Saving Money On Tobacco Products
Okay, we get it. You’ve seen us talk about how much money you can save by quitting smoking or by discontinuing your use of tobacco products in general. However, we do realize that some people don’t want to quit and that’s 100% fine. It’s your business, not ours. We can still help you though. You see, we know of a few easy ways to save money on your tobacco products that don’t involve quitting. If you’d like to see what they are, go ahead and scroll down. There you will find a few helpful tips that will save you money!
Contact Your Brand of Choice
By contacting the company that makes your tobacco directly, you can probably get the regular hook up on some coupons. We know a ton of people that use tobacco products who get coupons in the mail on a regular basis. An example of one of those coupons came from the company that makes Newport cigarettes. Every couple of weeks, they sent someone at least 2 Buy 1, Get 1 Free coupons. In other words, they saved around $10 or so a month.
Look At The Box
If you walk into any gas station or convenience store, chances are, you’ll see specially marked boxes of cigarettes. Some of them say $1 off a pack and some of them only say 50 cents off of a pack. Sometimes they aren’t even quite the kind of cigarettes that you smoke. What do we mean? Well, if you normally smoke Marlboro Menthol Lights but they only have the $1 off coupons on the Marlboro Menthol Regulars, why not smoke them instead? Essentially, you’re practically getting the same cigarette but at less of a price.
Lower Expectations
We’ve seen a lot of people doing this lately but you always have the option of exploring other, cheaper brands. Some people that smoked Marlboro in the past are now smoking L&Ms. Why? Because there’s not much of a difference. The same can be said for other types of tobacco such as smokeless tobacco. Try “dipping” Grizzly instead of Skoal brand.
Buy Cartons
Finally, this is the most practical and obvious advice among tobacco users. If you smoke a pack a day, start buying your cigarettes by the carton. In most cases, you’ll save about $5 or so. It’s kind of like buying 9 packs of cigarettes and getting one pack for free. If you use smokeless tobacco, buy them by what’s known as the “roll.” This will also save you money.
But again, these are only just some of the ways that you can save money on tobacco. We are very fond of quitting smoking and hope that this is something that you will consider doing in the near future. If you don’t, that’s your choice and either way, we’re still going to help you save money. This list is proof of that! But now, we hope that you’re ready to get out there, save some money, and help others do the same. It’s all about pinching those pennies, living good, and so much more. Join us and let us help you do all of this and more!
Easy Ways To Save Money On Baby Clothes
Ahh, baby clothes! Any parent will have to buy baby clothes but most parents will spend way too much money. Children grow at a very rapid rate and you’ll find that you will be buying baby clothes quite regularly. Following our advice and using the easy ways to save money on baby clothes (found below) will result in you saving a ton of your hard earned money. Now, does that sound like something you’d be interested in? If so, scroll down!
Have A Baby Shower
The first and most obvious way to save money on baby clothes is to have a baby shower. Invite your friends, family, and co-workers. Also, don’t be afraid to tell people what you need. If you already have a car seat or crib, make sure that you let people know. Forget about mentioning baby clothes or diapers though because you can never have too many of them. So, in other words, allow people to bring a ton of both baby clothes and diapers.
Check Out Consignment Shops
These are especially cool if you can find those that are dedicated to just baby clothes. Almost every small town has one now and you’ll find some amazing prices on quality baby clothes. A good rule of thumb is to look for those that are “mom and pop” shops. Be sure not to mistake consignment shops for thrift stores though as there’s a huge difference.
Shop Online
This one may be a little obvious to younger generations (online shopping is practically in their blood) but some older, first time mothers may not know this. You can find some great deals online when it comes to buying baby clothes. You can even get great deals by looking at name brand clothing companies online. Their promotions online are usually different than what you’d find in the store so you can save a ton of money on the same exact products.
Find great online deals HERE
Ask Around
Finally, it doesn’t hurt to ask your friends for their outgrown clothes. You know these people and you can probably trust them. Just make sure that you wash any used clothing before you allow your child to wear it and their should be no problems. The only rule of thumb to use here though is this. If you wouldn’t wear it (quality wise), don’t make your kid wear it. If you ask us, this is a pretty simple yet fair rule that you should be following.
But anyways, this is just advice. We hope that it’s been helpful to you and that you’ll be able to save a big chunk of change on baby clothing whenever you need to. As long as you follow the advice above and at least check out some of the stores, you should be good to go. Thousands of parents come on this site every single day and we like to think that each and every one of them benefit from doing so. Needless to say, we hope the same for you!
4 Common Gadgets That Save Money
This list of gadgets is going to surprise you in one way. You probably already have at least one of the gadgets on the list or you’ve thought about getting it. Well, we’ve got some good news. It’s okay to go ahead and get that gadget you’ve been eye balling at the store. It will probably save you money time and time again. Yeah, it’s okay to spend that money. Now, take a look at the list of gadgets below and see which one you want to save you money! Once you do that, it’s okay to go out and buy it. Trust us on this one and do it!
Cell Phones
The first gadget on our list that can actually save you money is the cell phone. Not only does it replace a home phone but it is also mobile. That means no more pay phones, calls missed, or anything like that. A cell phone can run you as little as $40 a month and will save you a ton of money. Just make sure you avoid those pesky “pay as you go” cell phones.
Tablets
Operating your own business or working from home in general is tough. That’s why owning a tablet could save you money. If the power goes out, you can still respond to emails. You can increase productivity away from the computer. All of this makes you more money thus saving you money. You can even find quality tablets such as the HP Slate 7 at about $100.
GPS
What if you travel a lot? Owning a good GPS such as a Garmin could save you a ton of time. And let’s face it, we all know time is money. These can be found online and at most major retail stores such as Walmart. Depending on what kind of features you want, these are usually under $100. If you own a new vehicle though, you probably already have a GPS.
Video Camera
You just never know when you’ll need this one whether it’s to prove your innocence or to be prepared when the next potential viral video is happening. Video cameras are a lot of fun, allow you to capture memories, and who knows, they may save you a little money. Try setting up a YouTube account, uploading your videos, and seeing if they make any money.
Of course, these are just some ideas of what types of gadgets could save you money. You probably own at least one, if not all, of these devices. If you don’t and you’ve been debating another purchase, let this list guide you into making the right decision. Figure out whether or not a gadget like one of those listed above could save you money and make it happen. It really is that easy but if you want to save even more money, swing by the site on a regular basis and see if any cool coupons pop up for the device in question. You just never know! Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s go save some hard earned money!
5 Affordable Instruments For Beginners
If you are in the market to buy an instrument, you can start here. We’re going to give you the total run down on what we think are 5 Affordable Instruments For Beginners. Best of all, each instrument on this list is also an instrument that won’t be hard to learn as long as you put in the hard work and take the time to actually learn how to play. Ready to get started?
Guitar
The first instrument on our list of affordable instruments for beginners is the guitar. You can find a guitar worthy of learning on for under $100 if you shop hard enough. Even top quality guitars will only run you around $300 to $400 so should you decide to move on up in the guitar ladder, it won’t cost you a ton of money. Now, ready to move on with the list?
Keyboard
The next instrument on our list of affordable instruments is the keyboard. These are a little more pricey than guitars once you really get into playing and make a long term investment into an instrument but to get started, you can get a keyboard for a fairly cheap price. Best of all, with a keyboard, there isn’t really any maintenance minus a few packs of batteries.
Harmonica
Okay, we get it. The harmonica seems like a pretty silly “first instrument” but it’s actually a fairly cool instrument that won’t cost you more than $30 at the most. You can also play virtually any kind of music on it so your options will never be limited with a harmonica.
Trombone
If you’re into big band music, the trombone may be a good instrument to play around with. It has a really unique sound, is easy to play, and can be found in almost any music store on the planet due to the fact of how many people in high school bands play the trombone. They usually only come in two colors, silver and gold, but are still cool instruments to play.
Drums
Finally, we come to the dreaded drums. They are one of the hardest instruments to listen to someone learn how to play but the good thing is, you don’t need actual drums. Have the person learning buy a set of good drum sticks (around $15) and practice on drum pads. If they get good enough or decide they want to pursue playing the drums, buy an actual set.
So, there you have it! This concludes our list of 5 Affordable Instruments For Beginners. Hopefully, you have a better idea as to what instrument we recommend and which one you would like to learn how to play. If you’re researching for someone else such as a child, be sure to run all their options by them. It’s important to let the person who will actually be doing the playing pick the instrument that they’d like to learn. After all, they’ll be the one playing it. Without further delay, it’s time to get out there and find the perfect medium!
Saving Money: How Much Is Enough?
Saving money is something that we often talk about here at Pinching Your Pennies but there’s a good reason behind this. Everyone should be doing it! Yes, even you should be saving money like there’s no tomorrow. Okay, so maybe that’s a little bit extreme. So, how much money should you be saving? How much is enough? Well, a lot of that depends on your lifestyle but with the practical tips below, we’ll give you a rough ball park figure. Now, scroll down and take a look. It’s time to find out how much you should be saving up!
How Much Do You Make?
No, you don’t actually have to tell us this but you do need to think about this. Obviously, unless you’re in debt, the more money you make, the more you can save. At least, that’s how it works for most people. So, if you’re only making $400 a week versus someone that makes $1,000 a week, you can’t save as much money as them. Or can you? These are all questions that you should be pondering over and figure out how much you’re able to save.
How Often Do You Put Back?
Yes, we want to know how often you save money. Are you adding money to your checking account every single week? Every day? Once a month? Learn to build good habits and you will soon see that every time you get a little extra money, you add it to your bank account. Then you can head home and enjoy a quiet evening that doesn’t count on spending money.
How Much Should You Save?
Now we get to the big question. How much money should you save? Okay, here’s the best advice that we can give you. Try to save 25% of every paycheck that you get. We know that this won’t be possible all the time (and sometimes you can save more) but the main thing here is that you try to save this amount. Exceeding it is great but as long as you try, you’ll feel good about what you’re trying. So for every $100 you make, try to save $25. If you make around $800 minus taxes bi-weekly, we want you to try to save about $200.
Where Will This Take Me?
If you use the example that we gave you above, you’ll save money in no time. If you’re making $800 bi-weekly after taxes, you should be saving around $2,800 a year. In 5 years time, you would have around $14,000 or so. That’s a big chunk of change to be sitting on and it will prove to come in very handy as backup money or your emergency funds, right?
Of course it will! That’s why we want you to start taking care of your finances and save a little money. The hard work will pay for itself time and time again. Trust us when we say this but you definitely don’t want to live and work in today’s world without saving money. Loans have high interest and banks are giving out less and less money to their customers. Don’t stress it though. Thanks to PYP, you’re now going to save more money than ever!
5 Random Tips To Save Money
Like we’ve been saying a lot here lately, it’s a new year and that means that it’s also time for new savings. Sure, you saved a ton of money last year (thanks to us) but what about this year? What’s your plan? Trends are changing and as are the way things work so you may have to adapt to what it’ll take for you to save even more money this year. Use the tips below to help you get started and odds are, you’re going to save a ton of dough in 2014.
Get A Real Bank Account
The first tip on our list may come off in a weird way but just hear us out. You probably already have a bank account which is great but what does it come with? Can you buy stock at your bank of choice? Can you get loans? Do you have a “go to” guru at your bank? This is all stuff that you should have or at least know about. Get a bank that offers all of this.
Plan Your Trips Wisely
Cutting down on gas in 2014 will ensure that you save a lot of money but what about those trips that you just have to take? You know, trips like work, vacations, and business trips. Plan ahead and find alternate ways of taking this trips that will enable you to save a ton of money. Stay at cheaper hotels this year, drive a cheaper gar, and take buses, not planes.
Start A Business
Whoa! That’s a big leap, huh? Well, we’re not asking you to go out and start a $300K business that might end up putting you in debt. No, we just want you to do a little something extra on the side in 2014. Flip a few items on eBay, sell some hand made greeting cards, or even offer your advice to people for a fee on your favorite topic. After all, the more money you make in 2014, the more money that you’ll be able to save in 2014.
Make Priorities
Making priorities is important in regards to saving money because it allows you to get your head straight and figure out where you want to be. What do you plan on buying this year? What do you plan on selling? How will this play a part in how much money you can save? Ask yourself these questions and more in 2014 to help you save the most money possible.
Keep At It
Finally, this is our last tip before we send you on your way to making and saving more money in 2014. Keep at it! Be persistent and don’t give up. The only people that fail in their goals are those that give up. If you keep at it, you will save big money in 2014.
Of course, this is just advice. At the end of the day, you can try whatever you want to but we hope that these 5 tips will help guide you in the right direction. We love to save money and hope that you do too. If you do though, you’re in the right place to learn how!
How To Cut Down on Gas Costs
Summer is right around the corner and this means that more people are going to be on the road soon than they are at any other time of the years. People are going on vacations, kids are out of school, college students are on break, and everyone is looking to have a good time. That also means that people spend more money on gas during the summer than most other times of the year but that’s all about to change. We’re going to give you a few helpful tips that will not only help you save money on gas but you’ll still have a good time!
Travel in Groups
If you find yourself going out a lot during the summer, try to travel in groups. Pick a designated driver every week (someone whose car you will use) and have that person pick everyone up for a weekend on the town. The very next week, pick someone different. The people riding along can all throw in on gas and before you know it, you have a good system that will help you and all of your friends save money on gas during the summer.
Use Points
A lot of gas stations have some type of rewards or points card that you can get. For example, if you buy groceries at Kroger using your Kroger Card, you can get up to 20 cents off every gallon of gas you buy when you fill up. These points can be redeemed at any Kroger fuel station or Shell gas station. This, of course, is just one good example.
Avoid Traffic
Try to go out at times of the day that aren’t so busy during the summer. This will keep you from getting stuck in traffic jams and burning up too much gasoline. This will also keep you from getting lined up in toll roads or getting into a potential accident. Both of these bonuses will also save you money as car repairs are always expensive as are toll roads.
Get An EZ Pass
Okay, so depending on where you live in the country, it may be called something else. It may be called a Sun Pass or I Pass. It’s basically a device that goes on your car which you load with money and you can get through a specific lane at the toll roads. It saves you a lot of time and we all know that time is money. If you don’t have toll roads, disregard this.
And okay, we know. Not all of these were actual methods used to save money on gas but we just had to throw them in there. The important thing though is that you will save money on gas as well as numerous other things. Just be sure to take our advice, apply it during your busy summer schedule, and see how much money you end up saving. We hope it’s enough to buy yourself a second car but even if it’s not, it is still money well saved!
Saving Money on DVDs Online
Saving money on DVDs online has never been easier and this post is proof of that. We know a ton of ways to find quality movies online for affordable prices and we’re ready to share them with you right here on PinchingYourPennies.com which is pretty darn cool if you ask us. Free advice never killed anyone and that isn’t going to change now. In other words, go ahead and scroll down to so you can see where to find the hottest new movies at the best prices. There’s nothing like owning the actual movie so let’s make it happen right now!
Netflix literally put movie stores out of business and for good reason. It was much cheaper and far more sufficient than stores like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. While we loved movie stores and hate to see them practically gone now, Netflix is what’s new and hot. Start a 1 week free trial over at Netflix and never have to rent or buy another movie.
If you prefer to own your movies or would like to revisit your favorite classics, try buying DVDs online over at Amazon.com. They have great prices and you have the option of buying them brand new or used. This means that you can get some amazing deals and when you mix in the convenience of Amazon Prime and cool promo codes, it totally rocks!
Finding movies on eBay is a breeze and while it may not be the best place to buy fresh, new releases, you can get some amazing deals if you just search for stuff like “Lot of DVDs.” When you do this, the results that you get will be for DVD lots that save you a ton of money and give you endless entertainment. No, seriously. Go search for that specific now!
FYE
While going to their website isn’t quite as cool, going to a FYE location in your local mall is a great place to find cult classics at great prices. Sure, new releases are like $25 in stores like these but you can find hidden gems sometimes for $3 and $4 especially if you’re a fan of the horror genre. Visit your nearest location today (or tomorrow) and see what’s up!
A lot of people forget about this store these days and we don’t know why. They still tend to have a better movie selection than Walmart and are still cheaper. Sure, you won’t walk into any Kmart and buy groceries but sometimes, you just have to make that extra trip during the month in order to get the best value. In this case, it’s cheap but quality DVDs.
Now, what are you waiting for? Get out there and save some money on DVDs online today! DVDs are a great way to spend some time with the family and enjoy your favorite movie whenever you want. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve watched stuff like Finding Nemo, Jurassic Park, and Terminator 2 on DVD and it never gets old. Why don’t you do it too? It really is super cool and convenient to buy your favorite movies at great prices!
How To Get A Cheap Caffeine Fix
We like our caffeine as much as the next person but sometimes, you’re just running a little low on money and need a cheap caffeine fix. Well, you’re in luck as we’re going to give you a few ideas as to how you can get your daily caffeine in with only a few dollars. This will prove to be quite handy for those of you who are always on the run and sometimes, you forget your money at home or need to make ends meet until your next payday. Ready to find out how and where you can get your cheap caffeine fix? If so, read on and find out!
Coffee
Would any list about cheap caffeine sources be complete without the mention of one of the world’s favorite drinks, coffee? Nope! Best of all, it’s great when you’re running low on money because you can swing by almost any gas station or convenience store in the world and grab a cup of coffee. It should only run you a dollar or two and is just as good as making it yourself. Just stay away from places like Starbucks when you’re running low on money.
No-Doz
We’re not sure if you’ve ever heard of these or not but they’re basically a caffeine pill that will help keep you awake. You can find them (or something similar) in most retail stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. Get a whole bottle of these and keep them in your car, purse, or office for those days when you need a little bit of caffeine for cheap.
Soda
Soda is a great source of caffeine especially if you’re drinking something like Mountain Dew or Mello Yello. In most instances, you can grab a can of soda for around .75 cents or stock up in advance. Try to limit your soda intake to just one a day or whenever you need it the most as soda can be bad for you in many different ways over time. We know, it’s a “duh!”
Energy Drinks
Finally, you have the option of drinking energy drinks. Don’t waste your money on the expensive ones like Red Bull though when you can get a Monster or NOS for about $2. If you head over to a discount store like Big Lots though, you can find off brand energy drinks or flavors for bigger companies like Monster that didn’t work out well. Sure, it may sound a little sketchy but you can literally buy these for around $1 each. That’s a great price, huh?
So, the next time you’re in a rush and need a quick caffeine fix, consider grabbing one of these drinks. They don’t cost an arm and a leg as long as you play your cards right and all of them are very accessible regardless of where you live. Now, what are you waiting for?
Let’s go get our caffeine fix in and be productive for the rest of the day. While we do that, let’s also working on pinching pennies, saving money, and living a very good life!
4 Tips For Cutting Down Phone Costs
With so many cell phones in the world now (practically everyone owns one), many people neglect their home phone bills. Sure, almost everyone still has a home phone because it’s always good to have two numbers but what many people don’t know is that they could be paying a lot less for their home phone. With the valuable information found below, you’re going to find out how you can be one of those people. Ready to get started? So are we!
Bundle Up
The first tip that we have is the same tip that we’d give you if you asked us how you could save money on your cable or Internet bill. Bundle it up with other services and you could save around $10 a service. That’s a total savings of $30 a month roughly if you’re using cable, phone, and Internet. It’s a no brainer and we definitely recommend that you do it.
Go Unlimited
Sure, getting something like Unlimited Long Distance or Unlimited UK, Canada, or whatever country it is that you call to costs a little more money but there’s a catch. You’ll never have to worry about being charged per minute if you just have a base plan and need to call a different state or country. Go ahead and go unlimited so you can save some money.
Get Rid Of It
Do you really need a home phone? I know, we just got done saying that we think everyone should have two numbers but are you the exception? Figure out if you really do need a home phone or if you could get by with just a cell phone. This alone could save you from $20 to $60 a month. Do the math for how much you would save in a year’s time and you’ll see that these are definitely some pretty substantial savings. Now, let’s move on again.
Try Something New
While we’ve never personally tried this things ourselves, we see a lot of products out there like the Magic Phone Jack or Vonage that claim extreme savings and ease of use. Again, we’ve never personally tried any of these services but if it means you can save a little bit of money, it’s probably worth trying. You can also find them at most retail stores.
So, the next time you find yourself wondering how your phone bill got so high, refer back to this list and use our tips to rack up some serious savings. Not only will you save money but that means you’ll have more money to spend on something else. It could be new clothes, a new TV, or you could work on saving up for that new car you’ve been wanting. Either way, we’re sure that you will save money and you’ll never stress over your phone bill again. What are you waiting for? Start doing these things today for ample savings!
Affordable Ways To Do A Detox
Cleansing your body is something that everyone should do once in a while so why not do so in an affordable manner. Below, you will find a few foods and beverages that will help you cleanse your better which will not only make you feel great in the long run but it is very beneficial to you in many other ways as well. Now, if that all sounds good and you’re ready to get started, scroll down and enjoy this list of affordable ways to do a detox at home!
Make A Cocktail
Okay, so this is definitely one of the most efficient ways to do a detox at home. Grab a few of your favorite fruits and veggies, throw them into your juicer (or blender), and have it as a replacement for breakfast or lunch for a few days. It may be tough at first and you may experience some hunger pains but at the end of the day, you’ll feel like a new person!
Cranberry Juice
Okay, before there’s any confusion, you want to make sure that you get the real deal. It needs to be 100% real cranberry juice and not Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail. While that DOES have some benefits, it’s more or less a sugared down version of real cranberry juice. Usually, real cranberry juice will be in a glass container (not plastic) and cost $2-$3 more.
Sweat It Out
This one isn’t conventional and most people don’t even know that you can literally rid your body of toxins not only by regularly drinking cranberry juice or “juicing” but you can also hop in a sauna and sweat it out. This is a great way to rid your body of toxins, feel better, and have an extremely unique experience. If you haven’t been in a sauna, go try it out!
Avoid Certain Foods
During the few days that you make an attempt to detox your body, the most affordable way to do a detox is to avoid certain foods. Not only are you spending less money but this detox is practically free. Avoid fatty foods, white carbohydrates such as potatoes, and say no to sweets like ice cream. Eat lean meats, fruit, green veggies, and only drink water.
Buy A Book
There are a lot of detox books out there today and most of them come with a money back guarantee. Try searching sites like Amazon, eBay, or even Books A Million. The point is this though. If you do decide to spend money on a detox book, read the reviews first and look for one that offers some kind of money back guarantee. They aren’t hard to find at all.
So, to recap. Our favorite affordable detox methods are cranberry juice, juicing in general, quality detox books, a good diet, and sweating the toxins out of your body via a sauna. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s all feel better together and get out there and start doing a detox. We promise that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It’s also well worth your time!