5 Holiday Saving Tips

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  The holiday seasons are upon us.  For college students, this can be one of the greatest times for two reasons: no school and free homemade food!  But with Christmas approaching there's always the dread that comes with having the extra expenses of buying gifts.  Here are some ways to save this holiday season!

1) Make a list.  Before you go out and impulse buy, try to figure out who you need to get gifts for, a few ideas of what to get them, and how much you would like to spend on each person.  By making a list you'll already have an idea before you walk into the store.  Being prepared ahead of time will also allow you to shop around for the best price, find coupons, or try to find a diy project to make.

2) Make your own gifts. Pinterest is the greatest thing ever invented.  It has plenty of ideas of do-it-yourself presents that you can make on a budget.  There are a lot of blogs out there that have crafty ideas that you can make as gifts.  Not only will you save money, but your present will be more personalized and meaningful.  They will love it!

3) Use coupons.  If you're like me, you get about twenty emails a day from stores with coupons and deals.  I usually delete them instantly, but now is the time to start reading.  You can save by utilizing these promotional emails.  Some emails include 40% off plus free shipping, a great saving!  If you hate getting emails, only subscribe to them before Christmas and take yourself off the email list after that.  Also, take advantage of social media.  A lot of stores will put promotions on their Facebook page.  Like your favorite store pages, and save!

4) Save on gift cards.  If you like to give gift cards as presents, get them on sale.  A lot of stores, including Costco and Sam's Club, will sell gift cards for less than their face value.  There are also websites like plasticjungle.com and GiftCards.com where you can get gift cards for a discounted price.

5) Know your budget.  By knowing how much you can spend on holiday gifts, you'll cut down on spending.  Charging all your gifts to your credit card won't do you any good.  Figure out how much you can spend and divide it up among the people you need to get gifts for.  If it won't work, don't buy anything.  

Holiday Savings

With Halloween just passed, that means it's on to Thanksgiving then the final stretch til Christmas.  You may have gone out and gotten your Halloween costumes and candy, and are now thinking about Christmas decorations, Ugly Sweater parties, and all holiday food.  The best way to save on these holiday items is to shop right after the holiday!

Halloween costumes can be really expensive.  One way to lessen this expense is to make your own costume.  There are many websites nowadays that have lots of ideas of diy costumes.  Just check out Pinterest and you'll find all kinds of diy costumes.

If you're not very creative, just go online and start looking for costumes right after Halloween.  You'll find costumes for half as much as they'd normally be.  Another way to save is to trade Halloween costumes with friends.

Here's a website where all the costumes are half as much as they would be next year before Halloween.
http://www.cheaphalloweencostumes.us/default.asp

Check out this collage of diy Halloween costumes I found on Pinterest and online:

As Christmas rolls around, it's time to bring out the ugly sweaters!  The best (and cheapest) place to get ugly sweaters are consignment stores like Goodwill.  But don't wait til the last minute or all the ugliest will be gone!  Another way to save is to trade ugly sweaters with your friends.  

Above are pictures from last year's holiday season.  My friend Allie and I traded sweaters rather than buying new ones, saving money.  A great thing about ugly sweaters is that you can buy oversized ones and wear them with leggings and long Christmas socks to complete your outfit.  Throw in some cheap jingle bell earrings or accessories (think garland necklace, Christmas hat, reindeer ears, etc.) and you have a complete ugly sweater party outfit!  

Bottom line: Holiday parties can get expensive, but if you shop consignment and right after holidays you can save big time.

Buy in Bulk

If you're like me and tend to always buy the same groceries every time you go to the grocery store, you might want to try buying in bulk.  A good way to save money is to buy in bulk.  There are stores such as Costco and Sam's Club that specialize in bulk shopping, but this also can apply to Walmart or other places you get groceries.  Instead of buying a one or two boxes of macaroni at a time, buy the pack of six.  Instead of buying a few boxes of frozen lunches at a time, look for the bulk boxes.  This will cost more initially, but save you over time.

Some tips to use when shopping in bulk include: share with roommates, always make a list, never shop when hungry, avoid impulse buys, use coupons, and buy household staples.  Sharing with roommates lets you buy the huge packages of food and split it among each other.  That also cuts the cost.  Always making a list makes you stick to what you need and not just what you want.  Along with that comes never shop when you're hungry.  If you do this, you'll buy way more food than you would if you weren't hungry.  Avoid impulse buys, which are usually the middle aisles at Costco and Sam's Club.  Use coupons when you shop anywhere.  Costco and Sam's Club usually have coupon booklets at the front of the store so pick one up when you arrive.  Buy household staples like laundry detergent, soap, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. because these are items you will always need, so buying in bulk will save.

Added bonuses of going to places like Costco and Sam's Club are that they save you gas because you will take less trips to the grocery store and they usually have food samples on weekends so you can basically eat a full meal walking around the store.

Sam's Club offers a Collegiate Membership for $40.  With this you will receive all the benefits of Advantage Membership, it will give you a $15 shopping card, and comes with a primary and household card.  That means that you could split the $40 between two people and each of you could have cards, so really only $20 a person.  Sam's Club also offers a gift membership that's $40 and gives you a year of membership.  This would be great to ask for for Christmas from your family!  Another benefit is that you can shop online.  Payment methods for Sam's Club include:

Payment methods accepted in Sam's Club	Payment methods accepted at SamsClub.com
Sam's Club Credit	Sam's Club Credit
Walmart and Sam's Club shopping Cards	Walmart and Sam's Club shopping Cards
Cash or Check	Check
Debit Card	Debit Card
Discover	American Express*
MasterCard	Discover
SNAP	MasterCard
Walmart Credit

 

Costco has a $55 annual fee. You can get a Gold Star Membership or gift of Gold Star Membership as a present.  You can shop online at Costco as well.  They also give you one primary and one household card, so you could split the cost between you and a friend.  Costco accepts cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT, Costco credit cards, American Express, and Costco cash cards.

Buying in bulk can save, but for some things it might not be a great deal.  By calculating the individual product cost, you will find out if it is a steal or not.

Bottom line: Buying in bulk may initially cost you more money, but can save you money in the long run.

Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4565369_buying-food-bulk-save-money.html
http://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/money/save-money-at-costco-and-warehouse-stores/?page=1
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/
http://www.costco.com/.product.3164.html

Save on Your Utility Bill

As it gets colder outside here in Iowa, it makes me want to crank the heat and curl up in bed.  However, my wallet says I should do otherwise. Today I'm going to go over some tips on how you can save on your utility bill.

                                                      Thermostat

First, turn your thermostat down a few degrees.  The rule of thumb is that you save 3% on your heating bill for every degree you set back your thermostat.  This added over a whole winter season can save you big bucks.  Another way to save is to turn your thermostat down when you're asleep or away.  If all your roommates are gone for most of the day with class and work, there is no need to have the heat on.

Appliances

Another tip to save money on your utility bill is to turn off lights when you're not using them.  You should also unplug appliances when you're not using them such as your toaster, coffee pot, fans, phone chargers, computer, hair straighteners, or other appliances you don't always need.  You could use power strips that allow you to flip a switch and turn off all appliances on that strip.

 If you usually watch TV before you go to bed like I do, make sure you turn your TV on timer so it shuts itself off when you doze off.

Air Fresheners

A lot of the selection for smell enhancers include plug-in room fragrances.  Sure, smell excellent, but they cost you a plug-in space and waste electricity.  A typical plug-in air freshener uses 4 watts, but permanently plugged in can make that more.  Plus a lot of people like to have one for each room.  This can add up to around $40 a year.  Instead, buy the air fresheners that have a timer to spray and are battery powered.

Dish Washers

Make sure you run your dishwasher when it is full because it saves hot water, electricity, and detergent.  Another tip is to air-dry your dishes or put your dish-washer on the energy saving dry cycle.

Bottom Line: Cold weather can make your utility bill skyrocket.  Follow these easy tips to save money.

To Work or Not to Work?

When coming to college you may wonder if you should get a job or if college is going to be too much work to also have the responsibility of a job.  My suggestion to you is WORK!  

Even if your parents pay for all your bills (lucky you!) you could still benefit from working in college.  By working you can have extra cash to go shopping, out to eat, and out on the town.  

Don't know where to work?  Find a job on campus!  Not only can you walk to work everyday (imagine not having to scrape your car windows in the winter), but most on-campus jobs are very flexible with hours.  This makes working around your class schedule a breeze!  And some campus jobs  aren't open on weekends so you have plenty of time to hang out with friends, do homework, or go home.  

You may still be questioning this idea, thinking hmmm.. but how am I going to get my homework done?  The myth is that you need to study two hours for every one hour of class.  This is insane.  No one studies that much.  And if they do, they have no social life.  As long as you plan ahead, you will get all your homework and studying done that you need to.  Like I said, most jobs schedule around your classes so you aren't wasting your time, and some jobs are only open during the day so you have your evenings open.  I always wonder what people do with themselves all day if they don't work?  I know I would waste time watching TV, so working earns me money and doesn't let me waste time.

Another reason I think it benefits to work on campus is because you will meet more people.  Being a freshman is a little scary thinking of having to start over and make new friends, but by working together you'll have something in common already.  

I met my best friend the very first day of work as a freshman.  Since then, we have become roommates, taken mini-vacations, and plan on being in each others weddings.  

Here's a picture of Haley and I our freshman year.

And here's us going into our senior year of college.

Bottom Line: Work during college, make lifelong friends and earn money.

Donate Plasma

You might have seen a commercial or heard about donating plasma, but maybe you don't know what it is.  Let me tell you about BioLife Plasma Services and my experiences donating plasma.

I'd heard talk about BioLife and how you can earn money by donating plasma, but I was a little skeptical.  Questions came to mind like did it hurt, how much do you get paid, were there side effects, and was it really worth my time?  

Does it hurt?

Now I know a lot of people are afraid of needles, and if that's you then you'll probably never try it.  I don't hate needles, but who likes them?!  In my experiences it was pretty painless.  I say "pretty" because ya there's the sting of the needle going in, but if you look away it's not so bad.  I can handle a few seconds of pain for the cash at the end.

Occasionally you might have problems while donating.  There have been a few times when I was donating where the needle shifted in my arm a little (or something like that) and I ended up with a bruise and swelling.  They just have you ice your arm and the bruise and swelling go away within a couple days.  Still worth it if you ask me.  I donated twice a week for about six months and this happened to me twice.

How do I donate and how do I start?

First, you schedule an appointment online (https://www.biolifeplasma.com/EasyScheduler/).  Then the first appointment you will make you'll have a physical and donate for your first time.  This usually lasts a couple hours so make sure you go on a day where you don't have to be anywhere.  BioLife will walk you through the steps to donate when you get there.  They will then check your blood pressure and prick your finger and check that your iron is high enough.  From there you will be seated and the Phlebotomist (fancy word for people in white lab coats) will get your arm ready then stick the needle in.  After the needle's in, you'll clench and unclench your fist to get your blood flowing.  Once the blood fills up the container it stops and you relax while the blood flows back into your veins.  This does not hurt but might make your fingers tingle.  You repeat the process until the plasma container is filled up enough.  Then they remove your needle and wrap up your arm.  Lastly you check out where you will receive your money on your BioLife card and schedule your next appointment.  In all it takes about an hour.

Look for BioLife coupons for extra cash on your first time donating!

How much money do I get?

It might depend on the center you go to, but the one in Cedar Falls, Iowa gives you $20 the first time and $30 the second time that week you go.  Pretty easy money for about an hour of "work".

Is it really worth it?

Yes!  Not only does BioLife give you money for donating, but giving plasma saves lives!

Are there any BioLife centers near me?

Here are the locations of BioLife Plasma Centers:

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Lakeland, Florida

Ammon, Idaho

Hayden, Idaho

DeKalb, Illinois

Bloomington, Indiana

Elkhart, Indiana

Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Kokomo, Indiana

Muncie, Indiana

Ames, Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coralville, Iowa

Dubuque, Iowa

Sioux City, Iowa

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Marquette, Michigan

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Walker, Michigan

Mankato, Minnesota

Moorhead, Minnesota

Mounds View, Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Independence, Missouri

Joplin, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri

Billings, Montana

Great Falls, Montana

Missoula, Montana

Greensboro, North Carolina

Bismarck, North Dakota

Fargo, North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Findlay, Ohio

Lima, Ohio

Mentor, Ohio

Middletown, Ohio

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

State College, Pennsylvania

Austin, Texas

Denton, Texas

Tyler, Texas

Layton, Utah

St. George, Utah

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Bellingham, Washington

Appleton, Wisconsin

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Janesville, Wisconsin

To learn more about donating plasma and to schedule an appointment, head over to their website at http://www.biolifeplasma.com/.

Bottom line: Donate plasma and earn money while saving lives!

Bring Your Lunch

As a student, most of college you will grab a lunch between classes.  There lies the decision: what to have for lunch?  Yes you can eat in the dining center, but for some students, there isn't enough time or it is more convenient to eat elsewhere.

Eating out can be really expensive.  Take five dollars times how many times you eat out a week... that adds up fast.  Eating in the Union is really expensive too.  You don't think about it because you can just charge it to your university bill, but once it comes time to pay that bill, you'll be raking out the cash.  Plus it's highly unlikely you'll be making healthy decisions when you choose these options.

I suggest bringing your lunch to school or work with you.  You not only save money, but you also are gonna have a much healthier meal.  I recommend Healthy Choice meals.  They have a lot of variety to choose from so you can try different kinds until you find the ones you like.  Another option is Steamfresh meals.  They have a lot of varieties as well.  Below is a picture of my favorite meal to bring.. Chicken Margherita!  Pair that with a strawberry yogurt (or whatever kind you like) and you not only have a cheap lunch, but also one that's healthy and delicious!

Bottom line: Bring your lunch instead of buying one.  You'll save money and make healthier decisions.

Buying Clothes

These are a few pieces from my own closet.  I have got each of these items for less than $20 at one of the stores in my post.

Whether you're like my roommate and go shopping once a week or like me and go once every few months, everyone buys new clothes in college.  The difference is my roommate would shop at Buckle and get one pair of jeans for $110... and I would shop at TJ Maxx and buy three shirts for $20.  Today I'm going to give you some tips on how you can get a great wardrobe for less.

Like I mentioned, TJ Maxx is a great store to get cheap clothing.  They have a wide selection of designer handbags, dresses, shoes, shirts, and accessories.  Some other good stores with cheap clothing include Target, Plato's Closet, and Gordmans.  Target has cute style and are good for getting clothes, shoes, and especially swimsuits.  I shop at Gordmans for their cheap name-brand perfumes, camisoles of any color, and apartment or dorm decorations.  Other stores to try are American Eagle, Vanity, and Rue 21.

The first place you should always shop in the sales rack.  You never know what goodies you're going to find on clearance.  Another tip is to sign up for emails from the stores you shop the most, or even ones you wouldn't shop at without a coupon.  This comes with a warning because sometimes these daily emails can make you want to buy things just because you can get a good price.

Bottom line: Buy clothes for cheaper at these stores or with coupons.

Get Water Instead

If you're like me, you like to go out to eat. This can get expensive over the course of a year, but by following my tips you'll be able to save big!

First, you can follow my other post's tip and use coupons. When thinking of going out to eat, skim through your coupon book first. That will save you a couple bucks off your total.

Another tip I have for all you college savers out there is to DRINK WATER. Not only is water healthier for you, it's also free... Score! Who doesn't like free stuff?! If you figure you go out to eat once a week, it costs $2.00 for a pop. Take that times 52 weeks in a year = $104.00 a year. And most students go out to eat more than that. Figure twice a week times 52 weeks = $208.00 a year.

Think of all the things you could spend that money on! Whether it's clothes, shoes, or beer... it's worth more than that one or two sodas a week.

Bottom line: Soda is expensive. Getting a water saves lots over time.

Stock Up on Coupons

Coupons, coupons, coupons!

As a bargain shopper, there's nothing I love more than a good coupon.   As a student, you don't have a lot of excess money for going out to eat, getting your hair done, buying groceries, and getting your oil changed in your car.  Luckily, there's coupons!  At the University of Northern Iowa there are plenty of ways to get coupons.  You can easily get the College Coupon books, Campus Special coupon books, and the university planner with coupons in the back.  They hand out all of these for FREE around campus.  The best part is that you can take as many as you want, so stock up!  My favorite coupon is the Old Chicago coupon: buy a drink and get a personal pizza for 99 cents.  These coupons are great for when you want to go out to eat with friends, but don't have a lot of money to spend.  Also, many apartment complexes get fliers for different food stores in the area.  Look through these fliers and save on food you'd buy anyway.

Bottom line: Coupons can save big and you can get them for free, so stock up!

Purchasing Textbooks

As the new school year is beginning, you will hear a lot of students complaining about the price of textbooks.  With tuition prices skyrocketing every year, saving money on textbooks is the least you can do for your wallet.  The average spent at the university book store is around $500 a semester.  Most freshman at the University of Northern Iowa buy all their books from the bookstore without knowing all the options.  From firsthand experience, let me tell you there are many other options that are a lot cheaper on your budget.

Nowadays bookstores give you multiple options for purchasing books.  You can buy new, buy used, or rent.  The new book price is going to be ridiculously high and when you go to sell your textbooks back at the end of the semester you will get a fourth of the money you spent back, if you're lucky.  Buying old is a slightly better option, but still going to screw you over if you want a little extra cash at the end of the semester when returning your books.  Recently the book store started a rental option.  This option can actually be useful if you're taking a required liberal arts class that you won't want to keep the book at the end of the semester.  Depending on the amount you can get these books for online and the shipping price, this could be a better option.  However, the majority of upperclass college students will agree that purchasing your books online is the easiest and cheapest way.

There are a lot of different websites you can use to get cheap textbooks.  Of course Amazon is going to be a main website for online books.  You can buy them used or new through Amazon and it's going to cost you a whole lot less.  A great aspect about using Amazon is that they have an Amazon Student program.  It's free to sign up for college students and allows you six months of FREE two-day shipping on most college textbooks.  Another great website is chegg.com.  The Chegg website allows you to rent textbooks and you can purchase them at the end of the semester if you like or you can just print out the shipping labels off the website and return them back.  Most colleges have their own website for buying and selling books among students.  At the University of Northern Iowa the website is panthertextbooks.com.  This website allows you to meet up with students on campus and buy books with cash or check.  These books are generally cheaper than the bookstore, but the website won't have as much variety as other online textbook sellers.  These are just a few options for online textbooks and there are a lot more you can find on the internet.

Bottom line: Books are expensive.  Buy online and save big.