Tips for Stretching Your Tips for Stretching Your Dollar Dollar

Buy Day Old or Soon to Buy Day Old or Soon to Expire FoodsExpire Foods

• Freeze the food and thaw it when you need it • Stores like Western Eagle in Temecula sell these foods. The first Saturday of the month everything is half price.

Buy Sale ItemsBuy Sale Items

• Wait for things to go on sale.• Shop “out of season” • 30% is an average sale. Look for greater bargains.• Shop on clearance racks for clothes ($10 shirt rule)

Don’t Be Fooled By All SalesDon’t Be Fooled By All Sales

• Even at 75% off, you could be paying too much.

Zales Jewelers Regular Price $2,000

Costco Regular Price $485

Sales Price at 75% off is $500

Use CouponsUse Coupons

• Check for coupons online• Some stores double the value of the coupons• Some websites have coupon codes for online purchases

Send in RebatesSend in Rebates

• less than 50% of rebates are ever sent in.

Buy Generic or Store BrandsBuy Generic or Store Brands

• Generic foods or store brand foods can be the same as brand names.

Lower Your Phone BillLower Your Phone Bill

• Get a pre-paid phone• Use calling cards (99 Cent Store)• Use Vonage• Skype

Unit PricingUnit Pricing

• Unit pricing is how much each ounce, pound, or piece costs. Compare with other similar products.• Buying in bulk is not always cheaper

3.79.32 per ounce12 ounces

Fruit Loops Cereal

2.99.25 per ounce12 ounces

Fruit Ring Cereal

Unit PricingUnit Pricing

2.70.18 per foot15 Feet

Brawny Paper Towels

3.20.16 per foot20 feet

Viva Paper Towels

Unit PricingUnit Pricing

2.99.04 per sq ft75 Square Feet

Reynolds Wrap

24.99.05 per foot500 Square Feet

Reynolds Wrap

Unit PricingUnit Pricing

1.89.32 per oz6 Ounces

Schwartz Cinnamon

2.56.16 per ozper lb.

Bulk Cinnamon

Use Public Transportation or Use Public Transportation or Car PoolCar Pool

• According to AAA, the average cost to operate and own your vehicle is 70.7 cents a mile which totals a whopping $5,925 annual average (if the car is driven 10,000 miles annually).

See Money DifferentlySee Money Differently

• Money is what you exchange for your time, energy, or effort.• Ask yourself:

• “Is my time worth what I am buying?• “Is this item worth five hours of work?”• “What won’t I be able to buy if I buy this?”

Sell Things You Don’t UseSell Things You Don’t Use

• Garage sale• Ebay/Craigslist • Sell to friends

Buy UsedBuy Used

• Buy clothes used at the Salvation Army. Everything is half off the first and third Friday of each month. • Once you wash a new piece of clothing, it is used!

Which one is used?

Compare Prices From Several Compare Prices From Several StoresStores

• Compare prices on common items you actually use. Frequent the store that has the lowest prices on most of these items.• Shop more than one store to find bargains.• Check prices online. Companies that are out-of-state don’t charge tax. That saves almost 9%

Shop End-CapsShop End-Caps

• In supermarkets, sale items are usually placed on end-caps• Find where the store keeps their clearance items

BarterBarter

• Example: Babysitting for piano lessons• Example: Tutoring for jacket

Restaurants Restaurants

• Restaurants like Chili’s and TGI Fridays have appetizers for ½ price after 10 pm• Taco Tuesday• 2 for $20• Buy one get one free• Coupons (email clubs, newspaper, online)• Entertainment book (coupons)

Table TalkTable Talk

• Share your money saving ideas with your table group.• Be prepared to share your ideas with the class in 3 minutes.

On Your OwnOn Your Own

• Research and interview others for ways to stretch your dollar.• Come up with tips and images for your booklets.• Booklets are due on ________.