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Summer Travel Tips for the Budget-Conscious

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Cheap vacation travel tipsIt’s summertime, and you know what that means – vacation season! But traveling during the peak summer months can get expensive, so we’ve pulled together some tips to help you stick to your budget this season.

Join hotel loyalty programs wherever you go. Many individual hotels as well as hotel lines offer discounts where you receive a free night once you’ve stayed a certain number of nights. They’re generally free to join, so you won’t lose anything by signing up.

Don’t rush through packing. Take your time, make lists of everything you need, and double check to be sure you have everything. If you’re going to a touristy area and forget something important, it’ll cost a lot more to buy it there. Make sure you take everything you need to avoid unnecessary expenses while you’re away.

Pack snacks so you’re not spending a bunch of money every time someone gets hungry. This one is easier to do if you’re driving to your destination rather than flying, but it can save you some serious cash. Bring along snacks that are easy to eat on the go, like healthy granola bars and 100-calorie packs. You could also bring sliced fruit, which has the added benefit of keeping you hydrated in the summer heat. While you’re at it, bring everyone a water bottle to help avoid dehydration.

Avoid traveling on peak weekends like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day. These are some of the busiest weekends for air travel over the summer, and you may get stuck in traffic if you travel by car. If possible, have a flexible schedule to travel a few days earlier or a few days later than everyone else to skip the crowds and the higher airline prices.

Check out sites like Groupon and LivingSocial for great deals on hotels in virtually any destination. Many of them come with packages such as free breakfast, a free spa day, or dinner credits. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a destination you’ve never been to before.

To save as much as possible on food, try to book a hotel room with a kitchen or kitchenette. That way you can bring your own food to cook instead of eating out for every meal (again, this is a lot easier if you’re driving).

Where are you going this summer? What are your best travel tips?

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Entertainment, Featured

Cut Your Cell Phone Bill with a No-Contract Phone

May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

advantages of no-contract cell phone plansI cringe whenever I hear of anyone paying in the $100 range or more for their cell phone bill. But then when I tell them I only pay $35 per month using a no-contract service, they’re usually the ones cringing. “Isn’t your service terrible? And don’t you have an old, useless phone?” they ask.

You may be surprised to hear that the answer to both those questions is, “Not at all!” A few years ago, I was getting standard service through one of the most popular providers – no fancy smartphone for me at that time. But the phone I had was outdated and barely functioning, and I was tired of that company’s service. So I decided to take the leap into buying a smartphone.

I looked at all the options and found that I’d probably be paying around $100 with any of the major carriers. Then a friend suggested Virgin Mobile, so I checked out their website and found that I could pay $45 per month for 1200 minutes, unlimited texting, and unlimited data. That seemed like a great deal. I did have to pay $200 upfront for the phone, but with the cost of my bill, it paid for itself in no time. Plus, the next month I looked at my minutes used: 150. I guess I’m not much of a talker – I prefer to text. So I switched to the cheapest plan: $35 for 300 minutes, unlimited texting, and unlimited data. I have never gone over my minutes or had any issues with the service because it’s on the Sprint network. So anywhere you would have Sprint service, you’d have Virgin Mobile service.

This was a few years ago, and now all the major providers have jumped in and are offering no-contract plans too. I’ve still found Virgin Mobile to be the cheapest, so I’ve stuck with it. But those of you who are weary of no-contract plans because the service might not be good can rest assured that if you use a Verizon or T-Mobile plan, you’ll get the exact same service you would with a regular contract plan.

So for those of you who feel like you’re spending way too much on your phone bill – jump on the no-contract bandwagon! It’s a great way to cut expenses and you’ll be shocked with how much you can save each month. This is one of the easiest cost-cutting tips I have for people.

Have you ever had a no-contract plan? What was your experience with it?

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Featured, Money Saving Tips

Slash Your Grocery Bill by Buying In-Season Produce

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
how to buy in-season produce

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I always like to share tips with you on how to save money at the grocery store. Face it, groceries probably eat up a HUGE chunk of your budget. My personal favorite way to save money is by using coupons, but not all stores offer coupons for the healthiest foods, like fruits and veggies or meat. For this reason, farmer’s markets are great places to get cheaper produce and meat direct from the source. But if you don’t have time to hit up the farmer’s market, or you don’t have one near you, the best way to save on fresh foods like produce is to buy what’s in season. Here’s our guide to seasonal food.

Spring

I love visiting pick-your-own farms in the spring for fresh strawberries. Those store-bought ones don’t even compare, but if you do buy strawberries at the store, they’ll be freshest from early May until early June. Other produce to buy during the spring: peppers, greens (lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, etc.), peas, celery, asparagus, turnips, rhubarb, spring onions, etc.

Summer

I love how so many little produce stands pop up during the summer months. This makes it easier to get produce directly from the farmer without having to make time for the farmer’s market. The list of fresh produce during the summer months is huge, so here are just a few of many: greens (same as mentioned above), broccoli, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cucumber, corn, onions, peppers, tomatoes (there’s also nothing like a fresh-picked tomato!), potatoes, summer squash, zucchini, radishes, eggplant, apples, peaches, watermelon, and many more. Talk about endless variety!

Fall

You may be surprised to know how many veggies are in-season during the fall. Much of the spring and summer produce will be particularly expensive and less flavorful during the fall and winter months, so eat these foods instead: winter squash, pears, plums, carrots, peas, gourds, pumpkins, leeks, turnips, apples, zucchini, beets, cauliflower, etc.

Winter

Although this is probably the smallest list of in-season produce, there are still several options to choose from: winter squash, radishes, pumpkins, Brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, celery, greens, leeks, turnips, potatoes, etc.

When you buy food that is in-season, it’s not only cheaper but also more flavorful too! Grocery stores are able to buy it from local farms, instead of having it shipped from across the country, so the seasonal items you buy are much fresher and tastier than those that are out of season. Buying fresh seasonal produce is just another easy way to save on your grocery bill!

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Featured, Food, Money Saving Tips, Shopping

How Frugal Is Too Frugal?

April 25, 2013 By 1 Comment

how frugal is too frugal?Lately I’ve read several articles about the extreme things people do to save money. Take this article about a “dumpster dive café” or this one about eating roadkill, for example. OK, so obviously not everyone finds these ideas to be too extreme, but it got me thinking – where is the line between being frugal and being too frugal? I’m all for saving as much money as I can, but here are a few situations where, for me, it’s okay to splurge.

Comfort. Being uncomfortable just doesn’t make me happy, so I’m willing to pay for it. I don’t mean I’m going to go buy satin pillows and 800-thread-count sheets (do those exist?). But if my pillow has gotten too flat, I’ll buy a new one, for example. Similarly, while I do keep my apartment a little cool in the winter to save money because I can add layers, you’ll never find me keeping the thermostat on 80 degrees in the summer. That little bit of savings on the power bill simply isn’t worth it to me. Keep in mind, I’m not splurging on anything here – I’m just not going to make myself uncomfortable to save a few pennies.

Groceries. If you’ve read my blogs before, you know that I am an avid couponer so it should surprise you that I’m willing to splurge on groceries. But what I actually mean is that I’m occasionally willing to splurge. Couponing doesn’t take too much time for me anymore, but sometimes I am simply too busy or don’t have enough energy to spend an hour preparing for a shopping trip. Sometimes my time is more valuable to me than the savings from coupons, and I’d rather go pay full price (all generics, of course!) for a week’s worth of groceries. The best part of the occasional full-price grocery trip is that it’s great motivation to get back to coupons the next week when you see how much your bill is.

Dining out. As much as I love to cook, I really love to eat out. And sometimes I don’t have the right ingredients, or I don’t have energy, or I just don’t feel like cooking. So every now and then, my boyfriend and I will go out to dinner. Since we save money in other areas of our budget, we have a little wiggle room for things like this, but we still try to use restaurant coupons and we don’t make it a habit to eat out often. But it’s just not in my lifestyle to completely avoid eating food out – kudos to those who are willing to do so. Here’s the thing, though. I have heard of people who absolutely refuse to eat out for any reason – maybe it’s a close family member’s birthday and the whole family is celebrating together. They still choose not to go. If that works for them, then awesome! But for me, the experience of spending time with my family to celebrate is worth more than the price of the food, so you will never find me missing out on a dining out experience like that.

Travel and other experiences. This is all about the experience for me. I’m not going to learn anything about the world by sitting at home doing nothing. I want to experience things – adventures, travel, the world, anything! Unfortunately, these experiences do have a price tag. I won’t go out and book a 7 day cruise to the Bahamas because I can’t afford it, but the occasional weekend getaway is within reach, and again, the experience and memories are worth more to me than the cost of a hotel room.

Although I describe myself as quite the frugalista, I am afraid that by sitting at home afraid to spend any money at all, I will miss out on experiencing the world around me. And that, to me, is being too frugal.

Where’s the line between frugal and too frugal for you?

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Entertainment, Featured, Food, Money Management, Saving

Prom Night for Less

April 18, 2013 By 2 Comments
Frugal prom ideas

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It’s prom season, and to your high schooler that probably means a fancy dress or tux, glamorous jewelry, dinner at an expensive restaurant, perhaps a limo and chauffer, and crazy after parties – but to you, it probably means one thing: $$$$$

Prom is certainly a night that all high school attendees will always remember, but that doesn’t mean you have to drain your savings to help pay for that special memory. Even as a teenager, I was fairly money-savvy (I really just hated departing with the little money I had), and my parents weren’t in a place to completely ignore the family budget just because of one special dance. So we made some compromises and worked together to make it a perfect night. I didn’t have a limo or dinner at a 5-star restaurant, but I certainly didn’t miss those things, and neither will your teenager. Here are some tips to avoid breaking the bank when it comes to prom night.

Shop around for the dress, or look for the best deal on a tux. For my senior prom, I fell in love with a gorgeous purple and white dress that I found at a specialty boutique at the mall – but we did not have $300 to spend on it. I knew the style name and number, so I Googled for hours to try to track down the same dress online. It worked! It took a LOT of searching on my part, but I finally found the dress for about $100 on a prom dress website. So shop around, look online for cheaper prices, and don’t be afraid to check out discount bridal stores, which often have prom dresses as well.

Don’t go overboard with accessories. The dress costs enough as it is, so don’t spend another $100+ on shoes, jewelry, and a purse that probably won’t be worn again. No need to buy these things at expensive department stores – chances are your daughter can find what she needs at Claire’s or Icing – or maybe even in YOUR jewelry box! For my shoes, I knew I wouldn’t wear them again so I bought a cheap $20 pair at Payless and they worked out perfectly. Also, no expensive salon hairdo for me – my mom put mine up in a beautiful updo for free.

A limo might seen like a necessity to your child, especially if all his or her friends are planning to do it. I personally thought this was unnecessary because I enjoyed my date driving me himself, because we got to spend more one-on-one time together. But if your son or daughter is adamant about it, try to organize a big group to share one limo, that way it reduces the cost per person, and they’ll definitely have a blast with their friends. If it’s really not in your budget, ask your teen to save up and pay for this luxury with his or her own money.

Dinner at a 5-star restaurant might be tasty, but your kid will never remember much about how the food tasted. We went to a slightly upscale restaurant with moderate prices. This was so much fun because all the families dining out admired my dress and told us how nice we looked. I don’t remember what I ate, I just remember the experience of sharing that time with my date at a nice restaurant.

Prom can be a very expensive experience, so I would also recommend splitting some of the costs with your child. Perhaps you could agree to pay for the dress and accessories if your daughter pays for dinner and transportation. Find the arrangement that works for your family, and your teen will have a night to remember without the heavy price tag.

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Events, Featured, Shopping

Frugal Spring Activities for the Whole Family

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
inexpensive frugal spring family activities

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Last week I posted a blog on cheap spring date ideas, and I promised to have a post this week about spring activities that the whole family will enjoy (that won’t break the bank, of course). Some of the date ideas we came up with can double as family outings too (like strawberry picking), but here are a few more ideas.

Learn the art of Geocaching. If you have a GPS (and almost everyone does these days), you can participate in this scavenger hunt. The object is to find caches (which are usually small containers filled with a log book and prizes – often anything from stickers to CDs to cameras, depending upon the difficulty of the cache). These caches are hidden by other geocachers, and once you find it you sign the log book, take a prize, and leave a prize of your own. Log on to Geocaching.com, look up coordinates for caches in your area, and plug the coordinates into your GPS. Then drive to the general area of the cache (they’re often in public parks) and start searching. Remember, caches are hidden, so it could take some time, but this is a fantastic FREE activity that everyone in the family will love.

Find out which days your local museums offer free or discounted admission. If you relied on these museums to get you through the cold winter months, see if there are any that have outdoor exhibits. There are at least a few science museums in my area that have great indoor exhibits (which are always changing, by the way, so even if you visited 3 months ago they’ll probably have something new already), but they also have tons of stuff to do outdoors – farm animals, a playground, a water station, a train ride, a dinosaur trail. Even better – my favorite museum has a picnic area so you can bring your own food.

Look for GroupOn or LivingSocial deals for fun outdoor adventures, like zip lining. There are at least two or three zip lining places within a 90 minute drive of my home, and they’re always featured on the daily deals websites. Zip lining can be expensive, but it’s made much more affordable with a half-off deal. I’ve seen other adventure deals for half off train rides, white water rafting adventures, kayaking lessons, or tubing trips. There are so many deals offered on these sites that it shouldn’t be hard to find something to fit your family’s adventure level (not to mention budget!).

Check your local Parks & Recreation department to see what free events they offer during the spring. Many departments host kids’ science days, fishing workshops, sporting events or leagues, or free movie nights for the whole family. Depending on where you live, they may offer events for your family every single week, so you’ll always have a free or low-cost option for your family activity.

What are your favorite inexpensive family activities this time of year?

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Entertainment, Featured

Organic Eating on a Budget

February 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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You’ve probably heard a little bit about organic food and how much healthier it is for you than non-organic food, right? I’ve been hearing this for a few years but when I looked at the prices of organic food at my grocery store, I realized there was no way I could afford to switch to organic food. But after doing some research on organic diets, I’ve realized that it is possible to have a healthy, organic diet without doubling my grocery budget. Here are some tips to help you make the switch.

You don’t have to switch to an entirely organic diet. Just substituting a few items when you can afford to do so will do your body good. I definitely can’t afford to buy only organic produce, meat, and snacks all the time, but I can afford to buy only the produce. It’s not hard to make small changes like that.

Know what good prices are for organic items so that you know when to stock up during good sales. Do a Google search to see if there are organic food price lists for your area. If your grocery store prices are higher than average for your area, wait until they drop to stock up.

Many people think coupons are only for junk food but that’s not the case. I’ve found plenty of coupons for all-natural or organic items, including meat and eggs. Check out the Sunday coupon inserts, or visit your favorite brand’s Facebook page to see if they have any coupons. Recently, I was able to buy organic snack bars (which I bought instead of granola bars) for 5 cents each (I bought 14 single bars for 5 cents each for a total of 70 cents) because of a sale and a few coupons I had. Those bars were regularly 85 cents EACH!

Start a small garden in your backyard. You’ll know your fruits and veggies are pesticide free, and in my opinion, nothing tastes as good as home-grown veggies!

Check out your local farmer’s market. You can support local farmers as well as find out which of their products are organic or all-natural. You may be able to buy meat cheaper here than at the grocery store, so stock up and freeze it. Another good thing about buying straight from the grower: you can speak to someone from the farm to get their tips and advice on organic eating.

As an alternative to going to the farmer’s market, you could go directly to the farm. Visit Local Harvest to find farms in your area.

Consider shopping at more than one grocery store. Your regular supermarket may have some items that are cheaper, but others may be better priced at Whole Foods or another health-food store. Comparison-shop, but don’t drive yourself crazy visiting every grocery store in town.

Know which items to buy or not buy organic. Some of the cleanest fruits and vegetables include onions, sweet corn, pineapple, avocados, cabbage, sweet peas, asparagus, mangoes, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, mushrooms, and more. This means they have the least amounts of pesticide so it’s usually okay to buy the non-organic version. Some items that contain the most pesticides: apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, and potatoes. Try to buy these organic.

Making small changes will help your diet, and only buying a few organic items at a time won’t drain your bank account. Commit to healthy eating and your body will feel better in no time – and that will save you lots of money in the long run!

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Featured, Financial Education, Food, Money Saving Tips, Shopping

Healthy Eating on a Budget

January 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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We’re nearing the end of January, and although we started the year with the best intentions, most of us have broken our New Year’s Resolutions already. If you resolved to eat healthier this year, there’s good news – you can start any time, and it’s actually not that difficult! Many people think healthy foods are expensive, but here are our tips for improving your diet without spending a fortune.

Plan your meals ahead of time each week. You’ll save yourself from having to make extra trips to the grocery store to pick up more ingredients, which will also save you from impulse purchases on those extra trips! And by planning your meals, you’ll avoid eating unhealthy fast food and spending more money.

While you’re at the store, stick to your list. Don’t buy anything that’s not listed. Sure, those frozen pizzas look good, but they’re extremely unhealthy and expensive. Grab the items you need and get going.

Stock up on low-cost foods that are the basis of many recipes. Beans, rice, and pasta are versatile and inexpensive, and all can be used in healthy recipes. Visit this site to see what other items you should have in your pantry at all times for healthy cooking.

Look for coupons! Many people think there are no coupons for healthy foods, but this is simply not true. Coupon inserts often have coupons for organic and all-natural foods, organic milk, cheese, etc. Also ‘like’ your favorite brands on Facebook or sign up for their email lists for coupons. And always sign up for your grocery store’s email list, because they often send coupons for a certain amount off your total bill!

Invest in a slow cooker. They’re relatively inexpensive but will save you tons of money. There are countless crock pot recipes out there, and most of them involve dropping your ingredients in and leaving it alone for hours. I’ve made everything from stuffed peppers to chicken & vegetable chowder and even chocolate lava cake (ok, that one’s not so healthy!) in my crock pot. It’s a GREAT investment!

Buy in bulk – remember that the freezer is your friend! I love to buy meat, especially chicken, in bulk when I find a good price. Then I put it in freezer bags (I usually separate it into one-pound servings) so I have it on hand when I need it. Healthy cooking is so much easier when you’ve already got some or all of the ingredients on hand. Other items that I like to buy in bulk include butter, milk, and cheese – all of these freeze, too.

Not sure what to cook? When I have certain healthy ingredients on hand, I like to do a recipe search by ingredients. Check out this website, fill in the ingredients you’d like to use (or not use), and you’ll see  a list of recipes you can make with the ingredients you have on hand.

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it’ll save you money in the long run because you’re taking good care of your body. And it doesn’t have to be difficult either – with just a little planning, you can have a healthy diet without breaking the bank!

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Featured, Food, Money Saving Tips

Cheap Winter Activities for Kids

January 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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Do you miss the warm, sunny days when the kids stay occupied for hours at a time just playing outside? Depending on where you live, it’s hard to spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter because of the cold or snow. But being stuck inside all day means kids quickly get cabin fever. Don’t worry though, we’ve got tons of options for fun, cheap things to do with the kids for those days you don’t want to be outdoors!

Find an indoor mall play area. Forget about those indoor jungle gyms that cost a fortune for each visit – these are generally free. Most large malls (and plenty of small ones) seem to have these areas now, with small slides and toys for the kids to play with. Best of all, there are lots of other kids there to keep yours occupied!

See what your library has to offer. Our local library has days for kids to do projects, story time, puppet shows, movie showings, you name it. I even remember going to these with my mom as a kid, and it was a great way for her to have a little time to relax and read while I was entertained by whatever we were doing that day. Sometimes bookstores have similar events, so check with yours to find out what’s going on.

Find a cause to volunteer with. Even if it’s just one day a week or one day a month, pick one organization (or many) to devote a few hours to. Visit seniors in a nursing home, who would be delighted to have the company of children. Or teach kids lessons in compassion and helping others by volunteering at a food bank. You’ll feel good helping out, and your child will be learning valuable lessons at an early age.

Hold a toy-exchange party. There are websites that let you send in your used toys and exchange them for the toys sent in by others, but you could cut the costs by doing this with your child’s friends. Have everyone bring a few toys that are in good shape, make a few appetizers, let the kids play together for a few hours, and allow each kid to take home a few “new” toys. You’ll enjoy the time socializing with other parents, and the kids will have a blast with their new toys and friends.

Home improvements stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot often have DIY clinics where kids spend a few hours working on a simple project. Find out what your local store offers to help your child develop his or her handyman skills!

With a little creativity (and maybe a little Googling!), you’ll find that there are tons of cheap winter activities in your town, so the kids won’t have to go stir crazy and you won’t have to break the bank on those cold days!

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Entertainment, Featured

Tips for a Cheaper Holiday Celebration

December 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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The holidays are here once again and that means you’re probably spending a fortune on gifts and are preparing to host company or visit family. That means you’ll still be spending even more money before the holidays are over. But don’t drain your bank account just yet. There are several things you can do to make the rest of the holidays a little less expensive.

Get creative with your wrapping paper. Buying several rolls of paper adds up, so we often get creative in my family. You’ve probably heard of using comics from the newspaper as wrapping paper, but here are a few other ideas. We always have Mylar balloons leftover from someone’s birthday, so we’ll let the air out, cut them up, and wrap gifts in them. My dad owns a construction company and often has large rolls of plan paper from previous job sites, and he no longer needs it – so when I was younger, we’d wrap gifts in that paper and decorate the blank side for custom wrapping paper.

Make your own gift tags. You could use old greeting cards or some other scraps you have around the house, and cut them into whatever shape you want. No need to buy tags!

Make homemade gifts. Browse sites like Pinterest for tons of ideas of easy, cheap, handmade goods. Or if you’re not the crafty type, baking is always a great option because who doesn’t love receiving a tin full of goodies? (And wouldn’t those cookies pictured above make a cute gift?) I love to buy people gifts but my family is huge, so I buy each person a small gift and add baked goods to it so I have a little more to give. I’ve found some great holiday recipes off Pinterest as well.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on decorations. Artificial trees last for years, so there’s no need to spend a lot of money on a tree unless you want a real one every year. Check out the dollar store for other decorations. I’ve bought everything from ornaments to tins for my baked goods to serving trays at the dollar store. And remember that you don’t have to go with the best of everything if you can’t afford it. My boyfriend and I were looking at stockings at Target, and they were around $15 each! Definitely out of our budget for a stocking. Then we saw some $1 stockings, and yes, they were very plain and not as fancy as the $15 ones, but I wrote our names on them with paint and they look very nice hanging in our apartment. Maybe one day we’ll buy the $15 stockings, but these serve the same purpose and we could afford them.

If you’re hosting holiday company, look for cheap entertainment. There are tons of free events going on this time of year, from town-sponsored holiday events to church concerts or local university theater shows. Just piling everyone into the car to look at Christmas lights can be great entertainment. Or play an old-fashioned board game together! There are endless opportunities for free or low-cost entertainment.

What tips do you have for cheaper holiday celebrations? Share with us in the comments!

Filed Under: Cheap Living, Featured, Food, Holiday Spending, Money Saving Tips, Shopping
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