Wallet Wise

FREE 10 Ream Case of Paper and More

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:25:00 +0000

Do you use a lot of paper or frequently shop at office max? If so, they are running some fabulous deals online right now through their MaxPerks reward program. You can get 10 ream case paper, a 12-pack of sharpies and peel-to-seel no.10 envelopes for FREE.

Visit Money Saving Methods for the detailed scoope on this deal.

Frugal Vacation Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:30:00 +0000

My husband and I are planning a trip to Las Vegas this month to celebrate our anniversary and his graduation. However, we don't plan on breaking the bank for this trip at all! Many people assume that since they don't make much money, a vacation is out of reach for them. Perhaps a luxory trip might be, but a modest excursion can be very affordable if you play your cards right.

Here are some tips to cut down un-necessary costs when flying to a destination and staying in a hotel:

Research, research, research. Before purchasing tickets and reserving a hotel, make sure you have plenty of time to scope out the options. I started researching prices for a Las Vegas trip three weeks before I planned on booking it. I searched on many different online trip engines to make sure I was getting the best price. Some things to look for during this period:

-Search all surrounding airports since fares can differ significantly from one airport to another. This is not always the case, but it can mean big savings depending on where you are flying. We searched 4 different airports in our area (a 115 mile radius) and discovered that we could save $170 per ticket if we drove an hour away. This is significant savings and made a huge impact on our trip cost.

-Choose a non-direct flight. Non-stop and direct flights are often more expensive than flights with a layover. If you don't mind the added traveling time, this can be a real moneysaver.

-Search different days. Some times of the year are more expensive to fly and/or stay at a hotel. If there is a major local even going on, hotels will hike up their rates. Avoid these times if at all possible. We discovered that if we went during the week, rather than on the weekend, we would save almost $300 on our trip! By going during the week, we ending up paying $50 a night for a four star hotel rather than $120-200. (AVOID- Holidays, springbreak, "on-season", weekends, superbowl week).

-Look up the airline baggage information before you book the flight. Many times, this information is only found at the airline website and is NOT included in the total trip cost paid with the online trip booking site. Some airlines do not charge fees, but most impose a $15-25 fee for a checked bag ONE-WAY. If you are traveling for only a couple days, consider bringing only a carryon and packing lighter rather than checking a large suitcase. This is what my husband and I plan on doing to save ourselves $100.

-Look up the hotel fine print. This is normally found in the information section for that particular hotel on booking sites. Some hotels charge daily cleaning fees, parking fees, resort fees, cash or credit daily desposits and other misc. fees. Make sure to add these fees into the total cost of your trip, since the online booking site will not do it for you. These fees are paid upon checkin at the hotel. We saved an average of $50-80 by choosing a hotel in Las Vegas that did not charge fees.

Do not check luggage if there is a fee. This is a frugal flying tip that many people are using these days. Most airlines allow one carryon plus one personal item. Pack smart- wear larger items of clothing to save space. We plan on wearing our hiking boots rather than packing them since this will save on weight (if we have to check a bag) and space on the carryon. Pack light- bring outfits that can be cordinated with each other easily. It is cheaper to go to the laundry mat once than to pay for a checked bag. Dress in layers- if you are traveling to a colder climate, wear multiple shirts on the flight (this will be more comfortable too since tempertures inside a plane change often). For women- do not bring your own hairdryer since many hotels provide this. Do not bring large toiletry items since most hotels provide these as well. Avoid the urge to bring more than two pairs of shoes, expecially if they will only be worn once.

Eat breakfast or lunch in your hotel room. Once you arrive at your destination, pay a visit to the local grocery store or supercenter. Buy items for breakfast like donuts (hey, you're on vacation, right?!), juice, coffee and bagels. Try to get items that do not need refrigeration since some hotels do not provide a mini-fridge. Buy snacks and lunch options as well (such as a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter and jelly). Doing this will save you tons of money, since eating out can easily be one of the biggest expenses on a vacation. If you need to refrigerate something, make sure to bring a small lunch box cooler with you to fill with ice, or use the ice-bucket the hotel provides. Enjoy dinner at a modest resturaunt nearby.

Purchase the Entertainment Book for your destination. You can look up the coupons in each book online to determine if it will save you money or not. For our destination, Las Vegas, it would not be worth it to purchase that book. However, we did stumble across another coupon book for casinos, which was packed with BOGO entree deals and BOGO show deals. We paid $15 for The American Casino Guide and will likely get our money's worth using just 2 of these coupons. Also, scope out the coupons available at your hotel checkin area and visitor's bereau for discounts on attractions.

Research the FREE entertainment options for your destination. Rather than shell out $15 each for admission to a museum or attraction, check out which ones are free and visit them instead. Some of the funnest things in life are free! We plan on only paying for ONE show while in Las Vegas (with a BOGO coupon of course) and doing free things the remainder of the time. Simply walking down the strip provides an abundance of entertainment as one can check out all the themed hotels free of charge. One day, we are taking an excursion outside the city to hike in a National Recreation Area, take nature photographs and visit the Hoover Dam and Lake Meade. Get creative and think outside the box. By planning a loose itenerary, you'll never run out of things to do. (Also remember to make a list of LOW COST attractions and activities to fall back on if necessary).

By implementing these ideas, you can save a bundle on a trip or vacation and still have a wonderful time! Do you have a frugal tip that's not listed here? Share it below by leaving a comment!

2010 Financial Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:51:00 +0000

The end of the year is the perfect time to sit down and review your family's financial goals. Even if you didn't meet the goals you wanted to in 2009, it's still important to set new ones for the upcoming year. These goals not only inspire and motivate you, but they keep you accountable too. Below are some of our family's financial goals for 2010:

-Save $1000 for Baby expenses by May 31st

-Pay off $10,000 in student loans by December 31st ($15,000 would be ideal)

-Save $5000 for a 2nd car by August 31st

We have a big year for us financially. Not only will (God-willing) our income increase drastically with a full-time job, but we'll be welcoming a new member into our family in June. With the job will likely come a move as well.

We currently are following Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball plan to work our way out of nearly $50,000 in student loan debt. Our hope is to have all of that paid off within 2 1/2 years. It will be hard work, but we want to live like no one else now so we can live like no one else later!

What are some of your 2010 financial goals?

Kroger and P&G End Partnership

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:34:00 +0000

If you've ever used the eSaver coupons for Kroger, (these are loaded electronically to your loyalty card), you won't be able to do it anymore. P&G recently announced they are severing the partnership with Kroger after a successful 2-year run. If you have coupons still loaded, they will expire after Dec. 31st.

This is sad news for those who like to use the eSaver coupons to stack with traditional paper coupons for a good deal. Kroger did mention that they will be expanding the deals available on Kroger.com, so there is hope that more coupons will take the place of P&G.

P&G may partner with another store in the future via their e-Saver program, so be on the lookout for more updates.

$5 Magazine Subscriptions

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

I love finding deals on magazine subscriptions, and amazon.com is a great place to get those. Right now, through December 1st, you can get one year subscriptions for as little as 5 bucks on popular magazines such as Southern Living, Real Simple and House Beautiful. These make great gifts for Christmas and are only 5$!

Other 5$ subscriptions include: Cosmopolitan, Smart Money, Food and Wine, Sports Illustrated for Kids

Click here to order!

Paying for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:35:00 +0000

If you've shopped at all lately- be it a grocery store, the mall or a discount retailer- chances are the Christmas decorations are up and staring you in the face. Although you might be thinking that Christmas is still a ways away, it's actually just around the corner. Now, more than ever, is the time to start thinking about how to financially prepare for the month of December (if you haven't already).

Christmas is almost synonymous with large credit card bills in January. But with the hikes in rates this past year, and new hidden fees popping up every day, using a credit card to pay for Christmas is no longer a wise or safe move financially. Do yourself a favor this season and vow to pay for Christmas in cash. Start a Christmas savings fund and contribute as much as possible to it during the month of November. Here are some easy ideas to help get you started and seeing some instant buildup:

Eat every meal at home for the month. The average family spends hundreds of dollars on eating out, of which could be going to a Christmas fund.
Cut back on luxury frills such as the movie theater and excessive driving. Instead, look for ways to entertain for free at home by watching movies you already own or playing cards or board games. This is will bring your family closer together too!
Avoid major purchases until after January, if at all possible. A large piece of furniture or household appliance that does not require immediate attention should be put off for a couple months. Think of creative ways to get by until you are able to afford it.
Buy used if you need something. This includes clothing, appliances and other items. Not only will you save a bundle for Christmas, but you will be helping the environment by being resourceful.
Trim the phone bill. This is an easy area that many people can save on. Take a good look at your monthly phone bill- are you using all the features and minutes that you pay for? If not, downgrade, at least temporarily. You can also upgrade your plan after the holidays if necessary. Instant savings. Do this for all your utility bills, and you will have a large lump of cash available for the holidays.

Strapped for Cash? Cook Frugal Meals

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:10:00 +0000

One of the easiest ways to save money is through cutting back on groceries. Many foods and recipes can actually be purchased quite cheap, saving you money each week at the grocery store. Don't know where to start? Here is a list of meal ideas for dinner, lunch and breakfast along with some snack options for eating on the cheap... Because cutting your food budget does not have to mean sacrificing health or living on Ramen Noodles. When times are tough, think cooking from scratch!

Budget Finance Binder

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:30:00 +0000

My husband and I recently started using a finance binder to help us with our budget, saving and spending patterns. It has changed our financial lives in a tremendous way, and so I wanted to share it with my readers here. I learned this technique from the book "America's Cheapest Family", which is a fabulous read, and one that I recommend highly.

Here's a breakdown of our Finance Binder contents. Each category has its own page:

Allowance/Blow Money (this is for our individual misc. spending, like me getting my nails done or my hubby buying new guitar strings)
Dates/Entertainment
Fast Food
Gas
Groceries
Rent
Insurance/Taxes
Utilities
Gifts and Charities
Alcohol/Bars
Pet Food/Supplies
Clothing
Eyecare
Car Repair/Maintenance
Haircuts
Household/Furniture
Doctor/Medications
Savings
Student Loan Debt
Holiday/Christmas Fund
Vacation

We keep one checking account and have all the budgets in there together. We use our debit card for everything so we can save all those pennies in each category. We also each have our own checking register and record a purchase/withdrawal in them each time we make them. Rather than keep a running total of the checking account's balance, we just record the purchase and initial which category it is coming from. We sit down once a week or twice a month and write down all the information in the binder and balance it by adding up the total from each category and the making sure it matches the checking account balance online.

If we need to "borrow" money from one account from another, we write it down as a withdrawal from that account and deposit into another. That way everything is accounted for. There is no wondering where the money is coming from for a certain item.

We write the total amount to be deposited each month in a corner of each category sheet so we know how much we have to work with.

If we get any unexpected income- such as overtime hours or gifts- we immediately break it down into what we call our

"wind-fall" plan:

60% Debt
20% Savings
10% Giving
10% Whatever we what

This helps us save so much since we are no longer going out and spending 100% of the extra money. It gives us some money to have fun, but while also saving it and directing it to our debt. In short, it gives that extra money a plan.

We've been married over a year and a half now, so this budget system has really been trial and error. It takes a while to figure out what works for you. I think this is the best budgeting system that I have used so far (I've tried excel sheets, mint.com, the envelope system), especially in regards to saving. It's completely portable and can be instantly updated. Plus, you get to look over each category every month and evaluate purchases without scrolling through a mine of transactions.

I hope this helps you in some way, whether you're starting to pay off debt, saving for something special or beginning to budget.

Credit Card Companies Seek Every Last Penny Out of Customer

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:40:00 +0000

Recently I closed our only credit card, which was with Chase Bank. We had only gotten it on impulse in the beginning of the summer (before Dave Ramsey changed our lives, of course), and after paying off the balance before the due date, called to close. The representative was friendly enough and told us we would receive a confirmation letter and that there were no further charges.
Well, a word to the wise. Don't trust them to be good on their word. When you close a credit card account, that means less money for the credit card companies. They don't like it. It means they can no longer get any interest from you.

After I closed the account, I could no longer access it online. Until, suddenly, today. I was checking my checking account and noticed the credit card account had reopened. With a finance charge.

Yes, even after I had paid off the balance in full and gotten a statement from the company. They were going after my pennies. If I had not seen it, I would have been "late" on my payment (which is what they like, isn't it?) and thus induced more charges. No notification was sent to me either by mail or email in the meantime.

I called to complain, but the lady simply said it was a finance charge and needed to be paid. I eventually asked for the charge to be removed since we were told otherwise and had never been late on any payments and she consented. Let's just hope they stay true to their word.

So, for all of you working to pay off your credit cards (especially from Chase, I have heard similar stories) remember to pay an extra two or three dollars to account for that inevitable finance charge they will try to bill you. That way, they owe you money rather than the other way around.

Lesson learned: don't dabble with credit cards. They really are out to suck every last penny from you!

Budget Friendly Family Fall Festivities

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Fall has arrived, and with it, an abundance of vacationing opportunities. Cooler weather means less humidity and one last chance to soak up the outdoors before winter shuts in... [continue reading]...

Coupon Clippers Help You Save Huge

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:08:00 +0000

I mentioned in a previous post about the benefits of stockpiling and how it could save your family a tremendous amount of money. In order to save really big, however, you must have a large stash of coupons on hand for that particular item that is on sale. Enter The Coupon Clippers.

The Coupon Clippers lets you search for available coupons on their website and pay a small fee to order them. This is especially helpful if you do not have access to print coupons or if your newspaper doesn't carry them anymore. You can order a large batch of the same coupon all at once.

For example, in anticipation of fall sales on soups and canned goods, I ordered 20 soup coupons worth .50 each and 10 canned vegetable coupons worth $1.00 each. Since my store doubles coupons up to a dollar, these .50 coupons are actually worth $1.00. That makes the total coupon savings worth $30! I paid ONE DOLLAR for 20 of the soup coupons and $1.20 for the veggie coupons. Talk about some serious savings!

Note that The Coupon Clippers mandate that your order has to total at least $3.94 before checking out. This shouldn't be hard to do, since many of the coupons can result in fantastic savings.

I hope this helps you save more in the grocery store and become a little more wallet wise!

Menu Plan to Save Money

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:06:00 +0000

For the past year, I have routinely planned our weekly meals in effort to save money at the grocery store. Only buying what we need, rather than filling up our cart with impulse buys, has really helped us stick to our budget.

If you've never menu planned before, I highly suggest you take the plunge. Not only will it save you money, but time and stress as well. Just think of all those nights you stood next to an open pantry and thought "I have no idea what to make!" and ended up ordering take-out instead. Or the countless trips to the grocery store each week, when you'd rather had stayed home with your family. Menu planning takes the pain out of all these things.

When I first begun menu planning, I did one trip to the grocery per week. This allowed me to take advantage of each week's sales. However, I have recently cut my trips down to once every two weeks, since statistics show that 60% of what you buy at the grocery store is an unplanned purchase! The less trips, the less money spent. And that can really add up over time.

There are countless websites advocating menu planning with introductions on how to make it work for your family. The Happy Housewife teaches you how to menu plan in her series 'Menu Planning 101'. Organizing Junkie posts hundreds of weekly menu plans every Monday for you to gather ideas. I also post my bi-monthly menu plans over at my home-making blog, Life in #3.

Take slow but steady steps with menu planning, and I promise you won't regret your decision.

Student Debt Increases

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:15:00 +0000

If you've recently graduated or entered college, chances are you took out a student loan in order to afford it. With the sky-high prices of higher education continually on the rise, it's no wonder that student debt has increased dramatically over the past several years. Although many advocate that educational debt is a worthy investment, the rapid rise of unemployment has been cause for some concern. No longer are graduates confident that they can find a job immediately after graduating from college. With that, a fear of possibly not being able to pay down student loans and other debt has rippled in those who find themselves in the midst of the economic crisis.

Funding higher eduction does not have include the multitude of debt that often accompanies it. However, since many parents have not adequately planned or saved for their child's future (or lost it during the recession), taking out a loan seems to be the only choice. Many students sign the documents without a second thought, thinking, surely they would get a job and everything would be ok once the loans entered repayment. Has this attitude created a disillusionment for our young students? Have they really weighed the costs of pursing a higher education?

There are ways, of course, to help battle the high cost of education and college expenses. One of these is to attend a local community college during the first year or two before transferring to a larger university. Students may elect to take general courses at a much lower rate this way and still transfer the credits at a different school. This takes the cost of dorming and food plans out- which can account for more than 2/3 of a student's total cost of attending a university. Living on one's own rather than in the dorms is another way to cut costs. Working a low-wage job for a year before attending school is yet another alternative and a way to save money for the high costs.

Sadly, many parents and prospective students view high education as an 'experience' (though it is rightly so), but neglect the most important factor- education. This causes them to enroll in expensive universities they cannot afford for the sake of not 'depriving' themselves of what all their friends will be doing. Many students simply take for granted the fact that they can attend such intstituions without weighing the costs- literally.

In order to lower the statistic of rising student debt, students and parents must come to realization that college is not free or a hand-out. Until then, expect the number to increase. And with the recession wearing many people thin, expect more people to default on payments.

Frugal Books: Read and Save Money

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Recently I have read two terrific books with an emphasis on frugal living and smart spending. Both uphold the mission of Wallet Wise, and teach valuable saving and spending habits.

The Duggar s: 20 and Counting
This book is about the Duggar family. With 18 children, they have managed to avoid debt yet have a 7000 square foot home as well as reliable cars (including a tour bus!). The principles taught in this book are valuable for those wishing to "live like no one else". It has a heavy emphasis on trusting in God to provide for needs, which is a wonderful lesson for all Christians to learn. I checked this book out from my library, but I am planning on buying it since I keep referring to it! Click here to read a review, excerpt and to buy the book.

America's Cheapest Family Gets you Right on the Money
I got this book hoping for some frugal money saving tips, but I got much more than that! The first chapter alone will probably change the way I grocery shop forever. It teaches you step by step how to save money with groceries, as well as how to budget. I have never been taught how to budget so effectiviely as this book did! After I read the chapter on budgeting, I ran to my office to revamp how we do our finances. I plan on doing a special post that highlights this new method because I think many people are painfully unaware of the method that could save them sanity and help streamline, simplify and bring security to their personal finances. Read this book if you are serious about saving money, living better and cashing in your dreams. Click here to read reviews and buy the book.

I hope these two resources will bring you as much help and encouragement in your personal finances as it did ours! If, after reviewing the book from your library, you do decide to purchase the book, please consider doing so from the links on this page. Proceeds from the purchase helps to support Wallet Wise.

Save Money with Home-made Cleaners

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:01:00 +0000

One way to potentially save a lot of money with little effort is to start using homemade cleaners around your home. Not only are they EASY and CHEAP to make, homemade cleaners are typically non-toxic (unless bleach is used) and very eco-friendly. What a wonderful way to make use of your resources!

Here are some recipes and resources for home-made cleaners!

Couponing On the Rise

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:59:00 +0000

As more and more consumers struggle with debt, lost income and troubled mortgages, couponing has re-emerged as lost art. With the advent of electronic and printable coupons, younger couponers are on the rise. Once primarily restricted to the older population, coupons are now used by young, old and in between.

The recession and shaky economy has reopened the thrifty mindset for many Americans. Shopping the sales with coupons seems to be the best way to reap savings. According to one source, this is the first time coupon use has risen since 1992!

Below is a link to a recent CNN article covering this wonderful phenomenon.

Economic Shock Gives Rise to Coupon Cutting

Starting the Debt Snowball

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:15:00 +0000

I thought I would share here on Wallet Wise what my husband and I are up to in regards to personal finance. One of the things we have recently embarked on is Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. We've completed baby step 1 (save $1000 fast) and are working on baby step 2 (get out of debt). What's our debt? Student Loans.

Arg, debt that all too many are familiar with. With a staggering amount of student loan debt, it can be a burden, especially when considering purchasing a house. Which is what we want to do. But we decided instead to embark on a two year odyssey in paying off over 40 grand in student loan debt. It can be done, and we are ready to join the ranks of those who live life debt free, dubbed 'weird' according to Dave Ramsey! And after we pay that debt off we are going to save for 50% down on a home. :-)

Read more about the total money makeover here. Are you ready to join me in this crazy quest to get out of debt? Tune in to the Dave Ramsey Show on AM radio from 2pm-5pm Monday-Friday to get a taste of what the makeover entails and to hear stories from everyday people seeking to get out of debt for good.

House Prices Show Signs of Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:31:00 +0000

Many people have equated the current housing and mortgage crisis with the economic downturn and recession. If so, then this bit of news should cheer some of you up!

A recent article explains how some areas of the housing market are beginning to recover due to the decrease in house price decline (down from 15%). Because many home owners now find themselves 'in the hole' or 'underwater' with their mortgage (meaning they owe more on their house than it is currently worth), any increase in housing prices should be a signal indicating recovery is on its way.

There seems to be a bit of a turnaround with supply and demand. Although many homes are still sitting on the market, many home owners have opted to 'wait it out' and try and sell their home sometime next year when the market is more stable. Several are choosing to rent or lease their home until they are ready to put it back on the market. However, this puts a decrease on the amount of homes available for sale, which temporarily brings the prices up a tad. It is still too early to tell for sure whether this will have a lasting positive effect on housing prices, though, and it is entirely possible for prices to continue to fall given the recession.

How has the housing crisis affected the average home-owner? Many are unable to finance their child's college or university education. Taking out a home equity loan was once a quite popular way to finance education, and those who are underwater with negative equity are now unable to do this. Some are stuck with mortgages they cannot afford to pay, and others are holding onto property they no longer want, delaying retirement dreams and relocation.

Thus, any sign of rising housing prices, however minimal, are taken quite seriously. Although there still remains quite a bit of time before full recovery is restored, there does seem to be some hope that the worst is finally behind us. We can only predict, however slightly, that prices will continue to rise, albeit quite slowly.

How has the housing crisis affected your life? Have you had to delay relocation or retirement plans? Are you unable to finance your child's education as planned? How has it impacted your ability to sell your house? Has negative equity resulted in debt for your family?

Share your thoughts here with other readers of Wallet Wise, and know that recovery is certainly on its way!

Why Stocking Up Can Save You Money

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Avid coupon-ers know the value of stocking up on items that go on sale. They save money, time and hassle. If you 're new to couponing, here are some things to know about how stocking up can save you money.

By purchasing items on sale in bulk, you lower your overall monthly cost in groceries. This tactic does not follow a weekly budget, but rather a monthly budget to allow for spending more when there is a weekly sale. If you spend ten dollars more in week one, and ten dollars less in week two because you are stocked up in an item, you will not go over budget. Since the item was on sale, and presuming you were able to use coupons, the overall cost of the item goes down drastically. For example, Kellogg's Nutrigrain Bars regularly run around $3.49 at Meijer. They were on sale this week for $1.99, and coupons were available for $1.00 off of two, making the final cost $1.49. You just saved $2 per box! If you stocked up for a month or two, you would not have to buy any more of these bars until the next sale.
Stocking up allows extra savings even if you only purchase a small stock. In the example above, you would still be saving $2 per box, not matter how many you buy!
Buying in bulk results in less grocery trips. If you buy all of your cereal or another item for a month in one trip, your trips will be shorter and fewer in between.
Stocking up on items when they are on sale creates a instinct that refuses to pay full price. Lastly. buying items and food in bulk while they are on sale creates an attitude that refuses to pay full price since you are used to buying large sums of the item at discounted rates. You will therefore resist the temptation to buy an item because you think you "need" it, and instead wait for it to go on sale again, which saves you loads of money in the end.

CVS Deals 7/12-7/19

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Here are some of the best deals going on at CVS this week. Please note that some are only 3 day sales while others are valid for the entire week. Remember to check your local ad for more deals and sales! This is a great week to get started on ECBs if you are new to CVSing.

3 DAY SALE ONLY
Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand 1-subjet notebook (70-80 sheets) at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Paper Mate grip pens (8 count) at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 3)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Caliber or It's Essential 5" pointed or blunt tip scissors at $2.99, receive $2.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand school glue (5 oz.) at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand 12" wood or plastic ruler at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

ALL WEEK SALE
Buy (1) 10-page 6x8 photo book at $7.99, receive $7.99 in ECBs (limit 1)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Gillette Fusion manual or power razor at $7.99, receive $4 in ECBs (limit 1)
- $4/1 from the 6/7/09 P&G insert
- Final price - Free after coupon and ECBs

Buy (1) Tylenol Arthritis or Tylenol 8-hour (20-24 count) at $3.99, receive $3 in ECBs (limit 3)
- $2/1 from the 6/21/09 Smart Source insert
- $1/1 from the 6/7/09 Red Plum insert
- Final price - Free after coupon and ECBs

Coupons this Sunday 7/12/09

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:19:00 +0000

For all you coupon lovers out there, this is a heads up that there will be 2 inserts in this week's Sunday paper. Look for a Smart Source insert as well as a Red Plum. Apparently there are supposed to be some high value coupons in the inserts, so check here to see if it might be worth it to buy multiple copies of your city's newspaper.

Minimum Wage Set to Increase

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Some of you may have noticed that the minimum wage is being set to increase. Why? To help those on lower incomes and to combat increased cost of living. I wholeheartedly agree that this needs to be done in order to account for inflation, but what does it mean for you as an individual?

During these tough and trying economic times with more and more people being laid off unexpectedly, an increase in that particular statistic does not bode well. Some have argued that an increase in minimum wage equals an increase in unemployment. This may be true if companies are forced to lay off employees due to restricted budgets. However, I believe this would only affect the smallest and the most struggling businesses.

A Princeton study conducted in 1990has revealed that an increased in minimum wage simply resulted in more people falling into the minimum wage earning bracket. It also revealed that those who earned above the minimum wage typically received a pay increase as well. This study also lent the suggestion that an increase in minimum wage led to a decrease in teenage employment. However, several other studies have discovered that this is not necessarily true, but that teenagers could expect to lose hours. Whether or not the increase in pay makes up for lost hours is unsure.

Another study has declared that "It appears that minimum-wage increases are not job killers — they are job-vacancy killers," "due to the fact that a higher minimum wage attracts more workers and reduces a firm 's vacancy rate; [and] in addition, decreased turnover increases productivity."

Its looks as though an increase in minimum wage will help in the long run during this worldwide recession. Although there is no way to tell when the recession will end or even if we are starting to recover, an increase in consumer's earnings is always helpful. The more money that the average consumer makes, more money is put into the economy and its more likely the economy will set itself to recover. Albeit the debate still rages on over whether minimum wage increases should be more or less than what they are, there can be no doubt that they these increases are completely necessary to account for the inflation that the world has seen over the past year or two. I would look at the increase, therefore, as a sign that this recession is finally puttering out. Even if the end is still a year or two away, we are much closer to economic stability that we were a year ago.

Make Money With Credit Cards!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Make money with credit cards? It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? With the amount of credit card debt in this country today, you would think that the last thing I advocate is using credit cards. Yet, here I am, insisting that they can make you money.

The key is to get a card that comes with a cash back rewards program. Many offer at least 3%! Read this article to find out how you can get a check in the mail rather than a statement of interest.

Links to Love: Budgeting

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:12:00 +0000

I'm starting a new series here on Wallet Wise called Links to Love. Each week I will post interesting and relevant links pertaining to a certain topic, such as budgeting. I hope you enjoy this new feature as much as I do!

Wise Bread- "How Will the Federal Minimum Wage Increase Affect You?"
Money Saving Mom- "Romance on a Budget: Is it possible?"
The Simple Dollar- "Review: The New Global Student"
Independent Beginnings- "The Carnival of Twenty Something Finances"
Simple Mom- "The Basics Behind a Budget That Works"
Get Rich Slowly- "Learning to Budget with the JARS system"

Savings and Coupons This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:53:00 +0000

I hope you all have had a wonderful fourth of July. Here's a brief snapshot of the savings and coupon deals this week at various stores. I apologize for the late post- we have been out of town visiting family, and we just recently brought a new kitten home, which requires quite a bit of attention if we don't want our older cat to eat it!

KROGER:

Kroger Ground Beef, 1.68 LB
Driscol Strawberries and Blueberries, 1.48
Jumbo Cantelope, 1.44
Kroger Eggs, 1.00
Kroger Milk, 1.98
Hot, Lean, or Croissant Pockets - $1.88 (- $1/2 from the 5/17/09 Smart Source insert- Final price - $1.38)
Thomas' English muffins - BOGO free at $2.99 each(- $0.50/1 from the 4/19/09, 5/3/09, and 6/7/09 Smart Source inserts (use 2 coupons). Final price - $0.50 each)
Herbal Essences hair care - $2.99-( $2/1 from P&G eSaver- Final price - $0.99)

CVS

Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand transparent or invisible tape at $1.49, receive $1.49 in ECBs (limit 3) (- Final price - Free after ECBs)
Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand No. 2 pencils (10-ct.) or double blade sharpener at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 3) (- Final price - Free after ECBs)
Buy (1) CVS brand pantiliners (22-ct.) at $0.89, receive $0.89 in ECBs (limit 1)(- Final price - Free after ECBs)
Buy (2) Dawn dish liquid at 2/$2, receive $1 in ECBs (limit 1) (- $0.25/1 from the 6/7/09 or 7/5/09 P&G insert (use 2 coupons)- Final price - $0.25 each after coupons and ECBs)
Buy (1) Colgate Total Advanced or Sensitive Toothpaste at $3.49, receive $2 in ECBs (Limit 1) (- $1/1 from the 6/28 SmartSource insert- Final price $0.49 after coupon and ECBs)

I hope you get a chance to snag a few of these deals. I myself am heading out to CVS today to get some freebies and use my ECBs before they expire. If you haven't already, now is a good time to sort through your stash of coupons and remove any that have expired. Place the ones that will expire within a few days or weeks in the front so you don't forget to use them.

Special thanks goes to Cincinnati Cents for compiling these deals. Remember to check your local ads for more deals and sales.