1)  Brew your own coffee.  Uh huh.  Cut out the expensive $5 trips to Starbucks. 

2)  Look online for recipes.  You may think that you can’t make coffee like the pros, but you can.  It’s really not that hard.  You just need the right ingredients.  Thrifty Mommy has some coffee recipes from Dunkin’ Donuts.

3)  Splurge on the more expensive syrups.  If you buy the cheap, nasty tasting syrups, then you’re not going to be motivated to make your own.  Some coffee shops sell the same syrups that they use.

4)  Use coupons to purchase coffee beans and grounds.  Some coffee manufacturer’s put coupons in the Sunday paper.  Otherwise, check online at their website and sign up for their promotions and newsletters.  When all else fails, call the company and ask for the coupons.

5)  Look at the warehouse clubs for discounted rates on beans. 

6)  Check local papers, freecycle, and the internet for equipment. Coffee equipment can be very expensive.  Check around and compare prices, equipment quality, look for sales, etc.  I am thankful that we found a display model espresso machine for $20!  It brews coffee and espresso and has a frother.

7)  Store coffee properly.  Only buy what you can use within a short amount of time.  Some people say to only buy what you can use in a week.  I can keep mine for several more weeks just by storing it in an airtight container.  You might even consider vacuum sealing the beans.

8)  Buy beans instead of grounds.  Grounds lose their flavor quicker than beans.  This year I purchased a coffee grinder and started buying beans.  The flavor is so much better.

9)  Keep your coffee pot clean.  A dirty pot might alter the taste of your coffee a bit.  And since we’re being honest here, I just have to say that I have a hard time drinking coffee from a public coffee pot.  I’m referring to the ones at the mechanic shop or in the lounge at school.  It just has a weird smell to it.  Ick!

10)  Buy a reusable coffee filter.  Coffee filters don’t cost much money, but if you brew coffee every day, then it won’t take long for the reusable filter to pay for itself.  I purchased one a few months ago for about $5.  Besides, it helps to keep paper from being thrown away.

11)  Don’t give up easily.  Sometimes it takes several times to get a drink just right.  It may take some time, but the savings are worth the effort.

And for those of you that just need to have a special coffee fix . . .

12)  Ask for samples.  A few weeks ago, I was in Starbucks week with Kelly and the manager offered us some samples of coffee.  I had no idea that coffee shops offered samples.  I’m so glad I got a sample though because I learned the coffee of the day was yucky!

13)  Talk to the workers.  Say, “What was that you just put in there?”  Sometimes you’d be surprised at the info they’ll give you.  If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, then pay close attention when they’re making your coffee.  You should be able to pick up a few tips during each visit.

14)  Look for promotional days.  The coffee place I visit has offers each day of the week.  One day they offer $1 off espressos, another day $1 smoothies.  Treat yourself on the day that they have the special on the item that you want.

15)  Get a frequent visitor card.  Some places have a special punch card.  Some may say buy 8 and get 1 free.  Check to see.

16)  Weigh your options.  If you have to buy the frequent purchase card, then make sure the money saved outweighs the price of the card.

17)  Set a coffee budget.  Some of you may be very good at cutting back on all your expenses and coffee is your splurge item.  That’s ok, but you need to have a budget.  Whether it’s $5 a month or $20 a month, you need to have a budget and stick to it.  Otherwise, you might just find your car magically veering into the coffee shop parking lot.

18)  Cut back on your portions.  Yes you want the vente size, but the smaller size will give you the kick you need.  Plus, it’s less calories.

19)  Try something different.  I heard someone say that they started saving themselves $1 per cup by ordering 2-3 shots of espresso rather than an ice latte.  She just adds the free milk that they offer at the counter.  You could also try ordering a less expensive drink every now and then.  You might just discover something that you like better than your usual.

20)  Tell friends, family members, and co-workers about your love of coffee.  When Christmas rolls around, you might just start getting coffee baskets or gift cards.  And by all means, if they ask what to get you then tell them!

Do you have some money saving tips to add to this list?

image: morguefile

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

 With the cold temperatures we’ve been having, I know it’s hard to imagine that spring and summer are just around the corner.  I’m sure some are thinking about or are already making plans for their special wedding day.  I thought this would be a good time to share some ways to save money.

 1.  Plan ahead.  I confess that I planned my wedding in just a few weeks.  (Yes, I was a nervous wreck.) Perhaps the short amount to plan helped me to prioritize really quickly.  Planning ahead gives you opportunities to think things through, to decide what you really want, and to shop around for the best deals.

 2.  Be selective about your guest list.  A wedding is an intimate occasion.  Do you have to share it with everyone?  In fear of hurting someone’s feelings, I invited just about anyone that wanted to come to my wedding.  If I had to do over again, I would be more selective about who I invited.  You shouldn’t invite people just to impress them or in hopes of getting a great gift. Having more people there means it will cost you more to feed them!

 3.  Set a budget and stick to it.  I confess that I forgot this one on the list and had to move it up to the top.  lol  Whether your budget is $1,000 or $10,000, you need to have a budget and you need to stick to it.  Write out your plans and how much you estimate each thing will cost.  Leave a little room for adjustments. 

4.  Try to do as much yourself as possible.  My husband and I planned our own wedding.  I was in college at the time.  Every day he would pick me up after classes and we would drive around to flower shops, stores, etc. 

 5.  Seek the talents of others.  For my wedding, I had a friend from church greet the guests that arrived.  My former piano teacher played the organ as a gift to me.  A lady from my church sang.  Another lady from my church made me a beautiful wedding cake for only $40 and a friend of my parents altered my dress as a gift to me.  These were all people that I knew had talents and wouldn’t mind sharing them in my special day.

 6.  Try making things yourself.  As I said earlier, I didn’t have much time to plan my wedding.  If I were doing this today, I would make my own floral arrangements, make my own veil, and do whatever else I could myself. 

We didn’t spend a lot of money on dresses.  I didn’t feel right asking my attendants to shell out a bunch of money for dresses.  As their gift, I bought each of them the material needed to make their dress and the pattern.  A few of them knew how to sew and they made their own dress.  One other paid someone to make hers, which was much cheaper than buying a dress.

 7.  Borrow whatever you can.  I borrowed my aunt’s wedding dress and pearls.  I only had to pay $150 to have the dress preserved again.  I also borrowed a silver cake serving set, silver serving trays, and a centerpiece for the serving table. 

 8.  Look around for used wedding supplies and/or dresses.  You can find some beautiful used dresses for a fraction of the price.  You can also rent some of the things you’ll need.

 9.  Check to see what the facilities offer.  We had my wedding and reception at my church.  Our church had wedding supplies and we were able to use their glass dishes, tables, table linens, altar, and more.  Some reception halls also have things that you can borrow.  You don’t know what they have until you ask.

10.  Be careful of hidden costs.  These could be manicures, pedicures, hair, make-up, and other things.  I paid someone to do my nails, hair, and make-up.  If I had to do over again, I wouldn’t have those things done.  My nails were horrible and my make-up was not me.  You know how you like your hair and make-up.  Do it yourself.

11.  Plan your wedding around meals.  If you plan your wedding during lunch or dinner, then you know your guests are going to be really hungry.  Instead, plan a 2:00 wedding and serve finger foods.

12.  Delegate as much as possible.  I was fortunate that I had grown up in my church and knew everyone really well.  My parents had done many favors for the people and they didn’t mind returning the favor.  We bought the food supplies and enlisted the help of others to help prepare it.  When it was time to clean up, there were people helping without having to ask them.  I guess this is a good lesson in reaping what you sow.  Ask for help and help others when they ask.

13.  Search for after holiday sales.  My cousin is having a Sweet 16 party next week.  The after Christmas sales have provided us a great opportunity to buy things on clearance for her party.  It seems each time I go to the store, I end up calling my aunt to see if she wants this and that for the party.  I have found great deals on fabric, hurricane lamps, chargers, candles, centerpieces, food, and more.  You can find lots of great (non-Christmas looking) decorations for 50-75% off.  Also, check after Valentine’s Day for things for your wedding.

14.  If possible, trade services.  When I was in my friend’s wedding, her mom bought my dress in exchange for my mom making the cake.  It worked out great for both of us. 

15.  Most expensive doesn’t mean the best.  As I stated earlier, I was disappointed with my nails and make-up.  I was also disappointed with our portraits . . . EXTREMELY disappointed!!!!!  Snapshots that others took at our wedding were better than the formal shots we paid someone to take.  You may consider hiring an amateur photographer and/or asking some friends to take some pictures. 

16.  Find someone you know to cater.  If you’re having finger foods, then this shouldn’t be anything hard for the person to do.  It’s basically just preparing some easy foods and putting foods out as they start to run out.  You or someone you know could make the mints ahead of time. You could make your sausage balls ahead of time and freeze them and then cook them the day of the event.  There are many things you can do yourself that doesn’t cost a lot.

17.  Utilize craft store coupons.  Each week when you get the Michaels, A.C. Moore, or Hobby Lobby coupons, use them to get things that you need for your wedding.  Some stores will even let you use competitor’s coupons.

18.  For your reception, consider having a barbeque or get together at your home.  Even celebrities with money have done this one.  Your reception should be about having a good time and spending time with others, not about impressing people.

19.  Use the internet.  When I was planning my wedding, there wasn’t such much use of the internet as there is today.  You can use the internet to comparison shop and find a great deal on a dress.  You can also find party favors, decorations, invitations, and more. 

20.  Let the professionals help you.  Check out websites such as Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens, About.com, Do-It-Yourself Network, Bridal Choice, and more!  There are many great, free resources at your fingertips.  These can provide information on making your own bridal bouquet, making party favors, decorating, easy foods, and so much more. 

I’m sorry if some of you found these tips to be tacky.  Hopefully, there is something in this list that you can find helpful.

Do you have some suggestions for ways to save money on a wedding?  Please share them in the comments.  I look forward to reading your suggestions.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

• Beat the heat with an ice cream.  Take two scoops to the park, or take a walk downtown and go people watching.
• Hit the dollar movie theater. Lots of cities have discount movie theaters showing second-run features.   Pick a rainy day and have a movie marathon.
• Be a kid again.  Go play miniature golf, ride go-carts or play laser tag.
• Take a scenic drive.  Pull over to have coffee and dessert at a nice cafe.

Check out the other 16 date suggestions here.

What are your favorite low cost dates?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy