Saving Money At Thanksgiving
The month of November is upon us, with crisp autumn days and longer nights. Very soon, thoughts of Thanksgiving turkeys and family getting together will be on our minds…as well as the cost of putting all of that together!
Thanksgiving should be a time of enjoying family and friends without the worry of how much it is going to affect your bank account. Here are some ideas to keep the costs down while keeping everyone’s holiday spirits up.
1) Look for discounts on turkeys..some stores even offer free turkeys for buying a set amount of groceries from them. There are many promotional offers for free turkeys, so check around your area for any way to score one at no cost to you!
2) Buy a larger bird. As with most things, buying in bulk will save you money, and there are always plenty of leftover suggestions for turkey.
3) Decorate the table with outdoor foliage. Nature provides some of the most beautiful arrangements that are just waiting to be placed on your table. Get an array of autumn leaves and pine cones to strew on the table, with a small branch and leaf display in the center. Combine it with some hand-made decorations, and your table will look warm and inviting…without having to spend a small fortune.
4) Always check the local paper for coupons. This time of year means that many of the newspapers will have coupons for those items needed, and will bring a lot of savings to your Thanksgiving day.
5) Suggest potluck. This will cut down on the amount of work you have to do and will save you on having to buy all of the fixings for the meal yourself.
These are just a few suggestions for keeping the Thanksgiving holiday within a budget without taking away from the richness of family togetherness.
By Angela Sangster, SaveMoneySpot, copyright 2010
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Saving On The Essentials
When planning a family budget, one must take into account the “little things” that you are always going to need…and therefore always running out of. Things such as soap, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, and the like are necessities that always have to be considered.
To avoid running out of these essentials, buy the items in bulk as you are able to. Be sure and check the unit price if you are buying a large container of something to make sure it is really the better deal. This will save you extra trips to the store, and as a general rule, the more you buy the more you save.
Rather than spending top dollar at a grocery or convenience store, go to a dollar store for these items. Often you can buy the dollar store brand of a certain item for much less than the name brand. If you do insist on using a name brand, many dollar stores offer these as well. They are more expensive than the dollar store brand, however they are cheaper than a grocery store.
You also might consider making your own soaps and detergents. A simple laundry soap can be made from sodium carbonate (not to be confused with sodium BIcarbonate, or baking soda) sodium borate, or Borax and a gentle soap. One third of a bar of soap to one half cup each of the other two will create a very inexpensive and effective laundry detergent that costs less than half of what you would pay in a store.
With a few steps and some planning, you can avoid spending more than you have to on those “little things”.
By Angela Sangster, SaveMoneySpot 2010
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Avoid Stress Shopping
It may be a bit of a lift to go to the mall and max out the credit card when you’ve had a bad day at work, or the kids have stressed you to your limit. However, shopping to relieve stress is a paradox. Sure, you might feel good when you make the purchase and take it home..but the amount of money you’re spending will come back to haunt you..and cause you even more stress.
Rather than going shopping when you are having a bad day…try taking a walk in the park. Look at the leaves just coming out on the trees if it is springtime..or the many colors they change to in the fall.
If it is inclement weather, try going to the library. It’s free, and there are many books, DVD’s and CD’s that are available for absolutely no charge (as long as you bring it back on time!)
If you enjoy doing things outdoors, I have found that a day of fishing brings me back to nature..and out of the stress-filled world of every day. If fishing isn’t your thing, try a nature walk. You would be amazed at the things you will see and hear that will take your mind off of what is going on to cause your stress.
Planting some flowers or growing a vegetable garden is another great way to relieve stress..and is practical as well, adding beauty and sustenance to your home. If you aren’t able to do this, consider scrapbooking or finally organizing that photo album you’ve been putting off.
Shopping will only make you feel better until the credit card bill comes..and then you’ve got twice the stress you had before. Appreciating some simpler pleasures will not only give you joy…it will give you peace when the bank statement arrives!.
By Angela Sangster, copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010?
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Categories: Entertainment Tags: budget, Entertainment, Shopping
Hold The Soda!
Even in today’s economy, we all need to stop and grab a bite to eat out with the family now and then. While high priced restaurants might be out of the question, a trip to a fast food drive-thru can be quick and convenient. It can also be pretty expensive.
However, one way to save a few dollars on that next trip to a hamburger spot is to bring your own soda. If you are not going to be going inside (since most restaurants don’t allow you to bring in your own drinks) simply bring some cold cans of soda to have with your meal.
Most fast food places sell fountain drinks with their meals. These drinks are a mixture of the soda syrup and carbonated water..emphasis on the water. On top of that, lots of ice is added. Sure, when you first get it…it’s a nice refreshing treat. However, let it sit for longer than a few minutes, and you have a cup of melted ice and slightly flavored water.
Considering the price of a soda fountain drink in these places..you would be doing much better to just bring your own. That way, you are actually spending the money on the food that you will enjoy. You can either stop by a pop machine on the way there or better yet…have some from home that you bought in a grocery store. Those are even less expensive than the pop machines, and will add more money to your family outing.
Grab some sodas and head to that drive thru! While you’re telling them to add pickles to Jimmy’s sandwich or take the onions off of Susie’s…be sure and tell them to “Hold the soda!”
By Angela Sangster Copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010
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Categories: Entertainment Tags: budget, Entertainment, Family, food
Airfare On A Budget
As we all strive to save money, it is rewarding to have something to save that money for. One thing many people budget for is a vacation. Whether it is to a tourist spot or to visit family who live far away, there are many times when it is actually more feasible to take an airplane rather than a car…especially if time is a factor.
First thing to remember is flying in the middle of the week will be cheaper. Business travelers are often on board for beginning and end of the week, and with the larger volume of passengers, the rates go up. Consider planning your flight for a Tuesday or a Wednesday.
Check around online…and not just the major airlines. Some of the smaller airlines that aren’t at the top of the search engine list often have deals that are much cheaper than the major commercial ones. Go to their websites directly for information and do some comparison shopping.
There are sites for bidding on last minute flights…this can be very inexpensive, however you won’t know what airline you will be using until the bidding is completed. So if you don’t mind being adventurous, this is an alternative to consider.
Shopping around and getting on mailing lists for different airlines can get you the first look at many deals, so look into doing this as well. This way, when you get to your destination…you will have more money to enjoy your time with!
By Angela Sangster, Copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010
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Cost Efficient Ways To Buy A Home
Buying a Home
It can be very exciting to buy your first home. There is a sense of pride in ownership…in paying toward something that has the potential to increase in value. However, it can also be a little frightening when looking at the cost of a down payment. It’s definitely something that requires a budget to make possible.
Start with a plan of making a savings account specifically for a down payment on a mortgage. A down payment is a percentage of the home’s sale price that is paid up front, with monthly payments after that. Figure on paying 20% of the asking price, and put every extra penny into this account. It may take a bit, but if you cut down on other expenses, your savings will continue to increase.
Raising the initial down payment is what scares a lot of people off of putting the plan to buy a home in motion. However, if you look around at what you already have…there may be items that can be sold for cash that will go toward saving for the down payment.
Stay within your price range. We all would love to have the home of our dreams..but sometimes we can’t afford that. If nothing else, you can buy a simple home and rennovate as funds become available…create your own dream home on what you can afford. There is also the issue of taxes and insurance, another good reason for not going above your means.
House for Sale
Many people are afraid to attempt borrowing the money to buy a home because of past credit history that will raise a red flag to a bank or mortgage company. If this is the case, consider getting a co-signer. If that is not possible, one might look into land contracts or financing directly from the seller. Some will go contract-for-deed, if they are really wanting to unload the home, and the qualifications are only as strict as the seller wants them to be.
It may take some time and some planning…but you can know the pride of being a homeowner. You’ll be paying toward something that is yours rather than paying money each month to rent.
By Angela Sangster copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010.
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Categories: Finance & Savings Tags: budget, Family, savings
Having A Wedding On A Budget
A Wedding
I remember when I was a young girl, I used to dream about what my wedding would be like. The long white dress, the perfect flowers, a huge, decorated church…all of these went along into my wedding day fantasy. However, when the time came, finding out how much all of that would cost put a serious damper on those dreams.
Tradition has always been that the bride’s family pays for the wedding…however these days, more and more couples pay for things themselves. Starting a life together should be a beautiful ceremony if that is what the couple wants to do…but just starting out can be difficult financially. There is no point in spending a ton of money on a lavish wedding…only to have no way to afford to live when it is done.
First, when planning the wedding, consider choosing an “off-time” for the date. The middle of the week will have fewer people competing for the time slot, so chances are it won’t be as expensive. If you’re not opposed to having a wedding outside a church setting, consider having a small one at home or a friend’s home. There are also many places outside, if you are planning a spring or summer wedding. Be sure and have a back up plan just in case the weather disappoints unexpectedly.
Just Married
Don’t spend unnecessarily on food and drink. If you plan on using a caterer, ask if their buffet service is less expensive than their seated dinners. If you’re unable to have catering, don’t be shy about pulling all willing friends and family together to contribute dishes and (if you’re lucky enough to know someone talented in baking) the wedding cake itself. Many store bakeries offer reasonable prices on wedding cakes, so don’t feel that it is necessary to go to a specialized shop.
Consider a resale store for wedding apparel. There are many lovely gowns for brides and bridesmaids and suits and tuxedos for the men that have only been gently used. I found a lovely tea-length ivory gown in the J.C.Penney catalog that not only made a beautiful wedding dress, it was also useful for other formal occasions.
When a new life as a couple begins…so do the expenses. It will be easier to start off on the right foot financially if you go into your life together without the debt a large wedding can incur.
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Avoiding Payday Loan Companies
We’ve all been there….that moment when you realize that you are not going to have enough money to make it to the next payday. It is a moment of panic…and any way out seems like a good one.
This is exactly the mentality that payday loan companies want you to have. Sure, they will loan you the money, it’s a relatively easy process, you walk out of there with cash in your hand…and extremely high interest rates to go along with it.
Most payday loan places do very limited credit checks, and you are very rarely turned down for bad credit. Indeed, these places are magnets for people whose credit score is lower than desirable. Banks and credit unions are a lot harder to borrow money from, and often require collateral or a co-signer. The only collateral a payday loan company requires is your post-dated check.
Along with the amount borrowed, an interest rate is tacked on to the total of what you will owe. My personal experience with payday loans involved borrowing the amount of $50…and in the long run, I paid back $116.00. This included the original $22 added to the amount borrowed, plus additional fees for getting the loan extended..another thing these places count on.
Avoid these places…however, if you end up going to one, be sure and pay back the loan on that next paycheck. A payday loan company survives on their interest collected…so they will make it sound like a good idea to extend the loan for another week or two by only paying back the interest on the loan. You still have the original amount to pay back…along with a second dose of that interest rate. They’ll keep it going for as long as you let them…so don’t fall into the trap.
Advance planning is the best way to avoid having to turn to a payday loan company. In these tight economic times, this may require trimming the budget somewhat. Put aside five or ten dollars out of every paycheck and keep it in a separate account from your household one. That way, when an unexpected expense comes up or the paycheck runs a little short one week, you won’t have to resort to borrowing money…and having to pay back twice what you borrowed.
Written by Angela Sangster, Copyright 2010 SaveMoneySpot.com
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Categories: Finance & Savings Tags: budget, loans
Babies and Budgets…They Can Coexist!
New Baby!
Nothing brings more happiness to a family than a brand new baby. It can also bring a lot of expenses. Here are some ways to be prepared so you can concentrate on your new bundle of joy..not a bundle of bills!
First, be grateful for family and friends who give you second hand baby clothing. Trust me…the baby does not care that they are wearing last year’s sleeper! If the clothes you are given are too big…save them for next year.
Rather than spend unnecessary dollars on ready to serve jars of baby food..why not make your own? Simply use vegetables and fruits from your garden or refrigerator and put them in a blender or a food processor. They can be made ahead and stored in plastic containers. Not only will you save money…you will know exactly what your baby is getting because you made it!
Make a budget
Comparison shop for the necessities, such as carseats, cribs, and diapers. Buying diapers in bulk (especially with newborns) saves money at the cash register and the gas tank…much less extra trips to the store. If you are lucky enough to have someone loan or give you a carseat or crib, make sure it is up to the latest standards for safety.
Keep track of what you are spending…sometimes when we see it in writing, we can see where costs can be trimmed. Making a budget and sticking to it is not always easy..but in the long run, you will save money toward that other expense children incur…the college fund!
By Angela Sangster, Copyright SaveMoneySpot.com 2010.
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Cutting Costs in Clothing
Budgets are tight these days, however some expenses are necessary for living. One thing everyone needs… clothing. Even with many discount stores and thrift shops to choose from, it is still an expense that can add up if not managed properly.
Buying items when they are “out of season”, such as winter coats in the spring, can save a lot of money… looking for styles that are timeless will keep unnecessary spending to a minimum.
It is tempting to use shopping as a form of therapy…but in the long run it can cost you more money than you need to spend. Going clothes shopping only when it’s needed will avoid a lot of “impulse” spending. Buy mix and match outfits where (for example) a pair of pants can match with five or six different shirts.
Save on Laundry
Taking good care of the clothes you have will make them last longer and go a long way in saving money. Back in older times, clothing was mended rather than thrown away…and it’s a practice we all could use today.
Washing clothes too often can cause more wear on them than necessary. Put clothing away (unless it is actually dirty) rather than tossing it in the hamper. Treat any stains right away rather than letting them set.
Don’t forget to check resale shops and thrift stores for great bargains. Outlet stores will often have name brand clothing at greatly reduced prices. Also have your own garage sale for clothes you no longer wear rather than just throwing them out.
You have to wear clothes…but you don’t have to spend a small fortune to do so.
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