Money Getting Tight?

[Dr. Shane]

I got a little card in the mail today that reads:

Quote:

Money Getting a Little Tight!

We offer loans from $100 - $1,100.

World Finance & Tax Service

336 N. Texas Ave.

Mercedes, Texas

If money was tight, why would I go take out a loan? Then it would just get a lot tighter.

For example, if I buy a car, do a home remodel, take a vacation or some such thing with my loan, then I just have to pay it back and money will be even tighter.

[Derrell M]

"Up to your chin in debt? Are the wolves at the door? We can help with loans of up to $1,000.00. No credit needed. Easy terms." Lol! Unbelievable!

[Nan]

And the interest on this kind of unsecured loan is usually double figures at least....a real good

way to solve financial problems!

[bonnie]

I got a little card in the mail today that reads:

Quote:

Money Getting a Little Tight!

We offer loans from $100 - $1,100.

World Finance & Tax Service

336 N. Texas Ave.

Mercedes, Texas

If money was tight, why would I go take out a loan? Then it would just get a lot tighter.

For example, if I buy a car, do a home remodel, take a vacation or some such thing with my loan, then I just have to pay it back and money will be even tighter.

Sounds like the same rational that should go into credit cards

[Suzanne Sutton]

Top 10 Money Drains

It's easy to fritter away money on daily expenses. If you fall into these money traps, learn to avoid them and pocket the savings.

Top money drains are: Coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, bottled water, manicures, car washes, weekday lunches out, vending machines snacks, interest charges on credit cards and unused membershiips. --Courtesy www.thirdage.com

Comment: What about cell phones and cable and satellite TV (more than the basics), junk food, etc.?

Suzanne

[Dr. Shane]

I prepare for the day buy taking a lunch, bottled water, other refreshments, chewing gum, etc. to work with me. I buy these things in the grocery store. A lot of money can be lost at convenience stores so I try not to buy stuff there.

[carolaa]

I've started seriously keeping track of grocery prices and also using coupons judiciously. I haven't kept records of the money saved, mostly because it's too subjective, but I have been able to stock up on lots of things over the last 6 months without spending any more money than I normally do, and I've been able to pay for several extra expenses (at least $600) without feeling any more pinched than I normally do. So, yes, it is still pretty tight, but when I get discouraged I look back over the last 6 months, and it's impressive.

[Dr. Shane]

Coupons are good for things we are going to buy anyway. In order for us to use coupons it has to be #1 something we were planning to buy and #2 cheaper than the generic product.

[phkrause]

Unfortunitely I find that most of the time the coupons are not things we buy. At least at BJs.

pk

[GreatLakesGramma]

I agree. I don't even bother looking for coupons, as it is too rare for anything I actually use to have a coupon available. And I will never buy anything just because I have a coupon. And for the most part, coupons are for processed foods, or chemical-based household and personal care products, neither of which I ever waste money on.

A good way to save money and avoid poisons is to make your own household laundry and cleaning products with things like vinegar and baking soda - much cheaper, and healthier too. Just google baking soda, vinegar, and borax for dozens of suggestions. I also make my own very inexpensive laundry "detergent" with Fels Naphtha, borax, and washing soda, and I use vinegar for fabric softener, though it doesn't get rid of static. But I don't wear synthetic fabrics, so I don't have static in my clothes anyway. I'll post the detergent recipes (powder and liquid) later, but right now I need to go get ready for church.

[carolaa]

I totally agree you have to be careful with coupons. I used to clip them years ago and then decided it wasn't worth the time and wasn't really saving me money.

Then, recently, some acquaintances convinced me to look at coupons again. I wasn't very enthusiastic, but since times were getting tougher, I decided to look into it. I found that the secret is to match sales with coupons for the best savings. I have gotten several things free by doing that.

But by far the best thing I'm doing is keeping track of grocery prices. I keep a running list of the lowest price I have paid for any given item, and I won't pay more than that unless I really need it. It does take a fair amount of time, but I'm getting into more of a routine, plus I'm getting to know some prices off the top of my head, so it takes less than it used to.

Another secret is to buy in quantity when things are at their lowest price. But the problem is that you usually only have one coupon for that item, so it's important to get enough coupons to take full advantage of the low price. Well, I couldn't bring myself to buy even one newspaper just for the coupon inserts (I mean, there goes $1.25 of your savings right there). But there are places to get free coupons. You can print some of them online (one place is couponmom.com). I get some from Freecycle.org - they are a hot item, let me tell you. And I also was blessed to find - surprisingly fast after I put the word out - that a relative of a church member works for the newspaper, so I can get leftover Sunday papers. And when I get desperate, I will buy coupons from grocerycoupons.com - that's the cheapest place I have found to buy them. There are places online where you can trade coupons, too, but I haven't tried any of them.

My role model is a woman who claims she spent only $800 last year on groceries for a family of 4 (including 3 teenagers). And she's trying to beat it this year. She keeps a running total and gives loads of tips on her blog at http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/

My other role model is the author of the Tightwad Gazette trilogy.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Here are the laundry detergent recipes I mentioned previously. If you want to try them but can't find the ingredients, you can buy them at Soaps Gone Buy I can buy everything for less locally, but even at this website's prices, they make a very inexpensive laundry detergent. The powdered version doesn't dissolve in a delicate cycle, so if you would need the liquid version for that.

POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT:

1 cup grated Fels-Naptha soap (1 bar)

1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda, please!)

1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For light loads, use 2 tablespoons. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons.

Big Batch: To make a large batch, grate 6 bars of Fels-Naptha Soap and then add 3 cups of Super Washing Soda and 3 cups of 20 Mule Team Borax.

TIP: Homemade detergent will not make suds in your washer, so don’t be alarmed.

LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT:

3 pints water

1/3 bar Fels-Naptha Soap, grated

1/2 cup SuperWashing Soda (not baking soda, please!)

1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

2 gallon bucket, for mixing

1 quart hot water

Mix Fels-Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in SuperWashing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to a two-gallon bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with additional hot water as needed (you should have about 1.5 gallons of the mixture), and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

[Amelia]

Thanks for the Jane4girls link Carol. She has lots of creative ideas!

[carolaa]

Another trick is to combine coupons. I didn't realize that you can use a manufacturer's coupon and a store coupon for the same item. Do that when the item is at its lowest price, and you can see incredible savings.