Do you ever have those events that you are "surprised" when they get here? Some examples are Christmas, birthdays, Thanksgiving, renewing your tags on your vehicle, inspecting your vehicle. "Oh my gosh!! It's her birthday again?! Didn't she just have a birthday?!" Why is it that we are "surprised" when it is close to these events happening in our lives? All of a sudden it is Thanksgiving and we start to panic slightly because we have not started our Christmas shopping!
Well, I had to renew the tags on our vehicle this month. I know this happens every year in June. Yet, I start freaking out a bit because it is extra money I have to spend because I did not save up for it like I promised I would last year at this time. I have already made the "promise" to start saving up for it next year so it does not take me by surprise again. Maybe even renew the tags for two years instead of one next year. (Yeah right!! You can laugh if you want to here.)
Have you ever told yourself that you would save up for certain yearly expenses and then here it is a year later and you did not? I think maybe just the act of getting started is the first step. I had spoken with someone else who said that they divided the cost by twelve and put that much money up every month so next year, they would already have the money saved for the item. I thought to myself, "Great idea!! I must do this!!" Here it is a year later and I did not. It happens every year at this time and I still act as if it is a surprise that I have to renew those tags.
Planning and saving has got to be the key here. There is just no other way to do this!! Or maybe you have a better way and if you do, please let me know. Maybe this is just partly being lazy to not plan? Maybe it is something that I think that I will deal with tomorrow and tomorrow happens to come way to quickly? Failure to plan is it (at least for me, anyway). Trying to save for these things is easy to not do and I do it often. "I'll start it tomorrow" is a common thought I have on starting to plan for some savings. Taking the first step to get it done is the hardest but I have got to do it. It just has to be done!!
What are your thoughts on this? How do you plan for yearly little money surprises?
Jenn
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Store Reward Cards
I had started trying to be more consistent in my posts and figured out that about every two weeks I would post on Monday's and not run out of ideas for awhile. Plus, I am keeping a little book of some ideas to post on. But today I happened to stop by Rite Aid after work for some items on sale and I started thinking about different store reward cards and decided to post!!
Yesterday I found the Rite Aid circular for this week in my area. I looked through it and found some items that we use that were Buy One Get One Free or Buy Two Get One Free. After work today I stopped at the Rite Aid I pass going to and from work. I went in to pick up three different items I knew I wanted from looking through the circular and ended up with a few more. I ended up saving about $35 after all was said and done plus two $2 coupons to use on a later trip. Not bad!! We will not need the little dishwashing tabs for SEVERAL months as I have already three boxes not opened when I bought the two today. (Yep, I just admitted that!!) I probably could have saved more with some coupons but my coupon pile is not big. I need to work on that!! If I can combine coupons and some sales, savings can be bigger!!
With store reward cards you have to understand how that particular store works their Buy One Get One free deals. Rite Aid really did give me the second item free. For example, the diswashing tabs were Buy One Get One Free on the two different sizes they had there - a 20 count box and a 32 count box. I opted for the larger 32 count box for $7.99 and the second box rang up at the register for $0.00. There are some stores that if they advertise Buy One Get One Free each item will ring up half price. (Some may already know a store or two that do this.) Make sure you know how the store works it. Maybe do a test run on an item or two to see how that store does it - one item is free or both items ring up at half price. Definitely take the time to stock up on some items when sales like this run using your store rewards card. Also try to work coupons in there for more savings. One example I have of this is a store had some new Gevalia coffee and had it at a discounted price, I think it was $6.99. I received a coupon in the mail for buy one get one free. So I bought the one bag for $6.99 (on sale) and used the coupon which made the second bag of coffee free and I got both bags of Gevalia coffee for $6.99. (Best coffee savings I can ever remember!) So, do not discard the idea of store reward cards. If you wait for some sales, you can stock up a bit on things you use around the house at some pretty good prices. It just takes some time, practice and patience. Do not beat yourself up over not working on your savings like others.
What is your thought on store reward cards? Do you use them? Do you like them? Do you not like them?
Jenn
Yesterday I found the Rite Aid circular for this week in my area. I looked through it and found some items that we use that were Buy One Get One Free or Buy Two Get One Free. After work today I stopped at the Rite Aid I pass going to and from work. I went in to pick up three different items I knew I wanted from looking through the circular and ended up with a few more. I ended up saving about $35 after all was said and done plus two $2 coupons to use on a later trip. Not bad!! We will not need the little dishwashing tabs for SEVERAL months as I have already three boxes not opened when I bought the two today. (Yep, I just admitted that!!) I probably could have saved more with some coupons but my coupon pile is not big. I need to work on that!! If I can combine coupons and some sales, savings can be bigger!!
With store reward cards you have to understand how that particular store works their Buy One Get One free deals. Rite Aid really did give me the second item free. For example, the diswashing tabs were Buy One Get One Free on the two different sizes they had there - a 20 count box and a 32 count box. I opted for the larger 32 count box for $7.99 and the second box rang up at the register for $0.00. There are some stores that if they advertise Buy One Get One Free each item will ring up half price. (Some may already know a store or two that do this.) Make sure you know how the store works it. Maybe do a test run on an item or two to see how that store does it - one item is free or both items ring up at half price. Definitely take the time to stock up on some items when sales like this run using your store rewards card. Also try to work coupons in there for more savings. One example I have of this is a store had some new Gevalia coffee and had it at a discounted price, I think it was $6.99. I received a coupon in the mail for buy one get one free. So I bought the one bag for $6.99 (on sale) and used the coupon which made the second bag of coffee free and I got both bags of Gevalia coffee for $6.99. (Best coffee savings I can ever remember!) So, do not discard the idea of store reward cards. If you wait for some sales, you can stock up a bit on things you use around the house at some pretty good prices. It just takes some time, practice and patience. Do not beat yourself up over not working on your savings like others.
What is your thought on store reward cards? Do you use them? Do you like them? Do you not like them?
Jenn
Monday, June 11, 2012
Being Crafty on a Budget
Sometimes, trying to buy gifts for certain situations can take some thought. You really want to buy something the recipient can use, something they will like and something that will be appreciated. Plus, you also have to watch your budget on gifts, which can prevent you from getting a gift you really want for that person. What do you do?
I have been knitting for a few years and have gotten to where I can make some basic gifts with knitting - baby blankets, bags, dish clothes. I have just learned to crochet earlier this year and that can add to my craftiness. Being on a budget, I try to find things that are practical but useful. A young lady I know likes the knitted or crocheted dish clothes I make and so if I find I have some extra time and yarn, I will try to learn new stitches or make up a dish cloth or two. I learn something new in the process and she gets something useful.
But what about Christmas, birthday's, baby showers or other celebrations? If I plan far enough ahead, I can work on making a gift for that person. Many times I have made baby blankets for baby showers. I have been lucky enough to find a basic pattern that allows me to try different types of yarn. I have also been lucky enough that the mothers who I give these blankets too seem to really enjoy something handmade for the baby. Something I hope that they will keep and pass on to the child when the child becomes older.
Can knitting or crochet get expensive? Yes, it can. It depends on the yarn you use and how much you need of it. Plus, some yarn is hand wash/air dry only. So, I really have to think about who is getting the yarn and how much time they may have to take care of the gift. A mother on a busy schedule may not have time for hand wash/air dry but can do something that can be washed on delicate and then dried on low in the dryer or maybe air dry.
Overall, I have found that people do enjoy getting handmade gifts still. Or maybe it is just the people I give them too that really like them. Use your own judgement to see if a person would like a handmade gift and maybe that gift will be something they use and enjoy for a long time. Plus, learning a new skill never hurt either. So, being crafty can be easy on your budget if you plan right. There is nothing wrong with a little handmade gift!!
What do you think?
Jenn
I have been knitting for a few years and have gotten to where I can make some basic gifts with knitting - baby blankets, bags, dish clothes. I have just learned to crochet earlier this year and that can add to my craftiness. Being on a budget, I try to find things that are practical but useful. A young lady I know likes the knitted or crocheted dish clothes I make and so if I find I have some extra time and yarn, I will try to learn new stitches or make up a dish cloth or two. I learn something new in the process and she gets something useful.
But what about Christmas, birthday's, baby showers or other celebrations? If I plan far enough ahead, I can work on making a gift for that person. Many times I have made baby blankets for baby showers. I have been lucky enough to find a basic pattern that allows me to try different types of yarn. I have also been lucky enough that the mothers who I give these blankets too seem to really enjoy something handmade for the baby. Something I hope that they will keep and pass on to the child when the child becomes older.
Can knitting or crochet get expensive? Yes, it can. It depends on the yarn you use and how much you need of it. Plus, some yarn is hand wash/air dry only. So, I really have to think about who is getting the yarn and how much time they may have to take care of the gift. A mother on a busy schedule may not have time for hand wash/air dry but can do something that can be washed on delicate and then dried on low in the dryer or maybe air dry.
Overall, I have found that people do enjoy getting handmade gifts still. Or maybe it is just the people I give them too that really like them. Use your own judgement to see if a person would like a handmade gift and maybe that gift will be something they use and enjoy for a long time. Plus, learning a new skill never hurt either. So, being crafty can be easy on your budget if you plan right. There is nothing wrong with a little handmade gift!!
What do you think?
Jenn
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