Money Lesson: Stay Busy

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I love the feeling of having plans.  Nothing is more exciting--or makes the workweek go by more quickly--than having something to look forward to on the weekend. I also find that having weekend plans keeps my spending in check.  On the days where I have nothing to do, my boredom leads me to the mall or browsing the aisles of Target...and we all know how tempting it is to spend once you set foot in the stores!

I've also noticed that I'm more prone to constant snacking and mindless eating on those lazy days where I just stay in the house reading blogs and watching Netflix.  There's a saying that goes "the Devil finds work for idle hands to do” and I think there may be a little truth to it.  When there is something on my calendar, even if it's something like a visit from family or plans to attend an event, I'm usually occupied for a number of hours, engaged in some activity that doesn't require me to spend money, and I'm not even tempted to spend any money.  Sometimes I get engrossed in a good book or working to craft a blog post and the next thing I know, I've had a "no-spend" weekend!

If you are like me and are tempted to shop out of pure boredom, find ways to stay busy! Visit your loved ones, spend more time on hobbies, and find budget-friendly activities to occupy your weekend!

Guest Blogging Round-up: December

Last year  I wrote about all things finance from the young adult’s perspective in a series called Pennies-Nickel-Dollars over at Pretty Natural Divas.  Take a look at my posts from December:  


The Hidden Costs of Shopping A purchase is never just a purchase. A warning about additional costs associated with shopping. 


6 Money-Saving Apps  6 smartphone apps to make your shopping easier and save you money. 


On The Web: Money Article Round-up Highlights of my favorite personal finance articles I found on the web. 


New Year, New Goals Goal-setting tips, just in time for the New Year!




Happy Reading! 

Money Lesson: Be Observant

Last weekend, I needed to do a little shopping so I headed out to Target.  I saw a large package of toilet paper was on sale for $12 so I quickly grabbed one and headed to the checkout line.  The cashier rang up my purchase and called out the total, but as I pulled out my debit card and began to swipe, I paused..."Could you repeat that total?"  Turns out the toilet paper rang up as the original price of $15...

The same night, my fiancé and I decided to go out to eat.  We had great food, a really nice waitress, and everything was going fine...until the bill came.  There was an extra item listed on our receipt and--had I not noticed--we would have been overcharged by about $5!

So, there were mistakes on two separate occasions in the same night that could have cost me money...BUT, by paying attention as the transactions were taking place, I was able to catch these mistakes and save a few dollars.  It may not seem like $3-5 is a lot of money, but considering all the purchases you make every single month, if even a few result in you being overcharged then that $3-5 can add up!  Make sure you observant when making purchases and review all your receipts!

Guest Blogging Round-up: October

 Every Thursday, I write about all things finance from the young adult’s perspective in a series called Pennies-Nickel-Dollars over at Pretty Natural Divas.  Take a look at my posts from October and be sure to check me out  each and every Thursday! 


Daily Deal Sites: Do's and Don'ts  Tips to make sure you are making the most out of daily deal sites like Groupon and Living Social. 


Budgeting 101 + Free Budget Template A beginner's guide to making a budget, with a free template available for download.


Things Retailers Don't Tell You  A discussion of insider retail secrets used to trick shoppers into spending more.  


My Favorite Cheapie Hair Products  A rundown of my favorite hair products priced under $10.

Layaway: Good, Bad or In Between?

With the holiday season quickly approaching, I’ve noticed some major retailers advertising the return of their Layaway programs. These programs work by allowing a customer to make a small down payment on items they want to buy, and make a series of payments over the course of a few weeks to finish paying for the items. In return, the retailer will guarantee that the item is in stock when it comes time for the customer to pick it up after the last payment is made. There is a service fee associated with layaway, and a customer may be faced with cancellation fees if they miss payments or decide to cancel the layaway plan. However, from looking at both the Walmart and Kmart layaway plans, service fees generally are between $5-10, and customers can get a refund if they decide to cancel the layaway.

I’ve never used layaway before and I’m not planning to use it in the future, but I am curious to know if it is a truly a benefit for shoppers. I can think of a few “pros” for using layaway:

Savings Sunday 6/5/11

Every Sunday, I will feature one easy, painless, money saving tip. 

Today's Tip: Don't pay extra just for convenience.  A container of sliced apples usually cost more than a bag of whole apples (and usually come in smaller packages).  Individually packaged meats (example here) cost more than a large pack that you can separate yourself. Sure these products may help with portion control, but why pay extra for something you can quickly and easily do yourself with very little effort? Next time you're out shopping and come across an item that is marketed as a "time-saver" or "convenience", be sure to compare prices with the standard version of the product and decide if the added convenience is worth the price difference.   

Hope you find a way to incorporate today's tip into your routine this week!

Holiday Shopping Tips

It’s that time of year again!

It’s the season where budgets go out the window and the line between wants and needs become blurred.   Before you join this spending frenzy, here are a few tips to keep you on track with your financial goals:

Disappearing Acts

It's the day after payday.  Do you know where your money is?

$5 at the corner store.  A quick dollar menu lunch from McDonald's.  The daily Starbucks latte.  These little purchases may not seem like much, but that's the problem.  It takes a few of these before you are able to really notice a big dent in your account,  so it's easy to justify making these purchases everyday.  By the end of the month, you may have spent $100 or more than you planned!

I want it all...and I want it now.

Maybe it’s the new Smartphone, or the fierce stilettos in the boutique window. Maybe it’s the new Madden for the Xbox. At some point, we have all seen an item that we had to have at all costs. There’s no feeling like getting something as soon as it hits the shelves; and when the object of your desire is right in front of you, it takes a strong person to fight the impulse to buy, buy, BUY!