EAT OUT LESS, SAVE MORE

How often do you eat out? Chances are - too much. In fact, Research and Markets published a study, “Attitude towards Dining Out in the United States”, showing Americans eat out one out of every four meals and snacks. Adding insult to injury, the study respondents indicated this behavior costs nearly half of their food budget; a potentially serious financial drain on anyone’s wallet.

At one point in our marriage, my husband and I were eating out over six times a week. We both worked full time, sometimes eating out with our co-workers at lunch. For dinner we would make a quick stop to a fast food restaurant because we went from work to some after work activity, having no time to prepare dinner. On weekends we allowed ourselves to splurge, sometimes eating out all three meals.

We were young, and lucky to have high metabolisms, and because of this it took our indifference and boredom with the same fast food restaurants to realize we had a problem. Neither Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, nor Rocky Rococo could entice us. Then, one day, I decided to use an extra calendar, we received free in the mail, to track our eating habits including the cost. What we discovered was eye-opening. We spent way too much on caloric, nutrient deficient food. We decided to take immediate action and tracked our food habit for four months. Many diet gurus recommend tracking your eating habits anyway, so we felt we were killing two birds with one stone.

As soon as we began tracking our last minute fast food purchases, we began to make changes. Instead of hamburgers and fries from Wendy’s, we found ways to make healthy meals quickly. Sometimes, they were ready made meals from Trader Joe’s; other times they were things that could be thrown together in twenty minutes. Obviously, buying food in bulk at the grocery store, and planning ahead for the week, helped both time wise and savings wise. In addition, we didn’t get to that “I’m so hungry I’m going to faint” stage where anything and everything sounded good.

Each day, I marked B, L, and D for our meals along with our initials. If they were blank, it meant we ate at home or brought our lunch in to work. Initially, my costs went down first. This was due to the fact that it was easier for me to bring my lunch to work than it was for my husband. We both worked in an office; however, he saw clients or had work lunches that were sometimes hard to get out of. In addition, there seemed to be a stigma attached to males bringing in their lunch. Soon, though, he seemed to convince even his office mates to do the same.

Not only were we saving money, we were eating better – a double benefit.

To this day, we continually monitor our spending habits when we choose to eat out. We have found that not only do we limit our fast food expenses, but we enjoy eating out at finer restaurants.

There is no better time to begin to track your eat out habits than the start of a new year. Why not do so beginning January 1, 2009. What will you do with your savings?

Budget Fitness

Getting in shape can cost a fortune. You can purchase training sessions, a gym membership, or buy sessions of a specific fitness class. No wonder why there aren't more people willing to get in shape. But, you don't have to spend a penny to get a great workout. How, you ask? By exercising for free.

Do you have cable TV services? If so, you probably have access to what they call "on demand" services. It allows you to access certain shows, movies, etc., when you want. Check it out. You'll find you likely have access to free exercise videos, ranging from yoga to strength training. I've worked out with Tom Morley doing cardio yoga, and Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper doing their famous butt-kicking Biggest Loser workouts. The best part is that you can do these anytime of day.

Cable also offers exercise shows on their regular channels, like Inhale, an hour long yoga show on the Oxygen channel. If you don't have cable, check out your local channels, like PBS, which offers a number of exercise shows daily. You can check the Internet, your local newspaper, or T.V. Guide for shows offered in your area.

Do you have access to a free gym? Your condo, apartment, homeowners community, or even your employer may offer free gym access.

Don't forget to check out bulletin boards, social networking sites, libraries, etc., to find out of there are free exercise class groups in your area. For example, I've joined a yoga, Pilates, and PX90 group within the last year - all are free.

Take it from me, you can have fun exercising without spending a dime. So, why not go for it, and do your body proud!

SAVING ON MEDICAL AND PHARMACY COSTS

It's that time of year again. The time when we find out exactly how much our medical costs will rise for the coming year. It takes increasing diligence to recoup money spent in this area.

An important place to start is with your employer. Do they offer a a flexible spending account (FSA)? If so, you should take advantage of it. An FSA allows you to set aside an amount from your salary pre-tax, to put into an account for use throughout the year. So, say in January you spend $50 in out-of-pocket costs for a prescription and an office copay visit. You compile your receipts and forward them on to the company who manages the FSA account. They review the documentation and then reimburse you for out-of-pocket costs. Remember, it is not taxed, meaning it reduces your taxable income.

Any money left over at the end of the year is lost, so estimate your yearly expenses carefully. Figure out how much you spend each month per year. Adjust it accordingly, when medical or prescription changes occur.

Check out this site for a list of eligible expenses: https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/eligibleexpenses.asp. Stores like Walgreen's and Target make it easy, by noting FSA eligible expenses with an "F". So, keep your receipts.

Don't forget to review the charges on your medical bills and explanation of benefits. Just like on your credit card bill or store receipt, mistakes can happen. Finding one and getting it corrected could make a big impact on your pocketbook.

Lastly, review the coverages offered by your health plan. Sometimes they will reimburse you for a portion of a health club membership, or will pay for you to lose weight or stop smoking. In addition, you don't want to pay for duplicate coverage, like a separate vision plan when your health insurer already covers a yearly eye exam.

This is one of the toughest areas to save in, but by paying close attention you can reduce wasteful spending.

Saving Money on Pet Care Needs

Many of us enjoy the companionship pets bring to us. They keep us warm at night, greet us at the door, and provide love and attention on demand.

On the down side, owning a pet these days is an expensive proposition. The costs of food, toys, medicine, and vet bills can quickly add up.

Here are some easy tips to help you save money:

1) Compare prices. I can't stress this enough. As an example, I have two diabetic cats. Because of their condition, I feed them a mostly protein diet. Canned pet food varies in price, depending on the store you purchase it from. I purchase Fancy Feast canned food that doesn't contain wheat gluten. At my local drugstore, one 3.5 ounce can costs 75 cents. At my local grocery store, 65 cents; and at the big chain pet food stores, just 50 to 55 cents a can. That's a huge savings. They eat 120 cans a month which equates to a savings of 30 dollars a month. On a larger scale, that's a savings of 360 dollars a year.

2) Do the same for medical supplies like insulin and needles. Our local vet charges twice as much for needles than many online wholesalers. The savings again, is in the hundreds of dollars a year.

3) Full price toys are expensive. So instead of paying full price, check out discount stores like Big Lots, Tuesday Morning or clearance racks at Target, Walmart, grocery and pet stores. Sometimes pet stores offer locally made pet toys at a fraction of the cost.

4) Consider insurance plans for your pets when they are young. By the time I realized the options available, my cats were too old. Make sure to shop around, too. There are many different plans offered through pet stores, shelters, and even the workplace.

You can begin saving money immediately with these handy tips.

GROCERY BUDGETING IDEAS

Take a trip to the grocery store these days and you will experience sticker shock! This year alone, I have noticed most of my grocery items increasing by a dollar or more. Feeding just two in our household costs over $350 a month. That doesn't include our weekend splurges eating out.

Over the years I've learned some handy tips to save money on food expenses.

• Take a trip to your local farmers market. The produce is much cheaper since the middleman distributor is eliminated. Plus, the quality is much better than store bought produce. This is because no time is wasted in getting the product to you.

• Use coupons whenever possible. They can decrease your grocery bill substantially.

• Shop at discount stores like Big Lots or the Dented Can. The boxes and cans may be dented and that can save you a lot of moohla. Often times, the stores will get a shipment of good quality product that was taken off of the shelves due to advertising reasons. For example, the holiday boxes of cookies and cereal that are left after the season is over.

• Consider joining a local food cooperative. A food cooperative is a group of like-minded individuals who wish to purchase fresh produce, meat, etc., from local providers. Usually, a standard fee is charged which will get you loads more than if you were to try and buy the same items at the grocery store. Because the coop buys the food in bulk quantities, and takes whatever is in season, the resulting savings are well worth it.

Saving on Big Ticket Items

I find it a challenge to save money in many different ways. One way most people don't consider is by shopping for furniture or appliances at discounted prices.

J.C. Penney and Sears have outlet stores located across the country that offer deep discounts on furniture, appliances, and other home furnishings. I've purchased most of my furniture this way. Another, not to be missed, opportunity are store closings.

One of my best buys was a couch I bought when Marshall Field's closed its Milwaukee location several years ago. The closing sale was announced weeks in advance. My friends and I, struggling young professionals living on our own, saw our chance for some quality furnishings. We had no idea what we were getting in to. Ladies with cell phones and lists were poised at the gate. My friends and I looked at each other and figured we had youth on our side. The gates rose and we ran up the escalator steps, two at a time, to get to the furniture department on the second floor. We lost track of each other as we ran from item to item, pulling the tags off of our chosen ones. I was the new owner of a $1200 couch for which I paid $275, including shipping.

Since then, I've never paid more than $500 for a couch. I figure I won't own it forever, we have pets, and if I want to redecorate I won't feel like I wasted money. I've purchased couches, love seats, end tables, and dressers this way.

Before you purchase, make sure to check for flaws. Most of the time, there is nothing wrong with it. The store may have ordered too many pieces or it may be the last one. Whatever the reason, you can reap the rewards of decorating on a shoestring budget.

So, go out and try it. Visit a store closing sale, an outlet, or the clearance department of your favorite furniture store. You just might find the piece you have been looking for.

Eco Friendly Ways to Save Money

I would like to think of myself as an eco trailblazer. As a child, I despised those that littered and threw out their garbage in parking lots and sidewalks. I secretly wanted to pick up the still lit cigarettes, I had seen drivers carelessly throw out of their car windows, and throw them back in. In reality, I didn't do nearly enough to protect the environment.

You don't need a lot of money to do things to help the environment. In fact, you can save money by doing so. Here are eight ways to reduce your carbon footprint and increase your savings:

1. UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRONICS. Did you know that even if you are not using a lamp, computer, or fan it is still using electricity while plugged in to the outlet? Unplug items not in use and you will be surprised at the difference it will make on your monthly electric bills. It is also a good fire prevention measure.
2. GIVE UP DRINKING BOTTLED WATER. So far, there is no conclusive testing showing bottled water is any better for you than tap water. Giving it up will allow you to save landfill space and money. Even better, your teeth will benefit since fluoride is good for them.
3. PLAN YOUR ERRANDS SO YOU USE LESS GAS. The obvious benefits are that you will reduce pollution and save money.
4. DON’T LITTER. This may not have occurred to you, but you will spend less in taxes if the government doesn’t have to pick up after you; plus, your neighborhood will be cleaner.
5. GO TO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY DRY CLEANER. You will avoid the nasty chemicals that are typically used to clean clothing; thereby reducing your chances, and the environment’s, of being exposed to toxic chemicals.
6. BUY LOCALLY GROWN FOOD. This is a no-brainer. Less gas is used to transport it to you, and it’s fresher and cheaper.
7. DON’T FLUSH ANYTHING, OTHER THAN YOUR WASTE, DOWN THE TOILET. Why? Because the water gets reconditioned and used again. Remember the recent news blurbs on prescription drugs found in water supplies? Yuck!
8. BUY A WATER SAVING SHOWER HEAD. You will save a bundle on your water bill and spare gallons of the much needed resource.

These are just a few simple, but effective, ways you can make a difference.

Buying Brand Name Sports Apparel

I don't know about you, but I actually enjoy working out. I also like to wear name brand sports apparel. I don't like having to pay full price for it though. That's where my frugal sensibility comes in. Thrift runs in my family and because I've been practicing it for so long, it comes naturally to me. I want to pass on my knowledge to you, the consumer, because not everyone possesses this skill. I do believe it is a skill and just because I practically inherited mine, doesn't mean you can't develop it.



So, for my first post, I want to tell you where to look for name brand sports apparel. My husband and I have this running joke. It started when I noticed he wore Adidas clothing to work out in. It wasn't just an Adidas shirt, it was a whole outfit. The only thing he didn't have on, is the only thing they don't make - underwear! Since high school cross country I had an affinity towards Nike. The shoes fit my feet well, and they were comfortable - the two most important factors to me at the time. When we would go to the gym I would make fun of his designer outfit, but he didn't care. So, being my sarcastic self, I began to purchase more Nike apparel. I now own socks, exercise bras, shirts, tanks, shorts, pants, and a gym bag all by one designer. I've been doing this for years now, occasionally teasing my husband by telling him he should come to the dark side - meaning he should change brand loyalty. He hasn't yet.



I did get him to realize one thing. You don't have to pay full price for a designer look. If you want to be decked out in name brand, head to off-price retailers such as T.J. Maxx, Marshall's, and Nordstrom Rack. Don't forget Kohl's on their sale days, or during their savings certificates promotions. Department stores, such as Macy's, have clearance racks waiting for you. Yes, it takes a little extra time digging; but as an example, I typically save $15-25 off the shirts normal retail prices. Outlet malls are another good place to visit. The two brands I mentioned above have stand alone outlet stores in many states. Lastly, don't forget you can save on the shoes too. DSW is a great place to look for discount name brands. Here's a helpful hint: always start at the clearance racks first. You may find what you need there and will have no need to search through the rest of the store. This will limit your temptation to look at other shoes that may be out of your price range.



Now that your son or daughter is heading back to school, it's the perfect time to try out these fast and easy hints. Happy Savings!