I think I am going to have to try to adjust to this New Blog...Honestly I like the old format better but whatever works!
My Goals for 2006 are to:
1) Pay Off Old and New Debt
2) Savings of $10,000+
3) Buy a Condo Free and Clear
4) Get a Divorce
5) Buy a Car
I am also want to do the $20 Challenge from SavingAdvice.com.
New Saving Blog
February 6th, 2006 at 03:22 pm
February 6th, 2006 at 07:07 pm 1139252829
February 7th, 2006 at 04:30 am 1139286614
I've been reading through some of your old posts and just thought that I would share a few money saving thoughts that might help.
I was noticing some of the expenses that you posted, so I'll post some ideas for each.
Books - The best deals on books can typically be found on a website called www.half.com. I will typically look up my items on Amazon.com and then cross reference the used prices for books that they have listed with Half.com. Every once in awhile Amazon comes out cheaper, but Half.com is usually better.
Clothes - Find yourself some great thrift stores and heavy discounters. Even the best clearance racks can not usually beat their prices. We have a great thrift store here in the town I'm in that sells all of the upscale, expensive stuff. I don't know how they get so much of it but they do and it's a steal. It's all about getting your sources down pat. Usually the best people to ask are all of the people at least over age 35 or 45 that you know. They usually have their favorite haunts that they go to.
MLM - Been there and done that years ago. It takes way to much time, energy, and money for the return that you get on your investment (your time, money, and energy). I used to think that was just everyone elses opinion until it came true for me too.
Beauty - For nails, check in the phonebook under vocational schools, etc.. (perhaps even in the newspaper classifieds under vocational schools), and go and get your nails done for rock bottom prices. Same goes for facials & skin care ( look for an esthetics or cosmetology school). getting your hair done, and getting massages (look for a massage therapy school). You can get a full, 1 hour body massage for anywhere between $10 - $25 usually.
Money making online - I think that your writing is wonderful and think you could do quite well with a website of your own. Why not do a website for single moms? That is a huge market that could really use a strong, ambitious, hopeful place to go and get support. A forum to swap feelings/ideas, money saving tips, tracking your savings (and perhaps a way for them to track their own progress along with you!), your blog, etc., etc., etc.. It could very well be supported by something like Google Ads and/or other affiliate/sponsored links. Perhaps you could even have a Single Moms Website Network. A place for enterprising moms like yourself to pull together for perhaps a small yearly fee, etc..
Eating Out - 99 cent menus are great. As are saving the coupons that come in the mail for places like KFC. Perhaps look up the favorite places that you like to eat and sign up for their newsletters/coupons. Just keep the best ones (or the ones you think you'll use) in an envelope in your purse for when you need them. Better yet brown bag it.
Short term savings rates - Try to get into a credit union if you can. Many schools / workplaces have affiliations with local credit unions. You'll get the best rates on CDs there. You can put any extra money into a money management account (or whatever account gets the best rate) and let it accrue there until you have enough to get a CD. I typically get a CD for as long as possible (say 4 or 5 years) because they get the best rates. If I take the money out I am penalized 3 months interest (so you can't touch that money for at least 3 months or it will eat up some of the money you originally put in!!!) but after that it works out and I take it out when I need to, which is never at this point because it is my emergency money. The rate here is over 6%!
Just a few ideas off of the top of my head for you. There are a whole lot more ideas out there. Perhaps other readers could amek some similar comments, if you're interested that is.
Hope it helps.