Bela's guide to saving $$.

During these hard financial times for many people, I decided to write about something that I have been doing for years, and you should consider doing if you want to save some $$.

1) Cut grocery coupons. A little known fact is that if the coupon is for $0.50 or less, the store doubles it. Important: Only cut coupons for items that you ALREADY plan to buy, or can substitute (cheaper after coupon) for items you already buy. If you already buy generic (or it is an acceptable substitute) for $4, and the name brand comes to $4.75 AFTER the coupon, still buy the generic.

1a) when buying products, many manufacturers have used you as prey by making their package smaller and continuing to charge the same price. Look at the "Cost per oz" price when comparing two brands, not the total cost. The sizes may be different.
1b) learn to make food from scratch, not mixes. You pay more for the convenience of a mix. (I am talking about helpers, pancake mix, cookie dough, etc)

2) Use restaurant coupons. I don't eat out often. However, I haven't quite figured out why if you're going with just one or two other people (or alone) why not use a coupon?? you can find them online everywhere, or buy an entertainment book for $20 and after using a coupon or two it will have paid for itself. But be diligent. You have to look at the coupons BEFORE you decide where to go, not the other way around.

2a) If you're just going to the restaurant for the social aspect, consider eating at home first so you won't be tempted to buy a lot, or else consider sharing a larger dish with a friend.

3) Carpool. I don't just mean people. I mean places too. If you have to go to three places, go in one trip.

4) If your credit card gives good points, use your credit card (BUT ALWAYS PAY IT OFF). Especially use your card if you can link it to a miles or points account seperate from the card itself...like getting restaurant points for skymiles/AAdvantage miles.

4a) If you can't pay off a credit card, NEVER USE A CREDIT CARD. Don't buy more than you can afford.

5) If you travel a lot, stick with the same airline/hotel chain if at all possible. Rack up the points, become a premium member, and then the points will rack up even faster. Redeem your points wisely.

6)Invest in extra underwear and socks, and go as long as possible without doing laundry. Do large loads. It keeps your water usage and energy usage much lower than if you do smaller loads more often

7) Use compact fluorescent bulbs. They are more expensive on the front end, but take longer to burn out, and use a fraction of the KWH that normal bulbs use.

8) Plan trips and shop for big purchases in advance. That way you can keep an eye on prices/fares, and purchase when YOU think it's the optimal price.

9) Lower your phone/cable usage if possible. Do you REALLY need the plan you're paying for?

10) Get a roommate.

11) Price compare. When someone says they'll beat an advertised price, hold them to it. If something goes on sale the week you bought it, bring in your receipt for a price adjustment.

12) Make your lunch. Bring it with you 4 days a week. Make one day special and only go out then. If you forget your lunch, that becomes your special day.

Lastly, Don't be annoying about saving money. Do these things on your own time as much as possible to avoid your friends waiting on you to complete any of these tasks.

I'd love to hear your extra suggestions if you have some! :-)
(and don't judge me for my awesome money saving techniques...they WORK!)

My sweet dress deal.

I am going to a wedding in Argentina next month. Since I only own two formal dresses, neither of which are very "glitzy", and both of which are rather old, I decided it was time to buy a new dress. January, however, is NOT the best time to buy a long formal dress, as it is after homecoming season, but before Prom season, so all the dresses are new arrivals for prom.

There really hasn't been that much of a selection as I'd been shopping, so after spending a day looking for a dress and coming up completely empty handed, I talked to some girlfriends, and they gave me some more ideas of where to find a dress.

The next day I went back out and ended up finding a beautiful dress that I really liked at Bloomingdale's. $150. Not horrible for a formal dress, but still, it would've been nice to have found something on sale. Oh well, I was sick of shopping. Plus, this particular mall had a special with Discover Card that if you spent $200, you'd get back a $20 gift card. I had certainly spent $100 before that during the holiday season, so I turned in my receipts for a $20 gift card.

Once I got home, a few days later I was talking to my sister, and she mentioned she had a $25 coupon off a $100 purchase at bloomingdale's. I decided it couldn't hurt to try to use it.

So I went back yesterday. I returned the dress, and re-bought it with the coupon. The guy says "let's see if I can do any better than $25 for you. He said they had some sort of one-day sale coming up, so he did a pre-sale or something (not really important to me) and I ended up paying $100 for the dress. Yipee!

So, meanwhile, I'd already gotten the $20 discover gift card (I'd probably still be eligible with my other spendings, but not sure)...so I don't think they'll recall my $20 gift card, so I basically got the dress for $80. And it is awesome.

Hellloooo 2009!

I think this has been the longest I've gone since 2004 without writing in my blog. It's gotten to the point that over the last few weeks, I have actually had REQUESTS to update. for anyone who is new, that's a big deal considering I didn't think anyone actually read the posts before.

I am looking, and really August time was my last significant entry. That is INSANE! I can't believe how time has flown by. I guess I can catch you up on the last 5 months of my life.

August and September came and went with my weeks filled by taking tango and playing on JCC young adults volleyball league. A friend asked if I wanted to play (I think at the time they didn't have enough girls on the team), and seeing that I love volleyball, I agreed. The games were on Wednesday nights, and so I'd go to the games, and then rush over to grab a quick shower and still make it to dance at Graveyard Tavern before the night was up.

Our beginning tango class ended in October, and I thought it'd be fun to continue into the intermediate class, but truth be told, I think we've only made it 3-4 times since almost every week either he or I is out of town. (is that grammar right??) Either way, it is still fun when we do go.

Earlier this year, a friend and I attended a Shearith Israel 20's/30's potluck lunch after synagogue one week. I happened to come to shul, and he invited me along. Somewhere in the middle of lunch, we were volunteered to plan a scavenger hunt for Sukkot time. so we made plans probably 5 times to prepare the hunt, and really didn't do a very thorough job until the last minute, but the event went really well, and about 30+ people came! the hunt went all around the highlands, and hopefully people met some new friends. It ended at a bar in the highlands, and everyone hung out for a while, and some stayed even longer to celebrate my friend's b-day. Oh yeah, Sept/October was also filled with a kick *ss season of GT football, ending the regular season at 9-3 with a huge win over U[sic]GA (finally)

Since I didn't mention it before, and if you're living under a rock (that is, if you NEVER talk to me hehe), I started dating a very nice guy in October, and he is really an amazing person. I am looking forward to much more time together. I am going to be spending some time with him in Argentina next month when we go down for his sister's wedding. I am really excited about going, but sad the trip will be so short. Hopefully I'll get to go back for longer later in the year.

Speaking of weddings, so many more friends got married this year, I can't even believe it. Becca and Jason, Greer and Jarrod, Rachael and Michael, Josh and Allison, Alexis and David, Meredith and Benny...I am sure I am forgetting some more! And engagements, oh my...Rebecca and John, Patrick and Susan...I don't have enough dresses, presents, or time to go around!

November and December were filled with the usual holiday meals, family gatherings, and office parties. It was so crowded, I don't even remember a lot of them. There was one night that we hopped 3 parties, but had we not been so worn out, we had two more we could've gone to! we also played JCC kickball, but I got sent out of town so much for work, I only made it to about half the games =(

Over New years I went for my second time to Lindy Focus, which was a week-long dance workshop (Adam doesn't like if I say dance camp)in Asheville, NC. I had a good time dancing up a storm, taking classes, and performing. I didn't stay out dancing each night nearly as late as last year, but still did a whole lot of dancing, so it was fun.

And now I am back to the grind, today being my first day back at work after so long of a break, I almost forgot how to do work! I think I may have to remember tomorrow :-)

Happy New Year everyone!!!!