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Christmas Shopping the Day after Thanksgiving: Black Friday

by Frugal Simplicity

Christmas Shopping the Day after Thanksgiving: Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is commonly referred to as “Black Friday”. This day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the years and for many signifies the first day of Christmas shopping. While the term black Friday was originally used to represent the day in which retailers returned to profitability many who work in the retail industry use this term as a way to describe the crowds and chaos which accompany Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Likewise consumers expect significant sales to go along with the large crowds which flock to stores.

For many shopping on the day after Thanksgiving is a tradition which wouldn’t be missed for the world. These individuals look forward to the sales and starting their shopping as a way to get into the Christmas spirit. These individuals can be counted on to arrive before the malls and shopping centers even open to get a great parking spot, to make multiple trips to their cars to drop off packages before returning to the shopping area to make more purchases and to almost literally shop until they drop. These are the individuals retailers count on each year to boost their quarterly earnings and to help them report profitability for the year.

Those who enjoy Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving feel this way for a number of different reasons. Some enjoy shopping on this day for the tremendous sales which are inevitable. Still others enjoy shopping on this day because they like to take things one season as a time and figure now that Thanksgiving is over; it is time to start focusing on Christmas. There are even others who like shopping on this day for the excellent people watching opportunity the day presents. Whether or not they get any actual shopping done these individuals flock to shopping malls on the day after Thanksgiving because they know there will be tons of other shoppers to observe. Finally there are those who start their Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving because of a sense of tradition. It is these individuals who have simply always started their Christmas shopping on this day out of habit. Their parents probably started Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving and they simply learned this is the day to start Christmas shopping. They will also likely pass on the habit to their own children.

Conversely there are other shoppers who absolutely refuse to step foot inside a mall or shopping center on the day after Thanksgiving. For these shoppers trying to get any shopping done on this day is near impossible. They are willing to sacrifice the opportunity to buy some items as gifts at excellent sale prices just to avoid the throng of shoppers who swarm the stores on this one particular day. However, it is important to not that just because these shoppers avoid shopping areas on the day after Thanksgiving does not mean they don’t enjoy great sale prices on the Christmas gifts they purchase. These shoppers may take advantage of sales throughout the year to accomplish their Christmas shopping within their set budget.

There are still others who typically do not do any shopping on the day after Thanksgiving but these individuals do not necessarily avoid the malls and shopping areas on this day either. There are many people who enjoy taking a trip to the local mall or shopping center on the day after Thanksgiving just to enjoy the hustle and bustle the day presents. For these people just walking around and experiencing the excitement around them helps to put them into the holiday spirit.

Whether you are an early Christmas shopper, a last minute Christmas shopper or just a people watcher, you likely understand it is appropriate to expect large crowds in malls and shopping centers on the day after Thanksgiving. It is up to you to decide whether or not you choose to join the shoppers on this hectic day.

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Frugal Living Tips: Light Bulbs

by Frugal Simplicity

Frugal Living Tips: Light Bulbs

How many light bulbs do you use in your home in one month? How much do these cost? What about your energy bill; what does that look like? When you think about it, your light bulbs may be burning up unnecessary energy and a lot of your hard earned cash!

Replacing your old, incandescent light bulbs as they burn out with the newer, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can make a positive difference.

Here are the facts:

Positive

You can save $30 in energy costs with every incandescent bulb you replace with a CFL!

Compact fluorescent light bulbs:

• Provide an equal amount of light
• Last up to 10 times longer
• Use at least two thirds less energy than regular incandescent bulbs

Negative

Fluorescent bulbs contain a toxic metal (mercury). If you inhale or otherwise ingest the mercury powder from inside the tube, it can cause damage to your health. If you break a bulb, this can release the mercury and be dangerous, particularly for infants, young children, and pregnant women.

Because of this, please keep the bulbs recycled and out of landfills! Avoid using them in lamps that could get knocked over by children and pets. Be careful that you hold onto the connecting end when replacing them rather than grabbing and turning the glass tube itself.

Follow these procedures if you break a compact fluorescent light:

1. Close or cover the vents to the air conditioning system. This prevents mercury particles from being spread throughout the rest of the house.
2. Open the windows. Leave the room and air it out for 30 minutes. Use a portable fan to move the inside air out even faster. This step rids the room of most of the hazardous particles right away.
3. Clean up the broken glass with something disposable. Wear gloves and use paper or cardboard to sweep them onto a second piece of paper or cardboard. Get the glass shards with the sticky side of masking or duct tape. Follow up with a damp napkin or wet wipe.
4. Dispose of everything. Put the gloves, paper, tape, napkin, and broken bulb into a sealed container and place into the outside trash bin or take it to your local hazardous waste recycle center.
5. Caution: Pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and other young children should not perform the clean-up.

As long as you follow these precautions, using compact fluorescent light bulbs does not pose a hazard to you or your family. As it is, the only hazard is if you break one, and then using proper clean-up procedures will eliminate the hazard without overly exposing you to any risk.

Tips for Using CFLs

When replacing old bulbs with CFLs, check the lumen rating on the light you’re replacing. Buy the equivalent compact fluorescent light bulb. This ensures you get the same amount of light as before you switched from incandescent to fluorescent bulbs.

Remember, the watts vary between incandescent and fluorescent. Fluorescent bulbs usually use about one fourth of the wattage required by incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light. For example, if you need 60-watt light, buy the 15-watt fluorescent.

Instead of replacing every light in your house with compact fluorescent bulbs, you can just replace the bulbs in the rooms most frequently used. For example, the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and wherever your favorite rooms may be!

Fluorescent light bulbs are well worth the extra step of recycling. Some of them are even manufactured to last nine years. Just think of how many old style light bulbs you would use in nine years! With CFLs, “out with the old and in with the new” can save you a lot of money.

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Saving Money on Holiday Meals

by Frugal Simplicity

Saving Money on Holiday Meals

The concept of frugal holiday meals may sound like an oxymoron, but it really isn’t as impossible as it may seem.

Even though holiday meals express the great value of abundance, you can still avoid stretching your finances beyond their capabilities.

How Can It Be Done?

There’s nothing stopping you from serving up delicious holiday meals without destroying your budget in the process. The key to saving money on holiday meals is planning and forethought. When you put time and effort into planning your holiday meals, the results are nearly always positive.

Follow these strategies to save money on your holiday meals this year:

1. Consider your portions. Consider your guest list to ensure that your portions match how many people will be eating. Limit waste by only buying and cooking what your guests will actually eat. If you want to have generous leftovers, simply figure them into the math as well.  

2. Remember the leftovers. Plan out your leftovers so you use them effectively and nothing goes to waste. Package your leftovers in portions sized for meals and store them based on when you plan to serve them. Meat and many side dishes can be frozen, so consider how you will use your leftovers to promote frugality and prevent waste.  

3. Know when to shop. The day after Thanksgiving is ideal for stocking up, especially if you plan a repeat performance for Christmas. Turkeys, hams, and many of the fixings from Thanksgiving will be available at a steep discount the day after the holiday. Stock up on anything that you can freeze or store to cut down significantly on Christmas holiday meals. 

* Turkeys often go on sale for as little as 25% of their original price, and hams are often sold in a similar fashion. If you plan to cook something similar for Christmas, make some room in your freezer and take advantage of this sale to cut costs for your upcoming holiday meal.  

4. Know which conveniences matter. Some conveniences are worthwhile and will save you money while others will not. Canned sweet potatoes cost less than fresh, for example. Pre-baked rolls are often less expensive than making your own during the holiday season. Plan ahead to learn which convenience items will help you save money in the long run. 

5. Cook from scratch. When it’s possible to do so, cook from scratch. Stuffing and gravy are two staples that you can create at home more cheaply than you can buy them. Boxed mashed potatoes are cheap, but the real thing costs even less and tends to store well.  

* Start on your stuffing ahead of time, since you can use the heels from bread loafs or leftover stale sandwich bread. Let the bread dry out on a cookie sheet and you can use it as breadcrumbs in your homemade stuffing. 

* Your guests will appreciate your from-scratch cooking.

Holiday meals are meant to be enjoyable. You and your guests will enjoy the meal all the more when you’re not stressed out over the cost. Plan ahead, cut costs where you can, and have a wonderful holiday meal that fits within your budget.

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Save Your Money by Getting Organized

by Frugal Simplicity

Save Your Money by Getting Organized

As you grow up and move out of the nest, it can be tempting to let tidiness and organization go out the window. The truth is, being messy can cost you money!

Good organization is the keystone to making and saving money and if you want to do either, you’ll find that you can easily make some progress by organizing your life.

Schedule Your Bills

The first expenses you have to worry about each month are your household bills like the rent or mortgage and utilities. It’s all the more reason to be organized so you can manage your money to pay these on time each month.

* Use a calendar, planner, computer program, or online banking account to schedule when your bills need to be paid. Any delay can cost you substantial late fees and finance charges.

* If you set up electronic banking, make sure you understand exactly how the system works. Some programs will not allow you to make a payment on weekends or holidays while others may need a few days to process the payment.

* Pay your taxes on time or early. Penalties as well as late charges are added if you don’t file the proper extensions. Hire an accountant to help with your preparation, especially if you work independently.

* If you work independently, you may also want to consider paying your taxes quarterly so you don’t have to worry about them at the end of the year.

Organize Your Paperwork

All of your paperwork should be organized so you know exactly where your receipts, financial statements, and bills are filed. There’s nothing worse than going in search of a needle in a haystack when a question arises.

* Everyday take a look at your desk area and think about what pieces of paper you can immediately get rid of. A wastebasket by your desk is essential, as is a shredder to prevent identity theft.

* Utilize file folders or a portable file container instead of having piles of papers on your desk or countertops. This will prevent you from losing important pieces of paperwork under a landslide of unimportant junk.

Consult with a Financial Advisor

Whether you have a substantial investment portfolio or just want to get started, consult with an expert who can help you reach your financial goals. By organizing your finances, you’ll not only save money, but make it too!

* If your current investments aren’t performing well, an advisor can help you move the money around to better performing funds that earn a higher yield or give you greater dividends.

* If you don’t have any investments, an expert can listen to your financial goals and recommend an investment plan for achieving those goals. Even starting off modestly will often bring you some annual dividends. Every little bit helps!

Consolidate Your Debts

Get in control of your money by consolidating large debts with one loan. Research which banks or credit cards will give you the lowest interest rates and consolidate your payments into one. This will save you money by paying fewer interest fees, but you must also limit your spending until the debts are paid off.

* Ask a mortgage broker about refinancing your home or taking out a home equity loan to consolidate debts.

Be in control of your money and your life by evaluating your accounts regularly and staying organized. A little bit of work each day and regularly monitoring your progress will help you reach your financial goals.

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Save Money on Candle Making Supplies

by Frugal Simplicity

Save Money on Candle Making Supplies

Candle making can be a great past time, hobby, or business venture. While the supplies for candling making are remarkably inexpensive, the cost does start to add up over time. There are many ways you can cut back the cost of the candle making supplies, but I caution you not to sacrifice the quality of the products you purchase just to save a few dollars. This is especially important for those who sell their candles. If the quality of the product goes down because you are buying wax and other supplies that are of less quality, you will end up costing your business money over the long haul.

Keep a list of the candle making supplies you use. Include the brand, the price, and the amount of the item you get for that price. This will help you compare the prices with sales you run across and know if you are getting a better deal or not. Many craft stores run sales on candle making items before and right after the holidays. This can be a great time to stock up.

Checking online auction sites including Ebay and Yahoo Auctions can often be an excellent way to find the same candle making products you use at a discounted price. It could be that the seller of the items doesn’t have the time to make candles anymore or they simply have moved on to other things.

If you use a large volume of candle making supplies on a regular basis, consider buying them wholesale. You will pay more up front for your supplies, yet overall you will save a considerable amount of money. You can search such wholesalers on the internet and compare prices. Many online wholesalers offer free shipping as well so that is another area where you can save money if you normally purchase your candle making supplies online. If you know other people who make candles as well consider buying in bulk and sharing the cost as well as the supplies. This is an easy way for everyone to get a discount as well as reduce the cost at the time of purchase.

Some of the discount candle making products on the market are very comparable to the quality products you already use. A good way to tell is to compare the ingredients. You can research the necessary ingredients of each item on the internet. If the discount products contain all the major ingredients as the candle making supplies you already use, then give it a try. It is recommended that you only purchase one or two items at first to test the quality. Keep track of where you purchased the discounted items so you can return to that retailer or online store if you are happy with the quality of the products.

Containers and holders for your candles are one area you should never spend a great deal of money on. I won’t recommend buying them for regular price unless they are for a wedding or other very special occasion. You can buy mason jars, extra glassware, votive holders, and many other containers to use candle making at thrift stores and garage sales for a very reasonable price. You might also check the online auctions to purchase large quantities of candle making container and holders at a very good price.

The supplies used in candle making can cost you a great deal of money over time. To save money on the quality supplies you use, take the time to compare prices both online and at local retailers. Take advantage of discounts and sales throughout the year at craft stores. Be cautious when looking at discount candle making supplies. You want to make sure they offer the same quality that you are already using. Finding supplies at online auctions and buying them in bulk are also great ways to save you money on candle making supplies.

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Christmas Shopping the Day after Thanksgiving: Black Friday

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