SavvySugar

4 Savvy Things to Do This Weekend

Emily Co — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We usually come up with plenty of fun, social activities for you to do over the weekend, but let's get savvy and down to business this weekend. It may feel like a chore to complete these tasks, but you'll feel so much better after you're done with them!

Do Your Taxes: Crank that music up and get to it! If you've been procrastinating on filing your tax returns, pull up your sleeves and tackle them this weekend. It's better to do them on the weekends when you're relaxed rather than a workday when you're all weary from working the 9 to 5. Set aside Sunday night to do them, and you'll thank me for it!.
Organize Your Receipts: Dump all the receipts out from your bag, wallet, and pocket, and put them in a designated box or folder. You can also test out Shoeboxed, which is a free online service that can automatically track and organize your online and offline purchases. All you need to do is snap pictures of receipts on your cell and email them to Shoebox or mail in paper receipts to the company, and they will organize the information for you.
Plan Your Work Lunches: If you're resolving to bring your lunch to work every day, you need to craft your meal plan on the weekend so you won't be rummaging around your fridge for scraps during the early mornings.
De-clutter Your Home: Spend the weekend de-cluttering your home and getting rid of the excess things that you don't need. First figure out what areas you need to tackle and take a look at a list of my suggestions.

Savvy Tip: 3 Steps to a More Relaxing Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:13:52 PST

To make Monday through Friday run more smoothly, tweak your weekend routine and take advantage of the extra free time. Saturday and Sunday tend to fly by, but if you learn to make the most of those hours, you'll be able to tackle extra tasks and set yourself up for an easier work week. Follow these three tips for a productive weekend and prepare to reap the benefits all week long:

Schedule a time slot for errands. Spend five to 10 minutes each Friday figuring out which tasks you need to check off by Sunday night. Make a list and plan to take care of them in one day so that you'll have at least one full day to have fun and fill however you'd like. Once you've finished brainstorming and marked the to-dos on your calendar, move the chores to the back of your mind and focus on enjoying your days off.
Keep up your routine. If you wake up at 6 a.m. throughout the week, don't sleep until 11 a.m. on weekends. Give your body a break and stick fairly close to your standard sleep schedule. Same goes for your diet: don't shock your body with excess food or alcohol or you'll risk getting sick. Just because it's Saturday doesn't mean you should toss your healthy habits aside, so keep your mind and body in shape by taking your vitamins, eating balanced meals, and staying hydrated.
Chill out, guilt-free. The best thing you can do to kick-start a productive work week? Relax. Use your time off to cut yourself some slack and enjoy the things you love. It's important to maintain a work-life balance, so remember to reserve at least one day each weekend to sit back and unwind.

Your Guide to Enjoying a Money-Less Weekend

Emily Co — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:05:17 PST

I know what you must be thinking, how in the world am I supposed to not spend any money this weekend? And no, you don't have to stay in all weekend, isolated, watching Law & Order reruns, and eating scraps from your fridge (although a leftovers party is a fun idea!). Here are some exciting free things to do this weekend.

Take a Hike: There's nothing like a walk to clear the mind and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Make plans to take a walk in a park or go to hiking trails nearby. It's also a great way to wind down from the hectic work week you had - scientists found that viewing bits of greenery is really good for relaxation. Having gone away on a weekend recently to greener pastures, I can truly attest to that!
Free Apps Galore: Use the downtime this weekend by exploring the apps world and taking advantage of all the free apps available. I'm seriously loving some I recently downloaded on the phone, and I'm going to use the free time to look for more. My favorite ones that help me save money include KiK Messenger for free texting, Tip and Split for easy tip calculations, and Cheap Gas!, an app that looks for the cheapest gas rates near you. My other freebie favorites: Casa's home decorating apps and Geek's top 10 free iPad apps.
Animal Time: I don't have my own pets here with me, but I love animals. I spend my days cooing over the adorable pictures over at PetSugar, but sometimes pictures aren't enough. Get your animal fix by either offering to pet sit for a friend or volunteering at an animal shelter.

For more fun free stuff to do this weekend, read on!

4 Weekend Organization Tips

Emily Co — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:05:58 PST

The weekend is a time for fun but it's also the perfect time to get chores out of the way. During the week, your mind is filled with work and by the time you finally get home, you may not have the energy to organize your home. Use this weekend as a chance to get organized with these tips:

Trash and stash documents. Many of us clutter up our home with unnecessary documents because we don't know when to keep them or throw them away. Stop storing documents you don't need and get organized by going over this list to learn how long you should hold onto certain papers.
Declutter your home. After you're done clearing out the paper. Spend the weekend decluttering your home to get rid of the excess items you don't need. First figure out what areas you need to tackle and take a look at a list of my suggestionsto clean your closet, kitchen, computer, bookshelf, and bathroom.
Make a list of organizing items to buy. Sometimes the reason why your home isn't organized is because you don't have anywhere to put your items. Invest in some clear plastic containers, which you can buy from Target, so that you can see what items are in it. Check out our picks for files and folders to organize your documents.
Create a home work space. Whether you're working from home or if you occasionally take your work home with you, make sure you have a real work space at home to get things done. Even if you're not doing work, use that designated space to do chores like managing your financials. Create your own at-home workplace by following this guide this weekend if you don't have one.

Fall Into an Autumn Routine With These Tips on Staying Productive

SavvySugar — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:31:21 PST

Not sure how the weather's been elsewhere, but San Francisco's gloom has me wanting to stay indoors. So this weekend will be a good time for me to get things done and recharge for the week ahead. Want to know how I'll do it? Read on for my tips to staying productive.

Don't think about work (too much). Having a definite time for fun with family and friends is a good way to get your idea juices recharged for the week ahead.
Get in some solitary relax time. Sometimes all you need is a good magazine or book or an afternoon at the thrift store to clear your mind.

For three more tips on staying productive this weekend, just

6 Tasks to Complete For a Productive Sunday

Emily Co — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:05:23 PST

Sunday is the perfect day to get chores done. Friday is reserved from detaching yourself mentally from the work week, Saturday is for mindless fun and catching up with friends, and Sunday is the designated day to complete tasks and prep for Monday. Check out this list of tasks to bump up your productivity today:

Prepare meals: Do your grocery shopping today to prepare your meals for next week. If you're not the type to bring your lunch to work, consider doing it this week to save. Do a little bit of food prep then freeze what you made or put it in the fridge to save for next week. To save money on grocery shopping, don't buy these items at the supermarket.

Check finances: It's always good to check your finances regularly so you know you're on the right track and not in danger of falling prey to overdraft fees. Know how much you have in your savings account and remember to budget for the amount you're going to spend on travel and presents this holiday season.

Make Christmas lists: Speaking of presents, start on your Christmas list today if you haven't already. If you're like me, you'll already be thinking of what to get people for a few months. If you need some inspiration, we have plenty of gift guides for you, including one for what to get your overachieving buddies.

Sign up for Award Wallet: I can't go on enough about how useful Award Wallet is. It's basically a site that organizes your reward points for you and it even sends you alerts when they're expiring. I just received an alert a few days ago for some American Airlines miles that were about to expire. I used them up in the nick of time and saved a bundle on a hotel stay. Take time this Sunday to sync up your reward accounts with Award Wallet and you'll never see your points go to waste again!

File expenses: It's hard to remember to do little chores when you're busy with work during the week days, so file expenses with your company if you have them. Perhaps you're expensing the Halloween candy you bought for the office or maybe it's the professional development class you recently took.

Clear your mind: Start off on the right foot by clearing your mind this weekend. Do some yoga or go for a run today to find some inner piece before the daily grind begins on Monday. Greenery is great for relaxation so if you have the time, go for a mini escape in a nearby park.

These Weekend Budgeting Tricks Will Be a Treat!

Leta Shy — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 03:05:58 PDT

Halloween weekend is all fun and games, but that doesn't mean your budget has to go out the window. Don't worry, there's no need to cut out the fun. Use these tips to keep your finances sweet.

Try one of nine ways to save and be social - Getting together with friends doesn't have to mean big dinners and fancy restaurants. Get outside and organize a barbecue, a potluck, or a game night.
Shop where the deals are - Club warehouses really are full of some great low-cost finds. So, with your extra free time this weekend, stock the house on essentials and groceries for a whole lot less.
Learn to do something new - Instead of spending on unnecessary items, learn how to do something valuable. Teach yourself to sew or cook a favorite recipe, and learn a little more self-sufficiency to save you later on.

Get the rest of my cost-saving weekend tips after the jump.

What's Your Biggest Weekend Vice?

FitSugar — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:12:06 PDT

First comes TGIF, then it's all about weekend fun. Many of you change up your healthy routine on the weekend, whether it's ditching the gym for an Autumn run or taking it easy after an active week. And while we're big fans of scheduled cheat days (they help you stay on track the rest of the week) and rest days (much-needed for muscle repair and staying motivated), sometimes just one less-than-healthy choice can be the start of a very indulgent weekend.

Whether it's eating out more than you think you should or waking up after the yoga class you promised yourself you'd go to, what's your biggest weekend vice?

Money Tip: Try These 5 Savvy Weekend Savings Tips

SavvySugar — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:05:02 PDT

If you spent the week carefully monitoring your spending and trying to be productive and efficient, don't be reckless on the weekend and blow all your efforts with a Saturday spending spree or pricey meal you can't afford. Consider these smart saving tips before you whip out your wallet.

Plan Inexpensive Things to Do This Weekend - More than half of you admit that spending more money on weekends is a given, but that doesn't always have to be the case. Challenging ourselves to occasionally be more mindful of our money on weekends may make us think twice before blowing our budgets on those days when watching our wallets isn't necessarily on our minds.
Save Big When You Eat Out - Tough times for consumers mean empty tables at restaurants - and to fill them, restaurants are making menu changes and slashing prices, or offering discounts. Take advantage of the deals by researching in advance.
Shop For the Best Buys at Warehouse Clubs - Almost every list of saving tips includes some mention of buying things in bulk. But if you’re not the Gosselins or the Duggars, are warehouse clubs (like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale) really that great of a deal? The answer is yes - if you know how to shop smart.

Read on for the rest of my tips.

5 Things Job Hunters Should Make Time For This Weekend

Emily Co — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:05:13 PDT

Savvy job hunters know a little bit of prep over the weekend can keep time in prime job searching shape. Make some time this weekend to spend on these activities:

Have coffee with your professional contacts. Since you have more time over the weekend, try to meet up with your professional contacts or make some new ones. Perhaps your friend knows of someone who works at your dream company, ask her for an introduction and try to set up a time to meet with your new contact. You can also start scheduling a time for next weekend if people are unavailable this weekend.
Read books on companies you want to work at. Perhaps there's a company you'd love to be a part of. Maybe you're in awe of Google and its "Do No Evil" motto and culture. Start researching the best books on those firms and consider finding them in the library or buying a copy of it yourself.
Create a schedule for next week. Prepare your schedule for next week. Look to see if there are any interesting events you want to attend that will help with your job hunt, such as career events or talks related to your industry.
Shop for a suit (if you need one). Use the weekend to scout around for some deals for business suits or professional clothing. Look online and visit the mall or outlet shops to see if there are any good buys. Remember, all you need is one good interview suit!
Unwind and relax. Just like a full-time job, you need to unwind from job hunting on the weekend. Don't be too hard on yourself and know that job search is a game of patience. Take the time to do a fun outdoor activity or catch up with friends.