Posts Tagged ‘Shopping’

If You Lose Your Job, Create One

Monday, April 27th, 2009

You know that nice paying, comfortable job you’ve had for the past several years? Yeah, that one. It can be taken from you in the blink of an eye. As long as their is someone above you (management, VP, CEO, etc…) you are putting yourself at risk; especially if you are not planning for the worst that could happen.

I like the way that this article is titled: Unemployment affects the finances of families

And believe it or not, it’s true! If you lose your income you will have an affect on your family finances. And with the way that the economy has been for the last two years, your job and thousands of other jobs are being cut. If you are not planning for this possibility then you my friend, are living in a dream world.

Unemployment is real, and abusing government handouts is real too. Please, don’t be lazy, get a job.And if you don’t want to go back to working the 9-5 drudgery, get creative about what you can do to earn an income. The possibilities are truly endless, and working for yourself can be a nice change of pace (as long as you can manage your time…). If you lose that steady income by being laid off, your new job is finding one. And if that means creating one, then you create it!

Here are some ideas to get you started (on the work for yourself path):

Learn something new

Go beyond your bubble and learn how to do something that makes you stand out. Be it HTML, PHP, blogging, SEO, etc. Whatever that one thing, or that combination of things, is that makes you more competitive and stronger than the person next to you – learn it and do it. Hard. [source]

Cut grass

It is that time of year and cutting grass is one thing that a majority of the people who live around you will not want to do. Walk your lawn mower around town and offer to cut yards for $30 (or whatever you see is a reasonable charge for your time). Then, when you are finishing up, offer to come by next week. Do that for each house and you’ll be busy.If you have a pickup truck, drive to the next neighborhood and do the same there. Before you know it you’ll have to hire some help.

Sell on eBay

I’ve talked about using eBay to earn extra cash for the holiday season but there are thousands upon thousands of individuals who earn more than extra cash, they are using the auction giant to earn a full-time income. Start by looking around your house. What can you put up on eBay that will sell? Don’t worry so much about the value, at first. Just put something up that you know will sell and will get your feet wet. Once you have done that, dig even further in your home for items that you don’t need but would be of value to someone on eBay. List it. Once you have done that a few times, offer to sell for your family and friends. Charge them 15% of the final value fee. That’s a taste of making money to sell items on eBay (which is easy). Then, tell them to tell all of their friends and coworkers that you can sell items for them on eBay. Give them a business card and let word of mouth do the rest. Leave flyers on your neighbors doorsteps….you get my drift.

Once people start calling you will get a taste of how much crap some people have. They will think that it is priceless but you will not lie to them and agree with them. It is not worth your time, especially if you have other clients calling you. Create a fee structure like this one: if the final value is is $50-$200 you charge 25% of the final value. If $201-$500 you charge 20%. If %501-$1,000 you charge 15%. If above $1,000, you charge 10%. This is just a suggested starting point, feel free to use it and adjust it.

If you start making your own path and aren’t relying on a 9-5 income, do this one thing and I can personally guarantee that you will keep the clients coming: Treat each and every client like they are your only client. Do this and they will keep coming back.

I hope these suggestions are helpful to you and get you thinking outside of the cubical box. If you lose your job, create one.


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Live in One Hour

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

Talk Radio Saving You Money is going to be LIVE in ONE HOUR! Click here to stream the show LIVE and also get call in information. We have t-shirts to give away to our callers today and hope that you will be one of them.

Our show sponsor is: FREESHIPPING.ORG. They have free shipping coupons and coupon codes to over 850 online retailers. Make sure you head over to their website to see if the store you are shopping at online has free shipping available.

T-shirts are courtesy of:

Strands.com
Aftertouch Productions
OK Rivals (signed to Aftertouch Records)

If you can’t make the show, don’t worry. Show archives are kept here and will also be available on iTunes (when I figure out how to get it there). Have questions you want us to answer? Email them to wyanradio@gmail.com.

You have one hour to prepare for great talk radio. Get ready, it’s gonna be a big one!

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How to Save When it Comes to Children

Monday, December 22nd, 2008
NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Gerber baby food product...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Now, I know that I am no expert, especially since I don’t have any children of my own, but I have been learning a few things from my years of babysitting and now being a nanny. I’ve been reading more and more articles on ways to save when having children because of the job I have. Not that I do the shopping for them or anything but more out of curiosity. Having children can be very expensive and with the economy the way it is, people are looking for more and more ways to save a few dollars here and there. There are a couple savings tips that I found that I thought were worth passing along.

One of the ways to save is right in the beginning when you know you are pregnant. It’s important to be realistic about what you actually need and what can maybe wait until later. One area that new parents tend to go overboard on is with the furniture. You want the very best for your children and you’re willing to make sacrifices for quality furniture but you may be buying the wrong items. When purchasing furniture for your new baby’s room, think long term. How many years will you be able to use the furniture? Is it really necessary to get a changing table or should you buy a short dresser and just stick a changing pad on top? That way you’ll be able to use the dresser once the child is out of diapers. Same goes for buying all the “mini” furniture for your child. Do you really need the cute little couch that is just their size? Probably not. That is another item that can get expensive and the child will quickly out grow and may have no interest in it from the beginning.

Another thing to think about is toys. When your child is still an infant you really won’t need many toys. Most of the time it’s the parents and babysitters who end up playing with the toys more than the child. The little play mats that they sell where there are toys hanging from it are a good purchase. They have different toys you can swap out to keep the child’s attention and they can use it for a fairly long time. Just in general, when you are purchasing toys think about whether you honestly need or not, or do you just think it would be nice to get something new. Save that money and put it towards something more long lasting for your child. Use it to buy a bike when they get older or start a college fund for them.

Food is another area to save money. Buying all those little jars of baby food can get quite pricey, especially if you buy organic. Consider making your own baby food. Now I don’t know from experience but I heard it’s pretty easy. I read one article where the man said all he does is take the leftovers from their meal, say it was chicken and green beans, and blends it together in a food processor. They just store the food in small Tupperware containers since that is significantly less expensive then buying all the little jars. (If this is something you do, let me know in the comments below.)

Purchasing clothes is the last area I will be talking about. This one is so hard not to fall prey into. There are so many cute outfits for children and when they go on sale it’s hard not to buy up everything. But, a baby doesn’t need a lot of clothes and will quickly outgrow anything you buy. You will be lucky to get 4 months wear out of clothes for an infant. So again be realistic. Before you go to Children’s Place or OshKosh, look into second hand stores for children. You can get great new or like new clothes (and furniture and toys) for next to nothing. If you are planning on getting a holiday outfit for you little one that you know they’ll only be able to wear this year, check out a second hand store. My niece has gotten a few Christmas dresses there for under $10 and she couldn’t have looked any cuter. Best thing is that nobody had a clue where my sister bought it. If you live somewhere where the weather is warmer this time of year scope out some yard sales. Normally there will be a home or two were you can really score some great things for only a couple dollars.

Hopefully this is helpful for some. If you have other tips you would like to pass along feel free to share them with us!

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Redefine The American Dream Pt. 7 – The Clothes You Wear

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

This is part six on a series covering the American Dream. Read parts one, two, three, four, five and six to get the big picture!

Closeup of a copper rivet on blue jeans.Now, I know that this subject area may not apply to most of you, BUT for some of you, this will hit you square on the head.

As we have discovered so far in our journey to redefine the American Dream, it is mostly made up of the outer appearance, and how the people around us see us. The house, the car, the degree hanging on the wall in the nice frame, and the debt that is covered up but used on a regular basis to fund this FAKE lifestyle. It is all for the sake of others.

We cannot leave out of that list CLOTHING! The very act of covering ourselves with clothing is used to portray a false lifestyle. What kind of shoes is she wearing? Wow, those are expensive, she must be successful or “living the life.” This opinion based on shoes.

Clothing plays the same part as the car and house. It gives the people around you the room to think you are either poor or well off, or maybe if you’re like me, you just don’t care what people around you think. But that last option is not really an applicable option. You are either well off or not, all depending on the shoes you wear, the jacket you have, and the pair of jeans you put on before you head out.

I am not saying that buying clothing is a bad thing. It is a necessity and I understand that. BUT it can become an unhealthy buying habit to always feel the need to buy that new style that is out. Clothes are important, but not that important.

Personally, I only buy clothes when I need them. And even then, I’ll hold off and see if it even really needs replaced. I do not buy clothes out of want, that is a dangerous place that is easy to get caught up in.

“But people will look at me funny!”

“I don’t have any clothes to wear!” She screams, as she stands in front of her overstuffed closet.

Maybe she is forgetting that it does not matter what people think about her. The only opinion that matters is her own, especially when it comes to using debt, or getting into debt, or not being able to save money each month, because she feels the need to buy a new outfit every time she is out. She is also forgetting that she just needs to wear clothing to go out, it does not REALLY matter if they are new or the latest trend.

“Just put on those jeans, that shirt, those shoes, and off we go,” her husband says, calmly.

This could also be an age quandary or a maturity level issue. Either way, don’t go into debt, or keep yourself from saving money each month, just to buy clothing.

Dave Ramsey’s favorite line applies here perfectly: “If you will live like no one else, later you will live like no one else.”

Hold off on buying all the new trendy clothes now, and later, when everyone else cannot, you will be able to dress the way you would like.

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Small Ways To Save

Monday, September 8th, 2008

I’m always looking for extra ways to save money. My husband and I have been married for just over a year and during most of that time I have not been working. Because of that, I try to do everything I can to save a little extra cash here and there. The following list explains different ways to save, curve spending, and earn extra income.

1. Money-savers:

-Pack a lunch: Packing a lunch for work is a really great, easy way to save a sometimes significant amount of money. Going out to eat on a regular basis really does drain the bank account quite quickly and without you even taking notice to it. It’s so easy to spend the $10 here and there without thinking much about it but that $10 adds up by the end of the week. Try to pack a lunch for work instead. If you like going out with your coworkers for lunch then limit your outings to once a week or less.

-Eat In: I love watching shows on tv where they follow a couple who’s spending is out of control and they take a look at where all their money is going to. Time and time again, one of the major things that people are spending a considerable amount of money on is eating out. It’s crazy what eating out every night adds up to at the end of the month. This is one area that I strongly encourage you to change if this is a problem for you. (especially if you are in debt) You can save so much money by cooking for yourself. If you don’t know how to cook then teach yourself. I wasn’t exactly good at cooking when I first got married but you do what you have to do. I tried different things, sometimes failing miserably, but I’ve learned a lot and have improved. If your married and your schedules permit, learn cooking together. Look at it as a way for you to tackle something as a team.

-Have your own garden: Even if you’re not that interested in having a garden just try it out for a season. No one says you have to plant 10 different things for it to be worth it. Think of the vegetables that you eat on a regular basis and research when and how to plant them. See how it goes and track your savings. If you liked it, great! If not, it’s no big deal either. My husbands side of the family is really big on vegetable gardens. Thanks to them I really don’t have to buy any veggies during the summer which obviously helps us save!

-Limit Shopping: This one is especially important for those who are part-time or not working. You have a lot more free time to shop and spend money. Be mindful of how much you are spending and what you are buying. Do you really NEED it? It is something that you must buy now? Can it wait? If you have the extra time when it comes to shopping for things that you need, then take the time to shop around for the best deals. There are so many different discount stores that have great, designer items but are dramatically reduced in price.

-Use Cash: This is something that my husband and I are getting in the habit of doing and it really is making a difference. I was amazed at how much more money I was spending because of swiping my card then when I would use cash. Cash is a total bother to me and I really don’t like having to use it, which works out great. When I’m debating whether or not to buy something I normally only have a limited amount of money on me. If I don’t have enough cash, I obviously can’t buy it. And If i do have enough on me, I always think twice about having to hand over my money.

Activities:

-Library: The library is a wonderful place to go for free entertainment. It won’t cost you thing but you can relax and have fun. If you are looking for ways to spend your time check out your local library and see if there are any book clubs or volunteering that you can do. (which leads perfectly to my next point…)

-Volunteering: This is a great way to meet local people, have fun, and do something meaningful with your time. There are SO many places and organizations to get involved in and they are easy to find. Just look on the web for opportunities in your area, or go directly to a place that you’re interested in and see if they are looking for any volunteer work.

Extra Income:

-Babysitting: This is something that I still do. I have been babysitting for well over 5 years and I still love it. I love getting to know the families of the children and have fun with the kids while the parents have time to themselves. It doesn’t take much time or work and it’s extra money that we weren’t planning on to use how we see fit.

-Cleaning: This is something that I think women are getting more and more into. Especially stay-at-home moms who are looking to make a little extra money without having to spend hours away from their kids. Even if you just clean one house a week it’ll probably only take around 2 hours and the pay is really good.

-eBay: My husband is the pro with listing items on eBay. He used to work for a small business where all they did was sell things on eBay. This has come in handy several times for him since leaving because he can list things for other people and keep some the profit. Again, it’s not much money but it’s money that you weren’t planning on and it can be used to save up for something or an extra night out. If you know how to use eBay, consider doing the same thing. It doesn’t have to be something totally time consuming; just items here and there for a couple extra bucks.

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Looking Great on any Budget

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

One word, Ross. Ross is a wonderful retail store that sells designer clothing for a LOT less. Case in point, my shoes! I have on great BCBG shoes. As you may know these are expensive shoes and my husband will not justify that purchase unless…they’re over 50% off and still fits in our budget. Other great stores that are like Ross areMarshalls and TJ Maxx. All three of these stores are really clean, well organized, and have great stuff for a fraction of the cost. Don’t worry! I’m not sending you to the Goodwill or the local Salvation Army. These are actual stores that you wouldn’t mind stepping foot in. Not only are they excellent options for looking great while spending little, they’re also great spots to check out for buying gifts. I’ve bought a number of gifts from these places and have saved a ton of money; money that I can put towards other things. Here are some examples of things that I’ve bought and the savings that I received:

1.) Glass serve-ware: I payed $14.99 – Retail was $39.99

2.) BCBG shoes: I payed $34.99 – Retail was $89.99 (I have to say that this was money that I used from my “allowance“.  I normally don’t even pay that much for shoes. I’m a Payless girl all the way!)

3.)Crackled Glass Hurricane Set: I payed $9.99 – Retail was $19.99

So the next time your looking for the perfect gift or cute top, check out one of these retailers. You’ll be surprised at all the things you’ll find!

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