I won't really miss you though. But goodbye.
Bonjour…or Salut?
Sadly, all good things must come to an end and your favourite writer is logging in his last post. Romi is putting together a best of SYR for tomorrow, so today I’m gonna give you my best lessons from my (our) favourite posts and projects as you guys start getting through September. (more…)
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Well now that you fully understand that the recession is over, now what do you do? Well, unlike those of you who hated the recession because you had no job, I had a particular job speaking about the recession. So guess what? Recession is over and I must move on. Yes tomorrow will be my, as well as the others, last post. On the bright side, we have learned so much from the recession and it is time to dust ourselves off, take a nice shower (now that you can afford hot water) and move on with our lives. We have learned some great lessons that we can take with us for the future of mankind to build a greater society and a greater world…. or at least buy those expensive pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing for four months. Articlesbase.com has an article giving some lessons and tips on what to do from now on, so when I leave you, you will still be able to survive.
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Medusa! Not again!
With all this talk about saving money, I began to ponder the idea of saving as a whole. There is only so much money you can save before it starts lifting up your mattress, only so much energy you can save before the light bulbs start shining like disco balls. I like saving as much as the next guy or gal; I even save my chewing gum. But does it really matter? Is any of this really worth saving? At the end of the day we are all just cells, bones, and soul: so what can we save that will have a lasting effect in our lifetime?
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What if I told you the solution to your money problems is really simple. What if the ideal way to conserve your cash is not to be forward thinking, but rather backward, way back, back to when you were young.
As Notorious B.I.G used to say, “mo money, mo problems”. With more money comes more expenses and bills and credit and debt. No fun. When we were kids, the little money we had went a long way. Remember that incredible feeling when you found $2 under your pillow after losing a tooth?
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Invest in a house you can really afford.
Today is a new day, and what a beautiful day it is. Hopefully you just got off your phone and set up an appointment with an investment broker to insure your financial future or are doing so as we speak. I’m not going to lie, I don’t plan on calling until Monday as I am going away camping for a few days to a place where money is irrelevant. It will just be my friends, a two four, and I, bonding with nature and its creatures. I know you don’t really care about my weekend but I am really excited! I know you’re excited and curious about the other three tips as your financial future hangs in the balance so let’s just get right down to it.
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Mile High Discount Club
I’m making a non-cheapskate move this weekend: I’m flying to Boston to visit one of my BFFs. Sometimes, we need to get out of town and the farther you go, the higher the price tag. We all deserve a little vacation so splurging is sometimes (but rarely) appropriate. I am flying out of Buffalo which saves me almost $300 so there is some saving going on, I promise.
If you do happen to be travelling via winged machine in the near future, I have some packing tips for you as to avoid unnecessary costs on the way to your destination and during your trip.
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Turning grocery bills into nothingness
We’ve hammered this into your brains many times: It’s cheaper to buy groceries and cook than it is to dine out. Just switching to eating in will save you tons of money but how can you save even more?
Here are some ancient Zen proverbs that will guide you in your quest to shrink your grocery bill:
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The first response I get from people when I ask how to get the best bang for your buck on a date is to hit up a buffet. In good concious, I can’t recommend this solution as I’m quite weary of the qaulity of food used in buffets and you should be to. There are far better options than stuffing yourself with the lowest grade of food possible. Plus, buffets are bloating and date killers.
As a generation, we have a habit of bringing back the old and making it new so my first suggestion is that we should start calling this the Summer of the Picnic. Picnics are a nostalgic throwback to earlier times when people enjoyed nature more and weren’t overburdened by a plehtora of fast food options. The picnic, more importantly, is a great way to save some serious money while not giving the impression that’s your main intention. I don’t have to tell you how much cheaper it is to buy you’re own food but if you need hard evidence, use the nifty calculator to the right to see how much you’d save over just a month if you started packing food from home whether its your daily meal or the many picnics you’re going to be having.
Of course, packing your own food or going on a picnic is not always possible so we need to tackle ‘going out’ solutions. The first piece of advice I’m going to give you isn’t that sexy but I assure you that its solid: research. The absolute worst question you can ask someone is “where do you want to eat?” Doing this makes you vulnerable to variables you cannot forsee and will almost always have you saying ” I’m not that hungry, this basket of bread is all I need”. So to avoid this unfortunate situation, use one of the many research tools online (e.g. Yelp, Urban Spoon, etc.) that will help you find a place that best suits your budget. Not only will this lead you to some great affordable options, but it will also give you some talking points after reading the review. The best date is often the smart date.
Finally, if you don’t have time to plan, steer the situation in your favor by suggesting that you play a game. The name of the game isn’t important but the general idea should be “let’s set a max spend for our date and see if we can make it under”. At first you might sound cheap but if you position it as “we’re so fun that we don’t really need to spend money to enjoy our time together”, you’ll be golden. Everyone likes a challenge and you’ll find yourselves uncovering new ways to have fun and eat out that you may have never considered before. All of a sudden, ordering water makes you more of a teamster than a cheap-o.
I’ve framed this piece for the dating crowd but any of these ideas will work with your friends. Naturally, having a picnic with a bunch of your dudes might feel odd but include a frisbee and you’ll put the ‘man’ back in ‘romantic’.
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Hi. My name is Mandi, and I’m a shopaholic. It’s been two months and four days since my last splurge. Except for last night when I caved and bought a tank top, a pair of sunglasses and a new bag. But thanks to this article from About.Com, I’m inspired to renew my commitment to frugality. I can do it. One day at a time. I’ve actually printed the article off, and am carrying it with me, just in case I happen to find myself in a mall. No more retail bingeing for me. No more shoe hangovers or handbag blackouts. Here are the top ten ways to Break The Spending Habit.
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1. Go Cash-Only
Credit cards make it easy to overspend, but you can’t use them if you don’t have them with you. Leave your credit cards at home, and stick to cash or debit for all of your purchases.
 2. Set Long-term Goals
Find yourself blowing big bucks on small purchases like coffee and vending machine snacks? Here’s a simple way to crush the habit: Pick something that you really want – a vacation, a fat emergency fund, to get out of debt – and remind yourself of this goal each time you feel tempted to blow money on a non-essential. Then, take the money you would have blown, and put it towards your goal. Before long you’ll be sunning yourself on a tropical shore or sitting on top of a mound of money. Who knew breaking bad habits could be so rewarding?
3. Distinguish Between Needs and Wants
Do you need those new shoes or do you just want them? Ask yourself this question each time you find yourself contemplating a purchase. If it’s a need (and it fits within your budget), go ahead and buy them. If it’s a want, spend some time weighing the impact of your purchase. What will these shoes do for you? Will they make you happy? Fill a hole in your wardrobe? Can you afford to buy them? Is there something else that you want more? Be honest about how your purchase will impact your life, and then decide if that “want” is really worth the asking price.
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4. Shop with a List
Ever gone into a store for a few items, and emerged with bags and bags of stuff? Yeah, we all have. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for this common spending trap: shop with a list. Jot down everything that you need from the store, then only shop for the items that are on your list. Tempted by something extra? Then, make a note to add it to your next shopping list.
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5. Give Yourself an Allowance
Look over your budget, and decide how much money you can afford to blow each week. Then, withdraw this amount from your checking account at the beginning of the week, and spend guilt-free. Just remember: When the money’s gone, the spending stops – no exceptions.
6. Institute a Cooling Off Period
Coveting the latest bobble or gadget? Time to head for the nearest exit! Institute a 24-hour cooling off period before buying any big-ticket item. This will give you time to decide whether you really need and can afford the object of your affection. Still smitten after 24-hours? Then, go back to the store and buy it.
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7. Find a Shopping Buddy
Do you have a hard time saying no to your shopping impulses? Then, find someone who can talk you down. Designate a friend or family member your “Voice of Reason”; and only shop when they can go with you. Have a cell phone? Then, go ahead and shop alone, but call your friend whenever you find yourself worked into a shopping frenzy.
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8. Shop without a Cart
Have you noticed how big shopping carts are getting? Those babies are designed to keep you shopping! Avoid this clever spending trap by only taking a cart when you have a lot to buy. Otherwise, grab a shopping basket or carry your items. You’ll be less tempted to shop when you don’t have anywhere to put your selections.
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9. Let Someone Else Shop for You
Looking for an easy way to break your spending habit? Here’s one: let someone else shop for you. Make out your shopping list, and then hand it off to someone you trust. You won’t be able to add impulse items if you’re sitting at home.
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10. Survey Your Selections
Before you head to the check out line, take a minute to look over your selections. Do you need everything that you’re about to buy? Are there items that you should put back or think about for next time? Keep editing your selections until you feel good about them. Then, check out with a clear conscience.
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This week Mandi and I went to the ultimate Recession store - Ikea. It was epic. So epic that we decided to film it. We went Scorsese-styles all over it. Behold the world premiere of “9 Tips On How To Survive A Trip To Ikea Without Killing Yourself.”
Check out the full vid. If you’re the impatient type (or just want shorter versions to send to your friends… because I’m sure you will) we’ve also broken it down into a three-part miniseries. We’re just nice like that.
(P.S. Mandi swears like a sailor, it’s really embarrassing. So there are a couple of NSFW words in here. If you work someplace uptight, listen with your headphones in.)
Credits:
Total Win Editing Wizardry by: Alina Kouznetsova
Super Rad Music by: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Transportation To And From Suburbs by: Co-Op Cab
Written and Randomly Improved by: Mandi and Jeremy
Swedish Meatballs by: Ikea Chef Dude
Mandi’s Hair, Styling and Make-up by: Jason McPhail
Assistant to Mr. Elder: Andrew Bridge
Assistant to Ms. Ashford: Nathan Rosenberg
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