SavvySugar

5 Savvy Ways to Spend Smart and Save This Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00:53 -0800

If you spent Monday through Friday monitoring your spending and trying to be productive and efficient, don't erase all your hard work with a wild weekend of spending. Consider these smart saving tips before you whip out your wallet this weekend.

The Deal Behind Spending Money to Save Money Gimmicks - Banks offering plans that deposit money into a savings account every time you spend money are encouraging their customers to build up their savings accounts, which is a good thing. But when the Consumer Reports Money Lab researched competing plans, it found that most of them aren't the best solution.
Cost-Saving and Social Weekend Ideas - When you work so hard all week long, it's tempting to just throw caution to the wind on the weekend and spend your hard-earned money without a plan. I'm all for enjoying your time away from the office, and have come up with nine weekend activities that won't break the bank. Spend less money while enjoying quality time with a friend or two by using one (or more!) of my ideas.
Put It to the Test: Would It Be Cheaper to Make It Yourself? - Perfecting your Orange Julius skills may not be as productive as it once was, but there is a prudent way to play in the kitchen.

For the rest of my weekend saving tips, read more.

Remember, It's About the Moments, Not the It-Bags - Lindsay Price reminds us what it's all about.
Learn How to Do Something New This Weekend - Self-sufficiency is the biggest asset you can have during this down economy. That means not borrowing money from your credit card carrier, but it also includes daily tasks that you often rely on others to complete.

Do you have a great tip for saving on the weekend? Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account, then join the How Do You Save? group and share it! And you never know, it could be featured on SavvySugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Consumer Reports: How to Make Pricey Appliances Last

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:28 -0800

The cost of maintaining a home and appliances is often a major deterrent for those debating whether to rent or purchase a home. The unexpected expense of fixing leaky gutters and broken dishwashers can be budget breaking if it comes at the wrong time of month. Not to mention it's a huge pain. Consumer Reports has put together a great guide for how to extend the useful life of appliances and pricey goodies. Obviously, the key is maintenance and keeping a watchful eye on appliances so they don't break down unexpectedly and leave you in a pricey pinch. Consumer Reports suggests:

Cell phones
Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers
Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers
Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Dishwashers
Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

To see additional suggestions and reminders, read more.

Hardwood floors
Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives
Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers
Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs
Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Mattresses
Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Visit the Consumer Reports website for more tips on making your pricey goods last.

Grind Tip: Catch Up on Tracking Your Accomplishments

SavvySugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:30:55 -0800

The majority has spoken, and 87 percent of you plan on looking for new jobs when the economy takes a turn for the better. Be prepared for a stronger job market by taking stock of your accomplishments now.

Keeping an up-to-date resume is the best way to stay on your toes during any job market. Besides making sure your resume is current, you should keep detailed notes of specific projects you worked on, your individual contributions, instances when your problem-solving, leadership, or intuitive skills shined, etc. Your resume will quantify your accomplishments, but you'll need to discuss them in detail with a potential employer and this exercise will save you from having to rely on distant office memories.

5 Savvy Ways to Save and Spend Smart This Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:30:43 -0800

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.
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.
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.

For the rest of my tips, read more.

Calculate a Purchase in Terms of Hours Worked - As much as we all promise ourselves that we'll only buy things we absolutely cannot live without, sometimes in the heat of the shopping moment that mentality is substituted by one of like, not love.
Take a Hands-Off Approach to Spending Less - Research shows that you don't necessarily have to stay out of stores altogether, but you should be mindful of where you put your hands if you want to refrain from spending.

Do you have a tip for readers? Join our How Do You Save? group and share your helpful suggestions. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

How-To: Prepare For the Worst Monthly

SavvySugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:00:04 -0800

No one likes a Debbie Downer, but these are trying times and you need a financial backup plan. Whether you feel a strong sense of job security or have a million bucks in the bank, it's crucial that you embrace the motto of the Boy Scouts ("Be Prepared!") so you don't end up in a serious financial and personal conundrum should you draw a short stick. The calendar changes so quickly it's easy to forget your egg's nest and backup scheme amid the momentum, but follow these basic steps and suggestions to keep yourself on track.

View Slideshow ›

Savvy ATM: Use This Sticky Solution For Leftover Gift Cards

SavvySugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:01 -0800

Yes, unused gift cards are still a waste. It's hard to hit the magic number when spending and I'm often guilty of shoving them in a wallet or drawer to remember to use . . . until my memory fails me.

Then, when grabbing tea with my pal, GeekSugar, this morning, I noticed her handy trick. So you make the most of every last dollar and cent, wrap sticky notes around each with the remaining balance and take note of any purchases. In addition to being another more obvious use for your phone's calculator, it's a nice way to splurge on an afternoon yogurt without feeling like you've spent hard earned cash in the process.

Travel Tip: 3 Steps to Take If Your Flight Is Cut

SavvySugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:45:14 -0800

You think you've done a good job, booking a flight months in advance of your planned travel. But with airlines cutting costs - and thus flights - all the time, there's a chance you will see that foresight going right down the drain. If you get the dreaded "Itinerary update: Flight change" email, look for these three things:

Check destination airport and connections. If the airline is no longer serving that airport or if the new time you'd arrive is drastically different, they may reroute you to another local airport - fine if you're familiar with the area or aren't meeting people, but if that exact spot is where you're joining family, it can be a problem.
Check times. Make sure your new departure, connection, and arrival times work for you and be comfortable with the window between any connections. Most US airlines will offer a full refund if your new flight arrives either 90 minutes earlier or later than the originally scheduled one.

See the last step when you read more.

Check for other flights. Look for alternatives before you call the airline. Although there are no guarantees, you may be able to change to a different flight that day with less of a wait or one that arrives at your exact desired destination. While swapping carriers is trickier, know which airlines have code-share partnerships, as changes between those linked airlines can be possible through the same agent.

Kick-Start Your Work Week by Setting New Goals

SavvySugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:00:46 -0700

Don't let a case of the Mondays get you down - think of Monday morning as a chance for a fresh start with a clean slate to set new goals. Viewing the new week like you might view the New Year is a great way to make the most of your work week. Even better than a New Year's resolution, a new week resolution - with a very real time restriction - will help you to keep the goals realistic.

The point here is to tackle short-term projects. Use the week to set a goal from anything like befriending a co-worker, by asking her to lunch, to promising to find and focus your strengths to make the most of your time at the office. For instance, promise to find out a little more about your personality type to zero in on your skill-set and work more efficiently - just vow to find the time during the week to take a personality test online. The insight you gain from taking a quiz like this may help you to work more efficiently or find tasks you might be more interested in volunteering for at the office.

In any case, the goal you set each Monday will help you to begin the week with a sense of purpose. Rather than looking at the work week as a time when you must accomplish a, b, and c, for your boss, team, or company - small personal goals that are tied to what you do at the office, will help you to feel more connected to your nine to five routine, give you a sense of self, and combat monotony throughout the week.

To the Rescue: How to Make Friends With a Friend's Cat

PetSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:40:14 -0700

While my house is feline-free, I've got plenty of friends with kitty housemates. Most of the time, they're pretty receptive to my overtures, but here's an easy tip I've learned the sharp way.

When reaching out to pet a cat, approach with fingers tucked under and fist together. Open hands with spread fingers can look a bit too much like unsheathed claws to some cats, and they could perceive your gentle petting desires to be a sign of aggression and lash out. Ouch. Move slowly - so you're not a moving target - and show the cat your hand first to sniff your scent before reaching in for a rub.

If you've had this problem, or other issues with animals, big and small, share your questions and concerns with our Pet Peeves group - I'm only here to help!

Source: Flickr User FriaLOve

Back to Basics: Interview Dos and Don'ts, Part 2

SavvySugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:30:12 -0700

A couple weeks ago, I taught a workshop on interviewing to 400 high-schoolers. In finding a way to keep the information short, sweet, and simple, I realized I was getting a pretty nice refresher myself.

I broke down the interview process into dos and don’ts for before, during, and after the interview. I've given you my basic tips for before an interview; to see my dos and don'ts for during your next interview, keep reading