If you have to spend money, one of the best places to get the biggest bang for the buck, is at the local flea market.  It’s a place where vendors of all kinds set up their products in one place so potential buyers can walk around and see items both new and used at bargain prices.  One caveat though, be disciplined.  There is so many items to choose from, then you may end up spending far more than you had planned items that you hadn’t considered or genuinely need.

Make your day at the flea market and adventure, but plan adequately for it.  If the flea market is outdoors make sure you wear a hat and throw on some sunscreen.  Get there early for the best selection.  And bring a bag or cart so you don’t have to lug heavy items around with you for the entire day.

It’s also a good idea to have some fairly good walking shoes, since you will be spending a good deal of time on your feet and you don’t want your day ended abruptly because of pain.

Most people begin their walk through the flea market at the entrance, but you should do the opposite.  Begin your journey at the end of the market so that when your’re tired at the end of the day your close to your car. In addition starting at the end of the market will enable you to see booths that other people haven’t gotten to yet and thus have access to many of the bargains before others can scoop them up.

It is acceptable, and often expected that you try to bargain with the set prices the vendors ask.  It doesn’t always work, but you got nothing to lose by trying.  It’s up for debate whether the best time to bargain with the vendor is at the beginning of the day or just before the market closes.  At the top of the day, the flea market vendor often wants to break the ice with a quick sale, however at that time he’s fairly optimistic and hopes to sell out as many items as you can at the maximum price.

At the end of the day, most flea market vendors are more amenable to bargaining.  They’d rather sell at a discount and make a little money rather than pack it back up in their cars or trucks and make nothing at all.  Of course waiting till the end of the day runs the risk of your desired item having already been purchased by another.  You’ve got to decide just how badly you want that item and make your decisions accordingly.

There a couple of ways to negotiate the price of an item.  One way is to flat out asked the vendor his bottom price for the item.  Another is to offer a set price and hope he accepts your offer.  It’s often helpful to have that amount readily in your hand when you make the offer, as the sight of green paper to anyone trying to earn a living in retail, is very appealing.

Some people, willing to risk losing the item to another customer, hold off on making a purchase until they’ve scouted the entire market.  Often one vendor sells the same product for considerably less than another.  If you’re willing to run the risk of losing the item for the sake of the potential savings, make sure you write down the exact location of the original vendor because at the end of the day one booth looks the same as another.

Flea markets have great items at even greater prices, but beware they also sell well packaged garbage.  I’ve personally had experiences where I’ve bought cheap substitutes which broke the first or second time I used it, resulting in my having to buy the product again, often at the original retail price.

Coupons can save you a whole lot of money.  Retailers, competing against their competition, in an attempt to retain customer loyalty, except coupons on a variety of products.  One of the most common coupon and most widely accepted are coupons for grocery items.

Find stores that offer you double or even triple the value of the coupon.  Beware that some stores offer only double and triple coupon value on specific days of the week, so make yourself aware of what days they are making the offer and take advantage.  Doing so will greatly reduce your grocery bills.

Stay alert that stores are not inflating their prices in light of the influx of coupon shoppers.  Using coupons in stores that inflate their prices will reduce the value that you get from the coupon.  And don’t use coupons to purchase things you don’t really need and wouldn’t buy if the coupons didn’t exist.  It won’t help your budget and your grocery bill will end of the worse for it.

Coupons are readily available in newspapers and magazines, but pay close attention to their expiration date.  Take advantage of the Internet and look up the websites for products that you use.  Many of them offer coupons online , that you can print at home, or will mail them to you. Sign up for any opt in email list they offer and take advantage of the discounts they periodically send you.

An innovative idea that is used by several retail stores, is providing a counter where people can take their unused and unwanted coupons and exchange them for others and many retailers are willing to accept coupons from their competitors.  They’re happy to have you make the purchase from them instead of those competitors.

If it’s not their overt policy ask to speak the store manager and explain that you’d like to make a purchase from them, but their competitor has a better price.  Many times the store manager will match or even beat the price of the competitor.  These days stores are hyper aware of their competition and will go to great lengths to secure customer loyalty.

When you’re engaged in recreational activities, going on vacation visiting an amusement park or museum, always check first if there are coupons available for these outings. Considering the cost of some of these amusement parks getting a two-for-one deal can make for great savings.  Check online for some of these offers or call the Chamber of Commerce in the area of the event.

Restaurants are  famous  for offering coupons.  They’re hoping that by offering discounts for a free meal that you wont be dining alone . They’re hoping to make their profits from your companions.  Be aware though many of these restaurants have specific days of the week when a coupon can be redeemed and many have restrictions on the time of day when the coupon is applicable.

Other places to find coupons include online auction sites as well as specific websites devoted to compiling and referring you to appropriate coupons.

While it may seem petty to be whipping out coupons to save $.50 or a dollar, the savings can add up and if you use these coupons to purchase things that you already spend money on , you may find that your income goes a great deal further than you thought.

I used to love to go yard sailing ( saleing if you’ll allow the pun).  It’s really true that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and at a yard sale you can prove the cliché.  When people put out  items they no longer care about you can find true treasures at very low prices.

One problem I see for shopping at garage sales is that you’re likely to find many items that you didn’t know you wanted, and really never needed, but are available at a price to which you just can’t say no.

When you see an item offered at a garage sale that you want but the price is too high for your liking, simply ask the owner to lower the price.  Nine out of ten times he will.  If the owner is unwilling, asked him to take down your phone number and call you should be unable to sell the item at his asking price.  Most people will negotiate rather than having to bring the item back inside and live with it forever.

In Florida, where I live, yard sales take place occasionally on Friday afternoon, usually on Saturday mornings and ending by one o’clock.  It’s rare to find a yard or garage sale on the Sunday.  When I lived in rural New York state, most yard sales took place throughout the weekend.

No matter what day the sale begins you’ll have your best chance of finding bargains if you begin early in the morning.  Scour the newspapers days before to see   where the Yard sales will be, then map out the smartest route to cover the most territory in the shortest length of time.

Yard sales can yield all sorts of treasures, from household items and furniture to clothing and baby items, from kitchenware, to tools, toys, bikes and even cars.  Many times the newspaper ads for the yard sales list specific items for sale. Take advantage of the knowledge you can gain by being aware.

Baby items are probably the most common yard sale item, since babies aren’t babies are very long and soon outgrow their use for baby items such as car seats and cribs and baby clothes.  Clothing is also very popular item since people seem to outgrow their clothing more rapidly these days.  It is not always possible to try on the clothes at a yard sale, but the price is usually so low that if it doesn’t fit not much is lost and you can always resell it in your own yard sale sometime down the road.

If you’re in the market for furniture look into moving sales and estate sales.  People in that position are often willing to negotiate rather than have to pack and ship items.

Kitchen items, house hold items and jewelry can be readily found at yard sales, but these shiny objects can lure you into making a purchase that you really don’t need.  The nice thing is you can pick it up cheaply, and if you change your mind sometime later on, you can resell it again at your own yard sale.

Saving Money on Air Conditioning

Air conditioning – lower your cooling and heating bills by closing drapes and blinds during the summer and insulating with blankets on windows during the winter months. Sun light coming through your windows throughout the day brings in unwanted heat and raises indoor temperatures, that in turn, makes your air conditioning unit have to work harder, and thereby, costing you more.

In the evening, during the summer, open your shades and such to let the cooler night air in. This coolness will be retained throughout the night. Wood flooring keeps your home cooler and carpeting keeps it warmer. I bring out area rugs during the winter and helps keep the house warmer.

I also insulate my windows with thick blankets for added warmth. Wood floors are colder in winter. Thick comforters work better than thicker made curtains anyway. Bring them down for spring- cleaning and store them until the following winter. With these methods, I have found my electric bill to be incredibly lower and I don’t have to use the heat or air conditioning most of the time.

You can use ceiling fans as well, to keep your cold air circulating and set your thermostat at a higher temperature in the summer. Large trees and bushes also provide shade that lead to lower energy bills. This welcoming shade will also save you lots on energy cost. We have giant Oak trees that shade most of the house as well as large bushes that cover most of the windows – this can also serve as a burglar deterrent.

Do not pay your electric bill or any bill for that matter on a credit card. You’ll end up paying ten to thirty percent on your final credit card statement.

Make sure your refrigerator is just the right size for your needs. Empty shelf or drawer space leads to energy loss. It’s more efficient to cool or freeze filled areas than empty areas.

When wanting to conserve heat or air conditioning, shades work over 30 percent more efficiently than draperies.

Later,g

Back to school shopping…

Ways to save money and help our environment when you shop for ‘back to school.’

Although school has been in session for over 2 months now, get out there and shop for next year. Don’t wait for the back to school shopping madness when prices are raised due to consumerism or go crazy shopping during after school sales. Shop now when it’s quiet and take your time as you check out secondhand shops and garage sales. You might even have friends whose children are a couple of years older than yours and they can supply you with an assortment of gently used school items and apparel.

I have a very good friend that has pretty much supplied my son’s clothes for back to school since he started Kindergarten. I am so appreciative to her. She’d much rather hand them down to me than give it away to a store or church. You won’t believe how much money it’s saved. My Son always looks great and in style! Remember, shop a year before on back to school items, swim suits and summer gear. Other than food, shop out of season for the rest. If you’re planning a vacation, travel off- season.

Check out thrift shops and consignment shops, especially those in upper class neighborhoods. You’ll be surprised what cool stuff you can find and usually in excellent condition. Last year, my daughter found a really cool high-end designer pair of jeans for about 2.00. She really loved them and ended up being one of her favorite jeans last year. They were still in style and none of her friends had the same jeans.

We also went to a discount store where everything was new and the already discounted merchandise was half off. She realized how silly it was to spend a lot of money and just get a few items years before. She now is able to get clothing she loves, and lots of it. I remember one year I purchased a pair of 100.00 shoes for her and just last year we got everything for back to school including tons of clothes for less than what those pair of shoes cost.

Purchase mechanical pencils and refillable pens. Mechanical pencils last forever and the refills are inexpensive. You don’t have to keep sharpening them and you’re saving trees along the way as well. Mechanical pens last a very long time and the refill cartridges are not that expensive, plus the cartridges themselves can be recycled. Check schools for items that can be recycled. Our schools take paper, ink cartridges and cell phones.

Before you buy new school supplies, check to see what you already have. You might even find that you still have packages of pencils, pens and even paper that have not been used up. I know we run into that every year. I make sure to double check, as one year, I bought a bunch of paper and pencils and later on, during our twice a year clean-out, found tons of school supplies that were unopened. If your backpack or binders are still in good shape, re-use them.

Use shoes and clothes that are still in good condition. Accessories for girls last year after year, and there are many more items that can be used again, recycled. Get creative and take an item and decorate it so it doesn’t look like the exact same thing. I know teenagers worry what other kids think about them, but if you instill in your children that school is for learning, they’ll better be able to handle the pressures of designer stuff!

If you really want to help our environment, and really think ahead regarding your back to school shopping, find a reliable wholesaler and purchase recycled paper or Hemp paper products, for example, and buy several years’ supply. I’ve even found gently used school supplies at second hand stores and garage sales. If you don’t have money at all for back to school shopping, remember to investigate and get in touch with your local help agency that may offer different programs to get you some free supplies, clothing and shoes. Also, check with your child’s public school. They definitely know where to send you for help with your children’s back to school stuff – free or at very low cost. It helps if your child is under the free lunch program. You’ll be guaranteed lots of help then!

Shop for eco-friendly apparel and shoes now, or wait for a sale. Zappos.com has some really great selection of eco-friendly shoes like Simple and Vans, and sometimes has great sales. The teenagers won’t even know they’re eco-friendly, cause the styles are really cool. You can also find eco-friendly gear at some secondhand stores or major discount retailers.

If you drink water throughout your school day, make sure you use a refillable water container. Shop for one that is eco-friendly. This will ensure that the bottle itself is free of materials that can cause chemical sensitivities or health problems down the road. Avoid aluminum bottles and make sure you know what’s involved in plastic ones. There are lots of web sites that specialize in eco-friendly reusable water bottles and thermoses. They also have some really cool hiking containers and thermoses as well.

Invest in solar electronics or ones with a rechargeable battery. You initially pay a little more, but… the investment is quite worth it. They recharge quickly and won’t pollute   our environment and landfills with the nasty stuff found in batteries. You’ll never have to buy batteries again and stop filling our dumps with the nasty chemicals found in batteries.

Good Luck,g

How to safely store leftovers

Cold food storage:

? Products that have been baked – 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator – 34 to 40 degrees

? Cheese cake and fruit pies – 3 to 5 days – 34to 40 degrees

? Unbaked pie shells should stay in the freezer till ready for use at 0 degrees or below

? Dairy products like cheese and cream 1 to 10 days 34 to 40 degrees
? Cottage and ricotta cheese are not recommended for the freezer

? Milk products no longer than a week but yogurt can go about 3 weeks in refrigerator -34 to 40 degrees

? I don’t recommend freezing buttermilk and sour cream

? Eggs – raw eggs should last about 3 weeks in the refrigerator -34 to 40 degrees
? Hard boiled should last about 1 week in refrigerator
? Don’t freeze eggs

? Spreads and oils last about 2 weeks to 1 month in the refrigerator
? You can freeze butter and margarine for up to 2 months but mayonnaise and salad dressings are not recommended

? Ground beef and pork chops for example should not be frozen longer than 4 months at a stretch.
? Deli meats and most processed meats should never be frozen
? Although canned hams can be refrigerated for up to 9 months unopened, it’s not recommended for freezer
? Cooked meats can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer
? Hot dogs can last up to 2 weeks unopened and about one week after they’ve been opened. Cooked hot dogs should only remain in your refrigerator no more than a couple of days and never cook hot dogs and freeze
? I never freeze cured bacon and only allow it to sit after it’s been opened for no more than a few days – it tends to get slimy like deli meat. If your deli meat gets slimy or smells weird even though it has a longer expiration date listed on the package, go ahead and get rid of it!

? Game birds, ducks and geese for example can be freezer stored for up to 1 year.
? Cooked birds can last up to 3 months in the freezer and about 3 days in the refrigerator

Storing Seafood:

? Uncooked fish can last a couple of days in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover any uncooked meat and always place it in the lowest part of your refrigerator so in case it leaks, it won’t contaminate other foods.
? Shellfish that has not been cooked can be stored in the refrigerator up t0 2 days and can last in the freezer about 3 to 4 months.
? Cooked shellfish can last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and about 2 months frozen

The cold life of food and its handling and storage safety is extremely important in your quest for frugality. When meats are on sale you can buy a bunch and freeze it. If you do the once a week cooking and freeze routine, it’s important to know what to cook and how long it will last. If you happen to be really self-sufficient and hunt for all of your meat products as well as prepare your meats, you need to know how long to store it for and how much you should actually hunt for. Some hunting licenses only allow a certain amount of game per year as well as specific game allowances. Information on safety of storing your meat, how much and how long can be crucial to your budgeting plans. This also works well if you only grocery shop several times a year.

Later,g

Ways to save…

Write down everything you buy and every activity you spend money on. Make sure you write down what it was for and file it under ‘needs’ or ‘wants’. Be really honest with yourself and ask if you could really have lived without spending the money. When I started this plan years ago, I also wrote and ‘alternative’ column and found free ways of achieving the same thing.

Pay all your credit cards and debts off. Avoid charging and just keep a debit card that can also be used as a credit card. If you do have credit cards with lots of credit, use these as an emergency savings account.

Write down a list of spending triggers. Check yourself out as you go through your day and maybe try to figure out what makes you spend. Are you sad, lonely, bored, excited, etc…

Figure out and write down ALL of your income sources, then eliminate any services you are paying on a monthly or weekly basis.

Write out your savings goal. Don’t eliminate things all at once – do it little by little and don’t get upset if you fail at first. Just keep on trying. Reward yourself with a little something at the end of each week. Remember, you’re trying to break and addiction so you’ll need to try and replace an unhealthy habit with a healthy one.

Just like you carry pictures of your children in your wallet, carry a little note to yourself with an affirmation of your savings plan and look at it throughout the day to remind you and give you strength. Create a wish list and look at that several times as well.

Here are some new books I’ve found to be quite helpful:

Growing money by Gail Karlitz
The Teen Girl’s Gotta have it guide by Jessica Blatt
The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn – great for moms and families
Extraordinary uses for Ordinary things – Reader’s Digest – I love this one!
Semi-Homemade Money Saving Meals by Sandra Lee quick. Simple and inexpensive
The Millionaire next door by Thomas J. Stanley – interesting read