While this may seem like a no brainer to some, others simply do not realize how much money they are throwing away every month by not paying on time. I learned the hard way. I was very bad about not paying my bills on time back when I was younger. Mostly because I couldn't remember to buy a stamp so the envelope would lay on my desk for two weeks until I remembered, but there were times when money was tight and I choose to put off a payment for a week. I had since forgot how much money I used to throw away unil I opened my electric bill today. I am not used to the new format so when I first looked at the bill, I thought it was $335 but after sitting down at the computer to schedule my online payment I noticed that it is only $319.
That's right, if I don't pay by the due date, I am charged a late fee of $16. While $16 isn't a lot it does add up.
Let's take a look at my bills for example:
Truck Payment - $35 late fee
Tahoe Payment - $35 late fee
Electric Bill - $16 late fee
Water Bill - $7 late fee
Phone Bill - $8 late fee
Rent - $5 a day late fee
So, if I were to pay my bills late this month it would cost me an additional $106, I'm not sure about you, but I could do a lot with $106.
Back when I was regularly paying my bills late we also had several credit cards that were $29 a pop if they were late. I know some people look at it in a way that as long as they pay before day 30 then it doesn't effect their credit, I no longer see it that way. You have just added $29 to your statement, if you couldn't afford the regular payment, can you afford to send in an additional $29, probably not. So now you are paying interest on the $29, so you loss again.
The moral of this post is that it can be very costly to pay your bills late.
Showing posts with label saving money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saving money. Show all posts
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Saving Money in the New Year
Saving Money in the New Year - With the new year upon us, I am giving more and more thought to ways that I can build my savings in the new year. Most of us make a resolution every New Year's to save more, well, this year I actually want to save more. I am trying to come up with ideas that I will actually do to save.
I think the most important thing to do to keep my motivated to savings it to have a goal that I am saving for. I'm not sure yet if I want a certain dollar amount goal, or a "I want to buy that and it's $X" kinda of goal. I am trying to decide what will be more motivating for me. The key to savings is to find what works for you and do it your way.
To keep me even more motivated I will be postig my progress here for you all to see! Yikes! I am hoping that this in itself is enough to keep me motivated.
I hope to have the details worked out soon, I have to talk a few things over with hubby, as I will need his support to accomplish my goals.
So what works for you? Do you have any saving goals?
I think the most important thing to do to keep my motivated to savings it to have a goal that I am saving for. I'm not sure yet if I want a certain dollar amount goal, or a "I want to buy that and it's $X" kinda of goal. I am trying to decide what will be more motivating for me. The key to savings is to find what works for you and do it your way.
To keep me even more motivated I will be postig my progress here for you all to see! Yikes! I am hoping that this in itself is enough to keep me motivated.
I hope to have the details worked out soon, I have to talk a few things over with hubby, as I will need his support to accomplish my goals.
So what works for you? Do you have any saving goals?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Store Policies
I had friends over earlier this evening that were curious about couponing and wanted to know how to get started. Well, I think we covered the basics, but I didn’t realize how much I really knew. I guess I just thought that everyone knew how to coupon but just didn’t.
So let me start with some of the basics for my area. I shop mostly in Burleson and Crowley, but also shop in Arlington and Mansfield.
Albertson’s
· Will Accept 4 Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple up to 4 Like Coupons
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· It has been my experience to get overage, if you have fillers to consume it
Krogers
· Will Accept Unlimited Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple up to 3 Like Coupons, After they are taken a face value
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· It has been my experience to get overage, if you have fillers to consume it
Brookshires
· Will Accept Unlimited Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple 1 Like Coupon, After they are taken a face value
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· I do not know if the allow overage
City Market
· Does not Double or Triple Coupons, I don't shop here often
Tom Thumb
· Will Accept Unlimited Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple 1 Like Coupon, After they are taken a face value
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· I do not know if the allow overage
*Please note that at all of these store you can combine a manufacture q with a store q to maximize savings.
For example, last week Albertson’s has a coupon for a 24 pk of soda for $3.99 with additional purchase. I was able to purchase the 24 pk of Diet Coke and use the $3.99 Albertson’s coupon along with my $1 off 24 pk of Diet Coke peelie coupon.
So I paid $2.99 for a 24 pk of Diet Coke.
So let me start with some of the basics for my area. I shop mostly in Burleson and Crowley, but also shop in Arlington and Mansfield.
Albertson’s
· Will Accept 4 Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple up to 4 Like Coupons
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· It has been my experience to get overage, if you have fillers to consume it
Krogers
· Will Accept Unlimited Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple up to 3 Like Coupons, After they are taken a face value
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· It has been my experience to get overage, if you have fillers to consume it
Brookshires
· Will Accept Unlimited Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple 1 Like Coupon, After they are taken a face value
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· I do not know if the allow overage
City Market
· Does not Double or Triple Coupons, I don't shop here often
Tom Thumb
· Will Accept Unlimited Like Coupons
· Will Double / Triple 1 Like Coupon, After they are taken a face value
· Will Double Up to and including $.39
· Will Triple Up to and including $.50
· They Double and Triple everyday, no sales dated needed
· I do not know if the allow overage
*Please note that at all of these store you can combine a manufacture q with a store q to maximize savings.
For example, last week Albertson’s has a coupon for a 24 pk of soda for $3.99 with additional purchase. I was able to purchase the 24 pk of Diet Coke and use the $3.99 Albertson’s coupon along with my $1 off 24 pk of Diet Coke peelie coupon.
So I paid $2.99 for a 24 pk of Diet Coke.
Meal Planning
There are several new things I am trying to be more frugal. Sending my husband out of town with a company credit card and no cash was a big start, but seriously there are lots of things that I am doing to save a bit more here and there. It is all of these little savings that are starting to add up.
I have started meal planning. This has been huge for my family’s budget!
Being the princess that I am, anytime I didn’t want to cook, my hubby would take us out to dinner or run and pick up take out. Well, with hubby out of town, taking our five kids to a restaurant on my own just does seem appealing to me. So, I started meal planning.
Just by cutting out the eating out we are already saving tons, but it gets better.
I plan my menus around my stockpile and the weekly sales to maximize savings.
I also use the C.O.S.T. cooking method. I Cook Once to Serve Twice. Well, I actually cook once and serve lots of time. Yesterday, I cooked 20 lbs of chicken thighs that I had bought on sale with coupons and gotten for free. I de-boned and packaged in 1lb packages for the freezer. I used 1lb plus the chicken stock from boiling the chicken to make chicken and dumplings last night. For the dumplings I used free Pillsbury refrigerated biscuits. It was an awesome free meal, and we have leftovers tonight. So two free meals, and I have 10 more packages of cooked chicken in the freezer.
I have started meal planning. This has been huge for my family’s budget!
Being the princess that I am, anytime I didn’t want to cook, my hubby would take us out to dinner or run and pick up take out. Well, with hubby out of town, taking our five kids to a restaurant on my own just does seem appealing to me. So, I started meal planning.
Just by cutting out the eating out we are already saving tons, but it gets better.
I plan my menus around my stockpile and the weekly sales to maximize savings.
I also use the C.O.S.T. cooking method. I Cook Once to Serve Twice. Well, I actually cook once and serve lots of time. Yesterday, I cooked 20 lbs of chicken thighs that I had bought on sale with coupons and gotten for free. I de-boned and packaged in 1lb packages for the freezer. I used 1lb plus the chicken stock from boiling the chicken to make chicken and dumplings last night. For the dumplings I used free Pillsbury refrigerated biscuits. It was an awesome free meal, and we have leftovers tonight. So two free meals, and I have 10 more packages of cooked chicken in the freezer.
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