Expert Savings Tips

Procrastinated on the summer family trip? Use these tips to find great deals on last minute traveling.

The first day of summer 2013 is June 21. It’s often a pricy season: there are vacations and road trips to plan, the kids are in need of childcare, camp or other activities to keep them busy and don’t forget the added cost of making sure your air conditioning is ice cold all summer long! Fortunately, there are some things you can do now to keep your summer budget under control.

Vacations 
It just doesn’t feel like summer to many of us without a road trip or vacation. It’s too late to save big by booking earlier, but fortunately you can also get great deals by snagging them at the last minute. Start looking on deals sites, such as Hotwire, Expedia and Travelocity to get an idea of travel prices. Compare rates on the places you’re interested in visiting so you know a good deal when you see one and can jump on it. Renting a house through a website like VRBO Vacation Rentals is often much cheaper than staying at a hotel. It will also give your family more room to spread out and allow you to prepare meals there, saving a ton of money on food costs during your [Read more...]

Save big on dairy products during National Dairy Month with these helpful tips.

Did you know that June is National Dairy Month? We all know that dairy products are super healthy due to being packed with Vitamin D, calcium and other nutrients, but they can also be very expensive. Check out these tips on how to save on dairy products.

1. Buy in bulk and/or locally when possible – Buying in bulk is almost always cheaper than buying traditional amounts at a grocery store unless you happen to come across a super awesome coupon and deal. If your family uses a lot of dairy products, it just may be worth it to invest in a warehouse club membership to purchase blocks of cheese (generally cheaper than pre-shredded), cases of yogurt and butter, etc. Gallons of milk are also often cheapest at warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club. Check local farmer’s markets for great deals on local cheeses and butter and support your local economy.

2. Make your own – Did you know that many dairy products can be made fairly easily at home with just milk and/or cream? Buttermilk can be made by mixing vinegar or lemon juice into [Read more...]

Save on key summer items like beach and pool toys by using these helpful tips!

Summer has arrived! Do you need to replenish your warm weather wardrobe and supplies? No problem. You can do it without breaking the bank with a few easy tips.

Sunscreen.
Sunscreen is often pricey, but it’s a must! Look for buy-one-get-one-free offers and stock up. Stores like Target and Walmart will keep different brands on sale throughout the summer. Big box stores like CVS and Walgreens will also hold sales on sunscreen. If you don’t already, be sure to look at the weekly flyers for these stores to get the deals while they last! Also, keep an eye out for coupons to stack with the sale prices to extend your savings even further.

Beach and Pool Toys.
Don’t spend a fortune on rafts, noodles, pails, shovels and balls. These items often get lost or damaged and need to be replaced each year – if not sooner. Give each child a budget and take a family trip to Dollar General or Dollar Tree. Besides the bigger summer toys and [Read more...]

Read these tips on how to make the most of your garden to save even more money.

Now that summer is upon us, we can start to really utilize our garden to grow beautiful flowers and also grow various fruits and vegetables to cut costs in the kitchen. While gardening can seem easy, there are many ways that you can end up paying more than you bargained for if you aren’t careful. Here are ten helpful ways to make the most of your garden while keeping costs in mind.

1. Use quality soil - While homegrown compost is always one of the best choices, it’s not always the most practical. If you aren’t able to make your own compost, make sure your existing dirt is nutrient-rich for all the plants. If you are building a raised bed, which is usually easier to maintain, or containers, purchase nutrient-rich soils, such as Miracle-Gro Flower and Vegetable Garden Soil, that already contains continuous release plant food. You can find this at your local home improvement store, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot.

2. Utilize space to the maximum - It’s very important to find the perfect spacing for your plants. You don’t want them to be so close that the plants become stressed, or spreading disease, but you also [Read more...]

Find creative and personalized ways to celebrate Father’s Day like making him his favorite meal or picking up his favorite beverage.

Father’s Day is tricky. We all want to show the important men in our lives how much we appreciate them, but cool gifts are often pricey. So what do you do other than pick up another lame, cheap tie? Here are five ideas for low-cost Father’s Day items that men will actually be happy to receive.

For the techie:
Do some research on apps you think your favorite guy would enjoy, such as those related to golf, car maintenance or his favorite show. Give him a handwritten card with a note of suggestions along with a Google Play or iTunes gift card. Hijack his iPod or phone and sneak a custom playlist onto it that you created just for him. This will give him a lasting gift that he will get use out of over and over, and every time he uses it, he will think of the person who gave it to him!

For the food lover:
Make Dad his favorite meal or dessert. Take him out to his favorite burger joint (don’t forget to check online for coupons first!) or surprise him with a box of donuts. Order a unique take on a beloved food. For example [Read more...]