Monthly Archives: September 2010

Freebie Friday (October 1-7, 2010)

September 30, 2010
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I can’t believe it’s October already! I’m hoping that throughout the month I’ll be able to bring you lots of Halloween freebies. There’s at least one in this week’s post–to get you started.

FREE FOOD

FREE EVENTS/PROMOTIONS/ADMISSION/STUFF!

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10 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe in Event of a Fire

September 30, 2010
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Saturday, October 2nd is National Family Fire Drill Day, which Liberty Mutual is sponsoring.

As such it has created these 10 tips for creating a family fire drill, which I thought the Suddenly Frugal readers would find helpful.

  1. Gather your entire household and form a fire escape plan, pointing out all possible exits and marking the location of each smoke alarm.
  2. After ensuring that everyone in the family understands the plan, check that all escape routes are clear and that doors and windows are easily opened.
  3. Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they’ve escaped, and then call the fire department.
  4. Designate a family member to assist young children, and elderly or disabled family members should an emergency strike.
  5. Never go back into a burning building; instead, rely on firefighters who have specialized training and equipment. (I know my kids would be tempted to do this if we couldn’t get the dog!)
  6. Practice the escape plan as a family, making the drill as realistic as possible.
  7. Install smoke alarms in each level of the home and in every sleeping room.
  8. Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night while they are asleep.
  9. Store escape ladders upstairs for those homes with multiple levels. (We have rope so that we could shimmy our way down from the second story.)
  10. Practice closing doors on your way out when holding a family fire drill, as this slows the spread of fire.

I hope that these tips can help you you and your family stay safe should you ever deal with a fire at home.

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Today is National Coffee Day!

September 28, 2010
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I don’t know about you, but I can’t get my work day started–heck, any day started–without my faithful cup of Joe. Seems I’m not alone.

According to a new survey commissioned jointly by Dunkin’ Donuts and CareerBuilder, a cup of Joe helps in keeping the nation’s workforce – particularly younger workers – productive and energetic. Thirty-two percent of workers stated they need coffee to get through the workday. Forty-three percent of coffee drinkers reported they are less productive if they don’t drink coffee while on the job. I find the latter to be so true–my brain just doesn’t function as efficiently without the caffeine boost. Even a can or two of Diet Coke doesn’t do the trick. I need my high-test coffee, preferably brewed at home (it’s the frugal option) and the first cup ingested by 6:30 a.m. at the latest!

With my small sample of one and anecdotal evidence from my writer friends, I can tell you that writers definitely need coffee to do their work. According to the Dunkin Donuts/CareerBuilder survery, the following professions had the highest proportions of workers stating they are less productive without coffee vary widely. Those who need coffee the most are:

  • Nurses
  • Physicians
  • Hotel workers
  • Designers/Architects
  • Financial/Insurance sales representatives
  • Food preparers
  • Engineers
  • Teachers
  • Marketing/Public Relations professionals
  • Scientists
  • Machine operators
  • Government workers

Here are three other interesting findings from that survey:

  1. Thirty-seven percent of American workers drink two or more cups of coffee during their workday. (I start the morning with 1.5 cups but sometimes I’ll drink another cup around 3 p.m. when I start to feel drowsy.)
  2. Seventy-five percent of American workers who buy coffee during the workday only travel a quarter mile or less for their daily brew. (All I do is walk downstairs. And by brewing my own coffee each morning, I’m saving about $800 a year.)
  3. Twenty-four percent of American workers aged 18 to 34 buy coffee as a way to treat themselves for a job well done. (I’m a little over that demographic but I fit that description, too–coffee out, versus made at home, is definitely a treat in my book.)

“Today’s workforce is working longer hours and shouldering heavier workloads,” said Richard Castellini, Chief Marketing Officer at CareerBuilder. “The survey shows having an extra energy boost in the morning and throughout the day may be helping productivity levels.”

I’m all for increased productivity as long as it doesn’t involve much increased spending. What about you?

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Mea Culpa on Missing Posts

September 27, 2010
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My apologies to the Suddenly Frugal blog readers about the lack of posts these last two days. The galleys for my newest book Toss, Keep, Sell!: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In are due back at the publisher on Wednesday, having only arrived at my home office last Friday. Needless to say, between that and my new blogging gig at Home Goes Strong, I’m a little swamped right now. I’m hoping to get original posts back up and running by Wednesday, Thursday at the latest. Thanks for your patience.

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Freebie Friday (September 24-30, 2010)

September 23, 2010
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September was a good month for freebies. Too bad it’s coming to an end. What will October hold in store for free stuff?

FREE FOOD

FREE EVENTS/PROMOTIONS

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Suddenly Frugal on the Radio

September 22, 2010
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I did an hour-long radio segment on Tuesday night with “Breaking Through with Georgiann.” Most of the interview focused on my new book Toss, Keep, Sell!: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In.

If you’ve  got some time today, click here to listen to the show. Enjoy!

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Rebates for DC Residents

September 21, 2010
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If you are in the market for a new appliance and you live in Washington, DC, listen up: starting on September 20th, Washington, DC residents became eligible for ENERGY STAR-qualified appliance rebates, as part of the “Cash for Appliances” rebate program.

I don’t live in DC but this information caught my eye for two reasons:

  1. We had to buy a new washing machine this past weekend, when the old one died. By choosing an energy-efficient model, we’re getting a $100 rebate from our state.
  2. We bought our appliance at Sears, not only because of the competitive prices but also because of the haul-away and recycling services the company offers.

I got this information from a Sears press release about ENERGY STAR rebates for DC residents:

In an effort to help Washington, D.C. residents better manage the rebate process, the Sears site includes an interactive map, energy savings rebate calculator and information about ENERGY STAR products that qualify for rebates so customers can quickly and easily identify their favorite brands and models that are available for in-store purchase.

Under the U.S. Department of Energy-approved appliance rebate plan for Washington, D.C., residents are eligible for mail-in rebates from $50 to $300. In order to qualify, residents are required to replace their old appliances with new, ENERGY STAR-qualified models and show proof of haul-away of the old appliance from a participating retailer, such as Sears.

Here are how those rebates break down:

  • $50 for refrigerators
  • $50 to $75 for dishwashers
  • $100 to $125 for washing machines or clothes washers
  • $300 for electric heat pump water heaters (with a certain energy factor rating)

Keep in mind that with many of the state-oriented rebate programs, there are limited funds. So if you’re going to buy and file for a rebate, do it sooner rather than later.

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Random Frugal Thoughts

September 20, 2010
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I’ve been jotting down random frugal thoughts lately, hoping I could turn them into a cohesive blog posting in the near future. But rather than make myself crazy trying to weave them all together, I thought I’d switch things up today and simply list them here. So read on for a handful of random ideas on to save money, in one way or another.

  • Stock up on free hangers from your favorite retail store. The next time you find yourself running low on hangers, don’t go out and buy new ones. Instead, ask at your favorite retail store whether they can give you hangers for free. I know that at both Kohl’s and Target, they will pack your shopping bag with the clothing you’ve purchased and the hangers they came on.
  • Use a washing mitt to wash fruits and vegetables. Don’t spend your money on expensive produce washes or fancy brushes. Instead, if you happen to have a washing “mitt” (kind of like a spa mitt) that is designed to be used in the shower, bring it to your kitchen and use it to scrub your fruits and vegetables clean–using plain water only.
  • Never ever buy anything online without first searching for a coupon. Just last week we needed to buy new vanities for the upstairs bathroom we’re redoing–the last of our major renovation projects. As luck would have it, my husband spotted a Home Depot discount coupon online, and we got $150 off our purchase. Similarly, if you like online portals, such as Ebates.com, start ALL your online shopping there so you can earn cash back on your purchases. (I should have done my Home Depot shopping via Ebates, and I would have gotten 3% back on my four-figure purchase!)
  • If you think something is priced wrong, speak up. Before the school sports season started up, my daughters needed to stock up on athletic gear. I decided to buy multiples of a certain kind of, ahem, sports undergarment, because it was on sale for $20 (regularly $36). But when I got to the checkout counter, it rang up as $36. Even though there was a long line of people behind me and the cashier rolled her eyes when I suggested she check the price, I stood my ground. It took about five minutes for someone to confirm that I should be paying $20 instead of $36, and I “saved” $16 on each item I bought. I’m so glad that I didn’t just say, “Oh, never mind.”

Do you have any random frugal ideas to share?

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Finding Free and Affordable Flu Shots

September 19, 2010
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While experts don’t expect the mad scramble from 2009, when everyone and his sister was trying to get a flu shot, figuring out a way to get a free or low-cost flu shot is fine, no matter what the pandemic prognosis is. That’s why, like last year’s two posts on free and affordable flu shots, I’ve put together the following list of places you can go to get your flu vaccine and, hopefully, not spend a lot of money in the process.

Finally, keep these wise words from a former infection control coordinator in mind: “Most insurance plans will pay for the flu shots, and patients can obtain those at their primary physicians. Physicians and other clinics order a specific amount of flu vaccines and many, doctors offices in particular, will run out early in the season, so it’s best to get an appointment early in the vaccine season to be sure you can get one.” (Note to self: call primary care physician to get an appointment for a flu shot pronto!)

If you are aware of other free or low-cost options for flu shots, please let me know. If necessary, I’ll write a follow-up post to share this additional information.

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Freebie Friday (September 17-23, 2010)

September 16, 2010
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Freebie! Freebies! Get yer freebies right here!

FREE FOOD

FREE EVENTS/PROMOTIONS

  • Get your dog checked out for free in Austin, Houston and San Antonio when the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour hits Texas this weekend. Here are the details: free heart health examinations in San Antonio’s McAllister Dog Park. From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 17; at the 8th annual Barktoberfest festival and 3K Pledge Walk for Homeless Pets, hosted by The Central Texas SPCA, on September 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Lakeview Pavilion in Austin’s Old Settlers Park; and at Astros’ Dog Day Expo at Minute Maid Park, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 19 in Houston.
  • Kids 12 and under ride free on New Jersey Transit trains when going to the Newark Liberty International Airport stop. (This freebie is good through the holiday season–good to know if you happen to be flying out of Newark on a family trip.)
  • Members of the military get free admission to the San Diego Bay Fair September 17-19!
  • BJ’s Wholesale Club is offering a Free 60-Day Trial Membership through November.
  • Priceline has introduced a freebie search at hotels!
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5 Savings to Find in September

September 14, 2010
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Now that most of the kids are back in school, you would think that the shopping deals would be over.

You would be wrong.

It seems that there are 5 areas where you can find great deals and savings in September. If you have any cash to burn or want to get a jump start on your holiday shopping, read on.

  1. Save a bundle on travel. If your kids aren’t going to school full time yet, now is an excellent time to take a family vacation. Theme parks have emptied out, and hotels, vacation rentals and airlines are looking to fill empty slots that families with students aren’t filling now that summer is over. If you like to shop via Priceline (my favorite way to book hotels), don’t forget to check out the new Priceline freebies offers!
  2. Stock up now for Summer 2011. Nearly every store I walk into these days has slashed prices on summer goods. Of course they have–they have to clear out space for Halloween and, soon enough, gasp, holiday decorations. Last week my local CVS had a sign at the front of the store advertising 50% of summer merchandise. Over the weekend they upped the ante to 75% off. I know our pool could use some new rafts and floats–maybe I’ll hit up CVS this week to see what I can find.
  3. Pad your school supply closet. I’ve said time and time again how stocking up on school supplies when they cost barely anything is the way to save money when your kids actually need new supplies. Just like the penny deals over the summer, September is a great time to see how much stores, such as Staples, have slashed prices on school supplies. Our supply closet is running a little low on spiral notebooks and lined notebook paper, so now would be the right time to buy, if the prices are right–and low enough.
  4. Get your gardening gear on the cheap. I was in Target this past weekend, and though the smell of freshly stocked Halloween candy tempted this Weight Watcher, what really caught my attention were the amazing prices on gardening and lawn supplies. I could have had all the rakes and shovels I wanted for dirt cheap. Are your gardening and lawn care supplies looking a little worse for the wear? Now would be a good time to go out with the old and get yourself some new without spending a lot.
  5. Buy the back-to-school clothing you put off purchasing. If you waited until prices came down on those must-have items for back-to-school, your wait was well worth it: stop in any clothing retailer this month, and you’re sure to find markdowns on all the clothes your kids wanted for back to school last month but for which you did not want to pay full price. I might go buy a few items and stash them away for Christmas gifts. Hey, it never hurts to start your holiday shopping early, right?

What kind of bargain shopping or stocking up do you do in September?

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Frugal on a First Date?

September 13, 2010
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Would you act frugally on a first date? According to a new survey from RedPlum, the folks that bring you deals and coupons, 78 percent of Americans would–even going as far as using a coupon to pay for movie tickets on that first date. Seventy-seven percent would use a coupon to pay for dinner at a restaurant. (Thank goodness I’m married and don’t have to worry about dating at all!)

And while there was an option to do so “discreetly,” a majority of those who responded “yes” didn’t feel the need to conceal the fact that they were using a coupon. This outwardly open action speaks to the value-oriented mindset of today’s consumer, extending the need to save in all aspects of their lives – at the grocery store, at restaurants and on a date, too!

RedPlum says that using coupons or seeking savings is seen as a “badge of honor” these days, and that women love to swap stories about their best find and share their savings successes in a very viral way. I know this to be true about myself and within my circle of friends. At least once a day one of my Facebook friends or the people if follow on Twitter post something about a deal! (It’s how I found out about today’s Massage Envy deals, from a Facebook friend’s status update!)

Here are some additional stats from the 2010 RedPlum Purse String Study:

  • 22% of respondents said they would do “pretty much anything” to get 25% or more in savings. Signing up for an e-newsletter and filling out an online form led the way of what lengths consumers would go to for a good deal at 74% and 71%, respectively.
  • 57% said their family and friends think their zeal for getting a good deal is “spot on.”
  • 80% of respondents spend up to three hours each week seeking out coupons, deals and savings from all sources. This was true across the board, regardless of age, children in the household or income, although older adults (65-plus) did spend slightly more time seeking out deals.
  • This deal-seeking accounts for up to $50 in savings each week for 81% of respondents or an average annual savings of $2,600.
  • 82% said they use the money they save with coupons on basic necessities or paying down debt, 56% and 26%, respectively. Whereas in the past consumers may have set aside their savings for a vacation or “splurge” fund, today people are redirecting any potential surplus toward fundamental household items and services to stay ahead.
  • Only 12% said they are “splurging” with the money they have saved.

“This new frugality is driven by the economy that is leading to shopping behaviors that will remain long after the economy improves,” says Lisa Reynolds, RedPlum’s Mom Saver-in-chief.. “Yesterday’s occasional saver has become today’s deal-seeker who is instilling these trends in the next generation of value seekers.”

I believe it. In fact, it was the angle I took when originally pitching my book Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less to publishers. Clearly, I was on to something.

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Guest Post: Getting a Massage on a Budget

September 12, 2010
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One of the perks my mother enjoys in her retired life is a weekly massage. I wish I had the budget for such indulgences, but guess what? It turns out that getting a massage doesn’t have to be an expensive ordeal, as today’s guest blogger, Debbie Abrams Kaplan, explains.

Debbie covers family travel, events and deals for Frisco Kids and Jersey Kids, so she knows a lot about how to have fun and save money. She happens to be the person who gave me the heads up that tomorrow, Tuesday, September 14th, is when you can find one-day deals on massages nationwide. (And yes, I booked myself a massage at a discount.) Take it away, Debbie.

For some, getting a massage, facial or a mani-pedi is not a luxury but a necessary party of regular life. I love getting massages, but am conscious of my budget, treating myself on occasion. Usually that occasion is when I find a good deal. Here are some of the ways I do that.

Fall means back to school, but it also means back to the spa for me. September 14th is Massage Envy’s Massage for the Cure event. They book $49 massages (50 minutes) and $15 of that goes to the Susan G. Komen organization which sponsors breast cancer research. They promise to donate at least $500,000. More than 640 Massage Envys in 42 states are participating.

Spa Week happens twice a year, and it’s coming up this fall. More than 800 spas in many states offer deals for $50 massages, facials and other body treatments. And the spas are ones you probably want to visit anyway – there’s a top-notch list. Start booking now if you live in California, Nevada, Illinois, Washington, Oregon or Arizona, for Spa Week running September 13-19. If you live in a different state, Spa Week is October 11-17 and appointments can be booked starting September 13th. You do need to register for the website, but that’s free.

Group buying sites frequently offer great deals on massages, facials, mani-pedis and other types of body work. These include:

Massage students have to practice a certain number of hours on live humans before getting their certification. Check with your local massage school to see how to “volunteer.” If you’re a part of a mom’s group or community Yahoo-type group, keep your eye out for announcements of this type too. I’ve gotten freebies this way – the only downside being you might get the massage at their house instead of a studio.

In this economy, businesses are doing what they can to get new customers. You might not think of getting a massage at a chiropractor’s office, but they do offer therapeutic massages that definitely get the kinks out. You might find gyms offering deals – at their own massage studio or at a chiropractor’s office nearby. Keep your eyes open!

Note that with any discounted massage or body treatment, you’ll still need to tip the therapist – generally 15%. And that should be based on the original massage price, not the discounted price.

Let us know if you have additional tips for saving money on spa treatments, such as massages.

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Freebie Friday (September 10-16, 2010)

September 9, 2010
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Delicious freebies to get your weekend started!

FREE FOOD

FREE EVENTS/PROMOTIONS

  • Kids 12 and under ride free on New Jersey Transit trains when going to the Newark Liberty International Airport stop. (This freebie is good through the holiday season–good to know if you happen to be flying out of Newark on a family trip.)
  • The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale, Arizona, is offering free prostate cancer screenings from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11. Located at 10460 N. 92nd St. on the campus of Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center, please call 480-882-4636 to make an appointment.
  • LG Electronics and Waste Management Recycle America are offering free electronics recycling on Saturday, September 11th, from 9 am to 3 pm at the First Baptist Church of Lewisville, 1251 Valley Ridge Blvd., in Lewisville, Texas.
  • BJ’s Wholesale Club is offering a Free 60-Day Trial Membership through November.
  • Priceline has introduced a freebie search at hotels!
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Bitchin’ Kitchen

September 8, 2010
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Wouldn’t that be an awesome name for an HGTV or DIY Network TV show–”Bitchin’ Kitchen”? Maybe my husband and I should pitch it, especially now that we’ve completed yet another project in our kitchen and raised it to “bitchin’” level. (My apologies to any readers that take offense with that word. I only mean it as in “super awesome” or “way amazing.”)

So what did we do? This past weekend we tiled the back splash in our kitchen. But we didn’t just choose any ordinary tile, such as the samples that my cousins saw when they came to visit me for a recent family get together. No, we went out on a limb and chose small, rectangular glass tiles in green, brown, gray and tan. Best of all, by tiling the back splash ourselves, I’m sure we saved ourselves a lot of money and we were completely in control of the project and how fast it moved.

Let me outline how we ended up doing this tile back splash on the cheap and the quick.

First, we bought one-foot by one-foot sheets of the tile at Home Depot–that is, they were already connected in foot-square squares. We spent about $8 per sheet and used 14 in the kitchen. Total cost: $112.

Next, because we didn’t want to deal with mastic, we instead opted to buy Simplemat, which is basically double-sided tape designed to stick to the wall and your tiles permanently. One box covers 10 square feet and costs $20. We ended up getting two and having a bunch left over. Total cost: $40.

Putting the tiles up on the Simplemat was easy and fast. It took maybe two hours. The only challenge came when we had to maneuver the tiles around the outlets and under the cabinets. Luckily, we could just cut the netting that held the tile squares on the one-foot-square sheet. In some instances, though, we needed half or a portion of the tile to fill in gaps, and Bill just used his Dremel tool to snap the tiles and fit them where they needed to go.

The final step in doing the tile backsplash was putting the grout in to hold the tiles in place and permanently affix them to the SimpleMat. This was the worse part of the job, not only because it was painstaking and a time suck but, frankly, the sound of the sandy grout going over the glass tiles brought back icky memories of nails on a chalkboard.

It took two coats of grout (we spent $26 on colored, premixed grout), applied with a grout float (purchased for $6), and then wiped off with a sponge. It took a bunch of wipes to get the residue off and to ensure that all the pockets between the tiles were filled in the end. Total cost: $32.

From start to finish–including a drive to Lowe’s to buy grout and the float–we started tiling the backsplash at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning and were done by 6 p.m. that night. Not bad for less than $200 spent and a day’s work.

Check out the results below.

Kitchen with tile backsplash done

Tile backsplash detail.

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Cash for College: What College Stores Are Doing

September 7, 2010
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After last week’s series of blog posts on saving money on college books, I thought you might be interested in this information from the National Association of College Stores, the professional association of more than 3,000 college retailers. They estimate that the average student will spend more than $2,000 in a college store, so it’s no surprise that stores are doing what they can to get students to shop there–and even save some cash in the process. Here are four of the ways they’re trying to draw shoppers and students through the door.

1. Buying back books. Most college stores do their best to promote a strong used book market through aggressive buyback policies. Over 95% of Cornell University students receive personalized e-mails during buyback season. As a result, the store nearly doubled its supply of used books over two years, allowing them to resell used books for even less. Likewise, the University of Connecticut bookstore launched a buyback web site that informs students how many books the store will be buying and at what price. Combined with other programs, UConn Co-op estimates that it saves its students about $3.6 million annually on textbooks. Some stores, such as that at California State University-Fullerton, have guaranteed buyback programs to increase used book stock and put a little extra cash in student pockets.

2. Offering price matching. If you grew up in the New York area, then you might remember a pitchman for Crazy Eddie electronics, who claimed that his prices can’t be beat–because they were insane. Seems like some college stores are taking a page from Crazy Eddie’s play book and offering price matching programs. Some schools that promote this policy include SUNY Plattsburgh, The University of Oklahoma and The Borough of Manhattan Community College. (Too bad my alma mater, NYU, doesn’t seem to be in on this trend.)

3. Using creative concepts to attract shoppers. You know that old adage, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?” Well it seems that this has caught on with bookstores that want student business no matter what. Why else would the University of Illinois-Champaign store help match used book sellers with buyers, or the University of Arkansas college store discount books the day before classes begin–saving students some $500,000 over the past two years?

4. Offering textbook rentals. Typically, college stores rent books to students for between one-third to half the cost of a new textbook. Nearly ever college bookstore website I visited when writing this piece had a textbook rental program promoted on the store’s home page.

Bottom line: if your kids is going to do his/her book shopping at the on-campus store, I would suggest telling your child to ask the question, “What can you do for me?” when it comes to getting discounts or deals on purchases.

Tell me what college bookstores you shop in or know about are doing to help save students money.

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Guest Post: Yoga on a Frugal Budget

September 6, 2010
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Today’s blog post is actually a guest post, courtesy of Victoria Klein, author of the new book 27 Things to Know About Yoga (Good Things to Know) She wants to help people like you and me who like to do yoga but don’t want to pay a lot for it. (I know that my doing yoga poses on my Wii Fit helps to keep me limber but it definitely doesn’t replace doing “real” yoga. But, hey, it’s free!) Anyway, Victoria has some great ideas on how to do budget-friendly yoga. In fact, she has 7 ideas. Here they are (after her introduction):

Sticker-shock alert! One yoga class can range from $10–$18. If you visit your favorite yoga studio three times a week, that’s $120–$216 a month. Financial limitations are known to be one of the top reasons hundreds of thousands of people can’t or don’t practice yoga on a regular basis.

Nothing can stand in your way of practicing yoga & here’s the proof: 7 effective ways to help overcome all those dollar signs. Yoga’s butt-lifting, ab-firming, sanity-saving, soul-lifting benefits can now be yours.

1) Buy class packages: Almost every yoga studio offers their students class passes in which a set of five to twenty classes is paid for at once. Those admissions are credited to your name, and you can use them over a certain amount of time (usually three to six months). Depending on the pass you buy, you can save $2–$7 per class!

Some studios also offer an introductory deal of three classes at a dramatically reduced price for new students. These passes must be redeemed within a very short time frame (often two weeks) but are a fantastic way to try a few different teachers at one studio for a low financial commitment.

2) Community classes: Scan local yoga studio schedules for “community classes,” which are offered at a lower per-class rate, usually occurring once or twice a week.

3) Students, teachers, and seniors: Call yoga studios and ask if they offer discounts for local teachers, students, or senior citizens. Many do! You’ll need to present an ID proving your claim, in turn saving you $2–$5 per class.

4) Pay by donation: A new trend in yoga studios has emerged, with establishments all over the country offering some (or all) of their classes on a donation basis. You simply pay what you can, but the differences end there—all classes are still taught by certified teachers. If you can afford to pay $10–$15 per class then do so, but if you need to cut back one week, you can pay $5 for a while, increasing that amount when your finances improve.

5) Volunteer exchange: Cleaning, organizing, checking students in for classes, answering e-mails—a yoga studio is a business like any other. They need help to keep their place running smoothly, and you may be just what they’re looking for. Ask the manager of your local studio if they offer yoga classes in exchange for volunteer help. Mention any particular talents or formal experience you have (writing, graphic design, accounting … etc.), and your offer will seem all the more tantalizing.

6) Other local outlets: A yoga studio isn’t the only place to take yoga classes . . . but you knew that, right? Have a gym membership? Check the class schedule. There’s a very good chance the gym offers yoga classes that are included in your regular fee.

Have cable or satellite TV? Many providers offer free on-demand channels, with some including yoga classes. Check with your local TV provider for fitness-related programs or channels available.

Look into adult education programs offered by your local school system or nearby colleges. Weekly yoga classes of different levels may be available for a very affordable price, lasting six to eight weeks. Most lululemon stores offer a free weekly sixty-minute yoga class, often on Saturday or Sunday. Check your local library or community center; many offer affordable yoga classes too.

7) At-home helpers: Once you have a solid understanding of alignment, take advantage of all the benefits of practicing yoga at home. Countless DVDs, podcasts, and Web sites offer classes that are just like the ones you adore at the yoga studio. A few to start with: Yoga Today, Yoga Journal TV, My Yoga Online, Gaiam Yoga Club, and Yoga Glo.

8) Embrace Yoga Day: Presented by the Yoga Alliance, Yoga Day USA is a one-day annual event when yoga studios across the country offer their classes or special workshops for free! Also check out Yoga Month (usually September of each year), run by the Yoga Health Foundation & featuring similar benefits & events.

Excerpted from 27 Things to Know About Yoga by Victoria Klein ©2010 by Victoria Klein. Used with permission from Turner Publishing & author Victoria Klein.

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Cash for College: Borrowing Books from the Library

September 2, 2010
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In lieu of my normal Freebie Friday posts, I am running this, the the third and final installment on money-saving ways to secure books for college.

As mentioned in my earlier posts on Wednesday and Thursday, this information comes from the sample chapter I wrote for a book idea I’d proposed to Adams Media–Cash for College: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Financing a Child’s Education. Unfortunately, Adams, which has published both Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less and Toss, Keep, Sell!: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In, didn’t feel the same enthusiasm for the book’s potential that I did. Nonetheless, I wanted to share what I believe to be worthy information with people who might most need it–readers of this blog.

Today’s blog posting shows how students who are organized and disciplined enough can get through a semester at college without spending a dime on books. That’s because they borrow them from the library.

It’s a little-known fact that most college and university libraries stock nearly all the books that professors assign–from the textbooks they are teaching out of to the novels you may be reading in an English class. The borrowing approach works best if your college library belongs to a consortium of sorts–so that if the library on your campus doesn’t have the book you need, you can search for and request it from another library in that consortium. One college student I know was able to do this borrowing dance for all the books she needed for her courses and saved about $800 per semester! Granted, she was constantly checking out and renewing these books throughout the semester. But for her it was worth it to her to spend this time to save that amount of money.

Finally, don’t forget that you can get money back for any textbooks you spend money on, with the government’s tax credit for textbooks. To qualify you must file an annual tax return. At that time you can apply for a tax credit to get reimbursed for up to $2,500 in college expenses, including textbooks, via the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which is part of the same legislation that brought you Cash for Clunkers.

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Labor Day Weekend Freebies

September 2, 2010
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Not as many freebies as I’d hoped I would find to tie into Labor Day. Nonetheless, here are a few worth mentioning:

For more ideas on freebies, I would suggest plugging in the terms “Labor Day” and “free” and “your location” and “whatever it is you want to find for free” in your favorite search engine and see what comes up!

(I don’t know why I end so many of these sentences with exclamation points. I guess I’m just excited to share these freebies with you! See, I just did it again.)

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Cash for College: Renting Textbooks

September 1, 2010
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In yesterday’s post I explained how my latest book idea–called Cash for College–crashed and burned when Adams Media passed on publishing it. Also, I’d explained how I decided to share some of the money-saving advice I’d uncovered when researching and writing the proposal, especially when it comes to college textbooks, which set the average college student back nearly $1,200 a year!

In today’s post I’ll give you the inside scoop on the latest money-saving ways to secure books for the college semester–which in this instance are textbook rentals.

Renting textbooks, in my opinion, makes so much more sense than the old system: buying brand-new textbooks, using them for the semester and then selling them back to the college bookstore for a fraction of what you’d paid for them new. With textbook rentals you pay a one-time fee for the rental, and you’re good to go.

You can rent textbooks online or through your college bookstore. One such company offering online textbook rentals is Chegg.com. There, for example, you can rent a biology textbook for the semester for only $49. If you were to buy it new, it would be $186. Your only other cost? Shipping, which is usually less than $5; at the end of the semester Chegg.com sends you a postage-paid shipping label so you can return the book on Chegg’s dime.

Traditional bookseller Barnes & Noble, which has taken over management of nearly 640 college bookstores nationwide, got into the textbook rental business this year. No surprise there, since they were losing business to online sites that were filling this much-needed niche. According to Barnes & Noble students will pay 50 percent less than the cover price for each textbook they rent–hardly the bargain that online outfitters like Chegg.com offers–but they will allow for more flexibility within their rental agreements, which can add up to big savings in the long run.

Whereas Chegg.com considers a book that is written in to be “damaged”–and therefore will charge you the full price of the book, minus your rental fee, when you return the book–Barnes & Noble will be more lenient with highlighting and note taking, and won’t penalize you for this when you return the books. (Maybe they developed this policy because they were used to the state of written-in books that they would buy back from students at the end of one semester and then resell to other students the next semester.)

The bottom line when renting textbooks: make sure you read the agreement in full, including the fine print, and consider the “total” cost of the rental when doing price comparisons. For example, if you know that you’re a voracious note taker and highlighter when it comes to your college textbooks, the more expensive rental fee from Barnes & Noble may make more sense, given your study habits. However, if you’re just interested in using your textbooks as reference materials, with no in-the-margin scribbling necessary, then choosing the cheaper rental price may be the right choice for you.

Other companies that offer textbook rentals that you can compare with Chegg.com and Barnes and Noble include:

Tomorrow’s post: borrowing your books from the library!

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