Happy New Year!

2012 has come and gone and it is time to celebrate the new year.  I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve.  Let's all celebrate the coming of 2013.  I am hoping (despite the 13 and the bad luck that it indicates) that this year will be a great one.

Now is the time to sit down and consider your finances.  It is great to plan your taxes, budget, and finance plans for the new year.  Also, if you are looking for a new job, now is the best time.  Many companies put job searches on hold during the holidays, but now they will be looking for new employees.  Maybe we will all have a little luck getting that better paying job this year!

Don't forget... this is also the perfect time to stock up on holiday items.  You can get wrapping paper, decorations, ugly Christmas sweaters, and an assortment of other holiday products right now.  Most stores are selling items for 50% to 75% off.  Also, it is the perfect time to buy Christmas candles for dirt cheap.  Who cares if there is a Christmas tree on the front of it?  If you need candles for practical reasons, such as your electricity going out, I assure you, you won't care about the holiday theme.

Best wishes to everyone and happy new year!

Christmas Shopping Bargains - Weekend Dec. 15/16

If you are a last minute shopper, you are in luck this weekend.  There are many stores that are breaking out their best prices this weekend.  If you are buying the bulk of your Christmas gifts this weekend, you can totally save money.

The first store I want to discuss is Michael's.  Just about everything is on sale.  There are dollar items that are only 50 cents.  T-shirts that are usually $3.99 are now 2 for $6.  Many holiday items are 30 to 60 percent off this weekend.  Not to mention, Michael's has been more than generous with coupons.  They are currently offering 20% off coupons to ALL items... even sale items, for this weekend only.  You just need to sign up for their email discounts.

The next store we need to discuss is New York & Company.  I remember by this point last year, they were all but giving the store away.  The same can be said this year.  There are shirts for 10 bucks.  Scarf and glove sets for $10 that are regularly around $25.  Each day, New York & Company sends emails with crazier and crazier discounts.  I am waiting for them to offer to pay me to shop there soon.

I would also recommend signing up for emails from Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works.  Each day, both stores are offering a different sale item.  For instance, yesterday Bath and Body Works was selling large candles for only $8 a candle.  They are usually $20 a candle.  Today Bath and Body Works was selling body cream for only $5!  If you sign up for their emails, you will be the first to know the great daily deals at both stores.

I do not promote waiting the last minute to go Christmas shopping, but this year, it does make sense.  Many stores are breaking out some amazing deals to appeal to every shopper.  Even if you thought you were done shopping, it might be worth it to add a few more gifts to your list now.  So enjoy it, last minute shoppers! 

 

Just Buy What You Need

For those of you that are big fans of scoping out sales and using coupons, you can save lots of money.  This weekend I bought $80 worth of groceries for $45. This is quite excellent for me, even though some "extreme couponers" would surely frown upon it.  I am sure they would be able to buy $800 worth of groceries for $45.  However, I try not to compare myself to others.  I feel like I achieved a great deal.

What you have to consider when making "extreme couponing" purchases is if you will actually use what you are buying.  Certainly it is a great deal to buy 10 jars of pasta sauce at once if it is on sale and you have coupons, but make sure to check the expiration date and consider how much pasta you actually eat.  If you do not even really like pasta and you might only use 4 jars, you have actually wasted money.  It does not matter if you bought 10 for 50 cents a piece.  If 6 go to waste, you just lost $3.

This sounds like a relatively simple concept until a person becomes obsessed with finding the best bargains.  Suddenly, it is not about what is practical.  It is about getting whatever is the cheapest.  Aside from losing money by looking for bargains, you also need to be realistic about what you like to eat. 

For example, I like to eat junk food.  I am constantly trying to eat healthier.  So say one day there is a great sale on apples.  That is perfect.  Apples are a healthy, wonderful snack.  I can buy a few apples and eat them during the week.  However, if even just one bag of candy goes into the cart, good bye apples.  Chances are, the apples will get tossed to the side and I will eat candy all week.  Now, the apples, even though they were on sale, will go to waste.

When shopping, be realistic about what you will really eat.  If you are trying to be healthy, buy healthy foods that are on sale, but DO NOT buy junk food.  Junk food will lure you away from the healthy food every time.  Right now, I have a bag of what was once delicious broccoli in my fridge.  Now, it looks terrible and must be thrown out.  Lesson learned - buy frozen broccoli even if it is more expensive.  Frozen broccoli lasts much longer.  You lose money when you are constantly throwing stuff out.

Shop for Your Home Now

As I've said before, now is the time of year to do some shopping for your home.  If you need a cheap vacuum, now is the time.  If you need a new comforter, run out to your closest Walmart or Target.  Do you need an area rug?  This is the time!

I say this because it is "back to college" season at the stores.  When students go away to college, they need plenty of items.  This is even for returning college students since every dorm and apartment is different.  Stores use this opportunity to cash in.  Most parents want their sons and daughters to be comfortable in college, and they are willing to buy plenty for them.  College students also usually work the whole summer so they can buy what they need for the dorm.  This is perfect for stores suffering in this economy.

On sale at Target this week are vacuums, comforters, a futon, lamps, office chairs, shelves, storage containers, a cookware set, blenders, a microwave, a long mirror priced at only $4, a mini-fridge, and blankets.  Basically, they are selling items for the dorm at a dirt cheap price.  These items work equally as well in your home.  Also, the colors are brighter and trendier since it is designed for college students.  So keep an eye out for your Target sales paper this week and start shopping!

Superfresh is Closing! Get Your Cheap Groceries Now!

I will be the first to admit I always feel a little guilty when a store is closing and I run in to buy cheap stuff as fast as possible.  In all honesty, it is cashing in on someone else's failure.  It is really sad.  It almost feels like a loved one has died and I am combing through their stuff looking for valuables.

Sadly, I do feel like this when it comes to the supermarket Superfresh closing.  It was once A & P and has been opened for decades.  Slowly, the stores have been closing one by one.  Now, one of the last in this area is closing.  If you live in the Baltimore area, start looking around at the Superfresh stores and ask when they are shutting down and when the Going Out of Business Sale will begin. 

No matter how sad I am about it closing, the store now has 30% off on practically everything.  In some areas you may only see 10% off or even as much as 50% off, but for now, most items are 30%.  Even though it is sad - 30% off!  Come on, if you don't buy it, some other bargain hunter will.  So for now, it is the right time to scope out the last remaining Superfresh stores and get a good deal. 

Dorm Shopping - For You!

It is that time of year again.  As soon as summer begins, the stores start thinking about fall.  Most specifically, they start thinking about college kids going away and the sales it will bring them. 

Anyone going away to college for the first time needs a lot of items.  As more college students get tired of dorm living or do not have that option at all, students are finding they need to live in an apartment.  As everyone knows, whether you live in an apartment or a dorm, you need lots of items.  This is when stores see a great opportunity to make some extra money. 

Don't let the dorm sales fool you - you don't have to be a student or the parent of a student to find some awesome bargains.  Do you need a new rug for your livingroom?  Do you need a new low-priced vacuum?  Maybe you need a new full size comforter?  Right now is the time to shop for all of those items.

College students shopping for the fall means you can get great bargains, as well.  This is the perfect time of year to buy something cute and new.  Because these sales are geared towards college students, not only are the prices lower than normal, but the colors are usually brighter and the patterns more vivid.  If you are a fun person and you want your home to express that, this is time to start shopping.  Don't let those college students have all the fun.