A Tip From "The Frugal Guru" - How to Maximize Garage Sale Profits

Goodwill vs. Garage Sale - which one makes more sense in order to declutter your house?  Unfortunately, there is no cut-and-dry answer.  The benefits of donating your items to Goodwill is that it is less time consuming, you may be helping less fortunate people, and you will receive a tax deduction.  Garage sales are a great way if you're willing to dedicate a weekend to the project.  It is a way to make money and meet your neighbors.

If you decide on having a garage sale, here are some tips:
1) When deciding how to price an item, look at a free program such as H&R Block's DeductionPro to see the what the tax deduction for that item would be. Remember that this is a tax deduction, not a tax credit, so you must multiply the deduction by your tax percentage to get the true amount. Try to price each item so that you will get (after the negotiations) at least the amount you would get for donating the item.
2) See if your family and friends have any items to sell. The more items the better. Distinguish the seller by writing the initials of the seller on the price tags so everyone is paid accurately. Having a multi-family sale also encourages sharing the cashier position so that your whole weekend is not consumed manning the garage sale. Decide who should host the garage sale by who lives in the most garage sale-friendly location.
3) From my experience, Thursdays and Fridays are when the die-hard garage salers are out and about.  While you would think Saturdays would be busy, the weekdays yielded more customers.
4) Advertise your garage sale on free sites such as Craigslist and websites dedicated to the listing of garage sales. Consider doing this rather than paying for an advertisement in the local newspaper.
5) Research ways to obtain free garage sale signs.  Some radio stations and Goodwill stores give away free signs.  Don't put dates on the signs, just specify days of the week.  This way you can reuse the signs.
6) Go to the bank and get lots of small bills and change. You do not want to lose a sale because you cannot make change.
7) Bake cookies to sell - people can't pass up the goodies, especially if they have children with them.
8) Set up your tables down the driveway so that they are visible from the street. This makes it look like there are plenty of items for sale.
9) Park your cars in the street to give the illusion that there are customers shopping.  This makes people think that the items on sale must be good and they are more likely to stop and take a look.
10) Donate the good items that remain after the sale is over to Goodwill.  Don't forget to take the tax deduction for these items.

Happy Selling!

A Tip From "The Frugal Guru" - Being Smart About Landline Phone Service

Although almost everyone you know has a cell phone, there are still a few of us out there with landline phone service.  We are the ones that still have to deal with the "monopoly phone companies" and all the options and services that they try to sign you up for.  Last time I set up a home phone, the "customer no-service" lady went through the list of plans that I could choose from...but strategically left out the plan that I was after.  This is because I was after the cheapest plan that they don't want you to know about.  I'm not even sure I know what it is technically called because it's nowhere to be seen on their website!  My bill shows it as "Individual Message Residence"...apparently it doesn't have a jazzy name like the expensive plans.  My total bill (see below) is around $18.00/month and gets me 30 outgoing calls, unlimited incoming calls, 9-1-1 service, and includes all the crazy taxes.  If you go over 30 calls in a month, you are charged $0.08/call.  If you think about it, how many calls do you really make in a month?  Remember not to count when people call you, because that is free.  Even if you do make more than 30 calls in a month, it would take a LOT of calls to bump you up to the cost of the Unlimited plan.

If you want a home phone line for your children to use or if you want the piece of mind of knowing you can call 9-1-1 in an emergency, inquire about this plan.

(Thanks for the sayings Clark Howard)

Who Knew Back to School Shopping Could Save You Gas Money??

Don't you love all the back to school deals going on right now at Target and Staples?  Well I know how you can make the deals even better! 

Now through September 11th, Kroger is offering 4x fuel points on hundreds of gift cards.  This means that a $25 gift card will save you $0.10 off per gallon at any Kroger or select Shell stations.  For the Kroger gas stations, you can earn up to $1.00 off per gallon...not bad. 

If you are sending your children back to school soon, consider purchasing some gift cards next time you are out grocery shopping.  If you've got a house, you probably frequent Lowe's, so pick up some of those gift cards too!  Even if you aren't a parent or homeowner, there are always Amazon gift cards...

GREAT DEALS AT REI-OUTLET.COM

If you or someone you know is an outdoor sports nut then head on over to the REI Outlet.  Now through August 11th they are offering 20% off one item.  Remember these are outlet items so they are already clearance prices!  Also, every Friday they publish their new "Deals of the Week."  Combine this with the 20% off and you can score a great deal! 

Enter to Win a $100.00 Dorothy Lane Market Gift Card!

If you love the Dorothy Lane Market then you should head over here to update your email address with them.  By doing so you could enter to win one of twenty $100.00 gift cards!  Thats A LOT of killer brownies!

Tractor Supply: Pet Appreciation Week + Dollar Days!

If you have pets then you may want to be sure and stop by your local Tractor Supply!  This week is Pet Appreciation Week at Tractor Supply with lots of great deals on pet food, toys and accessories.  Saturday, August 6th bring in your leashed pet for a special experience!  Click here to check out their website and print off Saturday only coupons + enter to win FREE PET FOOD FOR ONE YEAR!  There is one winner per store plus one winner online.  Prize awarded as a $150.00 gift certificate to Tractor Supply.  Plus, TS is also having their "Dollar Days" with great deals for $5, $10 or $20!

A Few Great Meijer Deals This Week!

If you are fortunate enough to be close to a Meijer, then you'll want to be sure to stop in this week to snag some great deals.  Here are just a *few* deal scenarios:

All Wishbone salad dressings are 2/$3.00 this week at Meijer.  Use the 7/31 Red Plum $1.00 off coupon and get any Wishbone salad dressing for just $0.50!

All Ragu sauces are 2/$3.00 as well.  Heres the deal scenario:

• Purchase 2 Ragu sauces for $3.00
• Use the 7/31 SmartSource coupon for $0.40
• Don't forget Meijer doubles all coupons $.50 and under!!
• Final price is 2 sauces for $2.20 or $1.10 each!

All Band-Aid brand kids Band Aids are on sale for $1.68!  Here's the deal scenario:

• Purchase any Band-Aid brand kids Band-Aids for $1.68
• Use the 7/31 Sunday coupon insert coupon for $0.50 off
• Don't forget Meijer doubles this coupon up to $1.00!!
• Get the Band-Aids for $0.68!!!

Here a tip: For some reason the Dora the Explorer Band-Aids have 25 bandages whereas all the other characters have only 20.  So if your little munchkins don't mind, get the Dora Band-Aids and get more bang for your buck!

King Arthur Flour is still on sale at Meijer for $2.99/ 5lb bag!!! Whoo Hoo!  This is a great price on this product!  And remember....its un-bleached and un-bromated!

Thanks domesticallyinept?

A Tip From "The Frugal Guru" - Using the Same Razor ALL Year?? (+ Deal Scenario)

Clark Howard, a "consumer warrior" talk radio host, received a tip from a listener who proclaimed that a razor blade (or 5 blades, as they are today) could be used for a whole YEAR!  Clark didn't believe it, so he tried it for himself.  By simply blotting his razor with a washcloth after shaving, he prevented it from rusting and it did indeed last a year.  He did admit that the last month or so was a little rough, but overall he was quite impressed with the thrifty idea!  My husband put it to the test as well and was quite surprised.  He determined that it was definitely worth the 5 seconds to dry off the razor.

Even if you think I'm crazy or are just skeptical of using the same razor blade for a year, you're in luck!  There are plenty of good deals on razors if you are patient.  Most of these deals are at drugstores like CVS and Walgreens.  In fact, CVS is having a great deal this week: Gillette Fusion ProGlide power or manual razors are on sale for $9.99 and will produce a $5 ECB (basically store credit you can use on your next purchase).  So now you're thinking, "Okay, it's effectively $4.99 - that's nothing to write home about"...but the deal gets better when you throw in a $4 coupon found in the P&G newspaper insert from this past Sunday (7/31/11).  That lowers the effective cost to $0.99!  Not a bad deal for a 5-blade razor...but it's more impressive thinking that it could last you all year long :).

(Thanks Hip2Save & Clark Howard!)

A Case of Fifteen 20oz G2 Gatorade for $0.42!!!

The dog days of summer are here and have brought with them the need to hydrate!  What better way than with some Gatorade?  Lowe's is currently having a sweet deal on G2 Gatorade.  Here's how it works:  Select Lowe's stores are selling cases of fifteen 20oz Gatorades for $10.97!  (In and of itself that is a good deal)!  Inside each case is a coupon for $10.00 off your next purchase of $50.00 or more (expiring October 1, 2011).

Better yet, if you use your Lowe's card you can save 5% on all purchases, bringing the price to only $10.42 + tax.  Factoring in the coupon that's $0.42 for 300oz of Gatorade!  If the man in your life has a long honey-to-do list....it shouldn't be hard to spend $50.00 at Lowe's in the next two months!

'Tis Better to Give Than to Receive....but it Sure Ain't Cheap!

Every time you turn around it's somebody's birthday, anniversary or for some reason you feel compelled to give a gift.  As much as you love your friends, family and co-workers....it just starts getting expensive to be buying all those gifts.  Let's face it most of the time we are buying something just to buy it, we aren't even sure they are going to really like it!

Well problem solved!  Nothing is more personal, unique and useful than the gift of a plant.  Not just any plant, a basil plant.  Not only are they pleasing to the eye, but they are useful too! Chopped basil tastes wonderful on pastas, pizzas, fresh salads etc. 

Basil plants are easy to grow and as long as you water them regularly, give them some sun and pick at them once in a while they aren't going anywhere.  Now you are saying, "Okay I've seen herbs at the garden center before and they aren't cheap."  Well I've got that problem solved too.  The trick is to grow your own basil plants from cuttings.  I promise this is so easy to do.  I'm domestically inept, remember?  If I can do it, you can do it!  Here's how you do it:

1. Buy your own basil plant or better yet grow your own from seeds.  If you buy one, be sure it looks healthy and is rather full, so you can get more cuttings off of it.

Basil Cutting, Ready to Plant

2.  Once your plant is thriving snip off a 4 inch segment of one of the stems just below a "node."  (This is where the leaves meet the stem).

3.  Pick off the lower leaves but be sure to leave a few leaves at the top of the segment (Leaves are necessary for....dare I say the word...photosynthesis, I know my brain hurts just thinking about it)!

4.  Place the segment in a small glass jar half full of water and set the jar in a sunny window.  Be sure to change the water every few days.

5.  In about 1-3 weeks you will begin to see roots forming on the lower segment that is submerged in water.  

See the roots???

6.  Once the plant has decent looking roots (not just nubs but slightly longer, usually takes about 2 weeks in my house) plant it in a pretty pot with some potting mix and water thoroughly.  

All you have to do is keep snipping away at your original basil plant to keep propagating little plants to give away.  You can literally grow dozens upon dozens of little plants from one single plant!  Keep in mind there are numerous types of basil.  Purple basil is especially beautiful and makes for a very unique plant to give away.  

What about the containers to give them away in???  Aren't those expensive?  You really only need a small pot for basil plants.  These can be found at garage sales, thrift stores, or even dollar stores.  Keep in mind the end of summer most garden stuff starts going on sale so that is a good time to stock up as well!  For potting mix, I recommend Miracle-Gro.  Lets just say....it's aptly named!  If you buy it in the big 64 quart bag it's usually cheaper per quart and that way you can just keep it on hand so it's always ready when you've got another cutting to plant!

A basil plant....now that's a classy (and cheap) gift!!