My favorite part of the holidays is getting to spend more time with my family. Once the kids are on winter break and I'm on winter break, things aren't nearly so hectic and we can finally slow down and spend some relaxing time together.
My favorite part is how excited my daughters get about everything - from the first Christmas lights to show up on neighbors' houses to decorating holiday cookies. They make the season so much fun.
I grocery shop on a "dollar-a-pound" plan and we eat, on average for a "dollar-a-meal". Here's how it works. You can't eat much more than one pound of anything. Don't believe me, try to eat a 16 oz. steak sometime without anything else like bread or salad, just a 16oz. steak. Then fix a 16 oz. salad. Don't guess, just weigh it and try to eat it. An average sized stomach can just hold so much and a pound is a lot to eat. If you still don't believe me buy a one pound block of cheese and try to eat it, or about 8 or 9 eggs. Get the picture?
Potatoes, cabbage, onions, carrots, lettuce, bananas, milk, many pastas and pasta sauces, and many other grocery items you may find will be under, sometimes well under, a dollar a pound. The onions, potatoes and carrots can be bought in bulk like 5 to 10 pounds at a time to get the price down. It's important to get these bulk items as low as possible because that bonus money will be spent on cheese, meat, tomatoes, peppers, butter, coffee, sugar, and all the other good stuff that are well over a dollar a pound.
Believe me this works, I've been doing it for years. Many canned foods are right at a dollar a pound, sometime lower. The cheapest hotdogs and "balony" are a dollar a pound. And don't forget that items like dried beans, rice, pastas, coffee, soups and the like, we add tap water to while preparing. So if you buy a box of pasta for a dollar, you end up getting 3 or 4 pounds of food for a dollar.
Which, by the way brings me to my next point, water. Drink a glass of water seconds before you start to eat, you will eat less. Also, try to serve soups as often as possible before the main course. They are good and they fill you up with water (which few of us get enough of) so you don't end up eating too much meat or cheese or butter.
Please contact me at jemjjm at yahoo.com with any questions or comments. Once again, this works, works well, is easily explained and implemented and turns out to be healthy to boot! What more could you ask?
@Philip -- I think where you're losing people is that you recommend saving for things like a vacation or luxury item. Give how many "boomerang kids" there are these days, I can see your argument for delaying retirement savings and working on establishing a household. (Like saving up for rent or furniture before you move out of your parents or student residence.) My priority would be paying down debt and building an emergency fund, not saving for a vacation.
Re: number 1 of your 11: It seems as if we equate health insurance with wellness. They aren't the same. And if we shop for health insurance based on a co-pay, the premiums are going to be sky high (especially for the self-employed or small biz owner).
It might be more sensible to look for a high deductible, but lower cost plan combined with an FSA or HSA (forgoing the co-pay model), and use the savings from the lower premiums to fund both the FSA/HSA AND pay for things that more directly go to staying well. This would be geared toward protecting against an unexpected but critical illness or injury.
When it comes to gift cards, I look for bonus deals to purchase gifts. For example, the grocery store just offered a $25 rebate if you purchase $100 in gift cards. I used the $100 in gift cards to buy gifts and some as gifts themselves. When the $25 rebate came I used that for gifts as well. That is a 25% discount for doing nothing! I was also able to take advantage of Target's recent buy $50 get $10 promo. Restaurants are also a good place to look--many offer bonus cards when you make gift card purchases.
“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it ... he who doesn't ... pays it.”
― Albert Einstein
Even better is a DRIP - Dividend Re Investment Program. Many companies will reinvest your dividend with no charge, and some even offer a discounted price. Given that these companies also frequently raise their dividends over the years, this is a slam dunk. One example is AT&T, currently paying about 6% (do your own due diligence). My $2000 original investment is now providing $6000/year to my happy retirement.
Im kind of a minimalist saver so it may sound kind of sad, but the best part about the holidays for me is looking forward to the new year. I always dread the shopping, planning, decorating, etc that comes along with the holiday season. I love seeing family I have not seen in awhile but I wish it was under different circumstances. I would much rather see them on a random day during the year where we can actually sit and connect vs a huge family gathering where you are lucky to get a half conversation in with a few family members. So the best part of the holidays for me is being done with the stress and having a brand new year full of opportunities to look forward to.
All very true, Alysa. But this website is generally based on frugality. There's no real frugal points in being an early adopter. I think the author was very clear on thanking early adopters, not stabbing anyone in the heart. I know I read these articles for tips on saving money, not tips on how to give companies feedback.
When you're first starting out, saving 10% is really tough. Your finances are stretched, your household possessions are meager. When I was first starting out, the minimum 401(k) contribution to get the full employer match was 6%, and I found it tough to contribute that much.
On the other hand, later in your career, when your income is higher and your household is established, contributing 22% is easy. The last few years I worked a regular job, I was contributing 17% to my 401(k) (the maximum my former employer allowed), plus I was putting about the same amount into ordinary savings and investments.
It was exactly that experience that prompted this post. Just 6% of my starting salary was really hard, while 34% of my late-career salary was trivially easy. (And it was 34% of a lot more money.)
That's exactly why I suggest that you put off saving for retirement. (Just don't delay developing a habit of saving.)
Oh, and do get your employer match, if you work for an employer who still does that sort of thing. But not because it's for retirement—because it's free money.
I love the $9 club. I don't know if they have gotten better now.. but you can see the fares offered by the $9 club and then sign up if you like. I did and got 3 round trip tickets from Dallas to FLL for $240 ( $80 each).. including taxes fees etc. Add on the $60 membership fee and 1 check in bag for $18 each way.. thats still $336 .. $112 RT. The flight itself was excellent. I just noticed I can fly from Dallas to Vegas for about $30 round trip including all taxes and fees if I buy the ticket at the airport. Just be aware of the fees for Bags and Selecting specific seats.
My favorite part of the holidays is getting to spend more time with my family. Once the kids are on winter break and I'm on winter break, things aren't nearly so hectic and we can finally slow down and spend some relaxing time together.
My favorite part is how excited my daughters get about everything - from the first Christmas lights to show up on neighbors' houses to decorating holiday cookies. They make the season so much fun.
I grocery shop on a "dollar-a-pound" plan and we eat, on average for a "dollar-a-meal". Here's how it works. You can't eat much more than one pound of anything. Don't believe me, try to eat a 16 oz. steak sometime without anything else like bread or salad, just a 16oz. steak. Then fix a 16 oz. salad. Don't guess, just weigh it and try to eat it. An average sized stomach can just hold so much and a pound is a lot to eat. If you still don't believe me buy a one pound block of cheese and try to eat it, or about 8 or 9 eggs. Get the picture?
Potatoes, cabbage, onions, carrots, lettuce, bananas, milk, many pastas and pasta sauces, and many other grocery items you may find will be under, sometimes well under, a dollar a pound. The onions, potatoes and carrots can be bought in bulk like 5 to 10 pounds at a time to get the price down. It's important to get these bulk items as low as possible because that bonus money will be spent on cheese, meat, tomatoes, peppers, butter, coffee, sugar, and all the other good stuff that are well over a dollar a pound.
Believe me this works, I've been doing it for years. Many canned foods are right at a dollar a pound, sometime lower. The cheapest hotdogs and "balony" are a dollar a pound. And don't forget that items like dried beans, rice, pastas, coffee, soups and the like, we add tap water to while preparing. So if you buy a box of pasta for a dollar, you end up getting 3 or 4 pounds of food for a dollar.
Which, by the way brings me to my next point, water. Drink a glass of water seconds before you start to eat, you will eat less. Also, try to serve soups as often as possible before the main course. They are good and they fill you up with water (which few of us get enough of) so you don't end up eating too much meat or cheese or butter.
Please contact me at jemjjm at yahoo.com with any questions or comments. Once again, this works, works well, is easily explained and implemented and turns out to be healthy to boot! What more could you ask?
@Philip -- I think where you're losing people is that you recommend saving for things like a vacation or luxury item. Give how many "boomerang kids" there are these days, I can see your argument for delaying retirement savings and working on establishing a household. (Like saving up for rent or furniture before you move out of your parents or student residence.) My priority would be paying down debt and building an emergency fund, not saving for a vacation.
Lasik, the best $1000 I ever spent, 10 years later and my vision is still 20/20
Re: number 1 of your 11: It seems as if we equate health insurance with wellness. They aren't the same. And if we shop for health insurance based on a co-pay, the premiums are going to be sky high (especially for the self-employed or small biz owner).
It might be more sensible to look for a high deductible, but lower cost plan combined with an FSA or HSA (forgoing the co-pay model), and use the savings from the lower premiums to fund both the FSA/HSA AND pay for things that more directly go to staying well. This would be geared toward protecting against an unexpected but critical illness or injury.
When it comes to gift cards, I look for bonus deals to purchase gifts. For example, the grocery store just offered a $25 rebate if you purchase $100 in gift cards. I used the $100 in gift cards to buy gifts and some as gifts themselves. When the $25 rebate came I used that for gifts as well. That is a 25% discount for doing nothing! I was also able to take advantage of Target's recent buy $50 get $10 promo. Restaurants are also a good place to look--many offer bonus cards when you make gift card purchases.
dude! ADrive.com !! free 50 gb!
“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it ... he who doesn't ... pays it.”
― Albert Einstein
Even better is a DRIP - Dividend Re Investment Program. Many companies will reinvest your dividend with no charge, and some even offer a discounted price. Given that these companies also frequently raise their dividends over the years, this is a slam dunk. One example is AT&T, currently paying about 6% (do your own due diligence). My $2000 original investment is now providing $6000/year to my happy retirement.
I love watching Christmas movies!
Im kind of a minimalist saver so it may sound kind of sad, but the best part about the holidays for me is looking forward to the new year. I always dread the shopping, planning, decorating, etc that comes along with the holiday season. I love seeing family I have not seen in awhile but I wish it was under different circumstances. I would much rather see them on a random day during the year where we can actually sit and connect vs a huge family gathering where you are lucky to get a half conversation in with a few family members. So the best part of the holidays for me is being done with the stress and having a brand new year full of opportunities to look forward to.
I like you on facebook.
Looking for Rudolph...
All very true, Alysa. But this website is generally based on frugality. There's no real frugal points in being an early adopter. I think the author was very clear on thanking early adopters, not stabbing anyone in the heart. I know I read these articles for tips on saving money, not tips on how to give companies feedback.
My favorite part of the holidays is spending time with my family and friends, eating great food and not having to spend the day at work.
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/Monzarts/status/146775966755205121
Getting together with my family to read the Christmas story and have a great meal.
I like wisebread on facebook!
Christmas Day, when the madness and stress are over. After dinner when we go for a walk as a family is really nice.
getting together with friends and family who I rarely see.
The magic. It always comes, some time, some way.
I Like WB. hahaha very nice!
I'm looking forward to seeing my kid open up presents!
Ah, but that's exactly my point!
When you're first starting out, saving 10% is really tough. Your finances are stretched, your household possessions are meager. When I was first starting out, the minimum 401(k) contribution to get the full employer match was 6%, and I found it tough to contribute that much.
On the other hand, later in your career, when your income is higher and your household is established, contributing 22% is easy. The last few years I worked a regular job, I was contributing 17% to my 401(k) (the maximum my former employer allowed), plus I was putting about the same amount into ordinary savings and investments.
It was exactly that experience that prompted this post. Just 6% of my starting salary was really hard, while 34% of my late-career salary was trivially easy. (And it was 34% of a lot more money.)
That's exactly why I suggest that you put off saving for retirement. (Just don't delay developing a habit of saving.)
Oh, and do get your employer match, if you work for an employer who still does that sort of thing. But not because it's for retirement—because it's free money.
I love the $9 club. I don't know if they have gotten better now.. but you can see the fares offered by the $9 club and then sign up if you like. I did and got 3 round trip tickets from Dallas to FLL for $240 ( $80 each).. including taxes fees etc. Add on the $60 membership fee and 1 check in bag for $18 each way.. thats still $336 .. $112 RT. The flight itself was excellent. I just noticed I can fly from Dallas to Vegas for about $30 round trip including all taxes and fees if I buy the ticket at the airport. Just be aware of the fees for Bags and Selecting specific seats.