I recently saved coupons for whole wheat crackers and fortified cereal, which are packaged goods for sure, but not unhealthy. But you make a good point that price comparing works better for fresh produce. Unfortunately my 99-cent store doesn't carry fresh produce, and I don't buy their packaged stuff because who knows how long it's been sitting there?
As for setting up a Google Voice number, i think you just have to supply any phone number (could be a cell phone or your parents' landline) that Google Voice will call to confirm your number (I can't remember exactly what I did though, so don't quote me on that).
#1
About 2 years ago, my wife and transferred our cell phones onto a family member's plan. What used to cost us about $70/month, now costs us only $20. Most cell phone companies allow 5 lines per family plan and only charge $10/line for lines 3-5. Obviously, this isn't an option for everyone. But I imagine that the vast majority of family plans only have 2-3 lines in use. So there have to be plenty of people out there who can take advantage of this.
With regard to data plans, about 4 months ago, I realized that I wasn't using my $30/month unlimited data plan nearly enough to justify keeping it. Instead, I found a $15/month limited data plan that I will only exceed once or twice per year. In the event that I do exceed my data limit, I simply get charged another $15. In the end, I expect to save about $120 on data alone this year.
#3
I dropped my hard line years ago and haven't noticed a difference. But the problem with using one of those services is that you need power to call 911. If the power goes out, you're stuck. Per my comment above, check to see if your phone service provider maintains a "warm" connection for emergency purposes.
Regarding #3, you should check your state's laws regarding phone lines and 911. Here in California, telephone companies are required to keep a "warm" line into homes. That way, you should still be able to call 911 even with no phone service. The key is keeping a phone around that does not require a power source in the event of a power outage.
These phones aren't expensive. You can easily find them for under $15. For example:
Sorry to be negative, but the "clip coupons to save money on groceries" mantra doesn't really work if you're eating healthily to begin with. When was the last time you saw coupons for fruit, meat, vegetables, plain dried beans and rice? If you're already avoiding the processed stuff, coupons aren't much - if any - help.
As an alternative, check competing grocery store ads (if you live within reasonable distance of multiple stores) and make sure to only buy what's on special that week and only if it's a good deal. A special on chicken breasts for $2.50 per pound is not a good deal when I know that another store puts them on sale for $1.97 per pound every three weeks or so. I am very fortunate to have three grocery stores about the same distance on different routes between work and home, so this works well for me.
Also, if you have a 99 cent store that has fresh produce, check it carefully (sometimes the quality is sub-standard) and purchase produce there if it's in good condition and beats the grocery store prices. I recently purchased some lovely zucchini for 99 cents for a pound and a half package when my regular grocery store had zucchini for $2 per pound and 5 ounces of sliced mushrooms for 99 cents when they were $2.59 for 6 ounces at the grocery store. Bananas would not have been a good buy at four for 99 cents, since anothe store has them at 19 cents each every day.
I am still trying to optimize the "buying in bulk" issue. I love shopping at Costco. Toilet paper and paper towels are always worth stocking up on. But clementines go bad before we eat dozens of them, alas.
Obviously people pay for a myriad of reasons, I generally try to pay when I can when out with family I have a better paying job, i will let them pay sometimes because I know it makes them feel good but I try to foot the bill as often as I can manage without it being obvious that I try and figure out which meal out is going to be the most expensive and make THAT the cheque i fight for. When out with friends we generally split, I don't like letting other people pay for me because of the tipping issue. I am a pretty good tipper, and I want the service staff (hostess/waiters/kitchen/buss staff etc) to know that they are appreciated. And while It is customary to tip in canada apparently some of us don't follow our own customs.
Re: #3 - I dumped my landline when I moved and haven't looked back since. I didn't use it often enough to justify paying $20/month. I'm curious--how did you connect your home phone to your router and set up your Google Voice without a home phone number?
Brian- as other/s have mentioned, the malt extract could be used, with a cracked and boiled grain, to convert the starches into sugar, so that the yeast can consume it and produce co2, ethanol and heat. As for how much malt, I think about 1 cup per 2.5 pounds of grain.
I just think sugar is cheap, and might be a good way to go. Malt extract is expensive.
I will keep an eye out for it, then! I don't shop at whole foods, but maybe it will start appearing in my favorite grocer's soon enough. Thanks for the recommendation!
The vegetable oil that I buy is mostly canola, corn, and soy oils. It's not my first choice as far as taste goes, but it's the cheapest oil available to me, so I use it for things like baking or simply coating a pan before cooking eggs. I agree that it's not the most heart-healthy choice, but I don't think it's particularly bad for you, either.
This is rarely true for most people "And remember, tax preparation fees are also tax deductible the following year!". This deduction and some other deductions have to be more than 2% of your adjusted gross income. My tax prep software tells me that :)
From my knowledge, vegetable oil is a blend of many oils which includes Palm oil. Palm oil is not good for health, so you may want to separate it or add Palm oil as a separate entity.
I've saved a lot of money going through a discount mobile provider. I still get the smart phone with unlimited talk/text/web, but it costs significantly less than a "regular' provider. We used to pay $160 for two phones, now we pay $110. Fifty bucks is fifty bucks!
I recently saved coupons for whole wheat crackers and fortified cereal, which are packaged goods for sure, but not unhealthy. But you make a good point that price comparing works better for fresh produce. Unfortunately my 99-cent store doesn't carry fresh produce, and I don't buy their packaged stuff because who knows how long it's been sitting there?
Save enough to pay our property taxes in full early so we can get the discount.
We use one of these boxes to connect Google Voice to our router/phone: http://www.amazon.com/OBi110-Service-Bridge-Telephone-Adapter/dp/B0045RMEPI
As for setting up a Google Voice number, i think you just have to supply any phone number (could be a cell phone or your parents' landline) that Google Voice will call to confirm your number (I can't remember exactly what I did though, so don't quote me on that).
Good call! (no pun intended)
#7- so true! we have a nespresso machine and love it. saves a lot of money and we get to make whatever we want. i love the individual capsules too.
#1
About 2 years ago, my wife and transferred our cell phones onto a family member's plan. What used to cost us about $70/month, now costs us only $20. Most cell phone companies allow 5 lines per family plan and only charge $10/line for lines 3-5. Obviously, this isn't an option for everyone. But I imagine that the vast majority of family plans only have 2-3 lines in use. So there have to be plenty of people out there who can take advantage of this.
With regard to data plans, about 4 months ago, I realized that I wasn't using my $30/month unlimited data plan nearly enough to justify keeping it. Instead, I found a $15/month limited data plan that I will only exceed once or twice per year. In the event that I do exceed my data limit, I simply get charged another $15. In the end, I expect to save about $120 on data alone this year.
#3
I dropped my hard line years ago and haven't noticed a difference. But the problem with using one of those services is that you need power to call 911. If the power goes out, you're stuck. Per my comment above, check to see if your phone service provider maintains a "warm" connection for emergency purposes.
Regarding #3, you should check your state's laws regarding phone lines and 911. Here in California, telephone companies are required to keep a "warm" line into homes. That way, you should still be able to call 911 even with no phone service. The key is keeping a phone around that does not require a power source in the event of a power outage.
These phones aren't expensive. You can easily find them for under $15. For example:
http://www.amazon.com/Hamburger-Cheeseburger-Burger-Phone-Telephone/dp/B...
Sorry to be negative, but the "clip coupons to save money on groceries" mantra doesn't really work if you're eating healthily to begin with. When was the last time you saw coupons for fruit, meat, vegetables, plain dried beans and rice? If you're already avoiding the processed stuff, coupons aren't much - if any - help.
As an alternative, check competing grocery store ads (if you live within reasonable distance of multiple stores) and make sure to only buy what's on special that week and only if it's a good deal. A special on chicken breasts for $2.50 per pound is not a good deal when I know that another store puts them on sale for $1.97 per pound every three weeks or so. I am very fortunate to have three grocery stores about the same distance on different routes between work and home, so this works well for me.
Also, if you have a 99 cent store that has fresh produce, check it carefully (sometimes the quality is sub-standard) and purchase produce there if it's in good condition and beats the grocery store prices. I recently purchased some lovely zucchini for 99 cents for a pound and a half package when my regular grocery store had zucchini for $2 per pound and 5 ounces of sliced mushrooms for 99 cents when they were $2.59 for 6 ounces at the grocery store. Bananas would not have been a good buy at four for 99 cents, since anothe store has them at 19 cents each every day.
I am still trying to optimize the "buying in bulk" issue. I love shopping at Costco. Toilet paper and paper towels are always worth stocking up on. But clementines go bad before we eat dozens of them, alas.
Thank you so much for this post, I look forward to using these! I am so excited to be starting my work at home mom career!
hi, do you know how i can decode a futuristix dvd player? many thanks mat
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Your grandmother is just adorable! She's amazing at 94. Great advice too :)
Obviously people pay for a myriad of reasons, I generally try to pay when I can when out with family I have a better paying job, i will let them pay sometimes because I know it makes them feel good but I try to foot the bill as often as I can manage without it being obvious that I try and figure out which meal out is going to be the most expensive and make THAT the cheque i fight for. When out with friends we generally split, I don't like letting other people pay for me because of the tipping issue. I am a pretty good tipper, and I want the service staff (hostess/waiters/kitchen/buss staff etc) to know that they are appreciated. And while It is customary to tip in canada apparently some of us don't follow our own customs.
Re: #3 - I dumped my landline when I moved and haven't looked back since. I didn't use it often enough to justify paying $20/month. I'm curious--how did you connect your home phone to your router and set up your Google Voice without a home phone number?
Brian- as other/s have mentioned, the malt extract could be used, with a cracked and boiled grain, to convert the starches into sugar, so that the yeast can consume it and produce co2, ethanol and heat. As for how much malt, I think about 1 cup per 2.5 pounds of grain.
I just think sugar is cheap, and might be a good way to go. Malt extract is expensive.
You're welcome!
Nothing really new here..
What provider do you use?
I will keep an eye out for it, then! I don't shop at whole foods, but maybe it will start appearing in my favorite grocer's soon enough. Thanks for the recommendation!
The vegetable oil that I buy is mostly canola, corn, and soy oils. It's not my first choice as far as taste goes, but it's the cheapest oil available to me, so I use it for things like baking or simply coating a pan before cooking eggs. I agree that it's not the most heart-healthy choice, but I don't think it's particularly bad for you, either.
Ghee is indeed fantastic - we have a big jar in the pantry.
This is rarely true for most people "And remember, tax preparation fees are also tax deductible the following year!". This deduction and some other deductions have to be more than 2% of your adjusted gross income. My tax prep software tells me that :)
Great list, thanks for including us!
From my knowledge, vegetable oil is a blend of many oils which includes Palm oil. Palm oil is not good for health, so you may want to separate it or add Palm oil as a separate entity.
I've saved a lot of money going through a discount mobile provider. I still get the smart phone with unlimited talk/text/web, but it costs significantly less than a "regular' provider. We used to pay $160 for two phones, now we pay $110. Fifty bucks is fifty bucks!