Tag Archives: money

Airstream Update: An Unfortunate Little Incident

The current state of the bathroom.

The current state of the bathroom.

When George went to turn on the hot water heater Friday morning, he discovered that the flooring underneath the heater was wet. Not good. I went on my merry way to work, hoping it was just a little leak. But during the course of the evening, I received more and more alarming text messages from him. This one pretty much said it all: “Found the source of the leak. Tell you about it when you get home.” He was preparing me for the worst.

And I came home to less than ideal news. George found the source of the leak. It was our hot water heater, as we had feared. The most expensive thing in the Airstream to replace. The heater runs on both electricity and gas so it isn’t as cheap as standard hot water heaters. He also had to tear up our bathroom floor because water had seeped under the floorboards and managed to warp the floor.

If something like this had happened two years ago, I would have flipped out. But living in the Airstream has some advantages. It’s allowed me to save enough for an emergency fund and replacing our floor won’t be nearly as expensive as replacing a floor in a home. Our bathroom is tiny. The hot water heater set us back about $600 bucks and I’m bummed about it, but it isn’t nearly as tragic as it could be. The hot water heater was original and we got almost a year of use out of it before it kicked the bucket.

We’ll have hot water again soon and we’ll make the money back. Living in the Airstream and having this adventure has taught me to be more resourceful and resilient than I’ve ever been. We’re lucky to have caught the leak fairly early and we’re lucky to have a home.

love and resilience,
melanie

 

12 Ways to Save Money on Gardening Supplies

12 Ways to Save money on gardening suppliesThere’s some debate online about whether or not gardening actually saves money. It’s a risk. I get that. Some ravenous bug could eat your entire crop of heirloom tomatoes. A hurricane could blow through without leaving a single pea pod in it’s wake. (How rude!) But there’s also potential savings. One article I found claimed that the author and his family produced $2,149.15 worth of produce in their home garden!

I’m super lucky that I don’t have to rely on my own agricultural endeavors to survive. I don’t know how profitable my first garden will be, but I’m saving on supplies in order to increase my potential profits.

Here’s how I’m saving on supplies for my garden.

  1. Containers or raised beds – I’m using containers and raised beds to save on soil costs and conserve water.
  2. Supplies for raised beds – To save money on creating raised beds, my plan is to use old barn wood. The barn wood is untreated and my beds will be shabby chic for sure.
  3. Gardening tools – I will be borrowing most of my gardening tools. If there happens to be a time when I can’t borrow what I need, I’m going to purchase my tools via Craigslist or yard sales. No need to buy new gardening tools, they’re just going to get dirty anyway!
  4. Compost – I must admit, composting is going to be difficult for me. I didn’t come from a family that composts and I love the thrill of throwing something away. So weird, I know. It’s a habit and I’ll just have to get into the habit of composting.
  5. Plant pricer produce & produce you use often – I use more bell peppers and onions than the average gal, so I’m planning on planting those. I won’t be planting eggplant because George hates it. I’m also considering planting something like habanero peppers because those little suckers can be pricey and after they’re canned, they make a great gift.
  6. Grow plants that can produce all season – Tomatoes are a great example of a plant that can produce all season. Plants that produce all season (or most of the season) invariably produce more yield. Look at me, sounding all expertish.
  7. DIY insecticide – There’s so many natural home remedies for garden insecticides. Did you know you can control aphids with a few drops of dish soap diluted in water? I had no idea.
  8. Rainwater barrel – I’m still not 100% sold on a rainwater barrel. We actually have well water so water costs isn’t too much of an issue. And I’m hesitant to place anything that can be a breeding ground for mosquitos near my home. But I’ve been reading about organic mosquito prevention methods and I’m warming up to the idea. Maybe I can make a DIY rainwater barrel?!
  9. Plant seeds for a higher return on investment – Pre-sprouted plants are more expensive than seeds. Instead, I’m going to try to sprout my own plants in old egg containers!
  10. Plant produce in stages – This is one of the smartest tips I’ve found in my research. Plant seeds or starter plants in stages over the course of several weeks. This has several advantages– it allows you to harvest in stages and consume the produce over time. If there is a freak frost it also may save your produce that has not yet been planted.
  11. Try the farmers’ market for starter plants – Your local farmers’ market may sell newborn plants at a discounted rate. I know my farmers’ market does! If my sprout-it-yourself method doesn’t work out, this is my back up plan.
  12. Share seeds – To cut cost, I’m befriending some fellow gardeners to share seeds. I’m also trying to convince some of my black-thumb friends to garden with me. Saving money and making friends– this should be a special on Saturday morning PBS.

How have you saved money on gardening supplies? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

12 Ways to Eat More Meals at Home and Save Some Dough!

eat more at homeThe old me used to eat out every couple of days and think nothing of it. “Oh piddle dee dee, I thought, I spend a lot of money on dining out. But it’s just a fact of life, I suppose!” In my head, I’m apparently an old British woman. But then I moved to a tiny town and the dining options were few and far between. We ate out less because there were less choices. I unintentionally saved money on food, I unintentionally learned how to cook more meals, and I unintentionally got into the habit of eating at home. It was an unintentional blessing.

Here’s how I’ve learned how to eat more meals at home.

1. Cut back on your eating out gradually
If you are eating out every day, you won’t go from being besties with the cashier at Chipotle to becoming Julia Child. You have to work your way up to it. Set a realistic goal for the week and work towards it. Your goal could be to learn one new dish or only eat out every other day. Set a reachable goal and give yourself a small treat when you reach your goal. Giving yourself small rewards creates habits.

2. If you are a beginner, learn the basics
One of the hardest parts of just starting out in the kitchen is starting out. Learn how to do simple things like sautéing vegetables, scrambling an egg and boiling rice. Once you learn those things, you’ll have the base for all kinds of meals!

3. If you are an intermediate cook, expand your repertoire
Cooking can get tiresome. Cooking is a project with no end because we need to eat every day. The way I fight the cooking drudgery is expanding my repertoire. I love perusing Pinterest recipes that make me excited to cook again. Just check out my recipe board for proof!

4. Make meals in advance
We are all stupid-busy. We don’t always have time to cook up a four course meal. Let’s be honest, I never have time to cook up a four course meal. I make most of my meals in advance. I’ll cook up a big batch of crustless quiche on Sunday night and crank up my slow cooker.

5. Automate your meals
I’d love all my food to be interesting and beautiful, but that’s just not a priority. Getting something warm and filling in my belly is a priority. My weekday meals are on auto-pilot. For breakfast I have eggs, my lunch is leftovers and dinner is usually something from the crock pot. Not always super exciting, but I can live up my culinary fantasies on the weekend when I have more time.

6. Put your slow cooker to work!
I love my slow cooker. I don’t know how I ever cooked without her. Her name is Sue, btw. Slow cooking is so easy. You can crank it on low, throw just about any meat and veggie in there with a little salt and pepper and you have a meal when you get home from work or when you wake up in the morning!

7. Leftovers are your friend
If you are going go through all the effort to cook, you might as well make enough for yourself and a small army. There’s so many ways to use up leftovers. For tips on reusing leftovers click here!

8. Cook with a buddy
Cooking all alone can be a lonely job. Enlist your husband or wife and kids to help out in the kitchen. Or at least sit with you and keep you company in the kitchen. You could also invite friends over for a freezer meal cooking spree. Sounds like a good time to me.

9. Make it enjoyable
Cooking can be stressful. Turn on some tunes, pour yourself a glass of wine and slow down. Dinner isn’t a life or death experience. It’s just dinner. Enjoy it.

10. Use paper plates
One of the worst parts of cooking is the clean up. Sometimes I’d go out to eat just so I wouldn’t have to do the dishes. To curtail this thinking, I mostly use paper plates and minimize my clean up. Worried about the environmental impact? Me too. That’s why I use compostable plates.

11. Host a dinner party
Hate cooking for one? Need to spice things up a bit? Dying for the company of a restaurant? Host a dinner party! Dinner parties don’t have to be a one woman (or man) show. Ask your friends to bring a dish and serve it up family style!

12. Keep frozen foods on hand
And if all else fails, keep food in the freezer for those times when you are too tired or hungry or just plain don’t want to cook. Frozen leftovers are culinary gold. But a couple of chicken breasts, a bag of frozen veggies and some soy sauce will do just fine in a pinch. Instant stir fry. Instant dinner.

What tricks do you have for eating more meals at home? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

 

 

Guest Post: Unconventional Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

unconventional-ways-to-save-money-on-your-wedding

Picture c/o Anna at And Then We Saved

Hey folks! I did a little guest post over at And Then We Saved on unconventional ways to save money on your wedding. Check it out here!

love,
melanie

16 Ways to Save Money on Booze

Save Money on BoozeOk, I know what you’re thinking: This girl is a lush. I’m not a lush, ya’ll. I’m just cheap. And I did happen to go one of the biggest party schools in America. But we don’t need to break a heel, fall in a bush and pee ourselves to save money on alcohol. We can be classy about it.

Here’s the best ways I’ve found to save money on alcohol and still save our dignity.

At home

  1. Shop at discount stores
    Discount grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Aldi are unbeatable for cheap wine. Trader Joe’s carries the infamous “3 buck Chuck” bottles of wine and Aldi carries the Winking Owl brand for a whopping $2.89. And if you are anything like me, you can’t tell much difference between a cheap bottle of wine and an expensive one.
  2. Alternative packaging
    No judging here, folks. Boxed wine doesn’t have to be trashy, pour it in a glass and keep it classy. Boxed wine is a huge money saver. At Trader Joe’s ounce for ounce, the boxed wine is cheaper than the bottles of 3 buck chuck. So check your ounces, check your prices and check your snobbery at the door.
  3. Buy wholesale
    If you have a membership to Costco or Sam’s Club you can rack up big savings on mid-range wine and beer. I’ve never seen prices as low as TJ’s or Aldi, but if you have more of a refined palate, buying wholesale at Costco or Sam’s could save you some big bucks.
  4. Buy airplane or single bottles to test
    I hate buying a whole bottle of something just to figure out that it tastes like shoe polish. Airplane bottles of alcohol are great for taste testing and many stores will now let you mix and match 4 or 6 packs of beer. Tasting party, anyone?
  5. Cook with it!
    Can’t stand that bottle of wine you bought? Cook with it! Pinterest has taught me oh-so-many wonderful things including the fact that you can make wine into candy! Unsavory beer can go into stew and tequila can marinate chicken!
  6. Learn how to make a proper drink
    If you are a budding mixologist, it can be difficult to get the right proportions in any mixed drink. Luckily, we have the magic of the Internet in our homes and there is free and helpful advice for making drinks right there at your fingertips. In fact, here’s a few recipes from your’s truly. Here. Here and here. 
  7. Don’t be brand-loyal
    Brand loyalty can crush your wallet and your dreams. Ok, that was dramatic, but brand loyalty isn’t going to help you save money. Often times just switching out your imported liquor for a domestic brand will cut costs. And 9 times out of 10 you won’t even be able to tell the difference.
  8. Home brew wine and beer
    Home brewing wine and beer is legal in the U.S. Homebrewing liquor, not so much. I’ve seen some super simple home brew set ups online and I think home brewing might just be my next big DIY project. Has anyone had luck with home brewing? As always, let me know in the comments.

When dining out

  1. Taste test
    Some bars and restaurants will give you a small thimble-sized taste before ordering a drink to ensure that you will be happy with it. If your bar doesn’t offer that service get the server to describe the drink to you in detail. Be clear about what you want and if you aren’t happy, let someone know. Bad drinks can be saved or remade. Just remember to be super polite and tip well!
  2. Research happy hours
    Happy hour specials are made to lure people in before the crowds– usually 5pm-7pm. Happy hour doesn’t have a cover charge and often has great specials. The restaurant I worked at in college offered free appetizers and drinks at ridiculously low prices. There are happy hour deals to be found, people.
  3. Skip drinks when dining out
    If you really want to save some dough, skip the drinks when dining out. It’s lame. I know. But you can drink when you get home. Drinks are double, triple and even quadruple the price when you are dining out.
  4. Ask for water with your drink
    If you must drink with dinner, because yes, sometimes we must, ask for a water with your drink. Water will help you from guzzling and it will help with dehydration from alcohol. Wins all around.
  5. Ask for a double
    This one is a little risky. You’ll need to check with your bartender or server first, but at some  restaurants if you order a double, you’ll get it cheaper than ordering two drinks. If you know you’ll be partaking in more than one beverage that evening, ordering a double may be a tricky way to save some dough. Just make sure you sip and don’t treat it as a single! We don’t want any Sloppy Susans.
  6. Pre-game
    This is the oldest college rule in the book, but if you drink before you go out, you’ll end up spending less at the bar. I’m pretty sure I learned this in my freshman orientation class. Just make sure you have a D.D.!
  7. Order the house drink
    The house wine or beer is always going to be cheaper than the other stuff on the menu. Also make sure you ask about specials. Restaurants and bars will put deep discounts on drinks that they have too many of or may be reaching their expiration date.
  8. BYOB
    Many restaurants will let you bring your own beverage. Just make sure you call ahead for this service. Some restaurants will still charge a “corking fee,” but if their wine is incredibly expensive, it’ll still save you a few bucks.

I don’t think I have to say it, but always remember to drink responsibly and tip your bartender!

What tips and tricks do you have to save money on booze? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

25 Ways to Save Money and De-Stress Your Life!

save money and destressThe new year is prime time start evaluating your life. Everyone is over-committed, stressed out and overwhelmed. During times like these I like to stop and think about ways I can make my life easier by downsizing my stuff. Because more stuff (mental and physical) means more stress. Let’s downsize our lives and upsize our happiness, mmmmk?!

Here’s my how-to:

  1. Do an inventory
    Keep a piece of paper in each room. For one week write down everything you use. At the end of the week, compare the list of stuff you used to the stuff that you didn’t use. Consider getting rid of the unused stuff. You probably don’t need it.
  2. De-clutter
    Once you do the inventory, it will be so much easier to de-clutter. Think of the object’s usefulness and it’s meaning. And not everything needs a meaning, folks. If you tend to hoard things, get an honest friend or family member to help you clean house!
  3. Donate your stuff
    Once you de-clutter, you need to get rid of all your unwanted stuff. Non-profit agencies, such as Goodwill, can benefit from your donation. You may even be able to write your donation off your taxes.
  4. Sell your stuff
    If the idea of profiting off your old stuff appeals to you, consider selling it. It will take more time than donating it, but it might be worth the time and effort. (See my post on how to sell at flea markets.)
  5. Eat in
    Not only will eating at home save you money, it can also provide relaxation. If cooking stresses you out, consider making simpler dishes. Dishes with less than 5 ingredients (that you can pronounce!) tend to be healthier and easier to create. I never make anything too complicated. Here’s some of my favorite recipes and food ideas.
  6. Reconnect with nature
    During a stressful day at work, I’ll take a walk on my lunch break. It clears my head and gives me that much needed break. On your nature walks, see what you can observe– plants, leaves, creatures! It’s so easy to forget the wonders of nature.
  7. Turn off your phone
    On those nature walks and in your life, we all need to turn off our phones once in a while. At first you might feel panicked. I sure did! (What if someone needs to reach me?!) Well, you know what? If they need to reach you, they’ll leave a voicemail. Plain and simple.
  8. Stop checking your email so damn much
    I took my work email off my phone because I recognized that it was stressing me the hell out. No one emails emergencies. Work can wait. Try checking your email at scheduled points during the day. It helps productivity and sanity.
  9. Have technology-free weekends
    I’m totally guilty of spending the entire weekend on the computer. This blog won’t write itself! But I also realize that I need to spend less time with the screen and more time with the people that matter. Won’t you try technology-free weekends with me?
  10. Kiss your cable bill goodbye!
    Cable is one of those bills that you don’t really need. Watching television is a time-suck. For those times that you need some movie escapism, see my article about free and legal ways to watch movies online!
  11. Rely on the library for books and entertainment
    The library is an often underused resource. People forget that libraries aren’t just for books! Libraries host programs, may collect DVDs and usually have free wi-fi! Need more ways the library can help you save money? Check it out! (Pun intended.)
  12. Say no to unnecessary crazy
    We’ve all got a little crazy in our lives. Don’t deny it. And much of our crazy is self-imposed. Learn to say no to things that aren’t important to you and get that unnecessary crazy out of your life!
  13. Keep a journal
    Writing things down, especially for me, is therapeutic. It lifts a weight off my shoulders to just write down everything I’m thinking and it helps me sort through choices or emotions. Try it next time you are feeling stressed out or you have to make a big decision.
  14. Recognize the stresses in your life & if possible, eliminate them
    Just merely recognizing the stresses in your life is a huge step in making your life easier. Once you recognize the stresses, you can combat them with relaxation techniques, or even better, you can try to eliminate the unnecessary stresses. Does your commute stress you out? Try to move closer to work. Does having a messy house stress you out? (It does me!) Set up a cleaning schedule.
  15. Decide to be happy with what you have
    Simply deciding to be happy can make you a happier person. You don’t have to have sunshine and rainbows all the time to just take a couple minutes each day to look around and name three things you are thankful for.
  16. Rent or buy a smaller home
    I’m a big proponent of living small. We do it everyday in our Airstream trailer. Living in a small space has actually made me much happier. We have less space to clean and we collect less junk!
  17. Research minimalism and let it inspire you
    I used to think more is more, but after reading about minimalist homes online and in books, I’ve become a convert. Minimalism doesn’t have to mean emptiness. I think of it more in terms of tidiness and cleanliness. People with minimalistic homes think about things before they bring them into their space. Their conscious of their choices and everything has a purpose. It’s totally inspiring.
  18. Stop making giant, unobtainable to-do lists
    (This list isn’t unobtainable because I know you can just do two or three of the items! You don’t have to do everything.) Major guilt here on this one. I always make these huge lists of to-dos that end up stressing me out and I never end up getting all the items on the list done. Instead of making these giant lists choose two or three things that absolutely need to get done that day and do those items.
  19. Cut down on your sugar intake
    Since my family has been having some health issues lately, I’ve been much more conscious of my diet. I already don’t eat gluten, but I know that I can always make my diet better, so I began to look at the amount of sugar I consumed. And I discovered that sugar is hidden in everything! In the past year I’ve slowly been weaning myself off sugar. It hasn’t been easy but it’s effected my mood greatly. Instead of feeling grouchy in the afternoon and after dinner when I needed my sugar fix, I’ve felt more energetic. And I’ve become very sensitive to sugar. Now foods with too much sugar taste bad to me. It’s nutty.
  20. Steer clear of chemicals
    Living with less and living a more natural life go hand in hand. I no longer have room for five different house cleaners, so I use my go-to cleaner, vinegar! And now I don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals in cleaners leaching out into my food.
  21. Learn the difference between need and want
    Learning the difference between need and want is so, so hard. I’m not going to deny it. I still struggle with it, but a few tactics have helped me. When I am about to buy something, I’ll take just a couple minutes to reflect on the item. I ask myself: Do I really need this? Am I going to feel guilty after purchasing this? Do I have room for this? Just doing that two minute reflection has helped me to learn the difference between wants and needs.
  22. Remember that no one is perfect
    We all slip up sometimes. We all fall of the savings bandwagon. And if you do, there are ways to get back on. Recognize that we all make mistakes. Blogs and websites are carefully curated and often they don’t show the humanity of the author’s life. We all have things we are dealing with, we all make mistakes, we all are imperfect. Remember that.
  23. Learn to let go of negative feelings
    Negative feelings clutter up our minds and often times, we buy things to make up for something. Maybe we’re trying to keep up with the Jones. Maybe we’re trying to just “fit in.” Don’t let those negative feelings wreak havoc on your wallet or your life. Learn to let go by meditating, journaling or taking those nature walks. Learn to let it go.
  24. Buy products that can do double-duty
    Always, always, always purchase products that can do double-duty. This is a space and money saver. Like I said before, vinegar can do quadruple duty. It’s a cleaner, de-greaser, you can wash your hair with it and you can use it in your barbecue!
  25. Collect experiences, not things
    And my favorite piece of advice is to collect experiences, not things. Things only give us temporary happiness. But when we think back to those happy experiences we had (like a dream vacation) we’ve got long-lasting happiness.

Got any ways to make life easier and save money at the same time? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

8 Ways to Save Money by Reusing Leftovers

leftoversYou probably already know that leftovers can be a big money saver. Duh, they all say. But let’s be real, leftovers get old quick. Pun intended. I do pretty good at eating leftovers, but after a couple of days I’m sick of eating the same thing. So what’s a girl to do? Repurpose and upcycle those leftovers, that’s what!

Here’s some of my favorite ways to repurpose leftovers:

1. Make chili even heartier with spaghetti noodles!
Chili can last a long time– especially if you make a big ol’ pot. When I was little we never ate chili alone. We always ate it over spaghetti noodles. It makes the chili heartier, last longer and stretch further. When we were grown, my mom told me this was a “poor person thing” but until I moved out of the house I had no idea that people ate chili without spaghetti noodles!

2. Put an egg on it!
One of my favorite ways to spice up leftovers is to throw in a fried egg. Eggs are super cheap and I seem to always have extra in the fridge. Protein power! My absolute favorite is a breakfast pizza. Throw a raw egg on top of your leftover pizza and heat in the oven until the egg white is well… white. So delicious!

3. Don’t throw that last bit away!
Sometimes it’s tempting to throw that last tiny bit of chicken or sauce away. It’s not enough for a whole meal, right? But before you toss it, think about ways you can pump it up. Adding more sauce or more vegetables can beef up that last little bit of food into a whole meal.

4. Smorgasbord!
As you might have noticed, when I was growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money. It didn’t bother me much because my mom had a great imagination and encouraged us to have one too. She used to tell me that the local grocery store during the fall was a pumpkin patch. I didn’t find that out until last year. Man, was she clever. At the end of each week, she’d break out all the leftovers and we’d have a little dab of everything. We got to pretend we were kings eating at our very own smorgasbord.

5. Experiment
It’s so easy to get in a cooking rut. Eating the same 5 meals is easy. But challenge yourself to experiment. Get creative with your cooking. Try to eat all of the stuff in your pantry and fridge before you go shopping. See what you can come up with. Don’t feel very creative? Websites like Recipe Key can help you to find recipes using just the ingredients you have in your pantry.

6. Remember, you don’t always have to use leftovers right away.
Certain foods lend well to freezing. Chili for example. You don’t have to eat chili for the next two weeks (because you’re eating is with spaghetti noodles, right?). You can freeze half of it and break it out during an extra busy or extra chilly weeknight.

7. Leftovers can be made into totally different meals
One of the worst things about leftovers is that they can be boring. But they don’t have to be because they can be made into totally different meals. I used to hope, hope, hope that we had leftover rice at our meals to make rice pudding. My mom’s recipe for rice pudding is the best. Stale bread can be made into french toast, leftover veggies can be made into quiche and leftover spaghetti sauce can be used as pizza sauce! The possibilities are endless, people.

8. Use it as compost
Don’t feel guilty when that leftover tortellini looks like a science experiment gone awry. You can’t eat it now. (Well you could, but you could also end up in the hospital.) But you can still compost it! Throw it in the compost heap and use it to get that garden good and fertile! Helpful hint: Used coffee grounds make excellent plant fertilizer!

Do you have any tips for upcycling leftovers? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

How to Deal With Your Finances and Stay Sane

how to deal with your finances

Photo by Zach Klein on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachklein/54389823/)

Personal finance makes me want bury my money in mason jars and go back the good ol’ trade system. But I’m not a skilled digger and money makes the world go round. If you don’t learn about it, you’ll get screwed over by someone or some corporation that knows more about it than you do. Hashtag truth.

That’s why this year my personal goal has been to learn more about my money and to actually save it. Maybe that’s also why this year has been one of the most frustrating times of my life. 🙂 As I sat on hold with the bank yet again… I thought I’m going to lose it. I’m going to end up yelling at this poor person on the other end and I’m going to pull out all of my money. But I didn’t do that because over the last year I’ve learned some pretty good coping tools for money frustrations.

1. Prepare for phone calls
You may already know that a simple phone call to your service providers could help you to save money on all kinds of bills– cable, internet, maybe even rent! And don’t forget to call your bank to get overdraft fees and other outrageous bank fees leveraged too. Just make sure you always have a plan for the conversations, so they go your way. Above all, remain calm and prepare to walk away, if necessary. You don’t really need cable anyway. (Ramit Sethi from I will Teach You To be Rich has some great scripts for those difficult phone calls.)

2. Keep pictures of your end-goal in appropriate places
Do you get stressed about money when you are sitting at your desk and balancing your checkbook? Keep a picture of your end-goal on your desk. Do you get stressed just looking in your wallet for cash? (I do!) Keep a picture of your financial end-goal in your wallet. By having pictures of that dreamy financial end-goal in strategic places you’ll create a quick comfort, you’ll be reminded of the goal, and it might even curb your spending.

3. Remember that saving is a journey
Patience, in general, is so, so hard. It can be even harder with saving because we don’t see those immediate rewards. Buying your lunch can be so much easier and temporarily more rewarding than saving that $10. By changing your mindset about saving, and learning to recognize that even the littlest bits count, you’ll reach your financial goals much faster.

4. Break up your financial to-do list into manageable chunks
This is a life-tip, but getting super motivated and creating a giant to-do list of stuff to do can actually hinder your progress. Make your financial to-do list manageable by breaking it into smaller chunks. Complete one small thing on your list every day. Be happy that you completed something and avoid being paralyzed by the stress of too many to-dos.

5. Talk about it
For many, money is a taboo talking point, but ya need to get it out. Worrying about money but not talking about it is a sure-fire recipe for a heart attack. Find someone you feel comfortable talking to, whether it be a relative, friend or psychiatrist and let it out.

6. Practice affirmations
Affirmations can seem silly and maybe even a little narcissistic. But don’t discount them! Say an affirmation enough and you’ll start to believe it. (Here’s an example one: “Every day I am attracting and saving more money.” But my favorite affirmation of all time is this little girl’s affirmation. After I saw her video I started adding “I can do anything good!” to my affirmations.

7. Meditate or pray about it
Pray about your money issues, if you are into that. If not, meditate about it. Meditation has made me a calmer and overall nicer person. It’s given me clarity about my money issues that I would have never reached on my own. And the best thing about meditation? It’s free!

8. Recognize your triggers and avoid them
Just going into Target triggers my impulse to spend, so I avoid Target. If I must, must go I bring my husband along and tell him to monitor my spending. Recognize when your finance habits get out of control. Do your spending habits swirl out of control during the holidays? Try a handmade holiday instead. Do you spend a ton of money on beauty products? Find ways cut your beauty routine. Make it into a game if you must! Just avoid those triggers!

9. As my life coach, Suze Orman says, “People first, then money, then things.”
I love Suze Orman, not only does she give sound money advice, she’s also compassionate. I love her sign-off, “People first, then money, then things.” Once you have your priorities straight, your finances are much easier to handle.

So how do you deal with your finances and stay sane? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

 

How to Save Money on Clothing

How to save money on clothing

Picture courtesy of Joseph Brent on Flickr.

I used to be a total clothes horse. Whinny, whinny, neigh, neigh. Seriously, ya’ll, give me some hay and you could have called me Mister Ed. In college I’d live off Ramen noodles just to sustain my clothing addiction. It wasn’t a healthy situation– nutritionally or financially.

Recently I’ve been going over my spending habits for the last year. Yawn. I know, I’m super boring, but it excited me to know that I’ve cut down on my clothes habit substantially. How substantially? Well, I went from spending an estimated $1,500 a year on clothing to just $150. Here’s how I did it:

  1. Set priorities
    When I began budgeting and saving money this year, my biggest trick has been to set priorities. Before everything was a priority. Clothes, house, car, food– all equal weight. Now, I make saving for travel and retirement my biggest priority. I put very little money into my clothes budget (or any other budget for that matter) because I’d rather spend that money traveling.
  2. Assess what you have
    I used to buy the exact same black sweater over and over again. I would simply forget that I already owned 5 black sweaters until I assessed my closet. I weeded down all my unnecessary clothing items and I now keep a list of clothes I could actually use on my phone. That way when I’m out shopping, I know exactly what clothing items will round out my closet and which items I don’t need (no matter how cheap they might be.)
  3. Sell it or give it away
    During the closet assessment, be brutally honest. If you don’t wear those skinny jeans, sell them and move on. There’s a ton of different places that will buy gently worn items. There’s Plato’s Closet where I live, and most big U.S. cities have a Buffalo Exchange (which I love!). Often times the clothing exchanges will either give you cash (awesome!) or they’ll let you exchange your items for an in-store credit. If you are feeling charitable, you could also give your items away to your local thrift store and you may be able to get a tax deduction.
  4. Swap with friends or family
    Chances are your friends and family, like you, have a bunch of clothing lying around that they don’t wear. Grab some snacks and some wine and invite them over to swap clothing. If your friends and family aren’t all the same size that’s A-OK. Swapping accessories is just as fun. (See #11 below.)
  5. Swap online
    Have you all heard of Swapdom yet? It’s a relatively new online clothing swap and I’m super excited about it. I’m going to be put some clothes up there and let’s swap, mmmkk?
  6. Use coupons and watch for discount days
    I don’t coupon for food (here’s why), but I will coupon for clothing. There are coupons for clothes in almost every newspaper every Sunday (and sometimes on weekdays!). When I need an article of clothing, I’ll always check the newspaper coupons before I go. I’ll then go to the clearance section first to see if I can combine my coupon with a clearance item. I’ve actually “bought” clothing for free this way!
  7. Find a tailor
    Big secret: Most clothes patterns were not made with the average person in mind. Another big secret: There is no average body. Everyone’s body is different. I used to get totally depressed that every.single.pair. of pants I tried on didn’t fit my body type. But I got a great and inexpensive tailor and got over it. Tailors make clothes look more expensive because they alter the fit for your body. This is also great for when you found a clothing item that’s super cheap, but the fit is just slightly off.
  8. Learn how to sew
    Learning how to do basic clothing repairs, like sewing on a button, is really a life skill. Learn how to reattach buttons and sew up small holes and you’ll save your wardrobe.
  9. Buy higher quality
    One of the best pieces of knowledge I’ve learned is to recognize when a piece of clothing is a P.O.S.. You don’t have to shop at high price places to get high quality either. (I’ve actually bought a sweater at Target that have lasted a lot longer than a similar, much more expensive sweater from J.Crew.) Look at the seams and the thread. Is the thread insanely thin? Is there thread coming out of the seams? Are the seams single or double stitched? Are there extra buttons for repairs? What is it made of? If it looks cheap, it probably is cheap, keep walking, sister.
  10. Buy second-hand
    You might think this tip goes against the previous tip, but it totally doesn’t. Buying second-hand doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. Being a patient thrift store shopper can pay off. If you aren’t as patient (sometimes I’m not) clothing exchange stores can be a good bet because they’ve already weeded through much of the junk.
  11. Look for timeless pieces
    Timeless pieces mean more bang for your buck because you can wear them much longer. Avoid trends and you’ll be able to wear pieces season after season. I always like to think would I fit in on an episode of Mad Men? If not, I don’t buy it.
  12. Learn to accessorize
    It sounds like a cliche ’80’s sitcom when I say this, but accessories can totally change the look of an outfit. You could wear the same black pants and white shirt for a week straight with different accessories and no one would ever notice. I may or may not be guilty of this…
  13. Ask for clothes as gifts
    Remember when you were a kid and clothes as gifts were the worst? Well, clothes as gifts are kind of the best now. To avoid Aunt Ethel buying you a Bill Cosby sweater, I’d suggest telling that loved one exactly what you want. (For Christmas, I’d love these of wool socks, please and thank you! No, really, I’d love those socks.) Even better, you could go shopping with them. Get in some bonding time and get exactly what you want!
  14. Use proper washing techniques
    Washing on cold with like-colors can preserve your clothes. Buttoning all your buttons and zipping all your zippers when washing can help too. And not only is line-drying more energy efficient, it’s also more gentle on your clothes. Win for nature.
  15. Shop with cash only
    Credit cards and Target are a dangerous combination for me. When I’m shopping at the Big T, I only carry cash. It limits me and I need those limits. If you need those limits too, try just shopping with cash.
  16. Ask about discounts
    Some well-known stores (J.Crew!) offer student discounts. Other give discounts for AAA members, state employees and birthday discounts. Just asking could save you enough for a mall pretzel.
  17. Borrow for a big event
    Weddings, a special night out on the town or a vacation can crush your clothing budget. I used to use every big event as an excuse to buy something new. No more. I now commit to wear something from my closet or borrow something, if necessary. No more buying clothes to wear once.
  18. Stay out of the stores
    This one is especially hard during the holiday season, but if you can, I’d recommend just staying out of stores. It takes away the temptation. Try my handmade holiday challenge and commit to making gifts this year.

How do you save money on clothing? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

 

18 Ways the Library Can Help You Save Money

18 ways the library can help you save moneyIf you’ve been reading this blog very long, you know that by profession, I’m a librarian. If you haven’t been reading this blog very long, welcome! I’m glad you’re here. Pull up a chair and grab a cuppa, let me teach you something!

On a daily basis I’m surprised that many people wander into my library without knowing even half of the services we provide. With that being said, not all libraries are the same. Duh! Your library may not have everything I’m about to share (they might have more!), but it’s always helpful to ask what services your local library offers.

  1. E-Books
    E-books are one of our lesser known services. People often know that we carry print books, but they tend to forget that we also have a generous e-book collection. Most libraries are venturing out into e-book territory. Some even have access to Overdrive, a global distributor of e-books. Overdrive carries amazingly current titles and sometimes you’ll get the e-book before the print book gets on the shelf!
  2. Tax Assistance
    During tax season, many libraries will offer tax workshops or professional advice. Public libraries are great at offering this service.
  3. Workshops
    Most libraries offer some sort of workshops and programming. These programs can range from computer classes to gardening classes and everything in between.
  4. Videos
    People always seem shocked to know that our library checks out DVDs. We’ve got DVDs and occasionally even screen movies. Sometimes the movies screened at libraries are educational, but sometimes the movies are just for fun. And the best part is that the movies are free!
  5. Magazines
    When did magazine subscriptions get so expensive? I don’t know, but it’s a little out of control. Many libraries subscribe to a wide range of popular and scholarly periodicals. Some libraries will even let you take the magazines home for a limited time period!
  6. Interlibrary Loan Services
    Don’t think that your library is limited to just the books that it has on it’s shelf. Libraries work with each other to get you the books that you need. You won’t even have to visit the other library to obtain the book, the book will be sent to your home library! On a related note, in my state you can also walk into any public university and use their services because you pay for them with your taxes! Often university libraries have more money than public libraries or community college libraries (like mine). And more money equals more books!
  7. Makerspaces
    This is a new thing that some libraries are setting up in their facilities. Makerspaces are a place that people can go to tinker, fix and learn to create stuff. Makerspaces first started as places for people to tinker with technology, but I’ve also seen makerspaces that teach users how to sew or create woodwork. The possibilities are endless and this is a really exciting new aspect of libraries.
  8. Meeting Rooms
    Meeting rooms are nothing new for libraries, but they are a service that is often forgotten. Many libraries offer room usage for free or a very nominal cost. Some libraries even have event space for weddings, conferences or family reunions.
  9. Technology rentals
    Calculators, e-readers and laptops– libraries are venturing out and letting users check out all sorts of technology-related objects. Call your local library and check to see what they are  lending out today!
  10.  Out-of-the-box rentals
    Libraries have been known to check out some wild stuff. I’ve seen instances where libraries check out everything from gardening tools to gaming systems. The last library I worked at checked out art work!
  11.  Kid’s activities
    Public libraries are the best for kid’s activities. Story time, yoga for kids and all kinds of arts and crafts will keep those little ones busy long enough for you to browse the collection!
  12. Research help
    I would love to help you with your research questions. Please, just ask me! If you encounter someone at the reference desk, often times, research is their favorite thing to do. Most of my questions involve the location of the bathroom and I would love to help someone research something interesting. Heck, I’d love to help someone research something boring.
  13. Free Wi-Fi or Computer Use
    A home Internet connection is getting more expensive by the day. Seriously. When will someone put a cap on that?! Anyway, libraries offer free wi-fi and computer use. Even if you have your own computer and Internet connection, it’s nice to know that if something ever goes wrong, your local, trusty library should be able to help in that department. I’ve also known people to forgo paying for a personal Internet subscription and just use the library’s wi-fi.
  14. Copying and Faxing Services
    I think every library I’ve ever been to has a copier. Usually library copies are way cheaper than at a print shop too. Many libraries also having faxing services for a small fee. Much smaller than a big box printer, I guarantee it.
  15. Job Services
    With the downturn in the economy, many a brave library took job services onto their already overloaded plate. I’ve seen libraries with resume workshops. I’ve seen libraries partner with superb non-profits like Dress for Success to help women get the business attire they need. And I’ve even seen libraries host job fairs! Holy canoli. Libraries do it all.
  16. Legal Issues
    One of the most common questions I get at the reference desk (other than where is the bathroom?) is about legal issues. Many libraries respond to this by setting up a program to host a lawyer and answer legal questions for free. At the very least, your library should be able to point you in the right direction for legal help.
  17. Free Books to Keep or Books on the Cheap
    Libraries often host an annual book sale to weed out their old collections and gain a little profit for new books. Library book sales keep costs insanely low. Like anywhere from 10 cents to a dollar low. That’s cheaper than Amazon prices, people. At my library, we even have a book rack at the door where we give away (nice, new!) books that have been donated that we can’t use for whatever reason. For free.
  18. Genealogy
    Genealogy help is a growing trend in libraries and man, is it interesting. Oftentimes with your library card, you’ll be able to access expensive sites like Ancestry for free! Libraries also often have local history collections that can be helpful in the search for your own history.

I hope you’ve learned a little something-something today and will reach out to see what cool and interesting things your home library offers. Is that too Reading Rainbow-lesson-ish? I don’t care, call me LeVar Burton ‘cuz libraries bring it out in me. Let me know in the comments if your library offers something out of the norm!

love,
melanie