Money Saving Talk

Frugal Living – The Real Key

When you think of frugal living, do you think it means being miserable, or giving up what you want? If so, you are thinking about it all wrong. Frugality is simply the practice of looking for the less expensive alternatives. Buy things for less, and what do you get? More money left over to buy more of what you want! Frugality doesn’t have to mean being a scrooge or living without comfort.

However, maybe you don’t like the idea of clipping coupons and buying clothes at rummage sales. If so, that’s okay. It never was and never will be the important part of truly frugal living. For it to be the most beneficial, frugality has to start with the big things, and if it never gets down to the small items, you’ll still be further ahead financially than most people.

Frugal Living Examples

Example number one: Search the Sunday paper for coupons and clip them out. Make a list of things on sale that you can stock up on in order to get your average cost down. Plan and run a route of four stores in order to get everything where it is the cheapest. Total extra time spent: three hours.

Example number two: Sit with a pen and paper and determine what you really need in your new house to be happy. List the cheapest homes that meet your criteria. Make several extra phone calls and check out several bank websites to get the interest rate down to 6.25% from the 6.75% you were expecting to pay. Total extra time spent: three hours.

In the first example, let’s assume you save $30 on your groceries for your effort. Your frugality made you about $10 per hour. In the second example, suppose you found a suitable home for $20,000 less. Let’s say you only have to borrow $120,000 at 6.25% instead of $140,000 at 6.75%. Your payment would be $169 less per month, for a total savings of $60,900 over the thirty years of the mortgage. In this case, your frugality made you about $20,000 per hour.

I think you can see that it is the big stuff that makes a difference in frugal living. On the other hand, sometimes the small stuff is the big stuff, especially when it is repeated over and over. This is why it makes sense to save money on groceries. They are something you buy every week. How you do it makes a difference though.

For example, suppose you don’t want to clip coupons or spend time looking at sales flyers. Let’s face it; if it only saves you $10 per hour of effort, you might be better off staying a few hours extra at work and skip the hassle. On the other hand, why not invest just an hour or two to figure out which store is cheapest for the things you buy? Then shop only there, and buy more of the things you use and like when they are on sale. You might still save $20 per week, with no additional investment of time. That’s a $1,000 per year!

Have you read newsletters and magazines about saving money? They often have tips on things like how to re-use plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Is it worth the time to wash out and dry your ziplock bags? Maybe, if you like that sort of thing, and you are making minimum wage. For most of us, it is better to spend the time analyzing the big and the recurring expenditures. That is the key to frugal living.

About The Author

Steve Gillman studies money. To learn more unusual ways to make and save money, and how you can get free e-courses and e-books, visit his website: http://www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com

Tags: frugal living

Saving Money on Preschool: Readiness Skills Needed for Kindergarten

As a mom of 4 who’s youngest child is about to start Kindergarten this Fall, I’d like to share with you some things I’ve learned about Preschool over the last ten years, along with a list of readiness skills every child can be learning at home – whether attending Preschool or not.

Preschools, especially those taught in a church environment, are a wonderful resource that help prepare children for regular school. Not to mention they also provide social interaction with children of the same age, and for a few hours each week, a much-needed break for Mom. Overall, we highly recommend them!

There’s just one catch – Preschool is expensive!

Though I truly enjoyed successfully homeschooling our first child for preschool in 1994, by the time our next child was ready for preschool (in 1998) I also had a toddler at home (our third child), and another shortly on the way. My husband and I decided it was definitely time for some help, and somehow we managed to put our second child through preschool, as well as the third. And the fourth – as I’ve already mentioned, will be graduating this year.

If you’d like to send your child to Preschool but would like to keep the costs down, try finding a school that offers just two days a week, that’s what we did. Of course homeschooling would cost even less, but we realize that’s not an option for everyone – especially working moms.

Whether you choose to home-preschool your child or send him/her to a local Preschool on a part-time basis, here’s a suggested list of academic, physical and social skills every preschooler should be learning. If your child will be attending Kindergarten in the fall it would be a good idea to continue working on these things over the summer. Kindergarten is a lot tougher than it was even a few years ago, so the more prepared your child is the better off he/she will be!

You will find that Kindergarten Readiness lists will vary but this is a great list that covers the basics.

Academic Skills

• Say the alphabet
• Recognize own name, and letters in name
• Recognize as many letters as possible (A-Z)
• Count to 10
• Recognize numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
• Count items
• Name the basic colors (blue, red, yellow, purple, green, orange, white, brown, black)

Physical Skills

• Care for personal needs (Use restroom, wash hands, fasten clothes, wipe nose, etc.)
• Catch item tossed underhand
• Walk up and down stairs
• Use pencils and crayons
• Use scissors & glue stick
• Stack blocks
• Put toys and class items where they belong

Social Skills (These are always a work in progress!)

• Shares and takes turns
• Sits quietly and listens in group setting
• Follows directions
• Demonstrates good manners while eating
• Respects other students and adults
• Respects other’s belongings and class items
• Expresses thoughts and feelings clearly

And a Note About Reading.

Depending on your local school system, children now begin reading in either Preschool or Kindergarten. It is very important that your child be familiar with the letters of the alphabet and if possible, even the sounds each one makes. Knowing the letters will make the transition to reading much easier.

Throughout the early school years, teachers will often remind you how important it is to read to your children every day. You can make it a special time by letting the child choose the book to be read, and ask them questions about the story as you go – this will also help them develop good comprehension skills, which are needed throughout life.

Enjoy these early years together, they grow up so fast!

Copyright 2004 by Michelle Jones

About The Author

Michelle Jones, author of Dealing with Debt and publisher of Living a Better Life: The Money-Saving Tips Ezine, is a frugal mother of 4 who’s dedicated to helping families live a better life, not by spending more money, but less! If you’d like a free subscription to her monthly Ezine please visit www.BetterBudgeting.com for more information.
editor@betterbudgeting.com

Tags: saving money on schools

Saving Money Online With Digital Coupons, Freebies, And Comparison Shopping

The Internet is a great invention for many different reasons. But, did you know that it can be a great resource for saving you money when shopping? You no longer have to clip coupons out of the Sunday paper; you can find them right at the tip of your fingers just by knowing where to look!

Coupons

One of the easiest ways to save money on the Internet is by printing online coupons. All you have to do is type the search criteria “online coupon” in your favorite search engine and you are on your way to savings! Here are some examples of great online web sites that help you save money:

CouponSurfer CouponSurfer has almost 300 coupons from over 100 stores on their web site. Do you need new brake pads on your car? You can save up to 50% just by filling out the free registration form at CouponSurfer and printing their coupon. Other recent savings at CouponSurfer were a 40-cent coupon from Tropicana, a 50-cent off coupon from St. Joseph’s aspirin, and coupons from Pampers.

Hot Coupons Hot Coupons lets you type in your zip code or city name to find discounts offered in your area. You can find savings for local restaurants, automotive centers, health centers, retail stores, and businesses including real estate, lawyers, hotels, and doctors.

Also, pay attention to television commercials. Many times, companies coming out with a new product will advertise on television and list a web page where you can print a money saving coupon. A recent commercial from Febreze listed their web page address. By going there, you can fill out a form and have Frebreze mail you $20 in coupons for many of their products, including their latest electronic air freshener, NOTICEables.

Coupon Codes

There are also web sites that offer a percentage off online purchases. Ultimate Coupons is a great example of this type of online savings site. Ultimate Coupons constantly updates their site with the latest in online savings. A recent search showed coupons for 10% off at http://Target.com, 15% off Pet Supplies at Petco, and $5 off $20 on Digital Photos & Gifts at Snapfish. Many times, if you search online, you can also find codes for free shipping to places like Macys, Sears, Amazon, and Old Navy.

Freebies

Many web sites have user forums where people can share online savings and free offers with each other. Big Big Forums is an excellent place to visit to find coupon codes, freebies, and reward programs. Members (there are over 31,000) post different offers they have seen on television or found online. There are folders for each particular type of offer, so it is very easy to find things here. Once you register for free, you too can post coupon codes and freebies. You may even be lucky enough to get in on a free subscription to a magazine such as TV Guide or link to a free Schick Quattro razor.

Comparison Shopping

A great feature of many Internet web sites is that they will give you price comparisons of items for which you are looking. Froogle is Google’s shopping search engine. All you have to do is type in the name of what you are looking for and Froogle does the rest! It will find web pages selling the item you are looking for and lists the price. That way, you can find the best deal available. There are several other web sites that will help you to do comparison shopping such as MySimon and Bizrate. Letting these sites help you find the best price can make every online shopping experience enjoyable.

Other web sites can save you money online too. You can refinance your home loan and find the lowest interest rates by searching at Ditech or search for the cheapest car insurance at Geico. How do you learn about all the sites available? The best way is to pay attention to the media. Commercials, newspapers, and magazines are always listing web sites. Also, join a forum such as Big Big Forums. When people share ideas and resources, it can be great for your pocketbook. Remember that every coupon and savings opportunity adds up!

About The Author

Tags: online coupons

Car Maintenance Tips

• Use the grade of motor oil recommended by your car’s manufacturer. Using a different motor oil can lower your gasoline mileage by 1% to 2%.
• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%.
• Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks to avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or transmission problems.
• Replace clogged air filters to improve gas mileage by as much as 10% and protect your engine.
• Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

Long-Term Savings Tip

Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient vehicle. A fuel- efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative fuel vehicle could save you a lot at the gas pump and help the environment.

Source: EERE, U.S. Department of Energy

Tags: Driving Saving Tips

Driving Saving Tips

• Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon. The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days is needed. Anything more simply wastes fuel and increases emissions.
• Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.
• Avoid high speeds. Above 60 mph, gas mileage drops rapidly.
• Clear out your car; extra weight decreases gas mileage by 1% to 2% for every 100 pounds.
• Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5% or more.
• Check into telecommuting, carpooling and public transit to cut mileage and car maintenance costs.

Source: EERE, U.S. Department of Energy

Tags: Driving Saving Tips, home office saving

Home Electronics Saving Tips

• Look for energy-saving ENERGY STAR labeled home electronics.
• Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These “phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. These phantom loads can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
• Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.
• Studies have shown that using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries. If you must use throaways, check with your trash removal company about safe disposal options.

Source: EERE, U.S. Department of Energy

Tags: Electronics Saving Tips, energy saving, home office saving

Home Office Energy Saving Tips

• Selecting energy-efficient office equipment—personal computers (PCs), monitors, copiers, printers, and fax machines—and turning off machines when they are not in use can result in enormous energy savings.
• An ENERGY STAR labeled computer uses 70% less electricity than computers without this designation. If left inactive, ENERGY STAR labeled desktop computers enter a sleep mode and use 4 watts or less. Spending a large portion of time in low-power mode not only saves energy, but helps equipment run cooler and last longer.
• To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically); the transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter.
• Common misconceptions sometimes account for the failure to turn off equipment. Many people believe that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off. This incorrect perception carries over from the days of older mainframe computers.
• ENERGY STAR labeled computers and monitors save energy only when the power management features are activated, so make sure power management is activated on your computer.
• There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy.

Long-Term Savings Tip

• Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.

Source: EERE, U.S. Department of Energy

Tags: energy saving, home office saving