Finding a Great Bargain

If you are looking for a good bargain, this is a great time of year to find one. Retailers are trying to get rid of any leftover stock, as well as make room for upcoming fall fashiions. This can be the best time of year to buy coats, jeans or any other last season wear.

Before you start shopping, it’s a good idea to know what you are shopping for. Start by going through your child’s closet and drawers and evaluating what they will still be able to wear this year. Then, make a list of what your child actually needs. When you go shopping with a list in hand, you will stay on budget and be less likely to buy impulse items.

At the same time, keep an eye out for each retailer’s weekly sales ads. Each store will likely have a big sale on one or two items, in order to draw shoppers in. It may take a little bit of time to run around to each store in order to buy just the sales items, but it could save you a lot of money.

If you are crafty, you can buy plain items, such as t-shirts and let your kids customize them. Some easy ways to do this are with fabric paints or iron on transfers.

While many people head straight to retail stores, going to consignment shops, yard sales, and sites such as eBay can be more budget friendly. Before buying any used clothing, check for any tears, rips, or stains.

Little ways to save money

f you are looking for some extra ways to save money, look no further. I have some tips you can easily put into action!


• Instead of buying the latest books, magazines, or dvd’s, head to your local library and borrow them for free!

• Save the environment and your budget by carpooling or taking public transportation

• Try consolidating your services in order to get better pricing. For example, if you purchase your internet, home phone, and cable television from the same company, you’ll get a better rate than if you chose to do business with three separate companies.

• Instead of buying new items from a retail store, consider looking through eBay, FuzzB or Bonanzle listings.

• If you currently own a car that you make a monthly payment on, is it possible to sell that car and purchase a car that you own outright? Just think about how much money you would save if you didn’t have a large car payment to make each month.

Got any other tips? Add them to this list by leaving a comment on this post.

Save Money on Holiday Travel

For those who are planning to travel out of state to visit friends or family, a holiday budget can go through the roof. There is no doubt about it – traveling is expensive. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on spending the holiday with friends and family. You can travel – and save money doing it.

Here are some tips:

Search online for travel deals. An easy way to do this is by searching on kayak.com. This website will search through all of the deals for you. This includes both the airlines directly as well as the ‘travel sites,’ such as priceline.com. You’ll save both time and money, since the best deals will be displayed with only one search.

While we have seen the price of gas drop recently, the costs of flying are still high. Add to that, the airline you choose may charge extra for checked luggage, as well as snacks and beverages consumed in-flight.

Your best bet is to compare the costs of different types of travel, including driving car, and taking a bus or train. You may be surprised at how much money you can save. Of course, taking one of these forms of transportation may increase your travel time by a few hours. Only you can decide if saving money is worth the extra time.

While we are not promoting the use of credit cards, as getting out of debt can be a vicious cycle, if you are going to use one, look for a card with a low interest rate or one that offers rebates on travel purchases. Those rebates could add up to a big savings!

It is usually cheaper to travel after the holidays are over. If it isn’t imperative that you be there on the exact holiday, try plan your celebration on an alternate day.

Many travelers get stuck paying high prices for food and other necessities. Plan ahead and bring your own ‘survival kit’ of food, books, music, and so forth. If you end up on a longer than expected layover, you will have everything you need.

And remember, the holidays are supposed to be fun. Don’t let the traveling ruin the event for you!