Category Archives: Money saving steps

Snow Day!!!

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I had a good old-fashioned snow day on Sunday.  It was glorious.  I didn’t leave my house.  No errands to the grocery store.  No shoveling (as the snow fell throughout the daylight hours).  Just me and my husband and my cats, all snuggled on the couch together watching movies on TV.

Adulthood can sometimes hit extra hard.  You get in the rut of working five days a week and running around to complete all the chores required of an adult on the other two days.  And it can wear a person down.  Laundry and groceries and filling the car with gas and cleaning the house and paying the bills….it gets to be a lot on top of a 40 hour a week job.  And the older you get, the harder it becomes to balance things.  At least that has been my experience.  I remember in my 30’s and early 40’s having a lot more energy to do “adulthood” tasks after a day of work.  But I just don’t have that energy anymore.  When I get home from work, I’m pretty much done for the day.  There’s nothing left in my tank.

When I saw that Sunday was going to be a bad day for driving, I got all my “out of the house” chores done on Saturday.  Sunday morning I made French toast for breakfast.  When a snow storm is on its way everyone seems to flock to the grocery stores to buy bread, eggs, and milk.  Since those are the ingredients in French toast, I like to celebrate snow days by making this unofficial breakfast of snowstorms.  And after breakfast I settled in to enjoy the coziness of my living room.  It was pure joy.  It had been many months since my last day of full relaxation.  And it reminded me how important it is to take care of yourself.

Self-care doesn’t have to come with a price tag.  It doesn’t have to involve a spa or a salon or a vacation or a shopping spree.  Self-care can be as simple as a day that you don’t leave home and you just watch movies and pet your cat.  My Sunday snow day filled me with happiness and recharged my batteries.  And it didn’t cost a dime (outside the groceries and streaming subscriptions I was already paying for).

Life can be overwhelming.  We live in a complicated and divisive time.  A lot of people are carrying the burdens of anger and fear.  Please remember to practice kindness.  And that includes being kind to yourself.

I hope you are able to experience the pure joy of a good old-fashioned snow day like I just did.

PA Mini-Market Loyalty

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Every once in a while I have to remind myself how lucky I am to live in Pennsylvania.  Sure…we’ve got beautiful scenery and competitive sports teams.  But more importantly, we have the battle of Sheetz versus Wawa.  The south has Buc-ees.  Wisconsin has Kwik Trip.  And I love both of those.  But when it comes down to it, I swear by the Pennsylvania-based mini-markets. The Philadelphians and other eastern Pennsylvanians (and New Jersey folks) are committed to Wawa.  But despite the fact that my mother grew up in suburban Philly and I went to Wawa many times before I even knew Sheetz existed, I am a Sheetz girl through and through.  Maybe it’s the fact that the company is based just down the highway in Altoona.  Maybe it’s nostalgia for the giant fountain beverage that used to come in a cup labeled “The Big Pig.”  Maybe it’s the convenience of the many locations down the east coast and into the Midwest. Maybe it’s because it’s the first place that I used a store-branded refillable coffee mug to get my caffeine when I entered adulthood.  It could be any or all of these things.

There are three different Sheetz stores within walking distance of my house.  And I frequent all of them with some regularity.  The obvious reason is that it’s a convenient place to get gas for my car. And with the stacked benefits of the My Sheetz loyalty card and my Sheetz branded credit card, I get instant savings of eight cents per gallon on gas.  And as I buy food and other things inside the mini-market, that earns me reward points that I can use to further reduce the price of gasoline.

When I take a road trip, I tend to move from Sheetz to Sheetz along my journey.  There are only a few layouts of the stores, so I’m always in familiar surroundings no matter where I am.  There is always a convenient rest room, a cold drink or hot coffee, and a quick meal or snack available.  And they are open 24/7, so I can always count on them to be there when I need something. A newspaper and an adult beverage to close out Thanksgiving day?  Sheetz had my back.  When I get too far from the familiar red canopy, it always makes me a bit nervous and uncomfortable…like I’m missing a friend.  I always feel better on a return trip when I know I am back in Sheetz country.

I also do a lot of my banking at Sheetz.  My credit union does not have any local branches.  So when I need actual cash, I need an ATM.  Sheetz has exactly the ATM I need.  Every Sheetz has an ATM that does not charge fees.  And my credit union also does not charge fees.  So Sheetz is my bank whenever I need a little cold, hard cash.

I know there are a lot of Wawa lovers among my readers.  But Sheetz saves me money on a regular basis.  Regardless of your loyalty, one thing is certain.  We are very fortunate to be blessed with great mini-market chains in Pennsylvania!

Saving at the Pump

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How much does a gallon of gasoline cost?  Nobody knows.  The price of gasoline is all over the place in Centre County right now.  A gallon of 87 octane can cost anywhere from $3.54 to $3.85, depending on what station you visit.  Even the prices from one Sheetz to another can vary depending on which end of State College you are on. It’s enough to make you crazy.  I’m accustomed to prices varying from city to city, but not such large disparity within one town!

I’ve never been the kind of person to drive around chasing the best price for a gallon of gas.  But a difference of 30 cents per gallon when I put 13 gallons into my Subaru is $3.90.  That’s more than the cost of one gallon.  And that’s worth driving a little further for—there’s no way that I’m going to burn a whole gallon of gas just driving across town to the less expensive station.

Luckily there are ways to lower your per gallon price, as well as ways to know how much your local stations are charging before you make the drive.  I’ll be honest….that $3.54 per gallon price is at Sam’s Club, so you can only take advantage of that with an annual membership (which I maintain for other reasons—gas prices are a bonus for me).  But there are stations in Bellefonte charging similar prices without a membership fee.  I’m a Sheetz loyalist, but my local Sheetz has the advertised price of $3.85.  I never pay full price for gas at Sheetz, though.  I save three cents per gallon by using my My Sheetz card, and an additional five cents per gallon for using my Sheetz branded credit card.  I also collect rewards and offers on my My Sheetz card, so right now I have an extra 11 cents off per gallon waiting to be used.  That will bring my next Sheetz gas purchase down to $3.66 at my local Sheetz, or $3.56 at one at the other end of town.  Sam’s is still cheaper, but not enough to make it worth going out of my way.

So how is a person to know where to go to get the best price on gas?  Just driving around defeats the purpose.  Thankfully, there is an app for that.  I use the Gas Buddy app on my phone to check the prices at local stations whenever it is time to fill my tank.

Someday I’ll get an electric car so I can avoid all this gasoline nonsense and just charge up at home.  But that’s not an option for me right now.  But I feel like I’m making the best decisions I can to fuel up in an economical way.  Are you getting your best deal on fuel?

 

 

Fall is a Great Time to Prepare for Winter

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When I woke up this morning it was really cold outside.  It came on all of a sudden, as it tends to do in Pennsylvania.  So as we move toward the winter months (which seem to last from November through April in Pennsylvania), it’s a great time to think about things you can do to be prepared for winter.

First, it’s a good idea to check your home for places that cold may seep in.  If you have drafty windows or doors, you may want to add plastic over the windows, insulated drapes, and perhaps tuck a towel (or some other fancier draft stopper) under the door.  If you have cold walls, hanging a tapestry or quilt can add a layer of insulation.  If your floors are cold, area rugs can help.  And if you have houseplants, you should move them away from the windows a bit so they don’t get too cold.

It’s also a great idea to make sure you are ready when the snowflakes start flying.  I have seen several inches of unexpected snow in central Pennsylvania as early as mid-October.  If you have steps or a sidewalk that could get icy, now is the right time to procure a bag of salt or other ice melter.  If you have a car, make sure to throw in that ice scraper and snow brush now.  And if you don’t have a snow shovel, you may want to get one in case you have to dig out your car.

It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes a winter storm can be bad enough that we lose power.  Are you prepared for the loss of power?  Know where you have a flashlight or battery powered lantern.  Have warm clothing and blankets on hand in case your apartment gets too cold for the norm.  Have some shelf-stable food and plenty of water available in case you can’t get out for a few days.

As the foliage is just turning its glorious colors, it seems weird to be thinking about winter.  But preparing for winter in advance is much easier than heading into it without forethought.

Road Warrior Hydration

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I’ve been traveling a lot lately.  Some for fun.  Some for work.  Some for family obligations.  And when I travel—whether it be by car, bus, train, or airplane—there are two things I always bring along:  my travel coffee mug and my re-usable water bottle.  For air travel (as I’m doing while I write this) they have to go through security empty.  For a car trip they always start full.  But I’m always glad I have them—not just for the travel itself, but also for the time I am away from home.

When in a hotel, there is often free coffee available.  I’m partial to hotels that offer free breakfast, so that’s always a chance to fill my travel mug.  Some hotels offer a coffee pot in the room, so that’s another chance to fill that cup.  Hotel doesn’t have any free coffee options?  That happens, but when you bring your own mug, a cup of joe costs less than if it comes in a disposable cup at most places (including Starbucks, Sheetz, Panera, and many others). And it’s much better for the environment not to be using all those single use cups!  While I’m at my conference this week I’ll fill my 20 ounce cup at the conference breakfast each day, and that caffeine fix will keep me going through the morning sessions for sure.

Hotels always have a water source as well.  And I’m not just talking about the tap in your room’s bath.  One of the best kept secrets in hotel life is the water cooler in the exercise room.  Whether or not you choose to lace up for a treadmill run, you still have access to that nice, cold water to fill your bottle.  Fancy hotels may have a cooler of cucumber or fruit laced water in the lobby. And I’ve started noticing water integrated into the juice dispenser or a stand-alone bottle filler at those hotels with the free breakfast.  Bottle filling stations have been popping up in more and more places over the last several years.  I started seeing them in airports about ten years ago—long before the one you know best was installed in the Katz Building.  But I’ve run into them in malls, convention centers, and arenas.  I expect that upward trend in filtered bottle fillers will continue, as the world tries to steer itself away from single use plastics.  I’m pretty certain that my conference this week will provide me with coolers of ice water from which I can keep my bottle filled this week.  Hydration is important!

Do you have a go-to travel mug and refillable water bottle?  If not, it’s probably time to look into it.  They’ll save you money as well as keeping you hydrated and caffeinated!

 

A Day in the Life of a Cheapskate

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I spent the weekend living like a cheapskate.  I didn’t try to.  I just kind of lived my weekend life as I normally do, and it turns out my brain kind of defaults to less expensive choices.

The highlight of fall weekends for me is watching Penn State football games on TV.  But I don’t have cable.  I do have an assortment of streaming services, but none of them were carrying this week’s game.  I usually subscribe to one of the “watch live TV” services at some point during the football season (and carry it through bowl games), but I was trying to put it off as long as I can.  I won’t be home for next week’s game, so if I could find a way to watch this week’s for free I would be good until mid-October.  So I signed up for a one week free trial for one of the services I’m not planning to use for the full season, but had the Penn State game.  The next day I canceled the service so I wouldn’t be charged.  I feel a little bad for taking advantage of the service like that….but not that bad.  I usually do this once a year, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

For dinner on Saturday I was thinking about getting a slab of barbeque ribs from the warehouse club.  But the $18 price tag made me rethink that.  I also thought about ordering a pizza.  But ultimately I pulled out my Instant Pot and made a pot of soup.  It was a lot cheaper than the other two options.  And likely better for me.  And we have leftovers.

I also needed to buy some jeans this weekend.  Apparently the Covid-19 pounds that I gained have morphed into the Covid 29, and now my pants don’t fit.  But I like the jeans I have.  I just need the next size up (until I can get myself back on the treadmill to get my weight under control).  Rather than buy new, I went to my favorite resale site, Poshmark.  I found a bundle of three pair in my new (hopefully temporary) size for a good price, so I bought it.  I like buying used clothes.  It’s less expensive to buy better quality that way.  And it’s better for the environment to reuse like that.  So much fast fashion ends up in the world’s landfills, so I just feel better about reusing an item somebody didn’t want anymore.

I guess I have the mindset of a cheapskate.  And I’m fine with that.  I can dress it up and say that I’m “choosing a frugal lifestyle” or something like that, but the reality is I’m pretty cheap in regular life.  And I’m pretty sure that’s a good way to be for this era of super high inflation.  If my default is to keep costs low, that makes it a lot easier to get to the next paycheck.

Do you default to the less expensive options?  Should you?

Inflation!

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Inflation.  It’s all over the news.  The inflation rate this year is the highest it has been in 40 years.  And now I find myself changing my behaviors to address the higher cost of just about everything.

It all started with the thermostat in my house.  I read throughout the fall that I should expect significantly higher heating costs this winter.  I decided to be proactive and turned down the temperature in my house by 2 degrees by day and 7 degrees by night.  It hasn’t had any negative impact on my daily life and I get to spend extra time in cozy hoodies and under blankets and with cuddly cats on my lap.  I am indeed using less natural gas than last year.  And I’m paying a lot more for it, so I’m truly grateful that I took action early.

Then came the gas pump changes.  Gasoline is incredibly expensive right now.  And changing my driving habits isn’t really a very viable option for me.  So I’m being extra careful about chasing the lowest prices.  I know from my experiences that the price per gallon varies wildly even within State College.  The cheapest prices are on the north end of town, near the sad mall, and even cheaper just north of there in Bellefonte.  And the ultimate lowest price in the area is at the members-only warehouse club across from the sad mall.  But don’t take my word for it, because these things can change on a moment’s notice.  Take a look at the Gas Buddy app.  It will tell you the most recent gas prices wherever you happen to be.  I know that when I need to fill my tank, I try to do so when I’m near the places with the lower prices.

Most recently I’ve been changing my grocery shopping habits.  A lot of the supplies that I used to keep on a monthly auto-ship I have recently dropped from the convenient delivery process.  It’s just significantly cheaper for me to buy a lot of these things at the warehouse club.  It’s less convenient, but the savings is worth it at a time that groceries in general (and especially pet supplies) are soaring in price.  In addition to changing where I buy, I also find myself changing what I buy.  Beef is barely a part of my diet anymore because the price is just too high. Now I eat mostly pork and poultry proteins, as well as vegetarian options such as beans and eggs.  And in the winter months I tend toward frozen berries and vegetables to keep the costs manageable for these out-of-season fruits and veggies.

I suspect the cost of things is going to get worse before it gets better.  I’m sure more changes lie in my future.  I’m hoping that I won’t need to make any major purchases in the near future.  (Hang in there Prius and refrigerator….you can keep going a little longer!!!)  Inflation is stressful.  But it’s our current reality.  We can’t easily change the state of the economy.  But we can change how we react to it.

 

The True Price of a Task I Hate

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I hate packing my lunch.  Every night after I finish the dinner dishes I take the time to set up the coffee maker for the next morning and pack up all the food I need to take to work the next day.  I truly hate doing it.  But I hate the alternative even more.

I’m a “graze all day” kind of girl.  I eat lots of little things throughout the day rather than zoning in on three big meals with nothing in between.  Bringing my own food and drink to work makes it a lot easier for me to do that.  And bringing my own food and coffee makes it easy for me to access the food.   I carry a small cooler with my food and a Thermos for my coffee.  They’re right there by my desk whenever I want something.  And I also am able to make sure I have healthy foods that way (or the occasional not-as-good for me but delicious leftover from the prior night’s dinner).

Of course, the biggest reason I’m a “brown bagger” is the money.  If I were to buy all my lunches and drinks at work it would easily cost me $50 per week.  And I simply can’t justify that expense.  That’s too high a premium to pay for food that is not as good for me, less convenient, and not conducive to my normal grazing behavior.  I’m fairly certain that even with recent inflation, the food I bring to work with me doesn’t cost me more than $25 per week.  And it’s likely less than that.

I hate packing my lunch.  But it only takes me about 15 minutes a day.  Each week a total of 1.25 hours of work saves me $25.  That’s a rate of $20 per hour.  And for $20 per hour I can absolutely do something I hate for one and a quarter hours per week.

Do you have a chore you hate that is totally worth it?

Before the Snow Flies…

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It got cold last week.  I had to scrape ice off my windshield before driving to work.  The heat in my house is running all the time now.  And any way you slice it, winter is expensive in the northeast part of the country.  So I like to take some time to think about things I can do now, before the snow flies, to make things more affordable.

This weekend I took the first step by putting air in the tires of my cars.  You likely remember from high school science classes that gasses expand in the heat and contract in the cold.  The air in your car’s tires is a gas, so when the temperature drops, the air pressure in your tires also drops.  If you are driving around on under-inflated tires, you not only will get fewer miles to the gallon, you also can end up with uneven wear on your tires.  Uneven wear will require you to need to replace your tires sooner.  So stop by your local Sheetz, where the digital air pumps are free, and air up those tires.  Air is free.  Tires are not!

Now is also the time to focus on warming up life inside the house.  The easy way to do that is by cranking up the heat.  But the smarter way to do it is with insulation.  Do you have windows that leak a lot of cold air?  Cover them with plastic.  Do you have a wall that is particularly cold?  Hang a blanket on it.  Add flannel sheets and an extra blanket to your bed so you can turn down the heat at night.  Bundle up with sweaters and hoodies so you can keep the heat lower when you are awake.  Keep some cozy blankets on the couch for bundling up while you read or watch TV.

I actually get excited about the start of winter.  I love the crisp air and the look of a fresh blanket of snow.  I enjoy having a cup of hot coffee with a warm cat on my lap.  I like wearing a lot of layers of clothing.  I love soups and stews and casseroles—the low cost meals that fill my winter.  Many people dread the winter.  But I think it’s my favorite season.

Are you ready for winter?  If not, now is the time to start preparing for it.

 

Lessons from a Road Trip

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My husband and I took a bit of a vacation recently.  And when I look back on it, I see that we did a lot of things right from a financial perspective.  And we also did a lot of things wrong.

Our five day adventure was a road trip to Chicago.  We traveled by car instead of airplane, which saved us several hundred dollars.  Yes…it took us 10 hours or so each way.  But we enjoy each other’s company…especially on a road trip.  Yes…we paid about $40 each direction in tolls as we took the turnpike all the way across both Ohio and Indiana.  But it could have been much more expensive (and a lot more annoying) if we hadn’t used our EZ Pass.  And yes…we had to fill the gas tank several times.  But we were driving our 2008 Prius and averaged 47 miles per gallon over the whole trip.  All in all, our travel cost was very inexpensive!

While we were in Chicago we stayed with friends who live there.  They didn’t have a guest bed to offer, so we took along our camping cots and sleeping bags.  And our lodging was completely free for our four night stay!  That’s as inexpensive as it gets.  A great choice as well as great company!

Our primary reason for traveling was to see a pair of concerts at Wrigley Field.  Entertainment is always one of those areas where I feel guilty about spending money.  But we bought the cheap seats.  We weren’t right in front of the stage or even on the field level.  We were actually pretty far out to the edges of the viewing area both nights.  But we could see the giant screens and we could hear every note.  If I had it to do again, I would buy the same seats.

The place where we did nearly everything wrong was with food and drink.  We ate out too often.  We bought too much food and beverage at the concerts.  We treated our friends to meals and drinks.  We bought too much road food while we were traveling.  We could have done all of that a lot more frugally.  We should have packed road food and beverages in a cooler.  We should have eaten in more.  We should not have purchased concert beverages and ballpark hot dogs.  Even with treating our friends, we still could have shaved a hundred dollars or more off of our food and beverage bill by simply planning ahead and being smarter.

As we travel through life, there are always places that we see we did things right (YAY!!!).  And there will always be places that we find we could have made better choices.  This road trip is a perfect example of that.  Do I regret the trip?  Absolutely not!  Will I make better decisions on my next road trip?  Probably.  At least I hope so.  The only truly bad decisions are the ones we fail to learn from.