Military Travel On A Budget

I've just learned about a new website devoted to military travel discounts:  GuideToMilitaryTravel.com.  Run by a military spouse, the site includes all sorts of information about discounts at regular hotels, military lodging and travel tips for families.  These offers are different from the offers that you can get at your bases ITT office and often are a much better deal.

You can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter, so that you can keep up-to-date on all the new promotions as they become available.

Emergency GI Bill Benefits

As you may have heard, some people using their GI Bill benefits are having some trouble getting paid as the VA struggles to keep up with the huge number of beneficiaries who are using the new GI Bill benefits.  Fortunately, the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs has authorized emergency checks of up to $3,000 for students who have applied for benefits but haven't yet received them.  Students will need to get a VA office in order to receive the checks.

The full information can be found at the VA Website or check with your college's financial aid offices.

23 Action Items

Don't you hate those articles that tell you to switch to generic toilet paper and stop buying overpriced coffees?  I see the purpose, because a lot of people don't realize that those things can save them money and also because it helps build a mindset of being thoughtful with your money.  But seriously, I'm looking for real, substantial steps to help chip away at debt.

Fortunately, DR at Dough Roller has put together a truly useful list of steps that you can take to get your debt under control.  I've used several of these steps myself, particularly step #1:  Put your debts on paper.  I can't emphasize that enough.  I don't know if it is the realization of seeing it all written down that motivates you to get moving, but it seems to help a lot.

DR includes lots of good action items in this timeless piece on debt reduction.  If you are looking for some new inspiration or a fresh perspective, this might be a good place to start.

Internet Interest

These two articles from The Paycheck Chronicles were featured in Blog Carnivals last week:

At the Money Hacks Carnival, Patrick of Cash Money Life selected Pump Up the Savings.

At the Festival of Frugality, Green Panda of Green Panda Treehouse highlighted Watching Carefully at the Warehouse Clubs.

Both carnivals feature tons of great articles on personal financial issues, and they're neatly packages so that you don't have to go wandering around the internet to find them.

Membershop Rewards from USAA

I was talking to the USAA rep at SpouseBUZZ Live today, and she mentioned their new online shopping rewards program.  I hadn't heard about it so I took the little card, came home and looked it up.  I'll admit that I'm not exactly sure that I understand all the details, but basically if you are shopping online, and you shop through the USAA Membershop website, you'll earn rewards at a higher rate than you could get if you shop without going through the Membershop website. 

For example, say you are going to buy your child a new winter coat at Lands' End.  If you go through the Membershop website and pay with a non-USAA card, you'll earn a 2% rebate.  If you use a USAA card, you'll earn a 4% rebate.  That's not too shabby!I have used other rewards programs, usually Ebates and MyPoints.  For purposes of comparison, Ebates currently offers 3% back on Lands' End purchases.  MyPoints does not have an affiliate program with Lands' End. 

To compare another site, I checked out Drugstore.com.  Using the USAA card, the rebate is 8%.  Using a non-USAA card through the Membershop site, the rebate is 5%.  The Ebates rebate is 6%.  MyPoints gives you 300 points per purchase, which is worth roughly $2.  For a third comparison, I looked at Ebay.  The USAA Membershop program doesn't work with Ebay, Ebates is 2%, and MyPoints is 2% (with a double bonus in September, making it 4%) in points.  MyPoints accrue to gift card value at around $2 worth of value for every 300 points.

This seems like a nice program to add to your rebate site collection.  If you're not interested in searching around to find the best rate for each individual purchase, I would certainly consider going through the USAA site for online purchases.  If you are using a USAA branded card, it seems to have the best rebate rates available.  Rebates can accrue quickly, especially if you are living overseas or do a lot of online shopping for any other reason.

Now, if anyone has a good way to remember to so my shopping through the rebate website, I would love to hear.  I often forget to go through one of those sites when I do my purchasing and I know that I'm missing out on a lot of rewards because of it. If you have tricks for solving that problem, please let me know!

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Quotable: Paula Nelson

“A credit card is a money tool, not a supplement to money. The failure to make this distinction has 'supplemented' many a poor soul right into bankruptcy.”

Don't Forget: Museum Day 2009

Don't forget that tomorrow is Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day.  Nationwise, hundreds of museums and cultural sites are offering free admission on Saturday, September 26th.  What a great way to see something new at the perfect price.

Coke Rewards: Worth Your Time?

Have you heard about these Coke Points?  If you drink any Coca-Cola products, including Powerade sports drinks and Dasani bottled water, you've probably noticed the codes inside the caps or boxes.  The Coke Rewards program is set up to let you enter your codes into an online account and then redeem them in various ways.  You can use a small number of points to enter a sweepstakes, or accumulate a bunch to get free stuff

.A bottle of coke is 3 points, a 12 pack of cans is 10 points, and a case is 20 points.  You may enter only 120 points worth of codes per week.  Entering the codes is pretty quick, about 30 seconds per code if you are a decent typist.

Once you've entered your codes, you have six ways to spend your credits.  You may redeem them for merchandise, use them to enter contests, donate them to a school, donate them to another type of charity, participate in an instant win game, or use points to pay for a portion of a purchase that uses cash for the rest of the purchase.  The merchandise selection is small and much of it is Coke related:  tees, cooler bags and ball caps.  Other offerings include various magazine subscriptions (my favorite) and a few useful gift cards.  There are some decent offerings but you really have to pick through the useless stuff.  I'll admit, I've never done anything but get magazine subscriptions (they have Smart Money!) so I can't report my experiences with the rest of the choices.  I'm considering getting the Omaha Steaks gift cards to use at the local store, or perhaps a Nike gift card to pick up some new workout gear.

Is it worth it?  I wouldn't start drinking soda just to collect the points, but it you (or someone in your family) is drinking it anyway, you might want to start saving those points.  If you have a child who is capable of entering the codes, even better.  It does take a little time to enter the codes, and more time to sort through the rewards to find a good choice.   Most importantly, it is free!

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Calculating the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit

I've been planning on replacing some of our windows before the end of the tax year, because they are 45 years old and also because of the tax credit for energy efficiency.  This tax credit provides a 30% tax credit, up to $1500, for the replacement of windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC systems, hot water heaters, and biomass heaters.  I did the math and figured that the tax credit maxes out $5000 worth of windows.  (I'm smart, huh?)

We replaced a few windows before and so I knew approximately how much it was going to cost.  I figured out which windows are most important (we have a ton of windows in this house) so that I would spend just over $5000.  The tax credit is good for the 2010 tax year, too, and by saving a chunk of the windows for next year, we'll maximize the tax benefit and we'll have time to save more money to pay for the improvements.

I called Rudy, my window guy, and asked him to come by so we could organize the project.  He mentioned the tax benefit and then said that I would need to spend around $7200 to maximize the tax benefit.  Huh?  That doesn't sound right.  It turns out, the credit is only available on the materials, not the shipping or the installation.I hoped for a minute that Rudy was wrong so I looked it up.  He was right (after all, he is the window guy.)  The credit is good on the price of the windows only.  And around $5000 worth of product ends up with a total bill of about $7200 if you are having them installed by someone else.  When Rudy did the actual calculations, he provided me with the portion of the bill that was tax deductible along with some information that will be required to prove that they are eligible windows.

(And yes, I know that I could install them myself and save a bundle.  Honestly, though, there are days I can't even get a shower.  I want these windows in before the cold comes.  This year.)

If you've been thinking of making improvements, be sure that you understand how the tax credit is calculated.  For more information, you can look at the Energy Star website.  There are other credits available for other types of energy efficient improvements and more details can be found at the same website.

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Caught by Making It Complicated

I can't believe it.  Several years ago, I closed my one department store credit card because I wanted to simplify my life.  Unfortunately, this store constantly offers outstanding deals to its credit card customers and I'm regularly being encouraged to reopen my account, usually by the "get a percentage off if you use your card" type offers.  It is also the only department store in my community and it is a convenient location with good selection and competitive prices.

About a month and a half ago, I was in this store buying some shoes for my daughter.  The cashier mentioned that I could save 30% by using my store charge card.  Well, I caved and reactivated my account.  I was glad to save the money and swore to myself that I would be sure to pay the whole thing off in a few days, using their handy online payment feature.

Well, as it turns out, one of the items I purchased needed to be returned.  I didn't want to pay the balance without figuring out the amount of the return, so I amended my plan and decided that I would take the return into the store, bring my checkbook with me, and pay off the balance once the return had been processed.  Simple, right?

You probably know that life can be busy.  Weeks passed and I hadn't made the return or the payment.  I got a handy email a couple of weeks ago, reminding me that I had a balance and it was due on September 21st.  I made a mental note to get over there and make that return.  I even put a note on my calendar so that I wouldn't forget that the 21st was the last day to pay the bill. As I have scrambled around in a busier-than-usual time, I didn't make it over to the store.  No problem - I'll just pay the balance in full and then have a credit.  Last night, I remembered and went online to pay my bill.  Oops!  The reminder hadn't said the 21st...it had said the 17th.  Now I've got a late payment and a late payment fee.  More than the amount that I saved by using the card in the first place.

I know that I am totally responsible for keeping up with my bills.  That's the reason I closed the account in the first place.  I should have stuck to my original, smart plan and kept the account closed.  There is a huge value in simplifying your finances and this is yet another example of why complicated just doesn't work.

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Financial Fails

For some reason, this post just cracks me up.  Carrie at Carrie...on the Cheap writes about Personal Financial Fails That Drive Me Crazy. 

There are several aspects to this post.  First, she is absolutely right about these being dumb things to do.  Second, she is also right that they are common situations, and situations that most of us have been guilty of at one time or another in our lives.  Third, it seems that people who makes these mistakes can't see that they are mistakes.

Another thing thing that I thought was that I've managed to eliminate all these fails from my life, and while my financial life is definitely better for it, I haven't suddenly become uber-rich or stopped needing to count my pennies.  What I think, however, is that this list definitely points people in the right direction and it is part of creating a general mindset of making smart money decisions.  Small steps like these join together to make a larger change over time.

Anyway, I liked it.

Three Ways To Avoid Library Fees

I've written about the many benefits of using public libraries, but there is certainly a negative aspect:  late fees.  My family regularly pays late fees to the library and though I can justify them as a contribution, I do try to eliminate the fines as much as possible.The best way for me to avoid late fees involves several parts:

• First, designate a single location for library books to live.  We use a drawer in the dining room but you also might use a particular bookshelf, a tote bag, or a pile on your bedside table.  Keeping library books centrally located makes it easier to find them for returning. If you have kids, train them to return their books to that place. (Easier said than done, I know!)


• Second, sign up for electronic and/or telephone reminders.  Most library systems offer automatic phone calls or emails a few days before your books are due.


• Third, use your library's internet services to renew books before the due date.  Most libraries allow you to renew two or three times, allowing you a few days to make it to the library.

Using these three things together has dramatically decreased the fines we pay.  I try to make a habit of renewing our books as soon as I see the reminder email from the library.  If I fail to do it the first day, I still have another day to remember!

Putting together a plan to avoid fines is an important part of using the library to save money.  If you are paying $20 in fines on borrowed books isn't very cost-effective!

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Quotable: Dave Ramsey

"I came to realize that my money problems, worries, and shortages largely began and ended with the person in my mirror. I realized also that if I could learn to manage the character I shaved with every morning, I would win with money."

"I Just Need..."

How many times have you said those words, followed by something that could, possibly, be categorized as more stuff.  I know I have.  Today, I came across a nice article by mnmlist.com:  Buying is not the solution.  It is short but a good reminder that more stuff isn't the solution to problems.  More stuff isn't going to make me smarter, more organized, a better parent, or prettier...it is just going to fill my house and empty my wallet.

Looking for A New Idea

Managing your financial life can be a time-consuming effort, and there are going to be times when you don't stick to your plans. This is one of those times for me: I've gotten off track in my efforts to write down everything I spend this month. I think I might need to try a new system; bringing the receipts home to record isn't working, even with the snazzy notebook.

I would love to hear what tracking methods other people use. I'm clearly in need of a new direction and I don't know where to start. Thanks for your help!

Insurance Webinar from USAA

On Thursday, September 17th, USAA is offering a free, live webinar titled:  Insurance Crash Course.  A webinar is a live presentation available through the Internet, and this webinar includes viewer participation through email and telephone questions.  This presentation is being held from 7 to 8 pm, central time, and will be available for review thereafter.

Thursday's presenters include:

Jan Dahlin Geiger

USAA Certified Financial Planner

Manny Rios

Senior Vice President for Property and Casualty Underwriting

Greg Blake

Certified Financial Planner and Director, USAA Member Advice and Solutions

Gary Quesenberry

USAA Corporate Communications

Preregistration is requires to view the webinar. It sounds like it is going to contain lots of useful information!

Portrait Pictures Shouldn't Be Pricey

Now that the school year is underway, we've been spending money on all sorts of extras:  instruments, field trips, and yesterday my kids gave me the forms for school pictures.  What a racket!  Every year, I look over the price list and think that this is insane.  The packages are very expensive and they often include an odd selection of sizes.  In addition, they charge extra for things such as a colored background, and you don't get to see the pictures before you buy them.  And we're not talking beautiful, professional pictures here - they're school grade pictures!

For example, the first package listed on the order form includes appoximately five "pages" of photographs.  On a "custom" background (which is anything other than gray), this package cost $54.00.  That's a lot of money for 27 pictures, 9 of which are a miniscule 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches, and 12 are 2X3.  I don't know about other families, but I find that the teeniest pictures are often wasted on us.  Basically, you are getting six pictures of any decent size (1 8X10, 3 5X7s and 2 3X5s).  That's not much for $54.

I recognize that many of us get so busy with life that it is hard to get the kids out to have their pictures taken regularly.  That is one of the benefits of the school picture program:  it is at school.  No spending your Saturday sitting around a portrait studio.  Even so, I think the cheapness of a local chain studio makes it worth the effort to get your child over there. We often use the JC Penney portrait studios, just because they've worked well for us in the past.  I know that many other stores also offer portrait services, including Sears, Kmart, Walmart and Target.  If you are not going in the Christmas card season, you can often get in without an appointment, and they offer a variety of backgrounds, low or no sitting fees, packages or per-sheet charges, and they are cheap.  Of course, the regular price isn't usually that good, but with a little effort you can easily find discount coupons. 

Just yesterday, I decided to take the kids to get their pictures taken.  I used to keep a file folder of photo coupons gathered from various sources, but yesterday I just hopped online and found a JC Penney coupon for $3.99 sheets with no sitting fee and a free 8X10 , or a $7.99 portrait package that has roughly the same number of photographs as the one offered at school for $54.00.  That's a substantial savings! We went over to the studio, without an appointment, and were told that they could fit us in in about a half hour.  We did some errands and returned.  The photographer took about twenty minutes taking about 10 shots of my daughter, then we got to choose whether we got the package (one pose) or ordered individual sheets.  Of course, it was hard to chose between the poses so we ordered a few different ones.  We ordered eight sheets with a total of 20 pictures, and were able to choose more of the larger pictures and just a few of the smaller ones.  With the free one, we paid for 7 sheets at $3.99 each, and after tax the total bill was just under thirty dollars.  Whoohoo.  We got the pictures we wanted, with the backgrounds we wanted, in the sizes we wanted, and saved about $25.  That was definitely worth the extra effort!

One key, that can be inconvenient, is that they usually won't allow a family to use more than one coupon per day.  Therefore, to get the best prices, you need to bring the kids on different days.  This can  be a negative in the logistical sense, but I find it is partially offset by the fact that my kids are a lot more cooperative and pleasant if I'm only trying to get one person photographed at a time.  This works even better if you can manage it so that one parent takes just that one child - the pictures get taken and they get a little special time as well.

Other coupons that are currently being offered include:

Sears:  $2.99 photo sheets with a $14.99 sitting fee (free for their Super Saver club members)

Target:  Free 8X10 and $3.99 sheets with no sitting fees

Walmart:  30 photo package for $7.99, no sitting fees for first subject

Kmart:  $7.99 for the first 8 sheets, $1.99 each thereafter

There are nearly always specials available...be sure to check before you go.

Quotable: Daniel Quinn

"Many of the biggest and most far-reaching investments we make in our lives are investments that have little or nothing to do with money."

Breaking Up is Expensive to Do

While getting into my email this morning, a great article popped up:  Don't Get Caught Carrying Your Relationship's Financial Baggage.  Being part of a couple often involves financial decisions, and you need to be sure that your decisions are right for both of you.  This article certainly doesn't hit every aspect of relationship finances (it would have to be a book!) but it does point out the importance of planning and communication.

Kid's Instruments: Rent or Buy?

Ah, autumn is in the air...football games, falling leaves, and the furious frenzy at the music store as families obtain instruments for their students.  With four kids, we have gone through our share of music lessons, and each time it is a dilemma...should we rent the instrument or buy it?

Before trying to decide, consider these questions:

1. What instrument is your child trying?  Is it fairly common, like the violin or flute, or more obscure, like the bass or french horn?
2. Does this instrument come in sizes, or is there just one?  A child might grow out of a 1/4 size cello, but they are unlikely to grown out of a tuba.
3. How many kids do you have?  What are the chances that a subsequent child might try the same instrument?
4. Can you find a decent used instrument to buy?  Ask friends and neighbors and be sure to have the instrument cleared by the instructor.  There are lots of low quality instruments out there, and nothing will discourage a student faster than the lousy sound of a cheap buy.  Some instruments are more uniform and inherently safer to purchase used.

 

Inquire at your local music store about prices for both purchases and rentals.  I strongly recommend going during the off hours - you will not have your questions adequately answered if you show up between school and dinner during the first half of September.  Questions to ask at the store:

1. What equipment is included?
2. Does the price remains constant?
3. What the trade-in or trade-up policy?
4. Does the rental apply towards purchases?
5. What is the total purchase price if you buy it outright and if you do the rent-to-own plan.
6. Is insurance included?  If not, is it required?  How much does it cost?
7. Are any freebies thrown in?  Our first rental violin came with rosin, a music stand, and a little cushion.  If you will need to purchase the stand anyway, this does factor into the price.  (They're only around $12, but if we're counting...)

 

As an example, my daughter's percussion class requires a bell kit.  The kit rents for $27.99 a month, but the store is offering a deal for the first three months - only 19.99 for all three months.   It is a year-long class, so she is going to need this bell kit for at least 9 months.  So, we're looking at 19.99 (for the first three months), plus $27.99 a month for six months (167.94) for a total of $187.93.  There is also a $5.99 a month insurance fee, which is technically optional but the store practically forced me into purchasing.  If you chose the insurance, that adds an additional 53.91 to the total.  A school year's worth of rental plus insurance on this instrument adds up to 241.84.

At the end of the nine months,  we would have to either a) return the instrument or b) continue paying the monthly rental until we completed the terms of the rent-to-own agreement.  With the rent-to-own option, you pay 16 months of payments before the instrument is yours, resulting in a total payment of $469.99, plus 95.84 in optional insurance.  Yikes!

Still at the music store, If we choose to purchase the kit upfront, the cost is $259.  Once it is paid for, it is mine, until it is lost or broken, or I choose to resell it.  It seems I could quickly sell it for around $100, because...

I can find the same item (same name brand and model number) on Craigslist for less than $100.  I can't confirm that there isn't a run on Craiglist bell sets, but we've also seen them in the newspaper and on eBay.  Again, beware:  I once tried to purchase a violin online.  it was cheap, but the teacher was aghast.  It seems that certain instruments have huge variations in quality.

The bottom line:  look around, do your math, and don't rush into anything.  Talk to your child's teacher, ask friends, and check the classifieds.  And consider buying:  the first time we had a child take an instrument, we rented and paid around $200 for the year.  I've since picked up a nearly identical one for $125.  (I try not to think about that too much.)  Last year, my child's instrument was rented out and we ended up buying, but I'm glad we did.  And it looks like I'm buying again this time.  It isn't the best choice for every family, or every situation, but it is working for us.

Energy Efficient for the Apartment Crowd

Sometimes it seems that energy efficient advice is all directed to homeowners:  get new windows, buy a more efficient hot water heater, you know the advice.  Fortunately, there are lots of things that an apartment dweller or renter can do to keep their utility costs low.

Amanda at My Dollar Plan has put together a short and easy list in How to Make Your Apartment More Energy Efficient.  Even if you only take one or two suggestions, you'll certainly decrease your consumption.  If you do them all, you are sure to make a big difference.

Cash for Cartridges

Ok, so it isn't going to make you as much money as the Cash for Clunkers plan, but it is a lot easier.  What, you ask?  Making cash recycling your old ink and toner cartridges at your local office supply store or online.

Depending on where you live, it can be as easy as dropping the cartridges off at your Office Max, Office Depot, Staples, or regional office supply store.  $3 per cartridge seems to be the going rate, with most stores putting the money onto your rewards club card to be doled out at a later date.

If you don't have a program nearby, look online.  You can google "sell cartridges" or try one of these programs:  Cash4CartridgesUSA, TonerBuyer.com, Advantage Cartridge, and eCycle Group all offer mail service, and they pay the postage.  Prices vary dramatically depending on the type of cartridge being recycled.  Unfortunately, all of them only offer the services to addresses in the continental United States.  If you are overseas, check on the local economy to see if a similar service is offered, or you might have to send them home to a friend or relative to have them recycle them for you.

While it isn't going to finance a vacation, the money sure does help pay for all the office stuff our family uses.  I'm always pleasantly surprised when I get my quarterly gift card with a few dollars on it.  It is more environmentally friendly than throwing them away, and it will help stretch your dollars as well.

Pump Up The Savings

Sometimes it seems that body wash, shampoo and conditioner just disappear in this house.  I'm sure that the children are using huge amounts, and I find the occasional open bottle on its side.  Even when I find great prices, it is really annoying to see such waste.  Well, I have found a solution!  Mega-sized bottles, while not always the most economical, often come with a pump that controls the amount of product being used.  I tried this as a test, beginning in May, by purchasing a big bottle of both shampoo and conditioner.  I am amazed - it has been four months and even with five people using it, the bottles aren't empty yet.  I have been so impressed that I've been searching for body wash in a pump bottle as well.

It seems that body wash isn't offered in a pump bottle very often, but I did manage to find it on clearance at Bath and Body Works. I was talking to the employees about how glad I was to find it in the pump and they said that it was a very popular product.  The also suggested that I hold on to the bottles after the body wash was gone so that I could refill them with another product.  Brilliant!  (I know, I should have thought of it first, but I didn't.)

So far, I've seen the big bottles of shampoo and conditioner several places, including the commissary, warehouse clubs, and at the hair cut place.  While I might be able to find these products cheaper by using coupons and doing some super shopping, moving to the big bottles has made my bathroom more tidy, has eliminated the cries of "Can someone please bring me some shampoo?" and has freed up some space in the bathroom cupboard.  I think it has been a win all around.

If anyone knows where to buy body wash in pump bottles, please share.  I'd love to know.

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Museum Day 2009

Looking for something different to do now that summer is winding down?  On Saturday, September 26th, obtain free general admission to hundreds of museums and cultural venues nationwide as part of Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day.  There is an interactive map that can help you find participating locations in your area, including the Fascinate-U Children's Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Queen Emma Summer Palace in Honolulu, and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla, California. 

You will need to print out an admission card to take with you and it is good for two admissions.  There are restrictions, of course.  From the website:

The following Museum Day restrictions apply: One time use on September 26, 2009 unless otherwise specified. Card must be presented for free general admission. Admission Card will be collected upon entry. General admission only. Does not include entry to special exhibits or IMAX screenings. Admission Card is good for general admission for you plus one guest. One Admission Card per household. Not for use with any other offer. No rain checks. Some participating museums may already have a free admission policy year round and are participating in the "spirit" of the day.

I love free museum days, as it allows me to enjoy all different kinds of cultural activities without spending all of our family's entertainment budget.  Even if you have to pay for a few people, this pass can offer substantial savings over the usual admission fees.

 

Quotable: Bob Proctor

"Money will make you more of what you already are. If you're not a nice person, money’s going to make you a despicable individual. If you're a good person, money’s going to make you a better person."

Watching Carefully at the Big Warehouse Clubs

I made a run over the my local BJ's warehouse club store today.  I don't shop their often but I do have a membership because their gasoline is significantly less expensive than anywhere else nearby.  I heard a rumor that they had a great price on wheeled backpacks, which my daughter needs due to her shoulder injury and the ridiculous amount of stuff that sixth graders are required to carry around.

On the way out the door, I grabbed a coupon book that the store had recently mailed to me.  I had lots of time to look over the book while I waited for the store to open, and I started trying to remember how much the same items cost the commissary and also at the local grocery store.  It was really hard, and I have a pretty good memory for food prices.  The comparisons were harder due to the huge sizes that most of the warehouse club stores offer.

I went through the store quickly and picked up a few things that I knew were good deals.  More often, however, I wasn't sure.  How much was a gallon of orange juice at the commissary yesterday?  And how many "regular" boxes of chicken nuggets equals one giant sized box?  And will we really use 640 post-it note flags, or are we better off paying more per flag but buying less at the office supply store?

In order to be a savvy warehouse shopper, you must be very aware of the prices that are available to you.  If you live in a non-military community, the answers are usually a little easier because warehouse clubs often do provide good value over regular grocery stores.  However, if you have access to a commissary, the question becomes a lot more difficult.  Often the commissary prices are better than the warehouse club, the selection is greater (if you have a large commissary) and there is a lot more flexibility in sizes.  On the other hand, the warehouse club may offer certain products that your commissary doesn't carry.

My good finds today included the wheeled backpack for around $17, a six pack of binders for $8 (wish I had found that before I bought them at Office Depot!), the megapack of Post-It flags for $6, and the calculator my daughter needs for $11.  I also picked up some sweet peppers (expensive but very cute, they are miniature and look like hot peppers but they are sweet), a case of organic milk in the little boxes, a big bag of Baby Bel cheese, and an enormous package of Listerine strips.  The first two are items that I can't find at the commissary, and the second two were a much better price than the commissary.

There were other items that I wasn't too sure about:  garbage bags, orange juice, yogurt, cereal.  In order to make smart choices, I'll have to check prices a little more carefully next time I'm shopping on base.  My friends swear by their meats and produce but I wasn't too impressed with the prices.  I often do better shopping the sales at the grocery store.

All in all, the warehouse stores can be a useful tool in keeping the grocery (and other) spending down.  However, it requires a thorough knowledge of the prices you can find elsewhere to ensure that you are truly saving money.  In addition, check to see if your local warehouse store accepts manufacturer's coupons to extend the savings.

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September: Tracking My Spending

I keep saying that I'm going to write down every single cent that I spend.  And I need to, because I clearly don't have a very good idea where all my money is going.  For some reason, unfortunately, it seems like something that I have to start at the beginning of the month.  (Yes, I know that this is irrational.)

Anyway, today is September 1st and (due to a great sale at Five Below) I am the owner of a snazzy new psychadelic looking notebook and I am going to write down my spending this month.  Every darn cent of it.  I challenge you to do the same thing.  I think it is going to be either fascinating or discouraging to see where I'm spending money.  Either way, you can't make changes unless you know where you are beginning, so here is the start.

Note:  You certainly don't have to go out and buy something new for this, in fact, I encourage you not to for I'm sure that you have something adequate in your house.  I have this thing for office supplies and I always succumb when shopping for the new school year.  I'm just glad that I have made up a use for this notebook that I purchased.