Cheaper, Better, Faster (32 page)

Find a farmers' market. You can buy locally grown fruit and vegetables at great prices. Some areas hold these markets only in the warm months; in other areas they're held year-round.

Groceries—produce weigh-in

Prepackaged produce must have a minimum weight as printed on the packaging. Not all potatoes are created equal, however, so a 10-pound bag may weigh 11 pounds, and a 1-pound bag of carrots may weigh 1.5 pounds.

Groceries—products
shelved high and low

When grocery shopping, look high and low. Usually you'll find the less-expensive store and generic brands at the bottoms and tops of the shelves. The higher-priced name brands are conveniently located at eye level—yours and your children's.

Groceries—reduced prices

Search for bargains in the day-old baked goods, dented can, and meat-that-is-about-to-expire bins. You have to be careful, but as long as the cans are not bulging or leaking and the end dates meet your approval, go for it. Also, look for generic and off-brands for additional savings.

Groceries—shelf-life expert

Become a shelf-life expert. Buying in bulk will do you no good if you end up throwing most of it away due to spoilage. Some things last indefinitely, while others spoil, even if frozen, after a certain period of time.

Groceries—
shop during off-hours

Shop midweek and during off-hours. Typically, store sales and double- or even triple-coupon savings occur midweek. Also, there's less distracting hustle and bustle early or late in the day or at mealtime, which allows you to do a more efficient job of shopping.

Groceries—shop for less than 30 minutes

Plan ahead and know what you're going to buy so your grocery-shopping trips will be short and sweet—less than 30 minutes if at all possible. If you linger longer, it will cost you. Market surveys indicate that shoppers spend an extra 50 cents each minute for every minute over 30 spent in the supermarket.

Groceries—shop in smaller stores

Many large grocery stores do not have the best prices. Check the smaller independent markets in your area and do some price comparisons. They may have fewer choices, but they may also have lower prices and shorter checkout lines. Many small markets also accept manufacturers' coupons.

Groceries—shop less often

See how long you can go between grocery-shopping trips. Start by doubling the time between trips. If you go to the market every day, stretch it to
every other day. Once a week? Shop after 2 weeks next time. You'll waste less, use less, and spend proportionately less.

Groceries—
shop only with cash

Grocery shop with cash only. You will be a much more careful shopper knowing you can't go over your limit because you don't have a checkbook, debit card, or credit card to fall back on.

Groceries—shop the perimeter

Concentrate on the perimeter of the grocery store rather than the center aisles. Around the outside is where you'll find healthier food with the least packaging and processing: produce, meats, fish, and dairy.

Groceries—
spices and herbs

When purchasing spices and herbs, first check your health food store. Many carry spices and herbs in bulk quantities, and you can measure out and purchase as much or as little as you like. Don't buy more than you know you will reasonably use in the next 6 months.

Groceries—stop impulse buying

When you pick up an item that is not on your grocery list, place it in the child's seat of the shopping cart. Just before checking out, reevaluate the budget-breaking items and make yourself put all of them back except for one item. That's your reward for controlling your impulses in the grocery aisles.

Groceries—vacuum sealing

If you buy large quantities of staple items, consider investing in a vacuum-sealing machine. But don't buy one unless you're sure you'll use it.

Impulse buying—count the cost

Ten dollars here, 20 bucks there doesn't seem like it will make much difference in the long run. But if you spend $20 on impulse items each week, that's $1,040 a year. Little
things do matter, and when it comes to spending impulsively, they matter a lot.

Impulse
buying—let someone else care for “your” stuff

A little attitude change will allow you to thoroughly enjoy lovely things but leave them in the stores. Let someone else dust, polish, and care for them. You can visit “your” stuff whenever you like and change your mind without consequence!

Impulse
buying—shop only by plan

Stop shopping. Shopping often means strolling through the mall when you have nothing particular in mind to buy, simply looking for great bargains and things that happen to strike your fancy. That is a very dangerous thing to do. I'm not suggesting that you never again buy anything, but instead that you spend only during a planned act of acquiring the goods and services you need and not make spur-of-the-moment, impulse purchases.

Impulse buying—shop only with cash

Retailers are keenly aware of the statistics that prove you will spend at least 30 percent more if you are in the store with a credit card, debit card, or checkbook. The last thing they want is a customer who carries cash. Why? Because the cash buyer is cautious and less impulsive.

Impulse
buying—shop when you're short on time

Do essential shopping when you don't have much time. If you have too much time to browse, you'll be tempted to buy impulsively.

Impulse buying—use a wish list

If you struggle with the “I wants,” create your own wish-list system. As you think of things you want, write them on your wish list and date the
entry. Then keep your wish list with you at all times. The rule is that you must leave the item on the list without purchasing it until it has been on there for 3 months. Periodically review your list, especially when you add some new gadget to it. Surprisingly, your level of need for most of the items diminishes to the point that you'll no longer even want it. Any item that remains after 3 months indicates that the item deserves further consideration.

Impulse buying—wait 24 hours

If an item costs more than the amount you set ahead of time, wait 24 hours between the time you make a decision and actually make the purchase. More times than not you will change your mind, which means you will have avoided a needless purchase.

Layaway plans

Many stores offer layaway plans. This is a great way to purchase something over a period of time without incurring debt. As long as the store holds the merchandise until you make all of the payments, it's not a debt, because you can change your mind and get a refund. Layaway forces you to save for things before you purchase them.

Limit your
shopping time

Is it hard for you to stick to a time limit when shopping? Buy a small oven timer and set it to the desired time you wish to spend shopping. Stick it in your pocket or purse, and when the timer goes off, it's time to go home. Or you could set an alarm on your cell phone or watch.

Mail-order shopping

If you love mail-order shopping and find yourself going nuts with the orders even though you've been disappointed in the past with all the junk you ordered that you neither wanted nor needed, here's a tactic to help curb the urge and actually trick yourself: Take great pains and
enjoy every moment of studying your favorite catalogs and websites. Fill out the order form or load up your “shopping cart,” being careful to select all the items you love the most and in all the colors and sizes you desire. When you're done, “save for later” or prepare the form for mailing, write the total amount on the outside of the envelope, and then purposely set it in a place you will see it often. Leave it there for a full week. By the time the week has passed, give yourself a little test: Without opening the order form or catalog, or returning to the website, can you remember what you ordered? Probably not, so it doesn't matter anymore. Throw it in the trash.

Major purchases—plan carefully

A major purchase deserves careful planning. Break down the cost of the item into a monthly sum you can put aside over a period of time. Example: If you want to buy a new sofa, put pictures of the one you like on your refrigerator and in your checkbook. Determine the amount you will spend and how much you will put into a special account for this purpose each week or month. If your goal is firmly planted in your mind, you won't feel deprived when you give something up to keep making those savings deposits.

Major purchases—save first,
spend later

Instead of putting larger purchases on credit, save first. Once you have enough cash, make the purchase. Amazingly, by the time you save up the money, you may change your mind a dozen times. You might even decide you no longer need or want it.

Off-season clothes—
stock up

Seasonal items (such as swimwear, coats, and boots) are often cleared out at phenomenal prices, so if you can handle the thought of buying snow gear in the spring, go for it.

Sales—beat the rush

If a sale starts on Thursday at 9 a.m., there's a good chance that if you walk in on Wednesday afternoon, you'll get the sale price.

Salespeople—get friendly

They usually know when things are going to go on sale. Ask, and then be willing to wait.

Scanners—beware

Many retail stores equipped with checkout scanners have store policies that say you get the item free if the price is scanned incorrectly. Stay alert and watch the prices being scanned. If you see something that doesn't look right, speak up. Curiously, each year overall scanner errors in this country register in the millions of dollars, to the benefit of the retailer.

Subscriptions—share

Cut subscription costs by using the buddy system. Find a friend or relative who enjoys a similar magazine or newsletter that you do. Each of you pays half the cost and shares the publication when it arrives each month. Enlarge your group to five: Subscription rates are split four ways, and the fifth person receives the issues last. Instead of participating in the price, the fifth reader becomes the librarian—cataloging, sorting, and storing the publications for the group.

Wholesale

Look through the wholesale listings in your local Yellow Pages or online for items that you buy frequently or in bulk, such as pet food, paper and party goods, and garden supplies. You'll find that many wholesalers sell their wares to the public but don't advertise.

Work in retail

If you are looking for a job, either primary or one to augment your present income, consider the advantage of working in a retail store, then
carefully choose the store. By selecting one in which you already shop, not only will you make extra money by receiving a paycheck, you will also almost always receive an employee discount on the products you would be purchasing anyway. A 30 percent employee discount is not unusual. And remember, that's 30 percent off the lowest sale prices, too, which can translate to some healthy bargains.

Air travel—airport quiet spots

If you need to find a quiet place in an airport to either sleep or work, but you don't belong to one of those expensive elite clubs, go to a gate where the plane has just taken off. It will be deserted for a while, and when another scheduled flight moves in on you, find another location where a plane has just departed.

Air travel—airport rental cars

Car rental companies with desks in the airport are generally more expensive than off-site renters. It costs these companies a lot of money to lease airport desk space. And guess who gets to make up the difference?

Air travel—bereavement fares

Most airlines offer reduced fares in time of bereavement. When you call for a reservation under these circumstances, explain your situation and ask for their bereavement fare. Don't be offended if a cooperating airline
requires verification of funeral arrangements.

Air
travel—book the first flight of the day

Book the first flight of the day. When flights are delayed, they affect other connections. The earlier you leave, the more options you have. Avoid taking the last flight of the day if you must be at your destination the next morning. If that flight is canceled, you're stuck.

Air travel
—booking problem

If you are dealing directly with the airline reservation desk and are unable to book the flight you want, hang up and call a second time. If you get a different ticketing agent, you may get what you want.

Air travel—don't fly immediately after dental surgery

Never fly if you have had dental surgery within the past 12 hours. The change in air pressure will cause severe pain and possibly bleeding.

Air travel—insurance for lost
luggage

If your luggage is lost and it isn't recovered, each airline has a limit of liability up to a certain amount of the depreciated value of the bag and its contents. If your loss exceeds their limit, your household insurance policy may pick up the difference. Check with the airline for their limit of liability.

Air travel—itinerary
information attached to luggage

Write the dates of your stay and where you want lost luggage to be delivered in the city you'll be visiting. Attach this abbreviated itinerary to the outside of your luggage.

Air travel—lost luggage
claim and receipt

If your bag does not show up on the luggage carousel, make sure you fill out a claim form and get a receipt before you leave the airport.

Air travel—make your luggage look unique

Checked bags frequently go astray because they look alike and someone might walk off with one that looks like yours. Buy brightly colored luggage, put a colorful luggage strap around your bag, or use neon-colored stickers to make your bag stand out in a crowd. Tacky luggage is also a less likely candidate for theft.

Air travel—rebook by phone, not
in airport

You're at the airport when you learn that your flight has been canceled. Don't rush to the ticket counter where you will have to wait in line with everyone else on the canceled flight. Use your phone and call the airline's reservation number. Ask to be rebooked on the next scheduled flight.

Air travel—reduce
chance of delays

When booking a flight, remember that the more times you land, take off, or change planes, the more you increase the chance of delays. If you can't avoid making connections, look for a flight that has stopovers at small airports. Reduced traffic reduces delays. Allow at least an hour for connections.

Air travel—remove luggage tags
from previous trips

Remove all luggage tags from previous trips to avoid confusing the baggage handlers and scanning devices.

Air
travel—save with layovers

An airline flight that makes a stop between your departure city and your destination can sometimes be significantly cheaper than one that makes no stops. You may have to spend an extra hour or two on the ground, and you risk additional delays, but the savings may be worth it.

Air travel—seating, don't wait
for check-in

Arrange for your seat assignment when you book a flight.
If you wait until you check in, you're less likely to get the seat you want. Some airlines won't assign seats more than 30 days in advance, so check back on their website periodically.

Air
travel—seating, strategy for one

When only middle seats are available, ask the gate agent to put you in the empty seat between two people with the same last name. Chances are good you'll get that aisle or window seat when they ask if you'd like to switch so they can sit together.

Air travel—seating, strategy for
two

When two people are traveling together on a plane with three-abreast seating, one should request an aisle and the other a window. This maximizes the chances of the seat in the middle remaining empty. If someone does sit there, and you want to sit next to your companion, just ask the person if they'd like the window or aisle instead of the annoying middle seat.

Air travel
—skip curbside check-in

Skip the curbside luggage check-in facility if at all possible and go directly to the ticket counter. Your luggage is more likely to be handled correctly, and you won't be expected to tip. If you must use airport curbside check-in, remember these are airport—not airline—employees. Double-check their work, especially the three-letter destination code on your bags' tags. If you want to see your bags at the other end of your trip, tip these handlers.

Air travel—when diverted flights
cause delays

If a flight is diverted, causing departure delays, most air carriers will give you a meal voucher. If you need to stay overnight because the airline has a problem, most will pay the hotel bill plus the cost of ground transportation. But you must ask, so don't be timid.

Air travel—willing to be bumped

If you wouldn't mind getting bumped from your flight
because you have the time and could use the voucher that most airlines offer as an incentive for taking a later flight, let the gate agent know that you are willing to give up your seat if needed.

Car travel—backseat organizer

A shoe organizer hung over the back of the front seat can hold small toys, crayons, and other loose items in the car.

Car travel—drive someone else's car

Consider driving someone else's car. Auto-transport companies (listed online) are often looking for good drivers to move cars from one part of the country to the other. Typically you pay only for gas, and they'll even get you started with a full tank.

Car travel—learn with
audio books

If you are like most people, you drive about 15,000 miles each year, which expressed in time equals about a college semester. Use the time spent in the car listening to books on tape or self-improvement tapes.

Car travel—take business and truck routes

If you prefer leisurely car-trip vacations, take the business or truck routes through cities. You'll find good motels that aren't near the interstates. These places can be very nice and quite inexpensive.

Hotels—group security

When checking into a hotel, get a hotel business card for each family member to carry in case of accidental separation.

Hotels—save on rates

On any given day, hotels can have many different rates depending on occupancy. If possible, call the hotel desk instead of the 800 reservation number. Ask about weekend rates, holiday and seasonal specials, or discounts for affiliations you might have, such as the Automobile Club of America.

Hotels—suite instead
of two rooms

If you need more than one hotel room on vacation, a suite is usually cheaper than two rooms. An efficiency suite will save you even more, allowing you to cook a few of your own meals.

Libraries
—interlibrary loans

Call your library to see if you can borrow that book you've been tempted to buy. If they don't have it on hand, ask for an interlibrary loan. Even small libraries belong to large networks of libraries, and chances are very good they'll be able to get that book for you and in less time than it would take for them to acquire it for their own shelves.

Movies—wait for DVDs

All but the biggest blockbusters are available on DVD 3 months—sometimes even sooner—after release. Your patience will pay off.

Outings—attend
rehearsals

If tickets to a special concert or local play are out of your price range, ask if you can attend a rehearsal.

Outings—be a bowling league sub

Sign up at your local bowling alley to be a league substitute. For a nominal fee you will be able to bowl in the place of an absentee league member.

Outings
—college entertainment

Local colleges often show movies in a setting that's better than some small theaters and at a much lower cost. What's more, live theater, student film shows, and guest speakers can often be seen for free.

Outings
—community events

Most cities have community-sponsored entertainment during summer months. Many churches and colleges have free performances during holidays. Make it a habit to check the
paper, library bulletin boards, and your community's website for local events.

Outings—ice alternative

When preparing for a family outing or vacation, fill an empty plastic water or milk jug
¾
full with water, freeze, and then place in a cooler. It will keep your food items cold longer than a block of ice will, there's no mess as the ice melts, and if the jug is clean, you'll have fresh drinking water.

Outings—kids at the mall

Load the kids in the car and drive to the biggest mall around. Make the rounds of the “hands-on” toy stores, such as FAO Schwartz or the Disney Store. The stores where kids are always welcome have wonderful play areas.

Outings—perks for volunteers

If you enjoy cultural events or visiting local museums and theaters, volunteer as an usher, ticket collector, or to fill some other position. In exchange, you will probably receive free or reduced admissions. Ask about the policy ahead of time.

Outings—stargaze

Get a book about constellations from the library and arrange a starry-night outing to identify constellations. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and a great big, cozy blanket.

Packing—avoid leaks in
suitcases

Make sure the bottles of shampoo, lotions, and makeup in your suitcase don't leak all over your clothes. Store liquids in zip-type bags.

Packing—business information on
luggage tags

Put your business address and phone number on your luggage tags. Your home address and information may suggest to potential thieves that your house will be vacant. Make sure to put the same
information inside each piece of luggage too.

Packing—care for stains on the road

Pack a laundry stain pretreatment in your luggage, and use it on stains before they can set. This way, stains will wash out easily once you're home and do your laundry.

Packing—clothespins for drying clothes

Toss some clothespins into your suitcase. They'll turn any hanger into a makeshift clothes dryer.

Packing—earrings kept safe

Pierced earrings won't get lost if you poke them through a handkerchief or cotton sock or into a bar of soap.

Packing—hair
dryer for ironing needs

A hair dryer can double as a travel iron. Dampen the creased garment and spread it on a flat surface. Set the dryer on medium-heat and hold it in one hand while smoothing the fabric with the other.

Packing—keep suitcase smelling nice before you
pack again

Store an unwrapped fragrant bar of soap in a suitcase to prevent musty odors from forming during storage.

Packing—list for going and coming

Toss the checked-off packing list you used to prepare for the trip into your suitcase. Use it to recheck when gathering everything at the end of your stay.

Packing—lost luggage readiness with
a companion

When traveling with a companion, each of you should pack some clothes in the other's luggage to lessen the impact if one bag is lost or detained.

Packing—make photocopies of wallet contents

Whenever you travel, make two photocopies of everything
in your wallet (credit cards, driver's license, medical insurance card, passport, and so on). Put one copy in your luggage, and leave the other at home.

Packing—organize small essentials for hotel room

To keep everything organized when you pack for a trip, group all the small essentials into large zip-type plastic bags. When you get to the hotel, put your bedside bag (travel alarm clock, flashlight, night-light) on the night table; the toiletries bag (powder, deodorant, toothbrush, hair essentials, makeup) on the bathroom shelf. Everything's together, easy to use, ready to go in a moment's notice, and you probably won't leave things behind.

Packing—shampoo for your clothes

Don't bother packing laundry detergent. Shampoo is great for washing blouses and underwear. Caution: Shampoos formulated for oily hair are more alkaline and should not be used on delicate fabrics like silk—they can cause fading.