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In our last finance article, we answered the question, “What is credit?” However, many young people have a hard time when they first leave home, because they don’t have credit. They want to know, “How do you get credit?” That’s what we’re going to answer in this article!
Each time you take something out on credit, whether it is a credit card, loan, or mortgage, your payments are tracked and reported by your lending agency. For example, you take out a mortgage through your local bank. Each time you make your payment on time, this is reported to the credit reporting agencies mentioned above. These regular, on-time payments are what help to build your credit. However, if you fail to make payments on time, this is also noted on your credit, and it causes your credit score number to drop.
When my sister decided to get her first apartment, the landlord wanted her to provide her credit rating, of which she didn’t have much, because she was young. This is also why many eighteen-year-olds have difficulty getting a credit card, because they have no credit established. I have also helped family members apply for secured credit cards, where you pay money up front to use on the card (just like a pre-paid), only your deposit is kept in case you fail to make payments. The upside is that if you do make your payments each month on time, the secured credit card company reports this as a positive on your credit score!
The first way to get credit established is to take out a loan or get a credit card where you make regular payments on time. If you choose to get a credit card, make sure to only charge small amounts (like $20-$40) and pay them off in the month that they come due. If you’re not able to get a credit card on your own, it helps to have your parent or another adult to co-sign a credit card or loan with you, and then make regular payments on TIME!! The quickest way to build credit is to make payments ON TIME!!!! Do I need to say it again? You need to make payments on TIME! Ok, I think I’ve made my point. You can also take out the pre-paid style secured credit card we mentioned previously!
Make sure to read our other Personal Finance articles so you can stick to your budget!
10 Tips for Building An Emergency Fund
How Couponing Saves Me $7,000 Per Year
Create A Gift Closet & Save Money
Starting a Stockpile Can Save You Money
Three Tips to Rebuilding Your Credit
How to Have the Best Yard Sale Ever
Keeping a Price Book Can Save You Money
What is Credit?
Google’s dictionary defines credit as “The ability to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.” It’s your financial trustworthiness. Your credit report and score are the biggest factors that lenders use when deciding on your loan/credit application. Consumers use credit in their everyday lives by taking out credit cards, loans, mortgages, and any other form of debt where they will be expected to pay that money back plus interest. This is how banks and lending organizations make money, by collecting interest on the amount you’ve paid.
A person’s credit is generally shown in a credit report or credit score. There are three main reporting agencies that lenders use when pulling these items. TransUnion, Experien, and Equifax. Every time you fill out an application, you always have to list your Social Security Number, name, address, and date of birth. These identifying factors are used to establish your credit. Each time you fill out an new credit application, the only factor that will possibly change is your address, so each address is put on file with the reporting agencies when you move and apply for credit.
Each time you take something out on credit, whether it is a credit card, loan, or mortgage, your payments are tracked and reported by your lending agency. For example, you take out a mortgage through your local bank. Each time you make your payment on time, this is reported to the credit reporting agencies mentioned above. These regular, on-time payments are what help to build your credit. However, if you fail to make payments on time, this is also noted on your credit, and it causes your credit score number to drop.
This is also why many eighteen-year-olds have difficulty getting a credit card, because they have no credit established. I have also helped family members apply for secured credit cards, where you pay money up front to use on the card (just like a pre-paid), only your deposit is kept in case you fail to make payments. The upside is that if you do make your payments each month on time, the secured credit card company reports this as a positive on your credit score!
Each adult citizen in the U.S. is also entitled to one free credit score per year.
Equifax 1-800-685-1111; www.equifax.com
Experian 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion 1-800-888-4213; www.transunion.com
Make sure to read our other Personal Finance articles so you can stick to your budget!
10 Tips for Building An Emergency Fund
How Couponing Saves Me $7,000 Per Year
Create A Gift Closet & Save Money
Starting a Stockpile Can Save You Money
Three Tips to Rebuilding Your Credit
How to Have the Best Yard Sale Ever
Keeping a Price Book Can Save You Money
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While our site is about spending so you can live debt free, you really can’t get out of debt until you stick to your budget. This is actually tougher, in my opinion, than paying off debt. When I’m in that zone where I have all my debts written down, and I’m actually having fun sometimes. It’s sort of like a game, trying to see how much you can pay off. However, it’s the day-in-day-out sticking to the budget that is actually tougher at times. We’re going to give you some “sure fire” strategies for sticking to your budget, and creating a surplus.
To stick to a budget, you have to have one first. Starting a budget can be cumbersome. However, we’ve compiled our list of favorite articles and You Tube videos that will help YOU stick to your budget!
Make sure to read our other Personal Finance articles so you can stick to your budget!
10 Tips for Building An Emergency Fund
How Couponing Saves Me $7,000 Per Year
Create A Gift Closet & Save Money
Starting a Stockpile Can Save You Money
Three Tips to Rebuilding Your Credit
How to Have the Best Yard Sale Ever
Keeping a Price Book Can Save You Money
Avoid Bank & ATM Fees & Save Money
Homemade Miracle Cleaner
Homemade Fabric Softener Crystals
Hydrogen Peroxide & Dawn Miracle Cleaner
DIY Homemade Window Cleaner
DIY Homemade Fabric Softener
DIY Homemade Febreeze Spray
DIY Foaming Hand Soap
It’s true, I LOVE yard sales!!! I wouldn’t call myself a yard sale addict, but I have the urge to stop at almost every yard sale I see along the road! I think it’s the fear that I’m missing out on some GREAT find if I don’t. I love the show American Pickers, only I love to find things other than anitques – board games, childrens’ clothing, artwork, unique furniture, and many other items! However, if you are a “yard saler” you know that not all yard sales are created equal, so we want to show you how to have the BEST YARD SALE EVER! Check out our list of great yard sale tips, and hopefully we can help you make even more money!
Plan ahead. A great yard sale is not just dragging all your stuff onto your front lawn and selling it. You have be organized, and that means planning ahead. Give yourself enough weeks to plan, organize, and implement your sale. This means picking your date, advertising in the local paper, and asking neighbors to join in on your endeavors (which can mean more money as well). I have seen yard sales where the owner waited until the last minute, and they’re scrambling as people are walking up there drive way. That is just too stressful.
*You can print this out as a PDF File! Debt Free Spending Yard Sale Checklist
Debt Free Spending.com -Yard Sale Checklist
____ 1. Pick your date (If you going to involve neighbors and relatives in your sale, make sure to check the dates with them first). *Note: You will almost always draw more people to a neighborhood yard sale, so these are the best, but sometimes it’s just not possible. You will also need to decide how many days you will run the sale and the hours of the sale.
____2. Advertise in your local paper. This will definitely help draw a crowd to your sale, and is still the way most people find local yard sales (This is a good time to buy your price labels, batteries, and even a cash box -if you don’t already have one- as well, since you will need them later)! Also, find out if you are allowed to post posters in your area, or if there are any zoning issues. Our borough has restrictions on yard sales, so always make sure you check first!
____3. Sort and organize the items you want to sell. Also, decide where you are going to store these items until the day of the sale. I usually start a collection of items in my garage, and I even set up the tables first so I can start piling items on those tables.
____4. Mentally go through each room of the house, and come up with a plan of where you will start. Make a list of your sorting rooms (basement, attic, bedrooms, living room, bathrooms,etc.). You probably already have mental list of items you want to sell. It’s fine to start with that list and work your way through, but after that, go room by room so you’re not scattered. Use a large tote or box to collect items.
____5. When planning your yard sale, try to have tables arranged so that you have plenty of space to move around. If you know someone with a portable clothing rack, these are nice to have, but two ladders and a piece of rope work ok too, you just can’t hang as much on these.
____6. Make sure to clean your items as much as possible ahead of time. I’ve been to “unclean” yard sales” and I know I don’t want to buy dirty items that I know my baby or young child might play with. Take the time to clean toys, furniture, and even wash the clothes if they smell musty.
____7. Sort clothing according to size and gender, and arrange items neatly so that buyers don’t have to sort through mounds of clothes. I tend to buy more if I can find the right sizes quickly.
____8. Have extra batteries on hand to show buyers that toys, electronics, and other items work correctly. Also, test all working items, so you can let the buyer know if something is broken. You might even need extension cords for this, to prove that larger items work, such as lamps, radios, etc.
____9. GET APPROPRIATE CHANGE- I’m speaking from experience here. Make sure to go to the bank at LEAST two days before your sale, so that you don’t leave that to the last minute and forget. I always start with:
(2) $10 bills,(4) $5 bills, (30-40) $1 bills, $10 in quarters, $5 in dimes, and $2 in nickels.
____10. Price your items according to normal yard sale prices. Remember, this is a Yard Sale. People will expect to pay at least 50% off normal value on most items, and even more most of the time. I have gone to sales where a child’s shirt is $0.50, and then go to one where it is $2.00-$3.00. The lower you price your items, the faster they will sell, so you will have to be very careful in this area. You don’t want to undercut yourself, but you don’t want to be way out of the normal range either!
____11. Prepare to haggle. There may be times where you will have to haggle. This can easily be done politely and with courtesy. However, there will be that occasional buyer that pushes and pushes, so just make sure to stand your ground, but if it’s an item you’re really not attached to- let it go.
____12. Put your “best foot forward” by placing your most desirable items as close to the road as possible. You want to catch their eye just like a regular retail store!
____13. Have fun. Put on your suntan lotion, have helpers if possible, and don’t plan on cooking that night! I always make plans to go out to eat the night of my yard sales. You’ll be tired from the sun anyways! 
Make sure to check out our other Personal Finance articles!
10 Tips for Building An Emergency Fund
How Couponing Saves Me $7,000 Per Year
Create A Gift Closet & Save Money
Starting a Stockpile Can Save You Money
Three Tips to Rebuilding Your Credit
How to Have the Best Yard Sale Ever
Keeping a Price Book Can Save You Money
Avoid Bank & ATM Fees & Save Money
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During the first post of this four-part finance blog post series we determined if a financial adjustment was needed. If you are like the other 99% of the population, an adjustment is long overdue. The good news: A financial adjustment is closer than you think and easier than you imagine.
Welcome to the most powerful and the easiest financial adjustment ever.
Last week you printed off your bank statement and determined exactly where your money has been going.
This week we will make any adjustments that we feel are necessary to make financial progress.
Follow these quick and easy steps: (Grab your Google Doc budget spreadsheet first)
Finding the difference between how you have been spending your money and how you need to spend your money in order to meet your financial goals is the easiest and most powerful way to create the changes necessary to move in the right direction.
Next week we will use another simple and powerful method to make even more progress in the right direction.
-Derek C. Olsen
The ‘His’ in His+Hers=OUR$
This four-part financial blog post series is based on the book The Four Week Financial Turnaround.
Before we get started at looking at the best way to get the best deal on toilet paper, we need to start out by asking a question. “What can I live with, and what can I live without?” My hubby hates the commercial where two bears are always showing their bums, and I have to laugh, because I think most people DO have a preference when it comes to toilet paper. Therefore, you have to make a decision about your preferred texture for toilet paper.
If you have an anything goes attitude, you will probably get the best deal! For those who are brand specific buyers, then we need to look at maximizing the deal price on your specific brand. Another factor to consider is what can your toilet handle? If you have a clog every week, then you may want to consider switching to a less fluffy brand. Because costs, texture, and sizes of rolls vary, we are going to look at how to determine a “deal” for toilet paper.
Determine the price for square footage. The amount of square footage in a pack is located at the front bottom corner or most packages. (As shown in the photos below).
The first package had 16 rolls and 334 sq. feet.
The second package had 12 rolls and 284.6 square feet
Now, to figure out if you getting a good deal! Move the decimal point two places to the left. If I pay around $3.34 on the first package, that’s a good deal! If I pay $2.84 for the second package, that’s a good deal!
My “best price” for toilet paper is $0.01 per square foot, and this is just an easier way to figure out the price for $0.01 per square foot! Remember to use coupons in combination with store sale prices to get as close to this price as possible. If you can get close to these prices with deals and coupons, you are getting a GOOD deal!
Girls in White Dresses (blogger) actually did a square footage comparison in the store you may find helpful also! She researched seven different brands and found the following square footage prices:
Final Costs per square foot, cheapest to most expensive:
1. Scott .006
2. White Cloud .012
3. Angel Soft .013
4. Cottonelle with Aloe and A&E .019
5. Charmin Ultra Strong and Northern Ultra Plus (tie) .024
6. Charmin Ultra Soft .026
7. Cottonelle Ultra .028
HOWEVER, remember that NOT all papers are created equal, AND some of these are one-ply versus two-ply!
Here is a handy list of square footage for various TP rolls taken from (http://www.afullcup.com/forums/cry-help-done/457699-toilet-paper.html)
Angel Soft 4 reg rolls 2 ply 66.6 sq. ft
Angel Soft 12 ct double roll 400 sq. ft
Angel Soft- 24 rolls (2 ply) 400 sq ft
Angel Soft, 36 double rolls contained 1200 sq. ft
Charmin Ultra (red pkg)- 9 rolls 140.9 sq ft
Charmin Basic- 4 double rolls 146.1 sq ft
Charmin Basic- 16 double rolls 584.5 sq ft
Charmin Ultra Soft, 18 double rolls, contained 375 sq. feet
Charmin Ultra Strong, 24 double rolls, contained 501 sq. feet
Cottonelle Ultra, 12 double rolls, contained 246 sq. ft
Cottonelle- 12 big rolls 279.6 sq ft
Cottonelle Aloe A&E, 12 double rolls, contained 363 sq. ft
Kirkland (costco) 36 rolls 1911.6 sq feet
Northern Ultra Plush, 24 double rolls contained 533 sq. ft
Quilted Northern- 12 double rolls 396 sq ft
Scott 12 rolls 1 ply 1000 sheets per roll: 1257 sq. ft
Scott- Extra Soft, 12 big rolls 363.3 sq ft
Scott 24 rolls contained 2515 sq. ft
Ultra Plush, 24 double rolls contained 533 sq. ft
White Cloud 24 double rolls contained 862 sq. ft
Willow 12 double rolls 2 ply: 400 sq. feet
Please feel free to add any comments about how YOU find the best deal for TP!
Check out our other Money Saving Tips!
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How to Get The Best Price on Toilet Paper
How to Save the Most on Gas
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How to Get The Best Price on Toilet Paper
How to Save the Most on Gas
You have a fairly good idea where you want to be, but do you know where you are going?
You have an even better idea of where you came from, but do you know where you are?
Confused? Keep reading…
Where you are going and where you want to be could be two totally different places. What happens when were you want to be and where you end up are two different places? How you got where you are know has everything to do with where you will likely end up someday. In ten years from now, you will arrive, the question is, “Where?” Where will you arrive?
Your financial landscape doesn’t come with an easy to use map and directions. It can be difficult to see what direction you need to go and what direction you are actually heading. The direction you are actually heading is a good place to start, if you want to know (and choose) where you will eventually end up.
Make sure your financial direction is taking you where you want to be.
Use this free budgeting toy (Google Doc) to help determine if you are heading in the direction you want to go. Grab your copy of the Google Doc monthly budget spreadsheet and follow the simple steps below. I bet you the world that you will be surprised by how easy using this budget spreadsheet is. I will bet you all the stars in the galaxy that you will be amazed by how much useful information you will uncover about your own financial situation. The answers to the questions at the top of this blog post are found in this magical Google Doc. Enjoy.
Chances are you will have to make a few adjustments in your financial direction to get where you want to go. We all get a little off course every now and then. Seeing exactly how you have been spending your money is the answer to the question, “how did I get here?” How you spend your money between now and next year will determine – not if or when – but where you will arrive. If a course adjustment is needed, stay tuned for the second of this four-part blog post series.
-Derek C. Olsen www.HisPlusHersEqualsOurs.com This four-part financial blog post series is based on the book The Four Week Financial Turnaround.
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How to Get The Best Price on Toilet Paper
How to Save the Most on Gas
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I have found a MIRACLE cure! (Sorry if you already know about this one! LOL). My son gets frequent nosebleeds, and he had a major one last night, because he’s been taking anti-histamine lately due to a cold. Anyways, I used a mix of about 1 tbsp. of Dawn to 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and a 1/2 c of water, and sprayed it on the coat. Then I washed it in COLD water only, and let it air dry. This is how it turned out! I’m so excited! It didn’t lift the color and it totally removed the blood. Please note, there were a few areas where I had to put a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly on the blood stain where it was super soaked, but I was careful to rinse it off quickly as to not remove any color from the coat. I’m so excited! I’ve read before that you can use this formual to lift many stains from fabric and carpeting. However, always spot check first before applying it over a large area!
Miracle Cleaner Formula:
Mix together in a spray bottle and apply!
Do you have any favorite Homemade Cleaners or Home Remedies? Let us know!
Check out our other DIY & Homemade posts!
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homemade Fabric Softener Crystals
Hydrogen Peroxide & Dawn Miracle Cleaner
DIY Homemade Window Cleaner
DIY Homemade Fabric Softener
DIY Homemade Febreeze Spray
DIY Foaming Hand Soap
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One of the BIGGEST ways to save money is to create a gift closet! This is ESSENTIAL with today’s prices of gift wrap, gift bags, and the cost of your actual gift! I made the mistake several months ago of letting my gift closet dwindle, and I ended up having to BUY a birthday gift, card, tissue paper, and gift bag for a cousin. The cost was $50!!! I about fell over when I left the store, because the cost of the gift had only been $20 or $25!!! That means that the cost of wrapping the gift and the card was like $25!!! Craziness!!!
So, what is a gift closet, you’re asking? This is basically buying items you will use for gifts when you see something on sale that you would be able to give away. For example, the days and weeks after Christmas, I scour sale and clearance racks for items that are at a discount of 75-90% that I know I can giveaway to someone. I already purchased a beautiful item at Bath&Body Works valued at over $18 for my one of my son’s teachers. However, I only spent $3.75 on the item!
The purchased items go in one of our closets, along with Dollar Store Tissue paper, gift bags, and home made cards. I NEVER buy tissue paper at full-price. The cheapest price you can find in our area is at the Dollar Tree. It is $1.00 for 20 sheets, compared to $2.99 or $3.99 at Hallmark or even Walmart! For me, being caught without Dollar Tree tissue paper is like being caught without toilet paper! I LOATHE it if I have to buy tissue paper at full price, OR gift bags for that matter! I have found the most stylish gift bags at the Dollar Tree as well!
Homemade Cards (Or cards purchased for free/cheap through the same deals I post on this blog) are the easiest way to save money. I also have my son make cards for his friends’ birthday parties instead of paying $5 or more for cards that sing or do something like light up! A hand made card from a friend can be equally as special, and we always glue a picture of my son with his friend to the front, if we have one available. These have always been a hit at parties!
Again, your gift closet should include discounted baby items, home gifts, toys, and more! Think of all the special events throughout the year, and buy when the price is low! For example, I often buy Newborn or size 1 diapers on sale with coupons for $4.00 or less! These are normally $9 0r $10 when full-price! I include these in my baby shower gifts, and spend WAY less than most people!
If you’re someone who really likes to decorate your packages with bows and other adornments, just make sure to buy them on clearance! Our local Michael’s store has clearance ribbon several times throughout the year. I have purchased ribbon for $0.10, and have saved oodles of money buy not paying full price! A gift closet is almost a necessity in these economic times! If I paid full price for gifts and all the trimmings, I wouldn’t have any budget left for groceries! LOL
Make sure to check out our other Personal Finance articles!
10 Tips for Building An Emergency Fund
How Couponing Saves Me $7,000 Per Year
Create A Gift Closet & Save Money
Starting a Stockpile Can Save You Money
Three Tips to Rebuilding Your Credit
How to Have the Best Yard Sale Ever
Keeping a Price Book Can Save You Money
Avoid Bank & ATM Fees & Save Money
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My wife and I don’t have kids yet, but we hope to start a family in the near future. And it’s important to us to pass on healthy attitudes about money and possessions to our kids, and to equip them to be in control of their money and stay debt free.
A wise man once told me that you shouldn’t give parenting advice unless you have kids. However, I do know personal finance. I want to be careful in writing this to not overstep my bounds. So, I write this post to my future self. And hopefully these will help you as you guide your own children.
9 Things I Will Teach My Kids About Money!
1. Money Doesn’t Grow On…
It’s cliché, but many kids are shocked when they graduate only to realize that money really doesn’t grow on trees. Many parents feel that kids should do certain chores simply because they are part of the family, such as doing dishes, cleaning their bedroom, etc…and I agree. But you can also assign extra projects and pay them “commission.” If they don’t do the work, they don’t get paid…just like real life. This teaches them that money has to be earned, and it gives them an income that you can now teach them to manage.
2. You Can’t Buy Happy
In our American-dream mentality, we often believe that more money and more stuff will make us more happy. But this really isn’t true. The happiest people in the world have learned to be content with what they have. Often times, having more money just makes life more complicated. Money can be used for a lot of good things, but it is not a prerequisite to a happy life. Teach your kids to value things that will allow them to be truly happy – contentment, generosity, relationships, and fulfilling their life-purpose.
3. You Have to Live on a Budget
Money is not a limitless resource. Like adults, kids have to plan how they will use their money. Otherwise they’ll just spend mindlessly and end up broke. If your child earns $30 per month, help them to plan out on paper how they will spend that money…save $5, buy dad’s birthday gift for $15, and so on…Help them develop this habit now so they can start off their life being in control of their finances.
4. Follow the 80-10-10 Rule
Along with budgeting, I want my kids to learn this simple formula…80-10-10. The first 10% of any money they receive should be given, either to our church, another ministry, or a charity they care about. The next 10% should be saved for the future. The other 80% is theirs to spend as they please, but it must be budgeted. This will help them develop these giving, saving, and spending habits for the rest of their lives.
5. Avoid The Debt-Trap
I want my kids to understand the dangers of debt. When they’re old enough, discuss credit cards, loans, and car payments with your kids. Help them understand that buying things on credit ends up costing more than if they had paid in cash. Growing up, I was taught by example that credit and debt were the way to buy things. It only follows that as an adult I racked up over $50,000 of consumer debt. I want to make sure my kids understand why and how to avoid this debt-trap.
6. Companies Want Your Money
The average American sees 1,500 ads per day. Corporations want our money and our kids’ money. Watch the commercials on your kids’ favorite shows. These companies work hard to turn our kids into consumers. That’s why it’s important to teach them not to believe everything they see on commercials and TV. As they get older, help them understand that these ads are designed to get them to spend money on stuff they don’t really need.
7. Money is Not the Goal
I remember a teacher asking what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said, “I want to be rich!” I want my kids to know that accumulating a bunch of money and stuff is not a worthwhile goal. Money is not an end itself…it is only a means to an end. What good is a million dollars if just sits at the end of a balance sheet? I want my children to know that it’s not the number that counts; it’s what you do with it.
8. Make Goals For Your Money
Money itself shouldn’t be a goal, but mindless spending is no way to handle finances. It’s imperative to teach our kids how to set reasonable and achievable goals for their money. This includes short term goals, like saving for a video game, and long term goals, like saving for their first car. Setting goals helps us to stay motivated and focused, and this is a skill kids need to start learning early.
9. Dare to Not Compare
As a child, one of my friend’s parents got a brand new car, and I was jealous. In her wisdom, my mom told me, “We could have a new car. But you don’t know what they may have had to give up in order to have that car.” There will always be people who have nicer, newer, better and more. But as I said above, having more money and more stuff doesn’t make you more happy. We need to teach our children to be thankful and content with what they have, to handle their money wisely, and to not let other people determine their happiness.
If you are a parent, you know better than anyone that children learn from our example. If you don’t have control over your finances…budget, debt, savings…your kids will likely follow suit. However, if you can get control of your money now, your kids will have a much better chance of winning with money when they are on their own.
Yours In Freedom,
Clint Davis
Davis Coaching
Start a savings account for your child(ren) and teach them importance of saving. We are learning how important saving money is during this recession, this is a great way to help your children learn that importance as well. ING is a great way to save and it is so easy. No Fees or minimums and the money accrues interest.
With the economy still taking a tumble, we still have a lot to be thankful for this year. However, it’s not necessary to spend a large amount of money to feed your family this Thanksgiving. We have some serious tips on how to save you money AND stress this holiday season! Remember, we’ve been working towards a less stressful Christmas with our Christmas Planning Guide! However, you KNOW Black Friday IS the day after Thanksgiving, right? So, we want you to be ready now for your meal so you can have plenty of energy to get your Christmas Shopping done on Friday! (Also, make sure you read our Black Friday Shopping Tips article!!)
1. Decide on how much meat- You will need to decide on how much meat you need for your family. If you’re feeding 30+, a turkey breast isn’t going to cut it. However, if you like the taste of leftovers, it may pay you to go ahead and buy a whole bird. We eat from the leftover meat for several days AND we make Turkey Chili or Turkey Chowder! We’re going to be posting some great recipes for these types of meals in the upcoming weeks! Once you have your left over recipes, make sure to add any extra needed ingredients to your T-Giving shopping list! We always start our chowder the night of Thanksgiving or the next day.
2. Getting your bird- Many families have really neat ways of getting a free turkey! In our area, Giant (of PA) allows a free turkey for each family depending on their bonus points. Many grocery stores use a point system to earn a free turkey! If this is done in your area, ask a family member to use your card the weeks before if you don’t think you’ll have enough points. This way you can rack up points faster! My family usually gets at least one free bird from building up points. Also, don’t buy your turkey too early, because the sale prices may not be in effect at that point!
In a tough economy, many companies are not handing out as many bonuses. However, there are some that still offer free turkeys! If one of your family members is willing to offer up their free work turkey, you may not need to pay for one! Finally, I have to add my 2 cents about Aldi. I bought a turkey at Aldi two years ago, and it was SO GOOD! The lady in line behind me raved about them so much, I had to get one! Generally, Aldi prices are much less than a regular grocery store. Check yours out to see if you can score a cheap bird!
Compare prices! Make sure you are getting a great price! If you keep a price book, you should already know the best price on turkey, but you will still need to check the flyers to see how low sales may dip within a few weeks of Thanksgiving!
We often host family gatherings at our house because we have a nice open kitchen area. However, this year we’re hosting over 30 people. So, we’re willing to provide the turkey, but we would like to have more than one type of meat, so my cousin and his wife are bringing a roast. In these types of situations, where you’re feeding a larger amount of people, a family should work together to provide the meat, and it is appropriate to make it pot-luck, which we will discuss next.
3. Pot Luck- Our family works together to provide a lovely meal each holiday. It is nothing to have close to 30 people for one of our gatherings, and each person always volunteers to bring something. It is appropriate for each attending family to bring at cold/hot dish. If they can’t bring one of those items, they should at least bring soda (or pop as some call it;) and chips. For example, we have a family with over 6 nurses. So, many times they have to work on the holiday. In those situations, they usually bring a store-bought pie/dessert, or chips/soda. One cousin brings baked corn, and another brings candied sweet potatoes. When the meal is at our house, we provide the meat, stuffing, and potatoes. This ensures that everyone works together, and no one feels to much pressure from the day. It’s supposed to be a day to enjoy family, not slave labor!
4. Use Your Coupons- Stores should be having some GREAT BOGO deals, and you can use these in conjunction with many coupons! Sometimes you can score a deal for close to FREE! Use these in conjunction with your price book to make sure you’re actually getting a better price. For example, it may still be cheaper to buy cream style corn at Aldi than the Green Giant cans on BOGO at Weis. However, you can STILL score some great deals with coupons and BOGO, especially if your store doubles!
5. Farmer’s Market- Sometimes you can score fresh veggies for less at a farmer’s market or produce co-op. I know our area has a produce co-op that you can pay to join, but then you can freeze/can the produce you receive. Also, if you shop at the end of the day, sometimes you can haggle for a lower price. If you do pay full price, know that you’re helping a local farmer!
6. Host your large family meal AFTER Thanksgiving. Just like the day after Christmas, you can score HUGE discounts on items after the holiday. You may be able to snag some leftover Thanksgiving supplies for less, which could result in bigger savings. However, I prefer to get this event over on the day itself, so I’m ready for Black Friday. If you are not a big Black Friday shopper, this may work for you!
7. DIY- Baking your own pies and freezing them ahead of time should save you at least $2 a pie! Most store bought pies in our area are $6-$8+ for a single pie. Baking a pie at home should cost $4 or less! Plus, these are fresh made pies and taste better than store bought, because they don’t have all the preservatives. Here are some Pie Freezing Guidelines!
8. Decorate by Bringing the Outside In- Use natural decorations for your table such as pine-cones or pine swags. You can also purchase inexpensive gourds or small pumpkins, and place the gourds in a bowl. Oftentimes, I purchase the next year’s decorations when they go on sale from the year before! You can often find these items for up to 90% off during after holiday sales! This is a GREAT tip for next year!
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! If there are young people in your family, ask them to help clean up. They won’t learn how to help if we don’t give them the opportunity. Also, sometimes they don’t know to offer, but totally don’t mind!
10. Plan Your Menu- We will help you with that! Check out our Baked Corn Recipe or our Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe!
How do you save on your Thanksgiving Meal?
Check out our other Holiday Posts to save time and stress!
Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Cornflake Cookie Recipe (Grandma Phyl’s recipe)
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