How to save money on a tight budget?

It may seem impossible for the 54% of Americans who live paycheck-to-paycheck or the nearly 40% of people earning $100,000 per year who are similarly strained. There is no shame in living this way, but you can fix your situation. By making some changes and thinking outside the box, you can have breathing room and reduce your stress.

Saving money may be more challenging when working with tight resources but with greater motivation. Many people have been where you are now and have transitioned to better ground.

Saving money is easier when you have a purpose, like setting financial goals. You may need motivation, determination, and perseverance to tackle any bad habits or mistakes you want to correct.

It may be challenging to make changes, but it is quite satisfying to discover that there are manageable costs to cut out of your budget. That’s the low-hanging fruit you can grab.  Having breathing room and being less financially stressed will feel good.

You can have more financial flexibility to take care of your current needs and plan for your future by saving money. That starts when you look at your current financial situation and realize you can start saving more money.

12 Ways To Save Money On A Tight Budget

1. Start With Budget And Examine Your Categories

If you don’t have a monthly budget yet, you need to create a budget using a type that fits your lifestyle. The 50/30/20 budget rule is often a rule of thumb to divide your after-tax income (i.e., take-home pay) into three broad spending categories:

• 50% go toward necessities.
• 30%  for your wants or discretionary spending.
• 20% is for savings you can allocate to pay down debt, emergency funds,  investing, and retirement.

However, it is a good idea to review all significant budget categories periodically. Looking at your incoming cashflows coming into your household (i.e., your total income) minus the monthly recurring bills reflects the basic living costs you need to pay.

Typically, housing, food (i.e., groceries and eating out), and transportation are our highest costs,  accounting for 63% of total household expenditures.   However, looking at all spending categories, you may find cutting small amounts that provide you with meaningful savings.

If the 50/30/20 budget doesn’t fit you, try other methods.

2. How Much Do You Spend on Subscription Services?

For example, you may be splurging on entertainment, especially streaming services, without realizing it. When you review your monthly bills, your Netflix bill doesn’t seem much, but we tolerate higher provider costs.

JD Power’s latest study showed that the average household had increased the number of streaming services we use to 4.5  with a monthly spend of $55 (compared to $39 just a year ago). These providers have not been shy to raise their prices given the higher demand for more services, despite more competition. It may be time for us to limit some of these services, especially if you still have traditional cable services.

It is not just your streaming services but all of your subscriptions that you should review. Look closely at your phone data plans, cloud storage, Apple,  Peloton, and other gym memberships, yoga, meditation, and such.

Cancel any paid subscriptions you no longer are using at home. Many trials we sign up for automatically convert into a paid subscription, and we miss the opportunity to decline the service. 

3. You Need An Emergency Fund

Having savings in an emergency fund for unforeseen events may seem counterintuitive in a tight-budget household that finds it challenging to save money. Almost 54% of Americans can’t pay for a $1000 emergency.

However, when emergencies arise, and you don’t have the funds, you are likely to reach for your credit card to pay for that car repair bill. That means you will find it difficult to pay that card bill in full and add to your growing balance in what becomes a vicious debt cycle. Build your emergency fund to an ample amount that can cover six months of your basic living expenses and feel more secure.

4. Pay Yourself First

Make savings a priority by paying yourself first. You may find it hard to allocate 20% of your take-home pay to savings. You can start with a smaller percentage, like 10%. Making savings a more significant amount will help you fulfill financial goals for buying a house, a car, going on vacation and investing in your future.

5. Automate Your Savings

One of the best ways to save money is to make it automatic. By automating your savings, you can allocate a certain percentage of your paycheck to a savings account or tax-advantaged accounts like retirement savings or a 529 college savings plan.

When you use pretax savings options for your 401K retirement, health savings (HSAs), and 529 accounts, you’ll be making these savings work for you, especially if you earn your employer’s 401K match contribution. Sign up for Acorns or other Roundup apps so that you can invest spare change to your investment account.

6. Spend Less Than Your Means

By tracking your spending each month, you may find that you spend well over what you earn. Your cost structure may be out of sync with your annual income.  That is a recipe for disaster in the long term.

Cut your spending so that you keep at a level below your take-home pay. Just because a common budget rule allocates 30% of after-tax income to your wants doesn’t mean you need to spend that amount. Save more of that money instead by reducing your debt, adding to your emergency fund, or invest in the stock market.

7. Grocery Shopping

You can save money when you go grocery shopping. Make sure you have a good shopping list and don’t go when you are hungry. Without doing that, you may find you overspent on things you don’t need.

The average household spent $8,169 on food (including dining out), or 9.9% of pretax income in 2019. Depending on your shopping habits, this is usually ripe (sorry for the pun!) for reduced spending. Grate your cheese, cut your fresh produce, always look for generic brands, and don’t bulk buy perishables.

Saving money on groceries through couponing or other methods will keep your budget in check.

8. Make More Meals At Home

It is healthier and cheaper to dine at home rather than going out to dinner every night. I lost a few pounds during the pandemic when we skipped eating out or ordering food. We used to eat out most nights, given our busy schedules for years until we had kids. 

When cooking, you tend to buy fresh produce and healthier food, and only the occasional Cheetos for my kids.  Mindful eating and spending go together very well. It doesn’t mean you can’t eat out but there are ways to do so on a budget. 

9. Shop Around And Negotiate More

When you review your monthly recurring bills, you assume that the rates you are paying are non-negotiable. That’s probably true for many, but not all of them. During the worst of the pandemic, many people lost their jobs and found themselves unable to pay their bills and were able to negotiate with their providers. You may have more bargaining power than you think.

It is a good idea to understand your monthly bills, what is the going rate for their services and their competitors. It is always an excellent time to do some comparison shopping.  Become a detective, review bills, and compare them to competitive prices you see online. We constantly find errors like on our medical or dental bills, which are particularly worth looking closely at. Besides errors, you may be paying higher prices for services you didn’t know you were paying for and don’t need.

Check out your car insurance premiums. If you and your family have good driving records, you may be due for a tick-down in price. Of course, if you just put your 17-year-old son on your insurance as we did, you may want to wait longer.

Your cable, TV, internet, and cellphone bills can be a costly part of your budget. Your providers face increased competition and may be more willing to reduce your prices than in the past or consider eliminating some services.

Negotiate your next lease, but only if you are a tenant in good standing with your landlord.

10. Comparison Shopping

Whether for groceries, a car, services, or non-essentials that you want, do comparison shopping. It is a very satisfying feeling to pay a lower price after looking around.

I enjoy the hunt for bargains almost as much as the item itself. On the other hand, my husband often is more of an impulsive shopper than I am.

As we are opposite ends of the shopping spectrum, we often clash when shopping for the household. I admit that I can go overboard with spending too much time looking for mattresses, for example, when we moved a couple of years ago. We spent too much time sleeping on borrowed Airbeds, so I nearly had a family revolt on my hands. Finally, we all ended up with excellent mattresses at great prices.

11. Better Handling of  Your Credit Cards

The convenience of a credit card often a double-edged sword. Credit cards can become toxic very quickly. They can cause overspending for things we buy impulsively and can’t afford to pay for them in full. If you are only paying the monthly minimum required, your issuers are happy to your detriment.

When you add debt to your balance at exorbitant interest rates, it becomes hard to manage, particularly if you are trying to save money on a tight budget. Pay these bills in full. If you are unable to do that, reduce your spending and pay for some things in cash.

Americans carry a lot of debt, not just on their credit cards which are incredibly costly. 20% of Americans use 50% of their income to repay debt. The more obligations you have, the less money you have to save for emergencies, retirement, or invest for the future.

12. Make Extra Money

It is often hard to save money from solely reducing your expenses. If you have spare time, you should consider making extra money so that you can contribute some of the added income to bulk up your savings.

Think about where your interests lie and what you like to do to inspire you to boost your income. You may be able to work online from home, use your car to become a driver, or leverage creativity and skills to write or be a proofreader.

Final Thoughts

It is a challenge to save money on a tight budget. However, it is doable with hard work and determination. We found 12 ways you can save money on a tight budget. By consistently saving money and making it work for you, you will have better financial flexibility for your future.

(Sorry guys, this post isn’t likely to be directly useful to you, but you can share these tips with the girls in your life and look really knowledgeable and respectful about girlie things.)

Makeup is one of those items that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love trying new colors, dolling up my best friend’s teenage daughter for prom, and goofing around with the girls for a spa night at home.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I can go weeks without wearing makeup and be perfectly happy; it’s not essential to my life. But it’s fun to be creative and play with color combinations and application techniques.

Makeup also holds great potential for a shopping addiction. Before I had kids (when I had considerably more spending money), I used to shop for makeup on a regular basis. I stopped shopping at the drugstore and began venturing into the department store’s line of more pricey products. The products were nice, but the price tag was outrageous. When my kids came along, I simply couldn’t afford to keep up. I learned how to make what I had last longer and how to spend significantly less on my makeup.

Here are eight of my top tips for saving money on makeup:

1. Start with skin care.

No amount of quality cosmetics will make up for basic skin issues. Dry skin, blemishes, enlarged pores, etc must be treated in order for your make up to wear well and look good. If the canvas is a poor quality, the makeup doesn’t matter. If you’re going to spend more on anything, splurge on a quality skin care kit and use it regularly.

2. Buy your pressed or loose powder a shade darker than usual and mix in a little talcum powder.

This makes your powder last much longer and doesn’t affect the overall look of your makeup.

3. Mix in a little quality moisturizer with your liquid foundation to make application smoother.

This also stretches how long your foundation will last since you’re essentially using less each day. This technique allows me to purchase a single bottle of high-quality foundation and make it last for 10-12 months.

4. Always apply cosmetics with a brush, not your fingers.

Applying foundation with your fingers means you’re wasting makeup on your hands that will be washed down the drain. Using a brush allows you to precisely apply the product exactly where you want it.

5. Shop for your favorite makeup regularly.

Popular drugstores like Rite Aid often have half-off sales to help clear out older inventory and make room for new products. You can stock up on the essentials at a fraction of the price during these sales. Sometimes you can even find a too-bright shade on clearance and mix it with a lighter shade you already own to make it useable.

6. Visit your local department store’s cosmetics counter for a complimentary make over.

Most companies don’t charge for this service (knowing you’re likely to buy something before you leave) and this a great way to get a fresh look for special occasions without investing in new cosmetics.

7. Experiment with color.

Many items, such as nail polish, blush, and eye shadow can be mixed to create new colors. This can result in a new favorite shade or a new look without spending a dime on additional colors.

8. Always use a setting product to hold your look in place.

Topcoat for your nails, lipstick treatments, and loose powder are wise investments since they prevent the need for touchups.

Even if you’re addicted to a pricey name brand cosmetics line, you can still save money by adding a few steps to your daily routine and being on the lookout for a good bargain.

What money-saving makeup tips have you found to be useful?

10 comment(s)

The post Beauty on a Budget: 7 Timeless Tips to Save Money on Makeup first appeared on MoneyNing.

Inflation has been a major issue lately, affecting everything from groceries to housing. With the 2024 election just a day away, some voters are curious about how the candidates plan to deal with this economic challenge and how their ideas will impact us everyday Americans. Money Magazine recently looked at the economic plans of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, showing how they differ and what they might mean. This blog post we’ll attempt to break down some of their proposals and see how they might affect us and our wallets.

The Current Situation with Inflation and Its Impact

Before we look at the candidates’ plans, it’s important to understand how bad inflation has been. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some prices have gone up by over 22%! Keep in mind, While inflation continues to be a significant concern for many Americans, it’s important to note that it has begun to come down and moderate. As mentioned in the source article, annual inflation is currently nearing the Federal Reserve’s target range of 2% over the long run. This suggests that while the overall effects of years of price growth are still being felt, the rate at which prices are increasing has slowed down considerably. Although people are struggling with the high prices that resulted from inflation previously, the rate of inflation is not as high as it once was.

Some of the areas that have been hit especially hard:

Groceries: Prices have jumped almost 26%

Housing: Costs are up over 24%

Vehicles: Sticker prices have increased 25%

These increases have made it challenging for some Americans to afford basic things, and inflation still remains one of the top concerns for voters. This topic is even more important than issues like immigration, political extremism, and gun violence.

Trump’s Plan is to “Make America Affordable Again”

Trump’s main goal in his campaign is to make America affordable again. He says the Biden-Harris administration is the reason for the current inflation problem. He claims there was no inflation during his presidency, but prices did go up by 7.7% during his time in office.

Trump’s plan to fight inflation is:

1.  Unleashing U.S. Energy: Trump wants to lift restrictions on domestic oil and gas production to lower energy prices.

2.  Slashing Federal Spending: He wants to cut back on federal spending to stabilize the economy, even though this can sometimes cause inflation.

3.  Ending Wars Abroad: Trump thinks that ending international conflicts, like the Israel-Hamas war and the conflict in Ukraine, will lower prices because supply costs and shipping routes will be more stable. However, he doesn’t say how these conflicts would be resolved or how they would affect U.S. consumer prices.

4.  Cutting Regulations: Trump promises to get rid of a lot of rules that he says cost American households $11,000, but he doesn’t say which rules would be targeted.

5.  Curbing Illegal Immigration: Trump says that a lot of undocumented immigrants have made housing, education, and healthcare more expensive. He thinks that if they’re stopped from coming into the country, demand will go down and prices will go down too.

But economists are worried that Trump’s plan, especially his idea of putting taxes on imported goods, could actually make inflation worse. Tariffs are like taxes on things that come from other countries. They’re supposed to make people in the U.S. make more stuff, but they often end up making things more expensive for consumers. The Tax Foundation says that tariffs that Trump put in place during his first term hurt the economy, made prices go up, and didn’t create many jobs. Economists say that if Trump puts up even more tariffs, they could cancel out any good effects of his other inflation-fighting plans.

Harris’s Plan is to Build an “Opportunity Economy”

Harris knows that high prices are putting a strain on people, and she’s committed to fighting inflation. Her plan is to create an “opportunity economy” that helps the middle class save money and get financial relief.

Here are some of her main ideas:

1.  No More Price Gouging on Groceries: Harris thinks that companies taking advantage of emergencies to raise prices has made grocery prices too high. She wants to make it illegal for them to do this, but it’s not clear if this will help with the current high prices since the pandemic is over.

2.  Lowering Healthcare Costs: Harris wants to make sure that everyone can afford healthcare. She plans to keep the Affordable Care Act subsidies that make healthcare more affordable, especially for low-income families. She also wants to build on recent Medicare policies that lowered out-of-pocket drug costs for people who get Medicare.

3.  Saving on Energy Costs: Harris wants to reduce our reliance on foreign energy by investing in clean energy and expanding domestic natural gas production through fracking. She plans to build on the Inflation Reduction Act, which gave people tax credits for buying clean-tech upgrades. But some experts say that the Inflation Reduction Act hasn’t really helped with inflation.

4.  No More Hidden Fees: Harris promises to keep going with the Biden administration’s efforts to get rid of hidden fees, like bank overdraft charges and resort fees. These fees add up to a lot of money for the average household, about $650 a year!

5.  More Houses: Harris thinks that building more houses will lower home prices and rent. She wants to add 3 million new houses in her first year in office. There would also be the creation of a program to help people with down payments.

While Harris’s plan has a bit more detail than Trump’s, some economists say it still doesn’t really address the main reasons why inflation is so high.

Both candidates have been criticized by economists for their inflation-fighting plans.

Here’s a breakdown of how their plans might affect everyday Americans

Energy: Trump wants to increase domestic oil and gas production, which could lower energy prices in the short term. But this might go against his goal of fighting climate change. This also could have bad effects on the environment in the long run. Harris wants to focus on clean energy. Clean energy could help keep prices stable in the long run. It’s typically better for the environment. However, clean energy would most likely cost more money up front.

Healthcare: Harris wants to expand Affordable Care Act subsidies and lower drug prices. This could help a lot of people who can’t afford healthcare. But it’s not clear if these programs will be able to pay for themselves in the long run.

Housing: Harris wants to make it easier to get a mortgage, which could help people buy houses. But it might take a while to build enough new houses to make a big difference. The success of her down payment assistance program will depend on how it’s set up and how it’s run.

Groceries: Harris wants to stop people from raising prices too much during emergencies. This could help protect people from getting ripped off. But it’s not clear if this will really make a difference in everyday grocery prices.

In the end, how well either candidate’s plan works at fighting inflation will depend on a lot of things. We’d need to see how the specific policies are put in place. As well as how the Congress works with them, and how the global economy is doing.

The 2024 election is a big choice for voters about how to deal with inflation. Both Trump and Harris have plans to fight rising prices, but economists are not sure if they’ll work. Voters need to carefully think about each candidate’s plan and how it might affect them personally. It is also important to think of the economy as a whole. Regardless who you vote for please keep those horns up and go vote! m/ m/

The post How Trump and Harris’s Economic Plans Could Affect Inflation and Your Wallet appeared first on Heavy Metal Money.

If you’ve been wondering—how much should I budget for Thanksgiving dinner this year—you’re not alone! With food prices continuing to fluctuate and inflation affecting grocery costs, planning the perfect Thanksgiving feast without breaking the bank can feel overwhelming.

But don’t worry – I’ve got your back with a complete guide to creating a realistic Thanksgiving dinner budget, plus some amazing tools to help you save money while you shop and make this holiday season both delicious and affordable.

Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

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• The average Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people typically costs between $175-$250, depending on your menu choices and shopping strategies.
• Using cash-back tools like Rakuten can save you up to 15% on your Thanksgiving shopping, plus get a $30 bonus when you sign up today.
• Creating a detailed budget with YNAB can help you plan for all Thanksgiving expenses, not just the food.
• Smart shopping strategies and proper planning can significantly reduce your Thanksgiving dinner costs.
• Manage your holiday spending effectively with money management tools like Rocket Money and Sequin’s rewards program.

Understanding Your Thanksgiving Dinner Costs

Before diving into specific budgeting strategies, let’s break down the typical costs you might encounter when hosting Thanksgiving dinner:

Core Menu Items (Average Costs)

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• Turkey (12-14 lbs): $30-45
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  • Fresh turkey: Higher cost but often better quality
  • Frozen turkey: More affordable, requires thawing time
  • Heritage breeds: Premium option, $80-120
  • Turkey alternatives (ham, tofurky): $25-40
  • Brining supplies: $8-12
  • Herbs and seasonings: $10-15
• Stuffing: $8-12
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  • Boxed mix: $3-5
  • Homemade with fresh ingredients: $10-15
  • Specialty ingredients (chestnuts, sausage): Additional $8-12
  • Fresh herbs: $5-8
  • Artisanal bread base: $6-10
• Mashed Potatoes: $10-15
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  • Regular potatoes: $5-8
  • Premium varieties: $8-12
  • Add-ins (butter, milk, garlic): $5-8
  • Fresh herbs and garnishes: $3-5
  • Special ingredients (roasted garlic, cheese): $6-10
• Side Dishes:
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  • Green Bean Casserole: $12-15
  • Sweet Potato Casserole: $12-15
  • Roasted Vegetables: $15-20
  • Brussels Sprouts: $8-12
  • Cranberry Sauce: $4-6 (homemade) or $2-4 (canned)
  • Corn Bread: $8-10
  • Glazed Carrots: $6-8
  • Traditional Southern Greens: $10-12
  • Roasted Root Vegetables: $12-15
• Breads and Rolls: $5-15
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  • Store-bought rolls: $5-8
  • Artisanal breads: $8-12
  • Homemade options: $4-6 in ingredients
  • Specialty butter: $4-6
  • Spreads and jams: $5-8
• Desserts:
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  • Pumpkin Pie: $12-15
  • Apple Pie: $15-18
  • Pecan Pie: $18-22
  • Whipped Cream and Toppings: $5-8
  • Ice Cream: $5-7
  • Coffee and Tea Service: $10-12

Additional Expenses to Consider

Decoration and Ambiance

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• Table Settings: $30-50
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  • Tablecloth: $15-25
  • Cloth napkins: $12-20
  • Place cards: $5-10
  • Centerpiece: $20-40
  • Charger plates: $15-25
  • Special occasion silverware: $30-50
  • Table runners: $15-25
• General Decorations: $20-40
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  • Fall wreaths: $25-45
  • Candles and holders: $15-25
  • Seasonal accents: $15-30
  • Door decorations: $20-35
  • Window displays: $15-25
  • Outdoor lighting: $25-40
  • Seasonal throw pillows: $20-30

Kitchen and Serving Essentials

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• Cooking Equipment:
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  • Roasting pan: $20-40
  • Meat thermometer: $10-25
  • Extra mixing bowls: $15-30
  • Storage containers: $10-20
  • Baking dishes: $20-35
  • Food processor: $50-100
  • Stand mixer: $200-300 (investment piece)
  • Specialty utensils: $15-25
• Serving Items:
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  • Platters and serving bowls: $30-50
  • Serving utensils: $15-30
  • Carving set: $20-40
  • Warming dishes: $25-45
  • Gravy boat: $15-25
  • Pie servers: $8-12
  • Drink dispensers: $20-30
  • Special occasion glasses: $30-50

Beverages

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• Non-alcoholic Options:
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  • Soft drinks: $10-15
  • Coffee and tea: $8-12
  • Sparkling cider: $5-8 per bottle
  • Juices: $8-12
  • Flavored water: $5-8
  • Hot chocolate supplies: $10-15
  • Specialty sodas: $12-18
• Alcoholic Beverages:
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  • Wine: $12-25 per bottle
  • Beer: $15-25 per six-pack
  • Cocktail ingredients: $30-50
  • Specialty drinks: $20-40
  • Mixers: $10-15
  • Garnishes: $5-8
  • Holiday spirits: $25-40

4 Smart Tools to Maximize Your Thanksgiving Budget

1. Rakuten: Your Money-Saving Ally for Thanksgiving Shopping

Maximize your savings with these detailed Rakuten strategies:

Online Shopping

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• Sign up through The Budgetnista’s link for your $30 bonus
• Install the browser extension for automatic savings
• Check daily deals during the pre-Thanksgiving period
• Stack rewards with store loyalty programs
• Monitor flash sales and special events
• Set price alerts for specific items
• Compare prices across multiple retailers

Strategic Shopping Categories

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• Grocery stores: 2-5% cash back
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  • Major chains
  • Specialty food stores
  • Online grocery delivery
• Home goods (for decorations): 3-10% cash back
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  • Department stores
  • Home specialty stores
  • Online marketplaces
• Kitchen supplies: 4-8% cash back
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  • Cookware retailers
  • Kitchen specialty stores
  • Department store kitchen sections
• Online food delivery: 2-6% cash back
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  • Grocery delivery services
  • Specialty food retailers
  • Meal kit services

Maximizing Rewards

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• Time purchases during double cash back events
• Use Rakuten’s price comparison tool
• Combine with store sales and coupons
• Check competitor prices through the platform
• Stack rewards with credit card benefits
• Utilize seasonal promotions
• Share referral links with family and friends

2. YNAB (You Need A Budget): Master Your Holiday Spending

YNAB‘s comprehensive approach to Thanksgiving budgeting:

Rule 1: Give Every Dollar a Job

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• Create specific categories:
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  • Main dishes
  • Side dishes
  • Desserts
  • Beverages
  • Decorations
  • Equipment
  • Emergency fund
  • Guest accommodations
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Entertainment

Rule 2: Embrace Your True Expenses

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• Plan for recurring Thanksgiving costs:
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  • Annual equipment upgrades
  • Decoration refreshes
  • Recipe testing
  • Guest accommodations
  • Storage solutions
  • Kitchen organization
  • Cleaning services
  • Entertainment options

Rule 3: Roll with the Punches

Flexibility strategies:

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• Menu substitutions based on prices
• Adjusting portions for guest changes
• Alternative ingredient options
• Cost-saving cooking methods
• Potluck arrangements
• Decoration alternatives
• Equipment borrowing
• Time-saving solutions

Rule 4: Age Your Money

Long-term planning:

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• Start saving in January
• Monthly contributions to holiday fund
• Building emergency holiday buffer
• Planning for future celebrations
• Investment in quality equipment
• Bulk purchasing strategies
• Early bird shopping
• Seasonal sales tracking

3. Rocket Money: Track and Optimize Your Holiday Spending

Detailed Rocket Money implementation:

Expense Tracking

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• Create custom Thanksgiving categories
• Set up real-time purchase alerts
• Monitor price trends
• Track year-over-year spending
• Analyze shopping patterns
• Compare vendor prices
• Monitor sales cycles
• Track payment methods

Budget Optimization

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• Identify potential savings areas
• Analyze spending patterns
• Compare costs across stores
• Find subscription savings opportunities
• Negotiate better rates
• Eliminate unnecessary expenses
• Optimize shopping timing
• Maximize reward programs

Smart Features Usage

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• Bill negotiation for utilities
• Subscription management
• Price drop alerts
• Savings automation
• Budget forecasting
• Spending analysis
• Category tracking
• Goal setting

4. Sequin: Maximize Rewards on Thanksgiving Shopping

Comprehensive Sequin strategy:

Maximizing Cashback

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• Strategic shopping at 6% categories
• Timing purchases for optimal rewards
• Combining with store promotions
• Using rewards for future purchases
• Stacking multiple rewards
• Utilizing bonus categories
• Shopping through preferred partners
• Maximizing seasonal offers

Smart Money Management

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• High-yield savings for holiday funds
• Budget tracking tools
• Educational resources
• Debt avoidance strategies
• Spending analysis
• Goal setting features
• Payment scheduling
• Reward optimization

Strategic Shopping Tips for Thanksgiving Dinner

Long-Term Planning (2-3 Months Before)

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1. Research historical prices
2. Create preliminary guest list
3. Design tentative menu
4. Start saving monthly
5. Scout store promotions
6. Monitor price trends
7. Research seasonal deals
8. Plan storage solutions

Early Preparation (4-6 Weeks Before)

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1. Finalize guest list
2. Confirm menu
3. Inventory check
4. Equipment assessment
5. Decoration planning
6. Schedule deliveries
7. Arrange borrowing items
8. Plan cooking timeline

Strategic Shopping (2-3 Weeks Before)

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1. Purchase non-perishables
2. Buy frozen items
3. Acquire decorations
4. Get cooking equipment
5. Stock up on staples
6. Order specialty items
7. Buy storage containers
8. Purchase cleaning supplies

Final Preparations (Week Of)

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1. Fresh produce shopping
2. Dairy products
3. Last-minute items
4. Ice and beverages
5. Fresh bread and rolls
6. Final decorations
7. Set up serving areas
8. Prep cooking stations

Money-Saving Strategies for Thanksgiving Dinner

Menu Planning Techniques

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1. Ingredient overlap planning
2. Batch cooking strategies
3. Leftover meal planning
4. Portion optimization
5. Cost-effective substitutions
6. Seasonal ingredient focus
7. Make-ahead options
8. Freezer-friendly dishes

Advanced Shopping Strategies

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1. Price matching techniques
2. Loyalty program maximization
3. Digital coupon stacking
4. Bulk buying strategies
5. Store comparison tools
6. Sale cycle tracking
7. Generic brand alternatives
8. Warehouse club shopping

Collaborative Money-Saving

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1. Potluck organization
2. Cost-sharing systems
3. Group buying opportunities
4. Equipment sharing
5. Leftover distribution
6. Shared transportation
7. Bulk order splitting
8. Recipe sharing

Creating Your Thanksgiving Budget Worksheet

Comprehensive Budget Formula

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1. Base food cost per person
2. Additional guest considerations
3. Special dietary requirements
4. Equipment and supplies
5. Decoration allocation
6. Emergency buffer
7. Service costs
8. Entertainment expenses

Detailed Budget Categories

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1. Food and ingredients
2. Beverages and alcohol
3. Disposable supplies
4. Decorations and ambiance
5. Equipment and tools
6. Cleaning supplies
7. Storage solutions
8. Entertainment options

Sample Budget Breakdown for 10 Guests

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• Core Food Items: $175-250
• Additional Sides: $50-75
• Beverages: $30-50
• Decorations: $20-40
• Supplies: $35-65
• Equipment: $30-50
• Buffer: $35-50
• Entertainment: $20-30
• Storage Solutions: $15-25
• Cleaning Supplies: $20-30 Total Range: $430-665

Final Tips for a Cost-Effective Thanksgiving Dinner

Organization Strategies

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1. Create detailed shopping lists
2. Maintain price comparison spreadsheets
3. Track expiration dates
4. Monitor sales cycles
5. Document successful strategies
6. Create cooking timelines
7. Plan seating arrangements
8. Coordinate helpers

Flexibility Approaches

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1. Menu adaptation techniques
2. Guest number adjustments
3. Ingredient substitutions
4. Timeline modifications
5. Budget reallocation
6. Alternative serving methods
7. Weather contingencies
8. Equipment alternatives

Future Planning

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1. Post-event analysis
2. Equipment investment strategy
3. Decoration storage
4. Recipe refinement
5. Cost projection for next year
6. Guest feedback collection
7. Vendor relationship building
8. Long-term investment planning

Final Thoughts

Remember, a successful Thanksgiving celebration isn’t measured by the amount spent but by the memories created. With proper planning and these smart financial tools, you can host an amazing Thanksgiving dinner that’s both memorable and budget-friendly.

Want more holiday budgeting tips? Check out our other guides on Christmas budgeting, New Year’s planning, and year-round saving strategies!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured – we only recommend products and services we trust and use ourselves.

The post How Much Should I Budget for Thanksgiving Dinner? 2024 Tips appeared first on The Budgetnista.

🎙️ Episode #368 – We’re diving into the case study of a couple from Oakland who transformed $80,000 into $1.4 million in equity in just…

The post 10-Year Financial Freedom Plan With Rentals in High Price Markets appeared first on Coach Carson.

We love to travel and immerse ourselves in local cultures. Due to the global pandemic, we stayed mostly local for a few years. In 2024, we have been very fortunate to visit Denmark and Iceland, …

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I recently bought a house! And I learned A LOT. Today I’m sharing what I wish I knew before buying a house, my experience with buying a house as an unmarried, self-employed woman, and some insights on the numbers involved in my home buying process. Some background: I recently purchased my home by myself, which […]

The post What I Wish I Knew Before Buying a House appeared first on Bravely Go.

Yesterday, I listened to Rachel Reeves’ Budget speech so you don’t have to. Be particularly grateful, as this was the longest Budget I’ve ever heard, clocking in at almost 80 minutes. I’ve never known so…

The post A budget hitting employers and the well off appeared first on Much More With Less.

Today we have a very special interview for Bitch Nation. Recently I sat down with the inimitable (and individual!) Kara Perez, author of the upcoming book Green Money: How to Reduce Waste, Build Wealth, and Create a Better Future for All.

Now, I don’t say this lightly, but… this book is giving me hope.

Green Money “shares a vision of how you can break free from outdated financial advice and live a fulfilling life that values community, sustainability, and financial well-being. Filled with real-world anecdotes, cutting-edge research, and hands-on money exercises, this book equips you with the tools needed to take immediate action towards a brighter, greener future.” Essentially, this is your guide to putting your money where your climate is—making financial choices to support a greener, more environmentally sustainable future.

For those of you squinting skeptically right now, I know what you’re thinking. But this is not another well-meaning finance guru offering individual solutions to systemic problems. Rather, Kara approaches the topic with the spirit of a community organizer and activist. Green Money is about our collective influence as much as it is our individual hopes for the future. It’s as optimistic and creative as it is ready to win this fight.

And I don’t know about you, but I will be putting on my thrifted boots and following this movement (via public transit) all the way!

Let’s get to the interview.

Activist-turned-author Kara Perez

You guys… we love Kara Perez.

We’ve loved her for years, in fact. She was one of our first friends in the personal finance space and over the years it has been an absolute thrill to watch her blossom into… well, this:

I haven’t seen that level of swag since we attended a financial media conference in bathrobes and sunglasses. She is eating.

Kara is the founder of Bravely Go, an award winning international financial education company. There, she teaches us how to make sustainable money choices that benefit us and our world, focusing on money as a tool, not an end goal.

And she has the millennial bona fides we use as a litmus test: she clawed her way up out of debt, student loans, and service industry jobs to eventually attain stability. She’s a Latina who grew up on food stamps, she adores thrift shopping (MY GIRL), and she’s an unrepentant progressive, intersectional feminist.

So I guess what I’m saying is… pay attention to what this woman is doing, ok?

Preorder Green Money today

Green Money by Kara Perez is coming out on November 13th from John Wiley & Sons. That’s just a few short weeks away!

But I’m not going to tell you to wait. In fact… don’t wait. One of the many factors that contributes to a book’s success these days is the number of preorders it receives before its publication date. You can trust me on this one—I used to work in book publishing!

So if you care about the environment and personal finance and the happy marriage between the two, I strongly encourage you to PREORDER your copy of Green Money TODAY. Sure, you can get buy it with one click through Amazon. And you can listen to the audiobook edition on Audible.

OR… you can immediately start practicing what this green money activist is preaching by preordering through Bookshop.org! This awesome organization works to connect readers with indie booksellers around the world. Every purchase made through their site financially supports independent bookstores instead of giant corporations like Amazon that don’t give two shits in a shirt about environmentally sustainable retail practices. Y’know… just in case you care about stuff like that.

Learn way more at Kara’s website, BravelyGo.

More Bitchtastic book reviews

We Bitches love to read. The taxes we pay to fund the public library is, like, 90% of our entertainment budget. Which is why we’re always thrilled when we get the chance to interview an author like Kara or review a fantastic book like Green Money.

Here are more of our Bitchtastic book reviews:

• Yanely Espinal Gets Real About Financial Strategy in New Book Mind Your Money
• Barbara Sloan’s New Book Dares To Suggest Service Industry Professionals Deserve Financial Stability Too 
• Bitchtastic Book Review: Tanja Hester on Early Retirement, Privilege, and Her Book, Work Optional 
• Bitchtastic Book Review: The Feminist Financial Handbook by Brynne Conroy 
• Bitchtastic Book Review: Hand to Mouth by Linda Tirado 
• Bitchtastic Book Review: Kurt Vonnegut’s Galapagos and Your Big Brain 
• Bitchtastic Book Review: The Financial Diet by Chelsea Fagan
• The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander: A Bitchtastic Book Review 
• I Read a Book About Warren Buffett. Here’s What I Learned.
• The Best Personal Finance Books of the Year, According to Our Very Exacting Standards 
• New Personal Finance Books for Your Bitch-free Summer Vacation 

Got a money book you think we should read? Recommend it in a comment, my lovely little bookworms!

The post Kara Perez’s Debut Book “Green Money”: How To Use Your Money To Save the Planet appeared first on Bitches Get Riches.

Both my husband and I grew up with frugal parents, so we come into frugality naturally and it has served us well. Carefully and intentionally minimizing expenses was a huge part of how we were able to pay off six figures of student loan debt in three years.

I love helping people learn to be more frugal. If it doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t worry! You can learn to be frugal!

Since my last Frugal Feats Flops and Funnies post, we’ve had some more frugal adventures to share!

Sometimes our normal money-saving endeavors go off without a hitch. I get excited about our savings and how they will contribute to whatever financial goal we’re currently working toward. These are our “frugal feats!”

Other times, life doesn’t go as planned and what we thought was going to be frugal isn’t. Sometimes we’re hit with something out of left field that derails our normal frugal nature. Money can be frustrating sometimes, so we like to keep it real. I call these situations our “frugal flops.”

I have found that having a relaxed, easy-going attitude helps us handle when things don’t go as planned. Laughter is the best medicine, so we try to see humor in the things that might otherwise just be frustrating. It also helps to be able to laugh at ourselves. We have done some crazy things in the name of frugality. And sometimes life just turns out funny. This is where I share “frugal funnies.”

Feats

Road Trip Food

For our recent road trip to Utah (which included two other adults who we’ve never traveled with) I handled all of the food in my normal frugal way. Planning food for road trips is kind of my jam. I love preparing snack bags for each person so they can self-snack for the whole trip (which makes life so much easier for the co-pilot). I bring most of our food along for meals so we don’t have to rely on fast food which gets really expensive for a big family.

For our breakfasts on this trip we had bagels with cream cheese, yogurt, granola, and lots of fresh fruit. For lunch we brought the makings for sandwiches, string cheese, carrots, and apples. On of our easy and cheap dinners on road trips is getting pizza at Sam’s Club ($8 for a large pizza), but we also often have sandwiches for dinner too. Here are more road trip savings tips (both for food and other aspects). Being able to save money on road trip food was definitely a success this month!

Vacation Savings

If you didn’t see my post about saving for a vacation without using our own money, check it out. Until I wrote that post, I hadn’t added up the total of all of the little (and big) contributions that points, rewards, and bonuses have made to our vacation fund over the past 11 months. It definitely adds up to something significant! Even though half of what we saved was free money, we wouldn’t have been motivated to “earn” it without the specific goal of saving for a trip. And the vacation savings from our earned income could have easily gotten lost in our budget and not made an impact anywhere.

Flops

Big Van Drama

About two months ago we got two new tires for our 15-passenger van. When I left the tire shop to drive home, the van felt weird. It felt very tippy, like it was fish-tailing. We needed the big van to go to my in-laws the next day, so I had Mike drive there to see how it felt to him. He agreed that the van was suddenly scary to drive.

We called the tire shop and took the van in again. They said there was no way that changing the tires could have caused this problem. They diagnosed it to be a front suspension issue and replaced the inner and outer tie rods, lower control arms, and idler and Pitman arms. It was a pretty penny ($2,553) to get it fixed, but we weren’t ready to give up on our big van, so we approved the work.

When we called, the next day about picking it up, the technician was out on a test drive. We figured that meant he was almost done, so we headed over to pick it up. The mechanic returned from the test drive dismayed. It turns out that expensive fix did absolutely nothing for the problem. The lead tech had looked at it and noticed the leaf spring bushings and the shackles in the back needed replacing too. He felt bad about the mis-diagnosis of one of his techs so he wouldn’t charge labor, but the parts still cost a whole lot. We drove it home and brought it back in a few days later when there was an opening. This cut the timing a little close for a trip to Utah that we had planned for the big van.

One of the parts came in the very day we were leaving and the shop worked their best to get the van done in time. We picked it up just after 5 on the evening that we were leaving on our trip. Mike drove it home and quickly decided that it wasn’t trip-worthy. Instead we drove two cars (Prius and Grand Caravan) on the trip, which actually saved money on gas, but required two people to always be driving and caused wear and tear on two vehicles.

After the trip we brought the big van back into the shop and insisted they change out the tires, since that was the only thing that changed just before the instability began. On their own and at their expense, they changed our the rear shocks and several other rear suspension parts, found it didn’t fix the problem, and finally put four new tires on. Please note that this was our initial observation and request from two months ago. Unsurprisingly, four new tires (at the shop’s expense) fixed the problem completely. The professionals denied that changing the tires could cause such a problem, so we spent $3,798  total at Big-O Tires to resolve a problem that was caused by defective tires they had installed. The shop also spent over a thousand dollars on parts and hours and hours of labor trying to right the wrong, not to mention a huge headache!

The silver lining on that dark cloud is that we now have four brand new tires and brand new front and back suspension on the big van.

Funnies

Owl Mirror

Lest you think I am a horrible person, let me start by saying the first part of this story isn’t funny. It’s sad. The funny part is at the end.

A few weeks ago, driving my sophomore to an early morning church class at dawn, an owl swooped down from a power pole and dive-bombed into the passenger side of the Prius with a huge thud (I was going 55 mph)! He took out both himself and the side mirror. My son was glad that he had his window up, otherwise the newly dead owl may have landed on his lap! (He’s a “tough guy” but will freak out if there’s a spider in his bedroom, so I’m sure a barely dead owl would have sent him through the roof with panic!)

We hadn’t had the Prius very long, and now, instead of a mirror, the passenger side had classy wires sticking out all over.

Not knowing if the mirror could be fixed (and not wanting to litter), I pulled over and (carefully) backed up to the scene of the crash. It was immediately clear that the mirror couldn’t be salvaged, but I took my souvenir anyway. I caught one final glance of the majestic creature and felt sorry for the circumstance of our meeting.

My handy husband Mike found us a replacement side mirror assembly on Amazon. Getting one that was white like the original would have cost three times as much as the basic black, so we stuck with black. Now, with one white mirror and on black mirror, our white Prius is easily identify from all of the others driving around town.

For some people, having mismatched mirrors might be a big deal, but “car cosmetics” isn’t one of our financial priorities so we didn’t event think twice about it. For me that’s exactly what frugality comes down to: cutting out (or simply reducing) spending on the things that don’t matter to you so that you can focus your funds on things that do!

It’s your turn!

Hey frugal friends! I know you’re out there living the frugal life too! Tell us about any frugal feats, flops, and funnies that you’ve had recently so we can celebrate, commiserate, or laugh together!,

The post Frugal Feats, Flops, and Funnies- Owl Edition appeared first on Six Figures Under.