money | Prudent and Practical

June 20, 2009

Father’s Day is Tomorrow!

Filed under: saving money — Tags: entertainment, holidays, shopping — K @ 12:47 PM

I know it’s getting down to the wire, but I thought I’d mention that Father’s Day is tomorrow. I usually get D a little gift and a card. I really don’t like how the industry pushes holidays on us consumers. It’s makes us spend more money and feel stressed. I read somewhere today that the average amount spent on a Father’s Day gift is $87 ! (And in case you’re wondering, the average Mother’s Day gift was over $130.) For me $87 is too much. Then you add in the card and then the cards for the other men in your life (think husband, son, father, spouse’s father, grandfathers on both sides) and you can see why people have so many money problems around the holidays. So here I have some ideas for you!

Dollar stores are great for decent inexpensive greeting cards. This is the second time that I’ve shopped at a dollar store for them. They don’t look cheap either. I went to Dollar Tree just to see what their selection was like. I walked out with 5 cards and spent only $2.56! Their cards are $0.50 to $1 each.

Think about what kind of hobbies your favorite guy is into. Guys that like to cook might like a new grill utensil, an oven mitt or apron with their favorite sports team’s logo, a mortar and pestle for grinding herbs, or maybe some gourmet organic spices. Other popular hobbies include fishing, hunting, and cars. My dad likes Carhart stuff because it lasts a long time – he wears it to work, hunting, and for yard work.

The gardening man – It’s a little too late to order them now unless you do a belated Father’s Day gift but mushroom spawn are a very unique idea. They can be purchased for about $10+shipping. More desirable mushrooms (think morels and top of the line gourmet mushrooms) are more expensive at $30 and up. He might also enjoy a trip to a pick-your-own produce farm. Otherwise, since it’s summer, many home improvement and garden centers are running deals on plants and gardening tools.

The business man – I’m not too sure about this guy, because I don’t know any business-y type men. The traditional gift would be a tie. These are pretty reasonable at Kohl’s and JCPenney’s. Designer pens would be another option. And if the guy has a lot of little gadgets, maybe he needs a charging valet. These start at $15. Pricier options may include a power strip.

The movie man – This would be my D. Movie tickets are the obvious choice. If you have movie nights-in, you could purchase “movie theater” candies at your grocer or a small popcorn popper ($15-$30). If he has a theater room, find him some movie posters to hang up. If you go to theaters ahead of time, they may be willing to give you their outdated cardboard movie stands or hanging ads (if you have a lot of room to spare!). I knew a teacher who worked a second job at a theater – since the theater just throws the outdated move stuff away, she took some of the stands and decorated her classroom with them!

Maybe he likes personalized items. Personalized bar items like mugs, shot glasses, and flasks are easily found online because they’re popular groomsmen gifts.

Make dinner for the guy or take him out to eat – save some money too!. If you want to do something extra, take him for bowling or billiards, to a bar that hosts local bands, or to a movie.

Donate money to a charity he would support. Visit Charity Navigator to search for charities by category. Another thing that comes to mind is “adopting” (sponsoring) an animal at a wildlife refuge, nature center, or local animal shelter – the money helps to pay for that specific animal’s food and care for a given amount of time.

If you’re still not sure what to get him, the answer could be a gift card. I do this with my dad, the man who has everything, when I run out of unique ideas or time. And if you’re not sure what store to get the gift card from, go with cash, a visa gift card, or even an eBay gift card. I go the eBay route because he loves bidding on items.

Maybe he’s the guy that doesn’t care about these types of holidays – let him sit on his butt with a drink and the remote.

So now take some time and let that special guy know how much you mean to him… without spending a lot!

If you need some more ideas, here are some more suggestions:

PS – If you’re wondering what I got D… I got him a hot air popcorn popper with some “movie theater” candies.

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June 18, 2009

Top Remodels During a Recession

Filed under: saving money — Tags: discounts, home, home improvement, projects, shopping — K @ 1:09 AM

A few months ago Kiplinger’s magazine talked about what you should do to improve your home in the recession. It wasn’t that you get a large return for the specific improvement – it was that the price of the main material has gone down during this slow time. So without further ado, here are the top remodels to do during a recession according to Kiplinger’s:

1. Replace the roof – According to Kiplinger’s the price of asphalt has been falling lately. While researching this, another site states the opposite, that the cost of liquid asphalt has increased 90% in the past year.

2. Repave your driveway – The price of asphalt is apparently falling, but unbeknownst to Kiplinger’s may have increased.

3. Upgrade vinyl siding – The price of petroleum-based vinyl fluctuates with the oil prices. Lower oil prices mean more affordable siding.

4. Add a deck – Kiplinger’s states that lumber costs have declined 5% over the past year. Since the publication, the US Department of Labor, Producer Price Index has showed that lumber has dropped even more (6-7%) over the past year, meaning a 38% decrease since 2004.

5. Replace or add insulation – Prices are down 2% and are a reflection of the current housing slump. In addition, you may qualify for a tax credit, which would help to defray the cost, too.

The funny thing is: although the prices have gone down on construction costs, these projects are still very expensive, with insulation possibly being the cheapest. We’re still talking $1000′s unless you do some of the work yourself.

D and I got new blown cellulose insulation when we moved into our home. Even during the housing boom (early 2006), the insulation was decently priced. We have looked into having the other projects done over the past couple years. Even with prices dropping, we don’t want to spend all the money to get the “big ticket” projects done, especially since we’ve been thinking about moving for a while. We met with a realtor last November who told us that it’s not worth it to spend the money to get a new driveway and siding installed – we’d need to live here at least another few years to see any kind of return on it.

If you’re interested in the cost off fuel, asphalt, and steel, New York state’s DOT has compiled a list of prices from January 2006 through last month so you can see the fluctuations for yourself. Construction Magazine has also compiled bi-monthly reports of Design Cost Data from metals to sheet rock and the construction materials in between.
And a little lesson — before doing a major renovation, do your research. The prices are fluctuating constantly with the economy.

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June 11, 2009

Get a Free Cell Phone Battery

Filed under: saving money — Tags: bargains, free, sales, save money — K @ 8:54 AM

: Image via Wikipedia

You may have seen the advertisement on tv for US Cellular’s new “battery swap” program. I saw it and thought that it was too good to be true. I have had to purchase new batteries a few times in the past for my cell phones and they are not cheap! All three times they were in the neighborhood of $30 each.

About two weeks ago my battery has been exponentially losing charge. In fact, yesterday I was able to talk for a whopping four minutes before it died on me – while I was 70 miles away from home. I knew it was time to put this whole free “battery swap” program to the test.

I walked into the nearest US Cellular store and was helped immediately. The employee pulled out my battery to test it. She didn’t even need to! “Wow! You really do need a new battery! Here, feel it.” She put it into my hand and I felt a very convex surface. She told me that when the cell batteries get old, they start puffing out (think of microwaving a marshmallow – only not as extreme!). The employee got a a new battery for me and installed it, saying “Here you go, this will be much better!” Hmm, that’s it? Yes, that was it! I was in and out in 5 minutes… with a new battery… for free!

As I stated before, this is only through US Cellular. You must have an active plan and eligible phone with them in order to do the battery swap. I purchased my phone and plan in a completely different city (2 hour drive) from where I got my battery swap – you don’t have to do that swap at your “home” location. You can find more information at US Cellular’s battery swap information page. You can also use their location finder to see which stores currently do the battery swap.

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June 8, 2009

4 Places Where You Can Find Bargain Building Materials

Filed under: saving money — Tags: bargains, discounts, DIY, home improvement, projects, shopping — K @ 11:56 PM

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

PADSTOW, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 20: Mike O'Bo...

It seems like D and I are always working on a home project. We’re trying to improve our home so it will sell quicker and for more money – two important points with the stumbling economy and living in a small town.

Home improvement projects can be expensive, even when doing them yourself – but don’t let that deter you. You’ll still be saving a boatload of money by going the DIY route. We’ve done quite a few projects over the past three years and have learned a lot, especially when it comes to trying to make that DIY project even cheaper.

1 – Our most recent find is the Habitat ReStore. These are located all over the United States and Canada. They are secondhand stores for lightly used building materials donated by “building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews or from individuals who wish to show their support for Habitat”. The proceeds go to fund Habitat homes within the community. At the location in Iowa City, we found paint, lighting, sinks, bathtubs, windows, doors, and hardware. I only wished we lived closer to one. We ended up purchasing a quart of paint and a can of spray paint to repair a scratched pot for only $3!

2 – When shopping at your local home improvement store, keep an eye out for un-announced clearance items or closeouts. D and I found our bathroom flooring and kitchen cabinet trim this way. They were sent too much flooring and had then marked it at 45% off to get rid of it. I looked at the sticker on the back of the oak chair rail molding (used for the kitchen cabinets) to see that it was over three years old. A couple stores in Iowa were getting rid of the molding. After depleting one store’s stock priced at 50% off, we purchased some more at another store for 66% off.

3 – Auctions are another way to find bargains. Many people have been defaulting on their home and business loans lately and in order to avoid foreclosure, they’ve been turning to auctions. Keep an eye out in your local newspaper or do a search for “(insert location here) auction.” I’ve seen a lot more business auctions in the last year ranging from restaurants to tree trimming services and even a general contractor – think building materials and garden supplies! Before going to an auction make a list of items you’re interested in and the maximum amount you’re willing to pay. If you don’t know what you’re doing you could easily end up in a bidding war and pay a lot more than the item is worth.

You also might have seen Total Wrecklamation on the Discovery Planet Green channel. The show follows Jody Murphy, President of Murco Recycling Enterprises, Inc. Murco goes into a home and auctions off items such as kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, fencing, paneling, flooring, doors, and sometimes appliances before the home is torn down. They mainly operate in the midwest, so check out her site for the latest demolition auction.

4 – Going out of business sales have been happening a lot around here too. The latest victim in our town is a pawn shop/music shop. I’ll just reiterate what I’ve said before: do your research before deciding to purchase from a business that’s closing. Often there aren’t warranties on your items and sales are final.

In the above instances we had a general idea for what we wanted to accomplish but did not know exactly how we wanted to achieve the end result. If you keep your eyes peeled, keep an open mind, and have a general idea of what you want your project to look like, the most unique ideas and the best deals will pop up right before you!

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May 30, 2009

An Inexpensive Option for a Flat Tire

Filed under: saving money — K @ 4:19 PM

: Image via Wikipedia

Ah, Friday morning! The week is pretty much over and it’s going to be a good day. You get out to your car and there it is… a flat tire! Or in my case, I’m awoken by, “Hurry! What do I do? I’ve got a flat tire… help me! I’m going to be late for work!!!”

After spending 45 minutes trying to get the tire off and the spare on (since most auto repair places aren’t open this early), D is on his way to the only place in town that’s open.

We’ve lived in this town for over three years and I’ve suffered three flat tires – spending over $90 each time for a new tire. While discussing the issue with my dad, he suggested getting the tire patched; that it would cost under $20. I never thought of this and feel taken advantage of for the tire and lube shop who didn’t suggest the cheaper option.

I suggested D have this done and it ended up costing only $10 including taking off the spare and putting on the patched tire! He was told by the place that if the hole is big enough (nail or screw), they’ll do a rubber plug-patch. If it’s smaller than that, they’ll do “just a regular patch.” Although it was very inexpensive, it takes a while to do – or what seems like a long time if you’re trying to get to work. D was there for about 45 minutes. The auto guys told him that it is as safe as a normal tire.

If you’re handy, you can do this at home. You can purchase a kit from an auto store and follow the instructions and this tutorial at About.com.

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