Saving Money Around The House
We all know that it isn’t easy to save money sometimes especially around Christmas time, when you’re planning for Black Friday, or around your child’s birthday. However, we’ve made things just a tad bit easier with these practical tips on how to save money around the house without putting forth any extra effort. In other words, these are methods that can be used without going out of your way or living your life any different than you already do. Ready to find out what they are? If so, scroll down and enjoy these easy, practical tips!
Recycle
This is something that we should all be doing anyways but unfortunately, most people don’t even think about going green or recycling. Did you know that doing this can actually save you money and it’s friendly to the environment? Well, you can and it is! We know quite a few people that save all of their cans, cardboard, and plastic bottles that actually bring in around $30 to $40 a month just by recycling. That’s enough in some places to pay your water bill. In other words, there are some really big savings in regards to recycling.
Keep The Change
Sure, you aren’t really saving money by keeping all of your change but it does work out very well for the most part. Most change gets lost in the car, in the couch, or you simply tell the cashier at the store to “keep the change.” Use a water jug, piggy bank, or whatever you need to in order to start saving your change. A water jug full of change is almost certain to have a few hundred dollars in it. Don’t want to roll all that change? Don’t bother! It’s 2014 and we have cool stuff like Coin Star kiosks out there that do it for you.
Kick A Habit
Finally, the last tip that we have for you on this list is to pick a habit and kick it. Yeah, we know that it’s easier said than done but we also know that you can do it if you set your mind to it. It could be quitting smoking, cutting soda out of your diet, or eating out less. Regardless of what habit you kick, you’ll find that you can save a ton of money. In fact, kicking one habit could save you thousands upon thousands of dollars a year. How cool!
Now, we realize that these are some pretty simple and straight forward tips but they really do work. It may take some self discipline and will power but none of these methods could be considered hard work. You have to walk by a trash can to throw away that pesky bottle anyways so why not throw it in the recycling bin? You want to quit smoking anyways so why not go ahead and do it? You also would probably love to have a few hundred dollars in change sitting around so why not make it happen? Now, what are you waiting for? Go do it!
5 Best Cheap Beers
Okay, so we aren’t really beer drinkers but we know that some of you out there are. You may like a beer from time to time or maybe you’re a stay at home mom with a husband that likes beer. Either way, there’s nothing wrong with having a beer assuming you are 21 and aren’t driving. You know, the basic stuff that shouldn’t go hand in hand with drinking. Anyways, we put together a list of the 5 Best Cheap Beers. These are all beers that we think have a lot of bang for their buck, taste great, and won’t ruin your finances either.
Keystone
We don’t see a lot of people drink this beer anymore and we aren’t quite sure why. It has a smooth, watered down taste that is great for people that don’t drink beer on a regular basis. It’s also very affordable especially if you buy it in 6 packs, 12 packs, or 24 packs.
Miller High Life
This beer truly is the champagne of beers. It has a really unique taste, it’s thick, and very filling. While it may not be your “go to beer” for an event or party, it will definitely become the beer you grab after mowing grass or just to have a beer with some pizza.
Natural Light
This beer gets a very bad reputation from a lot of people but yet it remains a favorite among beer drinkers. Why? Because it isn’t half bad for it’s cheap price tag. We’re not sure what this beer currently runs but we remember a time (not too long ago) when you could find it at select stores for around $9.99 per 24 pack which is a really good price.
Mickey’s
This may not even be classified as a beer but it’s close enough for us. Mickey’s is a little tougher to find but it tastes absolutely fantastic. They even usually have limited edition cans (we saw the UFC cans) and also come in glass barrels. Sure, these can be a pain to open but they taste great, are pretty affordable, and have a cool mystique about them.
Bud Light
Okay, so this is one of your more common beers but that doesn’t mean it’s expensive. When we think of expensive, it’s stuff like Sam Adams and not beers like Coors Light. Bud Light falls into the same category as Coors Light. The only difference is, Bud Light tastes a million times better especially if you get it on draft. Ice cold Bud Light on draft. Delicious!
So, that’s it! These are the 5 Best Cheap Beers in our opinion and we definitely think you’ll get a kick out of  trying some of these for the first time. You may absolutely hate them (if you are used to drinking the good stuff) or you may think they aren’t half bad. Either way, we hope that you responsibly try each one of these and see what you think. If you are into them, feel free to swing back by the site and thank us although it isn’t necessary at all.
Best Cheap Apps For Entertainment
Everyone loves affordable forms of entertainment and if they don’t, they definitely should. Well, you’re all in luck as we’ve built a list of the Best Cheap Apps For Entertainment based on two things. What are they based on? Well, mainly on our own experience as well as what others have to say about the apps on our list. Some of the best apps that we’ve found were free and some cost money. You’ll get a little bit of both on this list but either way, all of the apps on this list are affordable, fun, and will give you hours of family fun.
WWE App
Most kids nowadays (and 20 years ago) are wrestling fans. WWE has a new app out that allows you to watch every PPV ever put on by WWE, WCW, and ECW. For you wrestling fans out there, that has to be some pretty big news. On top of that, the app is only $10 a month (with a 6 month commitment) and you also get every live PPV included in that price which is cool in our book? Why? Because we remember them being around $40 per PPV.
UFC Fight Pass
Okay, so you’re not into sports entertainment and you want the real thing (or your husband does). If that’s the case, try out the UFC Fight Pass which is around the same price as the WWE app but gets you exclusive fight events that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to watch. Throw in interviews, news, and other fight stuff and you have a big winner!
Netflix
How could any list be completed without Netflix? You can use it on DVD players, Blu Ray players, video game consoles, tablets, and even phones. You can get it for under $10 per month and have access to thousands of movies and TV shows. It’s pretty much endless entertainment for movie and TV fans but if you can’t afford it, check out the next app.
Crackle
This app is a lot like Netflix and they get new movies every month but there’s two big differences. The first difference is that Crackle is 100% free and can be found on most devices. The second big difference is that Crackle has nowhere near the selection that Netflix has but beggers can’t be choosers, right? Anyways, we definitely like Crackle!
YouTube
Finally, we get to our last app on the list. This app is 100% free regardless of what type of device you get it on and it probably always will be. You can literally watch anything that you want and it’s fun for the whole family. What gets even more interesting is that if you’re not familiar with YouTube, you can also make your own videos and upload them!
But unfortunately, this is where our list ends. We hope you enjoyed checking out our list of the Best Cheap Apps For Entertainment but if not, don’t worry. We update the site every single day with coupons, promo codes, and cool little lists like this so check back often! We promise that we can help you live life, have fun, and save a little money along the way.
Cheap Ways To Stay Cool During Summer
Summer is right around the corner and while it’s a fun time of the year (especially for kids), it’s also a very hot and dangerous time of the year. No, we’re not trying to scare you but we just want to make sure that you and your family are playing it safe. That’s why we came up with this list of Cheap Ways To Stay Cool During Summer. Not only are these tactics cheap so everyone can pull them off but they are also effective. In other words, they work. Now, let’s scroll down and take a look at what we came up with for you.
Water
During the hot summer weather, water should be your right hand man. It helps cool you off and it keeps you hydrated. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people die every year from heat related illness so we can’t stress this enough. If you’re going to be out in the heat, even if it’s the beach, make sure you pack a case of water which should only run you $3 or $4.
Portable Fans
Yeah, portable fans may seem like a novelty or they may come off as just plain silly but they do have a purpose in this world. Make sure you snag a few of them (usually at no more than $5 each) and take them on your family vacation. They will come in handy if your car ever breaks down or you have to do a lot of walking. Just fill them with water and fan away with one of these bad boys. They work, will help keep you cool, and are cheap!
Summer Clothes
We don’t think that you have anything to worry about with this one but we just had to throw it in there to be 100% certain. When it’s hot out, we hate seeing people walk around with sweat shirts on (we see it a lot actually). This isn’t because we think they look silly or anything like that but it can be very dangerous. Dress for the weather and don’t be afraid of what anyone else thinks. Wear some shorts, a t shirt, and if you must, a breezy hat.
Get In Shape
We know that you’ve heard of people complaining about how they wish that they could get in shape for their Summer vacation but what you may not know is that it can be for other reasons aside from looking good at the beach. Yes, you handle your water better when you are in shape which means you’ll be safer in the heat. So, why not try to do it?
So, there you have it. These are our tips for staying cool on a budget during the Summer months. Some of them are practical and some of them are nothing but common sense. Either way, we hope that you’ll give them a shot and play it safe this year. We’d hate to lose one of our readers and genuinely hope you have a sunburn free vacation this summer!
5 Low Cost Startup Business Ideas
We preach about this every single day it seems like but we really do mean it. It’s 2014 and it’s finally time for you to start your very own business. Don’t get ahead of yourself. There is no reason to go out and get a bunch of loans or quit your job. Just try something new. The small business ideas listed below are pretty cheap to start and can generate a nice profit. Who knows, it could even turn into your full-time business. Ready to take a look?
Printing Company
This requires a few thousand dollars in initial investment but you could literally do anything from making business cards to start your only weekly newspaper. Just be creative and try to do something different. If you do this, you should make out fine and turn a good profit.
Make A Sauce
Okay, so you don’t have to make some special sauce but if you can cook, why not make some money from it? Develop your own hot sauce and sell it online. You could also sell it at trade shows, directly to food establishments, and wherever else you want to sell it. You don’t even have to make a sauce. Make a seasoning or whatever it is that you like to do.
Fix Something
Do you know how to work on cars? Computers? Televisions? Turn it into a business in your area (if there is enough demand) and make a little extra money. If you are good on cars, work out of your home garage at first. If you’re good at fixing computers, swing by the client’s home and pick them up for free. Work your way up and you will make money.
Franchise Something
This isn’t a viable option for most people who are looking into starting a low startup cost business but it should be. There are a ton of franchise opportunities out there for under $20,000 which may seem like a lot but in the world of business, it’s not. Consider getting a loan as a last resort unless you truly believe in the potential franchise. Ready to move on?
Be Creative
If none of these strike home, be creative about the type of business that you want to start. Do you like action movies? What if you sold action movie memorabilia? Are you in love with the taste of a local brand of sweet tea? Offer to become an independent distributor. The options truly are unlimited. Be creative, make money, and you’re going to love this!
Now, you should be ready to start heavily researching new ideas for your potential business. It could be profitable, it could make you happy, and it could work. However, it’s up to you and you only to make all of these things happy. Don’t worry though! We’ll be posting cool content just like this in the near future and look forward to watching all of your dreams come true with you. Even if they don’t, we can at least help you save money!
4 Easy Ways To Cut Down On Kitchen Costs
Ready to cut down on kitchen costs and learn a few new ways that you can save a little of money in the busiest room in the house? Yeah, the kitchen is most definitely probably the busiest room in the house minus the bathroom. If it isn’t, it still definitely costs the most money to maintain. Think about all that food that you have to keep in there or all the water that gets used in the kitchen. Alright, got that in your head? Good! Scroll down.
Cut Corners
Remember when people told you that you should never cut corners? Well, now we’re going to tell you the complete opposite. Cut some corners in the kitchen and see where you can save money. Do you really need name brand dish soap? Does the off brand alternative not work as well? Figure out where you can cut corners to save and where you can’t do this.
Go Paper…Sometimes
It’s good to use paper plates, cups, and plastic silverware once in a blue moon. Save a little bit of water (especially if you’re just eating sandwiches or pizza) and use “disposable” stuff. Don’t make a habit of this or you’ll eventually start to lose money but you also have the option of just re-using your plate and cup for a day or two. Both are very effective!
Prepare In Advance
Getting meals ready in advance in the kitchen will save you money and here’s why. It takes care of any chance of their being waste. You always know what’s in your kitchen, what needs to be used, and you don’t have to worry about losing money on spoiled food. Prepare your meals in advance (when possible) and be practical about it. If you do this, you’ll save a few dollars in the kitchen compared to what you may normally spend.
Take Suggestions
Finally, we recommend taking suggestions from your other family members. Ask them what they want for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Find out how they want their food to be prepared. This helps you save money as it also cuts down on food wasted. If you are going to cook dinner (or any meal), at least one person should be able to have leftovers for a whole other meal. Don’t think this is possible? Try it and find out for yourself that it is!
Of course, these are just ideas. You are free to do whatever you want but we do hope that you’ll consider incorporating some of these rules and ideals into your kitchen lifestyle. We love to see people save money and it’s little things like what’s found on this list that can add up over time. Sure, you can do something big that will save you money this month but what about next month? It really is the little things that save you the most money possible. Now, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get out there, pinch some pennies, and save!
How To Find Cheap Video Games
Kids love video games as do some adults so it’s only natural that people try to find ways to save a little money on video games. Most new video games cost about $60 a pop regardless of what console you are buying it for and that amount of money can add up quickly. This is especially true if you are out buying all the new releases or have more than one kid in your home. How can you cut down on those costs? Well, we’re about to show you. Scroll down!
Discount Cards
A lot of video game stores, mainly GameStop, has discount cards that are available to you for free or a small fee. GameStop has a reward card that does cost a little bit of money but saves you a lot of money on video games over time. Big Lots also has a discount card but keep this in mind. Stores like that don’t specialize in video games so you may be limited.
Trade Ins
Go to any video game store (or even some pawn shops) and you’ll find that you can trade in your old video games for new ones. Sure, you won’t get a ton of money for them (probably not even 1/3 of what you spent on them) but if they don’t get played, what does it matter? Trade in your old games, accessories, and consoles for brand new gaming stuff.
eBay
We throw this name around a lot but it’s for good reason. You can find almost anything on eBay at a price cheaper than retail. Maybe someone bought a new video game, didn’t like it (or want it), and doesn’t want to let it go for what they’d get in a video game store. So, what do they do? Sell it on eBay for about $20 less than they spent on it instead of $30 less.
Flea Markets
We’re not sure why but flea markets usually have at least one vendor that is selling video games and while you may not be able to fathom spending $30 on a used game, what if that used game in stores is $55? In other words, don’t be afraid to explore alternate venues and look for a good deal. This is the only way that you’ll save money and do so in a fun manner. Not only do you get to check out other items but you can also save a ton of money as well.
So, let’s recap everything. Where will you be looking for cheap video games? Try flea markets because they are home to thousands of different items and are usually being sold at good prices. Try video game stores because they specialize in video games. While they may not be the cheapest, they do have some amazing promotions. Finally, you could also try eBay (because it’s eBay) and trading in your old games for new ones. If you do all of this (or just check back with us regularly for coupons and discounts), you should have no trouble saving money on video games or just finding some really cheap video games to begin with.
Cool Types of Apps That Save Money
Being a stay at home mom or just a girlfriend that aspires for more than the typical 9 to 5 lifestyle, you probably know a lot about apps and how powerful they truly are. Apps not only make our lives easier but they literally give us knowledge. We learn new ways of doing things as well as how to do things that we never knew how to do before. Do you agree with all of this? Good! Now, what else can apps do? They save you money! If you scroll down and look at the types of apps that save money below, you’ll know what to do!
Calorie Counting Apps
Calorie counting apps are pretty common now and for good reason. They are one of the many types of apps that save money. They allow you to track what you’re eating, how much of it you’re eating, and get you one step closer towards reaching your goals. These are all things that will save you money later on down the road so consider trying this!
Bar Code Scanner
If you’ve ever owned a smart phone then you probably know these exist. Use them while you’re in the store shopping to get a price check or to compare this store’s prices to other locations. Now that’s cool! That’s not all you can do with this though. A lot of companies stick those little scanner boxes on items and you can save money just by scanning them!
Organizing Apps
Yes, there are literally apps out there that help you keep all your stuff organized. This means you can keep your work life, family life, and social life separate. That also means that you’ll save a lot of time and who doesn’t know that time is money? Best of all, most of these are free (at least one good enough to use) so you won’t have to spend money on it!
News Apps
Stay in the know with a good news app. It could be your local news station’s app or it could be a bigger app like one for CNN or FOX. Regardless of what kind of news app that you get, one thing is for certain. Being in the know and up to date on all the current news is a good way to save money. You just never know what you’ll learn by staying up to date on news.
Music Apps
This one is a little less obvious but it’s a great way to finish off our list. Playing music is soothing and it doesn’t matter what type of music that you listen to. The next time you think about spending money or “splurging” a little bit, throw on some music and dance the stress away. This really does work and you’d be surprised how much money it can save.
So, there you have it. These are our favorite types of apps that save money. We hope that you take our advice and check out some of these app types. If you do, you’ll probably be very surprised to learn that you really can save money with this cool apps that save cash!
5 Scary Cheap Special Effects Ideas
Man oh man do we have some cool stuff for you! Halloween is still a few months away but we put together a cool list of 5 Scary Cheap Special Effects Ideas. That means that not only are these special effects ideas cool but they’re so darn cheap that it’s scary! Getting back to the topic at hand, we hope that you’re ready to check out these cool ideas and see what you can come up with for them. It could be a haunted house or a good ol’ prank.
Chocolate Syrup
We’re pretty sure that this is what they used in horror classic “Night of the Living Dead.” Yeah, the black and white zombie flick. That’s the one! Anyways, chocolate syrup is a very common household item so chances are, you probably already have some especially if you have kids in the house. Use this and maybe a little red food coloring to emulate the look and feel of warm blood. This works great for haunted houses and fun but scary pranks.
Ground Beef
Some people are grossed out by ground beef by itself. Imagine how freaked out they’ll be when you use it to make something even more gross worthy out of it. It could be anything from human brains to inner organs. Ground beef works great for a ton of pranks, haunted houses, and whatever else you can come up with your imagination. Just be creative!
Liquid Latex
While this stuff is usually only available around Halloween time and it costs a fortune, you can actually get it online and at craft style stores for pretty cheap. It’s the start of a ton of different special effects and with a little practice, you can whip up some truly amazing stuff!
Paper Mache
Okay, so you never really thought of paper mache as being scary. Well, that is, until now! You can make some pretty cool, unique, and scary masks out of paper mache. They’ll at least be scary enough for one of those “pop out of the bushes” type pranks and you will definitely get a few screams out of your friends. There is a learning curve but it’s okay.
Voice Changer
Finally, you could opt to purchase a voice changer which is great for long distance pranks and scares. These can be found online for very cheap and most smart phones have an app available that will allow you to disguise your voice. Feel free to play around with this one and be creative but also be careful. Some people will call the police and they don’t tend to take too lightly to pranks. As long as you do it with good humored people, you’ll be fine!
So, there you have it! These are just a few of the scary cheap special effects ideas out there. We’re sure that you can find more but these stood out to us the most. Check back often and you just may find another list of other cheap special effects ideas that aren’t necessarily scary. After all, not everyone likes to be scared but everyone loves money!
4 More Affordable Vacation Spots
Okay, so do you remember the list of affordable vacation spots that we did a while back? Yeah, that one! Alright, good. We’re doing another one where we are bringing you 4 more affordable vacation spots and you’re already reading it. Below, you’re going to find a few more destinations that we deemed worthy of making the cut that won’t cut your budget in half. Yes, that’s right. You can go to all 4 of these destinations without spending a ton of money and you’ll still have a blast. Let’s scroll down now and find out what they are.
New York, NY
Yes, that’s right. We said it! New York City is a very affordable vacation in terms of what you get. Your options are limitless in NYC and while it may not be everyone’s dream vacation, you’ll literally never run out of stuff to do. It would take you hours a day for quite a few years to visit every single tourist attraction in New York City. Pretty cool, huh?
Washington DC
This is another cool vacation a lot like New York City (minus the size) because there are literally limitless options of things to do in DC. Some of the world’s best and biggest tourist attractions are here including political attractions, museums, art galleries, and some of the nation’s history. Yes, Washington DC is an affordable (and limitless) vacation you’ll love!
Cherokee, NC
Bet you’ve never heard of this one, huh? Were we right? Okay, so maybe you have (we seriously doubt it) but that’s not the point. The point here is that Cherokee, NC is a very cool vacation spot that’s just hours away from other hot vacation spots as well. There’s not a lot to do here unless you like Native American culture and gambling but if you’re into those two things, we think that Cherokee, NC makes for a very unique vacation spot.
New Orleans
Ah, yes! New Orleans didn’t make the last list but only for one reason. It wasn’t quite as cheap as some of the top dogs on the last list such as Las Vegas. Sure, this city is still in the re-building phase thanks to Hurricane Katrina but for the most part, New Orleans is back to normal and ready to serve you. From good food to voodoo to rich history, New Orleans is an awesome, affordable vacation spot. And who could forget about Mardi Gras? Not us!
Not feeling any of these vacation spots? If you’re not, check out our other vacation spot list that we did a while back. You’ll find a few more great destinations on that list and you can check it out by going here. We hope that you find the vacation of your dreams here on the site but even if you don’t, you can still always come back and save a little extra money. After all, this is what we’re all about. Working hard, saving money, and living life good!
Saving Money On Tobacco Products
Okay, we get it. You’ve seen us talk about how much money you can save by quitting smoking or by discontinuing your use of tobacco products in general. However, we do realize that some people don’t want to quit and that’s 100% fine. It’s your business, not ours. We can still help you though. You see, we know of a few easy ways to save money on your tobacco products that don’t involve quitting. If you’d like to see what they are, go ahead and scroll down. There you will find a few helpful tips that will save you money!
Contact Your Brand of Choice
By contacting the company that makes your tobacco directly, you can probably get the regular hook up on some coupons. We know a ton of people that use tobacco products who get coupons in the mail on a regular basis. An example of one of those coupons came from the company that makes Newport cigarettes. Every couple of weeks, they sent someone at least 2 Buy 1, Get 1 Free coupons. In other words, they saved around $10 or so a month.
Look At The Box
If you walk into any gas station or convenience store, chances are, you’ll see specially marked boxes of cigarettes. Some of them say $1 off a pack and some of them only say 50 cents off of a pack. Sometimes they aren’t even quite the kind of cigarettes that you smoke. What do we mean? Well, if you normally smoke Marlboro Menthol Lights but they only have the $1 off coupons on the Marlboro Menthol Regulars, why not smoke them instead? Essentially, you’re practically getting the same cigarette but at less of a price.
Lower Expectations
We’ve seen a lot of people doing this lately but you always have the option of exploring other, cheaper brands. Some people that smoked Marlboro in the past are now smoking L&Ms. Why? Because there’s not much of a difference. The same can be said for other types of tobacco such as smokeless tobacco. Try “dipping” Grizzly instead of Skoal brand.
Buy Cartons
Finally, this is the most practical and obvious advice among tobacco users. If you smoke a pack a day, start buying your cigarettes by the carton. In most cases, you’ll save about $5 or so. It’s kind of like buying 9 packs of cigarettes and getting one pack for free. If you use smokeless tobacco, buy them by what’s known as the “roll.” This will also save you money.
But again, these are only just some of the ways that you can save money on tobacco. We are very fond of quitting smoking and hope that this is something that you will consider doing in the near future. If you don’t, that’s your choice and either way, we’re still going to help you save money. This list is proof of that! But now, we hope that you’re ready to get out there, save some money, and help others do the same. It’s all about pinching those pennies, living good, and so much more. Join us and let us help you do all of this and more!
Easy Ways To Save Money On Baby Clothes
Ahh, baby clothes! Any parent will have to buy baby clothes but most parents will spend way too much money. Children grow at a very rapid rate and you’ll find that you will be buying baby clothes quite regularly. Following our advice and using the easy ways to save money on baby clothes (found below) will result in you saving a ton of your hard earned money. Now, does that sound like something you’d be interested in? If so, scroll down!
Have A Baby Shower
The first and most obvious way to save money on baby clothes is to have a baby shower. Invite your friends, family, and co-workers. Also, don’t be afraid to tell people what you need. If you already have a car seat or crib, make sure that you let people know. Forget about mentioning baby clothes or diapers though because you can never have too many of them. So, in other words, allow people to bring a ton of both baby clothes and diapers.
Check Out Consignment Shops
These are especially cool if you can find those that are dedicated to just baby clothes. Almost every small town has one now and you’ll find some amazing prices on quality baby clothes. A good rule of thumb is to look for those that are “mom and pop” shops. Be sure not to mistake consignment shops for thrift stores though as there’s a huge difference.
Shop Online
This one may be a little obvious to younger generations (online shopping is practically in their blood) but some older, first time mothers may not know this. You can find some great deals online when it comes to buying baby clothes. You can even get great deals by looking at name brand clothing companies online. Their promotions online are usually different than what you’d find in the store so you can save a ton of money on the same exact products.
Find great online deals HERE
Ask Around
Finally, it doesn’t hurt to ask your friends for their outgrown clothes. You know these people and you can probably trust them. Just make sure that you wash any used clothing before you allow your child to wear it and their should be no problems. The only rule of thumb to use here though is this. If you wouldn’t wear it (quality wise), don’t make your kid wear it. If you ask us, this is a pretty simple yet fair rule that you should be following.
But anyways, this is just advice. We hope that it’s been helpful to you and that you’ll be able to save a big chunk of change on baby clothing whenever you need to. As long as you follow the advice above and at least check out some of the stores, you should be good to go. Thousands of parents come on this site every single day and we like to think that each and every one of them benefit from doing so. Needless to say, we hope the same for you!
4 Common Gadgets That Save Money
This list of gadgets is going to surprise you in one way. You probably already have at least one of the gadgets on the list or you’ve thought about getting it. Well, we’ve got some good news. It’s okay to go ahead and get that gadget you’ve been eye balling at the store. It will probably save you money time and time again. Yeah, it’s okay to spend that money. Now, take a look at the list of gadgets below and see which one you want to save you money! Once you do that, it’s okay to go out and buy it. Trust us on this one and do it!
Cell Phones
The first gadget on our list that can actually save you money is the cell phone. Not only does it replace a home phone but it is also mobile. That means no more pay phones, calls missed, or anything like that. A cell phone can run you as little as $40 a month and will save you a ton of money. Just make sure you avoid those pesky “pay as you go” cell phones.
Tablets
Operating your own business or working from home in general is tough. That’s why owning a tablet could save you money. If the power goes out, you can still respond to emails. You can increase productivity away from the computer. All of this makes you more money thus saving you money. You can even find quality tablets such as the HP Slate 7 at about $100.
GPS
What if you travel a lot? Owning a good GPS such as a Garmin could save you a ton of time. And let’s face it, we all know time is money. These can be found online and at most major retail stores such as Walmart. Depending on what kind of features you want, these are usually under $100. If you own a new vehicle though, you probably already have a GPS.
Video Camera
You just never know when you’ll need this one whether it’s to prove your innocence or to be prepared when the next potential viral video is happening. Video cameras are a lot of fun, allow you to capture memories, and who knows, they may save you a little money. Try setting up a YouTube account, uploading your videos, and seeing if they make any money.
Of course, these are just some ideas of what types of gadgets could save you money. You probably own at least one, if not all, of these devices. If you don’t and you’ve been debating another purchase, let this list guide you into making the right decision. Figure out whether or not a gadget like one of those listed above could save you money and make it happen. It really is that easy but if you want to save even more money, swing by the site on a regular basis and see if any cool coupons pop up for the device in question. You just never know! Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s go save some hard earned money!
5 Affordable Instruments For Beginners
If you are in the market to buy an instrument, you can start here. We’re going to give you the total run down on what we think are 5 Affordable Instruments For Beginners. Best of all, each instrument on this list is also an instrument that won’t be hard to learn as long as you put in the hard work and take the time to actually learn how to play. Ready to get started?
Guitar
The first instrument on our list of affordable instruments for beginners is the guitar. You can find a guitar worthy of learning on for under $100 if you shop hard enough. Even top quality guitars will only run you around $300 to $400 so should you decide to move on up in the guitar ladder, it won’t cost you a ton of money. Now, ready to move on with the list?
Keyboard
The next instrument on our list of affordable instruments is the keyboard. These are a little more pricey than guitars once you really get into playing and make a long term investment into an instrument but to get started, you can get a keyboard for a fairly cheap price. Best of all, with a keyboard, there isn’t really any maintenance minus a few packs of batteries.
Harmonica
Okay, we get it. The harmonica seems like a pretty silly “first instrument” but it’s actually a fairly cool instrument that won’t cost you more than $30 at the most. You can also play virtually any kind of music on it so your options will never be limited with a harmonica.
Trombone
If you’re into big band music, the trombone may be a good instrument to play around with. It has a really unique sound, is easy to play, and can be found in almost any music store on the planet due to the fact of how many people in high school bands play the trombone. They usually only come in two colors, silver and gold, but are still cool instruments to play.
Drums
Finally, we come to the dreaded drums. They are one of the hardest instruments to listen to someone learn how to play but the good thing is, you don’t need actual drums. Have the person learning buy a set of good drum sticks (around $15) and practice on drum pads. If they get good enough or decide they want to pursue playing the drums, buy an actual set.
So, there you have it! This concludes our list of 5 Affordable Instruments For Beginners. Hopefully, you have a better idea as to what instrument we recommend and which one you would like to learn how to play. If you’re researching for someone else such as a child, be sure to run all their options by them. It’s important to let the person who will actually be doing the playing pick the instrument that they’d like to learn. After all, they’ll be the one playing it. Without further delay, it’s time to get out there and find the perfect medium!
Saving Money: How Much Is Enough?
Saving money is something that we often talk about here at Pinching Your Pennies but there’s a good reason behind this. Everyone should be doing it! Yes, even you should be saving money like there’s no tomorrow. Okay, so maybe that’s a little bit extreme. So, how much money should you be saving? How much is enough? Well, a lot of that depends on your lifestyle but with the practical tips below, we’ll give you a rough ball park figure. Now, scroll down and take a look. It’s time to find out how much you should be saving up!
How Much Do You Make?
No, you don’t actually have to tell us this but you do need to think about this. Obviously, unless you’re in debt, the more money you make, the more you can save. At least, that’s how it works for most people. So, if you’re only making $400 a week versus someone that makes $1,000 a week, you can’t save as much money as them. Or can you? These are all questions that you should be pondering over and figure out how much you’re able to save.
How Often Do You Put Back?
Yes, we want to know how often you save money. Are you adding money to your checking account every single week? Every day? Once a month? Learn to build good habits and you will soon see that every time you get a little extra money, you add it to your bank account. Then you can head home and enjoy a quiet evening that doesn’t count on spending money.
How Much Should You Save?
Now we get to the big question. How much money should you save? Okay, here’s the best advice that we can give you. Try to save 25% of every paycheck that you get. We know that this won’t be possible all the time (and sometimes you can save more) but the main thing here is that you try to save this amount. Exceeding it is great but as long as you try, you’ll feel good about what you’re trying. So for every $100 you make, try to save $25. If you make around $800 minus taxes bi-weekly, we want you to try to save about $200.
Where Will This Take Me?
If you use the example that we gave you above, you’ll save money in no time. If you’re making $800 bi-weekly after taxes, you should be saving around $2,800 a year. In 5 years time, you would have around $14,000 or so. That’s a big chunk of change to be sitting on and it will prove to come in very handy as backup money or your emergency funds, right?
Of course it will! That’s why we want you to start taking care of your finances and save a little money. The hard work will pay for itself time and time again. Trust us when we say this but you definitely don’t want to live and work in today’s world without saving money. Loans have high interest and banks are giving out less and less money to their customers. Don’t stress it though. Thanks to PYP, you’re now going to save more money than ever!