Monday, February 7, 2011

Free and Legit

While my updates have been scarce lately I have not forgotten about this blog. I just have a 3 month old that is my first priority.  Please just bare with me while we get back to order this week.
Thank You!

On that note. I recently joined a community that is big on recycling where they take the old saying "One mans trash is another mans treasure" very seriously. Its called Free Cycle and is part of yahoo groups. I wanted to give it a test run before I said anything about it and while I have not personally gotten anything yet a lot of the postings in my area seem to be very good stuff. ( Recently a lady posted for a free crib and even a sofa and loveseat!)

Its a little like the free section on craigslist but you do have to sign up and at first it does seem a little exclusive.When you go to the website, you search for your area group. Then you register and wait for them to approve your request for membership. Then you have to fill out an email and reply back letting them know why it is you want to join Free Cycle and if you fully understand what it is that they stand for. Once you do that you are in. You will then get emails when people have things up for offer. There is also a way to post for things you or others may want.

From what I have seen so far, its a great concept. I figure the more people the more stuff. With spring cleaning just around the corner we all need somewhere to throw our unwanted items to. This website will enable you to do so without filling our country's dumps!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Controlling your spending.

     Saving money can be quite the challenge when you love shopping as much as I do. Every now and again if I come across what I think is a really good deal its a little hard to control myself. Lately I have been trying to go by a few rules that I have learned:

1. Do I WANT this or do I NEED this?
    Seriously think about it, how many things do we buy just because we want it. If we ask ourselves the
Need VS Want question in the store we are more then likely to cut down on our spending quite a bit.

    When it comes to doing groceries, you obviously need food but how many times do you buy things that end up in the trash because nobody eats it. If there is something new on the market that you are looking to try but are not sure you will like it, go to the companies website and look for a coupon.(If they don't have a coupon on the website call them and tell them you are interested in trying the new product and were wondering if they could send you some coupons) Since its a new product the company will be trying to push the sales so you will more then likely able to find a coupon for it.

2. How long will this last me?
    A more detailed form of this question would be "Will I still have this 4 years from now?" This question especially helps when making big purchases, such as a camera or TV. If you are going to spend a lot of money on something you want to makes sure you get the "bang for your buck"  or get your moneys worth. Even if in 2 years you try to resell you wont make the same amount you paid for it. Is it really worth the loss. To break it down even more...will this still be in working order.

3.Can I find this cheaper somewhere else?
   A few days ago I talked about shopping around for the best price and websites that will help you to find the best price.You don't want to buy something only to find the same thing later for a lot less then what you paid. So make sure what you are paying is what you think you should pay and you are not being overcharged. Remember that a lot of the things you find at stores like Macy's,Target and even Walmart most of the time when they are not sold or have minor defects they then get sent to stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Ross for a lot less then what you would have paid. So know your prices and don't ever over pay.

4. Do I have or can I find a coupon for this?
   If you think you can find a coupon for it then wait. It's better to save a little then nothing at all. Remember all those little bits you save really add up!

   So the next time you go shopping try these questions out for yourself and see if they work for you. Keep track of how many things you put back on the shelf because you realize you just don't NEED it or you can find it cheaper elsewhere!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Save money on gas...be smart!

We all shop around for things online and in stores and we try to do our best to shop around for gas prices. Well here is a link to a website that will do the gas price shopping for you!

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/GasStations.aspx?m=1&l=1&zip=00000&x=12&y=7

Just put in your zip code and you will see the lowest, highest, and the average price for your area. Its a great tool to use so you get the best price! Hope you enjoy!