If you are trying to reduce your spend on health and beauty items, you can simply start with the kind of soap you buy.
When comparing soap within the same brand, bar soap is usually more cost effective than body wash. Bar soap is usually sold at a lower price point and will last longer. It is also better for the environment as bar soap has less packaging to produce trash versus the collecting bottles of body wash.
If you still prefer body wash, always choose generic or cheaper brands like Suave. They are made with a comparable level of quality as the national brands. When you spend extra money for something as simple as body wash, you are paying extra for branding and marketing. - Which isn’t worth it!
The only exception is when you are willing to spend more because of a specific value some companies share with you. For example, I tend to lean toward Dove products because I love their “Campaign for Real Women.” Or if you happen to be a “Green Queen” and you support Aveda products for their sustainability practices.
Otherwise, my choice is to $ave on bar soap. Choose the important things you like to splurge on and save on all the other things. For me, soap isn’t on the “splurge” list.
Everyone knows that the cost to buy all those cleaners, powders, tub scrubbers, disinfectants etc. can really add up. Well it is time to go GREEN (and I mean money green and eco-friendly! green) Use these common household items that make a more natural cleaner (which is good for the environment) and make less expensive alternative (which is good for your wallet):
1. White Vinegar: A strong cleaning solutions that can kill germs on counter tops, tubs, toilets seats and other similar surfaces. You can also add it to your white laundry load if you happen to run out of bleach.
2. Lemons - Have a few lemons handy around the kitchen. Their juice is to acidic for many kinds of germs to survive in. Rub a left-over slice of lemon (after you just make your fresh lemonade course 
) and rub it on your cutting board or counter tops to kill bacteria. You can also throw the left-over in your garbage disposal to deodorize your drain.
3. Baking Soda - Use baking soda to scrub sinks, tubs, pots and pans and to make your chrome fixture shine. You can also use sprinkle some in your carpet and vacuum to deodorize your floor.
4. Bleach - Mix bleach with water 50/50 to replace many of the brand-name household cleaners you buy for different jobs around the house. When using bleach to clean up, be sure you are wearing old clothes that you wouldn’t mind having bleach splashed on. Make sure to wear rubber dish gloves to keep your hands soft and smooth.
For more budget tips, visit my online column at www.frugalexaminer.com
Do you have any old unwanted or broken gold jewerely piling up in your jewlery box? Would you rather swap it for cash?
According to the USAWeekend article “Is it time to sell your unwanted gold?” by Walecia Konrad, 24 Karat gold is at $807.80 at once at press time. Outside of pieces that are dear to you, instead of keeping broken or unwanted rings, sell them instead of allowing them to collect dust. Walecia Konrad offers these suggestions for selling your unwanted gold.
1. For larger pieces in good shape, hire an appraiser for an estimate. (www.najappraisers.com) Once you have all the right information based on condition, design and karat weight, head to negotiate with jewelers who buy gold.
2. Sell damaged peices as scrap. Pure gold is has the most worth. Check www.kitco.com fro more info.
3. Never sell your gold abroad or without the money first. Konrad advises that it is never good to let go of your gold before you get paid first. Avoid scams that promise to pay after you send the gold in an envelope.
For more frugal tips, visit my national online column The Frugal Examiner at www.frugalexaminer.com
If you haven’t starting looking into shopping at consignments or thrift stores, now is a great time to start. This is especially for those who consider shopping a leisure activity. You will be surprised at what gems you will find at a thrift store. Also, impulse purchases a the Goodwill won’t cost your wallet as much damage.
So with the down-turn of the ecomony, revenue for thrift stores has really gone up (no surprise here!) According to the Denver Post, Goodwill’s thrift revenue has increase by 44 percent just in the Denver (the home town of yours truly 
and the northern Colorado areas.
Thrift stores like Goodwill, Arc, and the Salvation Armyare even starting to become viewed as competitors to retailers like Walmart, Kmart, Big Lots and Ross. As a result, these major thrift stores are revamping the look of their stores to create a better shopping experience - working to make stores more clean, well lit and even smelling better!
In addition, proceeds to many thrift stores go to help great causes like programs for youth at risk, people with disabilities and programs that address drug and alcohol addiction.
A quick tip: The best time to shop at Goodwill is usually on Saturdays. That is the day where they get new external shipments of merchandise and run extra discounts.
So what are you waiting for? Shoppers start your bargain hunting!
…Continued from part 1
3. Reduce your amount of impulse purchases. Try to use cash when shopping to prevent you from spending more than you plan. Stick to a list. Allow 24 to think about whether you really need an impulse purchase. Don’t free bad for giving back items at the check lanes. View my post on impulse spending for more details.
4. Explore thrift stores and consignments shops when you are in a shopping mood. You will surprised what treasures you will find and it won’t cost you as much damage to your wallet.
5. Start a garden this year. Try to grow your own vegetables this year that will give you organic produce for virtually free. It is also quite rewarding.
6. Shift your paradigm towards budgeting. This year, start to look at budgeting as a financial opportunity instead of a punishment. Embrace the idea that your money does have limits (even the rich has limits on their money.) Instead of feeling depressed that you can’t buy new clothes every month, get excited as you see your savings account balance grow over time!
Hears to a frugal and prosperous New Year!!!
Happy New Year! Now is a great time to re-look at your finances.
One key thing to remember that everyone should have an emergency savings account that equals to about 3-6 months of your income. This needs to be established even before you start saving up for a down payment on a home or a new car. You need to protect yourself just in case you lose your job or any other emergencies that may come up. If you currently don’t have this much in liquid cash, make this year the year you start saving up.
Below is a list of common frugal resolutions. You don’t have to commit to them all of them. Just choose a couple from the list to focus on so that you will have a bigger saving account by the end of the year:
1. Stick to a consistent saving strategy without making unnecessary withdrawals– If you haven’t already, set up an automatic deposit from your checking account into your savings account. But don’t get overzealous and try to save more money than you can afford each month. You don’t want to feel like you need to dip into your savings account every month, so pick an amount you can stick to. Leave the money in your savings account and forget about it.
2. Switch to an online savings account with banks like HSBC or ING. Because their operations are mainly online, they avoid the overhead cost of brick-and-mortar banks (Wells Fargo) and pass on higher APY (interest) to you. Plus, it takes a few more days to withdraw money from an online saving versus just taking a trip to your ATM from your brick-and-mortar bank. Although I don’t recommend having your sole checking account as a online account, it makes a perfect account for holding your emergency savings……
Continue on to Part II..
Stocking up on holiday decorations at the store can really add up. And although you would love to have your house decked out for the holidays, you can’t let that expense eat into you gift, food and other holiday spending budgets.
The cheapest place to buy decorations is not Target OR Walmart actually. My favorite place to shop for holiday decorations is at the DOLLAR STORE! And I mean the real dollar stores, like the Dollar Tree where everything is literally a dollar. They have quality decorations and most of everything you would need for holiday decor that is way less than Target or even Walmart.
Stay away from what I call the “fake dollar stores” like the Family Dollar. These stores market themselves as dollar stores, but they sell several items that are $3, $5, or even over $20. Although they have great deals too, they are not as fun as real dollar stores and they can lead to other impulse buys that really add up your bill.
During the month of December, you will find the best prices for the following food items:
- Holiday candy (the week after Christmas)
- Oranges
- Apples
- Grapefruit
- Champagne
- Sparkling Cider
- Sugar Cookie dough
- egg nog
Stock-up! Remember that apples, oranges, nuts, candy and grapefruit make great food gift baskets for Christmas. Buy baskets and supplies from the dollar store.
Times can get a little tough during these rocky economic times and with the cost of food going up, you may be rethinking your grocery bill.
There are many factors that are contributing to the higher cost of meat, but don’t let that drive up your food budget. Try cutting back on your family’s consumption of meat. Since the American diet really revolves around meat, try making at least one night a week a vegetation meal.
Visit recipe sites like Allrecipes.comfor meal ideas. There are tons of stir-frys and pasta options that don’t include meat.
When purchasing meat, buy it bulk from warehouse like Sam’s or Costco. Divide it into sections and store in a chest freezer. If you don’t have a membership, wait to find meat sales from “loss leaders” at your local grocery store. If you find a rock-bottom price, stock up and freeze it for later use.
Cut back on your impluse spending…continued from Part I
….
4. Cut back on the number of visits to the store. Lessen the chance you will succumb to impulse buys by avoiding the retail store as much as possible. Try to consolidate your grocery and retail store trips to just once a week. Make sure to make a comprehensive list before you go. Make sure you don’t forget anything during the first trip.
5. STOP - ask yourself, do you really needed this? While you are waiting in line at the checkout lanes, ask yourself do you want this or need this. Give yourself a day to think about any impluse item over $20.
6. Stay away from the mall as much as you can. Do not use the mall as a place of past-time. If you need to buy something from the mall, again make a specific list of items you will be shopping for.
Look for coupons and deals online first before you go. Once you make you purchase, leave immediately. The mall relies on you to make emotional purchases. The cute packaging and store lighting entices you to buy that overly priced candle. Walking past the food court makes your hungry all of a sudden. Don’t put yourself through it. Looking for exercise? Walk at a park or hit the gym. If the mall is your preferred excercise place, then go to the mall empty handed. Leave your money at home or in the trunk of your car.
