Goodbye Citibank!
Posted by Lynnae on May 15, 2008
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My Citibank card, after I took a hole punch to it.
Yes, you heard me. We received our economic stimulus rebate on Friday and promptly paid off the evil Citibank card. Our balance is zero. Now we just have to cancel the card, which I hope to accomplish today. Since my husband is the primary card holder, he needs to cancel, and it seems like he hasn’t been home to do it for the last couple of days. The important thing is, we’re out of credit card debt forever!
Over the last year, our tenacity has paid off. It’s hard to believe, but it was this week last year that my husband lost his job the first time. We had no idea what the future would hold. We had no idea what we’d do for income. We had no idea what we’d do for health insurance.
What we did know is that we were sick of being in debt, and no roadblock, not even a job loss, was going to stand in the way of getting out of debt. We made a commitment to take on no new debt, and we stuck by it.
We cut costs by canceling things like our Blockbuster and YMCA memberships. We trimmed bills by line drying our clothing, baking from scratch, making our own cleaning products, and planning trips into town to save gas.
We increased our income by taking on odd jobs and blogging. We insured we wouldn’t use our credit cards anymore by first freezing them, and then getting brave and shredding them.
We continued to make steady payments to Citibank, even though our payments weren’t as high as we had initially planned.
Our goal was to pay of the VISA by September of this year, and we hit our goal 4 months early. It’s definitely time to celebrate!
What have we learned from this experience?
- Having a goal is important.
- If you believe in your goal, you can stick to it, even when it seems impossible.
- It’s empowering to meet a goal in the midst of adversity.
Now that we’re out of credit card debt, we need to build up a better emergency fund, and then attack our student loan debt, currently at $6969. Our new goal is to be completely out of debt by January 1, 2010.
Are you serious about getting out of debt? Do you stick to your goals in the face of adversity?
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Kyle’s Coupons: Summer Fun
Posted by Lynnae on May 14, 2008
With temperatures soaring in parts of the country, it’s time to think of warm weather activities.
The following is a regular feature by Kyle of Rather-Be-Shopping. If you like this post, consider subscribing to his blog’s RSS feed.
It’s supposed to be over 100 degrees here in the Sacramento Valley tomorrow and last through the weekend. Yikes, say it isn’t so Mr. Weatherman, what happen to spring anyways?
Since we have some sweaty days in our near future, I thought I would share some frugal family summer fun activities and give you an opportunity to share yours. In a time when every kid seems to have a cell phone or iPod in their ear, I am all about finding ways to spend time together as a family that shows my kids that you don’t need to have stuff or gadgets to have a great time. With that in mind, here are some of our family favorites.
~ Keep ‘Em Wet. A couple of years ago, at the end of the summer, I bought a 550 gallon pool with a built-in filter system from Wal-Mart on clearance for $39. Perhaps the best purchase I have ever made! My kids absolutely love it and spent most of last summer in it. Heck, on the really hot days I even climbed in it and splashed around with them. When summer ends, I clean and store it and it has held up very well. If you don’t get one this summer, keep an eye out in late-August for a great deal for next summer. Other cheap and wet activities are of course, water balloons, lawn sprinklers, and the infamous super soakers. Just get wet and play with your kids. Good, free fun!
~ Family Bicycle Ride. This is easily my favorite. Almost every weekend during the summer, I load up all our bikes on the back of my truck and we head out for a ride on one of the numerous biking trails in our town. Unfortunately, our street is not conducive to riding bikes on or we would probably do it every evening. I have witnessed great family bonding on these outings, and once everyone has a bike, it doesn’t cost a cent. Not to mention the exercise it provides.
~ Local Library. Our local library has a weekly storytime program where kids are invited to come and listen to a story and then do a small related craft project. This is a lot of fun for the kids, totally free, and nicely air conditioned! Check to see if your local library has a similar summer reading program. Once storytime is over, the kids return their books and check out new ones to read.
~ Camping. As I mentioned in a guest post a couple weeks ago on Being Frugal, I am a huge fan of taking the family camping. Precious memories are built sitting around the campfire, your 3 year old with melted marshmallow in her hair, your 6 year old with dirt so thick the only way you can see him is when he smiles, it just does not get any better than that!
~ Go Back To The Minors. Ticket $25, soda $3.50, hot dog $4.50, next credit card bill, Major Heartburn! Forget about going to see a ridiculously expensive Major League Baseball game with the family and opt for a minor league game instead. My kids could care less who is actually playing and besides every minor league game I have been to is a blast and very family oriented. No ushers staring at you, telling you “please stay in your seats”. A neighboring town where we live has a minor league team and tickets are $3 for kids, $5 for adults, you get a much better view, food is much cheaper (especially if you bring your own), plus they have family oriented activities and games. It is always a great time.
What are some of your favorite frugal summer family fun activities? Wow, try saying that 5 times really fast! As always, I am looking forward to your comments.
Coupons are a little tricky this week. But I guess it makes sense that I offer some online coupons for swimwear, camping gear, and perhaps a new bike.
American Eagle Outfitters.com
Free Shipping on your Swimwear and Swimsuit order
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 5/17/08
See All: American Eagle Coupons
Ann Taylor LOFT.com (popular swimwear)
Save 25% Off your order and get Free Shipping
Coupon Code: 104010029
Expiration: 5/18/08
See All: Ann Taylor Coupons
Kohls.com
Save 10% Off your Entire online order
Coupon Code: NEW7960
Expiration: 5/17/08
See All: Kohls Coupons
Old Navy.com
Save an Extra 15% Off your Clearance Items order
Coupon Code: EXTRA15OFF
Expiration: 5/15/08
See All: Old Navy Coupons
Sierra Trading Post.com
Save 20% Off Spring and Summer Wear thru this Link
Coupon Code: ASUM8
Expiration: 6/02/08
See All: Sierra Trading Post Coupons
Sports Authority.com
Save 15% Off any Single Item in your order thru this Link (Discount appears at checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Sports Authority Coupons
Dunham’s Sports.com
Save 20% Off Any Single Item in your order thru this Link (Discount appears at checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Dunhams Coupons
Fogdog Sports.com
Save 15% Off your Entire online order thru this Link (Discount appears at checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Fogdog Coupons
Photo by aloshbennett.
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Tightwad Tuesday: Bargain Shopping at Yard Sales
Posted by Lynnae on May 13, 2008
From clothing to furniture to everything in-between, there are bargains to be found at yard sales.
A couple of weeks ago I gave you 10 Tips for a Wildly Successful Garage Sale in preparation for my own yard sale. Unfortunately I didn’t take my own advice and only netted about $100, but I got rid of all the big stuff I wanted out of my house. I’m happy with my new, decluttered home, so I have no complaints.
The very next day I went shopping at the neighborhood yard sales and got a dresser for my son’s room, 30 cloth napkins (because I’m trying to give up paper products), and a ton of clothes for my daughter for under $55 total! I thought I’d pass on my yard sale shopping tips to help you get the best possible bargains.
Preparation is Key
In order to have the most success shopping at yard sales, you have to have a plan. In the week leading up to shopping day, check your newspaper and Craigslist for yard sale ads. It’s helpful to have a community map on hand, if you don’t know your neighborhood well. The area where I live is pretty small, so I do without the map. I once read of a person who laminated a map and marked the yard sale addresses with a dry erase marker every week.
Once you know where the yard sales are, map out a route, so you don’t waste time or gas money. I like to travel in a circle around my city, starting in the area with the most sales. I also take advantage of sales that aren’t advertised in the paper. You’re bound to come across signs to sales that aren’t listed in the paper. Take a detour and stop. These sales might not see the traffic of the advertised sales, so you might have a better selection of items to buy.
Make a List
Yes, just like grocery shopping, I like to have a list for yard sale shopping. I love a good bargain, and in the heat of the shopping moment, I often find myself buying stuff I don’t need, because it’s such a great deal. A list will prevent that from happening.
This summer my lists includes a dresser (which I found), cloth napkins (also found), clothes for my daughter (found those, too), clothes for me, possibly a desk, a recliner, a magazine rack, a grain mill (this might be wishful thinking), canning supplies, and possibly a food dehydrator. If it’s not on the list, I think long and hard before I buy.
Pack Coffee and Snacks
If you’re going to be shopping for a while, make sure you pack food and something to drink. You’ll get hungry and thirsty. And on cool mornings you might get cold, so I like to take some coffee along, too. If you have your kids with you, snacks are an absolute must. There’s nothing like hungry kids to ruin the perfect yard sale shopping spree.
Shop Without the Kids if at All Possible
Most kids hate shopping. I know my kids do. When I go yard sale shopping I never take the kids. If your kids are still in carseats, it’s just cumbersome. Even if they’re not, they’ll probably get bored.
If you have to take the kids, give them a little money to spend. Teach them about finding great bargains. Have them make a list of things they’d like, and challenge them to see if they can find the items on their list. Have them help find the items on your list, too.
Check Boxes
Sometime while garage sale shopping, you’ll come across an item in a box. Once I made the mistake of assuming a can opener in a box was the same one that was featured on the box. I bought the can opener, and when I got home, I was disappointed that it wasn’t as great a can opener as I thought I was getting. If something is in a box, make sure you take it out and inspect it.
Carry Change and Batteries With You
I like to carry lots of ones and quarters with me when I go garage sale shopping. As someone holding a sale, it’s annoying when a shopper gives you a $20 bill for a $1.50 item. If you’re a shopper and the person holding the yard sale is unprepared to break your $20, you might have to pass up a bargain.
I also like to carry a variety of batteries with me. When buying electronic equipment, it’s important to make sure it works. Usually the person holding the sale will have an outlet available to test electric items, but sometimes they won’t have batteries for battery operated items. If you carry your own batteries, you’ll never have to wonder if something works. You can test it yourself.
I like to carry my money and batteries in a belt pack, so I don’t have to worry about keeping track of my purse. I like to have both hands free to inspect and carry items. I also like to be able to jump in and out of my car quickly.
Church Rummage Sales Rock
I love church rummage sales, because a lot of families usually donate items to be sold. It’s like going to a huge multi-family yard sale. There’s lots of selection, and the prices are usually great!
City-Wide Sales Are the Best
I also love citywide sales. Our citywide sale was last weekend, and our town was hopping with sales and shoppers. The yard sale bug is contagious, and people keep putting more and more stuff in their yards to sell! And if you live in a small town like I do, you don’t waste a lot of gas driving to different sales. A lot of times I just parked on a street and walked up and down the streets in the neighborhood, browsing the sales.
It also helps to talk to shoppers and people holding yard sales when a lot of sales take place in the same neighborhood. I kept asking people if they had seen any dressers, and I got a lot of tips for places to look.
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
If you’re looking for a specific item, especially if that item seems to be in high demand, it’s best to shop early. The best items tend to disappear quickly. I like to single out the two or three most promising sales in the paper, and try to be at one of them as soon as it opens. That’s the best way to find what you’re looking for.
The Late Shopper Gets the Better Bargain
The late shopper may not have the best selection in yard sale items, but the late shopper will often get the better bargain. People holding yard sales are often unwilling to budge on their prices early in the day. As the day goes on, however, sellers are often ready to cut some good deals.
Don’t be afraid to bargain. That’s half the fun. If you make an offer, the worst that can happen is the seller says no. If they say yes, you get a great deal. If they say no, you can either pay the asking price, or you can walk away. You’re never out of options.
If you have a truck and you’re not afraid of some work, you might even get some free items. I’ve never tried this, because I don’t have a truck, but I’ve heard of people offering to take yard sale leftovers off the sellers hands. The upside is you might get some good stuff for nothing. The downside is, you need to figure out how to dispose of the junk.
Whether you’re a serious yard sale shopper or just someone who likes to browse every once in a while, standard shopping strategies apply. Know what you need, know what it’s worth, and don’t get caught up in the moment.
Do you shop at yard sales? Are you a serious shopper, or do you dabble? Have you come across any great finds this year? Do you have any tips that I missed?
Photo by mbtrama.
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I am not a financial expert. I'm just a wife and mom doing the best I can to live a frugal life and get out of debt. Like any human, I make mistakes. I write this blog out of my own experiences, and nothing I write should be taken as expert advice. If you need financial advice, please consult a professional.
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