Check out this interesting video explaining how one woman saved nearly $8,000 by shopping online.
While shopping online can be fun and convenient, it can also be a great way to save money on everything from clothing to electronics. However, it’s important to do your research because not all online shops are created equal. Price and product selection are important, but so are quality, customer service and shipping rates.
Below are just a few of my favorite places to look for discounts on the Web:
- StealDeals.net: A great site offering an excellent selection of deals on a daily basis. I’ve found great deals on MP3 players, home decor and office supplies thanks to this site. It can also be especially beneficial to look here if you’re shopping for a gift.
- Woot.com: As the site explains - one day, one deal. I’ve always found Woot to be sort of hit-or-miss; sometimes there’s something great, but you’ve got to really keep checking back each day in order to find the hidden gems. Shipping rates are around $5 or $6.
- Amazon.com Friday Sale: Amazon is one of my favorite online stores in terms of price, product selection, shipping costs and service. Don’t miss the weekly Friday sale, which frequently features great buys on everything from outdoor gear to baby clothes.
- Endless.com: Yeah, I’m addicted to shoes. Endless is an Amazon.com store that features a great selection of shoes for men, women and children. The “Sale” section of the site features many discounted shoes. The site also offer free overnight and return shipping.
- Buy.com: With its wide range of products and great weekly offers, Buy.com is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to shop. Over the past three months, I’ve purchased a 2GB MP3 player for a mere $20, a 4GB flash drive for $10 and ended up getting a 1GB MP3 player completely free thanks to a special discount. As an additional bonus, shipping is free on many items.
I’m sure there are plenty of great online stores that I haven’t had the opportunity to shop at yet. What are some of your favorite online sources for discount shopping? Feel free to share your finds in the comments section below!
Table of contents for Top 10 Frugal Household Cleaners
How to Make Your Own Furniture Polish
You can save a lot of money by making your own furniture polish rather than buying expensive name brands. This simple and frugal recipe can help you shine your furniture without spending a lot of money.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
Directions:
Combine the vegetable oil and vinegar and mix thoroughly. Next, apply to furniture by dabbing with a soft, clean cloth. Blot any excess off of the cloth before applying. Gently wipe off surfaces of furniture.
How to Achieve Financial Peace of Mind (Without Driving Yourself Crazy)
11 Mar
Posted by admin as Money Management, Personal Finance
While most of us realize that money can’t buy happiness, we are not always aware of the unhappiness that the pursuit of money can cause. Debt, poverty and financial strife are the obvious financial culprits that contribute to money-related stress and misery, but recent research also suggests organizing our lives around achieving wealth actually decreases our overall life satisfaction.
Essentially, devoting too much time to earning more, saving more and scrimping more can increase depression, anxiety and unhappiness. According to psychologist Tim Kasser, Ph.D., people who say that their major goal is to attain more money are generally far less satisfied with their lives and experience more emotional distress. This isn’t just true of the stereotypical workaholic who never stops to smell the roses. Researchers have demonstrated similar results across many age groups and in numerous cultures.
Fortunately, it is possible to achieve financial peace of mind (and even sock away a significant nest egg) without damaging your emotional well-being.
Focus on the Positive
When you are creating your household budget, balancing your checkbook, clipping coupons or figuring out your taxes, it can be all too easy to focus on the negatives.
“I don’t earn enough money.”
“I can’t afford it.”
“We’ll never save enough for retirement.”
Negative thoughts such as these only generate more negativity. When dealing with financial matters, strive to develop a more constructive mindset. This certainly doesn’t mean overlooking money mistakes or problems. It simply means focusing on the positive steps you can take to improve your situation and make more out of what you have.
Develop a Sense of Personal Control
People who lack financial knowledge or experience often blame external forces for financial troubles. This type of thinking can make you feel powerless. No matter what your situation, it is important to assume personal responsibility for your finances. Rather than assign blame to outside influences, make a list of steps you can take to remedy the situation. Even when external events and situations hamper your ability to save money, avoid a sense of hopelessness by remembering that you have the power to control your financial destiny.
Another important step is to start learning all that you can about money, savings and personal finance. In order to develop a sense of personal control over your money, you need to know the best ways to both spend and save. Books, blogs, magazines, podcasts and television programs can all offer useful information that can help you in your pursuit of financial peace of mind.
Ignore What Popular Culture Has To Say About Wealth
Everywhere we turn it seems that we are perpetually bombarded with messages about how to achieve “the good life.” Driving an expensive car, living in a lavish home and going on extravagant vacations are often viewed as great examples of the epitome of human existence. Popular media continues to emphasize this message despite the abundance of psychological research demonstrating that these materialistic ideals may actually harm our mental well-being.
Instead of following this tired trend and struggling to “keep up with the Joneses,” start developing your own highly personal definition of what it means to be wealthy. While it is still important to eliminate debt and save money for retirement, college and medical expenses, there are many other pursuits that can make life much more satisfying. Maybe being wealthy means having great friends and a healthy family along with financial security. Think about the things that are the most important to you when coming up with your own definition.
Practice Simplicity
Learning to enjoy simplicity is a great way to stop the endless pursuit of wealth, while at the same time saving more money and getting more enjoyment out of life. Simplicity is all about eliminating unnecessary things in order to devote your time to what truly matters in life. Adding simplicity to your life might involve utilizing frugal living ideas, buying less and making better use of the resources you already have. The great thing about practicing simplicity is that it can reduce the stress and anxiety of struggling with your finances, while actually helping you to achieve greater wealth in the long run.
In a consumer-driven society, resisting the temptation to pursue wealth at all costs can be difficult, but the rewards of doing so can make your life richer and more meaningful. Fortunately, it is possible to achieve financial peace of mind without enduring too much stress, strife or anxiety. By maintaining a positive outlook, developing a sense of personal control, creating your own definition of wealth and enjoying the simple things in life, you can reach your goal of financial well-being healthily and happily.
Does a quick trip to the grocery store leave you feeling like you’ve endured a highway robbery? If so, maybe it’s time to explore some new ways to cut down on your grocery bill. If your usual shopping strategy is just not working, start considering some of the many ways that you can reduce your grocery bill each week and each month.
According to Money magazine, the average American spends nearly $6,000 a year on food, and 14 percent of what we buy ends up going to waste. We crave foods that are quick and convenient, but our pocketbooks feel the pain of our unwise grocery spending.
While it may take a little extra time and effort, the payoff can be huge. For example, a family of 4 that spends $700 a month at the grocery store is paying a whopping $8,400 a year on groceries. If this grocery spending could be cut down to $400 a month, it would amount to a yearly savings of $3,600.
Fortunately, cutting down your grocery bill doesn’t mean subsisting on beans, rice and Ramen noodles. Whether you’re a picky foodie or a microwave chef, try using some of the following tips to reduce spending on your next trip to the grocery store.
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