Smart Idea
the Discount Diva
Smart Idea
Frozen Assets
I can't remember exactly who it was that told me to freeze my credit card (yes, literally in a block of ice) -- mom?, dad?, Suze Orman? Whoever it was, I want to thank you.
Last weekend I was online looking at televisions. Everything I found looked sub-par and un-special. Then, my husband got online and found a really nice 42-inch plasma screen TV (that mounts on the wall)! We both fell in love. Granted, our current TV is still in fabulous condition. But, you know how it is. When you see something better, you just can't get it out of your mind. "Where's the credit card," I shouted. "I really want this TV."
"Are you sure you want it," my husband asked. At that moment, I would do anything for it. "I think you put the credit card in the freezer last month," he added. "Oh yeah," I pouted. There it was, my ticket to the T.V. frozen solid in a block of ice. I started chipping at the ice. Then, I ran hot water over it. I was desperate. "Just let it melt," my husband said. I sat down in front of our three-year-old TV and flipped through channels as I waited. Ten minutes passed and I started thinking: "Do we REALLY need a new TV?...this one is better than perfect...plus it's HD...the one online isn't HD..." I was talking myself out of buying the TV!
In the end, we decided against the TV (which would have been a complete impulse buy to begin with) and we put the credit card back in the freezer. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made, even if it did involve a strange tactic.
Want to put the credit card you use for online purchases on ice? Here's how to do it: Fill a small bucket half-full with water and let it freeze. Place your card on top of the frozen ice and then fill the bucket with water. Put the bucket back in the freezer to allow the top half to ice.
This is Just a Test
Here's the thing: I don't mind buying makeup online, but what I DO mind is when I order a foundation only to find that it is two shades off when it arrives at my door. Instead of going throught the hassle to return it, I usually stash the bottle under my sink. Whew, you should see how many full bottles are gathering dust under there!
If you're like me and not sure which foundation shade to buy online, Face Atelier, a makeup line favored by many professionals, has an answer that will save you money. At the companies website, Faceatelier.com, you can buy sample sizes (with about three uses in each) of the entire product line -- foundations, shimmers, lipsticks, lip glazes -- for just $1. It's a win-win situation. If the color works, great, buy the full size. If the color is completely off, you don't have to stress about tossing it in the garbage...or getting nagged every nine minutes by your significant other for creating clutter under the sink.
On My Soap Box
A reader recently wrote to share a unique cost-cutting technique that I'm, in turn, sharing with you.
She buys shampoo based not just on its cleansing strengths, but its scent as well. The reason being: After her hair is all sudsy from shampoo, she gathers handfuls of the foam and uses it to wash the rest of her!
Okay, I admit that I was skeptical at first. How could anything compare to my Cherry Almond Body Wash? Seriously. But, I decided to give this quirky technique a shot.
"Maybe I've taken thrifty too far," wrote the reader. "But soap is soap, isn't it?"
It sure is! The shampoo left my skin squeaky clean and smelly sweet, too!
You Say "Late Lunch," I Say "Early Dinner"
To save on pricey dinners, try grubbing at restaurants around 2pm or 3pm, when many eateries are still taking lunch orders.
I did this last weekend when I went out to eat with a girlfriend. I ordered a pasta dish for $8 (the same dish was $12 on the dinner menu), while my friend ordered a seafood dish for $10 (the same dish was $14 on the dinner menu).
We saved even more money (and calories), by sipping lemon-spiked water with our dinner...er, lunch.
After our meal, my friend was so ecstatic at how much money we pocketed that she picked up the check!
One of the Easy Ways to Be Eco-Friendly...
Whenever I want to mail packages and find myself without packing material, I use the little plastic bags that my newspapers are delivered in. I just blow air into them and tie a knot at the end. The bags work just as well as pricey air packs and bubble wrap. Plus, I get to pat myself on the back for doing some of my part for the planet.
about the blogger
Ayren
Ayren Jackson-Cannady has yet to find a bargain or sale she didn’t like. It’s a good relationship for her wallet, but not so much for the dwindling closet space in the apartment that she shares with her husband, John and her cat, Shiny in Brooklyn, NY.
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