Over the past few months, I've hopefully helped my readers save money in some important aspects of their lives. I've tried to cover the major expenditures, such as food, cars, home expenses, schooling, and maintenance. Everything in life will take money, so it's important to know how best to spend your money, and where you can save a few bucks of even hundreds.
Whether it's taking out a loan for a car, applying for scholarships for school, or cutting/printing our coupons for any shopping, you can save your hard-earned money. I work hard for my money, so it's in my best interest to shop smartly, to save for larger expenses, and get what I need and want for as little as possible. Sites like groupon and livingsocial have helped in the past. Also, following other bloggers and their money-saving blogs has opened my eyes to even more ways to save money. When it came to looking at cars, I tried to look for ways I could save money, and found that I could actually save a few thousand in discounts. When I applied and was accepted for a credit card, I realized that you really have to pick the right card for you, and that times can get tricky if you pick the wrong one.
I know that even though my blogging days may be at an end for now, I'll continue to keep open eyes and ears for ways to save. Saving money is an important way to be successful, especially as a college student. The top three bloggers in the field of saving money are mothers trying to find cost-efficient ways of providing for their families. I may not be a mother but I certainly won't say no to saving a few bucks here and there! Take my advice, and follow the advice of the top bloggers, and you'll be saving hundreds soon enough :)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Saved by the Bell? Not likely..
School is a necessary part of our future and success, we've been told this over and over again, since before we knew what college even was. So why then is such an important rite of passage costing American families and arm and a leg? Per child? With tuition going up, how are the youths of America supposed to survive the college years without graduation buried in debt?
There area few tips I've gathered on how to save money on schooling, from K-12, and beyond in college. Starting from the beginning is preschool/daycare. Preschool is a great way to get your child used to the routine of schooling on a daily basis, learning to respect authority other than their parents, and socializing with other children their own age. The problem with preschool is that it comes at a price. You can save some money by not enrolling your child into a selective preschool with higher "tuition", such as St. Francis or other religious preschools. These tend to cost more, and for a 4 year old who won't remember preschool for the most part, is it really worth it? Stick to the larger chains of daycare, like Minnieland or KinderCare, and you'll likely save hundreds if not thousands over hte years, depending on the number of kids you have.
When it comes to Elementary and Middle School, my opinion is simple: enroll your children in public schools. Public schools are free, first of all. The school system for Prince William County are great, with a lot of money going into them from the government and the the typically middle/upper-middle families in this area. Schools like Ashland Elementary have such strong parent teacher organizations and grants from the government for the multitude of military and government families attending this school, that it really is a wonderful wonderland for kids. The middle schools in this area, notable Benton and Saunders, are made up of the same children from the same districts, and are a continuation of the excellence you'll find in the public elementary schools. Why parents enroll their children in private grade schools is beyond me. They are basically paying college tuition prices for schooling that won't even appear on and transcripts sent to colleges.
Bottom line? Colleges can't see what fancy pre-school or grade school you went to, and they don't care. All they want is diversity, good test scores, extra-curricular activities, and a promising future grad student. So parents, please, stop spending thousands on private schooling and use that money to pay for ridiculous tuition prices instead.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Craving Cars?
A lot of new 2013 car models are coming out, and the new car craze is hitting the nation, along with these terrible spring allergies. Why bring this up? Simple, I'm caught up in the craze. This is the best time to get the 2012 models at a great price, which is exactly what I'm planning on doing in the very near future. I've got my eyes set on a brand new Subaru Impresa WRX, and I intend to be smart in my purchase.
I've gone to look a t cars with my parents and solo a few times already, and I'm planning my smart buy. The last car I bought, I managed to get over 4 thousand dollars off the price. I know, as well as most people, that to buy a car for the amount shown to you by the dealership is a ridiculous thing to do. The dealerships expect you to haggle, so they overprice their cars. I'm going to share with you a few ways to save money based on my past experience buying my cars and visiting dealers this season.
The first and most important thing to remember, at least in m opinion, is to only buy a car if you can afford it. So many people go into debt or too deep into their savings because of the need to have a new car now, when the smart thing to do would be buy used or hold off until you're more financially secure. Not only will you have peace of mind if you follow this advice, you'll also save a ton of money. Let me explain. Someone with a car fund, or the money to buy a car at hand, will be able to supply the dealership with a large down payment, thus reducing the amount of interest they'd have to pay on any car loan or payment plan. Sound simple? It is! So don't be greedy or rash, save up that cash! A great example of this is my friend who paid his car off in cash, in full at the dealership, and as a result got 6 thousand dollars off his new ride.
Other discounts that I've been able to enjoy in the past have been hundreds of dollars off by taking advantage of mail-in rebates, same brand discount (where the dealership will discount money for owning one of their cars already), and trade-in discount. The last one is where you will most likely get the most bang for you buck. By bringing in your old car, getting it's value in credit, and applying it to your new purchase, you not only leave an old used car behind, you leave the lot with a brand new car having paid practiacally nothing at all! Assuming of course that you don't trade in a lemon expecting to leave with a nice luxary car. Play it smart, readers, and the money saved will begin to add up!
I've gone to look a t cars with my parents and solo a few times already, and I'm planning my smart buy. The last car I bought, I managed to get over 4 thousand dollars off the price. I know, as well as most people, that to buy a car for the amount shown to you by the dealership is a ridiculous thing to do. The dealerships expect you to haggle, so they overprice their cars. I'm going to share with you a few ways to save money based on my past experience buying my cars and visiting dealers this season.
The first and most important thing to remember, at least in m opinion, is to only buy a car if you can afford it. So many people go into debt or too deep into their savings because of the need to have a new car now, when the smart thing to do would be buy used or hold off until you're more financially secure. Not only will you have peace of mind if you follow this advice, you'll also save a ton of money. Let me explain. Someone with a car fund, or the money to buy a car at hand, will be able to supply the dealership with a large down payment, thus reducing the amount of interest they'd have to pay on any car loan or payment plan. Sound simple? It is! So don't be greedy or rash, save up that cash! A great example of this is my friend who paid his car off in cash, in full at the dealership, and as a result got 6 thousand dollars off his new ride.
Other discounts that I've been able to enjoy in the past have been hundreds of dollars off by taking advantage of mail-in rebates, same brand discount (where the dealership will discount money for owning one of their cars already), and trade-in discount. The last one is where you will most likely get the most bang for you buck. By bringing in your old car, getting it's value in credit, and applying it to your new purchase, you not only leave an old used car behind, you leave the lot with a brand new car having paid practiacally nothing at all! Assuming of course that you don't trade in a lemon expecting to leave with a nice luxary car. Play it smart, readers, and the money saved will begin to add up!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Playing Your Cards Right
Today I realized just how important it is to play your cards right. I was charged with the task of getting a few groceries at Target today by my mother, which I figured I'd be a good son and go ahead and do. The deal was go get the goods, then she'd reimburse me the total after I came back with the purchases. No problem right? Everything was fine up until I got to the cash register. I had found the bargain items, taken advantage of a few sales, left behind a few tempting but unnecessary luxury food stuffs that I know my mom wouldn't approve of on her budget, and overall I had done a good job at doing what was asked of me. I was in high spirits up until it came time to pay. Just those 8 or 9 bags worth of groceries at Target had added up to a surprising total of $91.56. I shrugged internally at my mom's fondness of Target when I knew the commissary was a better bang for your buck, but swiped my card anyway. That's when the trouble began.
The cashier looked at me apologetically and said, " Uh, sorry, it didn't go through. Do you want to try again?" I was confused, but figured it was probably her fault. I knew for sure that I had money on my card, so I swiped again. Another disappointing rejection notice appeared on the screen. At that point I was starting to become indignant and a bit embarrassed. Why wasn't the card working? I just played it off like I knew what had happened and asked if there was an ATM in the store. She pointed me in the right direction and I went to take out cash, only to find that the ATM was out of service. I ended up having to go down the shopping center to the Shoppers to withdraw the necessary $80 and go back and pay for the darn groceries.
What went wrong? A few things. First was my choice of credit cards. As a young adult I don't have the credit that older adults have, so I decided to sign up for a Navy Federal credit card that was secure. This means that the card was essentially a debit card that built credit with every use. It's a good way to keep your money in check, since there's no possibility of over-drafting or using funds that simply aren't there. The downside is that since I had transferred money over from my savings to my credit card yesterday, the transaction was still pending and the card didn't have the money I needed. Because I chose a secure, smart way to build credit, I was charged $3 dollars for using an M&T ATM. Ridiculous.
The moral of the story? When choosing your cards, keep in mind that there are pros and cons to every type of card out there. Checking, Credit, or Debit, they all have their ups and downs. Make sure that when you pick a card you find one that has either many convenient locations for ATMs and banks, or one that reimburses any withdraw fees you may acquire. Also keep in mind that if you go for a standard credit card, you need to be smart and keep in mind that just because you can spend the banks money, it doesn't mean you should. Don't go into debt like so many millions of Americans have before you. If a secure card is right up your alley, go for it! Just make sure to have cash on you too so you don't end up like me in Target today!
Sources:
https://www.navyfederal.org/products-services/cards/creditcards/creditcardsAA.php
Navy Federal Credit Union.Virginia: 2012. NCU, n.d. Web. 19 March 2012.
The cashier looked at me apologetically and said, " Uh, sorry, it didn't go through. Do you want to try again?" I was confused, but figured it was probably her fault. I knew for sure that I had money on my card, so I swiped again. Another disappointing rejection notice appeared on the screen. At that point I was starting to become indignant and a bit embarrassed. Why wasn't the card working? I just played it off like I knew what had happened and asked if there was an ATM in the store. She pointed me in the right direction and I went to take out cash, only to find that the ATM was out of service. I ended up having to go down the shopping center to the Shoppers to withdraw the necessary $80 and go back and pay for the darn groceries.
What went wrong? A few things. First was my choice of credit cards. As a young adult I don't have the credit that older adults have, so I decided to sign up for a Navy Federal credit card that was secure. This means that the card was essentially a debit card that built credit with every use. It's a good way to keep your money in check, since there's no possibility of over-drafting or using funds that simply aren't there. The downside is that since I had transferred money over from my savings to my credit card yesterday, the transaction was still pending and the card didn't have the money I needed. Because I chose a secure, smart way to build credit, I was charged $3 dollars for using an M&T ATM. Ridiculous.
The moral of the story? When choosing your cards, keep in mind that there are pros and cons to every type of card out there. Checking, Credit, or Debit, they all have their ups and downs. Make sure that when you pick a card you find one that has either many convenient locations for ATMs and banks, or one that reimburses any withdraw fees you may acquire. Also keep in mind that if you go for a standard credit card, you need to be smart and keep in mind that just because you can spend the banks money, it doesn't mean you should. Don't go into debt like so many millions of Americans have before you. If a secure card is right up your alley, go for it! Just make sure to have cash on you too so you don't end up like me in Target today!
Sources:
https://www.navyfederal.org/products-services/cards/creditcards/creditcardsAA.php
Navy Federal Credit Union.Virginia: 2012. NCU, n.d. Web. 19 March 2012.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Road to Rewards
Over the past few weeks, I've hopefully helped my readers save money in various aspects of your life. I've given tips on ways to save on food, on couponing, conservation, different ways to shop, online grocers, and other tips and tricks that I find save not only time but money. What I haven't mentioned is how to save when you have no choice but to spend. Even the most frugal or thrifty person is going to have to go out and shop or spend money at some point. Even so, there's a way to earn back some of your hard earned money that you have to eventually spend. That way? It's called a Rewards Card.
Rewards cards are wonderfully simple, credit-card shaped blessings. These little pieces of plastic keep track of money spent, and in some form give it back to you! The idea probably started with those stamp/punch cards that places like smoothie stores offered, where each store visit would earn you a stamp or a hole punch. Now that idea has evolved into an intricate rewards system with benefits, balances, and even credit cards. Most stores nowadays, the smart ones anyways, have a rewards system or a credit card with benefits. As for myself, I have quite a few rewards cards from stores such as Hot Topic, CVS Pharmacy, Panera Bread Co. I asked a friend what they had in their wallets, and was surprised to find that not only did she have these but also Starbucks, Build-a-Bear, Victoria's Secret, Borders, Khol's, and other places I'm pretty sure she'd only been to once because they were in different states. Just goes to show that signing up for these cards is so simple, and the rewards are so enticing, that just about everyone should have them.
Rewards vary with the type of card you have. With some cards the idea is simple: buy a certain number of these, or come here a certain number of times, and you get this and that free; the cycle then repeats. With other rewards systems, the the one offered by Starbucks, the possibilities are endless. Not only is membership tiered (Welcome, Green, Gold, with Gold being the best), but one can even lose the top membership if they become inactive. Between the three levels of membership there are free birthday drinks, free refills, free syrups/milks and add-ons, free drinks every 15th purchase, and other coffee-related rewards that are all listed on the website. Some rewards cards are credit cards, like the ones offered by Khol's and Victoria's Secret (so my friend tells me). According to her, discounts and offers are mailed to your home or emailed, and can only be used with the card. She also informed me that points are awarded for purchases, and were kept track of so that ever certain number points you get a cash reward. Sounds complicated, but for people who have a favorite store the credit card option may be a good fit for you.
One last thing I'd like to point out on rewards cards is that they don't even have to be cards! Many stores are keeping it trendy and putting out applications that one can download to smartphones and other app-compatible devices. What better way to keep that store in mind than by seeing their app every time you use your phone, tablet, or other smart device? I'm telling you, these stores think of everything to get your money. At least they're nice enough to give some of it back.
Sources:
Sources:
http://www.starbucks.com/card/rewards
Starbucks.Virginia: 2011. Starbucks Corporation, n.d. Web. 13 March. 2012.
http://mypanera.panerabread.com/
PaneraBread.com.Virginia: 2012. Panera Bread, n.d. Web. 13 March. 2012.
https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/user/extracare/extracareCVS.com.Virginia: 1999-2012. National Association Boards of Pharmacy , n.d. Web. 13 March. 2012.
Rewards cards are wonderfully simple, credit-card shaped blessings. These little pieces of plastic keep track of money spent, and in some form give it back to you! The idea probably started with those stamp/punch cards that places like smoothie stores offered, where each store visit would earn you a stamp or a hole punch. Now that idea has evolved into an intricate rewards system with benefits, balances, and even credit cards. Most stores nowadays, the smart ones anyways, have a rewards system or a credit card with benefits. As for myself, I have quite a few rewards cards from stores such as Hot Topic, CVS Pharmacy, Panera Bread Co. I asked a friend what they had in their wallets, and was surprised to find that not only did she have these but also Starbucks, Build-a-Bear, Victoria's Secret, Borders, Khol's, and other places I'm pretty sure she'd only been to once because they were in different states. Just goes to show that signing up for these cards is so simple, and the rewards are so enticing, that just about everyone should have them.
Rewards vary with the type of card you have. With some cards the idea is simple: buy a certain number of these, or come here a certain number of times, and you get this and that free; the cycle then repeats. With other rewards systems, the the one offered by Starbucks, the possibilities are endless. Not only is membership tiered (Welcome, Green, Gold, with Gold being the best), but one can even lose the top membership if they become inactive. Between the three levels of membership there are free birthday drinks, free refills, free syrups/milks and add-ons, free drinks every 15th purchase, and other coffee-related rewards that are all listed on the website. Some rewards cards are credit cards, like the ones offered by Khol's and Victoria's Secret (so my friend tells me). According to her, discounts and offers are mailed to your home or emailed, and can only be used with the card. She also informed me that points are awarded for purchases, and were kept track of so that ever certain number points you get a cash reward. Sounds complicated, but for people who have a favorite store the credit card option may be a good fit for you.
One last thing I'd like to point out on rewards cards is that they don't even have to be cards! Many stores are keeping it trendy and putting out applications that one can download to smartphones and other app-compatible devices. What better way to keep that store in mind than by seeing their app every time you use your phone, tablet, or other smart device? I'm telling you, these stores think of everything to get your money. At least they're nice enough to give some of it back.
Sources:
Sources:
http://www.starbucks.com/card/rewards
Starbucks.Virginia: 2011. Starbucks Corporation, n.d. Web. 13 March. 2012.
http://mypanera.panerabread.com/
PaneraBread.com.Virginia: 2012. Panera Bread, n.d. Web. 13 March. 2012.
https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/user/extracare/extracareCVS.com.Virginia: 1999-2012. National Association Boards of Pharmacy , n.d. Web. 13 March. 2012.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Online Groceries? Easy as PeaPod!
Saturdays are usually my days to sleep in, but lately I've noticed that there's a truck that comes ever Saturday at noon t my neighbor's house. I looked outside last weekend and noticed that it wasn't a UPS truck like I imagined. In fact, it was a grocery tuck! What's this you ask? Well in this case it was a PeaPod truck, filled with fresh groceries delivered straight to my nieghbor's door. "Peapod [is]... one of America's leading Internet grocers.
Peapod is a wholly owned subsidiary of international food provider Royal
Ahold, and works in partnership with Ahold USA supermarket companies
including Stop & Shop and Giant Food" (PeaPod). The process is simple: you register online and start shopping, just like you were in a real store. You can shop by produce or entire meals, and it's so easy to narrow your search. Instead of browsing the aisles you just choose a category of food to look under and press Search. Not only is there free delivery for the first 60 days after placing your first order, but you save money on gas and time in line.
PeaPod isn't the only online grocer out there. A couple other ones are MyWebGrocer and NetGrocer. However, kind of like LivingSocial is the pioneer in online couponing, PeaPod seems to be the leading corporation in online grocery shopping. Although it may seem like the U.S. is taking everything to the extreme when it comes to instant gratification, I understand why this is a growing trend. I mean, who has the time to do things the old fashioned way anymore? The fast-food way of life is extending from our coffee to our shopping. We may as well take advantage and hop on the savings train. As far as I'm concerned, when I run a household I'm not spending my Saturdays shopping. I'll just do in online and pick a delivery date. Then instead of waking up and dragging myself to the store, I'll open the door and have my groceries carried right on into my home!
Sources:
http://www.peapod.com/
PeaPod.Virginia: 1990-2012. Peapod LLC., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2012
http://www.netgrocer.com/
Netgrocer.Virginia: 2012. Mywebgrocer.com Inc., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2012
PeaPod isn't the only online grocer out there. A couple other ones are MyWebGrocer and NetGrocer. However, kind of like LivingSocial is the pioneer in online couponing, PeaPod seems to be the leading corporation in online grocery shopping. Although it may seem like the U.S. is taking everything to the extreme when it comes to instant gratification, I understand why this is a growing trend. I mean, who has the time to do things the old fashioned way anymore? The fast-food way of life is extending from our coffee to our shopping. We may as well take advantage and hop on the savings train. As far as I'm concerned, when I run a household I'm not spending my Saturdays shopping. I'll just do in online and pick a delivery date. Then instead of waking up and dragging myself to the store, I'll open the door and have my groceries carried right on into my home!
Sources:
http://www.peapod.com/
PeaPod.Virginia: 1990-2012. Peapod LLC., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2012
http://www.netgrocer.com/
Netgrocer.Virginia: 2012. Mywebgrocer.com Inc., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Coupons Anyone?
With the economy the way it is, the number one thing on many people's minds is to save money. One effortless way to do this? Sign up for coupon sites! All you need to do is put an email and zip code. That's it! Crazy, right? With just this information, no credit card, no name, no number, you can receive coupons every day, for a variety of interest that you can customize, completely free. Not only do you just sit back and relax as the savings and offers fly your way, but the money you save quickly adds up. 45 dollars here, 140 there; the money saved for users of coupon sites adds up to the thousands in just a few weeks, or months if you're a once-in-a-while kind of user.
My mom used the site just last week for a spectacular deal from Bloomspot. She received an offer to her email for a spa day at 45 dollars, instead of the usual 150+. She got to choose one of the various spas that were offering the deal, had the coupon sent to her email after paying the 45 dollars, and was given months to redeem it. Of course she went the next day, but the fact remains that once you buy the coupon, you don't feel rushed to use it within a few days or weeks. She's happy from her spa day, i'm happy that she's in a good mood, and her wallet's happy for finding such a great deal.
Bloomspot is great for many types of deals, especially fine dining (dining is advertised right on the front page and seems to be their specialty). It isn't the only site out there, however. There are plenty of commercials, circulating various networks, that advertise other couponing companies. You may have seen the creative Living Social commercials. I definitely have, and it seems like Living Social is the pioneer in coupon sites. Groupon is another couponing service that my mom is a member of and takes advantage of just as much as the other two.
Couponing in the traditional sense, with all the cutting and rifling through ads, is such a hassle. Why not just put in 10 seconds worth of information and let the coupons come to you? I would recommend being a happy camper like my mom and signing up. At worst you'll get emails that you'll delete every day, and at best? You'll save tons of money!
Sources:
http://www.bloomspot.com/
Bloomspot.Virginia: 1995-2012. Bloomspot Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
http://www.livingsocial.com/
http://www.groupon.com/
Groupon.Virginia: 1995-2012. Groupon Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
My mom used the site just last week for a spectacular deal from Bloomspot. She received an offer to her email for a spa day at 45 dollars, instead of the usual 150+. She got to choose one of the various spas that were offering the deal, had the coupon sent to her email after paying the 45 dollars, and was given months to redeem it. Of course she went the next day, but the fact remains that once you buy the coupon, you don't feel rushed to use it within a few days or weeks. She's happy from her spa day, i'm happy that she's in a good mood, and her wallet's happy for finding such a great deal.
Bloomspot is great for many types of deals, especially fine dining (dining is advertised right on the front page and seems to be their specialty). It isn't the only site out there, however. There are plenty of commercials, circulating various networks, that advertise other couponing companies. You may have seen the creative Living Social commercials. I definitely have, and it seems like Living Social is the pioneer in coupon sites. Groupon is another couponing service that my mom is a member of and takes advantage of just as much as the other two.
Couponing in the traditional sense, with all the cutting and rifling through ads, is such a hassle. Why not just put in 10 seconds worth of information and let the coupons come to you? I would recommend being a happy camper like my mom and signing up. At worst you'll get emails that you'll delete every day, and at best? You'll save tons of money!
Sources:
http://www.bloomspot.com/
Bloomspot.Virginia: 1995-2012. Bloomspot Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
http://www.livingsocial.com/
LivingSocial.Virginia: LivingSocial, LivingSocial LTD UK, LivingSocial Canada Enterprises Inc. 2012. eBay Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
http://www.groupon.com/
Groupon.Virginia: 1995-2012. Groupon Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)