Easy Financial Tips and Tools

Gift Cards: Use 'Em If You Got 'Em

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:41:00 +0000

I received some interesting information today about retail stores and gift cards and given that gift cards have become extremely popular during the holiday season, I thought I would pass it along to you. It has been reported that there will be a number of potential store closings during the upcoming months and that purchasing gift cards from any of these retailers may NOT be your safest bet. The companies/stores I was told were in jeopardy include

Circuit City ... most recent (not sure how many)
Ann Taylor - 117 stores nationwide are to be shuttered
Lane Bryant/Fashion Bug/Catherine's - to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer - 27 stores; more after January 2009
Cache - all stores
Talbots - all stores
J. Jill - all stores
GAP - 85 stores
Footlocker - closing 140 stores; more after January 2009
Wickes Furniture - closing
Levitz - closing remaining stores
Bombay - closing remaining stores
Zales - closing 82 stores; and 105 after January 2009
Whitehall - closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda - closing all stores
Disney - closing 98 stores; more after January 2009.
Home Depot - closing 15 stores; (1 in New Brunswick, NJ)
Macys - will close 9 stores after January 2009
Linens and Things - closing all stores
Movie Galley - closing all stores
Pacific Sunware - closing all stores
Pep Boys - closing 33 stores
Sprint/ Nextel - closing 133 stores
JC Penney - closing a number of stores after January 2009
Ethan Allen - closing 12 stores.
Wilson Leather - closing all stores
Sharper Image - closing all stores
K B Toys - closing 356 stores
Loews - will close some stores
Dillard's - will close some stores

If you currently have gift cards to any of these stores, you might want to use them before it's too late. If you were planning on buying gift cards to any of these stores this holiday season, you might want to rethink your purchase or tell the recipients of the gift cards to make sure and use them quickly.

On a lighter note, you might find some great deals at these stores if they really are closing and have to liquidate their merchandise and stock. As sad as it is to see these potential store closings, sometimes society has to break itself down in order to build itself up even stronger. Again, our economy always finds a way to rebound, but right now, it might be better to make informed choices with your money instead of taking chances.

How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:34:00 +0000

I have been trying to get a grip on my finances lately. I spend lots of time looking at how much I make versus how much I owe. I put numbers in spreadsheets and try to forecast out how long it is going to take me to pay off credit card debt, then I speculate what would happen if I convince someone to lower my interest rate on this credit card and that loan. Evaluating my credit cards is just frustrating because I know I am the only one to blame for the situation, but it is something that I have to do to make me feel like I have some control over my money, instead of it controlling me.

I started looking around at other people's sites to see what tips they may have for helping me with my revolving door of money anxieties and came across a Credit Card Payoff Calculator and thought I would share. I started playing with it and found it to be very useful and somewhat depressing all at the same time, because it clearly shows you how much interest you are paying. But, if you are going to play with credit cards, interest is always going to be on the opposing team.

I know there are a lot of Debt Calculators out there, but I like this one because it specifically targets credit cards, and it shows a couple of graphs, which are very conducive to visual learning.

As you can see, you can calculate your payoff two different ways. One is to input a monthly payment and one is to input the total number of months in which you would like to pay it off.

It is a free download and can be used with Microsoft Excel, Google Docs, and OpenOffice. Try it out and see if it helps you get your mind around your finances. It definitely has helped me. I should be debt free in about 92.48 years...not really, but that is what it feels like sometimes! Let's hope your debt free timeframe is a lot shorter than mine. You can download your own copy of the Credit Card Payoff Calculator here. Be sure to read the entire site entry as there are some other tips to help pay off credit card debt.

Online Coupons and Discount Codes

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:37:00 +0000

In the 1970s, I had a paper route to earn a little spending money. It was an afternoon route except for Sundays, of course. So everyday after school, I would load up my bike and deliver papers to my 100 or so customers. Wednesday and Sundays were the worst because I could only take half of the papers with me due to the coupon sections making the papers so large. It almost seems nostalgic now to think about that even though it was only 30ish years ago. Nevertheless, coupons aren't typically used the same way today as they were back then. But should they be, especially in today's economy? Well, if you haven't thought about it before, it might be worth thinking about now. After all, every little bit helps.

Fast forward a couple of decades from my paper route days, and we find ourselves in the world of the internet. More and more people are buying online, which begs to question do they have the same opportunities for coupon usage as we did way back when? The answer is yes, although it is more often times called a Discount Code or Online Coupon Code, but work just the same as the old fashion coupons clipped from the papers.

So, if you have ever found yourself at a website checkout page and see the box that says, "Enter Your Discount Code Here" and said to yourself, where the heck do I get a discount code, then it should be a sign that the codes are out there, somewhere, lurking, just waiting for you to find them.

I want to give you a couple of places to start. Again, these are only a couple of suggestions because there are many, many sites out there that offer discount codes, you just have to find them.

RetailMeNot.com offers online coupon codes for more than 20,000 stores. The website it easy to use by offering a search function as well as a front page listing of the most popular featured stores. I am sure you are bound to find something with more than 20,000 stores to choose from.

CouponAlbum.com features coupons, promotional codes, coupon codes, and free online coupons to variety of stores, and there are a lot. Their front page lists handpicked deals of the day, featured coupons, links to popular stores with the featured current promotion.

Again, these are just a couple of suggested sites to get you started, but I just wanted to plant this idea into your head as we head into the holiday season. Wouldn't it be nice to get that extra little discount for Christmas? Here's to Happy Shopping!

State of the Ecomony: Should I Panic?

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:13:00 +0000

Wow, I just checked my 401k and to say I am disappointed at its current state of affairs would be an understatement, and I am sure I am not alone in my thinking. With the Dow going up and down along with all of the other market indicators, some of you may be in panic mode right about now. So what should you do? The main thing to do is not to panic! Easier said that done, right? Well, here are some things to think about.

Check your portfolios and review where your money is and how each of those avenues is performing at the moment. If you need to tweak your allocations a bit, be wise and do what makes you comfortable, but remember that the time to buy is when stock prices are low. If you can afford it, now is the time to buy.
I would suggest NOT pulling all of your money out of the market, bank, or other money saving realms and stuffing it in coffee cans and burying them in the backyard. The economy and stock market will rebound. History proves this to be true. It may be a little scary but you will be best to ride it out. What I can guarantee is that your backyard will give you a big fat doughnut of an ROI on your investment whereas the market may scare you a bit, but will, in time, give you a positive ROI.
Evaluate your everyday spending habits right now and cut back if you need to. If you can save a little bit now, it will pay off in the long run. Please remember, the banks are insured within the limits of what the majority of the people actually have in their checking and saving accounts.

I know this sounds easier said that done, as mentioned previously, but you just have to trust the system. Our economy has always been strong and even when tested, always bounces back. Just take a deep breath and do what is comfortable for you, but whatever you do, DON'T PANIC. Make wise and educated choices, especially now.

How Much Does It Cost To Go Camping?

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:15:00 +0000

Last weekend, we went camping at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which is said to be the second largest canyon in the United States next to the Grand Canyon. I had no idea this place even existed when I moved to Texas many years ago, but I'm really glad to have found it. It is amazingly beautiful in it's own right. It is 120 miles long, as much as 20 miles wide, and has a maximum depth of more than 800 feet. Its elevation at the rim is 3,500 feet above sea level.

We had never camped there before, only done day visits for hiking and mountain biking, but we spent 3 days and 2 nights at the campgrounds this time and mainly hiked during the day. It was an amazing adventure. The only thing I didn't like about it was that, as everything does, it costs money to go there. However, I want to give you some tips on how to save money while spending time with your families at your national and state parks.

Tip 1: State Park Passes
Many state parks charge any number of fees, including entrance (resident and non-resident in some cases), parking, camping, hook-up, etc. While some of these fees are necessary and not outrageous (especially when compared to hotel and entertainment prices), some of them can actually be curtailed just a bit if you do them right. The main fee that you can curtail after a minimal initial investment is the entrance fee.

For example, our 3 day 2 night stay at Palo Duro cost us $37 for the campground fee and $16 for the entrance fee. Did you know that with a Texas State Park Pass, we could have saved the $16 entry fee not only at Palo Duro Canyon, but all State Parks in Texas? The pass costs $60 annually for one vehicle regardless of number of passengers and is good for 12 months from the time of purchase. The Texas Pass will pay for itself in 4 outings. Not too bad if you camp or visit parks a lot. And, did you know that Texas is not the only state that offers this kind of pass?

Tip 2: National Park Pass
If you and your family frequently visit state parks you may want to investigate whether or not there is a State Park Pass program you can invest in. I have included a website that lists all of the State Park Pass programs as well as a National Program that costs a bit more ($80) but gets you into any National Park in the United States and Canada.

State Park Pass Info
National Park Pass Info

Camping is a fantastic family adventure. It typically costs less than a weekend outing to a ballgame or other event, and really gives you the opportunity for quality time with our families that we so often overlook these days. Here's to you finding more ways to save money while enjoying your time in the great outdoors.

The Inexpensive Spice of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:33:00 +0000

Spices are and should be one of the cornerstones of any kitchen. Whether you use them often or not, I'll bet you have a variety of spices, including salt and pepper, in your kitchen cabinets right now. How long have they been in there may be a question you wish not to consider (I know I didn't), but you have them nonetheless.

WHAT DO SPICES AND SAVING MONEY HAVE IN COMMON?

Plenty. Spices Are Expensive! But, they sure do help make your food taste better, so we all need some (potatoes without salt? Spaghetti sauce without oregano or basil? YUK!). You may be saying to yourself, why should I buy more spices if I have a cabinet full? Well, my question to you is how long have you had them and are they still good? One article I read stated this.

Stored in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place, spices retain their potency longer than you'd think — as long as 4 years for whole spices, 2 to 3 years for ground spices, and 1 to 3 years for leafy herbs, depending on the herb.

That sounds pretty good, but again, make sure you read the first 5 words, "Stored in an airtight container." So, once you have inventoried your spice collection and determined which ones still have some "Omph" and which ones don't, you may find yourself at the local store seeking out more spices.

SPICY TIP #1: Buy spices from bulk bins and save yourself a fortune.

Recently, my boyfriend and I decided to completely restock our spice cabinet. We threw out everything and started over. We determined we had spices older than his youngest child .... who is now 10. (Yeah, I know....Eeww was my reaction too). Instead of buying all of our spices at the local grocery store which could and will cost a fortune, we bought all of our spices from bulk bins. What a savings. For example, we bought 3 ounces of basil (yes we like Italian cooking) for about $1.00. Try topping that deal in the grocery store.

SPICY TIP #2: When you throw out your old spices, just through out the spices and not the bottles. That way, you can save the containers and just replace the spices.

This tip helped us out a lot because we didn't have to spend more money on purchasing spice jars, although you may have to if your cinnamon was packed so tightly it adhered itself to the sides of the jar. Regardless, you can reuse the bottles if you wash and dry them thoroughly. So where can I get these great deals on bulk bin spices?

SPICY TIP #3: Find a store near you and have fun.

If you are lucky enough to have a Central Market, Whole Foods, Ballard Market, or something similar, you can buy your spices from the bins and save money. They keep them stocked with fresh products, so you need not worry about getting "old" spices.

Here's to spicing up your life and your food all while saving money!

Dear Financial Diary...

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:43:00 +0000

"Where did all my money go?" Tell me you have NEVER said this, and I will call you a big LIAR!!!!!! Not that I don't like you or anything, but we all need to be honest with ourselves. Have you ever felt like you were financially lost way before payday because you had no idea where all of your money went? I have felt that way many a time and here is what I did about it. I kept a financial diary for a week. As painstakingly annoying as it was, I wrote down every last cent I spent and what I spent it on. It was an eye opening experience, to say the least.

Here is what you do. Get a notebook and pen that you can put in your pocket, purse, backpack, or whatever you happen to carry your stuff around in and know where they are when you need them. Then, every time you spend any money, whether it be cash, check, check card, or credit card, write it down. Write down how much you spent, when you spent it, where you spent it, and what it was for. At the end of the week, review your entries. Review your entries for any patterns or trends to show yourself where/how/when you are spending all of your money. This is a very easy exercise and one that everyone should do when they start to feel like they are spiraling out of control financially.

Here are a few of the observations I made about myself.

I eat out WAY to much because I am too lazy to cook when I get home from work.
I spend a lot of money on junk food and sodas at work. I guess the scale in my bathroom could have told me the same thing. Ugh!
I spend a lot of time in the same stores and have discovered that I frequent those stores because I am bored and think spending money will cure my boredom. WRONG!
I am too easily influenced by friends when it comes to happy hour.
I should take my lunch to work more often and not eat out so much with my coworkers.
I need to learn how to say no to my family when they constantly want money here and there and it is not a necessity.

After my little exercise, I made conscience efforts to recognize when I started to fall into my old habits. I am not saying I never eat out, go to happy hour, give my family money, or have a soda at work, but I try to watch my money a little closer so that I can still have fun, but not at the expense of getting caught up in my little drama entitled "Where Did All My Money Go?"

I bet you will be surprised at how much money you could save by just doing a one week self-evaluation of your spending habits. Try it and see if you don't find some financial corners you can cut. Good luck!

I Can't Drive 55!

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:16:00 +0000

While on vacation over the past couple of weeks, I was thinking about how to save money while on the road. Given that we drove to and from our destination, money for gas, snacks, drinks, etc., were on my mind. So, here are my tips for a great money saving road trip or vacation.

Pack a cooler and take it with you. Take your own water, sodas, and ice with you. It will save you a lot of money in the long run. Also, if you don't have a cooler, I suggest buying a MaxCold because it DOES WORK!!!! We have still had ice in our cooler after 5 days.
Take along your own snacks for the car. If you drive anything over two hours, it is definitely worth it. Our time in the car one-way was approximately 5 hours, so we definitely made sure to have our snacks packed. It also gives you a chance to control what you eat. Healthy snacks are much better for everyone and are not always available at the roadside gas station/convenience store. And there is nothing wrong with throwing a couple of candy bars or packs of cookies in there too!
Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Driving with over- or under-inflated tires can actually cause you to use more gas, which of course adds to the cost of your trip. And, properly inflated tires add to your safety.
Drive the posted speed limits (or close to it -- not that I am telling you to speed, but I do understand if you are 1-5 MPH over). Why is this important? Because it saves you from getting a speeding ticket and those can be very expensive. And, it is much safer. Of course you can buy a radar detector starting anywhere from $35.oo up to whatever you are willing to spend, but just remember, if you get caught by Mr. Policeman or Policewoman AND you have a radar detector, you are at risk of paying more. Probably not worth it in my opinion.
Use your cruise control. Gas mileage is better the more consistent your speed is and what better way to control your speed? You paid for the feature when you bought your car....why not use it?

So, on your next road trip or vacation, try out some of these tips. I bet you will save yourself more money than you thought. Have fun!!!!

Put Money in Your Wallet, Not Your Freezer

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:39:00 +0000

Mid-August means Autumn is not far away. I like it when it starts to cool down because it means its time for comfort food, or at least my versions of comfort food...soups, stews, stoups, and of course football/tailgating food: burgers, brisket, fajitas, and/or whatever kind of steak you are so inclined to throw on the grill. So how do you combat the rising cost of food, including beef, so that your tailgating parties don't suffer? Talk to your local butcher at an authentic butcher shop, and I don't mean the guy behind the counter at your local supermarket. Buying a hind quarter or entire side of beef can save you hundreds when compared to buying the same thing in your grocery store AND, the best part is you can usually customize your order to get only the cuts of meat you use most. Here is an example of what we did last year and how much money it saved us.

We bought 130 pounds of Black Angus Beef, which turned out to be a small hind quarter, for $260, or $2 per pound. When we compared each individual cut of our hind quarter to local supermarket prices, we would have paid approximately $500. Our package included 25 pounds of T-Bone steaks, 30 pounds of ground beef mixed to order (we choose 90/10), 10 pounds of round steak, and 7 roasts, 3-5 pounds each, including Sirloin, Rump, and Pikes Peak varieties. That resulted in a savings of $240 for us and lasted us approximately 9 months (there are two of us in our household so of course, results will vary).

I know, I know. You have to put the meat somewhere don't you? The answer is yes, you do need space in your freezer and if you don't have the space or think you have the space, this idea probably won't work for you. But, think about this.

A freezer is a one time purchase that will house all of that meat and any more that you will most likely buy throughout the year and in years to come. We bought one for approximately $375 which essentially paid for itself within 18 months when you think about the savings we gained on buying the hind quarter of beef. And, because we continue to stock that freezer year after year, we continue to save money on buying beef in bulk. I also know that more and more people have more than one refrigerator in their household, typically one in the kitchen and one in the garage, so you could use those spaces collectively to store the meat.

If you are interested in investigating whether or not buying a hind quarter or side of beef is for you, here are some things to think about and be sure to ask.

How much does your butcher charge to cut and wrap your order? This is sometimes a hidden cost so be sure to ask about it up front.
Can you customize your package? Most butchers will work with you to make sure you get everything you need.
Will the butcher mix your ground beef to your specifications? Again, most butchers will mix it any way you like, from 80/20 to 93/7 (because for best taste, you need a little fat).
Are their any specials? For example, our butcher offers free bonus packages with the purchase of X pounds of meat. While it may not contain everything you always eat, I am sure there is something there you might use.
Does the butcher have any payment plans? Again, it never hurts to ask. I know one butcher shop that uses 90 days same as cash. I understand that a credit check would be needed for this, but if you can afford it, it is well worth the investment.
Does the butcher shop work with any other companies and sell freezers at a discount with your purchase?
Ask your butcher if they will sell you one or two steaks before you buy the entire package to make sure you like their product.

I hope this post has peaked your interest, and you investigate to see if there is a local butcher shop in your community that will work with you!

Holy Gas Prices, Batman!

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:26:00 +0000

Have you seen the gas prices lately? What a silly question! Of course you have.

Have you noticed that they are starting to go down? I sure hope so!

I was actually anticipating this decline because I heard on the news recently that the average price for a gallon of gas would be around $3.50 by Labor Day. Did you ever think you would be so happy to buy a gallon of gas for $3.50? Me neither, but I am now.

So, yesterday, as I was spending precious money on gasoline, driving from store to store to store, spending more money, all the while contemplating if I needed/wanted this or that, I noticed this family of 4: mom, dad, son, and daughter, putting on bicycle helmets and unlocking their bikes from the bike rack located outside of the local grocery store. I don't know why I stopped and watched, but I did. They had ridden to the store together, shopped together, and were on their way home together, all without spending any money on gasoline. What a great idea, I thought to myself, while at the same time realizing how much I wasn't willing to sacrifice to save some money. Was that really me or did I just need a push in the right direction?

The more I thought about what I had witnessed, the more pluses I realized there were. The family was not only saving money on gas, they were spending time together, they were exercising without the stigma of exercising, and they were SMILING and LAUGHING. How fun is that?

Now I realize that not everyone lives in a community or city where riding your bike or walking everywhere is feasible. However, have you even thought about it? Think about how many little trips you take here and there. Would it be possible to plan better to turn your little trips into one big trip, thus saving time and money? Could you have ridden your bike or walked instead?

These are just small ideas that could turn into big money savers with a little planning and patience. You could even lose a few pounds along the way.

I will leave you with this final thought to see what lengths you would consider going in order to save a little money and be good to yourself.

I found a website called 1 World 2 Wheels, where people are pledging to go by bike instead of car. As of this post, the counter on the website indicated that 7,351,164 miles had been pledged to be ridden by bike by 22,341 people, which is equivalent to 7,130,629 pounds of CO2 reduced, 345,504,708 calories burned, and $1,617,256 saved on gas. Just think how those numbers could continue to increase if everyone just pledged to ride a few miles to the store, to work, or to a friend's house, instead of driving.

Oh, the Money We Could Save!
(I know, a little play on words with Dr. Seuss, but who better to play on words with?)

CFLs: Are They Really a Bright Idea?

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:08:00 +0000

In late 1879, Thomas Edison held the first public demonstration of his new invention, the light bulb. But would his invention last forever? I think we all know that forever is an awfully long time and with advancements in all fields of technology, even the light bulb would probably get a face lift at some time. If you didn't already know, which I am sure is highly unlikely, there is a Congressional mandate that will ban the use of incandescent light bulbs by 2014. This means that every American will have to swap this for that.

What does that mean for you and why am I writing about it in a Money Saving post? The other day while I was visiting one of my local superstores, I ran across a sale on compact fluorescent light bulbs, otherwise known as CFLs, that are supposed to save you a lot of money if you replace your old bulbs with these new ones.

Therefore, I thought I would see what it was all about. Will it really save money if you switch now since all of us in the U.S. are going to have to switch anyway, unless there is another mandate to trump the current one? There are really two schools of thought on this, of course as there always is, the bright side vs. the dark side.

The Bright Vote

Consumer Reports states that you can save $5 per year per bulb if you switch, assuming that you use each bulb an average of 3 hours each day. And, they remind us that back in 1999, these CFLs cost between $9 and $25, but only cost about $2-$3 today, so it is cheaper now to switch than when they first came out. Additionally, those Go Green types, which I admire and wish I was more like, state that lighting makes up 20% of an average electric bill. Further, they say that the CFLs will pay for themselves because each bulb saves over $30 for the lifetime of the bulb and they last 10 times longer and use 2/3 less energy than standard light bulbs. Another source reveals that if every home in the U.S. would swap out just one light bulb for a CFL, it would eliminate the emission of 90 million pounds of greenhouse gases which equates to taking 7.5 million cars off our highways and preserve the amount of energy to light 2.5 to 3 million homes over 1 year, equating to more than $600 million in annual energy costs. One final source states that using CFLs could save about 500 pounds of coal energy and 1300 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. These are all very impressive statistics and make me consider rushing out to buy new light bulbs for every socket in my house. You can even calculate your savings with this calculator if you wish. But, before I recommend doing that, let's take a look at the dark side.

The Dark Vote

I'm not sure you need to do anything but watch this short video to find out people's thoughts of the dark side of CFLs.

Again, most of what was said in the video is confirmed by several sources concerned about safety, health risks, and mercury hazards. There is concern for small children and pregnant women when using CFLs in case of breakage, but then again, there is concern regarding pretty much everything for small children and pregnant women, so to me, this is just another in a long list. Finally, there are companies working on alternative versions of the light bulb that will eliminate the mercury hazard, so who knows what the future holds.

What to do?

Typically, I leave you with a recommendation on saving money in my posts, but dare I stray from the norm when it comes to light bulbs? I wouldn't do that to you. I think that for me, the savings I could see short term while heeding all warnings associated with CFLs are worth the switch. I may have to do it sooner than later anyway due to Congressional decisions, so why not? It's like anything else in my life. I probably should already be dead based on the number of sodas, both diet and regular, I have drank and the number of eggs I have consumed in my lifetime, the number of hours I have spent in front of a computer screen, and the number of minutes I have used on multiple cell phones while pumping very expensive gas. So, what's a little mercury going to do to me?

Sources: Consumer Reports, Natural News 1, Natural New 2, It's The Planet! Diodiot, Energy Star 1, Energy Star 2, Get Energy Smart, USA Today 12/16/07, and USA Today 4/21/08.

Save Money in the Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:40:00 +0000

I was looking through the online Wall Street Journal the other day and found an article called Cut It Out that was also published on Yahoo Finance. It contained some interesting ideas about saving money and one in particular, I decided to put to the test in my own home and encourage you to do the same.

Saving Money While Showering: The Facts

The article made the claim that you could save $102 dollars annually (if you live in Seattle) if you cut your daily shower from 15 to 10 minutes. Further, it stated that a 10 minute shower uses about 25 gallons of water compared to 37.5 gallons for the 15 minute shower. So, that is about 2.5 gallons of water per minute of showering.

Now, I had never actually timed myself in the shower to determine how much time or money I was actually using, so I put on my detective cap and went to work.

Saving Money While Showering: Her Story

Here is how my typical morning goes. I usually get up after the 2nd or 3rd efforts of my alarm clock (I love the snooze button) and go straight to the bathroom. After taking care of some other personal items, I get into the shower and am often out before the next music set on the alarm clock starts. That means I am in and out in less than 9 minutes, since most alarm clock snooze settings default to 9 minutes. Why is that, by the way? I guess we can discuss the 9 Minute Snooze Mystery on another day. Back to the issue at hand, saving money cutting down the shower time. I concluded, personally, that I was probably as lean on shower time as I could be and was doing my part on saving money in the shower. Now, my boyfriend is a completely different story.

Saving Money While Showering: His Story

Here is how his typical morning goes. He gets up after I am out of the shower. After he makes his way to the bathroom, he turns on the shower as to let the water warm up (I do this too so I guess if we were both willing to step into a cold shower, knowing it would warm up eventually, we could save some money right there, but not sure I want to start out my day that way). If he hasn't fallen back asleep while in an upright position waiting for the water to warm up, which takes about 30-45 seconds, he ventures into the actual shower. While I dress, iron if necessary, dry my hair, apply deodorant, and put on my make-up, he might be out of the shower at the end of my routine. I am not sure what he is doing in the shower in the morning because one morning, he started to dry himself off and realized he hadn't washed his hair. When asked what the heck he was doing in there, he replied, "Solving the world's problems takes time, and I do my best thinking in the shower." He has a lot of interesting anecdotes, which I can go into at a later time. Regardless, he is more on the 15-20 minute shower routine. On a side note, he also uses a loofah and body wash, which cracks me up and always knows when we are almost out, while I wouldn't have a clue since I use it less than he does. Wonder how much money we would save if we excluded the body wash from our budget?

Saving Money While Showering: Lessons Learned

Between the two of us, I think we average 12-15 minute showers from my calculations. What about you and your family? We don't have any kids so our experiment only included 2 subjects. However, I did poll a few of my friends about their family's shower lengths. One indicated that her kids take quick showers 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY! It is kind of humorous when you start examining personal habits in your life. Lesson Learned: Regardless of where you live and how much your water and energy costs, if you cut down on your shower time, you can potentially save money. This was a fun investigation, and I hope yours is just as entertaining.

Happy Showering!

Do Grocery Lists Really Help Save You Money?

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:22:00 +0000

The Case of the Missing Grocery List

I decided to hang out at my local grocery store to see what I could find out. In the area where you get a cart, I started to watch for people who pull out their lists right from the get go so I cuold observe a few people who did have lists. that proved not to be the best place to start as I was getting a lot of weird, "this must be a stalker type" looks. I resorted to acting like a greeter and offering grocery carts to those who walked up, but store management started to watch me too, so instead of being tagged the Grocery Store Stalker, I decided to move my operation inside.

This ended up being a better plan because once the moms got the kids settled and/or put their purses in the front of the cart, if they had a list, they would typically whip it out at that time. As I observed one mom take out her list while fussing with her 2 kids, I fell into step right behind them with my own cart observing if she stayed on track with her list or not. I felt like a detective tailing a suspect on an episode of Law and Order, which was pretty cool because I had to be creative and throw them off my scent if there ever was a time when they caught on. I think at one point she did suspect I was following her until I moved in and grabbed a jar of peanut butter while asking for her advice on its peanutyness (told you I was a sly one -- peanutyness -- pretty creative huh?). While I got a strange look considering I had absolutely nothing in my cart yet, the kids distracted her enough for me to go around the corner to make my getaway. I decided I was close to blowing my cover, so I started putting more and more stuff in my basket so I would look more authentic. We continued to exchange random pleasantries during the remainder of the grocery quest and ended up going through checkout aisles right next to each other. I observed her checking off everythign on her list one last time during checkout while telling her kids they couldn't have the newest gummy something or other. At that point, I quickly ran my stuff to my car, jotted down a few notes, and went back inside. The "actual" greeter gave me a strange look as I entered the store again with an extra large grocery cart. I just told him I had forgotten a couple of things and hurried on my way.

What I noticed throughout my time in the store was that if a family came through WITH kids but WITHOUT a list, they ended up giving in and throwing a lot of stuff in the cart they obviously hadn't planned on, mainly to shut the kids up. This, in turn, resulted in very high bills that caused more than one argument in the checkout aisle between the parents on spending and buying habits. Again, I paid for my stuff, ran to my car, jotted down some more notes, and went back for more.

One last trip, I decided, and I wanted to find a good group to follow. Luckily a dad and his 9 or 10 year old son had walked in right ahead of me. Perfect, I thought. this should be entertaining, and it didn't disappoint. I did observe the emergence of a list from dad's wallet, but it didn't last long. What I figured out was that the dad didn't normally do the shopping and relied on the son's opinions on what to buy. Once the son caught on, it was all over. "Mom always buys these for us and the large bag too because it lasts longer," I heard the son tell his dad as thebiggest bag of pizza rolls were hurled into the cart. "Yeah, if it is 3 for $10.00, mom will get it because it is a better deal" he stated while putting three, half gallon buckets of ice cream in the cart. During my last trip through the checkout aisle right behind the dad and son combo, there was nothing but defeat and despair washing over the face of the data as he looked again at the list he had tucked away in his wallet, while swiping the debit card through the machine.

I couldn't wait to get to the car and write down my final thoughts. I quickly piled my groceries on the scanner belt, swiped my debit card once again, and raced to the car. While putting my groceries in the back, I started to notice that I had a lot of stuff. A LOT of stuff....holy smokes, what the heck? I had enough food and stuff to last me through the next 20 years. My over abundance of stuff distracted me for just a second as my elation of finding my answer overwhelmed my mood. Lists do help to keep you on track and save money.

By the way, if anyone is interested in buying 12 cases of soda, 14 bags of chips, and 18 boxes of pop tarts, give me a call.

Holiday Savings

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:03:00 +0000

As I did my patriotic duty last night and watched the tremendous display of fireworks blasting into the night sky, I started to wonder about the choices people make with their money.

I live in an area where there is a lot of flat land, thus the ability to see a span of 5-10 miles by pivoting my head 180 degrees. At about 9:30 PM last night, the 4th of July light shows started. I, along with my boyfriend and neighbors, sat out in our backyards for the free show.

Money saving tip Number 1: If you can enjoy fireworks or similar public displays for free, i.e., no gas cost for driving, no parking fee, no entry fee, etc., the better.

As we sat and watched the tennis match of colors and noises, looking from side to side to span the open 5 mile range, I started to wonder, how on earth do these people have the money to spend on fireworks. Please note that these are not professional shows, although I would have to say that the show last night would rival any that I have attended in my lifetime.

While the shows were pretty spectacular, I started adding up the cost of each light popping in the sky during each minute that we watched, which turned into over an hour. Now I know that you can go to the fireworks stands and get a deal, "Buy One Get One Free" all the way up to "Buy One Get Eleven Free" and so forth, but I can tell you, the fireworks we saw last night did not come from the Free Bin. No, these fireworks were easily $100 - $200 a pop, and from what I could tell, totaled in the $1000's all for my viewing pleasure last night.

Money saving tip Number 2: Take advantage of the Buy One Get Some Free deals, but stay within your budget.

All of this rehashing of last night's events brings me to my final thought of the evening, which was, with the price of gas going up and people having to call into work the day before payday because they don't have enough money to get to work, how on earth did they have money to spend on fireworks? Fireworks that are beautiful and loud and prestigious and celebratory, but that last all of a few seconds on one night of the year, make me question their return on investment. Are the people who purchase these fireworks trying to show off for their friends or just spending some time being a legal pyromaniac? While I understand the need to feed our ego and our quest for power over fire, I also know our need for food, clothing and shelter far outweighs any 4th of July display. Therefore, were my hosts last night the ones that could afford the fireworks or the ones that should have put the money toward their basic needs? Unfortunately, I think they were of the second group, which leads me to this. Money, both making and saving it, it all about choices.

So, finally,

Money saving tip Number 3: Make educated, calculated, and logical choices when it comes to money.

I am not saying, don't have a little fun along the way, but think about how you are using your money with a little more forethought than that of a few seconds of patriotic bliss.

Needless to say, I had a very nice time last night and enjoyed the fireworks shows (and I do mean shows because I could see about 8 separate ones from the comfort of my own backyard). But, I did it without spending any money, which in this day and age, it a big win.

Good luck to all of you in finding these kinds of deals in your future.

Lost Cost Lunches: Eat at Work!

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:08:00 +0000

One of the main tips I see all the time about saving money is to bring your lunch and eat it at work. I couldn't agree more. Low cost lunches are easy to eat at work. But, I also know how hard it is to be disciplined enough to actually do it. So here is an idea that might help you out: Rotating Work Lunch Menu!

Here's how it works:

Find 4 other friends at work to join in your lunch crew.
Make a pact that each of you is going to provide lunch for the rest of the crew one day during the week.
On the Friday before, determine who brings lunch on which day and plan the menu. That way, everyone can have a say in the food choices.
Enjoy a different lunch each day while only having to prepare food for one.

This is a really simple concept, one that can be a lot of fun, and ultimately one that saves you money. Let's think about the potential cost savings here. On average, depending on where you live, I think it is safe to say that spending $8-$10 dollars each day on lunch is typical, which translates into $40-$50 per week. This, of course, does not include the cost of gas, time, and effort to leave work and go to the deli or restaurant for lunch. I can guarantee you, it will not cost you $40-$50 to prepare a lunch for 5 with a little thought and preparation.

Oh, so you don't think you can cook? Well, some of my favorite recipes are the simplest ones and work very well for lunches. And, if you do it right, you will impress the heck out of your coworkers and may even score some points with a coworker you might like to get to know a little better outside of work, if you get my drift. I have included a couple of very easy recipes and some ideas to get you started.

Deli Style Sandwiches. Buy at least two types of deli meats, i.e., turkey, ham, salami, chicken, and have it cut for sandwich slices. Cut any thinner and people will use more meat than they need to just because they can "pile it on." Buy a loaf of bread, some lettuce, tomatoes (salmonella free of course) and a bag of chips. For a healthier menu, buy some carrots and celery and cut them up yourself. Bring some mustard, mayo, and Ranch dressing. If you buy generic stuff and cut up all of the vegetables yourself for portion control, I bet you don't spend more than $25 and that is being liberal.
Pancetta and Turkey Meatloaf Sandwiches. What the heck? Yes, this will blow the socks off your coworkers, and it is really easy to make. You can find the recipe by Giada De Laurentiis by clicking here. Again, I bet you don't pay more than $25 for everything. I would add a bag of salad and throw in a bottle of your favorite dressing (or make your own balsamic vinaigrette -- again, very easy to do).
Anything you can throw in a crock pot. Things like beef stew, goulash, or some sort of noddle dish are easy and inexpensive. There are a lot of good, healthy, and simple recipes in Bill Phillips' Eating for Life book.
Bring your favorite restaurant food without the cost. A friend of mine insisted on bringing some Macaroni Grill pasta dish. I tell you, he had bought this book and tried out the "restaurant" recipe, and it was terrific. And he did it all for less than $30.

I promise, this could turn into something fun and help you save lots and lots of money. Good luck!

Getting a Financial Edge!

noreply@blogger.com (Lacidar) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:48:00 +0000

Do you have problems asking for help?
Do you have issues with taking help when offered?
Do you have problems taking control of your financial life?

Me too, so believe me, you are not alone. But, the nice thing about it is that you can turns things around sooner than you think. It just takes a little attitude readjustment, trying some new things, not being afraid to ask for help and taking it when offered, and taking more control of your own finances.

Yeah Yeah Yeah, easier said that done right? Most people say they don't have the time or knowhow, say "you have to have money to make money", and think that messing with money, especially in today's economy, is risky. Why should you be like most people when there are little things you can do that could start to turn your financial life around?

Here are a few things you might consider doing to get you started.

If you think you don't have the time or knowhow, then try this. Find some time in your day and read a book about how to get financial control. There are literally thousands of books out there that can help you get started. Find 30 minutes out of each day (I bet you can if you really looked) and read one chapter at a time. Before you know it, you'll be done with one book and finding another. Arm yourself with financial knowledge. Don't have any idea where to start? Consider reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It will certainly start your wheels turning.

If you think you have to have money to make money, how much money do you think you need to have? I bet you would be surprised to find out that it doesn't take much to get started. And, there are people out there who have really made it easy to help you begin your quest. Now, I am not going to lie and say you don't need a little start-up cash, but I promise, it isn't as much as you might think. I would suggest clicking here to get started.

If you think messing with your money in today's economy is risky, I would tell you I completely understand. So, here is what I suggest. Commit to yourself that you are ready to make a change. If you can't commit to that, then maybe you aren't ready, but I bet you are. All you have to do is start, so why not start today?

Remember, everyone has the potential to succeed if given the opportunity. Start taking advantage of your opportunities.