Everyone has to eat, but there’s no reason buying food has to wipe out your family’s budget. If you’re trying to find a way to save money, you may want to consider the advantage of buying in bulk. This is one way that nearly every family can save money.
One place you can go to buy in bulk is a membership club such as Sam’s, Costco, or BJ’s Wholesale. They offer items in larger packages which help to lower the per-unit cost for that item. It’s important, however, to be prepared when heading to a membership club or you may find yourself spending more money than you intended.
Here’s how you can save money on grocery shopping in general:
* Before making any trip to buy food, start with a shopping list. Look through what you currently have on hand to decide what items you need. You may also want to create a meal plan for the week which will help you write out your shopping list and enable you to get only those items you need.
* Look through local newspapers to see what is on sale. Write those amounts next to the items on your list so you can compare the membership clubs with local prices. Usually the bulk prices (per unit price) will be cheaper, but that’s not always the case.
* Common items that are consistently money savers when buying in bulk include paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues), cleaning products, generic medicines, frozen vegetables, and frozen hamburger patties. With other items on your grocery list, you’ll want to comparison shop to ensure you’re saving the most.
* Some membership clubs accept manufacturer’s coupons. They may accept in-store coupons, coupons sent as a membership benefit, or traditional manufacturer’s coupons. Be sure to use coupons on bulk items that you’re already planning to buy and you’ll save even more!
* Avoid impulse buying. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in your basket. You’re likely to be bombarded with food samples – go ahead and try them, but don’t allow yourself to be enticed to buy them if they aren’t pre-planned.
There are several benefits of buying in bulk. Buying the same item in larger packages means saving up to 30% on your purchase of your price. Less packaging also benefits the environment because there won’t be as much packaging placed in landfills. People buying in bulk generally eat better because they’re not depending on convenience foods which are considered less healthful.
Now you know the advantages of buying in bulk. You will enjoy the benefits of saving money, helping the environment, and preparing healthier meals. So, what’s holding you back from giving buying in bulk a try?
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Halloween parties can be a ton of fun. Unfortunately, they can also be expensive to host. Here are some ideas on how to throw a Halloween party on a budget.
One reason some people choose not to host Halloween parties is because they’re close to Christmas and that holiday generally takes all of their extra money. But there’s no reason why you can’t celebrate both holidays and do so without breaking the bank.
Start out by creating a budget. Think of all the items you’ll need: food, beverages, decorations, and invitations. Decide how much you can afford to spend and then stick to that amount.
Food and Beverages
You can save money on food and beverages if you ask everyone to bring something, similar to having a pot luck dinner. You can also reduce the amount you spend by purchasing as much as you can from dollar or discount stores. Avoid local grocery stores except for items you can’t find cheaper elsewhere.
Schedule your party after dinner. Most people will have already eaten and you can serve snacks rather than a full meal. This alone can save you quite a bit.
Serve non-alcoholic beverages. Again, you can ask your guests to bring a 2-litre drink. If the party is for adults and they’re convinced they can’t have Halloween without alcoholic drinks, ask them to bring their own.
Decorations
If Halloween is on any day except Saturday, you can plan your celebrations for the Saturday following Halloween and still have a great party. By planning the party after the holiday, you can get decorations at the after-Halloween sales.
You can wait until the last minute to get decorations. Halloween items generally go on sale the day of Halloween. Buy items you need at a saving and still have great decorations.
Plan ahead. Buy a plastic container and buy Halloween items after the holiday and save them for the next year. Decoration needs aren’t likely to change from year to year, so you could save a good deal of money and have great decorations.
Find table cloths, plates, napkins, cups, and service wear at a dollar store. If you want to stick with traditional Halloween colors, go for orange and black. They may also have other Halloween decorations you can grab without breaking your budget.
You can also order decorations from an online source like Oriental Trading Company or DollarDays. Auction sites may also have decorations for less than you’d get at local stores.
Invitations
Be sure to send out invitations early if you’re having a party. You can find wonderful clip art online to make your own invitations. Find some orange paper and print the invitations on that. The only cost will be paper, ink for printing, and postage. This is much less than buying pre-made invitations. Three to four weeks before the event is a good time to send invitations. Don’t forget to ask those invited to RSVP.
By following these simple ideas, there’s no reason you have to break the bank if you want to enjoy Halloween. Now that you know how to throw a Halloween party on a budget, it’s time to make plans for your own Monster Mash.
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Unless you’re born into an extremely wealthy family, you’ll probably end up having to borrow money. Whether for a vehicle, a home, or post-secondary education, you can expect a financial institution to be in your future. Here are ten tips for borrowing wisely.
1. Borrow as little money as possible. If you need a new vehicle, you don’t have to try to purchase a brand new Hummer 3 if you can manage with a smaller vehicle. Calculate how much you make and decide how much you can easily pay back; then look for a vehicle that will give you payments in that range.
2. Understand the terms of a loan. The principal is the amount borrowed and on which you will pay interest. Interest is basically the rent you pay for using the funds received.
3. Consider how much credit you already have. If you’re going to need to replace something in the near future, do whatever you can to pay off one of your other creditors first. This will keep your debt-to-income ratio lower and possibly keep your credit rating from being unaffected.
4. Be sure to repay loans based on the repayment schedule you receive. Sending payments late will adversely affect your credit rating and possibly your ability to receive lending in the future. If you think your ability to repay a loan is at risk, call your lender immediately.
5. Shop around to see which financial institutions have the best interest rate and repayment terms. Depending upon the type of loan you need, you may have more options than you believed.
6. Regularly check your credit score and history. This will enable you to find errors and give you an opportunity to get those items repaired. Particularly look for accounts you have not opened or obvious errors.
7. Understand the terms of the agreement prior to signing final documentation for a loan. Are there questions at all about the terms? Ask the loan officer to explain things in a way you can understand.
8. Avoid the “borrowing from Peter to pay Paul” mentality. If you’re having financial problems, be sure to let your creditors know. They may be willing to lower your interest rate, your monthly payment, or defer a payment until you can get caught up.
9. Keep an eye on revolving credit. This type of credit doesn’t lend itself to remaining in a budget because you can pay off part of the balance on the account and then start charging up to your credit limit again. Revolving credit is often found on department store credit and may have higher interest rates associated with them.
10. Create a budget. A budget is like having a roadmap that shows how much income your family earns, what your household expenditures are, and how much you owe to creditors. Your goal is to handle your finances in a way that allows you to pay all of your monthly bills, provide necessities for your family, and still have some money left over to save for the future.
Use these ten tips for borrowing wisely so you can avoid financial problems. By following even a few of these tips, you may find your family on a firmer financial footing in the future.
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