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Last updated – July 30, 2022
I admit it – I love a good garage sale. However, there is something even better about a good thrift store. I have been amazed at the things I have found there. I have found clothes with tags on them and end up paying less than 90% of the marked price! No kidding!
What I think I love most about thrift stores is the thought that my frugal finds actually benefit someone. Whether it be the Salvation Army, Girls & Boys Club, or even Council of the Blind — my money isn’t lining the pockets of the big dogs. That always makes me feel good!
Another plus is that I am, in essence, recycling! I am not having to buy all new stuff and am giving things that are gently used a second chance at life. It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a headboard that you pay $3.00 for! If that cute shirt has some smudges on it, you’ll find that a little soaking in some Oxy Clean or tossing some Tide Stain Release in the washer and it’s as good as new. Oh – and the toys — as long as they don’t have batteries, just throw them on the top shelf of your dishwasher and they’ll clean up good as new!
Did you know that when you donate to some thrift stores you can get cash, discounts or both? And, you can even get tax receipts for your donations through many of them — just be sure to keep a VERY accurate list of every item you donate so you can calculate the correct deductions come tax time!
If you love your thrift store, be sure to sign up for any newsletters that they might have. You never know when you’ll catch a sale. Yes – even thrift stores have sales!!! If you think about it, if you find a shirt that is $3.00 — then you are going to pay only $1.50!
So, if you’re a “closet” thrift store shopper — come on out! You’re no longer alone!
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Daily deal websites are a dime a dozen these days, from Groupon, to Living Social and Tippr, to the hundreds of smaller sites aspiring to ride the wave of group buying success.
To be sure, the deals can be pretty great. But signing up to get all of the alerts means your inbox will be inundated with daily deal emails, not to mention the time you’ll spend sifting through to find those that meet your needs.
Enter daily deal aggregators. A handful of companies are doing the work for you by aggregating all of the Internet deals into one place. Some will send you targeted deals while others will list all of the deals per day on their site. Yahoo is even incorporating offline deals like direct marketer coupons into its service. Either way, these free services promise to take the work out of discount hunting and leave you with what you’re truly after: the discounts.
YipIt offers up recommendations
Unless you’ve been living under a rock in the past year, you’ve probably heard of Groupon and LivingSocial — the two biggest group-buying daily deal websites. But there are hundreds of smaller ones out there. YipIt, a New York-based daily deal aggregator, had mulled launching a daily deal service, but decided instead to be an aggregator, betting that the number of daily deal sites will explode — which has happened, indeed.
“It’s very easy to launch one of these deal websites so we took a bet with the new service and launched in five cities,” in February, says Jim Moran, co-founder of YipIt. At launch, YipIt counted 2,000 users. Less than a year later, it is now in twenty cities, with 85,000 subscribers.
Recognizing that people don’t want deals for the sake of the deal, YipIt customized its service so that subscribers only get offered deals that are relevant to them. Subscribers get to pick and choose their categories of interest. Let’s say you’re into spas and shopping, but don’t eat out much. YipIt will only send you deals on spas and shopping and not flood your inbox with restaurant discounts. “If we don’t find anything that matches your preferences, we won’t send it to you,” Moran says.
YipIt makes money from the daily deal websites, but Moran said the company maintains its independence and won’t be swayed to feature one deal more prominently than another. Subscribers only get seven offers a day, even though YipIt works with close to 250 sites.
“We have a team of about 15 curators that work around the country to ensure that the smaller sites still get attention,” he says.
Yahoo takes it online and off
Not to be left out of the daily deal craze, in November Internet heavyweight Yahoo announced it would be getting into the local deal aggregation market with its Yahoo Local service. Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo inked partnerships with twenty companies to provide a combination of daily deals and discounts from local direct marketers like ValPak, which sends coupon books to people’s homes. Some of Yahoo’s partners include Groupon, LivingSocial, Gilt City and BuyWithMe. Yahoo plans to ink more partnerships going forward.
“Our strategy with this program is to build the most comprehensive store of deals available online,” says Matt Idema, vice president of Yahoo! Local. “We are trying to get every local offer available to you in one place.” Idema noted that Yahoo will use its targeting technology to make sure subscribers get coupons and deals that are relevant to them.
While Yahoo could have created its own daily deal site, Idema says an aggregation service meets a need. “Consumers don’t have time to get through everything,” he says.
Yahoo’s service is currently in testing phase. Idema wouldn’t say when it will be rolled out to the masses, nor would he disclose the ultimate destination online for this service.
Dealery.com lists them all
Dealery.com, out of New York City, is another company that is going after the aggregation market. But unlike Yahoo and YipIt, it isn’t customizing the deal for subscribers. Launched at the end of August, it currently lists all the daily deals within 14 cities from around two dozen daily deal websites. The company is constantly expanding to add more deals and more cities.
“There are so many sites and clones that once you subscribe in that circus, you are inundated with all these emails. It’s almost too much information,” says Dealery.com founder and chief executive officer Limor Elkayam.
While the competition in the deal aggregation market is heating up, Elkayam says there’s enough room for multiple players and the whole idea of a daily deal isn’t a flash in the pan idea that will quickly sputter out. But chances are, she notes, that the model of offering daily deals will go through iterations, with some companies emerging as niche players in certain areas.
“People just want to save money even if the economy is in a better position than last year,” said Elkayam “Whether the economy is good or bad, saving money isn’t a fad.”
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Ever buy a Groupon or other daily deal voucher you never used? You have several options: write off the money you spent as a loss, try to sell the coupon on eBay or Craigslist, or take a more targetted approach, thanks to a handful of websites that have recently sprung up to act as a secondary market for those vouchers.
Some charge fees sell your coupons, while others act as free services similar to Craigslist. In many cases you can end up getting face value for your voucher – it would be as if you never bought it in the first place.
“A lot of times people miss out on a deal or bought something they didn’t use,” so creating a secondary market made sense, says Yael Gavish, the chief executive officer of San Francisco, Calif.-based Lifesta.
Lifesta, which launched in July, charges sellers $0.99 and 8% of the sale price on any voucher that gets sold. The process is simple: You upload your coupon and Lifesta sells it for you. You get paid through Amazon Payments, a service similar to PayPal. The money is deposited into your Amazon account as soon as Lifesta is paid. You can then either get the money transferred to your banking account or use it toward Amazon.com purchases.
Lifesta doesn’t impose any restrictions on how you price the voucher, but Gavish says that most sellers post the amount they paid for it, or less if it’s about to expire.
Buyers on Lifesta are also protected. The company offers a sixty-day money back guarantee in case the voucher is fake or has already been used. (It is largely thanks to that guarantee, Gavish says, that Lifesta resells a lot of pricey deals, like sky diving coupons and expensive hair treatments.)
So far, tens of thousands of dollars worth of deals have been uploaded to and sold on Lifesta. The website operates nationwide.
Pay for protection
Chicago, Ill.-based DealsGoRound started out as a free service similar Craigslist, simply connecting buyers and sellers online, but leaving them to make all arrangements of the actual sale. Recently, the website switched to a model in which it facilitates the sale.
“You see something on the site, you buy it and get the email certificate in seconds,” says Kris Petersen, the founder and chief executive officer of DealsGoRound. “There’s no real communications between the buyer and the seller. Once you post you don’t even know who buys it.”
DealsGoRound, which uses PayPal to pay sellers, takes a 10% commission from each sale and has a sixty-day refund policy, but Peterson says in the ten months it has acted as a reseller it has not had even one problem with a voucher. The company has more than 1,000 users and is available nationwide. According to Petersen, vouchers are posted from about 50 different daily deal websites.
While the resellers don’t need the permission of the daily deal websites to resell the vouchers, Petersen says he did contact them when he first launched the service in response to being stuck with unused vouchers for a Segway tour. The result: nothing.
“The most common response was no response,” says Petersen. “The smaller daily deal websites were excited about it.”
CoupRecoup lets you sell for free
CoupRecoup, out of San Francisco, Calif., doesn’t charge users a fee to sell their vouchers, but it also doesn’t provide a money back guarantee or get involved in the sale process at all. Katherine Woo, co-founder of CoupRecoup, says the website was started after she tried to sell a daily deal on Craigslist and got no response.
Unlike the other websites in that space, CoupRecoup doesn’t generate profits. “It’s a public service,” says Woo. “It’s free.” Sellers list their vouchers and then make their own arrangements to meet an interested buyer and complete the transaction. You can set your own price, but there is also an option to accept the best offer.
CoupRecoup is currently available in 62 cities and will add additional ones if there is demand. Woo says the company doesn’t charge money because users haven’t been clamoring for buyer protection. “It’s a pretty low-key model that’s working well,” she says.
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Creating a romantic meal at home is a somewhat bigger challenge than your standard Monday-night fare. Especially if you haven’t yet cooked for this significant other — or, if you’re in a long-term relationship, haven’t cooked for them often. And especially when the occasion in question is Valentine’s Day.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to up to romance factor, either overtly (like aphrodisiac ingredients and candles on the table) or covertly (that valentine’s favorite dish). Cooking together can also be a ton of fun for a date.
Frugal Foodie recommends sticking to what you know, and what you know your sweetheart will like. Even the most intricate meal falls flat if the steak burns or your date turns out to be allergic to hazelnuts. Years ago, Frugal Foodie spent hours on an intricate Coeur a la crème dessert topped with strawberries only to find out her date simply hated the fruit. Needless to say, that did not go over well with either party.
We talked to chefs, home cooks and other relationship experts about their go-to date meals. Post your own tried-and-true recipes below, and then try these seven romantic-and-cheap options.
There are appetizers, main courses, desserts and even a next-day breakfast, all for under $10 to prepare. (Cost estimates are based on non-sale New York City supermarket prices. If it’s a cheap meal in NYC, we figure cooks in most other places in the country will spend even less. Prices are also adjusted for quantity: if a recipe calls for half an onion, you’ll probably find something to do with the other half. Finally, estimates don’t take into account basic ingredients you likely already have, like flour, olive oil or dried spices.)
Oyster with Spicy Vinaigrette and Apples
Cost: $8.37 for half a dozen oysters, or $1.40 apiece.
Chef Michael Carrino, the owner of Restaurant Passionné in Montclair, N.J., suggests starting off your meal with this celebrated aphrodisiac. Open the oysters — he suggests two dozen Kushi, but the quantity and type is up to you. In a small bowl mix two tablespoons white balsamic vinegar, a teaspoon chopped garlic and an eighth of a teaspoon cayenne pepper. If desired, add a teaspoon of apple brandy, too. Using a whisk, slowly mix six tablespoons olive oil into the bowl and season with salt to taste. Garnish oysters with vinaigrette and peeled, finely-diced apples.
Strawberry-Tangerine Salad
Cost: $5.36, or $2.68 per serving.
No need to load up on aphrodisiacs. “Simplicity is the most exciting and titillating aspect of any recipe,” says Lorne Caplan, a scent and aphrodisiac expert. His suggestions: use basil, ginger, vanilla or — in this case, strawberry. Top a mixed-green salad with candied walnuts, tangerine wedges and a bit of goat cheese. Drizzle a strawberry-based dressing (try Frugal Foodie’s here). “Go easy on this as the scent is key and can be overpowering,” Caplan says.
Chicken Madeira
Cost: $7.20, or $3.60 per serving.
“I started dating a boy who dated a chef prior. No pressure there!” says Karralee Serra, who has been documenting her efforts at culinary improvement on “My Boyfriend Dated a Chef”. Serra used this recipe, scaled down for two, to step up her game. It worked. “There is nothing more wonderful than hearing, ‘I can’t wait to see what delicious thing you will cook on our next date,’” she says.
Salmon with Green Sauce
Cost: $9.86, or $4.93 per serving.
“The man had me with his pesto,” says Jill Mikols Etesse, the creative director for children’s app developer SmartyShortz, of her now-husband. His take on Martha Stewart’s dish scaled down for two, she says, is one of the few things he can cook – and what he makes her every Valentine’s Day. “I remember how I felt that [second date] evening,” she says. “It keeps me going.” As an added benefit, the recipe makes enough green sauce to use with other dishes for days on end.
Boozy Chocolate Truffles
Cost: $2.95 for about three dozen truffles.
Frugal Foodie and Mr. Foodie made a version of these Alton Brown truffles for their first Valentine’s Day together, subbing in already-on-hand Grand Marnier for the brandy. It’s been a tradition ever since, and we switch up the brand of chocolate and alcohol every time. Forgo the melon baller and hand-roll the truffles instead — it’s messier, but a lot more fun.
Quick Chocolate Soufflé
Cost: $3.25, or $1.63 per serving.
Intimidating? You bet. But Carrino promises that soufflé can be simple, too. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat the inside of four 6-ounce ramekins with the nonstick cooking spray, and then dust with a tablespoon of sugar. Chop four ounces of semisweet chocolate and combine with a half-cup heavy whipping cream in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on high for one minute and stir until chocolate and cream are full incorporated. In a separate bowl combine five egg whites and four tablespoons sugar and beat by hand until soft peaks are formed. After the chocolate mixture has cooled a bit gently fold it in to the egg whites. Spoon the batter into the ramekins and place in the refrigerator uncovered until needed. When ready, bake at 400 degrees on a cookie tray for 10 to 12 minutes or until the center does not jiggle. Dust with powdered sugar.
Strawberry French Toast
Cost: $3.16, or $1.58 per serving.
Romantic meals don’t stop at dinner, either. “My first love used to work the graveyard shift at the grocery store, so when he got off work it was breakfast time,” says San Jose, Calif., event planner Darlene Tenes, the founder of Hispanic lifestyle company CasaQ. Her Valentine’s inspiration often included his favorite French toast with mimosas.
Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.
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A $25 face mask may be cheap enough to make it onto a magazine’s “bargain” beauty buys list, but there are less expensive and more effective head-to-toe pampering products to be had in your fridge and pantry.
Even professional aestheticians and stylists turn to household staples like lemons, baking soda or yogurt when it’s time to clear skin of acne, soften rough patches or keep teeth sparkling. “What better way to achieve a natural glow, then from natural products?” asks Lily Morgan, the founder of Lily Organics Fresh Skin Care.
Post your own tips below, and try these beauty uses for common household goods:
Avocado
* Scott-Vincent Borba, the author of “Skintervention: The Personalized Solution for Healthier, Younger and Flawless Looking Skin,” suggests mashing an avocado with the oil from one vitamin E soft gel, a dash of cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of honey. Apply the anti-aging mask in a thick coat all over face and neck for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with damp washcloth.
* Gently rub the inside of an avocado peel on your face, says Morgan. Leave the residue on for about 20 minutes for a moisturizing mask.
Baking soda
* Pour a quarter-cup of baking soda in a cold bath to relieve sunburn, Morgan says.
* Jan Patterson, a nurse in Cotati, Calif., makes homemade toothpaste with the contents of two Myrrh capsules, a quarter-cup baking soda, two lid-fuls of hydrogen peroxide and mint or another flavor extract to taste. Mix until fluffy, and then store in a covered container.
* Make a firming mask from a beaten egg and a tablespoon of baking soda, Borba says. Brush mixture onto face and let dry for eight minutes, and then gently wash off with warm water. “Egg yolks are high in skin-nourishing vitamins A, D, and E as well as firming protein,” he says. “Baking soda will tighten and kill bacteria.”
* Mix a tablespoon each of baking soda and raw sugar for a pore-opening scrub, Borba says. Rub gently onto your face, and leave until your skin begins to tingle, at least 30 seconds but no longer than five minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Coffee
Brunettes can give their hair color a lift with coffee, says Sheri D. of Sé Mō Hair. Make a strong pot of black coffee, then let cool. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the warm coffee on. Work it through and leave in for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water, condition and style as usual.
Cucumbers
A true DIY spa treatment: place slices on eyes to de-puff and lighten dark circles, says Sucheta Rawal of “Go, Eat, Give.”
Eggs
To remove hard-water deposits from hair and add shine, Sheri D. uses an egg-oil mix. Separate one egg, and pour an ounce of olive oil over the yolk. Mix. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the egg mixture into your hair, using a large-tooth comb to help distribute it. Leave on for five to 10 minutes. Shampoo your hair again, condition, rinse and style as usual.
Honey
Use a mix of honey and milk as a cleanser to ease acne-prone skin, Morgan says.
Lemons
* Applying diluted lemon juice to acne-prone skin can help. Morgan says it can act as an antiseptic.
* “Cut a lemon in half and rub the open part on your heels to remove stains,” says Judy Woodward Bates, The Bargainomics Lady.
* To add oomph to light-colored hair, Sheri D. suggests making a strong pitcher of lemonade – water and lemon only, no sugar or honey. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the lemonade on. Work it through and leave in for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water, condition and style as usual.
Oatmeal
* Fill a mesh bag full of dry oatmeal, Morgan says. Rub your face with the bag for a gentle exfoliation.
* For Borba’s clarifying mask, stir together a cup of lukewarm water, a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of chocolate syrup and a cup of oatmeal. Apply the mix to face for 15 minutes. “Lightly scrub the mask off is circular motion to ‘buff’ away dead surface skin cells,” he says.
* To ease sunburn, Morgan recommends applying a compress of cold skim milk mixed with oatmeal.
Olive oil
* Actress Vida Ghaffari says she uses olive oil as a conditioner. “I have to often get my hair styled and it’s the only thing that conditions my hair in the LA elements,” she says. “I put it in my hair a couple of hours before I wash my hair as sort of a pre-conditioner. It’s a bit oily, so I wear comfy clothes I don’t worry about.”
* Mix a quarter-cup with a cup of vanilla sugar for a body scrub, says Megan Moriarty of Savor: The Food Agency.
Shortening
“Many people don’t know that a very common baking ingredient, Crisco solid, can be used as a moisturizer on very dry heels, elbows, knees, as well as around dry, cuticles,” says Risi-Leanne Baranja of “Palacinka Beauty Blog.” In a thin layer, it can also work well as an overnight facial moisturizer.
Yogurt
* Mix a half cup of plain yogurt with a half-cup cornmeal and a quarter-cup grapefruit juice, says Joanna Vargas, the founder of Joanna Vargas Salon, Skin Care Sanctuary in Manhattan. Cool in the fridge to thicken, and then use as a face scrub.
* For a hydrating mask, Vargas mixes a half-cup of plain yogurt with half an avocado and a quarter-cup honey. Apply with a sea sponge.
Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.
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Close up of beautiful woman in her forties putting red lipstick on her lips
Looking for a quick definition? Keep the one below in mind.
Sharing economy definition
The sharing economy is a peer-to-peer lending system, often facilitated by online platforms, that allows individuals or small companies to share goods and services with one another.
To better understand the sharing economy, it’s helpful to see how it fits into the bigger picture of novel industries that are disrupting traditional ones.
Sharing economy vs on-demand economy
The on-demand economy is a name for the new suite of services most people have available with their phone. “On-demand” refers to the fact that, with just a few taps, swipes, and a credit card, there are many goods and services immediately available to consumers.
For instance, let’s say you need groceries delivered — there’s an app for that. A fleet of gig-working delivery drivers (more on that next) is ready on demand to bring you the bread, almond milk, and kale that you need ASAP.
How does this differ from the sharing economy? When investors, economists, and consumers talk about the sharing economy, they are referring more specifically to services that facilitate sharing goods. It might not even be on-demand; for instance, if you’re part of a group of people who share power tools, you might not have access to the bandsaw you need until the person who has it now is done in 3 days.
The sharing economy and the on-demand economy have a lot in common, though, as they both allow peers to collaborate through the use of a third-party app. That brings us to another buzzword you might be hearing a lot about these days.
Sharing economy vs gig economy
The gig economy focuses more on the workers’ side, rather than the consumer. For instance, both sharing economy services (like Airbnb) and on-demand economy services (like TaskRabbit), and even services that fall into both categories (like Uber), can be considered forms of gig economy work.
The gig economy consists of workers who operate on short-term contracts, performing jobs through an app-based service. When investors and economists talk about the gig economy, they’re usually talking about the transition in many sectors toward this sort of short-contract-based work.
The quintessential example is a service like Uber or Lyft. Rather than a full-time, wage-based job like taxi driver, many people are instead working part-time, contract-based, often precarious positions as ride-share drivers. That’s the gig economy in action.
Examples of the sharing economy
We’ve already discussed a few types of sharing economy services, but what are a few more familiar examples? The answer is that there’s no set definition or criteria for what makes a service a part of the sharing economy. That said, there are a few examples that you’re probably familiar with:
Ride-share: Services like Uber and Lyft are great examples of the sharing economy — a driver shares their car (and time) with a consumer, who gets a lower-cost ride out of the arrangement.
Car-share: Some services also allow you to share your car with peers, not by driving them, but by allowing them to rent it.
Tool-share: Power tools are expensive. Luckily, the sharing economy makes it easy to see who has a tool you can borrow, and pay a small amount to rent it for a day or two while you complete a project.
Clothing sharing: There are sharing sites for expensive designer clothes that you probably won’t wear more than once. Pay for a subscription, then rent for a few days.
Crowd-funding: Have a new business idea or product concept? You can use services online that allow you to crowd-fund the startup costs.
Peer-to-peer lending: Rather than going through a large financial institution or sketchy loan shop when you need cash, peer-to-peer lending allows consumers to seek financing from other individuals who have a little surplus cash they’d like to grow.
As mentioned before, there’s no hard-and-fast definition or criteria — pretty much any service that allows people to help each other out can be considered a part of the sharing economy.
Sharing economy apps
We’ve mentioned that the sharing economy is mostly facilitated by app-based services — but what are these apps? Chances are, you’ve probably already got a lot of them on your phone. Here are a few common sharing economy companies, and what they’re built for:
Ride-sharing and taxi alternatives: Uber, Lyft
This is definitely not a complete list. Chances are, if you need some item or service, but don’t want to purchase it yourself, there’s a sharing economy solution out there for you. A simple Google search of “[What you need]” + “sharing app” will likely bring you tons of interesting options to consider.
Pros and cons of sharing economy
Like anything, the sharing economy comes with plenty of pros and cons to consider. Before going all-in on using sharing apps, let’s take a look at some of the benefits and downsides that come along with the sharing economy.
Pros
Sharing services can help you save money
Sharing apps give you access to things you might not otherwise have (like power tools or a small loan)
They’re often on-demand, too (though not alway), so you can get what you need quickly
They allow owners of assets to make a small, steady stream of passive income
They’re popular. According to PWC, about 19% of people have participated in the sharing economy, and that number is expected to grow.
Cons
They might be riskier than a traditional business because you’re renting items (like a car) from an individual rather than a company
While they might allow for a new income stream, some sharing economy jobs (like rideshare drivers) might not allow you to make a full living
Some app companies might inflate prices or take a large commission in order to increase their own profits — be sure to do your research on an app before using it as either a buyer or seller
Overall, for most people, deciding whether using the sharing economy makes sense will be an individual process. For some people, making money with side hustle apps might be a great way to spend some time and earn a little cash. For others, it might not make as much sense.
If you have a vacation home you don’t use often, it could totally make sense to rent it out to travelers who need a place to stay. Others might not want the hassle associated with cleaning the home and preparing it for the next guests — ultimately, it’s up to you whether participating in the sharing economy makes sense.
Sharing economy: the takeaways
The sharing economy is a great way for peers to connect and share goods and services they have access to with people who are looking for access at a bargain price. It can include anything from sharing cars and power tools to peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding.
Here’s what to remember:
The sharing economy uses apps to allow individuals to connect with each other, sharing their goods and services.
It’s closely related to the on-demand economy and gig economy; in fact, there’s tons of overlap when it comes to the apps used in each.
You can use the sharing economy to access things like car rentals, fashionable clothes, power tools, personal loans, and seed money for your ingenious ideas.
Apps like Uber, Vrbo, DailyLook, and Prosper are all popular sharing economy options.
There are pros and cons
Pros: Usually inexpensive, a great way to find extra income, and convenient
Cons: You have to trust peer lenders and borrowers, and some companies pay workers less than other options, or charge fees that make lending not worthwhile
What options can the sharing economy open up for you? Research the ways that you can start using sharing apps today, and start saving (or making!) money.
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The Millennial’s Guide to Buying a Home: Budgeting and Insurance
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Side Hustle 101: What You Need to Know About Renting Your Car
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Pretty much everyone upped their spending on take-out food in 2020 – and for good reason. With restaurants closed for indoor dining and grocery stores experiencing unpredictable staffing and inventory issues, many consumers chose to order out for the majority of their meals.
Now that things are returning to normal, you may be wondering how to adjust your budget accordingly. We’ll walk you through how to determine the right amount to budget for take-out and dining, and give you some strategies to save money when ordering from your favorite restaurants.
How Much Should You Spend on Dining and Take-Out?
It’s hard to give an exact prescription for how much you should spend on take-out because it largely depends on the specifics of your budget and financial situation. In general, your food budget, including groceries and eating out, should make up between 10 and 15% of your income. Families with multiple children may spend more than that, so don’t worry if your percentage exceeds the recommendation.
If you’re not sure how much you spend on food, go through your transactions for the past few months and calculate the percentage.
John Bovard, CFP of Incline Wealth Advisors said consumers who have no credit card debt and invest 20% or more of their income in a retirement account can spend 10% of their post-tax income on take-out.
Ways to Save on Takeout
Want to keep your takeout tradition but still feel like you’re spending too much? Here are some tips to save money when ordering out from your favorite restaurants:
Pick up in person
Everyone knows that delivery fees add a huge surcharge to your total bill, but you might not realize how big the difference actually is. A New York Times article found that the same sandwich at Subway costs between 25% and 91% more when delivered, depending on the specific delivery app.
A $20 order could cost between $5 and $18.20 more if you get it delivered. The cost is generally higher during weekends and holidays.
Look for specials
Plan your take-out around restaurant specials. Follow restaurants on social media to see when they’re running discounts, like half-price oysters on Sundays or happy hour specials. When you’re picking up the food, ask someone behind the counter when the best deals are.
Restaurants often print coupon codes or discounts on their receipts, so don’t forget to check there.
Use discounted gift cards
Many restaurants and fast food places sell gift cards and often run special sales, like selling a $50 gift card for $45. This is especially popular during the holiday season.
Wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club regularly sell discounted gift cards to popular chains. For example, you can buy $100 worth of gift cards to California Pizza Kitchen for only $80 at Costco, or $75 worth of Domino’s gift cards for only $65.
You can also buy restaurant gift cards online through GiftCardGranny or CardCash, which sell gift cards for up to 10% off.
Skip dinner
Dinner is the most expensive meal of the day, so opt for breakfast or lunch if you’re eating out. If you get take-out a couple times a week, use one for dinner and the other for brunch or lunch.
Cash in rewards
Some restaurants have loyalty programs you can join with an email address or phone number, while others have an old-fashioned punch card system. Keep track of these rewards so you cash them out before they expire.
Order catering
If you’re eating with a group of people, see if the restaurant offers catering, which may be less expensive than ordering individual entrees. Everyone will have to eat the same thing, but it’s a great way to save money.
Sign up for restaurant emails
Both local and national restaurants often have email newsletters you can join to get extra discounts. For example, my favorite Mexican restaurant is constantly sending me emails for 10 or 15% off take-out.
Create a separate label for these emails so you can sort through them before ordering take-out. You can also add reminders on your phone to use the discounts before they expire.
Use a rewards credit card
Many credit cards offer points or cashback when you dine out, and some let you cash in points for restaurant gift cards. Look up the rewards policies for your current credit cards to see which one you should use for restaurants.
Consider opening a new card if you don’t have a dining rewards card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 2% cashback for dining and also comes with a year of DashPass, the DoorDash subscription service with $0 delivery fees.
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders earn 3% cashback on dining, get a free year’s worth of DashPass and also have $60 of DoorDash credit for the first year.
Most dining rewards cards have an annual fee, usually around $95, so don’t open one unless the cashback rewards will exceed the fee. Some card companies will waive the fee for the first year, allowing you to see if you’ll earn enough rewards to offset the fee. Some rewards credit cards also let you cash in points for restaurant gift cards.
Buy a food delivery subscription
If you don’t have easy access to transportation, then ordering delivery may be your best option. In this case, consider signing up for a food delivery membership. DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats all offer a monthly subscription for around $10. Each subscription comes with free delivery and other specials.
Before you sign up, calculate how often you order out and see if a monthly membership makes sense. If you have a neighbor or roommate, consider splitting a subscription with them to save even more money.
Many of these services have a free trial period, allowing you to gauge how much you’ll actually use them. Choose the app with the largest number of restaurants you like.
Use a browser extension
Browser extensions like Rakuten provide cashback when you order from delivery sites like Grubhub and Seamless. Just click on the Rakuten button on the top right of your browser when you visit either of those sites. You’ll earn up to 11% cashback with eligible orders.
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Zina Kumok is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. A former reporter, she has covered murder trials, the Final Four and everything in between. She has been featured in Lifehacker, DailyWorth and Time. Read about how she paid off $28,000 worth of student loans in three years at Conscious Coins. More from Zina Kumok
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For some consumers, treating Spot and Fluffy as members of the family extends to their diet. After all, if everyone else is getting homemade meals with organic ingredients, why shouldn’t they? It might be healthier than commercial foods — and cheaper, too.
Consumers have become more interested in preparing their own pet foods in recent years, due to both pet food recall scares and a human-diet emphasis on knowing what’s in the foods we eat, says Dr. Jules Benson, the vice president of veterinary services for pet insurance carrier Petplan. There are some economic interests, too, depending on what you currently feed your pet. A balanced, home-cooked diet for a 30-pound dog would cost $3.52 per day; $5.58 if you go organic. That’s two to four times the price of commercial dry dog foods of similar qualities, he says, but up to half the cost of commercial wet foods.
But making the switch isn’t as simple as dishing up a portion of the Sunday-dinner roast for your pet. “There is science behind what your pet needs,” says Dr. Benson. “These diets should be developed for your pet individually.” Home-prepared pet meals aren’t a good solution, or a safe one, for every family.
That means before you give homemade food a try as a significant part of your pet’s diet — and this step is vital — TALK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN. Don’t just go in and ask, “Is this a good idea?” either. Research some of the options, present what you’d like to do, and get their take on what works and doesn’t for your pet’s general health and any medical conditions. You might also seek a consultation with a veterinary nutritionist. (The American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition both recommend PetDiets.com and Balanceit.com as resources.)
Try these other tips to delve into cooking for your pet:
Cook for yourself
“Every Day with Rachel Ray” magazine runs a regular feature of recipes that both you and your dog can enjoy. Personal chef Lindsay Nixon uses lentils as the protein base for her dogs, and mixes in leftover vegetables, potatoes and brown rice from her own meals as well as a pet vitamin supplement. (The combo, she says, has cut her pet food bill from $25 per month for dry kibble to just $10.)
Keep it healthy
Not all foods people eat are good for dogs and cats, Dr. Benson warns. “Don’t feed them hot dogs, or anything we would consider junk food,” he says. “Just because dogs will eat it doesn’t mean it’s good for them.” Low-fat, lean cuts trump fatty bits, which are more likely to cause gastrointestinal problems. But good-for-us foods aren’t always good for them, either. Foods like grapes and onions should never be given to your pet, he says. (Check the ASPCA’s people food list of things that may be toxic, or cause some digestive issues.)
Use a homemade food as a topper
There’s no need to make all your pet’s food to see some savings or health benefits. You could scale back the amount of commercially prepared food you serve, and either top it with a homemade mix, or blend one in. Jenna Dreher, the chief executive of pet-care company Pet It Forward, tops her Great Dane Casper’s food with a soft mix of simmered sweet potatoes, carrots and apples, seasoned with a dash of cinnamon.
Outsource preparation
If you want to try these kinds of diets but don’t have the time to spend in the kitchen or are worried about getting the right balance of necessary foods, check out premade raw pet food like Primal Pet Foods, Nature’s Variety, and The Honest Kitchen. It’s not a money-saver, however: ThatMutt.com blogger Lindsay Stordahl’s looked at the options for Ace, her 67-pound black lab mix, and found that premade food came out to be $83 to $115 more expensive per month than versions she could make at home. “So far I haven’t done that because of the time commitment,” Stordahl says. “I can barely find time to shop for my own food.”
Seek out supplements
It’s not enough to give your dog or cat some chicken and rice every night, Dr. Benson says. You’ll need extra vitamins, which might be achieved through mixing in different vegetables and grains, a powdered pet-food supplement or other add-ins (like, oddly, human Tums) recommended by your vet. These add just a few cents to the bill, but many — like taurine powder for homemade cat foods — are essential, he says.
Make treats
They’re a good entry point into homemade foods. Dreher makes these yogurt, apple and oatmeal treats for Casper: Mix two and 1/3 cups oatmeal, one cup French vanilla yogurt and two-thirds of a cup of apple sauce together in 1 bowl. Another of Casper’s favorite treats mixes two and 1/3 cups oatmeal, two mashed ripe bananas, one cup peanut butter and a half-cup chopped peanuts. For either recipe, spoon batter onto cooking sheet, keeping each drop the size of a bottle cap — an optimal treat size. Cook at 375 for 12-15 minutes.
Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.
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When it comes to farm-fresh produce, a little do-it-yourself — in the form of visiting a pick-your-own farm — can go a long way to saving you cash.
Pick-your-own farms (or U-picks, as they are commonly called) are those where the farmer sets aside fields for the purpose of allowing visitors to harvest their own produce. Typically, it’s weighed and sold by the pound, although plenty of farms go by container size, too. Available produce varies by farm and area, with picking starting as early as March for asparagus and ending when the last apples come off the tree in September or October.
Compared with the supermarket or farmer’s market, savings per pound at u-picks range from 20 percent to 50 percent, depending on the item, says John Slemmer, the founder of Pick Your Own, which lists u-pick locations nationwide. Generally, the more you buy, the better the price – making u-picks an especially good deal for people who want to make homemade jams, pickles, jellies and other preserves. (Frugal Foodie goes every year to get her favorite fruits: raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, freezing enough to enjoy year round.)
Trying a u-pick farm is also a great way to support local farms, many of which use sustainable or organic farming methods, says David Becker of Friend of the Farmer. You’re also getting a great product, because it was picked at the height of freshness.
Here’s how to get the best deal on a u-pick visit:
Call ahead
That gives you a chance to check prices and policies, as well as the condition of the fields. “They can get picked out pretty quick,” Slemmer says. Some fruits can ripen overnight, like strawberries, but others may take a day or two for enough to ripen to make a visit worthwhile. It’s also worth asking about any policies that might prove problematic — a few farms frown on bringing kids along, others may have a minimum charge for u-pick goods.
Time your visit
Mornings are best, especially if you plan to visit on a weekend, when crowds are bigger. Try to wait until the weather has been clear for a few days: some fruits soak up more rain than others, leading to a watery, bland taste, says Becker.
Compare prices
Nearby farms tend to be competitive with each other on price, so check several against each other and the going rates at your supermarket. Be sure to compare similar quantities and quality (especially if it’s organic). Factor in the cost to get there, too, with gas at an average $4 per gallon nationwide.
Ask about discounts
Some farms will offer them if you’re buying a substantial quantity say, a few bushels of apples to make applesauce, Slemmer says. Others will offer a deal on pre-picked “seconds,” the fruit that isn’t as pretty but just as tasty. Slemmer paid $6 a bushel for apple seconds last year, compared with the farm’s usual rate of $15 to $20.
BYO
Containers, that is. Farms sometimes provide big buckets, but more often hand over smaller containers for things like berries, Becker says. If your aim is to pick a lot, juggling several while simultaneously trying to pick gets frustrating fast.
Consider chemicals
Ask whether the farmer uses pesticides or fungicides, and how recently a field was sprayed, Becker says. Many farmers practice organic methods, but don’t have the substantial time and money it takes to get certified. It also depends on the crop. Blueberries rarely need chemical spray, but strawberries, apples and peaches often do, he says. It’s still fine to pick and buy that fruit, but knowing could dictate how much you decide to sample in the field.
Prepare for a full day
Collecting enough fresh-picked fruits and vegetables can take a few hours in the field, so plan appropriately. Wear sunscreen and bring water. But there are other reasons to make u-pick a full day trip – more farms offer other free or cheap agri-tainment, like petting zoos, mazes and horseback rides.
Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.
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By now, you’ve surely heard of Amazon Prime. It’s the retail giant’s paid membership that’s best known for its speedy shipping services. Packages will arrive at your doorstep in two days max—or as soon as that night.
Catering to the subset of online shoppers who buy often and want their goods delivered ASAP, Amazon launched its Prime service in 2005. Paying $119 a year for free two-day shipping may not be a great deal if you don’t shop much. But that’s not all a Prime membership will get you. As well as the all-important free two-day shipping, Prime provides its members with one-day shipping for $3.99 free streaming TV and movies, and so much more.
Millions of people currently reap the benefits of Prime. If you’re one of them, or you’re considering signing up, the following tips will help you maximize the rewards. Read on to learn all about the wealth of offerings that Amazon’s paid membership gets you, and how to get the most out of your subscription.
Amazon Prime Shipping
The most widely known benefit of Amazon prime is, of course, its rapid shipping. Known as “Prime” shipping, this membership perk gets you free 2-day shipping on all eligible Amazon products. Prime members also have access to ultra-expedited, 1 day shipping on over 10 million items. Better yet, more than 3 million items qualify for same day delivery, as long as you meet Amazon’s $35 order minimum. A package ordered in the morning could arrive on your doorstep that night.
Amazon delivers on its lofty 2-day shipping goal thanks to their enormous network of Amazon warehouses. These 50+ warehouses are placed strategically across the US. While anyone can start an Amazon business, only products that are fulfilled by Amazon are available in Amazon warehouses. These contain a stockpile of the most commonly ordered Amazon items and are staffed by employees who work around the clock to ensure your product is delivered in a 48-hour window.
When a Prime-eligible product is ordered, Amazon sources it from the nearest Amazon warehouse. It’s then packaged, placed on an Amazon truck, and delivered to your house by the deadline.
Amazon Shopping Benefits
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer—and it’s no wonder why. Amazon offers some of the most competitive shopping benefits and largest selection of items for sale in the world. Use the following tips to get the most out of the company’s benefits and reap the rewards of your membership.
Qualify for Amazon Prime Discounted Memberships
A standard Amazon Prime membership costs $119 per year, or $12.99 each month if you’d rather pay in installments. However, in some scenarios, you may be able to get your membership at a discount—or even for free.
EBT or Medicaid card holders: If you have a valid EBT or Medicaid card, you can get access to Amazon Prime for only $5.99 each month
Students: If you’re a student, you can get a free, 6-month trial of Amazon Prime; once your trial is up, you can have access to Prime membership at $6.49 each month
Take Advantage of Prime Deals at Whole Foods Market
Prime shopping benefits extend beyond Amazon’s dot com site. Prime members get exclusive discounts when shopping both online and in-store at Whole Foods Markets.
Try on at Home with Prime Wardrobe
Looking for a new wardrobe but hate the unknown of online shopping? Amazon’s Prime membership solves that problem with Prime Wardrobe. This service allows you to order clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories without paying upfront. Try on the clothes at home, send whatever you don’t want back, and only pay for the items that you decide to keep.
Bookmark the Daily Deals
Every day, Amazon offers exclusive deals for Amazon Prime members. Prices are slashed in every single department—home and kitchen, electronics and accessories, toys, kids, babies, and more. Everything from digital cameras to lawnmowers can be found at reduced prices.
Plus, Amazon offers Prime members 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals, a promotion in which a limited number of discounts are offered on an item for a short period. Here’s the thing: you need to act fast to grab the discounts. Each deal is available in limited quantities, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Add the deals page to your bookmarks and sign up to receive daily deal emails.
The mother of all Amazon deals is Prime Day, a single day devoted to Amazon Prime deals. If you want to take full advantage of this once-a-year event, do your research ahead of time and make sure you have the best Prime Day credit card.
Use third-party price monitoring websites
Long-time Prime user Mark Lindsey’s pick is camelcamelcamel.com, which provides price histories and sends email alerts when an item of interest is discounted. Other options include Honey, Timberfrog, and Price!pinx. Some of these services may be able to be installed directly into your Firefox or Chrome browser.
Amazon Entertainment
Amazon’s most recent foray is their takeover of the entertainment world with the introduction of Amazon Entertainment. Though its TV and moving streaming service was originally introduced in February 2011, it has grown exponentially in the past several years. It’s now a rival to media conglomerates like Netflix and Hulu.
Delve into Amazon.com’s video offerings
Through Prime Video and Prime Video Channels, Amazon Prime membership offers free movie and TV streaming, complementary with Prime membership. Furthermore, Prime Video Channels allows you access to premium channels like HBO, Showtime, and STARZ at between $4.99 and $14.99 a month, with no additional apps to download.
Not only does Amazon offer popular movies and TV shows (for instance, it’s the only place you can stream Lord of the Rings), but Amazon also produces original content available only with an Amazon Prime membership. Its in-house production company, known as Amazon Studios, was started in late 2010.
Listen to Amazon Music
Amazon has a vast music library of tens of millions of songs. Prime members have access to a portion of these, available for listening on any Echo device, at no cost. Plus, Prime members get discounted rates on Amazon Music Unlimited—Amazon’s entire music library.
Game with Prime Gaming
Gamers can benefit from an Amazon Prime membership, too. Prime Gaming gains you access to free games and in-game content every month. Plus, get a monthly Twitch channel subscription for free and exclusive promotions on new games. With Prime’s free release-date delivery, you can order and receive new video games by 7 PM on release day.
Other Amazon Prime Advantages
Prime benefits don’t stop there. Make sure you’re getting the absolute most out of your yearly membership price with the following.
Go Old School with Prime Reading
Did you know that Amazon was originally a bookstore? Amazon’s reading benefits hearken back to their bookstore roots. Prime Reading provides members with unlimited access to more than a thousand magazines, comics, eBooks, and more. You don’t need a Kindle to read these; they can be accessed on any device.
Plus, through Amazon First Reads, each Prime member can download one editors’ pick book each month before the official release date.
Recruit a Friend
Prime members can share their accounts with one other adult, which means free membership for a person of your choosing. To sign them up, go to the Prime Membership management section of your Amazon account settings. Note that student and EBT/Medicaid members cannot share accounts with any other individuals.
Think beyond the last-minute buy
The ability to make frequent small purchases and be assured of their swift arrival is a key benefit of Prime. Many a Prime user has been saved by the fast, free expedited shipping after remembering a birthday or anniversary in the nick of time. But for household products such as cleaning supplies and toiletries, it’s often cheaper to plan ahead and buy in bulk.
Amazon’s Subscribe and Save feature allows you to place a recurring order for an item and choose the frequency for its delivery. You’ll save 15 percent off the price and won’t have to worry about stocking up. As another veteran Prime user Mark Zembrzuski notes, “Nothing says you’re living the high life like coming home to 48 rolls of toilet paper.”
If you haven’t yet signed up for Prime, Amazon is currently offering a one-month free trial. To register, visit amazon.com/prime.
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