Wise Bread (Carrie Kirby)

10 Ways to Get Rid of Stuff Frugally

Carrie Kirby — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:36:13 +0000

It's a symptom of our crazy consumer culture that how to get rid of stuff is such a common topic of discussion. Stuff just seems to accumulate in American homes like plaque in our arteries, and too much of it can really drag down the efficiency of your home.

Since my family is moving across the country in less than two weeks, getting rid of stuff has gone from a "I really should do that" item to a top-of-list emergency. My goal is to not have to pay to have anything hauled away. Here are 10 ways I've been clearing out the excess. (See also: 25 Things to Throw Out Today)

1. Sell It Online

If you have an item with enough value to make it worth your time, by all means list it for sale online. In our current move, I'll be listing our dining room table and couch on Craigslist. I use eBay for high-end children's clothing — in my experience, anything that sells for less than $20 is not worth the time it takes to do an eBay listing and mail it off. Of course, you have your own idea of what is worth your time, and it may differ from mine.

For books, DVDs, and video games, it can be convenient to sell on Amazon or another site where you can enter the title or barcode info for quick product listing.

2. Hold a Rummage Sale

My experience with rummage sales over the years is that they have not been worth the time I took to plan and conduct them. For instance, if my husband and I made $130 during a five-hour rummage sale, and figure we spent at least five hours planning it, that works out to earnings of $13 per hour, split between two adults. Since either of us can make much more than that working, it seems like we'd be much better off giving the junk to charity.

And yet, I find myself answering the siren song of rummage sale again this weekend. Oh well, at least some people make money on their garage sales, so maybe I'll get lucky this time.

3. Sell It Through a Store

I have mostly done this with children's clothing, but in the slow economy, more and more shops are opening up where you can sell adult clothing, furniture, and other items at consignment. This is nice because once you drop the stuff off, you don't have to worry about how long it takes to sell — just check with the store later to find out if you made any money.

You can also check with specialized shops such as used bookstores and video game stores, where you might get paid upfront. Today I received a crisp $10 bill from Gamestop in about five minutes. That sounds great until you hear that I had just handed over 15 old video games, some of them still in sealed packaging. My lesson on that one was that it doesn't pay to procrastinate when selling games and other media or electronics — the older they get, the less you'll get.

4. Freecycle

You don't get paid for stuff you unload through Freecycle, but you do earn the right to request items from other members. I really like using Freecycle both to pick up needed items and get rid of unwanted ones. It's my experience that someone will claim just about anything you offer on Freecycle. The downside is that — at least in my local group — it's not that uncommon for people to fail to pick up what they've claimed, leaving you wondering how long you should leave the item sitting on your porch.

Find a local Freecycle group here. A newer sharing site is called OhSoWe.

5. Give Items to Friends

Our household has been the beneficiary of friends' moving days in the past, so of course we will pay it forward by sharing some useful items with friends. Items I will give away include houseplants, half-used jars of spices and other food, and a vacuum cleaner.

6. Choose Charities That Pick Up

If you have a large number of boxes or bags or furniture to get rid of, call a local charity thrift store, and you may find they'll be happy to send a truck over. (That's why I woudln't pay to have stuff hauled away, unless it was truly too useless even for a thrift store.) Some charities regularly schedule neighborhood pickups — I periodically get calls from both AmVets and Purple Heart to arrange pickups, and I almost always have a couple bags of stuff to put out. Don't forget to get a receipt so you can deduct the estimated value of the items from your taxes.

7. Check With Your Kids' School, Your Church, or Other Local Organizations

Sometimes you have some nice, newer items that you can't use, and you don't feel like sending them to a junk shop. I'll be giving some gently used kids' games to a local children's organization, and some school supplies to the kids' school.

8. Curb It

Most communities charge extra to have the garbage crew haul off a piece of furniture or other large item, but don't worry — in my experience almost anything remotely useful or recyclable will walk off on its own if you put it on the curb or in the alley a few days before trash day. The item we most wanted to get rid of was an old pole to a basketball hoop we'd pulled out of our yard — it still had concrete around the base and was extremely heavy. It took a few weeks of waiting, but eventually a scrap metal collector rolled through our alley and managed to haul the thing away.

9. Lose It

Once, when I was in Tokyo, I decided I no longer wanted a book I had brought along and tried to leave it in a public place for someone to pick up and enjoy. No such luck. People in Japan are so helpful that I was chased out of a hotel lobby, a cafe, and a taxicab with my book. It became a game for my friend and me, and we finally successfully ditched it in a cavernous arcade.

Here in the United States, it's easy to ditch your possessions in public and hope that serendipity finds them a nice new owner. Of course, I don't mean you should litter or dump some junk on the side of the highway. For books, do this in cafes or on public transit. If you live in an area with a lot of homeless people, you can pretty much deposit used clothing or shoes on any street corner or alcove and count on them going to good use.

10. Barter It

I haven't tried this myself, but there are online networks where you can trade an unwanted item for something you want. Palcycle has borrowing, selling, and trading.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Grocery Shopping and the 4-Minute Mile: How to Challenge Yourself

Carrie Kirby — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:24:07 +0000

When I teach workshops about cutting the grocery budget, I always start with one basic tip — create a set weekly (or monthly) grocery budget, and stick to it. (See also: How to Grocery Shop for Five on $100 a Week)

Why do I recommend setting a specific goal instead of going into the grocery store and just looking for the cheapest variety of everything on your list?

Think about the four-minute mile.

Yes, I'm seriously comparing grocery shopping to competitive athletics. But I have science backing me up on this!

According to the scientific paper Development of Superior Expert Performance (PDF) by K. Anders Ericsson, the four-minute mile “had been viewed as the ultimate limit for performance, but after (Roger) Bannister broke the four-minute barrier, several other runners were able to do so within a couple of years.”

Nowadays sub-four-minute miles are normal for professional competitive runners.

What does that have to do with grocery shopping? This scientific research shows that no matter what skill we are working on, the only way to achieve superior performance is by targeted practice. When we learn a new skill — start a job, learn to type, whatever — we usually improve with practice at first — UNTIL we achieve an acceptable level of proficiency — then we go on autopilot.

Does autopilot describe you in the grocery store since about age 22? We're out of Cheerios — in the cart. We need bread — in the cart. Ooh that's on sale — in the cart.

If you want to run a faster mile or become a better dancer or grocery shop more effectively, you need to get off autopilot. The way an Olympic runner's coach gets her off autopilot is by setting a goal that is just outside her current ability level. This motivates her to find ways to overcome the obstacles between her and that faster mile. The same thing goes for grocery shopping, or any other life skill you'd like to improve.

In the example of grocery shopping, my first step was to figure out how much I was spending each week at the supermarket. I knew I was putting in an effort to save, but I honestly didn't know how much I was spending. So first, I simply kept a few week's worth of receipts so I could get a ballpark idea of what I usually spent. This averaged out to about $100 a week for a family of two adults, one kid, and one infant.

Second, I decided to set my new grocery budget at 80% of my former spending. So I set the goal of getting everything we needed for a week's worth of healthy meals (and toiletries and household items such as diapers) for $80 a week.

Then, of course, I was forced to figure out ways to accomplish that goal. That's where the challenge came in. I tried new things that I would not have tried otherwise — I checked out nearby stores I had never visited to see if they were less expensive. I researched strategic coupon use and learned a lot of tricks for combining coupons, sales, and other incentives. I started tracking which foods were always less expensive — which had me buying less meat, of course, and leaning toward carrots and heads of cabbage over green beans and packaged lettuce.

You can apply this challenge tactic to any life skill you'd like to improve. Of course, not everything is as easy to quantify as your weekly grocery bill, but everything can be measured. You want to improve your relationship with your kids? Write down every positive activity you did with them in the past week, and then decide how you would like to build on that. Want to play the violin more proficiently? You can challenge yourself in terms of minutes of practice first, then set out specific challenges during that practice time, such as tackling exercises and pieces that are just outside your current ability.

Then keep measuring. If your challenge is successful, you may want to set a new goal to keep yourself off autopilot.

One more ingredient that is very useful in self-challenging — accountability. Competitive athletes have coaches and teammates to answer to, but the rest of us are often lonely in our pursuits to better ourselves. Having a running buddy is nice, but sharing your written targets with your running buddy and reviewing them periodically? That's effective self-challenging.

Personally, as a frugal blogger, I keep myself accountable by posting my grocery budget goals online and reporting on my weekly shopping trips. Knowing that I will have to tell the world that I went over budget has been a powerful help when faced with the temptation to overspend, especially on things like wine or chocolate. I can be a harsh coach to myself, but Internet commenters are probably the harshest masters of all!

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

The Best 10 Items to Borrow

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:24:34 +0000

Before you go all Dave Ramsey on me, this post is NOT about borrowing money. It's about something much more frugal — borrowing stuff. As a cheapskate, I'm an enthusiastic borrower and lender. Not only does borrowing save me money, but lending items actually feels good because it gives me more satisfaction out of my purchase than I could get by using it all alone. As long as it's done politely, borrowing and lending builds a sense of community among family and friends. (See also: Borrowing Money From Friends: The Friendship Killer)

These are the items that lend themselves best to this practice.

1. Housing

A house in my town was burglarized while sitting empty this holiday season. That risk is just one reason why leaving houses and apartments sitting empty is bad. We've lent our house or apartment to friends on vacation over the years, reaping the side benefit of pet sitting, house sitting, and even babysitting. (Don't worry, the friends who were staying at our house and babysitting were close friends, and reliable.) Before you rush to the conclusion that borrowing a home for vacation is cheap, think of it this way — the rich and famous do it all the time.

2. Office Space

Think beyond vacations. If you're a telecommuter in need of office space away from noisy kids, ask see if a friend has unused space during the workday. If they have a pet, they might be delighted for you to camp out at their place in exchange for letting Fido out the backdoor twice a day.

3. Once-a-Year Equipment

Do you need a tool to clean your gutters in the fall, or do you power wash your deck each spring? Ask around before buying or renting — or consider going in on the purchase with a relative or neighbor.

4. Children's Clothing

Everyone loves to see a big poufy dress on a little girl for her first birthday, but why spend $100 on a gown she'll wear for a few hours? My best friend gladly shared her daughter's first birthday dress with my daughter, and then when she got pregnant with another girl, it went right back to her. We just made sure the birthday girls were wearing bibs when they dug into those cakes.

5. Baby Items

It's ridiculous how much you can pay for an infant swing considering how short a time it is used. The more homes my baby equipment goes to, the better I feel about the initial investment. Just make sure you search the Consumer Products Safety Commission database for recalls before you put your baby in any piece of used equipment

6. Books, DVDs, Video Games, and Other Cultural Goods

While these things are of course available at the library, there is something satisfying about reading a good book and then handing it over to a loved — or liked — one to read. And did you know you can now lend some Kindle books to other readers — even to read on a PC or phone?

7. Tools — From a Tool Library

When my husband and I wanted to work on our small condo with limited storage space, we were delighted to find out that there was a tool lending library nearby, so we didn't have to buy everything we needed for the job. Wikipedia has a list of tool lending libraries all over the U.S.

8. Everything for Parties

Who uses a punch bowl except at baby showers? In my extended family, everyone just asks my mom to bring hers. Did you go a little nuts and buy an inflatable jump house for your kids' birthday? You're pretty much going to have to lend that baby out to get your money's worth. Think beyond stuff to spaces, too. My brother borrowed my uncle's beautiful backyard for his wedding ceremony.

9. Musical Instruments

If your child is starting piano lessons and you don't want a new piece of furniture, ask if she can practice in your neighbor's living room each afternoon. And don't forget Freecycle, where neighbors get together to give away unwanted items. A friend just procured a nice drum set for her son via our local group.

10. Cars

I know what you're thinking — too risky, right? Actually, most insurance policies will cover accidents that happen when a borrower is driving your car — but it's important to check in with your insurer to find out their policy and inform them of the loan. Borrowing a car can by handy not only for non-car-owners, but also if you need a larger vehicle for a specific purpose — like picking up your entire Girl Scout troop's cookie order. Borrowing a hot ride for your wedding day can save a bundle, if you have a friend or relative generous enough to hand over the keys.

Borrowing and Lending Guidelines

I mentioned courtesy when borrowing and lending. That means, first and foremost, you have to return what you borrow, or the whole borrowing society begins to crumble. No reading borrowed books in the bath — believe me, I've had to replace too many books that way.

Another tip for borrowers is to be sensitive when asking. You really shouldn't ask to borrow Aunt Millie's fragile antique glassware or your neighbor's big screen TV — even if they're too nice to turn you down. Unless you have a close relationship, limit borrowing requests to low-ticket, durable items. If you want to borrow something more expensive, the most you can really do is hint about your need and leave it for the potential lender to offer if they feel generous.

When lending, it's really important to make it clear when, or if, you need the item back. If you don't say anything about needing those outgrown kids' clothes back, don't be surprised if you come looking for them a year later and I've already passed them on to someone else.

Finally, borrowing and lending must go both ways. No one likes a borrower like Dagwood's neighbor Herb, who was never lending — or even returning!

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

10 Ideas for Using Your FSA Before Year End

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:48:23 +0000

I hate leaving money on the table — the operating table, ha! — by failing to spend my whole medical flexible spending account. As the final hours of 2011 tick down, it's time to use up your flexible spending balance before you lose it!

(If you don't know what flexible spending accounts are, you probably don't have one. But check out the post What You Need to Know About Your FSA to learn the basics.)

This year it's a little more challenging because the rules have changed for 2011 — you can no longer use the funds for over-the-counter medication unless you get a prescription. If at all possible, start this process before your doctor's office closes for the week, because even if there's no time for an appointment, they may be able to help you with paperwork. Here are some ideas for spending a lot in just a little time.

1. Order Glasses or Contacts

This is a favorite at our house, because even if you already have a decent pair of glasses, who couldn't use some prescription sunglasses or a spare pair? I have used Zenni Optical and Coastal Contacts and was happy with both — Coastal tends to be more expensive than Zenni, but with nicer frames and more coupon codes. (See also: 6 Ways to Save Money on Eyeglasses)

2. See the Eye Doctor

Optometrists are easier with last-minute appointments than doctors, and if your prescription is more than a year old, it's a good idea to get a new one now. If you have extra money to blow, you can spring for all the tests like getting your eyes dilated. Hey, wearing sunglasses to your New Year's Eve party will make you look like a celebutante!

3. Join Weight Watchers Online

You can prepay for a three-month plan. When my husband did this, he just noted that his doctor had verbally advised him to exercise to lose weight. But to be safer, fax or email your doctor this form (PDF), and include the completed form with your request for reimbursement.

4. Sign Up and Pay for a Tobacco Cessation Program

Again, you should get your doc to recommend this in writing, but what doctor wouldn't?

5. Go to the Dentist

Like the eye doctor, dentist offices sometimes have last-minute openings. No cavities? If you have a few hundred to blow, get your kid to get dental sealants.

6. Get a Flu Shot

Many drugstores offer walk-in flu vaccinations, and some do shingles as well. Take the kids in for shots, too. Even if you do this at the doctor's office, many offices don't require appointments to have a nurse give you an immunization.

7. Refill Any and All Prescriptions Your Family Already Has

You can check with the pharmacist to make sure that the allergy meds you plan to take come spring will still be good if you buy them now.

8. Purchase Medical Supplies

The new prescription requirement applies to OTC drugs but not equipment, such as Band-Aids, contact lens solution, barrier contraceptives (as in, condoms), pregnancy tests, blood pressure cuffs, or crutches. Hey, they make some really expensive bandages these days!

9. Call Your Doctor's Office and Ask for a Quick Prescription for OTC Drugs

If the office can send it straight to your drugstore, you may be able to get this done in less than a day.

10. Reread Your Company's FSA Policy

Or put in a quick call to HR; you have more time than you think. Some policies include a grace period after the end of the year when you can still spend your funds.

While you're at it, plan ahead to avoid spoiling next New Year's Eve with these concerns. If you have already made your FSA election for 2012, book enough appointments now to make sure you've taken care of any routine health maintenance well before it becomes an FSA emergency.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Gift Ideas for the Frugal

Carrie Kirby — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:00:11 +0000

What do you buy for people who hate to spend money? You would think the answer is to get that designer scarf that they would never buy for themselves, but extravagance is not usually the route to a frugal heart. As a cheapskate myself, I can tell you there is nothing I love better than receiving a gift that will help me save money throughout the year. (See also: 25 Gifts You Can Make Today)

DIY Machines

I like machines such as the Yogourmet Yogurt Maker ($49.95 on Amazon), the AeroPress espresso maker ($25.95 on Amazon), and the Sodastream seltzer maker ($95.50 on Amazon). I am trying out all of these myself and expect them each to save me several dollars each time I make yogurt, espresso, or seltzer at home instead of buying it at the grocery store or cafe. Other ideas in this vein include a bread machine or a food processor, or for the very lucky giftee, a KitchenAid mixer.

The nice thing about these gifts is that the user doesn't have to worry about whether the gift pays for itself. They get the thrill of saving money without thinking about the initial investment.

Warm Clothing and Wraps

We frugalites are always wondering if we could stand to turn down the thermostat one more degree. That's why I like Jockey thermals. I also like Snuggies, down comforters, and those rice sacks that you can heat up in the microwave and stick in your bed.

For the truly practical frugalista on your list, how about a roll of insulation? Just kidding. Sort of.

Gift Cards and Subscriptions

Inside my hard, frugal exterior is someone who loves a treat as much as the next girl. I feel a lot better about stopping at the coffee or ice cream shop if I can whip out a gift card to pay. Does your cheapskate friend like to play the drugstore game and accumulate Walgreens Register Rewards or CVS ExtraBucks? A gift card for one of those stores is always cherished, because it means your friend will not even have to pay tax out of pocket!

Personally, I am kind of hoping for a subscription to a monthly music service such as $9.99/month Mog Primo plan. Audible subscriptions are also great (and right now you can get $100 off a device if you sign up for a year), and Netflix is a cheapskate's dream.

As with any gift, you should be sure that you don't leave your giftee with an ongoing obligation.

Edibles

Not a Harry & David basket — that kind of thing makes my cheapness muscles clench up because I know how much they cost. But most frugal people enjoy a basket of delicious items, either handmade or store bought. Most people, really.

Groupons and Other Daily Deals

I won't be giving any daily deal certificates this year because I've found that a lot of recipients don't redeem them, and that stresses me out. But if you have someone really frugal on your list, they'll be sure to redeem the deal. Just make sure it's a certificate for a whole service or item — not $50 toward a $400 product, for example.

Over on my blog Frugalistic Mom, I recently shared these ideas and more money-saving gift items I have reviewed. I received a Yogourmet Yogurt Maker, an AeroPress espresso maker, and a Sodastream from their makers in order to review them.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Amazon Will Give You 5% Off for Price Checking Saturday: But Is It Fair?

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:35:01 +0000

Amazon is offering shoppers 5% off on purchases this Saturday — December 10 — if they use the retailer's Price Check app on the same product in a brick and mortar store. (See also: 16 Best Mobile Shopping Apps for Your Phone)

This effectively means that Amazon is trying to get customers who walk into a store intending to buy, say, a Barbie Cruise Ship, to leave the store and buy on Amazon instead. The program also encourages shoppers to inform Amazon of the prices that other retailers are charging for the items they look up. Shoppers can get a 5% discount on up to three items Saturday, with a maximum discount of $5 per item.

Some small business owners are outraged.

"The Amazon promotion encourages consumers to take the resources of their local businesses in order to save themselves money and allow Amazon to profit,” said Katherine O. McHenry, shopkeeper at Building Blocks Toy Store in Chicago.

As McHenry sees it, Amazon is encouraging customers to use local stores as a showroom only.

"I think consumers have a responsibility to 'buy it where they try it,'” McHenry said.

McHenry is not alone — retailer associations nationwide have decried Amazon's move.

Then there is the fact that Amazon asks — but doesn't require — customers to tell them what other stores are charging.

"With every in-store price you share, you help insure our prices remain competitive for our customers,” Amazon says.

Is it nice to ask your customers to spy on the competition? Then again, Amazon's prices are always right out there for everyone to see, so maybe they feel that turnabout is fair play.

What do you think of this promotion? It's surely a boon to shoppers to be able to get up to $15 off holiday shopping this weekend. And despite McHenry's understandable frustration, it's not as if comparison shopping is a new thing. Apps like Amazon's Price Check just make it a lot easier.

Do you feel any responsibility to the store where you physically checked out an item? What if the staff spends time demonstrating the item or helping you figure out what you need? Is it different if you visit the showroom of a national chain versus a local shop? Is there something inherently evil or crass about using a price check app?

Personally, I feel like it's tacky to go to a local store to see or play with a specific item, knowing that I intend to buy it elsewhere. I wouldn't waste the staff's time with questions if that was my intention. But my goodwill towards local business only goes so far — if I browse in a local shop and happen to see something I like, I'm not going to say I won't buy it online months later. And if I'm browsing at a national chain, all bets are off.

I have used price check apps in stores, but only large chain stores. I recently pulled out my Droid and used the ShopSavvy app at Kohl's to check the price of that Barbie Cruise Ship I mentioned. At the time, Kohl's sale price beat Amazon's — and I had a 20% off coupon besides, so using the app helped me buy in confidence.

But I don't know if I would use that same app in a local toy store. I would probably be embarrassed that the owner would see me.

Price-Checking Apps

If you aren't afraid to price compare at will, here are the smartphone apps that make it possible:

Amazon Price Check

For Android and iPhone, free. Scan a barcode, snap a photo, or say the item's name, and the app will tell you what Amazon charges for it.

ShopSavvy Bar Code Scanner

For Android and iPhone, free. Scan the barcode, and the app will attempt to tell you what the item sells for online and in nearby physical locations. I say "attempt," because I have not successfully had ShopSavvy find me an item in a nearby store. It found the item at the store I was in, but the price was wrong.

Google Shopper

For Android and iPhone, free. Point your phone at a barcode, or the cover of a book or DVD, and Google will search for price comparisons from online merchants.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Recession Survivor: Would You Eat Bugs and Roadkill to Cut the Grocery Bill?

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:48:17 +0000

I try to be flexible with my family menu in order to save on groceries, but recently I learned about a couple guys who are waaay more flexible than I am when it comes to ingredient choices. They eat bugs and roadkill. And they have recipes to share. (See also: 25 Frugal Food Changes You Can Make Today)

Jonathan McGowan, of Dorset in England, says he has been eating roadkill and other dead animals he finds for the past 30 years. At first blush that sounds disgusting and possibly even deranged, but Jonathan makes a very good point when he compares eating a recently-killed woodland animal to eating a chicken from one factory farm he visited. McGowan told the Daily Mail:

There was a broiler production unit close to where I was living where there was always three layers of chickens — a dead, rotting layer at the bottom, a squashed layer in the middle and a layer at the top where they could barely move.

If you think you'll join McGowan in his culinary adventures, however, keep in mind that he feels that only someone with years of experience with wildlife can do this safely:

It's not something everyone can do. I have grown up around nature and know just by looking how an animal has died and how long it has been there.

I grew up in Wisconsin and have heard of plenty of people legally taking home deer that they struck with their own cars. So it didn't freak me out too much to hear that McGowan enjoys venison. However, some of his other favorites raised even my eyebrows. He calls both fox and rat "most delicious," and has even eaten wildcats and birds of prey.

I wonder if McGowan knows that you are supposed to report it to authorities — even in England — if you find certain kinds of birds dead, so they can be checked for bird flu. He also mentions eating birds of prey, the majority of which are considered endangered over there. He doesn't kill these animals, mind you — just finds them, butchers, and cooks 'em up.

McGowan will even throw some bugs into his stir fry, which brings to mind another fellow I read about recently.

University of Chicago undergrad Matthew Krisiloff is not just eating insects but wants to put bug burgers in your grocer's freezer case. After all, he told Time Out Chicago, insects can provide protein just like chickens or cows, but without putting so much strain on the environment or costing so much. One really interesting thing about Krisiloff's company, Entom Foods, is that he wants insect protein to succeed first in the West, in order to set a good example for the rest of the globe, where people tend to copy our diets as they get wealthier.

As Krisiloff told Time Out Chicago:

In about 80 percent of the countries in the world, there are communities that do eat insects in some fashion. But as countries Westernize, they kind of shun those diets.… They look at Western examples and think, Oh, [they] eat hamburger, [they] eat chicken, that's what [we] should be doing as well.

Well, carnivores, what do you think? Would you buy bug burgers or rake in some road kill in order to cut your grocery bill? After all, meat is often the biggest expense at the supermarket. Or are these ideas enough to turn the most dedicated meat-eater into a vegan?

Tips for Eating Roadkill and Bugs

If you really want to try it, here is McGowan's recipe for roadkill Badger, from the Daily Mail:

Serves: 4

1. Skin one badger and cut into pieces before browning in a frying pan with butter until pieces are golden and stiff.

2. Flambee with glass of Armagnac and pour over one bottle of dry, sparkling wine, then simmer gently for two hours.

3. Mix cooked, chopped badger liver, a glass of pig's blood, two egg yolks and a pot of creme fraiche and serve immediately.

Serve with mushrooms or chestnuts.

A New York Times blog has tips on cooking mealworms, moth larvae and crickets.

To learn more about harvesting and eating insects, check out the book Man Eating Bugs by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Alusio.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Dye Your Own Hair Without a Beauty Disaster

Carrie Kirby — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:24:22 +0000

Since the recession began, more and more Americans are trying home hair coloring for the first time.

Even those who don't give up their professional colorist altogether are stretching the time between visits with at-home touch-ups, said Stacey Jones, a color expert who helped develop Sally Beauty Supply's house brand.

Using chemicals at home — and trying to match the results of trained, experienced experts — can be scary and challenging for first timers. One salon manager told me he has a standard line for panicked callers with botched DIY dye jobs: "Quit your bitchin' — you did it in the kitchen!"

Yet Jones and beauty expert Paula Begoun assured me that there's no need to fear a foray into kitchen cosmetology.

"Not only are drugstore dyes safe, they are chemically IDENTICAL to what a salon uses. The chemistry of dyeing hair is not something only salon lines know about. Beside, many of the companies making hair dyes for salons are the exact same companies making the drugstore versions," Begoun told me in an email. Begoun writes the website CosmeticsCop.com, which offers advice and sells beauty products, but not hair color.

Below are Begoun and Jones' pointers for dyeing your own hair. (See also: 5 Hair Conditioners You Can Make at Home)

Stick to "Demi-Permanent" Color as a Beginner

This dye is ammonia-free and does not remove your natural color. Despite the name, today's demi-permanent tins last as long as "permanent" color, Jones said.

Ensure Even Results With Pre- and Post-Color Treatments

These products are sold separately in beauty supply stores. Jones recommends a pre-color treatment to even out the porosity of each strand of hair, so that the ends don't end up darker than the rest. After-color sealer prevents the color from washing out too quickly.

Get Expert Guidance

"Do not hesitate to call the consumer help line with any questions. They are trained to assist you and make sure you’ve not only chosen the best color but that you apply it so you get the results you want," Begoun said. Many beauty stores also staff color experts who can help you select the right color on the spot, Jones said.

Tap a Friend to Help You

One of the reasons that salon jobs tend to look better than home jobs is the colorist's expertise, but another advantage is that the colorist can see your whole head, not just the part you can see in the mirror. A friend can help you achieve all-over even color.

Know When to Go Pro

For example, Begoun advises leaving highlights to the professionals. "A salon professional is skilled in the mixing and application of color when only certain strands are to be dyed," Begoun said. "Trying to do this at home, even with special highlighting kits, rarely works well."

What brand of hair dye should you purchase? That depends whom you ask.

Begoun said that "the dyes available from major brands sold in drugstores are outstanding."

But Jones, understandably since she works for Sally Beauty Supply, prefers to shop at a beauty supply store. For one thing, a salon store tends to have more choices of shades. If you're using permanent color, professional color supplies purchased in beauty supply stores tend to have less ammonia than the drugstore equivalents, Jones said.

For more home hair color tips from Jones and Begoun, see Sally Beauty's Ask the Color Expert page or The Cosmetic Cop's Hair Care section.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Too Broke to Buy Diapers?

Carrie Kirby — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:48:11 +0000

A recent Wall Street Journal report suggested that tough times have brought parents to a new low — leaving tots in dirty diapers to save money.

Well, maybe. The report noted a drop in diaper sales and an increase in use of diaper rash cream. It even quoted a doctor who was seeing more diaper rash cases. But the article also acknowledged that most of the drop in sales is due to a lower birthrate over the past couple years.

Still, the piece got me thinking that a lot of parents are paying more than necessary to keep baby booties dry. Here are some hints for reducing diaper expenses. (See also: 5 Places to Get Cheaper Diapers)

Cloth Diapers

Estimates for savings over the three years most kids are in diapers are usually in the $1,000-$2,000 range. And there are certainly compelling environmental reasons to use cloth. However, these estimates assume you are spending 17-28 cents per diaper and changing them an average of eight times a day. Bargain shoppers will not save this much. Nor will lazy moms like me who change only five or six times a day and try to potty train at age two. I estimate that disposable diapers cost me only $5 a week, for about 130 weeks per child (two-and-a-half years). Even assuming that I spent more than $5 during those newborn months (a vague memory at this point), the total per-child cost of disposables was under $1,000 — capping my possible savings somewhere south of that.

If you decide to use cloth, consider shopping secondhand or asking for hand-me-downs. Freecycle groups are great for this. Don't be grossed out by the thought of used diapers — after all, diaper service clients use diapers previously worn by other children every day.

Join Amazon Mom

Members of the free Amazon Mom service get 30% off diapers and wipes when they order through the Subscribe & Save option. Add this to free shipping, frequent unannounced sales, and coupons you can load on the site, and Amazon has been my diaper store of choice for a year now. Tip — because prices fluctuate on Amazon, stock up when you see a great price.

Combine Coupons and Promotions

Target, Babies 'R' Us, and drugstores such as Walgreens and CVS all issue store coupons for diapers and take manufacturer's coupons as well. You can pair one of each for every pack of diapers you buy. Target sometimes offers a $5 or $10 gift card for buying packs of diapers — if you come in with a manufacturer's coupon, a Target coupon, and get the gift card, you've often brought the price down to an acceptable level.

Do the Math

Some diaper sales sound like a good deal, but turn out not to be. You need to know your target price per diaper in your child's size in order to accurately price compare. Baby Cheapskate has a GREAT resource for figuring out how many diapers are in a mega or jumbo pack and what makes a good price for each size — the diaper stock-up price chart.

Try Store Brands

Store brands' quality have improved in recent years. While a newborn with a lot of "blowouts"* may need the highest-end diaper you can buy, older tots may be just fine in any old brand. I used Costco's Kirkland even on newborns with no problem, and now that my youngest is a toddler, I find Luvs, Walgreens, CVS, and Target diapers all just fine.

Keep Your Eyes Open

I have purchased opened packs of diapers at garage sales and found boxes with discontinued packaging on deep clearance discount at grocery and drugstores.

Accept Help

Times may be tough, but babies shouldn't be the ones to suffer. If you can't afford enough diapers to keep your baby dry and comfortable, apply to a program such as Huggies Every Little Bottom or apply for other assistance.

* If you're not a parent and don't know what a blowout is, don't ask.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

How to Grocery Shop for Five on $100 a Week

Carrie Kirby — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:00:21 +0000

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People are sometimes shocked to hear that I spend only $100 a week on groceries for a family of five. I've even been accused of not telling the whole truth.

Confession: Five mouths for $100 is not the whole equation. We also feed a nutritious diet to our two cats.

Getting a week's worth of groceries, toiletries, and household supplies (even disposable diapers) for a C-note is not as difficult as some people think. In fact, there are plenty of families out there spending only $30 to $40 a week. For $100, we're able to virtually splurge – our menu includes many organic items, cage-free eggs, and even an evening glass of wine or cocktail for mom and dad.

That said, not every family will be able to or want to hit that exact number. Our children are still small, so a family with three teenagers would likely need a lot more groceries than we do. Other families will need to sacrifice some savings in order to limit the time they spend shopping and preparing food.

But one thing applies to all families -- if you want to cut your grocery budget, there are relatively easy ways to get it done without resorting to junk food.

Our weekly menu typically looks something like this:

For breakfasts, we have fruit, cereal with milk, pancakes and bacon, scrambled eggs, or peanut butter toast.

Lunches are often leftovers from dinner or sandwiches.

Dinner choices in our recent rotation include stuffed green peppers, spaghetti with meatballs, roast chicken with potatoes and vegetables, and tuna noodle casserole. Homemade whole wheat bread from the bread machine makes frequent appearances.

So you see, there's nothing really unusual about the way we eat. Ours could be any American family's menu. And yet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a “thrifty” family our size typically spends $142 a week on food alone – 40% more than we spend. And did I mention that our $100 grocery budget covers household supplies and toiletries as well?

So how are we eating a typical diet while spending so much less than typical families? Following a few simple shopping rules makes it possible:

1. Set a budget, and add up what you spend every week to make sure you're sticking to it.

This sounds obvious, but it's the #1 best way to spend less on groceries. Shooting for a fixed target is what motivates me to find creative ways to save.

2. Aim for 100% use of all food that comes into your house.

I can't say I hit 100%, but Rule 1 makes Rule 2 much easier. If your limited budget prevents you from overstuffing your fridge, you're more likely to take care to use what you already have. Another way to get closer to 100% is to use your freezer liberally. Don't have time to make stock out of that chicken carcass this week? Don't throw it out – stick it in the freezer and deal with it another day.

3. Choose your grocery store carefully.

Consumers' Checkbook Magazine surveyed grocery stores in markets nationwide and found that shoppers can save more than a thousand dollars a year simply by choosing a less expensive store.

4. If you use coupons, use them strategically.

You do not have to be like the shoppers on the TLC show Extreme Couponing to cut your grocery spending. You don't have to collect 400 newspaper coupon inserts every Sunday or spend four hours on every shopping trip. However, if you want to use coupons, it makes sense to do it right. Hold onto that coupon until the item goes on sale – if you don't want to do that, you're often better off skipping the coupons and buying generics.

5. Stockpile.

Again, you don't have to be extreme and convert your bathroom and kids' closets into storage space for extra jars of spaghetti sauce. But if you want to avoid paying full price for any non-perishable item, you must buy more than a week's supply when that item goes on sale.

The best thing about these rules is that most of them do not take much extra time. You can spend more time hitting different stores and clipping coupons if you want to save even more, but sticking to the rules is a good way to lower your costs without a large increase in shopping time.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

How to Sell Gold Without Getting Ripped Off

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:48:19 +0000

The price of gold has reached heady heights — high enough to make many of us remember that tacky old bracelet or single earring at the bottom of our jewelry boxes. Gold buyers are promising "top dollar" everywhere. But selling gold is one of those situations that pits the novice — you — against the expert — the buyer. How do you make sure you're not being taken advantage of?

Since I'm no expert myself (I don't think I own any gold besides my wedding and engagement rings, and those aren't going anywhere), I turned to Helena Krodel of the Jewelry Information Center, part of the Jewelers of America trade association. She shared some helpful gold-selling tips from the jewelry industry's perspective. Before we get to her advice on how to sell gold, let me point out that although the neighborhood jewelry shop is probably the most convenient place to cash in, jewelers aren't the only ones buying. (See also: How to Insure Jewelry for Cheap)

If you are willing to do a little more legwork, you can probably get a better price by selling directly to a gold refiner. Refiners offer up to 95% of the current gold price for the gold content of your items, while jewelry stores tend to top out at 85%.

Before selling to anyone, please check out warnings such as Paul Michael's post about Cash4Gold and the Better Business Bureau's tips to avoid rip-offs.

Carrie Kirby: How can would-be sellers distinguish between reputable gold buyers and non-reputable ones?

Helena Krodel: Just as you would shop at a reputable jeweler, one should SELL to a reputable jeweler. Reputable jewelers will give you fair market value for your gold and be open and honest throughout the process of selling. We recommend shopping and selling at jewelry store that is a member of a professional trade association, like Jewelers of America. Members are asked to sign a Code of Professional Practices, thereby ensuring you are going to get what you pay for.

CK: Even among reputable businesses, will certain kinds of businesses pay more for gold? For instance, should I seek out a bulk scrap gold buyer instead of a jewelry store?

HK: There is no rule here. Different companies will pay different amounts. The best thing to do is to go to several different places and ask. If you decide to leave your gold with the company or person, be sure to get a receipt detailing the item. Also ask if they are selling it off site. This typically means they are the middle man and can be charging a surcharge for the service.

CK: What process should I go through before determining where to sell my gold? Should I get estimates from more than one place?

HK: Yes! Always shop around. Online companies are popping up everywhere. If you decide to sell online, beware! Be sure to call the company and speak to a real person. Ask the same questions you would in a store. And do not send your jewelry blindly without the option to get it back should they give you a price that is less that market value.

CK: I understand that buyers will not pay 100% of the day's price for gold, even if what I have to sell is 24 karat, because they need to melt it down and still make a profit. What percent of the day's price could I expect to get?

HK: Every (retailer) is obviously different, but you should expect to get 75 to 85% of the percent of gold in the piece. So if it is 14K gold, the amount of gold in the piece is 58.5%. The 75-85% given is based on that amount.

CK: When I called a local jeweler to ask what percent of the daily price they pay, they declined to give a price over the phone. Is this normal?

HK: Perhaps. Given that it is a competitive market, therefore some jewelry stores may not opt to disclose this information.

CK: Is there any type of gold seller that I should completely avoid, such as mail-in or pawn shop?

HK: Mail-in companies have been known to veil very low returns when buying back gold from consumers. Not all, but many charge a premium for the convenience to you the customer. Jewelry parties are suspect as well. If you decide to partake, be sure to do some research on the company or person hosting the party to find out about their credentials as well as their policy in case you have seller’s remorse. Some like the entertainment factor, however, there are better ways to yield higher paychecks.

CK: What kinds of items should be appraised independent of their scrap gold value?

HK: Remember that jewelry is something that is typically passed down for generations. It also typically has a sentimental worth and value. A quick buck can result in seller’s remorse unless you go your homework. Never sell a piece of jewelry that has intrinsic or emotional value. Never sell a piece of jewelry without removing the gemstones. You will typically get nothing “extra” for side stones or bejeweled settings if they are small. If the piece of gold jewelry is signed or has a trademark, noting the manufacturer who made the piece, be sure to investigate. If you have any reason to think that the piece might have more value as a jewelry item than scrap, be sure to get an appraisal. They typically cost less than $100.

There you have it. Always shop around; the higher gold goes, the higher the potential cost of not doing your homework. Look at it this way — as of this writing, pure gold is selling for $1,827 an ounce. Say you have several old necklaces and rings that contain one half an ounce of 24 karat gold; this would be worth $913.50 on the market. If the first jewelry store you visit offers 75% of market value, you'll get a check for $685 and walk out feeling great. Then you find out that your cousin sold the same amount of gold to a jewelry store a few blocks away that was paying 85% and netted $776. Oh well — at least you feel better than your other cousin who handed over his jewelry to a dealer who paid 50% — she only got $457.

It all boils down to how much gold you have to sell and how much your time is worth. Going to three different stores for estimates might take an hour or two — researching reputable refiners might take longer. Would you spend a few hours to net an extra $100? What about an extra $1,000?

You make the call.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

How to Save on School Supplies Without Going Crazy

Carrie Kirby — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:36:15 +0000

If I had unlimited time and gas was cheap, I could get almost everything on my kid's school supply list for 25 cents per item or less.

But here in the real world, there are still ways to avoid spending a fortune on that long list the teachers provide. In fact, I have already gathered about half the items on my second-grader's list — without spending any money at all. I will have to spend a few dollars before I'm done, but my outlay will be nothing like the $200 some parents report spending. (See also: How to Get Into a Good School District for Less)

I get these savings using techniques and tips like these:

1. This time of year, most stores offer a few weekly loss leaders.

You'll find popular school supply items for a quarter, a penny, or even free at the major office stores, drug stores, and discount stores. Each Sunday, take a few minutes to look through the ads for the stores near you. Then, pick one store that has a great deal on several items you need. Try to stop there early in the week before supplies are out.

2. Check fliers for "basket" coupons, like $5 off a $25 purchase.

I've seen many of them so far this year. A quick web search for printable coupons would also be a good idea.

3. Now is a good time to cash in office supply store rewards.

I have been using the MaxPerks program at Office Max for about a year, and I love that you can spend your Perks online. Spend $50, and your order ships free. You could finish school supply shopping without even leaving the house!

4. Many of the best deals I've found this year have been at Walgreens.

They just happen to be piloting a new web pickup program right now in some areas. They're offering a $5 off $20 discount with the coupon code PICKUP20 — enter it when you place your order with a participating store through the website. Then you drive to your store and either wait in the car or go to the photo desk (depending on whether the store has pickup), and — voila! — discounted school supplies with minimal to no time in the store.

5. Take advantage of drugstore rewards programs.

This is how I've gotten some of my supplies free so far. Walgreens offered the ubiquitous 24-pack of crayons for free after Register Rewards. Then I took advantage of a moneymaking deal on another product where I received more back in Register Rewards than I had originally paid. The overage covered the purchase of a 29-cent pair of scissors and some highlighters.

6. Use manufacturer's coupons.

This time of year, school-supply makers publish coupons. I printed a manufacturer's coupon from Facebook to get the requested 12 dry-erase markers for free. The coupon was for $2 off 2 packs of markers, which were on sale for 99 cents apiece at Walgreens. (The cashier reduced the coupon to $1.98.)

7. Use what you already have.

Luckily, my 7-year-old is fond of the sturdy Crocodile Creek backpack that we got her for kindergarten — probably because her dad embroidered her name on it. We will be re-using her backpack and lunch pack, and I was able to locate a clip board and bottle of hand sanitizer we had lying around the house.

8. Stockpile supplies.

When you hit a store that is offering up to five notebooks for a penny each, buy the maximum, even if you only need two this year. You can always put them away for next year — or donate them to needy kids.

9. Work as a team.

Another way to take advantage of the seasonal bounty without accumulating too much excess is to team up with other parents from your kid's school. When those Sunday ads come out, you can hit Office Max while one neighbor hits Office Depot and another goes to Target. This way, you can scoop up multiples of all the loss leaders — or at least buy a large multipack and save by buying in bulk.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Black Friday Tips From Money-Saving Experts

Carrie Kirby — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 13:00:06 +0000

I recently had the chance to hear top money-saving bloggers Miriam Kamin of Wantnot.net, Cassie and Alex Michael of TheThriftyCouple, and Tiffany Ivanovsky of MyLitter (so called because the lady has seven kids). They all presented at Savings.com's Save Up conference in Chicago, and they shared their top tips for saving the most money possible on Black Friday. Here's a sampling:

From Mir of Wantnot.net: Prepare for online Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping at least a day ahead of time (as in, now)

Try filling your shopping cart in advance. Some retailers will save it, some won't. If you're not sure if it will save, jot down the item numbers so you can quickly throw them into your cart on the big day.
Layer on the discounts. Black Friday sales may look good, but you can probably do even better by combining that sale with a coupon code, or shopping through a rebate portal like Ebates. (Carrie here: If you have a Groupon or other daily deal certificate, try using that on a Black Friday sale.)
Assemble your coupon codes in advance. (Carrie here: You can find them at RetailMeNot, Ebates or just by Googling the store name and "coupon code.")
Follow your retailers on Twitter and Facebook. They might announce limited-time deals or release coupon codes.

For more tips from Mir, see my Black Friday planning post on my blog, Frugalista.

From The Thrifty Couple: Take advantage of the deals without blowing your budget

If you're married, work together to set up a specific per-person budget and gift list. For example, the Michaels budget $50 for each immediate family member and $15 for extended family.
As you shop, update the list so you know when you've spent your allocated funds.
Also note on your list where you hid each gift.

For more tips from Cassie and Alex, see my Black Friday budgeting post on Frugalista.

From Tiffany of MyLitter: Tips for buying for a large family

No matter how many children you have, leave them at home on Black Friday.
Don't feel like you have to budget exactly the same amount for each child. "There's no reason that my 4-month-old child is really going to get anything at Christmas. She's going to get the token wrapped present from Santa at Christmas so the other kids don't get suspicious."
If you see a good toy on sale, buy it. Chances are, one of the kids will be ready for it by the holidays.
Look for large toys sets, like the huge Lego bucket with lots of pieces, or multipacks that can be divided and wrapped individually.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Shopping articles from Wise Bread.

5 Places to Save on Halloween Costumes Online

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:00:05 +0000

Halloween is one of those times that brings out the foolish spender inside so many of us. We can plan ahead and spend too much by picking the hottest costumes of the year from catalogs, or we can wait til the last minute and spend too much at those outrageously overpriced Halloween superstores. Instead, why not just take the easy route to really cute costumes by shopping for costume bargains online?

One note: All these ideas are a lot easier if you don't set your heart on a specific costume before you start shopping. For kids, if you do a little pre-shopping before having that "what do you want to be" discussion with the kids, you can guide them toward a costume that you already know is a good value on one of these sites. Nefarious parent! (Hey, maybe that's what I'll dress up as. No costume required.)

thredUP, the kids' clothing swap site, is doing special Halloween swaps. For $5 plus the cost of shipping, you can choose a box with a gently used costume. In return, you agree to list a box of clothes for swap and mail it (postage free) when selected by another user. Listed on the site right now are a cow, a lion, a unicorn, and other costumes. (Not only will this save you money, it's also an environmentally-friendly way to get rid of last year's costumes.)
For your high-end costumes, Zulily has multiple Halloween events running through Sept. 30: Le Top costumes and adorable outfits, Rubie's costumes, WishingWear costumes.
Freecycle! Again with the Earth-friendly! If you watch Freecycle listings for the next few weeks you will doubtless see costumes listed, or you can just ask your local Freecycle group for the exact costume you want.
Ebay's Halloween store is currently offering free shipping on "everything Halloween." Not only can you get great deals on used costumes, but it's also a good place to locate new items that finish off the DIY costume, like a pair of ruby slippers for Dorothy.
OldNavy.com. How could you not love this little bumblebee for only $15? Shipping is a flat $7, and if you spend $75 or more, you'll get 20% off your purchase, through 9/30. Maybe you can lump in some clearance-priced back-to-school clothes to get your total up to $75 — if you need them, of course.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Shopping articles from Wise Bread.

Christmas Shopping With Fake Money: Time to Get Started

Carrie Kirby — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:00:07 +0000

Last year, I wrote about Christmas shopping for my husband using "fake money" and it generated some excitement among readers who wanted to try it themselves for Christmas 2010. This post is laying down the gauntlet: If you want to shop with fake money for this holiday season, it's time to get moving!

The "fake money" I used last year came from swagbucks, an Amazon promotional credit, my PayPal balance, store credits, coupons, and free offers. This year, I have a bigger goal: Do all my holiday shopping with fake money.

Why do I feel that I can do this? Well, I have a lot more fake money this year. A little thing called Groupon gained steam since last holiday season, and I have earned many, many Groupon Bucks by promoting the excellent daily deals here and on my other blog. And I have a lot more SwagBucks than I had last year too, thanks to readers who have signed up through me. (Seriously. Thanks, readers.)

Here's what I am doing now, before the first green leaf has changed color, to prepare for Dec. 25:

Sign up for free Amazon Prime, which will allow me to ship my fake-money purchases for free. Right now you can get a year of free Prime through Amazon Student (if you have a .edu email address), or three months if you sign up for Amazon Mom. That would end before Christmas, but you can extend it by a month every time you spend $25 on certain products.
Build up my SwagBucks. SwagBucks earned for your own searches build up gradually over time, but you can really rack them up if you install the toolbar and watch for new Swag Codes to be released, then use those to encourage your friends or contacts on Facebook and Twitter to sign up through you.
Trade in SwagBucks for gift cards — and not spending them. Since there are limits on how many gift cards you can redeem during each two-week period and on each day, it's a good idea to start trading in SB for gift cards now in order to shop later.
Watch Groupon with an eye for gifts. Groupon will give you $10 for every new member who signs up through you and makes one purchase — and some deals go for as little as $5. Once you have some credits, keep an eye out for items that will make great gifts. Don't tell the people on my list, but a lot of them will be getting cashews and such from The Nutty Guys this year, since it's been featured several times on various cities' Groupon deals. (There are lots of other daily deal sites too, many of which also pay affiliate fees or credits.)
Accumulating freebies that might go in gift baskets. Even though I'm busier than ever, I still stop into CVS and Walgreens to grab freebies using "the drugstore game," and some of the items I get are quite valued by those I love. My Grandma is notoriously hard to buy for — but her eyes lit up last Christmas when she got my basket of ThermaCare wraps and Metamucil.

So, who's with me? I'd love to hear your ideas on how to Christmas shop for free this year.

Disclosure: I used my referral links to the various stores and reward programs I used, so if you would like to sign up for any of them through this post, I will receive a small payment or credit.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Shopping articles from Wise Bread.

Why Going to the Gym Is a Waste of Money, Time, and Resources

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:00:18 +0000

I noticed this morning that I have gained five pounds. Conventional wisdom says it's time to shell out to join a gym, or if I want to save money, dust off that jogging stroller.

But what does conventional wisdom know? A recent article in Time magazine points out that our belief that exercise is essential to weight loss is a recent development, and — this shocked me — not well supported by research.

That's right: For most people, exercise is useless for weight loss.

It sounds like complete crazy talk, yet the article cites solid-sounding research and academic experts saying just that. One recent study looked at overweight women, some of whom were assigned to work out with a trainer for different lengths of time, alongside a control group that did not work out. They didn't change their eating habits. All the groups on average lost weight, but the women who worked out did not lose significantly more than those who didn't.

What's going on?

The study's authors cite "compensation." That is, working out makes you hungry, so you eat more. You also might move around less for the rest of the day after you work out. The article also points out that most people overestimate how much food they can indulge in before they have consumed more calories than they just burned in their workout.

This would explain something that has baffled me since chidlhood: The overweight mail carrier. My dad delivered the mail as a kid, and I never understood how many of his colleagues, even though they were on walking routes, not driving routes, could have such big bellies. The answer, apparently, is that being out on that route all day made them very hungry.

All this leads me to think about the growing emphasis on "being active" in America right now, coming from everyone: from the schools to the scapegoats of childhood obesity, like children's television and McDonald's itself. The hope on McDonald's part seems to be that society will be OK with kids consuming their megacalorie meals as long as they do some jumping jacks first.

Look at the great amount of resources expended for the cause of physical fitness already. While I am not disputing that it's unhealthy to be sedentary, the experts quoted in this article contend that the kind of free exercise that we have traditionally incorporated into our day is just as healthy as organized sports for kids and treadmills for adults.

The article even quotes the head of Harvard's Prevention Research Center on Nutritional and Physical Activity wondering if the whole McDonald's playground idea was a ploy to get kids to eat more.

"I know it sounds kind of like conspiracy theory, but you have to think, if a kid plays five minutes and burns 50 calories, he might then go inside and consume 500 calories or even 1,000," Steven Gortmaker told Time.

Once I started thinking about it, I realized that working out is expensive in many ways. It might be worth it (at least for some people) if it increases your overall sense of well-being or prepares you for an activity you enjoy, like touring cities on foot or climbing a mountain. And of course, many if not most people who work out do it so they will look better and be more attractive than the gym rat on the machine two rows over. But in order to decide if something is worthwhile, you should take an honest look at what it costs.

Gym Fees

The most obvious, and most avoidable, cost of fitness. For those who have joined the extreme home workout trend, those 30 Day Shred and P90X DVDs ain't cheap either.

Time

This is a major one for parents of small children like me. If a leisurely walk with my children is as good or almost as good for me as an hour at a gym with them in the daycare, I'm unlikely to choose the latter. And with my husband already away from the kids for 10 hours or more on a weekday, does it make sense for him to use one of the remaining hours at the gym?

Increased Calories Consumed

People who work out for weight loss set out to burn calories they won't be replacing. But it doesn't usually work out that way, simply because our bodies are programmed to prevent that from happening. And what about people who work out to build muscle mass and intentionally increase their caloric intake to help build it?

I recently saw an exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry showing everything various Chicagoans ate in a day. One was an iron-pumping construction worker who consumed something like 12,000 calories, much of it protein. He obviously felt that the cost of purchasing all that extra food was worthwhile, but in a world where we are increasingly conscious of the environmental toll of food production, is it really sustainable for some people to consume six times as many calories as are needed for healthy survival?

Injuries

With all the talk about how healthy it is to stress your cardiovascular system, but there is little talk about the increased risk of injury that occurs when one switches from a brisk walk to lifting weights, running, or participating in sports.

As for those five extra pounds I'd like to shed, I'm now planning to cut back on the ice cream and walk my next errand rather than drive it, rather than set aside time for a daily workout. I still plan to join a local gym once my baby is a little older, but mainly because it offers a fitness activity that I truly enjoy: indoor rock climbing. After reading that article, I am a lot less likely to force myself through any fitness routine that I loathe in the perhaps unrealistic expectation of great weight loss and health benefits.

For those who work out in an organized fashion, do you feel that the benefits exceed the costs?

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, which will surely increase my sense of well-being if you use them to shop.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Health and Beauty articles from Wise Bread.

Secrets of Top eBay Sellers

Carrie Kirby — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:33:14 +0000

What do eBay's top sellers know about making money on online auctions that the rest of us don't?

I recently had the chance to hear four Top Rated Sellers, all people who make their living selling merchandise on eBay and even hire employees to help them do so, share their secrets. They also shared some of the frustrations of a career that might look easy-peasy to the average working stiff. Here are the sellers who spoke at a recent eBay: On Location event in Chicago.

Elizabeth Bennett, Africadirect
An eBay member since 1997, Bennett sells African art and ethnographic items. She fights poverty by obtaining items from co-ops across the continent, and has also contributed more than $33,000 through eBay Giving Works. Besides sharing a name with Jane Austen's most beloved heroine, Bennett has also been honored by Fortune magazine as small business entrepreneur.

Cindy Shebley, Clovercity
Ten-year eBay veteran Shebley works as an eBay education consultant, helping people start up and improve their eBay businesses and is the author of two books about selling on eBay.

Lynn Dralle, TheQueenofAuctions
Dralle has written six books based on what she's learned in 12 years of selling on eBay, specializing in antiques and collectibles. She also writes a biweekly newsletter and blogs at The Queen of Auctions.

Jordan Insley, QuickShipElectronics
Insley started selling sports memorabilia on eBay in 2002, and now runs a successful refurbished electronics business, employing about 9 people and making millions of dollars in sales each year.

Here are some of the habits of these, as they say, highly effective sellers:

They block problem customers, and even shoppers who ask negative questions.

Shebley: "I think that it's the worst customer service ever, to say don't come in the door, (but) I can't take a chance because if I lose my top seller status, I'll lose my search engine rankings."

They streamline the listing and sale process to increase their hourly earnings.

Dralle: "Never clean anything. I say in every listing, not cleaned." Plus, don't waste much time on descriptions, because "nobody reads them." Finally, have an assembly line set up so you can photograph and list items in batches.

Bennett: Save time by estimating weights for shipping instead of weighing everything. "If you're a little wrong it comes out in the wash. The cost of accurate information as opposed to the value of quick information in profit is worth it."

They automate or delegate so they can focus on their passion.

Dralle: Going out and finding stuff is fun, and I pay someone else to do everything I don't like.

Insley: "I use a service called Hosted Support, for $20-$25 a month. It seems like a lot but” it cuts down on pre-sale questions because the button that buyers see is so small. (You read that right: He likes the service because the interface discourages shoppers from asking questions.)

They buy low, sell high.

All the power sellers said they constantly get asked where they get the stuff they sell. The answers: Garage sales, Craigslist, and businesses unloading unsold inventory.

Their business is their passion — or at least it saves them from putting on a suit or lifting heavy loads.

Dralle said she started after she inherited 80 boxes of merchandise from the antique shop her grandmother ran for five decades. However, the inherited merchandise was more of a motivation than the actual sales material: "I had 80 boxes that I inherited from her, they're still in my garage. Then I bought my mom's 80 boxes and my brother's 80 boxes. (And) I just go to garage sales and estate sales. It's a lot of fun, the treasure hunt."

For Insley, it was more his old career pushing him to find something new. "I was working (as a) waiter at one of the busiest restaurants in New York. After awhile I couldn't handle leaving on a Saturday night at 2:30 in the morning, and waking up to work brunch at 7 in the morning."

"It's just, figure out this is what I really want to do, and I don't want to wear a suit and tie every day or … (if you're a lady), dresses"

Bennett took a break from a corporate career to visit South Africa, then upon her return started selling artifacts she'd bought there at shows. Then she tried eBay and the success there convinced her to take her corporate skills and apply them to this new way of doing business. "From almost that week, eBay was the larger portion of our reveneues. A year or two later, we stopped doing shows and stopped doing (offline) wholesale."

Shebley transitioned from one small business to another: "I had a small garden store before I had eBay...My partner and I, we were getting older, and lifting 50 lb. bags of rock phosphate and lime doesn't get any easier. We were trying to decide what we wanted to do with our future, and eBay provided the opening for me to transition to a different business that was a little bit easier on the body."

For more eBay listing tips, see Amy Lin's post on the topic.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Extra Income articles from Wise Bread.

Save 50% or More on Local Stuff with Groupon and Others

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:00:06 +0000

There has been an explosion of local deal-of-the-day sites in cities across the country, resulting in a windfall of 50% or more discounts on all kinds of goods and services.

For all of these sites — the most well known are Groupon and Living Social — the drill is basically the same: a local business offers a voucher or service package at a steep discount for one day, or for a limited time only. Common offers are spa visits, salon treatments, restaurants, and sporting events. Sometimes you'll get a retail offering too. My favorite deals offer something totally crazy that you didn't even know existed, like Demented Donuts.

In a moment, a list of daily deal sites available in major cities. But first a few tips for buying and using Groupons and other discounted vouchers:

Consider the location. If you live in a large metro area like I do (Chicago), many of the deals you see for your city will be a long drive from your home or work. I made the mistake of snapping up a massage package an hour's drive away. At $100 for three hour-long massages, I couldn't pass up the deal, but now the coupon is soon to expire and I've only managed to use one of the three massages.
Is it really an exceptional deal? The daily deal sites usually tell you up front the percent of the discount, but if you'll be going out of your way to patronize this business, you might want to check their Web site to see if they offer any similar deals on an everyday basis, or see how the one-day deal compares to specials available at the businesses you usually patronize.
How much more will you have to spend? I like deals that charge a flat fee for the whole service, but some offers sell you a discount, meaning that you'll still have to pay money beyond the coupon value. If so, check the price before buying the voucher — I recently saw an offer for $60 off hair coloring, which I thought would pay for the whole service. But when I checked the Web site, I saw that salon's coloring services started at $180. Saved from a deal-of-the-day misstep!
Is it better than Restaurant.com? I haven't gone for any restaurant deals because they usually offer a gift certificate or voucher for the restaurant at a 50% discount. I prefer to use a coupon code at Restaurant.com to pay $2 or $3 for a $25 certificate, a much better discount than paying $25 for a $50 voucher.
Don't forget to tip on the full amount. When visiting the restaurant, salon, or other business where tips are appropriate, you should tip 15-20% of the service's regular cost, not of your discounted cost.

The Daily Deals Sites

Groupon is now available in cities across the country and even in Vancouver. New York City, Los Angeles, Tulsa, Wichita, you name it. It has a twist: The deal is not officially available until enough people have signed up, but since it is so popular, the deal has been “on” every day I've looked. Groupon is a robust service that often has the companies offering the deal answer questions on the site, offers an iPhone app, and has regional meet-ups for fans. They're even paying a dude called the Groupawn to travel for a year living on nothing but an unlimited supply of Groupons.

Living Social lists 26 cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, LA and Washington, DC.

Tippr lists eight cities, including Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, DC, and San Francisco. Their twist is that the deal usually gets better after a certain number of people buy.

Angie's List Big Deal is currently in a handful of cities including Chicago, New York, San Francisco, DC, and Cleveland. Coming soon to many more.

You've Gotta Get It is just Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area

YouSwoop is Chicago-only.

There are more sites out there — more are popping up almost literally every day. But these are the bigger ones. I list all of those daily, plus a few Chicago-only sites, on my blog, Frugalista, every weekday.

Although I've made a few mistakes getting overly excited about daily deals, I've also snagged some great bargains. Using Groupon and Living Social, I've gotten my laundry washed and folded at 60% off, gotten a spa mani-pedi, and tried out pre-cooked gourmet meals.

I've also managed to get some free Groupons and made some cash by referring friends and readers to these sites. To refer friends to Groupon, follow the instructions here and you'll get a $10 credit when your referral makes his or her first purchase. Become a YouSwoop ambassador and you can get 10% of your referrals' purchases — in cash. Living Social will give you a $5 credit for each referral.

This post contains affiliate links to help me fulfill my goal of papering my bedroom in Groupons — or greenbacks.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Shopping articles from Wise Bread.

Sun Screens Can Really Cost You – By the Ounce or By the Tumor

Carrie Kirby — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:58:51 +0000

If you've been paying extra for sun products containing Vitamin A — often marketed as preventing your skin from aging — you might as well save your money. In fact, you may need it for future surgical bills. A new report from the Environmental Working Group cites “new government data linking a form of vitamin A used in sunscreens to accelerated growth of skin tumors and lesions.

Yikes. And that's not all. The report also warns that at least 26 "for babies" sunscreens contain a chemical that scientists specifically warned against using on children more than a decade ago.

Another yikes: What you're buying with sunscreens that list really high SPFs like 100 is a false sense of security, because they do not perform up to that level. The report also warns that even with lower SPFs, most people never get the amount of protection advertised on the bottle because in order to get that, we'd have to slather it on super thick.

(I know. We're frugal. We don't slather. But the experts say that an SPF 30 is not truly SPF 30 if it is spread thin.)

This is a good news, bad news report for cheapskates. The good news is, we don't have to feel guilty about not springing for SPF 100 for our kids or feel like we're missing out if we don't invest in the “age-defying” sunscreen for ourselves.

But here comes the bad news: The sunscreens that received the EWG's top safety rating all cost more than $4 an ounce.

I'm a cheap mom. As a rule, I will not shell out for high-end children's toiletries, foods, or gadgets unless someone proves to me that there's a compelling need for that upgrade. You're not going to find Mustela diaper cream in my bag, since CVS' facsimile of A&D does just fine at preventing diaper rash.

For sunscreen, I use the CVS brand — which I usually get for free. At the end of every season, they'll put this stuff on clearance, and combined with a coupon I can bring home multiple tubes for free. And, before you interrupt me, it's a myth that you have to buy sunscreen fresh each season. As long as it's not expired or more than three years old, it should be effective, according to MayoClinic.com.

The EWG report's site has a handy — but disheartening — feature that allows you to look up your sunscreen in a database of 1,381 products, and find out its rating. A score of 0-2 means the product is recommended, 3-6 means “caution,” and 7-10 means “avoid.”

Here's how mine rates:

CVS Fast Cover Continuous Lotion Spray Suncscreen, SPF 50

Score: 7 (Avoid) because it contains oxybenzone, “a potential hormone disrupter (that) penetrates the skin in relatively large amounts” — that's the chemical a scientist warned against putting on children's skin back in 1997. This product also lost points because it's a spray, which is more likely to be inhaled.

CVS Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30

Score: 7, because it contains oxybenzone and vitamin A.

(Note: I didn't buy any of the “baby” or “kid” sunscreens because I am generally skeptical of products so labeled, but those CVS products are also rated 7 for the same reasons.)

So what does the EWG recommend? Only mineral sunscreens like titanium dioxide, which are not only pretty expensive but generally thick and pasty. Instead of using chemical blockers, these products physically block the sunlight from hitting your skin.

Here are the Amazon.com prices on some of the sunscreens that got the green light:

Badger SPF 30 Unscented Sunscreen $16.99 for 3.5 oz. ($4.85/oz.)

California Baby SPF 30 + Sunscreen Lotion - Super Sensitive, 2.9 oz $21 for 3.2 oz. ($6.56/oz.)

Loving Naturals Organic SPF 30 Sunscreen Zinc Oxide 2 oz UVA/UVB $12.51 for 2 oz. (on sale!) ($6.25/oz.)

Sunscreen, SPF 30, 2.6 oz ( Multi-Pack) $35.78 for two 2.6 oz. tubes ($6.88/oz.)

Now, keep in mind that doctors recommend that an adult use one ounce of sunscreen for every few hours of sun exposure. Even assuming I use 1/3 ounce on each of my three kids twice a day, that means I could be spending more than $10 protecting them from the sun every single day.

This makes the EWG's recommendation that you just cover your skin with clothing sound a lot more attractive. But I just don't know. I saw two kids at the public pool today wearing “bathing suits” that went from their necks to their wrists and ankles, with matching floppy hats that they kept on while in the water. I have to say they looked bubble wrapped. Would you rather wear a bathing suit of Victorian proportions, and put your kids in them, than risk cancer with sunscreen you can afford?

I guess I will spring for the titanium dioxide stuff, and try to keep those sunhats on the kids this summer. But with three little wigglers to cover every time we go out, I am really going to miss the convenience of the spray-on stuff.

P.S. Trader Joe's sell sunscreen with zinc oxide that did not list oxybenzone or vitamin A. At only $5.99 for a hefty 6 oz tube ($1 per adult application if used as recommended), I thought it would be at worst a stopgap measure until I could find the best price on a fancy sunblock, and at best a bargain solution.

Well, more of a stopgap, it turns out. The EWG rates Trader Joe's Face & Body Sunscreen at 4, in the caution range. Apparently it does contain vitamin A, which goes by the chemical name retinyl palmitate and is listed under “inactive ingredients.” It also contains several other chemicals considered to pose “moderate” health risks.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.com.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Health and Beauty articles from Wise Bread.

10 Ways to Cut Waste When Feeding Kids

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:00:03 +0000

I don't know about your kids, but mine just will not eat kibble. At least not the generic kind. Which means I have to shell out for pricey people food like vegetables, fruit, and milk.

To be honest, I'm a better mom than I let on — I even shell out for organic stuff for my three tykes. But then, so much of that pristine, chemical-free food ends up on the floor or being scraped into the garbage disposal that I wonder why I bothered. Here are the guidelines we use at our house to try to cut the waste-to-consumption ratio when feeding the kids.

1. Give tiny servings.

One of my kids eats like a bird, and it seems that no matter how small a scoop I give her of the night's meal, she manages to leave some in her bowl. I'd rather refill her little dish three times than have her take a few bites and leave the rest that technically should not be saved now that it's been eaten out of. For this fussy little one, even a 4-ounce container of yogurt or applesauce gets divided into two or three servings lest she waste the whole package.

I don't mind doing frequent refills even for heartier eaters either, because it means less food is lost in the inevitable spill.

2. Ask before serving.

Since I don't force (strongly advise, sometimes, but not force) my kids to eat what they don't want, I always ask before putting something on their plates: Would you like some salad? Would you like dressing on that? Where would you like me to put the dressing? ("Between your knees, Mom," is not an acceptable answer.)

It may seem like pandering, but it prevents waste and I feel that showing them a little respect teaches them to treat others with respect.

3. Slice it, dice it.

Don't you just love finding a pear or apple with a centimeter of fruit eaten off the outside and the rest left to turn brown? My kids always eat their apples that way. But if I serve them apple slices instead of the whole thing, between my two girls I'll actually use up the entire apple. Victory!

4. Serve food that you don't mind finishing for them.

I've read that parents gain weight when they eat with their kids, and it's easy to see why: My husband and I ALWAYS end up finishing our kids' plates. Sometimes after a particularly good meal we tussle over the privilege — a sad sight, I assure you. Maybe we're the only parents not squeamish about sharing our kids' germs, but from the way I see the other moms swoop in on their kids' leftover cake at birthday parties, I think not. So go easy on the fatty, high-calorie foods even if the kids don't need to watch their weight, because the person clearing their plate will probably be you.

5. Don't fear the sippy cup.

I know this is controversial, but I don't mind giving my 3-year-old a sippy at the table when she's drinking anything other than water, because I know the cup will get knocked over at some point during the meal. Organic milk costs $6 a gallon and I don't want it soaking up into a towel, because they balk when you wring that towel into their cereal the next day. (Just kidding! I actually only wring it into my coffee.) If the sippy spout seems too much like a bottle to you, use a closed cup with a straw.

6. Keep food and drink at the table.

You know where I collect the most half-drunk sippy cups? The car. If you let the kids wander the house or go on an outing with a milk cup, chances are that milk is going to get wasted. My kids can have a cup or water bottle in the car, but it's full of just that: water.

7. Don't go all out on school lunches.

If your kid is like my kindergartener, anything left over from lunch will come home too grubby and mangled to save, not to mention that it's been unrefrigerated all day. So don't pack a larger lunch than she can finish in the allotted time, and don't let peer pressure tempt you into overspending either on the most parent-approved organics or the most kid-approved packaged foods for lunch. Pack something simple and healthy that won't drive you to drink if it comes home wasted.

8. Transform leftovers.

Sometimes I will refrigerate my kid's plate after they're done, especially if they haven't much touched the food. But if I put that same plate in front of them for the next meal, they won't go near it. Instead, I have to mix that leftover meat into their dinner casserole or otherwise disguise it. My 3-year-old's leftover milk usually ends up in my morning coffee. And half a jar of baby food — assuming you followed Rule #1 and didn't feed directly from the jar — can be thrown into your meatloaf or pasta sauce a la The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals, or frozen in an ice cube tray.

9. Wash it.

Whether or not the 3-second rule is law in your house, some foods like raw fruits and vegetables can be washed even if they've languished on the floor for more than a moment. After all, this stuff wasn't clean to begin with — it began its life covered with dirt. So why not rinse off any floor dust and for an encore presentation?

10. Even if it's beyond human consumption, you can still reuse it.

The absolute best way to guarantee zero waste when feeding your kids is a pet. Families with a dog in the house never have to sweep the chunks off the floor after meals. And I hear about households with guinea pigs and chickens putting those dinner scraps right into the food bowl. Better the chickens having to finish those carrots that fell on the floor than you, right?

If you don't have animals, at least compost the food. Since we got a worm bin in our basement (finally!), I don't feel QUITE as bad about bits of fruit and veggies that get left on the kids' plates. At least it will eventually help our garden grow new fruits and veggies, and maybe next time around the kids will actually eat them.

Written by Carrie Kirby and published on Wise Bread. Read more Food and Drink articles from Wise Bread.