Most of my relationship with Paul has been long distance. We met in Japan in our 20s, fell madly in love, and spent the next several years traversing the globe every few months to be together. I once spent a long weekend in Japan with him, he flew to Maryland next, and then when his grandfather died several months later we met one another in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One Christmas break I spent three weeks with him in Japan, and then he was sent to a school in Biloxi, Mississippi where we spent a wonderful week together (over spring break) months before Hurricane Katrina struck. Florida, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania…it didn’t matter where the other was; we would fly to be together. Because we went months without seeing one another we had to find ways to connect in-between. And not only connect, but to build and nurture a relationship through common experiences even though we were never on the same continent. We also were both dirt-poor and any extra money we could get our hands on was spent on airline tickets. This meant that whatever we did in-between being together had to be cheap and effective.

We tried almost everything. We wrote letters and included little insignias of affection, like a chocolate, a photo of something we had seen, a poem or snippet of something we were reading, confetti, stickers, a spritz of cologne/perfume, magazine articles the other might enjoy, etc. After each trip I would develop the photos we had taken and send him copies in a letter. Once I videotaped my letter as well as my home in PA so that Paul could get a better sense of my life. We even both read the same book at the same time. All of these letters and mementos were wonderful, but the most effective thing we started to do was a brilliant idea of Paul’s: dinner and a movie.

You may wonder how two people who were sometimes over 7,000 miles apart were able to enjoy dinner and a movie together. Very simply: we cooked dinner and watched a movie at the same time. One person would choose a recipe and a movie, and would email this to other person. Both of us agreed on a day and time we would start cooking. We would text one another during cooking, and when each was finished, put in the rented movie. If someone needed a break, they would text the other and we would pause at the same time, and restart together again. Not only did this have us eating good food and watching great flicks, but it created this experience we were sharing together. We could discuss the movie, we could laugh together, or get choked up and share it with the other person. This simple act extended both of our living rooms so that the distance suddenly shrunk dramatically.

What I love about this frugal date idea is that you can use it whether you have a long distance relationship or live with your partner.

Pick a Movie and Recipe: Possible Theme Ideas

You might want to introduce a family recipe to your partner, or try something you saw in a magazine from six months ago. Likewise, you could pick a movie that is an old favorite, or something new neither of you have watched before.

While you do not need to pick a recipe and movie that complement one another, it could really add to the experience.

• A mafia movie and an Italian dish. Paul and I watched the season finale of the Sopranos to a lovely chicken francesca recipe from the Sopranos Cookbook which I checked out of my local library
• Julie and Julia and a french dish
• Westerns and chili or barbecue
• Slumdog Millionaire, The Namesake, or other Indian movies and Indian-inspired dishes

Invite Your Loved One to Dinner and a Movie

Anticipation of a wonderful time together starts with the invitation. Photocopy the chosen recipe and bundle this together with the movie idea. You could roll it up and tie it with a bow. If you are long distance, create an email with the recipe attached (or written out in the email), and construct or copy and paste in some romantic text art like a rose, cupid, or a heart. Include the date on your partner’s calendar or a calendar you share together. If you are together, or have time to mail a letter, you can include a CD of some tunes to play while in the kitchen that you handpicked for the occasion.

Take a Free Online Cooking Lesson Together

Paul and I (along with lots of couples) love to take cooking classes together. The problem is that they can be expensive. For your frugal date instead of just cooking a meal and watching a movie, you could choose an online cooking lesson to take together for free.  Here are a few to get you started:

• PBS offers 28 free full episodes of Julia Childs (scroll down and click on “More Full Episodes Options” for more).
• Epicurious.com has some great menus with ingredient lists and videos detailing how to make each. They also offer technique videos.
• The Food Network offers cooking demo videos.
• The New York Times offers a series called Cooking with the Times (some with videos, some without).
• Thai Food Tonight offers many Thai food how-to videos, including Pad Thai from a chef in Thailand and Satay.

I use the last blank page of my address book as a sort of former residence scrapbook where I write down the address of each of my old apartments. Since the start of college, I have racked up seven different addresses spanning 3 countries and 3 states. This has taught me that I may not be in a location for very long, and so I need to enjoy and fully experience the things I want to sooner rather than later.

Since moving to Texas in 2008 I created a Texas Bucket List where I detailed roughly ten experiences/places I wanted to see while living in Texas. When I saw the opportunity to fulfill one of these through a social buying site deal offering a trip to New Orleans at a crazy-great price, I got really excited. My friend had passed a deal along where you pay $89 for two nights’ stay at an upscale 3.5 to 4 star New Orleans hotel, plus you have the choice of a special gift (Complimentary $50 Visa Rewards card, or One Additional Complimentary Room Night). This was all valued at $408. You can start to see where the red flags were raised. With Mardi Gras coming up, it is clearly not the off-season for New Orleans where one might find a deal as sweet as this. Also, all travel social buying site deals I have ever seen have been for up to 50% off, not 78% off. I began to wonder, is New Orleans on clearance for any particular reason?

I figured it out by perusing around the website a bit more. This was a vacation property timeshare in disguise as a social buying deal.

Terms and Conditions Most Will Glaze Over     

Let’s be honest, most people get a glaze in their eyes when reading legalese so they decide to skip over it entirely and rely on the advertising and the fact that others have signed on before them and not faced disaster. Dealster.com, the advertiser of this deal, says on its About Page that it wants to offer compelling deals to consumers, which means “…you get the things you want at big savings and without a lot of fine print…” (italics are my own). My two pages of printed fine print clearly do not fit this bill. In this case, not reading the terms and conditions will leave you very disgruntled upon arriving at the hotel for your getaway weekend (er, most likely a Tuesday-Thursday per the fine print) when you learn this:

• Your package does not include any applicable taxes, hotel service fees or regulatory surcharges (estimated at between $50-60 per trip, and an additional $30 per night in parking fees)
• You agree to attend a presentation that will last a minimum of 120 minutes and married or co-habitating couples must attend the orientation and tour together
• Your getaway is for the purpose of promoting the sale of vacation ownership plans

And if you are upset when checking in and decide to leave in a fit of rebellion, you may be very surprised with the “no show” fee that will be charged to your credit card. “Participants with confirmed reservations who fail to check-in on their reservation date or fail to reschedule at least two (2) weeks in advance of their arrival date shall forfeit their use of this certificate and be charged a one night “no show fee”.

Timeshares and Travel Deals Should Not Be Combined

Call me crazy, but this is not what social buying sites are all about. Can you imagine buying one of these vouchers to New Orleans only to learn that you must attend a 120-minute presentation about buying into the vacation property? How about if you cancel a few days in advance (normally allowed at other hotels) only to be charged a “no show” fee? Social buying sites are supposed to unite consumers into a large enough group where their purchasing power allows for a significant reduction in the cost of the experience, service, or item being offered. The seller gets exposure for their brand, makes a small profit (admittedly small, but many times during off-season when profits are harder to come by), and consumers are left with a great deal.

In my mind, a timeshare is a timeshare, and a discounted travel deal is a discounted travel deal. One should not be substituted for the other, especially when you are sending these types of deals to someone’s inbox in the guise of a social buying deal. If social buying sites begin to slip-in timeshare buying opportunities with their travel deals they will surely create a bitter taste in most of their clients’ mouths (me included). That is just not good for business.

Other Articles You May Enjoy:

Selling a Timeshare to the Wall
Deal or No Deal or Which Deal: Our Timeshare Update
We are Not Going to Help Them Make Vegetable Soup Out of a Stone and Water
How I Almost Got Scammed: Lessons Learned from Trouble in Paradise
Money Mistakes I’d Make All Over Again: Purchasing a Timeshare
10 Financial Myths About Timeshares
What is my Timeshare Worth?

Hello Frugal Confessions Readers!

Here is my frugal confession of the week:

I must admit, it is the strangest thing coming into work once a year with a urine sample cup waiting for you on your desk. For me, this was last week! As much as I hate the invasion of privacy, our annual medical monitoring at work has a lot of upsides. Once a year a medical facility in a trailer comes to our job and takes our blood to test for cholesterol, diabetes, etc., and gives us a full physical (including hearing, vision, EKG, etc.). If we need vaccinations of some kind (Tetanus, Hepatitis A/B, etc.), we can have these administered on site. We are given results by a doctor about five weeks afterwards.

And the entire thing is for free. No co-pays, no costs for any vaccinations, or for the follow-up with the doctor. So, while it may feel a little intrusive, I am thankful for having such a great service at no cost to me and consider it a perk of my job.

Are you in a field of work that requires an annual physical and testing?

What is your confession of the week? I’d love to hear it!

At the end of the month you need for all bills to be paid, savings goals to be met, and for your checking account to have a balance of at least zero (and hopefully a few dollars above so that you aren’t sweating it). When you adhere to a budget from choice or necessity, cost increases in one category means having to find a reduction in another. And let’s face it, we may have calculated the perfect budget where every dollar has a place, but we live in an imperfect world. Stuff happens. Cost increases in one category means having to find a reduction in another. Without savings, or if you’ve made your savings account a black hole like we have, your “reserves” to cover this overage become the other spending categories for the month. Visualize jar budgeting where each jar represents a category of spending and is filled with the appropriated amount. If the electric bill or water bill is higher than expected, the money has to come from one of your other jars.

It’s always a great idea to have a category to juggle life’s unknowns so that reserves are built into your system. But if you are like me and you automate away all of your money to bills and savings, or if you are living paycheck to paycheck, then this ideal “other category” is a pipe dream. So you must learn what I like to call the Zero Sum Financial Game where you take from some categories to balance overspending in others, and all that matters is that at the end of the month you have not gone in the red nor dipped into your savings account.

We all do this to an extent either on paper or in our heads, but I wanted to discuss a few ideas that might add to your frugal tools so that the next time you end up in the position of needing to juggle, you might be able to pull one of these out of your sleeve.

Stay Home

While I was growing up I remember my grandfather touting this advice over and over again to my family (usually when he was upset with a trip we had taken or bags we were carrying from the car into the house). He would be happy to hear that I am now giving this advice to others. Technically you could boot up your computer or television to shop from home. However, staying home typically means you will spend much less money (if any) than if you go somewhere. You save on gas money, remove much of the temptation that can be in stores, and you use up resources you all ready own in your home. This can be for a weekend, a day, or just one event.

Pantry Challenge

Instead of grocery shopping for the next week or two, eat from your pantry, cupboards, and freezer. This can actually be a fun challenge! Creativity wins points, as well as the ability to take seemingly random ingredients and make great meals from them. Supercook.com is a great website that finds recipes for you with only the ingredients you put into it. It also asks details the ingredients left that are needed for certain recipes, which can be very helpful. Random leftover veggies can be made into soup, you can make breakfast for dinner one night with eggs/oatmeal/toast/etc., or roast a chicken from the freezer and make all sorts of things. When doing this challenge, you will typically need to devote much more time in the kitchen in order to brainstorm and to make food from scratch. However, you probably have more time than money in this case and this is a great way to free up some funds for another category. Who knows, you might find a new family favorite!

Zero Out Your Entertainment Budget

If you have a category for entertainment, it is one of the easiest categories to dip into when needing to free up funds for overspending elsewhere. Why? Allocating zero dollars to entertainment is not such a sacrifice because there are literally hundreds of things you can do to occupy yourself and your family that are free. There are parks, libraries, books at home to read (I’ve got 20 at least), biking, games, walking, movies to watch, free museum days, free local events…even lighting candles at the dinner table with your family can add some entertainment value to a Tuesday night.

Map Out Alternate Transportation

In a recent post by Andrea from So Over Debt, she confesses that she has had to miss work once because she did not have enough gas money for the commute. In order to potentially avoid this and to cut down on transportation costs to pay for unexpected costs from another category, map out alternate transportation for a “what if” scenario. My husband and I have learned the hard way that a car can die at any time (especially when you like to pay cash for beater cars), and it is easier to deal with this when you have a Plan B. Our Plan B for the last two breakdowns (admittedly not thought out ahead of time), was to find carpoolers at each of our jobs that lived near us (if you can find no one at work, look into nuride, a website that pairs together commuters for carpooling). I also mapped out the bus route from my home to my work, though we did not have to use this strategy. Finally, we both adjusted our sleep times and temporarily became a one-vehicle household. While this added a good hour onto our day, it afforded us several months of time to think about and to save for our ‘new’ beater car, as well as some lovely conversation during the commute!

Don’t forget that if you are not using your car for a few weeks or months (to make this worthwhile), then many insurance companies will allow you to recategorize your auto policy as such. I do this for long vacations or for in-between car breakdowns and the cost has been $10 per month. By doing this you retain all loyalty and tenure with the company while paying much less.

Return Unused Items for a Refund

Did you buy something this month with the tags still on it? Or maybe you have an item waiting to be returned from a previous month because it was defective or not what you wanted. When I was living in expensive Palm Beach Gardens, FL, I fell in love with this red beehive-looking blender my Uncle had purchased. Several months later I finally purchased it at $60 (I was waiting for a sale that never came). It was still new in its box a week later when I realized that I was going to come up short at the end of the month from bills and savings, so I returned it. A few months later I was able to actually afford it, and it is still in my kitchen today.

Other Articles You May Enjoy:

Happy Simple Living’s Annual January No-Spend Diet (this takes you to the challenge description; click on her blog tab at the top left to read each day)
Shopping Bread Outlets (there is one near us we have not tried, but I am tempted now!)

When it comes to the Superbowl what I look forward to the most are the commercials, the socializing, and the food. I get a little choked up at the singing of the national anthem, and I can’t help but smile when seeing the players hit the field in all their glory. But my true enjoyment comes from the gathering itself (especially those funny commercials).

Many Superbowl parties I’ve attended over the years involve party trays ordered from grocery stores. I’ve never ordered one myself because I assumed that they would be very costly. This year, I thought I would look into the cost of party trays, and then try to recreate them at home to see if doing so makes sense. What I found is that you can save around 34-37% of the cost by making your own fruit and vegetable trays. However, the cost savings on a cold cuts tray by making your own is not that much (8.4%).

Here’s a breakdown of store-bought trays from Walmart, HEB, and Kroger’s, as well as the cost to make my own. Please note that I tried my best to replicate the store bought trays (photos below):

Homemade Party Trays

For each of the party trays I purchased the actual tray from the 99₵ store. This cost, as well as the cost of the dips has been added into the overall cost above.

For the fruit tray I made a Dairy Princess fruit dip recipe (with a ton of dairy in it; and yes, yours truly was a Dairy Princess when I was 16). The recipe is at the end of this article. Fruits include grapes, oranges, apples, strawberries, and a pineapple (included in the cost, but not included in the tray because I could not find room).

The cost of the meat tray includes a jar of pickles. Also included is roast beef, honey ham, turkey, provolone, and cheddar.

For the vegetable tray I used straight Ranch dressing as the dip (included in price).

Tips to Save More Money on Homemade Trays

Since I was attempting to mimic the grocery store party trays for this article, I spent money that I did not necessarily need to spend. For your own homemade trays, you can save money by using your own platters or saved platters from previous party tray purchases (I would not recommend putting these plastic trays into a dishwasher). In order to accurately mimic these trays I also purchased mid-ranged deli meats. You could potentially save more money on your own homemade cold cuts tray by purchasing less expensive cuts of meat and cheeses.

Cost of the Football Field Tablecloth

I have an artsy/creative side that has needed an outlet lately. About a year ago I got the idea to make a green football tablecloth for food tables at football parties…and I am so happy I’ve been given the chance to do so! The cost for making this was $17.66 (this does not include the cost of painter’s tape, which we had on-hand). The supplies were a bottle of fabric paint, two yards of duck canvas fabric from Jo-Ann’s (scored for 50% off!), a foam brush, sharpie marker, a measuring tape, and painter’s tape.

Fruit Dip

8 oz. package cream cheese
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 cup cold milk
1 package (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix

In a mixing bowl cream together cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Add sour cream, vanilla, lemon juice, milk and pudding mix and mix until smooth. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Serve as a dip for fruit.

Hello Frugal Confessions Readers!

Here is my frugal confession of the week:

Ever since my early twenties I have turned to acupuncture for overall health and stress reduction. Acupuncture can be semi-expensive, but the benefits for many people are wonderful.

Fortunately for me, a friend of a friend found a great resource here in Houston: a non-profit health center (St. Theresa’s) that offers acupuncture, among other natural remedies. I have been working with the acupuncturist for a month now, and the sessions only cost $35 each. Typically, you pay $60+ per session. Thank you Helen!

What is your confession of the week? I’d love to hear it.

According to the 2011-2012 National Society of Accountants (NSA) survey on tax preparation fees, the average tax preparation fee for an itemized Form 1040 with Schedule A and a state tax return was $233 for the 2011 tax season. For non-itemizing taxpayers, the average cost for Form 1040 with Schedule A and a state tax return was $128 for the same time period.

You may have a very good reason to be paying this much to have your tax return prepared for you (or for paying even more, depending on the complexity of your tax situation). For example, if you do not have the time or desire to learn about the tax code and feel that you will probably miss important deductions if you did the return yourself then it makes sense to have your taxes prepared for you. Perhaps your tax situation is so complex that it is a much better idea for you to pay someone for their services. Maybe you have a simple 1040 to submit, but it is just too confusing (as taxes tend to be).

I’d like to highlight some free resources for tax preparation and tax filing in the hopes that you might come in below the national average this year. Below are resources for both free tax preparation, free filing (that you do yourself), and free tax help.

Free Federal Income Tax Help and Filing Regardless of Income

• Free File with Fillable Forms: The IRS has partnered with 20 tax preparation software companies to offer a free federal income tax filing for everyone. Go to the IRS Free File website for a free fillable federal tax form (online versions of paper forms are designed for people comfortable preparing their own tax returns; offers basic calculations).
• TaxAct.com: This site offers free federal tax preparation software for everyone.
• Wal-Mart: H&R Block and Jackson-Hewitt are offering free preparation of 1040EZ forms at 3,000 stores nationwide. Refunds will be given through direct deposit into a bank account, to a prepaid card (watch out—it has some fees), or by a mailed check. Check with your local store to see if they are participating.

Free Federal Income Tax Help and Filing with Income Limits

• Free File with Software: Taxpayers with incomes below $57,000 2011 are eligible for a free tax software product. This offers assistance by prompts and calculations within the software.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): I took advantage of this when I was in college and a local AARP advertised free tax assistance on our campus. Taxpayers with incomes under $50,000 as well as taxpayers aged 60 and older can have their taxes prepared for them by IRS volunteer assistants. Eligible workers can locate a volunteer assistance site by calling their community’s 211 or 311 number for local services or calling the IRS at 1-800-906-9887 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Free State Income Tax Filing with Income Limits

• Beehive.org: This site offers free federal and state income tax filing if your households makes $57,000 or less.
• TaxHawk: State preparation is free for those with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $20,000 or less.

Free State Income Tax Filing with Age Limits

• OLT OnLine Taxes: If you are 20 years old or younger, you can file your state income tax for free using this site.

Free Federal and State Tax Preparation for Active Military Personnel

• Armed Forces Tax Council: The Armed Forces Tax Council provides free tax preparation services for active military personnel and their families in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. They are trained for military-specific tax situations, and act as the coordinator for the VITA program mentioned above.
• TaxSlayer: Active military personnel can file their federal and state income tax for free using this website.
• H&R Block At Home: If you are eligible under the Military OneSource program, you can complete, save, and file your 2011 federal and up to three state returns online for free. You will need to register for the Military OneSource program and use the link through that page in order to get the free tax filing.

Free Tax Question Help

• Call the IRS Directly: In the past I have called the IRS with my questions (might as well go to the source, right?). While it can be a long wait on the phone as the tax deadline approaches, you will eventually be connected to someone who can help you. The general assistance line is 1-800-829-1040. For businesses and specialty help, call 1-800-829-4933. Finally, if you are a taxpayer calling from outside of the United States, dial 267-941-1000.

When you think about retirement, are you stuck in disillusionment somewhere between your dreams and the reality of an empty retirement account? Perhaps this is because you are currently (and have been) living paycheck to paycheck and any extra savings you squeeze out of the month goes towards putting out last month’s fires. All of the financial gurus (and me!) say to start saving no matter what, but the prospect seems overwhelming when you are worrying about more present-day concerns like variable electricity bills and car repairs.

If this describes you, then I’ve got an idea I’d like you to entertain. Yes, it involves you putting money into a retirement account, just like what all of the other retirement articles out there tell you to do (obviously a very sound strategy to retirement savings). But please keep reading, as this information and strategy has the potential to help you fund a retirement without dipping into your monthly paycheck.

Tax Benefit Number 1

Certain taxpayers who meet income limits/filing statuses, and who contribute to a retirement account are eligible for a tax credit called the Saver’s Tax Credit. The limits are:

• Single, married filing separately, or qualifying widow(er) with income up to $27,750
• Head of Household with income up to $41,625
• Married Filing Jointly, with incomes up to $55,500

Depending upon your income, you will be given a credit of up to $1,000 for Single, or up to $2,000 for Filing Jointly. The amount is a percentage of any contributions you have made to qualifying retirement accounts such as an IRA, 401(K), and certain other retirement plans. What a great deal!

Tax Benefit Number 2

On top of a tax credit for funding your retirement account, you can score a tax deduction (without having to itemize deductions). Traditional IRA contributions are made based off of post-tax dollars. This means that at the end of the year contributions are typically tax deductible. You will receive the Saver’s Tax Credit on top of the tax deduction you can all ready take on contributions to a traditional retirement account.  That is a tax deduction and a tax credit for the same money. And let’s not forget that this money is going towards your own financial future. Again, what a great deal!

How to Take Advantage of These Tax Benefits if You Have No Money

At this point you might be excited, but wondering how on earth you are going to take advantage of this. Every year tax refunds and ideas for how to spend them are splattered all over the media—commercials from companies hoping you’ll buy that new appliance and news/media trying to determine how much of a stimulus this refund season will be for the economy. The refund is glamorized, with American taxpayers gleefully skipping down the path of the rainbow towards their new found gold. In fact, some Americans pay no federal income tax and still receive a tax refund.

According to the Tax Policy Center, in 2011 46.5% of American households will pay no federal income tax. Not only will such a large percentage of American households not owe any federal income tax, but some of these households will receive a tax refund. This is due to the Earned Income Credit (EIC). To give you an example, here is a quote from IRS Notice 797:

“If eligible, you can claim the EIC to get a refund even if you have no tax withheld from your pay or owe no tax. For example, if you had no tax withheld in 2011 and owe no tax but are eligible for a credit of $829, you must file a 2011 income tax return to get the $829 refund.”

Call me crazy, but with so much advertising and media coverage of this joyful time in the U.S., I have a hunch that most people are not saving their tax refund; they are spending it. For families living paycheck to paycheck, this probably does feel a little like winning the lottery and I am sure you have some pent-up consumer demand for things that you could not afford over the last year (maybe a washer broke, the car needs a repair, extracurricular activities for your child, medical needs, etc.). In this case a tax refund actually fits well into your budget plan for the year. But what if you harness your tax refund instead? Doing so could reap you two tax benefits unavailable to others, as well as lead you on the path to a retirement more comfortable than your present circumstances.

Now, Roll Your Double Tax Benefits to Maximize Retirement Savings

To do this for one year is great. But what if you take part of your tax return every year and make a retirement account contribution? Your retirement savings would continue to grow, funded in large part by tax benefits. You could start this year by investing part or all of your refund, reaping you a larger tax return for next year. Next year, you can take that tax refund and contribute to retirement, reaping you a larger tax return for the following year. Do you see a nice pattern forming? So long as you meet the requirements, you could essentially roll the tax benefits and contribute to your retirement every year.

The money is technically not coming out of your monthly pay (though I say this with caution because you could adjust withholdings and have more money in your paycheck each month and less of a refund each year). And while you will be investing in one lump sum (and not dollar cost averaging), not saving for retirement at all is a much greater risk than short-term market volatility.

Comparing diet program costs is one way to maximize the amount of money you have to spend on dieting (or to make you run the other way with your hard earned money). But there are many other ways to still get the results that you want without signing onto or at least without paying full price for the expensive meal delivery programs.

Check out some options below, starting with discounts on the meal delivery programs and ending with a free diet kit from Atkins.

Meal Delivery Programs Using a Discount

• Health Insurance Discounts for Diet Programs: Check with your health insurance company and see what types of discounts they offer. Many health insurance companies offer discounts to Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and gym memberships. For example, I am with Blue Cross Blue Shield and I can get between a 10-35% discount on the Jenny Craig meal plans, as well as a discount of between $5-$30 on the Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating meal delivery program.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for a Tax Discount: If you participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for eligible healthcare expenses, then you might be able to use the tax advantage as a discount on weight loss programs. In order to use your FSA for this expense, you need to get a Letter of Medical Necessity from your physician diagnosing you with a medical condition.

Grocery Store Diet Programs

There are several companies which offer frozen diet meals in grocery stores that serve as substitutes for meal delivery programs.

• Jenny Craig uses the American Diabetic Exchange System. If you are looking for a substitute to their delivered foods program, both Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice use the American Diabetic Association Exchange System as well (for example you might see this on the box: 1 1/2 Lean Meat, 2 Starch, 1/2 Fat). Also, Lean Cuisine offers a rewards program. This will not save you money, but it is a nice perk.
• Weight Watchers offers a line of frozen foods called Smart Ones. While they do not offer the American Diabetic Association Exchange System, they do provide points for those on the Weight Watchers diet. Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice both include Weight Watchers Points on their boxes; however each of these companies states that the point counts on the boxes are not endorsed by Weight Watchers.
• Slim-Fast has a diet program based upon 3-2-1: 3 snacks, 2 Slim-Fast Shakes or Meal Bars, and 1 balanced meal. I purchased a six pack of Chocolate Mint snack bars for $3.50, and an 8 pack of shakes for $9.99. An estimated cost per day of this plan without the “balanced meal” would be $4.25. Over a three month period, an estimated cost would be $382.50.

Without coupons I walked into a Kroger’s last Thursday to purchase a myriad of lunches and dinners from the companies above to sample as well as to price. The taste was decent, but the ingredient labels were all very scary. Pricing was between $1.78 and $2.42 per meal (Smart Ones had the lowest at $1.78 and also the costliest meal at $2.42; it really depends on what you purchase). At these prices, three meals per day would cost between $5.34 and $7.26. Over a three month period that would be between $480.60 and $653.40.

Book Diet Programs

Books provide all of the information that you need to count your own calories, personalize your own diet, and jumpstart some weight loss at a fraction of the price you will pay when signing onto diet programs. However, whether or not this will work for you is dependent upon your motivation and accountability level. Unfortunately, I think many libraries and kitchen shelves are lined with forgotten diet books that would most likely have worked if someone kept motivated and dedicated. Some diet programs offered in book form include the South Beach Diet, Atkins, The Sonoma Diet, etc.

Another way you can save money is by purchasing cookbooks by the diet program companies instead of signing onto the programs themselves. By following the dishes in these books you know you will be eating low-calorie/low-carb/low-fat meals. Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, and the South Beach diet all offer cookbooks.

Used book sales, eBay, and other used sites are littered with copies of diet books and diet cookbooks. Not only that, but you can also purchase an older set of Weight Watcher’s Points system from people on eBay.

Mimic Established Diet Programs

There is science behind each of the different dieting programs. While this information is proprietary to an extent, some of it is available for free.

• Glycemic Index Diets: The Glycemic Index is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. This is the basis behind the South Beach Diet, NutriSystem, the Zone Diet and the Suzanne Somers Diet. Instead of purchasing these books and/or meal plans, you could consult a free list of foods and their glycemic index and follow the guidelines yourself.  You can also find a great free glycemic index list here.
• Portion Control Diet: The food part of Jenny Craig’s three-tier system is based on portion control and calorie counting. Calorie information is available on every package of food, and if it is not, then that probably means you are eating a fresh fruit or vegetable (calories will be much less, but you can also look it up online depending on how strictly you want to count calories). You can figure out your personal caloric needs after taking into consideration your current weight, height, and weight goal.  The Mayo Clinic has a great slide show on portion sizes with visuals of common household items to help you remember them.

Free Diet Kit

Atkins diet quick start kit offers a quick start guide, the Atkins comprehensive carb counter, and three Atkins bars. Best of all, you can get it for free!

Dieting, as with anything else, does not have to be an expensive endeavor. You can still reach your weight loss goals without signing onto expensive meal delivery programs, or if you have enough money budgeted for these programs you can do your best to find discounts available to you so that you do not pay full price. After all, if you spend all of your money on a diet program then you won’t have any left over to reward yourself with a new outfit or two once you reach your goal.

Have you dieted in the past, or are you currently dieting? How are your results? Have you found ways to save money? 

Part of Yakezie Carnival at Little House in the Valley.

It’s the beginning of a new year and the television waves are gluttonous with meal-delivery diet commercials. Each company is trying to outdo the competition by showing slim, smiling models eating calorie and fat-laden foods like pizza, cheese curls, pasta, muffins, French fries and even burgers (probably sprayed with a zero-calorie lube to make them appear greasy). The models appear so satisfied that you almost believe they had just finished chowing down on a Philly Cheesesteak instead of the low-carb version of a baked potato. In fact, the only foods missing on diet program commercials seem to be what you actually should be eating more of: fresh fruits and vegetables!

I have never tried a dieting program. In fact the closest I ever came to doing so was during college when I would sneak into “The Cove” snack shack for a Slim-Fast Meal Replacement Bar in between classes. I mistakenly thought these bars were snacks because the flavor was chocolate chip cookie dough, and also because they were just enough to hold me over until an hour or so later when I could go home and cook lunch or dinner. Thank goodness I was too busy using up energy and burning calories by doing things like taking 22 credits in one semester while working part time; otherwise these meal replacement bars probably would have contributed to the “Freshman 15”!

Despite having never tried a diet program, I am curious about the cost involved and think it is important to share my research because I know many others are trying to sift through all of the information to figure out whether or not they should try a diet program. What I have found is that there are so many options out there that it is hard to find the differences between each program. If certain programs are going to charge much more than others, I think we should all compare to find out if the extra cost is truly worth it. For the sake of this article, I established a cost for one person to be on the plan for three months because I think a person will probably need to be on a diet program for at least this length of time in order to make the lifestyle changes they need to achieve their goals.

The programs I chose to compare are listed below from the most expensive to the least expensive.

Meal Delivery Program Cost Comparison

• eDiets.com: This program allows you to choose from 15 different online meal plans with customizable menus. The food is supposed to be freshly prepared and does not include powdered, artificial, or freeze-dried meals. One week of meals (7-day plan) is $169.95 with every third week free for a total of three free weeks over a period of three months. The five day meal plan is $139.95 with a comparable free week program. Over a three month period, the total cost would be between $1,259.55-$1,529.55 (taking free weeks into account). Another option with eDiets is the Biggest Loser Meal Plan. This plan costs $178.60 ($153.65 weekly plan + $24.95 weekly shipping) for the 7-day base plan, and $144.70 ($119.75 weekly plan + $24.95 weekly shipping) for the 5-day base plan. Total cost for three months would be between and $1,616.65-$1,989.55 (this takes into account one week of free food, but you have to pay the $24.95 shipping costs for the free week). To sum, the cost for three months is between $1,259.99-$1,989.55. It should be noted that while this is the most expensive of the diet programs, unlike the other two meal delivery programs below you do not need to purchase groceries for yourself to supplement the delivered meals.
• Jenny Craig: This program offers meals as well as a partnership with a personal consultant. You pay for your food and an introductory promotional amount of money (sometimes it’s $20 for 20 lbs., and sometimes it’s $1.00 for all the weight you want to lose). While I cannot find any information on the Jenny Craig website about prices for the food and program, I found someone who has posted the Jenny Craig Price List for 2011. Someone also posted the price list on the Jenny Craig Forums, dated April 2011. How much you will actually pay is up in the air, but many sites claim it is between $14-$19 per day for food. I took the lowest costing breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees from these price lists and found that I could pay $11.57 for one day for the following food: a Honey Oat Bar or Oatmeal Breakfast Sandwich, a Broccoli and Cheese Potato for lunch, and a Beef Chili with Beans for dinner (no snacks or desserts included). Other sites say the cost is approximately $500 per month. If we take the low end of this estimate, then over three months this would cost approximately $1,500. This does not include supplements to the diet like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and reduced-fat dairy products.
• NutriSystem: This diet program offers portion-controlled meals in microwave-ready packages. Counselors are available over the phone and a guide is sent to the home; however, this program does not appear to be as hands-on and personalized as Jenny Craig’s program. On the internet people have estimated the cost to be around $11 per day for food; however, on NutriSystem commercials they are stating it is approximately $9 per day for food. A Wikipedia article states that as of July 2011, the cost per month was between $279.99 and $339.99,which does not include additional grocery items you must purchase (fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, etc.). A three month estimate would be between $839.97 and $1019.97. At $9 per day, the cost for three months would be $810.00.

Meetings in Person

• Weight watchers: This program does not provide food, but rather accountability, meetings, and the PointsPlus® 2012 system. There is a registration fee as well as a weekly meeting fee (it should be noted that the $20 registration fee is being waived until March 24, 2012 in many areas). The weekly meeting cost varies by region; in Houston it is $13.00 per meeting if I pay as I go, or $11.41 per week for a 17 week pass ($194). You can also purchase a monthly pass for $42.95 that includes unlimited meetings and FREE access to eTools, the Internet weight-loss companion that has interactive tools, tips and recipes. You could also get lifetime membership status after meeting certain goals which entitles you to free meetings for as long as you maintain certain weight requirements. Approximate three month cost of this program is $128.85-$156.00.

Online Dieting Communities

• Weight Watcher’s Online: This site offers all of the materials and information for the points program online, as well as access to recipes, tracking/charting of points via a mobile phone, etc. The cost per month is $18.95. Total cost for 3 months is $56.85.
• eDiets.com: If you don’t have the money for the meal delivery program above, you can join the eDiets Online Diet Plan for $18.56 per month. This community offers personalized meal plans and shopping lists, a live dietitian for help, a fitness trainer to assist in a customized training program, recipes, etc. Total cost for 3 months is $55.68.
• South Beach Diet Online: This site offers a customized meal plan, over 1,000 recipes (here is a sampling of the recipes), tracking of your weight/phase/diet goals, and 24 hour online/community support. You can check out a review by US News. The first 7 days are free, then after that it is $5 per week. Total cost for 3 months is $55.00.
• Atkins:  Atkins offers a free online community with recipes, tips, body mass index (BMI) calculator, meal plans, etc. Total cost for 3 months is $0.00.

Even though people tend to swear by one program or another, I think you can probably succeed on any of the programs if you truly put in the effort and change your diet/exercise habits. Still, we each have to find what works best for us. Financially speaking, many of these programs are too cost prohibitive to even be an option; think about it, if you choose a meal delivery program not only do you have to purchase up to $1500 worth of food for yourself over three months, but you also need to continue to purchase normal groceries because the other people you live with will most likely not be on this diet with you (and if they are, multiply the cost by two).

Honestly, I think the meal delivery costs are staggering and have started to wonder if getting premade food sent to your home is comparable to hiring a personal chef to come to your home and cook several freshly prepared and healthy meals per week for your entire family. In Wednesday’s article I am going to discuss how to save money on diet programs and some frugal alternatives that, with some motivation and follow-through, should get you to the same destination at a fraction of the cost.

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