“Lesser Known Ways That Families Can Save Money” plus 1 more

Lesser Known Ways That Families Can Save Money

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 AM PST

Whether you have one child or five, effectively managing your finances is always going to be a bit of a juggling act when you have a family to provide for, especially in light of our current global economic situation. There are always unexpected expenses to deal with, but that is not to say that setting a budget and sticking to it will not help you stay out of debt. Aside from budgeting, here are a few other lesser known tips to help you and your family spend your hard-earned money wisely.

Shop Smart

When shopping for more than one or two people, you can save a lot of money and time by buying in bulk. Purchase large amounts of non-perishable items like rice, pasta, shampoo and anything else that you can buy in larger amounts. This will also save you from having to go to the store every two days, which in the long run saves you money as well because when you are not shopping as often, you are less likely to buy things you don’t really need.

Another great way to save money on shopping is to buy generic brands. Take a minute to think about why you purchase the big name brands. Is it because their quality is far superior, or, is it because you have seen them on television and have become a victim of their marketing schemes? A few things may actually be worth paying a bit more for, so find out what works for you.

Manage Vehicle Expenses Wisely

First of all, if you have more than one vehicle, you should probably sit down and take a good look at whether or not you really need two. Do you use the second vehicle often enough to warrant paying insurance and maintenance on two? If your place of work is not too far, you could always consider adopting the European style and cycling to work whenever possible.

Next, you may think that skimping on vehicle maintenance is saving you money, but neglecting your car’s needs will wear it down more quickly, and you may even end up spending more on a major repair that could have been avoided. [Also See: How to Extend the Life of Your Car]

On the other hand, many people tend to overdo it, and according to the AAA about 95% of all drivers change their oil too often. The 3000 mile rule only really applies to commercial vehicles like taxis, which are always on the road. For the average driver, an oil change every 7,500 miles is sufficient.

Get Creative with Birthdays and Special Occasions

More on Savings

For some reason, birthdays and other occasions like Mother’s Day are not included in our budget plans. We all have a number of friends and family, each of whom has a birthday every year, and those last-minute gifts can often get pricey.

Think of ways you can make someone a gift yourself. Homemade gifts may seem old-fashioned, but they can be fun and, more importantly, they will cost you a fraction of the price. Rather than getting your aunt another ridiculously priced gift set of bath salts that she will never use, why not make something yourself?

This may seem time-consuming but you don’t necessarily have to knit a scarf or make jewelry. If you can do these things, that’s great, but making your own gifts can be as simple as putting together a nice photo album or baking a cake. If you really don’t think you can make something yourself, don’t despair, there are other ways to save on gifts. Check out thrift stores or go shopping on eBay, you may be surprised at what you can find.

A guest contribution by Daniel from Merlin Assurance – the Quebec Home Insurance broker

Affordable Tips for Valentine Romance

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 04:00 AM PST

Still catching up from Christmas and New Year's? No problem. It's still possible to have a special, romantic and affordable Valentine's Day with your loved one. Here are 5 frugal and fun tips for a decadent date night on February 14^th.

Cake:

A heart-shaped cake is always a fun Valentine gesture, but most people think you need to run out and purchase a special pan to get the job done. While that's certainly a nice way to go for specialty sizes, the truth is you can pull off a decent heart cake with basic pan shapes you likely already have in your cupboards. Using your favorite cake recipe or dry mix of choice, fill both a round and square cake pan. When the cakes have finished baking, turn the square one so one of the points is facing down. It will look like a diamond. Next, cut the circle cake in half and place one half along each of the top edges of the diamond. You now have a heart. Frost at will, or take it to the next level and bake two of each for a double-layer cake. For Valentine's Day, I recommend going selecting a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, but if you have another favorite that means something to you as a couple, that's fine too.

Coupons:

If pennies are tight and you still want to give your significant other a gift, consider packaging up a stack of love coupons that you can print out on your computer. The key to making this successful is to choose coupon redemption options that your partner will think is amazing. Massages, breakfasts in bed and queen or king for a day are all popular options, but by all means take some time to come up with some ideas that are unique to your loved one.

Camping:

While most people think of family camping when the subject of rustic getaways comes up, the truth is that camping can be a great couple's experience as well. Go for the gusto and consider glamping in a nice cabin where you can whip up a great candlelight meal, or pitching a tent (climate permitting) somewhere with an absolutely spectacular view. Mother nature is the perfect backdrop for getting back to basics.

Corks:

More on Frugal Valentines

Wine tasting is an elegant entertaining option suitable for couples at any time of year, but is particularly appropriate for an affordable Valentine's Day outing. Tasting fees are typically quite reasonable, and wineries located in picturesque destinations are by no means difficult to come by. Choose one within driving distance of where you live and turn the event into a romantic daytrip. Select a bottle that works with several of your favorite foods and you'll be all set for a decadent dinner at home.

Cooking:

Which brings me to my next suggestion. If you're going to skip going out, then dinner needs to be epic. Stick within your budget of course, but definitely pull out a few stops. Toss a little red wine into that mushroom gravy, get a little Mediterranean with those flatbread pizzas or wrap some bacon around those broiled shrimp. One of my favorite budget strategies for savory Valentine treats is to fold chicken wings into hearts and baste with your red sauce of choice before grilling, broiling or roasting. Buffalo, sweet Thai chili or even barbecue sauce. So long as it's red. Basically, you place the middle joint towards you and tuck the other ends towards that same joint so they hold in place. Voila! A heart. Try this out for an appetizer or pair your heart-shaped wings with a gourmet salad and a favorite microbrew.

These are my top picks for enjoying Valentine's Day on a budget. What are your top ideas for affordable February romance?

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