Where Have all of the Warm Coats Gone?
Welcome back!
Photo from Flickr
I have two coats, one is a Columbia brand winter coat and the other is a wool coat. I have gotten lots of wear out of both coats. I also got both on sale. I have had them both for about three years now. While the Columbia coat is looking a bit shabby, but it is still wearable. I wear it when I am working outside, so it’s a little dirty.
My wool coat however, really has seen better days. I got it about 4 years ago at Target. They had the coat on sale for $50. It was made well, and most important it was warm. I live in Chicago and a warm coat is priceless when it gets really cold, and it does. My wool coat is warm. I can wear it on the coldest day and be nice and toasty. It is showing it’s wear. I have sown and resown the buttons on, mended tears and so on. The bottom line is, it is time for a new wool coat.
I began looking for a new coat in September. I have been amazed how thin women’s coats are being made, and women are buying them! I have looked from Nordstroms to K-Mart and everywhere in between. I am still searching for a reasonably priced, warm coat. I consider a reasonably priced coat to cost me between $50 and $70. Do these coats exist? I am starting to think that they do not.
Last weekend I saw an ad from Target advertising wool pea coats for $30. I figured that I would go take a look. The styles were cute and they came in lots of colors, there was just one problem, they were paper thin! I just don’t get it, why aren’t warm coats being made anymore? I have looked at many stores that sell coats at many different prices and the result is the same the coats are flimsy. I don’t want to be waiting for a train shivering in my winter coat.
Virginia asked if there was a Santa Clause, I ask is there a warm coat at a reasonable price out there?
To be continued…. (as the coat hunt continues)
Forget the “Christmas Creep.” It’s More like the Christmas SHOVE!
Photo from Flickr
Every year I complain how the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier every year. This year I started to see Christmas items creeping on to store shelves in August! I would just shrug my shoulders and walk by. However this year, it has been decided that we as a nation will just skip thanksgiving. The Sunday after Halloween my husband and I were reading the Sunday paper and the sales flyers were decked out for the holidays. We also noticed Christmas commercials on television on November 1st.
I don’t know about all of you, but I still have pumpkins on my porch, and as far as I know pumpkins are not a Christmas decoration. I see more and more houses lighting up their Christmas decorations. Has America forgotten that there is a between Halloween and Christmas? I admit it is usually pretty common to see Christmas decor before Thanksgiving, but I cannot recall seeing it this early. A few of my local radio stations have started playing Christmas music only.
I understand that with the economy still recovering that stores do not quite know what the retail sales will look like this holiday season. I went into a Kohls this past weekend and was amazed that they had decked their halls, with Christmas music included! My husband and I just looked at each other as if we had stepped into another dimension. It’s just too early.
The last thing I would like to say on this topic; keep a good eye on those advertisements for amazing deals. I was watching tv about two weeks ago when an advertisement for Walmart came on. They were advertising a gaming system for a deeply discounted price along with a $100. gift card for purchasing the system. This sale was to take place on a Saturday morning starting at 8am. I thought to myself, wow what a great deal. Then the commercial aired again, this time I read the small print at the bottom of the screen and it said, “limit 10 consols per store.” WHAT? That just seemed so wrong to me as desperate parents would be crowded in to their local Walmart stores to take advantage of this sale, and learn that the store only had 10 gamming consols.
There are good deals to be had out there, I am sure of it. Just make sure to read the small print. As for me, I will not be hanging my Christmas lights until AFTER Thanksgiving.
10 Ways to Feed Your Family For Less – Shopping for Groceries with Austerity
It seems to many that feeding a family is becoming increasingly more expensive. However, all is not lost. With a little tweaking and habit change, a good deal of money can be saved. I have seen these tip work in my own life. I spend less on food than I did five years ago and my family dynamic has not changed.
The biggest thing to remember is, the store is not your friend, they are there to extract as much money out of you as possible. This does not mean one needs to be unfriendly but keep in mind, you are in charge when it comes to shopping. Never be embarrassed to put items back, keep a running tally of the cost of the grocery bill, or buy generic. The grocery store is in business because you are a paying customer.
I want to share my best ways for grocery shopping on a budget. I want to stress that I eat well and that I do not go without when it comes to food. Food is a need, not a want. And although I stick to these ten tips I do occasionally break them, every once and a while a small splurge is allowed.
These are my top ten ways for saving money at the grocery store:
Where to Shop
Choose where you shop. Believe it or not price does differ depending on the the store. Aldi is a great place to start, it’s no frills approach does pass down to the consumer. I personally have shopped there. Their food is good quality and is considerably less than your average grocery store. Another place to save is Wal-Mart. Yes, I am not a huge fan of them but when it comes to sticking to a budget, that’s the place to go.
Coupons
Coupons, yeah they seem like a pain, but they do actually save you some money. Wait to see if the local store has double-coupon days, where you coupon now counts for double savings. Don’t cut coupons for food you don’t eat. Just because the coupon came in the Sunday newspaper, does not mean that you have to purchase that item. Also read the fine print on coupons, some are sneaky, by requiring you to buy a larger size, or double of that product.
Sales Flyers
Watch the sales ads, if the item can be frozen and the price is great, get a few and freeze them till you need them. Meat is a great example of this. I wait till chicken breast goes on sale, I look for the bag that has 6 or 7 breasts in them. I don’t eat it all at once and the bag lasts for about a month. This can also be done with vegetables and fruit. I have heard that this can also be done with milk, but I have not tried it.
Store Brand Generics
Generic does not always mean low quality. I am brand loyal on certain items, Oreos, Jiff Peanut Butter… but overall most generic brands are made in the same factories as name brands. Be brave try it. There are differences in some cases, if you don’t like the generic brand try adding some spices to it, really give it a shot if you don’t like it. In the long run you will be amazed how much money could be saved this way. Also, a word to the wise, no one will know the difference when you put it on the dinner table.
Make a List
Make a list. I cannot stress this enough. Go in with the mindset that the only things that go on in the basket are things that are on the list, no exceptions. Leave a pad of paper on the refrigerator, when you run out of something, write it down. Make sure to include household items on you list as well, like toilet paper, and cleaners. In not taking a list to the store, something is always forgotten. This forgetfulness will prompt another trip to the store, which stores are counting on. How many people actually go back to get an item they forgot and only buy that item?
Set a Budget
Set a budget, and stick to it! Keep track of what you are spending while you are shopping, bring a pocket calculator or use one on you cell phone if it has one. Don’t be embarrassed this is a tuff economy, never be ashamed of looking out for yourself and your family. If the calculator is not your thing, try rounding up on prices to the nearest dollar and keep a running tally in your head. I find that this works for me and I always come in under budget.
Plan Your Meals
When making your list think ahead and plan meals, every meal. In doing this, nothing is forgotten at the store and you don’t overspend on things that won’t get eaten. I plan all of my meals when I go. I also plan lunches to take with me during the work week. If you do the math, in most cases it is so much cheaper to bring a planned lunch from home than to eat out. I also know how to allot the food for the week, I know not to eat all of a favorite food when I first get it, it has to last through the week.
Don’t Go Hungry
I know this seems obvious, but it’s true, eat before you go to the store. Hungry people alway buy more, myself included.
Grocery Shopping Only
If you shop at a super-center type grocery store, stick to the food section. Stores with this type of set up depend on you walking through the store, resist the urge. There is a reason the shampoo is on the opposite side of the store.
Don’t be Afraid to Say No
If you are over budget at the check out, don’t be embarrassed to put items back. You are the consumer, you have a choice. It is not a done deal once things are in the grocery sac. I have done this many times. I have come across the rude, nasty and angry doing this, but remember, YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER! The person behind the checkout does not have a job without customers like you shopping. I must honestly say, I see a negative reaction less frequently as the economy worsens. I also find that if you are up front with the cashier and tell them what your budget is and to let you know when the hit it, the checkout seems to go more smoothly. Overall, don’t be embarrassed, you have a right.
Final Thoughts on Saving at the Grocery Store:
I have learned these tricks over time and I have visibly seen my grocery bill go down. My husband and I can get everything we need to eat for the week for about $60. We both eat very well. We do not starve. Clever shopping will fill your cupboards and your tummy. Go out and look for a deal, remain in control of your shopping experience, and plan ahead. Happy Shopping!
Austere Yet Fashionable – Yes, it’s possible
Editor’s Note: This is a new, ongoing column written by my wife Jackie.
When my husband met me, he thought I was rich by the way I dressed. The joke was on him, I was and still am a resale shop junkie. I wear designer clothing and the latest fashions, I just refuse to pay full price.
There really is no need to pay outrageous prices for clothing because when you really think about it, it’s really only clothing. So here are some of my best tricks for being truly fashionable on a budget and, yes, it can be done!
First of all, get to know your local resale shops. I live in the Chicagoland area and I really like the Unique chain for resale shops. Don’t be afraid to go in, there are always treasures to be found in there. The local Goodwill or Salvation army are good places to find deals but they can tend to be on the more pricey so. So, wait for their usual discount days. Also, consignments are usually not a good place to find deals.
The cardinal rule of thrifty clothes shopping is to assess what you really need BEFORE you get to the store. If you need a new blouse, go directly to that section of the store. If you need pants, only look at pants. While in the section of clothing that you’re looking for, look at the labels in the collar, you may be surprised what you find. But one thing I must stress is to look for a good fit as well as quality.
When picking an item out of a resale shop, make sure to check the garment thoroughly for stains, tears, or anything that would make the item unwearable. However, if there is a small tear or it’s missing a button don’t pass it up because that can be easily mended. In most cases it costs less to buy a garment at a resale shop and have alterations done than it would cost to buy new from the mall.
Now, there are certain items that I do not go to the resale shop for. I never buy undergarments or hats at the resale shop. I do on occasion, go to the mall or non-resale shops for those things. When I go to other stores besides the resale shop, this is an opppturnity to study the latest fashions, that can be recreated at a fraction of the cost.
When I do go to the mall, I have one word in mind, SALE. When I walk into a store, I go straight for the sale racks. Don’t be embarrassed that you’re looking for a deal and for your dollar to stretch further. The standard practice in retail is to put the clearance at the back of the store, forcing you to walk through all the pricier items. Resist the urge to browse the new racks, eventually you’ll develop tunnel vision.
The trick is to buy summer clothes in the fall (or end of summer) and winter clothes in the spring (before the summer fashions come out). Last week I made a trip to the mall and did wonderfully with just $20.00. Last but not least, make sure to check your receipt and make sure you got the sales price no matter where you shop. Don’t be afraid to confront cashiers over price discrepancies.
Don’t worry though, it’s all right to occasionally splurge on a pricier item if it’s it a really special and a good value (i.e. a pair of shoes you’ll wear often). Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to stay fashionable on a budget.
Check out below for some examples of recent deals I found.
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$7 New York and Company
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$7 New York and Company
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$11 Sears Entire Outfit
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$2.50 From Resale Shop
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Tag on Resale Shop Pants
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The Full Package
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