Frugal Living, Frugal Living Tips, Frugal Recipes, Better Budgeting, Money Saving Tips, Frugal Column, Simple Living, Budgeting Tips
Posted on: June 23, 2009 By BlondieWrites No Comments
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Filed Under: Articles, Freebies and Bargains, Frugal Family Fun Time, Frugal Shopping, Money Saving Tips, Specials
Posted on: June 17, 2009 By BlondieWrites No Comments
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In today’s economy, it’s not unusual to find that many companies that give out free trial offers are asking customers to pay the shipping and handling for their free products. Even though this is the case more and more, it’s still a very frugal way to find out if you like something by taking advantage of the free trials.
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Posted on: June 16, 2009 By BlondieWrites No Comments
Most of us look forward to summer. The warm, sunny weather has a way of putting a smile on one’s face. Sure, it gets hot outdoors, but we can always go inside and cool off courtesy of air conditioning.
Air conditioning is nice, but it can cause your electric bill to skyrocket. In warm climates, as much as 70% of total electricity used can be attributed to air conditioning. So it pays to find ways to reduce the amount of time your air conditioner runs. Here are ten things you can do to save money on cooling.
1. Make sure you’re using the right kind of air conditioner. If your unit is too large or too small, you’ll end up wasting energy. There are also evaporative cooling systems that are much more energy efficient in dry climates, but work very poorly in humid climates. So if you’re planning on purchasing a new unit, talk to an expert to determine which one is best for your needs.
2. Keep it shady. Shade trees can make a big difference in how hot it gets inside your home, allowing your air conditioner to keep it cool without running as much. Window blinds and awnings can also help.
3. Open the windows and use fans to keep your home cool when practical. On really hot, humid days, air conditioning may be necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature. But when it’s just nice and warm out, open windows and a good fan may do the trick.
4. Make sure your home is well insulated. This will help keep the cool air in and the hot air out.
5. Maintain your air conditioner as directed by the manufacturer. Filters should be changed or cleaned each month, and the coils should be cleaned at the beginning of each summer.
6. Use the thermostat to your advantage. A programmable thermostat is ideal, because you can set it to automatically turn off when no one will be home. Then you can set it to turn the air back on about half an hour before you return, and the house will be nice and cool. For maximum energy savings, keep the thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature.
7. If you have central air, consider shutting off vents in rooms that are unoccupied. Shutting off too many vents at the same time, however, can damage the ducts. When in doubt, ask an HVAC professional how many vents you can safely close.
8. Speaking of ducts, check them periodically to make sure there are no leaks. If you find a leak, have it repaired immediately.
9. Keep your storm windows closed. If you don’t have storm windows, consider having them installed. It won’t be cheap, but it will significantly cut costs on both cooling and heating.
10. Avoid using the oven as much as possible. The heat it produces is more heat that the air conditioner must remove from your home. Use the microwave or grill out instead.
Air conditioning can make an unbearably hot day bearable. But it can also be hard on the budget. Take steps to minimize the amount of time your unit runs, and you can reap the rewards when you pay your electric bill.
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Filed Under: Articles, Better Budgeting, Debt Control, Economic Recession, Frugal Living Tips, Money Saving Tips
Posted on: June 16, 2009 By BlondieWrites No Comments
There has long been confusion among patients and their families when the topic of generic versus name-brand or branded drugs comes into play. There are many people who are of the opinion that generic drugs are a lower quality version of branded drugs. This simply is not the case. Both types share the same quality, safety, strength and dosage. There are only two differences between the two. The price and the appearance.
Price Difference – Generic versions of medications are normally much less expensive in comparison to the branded counterpart. The price difference comes into play simply as a result of the costs related to research and development in producing the branded drugs.
There are other factors which come into play, however. Advertising costs for the branded versions are quite high, and some recuperation of this cost plays a major factor when manufacturers set a drug’s retail price. Generic drugs are significantly less expensive to produce since the manufacturers of generic drugs don’t have any of the research, development, advertising and marketing costs the developer of a new drug has. This allows the manufacturer of a generic product to sell it for less.
Appearance – Generic drugs can sometimes be of a different shape than the brand names. The generic version may be a tablet while the branded counterpart is a capsule. Despite this difference they still have the same ingredients and follow the same standards as the branded version. The reason generic versions are different in appearance is because trademark laws do not allow generics to look the same as the brand name drugs. Things such as colors, flavors and any other inactive and inert ingredients may be different.
Quality – When it comes to the quality of generic drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures they are equivalent to the brand-name counterparts. This means the generic must contain the same active ingredients which work the same way once in the body to deliver the desired medicinal effect.
Generic Facts – Any generic drug must have the same potency and chemical equivalence as the branded version. It normally costs much less in comparison to the commercial brand. Because it is so much cheaper to manufacture the generic drug, the savings are passed on to the consumer, reflected as a lower price.
Each generic drug must be reviewed and approved by the FDA. There are heavy requirements set upon the manufacturers of generic drugs to ensure they have the same active ingredients, strength, purity, quality and stability as the brand name drugs. They also must provide the medication in the same form as the brand names – whether you swallow it (pill/tablet/capsule/caplet), drink it (liquid), or inject the medication.
Not every drug has a generic equivalent. Your pharmacist or doctor will be able to tell you if there is one available or if there is a medication in the same family of drugs that has a generic counterpart.
Why switch to a Generic? – Some people are of the mindset of not caring what a medication costs, as they have insurance to cover these costs. It is a fact, however, that ultimately everyone pays for the increase in drug prices as a result of raised premiums or co-pays. The choice each person makes today could have a drastic impact on the premiums you need to pay in the future.
Take the time to discuss the various options with both your physician and your pharmacist to see if any of your medications are available in generic form. You could possibly find yourself saving money, while still receiving the quality of a branded medication.
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Filed Under: Articles, Better Budgeting, Economic Recession, Frugal Health, Frugal Shopping, Money Saving Tips
Posted on: June 16, 2009 By BlondieWrites No Comments
When our financial picture is good, we often do not worry about saving money. But when things take a turn for the worse, we realize the error of our ways. Had we found ways to spend less and save more, we might not have to worry so much.
When faced with reduced income and/or rising prices, saving money is not optional. It’s something we must do to survive. But if you’ve never pinched pennies before, it’s easier said than done. Here are five ways you can save money when times are tough.
1. Shop around. Comparing prices on groceries, clothing and other tangibles is a good place to start. But you can also save a substantial amount of money by comparing prices on such things as insurance, phone service and internet access. Call around or check prices online to find the best deals.
2. Clip those coupons. Some people shudder at the thought of using coupons, or they feel that they don’t make much of a difference. But those cents (and sometimes dollars) off can really add up over time. And coupons aren’t just for groceries any more. You can find them for everything from dinners at your favorite restaurant to movie rentals.
3. Don’t buy when you can borrow. If the outside of your house needs cleaning, your first thought might be to go out and buy a pressure washer. But if your neighbor has one, he might be willing to loan it to you, saving you a big chunk of change. If you’re willing to loan stuff to others, they will often be happy to return the favor, saving you both money.
4. Cut your transportation expenses. If possible, using public transportation is usually the cheapest way to get from Point A to Point B. If that’s not an option, carpooling is the next best thing. Taking turns driving to work with a co-worker will be of benefit to both of you. And there’s no reason to stop there. Share rides to the store with neighbors, take turns with a fellow soccer mom driving the kids to practice, and take one vehicle when going out to eat with friends instead of driving separately.
5. Be self-sufficient. Anything you can create at home will almost certainly be cheaper than the same thing bought from a store. So try your hand at sewing your own clothing. Learn to bake bread from scratch. Plant a garden and learn how to preserve the surplus for later use. You’ll certainly save money, and you might find an enjoyable new hobby.
Saving money isn’t completely effortless, but it’s not as hard as you might think. Some simple changes in lifestyle can leave us with more money each month. During hard times, saving money can help keep us afloat. And when our situation improves, it can help us save up money for emergencies, retirement and other important causes.
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Filed Under: Articles, Better Budgeting, Debt Control, Economic Recession, Money Saving Tips
Posted on: June 16, 2009 By BlondieWrites No Comments
There’s much more to life than money. But a lack of money can really put a damper on everything else. Financial stress has a way of darkening one’s entire outlook. And the fact that it tends to be self-perpetuating makes it even worse.
When you’re facing financial stress, you may feel that the only cure is more money. While that would certainly help, it is not always forthcoming. So we must learn to set priorities in order to make sure our needs are met. But when you’re facing a sudden change in your finances, that’s not always easy.
Here are five tips to make setting priorities during hard times easier.
1. Remember the basic essentials of life: food, water and shelter. Take care of those needs first. Pay your rent or mortgage, electric bill (for safe food storage and cooking), and water bill first thing each month. Next, buy groceries. Then tend to everything else.
2. If you have a job, make sure you have a way to get to and from work every day. This means paying for public transportation or maintaining your own vehicle. If you must drive, auto maintenance should be a top priority. If you don’t properly maintain your car, you could find yourself with no way to get to work, putting you in danger of losing your job.
3. Do your best to stay in good health. Get plenty of sleep, eat fresh, healthy foods and find a way to pay for any maintenance medications you need. If you are uninsured, apply for Medicaid or seek out free or low-cost clinics in your area. Staying healthy in the first place will reduce your chances of incurring large medical bills, which could cause even greater financial stress.
4. Keep major appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners and furnaces in good repair. Heating and air conditioning units should be checked for problems each year to help prevent breakdowns, and filters should be changed as recommended by the manufacturer. If your stove or refrigerator is on the fritz, having it repaired instead of buying a new one can save you money. If something must be replaced, try to find a used one first.
5. Reduce or eliminate expenses for things you can do without. If you have a cell phone, you may be able to get by with a cheaper plan. If you also have a home phone, consider having it cut off and using only your cell phone. Cable or satellite TV is not a necessity, so if you’re having a hard time making ends meet, consider getting it cut off.
Financial stress can affect our decision-making skills when we need them the most. By setting priorities, you can manage your money more efficiently and eliminate unnecessary spending. This will help ensure that your needs are met, and that in turn will reduce stress levels. Then you can work toward getting your finances in better shape.
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Posted on: June 16, 2009 By BlondieWrites No Comments
Being a pet owner, whether it’s one pet or more, can be expensive. With the present state of the economy, it’s understandable you want to save all you can when it comes to your pet’s medications.
You already have to pay for the visit to the veterinarian’s office, which is stressful enough. Then you find out there is a new medication your four-legged family member needs in order to stay or return to good health. You can see the dollar signs rolling around in your head as you try to digest this information.
Take a deep breath. It’s time to run through some steps you can take in order to get the best deal possible for your pet’s medication.
Before your veterinarian automatically fills the prescription on the spot, ask him or her if you could get a sample of the product with a written prescription you can take with you. Your vet is living in the same economic strain as you are, and this should not be a problem.
Ask if there is a generic equivalent to the medication your vet is recommending. Many of these, such as antibiotic or anti-inflammatory medications have generic equivalents. Some are even lower doses of the same medications human members of your family would be prescribed. If this is the case, you can have the prescription filled at your local people-pharmacy instead.
If the prescription you need to get for your pet is for eye or ear drops, check with your veterinarian about possibly using an over-the-counter brand of human drops instead. Again, this could be a less expensive alternative if the result is the same.
Consider online pet pharmacies. As long as you have a written prescription, you can often save quite a bit on the medications your pet needs. The added bonus with this is they are delivered right to your door. However, when calculating prices and savings, don’t forget to include the shipping charges in your totals.
Another saving alternative some residents of the United States have turned to is seeking Canadian outlets for the pet’s medication needs. Of course the amount you can save depends on the medication you are buying, but there are definitely savings to be found.
One of the major reasons people have chosen this route is related to one simple fact. Some of the medications which are available by prescription only in the US don’t require a prescription in Canada at all. Take for instance the case of multiple cats in your home. You take one in for a check-up to find Puss has a condition which could potentially be passed on to the other feline friends in the home.
If each one needs a trip to the vet, tests done, plus the same medication, we’re talking about quite a bit of money. However, if you already have a diagnosis for Puss and you know it’s contagious as well as what medication the other cats would need to take, it’s all quite simple.
You look online for reputable Canadian pet pharmacies and check out the medication in question. No prescription needed? No problem! I’ll take six, delivered to my door please. End of story.
The same situation is possible for other necessities as well. Take a well-known flea and tick prevention medication. A package of three can be purchased in the US for around $40 at one of the online pet pharmacies. The exact same product from Canada is around $25.
As you can see, there are options of obtaining these pet necessities at a lower price than you would probably pay in your veterinarian’s office. Simply talk it over with your vet, and explain your needs, as well as those of your family pet.
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