July 19th, 2010 by Emily
I love looking on eBay, They have so much stuff! Used or new, you can find all kinds of interesting things on there. Frankly, however, it can be a pain in the butt! It irritates me that they overcharge on the shipping, and, if you really want something, you have to use the “buy it now” option, since it’s almost impossible to win an auction these days…until now!
Bidnip.com is an auction sniper site that will swoop in at the last minute on an auction, and, for a very small fee (generally less than a quarter), snag the item for you! If you don’t win, you get your change back! This will help you save up to 50% on your item, which will make you feel a little better about the ridiculous shipping costs that the sellers charge! Also, if you’re not sure you want to sign up with them, they let you have a free trial, just to be sure. No obligation, no worries.
Happy shopping! Save some money.
Tags: Money tips, saving money, Spending Money
Posted in Mucho Moolah, Monday's Money Saving Tips! | No Comments »
July 14th, 2010 by Emily
There are many differences between good strong relationships and relationships that struggle. We have discussed some of them in the past, but another characteristic of a strong relationship is working together. When you work together as a couple, it keeps you sane, especially when you have a burden on your relationship.
In our case, a new baby in the house is definitely a strain on our sanity as first time parents. There are bottles to be made and diapers to be changed, all while the baby is crying. It’s a lot on the nerves. The only way to make it through, that I can see anyway, is to work together. When you share the responsibilities you are not only showing respect to your partner, but you are directly impacting their stress level in a positive way. This keeps the blood pressure low and, if your lucky, keeps the sleep deprivation to a minimum, haha.
Identify the stressers in your relationship. Sit down and discuss them together, and see if you can agree on a method to work together and remove the stress. Show each other the love and respect that you felt for each other when you got married. That is how love and respect grow throughout the years. I love and respect Jerrill more everyday. And the love and respect I show him, he shows to me as well, and that, people, helps you keep your sanity when you have a million things to do and no time to do it in.
Tags: emotional boosts, Family, Marriage, Relationships, Spouse
Posted in Wild Card Wednesday | No Comments »
July 12th, 2010 by Emily
I have said many times before, that buying generic will save you lots of money, but today I have a very good example of how a couple of little things can save you lots of money.
As our regular readers are aware, your favorite southern couple now has a daughter. At around a month old, her requirements are mainly food, diaper changes and sleep (and the pacifier, haha). Another requirement, we have learned, is that of gas relief drops, like Mylicon. The stuff is like liquid gold. We go through an ounce a week, for crying out loud, and at about $13 an ounce, buying that stuff at the grocery, frankly, hurts. The good news is that while at another local grocery store, we found their generic brand drops for only $4 an ounce! That’s a savings of $9 a week, or $468 a year! For those of you looking for a good start on your vacation fund, saving on generics like this is a fast track to making it a reality.
Review your weekly expenditures and try and find the name brand things that can be swapped for generic. It doesn’t have to be all of your weekly expenses, but $10-$15 a week adds up, and will be a nice boost to your savings, or a good start on a vacation (or at least a nice long weekend)!
Tags: Budgeting, Discount, saving money, Shopping, Spending Money
Posted in Mucho Moolah, Monday's Money Saving Tips! | No Comments »
July 9th, 2010 by Emily
Today’s article is from CNNMoney.com, titled Teach you teen paycheck savvy, and gives good tips for ways to steer your teenager toward a financially sound future. What tips does it offer? Read on:
- Taxes – Gross versus Net, FICA versus income taxes…it’s all confusing to a teenager. Actually, it’s confusing to a lot of adults as well (unfortunately), so if you don’t understand the difference, look it up, then sit down with your child when they get their first check and explain the differences to them. It’s important for them to know what they make versus what they bring home, and where what they’re not bringing home is going.
- Bank accounts – Help your teen open up both a savings and a checking account. It’s not only important for your teen to learn how to use a checking account, including balancing a checkbook (which you should teach them…again, learn how to if you don’t know, because you want your child to have a good financial start, don’t you??), but it’s also important for them to learn how to save money, like starting their own emergency fund, car fund or iPhone or iPad fund etc. Delayed gratification is a very good lesson for a teen to learn, in a world of “My super sweet 16″ TV shows and teens who expect to be bought $200 blue jeans.
- Micromanaging – The above stated, let them mess up with the first paycheck. New fancy shoes or video games might be awesome to have right then and there, but when they have no more money because they blew it all, don’t give in and give them money from your own wallet. Let them see what it’s like to be broke. It needs to hurt a little.
This is a great article, so check it out! Don’t let the opportunity to impart good financial lessons to your teenager pass you by!!!
Tags: Financial planning, job market, Personal responsibility
Posted in Friday's Financial News! | No Comments »
July 2nd, 2010 by Emily
Due to a very fussy baby, there will be no post today. We apologize, and hope that all of our readers have a fun and safe holiday weekend. Happy Independence day!
Posted in Friday's Financial News! | No Comments »
June 30th, 2010 by Emily
A friend sent me an article that talks about Warren Buffett’s opinion on the lottery of birth. Based on the world’s current population, out of every 100 people, 5 will be born in the U.S., and only half of them will be above average intelligence!
With this information in mind, if you’re reading this article as a citizen of the U.S., you are already lucky in that you have all of the opportunities afforded to the citizens of this great land. Given this revelation, why would you waste any of the opportunities you have?? You should be out in the world, making your future better by learning to be frugal and save money for retirement. And, if you’ve been lucky enough to meet a significant other who shares your views and your luck in being born in the U.S., then you both owe it to yourselves to make the most of everything that comes your way.
This doesn’t mean that you should spread yourself too thin, or that you MUST take advantage of EVERY opportunity, but it does mean that ANY person, no matter their socioeconomic status, has the same ability to get ahead in the U.S., and feeling sorry for yourself or deciding that you can’t do something only hurts you in the long run.
It”s easy to have a negative and defeatist attitude. Don’t do easy…have a positive attitude and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. That is how you become more powerful in your own life.
Posted in Wild Card Wednesday | No Comments »
June 28th, 2010 by Emily
Well, your favorite southern couple is happy to say that we are now a family of 3, with our daughter Claire born the weekend before last. With new routines and schedules in mind, this tip will be short and sweet. We’re recommending that you stop buying bottled water, in favor for either water straight from the tap or from a filtration system!
Not only is it a good choice for saving money, since the cost of bottled water is ridiculous, but also, the plastic that the bottles are made from fills up landfills if you don’t recycle them. As an added punch in the gut, the plastic bottle is made from oil, in case you didn’t know, and so, is yet another reason to look into alternatives.
I know some of you might like the portability of the bottled water, but you can buy a reusable water bottle and just wash it! When I go to the gym, I use a reusable water bottle, that I fill straight from the tap (tap water has fluoride in it, something a lot of people are lacking for their teeth right now because of bottled water). When I get home, I wash the bottle and let it dry, so that it will be ready for the next trip to the gym.
It’s just something to think about. There are many good reasons to switch from bottled water, but the monetary savings definitely tops my list!
Posted in Mucho Moolah, Monday's Money Saving Tips! | No Comments »
June 18th, 2010 by Emily
I found a great article for today on Walletpop.com, titled 10 products you”re wasting your money on. Not only is the article funny, but it does point out several things that people buy/spend money on that are unnecessary.
My favorite item on the list has to be weddings, since I have somewhat of a personal vendetta against high cost weddings. It’s not that I don’t want people to have a nice wedding full of memories, it’s just that I don’t think we need to spend an average of $19,000 (according to the article) to make these memories. Friends and family make the memories of your wedding (trust me on this), not the decorations. Use less expensive decorations/venues to cut costs. Have a friend throw you a “stock the bar” shower as opposed to a lingerie shower, since we all know that the lingerie ends up on the floor anyway, and save a ton on booze. Either way, cut your costs, and put that money into savings!
Another favorite off the list? Kitchen gadgets! We all love them and we all buy them (unless of course, you use your kitchen as a closet or can only cook 5 meals, and therefore eat our a lot), but do we really need them? Be honest! Do you really need that pasta maker? Have you ever made pasta from scratch? Or is it more likely that you bought the gadget and still buy your pasta pre-made from the grocery? Whatever the gadget, chances are you don’t need it! You should either save that cash, or put it toward something useful, like saving it up to buy a good set of knives or cookware!
There are 8 other items on the list, which I strongly suggest you check out! Some are funny (electronic litter box, anyone??), and others are practical, but all are a waste of money!
We would like to take this time to wish everyone a Happy Father’s Day this Sunday, and would also like to notify you that we will be taking next week off from writing, as we celebrate the birth of our daughter. As our regular readers know, we take family time very seriously, and think that spending time loving each other is a key element in a happy marriage, and of course, loving more and living better. Therefore, that is what we’re going to do next week! Have a great week next week, and we’ll see you soon!
Tags: Debt, Financial planning, Frugality, Money tips, saving money
Posted in Friday's Financial News! | No Comments »
June 16th, 2010 by Emily
Last month we posted some ideas for the frugal shopper looking to get mom something special for Mother’s Day, and now, with Father’s Day fast approaching, we’ve decided to post several links to websites that have some great tips for the gift givers! For ideas on inexpensive gifts for Father’s Day, check out the following links:
- Better Budgeting - Some great ideas here! My favorite is the idea of yard service. This is great for the father who doesn’t relish the idea of getting out in the heat and working in the yard. A truly thoughtful gift.
- About.com - As for this website, I personally like the “week of special lunches”, since Jerrill takes his lunch to work everyday. I think this might top my list for next years Father’s Day!
- iVillage.com - This has some good tips for the 1st Father’s Day for a new dad! The big idea here is keeping it simple and inexpensive, and I wholeheartedly agree, since most men I know wouldn’t want you to break the bank on their Father’s Day gift anyway. Men are men. If they want something for themselves, they generally go get it!
- Associated Content - This has some sweet ideas and some funny ideas for the new dad. I LOVE the “new dad diaper changing survival kit”! This is a great little funny gift for the dad with a sense of humor!
So, with my baby about to be born any day now, you might be asking what your favorite southern woman has done for her man on Father’s Day. Well, I have 2 presents in store for him (I don’t mind sharing…he’s a little busy with baby stuff right now, and won’t likely be reading this week’s posts, haha). The first is a picture frame that will have our first family picture in it, that he can take to work. The second is my favorite however. I have had his wedding band inscribed, something personal from just me to him, because even though it is Father’s Day, the joy of our baby would not have been possible without our love and devotion to each other, and it’s always good for couples to remember that.
Hope these links help you find the ideal and frugal gift for your dad! Good luck!
Tags: Budgeting, Family, Free stuff, Frugality, saving money, Spouse
Posted in Wild Card Wednesday | 2 Comments »
June 14th, 2010 by Emily
One of the most important things in an entrepreneurs bag of tricks is their ability to obtain new customers and build their business more. The more people you talk to/network with, the more people will want to try your service or buy your product. A great way to increase your brand power and obtain new customers is by becoming involved in every civic, educational and professional organization you can that is also relevant to you and your business!
Buy building relationships with people who are also involved in these organizations, you will build a reputation as a solid and concerned citizen, and will get your name, and the name of your business out in the business world. Just remember not to join more groups than you have time to dedicate to them. While there are many local groups that you can join in the town/city you live in or near, there are many national groups as well. Try to pick groups that are relevant in some way to your business, if that’s at all possible. What are some of the national groups you could join? Check these out:
The Boys and Girls Club of America – Get involved in mentoring children with hard luck backgrounds.
Kiwanis International - Global volunteer organization that helps communities and children.
Volunteers of America - Service oriented organization that helps people get “back on track”
Volunteer.gov - A database that has volunteer opportunities able to be sorted by state, agency and type of opportunity.
Habitat for Humanity - A nonprofit organization that builds houses for those in need.
There are countless others to choose from, but these are a few volunteer options to get you started. Don’t forget, though, that you can join other groups that focus on education or professional development in your local community!
Tags: Finances, job market, Making money, Relationships
Posted in Mucho Moolah, Monday's Money MAKING Tips! | 1 Comment »
