How many coupons can you use before being unethical? Credit: Xurble/Flickr
The Unethical Man, a reader who shared controversial tips to save money in Vegas (like taking hotel toilet paper), has a financial dilemma to share. Your thoughts?
I have one for you, and I would really like your honest opinion. I signed up for Del Taco’s Raving e-club a long time ago. From time-to-time, they send out emails containing a link to print out coupons to try something new. The coupon typically gives the bearer the new item for free with any purchase. I can and do print multiple coupons. The coupon does specify that only one coupon may be redeemed per customer per visit.
I’m sure that most people would place their typical order and throw in the free coupon as an added bonus. I’m sure that’s what the company is hoping for too. But when I go to redeem my free item,
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Patricia is the winner of my review copy of The Real Cost of Living by Carmen Wong Ulrich. Patricia said she has a handle on her finances, but her adult children are not there quite yet. She wrote:
At 60, I’ve pretty much figured this stuff out. What kills me, though, is seeing my 4 adult kids (aged 30-40) frittering away money on Starbucks, eating out, etc. If I mention stuff like that to them, it goes in one ear and out the other. But, if I could say, “Hey, I won this book and I’m passing it on to you”. . . . .
Patricia, I am (more…)
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The impact our behavior and motivations have on our financial decisions is the focus of The Real Cost of Living by Carmen Wong Ulrich. Ulrich, who has a degree in psychology and was the former host of CNBC’s On the Money, says she sees money differently because she was not trained in the profession:
Economics has finally recognized that we are not rational creatures; we’re not all about the accounting. Behavioral economics, the study of the neuropsychology behind how we behave with our money, has won Nobel Prizes. But it’s also about time – especially for those of us in personal finance – to realize that there is a lot more going on than money when it comes to making decisions about our money and our lives.
What spoke to me the most was the chapter on the real cost of bad habits. (more…)
alancleaver_2000/Flickr
This list intrigued me because I continually ask myself if I am spending and saving responsibly. If many of these behaviors ring true it is time to consider changing your ways. How many of these habits are you guilty of? See my answer below.
The following list comes from Billshrink, a site that compares plans for cell, cable, and other services to see if you are getting the lowest price.
1. You charge group dinners on your card and keep your friends cash to spend.
2. You spend more than 40% of your total income on rent.
3. Youre constantly transferring your balance to get 0% interest on your credit card debt. (more…)
ir0cko/Flickr
Do you remember Cori’s comment about saving $5,000 on a salary of $22,000 that she left on Yazmin’s book review two weeks ago?
Um, more details please! Cori emailed me on how one little sticky note saved her big time. Here is her story.
So my little post-it note that I carted around with me while living on $22k/year just laid out the details of exactly how much I could spend each day on certain things (not including the rent/bills), just the stuff where you have choices. So if I wanted to get a shirt dry-cleaned, I had to save up a weeks worth of daily dry-cleaning $.I didn’t allow myself to go over budget and I kept all the leftover money in a savings account.
It took a lot of discipline, a lot of bus rides (over cab rides), and a lot of saying “no” to things like mani/pedis/sushi/drinks out, etc. But I managed to make it happen. A little cheesy, but to my 23-year old mind, it worked for me at the time. San Francisco is an expensive place to live, but I was happy living on less there. And you just get creative with your entertainment options.
And with my $5k I saved I took a month off work and went to Costa Rica and took a yoga teacher training course. Thankfully now, I own my own event planning company and no longer have to survive on $22k/year, but the lessons I learned were invaluable.
I had my original post-it stashed in my desk, but one of my kids got off with it. But here’s my best relocation of what it said…
Cori’s Daily Spending
Food: $10
Dry Cleaning: $2
Transportation: $3
Entertainment: $2
Drugstore Stuff(shampoo, makeup): $1
House Stuff (cleaning supplies): $1
Cori, the simplicity of your system and your dedication to it is inspiring!!! Thank you for sharing how you saved money. I hope it helps someone else. Got an interesting success or failure story? Email me at julia@bargainbabe.com and the best will appear on the blog.
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?
Margot Wolfs/Flickr
Here on BargainBabe.com we discuss and debate many important strategies to save money on groceries, eating out, and other everyday expenses. But occasionally I venture into really important things, like whether it is cheaper to blow your nose into tissue or toilet paper.
I decided to crunch the numbers after running out of tissues last week. Should I buy another box, or install an unsightly roll of toilet paper on my desk?
FULL DISCLOSURE: I am biased against toilet paper.
I crunched the numbers and am prepared to settle this debate once and for all.
I pay $.79 per box of 110 tissues (sale price at Walgreens), which is $.0072 per tissue (just under 1-cent each).
I pay no more than $.50 per roll for toilet paper (Walgreens often sells a 9-pack of Quilted Northern for $4, about 100 sheets per roll). At $.50 a roll for 100 sheets, that amounts to $.005 per sheet (half of one penny). If I use four sheets every time I blow by nose, that costs me $.02.
To recap, each tissue costs me under a penny while a wad of toilet paper costs me two cents.
Tissues are cheaper! And less unsightly than a roll of tp. If you regularly pay higher or lower prices for tissue and/or toilet paper, you’ll need to crunch your own numbers.
An alternative that cuts down on waste is to buy a few cloth hanky’s and rotate them through the wash.
UPDATE: Readers chimed in with questions and interesting points. Junie said:
Ever had a cold and used TP to wipe your nose? Kleenex doesnt leave my nose red and sore
If your nose is sore from blowing – and I’ve had it happen from using tp and tissue – dab a bit of lotion on the irritated skin. This moisturizing the skin and has worked well for me.
Myke said:
I prefer to use a tissue. TP is made to dissolve when wet so that it doesnt hold up well with a runny nose. I also use more TP when I have to use it on my nose. I try to buy tissues when it goes on sales and I have coupons.
Myke’s point about tp dissolving makes sense and is another reason to buy tissues on sale so you have them on hand when a runny nose hits.
This post is brought to you by CouponCactus.com, a great source of online coupon codes for taxes, groceries, and more.
BargainBabe.com readers are above average – way above! A whopping 75 percent of readers pay off their balance every statement, according to a recent poll in which 161 readers voted. Wow! The national average is 59 percent.
Just a smidge – 22 percent – of BargainBabe.com readers carry a balance. That is half the national average of 41.37 percent of Americans who carry a credit card balance. Another 3 percent of readers chose the ambiguous “other” option, including Danielle, who said “I cant get a credit card, because I dont have a credit card.” Hmm, really?
These impressive stats got me thinking…are BargainBabe.com readers above average savers?
Vote first then I’ll tell you how you compare to the national average on the next page!
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This post is brought to you by PlayMe.com, which providesfree streaming musicfrom their catalog of more than 2 million songs.
Below is a guest post from Abby who blogs about her personal observations, including ocassional posts on coupon clipping. Abbygrew up in Kentucky, works in PR, and is a very spunky gal. Below she explains how she used coupons to get a cart full of groceries for 57 percent off!
During my last trip to Kroger, I got $71.79 worth of groceries for $30.98. 25 itemsall ones I like andwont wasteat an average cost of $1.24 each.
Imthe Coupon Queen.Its a terrifying, exciting spectacle to behold. And Im here to say that if you shop regularly at Kroger, and you dont use coupons, youre being crazy with your money.
(Why Kroger? Given my current city of residence and based on three-plus years of shopping around at each available area retailer, Kroger is my favorite because of selection, location, and they double coupons up to 50 cents.)
Manufacturers use coupons for promotion of an item andmay sometimes work with retailers to slightly increase the price of a product. While consumers still save, manufacturers dont lose as much. And retailers dont lose anything, as far as money. If youll notice on your coupons, theres a note to the retailer with instructions for sending them back to the manufacturer for reimbursement. (It would be interesting to see statistics for retailers doing the work to get their money back. I bet those coupons are transported in armored cars!)
So how did I get my groceries for almost 60 percent off? Here are my rules:
- Seek out coupons: Sunday newspapers, magazines, coupon Web sites, product Web sites (Ill list my favorite coupon Web sites below)
- Before you go into the store, pull out the coupons you want to use for only the items you need (saves time in the store AND it helps you stick to your list)
- At the same time, take all your coupons inside the store, just in case theres a fantastic deal on an item you dont need, but you kind of want to try and you know youll use, and its so cheap you have to buy it. Just keep separate stacks. But you rarely dip into this second stack.
- Make time for shopping: I spent 1.5 hours buying 25 items. I realize not everyone has the luxury of such browsing, but if you really want to save money, youre going to have to find the time.
- In order to really save, you have to purchase items that are on sale AND that you have a coupon for. Example: a few weeks ago, a brand of 12-grain bread was 3 loaves/$5. I just needed one at $1.67/loaf. I had a 50-cent coupon, doubled, and I got my loaf of bread for $0.67. Yummy.
For this recent trip, I used manufacturers coupons and my Kroger card, of course. In addition, Kroger was having a promotion within their store: mix and match 10 participating items and get $5 off your entire order (50 cents off each of the 10 items). Oh, and dont forget, coupons up to 50 cents are doubled.
Lets break my shopping cart down:
*note:even amongremembering coupon values, doing math late at night and deciphering my receipt, the margin of error for the figures below still is pretty minimal.
4 24 oz bottles of Propel water (2 black cherry, 2 peach mango)
On sale with Kroger card: .99/bottle
Mix and match promo: .49/bottle
Manufacturers coupon: -1.00/4 bottles
Final cost: $0.24/bottle
Get up to $100 when you start saving for Christmas using Sears’ Christmas Club card. The same program exists at Kmart.
Here’s how it works. Sign up for the card by Oct. 31, 2009 and add money to the card as you like. Sears will give you 3 percent of the balance as of Nov 11, 2009, up to $100. The bonus is added to the card on Nov. 25, so you have plenty of time to use it before the holidays.
If you plan to do a lot of your holiday shopping at Sears or Kmart, this is a win-win situation to get free money on what is basically a gift card.
Caveats: you cannot get the money back that you put on the card if you do not spend it at the store.
I bet other retailers will follow suit. But will the people?
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