Coupons are often touted as great money savers and the greatest way to save on groceries, household supplies, even clothing and home construction. Need some eyeglasses? There is certain to be a coupon for it. Whatever your needs, you can find a coupon for some supplier.

The way that coupons are touted by some finance and budget advisors, you would spend half of your Saturday scouring the internet and newspapers looking for the best deals and clipping coupons. This is a waste of your time! How much will you really save if you clip all of the coupons that you find for items you like or need?

Firstly, look at what the deals are that each coupon shows. Now ask yourself if you really need the items on the coupon. If the answer is “no” then you aren’t saving anything, since you are either wasting money on something you don’t need (so you are throwing money away), or you have just wasted your time with the coupon. Don’t clip it or give it a second glance. Coupons are really just advertisements that are used in order to get new sales or promote customer returns and loyalty. And they are effective advertising!

The key with coupons is to know ahead of time what you need and stick with that, only. Most people will use coupons for groceries, as these are the most common coupons that we see. And they are the easiest to find. They lure you from grocery store or brand to another. And sometimes they include special offers that entice a person to buy more than what would normally be needed or used. For example, the grocery store that I shop at often has a special marked down price on items if they are bought in certain quantities, such as $1.00 each if bought in groups of 3; $1.28 for a single item. If you don’t need 3 of the items, why would you buy 3? You’ve just spent $1.72 on something that you didn’t need, and are likely to throw at least one of those three away. This means that you would have spent $1.50 each for the two that you did use. So where are the savings? Of course if you were going to buy the 3 items in the first place, then you will save.

This same grocery store has a large bulletin board posted directly inside the entrance of the building filled with coupons that you can tear off and use for the trip you are going on that day. This is very clever of them, as all of these items are then advertised and the coupons often entice people to buy items that they wouldn’t otherwise. But you won’t fall for that, will you?

The point is to not use coupons except for items that you would already buy!

In order to do that you have to have certain strategies whenever you go shopping or even looking for coupons. The first thing is to make a list of what you need. Complete the list before you look for coupons. Then when you look for coupons seek only those items that are on your list! It doesn’t matter if you see a great deal on something that isn’t on your list that you might like. It isn’t on the list, so you don’t need it. Don’t buy it! Don’t even think about buying it.

Advertisers love coupons and special offers, because these things really do get people to buy things that they don’t need. Take a look around your house and the homes of your friends. Guaranteed that you will see many things there that are never used – probably aren’t even thought of – and serve no purpose. But they looked cool at the time, maybe they were a fad, the advertising for them was good, and they weren’t expensive. And that’s why they were bought. And how much money over the months and years is wasted on buying things that aren’t needed? Do you really want to keep following that pattern?

Coupons and special offers are useful. They allow you to try new brands that you wouldn’t normally buy. [We all already know about brand names being overpriced.] This really won’t make a difference to your pallet, but it can make a difference to your budget, if the special offer or coupon makes the brand name cheaper than what you normally buy. And that is always a good thing!

Remember, there are three steps that must be followed:

1. Make a list
2. Find any coupons that are on that list only.
3. Cut your cost by using the coupons on items you would already buy.

I’ve recently been looking at coupon sites, and one that really caught my attention is FindSavings.com. In reviewing this site, I found that the site is very comprehensive and has a huge array of coupons to offer in pretty much anything I could think of. I liked that it has a category menu that is easy to follow and includes feature offers directly on its home page. I also like the menu that allows one to look for coupons by type.

In searching through the site, I found that there are some great stores, including some of my favourites, such as The Children’s Place, Home Depot, Office Depot (hey, I work a lot from home), and more. There’s a discount on a tunnel play set that I bought for my kids from Back to Basics Toys. My kids like the tunnels and tents so much that I actually keep one of the tents set up all the time for them to play in. I even found one for Mikasa, which will help in finishing out my holiday china set!

Coupons really a great way to help stay within your budget. And online shopping can help to save you stress (not to mention time and travel expenses), by making it easier to see what you want. The majority of the coupons offered at FindSavings are for online shopping, I discovered. The only disappointment I had with it was when I saw the Safeway link and found that the coupons there were for online shopping only. I sometimes pick things up at Safeway when I am near there. It saves me time to buy things at a store I’m close by already, and having a coupon to use in the store would make it even better!

One store I just have to mention is Swiss Army Knife – I just love their stuff. But I’m a bit of a knife nut and outdoors enthusiast, so I’m biased in that way. With the coupons offered I could spend my entire entertainment/toys budget just on that store alone, and not feel too guilty.

With categories of coupons for just about anything you can imagine, a site like FindSavings can really help. Whether it’s books, electronics, food, clothing, pets, travel, toys or hobbies – or more – coupons can really help with keeping your budget by lowering your costs. Why pay full retail when you don’t have to?

(This is one of my more tongue-in-cheek articles)

Everyone always wants to find ways to save money. Why? There are so many ways that it is easier to just throw money away, without even really thinking about it. Here are a few of those.

1. Never wash a full load of laundry. In fact wash only one or two pieces of clothing in a machine load. It is so much better that way, as not only do you waste power, water, and detergent, you can get the extra work in that it takes to wash clothes in several loads. Use lots of soap, so that you have to run them through the rinse cycle twice to get it all out. At least your clothes will be clean!
2. Wash your dishes with the water running all the time. Make sure it’s as hot as you can possibly stand it, too. With both of those, then you can waste water and gas at the same time!
3. Always take baths. Baths use more water, so that way you can throw money down the drain. Of course, that isn’t the case if you decide to have a shower that is so long that you run out of hot water. That would be even better. And make sure to do it every day, twice a day, if you can.
4. Water you lawn every day for the greenest grass in the neighbourhood. Heck, make sure that the water runs all over the sidewalk and is on full blast! Also do it at the hottest time of day, that way the water evaporates quicker, making it less efficient. And do it for at least two or three hours, just so that the lawn gets a really good soaking!
5. Use every light you can in the house. Never open curtains, as that lets in natural light that is better for your eyes. Always use the old style light bulbs, too. These bulbs take more power and don’t last as long, so that makes them even better for the electric company.
6. Keep your thermostat as low as you can in summer, so the A/C runs full blast. In winter, keep it as high as you can tolerate, so the heat works overtime. This will make sure that you use the maximum energy you can. Don’t ever change this for vacations or when you’re at work, either.
7. Use your gas fireplace at every opportunity, even in summer. Hey, it looks cool and makes for great conversation! If it gets too warm, you can always open a window.
8. Always buy brand name! This work for everything, from groceries to clothing. Everybody knows that generic products are usually brand names repackaged or something manufactured exactly the same way with the same ingredients (for drugs and food), but just to be sure you’re getting your brand buy the ones with the right labels. At least you know what you’re getting, then.
9. Always buy new! This is especially true with technology. Having the latest technology trends shows how cool you really are. It doesn’t matter if the price will drop in three months to 50% of what you pay, and then all the quirks and bugs will be fixed. You gotta get it now!
10. Wait on auto maintenance as long as you can. If the manual says 3000 miles / 5000 km for the oil change, then wait twice that, that way you know you’re getting your money’s worth. Of course if the engine seizes, that might be cool, too. Who has seen that? At least you’ll have something new to talk about! Same goes with tires. Don’t check them, ever. Just wait for the inevitable blow out, so that you can have a little adventure on the freeway when it happens.

What other wasters are there? I’d love to hear them!

When we enjoy the outdoors there are so many options available that it is sometimes confusing. On a long weekend there are certain to be crowds in the popular areas and finding camping sites and space may become difficult. However, there are ways to enjoy the times outside camping and still keep costs fairly low.

The biggest cost for many people camping is likely to be the fuel costs for travelling, and the food. At least that’s for those who are frugal campers. The whole intent of being outside in a true camping environment is to enjoy the new scenery and the great outdoors, not to spend money on attractions. That is something else entirely.

Choosing a Camping Spot

Private camping grounds and the most popular government campgrounds tend to be more expensive. This is often because the have the best amenities (showers, hook-ups for trailers, and so-forth), and there is often a convenience store on site and sometimes even a place to buy gifts and souvenirs. These are all costly temptations that one doesn’t necessarily need.

If one chooses a more secluded camping site, even if it is a government ran site, there is a good chance that it will be less expensive. Often these sites are just as beautiful (and many tomes more so) as any of the popular spots. Sometimes they are even closer to the good site-seeing spots. So why would they be less popular? They don’t have the conveniences. It’s often as simple as that. They are often tent only or tent trailer sites. There is no running water. There is no shower. And while there is often firewood available that isn’t always the case. And they are not monitored as closely. But they are usually much cheaper, often as little as 25% of what one would pay for the more popular areas.

Choose a spot that will make everyone reasonably comfortable. Don’t choose anything you really don’t’ need. And try to avoid any shops that may be nearby, as this will limit the temptations associated with these.

Saving on Food during Your Trip

When travelling and camping it is easy to just pop into the roadside restaurant and buy whatever is there in order to have an easy meal. This can get expensive quickly! Instead of eating in restaurants (and yes, McDonald’s counts as a restaurant) or picking up convenience foods at a gas station while travelling pack your meals ahead of time. This means that you will have to do some planning. Each meal will have to be decided, as will snacks and drinks.

Get out your pad of paper and write out your plan (here’s a model, as I use):

Now, of course everyone isn’t going to eat this way. Fresh food is, however, much less expensive than buying premade meals and from convenience stores and restaurants. And it is likely to be a lot healthier, as well.

Some meals can be planned to be eaten while driving, if necessary. This is when fresh fruit, granola, and even breads are good! I usually make heavy whole-wheat bread sweetened with honey for such trips, as then it doesn’t need to have anything put on it and the kids love it. I’ve also made other types of breads that are tasty and pack easy – always something heavy so it doesn’t get squished easily. You can use he recipe I have here for that and adapt as necessary.

Entertainment While Camping

Kids get bored easily, but so do adults. While watching a rainstorm might be fun for some people, it won’t be for others. Of course, everyone hopes that isn’t their real entertainment during a camping trip! So, again you will have to plan everything ahead of time.

Plan each of your hiking outings and sight-seeing excursions. But don’t be afraid to be spontaneous either! One never knows when a great opportunity for a side excursion will come along. There are some great things to see that often get driven right past by the majority of people. Keep your eyes open as well as your mind.

Also plan to bring things along to help with entertainment, including bringing a couple of games, cards, Frisbee and/or balls to play with. And if you plan on being on or near water, bring something for that, too! It’s amazing how much fun can be had with a simple inner tube.

Sometimes bringing a small amount of art supplies can be a great distraction and a lot of fun. Kids can then use these to catalogue or record the different things they see on the trip. Or even a journal to do a little bit of writing in can help. Yes, old fashioned pencil and paper style of journals! It’s pretty hard to pack up your laptop and expect the battery to work. And you won’t have electricity for a lot of the time anyhow. Sometime people can learn to have fun without gadgets and modern conveniences. Try it! You might be surprised.

It isn’t always easy to make sure that you have everything for a vacation, even a small weekend trip. There’s the list of everything that has to be taken along: there’s the allowing for fuel, car maintenance, food, and a small emergency fund. It can be quite hectic, and the plan can actually take a lot more than is always anticipated. Here are a few things that should (almost) always be included in any weekend trip. Make sure to budget in advance for each item that you have to pay for, so there are no problems down the road!

1. Fuel. This is the most obvious if you are taking a car trip. If you know your car’s mileage, then you are likely to be able to budget this fairly accurately. Also make sure that the car’s maintenance, such as oil change, transmission fluid, etc. is all up to date. And check your tires before you go out onto the highway! Don’t forget to check the spare.
2. Food. This can get more costly depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing. Eating in restaurants is always more expensive. A tip is to pack a cooler and put whatever you can in there, that way food expenses are minimized and the money can be better used elsewhere. Make sure to plan every meal, and include a few extra snacks; you never know. And don’t forget about drinks!
3. Changes of Clothes. These are something that men are more likely to forget than women. Is that a gender or cultural thing? Think of every event and place you want to visit, as well as the number of days. Make sure you have the right number and style of outfits. This is a great boon to already have what you need. If you’re going rafting or swimming, bring appropriate clothing. Same for dining out. And take an extra change of casual clothes, just in case. If you have to buy anything for the trip, plan it well in advance, that way you can make sure to spend less by getting it at a sale.
4. First Aid Kit. While this isn’t mandatory, and hopefully you will never have to use it, having a first aid kit is a good idea. You just never know. There are lots of small kits available just to store in a car. And sometimes these are on sale. Maybe even just have a look at the items in a kit and put together your own. You never know, it might be cheaper that way.
5. Entertainment Money. Is that the whole point of the trip? Unless it’s a family visit (or maybe because) you will need to plan and budget the entertainment events for the trip. Make sure to allow sufficient funds for this, or plan the events around how much you can realistically afford to spend. This is one area that a lot of people go overboard, so being aware of it and the budget ahead of time is the best way to avoid going overboard. This is called actively managing your budget.

A tip for entertainment is to take along some games. Even a ball or Frisbee can make a lot of time pass and be great entertainment! Take some cards. Take a couple board games. Take some horse shoes or lawn darts. Whatever games you and those you are with will enjoy. Brainstorm to see what everyone can do in the few hours of downtime that you might have. You might be surprised at what inexpensive ideas there are.

People spend money on the most amazing things! Items that add no use or value to life, yet they will waste precious dollars on them, when those dollars could be used for more precious and lasting items, things that actually contribute to their lives. Here is my list of several of these things.

1. Knick knacks. These are the decorative items that are cheap, put onto shelves and walls for decoration, but have little true aesthetic value, and are often thrown away or junked after a couple of years, because you just get more knick-knacks to take their place. A complete waste of time and money. Whoever invented this crap was a genius, because he parted people from their good money and sold them something worthless. Don’t buy these!
2. Rice cookers. Rice cooks fine in a pot or even in the microwave (if you know how, so I’ve heard. I don’t know how.). Why buy a special pot just to cook one thing? Slow cookers are not to be confused with rice cookers. While similar, they aren’t exactly the same. And a slow cooker can be used for rice as well as many other foods!
3. Flower bouquets. I know this on is contentious. What person doesn’t like to receive flowers as a gift, simply because it shows that someone really cares? But aren’t there better things that someone can give? I think it’s a waste of time to buy something that is only going to get thrown away a few days later, because it dies. If I buy someone flowers, I’d rather buy a potted one, because at least that has a chance of lasting a while!
4. Happy Meal Toys. Yes, the kids love these. But they really are junk. They’re not meant to last, and the kids end up losing them or breaking them in a week or two. They don’t last long at all, and kids tend to have enough toys anyhow. Just don’t bother with this crap. Actually, I think Happy Meals are a waste of money, too. If you must eat at McDonald’s have a look at the bargain menu. You can get more from that, and it’ll cost less. I admit that I will occasionally take my kids there for a treat. And even I will buy 2 of the bargain chicken sandwiches, which fills me right up and costs less than one regular burger or chicken sandwich.
5. Directory Assistance. Bet you didn’t expect to see that one here! Directory assistance costs (where I am) 75 cents just for one look up. I get a phone book for free. And when I’m out somewhere and need a number, there is usually a phone book within a very short distance of where I am. And if I have a smart phone I can probably look up the number for free on the internet. Unless I’m making over $45 per hour after taxes, it’s worth my time to spend the extra minute looking the number up myself. After all, that’s how much I’m actually paying for the service!
6. Taxi Cabs. Well, this isn’t always the case. But a lot of people use these for simple trips when it would be more economical to use other modes of transportation. Taxis should only be used when they are the most practical and economical mode of transportation under the circumstances. A good time to use them is when you know you are going to a party and will be imbibing more than makes it safe to drive. That way you have the safety of the taxi to get you home alive and well. Any other time is a waste of money, unless it truly is an emergency that you need to get somewhere fast! And the only thing I can think of then is if your job is on the line.
7. Magazine subscriptions. Another thing that people will spend money on and not really use. Most of these just languish in a pile and eventually get thrown out. Even newspaper subscriptions are rarely utilised by most people. We just don’t have the time to read them any more. And when we do, they are available on the internet for less (even a subscription to your favourite online magazine usually costs less than the paper version). Not only is such a subscription a waste of money, it’s a waste of the environment. Go digital. [The only magazines I get are kids magazines, Chickadee and Owl, because my kids actually read them and enjoy them.]
8. Cable TV. I know, I know…. It’s cheaper than going out to the movies and renting videos. This one is controversial, as it’s something that a lot of people really do use for entertainment. I admit that I have it, but only because of my roommate. He’s an addict, and it was agreed as part of his rent. There are so many other things that you can do with your time, things that are more productive, fun, healthy, entertaining, and overall better for you. The only reason I own a TV is to watch movies. And those I borrow from friends, library, and relatives. And occasionally watch on TV. Cable is almost completely unnecessary.
9. Bargain DVDs. Well, not always. But unless you’re going to watch it repeatedly, there really isn’t any point in buying a DVD in the first place! I’ll buy these for the kids, because I know they’ll watch them over and over again. But do I really need to buy some cool movie in order to watch it? Better to wait until it’s out on TV. And even then I’m likely to have watched it at a friend’s place first. Or my roommate will rent it. Then I’ll borrow it from him. Or the library will get a copy. Yes, I like the library – free movies, books and music! (Although I rarely borrow music from the library – I’m happy with the radio for the most part. We have some great local stations, and I listen through the internet, too).
10. Candy. Okay, a lot of people might hate me for saying this. Most candy is nothing but sugar. It has no nutritional value whatsoever. It’s empty calories and is just plain bad for you! If you’re hungry, eat something useful. The occasional bit of chocolate, pudding, cake, pie or ice cream won’t hurt, but eating foods that are almost pure sugar is just a waste of money and hurts you more than anything else. Don’t do it!

I know that there are a lot of things that I could add to this list. How about you? What are a few things that you think are a complete waste of money? What would you add to the list? Do you agree or disagree with what I say above?

Saving money is more than just buying the item that has a lower sticker price. There are other costs involved that people don’t always examine.  How much does it cost to go to a certain store, versus going to the one closer? What about your time – what’s that worth? These things, and more, need to be taken into account when you’re comparing items. Here are a few examples…

Electric versus Disposable Razors
Yes, disposable razors are a lot cheaper. This saves instantly on cash flow, which may be worth it for that alone. But consider the long term advantages, too. Shaving with an electric razor costs very little in power, so little that it is likely more expensive on water alone to shave with a disposable. But we’ll ignore that, since we can’t measure it. A good electric razor will cost about $160. Some say they only last three years, but I’ve never had one last less than 5 years. So, 160/5=32. That’s about $32 per year for a really good electric razor. I spent about $25 a year on disposables ( I buy bulk packs that last months). Okay, so I save about $7.00 right there. But I also have to spend more time using the disposable. I don’t use soap or shaving cream/foam, only hot water, so that is no expense. And it takes more time to keep buying the disposable razors.  But I have a fairly thin beard, so the disposable razors last longer with me.  If someone had a thick beard, it would likely be about the same cost per year for either type of shaver. In that sense, it is best to get what saves the most time and is easier on the skin. Therefore for most men the electric is probably the best bet, based on that. And even then, it’s so close that it really doesn’t matter.
Conclusion: pick what you like most.

Making Bulk Foods to Save Money
Some people love the idea of making enough meals in an evening to eat all week. And others hate the idea of eating the same thing five, six or seven days in a row. If you end up going crazy, is it really worth saving a few dollars? Instead, try cooking up a variety of meals in the same evening, with perhaps a similar theme. This will give the variety that is craved, but still save the time (at least a little) and the money (for sure) on buying lunches and so-forth that the bulk cooking session requires.

One thing I do for this is cook up a big pot of pasta and about three different types of meats and vegetables to go along. Then I can make a couple of different casseroles, one or two more easy sauces, and have a few different vegetables on the side. And I have enough meals to get me through the work week, without having to eat the same thing every day. And it really only takes about five or ten minutes extra to add the variety in meals. And my costs are still low, because I use frozen vegetables or have fresh veggies on the side each day. Frozen is cheaper than fresh, but sometimes the fresh are just so good they’re worth it!

Conclusion: making one huge bulk dish isn’t worth it. Mixing it up in one session saves the same $$ and keeps you sane with only a little more time spent.

These are just a couple of examples. I’m sure that there are lots more that people can think of. The idea is to critically examine the tips that people give you and see if those tips work for your lifestyle and are really going to save you money. They may not work for everyone!

Most people store things they don’t use all the time in their basements or garages. And they don’t realize how much this is really costing them.

Clutter. It sounds ominous, like something that we find annoying, but not really bad. A huge nuisance that we don’t want to deal with. Surely, it can’t be detrimental, other than its annoyance factor. But there are real costs to it that most people don’t realize.

Storage Costs for Clutter

How much stuff does the typical household store in the basement or garage? Of course there is the Christmas tree that isn’t really used except for a couple of weeks of the year and the decorations that go with that. But what else is being stored? If one were to look into the basements of many homes, it isn’t all that uncommon to find that half of the basement (or garage) is simply crowded with stuff. And many people hardly know what is there. It could be memorabilia, sports equipment that is hardly used, old clothes, and a myriad of other things.

How much space is taken up? This space actually costs! Not only is it space that can be used for other things, such as a bedroom or other development in many basements, but it is space that is actually being paid for. If a larger house or garage is need simply for storage, then that costs in terms of the increased housing price in the first place. Then there are maintenance costs, possible utilities for the space (heat or air conditioning), and the lost opportunity costs of using the money and space for better purposes.

Do Stored Items Really Have a Value?

Have a look at what is really stored and see if it is something that is truly goign to be used. If it is clothes (even in a closet) that is not being worn, but only there for it’s label value or because it was a gift, then it is only taking up space and is worthless. If it’s a tennis racket that hasn’t been used in four years, same thing. Seriously examine everything that is in storage. Is it needed? Can you get rid of it and not miss it? If someone had thrown it away eight months ago, would you notice today? These are questions that will tell if the item can easily be gotten rid of. And if it can, get rid of it!

How to Profit from Stored Junk

The most common way to get rid of excess items that are stored at home is to have a garage sale. These are easy to do and many cities have newspapers that will run advertising sections for garage sales. The fees on these are usually very small and the sale should pay for it and still raise a little bit of money. Gather all of the stuff you think you can get rid of and sell it! What doesn’t sell, give to charity. Some charities will give receipts for tax purposes, depending on what they are receiving. And if they don’t, you are still giving to a good cause. Make sure that the stuff being donated shouldn’t really be going into the garbage! If it should, then throw it there.

There are also online sites like eBay that many items could be sold on. It’s fairly simple to do and eBay has a free guide that will help you get started. Don’t be looking to make a living from your basement junk, though. That really doesn’t work in today’s online market place, although it may have five or ten years ago. [I know people who did that for years and got out of it because it stopped being profitable.]

Overall, examine the ways that you collect things. If things are accumulating in your home and you don’t need them or use them, then spending habits need to be examined. If this is no longer an issue, simply go through the current clutter and de-clutterize the home and save on space. And maybe you’ll raise a little extra to pay down debts or save for something really useful!

Well, there are several online places that allow people to place a huge variety of advertisements for nothing! That means that it really doesn’t cost you anything in order to advertise on these sites. Want to find some new clothes for your toddler, but can’t afford the price that retailers are charging? Need to get rid of that old couch, because someone gave you a new one (or you upgraded at that awesome sale last weekend)? Need to find someone to car pool with? These are all things that you can advertise for and find online.

Where Are These Sites?

The most widely known of these sites are probably craiglist and kijiji. Every major city in North America has city specific sites for these online advertisers. You can also do an online search for your city and “free advertising” (use the quotes, as it makes it quicker). Don’t always use just one of these sites in exclusivity. If you find what you’re needing or sell what you want to get rid of right away (or give away), then great. But it’s always a good idea to place any ads on multiple sites as soon as you can. That will increase your odds of making the sale or finding what you want.

Why is it Free?

These sites all offer upgrades to that ads that you have to pay for. The free ads serve two purposes for these companies: they get more content and more traffic to the sites; they are loss leaders to promote the paid advertising features. As well, these sites also sell third party advertising and use pay-per-click engines to increase their revenue. So they are making money from people clicking on their sponsored ads.

Using Free Advertising Sites Safe?

As with any kind of advertising there are risks involved. Would you send money to someone without seeing the product or confirming that the person is legitimate if you saw the ad in the newspaper? Neither would I. And you never should! While there are some great deals on these sites, the site owners do not verify the authenticity of the ads, nor do they ask for ID on anyone placing ads. Don’t send money to people you haven’t met or for products you haven’t physically seen. And if you must, be sure to use an escrow service to ensure that your money is not scammed away from you.

Online advertising site can be great money savers, as you can get a lot of great things for much less than what you would pay for them new. And you can get rid of the old things that you don’t really need. And make a little money to help with your budget in the process! Just be sure that you use a little common sense and precautions and everything will work out fine.