Fab and Frugal Holiday Parties

Still contemplating throwing a holiday bash, but budgets and time a concern. Be resourceful. Throw a fabulous party by using some of these great tips:

Online PartyPlanning. Get organized. Get tips and tools to party planning with ease. Invite by e-cards and save yourself the cost of postage. Check out My Punchbowl and Evite.

Keep track of your RSVPs. Keep track of your headcount to help manage the quantity of food. Rule of thumb - 10% of those individuals who confirm attendance don't show up. Factor this % into your meal planning efforts

Off to Costco You Go. Buy the wine by the case, flowers, and beer. Pull some appetizers from the freezer and you're on to a well planned menu.

Potluck. It's not the dirty word it once was. If someone offers to bring something, be ready with assignments.

Music: Go to your local library, borrow a few holiday CDs and burn them on to your MP3 player.

GingerBread Houses. Buy a few gingerbread house kits. Set up a table with candies and tubes of frosting. Have teams of people decorate. Give a prize for the best one. Raffle off the others.

Hit the sales for platters and pitchers. Great deals for platters, pitchers (for water, instead of the more expensive option, bottled water) are currently being advertised by Macys, Kohls, TJ Maxx, ect.

Sparkle your home with homemade decorations. Do candles in votives in mason jars; group ornaments in a large glass vase; make a snowflake paper chain; snip some firs from a tree in your backyard. For other clever low-cost holiday ideas, check out suggestions from popular magazines like Real Simple; Martha Stewart Living; Good Housekeeping or Country Living. And when you head out to the craft store for your supplies, don't forget your coupons!

Inexpensive china. Fancier than buying paper products, but you can re-use them. Target offers a number of holiday dinner lines. In-store discounts are better than the online store.

Linens. Head to JoAnn's (with a 40% off coupon) and buy some inexpensive holiday fabric to drape over tables for tableclothes or to use as decorative banners around your home.

Party starter. Kick start your party with a ice breaker game or two. Christmas Trivia, Christmas Right Left Game, Name that Carol, are a few good options.

Have yourself a Merry Merry.

Cutting a Few Corners

A few tips for the cybershopper looking to cut a few corners:

Free Shipping. Check out Freeshipping.org and find free shipping deals, coupon codes and alerts for over 850 stores.

Price Comparisons. Before you head out to the stores, check the online price comparison sites to make sure you're getting the good deal on the products you're buying. Pricegrabber, Pricespider, Dealtime MySimon

In-Store Price Checks. Don't forget to use Frucall [(Call 1-888-DO-FRUCALL (1-888-363-7822)] for free comparison shopping with your cell phone when you're in a store!

Snail Mail. Have packages to mail? If possible, mail all books, cds, dvds, and magazines in the same package to qualify for the multi-media rate (its the cheapest!). If possible, mail all other items via the bulk rate/parcel post. Parcel post is the next least expensive option and also the slowest of the delivery options (7-10 days). Avoid going to a UPS store where costs are typically 30% higher than the USPS. Keep in mind that Mondays are the busiest day of the week to ship packages.

Wrapping Paper: Go green and wrap your presents in newspaper sections that complete the recipient's personality (e.g, the comics for the jokester of the family; the business section for your bean counter/accountant; the lifestyle section for the Arts & Crafts fan). If this isn't an option, use craft paper available at your local crafts store and doodle some Christmas cheer or splurge for Hallmark adhesive paper (requires no tape. nice if you're wrapping a lot of gifts)

Great Gifts Under $25

Having a budget for Christmas presents, doesn't mean you need to be a scrooge! As requested, here are a few great gifts that won't break your bank this season.

For The Coffee Lover: Chalkboard coffee mug (AC Moore for $3), chalk, and a $10 Starbucks gift card.


For The Magazine Lover: Magazine subscriptions - its the gift that keeps on giving all year long. Purchase individual subscriptions or purchase a bundled offer from Maghound (FYI- Its a great new Internet service that likes Beer of the Month Club meets Netflix). Wrap up a current copy with a complementary gift for a extra gift giving punch (e.g., This Old House & $10 Home Depot Gift Card; Martha Stewart Living with $10 Michael's gift card; etc.)

For The Craftster. Buy a Gingerbread House Kit. Pick one up at CVS for $10; snag one at Michaels for $12 or order one online at the Dancing Deer Bakery.


For The Gamester On the Go. Travel Scrabble. Pick one up at your local BJs for $10 or buy online for $12 at Amazon.


For The Kid or The Kid at Heart. Nothing says "I'm fun" like being the owner of a Marshmallow Shooter. Available at Drugstore.com for $14.

For The Luxe Living: . Soap. Soap. Soap. Great gift for someone stressed out or needs a little pampering. Target's Soap and Glory offers a great selection of items priced $4- $10.


For the The Sentimentalist. Dust off your old photos and load them into a Photo Calender or digital photo keychain. Do a retrospective through the years, collection of favorite trips, or collection of favorite people. Upload the photos, Create personalized notes. Pick them up at a local store. Staples, Wal-mart, Costcos offer the services, starting at $8.95.

For the Retro Hipster. Buy a cool vintage logo t-shirt from Desteenation or Cafepress or bundle up a selection of retro candy from Pennycandy (e.g., mint juleps, bit o'honey, and charleston chews)

For the Nor'ester. Scarfs, Mittens, and Hat. Old Navy is offering the trio of items for $15. For a unique package, package them into a trio of chinese food containers available at a craft store.

For the Book Lover. Books are always a great option. I like to bundle books with the common themes (e.g, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby & Caroline Preston's Gatsby Girl; Nero Blanc's Crossword Delights & NY Times Crossword Puzzles; (3) Julie Powell's Julie and Julia & Julia Child's Essential Kitchen Wisdom.


Would love to hear your great ideas for gifts under $25. Send them along and I'll post them!

Flying Jet Blue

I've found that the holidays are always the busiest and most expensive time of year for travel. Bargains are few and flights tend to full. So, its quite the challenge to organize a trip to visit my parents.

Originally, I booked my tickets on Jet Blue in July when gas prices spiraled out of control. Holiday travel was destined to be significantly higher this year than in past years. Flights were few and far between and I wanted to make sure that I got seats. $1400 bought two round trip tickets from Boston to Fort Myers - a $300+ increase from last year. But at least I got seats!

Checked the fares last week and noticed the fares dropped by $800. Yikes. It's serious money for someone like me whose on the austerity budget! Originally, I thought I would need re-ticket at the lower fare, pay the $100 per ticket penalty,and recoup at least $400.

I contacted Jet Blue to learn about other options. I discovered that Jet Blue will honor the lower price/best price and give you a travel credit for the difference, valid for one year! Its not cash, but a credit is better than nothing. Since I frequently travel on Jet Blue, I'll use the credit within a few months.

If you buy high; you still have chances to negotiate a cost savings. Also, its almost always pays to check out your options. Speaking of options, check out the Jet Blue Bill of Customer Rights. Take a quick read to understand how you can receive travel credits for cancellations and flight delays.

Surviving Black Friday

Lining up my strategies for surviving the holidays while on the austerity budget. Decided to share with you my time tested tactics for getting the most for your dollar on Black Friday. Here are my 12 tips for surviving Black Friday.


Read your paper. Check Black Friday sites. Thursday’s paper will be stuffed like a thanksgiving turkey with ads, coupons, and circulars. It's your best source for Black Friday savings in your local area. Take a few minutes to map out the savings for the items you’re looking for. Pay attention to the times of specials listed as most stores will be offering special discounts that are time sensitive (e.g, doorbuster or early bird sales.) further capitlize on the coupon deals. Don't have a paper, visit one of the aggregator of Black Friday sales such as blackfriday.info, black-friday.net or Dealtaker

Do your research before Friday. Make your list of big ticket items. Research the product beforehand. Save yourself some buyers remorse caused by buying a bad product at cheap price.

Map out your shopping trip. Map out your travel route based upon your buying priorities. Many of the deals offered this season will be time-sensitive deals requiring early visits (e.g., earlier bird specials) to the store. These deals are offered with a “no rain check” condition. When the supply is gone, it's gone.

Check your prices. Use an online price comparision site like Pricegrabber, Bizrate, Shopping.com, Streetwise, or Dealtaker to help you compare the sales flyers prices for your item. Pay attention to the product options included in the product. Sometimes stores offer a stripped down product at a low ball price to get you in the door. Sounds like a good deal until you start to tally up the costs of the extras needed to make the product run as you’d expect it too. In store and need to do a price check? Dial up FruCall (1.888.d0.frucall), enter the bar code for the item, and learn the price that online retailers are offering the product at.

Be the early bird. The best deals are likely to be the early bird or doorbuster deals. Know when your stores open, get in line at least 1-2 hours in advance of the store’s opening, and run to whatever items you need to buy.

Make nice with your neighbors in line. If you’re standing in line for a few hours, make friends with the people in line around you. Offer up some of your dougnut holes, exchange shopping tips, and most importantly, save your spot in line should you need to dash off to use a restroom.

Order online. pick up at the local store. Lots of retailers will be posting their Black Friday specials before the actual day. Take advantage of the ability to order your items online and pick them up at the local store to save on shipping and the headaches of crowds.

7 days of Black Friday. (Tues – Monday) Stores will start marking down items on Tuesday for the rest of the week to entice consumers into their stores, so it makes sense to shop early if you can. Also, check retailers’ websites in the days prior to Black Friday as there are often “web special” deals in advance of the in-store promotion.

Return and rebuy. If there is a product that you really want and you know its going on sale for Black Friday, buy it in advance. Return it to the store during the sales promotion and rebuy it at the lower price. Make sure you understand the store’s price adjustment and return policies before doing this tactic as the store may have a “no returns” policy or have a time-limit on price adjustments.

Bring the proof to get the lowest price guarantee or a price match. While many stores will offer a “lowest price” guarantee, in order for you to get it, you’ll need to provide proof in order to get it. This means you’ll need to produce a copy of the sales ad where the product is being advertised for less. Save yourself some time, by taking advantage of a store’s price match guarantee. If it’s on sale at a competitor but also at the store you’re at, ask for a price match. This can save you several car trips to other stores on Black Friday.

Know the return policies. Knowing the stores return policy while you figure out where to buy an item. Given less consumer spending due to the faltering economy, I’ve noticed a few changes in store return policies that I’d like to share with you: (1) Elimination of the extended return timeframe. Standard or short return timeframes have been implemented. (2) Implementation of re-stocking fees for big ticket or large items. (3) No receipt; No Return. Also, retailers are clamping down on requiring receipts for returns/exchanges so make sure to ask for gift receipts for hassle free returns.

Charge It. Charge cards like MasterCard, Visa, and Discover offer free benefits that drive up the value of your products above and beyond that offered from a store branded card. Benefits include: extended warranties, Return production, and sales price protection. Of course, charge only what you can afford to pay off.

Happy Shopping!

The Dining Out Stimulas Plan

Even in these tough times, eating out at a restaurant is one of those simple luxuries you just can't seem to give up. And you shouldn't have to. Eat well and spend less by using these tips to managing to a better food budget without going for broke in the process.

1. Use a coupon. Browse your Sunday coupon flyers for discounts at your favorite nationwide chains like Olive Garden, TGIF, and Bugaboo Creek. Use the coupons in your Entertainment book. Flip through the coupon directory of your yellow pages book. Check out Restaurant.com or Open Table for the latest deals and promotions. Call your local chamber of commerce or tourism board for coupons to your local restaurants. (It's ok. You can be a tourist in your own city!)

2. Search for Kids Eat Free. Google "Kids Eat Free" and "Your town" and find out which family friendly restaurants are offering deals or visit a site like Mommysavers.com . You can also use this same tactic for "early bird specials" and "senior citizen" discounts.

3 Enjoy the Freebies. Skip the appetizers at the restaurant and enjoy the basket of bread and that little plate of olive oil.

4. Do Lunch. It's less expansive than dinner and equally delicious. Better yet, do breakfast and save even more.

5. Order Sides/Salads. A nice salad and a tasty appetizer is a great meal for one. And it tends to be $3-5 than a main entree.

6. Split a Dinner. Restaurant dinner portions are equivalent to 2- 3 meals. Tres unhealthy for one person to consume. Rather than order two dinners, spilt one dinner and order an appetizer. When dining with Dreamboat, we typically save $7-9 when we split.

7. Drink the tap. Skip the mineral waters, club sodas, oxygenated water, and holy water. Drink the water from your city tap. Its probably as pure and tasty. And you'll be so "green" -- no bottle means you'll be doing your share of saving the environment.

8. Skip the Special. Always tempting when the waiter reads the special, but rarely do they mention the price. On a recent dinner out, I ordered the special. It wasn't until the bill came that I realized it was $15 more than almost anything else on the menu.

9. Order a Doggie Bag. Leave No Crumbs behind. Today's dinner is tomorrow's lunch. Restaurant portions are typically 2-3 meals worth of food. Stretch your food budget, by leaving 1/3 of what's served on the plate for the doogie bag. You'll be the talk of the lunchroom.

10. Go to new restaurants. A new restaurant that has just opened for business often attract new customers with discounts and specials. These are often advertised in the newspaper, menu mailings, or those Value-Pak direct mailers. Keep an eye out and take advantage.

11. Understand how to menus are designed. Menus are designed to drive profitable choices by the customer by focusing the consumer not on the price but the product.

- Restaurants tend to list the prices into the food descriptions rather than off to the right side margin, and remove the dollar sign to help avoid price shopping by customers.

- Resist buying either one of the first two items or the last item in each menu category. Restaurants tend to place the menu items with the highest gross profits in these spots.

- On three-panel (page) menus, people most often look at the center panel first, and then move counter clockwise. On two-panel (page) menus people most often look at the top right-hand side first. So, restaurants put their high profit items such as specials or specialty drinks in these spots.

-Beware of stars, symbols, icons for house specialities. They're designed and placed near items that are priced higher. Attention grabbing and wallet draining all at once.


See you around town!

What's free today

In the age of online media, where reading the daily newspaper from your computer is routine and ordinary, friends often wonder why I still subscribe to the newspaper. Here are my reasons:

1. It's a simple luxury. I live an online life; I need to unplug like everyone else. And who can resist the tactile sensation of flipping pages? And its pretty cheap deal. I get 7 days for the price of 4.

2. It's a social thing. Dreamboat reads the with his coffee; I read it post-workout; my retired neighbors grab the paper when we're done, then pass it along to the person next door, who saves the comics page for wrapping paper. Doing good in all sorts of ways.

3. Keeps me smart and informed. And if that isn't enough, the daily crossword that I complete has bolstered my Scrabble score.

4. Reaping the benefits of free. The online version of my paper doesn't include the same level of free items/giveaways as the newspaper version. Here are a few quick examples:

- Coupons: I clipped over $125 of coupons from the Sunday paper. While I'll only use $8 from this week. I'll donate the remaining coupons to the local library where other savers can use them.

- Free movie passes. In today's Boston Globe, there is an ad for complimentary movie passes to see The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. ($22 savings, the equivalent of 4 weeks worth of the home delivery of my newspaper). All you need to do is send your name, age and email address to boystripedboston@alliedadvpub.com.

- Free audiobook from Audible.com. You can download a free audiobook as part of a free trial 14 day membership. You'll be required to provide your credit card information as part of the membership registration and the membership will renew automatically at the end of your free trial. Cancel your membership before the free trial ends, the download is free for you; and you will not incur any additional charges.


Happy reading

Holiday Fun. Go Early. Save Big

Every Christmas season, I plan a day of holiday celebration of fun, laughter, and good cheer with Dreamboat (my husband). It's a day for ourselves to enjoy some simple luxuries offered during the season that don't involve mall shopping. Good cheer at a considerable discount is our focus (and we'll be using our Discover Cash Back Rewards to purchase our tickets so it literally won't cost us anything!) Passing along a few good bargains I've discovered in hopes that you'll plan your own little adventure.

Christmas Festival November 7 - 9. Hundreds of American Craft Artists appear at this Christmas festival hosted at the Seaport World Trade Center. The Festival runs this weekend (November 7 - 9) will put you in the holiday spirit. Buy direct from the artists can save you a holiday bundle. Check The Boston Globe for $2-3 discounts off the admission price. Kids under 2 go free!

BlueMan Group. Now - November 16. Buy tickets early for the holiday season and save a bundle. Tickets only $45 (regularly priced $58) must be purchased by November 16 for shows December 3 - January 4.

City of Boston Tree Lighting. Nov 29@ 6 p,m. Nothing starts the holiday season off like a good 'ole fashion tree lighting. And nobody does it better than the City of Boston with A-list celebrities, local performers, carolers, Santa and more at the Boston Commons and Public Gardens. Free.

Half price tickets within City of Boston. The City of Boston and ArtsBoston are offering a limited number of half-priced tickets for almost every major holiday show in town. Thank you Mayor Menino for pulling this effort together.

Holiday Zoolights at Stoneham Zoo. November 27 - December 23. Get into the holiday spirit by strolling along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling , visiting some animals, and sitting with Santa for a free photo opp! Tickets cost $4 per person. Visit during opening weekend (Nov. 27 - 30) and save your self $1 per ticket.

Christmas in Salem December 5 -7. Halloween ain't the only game in this town. Spend a day touring Salem’s beautiful and historic homes while they’re decked with boughs of holly. $25 per ticket if you buy in advance; $30 per ticket if you buy on a tour days. And don't forget stop by your local library and reserve a free pass to the Peabody Essex Museum. Its top notch!

See you around town!

Missing Michael's Coupons

I used to receive a Michael's coupon circular in my Sunday Flyer. Other readers report receiving a similar coupon in the Wednesday edition of their local newspaper. But now, everyone's talking about how there are no Michael's coupons in the newspapers at all. What's a crafty gal to do? Check out these good suggestions below.......

Sign up for and read the Michael's mailings. Get on their mailing list and receive printable coupons. Receive an electronic version of their upcoming sales. On Wednesday/Thursdays of a sale week, Michael's typically send an email reminder of the sale and 40% off one item printable coupon.

Check the Michael's website for coupon deals. Never hurts to do a quick online check to see if there are coupons available for use.

Check your receipt when you buy at Michaels. Whether you buy and item or return and item, Michael's register presents you with a 50% off 1 item coupon, redeemable the next week.

Check online coupon sites such as Dealigg or Couponmom for printable coupons.

FYI. While Michael's does not honor competitor's coupons. Competitors such as JoAnn Fabrics and AC Moore will accept Michael's coupons. If you're lucky enough to be on multiple craft store mailing lists, you have the opportunity to double dip on savings buy using the store's own coupon and one of its competitors.

See you at the store!

Playing Sales Sudoku

Doing well between work assignments by managing my budget and buying smart. Thought I would share with you a few of my shopping tactics so you can save money too. It looks like I bought a lot, but I only bought what I really needed this week.

Here’s a quick recap of what I informally referral to as Playing Sales Sudoku (aka how I line up all the saving opportunities to maximize my deals margin)

Search for online coupons before you buy. If you don’t have it today, go online tonight, and look for an online coupon to use tomorrow. Print multiple copies of the coupon, if permitted.
- $5 (15% off any one book ($27) at Barnes and Noble)
- $ 12.80 (4 Free cappuccinos at BN, one per visit, 4 visits in total)
- $6.00 (20% off one item at Borders Café. (Note: I bought a 2009 Entertainment Coupon book with the purchase to save even more money!)
- $4 (40% off coupon from Michael’s Online weekly email. Christmas Gift for my secret Santa!)

Stop by the Customer Service desk for in-store coupons. A quick stop can net you more than just a few dollars. Here's the tally for a quick trip to my local BJs:
- $ 3 ($3 off multi-vitamins)
- $4 ($2 x2 for shampoo & conditioner)
- $2 ($2 off semi-sweet chips)
- $6 ($1 coupon x 6 2-packs of paper towels. Note: BJs allows you to use multiple coupons on multi-pack items packaged for resale.)

Check-out the coupons you receive in the mail. Don’t toss the Value-Pack coupons that you receive in the mail without at least glancing through the offerings for a potential deal. I did and saved big as a first time customer at the new hair salon in town.
- $70 ($70 off a cut, color, and highlights. Hey -a gal has got to look good when interviewing!)

Same Stores – Multiple Coupons. Many coupons state 1 coupon per customer visit, requiring you to go through the line multiple times in order to maximize the deal. While it might not be a time saver, it certainly can be a money saver. If you hesitate to do repeat visits to the same store, just go to another nearby store location. Or do a visit to the store in your hometown, and the one store closest to your workplace. If you’re pinching pennies, it’s worth the effort
- $12 (40% off Michaels coupons x 3 items each $10. Great savings on Christmas gifts)

Coupons and In-store Promotions combined. If you wait 3-4 wks after the Sunday circular flyers, you’ll find several stores offering the same featured items on sale.) And don’t forget to show your rewards cards for even more savings. Hate carrying extra cards, ask your favorite stores if they can provide you with a key fob version of the loyalty card for easy access.
- $5 ($2 off 4 bags of candy + $3 off 2 bags for members only. Note: Happy Halloween to the kids in Chelmsford. Great candy bars coming your way!)

Use your AAA membership card – take advantage on one of the best kept secret. Show your AAA membership card to participating retailer and take advantage of extra savings. For my region, there are 70+ retailers offering additional discounts to AAA members on everything from shoes and clothing to restuarants, from movies tickets to lodging;from museum discounts to flowers:
- $13.72 (20% off $50 FTD floral bouquet for my fabulous Mom. Happy Birthday #79!)


$142.53 – Total savings. chia-ching!

Spending some money to get some more money.

Or in other words, get big savings on your next purchase by maximizing your deal margin (the difference between the retail price and what you actually spend). Some times you need to spend some money to get a little more money. And some times you need to put some effort behind getting a great deal. A little planning, quick research and a little store loyalty love can get you a great deal. Combine these two efforts and win big savings on the items you want or need most. Check out my ideas and the example below to get a better understanding of this Nifty and Thrifty shopping tactic.


Buy Gift Cards and Use Them Yourself. Shop at your favorite retailers straight from your credit card's reward program. Use your cashback rewards, get great deals and discounts. For example, using a Discover Card Partner Offer, I spent $60 to get $75 by buying (3) $25 gift cards for $20 each. If you have a favorite retailer, it can make sense to have a few gift cards on hand for future purchases just for the extra dollars you can acquire. Most credit card companies offer similar programs. Some magazines are also starting subscriber loyalty programs (e.g., Good Housekeeping and Parenting) . Use your cashback bonus to purchase the cards and it costs you nothing. Otherwise, charge the purchase and save $15.

Use Member Only Coupons. Join the email listing of only your favorite retailers. Retailers are offering great incentives to draw you into the store. Lands End sent a “Save $15 off a $75 purchase (online or in-store Sears). If you don't want to have the deals come to you via an email black, then take a few minutes to search for deals at online coupon sites such as Couponmom, eCoupons, or ebates.

Drive to avoid the sales tax. I live near the border of three states. If I'm buying a big ticket item or doing multiple shopping errands, it can make sense to drive across the state line and escape the sales tax. It’s a small savings on most items purchases, but I’m on austerity budget so every penny saved is used elsewhere.

Check for In-Store Sales. Sears is currently running 30% off selected Lands End Merchandise. Sometimes the in-store deals are better than its internet counterpart. Stores need to move the inventory to make room for new merchandise, often they mark down the item before the discount posts on the website. You may be able to maximize your savings if what you’re looking for is on the 30% rack.

Now that you have the basics, let me show you how this Nifty and Thrifty plays out with a real life example:

$59: Lands End Dorey Jacket
$49: Canvas Tote with Patent Leather Trim
___
$108.00 Total Retail Value of Items to be Purchased.
- $14.70 (30% off in-store sale for the $49 Canvas Tote)
- $15.00 ($15 off $75 members only coupon for Lands End)
- $15.00 ($15 saved by buying $75 worth of gift cards for $60 via Discover Card Back Rewards Program)
- $03.17 (Save 5% sales tax on canvas tote bought in a sales tax free state)
------------

$63.30 – Actual Total Price Paid ($44.70 – Amount Saved)

Do a Nifty and Thrifty. Be happier being a saavy shopper.

Saving pennies means extra dollars for your lattes

It’s a sign of the time. Money is tight. Folks are cutting back to the bare bone essentials. I’m a firm believer in scaling back, but also believe that you still need to treat yourself to a few simple luxuries to stay happy. So if you need your daily latte, just learn to trim pennies elsewhere. Try a few of these effective tactics and sip away …

Bigger isn’t always better. Check the unit prices. Buy the smaller size package. It’s not uncommon for a supermarket or pharmacy to charge more for the supersized package. To find the best deal, check the unit price of an item before you purchase. You’ll be surprised to discover that the larger size bottle of laundry detergent or saline solution isn’t always your best bet. Rather than buy the large size bottle of saline solution, I could have ought 2 smaller bottles, saving $3. Being thrifty, I went bought generic version to save an additional $3. Grand total savings - $6.

Stick around for the refill. If you’re hanging out at Starbucks, and need a second cup of java. Don’t buy another cup. Ask for a refill. Most Starbucks give refills of brewed coffee or tea for 55-65 cents. $1.25 savings.

Ask for a better rate/discount. When my friend’s daily newspaper subscription increased $6, I had her call Customer Service and ask for a discount. The senior citizen discount reduced the bill by $2 (a small latte). When my friend selected to cancel, Customer Service dropped it another $2. Chia-Ching! $4 savings in total.

Drop Netflicks. Get your DVDs from the library. Netflick charges $4.99;On-Demand Cable movies run $4.50; the library charges $0 –it’s free. Net – Net, with $5 savings, you buy your latte and the scone.

Get the good deal. If you’re standing the aisle and wondering if the store sale really is a good deal, call 1-888-DO-FRUCALL (It’s Free). Type in the bar code number for the product. FRUCALL will tell you the range of prices that online retailers are currently selling the item.

Free Shipping isn’t really free. Retailers with a free shipping policy often charge higher prices. If you return the item, some retailers will charge you back for the original shipping costs. Be sure to check the return policy before you buy. When I was looking for winter boots, I noticed Zappos was selling the boots for $170, but the manufacturer’s website was selling the pair of boots on sale for $145 plus $9 shipping.


Be happy. Shop wisely.

What to do when you don't love the gift cards you've got

Have you a gift card to a store that you don’t shop at? Have a large assortment of gift cards buried in the back of your junk drawer or bottom of your handbag? Don’t toss it, randomly give it away, or let it continue to gather dust. If you don’t want the gift card, re-gift it, donate it or better yet, trade or sell it on the web. After all, money is money!

Check out these ways of dispensing with your gift cards and reaping a better return on your unused cards:

1. Have a Girls Night Out that features a gift card swap. Label the back of the card with the amount of the card’s worth. Trade and swap with your friends. You might just find your self swapping out the 4 Target cards that you collected for one Crate and Barrel card with the same dollar value, giving you the ability to buy an item that you really wanted.

2. Donate your card to fundraiser event. Be sure to get a receipt for the donation so you can claim the tax-deduction.

3. Sell it on ebay or Craigslist. Today, I checked ebay. There were 4000+ auctions involving gift cards and/or gift card coupons. While you’re unlikely to sell the cards at full value, selling it at a 5%- 20% discount will at least net you some cash. (Caution on this approach: you’ll need to either very trustworthy or need some way to verify the remaining value of the card and its expiration date.)

4. Sell to a card swapping site such as Plastic jungle, Swapagift, cardavenue, giftcardrescue, and giftcardbuyback. Look for a website that verifies the validity of each card number prior to the completion of the transaction so you don’t wind up exchanging your legitimate card for one that isn’t valid. Most of these websites offer a no cost or low cost to post your card directly into their use base; others allow you to post for free but charge a small commission 10% based on selling price of the card. Most of these websites are also willing to purchase your gift cards for 55-70% of the remaining balance on the card. FYI - Some sites will charge to post a listing on their sites.

Happy Shopping!

Dedicating this entry to the fabulous Allison A. who inspired me to research a solution to her Christmas time problem of receiving gift cards that she can’t use.

Taking the heartache out of managing your prescription costs.

Like almost everything else, the costs of prescription drugs continues to increase. Here are some tips on how to save some money on your next trip to the drugstore.

Chat with your Doctor. Let your Doctor know that your prescription prices are too high and ask him to recommend some alternatives. Is there a generic equivalent , OTC, or Natural/Herbal remedy option? Are all the meds necessary to treat your condition? And, when you have this chat, be sure to arm yourself with good information about what's the best value for your healthcare dollar, check out Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.

Go Generic. Ask your doctor to recommend a generic equivalent drug. The cholesterol lowering drug, Crestor, is a good example. A 90- day supply on my health plan runs $150. A generic equivalent, Simvastatin, runs $60.

Do a Price Comparison. There are several free online tools that allow you to learn about prescription drugs and do use a price-comparison tool. Check out the Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs , Rxaminer.com, or DestinationRx.com.

Get a A Discount Card. Many nationwide pharmacies offer a discount card that can help you save on future prescriptions or other drugstore purchases (example: CVS ExtraCare Saving). You can also sign up at yourrxcard.com for a discount card, and save up to 75% on all FDA-approved drugs at over 57,00 participating pharmacies. It’s a fast and easy way to reduce your overall costs.

Check out a $4 prescription programs. Stores like Wal-mart, Target, and K-mart, Hannaford, and Publix offer $4 generics at many of their stores.

Order Online. Use Mail-Order. Buy in Bulk. Make the most of your mail-order or online.purchases and when possible, buy in bulk to get a better unit price based on volume.

Split Your Pills. Ask your doctor if pill splitting is an option for you (it isn't for you if you have a time-released based pill or require an exact dose) If the doctor can write the prescription for double the dose, then you can cut the pills using a pill splitter. Doubling the dose does not always mean double the cost. This could be a cost savings of $20-$50 per month.

Ask for Free Samples. Never hurts to ask your drugstore or doctor if there are any free samples of the prescription.

Find a Patient Assistance Program. My Doctor told me that most drug manufacturers have some sort of patient assistance program for the needy. You must meet certain income guidelines and not be covered by a health plan. Also, the application process is a time-consuming one. For more information about Prescription assistance programs, check out list of available programs, check out PatientAssistance.com, The Partnership for Prescription Assistance and NeedyMeds.com.

As a side note,in case of an medical emergency, always make sure to carry a complete list of active prescriptions with you. This list can help doctors more quickly diagnosis and effectively treat you.

Time Saving Tips for Holiday Projects

Holidays are just around the corner. No time like the present to start thinking about your projects are presents. So, here are some tips for you to consider:

1. Plan ahead. Make the most of your time by planning ahead. Organize your projects, develop your checklists for supplies, keep an eye on estimated time for completing. Whatever you've estimated for time, tack on an extra 30% to ensure on-time completion. I usually start planning in April and collect items over the course of several months for my projects.

2. Load balance. Keep an eye on your availability to complete. Be careful not to take on more projects than you can realistically handle. Nothing like over-committing to drive up your stress level and reduce your own level of fun.

3. Set Aside Time. Carve out some time for yourself either daily or weekly basis to work on your projects. Looking to squeak out some extra time? Look for opportunities to multi-task. Toss a small project in your bag and work on it when you've got a few ideal moments (e.g., waiting for a dr. appointment to begin, kid pickup at school, waiting for jury duty selection to begin, etc.). Or round up your friends for a bi-weekly project social. See your friends, chat, gossip and complete whatever you're working on.

4. Dummy it Down. Simplify and Pick Easy Projects. Eliminate a level of stress by picking smaller projects, ones that are less complicated, time-demanding, and with fewer color choices or in.While I love to tackle complex needlepoint projects, I also recognize that the holiday season probably isn't the best time to do one. Pick a smaller project and give yourself a break. Remember it's ultimately the thought that counts, not the scale of effort.

5. Make Multiples. Make multiples of the gift you're making. Set yourself up with a simple production line for whatever you're making. Repeating the creation process gets easier with each one you complete, saving you time and effort in the long run.

6. Cut your coupons. By planning ahead (see Tip#1) and using your coupons, you plan out your materials list, saving yourself time and money. Take advantage of craft store's weekly sales and use store coupons to maximize your savings. And remember, most stores honor their competition's coupons if they sell similiar merchandise. So look for opportunities to double-dip on your savings.

Oh My Gosh, It's Homemade Vanilla Extract

Occasionally, I'll be sharing my recipes and thoughts for great home-made gifts that can be made on the cheap. If you're living on a limited budget like myself, you'll appreciate the minimal effort required to pull the gift together, its low cost, and more importantly, its taste.

Idea #1: Oh My Gosh, It's Homemade Vanilla Extract
Vanilla is the stuff from which baking dreams are made. Vanilla extract recipe below is a simple, easy to make, great gift to receive. Once you've sampled this home-made version, you'll think twice before purchasing the store-bought version again. Start this recipe now, and you'll be ready for the Christmas gift giving season!

Background Information.
Never hurts to be knowledgeable about your spices. Here's a little background information for you. Vanilla is a flavoring, native to tropical America, specifically Mexico. The name comes from the Spanish word "vainilla," meaning "little pod."[ Its derived from a type of orchard. If you're interested in learning more about the history of this favorite spice, its lore/legend, or alternative uses to baking, click here.

Recipe
Ingredients

2 cups of brandy or bourbon
2 vanilla beans, cut into quarters

Instructions:

• Place the brandy and vanilla beans in a jar.
• Seal the jar tightly
• Let the mixture sit for 2-3 months at room temperature in a dark place to let the flavor develop.
• Remove the pieces of vanilla beans before using.
• This extract will keep indefinitely in a well-sealed jar.

Gift ideas:

• Give a cup as a stand-alone item. Hand paint or decorate the jar. Wrap the jar in some ribbon and add a tag
• Give some in a jar, accompanied by some of your favorite recipes that include vanilla as an ingredient.
• Pull together a gift basket of vanilla flavored gifts: Jar of homemade extract, bag of french vanilla coffee beans, and some Vienna/vanilla creme cookies, etc.

Rug Sale To Die For

Managing to a budget, but not willing to scrimp on a quality rug purchase?

Add a little colour to your home and save yourself some money in the process by visiting the Company C's Annual Tent Sale this weekend at the Flagship Store located at 102 Old Turnpike Road, Concord, NH., (800) 818 - 8288. Closeout deals and clearance items at up to 75% off. All sales are final. (Rugs are retail are somewhat pricey, so 75% off is a really good deal!)

I've been a Company C fan since 2000. Great quality. Fabulous color combinations. Terrific textures. Somewhat pricey. Website gives you a sense of rug offerings, but you really need to see the rugs in a store to clearly appreciate the colors and design. In some cases, the rugs that look ordinary, underwhelming, and/or ho-hum in the online photos look extraordinary when you see them in person.

I love the rug collection, but bedding, pillows, throws, and furniture are also available at this tent sale. As an added bonus, bring a can good for the NH Food Bank and you'll be entered to win a Company C holiday rug!

In addition to the Flagship store, there are also retail stores in Portland, ME and Hingham, MA. Products are also available through dealers (e.g., Pottery Barn, Boston Interiors, Jordan's Furniture, and Board and Bowl) and interior designers, and the Company C website where there is also an online outlet.

Tent Sale hours are: 8am - 5 pm (September 20) and 11am - 5 pm (September 21).

Happy Shopping. See you there!

Saving Money at the Movies

Going to the movies these days can be an expensive proposition. If you're interested in holding down the cost of a trip to the movies, check out these money saving tips:

• Go watch a movie at an off-peak time. Take in the first show of the day or a matinee movie when prices are less.
• Check your local movies for sneak previews and coupons. Watch the movie in advance of its major release. Win free tickets for special promotions
• Remember age matters. Often, movie theatres offer Senior Citizen discounts and kid-friendly prices for certain shows.
• Take a close look at the special program. For example, Showcase Cinemas offers a a number of deals: Silver Screen Classic Movies for $2; Bargain Tuesdays - all shows; all seats for $6; Best of the "B" movies double features for $5.
• Say NO to buying the combos at the concession stand. Too much; and too costly. Stick with the medium sized popcorn which is the best bargain of your popcorn choices.
• Bring your own candy. $1.29 for a large box of Junior Mints at CVS compared to $3.50 at the theatre.
• Buy your tickets offline discounter. Go to your local Costco, Sam's Club or your local AAA office and save yourself up to 40%. (membership required)
• Use coupons. Buy in bulk. Don't forget to use those coupons in your Entertainment Book For example, you can buy up to 12 tickets for $7.50 each (versus $11 per ticket at the ticket booth). Check for online web deals as well (e.g, AMC offers up to 12 drink/snack vouchers for $3 each!). Eversave.com is a website that also offers some great deals
• Support your independent theatre. The major releases typically hit the independent theaters approximately one month after the premieres. Typically, you can buy tickets are usually about 50-70% cheaper than the larger, chain theaters
• Join the loyalty program. Receive concession stand discounts and/or ways to earn free tickets.
• Show your military ID. Also, if you're a military personnel on active duty, some theatre chains will give you a 10% military discount.
• Buy it on Ebay. Deep discounts on tickets offered by people looking to offload their extra tickets.

See you at a silver screen!

Tips for a better manicure

With manicure costs running out of control ($40 = Yikes. Where is all my fun money going?!), painting your own nails at home never looked or felt so good. There really is no need to pay those crazy salon prices. Save yourself some cash while you make your nails look lovely by following these tips:

1. Buff your nails before applying polish. You'll get better looking results when your nails are smooth and free of ridges.
2. By-pass cutting your cuticles (too significant a risk of infection). Massage some olive oil into your cuticles and then use a Popsicle stick to push your cuticles back so polish doesn't stick to them.
3. Use the lightest possible pressure when applying the polish.
4. Try to paint your nail in three strokes (Center, left, then right)
5. Apply a some topcoat across and under the tip of each nail. This step will seal the colour and help prevent chipping
6. Wash your hands well after applying sunscreen. Sunscreen can make your nails look dull.
7. Before you get into a shower, rub alittle Vaseline on your nails. This will help keep the hot water from taking the polish and its shine off your nail.

Are you a Gal on the Go? For you, I recommend trying a polish pen. Perfect for fast and easy manicure look that doesn't break your bank in the process. These quick dry polish sticks are fantastic! Try OPI Nic's Sticks Paint & Go or Sally Hansen Color Quick. Available at drugstores and Target nationwide.

Wishing Big with Free Birthday Celebrations

Penny-pinching when it comes to celebrating your own birthday. Let retailers show you some birthday love by celebrate your next birthday with a free perk! Several restaurants and retailers offer a free item (e.g., meal, appetizer, ice cream, etc.) or discount. Make sure to double check before you go as "free" is always subject to change. In several instances, you'll need to sign up online to get the qualifying deal. Here's a few examples:


Food
Applebee's - free dessert

AuntieAnne's Free Pretzel(sign up online for twisted news)


Baskin-Robbins — free scoop of ice cream

California Pizza Kitchen - free kids meal during the birthday month (signup online)


Cold Stone Creamery - Get a free Love it Size Ice Cream (sign up online)

Cracker Barrel - Free Ice Cream

Black Olive (Tewksbury) - Buy one dinner, get one free ($15 value, advanced registration required)


Hard Rock Cafe - Free dessert

Outback Steakhouse - Free dessert or appetizer

TGI Friday’s - Free birthday dessert plus free appetizer (sign up online)


Merchants
AutoZone - Free Oil Change at participating dealers


Borders Rewards - You'll get two coupons emailed to you on your birthday: one for 15% off the regular price of one item, and one for a free dessert at the store cafe.

Crabtree & Evelyn: You'll get two coupons emailed to you on your birthday: one for 15% off the regular price of one item, and one for a free dessert at the store cafe.

DSW: $5 off your next purchase.

Hallmark - 20% off coupon for one item (sign up online)


Hollywood Video - Free video rental (membership required)

Ringling Brothers Circus - Register your newborn for a free ticket to the circus that never expires.

Scrub A Dub - free car wash

Target - Register for the free birthday mailer - full of free gifts, tips, and coupons.

Talbots - 10% of one day's purchases within your birthday month

Know any other great birthday deals, ping me a comment. I'd love to add to the list.

Wish Big!

Don't dump the junk mail

Break your habit of automatically dumping the junk mail into the closest trash can. Spend the five minutes to filter through the offerings. You never know what deals will be appealing to you. Believe me. Its worth the effort. In last 7 days, I've saved over $65 using junk mail offers, creating for myself a day of fun with no dollars spent. Not bad, for five minutes of mindless work.

1. $50 Shell Gas Gift card (won by completing a survey received in the mail)
2. $10 Kohls' Gift Card
3. $2 off Large Pizza at a favorite pizza joint
4. $3.85 - Free Starbucks Latte

Now, if you absolutely loath receiving junkmail, take action and get your name removed from promotional lists. Visit the consumer site for the Direct Marketing Association's website.At this site, you'll learn more on how to manage your communication preferences or remove your name from promotional lists.

Flipping Pages

Looking for a few places to find books cheaply on a regular basis? Check out the places listed below to find good quality used books at a fraction of the full retail price (often for a $1 or $2).

Why go the low cost route for books?
- Cost savings. $1 versus $14 for a trade paperback.
- Low price point of most books will allow you to experiment with new authors or genres that you might otherwise pass on
- Find a book you've been looking for that is no longer carried in a traditional bookstore

So, with these advantages in mind, take a book adventure at one of these bookstores within the Boston Area:

Got Books 104 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA, 01843
(978) 664-6555
Http://www.gotbooks.com
Runs a charity book sale each weekend. Each weekend, the sale benefits a different non-profit organization. Hours are 9AM-6PM on Thursday and Friday) and 9AM - 4PM on Saturday. Most books run $1 each. Store also accepts donation.


Used Book Superstore
256 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA
http://www.usedbooksuperstore.net
(781) 27 - BOOKS

This superstore is a subsidiary of GotBooks.com. (see above). Larger selection of books generally offered at 90% retail. DVDs and CDs are also sold. Large store, nothing glamorous - just shelves and bins of books.
The hours are: 10AM - 8PM (Tuesday - Saturday); 10AM - 6PM (Sundays)

Wellesley Booksmith Used Book Cellar
82 Central St, Wellesley, ma
http://www.wellesleybooksmith.com/
(781) 431 1160

The Used Book Cellar is open during regular store hours. Purchase "gently used" books at deep discounts. (FYI: excellent inventory of current good reads). Sell books back to the store for additional store credit on the 1st and 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month.

Local Library/Friends of the Library Book Sale.
Your local library

A hidden gem within your own neighborhood. Most libraries offer a bin or shelve of good reads for $1 or less. Books are usually placed near the front door or circulation desk. Donations usually welcomed. Exact change preferred.

Pitch In For Baseball

Step up to The Plate and Give the Gift of Baseball to a Deserving Kid

Want to do good but have no money saved to donate? Did you know that the gloves, bats and other baseball equipment that's sitting in your closet or garage right now can open a whole world of opportunities for an underprivileged kid. Pitch in your gently-used equipment. Donations currently being accepted for new or gently used:

• Gloves and cleats
• Aluminum bats
• Catcher's gear
• Instructional books and videos
• Teaching aids, like batting tees
• Baseballs (new only)
• Softballs (new only)
• Helmets (new only)
• Monetary donations are always welcomed.
  

In support of this effort, now through August 31st, the US Post Office is donating large Flat Priority Mailing boxes for the equipment as well as free pickup for this effort. Go to your local post office for more info

You can also mail the equipment directly to:
Pitch In For Baseball
1901 Pennsylvania Ave
Fort Washington, PA 19304

For more information, you can contact Pitch In For Baseball via the website: http://pitchinforbaseball.org/

Kitchen & Bath Surplus

For anyone looking to do a kitchen or bathroom renovation, I recommend checking out Designer Surplus for potential cost saving deals. Designer Surplus is a sister company of Lumber Liquidators (you know, the guys that donate the flooring on the Extreme Makeover). Find some extraordinary savings on great products. Check out the website (http://www.dsurplus.com/) for the current deals and visit a warehouse location in Florida, Georgia, or Massachusetts to buy. Where else can you find a claw foot tub for $699?

Happy Shopping!

Power of the Pennies

Restock your home office with back to school deals for a fraction of the price. "Tis the season for great office supply bargains for pennies on the Dollar at both Staples and OfficeMax. Whether you need to get school supplies for your kids, or restock your household with basic office supply items, start shopping the Staples 5 cent deals or Office Max's Power of the Penny Deals and save money! Sign up online for the weekly sales announcements so you can plan your shopping trips in advance. For maximum savings potential, plan to shop weekly; and shop for sale and/or clearance items only; and of course, buy only what you need.

Here's a quick summary of this week's Staples deals - You can get a 12-pack of Staples cap erasers, a 6″ plastic protractor, or two-pocket paper folders for a nickel each. You can also get a 10-pack of Zebra Cadoodles mechanical pencils FREE after Staples’ easy rebate! Easily, you save more than $5 dollars on these basic supplies. At Office Max, you'll need to buy one to get another like item for a penny. Deals include glue sticks, staples, children' scissors. In cases, Office Max requires you to purchase 2 items (e.g, post - its; sharpies, filler paper, etc.), in order to get the third item free.



Feeling generous? Buy extra of the weekly specials and donate the supplies to your local school, child's classroom or to a child in need of school supplies but who can't afford to buy their own.

Got Clutter?

Over run with the clutter of unwanted, discarded, no longer loved items within your home? Don't have the time or desire to haul it off to your local goodwill center? Rather sleep on a bed of nails than organize a yard sale?

Whatever the case, here's a great solution for getting rid of stuff and giving it to someone else who can use it. Ever have something that you just hated to toss away but wanted to give it to someone who could use it more -- Here's your chance to recycle your no longer loved items for free. Join Freecycle.org. (http://www.freecycle.org/)

Save Even More Money at the Warehouse

Yes, Virginia, its is actually possible to save even more money than you thought at the wholesale warehouses. Check out these shopping strategies:

Get A Free Pass. If you have not purchased a membership, you can still shop at the warehouses. Take advantage of the free guest membership trials or daily passes that the wholesale warehouse offer periodically. Use it to stock up on nonperishable basics; buy books at deep discount (40%); or get ready for your summer BBQ.

Manage your membership. New membership promotions offer a better deal than membership renewal promotions and reminders do. Let your membership expire at your favorite warehouse, then open a new account and take advantage of some great first timer benefits. Applying this strategy at BJ's translated into substantial savings such as -- a $10 merchandise credit; 2 free months of membership; and new member coupon books ($100 savings).

Double-dip with your coupons. Use both the wholesaler's coupons and the retail manufacturer's coupon whenever possible and watch the per unit price drop even further! Now that's great savings!

Shop with a Friend. Need some toilet paper, but can't store 36 rolls in your humble abode. Take a friend along to the warehouse and split the cost of essentials.

Chia-Ching!

Shortcuts that make painting less of a chore

Having just completed another painting project, I want to share some learned wisdom that helped me complete my project with easy - Invest in technology to make painting less of a chore!

Simplify Your Cleanup with a Teflon coated paint tray. Save yourself time and effort on messy painting trays! Try Shur-line's Teflon coated paint tray. It's awesome! Let the paint dry, then peel the layer of paint off the tray, and you're ready to go on to the next painting project. BTW - it was strangely fun and fulfilling to do the peeling. Need for paint tray liner is also eliminated so you're also saving cash. Here's is the product link - http://www.shurline.com/PRODUCTS/TRAYS/tabid/100/Default.aspx?gclid=CLLn4cH2j5QCFQGfHgodWw6Ygg.

Paint, not Prime. Check out the current product offering from Benjamin Moore -- They've just released the new line - Aura - that eliminates the need to prime before painting. Check it out at the Benjamin Moore site (http://www.benjaminmoore.com/) Now that's a timesaver!

Keeping paint wet when taking a break. Mid-painting and need to take a break? Try this quick tip when you don't want the paint to dry on the brush: -- wrap the brush or roller in a plastic bag, securely tightly. Take it out of the bag when you're ready to resume painting!

Buy only the amount of paint you need. Don't get stuck with too little or too much paint. And save yourself some cash in the process by calculating the amount of paint you'll need to do your next job. Use the Benjamin Moore Calculator to find out how much will be right for the job. (http://www.www.benjaminmoore.com/en_ca/paintcalculator)

Finding Lost Money & Assets

Aside from finding assorted loose change between couch cushions, under car mats, and in jean pockets, did you know there are other ways to find missing money and unclaimed property (such as bank accounts, safe deposit contents, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, dividends, trust funds, gift certificates, cds, insurance policies, utility deposits, etc.)? Never pay to locate unclaimed property when you can do it yourself for free. Beware of scams that charge for the service.

• Use a Free National Registry. While dozens of service providers charge a nominal fee ($25 - $100+ fee), you use a national directory for abandoned property for free! Check out Missingmoney.com (http://www.missingmoney.com)
• Check your state's abandoned property division. To maximize your opportunities, check for each state you've lived in, and search by your maiden name as well as your married name. Also, search in the states of favorite relatives. Check out http://www.unclaimed.org/find_property/default.asp. For Massachusetts, here's a more direct link http://abpweb.tre.state.ma.us/abp/frmNewSrch.aspx

Chia- ching!

How to Save with Hidden Deals

What ordinary girl doesn't like a good bargain? Get in touch with your inner savvy shopper and score great shopping deals with a few of my favorite shopping strategies below. Have any great tips, send them to me and I'll post them! Let's share the wisdom!

Get the inside deals. Many stores periodically offer 10-20% discounts to friends and family of sales associates. Ask a sales associate for the timing of the next sale, or check websites that track these deals such as (http://www.fatwallet.com/; http://www.dealmaker.com/; or http://www.pricetracker.com/)

Shop before the Sale Starts. It takes alot of time and effort for a store to get ready for a markdown sale. My favorite merchants typically start the afternoon prior to the sale. So, I often make it a point to stop the afternoon/evening the day before the sale starts to purchase a specific item. If it's not marked down, I'll ask if I can get the discount today rather than travel back tomorrow.

Hold the Item and Save Yourself a Hassle! Start shopping a few days prior to the sale. Find the items you want. Ask the Sales associate to hold the items until the sale starts. Get yourself the gift of a better choice of the inventory while you purchase your items at the sales price.

Ask when the item goes on sale. Nothing worse than purchasing an item one day, only to discover that on the next day the item is on sale. Sales associates are often empowered to provide you with the sales price in advance of the sale.

Barter for the bargain. Ask the sales associate the simple question"Is this the best price you can do?" Often times, a sales person can knock an additional 10-15% off an item. Never hurts to ask.

Matching the lowest price. Know the competition's pricing. Check your favorite retailer's pricing policies. In many cases, retailers advertise the low price guarantee - they'll match and beat the another retailer's price on an item.

Use a competitor's coupons to get a deal. Retailers will often accept a competitor's coupon if the product you're purchasing is also available at their store.

Refunds by the Retailer. Watch the flyers after you purchase the product, you just might be entitled to a refund. Several retailer's pricing policies will give you a refund if the same model/item goes on sale within a predetermined period of time (usually 30 days).

Running to the Sneaker Sale

Nothing like a new pair of sneakers to put the workout into high gear! So when is the time to buy ? June/July - when retailers are starting to turn over their stock to make room for the new season's offerings; November when retailers are trying to wind down the Back to School stock and make room for winter boots. Looking for an even better deal on your favorite sneaker? Buy multiples and ask for a volume discount. Take a competitor's coupon and ask if they'll honor it.


And don't forget to give your old pair another life -- donate it the Nike's Reuse A Shoe program. For more information, go to: http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/. Since 1990, Nike has recycled more than 21 million pairs of athletic shoes toward more than 265 sport surfaces; giving thousands of young people access to new playgrounds and athletic facilities around the world.

Steaming with Delight

Stumbled across an addictive solution to my summertime dilemma of how to spend less time cooking in a hot kitchen, but still make a great tasty meal. Use ZipLoc Zip & Steam bags (10 bags/$2.79). These bags make cooking alot less painful and clean-up easier than ever before (just toss the bag). Great convenient way to steam frozen or fresh vegetables, meats. Clean up is a breeze - just toss the bag. And since you're steaming, you getter better flavor as its infused into whatever you're cooking. Also, the bags are printed with instructions and timing guidelines for a variety of foods (a great thing from this user's perspective!)


Really, it was love at first steam! 2 ears of corn steam to perfection in just 3 minutes - a great improvement over the basic method of steaming via a stove which takes 30 minutes. 27 minutes saved to do other some other task you never have time to do (e.g., write a thank you note; sort out the sock drawer; polish a silver bowl, take a nap!)

P.s., You can find them in almost supermarket. Here's the official product link - http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b13

Happy Steaming!

Recycle Your Packaging Peanuts

In my household, June is typically the month for cleaning out the cellar of unwanted stuff. Attracted by free shipping offers and the thrill of a good bargain, it's was no surprise to discover what appears to be a gizillion boxes filled with packing peanuts (also known as "Flow-pak" - who knew?!) thrown into in every corner of my basement. Too many peanuts for me! I can re-use some packaging peanuts for my own shipping needs/storage needs;; My town's recycling center has no use for the material; My local gift shop retailer doesn't want them. What's an ordinary girl to do with all these peanuts? Recycle them, of course! I've discovered that you can drop the material off at a Peanut Hotline Collection location. To find the nearest collection site, call 1-800-828-2214 or visit the website http://www.loosefillpackaging.com/search/default.asp Happy Recycling!

April Flowers Bring May Flowers and Raincoats in June

April Flowers Bring May Flowers and Raincoats in June! I've been noticing that there are great deals to be had by saavy shoppers looking for raincoat purchases. Retailers are clearing the racks in prep for the fall clothing premiers rolling out in July and August. So, if you're looking for the latest fashion look or a practical good looking coat to wear in the rain, now is the time to buy!

Dialing for Less Dollars

Are you a chronic “411” dialer like myself? Yes? Then do I have a a money saving tidbit for you…

Program 800-FREE-411 (800 – 3733- 411) into your cellphone. It’s a free/low cost nationwide directory assistance that you can use from your cell phone. Depending on your cell phone plan, you may also get charged for your minutes, but you won’t incur any additional service transaction fees. (example: On my calling plan, a 411 call generates a $1.50 charge per call.)

Here’s how it works –It's free for you to use, but once you’ve dialed in, you’ll need to hear a brief ad (10 – 15 seconds) before a record voice prompts you for “What City and State?” Interested in the ad? Fret not – you have the opportunity to connect and hear more.

Try it. It’s a pretty quick way to save yourself a few dollars. Based on my dialing habits, using this directory assistant program translates into $6 monthly savings - the cash equivalent of 3 Starbuck Coffees, 6 iTunes, or 1 roll of Hallmark self adhesive wrapping paper.

Happy Savings!

Thrifter Shopping at Target

Lately, I’ve had one eye on my shrinking budget, the other on sales pricing trends at local retailers. Thought I would share with you some of my pricing discoveries for Target that I’ve been tracking for a few months so that you can enjoy some thrifty shopping. Enjoy!

Finding the Discount Amount. The amount the product is discounted is positioned in the top right corner of the clearance tag. (example: A display of “30” indicates the item is 30% off the original retail price.)

Discounting by Supply and Demand. Discounts are based on an individual store’s inventory. Smaller discounts indicate the merchandise is moving faster; larger discounts indicate the merchandise is slow moving. (Good to know when you’re deliberating a purchase now vs sometime later/maybe never.) Also, since the discount is based on an individual store’s inventory, don’t expect to pay the same price at two different stores.

Determining Where You Are in the Markdown Cycle. The last digit of the mark down is an indicator for where the time falls in the clearance cycle. Typically, the price per item in the first markdown cycle ends in a “7” (example: $12.97). In the last round of markdowns, the price per item typically ends in a “4” (example: $2.94). BTW - I think it's rare that merchandise stays around that long!

Identifying Markdowns by Dept. Each department has a day of week when markdowns occur. Markdowns typically happen every 2 weeks.
o Children’s clothing – Monday
o Women’s clothing – Tuesday
o Men’s clothing – Wednesday
o Shoes – Thursday
o Electronics – Friday

Knowing the 5 Step Markdowns. 15%, 30%, 50%, 75% and sometimes 90% . Furniture, electronics, and food items are typically the only items discounted at 15%. Seasonal items/theme based items are usually the only items discounted down to 90%. These items go to 90%markdown pretty quickly (2+wks from first markdown - think Target needs to get rid of the inventory for the next batch of seasonal items.)

Running on Empty - Save your Gas Money

Life's a scavenger hunt these days as my househould is on the constant search for the best place to fill up our tanks for less. Also, find yourself running on empty? Check out these tips for getting more out of your gas budget with some simple yet powerful strategies:


1. Use A Gallon Cost Averaging Approach. Buy smaller amounts of gas, more frequently. This tactic spreads of the cost of gas over a longer period of time at a lower price per gallon.


2. Find the best deals for gassing up. Gas prices tend to be lower in your town center where there is likely to be some competition, than gas stations on highways or next to malls. Check which stations offer the cheapest fuel prices at http://www.gasbuddy.com/, http://www.gasprices.mapquest.com/, or http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/gasprices

3. Use your credit card to save at the pump. Buy gas with a credit card that offers cashback rewards for gas purchases. It takes $65 to fill up my thrilly little sports car' by using my Discover card so I'm getting $3- $7/week ( or $12 - 28/month) as a cash back reward. (BTW, this translates into the cash equivalent of a Venti Lattie and a scone at Starbucks; a trade paperback at Barnes and Noble, or a pair of Clark Privo Pennies on sale!)

4. Manage your gas budget, minimize your miles. Plan out your travel routes for errands for the most efficeint travel route to save on mileage. Consider doing errands where shopping is centralized around your basic needs.

Luxury for less

'Tis the season for a good summer sale. Nothing like the rush you get from buying great for less. So, for those of you in need of some retail therapy, here are a few fabulous sales in progress to enjoy!

1. Get your home looking better for less. Stop by Nichols and Stone Going Out of Business Sale in Gardner, MA. Great heirloom quality furniture at a fraction of the price. The sale started Friday, June 13th and continues until everything goes. ttp://www.nicholsandstone.com/

2.Pamper your feet; Pamper your Soles. Clark Shoes store Semi-annual Sale (physical store location only). 40% off for the serious shoe lover with a need for comfort, Remember, nothing better than spending your summer wearing a great pair of Clark Privo Pennies!

3. Dress better for less by stopping by Talbots Semi-annual sale. Sale typically starts July 5th, but stores often start the first phase of markdowns on current merchandise the week prior.

Happy Shopping!

Wednesday is Starbucks Day

In the days of old, Wednesday used be Prince Spaghetti Day. These days, pasta is out and java is in. In as in Starbucks! Now through July 23rd, Starbuck is giving away a free tall ice brewed Starbucks (R) Terraza Blend, chilled and slightly sweetened. (20 carbs) coffee every Wednesday. Ok, can you scream "Yum!" - You'll need to present your Wednesday card to the server. Don't have one? just ask for one at your local Starbucks.

Adventures On A Dime

Gas prices putting a pinch on summertime fun? Fret not, there are several ways to have fun for free or nearly free. Here are a few of my favorite adventures on the cheap...

1. Borrow a museum pass from your local library. My local library offers passes for several major metropolitan museums, discovery centers,outdoor sculpture parks, state parks. Better yet, you can reserve your own museum pass from home! Typically, I save between $20 - $25 with each pass. Enough to cover the cost of gas and lunch.

2. Buy a smart destination go card for your local metropolitan city. Get reduced price admission to your city's best attractions, activities, and tours. I purchased a 7 day card last year and saved over $40 on admission fees alone! (http://www.smartdestinations.com)

3. Beach it with a State Park Pass, babe! The Massachusetts ParksPass is an annual pass. It provides visitors unlimited day-use parking access to state park facilities that charge a parking fee. You can hike, bike, camp, do a nature trail, or just chill out at a state beach or reservation. Pass is good for good for the 2008 calender year. Cost is $35. (the equivalent of 3-5 trips to the beach) Details can be found at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parkspass.htm. (note: some libraries also offer the ParkPass as a daily rental.) and don't forget the sunscreen.


More ideas to follow.... Have some fun this weekend.

A Gust of Uneasiness

Periodically, a gust of uneasiness blows through your life, rocks the foundation of YOU, and forces you to look for a deeper meaning for what happened; what's happened to you; and what actions are you going to take to move past this experience. It could be a job layoff (or in my case, company shutdown); financial challenge; death of a loved one; act of significant betrayal (cheating boyfriend?); or anything life experience that rocks your foundation of thought/philosophy or moral code. For me, its been the experience of surviving financially in uncertain times - managing money when there is a less positive cashflow; keeping a social life going on a shoestring budget; living a marriage on solid, happy grounds; filtering out the noise and temptations of daily life to figure out what makes you tick and how to move forward. Stressful - at times; manageable - absolutely. You'll get past whatever your crisis it - stay focused on what's important for you to reach resolution; be efficient and effective with your time and money, but also save yourself some "whimsy time" - doing what you want to do or treat yourself to a simple luxury uninfluenced by the needs or actions of others. You'll survive and you'll be better for it.

Note: The term "gust of uneasiness" was coined by Roland Merullo in his book, Breakfast with Buddha.

What your mother really doesn't want

Mothers really don't want diamonds on Mother's Day! I learned this tidbit and a few other words of wisdom from the ladies in the locker room today. I discovered that Moms wanted to feel loved, remembered, but not overwhelmed with trinkets and activities. Here's a brief rundown of their feedback...

--Make sure only one sibling sends flowers. More than one bouquet and Mom begins to feel like she is hosting a funeral at her house.

-- Late arrivals, overcrowded restaurants, dietary concerns, misbehaving grandchildren, and sibling rivalry can make a Dinner Out a tough event to attend.

-- Leave Bow-wow the dog at home when you go to visit dear old Mom. If she wanted to care for a dog, she'd have one already.

-- Dinner at Mom's house. Great idea Make sure to bring it already prepared, clean and put away the dishes after you, and take home the leftovers! If Mom has to work her own event; its not a treat!

- Manicures are lovely, but she'd rather have a gas card and a cup of coffee. Yes - even mothers are feeling the purse pinch at the moment and are looking for help with basics.

-- Diamonds are a girl's best friend; a phone call or quick visit is Mom's. She's got all the jewelry she needs; what she doesn't have is enough time with her kids and grandchildren

-- Clothing. Most moms felt they were too hard to fit and really didn't need add another cardigan to the closet. But a nice Chanel lipstick ... well, that was another story!

What's a girl to do? Call or visit Mom on Mother's Day. A few minutes of your time and a hug may just be the best present.

Skinny Cows Ice Cream Sandwichs Rock!

Cruised down the freezer aisle at the local market today after an intense morning at the gym (aqua-running, light weights, and yoga), looking for a guilty food pleasure that wouldn't break my budget or my carb count target (I'm diabetic). Glad I did an extra lap down this aisle of the market because I discovered a great new treat -- Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches! (97% fat free; 140 calories; 3 grams of fiber and no trans fat). Fabulously satisfying. Now if I could only stop myself from eating more than one....

Helping others one coupon at at time

I'm sitting in the fab reading chair in my office, enjoying the solitude of a sunny Monday afternoon and wondering how I can help others when I'm short on cash myself. A solution comes to mind as I start of at a pile of unused coupons. Money is tight with many families. What about starting a coupon exchange at the local library? Just because I'm not using the coupon doesn't mean that someone else won't? Think I'm going to make a small box with my coupons that I'll just place next to the newspaper racks and check it over the next few weeks to see if anyone uses it. stay tuned for an update.