I myself must admit that I am a bit of a coupon-a-holic.  But consider my results - on a good shopping trip, combining coupons and sales, I have saved nearly $100 off of my grocery bill!  And it’s not on items that we wouldn’t normally use.  It’s items that we can stock up on because we use them so often.  It makes sense that if you can, you should.

Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with another self-proclaimed coupon-a-holic and Geezeo user - Jenni (aka jkbrigham).  We talked about how to find ways to save money and some of her best experiences.   Read on to find out more!

Jenni, one of the ways you find to cut back on your family spending is by using coupons.  How long have you been doing this?

On and off for about 4 1/2 years.  More on than off really.

Did you ever get to the point that you felt it wasn’t worth the time anymore to do this?  And why?

At times yes!  When we’re in a financial position where we don’t have to be as particular with spending  it’s pretty easy to think “Hey - we have the money, why bother with the coupons” but I always end up couponing again - it’s an addiction I suppose, but if an addiction can save money instead of spending it I’m all for it!

Jenni, if you will, recall your favorite couponing experience.

There are a couple. The first was about 2 years ago.  The local grocery store was having a HUGE double/triple coupon sale (unfortunately this place closed - I MISS IT!) - they were doubling coupons up to $1.00 and tripling coupons up to $0.75.  I got everything lined up and ready and Austin and I went shopping!!  At the register the total was $163.00 - after coupons we paid $3.00. It was GREAT!!

Then recently there was another HUGE coupon trip.  No doubles or triples, just a LOT of planning and hunting deals.  Before coupons my total was $138.61, after it was only $42.79 and I ended up with about 15 lbs of free beef (ground, steaks, etc).  So that means I saved 95.82 on coupons and sales.  My best friend couponed with me that night and saved over $100.00 on her groceries as well - that’s nearly $200.00 off total just by planning and clipping!

What advice would you two like to pass on to others about the benefits of couponing (or, if any, the pitfalls)?

Couponing can be a real blessing to your family as long as you remember a few things - don’t buy it JUST because you have a coupon.  Do you use the item? Is the store brand still cheaper than the after coupon price? All important!  Stock up only as much of an item as you will use before they expire.  Sure something might be free or cheap with a coupon, but if 1/2 of them will end up in the garbage then you’re not really doing yourself a favor by buying them.  Plan your list and menu (YES I plan a menu before I shop - eliminates those expensive mid-week ”forgot something” trips!) according to your coupons and sales to save the most money.

Pitfalls - its WORK.  It is fun but it is also work.  Hunting through the papers for coupons and sales, looking online for printable coupons, calculating prices per ounce - all of this takes time and patience but in the end it IS worth it.  You will save so much money!

Thanks again Jenni, for taking the time to sit down and talk with Geezeo about your experiences.  Ryan at Frugal In Virginia wrote about being married to a coupon-a-holic.  Check out what he said.

Also Financially Frugal Families is a group here on Geezeo that you can go to in order to find some more tips on ways to save some money.

It’s that time of year when many are starting to spend more than normal, which is why there are so many blogs talking about how to save money.  So for this post, we will look at some of the tips being given for your holiday shopping spree.

There may be some of you who don’t like to take a sneak peak at the black friday ads, but then again, it is a great way to start planning out your holiday shopping, so that you can review your budget and make adjustments where deemed necessary.

For some tips and tricks on how to make the most of the shopping season, you can browse aimlessly, or you can let Geezeo guide you to a few of our favorites.  For instance, Cathy (Chief Family Officer) has provided some great tips as well as some important reminders.  For instance, she says:

If you shop online, don’t forget to take shipping charges into consideration. Shipping charges can turn a great deal into a terrible one, so always make sure you’ve factored them into your decision on whether to make a purchase.

Also:

When shopping online, always shop through a rewards portal. There are very few sites that don’t offer a reward of some kind. Alas, one of them is my favorite online store - Amazon. But except for Amazon, I have always been able to earn a reward on my purchases. My favorite portal is Ebates, because it gives me cash back each quarter. But I’ve also used Upromise and my credit card issuer’s “shopping mall.” There are dozens of other rewards sites, so there’s no excuse for not getting something in return for your online purchases.

Cathy also mentioned to make a budget.  That’s important in almost everything you do!  But how much is too much?  Monroe on a Budget answers that question.

You also want to keep in mind what you can do for others.  It’s not always just about your close friends and family.  It’s a great time to help out those who are in need.  What better way to lend a helping hand than to donate to a food drive, whether with money or non-perishables.  Both are much needed.  Frugal Zeitgeist has been able to come up with a plan for a food drive, and is personally going to donate $500 in.  Awesome!

Let us know of any thing you are planning on doing this holiday season in our Community Outreach group.  Also, if you find out about any great deals coming up soon, share them with us by posting a quick confession, or even sharing it in more detail in one of our many groups!  Happy shopping!

Serena at Queercents wrote a great blog about a meal that is on a lot of peoples minds lately.  Thanksgiving!

But how can you stretch your dollar to be able to stay on budget with your meal?  Serena gives us some ideas with some budget friendly dishes that are sure to please!

• Mac N Cheese
• Green Bean Casserole
• Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
• Sweet Potatoes

Check them out!  They sound just as yummy as they most likely taste!

Another thing to think about is your budget after Thanksgiving.  You may break your budget a bit trying to prepare for the BIG meal.  So maybe you can make up for it a bit by trying to stay under budget the following week (or the week before - nothing wrong with planning ahead).  Clever dude gives 3 great tips for anytime of the year, but it may be especially good to do around these major holidays.

Also check out Pecuniarities post about Amazon and their great Subscribe & Save plan.  It’s a great way to save some time and money.

(Photo Courtesy of : danitort/morguefile.com)

Image is everything. You can’t go anywhere without somewhere judging what you are wearing or how you present yourself. However, staying on top of your style does not have to be expensive. Yes, I will admit that the brands such as Burberry, Gucci, and Prada will dig a huge hole in your pocket…but there are other ways to stay on top of your game without spending a lot of money.

1. Consignment Shops – A lot of times people do not want to shop at consignment stores because they don’t want to wear other peoples clothing. However, you can find the best deals! Consignment stores only buy the best products from consumers which means they have to be in great condition. They can then turn a profit by selling it to you for a little bit above what they bought it for. But honestly, the quality of the clothes is great and you can find some amazing brands. I suggest taking whatever you purchase to the dry cleaner. Although this will cost you a little bit extra money, if it is for something such as a winter coat it is definitely worth it. Maybe you could even sell off some of your old things that you no longer want and purchase some new!

2. Off Price Retailers – Stores such as Burlington Coat Factory, TJMaxx, and Loehmann’s offer great deals on brand name products. I love shopping at these stores because often times they still have the original tag on them from the brand which will state the full price that was charged in their stores. You then compare it to the tag of the store you are in and you realize how much of a great deal you are actually getting. The clearance section at these stores is also amazing! Take the already discount price and usually slash that price by about 50% and you get your clearance item. Nothing is wrong with these items but typically these types of stores will rotate through their inventory fairly quickly and older merchandise will get moved to the clearance section. Often times the products in these stores are still on the floors of Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, etc. but you are getting the product for much cheaper!

3. Shop Online - There are so many great websites that will give you brand names for cheap, all you have to do is search. Sometimes even your favorite stores at the mall will offer promotional deals online that they aren’t offering through the store. If you don’t have time to go out after work to shop, looking/buying online makes your life much easier. Our partners at MainStreet.com found 2 great websites that offer virtual sample sales to consumers. These websites are gilt.com and hautelook.com. With most sample sales you aren’t able to return your items, but MainStreet.com explains that these websites allow you to return your purchases if they don’t fit you. The sample sales are set for certain times and will last for a few days only. The worst part is that with any great sale involving big brand names, the best items are gone first (and fast)! With gilt.com you do have to be invited by someone to shop their website so hautelook.com is probably your best bet for this type of shopping.

In these tough economic times everyone wants to save money where they can. This doesn’t mean that you have to cut shopping out of your life (although that route will save you the most)…it just means that you have to be more frugal with your money and look in the right places. The above 3 places offer you great deals for much cheaper. If you are into brand names and want to keep up with the latest trends (and just plain love to shop) definitely check out the above to see what you can get yourself. If you don’t find anything the first time, continually pop back in to see what you can get for a steal.

Photo: Carolina Jimenez-Garcia

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The holiday shopping season is coming — what retailers should be on your stock shopping list?

With the economy in its constant ups and downs, retailers are definitely suffering. With the winter season and Christmas quickly approaching many stores are meant to be putting out their fresh inventory to target the colder weather. The problem is that many stores can’t seem to empty out their inventory from the fall.

What does this mean for you as a consumer? Usually, great deals! However, with everyone struggling the way they are right now, it is important not to spend just for the sake of a deal. In the end, if you don’t have the money on hand, charging it to your credit card to pay off at a later date is definitely not the right decision to make. If things with the economy get worse, you may see yourself with a huge unwanted credit card bill.

Here are some important questions to ask yourself while shopping:

1. Do I really need this?
Let’s be honest, many things we buy as consumers we never really NEED, but you should definitely prioritize your spending. Make sure you have left room in your budget for the necessities before you spend on things you want (i.e. groceries, prescriptions, electric/heating bills, etc.) A new pair of shoes doesn’t typically fall in the list of things you need, unless of course you have none to wear!

2. Will I wear this more than once?
Sale items are always very tempting but are also usually impulse buys. Although a pair of jeans for $19.99 is very tempting, if you are only buying them for the price but don’t think you will wear them more than once then what is the point? Make sure you are going to get the most out of what you buy. You don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of unwanted purchases just because they were on sale at the time.

3. Do I have something similar to this already?
Consumers tend to repeat purchases because they like the same things. However, a black t-shirt is very similar to any other black t-shirt that you might already own. If you are in a crunch for money, don’t spend on things that you might already have. Do laundry more if you love that black t-shirt so much, but it is a waste to double up on something you already have (or something that looks almost identical).

4. Is the brand name worth it?
Yes, usually brand names carry quality with them as well…but they also have a hefty price tag! Consider places such as TJMaxx, Marshalls, Burlington Coat Factory, Loehmann’s and other such stores that sell a variety of your favorite brand names for a discounted price (usually 20% - 60% less than a normal retailer would charge). If you really need that brand name, these places are a great place to find them.

There are many other questions that you should consider, but this is a good starting point. Don’t spend money just for the sake of spending it. If you don’t have it, it is better to wait until a time when you do. Shopping is fun, but you don’t always have to buy. If you feel like to purchase things just for the sake of it, leave your wallet in the car and do some window shopping instead. It is always better to have saved your money than regret it at the end of the month when your bills come in.

Photo: Álvaro Daniel González Lamarque

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Since I moved back home after graduating from college, I have wanted to have a garage sale. Not only have I been saving all my clothes that I have outgrown or no longer like, but I have also been packing up odds and ends into boxes in anticipation of a sale. However, as summer came and went, I still have yet to hold that garage sale but have boxes and bags piled up in my garage still waiting. The question that is left for me now is if it is really beneficial for me to even go through with the sale at all anymore.

There are many benefits and drawbacks to having a garage sale and everyone may have a different situation depending on where they live, how much time they have, etc.

Benefits
• Get a little extra money – Since times are hard, it is easy to benefit from a little bit of extra cash in your pocket. This money could go towards gas, into your savings, or even to purchase something you have been wanting.

• Trash = Treasures – Obviously the things you are getting rid of you may think nobody would want, but you would be surprised how much people will be willing to buy at garage sales. Some families even look in local papers for sales they can travel to on the weekends.

• Include your neighbors – We asked our direct neighbor if she wanted to be a part of the garage sale as well. Not only does this make the sale more appealing to people, but it gives you more space to use for parking and putting tables, etc. Your neighbor may also have a different group of friends or different ways to get the word out in order to draw a larger crowd.

Drawbacks
• Time consuming – Planning and executing a garage sale can take a great deal of time and effort (sometimes too much for the amount of money you get out of it). Really decide if what you are selling is worth your time and the time of people who might come to your sale. You want to include some attractive products to draw the crowd and make sure it is worthwhile.

• Have to keep the prices low – People are looking for a bargain at garage sales and not necessarily looking to spend a lot of money. Think of what you would do with the items if you weren’t able to sell them and price accordingly. Even a few cents/dollars are more beneficial to you than throwing something in the trash.

• Spend money to make money – According to our partners at MainStreet.com there are many times when you hold a garage sale that you must spend a little bit of money in order to get an audience to attend your sale. Some of these extra costs may include advertising and supplies for signs and pricing on your items to be sold. When we were thinking about having our garage sale (although it may still happen) my mum was going to put an advertisement in our local paper and also a larger publication in order to generate more awareness. Many people also put ads on Craigslist.org which usually draws a decent crowd looking for sales.

So, the longer my boxes and bags sit in the garage the more impatient my parents get with having so much junk just sitting around. Make sure that if you do have a garage sale you also figure out what to do with what is left over. Donations are always great and often times if you donate clothes you can get a receipt to use for your tax deductions.

Weigh the pros and cons to decide if a garage sale is really worthwhile for you to hold. You could either be surprised by how much money you actually make or you could come away with little to no profit. It is a hit or miss situation, but often times seems to work out for the best when people execute a garage sale correctly, efficiently, and at the right time of the year.

Photo: Andrea Church

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As the season changes into Fall, we always want to get out and experience the change! But sometimes our budgets can restrict what we are able to do and when. However, you don’t always have to strain your budget in order to get out and do things.

Here are some things that you might be able to do near you this Fall:

Apple Picking
I just did this last weekend and it was a lot of fun. Not only do you get to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, but you also get to bring home some amazing apples. Often times if you go to an Orchard, you sometimes get a free hay ride out to where you pick the apples. If you have kids they will love this! Not only is picking the apples a lot of fun, but you can bring them home and make a variety of baked goods instead of buying them at the store – apple pie, apple crisp, apple sauce, etc.

Pumpkin Carving
This is great for any age! All you have to do is buy the pumpkin and then carve away any design/face you like. Pumpkins aren’t too expensive and you get to display them throughout your house with candles afterwards. Also, baking the pumpkin seeds can be a lot of fun and tasty as well.

Wine Festivals
Depending on if you live in an area where there may be a winery, you might be able to attend a wine festival and tasting. Fall is the greatest time of year for this because this is when the grape harvest begins. At these festivals there are often wine tastings, food, and other events going on such as great live music. Check on this MainStreet.com article for more information on some great wine festivals.

Fairs
Fall is the time for fairs throughout the country. Although fairs can get expensive with the food, rides, and games…there is also a lot to do once you purchase your ticket in the fair that is for free. Often times there are live concerts, horse shows, pig racing, craft fairs, and a variety of other interesting events to see. For kids there are usually petting zoos where $0.25 will buy you some food to feed them! You can also bring your own food into the fair and sit at the picnic tables that are provided to save some money (possibly bring lunch and purchase a candy or caramel apple for desert!).

Shopping
People love to shop, especially when the seasons change. The fall is time for sweaters and lightweight coats. Instead of heading to the department stores and spending all your money on a few things, make your way to the nearest outlet stores near you. These stores will allow you to get more for your money of the same brand names you love and want to have.

Fall Foliage
This is a really big thing in New England. People come from all over to drive up the coast and throughout New England just to see the leaves changing to brilliant colors of orange, yellow, and red. Although this may sound a little bit corny, it is so beautiful. If you can find a lake or stream the colors reflect off of it and it makes for some great pictures and a great place to picnic. Also, the weather is perfect to take a hike in the mountains in the fall. Not only will you get some great exercise, but the views with the leaves changing colors will be breathtaking.

Although some of these events will cost some money, many of them can be done outdoors. You will get to enjoy the great fall weather before the snow comes and it is too chilly to venture outdoors for long periods of time! You can also often check websites on a town/city near you and these will sometimes have a calendar of events per month. Just remember that not everything requires a lot of money and you should try to get yourself outdoors while the weather still permits it!

Photo: Robb E. Kiser

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By Eileen Gunn | MainStreet.com

When your mom used to draw lines from the string beans on your plate to her stories of children starving in Africa, she was right, it turns out.

We in the U.S. waste too much food, and, according to a report issued in August by the Stockholm International Water Institute, tossing away uneaten food also wastes the water used to grow and process it. This is critical because we can’t take drinkable water for granted even here in America. And those in the developing world, where much of our food is grown, are often in dire need of it.

If we buy food and toss it out without using it, or we let it sit in the cupboard gathering dust, that’s money out of our pockets that could have been better spent — or maybe even tucked away in savings.

According to the institute, as much as half of the water used to grow food around the world is wasted on food that goes uneaten. Halving that amount by 2025 is crucial to maintaining a food and water supply that can sustain all of us.

Here are some eye-opening numbers: In the U.S., we throw away 30% of our food every year, according to the institute. That wastes enough water to meet the needs of every household in North America for a year. It also wastes more than $48 billion a year, the report found.

So when you go to the market, buy less food.

A radical, but not unreasonable, move would be to look in your shopping cart the next time you’re weaving toward the checkout counter and take out one-third of the items you thought you wanted to by. (Or go over your shopping list and cross off one-third of the items before you leave home.) Maybe you don’t really need the Hershey (STOCK QUOTE: HSY) chocolate bars and the Keebler (STOCK QUOTE: KBL) cookies. Maybe your family actually can settle for one flavor of juice and one type of milk. Maybe it’s time to admit that those bulk-size items you grab at Costco (STOCK QUOTE: COST) often go stale or that your fickle kids usually get bored before you make your way through them.

Oh, and be honest about the amount of fruits and veggies your family goes through in a week. You can always buy more if they surprise you and clear out the fridge.

Even if you don’t hit that one-third mark, I bet you’ll still leave the store with your grocery bags lighter and your wallet heavier.

But if that’s too radical, consider this: If your closets, refrigerator and freezer are bulging — that is, you have to do some clever reorganizing whenever you come home from grocery shopping — take a holiday from buying more. Don’t buy any cereal, canned soup, macaroni and cheese, or pseudo-healthy snacks until you’ve made your way through what’s already taking up room in the cupboard. Yes, even if they’re on sale.

Cut back on what you buy by 30% and you’ll save money as well as water so we’ll all have enough to eat and drink in the future. You might wind up eating less, too, and take a few inches off your waistline. (Who among us couldn’t benefit?)

And who knows, maybe the children in Africa that your mom was always telling you about will get a little more food from what you aren’t leaving on your plate.

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Everyone in my family, except for those in my immediate family, live in England. Last week I went to visit and realized just how much travel can cost (especially with the dollar being so weak compared to the pound). Everything in England is priced the same price that you would expect to see in the U.S. in dollars, which means that if a bottle of soda is priced at £2.00 there, that is $4.00 in the U.S. (and that is buying the soda at a grocery store…NOT an amusement park)!

Just because you are on vacation or traveling for other reasons, don’t slack off on your budget. Yes, it may be a little bit harder to keep your budget and goals in mind if you are having so much fun on your travels…but you can still have fun and save a bit of money too!

Since I love to travel, I have found some of the following advice very helpful.

Some tips on how to save…so that you actually have some money to spend when you get home:

SHOPPING – Don’t. Now don’t get me wrong, I love shopping more than you can imagine…but sometimes it just gets a little bit too expensive. I know that many times the purpose of some people’s trips is to shop, then that’s fine and you have prepared yourself for what you will spend. But if your intention before you left for your trip was not to shop, I suggest limiting yourself. Make sure you are only buying things on your travels that you won’t be able to find back home; something unique or a souvenir to remind you of your trip.

CAR RENTALS – Make sure to be smart with this. If you are staying in a city your best bet is to use public transportation. Not only will you not have to pay for your car rental, but you won’t have to pay the extravagant parking fees either. If you do have to get a car rental, make sure to consider if you actually need the car rental insurance that they offer you or if you are already covered. Check out this Geezeo article for more information!

PETS – Check to see if there is anyone that would be willing to take care of your pets for you while you are away. Paying someone that you trust to come to the house and walk your dog or feed your cat will save you a lot of money since you don’t have to send them to the kennels. I know that my brother always offers to take care of his friends dog because he knows that it will save her a lot of money in the long run and it isn’t a hassle for him. Even one of your kids friends might be will to help you out for a little extra cash!

HOSTELS – I know not everywhere has hostels, but if the location that you are traveling to does, it is something that you should definitely consider. Sometimes in Europe and other locations, a hostel is almost as nice as a hotel but at half the price! I know that whenever any of my friends were traveling abroad they never stayed in hotels and always resorted to hostels instead. If you are going on a trip to see the sites, then how much time are you actually spending in your hotel room anyway?

PACK LIGHT – Nowadays, packing light is the only way to go. Flights will charge you for an extra bag AND for your bag being over 50 pounds. Check your bag if at all possible before you arrive at the airport…you don’t want to be stuck paying those extra fees just because you are a few pounds over that 50 pound mark. Also, traveling light will give you more flexibility in case you have to lug your bags around when you get to your location.

CARRY EXTRA CASH – I know this sounds like the opposite of what most people would tell you, but I have found that taking out extra cash while I am home will save me a lot of money on ATM fees when I am away (especially if you are traveling internationally). I am not saying to carry your cash on you at all times when you are on your trip, but you should bring some extra to avoid the fees and keep the extra in the safe while you are at your hotel. I know that this is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea to carry more cash, but I have found it helpful in the past.

Saving money on vacation is not always possible! And don’t let being worried about money ruin your vacation. But do be sure that you are prepared before you take the trip…you don’t want to come home and realize that you have overspent and now have to be frugal for the rest of the year.

Photo: Kevin Rosseel

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