“Ways I Save Money” Archive

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Saving Money with Health Insurance

Every so often, my husband’s health insurance company, Anthem Blue Cross, mails us a magazine called Healthy Solutions. Admittedly, I only browse this magazine in the short trip from the mailbox to the recycling bin, but an article caught my eye. The article was titled, ‘Wondering how to stay healthy in an economy that’s not?’

The article shared ways Anthem is working to save you money by helping you stay healthy. Sure, healthier members save Anthem money, but there’s nothing wrong with a little win-win right?!?

I browsed the website was surprised at the free offerings from his insurance provider including free workout plans by Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser, health tips, ways to save on prescriptions, free health assessments, members only discounts on vitamins/eyeglasses/hearing aids/gym memberships/etc., doctor ratings, and lifestyle improvement programs.

I checked into my health insurance provider and they offered tons of freebees as well. Save a little cash and check with your health insurance company. You may very well be paying for something you could get for less!

Posted by Beks on September 27, 2011 at 9:52 AM in Free Stuff, health, Saving Money, Ways I Save Money | 4 Comments »
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Move Over Groupon…

For those of you Grouponers, there is a new daily deal discounter for health and wellness products, Healthdeals.com.

Healthdeals offers discounts on gym memberships, nutrition bars, beauty products, and more. Today’s deals include: Beautorium, Purefit, Sha ToBu, Fusion Power Band, Funkoos, and Bashful Bump.

I’ve said it before, I’m not a Groupon member and I’m not a Healthdeals member either. But you can browse the offerings without signing up. DON’T BUY STUFF YOU DON’T ALREADY BUY!! But if you need something health related, you may be able to save a little money.

Best of luck!

Posted by Beks on September 23, 2011 at 7:58 PM in health, Ways I Save Money | 3 Comments »
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Save Money While Shopping…

I was listening to a local finance radio show and couldn’t help but giggle at their advice on how to save money while shopping based on a nationwide study. Apparently, shoppers spend less when they have to, um, how do I say this…

when they have to pee.

Shoppers feel rushed and spend less time wandering stores, thus, add less to their shopping carts.

Somehow, I just can’t see myself hurriedly downing a couple quarts of water so Target would have a less painful hit on my pocketbook BUT, I know it would work. How? This weekend, I ran a couple errands while my husband watched our sleeping baby at home. I’m nursing the little guy so my window of time away is TINY. I found myself power walking (and admittedly, occasionally RUNNING) through the grocery store, the shoe store, and the library. There wasn’t one item purchased that wasn’t on my list because I simply didn’t have the luxury of time to wander. My husband laughed at my new ability to shop quickly and cheaply.

So, if you aren’t trapped by a nursing infant…

try drinking lots of water.

Posted by Beks on August 8, 2011 at 5:24 PM in Living Frugal, Saving Money, Ways I Save Money | 5 Comments »
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Thinking Outside the Box… Again…

I wanted to have some maternity photos taken before the baby decided to make an appearance. Thinking it wouldn’t cost more than a couple hundred dollars for a decent photographer, I started to research my area for recommendations.

Apparently I’m WAY out of the loop on the actual cost of a photographer.

Starting price? $600. Top of the range? Prices not listed because if you have to ask… you can’t afford it.

Yes, we have money saved in our baby fund but when it comes down to spending an extra week or two with the baby OR having maternity photos, I choose baby time.

Of course, this made me break down into a giant puddle of tears. There’s nothing worse than a woman who can’t have what she wants… unless it’s a PREGNANT woman who can’t have what she wants.

So. I called for reinforcements.

SNIFFFFFFFFLE. *ring* “Liz? Ican’taffordmaternityphotosbecausewe’rebrokeandI’msosad.Pleasehelpme” I sobbed in a single breath into the phone to my sister.

“Huh?” she said.

I probably should have had my level headed husband call so she could understand at least a few words.

She eventually figured out what I was crying about (…this time…) and offered to take photos for us.

I researched poses and locations while she studied how to adjust the F-stop and ISO on a camera. We spent a couple nights at the beach and the park chasing sunlight and snapping photos. Sure, she isn’t a pro and I’m not a good subject, but you learn to accept you can’t have everything you want while paying off mistakes *cough* I mean, while paying off debt.

I’ll admit. I didn’t expect much. BUT…

I’m so happy with the way the photos turned out. Who knew my sister was a closet photographer?

It’s easy to give up, but don’t. Constantly look for ways to think outside the box. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Posted by Beks on July 22, 2011 at 5:00 AM in Ways I Save Money | 16 Comments »
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If My Mortgage Doesn’t Kill Me, Costco Will…

I scrimp, I save, I budget but there are two things that can empty my bank account in three seconds flat:

My mortgage and Costco Wholesale.

I suffered an attack from both yesterday.

My mortgage cleared my account in the morning and even though I’m prepared, even though it’s budgeted, it’s always a little disheartening to feel rich one day and broke the next. It’s like watching a car full of cash leave my checking account each month.

For some reason, I thought yesterday might also be a good time to go to Costco. We ran out of paper towels and we would soon need napkins and toilet paper. This trip SHOULD have cost $45.

I tried to make a straight line down the center of the store, directly to the paper products (conveniently placed in the BACK) but found myself saying, ‘Peaches? OF COURSE I need a huge flat of peaches. Sure, it’s only hubby and me and we’ll have to eat 17 peaches each in the next 5 days, but I CAN’T live without them.’

It’s as if all logical thought and reasoning disappear at those roll-up doors.

I loaded the cart with apples, pre-cooked dinners, dog food, and paper products. My exit cost me…
$191.

I’m tricked into thinking I’m ‘saving money’ by purchasing toilet paper 92 rolls at a time but those rolls are typically accompanied by loads of items I don’t need.

It’s not as if anything I purchased will go to waste, but it will take 10 years for us to use it all. Fortunately, my husband worked a side job a few weekends ago and we had the cash, but that’s $191 that won’t be going into our emergency fund this month.

I think I’m going to have to break up with Costco.

Posted by Beks on July 21, 2011 at 5:00 AM in Spending Money, Ways I Save Money | 14 Comments »
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To lose your sanity, press 1 now…

My husband’s cell phone contract expired a few days ago. He’s kept his service with the same provider for more than 10 years and we decided it was time to make sure we were saving all we possibly could. Since I’ve been with the same provider for 14 years and he’s been with his for 10, it’s safe to say we haven’t shopped around recently and were totally unprepared for the insane sales pitches from every provider in San Diego County. And of course, all of them have ‘the best service’ and ‘the lowest prices’.

Sigh. It was an awful way to blow a Sunday afternoon.

But, we found a provider we both liked, he got a cell phone that actually works, AND, we’re saving $30 a month. It turns out, we were paying for services he wasn’t using on his old plan and we didn’t register numbers as our top 10 friends and family for free calls. I felt REALLY stupid when the plans were explained and I discovered all the mistakes we had been making.

Rather than simply write a check for your cell phone bill this month, make sure you are on a plan that fits you. You may be flushing $30 a month!

Posted by Beks on June 15, 2011 at 5:00 AM in Ways I Save Money | 5 Comments »
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Accidental Extreme Couponing…

I always flip through the coupons in my weekly stack of junk mail. This week, the mailman accidentally delivered 5 stacks of the same coupon pile. I was about to toss them when I discovered a killer coupon for Degree deodorant. Our grocery store was running a sale on the same item so my final purchase price was a whopping 25 cents each. Taking it as a ‘sign from God’ and not as a ‘sign the mailman was tired or lazy’, I clipped all 5 copies and purchased 5 sticks of deodorant. While there, I grabbed two tubes of toothpaste ($3 off coupon) and two bottles of store brand mouthwash ($1.50 off coupon). I went home with $30 worth of goods for just over $3.

Proud of my savings, I opened my linen closet doors to store my stash and…

discovered there were already 4 sticks of deodorant, 5 tubes of toothpaste, and 2 bottles of store brand mouthwash.

That’s what I get for chastising the TLC Extreme Couponing show. Stupid Karma.

My husband gets slightly annoyed when he discovers that I have 8 bottles of shampoo but can’t seem to stock a decent bottle of aspirin – it’s not my fault they don’t offer aspirin at 90% off and I have no motivation to pay full price for anything. I know some women who hide their shopping discretions from their husbands… sadly, I include myself in that group. But it’s no Coach bag or Hermes sweater stuffed in the back of my closet, it’s 4 bottles of discounted body wash. I cringed when I caught my hoarding, *cough*, ‘savings’ mistake and quickly shoved the deodorant behind some sheets. Regardless of the savings, I’d have to have one heck of a sweaty summer to burn through 9 sticks of deodorant.

I learned my lesson. All coupons are going straight to the trash until I run out of deodorant… which should be sometime in 2015.

Posted by Beks on May 25, 2011 at 8:41 PM in Saving Money, Ways I Save Money | 10 Comments »
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