I apologize for my absence. Unfortunately, there was a death in my husband's family, and I'm the only one that's ever planned a funeral so my emotional energy was otherwise occupied. Death is very expensive, and while I'm certainly not going to say that funeral homes take advantage of people's grief, in my experience if you don't know what to ask for, they're not always helpful in getting you the complete information.
My husband's aunt was cremated. The funeral home said their cheapest package was $1900. The family does not have this sort of money and was very concerned. The numbers seemed very high to me, so I sent my mother (aka "money pitbull") on a research mission.
The key is to ask for "cremation only" which ran $1100 because it was a small town funeral home. Apparently higher volume homes charge half that at $595.
When all was said and done, the family only had to pay the $1100. Preparing for an untimely demise in advance can save your family thousands of dollars. It's not something you want to prepare for, and God knows when you're young you don't expect it. But that's why they call it an untimely demise.
Sage, happy, and healthy wishes, from our family to yours.
365 Days of Saving Money: An Educational Anniversary
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
This Friday, Mr. Modern Tightwad and I will mark five happy years of marriage. I am very blessed in that I both love the man I married and enjoy his company. While we will be spending this weekend at a funeral (don't ask) we are still trying to formulate an inexpensive whirlwind celebration. I think I finally have it. It will be, excuse the pun, educational.....
First, we both have been in desperate need of massages. Massage schools run student clinics for between $25-30. At some point we would both love to get these nasty kinks worked out of our shoulders.
Neither of us have had a facial in, well, since before we were married. So the next stop will be a student beauty school for a full facial, at around $25.
After all of this, the local culinary school offers a four course prix-fixe menu, price fixed, at $18 a person. Add in my 2-for-1 coupon, and it's quite a steal. At this particular school, all tips go toward the scholarship fund, so they will be reaping the full benefit of our coupon.
At the end of the night we'll head off to a hotel room discounted to $50 through my husband's hotel program. We're trying to save up for a nice out-of-town vacation, but this will be a wonderful respite in the meantime.
Total Value: $425
Hotel Room - $100
Massages - $130
Facials -$130
Dinner - $65
Actually Paid: $200
Some people might believe this is still exorbitant, but we haven't done anything nice in a really long time. Our move to Oregon took a lot out of us, and we really need something to celebrate. I might even get a nice piece of jewelry... off ebay.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2727 Annually (Running Total)
This Friday, Mr. Modern Tightwad and I will mark five happy years of marriage. I am very blessed in that I both love the man I married and enjoy his company. While we will be spending this weekend at a funeral (don't ask) we are still trying to formulate an inexpensive whirlwind celebration. I think I finally have it. It will be, excuse the pun, educational.....
First, we both have been in desperate need of massages. Massage schools run student clinics for between $25-30. At some point we would both love to get these nasty kinks worked out of our shoulders.
Neither of us have had a facial in, well, since before we were married. So the next stop will be a student beauty school for a full facial, at around $25.
After all of this, the local culinary school offers a four course prix-fixe menu, price fixed, at $18 a person. Add in my 2-for-1 coupon, and it's quite a steal. At this particular school, all tips go toward the scholarship fund, so they will be reaping the full benefit of our coupon.
At the end of the night we'll head off to a hotel room discounted to $50 through my husband's hotel program. We're trying to save up for a nice out-of-town vacation, but this will be a wonderful respite in the meantime.
Total Value: $425
Hotel Room - $100
Massages - $130
Facials -$130
Dinner - $65
Actually Paid: $200
Some people might believe this is still exorbitant, but we haven't done anything nice in a really long time. Our move to Oregon took a lot out of us, and we really need something to celebrate. I might even get a nice piece of jewelry... off ebay.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2727 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: My "Dollar Store" Kitchen
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.When I moved into my first apartment, my grandmother told me not to worry, she was taking care of my kitchen. Frankly, I was relieved because putting together a kitchen can be ridiculously expensive the first time around. The box arrived and I was honestly not sure what to do with it all. There were bowls, plates, dishes, drinking glasses, wine glasses, silverware/utility trays with every utility known to man. When I peeled off the stickers on the bottom of the plates I realized...I had a "Dollar Store" kitchen.
My grandmother is not impoverished by any means, so I was a little confused by her fascination with the Dollar Store. (I had only been in one a couple times.) Then I did the math. I had a fully outfitted kitchen for $37. She also went to the commissary with my grandpa, and they got me a gorgeous Revere ware copper bottom cookset for half price. For around $80 I had a fully functional high quality kitchen and a great lesson: Spending as little money as possible on the less significant things (plates and glasses that I would inevitably break) allowed for the purchase of what was important (the higher quality cookware).
The real key to making a good purchase at the "dollar" store or other discount retailers is being aware of quality over name. For plates, does it say it is dishwasher/oven/microwave safe? Are there any chips or signs of poor quality? Can you get matching sets? More availability means more choices for quality. (Also: You might go to Ross or TJ Maxx instead to get a name brand you're comfortable with. A 16-piece set for under $20 is near equivalent to "Dollar Store" pricing.)
Eight years later I still have half the utility items, and the trays. Whe I upgraded to my wedding set, we sold the dollar store set for almost what my grandma paid for it. It was a great starter set, and allowed me to replace things as other things fell apart. It was also such a wonderful gift.
Shopping sensibly at dollar/99 cent stores can really stretch your budget. Between party items, first aid supplies, plates, and sometimes even food, you can certainly save at least $10 each year.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2502 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Cheers for After-Holiday Sales!
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
I have a love affair with chocolate. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much I wish I could tell the difference between my tush and my thighs, I can't give it up. Luckily, my husband is very understanding.
Because of this, the day after Valentine's Day is one of my favorite days. Retailers are in a hurry to clear the shelves for Easter candy, which left me staring at heart-shaped boxes of chocolate truffles at Target, marked 50% off. I got three boxes of good truffles for $14.50. We do the same routine at Easter and Halloween.
The best places I've found for these sales are Walgreens, RiteAid, Walmart, and Target. (You should even be able to use your register rewards at Walgreens to get your candy for free.)
Candy doesn't exactly expire in a short amount of time, so you can pace your purchases through the holiday seasons, and never pay retail again.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2492 Annually (Running Total)
I have a love affair with chocolate. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much I wish I could tell the difference between my tush and my thighs, I can't give it up. Luckily, my husband is very understanding.
Because of this, the day after Valentine's Day is one of my favorite days. Retailers are in a hurry to clear the shelves for Easter candy, which left me staring at heart-shaped boxes of chocolate truffles at Target, marked 50% off. I got three boxes of good truffles for $14.50. We do the same routine at Easter and Halloween.
The best places I've found for these sales are Walgreens, RiteAid, Walmart, and Target. (You should even be able to use your register rewards at Walgreens to get your candy for free.)
Candy doesn't exactly expire in a short amount of time, so you can pace your purchases through the holiday seasons, and never pay retail again.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2492 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Keep Track Of Your Write-Offs Throughout The Year
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
One of my proudest achievements this year is a new log book for keeping track of our write-offs for next year. Previously I'd maintained all of our receipts, etc. in envelopes. Now, I'm making a daily log, and taping all of our relevant receipts into a journal format. This will make it easier when I'm doing taxes (and estimated tax payments as of this year), and keep my poor husband from having to save every unnecessary fast food receipt.
It will also save me time, money if my tax preparer charges by the hour, and will eliminate a hell of a headache as well if we get audited. (Please keep your fingers crossed, I really don't need that stress.) Also, since you can't write it off if you don't have proof, this will seriously save on the taxes this year.
No matter what, you need to keep your receipts, charitable donation receipts, a mileage log, and any other data to track your write-offs throughout the year. me, it makes the new year a lot more pleasant.
(Note: I'm not including this amount in the running total because the amount that an individual can write off will vary widely.)
One of my proudest achievements this year is a new log book for keeping track of our write-offs for next year. Previously I'd maintained all of our receipts, etc. in envelopes. Now, I'm making a daily log, and taping all of our relevant receipts into a journal format. This will make it easier when I'm doing taxes (and estimated tax payments as of this year), and keep my poor husband from having to save every unnecessary fast food receipt.
It will also save me time, money if my tax preparer charges by the hour, and will eliminate a hell of a headache as well if we get audited. (Please keep your fingers crossed, I really don't need that stress.) Also, since you can't write it off if you don't have proof, this will seriously save on the taxes this year.
No matter what, you need to keep your receipts, charitable donation receipts, a mileage log, and any other data to track your write-offs throughout the year. me, it makes the new year a lot more pleasant.
(Note: I'm not including this amount in the running total because the amount that an individual can write off will vary widely.)
365 Days of Saving Money: I Just Fed 7 People For $13 (And I Can Do It For Less).
We just had a great meal with a bunch of friends. I fed 7 people for $12.60 by cooking a large pot of chili:
Small Red Beans - $1.65
80/20 Hamburger - $6 (3 pounds)
Tomato Juice - $1.50
Carroll Shelby Chili Kit - $2.85
Leftover Vegetables about to go bad - $0
Sour Cream - $.50
Grated Cheese - $.50
This could have been quite a bit cheaper as well. I only have an apartment size refrigerator so I can't buy meat in bulk and freeze it like I used too (at least not as much). Otherwise, I would've been able to buy hamburger when it was closer to $1.29 per pound. The same package of beans is often on sale for $1. I ran out of stock and hadn't noticed. With just these two changes, I would've been able to feed the same amount of people for $10.22. That's $1.46 per person!
I'm looking into ways to buy my spices in bulk as well. The Carroll Shelby kit can be a bit expensive, but I love the proprietary spice blend, and at this point, with our tiny kitchen, it's easier than trying to figure out space for a spice cabinet. (Seriously, I have to store my pots in the oven because there is no room.) This can decrease the cost even further.
What can you do with this chili? You can eat it straight with sour cream. You can use it as taco meat, or sandwich meat. Put it over a baked potato for a hearty meal. This sort of meal can be easily transformed for leftovers to enhance your meal plan.
Just doing this once saved us easily $17. Pizzas for the seven of us would have run $30. But be advised, the horrible gas my poor husband now has to cope with might not be worth the $17 to him.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2472 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Indulge When Possible
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
I do love a good beer. Right now, I'm sitting with my husband, getting ready to do some work on the computer (late, yes, I know) while he's playing video games with some friends in California. We are both enjoying a Rogue Mocha Porter. One of the things I've come to appreciate more than anything since adopting a frugal lifestyle is joy in simple things.
I love that our balcony from our tiny apartment overlooks a creek, and that all of the trees give me a great sense of privacy and expanse. I love sitting back and having a good beer. I love getting Lindt Dark Chocolate truffles when they're on sale (like on February 15th). I have fun surprising my husband with a used video game on sale. I love planting herbs each year so that we can have fresh, tasty food without paying an arm, leg, or my firstborn.
Doing these small, special things keeps me from blowing a wad of cash on unnecessary things. Purchasing a $5 sale item when it's on sale (as long as there is room in the budget) keeps me from going out and spending a bunch when it's not on sale.
Also, frugality for frugality's sake is without merit. We utilize frugality to help us get out of debt, and to keep our lifestyle in check. I know it sounds ridiculous, but lifestyle inflation does keep me up at night. If you don't put small rewards into effect, those long term goals never feel within reach and easily get blown.
365 Days of Saving Money: Use Open Source Software
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.So today, a note popped up on my screen at work that said a worm had been detected and it needed to scan my computer right away. It was urgent, urgent I tell you! My computer was about to die! This is young on my face, not dumb. I hate scam pop-ups; I get at least one phone call every couple months from my mom, asking if she should click on the button. For goodness' sake, NO!
It did, however, remind me that I am way overdue for a malware scan. A lot of scans are expensive, so my geek husband set us up with AdAware by Lavasoft. It has a free version, very reliable, highly praised. I set it up on my computer and away we went, scanning for any potential issues. One hour and seven minutes later, it had discovered and removed 33 cookies from the computer, but nothing major was wrong. Norton and McAfee cost $40 for one computer each year. Considering that we have four computers in our home, open source is a great deal. We save $160 a year, but you'll save at least $40.
I use open source software for everything I can. On my mac I used Neooffice. On my Dell mini, I use Openoffice.org. Not having to pay for constant upgrades is a real bonus. Not having to pay for Microsoft products isn't bad either.
Open source software saves me hundreds of dollars over the life course of a computer, and so far has been completely compatible with proprietary products. It's good to save money.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2455 Annually (Running Total)
Why You Should Have Goals Instead of Resolutions
Every year I see people jog around the block every day in January, then it exponentially decreases as the weeks go by. People ask me each year if I've made my New Year's Resolutions. Every year I say that I don't make them. Some assume I'm anti-commercial and some assume I'm lazy, but some actually ask why. I believe in making goals instead of resolutions.
While "goal" and "resolution" may seem synonymous, they are really far from it. A "goal" is defined as "the purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective." A "resolution" is defined as "the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose." The difference I see is that a resolution is a state of mind, whereas a goal is a measurable state of action.
For example, a resolution is: "I want to be healthier this year." The corresponding goal would state: "I want to lose five pounds each month through May" or "I want to buy only organic vegetables this year." Instead of making the resolution to "be a better person," you can make the goal to "volunteer 10 hours a month" at your favorite charity.
Resolutions are traditionally ambiguous and difficult to measure. Many people favor the generalized statements at the beginning of the year, but are left at the end of the year feeling unfulfilled, possibly even like a failure.
How does this relate to finance? What if I said, "I am resolved to pay off my debt this year?" If I put that out there, the universe would collectively snort and say, "Good luck with that." It's unrealistic to assume that I could pay off all of our household debt this year (as we owe more than our annual salary), but if I just paid off an extra $10 would I really be satisfied come December? No. My goal is to use a modified debt snowball approach to pay off an additional $2000 this year. I would also like to sell my SUV to reduce our general household expenses. At that point I would increase my goal amount.
Some might argue that the only reason my argument holds water is because people don't set proper resolutions. For those, I would argue that the Declaration of Independence, one of the earliest resolutions of the United States, was far different from the goals it took to accomplish this independence.
Regardless, it's as possible to make bad goals as it is to make bad resolutions. So how do you create a good goal?
First, it's acceptable to start with a resolution. Wanting to be healthier may mean you have to lose weight. That leads you to the goal of losing five pounds a month.
Second, make your goals definable. The goal of losing weight is far different than the goal of losing five pounds a month. You can even go a step further and say that your goal is to "increase your physical activity by walking the dog every day (at minimum) with the objective of losing five pounds a month."
Third, your goals must be obtainable (but not too obtainable). Like I mentioned earlier, paying off my debt is unrealistic, but paying down my debt is more than possible. Setting the goal of paying down our debt an extra $2000 over and above what we normally would, I'm extending myself. This is a delicate balancing act of stretching yourself, but not stretching yourself "too thin." If meeting the goal means financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual harm, it is not worth obtaining.
Fourth, create a structure that allows you to meet those goals. One of my long-running goals has been to write in my personal blog every day. This year, I'm writing 365 Days of Saving Money, which requires me to write at least one tip each day. I'm having fun, and meeting my goal.
Last, make your goals prominent. If your goal is on the whiteboard directly across from your front door, you will be reminded of it every time you walk in. Write it down. Put it in your calendars. Make it so you can't forget it.
I'm already working on my goals for this year, and am excited about my progress. It's not too late to rework your resolutions into definable, obtainable goals. In fact, it's never too late.
365 Days of Saving Money: USE THIS COUPON ALERT!!!
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
Restaurant.com is offering 80% off their gift certificates; just use coupon code HEART. Normally, a $25 gift certificate costs $10. After the coupon, this certificate will cost only $2. We used these coupons a lot in Vegas to go to our favorite restaurants that we would have gone to any way. The code expires on February 14th, but your gift certificate purchase is good for a year.
For those of you looking for a Valentine's day special, you should know it probably won't work for Sunday. However, it might be great packaged as part of your frugal flowers and frugal jewelry for your loved one, and you can take them out shortly after.
Step 1: Go to restaurant.com, input your location, and see what restaurants are in the neighborhood. If you see a restaurant you go to, or a menu you like, think about buying a gift certificate.
If you want to save even more:
Bonus Savings Step 1: Go to ebates.com*. Sign up if you haven't. Go to the restaurant.com link through the ebates website. You will earn 15% cashback on your purchase! Proceed with your purchase as before.
*The link does assign a referral bonus to my account if you are a new registrant.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2415 Annually (Running Total)
Restaurant.com is offering 80% off their gift certificates; just use coupon code HEART. Normally, a $25 gift certificate costs $10. After the coupon, this certificate will cost only $2. We used these coupons a lot in Vegas to go to our favorite restaurants that we would have gone to any way. The code expires on February 14th, but your gift certificate purchase is good for a year.
For those of you looking for a Valentine's day special, you should know it probably won't work for Sunday. However, it might be great packaged as part of your frugal flowers and frugal jewelry for your loved one, and you can take them out shortly after.
Step 1: Go to restaurant.com, input your location, and see what restaurants are in the neighborhood. If you see a restaurant you go to, or a menu you like, think about buying a gift certificate.
If you want to save even more:
Bonus Savings Step 1: Go to ebates.com*. Sign up if you haven't. Go to the restaurant.com link through the ebates website. You will earn 15% cashback on your purchase! Proceed with your purchase as before.
*The link does assign a referral bonus to my account if you are a new registrant.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2415 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Jewelry For Your Love, and Your Wallet
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.This is the time when people spend money on the ones they love. Sometimes, they splurge on some serious bling! (Shoot me, I said, "bling.")
I recommend looking for alternate sources of sparkle. Our friend once purchased an engagement ring on craigslist. He bought the Tiffany eternity band for $425 (originally valued at $2500). It's important to be aware many of these rings have sad stories of divorce or death. If you're going to be superstitious you might not be able to hang with this. Frankly, if you're squeamish that way, you should pay retail. You are paying for fresh start jewelry, but "Whoa!" what a premium.
Other places to find nice pieces are ebay and pawn shops. I don't recommend ebay for fine jewelry because you can't really gauge what you're purchasing. I do purchase inexpensive sterling silver and titanium jewelry here. (I've got a great place to buy titanium wedding bands if anybody wants.) I like purchasing, well, anything from pawn shops. When it comes to jewelry, pawn shops generally value the piece based on the type of metal and weight. Not many grade the stones, so you should be slightly knowledgeable of what you're looking for before you purchase.
Most people have an anniversary, Valentine's Day or some celebration that may require the purchase of jewelry during a year. Purchasing smart can save you a couple hundred dollars a year.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2405 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Frugal Flowers
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
Since it's the season for saps and romance, I figured I should bring some info to the table. I'm kidding a little bit. My five year anniversary with Mr. Modern Tightwad is the week after Valentine's Day. We actually planned it that way to take advantage of all of the after-sales of romantic products.
One of the things I love most is flowers. I love it when he surprises me. The best place to get flowers is Costco and farmer's markets. We get wildflowers at our local Milwaukie Farmer's Market (can't wait for it to come back in the spring). Costco is without a doubt the best place for roses, though. All of the flowers for our wedding table pieces were from Costco. All the flowers for my friend Tiffany's wedding were from Costco as well.
For major events, getting flowers from these locations can save hundreds of dollars. For the day to day surprises, it can save you quite a bit over your local florist.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2205 Annually (Running Total)
Since it's the season for saps and romance, I figured I should bring some info to the table. I'm kidding a little bit. My five year anniversary with Mr. Modern Tightwad is the week after Valentine's Day. We actually planned it that way to take advantage of all of the after-sales of romantic products.
One of the things I love most is flowers. I love it when he surprises me. The best place to get flowers is Costco and farmer's markets. We get wildflowers at our local Milwaukie Farmer's Market (can't wait for it to come back in the spring). Costco is without a doubt the best place for roses, though. All of the flowers for our wedding table pieces were from Costco. All the flowers for my friend Tiffany's wedding were from Costco as well.
For major events, getting flowers from these locations can save hundreds of dollars. For the day to day surprises, it can save you quite a bit over your local florist.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2205 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Doing My Own Taxes (Heaven Help Me!)
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
Okay, so this tip is DEFINITELY NOT for everyone. I am apparently a slightly masochistic individual who enjoys reading the IRS website. Our taxes just aren't that difficult. We don't itemize, and even though my husband and I each have our own businesses, the forms are very simple. How do I make it work?
Mainly, I compile my tax information quarterly. This includes putting together my receipts and mileage for expenses. If you have a business and need to make estimated tax payments, this is a necessity anyway.
Secondly, I don't really need to be nervous because we don't make enough to be massively penalized. Our gross income combined is less than $40,000.
If you are facing anything over a 1040EZ and working with numbers is not what you do for a living (or you just lack the masochistic tendencies to read through the yearly tax updates), you might want to consider having a tax preparer look through your paperwork.
We can't justify paying $160 to someone else for something I can do.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2195 Annually (Running Total)
Okay, so this tip is DEFINITELY NOT for everyone. I am apparently a slightly masochistic individual who enjoys reading the IRS website. Our taxes just aren't that difficult. We don't itemize, and even though my husband and I each have our own businesses, the forms are very simple. How do I make it work?
Mainly, I compile my tax information quarterly. This includes putting together my receipts and mileage for expenses. If you have a business and need to make estimated tax payments, this is a necessity anyway.
Secondly, I don't really need to be nervous because we don't make enough to be massively penalized. Our gross income combined is less than $40,000.
If you are facing anything over a 1040EZ and working with numbers is not what you do for a living (or you just lack the masochistic tendencies to read through the yearly tax updates), you might want to consider having a tax preparer look through your paperwork.
We can't justify paying $160 to someone else for something I can do.
365 Days of Saving Money: $2195 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Make Your Own Parfait
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
Parfaits are actually really easy to make at home, and I like them for breakfast (and all my in-between snacks). You need:
Even McDonald's sells their parfaits for $2; mine run about $1. It's healthy, has live cultures for digestion, and I can even add protein powder to help with my exercise routine.
Enjoy!
365 Days of Saving Money: $2035 Annually (Running Total)
Parfaits are actually really easy to make at home, and I like them for breakfast (and all my in-between snacks). You need:
- Plain or vanilla yogurt
- Fruit preserves, fresh fruit, or even defrosted fruit (mixed berries is yummy)
- Granola
Even McDonald's sells their parfaits for $2; mine run about $1. It's healthy, has live cultures for digestion, and I can even add protein powder to help with my exercise routine.
Enjoy!
365 Days of Saving Money: $2035 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: The Joy Of Happy Hour
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.I have extensive food tastes. I love oysters on the half shell. I salivate over fondue. Some of this is not my fault. My parents were foodies. I knew what croissants were from a very young age, but I don't think I knew what a donut was until near 11. We cooked and baked from scratch and we would go to the ocean and buy crab and oyster fresh from the pier for pennies. Now, I still have these same cravings, but I'm much more conscious of my budget now then I knew to be when I was younger. I also don't have the time I wish I did to locally source my own fresh foods.
My compromise is "happy hour." Happy hour is where I find half-price sushi rolls at Kobe Sushi in Las Vegas, or where I get $4.99 cheese fondue at Gustav's in Portland. Don't even get me started on Yardhouse...I might cry.
We try to move family dine-out meals or meetings to happy hour times. The downside was my husband's family thought I was a lush for a while because I always suggested my favorite time of day. I'm not sure they were happier when they found out I was frugal. In all seriousness, happy hour saves us $20-40 a month, and lets us eat the foods we like. I'm all for win-win.
Thank you to scaredykat for the genuine Gustav's fondue photo (appears to be a mini-pot, $2.99 at happy hour).
365 Days of Saving Money: $2030 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Put On An Extra Layer Before You Turn Up The Heat
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
I just got our electricity bill for this month. I was honestly dreading it. Last month was $106, and we only live in 480 square feet! In all fairness we had a major cold snap. We had to turn on the heaters a little bit because I have problems keeping my body temperature up, and we have a puppy to think of.
This month our electricity bill dropped to $69, mostly because it warmed up substantially. I just kept thinking how much worse it could have been. My husband, the human radiator, was wearing warmy pajamas and socks to go to sleep. I was wearing leggings and a t-shirt under my feetie pajamas, and even the dog was wearing a sweater! (He doesn't have an undercoat and gets chilly easily.) When we would wake up each morning, our apartment was averaging 50 degrees, and I'm not even sure that wasn't just the lowest the thermostat would register.
What if we were unwilling to alter our personal habits to work with the universe? We don't have an air conditioning unit, we just walk around in swimsuits if it's too hot (or even less as the case may be). We all bundled up when it got cold, and then turned to the heaters. That's a savings of almost $40 in one month! I know if we were cavalier about our utilities, we would pay at least another $20 each month. I'm willing to put up with some mild discomfort for $240 each year!
365 Days of Saving Money: $1790 Annually (Running Total)
I just got our electricity bill for this month. I was honestly dreading it. Last month was $106, and we only live in 480 square feet! In all fairness we had a major cold snap. We had to turn on the heaters a little bit because I have problems keeping my body temperature up, and we have a puppy to think of.
This month our electricity bill dropped to $69, mostly because it warmed up substantially. I just kept thinking how much worse it could have been. My husband, the human radiator, was wearing warmy pajamas and socks to go to sleep. I was wearing leggings and a t-shirt under my feetie pajamas, and even the dog was wearing a sweater! (He doesn't have an undercoat and gets chilly easily.) When we would wake up each morning, our apartment was averaging 50 degrees, and I'm not even sure that wasn't just the lowest the thermostat would register.
What if we were unwilling to alter our personal habits to work with the universe? We don't have an air conditioning unit, we just walk around in swimsuits if it's too hot (or even less as the case may be). We all bundled up when it got cold, and then turned to the heaters. That's a savings of almost $40 in one month! I know if we were cavalier about our utilities, we would pay at least another $20 each month. I'm willing to put up with some mild discomfort for $240 each year!
365 Days of Saving Money: $1790 Annually (Running Total)
Carnival of Money Stories: Tell Me A Fairy Tale
First, this post ranks as the top editor's pick because it touched my heart. Craig Ford presents The Rich and Poor: My Interview With The Poor People of PNG posted at Money Help For Christians. We often define ourselves and our station only in the terms of our own culture.
Now for this week's money story......
There once was a princess who was living "happily ever after" in her fairy tale land. She soon discovered that none of the other princesses she spoke to, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, had ever mentioned what hard work "happily ever after" was.
She had to make responsible decisions about credit cards (Joanne presents First Time Credit Cards For Teens posted at First Time Credit Cards).
She and Prince Charming had no idea what they really wanted in a castle (The Financial Blogger presents Thinking of The Perfect House posted at The Financial Blogger) or if they should take Cinderella's offer to rent the summer castle (J.D. Roth presents Does Renting Make Sense? posted at Get Rich Slowly).
They had questions about their future, making smart investments (Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents Should You Borrow Money to Fund a Retirement Account? posted at Cash Money Life).
They even had ethical quandries (J. Money presents The $20 Discount that Shouldn't Have Been. posted at Budgets are Sexy) which she never expected as the previous ruling class, Wicked Witch, LLC, never had any.
Sometimes they thought about their situation in life. What would happen if they woke up tomorrow and the castle moat sprung a leak? (MDP presents Do You Have a Worst Case Scenario Plan? posted at My Dollar Plan.)
Who might help them if they lost the castle? (Silicon Valley Blogger presents Loan Modification Companies vs The Fair Housing Authority posted at The Digerati Life).
They didn't always make the right decision (Lakita presents The 2nd Dumbest Financial Move I've Ever Made posted at Personal Finance Journey), but they started with simple steps (Lynnae presents Tracking My Expenses: The Results posted at Being Frugal.net) to put them in the right direction.
Once they started budgeting the castle expenses(Joe Plemon presents Budgeting Without Bean Counting…5 Great Tips posted at Personal Finance By The Book), they found they had a little extra in the coffers and took pride in their savings (freefrombroke presents How I Love Thee ING Direct, Let Me Count The Ways posted at Free From Broke).
After all was said and done, they realized they were truly rich, not from their castle or coffers, but from their friends, their loved ones and all those who linked back to their fairy tale. :)
Now for this week's money story......There once was a princess who was living "happily ever after" in her fairy tale land. She soon discovered that none of the other princesses she spoke to, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, had ever mentioned what hard work "happily ever after" was.
She had to make responsible decisions about credit cards (Joanne presents First Time Credit Cards For Teens posted at First Time Credit Cards).
She and Prince Charming had no idea what they really wanted in a castle (The Financial Blogger presents Thinking of The Perfect House posted at The Financial Blogger) or if they should take Cinderella's offer to rent the summer castle (J.D. Roth presents Does Renting Make Sense? posted at Get Rich Slowly).
They had questions about their future, making smart investments (Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents Should You Borrow Money to Fund a Retirement Account? posted at Cash Money Life).
They even had ethical quandries (J. Money presents The $20 Discount that Shouldn't Have Been. posted at Budgets are Sexy) which she never expected as the previous ruling class, Wicked Witch, LLC, never had any.
Sometimes they thought about their situation in life. What would happen if they woke up tomorrow and the castle moat sprung a leak? (MDP presents Do You Have a Worst Case Scenario Plan? posted at My Dollar Plan.)
Who might help them if they lost the castle? (Silicon Valley Blogger presents Loan Modification Companies vs The Fair Housing Authority posted at The Digerati Life).
They didn't always make the right decision (Lakita presents The 2nd Dumbest Financial Move I've Ever Made posted at Personal Finance Journey), but they started with simple steps (Lynnae presents Tracking My Expenses: The Results posted at Being Frugal.net) to put them in the right direction.
Once they started budgeting the castle expenses(Joe Plemon presents Budgeting Without Bean Counting…5 Great Tips posted at Personal Finance By The Book), they found they had a little extra in the coffers and took pride in their savings (freefrombroke presents How I Love Thee ING Direct, Let Me Count The Ways posted at Free From Broke).
After all was said and done, they realized they were truly rich, not from their castle or coffers, but from their friends, their loved ones and all those who linked back to their fairy tale. :)
The End
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