Daily Preparedness

Whether you have bundled children off to school or are living life child-free, now is a good (and often neglected) time to hit clearance racks. The end of summer and back to school rush is over and the retail leftovers can be great budget savers. Think creatively, as many items marked 75 to 80% off can be re-purposed from their original intent. Beef up your preparedness status while preserving your financial well-being. Just a few tips to guide you:

Don’t forget to look for items in stores that don’t usually carry summer and back to school items. The greatest savings are often found in drug stores, grocery stores and some department stores.

Remember that Christmas is just around the corner. Many school supplies (think markers, magnets, crayons, cute notepads, colorful pencils, specialty pens, stickers, permanent markers, thumb drives) make great stocking stuffers. My grandchildren were thrilled one year when I gave each of them a large package of scotch tape rolls, one of their favorite craft items. The older children also received miniature staplers. Look for socks, fun t-shirts (maybe for pj’s), zippered pouches and organizing boxes.

Don’t forget children’s birthday party gift bags, gifts and activity days.

Many crafters will appreciate organizational tools, art supplies, etc.

Classroom teachers might appreciate a box filled with replacement supplies as a Christmas gift. Glue sticks, liquid glues, markers, white board erasers, stickers, etc. would be welcomed mid-year. Add some chocolate for the teacher and you have that item checked off your holiday ‘to-do’ list.

Accumulate enough art supplies to stock a ‘rainy day’ box. Again, a great gift or stand-by activity for snow days, rainy days or sick days.

Restock your own office supplies and organizational aids.

Check out clearance displays of dorm room ‘necessities’. You will often find over-the-door ironing boards & shoe holders (which can be used in any room to hold a multitude of little things), irons, plastic shoe boxes, folding hampers, under-the-bed storage, small book shelves, decorative items, organizational items of all sorts and sheet sets drastically reduced. Bedding in twin, x-long twin and double sizes are most commonly clearanced.

Don’t forget to stock up for your own gift wrapping supplies, such as tape, labels and markers. Some organizational items will be so inexpensive that they can be turned into gift wrapping. A shelf storage box lined with tissue paper makes a great gift box and a secondary gift.

Think 72-hour kits when you see flip-flops, zippered pouches, hand sanitizer, small notebooks, pencils, tape, markers, thumb drives and even flashlights.

Zippered pouches designed to hold small items in a notebook can be used in your purse, school backpacks, glove compartments, 72-hour kits, junk drawers, suitcases, overnight bags and craft rooms. Their size and transperant fronts make them ideal for organizing small items, while providing protection from dust and moisture.

Fill a zippered pouch with a pencil, your insurance information, a small notepad, a small flashlight, a disposable camera and a permanent marker. Store in your glove compartment. You might want to add a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

Look for kitchen items such as storage containers, food storage bags and even plastic dishes being clearanced out.

Snack and lunch box items packaged with summer or back to school themes may be greatly reduced. Freeze candies for Halloween or Christmas. Baking supplies such as cupcake papers may be reduced.

3×5 cards can be used for note taking, but also for labeling storage containers, recording important information for backpacks, glove compartments & 72-hour kits.

Use a thumb drive to record medical history, contact information, allergies, etc and attach it to your keyring. This can be a life-saver if you have significant allergies or other medical complications. Mark the thumb drive with a large red cross so that emergency personnel will notice it.

Purchase your family’s summer clothes for next year now. Don’t forget swimsuits, floaties, goggles, etc. Store them in a box clearly labeled and you’ll have a head start on next year. In many climates, ’summer’ clothes can extend well into fall. Don’t forget basic items such as underwear, socks, etc.

Office supply stores may clear out their specially packaged CD-R’s, DVD-R’s and other computer-related items.

Have fun shopping the clearance racks and look forward to the cooler days of autumn!

It is definitely the time of year when even certified ‘Hate To Shop-phobics’ find themselves heading to the mall, super store or to an online merchant to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list. Also heading to all of those locations are those who find their Christmas cheer by stealing yours (along with your wallet, money, ID, purchases & possibly your physical well being)! Thieves, pickpockets, scam artists and other unsavory sorts prey on all of those harried, distracted and thoughtful shoppers. Before you head out to shop, remember these tips gathered from multiple safety sites:

‘Brick and Mortar Stores’

1. Leave the purse at home or locked in the car. No matter how cute it is, a purse increases your chances of meeting one of those stealing, purse-snatching grinches. Should you meet one, relinquish your purse. There is NOTHING in there worth dying for. Report incident to the police and immediately cancel all credit cards that were stolen. Replace your driver’s license and be extra cautious at home.

2. Keep your valuables in your pockets—preferably the front pockets of your pants. Spread your cash (a moderate amount), one credit card and your ID into multiple pockets.

3. Have a cell phone handy at all times.

4. Shop during daylight hours. If you must shop at night, always shop with a companion (and small children don’t count as companions). At night, park only in lots that have adequate lighting.

5. Never hesitate to ask for a Public Safety escort to your car. All shopping centers, reputable stores and malls have them available.

6. Do not allow yourself to become over burdened with packages which limit your ability to see, move or be aware of your surroundings.

7. Always lock your car – when you are in it and out of it.

8. Have your keys ready before you leave the store.

9. Make certain no one is hiding in your car before you enter. The best way to do this is to approach it from the back as though you are going to walk past your car to another one. Look in each window as you pass. Only place your key in the door when you are certain the car is empty.

10. Stay alert to your surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable, seek out assistance immediately! Be aware that con artists use a multitude of tactics to distract you so that you can be more easily robbed. Some thieves work in pairs, with one distracting you and the other robbing you.

11. Wherever possible, shop at stores that allow you to run your credit card through the reader yourself. If you must hand over your credit card, watch as it is processed. There are few merchants that still use carbon copies, but if a small business does, take the carbons with you.

12. Do not keep packages in plain view in your car. Lock in the trunk.

13. Use ATMs in secure locations. Do not count cash in open view. If anyone is lurking near the ATM, either on foot or in a car, move onto to another one. Better yet, prepare now – get the cash you will need and store it at home in a safe location.

14. Make sure that you have a record of all credit cards, their numbers and the phone number to call if one is lost. Keep this at home in your ‘What If’ notebook.

15. Dress casually and comfortably. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

16. If at all possible, shop without small children during the busiest shopping times. If you must bring a small child with you, be aware that they are a built-in distraction as well as a safety hazard. Keep your child with you AT ALL times. Remember to strap them into the stroller or shopping cart. Put identifying information into one of their pockets (refer to the CHAD posting) just in case they become separated from you. Be certain to teach your child to look for a store employee or a ‘Grandma’ if they get lost. Many young children simply hide if lost and don’t know who to go to for help.

Online Merchants:

1. Only purchase from sites that display https in the web address, have the closed lock or unbroken key to signify a secure website. If the lock is displayed as open or the key broken, the site is compromised.

2. Do not respond to emails from PayPal, your bank, your credit card company, mortgage company, eBay, Amazon or any other merchant that asks you to click on a portion of the email (a hyperlink) to reinstate your account, up date your information or asks for your log in information. If you think the email may be legitimate, close the email, log out of the email program and then go to the web address that you have used previously for that merchant. DO NOT USE THE WEB ADDRESS given in the email. Look for the link to the company’s fraud department and report the email you have received. Many companies can also accept forwarded emails to, for instance, ‘spoof@paypal.com’ or ‘spoof@ebay.com’. The company will then research the email.

3. Only provide credit card or bank information through a secured website. Do not include the information in an email.

4. Be very aware that the incidence of fraud, abuse, etc. increases greatly during the holidays. Ebay has its highest rate of seller fraud during the holidays. Only purchase items from sellers with a good track rating and preferably ones that will accept credit cards through PayPal. You are much safer using an established merchant such as Amazon (though not necessarily a private seller that advertises through Amazon) or the online version of brick and mortar stores (such as target.com or toysrus.com) than purchasing items through an auction.

5. Be certain that you are aware of return policies before purchasing. Brick and mortar stores will often accept returns from their internet counterparts.

6. Immediately report any suspected case of fraud to the company and to your local police department.

No matter where you shop, shop smartly. Keep track of your purchases and be certain to carefully check your credit card and bank statements.

Happy shopping!!

What?  How can there be after-holiday sales now?  Quite simple, my Frugal Friends:  Halloween has become one of America’s biggest spending holidays which means that retailers load up on all sorts of Halloween merchandise that goes well beyond costumes for the wee ones.  The merchandise extends throughout the store and if you shop smartly this week, you are likely to snag great deals on all sorts of items that will help you be better prepared, more organized, stock your pantry and have money left in your pocket!

What should you look for and how does it relate to provident living?  Where should you look? Read on:

• Shop at discount stores, grocery stores and craft stores for a variety of not only Halloween themed merchandise, but Thanksgiving decorations which are often included in post-Halloween sales.  Stock up now for Thanksgiving and beyond.  Don’t forget to look for dark gold or green napkins that can be used for Christmas.
• Look for organizers in ‘autumn’ colors.  Target stocked totes from tiny to huge that can organize and hold a variety of items.  Large totes are great for protecting bags of flour, sugar and other dry goods from creepy crawlies.  Food saving containers with orange lids or pumpkin decals may be as much as 90% off this week or next.  Does it really matter what color the lid of your dry bean container is?  I found snap-tite canisters with pumpkins on them for $1.34 last week.  Full price for the plain ones?  $4.75.
• Light sticks, bracelets and necklaces are often sold to encourage Halloween safety.  These are great for 72-hour kits, family outings, glove compartments, camping trips and power outages.
• Hard candy is a good addition to 72-hour kits, car kits and to carry everyday for those hunger or low blood sugar moments.
• Individual sized candies for Christmas stockings or other holiday gift giving.  Don’t forget about gingerbread houses, teacher gifts, community ‘helper’ gifts, etc.
• Paper goods for power outages, ’sick’ days and quick meals.  Black plates and cups look elegant for New Year’s if paired with silver accessories.  You may even find brown paper plates which are useful for many occasions.
• Small sized bags of chips, popcorn balls and other treats that would work well in lunch bags or for after school snacks.  You may even find juice boxes and high-end organic treats packaged for Halloween and now deeply discounted.
• Food storage bags for keeping items in 72-hour kits dry.  Of course, you can use these everyday at great savings.  Does it really matter if your sandwich is in a pumpkin themed sandwich bag?
• Flashlights are often sold in Halloween colors and now deeply discounted.  Again, add to 72-hour kits, glove compartments and stashed throughout your house.  Every bedroom should have a small flashlight stored where it is easily accessible.  Every glove compartment should have at least a small flashlight.  Use them as stocking stuffers!
• Christmas gifts.  Would your child or grandchild enjoy additions to their dress up box? Now is the time to purchase costume items, wigs, and ‘accessories’.  Package them together in a cute tote (one you get at 90% off) and you have a great gift.  To personalize, write the child’s name on the tote with a permanent marker and you have a treasure chest of fun and imagination.
• Baking mixes, cupcake papers and pre-made icing are often marked down because they have a Halloween theme.  Don’t want the orange and black sprinkles attached to the top of the icing?  Throw them away and smile at the 75% savings on the icing.  Or let your little ones ’sprinkle’ to their hearts content for a family treat.
• Tissue paper in autumn colors.  Often times these are useful throughout the year as they are patterned or in fairly neutral colors such as gold or dark green.
• Scotch tape with Halloween themed packaging.
• Black t-shirts, turtlenecks, leggings, tights and pantihose are often stocked before Halloween and now sold at a huge loss.
• Party favors sold as trick or treat goodies.  These large bags of inexpensive trinkets are perfect for birthday gift bags, game prizes or ‘throw away’ travel toys.
• Even band-aids are often sold in Halloween prints!  Stock up and be prepared for boo-boos around the house, in the car or in 72-hour kits.

As you are out and about this week, check those clearance sections for items that you can use well beyond autumn, then pat yourself on the back for being frugal, organized and prepared!

The pumpkins are being carved and right next to the row of Halloween costumes are Christmas ornaments!  Yes, it is that time of the year when budgets, bodies and emotions can all come crashing down from the weight of Holiday-mania!  Preparing  (a recurring theme here) ahead, a bit of planning and a good dose of self-control can yield a holiday season with more happy memories than post-holiday mania.  Try these time, energy, emotion and money saving tips this year:

1. Establish a firm budget for gifts and all of the ‘extras’ that come with the holidays. Think about your previous year’s commitments, activities and expectations as a spring board for remembering everything you will need to buy!  In addition to gifts, remember food, clothing, transportation, postage, events, wrapping paper (unless you were clever enough to get it last year at 90% off)–all of those extras that add up to financial stress.

2. Make a list of everyone you would like to give a gift to. In addition to family members, don’t forget teachers, leaders, visiting teaching, home teachers, coaches, neighbors, children’s friends, co-workers and family members. A ‘standardized’ gift for teachers, etc. is often helpful and avoids last minute confusion. Teachers in particular often appreciate note cards or small consumable gifts. Consider having one or two extra small gifts on hand for hostess gifts or surprise gift giving opportunities.  Were you clever enough to purchase items at after-holiday sales last year???  Do an inventory of what you have on hand before you step one foot in a store! Assign items you find to specific individuals on your list, wrap and label.  Mark them off your list and smile at your savings, cleverness and organizational skills.  You are amazing!

3. Decide how much you would like to spend on each of these gifts. Can you make some of them? Would a nice note suffice? Can you really easily afford the total cost?

4. Check your address books to establish how many Christmas cards you need to send. Are you going to include photos? Don’t forget the cost of stamps. Can you reduce the number by sending e-cards to your tech savvy friends?  Or post the photos on line and give your friends the url–no cost to you!  Don’t forget the dollar store as a resource for inexpensive cards.

5. Stop by the dollar store & check Target’s ‘dollar spot’ for these items before they are gone: ‘disposable’ decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, tape, wrapping paper, Christmas cards, napkins, small gifts for teachers, etc. This is often your cheapest source for these items and they will often sell out quickly.

6. Decide which if any service projects or charity collections you can participate in. You will probably receive multiple requests for canned goods, mittens, scarves or whatever between November 1 and December 31. Decide now what you can afford to give and where your efforts and time are best applied.

7. Look at your calendar now and begin putting in all of the holiday activities available. As a family, decide what you will participate in. Remember to leave time for being together.

8. Decide which holidays you will spend where. With large extended families, it is often the case that you are pulled in a multitude of directions. If your family wants you to bring the new baby home for the holidays and your budget is tight, don’t hesitate to explain this fact of life to your family. Perhaps everyone that wants to cuddle Junior on Christmas Eve would pitch in for airline tickets. Whatever you decide to do, make certain it is what you can handle emotionally, spiritually and financially.

9. Shop early and shop smart. Keep a list of who you are buying for and what you have already purchased. A small spiral notebook works well as does a simple 3×5 card. As you purchase a gift, mark it off your list.  Staying out of the stores close to any holiday will save you time, money and frustration!

10. Wrap everything you can early and store where you can find it. I routinely misplace gifts—it has become nearly a family tradition to hunt for the missing gifts, so try to designate one hiding place or at least make a list of where you put what.  Not all families would be as entertained as mine by ‘Gift Hunt’.

11. Maintain a sense of humor and a sense of perspective.

12. Purchase or make Halloween costumes early. Get your treats for trick or treaters purchased early and then hide them from your family members.

13. Make menus for not only the holiday meals you will be hosting but those you will be attending that require you to bring food. It is amazing how many potluck dinners crop up between Nov. 1 and Jan 1. If you can make some of those dishes ahead of time and freeze them, your life will be less chaotic. Shop for shelf stable ingredients NOW or as they go on sale.  Write out menus and prepare a shopping list now!  Mark off items as you purchase them.  It can be helpful to separate items specifically for a certain meal, bag them up and label them accordingly.

14. While you are freezing things for potlucks, make extra for your family. When things get hectic, you’ll have dinner in the freezer. Disposable pans lighten the clean up time. Keep a list of what you have on hand.

15. Purchase some disposable dishes and flatware to use for hectic days.

16. If you have multiple holiday events to attend, consider what you need for your wardrobe and/or your family’s holiday events.  Shop in your closet first, then branch out to other family members and friends.  Maybe your best friend can loan you that fancy outfit or accessories.  If you have to shop, do so early so that you can bargain shop without pressure.

17. Bake ahead and freeze! Wrap items tightly, label and add to your list of available items.

18. Practice saying no if this is a problem for you. Say no to the mirror.  Say no to yourself!

19. If you have young children, consider turning off regular TV program loaded with commercials that will drive their ‘wish list’ crazy. Substitute videos and DVD’s of their favorite shows. The public libraries are great resources!

20.  In all things, think safety!  Fatigue, busyness, even happy laughter can easily distract us and lead to accidents.  Don’t relax the rules about buckling up, no matter how many friends want to go with you to that holiday concert.  Don’t forget to be certain your smoke detectors are working.  Don’t overload electrical outlets or leave candles burning unattended!  Keep breakable or dangerous ornaments out of reach for young children and pets.  Lock up, secure your belongings, drive carefully and always be aware of your surroundings.  Predators are out there just hoping you’ll be too busy to notice them!

21. Try to always remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, any holiday you celebrate between now & January 1st and focus on that meaning.  Enjoy all of the free community events together as a family or with good friends.  Play games together.  Make memories, not headaches.

Our most common and effective source of complete protein necessary for human health is meat–beef, chicken, pork, lamb and fish. Market analysts are predicting that today’s lowered meat prices are a temporary stop on the Inflation Train. Most analysts suggest that this ’stop’ is due to meat producers increasing their sales of meat to market to avoid paying record prices for grain and other associated costs of raising and bringing meat to market. We, the consumers, can benefit from this temporary pricing downturn and stock up before prices (again according to industry analysts) rise sharply.

No matter what the cost, meat must be handled and stored properly if it is to provide safe nutrition for our families. This safety begins in the grocery store. Purchase your meat at the end of your shopping trip, thus keeping it cold longer. Consider investing in a washable insulated bag or two that can hold your meat purchases from the meat counter all the way home. This is particularly valuable in the hottest summer months.

Most grocery stores offer plastic bags in which to place your meat selections. Utilize these as well as paper towels and hand sanitizer. Place your meat in your grocery cart away from other grocery items. The bottom rung of the grocery cart is a good place, which prevents meat drippings from contaminating other items.

When choosing meats, make sure the meat feels cold in the case. Some consumers carry meat selections around the store; leave them in aisles or at the check out counter. These items have been exposed to warmer temperatures and bacteria may have begun to grow. When choosing fish, remember that if it smells too ‘fishy’, it isn’t fresh!

Look for meat items marked down. These can be a great buy! Some grocery stores mark down their meats on a specific schedule, such as 4pm every day. Ask the butcher at your favorite store if there is a mark down time and shop accordingly!

Some grocery stores will also grind meat for you. This is great for sales on roasts or whole chunks of meat that you would prefer to use as ground meat.

Watch the cashier as she packages your groceries. Do not allow them to place raw meat in bags with other food items. All store employees should be trained to follow this common protocol, but some forget or fail to follow the rules. If raw meat is placed in a bag with fresh produce, insist on replacement produce.

After getting your meat choices home, unpack the meat and frozen items first from your car and refrigerate immediately. Again, keep the meat segregated from other foods. Plastic shoeboxes, trays, dishes, etc are all good options for segregating raw meats in the refrigerator.

If you are going to freeze your meat purchases, spread them around in the freezer. Most home freezers cannot freeze ’stacked up’ packages, especially densely packed ones, quickly. If you have saved money by purchasing a ‘club’ or ‘family’ package that is too big for a single meal, it is simple to reduce the meat to meal-sized portions. First, follow safe meat handling procedures by beginning with clean hands and work surface. It is preferable to cover your work surface with a clean, washable cutting board or mat. Cut or portion the meat into your preferred size and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Try to avoid getting the plastic wrap folded into the meat. Place multiple plastic wrapped portions into a heavy-duty storage bag and label; include the cut of meat and date purchased on your label. A permanent marker will write on most plastic bags. Work as quickly as possible, removing only the portion you can process quickly from the refrigerator. Once wrapped and bagged, place the meats in the freezer. You now have perfect meal sized portions of meat! Complete your work session by sanitizing your hands, cutting board, knife and counter top.

You can also pre-cook meat before freezing it. This works particularly well for marked down meats and ground meats. Simply cook as you normally would, stopping the cooking process just sort of ‘well done’. Cool the meat slightly, package into meal sized portions and freeze as you would the raw meat. This is a great time saver!

When defrosting meats, the preferred method is either to place the meat in the refrigerator or utilize the microwave to defrost quickly. Many types of meat can also begin cooking from their frozen state. You simply start off cooking at a slightly lower than normal temperature and increase the cooking time. Covering the pan also encourages quicker defrosting.

Canning is another option for preserving meat and extending its shelf life. If you wish to utilize this method, you MUST have a pressure canner (different from a pressure cooker) and follow guidelines carefully.

Pre-canned meats such as tuna fish have long shelf lives. They are great sources of quick meals, emergency food and good sources of protein. Store your canned meats in a cool place and periodically check their expiration dates.

Whichever cuts you prefer, shop, store and prepare smartly to ensure good quality and food safety!

No matter what your income level, stretching your hard earned dollars is a wise move. Why spend more than you need to? Smart spenders know that there are bargains everywhere. Small savings quickly add up to large numbers of dollars that YOU get to KEEP! Think of it as a game, a hunt for the best price on everything you buy. And the trophy? More money in YOUR bank account!

Many of these topics are covered in depth under their own heading in other articles, but here is a quick review of basic things we all spend money on:

Price comparison and Price Matching: Many retailers will match the advertised price on items. You can save yourself time, gas and money by pre-shopping the weekly sales flyers for items you wish to purchase. Consolidate your list and see if one store carries all of the items. Simply take the flyers from multiple retailers into one location, head for customer service with your chosen items and ask for a price adjustment.

Online shopping & comparisons. The internet provides all of us a portal to quick and painless price comparisons. Most grocery stores and major retailers post their weekly flyers on their website. Many will give you the option of being notified via email when a new flyer is available. If you find an online price cheaper than the brick and mortar store, ask that they match the price. If they can’t, many will order the item for you at the internet price and have it shipped to the store for free. Also, be certain to ‘google’ any item you are shopping for. Check all of the results for the best price. If you call the supplier directly, you may be able to get an even better price! There are price comparison search engines, but these do not always give the broadest possible results. Also remember that many of the results at the top of ‘google’ or the side bar results are sponsored links–the company has paid to have the top spot so these may not be the best deal.

Out of stock? When a store is out of stock on a sale item, ask if they could possibly substitute another item. Many will offer you the next higher priced product at the sale price. And do NOT forget to ask for a raincheck. You can then wait to purchase the item (up to the expiration of the raincheck) at the sale price.

Gas guzzling your wallet? Of course, you will consolidate your errands and keep your car maintained so that you get the best gas mileage. Before you go out to fill up your tank, use one of the many online gas comparison sites such as www.gaspricewatch.com. Some local radio stations are offering a similar service. Do remember though that driving too far out of your way to save a few pennies at the pump is most likely costing you money.

Insurance. Periodically review your insurance coverage and cost on your home, health and auto. Everyone needs insurance, but a quick call to your agent or competitors may save you BIG. If you find a quote cheaper than you are currently paying and are happy with your insurance company, ask them if they can meet the competitor’s price. Also, update your insurance if you add safety features to your home such as an alarm system or enhanced fire detection system. These can reduce your premiums. Be certain to read the fine print on any policy so that you know what you are covered for! Definitely avoid unknown or little known companies. There are LOTS of insurance frauds out there. Don’t forget to accept the offers from banks and credit unions for free small life or disability insurance. Don’t feel pressured to ‘add to’ these policies, but accept the freebies. Keep a copy of the ID card, policy info, etc in your ‘What If’ Notebook.

Cars. Whether buying or selling, check your emotions at the door. People that buy cars emotionally are prone to overpay and over-regret later. A little bit of research ahead of time can save you BIG! Do some online research into cost guides such as edmunds.com (though many of the prices listed do not account for economic downturns, markets glutted, etc) for the average cost of the car you are looking for. Research recalls, maintenance costs AND insurance costs as you decide which vehicle to buy. Compare warranties–what they cover and for how long. Once you have decided between one or more possible cars, search online for ‘internet pricing’ from dealers in your area. NEVER, NEVER, EVER fall victim to the common scam of ‘the car is in Portugal or another state, but in pristine condition….send me cash and I’ll send you the car’. Everyday, people fall victim to this one! Don’t buy a car you can’t drive where you want to (within reason) and have checked by a mechanic you trust. If looking for a new car (usually an unwise step), at least see if you can’t get a fleet or ‘direct’ price via the wholesale department. Be certain that any warranty information you given is in writing and matches what the salesman tells you. Research is your friend–use it wisely!

Watch That Cashier! We all make mistakes and so do automated cash registers!! Researchers believe that a good percentage of cash registers are not accurately portraying sales and clearance prices. The average consumer is over-charged thousands of dollars in a lifetime. When you pick up clearance items, double check the price. At the register, be certain you can see the price being rung up. If it is incorrect, notify the cashier. Also remember that most grocery stores will give you the item free if it rings up incorrectly. Before you leave the store, at least glance over your receipt. If you notice a discrepancy, head straight to customer service.

Eating Out/Calling In. If you eat out or enjoy carry out food, always watch for coupons. For those that dine out a great deal, consider investing in an ‘Entertainment Book’, which is full of buy one/get one free coupons. Before calling in an order for delivery or carry out, check online for internet specials or printable coupons. When you place an order on the phone for delivery or carry out, ask about specials. When you see a coupon, cut it out and stick it in your Entertainment Book or on the frig. Don’t forget, too, about early bird specials, happy hour specials and other ’special’ times at your favorite restaurants.

Clearance Zones. Learn where your favorite retailers place their ‘clearance zones’. Nearly every major retailer has a set mark down timetable and area they place items marked down. As you go through the store, zip past these areas and keep your eyes peeled for bargains. For instance, Target uses end caps at the opposite end of aisles from the ‘main aisle’. Items with a price ending in a ‘4′ are usually at the end of the mark down cycle and will not be marked down further. At Sam’s Club, an item with a price ending in a ‘1′ is usually at the end of the cycle. Also look for end of season items drastically reduced–especially items that can be utilized for other purposes. For instance, I pick up Christmas gift sets at 90% off that contain flashlights, mini tool kits, pasta and other food items. At Sam’s, they cleared out ‘holiday’ pasta packaged in Rubbermaid canisters. The canisters normally retail for about $6 each and contained 8 pounds of pasta. Worth about $8. My cost? $3.01. My savings? $10.99. Post-holiday sales are also a great place to stock up on plastic totes. Check Target after Halloween and you may pick up orange totes for 90% off.

As you go about your daily life, incorporate the concept of wise spending and watch the savings add up!!