Organization & Planning

Spring Cleaning with the Town’s Help

In our house, Spring is a time for cleanup. We start indoors and then finish outside. This year was different for us. The weather was warmer sooner, so the outdoors was tackled first. We groomed overgrown plants and shrubs, trimmed trees, weeded and mulched the flower beds, and more. Now it feels like it’s time to enjoy the year with family and friends.

Not quite…

Because Spring came early, our annual ritual was thrown off. We skipped the indoor clutter cleaning. Now we’re left with random deadlines that we are trying to follow.

For example:

There was our town’s Sneaker Recycling Day…

…That happened to be the same day as our town’s Paper Shredding Day.

We have an old/unused/outdated medication drop-off (to help us clean out our medicine cabinets without poisoning the ground or groundwater).

And then there was Hazardous Waste Day. We got rid of the last of the chemicals! We’re making great strides towards using all natural products.

That’s in our town. Does your town have programs to help you set clutter-clearing goals?

We are still left with many indoor projects that don’t coincide with a specific date, and those can get pushed off. Little by little, they will get done. We have been tackling scanning and tossing paperwork. No matter how hard we try, paper builds up.

To help you get your life simplified, check out the resources page on our website. We’ve added some new links to help you get rid of that extra stuff.

One resource we mention is Craigslist.org. We used Craigslist to give away an old TV. Just because we didn’t need it, didn’t mean that someone else couldn’t make good use of it. It’s better than having it go to a landfill.

If you try one of the resources on our list, or use another one we haven’t listed, let us know. I love hearing success stories and learning about new resources for getting rid of unwanted items.

Clean out your wallet before you take a vacation

While you’re packing your suitcase, don’t forget to properly pack your wallet. You want to bring only those items necessary for your trip.

This is one of those little tasks many people forget before leaving home on a vacation, a long weekend, or any other trip.

For example, you might want to carry only one or two credit cards. If you’re traveling with a spouse, don’t carry the same credit cards. If one of you loses his wallet and has to cancel the VISA card, you could still have your MasterCard or American Express.

What about the cards you leave at home? They should be locked up in a safe place (not left in a drawer). It’s impossible to keep your travels secret. The wrong people might know that your house will be empty for the next week.

But, back to your missing wallet. How did that happen? Did you forget it somewhere, or did you leave it unattended in the wrong place?

You may feel paranoid about leaving your wallet back at the hotel, but it’s much worse to keep your valuables in a beach bag while you’re in the water. Most hotels have safes which allow you to lock up you valuables before you head to the beach.

What if you’re just at the beach for the day? Leaving your wallet in the car is not a great choice, either. Parking lots near tourist destinations are popular targets. If you have to leave it in the car, keep it in a not-so-obvious place so it’s not easy to find in a smash-and-grab.

Taking a few simple steps to protect your wallet, and your identity, ahead of time can save your vacation, and hours of your valuable time. You don’t want to have to clean up an identity-theft mess after your vacation.

Make Your Dream Vacation Affordable

Last issue we talked about vacationing locally and all the things you can do close to home. But, what if you really want to get away? How will you save money, then?

We travel often and are able to save in a variety of ways. Here are some of them:

Travel during shoulder season (that’s somewhere between peak and off-season). We’re going to Aruba in the Fall. The Caribbean is off season at that time because of the hurricane season, but Aruba is usually too far south to be affected by hurricanes.

Comparison shop to get the best deals – there are so many websites that will do this for you. I like Kayak for airfares.

Reward Programs – if you find yourself using a particular airline or hotel, join their program. I know you’ve heard that you may not be able to use your miles for flights. I can tell you that I haven’t found that to be an issue. You do need to plan ahead to get the reward you want. We have used airline miles for many trips, including a flight to Alaska in August.

For rental cars, we make our reservation early, but don’t prepay. Then we check back regularly to see if the price has dropped. You will be amazed at how much the price can drop closer to your trip!

Discounts and coupons – don’t forget about those. We recently went to an aquarium because our water company sent a buy-one-get-one-free coupon with your bill. Coupons and offers can come from a variety of sources. If you have a membership with a service like AAA or a store like Costco, check their mailings or website. Once you reach your travel destination, the visitors guides typically have clip-out coupons (make sure you pick them up when you arrive).

Stay at a place with a kitchen (or at least a fridge) to help your budget. You can shop when you get there for meals and snacks.

Bring your own food on the airplane. Take carry-on food versus buying in the airport or on the plane. You can’t bring drinks, but you can buy a beverage in the waiting area, or get a free drink after boarding. Your own food will undoubtedly be healthier and more satisfying than anything they have to offer.

We’ve had trips in the past where we’ve traveled for next to nothing. Our airfare was paid for with miles and our lodging with hotel points. We only had to pay for food, local transportation, and entertainment.

What do you do to save money on vacation? Join the discussion.

Save Money – Stay Local this Summer

Share Your Vacation Story!

Planning a great money-saving vacation? Share your tips! You can post your story in the comments below or on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Or, you can email me at book @ jillrussofoster.com. I can’t wait to be inspired by your summer plans!

Here are my suggestions!

Now that it’s Spring, you’re probably thinking about summer travel plans. I know I am. But, with the price of gas going up, you might be thinking, “Can I afford to do something this summer?” You can if you stay local. Here are some free or low-cost suggestions:

Local museums – Museums can be pricey, especially if you’re bringing the whole family. But most museums have free days or discount days. Check the website or call the museum to see when their next discount day is, then plan a vacation day around that.

City parks for movies, concerts, or theater – Many Parks and Recreation Departments host events. These might be free, or low cost, and all you need to do is pack a picnic. In our area, we have movies in the park, many music concerts and Shakespeare on the Sound. Check out your town’s website to see what they offer.

Libraries – Check your library’s event listings (we use our library all year long). Many libraries host interesting talks, movies, and even musical events.

Holiday Celebrations including parades and fireworks – What is your town doing? Check out nearby towns, too.

State Parks – You’ll get a change of scenery and a day outside.

Tourist activities – Be a tourist or visitor in your town (or nearby) and check out the sites. Try to see your town with new eyes and check out the funny little restaurants, art stores, outdoor art, and important town landmarks.

Get together with family and friends – Plan a get together to reconnect. We have one planned for July already.

Go to the Beach – This is one of my favorite places to relax.

Street Fairs and Festivals – Many areas have multiple festivals throughout the summer. There are arts and crafts fairs, ethnic celebration festivals, and antique car shows. You can buy pottery one weekend, and dance the polka the next. Use the internet to see what’s happening in your area.

What do you have planned? Join the discussion.

What Don’t You Do with Your Money?

I’ve shared two ways we save money in our household – careful food shopping and credit monitoring. Now I’ll tell you what we don’t do that saves us money.

We don’t have a data plan with our cell service

We have cell phones, but that’s it – just cell phones. We don’t have text messaging or a data plan. We lowered our minutes to the lowest plan available and we regularly come in way below our limit.

We don’t have HBO.

Only in the last month have we upgraded to an HDTV and that’s because one of our two TV’s needed to be replaced. We still have one older TV and we don’t plan on replacing it unless it stops working. We have a basic cable package and get our movies free – either from the library or the free on-demand selection our cable company provides. We gave up our paid movie channels a while back. We don’t have a DVR either – still using the VCR.

We don’t hire home contractors (often).

We do a lot of home maintenance and repairs ourselves. Last year, we painted the garage. This year we painted the bathrooms ourselves. We don’t have a landscaping service to take care of our yard. (It helps that we don’t have a big yard to take care of.) I really enjoy gardening. There is nothing better than picking fresh vegetables and eating them within minutes while they’re still super fresh.

We don’t buy new cars.

We drive older cars. Mine is a 1995 with 167,000 miles and it runs fine. I just had a tune up and the mechanic says the car is in great shape. Having older cars works perfectly for us, because we don’t like making payments. I’m not into fancy cars – all I need is reliable transportation.

You might be thinking that we lead lives of deprivation, but I can assure you that we are not missing out on anything. We only spend money on things that are important to us. If we spent money on things that we didn’t enjoy (but made us look good to other people), that would mean having less money for things we do enjoy – like nice vacations.

What don’t you do with your money? Join the discussion.

Are you preparing for retirement?

It is so important to prepare for retirement. It really is better to put aside money now so you can have those happy golden years later.

So, what should you do?

You can contribute to an IRA, or Roth IRA, by depositing up to $5,000 each year. If you are at least 50 years old, you can contribute $6,000 for each year. (Those guidelines could change, so visit www.IRS.gov if this is an older post.)

Also speak with your tax preparer, investment person, and/or your banker; all will be willing to give you their professional advice. Depending on the type of account you have, and your income level, the contribution to your retirement account may be tax deductible for you.

If you are thinking, “I don’t have $5,000 to contribute!” (that’s $416.66 a month or $96.15 a week), it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation. Make a plan so you can contribute an affordable amount on a regular basis, then increase it over time. Remember to have it withdrawn automatically so that it bypasses your checking account. It will add up over time.

The earlier you start, the more money you will have when you retire.

That’s my advice. What are you doing prepare for retirement? Let me know in the comments.

If you’re in a relationship, how do you handle finances as a couple?

Are you in a relationship? If you are, you know what it’s like to share your life with someone you love: your joys, your sorrows… and your money.

One of the biggest reasons for divorce (or breakups) is finances. I know you don’t want that to happen, so what can you do about it? Talk. Communication is the key to handling joint finances.

People have different ways of handling their finances. One person might be a saver who really values the money saved for future dreams and needs, while the other might be a spender who lives in the moment. If these two individuals become a couple, there can be disagreements about money that can escalate to divorce.

Take a minute to talk with each other about your money habits. It can be a really eye opening conversation. Really listen and try to understand the other person’s point of view. What did they learn about money growing up? What do they want right now? Where do they want to be in 1, 5, 10 years and beyond? With this understanding, you can choose a path that will work for the both of you. Meaning, the spender will save a portion and the saver will spend some money. Come up with mutual goals and agree on how you will achieve them together.

The goal is to handle your household finances and your goals in a blended way so that both people are comfortable. To do this, communication and action is key so that all feelings are heard and considered.

If you’re in a relationship, tell me how you handle your finances as a couple. Who handles the money? Who makes the budget? Who sets the goals?

Less Junk Mail Equals Less Spending?

Having trouble controlling your spending? Try something new – control your mail!

You heard me. Control your mail. For the past five years, I have worked extremely hard to get off advertisement mailing lists. My mailbox is no longer stuffed with unwanted fliers and catalogs. Oh, I still get catalogs and fliers, but only from my favorite stores. And, I have asked each of my favorites not to share, rent, sell or do anything else with my contact information. Thanks to privacy laws, I can completely trust all of them to keep my personal information to themselves.

This has reduced my mail considerably.

You are probably wondering, “What’s the connection here? I thought you were talking about controlling spending not junk mail.” Easy. What I don’t see won’t tempt me. No more impulse buying because a slick ad has convinced me I need it. If I didn’t know I needed it before, then I will probably live without it. And if I do need it, I won’t need a glossy image to sell me on it.

I don’t think I’m weak minded. These ads are designed to make you hunger for the kind of ideal life that only an expensive food-processor can give you. If you’re like me, you’ve spent many a weekend morning browsing through Sunday fliers, lusting after small appliances and “just in time for spring” capris.

Now, I have less mail to go through and more money saved. This is a bonus for my time and my budget. Try it yourself. You won’t believe how much less spending you have to list on your budget tracker with this little step.

How did I do it? By contacting these companies:

Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, P O Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735
Mail Preference Service, Preference Service Manager, Direct Marketing Association, P O Box 3079, Grand Central Station, NY 10163
Companies that I receive subscriptions from (example – magazine subscriptions)
Store credit card companies and banks – request not to receive offers from them or their partners
www.OptOutPrescreen.com or 1–888–567–8688 to limit the offers you receive for pre-approved credit cards

That’s all you have to do! Yes, it takes some work, but it will pay off in the long run. You don’t have to tackle this every day or even during precious relaxation time.

What I did, was set aside the junk mail and take it with me for those annoying “hurry up to wait” appointments. Then I would make the phone calls from my cell. You know, when you’re sitting in the doctor’s exam room for 20 minutes waiting for a physical. Or when you have to leave early to meet someone across town “in case of traffic” then end up sitting in the parking lot waiting for the other person to show up. If you do it that way, you’ll be regaining time, not just saving time.

Double Your Savings with Matching Funds

I get this question all the time: “How can I make my money grow faster?” I’m not an investment broker, so I can’t give you advice on buying stocks or bonds. And, personal savings accounts don’t pay as much interest as they used to, so I can’t help you there either.

But, there are two types of savings plans that offer matching funds, which means that your employer, or your state, will put their own money into your account to increase the money you put into the account. Never turn down FREE money! (Normally, I would tell you that there is no such thing as free money, but with these 2 plans there really is.)

Employer Matching Funds in Employee 401K Plans

If you work for an employer that offers a 401K or retirement savings, participate in the plan as soon as you are eligible. If you are eligible and you haven’t signed up yet, find out how soon you can start. Many companies offer to match your contributions. Not only that, but you will be putting your pre-tax dollars into this account, which means you can report less income for income tax purposes. That could mean a bigger tax refund or a smaller tax bill.

If you think you don’t have enough money to contribute, start out small and then increase your contributions. I have clients who did just that, who haven’t felt the loss in their monthly budgets. Remember: the first decision is to start to save. After that, you’ll find a way.

State Matching Funds from an Individual Development Account (IDA)

Another way to get matching funds is from an Individual Development Account (IDA). These accounts were designed to promote good money management and to teach savings habits. To open an IDA account, you need to have a specific goal in mind, such as saving for a home down payment, starting a small business, tuition for post-secondary education, etc. Once you meet eligibility requirements, you will put money in your IDA account on a regular basis, and your funds will be matched. Check with your individual state for eligibility and participating organizations.

But, what if you aren’t eligible for a 401K or IDA?

Don’t be discouraged. If you’ve made the decision to save on a regular basis, set it up to happen automatically. It’s the best way to make your money grow. If you have to go to the bank to put cash into savings, something will come up and you will decide to spend it instead. You will tell yourself that you’ll save next week, then next week comes and goes and you still won’t deposit the money into savings. When you have it taken out of your paycheck automatically, you never see the money, so it’s less tempting to spend it. With interest and time, your money will grow.

February is a great time to work on clutter

The holidays are long over and the new year is here. It’s time to clear clutter and get organized! With tax season underway, you can start shredding papers.

If you’ve gotten your W-2 for income tax purposes, you can shred your paystubs for the year. Make sure the W-2 matches your final paystub.

If your bank and credit card companies offer you an annual summary statement, take it. If you agree with all the information, you can shred your statements for the period that it covers. One statement versus twelve – much less to organize!

Go through your receipts. I only keep them for purchases that have a warranty (or if I think I may return the item.) I store the receipt in the product manual so that I know exactly when and where I purchased the item.

For any paperwork that you are not sure whether or not to keep, check with your tax preparer.

For the stuff in your home that seems to accumulate, my best advice is for you to take a small amount of time on a regular basis and sort through a small area. Empty out that catch-all drawer, tackle a desktop, or one kitchen cabinet. The trick is to do just that one spot. You’ll find that by tackling one small area twice a week you will see progress in no time without feeling overwhelmed.

To me, walking into a room that has been organized and clutter free is one of the best feelings I can have. Try it – it makes finding what you need easy.

Join Jill on February 27 and Never Waste Your Time Looking for a Piece of Paper