Charline Tetiyevsky / Flick
Graduation season is here! If you’re heading to a graduation this year, we’ve got you covered. I’ve rounded up some of our best graduation posts to help you save money.
Know a grad and need a thoughtful, yet inexpensive graduation gift? Consider a financial gifts for your grad. Don’t worry, it won’t break the bank. It’s as simple as getting them a financial book to bone up on their personal finances. Our gift ideas work for both high school and college grads!
Winner announced below!
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I was surprised that only 17 readers entered our book giveaway contest. I’m assuming it’s because “Money Saving Blueprint” by Bryan Bowers is a Kindle book and not many have the e-reader. Those who entered had a higher chance of winning, but I could only pick one person!
I initially wanted to give the book to reader Kay, who said the Great Recession has greatly affected her family. She said after reading the book she would share it with her book lending club for other local families to benefit from her win. There was only one problem – it’s a Kindle book. Rats!
Win a Kindle version (or PDF version) of this book!
Today is your last chance to comment for a chance to win Bryan Bowers’ “Money Saving Blueprint.” Only 6 readers have entered, so your chances of winning are super high! Bowers shows you how to cut down expenses in his easy to read, 39-page book.
Bowers’ family had to trim expenses after being hard hit by the recession. He wrote the book to inspire others. He writes:
401K / Flickr
This post is brought to you by Bankers Life and Casualty Company.
Creating a financial budget that puts you first is essential for women who faced with the decision to help themselves or others would opt for the latter. Guilty.
Most of my life I’ve been told that a person’s budget is a reflection of their beliefs and morals and because of that I’ve struggled to put myself first. I’d be lying if I said I’ve figured out the perfect budget because there isn’t a one size fits all. What I’ve come up with is a budget that takes care of me first and also supports my beliefs. Here’s how I’ve allocated my money.
Win a Kindle version of this book!
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
In “Money Saving Blueprint,” Bryan Bowers teaches you how to save hundreds of dollars each month with practical advice. Win a Kindle version of his book! Details are below.
In the 39-page book, Bowers reveals how his family cut expenses after being hard hit by the Great Recession. To deal with the blow of a dramatic loss of income his family reduced and eliminate expenses. He shares his journey to inspire others to save money. He writes:
A soda display at Ralphs. jeff_soffer / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Ralphs is closest to my home so when I forget something from Trader Joe’s, Ralphs it is. Here are my six secrets to saving money at Ralphs.
Clearance rack – This is one of the best kept secrets at Ralphs and other grocers. When food nears its “sell by date,” employees move it to a special clearance rack that is often hard to find. But it’s worth seeking out, because items are 50% off or more! At my local Ralphs, the rack is all the way in the back near the refrigerator section. It tends to have a lot of bread and a few blemished produce. Last time I found whole wheat dinner rolls for $.99. We ate them that night with pasta and they where yummy.
Meat sale – You don’t have to stick to
Wendy Copley / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I like shopping at Trader Joe’s because of their friendly customer service and their money-saving deals. If you’re new to TJ’s, here are six tips to boost your savings at this grocery store.
Try it before you buy it – Don’t spend money on food your family doesn’t like. Keep in mind that any product on the shelf can be sampled. Employees are allowed to open up any jar or box to let customers try them. No can do on wine, though. The Trader Joe’s I frequent also has a section in the back where they always give out free samples. I’ve been able to try sauces, salads and their coffees before forking over my hard earned cash.
Avoid prepared foods – Trader Joe’s has a variety of food from Mexican to Indian cuisine, but it’s easy to spend too much! My favorite right now is
avlxyz/Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Farmers markets are a good source for fresh produce and quality homemade goods but can be pretty expensive if you don’t know how to score a deal. Before I started to frequent them, I imagined farmer’s market were expensive because the produce is organic, but with a couple tricks I have been able to save money and so can you. Heres what to do.
Meet the farmers. It has been my experience that this is the single best thing you can do at the farmers market if you want to save money. Instead of rushing through the market, take your time to do a meet and greet. Talk to the farmers and those selling their produce. Many times the farmers themselves will not be selling the produce so talking to whomever is in charge is best. One of the best ways to strike up a conversation is to ask questions about their produce and where they grown it. Becoming friends with them may provide you with discounts but it also allows you to learn where your food is coming from. This is also good if you want to know what the farmers will be selling in the weeks ahead. By becoming friends, they know youll become a loyal customer and will buy from them as much as possible.
Early bird doesnt always get the worm. If you are looking for quality and a plentiful selection, you must hit the farmers market early in the day, but be warned that quality comes with a price. If bargains are what you want, then the best time to head to the market is later in the day. The selection will be limited but youll find the lowest prices during this time as farmers are trying to sell all of their merchandise so they can head home. If you are looking for something in particular, get there early and shop around.
Know whats in season. When I first started going to farmers markets I made a big mistake that cost me greatly. I was paying $10 for out of season strawberries. They were delicious, but not worth all that money. Once I figured out I was overpaying, I vowed to learn in season fruits and vegetables to reduce my costs. I now pay $5 at most for strawberries when they are in season.
Haggle. Many vendors are open to negotiation, but you have to be respectful if you are going to take that approach. Not only is this their livelihood and they have to make a living, but its also up to their discretion if they want to give you a deal. I once asked for a deal when purchasing fruit from a farmer and I got it. Another customer overheard and demanded the same deal. She was only buying three apples while I bought an array of fruits for a salad from the farmer. He explained to her that he couldnt give her a discount when she was buying so little and told her that if she bought more he would gladly extend the offer to her. She refused, left the apples and stormed off. In short, if you want a deal, politeness will get you further.
Do you have more tips on saving money at the farmers market?
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Lauren Y. wins the review copy of The Cheap Divas Guide to Frugal and Fabulous Living for her comment that reveals shes lived paycheck to paycheck but hadnt learned her lesson until she got laid off for the second time:
For most of my working life Ive lived pretty much (or barely) paycheck to paycheck. Ive been a waitress, office assistant, temp and receptionist.
Despite all those short-lived, low-paying jobs, I didnt really learn my lesson in frugality until I was laid off for the second time. As I said before, Ive lived paycheck to paycheck (or was underfinanced, as I like to say when Im feeling fancy) but Id never been broke. After that second layoff, I was BROKE. I had to figure out how to pay for rent, utilities, food, gas and medicine. Since I was laid off from another low-paying job, my unemployment check wasnt going to cut it. I took as many temp jobs as I could to cover rent and utilities. To save gas, I combined errands and limited my driving to necessary errands and work. I found a state-funded pharmacy to help pay for my medicine. Finally, I started using coupons (which i got from my moms newspaper), only shopped at stores that doubled coupons and learned how to stretch meals.
Fortunately, I eventually got a decent paying job but that unemployment-broke spell put the Fear of Brokedom in me. The first thing I did after getting the job was pay off all my consumer debt. It took a lot of major changes but I managed to do it in a little over a year. Now Im trying to learn how to go from survivor mode to healthy savings mode. To me, healthy savings mode is where I can be frugal while still enjoying life. Im not there yet but Im working my way towards it.
Lauren, I hope this book continues to help you learn to live a frugal life but also helps you enjoy every minute of it. If you missed the book review, author Stephanie Ann writes about her tips and tricks to getting good deals and shows you how to make some cash by selling your clutter or by creating your own job.
In the book, Ann shares her story and shares she was living paycheck to paycheck after a series of low paying jobs and long periods of unemployment. It can be difficult to get laid off especially when you have credit card debt from trying to make ends meet but it is important to take care of yourself to look fabulous and once again conquer the world.
If you didn’t win my review copy you can purchase it on Amazon for $13.45.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Stephanie Ann, author of The Cheap Divas Guide to Frugal and Fabulous Living: How to Shop Smart, Look Your Best, Decorate with Style, and Have Fun for Less Money!, shares her tips and tricks to living large on a small budget in her 224-page book. Ann is the creator of thecheapdiva.com, a budget style blog.
In her book, Ann shares her secrets to scoring deals and shows you how to make money by cashing in on your clutter or creating your own job. The book is a fun and fast read with hints of humor that come from anecdotes she shares about her time working in various home dcor and retail businesses. The book also includes a handy list of websites sure to save you money.
The book is divided into five parts: Money, Fashion, Beauty, Home Dcor and Entertainment.
So what makes Ann an expert in frugal living ? For starters, I was living the frugal lifestyle long before it was fashionable, she writes. With a series of low-income jobs and prolonged periods of unemployment, she said shes built a healthy sense of mistrust of employers and many healthy savings habits.
If you would like to learn the secrets to a frugal and fabulous life for free, leave a comment detailing your short-lived jobs and how they helped you learn to tighten your financial belt. You may end up being the lucky winner of my review copy – signed by the Cheap Diva herself!
Comment by Friday, July 9 at 9 a.m. PST for a chance to win. If you cant wait to get your hands on the book, you can purchase it on Amazon for $13.45.
Shelley & Dave/Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Gardening can be a great way to save money on produce but it can easily turn into an expensive activity if you start shelling out big bucks for the latest gardening gadgets. Here are some ideas to help you sow your seeds frugally so you can reap the financial benefits.
Start your plants from seed The most cost-effective way to garden is by starting your plants with seeds instead of buying plants that have been started for you. A packet of seeds can run you anywhere from $1 to $3 per packet while young plants cost $2-$15. You can also buy seeds in bulk from gardening catalogs, which often have deals for free shipping. Keep in mind that seeds are usually good for about a year so dont go crazy ordering more than you can plant or your savings will turn into waste. You can also split the bill and seeds with a friend as each packet contains dozens of seeds.
Become a seed saver Harvest and save garden seeds from your favorite plants for next season. To let some of your plants go to seed, allow them to flower. Make sure to allow the seeds to dry completely before storing. Once the flower is dry, collect the seed pods. For vegetables like tomatoes squeeze out the seeds, remove the pulp and allow seeds to dry completely. Note that plants grown from Hybrid seeds are not good for saving and replanting. When purchasing seeds make sure they are open pollinated seeds or heirloom seeds, which you can save and later replant.
Invest in a multi-purpose planting tool Buying tools for specific jobs can end up costing you a fortune. Instead stick to one tool that will do it all. A hori hori knife, which is a cross between a knife and trowel is a great option. This tool is useful for many tasks including planting, transplanting and removing deep-rooted roots. Keep in mind that the best tool you have are your hands! There is also no need for fancy pots to start your plants. Milk cartons, plastic milk jugs, yogurt cups and clear plastic beverage bottles will do.
Host a plant or seed swap Swapping seeds and plants with friends can help you add a variety of fruits and veggies to your garden without breaking the bank. If you are strapped for space, consider growing different fruits and veggies so you can share with your friends.
Make compost Making your own compost is the easiest way to save money on fertilizer. If you dont have the space to make your own, consider having your yard waste picked up. Many cities pick up yard waste that is turned into free compost for gardeners.
Save on water – Water is one of those expenses you wont notice until the bill comes. Some simple ways to save on water include collecting rainwater by strategically placing containers around your property and investing in an irrigation system or soaker hose. A water timer will also help with the waste of water to help you save on your water bills.
As a gardener trying to save money, what do you do to save green?
