Hailey's Helpful Hints

  Did you know that 96.8 million adults will use digital coupons this year? Are you one of them? Normally I am not but my mom recently turned me on to RetailMeNot.com. If I'm not shopping on Amazon, I'll always search the store on Retail Me Not prior to purchasing to see if they have a valid promo code to save a little extra. Wondering where to look? The Internet can be a treasure trove when it comes to getting the most for your money. Thanks to Family Circle magazine, Denise Winston, author of Money Starts Here! Your Practical Guide to Survive and Thrive in Any Economy , and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch, these recommended sites are the best to bookmark for bargains on food, fun and more. CouponBlender.com At this gateway to savings, you'll see dozens of deals at a glance from the top couponing destinations (the homepage is constantly updated with a slew of news feeds). Each of the featured sites includes a range of shopping categories, so you can snag coup...

...that certain colors influence your spending? Thanks to Real Simple magazine, I came across this article that I thought was too good not to share. Marketing experts agree that people subconsciously associate specific social or cultural messages with color. Next time you walk through the mall, look at the rainbow of colors on signs, labels, doors, and shopping bags. These colors are usually always strategically placed in an effort to get you to loosen your purse strings. Below explains how 10 different shades affect your purchasing habits; BLACK: The signature color of sophistication (hello little black dress), it dominates high-end makeup packaging and can even make inexpensive blushes and lipsticks seem more upscale. Insert: MAC cosmetics. BLUE: Most people like blue. No wonder it connotes trust and dependability and is a favorite logo color for financial institutions seeking to make people feel more secure. Insert: My husband's company, Deloitte & Touche. Blue can im...

  While some of us have our shopping completely done, others haven't even started so here's a quick tip to avoid spending more... Retail stores have a clever way to get you to spend more: "the decoy effect." Behavioral research conducted by Dan Ariely, Ph.D of Duke University, has shown that when customers were given a choice between two products, one of which is priced lower and is lower quality (say an MP3 Player that holds fewer songs), they'll often choose the cheaper one. BUT when a third (decoy) item is introduced at an even higher price, shoppers are more likely to opt for the mid-priced-one. Meaning - adding another product nudges shoppers up the price scale instead of making them stick with the bargain buy. Bottom line: Think carefully when you see a display of products at varied prices, and hold steady at the price you can afford.

A product I can't live without: The Quarter Dispenser. I love it so much I gave it as a summer "Favorites" gift at our most recent girl get-together. For $2.99, you can have a stash of quarters handy and organized. Perfect for when you pull up to the beach and you unexpectedly have to pay a parking meter. Great for toll roads on those summertime road trips. Camping. Laundromats. A spontaneous stop for ice cream when you don't have your wallet. Also a great gift for a recent grad going off to college for laundry and vending machines. Just stock with quarters and throw it in your center console or glove compartment of your car so you're never inconvenienced again. Or buy two and put one in your travel bag or purse. Truly a must have. Available at The Container Store

Use less - of EVERYTHING. If you’re looking to save money, there are some obvious solutions; you might want to track your spending, avoid impulse buys or try going cash-only. But have you ever thought that you might be throwing savings down the drain, literally? Do you know how much you really need of things of consumable goods like like shampoo and dish soap? Sierra Black of Get Rich Slowly recommends  using half of what you normally would. The idea is to reduce half the amount of these things you use by doling out smaller portions. Normally use a quarter-size dollop of shampoo? Try cutting back to a dime. There’s no need to stop at half, actually. You can keep scaling back your usage gradually until you hit a point where you actually don’t have enough, and then creep back up to the last place it felt good. Maybe that dime-size drop of shampoo isn’t enough for your hair, but a nickel-size portion gets the job done nicely. This approach  - he calls the 50% solution...

If taking charge of your finances is one of your New Year's resolutions, then this post is for you. Anymore it's naive to think you have to stand in line at the bank or be near a computer to take care of your money. It's 2012 people - managing your money from a mobile device is legit and has many advantages. In fact - Carl Scheible, managing director of PayPal UK, claims that by 2016 you'll be able to leave your wallet at home and use your mobile as the 21st century digital wallet. Crazy huh? Seems alittle Jetson'ish but I guess it's the sign of our digital times. So if you're pressed for time, want to feel more organized with your accounts and/or feel like you need to become more current with how you do your finances, give these mobile apps a try; Pocket Money -- Allows you to track unlimited accounts (checking, savings, etc.), make deposits and transfers, and much more. Sync with certain desktop expense programs for easy data tranmission. ($4.99, iPhone ...

...FIND A WAY TO SAVE $25. Now I know money is tight as it is but I can almost guarantee that you're spending money here and there that you don't need to. Brew your own pot of coffee at home. Forego the 'Value Meal' that sets you back $6.00 and pack your own lunch. Paint your own nails instead of going to the nail salon. (That's $20 right there!) Buy a bottle of wine from the grocery store instead of hitting up your after work Happy Hour spot. Meet your girlfriend for a walk instead of coffee. Use up the beauty products in your cabinet before rushing out to buy brand new. Buy generic, not name-brand. Don't give into buying the overpriced goodies at the concession stands at sporting events. If you can get in the habit of doing this on a regular basis, you'll be amazed at how much the un -necessary items add up. And how much more money you'll have to spend on things you do need! If you're like me and need to visibly see your work pay off, put the mone...

I was recently asked by a friend of mine what we do with old bills. I can't take credit for Dave's 3-ringer binder system but it's very effective in keeping paper organized. Unfortunately I don't have time right now to go into detail on how this system works but I think with any organizational project it's important to weed out the bad before you do anything good. The same principle applies when packing to move - don't waste time packing stuff that you know doesn't have a place in the new house. Toss (or donate) beforehand. With that being said, any good organizational project requires time to figure out if you really need it. So the big question is; what do you save and what do you shred? Keep for 1 month: Credit card receipts Sales receipts for minor purchases Withdrawal and deposit slips - Toss after you have checked them against your monthly statement Keep for 1 year: Paycheck stubs Monthly bank, credit card, mutual fund, brokerage and retirement account...

Have you signed up to receive Mobile Coupons from Target yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Thanks to OC Deal Mama I just learned about this convenient new feature. Although I'm all about saving a buck, I'm not a "coupon-cutter" so this is right up my alley. These are Target Store coupons (that can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon on the same item for even greater savings) sent directly to your cell phone, via text message. If you would like to receive Target mobile coupons, text OFFERS to 827438 (Target), or sign up online . These are so easy to use. Simply pull the offer up on your phone at checkout, and have the cashier scan the bar code. That’s it! Request yours today!

Everyone loves alittle time away for some R&R but with this tough economy, it's hard to justify shelling out hard earned cash for a vacay. But if you're itching to get away and want to make it feasible to do within your budget, try these 9 smart strategies for a less costly summer vacation. Lift off from a smaller airport: You can reap significant savings if you’re willing to put up with a bit of inconvenience. Often you can snag a better deal on airline tickets if you bypass the majors and fly out of a regional airport instead. For example, at press time, Real Simple magazine found that it was $50 cheaper to fly to New York City from the Akron-Canton Airport than from the Cleveland hub. Use the search feature on the easy-to-navigate Kayak.com to compare airfares near you. But bear in mind: Given the high, and rising, prices at the pump, the cost of driving to a more remote airport could wipe out some of your savings. Go to fuelcostcalculator.com , run by AAA, to estimate...

Last week I did a post on children and allowance . It was such a hit that I thought I'd follow it up with some tips on how to raise a money smart kid. If the idea of schooling your child in personal finance seems overwhelming, take heart. Instilling money literacy doesn't require a lot of planning or knowledge. Focus on the basics, like comparison shopping and the importance of planning and saving. When your child masters these concepts, they'll know more than many adults. In fact, according to a 2010 survey by T. Rowe Price investment company, fewer than one in five parents give themselves top grade for their understanding of fundamental savings and investment principles. The key is to start young and keep your talks kid-friendly. As parents, we have to teach our kids so many things, and as they get older, we realize a lot of what they learn, we don’t even realize we’re teaching them… they’re learning by watching us! If we have good habits, then that’s great, but if we don...

I was recently in a convo about giving your child an allowance. Although I am years away from giving Chase any money besides the extra chump change I find at the bottom of my purse, it never hurts to start thinking about what I would do when the time comes. I always find it beneficial to talk with other veteran moms to see what worked for them to get ideas and then it makes for a great dinner conversation for Dave and I. Ultimately you are going to do what makes sense (no pun intended) for you and your family but below are helpful answers and tips to some of the questions you might be having if you're contemplating giving your child an allowance. According to Janet Bodnar, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance executive editor, and author of four books on kids and money including, Dollars & Sense for Kids, "an allowance is the best money management tool that you can give your kids." She claims that kids will spend unlimited amounts of money as long as it’s yours, but as soon a...

So I'm walking through Target the other day and as I'm trying to maneuver around two (clueless) moms lollygagging around in their designer heels pushing their high-end strollers, I hear the one say to the other as she held up an adorable polka dot dress; "Tell me this isn't cute?" "Oh my gosh, suuu -per cute!" "See, Target has cute stuff riiiiiight ??" I'm thinking...Duh, where have you been?? Continuing on... "For sure. BUT it's Target ya know!?" "I know. So get this - I found the most fabulous deal the other day for Kylie. A pink zip up Juicy jacket for $70! A- mazing !!" Time-out...$70 for one kid's item?? I don't care if it's Juicy Couture, that insane. And downright ridiculous to drop that much cash on clothing that kids are going to wear a handful of times and outgrow before you know it. C'mon . The topic of kid's clothing is such a hot button for me. Maybe money isn't an issue for th...

Ever wish you could compare an in-store item price with an online one to see which is cheaper? Or better yet - interested in what other's are saying about the product before purchasing? I know I have. Just last week in fact. After buying far too many toys that never get played with or fall apart, I've learned my lesson; check the reviews of what other mom's are saying before buying. With these fantastic new barcode scanning apps, I was able to do just that!! Talk about the perfect shopping assistant! Barcode scanning apps have revolutionized the way people shop. They have made in-store price comparison bigger than ever. Apps like RedLaser, Shopsavvy, Stripeylines, Sccopes and Thefind are all shopping companions for bargain and info hungry shoppers who want to ensure they are getting the best deal. These apps help users to search and compare products and prices, create product wishlists and favorites, listen to scanned CDs through iTunes and instantly download, purchase dire...

It's the new year and possibly a new you. Maybe a goal of yours is to become more handy. Become more ambitious. Maybe you want to save money around the house by trying to figure things out before rushing to call for help. My husband has always been a "Do It Yourself" type of guy. D.I.Y. - get it now? But he does acknowledge that there are just some things that just don't make financial sense to do them yourself. In addition to the cost of materials, you need to factor in your time (and frustration) and weigh out if it's really worth it to DIY. With the new year comes new projects. Before you decide to tackle them yourself or hire someone to save the day, you need to check out this awesome website - http://www.diyornot.com/ . This free web tool allows you to search for a project and find out the relative cost (specific to your zip code) and the time it would take to do it yourself compared to hiring a professional. The site's database also provides information ...

Is your significant other or child begging for a pet this Christmas? Are you torn on what to do? You've got a few days left before Christmas to decide what you should do. Of course you want to surprise them and make their wishes come true but the question is - can you afford one? The amount of money we spend on our pets has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, rising to more than $38 billion, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. That figure dwarfs the toy business ($23 billion) and candy industry ($24 billion). It’s not just the purchase price of a pet that costs money; it’s the feeding, grooming, vet bills, and boarding that can really add up to a lot. Before you bring that lovable critter home for the holidays, there are a few things you should consider. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with something you realistically can't afford. The following is a list of expected annual costs for your new member of the family thanks to the non-p...

Last week the topic of "holiday tipping" was suggested by a reader (Thanks Janice, I love suggestions!). My first reaction was - is holiday tipping different than everyday tipping? As I got to doing my research I quickly learned that holiday tipping is a big deal. Hmmm . Where have I been?? I personally believe you should tip because someone exceeded your expectations and provided outstanding service, no matter what time of the year. Some believe that during the holidays you should absolutely, no question about it, tip more. I do agree that the holidays are a time to say an extra special thank you to those that worked hard for you throughout the year. Where I have a problem is when those service providers begin to expect it. Tipping should come from your heart. Something you want to do, not something you feel pressured to do. I was raised to shower the people who provide year round service with gifts - not money - during the holiday season hence my naivety on "holiday ...

I received an email from a girlfriend who knows we travel a lot asking if during the holidays we ship or check our luggage? Her concern was that with all the stuff they have, they would get dinged by the airline's ridiculous baggage fees. Thanks to the massive amount of traveling my husband does for work and his MVP status, we do not incur any fees (assuming I stay under the 50 lb weight limit which isn't always easy to do) therefore we always check our luggage but in my attempt to help my friend, I set out to a little research on what makes more financial sense - to check or ship? Ironically, as I compiled my statistics, I came across an article in Real Simple magazine that was exactly what I was looking for. Below is the article that will shed some light on what to do come packing time -- Article from realsimple .com: "You probably assume that checking your luggage is the cheaper option, even though you’re stuck paying the airline about $25 for the first bag (each way) a...

If anyone loves a good deal, it's me. I will scoure Craigslist before I even think to buy new. But knowing what's a good deal vs. a not so good deal is an art. Although scoring a great deal on Craigslist and Ebay is satisfying and exciting, many second-hand purchases are actually terrible deals. A lot of the time the financial or safety risk outweighs the savings. In my companion piece, "10 things you shouldn't buy new," I listed lingerie and make-up as two items for which you'd best pay retail. Below is a list of 10 more items where the cost savings don't justify the risks of buying used: 1) Laptops : You're taking a chance when you buy any used computer, but the math really doesn't work when you're talking about a unit that's as prone to abuse and problems as a laptop. They're more likely to be dropped, banged around and spilled on, simply because they're out in the world while a desktop computer sits (mostly) safe at home. That...

Few people really enjoy wasting their hard-earned money, but many of us do it every day by buying new. We could do our pocketbooks, and the environment, a big favor by opting to be the second owner of some of the stuff we buy. Obviously, some things are best purchased new; lingerie and makeup pop quickly to mind. But lots of other stuff depreciates quickly while still having plenty of useable life left. Here are 10 items where the cost vs. use equation strongly tilts toward buying used. 1) Books, books, books : Reality is that most books don't get read more than once, if that, and they're astonishingly easy to find used at steep discounts - if not absolutely free. Although you may think of your local library as obsolete, they have hundreds of shelves of FREE reading material. Check out the abounding used books stores, both in your town and online. And don't forget about those weekend garage sales - just stop by and pick up four for $1. Exception : Reference books you'...