This post will be short and sweet.
Coupons are quite simply the best thing ever! You just need to know where to find the good ones. Unlike America however, you can only use one coupon per person. Meaning you can use a billion coupons like on TLC's "Extreme Couponing" and pay $3 for a whole pile of groceries. Canada made the smart decision of regulating coupon usage. Hence why we're not in as much debt as America.
If you live in Canada, there's an awesome website for Free Samples in Canada
http://www.freesamples-canada.com
I've saved plenty of dough with this website getting free stuff!
These are manufacturers coupons so they're good to use in selected stores. This isn't any scam whatsoever.
Happy Saving!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Prioritizing Your Purchases
Hmm...which to buy first...a laptop or a camera...a new set of tires, or new brake pads...a pop, or milk...
Which is more important? Which one will benefit you more in the future?
In some cases however, you have to have money for such things like gas, insurance, phone bill, tv bill, etc. (Weekly/Monthly Bills)
But there are those purchases you can control your spending on. I know you're so set on getting your weekly Iced Cap from Timmy's but is it really worth it if your shelling out money you don't have just because it's routine.
Wake up and smell the coffee! (speaking of Timmy's) Do what's right for your money, don't get stuck in that same weekly routine of buying the same things if they're destructive to your budget.
A good way to prioritize your future purchases and to be more organized is too write down a list of them. Doing this will help you think clearly about what your buying and how important it is to you.
For example here's a list of the purchases I want to make in the near future.
Example
- JVC HD Camera
- Brake Pads for Truck
- Radiator Flush for Truck
- Laptop
- Windows 7 Software
I would look at each item and ask myself, is it worth buying this item? Will it make my life that much better? How will this item help me out in the future?
In my case, the JVC HD Camera is something I want because it has a hard drive system (no tapes). So it's definitely something that will make my life much easier. For now I have my current camera to rely on. It still works well so this can wait a bit.
The brake pads I need for my truck are important, my pads are worn down pretty good. At least in a standard you can just gear down to slow down. It's something I'll need to help out my truck and I won't totally put it on the back burner.
Radiator flush for the truck. Something I need done but can wait a little while longer. My trucks running fine for now.
Laptop is a major item that will be needed for my career and for school. I will finally be able to edit on the go and pretty much do anything on the go with a new laptop. This is at the top of my list for sure.
Windows 7 software for current computer. This is at the bottom because I'm already saving for a laptop. No need to explain myself there.
Now let's compile this top 5 list of mine. This is set to what I should purchase first according to it's importance.
Top 5
1 - Laptop
2 - JVC HD Camera
3 - Brake Pads for Truck
4 - Radiator Flush for Truck
5 - Windows 7 Software
Hope this helps you today!
Happy Saving!
Which is more important? Which one will benefit you more in the future?
In some cases however, you have to have money for such things like gas, insurance, phone bill, tv bill, etc. (Weekly/Monthly Bills)
But there are those purchases you can control your spending on. I know you're so set on getting your weekly Iced Cap from Timmy's but is it really worth it if your shelling out money you don't have just because it's routine.
Wake up and smell the coffee! (speaking of Timmy's) Do what's right for your money, don't get stuck in that same weekly routine of buying the same things if they're destructive to your budget.
A good way to prioritize your future purchases and to be more organized is too write down a list of them. Doing this will help you think clearly about what your buying and how important it is to you.
For example here's a list of the purchases I want to make in the near future.
Example
- JVC HD Camera
- Brake Pads for Truck
- Radiator Flush for Truck
- Laptop
- Windows 7 Software
I would look at each item and ask myself, is it worth buying this item? Will it make my life that much better? How will this item help me out in the future?
In my case, the JVC HD Camera is something I want because it has a hard drive system (no tapes). So it's definitely something that will make my life much easier. For now I have my current camera to rely on. It still works well so this can wait a bit.
The brake pads I need for my truck are important, my pads are worn down pretty good. At least in a standard you can just gear down to slow down. It's something I'll need to help out my truck and I won't totally put it on the back burner.
Radiator flush for the truck. Something I need done but can wait a little while longer. My trucks running fine for now.
Laptop is a major item that will be needed for my career and for school. I will finally be able to edit on the go and pretty much do anything on the go with a new laptop. This is at the top of my list for sure.
Windows 7 software for current computer. This is at the bottom because I'm already saving for a laptop. No need to explain myself there.
Now let's compile this top 5 list of mine. This is set to what I should purchase first according to it's importance.
Top 5
1 - Laptop
2 - JVC HD Camera
3 - Brake Pads for Truck
4 - Radiator Flush for Truck
5 - Windows 7 Software
Hope this helps you today!
Happy Saving!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Wants Vs. Needs
Wants. We all have them. That new speaker system you want for your vehicle? That would be a want. That big bag of popcorn? That's definitely a want. Where am I going with this? Read on to find out.
Needs. There are certain things we must buy that are beyond our control. Like gas, oil changes, milk, fruit, etc.
Every human has a set of wants and needs. Once you are able to learn how to separate the wants from the needs, you'll be on your way to living a better life financially.
Examples of both
Wants
- Chips
- Beer
- Coffee
- Pop
- Candy
- Cable TV (Unless it's your only source for news)
Needs
- Gas
- Hand Creme (for people like me who constantly get dry skin)
- Razor (Unless you want to start looking like Zach Galifianakis)
- Clothing (underwear, sweaters, etc.)
- Internet (If you can live without it, then your okay, but for the most part it is becoming a huge part of life)
- Fruit & Vegetables
Try this when shopping for anything. Ask yourself, is this item a want or a need?
"Do I need this umbrella? or is it just an impulsive buy?"
[Starts raining]
"Oh look at that, yup, I'll be taking that now"
"Do I really need this chocolate? I could live without the sugar. It's bad for you anyways."
"Do I really need this Laptop? What will this purchase bring back to me in return?"
Also ask yourself this, will this item benefit me later on in life. Is this really a good investment?
For laptops, I'm not sure what boat your in, but there are many reasons most people want a laptop whether its for college (word documents, Auto Cad, video editing, etc.) or just for gaming...or all of the above. If it's only for the sure sake of gaming, then I'm sure you can hold off longer before buying this computer with money that you don't have.
If you have a healthy lifestyle then you can hold off for a bit before you splurge your savings on junk food. Sure they're good to eat once in a while but if your buying candy or something sugary all the time, it will eat your money away fast. Not to mention it will also screw up your healthy lifestyle as well
Beer. Something very debatable for everyone. There are people who just can't live without beer. Those people are known as Alcoholics. I don't mind beer at all, but I find that buying it in packs just to drink to yourself over that time is wasteful financially. I've become a social drinker for this very reason.
I used to buy a 24 pack of beer about once a month. It usually takes me a while to get through it, sometimes even longer than a month because I'm generally the only person drinking that beer. I've noticed how much of a difference it is by categorizing this as a want. As a result I've stopped buying beer. Doesn't mean I won't have one once in a while, just means I've stopped buying beer in packs. Plus doing that will save money in the long run.
Wants and needs are different with everyone but with a little common sense and budgeting, you'll save even more that you ever thought you would.
Happy Saving!
Needs. There are certain things we must buy that are beyond our control. Like gas, oil changes, milk, fruit, etc.
Every human has a set of wants and needs. Once you are able to learn how to separate the wants from the needs, you'll be on your way to living a better life financially.
Examples of both
Wants
- Chips
- Beer
- Coffee
- Pop
- Candy
- Cable TV (Unless it's your only source for news)
Needs
- Gas
- Hand Creme (for people like me who constantly get dry skin)
- Razor (Unless you want to start looking like Zach Galifianakis)
- Clothing (underwear, sweaters, etc.)
- Internet (If you can live without it, then your okay, but for the most part it is becoming a huge part of life)
- Fruit & Vegetables
Try this when shopping for anything. Ask yourself, is this item a want or a need?
"Do I need this umbrella? or is it just an impulsive buy?"
[Starts raining]
"Oh look at that, yup, I'll be taking that now"
"Do I really need this chocolate? I could live without the sugar. It's bad for you anyways."
"Do I really need this Laptop? What will this purchase bring back to me in return?"
Also ask yourself this, will this item benefit me later on in life. Is this really a good investment?
For laptops, I'm not sure what boat your in, but there are many reasons most people want a laptop whether its for college (word documents, Auto Cad, video editing, etc.) or just for gaming...or all of the above. If it's only for the sure sake of gaming, then I'm sure you can hold off longer before buying this computer with money that you don't have.
If you have a healthy lifestyle then you can hold off for a bit before you splurge your savings on junk food. Sure they're good to eat once in a while but if your buying candy or something sugary all the time, it will eat your money away fast. Not to mention it will also screw up your healthy lifestyle as well
Beer. Something very debatable for everyone. There are people who just can't live without beer. Those people are known as Alcoholics. I don't mind beer at all, but I find that buying it in packs just to drink to yourself over that time is wasteful financially. I've become a social drinker for this very reason.
I used to buy a 24 pack of beer about once a month. It usually takes me a while to get through it, sometimes even longer than a month because I'm generally the only person drinking that beer. I've noticed how much of a difference it is by categorizing this as a want. As a result I've stopped buying beer. Doesn't mean I won't have one once in a while, just means I've stopped buying beer in packs. Plus doing that will save money in the long run.
Wants and needs are different with everyone but with a little common sense and budgeting, you'll save even more that you ever thought you would.
Happy Saving!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saving Money While Eating Out
So it's around noon, and you're ready to grab lunch.
You're low on funds and you forgot to brown bag your lunch today. At this point your pretty much forced to eat out.
Let's say you head to the mall to the food court for lunch. Here's a simple tip on saving money by buying your drink somewhere else.
Most malls should have a dollar store nearby, if not, try to find one. Trust me, it's worth it to find one.
Buy your drink from the dollar store whether it be pop, juice, powerade, etc.
You walk over to the food court and order your food. Just order the food without the drink.
For example, me and my girlfriend generally go out and eat lunch together on a Monday. We would both head to the dollar store for our drinks, head to A&W for their burger specials, we just order the food, and we generally pay around three to four dollars for the food.
Why is this a good way to save? Well two reasons.
1 - You save a least one dollar or two depending on the restaurant or food vendor.
2 - (If you get pop) Less ice in your pop. Also seems to taste better from the bottle.
It may not look like it, but using this technique will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Happy Saving!
You're low on funds and you forgot to brown bag your lunch today. At this point your pretty much forced to eat out.
Let's say you head to the mall to the food court for lunch. Here's a simple tip on saving money by buying your drink somewhere else.
Most malls should have a dollar store nearby, if not, try to find one. Trust me, it's worth it to find one.
Buy your drink from the dollar store whether it be pop, juice, powerade, etc.
You walk over to the food court and order your food. Just order the food without the drink.
For example, me and my girlfriend generally go out and eat lunch together on a Monday. We would both head to the dollar store for our drinks, head to A&W for their burger specials, we just order the food, and we generally pay around three to four dollars for the food.
Why is this a good way to save? Well two reasons.
1 - You save a least one dollar or two depending on the restaurant or food vendor.
2 - (If you get pop) Less ice in your pop. Also seems to taste better from the bottle.
It may not look like it, but using this technique will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Happy Saving!
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