More often than not, brand names mean you're paying for the product's name, not its contents. If you insist on buying only brand named products, you will be spending too much money.
Here are my general guidelines on buying products:
- Think of the use of the product: Will it be used once or repeatedly? Will it be mixed in with something or eaten as-is? Will you use all of it or waste half?
- What benefit does this product offer: Do you know that your hair will be silky and smooth or does it only promise? Will your garbage be truly smell-free (unlikely...)? When mixed in, will these brand name lentils realy add extra protein above the standard lentils?
- What benefit does the company offer: Do they refuse to test on animals? Do they give back to charity or invest in the community? Have you investigated the criticisms of the company (Wikipedia is a good place for this...) and find it to still be a company you want to give money to?
- Finally, the most important question: Which is cheaper? Brand name products are more likely to have sales, which can bring the unit price below that of a store brand.
I'm a big fan of store brands, and for most products find that they are equivalent to brand name products, with a very few exceptions. One for me is a facial moisturizer from Lush, which is the only one I've found which deals with both my dry skin and my oily breakouts. Another is curry paste, which needs to be done by a reputable company which understands the balance of flavours. Yet another is salad dressing - I'm sorry, but I just love Kraft Golden Italian, and no matter what else I've tried, I can't find a suitable cheaper replacement.
Are you a brand fiend? I challenge you to take one product per week which you would normally insist on being brand named, and try the store brand version. Perhaps chopped tomatoes. Or beans. Or frozen peas. Or if you're really going out on a limb, maybe try store brand cleaning pruducts. I promise you will find some savings, if a bit difficult along the way :)
Sunday 25 November 2012
Sunday 18 November 2012
Tip #12 - DIY Frozen Berries
My Dad and I went to the supermarket yesterday, and joy of joys, there was a sale on blackberries! Four tubs for $5. Clearly, they were trying to get rid of their stock before they all went furry.
So we bought four. And took them home. And then I spent the whole night thinking what the heck we're going to do with four tubs of blackberries which are about to go furry in a house which doesn't have any baking ingredients (because the obvious answer would be blackberry apple pie or crisp, but my Dad doesn't have flour... don't ask).
So I thought I'd try freezing them.
Anyone who has tried freezing fruit before knows that throwing them into a tupperware container or a freezer bag as-is turns the berries into a giant messy mess which is essentially inedible. My awesome Menonite cookbook, however, suggested freezing them on a baking tray, not touching, before tipping them into a container. And... it works! Three of the four tubs successfully frozen and no mushy berries.
The best part is, you can now stock up on fruit (or vegetables) which are at the end of their life-cycle and being sold cheaply, and preserve them for a significantly longer period of time, AND save the premium that store-bought frozen berries and vegetables have on them. Win-win!
Tutorial: DIY Frozen Berries
1 - Arrange your berries neatly on a baking tray. My Dad doesn't have a baking tray, so I used some oven bakeware.
2 - Put into freezer for about an hour until hard (the time will depend on the type of fruit). This can be tested by throwing at people's heads, but it's inadvisable.
3 - When hard, pour into a freezer bag or tupperware and put back into freezer until ready to eat!
This can also be used to freeze par-boiled vegetables, but I haven't tried it yet, though it's on my to-do list.
So we bought four. And took them home. And then I spent the whole night thinking what the heck we're going to do with four tubs of blackberries which are about to go furry in a house which doesn't have any baking ingredients (because the obvious answer would be blackberry apple pie or crisp, but my Dad doesn't have flour... don't ask).
So I thought I'd try freezing them.
Anyone who has tried freezing fruit before knows that throwing them into a tupperware container or a freezer bag as-is turns the berries into a giant messy mess which is essentially inedible. My awesome Menonite cookbook, however, suggested freezing them on a baking tray, not touching, before tipping them into a container. And... it works! Three of the four tubs successfully frozen and no mushy berries.
The best part is, you can now stock up on fruit (or vegetables) which are at the end of their life-cycle and being sold cheaply, and preserve them for a significantly longer period of time, AND save the premium that store-bought frozen berries and vegetables have on them. Win-win!
Tutorial: DIY Frozen Berries
1 - Arrange your berries neatly on a baking tray. My Dad doesn't have a baking tray, so I used some oven bakeware.
2 - Put into freezer for about an hour until hard (the time will depend on the type of fruit). This can be tested by throwing at people's heads, but it's inadvisable.
3 - When hard, pour into a freezer bag or tupperware and put back into freezer until ready to eat!
This can also be used to freeze par-boiled vegetables, but I haven't tried it yet, though it's on my to-do list.
Tuesday 13 November 2012
Tip #11 - Bank fees
Oh, bank fees. Evil, evil bank fees.
A bank account is necessary for life, but banks are businesses. They want your money, and they want to keep it!
The goal:
Avoid all bank fees.
The method:
1. Shop around to major banks to find an account which doesn't charge fees. They do exist! In the UK, bank fees on current are pretty much unheard of, but in Canada they're ubiquitous. I've managed to find a good one :)
2. Know the limits and/or benefits of your account. If you are being charged a fee, is this fee waived if you maintain a minimum balance? Does it limit you to a certain number of transactions per month? Does it provide you with bonuses such as loyalty points? It's important to really know your account details and work with and within them.
3. ATM fees. OMG AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! If you live in Canada, you CANNOT take money out of a bank machine which doesn't belong to your bank, or which doesn't belong to a bank which is affiliated with your's. DON'T USE THEM unless you're REALLY desperate. I mean, you're stuck down a back alley with a snarling tiger and need a cab to escape desperate. If you're in the UK, happy days! No ATM fees from reputable banks.
An idea to avoid bank fees is to buy using your credit card, then pay off at the end of the month. Another idea is to live on cash only, taking a lump sum out each month. However, this requires careful budgeting and needs a significant amount of discipline to accomplish.
4. Direct Debits. These can be a dangerous business. While it's nice to "not have to worry about it", if you forget to have enough money in the account, you get charged for insufficient funds. This is my big difficulty. I have been charged 24 pounds in the past year through stupid mistakes of not having enough money for my direct debits.
So here's the thing. If you KNOW you will have the money in your account every month, then direct debit may be useful. However, if you are like me, and live without a steady income, it's more useful to be forcefully on top of your bills by feeling the need to open them. Damn you, UK and you're direct debit culture! Thank you, Canada with it still a modern thing which I can avoid!
5. Cheques. Similar to the above, you need to make sure there is enough money to cover the cost of a cheque. Cheques should be dated, and can be post dated to when they are needing to be used and/or when you know you will have the money. It is the responsibility of the cheque casher to ensure that they are cashing a cheque within time allowances. I've had this happen to me before - I had a cheque bounce because the recipient didn't notice I had post dated. In the end, they appologized and we agreed that I would re-write the cheque minus the cost of the bank fee.
And, finally, a caveat. Bank fees can sometimes bundle in useful services which would otherwise cost you more if purchased separately. These can include, but are not limited to, the cost of cheques, free currency exchange, travel insurance, mobile insurance, and discounts on outings. I made a decision last year to upgrade my account to one which charged a monthly fee, but included all of these. In the end, I didn't have to use any of the services, but the travel insurance and mobile phone insurance meant I had peace of mind. It's something to consider, certainly!
Have I missed any fees? Do you have tips about which accounts have low or high fees? Which accounts reward you the most? Let me know!
A bank account is necessary for life, but banks are businesses. They want your money, and they want to keep it!
The goal:
Avoid all bank fees.
The method:
1. Shop around to major banks to find an account which doesn't charge fees. They do exist! In the UK, bank fees on current are pretty much unheard of, but in Canada they're ubiquitous. I've managed to find a good one :)
2. Know the limits and/or benefits of your account. If you are being charged a fee, is this fee waived if you maintain a minimum balance? Does it limit you to a certain number of transactions per month? Does it provide you with bonuses such as loyalty points? It's important to really know your account details and work with and within them.
3. ATM fees. OMG AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! If you live in Canada, you CANNOT take money out of a bank machine which doesn't belong to your bank, or which doesn't belong to a bank which is affiliated with your's. DON'T USE THEM unless you're REALLY desperate. I mean, you're stuck down a back alley with a snarling tiger and need a cab to escape desperate. If you're in the UK, happy days! No ATM fees from reputable banks.
An idea to avoid bank fees is to buy using your credit card, then pay off at the end of the month. Another idea is to live on cash only, taking a lump sum out each month. However, this requires careful budgeting and needs a significant amount of discipline to accomplish.
4. Direct Debits. These can be a dangerous business. While it's nice to "not have to worry about it", if you forget to have enough money in the account, you get charged for insufficient funds. This is my big difficulty. I have been charged 24 pounds in the past year through stupid mistakes of not having enough money for my direct debits.
So here's the thing. If you KNOW you will have the money in your account every month, then direct debit may be useful. However, if you are like me, and live without a steady income, it's more useful to be forcefully on top of your bills by feeling the need to open them. Damn you, UK and you're direct debit culture! Thank you, Canada with it still a modern thing which I can avoid!
5. Cheques. Similar to the above, you need to make sure there is enough money to cover the cost of a cheque. Cheques should be dated, and can be post dated to when they are needing to be used and/or when you know you will have the money. It is the responsibility of the cheque casher to ensure that they are cashing a cheque within time allowances. I've had this happen to me before - I had a cheque bounce because the recipient didn't notice I had post dated. In the end, they appologized and we agreed that I would re-write the cheque minus the cost of the bank fee.
And, finally, a caveat. Bank fees can sometimes bundle in useful services which would otherwise cost you more if purchased separately. These can include, but are not limited to, the cost of cheques, free currency exchange, travel insurance, mobile insurance, and discounts on outings. I made a decision last year to upgrade my account to one which charged a monthly fee, but included all of these. In the end, I didn't have to use any of the services, but the travel insurance and mobile phone insurance meant I had peace of mind. It's something to consider, certainly!
Have I missed any fees? Do you have tips about which accounts have low or high fees? Which accounts reward you the most? Let me know!
Sunday 4 November 2012
Tip #10 - Keeping Warm
This tip is based on a suggestion from my friend Meghan, who pointed out
that, with the cold weather approaching, a higher proportion of our money will
be spent keeping warm. Here are some pointers on how to cut down the cost of
toasty fingers.
Keep your heating equipment functioning well
Make sure your boiler or heater gets a check-up early. Like, now. It will decrease your headache if it goes on the fritz in January. This has to be done by a qualified professional, but in order to make sure the boiler isn't working overtime for nothing, you need to make sure your radiators are free of dust. Before you turn them on for the first time, run a dusting cloth attached to an unbent coat hanger between the heating panels of the radiator, making sure all the dust is gone.
If you have hot-water radiators, connected to a boiler, make sure the air is thoroughly bled from them. Do this by using either a wrench or a special radiator key to open the valve on the side of the radiators. Hold an old cloth or some paper towels against the valve to prevent any spillage when the air is removed. As an added bonus for this style of radiators, stick sheets of aluminium foil with blu-tak to the wall behind the radiators. This will propagate the heat out into the room, heating it faster and more effectively.
Know your energy plan
There are many energy plans out there, with different prices for different types of energy (gas, oil, and electricity). Know what your house or apartment uses for heating, cooking, and water heating (these can be different), and what your energy plan is charging you per unit. This information should be found on your energy bill. Use this information to compare to other energy suppliers. If you find a cheaper solution, phone up your own supplier and threaten to switch. Chances are, they want to keep a paying customer, and will put you on a cheaper plan if one is available.
Another tip for dealing with the energy suppliers is not to pay by direct debit. Although it may seem nice to have a single, flat rate each month to pay, and to have it leave your bank account worry-free, you could be paying too much. By paying through a per-usage, meter read system, you could not only save money, but you will be more conscious of your monthly usage, and therefore able to cut down on your usage in a conscious way.
Acknowledge your circumstances
If you need to heat your house, you're not living in a tropical country. There is therefore no reason why your house should be heated to 30*C. Lower the temperature and add a layer. You will save loads of money.
There are some other tricks of the cold-country trade which should be learned if you're new to this situation:
(1) take your shoes off at the door and switch to slippers or thick socks
(2) eat more complex carbohydrates (providing heat and energy for longer) and protein
(3) have a sofa-blanket so you can snuggle up warmly while watching TV or reading a book
(4) wear warm pyjamas and sleep under a duvet (better than blankets!)
(5) turn the heating down at night and when you're not in the house - you need it to be warm enough to not have pipes freeze (minimum inside temperature of about 16*C) - but it needn't be blasting heat when you're not going to enjoy it
(6) get any door and window leaks seen to and plugged, before the cold weather really starts. Nothing kills your buzz like a draft.
Recognize other areas your energy cost is going
Cooking, showering, and using hot water cycles on washing machines and dishwashers also contribute to your monthly energy costs. Cutting down on these is a hidden way to cut your expenditures.
Cooking: as above, with changing the type of food you eat, you should also think about the method of preparation. Use a kettle to boil water; Use more one-pot recipes such as home-made soup, stir-fry, or curry, making sure you use a good thick-bottomed pot; If you have one, use a Crockpot, which can cut down on energy costs dramatically. Make more than you need, freeze it, and re-heat in a microwave.
Showers: it's no secret that hot water uses energy, but in winter a hot shower can be incredibly enticing. If you want to save money, buy a cheap water-proof timer and time your showers. Aim to reduce them by 10 seconds each shower until you reach a point where you feel you couldn't take any more time off and still come out clean (and shaven). I usually have my showers at night, allowing my body to cool down ready for sleep and reducing the need for hair drying equipment.
Washing clothes and dishes: some countries offer discounts to households which run large appliances only at night. If you have a washing machine or dishwasher equipped with a timer function, and these discounts are available in your area, take advantage! Just make sure you empty it in the morning. Also, make sure you have a full load each time you use one of these machines, and use the cold water cycle of washing machines. If you're running your dishwasher during the day, open it before the heat dry cycle begins. Your dishes will still dry, they will just take a bit extra time and won't be warm.
And the final and most important tip: dress warmly, inside and out...
... because being blue isn't sexy.
Keep your heating equipment functioning well
Make sure your boiler or heater gets a check-up early. Like, now. It will decrease your headache if it goes on the fritz in January. This has to be done by a qualified professional, but in order to make sure the boiler isn't working overtime for nothing, you need to make sure your radiators are free of dust. Before you turn them on for the first time, run a dusting cloth attached to an unbent coat hanger between the heating panels of the radiator, making sure all the dust is gone.
If you have hot-water radiators, connected to a boiler, make sure the air is thoroughly bled from them. Do this by using either a wrench or a special radiator key to open the valve on the side of the radiators. Hold an old cloth or some paper towels against the valve to prevent any spillage when the air is removed. As an added bonus for this style of radiators, stick sheets of aluminium foil with blu-tak to the wall behind the radiators. This will propagate the heat out into the room, heating it faster and more effectively.
Know your energy plan
There are many energy plans out there, with different prices for different types of energy (gas, oil, and electricity). Know what your house or apartment uses for heating, cooking, and water heating (these can be different), and what your energy plan is charging you per unit. This information should be found on your energy bill. Use this information to compare to other energy suppliers. If you find a cheaper solution, phone up your own supplier and threaten to switch. Chances are, they want to keep a paying customer, and will put you on a cheaper plan if one is available.
Another tip for dealing with the energy suppliers is not to pay by direct debit. Although it may seem nice to have a single, flat rate each month to pay, and to have it leave your bank account worry-free, you could be paying too much. By paying through a per-usage, meter read system, you could not only save money, but you will be more conscious of your monthly usage, and therefore able to cut down on your usage in a conscious way.
Acknowledge your circumstances
If you need to heat your house, you're not living in a tropical country. There is therefore no reason why your house should be heated to 30*C. Lower the temperature and add a layer. You will save loads of money.
There are some other tricks of the cold-country trade which should be learned if you're new to this situation:
(1) take your shoes off at the door and switch to slippers or thick socks
(2) eat more complex carbohydrates (providing heat and energy for longer) and protein
(3) have a sofa-blanket so you can snuggle up warmly while watching TV or reading a book
(4) wear warm pyjamas and sleep under a duvet (better than blankets!)
(5) turn the heating down at night and when you're not in the house - you need it to be warm enough to not have pipes freeze (minimum inside temperature of about 16*C) - but it needn't be blasting heat when you're not going to enjoy it
(6) get any door and window leaks seen to and plugged, before the cold weather really starts. Nothing kills your buzz like a draft.
Recognize other areas your energy cost is going
Cooking, showering, and using hot water cycles on washing machines and dishwashers also contribute to your monthly energy costs. Cutting down on these is a hidden way to cut your expenditures.
Cooking: as above, with changing the type of food you eat, you should also think about the method of preparation. Use a kettle to boil water; Use more one-pot recipes such as home-made soup, stir-fry, or curry, making sure you use a good thick-bottomed pot; If you have one, use a Crockpot, which can cut down on energy costs dramatically. Make more than you need, freeze it, and re-heat in a microwave.
Showers: it's no secret that hot water uses energy, but in winter a hot shower can be incredibly enticing. If you want to save money, buy a cheap water-proof timer and time your showers. Aim to reduce them by 10 seconds each shower until you reach a point where you feel you couldn't take any more time off and still come out clean (and shaven). I usually have my showers at night, allowing my body to cool down ready for sleep and reducing the need for hair drying equipment.
Washing clothes and dishes: some countries offer discounts to households which run large appliances only at night. If you have a washing machine or dishwasher equipped with a timer function, and these discounts are available in your area, take advantage! Just make sure you empty it in the morning. Also, make sure you have a full load each time you use one of these machines, and use the cold water cycle of washing machines. If you're running your dishwasher during the day, open it before the heat dry cycle begins. Your dishes will still dry, they will just take a bit extra time and won't be warm.
And the final and most important tip: dress warmly, inside and out...
... because being blue isn't sexy.
Thursday 1 November 2012
Flower headband for under $2
I taught myself to
crochet last week, because I'm separated from my fabric and sewing machine, and
this was cheaper than buying a new machine in utter desperation. My first
project was a bunny rabbit, which has major issues with lopsidedness. But my
second project was this super-cute flower headband.
It was incredibly easy to
make. I used this free pattern for the flower from the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog (which I found while searching on
Pinterest) and I made the band by doing a continuous chain from the light
coloured yarn until it was the right length to go around my head, and then
putting a double crochet into each stitch all the way along. I then attached
the loose ends of the band to the flower to make the headband.
The hook cost $1.69, and the
coloured yarns cost $1.99 each, but I already had the hook, and I only used a
small portion of each ball of yarn, so I work out the cost to be under $2. It
would probably cost about $10 if bought ready-made (although it might also look
a bit more polished!).
I’ll be coming back with
a new tip next week, but it’s taking a bit of time to put together and
research.
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