Here are a few little tips to help you put some pennies aside for the holidays. Thank you to billshrink.com for this information.
Lay Off the Starbucks = $160 savings over next few months
A tall coffee at Starbucks approaches $2.00. If you drink one of those every weekday, you’re spending $10 a week, $40 per month and roughly $520 per year. (And this is one of the cheapest items at Starbucks!)
If you absolutely need a caffeine fix every day, consider making your own coffee. After about $15 to buy the coffee maker and the filters, a bag of coffee only costs $8 and will keep you awake for weeks.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, see what other “daily luxuries” you may enjoy. Whether it’s micro-brewed beer, gourmet chocolates or a Ben & Jerry’s addiction, cutting back -- or substituting a cheaper alternative -- can easily buy a few gifts for the family.
Bottled Water = $78 savings over the next few months
Water is one of those things that you should try not to pay for. With 2/3 of the world covered in water and filters that convert “tap water” to filtered water (such as a Brita) for about $20, you should stick to filling up a water bottle rather than shelling out $1-2 for bottled water. If you buy bottled water a few times a week, you can save over $200 a year and about $80 by the time Christmas rolls around.
Gas = $87 savings over the next few months
BillShrink.com found that gas prices vary as much $.50 per gallon in the same neighborhood. This means that by simply driving to a nearby gas station, you can save $260 a year. Use BillShrink’s gas comparison tool to find the cheapest gas on your commute for the next 4 months and you could be looking at an extra $87 bucks in your pocket.
Ease Up on Eating Out = $520 savings over the next few months
Eating at home is not only healthier, but it is also much cheaper. When you eat out, you are paying a mark-up for not only your meal and drinks, but also for the service that comes with it. Try staying in two nights a week and save about $30 a person. If you continue this until the holidays, you’ll have saved $520 – enough to treat the whole family to a nice Christmas dinner.
If cutting out dinner is too hard, try packing your lunch rather than going out and dropping $6 during work. This will also save you about $30 a week and by combining the two, you’ll double your savings and have some delicious leftovers to bring for lunch the next day.
Quit Smoking = $347 savings over next few months
The cost of smoking is not getting any cheaper with an average pack costing between $4-6. If you smoke four packs a week, you’ll pay over $1000 a year. Since quitting smoking is easier said than done, it may be worth it use some of those savings on nicotine patches or gum to help you quit.
The caveat of this strategy is that you’ve got to want to quit smoking in order for this to work. While you can save some money doing this, you’re not going to be able to use that as motivation alone. You’ll need to weigh the other benefits of quitting as well and determine the reason why it’s time for you to quite now.
Turn Down the Monthly Fixed Costs = ~$200 savings over few months
According to BillShrink, most people are overpaying for their cell phone plan. By simply visiting BillShrink or other comparison sites, you can quickly analyze your wireless, credit card and cable plan. If you’re paying for more cell minutes or texts than you need, you could be losing $420 a year and the same goes for the cash-back rewards you could be missing out on from your credit card and the extra channels you pay for that you never watch on your TV. By only paying for what you use, you could save nearly $200 over four months.
If you already have the best plans for you, feel free to call up your phone or cable provider and try to negotiate a better price. Since it is cheaper for them to retain current customers than get new ones, they want to keep you from leaving and keep you happy. See if they have any specials that will entice you to stay.
And if you still find yourself short of Christmas cash, just remember: you can always sell things on eBay. After all, getting rid of old stuff is the best way to prepare for this year’s new stuff.
Showing posts with label holiday sales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday sales. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
I know this won't apply to everyone, but I am a mom with three kids and I am always looking for ideas on how to save money on day to day things they may need. School is right around the corner and coinsidentely I received an email from someone with budgeting tips for school shopping. Being a mom and woman who loves to share information, I thought I would pass it along to you. Hope you get a few tips out of it as well.
TOPIC: BACK TO SCHOOL BUDGET
It’s that time of year again – back to school – which means families everywhere are heading out, stocking up and forking over fistfuls of money on everything from pencils… to peanut butter. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends $550 on school supplies each fall, making this time of year second only to Christmas – for total consumer spending.
Talking Points/Tips
Tip #1: Make a list and set your budget:
It's a good idea to know what you need to buy and how much is available to spend before you go shopping. 85% of people plan to spend less– but if the average is nearly $550 – what does that truly mean for you and your family – $200, $300? Having a defined back-to-school budget and sticking to it is essential. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to begin teaching your children about budgeting habits. Before you go out to restock on back-to-school supplies or clothes, work with your child to craft a budget. When you’re shopping, work as a team to find the best deals. If you have money left over, reward your good work with a small treat or put the extra money into a rainy day fund.
Tip #2 Cash or Credit?
If you pay off your bills each month, you may want to use credit and get rewarded for your back to school purchases. Find cards offering the best rewards points, and you can narrow down results by the types of rewards you want to earn, whether it’s cash back, points at your favorite retail stores, or miles. Is your credit card earning you an A in savings? Nearly 80% of people are on the wrong credit card. Find out which is right for your unique spending habits. If your child is heading off to college, you can find the best student credit cards to fit their needs and help them start building good credit.
Tip #3 Get Connected on the Cheap
If your child is old enough, consider joining a family plan so everyone can stay connected, especially when the carpool plans fall through or games get cancelled. Find the most cost-effective plans for your family that can satisfy your teen who can’t live without texts and your need to access your email.
Tip #4 Buy Books Online
Look online to find the most affordable books. At BetterWorldBooks.com, readers can find used books and textbooks up to 80% off, and shipping on book orders is not only free anywhere in the U.S. but it’s a carbon offset! What's more, when you buy through Better World Books, you're supporting global literacy programs - a portion of all revenues goes to organizations like Books for Africa and Room to Read, and to date they've raised over $6 million for literacy. Save upwards of 80% on all your textbooks, and with college text books costing up to $200, that’s a lot of savings.
Tip #5 Alternative Transportation
If you’re close enough to school, have your kids walk or ride bikes with their friends. Otherwise, take the school bus or start your own carpool. Gas prices can vary by $0.50 within one neighborhood, so use free online tools like BillShrink.com that can help you find the cheapest gas prices along your route. With the average commute, that’s a savings of up to $130/year just during the week.
Tip #6 Get cash back on supplies from top retailers
With cash back deals and partnerships with over 800 retailers from Staples to Office Depot to Wallmart, chances are you’ll find what you need for back to school shopping all in one convenient location – FatWallet.com. Websites that offer cash back on your online purchases are a great way to put some extra money back in your wallet, where it belongs.
Tip #7 Save on Sports
If your son or daughter is planning on starting a new sport this school year, see if there’s a way to find a deal on equipment. A great way is to contact graduating athletes or family friends to see if they have an extra lacrosse stick or baseball glove that they would be willing to part with. Plus, if your child is trying something for the first time, make sure they like the sport before buying the newest equipment.
Tip #8 Only Buy What You Need
Once you're in the store, all those fun extras can be tempting – colored pens, locker accessories, self-stick notes, the list stretches on and on – but chances are, your back to school budget doesn't. To avoid overspending, determine how you'll handle your child's requests for non-essentials before you head out to shop.
Some Ways to Handle Your Child's Requests:
§ Allow one extra purchase
§ Have your child foot the bill for anything that's not on the list
§ Have your child pay the difference between what you're willing to buy, and what they want to buy
Tip #9 Buy This Now, Buy That Later
Some stores actually raise their prices on popular back-to-school items before school starts. Search for school bargains all year. Why wait until September to purchase notebooks, pens and clothing? You can spread out your spending and get great deals if you’re on the look-out all year long, instead of dropping hundreds of dollars in August. While school supplies are generally cheaper during back to school, clothing sales go on throughout the year, many times with better deals than during back-to-school season.
Tip #10 Take Advantage of Tax-Free Holidays
Many states offer tax-free holidays around the start of the school year. Find out if your state has one planned; and if it does, be sure to take advantage of it. Shopping on the right day could take as much as 10% off of your back to school tab.
Information was sent to me by Billshrink.com. Check them out at BillShrink.com to if you’d like more information on how you be smarter with finances.
Happy shopping!
TOPIC: BACK TO SCHOOL BUDGET
It’s that time of year again – back to school – which means families everywhere are heading out, stocking up and forking over fistfuls of money on everything from pencils… to peanut butter. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends $550 on school supplies each fall, making this time of year second only to Christmas – for total consumer spending.
Talking Points/Tips
Tip #1: Make a list and set your budget:
It's a good idea to know what you need to buy and how much is available to spend before you go shopping. 85% of people plan to spend less– but if the average is nearly $550 – what does that truly mean for you and your family – $200, $300? Having a defined back-to-school budget and sticking to it is essential. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to begin teaching your children about budgeting habits. Before you go out to restock on back-to-school supplies or clothes, work with your child to craft a budget. When you’re shopping, work as a team to find the best deals. If you have money left over, reward your good work with a small treat or put the extra money into a rainy day fund.
Tip #2 Cash or Credit?
If you pay off your bills each month, you may want to use credit and get rewarded for your back to school purchases. Find cards offering the best rewards points, and you can narrow down results by the types of rewards you want to earn, whether it’s cash back, points at your favorite retail stores, or miles. Is your credit card earning you an A in savings? Nearly 80% of people are on the wrong credit card. Find out which is right for your unique spending habits. If your child is heading off to college, you can find the best student credit cards to fit their needs and help them start building good credit.
Tip #3 Get Connected on the Cheap
If your child is old enough, consider joining a family plan so everyone can stay connected, especially when the carpool plans fall through or games get cancelled. Find the most cost-effective plans for your family that can satisfy your teen who can’t live without texts and your need to access your email.
Tip #4 Buy Books Online
Look online to find the most affordable books. At BetterWorldBooks.com, readers can find used books and textbooks up to 80% off, and shipping on book orders is not only free anywhere in the U.S. but it’s a carbon offset! What's more, when you buy through Better World Books, you're supporting global literacy programs - a portion of all revenues goes to organizations like Books for Africa and Room to Read, and to date they've raised over $6 million for literacy. Save upwards of 80% on all your textbooks, and with college text books costing up to $200, that’s a lot of savings.
Tip #5 Alternative Transportation
If you’re close enough to school, have your kids walk or ride bikes with their friends. Otherwise, take the school bus or start your own carpool. Gas prices can vary by $0.50 within one neighborhood, so use free online tools like BillShrink.com that can help you find the cheapest gas prices along your route. With the average commute, that’s a savings of up to $130/year just during the week.
Tip #6 Get cash back on supplies from top retailers
With cash back deals and partnerships with over 800 retailers from Staples to Office Depot to Wallmart, chances are you’ll find what you need for back to school shopping all in one convenient location – FatWallet.com. Websites that offer cash back on your online purchases are a great way to put some extra money back in your wallet, where it belongs.
Tip #7 Save on Sports
If your son or daughter is planning on starting a new sport this school year, see if there’s a way to find a deal on equipment. A great way is to contact graduating athletes or family friends to see if they have an extra lacrosse stick or baseball glove that they would be willing to part with. Plus, if your child is trying something for the first time, make sure they like the sport before buying the newest equipment.
Tip #8 Only Buy What You Need
Once you're in the store, all those fun extras can be tempting – colored pens, locker accessories, self-stick notes, the list stretches on and on – but chances are, your back to school budget doesn't. To avoid overspending, determine how you'll handle your child's requests for non-essentials before you head out to shop.
Some Ways to Handle Your Child's Requests:
§ Allow one extra purchase
§ Have your child foot the bill for anything that's not on the list
§ Have your child pay the difference between what you're willing to buy, and what they want to buy
Tip #9 Buy This Now, Buy That Later
Some stores actually raise their prices on popular back-to-school items before school starts. Search for school bargains all year. Why wait until September to purchase notebooks, pens and clothing? You can spread out your spending and get great deals if you’re on the look-out all year long, instead of dropping hundreds of dollars in August. While school supplies are generally cheaper during back to school, clothing sales go on throughout the year, many times with better deals than during back-to-school season.
Tip #10 Take Advantage of Tax-Free Holidays
Many states offer tax-free holidays around the start of the school year. Find out if your state has one planned; and if it does, be sure to take advantage of it. Shopping on the right day could take as much as 10% off of your back to school tab.
Information was sent to me by Billshrink.com. Check them out at BillShrink.com to if you’d like more information on how you be smarter with finances.
Happy shopping!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Getting Ready to Roll...
It's been a crazy, warm and busy summer for everyone, including me...and it's time to settle down and get back to the nitty gritty... I'll begin by updating you on what exciting things are going on at SNEWoman and it's Signature Event Series:
The next (GORGEOUS) issue of SNEWoman will be the September-December issue. Such an exciting time with tons of great things going on and the best time to promote products and services for fall, back to school, holiday events, holiday shopping and gift certificates sales, new year resolution programs, the beginning of the 2011 bridal season and so much more. Proudly, the new issue is bigger and the editorial content spectacular! For those of you who are interested in advertising, you can be in SNEWoman for about $100 a month. 20,000 copies and a 3.4 readership means approximately 70,000 readers looking at your ad every issue. We are all still excited that the Premiere Issue continues to receive such positive feedback from other media outlets, readers and advertisers and we can't thank you enough. Recently, SNEWoman had some great press in the Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald and Johnston Sunrise. Here is the link if you would like to check it out: http://www.cranstononline.com/view/full_story/7902698/article-Women-take-center-stage-in-Paolino-Cruz-publication?sms_ss=facebook
Here is something fun! Check out our 2011 Calendar Contest!
We are looking for some great photos of women (all ages) taken in Southern New England during any of the four seasons. Photos may have one woman in the picture or up to three. Professional and amateur photos accepted and the deadline for entries is August 20th. We would love for you to be part of our Celebration of Women and hope that you enter one of your own beautiful photos, we know you have them... 14 photos will to chosen (12 months, front and back covers) to make up the 2011 full color high gloss calendar. Rules:
.Submitted photos must be full color, may be taken anytime throughout the year (all months available), photos may be up to five years old.
.Photos should include at least one but no more than three women of any age with some regional background visible.
.Non-professional and professional photos are eligible.
.Submitted photos must include; location of shoot, name of woman/model, name of photographer, complete contact information for both.
.Competition fee $10 fee per photo to help defray cost of quality printing submitted at the time of entry.
.Photos must be submitted no later than August 20th. (hard copy photos will not be returned)
.Winners will be notified at which time high resolution 300dpi images will need to be emailed to our graphic designer.
.JPEGS emailed to expoproductions@aol.com with payment via paypal to info@snewoman.com
or Hard copy photos mailed with $10 fee to SNEWoman, P.O. Box 8331, Warwick, RI 02888.
Get Ready!!! October 3rd is Fall Women's Expo @ Twin River. We are currently lining up seminar presenters and fashion show designers and boutiques. Presentations are 20 minutes. If you are interested in being involved with one of the fashion shows, becoming a presenter or an exhibitor you can email expoproductions@aol.com for more information. Want to attend and see what fun things went on at the Spring Expo? VISIT http://www.southernnewenglandwomensexpo.com/
The next Singles Networking event is scheduled: COCKTAILS AND CONVERSATION (ages 35 and up) will be held Tuesday, September 21, 5:30-7:30pm at Twin Oaks Restaurant, Cranston, RI. We would love to have you come out and join us for a fabulous singles networking event where you can meet some great people in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Enjoy appetizers, great conversation and cash bar. (Free Parking) Limited Tickets Available-Advanced Registration Required http://twinoakssinglesnetworking.eventbrite.com/
Running in Heels Business Networking will be held at the beginning of October. As soon as the details are finalized we will be sure to let you know.
You can always find up to date information regarding SNEWoman Magazine and it's Signature Event Series by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
I am going to leave you with one of my favorite FB posts from the last few weeks. For me this has related to all parts of my life and I hope that it does the same for you.
"Let your heart lead you. It whispers, so listen very carefully."
The next (GORGEOUS) issue of SNEWoman will be the September-December issue. Such an exciting time with tons of great things going on and the best time to promote products and services for fall, back to school, holiday events, holiday shopping and gift certificates sales, new year resolution programs, the beginning of the 2011 bridal season and so much more. Proudly, the new issue is bigger and the editorial content spectacular! For those of you who are interested in advertising, you can be in SNEWoman for about $100 a month. 20,000 copies and a 3.4 readership means approximately 70,000 readers looking at your ad every issue. We are all still excited that the Premiere Issue continues to receive such positive feedback from other media outlets, readers and advertisers and we can't thank you enough. Recently, SNEWoman had some great press in the Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald and Johnston Sunrise. Here is the link if you would like to check it out: http://www.cranstononline.com/view/full_story/7902698/article-Women-take-center-stage-in-Paolino-Cruz-publication?sms_ss=facebook
Here is something fun! Check out our 2011 Calendar Contest!
We are looking for some great photos of women (all ages) taken in Southern New England during any of the four seasons. Photos may have one woman in the picture or up to three. Professional and amateur photos accepted and the deadline for entries is August 20th. We would love for you to be part of our Celebration of Women and hope that you enter one of your own beautiful photos, we know you have them... 14 photos will to chosen (12 months, front and back covers) to make up the 2011 full color high gloss calendar. Rules:
.Submitted photos must be full color, may be taken anytime throughout the year (all months available), photos may be up to five years old.
.Photos should include at least one but no more than three women of any age with some regional background visible.
.Non-professional and professional photos are eligible.
.Submitted photos must include; location of shoot, name of woman/model, name of photographer, complete contact information for both.
.Competition fee $10 fee per photo to help defray cost of quality printing submitted at the time of entry.
.Photos must be submitted no later than August 20th. (hard copy photos will not be returned)
.Winners will be notified at which time high resolution 300dpi images will need to be emailed to our graphic designer.
.JPEGS emailed to expoproductions@aol.com with payment via paypal to info@snewoman.com
or Hard copy photos mailed with $10 fee to SNEWoman, P.O. Box 8331, Warwick, RI 02888.
Get Ready!!! October 3rd is Fall Women's Expo @ Twin River. We are currently lining up seminar presenters and fashion show designers and boutiques. Presentations are 20 minutes. If you are interested in being involved with one of the fashion shows, becoming a presenter or an exhibitor you can email expoproductions@aol.com for more information. Want to attend and see what fun things went on at the Spring Expo? VISIT http://www.southernnewenglandwomensexpo.com/
The next Singles Networking event is scheduled: COCKTAILS AND CONVERSATION (ages 35 and up) will be held Tuesday, September 21, 5:30-7:30pm at Twin Oaks Restaurant, Cranston, RI. We would love to have you come out and join us for a fabulous singles networking event where you can meet some great people in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Enjoy appetizers, great conversation and cash bar. (Free Parking) Limited Tickets Available-Advanced Registration Required http://twinoakssinglesnetworking.eventbrite.com/
Running in Heels Business Networking will be held at the beginning of October. As soon as the details are finalized we will be sure to let you know.
You can always find up to date information regarding SNEWoman Magazine and it's Signature Event Series by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
I am going to leave you with one of my favorite FB posts from the last few weeks. For me this has related to all parts of my life and I hope that it does the same for you.
"Let your heart lead you. It whispers, so listen very carefully."
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