Gifts

Save Money When Buying Greeting Cards

save money when buying greeting cards by shopping at the dollar storeGreeting cards can be a great way to cheer someone up or to acknowledge someone’s special event.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money on them for them to be meaningful.  I have found a lot of great cards at a local dollar store.  When I compared them with the more expensive card shops I found they are just as nice and they only cost $1.00.  The only down side is that some dollar stores have limited selections and seem to order the same ones year after year.  So, it doesn’t hurt to check out different dollar stores once in a while to get more variety.  Larger dollar stores often carry a lot more varieties including ones that look homemade and can be used for any occasion.

Especially around holidays, you can often purchase a whole box of cards rather than paying for them individually.  The best time to buy them is right after the holiday has passed for the following year as you can usually get them for 50% off or possibly even more depending on how quickly stores want to get rid of their inventory.  Although buying boxed cards is often cheaper, that’s not always the case, so be sure to compare prices.

If you’re creative and have some spare time, making homemade greeting cards can also be fun.  Cut pictures and letters from magazines or cards you’ve received in the past to decorate your card.  Stickers also work great for this.

You may think I am being a real tightwad when I am writing about trying to save money on something as small as greeting cards.  But my thought is if I can buy something of the same quality for $4.00 or $1.00 I am going to go for the $1.00 item every time.  Why pay 4 times as much for the same thing?  It just doesn’t make any financial sense.  Another option is to send free e-cards to your friends that you know use email frequently. They can be a lot of fun and they are free.

August 9, 2009
General

Who Cares What The Joneses Have? Not Me.

It can be really tempting to want to have as much or more than our neighbors, colleagues, friends, family members, etc.  It’s like we want to prove a point – that we are successful and important.   What most of us don’t realize is that we will be a lot more content and enjoy our lives a lot more if we are satisfied with what we already have.  “Keeping up with the Joneses” is an unhealthy lifestyle choice that can cause serious debt problems among other things.

Instead of focusing on what others have and trying to attain those things, why not be thankful for what you’ve got?  You will be more likely to save for things that are important to you rather than wasting your money to keep up appearances.  Half the time we don’t really want the things we buy anyway – we just don’t realize it until it’s too late to return them.

It’s not that we shouldn’t buy anything – there’s certainly nothing wrong with having things.  The main thing is the motivation for buying things should be because they will be good for you, not just because someone else has them.

My goal is to be willing to make small sacrifices now so that I can achieve future goals.  For instance, my husband and I try to take a 2 week vacation every year. We forfeit eating frequent restaurant meals and other expensive forms of entertainment so we can save enough to take an enjoyable vacation.  Rather than worrying that our neighbor recently landscaped their yard and feeling like we have to keep up with them or rather than being concerned that we are not going out all that often compared to other people our age, we are content because we know that we will soon be able to take a vacation and that we won’t have to borrow money to do it.

Not caring about what the Joneses have is very freeing, and it’s a lot easier on the pocket book.  In the long run a lot of people who live expensively are often in debt up to their eyebrows, and I would much prefer to live more simply and work my way towards becoming debt free and ultimately financially free.  I know this goal will take a lot of discipline but I am up for the challenge because I know it’s worth it.

August 7, 2009
Outdoors

A Cheap Way To Go Camping

a cheap way to go campingMy husband and I love camping during the summer and we’ve even tried our hand at winter camping.  I must admit I enjoy camping in the summer a lot more.  It’s a lot more comfortable, except for the insects.  Camping is fun, but it can also become expensive if you’re not careful.  Some simple things we do to save money when we camp include bringing our own food rather than purchasing our food at overpriced campgrounds or eating at campground restaurants.

We camp in a tent rather than staying in a cabin.  Our campsite fees are cheap because we don’t require electricity.  Some people prefer to camp out “in the sticks” where they don’t have to even pay any campsite fees.  We would probably do that too if we were more familiar with the areas we camped in.  The downside is there’s no fire pit and no bathrooms!

We never make reservations as it costs more when you do, and so far we’ve only regretted that decision once.  There is almost always a space available so making reservations isn’t really necessary unless you plan to camp on a Stat holiday.

For entertainment, we fish for a while and go on some of the hiking trails.  We also spend a lot of time just lounging on chairs and eating Spitz.  We fish off the shore and my husband is usually successful at catching at least a few fish for our dinner. I am definitely not a skilled fisher, but my husband seems to always do well.  You definitely don’t need to own a boat or have your own private dock to catch fish.

To make it special, we often bring our favorite foods to enjoy in the outdoors and we often eat a lot!  Hopefully we burn some of the calories on our fishing and hiking adventures!

It’s just nice to get out of the city for a while and except for the cost of gas to get to our destination, there isn’t a lot of expense involved when it comes to camping in a tent.  If you and your family need a getaway, camping might be just the thing for you.

August 5, 2009
Shopping

Selling Secrets From The Farmer’s Market

I love going to the Farmer’s Market. It’s a weekly ritual that forces me out of my cave and into the sunlight. I get to stretch my legs, buy fresh produce, and meet people in the heat of personal one-to-one sales.

There are about 15-30 vendors at the two markets close to my house. They range from veggies and fruits to tamales and carrot cakes. Most of the food is organic, locally grown and the guy selling it is the guy who picked it. I feel so much closer to my food.

Okay, so I’m a little bit sentimental. But the Ralph’s clerk just doesn’t give a rip about what they are selling. The market vendors are intimately connected to their wares. And their attitudes and behaviors reflect that connection. I think the closeness makes the food more satisfying.

As always, there are a few lessons to learn from this weekly trek. Most of these folks are farmers and artists. They haven’t been schooled in selling. Most of the good things they do are instinctual rather than purposeful. And many of the things they do wrong are a result of no training. But ALL the lessons can help you.

Massive competition

The bulk of these vendors are selling produce. Potatoes, celery, carrots, lettuce and peaches. It’s all seasonal so everything changes throughout the year. Which is a bummer because I wish avocados were always “in season.” I’m going to chat with God about that one.

A good half of the vendors at both markets are selling the same stuff. Different farms, different crews, identical product. It’s displayed the same way, looks the same, and probably is grown the same. So, what makes me choose one vendor of the other? Proximity. That one is 5 feet closer.

There is nothing distinctive about these vendors. Not even their charisma (farmers, not performers). This is most businesses. You and ten other companies are selling the same product to the same prospect. You set up shop and hope that the guy walks closer to your stand.

Very few people are able to sell in a vacuum. The environment where you have virtually no competition. Usually, if you have that, it’s because nobody wants your product. And if you do, it won’t last for long.

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August 3, 2009
Book Reviews

Cut Your Energy Bills Now – A Book That Will Save You Money

cut your energy bills now - a great money saving bookCut Your Energy Bills Now: : 150 Smart Ways to Save Money and Make Your Home More Comfortable and Green by Bruce Harley

Cut Your Energy Bills Now is full of easy and practical ways to make your home energy efficient.  The author provides tips on insulating your home, fixing leaks, taking care of your water heater, how to improve your lighting, and much more.  It is full of illustrations and simple instructions so anyone can make these improvements with little time or hassle.  The author also provides good explanations for each suggestion  and discusses the impact on your home, your energy bills, and the environment.

If you live in a hot climate where you rely on air conditioning to make your home bearable, I would recommend reading the section on big appliances.  There is also some great information for those with swimming pools or spas.

You might be surprised by some of the myths that are busted throughout the book as well as at the amount of money that can be saved by having an energy-efficient home.  You will likely find that your home becomes more comfortable as you make it more energy efficient.

Here are some interesting tidbits found in the book to get you thinking:

1.  Heating an aquarium can cost a lot more than the price of the fish – $100 to $300 per year.  Select fish species that don’t require heated water.

2.  Ceiling fans actually generate heat so only turn them on when you are in the room.

3.  When you buy a new fridge or freezer, don’t keep the old one running in the garage or basement.  If you do need the extra capacity, consider buying another energy efficient one instead.  You will save tons of energy and money,

4.  Screen savers on desktops use a lot of energy and can cost you up to $100 per year.  Instead, simply turn off your monitor when you aren’t using the computer.

5.  Insulate your water heater with a tank wrap and insulate your water pipes.

6.  Refrigerators use the most energy of all household appliances and freezers use just slightly less.

August 1, 2009