Online vs In-Person
Okay, so we get it. You’re confused. You may even be outright paranoid. Shopping online is a pretty big deal to a lot of people and here’s why. People from older generations (and younger ones as well) are a little skeptical about shopping online sometimes. We totally understand that and aren’t going to try to convince you that it’s safe. However, for those of you that have shopped online and are cool with it, we’re going to teach you something.
We’re going to teach you when you should shop online and when you shouldn’t.
Ready to get started? Great! Let’s begin.
Do You Need It?
Okay, so let’s face it. There are some things that you need and some things that you want. This is where shopping online comes in. Obviously, if you need toilet paper or cotton swabs, you don’t want to wait for it. Even though you could probably order it online for much cheaper, you need it now. So, you pay more for it to get it faster which is fine.
Do You Want It?
However, if it’s just something that you want, why not wait for it? A pair of name brand jeans is much cheaper on eBay than it is in Belk. Do you really need the jeans that day or can it wait a week or so if it means saving you $30? Of course it can! So, why not do it?
How To Get It
So, this brings us to our main point. You know how to distinguish whether or not you should buy something online (waiting for it) or buy it in person (and get it on the spot). Now, for our main point. What if you’re kind of stuck in the middle? What if it’s an item that you kind of need but at the same time, you kind of don’t need it right now? Well…
What You Should Do
This is when you do a little comparing. What’s the price difference between buying something online and buying it in person? How long are you going to have to wait for it? Let’s say you need a new air conditioner (you know, a window unit) for your home. Your current one is still working but it’s been acting up. You can buy a new one in person at Sears for $200 or you could buy it online for $150. It’ll take a week to get it online. What should you do? Well, is $50 savings worth the risk that your air conditioner will go out tomorrow and you’ll have to wait 6 days for a new one? If you live in Texas, probably not.
If you live somewhere where the climate alternates such as Virginia, it probably is worth it (and you’ll knock some money off of that electric bill). That’s just one example though of course and it’s definitely something that many people don’t think about. Too often, people just click “Add to Cart” or drive down to Sears and impulse buy something. Start thinking it through and think about the Risks vs Rewards. If you do that, you’ll save big money regardless of where you shop. Now, where will you shop? Will it be in person or online?
Is Eating Healthy Expensive?
Eating healthy is something that a lot of us wish that we did more often but we regularly find ourselves making excuses as to why we don’t. Well, that’s all about to change and for one reason. There’s literally no excuse not to eat healthy as it is something that is obtainable to anyone. Yes, anyone! Even you can eat healthy if you put your mind to it.
So, by now, you probably know the purpose of this article. We’re going to give you a few tips as to how you can eat healthy as well as teach you why eating healthy isn’t any more expensive than eating TV dinners, fast food, and whatever else it is that you eat. Ready?
Buy Canned Foods
Although we’re not quite sure why, canned food has a bad wrap in comparison to fresh food. We wouldn’t recommend buying canned fruits (or canned meat) but we don’t see a thing in the world wrong with buying canned vegetables. Just keep an eye out for red flags though. For example, buy unsalted green beans or peas versus JUST canned beans or peas. Most canned vegetables will be marked on the front with “Unsalted” so keep an eye out.
Don’t Over Think It
The next tip is exactly what it seems like. You shouldn’t be over thinking your diet. If you pick up a box of instant oats and have to stop and think about whether or not it’s better for you than a banana with black coffee then you are over thinking things. Oatmeal is good for you so buy it. It doesn’t matter if it’s better than something else or not. At least we know that it’s better than a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit from McDonald’s or BK.
Plan Your Meals
This one may be a little tough for some of you but one of the cheapest ways to eat healthy is to plan your meals ahead of time. Try to plan your meals out a week in advance (doing it on Sundays is good). This works especially well if you can tolerate eating the same meals once or twice a day. For example, eating chicken breast with a can of peas daily for lunch is a great way to eat healthy, save money, and more. You can buy canned peas for less than $1 a can and buy frozen chicken breast for about $6 per 3lbs which will last about a week.
Stay Out Of The Aisles
Sure, you’ll have to go in the aisles once in a while (that’s where the oatmeal and tuna is) but you can avoid them for the most part. Everything you need in the grocery store is usually around the border of the store. Unless you’re eating oatmeal and canned veggies, you really have no business going down the aisles which are full of cereal, instant noodles, and Little Debbie cakes. Okay, so maybe you don’t eat this stuff but you get it, right?
Good! Now you’re ready to amp up your savings on the grocery bill and experience a change. What change will you experience? Well, you’ll feel better (as will your wallet or purse), you’ll look better, and you’ll be able to help others do the same exact thing!
Balancing Your Balance
When it comes to saving money and balancing your balance (your checking account), there are a few things that we wanted to point out. Before we begin though, we have two quick questions. The first question is this. Did you know that in the United States, the average checking account balance is just shy of $6,000? Okay, great! Now, the second question is this. Are you average? Are you above average? Would you be thrilled just to be average?
Well, if you’re one of those people that would be thrilled just to be average and have around $6,000 in your checking account, we have some tips for you that will get you on your way to balancing your balance and financial freedom. Continue reading to get started.
Make A Plan
Having a solid game plan is one of those important things that you can do in your effort to save your checking account. Think about the areas that you can afford to spend less money and do it. Write down what your long term goal is, how much you plan to save a month, and so on. A good starting point would be to try to save around 20% of every paycheck.
Share Your Plan
There’s nothing like having the support of your friends and family so why not share your business? Yes, you read that right. We want you to share your business! Of course, we aren’t asking you to share your routing number with your cousin or telling your sister in law how broke you are. Just simply let everyone know that you’re trying to save money and tell them why. Chances are, they’ll follow suit and do the same. How cool would that be?
Implement Your Plan
Okay, we get it. This one sounds a little “obvious” but you’d be surprised how many people make a plan and never follow through with it. It’s easy to sit down and come up with a plan and a few numbers but doing it is a whole other monster. However, once you start making some progress, you’re bound to stick with it for the long haul. Don’t believe us?
Try it!
Now, these are just general starting points for when it comes to balancing your balance. It will take some determination and hard work to get into the groove of things but once you are there, you’ll be just fine! Don’t try to cut corners and take shortcuts because those NEVER work. Instead, focus on lowering your spending on things that you don’t need and keeping it the same where you need to. Even if you only manage to save $200 a month, in 10 years time you would have over $20,000 which is an extremely nice balance to have.
Okay, what are you waiting for? Start getting your plan together, crunch a few numbers, and see where you are in a few months. We can almost guarantee that you’ll be in a much more desirable position in 3 months than you are now. One more thing before you go though. Good luck to you and we hope that you can start to balance your balance!
March Shopping List
March is here and it’s officially a time of the year when you want to start getting a little shopping list together. Below, you’ll find a list of items that we think everyone should make sure that they have in March (or by March) in order to ensure smooth sailing for the rest of the year. Sure, all of these items won’t apply to everyone but we hope that you’ll still take the time to stop and ask yourself whether or not you need them. Ready to start?
Great!
Let’s get started…
Spark Plugs
Okay, before we get too carried away here, we’re not talking about spark plugs for your car. We’re talking about spark plugs for your lawnmower. In most parts of the country (especially if you live on the East Coast), it’s almost time to start mowing grass. If you’re on the West Coast and haven’t checked your mower’s spark plug, you’re late! Now, what if you’re a stay at home mom with a husband? If that’s the case, make sure you remind him!
Cleaning Supplies
This is obviously something that you probably have on hand at all times but we recommend overstocking this month. It’s almost time to start spring cleaning and you definitely don’t want to run out of cleaning supplies. A new broom (with matching dust pan), mop, and some Clorox wipes will go a very long way in your effort to clean your home or office.
Green Clothes
Why in the world would need green clothes specifically? Well, that’s because St. Patrick’s Day is coming up and you don’t want to spend the day getting pinched. Sure, we aren’t going to pinch you (we only help you pinch pennies) but someone else might. Avoid that by stocking up on green clothes and enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day festivities to their fullest!
March Madness
If you have a boyfriend or husband, they probably watch NCAA basketball. Help them get ready for the action with some snacks, a new blanket, and one of those cool “keep your drink cold” covers for their beer. It may also give you a chance to learn a little bit about NCAA basketball, what it’s all about, and why men love it so much. Makes sense, right?
Of course it does!
Now, we have to stress one thing. Just as we mentioned above, this isn’t a complete list or a universal list of items that everyone will need. We genuinely hope that you have everything you need to ride through the busy month of March. However, if you don’t, this list will serve as a good starting point. Now, what are you waiting for? It’s time to jot this down (or print it out if you can afford the ink), head to the store, and fulfill the list.
Also, we hope that you’ll take the time to share this list with your friends whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or wherever you and your friends are active the most.
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Happy Birthday, Dr Seuss!
As you may already know, this Sunday is Dr. Seuss’s birthday!
Today through 3/7/14, you can get five Dr. Seuss books for just $5.95! The books you’ll receive include The Cat in the Hat, Mr. Brown Can Moo, Ten Apples On Top, Go Dog Go!, and The Tooth Book. You’ll also have the chance to select two bonus books for just $4.99. Plus, if you order by 3/7/14, you’ll also receive a FREE Dr. Seuss Parent Guide.
Every month, you’ll receive an additional three books to review. If you wan to keep them, do nothing and you’ll be billed automatically. There’s no purchase commitment, though, and you can cancel your membership at any time.
Good Price For A Computer
2014 is just now getting started and the income taxes are in. What if you need a new computer? How much is too much? Are the $300 bargain laptops that you see advertised really worth the money? Should you hold off and get something a little higher in price? It really all varies but check this out. We’re going to give you a few tips that will help you determine whether or not the price tag that is on the computer you’re interested in is worth it or not. In other words, we’re going to give you a few things to look for. If the computer in question doesn’t meet our requirements, we wouldn’t buy it. Plain and simple!
Processor Speed
The first thing that we recommend looking at when comparing prices between computers is the processor speed. To save you from all the mumbo jumbo, you need at least a dual core (two). A quad core would be even better even if the speed is only 2.0 ghz. Anything beyond that and you’ll never really need it (not for a long time at least). So, look for something that is either a dual core or quad core. Avoid anything that calls itself an “accelerated processor.” That’s a nice way of saying “I’m slow but try my very best.”
RAM
This is almost as important as the processor speed as it will directly play into how well you multi-task on your computer and handle “random” operations. If you’re an aspiring photographer, you work from the computer, or you blog, you’ll definitely want AT LEAST 4GB of RAM. 6 to 8 is much better but it isn’t a deal killer if you cannot get that much. Most computers have room for upgrades anyways so you can always just do it later if need be.
Operating System
This wouldn’t have been a factor a few years ago but now that Windows 8 is out (and a lot of people don’t like it), you may need to decide whether or not you want to stick to Windows 7, go with Windows 8, or get a computer with Windows 8 and then downgrade. The reason that we mention this last one is because most anything that you find in your traditional retail store is going to be Windows 8. So, if you want Windows 7, we recommend ordering online. If you’re cool with Windows 8, you can shop in person.
Hard Drive
While a lot of people don’t mention this anymore, we still will. You could just buy a 1TB external hard drive (or a few flash drives) and never need space again. However, getting built in storage has it’s perks as well. You don’t have to run a cable to your computer or swap drives in and out. With 1TB-2TB built in, you’ll never really need extra memory unless you’re running a massive site or business from your computer. For the average person, 500GB will be more than sufficient in terms of hard drive size. So, with that being said, if the computer meets all the specifications listed above and it’s affordable, it’s good to go!
Are eBooks Really Cheaper?
While buying physical books is still common practice, eBooks are getting more and more popular as time goes on. So, with that being said, it’s no wonder that there is a lot of controversy over which one is actually the most affordable. eBooks are definitely priced lower than physical books for the most part but are you really getting the most bang for your buck? Are you really saving money? We’re going to answer both of those questions for you right now. For starters, we think eBooks are very cool and amazing. No wonder, huh? [Read More]
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The $2.00 off THREE Wet IAMS Cat Food coupon just reset recently. Here are a couple deal ideas for you:
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Actual store prices may vary, depending on your location, so YMMV with this one.
FREE Federal Filing With H&R Block
If you haven’t already, it’s time to gather up that paperwork and start crunchin’ some numbers! Actually, why don’t you just let the computer do the number crunching for you?
There’s still time to file your federal tax return for free with H&R Block. It’s a lot easier than doing them the “old-fashioned” way and it’s definitely a lot more affordable than paying someone to do your taxes!