holidays

Tuesday’s Tip: Take the Roadmap Challenge (Part 2)

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Well, it’s been a week since I introduced the first part of the challenge. Did you try it? How did it go? Did you notice anything about your spending habits? Were you surprised by anything? Many times we’re shocked by how much we spend. We don’t realize that those ‘little things’, the inexpensive items we buy on a whim, can actually add up to quite a bit when it happens on a regular basis. Think about what you saved in one week – and now imagine that on a slightly grander scale . . .

Which leads me to the next part of the challenge, in three steps.

Step 1: Take a good, hard look at your expense log from the past week. Is there anything you could stand to cut back on or do without? (Answer HONESTLY!!!) You may find that there are a couple of things on your list. That’s ok.

Step 2: Pick just ONE thing on your list and cut it out for the next 30 days. April 1 – 30. One month.

Step 3: Keep track of how much you save over the course of the next month.

I’m not asking you to give up every extra expense, just one. Pick one that’s the most frequent purchase. Or maybe one that’s the most unhealthy. Or the most expensive one. Whichever one you pick, do without it for the next month. On April 30, take the amount of money you saved and multiply it by 12 to see how much you can save in a year. Then ask yourself, What else could I do with that money? Pay down debt? Make an extra payment on something?? Pay something off???

Once you’ve done that, contact me and let me know what you cut out of your spending, how much you saved in a month, how much you’d save in a year, and what you learned from the experience. If you do, you’ll be entered into the contest and you could win a FREE consultation with me. You’ll get the Money Roadmap package which includes my book, a binder, and ledger paper, plus I will help you set up your own Roadmap and teach you how to use it.

There it is. The Roadmap Challenge. Try it. What do you have to lose? More importantly, what could you gain with good money management??

Good luck! I know you can do it! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Today is April 1st. Ready . . . set . . . GO!

Tuesday’s Tip: Count Your Blessings

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New Year’s Eve: easily one of the most anticipated days of the year – or one of the most dreaded. Whether we’re bidding a fond ‘farewell’ to great times or saying ‘good riddance’ to memories we’d rather forget, we tend to spend this time reflecting on the events of the past year before we look ahead to whatever awaits us during the year to come. And it isn’t always easy.

For me, I belong to the group of people who would like to tie up 2013 in a trash bag and throw it on the curb. It can rot in the dump alongside 2012. My family and I have endured enough heartache and loss in two years to last us for quite a while, so I suppose we’re hoping not necessarily for a prosperous or wonderful year, but maybe just one that doesn’t beat us up so much. And I know I’m not alone. Many people feel this way. It’s a little frightening to wonder what life has in store for us in the new year after all we’ve been through.

But as much as I might like to wash 2013 down the drain, I must also show a little gratitude for what the struggles have revealed to me. My friends supported me, even when I was at my worst. I’ve grown closer to others in my family. I appreciate and enjoy my children more. My marriage is stronger than ever. My feelings about what’s really important in life have changed for the better. And I’ve survived, which tells me I’m tougher than I thought.

So, I’m thinking that instead of feeling sorry for myself as I ring in 2014, maybe I’ll rummage through 2013, keep what I need, and toss the rest. Then I’ll start fresh in the morning and take it as it comes, grateful for all that I have. I’m not saying that I won’t grieve or feel sadness or anger, but I just won’t let it consume me. I’ll have another New Year’s Eve whenever I need it, take stock of the good stuff, get rid of the bad, and keep going.

I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions, but maybe counting my blessings every once in a while is a good start . . .

Tuesday’s Tip: It’s in the Cards

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I recently went out for breakfast with my friend, Jill, and as I settled into the booth, she slid an envelope my way. I smiled, picked it up, and asked her what this was for. She smiled back and wished me a happy birthday. I was touched by her thoughtfulness and I’m sure I blushed a little. For as often as I insist that my birthday is ‘just another day’, that I still have to get up, take care of my kids, do laundry, cook, clean, go to work, or do whatever it is I need to do – it always warms my heart when someone recognizes it. Even if just to say the words.

I thanked her and took the card in my hands. The envelope looked fancy. It had a birthday cake on the front and some retro curvy stripes on the flap. ‘Happy Birthday’ was even embossed on blue foil. I opened it up. The card itself was made of heavy blue paper, the kind used for scrapbooking, adorned with appliqués of those retro stripes and matching ribbon, ‘Happy Birthday’, and a cake with sparkly candles. It was so pretty! Inside, the message read, “Wishing you a happy birthday”. She added a personal note that made me laugh out loud. (No, I’m not going to share it with you here – it’s personal!)

Birthday Card

It really was a beautiful card and it looked handmade, so I asked her if she’d created it. That’s when she gave me that sheepish grin of hers and confessed her little secret: it was one of many greeting cards included in a large box set that she bought at a wholesale club store.

My jaw dropped. She laughed. Then she proceeded to explain that she’d discovered one of these sets a few years ago and that it was different every year. It contained cards for just about every occasion you could think of: anniversaries, weddings, babies, birthdays, sympathy, and even thank you cards. She couldn’t remember exactly how many were in the box or how much it cost, but according to her estimate, the cards averaged out to less than $1 per card. Again, my jaw dropped. Considering we readily pay $2 . . . $3 . . . $4 per card at the grocery store or a gift store, this was a great find! I couldn’t believe it! (I also made a mental note to look for it the next time I was there . . .)

Long story short . . . I was incredibly touched by the simple, yet heartfelt gesture of my dear friend. She didn’t have to give me a card for my birthday, but she did – and I felt loved. It reminded me that something as simple as a birthday wish could bring so much joy to a person’s life. We’re all busy. It’s hard to find time to give the kind of attention our friends and family deserve. But the small gesture of a card to say, “I’m thinking of you” could just make someone’s day . . . or week . . . or month . . . you get the picture.

And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune! ;D

Tuesday’s Tip: Find the Freebies

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The other day, someone mentioned my post about buying memberships, but hinted that it’s not exactly feasible for her and her family at the moment and asked me if there was something else I could recommend. There is one thing . . .

FREEBIES!

During certain times of the year, including summer, holidays, and slow months, there can be a multitude of specials the whole family can enjoy. Here are a few tips:

1) Check out coupon sites online. There are lots of sites that have things like buy 1 Get 1 sales or free products and services – just be sure to do a little research first and pick the sites that offer things you like to do.

2) Check websites of your favorite museums. Many times they’ll offer free admission on certain days of the week. Usually it’s midweek, or a day that’s typically slow for them. If you can manage a day off, it’s worth it. There’s less traffic and smaller crowds to deal with!

3) Many communities are now offering events like ‘Movies in the Park’ or summer festivals that offer free admission. Sometimes you can even bring your own food and picnic there.

4) Research places that offer free things for students. You’d be surprised how many places will give kids a price break if they bring their student ID!

5) Last, but not least, check out websites for free things to do in your area or a closer, major city. Type something like free things to do in fill in the city name here and see what happens.

The point is, you can have a good time without completely emptying your wallet. If a membership isn’t in the cards for you right now, that’s ok. But you don’t have to stay at home everyday wondering what to do to keep your kids from murdering each other. Yes, it takes a little bit of effort, but here’s another tip: if you’re part of a social network, see what you’re friends are up to, what they’re doing, and where they’re going. You might find some good ideas and great deals.

Happy summer!

Take Control . . .

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The new year is close at hand and if you, or someone you know, needs some help gaining control over everyday finances, now is the time to order “The Money Roadmap: You choose the destination and the way!”

For many people, January 1 means a new start, a fresh start, and it’s possible with your finances, too. By beginnning in January, you have the entire year ahead of you to take control of your money and make the most of it. You’ll learn how to prioritize your necessities, weed out what you can live without for a while, set up your very own Roadmap according to your situation, and use it throughout the year.

To order, please visit “The Book” page of the website. There, you can quickly order the book and have it shipped directly to you. Or you can order it through amazon.com, where it’s eligible for free Super Saver shipping.

Happy holidays to you and yours. I wish you financial success in 2013 and beyond . . .

Tuesday’s Tip: Holiday Feasts

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One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is EAT! I make meals or goodies that I don’t normally make . . . friends and family do the same . . . and whenever we get together to celebrate the holidays, sometimes we end up acting more like grazing cows than humans. Don’t get me wrong. Our family Christmas feast is a full-on, sit-down, stuff-your-face event with all of our favorite foods. But other social gatherings offer a help-yourself-as-many-times-as-you-can selection of foods and before you know it, you’ve filled your plate five times in one evening. Oh well. It doesn’t happen very often, right? Right?!

So, what does eating have to do with saving money? Well, as anyone can tell you, preparing for a holiday feast can get pretty expensive, not to mention stressful, especially if it’s left up to one or two people. Everyone knows someone who insists on taking care of absolutely everything, while others don’t seem to mind letting everyone else do all the work. So, for those of us that fall somewhere in the middle, it helps to share the responsibilities of preparing the meal. If you’d like to try divvying up all the work among family or friends, but don’t know exactly how to go about doing it, here are a couple of strategies that might work for you.

First, let each family or guest make their own favorite dish or two to bring to the table. Or, if you’re like my family and you already know who-likes-what, simply count up the number of different favorites and then split them up evenly among everyone. Then again, there’s my dad who insists on buying the shrimp, but doesn’t want to cook it! LOL (Love you, Dad!)

Second, try letting each family pick a part of a multi-course meal: appetizer, main dish, dessert, or drinks. For example, we have something called “Neighbor Night” and four families get together on a somewhat regular basis. Well, at least we try. And we’ve agreed to rotate responsibilities whenever we get together. For instance, whoever is hosting the party at their house provides all the drinks. The other three families then supply the rest, and it changes with every party. That way no one is stuck with the same thing every time.

With the economy the way it is right now, I don’t know too many people who can foot the entire bill on a huge holiday gathering. But then again there’s just something fun, exciting, and comforting about sharing a meal with the people we love and sharing our favorite things with them all. It’s not only easier on the wallet, but also less stressful knowing it’s not all on our shoulders. And who knows, you just might discover something new about yourself, your family, friends, and oh yeah . . . food!

Yum!

Tuesday’s Tip: Beware the Ads

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‘Tis the season to spend money . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la la la . . . Getting ripped off isn’t funny . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la la la . . . Tell the cashier that you’re watching . . .  Fa la la . . . la la la . . . la la la . . . And be careful what you’re charging . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la . . . la . . . la!

Ah yes, the season of giving is upon us. It’s that time of year when we all gather ’round the blazing fire, sing carols, share our favorite foods and memories, and bask in the warmth and love of our families.

‘Tis also the season for long checkout lines, cranky customers, outrageously ridiculous retail hours, and headaches from trying to keep track of all the holiday sales and the lengthy receipts that accompany the trips to the mall.

It’s an exhilarating time of year, filled with good cheer (for the most part) and the satisfaction of seeing the excited faces of our loved ones as they open the gifts we’ve picked out especially for them. We’d love to buy something for everyone . . . and thus begins our quest to find the perfect gift at the right price so we don’t end up in the poorhouse. Every year I watch the news reports come in about how much people are spending and I’m inclined to believe that Black Friday for the stores puts everyone else in the red.

There are things you can do to survive the season, however. First, you can apply your willpower. (If you don’t have any, I strongly suggest you get some . . . quickly.) Second, you can buy my book or take my seminar and learn how to save up enough money throughout the year to cover your holiday expenses. (Yes, of course it’s a shameless plug, but what do you expect? :)) Third, you can learn how to read and understand store ads so you can get the most for your money without being taken for a ride.

For example, “2 for $15” is not the same as “Buy 1, get 1 free”. If it says, “2 for $15” you can usually buy 1 for just $7.50. You don’t always have to buy 2 to get that price. It’s a marketing strategy to move merchandise by getting consumers to buy more than 1, thereby spending more money. That’s not the case with “Buy 1, get 1” sales. If an item is normally $40 and it’s being advertised as a “B1G1” item, then you must buy 2 in order for the price to average out to $20 each. See the difference?

Some stores offer a percentage, such as 10%, 15%, or 20% off your total purchase. Take a close look at the ad though. You may not be able to get 20% off unless you spend a certain amount, like, say, $100. If you intend to spend that much at one store, $20 off is nice, but if you’re going for just one or two items you may not get any savings at all.

And if you use a coupon for anything that you buy, whether it be merchandise or food, check the coupon closely for any restrictions or conditions. I recently wanted to use a coupon at the grocery store and realized, too late, that I could only save the printed amount when I bought both of the items pictured. It wasn’t a “save 75¢ on this or that”, it was a “save 75¢ on this and that”. Ugh.

With all of the goofy new shopping hours to accommodate those people who just can’t seem to wait until 8 am, be careful to read their ads. The fantastic price on that TV, video game system, or automatic whatever-it-is may not be honored by the time you get to the store at 10 am. That price was only good from 1 am to 4 am. Sorry . . .

Or they may only have 3 of them and if you’re not waiting in line 3 days ahead of time, forget it . . .

Or you may only be allowed to buy 1 or 2 to get that ‘special’ price . . .

So . . . my advice? ALWAYS read the fine print on store ads and circulars. And when in doubt, ask at the checkout or ask a manager to clarify. You’re a savvy shopper, my friend. And you have a right to know. You also have the right to save a little dough. Then you can pat yourself on the back, relax, and enjoy the holidays with everyone you love. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway . . . ?