Simple Savings: Track You Spending

Have you ever come to the end of the day or the end of the month and wonder where all you money has gone?  Tracking your spending is beneficial in several ways.  When you track what you spend, you are more conscientious about your spending.  When you know that you are doing it, you may be more careful before purchasing something.  When you track your spending, you can see where you money goes.  By analyzing your spending that you have taken the time to track, you can see if there are certain times of the month that you spend money.  You can see if there are categories in your budget that you are overspending.  If you don't have a budget, you can get an idea of where you money goes and be able to create a good budget for the future.  You can also see if there are categories in the budget that you need to adjust to have enough money for the month so you do not spend more than you make.  Tracking your spending helps you stay on target with your financial goals.  Try tracking your spending for a month.  It could be a very enlightening activity to see where your money really goes.

Simple Savings: Buy Quality Items With A Guarantee

Several years ago, I bought a Tilley hat for my husband when I was in California visiting relatives.  I thought it was a bit pricey at the time, but looked like a good quality hat and it had a guarantee.  My husband ended up liking the hat much more than I had thought he would and wore it constantly.  Through time, the seams have split and there have been holes in it.  I sent it in to see if I could get it replaced.  They were very pleasant on the phone and replaced it with a brand new one for the price of shipping.  I have had the hat replaced two other times as well since he wears it regularly.  The hat I bought originally cost 32 dollars and now they cost around 78 dollars.  We will keep replacing it as it wears out.  I never realized at the time what a good deal this would end up being in the long run.

There are other companies that guarantee their products.  Eddie Bauer, Sears Craftsman tools and Tupperware are just a few.  Columbia has a limited warranty.  I sent an older coat a few years back and they replaced the zipper free of charge.  You may pay a bit more upfront for the price of an item with a lifetime warranty, but in the long run it can be a much better deal.

$100 Christmas Challenge: Food

As many of you know, I have been doing a $100 Christmas Challenge, where I spend $100 out of pocket on Christmas.  In the past, we have spent a lot of money on food for the holidays.  With the challenge this year, I have $20 budgeted for all of our meals.

How can I do this?

1.  I sat down and figured out a detailed plan.  It is really nice because now I don't have to even think about it any more!

2.  I froze half of our Thanksgiving dinner so we could use it at Christmas time if we wanted to.  I have never done this before, but this year we have the option of not cooking our Christmas dinner if that is what choose.  
 
3.  Instead of buying packages of bacon, cheese, etc., I am just buying small bits at the salad bar to stay in the budget I have.  We can still have omelets for Christmas brunch, but we will only buy what we need and no more.

4.  I am making holiday treats that cost less to make.  For example, sugar cookies are less expensive to make than treats with chocolate, coconut, condensed milk, etc.  I chose recipes that had less expensive ingredients to make.  

5.  Save things throughout the month.  I am freezing little bits of things I cook throughout the month so we will have a nice appetizer tray by the time Christmas comes.  When people give us treats, I am freezing them until Christmas Eve and Christmas.

6.  Leave out some ingredients if it doesn't make a difference.

7.  Use what you have.  I tried making truffles this week.  I didn't have the ingredients listed in the recipes I found, so I made up my own recipe using what I had on hand.  They turned out great, luckily.

8.  Shop holiday food sales.  Some stores have had marshmallows for 25 cents and stuffing for 49 cents.  There are also great prices on baking things like 2 pounds of powdered sugar or brown sugar for 89 cents and $2 for butter.  See what is on sale and make recipes that include sale items.

9.  Have a potluck!  Enjoy having friends and family over for movies or meals or both.  Have everyone bring something and share the leftovers between everyone.

Is Couponing Worth It?

One of the many types of clutter is coupon clutter.  Think of all those coupon inserts and the time spent cutting and the extra space it takes to store the hoard of great deals.  Is it really worth it?

I think we all look in awe at some of the Extreme Couponers who can get 100 bottles of Gatorade for free.  Think of the money they saved!  But, wait, did they really save money?  Who buys 100 bottles of Gatorade?  Who would want to drink all that dye?  If I drink water and spend no money for it, I am healthier, save time and save the space of having to store 100 bottles of Gatorade as well as the coupons cluttering up my home.  I really haven't saved 100 dollars on the Gatorade because I wouldn't buy it anyway.  When you buy things that you don't need or use or want, are you really saving money?  Even if you do get all that for free, how does it improve your life?  Why not just simplify and drink water and save yourself the hassle?

How about buying store bought cookies for only a dollar after the coupon?  What a great deal!  Is it really?  I make homemade cookies that taste better for the same amount of money.  No coupons, no processed food, no artificial ingredients, no GMO flour, etc.  Why would I want to spend the time cutting coupons for things that are bad for us even if they are at a reduced price?  Most of the time, I can make it for less.  I know what is in the food I make and I can choose pure cane sugar and non-GMO flour, real butter, etc.  There really is more to life than a good deal.  I speak from experience.  I tried couponing for a couple of years.  I got a lot of good deals.  But, I ended up donating most of it to the food bank.  Donating is good, but I don't want to have all that clutter and spend all that time just to give it away.  I can do other kinds of service for others without all the baggage of clipping, storing the inserts and shopping.

There are all sorts of ways to save money.  If you don't want to clip coupons, try something else.  Instead of cold cereal, try making whole wheat pancakes or eggs or eat oatmeal.  They are all healthy options that don't take a lot of time or money.  There is less packaging so there is less trash.  There is no artificial coloring.  There are no harmful preservatives.  There is less stuff to haul into your home after a shopping trip.  Maybe you can work an extra hour instead of spending the time clipping coupons.  Maybe you can eat less dessert and save money that way and be healthier as well.  Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.  Your health is more important than a good deal, if it even is one.  

Still not convinced?  Why not go clip 50 coupons for something you don't use or need?  Take up space on your shelf storing them.  How do you feel?  Are you proud of yourself for getting such a good deal?  Did you really save money?  If you wouldn't buy it in the first place, you really aren't saving money.  What if you didn't waste the time and effort clipping and shopping for them?  You would have more space in your home for things you do love, more time and wouldn't have to deal with the frustrations of using coupons that don't even work part of the time.

There was a woman who used to clip coupons that did an experiment to see if she really did end up saving a lot of money.  Her article can be found here.  

Everyone has to choose what is best for them, but for those of you who feel a bit of guilt for not using coupons, get rid of the guilt.  Free up your time and space in your home.  Spend your time with your kids and doing things that matter instead of clipping coupons.  You will be glad you did.

Simple Savings: A Couple of Ideas

MAKE IT SMALLER:  The last time I made homemade tortillas, I made them half the size that I usually do.  Family members like to eat a couple of them at a meal, so by reducing the size they don't eat too much.  I did the same thing when making cookies last time.  I made the cookies just a little bit smaller than normal.  I had more cookies and no one noticed the reduced size.  Next time you serve meals, give people a smaller portion to start with.  They can always get more.  With kids, if you give them small portions of everything, they won't be overeating if you tell them to eat everything on their plate before getting more.  That way they have to eat their fruits and veggies before getting more of the main meal.

DON'T FINISH IT:  It is easy to eat up everything you put out for a meal, especially when it is right in front of you on the table.  Leaving the main dish over on the counter or stove will keep it out of sight and out of mind.  If someone is really hungry for more, they have to get up to get it.  Some people take out a portion for lunch the next day before sitting down to eat.  You can even freeze a portion for a later time.  Just because there is a part of that casserole left, it doesn't mean that you need to finish it.

CONSIDER BUYING AT THE SALAD BAR:  I have mentioned this in the past, but it is worth repeating.  If something at the salad bar costs as much or more than it does in a package, consider purchasing it at the salad bar.  Last week, I bought some pepperoni at the salad bar because they let us use our own containers.  The cost of the pepperoni was cheaper than what I would have normally spent and I only wanted a little bit for a pizza.  I was shocked at how good the pepperoni tasted compared to the pepperoni we usually buy in packages.  My whole family noticed the difference and loved it.  From now own, I am buying the pepperoni from the salad bar and using my own container (going green)  and it will taste better and cost less.  This idea is only cost effective if the thing you are buying costs as much or more per pound for the same item in a package.  It isn't a good idea to buy carrots or frozen peas or tomatoes, etc.  at the salad bar.  The normal costs of these is 1/4 to 1/8 of the cost it would be at the salad bar.

Simple Savings: Several Ways to Save

For years I have shared that one very easy and effective way to save money is to just use half as much.  You can still buy the products you want, but just use half as much as you normally use.  For example, when you wash clothes, use half as much soap.  When you wash your hair, use half as much shampoo.  When you wash the dishes, use half as much dish soap.  I can buy eco-friendly products this way because we use so little that they last a very long time.  I only use a Tablespoon of laundry soap and only a couple of teaspoons of dishwasher soap for each load.  We haven't had any problems getting things clean.  Even if you don't want to use expensive products, you can still save a bundle of money by using half as much:  half as much meat in your meals, half as much chocolate chips or nuts, etc.  Try it and reap the savings!

Simple Savings: Ways to Save in a Typical Day

I thought I would write a post about things you can do in a typical day to save money.

Wake up:  If you have kids, consider buying 1 ply toilet paper instead of 2 ply.  It could cut down the cost.

Breakfast:  Eat store brand cereal instead of name brand cereal.  Better yet, eat oatmeal and save even more money than either of the cold cereals.  You also don't have to be concerned about what is in the cereal you are eating.  Instead of a whole banana, which is two servings, consider eating a half banana instead.  Instead of pouring a large glass of orange juice, have 4 ounces and then drink water if you are still thirsty.  We don't drink coffee or tea, but for those of you who do, consider making your own instead of buying it on your way to work. 

Dishes:  Use less dishwasher soap than the package calls for.  I usually put just about 2 tablespoons.  My liquid dishwasher soap was almost finished, so I turned it upside down and will get at least 2-4 extra washes.  Skip the heat cycle on your dishwasher to save on energy.

Shower:  Use half as much soap or shampoo as you normally would.  If it is a challenge, try filling up the container with half soap and half water.  Reuse your towel instead of putting it in the washer after one shower.

Clothes:  Hopefully your closet has clothes that fit you.  People wear about 20 percent of their clothes 80 percent of the time.  Try turning your hangers the opposite way and as you use an item of clothing, turn the hanger back to the right way.  This way you can know what you really are wearing.  After 3-6 months, sell the clothes you don't use.  This money can be saved until the next time you need clothing replaced.  Let your old clothes pay for your new ones.

Lunch:  Bring your lunch to work.  You can save lots of money this way.  If time is an issue in the morning, prepare your lunch the night before.  If you are set on buying lunch, find lunch specials and order from that menu.  Save half of your lunch for the next day or for dinner that night. 

Activities:  For kids, instead of paying to go to the movie theater, rent a movie through Redbox that is much cheaper than going out.  Have kids play outside or turn on a sprinkler to cool off instead of paying to go do activities that cost money.

Laundry and other cleaning:  Make your own non-toxic cleaners.  Use rags instead of paper towels to clean.  For laundry, wash what is dirty or smells.  Wash full loads. Use 1/3 to 1/4 the amount of soap called for. 

Errands:  Write down the errands that need to be done for the week, and find the best route to get them done in one trip.  This will save you time and gas.

Dinner:  Make it yourself.  Plan meals according to your schedule so you will not be tempted to eat on the run.  Eating out really ads up. 

Bedtime:  Use less toothpaste on your toothbrush.  Don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth.  Use a wash cloth instead of disposable cloths on your face.  Wear the same pajamas more than one day.  

What are some simple things you do each day to save money?