Beyond the Coupon

10 Money Rules To Live By

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Are you trying to save money and reach your financially goals? With mintlife’s, money rules to never ignore, having that extra cash at the end of each month shouldn’t be a problem. Saving money and being able to purchase the things you want doesn’t have to be a trade off. Using coupons and discounted gift cards allow you to purchase the products you want at a fraction of the price.

money rules to live by

There are no shortcuts.

If someone tells you they can double your money in no time with no risk, tell them you already know how. Then fold your money in half and put it back in your pocket. Risk and reward are correlated.

Doubling your money in a short period of time equates to a high return on your investment; that corresponds to taking more risk, not zero risk.

There’s nothing wrong with taking appropriate risk, but buying into an investment with those kinds of unrealistic promises is sure to disappoint.

Beware of the pretty, shiny things.

We are bombarded with new and better gadgets, toys, and opportunities for fun every day, all day. Madison Avenue survives by sowing seeds of discontent with our lives.

Sure, we all know that’s what they’re doing, but they’re really good at it!

We no longer have to look down the street to see what the Joneses are up to, we have Facebook to constantly remind us that our friends have better, newer stuff.

If we’re not careful, those seeds of discontent can take root and before we know it, we’re spending money on things to fill a need we didn’t even know we had.

Listen to your mom — don’t pay attention to what everyone else is doing, just worry about yourself and your goals.

Watch your waste.

Shiny objects aren’t the only source of needless spending. It’s painful to look at my own life sometimes and realize what I’ve frittered away.

Forgotten rebates, fruit that goes bad before we eat it, buying doubles of things because I can’t remember where I put them in the first time.

I suspect I’m not alone in this!

Save money, and do it intentionally.

Saving regularly through your 401K at work and toward your emergency fund are fundamentals of good financial health. But you should also stash money that you would have spent but decided not to.

Were you going to buy a new tablet but thought better of it? Pat yourself on the back for your frugality, and then take that chunk of change and put it in the bank instead.

Did you decide as a family to skip a dinner out this month to tighten your belts? Put that money away; don’t let it sit in your checking account.

That serves two purposes: It keeps the money from evaporating, and it gives you a psychological boost by seeing your savings grow.

Don’t wait until your debt is paid off to save.

It may seem more prudent to skip the savings when you’re paying off credit cards, but it’s important to continue to save anyway.

It takes time to form a habit, and training yourself to save is a great habit to form. So start now.

Aside from that, what will you do when your car breaks down and there is nothing in the bank to pay for the repair? Out comes the credit card, and there goes your progress.

It’s better to have some money put away to pay for those expenses, and change the mindset of funding your living expenses with plastic.

Don’t deprive yourself.

While you’re doing all these great, disciplined things with your money, don’t forget to let loose and have a little fun with it sometimes.

Being too strict with your spending can lead to feelings of deprivation, which in turn can lead to spending binges. Starvation budgets are much like starvation diets.

When you cheat, you tend to cheat big

Automate your finances.

Life is busy and the days fly by. Before you know it the month is almost over, and oops, that bill was due last week.

Schedule at least the minimum payments on your bills, so if you forget, you won’t be penalized with a late fee.

Plan out your monthly bills in advance, and take advantage of free bill pay if your bank offers it.

Automate your savings so you don’t have the opportunity to weigh whether or not you really can save that amount this month.

But don’t go on auto-pilot.

Automate what you can, but don’t go on auto-pilot.

It’s easy to stop paying attention to what is being charged monthly on your credit card or automatically paid from your bank account.

That can make you numb to your spending, and easy for it to get out of control.

Even though you have payments automatically scheduled, be sure to review your accounts regularly.

Purchase life insurance.

Buy enough life insurance to protect your family. It’s an extra bill, to cover something thatprobably won’t happen, but a small price to pay to provide for your loved ones if it does.

Group policies at work are usually the easiest to get, and that’s fine, but you should also have coverage you own personally, outside of work.

You never know when you will develop a health problem that will affect your insurability, and if you don’t already own a policy when that happens, you could be out of luck.

Or rather, your family will be.

Decide how much is enough.

Did you ever dream about a raise, and how that would make things more comfortable for you financially?  Then it comes, and things end up just as tight as before, and soon you are dreaming of the next one.

The increases in costs of living play a part no doubt, and our income doesn’t go as far as it used to. But it is also human nature for us to expand our lifestyle to fit our income.

Carefully consider what kind of lifestyle you would like to have, and when you get there, stop.

 

16 Target Shopping Secrets

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If heading to Target is the highlight of your week, here are some awesome secrets that will help you save money and have a more fruitful experience. Purchasing a discount Target gift card before hitting the store will allow you to save even more!
Flickr: partymonstrrrr / Via Creative Commons

1. Target has a schedule for when they mark product pricing down. The schedule is as follows:

Monday – Electronics, Accessories, Kids Clothing, Books, Baby, and Stationery

Tuesday — Domestics, Women’s Clothing, Pets and, Market food items

Wednesday — Men’s Clothing, Health and Beauty, Diapers, Lawn/Garden items, and Furniture

Thursday — Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Decor and Luggage

Friday — Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry

Target has a schedule for when they mark product pricing down. The schedule is as follows:

Target / Via facebook.com

2. The price tag will tell you what percentage the markdown is.

The lower left shows the original price and the upper right hand corner shows the percentage off for the markdown.

The price tag will tell you what percentage the markdown is.

3. If the price tag ends in $0.06 or $0.08, the item will be priced down again.

As long as there is inventory in the store. It will probably remain on clearance for around 2 weeks.

If the price tag ends in $0.06 or $0.08, the item will be priced down again.

Target / Via facebook.com

4. If a price tag ends in $0.04, it is final clearance andwon’t be marked down again.

They’ve gotta draw the line somewhere.

If a price tag ends in $0.04, it is final clearance and won't be marked down again.

Target / Via facebook.com

5. Target enforces a limit on the number of returns you can make without a receipt.

It’s no more than $75.00 a year.

Target enforces a limit on the number of returns you can make without a receipt.

Target / Via facebook.com

6. All electronics and entertainment purchases have alimited amount of time in which they may be returned or exchanged.

You have 30 days after the day of purchase.

All electronics and entertainment purchases have a limited amount of time in which they may be returned or exchanged.

Target / Via facebook.com

7. Beyond the 5% off it gives it’s users, REDcard debit and credit card holders will receive an extra 30 daysto return nearly all items purchased with their REDcard at Target and Target.com.

And there’s no annual fee.

Beyond the 5% off it gives it's users, REDcard debit and credit card holders will receive an extra 30 days to return nearly all items purchased with their REDcard at Target and Target.com.

Target / Via facebook.com

8. You can return Target purchases by mail for free.

Just visit the online return center and print out a prepaid return label. Target will pay the return shipping fees.

You can return Target purchases by mail for free.

Target / Via facebook.com

9. If you find an item in a competitor’s ad, bring it to Target and they’ll match the advertised price.

No questions asked.

If you find an item in a competitor's ad, bring it to Target and they'll match the advertised price.

Target / Via facebook.com

10. If you pay with a check, you have to wait 10 daysbefore you can get a refund in cash.

Otherwise you have to settle for a Target GiftCard.

If you pay with a check, you have to wait 10 days before you can get a refund in cash.

Target / Via facebook.com

11. Target has mobile coupons available to be sent directly to your phone.

You can sign up here. You don’t have to clip coupons anymore.

Target has mobile coupons available to be sent directly to your phone.

Target / Via facebook.com

12. And the Target app gets 10 or more new couponseach week.

Your cashier can just scan your phone if you decide to use one and the app is FREE to download.

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

13. The Cartwheel app is a free app that Target recently debuted. It offers several deals that change weekly that offer different ways to save than the Target app does.

The app will link to your Facebook, but you can choose whether or not you allow it to post for you. It’s beneficial for you that it links to your Facebook because the more friends you have using Cartwheel, the more coupons you get to use. For example: one week Cartwheel may offer 15% off women’s shoes and the next 10% off all Women’s Underwear. You can search the app easily and find exactly what you need to buy.

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

14. If you find an item on sale that you wish to purchase but the store runs out of stock, you canrequest a rain check.

This means that no matter what, when the item is restocked you can purchase it at sale price.

If you find an item on sale that you wish to purchase but the store runs out of stock, you can request a rain check.

Target / Via Facebook: target

15. At most Targets, for each bag that you bring in to use, you will receive $0.05.

That adds up!

At most Targets, for each bag that you bring in to use, you will receive $0.05.

16. You can find brand new Target merchandise for cheap at Goodwill.

After Target clearances certain items and they still don’t sell, they will then donate those items to Goodwill.

You can find brand new Target merchandise for cheap at Goodwill.

Flickr: jeepersmedia / Via Creative Commons

Go forth with this information and prosper.

Go forth with this information and prosper.

NBC
If you would rather skip Target and shop at Walmart, find out how to coupon to save.
Original article from Buzzfeed.com

How To Coupon To Save Big – Walmart

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Couponing can be a great way to save a lot of money on your everyday items and no one knows couponing like thekrazycouponlady! Pair these couponing techniques and suggestions with GiftCardRescue.com‘s discounted gift cards for unbelievable savings. Learn how to coupon to save big and start saving!

coupon to save big

Walmart Accepts Manufacturer Coupons

Walmart accepts manufacturer coupons from the Sunday coupon inserts as well as printable manufacturer coupons.  In order to be in compliance with policy, coupons must read “manufacturer coupon” across the top, have an expiration date, and a scannable barcode.

Look for the Smallest (Allowed) Products

You’ll get the biggest bang for your (couponing) buck when you find the smallest size and stack it with a manufacturer coupon!

Everyday Low Prices and Rollback

Look for items on rollback at Walmart! Rollbacks are Walmart’s version of a sale and are a great way to save when you stack their low prices with coupons! Even if items are not on rollback, Walmart has great everyday low prices!

Save with Produce Coupons

Walmart has great produce prices which stack nicely with coupons! For example, print this hot coupon to get free Earthbound Farm products:

$0.75/1 – Earthbound Farm Organic Product – (ebfarm.com)

 

7 Ways To Manage Money In Your 30s

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It happens to us all at one point or another, you look at your tax refund and think: Where did all that money go? Saving money is the end result of a multitude of other actions that can be classified as money managing. The way you manage money in your 30s will be a good indicator of how you will handle your life long finances. Don’t wait to start managing your money more intelligently. Dailyfinance explains the best way to manage money in your 30s.

Manage money in your 30s

  1. Save when you can. “If you’ve gotten your salary up to the point where student loan debt is not wreaking havoc in your life anymore, but before you have a lot of responsibilities, that’s a great opportunity to super-charge your savings,” says Jean Chatzky, financial editor of the Today Show and author of “Money Rules: The Simple Path to Lifelong Security.” When parenting responsibilities and mortgage costs take off, for example, it can be hard to save more. “You want to take advantage of the opportunities you have to sock away some money so when the leaner years come around, you don’t beat yourself up,” she adds.
  2. Create solid habits. It’s also time to establish financial habits that will serve you well for the rest of your life. Kerry Hannon, personal finance expert and author of “Great Jobs for Everyone 50+,” says in her 30s, she maxed out her retirement savings accounts and even set aside a portion of her extra freelance income for retirement. “Those funds have served me well over the years as mad money to help pay for vacations and more. I still save outside of retirement accounts religiously in my 50s, too. It’s a habit I started back in my 30s,” she says.
  3. Plan out your goals and priorities. “Hopefully you’re starting to become established in your career and can begin to contribute, if you’re not already, to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, and begin to think about other savings goals, too, like a home purchase or college savings,” says Suzanna de Baca, vice president of wealth strategies at Ameriprise Financial.
  4. Talk about money with your partner. If you have a spouse or partner, then getting on track together and working out any disputes can prevent conflicts later. “People often comingle finances with their partner, and open communication is key. Make sure you talk about your finances and life goals with your partner, and align on how you will get there together,” de Baca urges.
  5. Get comfortable with negotiation. Nancy L. Anderson, 52, a certified financial planner in Park City, Utah, says while she did a lot of things right in her 30s, including investing 20 percent of her income, buying a home, investing in rental property and saving for her child’s college education, she also wished she had negotiated her salary more assertively. “If I’d negotiated a higher salary each time I changed companies in my career, I’d be wealthier today,” she says. Since most people change jobs about 11 times in their careers, negotiating those transitions can end up making you more than $600,000 richer over your career, she adds.
  6. Be a good role model. For those 30-somethings who are already parents, Beth Kobliner, author of “Get a Financial Life” and member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans, says it’s important to model smart financial choices for the little eyes watching you. “You lose all credibility lecturing your little kids about not needing every new toy or tech gadget if you, behind closed doors, have loud arguments with your spouse about not being able to keep up with your credit card bills,” she says. You don’t have to be a money genius, she adds, but it’s important to talk about money – making financial discussions as commonplace as soccer practice or Sunday dinner.
  7. Shore up your cash reserves. While many experts emphasize long-term investing and retirement savings, Tim Maurer, director of personal finance for the BAM Alliance of independent advisers, says he wishes he had kept more money in pure cash savings to give himself a better buffer for unexpected needs and expenses. “Much, maybe too much, financial planning is focused exclusively on the long, long-term,” he says, “and while it’s true that real estate can be a great way to build wealth and one should start saving as early as possible for retirement, it’s the unexpected changes in life that often derail 30-something households. Our financial plans should address the short-term, too.”

11 Tips For A Frugal Easter

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Holidays are always a stressful time without the added stress of money. If you are looking to save a little money and have a frugal Easter, here are some tips from bargainbabe that will make this Easter holiday full of spending time together instead of money.

frugal easter

Discounted Gift Cards – Purchase discounted gift cards from websites such as giftcardrescue.com to hundreds of popular merchants, that you can in turn use to purchase the things you need to make this Easter’s handmade candies.

Homemade Candies – I’m a total foodie so I love to bake and create my own candies. I really find this fun AND it’s a great way to save. You can purchase a mold to make your own Chocolate Bunny! There’s one for only $2.06 onAmazon. This mold will last years and this one time purchase will end up being worth it. I’ve bought chocolate bunnies for $5 or more! You can also buy a mold to make many different types of chocolate Easter candies, like eggs, bunnies, ducks, and more! These are usually around $5 but if you score a deal at Michael’s or JoAnn’s fabric you may find one cheaper. I use Pinterest to find recipes and I found a great list of 50 homemade Easter candy recipes. I’m sure that for many of them you already have the ingredients lying around at home. Score!

Homemade Goodies – Candy isn’t the only item you can make at home. You can also make items like sidewalk chalk, homemade puppets, homemade finger paint, and bubbles. Most of these are made with items that can be found around the house. For bubbles, all you need is laundry detergent, sugar, and water.  Also, if you have children who don’t believe in the Easter bunny you can make them together. My sisters and I are going to make some homemade treats for our four-year-old nephew.

Easter Egg Coupons – I love the idea of giving adults homemade coupons for Christmas and I also thinks it’s a great idea for Easter. You can find adorable coupons to print that your child will love. Some ideas for coupons are: Stay up late an extra 15 minutes, you get to choose dinner, free pass on chore of your choice, go somewhere with mom etc. You can use these printable Easter coupons or make your own. This is a great way to make the Easter eggs a little different…and avoid having to buy tons of candy!

Easter Basket Steals – My mom always used the same Easter baskets for us so she didn’t have to buy a new one every year. Spending the money on one Easter basket and reusing it can be a money-saver. If you really don’t want to buy a basket you can use milk containers or shoe boxes that you decorate. Another option is to make the basket a gift. You can use a pail and shovel as a basket that kids can use later at the beach. Fun!

 Movies – When I was younger I was absolutely obsessed with Disney movies so every Easter my Mom would put one in my basket. She would get the videos on sale either at Walmart or online. You can do the same! Pick one movie (or other “big” toy) you know your child would love and look for a bargain. If your child is a movie lover, I already found some deals for you. Currently, I found All Dogs Go to Heaven for only $3.00 on Amazon and The Land Before Time for $5.00. This would be a fun addition to a candy filled Easter basket. You’ve got a movie night ready to go, complete with snacks.

Give Items They Need – My parents would always put staples like socks, clothing items, and as a special treat, an electric toothbrush in our baskets. These were things that they needed to buy for us anyway but turned into presents. You can find cheap socks at Target (sometimes in the $1 bin) and shop sales to find cheaper clothing items. You’d be surprised how much my nephew loves his electric toothbrush. He acts like it’s a toy! I found a cuteDisney themed toothbrush for girls for $5.91 on Ebay and free shipping!

Non-Candy Snacks – If you’re going to do an Easter egg hunt you can easily, and frugally, vary the types of treats in the eggs. You can buy items in bulk such as goldfish or trails mix that you give your kids year round. Then, you can put these items into the eggs. Not only is this cheaper but it will keep your children from having a sugar overload without feeling like they were cheated out of treats!

Stuffed Animals – You can snag small Easter Bunny stuffed animals for just $1 at the Dollar store. They usually have cute stuffed animals year round as well. Just be sure you go early in April if you’re looking for an Easter Bunny stuffed animal. If you’d like to find something even cheaper, you can check out garage sales. I’ve seen stuffed animals for as low as 25 cents.

Books – You can often find small Dover books at your local bookstore for only $1. These are high quality books that have paper dolls, activities, coloring pages, etc. You can also find them online but they are a little pricier usually around $1.75 to $3.  Also, books could be a good idea for older children. If you know there’s a book they’ve been dying to read you can look on Amazon for deals or check out the books on sale at your local library. These tend to be much cheaper than buying in-store.

Dollar Store Toys – Another great Easter egg filler are dollar store toys and stickers. You can usually find bags of little toys such as dinosaurs or cars at your local Dollar Store. You can also find variety packs of stickers. For just a dollar or two you can fill up a ton of eggs.

Photo via weheartit.com

Top 15 Countries The US Dollar Is Worth More

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Double your money on vacation!

You want to go on a nice vacation, but don’t have the money to do so? Traveling to a place where the US dollar is worth more could be your saving grace. We think the conversion rates to these countries are ideal, and to save you even more on your traveling experience check out discounted airline gift cards! You can save money on your flight and your US dollar is worth more at your destination. What is stopping you?

1.Vietnam 

Vietnam might not be the first place you think of when you picture vacation, but what you might not know is that the backdrop for the Vietnam war was actually a really beautiful country. And exchange rates in our favor mean that you can stay in bed and breakfasts for as little as $15 a night. Then later, while you are out and about on the town you can get meals from street vendors for about a dollar. Other bargains to pick up in Vietnam are silk scarves for about $5 or silk jackets for $20.

2. Mexico 

Mexico has several advantages when it comes to stretching a few dollars. First of all, it is closer, so you won’t have to spend as much on airfare. Second, prices are inherently cheap in Mexico and thirdly, the peso is becoming encreasingly weak compared to the dollar even compared to a few years ago. All of that means that you can spend less and buy more when you go there! Depending on where you go, you can even find hostels or bed and breakfasts for as low as $10 a night! Just be careful to stay somewhere safe as there are still pockets of violence around the country.

3.Indonesia 

Who knew that you could find a little slice of heaven like Bali in an affordable price range? Thanks to an increase in the exchange rate between the dollar and the Indonesian currency, you can actually vacation in paradise for less that you would think. You can even find luxury 4 star hotels in Bali for around $50! If you’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of luxury for even further savings, you can still find decent hotels for around $20. And who cares what your room looks like because you’ll be spending most of your time at the beach anyway!

4. Peru 

Peru is home to one of the most beautiful sites in the world, Machu Picchu, and you can see it all for much less than you would think. You can stay at a hostel in nearby Cuzco for less than $10 a night and taxi rides are only a dollar or two to get you where you need to go. Peru is also home to great food that can be found for excellent deals.

5. Romania 

Do you want to visit Europe but can’t afford the expensive hotspots like London and Paris? Why not try a lesser know but still beautiful country in Eastern Europe like Romania that you might actually be able to afford? Regular hotels will cost around $30 a night while hostels are even cheaper at around $15. Spend your days exploring the medieval architecture and music festivals. Don’t forget to sample the local cuisine where your strong dollar buys you a lot of food for not a lot of bucks!

6. India 

The dollar has always been strong in India but it only keeps getting stronger. It has increased by another 30 percent just over the last few years. That means deals such as basic hotels for under $10 American dollars a night and luxury hotels for not much more! Indian food is wonderful and you can get it for very cheap at street vendors. And many deals can be made at the myriad street markets found all around India.

7. Guatemala 

via marte

via marte

Guatemala is a beautiful Central American country that you can visit for quite cheap! If you are willing to stay in a hostel, you can spend as little as $7 a night while resorts that often include meals start as low as $40. Travel while in country is cheap to, such as small boats that take you from town to town for around 1 to 4 dollars.

8. Morocco 

Want to visit the home of Casablanca? You can do it for cheaper than you might think! Hostels are a little more expensive than some of the other locations listed but still a good deal at $25 and they are quite nice, offering free breakfast, Wi-Fi and all day tea! You could get a real hotel for about $65 but with that kind of service, who needs it? Then you can spend your days haggling at the markets for the myriad cheap but quality goods such as cell phones, spices and ceramics.

9. Iceland 

via Dalia

via Dalia

If you think Iceland and you think it is just all ice, think again! It is actually home to a lot of really breathtaking scenery, including tons of waterfalls, geysers and lava fields, most of which you can view for free. The exchange rate in the country highly favors the American dollar due to Iceland’s recent economic collapse. That is bad for them, but good for American visitors who can view all of this splendor for pennies. Stay the night for around $30 to $40 a night and then spend the day taking in the sights for free!

10. Laos 

via Rocío

via Rocío

Laos is a good country to visit on a budget when you just want to relax. The whole country seems intent on making sure you relax to, even offering massages for around $3 to $6. For just a few bucks more, around $10, you can get a hotel room! Meals are cheap in Laos as well, from $1 dinners in noodle shops to $20 per person at the fanciest restaurants in town!

Continue the list on ChaCha

6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Budget

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Make your budget less intimidating

 

 Get the most out of your budget If you don’t already have a personal budget, creating one will allow you to work towards financial freedom. Saving money and budgeting is essential for every household no matter the income/lifestyle. Getting that annual vacation, taking your family out to dinner, or saving for your emergency fund are all goals that can’t be achieved without the help of a personal budget. To get the lifestyle you want with the money you have here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your budget without having to     sacrifice the things you want. 

 

  1. Determine essential expenses. The first step in creating a budget is to determine your nonnegotiable or fixed expenses such as rent, car payments and utilities. You also can choose to put things like gas and groceries in this category. Add up these expenses, and subtract the total from your monthly income. The remaining amount is what’s available for discretionary spending: joining a gym, entertainment, shopping, travel and dining out.
  2. Keep track. Many personal finance and budgeting tools are mobile, and allow you to track where your money is going. You can make smart financial decisions such as whether or not to join that after work happy hour. Budgeting is flexible. You can always shift your priorities, saving some of those wants and needs for next month.
  3. Keep an emergency fund. You never know when your car might break down, when you’ll need to take time off from work for family issues or your AC will begin to leak. It’s important to be prepared for life’s unexpected turns by having an emergency fund to tap. If you have three to six months of expenses saved up, you can avoid taking on debt. If you don’t have a fund, start saving now. When something goes wrong, and it will, you won’t have to reach for your credit card or take out a loan to cover the cost.
  4. Dine in. No matter how you feel about food, one thing is for sure — you have to eat. There are plenty of ways to think smarter about what you spend on food. Eating out often costs more than cooking at home, so even if you hate cooking, it pays — literally — to do some reading up on easy, fast recipes. You’ll avoid the temptation of calling for takeout seven days a week. Consider making large batches of your favorite recipes over the weekend. Then, bring smaller lunch portions to work the next week.
  5. Evaluate your housing costs. If you’re paying for digs that are beyond your means, it might be worth finding a roommate to reduce your living expenses. Carefully furnishing and maintaining your home also can cut expenses. Opt for used furniture and appliances instead of new items. Take the time to clean and refurbish them yourself. Extend that do-it-yourself attitude toward maintenance, too. You can solve many household problems without hiring an expensive contractor.
  6. Be reasonable. Don’t plan a budget you will never be able to keep. Just like with a diet or an exercise program, it’s important to be realistic. If you’ve never been able to stick to a savings plan, or are a compulsive spender, don’t expect this to change overnight. Instead, start by setting small goals so you can build the confidence to tackle bigger changes down the road. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!

Using these tips from DailyFinanace will get you started and help you to create and implement a respectable budget. Even with a budget there are ways to reduce spending on daily household items. Using coupons, sale shopping, and purchasing discounted gift cards from websites such as GiftCardRescue.com are all helpful in stretching your hard earned money.

 

Photo Credit: Emilie Goossens via weheartit  

Top 11 Ways to Save Money

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Thinks to do that will subtly save money

 Who wouldn’t like to have a little extra money sitting around every month? Small things that don’t seem like much ,add up, leaving you with extra cash. By incorporating these tips into your daily life you could be planning your next dream vacation from the money that you have saved without sacrificing the things you want. As Benjamin Franklin tells us; “a penny saved is a penny earned”.

Save money

1. Set Your Own Personal Budget

These clever tips help keep your cash where it belongs — in your pocket!
First things first: Learn how to set your own personal budget with our easy-to-use worksheet.

2. Buy Bulk with a Friend

Know your needs. Bulk items are only worth buying if you can use them before they expire. Consider shopping with a friend and splitting perishables such as meat and dairy products.

3. Inexpensive Art

Take a photo of something you love — a dog that comes every time you call, a keepsake with beautiful cursive and a colorful stamp, you’re lucky Tuesday-night poker deck. You can blow it up with some hassle-free Internet help, then frame it, hang it, and be enormously happy every time you walk by.

4. Flavored Water

Instead of buying pricy flavored bottled drinks at the supermarket, add a hint of flavor to tap or filtered water by infusing it with slices of lemon, lime, orange, or cucumber and mint. Set a pitcher of your flavored water on your desk: You’ll drink more if the pitcher is there as a reminder, and you won’t have to buy multiple bottles of water, either!

5. Make Clothes Last Longer

Prepare your clothes for the washer by closing zippers, fastening hooks, and turning items inside out. Wash darks together using the cold-water cycle so they don’t bleed onto lighter clothes — and cold water is crucial, since it lowers your water-heating costs. Line-drying dark items will also help maintain their original appearance — and you’ll save on heating costs of the dryer.

6. Store Wine on a Budget

Skip buying a pricey wine refrigerator that needs to be powered at all times. If you have storage room in the corner of a cellar or at the bottom of a cool, dark closet, use that instead — the money you save can go toward building your collection.

7. Stock Up on Scraps

Reserve carrot ends and peelings, celery leaves, garlic trimmings, the outer layers of onions, and wilting herbs and their bare stems (such as parsley and thyme) in a resealable bag. Store shrimp shells or roast-chicken bones separately. Freeze, then make stock from scratch whenever the mood strikes (Tip: Remove onion skins before using; they can turn a perfect stock into a bitter one).

8. Budget Vases

Instead of shelling out cash for a pricy vase, make your own out of a glass bottle and some enamel paint.

9. Organize a Clothing Swap

Chic, savvy, conservation-minded consumers now update their wardrobes by taking part in clothing swaps. All you have to do is gather up gently worn items from your closet, bring them to a central location, and choose from others’ castoffs. Find one through an organization such as Clothing Swap, Swap-O-Rama-Rama, and Buffalo Exchange, or consider hosting your own. Invite friends, set a minimum number of pieces for each to bring, and trade away.

10. Pass on the Paper Towels

Instead of spending money on pack after pack of paper towels, buy reusable microfiber towels, which grip dirt and dust like a magnet and don’t let go, even when wet. When you’re finished, toss the towels in the wash and reuse. (One brand to try: Method, available at Target and Office Depot.)

11. Purchase Discounted Gift Cards

Buying discounted gift cards from site such as GiftCardRescue.com, can help you save money on everything from big home improvement projects to groceries. Most major retailers are available and it is even possible to receive electronic codes for online purchases! Why not save money every time you shop at your favorite stores?

For more on money saving tips check out the MarthaStewart website.

Photo Credit:  LauraLu via we heart this

10 Caribbean Destinations You Can Afford

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Whether you are looking for a cultural enriching get away or a relaxing beach retreat, the Caribbean is never disappointing.  Your next Caribbean vacation is more affordable then you think. Get the sunscreen and flip flops ready. Here is a list of 10 perfect Caribbean destinations for those looking for fun in the sun, on a budget.

Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

 Leave it to a Rockefeller to turn an unassuming patch of land into the Caribbean’s priciest island. When the financier Laurance Rockefeller opened the Little Dix resort on Virgin Gorda in the 1960s, he set a tone of luxurious seclusion that’s still prized on the island. With an average nightly rate of $321 per night for a double room, Virgin Gorda is no one’s idea of a bargain getaway. But you can still find a great place to stay for much less.

The key to keeping costs down on Virgin Gorda is to think beyond the resort walls. The hundreds of vacation-rental options listed on sites like VRBO and TripAdvisoroffer excellent value. For instance, the Coffee & Tea Absolute Beachfront Cottages has a five-out-of-five rating on TripAdvisor and rates from $171 per night. There’s also the popular and affordable Guavaberry Spring Bay Vacation Homes, a cluster of ocean-view one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with rates starting at $160 per night in spring and summer and $250 during the winter high season.

Anguilla

From the caress of the powdery white sand underfoot to the sea’s constantly shifting kaleidoscope of azures, there’s a delight for every sense on Anguilla. It’s a place that shrugs off the high-rise beach-vacation vibe in favor of simple relaxed elegance. But that unpretentious polish can come with a high price tag. And while the average nightly rate of $315 delivers some pretty special experiences—think watching the sun set over the ocean from your balcony’s private plunge pool at the Viceroy Anguilla or savoring a towel-side delivery of sorbet on the beach at Cap Juluca—the rarefied pleasures of the island don’t have to be expensive.

Dotting the island are smaller and locally owned properties, many of them on some of the island’s best beaches—where you can expect to pay significantly less than you would at Anguilla’s famed upscale resorts. Rooms are sometimes modest and amenities simple, but you’ll still have perfect proximity to the real reason for being there: gorgeous stretches of beach; warm, clear water; and plenty of island charm. At the intimate Anacaona Boutique Hotel, April rates start at $160 per night. And a recent Expedia search uncovered April rates of around $202 per night at the Anguilla Great House, which offers rooms just steps from the beach on magnificent Rendezvous Bay. Browse the Anguilla Tourist Board’s list of small hotels for more affordable inspiration.

Additional Savings Tip: Even if you don’t stay at a fancy resort, you can still sample the high life. Book a spa treatment or go to dinner at a resort, and then make extra time to enjoy the vibe, the views, and the grounds.

Additional Savings Tip: Famous for its natural beauty, many of the best things to do on Virgin Gorda are either free or dazzlingly inexpensive. For instance, entry into The Baths National Park, a collection of sea pools created by massive granite boulders, is just $3 per person.

For more ways to save money on vacations, consider purchasing discounted gift cards available at GiftCardRescue.com and make that dream vacation a reality.

Read the full list at HuffingtonPost

Photo Credit: [Source] wallpapers.ixblogs.com

Best Deals of the Day (6/23/2011)

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1.) 40% at Ann Taylor plus Free Shipping (no minimum)

 

Great deal at Ann Taylor to meet all your clothing and accessory needs. Currently in the middle of a semi-annual sale, you can take an additional 40% off using the code EXTRA40 and also get free shipping.

http://bit.ly/lpD09E

2.) Levi’s Semi-Annual Sale: Up to 75% off + Extra 15% off + Free Shipping

Levi’s is currently doing its semi-annual sale where almost everything is on sale! You can save up to 75% on every purchase you make online or in-store and save another 15% if you use this coupon code at checkout: RM15OFFBROW plus free shipping.

http://us.levi.com/home/index.jsp

3.) 60% off Victorinox Swiss Army Summit Mens Watch

A sleek, luxury watch that more than steals anyone’s attention, this watch is built for both ruggedness and good looks. It usually retails for $350 but is currently 60% off and going for only $139.99 plus free shipping.

http://www.jomadeals.com/default.aspx