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One of the best parts of blogging for MomsCharlotte.com has been connecting with people just like me who want to spend their family budget in the most efficient way possible. I have received several great tips. Enjoy!
Paper towels
Paper towel companies can adjust their machines to wrap the towels loosely, thereby making a large roll. Or they can make a small roll by rolling it tighter. Now these loosely rolled rolls can be packaged in groups of 10 or 12 and merchandised as real bargains.
To tell if you have a bargain, look on the outer wrapper for the number of square feet in that bundle. If there are 500 feet and it costs you $10 dollars, you are paying 2 cents per square foot. If you're buying a single roll of 45 square feet for $1.35, then you are paying a little more than 3 cents per square foot. You can find paper towels for 1 cent per square foot.
You could also save money by buying select-a-size paper towels, or better quality towels because you don't need to use as many. Or you could just hang a clean towel in the kitchen.
Do you pay bills by snail mail?
The average household receives about 15 bills a month. With first-class stamps now at 44 cents each, you can spend about $76 a year just on postage – and don't forget the late fees if your checks get lost in the mail. Save time and money by signing up to pay your bills by credit card or automatic debit. Payments will be documented on your monthly bank statement. If you want more control, almost all major banks offer free online bill payment, which lets you schedule payments in advance. This is a great way to manage your budget.
Does your cell-phone plan match your needs?
Too many minutes and you're wasting money. Too few and the overages can send your cell-phone bill into the stratosphere. On average, according to the consumer research firm J.D. Power and Associates, cell-phone subscribers use only 64 percent of their minutes. If you're still under contract, call your cell-phone company and ask it to analyze your usage. You may find that buying fewer monthly minutes but getting unlimited evening and weekend minutes may work better than a more expensive plan – and you won't pay a termination fee. If your contract is up, shop for the best plan on myrateplan.com/wireless.
Do you have too much insurance?
Review your insurance policy annually with your agent or a customer-service representative.
Does your homeowner's insurance include the value of the land, for example? The land isn't going anywhere, even in a twister. You only need to insure the structure and your belongings. If you have an older car, the annual premiums and deductible might make collision and comprehensive insurance cost more than the car is worth.
On any insurance policy, think about a higher deductible. Because filing numerous small claims can raise your insurance rates, you may be better off covering minor losses yourself and getting a lower rate with a high-deductible policy.
You may also have unnecessary special riders on high-value items you no longer own – an heirloom ring you have given to a daughter for her wedding, for example. Or you may be paying for off-premises coverage for loss of goods outside your home, when you rarely carry valuables.
If you think you might be overinsured and want an opinion from someone besides your agent, go to the Insurance Information Institute site at www.iii.org.
Cheap dressing
When the mayonnaise jar is almost empty, sprinkle a few drops of vinegar inside, add flavorful herbs and shake well. You'll have enough salad dressing for one salad.
Washing clothes
Towels, linens, shirts, and practically anything not heavily stained or overly thick like denim can be washed in cold water equally as well as in hot.
Note: Two weeks ago I wrote a column on making extra money. As a novice writer, I erroneously included a few mystery shopping Web sites that asked for a registration fee. There are two types of Web sites out there about mystery shopping: Sites owned by the actual mystery shopping scheduling companies and sites that collect the names of willing shoppers and distribute them to companies that need shoppers. For example, www.sassieshop.com, www.kernscheduling.com and www.ritterassociates.com are all companies that schedule shops and do NOT require a fee to work. Sites that do charge include www.secretconsumer.com, www.shopuntilyoudrop.net, www.shoppingjobs.net and www.moneyandshopping.com.
Enjoy these tips? Check out Tara's daily blog at MomsCharlotte.com.
