Not Made Of Money

Weekend Roundup - Fall Cooking Edition

Dana Joseph — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:54:09 +0000

On my weekly grocery trip to Target this past week I noticed a display in the front of the store with all kinds of fall treats - apple cider, pumpkin bread, gingersnap cookies, etc. This inspired me to do some baking this weekend so yesterday I pulled out some recipes and got started. We’ll have lots of yummy fall inspired treats to eat this coming week including pumpkin bread and muffins, gingersnap cookies, and hot apple cider. Gotta love this time of year!

Here are some of the posts I enjoyed reading this week from the Frugal Blog Network:

Almost Frugal shares some frugal tips on how to stay warmer in cold weather.

Frugal Babe gives an update on her hydroponic garden.

Frugal Zeitgeist shares ten things that are going well in her life right now.

The Frugal Duchess writes How the Financial Mess Toys with Our Heads.

Tight Fisted Miser discusses how to Save Money by Living in a Small Town.

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Frugal Entertaining – Planning for the Holidays

Dana Joseph — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:19:07 +0000

I know it seems ridiculous to be planning for the holidays this early, but the key to sticking to a budget for the holiday season is being prepared. Planning ahead allows you time to shop around for anything you need rather than having to rush out and buy something at the last minute. As a bonus, getting ready for the holidays early will help you avoid the last-minute frenzy of shoppers

There are several ways that you can start your holiday preparations now without going crazy. Each detail that you can iron out ahead of time will allow you to look for creative ways to stay within your budget without sacrificing your festivities.

Decide which days you will entertain, as well as who you will be inviting. Maybe you will opt to invite your family over for Thanksgiving and leave the Christmas Day gathering to a sibling. Divvying up the holiday calendar between family members is the first step to planning your holiday parties.

Determine what you will be serving at your gathering. A brunch will require breakfast foods; dinner, however, may also include a dessert and alcoholic beverages. Consider the time of day, as well as your guests’ schedules, when deciding what types of food will be served.

Plan a menu. If you know now what your menu will include, you can start keeping an eye out for sales on your menu’s ingredients. Clear out some space in your pantry and/or freezer to store items as you buy them. Be sure to mark your holiday stockpile as you add to it. The last thing you need is to start cooking for your big day and realize that you accidentally used some of your ingredients for an earlier meal.

Borrow items you need to avoid purchasing them. Many families need extra seating when they host large gatherings. Rather than renting or purchasing folding chairs, borrow them from your church or school. Likewise, serving dishes or tables linens can be borrowed from neighbors or friends.

Create your own decorations. Simple twinkle lights will give your whole home a special look. You can also make your own garlands or wreaths to add greenery. Sweet bows can be added to dress up a chandelier. Peruse magazines, too, for ideas that you can recreate yourself.

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Home Organizing On a Budget

Dana Joseph — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:33:48 +0000

An organized home is a beautiful sight. Nothing is as reassuring as the ability to find anything in your house within a few moments because everything has its own place. It’s just much easier to relax in a well-organized home.

Of course, the first step to getting organized is to get rid of any unnecessary clutter. But what do you do with the stuff you’re left with after you’ve purged your home of its extraneous contents? You can’t get rid of everything, so now you’ve got to deal with everything that’s left.

Getting organized is easy when you have plenty of containers and systems to hold your stuff. The problem is that all of those pretty containers can be expensive. You could easily spend way more than is reasonable to find ways to organize things like craft supplies, paperwork, or even toiletry items.

The good news, though, is that you don’t have to spend a ton to get organized. Instead, use items that you already have around the house to create your own storage devices. Look at the disposable storage containers you purchase every time you purchase your favorite groceries or toiletries. With a little creativity (and some time spent cleaning the containers up) you can have all the tools you need to keep your home tidy and enjoyable.

Try a few of these ideas:

Glass jars from grocery items – These make great containers to collect everything from bits of ribbons to hair ties. As an added bonus, the clarity of the jar makes it easy to know exactly what’s in each jar.

Shoeboxes – Shoe boxes are the perfect size to hold tons of things. I like to keep scrapbooking supplies in them because they are big enough to lie may paper goods flat. You can even turn shoeboxes into “pretty storage” by wrapping them in wrapping paper.

Tissue boxes – These are the perfect way to keep those empty plastic bags from floating all over your kitchen. Simply stuff the bags into a tissue box. You can, then, pull them out one at a time as you need them.

Plastic containers for cold cuts – If you scrub these out really well, they are perfect for holding your makeup and medications. They stack nicely under the sink and can even be packed in suitcases when you travel.

Diaper Boxes - You know those big boxes of diaper packs? Once you’ve used up all the diapers, they are perfect for storing winter clothing or children’s toys. Use self-adhesive contact paper to dress them up.

Learn to evaluate items for multi-purpose use. With a bit of creativity you can have the best of both worlds - an organized home without the high price.

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Prescription Eyeglasses - My Experience Buying Online and Then Returning Them

Dana Joseph — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:45:19 +0000

photo credit: Starck Ting

I’ve read in the past how you can save so much money by purchasing eyeglasses online. So after a recent eye exam where I found out I would have to start wearing prescription eyeglasses, I decided to try buying them online to save money.

Now I have never worn glasses before, so this was all new to me. My prescription was for bifocals and I decided I wanted progressive lenses. I had to learn all the “lingo” - PD, frame height, lens types, coatings, etc. It was a bit overwhelming. I shopped at several different optical stores and tried on a variety of frames so I could get an idea of the style and size I wanted. I also had each brick and mortar store give me a price quote for the frames and lenses. I was surprised at the large variations in price. My Super Target would give a discount based on our insurance provider. Surprisingly, the local Sam’s Club was the highest price for the type of lenses I was looking for. Since my glasses would be with progressive lenses, I needed a minimum size of lens for them to be effective.

Armed with all the information I thought I would need, I headed to the online stores. I was particularly careful to read each store’s guarantee and return policy. I chose to buy my eyeglasses at EyeBuyDirect because of the ease of navigation through the site and their return policy. After browsing the site and choosing a frame with the color I liked and the size I thought would fit, I placed my order. I did have to call their customer service department as I did not understand how to read the prescription the eye doctor had given me. The customer rep was extremely helpful and explained how to enter the information.

My eyeglasses arrived 2 weeks later. While they were of high quality and exactly as described on the website, they didn’t fit properly and I hated the color of the frames so I sent them back for a refund. I followed the instructions exactly on how to return the glasses and received a credit for the purchase price less the shipping fee (which was only about $5).

It was now apparent to me that I needed more professional help in purchasing my eyeglasses. I needed correct measurements taken and also needed to try on the exact frames I would be wearing. So I headed back to Super Target and tried on frames until I found ones that fit perfectly and purchased my glasses there.

It is definitely true that money can be saved buying eyeglasses online. The ones I purchased online and returned were $63; the eyeglasses I eventually purchased at Super Target were around $200. Being a first-time eyeglass wearer, the difficulty for me was not knowing what exact size frames to purchase. I also think the progressive lenses make things a bit more difficult; as a small framed person (read petite), I needed to have the seg height adjusted on the lenses.

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Weekend Roundup - New Member Edition

Dana Joseph — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:00:16 +0000

I would like to warmly welcome The Frugal Duchess to the Frugal Blog Network. I’ve been reading Sharon’s blog for a while now and have enjoyed her articles on saving money and frugality. This week she had a very timely piece entitled “What Happens to Your Money When the Bank Goes Under?” I think with all the current trouble in the financial sector, it would be wise for each of us to have a little bit of knowledge about the process involved.

From the other members of the Frugal Blog Network this past week:

Almost Frugal writes a very helpful “how to” in “How to Make an On-the-Go Emergency Kit“.

Frugal Babe shares her thoughts on cars.

Tight Fisted Miser makes the “Requisite Financial Bailout Post.”

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Fall Garage Sales – Time to Cash in

Dana Joseph — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:27:49 +0000

Fall garage sales are great whether you are looking to score a few bargains or to earn a little cash. You can find new homes for the clutter in your home. You can sell your unwanted items to start gathering money for your holiday shopping. And, you can even start that shopping. Simply choose your garage sale day, or days, and jump in.

Fall garage sales the perfect opportunity to get rid of summer toys that your family won’t use again next year. Children’s boating vests, water guns, and pool toys will garner shouts of glee from the youngest garage sale shoppers. Remember that having toys at your garage sale makes it easier for adults to shop. If the adults’ kids have something to look at, they will let their parents shop in peace.

Even more popular than summer items, fall and winter items that didn’t sell at your spring garage sale will be ripe for sales in your fall garage sale. Gently-used sweaters and coats put in regular appearances at autumn sales. Unwanted Christmas decorations, old Halloween costumes, and fall-colored home décor will also prove to be popular items.

Not all of the fun of fall garage sales is left to those who are holding the sales. There are plenty of opportunities available for shoppers, too. School clothes are often on the minds of parents during the fall season. You can get great buys on children’s clothing at garage sales. As quickly as kids grow, there is no shame in stretching your clothing budget by shopping at garage sales.

Starting your Christmas shopping during the fall garage sale season is also an easy way to get the most out of your Christmas budget. Have your kids been clamoring for a new video game system? You may find a used system, complete with games and accessories, while shopping in your neighborhood. You should also keep an eye out for items you can fix up, such as a dollhouse or kitchen playset. You can buy it early, add your own special touches to it with paint or other embellishments, and make your child’s holiday.

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How to Organize Your Pantry Stockpile

Dana Joseph — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:04:46 +0000

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a huge advocate of stocking up on your favorite grocery items while they’re on sale. I’ve been known to buy crazy quantities of paper goods, canned or jar goods, and even meat, if I have enough room in my freezer to hold it. A good sale can allow you to insulate yourself from rising grocery prices, at least for awhile, and stay within a tight grocery budget.

Unfortunately, stockpiling groceries can lead to its own unique set of problems. Where will you put all of your bounty? How will you arrange it so that you can find it when you need it? In order to reap all of the rewards of your careful shopping, you will need to have a pretty strong organizational plan. Here are a few tips to help you keep your pantry in tip-top shape:

Keep lighter items in high places. Rolls of paper towels or packages of pasta are perfect for storing on those hard-to-reach shelves in your pantry. You don’t need to reach them everyday, and, if you drop one, you won’t smash a toe.

Place duplicate items together in a row. You don’t necessarily need to see every can of green beans or jar of pasta sauce. Instead, place these items in a row to the back of your pantry shelves. Then, you can place the next type of food product next to it. Different varieties hidden behind other products make it hard to keep tabs on your pantry’s inventory.

Keep regularly-used products within arm’s reach. Can you imagine what a pain it would be to have to drag out your step-stool each time you need to reach staples like flour or breakfast cereal? Make your life easier by keeping the products that you use everyday in a location that you can get to quickly.

Consider who uses your different pantry items as you organize the pantry. Keeping cereal in a location that is easy for youngsters to reach can help speed your morning routines. In addition, if your children are old enough to help with meal preparation, you can empower them to do more by storing supplies for regular dinner menus in an easy-to-find spot.

Mount a dry erase board in your pantry. One of the worst parts of going to the pantry to get something is the realization that you’ve run out. Imagine a family barbecue where you discover that you’re out of barbecue sauce. A simply family rule requiring anyone taking the last of something out of the pantry to write the name of the item on the board will make it easy to keep your pantry stocked.

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Weekend Roundup - Nice Weather Edition

Dana Joseph — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:53:55 +0000

The weather here in Florida has been quite nice lately, so we are trying to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. It sure beats sitting around and watching the news, as depressing as it has been with the financial mess going on. Here are some interesting articles that I liked from the Frugal Blog Network this past week:

Almost Frugal tells how to find the perfect sofa in 8 easy steps.

Frugal Babe shares “When I Found Out Guns N Roses Isn’t The Name Of A Song“.

Frugal Zeitgeist wonders about hurricane evacuations and who pays?

Tight Fisted Miser asks What Should You Do With Your Money Now?

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Building a Frugal Fall Wardrobe

Dana Joseph — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:02:59 +0000

Putting together a fall wardrobe economically is easier than just about any other type of wardrobe. The season’s short duration, combined with its varied weather, make it a cinch to pull a fashionable fall wardrobe out of a few inexpensive purchases and the current inhabitants of your closet. Just follow these easy steps:

Pair your favorite summer tanks with simple lightweight cardigans. Fall weather can be so unpredictable that you’ll quickly learn to love the flexibility that comes with these combinations. For unexpectedly hot days, you can easily shed your outer layer. However, on cooler days, you’ll be glad to enjoy the warm feeling of your sweater.

Ditch your strappy sandals for a pair of hardworking flats. Cute flats can be paired with full-length pants or your favorite Capri pants. Just take care to select shoes that will go with all or most of your existing clothes so that you can wear them with everything.

Mute the bright colors of your summer clothes by combining them with more staid, traditional clothes. Your bright orange t-shirt will fit right into fall when you pair it with a dark pair of jeans. Likewise, a sturdy black skirt is perfect for wearing with a hot pink blouse.

Browse consignment shops for a lightweight trench coat. The rainy weeks of fall can cause even the neatest person to feel slightly soggy and messy. A sleek trench coat will protect your clothes from unexpected puddles and keep you looking stylish.

Give your old clothes a new life by adding a few new accessories to your wardrobe. Inexpensive costume jewelry can give your favorite sweater a whole new look. Pair a silver-toned necklace with a solid-colored t-shirt. Another option is to try wearing a pair of beaded earrings with a lightweight turtleneck sweater.

Don’t forget to check out great sales on fall clothes in late September and October. After the rush of back to school shopping is over, retailers need to quickly move their fall stock to make room for winter apparel. You can add a few new items to your wardrobe for a fraction of their regular prices.

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Finding a Reliable Car Mechanic

Dana Joseph — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:59:20 +0000

If you are like us and drive your car until the wheels fall off, then you know how important it is to have a reliable car mechanic. Just thinking about a visit to the mechanic is enough to strike fear into the heart of any car owner. You may think you’re taking your car to the shop for a tiny, insignificant thing and then find out that there’s a real problem with your car. Before you know it, you’re spending hundreds of dollars to fix something you didn’t even know was broken.

To make matters worse, unless you’re mechanically-inclined, you may not even be sure what was wrong with your car. Sure, the mechanic said you had a problem, but do you know that there was a problem? And how do you know that your mechanic will have you back on the road as quickly as possible? Finding a reliable mechanic can be the answer to all of your concerns.

Finding a good mechanic is easy if you know where to look. You just need to do a little research to find a mechanic that will meet your needs and will work with your pocketbook. Here are a few suggestions to get your started on your search:

Ask your friends about their mechanic. Odds are they all have an opinion. Some may have a love/hate relationship with theirs, while others may have a more positive outlook. Find out what they like and don’t like about their mechanic to decide if you’re ready to try him out.

Check out neighborhood bulletin boards. These bulletin boards can be a great way to find an unfiltered opinion, especially if you’re new to an area. If you can’t find a thread related to this topic, don’t be bashful about starting one just for this. Chances are you’ll find plenty of people willing to share about their experiences.

Take a mechanic on a trial run. Before you totally entrust the well-being of your trusty car to a total stranger, take your potential mechanic’s shop on a test drive. Make an appointment for some routine maintenance to facilitate your research. Then, while your car is being looked after, take a look around the shop. Is it clean? Are the employees nice to you? With a relatively small investment of time and money, you’ll be able to make certain that this is the mechanic for you.

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Five Grocery Items That Have Not Increased in Price

Dana Joseph — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:56:59 +0000

photo credit: CoreForce
Like seemingly everything else these days, food costs have gone through the roof in recent months. Between the rising cost of transporting food from the growers to the market and the increased expenses related to manufacturing foods, it’s no wonder that your food expenses have started to take up a larger and larger share of your monthly budget.

Fortunately, there are some foods that seem unfazed by the crazy inflation that is invading our lives. Working these foods into regular rotation in your meal or snack plans will allow you to insulate yourself from price increases that could wreck your budget. Here are a few examples, as well as some suggestions for how to incorporate them into your family’s diet.

Chips – First of all, snack chips are great additions to your children’s school lunches. But you can use them as more than snacks. You can also add them to dinner dishes like casseroles like Betty Crocker’s Chipotle Red Beans and Rice Casserole to give your dinner a little extra crunch.

Potatoes – While many different types of produce have become increasingly expensive, the price of potatoes has remained pretty flat. Potatoes can be used to make many different dishes such as mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin, baked potatoes…you see where I’m going with this, don’t you?

Pasta Noodles – Pasta is one of my favorite foods, so I was thrilled to see that it hasn’t really been afflicted by rising food costs. Adding an inexpensive jar of sauce (caught at a sale price) will help you create a dinner your entire family will love.

Chicken – Unlike expensive beef, chicken has experienced a relatively stable price. There are as many ways to prepare chicken as there are stars in the sky. Add mayonnaise to baked chicken to make chicken salad for sandwiches. Or bake in a creamy sauce for a lip-smacking entrée. And, who doesn’t love friend chicken? Peruse your favorite cookbook for more ideas.

Flour/Sugar – Staples that are used in baking are very economical choices while you’re grocery shopping. Forget spending tons on pre-packaged desserts. Instead, you can bake your own cookies. Flour will also stand in as an inexpensive breading for meats.

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Weekend Roundup - IKEA edition

Dana Joseph — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:17:58 +0000

I had the opportunity to visit an IKEA store this past week for the first time. I can only say it was completely overwhelming. There were so many items to look at and the store is absolutely massive. I had a great time though!

Here are some posts I enjoyed from the Frugal Blog Network:

Almost Frugal writes Frugal Ikea Hacks: Make Your Own Laptop Case.

Frugal Babe’s husbands is building a greenhouse.

Frugal Zeitgeist writes that small is beautiful.

Andy at Tight Fisted Miser tells how to save money by buying gift cards online.

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Maximizing Your Dollars by Shopping Clearance Sales

Dana Joseph — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:22:26 +0000

Sometimes, no matter how frugal you are, you really do have to go shopping. Kids outgrow their clothes. Thing wear out around the house. You family might even grow. You’re just going to have to bite the bullet and spend a little money.

Your shopping excursion doesn’t, however, mean that you have to blow your budget. By carefully timing your purchases you can take advantage of clearance sales and ensure that you get the most bang for you buck.

Fall clearance sales present a wonderful opportunity while you’re shopping for clothes. Since fall weather can often be as warm as summer weather, you can buy summer clothes for less than a third of their regular prices and wear them right away. You can get clothes for the kids to start school in, as well as some new pieces for the adults in your family, and spend nowhere near as much money as you would have spent a month ago.

Next, clearance sales are great ways to replace the little things that seem to wear out in every household. Towels and other linens are often available at very low prices. When else can you replace your old threadbare sheets or bath towels for next to nothing? If you’ve been meaning to redecorate a bathroom or your bedroom, you’ll be sure to find everything you need in the fall white sales.

Finally, clearance sales in the fall often feature last year’s model of appliances and electronics. So, if you’re television is on the blink, early fall is the perfect time to shop for a replacement. Retailers need to make room in their storage rooms for the incoming new models, so they’re very motivated to sell the older models.

Whatever you’re planning to purchase, clearance sales allow you to stretch your shopping dollar as far as possible. Instead of buying the kids each one pair of jeans, you can buy them two or three. By spending the time to wade through the clearance sales you’ll be able to get everything you need at a price you and your family can live with.

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Inexpensive Food for Tailgating Parties

Dana Joseph — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:25:53 +0000

The arrival of fall means one thing in many families: tailgating parties. Whether your family enjoys professional football, school football, or recreational football games, you can bet that the entire clan will love a good tailgating party. Good food, good friends, and a fun atmosphere combine to make this type of party particularly enjoyable.

Unfortunately, buying all of the food for a tailgating party can be crazily expensive. Expensive meats, a large quantity of drinks, and other snack foods can all add up. Is there a way to enjoy the fun without destroying your grocery budget?

You bet there is! There are plenty of foods that are perfect for tailgating parties that won’t break the bank. Check out these options for ideas:

Hot Dogs – Hot dogs are much cheaper than brats but almost as much fun. Look for sales on generic hot dogs to make them even more affordable. You can also save on hot dog buns if you don’t mind visiting your local bread outlet.

Chips and Salsa – Tortilla chips and salsa are great for tailgating parties. Spicier salsas will even help keep your crowd warm at cold-weather games.

Chicken Wings – Chicken wings meat all of the requirements of good tailgating party food. They’re perfect for eating with your hands, and they’re much more affordable than hamburgers. Spend a little time experimenting with different spices and sauces to perfect your own chicken wing flavor.

Veggies – Okay, a tray of carrots, broccoli and tiny tomatoes may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of tailgating food, but your body will appreciate the nod to healthiness. Bite-sized vegetables are easy to manage while your group hangs out and enjoys the pre-game excitement.

Generic Soda – No one will really care if you’re serving Pepsi or RC as your cola-flavored beverage. Buy soda when it’s on sale without any allegiance to a particular brand. I’ve found particularly good deals when buying soda by the case at Sam’s Club or Costco.

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Frugal Fall Fun

Dana Joseph — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:19:02 +0000

Family fun during the fall can be found in many different ways. Fall is a season of great weather and community festivals. Whether your family enjoys outdoors events or indoor activities, there is a plethora of ways to entertain your entire family during the temperate days of autumn.

Community Carnivals or Fairs – Almost every town has some type of celebration during the fall months. Plan for your entire family to spend an evening at one of these fun-filled festivals. You’ll get to visit with friends and neighbors, see plenty of interesting arts and crafts, and get to enjoy the company of your family. Be sure to talk to the kids ahead of time; they may want to save their allowances to buy a wristband to admit them to the carnival’s rides.

Handcraft Decorations for Halloween – Your family can have the spookiest house in the neighborhood if you are willing to put a little effort into making your decorations. Inexpensive things like gauze and construction paper make great cobwebs and spooky signs. Pool the collective energies of your combined families to see who can come up with the best creepy ideas. Gather the entire family together to convert your house for the upcoming holiday.

Take in a Game – High school football games are a staple to communities for a reason. Few events pack as much excitement into one evening. For a few dollars, your entire family can join in the festivities at your area school. And, a football game will provide entertainment for the whole night. You can cheer your hometown heroes to victory and become more connected to your community.

Go for a Walk – Take advantage of the nice weather that comes with autumn and get your family outside. If you’re an outdoorsy family, go for an adventurous hike. You might even get to see a little wildlife along your journey. Don’t be discouraged, though, if you just go for a walk around the neighborhood. Take your time and notice the things that make your neighborhood special. You can enjoy Mother Nature’s lovely autumn display and get a little exercise.

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