“The Savings Squad”: Holiday Shopping Tips Edition

November 23, 2010 · Filed Under , · 1 Comment 

The Savings Squad

The newly formed ‘Savings Squad’ was nothing more than a chance encounter, a meeting that will one day have the impact of past collaborations such as Lennon & McCartney or Roosevelt & Churchill. Why not, right? My Dad always told me to aim high.

Actually, we are a group of bloggers that have come together with the common goal of sharing tips that can help you make your money go a little bit further every month. Perhaps even to the point where you can actually live better for less. Whether it be via couponing, family budgeting, bargain hunting, gift giving, or just plain old frugality, we have you covered. We are ‘The Savings Squad’ and I am proud to be a part of it. Without further-ado, let’s get to some holiday shopping tips:

  • Long Lines on Black Friday? Fo’ get about it!
    “Looking for an alternative to 4 a.m. lines on Black Friday morning? Shop at eBay.com the weekend after Black Friday. Thousands of “entrepreneurs” stand in line for the limited quantity deals only to turn around and sell the stuff on eBay the following day for a small profit. So buy from them on eBay, avoid the lines, and typically only pay a small fraction more for the item. I started doing this a couple years ago and have scored some amazing deals.”
    – Kyle James
    Chief Savings Officer: Online Shopping and Coupon Codes
    Rather-Be-Shopping.com

 

  • Stay Within your Holiday Shopping Budget
    “A gift-giving spreadsheet can help you stay organized and keep your budget on track, especially if you shop for deals all year long. Include every person and occasion you’ll need to buy for – friends, family, coaches, babysitters, etc. Label the columns with recipient’s name (column A), item name (column B), and budgeted expense (column C). When you do find a great gift at the right price, record the actual expense (column D) and put it in your gift stash.”
    – Kimberly Danger
    Chief Savings Officer: Home and Family
    MommySavers.com

 

  • Budgeting For a Cause
    “Spend less and give more this holiday season. Once you set your gift giving budget for holiday shopping, challenge yourself (and your family!) to come in under budget. Give what is left over to your favorite charity and make a contribution to a charity or cause you are passionate about.”
    – Jennifer Melnick Carota
    Chief Savings Officer: Gifts and Charitable Giving
    TheGiftTherapist.com 

 

  • Gift of Beauty Without The Hefty Price Tag
    “Want to give the gift of beauty? Check out Eyes Lips and Face (e.l.f.) for terrific face and body products that deliver real value. The gift section has great selection at $7-$20 with some amazing items for $10!! Snag name brands at seriously discounted prices at beautyticket.com.”
    – Stevie Wilson
    Chief Savings Officer: Fashion and Beauty
    LA-Story.com

 

  • Score a Deal on your Holiday Feast
    “When planning your holiday feast, save money by clipping coupons and pairing them with store sales. During the holidays grocery stores have some of the best prices of the year on meats, dairy items, canned goods and baking ingredients. Coupons are plentiful in the Sunday papers as well as online at Coupons.com, Pillsbury.com, BettyCrocker.com, Smartsource.com, EatBetterAmerica.com and Shortcuts.com. Plus, be on the lookout for coupon booklets in your local grocery store which are often loaded with money saving coupons.”
    – Michelle Hovestadt
    Chief Savings Officer: Food, Family, and Freebies
    wickedcooldeals.com

Who Comprises ‘The Savings Squad’: We all bring something different to the table which is our biggest strength. As the only dude around, I hope to bring a little different perspective. But if you had to classify us in a sentence, we are a published author, a bargain hunting Dad of 3, a licensed therapist, a Mom of four, and a social media bad-ass….

Feel free to add your favorite holiday shopping tip! I look forward to your comments. Thanks for reading and make sure to be on the lookout for the 2nd edition of ‘The Savings Squad’ coming soon. Have a great Thanksgiving!

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6 Easy Ways To Save $500 Per Month

November 8, 2010 · Filed Under , · 1 Comment 

I was browsing through an issue of Consumer Reports when I found a very interesting article titled, Cut Your Spending By $500 Per Month. I thought the advice was excellent and included a few tips were worth passing along. According to Consumer Reports, here are the 6 easiest ways to save $500 per month.

1. Find Cheaper Auto Insurance. The idea here is to shop around for a better deal. There are websites like Insurance.com and Insure.com that allow you to compare premiums from a bunch of different providers. Definitely worth a look.

2. Optimize Your Life Insurance. The article points out that premiums on life insurance policies have dropped significantly since the 1990′s; may be worth swapping out your current policy for a new one. But the advice I like the most is to adopt a healthier lifestyle and then get a new life insurance quote. Not only will you save money but you will feel a lot better.

3. Shop Smart For Food. This includes planning your weekly menu and taking advantage of sales and coupons on fresh poultry, fish, meat, dairy, and produce. Also, pack your lunch with leftovers and eat out less. According to the article, a family of 4 can save $190 per month by doing these things.

4. Stop Paying Bank Fees. The idea with this tip is to do your banking at a larger bank with a ton of ATMs to avoid withdrawal fees. Also, make sure to only use a bank that offers free checking. The article states that 48% of Americans still pay some type of bank fee every month. Pretty easy to eliminate these costs from your monthly expenses.

5. Cell Phone Savings. If you are not a heavy cell phone user you may very well be paying for minutes that go unused every month. The article states that you should “comparison shop among cellular service providers, the local phone company, independent long-distance carriers, and your cable TV company” for the rate that works best for you.

6. Pay Off Your Credit Card. Duuh, no way really? So Consumer Reports is telling me that it is silly to pay credit card interest every month. Wow, I had never considered that.

And of course, I have to add # 7, which is to use online coupons whenever possible! Sorry, as a self-proclaimed coupon geek, I couldn’t resist adding # 7. Feel free to add your suggestions!

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