Window Shopper

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From time to time, I like to put up some money saving tips that I either use myself or have gathered over a period of time that have been used by people I know or suggestions from others that sound just right. It is kind of difficult to find new material all the time so some of these might be repeats of others I have posted in the past. If they are, just use them as a review.

Tip: Do you ever take a look at the price per unit sign on the bottom of the shelf? It has some really terrific info that will help you to decide what the best buy really is. Now, most of the time the package with the most in it will be the least expensive…but not always. Check the price per oz, lb or whatever the measure unit is. If you see that the per oz or whatever is more expensive with the larger package, go for the smaller package and buy the amount you need that way.

Tip: When you eat out, why not buy a large plate of everything for every two people. That way, it can be shared and some taken home. Or at least it will cost you less to eat out. Sounds sort of miserly but most restaurants serve such large amounts, it would be better to share and save.

Tip: Serve slightly smaller amounts at the table to each person. Believe me, they will not notice it and it will help bring on a healthier family. Children do not have to eat as much as they usually do anyway. And when the food is dished out to smaller children, don’t serve them giant, adult sized portions like many folks usually do. They cannot eat it and it might make them feel like they are not accomplishing as much as the others at the table.

Tip: On grocery day, do not leave the house without checking the pantry for what you need. Take inventory. Get out a list and use it. When you go to the store, you will avoid spending way more than you planned if you stick to the list.

Tip: After going to the store or whereever, when you come home, get out the change jar and put the change in it. You will be amazed at the amount of money saved when you do this. Then, take that to the bank when the jar is full. I realize that most people do not use cash as much but you want to save, save, save and this is one way to do that. It also teaches your children to save their change too. Each person in the family can have their own jar!! Siblings need to learn to stay out of their brother’s and sister’s change jars though.

And as always, DO NOT SHOP HUNGRY. I cannot say that often enough. It is stupid to shop on an empty stomach if you are trying to save money. I do not care what it takes, eat something ahead of time or your shopping cart will be much more expensive than you wanted it to be.

Happy Shopping!!!

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I constantly am looking for and finding ways to cut down on the money I have to spend at the grocery store especially since I live in an area of little resources. Our big store is Wally World. They have some good deals but they are not what they used to be, unfortunately. In fact, we have found them to be higher than many stores so we end up traveling some 50 miles to a discount grocery store that we visit once a month. The deals are greater there.

And we have a local Mom and Pop wholesale place too. But, not everyone has that so there have to be some ways to save money for them too. So, here are some more tips for saving money:

Tip: Instead of buying a couple of bags of frozen fries or hash browns, try buying the bags of potatoes and making home fries. It is actually cheaper.

Tip: If you like granola bars, try making your own bran muffins instead of spending for the bars that cost so much individually.

Tip: Did you notice that cereal prices are through the moon? Have you noticed also that there are bags of cereal, some almost the same type that are in boxes? Those are cheaper due to not having the box and the advertising.

Tip: Buying the boxes and bags of rice and noodle flavored mixes costs quite a bit. You can buy the bulk rice or noodles and flavor them yourself. Think Garlic and Herb!!! Butter noodles.

Tip: Kids love those pre-packaged lunch meat and cheese packs but they are very expensive. Try buying the lunch meat and the cheese in bulk and package it yourself. Get creative! The cheese and the meat will freeze when you buy more than you need right now. Look for the sales!!

Tip: For those who love popcorn (waves her hand high!), we tend to buy the convenience stuff that goes in the microwave, right? We do that too. But, if you want to save money, buy the bulk bags of popcorn and flavor those yourself too! It’s really easy. Pick your spices and put them on.

That’s all for now from the Window Shopper. Happy Shopping!!

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I have given a number of tips on saving money at the store but sometimes they get lost in the shuffle and sometimes new folks come along so I thought I would give a few more tips, some will be repeats I’m sure since I don’t always keep track of what I have already given. Frankly, most of this is simple common sense. But I do know that new moms and newly married folks are not up on all the ways to save a dollar. They probably never had to before this. So, here are some pointers on how to save a few dollars each time you head out to buy things:

Tip: Make your list at home. Be sure to construct those meals in your mind or on paper for each day of the week. Now, I have to say that I don’t usually do this anymore but I have had years of experience in making the lists before this. So….

Tip: Make your lists according to the sales items. I construct my meals based on what I have on hand. It works beautifully now but not for a long time. You have to know what you are planning to eat for the week most of the time.

Tip: I suggest that you do not use credit cards for grocery purchases. If you go beyond the month, you will be paying interest on groceries you no longer have. When you do that, all the money you wanted to save goes out in interest payments. In addition, if you use a card, it is harder to imagine your money going out of your pocket.

Tip: Check the sale paper to see what bargains are available. Buy the reduced priced items. Stock up on the non-perishables.

Tip: Some say that you should never buy more than you need at the meat counter. I say, if it’s a great price, buy all you can, take it home and cram the freezer. Do NOT make the mistake of buying more than your freezer can handle though.

Tip: Be sure to check out the markdowns. Those can be really great prices as loss leaders. A lot of times, those will be on the endcaps. Always watch the endcaps BUT sometimes they put regularly priced items there too. So, be sure of what the regular price is before you buy.

Tip: I have caught one discount store that raises their prices of an item for a week or two and then advertise them at reduced prices but drop it back to the original price. Watch for that trick. You can be fooled into buying more because of that.

More money saving tips are coming in the near future. Thank you for visiting and Happy Shopping!!

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In the outer reaches of the universe, otherwise known as where I live, they do not have such things as an outlet store. Frankly, I hate that. For some time, I found that outlet stores were great for clothing that actually fit me for affordable prices. On a trip through Tennessee one time, my friend and I searched for the outlet stores for wholesale clothing because we simply wanted to shop and get a bargain in the process. I love to shop when I can save money and those places help you do just that.

We went from store to store looking for that one really good bargain. It took a while because not all outlets are cheap. Some have what they laughingly call sales but it really isn’t that much of a savings. You must choose wisely! (I sound like that guy in an Indiana Jones movie, don’t I) When I found the bargain I wanted, it was a fantastic day! We did a little happy dance. People stared but we did not care. When you are out to buy a bargain in wholesale clothing, you really need to choose carefully.

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It’s been a while so I thought I would give a few more tips on saving money at the store and other places. Actually, if you can think about how much money you want to save and head for that goal, you can go a long way toward saving a bundle of money. Add a list of what you want to buy and you have it made as long as you a) stick to the goals and b) stick to the list. But here are a few more pointers on saving:

Tip: When you are going out to eat at a restaurant, split the meal. It saves you money and you and another family member don’t overeat. The restaurant portions are usually way more than anyone person needs. If you have 4 members of the family, split two meals. If it’s an odd number, get that doggie bag and take it home for someone’s lunch.

Tip: Plan ahead on the meals. Work out the ingredients needed and put them on the shopping list and then stick to the list!!! Allow for a couple of “Oh I forgots!” or you just want it. Build it into the budget.

Tip: Make sure that you get everything you need on the trip to the grocery store. Extra and emergency trips all cost….in time, money and gas. There are no savings when you have that trip for forgotten items.

Tip: Get reward type credit cards. If you have a credit card and a balance, call the company and tell them that you found a better APR. Haggling with them helps you!!

Tip: I’ve given this one before but save change in a jar with a lid. Let the jar get completely full, then take the money to the bank and start over. When you have a respectable amount, use it for something you would not have been able to have. Enjoy yourself!

That’s about it from the Window Shopper, tips division for tonight. Happy Shopping!!

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Sometimes, I put money saving tips into a file for future use. I gather these tips from things that I have done myself, my family and friends have done. A few are from readers who are sharing ways to save that they have experienced. All of these tips are tried and true by someone out there. I will tell you that not all are good for everyone but that’s the beauty of a list like this. You take what works for you and leave the rest. Very simple and effective.

Tip: When you’re buying canned ham in bulk (if it’s a good price by all means TAKE IT!), you can save time and space by either slicing or making into chunks for meals, bag it and freeze them. I use chunk meat, for instance, in casseroles and one dish meals. But I use sliced ham for sandwiches especially if we’re in a hurry. The best way I have found is to divide it up into meal sized packages to freeze. Of course, if you get a bunch of canned hams, some might be better left in the can for a while.

Tip: A lot of people talk about buying frozen produce. In the season for the fresh produce, if you can get it at a good price, definitely buy that. You can always freeze what you don’t use right away. However, out of season, buy that frozen produce. It is cheaper. Beats the canned stuff.

Tip: The ground chuck has more flavor to it and does cost less than ground round which has very little fat in it. The ground round is great if you want to cut down on fat but will be more expensive and not have the flavor of the chuck. Occasionally, you will see someone say that you should not buy too much at the meat counter. True. As long as you freeze what you do not currently use, then the only way it’s too much is if you can’t find a place to put it. However, if you buy a big amount of meat for one meal, TOO MUCH!!! Whatever you are making, you can stretch with other ingredients.

Tip: Something that I get caught up in doing is buying several cleaners to do one job. When you can find a cleaner that does multiple jobs then you save money because you do not have the bulky containers of all sorts of things that really do the same work. Check you labels!!!

Tip: Save money by having meatless meals once in a while. I know that guy will want the meat as always but you can get creative and serve a meatless meal that everyone will love.

Watch for more tips and suggestions for saving money and time from the Window Shopper.

Happy Shopping!!

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I just love to look for coupons and discounts. Especially if the coupons or discounts are for things I am REALLY needing. For instance, we are about to retile a bedroom in our home. We needed to find a place that had all the products we needed to do this job since my husband and I have not done this before. We ended up checking out discounts at Home Depot, of course. There’s a video that tells you a little bit about the place and how to order. First thing, they don’t have coupons but they do have offers and discounts that are fantastic. I saw FREE SHIPPING on selected items and amounts too.

Next I went to another store that has great discounts. I saw a 50% off and “buy one, get one” on their page. They have a couple of 25% off on their products at the Family Christian Stores. I have been to a couple of those stores. The place is usually pretty big and has a lot of good books and items such as that fantastic T-shirt you might have been looking for everywhere. So, if you’re wanting to buy something for that special someone or you need a gift for a family member, go get those discounts and shop at Family Christian Stores. They are well worth it.

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For a few years now, I had been counting on eBay to help me with almost anything I wanted to buy cheaply and fast. When I joined, it was a lot less bulky, fees were low and you could buy things for much less than you can find them at discount stores. Seller fees were so low that for things being sold under $10, the listing fee was about 30 cents. So, sellers could give a really great deal on products and services. That was then.

Now, eBay has decided to drive off the little sellers and, with greed in mind, grab the money of the larger sellers who, for whatever reason, are not leaving like so many others are. eBay seems to be loaded with power sellers that think their product is made of gold. They appear to believe that I am interested in their product but if I’m not, somebody else will be. A good many of the sellers could care less about the customer. All they want to do is get your money. Eventually, they send out the product you bought…maybe. eBay no longer supports the customer by making the seller return the money. It now supports the power seller who could care less if they get bad feedback or not. Their feedback numbers are high enough that the percentage will outweigh any bad feedback given.

So, since eBay is no longer a good place to buy things, for the most part anyway, I decided to find a new place to shop for lower priced items. Found it too. Well, actually, I knew about it and had bought from the place before but I had not really decided that it replaced eBay until now. This should not be a shocker for you if I tell you that I went to Amazon.com to buy my latest purchase. Most things that I buy online now come from Amazon if not from a couple of other sites, book clubs, mostly. By the way, it was a successful purchase, very cheap, shipped out right away with really low charges. And the charges for shipping AND for the item was WAY, WAY, WAY lower than eBay sellers. How do I know? I went there first. Bada bing.

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As you are aware, I am all about saving money. So, when you decide that going to France just has to happen, I can tell you that there are some savings in it for you. Now, if you love museums, and I do, then you can save lots of cash here because the national museums are always free to anyone under 18 years old. Not bad. Hey wait. They are also free to disabled folks and students with an ID. Great! Of course, in order to see the museums, don’t you have to have a place to stay? Right. You can find really cheap deals for Hotels in Paris if you simply look for them.

Now, there’s plenty of free entertainment in France. Concerts, music festivals, street festivals, bull fights and open-air festivals. Just a hop, step and jump from many of the Paris Hotels are a multitude of free and low fee attractions for the whole family and for those who are on honeymoons. Hey, women can usually get in free to the nightclubs as well. Really not bad.

And do not forget (and no way I could forget! It’s shopping after all.), think outlet stores!! Take a trip on over to places like Limoges, Romans and Troyes and find huge bargains! Visit the famous stores of your choice and buy for incredibly low prices. Travel on back to your Hôtel en Paris for more nightlife. No matter what you like, you can likely find it in France.

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There are so many things that can be done to save money both at home and at the store. It simply takes some time, a little bit of research and patience, something I had been short on when I started to shop years ago. If it wasn’t what I wanted then I was crabby for hours. Talk about your spoiled brats. Ah well. Since then, I try to find the best shopping ideas and save as much money as possible. These days, if you don’t save some, it goes through your fingers too fast. Heck, you could save a bundle and it still goes through the fingers if you don’t watch out.

Tip: Do one thing that we had to learn out of necessity because of gas prices…avoid sudden emergency trips to the store because you want a treat, don’t have the right ingredients for the food plan, can’t decide from the food you already have. We live far enough away that I try to combine trips to the store with doctor appointments, gas fillups, medicine pickups, visits to family and so on. If you really live close, consider walking to the store…if it’s safe and you can get someone to go with you.

Tip: Check labels. I cannot stress this too much. If you are looking to cut calories, fat or carbs, learn to really read the labels. Many companies already cut the amounts of each of these and are cheaper than the ones who tend to have big advertising ads. Watch for those labeled “low fat”. They are allowed to say that even if it’s a higher fat content than you are allowed or wanting. Watch out for those that say “new and improved” because the big improvement is likely to be the price or amount. We have noticed that certain types of toilet paper, while they have the same price, have dropped the amount of product.

Tip: Check the markdowns in store. Often, these are unadvertised specials that show up on the end caps or in the middle of the store. But beware! Not all products on the endcaps are on sale. Sometimes, they simply want to sell this product. Because the buying public is schooled to see the endcap as a sale item, people will buy there whether it’s a sale item or not. I know. I have done this without checking the regular price first.

Tip: One thing that is deadly to your budget is when you take othes with you, especially children. They are not only distractions, they also love to impulse buy for you. Little children sitting in the cart seat have an amazing range of reach when you aren’t looking. To them, it’s theirs if they can get ahold of it.

Tip: Another deadly is at the cash register. Watch the items being rung up. The computer does not always tell the truth about the price of the item. It could be on sale. If the price does not ring up correctly, tell the cashier. They are supposed to correct it in the machine before you are completely checked out. You can save quite a bit of money by just being observant.

More tips and suggestions from the Window Shopper later. Happy Shopping!

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