Live well for less. Reduce the cost of utilities, health care, financial planning, food, fashionable clothing, and anything else that we can help you with to live better for less. I promise to verify everything that is posted and to only keep information up that is actually functional, accurate, and ethical.
OK, you know we Americans eat out too often. It is quick and convenient. However, if you are on this blog, you want to live on less and do it in style.
Yes, my friend, you will lhave to take home the food and cook it.
Save money and trips to the market with these tips and tricks from Rebecca DiLiberto’s Penny Saving Household Helper. You’ll be surprised how simple it is to keep food at its best. 1. Line the bottom of your refrigerator’s crisper drawer with paper towels. They’ll absorb the excess moisture that causes vegetables to rot.
2. To keep herbs tasting fresh for up to a month, store whole bunches, washed and sealed in plastic bags, in the freezer. When you need them, they’ll be easier to chop, and they’ll defrost the minute they hit a hot pan. 3. A bay leaf slipped into a container of flour, pasta, or rice will help repel bugs.
4. Stop cheese from drying out by spreading butter or margarine on the cut sides to seal in moisture. This is most effective with hard cheeses sealed in wax. Plus: Browse our favorite cheese recipes and learn how cheese is made! 5. When radishes, celery, or carrots have lost their crunch, simply pop them in a bowl of iced water along with a slice of raw potato and watch the limp vegetables freshen up right before your eyes.
6. Avoid separating bananas until you plan to eat them – they spoil less quickly in a bunch.
7. Put rice in your saltshaker to stop the salt from hardening. The rice absorbs condensation that can cause clumps.
8. Stock up on butter when it’s on sale – you can store it in the freezer for up to six months. Pack the butter in an airtight container, so it doesn’t take on the flavor of whatever else you’re freezing.
9. In order to make cottage cheese or sour cream last longer, place the container upside down in the fridge. Inverting the tub creates a vacuum that inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes food to spoil. 10. Believe it or not, honey is the only nonperishable food substance, so don’t get rid of the stuff if it crystallizes or becomes cloudy. Microwave on medium heat, in 30-second increments, to make honey clear again. Bonus: We narrow down America's best local honey. 11. Prevent extra cooked pasta from hardening by stashing it in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerating. When you’re ready to serve, throw the pasta in boiling water for a few seconds to heat and restore moisture.
12. Keeping brown sugar in the freezer will stop it from hardening. But if you already have hardened sugar on your shelf, soften it by sealing in a bag with a slice of bread – or by microwaving on high for 30 seconds.
13. If you only need a few drops of lemon juice, avoid cutting the lemon in half – it will dry out quickly. Instead, puncture the fruit with a metal skewer and squeeze out exactly what you require. 14. If you’re unsure of an egg’s freshness, see how it behaves in a cup of water: Fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.
Even the dollar store has products that are top of the line performers. When shopping for effective anti-aging skin care products, look for skin transformers like retinol, retinyl palmitate, niacinamide, peptides, hexapeptides, tetrapeptides, and water retainers like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, essential fatty acids, sodium PCA, amino acids, asorbic acid, or glycosaminoglycans that improve the barrier function of the skin by attracting and binding water to it. An easy way to remember is
A B C D E.
Vitamin A- retinol
Vitamin B - niacinamide
Vitamin C - asorbic acid
Vitamin D - important for rebuilding hair, skin and nails
Vitamin E - moisturizing
Here are 10 low cost FREE gifts you can give your loved ones this year: 1. Gadget training. If you have less tech-savvy people on your Christmas list (i.e., anyone over the age of 15), give them something they desperately need -- training for their gadgets. Show them all of the features of their cell phone, how to record their favorite shows on their DVR, etc. 2. Babysit. When your tolerance for screaming kids exceeds your bank account balance, consider giving babysitting "coupons" that your friends can redeem. If you're a masochist, schedule a night where multiple families drop the kids off at your house. This way you're not giving up so much of your time.
3. Swap services. If you have smart but broke friends, this tip is for you. Have a friend who provides a valuable service such as personal training, financial planning, or computer consulting give you several one hour vouchers you can give to your friends. In return, you give your friend the same number of one hour vouchers for whatever service you provide. 4. Teach them. Now's your chance to be a know-it-all. Do you have a special skill such as speaking a foreign language or the ability to play an instrument? If so, you could provide weekly lessons for a month or six weeks. Bonus benefit: If you're a good teacher, they may just want to hire you at the end of their free lessons. 5. Start a book club. Tap into your inner Oprah. Offer to host a book club at your house every month. To avoid having to buy the books each month, download from thousands of free titles such as "Pride and Prejudice," "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Moby Dick" from Project Gutenberg or Amazon's free eBook program. 6. iTunes transfer. This can take some time, but for that special person, this is the ultimate gift! Import all of their CDs into iTunes for them (no, it's not piracy). 7. Be a host. Be the host with the most when you're the host with the least (cash, that is). This is an efficient gift because you can give it to all of the people on your list. Offer to host a monthly or quarterly party or game night at your place. Tell them you'll plan it, send the invites, etc. To make sure you're not spending money, require attendees to bring food and drink. 8. Share lottery winnings. If your idea of asset allocation revolves around having a mix of scratchers and Powerball lottery tickets, consider sharing one of the lottery tickets you've already purchased with those on your list. If you win, share the proceeds equally with everyone on your list. If you win really big, simply keep it all and get new friends. 9. Cook. Who doesn't love being served by a friend? Give those on your list the experience of eating out at home. Shop for the groceries (they pay), prepare and serve the meal, and then be sure to clean up. You might even get a free meal out of it. 10. Workout partner. They may both thank and curse you for this gift! Offer to be a workout partner to a friend. When you exercise with others you are more inclined to keep going even if you lose motivation. It's a superb gift that will also benefit you.
Whatever you decide, you don't have to feel guilty about not spending money -- I guarantee you that the less money you spend the more thought you'll put into the gift. And isn't that what Christmas is all about?
I love to shop. It is like a hunting trip for people who are not into guns. The trophy is defined by how much real quality you can bag for a very low price. First of all, stick to a list or you will impulsively overspend by bagging "good deals" that you don't really need. Sometimes I have an item on my "list" for months until I finally find the deal for a steal. It will happen, you just have to keep your eyes open and be patient. After the busy holidays are over, I will share some real success stories with you. I know there are many other online ways to compare pricing for identical items. Check Amazon and e-bay. Please post your favorites as comments here. Let's go bag the big one!
Just to help you get your holiday shopping tidied up quickly, here are a few strategies:
1. dealnews.com
2. woot.com
3. The sale or clearance area of any of your favorite retailers web site.
4. Always start at the back of the store or department that you are hunting in, rather than up front.
5. Look at the recent adds. Often they are the loss leaders to draw you into the store.
6. Buy the store label whenever you can rather than brand or designer. (goes for groceries and clothes)
7. Before you go to your favorite store, check online to see if they are offering a discount coupon.
8. Ask at the checkout if their are any coupons running. Sometimes the clerk will have an extra one she will scan in for your purchase.
9. I know some folks who Christmas shop all year and limit themselves to the Salvation Army Thrift store and Goodwill. It takes time, but they have more time than money and have found some very nice gifts that way.
10. Homemade gifts can backfire. I tried making organic cosmetics and toiletries. By the time I purchased all of the essential oils and jars, I could have bought better at full retail. Oh well, I had fun inventing some new potions, but lesson learned.
11. A gift of a homemade dinner or fancy dessert for a special occasion from your grill or kitchen would be really appreciated.
12. Keep stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and Gordman's in mind. They often have real designer treasures tucked in amongst the lower quality things.
13. Never pay full retail for anything if you can help it. Sometimes, even just asking "do you give a discount for cash?" will gain you a quick 10 or 20% off, even at the doctor's office.
Happy Hunting!
BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING - SELL or DONATE
Ask yourself if you really need this or just want it? Slow it down. It is just like going on a diet. Think about what you are eating, chew slowly, enjoy it, make a wise desicion. Just like loosing pounds, you can save dollars by going slowly. If the purchase really makes sense to you, as an act of discipline and orderliness, get rid of something else you no longer use. I used to hang onto baby clothes that I had enjoyed seeing my children in. The clothes were cute and not worn out, just outgrown. After a year or two of being packed away in a garage or attic, those cute things changed into something no one would put their baby into if they had a choice. Age doesn't do nice things to elastic, colors, softness and hidden soiling that begins to stain. Give those cute things away or sale them fast while the style and color is still "in". Get over the sentimental attachment, if you must take a picture and move on.
I have a large sack that I keep in my clothes closet. It is always in the process of being filled. An article of clothing that no longer fits well, a color that I decide is not flattering, a great quality jacket that is so dated, I can't bring myself to go outside in it. Sometimes being honest about what we must keep is a very emotional process. Obviously, I had to like something enough to pay for it at one point. Giving it up almost seems like throwing away my money. When the sack is there, the item is in a holding place where I can enjoy the newly claimed space, plus make certain I don't need what I put in the sack. When the sack is full, my favorite charities get the benefit and I get the write off. If you go to a re-sell shop, you will need to do it by season.
Remember, whether or not you enjoyed the item for a period of time, or learned a painful lesson about why you shouldn't have made the purchase in the first place, that item has served it's purpose in your life. It's time to say goodby. Now whether you re-sell it on Craig's list, or donate it to your church or local clothes closet or Goodwill, it is doing your pocket book some good. Your time is worth something if you have an outside job. Maybe it is better to donate (less time) and enjoy the tax write off. I have had some beautiful quality things that would have done well at the local resale store, but I don't enjoy taking my things in and having them evaluated. I much prefer to donate, even the very nice, newer designer things. My daughter, on the other hand, can take several things to a young person's resell shop and walk out with cash in hand. She feels rich, her closet is better off, and it doesn't bother her at all. You get to choose, just as long as you do one or the other.
Sell before you buy.
Before you buy anything you want, make it a habit to first sell something you no longer actively enjoy. Your garage and closets are full of stuff you no longer use. So before you go to the store or click that online "checkout" button, stop. Put off the purchase -- first, take some clothes to the consignment shop, or take a picture of something you're no longer using and put it on Craigslist. It only takes a minute.
As soon as it sells, apply the money to the purchase you were going to make. Now you've saved on something you wanted, and gotten rid of something you didn't.
If your travels bring you anywhere near Jackson County, Alabama, check out the unclaimed baggage store. This is the place where the contents, as well as the bags that never find their way home wind up. There is clothing and shoes, of course. But also expect great deals on cameras, sports equipment, kindles, and perfumes. People tend to pack the good stuff that is functional and fashionable when they travel. So I would expect the selection to be outstanding. Let me know if you get to make a personal visit. Better yet, invite me to go with you to check out this 40,000 SF store of real value!
When you're trying to save money, the dollar store can seem like a magical place. Abracadabra, everything's a buck or less! But just because something's inexpensive doesn't make it a good buy at such retail establishments.
Party Supplies: Dollar Store Deal
We went shopping to find out what's a good deal at the dollar store, and what's not:
Everything from party invitations to decorations to balloons are worth buying at the dollar store. For instance, foil balloons easily run from $3 to $8 a pop at party-supply stores, gift shops and supermarkets. But you can get them for $1 each -- helium included -- at the dollar store.
Goodie bags, party favors and color-coordinated paper plates, napkins, cups and plastic cutlery are also a good buy.
According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, the cleaners you buy at the dollar store work just fine. You probably won't find many name brands, but the ingredients are similar -- though perhaps more diluted. For everyday cleaning, they should do the trick. (For tougher cleaning jobs, you may have to spring for something more heavy-duty.)
You can also get a good deal on rubber gloves, sponges, and scrub brushes too.
Don't scoop up your vitamins at the dollar store. Consumer Reports found that dollar-store multi-vitamins didn't always have the amount of nutrients claimed on the label. And others didn't dissolve fast enough to be absorbed by the body. You may be better off getting vitamins from a well-known store brand, such as Rite Aid, Walgreens or CVS.
Greeting cards are nice, but are they really worth $4? We think it's the thought or sentiment that counts, not what you spend. Our local dollar store has a big selection of cards for every occasion, at 50-cents each. They're good-quality, too, so the recipient won't even guess that you scrimped.
While the dollar store has decent deals on many school supplies, we didn't find them to be much better than the prices at Walmart.
For pencils, notebooks, highlighters, crayons, glue sticks, scissors, sticky notes and more, it's best to stock up when they go on sale during back-to-school season (August-September). The rest of the year, you can hit either the dollar store or Walmart with confidence.
Whether you need to stuff Easter baskets or Valentine's day boxes, or you simply want to deck the halls for your favorite holiday, you might save a few bucks at the dollar store.
Seasonal paper plates and napkins (i.e. with pumpkins or Santa Claus on them) are also a good deal -- we found packs of 20 for $1. On decorations, bargains can be hit-or-miss and subject to opinion. For example, we found a set of icicle ornaments that looked beautiful on our tree this year, but the imitation pine wreaths looked too cheap and scraggly for our taste.
Babies are expensive from the very beginning. The cheapest pregnancy test at our local Walgreens cost $8. But you can get one at the dollar store for a buck. Both are 99% effective, both test for hormone levels with similar sensitivity. And at $1 a pop, you can afford to test and re-test as much as you like if you simply don't believe your eyes.
Consumer Reports warns that aspirin and other medications may be left on the shelf past their expiration dates. It also points out that some labels may not say where the medicine was manufactured.
While there haven't been any safety concerns about dollar-store meds, generic aspirin from your local pharmacy or supermarket is probably a better bet -- and may not cost too much more.
You can get a 20-foot roll of gift wrap at the dollar store for a buck, while you'll pay at least three times that at big-box and party-supply stores. Gift bags cost up to $5 at other stores, depending on size. But at the dollar store, all sizes are $1. We also found huge savings on tissue paper, up to 75% off prices elsewhere. And don't forget the Scotch tape!
It's tempting to buy toys for only $1. But there's definitely a trade-off in quality. Many dollar-store toys are cheaply made and they can be dangerous when they break. Baby toys should generally be avoided because they will go directly into the mouth, and dollar-store toys may have unsafe levels of lead and phthalates, which are a class of chemicals found in soft plastics.
You may be able to get these cheaper elsewhere. For example, our nearby dollar store sells Green Giant canned vegetables and Goya beans for $1 a can. But we found the exact same items at Walmart for less, and generic brands at even bigger savings. Dollar-store cake and brownie mixes come in smaller packages so watch the unit price. Also, you should keep an eye on the expiration dates on food at the dollar store. They may be near or past their freshness date.
Consumer Reports warns that dollar store electronics and extension cords may have fake UL labels and could be unsafe. It's better to spend a little extra for quality and safety. Also, cheap batteries may be prone to leakage, or may not run your gadgets as long as pricier brands. Many dollar stores sell carbon-zinc batteries which are less efficient than the alkaline variety.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The average American has saved less than 7 percent of his desired retirement nest egg and will likely have to keep working in retirement to supplement his income.
Middle-class Americans think they need $300,000 to fund their retirement, but on average have only saved $20,000, according to a survey released on Wednesday by Wells Fargo & Co.
"Middle class" is defined as those aged 30 to 69 with $40,000 to $100,000 in household income or $25,000 to $100,000 in investable assets and those aged 25 to 29 with income or investable assets of $25,000 to $100,000.
"Too many Americans have their heads in the sand in the face of obvious savings deficits," said Laurie Nordquist, director of Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement Trust. "Barring a miracle, a winning lottery ticket or a big inheritance, they're going to be forced to dramatically cut back their lifestyles after retirement."
Even those fast approaching retirement age are not well-funded. Respondents aged 50 to 59 have saved an average of only $29,000 for retirement.
Consequently, more than a third of respondents believe they will have to work during retirement in order to afford the things they want or just to make ends meet.
Many are also still relying on Social Security to fill the gap, though confidence in this funding varies considerably by age.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents aged 50 to 59 believe that Social Security will contribute to their retirement income, while only 22 percent of 30-somethings thought there would be enough left in the pot to fund their retirement.
The vast majority of respondents admitted they need help figuring out how much money they need to live on in retirement and picking investments for their 401(k)s. But in a negative twist for financial advisers, more than two-thirds said they were not willing to pay for this advice.
This puts more responsibility on employers to offer advice and planning tools through their workplace 401(k) plans, said Nordquist.
"If people aren't willing to pay for advice they are going to get a more vanilla approach to planning," she said. "But a simple plan is better than no plan."
(Reporting by Helen Kearney, editing by Matthew Lewis)
Have you ever wondered what that saying meant? I think it is switched from the way I wrote it, but there is a reason. Of course, neither option sounds like fun. Here is my take on this old saying: If you are under some heat it is uncomfortable. Burning and painful. You are being consumed. I had always assumed this saying meant that you just switched from one bad thing to another equally bad thing. But I don't think so any more. What comes from fire is ashes. Total consumption. What comes from the frying pan, after a heated process, is something nurishing and something good for you and your family. So the wisdom for out of the fire and into the frying pan is this:
Pay off debt.
Highest interest rate first.
This is your get out of jail strategy. You may have a budgetted morsel for a bit of fun for yourself, but just a bit. Discipline yourself and pay that interest bearing debt off. We are going to have a party when it is retired.
