Tag: #Save money and stay in style

Tips On Staying In Style In This Economy

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Tips On Staying In Style In This Economy

Anna Hessel offers common sense ideas to save money in these inflationary times

Editor’s Note: Anna Hessel with a little help from hubby, Wes, have been offering up 10 tips a week on How to Stay In Style In This Economy. Thanks Anna, we need all the help we can get. Next week will be the last week of her suggestions. Watch for it next Tuesday, but right now here are their suggestions for this week.

By Anna Hessel with Wes Hessel

Inflation is being beaten back but basic costs are still high, and service providers are charging more, but there is hope out there. Saving money has always been a challenge but in this current economic climate saving money can be get a bit tricky,  but there are certainly ways to shave your budget without losing out on things you need and want, here are today’s suggestions:

  1. Online survey sites can bring in some money. Even the legit sites sometimes have bad surveys that don’t pay, but overall, there is money to be made. You won’t get rich but a few extra dollars can add up over time.
  2. Side gigs can be fruitful but make sure to factor in things like gas and supplies to ascertain that you’re actually making a profit.
  3. Use your interests and hobbies to make money. If you bake great cookies or are a crafter, rent a table at a flea market or craft show to sell your wares, or sell to friends and co-workers. Check local ordinances before hand for any requirements.
  4. Old-fashioned side jobs like babysitting, grass mowing, car washing, errand running, etc., are not just for teens, these days.
  5. Check state treasury departments or the equivalent to find out if anyone owes you money in unclaimed property like lost accounts or credits. We found insurance and utility companies that owed us refunds…
  6. Event venues, places with concessions like pools or sports parks, and restaurants sometimes offer discount food near closing time.
  7. Summer time can bring free movies in the park, free outdoor concerts, or free splash pads for hot days…
  8. Try homemade options such as making a scrub from sugar or salt and olive oil or honey – it’s great for dry skin, cellulite, or crepe skin. Apple cider vinegar, baking soda, or baby lotion added to bath water can have spa-like benefits.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

  1. Many people are eligible for government-subsidized (most often free) cell phones with service and/or internet – more than you would think. See the FCC site (https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers) or other government websites for details.
  2. Apply for energy assistance if you’re at all eligible, and ask your utility companies if they have additional programs to help with your household fuel costs, such as budgeting options or discounts for using energy-efficient appliances.

Tips to Stay in Style in this Economy

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Staying In Style In This Economy

Anna Hessel offers common sense ideas to save money in these inflationary times

Editor’s Note: Anna Hessel with a little help from hubby, Wes, will be offering up for the next seven weeks, 10 tips a week on How to Stay In Style In This Economy. Watch for it every Tuesday.

How to Stay in Style in this Economy…

By Anna Hessel with Wes Hessel

Inflation is being beaten back but basic costs are still high, and service providers are charging more, but there is hope out there. Saving money has always been a challenge but in this current economic climate saving money can be get a bit tricky,  but there are certainly ways to shave your budget without losing out on things you need and want, here are today’s suggestions:

 

Save Me…

Saving money in this current economic climate can be a bit of a challenge, but there are certainly ways to shave your budget without losing out on things you need and want:

  1. Take advantage of after holiday or seasonal clearances. I buy toys, non-perishable gifts, clothing, and decor items for the following year at significant discount.
  2. Extended warranties on electronics and other major purchases can be worth the nominal costs. Check the ratings on the warranty provider to see how good (or bad) their track record is, and read their terms and conditions carefully. While it isn’t always the case, good companies are out there. We recently noticed two small white dots on the screen of our TV, which showed up no matter what program source – the extended warranty refunded our entire purchase price on the television. Suddenly, those two dots are a lot less bothersome…
  3. Check out the numerous travel discount sites, but choose a well-known or at least well-rated one to protect yourself. My husband and I saved big money on a whirlpool suite for our anniversary.
  4. Discount movie theaters with second run films are a source of entertainment at a fraction of the cost of first run films. Of course, streaming services are a great value, many offer a free trial week or longer, or discounts upon sign-up for a specific period of time. Streaming that is commercial-supported can offer even more savings.
  5. Take advantage of gift with purchase offers or discounted collections in department stores for cosmetics, and politely ask for samples.
  6. Beauty schools for haircuts, manicures, pedicures and the like are often cost effective, and the work is overseen by the instructors.
  7. Clearance cosmetics are fine as long as you check expiration dates and don’t buy open items.
  8. Your own at-home hair color, mani-pedis, and facials can work just fine. Choose quality products and that does not always mean most expensive ones – do your homework to compare…
  9. Watch carefully if buying cosmetics and toiletries in dollar stores or other deep discount outlets – many are made in China (PRC) and are not regulated. (Even major big box stores may carry these products, and some are better known brands.) Don’t sacrifice safety for savings. Food items made in China also are not regulated, and safety is in question.
  10. Clearance racks are great places to find deep discount apparel (or other items, as well). You might need to trim a thread or sew a button but it’s worth it. Remember there is a big difference between fashionably distressed and a mess…

Reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle to maximize savings and stay in style…

 

Stay In Style In This Economy

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Stay In Style In This Economy 

Editor’s Note: Anna Hessel with a little help from hubby, Wes, will be offering up for the next seven weeks, 10 tips a week on How to Stay In Style In This Economy. Watch for it every Tuesday. 

How to Stay in Style in this Economy…

By Anna Hessel with Wes Hessel

Inflation is being beaten back but basic costs are still high, and service providers are charging more, but there is hope out there. Saving money has always been a challenge but in this current economic climate saving money can be get a bit tricky,  but there are certainly ways to shave your budget without losing out on things you need and want, here are today’s suggestions:

  1. I keep a small empty lotion container to drain the last dregs of creams into. Give it a good shake, and you have a new lotion mixture to keep skin smooth.
  2. Turn lights off when not in use for more than a minute.
  3. Vacuum refrigerator coils every so often to increase efficiency, and save on electricity. Also, clean your furnace or air conditioning vents for improved flow (again saving energy and cost), and change the furnace filter as recommended to help there, too. Make sure those air outlets are not blocked or covered for even better savings, unless it’s for an area you use less or little.
  4. There are products on the market to freshen clothes between wearings. A clothes dryer after sponging with a damp wash cloth is a great way to refresh clothes, and add extra life to garments but these are not substitutes for regular washing or dry cleaning. An old fashioned sponge  dampened can keep your wardrobe looking pristine. I don’t recommend a refresh more than a couple times between laundering – you don’t want to seal dirt or odor in the fabric…
  5. Buy a good used sewing machine to repair, repurpose, or recreate garments, linens, curtains, and the like.
  6. Opt for refillable or reusable items, such as pitchers to filter tap water instead of buying bottles from a store – this can save money and help the environment.
  7. Less waste packaging can also improve an item’s cost – less overhead for the company; look for vendors who pass this savings on.
  8. Avoiding red meat is not only great for animal welfare, your health, and the environment, it can be more economical to have a more plant based diet…
  9. Consider your home space – do you really need as much as you have? The tiny house movement, or downsizing in some form, is advantageous in many ways, such as less energy consumption, more time for family/ourselves and pleasure pursuits, and, of course, the lower costs…

You Better Shop Around…

  1. Utilize deferred no-interest payment plans like PayPal’s Pay in 4, After Pay, or Klarna for major purchases to save on paying credit card or other interest. Or just save up – it’s worth the effort…

 

How To Stay In Style In This Economy (#2)

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How To Stay In Style In This Economy (#2)

Editor’s Note: Anna Hessel with a little help from hubby, Wes, will be offering up for the next seven weeks, 10 tips a week on How to Stay In Style In This Economy. Watch for it every Tuesday. 

How to Stay in Style in this Economy…

By Anna Hessel with Wes Hessel

Inflation is being beaten back but basic costs are still high, and service providers are charging more, but there is hope out there. Saving money has always been a challenge but in this current economic climate saving money can be get a bit tricky,  but there are certainly ways to shave your budget without losing out on things you need and want, here are today’s suggestions:

  1. Jewelry and clothing rental sites can be great but read the fine print before you give your credit or debit card number. Monthly or additional fees can add up to make it un-cost effective.
  2. Look for electronic or other recycling events that offer gift card or coupon incentives, or retailers who offer discounts for trade-ins.
  3. For those who pay for your garbage collection, make choices which will keep that bill down. Check with your waste pickup agency or provider for tips on how to save, especially for “amnesty” days, where more or any items are taken for disposal, or special collection days such as for leaves in the fall or live Christmas trees after the holiday, thus avoiding extra fees. If you have bulky items to trash and an amnesty day is not available or far away, see if your refuse service allows one or two extra items for pickup without additional charge, and if you have multiple items, then you can put them out over more than one collection date to save.
  4. Check the curbs on trash nights, and especially on amnesty days, for usable items you may want – one person’s trash is another one’s treasure. Just make sure your municipality or area does not restrict this.
  5. Use outdated yogurt, or past their prime fruit or vegetables like avocados as face masks or skin treatments.
  6. Used coffee grinds are great for cellulite body treatment – if you don’t use your own, Whole Foods had been giving them away for free to anyone that asks.
  7. Used book and music stores can buy your used books, magazines, CDs, video games, or other related electronics, and items purchased there are likely cheaper than retail.
  8. Shop at garage sales – save money while meeting your neighbors or host a garage sale to make some extra funds. A bit of gas spent traveling to upscale area sales if you don’t live in one is worth the trip to find special bargains on designer duds, toys, or housewares.
  9. When using health and beauty items like liquid soaps, shampoos, conditioners, or lotions, turn them upside down (if the container isn’t already designed that way) to get as much as possible out of what you buy. If such an item won’t stand on its head on its own, prop it up against a wall or the like, or place it in inverted in a cheap plastic cup or other container large enough to hold it.
  10. Squeeze more out, literally – for items in tubes, such as toothpaste or creams, use a comb, the side of your hand, or one of those squeezing gadgets to press through the last dregs…