Save Money with a Product Stockpile for Your College Student
Is your child getting ready to go off to college?
One of the college expenses that many families forget is the cost of setting up a separate quarters for your child. Not only will he or she need new bedclothes, towels, and perhaps a mini fridge, but the student will also need everyday items like coffee/tea, laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste and other personal items. If you’re already stockpiling, then you know how much money having a stockpile can save. If you aren’t stockpiling, beginning with a collection of items for your child’s upcoming college adventure is the perfect time to start.
How to Stockpile
If you’re new to stockpiling, here are a few basics that will help you get started.
- The goal is to get the most items at the lowest cost. Free is good, but not always possible. Aim for a savings of 50% or more on most items. This is easily achieved with just a little planning.
- Watch for sales on your child’s favorite brands. Does your daughter love Herbal Essences conditioner? Mine does. Normally, a smallish bottle is $2.97 or more. However, last week, a local grocery had these small bottles on sale for $1.99. I gathered all the $1.00 off coupons I could find, which brought them down to $0.99 each. While this isn’t the cheapest shampoo around, it did make each bottle under $1.00 and it is what she loves. I bought 13 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, which I estimate will last her about 6 months.
- Watch loss leaders. Loss leaders are those items that a store advertises to get you in the door. They make very little, if any money on these items. Combine coupons with these sales to begin building your stockpile.
- Ask for bulk discounts. Some times simply never go on sale. My daughter’s favorite body wash never has coupons and never goes on sale. I simply added up how many bottles she needs (I figure 12) and asked the manager if I could have a discount if I bought a dozen at one time. He hesitated and finally offered me 15%. It wasn’t a great savings, but it is better than paying full-price.
- Buy one extra. Each week when you go to the store, buy one extra item to add to the stockpile. Ideally, these will be sale items, but if it is an item that doesn’t go on sale, then this can be a way to resist paying out hundreds at one time and spread the cost out a bit. For example, buy an extra bottle of Tide (always coupons for this).
- Remember e-coupons. If you aren’t into clipping coupons, but still want to save money, check out the e-coupon offers from stores like Kroger and Meijer. You simply load the coupons to your cell phone or your Plus Card and the coupon automatically comes off when you check out.
What to Stockpile for College
The best place to start with your stockpile is with a list of items your child uses regularly. Then, multiply how many of each item your child uses per month by the number of months the child will be away at school. This will provide a full school year’s supply of items. Once your child leaves for school, you should replenish his stockpile regularly, so he can shop on visits home. Here are a few typical items:
- Laundry detergent and fabric softener
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Body wash
- Soap
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Hair style products
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Cleaning supplies
- Popcorn and other snacks
- Drinks
- Shaving supplies
- Makeup
- Facial cleansing and treatments
By planning ahead, you can save hundreds of dollars, which can be a welcome relief during those expensive college years. It may allow extra money for text books, funds to send your child for extras or even go toward tuition when necessary.
Saving Money on Graduation
Save hundreds on graduation!
Senior year is extremely expensive. Here are just a few of the ways we saved money during my daughter’s senior year. Hopefully, these tips will help you save money as well.
Senior Pics
My husband and I led a youth group for several years. The amounts the kids who were seniors paid for their pictures had my jaw dropping. Some paid almost $1000 for a portrait package. I knew we needed to keep it a lot less expensive than that, but I also wanted some beautiful photographs to commemorate the occasion. Since I’m an avid couponer, as many of my blog fans know, I began to keep an eye out for a good deal. It didn’t take long before Groupon came out with an excellent coupon for a local photography studio whose pictures I like. It was a senior portrait package. The package was only $55. That package included:
- Photo session (both indoor and outdoor)
- Up to five outfit changes
- CD with all the pictures from the photo shoot for our personal use
- 8 x 10 print
- 5 other sheets of our choice (fine to mix and match pictures)
I actually did buy a few extra wallet sheets for my daughter to give to her friends and wound up paying about $90 for the entire package. For under $100, I got everything we needed and some truly gorgeous pictures that my daughter was thrilled over. I saved hundreds of dollars.
Senior Package
Most schools offer a senior package. This includes items like a senior memory scrapbook, key chain, tassel, senior T-shirt and invitations. The basic package was about $250.00. I did some research online and discovered that we can order some beautiful invitations with my daughter’s photo on them for a fraction of what this company charges. I then spoke to her about that possibility and she liked those invitations better anyway. We talked about which items in the package she felt were must-haves. She really wanted the memory book, the hoodie, the T-shirt, the key ring and a necklace. By purchasing these items individually, they were around $125.00, which I still think is ridiculous. The invitations will be another $25.00, unless I find a better deal. So, we saved about $100. The items she didn’t get were things like flip-flops. She had zero interest in those items.
Class Ring
When it comes to a class ring, you don’t want to skimp on quality. Class rings are expensive. One way we combated this additional senior year cost was to order the class ring early. We actually purchased my daughter’s class ring her freshman year. This way, she was able to wear it all through high school and get the ring she wanted, because we didn’t have a lot of additional costs that year. We did get a ring that featured a warranty in case she lost it or outgrew it, etc. Consider buying the class ring early. However, if your child is already a senior, you can still save money by shopping around for the best price.
Senior Trip
Not every school does this, but my daughter’s school takes a senior trip. Theirs is to New York, which is an expensive place to go. The trip is about $750 (plus spending money). One way we reduced this cost was to participate in fundraisers the school offered. While my daughter didn’t fundraise as much as I would have liked, she is also working part-time and keeping a Straight A average. We cut her some slack on this one, divided up the payments and have sent them in throughout the year. She did a little fundraising, which did help some.
Graduation Party
The final big bash is the graduation party. It is January and I have begun shopping for this event. By the time the party rolls around, we’ll have saved a few hundred dollars. I belong to sites like Hip2Save.com and DealSeekingMom.com. These sites offer announcements about the latest deals and steals.
I can’t remember which one, but last week, one of these two sites posted that Shindigz was offering a $1.00 banner sale on 18 x 54 banners. These banners are normally $14.99 and I would probably skip purchasing one. However, for $1.00, I wanted one for her. I ordered one with her photo and some lettering along with the graduation year. If I had been thinking, I would have left off the year and we could have used it again for college graduation. That’s okay. We can always put a little sign over the year with the new one or find another sale. I did have to pay shipping, but the sign was still under $9. Great deal and will be a focal point over our fireplace as people enter the front door.
My next plan is to purchase cups, plates, tablecloths and other decorations in simple, yet elegant, black and white a bit at a time. Both Michael’s and Hobby Lobby offer 40% off coupons almost every week. Each week when I do my grocery shopping, I will pop in with one of these coupons and buy one package of something until I have all I need. Another option is to hit the dollar stores, but for something so special I wanted a bit higher quality products.
For food for the party, I will begin to purchase appetizers and items that can be frozen ahead of time using coupons and shopping sales.
You can see how planning now for an event that occurs in May or June may save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Be sure to check back soon as I’ll also be writing about beginning a stockpile of items for your college student.
Parents of seniors might also want to read…
The Economy Tops Issues in This Election
Guest Blogger, Caitlin Soard
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the November, 2011 unemployment rate was 8.6 percent. (Economy at a Glance) This is an alarming trend for high school students who are looking at four years of college expenses and the uncertainty about whether or not there will be a job waiting once college is completed. One of my cousins recently graduated from Purdue University with a degree in construction management. In the seven months since he graduated, he has been unable to find a job in his field. He is not the only person I know struggling to find a job. The single most important issue to high school seniors in this election is what the candidate is going to do to fix the economic woes our country is facing and if those actions will work by the time they graduate from college.
For people like my cousin, the impact of paying for four years of college and then coming out without a position can be frightening. It’s important to find ways to reduce expenses while in college. Obtaining scholarships is only one small part of the equation. As the campaigns heat up and the Republicans narrow the field to a single candidate, the economy is one issue that many students are looking at closely as they decide which candidate to entrust with their votes.
Possible Solutions
When it comes to solving economic woes, it seems that almost everyone has an opinion and many of them differ. In a panel conducted by Bloomburg Businessweek, Peter Orzag, former director of President Obama’s Office of Management and Budget commented, “So the majority is going to have to come on the revenue side for the medium term.” He feels that cutting entitlements would not produce enough revenue. (How to Fix the Economy)
One the other hand, Professor Charles W. Calomiris, Professor of Financial Institutions at Columbia University, disagreed and said, “Government expenditures as a fraction of GDP are way too high. We need to go back and think about where we were 10 years ago and think about rolling back those programs, because we are broke.” (How to Fix the Economy)
The debate rages on even between Presidential candidates in the same party. High school seniors who are 18 years old, or will be by the November elections, may feel confused over which candidate can solve the current economic problems. Since even the candidates can’t agree on how to solve the issue, it is little wonder that first-time voters feel uncertain.
The Best Candidate
The best candidate isn’t tied into a single name in the upcoming election, but rather which person each individual voter feels will do the best job of helping the economy recover. Listening to the debates, taking quizzes on sites like ABC News’ Match-O-Matic and reading information on each candidate’s site can help voters better understand the philosophies each candidate has and that candidate’s plan for the economy. Whether the voter feels a flat tax will help put more money in the pockets of working families and spur the economy as people have more money to spend, or he believes that fixing roads and bridges will provide work and fix failing infrastructure, the great thing about the United States of America is that each person gets to pick the one person he or she feels can make the economy better. Ultimately, if the person chosen doesn’t get the job done, in four more years, the voter can choose someone else. By studying the issues carefully and understanding the plan each candidate has to fix the economy, one can at least make an educated guess about which person will do the best job.
References
“Economy at a Glance.” United States Department of Labor Statistics. December 25, 2011. <http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm>
“How to Fix the Economy: An Expert Panel.” Bloomburg Businessweek. September 16, 2010. <http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_39/b4196054741296_page_2.htm>
This is an official blog entry for the YourLocalSecurity.com Blogging Scholarship. If selected, I’ll receive $1000 towards my college expenses in 2012. This scholarship is sponsored by YourLocalSecurity.com
Saving Money on Batteries
Batteries are one of those things that I seem to always spend too much money on. I clip coupons, but $1 off only goes so far. I also combine those coupons with sales. Remember that a coupon is like cash! However, even with that, we seem to run through way more batteries than I’d like. The AA batteries are the ones we use the most often Some of the ways I’ve attempted to save money on them include buying in bulk, buying only when on sale, using rebates and using coupons.
I’ve purchased a few rechargable ones, but they are pretty costly and I often wonder if they really add up to any savings. Then, today, I saw a video on a friend’s Facebook wall and a lightbulb that will save me at least $50 or $60 a year on AA batteries.
Purchase a 6V lantern battery. Take it apart as shown in the video below and you should have 32-AA batteries. Please be sure that the battery says “lantern battery” and understand that you may find a brand that doesn’t use AA batteries inside. Some people have reported their mileage varying on this project. If you find a brand that works, come back here and post, so we can all benefit. I’ll be doing some experimentation with this and posting again soon.
Ice Breakers for Youth Groups
Silly games can get the whole youth group laughing!
Have you ever dealt with the problem of finding a new youth group ice breaker to get the teens in your church talking? Ice breakers can be hard to come up with. Teens today are savvy, technologically smart, sophisticated, and easily bored. It’s important to focus on subjects that are important to teens.
Choose Topics for Your Youth Group Ice Breakers
Although the ice breaker can certainly be separate from the lesson portion of your youth group meeting, doesn’t it make more sense to tie everything together? For this reason, one of the simplest youth group ice breakers available is asking a hard hitting question and having each youth member share their input. For example, if you are talking about cheating, ask the students if they think cheating on a test is wrong. You might just be surprised at the answers. Follow up by asking them if they think some types of cheating are worse than others. You will likely find that at least some of the students feel that cheating is okay under certain conditions. This is a golden opportunity to launch into a lesson on cheating and why it is wrong.
You might also want to create an ice breaker that has a set of tasks to complete to get the teens up and moving around the room. If you can get them to interact with one another, then you have made an impact. Some of things you might want to have them do include:
- Find another person in the room who shares your birth month
- If you were a doughnut, what kind of doughnut would you be?
- Tell another student what you like to do in your spare time
- Sing a song from your favorite band or singer
With this second ice breaker, your tasks may not be related to the theme of your lesson. Your goal with this is to get them to open up. You can always segue into the lesson by saying, “Okay, we’ve had our fun, now let’s settle down to our lesson.”
Allow Ten Minutes for Your Icebreaker
Plan to spend about ten minutes on youth group ice breakers each class period. Unless your group is particularly large, ten minutes should be enough time for each of your students to give some input. The goal is to get them to open up and then to move into the lesson. The hope is that the openness with continue and you’ll be able to have a frank discussion about the Bible and Christian living with the teens and tweens in your group.
Borrow Icebreakers from Other Youth Pastors
Get together with other youth pastors at Christian youth group conferences and at churches in your area. Share ideas at your meetings about games and activities that you do. Many small churches will also share curriculum with one another to stretch their budgets a bit more.
More Icebreaker Tips
Be open to ideas from the kids. If you hear one of the teens talk about how much they loved the game Simon Says when they were little, come up with a round of Simon Says that you can tie into your lesson. If you have some particularly outgoing students, ask them to perform a skit. If you have great singers in the group, have them open with some music. The key is to get to know the youth in your group and come up with ice breakers that fit their personalities.
Free Prom Dresses
There are places you can get free prom dresses.
If you’re on a budget, free prom dresses may solve the problem of how to make your night extra special without spending a fortune. Whether you are a junior or senior, you’ll want your dress for prom to be one you’ll remember always.
Where to Find Free Prom Dresses
There are quite a few places you can get free prom dresses. Here are just a few ideas:
- Family and Friends: An excellent resource for free prom dresses is from family and friends. Let everyone know that you need a prom dress and what size and ask if they have one you could borrow or they would be willing to pass down to you. Prom dresses are typically only worn one time, which means that they are generally in like-new condition. Although you may still have to purchase shoes and accessories, you can get a completely free prom dress in this way.
- Local Charities: Depending upon where you live, you may be able to find a local church or charity that offers free prom dresses. Contact the larger churches in your area and ask if anyone runs a program like this. You may not get the dress of your dreams, but you’ll find a dress that looks good on you and you’ll save a bundle on your prom dress.
- Rent/Don’t Buy: Many bridal shops rent dresses. Although this option isn’t completely free and your choices may be more limited, this is another option for saving money on a dress you will only wear once.
Other Ideas for a Dress for Prom that Is Cheap
Free prom dresses are nice, but it might not be possible to receive a dress for prom that is completely free. However, you can get a dress for much cheaper than retail. Here are just a few ways:
- Thrift Stores: Goodwill and Salvation Army have stores in most cities. You will almost always find at least a few prom style dresses for cheap. You may have to make some minor alterations, but you also can save a lot of money. Most dresses are under $10.
- Secondhand Stores: Resell stores are another excellent source for a dress for prom. You’ll likely find a better selection at your local resell store, but you will probably pay a bit more. Expect to pay 40 to 60 percent of retail price.
- Store Sales: Probably the best deals are to be had through store sales. If you hit the stores the year before, you’ll get the end of season prom dresses marked down as much as 70% or more. For example, Dillard’s recently had party dresses marked down 70 to 80%. A dress that was originally $150 was only $30.
Free prom dresses can allow even those on a budget to feel like a princess at their prom. A dress for prom doesn’t have to leave you in the poor house. With a little ingenuity and creativity, you’re sure to find the perfect dress.
Ideas for Indoor Toddler Activities
Water paints are inexpensive and fun!
The long, dreary days of winter are challenging for parents with young children, so you’re probably looking for unique ideas for indoor toddler activities. There are tried and true activities like water paints and Play-Doh, but there are also some fun games and activities for you and your toddler.
Tried and True Ideas for Indoor Toddler Activities
There are some tried and true ideas that parents pull out of their arsenal for indoor activities. While you may have done these as a child yourself or have them stored in your game database, the list below will jog your memory and remind you how much fun these activities are:
- Watercoloring: Spread a tarp on the floor and lay out some big sheets of paper. Add a glass of water, small paint brush and inexpensive water color paint and you have a recipe for pure fun.
- Finger Paints: Finger paints are messy and that’s why kids love them. Spread some trash bags out on the kitchen table and let your child go to town.
- Play-Doh: Play-Doh is very versatile. Not only can kids use their imaginations to mold various forms, but there are numerous kits that can be purchased that are everything from a hair cutting salon to fast food creators.
- Modeling Clay: Modeling clay is fun to mold into shapes. If you purchase the kind that hardens (by air or in the oven), you can allow it to dry completely, let your child paint it and turn it into a keepsake.
- Board Games: Pull out some childhood favorites. Try Monopoly, Candy Land, Cooties and Break the Ice.
- Tea Party: Have a tea party. Get out the good china, make little treats and Kool-aid. Gather all the stuffed animals and dolls you can find and party it up.
Additional Ideas You Might Not Have Thought Of
Here are some more ideas for indoor toddler activities that you might not have considered, but that toddlers truly love:
- Bring Summer Indoors: Bring summer inside by pulling a kiddy pool into your living room (you may want to spread a tarp to protect the floor from splashes. Turn the heat inside up to 78 and let your child splash around all day. Please supervise at all times and if you cannot supervise you should empty the pool and put it back outside or in storage.
- Indoor Camp Out: Few things are as much fun as camp outs. Why not bring the camp inside? Put a small tent up in the living room. Make smores in the microwave. Have a pretend campfire. Party supply stores often sale fake fires that are perfect for this. A light and small fan will make paper stream up and look like fire.
- Sing Songs: Toddlers love music. Spend some time singing favorite songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “The Wheels on the Bus”.
Save Money on Prom Dresses
Waiting for her prom date to show...
If you want to know how to save money on prom dresses, then you’ve come to the right place. Prom is one of those special events that you’ll remember the rest of your life. While you want your dress to be special, you don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve that dream.
Ways to Save Money on Prom Dresses
There are many ways to save money on prom dresses, from buying last season’s dresses to renting to buying used.
Clearance Sales
If you plan far enough in advance, you may be able to snag a dress at the end of the prom season for next year’s prom. Dresses are often discounted as much as 70 or 80 percent at the end of prom season. Although your selection may be more limited, you might be able to find a designer gown for a fraction of the cost.
Renting
More and more stores are springing up that rent these dresses that you wear one time. Some specialize in prom gowns, while others are wedding boutiques with bridesmaid gowns that will work well for prom. Be sure to get all the details on the rental agreement to make sure this option is right for you. Will you have to clean the dress or do they clean it? If you have to clean it, factor that cost into your expenses to make sure renting is a good deal.
Borrowing
Have a friend who is close to your size? Better yet, does she go to another school? The two of you may be able to swap prom dresses and extend your wardrobe. Since most girls buy dresses for at least two proms (junior and senior year), you’ll get twice the use by swapping in this way. Another option is to borrow a dress from an older sister or cousin.
Used
Used dresses can save money on prom dresses. You’ll find used dresses at consignment stores, on sites like Ebay and through thrift stores. Some churches also operate prom dress stores and will help you get a dress at a greatly discounted rate. Some churches even offer free prom dresses.
No matter where you ultimately choose your prom dress, remember that the memories of this special night are in the moments more than in the clothes. Yes, you want to look beautiful, but you also need to keep your focus on your friends and having fun.
Kohl’s Deals
Get cool savings from coupons
As you all know, I love to save money. There is a Kohl’s deal going on right now that offers great savings. First, there are many items on clearance. For example, my daughter has to have white, no show footies for cheerleading competitions. These are hard to find and expensive. Normally, a 3-pack runs about $10. I’ve been holding out and waiting for these to go on sale, since she currently only has one pair. I was able to go online and score a pack of 3 for $6.99 on clearance.
I also found fuzzy socks, which I love to give as stocking stuffers and with gift cards to friends and teachers/coaches, for only $3.99 for a 2-pack. What a fabulous deal.
I then used a 20% off code I was sent in the mail, but which should work for anyone: SECRETSANTA
I was not quite to the minimum for free shipping, but that was okay, because I had a code for that as well: XMASFREE
On top of that, I went through Ebates, so I should also receive another 4% back eventually. This was a great deal and knocked several items off my Christmas shopping list without me ever having to leave my home. I love ordering online and the only thing that holds me back is paying for shipping. When I can score free shipping, it is almost always a better value to shop online.
These particular codes are only good through midnight 12/11/2011. Don’t worry if you missed it, though. Kohl’s always has a deal going on. Sign up for their mailing list and wait for the next one to come down the cyber-pike.
The receipt of the deals I scored with personal info blacked out.
Saving Money on Take-Out Pizza
Let’s face it, girls. There are just some nights when cooking is one more chore we can’t handle. However, if you have a big family, eating out can run up gigantic costs. One of the things I teach here at Crabby Housewife is that there is almost always a way to save money.
Carry-Out Dining Savings Steps
- 1. Pay attention to any advertised deals. For example, I’ve been seeing a lot of commercials for the Big Box pizza at Pizza Hut. For $19.99, you get two medium sized pan pizzas, wings and breadsticks. Not a bad deal.
- Make the drinks at home. Adding a 2-liter of coke at most pizza establishments will run you $3.00 or so. Either purchase off-brand 2-liters for about .99 each or make up a big batch of lemonade or sweet tea.
- Find out if you can order online. Many pizza places, especially national chains like Papa John’s, Pizza Hut and Dominoes, allow customers to place orders online. There are sometimes incentives for your first order, such as a free order of breadsticks, dessert pizza or other goodies.
- Seek out discount codes. Tonight, when I ordered the Big Box from Pizza Hut, I searched Coupon Codes Blog Spot for codes. There are many different codes you can try, such as RetailMeNot or CouponMountain. Tonight, I found $5 off at the first site I visited and used the code: IX. This gave me another $5 off the already good deal of $19.99. My grand total, after adding .79 for cheese sauce for one of my daughters was only $16.88 (tax included). This was a great deal for my family and probably about what I’d spend on a cooked meal. Of course, it wasn’t the healthiest meal in the world, but neither was it the worst.
Final Thoughts
Sign up for e-mail and text message lists for updates on the latest deals and additional coupon codes and be willing to shop around from pizza place to pizza place. If you can’t locate a great deal, Little Caesar’s offers large pizzas (one topping) for only $6 each and Sam’s Club has large pizzas for around $8 (cooked or uncooked). There is always a deal to be found, if you’re willing to spend a few minutes searching. It took me only five minutes to save $5 today. That’s a pretty good return on my time investment.
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