Smart Shopping Tips That Really Pay Off

Grocery Shopping Tips That Pay

When grocery shopping, it’s amazing how quickly items in your grocery cart can pile up, along with your bill. But if you apply a little know-how to your weekly grocery run, you can save some time and money. And those are two things we could all use more of. Here are some tricks of the trade that’ll pay off on your next trip to the store.

Find Real Sales
Your local grocery store probably has a variety of items on sale at any given time. If you do your research and really get to know the prices in your favorite stores you will get to know what is the real sale and what isn't. And if you find something on sale, buy a lot of it, especially when you have coupons. It may take you a little over your budget, but will add up in the long run. Of course, only buy bulk items that you know you’ll use and have room for. 

Items To Buy In Bulk

·	Baby, flushable, hand sanitizing wipes: Trust me, you can never have too many of these handy little things. They are great for cleaning hands, rear ends, wiping up spills, changing diapers, and more.   Cleaning products: Whether or not you buy Lysol wipes or sponges or whatever other spray you know you are always going to need them so why not stock up while they're cheap?
·	Diapers: Speaking of diapers, buying diapers in bulk is always a great idea. There’s nothing worse than running out at 2 a.m. Just make sure you don’t underestimate how quickly babies grow. They are also great for little kids dolls and house training puppies, not to mention older dogs who occasionally have issues.
·	Shampoo, soap, and wash: This is something you will need for years to come that has a long shelf life. A truly great bulk purchase.   Other great products to stock up on: toilet paper, paper towels, non-perishable dry foods that don't have an expiration date (oats, plain rice, boxed pasta, tea bags, coffee beans, etc), light bulbs, AA/AAA batteries (smoke detectors and many remote controls use them- just don't buy too many cos they do have expiration dates and will eventually leak), identical dog/cat toys (if your pets are anything like mine they sometimes destroy their favorite toys so have that replacement ready), underwear, bras, socks, plain under shirts, school/office supplies, air fresheners, etc.

Another tip: When it comes to prepackaged bags of produce, buy the heaviest one. They are usually priced per package, so you won’t have to pay for that extra few ounces of food tucked inside.

Save Time
Keep an ongoing grocery list handy. Add items when you think of them, so you’ll be sure to pick up everything you need in one trip. Keep the list in your purse so you can’t forget it. And if there’s a recipe that you want to make, bring it with you. No need to spend valuable time writing down all those ingredients on your list.

Quickly go down every aisle, so do you don’t miss anything and have to go back to that section. This will save you time hunting-and-pecking around for items. And the best time-saving tip: Avoid grocery shopping on Sundays, especially Sunday evenings. It’s their busiest time and will guarantee that you stand in line longer.

Use Coupons Like They Are Going Out Of Style
If you’re not using coupons, you’re throwing money out the window. Take a few minutes each week to clip coupons and print off of the internet and keep them organized in your coupon box. An index/recipe card box works great. Other great options are expandable file folders and binders with sheet protectors and section dividers. It’ll take a little prep time, but will be quite handy once you get to the store. Keep your coupon box in your car, so if you’re running errands, you’ll always have it with you.

Share coupons with your friends, family and neighborhood. You can easily start a sharing program by setting up a coupon basket at your local library, child’s school or doctor’s office, where you can take the coupons you need and add extra ones that you don’t. It’s easy to do and everyone will benefit.

The Payoff

With a little strategy and preparation, you can save big. All you have to do is shop on the right day, bring your list, look for true sales and use your coupons. Eventually you'll have a pantry, garage, and/or laundry room full of supplies and stuff you use everyday if you shop smart. These little things will add up to big savings in time, money, and energy! 

Surviving a Snowstorm

With all this snow all around (last night we just got hit with another foot or so here in NJ across from Philadelphia, PA and next Wednesday we're in for another storm...is it spring yet?) I thought I'd post some tips to keep everyone safe! Here's a clip from the Today Show this morning. Don't forget to check out The Total Randomness of It All and Rockin' Tips for more great stuff!

SAVINGS SATURDAY: Financial Planning Tips

Read these 100 Financial Planning tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Explore 10 categories of tips ranging from Auto Insurance to Savings Accounts. Gurus keep the financial planning tips, advice and answers flowing to readers and fans, in exchange for promotion, free book publishing services and donations to the charity of their choice. Readers, Gurus, Charities—Everybody wins at LifeTips.com.

Different Bank Account Types
When you compare bank accounts, there are many differences to consider, whether you're reviewing checking accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, or savings accounts.

Evaluating Bank Services
A banking relationship is about more than just the interest rates of the savings accounts and mortgages--it's also about you getting the services you want. When you compare bank rates, don't forget to compare customer service methods and online banking availability as well, depending on your priorities. Here are some things to consider:

• Can you transfer between accounts online? Is there a fee to do so?
• Does the bank have an automated system for answering calls? Is that something you are comfortable with or would you prefer a live operator system?
• Is there a bank branch near your home or office?
• Are there ATMs available where you shop and work, or will you have to pay a fee for every transaction?
• Is your bank open during hours that you find accessible or are the hours too restrictive to work within your schedule?
• Do you need national and international wires to and from your account? Can your bank accommodate that?
• Will the bank allow free transfers between accounts?

Who Needs a Savings Account?
Savings account rates are not notoriously high. This leads many people to avoid the work put into comparing the rates of savings accounts and just leaving their emergency cash fund in their non-interest-bearing checking accounts. But no matter how low savings account rates are, some growth is better than no growth, so it's still better to deposit your money in a savings account than it is to leave it in a checking account.

Example: Let's say you have $1,000 to deposit in a savings account for emergencies. If you leave that in your non-interest checking account for a year, you'll still have that same $1,000 at the end of 12 months. It's even possible that you'll have less because you're more apt to the spend money that's in your checking account than the funds in your savings account.

Now, if you deposited the $1,000 in a savings account earning 1% interest compounded monthly, you would have an additional $127 by the end of the year. So even though a 1% rate is not high and certainly won't bring you to retirement, it's more growth than no growth.

High-Interest Savings
Believe it or not, it is possible for the average investor to get high interest savings accounts. With rates upward of 2%, these high interest savings accounts may not make you rich or compete with the growth of stocks or mutual funds, but as far as savings accounts go, they're impressive.
High interest savings accounts are great tools for emergency cash, short-term investments, and any money that you want to gain a small return on for limited risk. It's important to remember that the rates on high interest savings accounts could be less than the rates of many bonds and CDs, which are also considered lower-risk investments. Before you settle on a high interest savings account, compare the rates of all low-risk investments.

Of course, bonds and CDs can lock you into their vehicles for a certain period of time, which can give you some liquidity risk. For instance, if you invest in a bond and need to liquidate, you must find a buyer. If new bond rates are higher, you might have to sell at a discount in order to get any buyers. In addition, CDs might have charges if you take your money out before it matures.