DIY Saturday: Old T-Shirts

 Happy Halloween!!!!!

Welcome to Do-It-Yourself Saturday!  This is the day where I take some craft idea, which can be used as gifts or various other different ways.  The point is to save you money in some ways that you may not have though of.  In fact, most of the posts on Saturdays are made from recycled materials or something that is leftover from around the house.

Anyway, if you’re anything like me, you have just over a million T-Shirts lying around the house from different high school clubs or random T-Shirt souvenirs that you would never wear in a million years.  Maybe you even have a favorite T-Shirt that you’ve outgrown.  Why not make them into something new, just like the books from last week?

I’ve made a bag, not unlike the one in this picture.  I couldn’t find mine, so there is no picture of it, sorry.  My mom is also in the process of making me a quilt out of my old high school t-shirts.

Just like the denim post, T-Shirts are really just fabric.  There are hundreds of different ways to make something new.  This site has 100 of them… almost all with pictures, if you’re a very visual person.

Make a throw pillow.  Make yarn out of old shirts to make something even more modified.  Make a chair cover.  There are tons of different things.

Here is what you need to make something out of an old t-shirt.  Scissors.

And you’re done.  You can of course, make something cooler by adding needle and thread, pins, tape, puff paint….

And guys, this is really for you.  This is even easier than the denim magnets that some of you guys showed interest in.  They don’t have to be girly, even though some of these Saturdays probably really seem like I am focusing on my female readership.

What old shirts do you have?  The Kiss concert?  Football?  A million sports shirts from high school?  Anything?  Do you even wear them after they get all the holes and stains in them?  But, you want to keep them, I’m sure.  Make something new with them…

Or you can do what my boyfriend does and bribe someone to do it for you.

Weekend Wind-Down: Shopaholics

Tah, Dah!

We’ve made it through the week, cured of Oniomania!  I really hope that you have thought about some of your shopping habits and found some different ideas that may just work for you.  Remember that you don’t have to take all my advice.  You can just take some… or none, if you really don’t think it’ll work for you.  Every person is different, just like the name or a fingerprint.

Speaking of names… I owe you the results of the voting from the last couple weeks.  Through emails, we now have the results for the name of our Friday friend, the dancing frog.  Drum roll please… his name is….

Frog.  I personally find this very funny, because this is the name I suggested as a joke.  But for some reason, you all seemed to like it!

Well, anyway, as usual, it is Friday, so today is the Weekend Wind-Down: Shopaholics version.  This is where I post the top websites or blog posts that I’ve read on this week’s theme in the past couple weeks.  Please, check them out!

• 1.    Butterboom: This article is simply a link to yet something even better… a short film by Karl Lagerfeld.  It is called “Fitting Room Follies” and is being posted here in honor of Monday’s post.  This film is just another example of how fitting rooms have just been incorporated into our daily repertoire and their legend status.  Even though the film is pretty neat, and based on Coco Chanel’s new line, remember what the room are actually used for and how they can save you money…

• 2.    Royalty Universe: This is a shopping blog.  There really is no other way to describe it… however it is something else all together.  There is more financial advice, some to do with online shopping and whatnot.  See?  Even those wanting to write an entire blog dedicated to shopping can find themselves talking about saving money and finances.  They go hand in hand.

• 3.    Shameless Sales: Simply looking at the logo for this blog – a mustached man holding up a bag of money – tells you exactly the purpose.  This is a blog for sales people.  It is a blog to teach them how to use their resources to keep your buying and keep the money rolling in.  It makes me sad because of what I’m writing about, but at the same time, it’s very useful information to have.  The posts are very short, so you can read a couple in a couple minutes.

• 4.    Yahoo! Layout:  We talked about being able to navigate stores like Kohl’s and various others… but what we missed out on was the online stores, like Amazon.  They don’t have the physical techniques like those other stores do, but they have their own style of luring customers exactly where they want you to do.  This Yahoo! Partnered site is selling their design services… specifically to bring shoppers in.  This is here for reasons just like Shameless Sales – to show you the other side.

Handy Fold-Out Maps Included!

Alright, let’s take stock of what we’ve covered so far this week: online shopping, fitting rooms, and bargains.  But those are sometimes different aspects of shopping that do not always come into play.  Let’s talk about stores in general.

There are specific layouts for them.  Did you know that?  People make their entire livings based on designing the layouts for retail stores in order to get people to buy more things.  There are many, many research studies that deal with this.  There are hundreds of different websites that explain the importance of layout.  I cannot even fathom the number of hours put into projects like these.  It’s kind of ridiculous how much work people will go through to try to get you to spend just $5 more…

Anyway, as promised, here is your handy fold-out map to navigate your way through stores.  We’ll start with basics and work into more specifics.

• Entrance: There will always be something there to catch your eye – most likely something that would have to do with the season.  Right now, it’s actually moving into Christmas paraphernalia, as sad as that is.  This gets you in the buying mood right off the bat.

• Pathways: They always follow some specific traffic pattern.  When you go into WalMart, do you always follow the same path?  Most people do.  And an interesting observation is that the first path that is followed is the biggest one.  Then you feel like you can move to the smaller aisles.

• New Items: Always on the endcaps.  Think about the new releases, whether it’s a movie, music, or video game.  They’re always facing those larger aisles.  Why?  Because then, even if you’re not heading to that particular part of the store, you can still grab it to buy.  It makes it easier – just like online shopping.

• Clearance and Sales: Always hidden in the back corner of the store.  That way, even if you just go in for a sale item, you have to walk by all the different normal items… think about all that temptation.
  

Here are some different ways to navigate through stores.  Grocery stores are designed to make you remember that, “oh, yes, the recipe calls for this!”  Video stores just want to spark your interest.  Watch this video on Whole Foods.  See if the layout of the store works for you!



Keep this handy map in mind the next time you go shopping.  See if what I’ve observed holds true.  Do you feel any more inclination to buy?  Do you feel like you’re cheating the system?

Magic Cards and Easy Boxes

We’re going to take a break from my mom for a while now and talk about another family member – my cousin.  She started college last year and worked the entire summer before, 2 jobs for some of the time.  Her college was in the middle of nowhere… and by that I mean there might be a pizza joint in the town.  The nearest mall is a little under an hour away.

But, when last summer came, she was dead broke.  In fact, I found out later that she ran out of money only a couple months into the first semester and had been asking her parents for money the entire time.  How could that happen?  Let me tell you the story of when she came back…

She pulled into her driveway a little before the entire extended family arrived to celebrate mother’s day.  Her entire car was packed, so those of us that were there went to go help.  We were expecting bedding and her computer supplies.  We found bags upon bags from Forever 21.  She had two words in explanation to her mom: online shopping.  She became a "Ship-aholic".  Please, hold back your laughter.

So, in honor of her mom, my aunt, we have today’s post about online shopping and their dangers.  Let’s just put this into perspective… on Christmas Day last year, there were over 5.24 million people that shopped online on Christmas Day!  Their purchases were over $225 million dollars.  Online.  On Christmas Day.

How are things bought online, whether it’s eBay or some retailer?  Credit cards.  You probably remember the post about credit cards and the fees within them when M— Man was a part of our lives.  What about other issues, like just how easy it is to swipe plastic?  What about the dangers?

Luckily, or unluckily, depending on your point of view, there are many different ways that people have created to make shopping online safer.  These are things like PayPal.

But that makes buying online so much easier for college-aged students and those just starting out.  But what about all the credit card companies that target us so they can get more money?  Would you buy that item if you saw it in a store?  Would you pay cash?  Think about the item before you buy.

Outside of the credit card problems, there is one other problem added to that of online shopping.  It’s the fact that online shoppers spend more money.  Period.

Advertising.com did a survey in 2006 on online shopping, and one of their main findings is this:

"The survey results point to several clear trends: consumers value the ease and incentives offered through online shopping and intend to spend more online as a result - starting their online activities early in the season," - Mollie Spilman, chief sales and marketing officer

It’s the same thing like impulse buying at the actual store.  Retailers put all those yummy candies and DVDs and all that other stuff at the check-out aisles because people are much more likely to buy those things when they are conveniently placed.  It takes a lot less effort.

PS – I’m not saying that you shouldn’t shop online… I do it all the time.  Just make sure that you’re being smart about the purchases.

Dollaring Yourself to Death

Alright, this week is really going to suck for me if my mom decides to get online, but these things just have to be said.  The title of today’s post comes from one of my mom’s favorite phrases, “Let’s go dollar ourselves to death.”

This comes from the idea that by spending just a teensy bit, like at a sale or a dollar store, the total ends up being astronomical.  For example, my mom decided to get some thank-you gifts for the bank workers when her company switched to a different one.  She found these great earrings and bracelets from eBay for like a dollar per lot.  However, she got on a mission to find these “great deals!”  And… she spent a little under $70 by the end of it… and there are 36 extra pairs of earring lying around the dining room table.

So today’s post comes in two sections: Sales/Bargains and Dollar Stores.

#1: Sales and Bargains
Have you ever thought about how some of these stores can put something on sale for that much less than what they were selling it for before?  Either they are selling at a loss, which is not likely in many cases, or they had marked up the price just that much.

Take Buy One, Get One 50% Off deals, for example.  How much do those items really cost?  Do you actually need that second item?  How much profit are they still making if they can sell at that price?

Also, be aware that selling is a psychological game for some.

“The psychological factors most involved are being accepted as part of the group, satisfying a self-image/ego need, and emotions. Also sellers will give you a little; perhaps a buy one, get one deal or a sample of product before you purchase to make you feel obligated to buy.” – izettl, Finance Guru

What do sales and bargains do there?  Almost all of the above.  Notice, it says nothing about price or need.  They’re trying to get you to buy more.  Even if you look at the ads, the percentage off is the largest part, with the small, exclusions apply at the bottom.  How likely are you to take something back once you reach the register with it, even if you thought the price was different?  Not very.

#2: Dollar Stores
How do those places even stay in business anyway?  Check out the Dollar Tree.  All their signs say “$1”!  But the little bitty “each” part is hidden, especially since they always show more than one item per picture.  That definitely gives the idea that you are getting more for your money.

Seller buy in bulk, which is a good idea to save money, but what about the quality?  Besides for greeting cards, which I highly recommend you buy at these stores, how good is all that stuff?  Will that colander hold?  Is that figurine still intact in all places?

Just be aware of what you’re buying and think about whether or not you really need it.  And even if you did get 20 packages of candy canes for $20… it’s still $20.  Did you really need all of them?  Think before you act, please.

They're Built For A Reason!

They’re the stuff of legend.  Teenage legend, creepy exhibitionist legend, Orange Julius legend, mom legend, department store legend, cartoonists legend, shoplifter legend, mall cop legend, internet forum legend…

And yet… they are not used enough.  Is this because it seems to open to the rest of the store?  Is this because people think it’s too much work?  Is it because it’s easier to get your significant other to give in that way?  Are we too lazy?

But at the same time… there are companies out there who specialize in just this type of thing.  Their entire existence is based purely on creating these areas for the customers and other mall walkers.  If they can make enough money from just this specialization, those products really have to be used, right?

I’m talking, of course, about fitting rooms!

They are the most under-utilized money saving measure out there!  I have the perfect example, which will probably be repeated a couple times throughout this week, mainly because she is perfect for the theme.  My mom (I love you!).  She hates fitting rooms with a passion because she says she doesn’t like how the clothes look on her when she tries them on there.

At the point, I hope many of you are thinking the same thing I normally do – “Because they’re going to look differently on you when you try them on at home, right?”

Because I value my life, I never really say that.  However, that is exactly what she does.  She’ll buy all the clothes (many of the same things in different sizes) and just take them home to try on.  Then she gets distracted.  And the clothes sit in the bag for a couple weeks.  When she finally does try them on, most of them have to go back, even though it has passed the return date, so she only gets store credit… which she then repeats to process.

I don’t know how may times I’ve gone to hang out with her and she’s said, “I bought these the other week and haven’t tried them on.  I know over half of them will have to go back anyway.”

AGH!  It drives me nuts.  I try to find all the different ways to get her to try things on in the store.  She’s having none of it – mostly because she wants to buy something.  I don’t exactly know what the attraction is (in most stores), but it’s there for her.

So, whether or not you’ve thought of it before… I beg you.  Please use the dressing rooms.  They are built for a reason.  Give yourself a little mini-fashion show.  And be honest about what you see.  If it looks awful, I sincerely doubt a little softer lighting will make a huge difference in the long run.

Do what this girl does – she goes to try on the clothes and takes pictures of herself on her phone.  You can save those to look at later.  Granted, you don’t have to blog about it, but it is a way to save.  I mean, would you buy a wedding dress without trying it on to see how it looked first?

And, lazy people, think about it – the return rack is right outside the door for the things you don’t end up buying.  How convenient is that?  Also, there are just over a dozen fitting rooms in the typical department store.  I’m more than positive that you won’t have to walk too far to get to one.

Legend of the Flying Dollar, Part 2

Take a trip with me.  A couple weeks ago, we met a nice man named M— Man, who taught us all about the hidden fees associated with pretty much everything.  Well, one thing that he did not cover, maybe because all his helpers had to leave or because the theme was only going to be a week long…

Either way, we have come to an entirely new problem where money will be seen flying around, but no matter how hard we try, we will not be able to reach it.  It’s like those old phone-booth type things, where they slip in money with the fan going and you have to try to reach around a grab them before time runs out?  Only imagine the money being holographic.  Very frustrating.

Anyway, let me introduce Dollar Bill to you.  Dollar Bill, as his name implies will never be completely out of money due to his structure… but what he doesn’t want you to know is that he was once made from 20s.  Here is Dollar Bill’s main problem: he is an adrenaline junkie.  He absolutely loves jumping from wallets to cash registers at warp speed.

He likes to live with… shopaholics.

Here are the basics: a shopaholic is a person that compulsively sends money, whether it’s a little at a time or a lot at a time.  Amount does not necessarily matter.  Frequency does.  It’s an actual disease called Oniomania.

Besides for the obvious cash flying out of the wallet and into various different registers around town, there are other very real consequences.  Lack of space or organization, for example.  Another big one is buyer’s remorse.  You know that feeling where you randomly decide to buy that DVD at the check-out line, only to feel really awful about it by the time you get home?  That’s what I’m talking about.

There are ways to stop this… I promise.  I mean, retailers everywhere have been doing studies on how to get people to buy more!  Here is one I have found that was very enlightening and helped me see through the different tactics (if you have time to read an entire study).

Do you think you’re a shopaholic?  Do you think you’re actually safe from this phenomenon.  Even if you do not have this disease, how close are you to being compulsive or simply just over spending?  Take this quiz and find out!

I’m not going to report you to Debtor’s Anonymous, which is the shopping equivalent to AA.  I’m not going to make you come to meeting, like what happened to Becky Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic.  Just read in the privacy of your own home.

Come back all this week to help me help Dollar Bill.  He contacted me for this assistance, which shows that he really wants it.  So read for yourself, your mom, your roommate… or just for all those base-jumping Dollar Bills out there!

DIY Saturday: Decoupage

Decoupage.  Even when I type that word, it seems infinitely complicated, like there would be no reason in the world to even try it.  I picture a bunch of women (all wearing berets for some reason) speaking French and getting their craft on.  But this cannot be further from the truth.  But there’s something about the word…

So I prefer Modge Podge.   It just sounds so much more informal, which matches my personality just a little bit better.  And this is so easy, even a caveman could do it.

Seriously, do you have fingers or a paintbrush?  What about a sponge?  How about some paper?  Then you have the basic makings for a project.

Modge Podge.  It’s basically gluing and varnishing paper onto something else, combined with different paint effects and varnish to make it shiny.  Here is an example of something that can be done:

All this is is a dowel rod with some magazine pages wrapped around and decoupaged on.  Cut a couple and glue them into place on a frame.  I’ve seen these go for almost $20 at places like Urban Outfitters and some museums.  It’s a great gift idea.

It’s super easy to do, too.  Paint Mod Podge onto the surface and then the paper.  Smooth paper.  Paint over top.  Done.

But, I have the sneaking suspicion that those directions just don’t seem to cut it… so here are some better ideas.  If you’re more of a text person, click here.  This site has all the basic directions for creating a project.  If you’re more of a picture person, here is Crafting on Alfred Avenue’s Mod Podge tutorial.  There are lots of pictures!

Once you learn how to do the process, which is very similar to many pre-school projects I’ve seen my goddaughter doing recently, you’re only limited by your imagination.  There are tons of ideas out there.

I’ve created these here for Christmas gifts.  It’s sheet music on a cheap canvas.  I’m going to paint a wreath on them and *poof* instant gift, for under $5.  My roommate and I are also making frames like the picture above for gifts for people.  We’re using our leftover magazines that we’re done reading.  So each one will cost about $3 for the frame and dowel rods.

This is definitely easy and if you’re worried about your own crafting skills, this might be a good place to start.  You don’t have to make anything too crazy.  Even cards or pockets folders for classes.  You can redo that ugly hand-me-down dresser with this and some new paint.

It’s all definitely better than buying all these things new.

Weekend Wind-Down: Travel

It’s finally Friday!  Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for sticking with me for this entire week!

It’s been a long one, let me tell you; but we’ve made it.  But here we go with this week’s Weekend Wind-Down: Travel Edition.  These are all the articles and blog posts that I found to be the most helpful for this week’s theme.  So go ahead, click on them and see what can happen!

• 1.    College Gas: no, I don’t mean that kind.  Gasoline.  This is an article based entirely on saving gas money for college students.  It’s broken down into the most important parts, and the ones that are the easiest to do.  It’s not always the most plausible to do DIY Saturday: Car Repair.

• 2.    Dollarish: This is a blog post (complete with pictures) written by one of you – someone just starting out.  He stayed in a hostel while on a trip and he is explaining the differences between the two.  He’s very honest and upbeat (as well as having a pretty good sense of humor).  When you click on that link, you’re getting the insider’s edition, as opposed to a publicist’s.

• 3.    One Travel: This is an entire site dedicated to finding places to travel that will be a lot cheaper than others.  I purposefully did not choose one post because there are so many that give good ideas.  While this is not a site that gives tips on saving, it could be the opportunity to spark inspiration for a trip that wouldn’t have to cost so much to start off with.

• 4.    Kiplinger: these easy to read tips are brought to you by the same people that brought the slide show on Monday’s post.  They’re all short, sweet, and right to the point.  There’s no extra reading, really, on this site.  Also, there are lots of different images that make it pretty fun to read!

Well, those are the top 4 for this week… but don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.  There have been a couple readers who has suggested names for your good friend, the dancing frog, who shows up every Friday.  Comment on this post, email me, or find some way to contact me… because his name is totally up to you.

Next week, the results will be up…

• 1.    Frog

• 2.    Fredrickson

• 3.    Bob

• 4.    Twinkle Toes the Dancing Frog

Why You Should Find Your Old NSYNC CD

Ever heard this song?

"Thank god it's Friday night, and I ju, ju, ju, ju, JUST Got PaiD

(getting money money money money money)

blah, blah, blah,

Check the mirror, looking fly

Round up the posse jump in my ride.

blah, blah, blah

You never thought you have me plaid(paid)

Check is in the mail I got it made (made)

blah, blah, blah

Just got Paid, Friday Night

Party Hopping, Feelin' right

Booties Shaking all around, pump that jam, while I'm getting downm

I'm getting down (down yeah)

Ah, I'm Broke!”

Obviously, I shortened the lyrics with the many “blah blahs” but the point is still there.  You may not know it, but Justin, Lance, Joey, JC, and Chris just taught you a really good lesson.

Entertainment is expensive.  Yep.  It is.

Please don’t be mad at me, but I had a really, really hard time finding some ideas to save money on entertainment while traveling.  I tried really hard, I promise.

What I did find will hopefully be second best.  It’s ways to save all the time and not just on a trip or vacation.  There are lots of inexpensive things to do all the time.  The problem is thinking of them at the exact moment you’re bored.  What about free museums, parks, or a made-up scavenger hunt?  Here are 20 more ways to get some free or really, really cheap entertainment.

Also, I’m currently working on a website to archive some more ideas.  Entertainment is one of the topics.  So in the next couple weeks, I should have a smorgasbord of new concepts or even specifics.  I’d be more than willing to post on them again or get a link going to my website, if you guys show to be interested!

Thinking about entertainment, even on a vacation, one thing came to mind – eating.  Eating out can completely drain the wallet.  Here are some ideas (and more) on how to save there.  I might have to do some further research and make a whole theme dedicated to food…

As I was writing, I thought about it some more… so here are some ideas for finding inexpensive or free things to do on vacation: 

• 1.    Google it.  Seriously, in doing so, I’ve found free things to do in New York City and Las Vegas, two of the most expensive cities.  And they are actually desirable.

• 2.    Don’t always follow the advice of the hotel people.  Some hotels have partnerships with attractions in town.  Could be free advertising on both sides at your expense.

How One Letter Can Save Your Wallet

Yes.  One letter can save you money.  And this is not a letter to a store to get some free stuff.  Quite simply, it is the letter “S”.  As in the difference between “Hotel and Hostel”.

But what is a hostel, anyway?  Besides for a really, really bad American horror movie by that name, I mean?  It’s kind of hard to explain because no hostel is ever the same.  They’re all independently owned and operated.  In short, instead of private rooms and bathrooms, they’re a place to crash, when literally all you’re planning on doing is sleeping.  There are many beds in one room at times, mostly twin-sized.

Sound scary?  Well what about when I say that they can cost less than $14 a night compared to hundreds at a hotel?  Think you can stretch your trip money even further?  What if you went with a big group?  You can just all take over a room instead of having to split a bunch of rooms in a hotel.

There is definitely a great debate out there about these little places.  Some people love them and others hate them.  If you’re more introverted, you might shy away… but then again, some people have said that their entire trip was made better because they stayed in a hostel.  Are they for you?  It’s really up to you to decide.

If you do decide you’re interested, just like with everything else travel, it pays to do your homework.  Here’s a place to look up a bunch of different hostels in different countries and cities.  Figure out what would work for you.

It’s also good to do some comparisons with hotels.  For example, what kinds of amenities are available?  Are there showers?  Food?  Some hostels almost act like a bed and breakfast, providing something yummy to eat in the morning.

I’m not trying to force anything… but it’s definitely something to think about.  What do you do in a hotel room besides sleep anyway?  Especially if the trip is a good one?  You’re out all day having fun!

We're Movin' on Up!

Alright, well today’s post is a little shorter, but that’s because I have a surprise for you!  Keep reading!

It’s a bird, no, it’s a plane, no, it’s… oh.  It is a plane.

Plane travel has really become the most popular.  Some people even say it’s safer than car travel because you’re more likely to get through a flight without an accident.  Well, enough of the cotton candy, fluffy talk… have you seen the prices of plane tickets recently?

Ok, granted, the price of tickets has gone down from their high a couple years ago, but still.  It’s even worse when the airlines charge for bags or your little bag of pretzels, since peanuts are no longer allowed due to allergies.

But do we really know what those random fees are for?  I mean, if they’re paying my pilot to be uber awake and not to fly through the biggest storm in a century, then I’m totally fine paying a couple extra bucks.  I want to be safe.  But the thing is, extra fees can almost double the price of your ticket – read up on what they are.  Some airlines don’t use all of them, so be sure to shop around, now that you’re all educated about what you’re buying.

But BEWARE!  Sometimes the cheapest fare is not the best idea, even if it really will save a bunch of money that you can then spend on my special souvenir ;-)

Definitely read the fine print.  Are you getting no flight attendants because you’re trying to go cheap?  Will it work for reward programs?  What is there are flight changes?  What about all those extra fees, like for your pretzels or luggage (priority listed first, of course)?

Well, there are plenty of ways to save money on airfare, especially if you do your homework.  Look around at the “Big Three”: Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz.  Be flexible and don’t fly on peak days.  Switch around airports to see if there’s a cheaper fare from another one halfway close-by.  You could even go directly through the airline’s website.  There are dozens of ways to save.

Well, without further ado, here is your surprise!  Hope you enjoy it!

Chugga Chugga Boo-Hoo

So the general idea for most people to save money on a vacation or any sort of travel is to drive that compact car across 12 states… because that sounds like loads of fun.  However, as most everyone knows, gas prices are pretty much way too high.  Some people have gone over on their budgets for gas since last year.  Plan ahead.

Even for everyday driving, there was a survey done that explained just how much people spend on gas a month.  33% of the respondents said between $101 and $200.  And actually, a little under 10% said “Over $400.”  Very ouch.

Anyway, all that I’m saying is that there is definitely a need for this post.  Read on.  Guaranteed savings.

Idea #1 – Drive Less
And now you’re rolling your eyes and saying, “duh.”  But hear me out.  Do you really have to drive all the way to the front parking spaces in the lot?  Just park in the first spot you find and walk the rest of the way.  An added Bonus: Fitness Magazine says, “If you park farther away, you get in more steps during the day” 

There are a million and a half different ways to drive just a smidgen less.  Google it.

Idea #2 – Drive Smarter
Yeah, I know it doesn’t really seem feasible to tell you to completely change your driving habits… but there are some itty bitty, teeny tiny things you can do (which you may not even notice the difference) to really pump up your mpg.

For example, make sure to take off your lead shoes before stepping into the car – every 5 mph over 60 you drive, it eats up gas so much faster.  Closing windows on a highway increases aerodynamics and reduces drag (for you to go faster with less gas, Speed Racer).  On the flip side, if your air conditioning is on full blast for the entire trip, that will eat gas, too.  Moderation is really the key to everything.  Just, please be smart.

If you want some more ideas on teensy driving habit changes, here are some of those and a dozen more ideas to save on gas.

Idea #3 – Find Good Prices
Here’s a secret: gas prices at the stations right off the interstate are ALWAYS going to be higher than those a few blocks down.  I was driving back from a ball game a little while ago and had to get gas.  I literally went to the station across the street – for 5 cents a gallon savings.

Gas is traditionally cheaper on Wednesday.  I have no idea why.  It just is.  But don’t blame me if this doesn’t ring true this week… this study was done over a long period of time and may not work every single week.

Idea #4 – Take Care of the Car
Keeping your car happy and healthy is a great way to save.  When the tires are at their proper pressure and all the filters are in excellent order, there are savings just waiting to happen.  The problem is that it requires overhead… like a mechanic’s fees in some cases.

PS – Here is a fuel cost calculator for those long trips… but make sure to add driving around town to the total cost.  This could be especially helpful if you’re giving travel costs with some more people, like on a road trip.

Around the World on $1.50

As promised, or teased, or whatever you call it, we have now been brought to the place of central attention.  Right now, at my University, there are students moving about all around the country.  Some of them are just heading home.  Others are on mission trips or simply a vacation.  Yes, travel is in the air… or by rail… or on the highway.

Travel is one of the most popular past time for college students – most likely because the opportunity is built in.  Fall Break, Winter Break, Spring Break… they are made for some fun and entertainment is places never before visited.

But for people trying to save money, this can be extremely scary or disappointing.  I speak from experience.  Last Spring Break, I went to Washington, D.C. for 4 days.  Doesn’t seem like a long trip, but it was expensive.  I had to work extra hours the rest of the year (even during finals) to catch back up.  The trip was fun… paying for it was definitely not.

This is something people, especially college students, really need to think about.  Not only is travel over an $800 Billion industry, it can be considered a line item when paying for school.  If you live far away, or even just commute, how much do you spend on travel without even thinking about it?  That’s not even counting break trips to Cancun or wherever.

Think of it this way – even CollegeBoard gave travel a line item in its various articles about paying for college.  For the average student at a 4-year college or university, in 2008-2009, he/she spent over $1000 on travel alone.

That can be a really scary number, especially when just looking at it in one lump sum.  Breaking it down, it’s $111 per month, since school is only in session for 9 months.  What if you live further away and have to take a plane every time?  What if some emergency comes up and you have to haul ass just to get back?

Just something to think about…  However, I don’t really want to think about terrible tragedies.  I would much rather focus on the fun aspect of traveling, which is what I alluded to in yesterday’s post.

There are a couple ways you can go about saving money on traveling and vacations.

• 1.    Save FOR vacation – Setting aside all your change (if you even use cash anymore) could be a start.  There are tons of different ways to save to go on a vacation – start at this site for some ideas.

• 2.    Save ON vacation – whether you’re headed to a beach, mountain, forest, or subdivision, there are lots of ways to save once you get there.  Here are 28 different ways to do it… or you can check out this slide show!

• 3.    Keep reading all this week.

DIY Saturday: Book Purses

When I first found this idea, my mom reacted like this.  “I would have NEVER though you would have even considered something like this.”

Here’s the thing.  I am a complete bibliophile.  I love the written word.  I respect it.  I’m one of those people that freaks out when you break the binding of a paperback.  In my mind, books are to be respected.  And with this craft, I’m more than willing to completely demolish one.

Needless to say (but I’m going to say it anyway), she was confused.

But… here’s what I have to say.  Some books should never have been written.  For some people, it’s Twilight.  For others, Rawl’s Theory of Justice.  In any case, there is no reason in the world that the books should not be created into something new and wonderful.

Also, there are many books out there that are just not getting any love.  I’m talking about that old 1985 Encyclopedia set that’s been sitting in the basement of your parents’ house since 1990 because they went out of date.  Should they be refurbished into something new and exciting that’s going to be USED?  Or should they just sit there, decaying in the cardboard box?

The whole point of this is that there are tons of new things that can be made from old hardback books!  Go check out yard sales, library sales, or used bookstores.  You could probably find some really cheap – look back at Monday’s post if you need more ideas for your supplies!

Here are some really cool things that can be made from old books: bookends, book safes, storage, shelf, side table, wrist cuffs, clocks, and the focus of this DIY Saturday… book purses!

Here are the best instructions I’ve found so far to make one.  I haven’t done it for myself yet because I have negative sewing skills and need help, but I’ve found some great books with beautiful colors and designs that will be really pretty when they’re done!

But here are the basics:

• 1.    find your book and matching/coordinating materials

• 2.    cut out the pages of the book, leaving the hollow cover

• 3.    cut card stock to fit the spine and cover

• 4.    cover the card stock with the fabric and glue them into place

• 5.    Add handles and voila!

There are tons more ideas if you’re interested in these type of crafts!  Go check them out, but make sure you come back this coming week for ways to save on one of the most popular forms of leisure for college students…

Weekend Wind-Down: Expensive Hobbies

It’s finally Friday!

I am taking name requests for the dancing frog.  I feel after all this time together, we should really take the time to give some love to the creature who entertains us every week.  Please comment or email me some suggestions.  Then next week, we’ll take a vote!

Anyway, welcome to the Expensive Hobbies version of the Weekend Wind-Down.  We’ve completely traveled the gambit this time, with topics that are just barely related.  Well, at least to me.  I would normally never relate bowling balls with crinkle cut scissors with paperback novels.  But, it’s been a lot of fun.  I’ve found lots of really good sites this week.

So without any further ado, I present to you…

• 1.    Scrapbook Sisters: The Scrapbook Sisters love to do what they do.   Every couple days, they post a bunch of photos of new scrapbook pages they have created.  Some are being sold and others are just there for different ideas.  They don’t give any ideas on how to save money, but I’ve included them because their pages are absolutely beautiful and can inspire some new ideas.  This way, if you like what they’re doing, or think of something that bounces off their pages, you can keep your eyes open for inexpensive alternatives!

• 2.    Crafting on Alfred Avenue: Kaylen is a colleague of mine and has an obsession for crafting that she would call a passion.  What’s great about her is that she has a wonderful sense of humor and is Just Starting Out, like all of us!  She can’t afford to spend bookoo bucks on a single project.  Check out her blog for some ideas, tutorials, and hidden tricks to saving money on a variety of crafty things!

• 3.    About.com: This is another scrapbooking article that I found to very helpful.  It’s all about using recycled materials for scrapbooking.  It also explicitly lists easy ways to save money that go beyond using coupons!  There are 65 different ideas, so I’m sure that you can find at least 2 that will work with your specific needs!

• 4.    Consumer News:  The Consumer News is one of the best magazines for consumers.  I mean, just check out the name.  Anyway, this particular article has a bunch of different ways to make hobbies less expensive.  The advice given is very helpful and very doable.  They are not intimidating in any way.

• 5.    Money Central:  Just in case on Monday you didn’t have enough advice on saving money on books this week, here is one more great website!  There are 10 different ways, very few repeated.  If you’re a complete bibliophile like I am, check it out.  It will definitely save you some dough.

I hope you can find these sites helpful, and I definitely recommend Crafting on Alfred Avenue and the Oakville Running Times!

Check these out – they are the best articles and blogs/blog posts that I’ve found on all of the topics that we’ve followed this week.  They were too good to just add in as a link in the weekday posts, so I’ve given them an extra special place.  So, please, click on them and let me know what you think!

I hope you all have a great weekend!  If you get the chance to come online and check out tomorrow’s post, make sure you read (or re-read, hopefully) Monday’s post!

It's the Stuff, Not the Sport

Alright, everyone, it’s finally come down to it.  I have a confession to make.  It is something I have been trying to convince myself that I am not.  I cringe when my friends actually say it out loud.  I’ve been in such a deep denial, it has almost been ingrained into my brain.  But I have to let it off my chest.  The time has come.

So… here it goes.  Right now.  Ok.  Let’s do this.  Deep Breath.  I am a bowler.  Yes, that’s right.  I don’t just go bowling on Friday nights when there’s nothing else to do.  I’m talking Big Lebowski and KingPin.  I’m in a league.  I compete.

Wow.  That was slightly therapeutic – announcing that to the world.  Well, anyway… this is an extraordinarily valid confession.  I bet only one of you actually knows just how expensive bowling is.  I’m not talking about for the games, which are getting more and more pricey, but for the equipment!

Let’s put it this way.  There are so many kinds of bowling balls, I cannot even begin to describe them all.  There are plastic and high reactive resin.  Balls with a strong back-end, ones that are aggressive, ones that are made to hook like no one’s business.  Unlike rental shoes, the bottoms of a pair of bowling shoes are not the same – one for push off and one for slide.  In fact, there are left handed shoes.

Although some argue that real bowlers can use only one bowling ball for all their missions, most have multiples.  My boyfriend has been around bowling his entire life and sitting in his living room right now are over a dozen bowling balls (I’m sitting on his couch – I counted them).  That is for two people – and each one costs over $60.  Some can even be more.

What other hobbies are there that have ridiculously expensive equipment?  I’ve thought of three others, but please let me know if you’re involved with any others – I want to be able to think up/find some other ideas for you.

• Tennis: This is a bone of contention with me, personally.  My boyfriend spent $130 on a racket.  Then he replaced the strings for another $20.  Then he had to buy tennis balls because they lose their bounce after a while – another $14.  Some rackets cost more and less, but that is the average for one.  The stringing was on the cheaper side and the balls were a good deal and bought with a coupon.  Let’s talk about ridiculous.

• Golfing:  Golf clubs can cost over $3000.  Used clubs can still cost in the hundreds.  So I really need to say more?

• Running:  It may not seem that way, but running shoes can definitely cost a pretty penny.  However, I do not know a lot about running, because I am personally adverse to it, so I am going to defer to a greater authority.  This is my colleague Terry’s blog and website.  He is an XC coach at a local high school and earned a full ride running scholarship.  He knows his stuff.  Feel free to ask him anything you need – he’s an expert on shoes.

Now, I know these posts are really depressing, about all the money that is being spent on hobbies, and there are only a couple real pieces of advice I can give you.  No one is going to want to deal with shoddy equipment just to save a buck.

• 1. Get to know your local dealer/pro shop guy.  For bowlers, I know, you can get a discount on the ball if you buy it and get it drilled there.  This is the most helpful thing I’ve listed… which is why it’s in a bigger font.

• 2. Buy Used.  Seems obvious, right?

• 3. Avoid buying online from places like eBay.  Ask yourself why they are selling there.  Wouldn’t an actual shop take their stuff to sell used?  I’ve known so many people that have wasted their money on a seeming “deal”.  Just because it's cheap... that doesn't make it an actual "Deal," could be a scam.
  

It's Made Entirely of Old Underwear!

I’ve found a paradox recently.  I’m guilty of it myself.  Here is the problem: Do-It-Yourself and crafting is supposed to save you money.  However, at the exact same time, a packet of glitter (not necessarily the most needed craft supply) can cost $8.

Ummm… not exactly saving you money there.  So, as one of the hobbies for this week, I’ve made it my mission to find some ways to save on crafting in general.

Which really just brings us to this point right now.  I’m frantically hunting, trying to find something that can be useful and you’re leisurely reading.  This is how it should be.  Well, at the final end of my reading, I have come up with a couple different ideas.

• 1. Supplies.  Perhaps buying supplies is really where people can feel the crunch.  Well, here are some good ways to navigate those stores and keep yourself on track.  First of all, make a list for your specific project.  Second, always, always look at the ads first; you don’t have to clip coupons to see what’s already on special.  Finally, in the back of the store, past the seasonal items, normally in the left hand corner, there is the clearance aisle.  Go check it out.  Seriously.  There are things back there just waiting to be discovered.

• 2. Planning.  I alluded to this in number 1.  Know what project you want to make.  There’s nothing wrong with going to a craft store to get inspiration, but try not to buy that same day.  There could be some things you can substitute so you don’t have a cookie-cutter project on a huge budget.  Also, what projects do you have sitting unfinished at home?  You already have the supplies for it… why not do those instead of going out to make more?

• 3. Organization.  At the very beginning of my blogging career, I did a post on my top ten favorite organizational ideas – they are still valid for crafts, as well as just normal stuff.  How much crap are you re-buying because you can’t find the original?  How much extra Mod Podge did you buy for the last project?  Maybe you can think about trading supplies with other crafters, once you know what you have.

There are lots more ideas to save that I haven’t touched, which is why I have all these pretty green links scattered around.  Do some more reading, there are lots of people out there trying to save money on the same stuff.

PS – If you’re a blog reader, you can check out these Blog Catalog listing.  Some of them seemed slightly promising.  Happy reading!

Paper, Papier, Papel, Carta!

Ok, I have some apologizing to do.  I'm really sorry that yesterday's post was way late.  Life (and my job) got in the way and it completely slipped my mind... It is midterm week, after all.  Anyway, thanks to one of my readers who contacted me to ask why I hadn't posted.  Bonus points for you!

Alright, so we’ve actually come down to it.  I can’t pretend that I understand this phenomenon recently with scrapbooking… to me it’s just a lot of frue-frue highlighting a single picture.  I would much rather have an entire album of pictures of my loved ones instead of one picture on a 12 by 12 page, with all these 3D button and cutouts and stamps and stickers and all that other junk.

But this blog is not about me.  It’s about everyone else.  And let me tell you… scrapbooking is a huge deal AND it is a huge money eater… which makes it a huge problem.  This is where my unmatched Googling skill and I come into play.  I’m here to help, just like last week, when I wore my Superman cape.

In doing research, I have found that a single page in a scrapbook can cost anywhere between $5 and $20 for a “decent-looking” page.  For a minimal book, the total can be over $100.  And there are like 6 pictures in that whole thing.  This site here does a really good job of breaking down just how much some scrapbooks can cost.

After I found this, I went straight to Michael’s because I could not believe it.  But, right there in the scrapbook aisle, there was a single piece of paper (not double-sided) that was $4.99.  On sale.  I flipped.

I cannot see how paper can cost so much money!  However, in a nod to some of my good friends who love scrapbooking and seem to make at least 1 a month, enough with my ranting.  Here is how to save.

First, try to use what you already have.  Remember that random button you found on the floor the other day?  Use it.  That construction paper left over from your poster project?  It’ll still work.  The ribbon from the flowerpot your boyfriend got you?  Bingo.

There are a million and a half good ideas that you can use to scrapbook… how about drawing them out in pencil first, before you cut all that ribbon and decide you don’t really like it.  Writers, cartoonists, and artists call it a storyboard.

Get organized!  Can you imagine all the stuff you could find if you networked with other scrapbookers?  There are just over a crapload of websites out there just dedicated to this hobby.  Good gracious, are there a lot.  Talk to them!  Find some more ideas… you may even get some inspiration!

Just keep a constant eye out for materials.  If you’re in the hardware store and there’s this really cool shaped piece a scrap?  It’s free.  I see no reason not to use it…

Anyway, I completely apologize for most of my post today.  There aren’t a super lot of ideas listed.  However, that is because you really can just use your common sense.  You’re a smart person, or you wouldn’t be reading this!  Just quell the desire to buy 12 reams of the sparkly green and orange paper… but if you really want some more, very specific ideas, go here.

Belle's Got Nothing on Me (and Other Secrets from the Stacks)

So, to start off this week… I’ve decided to turn the spotlight on me.  I have a problem.  I really, really do.  I absolutely love to read.  Which is fine, except, I love even more to buy and collect books.  This has been my complete downfall.  I have books as a line item in my budget.

I just counted and there are 54 unread books sitting in this room where I am sitting.  There are 2 others in the living room.  Please don’t shun me.  The first step to solving a problem is to admit that you have one.  And I do.  I have a huge problem.

I really was scared to do the math… but since most of my problem comes from the fact that I spend a lot of money on books, I did the math.  We’re talking over $200 a year on the written word… that does not count textbooks.  Considering the average cost of a paperback is $15.64… Ouch.  Very ouch.

So, in the hopes to find out that I am not the only freak on the planet, I did some hunting.  It turns out there are tons of people out there that spend a lot of money on books – some in the thousands per year.  I felt a little better.  But the overall consensus, for both pleasure and for things like classroom libraries for the teachers out there, is that they spend

“way more than we should.”

What does that even mean?

Anyway, there are ways to save on books, which is a plus and a minus.  The plus is that I won’t spend as much on a single text.  The minus is I will probably spend the same overall and just buy more books.  I told you I have a problem.

If you’re into modern technology, think about something like the Kindle or even an iPod Touch.  They have books to be downloaded for a lot cheaper and sometimes even free.  I’ve read quite a few classics online – like the Wizard of Oz and The Time Machine.

Think Amazon.  Have you ever done a comparison at how much cheaper it is than bookstores?  It’s astounding.

Venture off and find some thrift stores or used book stores.  There are some that sell for half off the cover price.  Many independent book stores will now offer “recycled books.”  If you don’t want to keep the book once you’re done reading, go donate it to them for some more store credit.  They’ll even sell the recycled books for a lower price.  Sounds like a deal to me (and you’re not killing any extra trees in the process).

Finally, I’ll tell you my secret.

Books Sales.  Nope, it does not sounds like a big secret, but let me tell you.  When you find one that charges in between 10 cents and a quarter for books – some of which publishes less than three months before, some textbooks, and some kids’ books – then it becomes a big deal.  Here’s the scoop: Book Sale Finder.  It’s the best website ever… if you have a problem like me.

I'm Gonna Do What I Want...

Let’s face it.  Some people have some very weird hobbies.  There’s nothing we can do about it.  Cosplay, Toads, Bigfoot Research, UFO hunters, paper clay, bouncy ball collectors.  Granted, some are really cool, like watching Curling during the Olympics.  But some are weird.  But the thing is… people because obsessed with all their weird hobbies.

In fact, some of the obsessions have a huge impact on the wallet.  For example, there are hundreds of people that spend over $100 a week on a fish tank.  The fact that people even have to budget out their hobbies and do it monthly is a huge deal to show just how much people spend.

The thing is, I want people to keep their hobbies.  There are tons of people that have had to give up their beloved hobbies because they could no longer afford it.  In fact, there have been lots of studies that have shown the different amount that people spend monthly or yearly.  Check out this graph.

In the end, how much is too much?  I would definitely not recommend that you spend your rent money on them, even though I know that some people do.  I can’t give you a percentage of a budget.  Actually, speaking of a budget, it would be a really good idea to make your hobby a line item in your budget.  I do for my obsession… but that’s a different post for a different day (tomorrow actually).  It used to eat me alive.

Gardening is actually considered the most expensive hobby.  I haven’t been in a gardening store recently, so if anyone can let me know just how much people can spend on that, I would really like to hear it.  Seriously.  I’m curious.  I always thought that kitchen gardens and that type of thing would save money.

What I do know is this: gamers spend a lot of money.  I have a 17 year old brother that has an Xbox 360.  And Xbox Live.  Which means that for $45 a year, he gets to play online.  But he still has to buy the games to play.  They’re easily $60 a piece.  I have a Wii.  Those games are ridiculous!  Talk about budget eating!

Anyway, this week is all about saving money on your hobby.  I’ve picked out 4 that I’ve found that can really affect people our age, but there was no way in the world I could cover them all.  There are too many out there.

But if your hobby does not come into plat this week, please don’t discount me.  Many of the different ideas, tactics, and strategies can apply to your particular hobby!  Just think about it for an extra 30 seconds.

PS – if you know of, or have yourself some weird hobby, let me know!  I love hearing about them!

DIY Saturday: Halloween Costumes

Happy Saturday!  I’m sure all of you really saw this coming – at the capstone of the Halloween Theme, this DIY Saturday is based on making Costumes!  Please, hold down your applause and your gasp of surprise.  A magician is not one of the ones I think would work the best.

First of all, I really want to make this clear – BE CREATIVE!!!!

Think back to last Sunday, when I was writing about last Halloween.  I bought a costume.  My boyfriend made his and we used our creativity.  His was much more popular.  There are tons of ideas out there and remember that you don’t have to buy a costume from the place you find the idea!

Think about all the ideas for kids’ costumes.  How many of them can be adapted for adults?  You may not want to dress up like Hannah Montana, but what about the ladybug, mime, or witch?  Those work just as well as the kids’ ones.

There are so many things around the home that can be used to make costumes.  It’s possible you will not have to purchase a single thing.

• 1.    Out of the Closet – Hippie, Bridesmaid, Ghost, Scarecrow, Mummy, Pirate

• 2.    Sweats and Tights – Any kind of animal, snowman, rag doll

• 3.    Cardboard Boxes – Playing Cards, Christmas Present, Rubic’s Cube

You make your own make-up, too.  I don’t exactly know how, but I’m sure Google could tell you without a problem.  There are also tons of other plans.

If you have anyone in your life that can sew, and if you can do it, then I have much respect for you.  Have you checked out any of the patterns available?  They can be super cheap.  Buying fabric is guaranteed cheaper than a regular costume.

If you have those skills and do not have the time to create an entirely new costume, why not adapt one?  Take a white sweat suit and sew on block spots.  Voila.  You have a cow or a Dalmatian, depending on what the spots look like.  Make a felt star and wear it on a headband over a green sweat suit.  Instant Christmas tree.

Borrow from friends.  Borrow from family.  If you want to risk being booed: go as a college student.  Take a textbook with you.

Really the whole point is to use your head.  There are so many different things out there.  If you tried to name everything, there would be no end to it.  Look at something that interests you.  How could you make it?  Crafting and DIYing can cost a lot of money if you’re not careful.

Just think.  Which actually gives me another idea.  Find a pink trash bag or paint one.  Go as a brain.

Weekend Wind-Down: Halloween

After a very long week dealing with everything that is spooky about Halloween, we have finally reached the end of the week!  I hope some of the ideas that have come up this week will help in the next couple before we hit a Halloween that is finally on a Saturday!  That’s right, everyone!  You don’t have to worry about getting up in the morning!

But before you go off and get too crazy, check out some of these websites I found that were really great for Halloween.  There are hundreds of blogs and websites out there based completely on this holiday.  I couldn’t wade through all of these, but I’ve found quite a few that are very interesting and the most helpful.
 
These particular sites are really great in my opinion.  They might even help you throw that party you want, or come up with a fantastic costume idea if you’re going to one.  If you agree or disagree, just let me know!  I want to find sites in the future that are actually what you want to read!

• 1.    Candy Alternatives – Candy is obviously the most popular item to give away to those cute kiddies on Halloween… but what if you really don’t want to support the sugar rush?  If you’re too conservative and give something like apples and granola bars, trust me when I say those trick or treaters do not want them.  They might not come back next year.  This link is a fantastic website that gives some very inexpensive alternatives to giving candy.  Check it out.

• 2.    Haunted Houses – If you’re one of those people that really go crazy with decorations and want to create one of your own haunted houses, this website has some great ideas and lots of pictures.  However, I caution you.  This site is not about saving money when it comes to those decorations.  Use this for some awesome ideas… but please be creative in their actual implementation.

• 3.    Dirty Dancing – In honor of Mr. Patrick Swayze, who died last month, I can guarantee that there are going to be a lot of couples dressing up as Baby and Johnny Castle from Dirty Dancing.  This blog post has some ideas for making these costumes on the cheap and having them actually be recognizable.  RIP Patrick, you are a legend.  And Happy Halloween.

• 4.    Pre-Gaming – Yes, I know this term is normally used for a completely different purpose.  But no.  This is not about that.  This is a link to many different free online games that deal with a Halloween theme.  It’s to help you get into the mood for this holiday.  Have a good time!

Check out those sites!  They really are fantastic!  Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic, relaxing weekend and that you have found some awesome ideas for this Halloween!  Come back tomorrow for some DIY Costumes.

Has Anyone Ever Actually Bobbed For Apples?

I’ve been to a good number of Halloween parties in my day.  Each one was definitely different and had a separate focus.  I’ve been to one (which was annual, so really 3) where the family spent hundreds of dollars each year on decorations.  I’ve been to others where the only thing they had besides chips and salsa was a bonfire.  I’ve been to the kid parties where there are games and lots of spooky things, like dry ice Kool-Aid.

Let me tell you a secret.  That one party, with the games, was the only time I have ever been bobbing for apples and let me tell you, I will never, ever do it again.  I stuck my head near the bucket.  The apples would sink and come back and sink again.  I tried to aim for the stem and catch it between my teeth.  I felt like I was going to drown.  I eventually got that darn Red Delicious, but let me tell you… I was cold, cranky, and wet the entire rest of the party.

Hence, this particular post.  Bobbing for apples is the not only game or form of entertainment that exists, people!  Let’s try to think of other ideas.  Maybe some of those will even be cheaper than buying a bushel of apples.  Here’s to hoping.

• 1.    Theme Party = Themes have become very popular recently, from weddings to birthday parties to company picnics.  Why not try one for your party, say like, Harry Potter!  Think about the endless possibilities.  You don’t have to do the ghouls and goblins… but you may have to bribe someone to dress as Voldy, Voldy, Voldemort.

• 2.    Tricks, no Treats = Come up with as many legal Halloween pranks as you can.  Is anyone willing to try them out?  If you don’t want to go that route, check our this site, which has a bunch of hilarious tricks to play on your own guests.

• 3.    Movie-a-thon = Halloween is a holiday.  Halloween is a movie series.  Coincidence?  I think not.  One of the ways I personally like to celebrate Halloween is to watch either really, really bad horror movies, like The Creature from the Black Lagoon, or really good ones, like Friday the 13th.  I’m willing to bet that many of your friends have these movies.  Have them come over and fire up the DVD player.

• 4.    Parties During the Day = What do you need to wrap a mummy?  TP.  We’ve already gone over how to save money on that!  How many random dance games or freeze-tag ish things can you find that only require music?  Don’t want to spend money on music?  Let me tell you a secret… YouTube.  Check out this website for tons of game ideas that cost next to no money.  These are also great if you’re having kids over for the party.

• 5.    Parties at Night = When it comes to having adult parties at night, there really is no need for more entertainment than the usual Saturday night.  Heck, you find something to do during those nights, I’m sure.  However, if you’re looking for just that little bit of themed games that don’t deal with ping pong balls and plastic cups, check out this website.  They have lots of games listed and all of the supplies are cheap and easy to find.  Why not have a film festival?  No, not like the movie-a-thon… but make your own.

Join me in boycotting bobbing for apples.  Use some of those fun ideas!

Please Only Take 2 Pieces

Let’s use some logical reasoning, as well as some math to figure out this candy situation.  If you have X number of kids coming to your house to Trick or Treat and you tell them that they can only take 2 per person, it is very logical and mathematically sound the buy 2X pieces of candy.  But what happens every time?

You run out halfway through the night.  Why is this?  Well, our wicked-awesome deductive skills tell us that either the no good kids took more than their 2 pieces or you had more kids than last year.

I’m going to bank on the second one.  This is a game.  People will map out their strategy to get the most and best candy for their kids.  They know to hit Apartment 9 because Mr. Bateman gives out full size candy bars and not the fun size.  They know to avoid Mrs. Shannon because she gives out floss.

Where do you stand on the list?  Think about it.  If you aren’t one of the people that gives out the really good stuff, but get a lot of kids anyway, you might want to consider buying the candy you give wholesale, instead of the little bags at the store.  You get a lot more for a lot less money.

The flip side of the coin is that you buy too much and have candy left over.  Or maybe you yourself went Trick or Treating and you got a bunch of Sugar Daddies, or whatever candy you hate the most.  There are ways to get rid of the leftover candy without having to eat it all or throw it out.

If you’re throwing a party and want to serve something else besides for huge buckets of candy, there are plenty of ideas out there.  On the Yahoo! Food Forum, there are tons and tons of easy Halloween-themed foods.  You don’t have to serve a five-course meal or spend a million dollars on cookies that look like pumpkins, either.

Or, if you’re a little more ambitious, you can check out the Food Network.  You know they’ll have tons of things.  Channels like that love holidays because they don’t have to think about their programming.  I know I’m loving it, because it gave me an instant theme that I didn’t have to think about.

However, if you’re not too into the more than one step food preparation, here are a couple equations that can make your life even easier.

• 1.    Hershey’s Kiss + Chocolate Cookie = Witch’s Hat Cookie

• 2.    Oven Bake Breadsticks + Slicing ¼ of the way up one end = Witch’s Broom Breadsticks

• 3.    Hostess Ding Dongs + Black Licorice Laces = Spider Cakes

• 4.    Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls or Hostess HoHos + M&Ms or candy corn = Make Your Own Critter Cake

• 5.    Apple Slices + Caramel Dip = Caramel Apples

• 6.    Chopped Ham + Cheese + Bread Slices + Oven = Deviled Ham Toasties

• 7.    Sour Apple Cocktail Mix + Club Soda = Poisoned Apple Cocktails
  

Boiling Cauldrons and Spider Webs

Let’s start off by saying that some of the prices of the Styrofoam decorations these days are out of this world.  A plastic skull can be $12.99.  Some fancy vampire fangs are $23.  Fake blood, as gross as that is anyway, is $16.99.  And these are all from an online store that doesn’t have to pay for a lot of property or employees, like a WalMart.  Ridiculous.

There is no reason in the world to pay that much for anything.  (I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that those vampire fangs are $23.)  There are so many places to save money, even if you want to go all out.  If you’re not the one throwing the party, then good for you – pass this information on to the people who need it.

First, figure out what you want to do.  Planning ahead, even though it takes a little bit more time, it will pay off in the end.  If you have a general picture of what you want done, you can just go get those items.  If you have no clue, you’ll end up going to the store and just grabbing everything you think looks really cool.  Trust me.  I speak from experience on this one.

Once you have your plan and are out looking, keep in mind a certain budget.  Don’t just go willy-nilly, saying you know you won’t spend too much.  You will.  Have you seen some of the stuff they have?  Motion censored skeletons and singing gravestones.  Cool!  Keep in mind your budget.  Make it a mantra if you have too.  No more than 5.99.  No more than 5.99.

Do you have any DIY skills whatsoever?  Can you use scissors, even if they are the rounded safety scissors given to first graders?  Do you have a printer?  How about some good ole’ Elmer’s white glue?  Ummm… if you said “yes”, which I hope you did, then you have almost unlimited possibilities.

Print off two pictures of scary trees.  Glue them together to make it 3-D.  Tape construction paper onto your fridge to make it look like a cauldron or witch.  Cut up a trash bag and tape it to an entry way.  Use a sheet as a classic ghost costume, only use a basketball as the head.  Instant huge decoration.

If you have more than those basic Kindergarten skills, try making some things yourself.  DIY doesn’t have to be that difficult.  Know someone that has a saw and scrap wood?  Can you sew?  Paint?  Scrapbook?  Be creative and think of all the possibilities you have without spending any money – just time.

Finally, I really just wanted to point all of you to this article, which is on the Budget 101 Website.  It is a fantastic site with tons of ideas to work in on a pretty tight budget.  If you’re just searching around for general ideas, start here.  You’ll be amazed what you can do on like $10.

And What Are You Supposed to Be?

Let’s try an exercise.  I don’t really mean like sit ups or push ups or anything.  Just a mental exercise.  Please get out a sheet of paper – either mental or physical.  Oh, and don’t forget the pen, pencil, marker, crayon, or other writing utensil.  Alright, we’re gonna play some word association.

When you read a word, write down or mentally note what you come up with.  I’m really not kidding.  This will be fun – the words are all chosen because to me, they represent October.  And there is a point to this game – I promise.

Baseball.

-- I think about the St. Louis Cardinals. (Go El Hombre)

Midterms.

-- I think about cramming at my desk.

Autumn Leaves.

-- I think about all the different colors.

Halloween.

-- I think about costumes.

I’m going to be a magician.  You either wrote down/thought about costumes or candy.  If I’m wrong, tell me.  There’s a comment box at the end of this post.

There really is nothing else about Halloween that can completely become its symbol.  Costumes.  Candy.  Now, think about those two things in conjunction with saving money.  What costs the most?  Candy and Costumes.

I was walking through one of those really cool Halloween stores that have been popping up recently and I was shocked at the prices.  A costume kit consisting of a headband, elastic tail, and choker necklace cost almost $30.  I almost fell over.  Quite literally.  My friends laughed hysterically.

So I started hunting.  All over the store and all over the internet.  Where can I find some really inexpensive costumes?  I’m going to a party – I want to be prepared.

• 1.    Last Minute Costumes: However, if midterms and baseball own my life for the next couple weeks, my costume might go by the wayside.  When in a time crunch, people tend to spend more money than they ordinarily would have.  What are some really quick ideas?  How about an artist?  That equals the leftover cardboard from your hot plate project and some paint.  Maybe a smock if you want to get fancy.  This may sound weird, but think ahead for times when you have to act at the last minute.

• 2.    For Couples: I am attached.  I want the people at the party to know who I am with.  I want to match, as nerdy as that is.  However, I would probably do the same thing if I were going with just friends.  Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble.  Two Cards in a deck.  There are hundreds and hundreds of ideas that work with couples.

• 3.    Completely Free:  If you stick around and read Saturday’s Do-It-Yourself idea, there are tons of ideas that are completely free to create or put together.  How about go as a victim of a closet attack?  Make a duct tape dress.  Trash Bag dress with necktie as a belt.  Be Creative.  There are tons of things out there.

• 4.    Really, Really Cheap Ideas:  what can you create from a cardboard box, sweat suit, or old t-shirt?  Can you add anything to what you already have to make a costume?  Think about how much cheaper it would be to buy a couple buttons, as opposed to an entirely new costume.