09.26.11 / Bargain / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
Going into the grocery store is a “Journey into Fear.”
After after purchasing my 50-cent thrift book, “A Treasury of Great Mysteries, Volume I,” I realized two savings:
- Buying used books for 10 cents to 50 cents at The Friends of the Library book sale, and;
- Reading at night instead of buying sleeping aids when you can’t sleep because you’re worried about going grocery shopping.
I digress. As I was saying, the last novelette in this book is a 1940s Eric Ambler story, “Journey into Fear,” about a U.S. Navy engineer who is being pursued by Nazi agents. The engineer flirts with and enlists a show girl’s help. The show girl waves off hard times and slow tips as “Good for the figure.”
What a way to look at hard times.
I must admit a very large portion of my paycheck goes to gas and groceries. With milk beating out gas at more than $4 per gallon. Coffee and meats boldly increase their prices while decreasing their sizes.
Good luck in the fruits and vegetable aisles. If the ever-increasing chance of a deadly strain of bacteria doesn’t kill you, the prices will.
Tips for saving at the grocery store:
- Watch your proportions when you eat. The meat portion of your meal should be roughly the size of a deck of cards or your palm. Stop super-sizing your meals.
- If your recipe calls for 1 pound of hamburger, expand your palate by using 1/2 pound, mixed with rice (ex. sloppy joes), beans (ex. tacos), or bread crumbs and oatmeal (ex. hamburgers, meatballs), increase pasta in your goulash.
- Take advantage of coming holiday sales. Grocery stores compete against each other over their turkeys and hams. Be sure to buy an extra one when prices are rock bottom. Then plan several meals with the extra meat, not just one.
- Watch for good sales. Always compare price per pound. Just because the store says it’s a sale, doesn’t mean it is.
- Pick one day of the week to go meatless. Explore your Italian side, and re-think pasta.
If nothing else, we’ll come out of this recession smarter, better cooks, and with slimmer waists. So to all the tightwads out there, tighten up your belt and pocketbook and journey into the grocery store.
08.08.11 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
Declining populations could be key to paying off your student loans.
I have to admit, my fine arts degree really hasn’t worked for me and being an artist, Gov. Sam Brownback is not on my Christmas Card (always an original work of art) list.
But maybe he is trying to help me and all the others who got caught somewhere in between “college is your best investment” and “college is for the wealthy” eras.
The Rural Opportunity Zones program was signed into a law July 1. This law is designed to spur economic development and expand job growth in 50 counties in Kansas.
It pays up to $3,000 annually on your student loans and gives you a reprieve of five years if you move from out of state.
I was all for moving back to my hometown, hanging out at the local malt shop and cruising with my old classmates just so the state would pay $3,000 a year on my student loans until I got stuck on that phrase “job growth.”
For there to be job growth, there must be jobs to grow. I don’t think I would be happy (or qualified) to work at the local seed plant or measure out yards of material for the quilt club.
Nostalgia is one thing, job opportunity is another.
All Kansans are struggling to keep a job and pay their bills no matter what county they live in.
Mr. Brownback give your hard-working, Kansas-grown residents some tax breaks no matter where they live or we may be forced out of state where groceries aren’t taxed, where personal property taxes are unheard of and where the governor may even hang a piece of art created by a local artist in his or her office.
07.29.11 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
We get comfortable in our lives, comfortable in our favorite chairs and comfortable in our creditors.
I got inspired this past month. It started with my youngest wanting a cell phone. While I had no quams with her having one, I dreaded changing my phone plan.
A+ customer service on this one. I was able to add a line, tweak my plan, upgrade my old phone and reduce my bill. I should of done that earlier.
Next the cable.
With internet at work and available through my new phone upgrades, I made the necessary phone call. This transition didn’t go as well, but after no television service for a few days and countless service calls. I got what I wanted. A lower bill.
My auto insurance check, through my bank, took a little longer than expected ( a free service my bank provides). I thought that my agent, whom I have had since I was 18, believed me that the check was in the mail – NOT. It’s not a good feeling to be dropped, but it gave me cause for action.
I soon found an agency that would give me a great deal on my multi-auto policy, plus better home coverage for less than I currently pay. Bonus — 12-percent extra discount on my new upgraded phone service. I like that.
So, I changed my home insurance. I had been needing to since the last bad wind storm (should have been classified a tornado) went through, and I watched all my neighbors’ roofs being replaced and our agent hadn’t gotten back to us yet.
Makes me wonder why I don’t check my bills every quarter or so and see if there is a better deal out there. Thank goodness America is still the land of the free and competition is strong.
Check your bank rates, your mortgage rates, your utilities, your grocery store. Make a phone call, or fill out a questionaire online. Most representatives bend over backward to get and keep you as a lifetime customer, they will seek financing, transition your switch with your current creditor, set up payment plans, give you incentives.
So go ahead, put that ratty old recliner out by the curb (for fellow curb-side picker uppers) and see what else is out there. You’ll soon get comfortable and feeling spiffy as well!
07.14.11 / Bargain / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
Tags: Cell, coupons, phone, T-mobile
Recently, I put my out-of-date, 2-year-old phone to rest and had to make the massively confusing and all-important new cell phone purchase overnight.
I got fancy and I got some deals!
First deal: I printed out a $50 coupon to be used on a new smart phone. Yes, this is on top of the T-Mobile rebate system. Get your coupon here: http://www.ottawaherald.com/story/simplywireless
Second Deal: $50 rebate. Combined with my coupon, this allowed me to get the phone I really wanted compared to the second phone on my list, which was $50 cheaper. Just remember it takes forever to get your rebate, so don’t use your grocery money.
Third Deal: I re-evaluated my plan. There was a time when Sir Spendthrift and I just couldn’t manage the same phone plan. One of us just over did it with the talking and you know it wasn’t Tightwad. Since starting our plans, way back in the dinosaur age, it wasn’t common for children to have their own communication devices. I know this isn’t anything new to most of you, but putting everyone on the same plan saves many extra charges including internet and insurance.
Fourth Deal: Do you have health insurance? Why yes, yes I do! I am now saving 15% off my bill because of a Blue Cross/Blue Shield discount. I also have heard of big group discounts at large companies. It never hurts to ask!
Fifth Deal: This one is all about the customer service and was unplanned. My phone consultant made an error on total charges, which she corrected before I even knew what she was talking about. But for my “inconvenience,” I received a discount on a phone for my daughter, whom I like to call Penny.
Sixth Deal: It’s as easy as making friends! “Like” T-Mobile’s facebook and get a coupon for 50% off any phone accessories.
Seventh Deal: Look for accessories that already are marked down to use your newly acquired coupon. Right now there is a docking station that says “Belongs to Tightwad Granny” on it. It originally was $52, but is half off in the store. Use your new coupon and receive it for only $13! Come to Granny!
As you can see I had an exceptional experience at T-Mobile. Maybe this company is a master in marketing, maybe I bought a little over my phone ability, but good customer service and telling how your customers can save is priceless. Go ahead and sign me up for another two years.
I feel so good, maybe I’ll check into my cable service next!
06.27.11 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
The down and dirty A&E hit “Storage Wars” is pretty cut-throat with a variety of pro-wrestling-looking pros getting a quick look at the towers of stuff — then the bidding begins. Usually they put down a lot of cash with just a peek of what is beyond the corrugated metal doors.
Caution: You need SKILLS to do this. You must know beyond a doubt characteristics of valuable items.
Try playing the “What’s It Worth?” game on the Storage Wars website.
I am a seasoned seller, and, yet, the game threw me off. It took me quite a few times to line up the items according to their values.
Local storage wars also exist. Times are published in the legal section of the newspaper. You need to call the storage facility right before the payment deadline to see if any of the units listed are still going up for auction. If the storage customer pays their bill then their items will not be put up for sale.
At Stor-It-Safe (Ottawa), they take silent bids, you write down your bid on a piece of paper. This can be tricky because you don’t know what you’re up against with other bidders. They roll open the door, you take a look (no digging). If you win, you are responsible for cleaning and sweeping out the unit.
If you’d like to spend the day and fill a truck, you may want to participate in a sort of “Storage Hop.” Mayo Auction & Realty work several storage sites. They hold their storage auctions the last Friday of the month. Moving from one location to another throughout the metro.
They are auctioneers, so you are participating in live bidding action. Be sure to check the website the night before or that morning to find starting location (if there are no units up for auction at first site, they meet at the second on the list).
As in most auctions, you must have cash and an ID.
Storage Auction Tips:
- Check to see auction is still as scheduled (if the renter pays even one minute before auction time, the auction is void)
- Bring cash and lots of it. You are not bidding on one item, but a whole unit.
- Know what an item is worth without a thorough inspection. You can’t go in to dig a lamp out to check for special markings.
- Bring some muscle. Unit must be emptied usually that day.
