By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
serenejournal/flickr
In my post on snagging free and deeply discounted food, I listed a meal swap (or meal sharing) as a way to save money on food. Here’s how to set one up.
The idea behind a meal swap is that each person makes a big batch of what they are cooking and then divides it into smaller servings, packing the food so it is freezer ready. Everyone in the meal swap meets once a week or once a month (whatever is decided upon) and swaps what they have made.
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All you pay is roughly $3.50 a month for taxes and fees. For an average family spending $30-$40 a month on home phone service, Ooma can pay for itself within 7 to 10 months, and continue to save them money year after year.
Calls between Ooma phones are always free from anywhere in the world. For those who have family outside the U.S., users can purchase 500 international minutes for just $4.99, plus the $9.99/month fee – that’s a penny a minute!
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Do you "envelope" budget? Credit: PinkMoose/Flickr
A friend emailed me with a bit of budgeting advice passed on from her mother, the professional organizer Janet Fishman:
Set up separate bank accounts for: living expenses, play, long-term savings, education, charity, and retirement and have either a percentage or fixed dollar amount from each paycheck go into these accounts. Most all companies that offer automatic deposits for payroll have the ability to automatically deposit into multiple accounts. Figure out how much you need to pay taxes, divide by the number of weeks you work, and that constitutes the dollar amount to set aside for each week. Repeat this for the categories above and you will be fully prepared and organized year round!
This ads up to six accounts – or more if you set up one for taxes and other categories. Phew! That strikes me as a lot to manage. Plus, you would have a harder time hitting minimum balance requirements to keep your account free or low cost.
On the other hand, how much money you have to spend on any given thing would be crystal clear. No pushing money earmarked for one expense to cover something else. Plus, retirement is singled out, which makes it more likely that you will save for retirement.
What do you think of this modern take on the “envelope” system? Would you use it?
sean dreilinger / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Living the frugal life – Donna Freedman shares why frugality is the right choice. (MSN Money)
Moving on a budget – Moving? Check out this guide to cutting packaging and moving costs. (MoneyCrashers)
Financial disaster – Learn how to deal with divorce from a financial standpoint. (Bargaineering)
Money 101 – The Silicon Valley Blogger shares a basic financial plan for those starting out. (The Digerati Life)
Save money on your wheels – The Thousandaire shares ten ways to stop wasting money on your car. (Thousandaire)
This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.
tchuntfr / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Understanding your credit – What is good credit? Learn what your credit ratings and ranges mean. (MoneyCrashers)
Hilarious tax stories – CPA’s reveal tax writeoffs that didn’t work. Yup, someone actually tried them. (Bargaineering)
Budgeting solution – Hate planning? Here’s how to budget for those who don’t like to prepare in advance. (Wisebread)
Surviving a layoff – Find out what to do after losing your job. (The Digerati Life)
Nonfans win big – Here are 4 Super Bowl deals for non-football fans. (MainStreet)
This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.
A baby nursery for less than $260!
Remember my post from October about looking for a pregnant Halloween costume? Well, the time has *almost* come. Here are nine ways I’ve saved money in preparation for parenthood.
- We compared the prices of popular baby gear on Amazon, Babies R Us, and Target to make sure we got the best deal on a car seat and other items we wanted to buy new. You’d be surprised which retailer was the cheapest!
- I stalked craigslist, Freecycle, and my local Mommy & Me consignment store to furnish our nursery, pictured above, for less than $260. I can’t believe how much used baby stuff is free or extremely cheap. Here are more places to look to avoid paying retail for baby clothesand gear. (more…)
EE Homepage / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Last year, my aunt underwent dental surgery that could have cost her thousands of dollars. The cheapest quote she got in the U.S. was $45,000. To get affordable health options, and save money, she sought out-of-country care. She told me she saved more than $20,000 when I told her about my dental emergency.
I was surprised to learn she’d had her teeth fixed because all I’d heard was that she’d gone on vacation to Mexico during the summer. I interrogated her over the phone.
“What did you get done?”
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Urban Woodstalker/flickr
Do you know the main idea that separates people who live over-budget from those who live under-budget?
People who go over-budget do so because they think they must have NEW stuff. This often translates into buying at the highest price. Go to the mall and buy a new shirt. Top dollar. Go to the car dealer and buy a new replacement part for your car. Super top dollar. Go to the bookstore and buy a just published book. Very expensive.
Some people feel that it is “bad” or “uncool” or “low class” to buy recycled, used, or discounted. Well, if you are super rich and have money to burn, then, be my guest and buy retail. I surely want to go to your yard sales and I certainly don’t want to try and balance your budget.
Jasonwoodhead23/flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Per Southern California Gas Company, home heating is 65% of a residential gas bill during the winter months. (That’s what it said in my bill insert this month.) Wow! If that is true in Southern California, what is it in actual cold parts of the country?
With so much of your utility budget going toward keeping your home warm, anything that you can do to retain heat in your home or keep the heat from leaving is a money saver. Here are 5 tips that will help you to lower your heating bill:
Time is almost out to win $175 budgeting software!
Today is your last chance to win a budgeting software package worth $175!!! One lucky winner will get a copy of You Need A Budget software, an hour of one-on-one coaching, the YNAB book, and their audio book!
So far only 55 readers have entered. Make this a Christmas present to yourself by entering no later than today, Dec. 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Win a $175 budgeting software package!
One lucky reader will win a copy of You Need A Budget software, an hour of one-on-one coaching, the YNAB book, and their audio book! This prize package is worth $175!
So far only 17 readers – gasp – have entered. This contest is for the taking! Enter by Monday, Dec. 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
YNAB will teach you how to get out of debt, save money, and stop living paycheck to paycheck. The personal finance software runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux so it’s easy to install and use. You can budget using the envelope system or download the companion iPhone and Android app.
The best part is no forced upgrades or annual fees. Plus, YNAB offers totally free, education webinars almost every day.
To win the YouNeedABudget prize pack on BargainBabe.com:
My eye! Credit: Nieve44/La Luz
Are you having a hard time finding a great deal on a particular present?
Can’t think of what to buy for your _____?
Not sure where is the best place to buy a particular gift?
Struggling with how much to spend on a friend?
Unsure how to cross everyone off your list without going over budget?
Need help setting a Christmas and holiday shopping budget?
Let the Bargain Babe figure it out! Ask your question by leaving a comment and we will respond within 24 hours, if not sooner.
MCalatayud / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I was sitting in the dentist chair looking into the light when he told me exactly what I didn’t want to hear.
“You need a root canal.”
Ouch! The thought of having the dentist drill my molar was not as painful as wondering how much this was going to set me back.
I immediately began blaming myself. If only I hadn’t put off
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Keng Susumpow/Flickr
I love presents! I love waking up on Christmas morning to a tree drowning in presents. My family spends the day opening presents, watching movies, eating good food and talking to friends and relatives on the phone. Heavenly.
However, creating that pile of presents without breaking the budget and without gathering ANY credit card debt is a trick. A trick that I have pulled off for many years, by the way.
Here are my top 8 No Debt Santa Claus secrets:
Jason Texter / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I recently read a story in the LA Times about Hallmark adding unemployment cards to its sympathy line. The cards are apparently a good way to show compassion, but to me spending $3 to $5 on a card is ridiculous! This got me thinking of five frugal ways to show your support for those going through a rough time.
Not surprisingly, Hallmark is not the only company getting in on the action. You can also buy layoff cards from online companies Zazzle Inc. and Greeting Card Universe.
