saving money

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 . . . ?

Tuesday’s Tip: Don’t Bet On It

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This morning, my husband told me that he and some buddies at work were going to pitch in (a buck each) and play the lottery this week. “How much?” I asked. “$250 million,” he said. Not bad. Oh, what we could do with that much money, right? Admit it, you’ve thought the same thing at some point in your life. We all have. Who wouldn’t love to win the lottery?

What’s interesting to note, however, is what some people may sacrifice to increase their odds of winning.

I once stood in line behind a man who tossed fifty dollars on the counter and handed over several sheets of official lottery paper with all the bubbles filled in. I could tell by the slightly tattered edges and bent corners that they’d been used many times. And I wondered how often he sacrificed his fifty to the lottery gods . . . once a month? Once a week? Twice a week? And had he ever won anything? The cashier ran the papers through the machine, rang him up, gave him his pile of bubble sheets and tickets, then said goodbye – and called him by name. Oh my. I then stepped up to the counter, handed over my one dollar bill and asked for the computer to choose my numbers. (What?! Can’t I play, too?) The jackpot was one of the highest on record . . . I had to try. Ah, the lure of easy money. So tempting . . .

But it got me wondering . . . just what are the odds of winning? What is the likelihood that someone would win the big jackpot? Just how possible is it to beat disgustingly overwhelming odds and get rich quick? A better question might be ‘what other things are more likely to happen than winning the lottery’? Well, let’s see. You have a greater chance of being struck by lightning . . . dying from a bee sting or even some disease that will eat at you from the inside out . . . ending up on death row . . . and dying in a car crash on your way to buy the ticket . . . than you do of winning the jackpot. Some people believe that there are ways to increase your chances of winning by choosing the same numbers every time, studying the recurrence of numbers, avoiding certain numbers, or picking ones that aren’t popular. If you ask me, the only thing that increases is the amount of the jackpot.

All kidding aside, what’s really scary is how much some people actually fork over for their chance to win big. Gas money. Food money. Rent money. All in the hopes of striking it rich. I’m all for a little fun, but not if it means putting the needs of my family at risk. Sure, it’s fun to dream, but dreams alone don’t pay the bills or feed your children and not winning will get old pretty quickly. So, if you’re thinking of throwing your hat into the lottery ring, be realistic about your chances and just make sure you’re in it for fun.

Tuesday’s Tip: The Electric (Bill) Slide

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Ok, admittedly, I’m using Tuesday’s Tip this week to vent a pet peeve, but hey – it’s my website and I’ll crab if I want to . . .

Here’s a thought: TURN OFF LIGHTS in rooms or areas of the house that you’re not using. I know, duh, but how many times have I walked around my house turning off lights because no one seems to know how?!?! Sigh. And, really, it’s the poor laundry room light that gets hit the hardest. It’s the first one to go on when we walk into the house from the garage and it always seems to be the last one that’s remembered – usually by me. And of course it’s also the hardest one to replace. What a pain in the neck! But because it’s so badly neglected, it needs to be changed most often. The upstairs lights are next in line to be frequently forgotten. My kids left for school one morning and I walked around the upper level and literally turned off all 3 bedroom lights, the hall light, the foyer light, and the one in the bathroom. The basement light also has its fair share of neglect. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve called downstairs to see if anyone actually was there only to be met with silence. So, what is there to think about when it comes to simply flipping a switch, hmm? It’s really not that difficult. You turn it on when you walk in the room, therefore you turn it off when you leave the room. I think that’s pretty simple. Apparently, however, I’m the only one in my house that thinks so . . .

Here’s another tip (actually given to me by a rep from the electric company): UNPLUG items you don’t use on a regular basis. Obviously, we’re not going to unplug things like the fridge, computers, or TVs, but other appliances use energy even when they’re not turned on. It got me thinking, so I toured the house looking for small electrics that were plugged in, but not in use, or that we didn’t use on a very regular basis. As it turns out, we had about 15 or so items that were sucking juice from the outlets, but weren’t using it. Things like the document shredder, a space heater that we hadn’t used in 6 months, the air hockey table, can opener, wine cork remover, decorative lights in the china hutch that hadn’t been turned on in years, a couple of lamps that never get used, a portable stereo, decorative lamps in the kids’ rooms that haven’t been used since we installed ceiling units 7 months ago, a pencil sharpener, and other various chargers for phones or gadgets were all plugged in, but sitting idle. So do you know what I did? I unplugged them all. I can’t imagine that we’ll be saving a whole lot just by killing the feed on these things, but you never know. And any savings is better than none.

While these may not be tips that save you thousands per year, I hope they give you something to think about – especially in light of the recent news of rate hikes by the electric company. Ick. So you may want to do a sweep of your house, too, unplug what you don’t constantly need, and make a conscious effort to turn things off when not in use. It’s worth it to do watt-ever we can to save a little current-cy.

Tuesday’s Tip: The Insurance Game

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I shudder at the mere thought of having to shop for car insurance. And it irks me that some people don’t “play nice”. In the end, many times it’s the unsuspecting (trusting) consumer that loses. The good news is: it doesn’t have to be that way!

Several years ago, my husband and I noticed that our car insurance rates kept rising, even though we were getting older, as were our cars, and our driving records were good. We had our cars and home insured together with one company so as to take advantage of the discount. We paid on time, didn’t have any tickets or accidents, didn’t drive anything fancy, lived in an area with low risk . . . and yet, every time we called to inquire about our ever-rising rates we were given some ridiculous mumbo-jumbo. “But let me see what we can do for you, since you’re such loyal customers,” they’d say. Well, to say the least it wasn’t much. And with the next bill, the rates increased again. Sigh.

Then my husband was in an accident that totaled his car. He got the ticket even though the truck driver admitted fault and it was eventually thrown out in court. (I’ll spare you the disgusting details of the entire ordeal, mainly because I wouldn’t be able to see the computer screen through the tears.) Needless to say, our insurance rates skyrocketed after that incident and we were appalled by the treatment we’d received, so we made the decision to go elsewhere for insurance.

Easier said than done. It’s true. But, we were determined, so we took our time and really investigated different companies, their policies, and the rates. We got several quotes and finally settled on a company and agent that gave us everything we needed, treated us with respect, and helped us save over $800 per year. I can’t tell you how incredibly satisfying it was to make the call to the “other” company, listen to them sputter and plead (then admit they couldn’t match the offer!), tell them they have absolutely no clue what “good customer service” means, then arrange for our refund check to be deposited into our account. Ahhh . . .

Since then, we’ve been incredibly pleased with our agent and everyone in his office. We’ve kept an eye on our rates, making the necessary calls when we had to, but the nice thing is that our agent actually works with us, making any corrections he can and when he says the rates will go down . . . they actually do! Wow! (I know, right?)

So, if you’re in the market for insurance, or feel you might need to make a change, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Get several quotes from reputable insurance companies. Don’t just rely on 1 or 2 — get as many as 4 or 5.
  • Write down all the information and ask that he or she also send you an official quote. It should have all the information laid out for you so you can compare.
  • Get the name of the representative who assists you. In this case, name dropping can give you an advantage when you’re searching locally, especially if another agent says something different. (Yes, I learned that one from experience!)
  • Compare apples to apples. Decide what you need, then make sure all the quotes offer the same conditions. Read them carefully to make sure nothing is flying under the radar that could come back to bite you when you attempt to make a claim.
  • Make sure the coverage, premiums, and deductibles are affordable for you. (One agent said he could save me hundreds in premiums, but the coverage was less than what we needed and the deductibles would have put us in the poorhouse!)
  • Ask the agent about any and all discounts for which you might qualify. Many companies give discounts for multiple cars plus home, good drivers, good students, paying in full (instead of every month), economy cars, low mileage, or who-knows-what else. Even your profession could earn you a discount. Be sure to ask your agent — it’s a diverse group of companies out there and not everyone offers the same things.
  • Finally, and very importantly, ask around. Talk to family, friends, and neighbors about their policies, coverage, premiums, and level of satisfaction.

Once you’ve chosen a company and policy, keep an eye on your rates. If there’s an unexplained increase, call! Ask why! It’s your right to know. Businesses are trying to make a profit. It’s just the nature of the beast. And we can’t go without insurance. It’s the law. But that doesn’t mean we have to go broke just to pay for it. Many people pay more for insurance than they need to, and that’s a shame, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. There are good people out there. Good agents that will do their best to help us. We have choices. And if we have the tools to make informed decisions, it makes the process easier and the outcome better.  It’s up to us to make sure we’re not taken for a ride . . .

A special ‘thank you’ goes to my own agent, Steve, who took the time to answer a few questions – and share a few laughs . . . I truly appreciate it.

Tuesday’s Tip: All Heated Up

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Since the cold(er) weather is quickly approaching, if not already beginning to settle in, I thought maybe I’d talk about heat. Specifically, heating our humble abodes.

Gas and electric companies always seem to be crying hard times and raising our rates even though just about everyone I know is crabbing about their bills! So, in an effort to save some moola this winter, try lowering the temperature in the house a couple of degrees. We have a digital thermostat that does a very good job of regulating the temperature in our house. And with good insulation, it’s even better. We have the temperature set at 68 degrees right now, but even during the winter we don’t usually set it above 70.

Whenever we get together with friends or family and we’re just sitting around chatting (especially with the “older” crowd), the conversation never fails to include the rising cost of things. I find it slightly humorous that people are continually surprised by the fact that our heating and electric bills are lower than everyone else’s. Well, that’s because we don’t turn our house into a sauna in the wintertime. Yes, we wear sweaters and socks or slippers in the house, but we’re comfortable that way. It’s not as if we’re huddled in front of a tiny space heater under 15 layers of clothing and blankets just trying to save a few bucks. Our bills have been $75, $100, or more, lower than some of the people we know. Talk about being surprised!

True story: A couple of friends were complaining about how high their bills were during the winter. Then we went to their house for a small gathering – and nearly suffocated! We were dressed in jeans and sweatshirts, but we were greeted at the door by our friends wearing shorts and T-shirts! No joke! The house was so warm that they actually dressed as if they were headed to the beach. I’m not saying you should have the temperature so low that you can see your breath in the house, but holy cow! Really???

So . . . Don’t think it matters? Guess again. The warmer you have the house, the more your furnace kicks on to maintain that temperature. The more it works to keep your house warm, the more energy (gas and electricity) you use. The more energy you use, the higher your bills will be throughout the winter.

So before you crank up the heat, think about setting the temperature slightly lower and dressing for the season. Try a few different settings, and maybe even dropping the temp a little lower at night. I’m not talking 10 degrees, I’m talking 2 or 3 depending on where you normally have it set. Hey, I’m all for comfort, but I’d like to be able to afford food, too. And I happen to like sweaters . . .

Tuesday’s Tip: Spooky Savings

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Ah, yes. ‘Tis the season for scaring . . . and morphing into a gnarled, screaming, growling, lunatic of a monster after paying what you just paid for your kids’ Halloween costumes!

But fear not, my spooked friend. Halloween doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. (That’s just gross.) Think of it as a chance to stretch your creative muscles. And if you feel you don’t have any of those, here are some tips to (hopefully) return you back to your calm, beautiful self so you don’t look like you just stuck your finger in an electrical socket.

1: If you were blessed with creative genes, then you might want to try your hand at making the costume. I made Belle’s gown (Beauty and the Beast) for my daughter one year and she ended up using it to play dress-up with her friends for the next few years. Yes, it took time. Yes, it took some work. For me, it was worth it because she got a lot of use out of it and loved every minute of it.

2: Recycle old costumes. If you have kids of different ages, save costumes for use in the future. The younger kids may really love what the older ones have grown out of or no longer enjoy.

3: Arrange a costume trade with family or friends. Kids always seem to be fascinated with everyone else’s stuff, so why not suggest a costume circle? Get the whole gang together, display all the costumes everyone has saved, and let the kids have fun trying on different looks.

4: Use what you already have and put a different spin on it. My mom made Musketeers capes for my boys once, and this year one of them will be put to use as a magician’s cape instead. He has dress pants, a shirt, shoes, and a magical fantasy wand – all I really need to buy are some white gloves and a top hat and he’s good to go. (Lots of places sell accessories separate from the costumes so you’re not trapped into buying it all.)

5: Go Resale. Not all resale shops sell costumes, but ones that do offer them at greatly reduced prices. If you have old costumes you know you’ll never need again, bring them in and you may get a discount on something you buy. Just be sure to ask what the store’s policy is on trade-ins.

So, before you get scared pants-less as you cough up tons of cash at the register, try one (or more) of these money-saving tricks so you can enjoy the holiday treats. And above all, try to remember what Halloween is all about – shrieking kids and mummy’s hands, blood soaked fangs and fairy’s wings, witches’ cackles and sugar highs . . . sheesh! I just gave myself goosebumps . . .

Tuesday’s Tip: BYOL

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Bring Your Own Lunch! It only takes a few minutes to throw a lunch together and you can make it hearty and healthy so it fills you up for the rest of your day. If you’re short on time in the morning, try making it in the evening. Hubby will sometimes make his lunch for the next day as we’re cleaning up from dinner. He packs the leftovers, then puts it in the fridge. Done.

You may also want to consider buying a “lunch system”. I’ve seen them sold as a whole system, but you can put your own together based on what you like to eat and what kind of food containers you may already have in your cabinet. (You know, the booby-trapped one where all your plastic ware falls out when you open the door.) A lunch system consists of a thermal lunchbox or tote, a small bottle for a drink, a plastic sandwich container, and one or two other plastic containers for snacks and fruit. I even send my kids to school with a lunch system and just wash it – including the plastic spoons. I bought an all-in-one salad system that has a covered bowl complete with a snap-in dressing container and a snap-on fork. Pretty nifty for $2.50.

While you may spend a little money up front by buying some of these things (unless, of course, you have these things already!), you’ll be saving money in the long run because you won’t constantly be buying paper or plastic bags that you throw away every day. You can just wash and reuse your system. And with no daily waste, you’ll be helping the environment, too! You’ll also save money by not paying for take-out one, two, or (EEK!) five days a week. Even if you buy the cheapest things on the menu, you’ll be paying at least a few bucks, and over the course of a year, you’re spending $250, $500, $750 or more! Go to a sit-down place, and you could spend twice that much! Yikes!

So, before you order from another menu, grab a calculator. Estimate how many times per week you eat out and how much you spend on lunch. Then multiply that number by, say, 48 to 50 (depending on how many weeks of vacation you get) and see what your take-out number is. Once you’re over the shock, ask yourself, “What else could I be doing with that (fill in the number here)?”

Two Ways to Buy

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There are now two ways to purchase my book “The Money Roadmap: You choose the destination AND the way!”…

You can click on the following link, which will take you directly to my e-store:

https://www.createspace.com/3953351

Or you can go to www.amazon.com – and it’s eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping! In the Search box, type in The Money Roadmap by Amy Andersen Schilling and it will take you to the book.

Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday’s Tip: Fresh (Air) Idea

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Personally, I love fresh air. I love being outside. But if I can’t be outside, I at least want a taste of it, so I open the windows as often as I can. If it’s not too incredibly hot or cold, or you don’t suffer too badly from outdoor allergies, turn off the air and give it a try. It not only saves money on the cost of electricity to run the air conditioning, but it moves the air through the house, getting rid of the stagnant air that’s trapped (and recycled!) inside.

May I also suggest using a ceiling fan or oscillating fan to circulate the air. Sometimes that’s all that’s needed to keep things (and people!) cool. We installed ceiling fans in the spring and we’ve saved about $40 to $50 per month on our electricity bill over last summer – even with the terribly hot temperatures we’ve had! Not too shabby! 😉