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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
It's Going to be a 99% online Christmas! Look at these great deals!
by Heather D. Reese
I've put up my holiday
saving guide including a bunch of my favorite stores with money savings coupons. Here's a quick link Holiday Savings Guide.
A few rules I follow are the following.... they all help me maximize my savings.
1. Make sure it's a good price price. With the wonders of the internet, you can quickly do a price check...
look at the price at another 2 or 3 places!
2. Always check for coupons. Check around the web for
% off coupons, free shipping coupons or free gift coupons. Join coolsavings to find the best coupons!
3. Sing up with ebates or upromise. Go through their links to make your purchases and earn cash back rebates!
I love this!!!!
4. Scour the "deals" websites.... a few of my favorites are www.fatwallet.com and www.slickdeals.com There used to be alot more, but these seem to still stay really active.
So after the rules are set I start shopping. My goal is to
order all my gifts by the end of the first week of December. I refuse to pay more than standard shipping and even then I look
for shipping deals and they are plentiful in early December. The online retailers will still be offering good deals after
the first week, but they don't always have great shipping rates, so that is were my deadline comes from.
If
you are a serious bargain hunter you'll want to check the deals websites often!
Here are my bargains
so far. I have links to all of these deals directly HERE!
I have a family member who wanted new ties for work. I was able to get one today for $.95 including shipping.
I'll keep checking back to this website daily and see what other deals I can pick up... they have a new one everyday!
I needed something to attach the kids teachers gift cards to. I normally put them on a little gift like a starbucks
coffee mug (that I got during after christmas sale the year before) or bath and body works lotion that was purchased on sale.
This year I wasn't sure what I was going to use, I know the teachers get way too much lotion, and I found giant hersheys
kisses 12 for $24... this should be a nice change. I have heard that these can sometimes be picked up at the dollar store...
I've never been so lucky... but I still thought that $2 was a good deal and they are being delivered to my door! i probobly
saved even more in gas!
My little ones still love stuffed animals so I found some cute ones that you personalize
by picking the animal, the clothes and then the writing on the shirt... each was around $5.50 including shipping!
Next I started looking for a coffee deal, I was able to find a deal where I will actually be paid $5.50 after
I get my cash back. So for free I got 1 pound of coffee, a gift pack of another 3 pounds of coffee and free filters.
I could have chosen other extras other than the coffee sampler, but I have coffee-aholics in my life!
We do
a gag gift exchange on Christmas Eve and knowing most of the attendees are not Bears fans... I bought an NFL Bears
Championship T-shirt for $2.12 shipped. This would make an even better gift if someone was actually into the Bears!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
It's that time of year again! The Holidays... not what your thinking!
by Heather D. Reese
Now I love Thanksgiving and
Christmas like the rest of the world... but I really love it in a frugal shopper way too! Grocery shopping and coupons make
this the "happiest time of the year" (to the tune of Christmas music)
The first reminder that this
wonderful time is approaching is when coupons for the necessity of my pantry start show up in mid October and it just gets
better from there...
$3 off turkey, $1 off sugar or flour and more... you can stock your pantry and freezer
for pennies on the dollar!
Here are the tips of the trade for holiday food shopping
Start
with your newspaper- Keep all the coupons and the grocery coupon ads.
Match the coupons to the
advertised sale prices. Remember to look for other specials like spend $25 and get a free turkey. If you have room
in your freezer do this as many times as you have room for the turkeys... they keep for months in the freezer and think of
all the meals you can make with a whole turkey!
This is the time to stock up.Good deals can be
found and created on canned vegetables, gravy, milk, soup and more!. Look at the expiration dates on the items and buy
as much as you have coupons and room for. Packaged meal products like stove top stuffing (.79 a box at Target right now
and there are .50 coupons out there making it .29 a box) and instant potatoes and rice are offered at great sale prices and
companies are issuing coupons for all these products. If you are a semi-homemade kind of cook then this is the best time to
really stock up your pantry. Other deals you'll find are on things like frozen pies ( I normally can find these
for $1.99 and then I use a $1 off coupon at a store that doubles and it's free) and canned broth.
Even bottled water and soda are offered at a great savings... maybe not super bowl savings amounts... but that will be
here soon enough!
9:07 am pst
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
How long could 28 Million last you?
You probably are thinking a very long time, right? Like the rest of your
life.. and all your problems "solved".
Well it could if you were really smart with it. Lets see, say
you are really generous to your family... you give a million to each of your family members... between you and your significant
other you have a total of 2 sets of parents.... and 2 siblings. So you have just spent 4 million. You now have 10 left. You
would probobly buy a new house and new cars and some toys, like jewelry and clothes and you know things you just have to have!
Anyways the average luxury home in your area (we're pretending you live in Orange County, CA) is about $5
million dollars, so you are going to have to settle for a $3 million dollar house. You'll buy cars that are each about
$70K and about $200K on toys. I'm sure you will go on a vacation too! You might even quit your job, your rich right? Why
not! So now you have $ 6,660,000 left. So my guess is that that lasts you about 2 years as you've already blown through
more than half in just a few months. You'll want to keep the high roller life style going for as long as possible so you
won't really be watching your spending. The average Lottery winner ends up poorer that when they started. So sad.
Really with a windfall like that you could easily be set for life! Let's see how... If you bought and/or
paid off a nice 1.5 million home. Kept your job or used the money to make more money... started your own business (conservatively)
invested it on other wealth preserving ideas you could really stretch that out and take care of your family too! Even buying
a new house, and new cars and living it up a bit could still be done. Oh well. At the end of your money you
realize you wish you had been more careful, it's gone. Maybe you'll win the lottery again?
Yes, this is
based on people I actually know...
Sunday, November 11, 2007
How To Survive Any Economy... the good the bad and the really ugly!
by Heather D. Reese
This article is a follow-up
to yesterdays titled Frugal, Prepared and Organized... the typical saver. As you can see most wealthy people know how to time a market. They know
how to act in any economy.
They know how to time a market. During the good times, the high stock
market and the booming real estate market, they stockpile their money away. They might invest in the stock-market
some and the real estate market a little but they know that in order to come out ahead they must buy on the low and sell on
the high. They recognize that buying in a high market is not the easiest way to success.
They take risks,
and limit their risks. Sounds like a play on words, but they know that in order to really come out ahead they must
take risks. They know that they will not always pan out like they planned and so they limit their exposure at the same time.
They know how to take a risk but limit it to what they can handle.
They watch for signs and act quickly.Occasionally
they do take on more than they bargained for and in this case they constantly watch for signs that their investment may be
in trouble and act before a major catastrophe occurs. They follow the media's news stations, but more importantly they
get out and get first hand knowledge of exactly what is going on. They realize that it's their money at stake and take
a personal interest and responsibility to find out what is really happening. They process this all and act at the first signs,
not when it's too late to rebound.
They surround themselves with like minded people. They
dine, play golf, and vacation with others that have the same goals and life plans. They thrive on networking and keep working
even during their down time. They see every moment as a way to get ahead. This is not to say that they do not value their
friendships on a friendly level, it's just that they see friendships beyond the normal sense of the word and onto a higher
level of possible financial gain.
They know that failure is a temporary place. They know that
in order to be successful that they have to taste a failure here and there. They know that the only way to feel
good times is to feel the bad times. They don't quit, they get up and keep going and learn from the mistakes that brought
them to this bad patch. They view it as a test of their resilience and they get on their way to building up their wealth.
Most wealthy people have had bad times and will share them with you openly. They are proud of how they made a comeback.
They build a team of the best people for each job. They know they are not and will never be the best
at everything so they hire others that are the best in each field. They go to these people, the experts, for advise and they
use this advise.
They love what they do. They really have a calling for the type of work
they do, but rarely do they feel it's work. They find enjoyment getting up everyday and the thought of a new day keeps
them going. They might have a high level of stress, but they truly find happiness in their chosen path.
Lessons
we can learn from. Do what you love. If you can't quit the job you have now, start transitioning towards the
job you want. Prepare your life for the time when you are doing what you love. Start today by taking on extra work to build
an emergency fund that would allow you to leave your job and start your new career. Click here for 50 ways to make more money. Time your market. If winter is the busy season in your industry plan to put in extra hours to earn overtime. By planning for
this you can take advantage of the extra pay that's offered. You'll know it's temporary and that the money is
really going towards your future. Search out your own experts and use they're advise. Advisor's are not for the extreme
wealthy anymore. Everyone can benefit from some expert advise. Surround yourself with others that are heading the same way.
Keep negative influences to a minimum. You'll never be brave enough to follow your dreams if everyone keeps telling you
you'll fail. Keep the faith in yourself alive and "just do it"!
9:21 am pst
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Frugal, Prepared and Organized... the typical saver
by Heather D Reese
I've noticed that personality
traits of financially successful people share the same basics... they are frugal, prepared, and organized. And they are smart
enough to hire others with these traits if they do not come naturally to themselves.
On a simplistic level, frugal
thinking will lead to increased wealth. If you are aware of your income and careful with your spending you will amass increased
funds. Every expense is a chance to save in the eye of a frugal shopper. They buy low and sell high, they are the buyers in
todays real estate markets. They have been sitting back and watching and waiting for this opportunity. They shop their insurance
costs, car prices and loss leaders in the grocery store weekly flier. They get a thrill from saving money equal to that of
a habitual gambler! They work their bank for the best rates (did you know you can bargain with your banker for a better interest
rate on both loans and deposits?). They are your penny pincher's and proud of it!
Savers are also prepared
people. They are prepared for a down market, natural disaster, they're grocery shopping and they children's and grandchild's
college education. They plan they shopping for coupon usage and sales, and they plan their eating out based on promotions
and general taste and appeal of the restaurant. They want to be recognised as successful, but they still want good tasting
food and service... they hate to feel like they are wasting their money. They plan every aspect of their life in advance,
but they don't feel burdened by this structuring, they feel relieved to know everything is under control.
Organization is another very important aspect in a savers life. They know that in order to keep growing their wealth they
must be organized, you must know where your money is and were it's going. They organize their days based on the most efficient
routes and they organize their pantries for time saving simplicity. They want to know where everything is so that they can
spend less time searching for items and more time working and playing. They know that the time spent organizing is given back
two fold.
Lessons we can all learn from are simple. Think of every purchase in regards to your net worth. At the
grocery store ask your self if you will actually use this item before the sell by date. When shopping for a home consider
if it's not only within your price range but if it will fill your needs in the years to come. If you are considering starting
a family don't buy a one bedroom condo. Savers plan for the future and know that if they buy a house that will keep them
happy and safe for at least 5 years they will save money. Organize your life not just your desk or pantry. Be efficient. And
remember, that as long as you are doing something you love, your life is already rich!
8:45 am pst
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Can a dishwasher make you happy?
By Heather D. Reese
For me the answer is simply yes... a dishwasher can make you happy. It's
not really just a dishwasher, the dishwasher is more of a symbol of the little things in life.
I don't
know how many times we have bought new appliances. We've been in real estate a while and replacing appliances was a common
occurrence, but those were just part of the business. Now that the market has slowed down we're not buying as many
appliance these days until yesterday.
We moved into a new house that has fabulous "bones"
but could use a little cosmetic updating. Upon moving in we learned that the dishwasher was not working. We knew
for us this was a need so we've spent the past month looking for the best deal. We finally found a great
price, free delivery, free installation and no tax... we were sold, quite literally!
Yesterday was the first "run"
for our new dishwasher. It felt so good, and then I realized it wasn't the dishwasher, it was all the little things in
life that you forget about that make you feel so good!
Top 10 Ways To Sell Your Vehicle Quick!
by Heather D. Reese
Use these steps for a leg-up on the competition!
I am always being asked by people I know if I can let them in on the secrets to selling
vehicles quickly. Over the years, I have developed a great track record in selling my personal vehicles. It seems like the
longest I ever keep my vehicles is 2 years, and our family always has 2 of them. Many friends and family members have told
me that I am "lucky" or that "you are such a good salesman", but in reality none of these are true when
considering my track record of selling my personal vehicles.
Unless you are willing
to give up the equity in your vehicle to a car dealer, you will most likely want to sell your vehicle yourself. After years
of trial and error I have compiled a list that, if followed verbatim, will most likely acheive the result of a quick sale
of your vehicle. For the first time ever, I have compiled a list of the top 10 Ways to Sell your Vehicle Quickly. PAY ATTENTION....these
techniques work!!
1. Get your car professionally detailed - A clean car appears to be a
well maintained car. This also includes cleaning the engine. Although most car buyers have no idea what they are looking at,
almost every prospective car buyer will open the hood. If they see a clean engine, they will assume that you took care of
the vehicle.
2. Buy some new floormats - If you have the money, buy the factory original
floormats for your vehicle, not the Wal-Mart cheapies. A good source that I have used for this many times in the past is www.eBay.com.
For some reason, there are a lot of good sellers on this for floormats at good discounts over dealer pricing. You'll be
surprised how much this improves the look of the car and makes many buyers have the opinion that it looks barely used.
3. Spray some "new car" scent in your vehicle. Please don't overdo it. Many people are highly
sensitive to smell and this will hopefully make your prospective buyer subconsiously think this car is in "like new"
condition
4. List your vehicle frequently on Craigslist.org. Place this ad frequently and
in the surrounding cities. Best of all, this is free always FREE!!
5. Make sure your vehicle
is priced correctly. Do a search on www.Autotrader.com to see what similar vehicles (year, miles, condition, equipment, etc.)
are being listed for in your area. Price yours in the middle of the road of the private sellers. Do not pay attention to many
of the dealer prices because many of them are artificially inflated to account for the trade ins they receive on these cars
and the warranties they will have to provide. If you need to sell your vehicle quickly, make sure it is the cheapest comparable
vehicle, and the buyers will find you!
6. Place a photo ad in www.AutoTrader.com. This is
the ultimate site for listing your car. This site doesn't always work because of all the competing vehicles, but you have
a good shot at selling it from this publication.
7. Put a For Sale sign on your car. You
will be surprised how often this works. When shopping or parking, make sure your car is parked in a prominent location to
attract the attention of as many people as possible.
8. Run a classified ad in your local
newspaper. Many people still look in the newspaper to do their used vehicle shopping.
9.
Be flexible with meeting people. Never meet prospective buyers at your house (for safety reasons). If someone calls to inquire
about your vehicle, offer to meet them at a safe halfway point (gas station, grocery store, etc.). This will make it easier
for them to agree to meet you and ultimately sell the car.
10. Be willing to negotiate.
Never approach the sale of your car with a rigid "take it or leave it" price. Most people want to feel like they
are getting a deal by buying your vehicle. Taking a little bit off the price will normally do the trick.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
I haven't paid for toothpaste in 7 years...
By Heather D. Reese
It's true, it's been about 7 years since I
actually "paid" for toothpaste... I assure you all that I have been using toothpaste and I have been brushing my
teeth, but I just haven't had to pay for the product!
I love coupons and rebates. I hate paying for something
that is going to be going down the sink. Sometimes I even get paid to bring home toothpaste... can't get much better than
that!
I recently spoke to two CEO's of Major Corporations, it was a casual conversation and we got on the
subject of spending money on toiletries. They BOTH said that they still use coupons to buy those products. These are mega
millionaires, and they admit to using coupons too. Their take on it was that it was stupid to waste money on something that
is so easy to save on. They literally said that you would never become a self made millionaire if you don't think about
every purchase as a way to save! One of the wife's of the CEO said that he will go without deodorant before buying it
without a coupon/not on sale. Thankfully this has never happened as there are so many coupons out there!
So here's
the scoop. It's easy to not pay for your toothpaste or other health and beauty products.
Step #1- Save coupons.
Step #2- Match coupons to items on sale
Step #3- look for any available rebates on these items
Step #4- Buy
item with coupon and/or fill out rebate forms and send them in.
It's best to do this is batches, called stockpiling.
When you see that you can get this item for cheap or free buy as many as you can so that you can wait till the next great
sale to have to buy again!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Time to trim the fat!
by Heather D. Reese
Once a month I take a few hours to
look through last months spending. I do my best to go line by line and make notes about where I could have saved more money.
This month I'm calling every creditor (credit cards, phone company etc.) and seeing if they have any better
rates or plans. Just by asking I was able to get reductions on about half of my credit cards. This is regardless if I
am actually using the cards or not.
It's good to check-in with your phone, cable, satellite or cell phone
company every few months as their promotions change and you can often snag a better plan.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Have you used the $20 trick?
by Heather D. Reese
I wanted to write about something fun and I knew exactly what to write about as soon as I though FUN!
Vegas of course! So this is our favorite part of our Las Vegas vacations...
We make reservations as normal, check-in at the counter and pass a $20 bill to the clerk and
ask for any upgrades. Now I should backtrack and mention that from the time of meeting the clerk you have to be your usual
friendly self... if you are not usually nice, please have a friend help you with this part. So you pass the $20 and wait.
The clerk will normally thank you for the tip and start looking for an upgrade to give you in the computer.
The last time we did the trick we got upgraded from a regular two bedroom that we had already
booked at a "special" rate of $169/night... to a two bedroom suite with an amazing full view of the strip! It was
fantastic! And it cost us the same $169/night and that $20 bill!
Good
luck with the trick... let me know how it goes for you!
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Hi! I'm Heather Reese, founder of the No Excuse Budget
I realize the importance of having control
of your finances and this website and blog are dedicated to everything personal finance related. Times are changing and everyone
needs advise and encouragement to keep on going while working towards your best financial future.
Discover my proven system for:
·organizing your bills
·paying
your bills on time
·cutting back on expenses
·building
wealth
Check back daily for my new blog posts...and welcome to the No Excuse Budget way of life!
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Quick
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Budget System Overview- Need a budget? Living above your means? Do you need to spend less
money and/or make more money or just get control of your spending? Learn how the No Excuse Budget wil lhelp you.
Step One, Gather Supplies- Learn what you need to put together the perfect budget. From paper
to pen and more see what it takes to create your personalized monthly budget and debt reduction plan.
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your bills and income so you'll have a clear picture of where you are at financial and plan for where you want to
be.
Step Three, Evaluate and Plan- Get ready to plan your future. Take control and make a budget
that works for you! Using the No Excuse Budget Free Debt Reduction Worksheets will enable you to set a plan of attack on your debt.
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Learn if it's a need or a want. Articles to spend less and save more.
Free Budget Worksheets- download the No Excuse Budget free budget worksheets.
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Save Money On Food- Save on your grocery bill, save money when eating out, learn to use
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Online Savings- Learn to use the internet to save you money. Don't go to
the mall without reading about onine savings first.
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