The Balanced Budget

Liz Pulliam Weston wrote an article detailing the "50/30/20" budget from a book by Harvard bankruptcy professor Elizabeth Warren and her daughter Amelia Warren Tyagi called "All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan." In a nutshell**, these authors posit that this budget will work for any income, helping you live your life while you build financial security -- and avoid devastating setbacks.

The idea is to spend 50% of your income on your "must-haves" and 30% on "wants", with the remaining 20% going to savings and debt repayment. You can try the interactive calculator here and see how your spending stacks up. I didn't do very well. How about you?

While poking around on Amazon, I noticed another book written by the mother/daughter duo called "The Two-Income Trap". In addition to the first book above, it appears to be another no-nonsense guide to fixing your finances so you can survive a setback -- such as the loss of income for a period of time.

Have you read either of these books? Do you have any more book suggestions or budgeting tips? If so, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

**Disclaimer: I have not read these books and don't necessarily endorse them. I just read ABOUT them and they seem interesting!

Shopping 101: Know Your Prices

Just like on TV's The Price Is Right, in the everyday world of shopping, you have to know basically how much things cost. This helps you recognize a good deal or sale, and also know when to pass on an item. It's a basic premise to shopping wisely, so much so that I have overlooked it on this blog up to this point -- sorry!

Some people swear by price books, where they keep track of the prices of items they buy frequently. This provides a quick reference that they can take with them to the store, helping them gauge prices. It also helps track patterns -- i.e., how often certain things go on sale. This is great because you can start to predict (yes, you can!) when an item will be on sale and stock up for when it's not.

More power to these folks, but this is too complicated for me. Instead, I just kind of keep track in my head of the basic prices of products I buy frequently. That, coupled with information gathered by scanning the weekly specials either online or in the store ads, helps me know when it's time to stock up on a great deal or when to pass.

For instance, this week Walgreens is advertising Mott's apple juice for $2. That sounds good, but I happen to know the Randalls right down the street from my house has a coupon for the same juice, reducing the price to $.99. And I'm going there anyway, so I buy at Randalls.

And the other day Randalls had a deal on Skippy Peanut butter for $1.49. I didn't have any coupons for it, and I knew that without a coupon, about the cheapest I could get it would be roughly $2. So I bought a few jars (we go through some serious peanut butter at my house).

Make sense?

With a little general knowledge, or a detailed price book, you can start to see some serious savings at the checkout. It pays to pay attention, friends!

Update: check out this article, which talks about price books, stockpiling and coupons. I learned by reading that those "register coupons" I posted about last week are called "Catalinas". Excellent!!

School Supply Roundup for July 28

Hi, everyone. Here are this week's Walgreens deals on school supplies. I already posted CVS deals on Friday, since they expire TODAY. I think I'm going to just concentrate on those two stores from here on out.

And I'd like to report that after spending about $4 last week, I've already got a big bag of school supplies to donate and use!

Here we go:

• 2-pocket folders: 3 for $.59
• Penway notebooks, 60-70 sheets: 3 for $.99
• Composition book, 80 sheets: 3 for $1.99
• Penway filler paper, 120-130 sheets: 3 for $1.59
• Buy 1 at $1.99, Get 2 FREE: 5-in. scissors, 2-pack Sharpies, 24-pack Crayola Crayons, Splash Poly Portfolio, 3-pack mechanical pencils, 12-pack Penway colored pencils, 3-pack Penway glue stick, Penway carry-all pouch
• Buy 1 at $2.99, Get 2 FREE: 4-pack Corner Office pens or dry erase markers; 5-pack Splash highlighters; mini stapler
• Buy 1 at $.99, Get 2 FREE: 5-pack tab dividers; 10-pack sheet protectors
• $3 off backpack or messenger bag w/in-store coupon
• Elmer's glue, 4 oz.: $.39 w/in-store coupon
• Posterboard: $.39 w/in-store coupon
• Memo book: 4 for $1 w/in-store coupon

There are lots of other school supply deals, but these will get you started. Be sure to check out the store flyer for other offers and those valuable store coupons!

Furlough: Use It to Your Advantage

Liz Pulliam Weston has a great article on MSN Money today called "9 Smart Ways to Spend Your Furlough". With many companies trying things like furloughs and salary reductions in lieu of -- or at least before -- layoffs, it's smart to strategize about ways to use them wisely.

And be sure to check out all the related links in the article; some really valuable information there.

Party Like It's 1975

[photos found here and here]

Friends, I am here to call for a return to sanity in the kid birthday department! Now, I know there are all sorts of social and cultural trends that have turned kids' parties from a backyard affair with a homemade cake and a few friends wearing cone hats into a semi-professional event complete with bouncy castle, $10 goody bags, 40 guests and professional photographer.

But I'm rejecting all that. Yes, in planning for my own son's first birthday party at 3 years old, I'm planning a party like those from my own childhood: a handful of kids; snacks and cake; pin the tail on the donkey (or in this case, the wrench on Bob the Builder); balloons and streamers.

I understand we are all busy and a lot of us parents work outside the home. And Lord knows that between posting on Facebook what kind of sandwich we had for lunch to Tweeting our exact whereabouts every 40 minutes, there is little time to plan a party -- or clean up after one. It's easier to write a check and take it on over to the nearest Chuck E. Cheese. And, of course, we all love our children and want to create nice memories for them. I get it. I really do.

I'm sure one day we will be eating pizza and playing video games or jumping on giant inflatables with dozens of kids. But at least for this one year, I'm taking my love of retro and my desire to simplify in these economic times straight to the backyard, where we are gonna party like it's 1975.

Note: I also found an interesting article about this phenomenon. It has some good suggestions as well. And this is a helpful list; I like the philosophy! 

School Supply Roundup: the CVS weekend edition!

So I'm finally a little ahead of the game and wanted to post the CVS specials for Sunday-Tuesday that are FREE after Extra Bucks! That means yes, you have an initial outlay of some cash (mostly $1 or $2 per item), but then you get it back in the form of Extra Bucks, which you can use next week to buy more items at CVS. In this way, you just keep rolling over the "Bucks" you earned from your initial investment. Make sense?

These deals are good ONLY Sunday, 7/26, through Tuesday, 7/28:
- Caliber or CVS memo book, 50-80 sheets: FREE after Extra Buck ($.99)
- Caliber or CVS pencils, 24 ct.: FREE after Extra Bucks ($1.99)
- 1-inch binder: FREE after Extra Bucks ($3)
- Paper Mate 1.2 pens, 10 ct.: FREE after Extra Buck ($.99)
- Caliber or CVS filler paper, 150 sheets: FREE after Extra Bucks ($2)

And if you need milk, CVS is a good place to buy it this week. You get a $1 Extra Buck reward on the purchase of a gallon, which is $2.69. So, it's like you get it for $1.69. You can't beat that price!

If you take advantage of all the above deals, you'll have nearly $10 in Extra Bucks to spend next week at CVS, potentially earning MORE in the process.

The Secret Life of: Corks!

(I love stuff like this!)

Let's say you like to indulge in a little glass of vino every now and again...more power to you! But what do you do, exactly, with all those corks that accumulate? Well, the folks over at Smart Spending have compiled a great list of "25 Things to Do with Used Corks".

Here are some of my favorites:

1. Floor savers. Slice the cork into small disks and attach to the bottom of furniture, chairs, and other items that could scratch the floor. (This technique is also good on cupboard doors to prevent them from slamming).

2. Business card/place card holder. This has an elegant touch at dinner parties and is an ingenious way to present a business card in an office setting.

3. Garden mulch. Grind your corks up in a food processor and add to your garden bed. The cork will retain moisture and mulch your garden effectively.

4. Stamps. This is a great one to do with the kids. Carve stars, moons, letters and other shapes into your cork top. Dab with ink, and have fun.

That last one reminds me to mention that even if YOU can't use household recyclables like corks, you might check with local daycares or schools, who can frequently put these types of items to use!

Toys R Us Backpack Deal

(Thanks to reader Lisa for alerting me to this great deal!)

Over at Toys R Us, when you buy a backpack priced at $12.99 or more (excluding Adidas), you get a FREE lunch kit -- a $10 value! Lisa confirmed that this deal is good both in stores and online.

Please note the site says the offer expires 7/26/09, so get yours soon!

Grocery News

There's an interesting article in The Statesman today about store brand products. A team of 3 judges compared several private-label items from Randalls, Walmart and HEB. Surprisingly, Walmart came out with the most wins!

On a side note, I have yet to be disappointed by a Costco-brand (Kirkland) product. From laundry detergent to soy milk, they make great stuff!

And in other news, I got a flyer in the mail yesterday announcing a new store called Sprouts. Do you know it? They are opening 3 stores in the Austin area -- Rollingwood, Sunset Valley and Research Blvd. Just from their site and the mailer, the concept seems strikingly similar to Newflower Farmers Market.

It will be interesting to watch this unfolding grocery drama, with these newer chains giving HEB, Whole Foods and Randalls a run for their money. Watch for those specials and dropping prices as they try to keep/earn your business!

School Supply Round-up, July 21

Here are this week's school supply deals. Please note that some of the CVS offers expire TODAY*.

CVS:
- Caliber or CVS memo books, 50-80 sheets: FREE after extra buck*
- Caliber or CVS #2 pencils, 24 ct.: FREE after extra buck*
- 1-inch binder: FREE after extra buck*
- Paper Mate pens, 10 ct.: FREE after extra buck*
- Caliber or CVS filler paper, 150 sheets: FREE after extra buck*
- ALL Crayola products: buy-1-get-1 50% off
- Bic markers (12 ct.), mechanical pencils or Ultimates (18 ct.): buy-1-get-1 FREE

Be sure to check out all the CVS deals at the Censtible Sawyer before you head over.

Walgreens:
- Penway highlighter, 2-pocket folder or #2 pencil: $.09 each
- Paper Mate pens (10 ct.) or Mechanical pencils (5 ct.): $.19 each
- Ruler, paper clips (100 pack) or 2-pocket folder w/prongs: $.19 each
- 10-pack pencils, 2-pack pink erasers: $.29 each
- Penway binder or 4-oz. glue, Scotch tape: $.39 each
- 5-pack highlighters, 24-pack Penway crayons, 8-pack Jumbo crayons, school box: $.49 each
- Envelopes or pencil sharpener: $.59 each
- Crayola colored pencils, 3-subject notebook, book cover: $.99 each
- Pilot G2 Gel Pens, 2-pack: $1, but FREE after Register Rewards Good on Next Purchase

And see all the Walgreens deals here before you go.

OfficeMax:
- OfficeMax ballpoint pens, 12-pack: $.50
- Westcott scissors: $1.49

I don't see that many great deals at OfficeMax this week...

I love this list from blog Life as Mom: 7 Creative Uses for School Supplies. Now, that's what I'm talking about!

Opportunities for Giving

So you've been working hard and saving money (I'm so PROUD of you!), and perhaps now you have some extras (time, money, goods) that you'd like to share. Here are some great opportunities for you to help out your Austin neighbors. And I thank you in advance!

Family Eldercare
What they need: fans, toiletry items, money, food/retail gift cards

Can you manage an extra $15 purchase to buy a fan for an elderly person this summer? In this run of 100+ degree weather, it's important to remember that many people in our community are without air conditioning. Family Eldercare has already distributed 4,900 fans this summer. Help them reach their goal of 7,000! Both fans and funds are appreciated.

Or maybe you have been taking advantage of freebies and coupons and now have a stash of toothpaste, lotion and shampoo taking over your closet. This is another great way to help out the older folks served by Family Eldercare -- and put your smart savings to work helping others!!

Austin State Hospital
What they need: gently used clothing and shoes, volunteers

The Statesman reported last week that the Austin State Hospital is in "critical need" of gently used clothing and shoes. Cleaning out your closet? Haven't worn something in a year or more? Consider donating your items here.

From the Statesman article: Bring your tax-deductible donations to Community Relations in Building 631, 4110 Guadalupe St., on the hospital campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

And check out the community relations page on their site for other volunteer opportunities, such as hosting parties for the patients!

Capital Area Food Bank
What they need: non-perishable food donations, money, volunteers

Did you know that nearly 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 children in Texas are hungry? That's unacceptable to me. And you can help.

I am biased, as this is a cause I feel passionate about and an organization to which I donate my time and money. But they are awesome, folks. They serve over 350 partner agencies, supplying them with food and grocery products. Last year alone the CAFB distributed more than 17 MILLION POUNDS of food! They can turn a $5 cash donation into $25 worth of nutritious food.

These are just a few of the ways we can help others. Maybe you have giving opportunities through your church or workplace, or even a neighbor down the street. However you do it, I encourage you to consider helping others with the abundance your money-saving ways creates. Every little bit helps. Thank you, neighbor.

Register Coupons

You know those coupons that print out with your receipt at the end of your transaction at the grocery store? Well, they are valuable and should be carefully examined before tossing out in this week's recycling. Let me tell you why.

At least in this area, my local Randalls store has been printing out some good ones lately. Specifically, for FREE items. I guess it's a new promotion to get people back in the store. [note: if this was a real news site, I'd get a quote from a Randalls official, but it's not, so I'll just continue to speculate and enjoy the free stuff!!] This week alone I have cashed in my register coupons for a free box of anti-viral Kleenex and a free Glade plug-in. Roughly $2 deals each. Not bad.

Oh, and it wasn't free, but with my $1.50 off Kikkoman teriyaki sauce (we do A LOT of stirfry meals in my house) and a keen eye for when it was on sale ($1.59), I got a bottle for $.09. That's right, NINE cents. Hello! Thank you, Randall!! Oh yes, I will come back and see you.

Now, the flip side of this is that Randalls (Safeway, etc.) is one of those stores with a loyalty card. And yes, as I've mentioned before, they probably know the kind of tampons I buy. But I repeat, I don't care. Even a tiny bit. If they want to tailor my savings offers based on my purchases, I don't see how that is a bad thing.

Whatever store you frequent, I encourage you to look at those printed coupons before you toss them.

UPDATE 7/22: Just returned from Walgreens where I got a FREE Mitchum deodorant using a store coupon ($1.99 ea.) and a register coupon ($2). Free. Stuff. Rules.

FREE Business Classes

Looking to start a small business? Need help writing a business plan or learning about financing options? If you're in Austin, there is FREE help available! (and I'm sure similar programs in other parts of the country)

City of Austin BizAid, 974-7800

Offers free technical assistance to small businesses. Among the services offered are weekly orientation sessions for people hoping to start their own businesses, Lunch & Learn sessions for established business owners, and one-on-one confidential counseling sessions that address financial literacy, offer business-plan assistance, and more.

(from the Austin Chronicle calendar page)

Foundation Communities, call 2-1-1

Offers business classes for the self-employed or small-business owner. Get the tools you need to avoid common business mistakes. Times and locations vary, so call or e-mail for specifics.

(from the Austin Chronicle calendar page)

BiGAustin

Offers training in preparing taxes, writing business plans and understanding financial statements, to name a few. Plus, check out the classes for women-owned businesses. 

And see all the small biz information that the Austin Public Library has online. Best of luck to you in your endeavors! 

Recycled Reads Event!

Reason #4,265 why I love the Austin Public Library: they host cool events like this weekend's "Thrills and Chills" at their Recycled Reads store.

Stop by Saturday and Sunday (open 12-5 both days) for specially priced mystery, horror, thriller and espionage titles. And all hardback mysteries are on sale for $1 each. Oh, did I mention they will also have FREE snow cones?? I know YOU love APL now, too!

School Supply Round-up

It's the middle of July, and that not only means soaring temperatures and days spent by the pool (for the lucky ones!), it also means the back-to-school deals are beginning. This is a great time to start stocking up on school supplies. You'll be able to find FREE and super cheap (like 10 cents...) items at places like Walgreens, CVS and OfficeMax in the coming weeks. I'll do my best to keep you up-to-date of the best deals to be had, but be sure to check those store flyers each week.

And for those of you without kids, this is also a great way to inexpensively gather a bunch of things to donate. In the Austin area, the Capital Area Food Bank will accept school supply donations and distribute them to partner agencies. Watch for school supply collection drives and bins at places like car dealerships and grocery stores. And THANKS for helping your community!

Walgreens: OFFERS EXPIRE TOMORROW, 7/18

- $.99: Crayola markers, 10-pack

- 3 for $1 notebooks, 60-70 pages (with in-store coupon)

- 2 for $1 filler paper, 120 or 130 sheets (with in-store coupon)

- $.19 mini-highlighters (with in-store coupon)

- 8 for $1 two-pocket folders (with in-store coupon)

- 2 for $1 Sharpies (with in-store coupon)

- $.29 Penway pencil sharpener or 2-pack erasers

- $.39: mechanical pencils, 10-pack; index cards; sheet protectors, 10-pack; tab dividers, 5-pack

- $.59: Elmer's glue or 2-pack glue stick; colored pencils, 12-pack

- $.79: Fiskars scissors; #2 pencils, 24-pack; 80-sheet composition notebook

(And Puff's tissues -- a must for most classrooms -- are 3 boxes for $5 with in-store coupon)

CVS:

Okay, I'm lame and didn't post this in time. The back-to-school deals were a 3-day-sale promotion (Sun. - Tues.), but I'm sure they'll have more this week. Check that circular in the Sunday paper! Many of this week's items were FREE after Extra Care Bucks, which you can use to purchase more supplies in the coming weeks!

OfficeMax:

- Buy 1 Get 1 for $.01: Uni-Ball gel pens, OfficeMax ball point pens, POST-IT super sticky 4x6 notes

- $.49: filler paper, pencils, index cards

- $.99: erasers, glue sticks, scissors

- Teacher Appreciation Day, July 19: A FREE shopping bag for all you wonderful teachers and everything you can fit inside it for 15% off!

FREE Yoga at Barton Springs

The fine folks at the Save Our Springs Alliance are sponsoring FREE yoga classes at Barton Springs all summer! Classes meet at 10 a.m. on Saturdays [outside the south entrance to the pool] through September.

Yoga and a swim sound like a great way to kick-start any weekend. Namaste, y'all!

FREE Portrait Package!

Comb the kids' hair, put a nice shirt on the husband and take this coupon down to your local Picture People for a FREE portrait package! Hurry, offer expires 7/25/09.

Deal of the Week: Real Simple Subscription for $5!

Thanks to reader* Holly for alerting me to this great deal! Amazon.com is offering a one-year subscription to Real Simple magazine for only $5! Great for yourself or even as a gift for those July birthdays. Love it! 

*I like to say "reader" because it supports my delusion that anyone actually reads this blog. She's really just my friend, and I'm quite positive I'm only talking to myself when I post things. Carry on! 

Thundercloud Special

Another 2-week promotion from Thundercloud. This time it's their turkey sub, on sale for $2.89 (small) and $3.99 (large).

Time to push away from that desk, call a friend and get out for lunch. Enjoy!

Newflower Farmers Market Deal

Headed to Newflower Market by Wednesday? If so, be sure to print your 75-cent coupon for Santa Cruz Organic Juice (32-oz. bottle) before you go. Newflower currently has the lemonade and tea blends on sale for $1.25 each*. If the coupon works for lemonade as well, it would only be $.50!

While you're there, check out their other great deals. I was especially pleased with the $2 seedless watermelon, $2.49 frozen vegetarian "meat"balls and 88-cent red or yellow bell peppers. Oh, and don't get me started about the $2/pint blueberries!

*So I just happened to be at Randall's on my lunch hour and saw that they sell this for $3.85. And a couple of shelves above it there was some other 32-oz. container of organic juice for over $8/bottle. Is it laced with gold or something?? I don't buy it. Literally.

Learn to Shake It...for Free!

I love the Austin Public Library. Not only do they help keep story time interesting at my house, but now they are also offering FREE salsa dance lessons! Here's the scoop:

Put on your dancing shoes and join us weekly for Free Salsa Lessons with instructor Raul Ramirez at the Carver, Cepeda, Pleasant Hill, and University Hills Branches of the Austin Public Library. In addition to teaching the steps, Ramirez spends a few minutes educating attendees on the history and background of Salsa music and dance. He makes an effort to dance with each class member if time permits, especially when they need help learning a particular step. The classes are free and open to the public. So what are you waiting for? Get your feet and hips moving to the beat! For more information please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina, (512) 974-1010
Sundays 2:30 to 4:00 p.m., beginner level, through August 30
Sundays 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., intermediate level, through August 30

Cepeda Branch, 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd., (512) 974-7372
Saturdays 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., beginner level, ongoing
Saturdays 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., intermediate level, ongoing

Pleasant Hill Branch, 211 E. William Cannon Dr., (512) 974-3940
Mondays 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginner level, ongoing
Mondays 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., intermediate level, ongoing

University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln., (512) 974-9940
Wednesdays 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginner level, ongoing
Wednesdays 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., intermediate level, ongoing

Can you say, 'date night'??

The Humble Ice Cube Tray

In this day of automatic icemakers, the ice cube tray is an often overlooked kitchen tool. I came across a great article today about all the different uses for these plastic wonders. [Be sure to read the comments as well for more ideas.]

Here are some of my favorites:

• Freeze leftover coffee for an iced coffee treat later. Perfect for these 105-degree Texas days we're having!
• Homemade pesto: just freeze and pull the number of cubes you need for an appetizer or pasta dish.
• Pureed fruit: Brown bananas sitting on the counter? Peel and pop them in the blender for a minute, then freeze for use in smoothies. Can also do the same with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, etc.

Do you have any other ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Mocha Mondays at McDonald's

McDonald's is giving out FREE iced or hot mochas on Mondays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., while supplies last, yada-yada. The site says "sample sized", which appears to be 7 or 8 oz. And the promotion goes until August 3.

Not a bad way to get your week started!

Do-it-yourself: single servings

One of the easiest ways to be green and keep an eye on your bottom line (and waist line, thigh line, flabby arm line) is to pass up the convenience of single-serve packaging and do it yourself! These days you can find everything from yogurt to Goldfish Crackers to dried fruit and more in handy single-serve containers. But not only do these cost considerably more than their "regular" counterparts, they also generate a lot of unecessary packaging and waste.

With an investment of approximately $2.50 in a set of plastic containers like the ones pictured above, you can make your own ready-to-grab snacks. And it only takes a few extra minutes of your time -- PROMISE!

Here are some ideas:

• Cottage Cheese: Skip the 4-pack of Breakstone at the grocery store and buy a bigger tub. Place 1/4 c. to 1/2 c. of this high-protein treat in each container and grab one to take to the office for a snack or lunch.
• Goldfish, Animal Crackers, Pretzels, etc.: I have a toddler who gets very cranky if there is no after-daycare snack waiting for him in the car. Put a small amount of Goldfish crackers in the containers, and store in the car or pantry. Your kids will get a controlled amount of snack and still have room for dinner!
• Raisins: You really can save money by buying the bigger containers over the pre-packaged mini-boxes. Repackage. Eat. Repeat.
• Yogurt: I don't know about you, but where I work they do NOT recycle plastic yogurt containers. And I hate throwing them away, so I simply buy the 32-oz. container (store brand can be found for under $2) and take a little bit with me each day. I save money AND avoid trashing all those containers. Then I recycle or reuse the big containers at home. Nice!
• Pudding: My husband laughs at my juvenile obsession with pudding, but I love it. I recently found the instant pudding mix for $.45, then made it at home with 2 cups of cold milk (in 3 minutes flat). It fills 4 of the 4-oz. containers perfectly. Dessert, anyone?

Take any of the above ideas -- or whatever else you can fit in the containers -- and spend a few minutes on the weekend repackaging. You'll have convenient, cost-saving and portion-controlled snacks to take with you throughout the week. Happy eating!

Movie Monday

Here's another code for a FREE movie, courtesy of redbox: 4J7LF6

Hurry, it expires at midnight! 

How to Get Rid of More of Your Money, Faster

Yeah, kind of goes against the concept of this blog, but I love this post from the blog Wise Bread. It's called 47 Simple Ways to Waste Money.

And I learned about goog-411. Where have I been??