Used furniture can be a practical way to add to your home’s decor without breaking the bank. While the phrase may conjure up some idea of a couch found next to a dumpster or an ugly dresser handed down just in time for your first apartment, the fact is that it’s possible to find high quality used furniture that has little more wear and tear on it than the floor model at the brand name furniture store.

But many used furniture sellers know exactly what they have on their hands, leading to prices that are not so far off from what a brand new sofa or dining room table might cost you. That means finding the right deal can take a little work. These 10 tips can make it easier:

1. Plan your purchase.

Shopping for new furniture can include plenty of staring at catalogs, making sure patterns match and all that. Shopping for used furniture is a very different animal. You can, and should, have a general idea of the style and colors you want for your home, but be prepared to be flexible. The more flexible you can afford to be, in terms of how well your furniture needs to match an ideal, the better you can do in finding the right pieces. Make a list ahead of time and determine where you’re willing to be flexible – that list can help you stick to your budget when you see an end table or something else that matches your new purchase better than what’s already in that space.

2. Examine furniture carefully.

One of the biggest problems you can face when purchasing furniture second-hand is determining just why the seller is getting rid of that furniture. If you’re working with a middle-man, such as a consignment shop, it’s still important to take a good look at the piece — check for cracks, signs of repair and anything else that seems out of the ordinary. Purchasing something that has a little more wear and tear on it is not out the question. Instead, a scratch or a patch job can give you an opportunity to negotiate the price downwards.

3. Consider repairs.

Everyone wants furniture they can move in and be done with. But the more work you’re willing to do on “new-to-you” furniture, the more opportunities you have to get a deal. Major repairs may be too much, but small repairs, a fresh coat of paint or some new upholstery can make a deal look much better. You don’t have to do all the work, either: many upholstery shops offer a variety of repair services, as well as a way to turn a comfortable couch with a pattern straight out of the 70s look more modern.

4. Check furniture liquidators.

Furniture liquidators can be a great source of used furniture, especially if you look specifically for hotel liquidators. Some furniture liquidators handle more odds and ends of new furniture or office liquidations, but hotel liquidators will routinely have beds, couches and other furniture that has relatively little wear and tear (some hotels replace their furniture every few years). Liquidators can also be a less expensive way to find matching furniture sets.

5. Talk to furniture repair pros.

While most furniture repair shops don’t make a point of selling furniture, many will have the occasional item available — something they fixed up on the side or something that the owner never came back for. You may also be able to get an idea of whether it’s practical to purchase furniture that’s in need of a little more TLC and bring it into the local repair shop if you frequent those shops.

6. Be wary of classified ads, but consider them.

More often than not, individuals posting their own furniture for sale on Craigslist put a higher dollar value on what they’re selling than any consignment shop, liquidator or other used furniture seller would, due to a hope of recouping at least some of the money spent on it in the first place. However, as long as the seller is willing to negotiate, you can turn a classified ad into a better deal. The same goes for garage sales.

7. Take cash along.

Many used furniture sellers are willing to negotiate on price, especially if you’re willing to offer cash. Using cash can also help you stick to a budget. The exception tends to be consignment shops, which usually already has a set price that they are working with.

8. Look for cleaned furniture.

When you’re dealing with certain types of used furniture, such as mattresses, it’s worthwhile to pay a little extra in order to get a professionally cleaned piece of furniture. That may seem like a tip to spend more on a used mattress, but the long-term cost of owning the mattress can wind up being much less. On the plus side, sellers who handle used mattresses in enough quantities and also provide cleaning services usually have more flexibility to negotiate lower prices.

9. Arrange for transportation in advance.

Only some second-hand furniture sellers provide home delivery at all, let alone for free. The cheapest alternative may be a friend with a truck, but many truck rental facilities offer special deals on pick-up trucks, especially if you don’t need the truck for a full-fledged move. Many companies have rates starting about $20 for one day.

10. Give the process time.

Because you’re dealing with used furniture, it’s difficult to guess what a liquidator may have in stock at any given time — and it’s downright impossible to figure out what a private individual may decide to sell. It may seem that there are absolutely no couches (or whatever type of furniture you’re looking for) in the county, but the more time you allow for the process, the more likely you are to wind up with the right furniture at the right price. That said, when you see something that fits your requirements, act quickly. Make your offer as soon as possible, so it may be gone before you know it.

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Money is so often a taboo subject that it can feel difficult to impart financial lessons to our kids – particularly when they’re very little. How do you teach young children and toddlers about money, while also protecting them from your money stresses?

Money management is just like reading (or any other complex skill), in that your kids need to learn age-appropriate little lessons as they take the path to proficiency. You don’t expect your kids to suddenly be able to read without first learning and practicing their ABCs, so you shouldn’t expect them to suddenly understand how to handle money because they reach a certain age. Instead, you need to start early.

Here are four money lessons you can teach your kids so they’ll be on the path to financial literacy — before they’ve even entered elementary school.

1. Budgets are Important

Even kids as young as three can learn basic budgeting, which is a skill they’ll always need. Have your child allocate their money (from allowances, birthday money, etc.) into at least three categories: to spend, to save, and to give.

This will get them used to the idea of not spending every penny they get. It’ll also help them understand that saving money allows them to buy bigger items and that giving money to a charity is (and feels) good.

2. Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees

For small children, it often seems as though grown-ups simply have to go to the bank or the ATM to get more money. They only see you making withdrawals, which they don’t connect with your time at work. When you do take them to the bank, explain that the bank is holding the money you’ve worked for and that you don’t have unlimited money available.

You can make this lesson more concrete by allowing your children to work for money. While many parenting and money experts debate whether allowances should be tied to chores, you can always offer to pay your kids for chores above and beyond what they’re already expected to do.

3. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

As parents, we often want to shield our kids from disappointment, but that can be a big mistake when it comes to protecting them from the consequences of overspending.

If your child is excited to spend all her cash on funnel cakes and lemonade at the fair — and is later disappointed to realize she now doesn’t have enough money left to play a game or ride a ride, that’s actually a very good lesson about budgeting. It might be tempting to give her more money to play Whack-a-Mole, but it’s better in the long run for her to realize that money is finite and the Bank of Mom and Dad is not there to bail her out of money dilemmas.

4. There’s a Difference Between Wants and Needs

This can be a tough concept for many adults to grasp, let alone small children who feel like they absolutely must have the latest Thomas the Tank Engine toy. You can make this a game you play regularly, by asking your child what they need to live vs. what they want to have. Share your own specific wants, too (like that trip to France you’ve always dreamed of), and talk about what you each can do to someday have the things you want.

With my three-year-old son, I’ve made recognizing wants at the store into a game. I’ll let him look at the toy he’s enthralled by for a little while, and then I tell him it’s time to wave bye-bye to the toy. Although he sometimes has tears in his eyes while waving bye-bye, he knows that he can’t always have the things he wants. (I also model this behavior when I am tempted by things I don’t need – although I do feel a little silly waving bye-bye to iPhones and leather boots in front of my son.)

The Bottom Line

Financial literacy is a long-term process that needs to start very early. Teaching your children money lessons, and letting them feel the consequences of their money decisions, should start as soon as your kids are able to understand what money is.

What have you taught your pre-K kids about money?

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For those of us who travel infrequently, taking a flight can be a budget minefield. It’s not just the constantly rising price of airline tickets, either.

If you don’t plan ahead the next time you fly to Aunt Sylvia’s for the holidays, you may find that the associated costs of flying — from checked luggage to parking to food — may just put a big hole in your travel budget.

Here are the ways frequent flyers keep their costs low:

1. Travel light.

Airlines charging for checked bags are nothing new anymore, but the extra charges may still come as a nasty surprise to an infrequent flyer. Make sure you know your airline’s checked luggage guidelines, including the weight limit and number of bags you may check for free or for the lowest price. Knowing what to expect ahead of time will allow you to decide what needs to be packed and what can be shipped ahead (or left behind altogether).

There are also ways to reduce (or eliminate) the fees. You can usually get a cheaper rate if you pay for it before you get to the airport, and you may even have a credit card that will reimburse you for checked baggage fees.

Want to learn how to pack lighter? Here are some tips.

2. Park far away from the airport.

The farther away you park, the less you pay for the privilege. Remote lots that are not associated with the airport are going to be a great deal cheaper than the valet parking right next to the terminal.

Research online, as there are websites you can book from that can give you an even better discount. Consider taking public transportation to the airport or hitching a ride from a friend. Uber is also an option. It takes more planning to be able to avoid the daily parking fee, but it’s certainly worth the effort.

3. Don’t eat at the airport.

Food at airports has two strikes against it: the cost is ridiculously high and the food itself is (generally) unhealthy. Since you are a captive audience, it’s very easy to fall into the expensive airport food trap, but a little planning will save you from overpriced airport nachos.

Carry portable and healthy foods with you, like apples, bananas, nuts, granola bars or even sandwiches. Bring an empty bottle to fill from a water fountain post-security, and you have everything you need for a meal. Your wallet will thank you.

4. Double-check the security requirements.

With the rules for what can and cannot go through security changing from time to time, it really pays for the infrequent flyer to find out exactly what will make it through TSA ahead of time.

For instance, after the prohibition on liquids over 3 ounces was instituted, many travelers found themselves having to give up standard size bottles of shampoo, lotion and other products because they were unaware of the new rule. Knowing what can and cannot be in your carry-on will save you money, time and aggravation.

Editor’s Note: International travelers should also be aware that you sometimes have to leave a terminal and go through TSA again when you transfer flights. I flew from Canada to Los Angeles once and had to throw away a bottle of wine I bought at duty free. The reason was that I had a layover in Las Vegas, and they had me get out of a terminal just to go to another. Obviously, I didn’t know that would happen, and I wasn’t planning to drink the whole bottle when the TSA officer wouldn’t allow me to bring a whole bottle of alcohol through security. I threw away a very expensive bottle of wine I bought as a gift, but lesson learned.

5. Bring your own entertainment.

Every airport boasts several newsstands and bookstores, as many people will forget to bring something to occupy themselves. But buying a magazine, newspaper or book (or worse, a DVD) means paying through the nose for something you could have easily brought from home.

Stop by the library a couple of days before the flight and load up on books, magazines, audio books and DVDs for free, and you’ll have a pleasant flight without spending a penny.

6. Let your purchases work for you.

Even if you are only an occasional flyer, a travel rewards credit card can help you to save up for a major trip. Since these cards allow you to accumulate points or miles toward a trip with your everyday spending, they are a good option for the infrequent flyer who dreams of traveling.

As with any credit card, however, travel rewards cards are only as good as your ability to pay them off each month. But if you are able to use these cards responsibly, you can find yourself flying free to your favorite destination.

Planning ahead will help keep associated airport costs low so you have more money to spend on the vacation itself. And isn’t that the whole point of traveling?

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Automation is a buzz word among financial advisors. And for good reason too. There are simply too many benefits of automating your finances for someone who cares about accumulating money to ignore. Whether direct depositing money into a savings or retirement account when you get paid, setting up automatic bill-pay, or investing in no-hassle index funds, automation can mean less stress, guess-work, and precious time managing your personal finances.

Complete automation can also have some serious disadvantages as well. Becoming aware of them can help you make more informed decisions about how — and how much — to use this strategy.

Here are three possible downsides to “set it and forget it” finances.

1. Losing Touch With Spending Habits, Expenses, and Savings Potential

Automation is designed for convenience, and like many other tasks that are automated in our modern lifestyles, it tends to make us lazy. Just as you spend less physical energy using an automatic dishwasher, leaf-blower, or an AI system that turns off your lights, you’ll spend less mental energy on your finances. Soon, “out of sight” becomes “out of mind.”

For example, if you set your credit card bill on auto-pay, it’s easy to lose touch with the individual categories you’re spending in from month to month. You might miss patterns that are insightful, alarming, or even encouraging. Manually releasing payments can have a beneficial “sting” effect. Being forced to engage with your bills might spur you to action, such as cutting an expensive monthly service or strategizing how to pay off your debt faster.

Automated savings takes out the need for self-control, helping people who have been otherwise unable to set aside money to create an instant savings habit. But it can also lead to stagnancy if you fail to adjust your savings to match raises or salary increases when you land a better job.

2. Getting Hit With Fees and Insufficient Payment Charges

Many people mistakenly think automation means completely hands-free, but you still need to play and be aware of what’s happening to your finances in order to avoid overdrawing your account (which is why many people schedule their bills to come out immediately after a payroll deposit). And, if your account is overdrawn for a bill payment, it can mean double charges — from your bank and your creditor or service provider.

While this downside is avoidable, it’s still something to consider if you’re not good at balancing your account.

3. Missing Errors and Signs of Identity Theft

Just as human error can be the cause of a missed payment or an over-payment, automation isn’t immune to mistakes. It’s easy for small or large errors to creep in, even when things have been working perfectly for years. The mistake could be as simple as a missing or extra zero, yet we’re all familiar with the tremendous difference a zero can make! With automation, you could be over-paying or under-paying a bill for some time before either you or the recipient notices (or chooses to inform you).

Although many financial institutions watch and report suspicious activity, identify theft is on the rise — and automating your finances can make it harder to detect. Thieves will often make tiny charges that don’t raise alarm before completely wiping your account, so unless you’re hands-on, automation could make you an easier target.

Financial Automation Is Good — But So Is Checking In

Like many things related to money management, balance is key. Whether you choose to automate all your finances, or only certain aspects of your finances, schedule time to check in. If you’ve been out of touch for a while, it might be good to start with once a week, then transition to once a month. Look for errors, track your spending habits, and note any changes to your income or expenses that impact your savings and debt-repayment potential.

By bringing oversight alongside automation, you can avoid the pitfalls of losing touch with your finances while making the most of this convenient, money-maximizing trend.

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Bursting the love bubble by sitting down and having a serious talk about finances is never fun, but open communication about money is a good idea in any relationship.

Those thinking of tying the knot should have a serious discussion about money at some point, preferably before you move in together or get married. Even if there are no plans to combine finances completely, it’s still good to clear the air and see if everyone is on the same page.

Here are five things that to talk about before moving forward:

1. Debt

One of the biggest things you need to talk about is debt. Get it out there. Even if you won’t be sharing finances, one person’s debt can have a profound impact on household finances. If you want to buy a home together or if you want to do other things, someone’s obligations can hold you back as a couple.

Have an honest talk about your debt levels, and see if you can make a plan to pay down the debt. Even if you don’t share finances, the partner without the debt is going to have to be supportive until the debt is paid off.

2. Credit

Credit goes along with debt, but it isn’t exactly the same thing. While it’s not vital that your partner have a perfect credit score, it is a good idea to see where you both stand, and be honest about the situation.

At some point, if you decide to get a joint loan together (for a car or a home), both of your credit scores will matter. Talk about it so you know what you need to do to get things up to scratch. If one of you has a poor score, you might have to wait a little longer before you accomplish some of your goals.

3. Money Philosophy

This is a bigger deal than you might think. For a long time, my ex and I struggled in our marriage because he likes things and I value experiences. Neither of us was more right than the other, but it did make for some interesting discussions when we were nailing down our money priorities.

It’s a good idea to know whether or not you have the same money values before you take that next step. Spenders and savers need to be able to come up with a plan to compromise. If you like spending your money on lots of books, and your partner prefers movies, you might need to come up with a plan to make sure you both get what you want at least some of the time.

4. How to Handle Kids and Money

If you think you’ll have kids together (and that’s another conversation you need to have before taking things to the next level), you need to talk about how you’ll handle kids and money.

Do you want to save up for college for them? How will you handle allowance? Extracurricular activities?

These are big questions you need to tackle together so you are on the same page. It’s vital to know early on so that you aren’t unpleasantly surprised later.

5. Retirement

Chances are, you both want to save for retirement. But do you have a shared vision for what that looks like? Before you commit to a long-term, life partner relationship, make sure you talk about how you want to handle retirement. It can be tough if one of you expects to sit at home most of the time, and maybe play golf a couple times a week, while the other wants to sell the house and everything in it to travel the world.

In the end, you need to make sure that everyone is on the same page so that all the money goals are being reached together. Take the time to have a discussion now so there are fewer surprises later.

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Last week, I wrote about how I moved across the country with my son in a bid to get a fresh start on my life after divorce. One of the reasons I moved was to experience a lower cost of living. While I probably could have afforded to remain put, and my career isn’t constrained by geography, a lower cost of living comes with a number of advantages for my son and me.

Indeed, before we moved, I talked with my son about the financial ins and outs of the move, as well as the social ramifications. This was a decision that my son and my ex were both involved with. So, while I’m not constrained by geography, being able to live somewhere with a low cost of living has provided us with the following advantages:

Less Work = More Time with My Son

My son is getting to the age where he is more involved with extracurricular activities, but he’s not old enough to drive. This means I need to be available to cart him around. My ex-husband never attended a single baseball game of our son’s, and there has only been one time when he picked him up from an after-school activity. All other times, I have had to be there or make arrangements with someone else to manage these issues.

Moving to an area with a low cost of living means I don’t have to work as much to support our lifestyle and that means I can spend more time with my son. I can help with homework, get him to activities, and just have time to hang out, play board games and chill. Plus, it also means that I can provide a place for him to bring his friends.

Opportunities for My Son

Our low cost of living comes because we live in a medium-sized town in Idaho. In the Philadelphia area, it took at least half an hour to get anywhere. We had to limit my son’s activities because we always had to consider the time factor. Now, it takes five to 10 minutes to arrive at most places, and we are within walking distance of his school. My son is excited to be able to engage in music, sports and academics. He also loves close to his friends. He can do more here, yet still not be over-scheduled. We’ve been able to strike a nice balance and it will help him develop as a well-rounded person.

More Financial Freedom

Finally, even though we could “afford” to live in Pennsylvania, we would have been cutting things a little closer. While I’ve always been the primary breadwinner, my husband’s financial contribution often paid for extracurricular and “fun” activities. With that source of income gone, my son and I would need to cut back and find new ways to save money. And I wouldn’t have been able to reduce my workload. The stress on us both (since I would still be in charge of shuttling my son around, but without the same resources) wouldn’t have been healthy.

Now, we have more financial freedom. We have the ability to travel, and it means my son will still have interaction with his father. Additionally, we have been able to re-structure our finances in order create a smoother cash flow and provide us with more choices.

Moving to an area with a lower cost of living has its challenges — we aren’t able to access some of the same amenities and entertainment options or live close to transportation — but it’s been worth it so far.

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My husband and I bought a 5-year-old vehicle 7 years ago, a particular make and model with high ratings for both reliability and owner satisfaction that holds its value well. The car has been incredibly dependable — even through a cross-country move a few years back.

Recently, however, we’ve noticed an uptick in our vehicle maintenance and repair costs so we have started thinking about selling or trading it in before the transport eats up more money than it’s worth.

With the aim of matching a newer vehicle price as close to the sale price of this one as possible—who wants a car loan? We’ve been car payment-free for over three years and loving it!—I’ve been looking for any bit of advice for squeezing every cent-worth of value out of it. Here’s what I found:

Selling a Used Car Privately

Direct-sale prices are as much as 20% higher than trade-in values based on Kelly Blue Book, but there are trade-offs — chiefly time, effort, and patience. Here’s what the experts recommend doing to get the highest private sale price out of your vehicle.

1. Fix small faults and maintenance items that impact perceived value.

Yellowed head lamps, burned-out blinkers, and broken key fobs might not seem like a big deal when compared to more valuable components, but these things can leave a bad impression with a potential buyer.

Things like worn-out tires and brake pads can also be a deal-breaker. Even if these items aren’t that expensive or serious, a buyer may hesitate when they discover they’ll need to replace these things right away. Some say you’ll likely recoup double the cost of simple fixes because they improve your vehicle’s desirability.

2. Get an inspection and keep records of maintenance and repairs.

Hopefully you’ve already been keeping good records. Providing the paperwork for routine maintenance such as oil changes shows that the vehicle has been conscientiously cared for. And, if you’re not certain of your vehicle’s condition, now is the time to find out — before a potential buyer requests a pre-purchase inspection.

It’s also a good idea to request a CARFAX report that proves it’s never been in a collision. All of this will add more credibility to your listing.

3. Have the vehicle professionally detailed.

Stained, dirty carpet, scratches, and dings immediately stand out when you look closely at a vehicle. A professional detailing — which may include shampooing, engine de-greasing, buffing, and fixing paint imperfections — only costs a couple hundred dollars, yet adds as much as $500 to your vehicle’s resale value.

If you know what you’re doing, save yourself some more by detailing it yourself.

4. Be accurate. Make it interesting. And take good pictures.

Detail is also important in vehicle descriptions and photographs, especially if you’re advertising your car on Craigslist and other online resale markets. Vague, unimpressive descriptions and dark or distant photos aren’t going to help sell your vehicle. You don’t need to be dishonest about its condition, but you do want to play up its best features and make your vehicle stand out.

5. Do pricing research. Don’t take the first offer. Choose the right time to sell.

Sites like Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, and Autotrader will give you a ballpark figure for the private sale value of your vehicle and a chance to see what similar vehicles are selling for on smaller sites or used dealerships in your area. Use them as a starting point and try to get as much out of your vehicle as you can.

Even if you’re trying to sell fast, don’t take the first offer you get. This is where patience comes in! Be strategic about pricing: if you set the initial price 5 to 10% higher than its value, your buyer will think they’re getting a steal when you accept a lower offer (this is known as anchor price comparison).

And, although you can’t always wait for ideal market conditions to sell a vehicle, consider the season you are in. It makes sense that SUVs and four-wheel drive vehicles sell better in fall and winter, while sports cars and rear-wheel drive vehicles have a better chance of catching someone’s eye in spring and summer.

Trading in a Used Car

Dealerships are notorious for paying as little as possible for a trade-in, then jacking up the retail price once they’ve spiffed it up. But, if you don’t have time to wait through the private-sale process, trading in a vehicle can be the easiest and fastest way to go. Here are a few tricks to ensure you get the most — even from a car salesman.

1. Know the value and negotiate for more, but don’t settle for less.

Walk in with a solid understanding of what your vehicle is worth, and you’ll get a different reaction from the dealership than if you don’t have a clue. Always try to get the most out of your vehicle, but have a rock-bottom price in the back of your head, and don’t let them pressure you in to settling for anything lower than this.

2. Compare offers from at least 3 dealers.

Some say you’re likely to get the best offer from the dealership that services your vehicle, since they have its records and know they can get top dollar when they re-sell it. Regardless of where you go, get at least three offers to compare before making a decision. Some dealerships will have a higher demand for certain vehicle types and will be willing to pay more, while others will view purchasing your vehicle simply as a way of getting you to finance a new one.

3. Move fast.

Most dealership offers are good for a week or less, so if you choose this route, you’ll need to move quickly before the dealership changes its mind.

Getting top dollar for selling your car can be a hassle, but you’ll definitely get more money if you take the time during the whole process. If you think about it, the effort you put in is like having a part time job that pays really well. Do your research, make your preparations, and profit.

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One of the ways to save money is to buy in bulk, as purchasing multiples of an item when it’s on sale is one way to lower your expenses over time. It’s obvious right? If you have a coupon, or if you have the chance to buy more than one of something at a discount now, your per-unit cost will be lower.

Yet, even though buying in bulk can save you money over time, it’s important to realize that sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. Here are some things to keep in mind as you buy in bulk:

Will You Use the Items?

One of the first questions you have to ask yourself is whether or not you will use everything you buy. If you only use an item occasionally, buying lots of it can prove counterproductive. Food, for instance, can go bad before you eat them all. Buying several of the same item, just because you can, is a recipe for backfiring. After all, each item still costs money even if it’s bought on a deep discount.

My family eats pasta at least once a week. We know we’re going to use pasta, so when it’s on sale, we get large amounts of it. Currently, we probably have about five months’ worth of pasta. By the time our supply is depleted, it’s likely to be on sale again. We use the same rationale for ibuprofen and shampoo. If it’s something we know we’ll use, we don’t mind buying more of it.

Will You Consume More Just Because You Have More

Some items we never buy in bulk even if we will consume all of it. Alcohol, for example, fits into this category. If we get a huge bottle, we will probably drink more every time we open ourselves up for drinks. In fact, all non-healthy drinks fall into this category. By not buying a ton of sugary or alcoholic drinks, our body and our wallet benefits. Water is just fine, thank you very much.

Other household items, like toothpaste, fall into this category too. It’s amazing how much more toothpaste we waste whenever we get a big tube (with it’s big opening). Nowadays, we just get a small tube and change it when we need to. It’s more hygiene to keep getting new ones anyway.

Where Will You Keep Your Stockpile?

When you buy in bulk, you should consider how you will store the items you purchase. If you live in a small apartment, it isn’t practical to stockpile large amounts of items bought in bulk. Evaluate your space, and then determine how many items you should buy at once. Don’t buy frozen food in bulk if you don’t have a large enough freezer to accommodate your purchases. Think about building shelves in a room or closet to turn it into an appropriate storage facility. Once you know where you can keep your bulk items, you will be better able to make informed and practical decisions.

Bottom Line

Buying in bulk can be a way to help you protect yourself against price increases in the future. You can get something now, and use it later – instead of paying the price it has likely increased to. It can also be a good way to build up emergency food stores.

You do need to be careful though. Don’t buy something just because you can get a good deal on multiples of it. It’s a waste of money and time if you don’t ever use the item. Additionally, you might not have the room to store lots of bulk items. Before you decide to engage in bulk buying, carefully and honestly evaluate your needs and your ability to store the items. Clear out an area meant for storage, and then decide how much it makes sense for you to buy.

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When my husband and I were first looking for a venue for our wedding, his family was very persistent that we marry in the local country club where his brother and sister were married to their spouses.

When I sat down with the wedding coordinator, my husband, and our families, the number came out to around $10-15K with the choice of a pasta bar for food. His family told me how affordable that was, while I was on the edge of crying because my entire wedding budget was only $8,000.

Wedding venues can eat up a huge part of your overall wedding budget. So if you’re in a similar situation that I was in, here are the tricks I used to save money on a wedding venue.

1. Stay Away from Packaged Deals

The problem with the country club and many other pricey wedding venue locations is that they make you choose their caterers. They will also make you pay for their wedding planner, and their table/chair rentals. You don’t have the choice to pick your own caterers or where you’ll buy the decor rentals.

For the country club, the cheapest catering option was a pasta bar or taco bar for $20 a head. Those two options were expensive for what they were and just did not scream “romantic wedding” to me.

Instead, we found a venue that did not charge extra for a chair and tables. We were also able to choose our own catering. We went with StoneFireGrill.com, which at the time was only $7.99 a person for a meal of chicken, tri-tip, salad, mashed potatoes, and a bread stick.

We were able to save thousands just by staying away from venues that did not allow you to have your own catering. Country clubs and hotels all usually charge you a premium to use their catering services and packaged deals.

2. See What Your City Has to Offer

Many cities have rooms and buildings to rent out for public events, meetings, and weddings. This is the route we choose to go with.

Our local city had a ballroom available for rent for about $1,500 a night, with the use of tables and chairs. The only issues with using city property is that you might have to reserve your spot up to a year in advance, and they may have some strict rules, such as no burning candles allowed.

Also, the room was nice, but definitely more of a blank canvas than a ready-made wedding spot. The money we saved on the venue allowed us to spend a bit more on decorations.

3. Spend Money on Uplighting

One of the best things I spent money on for our wedding was uplighting. Uplighting is the use of mini spotlights that are show up the wall to create a more dramatic look in an specific area. You can choose from a variety of hues and even patterned lights to create that dreamy wedding look seen in magazines.

It cost about $20 per uplight, so for an average sized room it might cost around $200-300 for all of the light rentals. However, the difference it makes in the room is amazing! We choose a warm gold hue uplighting instead of using the awful florescent lights that came with the building.

With the use of uplighting, the chairs suddenly did not look as bad, and if the chair was a little stained, no one could tell in the new lighting. This saved me about $500-$1,000 in expenses to cover the chairs.

Choosing a colored uplighting, such as in blue or pink, could save a couple on table cloths too, since a white table cloth would look much better with the blue or pink uplighting. I consider the uplighting the Photoshop of wedding venues, since it hides a lot of flaws and sets a more romantic mood.

When planning your wedding you want to choose the areas to splurge and what to cut back on so you can get the maximum affect you’re looking for, without spending a lot money.

What are some other ways to save money on a wedding venue? 

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When my in-laws moved to a different state, the real challenge came when we cleaned out their garage and started minimizing stuff for the move. “Where do you want me to start,” I asked my mother-in-law while looking at her very packed garage.

She thought for a while and spent a good ten minutes telling what not to touch. I couldn’t touch those vintage items because she was going to get appraised. I couldn’t touch those boxes because my father-in-law needed to do through them. Opening up a cedar chest sent her into a huge sidetrack of memories as she looked at her grandmother’s wedding items. She could surely never part with those.

It’s been a few months since that day, and even though my in-laws made the move, the garage still looks the same. They were able to keep their items stored in the garage while renting out the rooms in the home.

Does this scene sound familiar to you? If you’ve ever tried to help someone with a lot of stuff (aka a hoarder), then you know how hard it is to actually get anything done. Everything they own has potential value or sentiment, yet no progress is ever truly made on what items get sold or donated.

If you’re guilty of this, or know someone who is, here are some easy steps to take to overcome your hoarding habits.

The Frugal Side of Being Clutter-Free

I consider myself the opposite of a hoarder. I enjoy having an easy-to-clean home where each space is maximized for living, not storage. I know many people struggle with the battle of clutter, and I’m here to give you some encouragement today. The more clutter and “stuff” you get rid of, the more freedom and money you will have.

Here are a few examples on how shedding your hoarding ways can save you money:

• You don’t have to pay for extra storage space
• A clutter-free garage means you can actually park your cars and extend their value (I live in a desert, and the heat and sand damage is tough on my car)
• It’s easier to find stuff, which saves time and money, because you won’t have to replace items you already have due to misplacing them
• Your house will sell faster when you show your home without clutter
• Too much clutter can lead to a lot of dust, which can mean having to pay for more allergy medicine
• A decreased chance of falling or injury

4 Steps to Ditch Your Hoarding (and Costly) Habits

So how do you keep your hoarding habits at bay, especially with the holidays fast approaching?

1. Keep Life Simple.

Stuff can accumulate over the years, and before you know it, you have multiple dish sets, a closet full of towels, and at least a hundred pieces of clothing and accessories. When I first started cutting down my wardrobe, it was hard to get rid of things. But the truth is that I only wore about 25% of my wardrobe, and my closet was always a mess because there were too many things to keep organized.

Getting rid of items is hard, but when I cut my wardrobe down 60%, life was so much simpler. Now, I spend less time doing laundry, deciding what to wear, and keeping my closet and room clean. Once I purged my husband’s closet too, we decided to have a yard sale. We brought in a couple hundred dollars, but the best part is that cleaning is a lot easier now.

2. Don’t Give Into Guilt.

Many people hang on to items because they don’t want offend the person who gifted it to them. Or perhaps it’s hard to sell something at a yard sale when you paid good money for it a few years before.

If you let this guilt hold you back from getting rid of an item, it will hold you back from getting rid of a closet full of unused and unwanted items. I’m not talking about hurting people’s feelings intentionally, but if something’s not getting used, then it doesn’t belong there.

3. Redirect Bad Gift Givers.

This is a hard subject to talk about because you don’t want to offend family members and friends, but you also don’t want to be stuck with a lot of unnecessary stuff. Personally, I think it’s a bigger insult to stick a gift in a garage unused than to return it for something you will use it.

When family members and friends ask what to get my family for Christmas, I stick with the essentials I know will get used. I also direct individuals to give the gift of their time versus a material gift. For example, I suggest they spend quality time with my daughter and get ice cream together instead of buying her a toy.

4. Don’t Procrastinate on Junk.

I’m good about getting unwanted stuff out of the house and into the garage with the purpose of selling it. However, if I don’t put a deadline on following through with that intention, and then it just clutters up the garage for way too long.

Set a note in your calendar to list an item for sale or have a garage sale by a certain date. Otherwise arrange for a donation truck to pick up your items. I would much rather make a little bit of money off of my unwanted stuff, but if the items are taking up space in the garage, they’re better off being donated and not taking up room in my to-do list and thoughts.

Don’t wait for spring to declutter your life and get rid of your hoarding ways. Clearing out your closets and shelves is the perfect thing to do before the holidays. It’s really freeing to decorate a home that’s not overflowing with stuff.

Confession time; do you tend to hoard unnecessary items or do you enjoy a clutter-free living?

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I have no plans of allowing my son to have a cell phone until he’s old enough to drive. I just don’t. Part of my aversion toward children, tweens and young teens carrying cell phones stems from my years of teaching and the fact that I would really like to avoid adding another distraction to my child’s academic life.

I also worry about the financial aspect of cell phone usage. Small children are lacking in both an income and an understanding that easy-to-make phone calls and text messages cost money.

Still, I know that things may change in the next few years, and it’s certainly possible that I will want to give my peanut a cell phone sometime before 2026. So here are some things to consider as you are fielding your child’s daily pleas for a cell phone:

Want vs. Need

I risk dating myself by saying this, but no one needed a cell phone when I was growing up. However, always having some change on me meant that I could make a call from a payphone (remember those?) if ever I needed to reach my parents.

If your child is begging you for a cell phone, think hard about whether or not this is really a necessity. If your child carpools to school and is generally in the presence of an adult all day, a cell phone is not necessary for anything other than texting and having a social life. (And of course, your child probably considers those necessary for survival).

If your child walks to and from school or sometimes needs to wait for a ride home from an after school activity, having a means of calling home will give you both a sense of security. (It is important to note, however, that keeping your child constantly connected through cell phones doesn’t give her an opportunity to learn self-reliance. This is one of the major arguments used by experts who don’t approve of kids using cell phones.)

Know Your Plan

Ask any parent about the first bill they received after putting their child on the mobile plan, and you’ll likely hear a horror story of the several-hundred dollar cell phone bill. If you are going to add your child to your cell phone plan, it pays to do your homework ahead of time.

How much calling and texting (because, believe me, they will be texting) is included in the basic plan, and how much it’ll cost if your child blows pass the pre-set limits? How much would it cost to go to an unlimited plan? When is peak usage?

Having the answers to all of these questions can help you to avoid a nasty surprise at the end of the month.

Know Your Child

You know your kid better than anyone else, so you are in a unique position to decide if he is ready for the responsibility of a cell phone. Does he have any impulse control, or will he compulsively check for messages? Will he respect your limits or find ways around them?

When it comes to cell phones, until your child is 18 and purchasing a plan for himself, you are financially responsible for his cell usage. If you shudder at the thought of handing over your credit card to your child, then it might not make sense to add your son or daughter to your current cell phone plan.

Pre-Paid Alternatives

If you don’t feel that your child is ready for the responsibility of a regular cell phone, consider buying a pre-paid phone for her. These phones stop working once they reach the usage limit, but they can be reloaded with more minutes.

Some can even be programmed to only make calls to Mom and Dad or 911. This is a great solution for parents of smaller children or teenagers who still need to prove their responsibility.

Providing your child with a cell phone is a big step, and it’s probably a good idea to ask him to help contribute to the cost of its use. Learning now how to be responsible with a cell phone will give your child a leg up once he’s out on his own.

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Many of us could use the advice of a financial advisor when it comes to areas like investing, consolidating debt, and planning for retirement. Some of us need more than financial knowledge or advice that only addresses the number side of the equation though. We also need help addressing our emotional relationship with money. This task isn’t as well-suited for a financial planner as it is for a financial therapist.

Financial therapy is a rather new field, as the Financial Therapy Association has only been around since 2010. The concept of therapy isn’t new at all though. Just as someone might need a therapist’s help to deal with thought patterns and emotions surrounding their relationships with family, spouses, or friends, we all have a very real relationship with money that might need similar attention.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it might be time to see a financial therapist:

• Do you feel frequently depressed or anxious about your finances or making financial decisions?
• Do you think about what to do about your finances obsessively but fail to follow through with changes?
• Have you tried to make positive changes like saving money, but keep failing or falling back into old habits?
• Do you suspect you could be sabotaging your own goals?

Like any kind of therapy, financial therapy is designed to help you get to the place where you can help yourself. That means a financial therapist isn’t going to give you advice about which stocks to pick or which budget plan will work best for you (although they might refer you to a financial expert who can help with that). Rather, the therapist will ask you questions that causes you to think about the situation differently.

A financial therapist might ask you to talk about your overall money goals, your past financial failings, or how your parents handle money (it’s no secret that we get a lot of our money mindsets from our parents!). They might also ask you to do a word association test that revolves around money. By talking things out, it becomes easier to identify the negative emotional and mental underpinnings of your relationship with money and then move on to tackling them.

Like traditional therapists, financial therapists will recommend a variety of psychological techniques and practical steps to help you change your behaviors. For example, if you’re struggling to save money, they might help you find motivation by focusing on how good you felt the last time you were successful at it. If you discover that spending money on yourself makes you feel guilty or anxious, they might help you set up a system that makes it feel safe to do so and reinforces it as a positive way to care for yourself.

If you think you might benefit from seeing a financial therapist, it will be hard to find a professional with that exact certification, although some universities are starting to offer programs of study in financial therapy. Most who title themselves as a financial therapist will have a combination of financial training and psychology or counseling degrees. The best place to look is through the online Financial Therapy Association’s directory.

Whether we seek out financial therapy or choose to deal with our emotional and mental hang-ups around money in other ways, it’s helpful for all of us to examine the impact of this relationship on our current habits, financial situation, and goals. What do you think will happen if you talk to a therapist about money? Do you think you will benefit from financial therapy?

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