Saving Without Coupons

Many people turn to clipping coupons to save money but saving money doesn't just consist of clipping coupons.

There are other things you can do as well that will net you some savings.

Some don't like the word "frugal" but I personally LOVE IT! WUC has a forum for Tightwad Tips as well.


Here are a few ideas to help you get started on a saving journey that can last you throughout your lifetime.

Food Saving Ideas:

1. Cook more from scratch or at least cook at home more. Keep a journal of how much you spend on eating out for a month or just even a week. That is a real eye opener as to where some if not a lot of your funds are going.
2. Instead of stopping off of the mornings on your commute to work to buy that expensive cup of coffee, buy a bag of your favorite coffee then invest in a coffee pot with a timer setting where you can set it the night before and be ready when you get up. Invest in a thermal travel cup that way you can take that coffee you just brewed to work with you. Thus saving you money and time!
3. Take leftovers to work with you for lunch if feasible or eat them the next night. Use a little leftover magic to create a new dish with meat and veggies, etc.
4. Strapped for time? Make some meals ahead and freeze them. This is referred to as Once A Month Cooking (that is a link to a forum here on WUC dedicated to that). Buy a crockpot and utlize it so you'll have a meal to come home too.
5. Live where you can garden? Doesn't have to be a full scale garden. You can raise vegetable in planters, raised beds, etc. Buy seeds and grow your own... watch those after season sales for deals on seed packets. The closer to the end of time it's good to put seedling out, you'll often find markdowns at Lowe's and such.
6. Barter with friends for surplus home grown food. Zucchini seems to be a big one on that.
7. Trade plants for plants with friends and neighbors too. Maybe they have too much mint growing and you have too much basil growing... swap out some plants with each other.
8. Shop local farm stands. I am hesitant to say local farmers markets as some farmers markets are not true farmers markets. Look for little road side stands for deals. If the vegetables have wax on them or they are selling fruits as well as vegetables not grown in your area or are not in season at the time... it's probably safe to say they didn't grow them themselves. Don't be afraid to ask questions about how they grew them, if they have a small farm nearby, etc.
9. Buy in season. Buying fruit and vegetables out of season will cost your more than buying a tomato in the summer vs. buying a tomato in your area in the winter.
10. Buy in bulk. You'll pay less over all and make less trips to the store. Learn to store your bulk spices, etc. so that bugs don't get in them. I highly recommend food grade diatomaceous earth for this. I use it in my buckets of wheat berries, rolled oats, beans, rice, etc.

Household Ideas:

1. Looking for a new appliance? Don't be afraid to check out the scratch and dents. Wait for income tax returns and purchase then if possible as you'll find deals on appliances around Feb., March, and April. Take advantage of rebates on the items too. If you are daring, purchase refurbished ones. We've done that in the past with great success until we literally wore the item out.
2. Learn to some repairs yourself whether it's household repairs, remodeling projects or redecorating projects of painting things yourself, etc. or even some appliance repairs yourself.
3. Lower the thermostat and put on a sweater to cut back on your heating bill or electric bill.
4. Do your own lawn-care. You'll not only save money but you'll get some exercise too.
5. Learn to sew. Make your own curtains, pillow cases, cloth napkins, etc. OR shop a thrift store or yard sale. You'd be surprised at New in package items you can find for not much money.
6. Watch thrift stores for small appliances as they often will test them to make sure they work and note them as such.
7. Shop Thrift Stores during any discount days they may offer. Local Goodwill stores have a 50% the entire store stock the first Saturday of every month.
8. Don't hire someone to clean your carpets for you. Rent a rug doctor and do it yourself unless you aren't physically able to OR find someone to do it for you and barter with them. I love to barter my stockpile for services, etc. Or offer something I can do in exchange.
9. Shop salvage stores for floor remnants, building supplies, etc. Great bargains are to be found here.
10. Shop thrift stores and yard sales for furniture. Watch for quality items that are a good investment. You can get solid built furniture at antique stores that will hold up longer and last longer than the store bought stuff these days.
11. Reuse items... whether it's repurposing a plastic gallon ice cream bucket into a storage container for flour or using it as a compost bucket. Rethink a use for something before tossing it. Empty butter bowls make good containers for leftovers in place of tupperware... if you must have tupperware check thrift stores and yard sales for them.

Auto Saving Ideas

1. Do car repairs yourself if possible. If not feasible, check out the local vo-tech school (some high schools have auto shops) as you can get quality repairs done there for a fraction of the cost.
2. Keep the maintenance up on your car whether you do it yourself or use local companies that offer discounts on oil changes, etc. Keeping your car in working order will keep the car working for you.
3. Don't disregard those check engine lights. Places like AutoZone, Advance Auto, etc. will use a diagnostic meter on your engine at no cost to check what may be the problem.
4. Do your own car care. Clean the car yourself instead of hiring detailers. Look for the inexpensive car washes that offer free vacs now with a wash for as low as $3. Keep that road salt off your cars as much as possible. It will make rust and eat away at your car.
5. Keep your tires to the correct pressure as this will help with mileage.
6. Fill up your vehicle when you can find gas a the lowest price. If you have a Kroger, utilize their fuel rewards to earn up to $1 off per gallon. They are offering double points until January 31, 2011 with participating Shell station receipts you bring in and present with your shopping orders (before you hand over your coupons).
7. Carpool when possible to save on gas. Switch off with a co-worker weekly.
8. Looking for a different vehicle. Consider craigslist or ask around if anyone knows of a car for sale. You'll save some money but like anything used, check it out thoroughly before buying it. If you know of a mechanic you can take it to have it inspected, do so.

Personal care items

1. Need a hair cut? Consider learning how to cut and style your and/or your family's hair. Invest in a good pair of scissors and/or clippers.
2. Afraid to cut your own hair or your family's hair? Look up the cosmetology schools for discounted services.
3. Some high school have a cosmetology department and offer great discounts on not on hair care services but also manicures too.
4. Adventurous? Why not try making some of your own personal care items. Things such as lip balms, feminine products, etc.

Family Fun Ideas:

1. Take advantage of free or discounted museum days. Different museums across the U.S. participate in The Smithsonian Free Musuem Day once a year in the fall. You can go either free or at a discount rate that day. Local museums sometimes offer a free day once a month. Call ahead and ask about those or other discount days. If you can go with another family or two, ask about group rates.
2. Buy family package to get a discount that entitles you to admission to the zoo, museum, aquarium etc. for a year. Many times buy buying the family package, you can get free or discounted admission to other zoos, museums, etc. as well. We bought a family package to a local zoo that entitles us to free as well as discounted admission to other zoos across the U.S.
3. Watch for coupons online that you can use at yor destination of choice whether it's bowling, etc.
4. Don't forget to utilize your state parks. Many do not charge a fee. Enjoy the beauty of nature. Take a nice nature walk, go for a picnic, etc.
5. Use those local parks with the slides and sings. Children enjoy these simple things just as much as the museums with all the children's discovery gadgets.
6. Plan a play date with a friend.
7. Have movie night or game night at your house and invite friends or family over for a fun night.
8. When was the last time you went to the library? You can check out books as well as books for FREE!
9. Save money on movies by either using the library for free rentals, using coupon codes for kiosks such as Redbox or Blockbuster Express. You can still save on a movie rental there for $1 a night even without the codes so that's not bad. Check into getting the basic subscription to www.Netflix.com for $10 a month (I think) gives you one DVD out at a time and unlimited online viewing.
10. Lay out on a blanket at night in the warmer seasons of course and marvel at the stars.
11. Lay out on the blanket in the day and watch the clouds go by and try to see animals in them.
12. Love to read? The library isn't the only place for books. Swap books with friends, use paperbackswap.com, shop used bookstores in your area (I personally love this one and use it for dvds, used homeschool books, and more.).
13. Go for a walk along a lake, river, or at the beach and look for shells, interesting rocks and more.
14. Go on a nature walk and gather flowers to make your own beautiful boquets for your kitchen or dining room table. Bring the beauty of the outdoors in.

other ideas:

1. Make gifts for others instead of buying them. Whether it's making an apron for them, sewing a set of napkins to match their kitchen, making cute fire-starters for them, or other edible gifts in a jar, a candle in a coffee cup, or handmade candles or soaps. They'll appreciate the gift knowing that you made it especially for them. (ok, some don't but they have the "I wants" too much anyway. lol).
2. Watch after holiday sales and pick up some great deals on the sale items to use as gifts for other occasions, as well as wrapping for those occasions.

I hope this list gave you some ideas on thinking beyond just clipping coupons to save money.

Good luck with your goals of putting more cash back into your wallet this year and for many years to come!!

Tips obtained from "We Use Coupons"  Copied for your education.

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50 Side Businesses You Can Start On Your Own

From The Simple Dollar
April 11, 2009 @ 11:00 am - Written by Trent

In the past, I’ve discussed how it’s a good idea to spend your spare time dabbling in entrepreneurship: it fills your time with something that you choose (and thus you enjoy) and sets up a potential long-term revenue stream. I also discussed how I got a side business going myself.
Since then, lots of readers have written to me, asking for ideas on how to start a simple side business. What follows is a list of 50 of those ideas that I’ve collected over the last year or so. Each of these ideas is very simple to start, and most can be done as a sole proprietorship at first (meaning you don’t have to file any legal documents to get started, though you will want to do that if it starts to take off). Most of these can be done at home in your spare time in your spare space, too.
Ready? See if there are any ideas below that fit you well. If you find an idea, seek out a guide on how to get started in that area.
Antique refurbishment This is a perfect side business for people who love antiquing. Take worn-out antiques home with you, invest the time and care needed to transform those old items into something amazing, then resell them at a profit.
Auto detailing Have a meticulous eye for detail and love to get things gleaming clean? Auto detailing is probably a perfect side business for you. In essence, your job is to make cars sparkle inside and out – and many people are quite happy to pay well for this service.
Babysitting Got lots of evenings free? Like kids? Babysitting may be a great side business for you. Keep an eye on multiple children on Friday and Saturday nights and you can earn some solid income.
Bed and breakfast Have some extra space in your home? Turn that extra bedroom into a “bed and breakfast” room. This works particularly well if you have a somewhat older home or live near an area that attracts regular travelers and tourists.
Blogging If you enjoy writing, find a topic you’re passionate about and start a blog on the topic. All you need is a computer, some time, and some energy to consistently write.
Cake decorating Enjoy baking and have a bit of an artistic touch? Learn how to decorate cakes and make them for special events. One of my mother’s old friends does this and makes quite a bit of money on the side.
Candle making Candle making is a great little craft to learn. You can often easily sell the candles at local shops and also through websites like Etsy.com.
Candy making Homemade candies are easier to make than you think and quite popular. Package them in nice little boxes and sell them through a local gift shop.
Card making This is another artistic “crafty” angle you can follow. Make greeting/birthday cards from scratch using your own photographs, some blank cards, and a healthy dose of artistic flair. Again, you san sell items like these through a local gift shop or at sites like etsy.com.
Catering If you love to cook, take the “Blondie” route and start a home catering business. Catering is a business that’s perfectly designed to reward those who plan well and can often fit perfectly into weekends, lining up wonderfully opposite a normal workweek.
Childcare service Many states allow people to start up in-home daycares with minimal licensing and paperwork. If you love children and have plenty of time and space at home, this is a perfect business to get into.
Cleaning services for businesses Many businesses and civic institutions have a need for individuals who will provide cleaning services at a low cost outside of business hours. This is a great side business for those who can put in a few hours late at night or on weekends.
Collectible trading If there’s a particular type of collectible that you know a great deal about, you can often make good money as a collectible trader, utilizing tools like eBay and opportunities to find those collectibles in the community. I had some success with this myself with both trading cards and video games in the past.
Computer troubleshooting I had some success with this in the past, though I’ve largely moved away from it now. If you have a knack for fixing computers, this is a good place to start.
Consignment buyer Consignment shops and consignment auctions are often loaded with good deals if you know how to identify them – quite often, you can turn these good deals around and make a nice profit elsewhere. Get started by visiting some consignment shops and critically evaluating the prices on the items there.
Cookie making Much like candy making, homemade cookies can be a great seller. Bake the cookies, package them well, and resell them through a local gift shop. Often, you can find people in your social network who will buy batches from you for special occasions.
Dinner preparer I recently met a woman who earned quite a bit of money as a very part-time chef. Once a week, she would go to someone’s house and prepare a homemade meal for their family, then do all the dishes and cleanup work. This gives the family plenty of together time, while earning the lady some cash in the pocket. If you love to cook, this can be a great opportunity, but you may have to put a lot of work into searching for clients.
Event coordinator Events like family reunions and large parties are often full of busywork that many people simply don’t want to tackle. That can be the perfect place for you to step in and take charge of the planning and coordination.
Event DJing Are you an audiophile? If you have a great sound system and a large selection of music, you’ve already got what you need to hire yourself out as a DJ for various events and receptions. This is a great way to fill an afternoon and evening while also earning some cash in the process.
Exercise teacher Many gymnasiums will trade membership and often a bit more for a person willing and able to teach an exercise class. If you’re in good shape, this is a great opportunity to earn some extra money, plus it can often lead to additional income with one-on-one teaching opportunities.
Furniture making If you’re adept at woodworking and have just a bit of basic equipment, it’s easy to get into business making deck furniture. It only requires a few items – a saw, a drill, a sander – and some creativity and passion for working with wood.
Garage sale management One person I know holds a garage sale at their house almost every weekend during the summer. As a result, that person has a lot of regular customers who stop by almost every weekend to see what’s on sale. That person then goes to neighbors and friends and offers to sell their stuff at that yard sale for them, splitting the proceeds. People are usually happy to do this, since they don’t have to go to all of the work of running a yard sale, but still get rid of unwanted items and earn a bit of money, too.
Gardening services I’ve actually had requests from others for people willing to do this, so the demand is out there. To put it simply, some people are willing to pay others to get a vegetable or flower garden started for them in their yard so they can have access to ultra-fresh produce without all the legwork.
Handy man services Skilled at basic home repair? Let people know that they can call you for little repair jobs, like basic plumbing and other things. You’d be amazed at the simple things people are willing to pay others to help them with.
Housecleaning Many people simply don’t enjoy cleaning their homes and are willing to pay a reasonable price to have someone do the work for them. This is a great way to earn extra money in a flexible way, particularly if you have time off during the workweek.
Interior decorating Fascinated by interior design? Have a huge collection of interior design materials around? Many people are quite happy to hire individuals to help them decorate their home – I know, for one, that I have no eye for this type of thing.
Jewelry making If you have a good eye for detail work and a lot of patience, homemade jewelry can be quite profitable. As with other items on this list, there are many opportunities to sell such items through local gift shops or at sites like etsy.
Knitting / crocheting / quilting Skilled at creating blankets and sweaters? There’s a huge market for these types of items – even better, you can usually make them in your spare time whenever you have it. As always, local shops and places like etsy are great places to go to sell such items.
Landscaping services Willing to mow lawns and trim bushes and trees? Many people are quite happy to pay for such services. Not only is this a great side business for a fit adult, it’s also a great way for a teenager to get a small business started.
Meal-to-go preparations Remember my earlier post about breakfast burritos? Making meals in advance is a great way to save money for yourself – but you can often prepare these for others as well and sell them for a markup. Prepare eight casseroles, for example, then sell six of them to cover your costs, and you’ve got two free dinners for your family (and maybe a bit more). You can grow this by taking orders from others and finding out what they like.
Online media consultant Like participating on messageboards, Facebook, Twitter, and so on? Become an online media consultant and help people promote things. Start small – help local businesses get a presence on Facebook and set them up with Twitter. From there, you can grow to whatever works for you.
Personal shopping Many very busy people and elderly people are willing to pay a fee for people to do their shopping for them. Simply retrieve a shopping list from them, return with the receipt, and accept payment for the purchased items (plus a little fee). You can often do this in conjunction with your own shopping trip if you’re well-organized (take two carts!).
Pet grooming Many people loathe bathing their pets and trimming their hair – I know I do. Pet groomers perform these tasks for a small fee – a perfect job for a person who loves dogs and cats.
Pet sitting When people go on trips, they’re often concerned as to what will happen with their pets. That’s where you step in – offer yourself as a safe place to leave their pets, or be willing to go to their home to take care of their pets.
Pet walking Many busy people leave their pets home all day, but realize that those pets really could use a vigorous walk (and an opportunity to relieve themselves) during the day. Pet walking is a great opportunity for exercise, fresh air, and some pocket money if you have free time during each day.
Pet yard waste cleanup For many people in suburban areas, cleaning up pet yard waste is a real hassle – it’s disgusting, for one. Instead of cleaning it up themselves, they might hire someone to do it regularly, two to three times a week. There are several such services in our area, actually.
Produce selling Like to grow vegetables? Focus in on one vegetable and sell the excess to grocery stores and at farmers’ markets. My father does this with tomatoes and earns some solid extra money during the summer months. You can do really well, though, if you can grow things inside during the winter – February fresh tomatoes can sell quite well.
Proofreading Have strong English skills and exceptional grammar? You may have opportunities to work as a proofreader from home. Advertising for this can be difficult – seek out those who might actually be able to use your services and advertise directly to them.
Public speaking If you’re the type of person who can get the attention of a room easily, public speaking might be for you. Take advantage of every public speaking opportunity you can and you’ll be surprised at the opportunities that make themselves available for you.
Scrapbook making Many people dream of having beautiful scrapbooks. They collect all the materials they want in the scrapbooks but never follow through on the actual creation. You can step in here – take their ideas and materials and assemble a scrapbook for them.
Senior citizen assistance Many elderly people need assistance with a wide variety of simple household tasks – cleaning, laundry, and so forth. Many children of elderly people are quite willing to hire someone to help out their parents.
Sewing and alterations My wife is quite handy with a sewing machine and often hems and modifies our children’s clothes. She could easily take this a step further and offer her services to others, doing basic garment repair and modification for a small price on lazy evenings.
Soap making Making amazing homemade soaps isn’t as hard as you might think – it just takes time and patience. Again, items like these can easily be sold via local gift shops and through websites like etsy.
Teaching music If you know how to play an instrument (particularly the piano or the guitar) and have patience, you’ve got what you need to teach others how to play. Offer lessons in that instrument to others – this can also be an excellent thing to barter with, too.
Toy making From simple things like sock monkeys to more elaborate things like handcrafted chess sets, many people are willing to pay good money for handcrafted toys that you can easily make at home in your spare time. Again, gift shops are the place to go with items like these.
Tutoring Did you major in a particular topic in college? Do you have patience with children? You likely have what you need to tutor kids in particular subjects. Seek out parents and let them know that you tutor in a particular subject and provide materials for them to share and phone calls will often trickle in.
Video preparation services Many people like to have videos made for special events, such as weddings, or for gifts. This may mean actually taking the video yourself at a special event, or it may mean simply assembling materials and creating a video from those items. Either way, with a well-equipped PC, some taste, and some patience, you can make quite sophisticated video productions at home.
Virtual assistant Many ultra-busy professionals appreciate having someone who can check and answer their email, organize task lists for them, update their calendars, and so on, with minimal interaction. The best part is that you can provide this service from home with a good internet connection.
Web site design Many small businesses in your community could use a very basic web presence to tell others about their business. Quite often, these businesses don’t have a large budget for such things. That’s where you come in – get a bunch of clients from the local community by beating the pavement, create sites for them, and maintain them for a small fee. Get enough businesses and you have a nice side business of your own that doesn’t require a ton of maintenance time.
Wedding planner If you’re one of those people who can’t help but flip through bridal magazines and think about various wedding arrangements in your daydreams, wedding planning might be the perfect thing for you. A great way to get started is to develop a website on the topic, get to know people online, and offer your services throughout the community.
I’m betting the readers have many, many more ideas along these same lines.

10 Ways to Find Cheap Airline Tickets

Tips on Finding Cheap Airline Tickets

by Laurel Gray ·(Article found at Frugal Dad)

Airfares vary wildly, and airlines have perfected the art of bleeding every last nickel from their customers. If your summer travel plans call for travel by air, try the following tips to minimize the damage.

Leverage the Internet

By now, most people are familiar with sites like Expedia and Travelocity for comparing airfares. But comparing fares doesn’t help much if all of the prices are still out of reach. In order to pinpoint the cheapest fare, try an airfare monitoring site such as Airfarewatchdog.com or Yapta.com.
These sites will track your desired itinerary and send you an email alert when the fare dips. Always select the “flexible dates” option to find the combination of departure and arrival dates that results in the lowest fare. Yapta presents the information in a grid which makes it easy to see how fares fluctuate from day to day.

Let’s Hear It for Wednesday

According to Farecompare.com, Wednesday is historically the cheapest day to travel domestically. The next best choices are Tuesdays and Saturdays. We all dread those early morning departures, but leaving on the first flight of the day (or on a red-eye, if available) will also keep your costs down.

Be Flexible

Be flexible not only in your travel dates and times, but also in your destination itself. Airfarewatchdog.com has a function that allows you to find all low fares from your starting point to a variety of domestic or international locations. $455 RT from Philly to London anyone? Using this function is a great way to liven up your travel planning—you might start off expecting Orlando and wind up in Barbados.

Book a Package

Many online travel sites offer superb deals when you book your hotel along with your room. On a trip to Thailand, I got three super-cheap nights in a swank Mandarin Oriental plus airport transfers that I used on arrival and departure. It was convenient, inexpensive, and gave me the chance to stay in a hotel that normally would have been out of my price range.

Sacrifice Convenience

If there are multiple airports in your area, check fares from all airports. Sometimes you can save a bundle by driving an hour or two out of your way (for example opting for MDW instead of ORD or BWI instead of DCA). You can also sometimes save by choosing an itinerary with multiple stops instead of a direct flight.
You will lose some convenience with both choices, but the airfare savings may be too good to pass up. These tips and more can be found on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement’s website.

Stay on the Case

Did you know that if you book your tickets and the price of the same itinerary drops after your purchase, that in many cases you can obtain a refund? It’s not a myth! After I purchased tickets for a coast-to-coast trip, I continued to monitor the ticket price and found that it dropped by almost $100. I called the airline directly and they honored the lower fare.

Some airlines only grant refunds if the price drop is over a certain threshold ($75, $100, or $150, depending on the airline), but some airlines such as Alaska Airlines and JetBlue offer refunds for any fare reduction. Yapta.com now offers a free automated service that will send you an alert if the price of your flight falls after you book.

Travel Light

My family has no-checked-bags policy. Whether we are traveling for three days or three weeks, we travel with one suitcase and one carry-on bag each. Not only do we avoid the misery of lost bags, pilfered items, and wasted time at the baggage carousel, we also avoid the hefty bag-check fees that some airlines charge.
If you must check a bag, then check the airline’s luggage weight policy online before you pack your bag. Many airlines have brutal surcharges ($50-100) for over-weight bags. Weigh your bag at home before you leave to avoid a nasty surprise at the check-in counter.

Be Prepared

Know ahead of time if a meal will be served on your flight and don’t get caught without snacks, unless you enjoy paying upwards of $3 for a few potato chips or a cookie. On-board adult beverages are also a rip-off—normally costing $6-7.

Insider Tip

When you are searching the Internet for the best fare and filling in your search criteria, you will be asked how many seats you are trying to book. Even if you are booking for the whole family, always start by indicating that you are booking for a single traveler.
Here’s the deal: if there are two seats left at a lower price, and you enter “four passengers” in the search criteria, the system will automatically assign all four travelers the same higher-priced seats, rather than giving you two cheap seats and two at the higher rate. It will take you longer to make the reservation, but if there are cheap seats still available on your flight, this technique will help you snag them.

The Unexpected

Planning a vacation in advance is one thing, but sometimes an emergency arises that makes advance travel planning impossible. If you are traveling due to a death or serious illness, you may qualify for a bereavement fare or an emergency illness fare.
Not all carriers offer these fares, but it is a good idea to inquire, especially since last-minute bookings incur some of the highest fares. Some form of documentation (such as a death certificate or medical records) may be required in order to qualify for the reduced rate.
This article was written by contributing author Laurel Gray.