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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Take Some Time And Save Some Money
So much of what we get today…we are used to getting very quickly. Dinners are made microwave-ready so we can pop them in and out…with very little work or effort. Clothes are hurriedly tossed into a gas or electric dryer rather than the time it takes to hang them out on the line. Gas stations that are also convenience stores stock their shelves with food at twice the price…because it is easier to grab it from the same place you’re buying your gasoline rather than make the extra stop to the grocery store.
Time is often taken up with work, school, sports activities…all of these things are good. However, taking an hour or two each day to prepare for quick dinners or convenience items that can be packaged at home will go a long way in saving your family money. Buying meat in bulk and separating it into individually wrapped packaging doesn’t take long at all, and will make it easy to grab for quick defrosting and preparation. You can also take a couple or three days a month and prepare individual or “TV” dinners to be frozen for later use.
Other household duties can benefit from taking a little extra time as well. Rather than throw all the clothes that are washed into the laundry…try hanging some out on a clothesline when the weather permits. It will save on your weekly gas or electric consumption, and I’m sure most will agree that nothing smells better than clothes dried by the sun!
Taking some time can do more than save you money. It can bring more focus and perspective back to what you are working so hard for in the first place…which is time with the family. Make it something that is done together. Back in the “old days”, a lot of bonding between children and parents took place during daily chores. A lot of that stopped being necessary in the age of modern conveniences, and bringing at least a little of that back could have more than just financial benefits.
By Angela Sangster copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010
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Vacations On A Budget
Well, you’ve done it. You’ve cut costs at home, the office and everywhere that it can possibly be trimmed…and you have actually saved enough for the family to go on vacation!
It is a thrill to be able to enjoy some extra money..and some time away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. However, don’t forget the good habits you have learned by keeping a budget and sticking to it. There are many ways you can save money while you are on vacation..and still enjoy the time you have.
If you are planning on traveling by plane, always comparison shop..and look for any deals that involve connecting flights. Sometimes it is a little extra time..but a lot of money can be saved if you are willing to take a connecting flight rather than fly straight through. Also remember to pack as little as possible…and the more bags you have, the more you will be charged.
If you plan on eating out, check some of the out of the way places…some of these are hidden treasures and can be a much better deal than the high priced restaurants. Lunch specials abound in many eating establishments, so consider having your big meal then.
Rather than going to expensive tourist attractions, just explore the town you are visiting. Often the places that you don’t hear about can offer more of the town’s culture and cost a lot less than the expensive tours. Walk through the neighborhoods and check out some local shops. Get a feel for where you have traveled to by really experiencing it.
Whether it’s an exotic vacation to a foreign country or a weekend at a B&B…it doesn’t have to take all of the extra money you have saved to have a great time!
By Angela Sangster Copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010.
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Categories: Travel Tags: airlines, Entertainment, Family, Travel
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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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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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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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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