Friday 01/01/10: Resolve to save

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Do you make new year's resolutions? I made a lot this year. So many, in fact, that I actually categorized them by personal, health, financial, etc. If you choose to make financial resolutions this year, resolve to save money in the areas of your budget that can fluctuate (i.e. food as opposed to mortgage). Resolve regardless of whether you need the savings. If you don't need the savings, consider donating farm animals in the third world through an organization like World Vision, but don't keep throwing away money you don't need to spend. Visit the coupon sites, go buy your newspapers, sit down with your scissors and the sale ads, and see what you can do with a little time and savvy shopping expertise.
And have fun!

Tuesday 12/29/09: Buy your Christmas stuff now

Again, it's a post-holiday window where all the good stuff isn't quite gone yet and stores are slashing prices on everything. So if you're into keeping candy around the house, decorating all over for the holidays, making cookies, or any other Christmas-season type activity, stock up now while the prices are a fraction of what they'll be next fall when you think "Oh yeah, we wanted to get a pre-lit tree this year..."

Friday 12/25/09: Hold off on seasonal products

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Love Coffemate's Christmas flavors? Me too. I wish they'd sell peppermint mocha year-round. I loooove it. But I hold off and wait until the week after Christmas, and hoard coupons for it, and then the store will discount it at least 50%. I buy enough to last me at least through February. It does have a "best by..." date, but remember that there's not actually any dairy in it so it's good long after that date.

Thursday 12/24/09: Try new flavors

So you have a coupon that's for a specific flavor, and you're going to be careful you use it correctly, as per yesterday's tip. But I want to encourage you to be willing to try new products and new flavors, with those specific-kind coupons. Often, companies who only sell an item during a certain season (pumpkin egg nog) or are launching a new item (Crackerfuls, which fell flat and was soon removed) will publish high-value coupons and severely discount the price in hopes of creating brand loyalty that will pay off later when the product is regular price and you don't have a coupon. Don't buy into that part of it, but feel free to take advantage of their big marketing push at the beginning! You could end up with a special treat you'll love. :)

Saturday 11/28/09: Buy for next Thanksgiving

The best time to buy anything for any holiday is within a week after the same holiday the previous year. So if you're into decorating for Thanksgiving, or you were thinking how nice it would be to have a pretty fall platter at this year's dinner, head out to Hobby Lobby, Michael's, AC Moore, drug stores, department stores, etc., and get at least 50% off Thanksgiving decor and supplies for next year. This is how I get all my Christmas decorations, and I'm developing quite a store of great stuff. After a week the items left aren't the best selection, but also after a few days the store will keep cutting the price, often up to 80% off within two weeks.

Friday, 11/27/09: Black Friday-power hours get extended

It's time to head out to shop! As you shop today and plan where you're going, consider that stores that are very busy will often extend their "power hours" or whatever they call them because of the volume of customers who arrived before the hours ended but haven't made it through the looooong line yet. I know for sure this happens at Kohl's. Also, if you get to a place right before their hours end, ask an associate if you can still get the sale price even though it will be after the power hours when you get to the register. They want to make the sale so I'm betting they'll acquiesce. How much money you save is often up to you and how assertive you're willing to be!

Thursday 11/26/09: Black Friday-file your rebates immediately

Rebates are great, and the reason that companies think they're great is that many people don't bother to file them. With more and more online filing of rebates (I've done Staples and RiteAid recently) it's so easy--DO IT. I mean as soon as you get home tomorrow, go online and file all your rebates. The way I do it, I put the item on my credit card and file the rebate immediately, so I get the money back before I pay my credit card bill. So I actually don't spend any of my own money and it functions exactly like a coupon.

Wednesday, 11/25/09: Black Friday tips-read the fine print

It's almost time for one of the biggest shopping days of the year! As you head out this Friday (which I will NOT be doing for the first time in a few years!) I have a few tips for you. First, read the fine print on all the sale papers with offers you're interested in. Check out how many items the store will have so you can plan where you need to be first. See if the computer comes with no software so you'll have to buy $500 of software to use it for anything. Look for quantity limits, and time limits (i.e. the deal is only 5-11 a.m. or whatever). Remember, all sales and advertising are designed to get you to spend money on specific products. That's not bad, because if you need a product you're going to buy it one way or another. Just be sure that you're spending the amount of money you planned (or less) on the products you want, without spending more because you missed the hidden rules.

Tuesday 11/24/09: Thanksgiving week-it's all on sale

Sorry I missed yesterday-family in town and all that!

In honor of Thanksgiving I want to make a few comments this week about Thanksgiving week shopping. First, understand that grocery stores are competing to sell you Thanksgiving food this week. So, everything you can think of eating for Thanksgiving is going to be on sale everywhere. Your task is to look at sale papers, look at your coupons, and look for the best sales. You'll be exceeding your typical food budget this week so it's worth the time to save extra!