Cheap Ways To ...

The average cost of raising a child from birth to four years is about $250 a week, according to a 2004 survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

They estimated that families making $70,200 a year or more spend a quarter of a million dollars on child from birth through age 17. The survey interviewed and visited 5,000 households four times a year.

This article on Money Central at MSN, which cites the survey, offers some general principles on keeping the costs down. The first and most compelling one is: don't buy more house. The bigger you buy, the more you'll pay. Make the most of what you have, and like many in hot real estate markets, consider remodeling and/or expanding instead of altogether moving.

Posted by Cara Davis at 09:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A quick, fun and easy way to score extra cash is to sell your books on Amazon.com. Click the "sell your stuff" link on the site, enter the ISBN of your book, answer a couple of questions about its condition and set a price. I always price mine just below the lowest listed price, so the listing will go to the top of the list.

Just recently, I listed Freakanomics and Widow of the South after my husband and I purchased and read them ... We got $20 for them and they sold within hours of the posting.

Posted by Cara Davis at 08:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So occasionally I get the urge to contact a company to share my experience with their product or restaurant, etc. A couple of weeks ago I emailed the customer service department at Birds Eye frozen foods to let them know how much I was enjoying a new product of theirs (Italian Herb Harvest Vegetables) and how I often bring it for lunch at work. I also suggested that the packaging needed some more thought, as it's terribly difficult to pull that plastic lid off when the food is like 400 degrees when it comes out of the microwave. Anyway, I received a nice email back and a few days later, a packet of coupons for their products arrived. Coupons for free products and some with nice discounts. It pays to be a nerd!

I emailed Chick-Fil-A a couple of years back and received a coupon for a free sandwich. Why not think of some products you enjoy, email the company and let them know, then check your mailbox for a nice surprise a few days later?!

Posted by Cara Davis at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My first live radio interview to support Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot happens Mon., Jan 30 at 12:05 Eastern on KBJS Radio, “Take 5! with Eddie Basari.” It's a 100,000 watts, Christian station in the Jacksonville, Tyler, Longview, Texas market and is part of USA Radio Network; Moody Broadcasting Network; Salem Radio Network.

Tuesday I'll be on KCMS-FM, Scott & Sam in the Morning, a 54,000 watts, commercial station owned by Crista Ministries, at 12:15 Eastern. It broadcasts to the Seattle area at 105.3 FM.

Posted by Cara Davis at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

580 WDBO, a talk and news radio station in Orlando has listed by event in their calendar: Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot Book Signing and Release Party.

Posted by Cara Davis at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The new issue of ReadyMade magazine (the publication that inspired the look and feel of my book, Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot) landed on my desk today—and the entire thing is on weddings. Like cheap, DIY weddings. Like what my entire book is about. My book would have been perfect for coverage in it. Unfortunately, about the time this issue was being planned the book wasn't even designed yet. You win some, you lose some. But, if you like my book, you'll definitely want to check out this issue of ReadyMade.

"The Love Issue" covers:
• 69 Ways to Woo
• Nuptial Know-How (ingenious ways to beat the wedding industry at their own game)
• Six Irresistible Proposals
• Wedding crib sheet: inspirational invitations, tree-trunk chuppah, tabletoppers
• personalized matchbooks, diy ring pillow
• buyer's guide

We'll still send them a copy of the book. Pray that they'll review it in their June issue!

Posted by Cara Davis at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The first few copies of my new book, Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot: How to Plan a Church Wedding for Less than $5,000 (Relevant Books), arrived last week. There's just something about the smell of a new book. I want to bottle it up so I can remember that moment.

We're gearing up to celebrate its release with a couple of parties/book signings. If you're in the Orlando/Central Florida area, join us at the offices of Relevant Media Group Monday, Feb. 6 from 7:30-10 p.m. for our release party and in Sanford next to the Seminole Town Center at the Honey Baked Ham Cafe for a book signing later that week on Thursday, Feb. 9 from 5-8 p.m. There will be free food and drawings for prizes at each. Email me for directions and a coupon for the book!

The book is available for pre-order at the links to the right of the page and will ship out very soon!

Posted by Cara Davis at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I check Craigslist's listings for furniture classifieds in Orlando periodically. Since my husband and I are moving into our first house in a month, I've been looking for used furniture. This week I found a listing for 2-year-old black leather sofa and loveseat and dining room set from American Signature listed for $875 and $250, respectively. We negotiated and ended up at $950 for all the items. The pieces retail for $2,700. The seller was moving this week to San Francisco and found it easier to sell it than transport it. My husband and his brother brought a couple of trucks to his apartment and loaded it up last night. The furniture is beautiful. Mint condition. The seller was super nice. It was a great transaction. You better bet I'll be scouring Craigslist for other good deals in the future.

Some have requested a direct link to Craig's List. Here is the page I have bookmarked: Orlando Furniture.

Posted by Cara Davis at 08:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

I went to one of a QuikDrop eBay storefronts (where they will take the stuff you want to sell on eBay, photograph it, list it, collect the money and ship it for you) just to get more information about their service and the fees, etc. What I found was:

• they only want to list items worth $50 or more.
• They get a whopping 38% of your purchase price on the first $200 you sell
• Those fees do not include the regular eBay fees
• Items not sold within 15 days and not picked up are donated to charity or thrown away.

To me, it’s not worth it. If I have a valuable item, it’s worth my time to list it myself. My problem is I have a bunch of smaller items I’d like to see what I could get for, but after talking with the owners of this store, I realize I’m better off having a yard sale and then donating what doesn’t sell to charity.

People who could benefit from using this service are those who:

• Don’t have a digital camera
• Have a valuable or large item like furniture for pickup
• Aren’t familiar with how to use eBay
• Have a poor feedback on eBay

If you are interested in using this kind of service, here are items they say are hot on eBay right now:

• Cars, boats, watercrafts, motorcycles
• Pottery, china and porcelain (Roseville, Royal Doulton, Hull, Herend)
• Figurines (Goebel Hummel, Lladro, Limoges tricket boxes, Chintz)
• Musical Instruments (any)
• Antiques
• Anything Disney related
• Golf Clubs
• Cameras
• Cell phones less than 18 months old
• Real Estate books, audio books, etc.
• Sports memorabilia
• Surfing, diving and skiing equipment
• Motivational tapes, CDs (i.e. Tony Robbins)
• Medical Equipment
• Vintage Toys
• College Textbooks (fairly new)

Posted by Cara Davis at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

It’s the weekend and my husband and I will head to Blockbuster at some point to rent a couple of flicks. We received a coupon in the mail earlier this month for unlimited rentals for $2.99 each. Blockbuster is really trying to hold onto the movie store market in the face of fierce competition from Netflix, who will deliver DVDs to your mailbox. Here is more information about Netflix and Blockbuster’s attempt at offering the same service to survive, written by Relevant intern, Omote Ekwotafia.

“Usually, services that offer convenience also require an extra handful of your money. Many people have found this is not the case with monthly subscriptions to video rental services. In a recent article, movie enthusiast Jason Vocque said, "You couldn't pay me to go to a video store right now.” And why should he when he could walk to his mailbox? Blockbuster and Netflix are two services that allow you to rent three movies at a time. Once you’ve finished viewing them, just mail them back and your next three will be sent. You don’t have to rush them back to the store, because you can mail them back whenever you are finished. If renting DVDs is a part of your weekly routine, paying one fixed price might just be better than spending four bucks a movie at your local video store.”

Posted by Cara Davis at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

While we’re on the subject of travel, here’s an article with tips to save cash while visiting the notoriously expensive Key West.

Some tips:

• “Lodging is cheaper just north of the city in spots such as Big Pine Key, and you won't have to deal with the congestion. (You can leave your rental car at the Park N' Ride on Grinnell and Caroline streets all day for $13 and ride the free shuttle downtown.)”

• “Save on bike rental costs by finding accommodations that lend guests bikes for free.”

• “Check the Web sites of Key West's museums before you go; some have admission discounts you can print out.”

Posted by Cara Davis at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're thinking about visiting New York this year, think quick. Hotel room rates will drop significantly in January and February as holiday visitors clear out, according to this CNN report. Hotel rates soared over the holidays; even Days Inn's rooms were going for $229 on New Year's Eve. But if you travel in the next few weeks, you can score a three-star hotel room for $160 a night. The article warns that the rates won't last, as New York has now recovered from the depression of rates after Sept. 11.

And of course, you can always use Priceline.com if you don't have a specific hotel in mind you want to use. My husband and I did this for our anniversary last year and stayed at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando for $100 a night. Not a bad way to go for a luxury hotel.

Posted by Cara Davis at 04:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Walt Disney World tix have gone up. The basic one-day, one-park adult ticket now costs $63 before tax (it used to be $59.75). A child under 10 is $52 for a one-day pass. For Florida residents, a one-day adult ticket costs $56.70, up from $53.75.

There are discount ticket shops in the area if you want to drive around and find one before entering the park. Also, warehouse stores like Costco offer packaged tickets to theme parks, sports and recreational attractions like zoos, spas, and movie theaters as well. They have a listing for Disneyland tix. A four day pass for southern California residents is $119.

Posted by Cara Davis at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

More in the news today about fuel economy, so I thought we’d post again on the topic. This blurb comes courtesy of Relevant intern Cassie Serianni:

As a result of last year’s energy bill, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been required to change their methods of testing and rating the fuel economy of cars. The 2008 car models will mark a new era of more accurate mile per gallon estimates.

The current fuel efficiency testing uses indoor tests that simulate mild outdoor driving conditions and maximum highway speeds of 60 mph. Currently, the tests do not take into account high speed driving, stop-and-go traffic, the effects of starting cars in cold temperatures, or the running of amenities such as air conditioning, power windows, power seats, and DVD players. The EPA’s new plan will take into consideration these other driving variables.

The new proposed changes in the EPA’s testing system will be the first alterations to the system in 20 years. It has been speculated by the EPA that the fuel economy estimates of many car models will decrease 15 to 20 percent of the current in town and city driving estimates.

Posted by Cara Davis at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two friends and fellow writers have a new book out called Five Star Living on a Two-Star Budget (Harvest House Publishers). One of the authors, Margaret Feinberg, has shared many “cheap ways to” tips with me over the years (and was a contributor to the first book in our series called Cheap Ways To). Here are some tips from their new book. Check it out:

• pp 19 “Even if your bills are on auto pay, you should always review your monthly state-ments to check for excess or erroneous charges”

• pp 35 “Think diamonds are a girls best friend? Visit www.jemznjewels.com for gently used jewelry from companies like Tiffany & Co. and designer watches from companies like Bedat.”

• pp 106 “On some airlines, bump tickets or volunteer tickets actually have a higher priority when it comes to booking a reservation that using frequent flyer miles. So if you are trying to book a ticket with frequent flyer miles and there aren’t any available flights, use one of your free bump tickets-- you just may get the seat.”

• pp 133 “Panera restaurants nationwide offer free wireless in their restaurants. You can also find a comprehensive listing of wireless hotspots around the country at www.jwire.com”

• pp 144 “One general rule of thumb when figuring out what house you can afford is that your housing costs should fall between 18 and 24 percent of your net monthly income.”

Posted by Cara Davis at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A new energy bill that went into affect this year allows hybrid purchasers to file for a tax credit. This article says the 2006 break is better than the 2005 tax deduction because a credit directly reduces the taxes owed.

The IRS hasn’t assigned a dollar amount per car yet, but it looks like the Toyota Prius will have the most, with a possible tax credit of $3,150.

The tax credit is in affect until each manufacturer sells 6,000 hybrids. That will probably happen around April, the article says.

The requirements:

• The vehicle must be purchased in 2006
• It must be new
• It must be used or your own personal or business use
• You can’t turn around and resell it

Some states offer additional tax incentives and some insurance companies offer discounts to hybrid buyers.

But while hybrid cars may give you a tax break and save you some at the pump, over the course of the car’s life, you’ll end up paying more than you would for a regular gas-powered car.

This article features a study that showed how a Honda Accord hybrid could cost $3,800 more than a regular Honda Accord EX V-6 over five years. That includes the purchase price, maintenance and gasoline expenses.

Get smart and save money on fuel in other ways:
• Drive more gently; don’t accelerate aggressively or speed. By doing so, you can improve your gas mileage by 30%, according to driving tests by Edmunds.com.

• Consider diesel engines. They qualify for the new tax credits in 2006 as well. They get better gas mileage than regular cars because of their more durable engine. Plus, diesels have a higher resell value than gas-powered cars.

• Look to more fuel-efficient non-hybrid vehicles. Ditch the big SUVs and opt for a lighter car. You’ll sacrifice engine power, but what’s more important to you? Saving money or riding in style? Hopefully you can find a model of car that accomplishes both.

Posted by Cara Davis at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here’s a great editorial from Slate's Daniel Gross about two books that embody the “It Sucks to Be Me” mantra the twentysomething generation seems to be crying. The books, Generation Debt and Strapped say rising college tuition, a post-recession economy, the rising housing market and budget deficits are working against twentysomethings looking for a regular life and financial stability. Gross says these books are annoying because they lack perspective. This generation has more hope and opportunity and live in a healthier economy than many generations before. “Today's twentysomethings, by contrast, have their whole lives in front of them,” Gross writes. “Want a cheaper house? Quit Manhattan and move to Hartford, Conn. Want to make more money? Pick a different field.”

Posted by Cara Davis at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This article explains how basic car maintenance can improve your gas mileage.

• The easiest and fastest way to improve gas mileages is to replace your car’s air filter. You can get up to 25 extra miles from a tank of gas with a clean filter (the equivalent of 24 cents a gallon in gas). Cost: $10-$30

• A tune-up can give you an extra 100 miles (or about five miles a gallon). Cost: $90+

• Rotating your tires (and replacing them when needed) and balancing your alignment will improve your mileage as well, as uneven tires will cause your car to work harder. Cost: $75-400+

Posted by Cara Davis at 07:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Priceline.com has announced some upgrades and changes to their website. One of their new offerings is called PriceBreakers. The PriceBreakers page or email newsletter lists their best and lowest last-minute travel deals each day. It includes cruises, flights, hotel and other package deals.

Posted by Cara Davis at 09:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chances are food is one of your biggest daily expenses. An easy way to save $10-$15 a week is to limit and/or eliminate your visits to convenience stores. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often charge the highest price.

Have you ever thought about the price of bottled water in these stores when compared the price of gas? A bottle of water at a gas station typically costs about $1.20. Gas is about $2 per gallon. If you were to buy a gallon of Dasani, you could pay about $7.68 before tax. That makes high gas prices look like the deal of the week.

Spend less on food by reducing the times you eat out. The average person spent $2,276 a year on eating out in 2002. When do you do eat out, try to order water instead of a $2.25 beverage. When you shop, take a list and come armed with coupons and knowledge of that week’s sales from the store’s flyer. Websites including www.couponcart.com and www.coolsavings.com have free coupons you can download—double your pleasure by shopping at stores that honor double-coupon days.

Avoid buying prepared and packaged goods. Compare price-per-ounce costs of other units on the shelf. Stock up on items with lower per-unit costs (two pounds of carrots can cost $1.29, compared with $7.16 for the same amount of precut carrot sticks). When you find a great deal (like turkeys that are slashed in price after a holiday), freeze it until you can use it.

Posted by Cara Davis at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A friend of mine just emailed with the news she got engaged over Christmas ... Lots of folks get engaged during the season and plan for summer weddings. Here are some general principles to keep in mind when planning a wedding to keep your overall costs down. Afterall, the wedding is about getting married, not spending your life savings, right?

Nine Ways to Stretch Your Money

1. Pick a slower time of year (January, February or November)

2. Shop around and negotiate prices and packages with vendors. Don’t ever settle for more than you think you should be paying.

3. Get your hands dirty. The more you’re willing to do, the less you’ll end up paying. Get your friends and family in the act of addressing envelopes, folding programs, creating favors, and making a headpiece or a veil.

4. Limit the guest list. Most caterers charge per-person, so the difference between 100 guests and 150 is significant.

5. Shop anywhere but a traditional bridal salon for your gown. Think eBay, off the rack, or a local seamstress.

6. Consider "drop-off catering." The caterer delivers and sets up already prepared food. Or, have family friends cater the reception for you.

7. Ask friends to take photos at your bridal showers, rehearsal dinner, pre-ceremony and reception. Hire a professional only for the formal portraits and ceremony shots.

8. For your reception food, consider a buffet instead of a sit-down meal; or host a high tea; a dessert reception; brunch or luncheon instead of a multi-course meal.

9. Hire a local music student(s) if you’re set on having live musicians at the ceremony and reception.

Check out my upcoming book filled with more tips, Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot: How to Plan a Church Wedding for Less Than $5,000, releasing on Feb. 14. If you're in the Orlando area, come party with us Monday, Feb. 6, from 7:30-10 p.m. for the book's release at our offices. Email me for directions.

Posted by Cara Davis at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's that time of year to take inventory of your life, to look back at what you've accomplished and experienced in the past year and to look forward and proactively at the coming year. Here is an adaptation of some self-assessment questions a friend sent to me. Use it to get motivated about making this year your best financial year ever.

1. What is the biggest lesson I've learned over the last year about my finances?
2. What is my most important financial need at this stage of my life?
3. This time next year, what would I like to see different in my finances? In other words, what's my vision?
4. What have I been procrastinating about?
5. How could I make more of a positive difference in the lives of others with my wealth in the next 12 months?

Posted by Cara Davis at 09:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My husband and I are watching Mythbusters on Discovery ... they're testing the myth of the tailgate down vs. tailgate up as it relates to gas mileage for trucks. The myth is that you'll get better gas mileage with the gate down (the thinking is that it makes the truck more streamlined). They tested it two ways and found that the myth is false.

Leaving the tailgate down actually creates major drag. With the gate up, air gets trapped in a circulate motion bubble in the bed and actually creates a streamlined flow of air. When the gate is down, the bubble is lost and the air falls right on the gate, creating major drag. Their tests showed that you could get 30 more miles on a tank of gas with the gate up.

Posted by Cara Davis at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Anyone who's ever tried selling stuff on eBay knows packing material can eat your profits faster than you can say "auction ended." A tip sent in to the December 2005 issue of Budget Living suggests keeping catalogs and magazines and shred them to create filler. It's fast and free.

Posted by Cara Davis at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This tip comes from the Fall 2005 issue of Bargain Style magazine: Major hotel chains (Hilton, Doubletree, W) often liquidate their furniture when they remodel their interiors. The outlets this furniture lands in are bargain hunters' dreams. Here are two sites that will have you drooling:

• www.furnishcheap.com—A new location in Tampa, Fla. (close to me!) Armoires for around $130 and nightstands for $36. You can't beat it.
• www.hotelsurplus.com—Browse "hot deals & specials" for extra cheap finds.

Posted by Cara Davis at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Don’t bite off more than you can chew when it comes to resolving to get your finances in order this year. Before your plan your financial path, you have to get knowledgeable. Set baby steps, like reading financial magazines, books or websites to start educating yourself about money, saving and finances. Also, financial radio talk shows are great—Clark Howard is on while I’m driving around town on my lunch hour. You can also stream radio shows or podcasts from the Internet and iTunes to listen to in the background at work or at home.

There is no quick fix. Resolve to read one hour a week and to review your own finances 30 minutes a week. The steps you need to take to eliminate debt and build wealth will become obvious once you start reading the right material.

Recommended Reading
Magazines/newspapers: The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's
Books: The Rich Dad/Poor Dad series, anything by Dave Ramsey or Mary Hunt (Debt-Proof Your Marriage)
Radio: Clark Howard
Websites (others than yours truly): Bankrate, Fool, finance.yahoo and finance.cch

Posted by Cara Davis at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You can avoid paying the coin-counting charges at Coinstar kiosks now by opting for a gift card instead of cash. When you cash in your coins, you pay 8.9 cents for every dollar counted, but through their new program, you can choose gift cards and e-certificates instead from: Starbucks, Amazon.com, Pier 1 Imports, Hollywood Video, Linens 'n Things or Borders.

How to Skip the Coin Counting Fee at Coinstar Centers:

1. Select Prepaid Card from the main menu.
2. Select the Gift Card or eCertificate you'd like.
3. Select new card or reload.
4. Follow the on screen directions to get a new card from the machine or to reload your existing card.

Posted by Cara Davis at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My husband and I have little change containers on our nightstands. Each day we dump our loose change we gathered during the day (we always pay with bills and never spend the change). The change collects until we have a trip planned. We use the money we saved to board our pet at the kennel. This way we don't feel the extra financial blow. It's a fun way to save.

You can try it by:

1. Use cash instead of your ATM card for every purchase.
2. Use only bills to pay for your purchases and keep your change (avoid vending machines at work!).
3. Designate a convenient location or two to store the change as it piles up.
4. Purpose the money toward a goal (a night on the town, new clothes, traveling, gifts, home improvement) and assign it a timeline (three months, your next trip, friends' birthdays, etc.)
5. Take your change to a coin-counting machine at a local grocery store (We use Coinstar, www.coinstar.com, which charges 8.9 cents per dollar counted unless you opt for a gift card) or roll the coins and take it to the bank if you have the time—we sure don't.
6. Enjoy the fruits of your labor! (We'll always shocked by how much money we've saved.)

Posted by Cara Davis at 05:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now is the best time to buy Christmas decorations and seasonal gifts for next year (right after Christmas, stores mark down their Christmas merch 50%. The next week—which is now—it normally goes 75% off). While you're taking down your tree and packing up your decorations to be stored for another year, head out to the stores (or shop online) for 50-75% off lights, greenery, ornaments, dishes/plates, Christmas trees and even Christmas cards! Before you store your current inventory, throw in your new items so you'll have everything stored together for next year.

If you don't have a Christmas tree, but think you'll want one next year or the next, go ahead and invest in one now (along with a few basic ornaments and boxes of Christmas lights) so you don't shell out top dollar come November or early December this year.

Posted by Cara Davis at 05:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)