Tag: #save money

Spring and Summer Lifestyle Tips of a Budget

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Spring and Summer Lifestyle Tips on a Budget

Here are some common sense ways to save money this spring and summer

Spring and Summer Lifestyle Tips on a Budget

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

 

Mother, May I?

April showers bring May flowers, along with the promise of summer activities and enjoyment. There are very many ways to save money during warmer weather and still have lots of fun:

  1. Take advantage of free movies, plays, and concerts in the park or at your local libraries. Many of these outdoor events have food trucks – the cuisine is usually very good but can be rather pricey. Consider packing a cooler of food to save on funds when attending these festivities.
  2. Water parks are great for summer fun, and now is the time to get your season passes at a potential discount. Many park districts and recreation departments offer pool memberships at a cheaper early bird rate prior to Memorial Day weekend. Several neighborhoods have no cost or low cost splash pads that are like mini water parks, as well. Be careful at the concession counter – prices are higher there and often less healthy options are sold. Ask if coolers with food from home are permitted. Check rainout lines/webpages before using your gas to drive to the facility just to find out it’s closed on a particular day. Of course, if you can bike or walk to the local aquatic center, all the better.
  3. Toes in the sand season is almost here – pedicures are in order, but can be pricey. Consider an online coupon/Groupon, a beauty school mani-pedi, or DIY. Soak feet in warm water, adding in some fragrance or bath oil for a more spa-like experience. Trim toenails straight across with a clipper. Ingrown nails can be treated with a special file available at most big box retailers. Push back cuticles with an orangewood stick or metal implement made specifically for this purpose. Use an oil or cuticle remover for best results. A pumice stone or metal dry skin remover is preferable over a razor for callus and dry skin. Dry well between toes, and if need be, use an antifungal cream or spray. Use toe separators or wind tissue between your toes before you start polishing. Apply a base, two coats of color polish, and a clear top layer for the best look, then finish off with lotion. Dipping a cotton swab in a little nail polish remover and running it around your cuticles will remove any excess polish that may have gotten on your skin. A do-it-yourself pedicure can look great.
  4. Time share rental sites, home swaps, and Airbnb’s can make vacations more affordable, or join a hotel group in email for discount codes. Watch reviews, though, as the quality of a particular stay site can vary widely. airbnb.com, www.redweek.com, www.go-koala.com/timeshare-rentals. A staycation can be just as much fun – check for free local museum days or complimentary events at local parks, beaches, and other public institutions.
  5. Picnics and cookouts during spring and summer are great ways to get together with friends. Ask everyone to bring a dish to share, but be cautious of food safety. Use a meat thermometer before taking any protein off the grill. Do not cross contaminate food – never use the same plates or utensils for cooked items that have come in contact with raw foods, without thoroughly washing them. Keep foods cold – a cooler full of ice will suffice if you are barbecuing in a park where a refrigerator is unavailable. Wash hands thoroughly, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer in a pinch can work but I recommend only picnicking where there are bathrooms available. Back yard cookouts are a safer option. Meats should rest ten to fifteen minutes after removing from the cooking source, but never leave any perishable food out longer than a total of two hours. Consider warmer temperatures when choosing baked good to bring. Frostings and chocolate treats can easily melt in the heat. Make sure you stay hydrated, especially in heavy heat. Avoid caffeine and stick with liquids like good ol’ H2O and clear juices. Throw away your trash in provided receptacles if you’re eating at a park or other such location. Wipe down tables in public spaces with a wipe safe for food surfaces or bring a spray bottle of vinegar and napkins or paper towels to clean tables. Consider a table covering to keep the surface safe for consumption.
  6. Use discount sites and price comparison apps to save money on events and hot weather essentials. Spring is a good time to get in on sales before summer arrives. rakuten.com, www.groupon.com, www.joinhoney.com.
  7. Sunscreen is important whenever you are in the sun, but be wary of budget brands and potentially dangerous chemicals. Two years ago, the FDA, based on the currently available scientific data, said that only two sunscreen ingredients could be considered safe and effective – titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Other UV filter chemicals like avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, padimate O, and sulisobenzone have concerned regulators because of skin absorption. Of those, the worst are oxybenzone, homosalate, and avobenzone – all three of them have been connected to disruption of the endocrine system. The European Commission in 2021 released preliminary reports about the first two, saying they should only be used at most to 2.2% and 1.4%, respectively. Current U.S. regs only cap those concentration percentages at 6% and 15%. Remember dollar stores, as well as some big box stores, often have sunscreens, cosmetics, and other HBA products that are made in China – some of them with recognizable brand names – and these are not regulated. Look at labels – made in China or PRC (People’s Republic of China) pose real safety concerns.
  8. Local beaches and lakes are almost always free – just check bacteria conditions and other water quality standards before plunging into the drink.
  9. If you want to spend your tax refund on some beach or cruise wear, remember budget apparel is fine. Just like holiday clothing, these articles are only wearable for short seasons. Better to spend more on wardrobe staples and keep the trendy spends to a minimum. The same goes for beach towels and totes. Take advantage of end of season sales for next year – that’s a great way to get higher quality things that will last longer. Spend a bit more on swimwear – chlorinated water is hard on bathing suits and trunks.
  10. Remember, simple days and nights on the patio with loved ones, including furbabies, are a wonderful free way to enjoy the spring and summer seasons. A good book on a lounger with a glass of ice tea or lemonade is not just relaxing, but a break from the hustle and bustle of politics, social media, national news, and everyday stress. Relax, unwind and breathe…

It’s a Taxing Situation

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It’s a Taxing Situation

Once you get that tax return here are some ways to spend it wisely

It’s a Taxing Situation

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Death from Taxes?

I must admit that when it comes to taxes, I am inept. I squeaked through my college accounting 101 by the skin of my teeth. My husband is the math lover in our household, and he does our 1040. The closest I come to anything to do with mathematics is the fact my older sister is an accountant and a friend from belly dance class is a tax attorney.

Count on Bargains

Basic math, like checkbook balancing, figuring out sale discounts, or the size of a diamond – I am truly fabulous at this type of calculation endeavor. My spouse will attest that I am excellent at spending money, as well, but I do spend it wisely. I can sniff out an overcharge at the grocery store like a bloodhound that got a whiff of a juicy bone, and I love me a bargain. So allow me to share a baker’s dozen of my expertise on savvy ways to save some money when you are ready to spend your tax refund:

  1. Many restaurants and business establishments offer tax day or other deals and free birthday or anniversary treats, through email, texting, or in-store terminals. These are great but can still cost you money – that free dessert can end up costing you the price of a lunch or dinner that maybe wasn’t in your budget. Bear in mind these places are enticing you to come spend some cash.
  2. The “pink tax” is very real – those blue disposable razors may work just as well on legs and underarms.
  3. Do your homework before taking your car to the mechanic, ladies. You are less likely to be taken advantage of if you sound like Marissa Tomei’s character on the witness stand in “My Cousin Vinny”.
  4. Now, you know you are about to look for that film on streaming TV if you don’t know what I am talking about, so let’s move on to those get two weeks free streaming services. It’s nice to try these services, or merchandise subscriptions, but if you forget to cancel you can get an expensive surprise at the end of the free period.
  5. Online auctions are awesome but check shipping fees before bidding. That very deep discount on the item you are looking at might make up for the cheap price by inflating shipping and handling charges. (This can also be true on third-party serviced items through the big online retailers.) Politely ask the seller what is the best price shipping to your ZIP code.
  6. You get less for your money these days – even President Biden’s State of the Union speech mentioned the size of a Snickers bar and the volume inside a bag of potato chips shrinking in size, so watch unit pricing such as per ounce for the best value.
  7. You often get what you pay for, so look for quality that is timeless and long lasting when choosing wardrobes and accessories. In trendy apparel look, especially fads, look for less costly items, since they go out of fashion quickly.
  8. Loss leaders at the market or pharmacy are worth it, if you don’t go out of your way to make the purchase. Often these are limited to one per customer and not worth the extra gas spent to get to the store, unless you can take advantage of multiple deals and they are for items you need or at least really want.
  9. Drugstore cosmetics can often work as well as luxury brands, but if you want to try higher end skin care, begin by requesting samples or buying a trial size to get a read of how your body reacts to it. Avoid dollar store personal care items – most are made in China/PRC (People’s Republic of China), which means they are not thoroughly tested for hygienic safety standards or safe ingredients.
  10. Store brands can be a budget saver but check labels – some less costly groceries can contain preservatives, colors, or other artificial ingredients. Many use the GMO process of bioengineering.
  11. Don’t cut corners when it comes to your health and safety. It’s just not worth it in the long run.
  12. There is a trend toward lab-created gem stones. My personal opinion is a smaller, natural diamond with some inclusions is a better choice. Lab created means coal burning in China and India, an often unhealthy and unsafe practice.
  13. Be a wise consumer – use reliable resources to gain information before making a purchase.

Take the Credit

In closing, an accountant (shameless plug for my beautiful big sister), or tax attorney can help you to take all of your legal tax deductions, and get you the maximum refund. There are many tax credits for women, especially single moms, if your income is under a certain amount. There is the earned income tax credit, there is child or dependent care credit if you have a loved one in daycare, and if you have a child in college there is an education credit. If a single lady is taking a job related class, there is also a credit.

Taxing…Not!

Tax laws are complex for everyone, not just single ladies filing as head of a household, with or without children, so leaving your taxes to the experts can get you maximum legal refunds, giving you some extra cash that you can splurge just a bit on some of those spring sales.

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.

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…

 

25 Great Ways To Save Money

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25 Great Ways To Save Money

25 Great Ways To Save Money

D. S. Mitchell

AARP Tips

For at least the last decade AARP Bulletin Magazine has been highlighting clever money saving ideas and sharing them with members once a year in their “99 Ways To Save” issue. Some of them are a bit over the top and others sensible and worth passing on. So here are a few tips they have offered over the last several years.

1.) Sell To Amazon: Amazon buys used items, including video games, books, Kindle e-readers for trade-in, in exchange for a gift card. Go to the Amazon Trade-in Store and if an item you have is listed there, print our a free shipping label and send it off.

2.) Pass On Dryer Sheets: Easy trick to save about $8 on 80 loads. Instead, cut a sponge in half and soak the pieces in a container with 1 cup fabric softener and two cups of water. Wring and toss one sponge into each dryer load. You will need to replace the liquid every 3 months.

3.) Get Free E-books: There are nearly 60,000 public domain e-books available on gutenberg.org. You will find favorites and classics and easily save $3 to $10.

4.) 401(k) Know How: Sadly 1/4 of American workers employed at companies offering 401 (k) plans fail to take advantage of the full company match, this means folks are missing out on an average of $1,336 in free money each year. Ok. Get out your calculator and multiply $1,336 times 30 years (your working years) and you will see that you could potentially lose out on over $40,080. Now, is the time to take advantage of this huge employer giveaway. It’s free money. Grab it.

5.) Free Streaming Movies: Check out kanopy.com. If you belong to one of the more than 4,000 participating public libraries or campus facilities, you can stream over 30,000 movies for free.

6.) Fancy Dancy Lunch: When you want to try out a glamorous restaurant, do it at lunch. The menu is usually similar to what you would have at dinner but is usually 25% cheaper and a more relaxed atmosphere.

7.) Individual Development Accounts: IDA’s are designed to help people of modest means buy a house or start a business. Go to ProsperityNow.org/map to find community organizations that administer the programs. There are some programs that provide up to $4 for every $1 you save.

8.) Car Rental Discounts: If you are an AARP member just show your card to lock in big savings. With Avis you could sew up a 30% savings. That would mean $90 off a $300 rental charge.

9.) Start Using Your Cruise Control: Studies confirm you can reduce fuel consumption by about 7% using your cruise control device. The average U.S. household spends about $2,000 annually on gasoline. I could suggest switching to an electric vehicle but, I will not. Use your cruise control and save about a $100 annually.

10.) Check Engine Belts: Broken belts are a major reason for automobile breakdowns. Be sure to have a tech check on yours before you head out on that next long trip. Avoiding a single breakdown could save you at least $100 in towing charges and keep your vacation frown free.

11.) Small Carts Win Out: When you go to the grocery store don’t grab the biggest cart, here’s where you are advised to go small. Research shows when the size of your grocery cart is doubled, you buy 40% more! Downsize your cart and save up to $230 per month for two people.

12.) Forget The Bark Dust: When you are ready to spread bark this spring call your local tree service and ask for a pile of their free wood chips. Depending on the size of your yard you could easily save several hundred dollars.

13.) Cross The Border For Gasoline: I live in Washington state, I buy my gas in Oregon. Two reasons; in Oregon they have attendants that pump the gas, which is great when I’m in my heels and mini, plus there is no sales tax in Oregon which means gas and other items are at least 6.5% cheaper. In Washington many localities add on their own tax, so you might save even more buying across the river.  You  can improve your chances of getting the best price on gas by using the GasGuru and GasBuddy apps which will show you prices at all area gas stations.

14.) Raising Your Deductible: Raising the deductible on a homeowner’s policy from $500 to $1000 will likely save you 25%, according to the Insurance Institute. That’s about a $300 savings on a $1200 policy.

15.) Fifteen Year Mortgage: In November 2021 the interest rate on a thirty year mortgage was 3.5%-3.7%. The rate on a 15 year mortgage was 2.6%-2.7%. On a $200,000 mortgage you will probably pay about $400 a month more for the fifteen year mortgage. Cutting that mortgage by fifteen years will save you over $100,000 in interest.

16.) Skip The Coffee Kiosk: Imagine you spend $4 at Starbucks on a couple tall coffees, that’s $1,000 a year, just on workdays. Most businesses have breakrooms with free coffee. A pound of $7.99 coffee from Kroger’s will make 25 (12 oz,) cups. Big savings.

17.) Donate Stock, Not Cash: You could save big by donating stock instead of cash. by donating the stock versus the cash you aren’t liable for capital gains tax. An example, say you give $5,000 worth shares of stock to your favorite charity. You originally paid $1,000 for the stock. If you sold the shares and then donated the cash you’d owe $1,000 in capital gains taxes if you’re in the 25% tax bracket. The choice is easy, give the charity the stock. They will be able to use their tax exempt status to sell the stock without tax consequences.

18.) Stop Smoking: There’s a million good reasons to quit smoking. One of them being non-smokers, exercisers and people who maintain a healthy weight can get as much as a 50 percent savings on life insurance.

19. Prescription Savings: You might find a prescription medicine is cheaper than one you commonly buy over the counter. The heartburn remedy Prilosec, as an example, costs about $10 for a dozen tabs. With a prescription for Omeprazole you can get 90 tabs with a $10 co-pay. That is about a $60 a month savings.

20.) Stop Rinsing The Dirty Dishes: It is no longer necessary to prewash dishes. Just scrape thoroughly and load. You can expect to save about 55,000 gallons of water over the lifetime of the dishwasher.  That is about a $280 in dollar savings, plus using less water is good for the environment, in addition you will spare yourself a lots of unnecessary work.

21.) Help For Veteran Caregivers: The Department of Veteran Affairs offers caregivers a temporary break by paying all or at least a large portion of  the costs of an in-home health aide or for the veteran to attend an adult day center. Find details about the program by going to caregiver.va.gov, or call 855-260-3274.

22.) Apply For Free Medicine: You may be able to find help to pay for your prescriptions from The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, pparx.org. If you qualify you could potentially save hundreds of dollars a year on needed medications.

23.) Unclaimed Property: If you haven’t done it recently, go to unclaimed.org, find your state (or any other states you may have lived in) and enter your name. You may find the state is holding money from a savings account you forgot about, or an undelivered refund check.  I recently found $79 at the State of Oregon unclaimed property site. When I was there I also found $219 for my son and another $110 for my daughter. Yipee skipee! It took a total of 15 minutes and three Forever stamps to recover over $400 of the big green ones.

24.) Property Tax Breaks: States across the country offer property tax breaks for homeowners over 65 years of age. Since losing federal write offs on property taxes many homeowners on fixed budgets are endangered of being taxed out of their homes. States offer many types of tax programs, depending on the homeowner circumstances. I am not talking about tax deferments that defer taxes until the homeowner dies or sells the property, but are rather exemptions. That means it will not be collected later. Huge difference. Exemptions include caps on assessed value, tax rates and assessment freezes.  Each state, and many counties in those different states, have various programs and requirements. Programs like these can save senior homeowners thousands and thousands of dollars.

25.) Upgrade your refrigerator: A new model fridge may reduce your electric bill by about $350 over the first five years of use. Before buying go to your electric provider and check on rebate offers that are offered for buying an energy efficient appliance.

I decided I wanted to give readers a bonus, so here are two more great money saving tips.

26.) Reduce Your Lawn: The grass in your yard is one of the most expensive and labor intensive parts of your property maintenance. Statistics indicate Americans spend over $30 billion each year keeping up their lawns. Think arid. Think creative. Patios, decks, plant native species. Grass is not environmentally friendly nor is it pocketbook friendly, go natural.

27.) Buy Wine By The Case: Check with the retailer, but stores usually discount cases of by anywhere from 10% to 25%. Watch for sales and pick up a case of (12) bottles of wine for a great price and you’ll always have a handy house warming gift right at your finger tips.

Again I want to thank several issues of the AARP Bulletin magazine for the various money saving tips. Hurry out there and start saving.