Archive for 2008
You’ve got a pile of coupons. Now what?
Sunday, April 6th, 2008
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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Babies & Coupons
Monday, March 31st, 2008
In The Turbo Mom’s Guide, I will be talking about coupons, but not the in the traditional way. Like when you read a saving money book and they tell you to clip your coupons and you will save money. Well, duh. But sometimes you will spend more too.
Coupons are issued by companies for one purpose: to get you to buy their stuff. So when the Sunday paper comes along with many dollars worth of coupons, we bargain shoppers get all excited. Until we find we can use about 2 of them–or we clip a bunch “just in case” we need that item. Cha-ching! Did you just hear your grocery bill go up buying items you weren’t planning on? The marketing just worked.
So where (besides the newspaper) can you get coupons for the things you really need? Particularly when it comes to baby things, since formula and diapers get expensive fast.
1. Sign up on manufacturers’ websites.Yes, you may get some junk email, but they will also send you coupons through the mail from time to time. This works best for diapers, formula and baby food companies (i.e. Gerber, Beech Nut, etc.). For those of you using formula, (or pregnant and not sure yet), scoot over to the Similac website (www.welcomeaddition.com) and Enfamil (www.enfamil.com) and sign up right away. It will take about 6 weeks for you to get your “Welcome Pack”, which will include formula samples and coupons. Thereafter, you will receive coupons from time to time.
When it comes to formula, most babies stick to one type once they start. However, if you have pregnant friends, sign up for both anyway. Then swap the coupons from the brand you are not using with a friend who is. Heck, I even signed my mom up. She figured that the mailman must have found her “Welcome Pack” pretty entertaining since she lives in a 55+ community.
2. Ask at your pediatricians’ office. Pediatricians receive coupons and samples all the time from companies trying to promote their products, and formula is right up there on the list. Initially, when we told our doc that Nicolas was on Similac’s Isomil, he dug into his supply closet and came out with sample size cans and coupons. So each time we visit, I ask him if he has any. Don’t be shy. Doctors know that babies are expensive and they are usually willing to help out in whatever way they can.
3. Ask at the stores for coupons. Stores like Walmart, Target & Costco usually don’t have widespread coupon programs, if at all. However, places like Babies ‘R Us and Gymboree do. This doesn’t only mean being on the mailing list–they also have coupons behind the registers. Cashiers will give them out when they like you or simply when they remember. And these coupons are usually good for bigger ticket items, which will help defray the cost of things like strollers and baby gates. Whenever you are in a store with a “Store Coupon Potential”, ask if they have any. Even if you don’t use them, at least you have them in your coupon arsenal!
Next week we’re going to talk about how to organize all of those coupons so you don’t lose your mind and what to do when they expire…
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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The only no-strings way to check your credit report
Sunday, March 23rd, 2008
So you are probably thinking, when is she going to start giving us some real tips on how to save money without wasting time?
We’re starting right now.
Going back to our theme of credit cards, just an update: so far, so good. We are living just fine without them. The guy at the grocery store must have thought I was a little dumb though, because I kept trying to sign my receipt when I paid with a debit card. It’s going to take a little getting used to.
Whether or not you have (or have had) a credit card, it’s still a good idea to take a look at your credit history to make sure there is no funny stuff going on.
By federal law, you can check each of the three credit reporting bureaus once per year for free. So if you check one every 4 months, you have a reasonable chance of catching any mistakes.
The problem is, there are all sorts of ads on TV about checking your credit score, use this website or that, and it will be free. Then you get to the site and surprise! It’s no longer free. What the heck?
The sneakiest thing about a majority of the ads that you see is that the most heavily advertised “free” credit services are being sold by the credit reporting bureaus themselves! Thus, the same folks required by law to give you your information for free are trying to entice you to pay for it. It’s kind of like going to a “free” event where at the entrance they have a “suggested donation” of $20.
Figuring out who is legit, who are scammers, and who will make you pay to see something that you can get for free is a pain in the butt. It gets to be so annoying that we give up and go do something else and never get around to checking our info.
The only truly free web site for obtaining your credit report is www.annualcreditreport.com.
It has links to all three credit bureaus, which you can access one at a time and see your credit history with each for free.
However, the most elusive, yet important data, your “Credit Score”, alas, is not available for free without strings.
With each reporting bureau, you have to pay to find out the information that is being used to judge you for everything from a mortgage rate to auto insurance premiums. Sick, isn’t it?
The one best known and most used is your FICO score, available at www.myfico.com. You can get a 30-day free trial to take a peek at it. If you don’t cancel, its $90 per year for the pleasure of having 24-hour access to your credit score. This can be worth it if you are thinking of buying a house, a new car, or changing insurance companies in the near future.
Otherwise, if you don’t like “free but if you forget you have to pay” offers, your other option is to use a free “estimator” on a website like www.credit.com or www.bankrate.com. This won’t give you your exact score, but will get you in the ballpark. Then you can decide if it’s worth paying for the FICO service or not.
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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A New Garden Claw! (Amongst Other Things)
Friday, March 14th, 2008
This week was dedicated to returning items that did not live up to their many promises! For one reason or another, I have procrastinated them for ages but perhaps with the coming of spring, something has stirred…
When dealing with household items, there are always inevitably problems that crop up. Things break, tools fall apart, and that feeling of aggravation sets in. Then all those of “lifetime guarantees” start to come into play. Do the companies really honor them?
I had three chances this week to find out.
The first was a storm door. We have no less than 4 storm doors on our house. One I already had replaced for free when I contact Andersen/EMCO because the retractable screen decided to stop working. And the handle stuck in the open position. And the seams split. And we only had it for a year. Not only did EMCO send us a letter that allowed us to replace for free, they had us bring the door back to our local Home Depot for disposal. What service!
This latest screen door, also an EMCO product, started rotting right through the metal (who knew metal could rot?). So same process, sent off the photos via email and customer service told me the warranty department would be in touch in a couple of weeks. Okay, so this doesn’t look so good for the products, but customer service sure has been accommodating.
We also have a busted cellular shade, perennially stuck in the down position. I will be truly honest–it has been stuck like this for almost 2 years. But we never got around to taking it back to the store. So this weekend off it went back to Home Depot, before the 3 year warranty expires in May. We received confirmation that it will be fixed for free and sent back to us.
The best of all was the Garden Claw. Yes, I admit to buying one of those silly garden tools advertised on TV when I had a weak moment a few years back in Walmart. To be fair, it does work on small plots of land, but you are not exactly going to till your field with it.
Anyway, also a couple of years ago, one of the tines completely bent and rendered it useless. So on a decent streak this week, I called up the Garden Claw people, expecting to hear some loophole as to why they wouldn’t honor their lifetime guarantee (Connecticut soil is has too many rocks, operator over 3 feet tall, whatever). To my amazement, the woman simply took my information and told me she would ship me a new Garden Claw. No questions asked. Maybe it will even get here in time for summer! I will keep you posted.
I can say that I have had relatively good luck returning things over the years. Say what you will about the U.S., but there is one thing in which we are superior (I think) to any other country I have visited or lived in. We actually value customer service. You are probably snorting with laughter when you think about this statement and the last time you tried to call your cable company.
But, if you have lived overseas, you know exactly what I am talking about. My husband, who is French, loves it. No arguing, no debating, just take things back and generally very little hassle. In France, attempting to have a dirty knife replaced in a restaurant can lead to all sorts of colorful insults and handwaving. Entertaining yes, but fun, not so much.
So the motto is: if you go to France, wipe your knife on your shirt and eat up.
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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Going Credit-Free
Monday, March 10th, 2008
This weekend, my husband and I agreed to give up using our credit cards. It’s a bit of a scary, since by doing this we end up with one month of overlapping expenses, but I think it will be worth it.
It’s a result of being a Dave Ramsey show listener and in the process of researching for this book. I have come to the realization that even though we pay off our credit card each month, it is stressful worrying where to pull the money from to cover the bill.
There are studies out there stating that if you regularly shop with a credit card, you generally spend anywhere from 12-20% more than the person who pays with cash. Why? Because when you have to dig into your wallet and pull out the actual dollars, the spending is more “real”. I find it is true for me–even though I am a careful shopper as a general rule, I am even more so when I am spending cold, hard cash!
This is not to say we are canceling our credit cards tomorrow. Instead, we will go back to how we used to live–using the card only for purchases such as airline tickets and hotel rooms, but only after the money is in the bank to pay for these things.
We are also keeping our Lowe’s/Home Depot credit cards for emergencies (remodeling a bathroom does not count as an emergency!). Like a couple of weeks ago when our garage door finally gave up. They are there if we need them, but not as a rule to use them. Only in an emergency.
A big weight has lifted off my shoulders…I like paying with cash.
Many will ask what to do about Internet purchases if you are a debit-card sort of family. Protection is paramount, so if you are a debit-only household, try using either PayPal or a “rechargeable” debit card. PayPal is widely accepted these days and is safer than sending your debit card info over the Net.
I am wondering how other moms are handling this, particularly as the price of everything seems to be skyrocketing these days.
So here’s the question: how do handle the credit card situation?
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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On Writing and Babies and Diaper Prices
Friday, February 29th, 2008
On Writing and Babies and Diaper Prices
Writing a book is a labor of love—you do it even if you don’t feel inspired that day as well as on days when you have lots to say. Sort of like getting up and going to work, but requiring a lot more self-discipline, because there is no boss waiting for you to show up.
Throw a baby into the mix and well, sometimes all bets are off. Now that Nicolas is taking regular naps, I can schedule a little better. But as you moms know, sometimes that 2 hour nap becomes 45 minutes and then you are scrambling!
Sometimes I write with him on my lap, since he is at the age that I can turn him so that he can’t reach the keyboard but is still entertained. This works well until calculators go flying and as of yesterday, I lost a page of work somehow while he was sitting with me! Thankfully I was able to retype it, but now he is relegated to the playpen while Mommy writes.
We’re also getting close to moving into a large size of diapers…which means they get more expensive, as many of you know. In my studies of diaper prices (as you will find in the coming months, I study a lot of random topics!), conventional wisdom does not always ring true. Target and Costco are not always the cheapest for diapers and our Walmart curiously does not stock sizes smaller than 3 in large boxes.
Interestingly, when you combine store issued coupons with manufacturer coupons, I tend to come out cheaper at Babies ‘R Us/Toys ‘R Us. Strange, isn’t it? The only other place I have found to be consistently less expensive is Sam’s Club (yes, even better than Costco!). But since we don’t have a Sam’s Club anywhere near us, it doesn’t help as much.
By the way, if you have a formula fed baby, I highly encourage you to sign up for both the Similac & Enfamil clubs. They’ll send you coupons ranging from $4-$7 per container, which is not a lot considering a jug of the stuff costs around $26 in the Northeast, but it helps. Sign up for both and if you have friends using the brand that you aren’t, trade coupons. The savings do add up. Heck, I even signed up my mom who lives in a 55+ community. She figured the postman got a chuckle delivering a “Welcome to Your New Addition!” package to her house. Every little bit helps!
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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Welcome!
Friday, February 15th, 2008
Welcome to the Turbo-Mom blog and thanks for visiting my web site!
The term “Turbo-Mom” blossomed from what I have seen from moms around me and being a mom myself. Whether stay-at-home, working part or full time or something in between, moms of today are always on the go.
And with the prices of just about everything going up, we are all looking to cut costs without having to sacrifice too much. And who has the time to diddle around on the internet for hours to find every solution? So let’s do it together!
Thus, the forthcoming book and this site are dedicated to helping all of the Turbo-Moms out there save some money and save some time in a fun and easy way.
It’s a place that that you can use as a resource, ask a question, learn something new, or reinforce something you already believe…or share with other moms your best money saving techniques!
I’ll be chronicling my journey through the book writing process, watching my son grow up (and perhaps being a little sad as he does!), and the every day business of living in the
When readers such as yourself post questions, I’ll answer them for you through the blog, unless they are investment related, which I will respond to directly via e-mail, since I am not allowed by securities regulations to do otherwise. This way, everyone can benefit!
If you have comments or money saving tips, I’d love to hear them and share them with the group!
A little bit about myself (beyond the “About” page!): I am the mom of my currently 4 ½ month old son Nicolas, born in September 2007. I am an Enrolled Agent (a type of tax professional) and have my own financial planning practice. My husband is French and we live in
Do visit often—as I find interesting new ways to save you money, I’ll post them in the blog.
So once again, welcome to the site and hope to see you back soon!
Kristin
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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Turbo-Mom’s Guide to Personal Finance
Monday, January 28th, 2008
Turbo-Mom’s Guide to Personal Finance is a resource for women that provides sound financial advice in an easy to read format.
Written by Kristin Delfau, a professional financial advisor and an enrolled agent, it helps moms to easily get a handle on personal finance questions and issues to improve their personal and financial lives. Look for it in Fall of 2008, published by Aji Publishing, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.
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