Can Christmas be over yet?

It is no secret amongst my friends that December has to be my least favorite month of the year. It is expensive, stressful, and I always seem to get large, unexpected bills in December. This year is no exception.

Work has been crazy lately but is finally starting to let up now. I am still trying to figure out my Christmas gifts (and I despise Christmas shopping!) for a couple of people. I got some medical and other bills that are also helping to wipe out some more money which annoys me.

I am ready for 2012. Three more weeks to go and it is over with. I like seeing my family over Christmas but all the other crap seems to cast a shadow over it. At least I have some awesome food to look forward too!

Shopping for new sunglasses

Based on the recommendation of an eye doctor years ago I only buy polarized sunglasses. He suggested them since I was traveling and driving a lot and needed to protect my eyes from UV rays. I do not wear contacts or eye glasses so I can get whatever I want.

For years I bought Oakley sunglasses because I liked their design and lightweight metal frames that lasted for a long time. I had my first pair for over 7 years before I stupidly left them while traveling in Vietnam in 2006. I went threw a few pairs of cheap ones before getting a new pair in 2008. I again bough Oakleys since I liked what they offered.

Apparently their quality went down quite a bit but their prices were high. I have had my pair break twice since owning them and I have sent them back for repair twice. They broke for a third time (arms fell off all three times) only a week or so after I got them fixed. I have swan off Oakley for the rest of my life.

I recently saved up some money to finally replace them. Right now I literally have the arms super glued on as a band aid. I decided that I am not going to spend a month in southeast Asia without proper sunglasses. I went online and started to research polarized Ray-Ban sunglasses. I narrowed it down to a pair that I liked.

I got the model number and began searching on Google Shopping. The MSRP was $225(!) which is not uncommon for good, metal frame polarized sunglasses. I found a reputable eyeglasses website that got good reviews on Goolge Shopping. They had the same pair for $136. Much better!

My only let down is that they are back ordered. I should have them in a couple of weeks.  I can make it until my trip in November so I have no huge rush. It makes sense that the lowest price Ray-Ban retailer would be sold out. Patience pays when you are shopping.

I hope these are more durable than the Oakleys I have now. I don't abuse them or do anything out of the ordinary so I know that is not the issue. I personally believe poor engineering and design are the problem in this case.

Staying Ahead: Pay Retail Price as LAST resort

If someone says they can't stick to a budget then they simply are not trying. I used to think this too until I sat down and did a full evaluation of my finances and what is really important to me.

One of the methods I used to stay ahead is to shop around for what I need. For example: I need to buy some new clothes. My shorts and jeans are worn and have holes in them. I need replacements but don't have a lot money set aside to go buy all brand new stuff. Instead I look to other sources.

When I go clothes shopping (maybe once per year, I hate it!) I always start at Goodwill. They have a good selections and very affordable. I then look to my local thrift stores to fill any gaps. If I still cannot find what I need I look to closeout stores such as Ross and also check for coupons. Finally if the need is dire I will go to Old Navy (with coupons) and get what I need.

The main point of this, no matter what you are buying, is to buy retail as a last resort. Why pay full price if you don't have too? Use coupons, gift cards, sales, thrift stores, ebay, craigslist, and any other resource you can to get the costs down. Do otherwise is just plain lazy and irresponsible.

Shop smarter not harder!

Clearance Aisle Shopping: Save tons!

This is another small shopping hack I use when I am shopping. I always check the clearance area for what I need. This works well for groceries, home supplies, office stores, clothes, and the like. I have done well and it saves me around 50% of the normal cost or more.

Examples of clearance items:

• Post-it notes: $2 for a $10 package of 10 pads
• Canned Soup: 50 cents for a can normally $1+ (check dates)
• $4 for 24 rolls of toilet paper (clearance)
• Closeout copy paper: $1 per ream
• Clothes: Out of season stuff is always marked way down

I could go on forever. Deals are to be had for one with a good eye. I always check the clearance area of my local grocery for stuff that is still within the good by date and I will actually use it before then. Make sure it is an item you actually need. Even on clearance it is not a bargain if you do not need it!

Never buy an extended warranty!

I get asked this all the time by friends. Should I buy the extended warranty on my computer, tv, etc. The answer is always no. These have a high profit margin for the sellers of the warranty as not many of it gets used. That is why you are always asked when you buy things.

Instead take the money you would have spent on the warranty and put it in your emergency fund if you are really that worried about it. It will earn interest, be there for other uses if the need arises, and can go towards buying a replacement if you end up actually needing it. If you end up not needing the "warranty" in your savings account then you just keep the money!

In my experience I have found that if I did buy the extended warranty it would have been wasted money about 90% (if not more) of the time. So a good practice would be to take 10% of the cost of each electronic item and put it in savings. It will be covered! No need to tie up your money in extended warranties and insurance. Do it yourself!

Never go grocery shopping hungry!

This is a lesson that I learned early on in life. It was not completely obvious to me at first but when I began to think about it I soon realized what was happening. I ended up spending a lot more that I had originally intended too and bought things I did not need. Some of that eventually was wasted. I devised a system to correct this!

Going grocery shopping hungry will make everything look extra-good to you. Suddenly things that you sort of like or even don't like look delicious. I also tend to buy more junk foods when I shop hungry. My solution to this is to go shopping an hour or two after a meal. I can then stick to my list and only deviate if something is at a bargain and I can stock up without waste.

The inverse can also be a hindrance here. If you go shopping too full then you will not get everything you need and end up having to go back later to pick up those items. This wastes time, gas, and money because you are not exactly in the mood to think about food or eating. Give yourself time to feel less stuffed and then go.

If time is an issue and you are hungry you are much better off stopping for at least a snack before hitting the supermarket. It can be a $1 cheeseburger, bag of chips, candy bar, or anything! Spending that $1 can save you 10 or 20 fold in the supermarket since you won't be hungry and looking at all the great foods around you. Before you walk in the door just make sure you don't feel really hungry or stuffed and you will be able to stick to your list and move on!