Penny Pinching

Learn how to stop paying for postage, and get a higher customer adoption rate

2013-08-07T20:10:00.000-04:00

Learn how to stop paying for postage, and get a higher customer adoption rate

Yes, you read that right! It’s not that postage is going down – in fact, expect postage rates to climb as service slows down due to cost-saving closures by the USPS. No, the reason your mailing and printing costs are going to go down is due to a new form of technology called iPDF Billing offered exclusively by CTP Solutions.

Whereas you may have previously relied on printed, mailed statements to your customers, you now have the option of sending interactive electronic statements or a combination of electronic and printed statement to your customers. The great thing is, there’s a 35% - 50% electronic adoption rate for typical customers because the iPDF technology also offers them many great benefits.

For instance, customers can interact with their invoices in several ways:

accessing their payment histories
asking questions through a linked chat button to your customer service team
learning about limited-time promotions your company is offering
taking advantage of offers from your ‘paid’ affiliate advertisers.

Yes, I said ‘paid.’ What that means is that you can actually derive advertising revenue simply by offering unused ‘white space’ to others to market their products/services.

Plus, the iPDF technology allows you to modify and personalize the invoices you send out through its highly-flexible customer control of images, offers, and messaging using a graphical user interface.

Through the delivery of an interactive PDF (iPDF), you’ll be seeing costs going down and increased efficiencies for your company, your marketing and customer service team, and your document recipients.

Picture this: immediate delivery of invoices with no postage expense, less customer calls questioning bills and faster payments back to you. Sound good?

Join us on September 18, 2013 at (time of webinar) for our free, hour-long webinar entitled, “Electronic Billing: How it Can Improve Your Bottom-line .” To sign up for the webinar or for more information prior to our webinar, please contact Jack Schachtel email jschachtel@CTPsolutions.com or call me at: 818-597-1222 ext. 304

Payday Loans: A Short-Term Financing Solution

2013-07-07T20:06:00.001-04:00

To gain the most benefits from using a payday loan, it is always necessary to understand the basics and details about the loan first. In this part, we are going to discuss how payday loans are designed as short-term financing solutions that can be used to help you deal with financial emergencies effectively. The cost of using a payday loan is very easy to understand; you pay a certain amount of interest and fee for every £100 you borrow. No additional costs or charges to worry about as long as you repay the payday cash advance on time. The loan term can be set from as little as 15 days to a full 90 days depending on the lender’s policy. From the loan term alone we can conclude that payday loans are in fact designed for short-term use only. Now that you know about the nature of payday loans, review your current financing need and see if a payday cash advance is the right solution to use. Questions such as “will I be able to repay the loan within 30 days without disturbing the following month’s budget?” and “how much loan should I take out?” can be used to help you determine whether payday loan is the suitable financing option. Use payday loans as a short-term financing option can you will be able to gain tons of benefits and save a lot of money in the process. The fact that payday loans can be taken out in a matter of hour simply makes the financing option even more appealing.

how do you save money fast

2013-03-07T20:32:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it seems impossible to put a little money away for a rainy day when you barely have enough to cover the bills. Chances are you can find a place in your budget to squeeze a bit tighter. As Benjamin Franklin said “a penny saved is a penny earned”. Even if it is only a small amount, it is better to save a little and watch it grow than nothing at all. Discipline is important when it comes to squeezing your budget. Examine your expenditures for things you could possibly do without. Find ways to decrease what you do spend. Lastly, put that hard saved money somewhere where you will not be tempted to use it for frivolous things.

The line between needs and wants can get fuzzy sometimes. Really think about your standard of living and the reasons you spend what you do. If shopping is therapeutic for you, it is time to find a new stress reliever. Don’t completely cut fun out of your budget. But you can decrease the amount you spend on fun by going to the matinee instead of an evening showing at the movie theater. Check out your local library for entertainment. Pack a lunch for work instead of going out. Finding money to save is easy if you look carefully.

Finding money to save on your needs is easily done as well. Make a menu and shop for only the groceries you need. Eat before you go or you will be tempted to buy costly snacks. Shopping for clothing and other non-food items at garage sales or thrift stores saves a bundle. Take care of your car so that it will perform efficiently, or take public transportation. Review bills for unneeded services and cancel them. Cut down on subscriptions to magazines and newspapers. Clip coupons to save on items you buy. Search the internet for deals and savings. Refinance your mortgage or relocate to a less expensive apartment.

When you begin finding money to save, make sure that you have specific goals in mind. Dedicate an account to saving for a house, car, or other worthy goal. Don’t be tempted to use the money for something else. Emergencies arise, but don’t sacrifice your pinched pennies. Creatively find another way to take care of emergencies. Putting your savings into interest earning accounts helps your money to grow. Many higher yielding accounts make it harder for you to withdraw, adding a safety margin to temptation.

Money Saving Tips

2013-02-28T18:45:00.001-05:00

Save money shopping at outlet stores. These "outlet stores or malls" are owned buy the manufacturers and cut out the middleman thus saving you money. Niagara Falls, NY has the "Fashion Outlets".

Eating healthy and exercising regularly will save money on doctor's fees. Brush your teeth regularly. Dentist fees are expensive and toothaches are painful!

Return empty aluminum cans to the grocery store.

Save money on items when they are out of season. For example, winter jackets are cheapest in May. Save money the day after holidays:

purchase party supplies on Jan 2ND
purchase Valentine's cards on Feb 15TH
purchase Halloween candy on Nov 1ST
purchase Christmas decorations on Dec 26TH

School supplies are the cheapest a week or two before school.

Buy gasoline and groceries at the Indian reservation. I buy Pepsi there without deposit or tax. I can then turn around and collect deposit at the grocery store.

Try not to break fifty or one-hundred dollar bills. It will be harder to spend them. Don't cash your paycheck until you need it. Remember though it has to be cashed within a certain number of days.

Read blogs and watch YouTube videos on how to save money.

Know the difference between cheap and frugal. Being too cheap with your money can jeopardize the most important areas of your life such as health and relationships. Frugality is about managing your money intelligently. Knowing when to spend how much on what.

Be tight on expenses, but generous on people.

What is the Secret?

2013-01-24T17:50:00.000-05:00

The Secret is a 2006 self-help film (also available on paperback) by Rhona Byrne demonstrating the "law of attraction."

The law of attraction basically states whatever you focus on consistently you will attract into your life.

The Secret teaches the watered down version of the law of attraction, but it gives novices an idea.

Bashar is an expert on the law of attraction:

Steve Pavlina is a self-help guru. He teaches how to apply the law of attraction quite effectively:

Save Money On Car Repair DIY

2012-11-15T21:46:00.000-05:00

I was pulled over last Sunday night by a police officer. He informed me that one of my headlights was out. I was let go provided I get fixed it immediately. I didn't even receive a ticket.

The next day I called Firestone. They informed me the cost of parts and labor totaled $45.

I logged on to YouTube and found a video that showed me how to replace the headlight bulb myself. I am totally in the dark when it comes to car repair. This however was a piece of cake. The headlight bulb cost me $12 and it took me less than 5 minutes to install.

I don't believe Firestone was trying to rip me off. I don't know the first thing about car repair. Firestone does and they can charge a hefty amount for that knowledge. But sometimes that knowledge can be learned by a novice quickly and save him or her 75% or more.

The same thing applies to computer repair. I am advanced in this field. I know upgrading a memory chip in you computer is as easy as plugging it into the motherboard. But alot of people don't know this and the sales rep at Best Buy probably isn't going to tell you because he wants you to bring your computer there for repair.

You could also pay friend who is an expert. I'm sure someone would have replaced my headlight bulb if I threw them $20. I still would have saved $13.

pinchyourpennies.com

2012-01-31T23:27:00.001-05:00

Pinchyourpennies.com has a forum on screaming deals in your neighborhood.

RetailMeNot is a website that allows you to search for coupon codes. Research here before making any purchase online.

Spendster.org is a humorous website about impulse spending horror stories.

They have coined the phrase "spendster". A spendster is someone, who in a moment of weakness buys something they think they really need and realize later they made a bad choice. A spendster might waste money using credit cards, not budgeting or purchasing an item and never using it.

Spendster.org has tons of videos documenting "spendsters" and their impulse purchases, a featured blogger section and a spending calculator thats determines how much money spendsters waste. This website gives a whole new meaning to "A fool and his money are soon parted".

A bargain hunter site is a website that offers huge deals and rebates online or in local stores. You can sometimes find items to resell on Ebay. Spoofee is my favorite.

Here is a list of top bargain hunter sites:

http://www.whatsyourdeal.com
http://www.bradsdeals.com
http://www.dealdetectives.com
http://dealnews.com
http://www.dealsea.com
http://www.dealsway.com
http://www.dealtaker.com
http://www.fatwallet.com
http://www.gotapex.com
http://www.keepcash.com
http://www.markdownmonkey.com
http://www.quicktoclick.com
http://www.redflagdeals.com
http://www.slickdeals.net
http://www.spoofee.com
http://www.stealzone.com
http://www.wireddeals.com
http://www.thecouponauthority.com

John Cummuta

2012-01-31T23:24:00.001-05:00

John Cummuta

I highly recommend the "Transforming Debt Into Wealth" system by John M. Cummuta. I have two of the VHS from a complete kit.

I don't really see how it turns debt into wealth, but it's an amazing system for eliminating debt very VERY rapidly. It has nothing to do with debt consolidation, a loan or anything like that. "Transforming Debt Into Wealth" is not the conventional system credit couseling companies use for reducing debt. They usually work on eliminating the high interest debt first. John Cummuta uses what he calls an "accelerator margin". A typical $60,000 annual income household with $151,639 in total debt, including their mortgage, could be completely debt free without credit cards, owning their home, two cars, and everything else in their lives in just 5 years 9 months!

This system is rather expensive though. I recommend it if you are serious about debt reduction. It goes for over $100 on eBay, but I was lucky enough to get it for a couple of bucks at the Salvation Army. There is an entire kit which I haven't seen, but I learned more then enough about eliminating debt from just one of the two VHS.

Cat Litter Box

2012-01-31T23:16:00.001-05:00

Fresh Step is the only kitty litter I use. It is probably not the cheapest, but I have tried almost every other brand and it's not worth the aggravation or the inconvenience. Fresh Step not only masks the odor of cat urine but it actually deodorizes the room! It also clumps very well.

I am not flushing cat litter down the toilet anymore. That is the only downside of Fresh Step. It WILL clog the toilet. You barely smell cat urine or poo with Fresh Step, so I just dispose of my cat's finished by-product in the waste basket that I keep next to his cat box.

I don't use a hand scooper anymore either. My roommate bought me a Lift n'Sift Cat Litter Pan. This consists of three pans stacked on top of each other. The first pan sifts the waste separating it from the second. If you are using Fresh Step and dump the cat litter from pan to pan it activates the fresh scent. It seems like the kitty litter lasts alot longer too.

Soap Chips

2012-01-31T23:10:00.001-05:00

house cleaning tips and tricks to save money

Microwave Soap Chips

Save your bars of soap after they have whittled down to soap chips. Place the soap chips in a microwavable dish with about 2 tablespoons of water. Microwave until melted. Remove the clump of soap and give it 1 hour to solidify. wallah! A new bar of soap!

Hang your washed and wet clothes outside to dry instead of using a dryer.

Use newspaper with Windex to clean your mirrors and windows. You will save on paper towels and the ink from the newspaper will polish your windows without streaking.

Make your own window cleaner with 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water.

Some of my favorite cleaning products you will find at Walmart. You will get your money's worth:

Equate is Walmart's generic brand
Pine Sol household cleaning agent - Must be brand name Pine-sol!
Spic and Span all-purpose household cleanser - dollar store
Renuzit Air Freshener 94¢ - make sure it says "odor killer" - Walmart
Glade Air Freshener Spray 99¢ - again make sure it say "eliminates odors" - Walmart
I may change or update these choices in the future.

Buy cleaning supplies at the dollar store, but don't sacrifice quality for savings. For example, I will not buy Q-tips, garbage bags, or room deodorizers from the dollar store. The Q-tips barely have any cotton to them and the room deodorizers have a pungent smell and only disguise odors. I will buy Aim toothpaste.

Toilet train your cat to save on kitty liter.

Barter services. If you don't have a washing machine and your neighbor doesn't have a lawn mower, tell him you'll mow his lawn if he let's you use his washing machine.

nbcdfw.com

2011-08-24T00:01:00.001-04:00

NBC Dallas-Fort Worth brings you the news from around Texas right at the click of your mouse. Latest updates on what James Cameron is up to for his upcoming venture, how the Rangers react to harassment by fans or simply watching cops unraveling a bomb plot. You can find out all what is happening in Texas and around it right at NBC Dallas-Fort worth.

Be it news, entertainment or any event organized around town, NBCDFW will deliver first hand information to its viewers. You may want to know about the Taliban in the Orakzai tribal region, so who would you turn to for some great information? NBCDFW brings in news from remote corners of the world because they can fathom your thirst for information. They would go as far as you would to give you tit bits about the happening in the world.

NBCDFW works as a channel that connects you to the rest of the world by bringing you news of the latest political rancor, or how cliff Lee took over Chuck Norris and getting you reviews of what new is happening around town. Find out the review on the latest movies and find out what’s hot to watch and what’s not. It gives you the breaking news and lets you know what new is happening that you should be aware of. With this news website you can connect to all that the city has to offer.

The site is neatly divided into separate sections so that it is easy for you to browse. If you want news from current affairs or sports or entertainment you can count on them to get you the latest updates. They use large images at the center of their homepage to give you a good view about the news they are about to offer you. They say ‘a picture is worth a 1000 words’ and NBC Dallas-Fort Worth truly symbolizes this famous saying. They, however, give full credit to the source of the section that they provide information on. Readers will find their information organized under the main sections like news, entertainment, around town and video.

As a visitor you may search through their website if you are looking for some specific information on any specific event. Their search box allows you to dig out old news bits from their archive. You can also browse through their smaller categories like local beat that features all news about the city of Dallas-Fort Worth. These smaller categories feature celebrity news, movie reviews, weird stuff, breaking news, music, information on food and drinks and fashion, shopping events, real estate, weather forecasts, newsletters and so on and so forth.

NBC Dallas-Fort Worth constantly updates its site to bring you the top news stories from all over the world. They have their dedicated staff working in different locations and use the latest multimedia technologies to get its readers updated information on anything that is happening in and around the city. You could send them story tips if you have any and create an account with them to get the latest news inputs. Rely on them to connect you with the rest of the world and keep yourself updated as they update their site with new information that you would love to have.

Save The Pennies

2011-06-22T02:44:00.001-04:00

Save The Pennies

Record ALL expenditures, no matter how small. A 99 cent cup of coffee every day adds up to $361.35 per year. Tiny leaks sink big ships.

Cut back on luxuries and entertainment expenses. Don't cut out.

Remember there is a difference between frugal and stingy. Be tight on expenses, but generous on people.

It's not how much you make. It's how much you spend.

It doesn't matter if you earn one hundred thousand per year or ten thousand per year. If you don't spend your money wisely, you will always be broke.

Penny Pinching Coupons

2011-06-14T16:06:00.001-04:00

Coupons can be a great way to save money. They are usually a ticket of some kind and provide a discount, rebate, or special offer. They can be obtained in mailers, newspapers, magazines, and online. Text messages and email are increasingly popular means of distribution as well. In 1887, Coca-Cola was the first company to hand out tickets offering free drinks. Nobody could resist free, and the rest is history. Deals and discounts are offered on anything you could wish to buy. Caution is advised however, deals sometimes end in spending more money rather than saving it.

Finding deals is practically effortless. They come to you unsolicited in the mailbox and the morning paper. They are in your favorite monthly magazine and local newsletters. They pile up on your desk looking like junk mail, but promising savings for whatever you might buy. To avoid the pile up, look through them as soon as they come. Keep a wallet or envelope dedicated to coupons. Some even organize them further with tabbed sections for cold cereal, canned vegetables, or salad dressing. If it becomes overwhelming, you might narrow your collection to the things you buy most. Or look for deals on things you are specifically shopping for.

Numerous internet sites are dedicated to ‘promotional codes’ and printable pages of savings. You can find a discount to anything you are shopping for, online, or off. Using those magical tickets is simple. Present them to the cashier and save money. You may want to present them before making the purchase, as they could require special steps for the cashier. Watch your total going down as each coupon is deducted from your bill. Sometimes it may seem useless to try when the discount is only thirty cents. Keep in mind that it all adds up. A little bit of clipping and organization on your part will result in great savings.

There are some inconveniences to coupons. Don’t forget that they are marketing ploys. Sometimes we are tempted to buy stuff simply because we have a coupon for it. In this case, extra money might be spent rather than saving it. If you want to save money, collect savings tickets for things you buy regularly. Most deals are on things that are less necessary like microwave popcorn rather than eggs. But if your family loves microwave popcorn, and you keep the pantry stocked with it, that’s when the real savings happen.

What The Bible Says About Money

2011-06-13T21:37:00.000-04:00

What the Bible says about money

Giving:

Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive

Proverbs 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously

Debt:

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, The borrower is slave to the lender

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law

Spending:

Proverbs 21:20 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty

Worshiping money:

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money)

1 Timothy 6:6-7 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it

Integrity:

Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

How To Save Money On Everything

2011-06-11T23:33:00.001-04:00

Learning how to save money is like any other education. Get a little knowledge, then practice, practice, practice. Trial and error will be the best teacher. Saving money is not something you do it is a way of life. Examine yourself carefully. Be honest in determining your wants and needs. Writing out a budget and sticking to it can eliminate those expenses that slip through your fingers. Debt can be death to saving money. Get in control of debt, or it will control you. Invest and save so that money will be a tool not a task master.

Writing up a budget is the first step in learning how to save money. Know what your income is and where every dollar will go. Having a budget is one thing, but sticking to it requires work. Keep all financial paperwork carefully organized. Some banks and credit unions offer online budget capabilities. In an electronic era where money comes and goes without you even noticing, make a point of being aware. Put things that are important to you in your budget like eating out and going to the movies. Budgets that deny a little fun money are likely to fail.

Borrowing money can seem to fulfill dreams, but in the end it can make those dreams into nightmares. The bottom line is, don’t buy something you don’t have the money for or can’t guarantee that you’ll have the money for soon. Interest can compound until you are paying hardly any of the original purchase. If you do borrow, be smart. Read all the fine print and make sure that you can stick to the terms for your own benefit. Lenders know how to make money off of you. Superior offers are made to entice you. That might be a great opportunity, or the death of your budget.

Examine yourself carefully. Most of learning how to save money will be seeing where you can change. Trim the fat from your spending habits. Find a way to get stuff for free or at a discount. Do you really need a car, satellite TV, or that fast food stop? On a budget these costs may look small, but add them up over the course of twelve months and they inflate. Find a cheaper apartment or refinance a mortgage. Consolidate debts or take a higher deductible on insurance policies. Make sure to put a little money into savings or investments. Let your money work for you earning interest.

Economy These Days

2011-06-03T09:05:00.000-04:00

With the Economy These Days, How Can I Keep My Life Style Without Hurting My Finance?

Let's face it; the economy is simply different than it was only a few short years ago. With the financial climate changing rapidly and unpredictably, it can be hard to figure out what to do. It is becoming harder and harder for people to maintain their current lifestyles without feeling a financial strain. While long term solutions can be complicated, a short term solution is a payday loan.

This type of loan can give you access to a portion of your next paycheck before it actually arrives and can help you out of an emergency financial situation. These loans can help you stay on top of bills and finances, ensuring that you do not have to give up the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed. A payday loan can be instrumental if you get behind on car payments, mortgage payments, utility bills, or if you have unexpected expenses.

Unlike most loans, these loans are guaranteed by your paychecks and many companies withdraw repayment automatically on your next pay day. Some companies even allow repayment over a series of checks, ensuring that you get the money you need without losing a large portion of your next check. These loans are not meant for every day spending, but they can certainly help you maintain your standard of living in the event that you get behind on your expenses.

Does Unit Price Save You Money?

2011-06-02T23:37:00.000-04:00

How To Figure The Grocery Unit Price

It is smart to purchase groceries on sale or when you have coupons. But it is more important to read the unit price.

The unit price is basically how much product you are getting for your money.

A unit could be one pound, one ounce, one liter etc. Most of the time, it is cheaper to buy multiples of an item than individually.

Most major supermarket chains have the unit price written underneath the full price in smaller print with a colored background.

To find an item's unit price, divide the cost of the item by the number of units.

Which is a better deal?

A toilet paper roll on sale for $1. The regular price is $1.69.

OR

Four rolls of the same toilet paper for $3. The regular price is $3.

Obviously the second example is the cheaper, but do we always check the unit price for all of the items we purchase? I think subconsciously we always go for the sale. Whenever I go shopping, I spend time going through every unit price to find the cheapest.

Look for quality first. Don't just buy the lowest unit price.

Recap of the example above:

A toilet paper roll on sale for $1. (Unit price: $1 per roll)

Four rolls of the same toilet paper for $3. (Unit price: 75 cents per roll)

Pinching Pennies

2011-06-02T23:23:00.000-04:00

You are strolling through the shopping mall on a busy Saturday afternoon. As you pass by your favorite store, you see a brand new 42 inch plasma television. It's calling your name. You just received your tax return and you can easily afford this. This is the moment when you should be aware of the questions popping into your head. The idea is to "talk yourself out" of making an impulse shopping purchase.

Most shoppers would ask: Do I need this? Yes. I've always wanted one.
A frugal shopper would ask: Do I need this? No. I already have a television. I always wanted one, but I can wait.

Most shoppers would ask: Can I wait? No. I have the money and now is my chance.
A frugal shopper would ask: Can I wait. Yes. The price will eventually drop in a few months. I will wait until it's on sale.

A frugal shopper would ask: Can I buy this cheaper somewhere else? Most definitely. I will check on Ebay when I get home.

A frugal shopper would ask: Is there an cheaper alternative or product I can buy? Yes. This isn't the only plasma television left in the whole world. What if Consumer Reports rated this the worst plasma television ever? I should do some research first.

A frugal shopper would ask: Is this item extremely and ridiculously cheap? Is this my only chance to buy it at this price? This is the question where I give myself permission sometimes to make a purchase. The point of this exercise is not to deprive yourself of every luxury and every bit of happiness. The point is to make intelligent decisions consistently. If you spend $1000 on a plasma television without thinking twice, you're an idiot. If you come across a 42 inch plasma television for $100 and don't buy it, you are an even bigger idiot.

A frugal shopper would ask: Will this save me time and/or energy? No. It will probably cost me time and energy.

A frugal shopper would ask: Can I MAKE money on this purchase? No.

A frugal shopper would ask: Am I buying this for an emotional reason? (stress, boredom, to impress others)

More questions that will prevent impulse shopping:

Fellow frugal shopper Debbie added more questions:

Why do I want this? Is there some better way to achieve this goal?

Can you make or repair (or find!) something you already have instead of buying this?

Can I make or save money on this purchase? If it is a tool that will allow you to reduce or forego expenditures in the future, it may not make you money but may still be a good investment.

Can I borrow or rent or share or trade for this instead of buying? Or before buying to make sure I'd really use it? I use this tactic for movies on dvd. If I'm going to watch it once, I'll spend $3 at Blockbuster. If I'm going to watch it 100 times, I'll just buy the damn thing.

Will this last? Is this good value for the money? Quality is sometimes more important then price. I would buy a $250 dollar pair of work boots vs. a $50 pair if they will last longer.

Is this well designed or will it drive me nuts after a while? If clothing or furniture, will it fit?

Always keep your receipt. If you fail the 8 question test, you can always make a return.

Yard Sales

2011-03-11T03:34:00.001-05:00

An excellent way to save money is to patrol the neighborhood for garage and yard sales.

Preparation. Garage sales usually begin on Friday and end on Sunday. You should begin preparation on Thursday night. I can hit every garage sale in my city within one day.

1. Purchase a local newspaper. Turn to the garage sales section or see if your local newspaper is online.
2. Highlight every garage sale within 15 miles of your home.
3. Rewrite the garage sales onto a sheet of paper and categorize them by the following:

The day of the garage sale: Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday.

The time the garage sale ends. Some garage sales end as early as 2pm. You don't want to miss those.

Specific items you are looking for. If they advertise an item you want badly in the newspaper, chances are it won't be there long, so get there early. Get there 15 minutes early each day. (unless the newspaper ad specifically states "no early birds")

Plan your route. Try to save time and gas by taking the shortest route between garage sales. Use Mapquest or Yahoo Maps.

If you pass a garage sale that wasn't advertised stop and visit that one. It may have been visited by fewer people meaning there may be better stuff.

Haggling. Always try to negotiate 20% off higher priced items. Purchase multiple garage sale items at once. People will usually give you a better deal. Never insult the person, e.g., offering $2.00 for an item they are asking $20.00. Don't look anxious to buy.

Purchasing for yourself. You can save tons of money at garage sales once you get the hang of it. I recently bought 30 light bulbs for $3.00. Find a department store with those kind of prices. I will probably never have to buy another light bulb as long as I live.

Purchasing to resell. Garage sales are a great place to find items to resell on Ebay or at flea markets. The profit margins can be insane! Last weekend I bought Weeds Season 2 on Blu-Ray for $3.00. I will turn around and sell it for $20 on Ebay. A few words of caution... You have to know your stuff. For example, I would never buy antiques personally because I don't know the first thing about them.

The age and condition of an item is extremely important. A rare brand new item sells for ALOT more then one in excellent condition. If you come across something that you can no longer buy in stores or a piece to a missing set, it might be valuable on ebay.

Replacements.com buys China, Crystal, Silver & Collectibles.

Update: 08/22/2008 I just sold Weeds Season 2 on Blu-Ray for $17.50 on Half.com!

Penny Pinching Tips

2011-01-16T23:52:00.001-05:00

There are many words describing a person who is mindful economically, like penny pinching or cheap. Frugal is the best sounding one and the least negative. It connotes environmentally sound practices, efficiency, and people who can suppress gratification. Usually this type of person is aware and above advertising schemes and social pressures. You don’t have to be a hermit to save money. You don’t even have to have lofty goals of saving the planet or contributing to the needy. All you need is a little self-control and then you can watch the savings begin.

Many consider frugality to be a virtue, so whether you’re trying to or not, being frugal might make you a better person. Now let’s get to the part where you save money. Budgeting is the first step if you want to save money. You must know how much money you have and how much you can spend. Then you must not spend any more, otherwise you will lose any benefit you might gain by penny pinching. Look online for budget calculators to help you get started. You might also try some books for of ideas where you can cut the fat and get the most out of what you’ve got.

Shop the clearances and sales for the stuff you need to buy. For extra savings look for coupons, join a rewards program, and sign up for emails (these often have exclusive offers). Or you could undertake a special challenge to reduce your expenditures like quit smoking, eating out only on special occasions, or only buying absolute needs for a month. Learning to cook is a great way to be frugal and it creates much less land fill waste. Really challenge yourself by learning how to preserve your favorite fruit when it is in season and less expensive. Or grow it yourself in the garden.

With all this self-discipline, you might get sick and tired of trying to be frugal. But don’t give up. Leave some room for relaxation. Budget a little money each paycheck for yourself. Even if it is a tiny bit, maybe in a few months you can go to the spa for the day. Having a reason for scrimping helps you get through the less interesting days of denial. Make exciting goals as well as needed ones. It is worthy to be cheap so that you can get out of debt, but that won’t help you much when you are tempted. Set aside a little reward money so that when you are debt free, you can celebrate.

how long does frozen food last?

2011-01-15T00:17:00.003-05:00

American Cheese Pasteurized Processed Slices Individually Wrapped

refrigerated 1-2 months
frozen 3 months

White Bread Commercially Baked Pre-Sliced Open or Unopened

refrigerated 5-7 days
frozen 3 months

Pasta - Cooked Leftovers

refrigerated 3-5 days
frozen 1-2 months

Beef, (Ground) Hamburger - Fresh, Raw

refrigerated 1-2 days
frozen 3-4 months

Pork, (Ground) - Fresh, Raw

refrigerated 1-2 days
frozen 3-4 months

Apple Pie - Freshly Baked

pantry 2 days
refrigerated 2-3 days after pantry storage
freezer 6-8 months

Cake, Baked - Purchase Commercially Frozen

frozen 1 year

Rice, White - Cooked

refrigerated 5-7 days
freezer 6 months

Veal Ribs - Cooked

refrigerated 3-4 days
freezer 2-3 months

You can find more food expiration dates at stilltasty!

Thrift Store

2011-01-05T01:04:00.003-05:00

"A penny saved is a penny earned" is an idiom coined by Benjamin Franklin. It basically means earning a certain amount of money is no different than saving that same amount. Do you know how true that is?

For example, I recently purchased a beautiful coffee table at the Salvation Army for $20. It's made of wood with a mint condition glass table-top. It could easily retail for $60 so I saved around $40 by purchasing it at a thrift shop.

There are two ways I could have made enough money to purchase this coffee table:

work an eight hour shift and buy it at retail price
buy it second hand and save $40

How do you find it used or on sale? You don't. You let the coffee table find you. I never left the house that morning thinking "I am going to find a deal on a coffee table." Instead, I went to the Salvation Army thinking "I am going to hunt for a deal on something." I didn't care what it was e.g. coffee table, clothes or furniture.

Shop regularly at the Salvation Army, Goodwill, consignment shops and yard sales. Only buy items when you can save 50% or more and when you don't need it.

Dishwashing Soap

2010-12-28T01:07:00.001-05:00

I don't have one negative thing to say about Dawn Direct Foam dish-washing soap.

It costs about two dollars at Target. I usually don't pay that much dish-washing soap, but I had a coupon. Because Dawn Direct Foam dispenses a sudsy lather and not a liquid, you will use a considerable less amount. One shot of foam cleans an entire sink of dishes as opposed to liquid. One bottle contains 250 pumps.

The only fragrances I have seen for Dawn Direct Foam are Fresh Rapids and Citrus. They smell unbelievably pleasant. Refill the used and empty bottle. The unique pump will convert regular dish-washing soap into foam.

Dawn Direct Foam cuts through grease, saves you time and energy.

ReplayTV

2010-12-28T00:30:00.002-05:00

If you like to watch television then you must buy a digital video recorder (DVR). I use the Panasonic Showstopper ReplayTV. There is also the TIVO by Sony, but I have never used it.

The Panasonic Showstopper ReplayTV allows you to record your favorite television programs so you can watch them later. You can search for programs by the name of the show, actors or actresses or any other keywords you can think of. For example, if you type in "Alicia Silverstone" it will record every single sit-com, movie, talk show etc. with Alicia Silverstone in it. You can create never ending lists of keywords and phrases. It has a built it TV guide which updates every night via your phone line or high speed internet.

You can get one new on eBay for under $150. There are two subscription options: $12.95 per month or $299 one time subscription fee. Why you would choose to pay $12.95 per month is beyond me. The $299 fee pays for itself within 2 years. Don't subscribe to Time Warner's or DirecTV's DVR service either. You will pay monthly and have to rent the recorder.

The Panasonic Showstopper ReplayTV records onto an actual computer hard drive, so if you're computer savvy, you can upgrade to a larger hard drive by doing it yourself.

The ReplayTV will give you more entertainment for your money. You will also save time by not having to flip through channels looking for something to watch.

VFINX Price Everyday

2010-12-24T02:07:00.002-05:00

1. Buy low and sell high.

2. Diversify. Don't place all of your eggs in one basket.

Invest in multiple:

stocks
mutual funds
index funds
401K
start up your own business

You will reduce the risk of losing everything.

Don't trade everyday. There is no such thing as market timing.

3. Use dollar cost averaging. Invest the same amount of money weekly or monthly no matter the stock price. Dollar cost averaging is an investing technique intended to reduce exposure to risk associated with making a single large purchase. The idea is simple: spend a fixed dollar amount at regular intervals on a particular investment or portfolio/part of a portfolio, regardless of the share price. In this way, more shares are purchased when prices are low and fewer shares are bought when prices are high. This in turns lessens long-term risk (e.g., investing a large amount in a single investment at the wrong time). Since in general the market goes up, this is widely considered a safe investing strategy over the long term, although other factors can of course come into play.

4. Take advantage of time and compound interest.

4. Only invest in stocks of companies that you love. Wait until the stock is down 50% or more to buy.

5. Invest in the Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX).

6. Always buy "no load" mutual funds and never buy mutual funds from a bank. Stock brokers don't necessarily try to scam you, but they have to put the interest of the bank above you. Study investing and do it yourself.

7. Invest knowing you will make money and not hoping you will.