Everyone has "2 cents", don't they?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am ALL about Pinterest. I love it! Not only does it keep me up to date on the latest fashions, but there are fun DIY crafting projects and money saving ideas.

When I searched for "budget, saving money, finances, frugality" I ran across several different PINS that were quite helpful. One thing I have learned while spending the last three years of my life really trying hard to save, plan for my financial future, get out of debt, etc... is that EVERYONE has their "2 Cents". I find myself getting super excited when I see a PIN titled "500 ways to save money!" I feel like its Christmas morning! :) then I open it and begin reading and I feel let down... 500 ways to save money and only 3 apply to me. BOO!!

In my blog I try to be very SPECIFIC. I get so tired of hearing that I can save money by only going to Starbucks 3 times a week instead of 7. If you are doing that then you OBVIOUSLY are not trying to save money! (Not trying to be harsh, just being real)

Let's go over some very basic ways to save money. They may not ALL apply to you are looking for post that says "ways to lower your 3.5 million dollar mortgage" you have come to the WRONG place.

1. Downgrade your cable. Notice I didn't say CANCEL your cable. Some bloggers and financial advisers will tell you to do that. I just can't tell you to do that. I can't do it myself. If you are in a place in your life where you are cutting back on EVERYTHING to save money, then taking away your cable is like taking away your entertainment. Just because you want to save money doesn't mean you should sit in a dark house and stare at each other. Awkard. Just downgrade it. Look at the package options. There HAS to be one that's lower that will still give you enjoyable channels.

2. Downgrade your cell package. Do you need unlimited? Or are you texting me than you are on the phone? If so, try to lower your minutes. Are you paying for features that you do NOT use? Then get rid of them.

3. GROCERY BILL. Ugh. Sigh. Barf. I get SO tired of trying to find ways to shave money at the grocery store. For the first time in a LONG time my husband went with me to the store Friday night. He nearly fainted when we checked out. Keep in mind, I only go to the store ONCE a month. So yes, it is more than the person that goes every week or even bi-weekly. when we got home and were putting things up I said "I HATE spending so much money at the grocery store!" So we started looking at everything we bought. We really HAD done well with what we spent and the quality/quantity of food we had. It's hard to save at the Grocery store without being a crazy couponer. And even then--is it necessary? Do you need 37 cans of green beans? If you do and you can get them cheap then YOU GO GIRL! But if you don't, then what was the point? I guess my advice would be this... coupon when you CAN and when it makes sense. AND WHEN ITS A BETTER DEAL THAN THE OFFBRAND! It took forever at the store the other night and my poor hubs was bored to tears--BUT, I had a good amount of coupons to compare with the regular store brands/current specials. I don't want to spend 20 cents more than I have to. ADVICE: go to the store when you have AMPLE time and when you have JUST eaten. If you try to do it quick you are more likely to buy things that you don't really need. Look up specials and match them with coupons. ALSO, if you plan a month ahead it's easier to know what you will need in the coming weeks. So if it's on sale, STOCK UP!

4. FREEZE. Along the same lines as saving on grocery bill... FREEZE THINGS. EX: 1 month ago at Kroger strawberries were 3.89. YIKES. Friday night they were $1.49. Buy them when they are cheap, take them home and clean them, shave off anything like a steam, seeds, etc, (Depending on the fruit or vegetable) and then freeze it. I eat a LOT of salads. And I HAVE TO HAVE carrots on them. I love carrots. But when I buy a bag of carrots (usually around 2.39-2.99) I can never eat them all before it's time to throw them out. Not anymore! I came home from the store and kept out enough for me to use for that week and froze the rest. Saving where I can.

5. MAKE WHAT YOU CAN. I have a fabulous recipe for homemade detergent. If you want it, email me. (cararoxanne02@aol.com) It's pretty lengthy to put on here but I would love to share it. For a year supply of detergent (based on a fam of 4) it costs around 10 dollars to make. MAKE YOUR OWN COOKING SPRAY. (1 part oil-either olive, canola, etc-, 5 parts water) use a spray bottle. Shake it and TA-DA. There ya go. It's better for the environment, it's better for ingesting, and it's better for the pocket book.

6. PLAN. Not crazy planning, but plan. Plan meals ahead of time. Plan for birthdays. Plan for those things that come up ocassionally. We have a propane tank that fuels are heat for our home. It's EXPENSIVE to fill because it's all at once, there is no monthly bill where you are taking small bites at a time. No, we eat the WHOLE rhino at once. And it's pricey. So I keep up with it. I put money away in an envelope so that it doesn't feel like we are hit with a huge bill. PLAN AHEAD.

this is by no means a brilliant or brand-new idea list, but there are practical ways to save money.

Can you add to this list?

Pinterest project #2

First, I went to the Goodwill and bought a previously painted on canvas. (Wasn't it lovely with those flowers? Lol) Then I came home and painted it black.

 

 

Then in masking tape I spelled out AVA and a smily face

Then I let her go to town!

 

She and Jere painted like CRAZY!!! :)

Then I peeled off the masking tape and TADA! Here ya go! She is so proud of herself :) What a fun, family project!

Yet another cheap outfit.

Let's see....

Shirt--Old navy on sale $4.00

Skirt--consignment store $2.00

Black cape looking thing--$6.00 TJ MAXX

ALL of these things can be worn separately with different outfits. That's what makes it so awesome. I LOVE items that you can wear with many different things!

Ok so the shoes weren't THAT much of a bargain,but they were on sale. $29.99. I splurge on shoes and I make no BONES about that :)

How to have a successful yard sale

This seems like a silly post to write, but considering the amount of yard sales that I go to and the amount of times i LEAVE empty handed because they had no idea what they are doing--well, that prompted me to write this.

You cannot have a successful yard sale if you do not have reasonable expectations. If you think you are going to make $500 bucks at the yard sale and all you have are clothes, then you are WRONG. Unless of course you mark your clothes up super high, but then they wont' sell, so nevermind--that is NOT going to happen.

You cannot have a successful yard sale if you think your stuff is worth more than it is. It's not about the worth it is to YOU, it's about what the item is actually worth. And if it is worth more to YOU, then you should probably keep it.

You cannot have a successful yard sale if you don't have your items set up properly. Just because it's a yard sale does not mean it shouldn't have any type of eye appeal to it. You don't want to walk up and see CRAP laying everywhere--that won't do. UNLESS, everything is a nickel. Then it will work.

You cannot have a successful yard sale if you do not have enough STUFF! you need lots of items to make it work. People feel awkward when they walk up and you have a table of trinkets and a lawn mower sitting there. And by awkward, I mean the way I felt last weekend... weirdos. really? okay--get my drift? have it be a multi-family yard sale.

You cannot have a successful yard sale if you do not known how to handle the multi family yard sale. If it takes a person 5 minutes to "check out" because everyone is trying to figure out whose worn out blue jeans these belong to and who is getting the $1 dollar for them--it won't work. Have a system. Color coded works. do SOMETHING. That makes me leave my items and walk away. Seriously. i've done it.

You cannot have a successful yard sale if you do not advertise properly. If you are doing this to make some cash, get rid of some items, make room for new stuff, etc... you HAVE to advertise well. Facebook, posters, newspaper, craigslist, call into your local swap shop. LET PEOPLE KNOW! Tell friends, who tell friends, who tell.... get my drift?

So what have we learned?

* good selection of items is needed
*organized, presented well
*priced like a YARD SALE ITEM SHOULD BE PRICED
*advertised well (easy to find)

Do you have any tips for having a successful yard sale?????

Fine line between bargains and hoarding

That's right. I said it. You KNOW you were thinking it! :) There is a FINE line between keeping up with bargains and becoming a HOARDER.

So you probably saw the show "Extreme Couponing." That stuff is NUTS! WHO DOES THAT? Who "dumpster dives" to save a buck or two?

So... how do we find that balance???

It's like this... you have to keep up with what YOUR family uses the most. It's so important. I can't speak for anyone but me so ... I have ezcema. That means only certain soaps, detergents and fabric softeners. The ONLY brand that does not break me out is PUREX.  When Purex goes on sale I buy it up! Now I don't buy 50, but I may be 3 or 4. This week at Kroger Purex liquid (which smells amazing by the way) was on sale for $2.69. HOLY COWZERS! Of COURSE I bought that stuff up. I bought 3. I didn't buy 50 and start a "stock pile" in my garage *that is insane* but I did buy enough that we have it for a while. And I saved a good bit of money.

What about foods?!!?!?!

No different. If you KNOW that you use cans of cream of chicken soup on average of 4 days a week and they are typically $1.09 but you find them on sale for $.69... you are a fool if you don't buy those suckers up! Don't buy so many that you can't fit your kids in the car, or that you can't shut your cabinets--basically use common sense.

It's really sad that I have to write this blog, but after seeing that show and realizing how many people jeopardize their safety and sanity by buying way too much b/c its "on sale"... that just made me sad.

Be smart. Shop the sales. Use coupons. Save money. Just don't lose your head in the process.

#1--Know which items your family uses a LOT of. Keep a list of these items and the "typical" prices for them THAT way you KNOW if its actually a bargain when you see it on sale.

#2--Know how MUCH of that item you use. That way you don't buy 30 of something that you only needed 6 of. Be smart. Keep lists of what you need, what you use the most, and look for it on sale.

#3--Stock up...but don't STACK up. If you don't have room for it...don't buy it.

Goodwill, good bargains!

Have you been to your local goodwill? Yeah, I didn't think so. You are not too sure about the location of town, or the funny smell that they ALL have. Well, I am going to encourage you to go NOW! I know it seems silly but if you only knew the bargains I have gotten there you would have left 20 minutes ago!!

My friend Rachel is ALSO a fellow Goodwill lover. She has gotten some of the cutest things at the Goodwill. Clothes, home stuff, plates, antiques. AWESOME stuff!

You have to think about it this way... the people that drop off stuff at Goodwill tend to have really good stuff. They are people that don't have the time to go through everything, don't want to have a yardsale, they don't want to take the time to take their nice items to a consignment shop. They don't need the extra money so they drop it off. And that is why WE go by there :)

I have gotten name brand clothes WITH tags on it, cute home decor items, SCENE IT dvd game for $2.00 bucks. A light brite for Ava with ALL of the pieces and it was the updated version for only $3.00. I have bought brand new coloring books for a quarter, plates that I bought for 50 cents that I was going to use to decopauge anyway!  I bought Ava a brand new bike for Christmas for $15.00!! it was a disney princess bike that was in PERFECT shape.

So why wouldn't you go by? It's worth the digging I promise. The treasures you find for next to nothing make your day!!!

Make it a game. Go by with a limit of $10 bucks and see what you can find!!! you will be SO glad that you did!

Chuck E Cheese

http://email.chuckecheese.com/hostedemail/share.htm?h=7e2a5a76fadf0cf0a200cb6baaf987b4&CID=12514885992&ch=B5FFF5D75A3615878B429D2EC7735A62&show=1



i know this is a long link but its worth it! This is a Chuck E Cheese coupon for a LARGE pizza and 75 tokens for $25 bucks. If you haven't already signed up for Chuck E Cheese coupons, go to their website and do it! Its totally worth it... I have used these SEVERAL times. But keep in mind when you get there to look at OTHER options... you want to get THE best deal, not just be pumped to use a coupon.


Be smart about it! And hey, its the weekend...have a little fun!

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year...

Because EVERYTHING IS CHEAPER! :) I have talked before about THIS being the time of year that you go otu and buy gifts for NEXT year. HOPEFULLY you have been saving your money. :)

Go buy wrapping paper, gift sacks, tape, and bows for NEXT year. Don't over do it...thats the hard part. You don't need a ton more ornaments, you don't need a ton of crap to set out...but you WILL need more paper.

JCPenney's is THE place to be over the next week. Forget if its Christmassy or not...if it is something that can be worn in the winter time, its gonna be on sale. And not just 20% off...but MAJORLY discounted.
And more than anything the men's clothes will be hugely discounted. Not quite sure why, but i'm just telling you they will be.

Also...are you one of those families that does pj pants on Christmas Eve? (I now know of 4 families that do that and I think its the cutest idea ever.) Anyway if you are... Old Navy, Rue 21, Sears AND Belk will have their pj pants on sale.

There are TONS more good ideas of places to go. I haven't looked at any ads from the paper this week to see of any new but the ones I listed are always on my "To do" list after Christ
as.

so go...find some bargains and get ready for a Happy New year of money saving tips! :)

It's the most expensive time of the year

Yep. I said it. You know its true.

Its the time of year when she shop, we clip coupons(hopefully), we rush around like crazy people and try to get everyone something. STOP!! Make a list...we have talked about this before. Write out everyone that you have to buy for. Set a budget. Even if its 10 bucks a person. Then...go from there. Bargain shop. Hunt online. DONT get caught on the buy 1 get 1 stuff... you end up spending more. I write this for those who have NOT begun their shopping yet... I hope that everyone is already DONE, but I fear thats probably not the case :)

Here are some last minute tips:

1. DONT BUY LAST MINUTE ITEMS. By that I mean, dont decide on December 23rd that you need to buy something...because you will spend too much.

2. Take your old dvds and cds and take them to your nearest FYE or music store that will buy them back. Ask for CASH unless you plan to buy something in the store b/c if you DO, you will generally get MORE if you get store credit.

3. Check out pawn shops. I found out just a few weeks ago when Ava broke her dvd player that pawn shops do not expect the price thats on there. SHOOT LOW... all they can do is bump it up a few bucks, say yes, or say no.

4. CONSIGNMENT SHOPS! They get overloaded with good stuff this time of year b/c everyone is making room for the presents to come. You can buy NICE clothes, good clean toys, and awesome shoes and purses. So if you have a teen...this is THE place to go.

What are your ideas? What have I left out?!?!?!?!?

Coupons-shoopons!

Coupons can be the devil. Not always, but very VERY often. Its like this. if you typically by the off brand of furniture polish for $1.25, and Pledge is $3.78, then DUH…buy the off brand. BUT you get a $1.25 cent coupon in the mail, or the Sunday paper for Pledge… so you buy it! Well, you just threw away $1.28 but you THOUGHT you got a bargain.

Now i drive people nuts with my off brands. No Trix in this house but we do have “Trax”. You can laugh all you want…they taste the same. Overloaded with sugar, nasty, stick to the roof of your mouth cereal. i DO see that some things are better in the “real” brand…but lets face it. You are gonna have to dust again in 2 days so what the heck does it matter what kind you use? Dust is gonna collect regardless…so don’t buy the Pledge brand, buy the off brand “Pladge”. .whatever it is. Be smart about off brands versus real brands. BUT dont be fooled by coupons. If its not free, or nearly free, or if the off brand would be more expensive than using the coupon=-then duh. BUT if its not, then don’t be fooled by the coupon scheme.

Coupons can get you EVERY time. You will buy something that you didn’t need, or didn’t want, because you can get it for $1.00 cheaper. Thats dumb. BUT if you can try one for free, or pay less than the off brand then you have my permission to clip coupons. Just sayin’…