Dollars and Sense

If there is one thing I can do really well, it's save money. I cannot explain why I felt that discussing this topic would be of interest, but I find my saving capabilities to be quite crafty. If there is a deal out there, I will find it. But if there is a sensible way to simply just save dollars and cents, I will partake. Why not?

Have you ever wondered what Victoria's Secret really is?

I think I figured it out.

A few years back I signed up for the Angel credit card. Knowing me, there was some incentive for me to do so...otherwise I never would have bothered.

Since signing up to become an 'Angel' I have received more freebies than ever imagined. In the past 3 years I have landed over 25 free pairs of underwear (a bit too much info? sorry). Yes, free. Prices range from $7.50 up to $16.00 apiece. How can I go wrong?

On occasion I will actually buy a nice lotion or blouse (when it's on sale), thus racking up points towards more rewards. Spend so much and they'll mail me a $10.00 gift card. Go into the store on a certain date and I'll get a free lotion.

I will never buy underwear again, and have enough lotion at the moment to last for several years....

Do you like free things?

I do.

I found a website, www.shop4freebies.com, that displays the best freebies of the day and/or moment. Each evening I get an e-mail boasting the day's finds. Some days the list is great, full of potentials. Other days not so much. Either way, it is almost daily that I get something free in the mail. It's like Christmas, year-round! I'm talking everything from granola bars to perfume samples to doggie pee-pads.

Are you much of a critic?

I never used to be. There was a time when I just shut my mouth and dealt with life.

Not anymore. My fight with 'big business' has left me angry and unwilling to shut up any longer.

So...

When I don't like something I complain.

I don't mean that I am one of those annoying people who is rude and obnoxious. No way.

But I feel that, as a consumer, I have the right to voice my opinion on the products and services that I receive, don't receive, or pay for.

I know this sounds awful, but I get freebies by doing this.

It's not some ploy to go through life without paying for things, and it isn't something that happens very often....but if you feel you haven't gotten the value for your money or that someone treated you unprofessionally, well, let the company know.

-I recently got a 25% off coupon for use at a retail store when I complained that the associate was amazingly rude to me.
-When the register-girl at a fast food chain was nasty to me I complained to the manager. I got a free salad.
-Some wheatgrass seeds I bought never lived up to their potential. I called the company and they are sending me all new ones.

Are you into crafts?

Cutting can save you lots of money! Cutting out squares and rectangles, particularly.

We have cut coupons since I can remember. Handing over the goods at the check-out register embarrasses some people, but not me. I wouldn't throw $.50, $.75 or $1.00 on the ground, so why not cut the coupon?

This past year my mother and I decided to calculate our savings over a year's time.

It was over $2000.00.


Rewards Programs....

I need an incentive to participate in these programs or sign up for credit cards that I don't need. Additionally, if 'they' are going to charge me a yearly fee, forget it.

One great program with no strings attached is the Choice Privileges Rewards Program, in which one racks up points towards free hotel nights. By using their credit card, dollars charged are added in as well.

I never pay for hotel rooms anymore.

I recently signed up with both American Airlines and USAirways. They each have a free mileage program. Since American is the only airline out of Abilene, I figured it couldn't hurt (even though I do not like the airline). As far as USAirways, they caught me one day at the Denver airport. It has worked out well since all of my international flights are within their 'alliance'. I got their credit card that also adds miles to my account and keeps them from expiring. I think I currently have enough miles to fly one round-trip within the United States.

Of course, using a credit card to garner miles or points is of no use if the balance isn't paid off on a monthly basis (in my opinion). But if you are traveling anyway, why not take advantage of the program and put your money (ie. hotel room or airline ticket) towards getting something for free in the future?


Is exploration in your blood?

It's in mine, but I don't have lots of money to spend.

So, I signed up with www.travelzoo.com. This website is amazing. The deals are very hard to pass up at times because they are so cheap.

Through e-mails from this particular site, I ended up going to Thailand, Turkey and Egypt. I landed my trip to Egypt (cruise, airfare, all food and lodging) for less than an airline ticket would have cost to get there. Thailand was a similar situation...well, okay, Turkey was too.

I feel that just because someone doesn't have unlimited funds (ie. me), that person shouldn't be devoid of fulfilling their dream to see the world. The deals are definitely out there.

Rack it up...

Finally, I find lots of cheap clothes by simply taking the time to sort through the sale racks. It is tedious and annoying most of the time, but can be very rewarding. Just the other day I got two shirts for $3.97 apeice and a third sweater for $8.00. Each item was marked down by 80% from the suggested retail price.

I couldn't make them for that cheap.

I refuse to pay full price for any clothing. Okay, once in a while I'll break and get that cute something that I can't live without. It's rare though.

Some will call me cheap, but I see it as smart. Money is hard to come by and easy to spend. One might as well make every penny count and get the most out of each dollar.