I enjoy looking around on Yahoo! for different articles and sometimes I will focus it more on finances. Luckily, Yahoo! does have a Finance section and even better, under that section is a Personal Finance Section. Anyone can find different articles on budgets, insurance, careers and work, college and more. One that caught my attention this morning was an article entitled "10 Things You Should Not Keep In Your Wallet" by Kathryn Tuggle.
At first glance, some of this seemed like "I should know this" kind of advice but I know I have been guilty of one thing - carrying my Social Security Card in my wallet. it wasn't until I was in college that a professor stressed not carrying it. She, and the article, explained how easy it would be for someone to use your social security number listed on the card to open credit cards in your name, get loans in your name and do all kinds of bad things that I know I do not want to happen to me. So, out of my wallet it came. I know to bring it with me when filling out employment forms or other things but as new rule for me, it is out of my wallet.
Another idea that I really had not thought of but seemed very appropriate was a non-password protected phone. Cell phones have gotten WAY advanced these days. I mean with the Apple iPhone, Android powered phones and Blackberry's, there are all kinds of apps that you can download that can give a person access to their bank accounts, Pay Pal accounts, even your rewards cards to different stores. Just imagine someone bad getting their little hands onto that information. Bye-bye funds in my savings account. That is definitely why I have not downloaded any apps on my phone that gives me greater access to my financial accounts. I will just stick to the computer or the local branch for account access thank you. Even with that, you can still have problems.
Another great tip was to not keep your USB device in your wallet. Now, my USB device cannot fit into my wallet but if you use yours for work related things, best not to leave it where someone can get it and then have fun with what may be on the device.
There are other tips that I could go on and talk about but please just go to the site and read the article too. In this day and age of easy access, try not to make it too easy for that information to get stolen.
The link to the article is: http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/113216/what-not-keep-in-wallet-foxbiz?mod=bb-budgeting
Jennifer
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Stockpiling
I remember watching "Extreme Couponing" on TLC and there seemed to be one of many common themes with those on the show - having a stockpile. While I do not know if I can appreciate having enough toothpaste to last for 2 years, I think I can appreciate a smaller version of a stockpile.
I am trying to use my coupons in combination with deals I find at various grocery stores or pharmacies in the area. I make sure I have a member card to each place that offers it and do my best to wait for items to go on sale to best utilize my coupons. I went to Harris Teeter because they were having a sale on some Starbucks ground or whole bean coffee. I think you saved about $2.75 off of each bag of coffee with their member card. I had two coupons for $3.00 off two bags and decided that while it was on sale, I would get the four bags to use my two coupons. Trust me when I tell you that Husband and I do NOT go through that much coffee in a month but I thought that we do drink coffee a couple times a week and this would last us for a bit. All we would have to do is buy some coffee creamer and it would be good.
This got me to thinking about stockpiling items in my pantry. I have bought some extra cans of veggies, spaghetti sauce, bottles of liquid dish soap and the Finish tablets for the dishwasher. There might be a couple bottles of shampoo for Husband and a few other items that I have bought more than one of but NOTHING like the stockpiles on "Extreme Coupons." One of my thoughts was how much is too much? I am definitely not stocking up on a cart full of toothpaste because I can get it for pennies on the dollar but where is that line that it goes from "You won't need any for awhile" to "When will we use all of this?" I am not sure, to tell you the truth. What is the magic number for that is too much? I can understand that some of the items might be bought out of fear of not being able to provide for your family or saving money on different items. I do not know. Who does know?
I am trying to use my coupons in combination with deals I find at various grocery stores or pharmacies in the area. I make sure I have a member card to each place that offers it and do my best to wait for items to go on sale to best utilize my coupons. I went to Harris Teeter because they were having a sale on some Starbucks ground or whole bean coffee. I think you saved about $2.75 off of each bag of coffee with their member card. I had two coupons for $3.00 off two bags and decided that while it was on sale, I would get the four bags to use my two coupons. Trust me when I tell you that Husband and I do NOT go through that much coffee in a month but I thought that we do drink coffee a couple times a week and this would last us for a bit. All we would have to do is buy some coffee creamer and it would be good.
This got me to thinking about stockpiling items in my pantry. I have bought some extra cans of veggies, spaghetti sauce, bottles of liquid dish soap and the Finish tablets for the dishwasher. There might be a couple bottles of shampoo for Husband and a few other items that I have bought more than one of but NOTHING like the stockpiles on "Extreme Coupons." One of my thoughts was how much is too much? I am definitely not stocking up on a cart full of toothpaste because I can get it for pennies on the dollar but where is that line that it goes from "You won't need any for awhile" to "When will we use all of this?" I am not sure, to tell you the truth. What is the magic number for that is too much? I can understand that some of the items might be bought out of fear of not being able to provide for your family or saving money on different items. I do not know. Who does know?
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Cut It Out!!
I have been doing some reading online at various blogs. I have found a few I like and visit them several times a week in hoping they have some new posts and a little bit of humor on the side. Mainly, I have been trying to see what others are cutting out of their budget, doing for cheap or trying to make more money. One blogger called it a side hustle which I thought was a different way of putting it. I liked it!
I did notice that some things seem to be repeated a lot. For example, make coffee at home instead of going to the local coffee house for your coffee. I will admit that Husband and I have been doing this more regularly. It does depend on if we have coffee creamer though. I prefer my coffee with some flavor but I can do it with some suger and/or milk if I must. Every now and again I will go to Starbucks to meet some friends or Husband and I will go to do something different. We really never did Starbucks a lot though. Maybe twice a week, if that. Now, we really do not have to go and really do not go unless we want a little treat. Not a big budget buster.
Another one is to walk/bike to work. I do not live near my work and cannot afford to move near to work. That is out. Nice idea to save money on having to buy gas and wear and tear on a vehicle but it just is not going to work in my situation.
The one I am going to try to do is to make some extra money. I do have a few things around the house I can put on eBay. Or maybe Craigslist. So, I then wonder what happens when I do not have anything else to sell? How much do I get rid of? Some things just will not get sold because they have been passed down from family or sentimental reasons but it makes me wonder. What stays, what goes after I get rid of the stuff that I know that I can part with? Good thoughts to wrestle with.
Netflix is another option. We do not do Netflix now so that would be a new expense we do not need. Next!!
Cutting cable. Nope, not happening there either. Cable is already in the living quarters and if it gets cut, I will just have to let it go. That might last week if that happens.
You get the picture here? How many times, how many different ways can people tell you to do the same things?! Well, you might have to start doing what is best for you and your budget. Just do not go crazy with it just to try and save a buck though. Good luck!!
Jennifer
I did notice that some things seem to be repeated a lot. For example, make coffee at home instead of going to the local coffee house for your coffee. I will admit that Husband and I have been doing this more regularly. It does depend on if we have coffee creamer though. I prefer my coffee with some flavor but I can do it with some suger and/or milk if I must. Every now and again I will go to Starbucks to meet some friends or Husband and I will go to do something different. We really never did Starbucks a lot though. Maybe twice a week, if that. Now, we really do not have to go and really do not go unless we want a little treat. Not a big budget buster.
Another one is to walk/bike to work. I do not live near my work and cannot afford to move near to work. That is out. Nice idea to save money on having to buy gas and wear and tear on a vehicle but it just is not going to work in my situation.
The one I am going to try to do is to make some extra money. I do have a few things around the house I can put on eBay. Or maybe Craigslist. So, I then wonder what happens when I do not have anything else to sell? How much do I get rid of? Some things just will not get sold because they have been passed down from family or sentimental reasons but it makes me wonder. What stays, what goes after I get rid of the stuff that I know that I can part with? Good thoughts to wrestle with.
Netflix is another option. We do not do Netflix now so that would be a new expense we do not need. Next!!
Cutting cable. Nope, not happening there either. Cable is already in the living quarters and if it gets cut, I will just have to let it go. That might last week if that happens.
You get the picture here? How many times, how many different ways can people tell you to do the same things?! Well, you might have to start doing what is best for you and your budget. Just do not go crazy with it just to try and save a buck though. Good luck!!
Jennifer
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wal-Mart and Canned Veggies
Husband and I went to Wal-Mart over the weekend. I think that Wal-Mart has some decent prices on things that I use around the home. However, I also find that Wal-Mart is VERY crowded and sometimes that crowdedness is just not even worth it. We went anyway!
Originally, I went to get some laundry detergent. Someone once made a joke that you go into Wal-Mart for one thing and then come out with everything but what you went in there for. We did get a few extra items but we needed to get some food for us.
The other week I had made some brown rice with peas, carrots and corn that was quite good. I had put in some flavoring that was supposed to enhance the veggies and it tasted good. It smelled even better. So, Husband wanted to do that again. Off to the can veggie aisle we went. In order to save some money, I was getting the store brand veggies. I know they taste fine and they were a good value for me. Then, out of nowhere, Husband says he wants the name brand veggies. He says they taste better. Really? I had not noticed a difference. Usually I get the Harris Teeter brand can veggies and nobody said any different on the taste. Wow. I was a little shocked that he said that. No fight in store - I just exchanged the store brand for the national brand canned veggies.
I got to thinking. In a quest to save money, am I compromising taste? Am I becoming overconsumed with saving money? I did not think that I was but his comment got me to thinking about this. Can you have it both - saving money and getting what you want all at the same time? Is buying name brand a way to keep up with those Jonses? (On a side note, has anyone ever met the Jonses? How did that become a saying that we all know?) Is saving $1.80 worth it? (That would have been the savings on the store brand versus the national brand.) Does anyone else have this problem - wanting to save money and then a family member says that want a different brand? I will say that usually Husband is thrifty and for that, I am glad. Or am I wrong? Am I thinking too much into this? Who knows!! Anyone else want to add their opinion on this one?
Jennifer
Originally, I went to get some laundry detergent. Someone once made a joke that you go into Wal-Mart for one thing and then come out with everything but what you went in there for. We did get a few extra items but we needed to get some food for us.
The other week I had made some brown rice with peas, carrots and corn that was quite good. I had put in some flavoring that was supposed to enhance the veggies and it tasted good. It smelled even better. So, Husband wanted to do that again. Off to the can veggie aisle we went. In order to save some money, I was getting the store brand veggies. I know they taste fine and they were a good value for me. Then, out of nowhere, Husband says he wants the name brand veggies. He says they taste better. Really? I had not noticed a difference. Usually I get the Harris Teeter brand can veggies and nobody said any different on the taste. Wow. I was a little shocked that he said that. No fight in store - I just exchanged the store brand for the national brand canned veggies.
I got to thinking. In a quest to save money, am I compromising taste? Am I becoming overconsumed with saving money? I did not think that I was but his comment got me to thinking about this. Can you have it both - saving money and getting what you want all at the same time? Is buying name brand a way to keep up with those Jonses? (On a side note, has anyone ever met the Jonses? How did that become a saying that we all know?) Is saving $1.80 worth it? (That would have been the savings on the store brand versus the national brand.) Does anyone else have this problem - wanting to save money and then a family member says that want a different brand? I will say that usually Husband is thrifty and for that, I am glad. Or am I wrong? Am I thinking too much into this? Who knows!! Anyone else want to add their opinion on this one?
Jennifer
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thinking About Cutting Out Expenses
Since I have started tracking my spending since my last paycheck, I started thinking about ways to cut out some expenses or make more money. Both are great ideas but maybe I need to start on one and then add the other in slowly. I have been wondering where can I cut expenses. What can I cut and what am I not willing to compromise on? I know that I have two areas that I am not going to compromise on - vitamins and my haircare. Now that I have written that down, it almost sounds a little vain. Eeekks!!
My husband and I have tried different vitamins throught our few years of taking vitamins. We started out with ones we could buy at local big box stores, moved up to GNC and now to the Vitamin Shoppe. I found vitamins for both of us that are good and are very well recommended. However, the price for a two-month supply for both of us can be quite a sticker shock. The ones my husband takes are a bit lower than mine and we do not buy them at the same time. It is a bit cheaper to buy the two-month supply than buying them a month at a time. If needs be, we have bought the one-month supply until we can do the two-month supply. The great thing about the Vitamin Shoppe is that they have a rewards card that keeps track of points. Depending on the amount of points you acheive in a year, you will get a coupon for so much off your next purchase. That does not drive which vitamins we pick out so do not think that is why we take ones that cost more. One dollar equals one point. So, vitamins are not getting cut due to my wanting to be more budget friendly and saving more money.
My husband uses the cheaper brand shampoo. He has nice hair and no problems. I have some scalp issues and have tried a lot of different dandruff shampoos. I have found that most of them dry out my hair horribly but really do not help my scalp. That's no fun at all. I thought it was a lost cause!! Oddly enough, I am using the Tea Tree Oil Wen. Yep, I am using Wen. You have probably seen the infomercials on late night or early Saturday mornings. Those infomercials only sell the Sweet Almond Mint. It works good but I still needed a bit more so I switched over to the Tea Tree Oil. It has made a difference!! The price is not budget friendly but I know it helps me so I am not going to change. I will have to find other ways to adjust for the price (plus shipping).
So, back to the where can I adjust my money to save more.......I definitely am starting to look at my purchases differently now. Can I find it at a better price somewhere else? Do I buy a couple of that item while it is on sale to stock up a bit on it? Do I have a coupon for it while it is on sale to maximize my savings? Can I borrow an item without having to buy it? Do I really need it or do I think I just want it to have it? Can I make better use of the public libraries in my area? Do I know someone who can do the same service at a better price? Just some questions I have started asking myself. I know that I will start trying different things in the future to help watch my money. So, just stay tuned and see what happens next I guess.
Jennifer
My husband and I have tried different vitamins throught our few years of taking vitamins. We started out with ones we could buy at local big box stores, moved up to GNC and now to the Vitamin Shoppe. I found vitamins for both of us that are good and are very well recommended. However, the price for a two-month supply for both of us can be quite a sticker shock. The ones my husband takes are a bit lower than mine and we do not buy them at the same time. It is a bit cheaper to buy the two-month supply than buying them a month at a time. If needs be, we have bought the one-month supply until we can do the two-month supply. The great thing about the Vitamin Shoppe is that they have a rewards card that keeps track of points. Depending on the amount of points you acheive in a year, you will get a coupon for so much off your next purchase. That does not drive which vitamins we pick out so do not think that is why we take ones that cost more. One dollar equals one point. So, vitamins are not getting cut due to my wanting to be more budget friendly and saving more money.
My husband uses the cheaper brand shampoo. He has nice hair and no problems. I have some scalp issues and have tried a lot of different dandruff shampoos. I have found that most of them dry out my hair horribly but really do not help my scalp. That's no fun at all. I thought it was a lost cause!! Oddly enough, I am using the Tea Tree Oil Wen. Yep, I am using Wen. You have probably seen the infomercials on late night or early Saturday mornings. Those infomercials only sell the Sweet Almond Mint. It works good but I still needed a bit more so I switched over to the Tea Tree Oil. It has made a difference!! The price is not budget friendly but I know it helps me so I am not going to change. I will have to find other ways to adjust for the price (plus shipping).
So, back to the where can I adjust my money to save more.......I definitely am starting to look at my purchases differently now. Can I find it at a better price somewhere else? Do I buy a couple of that item while it is on sale to stock up a bit on it? Do I have a coupon for it while it is on sale to maximize my savings? Can I borrow an item without having to buy it? Do I really need it or do I think I just want it to have it? Can I make better use of the public libraries in my area? Do I know someone who can do the same service at a better price? Just some questions I have started asking myself. I know that I will start trying different things in the future to help watch my money. So, just stay tuned and see what happens next I guess.
Jennifer
Monday, July 11, 2011
Budget Tracker
One tip that I have read about when setting out on setting up a budget is to track your expenses for about a month. This way, you will be able to see where your money has been spent, how much you have spent and start getting an idea on where you can cut back. Since I get paid twice a month, I thought this would be pretty easy to do.
So far, I have began to realize where I could cut some little expenses. It has been an eye opener to see where I have spent money for the past almost two weeks. I am going to try and see where some expenses are bought and see if I can save a little just to help offset the expense. I also need to see where it would be a good idea to buy items to keep at home or at the office. For example, I have not kicked the soda habit. I will stop in the mornings to get a soda before work. That is an expense that I should think about. Maybe buy a multi-pack of soda to keep in the office so that I do not have to stop every morning and slowly drain my bank account. I have been at this for about two weeks and already that sounds like a better idea. I wonder where I can cut little things out so that I can save money?
Sometimes I think that the soda idea and other ideas should be no-brainers. I mean, I should have had that idea from the start right?! Drink more water and I will not have to buy sodas. That is another no-brainer huh? Yep, some of these no-brainers are so simple that I never really sat down and thought about them. It is like I thought that I would think about it later. That has been a great thing to say for most things - "I'll think about it later." Well, I think I have to think about this now so I do not have a slow leak in my account over some simple things.
I have been trying hard to just spend like I normally do though. I have been not trying to do anything different so I can get a good picture where I spend my money. It has been hard to try as I have been thinking that I need to save money, I need to do little things to keep more of my money with me, etc. I also need to get a true and accurate picture of where the money went. So, I have been using a spreadsheat program to track where and when I spent money. Here is hoping this is a good starting point!!
Jennifer
So far, I have began to realize where I could cut some little expenses. It has been an eye opener to see where I have spent money for the past almost two weeks. I am going to try and see where some expenses are bought and see if I can save a little just to help offset the expense. I also need to see where it would be a good idea to buy items to keep at home or at the office. For example, I have not kicked the soda habit. I will stop in the mornings to get a soda before work. That is an expense that I should think about. Maybe buy a multi-pack of soda to keep in the office so that I do not have to stop every morning and slowly drain my bank account. I have been at this for about two weeks and already that sounds like a better idea. I wonder where I can cut little things out so that I can save money?
Sometimes I think that the soda idea and other ideas should be no-brainers. I mean, I should have had that idea from the start right?! Drink more water and I will not have to buy sodas. That is another no-brainer huh? Yep, some of these no-brainers are so simple that I never really sat down and thought about them. It is like I thought that I would think about it later. That has been a great thing to say for most things - "I'll think about it later." Well, I think I have to think about this now so I do not have a slow leak in my account over some simple things.
I have been trying hard to just spend like I normally do though. I have been not trying to do anything different so I can get a good picture where I spend my money. It has been hard to try as I have been thinking that I need to save money, I need to do little things to keep more of my money with me, etc. I also need to get a true and accurate picture of where the money went. So, I have been using a spreadsheat program to track where and when I spent money. Here is hoping this is a good starting point!!
Jennifer
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Background
Hello again!! I know it has been a little while since my last post here on my blog. I had been trying to think of what I wanted to write for my next post. Did I want to do a short review of an article on budget/coupons/money, post on a book that I have started reading this past week or one topic that had been popping back up is giving a bit of background on myself. So, I decided to do some background on myself so you, the reader, can know a bit more about me.
I am married and have been so for five years. My husband and I have not really had a lot of money during our course of dating and now married life. We got married at our local courthouse. It was like squeezed in on our to-do list: groceries, car payment, get married, laundry, etc. As a girl I had always hoped and dreamed of a nice wedding. Now, I will just have to go for a nice vow renewal ceremony! Maybe somewhere tropical? (Off topic there for a minute!!) I am glad that we did get married as it was great when my husband was able to get insurance through his last job for us. We had not had insurance as a couple and finally getting it was really nice. However, my husband was laid off from his job and part of keeping the insurance was making a set amount of hours each year at the job. So, now back to no insurance.
I went back to school in the fall of 2006. I had always wanted to finish college. I had began college right out of high school but never completed the coursework necessary for a degree. I went to a local college that offered a year-round system. After having been at a traditional college, the year-round system was a bit different. I was able to complete my Associate's Degree and Bachelor's Degree in about two-and-a-half years using this year-round system. I quite liked the year-round system and made some really great friends from college.
After finishing college came the great job hunt. Ohhhh how this was just long and never ending or so it seemed. I gained temporary employment but that only lasted a few months. I tried some temporary job agencies here in the area but that was a miss on my part. I kept on sending out my resumes to jobs and finally landed the job I have now. I have been here for over a year now and really enjoy working. I like learning more and more about my job and what's required of me. Did I just say that I liked my job? Yes, yes I did. I work as a legal assistant. The job is never dull and I am always learning something.
Since my husband has been laid off, we have been mainly surviving on my income. It is very hard to do at times but we always seem to have just enough. Right now, we only have one vehicle. That is all we can afford. We are saving up for a second for me. We have been living with a family member who has graciously allowed us to stay there for some time now. That is not easy to say when most of my friends have their own apartments, houses or homes. I am just glad that someone has been so wonderful as to allow us to stay with them for so long.
So, what will I want to do on my blog? I am going to explore different ways of saving money and still surviving life. I need to be saving money but how? Extra money would be nice but from where? How do I buy groceries without a whole lot of money after bills are paid? I will be exploring those and letting you know how I did or how I did not do with them. I also want to explore some services that are available for almost anyone and see if those services are a good deal for me. Now I do understand that what is a good deal for me may not be a good deal for you and the other way around.
I hope you will come back and see what happens!!
Jennifer :)
I am married and have been so for five years. My husband and I have not really had a lot of money during our course of dating and now married life. We got married at our local courthouse. It was like squeezed in on our to-do list: groceries, car payment, get married, laundry, etc. As a girl I had always hoped and dreamed of a nice wedding. Now, I will just have to go for a nice vow renewal ceremony! Maybe somewhere tropical? (Off topic there for a minute!!) I am glad that we did get married as it was great when my husband was able to get insurance through his last job for us. We had not had insurance as a couple and finally getting it was really nice. However, my husband was laid off from his job and part of keeping the insurance was making a set amount of hours each year at the job. So, now back to no insurance.
I went back to school in the fall of 2006. I had always wanted to finish college. I had began college right out of high school but never completed the coursework necessary for a degree. I went to a local college that offered a year-round system. After having been at a traditional college, the year-round system was a bit different. I was able to complete my Associate's Degree and Bachelor's Degree in about two-and-a-half years using this year-round system. I quite liked the year-round system and made some really great friends from college.
After finishing college came the great job hunt. Ohhhh how this was just long and never ending or so it seemed. I gained temporary employment but that only lasted a few months. I tried some temporary job agencies here in the area but that was a miss on my part. I kept on sending out my resumes to jobs and finally landed the job I have now. I have been here for over a year now and really enjoy working. I like learning more and more about my job and what's required of me. Did I just say that I liked my job? Yes, yes I did. I work as a legal assistant. The job is never dull and I am always learning something.
Since my husband has been laid off, we have been mainly surviving on my income. It is very hard to do at times but we always seem to have just enough. Right now, we only have one vehicle. That is all we can afford. We are saving up for a second for me. We have been living with a family member who has graciously allowed us to stay there for some time now. That is not easy to say when most of my friends have their own apartments, houses or homes. I am just glad that someone has been so wonderful as to allow us to stay with them for so long.
So, what will I want to do on my blog? I am going to explore different ways of saving money and still surviving life. I need to be saving money but how? Extra money would be nice but from where? How do I buy groceries without a whole lot of money after bills are paid? I will be exploring those and letting you know how I did or how I did not do with them. I also want to explore some services that are available for almost anyone and see if those services are a good deal for me. Now I do understand that what is a good deal for me may not be a good deal for you and the other way around.
I hope you will come back and see what happens!!
Jennifer :)
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