Hassle-Free Savings

Photo by Cali4Beach

I had my first encounter with an Internet troll this week.

Some of you saw my excited Tweet about being included in this story from Business Insider. The article offered a roundup of great money advice from moms in honor of Mother’s Day. Seems like a fairly innocuous and totally thoughtful topic, right? You wouldn’t think my contribution would spark such anger in a person, but I guess that’s just my naivete talking. People get irate about the weirdest things and the Internet gives them an anonymous outlet in which to publish their nasty, hateful words without fear of repercussion.

I couldn’t help but respond to the comment since it included some personal attacks against my mom. I kept it professional while letting this person know they’d crossed a line. Once I clicked “submit,” I was able to focus on other things, like sleeping through the night without tossing and turning in fury.

With that behind me, I started thinking about everyone who has helped shape my attitude toward money and finances. At 28, I still have a lot of years to adjust my financial habits but so far, I’m pretty proud of where I’m at. Not many people my age can boast zero student loan and credit card debt. I’m not perfect, but I do credit my smart financial decisions to a number of people including:

My mom – As my contribution to Business Insider points out, my mom was instrumental in shaping my financial independence. Self-reliance is something she always promoted, but she also instilled in me a love of family that helped balance my independent tendencies. And because of her, I have an almost moral aversion to spending full price on clothing and shoes.

My dad – Before making a big purchase, my dad puts most university research departments to shame in his pursuit of information. He reads reviews, peruses forums, scans books and watches videos for weeks and months before making a decision. Though waiting is the hardest part for me, my dad’s meticulous methods ensure he’s getting the most bang for his buck.

My husband – My husband has had an enormous impact on my attitude about debt, saving and spending. Simple things like comparing products based on per-unit price didn’t occur to me before him. Big things like paying off credit card balances each month are now an integral part of my financial plan. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in life and his financial savvy is a huge bonus.

My mother-in-law – I can’t thank my husband for his frugal ways without also thanking his mom, who inspired his respect for money. She shops thrift stores, antique shops and supermarket sales like a champ and keeps a keen eye on all the money that goes in and out of her household. She’s not afraid to speak up when she doesn’t get the deal she expects, but she’s also kind, patient and extremely giving.

My grandma – My grandma was raised during the Great Depression and is characteristically waste-averse. While I cannot fathom what she endured during this time of extreme austerity, I can be inspired by her steadfast dedication to a frugal lifestyle despite her current comfort. I likely won’t hoard take-out tupperware as she does, but I will try to treasure my existing possessions as she does.

My job – Okay, my job is not a real person but I’d be remiss not to include it in this lineup of money influencers. Before this job, I never couponed and rarely looked for online discounts. Now, I pull out my smartphone and search for mobile coupons before each shopping trip and have discovered such innovations as discount gift cards and cash-back rewards.

My budding network – In addition to introducing me to tools and techniques, this job also opened my eyes to the world of personal finance bloggers. The people with whom I’ve exchanged tweets, comments and questions serve as daily inspiration and further help me to define my frugal lifestyle. I get advice on everything from minimalist living to the merits of juicing from a community of like-minded people from across the continent. How cool is that?

Who are your biggest money mentors?

Photo by Alyssa & Colin

I’m pleased to have Sean Bryant from OneSmartDollar.com offer the following guest post for my site. Sean is the founder of One Smart Dollar where he helps his readers increase their net worth one dollar at a time.

There was a time when I thought I could never live without cable. Now I’m starting to rethink that idea each time I open up my bill and my stomach drops. Cable prices have become outrageously high over the past few years. It is not unheard of to spend $80 or more per month just to watch television. Most of us would say that is a pretty absurd amount, but why is it so hard to actually cut the cord and drop our cable service?

For me there is one main obstacle standing in my way, and that is my love for sports.  If I were to drop cable then I would lose my access to watch all of my favorites on ESPN. For those of you who are a little less reliant on your sports fix, here are some great alternatives to cable.

Watch Network Shows Online

No matter if you are looking for the latest episode of Real World or you want to see Ashton Kutcher on Two and a Half Men, you can find it online.  Most television networks now stream their shows online, so there is no need for cable if you can find your favorites.

To make things better you can even hook your laptop up to your television using VGA cables. Your laptop will need to have a decent video card or else the picture will be a little hazy. You also won’t have the ability to watch in HD.

Sign up for Hulu Plus or Netflix

If you want to have access to both your favorite television shows and also movies, then you can sign up for Hulu Plus and Netflix at a fraction of the cost of cable. There is a free version of Hulu, however, the television episodes are a little limited. With Hulu plus you pay just $7.99 per month and you have access to the entire current season plus prior seasons.

Netflix allows you to watch television shows and movies instantly at home for just $7.99. You can also get DVD’s by mail for an additional $7.99 per month. It also allows you to add Blu-rays for an additional $2.00 each month.

Use Apple TV, Roku or a Gaming System

Watching TV online is great if you are by yourself, but it can be a little bit of a pain if you are watching with the whole family or a group of friends. That is where items like Apple TV or Roku come into play.

For just $99 you can purchase an Apple TV box and you will have wireless access to all of the content on your iPod, iPad or iPhone right there on your television. This is a much better option compared to using a VGA cable to connect your laptop. If you want to watch a show that is not available for free online, you will still need to purchase it through iTunes.

If the $99 price take of the Apple TV is a little out of your budget, you could look into a Roku which does virtually the same thing for only $50.

I don’t play a lot of video games anymore, but I am thankful that I have a Playstation 3. Not only does it serve as my Blu-ray player but it also gives me access to online content.

Use Redbox

If your family is more into watching movies than television, Redbox is the perfect alternative for you.  You can rent DVD’s for a little over $1.00 per night and there are often Redbox coupon codes that will allow you to save $0.50 or even get movies for free.

Final Thought

Just because the cost of cable continues to go up, it doesn’t mean you need to give into the cable companies.  If you have tried other ways to save money on your cable bill and its failed, then it might be time to cut the cord altogether.  You will be pleasantly surprised by how much extra money you will have at the end of the month.

Have you cut the cord on cable recently?

Photo by My Kitchen Capers

A friend of mine surprised me recently with a request to help her with her diet plan. While I’m obsessed with nutrition and wipe my brow after every article I read about exercise, I don’t consider myself to be a health expert. I have a killer sweet tooth and once consumed an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s in one sitting. (Okay, maybe I’ve done that more than once, but definitely less than five times.)

That being said, her query got me thinking about how my food consumption has evolved since my binge-ice-cream-eating days. It’s true that I’m much more conscious about what I put into my body than I was a few years ago. Marrying an amazing chef probably has something to do with it, but I’d also like to think much of it comes from a personal desire to be a happy, healthy person.

Here are a few hassle-free ways to save on calories (see what I did there?) so you, too, can making healthy eating a party of your lifestyle.

Eat at Home — Dining out frequently is the biggest contributor to weight gain (in my opinion). I eat from home the majority of the time and bring my lunch to work everyday. When I do eat out, I review the menu and nutrition facts before I head to the restaurant. That way, I know exactly what I’m ordering and feel confident my selection is one of the better options.

Be Thoughtful About Breakfast  – Protein is a key ingredient for your morning meal because it helps you feel fuller longer. In addition to my daily juicing habit, I nibble on protein-rich granola bars or the occasional hard-boiled egg. Before juicing took over my life, I made smoothies with frozen strawberries, half a banana, protein-rich yogurt, spinach, almond milk and ground flaxseed. Eight ounces of that goodness kept me satisfied for several hours.

Think Moderation — You’re probably sick of hearing about moderation, but ultimately it’s the best way to avoid binging on your guilty pleasure. If you’re a huge fan of DQ blizzards, for example, treat yourself to a mini version once in awhile. I’m a chocolate fiend and keep a stash of 1-oz portions of the dark stuff in my desk drawer for midday nibbling.

Substitute Sugar — When I start craving Reese’s Peanut Butter cups or something similarly unhealthy, I force myself to reach for an apple or other fruit. While it may be the last thing I want, I find myself not as ravenous for Reese’s after my healthy snack. The natural sugar in the fruit helps satisfy my craving in a shameless way.

Drink Lots of Water — One of the recommendations from The Biggest Loser series is to drink a glass of water before every meal or snack. In addition to staying hydrated, this strategy helps you feel more full and ultimately makes portioning much easier. I have a water bottle at my desk which I refill and stick in the freezer for about 30 minutes so I can sip on cold water all day.

Spruce Up Salads — Mixing up salad ingredients is key to sticking with them in the long run. I used to hate salads until I started adding radishes, avocados, mushrooms and other tasty additions. My husband also makes a killer salad dressing that includes feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. Here’s a great reference I stumbled upon for mixing up salad recipes from the chicly-named Cupcakes and Cashmere.

Schedule Snacks — If someone observed my eating habits everyday, they’d notice that I’m fairly OCD about snack time. I have a single-serving of all-natural, no-sugar-added applesauce with string cheese and raw almonds around 10:00 a.m. Between noon and 1:00 p.m., I bust out my salad-in-a-jar or dinner leftovers. When 3:00 p.m. hits, I’m jonesing for something sweet and grab half an apple with peanut butter. Ultimately, this regimen keeps me from running out for a sugary latte or bag of M&Ms.

What are some of your hacks for eating healthy?

Being fickle is hard on the pocketbook.

My mom learned this during my teen years when my bedroom scheme changed as quickly as my moods. As I’ve gotten older, my inner decorator hasn’t gotten any easier to please. I’m highly impressionable and can be swayed easily with one simple glance at a magazine spread.

Despite a personal inability to commit to a scheme, I seem to have an uncanny ability to help others create beautiful spaces. Somehow, spending someone else’s money brings out a level of firm decision-making unknown to me when my budget is on the line. When I experienced this decisiveness during a recent bathroom makeover for my mother-in-law, I decided once and for all to apply it to my own space.

I targeted my guest bathroom for this challenge since I was never satisfied with my initial design efforts (shocking!). I set a budget of $200, hoping the discount TJMaxx gift card I purchased at 20-percent off would give me some wiggle room. Upon visiting my favorite discount retailer without a clear design direction, I nearly walked out empty-handed until my eyes found a small vase textured like sea glass. It had a rough, natural-toned rope twisted around the lip and instantly reminded me of my childhood vacations at the beach. And just like that, I’d found my muse.

Now, I could describe in painful detail all the items I bought, returned, bought and returned again before finally completing my project. Since that’s about as interesting as watching paint dry, I’ve decided to show you my finished product in pictures.

I spent $226.05 on the redesign minus the $20 savings I scored through my discount gift card purchase. All in all, I went $6.05 over-budget but I firmly believe it was money well spent. Now go into my guest bathroom for no other reason than to marvel at the outcome.

Kendal: 1 Fickleness: 0

What home decorating or renovation projects have you tackled recently? How did you keep it frugal?

Photo by Julie Rybarczyk

My recent foray into juicing means we’re spending a lot more on produce than we used to. Though I don’t mind paying more for quality, healthy food — I agree with author Michael Pollan’s motto “pay more, eat less” — I do understand that not everyone has the same luxury.

Still, there are a few tried-and-true strategies to help offset the higher cost of healthy food. I’ve compiled the following tips based on personal practice plus advice I’ve read from other sources.

Be Thoughtful About Organic
Organic produce represents the ultimate in health food but carries with it a hefty price tag. Leading experts in the nutrition and environmental industries — including Dr. Andrew Weil and The Environmental Working Group — point out that not all fruits and veggies are susceptible to modern production practices. Produce with thick, removable and non-porous skin need not be purchased organic and represent an area where you can save a little money. Consult Dr. Weil’s “Clean 15” list of items you don’t have to buy organic.

Think Outside the Grocer
Supermarkets represent our go-to sources for food, but there are other stores that offer healthy choices for less. In addition to farmers’ markets and warehouse stores, retailers like World Market offer everything from quinoa to brown rice to whole wheat pizza crust. I was there this past weekend and scored 10-percent off my purchase by using a mobile coupon. Ultimately, retailers that offer healthy food are ideal because you can use frequent deals and promotions to reduce your grocery bill.

Buy Whole or Frozen
When it comes to buying fruits and veggies, it’s best to buy them whole or frozen. Precut or prepackaged produce carries a hefty 40-percent markup, plus some of the nutrients are lost during processing. Buy fresh produce in season and peruse the frozen food section for off-season options. For example, fresh asparagus can cost upward of $4.99 per pound, whereas frozen asparagus carries an average price of $1.99 per 12 oz.

Find Fish Frugally
To keep our hearts healthy, we’re advised to consume fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids twice per week. Since the price of fresh fish is often prohibitive (unless you live on the coast), look for frozen salmon filets or use canned tuna or sardines in meals. I save on wild-caught salmon during promotions at Sprouts or when purchased frozen at Sam’s Club. Flaxseed and walnuts are also excellent sources of omega-3s and can be easily incorporated into your morning cup of oatmeal.

Plant Your Own
‘Tis the season for planting! My husband and I moved a ton of rock this weekend in order to expand our garden, and I hope to learn about canning and other methods of preservation so our harvest doesn’t go to waste. If you have the space, create an edible garden based off herbs and veggies you use frequently. You’ll learn that fresh-grown produce is far superior to anything you buy at the supermarket, plus the plant cost and fruit yield make it an incredibly frugal practice.

How do you save money on health food?

Photo by Kendal

As I mentioned in my last post, March represents “birthday month” in my family. Mine is coming up on Friday, my brother’s is tomorrow and my father’s was on the first of the month. In my experience, self-gifting can either go two ways: you give yourself nothing at all or you go nuts and buy something extravagant. This year, I went the latter route and used my husband’s claim that it’s really his birthday gift to me as justification. Riiight.

So what is this insanely extravagant gift I’ve purchased for my 28th (gaaah!) birthday? A pair of designer shoes, perhaps? That supple, cognac-hued leather jacket I’ve been coveting?

Neither. I bought myself a top-of-the-line juicer. And as my friends at ClubThrifty can attest, it’s not the most frugal habit to be getting into.

My husband and I recently developed a twisted interest in food documentaries. I’m an impressionable person so these descriptive and often graphic glimpses into the horrors of our food system are highly impactful. We started looking more closely at poultry labeling after watching Food Inc., and I even tried going Vegan after a particularly devastating scene in Vegucated. And finally, the quips about juicing that I overheard during Food Matters inspired me to learn more about its health benefits.

In a timely twist of fate, my mom began using her juicer on a daily basis. She was hooked from day one, excitedly telling me about all the different fruits and veggies she was able to cram into one delicious beverage. Best of all, she admitted to feeling happier, more energetic and more satisfied. Such a commendation required further investigation, so one day I helped her juice a delicious, nutrient-rich drink. Her Waring Pro is an intense looking beast with a mind of its own, at one point vibrating uncontrollably and threatening to launch itself off the counter (even after I unplugged it). Despite this setback, what we produced was indeed delicious and I was eager to get my own.

Hoping to avoid another near-death experience, I opted for the highest-rated juicer according to Amazon reviewers. As it turns out, the juicer I purchased is similar to one featured in Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, another food documentary I’ll be adding to my Netlflix queue. My juicer — coined “Juicey” by my husband — arrives today and I’m giddy with anticipation. Though it’s not the most frugal move, I do believe it will save me money in the long run. Personal health is absolutely intertwined with personal finance, especially in our pill-popping, Big Pharma culture.

Do you have any un-frugal habits that offer other benefits? What are they and how do you justify them?

Photo by Erin Kohlenberg

I have a few reasons to love the month of March. First, it signals the end of my least favorite months of the year (January and February), when time seems to drag and springtime seems eons away. Second, it commences the incline toward longer, sunnier days when I don’t feel like crawling into bed at 5:30pm. And finally, March is my birthday month. It’s also my father’s and my brother’s birthday month, making it a pricey 30 days for my mother.

I’ve received some amazing birthday gifts in my lifetime but as we get older, the process of gift-giving gets more challenging. This is especially true as I endeavor to be mindful of my budget without being a total cheapskate. I like saving money on just about everything, but I like buying gifts for other people so much that it often clouds my better financial judgement. I tend to think the cost of something is justified when it’s for someone else, especially if I think it’s the perfect gift.

I’m not opposed to splurging on a gift when I can afford it and when it’s something I know the recipient will truly enjoy. However, knowing what people want or need is a tough nut to crack depending on the recipient. For example, gifting my dad has become easier because nothing makes him happier than a pound of bold coffee beans and a homemade steak dinner. Buying presents for my brother is harder, however, since we no longer live together and I have no idea what he’s been pining for since last March.

Happily, there is one gift that’s universally well-received and represents my go-to for the last couple years. People have different attitudes about gift cards, but they’re my personal favorite gift to receive. While purchasing gift cards is incredibly easy, there are a few ways to actually save money on gift cards, some of which I’ve employed recently.

Regift: One of the biggest complaints about gift cards is the potential for them to go unused. Despite my affection for them, I’ve received a few cards that have missed the mark. I gifted one such card to my cousin for Christmas after holding onto it for over a year. Even though gift cards represent free money, I still see them as valuable additions to income that shouldn’t languish in wallets or be tossed.

Redeem rewards: Last year, I finally did something I’ve been telling everyone else to do for ages: I used credit card rewards toward a gift for my brother. Though the two $25 gift cards I gave him didn’t cost me anything at the time, I’ll make it clear they weren’t “free”; rewards are earned through spending, so at some point I did pay for these cards. However, my amazing restraint for spending money on only those things I need (ha!) made this method pretty budget savvy.

Buy at a discount: This year, I ordered two discount gift cards through GiftCardGranny.com for my dad. He got a $30 gift card to Starbucks (I paid $25) and a $25 gift card to iTunes (I paid $22.50). I spent less than my budgeted $50 and my dad actually received 10-percent more in value.

So there you have it: my tried-and-true methods for saving money on gift cards. What are your strategies for saving money on birthday gifts?

Photo by Kendal Rae

Growing up, we saved money on family vacations by road-tripping it. My mom hates flying and my dad hates people, so it made sense to cram into the truck with a cooler and travel cross-country to our destination. We traveled with an RV, reducing the costs of traditional lodging and dining out all-day-every-day. Our biggest expense was fuel, a necessary evil that is especially diabolical these days, with gas prices rising earlier and faster than normal. In fact, the USAToday reported that gas prices will rise 5 cents per week until early April.

With spring break coming up, families will be hard-pressed to take the whole clan on a much-needed vacation without emptying their emergency savings. Consider the following tips that I recently shared for saving on family trips:

Book Flights Now – Airfare is expected to increase 4.6 percent this year with flight cost increases every two months. Unless your family is incredibly flexible, you likely won’t land (pun intended) a last-minute deal. Book now for the best rate and use Yapta.com for alerts about fare reductions, which you can use when asking for a refund from select airlines.

Save on Accommodations – Hotels with a continental breakfast offer more bang for your buck, since you can stock up on fruit and dried cereals to curb cravings between meals. Additionally, it might be more affordable to rent a house depending on the size of your party; I found a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom quarry house in for rent in Yosemite using HomeAway.com for just $135 per night.

Use Daily Deals for Meals and Attractions – Everyone knows you can score great deals on local dining and attractions using daily deal sites, but you can also get these savings when you travel. Before your trip, peruse daily deals for the city you’re visiting and load up on half-price vouchers for meals and attractions.

Use Your Phone for Fuel Savings – That ghastly statistic about gas rising a nickel every week makes it imperative to find ways to cut the cost of gas. Driving around in an unfamiliar city in search of the best fuel price is both ineffective and counterproductive. Download the GasBuddy app and let your phone navigate you to the best-priced gas station in your area.

Find Free Things to Do – Kids are fairly easy to please but they also have short attention spans, making daily activities a potentially costly endeavor. Be sure to research free things to do at your destination, using resources like MrFreeStuff.com to find the best events for you in over 20 cities across the country.

How do you save on vacations?

Photo by Aurelijus Valeiša

You’d think I wouldn’t be pleased about an online order that took a month to be delivered, let alone single it out as an example of top-notch customer service. Being inconvenienced and feeling grateful about it is indeed a unique state of mind.

Recently, I ordered an iPhone case and other items from Amazon. I opted for the free super-saver shipping (as always) and was pleased when I received my shipping confirmation — until I noticed the address it was being shipped to. I hadn’t checked the delivery address before checking out, and realized too late it was being shipped to the former address of my previous employer.

I contacted Amazon through chat and inquired about my options. The rep suggested I contact my local post office to see if I could put a hold on the package once it reached their facility. Doing so would enable me to pick it up instead of waiting for the order to be returned to Amazon.

Upon reaching the post office, their rep kindly informed me the suggested course of action wouldn’t be possible since it “wasn’t a service they offered.” (Saying it that way makes me think they could offer it and simply won’t, but I digress.) Disheartened, I contacted my friend and former boss to determine if mail was still being forwarded from the old office address. She said it likely wouldn’t be, but that she made the same mistake recently and her Amazon package arrived at the new office space, no problem. So, I held out hope that mine would, too.

The delivery date came and went and I didn’t receive anything from Amazon. I waited a couple weeks for the “order undeliverable” email, but it didn’t come, either. Finally, I opened chat again and explained the situation to a new rep. Apparently, my order was listed as “lost by the carrier” and the cost would be refunded to my card immediately. The rep then offered to waive one-day shipping costs so I could get my reordered items as quickly as possible. I was surprised by this thoughtful gesture since my oversight was the original source of this snafu.

I re-ordered my items on a Friday and the $19 one-day shipping fee was immediately waived. I received my items promptly on Monday, along with the “order undeliverable” email from the previous package. My card has been refunded as promised, and despite waiting 30 days for my package, I couldn’t be happier with my experience.

What stellar customer service have you experienced lately?

Photo by Guian Bolisay

Reading the fine print has never been my thing. In school, I often skimmed assignments and waited until the last minute to complete them, only to learn much more was required. A careful review of the details would have avoided the inevitable panic, but alas, I have better things to do with my time.

Recognizing this tendency as a flaw, I have since made a concerted effort to thoughtfully read instructions. The importance of my efforts became very clear to me recently when I was dinged with a pricey parking ticket.

I budgeted for a night out in the big city with a friend who was visiting for the weekend. We headed to the local botanic gardens for cheap thrills and had reservations for a not-so-cheap dinner. I’m afraid the anticipation of a four-course meal at a fine-dining establishment clouded my judgement as a rolled into a parking space. I completely overlooked the bright red sign that read “Prepay for Parking Here” and happily made my way toward the restaurant entrance.

After a couple hours of pure culinary bliss, my friend and I made our way back to the car. It was then that I realized my mistake and found a ticket nestled underneath my windshield wiper. The damage? $48.

I was pretty irritated with myself since I’d so carefully budgeted for the evening. I accepted it, however, and resigned myself to getting it paid as quickly as possible.

As if to mock me, the ticket was packaged in an obscenely bright red envelope with the words PARKING VIOLATION written menacingly in all caps. After learning I’d be charged an additional $3 for the convenience of paying online, I turned the ticket over to review the instructions for remitting a check. They say the devil is in the details but in this case, I found financial salvation instead.

My reward for remitting payment within 14 days of receiving the ticket was a $20 reduction in the fee. My $48 mistake turned into a $20 credit for reading the fine print. Though I still owed $28, can you really put a price on a lesson learned?