tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39582334561122939422024-02-20T08:32:47.879-08:00Make Every Dollar CountA seriously humorous look at saving money, one dollar at a time.Linxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231462343123561311noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958233456112293942.post-71024771283778108172012-10-15T03:54:00.000-07:002012-10-15T03:54:02.090-07:00Make the Most of Loyalty CardsA lot of people take advantage of coupons, but many retailers and restaurants try to entice repeat business by offering bonuses for loyalty. These type of frequent user cards allow the consumer to get free or reduced priced stuff.<br />
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I am a frequent customer of<a href="http://www.panerabread.com/"> Panera Bakery and Caf</a>e, and they offer a reward program called <a href="http://mypanera.panerabread.com/">MyPanera</a>. It is as simple as you could ask for. All you need to do is sign up, and present your card whenever you buy anything at the restaurant. <br />
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You get a free item for signing up, another free item for your birthday, and depending on the number of times you present your card, you earn discounts and free stuff during the year.<br />
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This morning I got a dollar off a beverage, but in the few years the program has been in effect, I have received a lot of awards, including:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Free bagels, </li>
<li>Free pastry, or a dollar off a pastry</li>
<li>$2.00 off a You-Pick-2 meal</li>
<li>Free coffees</li>
</ul>
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It costs nothing to join, and if this is a somewhere you go regularly, can really save you money. <br />
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My advice to make every dollar count: Sign up for the reward cards wherever you eat or shop. There are a lot of free gifts to be had for a little loyalty.<br />
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<br />Linxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231462343123561311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958233456112293942.post-42841427733489473352012-06-14T04:09:00.000-07:002012-06-14T04:09:30.762-07:00Pay With Cash and More<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A lot of financial planner types recommend using cash
instead of credit cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Credit makes
purchases very easy, sometimes too easy and leads to excessive spending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(On that note, have you ever bought anything
on credit at Target?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is under $25,
it takes less time to swipe than it takes to bag the item, yet, the lines are
still long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is that?)</div>
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I want to take that a step farther:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of cash, pay with change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pennies are best, as they are really
difficult and a pain for both you and the cashier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You really will resist the urge to spend if
you have to painstakingly count out pennies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, that might be overdoing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Quarters are too easy, it’s almost like spending dollars,
and you will need quarters for vending machines (Not!) or laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good compromise is using dimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easy to carry around but still an annoyance
to use, which is what we want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Make sure you do use pennies to pay the odd cents that come
up in every transaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the price is
$2.29 for that small latte, don’t pay with two dollar bills and three
dimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay with one dollar bill, 12
dimes and nine pennies,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> After the looks you get from the cashier and other customers behind you, y</span>ou will think
twice about going back there again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Money saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cha-ching. </div>Linxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231462343123561311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958233456112293942.post-84302872378823264442012-06-14T04:06:00.001-07:002012-06-14T04:06:04.943-07:00Pennies Become Dollars<br />
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I had a boss who used the expression “Pennies become dollars.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t that he was particularly miserly,
it was that he felt that if you saved money on little things, it would add up
to big savings over time. </div>
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I am not sure I agree with that statement totally, in that
sometimes if you focus on little things, you sometimes miss the bigger
opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I generally go with “Don’t
sweat the small stuff” as a favorite saying. </div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
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That said, pennies can add up to dollars in the right
circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t miss the big
picture, focusing on each small transaction can save you money. </div>Linxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231462343123561311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958233456112293942.post-51084869665355362572012-06-13T18:12:00.002-07:002012-06-13T18:12:49.810-07:00Order the Small Size at McDonald'sDo you want to start saving money?<br />
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The first tip is when you go to McDonald's. order the small size drink and fries. They are cheaper, sometimes considerably cheaper. <br />
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For instance, a small french fries is $1.00. Medium or large is anywhere from $1.60 to $2.20. Getting the small saves a buck, and is better for your heart. Learn to enjoy the smaller version. <br />
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Soft drinks are similar. Small size is a buck, and the bigger vats will cost 50 cents to a dollar more. If you really need more pop, go inside and help yourself to the free refill. <br />
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This assumes they don't have the drink special in your location where all the drinks cost are the same. I am a bit lost on that. What's the point? Who would order a small if the large is the same price? People with small hands? Small cupholders? It's either brilliant marketing or very dumb. <br />
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A word about combos. Do the math, and in a lot of cases you are better off ordering a small fry and soda rather than "saving" on a combo. Yes, you get more sugar and fat, if that's what you really want. But, you will still save money if you get the sandwich from the drive-through and drink a bottle from home, or God forbid, drink water. <br />
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The best answer when someone asks: "You want fries with that?"<br />
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Hell no. Linxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231462343123561311noreply@blogger.com0