I've found that it's best, when I'm stressed, to do what I can to freeze my spending as much as possible. I try to only buy what I absolutely need, not worry as much about trying to get the deals with the coupons and such.
Usually this works fairly well. I do end up buying a bit more convenience food at the grocery store, which pushes my food bill up a bit. But, overall, this seems to work for me.
The best way I have found to manage stress and spending is by planning. For example, in the mornings if I do not have a lunch ready to go I will either have to (a) make something (which stresses me out because I will be running late) or (b) I will get a frozen entrée or eat out (causing me to spend more money). When I plan the week well I can make healthy meals I know will have leftovers and put them in containers ready for lunch. I have found that when I plan, I can avoid stress and save money… it’s a win-win!
It doesn't sound like you got a good deal to me. $1000.00 for the 'technical' issue and 1/2 price off a $3000.00 extended warranty which no one should ever buy. I'm disappointed with this article.
I have a question that someone asked me. I dont know the answer so here I am asking you. Q: Can the mash of sugar, water and yeast be drank after it is done fermenting, before you still it??? Sorry if this sounds a little off the wall.
You definitely did a lot of things the right way. Did you homework on the vehicle you wanted, found competing offers, weren't afraid to walk away, etc. However, I'm curious to know some more information about your purchase.
Did you have any financing lined up before you went to the dealership? Was the AAA call planned in order to make them lower their rate or did you really not have any other rates before then? And how much did you put down?
While it doesn't sound like you got ripped off, it doesn't exactly sound like you got a great deal either. You're certainly way better off than if you had just walked onto the lot, but it seems like there are areas for improvement.
For example, I wouldn't exactly call $1,000 a little thing. Extended warranties are usually not a great deal (factory covers most things) for the money. As a matter of fact, it sounds like they got even more money off of you when you complained. You paid $1,000 more on a technicality plus $1,500 for the warranty for a total of $2,500 more than you expected!
Car salesman want you to leave the dealership thinking you got a great deal. They want you to think you saved a ton of money but in the end they always find a way to make some of it back.
I'm not here to argue, just to show others how even more money can be saved. I look forward to your response.
I find that the biggest issue is time-management. When I am stressed out it is normally because I am pressed for time. This causes me to make rash decisions about a number of things I spend money on, but particularly on food. I most frequently find myself wanting to "just go out" instead of cooking something healthy at home.
The best cure I have for this is basic willpower. I always have something in my house that can be thrown together quickly, like spaghetti or something from the freezer. Even hitting up the grocery store for sandwiches or one of those frozen skillet meal things is a hell of a lot cheaper and mostly healthier than sitting down to fast food or a regular restaurant meal.
I have made several lifestyle changes this past year that actually have improved my life while at the same time helped us spend less.
1. I shop at Goodwill for furniture, clothes, things to "upcycle" into something cool. I refinish furniture from GW for the house.
In the "White Vinegar is a wonderful thing" category:
2. I use white vinegar as fabric softener in the washer, and to avoid static in the dryer I keep another batch of pure white vinegar in a spray bottle and I hit each load w/3-4 sprays before I turn the dryer on. No dryer sheet needed.
3. I use basic ammonia in our Spot Bot carpet cleaner, mixed with water, instead of expensive carpet cleaning formulas. Works like a charm.
4. I cut my dish sponges in half to double their usage time, I store them in a dish filled with white vinegar between uses to keep it from getting stinky, makes it last much longer.
5. Did you know soaking your foot in white vinegar will cure a toenail fungus? You have to do it for awhile, but it really works!
And back to thrift-shopping:
6. Whenever I need something I check Craigslist and scour the local Goodwills if at all possible, before starting a search with Google.
Great Info in this article! My wife and I just bought a car using some of these tactics and paid about 80% of the asking price. We were able to do this by not being afraid to be rude or walk away. In the end, the salesman seemed very unhappy with the price he gave us which, of course, meant we were ecstatic!
I am well aware of the impact stress can have on the pocket book. One of the things I really regret is taking a good paying job that turned out to be extremely stressful. The result was a period of time when I spent a lot of money on stuff I now am trying to sell, for way less than I paid.
The fact that I can sell it means it really didn't matter much to me or that the stuff was not really needed. The act of shopping and acquiring gives a short term pleasurable feeling but in return it meant more credit card bills which meant it was harder to leave that good paying job.
I also have been involved in different types of collecting and I see the stress buying things causes in people. One is having too much and then trying to deal with it. Another is when there is competition for limited items. People do crazy things. And I see people buy things when they are going through bad times, only to turn around later to sell the item. So spending too much can cause stress, and stress can cause people to buy too much.
What I do now is I try to really think about buying something. No impulse buying. And I try to think about how the money should first go to paying credit cards and such. I also try to relieve my stress by thinking of ways to deal with whatever is stressing me. Instead of using something non-productive to relieve it. It's difficult at times, I need to find ways to pep talk myself. But the result is worth it I hope.
great ideas! my mum always says, "save where you can to spend where you can't" - a similar sentiment to balancing your frugal/spendthrift habits. i love the acknowledgement that you can have both and still come out on top. frugality isn't about making yourself miserable (thankyou for thhe reminder...!)
Lisa said, "A good agent who has lots of experience with contract and repair negotiation can be invaluable. And, the seller pays for the buyer agent commission, so why wouldn't buyers utilize a good agent to protect their interests in the transaction?"
My real estate lawyer and my home appraiser (both good friends who protect my interests) filled both the need for contract and repair negotiation.
Stress and spending are definitely related. When I get stressed out, my apartment gets messy, and the mess leads to more stress. But since it's messy, I don't want to spend any time there, so I go out to eat or to get coffee or to the store. This past weekend I cleaned up the apartment and it's gorgeous once again, now all I want to do is sip my home-brewed coffee on the couch and enjoy it!
Good for you! The purpose of scrimping is to be able to spend the money on something you really love. For instance, when I make sure to use my own bank's ATM (while out on other errands) I remind myself that the fees I'm not paying will add up to the price of a nice bottle of New Year's bubbly. My Dad used to say that nothing is so stupid as living poor so you can die rich.
I am interested in selling my hair to raise money for ecology volunteer trips, and have ran into some trouble finding a legit buyer. I have an ad on TheHairTrader.com listing # 263734. I don't know anywhere else to go I have searched and searched. any help?
Good god, you guys actually need to pay someone to look for a house? Talk about laziness and ignorance.
And 6% to get some fool to sell your property..thats some crazy stuff. Thats double what people pay in Australia. People rarely get real estate agents to buy their property here, in fact its unheard of, its just a waste of money...your lawyer takes care of you.
In Australia we are in the process are getting rid of the middle men in selling property. Private sales are growing with greater awareness of what is really needed in selling real estate. Real estate agents are paying big advertising dollars to brainwash the public with fear when selling your own house. But with greater awareness and resources they are slowly losing the battle.
It is impossible being a real estate agent and not be in a conflict of interest with the client. Anyone with half a brain is waking up to that.
I thought the real estate brainwashing was bad here in Australia, but by the sounds of it we are light years ahead of you guys.
I just got this card in the mail today. At the same time I got a notice saying my ex finally paid his first child support payment. I had signed up to be sent a Prepaid debit card with the payment on it whenever he decided to pay, so I assumed that this was what came at the same time! I was just extremely happy to finally have his first payment in 2 years and was then extremely disappointed when I activated it and there was no money on it. I tried to call the customer service line to find out if this was the correct card or if I needed to just cancel it but spent 10 minutes trying to get through the menu to talk to an actual person and just could not find an option to talk to somebody! Will try again tomorrow now that I know it's not the right card. (Then I will have to call the child support office too to find out WHERE the right card is..... But that will be fine once I get it!)
Looks like a day filled with phone calls!!! THANKS NETSPEND!!! But really I cant really get upset with netspend over this they didn't know I was actually expecting a card on that same day.
luckily none of my toys have ever malfunctioned and when- on the rare occasions- i do get a problem, i forward it to my geek friends who gladly fix it for me
There are other ways to reduce medical debt. Doctors and hospitals are open to negotiate. I reduced my medical bills by $20,000 just by negotiating. I wrote a step-by-step book on how you can do this too.....I guarantee it!
Thank you for the comments, everybody! I love to maximize usage (and savings) of things we do every day without thinking much about. More oven-tips are welcome!
I've found that it's best, when I'm stressed, to do what I can to freeze my spending as much as possible. I try to only buy what I absolutely need, not worry as much about trying to get the deals with the coupons and such.
Usually this works fairly well. I do end up buying a bit more convenience food at the grocery store, which pushes my food bill up a bit. But, overall, this seems to work for me.
The best way I have found to manage stress and spending is by planning. For example, in the mornings if I do not have a lunch ready to go I will either have to (a) make something (which stresses me out because I will be running late) or (b) I will get a frozen entrée or eat out (causing me to spend more money). When I plan the week well I can make healthy meals I know will have leftovers and put them in containers ready for lunch. I have found that when I plan, I can avoid stress and save money… it’s a win-win!
It doesn't sound like you got a good deal to me. $1000.00 for the 'technical' issue and 1/2 price off a $3000.00 extended warranty which no one should ever buy. I'm disappointed with this article.
I have a question that someone asked me. I dont know the answer so here I am asking you. Q: Can the mash of sugar, water and yeast be drank after it is done fermenting, before you still it??? Sorry if this sounds a little off the wall.
You definitely did a lot of things the right way. Did you homework on the vehicle you wanted, found competing offers, weren't afraid to walk away, etc. However, I'm curious to know some more information about your purchase.
Did you have any financing lined up before you went to the dealership? Was the AAA call planned in order to make them lower their rate or did you really not have any other rates before then? And how much did you put down?
While it doesn't sound like you got ripped off, it doesn't exactly sound like you got a great deal either. You're certainly way better off than if you had just walked onto the lot, but it seems like there are areas for improvement.
For example, I wouldn't exactly call $1,000 a little thing. Extended warranties are usually not a great deal (factory covers most things) for the money. As a matter of fact, it sounds like they got even more money off of you when you complained. You paid $1,000 more on a technicality plus $1,500 for the warranty for a total of $2,500 more than you expected!
Car salesman want you to leave the dealership thinking you got a great deal. They want you to think you saved a ton of money but in the end they always find a way to make some of it back.
I'm not here to argue, just to show others how even more money can be saved. I look forward to your response.
This post made my day. Good for you! :)
I find that the biggest issue is time-management. When I am stressed out it is normally because I am pressed for time. This causes me to make rash decisions about a number of things I spend money on, but particularly on food. I most frequently find myself wanting to "just go out" instead of cooking something healthy at home.
The best cure I have for this is basic willpower. I always have something in my house that can be thrown together quickly, like spaghetti or something from the freezer. Even hitting up the grocery store for sandwiches or one of those frozen skillet meal things is a hell of a lot cheaper and mostly healthier than sitting down to fast food or a regular restaurant meal.
I have made several lifestyle changes this past year that actually have improved my life while at the same time helped us spend less.
1. I shop at Goodwill for furniture, clothes, things to "upcycle" into something cool. I refinish furniture from GW for the house.
In the "White Vinegar is a wonderful thing" category:
2. I use white vinegar as fabric softener in the washer, and to avoid static in the dryer I keep another batch of pure white vinegar in a spray bottle and I hit each load w/3-4 sprays before I turn the dryer on. No dryer sheet needed.
3. I use basic ammonia in our Spot Bot carpet cleaner, mixed with water, instead of expensive carpet cleaning formulas. Works like a charm.
4. I cut my dish sponges in half to double their usage time, I store them in a dish filled with white vinegar between uses to keep it from getting stinky, makes it last much longer.
5. Did you know soaking your foot in white vinegar will cure a toenail fungus? You have to do it for awhile, but it really works!
And back to thrift-shopping:
6. Whenever I need something I check Craigslist and scour the local Goodwills if at all possible, before starting a search with Google.
Great Info in this article! My wife and I just bought a car using some of these tactics and paid about 80% of the asking price. We were able to do this by not being afraid to be rude or walk away. In the end, the salesman seemed very unhappy with the price he gave us which, of course, meant we were ecstatic!
I can relate to the disorganization point! I frequent the local library, but from time to time I miss a due date!
Still, I'd rather pay late fees to a good cause than to a private company :)
I am well aware of the impact stress can have on the pocket book. One of the things I really regret is taking a good paying job that turned out to be extremely stressful. The result was a period of time when I spent a lot of money on stuff I now am trying to sell, for way less than I paid.
The fact that I can sell it means it really didn't matter much to me or that the stuff was not really needed. The act of shopping and acquiring gives a short term pleasurable feeling but in return it meant more credit card bills which meant it was harder to leave that good paying job.
I also have been involved in different types of collecting and I see the stress buying things causes in people. One is having too much and then trying to deal with it. Another is when there is competition for limited items. People do crazy things. And I see people buy things when they are going through bad times, only to turn around later to sell the item. So spending too much can cause stress, and stress can cause people to buy too much.
What I do now is I try to really think about buying something. No impulse buying. And I try to think about how the money should first go to paying credit cards and such. I also try to relieve my stress by thinking of ways to deal with whatever is stressing me. Instead of using something non-productive to relieve it. It's difficult at times, I need to find ways to pep talk myself. But the result is worth it I hope.
great ideas! my mum always says, "save where you can to spend where you can't" - a similar sentiment to balancing your frugal/spendthrift habits. i love the acknowledgement that you can have both and still come out on top. frugality isn't about making yourself miserable (thankyou for thhe reminder...!)
I don't see stress and spending as necessarily connected. I watch my spending so I don't have to stress!
Lisa said, "A good agent who has lots of experience with contract and repair negotiation can be invaluable. And, the seller pays for the buyer agent commission, so why wouldn't buyers utilize a good agent to protect their interests in the transaction?"
My real estate lawyer and my home appraiser (both good friends who protect my interests) filled both the need for contract and repair negotiation.
Stress and spending are definitely related. When I get stressed out, my apartment gets messy, and the mess leads to more stress. But since it's messy, I don't want to spend any time there, so I go out to eat or to get coffee or to the store. This past weekend I cleaned up the apartment and it's gorgeous once again, now all I want to do is sip my home-brewed coffee on the couch and enjoy it!
Good for you! The purpose of scrimping is to be able to spend the money on something you really love. For instance, when I make sure to use my own bank's ATM (while out on other errands) I remind myself that the fees I'm not paying will add up to the price of a nice bottle of New Year's bubbly. My Dad used to say that nothing is so stupid as living poor so you can die rich.
Another clothing repair tip - fabric glue.
I am interested in selling my hair to raise money for ecology volunteer trips, and have ran into some trouble finding a legit buyer. I have an ad on TheHairTrader.com listing # 263734. I don't know anywhere else to go I have searched and searched. any help?
These are some great tips! I, too, bring my own beverages to restaurants when I can. Beverages add up quickly to the total bill!
You're also right that disorganization is costly - late fees really stink, especially when it adds a minimum of $20 to most bills.
Good god, you guys actually need to pay someone to look for a house? Talk about laziness and ignorance.
And 6% to get some fool to sell your property..thats some crazy stuff. Thats double what people pay in Australia. People rarely get real estate agents to buy their property here, in fact its unheard of, its just a waste of money...your lawyer takes care of you.
In Australia we are in the process are getting rid of the middle men in selling property. Private sales are growing with greater awareness of what is really needed in selling real estate. Real estate agents are paying big advertising dollars to brainwash the public with fear when selling your own house. But with greater awareness and resources they are slowly losing the battle.
It is impossible being a real estate agent and not be in a conflict of interest with the client. Anyone with half a brain is waking up to that.
I thought the real estate brainwashing was bad here in Australia, but by the sounds of it we are light years ahead of you guys.
Good luck.
I just got this card in the mail today. At the same time I got a notice saying my ex finally paid his first child support payment. I had signed up to be sent a Prepaid debit card with the payment on it whenever he decided to pay, so I assumed that this was what came at the same time! I was just extremely happy to finally have his first payment in 2 years and was then extremely disappointed when I activated it and there was no money on it. I tried to call the customer service line to find out if this was the correct card or if I needed to just cancel it but spent 10 minutes trying to get through the menu to talk to an actual person and just could not find an option to talk to somebody! Will try again tomorrow now that I know it's not the right card. (Then I will have to call the child support office too to find out WHERE the right card is..... But that will be fine once I get it!)
Looks like a day filled with phone calls!!! THANKS NETSPEND!!! But really I cant really get upset with netspend over this they didn't know I was actually expecting a card on that same day.
luckily none of my toys have ever malfunctioned and when- on the rare occasions- i do get a problem, i forward it to my geek friends who gladly fix it for me
There are other ways to reduce medical debt. Doctors and hospitals are open to negotiate. I reduced my medical bills by $20,000 just by negotiating. I wrote a step-by-step book on how you can do this too.....I guarantee it!
www.reduceyourmedicaldebt.com
Glenn
Really nice website for getting good coupons.
Hey even www.freecouponsshop.com is very good and its vey much userfriendly, it saves both your time and money
Thank you for the comments, everybody! I love to maximize usage (and savings) of things we do every day without thinking much about. More oven-tips are welcome!