5 Tips for Giving

Well, hello old friend. It appears it's been so long since my last post that Blogger has changed their user interface--lookin' sharp! Between a recent work trip, visiting family and friends, and a truly cruel early-summer cold, things have been busy. But I'm back, with a fun topic to boot.

I occasionally write about the importance of giving back, donating money, and volunteering. This is something I'm really passionate about, and I want to spread the word! You don't have to be independently wealthy, have knowledge on every non-profit on the planet, or spend a lot of time to make a big difference. So, here are my five tips for great giving:

1. Follow your heart. There are literally thousands of non-profits just in the city you live in. This can be overwhelming. The first step is to figure out what you're passionate about. Think about the kind of social issues or news stories that really get you fired up. Maybe you are interested in women's health advocacy. Perhaps you're an animal lover and want to protect our furry friends. Or, maybe the you can't believe how many kids go hungry in the US every day and want to do something to help. Whatever your passion, find a charity that aligns with it. You'll be more interested, more engaged, and more likely to form a long-term giving relationship with a charity that you're personally invested in.

2. Do your research. As I said before, there are more non-profits in this world than you could possibly know what to do with. And, you work hard to earn that money that's burning a hole in your altruistic pocket--don't let it go to an organization that isn't doing their best to further the cause. Every few years, the media goes crazy with a story about how a trusted charity isn't on the up-and-up or has ulterior motives (see Kony 2012, Three Cups of Tea, Komen vs Planned Parenthood, et al). So, take the time to do your research before opening your wallet. Sites like Charity Navigator and Give Well offer insight into the best, most effective charities out there. Additionally, organizations that receive over a certain amount of donations each year are required to make their Annual Report public. Check out an organization's Annual Report and determine what percentage of donations are going to programs and services (as opposed to administrative and fundraising costs). The higher percentage, the better.

Kids playing during recess at a La Esperanza
Granada-sponsered school in Nicaragua

3. Find out ways to make your buck go further. Once you're ready to give some money, find ways to get more bang for your buck. Ask the charity of your choice if they have a matching program. Many charities have benefactors that offer to match donations during a specific time period. That means, for every $50 you give, your donation is matched, for a total of $100. Also, ask your employer if they offer a company match. Many companies encourage charitable giving and pony up matching donations on behalf of their employees. It's worth asking. Finally, when you give a donation, ask the charity where the money is most needed. Most likely, they'll tell you that they want donations to their general fund. This money is used for whatever their most pressing need is at any given time.

4. Keep your receipts! Yes, giving makes us feel all warm and fuzzy and gives us some good karma, but don't forget about your bottom line. If the charity you're donating to is 501(c)3 certified, that means you can deduct your donations from your tax liability every year. Always ask for a receipt and hold on to them until tax time.

5. Give in other ways. Sometimes, money is tight. If you can't make a financial donation, that doesn't mean you can't help in other ways. Most charities rely heavily on volunteers to do everything under the sun: writing thank you notes to donors, walking dogs, tutoring kids, organizing food drives, or cleaning up after events. Think about what you're good at, and offer your services. For example, an organization I support just completed a new website. Since I'm a writer, I offered to proofread their site. Everyone has special talents--get creative about how you can use yours to help others. 

As for me? I love the idea of offering my help and funds to a small group of charities that are important to me, that run the gamut. Currently, I sponsor a Nicaraguan high school student's education through La Esperanza Granada, give as a member to the Women's Philanthropic Investment Group of Seattle in support of our work with women and children, donate to Semester at Sea so that deserving college students have a chance to study abroad, and other things here and there, as they come up.

I'm always curious about the types of causes that other people are passionate about. I'd love to hear about the charities you love in the comments, so type away!

Just ask!

Note: This blog post appeared on my guest blogging column on GirlPowerHour.com. 

Smart, savvy professionals know that you have to ask in order to get what you want. Whether it’s in the boardroom, at a networking event, or in your personal life, nobody is going to read your mind and just give you what you’re hoping for.

So why are we so shy when it comes to asking for things related to money? I’m talking about discounts, sales, bargaining, and returns. It’s time to speak up. You work hard for every last dollar you make, so why would you be so lax about letting it slip out of your hands?

Here are five places you can save some cash just by asking:

Pick up the phone and get to work!

Your TV and Internet service: Cable and Internet eat up a big portion of a lot of people’s monthly utility budgets. Luckily, unless you’re in a long-term contract, you can call your cable or Internet provider and ask for a discount. Tell them your bill is too expensive, and ask if they have any current promotions that can be applied to your account. I’ve saved upwards of $100/month doing this. Note that most deals are for three, six, or 12 months, and then a higher rate will kick in automatically. To avoid the shock of a large bill after the end of the promotional period, set yourself a reminder in your Outlook calendar to call them back a month prior and ask for another new deal.

Credit cards: If you’ve been a long-time customer of a credit card company or bank and always pay your bill on time, call and ask if they can offer you a better interest rate. A lower interest rate will save you actual dollars every month as you chip away at that pesky balance you’re carrying. If they can’t lower your interest rate, they may be able to give you a balance transfer offer to help you consolidate your debt at a lower rate.

Medical bills: Americans fork out a lot of cash paying for out-of-pocket medical expenses each year. This may be especially true if you have a high-deductible health plan, or are self-employed. Do a little research online about the true cost of procedures you’re having done, and then ask your doctor or dentist if the rate can be lowered at all. Additionally, many smaller medical offices may offer a discount for paying with cash instead of a credit card.

Fitness membership: If you’re currently paying a month-to-month gym membership or forking out the drop-in fee at your favorite yoga studio, ask the manager if they can offer you a lower monthly rate if you agree to a contract. Of course, only agree to a contract if you’ll actually use the membership enough to make it worth it.

Retail stores: Many big-box stores offer weekly coupons via email or in the Sunday newspaper. But, if you lose interest somewhere between clipping coupons and actually remembering to use them in the store, just ask instead. Now that more coupons are online, stores are getting more flexible about the rules for using coupons. Just ask, “Do you have any coupons available that would work on my purchase?” If they’re not able to type in the discount code at the register, just whip out your smart phone and see if you can find a digital coupon online.

So, it’s time to be bold, be brave, speak up, and ask for great deals. Remember – companies love loyal customers, and if they help you find a great deal, you’re much more likely to return in the future, and tell your friends how great the experience was! 

Maybe there IS such thing as a free lunch..

Attention all blog readers! Here is a GREAT opportunity to get involved with Kiva.org with no money out of your pocket.

You may know about Kiva.org, the micro lending site. Here's how it works: Donors log in and pick an entrepreneur somewhere in the world that they'd like to support. Loans can be as small as $25. These loans go directly to the small business owner so that they can start, maintain, or grow their business. Many of these entrepreneurs are women in third-world countries who are working to support their families. 

Since 2008, Kiva has brokered more than $293 million in loans, with an amazing $98.91% repayment rate. Learn more about them here.

For a limited time, new Kiva users are given a $25 credit to spend supporting an entrepreneur of their choice, with nothing out of your pocket (although when the loan is repaid, it goes back to the financial backer of this promotion, not you). It's a great way to explore Kiva and see if you like what they're doing. If you do, you can continue to invest in other small business owners around the world!

I signed up this morning to support Petrona Madrigal, a woman in Nicaragua who sells grains and tortillas in her local community. Nicaragua holds a special place in my heart, as I used to live there. As Petrona grows her business, I'll get periodic reports on how it's going, and notification when my loan is repaid.

I'm really excited about this, and I hope you are too. Get involved today and let me know what you think!

Have you checked out Daily Worth?

A few months ago, I stumbled upon a GREAT women's personal finance website called DailyWorth. They summarize it best: "DailyWorth is a community of women who talk money. We deliver practical tips, empowering ideas, and the occasional kick in the pants... daily to your inbox."


They have over 200,000 subscribers, and it's easy to see why. What I love most about DailyWorth is that their advice is honest, approachable, practical, and personal. Sometimes it comes from personal finance experts, and other times they feature real-life profiles of women in different financial situations. I appreciate that they don't claim to know everything, and they really want women to take control of their financial destinies. My one caveat is that they occasionally send out sponsored emails, but they always make it known.

Check out their website and sign up for the emails here.

Also, if you're an entrepreneur, they have another email program called CreateWorth. I just signed up for this one, but I'll let you know how it is!

Trader Joe's: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

I first started stopping at Trader Joe's when I lived in San Diego. The Pacific Beach Trader Joe's is HUGE (especially in relation to the Queen Anne one in Seattle...shoebox!). Trader Joe's has so much going for it - great wine, affordable food, tasty appetizers, great quick meal options, and much more.

But, there are a few "room for improvement" areas at Trader Joe's, meaning that, unfortunately, you always have to go to two stores if you're doing massive grocery shopping to get everything you need.

Over the years, I've introduced many people to the wonderful world of Trader Joe's, so here is my unofficial, highly biased guide to shopping at Trader Joe's:

Snag It:

• Frozen appetizers: pick up frozen pot stickers, mini-tacos, spinach dip, edamame, and shrimp to have in the freezer for when you need something to take to a party, or you have last minute guests.
• Fresh pizza dough: for about two bucks, you can find fresh, ready-to-toss pizza dough in a couple different flavors (whole wheat, herb, sourdough).
• Wine: it's well known that TJ's has a huge selection of wine at really great prices.
• Frozen rice: I love brown rice, but it takes forever to make. TJ's frozen rice comes with three packets that you throw in the microwave for three minutes. 
• Vegetarian items: you'll find that garden burgers, veggie sausage patties, and the like are significantly cheaper than the grocery store. 
• Cheese: whether it's shredded cheese, nicer cheeses for making a cheese plate, or string cheese to put in lunches, there's always a good selection and it's affordable (no Tillamook cheese though). 
• The List Goes On... in the interest of brevity, also buy these items at TJ's instead of somewhere else (just trust me!) frozen berries, oatmeal, fresh/refrigerated pasta, frozen waffles, yogurt, nuts, dried fruit, protein powder, imported beer, easy lunch items, frozen crab cakes)

Skip It:

• Fresh produce: it's more expensive than at other grocery stores, and sometimes it comes packaged oddly (for example, you can't buy one zucchini, but you can buy six in one package!)
• Fresh herbs:Trader Joe's never has fresh cilantro, and they don't have as large of an herb section as other stores.
• Bread: I'm just generally not impressed with the selection. 
• Canned goods: The selection is pretty limited, and you'll find better prices at larger stores. 

I love a lot of things about Trader Joe's, including the fact that the employees are always friendly, they have a lot of organic choices, and that they don't have any gimmicky sales or little plastic membership cards I have to keep on my keychain. 

Oh, and there are a bunch of Trader Joe's Cookbooks that are on my wish list. Love it! 

Digital Coupons

I really admire couponers (except when they're in the checkout line in front of me), but I don't have the patience for it, for myriad reasons: our printer is perpetually out of paper, we don't get the newspaper, whenever I cut out coupons I promtly leave them at home (along with my grocery list), and I don't buy that much name brand or junk food, which is what coupons tend to be for, in my opinion.

But, yesterday I was doing some research on new dinner ideas. The Mr. and I are getting a little tired of the same dishes we make over and over again. I found some great recipes on Cooking Light. While I was browsing, I swung by my local grocery store's website (Fred Meyer).

I discovered that, once logging in with your rewards card number, you can download digital manufacturer's coupons automatically to your rewards card! So, I spent 5 minutes or so comparing my list with what which coupons were on sale, loaded them to my card, and headed out to the store.

My biggest win: Crest toothpaste was on sale at 2 for $3.00. I bought one ($1.50), plus my digital coupon for $.75 off, and I got my big tube of toothpaste for just $.75!

Another big win? No coupons to cut, no slowing down the line, no leaving them on the table at home. I saved $8 with only 5 minutes of work. Not bad!

Oh, and I'm testing out these three recipes. I'll let you know how they turn out: Barley and Beef Soup, Asian Green Bean Salad, and  Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad.

Giving Back: Volunteering and Money

I've always been a big fan of volunteering, probably starting as a kid with my church. Since then, I've done a lot of volunteer projects, both short- and long-term. I've built houses in Mexico, moved to Nicaragua to teach school in a rural village with La Esperanza Granada, spent almost 4 years tutoring in an after school program with YTP Seattle, am a volunteer advisor at University of Washington's Kappa Alpha Theta house, and am a member of the Seattle Women's Philanthropic Investment Group (WPIG).

But, perhaps since I volunteer so much, I've sort of done that in lieu of donating cold hard cash to my favorite organizations. An organization can have all the volunteers in the world, but without money, they'll be out of business in no time.

Perhaps I'm a little leery of how organizations spend donated money, or I feel more connected when I'm the one actually doing the pavement. But either way, the bottom line is that I haven't been good about ponying up some cash on anything more than a sporadic, infrequent basis.

I think now's the time. I'm going to chat with the Mr. today and come up with a monthly amount that we're comfortable donating, and let him pick where he'd like half of it donated, and I'll pick where the other half goes. (Too bad I didn't think of this plan in time to apply it towards our 2011 taxes, but oh well!)

What do you think, readers? Volunteering or donating money? Certain organizations? I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one.

Follow-up: On Plane Tickets

A couple months ago I blogged about a new site I found, Yapta. Check out the original post here.

They send you weekly emails to let you know if any of the flights you've registered on their site have dropped in price. The Mr. and I are going to Kauai this fall, and I had registered our flight information and the price we paid on the site.

Last week, I got an email from Yapta saying the price had dropped. I logged on to the site, and it gave me a direct link to Alaska Airlines' website. In two short minutes, I had a $50 credit for my next flight on Alaska Airlines--the amount that the tickets had dropped! It's linked to my frequent flier account, so next time I go to buy a ticket, I'll apply the credit online.

The one caveat is that this process doesn't work on every airline, but I was surprised at how easy it was to get the credit! The best part? The tickets are now back up to the price we paid for them. It pays to be on top of things!

The Spender vs. The Saver

I believe that in every relationship, one person is the saver, one person is the spender. The degree can vary, but I think it's rare that two people have the exact same outlook on the big M (that's money, if you're new to my blog).

In my relationship with the Mr., I'm the saver. Some might even call me cheap, penny-pinching, overly thrifty, whatever. I take that as a compliment, thankyouverymuch! My dear husband is the spender in our relationship. He loves nothing better than to buy "something nice" after payday, bonus time, tax return time, or hell, just because it's a Tuesday night with nothing to do. In my opinion, there are pros and cons to each side:

Saver
Pro: it's good to save money for a rainy day. You never know when you'll have a financial emergency
Pro: Some people (read: me) get a thrill out of transferring money from checking into savings. Victory!
Pro: Most Americans are bad with money. I'm planning for the future.
Con: Money issues really stress me out. Bad.
Con: I have a hard time letting loose and treating myself to something nice once in a while.

Spender
Pro: You worked hard for that money! You deserve to have some fun. The Mr. reminds me of this frequently.
Pro: As long as your bills are paid, what's wrong with going on vacation, buying nice Christmas gifts, or sprucing up your wardrobe. The Mr. is also very generous with gifts for loved ones. This is something I really admire.
Pro: Sometimes higher price does equal higher quality.
Cons: Bankruptcy. (Okay, I'm probably being a little dramatic)
Cons: When the economy is unstable, you never know how long the big and/or steady paychecks will last.

The Mr. and I are trying to reconcile my obsessive love of frugality with his appreciation for the finer things in life.

I've come to the conclusion, though, that when we are going back and forth about buying something we "need", he's right more often than not. (Don't send him this link! I'll never live it down!)

Here's a quick example. I have long hair. We also own a golden retriever. Between the two of us, all the hair broke our vacuum cleaner. Sigh. Of course, the Mr. wants a top-of-the-line Dyson. I want whatever's on clearance at Target. I finally give in and tell him we can get the Dyson, but I WILL find it on sale.

Fast forward one week. Between Macy's summer sale and some extra coupons, I score a Dyson for $200 off. I am pretty proud of this. I get home, assemble it, and I swear to you, I vacuumed up enough hair to make a whole dog. Maybe sometimes paying a little extra for quality is worth it.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Does your family have a saver and a spender?

Book Review: Generation Earn

I've come across quite a few personal finance books, and color me generally disappointed. I find a lot of personal finance books to be either inaccessible and over-complicated, or the exact opposite--dumbed down to a point where their best advice is "open a savings account."

A few months ago I came across a book called Generation Earn, by Kimberly Palmer. Palmer is a personal finance columnist for US News & World Report and has been on the Today show, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Quite the resume. Check out her blog here.

I was initially drawn to the tagline on the cover: "The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back." Love it!

The author offers a realistic diagnosis of the financial situation of today's young people, including discussing the significant burden of student loans.

The book discusses everything from twentysomethings moving back in with mom and dad, to moving in with a significant other, to saving for children and retirement. She covers a lot in 215 pages.

Some of the best tips I found in this book are:

• Don't forget to keep an eye on your 401k and rebalance your portfolio when the economy swings significantly in either direction. 
• How to be frugal--from date nights in, to affordable cooking at home. She recommends looking at your grandparents for ideas--most of them grew up in the depression era, and are experts at reduce, reuse, recycle (decades before it was trendy!)
• The importance of discussing finances when you are moving in with a partner. Will you keep everything separate or join accounts? What about your thoughts on loaning money to relatives? How similar or different are your spending habits? 
• Before you decide if you are financially ready to have a child, practice living on $1,000 less per month--the average monthly cost for childcare. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book for twenty- and thirtysomethings who want a crash course in personal finance. The author profiles a lot of real couples in different financial situations, and she really lays all the details out on the table. It's an honest, frank discussion about the realities of financial planning. 

My only criticism of this book is that it seems like most of the people she profiles and examples she gives are of people who are making $100,000 or much more per year--a little unrealistic for most young adults, and honestly, a little intimidating. 

Have you read this book? What did you think? 

Guilt

It's just me and the Mr. in our big ol' house. Yet somehow, the house gets disastrously dirty, including more dust than you've ever seen. Between my husband working long hours (sometimes out of town), and me working the last weeks of my 9-to-5er and getting my freelance business up and running before and after work and on the weekends, there is no time to clean the house. 

I finally hired a house cleaner to come and clean our house, and today was her first day. She did an amazing job, and our house is cleaner than it was when it was brand new. For some reason, I felt incredibly guilty about spending our money on getting our house cleaned--it seemed like an upper-crust, spoiled thing to do--not to mention the fact that I am incredibly frugal; why pay someone to do something I could do myself?

But, the thing about it is that now I am more relaxed than I have been in weeks. My house is cleaner than I ever could have gotten it, so I have time focus on more important things--taking my puppy for a long walk, making good dinner, getting ready for friends to come into town, and getting caught up on some freelance projects. I think that makes it all worth it.

Women and the Economy

The opening segment of the "Sheconomics" event I went to last night was this video. I think it brings up a lot of interesting points about women's buying/saving/investing power, and how it affects advertisers' priorities (or doesn't!) I'd love your thoughts on this topic. Watch the video, and comment away!

Coming up!

I'm super excited that this Thursday I'll be attending a networking event with the ladies from Girl Power Hour. GPH is a women's professional networking group in Seattle that throws super fabulous events every few months.

I'm excited for this month's topic, "Girls Just Wanna Have Funds". It's right up my alley, with speakers about financial priorities, "why we buy", and "money makeovers".

Looking forward to reporting back on the blog on Friday!

Weddings: Everyone has a budget

There are lot of expenses that young adults face, and for a lot of people, a wedding is one of them.

Shameless plug: This blog is a re-post from my company's blog--I own a marketing & events company with a business partner and we help a lot of brides and grooms navigate the world of weddings. Check it out. 

I thought it was a pertinent topic here, as well.

Reading wedding magazines or watching shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" may make you think that you're the only one on a budget, and that every other bride (or groom) in the world can spend, spend, spend on an over-the-top wedding.

In real life, however, everyone has a price point. Every couple we've worked with has a limit, regardless of who is paying for the wedding. It's important to keep a little perspective as you're planning.

Here are our top five wedding budgeting tips that we always tell all of our clients.

1. Spreadsheet, spreadsheet, spreadsheet. The very first thing you should do (after calling all of your family and friends, of course) is talk about your budget. No, it's not glamorous, but you must do it. Knowing how much you are willing to spend from the start will help you navigate all of the options in front of you, and be realistic about what you can afford.

2. Stop comparing yourself to other couples. So what if you went to a wedding last weekend where you drank from a Cristal champagne fountain, the bride wore a custom-made Vera Wang gown, and U2 was the live entertainment. Who cares. Your wedding will be special, because it's yours. The rest is just details.

3. Decide what is most important to you. Maybe you love photography so you want to book the city's most famous wedding photographer. Perhaps you love the look of letterpress and calligraphy invitations. Whatever it is, every couple has one or two must-haves on their list. That's great--fit them into your budget if at all possible, but something's got to give. Decide which wedding details aren't that important to you. Maybe you have a friend who can do the flowers. Perhaps you don't even like wedding cake and can settle for cookies from a local bakery. Sit down and make a list, from most important to least important, and go from there.

4. Always ask for discounts. Anytime you are in conversation with a vendor, ask if they have any specials. Many photographers will throw in a free session of engagement pictures. Your venue may give you a better deal if you get married in low season, or on a Friday or Sunday. Ask your florist if they can substitute in-season flowers for exotic ones that have to be flown in. Worst case, they say no, but at least you've tried!

5. Pay for a day-of wedding coordinator. We're not just saying that because we want your business (which we do). You've spent months planning your big day, counting your pennies, and scrutinizing your guest list. Don't let all of your hard work go to waste. Save enough money in your budget to hire someone to handle all the details on your big day. You want to enjoy the time with your new husband/wife, hang out with your wedding party and family, and really ENJOY! You only get to do this once, after all!  And a bonus: We provide unlimited phone and email contact to all of our day-of clients. We can help you find great vendors, give advice on budgeting, and more.

On Sharing Money

It's a well-known fact that I'm a huge fan of Slate. I love it for its fresh take on news, its advice columns, and its interesting blogs and bloggers.

There is a regular column called "Home Economics" about personal finances, and recently there was a 5 part series about a couple deciding how to manage their money together (or separate).

She broke couples up into three types: Common Potters, who have one joint account for everything; Sometimes Sharers; and Independent Operators, who maintain their separate accounts throughout life.

The Mr. and I are Common Potters--we joined our accounts when we bought our house, before we were married, and never looked back. However, the data calculator says that, in our demographic, 50% of people are Sometimes Sharers, 40% are Common Potters, and 10% keep separate accounts entirely.

Check this out:

• Common Potters have, on average, been together 11 years (we're at a whopping two).
• Percentage who are married: 94.1% (got it).
• Average age: 34.5 (our average age is 29.5...close enough).
• Percentage with children: 45.8% (not yet!)

Read the rest of the article here. It's a little different for everyone. What works for you? Let me know in the comments below!

Extreme Couponing: Is it for you?

A few weeks ago I came across a show on TLC called "Extreme Couponing". It's about people who are extremely dedicated to collecting coupons and saving money at the grocery store. In some cases, they even end up getting things for free, by combining store and manufacturers' coupons. Check out a clip from the TLC show here. It is truly amazing. Although impressive (and I love that he gave some of his purchases to charity), I was a little skeptical of "extreme couponing", based on the amount of time it would take out of my week to score these kinds of coupon victories.

Tracy with her kids

I was recently put in contact with Tracy Vinson, a mother of two kids in Dallas. She is a big coupon fan, and has saved her family lots of money over the last few years. I asked her a few questions about her coupon quest.

How did you get started clipping coupons and thinking about ways to save your family money?

I tried couponing a few years ago and found it was too frustrating, so I quit and kept paying full price for all my groceries and pharmacy items. About a year ago I started receiving the Sunday newspaper through a special promotion. I saw the coupon inserts and thought I would give it another try. I researched online and through couponing blogs to find out the best method to use my coupons. I slowly started gathering coupons every week and printing them from online websites. It took a few months to get the hang of things and learn my store’s coupon policies, and since I have started I have saved at least 50%-75% on all my grocery & pharmacy purchases.

How much time do you spend per week working on money saving projects?

I clip most of my coupons on Sunday when I have gathered all of my newspaper inserts. Sundays are the days most of the coupon websites refresh their coupons, so I will log on and print out all the coupons I think I will use. I probably spend about 2 hours clipping and organizing on Sunday, then maybe another hour or so during the work week finding other deals that have come out.

How do you stay motivated? Many people want to try and save on things, but they get too lazy to actually clip coupons, or take the time to plan out their shopping trip. 

I stay motivated by thinking back to my previous shopping trips and remembering how much I have saved. I think of it as a challenge each week. It is such an uplifting feeling looking at the receipt and seeing what I spent and what I saved.

What is your advice to people looking to save money while shopping?

Start out slow. Couponing can get very overwhelming and you will find yourself losing motivation. Just give it some time. Also, stay organized; find a coupon organization method that works best for you.

Do you have an estimate for how much money you have saved in the last year?

I am in the process of making a spreadsheet so I can keep track in the future. I usually save anywhere from 50%-75% my grocery bill each week.

What is your biggest money saving/coupon victory?

I have been couponing for just about a year and have had many successful shopping trips, but the one that stands out the most to me is a Walgreens trip I did about 1 month ago. I purchased several items including some food items, cosmetics, shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste. After all sales & all coupons, I didn’t pay anything and I received about $10-$15 in register rewards to use on my next shopping trip. So you could say they paid me $15!


Do you have the dedication to be a extreme couponer?

Rolling over your 401k

File this one under "lessons learned the hard way."

By the time you've been working for 5-10 years, you've probably changed jobs, been laid off, or moved to a different city and left your old job behind, Did you remember to roll over your 401k?

Back in April 2010, the Mr. left his old job behind, and his employer sent him information for how to roll over his 401k into a personal IRA. We filled out all the necessary paperwork, sent everything in, and assumed it was taken care of.

Fast-forward to December 2010, and he wants to check and see how his account is doing and set up online access. After a few looooong phone calls with the financial institution his IRA was with (who will remain nameless--lucky for them!) he discovered that when he enrolled, they never gave him any enrollment options.  We assumed that his money would roll over into the same or similar portfolio options as when he was at his employer. But no. His money had been sitting in a savings account for the last 8 months, instead of earning any money in stocks or mutual funds.

Basically, the stock market was going up, up, up for the last 8 months, and we made a whopping $1.47.

This commercial that I saw a couple nights ago totally sums up what happened to us:



(Please note that Charles Schwab is not the company I'm talking about in this post. This commercial just summed it up nicely. And I kind of like these half-animated people.)

We've since taken steps to move the money to another investment company, hopefully with better customer service.

Here are some tips to keep this from happening to you:

• Do your research. Find consumer reviews for investment companies. Try Bankrate. They have a lot of great information.
• Do your research, part two. This particular financial institution was in the middle of a merger, and that made it a nightmare to get answers to our questions. We got tossed around back and forth between the two companies just trying to talk to the right people.
• Make sure your new company is keeping you up to date about your investments, We never got a single statement during the 8 months we were with them.
• Figure out your options for changing to another investment company. Once you are at your new job, can you roll this money back into your new 401k? What if you are just disappointed with the service? Can you move it elsewhere? 

Bottom Line: It's your money, no matter how much it is. Make sure the company you choose is going to be your partner in growing your retirement nest egg! 

A word on Mint.com

I try every month to keep an eye on how much money we're spending, compared to how much we're bringing in. However, with a checking account, two savings accounts, 401ks, various credit cards, and our mortgage, it's a lot to keep track of.

Back in my single days, I used Mint.com  to keep track of my finances. As my husband and I started combining our accounts, I lost track of my Mint account, and stopped using it.

Now that we're settled in our accounts and trying extra-hard to save some cash in 2011--we have many out of town weddings to travel to, as well as hoping to take a trip to Europe in the summer-- I decided to make a new Mint account. The best part is that my husband and I can both log on whenever we want to check out our funds, see how much we are spending, or track our investments. Since I've always been the one to manage our finances, it's nice that now he is in the loop without having to ask me a lot of questions!

There are lots of other great features that Mint.com has. My fave five are:

1. Payment reminders: Mint emails me a few days before my credit card payments or mortgage payment are due
2. Long term goals: Mint lets you track specific savings goals and follow your progress.
3. Categories: It divides all of your spending into customizable categories--rent/mortgage, entertainment, travel, utilities, and it shows you all of your different categories in a pie graph. 
4. Accounts: Mint links all of your accounts in one place, and keeps them constantly updated. I can see the status of all of my accounts in one place, without having to log in to each of my accounts online separately. 
5. It's free! 

Oh...and there's a mobile app!