by Shannon on March 26, 2012
Who doesn’t want to save money while shedding pounds? Here are six tips from financial expert MP Dunleavey that help you save both calories and cash:
Freeze fresh fruit and save money.
1. I love that super creamy imported yogurt—but not at $7 per container. Buy plain yogurt and strain it yourself. Cost: $2.99.
2. Why buy overpriced microwave popcorn when you can throw some kernels in a paper bag and zap it. Cost: pennies.
3. Peel & freeze a bunch of bananas. When you’re craving soft serve, whirl one up in the blender and top with a spoonful of chocolate chips (Note from SH: if you’re avoiding sugar, try topping with raisins or flax seeds). Cost: 25¢.
4. Spare yourself the expense (and fat) of certain fast-food breakfasts by scrambling an egg in a mug, nuking it, and slipping it into a pita. Cost: 50¢, maybe.
5. Make insta-soup from wilted veggies and a Parmesan rind. Throw in the carcass of a picked-over roasted chicken and Grandma will applaud. Cost: buck.
6. Why buy pricey pre-frozen fruit? Just wash, bag, and freeze your own for smoothies, yogurts, muffins, and breads. Cost: priceless!
If you have suggestions for cost-saving ideas, please list them in the Comments section or sending them to [email protected]
by Shannon on March 10, 2012
Taking care of your dollars is part of taking care of you.
Financial health is an important part of overall health and I’m always looking for ways to spend my money more efficiently. I wanted to pass on this blog from Daily Worth because it provides sound guidelines on when it pays to spend top dollar and when it doesn’t.
Sometimes it makes sense to splurge on a pricier item—sometimes it’s smarter to skimp. But when?
Before you buy another thing for your home, use these guidelines to determine where it makes sense to spend, and where you’ll be just as satisfied if you skimp.
- Spend more if… you’ll use it for years. It pays to spend on items you’ll have for a long time: couch, stepstool, or vacuum cleaner. Over the lifetime of the object, the additional cost is negligible.
- Skimp if… it will be out-of-date soon. A new tech gadget will be cheaper in a year; skimp on pillows and curtains, if you change décor often.
- Spend more if… quality matters. A dull knife is makes cooking a chore. The flimsy drawers on a shoddy file cabinet or dresser will annoy you every time you open them. Pay more for ease-of-use.
- Skimp if… you’re not really sure how much you’ll use it. If you’re not a budding chef, opt for the $40 mixer, not the $400 professional model—until you’ve whipped up several soufflés.
If you have spending guidelines that help you, please either share them in the Comments section or send an email to [email protected]
