Pennysaverblog – Page 318 – Smart Finance and Money Saving Tips

Our Frugal Summer Vacation

In response to the Summer Road Trip Challenge I posted earlier this month, I wanted to fill you in on how it turned out.

We had a fantastic time visiting several national parks throughout the southwestern U.S. As planned, we camped along the way, and because we spent most of our time in the desert, we didn’t have to deal with a lot of rain. Instead of rain, we experienced extreme heat with temperatures up to 43 degrees Celsius.

We brought along $2200 and we ended up spending $1030 for our trip. We also did a bit of shopping and spent $263 on shoes and a few other items. We were happy to discover that gasoline is quite a bit cheaper in the U.S. than in Canada, and when you are driving more than 8000 kilometers, it makes a huge difference.

June 27, 2010

Investing

Investing For Later When Times Are Tough

There is nothing quite like tough economic times to bring frugality into brilliant focus. Survival issues drive every decision. Priorities suddenly assume an importance beyond what was ever thought possible. Health issues give way to paying the rent or putting food on the table. The price of gasoline reduces driving a car to when it is only absolutely necessary. Clothes and furniture are now luxury items that must be put off. And then you are reminded of saving for retirement. Surely, that can be put off, too?

Unfortunately, time is not on your side when you put off saving for your future well being. The price for living an older life with dignity keeps increasing, right along with everything else, and probably more so due to the hyperinflation in the medical industry. Social Security may only supply 40% of your desired retirement income. You will need additional savings, and the best time to start is always now, even if economic times are tough.

June 25, 2010

General

The End Of The Pennysaverblog 100 Day Challenge

Today is the last day of my 100-Day Challenge. It has indeed been a challenge, but I am really glad I decided to do it as the extra exercise as well as the extra money I have saved has been a positive thing for me.

Since my last update my husband and I went on vacation for two weeks, so for that period of time I did not count my entertainment expenses as we already set aside a vacation budget specifically for that time period. However, outside of our vacation spending, I was able to stick within my $100 entertainment budget, with money to spare. We went to the seafood buffet again, so I still have $15 left. Not bad. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it. I guess that means today I can go out and spend $15! Just kidding!

June 23, 2010

Shopping

Become A Member And Save Money When You Shop

Although it may be annoying to have so many cards in your wallet from all the various stores where you regularly shop, it is worth your time to become a member when it results in saving you money. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the benefits of membership and often all it takes to apply is your name, contact information, and mailing address. The best part is that membership is often free!

You can also benefit from becoming a member in a country other than your own. This worked for me when I was shopping for groceries during our travels in the U.S. While shopping I noticed that members enjoyed significant savings, so when at the till, I asked the cashier if I could become a member even though I was Canadian. She said it was no problem and it only took about two minutes to fill out the application form. On that same bill, by taking the extra 2 minutes, I was able to save about $15.00. It never hurts to ask!

June 21, 2010

Shopping

Shopping Around Pays Off

The other night my husband and I went shopping for special devices used for dental hygiene. The two items we were looking for included a Philips sonicare toothbrush and a Waterpik waterflosser. These may sound like really weird gadgets, but they are supposed to help promote dental health and we definitely need to be taking better care of our teeth.

We started off by checking out the prices at Zellers. The waterflosser was $100 and they didn’t have the toothbrush. Next we went to Superstore, where I expected to find the lowest price for these gadgets. We discovered that the toothbrush was $100 and they didn’t have the waterflosser.

June 19, 2010

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