Household Savings

If you are already reading this, chances are that you are already pretty familiar with clothes shopping. After all, who doesn’t like a good shop crawl every now and again, spending all day walking from store to store with the occasional sit-down coffee break somewhere in town. It’s a feeling like no other, and it can really be one of the best things to do to unwind, both yourself, and your wallet.

A decent chunk of the time, the trip does not even need to be costly, you can buy one thing and walk around the rest of the day, but it’s that inherent feeling of satisfaction from walking around and checking on everything with the possibility of buying something.

Not everyone can relate to long shopping trips for clothes, but it would be rather safe to say that someone enjoys shopping of some sort in one way or another, whether it’s computer parts, aquarium equipment, checking out food places, or even trying to find some new furniture.

It’s all about that somewhat fulfilling feeling of knowing that you are out somewhere looking for something, with enough money in your pocket to buy whatever comes your way in case the occasion arises.

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Nowadays it seems like there is just less and less time in the day. With us not getting any younger, and time being fickle and fleeting as it tends to be, when you grow older you start to appreciate the time of day a bit more.

Realizing that your teenage days of walking around malls and clothes shops for the whole day once or twice a week are over, and you need to actually organize something when planning a day out.

Well, we’re here to speak about just that, and you can still get that satisfying feeling of going around shopping, without having to spend the whole day doing so.

After all, someone has to take care of all the other nagging responsibilities in life, but all work and no fun makes for a miserable experience, so without further ado, let’s get started.

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Shopping like in the good ole days, but a bit more streamlined

Rather than going to a random location somewhere in the city and doing the usual “We’ll see what we come across and probably stop at a few coffee shops and food places along the way”, you should try and be a bit more efficient with your trip.

Try to do some ever so minor planning before you start your day, it doesn’t have to be on paper, it doesn’t have to be on your phone, but at least try and get a mental map of your general trip, with a realistic time frame. Of course, you cannot make that time schedule too tight or constricting because then it won’t really feel like you’re out to enjoy yourself, but rather are running errands.

As there is a fine balance to strike here. Without overthinking this and making the trip out seem like more of a chore than anything, try to pick an area somewhat populated with shops rather than having to wander around from shop to shop, if you can’t find an area like that close by, maybe a mall could be a good substitute. Not to mention, it’s also warmer in the mall, which is a positive that is not to be overlooked.

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Shop the objectively more efficient way

It’s no secret that most people nowadays feel disabled if they don’t have their mobile or smartphone with them at all times, that most certainly includes trips to the toilet. People have grown so used to using their phones for so many things, from checking the time, to looking up information on ancient Greece or finding out where the nearest kebab stand is.

Times have most certainly changed and if you haven’t noticed yet, nearly all companies have acknowledged the massive potential in online shopping, meaning that just about 95% of all your favorite brands most probably have an online outlet of sorts.

Whether it’s just a catalog or a fully functional online store like Ruby Rd’s ladies apparel, there is most certainly not a lack of options when it comes to online shopping. If you need some more convincing on why you should shop online, here are a few tips to get you started:

• Convenience is key, it might not have that same exact feeling as going around and exploring shops for a large part of the day, but the feeling of sitting cosily on the sofa while watching a movie with one eye and checking out some clothes online with the other is a great one in its own right.
• This cuts out travelling costs from the whole ordeal, so if you just so happen to have to take an expensive train route to get to your shopping district of choice, then this is absolutely perfect for those times when you are on a tighter schedule.
• This probably goes without saying, but you don’t exactly get tired when your trip consists of either sitting on your sofa or sipping a latte in a cafe and browsing on your phone. Let’s be honest, we’ve all experienced some regrettable leg pains from standing around all day just because of shopping.
• This does not always apply, but it’s relatively common. Shopping online usually nets you better prices that if you were to go and buy things in the store.
• No matter how great hanging around shops is the whole day, one thing that’s not great in any scenario is standing in overcrowded shops for longer than you would like to admit.

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Afterthought

Despite all these positives for the online argument, both serve their own purpose. Sometimes you just feel like going out and hanging about shopping til you drop, knowing that whatever you buy you will be able to take straight home and just be done with it.

When ordering online, things can always go wrong, the delivery might take much longer than you expected it, it might get lost or damaged in transit, you don’t get to try on whatever you are buying before it actually shows up at your doorstep. Fortunately for us, the two are not mutually exclusive, so rest easy, and make the best of both worlds.

Moving to a new home is such a hectic, busy experience. And, because it’s so hectic and busy, sometimes important things regarding it can slip your mind. But, if you want the home move to go as smoothly as it possibly can, then you need to try your very best to remember everything.

To see some of the most commonly forgotten things regarding home moves, make sure to read on.

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Things you should remember to ask the sellers

There are a host of questions that you should remember to ask the previous owner of your new home, most of which are very easy to forget.

These questions include asking where the water stopcock and gas and electric meters are if certain surfaces in the home need special kinds of cleaning products, what days the bins are collected on, which energy supplies the energy and where the thermostat is.

If you remember to ask the sellers of your new all of these questions, then you will be well on your way to knowing all there is to know about your new home. And, when you know all there is to know about your new home, you give yourself the best opportunity possible for the easiest possible move.

Remember to get a good moving company on your side

Yes, you may have a strong network of support willing to offer you their unprofessional assistance in moving your worldly belongings from your old home to your new. But, if you want the job to be done properly and with as little stress as possible, you should instead turn to a reputable moving company to help you, such as those found at https://www.mybekins.com.

You should do so because they will have the expertise and equipment to be able to protect your goods and ensure nothing in your inventory falls by the wayside.

And, don’t leave it until a few days before you are set to move to get in contact with the moving company — get in touch with them as soon as you have a moving date

Remember to redirect your post

Redirecting your post might seem to be an innocuous task, but it is of vital importance that you do it. It is of vital importance because if your post doesn’t make it to you, especially that that has a direct impact on your new home, then you may miss out on something of great importance.

You could even miss payments that are demanded of you, or your letters could fall into the hands of ID fraudsters.

Basically, just remember to redirect your post if you don’t want any more headaches added on top of the ones you already have regarding your home move!

No matter how stressed or flustered you become when you move home, please don’t forget all of the important things to remember that are easy to forget. If you do, you will make your move ten times more stressful than it needs to be. And, who wants stress?

To see how you can further limit your stress in your new home, make sure to head here to see how minimalism could be the answer.

Please note: This post was sponsored by Alpha Car Finance. All opinions posted are my own, thank you.

Easy Car Maintenance You Can Do to Save Money

If you are trying to have a more frugal life, there are many ways you can save money on, like food, clothing, utilities, and groceries. However, if you own a vehicle, you can’t always avoid unexpected expenses, especially when something breaks down.

Whether you bought a used vehicle outright or purchased a new one through car finance, your car is probably one of the biggest investments you’ve ever made. And it only makes sense that you take good care of it.

While it may seem difficult at first, the effort you put into preventive car maintenance will save you lots of money in the long run. And the money you save can be used in more important things, like your children’s college education.

Aside from keeping your monthly budget in check, you can also extend the life of your vehicle when you perform regular maintenance. Even if you’re not an automotive expert, there are many things you can do to keep your set of wheels in excellent condition.

Do your homework.

Before you decide to take your vehicle to the shop, do some research first. Educate yourself and get to know how your car works and learn about some of the things that may cause problems to it.

When you go into a shop without knowing what is going on, the mechanic will have a field day and charge you an arm and a leg just to diagnose your car. So, arm yourself with knowledge and have a better understanding of how your vehicle works and be able to know how to describe its problems easily.

Fix the problems early on.

One of the most common mistakes that many vehicle owners make is that they put off doing minor repairs until later. When this happens, these problems get worse over time, and the cost of repairs will become even higher.

So, whenever you see the check engine light turn on, do not ignore it and hope whatever problem your car is having will eventually go away. Try to resolve the issue early on to avoid spending more on repair costs and car parts.

Always compare prices.

This is something that you do every day. When you gas up your car, you can drive around town, look for fuel stations, and compare their prices because you want to get more value for the money. So, it should be no different when it comes to repairing your car.

Some repair shops will even offer special deals, and price matching to beat their competitors’ prices.

Inspect your tires.

One of the crucial things you should check is your tire pressure. If your tire is under inflated, it will have a negative impact on the handling and fuel consumption of your vehicle.

On the other hand, if your tire is overinflated, its center will wear out faster than its outer edges, and you will get less traction and grip, especially when you need to make an emergency maneuver.

Don’t forget to change your engine oil.

The key to having a long-lasting engine vehicle is to change your oil regularly. It is your engine’s lifeblood and changing it is relatively easy to do. And you only need a few tools to pull it off successfully like a ratchet, an oil filter wrench, and oil pan, and a funnel.

While other mechanics suggest you change oil every 3,000 miles, the best way to find out is to simply check your car’s manual and follow the specified benchmark. To avoid mishaps from happening when doing an oil change, remember to wait for a couple of hours for your engine to cool down after driving as it can get extremely hot.

While you can’t fix all the problems that may happen to your car, putting in a little time, effort, and care will help your vehicle to last longer and help you save some money along the way.

Over to you. Do you do repairs yourself? How do you maintain your car? What common problems do you have with your vehicle? We’d love to hear from you. If you have tips on how to keep your ride in good condition, please share them in the comments below.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and its advertiser, all opinions are mine alone. #RedBaronHolidaySavings #CollectiveBias

The holiday season. One of the busiest times of the year! With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be hard to find time for a weeknight family meal at home! But when you’re able to have dinner with the family, its all the more worth it! Especially if dinner is hot, cheesy, ooey and gooey Red Baron pizzas! 

Craving a delicious, deep dish fix for dinner? Looking to save you and your family time and money during this busy holiday season? Pick up Red Baron® Deep Dish Single Serve Pizza from your local Sam’s Club! Don’t miss this great Ibotta offer! When you buy Red Baron® Deep Dish Pizzas at Sam’s Club, you will earn $2.50! *Offer available through 12/31/17.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company all opinions are mine alone. #KrogerPizzaDeal #CollectiveBias

As the holidays approach, schedules begin to become very hectic. Kroger stores have quick and affordable meal options available for the ultimate holiday meal solution.

Pick up a Deli Fresh ready to eat pizza at a hot price-point for $5.99 and a Coca-Cola 1.25L beverage or 1L Dasani and save $1 when you scan your Kroger loyalty card (valid through 12/3/17 – 1/3/18). Kroger Deli Fresh ready to heat pizza is available in the refrigerated section of your local Kroger store deli.

Participating Coca-Cola beverages include:

• 1.25L Coca-Cola Classic (any flavor)
• 1.25L Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
• 1.25L Diet Coke
• 1.25L Sprite
• 1.25L Fanta
• 1L Dasani

Stop by your local Kroger store and pick up a refreshing 1.25L Coca-Cola or 1L Dasani and a ready to heat pizza for a quick and easy meal this winter to help you mark one thing off your to-do list.

Participating Kroger stores: Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, Smith’s, Fry’s, Fry’s Marketplace, Dillons, QFC, Baker’s Supermarkets, City Market, Gerbes Super Markets, Jay C, Owen’s, Scott’s, and Pay Less Super Markets.

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SamsungTargetTech #CollectiveBias

‘Tis the Season for a new Samsung Phone! Stay connected with friends and loved ones and capture those great holiday memories with a new Samsung device. For a limited time only, receive a $300 Target GiftCard™ with Purchase and Activation of the Samsung Galaxy Note8, Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ at Target! Valid 11/19/17-11/27/17 and 12/3/17-12/9/17 only.

Purchase and Activation Required. Available in-store only.