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‘Thrifty Tips’ Category

  1. Der Handy

    January 15, 2014 by admin

    We have previously discussed the value of getting on the phone with companies small and multinational to solve problems, negotiate better services, or gather information.  Your cell phone provider is no exception to this.IMG_1331

    We recommend that you find time to talk to your cell phone provider about your plan about once a year.

    Your phone company may have a web-based source for information, but we find it more helpful to talk to a live person.  This may take some time, but once you get connected you may find the representative has powers to change your billing that you aren’t seeing on the website.

    Talk with your provider about minutes, about texts and about data.  Depending on your phone type, and usage patterns you could be in the wrong plan.  Are you paying for 200 texts a month that you never send?  Or are you paying per text, when you should be on a plan?  These are the questions to uncover.  The answers could lead to savings of $20 or more dollars per month.

    Ask if your phone company has any special deals for military families, retirees or even members of a credit union.  All could apply and could alter your total bill.

    Tip:  If you talk/ text to people in other countries, be sure to ask about that.  We recently learned that texts to Canada are charged differently than US texts.  And also differently, depending on what phone you and the receiver are using.

    An hour on the phone with your cell company could end up saving you many dollars, without switching providers, getting a new phone, or a new number.


  2. The Organic Struggle

    November 5, 2013 by admin

    IMG_3242

    Lately, we’ve been hearing a lot of talk about how “organic can cost more, but it is worth it.”  These articles tend to come from a position of privilege with a presumption that increasing your expense on food is a simple action.  We know that isn’t the case for the vast majority.  Our TR family lives on a closely regulated budget, and we can’t increase it by the smallest increment without feeling the effects elsewhere.

    We shop smart.  We shop sales.  We coupon.  Shopping smart doesn’t somehow train us to resist organic.  It is the only way that most of us are able to put food on the table for our families.

    We know that organic and green products and foods are the better choice.  Embracing this fact has nothing at all to do with rewiring our brain or freeing our thought processes.  It simply boils down to having the money.  Almost all organic food from the store is more expensive than conventional food, and it probably always will be.

    So we need to be able to figure out how to make organic choices without annihilating our budgets.  Can it be done?  We say, yes!   But with a caveat!  Shifting your family to organic foods while sticking to a budget is a process.  It takes a while, but we hope to help break it down into manageable steps.

    Some starting tips:

    • If you are lucky to be near a Farmer’s Market, visit!  Prices tend to be closer to the counterparts offerings.  But be sure to ask questions as everything at the Market won’t be organic.
    • CSAs – Do your research so that you are sure to pick a participation level that meets your needs and budget.  But if you can plan ahead for this seasonal expense, you’ll save money on your produce in the long run.  Some health insurance plans will reimburse you for a part of the cost of a CSA!
    • Shop around.  Yes, initially this takes time and requires note taking.  But it is the best way to determine where you’ll get the most bang for your buck:  supermarkets, Trader Joes, Co-ops, Costco.  Price compare all of the organic stock!
    • Change some small but important things that are practically, if not entirely, free and help you to move towards a more green lifestyle:  eliminate plastic shopping bags, use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, compost your leftovers.
    • Buy organic – FROZEN!  Frozen foods retain most of their nutrients and are a more affordable way to purchase organic fruits and veggies!

     

    Again, we know the benefits of going organic.  Affording it is a struggle we also know and live.  Together, perhaps we can find ways to travel this path in small, affordable steps.

    We’ll be posting on this topic as part of a new TR series.  We’d love to hear your tips and tricks to going green and organic!


  3. Allowances

    September 20, 2013 by admin

    piggy-bank-on-moneyThere are arguments for and against giving a child an allowance every month.  We made the decision to give our Plum $10 a month because we were downright tired of hearing, “can I get this…or can I have that…”  And we wanted her to develop the necessary skills involved when handling money:  budgeting, accounting, responsibility, safe keeping, etc.

    But once we executed this decision, we didn’t do much else-  until recently.

    We discussed with Plum that we would make a change to the way we provide her allowance.  We were inspired, in part, by a discussion heard on NPR.

    Now 20% of Plum’s allowance will automatically go into a savings account, 20% will go to a charitable cause of her choice, and 60% will go directly to Plum for her own spending on her own terms.  We will not control her withdrawals from the savings account.  But we will engage in a discussion over whether or not she really wants, or needs, to us those funds.

    Plum is excited as she loves supporting non profits, she has been struggling to save for larger purchases, and she gets to open her very first bank account.  It certainly feels like a move in the right direction for this TR family!


  4. A Song In Your Heart

    March 14, 2013 by admin

    IMG_7825The South-By-Southwest (SXSW) music conference in Austin is one of the biggest annual events for the music industry.  Don’t miss out on all the fun!  Try these sources for a full assortment of SXSW mp3s:

    http://www.npr.org/2013/03/01/173275533/the-mix-the-austin-100

    http://diffuser.fm/sxsw-2013-free-mp3-downloads-starter-kit/

    http://www.spin.com/articles/sxsw-south-by-southwest-2013-free-download-mixtape-bbq

    http://noisetrade.com/pastemagazine/hgtvpaste-sxsw-2013-sampler

    http://www.amazon.com/Polyvinyl-Sxsw-2013-Sampler/dp/B00BQBPOVM

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRZOVOS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BRZOVOS&linkCode=as2&tag=madcenhigschc-20

    Grab some great free tunes while you can! A lot of these links will expire during April 2013.

    Fair warning:  If you download all these hundreds of tracks, you’ll find a few duplicates.

    *As always, ThriftyRambler only posts legal free downloads!


  5. Talking to the Taxman About Poetry

    March 12, 2013 by admin

    tax-clip-artIt’s tax time again.  We don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes, but we do mind being billed too much to have them prepared.

    We have a pretty simple financial situation, and it typically takes less than an hour for an accountant to prepare our taxes.  Last year, we found ourselves paying over 25% the value of our refund to a nationally branded tax preparer.  And that didn’t sit well with us.  This year, we set out to find a new, cheaper way to file our return.

    We realize that we could do our taxes ourselves.  We know that tax software is cheap, or even free.  We also realize that many people have great success independently preparing their returns.   In the past, we’ve made errors on our forms and we’ve found ourselves completely frustrated by the entire process when attempting to file everything on our own.  We don’t wish to revisit that situation.  We are much more comfortable having a professional complete our taxes.

    So we began our research on local accountants.  We checked internet reviews and we asked a few friends for their opinions.  When we narrowed our list down to four contenders, we made phone calls to inquire about their rates.   We were pleased to see that 3 of the four offered estimates that came in well below the price we had paid last year.

    We set up an appointment with the company that seemed the most friendly, and most straightforward, during our initial inquiry.  Beckett Tax and Accounting ending up doing a great job on our taxes.  They were quick, efficient, and put us at ease.  They were happy to talk to our Bluey and to offer him fun things to play with (Alligator vs. T-Rex go!) while the adults talked.  The whole process took less than an hour, and our refund was similar to last year’s filing.

    And the clincher– Beckett’s bill for their service?  It was about a third the cost of what the nationally known tax preparers charged!

    Take a minute to shop around and to make sure that you are getting the best deal from your tax preparer.  It is well worth your research time.  If you are in the Madison area, we recommend you try Beckett Tax and Accounting.

     


  6. Dollar Tree

    February 8, 2013 by admin

    Your local Dollar Tree is a fantastic place to pick up party gifts and household accents.  But as with all bargain shopping, you have to be smart about your purchases.  Just because you’re in a Dollar Tree doesn’t mean that you’re surrounded by deeply discounted items that you should snatch up without any thought.  A 4-pack of toothbrushes for $1 isn’t worth it if all 4 toothbrushes are horrendous and end up in the trash after your first attempt to use one of them.

    Tip #1:  Keep in mind that the Dollar Tree likes to sell single items for $1.  The chocolate bar, light bulb, or sponge aren’t actually a great deal if you are just getting 1 for $1.  Try to recall what you spend at the grocery store and other chains- and the quantity you get for that price- in comparison to what you’re considering purchasing at the Dollar Tree.

    IMG_1523If you need a birthday gift for a child’s party, we highly recommend you head to a Dollar Tree!  Recently, our Plum put together a lovely basket of gifts for her friend with Dollar Tree items (including the basket!).  If we attempted to pick up a similar assortment at Target, our $7 total expense would have been over $15.

    This store is also a great place to find holiday themed items to enhance a main gift.  And if you want things for your home like votive candles or arts & crafts, the Dollar Tree is an excellent money- saving starting point.

    We also head to the Dollar Tree when we want to treat our kids to a gift but don’t have the funds for a splurge; you never know what you’ll find there.  We have been delighted to discover brand name items at the Dollar Tree, like Zoobles, for $1.  A single Zooble on an occasional deep discount at Target will still cost you around $3.

    Tip #2:  Did you know that the Dollar Tree accepts coupons?  Bring in a manufacturer’s coupon for Colgate toothpaste and your purchase might end up costing pennies!

    The next time you pass a Dollar Tree on your way to another store, consider stopping instead and checking it out.  If you’re interested in cutting costs- it could an unexpected treasure trove!


  7. Take Off All Your Clothes

    January 21, 2013 by admin

    We have ever-growing kids at the TR home, so we are always looking for ways to keep clothing costs from spiraling out of control.

    Some of our techniques:

    • Thrift Stores:  Great for all ages and styles!  A trip to the thrift store is as much an adventure as a shopping trip.  You never know what you’ll find out there.
    • Coupons: For Clothes? YES!!  Old Navy, Boston Store, Famous Footwear—all have coupons either on-line, or in the paper.  You may be surprised to note that evenIMG_1467 some Thrift Stores offer coupons or frequent shopper discount programs.
    • Buying A Size Up:  If you have growing kids, don’t pass up the chance to grab discounted clothes that they’ll grow into later.  We have a box in the basement to put things that we expect will fit the kiddoes in the future.  And remember to save those sibling hand-me-downs!
    • Avoid Impulse Shopping:  You’ll overpay, or end up with clothes you won’t wear, or you’ll have clothing that fits poorly.
    • Watch For Sales:  Especially Target post-holiday sales!  And Old Navy!  We have picked up everything from shirts, to socks, to shoes during post holiday sales.
    • Recycle:  Our clothes tend to move from Work attire, to Everyday clothing, to Project/ Sleep Clothes, to Sewing Projects/ Dress Up Play scraps.  By the time something actually gets thrown away, we have definitely gotten our money’s worth.
    • RepurposeWorn out knees in those favorite pants? Maybe now you have a new pair of shorts?
    • Vegan clothing:  Payless and Target both have many affordable options for vegan shoes, belts, and purses!

     

    We’d love to hear how you control your clothing costs!


  8. Cash and Carry: Cut The Cards!

    January 1, 2013 by admin

    With a New Year beginning, many of us take a fresh look at personal finances and we consider how to improve the standing of our families.  This a great time to eliminate (or at least reduce!)  credit cards in your life.

    Part of our continuing series on worry-free cash management.

    It is so easy to run into money problems in our Credit or Debit world.   If you are trying to maintain a tighter money ship, you probably already know that you should avoid credit cards. If not, let’s be clear:

    Avoid Credit Cards!

    Yes, this can be harder than it sounds.  We know there are times when expenses must end up on credit.  But it should happen only in an Emergency.  Ultimately, credit cards are a trap.  They suck away the money that you could be spending on cool adventures with your family.  So you need to stop using plastic for average purchases.

    If you are in the habit of using credit cards, or if you have “Emergencies” more than once a month, then you are hooked on plastic!!  You need to find a way to break this habit.  We suggest you begin by immediately creating a Monthly Budget.

    You won’t get much of a handle on your credit cards unless you understand where you are wasting money and then figure out a way to stop it.  A budget will help you find a balance between your income and expenses. It will also help you spot places to cut back on your expenditures.

    We recommend that you itemize each purchase that you put on credit.  Start by keeping your receipts and/or go through a recent bank statement very carefully.  Sort your purchases into categories, like “Real Emergency”, “Snacks”, “Splurge At Target” etc, to understand the expenses that you should try to find a way to pay with in cash.

    This is an eye-opening experience for many people.  We all tend to pull out the credit cards thinking something like, “Well, I’ll send in an extra big payment this month, and that will even things out.”  But if you are living on a tight income, you might not be able to send out much over the minimum payment.  Then the interest kicks in on your bill– and that is the start of major trouble.  Or you send that extra big payment, but now you have to pay a different bill late.  And the fees kick in on that late bill– and you are again in trouble!

    If you discover that you over-use your credit cards, try the following:

    > Figure out how much money you really make each month.  Many people over-estimate their income by neglecting to consider taxes and insurance plans that reduce their take-home pay.

    > Figure out a realistic budget for your groceries and other household expenses.   Pay careful attention to snack foods (including coffee) and lunches.  These are common areas where people most often over-spend.

    > Find places in your budget where you can lower expenses, like Car Insurance, Cable TV and Cell Phone plans.  These are all expenses that can often be lowered just by getting in touch with customer service and saying that you want a package that lowers your bill.  And if these providers can’t lower a bill, you can often rework a package so that you get more bang for you buck: more channels, lower deductibles, etc.

    > Create a plan to pay down and ultimately pay off your existing credit card debt.  Start with concentrating on one card and when you reach a ZERO balance, cut it up and move on to the next card.

    We’ll help you fine tune these steps in a future post, but you need to get started on the basics now.  A great tip is to simply stop carrying your credit cards around in your wallet.  If the tempting plastic isn’t with you, at least you will have to think about your purchases more carefully.


  9. The Weight of Frugality

    December 9, 2012 by admin

    As you know, we are a frugal and thrifty family.  Trimming costs is considered a challenge for the TR family that we thoroughly enjoy chasing!  We have no shortage of suggestions for ways to get into museums, zoos, and activity centers for free.  We rarely eat out or buy retail anything.  Our furniture is mostly used and most of our clothes are from funky thrift stores.  In short, we practice what we preach.  And we have incredible, joy-filled experiences.  Our whole family loves shopping for a bargain, and finding new ways to put older items to use.  But we aren’t just choosing this life-style.  We have to perfect it in order to function.

    There are times, especially around the holidays, when we wish we could throw caution to the wind and just splurge!  But we don’t.  Our holidays are planned events.  And we don’t mean that we start stock-piling secret stashes of gifts in October.  We seriously plan it out.  We tuck away a small holiday fund at the start of the year and we use a spreadsheet to help allocate every penny.  By planning and carefully managing our money-flow, even during the holidays, we are able to provide great experiences for our family- from swimming lessons to trips to cool places.

    We would LOVE to be able to shower our family with gifts and trips spontaneously throughout the year to take the main focus off of Christmas.  But our budget doesn’t allow for those extravagances.  Instead we leave little handmade love notes throughout the year.  We splurge on frozen pizza for our in-home date nights.  And we purchase a small matchbox or a magazine as a treat for the kids when we’re able.  Every now and then we manage to save enough for a short family vacation.  And we are generally okay with functioning this way.  We have a tremendous time together!

    Any additional savings that we manage to amass is used only for emergencies.  And there are always enough emergencies- tires for the car, antibiotics for a sick child, a slightly larger than anticipated electric bill.

    The holidays are the only time of year that we sometimes feel the burden of our lifestyle.  When we look around and think, “Oh!  To be able to purchase every single thing our kids have on their Santa lists!”  When we’re being flooded and ambushed with consumerism, it is hard to keep squared-off shoulders.

    But we do a pretty good job of it.  Here is a short list of ways we manage the holidays on a limited budget:

     

    >Create a small savings account when and if you’re able, at a bank you don’t utilize for your everyday business.  By keeping your holiday money at a different bank, you are less likely to dip into it during one of those emergencies.

    >Take advantage of every post-holiday clearance to begin stashing away stocking stuffers, etc.  Target is a gold mine about two days after any holiday!

    >Stock up on non-perishable grocery items when they go on sale for the anticipated up-tick in holiday cooking.  This way we aren’t suddenly hit with a super-sized weekly grocery bill!

    >Utilize the Dollar Store – you’d be surprised at their supply of arts and crafts.  And they take manufacturer’s coupons!

    >Make some gifts on our own.  By investing more time and less money, you can make some pretty cool gifts.

    >Individually wrap everything.  Everyone loves a huge pile of gifts under the tree!

    >Recognize your limitations and don’t add the expense of gifts onto a credit card.  By planning ahead, we are able to avoid the credit card trap every year.  This gives us more spending money during the rest of the year.

    And we also recognize that we are truly blessed.  Our financial struggles are nothing compared to the trials of many.  Although we sometimes wish we had a more generous budget, we find ways to make our budget work for us, so we can still have the festive, fun holidays that we will remember for years to come.

    How do you plan for the holiday season?

     


  10. Ho Ho Holiday Tunes!

    December 1, 2012 by admin

    It’s time to track down all the new holiday music!

    Last year, we opened up our own “Holidaze” Playlist in November, and noticed that it held over 750 songs.  So we challenged ourselves—could we find the 250 songs we’d need to bring it up over 1000?

    Challenge Answered!  At the end of last season, our song list topped 1200 holiday tunes.  We could run our own little Christmas radio station right out of our house.

    Where did we pick up over 300 new and free holiday songs in less than 6 weeks?  It was easier than you might think.

    Our secrets to getting a ton of Holiday songs for Free:

    • Amazon: It’s not up yet, but Amazon hosts “25 Days of Free” each December.  Every day features a new song, usually by a top artist.
    • iTunes: Each week, between now and the New Year, the iTunes store offers one or two holiday songs by well-known music stars- this week it’s Rod Stewart!
    • NME: Britains New Music Express offers a free Mp3 a day, and features many holiday tunes this month.
    • Music blog I am Fuel/ You Are Friends offers numerous free mp3s all year long, but in December they trend towards Holiday songs.  Great covers and original ditties abound.
    • Noisetrade:  Already Noisetrade has offered free holiday albums by Sufjan Stevens, Over The Rhine, and Fiction Family.  What else will they offer?  Check them out and find out.
    • BBC: This music blog on the BBC is offering holiday tunes each day in December.  Some of the tunes are direct downloads, some of them you have to go to the band website or somesuch for a download, but they are all free.  Many of these are from European bands you may not have heard before.

     

    As we find new sources for holiday tunes, we’ll update or list.