Frugal Living

How to be More Frugal in 2012

February 28, 2012

I recently wrote an article for Simply Frugal, sharing some tips on how to be more frugal in 2012. Here’s a short sample:

Was one of your New Year’s Resolutions to save more and spend less?

If so, you’re not alone. Saving more and spending less has been one of the top 3 resolutions for years now.

Unfortunately, many people fail or give up on their resolutions by the end of January. So if you’re still at it in February – good for you! You’ve made it past the hardest part of your journey to financial happiness.

One of the best ways to save money is to adopt a frugal lifestyle. Frugal does not have to equal boring – you just have to be creative with the free and low cost resources that you have available.

Read the full article here.

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10 Affordable Kid’s Birthday Party Ideas

February 23, 2012

Molly from Live-In Nanny shares 10 Affordable Kid’s Birthday Party Ideas.

In addition to our How to Throw a Frugal Kid’s Birthday Party article, there are plenty of tips available to help you save money on kids’ parties!

3 Comments Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: frugal living tips

The Best Things to Buy in February

February 1, 2012

As I’m sure many of you know, stores follow a yearly sales cycle, so with a few exceptions, you can usually anticipate finding the same products on sale at the same time every year.

Here’s what you can expect to find on sale in February:

Jewelry

Thanks to Valentine’s Day, February is a great time to score pretty fantastic deals on jewelry.

Pick up something pretty for your lady (or something handsome for your man!) and don’t pay an arm & a leg for it!

Home Theater Systems

The Super Bowl is in February, and that means that stores will be offering steep discounts on home theater systems to get you all set up for the big game.

If you plan to make this large purchase, be sure to check the return policy closely. Some people buy home theater systems just to watch the Super Bowl and then return them to the store – and retailers know this.

Valentine’s Day Items

Immediately after Valentine’s Day, you can expect to find prices slashed on all items with a lovey-dovey theme.

Look for clothing with “love” themes, Valentine’s Day home decor. Many stuffed animals will be very cheap, as well.

Chocolates & Candy

Other items that you can find on sale immediately after Valentines day is chocolate and candy.

Look for boxed chocolates and red/white/pink packaged candies.

Digital Cameras

Stores are trying to clear out the remainder of last year’s camera stock before the new stuff comes in and to do so, they offer great discounts this month.

Look for not only digital cameras themselves, but accessories as well.

Motorcycles

You don’t often see people riding a motorcycle in February, right? Thanks to the snow we are usually surrounded by this time of year, motorcycles are not usually found on the roads.

Since riding is limited in the winter months, this is the best time to buy yourself a snazzy new bike, as prices will be slashed to encourage sales.

Fragrances

Keeping with the Valentine’s Day theme, February is a great time to find sales on fragrances.

Many stores not only offer sale prices, but they usually offer coupon discounts as well – that can be combined with the sale prices.

Snacks

There will be many great deals on snacks the first week of February to take care of football fans that will be enjoying the Super Bowl.

Look for chips & dip, popcorn, frozen pizza, chicken wings and pop.

Furniture

New furniture styles roll out in February and stores will be clearing out their current stock to make room for it, so expect to see some considerable savings.

Air Conditioners

It’s always a good idea to buy items when the demand for them is low.

Most of us don’t need an air conditioner in February, but this is one of the best months to buy them, as prices will be scaled way back due to lack of sales.

Video Games

New video games are released at the end of the year and if you can hold off buying until February, this is when you will be able to save a great deal of cash.

Produce on sale in February:

Bananas, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Lemons, Oranges, Rhubarb, Tangerines, Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumber, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Potatoes

Waiting until just the right moment to buy something is one of the best things you can do to save money. Unless you need it right away, hold off on any purchase you need to make until it is the best time to buy.

Do you wait until February to purchase any of the above items?

6 Comments Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: save money

25 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier

January 5, 2012

Simone from The Daily Buzz shares 25 clever ideas to make life easier.

There are so many great tips – I definitely learned a few things.

Photo above: Rub a walnut on furniture scratches to disguise dings and scrapes.

(Thanks, Georgina)

10 Comments Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: frugal living tips

The Best Things To Buy In January

January 3, 2012

It’s the beginning of the new year and I thought I would start this month off with a list of the best things to buy in January.

As I’m sure many of you know, stores follow a yearly sales cycle, so with a few exceptions, you can usually anticipate finding the same products on sale at the same time every year.

Here’s what you can expect to find on sale in January:

Diet Foods & Beverages

Losing weight is one of the top 3 New Years Resolutions that people make, so stores are going to start selling products that many people are interested in this time of year – diet foods and beverages.

Look for diet soda, frozen meals, diet shakes, yogurt and granola bars.

Weight-Loss Products

Sticking with the weight loss resolution, you can also expect many weight loss products to go on sale in the new year.

Look for exercise equipment such as treadmills, weight sets, exercise bikes, athletic shoes – even gym memberships.

Cold & Flu Items

January is cold & flu season, which means you are going to be able to find many deals on items specific to this.

Look for medicines, vitamins, pain relievers and lip balm.

Holiday Clearance

With Christmas over, stores are clearing out their stock of holiday items over the month of January and offering deep discounts to their customers.

Look for holiday decor, wrapping paper & greeting cards, seasonal candy and even toys.

Cold Weather Clothing

January is a great time to find deals on winter clothing because everyone needs it this time of year. Prices will be even lower closer to the end of the season, but you can still find really great deals in January.

Look for winter jackets, hats, gloves & scarves, boots and sweaters.

Organizing Supplies

Another popular New Years Resolution is to get organized, so you will often see many organizing products on sale this month.

Look for storage containers, label makers and custom organizing products (milk bag holder, pot rack, etc.).

Linens

Why there are “white sales” in January is beyond me, but every year – there they are again. The tradition of having these white sales began way back in 1878 and has stuck around ever since. Now is the best time to add new linens to your closets!

Look for towels, pillows, sheet sets and comforters. You can usually find bathroom accessories on sale as well.

Houses

Yes, you read that right. January is one of the best months to buy a home. Why? There are not many homebuyers willing to walk around in the snow looking for a home to purchase, which means that many sellers will lower their prices just to get their home sold.

Cameras

Is talking more family photos (or just photos in general) one of your New Years Resolutions? It is for many (myself included!), and that is why you will be able to find cameras on sale at deep discounts in January.

Look for digital cameras, film cameras, lenses, camera bags and camera accessories.

Bicycles

I know it seems strange to buy a bicycle in January. Odds are, you won’t be able to use it for another 4 months or more! However, stores are clearing out the previous years’ stock, so it’s likely that you will find some pretty fantastic bike sales during the winter months.

Hot Foods & Beverages

To warm you up when it’s chilly outside, stores will often have many sales on hot foods and beverages in January.

Look for stews, soups, chili, oatmeal, hot chocolate, tea and coffee.

Stop Smoking Aids

Did you know that the number one New Years Resolution for many years has been to stop smoking? It’s also the resolution that is the most likely to fail. Stores will still try to help you out, though!

Look for patches, gum, lozenges and inhalers.

Produce on sale in January:

Bananas, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Lemons, Oranges, Pomegranates, Rhubarb, Tangerines, Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumber, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Potatoes

Do you wait until January to purchase any of the above items?

photo credit

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How I Plan Weekly Menus

December 30, 2011

8 Comments Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: frugal living tips

3 Things To Consider When Using Coupons

December 30, 2011

Coupons are a great money saving tool when it comes to your cutting grocery bill. You can find coupons for just about anything nowadays, so using them to slash your grocery costs is a great idea.

However, there are a few things to consider when you go shopping. Although using coupons is a fairly simple task, things may not always go as planned and you need to be prepared.

Here are 3 things to consider before heading out to do your shopping with coupons.

1. The item(s) you want may not be in stock.

The best time to use coupons is when items are on sale, as this will get you the best bang for your buck. However, the problem with only purchasing sale items is that you may not always be able to find what you are looking for when you go shopping.

I always recommend shopping early in the morning (on a weekday, if possible), because most stores will stock their shelves overnight. This gives you the best chance of finding everything that you want to purchase.

If you shop after 12pm, or at any time on the weekend, it’s likely that some of the items you wish to purchase will be sold out. This is especially true if you have a coupon that, when matched with a sale, will get you a free item.

2. You may run into issues at the cash.

Although couponing has become increasingly more popular than it was years ago, many people don’t understand coupons and how they work. That means that it is possible for you to end up with a cashier that won’t accept your coupons.

Some issues you may run into are:
- The coupon says “one per purchase”, so the cashier only wants to allow one coupon per transaction.
- The cashier is sure that they can not accept printed coupons.
- The coupon value is more than the cost of the item, so the cashier will not accept your coupon.
- The cashier says that you cannot price match and use a coupon at the same time.

These issues at the cash can not be prevented (they happen to everyone at some time or another), but you can certainly prepare yourself for the times when an issue does arise. Familiarize yourself with the coupon policies for all of the stores you shop at, and always follow the rules. I also suggest bringing a copy of the coupon policy with you when you go shopping.

If you are unsure about something that is not in a store’s coupon policy, call your local store and ask to speak to the store manager. They will answer any questions that you have.

3. You may have people upset with you when checking out.

Although couponing is gaining in popularity, there are some people that really just don’t like coupons and having to stand behind someone at the store who is using them can really irritate those people.

I’ve noticed that I get the most amount of sighs and grumbles from the people behind me in line when I am using more than 20 coupons in a transaction. Sometimes, those customers will say things to me that are insulting.

The best thing to do in those situations is to keep your cool (as difficult as it may be, sometimes!). Try to warn people behind you that you have many coupons to use and may take awhile. This gives them a chance to pick another checkout line. If they decide to stay behind you any way, that’s their choice.

If possible, try to shop at the least busy times. Early mornings during the week are best, and late evenings are usually okay at most stores as well.

Though you may run into some bad situations (like the ones above), remember that you are using coupons to save your family some money. Don’t worry about what other people think of you.

Be prepared for issues to arise, and handle them well when they do. Until then, continue using coupons whenever you can – they really are one of the best ways to save money on your grocery bill.

What issues have you run into when using coupons?

24 Comments Filed Under: Canada Coupons, Frugal Living Tagged With: canadian coupons, frugal living tips

Homemade Windshield De-Icer: Frugal Tip

December 29, 2011

Here’s a frugal tip sent in by a reader.

We always make our own windshield de-icer to save money.

Dissolve 1/4 cup of salt in one litre of hot water and add to an empty windshield washer fluid jug.

Add 500ml of Methyl Hydrate (about $10.00 for a 4 litre jug).

Fill to the top with water.

There you go – homemade window de-icer! Your $10 will get you about 8 jugs of fluid and you will save around $25 through the winter. Also, this will keep those plastic jugs out of the landfill.

- Pat

Do you have a frugal tip to share? Please send it to me!

photo credit

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Birthday Loot Bag Ideas: Reader Question

December 28, 2011

My daughter’s birthday is coming up and I’m facing the challenge of the dreaded loot bags. I’m trying to embrace the frugal lifestyle and was wondering if your readers had any ideas for loot bags. -Rhetta

Do you have any ideas for Rhetta? Please share in the comments!

Have a question you’d like to ask the readers of MrsJanuary.com? Send an email.