Livingston Daily: Coupon queens shop for free
Several southeast Michigan frugal living and bargain-shopping bloggers had a get-together Friday in Lathrup Village near Southfield. We were chatting away for about two hours – long enough to close down Panera Bread for the night!
One of the ladies I met was Courtney Bellanti of Brighton, who hosts 1-2-3Save. She was one of the shoppers [...]
Continue reading Livingston Daily: Coupon queens shop for free …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Donna McKenna and the $30 a week grocery books
If you were interested in frugal living in the early 1990s, you might have heard of Donna McKenna’s books called The $30 a Week Grocery Budget, volume I and II.
I wasn’t aware of Donna’s books when she wrote them in the early 1990s, but I was definitely on a tight budget at the time.
After reading [...]
Continue reading Donna McKenna and the $30 a week grocery books …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Donna McKenna and the $30 a week grocery books
If you were interested in frugal living in the early 1990s, you might have heard of Donna McKenna’s books called The $30 a Week Grocery Budget, volume I and II.
I wasn’t aware of Donna’s books when she wrote them in the early 1990s, but I was definitely on a tight budget at the time.
After reading [...]
Continue reading Donna McKenna and the $30 a week grocery books …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Senior prom: The after-prom
If you are planning for spring prom season, you need to have some discussions with the teens about after-prom activities.
A lot of high schools in Michigan and Ohio host either after-prom or after-graduation parties for the senior class, depending on local tradition. These are typically casual, festival atmosphere events that last all night.
Since the custom in the Monroe, Mich., area, leans toward graduation parties, that leaves after-prom hours for my local readers open to individual choice.
I am aware that, for some, it is considered tradition or at least acceptable to allow a hotel room stay after prom. Personally: my husband and I didn’t allow the daughter to do that. For the parenting perspective, Ladies Home Journal has a discussion on hotels on prom night.
You can’t assume that prom stays are welcomed by the hospitality staff in the first place. One spring when I was traveling, I saw a sign at the hotel where I was staying that the staff knew what nights were prom nights in that community. The sign added they would not knowingly take reservations for high school prom guests.
If the teens want somewhere to “hang out” and watch movies or have other fun after the dance, and a school party is not available, one option is for parents of one of the teens to supervise an alcohol-free gathering at their home.
If you look at it from the frugal living perspective, a house party is a lot cheaper than a renting a hotel room or suite.
This is part of my series on senior prom expenses.
Continue reading Senior prom: The after-prom …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Know when frugality can cost you
photo by Mike Licht
During your quest for frugality, you can overdo it. Extreme frugal living that negatively impacts someone else is one way. But another way is when you get so consumed by saving that you actually waste money in the process. Have you ever had a frugal flop or had good intentions to save, but it ended up costing you?
Here are a few ways people think they’re saving, but actually aren’t.
SHOPPING SALES: You go through the sales fliers and see a grocery item is on sale. The store is in another city, and you drive without considering the time or gas it takes. It might end up costing you more than if you had passed on it or simply waited for a local sale. Do the math. If it’s worth it, remember that your savings will increase if you buy more than one item and add it to your stockpile. You’re not saving money if the ads or coupons entice you to buy items you wouldn’t normally buy or if you overbuy and can’t consume a product before it goes bad. One reader, D.D. from Missouri, adds: “Pay attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff in the flyer (paid placement) or with a big sign like it’s a sale item but then sell it at regular price, or it’s for a different size than you’re used to buying. Sometimes they put stuff on sale for a couple of cents off the regular price, which is no bargain.”
DELAYING MEDICAL CARE: You don’t seek medical attention because you don’t want to shell out money for the bill. Maybe you don’t have medical insurance, don’t want to miss time from work or it’s a bad week financially. Home remedies such as a warm compress, drinking cranberry juice or eating garlic cloves isn’t the way to go. Delaying medical attention can make health matters worse and cost you more money.
DIY FLOPS: Know your do-it-yourself limitations. Don’t invest in tools and supplies to fix anything that is far beyond the realm of your skill set, or on items that are truly past their usable life, or on projects that might not ever get done or won’t be done well enough. There comes a time when an item isn’t worth repairing or should be handled by a professional.
SUPPLIES: You might want to cook more at home, so you have new recipes to try. But maybe you don’t have everything you need on hand. Aim to cook meals that don’t include fancy ingredients, or learn to make do with modifications and substitutions. If you don’t have time for projects such as home canning or dehydrating, don’t get suckered into buying supplies that will collect dust. If you do have time, do your homework. Another reader, Polly from Pennsylvania, adds a tip: “We’ve been guilty of purchasing cheap appliances/goods because they were cheap, thinking we were saving money, only to have that item break or need repairs, and dying way before its time. We’ve learned to buy the very best we can afford and to research a product before purchasing. After we decide what model/product is the best for our price range and the price range just above it, we start bargain hunting for sales, price matching and looking for things like free delivery and installation. Often, we can get such a good deal that we can buy from the price range above because of sales promotions.”
Continue reading Know when frugality can cost you …
From Frugal Village.
Know when frugality can cost you
photo by Mike Licht
During your quest for frugality, you can overdo it. Extreme frugal living that negatively impacts someone else is one way. But another way is when you get so consumed by saving that you actually waste money in the process. Have you ever had a frugal flop or had good intentions to save, but it ended up costing you?
Here are a few ways people think they’re saving, but actually aren’t.
SHOPPING SALES: You go through the sales fliers and see a grocery item is on sale. The store is in another city, and you drive without considering the time or gas it takes. It might end up costing you more than if you had passed on it or simply waited for a local sale. Do the math. If it’s worth it, remember that your savings will increase if you buy more than one item and add it to your stockpile. You’re not saving money if the ads or coupons entice you to buy items you wouldn’t normally buy or if you overbuy and can’t consume a product before it goes bad. One reader, D.D. from Missouri, adds: “Pay attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff in the flyer (paid placement) or with a big sign like it’s a sale item but then sell it at regular price, or it’s for a different size than you’re used to buying. Sometimes they put stuff on sale for a couple of cents off the regular price, which is no bargain.”
DELAYING MEDICAL CARE: You don’t seek medical attention because you don’t want to shell out money for the bill. Maybe you don’t have medical insurance, don’t want to miss time from work or it’s a bad week financially. Home remedies such as a warm compress, drinking cranberry juice or eating garlic cloves isn’t the way to go. Delaying medical attention can make health matters worse and cost you more money.
DIY FLOPS: Know your do-it-yourself limitations. Don’t invest in tools and supplies to fix anything that is far beyond the realm of your skill set, or on items that are truly past their usable life, or on projects that might not ever get done or won’t be done well enough. There comes a time when an item isn’t worth repairing or should be handled by a professional.
SUPPLIES: You might want to cook more at home, so you have new recipes to try. But maybe you don’t have everything you need on hand. Aim to cook meals that don’t include fancy ingredients, or learn to make do with modifications and substitutions. If you don’t have time for projects such as home canning or dehydrating, don’t get suckered into buying supplies that will collect dust. If you do have time, do your homework. Another reader, Polly from Pennsylvania, adds a tip: “We’ve been guilty of purchasing cheap appliances/goods because they were cheap, thinking we were saving money, only to have that item break or need repairs, and dying way before its time. We’ve learned to buy the very best we can afford and to research a product before purchasing. After we decide what model/product is the best for our price range and the price range just above it, we start bargain hunting for sales, price matching and looking for things like free delivery and installation. Often, we can get such a good deal that we can buy from the price range above because of sales promotions.”
Continue reading Know when frugality can cost you …
From Frugal Village.
Know when frugality can cost you
photo by Mike Licht
During your quest for frugality, you can overdo it. Extreme frugal living that negatively impacts someone else is one way. But another way is when you get so consumed by saving that you actually waste money in the process. Have you ever had a frugal flop or had good intentions to save, but it ended up costing you?
Here are a few ways people think they’re saving, but actually aren’t.
SHOPPING SALES: You go through the sales fliers and see a grocery item is on sale. The store is in another city, and you drive without considering the time or gas it takes. It might end up costing you more than if you had passed on it or simply waited for a local sale. Do the math. If it’s worth it, remember that your savings will increase if you buy more than one item and add it to your stockpile. You’re not saving money if the ads or coupons entice you to buy items you wouldn’t normally buy or if you overbuy and can’t consume a product before it goes bad. One reader, D.D. from Missouri, adds: “Pay attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff in the flyer (paid placement) or with a big sign like it’s a sale item but then sell it at regular price, or it’s for a different size than you’re used to buying. Sometimes they put stuff on sale for a couple of cents off the regular price, which is no bargain.”
DELAYING MEDICAL CARE: You don’t seek medical attention because you don’t want to shell out money for the bill. Maybe you don’t have medical insurance, don’t want to miss time from work or it’s a bad week financially. Home remedies such as a warm compress, drinking cranberry juice or eating garlic cloves isn’t the way to go. Delaying medical attention can make health matters worse and cost you more money.
DIY FLOPS: Know your do-it-yourself limitations. Don’t invest in tools and supplies to fix anything that is far beyond the realm of your skill set, or on items that are truly past their usable life, or on projects that might not ever get done or won’t be done well enough. There comes a time when an item isn’t worth repairing or should be handled by a professional.
SUPPLIES: You might want to cook more at home, so you have new recipes to try. But maybe you don’t have everything you need on hand. Aim to cook meals that don’t include fancy ingredients, or learn to make do with modifications and substitutions. If you don’t have time for projects such as home canning or dehydrating, don’t get suckered into buying supplies that will collect dust. If you do have time, do your homework. Another reader, Polly from Pennsylvania, adds a tip: “We’ve been guilty of purchasing cheap appliances/goods because they were cheap, thinking we were saving money, only to have that item break or need repairs, and dying way before its time. We’ve learned to buy the very best we can afford and to research a product before purchasing. After we decide what model/product is the best for our price range and the price range just above it, we start bargain hunting for sales, price matching and looking for things like free delivery and installation. Often, we can get such a good deal that we can buy from the price range above because of sales promotions.”
Continue reading Know when frugality can cost you …
From Frugal Village.
Know when frugality can cost you
photo by Mike Licht
During your quest for frugality, you can overdo it. Extreme frugal living that negatively impacts someone else is one way. But another way is when you get so consumed by saving that you actually waste money in the process. Have you ever had a frugal flop or had good intentions to save, but it ended up costing you?
Here are a few ways people think they’re saving, but actually aren’t.
SHOPPING SALES: You go through the sales fliers and see a grocery item is on sale. The store is in another city, and you drive without considering the time or gas it takes. It might end up costing you more than if you had passed on it or simply waited for a local sale. Do the math. If it’s worth it, remember that your savings will increase if you buy more than one item and add it to your stockpile. You’re not saving money if the ads or coupons entice you to buy items you wouldn’t normally buy or if you overbuy and can’t consume a product before it goes bad. One reader, D.D. from Missouri, adds: “Pay attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff in the flyer (paid placement) or with a big sign like it’s a sale item but then sell it at regular price, or it’s for a different size than you’re used to buying. Sometimes they put stuff on sale for a couple of cents off the regular price, which is no bargain.”
DELAYING MEDICAL CARE: You don’t seek medical attention because you don’t want to shell out money for the bill. Maybe you don’t have medical insurance, don’t want to miss time from work or it’s a bad week financially. Home remedies such as a warm compress, drinking cranberry juice or eating garlic cloves isn’t the way to go. Delaying medical attention can make health matters worse and cost you more money.
DIY FLOPS: Know your do-it-yourself limitations. Don’t invest in tools and supplies to fix anything that is far beyond the realm of your skill set, or on items that are truly past their usable life, or on projects that might not ever get done or won’t be done well enough. There comes a time when an item isn’t worth repairing or should be handled by a professional.
SUPPLIES: You might want to cook more at home, so you have new recipes to try. But maybe you don’t have everything you need on hand. Aim to cook meals that don’t include fancy ingredients, or learn to make do with modifications and substitutions. If you don’t have time for projects such as home canning or dehydrating, don’t get suckered into buying supplies that will collect dust. If you do have time, do your homework. Another reader, Polly from Pennsylvania, adds a tip: “We’ve been guilty of purchasing cheap appliances/goods because they were cheap, thinking we were saving money, only to have that item break or need repairs, and dying way before its time. We’ve learned to buy the very best we can afford and to research a product before purchasing. After we decide what model/product is the best for our price range and the price range just above it, we start bargain hunting for sales, price matching and looking for things like free delivery and installation. Often, we can get such a good deal that we can buy from the price range above because of sales promotions.”
Continue reading Know when frugality can cost you …
From Frugal Village.
Know when frugality can cost you
photo by Mike Licht
During your quest for frugality, you can overdo it. Extreme frugal living that negatively impacts someone else is one way. But another way is when you get so consumed by saving that you actually waste money in the process. Have you ever had a frugal flop or had good intentions to save, but it ended up costing you?
Here are a few ways people think they’re saving, but actually aren’t.
SHOPPING SALES: You go through the sales fliers and see a grocery item is on sale. The store is in another city, and you drive without considering the time or gas it takes. It might end up costing you more than if you had passed on it or simply waited for a local sale. Do the math. If it’s worth it, remember that your savings will increase if you buy more than one item and add it to your stockpile. You’re not saving money if the ads or coupons entice you to buy items you wouldn’t normally buy or if you overbuy and can’t consume a product before it goes bad. One reader, D.D. from Missouri, adds: “Pay attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff in the flyer (paid placement) or with a big sign like it’s a sale item but then sell it at regular price, or it’s for a different size than you’re used to buying. Sometimes they put stuff on sale for a couple of cents off the regular price, which is no bargain.”
DELAYING MEDICAL CARE: You don’t seek medical attention because you don’t want to shell out money for the bill. Maybe you don’t have medical insurance, don’t want to miss time from work or it’s a bad week financially. Home remedies such as a warm compress, drinking cranberry juice or eating garlic cloves isn’t the way to go. Delaying medical attention can make health matters worse and cost you more money.
DIY FLOPS: Know your do-it-yourself limitations. Don’t invest in tools and supplies to fix anything that is far beyond the realm of your skill set, or on items that are truly past their usable life, or on projects that might not ever get done or won’t be done well enough. There comes a time when an item isn’t worth repairing or should be handled by a professional.
SUPPLIES: You might want to cook more at home, so you have new recipes to try. But maybe you don’t have everything you need on hand. Aim to cook meals that don’t include fancy ingredients, or learn to make do with modifications and substitutions. If you don’t have time for projects such as home canning or dehydrating, don’t get suckered into buying supplies that will collect dust. If you do have time, do your homework. Another reader, Polly from Pennsylvania, adds a tip: “We’ve been guilty of purchasing cheap appliances/goods because they were cheap, thinking we were saving money, only to have that item break or need repairs, and dying way before its time. We’ve learned to buy the very best we can afford and to research a product before purchasing. After we decide what model/product is the best for our price range and the price range just above it, we start bargain hunting for sales, price matching and looking for things like free delivery and installation. Often, we can get such a good deal that we can buy from the price range above because of sales promotions.”
Continue reading Know when frugality can cost you …
From Frugal Village.
Know when frugality can cost you
photo by Mike Licht
During your quest for frugality, you can overdo it. Extreme frugal living that negatively impacts someone else is one way. But another way is when you get so consumed by saving that you actually waste money in the process. Have you ever had a frugal flop or had good intentions to save, but it ended up costing you?
Here are a few ways people think they’re saving, but actually aren’t.
SHOPPING SALES: You go through the sales fliers and see a grocery item is on sale. The store is in another city, and you drive without considering the time or gas it takes. It might end up costing you more than if you had passed on it or simply waited for a local sale. Do the math. If it’s worth it, remember that your savings will increase if you buy more than one item and add it to your stockpile. You’re not saving money if the ads or coupons entice you to buy items you wouldn’t normally buy or if you overbuy and can’t consume a product before it goes bad. One reader, D.D. from Missouri, adds: “Pay attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff in the flyer (paid placement) or with a big sign like it’s a sale item but then sell it at regular price, or it’s for a different size than you’re used to buying. Sometimes they put stuff on sale for a couple of cents off the regular price, which is no bargain.”
DELAYING MEDICAL CARE: You don’t seek medical attention because you don’t want to shell out money for the bill. Maybe you don’t have medical insurance, don’t want to miss time from work or it’s a bad week financially. Home remedies such as a warm compress, drinking cranberry juice or eating garlic cloves isn’t the way to go. Delaying medical attention can make health matters worse and cost you more money.
DIY FLOPS: Know your do-it-yourself limitations. Don’t invest in tools and supplies to fix anything that is far beyond the realm of your skill set, or on items that are truly past their usable life, or on projects that might not ever get done or won’t be done well enough. There comes a time when an item isn’t worth repairing or should be handled by a professional.
SUPPLIES: You might want to cook more at home, so you have new recipes to try. But maybe you don’t have everything you need on hand. Aim to cook meals that don’t include fancy ingredients, or learn to make do with modifications and substitutions. If you don’t have time for projects such as home canning or dehydrating, don’t get suckered into buying supplies that will collect dust. If you do have time, do your homework. Another reader, Polly from Pennsylvania, adds a tip: “We’ve been guilty of purchasing cheap appliances/goods because they were cheap, thinking we were saving money, only to have that item break or need repairs, and dying way before its time. We’ve learned to buy the very best we can afford and to research a product before purchasing. After we decide what model/product is the best for our price range and the price range just above it, we start bargain hunting for sales, price matching and looking for things like free delivery and installation. Often, we can get such a good deal that we can buy from the price range above because of sales promotions.”
Continue reading Know when frugality can cost you …
From Frugal Village.