Frugal Hacks » guest posts

Having a frugal family summer vacation

guest — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:29:06 +0000

Image courtesy of Cole Henley
Everybody loves a good old family vacation. Well, everybody except from your wallet. If you’re not mindful during the summer break, your finances can easily spiral out of control. But with a little frugality, you can enjoy the time with your family safe in the knowledge that you won’t be broke by the end of it.
You don’t have to be a tightwad to save this summer – just keep half an eye on your expenses when you’re planning your adventures. The first opportunity to save money on your break is to hunt for cheap holiday insurance. While everybody needs it, nobody likes paying it, but it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to cover you and your family for every eventuality. There's a lot of variation in coverage so it is certainly worth doing a bit of shopping around when it comes to insurance. Some companies advertise the Full Monty but, in reality, exclude some important aspects of travel insurance, so research gets a massive push here.
Then there’s the actual travel itself. Depending on convenience, of course, it’s not going to do your wallet any harm to pick the cheapest form of transport to your destination (unless it will take 27 Greyhounds to get there). If you’re planning a ‘staycation’ on American soil, then the car might be your best bet, but gas is not the only consideration. Don't forget to count the cost of maintenance, depreciation, and wear and tear on the vehicle, and food/lodging on the way to your destination. You might actually find that flying is a better deal.
So, when you’re actually ready to set off to your destination, the adventure can really begin. Perhaps a few days before departure, you could check for money off vouchers for the place you’re visiting – then you’re all set to go. Vouchers for restaurants will save you a few bucks, but an even cheaper way to eat is going entirely self-catering. Picnics on the beach or in the park are much more personal and enjoyable than being plonked in a restaurant and having to wait for your food.
If you go abroad, then don’t be afraid to tip slightly less than usual – the truth is that most places don’t actually expect tips. Granted, in some restaurants, a cover charge is added to the bill so you should be careful about spending even more in these cases.
Ultimately, wherever you go, the best way to make sure you don’t spend more than you need to is to define a budget – and stick to it. This is easier said than done for some, but if you’re serious enough about it without distracting yourself from having a truly memorable summer, then you’ll feel much better for it in the end!

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Find savings all around the home

guest — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:01:28 +0000

The financial significance of being frugal around the home has never been as great and a combination of small lifestyle changes can quickly lead to impressive savings across the board. Some will lower things like home insurance quotes both now and in the future and others will leave you and your family better off generally.
Here’s a selection of tips designed to put a few extra dollars back in your pocket and help your budgets stretch that little bit further.

Cook up a storm in the kitchen

Image courtesy of Joel Bez

Planning your meals in advance and creating a menu for the week ahead before you go grocery shopping is a great way to make sure you don’t waste money or food. It removes the chances of any impulse purchases finding their way into your shopping cart and ensures you only buy what you need. It’s particularly handy to plan ahead if you’ve got a few hungry mouths to feed. Buy cheaper brands and also try and grow your own fruit, herbs and vegetables if you can. Getting takeaways and eating out is expensive, so cook your own and become a domestic goddess.

Save energy and money

Image courtesy of Images of Money

Fed up of finding expensive energy bills in your mail box? Well, do something about it then! Like changing suppliers or tariffs. Like shopping online for the best energy deals. Like reducing the amount of energy you actually use. Like buying energy-efficient appliances and products. Switch off lights and appliances whenever you’ve finished using them and turn off items such the television at the plug rather than leaving it on standby. Insulating your property is important and although it involves a little investment, it should mean you can turn down the central heating slightly when a cold snap sets in. Teach your kids about the importance of saving energy and you can save money together as a family.

Drive down car costs

Image courtesy of Mike

Car insurance is a massive drain on the finances of many people, but a proportion will probably not even realise that they can do something about. Again, shop online to take advantage of the discounted deals available and improve the security of your car, raise the deductibles and lower your annual mileage to get even cheaper quotes. To reduce what you spend on gasoline, car share with friends, family and work colleagues, keep your tires correctly inflated and cut down on making any unnecessary journeys. Take public transport if it works out cheaper and walk as much as possible.

What changes have you made lately? What new changes are you considering? Remember, small changes can add up to a big difference!

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Get cheaper energy by switching provider

guest — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:56:38 +0000

Image courtesy of sAeroZar

Companies that supply America’s electricity and natural gas love to have loyal customers more than anything else. But all too often that loyalty is not repaid by the energy suppliers and customers who have taken their supply from the same source for a long time might find they are missing out on a better deal elsewhere.
Trying to leave your energy supplier in order to take advantage of better deals elsewhere is, however, a far from simple process. It shouldn’t be that difficult on the face of it, but the energy suppliers themselves work hard to keep their customers and they won’t let you switch to another supplier without first facing a barrage of questions, some fiddly paperwork, and the occasional administrative fee when you seek to cancel your existing energy agreement.
The message from the experts is to persevere with the time-consuming act of changing energy suppliers, because it can save you some serious cash in the long run. The savings the average person can make by switching suppliers is around $300 per year, according to price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com.
“Anyone still loyal to their incumbent supplier is over paying for their gas and electricity,” said Moneysupermarket’s Utilities Manager, Scott Byrom. “At a time when households are feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living, people are still burning money by not shopping around, using comparison sites and switching to a much cheaper deal.”
By collating various companies’ gas and electricity prices moneysupermarket offers an overview of the utilities market and helps people to find the most bang for their buck.
The cheapest energy deals out there offer customers less by providing facilities such as paperless billing and prices based on actual usage rather than estimates. Industry experts also recommend that people find energy suppliers who can offer natural gas and electricity and benefit from lower prices.
Switching energy supplier might require a number of lengthy phone calls and people leading busy lives will find it far easier to stay with their tried and trusted energy supplier. But this approach is unlikely to be the most financially prudent option.

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Instigate a ride share for our climate – and your pocket!

guest — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:55:45 +0000

Image courtesy of Ecin

For journeys where travelling on foot, by bike, or public transportation isn’t an option, carpooling is an incredibly effective way of lowering the mileage you travel in your car every year. Carpooling to work, worship, school, college, or wherever else you see fit will work towards slashing pollution and will also help you build stronger ties to your community and workmates.
The average car provides space for between four and five passengers, so the fact that the cost of running a car (gas, mens and womens car insurance alike, parking, maintenance, etc.) is rocketing every day means that it makes absolute sense to share your car with some passengers, right?
Apparently not, it seems. The US Department of Transportation has found that almost half of the almost one billion car journeys made each day by America’s hundreds of millions of vehicles involve only a driver, and no passengers whatsoever.
Unfortunately, this sad fact results in a massive waste of our hard-earned dollars, a ginormous drain on our planet’s fading resources and reprehensible damage to the already poor state of our environment.
While the notion of lift sharing isn’t altogether new, more and more sites are springing up around the web that are making it simpler and more accessible than ever for drivers and passengers a like to advertise spaces in their cars or that they can contribute towards gas, helping trustworthy, interesting drivers and passengers find each other for a greener way to commute.
eRideshare.com, carpoolconnect.com, gishigo.com or goloco.org are just a few great examples of such sites. eRideShare have calculated that a 40-mile round-trip commute can set a driver back by an average of $21 per day – and that doesn’t even include the cost of parking, tolls, maintenance or insurance.
Happily, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) established a voluntary National Standard of Excellence for employers back in 2005. The scheme works by awarding employers for providing specific benefits to its commuting workforce for sharing lifts, helping in the fight against air pollution and global warming, while also improving employee retention and recruitment, improving public health, building employee job satisfaction, lowering employee travel expenses, and awarding tax breaks for employers and employees alike.
So, quite honestly, there aren’t any feasible reasons as to why you wouldn’t want to share your ride with someone from work or in your community – why not try it? You might even make some great new friends.

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Bargain Jill discount shopping site

kimc — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:23:16 +0000

The following sponsored post was provided by Bargain Jill—Your Free Personal Discount Shopper!

Many people spend more time than necessary scouring the web for bargains. Their bookmarks folder is crowded with different sites—coupon sites, deal sites, bargain sites. A few years back, Austin native Dustin DeVries felt that people were spending too much time bargain shopping and that they needed a way to save both money and time. He created two new sites: Bargain Jack, which caters to men’s discount needs, and Bargain Jill, which caters to women’s discount needs. Bargain Jack quickly gained success, with PC Magazine ranking it a Top 10 Deals Site. The focus now, however, is on Bargain Jill.

Bargain Jill is a one-stop-shop for women’s discounts that compiles deals, coupons, and storewide sales from across the web on brand-name items. Bargain Jill features multiple types of “women’s” items, including women’s clothing and accessories, beauty products, home and garden items, and children’s items. Bargain Jill’s home and garden section especially assists any family that needs help with frugal living. Best of all, Bargain Jill broadcasts these items when they are at 50%-75% (and more!) off their retail prices.

The site is divided into these different categories to create a more user-friendly appearance. Bargain Jill is a user-friendly site which allows women to search items by category, keyword, and even vendor store. Bargain Jill shows when deals are expired, and with the “Advanced Filter” tools can eliminate expired items from search results.

The hidden treasure, however, is the search bar on the left side of the screen. With it, viewers can search for the item they want, and if Bargain Jill doesn’t have it, the site will show Price Grabber’s listings and price comparisons for that item. Best of all, Bargain Jill has an active social media platform, especially its newsletter and Twitter, which allows its viewers to have deals delivered to them.

With Bargain Jill, viewers can redecorate a living room and buy a new diamond ring, all at rock-bottom prices. Ladies, clear your bookmarks bar and add one that counts: Bargain Jill.

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Online savings

guest — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:46:56 +0000

The following is a sponsored guest post by Monique of The One Income Dollar.

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you think of someone being frugal? Many people give that term a bad connotation, but I don’t know why. Basically they are saying that saving money and living simplistic is bad. Sounds a little off to me.

I love finding discounts, special sales and coupon offers. We know how much markup retailers put into their product, so why not get the best possible price?

To reap even more savings, I try to buy online when possible. The trips to the mall just cost money in gas, food (who can resist Auntie Ann’s) and time. Plus with all the free shipping discounts, it only makes sense to shop from your house and have it delivered.

One of my favorite sites for online shopping is MyCoupons.com. They compile the best coupons from all the top retailers. Check out some of these offers like American Eagle Coupon Codes, Expedia Coupon Codes, and Nike Coupon Codes. Lots of free shipping offers to choose from and they have the most exclusive coupons online.

If you want even more savings, buy discounted gift cards from them as well. Think about this idea. If you have to give a gift, you can buy many $50 gift cards for around $40. You still give a $50 gift, but pay $10 less. That way, the frugal side of you can co-exist while you give a more expensive gift. Who knew?

Check out all the deals and let me know more about your frugal side and what savings you were able to find at MyCoupons.com

Monique Rowe is a guest writer for My Coupons.com and loves doing product reviews and blogging about saving money, on The One Income Dollar.

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7 Items That You Can Recycle and Reuse in Your Home

guest — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:52:40 +0000

In today’s world, there is so much emphasis on the environment and the concerns surrounding it. Recycling has become increasingly popular and is a great way to help the environment. Luckily there are many things you can recycle and reuse in your own home. Not only will you be helping the planet, but you will be saving yourself money as well.

1. Plastic Bags

Chances are you have a large stash of plastic shopping bags in your home. They come from almost every store these days, and add up quickly. If you are wondering what you could possibly use them for, you are in luck. There are many ways to reuse and recycle plastic bags around your home. You can use them as garbage bags in the smaller trash cans in your bathroom or bedroom. Keep some in your car to collect the trash that accumulates there. You can also take a couple bags along while walking your dog to clean up any messes that might occur along the way. If you have a package to ship, use plastic bags as packing material.

2. Newspaper

If you have stacks of old newspapers sitting around your home, there are many things you can do with them. Newspaper makes an interesting wrapping paper for birthday gifts. The comics are especially good for this purpose. You can also use newspaper for starting fires. This is very helpful if your home has a wood burning stove. If you have animals, newspaper can make good floor covering. You can also use newspaper for packing material if you are sending a package.

3. Milk Jugs

Instead of throwing your empty milk jugs away, you can reuse and recycle them around your home. Rinse them out and use them as water jugs. Keep water jugs in the fridge and you will always have nice cold water to drink. You can also use them to protect plants in your garden. Milk jugs will keep frost and pests from harming your plants. They can protect tree seedlings from harsh weather and pests as well. You can also cut off the top portion of the milk jug and use that as a funnel for various purposes.

4. Coffee Cans

Empty metal or plastic coffee cans have many uses around the house. If you are cooking with oil or fat and need to dispose of it, simply pour it into a coffee can and throw it in the garbage. Coffee cans also make excellent containers for various things. They are perfect for holding markers, crayons, change, or even cigarette butts. You can also use coffee cans as flowerpots to start growing small plants or seeds.

5. Plastic Food Containers

You probably have many food items in your fridge that come in plastic containers. Some examples are margarine, sour cream, chip dip, and yogurt. These containers can be used long after the foods are gone. You can wash empty containers and reuse them for leftovers. That will save you from buying Tupperware or Ziploc containers. You can also use them for holding various household odds and ends, such as paperclips, rubber bands, nails, bolts, and screws. If you like to paint, you can use plastic food containers to hold water to rinse your brushes in. The possibilities are endless.

6. Glass Food Jars

If you eat foods that come in glass jars, you can reuse the jars after the foods are gone. Jam and jelly jars make great glasses to drink out of. You can also use the jars to hold leftover paint or paint thinner, provided you still have the lids. Use them to store anything small that needs a home. Glass jars are great because you can see what is inside of them.

7. Popsicle Sticks

After popsicles are gone, you can wash the sticks and reuse them in your home. They can be used for many different craft-type items. Children can create lots of fun projects with them as well. If you have a garden, you can use popsicle sticks to mark rows of plants or seeds. That way you won’t be confused as to what you planted in each row.

These are just a few of the things that you can recycle and reuse in your home. So many things have purposes beyond what they were originally intended for. You might have to use your imagination a bit, but it will be worth it. You will be doing the environment a favor, and you will save money in the process.

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes for http://www.insurancequotes.org.

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How to Detail Your Own Car

kimc — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:18:52 +0000

When you have a new car--or even a used car that is new to you--it is always a good idea to keep it clean. Washing it regularly will help to prevent rust and keep the paint in good condition.

Cleaning the inside will also prevent the carpet and upholstery from becoming stained or dingy.
Although you could have the car professionally detailed on a regular basis to keep everything
shiny and new, the expense can be considerable and is often too much for the average person.
The good news is that it is easy to detail your own car if you have the time, the knowledge, and
the right tools.

Detailing Basics

What is detailing? Simply put, it is taking care of all of the little nooks and crannies and making

sure everything is truly spic and span. When you detail your car, you should clean both the
interior and the exterior. As you can imagine, this involves more than cleaning up old fast food
containers and running your car through an automatic carwash. You need to clean, vacuum, and
polish the interior and wash and wax the exterior. Detailing also provides the opportunity to spiff
up frequently overlooked areas, such as tires, windows, and mirrors.

When detailing, it is always best to start with the interior so that you won't mar the outside with dust and dirt after a wash and wax job. A good first step is to gather all the tools you'll need. A detail job requires more than just a few wet rags and a water hose. You need a vacuum cleaner with a selection of attachments that are small enough to fit into tiny cracks. You will also want to have a few clean towels and rags on hand. Try to choose towels of varying thickness so that you have some that are thick and course enough to get the worst gunk and others that are thin enough to fit in small cracks. Other handy tools include a toothbrush or Q-tips for tiny crevices, liquid cleaners approved for car use (Armor All, window cleaner, etc), and a can of compressed air.

Detailing the Interior

Remove any trash, including whatever is in the ashtrays, and then take out the floor mats. Make sure you check under the seats, and in any little compartments the car may have. Personal items should also be removed. When you are finished with this step, the car should look empty enough to be sold on a car lot.

Vacuuming

Make sure you slide the seats as far forward as they'll go in order to get any dirt, scraps of paper or loose change that may be under there. Vacuum the interior, including the seats and, using a brush attachment, the hard surfaces, such as the dashboard. Use the tiniest attachments you have to vacuum the cracks and crevices. Vacuuming will remove the built up dirt.

After making sure you've picked up everything you possibly could with the vacuum cleaner it's time to get down and dirty. Using Q-tips, a toothbrush, and the thin rags, clean out the tiny areas the vacuum couldn't reach. Covering a plastic knife blade or a flat screwdriver with a thin wet rag should help get into the smallest trenches. After loosening the dirt in the cracks, use compressed air to clear out any detritus. Running the vacuum again wouldn't hurt. You'd be surprised what you can pick up the second time around.

Polishing

Now it's time to make the interior shine. Removing stains in the carpet or on upholstery may take
a little time and effort. There are many stain removers on the market and asking workers at an
auto parts store will help you determine what would work best on serious stains. Some areas may
take a little more work than others, but remember doing it yourself is saving you a ton of money.
Your small, thin rags-- make sure you use clean ones--will be useful for the cracks and crevices
you just cleaned the dust and dirt out of. Don't forget the insides of the windows and the mirrors.
Make sure they're clean and streak free. If you've taken your time and applied yourself to the
details, you should have the interior looking like new.

Detailing the Exterior

In comparison to the inside of your car, cleaning the outside should be a breeze. Not that there's
any less work, it's just that the exterior doesn't have nearly as many miniscule cracks and seams
to worry about. Basically you're going to do a thorough wash job, followed by a careful waxing.

Tires and Rims

You should always start with the tires and rims because they're likely to have the most detailing
to do. Most rims have intricate designs so you'll be using the same tools you used to clean the
cracks and crevices on the inside. If the rims and tires are exceedingly dirty, you may want to
consider buying special cleaners from an auto parts store to help you do the job. After you finish,
wash the tires and rims down with a soap and water solution. Rinse the tires and rims well with
clean water.

Washing

When the tires and rims are clean, give the car body a good hosing to loosen any accumulated
dirt and grime, and then wash with soap and water or a commercial cleaner designed specifically
for this purpose. Rinse the car thoroughly and dry it with clean cloths.

Waxing

When the car is completely clean and dry, apply a coat of your favorite wax and buff it until it
shines like new. Be sure to follow the instruction on the wax container. At this point, your car
should be ready to show off--for your ego or for sale.

Guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes for Car Insurance Quotes.

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Shopping Online

kimc — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:26:10 +0000

Guest post by Christina J.

The more you surf online- the more you save

There are many reasons that people enjoy shopping online.

Shopping online is fast, easy, and convenient. There is no reason for people to get all dressed up or put makeup on when shopping online.

In fact, all one needs to shop online is a credit card, a computer with Internet access, and a valid e-mail address. It’s pretty simple and practically anyone can do it.

Not only is shopping online simple and convenient, but it can also save consumers a lot of their hard-earned money. This is actually one of the best reasons why people should use the Internet to shop. After all, who doesn’t want to save money? While it’s true that basically anyone can shop online, it’s not true that just anyone can save loads of money doing it. In fact, there are several things that one needs to do in order to save the most money while shopping online.

Secure Shopping

The first thing everyone needs to do when shopping on the internet is to make sure that the online stores they are visiting are secure sites. There are many people that have their financial information, as well as their identities, stolen when making purchases from unsecure websites. To protect sensitive information, look for the padlock symbol at the bottom of the page or for the "https://" at the beginning of the website’s URL address. It needs to have the “s” because that stands for “secure.”

Research

Before anyone can save money online, they need to have done their homework. Since there are so many different products sold online, it’s always best for consumers to know exactly what they’re shopping for before they access the Internet.

Compare

Once consumers know what they’re looking for, it’s time to compare prices online. Always visit more than one online retailer and don’t be afraid to compare online store prices with prices on eBay, Amazon, or Overstock.com.

This may take more time away from the consumer, but it will save them money. Always take the time to compare prices when shopping online!

Look for Coupons

Another great way to save money shopping online is to search for online coupons and watch for store discounts.

There are a wide variety of sites, such as Offers.com, that all have a collection of online coupons that can save consumers a substantial amount of money. In addition, many online stores send out newsletters with special promotions and discounts. Usually, all a person needs to do is sign up with a valid e-mail address to receive these “insider specials.”

No Tax and Free Shipping

Consumers can save money when they shop online because most online retailers don’t add tax to their products at the time of checkout.

This isn’t true when shopping in stores. Another awesome way to save money with online shopping is to take advantage of free shipping offers. Many stores offer free shipping when orders reach a certain dollar amount and others have very low shipping fees.

Consumers must always pay attention to shipping fees when shopping online because this is what can turn a potentially great buy into a not-so-great buy.

Christina Jenkins (fondly known as Jenkies) is a new stay at home mom who is using her long lost love of writing to help her with this new phase in her life. She's hoping to continue blogging while raising her daughter- eventually starting a blog of her own.

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Tips for Moms to Reduce Expenses

guest — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:00:30 +0000

Moms are most often the bill-payer, grocery shopper, budget monitor, and chef, so we need to learn how to scale back whenever and wherever possible. By following these basic and easy tips, moms can greatly reduce their monthly expenses. Many of these areas we take for granted every day and don’t give second thought about – but with a little more consideration, these are all areas that you could reduce your expenses:

Breakfast at Home

Make your own coffee and breakfast in the morning; don’t buy it. Spending $6 every morning at McDonalds or Starbucks doesn’t sound like much but that equals $2,190 a year…per person. This may require splurging on a coffee maker with a timer, but all that’s required of you is the water, coffee and filter the night before. Some fancy models have permanent filters– no paper filters needed- and some offer insulated travel mugs for your convenience.

Lunch at Work or School

Pack your own lunch with drinks and don’t buy them everyday. If you are spending $10 or more every work day for lunch, drinks and snacks, that racks up a whopping $2,700 a year. Just think of all the deli meats, wheat bread, and fresh fruit that can buy! This includes dad and the kids’ lunches; insulated lunch boxes are sold everywhere in designs to please everyone, even dad.

Transportation

Inner city or suburb residents can change their mode of transportation; consider carpooling, bus, subway, walking, or scooter.

Dinners

Plan dinners a week in advance. Put your slow cooker and microwave to good use. For small families or singles, a toaster over uses considerably less electric than a conventional oven. Take a Sunday afternoon doing nothing but semi-preparing for that week’s meals, such as chopping vegetables or frying burger. You can save even more time, money, and sanity by preparing some meals to freeze. Moms, you should also consider serving your kids Koolaid instead of those sugar-laden, ten-percent-juice-drinks. You’ll save money and your kids’ teeth.

Reduce Your Heat

Turn down heat, buy some slippers, put on your hoodie, and then keep your heat below 74 degrees Fahrenheit and the air conditioning above 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reconsider Cable Television

Choose the smallest satellite or cable package. Reassess how much TV you actually watch and you may decide to cancel all together. Why spend $60 a month on something you seldom use when you can save $720 a year?

Remember the Library

Utilize your local library – where else can you rent a movie for a week, free of charge?

Get Rid of Junk

Reorganize, have a yard sale, then use the cash to pay bills.

Stop Paying for Unnecessary Electricity

Unplug what’s not in use – charges, printers, radios, electronic games. These items all pull electricity even when turned off if you leave them plugged in. Try plugging things into a power strip and hitting the “off” button whenever you're not using them.

Debbie Dragon is a freelance writer providing articles for Billeater.com, a site that helps its readers save money, with unique money saving tips and tricks for your busy lifestyle.

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