Countdown to Christmas

I was just flipping through my Google Reader & came across a post telling me that I better get my butt in gear because Christmas is less than 5 months away. 

GASP! I panicked for a minute... then realized that 5 months is still a long time and it's nowhere near crunch time yet. 

But, since saving money usually means investing more time, we probably should all start working on a financial holiday game plan- at least in the back of our minds. I want to share with you some tips for how we will be saving on Christmas gifting this year:

I mentioned Ebates to you back in May and June, so I guess it's time for your monthly reminder!

If you haven't already heard of Ebates, its a websites that gives you cash back for purchases made online. First, you need to open a new account. Earlier this week, Ebates was giving new customers a $10 gift card to a selection of stores (such as Target) for registering & making a qualifying purchase. I make no promises since they reserve the right to cancel promotions at any time but I suggest you run over to Ebates now just in case!

After registering, simply go to Ebates before any online shopping and link through to your store of choice before purchasing. Then, Ebates gives you a cash rebate up to 25% of the purchase price! Since opening my account in May, I have already earned $32.45!

By clicking the Ebates logo above or any of the Ebates links (like this one: Ebates) I will receive credit for referring a friend to the site & would very much appreciate it!

Reward Credit Cards

The hubs and I have two credit cards that we use for most expenses and for which we earn rewards points. Right now we have a combined total of $170 in points on our two cards, which can be redeemed for cash, used for online purchases (at stores such as Amazon.com) or redeemed for gift cards at over 140 retailers. 

We have found this to be a great resource for gift buying in the past. We like to stockpile our points all year, which helps to lighten the blow that Christmas can have on our pockets. Fair warning, however, this option may not be the best for everyone! I like to put all expenses on our credit cards- from $5 for lunch to any utility bill that will accept a credit card payment. BUT, we also pay off both credit cards in full each & every month to avoid finance charges. If you don't think you can do this, chances are the additional finance charges will out weight whatever you would receive in points- making it a money loser!

I found this great resource online to help you find the reward earning credit card that is best for you. It's from NerdWallet.com and it offers a cool interactive tool that lets you set certain perimeters for your card, based on your credit score, how much on average you charge per month, and what types of purchases you most frequently make. Then, it does the calculations & makes recommendations for you, showing you how much in rewards you are likely to earn annually for each credit card. 

Inbox Pays takes a little time to start seeing the rewards, but it is a super easy way to make some extra spending money, especially if you are glued to your computer all day, every day like me!

Basically, Inbox Pays will send you a couple emails every day with special deals, promotions & advertisements. For starters, you will automatically receive $.05 - $.15 for each email you open. (And honestly, if you can tell in the first few seconds that it's not something you are interested in, you don't even have to read it.) Additionally, if the offer is something you want to take advantage of, you will receive additional money in your account for each offer. Offers will range from free credit reports/scores to online purchases to product surveys to refinancing opportunities. There is a different value assigned to each offer and you definitely get to pick & chose which you want to participate in. 

Once again, to be honest, I rarely participate in the offers & just take my $.30 or so cents everyday for reading the emails. It takes just a minute and I have thus far earned over $30. One downside to Inbox Pays is that you won't receive a check until your account hits $50, which could take the better part of a year.

I will also receive referral credit in my account if you sign-up by clicking on the banner above or one of the links. Right now Inbox Pays is offering a promotion giving you $5 in your account just for signing-up. That's a good jump start!

My Coke Rewards

If you drink Coke Zero, or any Coke product, obsessively like me, than you should definitely sign up for My Coke Rewards. MCR gives you points for entering codes found under the caps of 20 oz. bottles & 2 liters, as well as in 12 & 24 pack boxes. Once your points add up, you can redeem them for entries in sweepstakes, merchandise, coupons, gift cards, or donate your points to a cause of your choice.

I like to redeem my points for magazine subscriptions, because I found that they are often some of the best deals in the reward catalog. I also like to give & receive magazine subscriptions as gifts. For instance, I would LOVE to receive a subscription to Real Simple magazine for Christmas this year. (Hubs, are you reading?!?)


Those are a few of the ways I save money over the holidays. I would love to hear what other ways you save! Please leave a comment below or shoot me an email at 2010housewife@gmail.com!

Tips from All You Magazine

Last month I shared a deal for All You Magazine. Because I love All You so much and in case my argument before wasn't convincing enough, I want to share with you a few of my favorites tips & ideas from the August issue.

If you are interested in purchasing a subscription to All You magazine, Amazon has a good deal going on right now- $19.95 for All You (1-year auto-renewal).

Watermelon Coolers

Ingredients
8 cups seeded 1/2-inch watermelon cubes
2 cups chilled ginger ale
1/4 cup water
6 ounces frozen limeade concentrate

Arrange watermelon cubes on a baking sheet. Freeze 30 minutes, or until solidly frozen. Working in batches, blend frozen watermelon, chilled ginger ale, 1/4 cup water and frozen limeade concentrate in a blender until smooth. Serve in chilled glasses. 

Cost: $1.14 per serving 

Saving Money at the Supermarket

"A trip to the supermarket will run you about 4% more than it did last year." Ouch! I didn't realize that.

Here are just a few of their suggestions for saving on your grocery bill:

"Put your slow cooker to work on a pork shoulder or another tasty, inexpensive cut."

"Add just a sprinkling of a bolder cheese, like sharp Cheddar, instead of piling on a milder variety. Shred your own to save a lot." 

Then Came You, by Jennifer Weiner

Curl up with a book:

Check out the new release by Jennifer Weiner, Then Came You. Jennifer is one of my favorite chick lit authors. To purchase:

Then Came You: A Novel

Then Came You [Kindle edition]

Save Money on Back to School Shopping

I feel so bad for all school aged children. Summer isn't anywhere near over & all the stores are already in "Back to School" mode. Let the kids enjoy their summer!

But, if you are a parent and already gearing up for a budget-busting back to school season, here is one tip I liked:

"Staples gives me $2 in rewards every time I bring in a used ink-jet printer cartridge (to recycle). I hang onto them and turn them in 10 at once, and I use the rewards to buy needed supplies." Connie Schmidt, 45, Slippery Rock, Pa.

"Soothe with sweetener

Do you color your hair at home? Sprinkle a packet of Sweet n' Low into the dye to reduce scalp irritation."

Wow! Does this really work? If you try it please come back & let me know!

My Mildly Bitter but Informative Car Buying Tips

After a good 5 car payment free years, the Hubs and I decided to both buy new cars this past Spring. I’m still not quite sure how he ended up getting a new vehicle because his was just fine and I do remember him loving it ALOT. He did, however, despise mine with a passion. I had a love/hate relationship with it.



It was a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. I am convinced that I could have filed for Lemon Law on this vehicle, even though it was purchased brand new, given all the problems I had with it over the years: resealed/repadded/recarpeted, repainted, 3 rounds of brakes and roters (I don’t really know what those are), 4 recalls, 2 air conditioning recharges (is that right term??) and a partridge in a pear tree... and that was just in the first 2.5 years of it’s life! No lie. Except for maybe the pear tree, but I do believe there was a bird inside at one point. 
  

Anywho, my goal was to pay off my student loans and buy a new car. After just two post-graduate school years I paid my final loan payment and was FREE! (But don’t tell my Alma Mater because I’m still using the “I’ll make a donation when I’m done paying for my education” excuse to the Alumni board.) I’m going to pause for a round of applause now. I am VERY proud of getting my loans paid off as early as I did!



So, the Hubs fell in love with a beast of a vehicle, a JEEP Wrangler. Here is how the conversation went, verbatim, at the dealership:



Me: Do you really need such a large vehicle? It’s like Hummer-sized. I’m not even sure it will fit in the garage!
The Hubs: It will fit in the garage and yes, we do need it. I need it to tow the boat.
Me: What boat?
The Hubs: Our boat.
Me: We have a boat.
The Hubs: No.
Me: We need a vehicle to tow an imaginary boat.
The Hubs: <silent with a look on his face as if he doesn’t know what the problem is>
Me: You are going to buy it anyway, aren’t you?
The Hubs: Yep
Me: <sigh>



Now, back in 2002 when I bought my Lemon I remember quite enjoying the car buying experience. Call me a wheeler & dealer at heart, but I got such a rush from the negotiating. I know many people hate that part, but to me it’s an opportunity to save my family money. Money we work hard for. Money we have other uses for. Money we have BETTER uses for. Believe me, if car companies distributed coupons I'd be all up on that!



I remember telling my husband once that I am good at negotiating with car dealers. So, when it came time to talk numbers on his JEEP, he pretty much walked away and let me do the dirty work. When he rejoined the salesman and I the first thing the salesman said was, and I quote, “You’ve got a ball buster on your hands here, don’t ya?”



The Hubs: Yep.



A couple months later when it came time to buy my car I did all the negotiating too. I know my husband would have done a great job at it, but he doesn’t really care for talking about money with other people and it doesn’t really bother me (perhaps because I spend my days blogging to the world about how frugal I am??). The Hubs would much rather talk about the vehicle itself, which is great because I couldn’t tell you the first thing about how a car operates. <Dramatic flashback to the day my husband unsuccessfully attempted to teach me how to drive with a stick shift.>



I had my heart set on a Volkswagen Tiguan. For years I wanted this sporty little crossover of Awesomeness. Unfortunately, the dealership didn’t want me to have it. They seemed to think that it was perfectly acceptable for someone to walk into a car dealership, look at the price tag and say, “That sounds good, I’ll take it!” Do people do that?? I don’t think they do. At least, I don’t think they should. Why give someone money you don’t have to? Haggling for a car is an American tradition and I take full advantage of it!



VW Salesman: “What will it take for you to buy this car today?” (I hate that question. It will take a 100% off coupon and a back rub. What, not the answer you were expecting??)
Me: “A fricken awesome deal, is what it will take.” (Apparently car shopping turns me into Yoda.)
VW Salesman: “Ehhh, I can take $300 off the sticker price.”
Me: “Excuse me what?”
VW Salesman: “I can knock $300 off for you if you buy today.”
Me: “$300. $300? Off an over $30,000 vehicle? I don’t math on Wednesdays.. oh, today’s Thursday? Well, I don’t do math on Thursdays either but if I did I would say that was a 1% savings. I think you and I have very different opinions of the definition of ‘awesome’.”



I’m rambling. This is suppose to be a post about car buying tips. Anywho, I ended up buying a JEEP too and did the best I’d ever done on talking them down. Yay! So, here are my tips:



I can’t tell you how to pick the right car for you but I’m sure you already have a few ideas. So, before going into a dealership do yourself a favor and do your homework. You should never walk into a dealership without knowing:

• A priority list of features. Like buying a house, have a list of wants and needs and know how each make/model you are considering compares for each of those items.

For instance, I wanted a vehicle that had a decent amount of cargo space. So, while looking at the different models I was considering I could say, “I like that this has Bluetooth, but I really need to be able to haul massive amounts of crap back and forth to Ohio and the (insert other make/model here) has more cargo space.” This will not only allow you to rate the different vehicles in your head but will also say to the salesman, “You haven’t won me over yet so do better!”

• The Kelley Blue Book value of your trade-in.

Even if you aren’t planning to trade-in your current vehicle, you should know this number anyway. Chances are it will come up in conversation at some point and you don’t want to be caught off guard. The dealership who sold us the Hubs JEEP, for some reason, didn’t want to go down much on the sticker price but was willing to offer above value on his trade-in. It ended up being the smartest decision for us to trade it in, in order to get the best overall value. It’s a free tool online, so just do it.

• What that vehicle has sold for in your area.

AAA has a tool online that will tell you what a certain make/model has sold for in your area, as well as regionally and nationally. I still don’t get the whole invoice price vs. sticker price vs. cost business. Knowing what other people paid for that car out the door will help you set a fair price to start with when they ask what you want to pay and will help you know when their counter-offer is too high. This is just straight up ammo!

• Know what interest rate and financing offers you can get from your bank(s).

They will want you to finance through them and that’s fine, if it’s the best deal for you. Don’t find yourself in a position of agreeing to finance through them without knowing that they are giving you the best available deal.

Now, I know not everyone can be as rude... ahem, honest... as I can be to a stranger- even to a salesman- so maybe these suggestions won’t work for you but here is how I did or would respond to things car salesman like to say/ask:



“What will it take for you to buy this car today?”



As I’ve said before, “A 100% discount and a back rub.” That is sort of a stupid question but they always ask it. They are never going to say yes to your answer so your response will be where the negotiating starts. I’ve been treated like a naive girl who they could take advantage of before so I like to start with a clear statement that it ain’t gonna happen this time! If they want a starting point for negotiations, then why not let it be $0?



Okay, okay.. this obviously isn’t going to happen so this is where that AAA tool you used before comes into play. If you know what people on average pay for the car, and you know the lowest & highest paid for it, then set a few price points. My husband and I picked a fair but low price we wanted to shoot for but knew we probably wouldn’t get; an average price we thought we could get & would be happy with; and a maximum would-rather-walk-away-than-pay-$1-more price. Anyone who is with you & helping with the negotiating should know these 3 prices and be on the same page!



When they ask what it will take, give them your lowest price point. If they say okay, you’ve clearly not followed directions and tell them you’ve changed your mind and bump that number down some more!



“I want you to know that I’m doing you a favor by giving this much for your trade-in.”



Yea, yea. Remember- they aren’t doing you a favor by taking your trade-in. You have an item of value and they are buying it from you. You may roll this into the new car deal but negotiate it as if it’s a separate deal entirely. Why would you give the dealership a break that you wouldn’t give someone if selling it privately? It’s still money in exchange for a car.



When buying our JEEPS, we didn’t just know the blue book value but we also looked up what comparable used cars in our year/make/model had sold for or were listed for nearby. The dealership will likely tell you what they will have to put into the car before they can sell it (repairs, cleaning, etc.) and they will likely tell you what they are planning to relist it for. Bet you a dollar that won't be the truth. I know for a fact that my husbands trade-in was listed for $1000 more than what they told us they could list it for. Now maybe they will end up taking less for it, but how well they do on the negotiations for reselling your trade-in isn’t your problem! What they do with it after you sell it to them is irrelevant to this transaction.



“Why don’t you tell me what monthly payment you are hoping for and I’ll see what I can do to get you there?”



The appropriate response to this is, “No.” 


With the right financing terms, you can get a $10 monthly payment on a million dollar loan but your great-great-great grandchildren will still be paying for your debt. What you want and care about is getting the best value for what you are getting. I knew what I could afford to pay comfortably each month given my budget, but I am a couponer and I want VALUE! 


At the end of shopping, my choices came down to a $20,000 low end trim package with little amenities and a $32,000 high end trim package with all the amenities. It wasn’t about the monthly payment. I had to decide if I wanted to pay more per month for the features I was getting or would I rather have a lower payment and live without those luxuries. (FYI, I went for the luxuries.)



We ended up completely negotiating the prices on both those vehicles. I needed to know at the end of the day which was going to be the best value and that included all features, financing options, taxes/title costs and all those other annoying little fees.



“Now, let me go run all this past of manager.”



To which you reply, “If you aren’t the person who can finalize this deal I want to speak to who can.” Do you like spending time at car dealerships? I don’t. They make the worst coffee. There is no reason why buying a car should take 5 hours. Salesmen shouldn’t make offers they aren’t authorized to give. I guess they enjoying wasting other people’s time. Managers, on the other hand, value their time a little more and tend to cut to the chase with you- which is all you ever wanted in the first place. If it isn’t going to happen, cut your losses and go get a beer. If it is, then just get ‘er done! (And the go get a beer to celebrate!)




“If I meet that price, I’ll only take home $100 total on this deal.”



“Wow, that’s $50 an hour for your time- high five!” Seriously, I know that salesman are people too with families and bills and they need to earn a living too. BUT, if they cannot afford to pay their bills working that job, than they need to find another job. This truly isn’t your problem. My typical response to this statement is, “I don’t mean to me rude, but how much money you make today is completely irrelevant to my situation.”



When buying the Hubs Jeep, I continued, “Every dollar I give you is one less dollar we have to refinish our basement and we need to refinish our basement before we can have kids so right now you are standing in the way of me having babies and my mom having grandchildren. How do you feel about that?” Immature, I know but what I said was as silly as what he said. He doesn’t care if we have children ever and I don’t care if he eats Ramen noodles tonight. We all have a Ramen noodle phase in life.



And I bet you another dollar he’s lying about this too. Sure, he may only make a $100 commission check for this deal but he’s probably also going to get a bonus if he meets his monthly/quarterly quotas. And the dealership may not make $1 on the deal but they will also receive incentives and kick backs from the manufacturer. The truth is if dealerships really sold cars without making a profit they would be out of business and if salesmen sold cars without making an income they’d be working another job.




Okay, I’m ranting enough. Here are just a few more tips:

• Ask for time to speak alone at any point you need to. Don’t show them any cards they don’t need to see. It will also make them sweat. Besides, probably half the time they are back “checking with their manager” is probably spent around the coffee pot talking about last night’s game just to make you think they are working really hard for you. Let them think you aren't already writing out your new car Facebook status in your head.  

• Go to the dealership on a weekend morning and give yourself a break for lunch. It will allow you to clear your head and once again, make them sweat. But whatever you do, don’t agree to drive the vehicle to lunch... or else you’ll start to see yourself owning it and daydream about baby seats in the back and then end up buying it. Unless you really want to buy it anyway... and then why not use their gas for your lunch date.

• If you are waiting on optional features you worked into the deal, get in writing a date they expect to have them in for you before signing on the dotted line. Or risk waiting 2 months for your fricken bluetooth install! GRRRR!

• And last but not least, a little trick I learned from our Best Man: When all deals are decided on and everyone is happy... say, “Sounds good, now all you need to do it throw in a set of mud flaps and we’ll call this a done deal!” Works every time!

Does anyone else have any good car buying tips? I'll also settle for just funny ones. :)

All You Magazine Deal!

A couple weeks ago my cousin emailed me asking where she can get additional coupons, besides newspaper inserts. One of my favorite resources for high value coupons is All You magazine. It is a monthly magazine that contains up to (and sometimes over) $100 in coupons! It is sold only at Walmart and through subscriptions so I alwaysan  recommend that new couponers get a subscription ASAP. Plus, All You often has higher value coupons or coupons for products that don't usually run in the newspaper.

Luckily for all of us (especially me because my subscription was up for renewal) there is a great deal on All You magazine going on right now through Ebates.

I've posted about Ebates before (here) and I think it's an awesome way to get cash back for purchases you were already planning to make or to help justify a purchase with additional savings.

Well, right now Ebates is offering 40% cash back for purchases through Magazines.com! A one year subscriptions for All You is currently $19.97 (12 issues), of which you will receive $7.99 back from Ebates. A two year subscriptions is $34, of which you will receive $13.60 back. That's just $.99 an issue for one year and $.85 an issue for two years. Use one coupon per month and you've got your savings back!

12 issues for $11.98

24 issues for $20.40

So, to take advantage of this awesome deal first click here (or the Ebates logo above) to open an Ebates account. When I opened my account a couple months ago I received a $10 Target gift card with my first purchase, which I did receive in the mail this week! Hopefully this deal is still going on for you!

Next, search for Magazines.com and click through to their site from Ebates. VERY IMPORTANT- you will not get cash back from any purchase unless you first log into your Ebates account and access the company website through Ebates. It takes a little time before you'll start remembering to do this before everyone online purchase but it will totally pay off in the long run!

Then, place your order and watch and wait for that first awesome issue containing tons of money saving tips and COUPONS!!!

If you take advantage of today's offer, like I did, come back and leave me a comment! Happy Couponing!

Budget French Manicure

I love being pampered at the spa just as much as the next girl, but I am not a fan of salon french manicures! I've had a french manicure air brushed on... and it was so thick it peeled off in one piece. I've had traditional french manicures at probably 15 different salons in my life and they are always so awful! Crooked lines... sloppy... looks like they were hand painted. Uh, probably because they are and I just can't see how someone can possibly have a steady enough hand to paint on a straight french manicure line!

Years ago I decided to take the matter into my own hands and find a way to do an awesome french manicure at home. Here are the tools:

• nail polish remover
• white polish 
• clear coat
• eye tips cotton swabs (flat on one end and pointy on the other)

If you need to do a little cuticle work, I recommend Sally Hansen Massaging Cuticle Treatment and whatever you call that other little tool there- a cuticle trimmer, maybe?

I usually use the 99 cent Wet N Wild white polish from the drug store. The key to a good french manicure is fresh polish. It has to be good and runny, not clumpy or thick at all (like old polish gets). I buy the cheap stuff so even if I only get one manicure out of the bottle it's still significant savings over a salon polish.

Here are the steps:

1. Remove any polish or oils from your nails w/ polish remover.
2. With the white polish paint from the top of your nail down to past the natural curved line of your nail. (Don't worry about making it look pretty at this point.
3. Let this layer dry thoroughly! I cannot stress this enough!
4. Put a second coat over the first, once again down past the natural line of your nail tip.
5. Let this layer dry thoroughly! I mean it! If you don't let all the layers dry well your nails will chip or dent or smear before the top coat finally does dry. 
6. Take the flat end of your q-tip and dip it in the polish remover. Rub the cotton swab across your nail, allowing it to follow the natural curve of your nail. Start at the bottom of the white polish and work your way up, slowly erasing away what you don't want in a smooth line. Stop when it looks good to you. 
7. Use the pointy end of the cotton swab for any touch-ups and to get any polish off the skin beside your nails. (I'm a messy polisher.)
8. Apply a clear coat if you prefer the look I do, or a light pink polish if you want a softer look.

The nail on the right isn't finished, fyi.

Tips:

Use 10 cotton swabs, one for each nail. Once too much polish gunk gets on the swab it won't erase in a solid, smooth line.

You can stop the line of the french manicure lower than your actual nail tip. This will make your nails look longer. If you break one nail before your manicure, use this trick to try to make it look the same length as your other nails.

Once again, and I'm serious this time, let each layer dry COMPLETELY before the next. Sometimes I will even wait a half hour between coats just to be sure. You can watch TV, read a book, or read The 2010's Housewife blog while waiting. :)

If you give it a try, shoot me an email at 2010housewife@gmail.com to let me know how you did!

Since I've already received a new emails asking where to buy these cotton swabs I thought I'd do a little online shopping for you. You can buy a pack of 80 on Amazon.com right now for $5.69 shipped! Fran Wilson Eye Tees Cotton Tips 80's

Fran Wilson Eye Tees Cotton Tips

Linking Up @ Today's Creative Blog & The Thrifty Home & Savvy Southern Style

My Birthday Gift to You!

June is Birthday Month so I've got a special birthday gift for all my readers... Did you know that The 2010's Housewife can save you money??

Yep, I sure can! Look over to your right and scroll down... a little bit further... there, do you see it? Printable coupons right there on the sidebar!

You can access Coupons.com's latest printable coupons right from this side! Just click the Coupons.com box and it will take you over to their site where you can print hundreds of dollars in money saving coupons! No need to thank me, it's the least I can do! :)

You should also notice over there a special promotional offer from Barnes & Noble: 10% off one item online!

And just above that is a promotional offer for Shoes.com giving you 10% off the entire site! If you don't tell your husband I won't either! ;)

Last, but by no means least, is a promotional offer from SpaFinder.com over on the left sidebar: Buy one gift certificate and receive 15% off a second!

I don't know about you, but the summer is a big gift buying time for me: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduation. June is a very expensive month for us! If it is for you too please take advantage of these money saving offers right here on The 2010's Housewife blog!

Awesome Cricut Deal!

Amazon has an AWESOME Cricut deal going on today!!

Cricut Personal Electric Cutting Machine

Today you can get my go-to crafting tool, the Cricut Personal Electric Cutting Machine, for just $95.89 SHIPPED!

I love this little machine. I've used it for so many crafting projects- cupcake wrappers & toppers, gift tags, scrap booking, wedding projects, glass etching and labeling/organization projects. The possibilities with this machine are seriously endless!

Click the link above to order one for yourself and then stop by and show me what awesome crafts you create with it! 

Cricut 29-0001 Personal Electronic Cutting Machine

If you already own the Personal machine and are ready to upgrade the Cricut Expression is also on sale for $100 off! Just $199.99 SHIPPED!

Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine