2 Living On A Budget

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Honey

This is how millennials are saving money–and it’s genius! You might be wasting a ton of money if you don’t know this trick.

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If you’re not using Honey, you’re basically throwing money away. This genius Chrome extension scans the Internet for any available coupons and automatically applies the best one to your cart at checkout. Honey does all of the work in a couple of seconds, and it’s free.
Originally, Honey was created by a dad of three who wanted to save a couple of bucks on pizza, but didn’t have time to search for a coupon code. Now, Honey has millions of users and works on thousands of sites. I let it scan for discounts every time I shop, and have saved on everything from clothes to hotels.

Get Honey for free HERE.


Brown Paper Packages

Create your own gift wrap with brown packing paper! All you need is a little string and a few springs of greenery.

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What To Buy In May

Did you know…that May is a really good month to shop for furniture, small kitchen appliances and clothes?

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The Memorial Day long weekend is a great time to buy indoor furniture, patio furniture and even mattresses at discounted prices.
 
Crate & Barrel has offers 15% -50% off select items, as do Williams-SonomaAnthropologieTargetCB2Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware.
 
Hilary+Duff+wearing+black+framed+glasses+plaid+t6NdsZkSIdSlThis year, Memorial Day is the 30th and sales often begin a least a week earlier.  Remember that some prices are automatically reduced but other sales require consumers to input a coupon code at checkout.

Headboards

A designer headboard is a serious commitment, both financially and stylistically. Once you’ve got a costly statement piece to work around, it can be way more difficult to switch up the vibe of your room when you need a change of scenery. That’s why the owners of many gorgeous bedrooms––from home decor experts to DIY bloggers––have taken matters into their own hands by creating something that’s fully customizable, and in many cases, budget-friendly. That way, when they’re ready to mix things up, it’s completely guilt-free. We’ve scoured the internet and found a headboard project for everyone, whether you’re a home improvement pro or you can just muster enough creativity to stick a decal on a wall (which, by the way, is totally okay). Read on for our round up of the best, didn’t-even-know-they-were-homemade headboards out there, and find everything you need to get inspired to create your own.

#9:-Don’t want an actual headboard, but dig the illusion of one? Make like interior designer Alexandra Angle and paint one on in a hue that complements the rest of your decor.

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#16-It’s hard to believe this sophisticated headboard was created by gluing craft paper to a wood panel, then hung like a painting.

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#29-Take a cue from this wood plank piece and write your favorite word, a meaningful quote, or your initials on your creation.

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To see 35 more headboard ideas: http://domino.com/headboard-ideas-diy/story-image/571e83422df7fb1b7f8b48eb


You’ve Been Approved

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Those can be sweet words for a college student but beware because those credits cards you collect while in college can set you back financially.

Following some smart tips can make the difference between a few extra pizzas and a pile of bills.

From the best deals on bank accounts to financial security in the dorm, here are seven things you need to know:

  1. You can save big bucks by shopping banks

Do not automatically apply for a campus debit card. Instead, shop around for a bank account and debit card you can use on campus.

A lot of these campus debit cards come loaded with fees — even ‘per transaction’ fees. Just because the school promotes a card doesn’t mean that card is the best one for you.

  1. You have a choice with overdraft fees

Normally, your debit card will be refused if the purchase takes your account below $0. But if you give the bank permission to charge overdraft fees, the debit card will keep working even after you are out of money. And you will get charged a fee — often about $35 — every time you use the card.

With debit cards, the biggest problem is the overdraft fees.

Almost half (46 percent) of 18-to 25-year-olds are charged overdraft fees, according to U.S. PIRG’s study. And 61 percent of the overdrafts were for purchases, not ATM withdrawals. Fifteen percent of college-age consumers paid 10 or more overdraft fees each year — more fees than any other age group, the study found.

Banks and financial institutions need your written consent in advance before they can allow your account to dip below zero and start charging overdraft fees. Decline that option, or revoke your consent if you have agreed to it in the past.

  1. It is easier than ever to track purchases and receipts

If you use your debit card daily, it is even more important to know exactly how much money you have in your account. Three free options for keeping tabs include:

  • Apps and online offerings from your own bank or credit union.
  • Websites such as Mint.com that allow you to integrate and track finances.

No matter which option you choose, recognize that not all purchases are deducted from your account the minute you make them. Some may take several days, or even a week, to clear.

  1. You can hurt your parents’ credit

If you run up a balance you cannot pay on your parents’ credit card, you are potentially hurting their credit scores. It’s your parent’s credit that’s on the line.

Want to avoid problems? Have a talk with Mom or Dad to spell out exactly what the card is meant to cover. If they use fuzzy terms like “for emergencies,” get specific and have them spell out exactly what constitutes a card-worthy emergency.

  1. You have free access to your credit history

At least once a year, pull all three of your credit reports and make sure everything is accurate. If you’ve never managed credit before, the likelihood of you even having a credit report is small. But if you’ve got a student loan, odds are that’s in your report.

You are entitled to pull your credit reports from each of the big three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — for free annually through AnnualCreditReport.com. You often have to pay to view your credit scores. However, some credit card companies, banks and credit unions provide scores for free as a customer service.

The keys to building a good credit score are:

  • Paying on time
  • Keeping your monthly usage to 20 percent of your available credit line or below
  • Paying off the entire card balance every month
  1. You probably can get a credit card, but maybe you’re not ready for one

Years ago, enrollment in college almost guaranteed you a credit card. The Credit CARD Act changed that, the federal credit card legislation signed into law in 2009.

Now, if you are under 21 and want a card, you either need verified income (enough to pay the bill) or a co-signer.

While you may qualify, it is often smart to stay out of the credit card arena until you have actual disposable income to dispose of.

  1. Limit potential ID theft

In a dorm, you share a communal environment with little space and less privacy. Safeguard your cash, debit cards, credit cards and personal financial information. Also, use private devices and access banking information on secure networks.

Never write down PINs or passwords. Force yourself to log in to financial sites each time rather than saving passwords or logins. You do not want your bank or card pages to pop up,if someone trolls through your phone or surfs on your computer. And devise a secret hiding place for your debit or credit card.

Source: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/8-tips-safe-card-use-campus-1279.php


2016 Shop Drop Challenge

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Mommy Greenest Presents the 2016 Shop Drop Challenge

LOS ANGELES (January 2016)—Have you walked through a mall lately, with its racks and racks of clothing on sale? Ever wondered how much of that clothing we consume—and where it all goes? Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff did. The founder of MommyGreenest.com, Sarnoff is the visionary behind the Shop Drop Challenge.

“I started the Shop Drop Challenge after reading that the average American woman spends $60 each month on clothing, and throws six pounds of textile waste into the landfill,” Sarnoff says. “Once I did the math—there are 160 million women in this country— I realized that this adds up to nearly $10 billion and one billion pounds of landfill waste. Each month.”

An avid consignment shopper, Sarnoff saw the solution as encouraging women to embrace so-called “preloved fashion,” through swap parties or at thrift stores, in order to break the “fast fashion” cycle of consumption and waste.

So in 2013, she created the Shop Drop Challenge at MommyGreenest.com, asking readers topledge not to buy new fashion for 30 days beginning any day in January. In 2014, online consignment giant thredUP.com joined as program sponsor; this year, they’re raffling off a $250 like-new consignment shopping spree as an incentive. More than 300 women have taken the Challenge so far in 2016, and the goal is 1,000—representing a savings of 6,000 pounds of landfill waste.

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The Shop Drop Challenge will culminate at a party on January 27th in Santa Monica, CA hosted by Sarah Jane Morris, former star of “Brothers and Sisters” who appears on NBC’s “The Night Shift” this spring. Program participants and VIP guests will learn how like-new consignment can break the fast fashion cycle, and can join the #ShopDrop2016 Social Media Scavenger Hunt to win raffle prizes.

Guests will also score a killer gift bag featuring cutting-edge new sustainable and healthy lifestyle and beauty brands, plus a thredUP Clean Out Kit that they can take home, fill with clothes and accessories they no longer want, and send in—shipping is free—for credit to spend on thredUP’s online consignment store. Prices at thredUP.com are up to 75% less than retail, year-round, and more than 14 million pieces have been upcycled this year alone!

To sign up or for more information, please visit www.mommygreenest.com/shop-drop-challenge-2016.

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While you are at the mommy greenest site, you could also win a LOLA book!

http://www.mommygreenest.com/win-priscilla-woolworths-lola-book/


Eco-Package for College Bound Teenagers

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Put together a special box full of practical eco products for the college bound teen or first time apartment dweller!
 
Some suggestions…
 
2 washable and reusable market bags
4 washable and reusable produce bags
1 bottle of olive oil, for cooking or personal care needs
Baking soda, for its multi purpose use
2 essential oils, tea tree oil, a bottle of distilled white vinegar, a glass spray bottle, and washable and reusable cotton napkins for wiping, all to be used for making all-purpose homemade cleaner
Jar of coconut oil for cooking, or personal care needs
Ice pack, to use for soothing bumps and bruises
 
All the products are available in the LOLA POP UP STORE!
Don’t forget that LOLA the book offers plenty of tips and resources as well.
 ❤

Babysitting

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Babysitting is a great way to earn some extra, especially over the summer, when you are free from the obligations of school. In case you or a friend are ready to babysit and there are always parents looking for help, it’s a good idea to learn some ground rules.

Babysitting Dos

  • DO know the phone number and address where the ‘rents can be reached.
  • DO know all emergency numbers like the local police, fire department and poison control. In case you don’t know these numbers, dial 911.
  • DO know where the first aid kit is kept. And it would be even better if you have first aid skills like CPR.
  • DO follow instructions for the child’s snacks, activities and bedtime.
  • DO follow all the family rules for watching TV and talking on the phone.
  • DO plan fun activities, like playing board games and watching a great DVD like The Incredibles. You’re more likely to be called back by the family if the kids had a good time with you!

Babysitting Don’ts

  • DON’T call your crush or chat with friends all night, even if you’re allowed to use the phone. Try to use the phone only for emergencies.
  • DON’T invite any friends over – babysitting isn’t the time for your friends or boyfriend to visit!
  • DON’T feed the child hot dogs, hard candies or peanut butter cuz kids can easily choke on, or be allergic to, these foods.
  • DON’T try to babysit too many children at once. It may seem like a good way to make extra cash, but you need to know how many kids you can handle.
  • DON’T ever leave children alone, and check on them often once they’ve gone to bed. Remember, you’re being paid to watch over them.
Do you have any babysitting advice you would like to share with the LOLA tribe? You are welcome to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

Live Simply

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“Keep Your Standard of Living Extremely Low”

“My usual advice to young art writers: keep your standard of living extremely low and you can write what you want.” -Lucy Lippard


Conventional to Conscious

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Conscious grocery shopping on a college budget.

We live in a society where cost drives consumer decisions. But the true cost of food is its massive impact on human health and the environment. College students tend to live on a tight budget. Most of the money we earn is saved up to pay tuition, leaving very little for food, books, gas, entertainment and life in general! But a tight budget doesn’t have to mean compromising your personal health and well-being, or that of our planet. I shop at my local Whole Foods Market Upper Arlington store right near my campus in Columbus and here’s why: Whole Foods ensures safe ingredients and supports local farms and animal welfare. Plus, I know I can purchase fresh, local, organic, sustainable, non-GMO products there that live up to their stringent quality standards. (visit your local WFM or green grocer)

 

“Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
― Anna Lappé

 


… and then we saved.

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The 3 things they say you absolutely should not buy in December? A treadmill, a TV, and winter clothing items and gear. The best time to buy those things? In January! With New Year’s Resolution’s fitness stuff is marked down significantly, TV’s are marked down because of The Super Bowl , and winter clothing and gear is greatly reduced because retailers are starting to think about making way for the Spring merchandise.

{The more you know, right?}

Source: http://andthenwesaved.com/dont-buy-3-things-december/?utm_source=The+Newest+Content+from+And+Then+We+Saved&utm_campaign=ed950a1530-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_486bec5af7-ed950a1530-337877037


Society of Grownups

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Society of Grownups believes you can pursue adult goals like starting a family, opening a business, or saving for retirement without losing your sense of adventure. Come to a few of our classes and events and you’ll see what we mean.

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https://www.societyofgrownups.com


Want More Need Less
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Stop compulsive spending. “Ask yourself, do I really need this?”


Take The Challenge

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WHY I’M TAKING THE CHALLENGE

For me this campaign is about awareness. To live on $1.50 a day…I understand the numbers but the concept lives somewhere in the abstract. Live Below the Line means being able to put myself in someone else’s shoes – someone who struggles to live within the confines of that $1.50. Five days is a millisecond in the shoes of someone who struggles with the cycle of extreme poverty for a lifetime, but it is my hope that these 5 days will give me important insight and my journey will give others incentive to act.

Actress Rachel Brosnahan

Source: https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/2014/rachiebros


Save For Adventures

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Save your spare change in a large glass jar! You’ll be surprised how much it adds up to over time. You can use it towards your next local or… further afield adventure.


MONEY MATTERS

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Did you know that students can save on school supplies in several ways:

Buy ink through a rewards program, such as Office Depot, which gives 10 points for every $1 you spend on ink. Reach 1,000 points and you’ll get a $10 rewards certificate. Staples offers a rebate program when used ink cartridges are returned for recycling. Also remember that certain fonts (Century Gothic, Times New Roman, Calibri) use less ink and can save money over time.

You can shop for refurbished electronics, but make sure you read the fine print and they’re under warranty.

Why not rent textbooks, from sites like Amazon. Also, check out textbook rentals.com, where you enter the book title and search for the best price.

Try an auction for larger items. Schools and government agencies sell surplus office equipment like furniture and electronics at reduced prices. Check your county or local public school website for auction dates and times.

For more school supplies money saving tips from Jeannette Palvini: http://www.coupons.com/blog/5-unexpected-back-to-school-savings/


Cost Sharing Made Easy

Splittr keeps track of expenses for a group vacation or activity and calculates how to split the costs. User’s enter the expenses incurred and what each person contributes along the way. At the adventure’s end, the app does its magic and figures out each person’s current balance, as well as who owes what to whom.

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Save money by picking your own fruit!

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Neighborhood Fruit helps people find and share fruit locally, both backyard bounty and abundance on public lands – 10,000 trees nationwide and counting! Download the app onto your cell phone and find fruit trees you can safely pick from no matter where you are in the United States.

To find neighborhood fruit in your area look here

Help spread the word about Neighborhood Fruit

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Welcome to the Quiet Revolution

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by Sara Horowitz

 

The Quiet Revolution has started.

The policymakers and corporate titans might not recognize it yet. But in small ways, you’re probably contributing to the Quiet Revolution already.

It’s a revolution away from consumption and toward connection. Away from individual acquisition and toward collective action. It’s a million small choices that, together, add up to big change.

As I wrote in Fast Company this week, “Americans are lifting their collective middle finger to an economy that’s no longer in line with their values.”

We’re saving more — and putting our money in credit union instead of banks. We’re eating healthy and local — and shopping at local farmers markets instead of corporate chains. We’re buying our clothes at thrift stores and abandoning mass-produced mall stores.

We’re thinking about what each purchase means—for us and for our community.

The numbers back it up. Since the recession ended, spending by the richest 5% has risen 17 percent. The rest of us? Just 1 percent.

We’ve stopped looking for more. We just want enough. And better.

Freelancers know this best of all. When you get by on fluctuating income, you know you’ve got to plan for your low-times, not your high-times.

That also means being conscious of what every dollar you earn really means. The connection between your income and your expenses is perfectly clear.

Money equals time. It’s that simple. Each dollar you earn translates to time you weren’t spending with your family, friends or following a side passion. So, spending the money you earn means, really, spending your time.

Time is a nonrenewable resource. So, when you spend it, you spend it carefully and thoughtfully.

That’s what the Quiet Revolution is all about — choosing to spend your life, time, and money in ways that build something better for you and the people around you.

Are you a Quiet Revolutionary? Tell the world how at #QuietRevolution

How to Save on your Electric Bill

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One easy way is to unplug any and all electronics when not in use. They drain power even when they are off! Even better, use a power-strip: flip one switch and everything turns off at once.

And even more wonderful: For all your lighting needs, use CFL or LED bulbs wherever and whenever you can and reduce your energy use even more, while saving money.

Can save you $15.00 and up every month 🙂

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Have fun at being spontaneous and inventive when it comes to solving a logistical problem and creating useful spaces in your home or working area. Improvising with the goal to save money by not spending it, is a fantastic practice where no training is needed. Find inspiration in nature: suspend a found branch securely from your kitchen ceiling and hang your pots, pans and cooking utensils from it, practically creating a home art installation piece. A branch also makes a great curtain rod.
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groupon
Join Groupon, and you’ll receive a daily special on activities, restaurants and merchandise in a variety of cities. Just choose the city closest to you to get updates via e-mail.


Any flower looks gorgeous in recycled and repurposed colorful cans.

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