How to Save on School Lunches
By Annaliese Griffin | MainStreet.com

Remember when tuna or PB&J were your basic lunch options? Now kids have more choices, and with rising food costs as well as health concerns like childhood obesity, parents have more worries about what their children eat in the school cafeteria. But with a little planning and MainStreet’s help, you can keep your grocery bill in check while sending your students to school with tasty and healthy lunches.

Get a Cool Container

Sometimes you have to spend a little to save a lot. Talk to your kids about what kind of a container they’d like to carry to school each day. Laptop Lunches ($34.99) are easily transportable and come with a complete set of small containers to pack various items like fruit, nuts, dipping sauces, salads or yogurt. (They’re also great for adults trying to practice portion control.) Built NY’s insulated bags ($10 - $22) come in animal shapes, as well as an array of colors and patterns that appeal to the more sophisticated set.

Designate a drawer in your kitchen to store lunch boxes and bags, Ziploc baggies, packaged lunch snacks and small containers. Invest in several packages of inexpensive, but re-usable plastic containers and write your child’s name on the outside.

Shop Around and Stock Up

Stock the same drawer where you store the lunch boxes, bags and containers with quick snacks like granola bars or bags of crackers and pretzels. Buy cases at a discounter like Costco (COST), BJ’s (BJ), or from Amazon.com (AMZN), which offers free shipping on orders over $25 and great deals on bulk buys. Prepackaged snacks have a long shelf life, so look online as well as in the store, and stock up when you spot a great price.

Make sure and read the ingredients carefully on these products, especially granola bars. Many brands, even those that advertise themselves as natural, are packed with sugar (even if it’s organic cane syrup). LaraBars ($17.95 for a box of 12) are a little more expensive, but are made entirely from fruit and nuts with no added sugar.

Cut Down on Packaging

Buying pre-packaged items in bulk will save you cash, but an even more effective strategy is to forgo the packaging and make your own. Instead of granola bars, buy nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips and create an original trail mix. You can even add a favorite breakfast cereal for added crunch and vitamin fortification. Make a large batch, seal into individual plastic baggies and stash them in the lunch drawer for easy packing.

You can also save by dividing larger packages into smaller plastic containers. Instead of purchasing individual yogurts, opt for the 32 oz. container. Place frozen berries at the bottom of a small plastic container and then spoon yogurt on top. The whole thing will stay cool until lunchtime and offer a cheaper, lower in sugar, calcium-rich lunch. You can do the same with large jars of applesauce, which is great with frozen raspberries or with walnuts, raisins and cinnamon sprinkled on top. Also, cut fruit yourself rather than buying pre-made fruit salads. Melons, apples and bananas are budget-friendly choices. Just remember to add the bananas in the morning; they have a tendency to get slimy in the fridge.

Pasta Power

Pasta is quick, cheap, and a great vehicle for veggies. Even kids who are tired of soggy tuna sandwiches can be persuaded to gobble up a pasta salad with tuna, peas and cilantro. Cook the pasta at the same time you make dinner and then assemble lunch for the following day as part of clean-up. Use whole wheat pasta and you’ll up the nutritional value of the whole package.

Befriend Beans

A bean and cheese burrito with rice and salsa is an inexpensive lunch that offers complete protein. Add carrots and celery on the side and you’ve covered all the major food groups for mere pennies. Spread the beans, rice, cheese and salsa onto a flour tortilla and then roll it up. You can also cut it into rounds for easy snacking for small fingers. Experiment with hummus, which is quick and easy to make from garbanzo beans in a food processor or blender. You can use hummus as a sandwich filling or pack it in a small container for dipping with carrots, celery or green peppers.

It might take some time to get the routine down, but these tips will help keep one eye on wallet, without having to take the other eye off your kids’ nutrition. And, like many frugal endeavors, you’ll reduce the amount of packaging you use and even your carbon footprint – everyone wins.

Related:

Will Gas Prices Cheat Students?
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Part of setting your budget is determining how much money you have and where it should go. And with this comes the important task of figuring out what you need verses what you want. Too many times people will set their bars really high to allow for those “extra” things that they think they need. The may put a little bit more in their food budget for those convenient snacks, or maybe a little more in the entertainment budget for those extra few drinks. But for those serious about getting out of debt, there is a lesson to be learned here. The more money you save on your wants, the more money you have to pay off your debts, and the sooner you will be debt-free.

Still trying to determine the difference? Check out what Sarah Winfrey had to say over at Wise Bread:

“But Mo-om, I want it!” How many times have you heard that in the grocery store, or the toy store, or anywhere else, for that matter? Probably more than you can count. And what do you think when you hear it? That poor parent? Or, thank God that’s not me anymore! Or, What is wrong with that child? Most of us go on our way, relieved for some reason. It’s not our kid, it’s not us, and we don’t have to deal with it.

I must admit that I am plagued with scenario every time I pass the toy section in the store with my kids. They wine and complain that they want a toy and will try to give me a valid reason for it. The answer remains the same - No. But then again, maybe I should sit back and think about my purchases, and wonder if I do the same thing. Do I try to give myself a valid reason for purchasing something just because I see it on the shelf? Keep reading:

The truth is that, as adults, there are times when we keep ourselves from throwing these sorts of tantrums by buying something we don’t need. We see an item, feel the same desperate need that child felt, and assuage our own feelings by buying the item. We have the power to do that for ourselves as adults. But these are the purchase we often feel guilty about, and one of the main ways to get rid of the guilt is to find a way to classify that purchase as something we do need. Actually, we can do this any time we regret a purchase.

So it’s time for all of us (and I include myself in this) to grow up, time to stop looking like adults on the outside but acting like children on the inside. To do this, we must learn to distinguish between what we need, what we need in certain conditions, and what we want.

Find out how to group your needs and your wants accordingly - read more of her blog here.

Also, you can share your ups and downs, ins and outs of budgeting with other users in the group It’s Time To Budget by joining in on our conversation here.

Does living a “high tech” lifestyle mean “high expense”?

Ask any of the many Geezeo users who love their iPhone… technology purchases can quickly add up.

This article calls technology purchases the “utility bills of the 21st century”, and I totally agree. The biggest stress in my recent move was making sure our internet connection was set up as quickly as possible.

How does a high-tech lifestyle erode the budget? First and foremost, many technology-related costs are on a subscription basis. Most include the option of paying electronically… making the process of extracting cash from your wallet frictionless. It’s easy to forget what you are paying, and easier still to get immediate gratification with instant downloads.

To get an accurate look at all your high-tech, or other expenditures, it’s helpful to start the old-fashioned way with pen and paper. Write down every regular expense and figure out where your money is going. Then, add this information into Geezeo so you can track your progress over time.

Geezeo offers some instantaneous feedback once you begin tracking specific spending targets. You can get a variety of charts and other information at your fingertips. It’s a great way to stay focused on your budget and see results.

Ah, instant gratification… that budget buster! Good thing Geezeo is free…that leaves more money for other technology expenditures!

What are some of your technology-related indulgences?

If you’re feeling stuck in your current financial situation but don’t understand why, the answer may lie in changing an unconscious belief or habit that doesn’t jive with your larger goals.  Check out some common thoughts/habits that can hold people back financially.

1)  Money isn’t important.  
Nobody wants to be a slave to money, but it’s almost impossible to live free of it.  Money doesn’t guarantee happiness but as the currency for surviving in this world, it’s pretty darn important.
Your subconscious mind is very powerful.  If money isn’t important - why bother going to work, getting out of debt, or building a nest egg?  Talk about mixed messages.

2)  I deserve nice things. 
What exactly are ‘nice things’?  My guess is most people want universally nice things like money in the bank, a home of their own, and free time to spend with loved ones.  Yet we easily settle for the temporary satisfaction of buying the stuff we want right now.  Yes, you deserve nice things.  Get clear on what that means for you then set your goals.   Geezeo lets you track and share your progress.          

 3)  I’ll never get out of debt. 
If this is your mantra don’t be surprised when (surprise!) your debt never shrinks.  The subconscious gets hooked by ‘never’ and its job is to help you cope, not find solutions.  Consciously replace this thought with something positive that requires action like  “I’ll be debt free in two years”.  Get ready for awesome results.  
     
4)  Closing doors before they’re open.   
This is a biggie when it comes to making career changes or taking risks so your money can grow.  Develop the habit of seeing opportunity rather than problems.  This one shift in thinking allows for so much creativity in improving your financial life.
Seemingly harmless thoughts like, “That won’t work”,  “They won’t let me do that” or  “I don’t know how”, send the message that it’s okay to give up before trying.

The road to financial freedom is hard enough, why stand in your own way?   Do some money soul searching on the Confessions page.

Econ 101
By Adam Rathe | MainStreet.com

For kids about to start college, there are plenty of experiences to look forward to, but for far too many students debt will also be on the horizon. And with little practical knowledge of finance, those who aren’t careful can graduate with way more than just student loans hanging over their heads.

“Every golfer hates Tiger Woods because he started playing golf in the womb,’ says Alan Corey, author of A Million Bucks by 30. “Those pre-natal golfing lessons have obviously paid off because he started playing golf so much earlier than the competition. The same applies with finances—the earlier you start, the wealthier you are.”

But where to start? Between books, booze and snacks, most students don’t have two dimes left to rub together. “If you are going to live below the grid financially, you might as well make the suffering fun,” says Corey. “Find free concerts in parks or stage your own rock show there. Host a ramen noodle cook-off with friends that can feed a party of twenty, or have a $2 thrift-store party where everyone has to wear an entire outfit they bought for under $2 at a thrift store. I’ve done this, and I found such great threads that I still wear some of them even today - and get compliments.”

Looking for a more creative endeavor? “Host a drunk art gallery,” Corey recommends. “Everyone comes over, gets blasted and paints something. The next day, bring your hung-over selves and your modern art to the local flea market or garage sale, but keep the drunken aspect of it under wraps. Price them $15 - $100 each and watch the offers fly. It’ll at least be enough to cover the costs of your drinks and paint for the next go around.”

But it isn’t all fun and games. Students who save are sure to have an easier time transitioning to the real world after graduation. So, unless mom and dad want to refill an empty nest, they should keep a keen eye on the way their kids spend.

“It can be a challenge for college students to manage their finances when they first head off to school, says Steve Katz, director of consumer education for TransUnion’s TrueCredit.com. “While flexing their independence, some flex their wallets too. That’s why it’s so important for parents to sit down with their kids well before the school year begins to map out a spending plan. Parents and students should determine how much they will have to spend each month, how it should be allocated and should discuss what happens if they run short on money.”

Part of that discussion includes the importance of not racking up credit card debt when they do run short on cash. Citing a survey to be released next week, Katz says, “Nearly one in four respondents left school with more than $5,000 in credit card debt. In fact, one in 10 respondents indicated they owed more than $10,000 for purchases made with credit card.”

Corey also says to avoid credit cards that come with gimmicks like free t-shirts emblazoned with a bank’s logo. “Pay cash for everything until you have graduated,” he says. “That’s the definitive way to avoid both debt collectors and the fashion police.”

Related Articles:

How To Be a Millionaire By 30
Where To Turn For College Student Loans
Clock’s Ticking for Student Loan Applicants

I have been putting off getting a gym membership because they all seem expensive. At school it was great, the gym was only 5 minutes away and “free” with the cost of my tuition. But now that I have graduated, I’m not sure where to start looking or what to do!

I live in a tiny town in Massachusetts that doesn’t even have street lights, so obviously the nearest gym is about 20 minutes away. This puts another cost onto my trip to the gym…GAS! I’m so reluctant to put money into a gym membership when the gas to go to and from the gym is just as expensive.

So I started looking into other things I am able to do that can fit into my budget.

Crunches, Jumping Jacks, and Push-Ups – Okay, so this doesn’t seem like much, but they really do work out your body. Although they seem like a minimal workout, doing these each day doesn’t cost you a thing and also helps you to stay fit. TJMaxx and Marshalls sell many workout products on the cheap that can supplement your workout. I am often tempted to buy them, but have told myself that I need to get myself into a routine first and then add the products. These products include things like ankle weights, those blow up balls that help with your crunches, and small hand weights. Also, if you are into yoga, sometimes you can find those products (yoga mats, videos, etc.) at these locations as well.

Running/Walking Outside – Again, this costs you nothing! However, I can see when this isn’t always the easiest thing to do. On those hot summer days/nights it is hard to motivate yourself to run outside (and obviously, this becomes a bit more difficult in the winter if you live somewhere where it snows). Walking is one of the best exercises for your body and so easy to do! If you like to hike you could even do this on the weekends for some great outdoor activity/exercise for your body.

Eat Out Less – Making your own food helps! Not only are you not spending that extra money (plus a tip) on food, you are making sure that you are cooking the things the way you like it. There has been so many times this summer where I have gone out to eat and not been satisfied by what I ordered. At home my meals usually consist of all vegetables and some meat. This is much better for me and I try to make a sandwich for lunch instead of stopping somewhere for fast food.

Use Work Benefits – According to an article on MainStreet.com by Lyneka Little, 46% of employers offer or plan to offer financial incentives to promote health. Many companies are also including a gym at the workplace that you can use for free (or at a discounted price). Take advantage of these benefits! Even joining a softball team that your company may have going is great exercise and gets you out of the office with your peers to do something fun!

Gym Membership – If you still feel like you need to get a gym membership to motivate you to actually work out (which many people do), do your research before signing up! Some gyms are overly expensive for what they offer you. Figure out what each of the gyms near you offers and find which one is the best for you. Don’t skip the research just to find out you could have saved over $100!

I know it seems easy to let go of your fitness when the economy is tough, but you will regret it in the long-run. Just make sure to do something each day (even if it is going for a quick walk outside on your lunch break). Too often people are caught behind their desks all day at work…break the habit and take advantage of any free time you may find to stay healthy and fit (hopefully for free)!

Photo: jzlomek

Related Articles:
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Migraine Money?: No Health Insurance
Is Paying for a Massage Money Well Spent?

Do you know how much money you spend during your week?

Let’s take your next 5 day work week and break it down:

• Do you eat out for lunch?
• Do you have to pay to park your car?
• Are you planning an after-work outing with your buddies to the bar?
• How much gas will you use for the week - will you need to fill up again?
• Do you go grocery shopping on your lunch breaks?
• Do you frequent the vending machine at work?
• Don’t forget about the early morning newspaper you pick up at the newsstand!
• Oh, and every little coffee adds up!

These are just some of the things that the average person spends money on during their week.

Now, here’s what to do with this new information:  Add up all of these amounts, and take that cash out of your bank.  I challenge you that for one work week, you avoid your debit cards and credit cards, and pay only with cash.  We want to know if you think that you have a handle on your spending habits.

Do you really know how much you spend?  Then take my challenge and let me know how you did.  Keep us updated on your progress, and let us know next weekend what the final outcome was.  Post your comments in the group, Money Challenge.

If you estimate correctly and can get through the week, congratulations! Should you need to drop by the ATM and get some more cash, or put an extra purchase on your card, it’s okay.  Just remember what you have learned from this - every little thing adds up!

I love to read and summer seems to be a peak time for people to allocate some of their own time to relaxing on the beach and reading a good book. The problem? – Buying your own books all the time can get pricey!

I think this is a summer where people are trying to save more money than they spend with gas at an all time high. I have a few suggestions on how to save on your summer reading list!

LIBRARY – I loved buying my own books, but recently the library just seems more economically efficient. I go through about 2 books a week, if I bought all of these books it could at up to over $20 per week. I decided there were other things I would rather spend my money on. Also, I realize that once I have read a book, unless I absolutely love it, I never read it again and it just sits around. Sure you can re-sell some of your books, but you lose a significant amount of money…especially on paperbacks. The library is also a great place to get current magazines and newspapers. This will fit into your budget too! Both of these monthly or yearly subscriptions can be expensive so you can save by picking them up at the library instead. If you are not satisfied with the amount of books in your town, often times you can get a guest pass if you know someone with a better library than your own.

BORROW – Some people don’t like library books. They have been handled by so many people and often times may be falling apart. Another great way to get “free” books is to borrow them from a friend. Ask around! Often times many of your friends may have purchased books that you haven’t and won’t mind borrowing them to you. They may also have suggestions on great books that you haven’t heard of.

USED BOOK STORE – If you still feel like you need to purchase your own books, go to a used book store! I visited one close to my house this week and was (1) surprised by the amount of books they had and (2) astonished by the price of the books! Many times, the more books you buy at a used book store, the less they cost you. They also won’t buy book from people that are in poor condition, have cigarette burns, or have that old basement smell. This means that many of the books you get are in great condition and have only been opened once or twice (some have never even been read!). My mum bought 2 hardcover James Patterson books for only $3 and they look brand new!

BARGAIN BOOKS – Okay, after you’ve read through all the other options, if you still feel as though you need to own a brand new book, check out bargain books that are offered at most bookstores (including Barnes and Noble and Borders). These stores offer brand new books for a fairly cheap price (usually around $5 or less depending on the book…obviously some might be more expensive). Although this is not as cheap as a used bookstore, you have the peace of mind knowing your books have never been used. Some people love brand new books (me being one of these people) but I have had to adjust my habits to match my budget.

Seriously, these are great ways to save money but still keep space in your budget and life for reading books this summer! Check out Geezeo here to find out other books that people have suggested or heard about.

Photo: Andrea Church

With all the emphasis in the press these days about tightening the belt I thought it would be nice to think about life with less money. Does it always mean sacrifice?

Self-employed writer Rita Farin had these points to say. I’ve added my own comments, too. Thanks for the thoughtful writing, Rita!

* Life requires living, whether you have the money or not. It also requires a plan. If you have a plan for your new life, then you can start really living by doing what you love.

One way to start planning is to write it out. The list doesn’t have to be in any particular order. The important things is to get it all out. Some items you’ll commit to doing and others you’ll think, “that’s a cool idea but I’m not ready to commit to that, yet!”.

Even though we’re talking life goals the same could be said for your financial life. Your list could include goals like “Save 10% of my income”, “Give 10% to charity” or “Start a secondary savings fund for Goal X”. In the end you may decide that you can only commit to one of these immediately.

As they say, you must start with the end in mind.

* You have more money than you think you have. Even with a budget in place, it’s hard to know how much money you actually have until you have to spend it without bringing in any income. I had no idea until I started a business a couple of years ago and lived off of my savings. That savings lasted a lot longer than I ever thought it would. And I found pockets of money that I had forgotten about, lasting me nearly two years.

I totally agree here. I literally saved my “lunch money” for 9 months and then lived off of it for nearly the same amount. How did I do this? With a budget. Get yours here at Geezeo.

* You can easily learn to live on less. Having less money taught me how to do more for myself and become more resourceful. I used to shop retail. Now I don’t.

This is great advice because it works. There are multiple groups here at Geezeo with a living-below-my-means emphasis. Find one or more that you’d like to do (or currently do!) here.

* Not having money helps you overcome your fear of not having money. Ask yourself, what’s the worst that can happen? For me, the worst that can happen is going back to a career that I once loved and still enjoy.

This is a common fear among freelancers or the self-employed. Pursuing your life dreams shouldn’t be dictated by money. But the reality is money plays a role in that it can make it easier or harder. To gain control you have to control your money. While no one should “plan to fail”, there are always ways to get back on your feet.

* There are resources for living with no money. As long as you have good credit, you can take out loans or lines of credit. You can also research grants and other available money.

Rita makes a good point here. But I’ll add the caveat: be careful not to lean into these resources too heavily and find yourself with debt you cannot manage. Be sensible in your approach.

* Having no money is a choice and is temporary. It’s a time of investing in your future to rebuild. Transitioning to a life you love at every level brings abundance. Whenever I’ve needed money, it’s come—through opportunities that land on my doorstep.

It’s said that “broke” is a mindset. Don’t let it be yours.

* You always have something to fall back on. We have so many skills. If you’re transitioning out of a career, you can always go back if really necessary. Or you can turn that knitting hobby into a money-making endeavor.

Be flexible with what you can do and you’ll be able to do more.

* Listen to yourself and commit to your passion. Friends, family and strangers may tell you you’re crazy when you decide to make a change. “You can’t make any money doing that,” they may say. Just remember that they’re expressing their own fears, and you can in fact make money from anything you love and commit to do.

We’ve all experienced naysayers. That’s part of the reason money — and by extension, dreams — are so infrequently discussed. Rather than keep your dreams to yourself, find people who will support you and guide you. If these people aren’t in your life, look for them in any of the groups here.

Think big, take action, and believe. Money itself won’t make a life worth living. Yet, managing what you have will make your life easier and increase the chance you’ll reach whatever goals you pursue.

Good luck!

Nobody really wants to think about retirement. But the truth is, you really need to consider all the important options and lifestyle choices you must make BEFORE the paychecks stop coming. You want to be prepared when that day comes, not struggling to figure it out once it happens.

Some aspects of retirement you should start to consider (the earlier the better!):

1.) Saving vs. Spending – This is obvious. There will be no retirement without saving some money each month. But the difference between saving and spending the same amount of money is significant. In an article from our partners at BankingMyWay.com, Jeffrey Strain writes about Spend $10 Today, Be Out $100K Tomorrow.

In this article Jeffrey Strain explains the following:

“If a person were to save $300 a month (approx. $10 a day) and invest it to get a 5% yearly return, that person would have $20,402 in the bank after five years. On the other hand, if a person ends up spending $300 a month more than he has and puts it onto a credit card that he doesn’t pay off over the same 5 year period, that person will owe $36,259, assuming a 26% credit card interest rate. After five years, the difference between saving $10 and spending $10 each day results in a $56,661 gap in net worth between the two.”

When you look at it this way, it is easy to see how much money you are able to lose, even though spending $10 a day does not seem extravagant.

2.) Keep Your Will Updated – This is extremely important. Although many people (along with retirement) do not like to consider their own death, a will is your only way to make sure things run smoothly when you are gone. It also helps your family through the hard times if all of your decisions are put on paper and they don’t have to struggle to figure out what you would want. Check out this Geezeo article to get more information on the importance of your will.

3.) Lifestyle – Again, this may seem obvious but your savings really determine what type of lifestyle you will lead after you retire. Many people underestimate how long they will live and also how much to save per month. If you want to be able to live the same type of life, make sure not to underestimate these important aspects! You want to be able to travel and live an easy life…not struggle to make ends meet.

4.) Where To Live/Housing – This one is obviously no easy decision. Will you stay in the same house? Should you move to a community living area? Or do you want to move closer to your families? Or how about moving to warmer weather climates? All of these are important questions to consider and the current housing market does not make the decision particularly easy. According to an article on MainStreet.com by Lauren Tara LaCapra, it was found that baby boomers could really struggle with the housing market drop because it will be harder for them to change their spending and saving habits compared to those that are of a younger generation.

5.) Taxes – Regardless of if you have a steady income or not, you will still be affected by current tax levels. For instance some states have income taxes but will not tax your retirement income or your social security. Do some research; maybe you want to live in one of these areas to save some money!

These are just a few things to consider but obviously there is much more! Just make sure to plan EARLY. Being prepared for the unexpected will help you out the most in the long run.

Photo: Michael Connors