October 31st, 2006 by Yvonne

How I saved $92.89 last week. With the rising cost of gas and personal dwindling savings, I have found it even more imperative to find ways to cut cost and save. In reassessing my financial state, I noticed that one of my greatest expenses was in the area of grocery. A hundred dollars a week in groceries can easily add up to over $500 a month! Yes, this is one of those necessary expenses we have that tend to reach deep into our pockets and leave behind only a few pieces of chump change after all is said and done.

So what is the solution since everyone needs to eat and groceries need to be bought? I have found that what worked well in the past still works well today. You guessed it, GROCERY COUPONS! I used to clip coupons at one point but took a hiatus because I stopped receiving the Sunday newspaper which housed the coupons. Recently, I have started printing free coupons and clipping them again and am carefully watching my savings grow. Let me give you a concrete example of a grocery receipt that I had recently:

Total Cost $140.65

Balance $47.76

Total number is items sold = 29

VERIFIED TOTAL SAVINGS $92.89

My purchases at Ralphs Grocery store totaled $140.65. I used free printable coupons and regular coupons which saved me a total of $48. However, I ended up only paying $47.76 with a verified total savings of $92.89.

How did I do that?

I saved more than the coupon value because of double coupons. Double coupons are coupons that are scanned twice to save the customer double the amount. For example, if the grocery coupon was good for $1.00 off, you would end up saving $2.00 because of double coupons, imagine if you had printed a coupon that was $2.00 off! This is an automatic savings feature at the grocery store. But note that not all grocery stores are the same!

As of today, in my area, only Ralphs doubles all their coupons automatically. It used to be that both Ralphs and Vons doubled their coupons but Vons Grocery Store had discontinued their program. Couple the double coupon savings at Ralphs with their Ralphs Club program (a program with free membership that allows additional savings) and you can save up to triple the coupon amount.

Using this method, I ended up paying

* $1.00 for laundry detergents

* $4.50 for jumbo size Pull-up diapers

* $5.00 for jumbo size Huggies & Pamper diapers

* $1.00 for a large container of baby wipes

* $0.00 (free) for a 64 oz bottle of Juicy Juice

and so forth.

What is the work involved in clipping coupons, free printable coupons and using them to their maximum capacity?

* First, print your free printable coupons.

* Second, check the grocery advertisements that are mailed out each week. Look for items on sale and use the coupon then.

* Third, make sure you use the coupons at Ralphs Grocery Store (or any other grocery stores with double coupon offer) if they are having sales on the item in which you have the coupon. Sometimes other grocery store (which does not have the double coupon program) may have an item on sale that Ralphs does not. In this case, using the grocery coupons at the other grocery stores may end up giving you a greater savings.

Furthermore, you can save even more when you purchase your groceries with a credit card that give 5% or 6% cash back (please refer to my credit card article). If you pay $100 in groceries with a cash back credit card, you can get $5 or $6 cash back.

Since doing all these steps, I have found that my grocery costs have dropped down to a third or half of what it used to cost. I am able to save money as well as buy more quantity and higher quality foods for my family because of this and I get to try new foods that I would not otherwise buy!

For those with children on a low income budget, consider government assisted programs such as WIC. WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children. This program helps families with children to buy the necessary foods without cost. For more information, go to the WIC Program

October 31st, 2006 by Yvonne

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October 31st, 2006 by Yvonne

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October 31st, 2006 by Yvonne

It is easy to overspend when grocery shopping. It’s probably the place where we do the most impulse shopping. So we tend to buy things we don’t really need and there goes the budget. If you would like to be a more frugal shopper, here are some things that will help guide you when buying groceries.

Make A List

Most People have certain things they eat regularly. So making a basic menu plan should be fairly simple. You know you have to eat dinner 7 times this week. So write down 7 dinners. Think about what you need to make those things. Make a list. Look in your pantry and fridge to see what basics you are out of. It helps to keep an ongoing list inside your cupboard of things as you run out of them. Making a list will help make sure that you get everything in one trip. Statistics show that you spend more the more trips you make to the store. When you go in for one item that you are out of, and you come out with a whole lot of other things. Plan to go grocery shopping two to three times a month. Sometimes it will be necessary to shop in between trips to the grocery store. If you have a problem with impulse buying, then maybe try getting your milk and bread at a convenience store where there is less to tempt you.

Should You Buy Already Prepared Food

It is usually better to cook from scratch when you have a large family. When I cook for my family it is generally cheaper to not use prepared foods. A big pot of stew is very inexpensive to make, but to buy cans of stew can run into money. However, if the choice is between going out to eat or prepared foods, then definitely prepared is better.

When it was just me and my husband, it was probably cheaper to buy prepared foods rather than buy all the different ingredients that we would need for a smaller batch. The food almost always went bad before we could use it, because there just wasn’t enough people to eat it. You can only have spaghetti for so many nights in a row.

Buy Basic Food Products

It is healthier and more cost effective to buy more basic things when shopping for groceries. Buying a bag of rice will save you money compared to a box of flavored rice. The prepared foods usually contain preservatives that are not good for your body. If you prepare the food yourself, then you can control exactly what is in it. Oatmeal is allot less expensive than instant oatmeal and it is better for you. Processing takes allot of nutrients out of food and it is quite a bit more expensive. Although, if you are not willing to take the extra time it takes to cook these foods, then this tip will not be helpful for you.

Check Adds Before You Go

Check your adds regularly. This will help you to know what is a good deal and what is not. Some stores are better to buy certain items at than others. I have a particular store that always has eggs on sale for a good price. That’s the only place I will buy eggs. Grocery stores adds start on the same day every week for the most part. Planning your menus around these specials can help you save as you shop. Generally the front page of the ad has the best deals. They’re designed to get your attention and make you want to come to that store. Just because an item is in the add does not mean it’s a good deal, that is why you need to check them regularly. Buying produce in season will also help you save money. If it is something you can freeze, then do so. Out of season fruits and vegetables are expensive and not good quality.

Store Discount Cards and Coupons

Many grocery stores have cards that give you a discount on certain items, especially items that are advertised in their ads at a sale price. If you don’t have a card, you’ll be charged a higher price, which is listed in the ad in tiny print beside the item’s picture. The cards are useful to shoppers. Many stores have registers that print out coupons for future purchases of items that you have bought that day if you are using the store card. The cards are easy to get; you have to fill out a sheet with some basic information at the register or customer service desk, and then just remember to use the card when you check out.

If you get the Sunday newspapers, it often includes coupons for dollars off on groceries. Most coupons are for processed foods and new products, but you can find them for many different items. You can use a coupon while an item is on sale, so you can double your savings. It does take a little organization though. If you’re on a budget, however, you could save quite a lot of money if you buy several items on sale with coupons.

Take A Calculator

How many times have you been shocked by the price at the register and wondered what did I buy? Well taking a calculator with you to shop could help you if you’re on a budget, especially if you’re an impulse buyer or have small children who distract you while you shop. If you’re good at math, you can try to keep a running total. But if your like me, a calculator would be great. As you add an item to your basket, punch the price in the calculator. Using a calculator will help you to make wiser choices; if you see that your total is rising rapidly, you can put something back and choose a lower priced item. Using the calculator will prevent any shock at the register.

Compare Brands

Many grocery stores have their own brand name products, and these products are usually made by well-known manufacturers. Store brand products are almost always less expensive than name brand products, and if you look at the ingredients, they are probably identical. Buy one of the store brand products, taste it, and if you like it you can save money next time you need that item. You can save by buying store brands on food, over-the-counter medicines, cleaners, and other household products. It is common for stores to put all of their store brand products on sale at one time.

Larger Quantity

If a grocery store puts a nonperishable item on sale at a very low price, buy extras. Basic foods like flour, sugar, beans, rice, canned and frozen goods will last quite a while if you use them regularly. If you buy enough, then you won’t have to buy it when it’s not on sale.

Buy your snack items in bulk instead of putting money in a vending machine regularly. Joining a wholesale club means you must purchase a member’s card, but a few trips to the club can save you lots of money if you buy items you use frequently in quantity. The clubs offer samples of certain items frequently, so you are able to try something before you buy it. This is great, because you don’t want to buy a ton of something you might not like.

On Sale

Just because it is on sale, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. If it is not something you usually eat, then it may not be a great sale for you. When Kellogg’s goes on sale, it still may not be as cheap as the private label brand that you usually buy. You can save by buying items on sale, but it won’t be a savings if you don’t like the product. Only buy food that you know you or your family will eat or you will have wasted your money. Be careful that you don’t buy large quantities of perishable items. If half of it gets waisted before you eat it, you won’t have saved any money. Always check the date on sale items. It is very common for stores to put product on sale when they are close to going out of date.

Don’t Go To The Store Hungry

Make sure you have already eaten when you go to the store. Everything looks good when your hungry and your grocery bill will show it. It’s easier to resist junk food when your tummy is full.

When you have a plan, you are one step closer to sticking to your budget.

October 29th, 2006 by Yvonne

Under certain circumstances, you may have reason to believe that you have paid too much tax due to withholding.  This can happen if you have switched jobs a number of times during the year or if you work more than one job simultaneously.

You have the right to file for a refund of this overpayment.

You might have paid too much tax if you are a student and you worked during vacation without filing a form P38S for student employees, or if the people you work for used an incorrect tax code, or you were employed for only a part of the year, or you worked more than one job at a time, or you ended your employment and received no income for the remainder of the year, or you switched from full time to part time or became self-employed during the course of the year, or you were issued a substitute tax code because of changing your job.

If you are working and receiving a pension, it is possible that you have more than one tax code.  You need to check the tax code assigned to you on your pay stub or your P45.  This information tells the employer how much tax to remove from your check prior to issuing it.

If you think you paid too much tax under self-assessment, you can probably get a refund directly deposited to your account to offset future payments.  Check your tax guidebook to be certain. Just refer to “How to stop donating your money to IRS”

If you feel that, for some reason, too mush tax is being withheld from your pay, you should contact the payroll department where you work as a first course of action.  The accountants and bookkeepers in the payroll department specialize in withholding.  They know all the equations and computations to get your withholding right.  If there is something wrong with the amount of tax being withheld from your pay, these are the people who can find out about it and, ultimately, fix it.

Also, if you feel the Internal Revenue Service owes you back taxes of any type contact a tax attorney or tax specialist.  These people are professionals when it comes to getting your back tax rebate.  If they believe you have a case, they will usually represent you for a percentage of what they can recover.  They also know all the right procedures, forms to fill out, and responsible parties to contact in an effort to recover your money.

October 29th, 2006 by Yvonne

Budgeting has become a lost art. The spendthrift ways of yesterday has come down to a financial strain on family resources and left most people scrambling to make ends meet and find new ways to keep the standard of living.

It takes an economic crisis to force everyone to rethink their spending habits and their priorities on what it is they really need to survive through the chaos.

Being frugal does not mean going without necessities. It does mean putting to use every dollar more effectively. Large ticket items such as cars, furniture and appliances are a large drain on the pocketbook. You don’t need to keep up with the trend in cars by buying new every three years. With proper maintenance your car can last three times longer. Used cars can be a better bargain as new cars depreciate up to half their value within the first year they are bought.

Food, clothing and shelter are necessary items no one can live without, there are ways to save in these areas that can help you save without sacrificing your standard of living. So what can be done to stretch a dollar to make it go further when it comes to grocery shopping? Here are a few tips:

* Budget your grocery shopping. Take a look at how much you spend, then set aside a certain amount of your income for food purchases. Create a shopping list of all necessary items. If you have money left over from your food budget, then you can allow yourself some luxuries.

* Don’t buy at convenience stores. Prices are more expenses than in the supermarket. You pay for the 24 hour a day convenience.

* A big home is a status symbol for many people but a great drain on resources. With electricity, fuel costs, taxes and insurance, a big home can take a great chunk of income. Considering that home prices have plummeted recently, a smaller home is a better fit for your needs if the family isn’t particularly large. If selling your big home is out of the question, consider cordoning off a separate part and renting it. According to Retire Early, a big home was a good investment during the 70’s and 80’s when inflation was high. A smaller home is a better bargain in a recession. A large home today is a liability.

* Buy a new car every ten years. Over a working lifetime, the average person could save enough to retire five years sooner by not buying new so frequently.

* Buy generic. Many products are made with the same ingredients. They just don’t have a brand name on the label.

* Buy non-food items such as toothpaste and soap at dollar stores as they are cheaper than at the supermarket where the markups are higher to allow the store to make more profit than on the food items. When it comes to furniture and appliances, look for liquidation sales.

* Lunch is a large expense item. That sandwich and coffee at the deli add up over the month. When it comes to lunch, bring your own to work.

There are many more ways to save on household expenses. Your financial future will succeed or fail based on how frugal you are today. In this time of trouble, being careful with spending will help develop the habits that will carry on when the economy makes a turnaround.

October 29th, 2006 by Yvonne

Giving a speech at a wedding is not a laughing matter. To the Bride and Groom, it is the day of their lives. So what should one do if they have never given a speech at a wedding? They should research and prepare to deliver the best speech they have ever given. Aside from asking family and friends, the best place to look for a web of ideas is on the internet.

The internet is a sea of knowledge and almost everything can be found on it. All you need to do is sift through all the junk to locate what you are really desire. Along with free sample speeches and toasts, you should be able to find an array of tips for the wedding in general. You may even find a catchy joke that would be appropriate for the evening.

A lot of the sites out there are advertising free wedding speeches and they are not free at all. There are a few sites that have free wedding speeches and to access the rest you have to pay for them or purchase some software.

On EasyweddingToasts.com we have written and collected some beautifully toasted speeches that you can use for your wedding speech for free. That’s right, absolutely free wedding speeches for all wedding speakers!

Hunting around on the internet for free wedding speeches and toasts can be trialing. When writing, bare in mind the formula of a successful speech. The first section of your speech is about introductions and telling a few jokes. The second part tells the story of how the married couple met and why they are so good for each other. The last section of the speech is about wishing them the best and giving them your love and support.

When it comes time for you to give a wedding speech, do not just throw a few words down on paper and do a bit of improve. You need to prepare a speech and practice it. Go online and find these free wedding speeches and toasts. Remember to use the speeches and toast as a guideline. Make them your own, and deliver the speech of a lifetime.

Don’t let Weddings leave you speechless!

October 29th, 2006 by Yvonne

KXLY4’s Colleen O’Brien has a Cool Click for the coupon clippers. Throw away those scissors!

October 27th, 2006 by Yvonne

Rebate credit cards are a great favorite among consumers whereby you can get great discounts whenever you use your rebate credit card to purchase any kind of items. Credit card rebates are similar to cash back credit cards that could accumulate points to form a rebate structure. These are based upon how much the card is used for a period of time and also depending upon the different kinds of rebates and promotional offers that are awarded on the rebate credit cards in question.

Typical credit card rebate includes entertainment rebates, stores discounts for specialty store cards. Some credit card rebates require annual fees depending upon the card providers. You should pay attention towards the comparison of annual fees and interests before you arrive at a decision for a particular rebate credit card. The more you use the cards, the better rebates and cash rewards you get. You need to keep in mind that these rebates exclude interest and finance charges. Some reward credit cards also offer higher credit card rebate with increased usage while others offer higher credit card rebates.

You can earn credit card rebates in many different ways right from your everyday grocery shopping to the purchase the latest fashion or even you can link your credit cards with other cards. These credit card rebates have also few strings attached and offer appreciable savings with an average credit score. Some credit cards directly deposit rebates into your savings account and depending on the types of the credit cards and the varying credit providers, this rebate amount differs.

You should keep in mind that the average APR depends much upon your credit history and unless you maintain a good credit history by paying your bills each month, you may also end up by spending your credit card rebate and some higher interest costs. Try to understand the limits on how much rebate you can get back from your credit cards annually. Most credit cards require you to go by primary policies of the credit card that you apply for. The credit card companies spend millions in marketing efforts so as to get new customers so you can take good advantage of the competition by shopping around for the best interest rate in the credit card rebates.

If you want to have more information, visit our recommended website credit-card-debt-consolidation-guide.info

October 27th, 2006 by Yvonne

The idea of buying products to pamper our senses is not a new idea. With the use of coupons however you have a wider choice body and beauty products that you can buy if you like the sound of these products. The coupons Bath and Body Works offer allows you to bring spa treatment into your home for a fraction of the cost.

These many different coupons cover a wide range of products from the Bath and Body Works line. By looking at these different coupons you will notice various details that can help you decide if you would like to use a coupon Bath and Body Works have made available or if the regular priced item is of better value.

A few of the coupons that you will find are for products like lip balm, and body lotions. You will even find products like herbal shampoos and conditioners for sale at discounted prices on some of the coupons Bath and Body Works have distributed. There are some other types of Bath and Body Works coupons that these stores accept.

These coupons Bath and Body Works has available for you are downloadable printed coupons. With these coupons you can print out as many of the coupons that you want and use them according to the store policies. You should follow the directions that are given for these printable coupons in order to gain the most benefits from the use of them.

As with all types of coupons Bath and Body Works have listed deadlines or expiry dates for the ending period for different coupons. When you buy your selected items with these coupons you should make sure that the coupons are clear and readable.

You will find some interesting offers for coupons Bath and Body works has with its online stores. These coupons will allow you to shop from the online store without having to worry about the expiry date. There may not be any coupon codes available with these types of coupons.

There are coupons with the coupons codes these generally have a limited period of time of you to shop for the products that you want from the online stores. You can sometimes find other coupons Bath and Body Works have issued for the sale of special products like that of their Signature Collection.

These many products and items are all waiting for you to purchase and with the various coupons Bath and Body Works has for you the choices are fantastic. To purchase the products that you need from any Bath and Body Works store for a discounted price all that you need is some coupons Bath and Body Works has made readily available for you.