By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
ToddBaker/Flickr
Last week I wrote about my decision to hire a professional cleaning person. Many of you commented on that post and I appreciate all the feedback as I went into the adventure ready and willing to learn. I said I would share my revelations. Here they are:
- I felt safe having this person in my home because I had several recommendations from people I trust who have used her for several years. That was important. Getting personal recommendations is essential.
- I spent a couple of hours prior to the cleaner arriving picking (more…)
Home decor from Dollar Tree: SavinSome.com
Every Friday I link to my favorite money-saving posts. If you came across a great money-saving tip, please link to it in the comments.
If you’re interested in being a mystery shopper, make sure to read Nicole’s Nickels post about mystery shopping FAQs.
Create back to school traditions to get your kids excited for learning, says Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.
Stock up on these eight green back to school supplies, courtesy of Bargain Briana.
Think the dollar stores are full of junk? Brandy at SavinSome will prove you wrong with her ye for frugal home decor.
How much food do you waste each week? Nikki at CouponCookin has tips to reduce food waste.
Kacy at Valuing Today shares a personal story about cutting her medical bills by negotiating monthly payments with her doctor and dentist.
Forbes declared Groupon the fastest growing business anywhere and as a testament to Groupon’s success, there are many, many imitators. How’s a bargain hunter to keep track of all the incredible “social” coupons?
Enter Yipit.
This new site aggregates deals from Groupon, LivingSocial, Scoop St, HomeRun and about 90 other social deal sites. Who knew so many existed??? I’m so excited about what Yipit has to offer I’ve installed a widget in the Partners section of the right sidebar.
Yipit currently aggregates deals in seven major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego and San Francisco. The site hopes to be in 30 markets by (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
pupismyname/Flickr
I am against paying retail. Hence my motto, “Friends don’t let friends pay retail.”
However, sometimes even I have to go to a store and purchase something new. Hey, it happens to the best of us.
Let me assure you that when I do this deed I also ENSURE that I know the store return policy and keep my receipt, packaging and tags. If I am not 100% satisfied with my purchase, I return it.
I am amazed how many times I see items at yard sales, thrift shops and swaps that are brand new with their tags still attached. I always wonder about the economic condition of the seller. Are they wildly wealthy? Did they lose the receipt and figured they couldn’t get their money back? Or did they think it wasn’t worth the trouble?
I doubt anyone that is wildly wealthy is reading my blog (but if you are and want to make a donation to me, I am a willing recipient.) As far as returning items without a receipt; many stores will give you (more…)
domib34/flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I’ve written about ways to save money by gardening but here’s the real dirt on how to cut household costs by using herbs and produce that grow in your garden instead of spending money on store bought products.
Rosemary – Not only can you use rosemary to season your Thanksgiving turkey but you can also use it on your locks. Rosemary is known to stimulate hair growth, naturally darken it and battle dandruff. Simply pour one cup of boiling water over dried rosemary and steep overnight. Strain the tea and use it in the shower as a final rinse. Rosemary along with other fragrant herbs like lavender and thyme makes natural potpourris or sachets.
Parsley and Mint – Next time you’ve got garlic breath don’t reach for a mint candy, but instead chew on parsley or fresh mint. These herbs are great bad breath fighters.
Apples – If for some reason you do not have your toothbrush and toothpaste handy, chew on an apple or any food that requires a lot of chewing like celery and carrots. These can help keep teeth clean and whiten teeth naturally.
Tomatoes – They’re delicious in salads and sandwiches and combat bad sunburns. Sliced tomato can be directly placed on (more…)
I met almost 92 bloggers at BlogHer this past weekend. Here are six sites that stand out. I hope to add more notable sites as I sort through the business cards I picked up at the conference. I also picked up a lot of goodies, so don’t forget to enter the contest to win $249 worth of BlogHer swag.
OnceAMonthMom.com - Blogger Tricia put together a month’s worth of meals and menus, which you can download, print out, or listen to on a podcast. Her philosophy is that any meal can be prepared ahead of time and frozen. One big cooking day leads to a month of meals.
MothersAgainstDebt.com – Blogger Amy is a one-woman government tax watchdog who aims to bring national debt down to the household level. Don’t be scared by her libertarian politics, this woman knows how to crunch numbers.
SoYouThinkYoureCrafty.com - This blog is not about saving money, but making beautiful crafts. The projects featured on this blog are by no means amateurish. The site has great photos and is very easy on the eyes!
LoveThatMax – Blogger Ellen writes about her special needs son, Max, her daughter, Sabrina, and her Clueless Husband. I find her writing to be honest, funny, and very engaging. One recent post describes when she realized that Max, who is seven and has cerebral palsy, has never asked a question. Ever.
DaddyDeeds.com – Blogger Ben writes about family life, BBQ’ing, and living in Arizona. Here is a recent post about the bad words his kids picked up at school.
WheatlessAndMeatless.com – If you are trying to eat healthy, lose weight or have strict dietary requirements, this blog is for you. Bernice updates her site about once a week, so it’s not an overwhelming amount to read. She has amazing pictures of her culinary creations and detailed recipes. Many of them solve a problem I often encounter in the kitchen, which is how to make vegetables appetizing.
A reader in Arizona shared a few sentences and a picture of some of the steals she found on a recent shopping trip, along with the name of the store and her total bill.
She writes, “I’ve done some hunting for deals at thrift stores – there are three in my little town! I found an Ann Taylor Loft denim dress that I love for 50 cents. For some reason, it’s always fun to find a treasure.”
“My best find was the vintage red Carlo Fiori purse – it’s in great shape, too! And for 50 cents! I’ve used it already and it just feels so fun to carry it!”
Personally, my best thrift store find was a $15 green and white stripped dress made of super soft cotton. I wore it to the Frugal Festival and it is incredibly comfortable. I bought it at a high-end thrift store that specializes in dresses, hence the relatively high price. But it was totally worth it because I’ve already worn it a dozen times.
Do you have a success story? Email me!
j03 / flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
As I sat in the aesthetician’s chair waiting for my hairy eyebrows to be slathered with hot wax, I realized I was forking over $10 each visit for smooth brows. The thought was as painful as when she ripped off the waxy strip.
For most women hair removal is a weekly if not daily battle that quickly adds up. What’s a lady on a budget to do to tame unruly eyebrows and get smooth legs? Consider this:
Waxing – At a salon waxing can be very expensive, about $50 plus tip for legs or a Brazilian. If you’re brave, waxing can also be done at home to minimize costs. Waxing can be very painful depending on the area being waxed but after doing it for some time the pain is practically nonexistent and you’ll be hairless for about four to six weeks. I buy wax from a health food store for $10 and wax my entire legs for a fraction of the cost of going to a salon. Cost: $10 – $25 per month at home, $50 – $90 per month at a salon
Shaving – Many women prefer to shave and I did too, until I nicked myself and got a scar. Ouch! If you don’t nick yourself this method should be painless and keep you hairless for two to three days depending on the person. Some women need to shave just once a week. Try an old fashion safety razor to cut down on waste and expense. The initial expense will be around $30 but it should last you a lifetime. The replacement blades cost about 50 cents when bought in bulk. Try using hair conditioner instead of fancy shaving gel. Depending on the razor, you may get by with just wetting your legs in the shower. Find coupons online for razors and shave creams if you can’t give them up. Cost: $20 – $30 per month
Laser Hair removal – This method is pricey upfront but equals roughly 12-24 months of shaving or waxing expenses. Also, the hair removal may not be permanent and hair may come back, but it will be thinner and more sparse. The best candidates for laser hair removal are those with dark hair and light skin because the laser targets melanin which is found in dark hair. Lasers aren’t as painful as waxing, but are more painful than depilatory creams or tweezing. You’ll need five to six treatments spaced four weeks apart. Cost: $150 – $200 per session
Depilatory Creams – Creams are easy to use. Just slather it on and wait a couple minutes and voila! No hair. Creams are smelly and contain harsh chemicals that may irritate your skin. The cream removes the hair above the skin and leaves the follicle, which means you may have tiny blacks dots where your hair used to be. Hair growth is visible in two to three days. Cost: $20 – 30 per month
If you can’t fork over money for hair removal go au naturel or buy tweezers and pluck the stray eyebrow hairs and skip the salon. To look your best on the cheap, learn to do your own mani and pedi and check out the make up secrets from a pro that Bargain Babe got when she did her Better Homes and Garden photo shoot. Drop a comment and let us know how you save money on hair removal.
Lab2112/flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
While researching a post on saving money at the movies, I asked Bargain Babe’s Facebook friends for tips and some suggested sneaking in! The idea bothered me for days and got me thinking about five scenarios where I have to chose between taking the ethical high road and saving money.
Is it ethical to sneak into movies? What about buying counterfeit DVDs?
I’ve never snuck into a movie and what bothers me about this is the same thing as buying a counterfeit DVD, made when someone records the movie with a hand-held video camera from inside the movie theater. The person burns the recording onto DVDs, slaps on a cover sheet, and sells it on the street for a big profit. The problem is that the little guy gets cheated. Sure, the movie executives and stars make the big bucks, but the no-names are more likely to lose their jobs when movie studios don’t make the expected money. By doing both these things, theaters have to raise their cost and the buyer goes from being frugal to being cheap.
You’re walking down Canal Street in New York City or the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles and you spot counterfeit brand name items at bargain prices. Ethical to buy?
No. The fake bags, shoes, and shades emblazoned with a designer’s initials or logo may be far less expensive, but you are still paying for the brand name not the item. I have no problem with a bag that looks similar to a brand name bag as long as you don’t try to pass it off as the name brand with fake logos and tags. My reason for not buying knock offs is that I’d be mortified if I got called out by the designer while walking down the street – although not very likely, it could happen. Also, why would I waste money on fake items? I rather work hard and get the real thing.
You’re heading to the movies and sneak in snacks to avoid paying for the expensive theater popcorn and soda. Ethical?
I’ve sneaked in snacks and the only reason I don’t think it’s unethical is because I am not stealing from the theater. If I didn’t bring in snacks, I still wouldn’t buy the expensive popcorn and soda. By snacks, I mean almonds or a protein bar and not a full meal.
You’re in an all-you-can-eat buffet and you wrap a leftover muffin in a napkin and stick it in your purse. Ethical?
I figure the food is headed for the trash so why not pack it up to enjoy later. Technically, I paid for it, but I draw the line at packing an entire meal for later.
You ask for a cup for water at a restaurant with a self-serve drink station and you fill it up with soda. Ethical?
This is one of my pet peeves. I can’t stand it when people do this, especially if they’re eating with me. I feel like any minute we are going to get called out. This is stealing and will force the restaurant to raise their prices so everyone loses.
Yazmin Cruz
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The Frugal Festival was the first time I had been to any kind of swap. That day, as volunteers and I sorted through clothes, the anticipation built in the room. Come the swap start the anticipation turned to excitement as hundreds of people rushed in the doors to swap. I didn’t swap then, but got my first swapping experience this past weekend.
I was invited to a garden swap in the Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park, California where gardeners exchanged everything from tools to produce.
I must admit I was a skeptic. I didn’t think I’d end up liking it as much as I did. I don’t even like participating in Secret Santa come Christmas time because I usually end up with the worst gift. But not this time.
The swap was free of charge and was organized much like the Frugal Festival. There was a specific area for everything people brought to swap like plants, seeds, magazines, produce and “worm tea,” which is worm pee used for fertilizing.
I arrived a little late but was still able to exchange the seeds I had brought with me. I had all kinds of seeds including dill, broccoli rabe, kale, and lima beans. I also had seeds that I’d harvested myself like basil and cilantro seeds.
Here’s my haul and approximately how much I saved:
- “Organic Gardening” magazine – $3.99
- “Sunset” magazine – $4.99
- Heirloom cucumber seeds – $2
- Organic Plums (10) – $6.90
- Organic Tomatoes (2 lbs.) – $5
- Aloe Vera plant – $4
- Organic Bay Leaves – $4
- Organic Pineapple Sage – $2
Total Saved: $32.88
My goods.
I am now a believer – swapping is the new shopping. If you’ve never participated in a swap, you must. BargainBabe.com writer Bobbi wrote a post on how to get the most out of a swap that is essential to read before heading to your first swap.
I already leafed through my magazines and found yummy recipes using my tomatoes and bay leaves, and I can’t wait to try my pineapple sage tea, which I hear is good for anxiety. The only thing I wasn’t able to get was the worm tea, but I hear the community garden is looking to have swaps every last Sunday of the month and you know I’ll be there.
What kind of swaps have you participated in and how much money have you saved?
McPrior / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
You’re in the office and your tummy starts grumbling. You have many options for lunch but which one is best for your wallet? Options include eating out, brown bagging and re-heating a frozen entree.
Eating Out
Pros: This option is convenient and depending on where you work, you have an array of foods at your fingertips. There is no need to pack a lunch the night before or wake up extra early to prepare something. Eating out with coworkers can be a bonding experience and if you can chose the eatery, you can make sure you have an Entertainment Book coupon. Cons: This can quickly become an expensive habit if you don’t find deals for eating out. If you stick to dollar menus to minimize the cost, your waistline and health may take a toll. Cost: $10 per meal x 5 days a week = $50 per week
Brown Bagging
Pros: Keep an eye on your wallet and your waistline with this option. Brown Bagging can be more environmental if you use a reusable lunch bag, bring utensils from home instead of using disposables and pack a reusable water bottle. Being your own chef allows creative meal planning, especially if you use a multi-compartment easy lunch box. Re-heat dinner leftovers for a tasty meal. You can eat quickly at your desk or find a nearby park. Brown Bagging is nearly as fun as eating out with a favorite co-worker. Cons: It gets boring fast if you stick to the same meals and requires advance planning. Cost: $2.60 for a sandwich + .40 for baby carrots or fruit slices = $3 x 5 days a week = $15
Frozen Entrees
Pros: Prepackaged foods are very convenient and easy to grab on your way out the door in the morning when you’re in a hurry. You can stock up when they go on sale and keep them for weeks in the freezer. You can eat quickly at your desk. TV dinners used to have a bad rap for being unhealthy but there are now healthy options. Cons: Many TV dinner are loaded with salt and lack fiber and vitamins, taking a toll on your health over time. Portions are often so small you head to the candy machine for an afternoon snack. Cost: The entrees cost around $5 and sometimes cheaper when you can find coupons. $5 x 5 days a week = $25
Eating out costs significantly more than brown bagging or relying on frozen meals, but also takes a lot more time. What’s your frugal lunchtime option?
sean dreilinger / flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
A couple weeks ago, my sister begged me to take her to watch “Eclipse” and I caved. Since I wasn’t interested in the movie, the last thing I wanted to do was spend a bunch of money, so I decided to try an independent theater near my area.
I paid $6.50 for a matinee showing. Score! Nowadays, the cost of movie tickets is steep but with some simple changes you can save money when going to the movies. Here’s how:
Think independent. I’m not suggesting you go by yourself. Find local independent theaters and frequent them for their low prices. The theater I went to is small and only has three screens but it was clean and had an old Hollywood vibe to it.
Go to a matinee. The easiest way to save money and avoid the crowds is to head to the movie theater in the morning and not during peak days like Friday and Saturday. Make sure to check the times your local movie theater considers matinees as it varies from theater to theater.
Avoid the concession stand. These days, popcorn is more expensive than movie tickets. Instead bring your own snacks. Many of our Bargain Babe Facebook friends confessed to sneaking in snacks to save money. I’ve done the same.
Use the student, senior, and military discount. Many theaters offer discounted prices to students, seniors, and military personnel so make sure to present your ID at the box office to get a discount.
Head to Costco. Not only can you buy a year’s worth of toilet paper but you can get cheaper movie tickets. I bought two tickets for $15.49 for the Regal Cinemas chain that I will use to watch “Inception.” The cashier told me the warehouse also sells AMC tickets for a couple cents more.
Clip coupons. Another friend, Kristin, said she buys Entertainment Books when they are discounted (the books are currently going for $10-$15 for 2010) and clips coupons to get cheap movie tickets. Movie tickets cost $5 to $6 with the Entertainment Book.
Buy in bulk. If you’re loyal to a theater, take advantage of their rewards program. AMC Theaters’ AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers two points per ticket purchased and you can receive free concessions or tickets for every 10 points earned. The Regal Cinemas’ Regal Crown Club awards one point per $1 spent. When you rack up 120 points, you can redeem them for a free ticket. Other theaters send special offers to members.
Avoid reservation sites. Buy online and you’ll end up paying more for your tickets. Movietickets.com has a $1 surcharge and Fandango.com tacks on $.75 to $1.50 per ticket, depending on the area.
Get a free ticket to a TV show instead. BargainBabe.com blogger Bobbi previously shared about a dozen tips for getting hooked up with free TV show tickets.
Sign up with Film Metro. It’s free and they will send you invites to movie screenings. At college campuses, there are often people offering free movie passes for screenings.
How do you save money when going to the movies?
AgentAkit/Flickr
A friend recently shared that he upgraded his regular $50 Costco membership to the $100 Executive plan, which immediately made me wonder how much money he will have to spend to make his yearly fee back. If he spends more, the upgrade was worth it. If he spends less, he should have stuck to the regular plan.
My friend makes 1% back on travel purchases, 3% back on gas, and 2% back on all his other bulk purchases. There are also membership perks for check printing, auto financing, and long-distance phone service. The rebates are valid on future Costco expenses.
Cash outlay
$100 to join at the executive level
Money back
$10 Costco gift card for signing up that my friend earned through his company (it’s not clear if this perk is widely available, but you can ask)
$9.92 Amazon selling price of Home Cooking: The Costco Way, which he received for signing up
$5 in travel rebates if my friend buys one $500 vacation package
So far my friend has – theoretically – earned $48.32 back towards his $100 membership on the 1% and 3% rebates. So how much does he have to spend on groceries and other items, earning him 2% back, to earn another $51.68 so he gets the full $100 back? Dusting off my algebra skills…
$51.68 – .02 cash rebate (Costco purchases needed to break even)
$51.68/.02 = Costco purchases needed to break even
$2,584 = Costco purchases needed to break even
My friend has to spend $2,584 on general Costco merchandise in one year to break even. That breaks down to $215 every month or $99 every two weeks, which is entirely do-able for a lot of people. If my friend bought more Costco gas, he would need to spend less in the warehouse to make his Executive Membership back. Buying glasses at Costco is one way to make your money back in one purchase.
Additionally, my calculations do not take into account any savings my friend earns on Costco’s lower prices. Costco gas, for instance, is about $.05 cheaper per gallon. I decided not to take this price differential into consideration because Costco splurges – virtually impossible for mere mortals to resist – cancel out price savings for many shoppers.
Are you a warehouse member? What makes it worthwhile for you to pay the yearly fee? If you are not a member, there are still ways to get deals at Costco.
confidence, comely./flickr
I’ve always had trouble staying on budget when I shop at Target and never knew why. But when I shopped with my father this past weekend, I realized my downfall was never Target – it was my enabling friends.
Here is how to detect if your friends are passing on bad shopping habits and a few solutions to avoid letting them put a dent in your pocket book.
Bargain Hunter
Many of my friends fall into this category. They have an eye for good deals and can talk their way to better deals. But their savvy ways put me in a hole because around them I find myself buying things because it’s on sale and not because I need it. If this rings true for you, then your friend is an enabler. When shopping with them, stick to your shopping list without one slip up. Try carrying cash instead of plastic to make sure you stay on budget.
The BIG Spender
Have you noticed that some people can’t seem to keep their money in their pockets for long? Whatever catches their eye they must have. It’s almost as if their money burns a hole in their pocket. If hanging out with these friends makes you burn money faster, consider finding a new shopping buddy. Instead suggest activities away from the mall – or you’ll pay for it in the end.
The Latest Thing Lover
You know exactly the person I’m talking about: the hipster in your group that is on top of all the latest trends, from fashion to technology. If it’s new, they’ve shelled out the big bucks for it. Good for them if they can afford it, but it’s really hard when they show off the latest cell phone and tease you because you send smoke signals to communicate. If you find yourself buying one just to fit in, cut them of and move on. This person may be lovely but you’re on a mission to spend less and they’re not helping.
Mr. and Ms. Mooch
This is possibly the worst out of the bunch. These friends are not only teaching you bad spending habits, they are making you pay for theirs. You’ll recognize these “friends” as the ones that always seem to forget their wallets or tend to disappear when the check comes around. If you’re always stuck paying the bill for things, a simple reminder and a sweet “do you mind covering me this time?” should do the trick.
I find setting ground rules with friends from the beginning lets them know what to expect. At the end of the day, it’s you, not your friends, who have to pay your credit card bills. Remember this and you won’t get talked into spending money you don’t have on things you don’t need.
How do you deal with enabling friends?
avilasal/Flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
It’s HOT and you blew it by ignoring my advice to buy an air conditioner during the winter. Before you make an impulse buy, do a bit of mathematics for best results.
The first thing you need to do is measure the space that you want to cool. You need to know the square footage, which is easy to figure out. Just measure the floor. Measure in one direction and then measure in the other direction. Then multiply the two numbers. Ta-da! Square footage.
Now take your square footage and multiply that by 35. That will give you a general idea of what SIZE air conditioner to buy. That doesn’t mean how big in inches. It means how big in BTUs – British Thermal Units.
Every window air conditioner has a cooling capacity number that ranges from about 5,000 to 18,000 BTUs. (Larger systems are usually rated in tons of cooling with a ton being equal to 12,000 BTUs.) The higher the BTU value, the stronger the air conditioner is. BTUs determine how much cooling the unit can deliver in an hour. Too little BTUs and you won’t get cooled off. Too many BTUs and you will waste energy and MONEY – yikes!
For those of you living in high humidity areas here is a bit more insight: Many people buy an air conditioner that is too large, thinking it will provider better cooling. However, an over-sized air conditioner is actually less effective — and wastes energy at the same time. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.
Once you determine your BTU need (square footage multiplied by 35), make sure that you make adjustments for room location and heat load:
- If the room is shaded, reduce the BTUs by 10%
- If the room is very sunny, increase the BTUs by 10%
- If the air conditioner is in the kitchen, add 4,000 BTUs
- If the room is going to be occupied by more than 2 people most of the time, add 600 BTUs per person
Another thing to consider is EER, which stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio.” Air conditioners’ EERs usually range from 8.2 to 10.5. The higher the number, the more efficient the machine and the more expensive to buy, but cheaper to operate. It’s a numbers game.
OK, so now that you know what size air conditioner you need, look on Craigslist. If you can’t find what you are looking for there, check out one of the big box warehouse stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJ’s. They have competitive prices and their return policies are fabulous. Don’t buy an air conditioner online because the shipping cost will be enormous.
When installing your window air conditioner, use a window that is in the shade. Ensure that there is space around the inside and outside for air flow. In other words, don’t put the air condition up against the back of your couch or right up against a bush outside. Insulate where the window and air conditioner meet to make sure there is no air leakage around the unit and the window. Make sure that you clean the filters on a regular basis as this will increase the efficiency and life of your air conditioner.
OK, those are my tips. Good luck and stay cool.
