It has always been a frustration of mine that when you order a service such as cable or long distance, you pay the same rate as the day you signed on, indefinitely. This frustrates me because these are examples of highly competitive businesses where rates are constantly changing...and usually changing for the better (consumer-ly speaking). But I'm also (fairly) realistic, and I know that it would be next to impossible for these types of services to keep up with who is paying what rate and when...and frankly, why should they?
This is why it's important to periodically "check in" on all of the services that you pay for. This could be your cell phone, telephone, cable, Internet, dish, insurance, and even interest rates on your credit cards and bank accounts. No guarantees, but it's a safe bet you could save yourself some money if you checked in on these accounts and made appropriate changes every 6 months. Here is my most recent example...
Our cable bill was over $100/month. Yes, I am guilty of refusing to part with HBO. This is because HBO brilliantly only airs new episodes of one of their great shows, like Entourage or The Sopranos, at a time. So at any given time, I'm hooked on one show. Remember, I'm a pop culture junkie at heart. But I still felt $115/month stunk. So I called the cable company, and found out that everything we were currently getting was actually available for $95/month for 6 months. That was just what I wanted to hear! But what happens after 6 months? I was told I should call back and I'll likely be put into another "6 month special" that will offer the same services for the same cost or less.
Isn't that amazing? I made a free call and saved $20/month, without having to alter our lifestyle a bit.
Though not the most recent, I have another example:
I have a business checking account. I am a small business owner, and learn many things about business as I plug along. My first business checking account was with my local bank. They told me that the service charge on business accounts was $25/month. I didn't know any better, and it didn't dawn on me to check around at the time. So for one year I paid $25/month for having this account. When I got to checking around (I called, but email works too), I found the credit union where I also had accounts charged $5/month for a business checking account. I do nothing different, accept deposit and withdraw from another institution. And that little change saves my company $20/month, guaranteed.
Ok, one more example...
Did you know that if you have dish (Direct TV, to be exact), they will turn off your service, and not charge you while the service is off, if you are going to be out of town for more than 7 days? I'm serious! When I learned this, I figured: there has got to be a catch. They must charge you to turn it off and charge you to turn it on. Nope. You can even make this arrangement through the automated system via the 800 number on your bill. Granted, not everyone has a need to turn off their television for more than 7 days. But if you travel, or even vacation, this may be something to look into. And the $ saved probably will buy you at least a snack on your trip!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Douple Coupon Wednesday!
Wednesday is grocery shopping day around here. Because...it's double coupon Wednesday at the grocery store! Imagine the thrill a gal named money saving mama gets from such a concept! Not to bore anyone with what was in my cart, the overall savings this week broke down as follows:
Original Total: $72
Total After Store Savings Card was Scanned: $65
Total After Coupons (which were all doubled in value): $58
I got $72 worth of groceries for 58 bucks. Total savings: $14. All I did was use my free store card and clip the coupons from the Sunday paper. And, this particular grocery store participates in the U Promise program, so there is potential additional savings for our family in that respect.
In a future post, I'll let you know how I get that Sunday paper for free...and it's not by swiping it off a neighbor's porch!
Original Total: $72
Total After Store Savings Card was Scanned: $65
Total After Coupons (which were all doubled in value): $58
I got $72 worth of groceries for 58 bucks. Total savings: $14. All I did was use my free store card and clip the coupons from the Sunday paper. And, this particular grocery store participates in the U Promise program, so there is potential additional savings for our family in that respect.
In a future post, I'll let you know how I get that Sunday paper for free...and it's not by swiping it off a neighbor's porch!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Can a Few Blocks Make a Difference?
Of course it can...it's all about location, location, location. We went to Chicago a week and a half ago. This isn't very money saving, in general, but I needed to get away for a few days. We spend most of our time downtown, and specifically on the north end of Michigan Avenue. In the past we have always stayed right on Michigan Avenue. Beautiful rooms, but that's all it is for us...a room. I was frustrated at paying so much for lodging, and decided to see if a few blocks off of Michigan Avenue would make a difference. Of course I knew the answer before I even started. I just never dreamed what a huge $ difference a few blocks can make.
The difference between where we would normally stay (The Westin) and where we did stay (Ambassador East) was $100 per night. Both are 4 star, both offer a bar, restaurant, room service, fitness center, valet parking, room service. The difference: about 4 blocks. Well worth the risk of trying another property. Total savings: $200 + some extra, needed walking.
Note: I usually use expedia.com to book hotel rooms. I actually found a better rate when I went direct to the hotel web site...it's always worth double checking.
The difference between where we would normally stay (The Westin) and where we did stay (Ambassador East) was $100 per night. Both are 4 star, both offer a bar, restaurant, room service, fitness center, valet parking, room service. The difference: about 4 blocks. Well worth the risk of trying another property. Total savings: $200 + some extra, needed walking.
Note: I usually use expedia.com to book hotel rooms. I actually found a better rate when I went direct to the hotel web site...it's always worth double checking.
Diet and Exercise
It pays to keep in touch with friends...
I know that a food journal is an excellent way to keep eating habits in line. I know this because I eat better when I write down what I'm eating. I eat even better when I have to show the journal to someone else. For the past 4 months my husband and I have been members of weight watchers online. Back in 1997 I lost 30 lbs on weight watchers, and I swear by the program. However 10 years and 1 baby later and I am right back where I started plus a couple extra pounds. I cannot figure out a way to make the time to get to a live ww meeting, so I thought the online membership may do the trick. While it is a terrific program, no accountability has resulted in... no results for either one of us.
I recently emailed with a friend who now lives out of state. We were comparing notes on what we're doing to get in shape. She told me about a web site: www.my-calorie-counter.com. I checked it out, and found that it is very, very, very similar to the ww online tools. However mycaloriecounter is FREE. WW online is $16.95/month. So I canceled both ww memberships and we're using mcc. Savings: $33.90 ($16.95 x 2) per month.
Thanks to my friend, sj, for the tip!
I know that a food journal is an excellent way to keep eating habits in line. I know this because I eat better when I write down what I'm eating. I eat even better when I have to show the journal to someone else. For the past 4 months my husband and I have been members of weight watchers online. Back in 1997 I lost 30 lbs on weight watchers, and I swear by the program. However 10 years and 1 baby later and I am right back where I started plus a couple extra pounds. I cannot figure out a way to make the time to get to a live ww meeting, so I thought the online membership may do the trick. While it is a terrific program, no accountability has resulted in... no results for either one of us.
I recently emailed with a friend who now lives out of state. We were comparing notes on what we're doing to get in shape. She told me about a web site: www.my-calorie-counter.com. I checked it out, and found that it is very, very, very similar to the ww online tools. However mycaloriecounter is FREE. WW online is $16.95/month. So I canceled both ww memberships and we're using mcc. Savings: $33.90 ($16.95 x 2) per month.
Thanks to my friend, sj, for the tip!
Magazine vs. Magazines
For many years, I was a People Mag addict. I bought many issues from the newstand, and then eventually figured out how much cheaper a subscription was. I read this mag every week for at least 10 years. Cha ching. But I loved every second of it, and 10 years ago I didn't have any money anyway so it only made sense I'd spend it on a tool to sharpen my pop culture pencil.
Then towards the end of my last 3 year subscription, I just wasn't interested anymore. It was taking me 6 days to even sit down with a new issue, and on day 7 another issue would arrive. People Mag just wasn't for me anymore.
So I let my subscription expire...big potential money saver. But I still wanted mags in my life, just not that one. So I set out to figure out what mags I did feel like reading, and I would subscribe to those, limiting myself to what I spent for 1 yr. of People.
You can find all sorts of prices for a subscription to any mag. I used the $ printed on the People web site as my guide. To be honest, there is a ton of fine print so I'm not positive of the price of a 1 yr. subscription. But what I could piece together, it's about $113/year for this weekly mag.
I soon learned that I was paying A LOT of money for 1 mag that I was barely reading! Today, I receive the following magazines:
Oprah - $15 - 1 year
Preemie Magazine - Free - 1 Year
Parents - $12 - 2 yrs (actually 3 yrs but I gifted 1 yr to a friend)
Parenting - $12 - 1 year
Good Housekeeping - $7.99 - 1 year
Midwest Living - $19.97 - 1 year
I now receive 72 magazines per year for about $67. More to read, less spent. Total savings: $46.
Do what you love, love what you do...but watch those pennies while you're at it!
Then towards the end of my last 3 year subscription, I just wasn't interested anymore. It was taking me 6 days to even sit down with a new issue, and on day 7 another issue would arrive. People Mag just wasn't for me anymore.
So I let my subscription expire...big potential money saver. But I still wanted mags in my life, just not that one. So I set out to figure out what mags I did feel like reading, and I would subscribe to those, limiting myself to what I spent for 1 yr. of People.
You can find all sorts of prices for a subscription to any mag. I used the $ printed on the People web site as my guide. To be honest, there is a ton of fine print so I'm not positive of the price of a 1 yr. subscription. But what I could piece together, it's about $113/year for this weekly mag.
I soon learned that I was paying A LOT of money for 1 mag that I was barely reading! Today, I receive the following magazines:
Oprah - $15 - 1 year
Preemie Magazine - Free - 1 Year
Parents - $12 - 2 yrs (actually 3 yrs but I gifted 1 yr to a friend)
Parenting - $12 - 1 year
Good Housekeeping - $7.99 - 1 year
Midwest Living - $19.97 - 1 year
I now receive 72 magazines per year for about $67. More to read, less spent. Total savings: $46.
Do what you love, love what you do...but watch those pennies while you're at it!
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sales & Coupons
There are a lot of good things about the weekend. One of which is the opportunity to harvest a new crop of coupons from the Sunday paper! Most Saturdays, some of the flyers arrive early via mail, so I have my Walgreens coupons ready to go all the sooner.
Today was a holiday of sorts for the money saving mama. I went to Target to pick up a pack of Huggies Overnites (super duper absorbent diapers). Regular price: $9.54. With my $1 coupon in hand, I was all set to spend $8.54. I came around the corner with my cart and saw what we always hope we'll see...sale signs! The diapers were on sale for $8 and my coupon worked on top of the sale price. Savings: $2.54.
A word about diapers. We use disposable for our son, and I am a huge fan of the Target brand diapers for our every day use. They don't do the job for us at night, but I've yet to find any diaper besides the specialty Huggies that does. And price for the Target diapers is out of this world great...$13.79 for a box of 92 size 4 diapers. A box of 104 Huggies size 4 were $26, I noted today. I saw a box of 100 Pampers size 4 for $26 this morning as well. Another nice thing about the Target diapers by the box is that the diapers are in 4 bags within the box. I'm told this is handy for families that have to provide diapers at day care. I have used Huggies, Pampers, Luvs, and the Walgreens brand (Comfort Stretch?). I have no complaints about any of the brands. But on price alone, Target diapers can't be beat. (Note: I have never tried generic diapers from other stores, which is why I can't comment on them one way or the other). Oh, and the same goes for Target wipes...big on quantity and quality, small on price.
And no, I don't work for Target!
Today was a holiday of sorts for the money saving mama. I went to Target to pick up a pack of Huggies Overnites (super duper absorbent diapers). Regular price: $9.54. With my $1 coupon in hand, I was all set to spend $8.54. I came around the corner with my cart and saw what we always hope we'll see...sale signs! The diapers were on sale for $8 and my coupon worked on top of the sale price. Savings: $2.54.
A word about diapers. We use disposable for our son, and I am a huge fan of the Target brand diapers for our every day use. They don't do the job for us at night, but I've yet to find any diaper besides the specialty Huggies that does. And price for the Target diapers is out of this world great...$13.79 for a box of 92 size 4 diapers. A box of 104 Huggies size 4 were $26, I noted today. I saw a box of 100 Pampers size 4 for $26 this morning as well. Another nice thing about the Target diapers by the box is that the diapers are in 4 bags within the box. I'm told this is handy for families that have to provide diapers at day care. I have used Huggies, Pampers, Luvs, and the Walgreens brand (Comfort Stretch?). I have no complaints about any of the brands. But on price alone, Target diapers can't be beat. (Note: I have never tried generic diapers from other stores, which is why I can't comment on them one way or the other). Oh, and the same goes for Target wipes...big on quantity and quality, small on price.
And no, I don't work for Target!
Let the games begin...
Every day I am trying to figure out ways to save a buck. Sometimes it's literally a buck and sometimes it's a lot more. I've decided to chronicle my savings in a journal for one year. We'll see how I do. A few things before I start:
1. I'm fairly good with money. I have for sure made my share of poor money decisions and I have been known to spend unwisely to this day. I'm not perfect, but I try really hard!
2. This experiment is purely unscientific. At the end of the day, I just want to see if all of my efforts add up to anything. And, if someone picks up a tip along the way...bonus!
3. There might not be a ton of rhyme or reason to what I save money on week in and week out. You may read one day and think to yourself: why doesn't she just buy the generic Ritz Crackers? Well that's an easy one...my husband thinks generic tastes different...I disagree, but you choose your battles!
4. I am convinced there is a ton of money to be saved if you plan your purchases and always pay attention for web sites, coupons, sales, and anything else that may offer information/tools on saving money.
Here we go!
1. I'm fairly good with money. I have for sure made my share of poor money decisions and I have been known to spend unwisely to this day. I'm not perfect, but I try really hard!
2. This experiment is purely unscientific. At the end of the day, I just want to see if all of my efforts add up to anything. And, if someone picks up a tip along the way...bonus!
3. There might not be a ton of rhyme or reason to what I save money on week in and week out. You may read one day and think to yourself: why doesn't she just buy the generic Ritz Crackers? Well that's an easy one...my husband thinks generic tastes different...I disagree, but you choose your battles!
4. I am convinced there is a ton of money to be saved if you plan your purchases and always pay attention for web sites, coupons, sales, and anything else that may offer information/tools on saving money.
Here we go!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
