (I have a line-item in my budget for EVERYTHING), I think maghound.com is the best deal around. And like I've said - this works for me and I hope it works for you, too!
Cheap or Not So Cheap - Buying & Selling Girls' Clothes
Today I have lots of posts stuck in my head because it has been a while since I've posted - sorry about that.
I want to share with you my morning's purchase. I hit the mother-load at Gymboree this morning.
You know I sell my girls' used clothes on eBAY - and I've said before, I get it all on eBAY. Gymboree dresses, hair accessories, and swimwear sell used for about as much as I often pay for them, between $10 to $15 (new, full price dresses retail for $32ish and swim $22ish). That makes dressing my girls in the summer close to zero-cost.
READ ME - I save 'here' to spend 'somewhere else,' so I buy things like jewelry, outfits and the occasional pair of sandals, which don't turn over as well but still sell used. (This is a case of do what I say and not exactly as I do.)
My point is that it doesn't always save more to spend less - there are super-cute things from Kohls and Target that last through the season and might last for hand-me-downs for the next child. But you don't get much back at a consignment store, yard sale, etc. I can spend about the SAME amount per outfit on Gymboree clothes that someone else spends at Kohls or Target, and the difference is that I get more money back.
I take the time to list my girls' clothes on eBAY and then take that money to buy their summer clothes. Another instance of time versus money - I have or make the time so I can have the money. In the month of April, I made $1138 selling mostly used Gymboree and Lilly clothes - eBAYers lose about 10 - 15% to fees, but that's still $1000 take-home. My friend has a PayPal debit card to help control spending, a bit like 'my' money and 'our' money. I transfer most of my eBAY earnings to my savings account and withdraw when the occasion calls - like this morning.
To illustrate my best finds:
seashell shorts $4.47 & matching clam tank $4.47
Full price = $25.50
pineapple tee $8.67 & pineapple shorts $9.37 pineapple sandals $13.15
pineapple ponytail holder $2
FULL PRICE $81.25
stripe short $6.71 & matching top $5.59
FULL PRICE $44.50
Of course, I bought dresses and hair accessories from the watermelon line, which at present is full-price, 30% off plus my 20% off coupon - but those aren't the best, best deals, shown above.
The prices for tops and bottoms shown above are right in line with what I saw at Target last night, except those are complete Gymboree outfits. As I said above, for girls' clothes, dresses sell the best. But I have had 2 -piece outfits sell between $5 - $15 used. And I never, ever sell the hair accessories with the outfit. Some people pay MORE than retail for USED hair accessories still on the card (my personal best is $11.50 for lemony fresh, from 2004, I think, for which I paid $3).
In sum, you don't always save more spending money on lower quality clothing. I recycle my same money summer after summer, selling my old Gymboree clothes to buy my girls new ones, rarely spending more than what I have. Hit the sales, use a coupon, and find the time to list and sell and ship your auctions - I think you'll fare better than if you shop Target/Kohls or consign.
This works best for me, and I hope it works well for you, too!!
I want to share with you my morning's purchase. I hit the mother-load at Gymboree this morning.
- I used a coupon on top of a 30% off your entire purchase sale
- I bought sale items (not full-price, on sale for 30% off but clearance stuff)
You know I sell my girls' used clothes on eBAY - and I've said before, I get it all on eBAY. Gymboree dresses, hair accessories, and swimwear sell used for about as much as I often pay for them, between $10 to $15 (new, full price dresses retail for $32ish and swim $22ish). That makes dressing my girls in the summer close to zero-cost.
READ ME - I save 'here' to spend 'somewhere else,' so I buy things like jewelry, outfits and the occasional pair of sandals, which don't turn over as well but still sell used. (This is a case of do what I say and not exactly as I do.)
My point is that it doesn't always save more to spend less - there are super-cute things from Kohls and Target that last through the season and might last for hand-me-downs for the next child. But you don't get much back at a consignment store, yard sale, etc. I can spend about the SAME amount per outfit on Gymboree clothes that someone else spends at Kohls or Target, and the difference is that I get more money back.
I take the time to list my girls' clothes on eBAY and then take that money to buy their summer clothes. Another instance of time versus money - I have or make the time so I can have the money. In the month of April, I made $1138 selling mostly used Gymboree and Lilly clothes - eBAYers lose about 10 - 15% to fees, but that's still $1000 take-home. My friend has a PayPal debit card to help control spending, a bit like 'my' money and 'our' money. I transfer most of my eBAY earnings to my savings account and withdraw when the occasion calls - like this morning.
To illustrate my best finds:
seashell shorts $4.47 & matching clam tank $4.47
Full price = $25.50
pineapple tee $8.67 & pineapple shorts $9.37 pineapple sandals $13.15
pineapple ponytail holder $2
FULL PRICE $81.25
stripe short $6.71 & matching top $5.59
FULL PRICE $44.50
Of course, I bought dresses and hair accessories from the watermelon line, which at present is full-price, 30% off plus my 20% off coupon - but those aren't the best, best deals, shown above.
The prices for tops and bottoms shown above are right in line with what I saw at Target last night, except those are complete Gymboree outfits. As I said above, for girls' clothes, dresses sell the best. But I have had 2 -piece outfits sell between $5 - $15 used. And I never, ever sell the hair accessories with the outfit. Some people pay MORE than retail for USED hair accessories still on the card (my personal best is $11.50 for lemony fresh, from 2004, I think, for which I paid $3).
In sum, you don't always save more spending money on lower quality clothing. I recycle my same money summer after summer, selling my old Gymboree clothes to buy my girls new ones, rarely spending more than what I have. Hit the sales, use a coupon, and find the time to list and sell and ship your auctions - I think you'll fare better than if you shop Target/Kohls or consign.
This works best for me, and I hope it works well for you, too!!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Doctor, Doctor - Flex Me
Well I have to start by saying Thank Goodness for Health Insurance!
As was 2008, February 2009 is the month of plague in our house. And I'm a big fan of Lysol spray and Clorox wipes, so it has to come from somewhere else - plus they rarely get the same things... Lily had flu "b" ~ then Maggie had strep ~ and now Lily has a GI bug that supposedly lasts 24 - 48 hours. Since I've spent so much on copays and drugs lately, I tried a tip from a good friend and it WORKED! To counter the cost of the copay for the visit, I asked for a sample of one of the meds the pediatrician suggested. So next time you go to your doctor, consider asking for a sample, too.
Also along this vein is the flexible spending account that many employers offer. Don't worry you won't use it -or lose it because many programs offer a calculator to help you add up your out of pocket costs over a calendar year. And every year we use it, we run out well in advance. We save on taxes as well as with the employer contribution. Also, at places like Walgreen's, they bill our Flexible Spending Account directly so I don't even see the cost of prescriptions, which helps with cash flow... that you could use to buy your kids a movie or two or three since they are stuck on the couch or in bed!
Thanks for the great tip, Ness! It helped me and I hope it helps you too!
As was 2008, February 2009 is the month of plague in our house. And I'm a big fan of Lysol spray and Clorox wipes, so it has to come from somewhere else - plus they rarely get the same things... Lily had flu "b" ~ then Maggie had strep ~ and now Lily has a GI bug that supposedly lasts 24 - 48 hours. Since I've spent so much on copays and drugs lately, I tried a tip from a good friend and it WORKED! To counter the cost of the copay for the visit, I asked for a sample of one of the meds the pediatrician suggested. So next time you go to your doctor, consider asking for a sample, too.
Also along this vein is the flexible spending account that many employers offer. Don't worry you won't use it -or lose it because many programs offer a calculator to help you add up your out of pocket costs over a calendar year. And every year we use it, we run out well in advance. We save on taxes as well as with the employer contribution. Also, at places like Walgreen's, they bill our Flexible Spending Account directly so I don't even see the cost of prescriptions, which helps with cash flow... that you could use to buy your kids a movie or two or three since they are stuck on the couch or in bed!
Thanks for the great tip, Ness! It helped me and I hope it helps you too!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Coupons, Coupons and More Coupons
OK here's some neat information for you. Did you know that Michael's Arts & Crafts accepts all competitor coupons? Did you know that restaurants often accept expired coupons? And so does Bed, Bath & Beyond - and they take up to TWO coupons for one transaction!! Did you know that Lowe's and Home Depot honor each other's prices with an additional 10% savings of the difference? And have you heard about restaurant.com?
1. I am a crafter. And I never ever go into Michael's without a JoAnn's coupon. First, I don't always buy the paper and when I do there isn't always a Michael's flier in there. But when you walk in the store and go to customer service, there is a sign posted that reads something to the effect that we honor competitors coupons. So go to JoAnn.com and sign up for the online newsletter and coupons! Print those suckers out and leave them in your car for the next time you need a birthday gift or a craft item. You'll be surprised at how much you save.
2. I like Valpack coupons and the Reach magazine has good ones too. Some local restaurants honor their expired Valpack or Reach coupons. All you have to do is ask! I did!
3. Bed Bath and Beyond has two kinds of coupons - $10 off $30 purchase and 20% off one item. You can use them both at the same time. AND you can use expired coupons - so don't throw these away either! Save them for the next time you need something, anything - Yankee Candle, some kitchen-y or bath item you might get at Target or Kohls is now cheaper at BB&B.
4. When we were building shelving for our garage last year, Wes bought a bunch of lumber at Lowe's. We went the next weekend to Home Depot for the kids' event (I think the girls built a sailboat) and I was pricing the lumber behind me while they worked on the boat. Well wouldn't you know the wood was cheaper. So Wes bought it all again at Home Depot and since I had the Lowe's receipt with me, we could prove the prices at Lowe's so they we got the discounted price PLUS an additional 10 percent off the discount. Another instance where it pays to know the cost of things.
5. Restaurant.com is a website that offers prepaid coupons/gift cards online to local restaurants (no chains that I can see). This past week they ran a special where the coupons were $5 for $25 gift certificate. And we bought 6, 3 to a restaurant we love and 3 to new ones we wanted to try; we spent $30 to save $150. Now you must be warned that some of these coupons have a minimal spending of $35 and one coupon per family per night (just read the fine print). For my family of 4 it isn't hard to spend $35 on a meal, even without drinks. So the $35 meal will cost us $15 out of pocket plus the tip we would have had to pay anyway.
I LOVE COUPONS! Take the time to cut them out or print them out. Then organize them. Then use them! (Just don't use a coupon to get something you didn't need just because you have a coupon.) This help me save a little bit for the new Lilly Pulitzer dress I have my eye on, and I hope it helps you save enough to get your expensive treat, too!
1. I am a crafter. And I never ever go into Michael's without a JoAnn's coupon. First, I don't always buy the paper and when I do there isn't always a Michael's flier in there. But when you walk in the store and go to customer service, there is a sign posted that reads something to the effect that we honor competitors coupons. So go to JoAnn.com and sign up for the online newsletter and coupons! Print those suckers out and leave them in your car for the next time you need a birthday gift or a craft item. You'll be surprised at how much you save.
2. I like Valpack coupons and the Reach magazine has good ones too. Some local restaurants honor their expired Valpack or Reach coupons. All you have to do is ask! I did!
3. Bed Bath and Beyond has two kinds of coupons - $10 off $30 purchase and 20% off one item. You can use them both at the same time. AND you can use expired coupons - so don't throw these away either! Save them for the next time you need something, anything - Yankee Candle, some kitchen-y or bath item you might get at Target or Kohls is now cheaper at BB&B.
4. When we were building shelving for our garage last year, Wes bought a bunch of lumber at Lowe's. We went the next weekend to Home Depot for the kids' event (I think the girls built a sailboat) and I was pricing the lumber behind me while they worked on the boat. Well wouldn't you know the wood was cheaper. So Wes bought it all again at Home Depot and since I had the Lowe's receipt with me, we could prove the prices at Lowe's so they we got the discounted price PLUS an additional 10 percent off the discount. Another instance where it pays to know the cost of things.
5. Restaurant.com is a website that offers prepaid coupons/gift cards online to local restaurants (no chains that I can see). This past week they ran a special where the coupons were $5 for $25 gift certificate. And we bought 6, 3 to a restaurant we love and 3 to new ones we wanted to try; we spent $30 to save $150. Now you must be warned that some of these coupons have a minimal spending of $35 and one coupon per family per night (just read the fine print). For my family of 4 it isn't hard to spend $35 on a meal, even without drinks. So the $35 meal will cost us $15 out of pocket plus the tip we would have had to pay anyway.
I LOVE COUPONS! Take the time to cut them out or print them out. Then organize them. Then use them! (Just don't use a coupon to get something you didn't need just because you have a coupon.) This help me save a little bit for the new Lilly Pulitzer dress I have my eye on, and I hope it helps you save enough to get your expensive treat, too!
Pictures & Photos
Since my parents have the girls this weekend, I've had a little time to do some scrapbooking. But since I hadn't done it in a while, it was time to organize my photos and then get them printed so I can scrap. Of course, one key to saving money is staying organized, whether grocery shopping with a list, scrapbooking with preselected photos, or researching product costs.
The cheapest place I can find to print photos is SNAPFISH. You buy a prepaid plan, which is good for two years and get 250 photos at 8 cents each.
Option one is to take your camera card to a store and get immediate prints - most expensive.
Option two is to take your camera card to the store and get one-hour prints - next expensive.
Option three is to upload selected photos to a store site and pick them up later - getting better.
Option four is to upload selected photos to a website and have them mailed to you - even better.
Option five is to wait for a free shipping sale at Snapfish and print your photos - cheapest!!
(Just to share my research, Shutterfly has prepaid packages as low as 10 cents each but you have to buy a huge number - and without a plan, the prints are 15 cents each, almost twice as much as Snapfish. The advantage is that you upload online and you can have them printed at Target - but you cannot use the prepaid prints for that, as they tell you in teeny, tiny print. And since you know what a CostCo junkie I am, they charge 13 cents each to print out and pick up in the store - still not as good as Snapfish. And gas to the store and back probably equals the few-dollar shipping charges online sites use.)
As I said above, you have to stay organized. One advantage with a prepaid plan is that you have to take the time to upload your photos, so you don't just hit select~ALL and print all your photos, thereby wasting SO many pictures that don't go into an album or scrapbook. The other advantage to the prepaid plan is the cost - the pictures from Snapfish are just about 1/2 the cost of other places and in some instances 1/3 the cost! Now if you need pictures in a hurry, CostCo or SAMS is probably the way to go. But again, if you are organized and just print here and there, you will have your photos printed and ready to scrap (or file) next time your girlfriends call.
Since I like to scrap, I know this bit of research has helped me - I hope it helps you as well!!
The cheapest place I can find to print photos is SNAPFISH. You buy a prepaid plan, which is good for two years and get 250 photos at 8 cents each.
Option one is to take your camera card to a store and get immediate prints - most expensive.
Option two is to take your camera card to the store and get one-hour prints - next expensive.
Option three is to upload selected photos to a store site and pick them up later - getting better.
Option four is to upload selected photos to a website and have them mailed to you - even better.
Option five is to wait for a free shipping sale at Snapfish and print your photos - cheapest!!
(Just to share my research, Shutterfly has prepaid packages as low as 10 cents each but you have to buy a huge number - and without a plan, the prints are 15 cents each, almost twice as much as Snapfish. The advantage is that you upload online and you can have them printed at Target - but you cannot use the prepaid prints for that, as they tell you in teeny, tiny print. And since you know what a CostCo junkie I am, they charge 13 cents each to print out and pick up in the store - still not as good as Snapfish. And gas to the store and back probably equals the few-dollar shipping charges online sites use.)
As I said above, you have to stay organized. One advantage with a prepaid plan is that you have to take the time to upload your photos, so you don't just hit select~ALL and print all your photos, thereby wasting SO many pictures that don't go into an album or scrapbook. The other advantage to the prepaid plan is the cost - the pictures from Snapfish are just about 1/2 the cost of other places and in some instances 1/3 the cost! Now if you need pictures in a hurry, CostCo or SAMS is probably the way to go. But again, if you are organized and just print here and there, you will have your photos printed and ready to scrap (or file) next time your girlfriends call.
Since I like to scrap, I know this bit of research has helped me - I hope it helps you as well!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Chicken, Chicken, and More Chicken
I bought 36 pounds of chicken for $28. Seriously.
I was at SAMS Club last week and had my list of things to pick up (I'm there about every 3 weeks). I was doing pretty well sticking to it with only 2 impulse buys, one of which was Christmas wrapping paper for $1, until I got to the chicken counter. There were no prices posted. A big no-no in my shopping book.
I grabbed a man working and asked him what the prices were for the whole chicken (a staple in my house, as you know) and the legs and quarters (thigh and leg together). First, I am happy to report that whole chicken was 11 cents per pound cheaper at SAMS than CostCo - down to 78 cents, so I picked up a pack of two. The next thing he scanned were the quarters, and my mommy antennae caught the look of confusion on his face from the first few packages he priced. So then he says to me, these have been marked down because the expiration date is tomorrow.
Well almost everything goes in the freezer when you shop in bulk and have only 4 people, so I picked up two packages with the next day's date and headed for the check-out. Well the chicken came up to $5.12 for 7 quarters or 7 pounds of meat (73 cents/pound)! Wes headed back to get the rest and I spent some time when I got home packaging up quarters.
Some people don't eat dark meat and that's fine for you. But my kids love legs, and dark meat is less expensive and just as easy to be creative with. It makes great chicken pot pie, chicken tacos, and chicken noodle soup or chili. It works in casseroles, as barbeque, braised in your pan or baked in a 1-dish casserole. Plus it isn't as dry.
I joked at preschool the next morning that I would be eating chicken every other day for 2 months (it isn't that bad, really, I got 9 meals of quarters and the two whole chickens). But for THAT price, it is worth going off my shopping list and taking the time to package it appropriately and update my freezer list and start thinking of recipes that include either chicken legs, chicken thighs, both or pulled meat.
Again, you know my shopping rules:
I was at SAMS Club last week and had my list of things to pick up (I'm there about every 3 weeks). I was doing pretty well sticking to it with only 2 impulse buys, one of which was Christmas wrapping paper for $1, until I got to the chicken counter. There were no prices posted. A big no-no in my shopping book.
I grabbed a man working and asked him what the prices were for the whole chicken (a staple in my house, as you know) and the legs and quarters (thigh and leg together). First, I am happy to report that whole chicken was 11 cents per pound cheaper at SAMS than CostCo - down to 78 cents, so I picked up a pack of two. The next thing he scanned were the quarters, and my mommy antennae caught the look of confusion on his face from the first few packages he priced. So then he says to me, these have been marked down because the expiration date is tomorrow.
Well almost everything goes in the freezer when you shop in bulk and have only 4 people, so I picked up two packages with the next day's date and headed for the check-out. Well the chicken came up to $5.12 for 7 quarters or 7 pounds of meat (73 cents/pound)! Wes headed back to get the rest and I spent some time when I got home packaging up quarters.
Some people don't eat dark meat and that's fine for you. But my kids love legs, and dark meat is less expensive and just as easy to be creative with. It makes great chicken pot pie, chicken tacos, and chicken noodle soup or chili. It works in casseroles, as barbeque, braised in your pan or baked in a 1-dish casserole. Plus it isn't as dry.
I joked at preschool the next morning that I would be eating chicken every other day for 2 months (it isn't that bad, really, I got 9 meals of quarters and the two whole chickens). But for THAT price, it is worth going off my shopping list and taking the time to package it appropriately and update my freezer list and start thinking of recipes that include either chicken legs, chicken thighs, both or pulled meat.
Again, you know my shopping rules:
- make a list
- only go when you absolutely have to have it
- don't go hungry
- don't impulse shop
So this was the exception to my rule, buying something off my list, but it DID fall into earlier advice that it is OK to buy clearance products, such as meat, fruits, or vegetables - so I broke a rule to follow my own advice.
And by the way, I showed my brother & sister in law my chicken trick - to bake a chicken, make a casserole with the leftovers and then make stock with the bones, all in one afternoon! I think it might take off!
Friday, January 16, 2009
You Can Get It All on EBAY
I tend to get excited about things I like, and EBAY is one of those things. You can get just about anything and you can sell just about everything. And I DO! I get rid of my old stuff and buy some new stuff - clothes for me, the girls, stuff for the house, coupons and there are good brands that I like, such as Gymboree, Vera Bradley & Lilly Pulitzer! And best of all I can do it whenever I want money to get my new stuff (I'm not one of those people who make a job out of buying discontinued/used stuff and reselling it - I just sell the girls' clothes and my stuff).
It IS more work than consigning. It IS more work than a garage sale. And it is DEFINITELY more work than donating. But you get more money for your efforts, and that means you can get more stuff (and not just eBAY stuff - lots of small businesses use PayPal, like Custom Crops). And with PayPal, you can sit on the money or transfer it to your bank account, if you don't use all that you make.
I don't garage sale because people who do are looking for bargains and probably won't pay $10 for an outfit from Gymboree or $40 for a gently used Vera bag. When you consign, you get 40% of what THEY want to sell it for - where's YOUR input?? And handing down to friends is nice, as is donating to the cause of your choice. But I do that with things that don't sell first on eBAY.
My husband is better at taxes than I am so he tells me we either get the money now or get it back with a deduction. But a tax deduction doesn't mean a refund, and it doesn't help me get the new VB patterns that came out this week or use all my Gymbucks before January 25. So here are some of my tips to help you get started cleaning out your junk and buying new treats when YOU want them!
1. RESEARCH - whether you are buying or selling on eBAY, make sure you research what you want to get or get rid of. To do so, search for your item using a regular search option and then search for it again using the completed sales option in ADVANCED SEARCH. The list populates with all completed sales using your key words, whether they sold or not. Again, being aware of prices makes you a better consumer.
2. SELLING HINTS - first organize all your sale items and then take good pictures. It takes less than 10 minutes to list an item (and borrow the text from me to get started). Describe liberally and accurately. And do it while you are watching TV at night or before your kids wake up or whenever you want. Just keep in mind there are best days & times for your auctions to end, and lures like free shipping motivate buyers (but I don't do any of that and still make money). With few exceptions, everything I list starts at 99 cents, and I try to take advantage of any promotions eBAY offers its sellers (presently sellers get 1/2 price listings for 1 and 3-day auctions). If you aren't comfortable with my way, for a small fee you can put a reserve price on your auction that means you don't have to part with it if you don't get your minimum reserve. You CAN list on eBAY if you can read. It is VERY easy to do - and if you are intimidated, ask me for help.
3. BUYING HINTS - when you search for what you want, select buy it now and then select the dropdown option "price plus shipping lowest first." That should get you the best deal. If there's an option to make a best offer, don't just buy it now, make an offer~ the worst they can say is no thanks. If you want to take a chance with auctions, bid your highest price and don't go over it if you get outbid. It is easy to get caught up in the thrill of the bidding. And chances are another item just like it will be up for auction soon, if it isn't already there. Another hint is to try misspellings for common brands - like Lily Pulitzer or Hannah Anderson - sometimes you get good deals that way.
I just made $275 this week, and after I paid my fees (about $40 I think for both eBAY & PayPal), I bought new Ginghers, a Mirabilia pixie pattern to stitch, a Lilly skirt for Maggie and a Lilly dress for Maggie, which puts about $150 back in my checking account towards the new Vera & my Gymbucks. This helped me, and I hope it helps you, too!
It IS more work than consigning. It IS more work than a garage sale. And it is DEFINITELY more work than donating. But you get more money for your efforts, and that means you can get more stuff (and not just eBAY stuff - lots of small businesses use PayPal, like Custom Crops). And with PayPal, you can sit on the money or transfer it to your bank account, if you don't use all that you make.
I don't garage sale because people who do are looking for bargains and probably won't pay $10 for an outfit from Gymboree or $40 for a gently used Vera bag. When you consign, you get 40% of what THEY want to sell it for - where's YOUR input?? And handing down to friends is nice, as is donating to the cause of your choice. But I do that with things that don't sell first on eBAY.
My husband is better at taxes than I am so he tells me we either get the money now or get it back with a deduction. But a tax deduction doesn't mean a refund, and it doesn't help me get the new VB patterns that came out this week or use all my Gymbucks before January 25. So here are some of my tips to help you get started cleaning out your junk and buying new treats when YOU want them!
1. RESEARCH - whether you are buying or selling on eBAY, make sure you research what you want to get or get rid of. To do so, search for your item using a regular search option and then search for it again using the completed sales option in ADVANCED SEARCH. The list populates with all completed sales using your key words, whether they sold or not. Again, being aware of prices makes you a better consumer.
2. SELLING HINTS - first organize all your sale items and then take good pictures. It takes less than 10 minutes to list an item (and borrow the text from me to get started). Describe liberally and accurately. And do it while you are watching TV at night or before your kids wake up or whenever you want. Just keep in mind there are best days & times for your auctions to end, and lures like free shipping motivate buyers (but I don't do any of that and still make money). With few exceptions, everything I list starts at 99 cents, and I try to take advantage of any promotions eBAY offers its sellers (presently sellers get 1/2 price listings for 1 and 3-day auctions). If you aren't comfortable with my way, for a small fee you can put a reserve price on your auction that means you don't have to part with it if you don't get your minimum reserve. You CAN list on eBAY if you can read. It is VERY easy to do - and if you are intimidated, ask me for help.
3. BUYING HINTS - when you search for what you want, select buy it now and then select the dropdown option "price plus shipping lowest first." That should get you the best deal. If there's an option to make a best offer, don't just buy it now, make an offer~ the worst they can say is no thanks. If you want to take a chance with auctions, bid your highest price and don't go over it if you get outbid. It is easy to get caught up in the thrill of the bidding. And chances are another item just like it will be up for auction soon, if it isn't already there. Another hint is to try misspellings for common brands - like Lily Pulitzer or Hannah Anderson - sometimes you get good deals that way.
I just made $275 this week, and after I paid my fees (about $40 I think for both eBAY & PayPal), I bought new Ginghers, a Mirabilia pixie pattern to stitch, a Lilly skirt for Maggie and a Lilly dress for Maggie, which puts about $150 back in my checking account towards the new Vera & my Gymbucks. This helped me, and I hope it helps you, too!
Monday, January 12, 2009
My Name is Jenni, and I'm a CostCoholic
Well, anyone who knows me probably knows that I love shopping in bulk. I don't like running out of things - I have stashes of chocolate in my car, in every room in the house, in my desk at preschool, I have enough cardstock to finish every album I've started scrapping, and I REALLY like buying pork loin whole. But probably not why you're thinking...
I think every family should shop in bulk (and avoid ukrops, but that's just me). I also think CostCo has the best prices on things, with few exceptions, with WalMart running a close second. I think many people are put off by wholesale clubs because they come out spending $150 and only got 10 things. Just remember the likelihood you'll be getting those same 10 things during your next trip is very low. And while CostCo is pretty bare bones, boxes only if you ask, remember that you pay for all the perks you get at nicer grocery stores in the form of higher prices. Here are some of my ideas to save even more at CostCo.
A few years ago I tallied up in my head about how much I was spending there per month and realized that I would make back the cost of the membership upgrade ($50). Besides, if you are unhappy, they refund the cost, so it costs me nothing to try, I figured. The upgraded membership gives you extra hours in the morning, which I don't need, and 2% back on all purchases in the form of an annual rebate check. So the minimum I'd have to spend to make the cost of the upgrade is $2500/year or about $100 per paycheck. And CostCo keeps track of what you buy and how much, so all you have to do is ask someone at Member Services. Anyway...
I found that I was motivated to do more shopping there because it was like getting 1/2 VA sales tax back with each purchase, just like a good rewards credit card (CostCo also offers an AmEx with a rebate but I'm not an advocate for it). I buy as much as I can at CostCo! In addition to almost all of my consumables, I purchase birthday gifts, furniture, tires (these are from SAMS, actually), fresh flowers, magazines (save 30%!!), pajamas, and batteries, just to name a few.
Here's a sample of my grocery shopping - every single week I buy skim milk, organic milk, half and half, organic eggs, bananas, 1 fresh vegetable, 1 fresh fruit, 1 - 2 meats, US Weekly & People. I then buy what is on my list (could be anything - at present it is rawhide, can mushrooms and Cascade). Unless it is the deal of the century, don't get anything that isn't on your list - if you still have to have it, put it on your list for the next shopping trip so it is in your budget (budgets are a good thing).
Finally, flip through the coupons that CostCo sends in the mail. Rip out the ones you use and give the rest to a friend (or toss them) - you won't be tempted to impulse-buy then and really, no one is too good for coupons. As a matter of fact, I just bought oatmeal (60 packs) for Lily for only $7 with my latest installment of coupons - 11 cents for her breakfast?? Am I for real?
I think every family should shop in bulk (and avoid ukrops, but that's just me). I also think CostCo has the best prices on things, with few exceptions, with WalMart running a close second. I think many people are put off by wholesale clubs because they come out spending $150 and only got 10 things. Just remember the likelihood you'll be getting those same 10 things during your next trip is very low. And while CostCo is pretty bare bones, boxes only if you ask, remember that you pay for all the perks you get at nicer grocery stores in the form of higher prices. Here are some of my ideas to save even more at CostCo.
A few years ago I tallied up in my head about how much I was spending there per month and realized that I would make back the cost of the membership upgrade ($50). Besides, if you are unhappy, they refund the cost, so it costs me nothing to try, I figured. The upgraded membership gives you extra hours in the morning, which I don't need, and 2% back on all purchases in the form of an annual rebate check. So the minimum I'd have to spend to make the cost of the upgrade is $2500/year or about $100 per paycheck. And CostCo keeps track of what you buy and how much, so all you have to do is ask someone at Member Services. Anyway...
I found that I was motivated to do more shopping there because it was like getting 1/2 VA sales tax back with each purchase, just like a good rewards credit card (CostCo also offers an AmEx with a rebate but I'm not an advocate for it). I buy as much as I can at CostCo! In addition to almost all of my consumables, I purchase birthday gifts, furniture, tires (these are from SAMS, actually), fresh flowers, magazines (save 30%!!), pajamas, and batteries, just to name a few.
Here's a sample of my grocery shopping - every single week I buy skim milk, organic milk, half and half, organic eggs, bananas, 1 fresh vegetable, 1 fresh fruit, 1 - 2 meats, US Weekly & People. I then buy what is on my list (could be anything - at present it is rawhide, can mushrooms and Cascade). Unless it is the deal of the century, don't get anything that isn't on your list - if you still have to have it, put it on your list for the next shopping trip so it is in your budget (budgets are a good thing).
Finally, flip through the coupons that CostCo sends in the mail. Rip out the ones you use and give the rest to a friend (or toss them) - you won't be tempted to impulse-buy then and really, no one is too good for coupons. As a matter of fact, I just bought oatmeal (60 packs) for Lily for only $7 with my latest installment of coupons - 11 cents for her breakfast?? Am I for real?
In the end, to become a CostCoholic like me, or really, just to maximize your savings at a CostCo, consider the following:
- purchase the upgraded membership - this should be prorated if you're already a member
- make a list of exactly what you are planning to purchase (making a freezer list and a menu afterwards helps, too - again, another blog for another day)
- use your CostCo coupons for items you use regularly and stock up
- plan ahead for purchases at Christmas or special occasions for gifts or flowers
- don't get sucked in buying things NOT on your list (I bet it will be there next week)
And those tips work for ALL stores, not just CostCo.
PS - what really makes CostCo fun for me is that annual rebate check. I remember in 2006 I bought 4 Disney costumes for my girls right before our Disney trip, something I wouldn't have put in my budget. This last year I only used $50 of it, paid for my groceries with the rebate check and they gave me the balance in CA$H! Which I used to buy a new Vera bag :)
If any of this helps you, let me know what treat you get with YOUR rebate check!!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Not-So-Sloppy Seconds
So I remember when I was growing up, my parents taught us not to waste much. Not to be environmentally friendly or particularly financially savvy, just doing so because it was right. Things like shopping at the discount bread store (always got Hostess cupcakes as a treat there), saleable but bruised fruits and vegetables to make pies or soups, and meat, for starters.
(Mom is adding the PS here - try garage sales for new-to-you toys and spare winter coats - much cheaper than consignment shops. Now I haven't done much of this but I DO shop and sell EBAY, another post for another day.)
I know some people, even my husband, would turn up his nose at some of this. But people before us and those not as fortunate live off the land and use all of what they have. Since when did we get so self-righteous? A store won't sell you something that would make you sick, for pete's sake. Take a deeper look into what I'm saying:
First, consider the discount bread store - I LIVE for it at Myrtle Beach outlets!! They sell frozen garlic bread and goldfish and milanos and GODIVA there (among other things, but I just highlight the important things). We all know bread freezes just fine. And so does chocolate (if you can't eat it fast enough, though how that could happen, I'm not sure, but anyway). And I don't know many preschoolers who have noticed their goldfish are approaching the sell-by date. So the next time you wander by, pop on in and get some of the things on your grocery list!
Next I mentioned bruised fruit and vegetables. Usually these are on a layered cart in the back of the store within the produce section. Fresh is always better than frozen and especially canned - have you looked at the amount of sodium in canned vegetables?? Brown bananas make terrific banana bread. Bruised apples make a yummy pie (have an easy recipe for that one, too). Bruised vegetables can be added to a vegetable soup or boiled in a stock, even cooked in a chicken potpie. I think that stores mark down produce early in the morning.
But you don't have to just buy discounted produce - be creative with what is starting to go bad in your house.
Finally the discount meats - I remember when we (Wes, few-month old Lily, and me) lived in Phoenix, I'd go to Frye's Marketplace, which is owned by Kroger, and I'd go right at 8:30 in the morning. That's when the meat manager would mark down meat and I would follow her around to buy my meat for the week. Anything that not used in 48 hours would go into the freezer and added to my freezer list posted on the side of the fridge. Discount meat is just meat that is within 24 or 48 hours of the sell-by date, not the eat-by date - and beef can go much longer than fish, chicken, and pork. Wes calls it aging; with beef I call it buying a better cut of meat for the same price as a cheaper cut.
A final thought about meat - buy a fresh turkey the week after Thanksgiving and freeze it for a cold weekend in February or buy a ham the week after Easter and save it for May (hams have lots of preservatives and last a while longer in the fridge, if you have the room).
By both buying discounted consumables and using all of what I have, I'm getting more for my money or saving money that I can use on other treats, like that Godiva at the Pepperidge Farm outlet at the beach. Hope this works for you, too!
(Mom is adding the PS here - try garage sales for new-to-you toys and spare winter coats - much cheaper than consignment shops. Now I haven't done much of this but I DO shop and sell EBAY, another post for another day.)
I know some people, even my husband, would turn up his nose at some of this. But people before us and those not as fortunate live off the land and use all of what they have. Since when did we get so self-righteous? A store won't sell you something that would make you sick, for pete's sake. Take a deeper look into what I'm saying:
First, consider the discount bread store - I LIVE for it at Myrtle Beach outlets!! They sell frozen garlic bread and goldfish and milanos and GODIVA there (among other things, but I just highlight the important things). We all know bread freezes just fine. And so does chocolate (if you can't eat it fast enough, though how that could happen, I'm not sure, but anyway). And I don't know many preschoolers who have noticed their goldfish are approaching the sell-by date. So the next time you wander by, pop on in and get some of the things on your grocery list!
Next I mentioned bruised fruit and vegetables. Usually these are on a layered cart in the back of the store within the produce section. Fresh is always better than frozen and especially canned - have you looked at the amount of sodium in canned vegetables?? Brown bananas make terrific banana bread. Bruised apples make a yummy pie (have an easy recipe for that one, too). Bruised vegetables can be added to a vegetable soup or boiled in a stock, even cooked in a chicken potpie. I think that stores mark down produce early in the morning.
But you don't have to just buy discounted produce - be creative with what is starting to go bad in your house.
Finally the discount meats - I remember when we (Wes, few-month old Lily, and me) lived in Phoenix, I'd go to Frye's Marketplace, which is owned by Kroger, and I'd go right at 8:30 in the morning. That's when the meat manager would mark down meat and I would follow her around to buy my meat for the week. Anything that not used in 48 hours would go into the freezer and added to my freezer list posted on the side of the fridge. Discount meat is just meat that is within 24 or 48 hours of the sell-by date, not the eat-by date - and beef can go much longer than fish, chicken, and pork. Wes calls it aging; with beef I call it buying a better cut of meat for the same price as a cheaper cut.
A final thought about meat - buy a fresh turkey the week after Thanksgiving and freeze it for a cold weekend in February or buy a ham the week after Easter and save it for May (hams have lots of preservatives and last a while longer in the fridge, if you have the room).
By both buying discounted consumables and using all of what I have, I'm getting more for my money or saving money that I can use on other treats, like that Godiva at the Pepperidge Farm outlet at the beach. Hope this works for you, too!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Price is Right, Anyone?
So recently I went to BJs with my friend in NC, just to check things out (we don't have close in Richmond). As a dedicated member of SAMS and CostCo, I had to check out the competition, and I was pretty impressed. But she was AMAZED that I knew how much things cost off the top of my head. (The girls' shampoo costs $1.92 at Target but a 4-pack at BJs cost only $5.99 - I bought it). She asked me if I liked the game show The Price Is Right - and who doesn't like the longest running game show of all time?
Knowing how much things cost has always made sense to me. If you read my earlier post about chicken, you know fresh chicken is presented in a variety of ways. So think about all the different stores around you and by how much the prices vary (or maybe you haven't but you should). I am not saying compare whole chicken to cut up chicken to boneless/skinless chicken, though you could and will find that whole chickens are cheaper, but I digress...
First off always compare apples to apples - this means to compare price per pound or per ounce - sometimes though not often the smaller quantity is better deal. On each price sticker on the shelf of a store is a small box that lists the cost per unit. For items you buy regularly, record them and get to know where you need to buy what, and go there!
EXAMPLE: Organic Milk
CostCo 3-pack = $9.99
SAMS quart = $2.82
Kroger = $3.89
Target = $3.89
By my calculations, the best place to buy organic milk this week is SAMS - if you're a member of both - but if not, CostCo, by almost 55 cents, which is 15% higher (if I did my math right) at Target or Kroger. That adds up to hundreds of dollars per year, just with MILK!
Here's another example - bananas cost 60 cents per pound at Kroger, and 3 pounds are $1.29 at CostCo (roughly 8 bananas). You might tell me your family can't eat three pounds of bananas before they go bad. Well, there are two ways to look at it - if you have three or fewer bananas left, you can either toss them (therefore cost breaks even) or take 5 minutes (and yes, I mean FIVE) to make banana muffins using those black, mushy, squishy bananas. They taste delicious and you can whip them up while your kids set the table for you so you can have them for dessert after dinner - YUMMY!! And if you really can't spare 5 minutes for baking, just freeze them.
When I joined CostCo way back when, I took a pen and paper and marked down the price of all the meat and produce I knew I'd buy on a regular basis. I occasionally go to the grocery to pick up something Costco and SAMS don't carry (like flavored applesauce or Yoplait Whips, because we can't eat REGULAR yogurt like everyone else) and check out the prices. Sometimes sale prices or the clearance meat (I'll blog on this and the bananas later) is a better deal and you have to snap it up!
Anyway the lesson learned in this post is to chuck the idea you are saving time shopping in one place. Does ANY mom really go to the store only once per week? I'm NOT saying drive all over the place, but here's the trick:
Knowing how much things cost has always made sense to me. If you read my earlier post about chicken, you know fresh chicken is presented in a variety of ways. So think about all the different stores around you and by how much the prices vary (or maybe you haven't but you should). I am not saying compare whole chicken to cut up chicken to boneless/skinless chicken, though you could and will find that whole chickens are cheaper, but I digress...
First off always compare apples to apples - this means to compare price per pound or per ounce - sometimes though not often the smaller quantity is better deal. On each price sticker on the shelf of a store is a small box that lists the cost per unit. For items you buy regularly, record them and get to know where you need to buy what, and go there!
EXAMPLE: Organic Milk
CostCo 3-pack = $9.99
SAMS quart = $2.82
Kroger = $3.89
Target = $3.89
By my calculations, the best place to buy organic milk this week is SAMS - if you're a member of both - but if not, CostCo, by almost 55 cents, which is 15% higher (if I did my math right) at Target or Kroger. That adds up to hundreds of dollars per year, just with MILK!
Here's another example - bananas cost 60 cents per pound at Kroger, and 3 pounds are $1.29 at CostCo (roughly 8 bananas). You might tell me your family can't eat three pounds of bananas before they go bad. Well, there are two ways to look at it - if you have three or fewer bananas left, you can either toss them (therefore cost breaks even) or take 5 minutes (and yes, I mean FIVE) to make banana muffins using those black, mushy, squishy bananas. They taste delicious and you can whip them up while your kids set the table for you so you can have them for dessert after dinner - YUMMY!! And if you really can't spare 5 minutes for baking, just freeze them.
When I joined CostCo way back when, I took a pen and paper and marked down the price of all the meat and produce I knew I'd buy on a regular basis. I occasionally go to the grocery to pick up something Costco and SAMS don't carry (like flavored applesauce or Yoplait Whips, because we can't eat REGULAR yogurt like everyone else) and check out the prices. Sometimes sale prices or the clearance meat (I'll blog on this and the bananas later) is a better deal and you have to snap it up!
Anyway the lesson learned in this post is to chuck the idea you are saving time shopping in one place. Does ANY mom really go to the store only once per week? I'm NOT saying drive all over the place, but here's the trick:
- confirm prices of your consumable staples at all stores you frequent
- keep a running grocery list in 1 place (I email mine to myself) and divide it up by store
- visit that store ONLY as often as needed to reduce impulse buys
- go on a full tummy (to my car post for more on this)
- ALWAYS use your list and only stray from it if there's a super-good deal
Knowing the costs of what you consume makes you a better consumer. In the grand scheme, you wouldn't pay more money for a car just because it got free car washes every week - so don't make that mistake with your groceries.
Friday, January 9, 2009
My Car Is My Second Home
As a working mom of two girls, I spend lots of time in the car trucking kids around and running errands. One of the EASIEST ways to save money is to leave a little survival kit in the back of your car.
Well, I am generally running late, which means I haven't had time to pack snacks and drinks for the girls or myself. By keeping a pack of juice boxes, lollipops, and prepackaged snacks IN the car at all times, you end up saving money in odd places, such as
Well, I am generally running late, which means I haven't had time to pack snacks and drinks for the girls or myself. By keeping a pack of juice boxes, lollipops, and prepackaged snacks IN the car at all times, you end up saving money in odd places, such as
- going through drive-through and not ordering drinks (saves me $4/trip)
- eating in a restaurant (note that not all kid's meals come with drinks)
- shopping at the grocery
I also keep 2 boxes of crayons and 2 coloring books from the Dollar Tree for entertainment both inside the car and out.
Someone might point out to me that if you are actively trying to save money, you wouldn't be eating in a restaurant or buzzing through the drive-through. Well, to you I say you'll still save money on those impulse-buys if you shopped while you or your kids are hungry. You ALWAYS buy more if you are hungry. So drink up and fill up before you get there!
And I might point out that you CAN order fast food or eat in a restaurant occasionally, just use the drinks in the car to $ave money and ALWAYS use coupons! ValPack is my friend! But if you don't use coupons, try to go where kids eat free (Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursday night has 99 cents kids meals).
My car might not be too neat, but my survival tote has served me & my girls well - and this tip has worked for several other of my friends. Hope it works for you, too!
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
The cheapest, easiest, non-pasta/bean dinner on a budget - roast a chicken. A whole chicken is 89 cents per pound at CostCo or WalMart, so for roughly $7 you can feed your family of four twice, eek out a third meal and find yourself not wanting to pay $4.99/pound for boneless, skinless breasts EVER AGAIN.
First - bathe your chicken in the sink and remove his innards. Pat him dry, then quarter an onion and insert in the body cavity (he doesn't feel a thing). Then slice up a clove of garlic into fourths. Stab your bird in some thick places (think breast and thigh) and insert the clove in the hole. Rub with butter, salt, pepper him and shove him in the oven breast-side up (oven preset to 375, of course). Then sit down and read a magazine until it starts to smell good (try not to do chores, it ruins the atmosphere). Make easy sides during the last bit, remembering he has to rest after you take him out of the oven.
After you've eaten dinner, immediately strip the remaining meat from the bones. Put it in a zip bag and save for later in the week or freeze. Take all the bones and the carcass and dump them into a big pot. Cover with water, add vegetables like celery or carrots, another quartered onion, lots of S&P, a bay leaf and a granny smith apple, quartered, if you have it. Boil then simmer until bedtime. Stock is healthier for you than canned stuff and you can use it to eek out that third meal - soup!!
Please note the second chicken meal is a casserole of your choice, but I have plenty of suggestions if you need one. YUMMY!
If you shop in bulk like I do (and you SHOULD) and you walk out of CostCo with two chickens, consider this - if you chop up the raw chicken yourself before you freeze it, you have another meal prepped for later the next week. Pre-cut chicken is at least $1 more per pound and the cost only increases as the butcher does more work for you. Besides, I have a kindergartner missing 5 of her front teeth and the LOVES chicken legs. Did you when you were a kid?
Anyway, I imagine you'll find you're a winner with your cheap & easy chicken dinner and you might have some money leftover for Godiva!
First - bathe your chicken in the sink and remove his innards. Pat him dry, then quarter an onion and insert in the body cavity (he doesn't feel a thing). Then slice up a clove of garlic into fourths. Stab your bird in some thick places (think breast and thigh) and insert the clove in the hole. Rub with butter, salt, pepper him and shove him in the oven breast-side up (oven preset to 375, of course). Then sit down and read a magazine until it starts to smell good (try not to do chores, it ruins the atmosphere). Make easy sides during the last bit, remembering he has to rest after you take him out of the oven.
After you've eaten dinner, immediately strip the remaining meat from the bones. Put it in a zip bag and save for later in the week or freeze. Take all the bones and the carcass and dump them into a big pot. Cover with water, add vegetables like celery or carrots, another quartered onion, lots of S&P, a bay leaf and a granny smith apple, quartered, if you have it. Boil then simmer until bedtime. Stock is healthier for you than canned stuff and you can use it to eek out that third meal - soup!!
Please note the second chicken meal is a casserole of your choice, but I have plenty of suggestions if you need one. YUMMY!
If you shop in bulk like I do (and you SHOULD) and you walk out of CostCo with two chickens, consider this - if you chop up the raw chicken yourself before you freeze it, you have another meal prepped for later the next week. Pre-cut chicken is at least $1 more per pound and the cost only increases as the butcher does more work for you. Besides, I have a kindergartner missing 5 of her front teeth and the LOVES chicken legs. Did you when you were a kid?
Anyway, I imagine you'll find you're a winner with your cheap & easy chicken dinner and you might have some money leftover for Godiva!
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