Category Archives: Money Saving Tips
12 Tips on How to Become a Frugal Shopper
The list of expenses that demand us to hand out more and more of our hard earned cash seems to grow longer by the day. As if not inconvenient enough, times remain tough for many of us when it comes to finance. Couple that with the recent research suggesting that the key to happiness is saving a little money each month and this means we really could all benefit from being able to cut back when we hit the stores.
- Have a list: Whether you are intending to buy one item or a week’s worth of groceries, writing down exactly what you need and sticking stoically to this list will save you from parting with extra money.
- Have a budget: When the time comes to buy an expensive item, such as a car or electrical appliance, work out your maximum budget and only shop within that range.
- Ignore unnecessary offers: Sure, something may be on sale at 20% off but does that mean you need it? It may be cheaper than before but you would still be paying out money that you could have otherwise saved.
- Avoid bulk buying: Buying items in bulk and storing them is often recommended to save money. While it works for some items, for others they will simply deteriorate in quality or expire, rendering them useless and wasting your money.
- Make friends: Being friendly with the locals really can save you some cash when it comes to getting services. Be it plumbers, decorators, builders or hairdressers; mates rates can come in very handy in times of need.
- Shop at night: If you head to the supermarket or grocery store at night you can uncover some great bargains. Items that are sold fresh, such as bread, milk and eggs will often be reduced in price.
- Book in advance: Paying for travel is never cheap but the earlier you book plane or train tickets, the cheaper you will get them.
- Be wary of finance deals: Opting for a finance agreement (read more here), where you pay for an item in installments, may seem like a good way of avoiding a hefty lump sum but you will be committed to a lengthy contract and are required to pay interest, meaning you pay more overall.
- Compare prices: Whether online or by visiting a number of different stores, looking around and comparing rival prices is often the most reliable way to find the best deal.
- Shop alone: Having others around you when you shop can be distracting. Often they will talk you into buying extra items you did not need and so going alone and sticking to your list is often your best bet.
- Haggle: You will never know if a seller might reduce the price unless you ask. Even with existing contracts such as phone or internet providers, you can contact them and threaten to take your custom elsewhere unless the price is reduced; ultimately they would rather get some money from you than nothing.
- Cheaper isn’t always better: Opting for the cheapest option might save you the most money initially but poor quality goods will not last, meaning they will regularly need replaced. Avoid designer brands but maintain decent quality.
Each of the above measures may not seem enough to make a big difference to your finances by itself but combined together; these simple, easily implemented tasks can be a powerful combination, becoming a habit and saving you money before you even know it. In this day and age, a frugal life is often the best life.
5 Ways to Enjoy Time With Friends Without Breaking The Bank
In these tough economic times, many people are starting to feel the pinch. Getting out and seeing friends is an important part of your social life though, and it can be difficult to think of exciting things to do when you’re on a budget.
Here, we take a look at five ways to enjoy time with friends without breaking the bank.
Host a dinner party
Going out for dinner can be expensive, though it’s something that so many people enjoy. After all, what could be better than sharing good food with good friends? While restaurant bills can add up to hundreds if you aren’t careful, hosting your own dinner party can be remarkably cheap. Buy your ingredients from the local market, and consider asking friends to bring along dessert and drinks. You might want to invest in a few pieces to make the occasion special, such as high quality champagne flutes, which you’ll be able to use again and again.
Look out for discounts and coupons for events
The internet is a great resource when it comes to finding discounts. Sign up to daily offer sites, or just keep checking back with your favourite businesses. With lots of competition out there, they want to keep your interest and get you through the doors! You can also get money off vouchers when you’re signed up to certain mobile phone networks. From restaurants to bowling, there’s something out there for everyone.
Make use of happy hour
Sometimes, saving money is all about picking the best times! A few rounds of drinks in your favourite bar could cost less than half of the usual price if you go during happy hour. This isn’t just the case for pubs, either. Many restaurants and cinemas offer special deals for those who visit outside of peak times. Find out what’s available at your usual haunts. Why pay more for exactly the same?
Try new things
Most people fall into the habit of doing the same old things weekend after weekend. But if you’re willing to try something new, you could be amazed at how much cash you’ll save while having a great time. Activities such as walking, for example, offer a fun way to get fit without spending a penny. When you get your friends involved, it could be an interesting day out. Pack a picnic and take along a map, just in case! Similarly, many councils offer free taster activities, covering everything from exercise to pottery.
If you’re struggling for ideas for your next social gathering, why not give one of these a go? You have nothing to lose, and you could discover an exciting new hobby or interest.
This article was brought to you by Ruth Jones on behalf of Gurasu. Gurasu specialises in fine crystal products for the more discerning customer, with ranges that include crystal vases, glass tumblers and much more.
Losing Weight and Eating Healthy while on a Budget
Photo Credit
Anyone who wants to lose weight or lose the belly fat must perfectly understand that to achieve that goal, diet and exercise should go together. Not just one, but both. But given our modern trying times, another key factor comes into the picture: budget. And honestly, it plays a very big role in your goal plan, especially if one adopts frugal living as a lifestyle.
While researching diet plans and weight loss techniques over the internet, I have found numerous articles that encourage dieters to eat high-protein meat like turkey, red meat, or salmon. Consume healthy unsaturated or monosaturated fat that can be found in avocado, olive oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, and the list goes on. Eat green vegetables like lettuce, celery, cauliflower and the list goes on. And every time I go to the supermarket, the prices for these diet foods are very expensive. Yikes!
As for the exercises, the famous action plan for dieters is to hit the gym. Most gyms require membership fees that do hurt the budget too.
So what do frugal livers do?
Start with the Right Mind
I think it starts with the mind. Why do you want to lose weight or your belly fat? Determine what motivates you, and create a mantra for it. Say it to yourself over and over again. While trying not to eat your favorite unhealthy food, say that mantra. When you get tired and your knees already hurt from too much exercise, say that mantra. If your motivation is weak, chances are you’ll be ditching your goals sooner than later.
Every body is Unique, Your Body is Unique
Listen to your body. Which time of the day do you feel most hungry? In spite of all the diet and exercise, why am I not losing pounds? How do I stop myself from grabbing another cup of rice, or ordering another round of drinks? And why do I eat less but gain weight and fat so fast? When you determine the answers to the questions above, then likely you’ll adjust your eating habits, self-control, and again, motivation.
Eating the Right Food
Now here comes the food part. Yummy, but in dieting, the word is sacrifice. Though it requires a lot of sacrifice, it does not have to be sad or deprived. Studies show that skinny people enjoy their food and do not gain weight easily because they savor it and chew it properly, before grabbing another. So try to enjoy your food on the table, and not devour it. And make sure to eat the right food. Right. Food. Set out a diet plan that is budget-friendly.
Eat oatmeal or whole wheat bread for snacks.
Eat less rice, hence you can save money.
Drink lots of water, it is cheap.
Eat a lot, and I mean a lot of fruits and vegetables. Eating a lot of it does not harm the weighing scale, even so, is more healthy and beneficial for your weigh loss goal. Fruits can be expensive, so try buying them in the market where the price is still within supplier price. Apples, mangoes, banana, are good options for breakfast or dinner. Then you can eat rice on your lunch. Or whatever makes you comfortable. I can not stress enough the importance of fruits in a diet plan, because it is highly recommended. I think it is one of diet techniques that is mostly ignored or overlooked. Fruits help flush the fat from your body, make you less hungry often, and do not make you feel bloated.
Avoid oily food, you don’t want to add more fat in your body.
Ditch the soda and other high sugar-content juices. Drink green tea, or hot water with lemon.
Here comes the hard part. Ditch the junk food and fast food. They contain a lot of salt, preservatives, and monosodium glutamate. When salt content enters the body, it retains water in the body which in effect, can make body look bulgy. They contain a lot of carbs too.
Exercise: Move a Lot
After knowing your diet plan, choose where you can exercise. You can jog in parks that do not collect entrance fees. You can do yoga in your home. You can lift weights using improvised tools such as a water bottle that contains sand, it becomes heavy. Other improvised workout routines can be the following:
At your home, try to do planking, push-up, and sit-up for 30 minutes everyday.
If you have stairs at your home, use it as a workout source. Climb first stairstep with left foot, then right foot. Step down using left foot, then right foot. Repeat for 5 times.
This is yet the best cardio exercise for me: jumprope. I swear I lost few pounds pounds after jumping ropes for 30 minutes everyday for 2 weeks. It is not just cardio, but also an overall workout routine that enhances muscle flexibility and mind-arm coordination. It works a lot of part of your body: arms, legs, knees, stomach, and thigh.
But if you have no time for exercise, go aggressively with your diet plan and try to move a lot. If your work involves sitting whole day, try to stand and have a short walk every 20 minutes. You can maybe go to the restroom, the kitchen, or talk to your friends. After work, if you live nearby, you can just walk the distance. Or if you commute, try to walk to the farthest jeepney or bus stop. At home, you can wash laundry standing up. Cook food. Watch the TV while doing something productive like cleaning. The key thing is try to move a lot.
Take it One Day at a Time
There are no shortcuts. And it takes a significant amount of work. Nothing that is worth having comes easy. Just like any goals in life, shedding a few pounds and fat in the body needs discipline, work, and honestly some sacrifices. But enjoy your journey and don’t be too hard to yourself. Make it a lifestyle and not just a one-time or weeklong phase. Just like in the practice of frugal living, spend wisely. So choose your food wisely. Choose your motivations wisely. And you’ll just wake up one day and realize you have conquered yourself, and the reward is you lose some pounds and fat. Success!
About the Guest Author
This guest post is written by Cathy Tejano, a technical writer, blogger and a vegetarian-wannabe. She blogs at Caterine101.com.
Top 8 Effective Ways to Encourage Your Child to Save Money
We are living in difficult financial times, so one of the most important lessons for your children to learn is how to put money aside for a rainy day or for unexpected situations that may be around the corner. It can be tough to get children motivated by saving money, so we’ve come up with some great ways to get them involved:
1. Start them young
Children live in the moment and find it really hard to hold onto their money once they’ve got it, so start them young! Teach them to drop coins into their piggy bank from when they are a toddler, and help them understand why it’s important to let those coins build up before spending.
2. Open a savings account
Take your child to the bank and open an account in their name – this will help them feel part of the process and understand the importance of saving for the future.
3. Reward their efforts
Let’s face it, saving is pretty boring when you’re 10 years old and would rather rush out and spend, spend, spend! Make sure you praise their efforts to save whenever you can, and encourage them to treat themselves sometimes too.
4. Goals and dreams
As your child gets older, talk to them about their dreams – do they want to travel the world, buy a house or train to be a doctor or a vet? What does that mean for their savings? Help them to see how much they will need to achieve their goals.
5. Talk about money matters
Children need to understand about money and realise that they can’t have everything they want or everything they see on TV. By talking about how much things cost and the true value involved in saving up for something special, you will help your child understand how finances work.
6. Set a good example
Remember that your child will learn by example, so create your own piggy bank and make it clear that you are saving up for a trip out, a new sofa or a better car. This will help show your child that saving is a part of normal daily life.
7. Match their savings
Of course in these tough financial times this won’t always be possible, but if you can, offer to match whatever your child manages to save and help them achieve their goals even faster. Or if you’re not in a position to put in money, why not ask friends and family to let your child do odd jobs to raise more cash?
8. Save as a family
In difficult times, families stick together. Help encourage your child to understand the value of saving money by doing it as a family. Whether you’re saving for a holiday, a trip to the cinema or a new pet, make sure you all talk about how close you are to your goal and celebrate when you get there. Your child will love being part of your world, and it will teach them valuable lessons about the importance of saving and being patient.
Encouraging your child to save money will teach them vital life skills such as patience and determination. Saving money will also increase their confidence and help them to stay focused on their goals. By teaching your child these skills you really will give them a fantastic start in life.
About the Guest Author
This post is written by Ealing Trading, who provide cash loans when you need them most.
How To Combat Impulsive Buying With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
What is it that causes some people to get into debt and others to financially thrive? You might be tempted to say it’s simply down to their salaries, but often this really isn’t the case and you can have two people on the exact same salary but with completely different finances. Of course the cost of living here comes into play a lot, and dispensable income is calculated by how much is left over after they’ve paid for everything they need to survive. A family with lots of children isn’t going to be as well off as a single professional on the same salary. But again even if you compare two people with near enough the same living costs you’ll find that there are often significant differences.
The issue then comes down to how they choose to spend that dispensable income and whether they opt to save it, invest it or fritter it away. Often people who are in a lot of debt could actually have avoided the situation had they chosen not to pay for a holiday that year or their widescreen TV. Of course it’s not always the case, but there are certainly a lot of people who fall into this category. In fact, if you look around you’ll often find that people with less money end up spending more and getting themselves into more debt while those with more money can come across as more tight fisted. So what’s going on?
The Urge to Buy
The problem is that some people just struggle with the urge to make expensive purchases and aren’t as good as others at ignoring this temptation. Of course if you are someone with poor impulse control, then ignoring the temptation to buy the latest gadget might be a little harder for you, and this is going to reflect on your finances.
There’s more going on here though too. For one there’s the smart marketing employed by companies and store owners which is all geared towards getting you to want their products and to make a rapid purchase. Then there’s the fact that many people actually get a sense of self-worth from making purchases they can’t afford. For many people self-esteem is tied closely with material possessions – and particularly if they don’t have much money and are sensitive about that fact. In short if you don’t have any money and you feel bad about that, then you might actually make more purchases so that you can look and feel as though you do.
Likewise people with less money are often happier to make purchase because they have less of a ‘pot’ saved, meaning they almost have ‘less to lose’ (even though they’re actually spending a higher proportion of their overall savings).
Overcoming the Urge
Why have I told you all this? Because understanding the psychological processes at play here can greatly help you to prevent yourself making unwise choices when it comes to spending money. If you find that you do get some of your sense of self-worth from making purchases then you should try to find other ways to get that feeling and you should change the way you think about material possessions. If you buy things compulsively almost, then you may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy which will be able to address the underlying thought patterns that result in your buying behavior. You can learn more here: http://www.ocduk.org/cognitive-behavioural-therapy
Learning Tricks
Seeing a cognitive behavioural therapist you may also be able to learn some useful skills that you can employ the next time you find yourself wanting to make a purchase. An example of this might be to simply make the decision to buy the product later instead. For instance then, you could write down the item you wanted to buy and make the decision to buy it in two months. This way you can rest easy knowing that it’s ‘sorted’, but often you’ll find that in two months’ time you don’t want the same item any more anyway.
Likewise another method could be to make ‘one in, one out rule’ meaning that every time you make a new purchase you have to get rid of something old. This is financially a smart system because you’ll save money by selling off lots of items, but it will also help you to make fewer purchases as you won’t want to get rid of your things.
In fact just having a ‘cull’ of your belongings can help you to become less dependent on them and make it easier to turn down purchases in the future.
About the Guest Author:
The writer of this post, Nick Dunin works as a finance management blogger with http://www.debtconsolidation.com.au and provides efficacious options to people in need with their debt repayment issues.
Top 5 Frugal and Work Related Reasons Why I Bought a Pocket Wifi
Before I will rant about the advantages and disadvantages of my newly bought pocket wifi unit, I will list first my expectations and well-thought reasons why I choose to subscribe to an internet service that would bleed me out Php999 every month (with no option to unsubscribe for 2 years).
For someone like me who tried to live frugally (though I often fail), buying another internet gadget and subscribing to another internet service is definitely a big decision to make. Between the lifestyle that I badly want to maintain and my work, I tried hard to create my own reasons why I need an internet connection all the time.
1. There’s no stable internet connection and signal in the places where I frequently visit outside Cebu.
During holidays and my partner’s work vacations, we often go to his hometown, a small island that’s detached from the main island of Bohol. My USB broadband stick doesn’t work there and I’ve been scouring for ways to solve my internet connectivity problem. The thought of getting a pocket wifi has been playing in my mind with the hope that the signal should improve and would allow me to work even if we’ll stay there for a long period of time.
2. I need a back-up internet connection if my broadband connection at home will break down.
Since I’m a self-proclaimed prepping advocate, the thought of having no internet connection back-up worries me a lot especially in times of calamities and in instances that disruptions of my broadband connection will occur. As my work requires me to be online all the time, internet connectivity is always in the priority of my list. The tediousness of going to internet cafes is something that I don’t want to experience again.
3. I plan to increase my frequency in traveling, thus I need an internet connection all the time to stay connected with my work and clients.
Who doesn’t want to travel? Everyone loves to go to their dream destinations without sacrificing their work. This is one of the biggest reasons why I get a pocket wifi. Though most hotels and coffee shops nowadays have wifi connections, the thought of not worrying if I can have a connection every time I entered a pub or check in into a hotel is quite liberating. The days of asking passwords and become frustrated when the wifi connection doesn’t work is gone. Working anytime and anywhere is very exciting.
4. If my pocket wifi will have good connection and signal at home, I plan to discontinue my broadband subscription on October to minimize expenses for my monthly internet connection bills.
This is something that I’ve been thinking for a while now. I still have second thoughts in discontinuing my broadband connection because so far it is quite fast and reliable. We plan on moving again at the end of the year, thus the possibility of disconnection is always high. But, the thought of only having a wifi connection is something that I can’t see myself doing. In my line of work, a back-up connection is a must. Therefore, this reason is just a mere alibi. LOL!
5. To minimize my coffee shop expenses and avoid hanging out in expensive coffee shops just for the sake of getting a faster internet connection.
Obviously, this is my 2nd biggest reason. Hanging out in coffee shops to get a faster connection for work is really expensive. Also, I don’t plan to keep on avoiding places which I really like just because they have no wifi.
Lastly, though this is a bit silly and lame, I bought a pocket wifi because I want to check-in (in Foursquare) in all the places that I go to. Very, very lame but this is something that I personally crave. Why? Just because. Haha!
Do you own a pocket wifi? What are your main reasons why you bought and subscribe to it? I hope you also have some valid reasons like mine (except the last one). (:
5 Top Tips to Travel on the Cheap!
N.B.: This guest post is brought to you by Roy Duffield, a fellow blogger from the UK. Hope you will learn something from his tips. – EOD
As kids we tend to think that life is free, and it’s hard to imagine that we’ll have to get jobs one day. We picture our dream lives, doing what we want, going where we want, when we want. All the while “Grown-ups” are telling us we are wrong, that one day we’ll become grown-ups ourselves, realise our mistake and have to settle down, get a job, get a mortgage, pay the mortgage, etc, etc…
For a while I feared this may be true…and then I discovered travel, and I became a kid at heart again.
The truth is, travel is a lot cheaper than you think, and whether you are tramping or travelling in luxury, there are always ways to save money, which in turn means that dream trip can last as long as possible.
Here are my 5 top tips to travelling cheap:
Accommodation
A major reason why a lot of people don’t travel is the cost. They say they can’t afford hotels. Well, I’m here to prove those people wrong. The cost of anything is relative to the GDP of the country you’re going to. Therefore, what we might class as a fancy hotel, can cost almost nothing in the cheaper countries in the world. Furthermore, when you think about it, you pay rent back home don’t you? Now say your rent is around £300 a month. That’s £10 a night, and trust me, there are a lot of nice places (nicer than a £300/month flat) out there for less than £10 a night…
Go long haul!
…which brings me to my next point. The other reason people often think travel is expensive and thus can’t understand how others do it, is because they’re thinking too short-term. One of the biggest expenses when going on holiday is the flight. Since most people only get a couple of weeks off work at a time, they are used to short holidays of a week or two. Now think about this: if a flight to Florida costs £450 and you go for 2 weeks, that’s £225 a week on the flight. However, if you go away for 3 months, backpacking the States, you’re only looking at around £35 a week. Much more affordable. Go away for a year, and the flight, spread out, barely costs a thing. Some great ways to extend your trip include learning a language as you travel, teaching one, or any other kind of work abroad (see below).
Couchsurfing
And there ways to cut down the cost of travel even further! Couchsurfing.org is a great example of how, if you are prepared to think outside the box a little, you can travel for practically nothing…and you also get a much richer travel experience, meet more locals, and so on. As long as you’re prepared to give as well as get – so, for example, offering to cook a meal for your hosts, teach them a skill, or about your own culture or traditions – this is the option for you! And don’t forget to ask the people you meet about their own money saving tips! Locals always know the cheapest places to eat, drink and shop.
Hitchhiking
And while we’re on the subject of travelling for free, hitchhiking is another great way to meet people, get deeper into the culture of the place you’re travelling, and save so cash that would’ve gone on buses, trains or even flights. You’ll also get more freedom than with public transport and you can choose which roads to travel, where you get on and off, etc. Just exercise some caution. There are plenty of great sites with tips for safe hitchhiking.
Work while you travel!
Finally, all of the above focus on how to cut your spending, but what about using travel as a way to make money? Whether you want to WWOOF (work on an organic farm), in a call centre, as an au pair, in a bar, or as an English teacher (TEFL), there are plenty of opportunities waiting for you all over the world, from Sydney to Cusco, Varna to Kamloops. If you’re a keen writer you can even make money from your blog, or also as a freelancer. There are plenty of organisations and websites offering various travel benefits in exchange for online content, whether it be a free room at a hostel, or a more long-term set up.
I hope you found this inspiring. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll all be on the move, livin’ the dream. But until then, happy travels! Don’t forget to let me know what you think or ask any questions in the comments.
Photo above is used under Creative Commons License. Credit.
About the Guest Author
This has been a guest post by Roy Duffield. Why not check out his travel stories and notes from the road.
How to Live a Frugal Life as a Student
N.B.: When I was a student, I scrubbed floors and cleaned office furniture to free my parents from the burden of college tuition. Though I worked as an assistant to our College Guidance Psychometrician, my daily tasks (aside from conducting exams and checking test papers) involve taking on menial jobs and running errands. Looking back, I am quite proud of myself as I managed to graduate from college without debts and even helped my parents to minimize our expenses.
The daily allowance my parents gave me was only Php50 ($1.23). It was quite small for a full-time working student with a big appetite. But, I managed to squeeze it with the help of the little allowance I received as a working scholar. I still can’t forget that I often brought rice from home to school to listen my lunch expenses. And I only eat Chinese Ngohiong with it so that I would only spend around Php10 for my meal.
When I was a student, I can’t remember that I entered and ate in any fast food chains. This is the very reason why I’m quite amazed these days watching students going in and out of fast food restaurants and other expensive diners. Either they are really well off, or they just don’t give a damn about money.
Below is a guest post by my fellow blogger, Linda Forshaw, that teaches students these days on how to minimize their expenses and be more responsible in handling their parents’ money. - EOD
Living a frugal life is not about going without the things that you need; rather it is about living a life that avoids waste, extravagance, and unnecessary expenditure. As a student, money is likely to be tight, so there is never a better case for living a frugal life than while you are at college. Here are some top tips to help you do exactly that.
A budget is always the first place to start
When attempting to live a frugal life as a student (or in any other capacity for that matter), creating a budget should always be the very first thing you do. Include all income (from scholarships, student loans, part time work, and parental contributions) and all anticipated expenditure. Understanding how much you have to “play with,” is paramount to keeping on the financial straight and narrow.
Free is good but affordability is better
It goes without saying that free is always a good option. Whether it’s hooking up to free wifi to avoid data charges or joining your local freecycle group, you never know what you can pick up for free (and would otherwise have paid for). Cheaper (although not quite as attractive as completely free) is a close runner up. Adopting the mantra that every time you need something you will try and find it cheaper is a good plan. A good place to start is making full use of grocery coupons and visiting the store toward closing time to pick up any discounted food stuffs.
Sharing is sensible
There’s a lot of truth in the saying that “two can live as cheaply as one,” so imagine the savings that can be made from teaming up with more than one other person. As a student, most of your peers will be in the same boat financially speaking, so team up to help each other out. This could involve any number of things. You could each buy a textbook from a required reading list, start a supper club (whereby one of you cooks each night), or team up to benefit from bulk buy discounts, The possibilities to make savings are fairly endless.
Alternatives can be attractive
Always be on the lookout for cheaper alternatives. It can be as simple as when you fancy watching a movie, renting a DVD instead of forking out for an extravagant trip to the cinema. It could be that you really need a haircut. Could you wait until next week and bag yourself a cheaper appointment with a trainee hairdresser? This is all about seeking viable alternatives to the things you want or need. If you can’t wait for a better deal, remember to always ask for a student discount. Such discounts might not be widely advertised by a company, but they are often available.
Living frugally as a student doesn’t mean you won’t have any fun. You’ll probably have just as much fun as the other students in your class. The only real difference is that you’ll be getting a better deal.
Photo above is used under Creative Commons License. Credit.
About the Guest Author
Linda Forshaw is a Business Information Systems graduate from Lancaster University in the UK. A contributor to Degree Jungle, she is a full time writer and blogger specializing in education, social media, and entrepreneurship. Contact her on Twitter @seelindaplay
Frugal Home Ideas: Green and Self-Reliant Additions to Your Home That Save Money
N.B.: Have you been thinking how to save electricity and lessen the frequency of buying new bulbs every time they got damaged? Or, perhaps are you planning to cut off on energy cost by buying solar-powered appliances? If you have these thoughts then you may continue reading below. The following guest post is from my fellow writer, Sam Peters. – EOD
Elektrostandard LED light bulb
You may be cutting down on the weekend meals or trying to shop smarter, but you may be unaware of huge savings that can be made through green installations at your home. Apart from the potential savings offered by these installations, they’ll also make your home self-reliant. Here are some of the options you can go for.
1. LED light bulbs
These are low-energy consuming lights that can last for up to 20 years. For brightness, they use 90 percent low watts per hour compared to incandescent lights. They lead to savings in light and bulb purchases as well as in energy. They’re an investment worth looking into, and the cost only averages around $20 per unit. They’re a top choice when it comes to green home installations. Custom LED lightning installations also available to consumers.
2. Energy-saving adapters
Many of you would be fond of using consumer electronics at your home; laptops, smartphones, tablets, video games etc. Did you know they account for a total of 13 percent energy consumed at homes? This was reported by CEA, and the cost of charging and running these devices goes up to $191 per year.
Energy saving adapters (AC/DC) are now being manufactured by companies such as Green Plug. They’re made to give the devices the exact amount of charge they require, and shut themselves down automatically once the required amount of power has been given to the specified device. They’ll lead to money savings if you regularly charge devices and other electronic items.
3. Outdoor Solar motion sensor light
Apart from green installations inside the house, you could save some bucks by tweaking your home from the outside. The outdoor solar motion sensor lights provide you ‘free energy’ to use, They use the sun to charge themselves, and the charge goes on for up to 2 weeks.
They’re also brighter, and stay on during power outages as there’s no electricity involved. Therefore, you save in terms of electricity as well as home security.
4. Programmable thermostats
Thermostats have been around for a while, but advances have been made to make them more energy efficient, leading to savings. The thermostats are now being equipped with advanced sensors and algorithms, and they even allow for cloud computing.
These high tech thermostats can lead to a 30 percent decrease in average annual energy bill. An example of such as thermostat is Nest Learning Thermostat by Nest Labs.
A separate account can be maintained for spending on the listed and other green additions. Researching banks that offers the best interest rate on savings accounts would result in some options.
Apart from savings accounts, there’s also an option to go for current deposit account by comparing cd rates of different banks.
Photo used above is under Creative Commons License. Credit.
10 Frugal Tips to Save Money in Shopping For Your Food Storage
N.B: Here’s another informational guest post submitted by our friends from FoodInsurance.com. – EOD
While food storage is something you know you need, it isn’t always that easy. If you are on a budget, the cost of prepackaged foods can be insanely costly and it might be tough to imagine buying enough for 3 months, let alone a year. The trick is to save money wherever you can.
Shop Online
Internet stores frequently have better deals because they don’t have the overhead costs of a brick and mortar store, so check prices both online and off. Shopping online also eliminates a lot of impulse buys that might occur in a supermarket.
Buy in Bulk
Most times, you can save quite a bit of cash by simply purchasing more of an item. You can frequently get wholesale prices by purchasing a certain amount.
Get Free Shipping
If you are shopping online, you should never pay for shipping, particularly if you are buying in bulk. Don’t meet the minimum purchase limit? Find someone to split the order with you.
Use Coupons
This tip is so obvious; it almost doesn’t belong on this list. However, there are some tricks to using coupons that can save you even more, so find out if you can use coupons during sales or stack coupons (use more than one on a single purchase) to get products for free or very low prices.
Buy What You Eat
There’s not much point in purchasing something on sale if you’ll never eat it. Remember that food needs to be rotated out of storage as the expiration date nears, so if you don’t eat it, you’ll end up throwing it away and wasting money.
Get Food That Lasts
Opting for freeze dried food allows for up to 25 years of storage, so you don’t have to rotate it out very often at all. This eliminates the need to purchase food for storage on a regular basis and saves money.
Buy Whole Foods
Processed foods often cost more because of the processing. If you purchase staples like rice, oatmeal and grain, it will not only provide more nutrition, but offers some savings, as well.
Shop Sales
Most stores have specific times of year when they offer items for sale. These are usually on rotation, every 3-6 months. Buy a few extras next time products you need are on sale to add to the food storage.
Preserve Your Own Food
If there’s a deal to be had on fresh peaches, that can benefit your food storage, provided you know how to preserve it. Canning, freezing and drying are all methods of adding fresh foods to your storage. In season, you should be able to buy and preserve your own fruits and vegetables for less than the commercially tinned items.
Buy Ingredients, Not Meals
While full meals are handy to have on hand, you can save more if you get the individual ingredients and create your own meals later. You’ll also have more flexibility.
Food storage doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Work slowly and with a plan and you can get everything you need for less.
For more information on saving money with food storage, check out foodinsurance.com or connect with food insurance on Twitter and Facebook for more tips.
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How to Celebrate a Frugal Birthday
N.B: Another way to save money if you are celebrating your birthday (that is not mentioned in the guest contribution below) is by celebrating it with someone who has the same birth date as you. (In my case I will be celebrating my birthday with “soulmate” later this month.) You can save money if you do it this way because you can split the expenses between the two celebrants. The celebration will also become more meaningful and more memorable because you are celebrating it with someone who was also born on the date that you were born. Double celebration! (Advance Happy Birthday, Soulmate!) – EOD
Birthdays are often associated with a sense of having to spend money. There is birthday party planning that takes place, cakes and sweets and then the costly tradition of presents for the person celebrating their birthday.
What are some of the ways that you can cut down the expenses of birthdays and create a frugal celebration?
Use what you have on hand to create a birthday meal. If you follow proper food storage ideas, you can celebrate with a birthday dinner featuring your favorite dishes without having to make a trip to the supermarket. Keeping things on hand like sugar and sweets can help to make the special occasion just a bit sweeter.
In addition to making the dinner with food that is already on hand, you can choose to host a pot luck dinner. Inviting friends and family members to join in the celebration and bringing something that they also made at-home can be a great way to make the special occasion even more special without causing people to spend money on the presents.
Skip the store-bought presents. Skipping the store bought presents can help you to celebrate the birthday without breaking the bank. Rather than traditional presents and cards, consider making presents at-home. Presents that are made are more heartfelt and they are more likely to create memories that the person is going to look back on fondly.
If you are going to celebrate the birthday outside of the home, there are some things that you can do to reduce the celebration expense. Check local restaurants and entertainment venues. There are many places that offer free foods and services on your birthday, just make sure you have identification with you to prove that it’s indeed your birthday.
Checking the local community pages or online classified advertisements, you can find free and cheap events that are happening in the city or town. Planning the birthday around one of these events can be a great way to reduce the cost of the party and help to explore something new in your own backyard.
For children’s birthday parties, there is often the expectation to spend more money. Having a simple birthday party at-home and inviting only family or friends to celebrate the occasion can be a great way to tone down expenses. For presents (from the child’s godmothers or godfathers), you may consider asking books as gifts (it doesn’t matter if it’s brand new or 2nd hand). Books can last for a very long period of time and are good souvenirs the child can keep.
You don’t need to splurge money during birthdays. The most important thing is you celebrate it with meaning and with the people that matter the most to you.
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About the Guest Author
This is a guest contribution from our friends from DailyBread.com. You may follow them in Twitter.
Frugal Living Tip: Saving Money by Buying and Storing Bulk Foods
This is a follow-up article for Frugal Living Tip: How to Save Money by Buying Coffee in Bulk. If you are interested to become one of our guest contributors, kindly check the note on the right side bar.
Often times, with the busy lives that many people live now, not much thought is put into grocery shopping. Most people will make a quick run to the grocery store on their way home from work for that night’s dinner, or worse yet, will pick up high-fat take-out food. Without realizing it, all this one-stop meal pickups can add up to a large amount of money being spent on food.
Plan Ahead
Even if you can take some time and write down all the essentials that you and your family need, you can save money. Once you have this list, you can purchase food in bulk to eliminate those frequent trips to the grocery store or drive-thru establishments. By planning ahead, you will also never have to worry about what is for dinner, or if you have enough meals for the weekend. You will also be prepared in the event of an unexpected emergency.
Convenience of Buying in Bulk
You can buy mostly any item in bulk. If you buy frozen chicken or fish, many stores that sell in bulk will have each piece of meat individually sealed so it will last longer in your freezer. You can purchase frozen fruit and vegetables to always have a healthy snack or side dish. Even cereals and commonly used items, such as seasonings and oil, have a long shelf-life and are great items to buy in bulk. You will be amazed at how little you need to travel to the grocery store.
Storing Bulk Food
There are some foods that you may buy in bulk that have to be re-packaged. You can simply use plastic bags with a tight seal to preserve the freshness of your food if you have to split it into smaller portions. You also want to store your food in a dry, cool place to preserve its shelf-life. If you are buying bulk food for emergency use as well, ensure that you rotate your food supply so you will always have a fresh supply of food.
Saving Money
Buying food in bulk will allow you to make fewer trips to the grocery store or nearest convenience store, thereby saving on fare or gas. Also, if you stop at convenience stores, you are more likely to pay double the price you would pay if you bought the items in bulk ahead of time. By buying in bulk, you can also cook meals ahead of time, saving money from dining out too often.
Photo above is used under Creative Commons License. Credit.
About the Guest Contributor
This is a guest contribution from our friends from Food Insurance. You may connect with them in Facebook.
Frugal Living Tip: How to Save Money by Buying Coffee in Bulk
Note: Here is another guest post from our friends from DailyBread.com on how to save money by buying coffee in bulk.
Photo: Jeff Kubina. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
The price of coffee has escalated over the last decade or so, and this is bad news for coffee lovers, especially those who like good quality coffee. Many find they have to choose between reducing their consumption, and going for a cheaper and poorer quality brand. However there is another option and that is to buy it in bulk.
Bulk coffee buying is more commonly done by cafes and restaurants, but there is no reason why it should not be done by individuals as well. It is obviously much cheaper than buying in small quantities from your local store. In fact you are likely to pay a mark-up of anything up to 300% for the convenience of buying near your home.
One way of buying coffee in bulk is by using the wholesale merchants who normally sell to restaurants. They offer excellent deals for buying in large quantities, and they are not concerned as to whether you are an individual or a business. The more you buy the bigger discounts you get.
Wholesale coffee is more likely to be available as coffee beans rather than ground coffee. You can find just about any brand you choose, including organic coffee beans which are more expensive. The two basic types of coffee which can be purchased wholesale are Robusta and Arabica, Arabica being more expensive as it is harder to grow. The majority of companies use a blend of the two in their products, but if you prefer the Arabica flavor, as many people do, you should ensure the product you buy contains more Arabica than Robusta.
The easiest way of buying coffee at wholesale prices is via the Internet. This way you can have access to the widest selection, and shop around for the best prices. The main drawback to buying on the Internet is the shipping costs, so you should take care to check locations, and ensure that the distributor you choose is as near to you as possible. If you are not comfortable with Internet shopping, you can obtain coffee in bulk quantities at big box stores such as Costco, though the choice will not be nearly as wide as on the Internet. Some of the big office supply stores also stock coffee in bulk, for supplying to workplaces.
An alternative way of buying coffee in bulk is through joining a coffee program――nowadays these are usually online. The best way to save money is to join a plan by which you have a specified amount of coffee shipped to you each month. Check the terms of the plan carefully, as different companies set different minimum amounts.
Whichever way you buy your bulk coffee, you need to store it carefully. Most people advise storing it in the freezer, but others argue that this spoils the flavor. If you store it at room temperature, ensure you use a completely airtight seal and make absolutely certain that all moisture is excluded. Labeling your stocks with quantity, date, and the amount you paid will help you keep check on how much you are saving by bulk buying.
It is not difficult to save money by bulk buying coffee, but if you are a home user, be careful not to go overboard. Avoid buying more than you can use, and remember that it is difficult to get a good flavor with a home coffee maker.
How Much I Save from Metro Gaisano’s 1-Day Crazy Sale
My grocery shopping early this morning was greeted by mobs of shoppers in Gaisano Metro. I have no idea that they were having a 1-Day Crazy Sale. I had a moment of doubts if I will go in or not as I really hate doing grocery with lots of people bumping on me and the never ending lines in the counters – really a mood changer.
For me, grocery shopping is like a therapeutic routine task. I really, really feel good when I’m looking, choosing, and buying the items in my list, and, if I only have a source of never ending cash, I will do grocery shopping the whole day until my feet hurt (LOL!). That’s how much I love it MINUS the mobs of shoppers and long lines, of course.
Eighteen Pesos
That’s the amount that I managed to save after buying two items that were on sale. I had sale discounts for the canned goods and the vegetable oil. (Tip: Be sure to check the expiration date before buying any on sale items.)
I can’t help but chuckled at how petty it is but when I give it a second thought, Php18 ($ .44) is never a petty amount. If in a year, Metro Gaisano will have a grocery sale 24 times (and let’s just say I keep on saving Php18 from every sale) then I will have a total annual savings of Php432 ($10.8). That can already pay two and a half months of water bills. Just imagine two months of not worrying how to pay for water. (Note to foreign readers: Cost of living here in the Philippines is very low compared to cost of living in Western or European countries.)
Avoiding Processed and Sugary Foods
When I entered the grocery section leading to where I get my bothane gas, the items below were 
screaming “BUY ME! I’m On Sale! Buy ME!” As usual before I could think, I already have 2 bundles in my cart but before I can push my cart to the bothane gas section, I quickly returned them and never look back.
I have high sugar level and I know fully well that I’m a potential candidate for diabetes. My Lola (grandmother) and Tiyo (uncle) are both diabetics. My uncle got his leg amputated, and then eventually died. My Lola is still currently suffering from it. This blogger, on the other hand, is trying her best to lessen her sugar intake and she surprisingly manages to enjoy eating half-cooked ampalaya (bitter melon) every breakfast.
Oops, before I’ll end this post, here’s a photo of the busy counters. That’s just the right-end corner; the busiest were those ones in the main aisle.
How much or what have you saved from your grocery shopping this weekend? Share them by commenting below. (:
Guest Post: 5 Ways to Save Money by Having a Food Storage Plan
Food storage plans aren’t just for emergencies. They’re also a great way to save money on foods you buy regularly. Every increasing food prices create challenges for households living on a frugal budget. Home food storage allows you to use resources you already have to stretch out your funds during hard financial times. With the right planning, you can have enough food to feed your entire family for weeks, even months if you’re ever in a crisis. Here are five tips for using your food storage plan to save money.
1) Buy only what you’ll eat
When buying foods for your food storage, you should remember that it is always better when you can enjoy it. In an emergency situation, many people believe that “beggars can’t be choosy.” But, if your storage consists of foods you and your family actually eat, you can ensure that your emergency situation is as stress-free as possible. If no one in your family likes peas, why store them? There are many other vegetables that you can buy that have long shelf lives and the flavors you’ll all enjoy.
2) Buy Sale Items to Store
Everyone enjoys eating expensive foods sometimes. But, food storage doesn’t have to be expensive. You can add to your storage supply by adding foods you catch on sale at your local supermarket. This helps you to save money, while providing the stability you’ll need in an emergency or during a financial crisis. If your favorite tuna goes on sale, instead of buying the usual 4 cans that week, buy 12 cans. That way, you can still enjoy the 4 you’re used to eating weekly, while adding 8 to your food storage. This also ensures that your storage contains the type of tuna you like most.
3) Use Coupon Strategies
One of the best ways to stockpile your food on a budget is to have a couponing strategy. When you find coupons online or in your local newspaper or magazines for foods you usually buy, clip them. If possible, buy the maximum amount allowed for that particular coupon. By clipping coupons for your storage plan, you ensure that you save yourself a little extra cash so that you don’t have to sacrifice when it comes to buying foods you need now. Remember, every penny counts when you’re on a frugal budget.
4) Grow Your Own Foods
Growing foods is an aged-old way of saving money on groceries. You can grow a small indoor herbal garden or a larger outdoor garden. Either way, as long as you grow foods that you actually eat, you’ll save money. With indoor herbal gardens, you can grow your own thyme, basil, oregano, parsley, cilantro and many other herbs you use to add flavor to your foods. Outdoor gardens are great for growing all kinds of fruits and vegetables including potatoes, tomatoes, corn, watermelons, strawberries, cherries, grapes, lettuce, cabbage and greens. You name it, you can grow it. And, if you have a large yard, plant yourself some fruit trees to grow your own lemons, apples, oranges, avocados, peaches and plums. You’d be amazed how much money you can save by growing your own vegetables and fruits.
5) Invest in Freeze Dried Foods
If you grow your own fresh vegetables and fruits, you can easily can them to preserve their freshness for long periods of time. A great way to preserve them for years is to dehydrate of freeze dry foods. The entire process is fairly easy and inexpensive. When you’re ready to use them, all you have to do is add a little water to rehydrate them. Their flavors will be preserved, allowing them to taste the same way they did before you dehydrated them.
If you don’t have a garden of your own, another good idea for saving money with preserved food is to buy freeze dried foods. A freeze dried food item can have a shelf life that can last for many years in some cases. This is not only good for emergencies; it allows you to enjoy the foods you enjoy most for longer periods of time. In today’s economic times, saving money on food costs is very important to families living on a tight budget.
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