Keeping things local...

I love this city. I really do. I have lived in cities all over the world. I enjoy different aspects of all of them, but I really do love this city the most. I can't explain it, whether its founded in the deep relationships I've cultivated here, the experiences I've had as a teenager and then into adulthood... although I'm leaning pretty heavily on the fact that the best mexican food on the planet is overflowing here.

Regardless, I want to help El Pasoans save money. So I'm doing the legwork for you, you just have to sit back and reap the benefits.

ARDOVINOS





CAPPETTOS

Dine With Us Today, We'll Buy Tomorrows Dinner!
During the month of September we want to make you an offer that's very hard to beat (okay, an offer you can't refuse). Dine with us any day of the week, and take home tomorrows dinner with you for FREE!! We want you to know how great our Take and Bake products are and we're sure you're going to love them. So bring in this email, spend $30 on dinner, and we'll send you home with one of our Take and Bake pizzas, a 2 lb tray of our Award Winning Lasagna, or a quart of our tangy Marinara sauce. So kill two birds with one stone. Have dinner with us today and have dinner with us at home tomorrow!

Not valid with any other offer
One offer per table
Expires 9/30/09
Email me for a copy of this email: Krystal@ISaveYouSave.org



CATLLE BARONS

Member Benefit:
Visit their site for more information
As a “Value Club Member” all you need to do is present your Value Club card to your server each time you dine with us. We
will keep track of your expenditures for food and drink. As a Value Club member, you will receive 1.5 club points for every
dollar you spent at a Cattle Baron Family of Restaurants location. Each time your earned points total reaches 500, we will
send you a $25.00 gift card. Your gift will be mailed in 5-10 business days and is good for 1 year! As our way of saying thank
you for joining the Value Club, you will receive an automatic 10% off on your first use of your Value Club Card. Look for future
Value Club benefit programs.
Terms & Conditions:
Must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
Members must present Value Club Card at time of purchase.
Points are earned on, and are applicable to, the products purchased for the individual use of the cardholder only. Cardholder
must be willing to present a picture ID on request.
Points only apply to the cardholder paying the bill. Cardholder can earn points on one bill
per visit.
Points are earned based on the purchase price of products excluding taxes and tips.
Points are earned on products paid for with a gift certificate.
Points are not earned on the purchase of gift certificates.
Cattle Baron Restaurants, Inc. is not responsible for lost or stolen cards.
This card is not transferable.
Points cannot be applied in conjunction with other discounts/special promotions.
Example: 10% student discount/compliment cards/fundraiser discount cards.
The Value Club Card remains the property of Cattle Baron Restaurants, Inc. and must be surrendered on request.
Retroactive program points cannot be issued.
The Value Club Card has no redeemable cash value.
Program rules and guidelines are subject to change at the discretion of CBRI.
By clicking on the submit button you agree to the terms and conditions of the Value Club Card as set forth in this application.


GREENERY
The Wine-Club at GREENERY
Wines of the Month

Each month, for 11 months, Greenery wine and food club members will receive 2 bottles (per members preference) of imported and domestic wines made available to wine and food club membership at a substantial savings of at least 15% off our retail pricing. Wines of the month will cost approximately $29 - $50 per month. Members will be notified by email or telephone and wines will be available for pick up, at Greenery Market, beginning on the 5th of each month and credit card charges will be billed on or about the 5th of each month. A Greenery wine and food club member or an authorized adult (at least 21 years of age) must pick up purchased wines from Greenery Market, Sunland Park Mall, El Paso, Texas. We are unable to deliver or ship wine. Wine and food club members can purchase additional units of wines of the month, at their discounted prices, as long as supplies last. No special orders can be taken.

Monthly Tasting Seminar Credit

$20 per month = $220 value. Each month, with the exception of December, wine and food club members will be entitled to attend one wine tasting seminar at Greenery Restaurant and Market and receive a $20 credit for the tasting and/or any wines purchased at the tasting/seminar. The term credit designates a credit towards the cost of the tasting/seminar and/or specific wines featured at the tasting/seminar. Should wine and food club member not attend tastings/seminars, no carry-over credits will be issued. A wine and food club member must be in attendance in order to receive credit. Credit is non-transferable and may not be used for any other purchases.

First Offerings and Advance Notification of Special Releases

Wine and food club members will receive notification of special offerings, special releases and pre-sale purchases for futures. Notification will be made, via email, at least 48 hours prior to the offering being made public.

Winemakers Dinners

Wine and food club members will be notified, in advance of public notice, of our winemakers dinners and will receive a 25% discount on all wines purchased at the events.

Everyday 10% and 15% Discounts

As an added benefit, Greenery wine and food club members will enjoy a 10% discount on all retail food and merchandise along with an everyday 15% discount on wine purchases made at Greenery Market. A Greenery wine and food club card must be presented for discount. Discount does not apply to purchases made in Greenery Restaurant.


Also at the Greenery....
Greenback$ Frequent Dining Program

Receive 1 GREENBACK for each dollar spent while dining-in at GREENERY Restaurant. For every 500 GREENBACK$ accumulated during the year, you will automatically receive a $25 GREENERY giftcard - redeemable in our restaurant or market. For every 2000 GREENBACK$ accumulated during the year, you will automatically receive a $100 GREENERY giftcard redeemable in our restaurant or market. Purchases redeemed with giftcards do not qualify for discounts or additional GREENBACK$.

The annual cost of membership in our GREENBACK$ frequent dining program is $10. To enroll and purchase your GREENBACK$ card, fill out the attached information sheet and submit along with your $10 fee. Within 45 days, you will receive your GREENBACK$ card along with a $10 GREENERY giftcard (available to the first 500 members as our way of saying thank you for helping us launch this exciting loyaltyreward program). Your GREENERY giftcard will then be redeemable upon any visit to GREENERY Restaurant and Market but will not qualify toward GREENBACK$ purchases. Annual renewal notices will be mailed 1 month prior to expiration.

GREENBACK$ are awarded on food, beverage and purchased GREENERY giftcards. GREENBACK$ are awarded on dollars spent after any promotional discount is deducted. Tax and gratuity DO NOT qualify for GREENBACK$ awards. In order to receive GREENBACK$, you must physically present your GREENBACK$ card at the time of the transaction.

GREENBACK$ have no cash value and are redeemable as stated in this brochure. GREENERY giftcards received as GREENBACK$ rewards are valid at face value for one year and cannot be extended. Cash cannot be redeemed or given as change for any GREENERY giftcard purchase.

One GREENBACK$ card will be issued per application. GREENBACK$ are not transferable to another members account and are only available to individuals. If you would like an additional card for your spouse or your card is lost or stolen and you would like a replacement card, the cost of the additional/replacement card is $5.

GREENERY Restaurant and Market reserves the right to change GREENBACK$ membership rules, regulations and rewards without notice and may revoke or cancel this program with 90-days notice.

Also Please Support Local El Paso-Visit HomeGrownElPaso.com

Coupon Monday! Woohoo!

Back to school means back to the stores. But don't forget your coupons! Seriously, why pay more than you have to?

Kmart is offering Super Double coupons again. They're also offering a $5 off coupon for your next order if you spend $25 in health or beauty, which Super Doubles makes it pretty easy to do. The rumor on the world wide web is that this is the last week in 2009 that Kmart will be doubling coupons.

Super Double Manufacturer Coupons Up to $2.00 !
with purchase of $25 or more in grocery & drugstore merchandise

Participating stores only. Amount of credit from doubling a coupon cannot exceed the current retail price of a single item. No cash or in-store purchase credit will be awarded for any amount exceeding the retail price of the item. Limit 1 coupon for each item purchased. Only 1 coupon will be doubled per item. You may only purchase 4 of the same item using double coupons. Excludes Buy One, Get One offers, Kmart Savings coupons and Kmart Store coupons. Coupons do not apply to sales tax. Limit 10 coupons per customer per day. Offer excludes products prohibited by law, including but not limited to alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medication. Not valid on non-merchandise, federal or state regulated items, prior purchases, Lands’ End, Sears merchandise rung on Sears registers within Kmart and kmart.com. In the event of a return, coupon savings may be deducted from the refund. Exclusions apply. Please see store associate for details.
Sears Holdings (Kmart) reserves the right to modify or cancel this program at any time.

Grocery and drugstore items include: all food items, health & beauty, baby diapers, household cleaning supplies, pet foods, detergents, paper goods, shampoos and other beauty items, over the counter medicines such as : Tylenol, aspirin, etc.

10 coupons, per day, per customer may be doubled. Additional coupons will be honored, just not doubled. Customer should choose which 10 they would like doubled.....

$25 threshold is BEFORE coupon redemption.
DOUBLE COUPONS UP TO $2 MAXIMUM VALUE, LIMIT 10 PER PERSON, PER DAY



Here is the list of participating Kmart Stores in the Double Coupons savings

K-Mart Coupons:
$5 off $50 purchase printable coupon
$5 off $20 toy purchase printable coupon

The following Coupons can be doubled at participating Kmarts this week! Watch the savings fly! Oh me oh my!

Kotex Liners
Starting Price: $1.29
Use $1/1 printable coupon
Final Price: Free!

Dove Deodorant
Starting Price: $3.99
Use $2/1 printable coupon
Final Price: Free!

Bumble Bee Tuna
Starting Price: $1.00
Use $1/2 printable facebook coupon
Final Price: 2 for Free!

Campbell's Cream Soups
Starting Price: $1.29
Use $1/2 printable coupon
Final Price: 29c each!

Welch's Grape Jelly
Starting Price: $2.00
Use 75c/1 printable coupon
Final Price: 50c!

Suddenly Pasta Salad {Betty Crocker}
Starting Price: $1.25
Use 40c/1 printable coupon
Final Price: 45c!

Juicy Juice {juice boxes}
Starting Price: $2.50
Use 75c/1 coupon from previous newspaper insert or $1/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.00 - $1.50 each

Hefty Trash Bags
Starting Price: $5.99
Use $1/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $3.99

Huggies Diaper Jumbo Packs
Starting Price: $9.99
Use $1.50/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $6.99

Huggies Pull-Ups
Starting Price: $9.99
Use $2/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $5.99
Get a FREE Diehard AA or AAA battery 4 pack when you buy $25 or more of health, beauty, food and consumables
Get a FREE American Greetings Card when you buy $20 or more of health, beauty, food and consumables
Get a FREE Smart Cents paper towel (1 roll) when you buy $15 or more of health, beauty, food and consumables
Get $5 off Kmart Craftsman Black Tool Center

Call to see if your Kmart is participating in the double up coupons savings program. If not, those were still some fabulous coupons, so take advantage and save!

Kmarts in the El Paso Area :

Kmart
9484 DYER ST, EL PASO, TX
Tel: 915-751-2391 |

Kmart
6375 MONTANA BLVD, EL PASO, TX
Tel: 915-779-5084 |

Kmart
655 SUNLAND PARK, EL PASO, TX
Tel: 915-760-5001 |


Kmart
1120 MC RAE BLVD, EL PASO, TX
Tel: 915-591-9466 |


Kmart
11330 MONTWOOD DRIVE, EL PASO, TX
Tel: 915-855-4696 |


Kmart
411 ZARAGOSA ROAD NORTH, EL PASO, TX
Tel: 915-858-1919 |


Kmart
1240 S EL PASEO DR, LAS CRUCES, NM
Tel: 505-523-7536 |


Kmart
3860 NORTH MAIN STREET, LAS CRUCES, NM
Tel: 505-522-7135 | s

Kmart
3201 N WHITE SAND BLVD, ALAMOGORDO, NM
Tel: 505-434-1901 |

Kmart
1205 EAST PINE, DEMING, NM
Tel: 505-544-2654 |

Year to date

My 100th post couldn't come at a better time.

I received a $4000 scholarship today from NAWIC-National Association of Women in Construction, El Paso Chapter, 248.

I was floored by their generosity and their dedication and commitment to my education and my career goals.

What a year...
After this week’s payments, my remaining debt balances will be:
Asset Retrieval- $2498.80
Dentist- $1235—will verify with my folks.
GECU- $525.89

Not a lot of debt payoff this month, but I’m thinking I beefed up my savings enough to where I can focus primarily on paying off debt the last couple months we have left.
Total debt payoff for August: $399
$200 to Asset
$130 to Dentist
$69 to GECU

I was just looking through my savings folder I have on my computer, taking a look at where I started.
Unique/Library- $111.95? paid off
CMI/Time Warner- $154? Paid off
JSZ/Sutters Wood- $212.42? paid off
RJM ACQ/WAMU- $412.47 paid off
Target card-$ 570.51? paid off
Midland/Chase-$707.50? paid off
Capstone- $2500.15? paid off-ish
Mysterious time warner? Knocked off
Total Debt payoff-ish: $6636 (inclusive for everything)

My cell phone bill is gone, my GECU loan is shrinking, Asset retrieval will be a one shot payoff for the remaining balance at the end of the challenge at which it should be around $1000 and they’ll work with me then, my dentist bill will be knocked out in 19 weeks at $65 a week or the first week of January…

I’ve received $5000 in scholarships not to mention the $7300 in financial aid each year for the next three years…

What a year. Regardless how the challenge ends, I feel like a winner. Especially with the team I’ve been blessed with.

Thank you guys for your support, your advice, and your friendship.

Life gets in the way of blogging sometimes...

My mini adventure for the last two weeks has involved fighting tooth and nail to get registered at UTEP. Three trips to the financial aid office, one student orientation, and camping out at the admissions office until they physically entered my transcripts and I can now happily proclaim that I am OFFICIALLY registered at UTEP.

While it has been a long drawn out, sometimes unnecessary process, the experience has taught me a great lesson. And of course I'm going to share my acquired knowledge with my loyal loving fanbase. Here's for you mom, lol.

1. Give yourself as much advance time as possible. The unforseeable might happen, so just plan for it to occur. While I started my progress to becoming a student at UTEP about 3 months ago, it still left me fretting and worrying about everything falling into place in time.

2. FIGHT! I wasn't originally offered the UTEP Promise, but I knew I qualified. I went to the financial aid office and requested an appeal of sorts to ensure that I was offered the aid I was intended to receive. When my transcripts weren't moving fast enough, within their allotted timeframe, I went and sat in a chair and politely informed the clerk I wasn't moving until I had my transcripts downloaded and processed. No One is going to fight for your cause if you won't.

3. Remain patient. This especially applies for the last few remaining weeks/days/seconds before the school bells ring. The helpful admissions/clerks/financial aid employees, work incredibly hard to keep the ball rolling. They could use alot more smiling, friendly faces than they probably receive.

4. This is your future school, don't burn any bridges. Park in areas designated for visitors, avoid losing your temper, play nicely with others. You know the drill. Don't let a bad reputation precede you into your classes.

5. Share whatever information you acquire with anyone about to start the process. Direct people where to go and inform them of any hardships you experience. Preparing the next generation of students by informing them of any papers they might need to bring with them to admissions will help speed up their process (and everyone elses involved) and can be your good deed for the day.

All in all this semester will cost the price of two textbooks, parking, and losing 8 hours at the office a week. I'm more than a happy Miner right now.

Free Chocolate!

Mars Real Chocolate Giveaway.


Thank me later. You can send me chocolate! lol

Real Tips, from Real People

"Two years ago my ex-boyfriend convinced me to give up using a dryer. I haven't missed it since. I have a clothesline in my spare bedroom and a drying rack. My clothes and towels are much softer. I use liquid fabric softener and the apartment smells wonderful when I do laundry. In the winter, it puts moisture in the air. I do not own a dryer now. Some people who do hang clothes will dry towels and jeans for about 5 to 10 minutes first to get the wrinkles out. Not using a dryer saves both electricity and wear on your clothing."

"I have learned that if you go to a bagel store after 3PM, they will give you as many bagels as you want for free ... depending on where you go. Put on a smile, and you can [possibly] get them for free. Bring them home, freeze them and defrost one each morning for breakfast."


"As a college student with a tight budget, I refuse to buy or sell back any of my books to the store. Most places will buy your practically new books back for a third of the price -- if you're lucky -- and sell them for 4 times as much. I buy from half.com and abebooks.com. Now I pay about $200 a semester on six classes worth of books instead of close to $800."

"You can pay the same dollar amount per month on your loan, but by splitting the amount up to weekly payments, you'll knock more interest off your loan and pay it off sooner without even paying any higher monthly payments. Set up an automatic payment for each week and watch your loan go away more quickly."


"My biggest savings? eBAY. That's right. You can buy coupons for ANYTHING and if your grocery store doubles or triples coupons, you are already saving money. You can purchase coupons, rebates, and more. Just type it in! Not only do you save money, but TIME. Why buy 10 newspapers for that $1 off coupon on Charmin ($10) when you can get them so much cheaper?"

"I haven't paid OOP (out of pocket) money for many items including milk, toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, band-aids, cleaners, and many more items since last October 2008. I achieve this by keeping a very organized coupon box, and utilizing the extra care program at CVS and Walgreens with the coupons. I have even been able to take hundreds of dollars of items to a low income family in need. I treat this like a job and it pays me very well and helps me to save thousands each year off my grocery food bill. Cha-Chang!"

"Instead of expensive eye cream (to get rid of wrinkles), I use 100% aloe vera oil (Jason Natural Aloe Vera, 1 oz. bottle). It costs less than $5, it lasts forever, and I always get compliments on my skin (& very few wrinkles!)"


"I buy windshield wiper fluid and use it on windows, mirrors and glass around the house. It is the same liquid, but oh boy do you get more bang for your money!"

"We started three things a few years ago.
1. Estate Sales -- I now have every Craftsman tool and I only paid pennies on the dollar. A .10 cent screwdriver here and there, a $5.00 electric sander, etc. and in the end, I have a complete workshop of quality tools.

2. Yard Sales -- My daughters (both 14) found that they can buy all the name brand clothes they want for quarters and dimes. My wife still wears a .50 cent Eddie Bauer Down Jacket that we found a few years ago. We found a similar jacket and it was over $150. So this type of shopping is how we start our back to school shopping. Its a lot of fun too, get to spend the day out doors with the whole family.


3. Discount Stores -- Just one example of many is that I purchased 10 Fila new- with- tags winter jackets at a local discount store. The price tag still said $189.99. After the discount store marked them down, and after the end-of-year discount of 97% off (red or navy were the only colors and only in size large) -- I wound up paying only about $5 for each of the jackets. I sell these items on eBat and keep some for myself or to give away as gifts at Christmas.


I have everything I want or need for pennies on the dollar."

"I keep my worn dress shirts to wear under sweaters in the winter. Only the collars show and they still look good. This saves lots of wear on my good shirts and they last longer."

"I save all my birthday, Christmas and any other cards I get [during the year] and use them for postcards. Most of the cards do not have anything written on the right-hand inside flap. That leaves you a place to write your own personal note to someone. Postage is cheaper for a postcard and you didn't even buy the card to start with, but pass it on with a smile."

"Remember it all ends up in the same place! Save those little bits of food. In a few days you will have enough to add to a new dish, therefore increasing the amount of food you have at a time. Make large pot meals (ie. Goulash) and freeze part of it. Ground beef, macaroni, onion, crushed tomatoes. Find old cook books in your family or borrow one. We all need to stop eating out so much, as it costs more for less. It is hard though, with the pace our lives are set at these days. Maybe it would be a good idea if we could all just slow down a bit."


"When you think that tube of toothpaste or bottle of lotion is empty, cut the tube or plastic bottle in half with sturdy household shears. You'll be amazed at how much of the product remains in the packaging that we usually throw away. I started doing this in college and never stopped. Get your money's worth!"


"I hated tossing those fabric softener sheets in the landfill, so I make my own with an old washcloth. Mix one part liquid softener to four parts water and place in an old spray bottle. Spray some on a dedicated washcloth and toss in the dryer along with the clothes. One bottle of liquid fabric softener lasts a very long time."

"If I know I am going to be out and about and needing a fast food lunch, I think one of the best bargains around is the Wendy's Value Menu. I get the Double Stack [burger] and a Value fries each at $0.99 for a total of $2.12 including tax. I bring a little ice chest with me for the day with a can of Coke. It is a satifying fast food lunch."

FREE FOOD!

I've really enjoyed sampling the free food coupons and offers I've put up this week. So why let that spirit die? I do the research, so you don't have to!

I'm not a big fan, but if McDonald's wants to help me save For College I'm all over that. Signing up for their newsletter will have offers sent directly to your inbox. Signing up at MorningImpaired will get you a Free Sausage McGriddle. (Select locations, we missed out on this one 79924).


Wienerschnitzel is great late at night or when you're having a hotdog eating contest on $.25 hotdog night. Danny's a cheater by the way...

Well they have a couple really great deals. First the buy one get one coupon Angus Hot Dog. Or their Free Iced Coffee with Any Purchase. Or the ultimate, join their mailing list club Get a free Chili Dog. They'll even hook you up on your birthday!

I've been craving a bacon pizza for weeks now. I need to jump on it. To help me out I signed up for their deals to Search for coupons or discounts in my area and send me discounts by email. Also an outside offer for a free order Sign up with their sponsors to get a $20 cash rebate. Searching Ebay for Pizza Hut coupons is a risky business, but you could go That Route.

SONIC Cruisers® is the official SONIC® fan club. Members get all sorts of perks, stuff like a monthly e-mail newsletter, a surprise on their birthday and much more. I'm a member, are you?

I'm sure I've opened up my email to a whole new breed of spam, but its free food people! :) I'll be a satisfied, fat camper before this whole thing is over.

Free Mocha Day!

Love this!

Today is Mocha Monday at McDonald's!!

McDonald's will be celebrating Mocha Monday by giving away free samples of their mochas from 7am - 7pm!

You can receive a free sample-sized 8 oz. hot mocha, or free sample-sized 7 oz. iced mocha.

As always, I suggest you call ahead to your local McDonald's to make sure they are participating. For more information, click here.

UTEP Promise

I received a wonderful email this morning from a hardworking financial aid director at UTEP saying that I have been accepted to participate in the UTEP Promise. This is a lifealtering opportunity that will help ease the stress of paying for college for the duration that I am attending UTEP.

I. Could. Not. Be. Happier.

After I heard about the program I have done everything in my power to make sure that I was activated under its guidelines. The journey was easy, but like everything else college oriented, the hardest part was waiting.

Let me explain a little bit more about the UTEP Promise. Imagine yourself a freshman at UTEP next fall - with tuition and mandatory fees covered!

It's their promise that they'll help qualified students meet the financial challenges of attending the university.

How does it work?

* Covers all tuition and mandatory fees for 30 credit hours each year.
* Open to freshmen for the fall 2006 semester and beyond
* Does not cover incidental fees, course-related fees or individual major fees


Who is eligible for the UTEP Promise?

* New freshmen with family income of $25,000 or less
* Must be a Texas resident and qualify for Texas resident tuition


How do I apply for the UTEP Promise?

* Apply to UTEP for fall 2006 admission as a freshman
* Complete the FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. See it online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
* You'll automatically be considered
* The Financial Aid Office will let you know if you qualify


You must:

* be registered for at least 12 hours each semester, 15 hours recommended
* complete 30 credit hours each year
* earn a GPA of 2.0 or higher

Note: Participation is limited to four consecutive years.


Questions?

Contact the Financial Aid Office at 915/747-5204

or visit us in the:

Financial Aid Office
Academic Services Building
Schuster Drive and Hawthorne Street
Monday – Friday 8 am – 6 pm
E-mail: payingforcollege@utep.edu



GOOOOOOO MINERS!!!!!

Debt? or Savings?

I know that many financial experts recommend paying of debts - especially high interest credit card debt first, before saving. Conventional wisdom suggests that paying off high interest debt garners an immediate 13%, 18%, 21% (or whatever) rate of return on your money. Makes sense. I guess.

Here's the problem. If you take all of your available cash and pay down debt, then what will you do in case of an emergency? (eyes on your own paper) Right! You'll go into debt - whether it's putting the charge on the same credit card which now has more room, or borrow it from your next door neighbor, along with a cup of sugar. Kinda defeats the whole purpose, no? On top of that, the emergency will actually cost you more in the long run, because of the interest you'll pay, and the fee that it may cost you to use your credit card. For instance, some utility companies and insurance companies charge a transaction fee for paying with a credit card.


Sometimes the emergency is a mini emergency where you can't pay with credit. Your transmission goes costing more than the available credit you have on your Visa. Not to mention that your goal in life is to dig yourself out of debt, and continuing to charge feels like running up the down escalator. What's a debt-buster in training to do?


I say: Split the difference. I find it a bit more psychologically comforting to save some money for emergencies, even if you are paying off debt. To my mind, it works the same way as the debt snowball. The debt snowball, class, is a method of repayment where you pay off the smallest debt first, regardless of interest rate. Once you have success in eliminating the first debt, you get a psychological boost and roll the former debt payments into paying off the next debt on the list. Psychologically, a good idea. Financially, not so much. But sometimes the process is not as crucial as the end result.

I have come up with a highly complex and intricate formula: 75/12.5/12.5. I take roughly 75% of my income and put it towards debt. I divide the remaining in half - thus the 12.5% - and put it towards savings. For me, that means 12.5% goes to my emergency fund -towards the requisite 6-months, minimum, that we all should have, and the other 12.5% goes towards regular weekly budgeting.

For me, even though the savings may come in more of a drip than a gusher, it is comforting to see the balances limp along. Little by little, they will begin to pick up steam and break into a fast walk, a trot, a sprint....

Eat Healthy, Save Money

Oh boy, I love request posts. This buds for you, Sandy.

I gained 10 pounds on my quest to save money this year. Choosing to make mac n' cheese, cans of ravioli, hot pockets, ramen and other processed foods here at the office has added quite a few pounds and extra flab to grab on to. I'm not proud of it, but I did save money.

But there has to be a better way. Nobody should have to sacrifice their healthy eating habits in order to save a buck or two. With transportation costs high, the price of food is going to remain high as well. So where is the middle ground? Where does healthy meet frugal and our quality of life doesn't suffer in the process?

After some research, it's become obvious that it is indeed possible, just involves rules and a little bit of work.

Rule #1
Eat Less
The less you eat, the lower your grocery bill. If you feel you're overweight, eat fewer calories and smaller portions. Don't starve yourself to save a buck, but take a look at what your shoveling into that lip-flap of yours and decide for yourself.

Rule #2
Shop Smarter
If it comes in a box its unhealthy and more than likely expensive. If it comes in a crinkly bag, it'll make you a wrinkly hag. :) Sorry couldn't resist that one. The healthiest foods are located at the back and the sides of a grocery store, primarily. Meat and Dairy, Grains, Fruits and Vegetables, and Beer. Okay the last one might not be so healthy, but it flowed nicely. You can almost skip the middle section completely.


Rule #3
Spend Smarter
Forget the stereotypes, as we both know you're not a bingo-playing, old lady, trying to save every penny so you can afford another cat. Start cutting coupons, doing price comparisons, and visiting company websites for special offers. Make a list of what you're going to buy, stick to the list, and shop when you've just finished eating. Supposedly, you make rash decisions when you're hungry.

So with your rules in hand its time to go shopping. We all should have paid more attention in our Health Education/Nutrition class in high school. The Pyramid has been revamped since then, but the information is still the same. Start thinking of healthy foods and they all fall back on the basic principles.

One test that I have noticed is if you can say the fooditem's name without a brandname immediately popping into your head, its probably healthy and its probably cheap. For example: Icecream? Ben & Jerry's. Not healthy, not cheap. Corn? errr... Corn. Healthy and cheap. Soda? Dr. Pepper. Chicken? Breasts! So in terms of the food pyramid, we want to think smart.

The following foods are not only healthy, but you can purchase most of them for around $3. Plus they all pass my test! Yay!

1. Canned salmon $2.89/14.75 ounces (59 cents/serving) Get your Omega-3's for less. Salmon is full of these healthy fats, which help lower cholesterol and prevent heart attacks.

2. Chicken breasts $3.49/pound (87 cents/serving) Easy-to-prepare, chicken is full of lean protein, which helps keep you fuller longer.

3. Natural peanut butter $3.39/16 ounces (42 cents/serving) Skip the sugary, processed varieties and spread the real stuff on whole-grain bread. Throw a tablespoon in smoothies or yogurt, use it as a dip for carrots and pretzels, or mix it with a bit of low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic, then thin with water for a quick sauce.

4. Canned beans 84 cents/15 ounces (22 cents/serving) Bulk up soups and stews while getting protein and fiber. Try chickpeas or black beans if you're not a fan of kidneys or pintos. Drain, rinse, and blend with lemon juice, garlic, cumin and a bit of vegetable broth for a quick dip.

5. Eggs $1.99/dozen large (17 cents a serving) Not just for breakfast, eggs are among the easiest foods to cook. If you're watching your cholesterol, scramble one egg and two egg whites. Add onion and spinach and you've got a great omelet.

6. Dried lentils 79 cents/pound (20 cents/serving) Full of protein and fiber, lentils cook in just 15 minutes! Throw some in soups and stews or cook with curry powder for a quick, spicy meal.

7. Almonds $3.99/9 ounces (44 cents/serving) Get vitamin E, fiber and protein while satisfying a crunchy craving. Nuts are rich in an amino acid that could be linked to heart benefits. Chop a few raw ones and throw them on yogurt.

8. Frozen fruit and berries $2.99-$5.99 pound (75 cents-$1.50/serving) Throw some in the blender with milk or yogurt for a healthy treat. Frozen berries can be used in oatmeal or drained and baked into muffins and quick breads.

9. Apples 68 cents each They might not keep the doctor away, but apples are actually full of antioxidants, which help slow the progression of age-related diseases.

10. Bananas 35 cents each Slice one on your morning yogurt or oatmeal for some added fiber and only 100 calories or so. Snack on a potassium-rich banana to prevent cramps after a workout.

11. Grapes $2.99/pound (75 cents a serving) Freeze grapes for a decadent, low-calorie dessert or snack. Grapes--especially the dark purple ones--contain plenty of antioxidants that are known to help heart health.

12. Romaine lettuce or other hearty lettuce $1.99/head (66 cents/serving) Banish the iceberg and choose sturdy Romaine for your salads. It will give you more fiber and nutrients, plus a satisfying crunch.

13. Carrots $2.79/3 pounds (23 cents/serving) Mom was right. Carrots are good for your eyes, thanks to the antioxidants, including beta-carotene, in them. (That's what makes them orange!) Dip them in hummus (made from canned beans), natural peanut butter or low-fat dressings.

14. Frozen spinach $2 for 16 ounces (50 cents/serving) Thaw and drain this good-for-your green, then toss it in omelets, soups, stir-fries and pasta sauces. Spinach is full of vitamins A, C, K, plus fiber and even calcium.

15. Canned tomatoes $1 for 14.5 ounces (28 cents/serving) Choose low-sodium varieties and throw a can in pasta sauces and chili to stretch a meal. Puree a can with a cup of skim milk and season to taste for your own tomato soup. You'll get a dose of vitamins A,B and C and lycopene, an antioxidant known to prevent cancer.

16. Garlic 50 cents/head (5 cents/serving) Ditch the bottled and powdered stuff if you want to reap more of the myriad health benefits. Pungent and tasty, garlic can help lower cholesterol and blood clots, plus it can have a small effect on high blood pressure. Crush or chop it to release more of the antioxidants.

17. Sweet potatoes $1.49/pound (37 cents/serving) Aside from being sweet and delicious, these bright root vegetables are a great source of fiber and antioxidants. Bake, mash or roast them--you'll forget about those other, paler potatoes.

18. Onions 97 cents each (32 cents/serving) Like garlic, this smelly vegetable is full of health benefits. Onions have been proven to lower risks for certain cancers, and they add flavor with few calories. Try roasting them to bring out their sweetness and cut their harsh edge. (If you well up while cutting them, store onions in the fridge for a tear-free chop.)

19. Broccoli $2.49/pound (63 cents/serving) Broccoli is like a toothbrush for your insides. Full of fiber, it will provide you vitamins A and C, plus fiber and a host of antioxidants. Broccoli is a superstar in the nutrition world.

20. Whole-grain pasta $1.50/13.25 ounces (45 cents/serving) With a nutty flavor and a subtle brown color, whole-wheat pasta perks up any meal. Start with half regular, half whole-wheat pasta, then gradually add more wheat pasta for a burst of fiber and nutrients.

21. Popcorn kernels $2.39/32 ounces (30 cents/serving) Air-popped popcorn has just 30 calories and a trace of fat. Pop a few cups, spritz with olive oil or butter spray and sprinkle on your favorite seasonings for a guilt-free treat.

22. Brown rice $1.49/16 ounces (19 cents/serving) Brown rice is a great side dish, but you can also use it to help stretch your ground meat. Mix a cup of cooked rice with 8 ounces of lean ground beef next time you make meatloaf to save 45 calories and five grams of fat (and some money) per serving.

23. Oats $3.19/42 ounces (15 cents/serving) Oatmeal is a hearty breakfast, but you can also cook sturdy steel-cut oats in chicken broth for a savory side dish. Or, mix oats with ground turkey to stretch your meatballs.

24. Quarts of low- or fat-free yogurt $2.49/32 ounces (47 cents/serving) Buy large containers of plain or vanilla yogurt, then add real fruit. You'll save money and calories by not buying fancy single-serve yogurts.

25. Gallon of skim milk $3.04 (19 cents/serving) It really does a body good. Full of calcium and protein, milk can help stretch a meal. Pair an eight-ounce glass with a piece of fruit or a granola bar for a filling snack.


Of course none of this will mean anything at all to you if you don't actually commit to cooking in home. None of the planning, spending, and lugging your groceries into your kitchen will help if you just run out to Chicos Tacos instead. So stop by my favorite recipe website FoodGawker and take a peak at their delicious and for the most part nutritious array of food art.

Hope that helps some what, Sandy. If I was way off the mark, well then take it as a good thing. Don't think you want me on Mark anyways. XP

Cheap not necessarily always good

I spit out cheap nonsense like a fountain, and for the most part it's always taking quality into consideration. But so you can get the most for your money, here are a few tips you need to think about before you spend.

1. Cheap is not always cheap. That shirt on the clearance rack, 75% off, would look fabulous on you! It's so cheap! But it stretches easy, its white and you've had bad luck with white, it's dryclean only... suddenly this cheap shirt isn't so cheap. When going for cheap, stay smart, to stay frugal. Factor in how often you think you will wear the item, how long it will last, how cheap is it to clean, etc. You might end up paying more money in the long run.
Cheap does not = Frugal.
It is far more important to look at "cost per wear" (remember to factor in cleaning costs too).

2
Take an inventory of your (and your children's) closet.
Keeping a list of what you actually do need will help control impulse purchases of things you don't need.

3
Think ahead and shop ahead.
Use the Bargain Shopping Calendar.

4
Invest in Classics.
Classics don't have to mean boring and classics are not necessarily black slacks. SAHM "classics" are most likely jeans & non-sweat, comfy pants.

5
Use Accessories to Update Your Wardrobe.
Usually, they're cheaper than clothing (shop places like Forever 21, H&M, Ross, TJ Maxx)

6
Learn to Sew.
If you sew, you can hem, alter & mend clothing, giving a longer life in closet. Look for youtube instructional videos and just give it a try.

7
Think Before you Throw.
Take longer look at items you're getting rid of. Could they have a new life with some dye? a patch? an added ruffle? or another kind of refashion?

8
Thrifting is Fun.
Get to know your local thrift shops. Most have crazy sale days when cheap stuff becomes even cheaper.

9
Garage Sales aren't Gross.
Why spend good money on kid's play clothes? Check out new community group garage sales for up to date fashion and old neighborhoods for great vintage finds.

10
Resale shops are your friend.
Sell old clothes & use the money to buy "new" clothes. You'll get more store credit than cash.

BONUS!!
11
Show your Laundry Some Love.
Wash jeans inside out, spot stains, read care labels, and use the dryer less.

It's Retirement-ary, My Dear

I crawled out of bed this morning. Not literally, but my age is starting to catch up with me. My back is nagging, my eyes are sagging, my hair thinning... who knew 24 could be so brutal!

Unfortunately we can't stay young forever, dab-nabbit. So planning for our future is only logical when we're faced with the concerns of our time. Right now, a lot of us making salary find that inflation rates are a big cause for concern. Soaring prices of basic goods and services, a trend that doesn't seem to show a steady weakening over time, make it lousy to depend mainly on retirement benefits when it's time for me to hit the rocking chair. For now, I still have time to plan.

Financial advisers talk about identifying first the lifestyle that a person wants upon retirement and this should help me arrive at a ballpark figure of how much I should be able to withdraw every year from my nest egg. However, it seems like most advice for young people planning for retirement consists of "save as much as you can now, and figure out how much you'll actually need later." Your 20s is a great time to save and take advantage of the wonders of compounding interest-- and there are so many variables involved in predicting future retirement needs-- so this is quite good advice, if it satisfies you.

The problem is, it doesn't satisfy me! I really like having goals, targets, an idea of where I'm going and how well I'm doing. So as challenging as it seems, and even though it's probably an unnecessary step at my age, I still want to come up with "my number," even if it's one that gets revised many times in future years.

For starters, I want to try to estimate how much income I'll need in retirement. (All numbers will be in 2009 dollars for now, and we'll adjust for inflation later.) I see so many people talking about wanting six-figure retirement incomes: $100,000, $200,000, sometimes even more. When you run the numbers, the amount you need to save to produce those amounts seems astronomical and overwhelming. (Although doable for some people, I'm sure.)

But those don't feel right to me. One common suggestion to calculate your retirement expenses is 80% of current expenses. 80% of my current expenses (in my near debt free life) would come out to about $12,000 a year. Which sounds really, really low. Maybe my current style of living is way off from what I'd want in retirement; even though I bet I'll continue to be frugal, there are probably some inconveniences I'll no longer be willing or able to put up with to save a buck or two.

Then I found this data from a study of older Americans. It finds that the average expenses of a married person over 65 was $14,762 in 2001. Maybe I'm not so far off! And even for couples in the top 20% of income, average expenses (per person) was $25,567, spending about 1/4 of that on entertainment and gifts. (There's all sort of interesting data in the report to help you think about what you might end up spending.)

Based on these numbers, I think I'm going to go ahead and use $25,000 as my yearly expenses/income-needed number (in 2009 dollars; I promise I'll adjust for inflation later!). If it's (almost) enough for the average person in the top 20% of income, it ought to be more than enough to cover a frugal-minded little old lady like me. And it's more like 160% of my current expenses, rather than 80%. I feel like my expenses might actually end up lower in reality, but I might as well play it on the safe side in these estimates.

I'm guessing most people are making plans assuming you'll get nothing from Social Security. That's certainly the safest route. But on the other hand, I'm in my 20s. As I try to come up with this estimate of needs, I'd like to try to be as realistic as possible. If I turn out to be unnecessarily optimistic, I've got decades to course-correct. (And besides, I'm not planning to change anything about my savings at the moment-- so this estimate is just informational.)

Of course, at first I thought that "$0 (or very little) from Social Security" was the most realistic estimate. But reading up on it, it looks like Social Security isn't predicted to go broke until I'm 60 or 70-- and broke only means that the trust fund will be depleted and inflows would have to cover outflows, which means benefits would fall to about 75% of their promised levels. 75% isn't great, but it's way, way more than 0%. (And that's if no action's taken to improve the system so benefits don't need to be cut.)

The Social Security calculator projects my benefits would be the equivalent of $17,000 a year in today's dollars (after adjusting the earnings projections to make them more conservative). 3/4 of that is $12,750. Heck, even if benefits get cut in half, it'd be $8,500. That's certainly not enough alone for me to live on-- but it's not peanuts.

I'm estimating my annual retirement living expenses at $25,000. So a reasonable estimate (although obviously not fool-proof) is that Social Security would cover between 1/3 and 1/2 of those expenses. Not too shabby.

I'll use the 50%-of-promised-benefits estimate to be on the safe side, which suggests I'll need $16,500 a year (in today's dollars) from my investments. In the meantime: how do you handle Social Security in your planning, and why? I'm personally trying to come up with a reasonable, realistic estimate here, not the most ultra-safe one. But I guess you can't go wrong assuming you'll get nothing and being pleasantly surprised when/if you do (unless it leads you to make sacrifices in the present which on balance you'd rather not make).

So once you estimate what retirement income you'll need, how do you figure out the nest egg that will produce it? A tricky question for anyone, especially for those of us who are decades and decades away. But I'll give it a try anyway; be warned that this post contains a lot of details, numbers, and statistics!

For starters, who knows how much inflation will occur over the next decades? None of us, obviously. Inflation has varied widely over different periods in history. Some years it's been over 10%; some years it's been negative (deflation). Over the last 80 years as a whole, inflation has averaged about 3.1%, but in recent years it's been higher. Most retirement planning advice I've seen suggests assuming inflation rates anywhere between 2% and 6%, with 3% or 4% (or something in-between) being most common. So given how arbitrary this number is going to be anyway, I'm going to go with 3.5% as my inflation rate.

Great, what does that mean? Well, it means I can figure out what dollar amount I'll need when I start retirement (for me, I'm going to say it's 2053, when I'm 68). I've yet to find a good simple calculator to do this process (tell me if you know one!), but I do know a handy shortcut called the Rule of 72. Basically, if you divide the number 72 by your interest (or inflation) rate, the result is how many years it takes to double at that rate. For example, if you have $100 at 6% interest, in 12 years (72/6) you'll have $200.

So the question is, how many years does it take inflation to double the amount of money you need? I divide 72 by 3.5 to get a little less than 21 years (you can do the same if you want a different inflation assumption). So by 2047 inflation will have caused my income needs to quadruple (double twice), from $16,500 to $66,000. Three more years at 3.5% would bring it up to $73,000. So I need $73,000 in 2050 dollars to retire on.

And how do you get $73,000 a year (or whatever your amount is)? Well, it depends on whether you want to leave your nest egg intact and live only on the interest (the safest approach, and one that preserves your savings for your heirs), or are planning to use up the savings over time. For me, it's certainly not a priority to leave money behind for my kids-- especially if accumulating the wealth to do so affects my ability to make the family happy when I'm alive-- and as we've established, I'm trying to be realistic but not overcautious here.

So, most advice I've seen suggests that withdrawing somewhere between 4% and 5% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, and adjusting for inflation thereafter, will likely keep your nest egg alive for 30 years. 3% is the ultra-conservative choice; some people do 6% or 7% or more, but that seems too risky. So I'll pick a 4.5% withdrawal rate. If I withdraw 4.5% in 2050 to get my $73,000, that would make my number $73,000 / .045, or (drumroll please...) $1,622,222.

Wow. I need almost two million dollars. Granted, that's in 2050 dollars, which is the equivalent of less than $500,000 today, but that's still a sizable hunk of change.

The good news? I'm 24 today, and I have decades to take advantage of compounding interest, so it's easier than it looks, and if you're near my age you're probably in the same boat.

For curiosity's sake, how much would I need in savings today to end up with the $1.6 million I've projected I need? Well, my money ought to double nearly 5 times, so by my math, I'd need a little more than $50,000.

$50,000. Doesn't that sound a lot more manageable than $1.6 million?

Of course, I don't have $50,000 now, and I won't have it anytime soon. I have about $1700. So how about another easy number-- 36 years out from retirement, enough time for my savings to double four times with 8% returns. For me, that's 2017, eight years from now, at age 32. If I end up with $100,000 by then, and my other assumptions hold up, I could theoretically leave my money to compound, never save another dollar for retirement, and still reach my goals. I'd have $100,000 in 2017, $200,000 in 2023, $400,000 in 2032, $800,000 in 2041, and $1,600,000 in 2050. (Isn't that exciting to watch?!)

(Important disclaimer: don't forget about taxes!)

I think I am going to try hard to reach that $100,000 goal by age 32. It's ambitious, like all good goals are, but also realistically acheivable. By that age I will have graduated with my Bachelors, maybe gone back for a Masters, be well into my career and thanks to the wealth of financial information I'm acquiring early on be more than equipped to meet that goal. Then everything I save for retirement after that time would be pure gravy (well, also insurance against all of the ways my assumptions could be wrong, but that's a given). I like that thought a lot.

You can come up with a similar goal. Just fiddle around with the Rule of 72 until you come up with a goal you think works for you. You could assume 8% returns like me, but set a goal of 1/8 of your retirement "number" to be reached 27 years ahead of retirement (instead of my 1/16, to be reached 36 years ahead of time). You could assume 9% returns, and set your short-term goal at 1/16 of your retirement goal, 32 years before your retirement date (doubling four times, once every 8 years). You could assume 7% returns (so your money doubles every 10.29 years) and look to reach 1/8 of your retirement goal 31 years before retirement. See how flexible it is?

So, there we are. I've estimated my annual retirement expenses in Part 1, thought through Social Security in Part 2, calculated my needed savings in Part 3, and now I've come up with a plan to reach that total with time to spare. I have a goal-- to save $100,000 for retirement by 2017-- and the confidence that if I do so I have a reasonable chance of reaching my retirement goals without significant additional savings after that point. I'm sure I will continue to save past 2017, but this goal also opens things up for me to imagine more flexible ways of working and living in my 30s, 40s, and 50s which focus on the present without worrying so much about the future. I've enjoyed this process, and I hope you have too.

And if you're still a bit uneasy or it is a lot for you to take in one sitting, Retirement for Dummies is offered as a free gift when you register with Humana.

Luau minus Moolah

I'm turning 24 on Monday. The only thing worse than getting older is having your birthday on a Monday. So in order to avoid any complications, I decided to celebrate my birthday on a Saturday. For Cheap.

If you're going to have a party, pull all the strings you can to spend as little money on the party as possible.

My boss just had his 30th High School Reunion. He had a lot of decorations left over. I helped him out with registration, so he was more than willing to loan me his Luau decorations.

The Majority of my acquaintances have tiki torches, changed the theme of the party from BYOB to BYOT (bring your own torch.)

Hosting the party at my house means that I don't have to pay money for a dance hall or going out to the clubs or bars.

Downloading free Luau music off the internet and borrowing my brothers stereo equals no extra costs for the DJ.

Negotiating with siblings to help decorate, weedeat, or cook for the party instead of buying me gifts, helps out tremendously.

Knowing what I want to buy in the store and creating a shopping list allows me to research for coupons or price comparison before I step foot in the door.

My room mate working at a pizza place the night of the party means discounts on hawaiian pizzas and she gets to enjoy some of the festivities as well!

Making the food in house, having my mom make some as well, saves money on food costs.

Asking people to dress hawaiian.... well doesn't save me any money, but really adds to the memories.

My party is going to be great and I'm going to feel great afterwards because I know that I've done everything in my power to keep it cheap, keep it real, and keep it exciting!

So come one down to the Luau!

Military Families Save Money on College Expenses

Found this wonderful article and I just had to share it.
_______________________________________________________
How Military Families Can Save Money on College
By Karen Von Der Bruegge, Chief Marketing Officer for Pioneer Services, A Division of MidCountry Bank

Even if you’re still buying diapers and baby formula for your child, the thought of sending your little one off to college has probably crossed your mind at some point. It may also cause you some stress since, according to www.collegeboard.com, annual tuition can range between $5,000 a year for a public four-year university, to more than $20,000 for a private college.

But before deciding how—or even if—you’re going to help pay for those costs, it’s good to look at the numerous ways to pay for college. From tax-deferred savings plans, to grants, to scholarships, there are many different ways to send your little one to the quad without having her saddled with a mountain of debt afterward.

Start early with a 529 Plan

A 529 Plan is named after the section of the federal tax code that covers such deductions, and allows you to save pre-tax money to pay for college tuition. This money is, in turn, put into some type of investment that earns interest, allowing your money to grow.

Every state has at least one version of a 529 Plan, and all of them have features that make them a great savings tool:

The money you invest is set aside tax-free
You can withdraw money from the fund for qualified education expenses, also tax-free
You take advantage of compounded interest, giving you more money in the long run

Different types
There are two basic 529 plans, but some states (such as Arizona) offer as many as four varieties. Each of these offers different benefits, restrictions and methods of paying for college.

Prepaid Tuition Plans
These plans allow you to save for a college or university in a specific state. The advantage is that the cost of tuition is locked into the rate charged when you open the plan. With tuition costs continuing to rise, this is a good way to hedge against those raises. The money is also transferable to another family member without tax penalties if your child decides not to attend college.

The disadvantage of the prepaid tuition plan is that most of the states have some type of residency requirement—either you or the child for whom you are saving must be a state resident. If the state does not have a residency requirement, then you might not be eligible for a break on state taxes. This can be quite difficult for military families due to frequent moves and the generally mobile military lifestyle.
To find out your “state of residence” (which may not be where your family is currently stationed) is the one you selected on DD Form 2058, and also appears on your LES.

College Savings Plan
These plans differ from prepaid plans in a number of ways, but the main one is that a savings plan accrues much like a retirement savings plan—the money you contribute is invested in mutual funds and can increase as the stock market increases. And since this is a long-term savings plan, the chances of it increasing in value are very good since it won’t be affected by temporary fluctuations in the market.


The advantage to this type of plan is that you can use it for higher education in any state. Most have no residency requirement—if you lived in Georgia, you could contribute to a plan in Michigan and send your kids to school in Oregon. However, there are a few states (such as South Dakota) that require residency in all cases. Another advantage is that you can use the money for your own education, or that of other family members.

The disadvantage is that, if you choose to use an out-of-state plan, you may not receive the full tax advantages offered by an in-state plan. Also, the state or federal government does not insure your 529 investments in any way, so be aware that there is a possibility of the fund losing money.

Similar traits

All 529 plans have a few things in common:

Beneficiaries
The College Savings Plan Networks notes that “anyone can be named the beneficiary of a 529 account, regardless of their relationship to the person who establishes the account. You can even establish an account with yourself as the named beneficiary.” This allows you to save for anyone at any time, just so long as they are “a U.S. citizen or a resident alien” and “have a social security number or federal tax identification number.” You can also have multiple 529 accounts for a single person.
If your child decides not to attend college, you can change the beneficiary and transfer the funds, so long as it is transferred to a family member. You can also withdraw the money for non-education purposes, but any earnings will be taxed, and some plans have penalties for doing so.

Contributors
Anyone can contribute to a 529 plan—grandparents, cousins, friends, even companies and non-profits. This can lead to many opportunities to save, since people can make a donation in lieu of a present at a birthday and contribute to other family members.

Tax implications
You will not be taxed when you withdraw the money for educational costs, nor are funds from investments in the plan taxed. But contributions are not tax deductible.
To find a listing of the 529 plans offered where you live, and more detailed information, visit www.collegesavings.org, or www.savingsforcollege.com; both have a state-by-state listing of the plans available.

Scholarships can be plentiful
While your child may be able to get traditional athletic or academic scholarships, there are literally thousands of scholarships available just for military families. Private and public companies, non-profits, and even the Department of Defense offer scholarships for service members, their spouses, and their children. Even students that have a lower grade point average or test scores may qualify for scholarships that encourage them to continue their education beyond high school.


Where to start
The first and perhaps easiest place to find scholarships is the Internet. A simple Google search can yield more results than you can realistically sort through, so try to be as specific as possible with your terms to start.

For example, if your spouse is U.S. Army officer at Fort Hood, Texas, and you’re searching for scholarships for your daughter, try “scholarships for daughters of U.S. Army officers in Texas” rather than just “Army scholarships” since the first is more likely to generate the results you want than the second. Take your time, make a thorough search, and be sure to bookmark any sites that fit your profile.

You can also go through the appropriate military relief agency, military non-profit (i.e. AUSA) and even the commissary system, which has one of the most popular military scholarship programs (found at www.militaryscholar.org).

Tips on applying
Every scholarship will have different criteria, whether branch of service and school, to race, gender or nationality. Some are very specific, while others are more general. The key is to double check all of the criteria and know the exact requirements—the last thing you want to do is spend time filling out an application and collecting paperwork, only to find your child doesn’t qualify.
It’s also important to apply for as many scholarships as you can (keeping the criteria in mind) to ensure you’re getting as much as you can. Again, though, make sure to read the fine print carefully to ensure there are no rules that may limit your access to other scholarships. For example, one may have some sort of requirement about only paying for room and board, yet you already have that covered with another scholarship.

Whether your child’s entire schooling is paid for through scholarships, or if you’re just applying for a few hundred dollars, it’s more than worth the effort.
Federal financial aid

The federal budget always includes several billion dollars in financial assistance. To receive it, however, you must first carefully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and include all the required information. Students can pick up a copy of the FAFSA form from the high school counseling office, or from the college financial aid offices. You can also download them, or even complete them online, at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Because financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, it is critical you submit the form as soon as possible after January 1, during your child’s senior year in high school. Once your student’s FAFSA form is reviewed, he or she will be sent a Student Aid Report that outlines the types of government financial aid available based on the information submitted.
To find complete information about the federal financial aid process, visit www.students.gov.


Other places to look
If you decide to apply for financial aid, you and your child should pay a visit to your child’s high school guidance counselor. They will have a current listing of available scholarships and grants. These professionals are experts in the college application process and can provide assistance with the application. If necessary, they can also review essays and provide computer time. Be sure to check back with the counselor often, as updates to available scholarships are frequent.

You can also visit a college financial aid office, even if it is not the college your child plans to attend. College financial aid offices can be a great help in finding the best financial aid. In addition, your spouse’s workplace, civic clubs, not-for-profits and other organizations may offer money for college.

Just remember that there are many untapped scholarship and grant dollars just waiting to be had by those willing to do the research. And with the rising costs of college tuition, every dollar counts.

Scholarships and aid resources on the Web
There are many sites that can help you track down money to help pay for a college education.
➢ www.militaryhelp.org—A large, comprehensive listing of military-specific links to educational resources.
➢ www.students.gov—A portal into federal dollars for education, information about employment, and other issues concerning students
➢ www.pueblo.gsa.gov—Helpful Information about 529 plans.
➢ www.collegboard.com—General information about college costs.
➢ www.salliemae.com—The largest provider of student loans in the country.
___________________________________________________
Related ISaveYousave.org posts:
Collosus College Expenses
Local Scholarships
Google Your Way to Scholarship

Travel Blog III

One simple website, thousands of possibilities. If you've paid attention to the last two posts, you'll understand the importance of planning ahead. Buying your tickets, arranging for your transportation and accommodations far enough in advance can save you mucho dinero. Kayak is the be all end all of all travel sites. Searches the majority of the globe's leading airlines to situate the traveler with the best flight. You can sort by price, duration, or play around with multi-city/flexible dates.

Living in a Southwest hub city, is also another great way to save. I'm not saying move to a city that flies Southwest, but it is definitely an advantage. Especially if you download and install their Ding! software. This badboy alerts you everyday to new and low prices available for purchase that day. Today's Dings! involve $49 dollar flights to Vegas from Phoenix. Get those bad boys round trip and you have a Vegas vacation getaway for under $100. Tack on the airline fees and its still cheaper than driving!

As with anything, sign up for discounts, frequent visitor memberships, and mailing lists. You'll be quite surprised to realize how much you can save, after you've spent money. Doesn't make much sense? Signing up for Southwest's rewards program will give you a freeflight after X amount of flights you've used with their airlines. Register yourself at Southwest.com.

If I can teach you anything it is that the key to being a happy saver is you have to do the research. Just like nobody is going to walk up to you on the street and hand you a wad of cash, companies aren't going to just hand you discounts. Use your resources and get it done for yourself.

All this travel talk... I'm starting to feel the urge to abandon my staycation. :)

Travel Blog II

When it comes to travelling and planning a vacation, the most important thing to do is to give yourself adequate time to prepare yourself. Save money, plan your trip, organize your life for when you are away, and request time off from work or school. All of these things require weeks if not months of preparation.

Research, research, research. Do it online and discuss it with other travelers. For inspiration, go to websites to browse travel photos, journals and videos posted by real people sharing their experiences. Southwest Travel has great things to do in all of the cities that Southwest stops in. Written by travellers for travellers.

Be prepared for certain situations. Planning ahead for things that could possibly happen will make the trip a whole lot smoother. Decide on a schedule for what each person wants to do along the way. Gather the family together and discuss what you had in mind. Be prepared for arguments. Everyone must be willing to compromise.

Find a pet-sitter ahead of time if you own any animals that can't come along. If you decide to bring any, you must remember that they can't go inside restaurants or hotels, and they will have to make bathroom breaks as well. It's best to leave them at home. Put your pets into detail for the sitter and leave them with your phone number in case they have any questions while you're gone that you forgot to cover.

If it's a family vacation and you're traveling by vehicle (for a long time), bring stuff to keep everyone entertained and comfortable. AAA Fuel Cost Calculator will tell you what to expect from your vehicle when making the journey.

Estimate the total cost of your vacation. Be sure to include restraunts (food & drink per person each day), gas for the vehicle to get there, back, and to places nearby where you'll be staying, hotel rooms per night, and any other activities that you plan on doing. (Swimming, the zoo, etc.) Holiday Travel Calculator is brilliant for calculating the total cost of your trip, including lodging, food, transportation, etc.

If the trip seems a bit pricey, you may want to consider looking for discounts. You can normally find accommodation and travel discounts online. While you're at the site, they can also help plan your trip.

Work around the price. Normally if you're visiting family in another state, you can stay at one of their houses overnight (if there's enough room for everyone). (Free showers, food, television, and bed!)

As with anything: Planning=Savings.

Travel Blog 1

A certain special some one in my life is off traveling for business, pleasure and joyful reunions. So it would make a great deal of sense that Traveling would be at the forefront of my mind.

On that note, may I present the first post in a series on traveling cheap!

Let face it though, vacations are one of those things that require careful planning and saving of time and resources. You can't just throw everything into a bag and run to the airport, no matter how often they do it in the movies, without reeling from consequences. You have to take into consideration where you're going, how long you'll be there, airfare, accommodations, transportation, entertainment, not to mention ensuring that everything will be taken care of while you're gone.

First things first: Packing your luggage.

Nothing is more horrible than getting into your hotel room after eating the most garlic riddled exotic dish only to realize you forgot your toothbrush. Well I guess walking into your hotel room to see a stranger using your toothbrush would be equally as horrible, but I can't help you much there.

What I can help you with is saving money in buying only exactly what you'll need for your trip. Everything you'll need from how many changes of clothes to inclement weather necessities.

The Universal Packing List can be directly tailored to your vacation or trip. Enter in your specifics and it will generate the perfect travel list for you. Mind you, you don't have to purchase everything on the list, but the necessities are there so you won't be forgetting much of anything.

It provides also a list of Things to do before you leave most of which will save you money!

Wash the dishes- Save money, save water. Do the dishes before you leave so you don't have to battle caked on food when you get back.
Make a lunch- Taking food from home is always cheaper than eating out. I can't beat this into your head hard enough.
Pet Care- Leaving pets with loved ones saves money and temperaments versus placing pets in a kennel.
Unplug electrical stuff- No sense in paying money to have your surge protectors running power to your PC, TV or Fish tank. Okay, leave that last plug alone, but unplug everything else that isn't necessary.
Turn down the temperature in your home-Or just turn it off. hmmmm...
Confirm airline tickets-Save money on fees, make sure you don't miss your flight.
Get your airmiles in advance-Free flight!! I'm on this!
Memorize PIN codes to credit cards-Don't write them down.

Check out what hospitals are covered by your health insurance
Install or recharge batteries
Get maps

Plan your trip enough in advance that you can ideally have everything taken care of and save yourself some money.

Save Money on Fast Food

My primary goal when it comes to fast food is just don't. Its unhealthy, its small expenses that add to big expenses, and its just downright nasty at some establishments.

That being said, it is often at times too convenient to pass up.

So if you're in the same boat, please eat smart and pay smarter.

First understand that the numbered combo meals are designed to get us to spend maximum dollars per visit. Menus are designed to capitalize on the fact that the average person either doesn't read the full menu or is unwilling to take the time to piece together a meal from the value menu. My local McDonald's charges $6.29 for a twenty piece chicken nugget box. A four piece box costs a dollar. By reading the menu and ordering 5 of the 4 piece boxes, a person can save $1.29. Granted, most people do not order a 20 piece, but I don't think the pricing difference is an oversight.

Here are some tips for reducing costs at a fast food restaurant.

1) The kids menu portions are closer to the recommended portion size for adults than anything else on the menu. So eat smaller and spend smaller! Look at it like this a combo meal ranges anywhere from $4.50 to $6.50 or more! Factor in a supersized fries and a supersized drink for only fifty cents more and you have a meal fit for a small family. Do you really need that much food? Absolutely not. Look elsewhere on the menu. Value menus are popping up all over the fastfood world. These value items are typically smaller and definitely a better bang for your buck.

2) Learn to Share or Save. Share a large fry or large soda or even the whole meal with some one else. Its just the right amount of food to satisfy and the cost of the meal is halved when you let some one else join in on the fun. If you buy a meal from a fast food joint, eat half and save the rest for later. Microwaved fries taste horrible to me, but wrap them in a moist paper towel and they're from the greaser fresh!

3) Read the menu! Many restaurants sell a double cheeseburger for a few cents more than a single. If a single burger and a few fries is not filling enough, go for the double burger. It only adds a few pennies to the cost of the meal. Exploit the value menu like nobody's business!

4.) Not only is water better for you, but it’s also free. You can usually save around $2 a person by ordering water instead of soda.

5.)In our area, some of the fast food places have weekly specials — like Sonic burgers half price after 5pm on Tuesdays, a meal at KFC on Tuesday and Wednesday for just $2.49, half price soft drinks and slushes during happy hours at Sonic and a local drive-in, etc. Learn your areas specials, and utilize them if you want a fast-food-fix.

6.) Check your receipts! One make sure you were charged correctly and two you may have an offer to complete a survey and get free food out of it.

Phone Phone Phone

Part of my money saving plan for the summer was to evaluate my cell phone usage. The plan that I had was a familyshare plan that I was more than happy to pay for initially to cover two phones. As my financial situation deteriorated, I began paying the bill later and later until I was barely making the duedate.

Our plan consisted of 700 shared minutes for one month, unlimited texting, with perks like mobile web and a few paid subscriptions to game services.

In easier terms to understand that brokedown to $134.00 for two phones, minus any renegade minutes over (once during the month that my nephew was born) or inconvenient calls to Thailand at three in the morning. I don't drunk dial, honest.

When I started getting my finances in order, my cell phone bill was the first thing I tackled. I hoped to negotiate a better plan for my family. While 700 wasn't a lot of minutes, we still never used all of them. Calling each other or other phones on the network, plus free nights and weekends, helped to severely curb our minute usage. But without renewing our contract this would have been impossible.

So I began snipping away at the extras. I had access to the internet at work and home, and while having access to the internet was quick and convenient it was really a perk that I could do without. My primary mobile web browsing consisted of looking up directions on google, phone numbers on google, and wikipedia (via google). With all of my browsing centered around google it only made sense to nix the web browsing and text my google questions to GOOG (4664). With the unlimited text plan that I had, texting my questions to google was free and saved me money after I eliminated my internet plan.

Empowered, I also figured I could cut back even more if I eliminated those pesky game subscriptions. The monthly pay to play games weren't fun anymore and frankly that is $3.99 I'd much rather have spent on anything else.

In the end I knocked my phone bill down to a manageable $105 every month. Set my checking account to automatic billpay and that was only $26.25 a week or in my case, per paycheck.

And now I've eliminated my cell phone bill completely. I've been supplied a work cell phone to allow me to be connected to my work email, database, and other responsibilities. While this isn't a foreseeable event, it would definitely be something you should look into. If you primarily use your phone for work related functions, you may be able to speak with your employer and request that they reimburse you for your expenses or possibly consider putting you on their corporate account.

As anything, it only hurts you if you don't ask. Just make sure to practice your proposal before you storm into your bosses office and insist that he adds you to the office mobile plan or you'll quit.

Ya... That might not go over too well.