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Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Thursday, January 05, 2006
New Topic - Moving
I am in the middle of a possible move and so I figured I'd take this time to show ways to save money in a move.
Moving day is always exceptionally hard on anyone, but often it's the day's leading to it that can be the most trying.
Between all the packing, rentals, and more - it's just too much.
Today we'll start with the basics. First of all, packing supplies. There are usually a required part of moving and they probably cost the most. Ok well other than truck rental and any other misc. equiptment.
Boxes. The number one item you need when packing. First, look around you for wasy to save on boxes. You can ask department stores to save them for you, grocery stores, and any number of other establishments. Their deliveries all arrive in boxes and most of them just pitch them. So be sure to ask around and don't get discouraged by the no's you receive, some companies can just be weird about it. But most won't hesitate to give them to you. Especially if you are hauling them away!
If you can't seem to find anyone who will let you have them (which I still find VERY hard to believe) you have several options. Either you can run to Uhaul and stock up on their boxes or you can try other places. The one benefit of Uhaul is that they will take back any unused boxes and give you your money back! That's a wonderful incentive to buy from them if you're going to buy from anywhere! So there are my two tips to saving money with the boxes.
Packaging Tape. Now this is another item you HAVE to have. There needs to be some way to seal those boxes closed. So here's some tips. First, check the dollar stores. Often they sell the tape, and it's just as good as most other cheap places. If not, and there is no dollar tree or dollar store near you that actually carries packing tape, you CAN use duct tape which is fairly cheap or visit wal-mart. Wal-mart sells big packages of tape for pretty low cost. This can get you through the move with not too much leftover. If you're like me, I have several containers already here anmd they come with lids. So voila - a few cheap ways to package stuff.
Packing Materials. Peanuts, bubble wrap, newspaper - you name it. You can get very low cost packing materials by using your newspapers. Collect the free one's that get thrown on your driveway several times a week. Or pick up some free publications and save them and use them. You can tear up old magazines and other paper items to use as "cusions" inside the boxes. You can also use clothing, towels and other inexpensive ways to save on packing materials.
Rentals. One sure way to spend a lot on moving is rentals. Any kind of rental. Renting a dolly, blankets - anything. It would be more cost effective to use what you have. Not to mention you can get a dolly for around $30 or so at many different places. Depending on how many days you keep the dolly, this can add up to savings if you purchase it rather than renting it (the case with most things you rent!) The same thing goes for trucks. If you do it yourself, you're going to save a lot more money that if you hire a mover. Uhaul is perfect. Yes, it might mean a little more manpower is needed. Round up your friends, buy 'em some beers and get to work! By doing the majority of work yourself, you seriously save thousands of dollars. I can prove it - I've done it way too often!
So this is day 1 of my moving posts. Since I cannot be on everyday like I'd like, I will update as often as I can.
If you have read this far, I thank you. I will resume to regular money saving tips regularly right after this. I will keep putting small ways to save on things as we go.
Moving day is always exceptionally hard on anyone, but often it's the day's leading to it that can be the most trying.
Between all the packing, rentals, and more - it's just too much.
Today we'll start with the basics. First of all, packing supplies. There are usually a required part of moving and they probably cost the most. Ok well other than truck rental and any other misc. equiptment.
Boxes. The number one item you need when packing. First, look around you for wasy to save on boxes. You can ask department stores to save them for you, grocery stores, and any number of other establishments. Their deliveries all arrive in boxes and most of them just pitch them. So be sure to ask around and don't get discouraged by the no's you receive, some companies can just be weird about it. But most won't hesitate to give them to you. Especially if you are hauling them away!
If you can't seem to find anyone who will let you have them (which I still find VERY hard to believe) you have several options. Either you can run to Uhaul and stock up on their boxes or you can try other places. The one benefit of Uhaul is that they will take back any unused boxes and give you your money back! That's a wonderful incentive to buy from them if you're going to buy from anywhere! So there are my two tips to saving money with the boxes.
Packaging Tape. Now this is another item you HAVE to have. There needs to be some way to seal those boxes closed. So here's some tips. First, check the dollar stores. Often they sell the tape, and it's just as good as most other cheap places. If not, and there is no dollar tree or dollar store near you that actually carries packing tape, you CAN use duct tape which is fairly cheap or visit wal-mart. Wal-mart sells big packages of tape for pretty low cost. This can get you through the move with not too much leftover. If you're like me, I have several containers already here anmd they come with lids. So voila - a few cheap ways to package stuff.
Packing Materials. Peanuts, bubble wrap, newspaper - you name it. You can get very low cost packing materials by using your newspapers. Collect the free one's that get thrown on your driveway several times a week. Or pick up some free publications and save them and use them. You can tear up old magazines and other paper items to use as "cusions" inside the boxes. You can also use clothing, towels and other inexpensive ways to save on packing materials.
Rentals. One sure way to spend a lot on moving is rentals. Any kind of rental. Renting a dolly, blankets - anything. It would be more cost effective to use what you have. Not to mention you can get a dolly for around $30 or so at many different places. Depending on how many days you keep the dolly, this can add up to savings if you purchase it rather than renting it (the case with most things you rent!) The same thing goes for trucks. If you do it yourself, you're going to save a lot more money that if you hire a mover. Uhaul is perfect. Yes, it might mean a little more manpower is needed. Round up your friends, buy 'em some beers and get to work! By doing the majority of work yourself, you seriously save thousands of dollars. I can prove it - I've done it way too often!
So this is day 1 of my moving posts. Since I cannot be on everyday like I'd like, I will update as often as I can.
If you have read this far, I thank you. I will resume to regular money saving tips regularly right after this. I will keep putting small ways to save on things as we go.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Pantry Inventory
When something you use is on sale, STOCK UP!
Your first grocery trip on the road to saving money is actually to spend a little more than you are used to. Items that are staples in your pantry should be purchased in large quantity if possible. These include items such as flour, sugar, pasta, dry beans, rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc. I have a nice little "should have" pantry list I will share.
Now, I have added and pared down multiple lists to come up with this list. If you are not cooking from scratch, some of these items might not be necessary to you, but some I don't have listed might be must have's!
Dry BulkGoods
•Flour(white,wholewheat,and bread)
•Sugar(white,brown and powdered)
•Cornmeal
•Dried beans (kidney,black,split peas,white navy, garbanzo)
•Oatmeal
•Pasta
•Rice
•Soups (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom)
•salt
•baking soda
•baking powder
•Yeast
•Vanilla Extract
•Maple syrup
•shortening
•spices
•dry milk
•dry eggs
•cocoa
•Vinegar
•Olive oil
•Canola oil
•Canned veggies (green beans, corn, tomatoes,tomato sauce,tomato paste)
•Home canned veggies(variety)
•Canned beans
•Canned Fruit(pears, peaches,applesauce,pineapple)
•Canned Meats
•Mac and cheese
•Peanutbutter
•Jellies
•Ketchup, mustard, mayo
•Crackers
•Ramen noodles
•Pasta Noodles
•Popcorn (stick with the kernels, not the "boxed variety") - its cheaper and healthier!
•Pretzels
•Coffee
•Tea
•Raisins
•Nuts (peanuts,walnuts, almonds)
•Grains-barley, wheat
•Cereals
and many, many more!
So these are the items you should try to stock up on as much as possible! There are many more I can add to this list but for now, this is a basic starter set. You have these, and you can whip up meals, even when you think you have nothing to cook!
Your first grocery trip on the road to saving money is actually to spend a little more than you are used to. Items that are staples in your pantry should be purchased in large quantity if possible. These include items such as flour, sugar, pasta, dry beans, rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc. I have a nice little "should have" pantry list I will share.
Now, I have added and pared down multiple lists to come up with this list. If you are not cooking from scratch, some of these items might not be necessary to you, but some I don't have listed might be must have's!
Dry BulkGoods
•Flour(white,wholewheat,and bread)
•Sugar(white,brown and powdered)
•Cornmeal
•Dried beans (kidney,black,split peas,white navy, garbanzo)
•Oatmeal
•Pasta
•Rice
•Soups (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom)
•salt
•baking soda
•baking powder
•Yeast
•Vanilla Extract
•Maple syrup
•shortening
•spices
•dry milk
•dry eggs
•cocoa
•Vinegar
•Olive oil
•Canola oil
•Canned veggies (green beans, corn, tomatoes,tomato sauce,tomato paste)
•Home canned veggies(variety)
•Canned beans
•Canned Fruit(pears, peaches,applesauce,pineapple)
•Canned Meats
•Mac and cheese
•Peanutbutter
•Jellies
•Ketchup, mustard, mayo
•Crackers
•Ramen noodles
•Pasta Noodles
•Popcorn (stick with the kernels, not the "boxed variety") - its cheaper and healthier!
•Pretzels
•Coffee
•Tea
•Raisins
•Nuts (peanuts,walnuts, almonds)
•Grains-barley, wheat
•Cereals
and many, many more!
So these are the items you should try to stock up on as much as possible! There are many more I can add to this list but for now, this is a basic starter set. You have these, and you can whip up meals, even when you think you have nothing to cook!
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