Just found some sites that might be helpful for those of you who do online shopping more than venturing to the mall. coupons.com , retailmenot.com , shopathome.com, and couponcabin.com are three sites that offer both printable hard copies of coupons for a variety of stores (both virtual and actual storefronts). Some are major brands while others are obscure and specialty. Some of the coupons are general (20% off total purchase) while others are quite specific (10% off non-sale brand XX children's wear), but if you're game for doing some research, it could save you a small chunk of change.
I haven't tried any of the printable versions as it strikes me as frustrating to pay for the ink to save 50 cents on a product... but I suppose that if I researched more I could make it worth my while. Of course, I never will be one of those Extreme Couponers that can purchase five carts of food items and spend 20 cents! Though, one can always dream!
I do envy, though, a stocked pantry that can supply one through the Apocalypse, even though I'm not sure how many jars of dill pickles one can stomach... it interests me how much these businesses use coupons as a marketing strategy... and how much the items are marked up in price. JCPenney's new CEO's strategy has also interested me, and I'm curious as to if this change in business plan will carry over into other companies. Or how Apple as a brand using 'hipness' and loyalty as a marketing technique. I would be interested to see how the 'economic downturn' has been affected by online shopping (or if it really has) or if this is simply a result of the reporting of the media and the panic of society.
I'll just keep surfing the net looking for deals before I head out to the store and let the UPS guy keep his job.
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Invest in Insulation.
I'm starting the new year with some more home improvements and am quite curious as to the cost analysis. Started this last February but didn't really keep track of it until now...In 2011, we spent $2,722 on 936 gallons of oil heat from Jan-Dec. That's an average of $7.45 per day and 2.56 gallons per day. Given that the price varies as well as the number of people in the house (blended families with 4 pre-teens, hot water is via the furnace, and the laundry never seems to be complete), I'll elect to analyze the data on a per-deim cost analysis. We'll have to report back in one year to see how the investment has affected our investments.
Of course, the insulation was installed in February, so in my opinion, that initial investment paid off.
1. Expanding Insulating Foam in crevices in the TV room. Noticed immediately the draft is gone. However, I have to thank our resident mice for getting me to finally act on this problem...no thanks to our resident cat (who is still vying to get the last of the caged gerbils...but not the free range mice).
COST: $12 for two cans of foam
SAVINGS: tba
2. Insulating Rubber Weatherstripping along the front wood door. I love this door - but it's solid wood and conducts the cold...and it's not square. Shoved lots of insulation into the cracks but never caulked the bottom (where you could see daylight! for 11 years!!! stupid me!). Instant difference - just a few minor cosmetic adjustments, brown paint over the white caulk, additional rubber trim - but the drafty door has been conquered!
COST: $1 tube of caulk and $16.50 for three 17' sections of rubber weatherstripping.
SAVINGS: tba
3. Drafty bathroom window. Bring on the tube of caulk, as well as a pack of shrink-wrap for the window. Fairly easy to install, and I finally got to use my hairdryer...Draft gone... until the bathroom will be gutted this summer and that window and wall are started from scratch!
COST: $1.46 per window (package is $8.79 for 6 windows)
SAVINGS: tba
4. Attic insulation. This was actually completed last February, but could only look into the cost analysis over the course of this winter. Noticeably warmer overnight on the second floor.
COST: $360 (12 rolls R30 at $15 each)
SAVINGS: tba
5. Heating the house with wood from Storm Damage Compliments of Eric, we are taking advantage of Mother Nature's wrath to help heat the house. The wood was free, as we gathered much of it ourselves after the October storm, but splitting and stacking it has been a family affair. It's free wood, free labor, and time well spent with the kiddos contributing to the household. Win-Win-Win!
COST: Free (minor fee for gas for the chainsaw)
SAVINGS: tba
Totals: approximately $400 investment
Time to recoup costs: at $7.45 per day - 54 days.
Based on this analysis, our investment will be recouped by Mid-February. Hopefully Mother Nature and the Financial Gods will be kinder to us as well. Price alone, oil has practically tripled in the last 13 years...
Of course, the insulation was installed in February, so in my opinion, that initial investment paid off.
1. Expanding Insulating Foam in crevices in the TV room. Noticed immediately the draft is gone. However, I have to thank our resident mice for getting me to finally act on this problem...no thanks to our resident cat (who is still vying to get the last of the caged gerbils...but not the free range mice).
COST: $12 for two cans of foam
SAVINGS: tba
2. Insulating Rubber Weatherstripping along the front wood door. I love this door - but it's solid wood and conducts the cold...and it's not square. Shoved lots of insulation into the cracks but never caulked the bottom (where you could see daylight! for 11 years!!! stupid me!). Instant difference - just a few minor cosmetic adjustments, brown paint over the white caulk, additional rubber trim - but the drafty door has been conquered!
COST: $1 tube of caulk and $16.50 for three 17' sections of rubber weatherstripping.
SAVINGS: tba
3. Drafty bathroom window. Bring on the tube of caulk, as well as a pack of shrink-wrap for the window. Fairly easy to install, and I finally got to use my hairdryer...Draft gone... until the bathroom will be gutted this summer and that window and wall are started from scratch!
COST: $1.46 per window (package is $8.79 for 6 windows)
SAVINGS: tba
4. Attic insulation. This was actually completed last February, but could only look into the cost analysis over the course of this winter. Noticeably warmer overnight on the second floor.
COST: $360 (12 rolls R30 at $15 each)
SAVINGS: tba
5. Heating the house with wood from Storm Damage Compliments of Eric, we are taking advantage of Mother Nature's wrath to help heat the house. The wood was free, as we gathered much of it ourselves after the October storm, but splitting and stacking it has been a family affair. It's free wood, free labor, and time well spent with the kiddos contributing to the household. Win-Win-Win!
COST: Free (minor fee for gas for the chainsaw)
SAVINGS: tba
Totals: approximately $400 investment
Time to recoup costs: at $7.45 per day - 54 days.
Based on this analysis, our investment will be recouped by Mid-February. Hopefully Mother Nature and the Financial Gods will be kinder to us as well. Price alone, oil has practically tripled in the last 13 years...
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Post Winter Vacation Clutter Update:
Have I made the grade? Status report after one week of tackling the crap in my house...
1) Credit cards will be paid off monthly. Have to check in on this, however, I did add some to the cards to complete the insulation in the attic. Hopefully the tax rebate will offset the expense, and I'll save money on the heating oil.
2)Join the Do not call registry. Cross this one off the list
3) Clean out the closets and Rotate seasonal clothes. Waiting on this one for the warmup in the weather. Maybe Spring Break will be a better check in point.
4) Train my kids to clean up after themselves. Still working on this...it's a daily battle of wits, though they're better at emptying the dishwasher and (partially) folding clothes...cleaning up their own rooms is definitely an uphill battle.
5) Extend this new mantra to my classroom. Of course, didn't set foot in the school over break, so I can't claim I did anything to chip away at this one...seems that I can work on this one one piece at a time. 5 minutes of cleaning each day is a good way to start. Break out the timer!
6) Eat through the pantry and freezer before shopping for more. Breadmaker is running; muffins in the freezer; this one is in progress, but can't quite cross it out yet.
7) Pay bills online and automatically. Still in progress here, but making more steps to complete it.
8) .Automatic savings transfers CHECK! Both the kiddos accounts and mine are automatically added to each month. Every penny counts.
9) The year of the backyard vacations. Once the mortgage situation gets finished and I can figure out what my work status is for the summer, I think I can start thinking about this one...but we certainly are taking a journey to the river this summer!
10) Assault the piles of junk. Worked a bit on this one, but still need to hit the boxes of stuff that I've set aside. But the basement workshop got sorted (still need to go through the drawers, organize & label). Once the weather warms up, we can tackle the garage (yet again, this seems to be an annual event!)
So, after one weekend, we are in progress. I may not have completed EVERYTHING on my list, but did get several big things accomplished. Vacation week is a success!
1) Credit cards will be paid off monthly. Have to check in on this, however, I did add some to the cards to complete the insulation in the attic. Hopefully the tax rebate will offset the expense, and I'll save money on the heating oil.
2)
3) Clean out the closets and Rotate seasonal clothes. Waiting on this one for the warmup in the weather. Maybe Spring Break will be a better check in point.
4) Train my kids to clean up after themselves. Still working on this...it's a daily battle of wits, though they're better at emptying the dishwasher and (partially) folding clothes...cleaning up their own rooms is definitely an uphill battle.
5) Extend this new mantra to my classroom. Of course, didn't set foot in the school over break, so I can't claim I did anything to chip away at this one...seems that I can work on this one one piece at a time. 5 minutes of cleaning each day is a good way to start. Break out the timer!
6) Eat through the pantry and freezer before shopping for more. Breadmaker is running; muffins in the freezer; this one is in progress, but can't quite cross it out yet.
7) Pay bills online and automatically. Still in progress here, but making more steps to complete it.
8) .
9) The year of the backyard vacations. Once the mortgage situation gets finished and I can figure out what my work status is for the summer, I think I can start thinking about this one...but we certainly are taking a journey to the river this summer!
10) Assault the piles of junk. Worked a bit on this one, but still need to hit the boxes of stuff that I've set aside. But the basement workshop got sorted (still need to go through the drawers, organize & label). Once the weather warms up, we can tackle the garage (yet again, this seems to be an annual event!)
So, after one weekend, we are in progress. I may not have completed EVERYTHING on my list, but did get several big things accomplished. Vacation week is a success!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Declutter and de-debt my life
As I'm working towards streamlining my life, I am officially on the 'declutter' and 'lower my debt' campaign.
I have too much stuff. I routinely clean out the junk drawer, sort through the closet for Goodwill, clip coupons, and send the hand-me-downs to my nephews. However, there also seems to be a perpetual wave of stuff...I have a new mission to assault the debt and clutter in my life.
1) Credit cards will be paid off monthly. This will be a challenge for me. I typically haven't had this as an issue, but realize that I need to use the cards as only an emergency lifeline, not as a normalcy for life.
2) Join the Do not call registry. and are resources that can begin the process of eliminating junk mail and phishing phone calls. I also will begin calling catalogs that I don't want anymore (somehow I keep getting added to many more mailing lists...) and removing my name from their registry.
3) Clean out the closets and Rotate seasonal clothes. I like the idea of having a new wardrobe each change of season, but often I forget what I have until I open the box. Feel the need this year to organize a bit more, so in the 'off season' I will remember if I have a pair of khaki shorts or black wool pants. Getting the body in shape is also affecting my wardrobe (a good problem to have I suppose) but I also need to not go crazy over work-out clothes, hiking shoes, or flip flops.
4) Train my kids to clean up after themselves. A never ending battle, but still a valuable skill that I alone am responsible for. Cleanliness = rewards. Whatever their currency is, I need to capitalize on it.
5) Extend this new mantra to my classroom. Clutter and my classroom seem to be attached at the hip. I need to make an effort to clean up and organize a piece at a time, then maintain it. I'd like to see my desk BEFORE the last day of school.
6) Eat through the pantry and freezer before shopping for more. A slow process, but a necessary one. The pantry doesn't have to be full, but does need to be eaten. I think I can save money in shopping this way if we just ate what we had and didn't throw away food. I also want to utilize the breadmaker & wafflemaker more this year.
7) Pay bills online and automatically. This will allow me to save money on stamps as well as manage the bank account with more accuracy, especially with only two paychecks per month.
8) Automatic savings transfers. That 'rainy day fund' and 'college savings account' that doesn't get added to needs to have constant attention, without getting ignored with some excuse. To I pay myself first? That's a goal for this year. Get the accounting in order and take care of those emergency funds NOW!
9) The year of the backyard vacations. This year will be the year of the 'staycation' where we will visit family & friends, rather than the monumental trip. Documenting these trips also make the journey last longer - a DVD of pictures or a scrapbook book that we can look at over and over again.
10) Assault the piles of junk. Each day, I'm going to tackle a pile of junk in my house...and not just to 'move it to another room'. I want to trash it and pop it in a box for later. If I haven't looked at it in 2 weeks, maybe I don't need it. The problem I do have, is I put much of it aside until I 'have the time to deal with it'. This is the week to deal with it...
Status report in a week. We'll see what kind of grade I'll give myself!
I have too much stuff. I routinely clean out the junk drawer, sort through the closet for Goodwill, clip coupons, and send the hand-me-downs to my nephews. However, there also seems to be a perpetual wave of stuff...I have a new mission to assault the debt and clutter in my life.
1) Credit cards will be paid off monthly. This will be a challenge for me. I typically haven't had this as an issue, but realize that I need to use the cards as only an emergency lifeline, not as a normalcy for life.
2) Join the Do not call registry. and are resources that can begin the process of eliminating junk mail and phishing phone calls. I also will begin calling catalogs that I don't want anymore (somehow I keep getting added to many more mailing lists...) and removing my name from their registry.
3) Clean out the closets and Rotate seasonal clothes. I like the idea of having a new wardrobe each change of season, but often I forget what I have until I open the box. Feel the need this year to organize a bit more, so in the 'off season' I will remember if I have a pair of khaki shorts or black wool pants. Getting the body in shape is also affecting my wardrobe (a good problem to have I suppose) but I also need to not go crazy over work-out clothes, hiking shoes, or flip flops.
4) Train my kids to clean up after themselves. A never ending battle, but still a valuable skill that I alone am responsible for. Cleanliness = rewards. Whatever their currency is, I need to capitalize on it.
5) Extend this new mantra to my classroom. Clutter and my classroom seem to be attached at the hip. I need to make an effort to clean up and organize a piece at a time, then maintain it. I'd like to see my desk BEFORE the last day of school.
6) Eat through the pantry and freezer before shopping for more. A slow process, but a necessary one. The pantry doesn't have to be full, but does need to be eaten. I think I can save money in shopping this way if we just ate what we had and didn't throw away food. I also want to utilize the breadmaker & wafflemaker more this year.
7) Pay bills online and automatically. This will allow me to save money on stamps as well as manage the bank account with more accuracy, especially with only two paychecks per month.
8) Automatic savings transfers. That 'rainy day fund' and 'college savings account' that doesn't get added to needs to have constant attention, without getting ignored with some excuse. To I pay myself first? That's a goal for this year. Get the accounting in order and take care of those emergency funds NOW!
9) The year of the backyard vacations. This year will be the year of the 'staycation' where we will visit family & friends, rather than the monumental trip. Documenting these trips also make the journey last longer - a DVD of pictures or a scrapbook book that we can look at over and over again.
10) Assault the piles of junk. Each day, I'm going to tackle a pile of junk in my house...and not just to 'move it to another room'. I want to trash it and pop it in a box for later. If I haven't looked at it in 2 weeks, maybe I don't need it. The problem I do have, is I put much of it aside until I 'have the time to deal with it'. This is the week to deal with it...
Status report in a week. We'll see what kind of grade I'll give myself!
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