Clothing/Appearance

Buy used clothing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average consumer spends about $1,850 a year on clothing and its upkeep. You can potentially cut that in half by shopping at consignment shops, auctions and thrift stores.

If you must buy new, buy in the off season. This is especially great for kids’ clothes because you know they generally go up one size each year. Plan ahead and budget for this. You can also buy clothing at name-brand outlets, factory outlets, or secondary department stores (where department stores send their overstocks).

Buy less cost-related clothing; choose fabrics and designs that are easy both to wear and maintain. Watch out for “Dry Clean Only” and instead choose garments that you can care for at home.

Cut back on makeup and perfumes. Or look for sales and buy generic brands. Most people won’t notice the difference.

Donate old clothes to charitable organizations and keep track of their values to use as a charitable donation tax write-off. Go to http://www.itsdeductible2.com for a guide on the value of donated items.

Communications/Cell Phones

Instead of calling, use e-mail. It’s free (if you already have an Internet connection) and you will save money on your long distance phone bill. Also, comparison shop long distance plans and find one that works well with your calling style.

Write a letter. It only costs a bit more than a quarter to send and it will help you improve your writing and communication skills.

Keep track of your calling minutes to make sure you don’t go over your allotted time. Most long distance and cell phone companies have high charges for extra minutes. If you consistently exceed your plan’s minutes, upgrade your plan. The extra monthly cost for the next step up is usually much less than the extra charges for more minutes.

Shop around for cell phone plans. Cell phone companies and plans vary widely, so compare carefully. Now you can even take your cell number with you if you switch providers. Before switching from your current company, call them and tell them you are about to switch and see if they will match or beat their competitor’s offer.

Funeral Arrangements

Make your wishes known about your funeral, memorial, or burial arrangements in writing. Don’t leave this decision to the ones you leave behind.

Before selecting a funeral home, call several and ask for prices of specific goods and services, or visit them to obtain an itemized price list. You are entitled to this information by law and, by using it to comparison shop, you can save hundreds of dollars.

Many funeral homes offer prepaid plans, but be cautious about prepaying because there may be risks involved. For information about the least costly options, which could save you several thousand dollars, contact a local memorial society, which is usually listed in the Yellow Pages under funeral services.

Keep your discretionary spending in check by modifying your spending habits. Evaluate your apparel and communications spending and see how you can improve. Jot down your wishes concerning your future memorial service and put them with your will and trust. Downsize or even eliminate those extra dollars that just disappear each month and put them to good use, such as paying off debt or investing. Soon you’ll be on your way to a healthier financial you.
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(1) Clip your dog’s nails
Many dogs hate having their nails clipped. If you start when they are puppies, they will be more accustomed to this, as opposed to starting this custom on an older dog. I suggest you have someone help you if the dog gets fidgety. Your helper can rub your doggie’s tummy or ears to relax them, take to them in loving tones, as you clip away. Remember not to cut into the dog’s “quick”. The quick is the blood vessel in pet dog (as well as cat) nail.
Your dog’s nail should be cut every 2-4 weeks.
Monthly savings: $15 a month.
(2) 3 year shots
Many vets now offer 3 year shots. The typical cost for a vet visit (exam and shots) could run upwards of $100, and more if you have a stool sample analyzed or heart work test. If you are really struggling financially, I suggested finding a vet that offer 3 years shots, to save yourself $200 (Year 1 – $100, Year 2 – $0.00, Year 3 – $0.00; start over again Year 4 – $100). You can save the extra money for a pet emergency, or other medical issue that may rise unexpectedly.
Bi-yearly savings: $200
(3) Groom your own dog
The cost of a grooming session for dogs can range anywhere from $20-$40 (or more). Dog shampoo cost $10 a bottle, and can last for up to a year. If you have a shower with a removable shower sprayer, you can bath Fido in the tub. Set aside some towels that are earmarked for you dog’s use.
Monthly savings: $30-40 a month.
(4) Brush your dog’s teeth
A visit to the vet for a teeth cleaning runs anywhere from $100-$300. If you get in the habit of brushing your dog’s teeth, and keeping plaque off, then you dog will not need a dental exam. Dental exams also require your dog to be anesthetized, which can be harmful if your dog has a heart condition. Many vets require blood work be done before anesthetization, which could increase the cost of the visit as well.
Dental cleaning savings: $100 – $300
(5) Ask for coupons
I personally use Natural Balance for my dogs, and the prices have been slowly creeping up. I called the company to ask for coupons, and they sent me an entire envelope full.
Savings: $1 – $10

(6) Find rabies clinics in your community
My town offers $10 rabies shot once per year. Adult dogs only need their rabies shots once every 3 years, a puppy needs their rabies shots at 5 months, one year later, then every 3 years (once the reach adult age). However, when it is time for their rabies shots, I find comfort knowing that the cost is only $20 for two dogs.
Rabies shot cost: $10 per dog (saves you a vet visit)
Hopefully, these tips afford you the opportunity to save.
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However we are always hesitant to sign up for free products since it could be used as a scam. Eventually, our emails will be congested with spam from companies that we haven’t heard of. From free PlayStation 3 and email from a Nigerian millionaire, our email could easily get us frustrated and our expected email can’t be read since our inbox could get easily clogged with hundreds of email.

On the other hand singing up for free stuff and coupons in the mail will eventually solicit telemarketers. Even though they promise not to share information, it will eventually be leaked out and you will have unsolicited phone calls. We can register to the DNC (do not call) website but we’ll have a hard time telling them not to call us back.

The only source of discount that we could have is the coupons. Sure it will mean savings, but think about the free stuff that you could get when you sign up for coupons online that arrives in your email.

Combating Email Related Problems

Getting a coupon and free stuff online shouldn’t get you trouble if you know how to deal with it. The reason that you don’t want to sign up for free things online is that it will eventually clog your inbox. So if you don’t want to clog your inbox, just create another email dedicated to that free stuff and coupons you just want to receive.

You don’t even have to write your name in email to get your free stuff. Your address is ok since all they have to do is just send mail and the free stuff. The only worst thing you have to go through by signing up free things is your physical mailbox will be full. The paper that comes with the free things could be recycled. Eventually you won’t have to spend on anything.

The good thing about this is that the capacity of email today is more than 1GB which could practically hold any email offers. You’ll also have the ability to sort your email according to the things you want. Yahoo, Google Mail and other free email providers can give you this capability.

Combating Physical Mail Problems

The only concern that many people have with free things that could be mailed to your home is identity theft. Instead of giving up too many information, you can give them a dummy name. Phone number is usually required but that doesn’t mean you can give them the right phone number.

If you really wanted to give them a valid phone number, give them your mobile phone number. That way, you don’t have to run back and forth to your home phone. Your mobile phone could also be silenced and configured to accept only phone calls of the people that you know. That way, yourhome phone should never be clogged with telemarketers.

Never pass on free information. If you are concerned with security, there are so many things you could do while enjoying things for free. Your coupon should mean a lot to you as it could give you savings and the free things that you’ll receive will always be there and will never cost you even in shipping. If you really want to save money, you should grab every opportunity – especially on free things.

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Library Card

Membership to a public library will give you access to thousands of literary masterpiece without paying a single cent. People often disregard the beauty of a library card because they don’t just have the time to be there. But think of the time you were in a mall spending money on something that you won’t even need.

Instead of being in a mall and spend a lot of money, go to a public library and enjoy reading. If you are not into reading, there are also other free things you could get from a library. Most libraries today have DVDs of classic movies. You could rent one without any fee.

Water Filter

Decent water filter will cost you around $60. Bottled water will cost you no less than $1.50. You think it’s a bit too expensive to invest in a water filter but considering the public obsession for clean water, you could actually save a lot of money. Every week you probably need six bottles of water which is $6.00.

That means you are spending $28.00 a month on bottled water. There are water filters that will only cost you less than $60.00 which means in two month’s time, you already reach your ROI. You won’t have to spend another cent in bottled water again.

A Good Cookbook

Dining out is really expensive and will easily take a hole in your budget. Instead of going out and destroy your budget with a single meal, stay at home and cook. A good cookbook will save you money since you are limiting yourself to what you could get.

But even with the limited spices and ingredients, a good cookbook will help you make a great meal for the whole family. It could even be healthy for the whole family. You could also get everyone to join in preparing the meal which will also save you time, money and improve your bond as a family.

Subscription to Sunday Newspaper

Sunday newspaper will give you all the news that you need for the week. It will have a recap of all the things that happened so you don’t have to buy a daily newspaper. But what you should be really after for in a Sunday newspaper are the coupons.

Almost a quarter of Sunday newspaper is dedicated to coupons and advertisement. This is a great investment because it will give you access to more savings and the news that you can get in just one sitting. Besides, it’s a good way to help the environment by reducing your use of paper.

Anything that you need (or even want) that will prevent you from spending; it could be an espresso machine or another coffee maker. Every cent and dollar that should be spent on buying a cup of espresso could be saved if you have your own espresso machine. Other things that you could use that will prevent you from spending should be a great investment. Even though the ROI (return of investment) could take months, it’s still worth it because you will be saving money at a certain time.
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You might even have a new television if your television breaks down after two or three years of use.  Ask any financial adviser regarding extended warranty and most of them will say that this type of warranty is really a bad idea. It is just another scheme of businesses to earn more from their consumers.

. Glorified Insurance

Extended warranty is basically a glorified insurance for your appliance. The store or the manufacturers offer this type of warranty but the insurance is from a third party provider. The only difference is that you pay in lump sum instead of paying in installment basis for your appliance’s insurance. That means when something goes wrong with your appliance during the extended warranty period, you will not be entertained by the store where you bought the appliance but will refer you instead to a third party insurance provider.

That arrangement is not bad, actually. However, you were never informed that the warranty will come from another company. The terms and conditions of the provider are usually not cleared out. Usually, warranty will never cover damage due to wear and tear. Most appliances today break down just by wear and tear and it is possible that within five years, you will have a problem with your appliance due to wear and tear. Unfortunately, the company that provides the warranty does not provide coverage for wear and tear.

. More Expensive then Mere Repairs

After three years or five years of heavily using an appliance, you will sure reach its performance threshold and eventually break it down. Let’s just say that company’s that provide warranty do include wear and tear as part of their service. The extended warranty however will cost you more that simple repairs. If your problem is due to wear and tear chances are the problem is just based on mere wires and if most, the power supply. That will not really cost you much including house visit by an electrician.

You can also choose the repairman which means you can get someone you can trust with your appliances. On the other hand, your warranty will let the company select which electrician will take care of your appliance. Even if it is free, the money you paid back then is still bigger than what you have to spend right now. The timeframe of repair would also be longer since others might be lining up to have free repair of their appliances. In the end, the inconvenience as well as time frame for repairs is just not worth it.

. Ultimately Never Use

Appliance stores ultimately earns from extended warranties because appliances within the time frame of warranty will never need any repair. Another reason why you cannot use the warranty is that you will forget you have one. Most consumers who opt to have an extended warranty will usually get excited about this fact first but after a few months, they will just forget about this fact. The small warranty card – the most important document for warranty will also be lost within the clutter of documents because it was thought that it will no longer be used.

If you are offered with an extended warranty, respectfully decline. If you know how to take care of your appliances, you would never need any extended warranty. The price of these warranties is also not worth the service you will get.

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The problem of debt could also increase especially when a person directly encounters the effects of recession. This type of economic trouble could lead to massive job loss and small businesses unable to deal with the dwindling demand for theirproducts and services. When this happens, it’s likely that the person would end up losing jobs and businesses.

Blaming Game as a Reaction

Unfortunately, there are individuals who reacted very badly to this situation. There are those that blamed the government and different institutions for causingrecession.

Of course, this is often seen as a coping mechanism because of the troubles we are experiencing right now. This is understandable since the frustration have to be let out so that emotional troubles would go.

But blaming the government should not be your consistent emotional reaction. Using blame to get out of recession is not a good idea. Blaming will never get you nowhere since it will make you think you don’t have any responsibility of getting out of debt.

While certain institutions have a great role in pushing recession, consumers who are having a hard time paying for their debt have a small responsibility as well. This might not have happened if they have prevented the pile of debts. Everyone had a clean start without any debt but, slowly, debts have been piling up and the solution is not easily seen. Even withoutrecession, there are consumers who would still have a hard time paying for what they owe.

Seeking Assistance

Blaming someone else for your financial trouble should never be permanent since this doesn’t provide any answer to your financial troubles. Seek assistance instead so that you’ll be able to deal with your finances fast.

Fortunately, the government and the lending institution are making some drastic changes so that they could provide assistance to as many consumers as possible. The government is now offering low interest rates on refinancing for those who are unable to cope with the current mortgage fees.Lending institutions on the other hand are now offering loan modifications as well as debt consolidation with relatively better interest rates.

Concentrated Efforts

Even though assistance from different institutions is now available, they are very far from easy. There are basic requirements that everyone who wants to be approved have to comply. It is even said that the screening process is very strict since millions are trying to be part of the program.

For that reason, you have to be dedicated in getting the aid that you need. Blaming someone else for your troubles without doing anything on your end will only do more harm than good.

Doing Everything

If there’s any consolation, everyone is doing what they can to help others. Helping others actually works for the advantages of those who are helping since they are actually their customers.

For example, the government is extending their hands in assistance with the lending institutions because the government would have a hard time managing a country without taxes and the lending institution will not survive without clients. Be sure to look out for opportunities offered by different institutions so that you do not just end up blaming everyone else for your personal financial troubles.
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Like any good frugal shopper, I’ve been crunching the prospective numbers for 2010 and determined that I pay far too much for all of the above services.

Cut Back on Your Cable/Internet/Home Phone Costs
First up on the list was good ‘ole Time Warner. The media conglomerate has been charging a monthly fee which hovers dangerously close to fraud-like levels. After haggling with the representative and vowing to switch my cable/internet/home phone service to a DirectTV/Verizon Fios combination, I finally was rewarded by having my monthly bill reduced 27% and only giving up four HD channels we never watch.

Streamline your Cell Phone Bill
After conquering Time Warner, I moved on to Verizon in an effort to lower our wireless bill. I chose to take a non-confrontational approach with the Verizon representative. After a brief review of the usage numbers, we were able to reduce our monthly cell phone bill by approximately 22%. However, when I asked if she could throw in some free text-messages for the next couple of months, the representative admitted that if I had called and threatened to cancel my service, she could have done this no problem. Who says it pays to be kind?

All told, with a little bit of time on your hands and the willingness to have customer service representatives try to convince you why only Time Warner can deliver you the best in high-speed internet or ESPN HD service, you can successfully trim your cable/internet/phone budget by at least 20%. That’s not bad for just 15 minutes…

Have a great tip?

email us at tips@beattherecession.com
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1. Use sales flyers and shop for the best bargains. You can plan your menus around the bargains, or use your shopping list. Always use coupons.

2. Shop loss-leaders. These are the items the store loses money on but they draw customers. They are usually placed on the ends of the aisles. Again, you can plan your weekly menu around these items.

3. Shop at Wal-Mart. They will match the prices in the sales flyers and it is one stop shopping. Keep a notebook with prices of items you buy most often to help keep track of bargains and to compare prices.

4. If you shop in bulk, know prices. Just because it is bigger, doesn’t mean it is a bargain. And they don’t let you use coupons at Sams and Costco.

5. Know which stores use Rainchecks and use them for sales items. If they run out of the item during their sale, they may let you have that same item later when it is in stock.

6. I will repeat it. Use coupons, but use them effectively. Take a calculator with you if needed, but always work out if you are getting a better deal with the coupon or another brand without the coupon. Don’t use coupons just because you have them. If it is an item you don’t normally use, don’t bother with the coupon.

7. If you find refund/rebate coupons, these are also good. You can use them to get free items or free coupons.

8. Use a shopping list and stick to it. Plan a menu and take stock of what items you need. Clean out freezer and refrigerator before you shop so you will have room and see what items you have on hand. You might not need another chicken or package of hamburger.

9. Write a list on an old envelope and keep the coupons that go with it inside the envelope.

10. Don’t shop for groceries while you are hungry. You will buy more and most of it will be junk.

11. Shop with a notebook, listing clothing sizes. Carry swatches of color samples and measurements for decorating projects. This would be handy for when you come across unexpected sales or go out to yard sales.

12. When shopping for a large item such as a house or car, take Polaroid’s of your options to review at home, when you’re not under pressure.

13. When shopping for pre-bagged produce, always weigh and choose the heaviest ones. The weight marked is the minimum weight required, so always try to get the most for your money. If you are buying a head of lettuce or broccoli, for an example, for a set price, weigh to find the largest one.

14. Buy pasta sauce in cans rather than in glass jars. They weigh the same and the cans are cheaper than the glass.

15. Buy bags of frozen vegetables instead of boxes. You will get more for the money.

16. Avoid high prices for small containers of spices and herbs. Buy large containers and share with your friends.

17. Buy large turkeys when the prices are low. Ask the butcher to cut them in half for easier storage and less waste for non-holiday meals.

18. Contact manufacturers with complaints or compliments. You may be rewarded with coupons for free or discounted products.

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2. Always use coupons or discount voucher codes if you know where to check online. There are many websites out there that offer thousands of coupons to almost every online store.

3. Always keep an eye for online rebates given by retailers that can help to save a huge percentage on the selling price. Simple fill out a little form and cut out the UPC code. Use these rebates and save big.

4. Always look out for sites or items that come with free shipping. As mentioned above, shipping fee is normally 20% more than the item price itself. Saving on your shipping can be tremendous if your item costs a lot.

5. Do not miss out those state retailers that do not charge sales tax for your items for your state. The money saving here could be significant too.

With money saving tips above and if you have practiced them well, you can add up and see how much you have easily saved for yourself. The best part is, you don’t even have to walk into a store to save a bundle. Spend some time to search online and I am sure you can find more money saving offers and tips out there. Start saving and enjoy living debt free today!

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2. Find more thoughtful gifts and buy when the item is
on sale, shop for birthdays and holidays throughout the year not at the time of the events. Savings: $10 per month

3. Bring your lunch to work once a week instead of
eating out. Savings: $7 x 4 weeks = $28 per month

4. Don’t go to the coffee shop on the weekends.
Savings: 2 visits @ $2 = $4 per week x 4 weeks = $16 per month

5. If you carry a balance on your credit card, and
you’re only able to afford paying the minimum monthly
amount, pay weekly installments instead of one monthly
payment. For example, if you owe $100 per month, pay $25 per week. Because credit card companies accrue interest daily on your balance, paying only once a month is a huge detriment to your fiscal health. Savings: $10 – $100 per month (or more!)

6. Instead of a family night out, consider having an
old fashion picnic together or a bike ride. Curbing
entertainment costs doesn’t mean curbing the fun savings: $25+ per month

7. Spend a day cooking meals that can be frozen for
later use for your family. Once a Month Cooking, a book by Mary Beth Lagerborg and Mimi Wilson, features grocery lists and recipes to prepare and freeze a month’s worth of
food for you and your family. Not only are you able to
purchase the food in bulk, this method prevents having to
throw away any spoiled food. Savings: $50+ per month

8. If you are a regular monthly book buyer, stop the
habit and visit your library instead! If you insist on
buying books, buy it used at your local store or online at
merchants such as www.half.com or www.amazon.com. Even a better idea, how about selling the books you have that you don’t need! Savings: $5 – 15 per month

9. Use less expensive gasoline. If you live in NorthAmerica and have Internet access, you are able to search for the cheapest gas price in your neighborhood with Gas Buddy,www.gasbuddy.com. Savings: $5 – 15 per month

10. Use two-for-one coupons when dining out; search for
these in local newspapers, flyers, and in your “junk mail.”
If you are a group of four or more people, consider buying
dining certificates at Restaurant.com,ww.restaurant.com
After choosing your city and state on the Website, you will be presented with a listing of restaurants vying for your dining dollar! Savings: $5- $50 per month

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