Coupon Basics - Organize Your Coupons

Coupon Basics - Where to Find Coupons

Couponing - The Basics

If your are serious about saving money each month, then couponing could be your answer. We're not talking about extreme couponing like the popular television show, I'm talking about real couponing. The show is staged to show consumers saving thousands of dollars in one shopping trip. This however, is not your everyday couponers shopping trip. But you can expect to save anywhere from 40%-70% on your monthly grocery bill, which to most, is an enormous savings. My goal is to take the fear out of couponing for you, and let you know that there is money to be saved without being "extreme" or stressed out. Unless of course you want to be, in that case have at it!

The first thing that I would like to focus on is brand loyalty. If you can shed the loyalty you have to your favorite brands, and be open to trying new ones, this is where you can sometimes hit gold. For years, the only detergent that I would buy was Tide, now that's not to say that Tide isn't a great detergent and one of the most popular brands on the market today. But lets take a look at another brand, which happens to be my new favorite, Purex. At CVS, the 50 oz. bottle of Tide retails for roughly $9.39, the same size bottle of Purex retails at $6.49. Even if you never paired it with coupon, you would save $2.90 by choosing Purex. It just so happens, that the CVS in my area, has this 50 oz. bottle of  Purex on sale this week at 2/$4. So again, even if you don't use a coupon, you will be able to do 32 loads of laundry for just $2.00. Which by the way, equals to $.06 per load compared to Tides $.30 per load!

The next step is to take stock of your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Go through and take out any items that may be old or expired. Once your pantry is cleaned out, you're going to need to rearrange just a little. Place like items with other like items. Take baking items for instance, try to keep all of your flour, sugar, cake mixes and such together, so that at a glance you can see what you are running out of quickly. If you can store them in clear containers, that's even better. Place a running grocery list on your refrigerator. Each time you run out of an item in your pantry, refrigerator or freezer, add it to the list. This will make quick work out of figuring out what you're out of when it comes time to go shopping. Not only will your pantry be neat and organized, you will also save money by not purchasing extras of items that you already have and abundance of .

Now that your pantry, frig and freezer are organized, take a look and see what kind of meals you can put together with what you already have on hand. Write them down on a piece of paper and place it somewhere you can easily see it when it comes time to prepare meals.

In order to get the best savings, you also need to change the way that you think and shop. Now we already discussed brand loyalty, but it doesn't stop there. Shopping at the grocery and drug store is going to be a whole new experience. You are only going to purchase items that are on sale and/or that you have a coupon for. If there is something that you absolutely need, then only purchase a weeks worth at a time. There are some items that you will never find a coupon for, and that's ok. We are still going to look for the lowest price on these items. In the top right hand corner of my blog, you will see a link for The Krazy Coupon Lady. You will find that they are a great resource for all of your couponing needs.

Before I can describe stockpiling to you, lets talk about sales cycles. We are in the month of January right now, and there are certain items that you buy at certain times of the year, like produce. Citrus fruits are in season in January, so if you buy citrus fruits at this time of the year, chances are you will get them at the lowest price. This is the same with other groceries and household products. They all revolve on a cycle. Sales cycles, unless you are talking about produce, usually last anywhere from 10-12 weeks. So when you find an item that you use at it's lowest price, that is the best time to by more than one of that item, to carry you through to the next sales cycle.

We are finally at Stockpiling! Remember above, where I asked you to take stock of your refrigerator, freezer and pantry? This is where this will come in handy. Stockpiling is purchasing enough of each item, to carry you through until they return to or very near that price, which is usually 10-12 weeks. To start off, figure out how much you need of each item and purchase one or two extra until you get the hang of it. If you use two bottles of detergent in a 12 week time period, then maybe pick up two extra. The Krazy Coupon Lady has created a stock up pricing sheet for you to use. Here is the link: The Krazy Coupon Lady Stock Up Price Sheet. You can use this for learning the best prices to start stockpiling items. Key points to focus on:

• Purchase items at their lowest price
• Buy enough of each item to last you until the next sales cycle (10-12 weeks)
• Buy a couple of extra to stockpile.

By doing this, you will eventually build up enough of a stockpile of each item, that you won't need to buy it every time a great sale comes around. This is how your grocery bill gets smaller and smaller. At that point, you will only be shopping to replenish your stockpile, always have a full pantry and always pay the lowest possible price. 

Get Out of Debt Plan - Step by Step

If your are feeling completely overwhelmed by your debt, then it is time for you to tackle it before it grows any larger. Breaking the task down into more manageable steps is the key. Now I'm not saying that it's easy, but it is completely doable, so lets get started.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
The first thing you need to do is to figure out where your money is going each month. If you are not completely sure then this will be the first small piece that you tackle. I have created an Expense Tracker Worksheet for you to use, to make your first step as easy as possible. To fill this out you will need the following things. (You can use this on your computer or print it out. It was designed to be used on a computer so that all totals will add up automatically):

1. All the up to date bills that you currently have with accurate amounts. If you're not sure if it is the right amount, call the creditor and ask them to email or fax you an updated statement.
2. You need to get copies of your credit report. Why? Sometimes we get so far behind, that we forget about things that we didn't have money to pay for. This is a sure way to make sure that you have everything you owe. Another great thing about viewing your credit report, is you can make sure there are no errors on it. For example: an account that you never opened. One of the easiest sites to get all three credit reports is Annualcreditreport.com. You can enter your information and view all three credit reports online. I recommend that you either save them to your computer or print them out. You are entitled to one free credit report per year or after being turned down for a credit card, loan, etc.
3. Recent pay stubs for all who contribute to the monthly bills.                             
1. Fill out you Expense Tracker Worksheet, write the month at the top and fill out the areas in the budget column only. Fill in what you think your monthly payments will be according to the bills in front of you. I have left a couple of extra spaces under each category if you need them.                            
1. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE BY ENTERING A WRONG NUMBER, SIMPLY CLICK BACK IN THE CELL AND TYPE OVER IT. PLEASE, DO NOT HIT THE DELETE BUTTON, IT CAN DISRUPT THE PAGE FORMULA , RESULTING IN INACCURATE TOTALS.                                         
2. You will notice at the bottom of the worksheet, there is a space that says "Total Monthly Expenses". As you enter your expenses, they will add up here. Below that you will see "Monthly Net Income"; you should be able to figure out this amount with the pay stubs that you've gathered and enter it in that space. "Net" income is the income that you receive after taxes are taken out. Now look at your Monthly Expenses compared to your Net Income.  Are you spending more money than you are making each month? The last row named "Total Deficit or Surplus" will show you how much you are over or under. Do you see anywhere you can cut down? If so, then do it. You may want to think about cutting your monthly expenses down. Check out my blog entry: How to Save Money on Your Monthly Utility Expenses. If not, it may be a good time to think about taking on a second job or getting some overtime temporarily.                                                                                                                                              
3. Once you have the Expense Tracking Worksheet filled out, you will need to get an envelope (a clasp envelope big enough to hold receipts, a pad and your pen is perfect.) and a pad. Give one to anyone in the house who spends money. You need to get a receipt for anything that you pay or purchase for that month, from your mortgage payment to a pack of gum. If a receipt is not available, then write it down on the pad. Keep all the receipts in an envelope with the pad and keep it in your car. For your fixed expenses, you only need to write them down if the amount suddenly changes.                                                                                                                                          
4. At the end of the month, gather your receipts, pad, Expense Tracker Worksheet and bills together. In the column next to Budget, named "Actual" in the same month, you are going to enter in the amounts that you have "ACTUALLY" spent for that month. Once that column is filled out,  you will fill out the "Monthly Net Income" section again for that column.                                                                                                                                
5. Now look at your monthly expenses compared to your monthly net income. Have you spent more than your net income in this column. If you have, then it's time to cut down on costs again. Try to cut simple things like brown bagging your lunch, making coffee at home, carpooling, save all of your extra change in a jar, etc. I know it seems trivial, but if you spend $5 per day on lunch 5 days a week for 52 weeks, you've just spent $1300.00, which could go towards paying down your debt.                                                                                                      
6. The next item that you need to tackle is to create some form of emergency fund. Focus on $1000 for now. You don't need to get it together all at once. Even if it takes you a couple of months to get it together, this is an absolute necessity in case an emergency expense pops up. This money should be put aside and left alone,  unless you have a true emergency.  For example: you lose your job, you are ill and can't work, etc. You get the drift.  Are you still with me???? Don't get overwhelmed, that's what the steps are for.                                                                                                                               
7. Once your emergency fund is in place, the next step is to list all of your bills in order from biggest to smallest. Continue to pay the minimum amounts on all of your bills.(Do not skip any minimum payments. Doing so can result in additional expenses in the form of late fees.) Pick an amount that you can afford, to use as an extra payment towards your bills each month. If it is $50 per month, then stick to it.                                                                                                                                          
8. Start with the smallest bill that you have. For example if the bill $100.00, with a $25 minimum payment, you will pay the minimum amount due of $25, plus the additional $50.00, each month until the bill is paid.                                                                            
1. NOTE: WHILE PAYING OFF YOUR DEBT, TRY NOT TO USE YOUR CREDIT CARDS. DEAL ONLY IN CASH WHEN POSSIBLE. LEAVE YOUR CREDIT CARDS AT HOME.                                                                                                                             
9. Once your first bill is paid off take the minimum that you used to pay on that bill and put it towards the next lowest bill. For example: If your first bill had a minimum payment due of $25 per month, once it's paid, you will now take that $25 that you had allotted for that bill and put it  towards paying off your next bill, along with the extra $50 and  the minimum payment for that bill. So if your next bill is $200, with a  minimum payment of $30, you will pay the $30 minimum, plus the $25 from the previous bill, plus the $50 extra that you've allotted each month to pay down your debt. It will look like this:
1. $30 (minimum) + $25 (previous bill) + $50 (extra $$ allotted)= $105. This is the amount you will pay on this bill each month until it is payed off. Just keep doing this until all your bills are paid. The reasoning behind paying off all of the smaller bills first, is that it free's up monthly payments so they can be applied to your larger bills.  The only extra money you have used is the $50 that you allotted to pay off your debts.                                     
10. You may need to make two separate payments, one for the minimum payment and then one for the extra. If you are paying off a loan or credit card that has interest, make a note on the extra payment that you send in, that you would like it to be applied to the "Principal Amount" of the loan.  This is the amount you owe before interest. Doing this, you will eventually lower your payment and pay less interest in the long run. You can continue to fill out the Expense Tracker Worksheet to see where you stand each month and watch your debt get lower and lower each month. Seeing your bills getting smaller each month is a real motivator to keep going.                    
11. Remember, this takes time and patience. It takes time to accrue debt,and it takes twice as long to get rid of it. Follow these steps and you will get out of debt.                                                         
12. Once your debt is paid off, concentrate on building up your emergency fund. You should have 6-8 months worth of expenses in your emergency fund for protection.

I hope that you find this process helpful and that you are able to delete your debt permanently. I am not a financial planner or guru, I just know what works from personal experience. If you get stuck or don't understand a step contact me. There is a contact form on every one of my blog pages. I will be happy to try to walk you through if you are stuck. The most important thing is for you to stick to this, and try not veer from it to get the best results. Being debt free means freedom to live your life on your terms. Good luck! <3

2015 Resolution...Get your life in order!

 

Each year we all watch the ball drop (some of us make it and some don't, zzzzzz), toast at midnight with champagne, kiss and hug each other and pray for a good year.  Some folks embrace the new year with open arms, while others just sit and dread what's to come. If you're dreading the oncoming year, then maybe it's time to get your life in order. What do I  mean by that, right? It's a great time to take stock of your life;  a realistic and honest look at your life and set goals to change what you're unhappy with. Yes, I know change is tough and it's a little scary, but it can lead to freedom. Here are a few items that you may want to tackle in 2015.

• Vow to spend more time with your family. If you have trouble trying to balance work and family, why not just enter them in your schedule, it works for everything else, right? If you carry an appointment book or planner, block the time out. If not, write it on the calender. If you are the person who coordinates the schedules in the house, don't forget to remind each member. Schedule game nights, projects, trips, date night, etc. If you are always on the go, try this handy online calender Cozi Family Calender. It can be accessed from your computer or smart phone, you can send reminders to other smart phone users and it is printable. You can also enter and pull up appointments by the persons name that you specify. A great little tool  for a busy world.  
• Find better ways of managing your stress. Here are a few simple techniques of dealing with stress. 
• Switch your mind onto positive thinking mode. 
• Go for a walk, to clear your head. If you're at work and can't get away, go to the restroom and just take 5 minutes. Try carrying some peppermint essential oil to lift you up or maybe some lavender to calm you down.
• Get more exercise. It is proven that exercise will make your body feel better, and your mind will follow. 
• Take some me time every day. Whether you take it when you first wake up or before you go to sleep. You can sit and meditate for 20 minutes. If your feeling tired, meditation can renew your energy better than a power nap. 
• Do something you love. It could be a craft, hobbie, sport, listen to music or take a walk.
• If you are stressing due to something at work that you find overwhelming, try dividing the task into smaller pieces; doing this may make it seem less overwhelming.                     
• Get out of debt. Finances are one of leading causes of stress. Develop a plan of action and start chopping away at that avalanche. Figure out where you are overspending by writing down what you purchase  and then reviewing it at the end of the month. Check out my blog entry on Getting Out of Debt - Step-By-Step.                                                                                                         
• Create a budget for yourself and family. One of the most stressful things when trying to manage money, are surprises. Make out a budget and make sure to include everything from Mortgage/Rent to gifts and car inspections, to be better prepared.                                                            
• Save more money this year. Here are just a couple of extras.
•  Take an old jar, and at the end of each day throw your spare change into it. This will ad up pretty quickly, but don't touch it for a year. You will most likely have a couple thousand dollars when your done. 
• Use coupons to cut your grocery expenses. 
• Get rid of that gym membership that you never use. 
• Take your lunch to work, instead of eating out. Say you spend $8 per/day 5 days a week. That is $2080.00 per year that could've gone into your bank account. 
• Take your coffee from home. We'll say that you pay $2.50 for a cup of coffee. Even if you only buy one cup a day, this adds up to $250.00 per year. So between lunch and coffee, you've just spent about $2300.00 for the year on items that would cost a quarter of that if you brought them from home.
• If you drink bottled water, return the bottles for your deposit. Four cases of water per month is $4.80 in deposits per month...enough for another case of water.
• Switch your bank to one who offers free checking. Paying a minimum of  $7 over 12 months adds up to $84.00 in bank fees. If you use your debit card at unauthorized ATM's, then your paying more than that every year.                                                             
• Quit smoking. Yes, I know, easier said than done. I've been there and done that as well. But if you can manage it, $10.00 per pack, per day is $520.00 per year. Can't manage to quit just yet, try cutting your smoking in half each day, you will at least save $260.00 per year. As an added bonus, you'll feel better. <3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
• Lost weight. For some of us, this is an ongoing battle, but it's worth a try. 
• Drink lots of water
• Try to shop ONLY the perimeter of the grocery store. Ever notice how all the fattening and processed "stuff" is down the center aisles? 
• Commit yourself to 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days. By that time, it will hopefully be habit, and you will feel much better than before. 
• Try juicing. Fresh fruits and vegetable can become super expensive if you are buying large quantities. You may want to try a food co-op like Rustic Roots Delivery or Farm 2 Kitchen both based on Long Island. They have fresh fruits and vegetables, often cheaper and fresher than the supermarket, along with meats, seafood, gourmet items,etc.
• Try cleansing. If you have never cleansed before, you may want to start out with a cleanse like Love Grace Foods. They offer organic, cold pressed juices that are certified Vegan, Gluten-free and Kosher.                                                                                             
• Create an emergency fund. This is your safety net in case you become ill or lose your job. Money guru Suze Orman, recommends having 6-8 months worth of expenses in the bank to be on the safe side.                                                                                                                                 

Hopefully these tips will inspire you to make some great changes this year. Happy New Year!

How to Save Money on Your Monthly Utility Expenses

In today's world, with the economy spiraling out of control, the one thing in life that we never get a reprieve from are bills. Some of us may be facing debt due to job loss, salary cuts or loss of homes, or you maybe you're just trying to stay ahead of the game. To combat all the negative impact, we need to make changes of our own to stay afloat. The easiest way to start, is to make small changes to conserve, which will have a synergistic effect on the overall cost of our expenses, and you will see big results in your wallet. A great place to start is here, with a Do-it-Yourself Energy Audit to see where you could be be saving money in your home. Check out this article from Energy.gov - DIY Home Audit that explains the steps. Here are additional tips to help you cut costs.

1. Electric and Heating

 No doubt, these are the largest bills besides your mortgage, but there are still ways to make your home energy efficient, yet still comfortable. Lets delve into Electricity. While turning off lights when you leave a room is great, there is another consumer of energy that may not be so obvious. The hidden costs are often associated with Energy Vampires. All those electronics and appliances that remain plugged in while not in use, are in "standby mode"; power that is still consumed even though the appliance is turned in the off position.
The first mode is called "Passive Standby Mode". Items such as clock radios, cordless phones, computers, laptops, electric toothbrushes and such, can add a few extra dollars to your bill every month. It is kind of like a leaky faucet, although it's turned off, it still drips. 
The second mode is called "Active Standby Mode". Larger items like TVs, DVD players, game consoles, etc., use a considerable amount more than the passive standby appliances. Considering how many appliances we use on a daily basis, this can add up to anywhere from $100 to $200 per year. Try some of these tips to help you combat those vampires.

• Try placing a power strip in a place where you can charge all your cell phones, ipods, etc. in one place. Once they're done charging, turn off the power strip. This is also an easy way to turn off small kitchen appliances when not in use. 
• Use timers to control indoor and outdoor lights and VCR's.
• Put all home computers on surge protecting power strip. They range anywhere from $15-$50. If you have a power surge while on your computer, it will be protected and you can attach all the computer accessories to it as well and just turn the switch off when your finished.
• Other ways to save energy is to install energy efficient light bulbs. They make cost a few pennies more, but in the long run you will replace far fewer light bulbs, bringing the overall cost down even more.
• Try to run your dishwasher, washer and dryer when they are full, they will run much more efficiently. For an even bigger savings, run them only on off-peak hours. According to PSE&G Off-Peak hours are considered to be the hours between 9pm and 7am, and the cost of electricity is cut almost in half between those hours. So the next time you have insomnia, throw in a load of laundry and save some money.
• Hang a clothesline and dry your clothes outside in warmer weather.
• When it's time to turn on the AC, don't forget to clean your filter to assure that it is running at optimal efficiency, and of coarse always use the energy saver switch, so that your unit is not running constantly. Check your filter once a month to check for dust and debris, and more often if you have pets. Before putting them away for the winter, make sure that you give them a thorough final cleaning including the filter, coils and buttons. Check to see if any of the fins are bent, which can block air flow. Consider covering it before storing to prevent it from collecting dust. 
• If your AC units are older, you may want to think about replacing them with newer energy efficient models.
• Always check your bill to make sure that it is correct. Since meters are read by people and not by computers, there can be errors. I have included a link to PSE&G that shows you the correct way to read your meter. To fix this problem, take your own reading the day before your scheduled for the utility company to come.If you would like to take the task into your own hands, you can actually read your own meter and either submit the reading online or by phone one day before your scheduled meter reading. Here is the link to their page: PSE&G Do-it-yourself Meter Readings

Lets move on to heating, which is usually the more costly of the two. Before we discuss anything else, we need to discuss your furnace or oil burner. Make sure that the equipment supplying the heat is in proper working order. Be sure to change filters regularly, your oil or gas company should be able to tell you how often to change it for your model. Many of the problems associated these machines is a result of poor maintenance. It is worth obtaining a service contract with your carrier to avoid problems. If you have oil delivered, turn off the furnace or boiler just before the delivery. This will help to prevent sediment from the bottom of the tank,that can cause a clog in the line, from being sucked up as the oil is being pumped. After about an hour, the sediment will have settled back to the bottom and you can turn it back on. There is an anti-sludge treatment that you can add to the oil to help avoid this. 

• Be sure to get rid of any drafts. Fill holes in exterior walls with spray foam insulation. Replace old weather stripping if needed and purchase draft guards to attach to your exterior doors. If your windows are older and drafty all around, you can buy plastic to cover them to stop the draft. Don't forget to check switch plates and the entryway to your attic. 
•  Purchase a programmable thermostat. One of the newest ones on the market is Nest, a thermostat that learns. Once installed you use it like any other thermostat, but after a certain amount of time, it will actually remember your schedule and adjust itself accordingly. It can also be controlled from any smart phone. Nest shows you a green leaf on the thermostat when adjusting, to show you that you are conserving. Also check out My Energy Tips & Rebates, to get rebates on the Nest thermostat and money saving tips. Be sure to check out their tips on wrapping your water heater to reduce standby heat loss.
• Consider adding more insulation around your windows, doors, attic and walls. A great way to see if and wear you are loosing heat in your attic, is to look at your roof. Unless you've gotten a heat wave after the snow storm, you'll be able to see exactly where you need more insulation. If your snow is melting faster that everyone else, that may mean that you are loosing heat and are in need of some additional insulation. I owe that one to my father. He used to redo old homes and every time we got in the truck during winter, he'd say, "see that, there's no snow on that one, they need insulation!". So thanks dad :) 
• Portable heaters and electric fireplaces are also an easy solution to slash heating costs. This will allow you to turn down the thermostat and only heat the rooms that your are using. By purchasing an energy efficient model, the cost to run one of these appliances for a few hours a day, is between $10-$30 per month, depending on the model. 
• Close the vents in room that are not frequently used.
• Go to Energy.gov - Tax Credits, to see if you are eligible for a tax credit for installing items to make your home more energy efficient such as: additional insulation, replacement windows, water heaters, HVAC systems, roofing and green improvements.

2. Cell Phones

If your phone plan is almost up, then we have a great option for you. Before you pick a carrier, check out  My Rate Plan to compare usage, data rates, phones and termination fees of different carriers. But if your not quite at that point, then you may want to check out some other ways to save.

• Make sure that you have a data plan that fits your needs. Go through your cell phone bills for the last six months, have you been way over or way under your current data plan? Either way, here are some things you can change.
•  If you're only using about half of your data plan, then you may want to look at downgrading your plan. This has the possibility of saving you anywhere from $15- $35 per month, depending on the carrier. Seeing as how most carriers have a two year contract, that is roughly $800 every two years, just by cutting your data plan in half. 
• On the other hand, if you are going way over your data plan each month, then it may be time for you to upgrade. Check out this example from AT&T's Mobile Share Plans: 

1. 300MB plan: $20 per 300MB.
2. For customers on a new 1GB ($25/mo.) plan: $20 per 500MB.
3. For customers on an original 1GB ($45/mo.) plan: $15 per 1GB.
4. All Mobile Share plans 2GB or higher: $15 per 1GB.

This is just an example of the what you may be charged for going over your data allowance. Just figure in an extra $15 to $20 per month in data charges. That adds up to between $180 and $200 a year. By using these tips, you should be able to trim some fat from your phone bill. 

• If you have an android phone, check out Text Free. This app will actually give you a phone number where you can send and receive free texts. This may enable you to downgrade you texting plan to the lowest level or lose it completely. Iphone has the same type of app called Text Free Ultra. Both of these applications are free.
• One more option we thought you may want to check out is Google Voice or VoIP. You can make phone calls and text with this product, definitely worth a look to see if can help you lower you phone and data plan. They feature unlimited calls and SMS within U.S. AND Canada, for up to three hours in individual length. They will also assign you a phone number, much like the Text Free App. 

3. Water

There are some fairly quick and easy ways to save money on water in your own home. If you are a renter, you may not have as much control as a homeowner does, but there are still ways to lower your water bill without a major overhaul of your plumbing. 

• Turn off the water while washing your hands and face, shaving, and also when you're brushing you teeth. 
• Low flow toilets are notoriously helpful in saving water, but there is no reason to go out and spend money on a new toilet. Displace some of the water by filling  a 2-liter bottle with water, place the cap on and sit it inside your toilet tank, Voila! You instantly have a low flow toilet. You can also do this with a brick, but make sure that you place the brick inside a Ziploc freezer bag to keep any debris from the brick from clogging the toilet. By doing this simple task, you will save approximately a half gallon of water each time you flush. Which for a family of four, could be as much as $13 per day, depending on the cost of water in your area. 
• If you need to wash dishes by hand, consider purchasing two dish pans. Dirty dishes with a bit of soap and just enough water to cover them in the first pan, and clean water for rinsing in the second pan.You use approximately 27 gallons of water washing dishes if you let the faucet constantly run. This method uses a fraction of that. 
• Check out My Energy they can also help you with tips for saving on water. 
• Use timers on sprinklers, and water during the cool part of the day, early morning or late evening. Avoid watering on windy days; heat and wind can cause the water to evaporate before your lawn ever gets to use it. Lawn and gardens only require five millimetres of water on a warm day, and less on cool days.A great way to measure how much you have watered, is to place a rain gauge in the range of your sprinkler, so you can see how much you've watered for that period of time. Since the soil cannot store unused water, try not to over water, it will only evaporate. Check out this one from Ratuken.com Rain Gauge for just under $7.00 and free shipping.
• Install adjustable flow reducers onto your shower heads and/or faucets. This simple fix will reduce water usage by approximately 25%.
• Turn down the temperature of your water heater. The higher your water temperature is, the more energy it takes to get water up to the same temperature. This is yet another "appliance" that is in standby mode. If you are going away, turn off your water heater if it's electric and down if it is gas.
• Use rain barrels to cut down on the cost of watering lawns and plants. The town of Hempstead is offering 50 gallon rain barrels and composter's for $45. Here is the link to their website Town of Hempstead - Rain Barrel and Composter

4. Cable, Internet and Phone

Keeping costs down for these three items may be as easy as bundling them together. But if that's not enough, there are ways to shave a little more off your bill. 

• Most providers will give you an introductory price for a certain time period, and then raise the price to their normal rates after that period is up. Call you carrier, ask them if they can extend the introductory rate for another year, if not, ask to speak with a supervisor. If they won't budge, you may need to ask for the cancellation department before they will consider it, but since they don't really want to loose you as a customer, it's worth a try and they will usually give in.
• Keep track of any outages, terrible connections or slow Internet with the date and the specific problem. Once a month call them with your notes and ask for a credit on your bill. You shouldn't have to pay full price for inferior service. 
• If you have a cell phone and hardly use your home phone, you may be able to ditch the home phone all together. If it makes you feel safer having a land line for emergencies, then ask your carrier for exactly that, a basic phone line. You may have to pay a few cents per call, but that's pennies compared to the average bundle bill. 
• Look for free Internet services like BlueLight.com - Totally free internet service and get rid of your paid Internet.
• As for cable, depending on which show and networks you can't do without, you may be able to switch to a provider like Hulu, Hulu Plus or Netflix for $8 per month or Amazon Prime for $6.95 per month. If the network that you frequently watch is not available, try going directly to the networks website to see if they list the episodes free for you to watch.  Lifetime is one of them. They allow you to watch full episodes of select movies. 
• Switch to basic cable. If you have 700 channels and only watch 14 of them, then you should drop the extra service which is costing you extra money. 

5. Insurance

Most people see insurance bills as a fixed price item without much wiggle room, but if you learn the ropes you can save some money.

• Take a defensive driving course. In New York State, you can receive a 10% discount on your bill after completing the course. The discount remains active for a period of three years and can also reduce points on your licence. You can go to a class in your area or take the class online. They usually run about $30-$50, unless you find a site like My Improv - Online Defensive Driving Course who offers the online class for discounted rate of $28. Depending on how much you annual insurance cost is, you may be able to save quite a chunk of change with this alone. 
• Transfer all of your insurance policies to the same insurance company for a multi-policy discount. If you are a student or are in the military, you may also qualify for additional discounts.
• Raise your deductible to lower your premium.
• Take time to access your insurance policy. If you no longer have a car payment, you are no longer required to have a full coverage policy,speak to your insurance agent about reducing your policy.
• Letting your insurance agent know about all the safety features on your car, such as traction control, air bags, anti-theft system, anti-lock brakes, etc., can also give you additional discounts.
• Let your agent know about your driving habits. If the places that you travel to each week, like grocery store, cleaners, drugstore, etc., are all within a five mile radius from your home, you don't speed and are a conscientious driver, you may qualify for a discount. Progressive Insurance Company has a device that does this for you called Snapshot, that can help you save up to 60% off your car insurance costs.
• Keep your credit in good standing by paying your bills on time. Insurance companies take your credit score into consideration when quoting a policy. The lower your credit score, the higher the premium you will need to pay. Plus, paying your bills on time helps you to avoid late fees, which can add up to hundreds every monthly.

Just changing one or two of these items may not make too much of a difference in the cost of your expenses. But the more tips you put into place, the more money you will have at the end of the year.

Send us an email and let us know how much YOU have saved by using some or all of these tips! moneysaversli@yahoo.com

Money Saving 101 - What kind of shopper are you?

What kind of shopper are you? Not sure...lets find out!

When you go shopping for groceries, clothing, electronics or any other type of shopping...do you have a strategy, or do you fly by the seat of your pants?

While many Americans succumb to overcrowded stores and paying full price just to get it over with, there are just as many Americans that go to the store with a plan of action. 

What kind of shopper are you? Let's find out...

First, you have the "Guided Missile" type of shopper. Picture in your head the theme song from Mission Impossible...dodging in and out of clothing racks, darting past perfume snipers, hurdling browsing shoppers to complete their mission. The mission... get in and out of the store as fast as possible without any distractions whatsoever. They zero in on the item, snatch it up, pay for the item and out to the car that awaits them in the no parking zone with the engine running. Exactly 4 minutes and 15 seconds flat! Timing themselves all the while. They are the decisive and no-nonsense Guided Missile shopper.

The second is the  "Impulse Shopper", you know, the one that HAS to have it! You will frequently here them uttering phrases like: "But what if I come back and it's gone" or "I'd better get that in three colors, they may not have it next time I come here", "...well, I don't really need it..but it's such a good price...", but at least if I buy it now, I'll have it for when I need it". Two weeks and $400 later and they still haven't  used it, worn it, needed it or want it any longer. The last phrase you may hear will be "Oh, why did I buy this?" If you often find yourself with feelings of buyers remorse, then you may be the "Impulse Shopper".

Next is the "Bargain Shopper", they go to the stores with coupon binders, coupon books, spreadsheets, coupon codes and every loyalty card know to man. They stock pile their goods like a squirrel stores nuts for winter.  If there is a deal to be had, they will sniff it out like a blood hound tracking a duck. These sniper shoppers never go to the store unprepared. They will leave the store with three mounded carts of groceries paying just $4.30 for the entire order. You are following behind them with a loaf of bread, two gallons of milk and a package of chicken which just cost you $43.96, and no, you are not in the twilight zone. You can count on them finding the best deals in town and online. When planning a shopping trip with the Bargain Shopper, you'd better be prepared or you'll be left in the dust.

Lastly, we have the "Fickle Shopper". You can find them wandering around the store, looking through racks, picking out a few things they may want to purchase. They may make their way to the checkout line, but eventually they leave the line to put some if not all of the treasures back. But wait, they think to themselves, I could really use, x,y and z. So back to the shelves they go to pick out the same items they just put back. They wander around the store, in and out of isles, trying to justify buying each item. This can go on for quite some time, back and forth, back and forth, but  in the end they usually leave with nothing and got their daily exercise.  

So, what kind of shopper are you?

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