Tuesday, January 31, 2012

E-Books

I have written a few E-books on finding deals in FM area, saving on Grocery expenses and teaching kids about money. They can be found Here.

Set a Goal

America Saves Week is recognized February 19-26, 2012. As part of this, on the website they give ideas of things to do throughout the month to get your financial life in order.

For today, the tip is to set a goal. 1 in 6 American Savers selected paying off consumer debts as their wealth building goal. Here is information on the cost of debt and tips to getting out of debt.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saving on Groceries E-Book

Grocery expenses are the largest expenses in most budgets and with prices continuing to increase it is taking more of your budget.

I have put together an E-Book with ideas of ways to save money on grocery expenses. For a limited time, you can download a free copy here.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Teens for Jeans

Teens for Jeans is a program where jeans are collected for homeless teens. From January 16 thru February 12 you can drop off gently worn jeans at any Aeropostale or P.S. from Aeropostale stores.

There is also a program that can be run through schools. The school that collects the most jeans will win $5,000, new Aeropostale jeans for every student and a party for their entire school.

1 in 3 homeless people in the U.S. is under the age of 18. In 4 years they have collected and donated over 1.5 million jeans

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Shopping Your Closets

We are finally beginning to get winter weather. If you are getting tired of your wardrobe, there are some ways to make some changes without spending a lot of money. One idea is to shop your own closet. Look at your closet and drawers and see if there are items in the back of them that you may have forgotten about. Also, sometimes I get in a rut and wear the same pieces together. Look at your items and see if you could pair a shirt or sweater with a different pair of pants or skirt than you usually wear it with. Also, by changing your accessories can change the look of an outfit. One idea I have heard of is to hang all of your clothes with the hanger backwards and when you wear an item, hang it up the right way. After a certain amount of time like 6 months or a year consider getting rid of items you have not worn. Some exceptions are special occasion items.

If you find you need new items consider looking at clearance racks and resale stores. Some of the items I find at resale stores still have the original tags on them. Other items may be used but many people can’t tell unless I tell them. I figure the less money I spend, I can update my wardrobe more often. Or I can have money to spend on some other part of my budget.

Saturday, January 28, Clothes Mentor Fargo is having their semi-annual $1 Sale. All Clearance items are $1. The sale is Saturday only and doors open at 10 AM.

Friday, January 20, 2012

5 Ways to Save on Groceries

One of the largest expense categories in most budgets is for groceries and dining out. It also may be one of the easiest to control.

Grocery shopping is dreaded by many people but if you take some steps it can be more enjoyable. I will also share ways that you can save money without having to clip coupons.

Stocking Up to Save
Another tip to saving money is stocking up on items you use regularly when they are on sale. Not that you have to buy a bunch but just one or two extra. Sales usually run in 12 week cycles so if you have enough to last until the next time it comes on sale. If you have an extra of items on hand then when you run out you don't have to go pay regular price for it.

Menu planning
If you take a few minutes each week to set up a menu plan can make it easier getting dinner on the table each night. When you know what you are going to make each night you can have everything on hand and get things ready if you need to the night before. This is one way to save you from stopping for take out as much.

When planning your menu it is helpful to be looking at the grocery store fliers to see what is on sale and try to plan around things you have on hand and are on sale.


Once A Month Cooking
Another way to save time and money cooking is Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) or freezer cooking. The idea behind this is to buy enough ingredients and set aside one day to cook enough meals for a month. There are many cookbooks and websites with recipe plans and tips on this. Or if you don’t want to devote an entire day to it, double or triple some recipes and freeze. You can also make a meal item or baked item if you have some spare time or while your current meal is cooking.

Use a Crockpot
Using the crockpot is both a money saving and time saving way to cook. It is nice to come home after a busy day and smell supper ready. Its money saving because it saves you from the possibility of going out to eat or bringing home take out if you don't have time or don't feel like cooking. Also, some cuts of meat, you can use a cheaper cut of meat and it gets tender from cooking all day.

Pantry challenge
One way people are using to save money is to participate in a Pantry Challenge. They try to go a month by using items in their pantry and freezer. They do buy some groceries, but try to limit trips to the store by using things they have on hand.

I am working on an E-Book with more information on these and other ideas to save on groceries.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Planning for the Holidays

Yes, we just got done with the holiday season but it is a great time to start planning for next year. First, if you have credit card debt from the holidays, sit down and make a plan to pay it off. If you look at the balancee you owe and determine how much you can apply from your monthly budget. Are there any areas that you can cut back on to apply those amounts to your debt?

Once you get your debt paid off or if you do not have any current debt start planning for next year. This is a great time for planning since you have an idea of how much you spent on gifts and other holiday expenses. Take the amount you spent and determine if you think it will be similar next year. Once you have an idea of what the holiday season will cost you, divide that amount by the number of months until December. When you have a monthly amount, look at your monthly budget and see how this amount fits into it. If you do not have room in your budget, look for ways to cut other expenses or ways to bring in more income.

One way to plan for the holidays is make a list of every one you are planning on purchasing a gift for and a budgeted amount for each. Also, make a list of extra holiday expenses such as extra dining out, parties, and other supplies and total that list. When you add the total of both of those lists you will have an idea of how much to save for holiday expenses.

By taking steps now to save for holiday expenses it may save some of the stress and worry at the end of the year and beginning of next year.

As Dave Ramsey states in one of his books "Christmas is not an emergency, it always comes on December 25."

Friday, January 13, 2012

Finding Deals E-book

A couple of years ago I compiled a listing of some ways to save money in the Fargo Moorhead area. If you don't live in the area, you may still be able similar deals in your area.

Here is a link where you can download a free copy of the E-book.

I hope you find the information helpful in stretching your dollars further

Monday, January 9, 2012

A Christmas Singing

The Christmas Singing is the second book by Cindy Woodsmall that I have read recently. She has a great talent of writing so you can feel the emotions of the characters and begin to feel that you actually know the characters.

Mattie left home after being dumped by her long time boyfriend and starts a bakery. When the bakery burns down and she moves back home she finds out the real reason that he broke up with her. He was trying to protect her but ended up hurting her instead.

I really enjoyed the book and it is a quick and easy read.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Roll with the Punches

If I Knew Then What I Know Now is a collection of stories of experiences which may help you in your own life. When something happens to them, most people ask themselves why or say if they knew then what they know now.

The author was a business person and then a registered nurse for many years. The book was written to share stories to help others that may be dealing with similar circumstances. It covers a variety of topics such as money, health and happiness.

It is a great resource if you are going through challenging times, to see that you are not the only one going through it. It may also give you ideas of how to deal with it.


I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."