So...it's time to buy gifts. I wasn't Stateside for it, but from what I understand there were some great deals on Black Friday. However, not everyone can (or wants to) go out and deal with the mess and the deals are very specific and the deals may not have helped you out on your holiday shopping.
So here are some ways to still get people great stuff, but more affordably:
1) Think group. This can be taken two ways:
a) Get together with another friend or family member and go into together for a gift. Often people do this for when someone wants something that is particularly expensive, but it can work to help save money too...if you and your sister usually spend about $30 each on dad, then go into together and get him something that costs $40-50. It will save both of you money and dad will still get a nice gift.
b) Get a gift that is good for more than one person. This year I am getting a joint gift for my mom and dad. I found something that will be great for both of them and it costs about 2/3's as much as buying them seperate gifts would have without having to give them really pathetic gifts.
2) Spend time. Do something creative for someone.
a) If you're good at photography take a picture someone will love and have it printed out (if you go to the right place it isn't even expensive to get it printed out bigger). Maybe it's a picture of people (your parents would probably love a cute picture of you and your brother) and put it in a frame. Turning pictures black and white often adds a more professional touch. Frame the pictures and maybe even buy some precut matting from a place like Hobby Lobby.
b) Buy gift certificates or make your own for fun things to do together. Offer to take someone out to eat and hang out. Make a certificate for manicure with a friend. If your best friend and you like to bake, buy some of the things (the stuff you don't have to refridgerate) that you need to bake a special kind of cookie and make a cute little card with the recipe and a "coupon" to make cookies together.
c)Think it out. Have a list of the people you need to buy for and about how much you want to spend on each gift. As you buy check off the name and write how much you actually spent. This will help you to avoid forgetting anyone and spending way too much on gifts (if you say, "I'll just spluge a bit for this one" too many times you will break the bank). Also, thinking ahead allows you to order things online (why buy a movie for $20 when you can buy it for $8?).
Use these ideas with a bit of caution though. Dont' bite off more than you can chew (offing to spend time with 10 people even though you only have a couple of free days a month). Think about who you're giving it to-most people understand that money is tight and won't be offended or think you are tacky, but if you have someone on your list who won't understand. And...if you know of a friend who has a similar financial situation go and talk to her and see if she wants to agree to just do something nice for eachother or get together and make dinner and watch a movie or something.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Entertainment...On the cheap
I'm 24. At the moment I am a volunteer in Central America, but in a few short weeks I will be moving back the US. Where I will be broke. And jobless. While I hopefully won't be jobless for long, I dont' have hopes of chaging the "broke" thing. I graduated from college with a degree in Visual Communications, but while photography is fun and can definitely make good money it's the kind of career I can't count on for regular income, at least not for a while.
What does this mean for me? Well...likely it means jobs that don't even require a college degree. Not always bad. However, in this economy with this job market I can't be picky, especially because I can't afford to wait. I need money for food. Money for rent. Money for a lot of things. And what I found when lived in an apartment during college: little left for entertainment.
Here's some ideas on how to keep entertained without spend (as much) money:
Magazines
This has to be one of the biggest ways people our age waste money. Oh, I'm not saying magazines are a waste, but what we pay for them in line at the grocery store is. If you buy your favorite magazine every month anyways, why not go ahead and buy a full year's subscription? Here's the math: If your favorite magazine comes out every month and costs $5 a month you'll spend $60 a year. Many magazines cost around $15 to subscribe to a year. Others cost around $20, but come with a subscription to another magazine for people with similar interests. And it's delivered right to your house. Another way to share is to swap with your girlfriends. If you and your best friend love the same two magazines why not subscribe to one of them and her to the other and the then swap out when you're done with them? Another way to save is look at mags online. It's free. Ok...so...it's not quite the same as flipping through the pages. And not all the content is there. But-it's free. And it saves paper.
TV
Get a fast internet connection. You'll have to weigh the costs based on the plans available in your area but in college my roommate and I saved ourselves a cable bill by paying $10 more a month for internet to get a fast enough connection to watch TV online. Lots of channels now put the latest episodes of their favorite shows online. You may not have all your faves, but I always had plenty to watch-and added bonus: you watch at your own convenience.
Books
Check out your local library. Yes, I know...Barnes and Nobles smells like coffee and new books, but why spend so much on a book when you can get one for free? Libraries offer a large selection-especially when you take into account interlibrary loan. I worked at a university library for 2 years and with this lovely tool you can get any book you want and often times pretty fast and most libraries will let you keep their books for over a months, so ýou have plenty of time to read your books. If you really want to keep the book go online. I've found great deals on Amazon (and not just on books!). They even have used books for sale, which are often in great shape and really cheap. I've bought a lot from sellers and it's always been a great experience (check their seller ratings before you buy). Also, take advantage of the free Super Saver Shipping.
Movies
My suggestions for movies are the same as books. Libraries and Amazon. I've gotten a ton of movies on Amazong for $0.01 and $3.99 shipping. It's the cost of a rental-but I get to keep it.
Music
I can't really think of any suggestions for concerts and my only advice on music is that check out used CD stores, but if you're craving the lastest CD from you're favorite band...? I can advise thought that you see if you can find a good preview of CDs before you buy them and if you only want a couple of the tracks that you buy them as MP3s...why spend $12 when you want $2 worth of songs?
Anyone else have good (legal!)ways to save money on entertainment?
What does this mean for me? Well...likely it means jobs that don't even require a college degree. Not always bad. However, in this economy with this job market I can't be picky, especially because I can't afford to wait. I need money for food. Money for rent. Money for a lot of things. And what I found when lived in an apartment during college: little left for entertainment.
Here's some ideas on how to keep entertained without spend (as much) money:
Magazines
This has to be one of the biggest ways people our age waste money. Oh, I'm not saying magazines are a waste, but what we pay for them in line at the grocery store is. If you buy your favorite magazine every month anyways, why not go ahead and buy a full year's subscription? Here's the math: If your favorite magazine comes out every month and costs $5 a month you'll spend $60 a year. Many magazines cost around $15 to subscribe to a year. Others cost around $20, but come with a subscription to another magazine for people with similar interests. And it's delivered right to your house. Another way to share is to swap with your girlfriends. If you and your best friend love the same two magazines why not subscribe to one of them and her to the other and the then swap out when you're done with them? Another way to save is look at mags online. It's free. Ok...so...it's not quite the same as flipping through the pages. And not all the content is there. But-it's free. And it saves paper.
TV
Get a fast internet connection. You'll have to weigh the costs based on the plans available in your area but in college my roommate and I saved ourselves a cable bill by paying $10 more a month for internet to get a fast enough connection to watch TV online. Lots of channels now put the latest episodes of their favorite shows online. You may not have all your faves, but I always had plenty to watch-and added bonus: you watch at your own convenience.
Books
Check out your local library. Yes, I know...Barnes and Nobles smells like coffee and new books, but why spend so much on a book when you can get one for free? Libraries offer a large selection-especially when you take into account interlibrary loan. I worked at a university library for 2 years and with this lovely tool you can get any book you want and often times pretty fast and most libraries will let you keep their books for over a months, so ýou have plenty of time to read your books. If you really want to keep the book go online. I've found great deals on Amazon (and not just on books!). They even have used books for sale, which are often in great shape and really cheap. I've bought a lot from sellers and it's always been a great experience (check their seller ratings before you buy). Also, take advantage of the free Super Saver Shipping.
Movies
My suggestions for movies are the same as books. Libraries and Amazon. I've gotten a ton of movies on Amazong for $0.01 and $3.99 shipping. It's the cost of a rental-but I get to keep it.
Music
I can't really think of any suggestions for concerts and my only advice on music is that check out used CD stores, but if you're craving the lastest CD from you're favorite band...? I can advise thought that you see if you can find a good preview of CDs before you buy them and if you only want a couple of the tracks that you buy them as MP3s...why spend $12 when you want $2 worth of songs?
Anyone else have good (legal!)ways to save money on entertainment?
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