Busy Mommy Media » Frugal Shopping Tips

Free Does Not Mean Better

Pamela — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:39:48 +0000

Another money saving faux pas we all make is thinking something is good enough quality just because it’s free. I am sure you have heard the expression “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” The concept to grasp is that you always have to forfeit something to get something else. You may not have to pay for the meal but you do have to eat what they give you, and spend your time to get there, be there, and get back. The whole point behind the expression is to have people think beyond the dollar amount of the “free” item to the actual cost.

Why do they offer FREE items?

A lot of marketing plans use the word “free” to entice you to show up. They get you in the door hoping you will find at least one other thing to buy. Really think about the slogan – buy one get one free. Does it occur to you that you have actually buy one first!!! It seems obvious enough but when you are in the moment you succumb to the fact that the marketers are banking on the fact that it probably didn’t register.

Free is a Relative Term

You always need to think twice before jumping on a “free” deal. Sometimes you have to perform a service or task – say a survey or taste-test. So it really isn’t free – you are working for it. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when five minutes of your time filling in tiny bubbles on a survey is worth a free full-sized bottle of shampoo but think twice about 10 minutes for a small sample of a product. I once spent an entire afternoon standing in lines at a Safety Fair to get bicycle helmets, life jackets and rain slickers all for free for both of my sons. I felt it was time well spent because the quality of the items was high – all name brands. A friend of mine disagreed, which is fine. You have to make the judgment fro your self.

What’s My Point?

The message I am trying to get across to you is that you need to keep an eye out for the hidden cost. Sometimes it will be that you are indebted to the giver of the free item. I am sure you know some person that will bring up those free dishes they gave you every chance they get. Sometimes you sacrifice your norm to get something free. Sometimes you put in time and energy. Sometimes you use the gas in your car. This is a simple matter of checks and balances – do the costs outweigh the booty at the end of the day??

Coupon Clipping 101

Pamela — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:19:01 +0000

We all know that coupons are a great way to save money. But do you know the right was to utilize these moneysaving miracles to your best advantage?

Why Use Coupons?

Let’s face it – unless you are independently wealthy or your hubby is bringing in several hundred thousand dollars a year, you are probably living on a budget, especially if you are a stay at home mom. Anytime you can save a couple bucks is usually a welcome one. Some people (myself included) think that coupons are issued just help us save money. This is not at all the case, but rather a bonus bi-product of humongous marketing plan for national brand products. The real reason the Sunday paper, our mailboxes and now our inboxes and web browsers are stuffed with coupons is to get you to try something new. The key is to use coupons to your advantage – so you can both try something new and save a buck or two.

Don’t Make This Common Mistake

One of the biggest “coupon-clipping faux pas” is to buy something you do not really need just because you have a coupon. If you have no use for it, would not otherwise purchase the product and/or already have a sufficient supply, toss the coupon!

Making the Most of Coupons

Check with your regular grocery store about their coupon redemption policy. For example, Costco Wharehouse does not accept manufacture’s coupons, but only their own in house versions. Find out about special double coupon days, and using coupons in conjunction with their store sale prices. Then when you get the weekly specials insert in the mailbox or newspaper sit down with your coupons and figure out what super deals are available. If you play your cards right you can get items for shear pennies – and I have even ended up “getting paid” for buy an item after all the discounts. Always read the fine print on coupons. They often list very specific items for which the coupon is valid – like only the new sugar-free version, or you have to buy 2 to get the deal. And please do a little math for heaven’s sake. If the price after coupon and sale is not equal to or less than the price of the brand you usually get or generic it is not really worth it.
You may consider signing up for one of the many online free coupon websites – Eversave, or Smartsource. They often have coupons for hundreds of name brand items at your fingertips. They also usually allow you to set up some criteria to insure that you only get coupons for products you will actually use. A word of caution though, these sites often sell their email lists and suddenly your inbox is jammed with ridiculous amount of junk mail for services and products you have no interest in whatsoever. There are also many blogs out there that focus on letting you know when an awesome coupon is available. You can also go directly to the companies that manufacture the products that you use most. For example Betty Crocker has an email sign up that comes with weekly coupons, as well as Kraft Foods.
Another great way to save when stores have sales is to plan your grocery list based on what is on sale. Take a look at the grocery store sale circular you get in the mail before you plan out your week’s meals.

You also want to keep your coupons well organized. You should sort them by section in teh grocery store. You should also set up a time each month to go through and toss the expired ones as well as get out hte ones that will soon expire. Here is a super cute coupon organizer – just because you are saving a buck doesn’t mean you can’t be chic!

My Love Affair with Freecycle

Erin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:30:24 +0000

It all began when I moved to New Jersey. The same home that cost $60,000 in Nebraska (where I had moved from) cost $300,000 in Jersey. So I sat on my new living room floor. A three year old jumping on my back, my 18 month old having an accident on our couch and nursing our new baby. Oh-did I say couch? Yes. That being-peed-upon couch was one of our few pieces of furniture. There was a bassinet, a crib, a twin mattress and a queen bed. My underpaid policeman husband and I had decided that our love would see us through.

But the knowledge of the errant potty trainer was on my mind.

There was no way at all we could afford a new couch. Or a kitchen table. Or the whole wardrobe of clothes that all three kids seemed to grow out of every three months. So my internet addicted self and the frugal Nebraskan got together.

They had a love affair with http://www.freecycle.org

Freecycle is an entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free.

Within the first three years of using it (I was in New Jersey, so keep in mind the group had about 15,000 members) I had a new (lovingly used) couch, a new (refinished) dining room table and chairs, bookcases, end tables, countless toys,craft items and lots of crap I decided I “needed” without spending more than the gas I used to go and pick it up. And I gave back just as much. I felt guilty about selling some things when I knew there were people out there like us who could just not afford to buy a bassinet. So I freecycled it. Hence the “cycle”.

When you want to find a new home for something — whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door — you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of your Freecycling group.
Maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member’s offer, and you just might get it. After that, it’s up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.
The main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
Non-profit organizations also benefit from Freecycling.
Usually you must give before you take. Think of it as good karma.
Post the item or items you want to give away and where you are located.
Then request the things that you may be needing.
It’s a free cycle of giving. Think globally, recycle locally. The Freecycle Network is open to all communities and to all individuals who want to participate. Freecycle groups are run by local volunteer moderators from across the globe who facilitate each local group – grassroots at its best!

But pay attention!!

Some groups are really busy. Make sure the email selection you choose works for you. Options include Daily Digest (bundles of 25 messages at a time delivered all in one email), Individual Messages (receiving a message just as it is sent out), No Mail (reading the messages on the web so your inbox is free of the messages).
Not all groups allow the No Mail option, so read carefully to see if your group allows it or not.
These rules are the same for all Freecycle groups: everything must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. Local groups sometimes add other rules, like no pets, no coupons, no services. Be sure to read the guidelines for your local group so that you know what is or isn’t allowed.

Visit http://freecycle.org, http://freesharing.org or http://sharingisgiving.org to find a group in your area.

And think before you throw that spaghetti jar in the garbage! I need that for my next kid’s art project!!

Saving Money on Holiday Gifts

Lorie — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:19:55 +0000

Christmas is a time that most people spend a lot of money or go into debt. Does it really have to be that way? I think we can have a really fun and relaxed holiday without spending a lot of money. Gifts is one area that we can really save money on. An expensive gift does not always mean the best gift. Some frugal things can be even more meaningful than an expensive gift. Here are some frugal gift ideas:

Frugal Christmas Gifts

-Baked goods wrapped nicely make a nice gift.

-Have the kids make something or use the holiday crafts they make at school. Family Fun magazine has some really neat ideas for kid’s crafts.

-Write a poem or a special story for someone.

-Give coupons to redeem service, like washing the car, watching kids, etc. Here are some downloadable ones.

-Gifts in a Jar, such as soups, hot cocoa, cider. Here are some recipes and here are some more.

-Used Books

-Homemade Jams and Jelly, here is my favorite

-Framed school pictures, grandparents love these! You can find frames at dollar stores for real cheap!

-Collect samples from companies online throughout the year, Walmart is a great place to start, and put them in a gift basket decorated nicely. Teens love this!

-Make a recipe book with your most loved recipes to pass down to your family.

-Make a family ornament with a picture and the date included on it.

Saving Money on Disposable Diapers

Lorie — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:12:19 +0000

As a mother of twins, I know how expensive diapers can be, when you decide cloth are not for you. I have had three in diapers at one time and believe me I know that diapers are pricey! For a long time, I thought I was doing good buying generic. When I started couponing, I found out that I could match the coupon with a sale and get the brand name for less or about the same price. Here are a few things to consider when trying to save money on disposable diapers.

1. Do the math- Check the PDC (per diaper cost) before buying. To figure the PDC, divide the cost of the package of diapers by the number of diapers in the package.

2. Check sales- Keep a record of the prices of diapers in your area at several different places so you know what is really a sale price. Don’t forget to check grocery stores, drug stores, and discount stores.

3. Use a coupon with a sale- Sign up for coupons with manufactures and check Sunday papers for coupons. Ask family members and friends who do not need diapers anymore to save coupons for you. I also like to look in the coupon basket at my library. I find lots of diaper coupons in there.

4. Look for Rebates or store rewards- Most of the drugstores offer rebates or store rewards that with a coupon and sale can make for an even bigger sale. Another resource that I use is the Caregivers Marketplace. They work with manufactures to offer a rebate for Huggies diaper products. You send in at least 5 at a time and they send you $1.00 per jumbo pack of diapers, pull-ups, Goodnights, and even swim diapers. I have done this many times and always get a check back in a timely matter. Visit there website for more information.

5. Stock-Up- Stockpiling is a great way to save money on diapers. If you find a great price, buy enough for several months. Be careful because babies do grow out of the diaper sizes quickly. I remember having a stockpile for the twins of size 1 and they only stayed in those for about 2 months. So, keep in mind that you might have to stockpile a different size.

6. Consider buying online- I have not done this but I know there are several discount online companies that sale diapers. If you decide to go this route, you will need to figure out the PDC by adding in the cost of shipping.

7. Samples- Lots of times, you can find free samples online for diapers. Walmart.com is a great place to find samples.

8. Remember that all generics are not alike- I have bought several generics that leaked or just did not meet my expectations. So even though the PDC might be 50 cents less it may not be worth it if they leak on you and you need to use more.

What do you do to save money on disposable diapers?

Frugal Dining with Discount Gift Certificates

Rachel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:10:45 +0000

Being frugal does not mean you have to do without things that you enjoy. A little bit of advanced planning can often help you to enjoy a dinner out at your favorite restaurant for a fraction of what it would usually cost you. Discount gift certificates are available for many popular restaurant chains. You can often buy a $50 gift certificate for $20, which allows you to get a nice meal for not much more than it would cost for fast food.

Restaurant.com – This is a great resource for low cost gift certificates. You can find a great variety of restaurants that offer $10 gift certificates for $3, $25 gift certificates for $10, $50 gift certificates for $20, $75 gift certificate for $30, or a $100 gift certificate for $40. The more you spend, the better deal you get and there is nothing stopping you from using your gift certificate in multiple visits to the restaurant.

CityDeals.com – City Deals has a wider variety of discount gift certificates but some deals are better than others. The discounts range from a 3% discount to 50% discount and not only can you find restaurants, but many local attractions as well.

Get the Most for Your Money

MyKidsEatFree.com – Even if you have a great discount gift certificate to use, you want to get the most for your money. MyKidsEatFree.com will tell you all the restaurants in your area that offer discount kids meals on certain nights of the week.

Ordering water instead of soda or specialty drinks can save you quite a bit of money at a restaurant and they can be enjoyed for a fraction of the cost at home. Visit your favorite restaurants for lunch instead of dinner. They often serve the same meals and portions for a fraction of the cost. You don’t have to give up your favorite restaurants in an effort to live a more frugal lifestyle. A little advanced planning can help you enjoy the same things while being gentle on your budget.

A How-To Guide to Consigning Clothes

Kelly — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:08:11 +0000

Some of us have kids that trash their clothes and some of us have kids that are “gentle” on them. For those of us that have “gently used clothes”, there is an option for all those too small left overs.

One of my recent issues is what to do with all of the clothes that are left over once my youngest reaches a new size. I decided to try out consignment for my children’s clothes but was not sure how it worked.

I called around to 3 different consignment stores to get the low down on the in’s and out’s. After trial and error on my part, here are the questions to ask when first-time consigning:
1. What day/hours do you accept clothing?
2. How many items are they accepting at a time?
3. What season of clothing is being accepted now and until what date (example: shorts, sleeveless tops are taken in June).
4. Is the store a true consignment store or do they buy clothes? A consignment store is where you have a code and when your clothes sell then you receive a credit/cash. A store that buys clothes will buy the clothes from you on the spot.
5. Do you provide the clothes on hangers or do they only want you to use theirs? This is a time-saver knowing whether to bring them on hangers or hang them once you get there.

Once you have the answers to these questions, then the next step is selecting the clothes you would like to consign. Assuming they are clean, then the next step is to review them for buttons and make sure they are in working order. Lastly, take the time to press them. Pressing = Ironing. I had not used an iron in awhile and this is most daunting part of the process for me.

Now comes the fun part, the game of consigning. It is almost like gambling for me. I drop off my perfectly pressed and adorable clothes and then check back to see if I scored. Sometimes someone will bite and take home your child’s favorite shirt and other times I am out of luck. But the fun never ends and even though the credit/cash that you receive is not gold it can still be turned around for “new” clothes for your family or other treasures you might come across.

Cutting Costs on Everyday Items

Guest Writer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:04:26 +0000

Everything is expensive these days. Gas is around $4.00 a gallon, milk isn’t much cheaper than that, and all food seems to have gone up in price.

It makes stretching your budget harder and harder every day. So how do you make a dollar go further these days?

Buy generic – Most generic foods are just as good as name brand. There are a few things you may draw the line on, but for the most part you can save money simply by switching brands. Be sure to check your price per ounce or unit to make sure you’re getting the best bargain.

Shop Warehouse Stores – You may think your family is not big enough to shop at warehouse stores, but they have good deals on some things. Produce can be a great buy, but be sure you’re going to use it before it goes bad, or you won’t have saved any money. Things like paper towels, dish detergent and soda can be a great deal at the warehouse stores. You’re going to need them anyway.

Shop the Sales – It used to be that you could just make a grocery list and know about what your food budget was going to be. Those days are behind us. Now you should check the sale flyers before making your list. If pork is on sale, plan more pork meals than chicken. Look for things like buy one, get on free or other sales, but don’t forget to check your price per ounce or unit again to make sure you are getting the best deal. Don’t forget to bring your coupons along too.

Shop at Thrift Stores or Garage Sales – This is a great place to find things for kids, or for your home. So many kids outgrow their clothes and they don’t get worn out. You can find perfectly good clothes for a fraction of the price. If you don’t want to buy “good clothes” here, think of getting “play” clothes at sales. Other things like kids books and toys are usually readily available.

Freecycle – Freecycle is like an on-line swap meet. People who have items that they no longer need post to the group, and if a member is interested, they e-mail the poster to express their interest. The poster then chooses a recipient from the responses. There are many things available in a wide range of needs. You can find everything from home décor to kids items to appliances and vehicles. If there is something you are in need of, you may post a request as well. You register based on location so you don’t spend a lot of money in gas going to pick up your new treasures. Only things that are going to be given for free should be posted. There is no charge for the service.

Freebies and Samples– If there is something new that you want to try but you’re not sure if you want to spend the money, check with the company to see if you can get a sample. Many food companies have samples of their popular or new items. Check with the company’s website to see what you might be able to try. You may discover you love the product, but if you don’t like it, you will have saved yourself money. Other websites specialize in giving free samples. Sites like Start Sampling allow you to register and receive samples on products you choose. There are ways to cut costs and in the coming months it’s probably going to be even more crucial to the average family to trim expenses where you can.

If you have money saving tips that haven’t been covered here, please share them.

by Kelly Killian

How to Get the Lowest Price on a New Car

Rachel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:53:35 +0000

Buying a new car is a huge expense and can make a big dent in the family budget. Understanding the car buying experience can help you determine how to get the car that you want without paying too much for it. Practicing smart shopping techniques when buying a new car can save you thousands of dollars on the total price of the car.

Determine What Car you Want

Before beginning the process of buying a car, it is important to narrow down your options as much as you can. If you are looking at 20 different cars you are going to spread yourself too thin and won’t be able to get the best price on the new car you are really interested in. It can be hard to compare many different car models because the options packages are different for each car and no two cars are identical. Comparing only two different new car models makes it easier to get the best price on your final choice.

Avoid Being Bullied by New Car Sales People

When buying a new car, you will always get a lower price if you are in control of the buying process rather than the sales person taking control. Set the tone early in the buying process and let the dealership know that you are buying a new car on your own terms or not at all. Most new car dealerships will respect a consumers desire to test drive a car without a sales person present if they believe that there is real interest in purchasing a new car. Don’t let the sales person push you around by selling you on a car that you don’t really want or is out of your price range. The goal of a new car sales person is to have you walk out of a car dealership with a new car the same day. By purchasing a car on your first visit to a new car dealership, you will often be reacting on emotion and have less control over the final purchase price of your new car.

Using the Internet to Get the Best Price on a New Car

Once you have narrowed your list of new cars down to your top choices, it’s time to turn to the internet to shop around for the best price. When shopping for a new car, the internet can be used for two main purposes. The first is to research your car choice to reinforce your decision. Search for owner reviews of your car choice, reliability ratings, safety ratings, model revisions (whether not there have been any changes made to the model you are interested in since the previous year), and model options.

The second purpose for using the internet when buying a new car is to contact dealers. Many consumers limit themselves to local dealerships, not realizing that they can save thousands of dollars on a new car by having it shipped or picking it up themselves. Consumers can use online buying services such as Costco.com, autobytel.com, and cars.com. Car buying services typically have agreements with dealers to offer consumers a set low price on a new car. All car manufacture websites have an option to get an online quote on a new car. This feature sends you price quotes on a new car from any dealerships you choose. Since car manufacturers do not want buyers forcing car dealerships to compete against each other they often only allow you to request one dealer for each request that is made. To submit requests to multiple car dealerships, you will need to hit the back button on your browser and resubmit your requires for a different dealership.

Shop at the End of the Month

Car dealerships often give buyers a better deal at the end of the month because they are trying to meet their end of the month quotas. Shopping at the end of a quarter will give buyers an even better price on a new car.

Get Dealerships to Compete

If you really want to get the lowest price when buying a new car, you get dealerships to compete against each other. Since internet quotes are emailed to you and able to be printed, they are considered a written quote. You can then take your lowest quoted price and ask other car dealerships if they can beat it. Many car dealerships have a policy that they will beat any written quote by at least $100. After contacting several dealers, you can be confident that you are getting the best price on your new car.

Rediscovering Thrift Stores

Lorie — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:49:46 +0000

Gone are the days of only the poor shopping the thrift stores. Lots of studies show that the middle class are the ones shopping at thrift stores. Why not? There are lots of treasures to be found at your local thrift store. Right now is the time to go find your favorite thrift store! People are rushing there to give donations before the end of the year so they can get a tax deduction. The thrift stores are overflowing with great deals and stuff.

I recently went to our Goodwill store and found lots of really nice clothes for my kids. There was also a ton of great toys! I found a doll house just like the one we bought for my little girl for Christmas for only $8.00. That made me kind of sick since we paid $69.00 for the one we bought, but the one at the thrift store did not have any furniture with it, so that made me feel a little better. So, go find the thrift store nearset you and see what kind of treasures you can find! Here is a list of some common thrift stores:

Thrift Stores

Goodwill Store Locator

Habitat ReStore Store Directory

Salvation Army Store Locator

Deseret Industries Store Locator