How To Save Money On Groceries

08. February 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Shopping · Tags: ,

Food is a basic necessity. Buying groceries make up a huge part of the family’s monthly budget.  With recent economic woes and rising grocery prices, knowing how to save money on food can greatly help reduce expenses, so read on if you are in need of extra cash, because here are some valuable tips for saving money on food!

Tips For Saving Money At The Grocery Store

Tips For Saving Money At The Grocery Store

1. Lists

When shopping, it is always a good idea to carry a list.  This will prevent impulse buys, which can wreck havoc on a budget.  Buy only what you need.  For instance, if you do not really need to buy ice cream, then you should refrain from doing so. Focus on the necessities like fruits and veggies, and perhaps meat if you absolutely must (though keep in mind that skimping on red meat can really be a good thing for your health and budget).

2. Hurry Up

Buy groceries when you are a in a hurry.  Maybe you need to attend a party in a few hours or you have to pick up your son from school soon. Buy groceries before doing so. This will force you to pick only the necessary items on your shopping list. You will not be tempted to get items you do not really need if you’re not hanging around.

3. Plan Ahead

Knowing what meals you need to cook for your family each week will really help in choosing the grocery items you need to buy. If you have no idea what to food to prepare, more likely you will fill your cart with unnecessary items.  Planning meals will make sure you only look for you needs – and do so at the lowest possible price. Before picking up an item, ask yourself “Do I really need to buy this?” Perhaps some of the ingredients for a meal are simply a garnish – nix it,

4. Go Fresh

Ready-made meals are convenient, but they are expensive. If it’s not expensive (like a frozen dinner for $1) – do you really want to eat it? Remember, if it was made from plants, you should eat it. If it was made in a plant, that’s disgusting. For the same amount you would pay for 5 frozen meals at $1, you could buy the ingredients for salad that whole week! For $5 more, you could buy some fruit for a side dish and/or a loaf of fresh bread.

5. Stay Home

Going out to restaurants is ok once in awhile, if it’s for a special occasion or reward. But, do not make a habit out of it, because this will cause a serious dent in your budget. If you work, this may pose a problem at first, because you could be too tired to do some cooking, but it does not take a lot of time to whip up some easy meals. For instance, you can make healthy salads in minutes. You can pour a bowl of cereal in even less. Or, you could cook large meals every few days and simply warm-up the leftovers the rest of the nights.

6. Make Coffee

Skip buying coffee at coffee shops.  Do not underestimate the savings you will earn from doing this. A few dollars saved a few days  each week can really add up. Think about it – say you spend $4 on a Caramel Macchiato. Three of those a week is $12. $12 each week is about $50 a month.

7. Buy Generic

Brand name products cost more than generic ones. If you are serious about saving money on food, buying store brands rather than popular brands is an excellent practice. If you are not willing to give up on popular brands totally, then you can compromise by limiting the generic brands on selected items only (toiletries, spices, etc).

8. Garden

A vegetable garden is easy to grow. Fresh vegetables grown in your own backyard are not only a great source of vitamins and minerals, they also help cut costs on groceries too. Having a steady supply of fresh vegetables will also ensure that the family stays healthy and fit – think of all the preservatives you’re NOT ingesting! Produce can be a source of income too. If the White House has a Kitchen Garden, then there is no reason why you should not have one.

9. Buy in Bulk

When items are on sale, buy in bulk.  You can save a lot of money on necessary, non-perishable items such as milk, cereals, canned goods, toilet paper and toothpastes if you make it a habit to buy in bulk.

10. Coupons

Coupons are probably the most popular method of saving grocery money. Clip coupons whenever you have a chance and use them when you are buying groceries. The time invested on clipping coupons can reward you with great savings!

Taylor Field likes to save money, shop smart and visit www.healthinsurancequotes.org.


 

11 Bargain Shopping Tips

27. January 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Shopping · Tags: ,

Saving money when you’re out spending it may seem like an impossible feat, but that is exactly what happens if you’re a pro at bargain shopping. Smart shoppers know how to make that dollar go the extra mile, allowing them to get the items they want at prices that can’t be beat. It’s easy to save money on some of your favorite things as long if you know what to look for. Here are 11 helpful tips that will make bargain shopping a cinch.

Make a List

If you buy things just because they’re on sale and not because you really want them, your purchases don’t really count as bargains. Before you go shopping, make a list of the things you want or need so that you’re able to remember just what it was you went out to buy in the first place. Look for bargains that are on your list and stay focused. If you get too distracted by the myriads of other seemingly great bargains, you’ll just end up spending money on things you don’t need and your plan to bargain shop will have gone out the window. Make a shopping plan before you even go out the door and even more importantly, stick to it.

Use Coupons

Coupons Help Save Money

Coupons Help Save Money

You can find coupons for just about anything from groceries to electronics, and using them when you shop will definitely save you some money. A great place to find lots of money-saving coupons is the Sunday newspaper. If you don’t get the Sunday paper, ask family and friends who do to save the coupon inserts for you if they aren’t using them. You can also find an endless number of coupon databases online–simply search for coupons that you want to use, select, and print.

Buy Off-Season Merchandise

One of the best times to find some real bargains is during the off-season. Off-season merchandise is typically discounted as much as 50 to 90%–and as long as the items you buy are ones you plan on using at some point, why not stock up for next year? You can save big on clothing, outdoor tools and equipment, holiday merchandise, and more, simply by waiting until the season is over to buy it.

Watch Sales Ads and Fliers

Keep a close eye on sales ads and fliers that you find in the newspaper, in stores, and on TV. Big sales are likely to be advertised, and they usually indicate feature sale items along with their prices. Knowing when the sales are and what you will be able to find at them are bargain shopping musts.

Compare Prices

Comparing prices is one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re getting a bargain–especially when it comes to buying pricier items such as electronics and appliances. You don’t have to travel from store to store to compare–you can usually find out everything you need to know online, saving you both time and gas money. If you really want to pinch pennies, compare the small stuff, too. You can stand to save a significant amount of money by looking at all of your options first.

Check out the Clearance Section

Most stores have designated sales or clearance sections, and those areas are usually where you can find the biggest discounts. Clearance sections aren’t usually featured front and center in a store–you can typically find them way in the back, off to the side, or inconspicuously displayed on end caps. Stores want you to spend more money by shopping regularly priced merchandise, so the bargain bins aren’t going to be the first thing you come across when you’re out shopping.

Buy Used

If you’re looking for items for your own personal use, there’s no shame in buying them used if you can. Thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets are some of the best places to find quality secondhand items–and don’t forget to look online as well. Some of the best bargains are often found on used or recycled items–and both your bank account and the planet will benefit.

Stick with Store-Brands

Brand names typically come with higher price-tags, and although they’ve earned their right to be on top through hard-earned customer loyalty, many of them aren’t much different than their generic counterparts. In fact, if you compare the labels between well-known brands and store brands, you may find that you’re paying more mostly for the name and not a whole lot else. If you can, give up some of your favorite brand name items and try the store brands–the amount you can save will really add up.

Shop at Discount and Dollar Stores

Shopping at discount and dollar stores may seem like a no-brainer, but many of us by-pass them if we’re rushed or if they’re not located just around the corner. Discount stores sell most of their merchandise at already low prices, and when you use coupons or shop special sales on top of that, you’ll experience bargain shopping at its best.

Negotiate the Price

Sharpening up your negotiating skills is another way to get what you want for much less. Don’t be afraid to make an offer on something if negotiating is an option–you have nothing to lose and only a lower price to gain.

Join Frequent Shopper Programs

Many stores offer frequent shopper or buyer rewards programs not only to show their customers that they’re appreciated, but also to keep them coming back for more. Many frequent shopper programs are free to sign up for, and in most cases you’ll receive either a punch card or a card that can be scanned so that the store can keep track of your purchases and reward you with special coupons, discounts, and other benefits in the future.

Anyone can learn how to spot a true bargain. By incorporating some of these tips into your regular buying excursions, you, too, can become a master of the art of bargain shopping.

Guest post from Adam. Adam shares a Macys promo code through FrugalDad.com.


7 Tips To Earn Money While You Travel

01. January 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Recreation · Tags: , , ,

Making money is a need and making handsome money in a short span of time is an art. When we think of traveling, the major thing that attacks our mind is spending money and for some it might be the scariest thought that they’ve ever had. The major expense is on accommodation, food and transportation. To make your dream come true of visiting your dream holiday location either you got to be from a wealthy family or you need to save money to make your trip a reality.

If you want to enjoy your holiday and at the same time don’t want to fall short of money and spoil your mood then you should unquestionably know the 7 tips to earn money while you travel.

Tip 1

Photography – Some time ago, this field had its own boundaries. One had to haul around huge bags of expensive equipment; if you are skilled enough to get the picture accurate the first time then you have won the jackpot or you just have to trash it. The digitalization of the new era cameras and Photoshop techniques has crossed the boundaries of limited photography. With the combination of a steady hand and a good eye, anybody can become a photographer and capture images that may have very high potential value.

You can actually sign up for various photography services while on travel. You just need to know of who is looking for what. You can either focus on photographing places or people or products. You have a wide range and can also copyright and sell your work to earn money.

Tip 2

Teach English – Knowledge is Devine. If you are a native English speaker then there are a lot of opportunities to make good cash. It does not always help much, but yes it will definitely add some income. Teaching English is a popular choice for Aussies, Americans and Brits. On top of that if you are a certified teacher then you can definitely sign up for seminars and motivation classes.

Tip 3

Go Blogging – If you are a nascent travel writer and love your work then blogging is the best option. It gives you a tremendous amount of freedom you want. But, you got to take it very seriously. Just think the other way round – Sitting on the beach with your laptop, a beer in hand and writing about the beauty of nature and people around you, hardly seems like work. Isn’t it? There are many people in the world who have made blogging a full-time job and yet earning good money.

Tip 4

Nursing – If you are a certified nurse then you can preferably find plenty of job opportunities to practice your profession while visiting your dream destinations. Getting all the paper work would be a bit difficult, but you can hook up to various agencies that will help you get the various kind of visa that is required to continue with your profession abroad and thus it will serve as a source of income while you travel.

Tip 5

Seasonal Jobs – For some of you, spending every day in the same profession does not appeal so much. For a change you can certainly look into temporary jobs in bars, restaurants and shops. Landscapers, carpenters and various cleaning services also look out for assistance throughout the busy seasons and set up the advertisements online. You can check any of the various categories of jobs and thus add to your earnings.

Tip 6

Instructor – For those of you who are blessed in endeavors like scuba diving, windsurfing and mountaineering or for that matter an aerobic activity like hula hooping and if you are a certified professional than travelling and earning simultaneously is not at all difficult for you.

You just need to obtain local permits and you can make use of the internet to broadcast your availability, money is not going anywhere.

Tip 7

Entertainer – Do you love performing in front of the audience? You would be actually surprised because people would just love to see your talents and eventually you will be able to get paid for the privilege. From magicians to dancers and from acrobats to musicians, all are at high demand wherever they go.

It’s up to you whether you want to perform at a street corner or in the concert hall; just a small prior promotion and you can see a large group of enthusiastic audience showing up. You will certainly be rewarded for your talents.

About the Blogger – Uttoran Sen is a Budget Travel expert and a webmaster since 2004, he likes to travel various places throughout the world and write them down on his travel blog. For more tips and travel guides, please visit travel tamed.

How To Save Money In 2012

30. December 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Shopping · Tags:

While the economy has improved over the last few years, the job market is still shaky and money has been tight for almost everyone. Effective budgeting and some money saving tricks can make all the difference to someone looking to get by in tough times. Here we will explore some conventional and some not-so-conventional ways to save a little extra cash in the New Year.

Cancel that cable or satellite subscription
Cable and satellite subscriptions can be one of the most costly monthly bills many people pay. Even basic packages can cost between $50-$100 per month.

What to do?

If you want to watch in a timelier manner, sites like Hulu allow you to watch a limited number of current episodes for free, or as many as you want for $8 a month as well.

Potential savings: $40-$90 per month

Drop that phone bill

Another expensive monthly subscription that many people pay dearly for is their phone service. Services can cost between $50 and $100 depending on the number of minutes and data you want. Prepaid phone cards make phone services incredibly inexpensive. Let’s look at it this way:

Say you talk on the phone for two hours per week. With a traditional plan, you could pay $100 a month for this. With prepaid cards at a rate of four cents per minute, this would cost less than $20 a month. Those numbers speak for themselves.

Potential savings: $40-$80 per month

Carpooling or Public Transportation

Gasoline prices have risen sharply in the past few years and were not particularly low to begin with. The average American pays $1800 a year for gas alone, or around $150 a month. Carpooling can cut this number in half, and public transportation can cut it by a fifth.

Potential savings: $75-$120 per month

Energy Efficient Homes

Electric and gas bills can jump dramatically during the summer and winter months. By adding insulation, keeping the thermostat at a moderate level, and keeping your water heater a little lower, you can trim your bill considerably depending on the size of your house and many other factors.

Potential savings: $20-$100 per month

Switch From a Bank to a Credit Union
This is one area that many people never think about, but many large banks charge fees for everything you do. You are charged to withdraw your money from an ATM, charged for online services, charged every month for having a checking account in the first place.

Many credit unions have zero charges. In fact, some will reimburse you for ATM withdraw fees. Depending on how much you are dinged each month, this can add up to quite a bit of cash.

Potential savings: $10-$30 per month

Shop at Thrift Stores
Clothing can be a major expense. A wardrobe full of clothes can cost several hundred dollars. Even less expensive jeans cost around $40 a pair. Stores like Goodwill or other thrift stores can offer good clothing at a fraction of the price.

Potential savings: $100+ per shopping trip

Save Up and Use Cash
Going into debt is always a budget killer. Monthly payments and interest drain paychecks more than any single item, so always save cash for new purchases and put those credit cards away.

Potential savings: Virtually unlimited

Shop Online
Sites like eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist can yield the same products for much cheaper than retail, often with no sales tax and free shipping.

Potential savings: 10%-50% off of retail prices

Research tax credits

With the economy in a rough patch, the government has made available many new tax credits and incentives that you may qualify for. Make use of good tax software or even a professional to help glean a higher tax rebate.

Potential savings: Depends; can be up to several thousand dollars

Buy in Bulk and Cook at Home

Eating out is always more costly. Cooking at home can be fun for the family and lighter on the wallet. Most importantly, it is much healthier!

Potential savings: Depends, but eating out for four can cost up to $50 a meal; $50 of groceries can usually last a four person family at least three days.

In summary, it is easy to see that with a little preparation and work, a money-savvy individual can shave thousands off of his or her expenses every year with virtually no sacrifice in quality of life.

Author Mary Stewart works in the telecommunications industry and writes for NobelCom, the pioneer of online prepaid phone cards and a variety of other services such as international phone cards.

How To Coupon And Save

29. December 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Shopping · Tags: ,

One great way to be frugal as a parent is to use coupons when grocery shopping. You can watch for flyers and use coupons on sale items to maximize your savings. Some grocery stores even offer double or sometimes triple coupon days. If you’re a parent, read on for some great tips on how to coupon and save tons!

1. Freebies


Be sure to sign up for every free item you can. When you leave the hospital, there are lots of great opportunities to sign up with diaper and formula companies, where they will send you vouchers for free items and they will also mail you free samples. You can also join different companies’ mailing lists and they will send you coupons and samples.

2. Buy In Bulk


A great way to save money as a parent is to buy items you need a lot of in bulk. You can shop at warehouse stores and buy things like diapers and formula in large quantities at much cheaper prices. You can then use coupons to save more money.

3. Used Clothes


Getting hand-me-down clothing from friends and family is a great way to be a frugal parent. Kids grow so fast that they can only wear their clothes often for a few months before they need a bigger size. Since they can only wear the clothes for a short time, they are usually in pretty good shape, and still in style. Another place you can get gently used clothing is from a children’s consignment store, where you pay pennies on the dollar for clothes. You should also see if your clothes can be sold to consignment stores for profit!

4. Free Entertainment


Visit local parks, playgrounds and beaches that are free instead of expensive children’s attractions. There are a number of places that cater to kids these days. From indoor playgrounds to indoor bouncy houses, going to these places can really add up. Instead, visit local playgrounds or parks. They are free to go to and can provide your children with hours of entertainment.

5. Kids East Free


A great way to be a frugal parent is to find restaurants that have kids eat free nights. If you look around, there is probably a different restaurant that does this every night of the week. If you bring two adults and two children, you will only pay for the two adults meals, it is a great deal!

6. Free Babysitting


There will obviously come a time when you want to go out without the baby. This is a great time to use family and friends for some free babysitting. If they do not want to babysit just so they can be around the baby, you can always make a trade. For example, if they have kids, you can offer to watch their kids in exchange for them watching yours.

7. Free Pre-School


Many states now offer free Pre-school programs. This program is offered at many schools with great reputations.The state just pays instead of you. This can save you thousands of dollars in tuition.

8. Free Daycare


If you want to go work out, many gyms offer free daycare while you are working out. The are licensed statewide, so it is often quality daycare they provide. Also, many churches not only offer daycare during church, but they offer programs such as mother’s morning out. This is when you pay very little, if anything, for your children to be watched for the morning. You do often have to volunteer to watch the kids for one morning in exchange, but it is a great program.

Britta Arnold saves money by couponing and visiting sites like www.grouphealthinsurance.org.