THE LOGISTICS OF BUYING A REFRIGERATOR

So we were finally ready to buy a new refrigerator.  The old one was still working, but something somewhere was leaking.  It wasn’t the ice-maker because the line had been disconnected.  However, every day there would be dripping from the back under the freezer.  We finally resorted to putting large plastic cups under the drips.  But they filled quickly, froze up, then overflowed, sending water everywhere else into the fridge.  And that froze on the shelves in the back, so bottles and cans froze to the shelves.  I’d have to completely empty and clean it every couple of months.

Of course, that kept my fridge clean and I never had rotten food hiding in corners.  Still, it was a hassle I didn’t need.  So finally, we had saved enough to buy a new fridge.  We didn’t just go out and buy one, though.  We looked at sales papers, looked at stores, read reviews, etc.  And the features in a fridge now!  I remember seeing one at one point that had a television in the door!

After looking at all the styles, we knew we wanted a bottom freezer.  We also liked the French doors on top.  So the next step was measuring our space.  The size we bought would be determined by the space, of course.  We took our measurements and headed for the store.

We decided to go to Abt Appliance.  We took other store’s ads with us, so we had a good idea of what a reasonable price would be.  As luck would have it, we decided to shop on Customer Appreciation Day.   It was purely coincidence, but the deals were great!  After looking around, reading measurements and opening many doors, we decided on the one we wanted. 

Then comes the hard part - paying for it.   Not having bought a refrigerator in at least 20 years, there was quite a sticker shock!  Especially when you start adding in the extended warranty, water line, etc.  The nice part?  They would take away the old one free of charge.  AND they generated a customer number for getting a rebate on our electric bill for buying an energy efficient model.  All we had to do was write the number on a piece of tape and put it on the old fridge.  We scheduled a delivery date and left the store - with a mattress purchase too!  One stop shopping!

But we still had to go home and take one more measurement.  While we knew it would fit into the space, we didn’t know if it would fit into the house!  We don’t have sliding doors to the house, so it had to go through the front door.  And up six stairs.  We knew the size of the fridge with and without the doors and handles.  We measured the inside of our front door, and knew it would fit if we took the front door off the house.  We called the store back and told them to go ahead with the order!

The weekend before delivery, we started cleaning out the fridge.  I tossed the old food, especially the old stuff at the back of the freezer, and emptied the frozen cups of water.  The day before delivery, I took out anything that didn’t need to stay cold, like cans of soda.  I removed all the magnets and papers from the fridge, sad that the new one was stainless steel.  I have so many cute magnets!  But it looked so neat and clean when the door was empty, it was sort of nice to see.  We then moved a lot of the food to the fridge in our garage. 

The morning of delivery, we moved the rest of the food to the freezer/fridge in the garage, and were able to leave some on the back porch because it was below freezing.  Nature’s refrigerator.  We mopped up the rest of the water and wiped out the bins.  Call us anal, but yes, we cleaned the fridge before sending it to the landfill.  We wrote the rebate number on duct tape and taped it to the fridge on two sides so it wouldn’t be missed. Then we took the front door off the hinges, and removed the railing and the baby gate we keep up - for the dogs.  Anything to make the job easier.

Then the new one arrived!  They had to take the doors off the refrigerator also to get it in the house.  Finally, after removing ceiling tiles in the basement and running lines, all was set!  We had a new fridge!  We didn’t fill it right away, though.  We put ice cube trays in the freezer to make sure it was getting cold.  Then after a few hours, started putting non-perishables back, and finally brought all the food back in.  We were told not to use the first few batches of ice, so we just dumped them as they formed.  By evening, we had everything back in the house in our shiny new fridge! 

Afterward, I realized what a process it is!  It’s not like buying a sweater that comes home and gets folded and set on a closet shelf.  It takes planning, organizing and scheduling.  We were fortunate that everything fell into place.  We could have measured incorrectly.  We could have ended up with a leaky water line.  There could have been a scratch on the door.  So many things could have gone wrong--some under our control, some not.  And we were especially lucky that the old one hadn’t completely died, possibly spoiling food.  But by planning ahead, the experience was a good one!

Spend Less on Groceries

Frugal Friday

Whether or not you have a large family, it's always nice to save money on groceries.  With the cost of gas and utilities rising, it's more important than ever to save money elsewhere.  Here are some ways to save money on your next trip to the grocery store.

·         If you find yourself going through a large amount of items quickly, ask your local grocer if they will give you a deal on buying by the case.  We used to purchase ten bags of dog food at a time to save $5 on each bag.  We shared the discount with other pet-owners.

·         Don't dilly-dally through the aisles.  Get what you need, then get out.  The longer you linger, the more impulse items you will purchase.

·         Shop around.  Comparison shop at wholesale stores and dollar stores for the items you usually purchase at your local supermarket.  Look at unit cost ($$ per ounce, or $$ per pound, etc.).  Where can you get the best price for the items you buy?

·         Use your cell phone.  You can comparison shop on your phone for best prices.  You can also use it to download store coupons.  Many supermarkets run special deals for loyal customers and offer special pricing on items you purchase on a regular basis.

·         Check online.  Visit Amazon.com and Drugstore.com for deals on non-perishables.  You usually have to buy larger quantities, but the savings are better than any sale price you can get in the store. 

How have you saved money on groceries?

Saving on Cosmetics

Frugal Friday

It is said that even during a recession or depression, cosmetics still sell well. Even when time are difficult, it's important to look and feel pretty. Here are some tips for saving money on cosmetics.

• To get a higher yield from powdered products, tape over half the holes.
• Don't follow directions on shampoo bottles that say "repeat." You only need to shampoo once.
• Seal your newly polished nails with a coat of baby oil. This will make them shiny and keep them from chipping.
• Ask for samples at the cosmetics counters. Say you want to try it for a week before purchasing.
• Hair dryers will last longer if you clean the lint from the screen.
• Beauty schools offer significant discounts on services under the supervision of an instructor.
• Purchase your cosmetics from a big-box store rather than a specialty or department store.

Streamline Your Life--At the Mall

Tips for Tuesday

You work, your children are involved in after-school activites, your house doesn't clean itself. So how do you get it all done? In addition to daily tasks, there are special occasions and holidays that always pop up, creating even more work for you.

These events usually require a trip to the mall, whether it's for a gift, new clothes or something needed for school. To make your trips easier, keep these tips in mind:

• Make a list before you go so you don’t forget anything.
• Make sure you have the receipt with you for any items you are returning. Some stores require one. Others will give you the last sale price no matter what you paid.
• Return catalog purchases to the store to avoid shipping fees and waiting in line at the post office.
• Buy movie tickets online to avoid standing in line.
• Buy presents on sale when you see them throughout the year. Post-holiday sales are a great time to stock up on next year's presents at a fraction of the cost.

Streamlining Your Life--At the Grocery Store

Tips for Tuesday

Grocery shopping is time consuming. You need to plan your menus, write your list, look for coupons, drive to the store, look for items that are on sale, wait in the checkout lines and put everything away when you get home. There are some things you can do to make the trip easier.

• Create a pre-printed grocery list either by aisle or food group. Print one out as soon as you return form the store. Hang it somewhere handy in the kitchen. Then check off items you use up or know you'll need the next time you shop. Make your own, or print one from online, such as this one from OrganizeTips.com--http://www.organizetips.com/grocer.htm
• Clip coupons from your Sunday paper every week and file them by category. Check your shopping list for coupons before you go to the store.
• Make up your menu for the coming week so you know which ingredients you'll need to purchase.
• Economy-size packages may not always be the cheapest. Check unit pricing for the best deal.
• Avoid grocery shopping altogether by using a grocery delivery service. The same goes for prescription medications.

Frugal Tips at the Grocery Store

Frugal Friday

We've covered several things you can do to save money in your kitchen. But saving money and being frugal begins at the grocery store. You will want the best deals and to make the smartest choices. Here are some tips for being frugal at the grocery store.

• Buy only what you need. Make a menu for the week, and buy the ingredients you will need for those meals. Also make sure you have your staples on hand at all times.
• Buy only from your list. Don't buy items in the aisles or at the ends of the aisles unless you need them. They are there for the sole purpose of enticing you to buy something you don’t need.
• Weigh your produce. If you are paying by the piece, select the largest apples, cantelopes, etc. And weigh bags of potatoes or other pre-packaged items. Even though they say "10 lbs", some bags can weigh slightly more than others.
• Shop the perimeter of the store. This is where all the fresh items are. Buying your own ingredients and making meals is much cheaper than purchasing frozen meals and packaged dinners. And healthier too!
• Bring your coupons. Keep your coupons in your purse or car so you have them whenever you stop in at the store. Combine store coupons with manufacturer's coupons for best deals.
• Bigger isn't always better. You may be tempted to purchase larger sizes because it seems like a better deal. However, look at the fine print on the shelf label. The store usually posts the cost per unit, such as ounce or piece. Sometimes smaller sizes are the better deals if they are on sale. Also, you may not use the entire contents of larger packages before it spoils. Then it really wasn't a bargain.
Bottom line: Be a smart shopper.

The Ultimate Frugalista--The College Student

Frugal Friday

If anyone has mastered the concept of frugality, it is the college student. Most are living on a limited budget, having little or no income while balancing classes, homework, extra-curricular activities and a social life. They know how to make the most of the money they have.

• Check with family members to see if they have anything the student can use, if only on a temporary basis.
• Shop thrift stores. Rather than try and ship large items or drive them down, scour local thrift stores for items like desks, beds and tables. When the school year is over, it can be donated back to the school.
• Go through hallways and alleys at the end of the school year and look for other students' discards. Seniors won't be needing their furniture the following year, and may leave it in the hall for anybody to claim. Only take these items if you have space to store them over the summer.
• Shop online. This will avoid having to ship or transport your items yourself. Many stores offer in-store pick-up so there won't be a shipping fee. You can order in your own town, and pick it up in the college town.
• Check for student discounts on items. For example, there might be back-to-school deals on electronics and home goods. Often, the city in which the school is located has student discounts on transporation and entertainment.
• Check with your school to see what they offer for 'free'. This might be meals, plays, sporting events or movies at the campus theater.
• Many schools offer excellent discounts on travel over the holidays or spring break.
• Shop sales. Like any other town, there are probably big box stores within a reasonable distance from the school that will have sales on food, toiletries and paper goods.
• Think reusable. Rather than stocking up on paper plates, cups and cutlery, purchase inexpensive plates, mugs, glasses and flatware. Not only will this save money in the long run, it will teach the student the responsibilty of cleaning and maintaining their own space.
• Check with the school. There are many items that schools will not allow in their dorms. This includes things like halogen lights, candles and microwave ovens. Once the school confiscates it, it's gone. So don't waste money on things that will be taken away. Check the rules before buying anything.

Stretching Your Shopping Dollar

Frugal Friday

As the cost of everything goes up, we want to make our dollars stretch farther. Since retailers aren't cooperating, it is up to us to find ways to get the most out of our money. Here are some tips when shopping, whether on the internet, or in the store.

• Use sites like Pricegrabber.com or BizRate.com to compare prices of the same item at different online retailers.
• Clip coupons. Clip manufacturer coupons from the Sunday paper inserts, print them from online sources. Combine these with store coupons, and save tens of dollars each visit.
• Take advantage of social living coupon sites such as Groupon.com. These site often offer deals as much as 50% off the regular price.
• Buy local. Shop at local farmer's markets for organic produce. You won't be paying extra for the shipping costs.
• Stop paying for postage. Pay your bills online through your bank. Most offer this service free of charge.
• Mail in those rebates! Most people don't send in the rebate form, defeating the purpose of purchasing the item. Send it in as soon as you get home so you don't forget. They usually expire within a few weeks.
• Keep receipts. Returns are easier this way. Although many stores will honor returns without a receipt, you may only get the most recent sale price rather than the full price you paid.
• Shop seasonally. There are many items like appliances and home goods that go on sale the same time every year.
• Shop used. Attend flea markets, consignment shops, resale shops and book sales at your local library. You can find like-new clothing and household items