This week, I'm exploring (mostly online) how Community Supported Agriculture works, and what its benefits are. In keeping with that theme, this week's book is
Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen's Guide to Community Supported Agriculture, Revised & Expanded
I haven't had a chance to read it yet myself, but it looks interesting, and I'd love to hear from any of you who have.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Story of Stuff
Saving money can have some nifty consequences, like helping your heath, or helping the planet, or even helping build a healthier economy! It can change not only your life, but the WORLD!
Check out The Story of Stuff to give you even more reasons to buy less or used stuff instead of feeding the consumerism monster!
Check out The Story of Stuff to give you even more reasons to buy less or used stuff instead of feeding the consumerism monster!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Freebie Friday, A Day Late - Comics!
Today (May 2) is Free Comic Book Day! Check out the link below to find participating comic shops in your area!
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/fcbd_locator.asp
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/fcbd_locator.asp
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Money-saving Websites
As a tireless bargain hunter, I am constantly on the lookout for new ways to save. Because I'm also a bit of a homebody and an introvert, much of that savings is found online. My latest finds:
RetailMeNot: Created by the folks behind BugMeNot (a great privacy saver), this is a searchable database containing coupon codes for zillions of online stores. Like any really good system, it also allows you to add your coupon codes to the database for others to use, and has a feedback system that tells you what is working and what isn't. Search by store or by keyword.
JungleCrazy is a site associated with Amazon.com
that holds a database of Amazon.com products that are 70% or more off the retail price! There are some seriously amazing deals here.
And now to list some of my old, tried and true favorites (you'll also find these on the sidebar):
The Bargainist - offers sales info, freebies and coupon codes on tons of stores, as well as some good articles on saving money. They also have an email subscription service that allows you to get your choice of bargain info delivered to your inbox.
Bookmooch - A place to swap the books you have for the books you want.
SwapaCD - is a site designed to allow you to trade your old, unlistened-to CDs for the things you really want to hear.
SwapaDVD - is the same as above, but for DVDs!
Craigslist - Look to the Craigslist nearest you for bargains and freebies on new and used items of every description.
Happy Hunting!
RetailMeNot: Created by the folks behind BugMeNot (a great privacy saver), this is a searchable database containing coupon codes for zillions of online stores. Like any really good system, it also allows you to add your coupon codes to the database for others to use, and has a feedback system that tells you what is working and what isn't. Search by store or by keyword.
JungleCrazy is a site associated with Amazon.com
that holds a database of Amazon.com products that are 70% or more off the retail price! There are some seriously amazing deals here.And now to list some of my old, tried and true favorites (you'll also find these on the sidebar):
The Bargainist - offers sales info, freebies and coupon codes on tons of stores, as well as some good articles on saving money. They also have an email subscription service that allows you to get your choice of bargain info delivered to your inbox.
Bookmooch - A place to swap the books you have for the books you want.
SwapaCD - is a site designed to allow you to trade your old, unlistened-to CDs for the things you really want to hear.
SwapaDVD - is the same as above, but for DVDs!
Craigslist - Look to the Craigslist nearest you for bargains and freebies on new and used items of every description.
Happy Hunting!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Saving Money - Some Simple Math
With food prices higher than ever, most of us need to take a closer look at how we spend our grocery dollars. One of the best ways to do that is to simply do the math.
Take starches, for example. Unless you and your family are on the Atkins Diet, you spend some amount of your hard-earned cash on carbs. The basics are: bread, pasta, rice, potatoes.
In my area, both bread and pasta run about $1/lb. Rice, between 50¢/lb. and 99¢/lb. Potatoes? 40¢/lb. Got that? Rice is cheaper than bread or pasta. Potatoes are cheaper than either one. Plan your meals and your shopping list accordingly. Also, check out this book:
My second point isn't as specific, but it is equally important, and it is this: Don't be fooled by packaging tricks. This means to always, ALWAYS check the price per pound pricing on items you're considering buying. Think that buying in bulk will save you money? It certainly *can*, but it doesn't always. Somehow, sometimes buying something in lots of little containers is actually *cheaper* than buying something in bulk. I've noticed being the case with both paper towels and tuna recently. Crazy but true.
Next, don't assume that your big box club (Costco, BJ's, Sam's Club and the like) is really saving you money. Once upon a time this was definitely true, but in today's marketplace, you can often find better deals elsewhere, whether it be online, at your regular grocery store, department stores like Target or K-Mart, or even drugstore chains like CVS. The point is, don't assume, CHECK. You might well find some surprises.
Finally, while it's often true that you can get a better deal by driving more, beware! With high prices at the pumps, doing the math is more important than ever. Here's how:
Take your average miles per gallon* and determine how many miles out of your way you would drive for the sale. That should tell you how much of or how many gallons you'll use getting there. Multiply that by the current cost of gas per gallon (and don't forget that most gas pump prices are sneaky - $3.59 is actually $3.599. Round up to $3.60) and voila! You've learned how much gas money it will cost to get you to the sale(A). Now decide how much savings you'll get at the sale(B). Is A bigger than B? If it is, don't go! You'll just be ripping yourself off in the long run. Is B bigger than A? If so, then go enjoy the sale!! Remember to use this formula when deciding whether to drive farther for cheaper gas, too.
So - don't cheat yourself, or allow sneaky marketing to cheat you! Do the math!
*If you don't already know this number, it is well worth your time to work it out. Find out your gas tank size (usually in handbook). Fill it up. Set your trip counter to zero. Drive until you are on empty. Take the number on the trip counter and divide it by the size of your gas tank. Tada! Your average miles per gallon!
Take starches, for example. Unless you and your family are on the Atkins Diet, you spend some amount of your hard-earned cash on carbs. The basics are: bread, pasta, rice, potatoes.
In my area, both bread and pasta run about $1/lb. Rice, between 50¢/lb. and 99¢/lb. Potatoes? 40¢/lb. Got that? Rice is cheaper than bread or pasta. Potatoes are cheaper than either one. Plan your meals and your shopping list accordingly. Also, check out this book:
My second point isn't as specific, but it is equally important, and it is this: Don't be fooled by packaging tricks. This means to always, ALWAYS check the price per pound pricing on items you're considering buying. Think that buying in bulk will save you money? It certainly *can*, but it doesn't always. Somehow, sometimes buying something in lots of little containers is actually *cheaper* than buying something in bulk. I've noticed being the case with both paper towels and tuna recently. Crazy but true.
Next, don't assume that your big box club (Costco, BJ's, Sam's Club and the like) is really saving you money. Once upon a time this was definitely true, but in today's marketplace, you can often find better deals elsewhere, whether it be online, at your regular grocery store, department stores like Target or K-Mart, or even drugstore chains like CVS. The point is, don't assume, CHECK. You might well find some surprises.
Finally, while it's often true that you can get a better deal by driving more, beware! With high prices at the pumps, doing the math is more important than ever. Here's how:
Take your average miles per gallon* and determine how many miles out of your way you would drive for the sale. That should tell you how much of or how many gallons you'll use getting there. Multiply that by the current cost of gas per gallon (and don't forget that most gas pump prices are sneaky - $3.59 is actually $3.599. Round up to $3.60) and voila! You've learned how much gas money it will cost to get you to the sale(A). Now decide how much savings you'll get at the sale(B). Is A bigger than B? If it is, don't go! You'll just be ripping yourself off in the long run. Is B bigger than A? If so, then go enjoy the sale!! Remember to use this formula when deciding whether to drive farther for cheaper gas, too.
So - don't cheat yourself, or allow sneaky marketing to cheat you! Do the math!
*If you don't already know this number, it is well worth your time to work it out. Find out your gas tank size (usually in handbook). Fill it up. Set your trip counter to zero. Drive until you are on empty. Take the number on the trip counter and divide it by the size of your gas tank. Tada! Your average miles per gallon!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Saving Money - Food Shopping (Part 4)
Plan your route.
Not only will you save gas by planning the most efficient shopping route, you'll get the shopping done faster. What's not to love? Consider carpooling grocery trips with neighbors for added savings. You can use Google Maps to chart your best route.
Consider online options.
Don't forget about Amazon's Grocery Section, and that their Super Saver Shipping offers free delivery on orders of $25 or more. This is especially helpful for those of us with restricted diets - I just bought a case of gluten-free pasta at a better price-per- package than I can find at any local store, and the shipping was free! Other websites may offer similar shipping deals.
Not only will you save gas by planning the most efficient shopping route, you'll get the shopping done faster. What's not to love? Consider carpooling grocery trips with neighbors for added savings. You can use Google Maps to chart your best route.
Consider online options.
Don't forget about Amazon's Grocery Section, and that their Super Saver Shipping offers free delivery on orders of $25 or more. This is especially helpful for those of us with restricted diets - I just bought a case of gluten-free pasta at a better price-per- package than I can find at any local store, and the shipping was free! Other websites may offer similar shipping deals.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saving Money - Food Shopping (Part 3)
Buy in bulk.
Buying in bulk whenever possible will help reduce your overall grocery bill. Yes, it's a bigger initial cash outlay to buy in bulk, but it is absolutely worth it. Whether it's meat or rice, the overall savings will amaze you. Not only will your price-per-pound be better, you reduce the number of trips you make to the store, saving on gas as well. To help to ease the pain of the initial outlay, choose a different bulk item to purchase every trip, don't try to buy them all at once!
Be careful of over dependence on big-box club stores like Sam's Club, Price Club, Costco or BJ's for your bulk items - they aren't always the best deal! Take the list you created from your sales papers, and compare the price-per-pound.
Shop during "off" times.
You'll find the shelves better stocked and the atmosphere less harried if you shop during non-peak shopping times. Weekends are the biggest peak time, for obvious reasons, so try to go during the week. Middle of the week, middle of the afternoon is ideal, if you can manage it. If you must go on the weekend, try very early morning, or after 7pm.
The advantage to shopping during the off-hours in terms of saving money is this: If you are less harried, you can pay better attention to your shopping. Believe it or not, this is really important! When you are paying attention, you can sometimes compare unadvertised prices to what you found in the sales papers. Sometimes store brands are cheaper than what is advertised in the sales papers, and there is rarely a difference in quality. It does happen occasionally, but you'll quickly learn which products have that issue.
Also, look out for better per-unit prices on different sizes than what was advertised. The breakdown on store tags can be useful, but beware! They aren't always correct. Bring a calculator and do the math yourself for best results.
Attention to the little details can save you more than you think.
Buying in bulk whenever possible will help reduce your overall grocery bill. Yes, it's a bigger initial cash outlay to buy in bulk, but it is absolutely worth it. Whether it's meat or rice, the overall savings will amaze you. Not only will your price-per-pound be better, you reduce the number of trips you make to the store, saving on gas as well. To help to ease the pain of the initial outlay, choose a different bulk item to purchase every trip, don't try to buy them all at once!
Be careful of over dependence on big-box club stores like Sam's Club, Price Club, Costco or BJ's for your bulk items - they aren't always the best deal! Take the list you created from your sales papers, and compare the price-per-pound.
Shop during "off" times.
You'll find the shelves better stocked and the atmosphere less harried if you shop during non-peak shopping times. Weekends are the biggest peak time, for obvious reasons, so try to go during the week. Middle of the week, middle of the afternoon is ideal, if you can manage it. If you must go on the weekend, try very early morning, or after 7pm.
The advantage to shopping during the off-hours in terms of saving money is this: If you are less harried, you can pay better attention to your shopping. Believe it or not, this is really important! When you are paying attention, you can sometimes compare unadvertised prices to what you found in the sales papers. Sometimes store brands are cheaper than what is advertised in the sales papers, and there is rarely a difference in quality. It does happen occasionally, but you'll quickly learn which products have that issue.
Also, look out for better per-unit prices on different sizes than what was advertised. The breakdown on store tags can be useful, but beware! They aren't always correct. Bring a calculator and do the math yourself for best results.
Attention to the little details can save you more than you think.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Saving Money - Food Shopping (Part 2)
Plan your meals.
Pull out your cookbooks (for fun, you can see some of my favorites here), or your internet browsing fingers, and create meal plans around what's on sale, what's local, and what is in season. My personal favorite recipe site is Recipe Source, but I've had good luck with Epicurious and Food Network as well. Be sure to plan for snacks, too.
Make a list.
You know how for real estate, they always say that the important thing is "location, location, location"? Well, for food shopping, it's "list, list, list"! Seriously.
After looking through your local sales papers, create a list of the groceries you plan to buy from each store. Include the sale prices (and any limitations), so that you can comparison shop at the other stores. Don't forget to put items you need, but don't find on sale on the list.
Impulse items can add as much as 50% to your total food bill. So, when you're at the store, DON'T DEVIATE FROM THE LIST. The list is your friend. Don't buy stuff that isn't on it. So: no toys, no snacks, no makeup, no magazines. NOTHING, unless it made it to the list. To help stick to your list, make sure that you and anyone you take with you shopping has recently eaten.
Pull out your cookbooks (for fun, you can see some of my favorites here), or your internet browsing fingers, and create meal plans around what's on sale, what's local, and what is in season. My personal favorite recipe site is Recipe Source, but I've had good luck with Epicurious and Food Network as well. Be sure to plan for snacks, too.
Make a list.
You know how for real estate, they always say that the important thing is "location, location, location"? Well, for food shopping, it's "list, list, list"! Seriously.
After looking through your local sales papers, create a list of the groceries you plan to buy from each store. Include the sale prices (and any limitations), so that you can comparison shop at the other stores. Don't forget to put items you need, but don't find on sale on the list.
Impulse items can add as much as 50% to your total food bill. So, when you're at the store, DON'T DEVIATE FROM THE LIST. The list is your friend. Don't buy stuff that isn't on it. So: no toys, no snacks, no makeup, no magazines. NOTHING, unless it made it to the list. To help stick to your list, make sure that you and anyone you take with you shopping has recently eaten.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Saving Money - Food Shopping (Part 1)
Shoppers Scrimp as Food Prices Rise
Does this recent news item seem all too familiar to you? If you're like most of America, it does. So how do you survive the crazed gas and grocery prices and still eat well? I've got some tips for you below.
Read your local sales papers.
Chances are, you receive a weekly deposit of grocery and drugstore sales papers, either in your mailbox or in your Sunday paper. If you don't, a Sunday paper is a good investment in order to get them. The Sunday paper is also a good place to look for jobs, cars and furniture bargains, as well as being one of the best places to find coupons.
If neither of these options work for you, try looking for the sales circulars online. Most large chains now post their weekly circulars on their websites.
Find your local fresh-food markets.
Farmer's markets and other fresh veggie options are a terrific way to save money. Buying the food fresh, local and in season helps you create healthier meals, and is often cheaper than even the best megamart sales. Both the USDA and Local Harvest offer lists of farmer's markets by state, and Sustainable Table tells you what's in season in your area.
Stay Tuned for Part 2!
Does this recent news item seem all too familiar to you? If you're like most of America, it does. So how do you survive the crazed gas and grocery prices and still eat well? I've got some tips for you below.
Read your local sales papers.
Chances are, you receive a weekly deposit of grocery and drugstore sales papers, either in your mailbox or in your Sunday paper. If you don't, a Sunday paper is a good investment in order to get them. The Sunday paper is also a good place to look for jobs, cars and furniture bargains, as well as being one of the best places to find coupons.
If neither of these options work for you, try looking for the sales circulars online. Most large chains now post their weekly circulars on their websites.
Find your local fresh-food markets.
Farmer's markets and other fresh veggie options are a terrific way to save money. Buying the food fresh, local and in season helps you create healthier meals, and is often cheaper than even the best megamart sales. Both the USDA and Local Harvest offer lists of farmer's markets by state, and Sustainable Table tells you what's in season in your area.
Stay Tuned for Part 2!
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