Tips for Tipping: Is the Recession Changing the Rules?
Tipping is one of those awkward social requirements that can sometimes make people a little frazzled. Leave a bad tip for bad service or be merciful and remember the wait staff and how your tip fuels their livelihood?
Tipping used to be a relatively easy process. Do a little math, recall how quickly you got your refills and there was that magic number. Nowadays, people are factoring in the Great Recession and are finding ways to shave off costs from their bill. This isn’t just causing confusion, its causing some pretty lousy tips too.
Also, since many restaurants are offering specials and discounted prices, what do you tip? Do you leave a tip based on what the total of your bill is or what you would have paid had your entrée not been on the specials menu? Let’s go back to the beginning and see if we can sort it out from there.
Tips, which actually stands for “To Insure Proper Service,” originated during the Middle Ages in Europe and came to the U.S. even before our independence in 1776. Due to age of the practice, most everyone grows up viewing tipping as a social requirement and for good reason too! About 90 percent of a waiter’s paycheck comes from the tips a restaurant’s patrons leave!
A friend of mine from college has a job for which the majority of her pay comes from tips. If the customers’ tip well, she ends the night with a heavier wallet, if not then she is financially strapped for the week ahead. We were talking about her new job one day when she flat out admitted that she wasn’t the best tipper before she got her job. That has now changed significantly.
Tips also make a difference for my step-sister who works at a coffee shop. She sometimes makes up to an extra $20 a shift because the money customers leave in the tip jar. This only brings up another question. Am I required to put money in tip jars?
I usually don’t leave a tip in the jar (sorry baristas) and find that, thankfully, I don’t get too many judgmental stares. The way I see it, a coffee shop employee’s paycheck doesn’t depend on whether or not there is money in the tip jar, it just acts as a bonus.
Another industry where tipping makes a big difference is the beauty industry. Generally, I will tip at least $3 when I get my eyebrows done, and try to tack on $5 when I get a manicure. The way I see it, cosmetologists not only have to deal with some sore sights (one word: toenails!), if you don’t tip them at all you might want to watch out next time the hot wax comes out!
Overall, don’t make tipping too difficult for yourself or too depressing for the person serving you. Here are a few simple tips to take away:
– Most cell phones have tip calculators built in, use it!
– Use good judgment and fairness when it comes to nontraditional areas that don’t have set percentage expectations.
– If you get bad service, maybe leave a 14-15 percent tip instead of 20, but don’t be too brutal.
-And, as Nicholas Demeda once said, “If you can afford to dine out, you can afford to tip well.”
Sources:
The Palm Beach Post
Bay Area Bites
5 tax myths that can cost you money
Our culture is full of myths. And our tax system is full of myths, half-truths and untruths that can cost you big bucks if you don’t understand the rules.
So let’s have a look at some of the bigger myths about taxes.
Myth 1: Students are exempt Lots of people believe there’s an exemption for students that excludes them from tax. There’s no special tax status afforded to students. They are subject to tax on all their income, regardless of how many credits they’re taking or whether or not they’re fully matriculated. Students do get special tax credits, the Lifetime Learning Credit and the new American Opportunity Credit, which has replaced the Hope Credit for 2009 and 2010.
Myth 2: My child is working, so I can’t claim him as my dependent
As long as you provide more than half that child’s support and meet other qualifications such as citizenship and relationship, the child qualifies as your dependent, and you can deduct, for example, all the medical costs you paid for that child. Remember, support is what’s spent, not what’s earned.
Myth 3: I’m over age 55, so I can sell my house tax-free
Wrong again, graybeard! You’re thinking old law.
It used to be that if you were older than 55, you could exclude as much as $125,000 in gains from taxes, but only once. Now the rules are even better.
Under current law, age no longer matters. If the property sold was your principal residence for at least two out of the last five years, you can exclude from tax as much as $250,000 in gain and $500,000 in gain on a joint return.
Your age is irrelevant, and you can take the gain exclusion every two years if you qualify.
Myth 4: I can deduct my sales taxes
This one was once up there with the Loch Ness monster, but the deduction has made a comeback of sorts.
Starting in 2004 and renewed through the 2009 tax year, you can deduct either your personal sales taxes or your state income taxes from your federal income return, but not both.
Myth 5: I’m married, so I have to file a joint return
Again, not true. If you’re married, you can always file “married filing separately.” That normally results in you having to pay more in taxes. But in some situations, it can be to your advantage.
For example, if one spouse has substantial medical or miscellaneous deductions, those deductions are subject to the 7.5% and 2% floors, respectively.
Source
Maintaining as a MIlitary Family- Managing a Move
This is a new series of the blog titled “Maintaining as a Military Family”. A little about me…I go by codename Di and have joined the ranks of the fab bloggers for debthelper.com. My goal is to add some insight into what a Military Family does to “get by” and SAVE!!
Military life can be excruciatingly painful on the wallet. My husband joined the Army in the lowly (but highly respectful) rank of Private 14 years ago. We had children young (not uncommon within our Military communities) and therefore money was TIGHT. Relying on one income was almost unbearable. One of the biggest expenses is when there is a Permanent Change of Station (PCS or what normal people call relocating). Most Military Families have traveled and spent time overseas. This was the beginning of our journey, but not before I had to stay behind with our daughter while he went away to “Army school”. We could have rented an apt near his school and collected minimal Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), extra pay based on location, rank and years in service. However, this was never enough to cover all the expenses (utilities, incidentals, etc). So, we did what would save us the most money and I moved in with my mother for 3 months. While this is not ideal…it allowed us to actually earn money (Basic Allowance for Housing is a benefit no matter where you live). The way to manipulate this situation in order for everyone to be happy is pay your Family or friend, with whom you shack up with, a portion of what you receive and stash the rest for your upcoming move (there always an upcoming move in the Military).
Moving is quite expensive and the Military does a pretty good job of covering all the basic expenses…AFTER you get to your new location. Reimbursements are always a killer for young people starting out in their career because it requires you to come out of pocket ahead of time. The best way to tackle this problem is to plan your move. MilitaryOneSource.com has up to the minute info on all things Military…preparation and planning is their purpose. Once a person is aware of the upcoming expenses, the bottom line doesn’t seem as scary. If flying overseas is how you will relocate, there isn’t much to control or decide as far as actual travel. Hotels stays before & after the flight, rental cars and food costs are the main expenses of a move that are controllable. I always use coupons and ask what kind of discounts there are…there’s usually always a coupon online or a discount offer at hotels, just ask.
Here are some sites I use when traveling (during a move or not):
http://www.retailmenot.com
http://www.hotels.com
http://www.destination360.com
http://www.roomsaver.com/
http://www.hotelcoupons.com/
http://www.valpak.com
http://www.savings.com/c-Restaurant-coupons.html
The obvious Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia are first choices for airfare, rental cars and hotels, but my personal fave is Hotwire. They have the best prices and package deals, plus they are fair when it comes to disputes and customer service. (I once booked a sport utility vehicle for a week and when I showed up there were only vans, which would have sufficed. I did call Customer Service to ask them about the difference in pricing and they refunded me HALF of my fee for the week.) Asking for a discount makes a big difference sometimes.
Moving also requires you to go through all that “junk” lying around in the garage or attic. One of the benefits for me when it comes to moving is that I am motivated to purge….my old stuff that is. There are several things you can do with that old jewelry box or winter coat…all WHILE earning money.
Have a yard sale without even leaving your home
Rent a booth at a flea market and sell your heiny off (beware of hagglers)
Find your nearest consignment shop and let them sell your stuff (my fave)
Donate to the thrift store or Goodwill (and get a tax deduction)
Someone is bound to love that wicker basket you are sick of.
Overall, my best advice is to begin saving the MINUTE you join the Military (more on that later). Moving is just one of the many expenses you will incur in a lifetime. Don’t even get me started on the surcharge for kids.
We’ll save that for next time…
Clues You Live In A Frugal Home
photo by Mykl Roventine
Do you know a tightwad home when you’re inside one? For many people, penny-pinching strategies aren’t noticeable. However, if you’re frugal, you have an eagle’s eye. If you visited a fellow frugalista’s home, you could spot their frugal ways because you probably do them, too.
What in your home is a dead giveaway that you live a frugal life?
Source: Frugal Village
KITCHEN DRAWER: You might see saved rubber bands, free samples, pencil nubs (hey, they still have a point), bread twist ties, folded aluminum foil, used birthday candles, washed plastic baggies or saved bread bags to use for pet care.
FREEZER: What are all those baggies? They’re filled with overripe bananas, frozen pesto, broth, make-ahead meals, vegetables or leftovers, of course. You’ll see meat bought in bulk and divided into smaller meal-sized portions, too.
CUPBOARDS: There’s a full pantry. It often contains preserved foods from a home garden and a food stockpile bought when items were on sale. One reader, Polly in Pennsylvania, shares: “Homemade mixes line my pantry along with dried beans, rice, a 50-pound bag of potatoes and pecks of apples stored for winter. There’s a flyer on our icebox telling of the butcher’s latest chicken specials. It’s what you don’t see that’s more pronounced. No soda, no chips, no store-bought snack foods, no takeout containers, no bottled water, etc.” You would notice homemade cleaners in spray bottles and very few brand-name foods, too.
REFRIGERATOR: You would see reconstituted powdered milk, iced tea, water, block cheese to shred, bagged apples versus individual, and leftovers ready for lunch the following day. You would see seasonal fruits and vegetables (often pre-chopped), reusable containers, a few cartons of eggs bought on sale, homemade condiments, syrups and sauce, bulk yeast and maybe some chilling cookie dough.
SINK AND COUNTER AREA: You might see a spray bottle of dish liquid diluted with water to spritz dishes, a toothbrush for scrubbing, dishrags, knitted or crocheted pot scrubbers or dishcloths, microfiber cloths or washcloths versus paper towels. You would see a kitchen-counter composter (often a coffee container reused) and a change jar, too. Coffee drinkers will have a thermos or carafe to keep coffee hot throughout the day.
LAUNDRY ROOM: You would see the washing-machine water set to cold. You would see a drying rack or retractable clothesline and a laundry loot jar, too. Another reader, Mary in Texas, shares: “My laundry room is off the kitchen, and there are multiples of Zote soap, Borax and Super Washing Soda, plus a big plastic container of homemade laundry soap.”
APPLIANCES AND HELPFUL TOOLS: Most frugal homes have “tools of the trade” that help people save money. A few appliances that top the list are a food dehydrator, stand mixer and slow cooker. There’s a FoodSaver, food processor, grain mill or a spare freezer. Tools such as a calculator, canner, kitchen scale, manual can opener, box grater, rubber spatula, dry erase board, funnel, kitchen shears and cookbooks are incredibly helpful and are common to see in a frugal kitchen, too.
Ten habits for successful tightwads
photo by luminais
Frugalitarians have many small habits. Some of these strategies don’t necessarily save much money. They might seem silly or insignificant to others because of the time spent doing them, too. But the fact is that these decisions reflect the creativity and determination by penny pinchers (called this for a reason) to be less wasteful. The thought process of living gently carries over through all aspects of your daily life. How often have you been torn on whether or not to throw something away? Maybe it was a container, button, straight pin, rubber band or a juice lid. Keep in mind that tightwads aren’t hoarding hundreds of milk caps because they might find a use for them. They’ll save a handful of caps to make a memory game or ornaments or use the plastic ring to keep socks together or none at all if it’s not useful to them.
What types of things contribute little to your finances but are still worth your time?
Here are a few common habits that are simply what frugal folks will do.
SAVE PLASTIC BREAD TABS: They are great little scrapers for counters, floors and dishes. Use as bookmarks or to hold rubber bands. Or attach one to a roll of tape so it doesn’t fold over. They’re perfect for closing open plastic bags, such as rice or confectioners’ sugar.
REUSE ENVELOPES: Simply cover the address sections with new labels (cross out any bar codes) or simply use for scrap paper and you’re good to go.
CUT DRYER SHEETS IN HALF: This is the No. 1 tip submitted to me. Keep used sheets to clean your lint trap, wipe down your washing machine, dust, to help remove nail polish, line a trash can, or attach to a toilet-paper holder to give a fresh scent in the bathroom. Tuck them into a pillow or drawer, or attach them to a Swiffer mop.
REUSE GIFT WRAP: From saving bows to ironing tissue paper, it might only save a few cents but why throw away gift wrap that can be reused?
RENEWING: Melt items from scraps of crayons, soap or candles to make a full-size item again. Soap bits are often placed in a soap pump container with water to make liquid soap. Simply toss a marble into the container to help mix. One reader, Sandy C. in Minnesota, shares: “I use the little leftover hunks of bar soap and put them with some water in the toilet-brush container sitting by the toilets.”
TOILET-PAPER RATIONING: Some folks put themselves on a daily number of squares limit. While compulsive, it certainly tracks usage.
WASH FOOD WRAPPERS AND CONTAINERS: True tightwads know the value of a Pringles container. Rinse and reuse heavy-duty baggies (if not originally used for meat), foil and cereal bags, too. Disclaimer: Of course, some plastics will be reused in nonfood ways.
EMPTYING CONTAINERS: Cut open tubes (or completely flatten by using your toothbrush handle) and bottles, scrape jars or add water to sauce or condiment containers to get every last bit of product. Use every last bit of a lipstick. Scrape out the tube, and combine it with Vaseline to make a lip gloss or, if you have multiple broken lipsticks, create your own color palette.
FOOD SCRAPS: Save bread ends or “stale” bread for breadcrumbs, leftover vegetables for soup or flat pop or syrup from canned fruit to add to gelatin. Or reuse coffee grounds or tea bags. Another reader, Polly in Pennsylvania, shares: “I simmer orange, lemon and lime rinds on the stove before discarding to freshen the house.”
RESTAURANT TAKEAWAYS: Save all the condiment and seasoning packets, napkins and utensils. Read: Tightwads don’t intentionally take extras. They save any that were given but not used.
Source: Frugal Village
3 Real Life Ways To Save Money Today
1. Become A Free Finder Expert: Everybody I know is missing two things: time and money. I started taking just 20 minutes a day to seek out anything that is free. Some are scams, yes. But some are real, saving me time, money or both! Free is good. Free helps. How would you like to ditch your home and/or cell phone and start talking for free? There’s a program that gives free phones to people who are on government assistance in any form. You get the phone and a full year of minutes…for free! Go to http://www.safelinkwireless.com to find out more
2. Counting To Ten Isn’t Just For Pre-School: Before you buy anything, and I mean anything at all, stop and count to ten. Do you really need it? Do you just ‘want’ it? Can you find it somewhere cheaper? Will it make a huge difference in your life if you don’t get it? Are you buying this thing right here and right now because it’s a must have necessity? Or are you buying it because it’s convenient and easy and you just want, want, and want? Ask yourself this question: will life as I know it change if I don’t buy this? Be honest. If you do this with every purchase in your life, and if you’re honest, you’ll stop wasting money today.
3. Real Food For Real Cheap: Did you know you could get a week worth of food, for a family of four, for only $30? Angel Food Ministries is an organization that uses the power of bulk shopping and extreme organization to help you eat real, and nutritious, food for cheap. Simply go to one of the many locations, or click online, and follow the easy to order steps. Another idea? Play with your food. At my house, I serve lots of ‘decoration’ foods. These are foods like tacos or pizzas where everyone makes their own with a slew of decoration foods like cheese and beans and whatever vegetables I have left over. This can be anything, really….from hamburgers to taco night to decorating spaghetti and baked potatoes. Get creative, save money and add some fun to dinner.
Looking for more ways to cut costs and save money? Visit http://www.debthelper.com today. We are a non profit financial education agency that can help you cut your credit card debt payment by almost 50% with one phone call. We offer counseling on: first time home buying, bankruptcy, foreclosure, credit card debt and more.
11 Ways to Spice Up Your Emergency Fund
A thriving emergency fund is an essential piece of a healthy financial picture.
You’ve heard this a million times before. The basics of emergency funds have been covered in depth. We’re used to hearing discussions on why they’re important and how large they should be.
But do you know what we don’t hear much about? How freakin’ boring they are!
Let’s be honest: There’s nothing sexy about building an emergency fund. Sure, it’s possible to get fired up for the initial push. You can take advantage of small, specific tips to create an early spark. But what about going from $1000 in savings to six months of expenses? Eventually the excitement fades.
Testing a fresh approach can change everything. Sometimes all it takes is a minor shift in mindset. Whether you’re just getting started or need a push towards the next major benchmark, here are eleven tips to help spice up your saving:
Treat your emergency fund as self-insurance. An emergency fund is just another way to spread risk. You’re spreading the risk that something unexpected pops up and wrecks your budget or causes you to fall into a cycle of borrowing. All too often, though, we’re worried about chasing 0.5% interest-rate increases or the lure of tying up our money in a bigger, better deal. Stop fretting. Find a high quality savings account with a decent return and plant your money there. It’s not part of your investment portfolio — it’s part of a diverse insurance plan.
Narrow your definition of an “emergency.” Having savings in the bank can cause us to justify some unusual behavior. Suddenly, every unplanned expense becomes an emergency. How can anyone be expected to build a robust emergency fund when they’re tapping into it every other month? Fight back by clearly defining what you will consider an emergency upfront. You’ll be shocked how fast your fund will prosper when you don’t constantly use it as a crutch.
Over-budget for miscellaneous expenses. So how do you deal with those unplanned expenses that aren’t valid emergencies? Expect the unexpected. Aim high on your miscellaneous budgeting category. You’ll break your budget less often and avoid the habit of reaching for your emergency fund. When these expenses do come up, take note, and add them into your budget. Eventually you’ll develop the ability to project nearly all non-emergency expenses ahead of time.
Live a pay raise behind. The next time you get a promotion, don’t fall victim to lifestyle inflation. Take the increase in monthly income and set up an automatic transfer to your emergency fund. When applied to retirement, this technique is often referred to as “pay yourself first.” As long as you can continue to live within your means, it works like magic. Looking for a place to start? Scale back one pay raise. Budget using your old income and start transferring the extra today!
Round up your budgeting categories. The simpler you make the budgeting process, the more likely you are to stick to it. One way Courtney and I have been able to simplify is by rounding our categories and expenses to convenient whole numbers. If your debt payment is $82.31 per month, budget $85. If your mortgage is $1368 per month, budget $1400. Not only will budgeting seem easier, but at the end of the month you’ll have a buffer in your account which you can sweep into your emergency fund.
“Snowflake” your unplanned income. The term snowflaking is a nickname given to the process of applying any amount of extra money (no matter how small) to your debt with the lowest balance. It’s a neat concept that can help quickly build momentum. There’s no reason this should be limited to paying off debt. Anytime you bump into a small windfall, immediately apply it to your emergency fund. Attack it with passion!
“Re-fund” your savings. You know what the perfect amount is for your first emergency fund is? Whatever the amount of your tax refund check! In a perfect world, we wouldn’t be loaning the government our money for the better part of a year – we’d be earning interest with savings accounts and certificates of deposits. But the truth is millions do. If you’re one of them this year, take the money and jump-start your emergency fund.
Save up for the knock-out punch. This technique starts with selecting a base level for your fund. Next, rather than paying extra on your debt or towards a savings goal, pour every extra penny into your emergency fund. Once the fund grows large enough to accomplish the goal and still leave you with the base amount…go for the knock-out. Pay off the debt, book your plane tickets, select a new goal and start the process over. If a true emergency does strike you, chances are you’ll have a little extra buffer.
Focus! Having serious trouble? Make your emergency fund your absolute number-one priority. Channel all of your energy. Pay the minimums on debt. Put your other savings goals on hiatus. (Some respected advisers even suggest halting your retirement savings for a short time!) Only you know for sure what level of intensity is right for you; however there’s a lot to be said for the power of concentrated focus. Put your head down, knock it out, and move on to your other more sexy goals.
Negotiate a “big win.” A broad tip, right? Here’s the point: Use your emergency fund as an excuse to tackle a high-impact project. Need $1000 to get started? Go for it all at once. Ask for a raise, sell one of your cars, or refinance your mortgage. Look at your largest monthly expenses and ask yourself if there is a way you can make a huge impact quickly. Use these opportunities to get comfortable with the basics of negotiation. It’s a skill that’ll pay dividends the rest of your life.
Sell your crap. Kill two birds with one stone. Have an emergency-fund dedicated spring-cleaning session. My suggestion is to create a list of everything you own. Every single item. Go room by room. Nothing has made me want to purge my stuff more than this process. Afterward, set a deadline to sell half of the items on the list. Get passionate and declare war on your stuff. Not only will you feel refreshed, but your emergency fund will be more healthy than ever.
What other ways have you found to spice up your emergency fund? How did you get started? Did you switch it up to maintain motivation? Share your personal experiences below!
Source: Get Rich Slowly
6 Old-School Savings Tricks Are Back
It’s no secret that consumers have grown more frugal: Excessive spending is out and saving is in. “It’s become chic to talk value,” says Julie Winskie, the chief client officer at marketing firm Porter Novelli, which tracks consumer behavior for retailers.
Like fashion, spending trends often cycle in and out, but what’s interesting about this go-round at frugality is how it’s playing out. Old savings strategies are seeing a resurgence, and some of the most popular tactics – couponing, layaway and haggling – date back to prior recessions.
Will those practices someday go the way of padded shoulders and track suits? It may take years or even decades, but the larger population will eventually end up back in the “greed is good” mentality, says Scott Testa, an assistant professor of business administration at Calibri College in Radnor, Pa. Forty-five percent of adults now spending less than they were a year ago say that if their financial situation were to improve over the next year, they would go back to their old spending habits, according to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s 2009 Financial Literacy Survey.
Still, consumers looking to develop good savings habits for the long haul can jump on the bandwagon now with these six old-school thrifty behaviors:
Clipping coupons
Americans avidly clipped coupons through the 1980s, but by the ’90s, their popularity began to wane. Last year was the first year since 1992 that coupon use didn’t decline. And so far this year, shoppers have used 20% more of issued manufacturers’ coupons, according to the Promotion Marketing Association, which tracks coupon redemption. This trend is likely to persist because of efforts by manufacturers and retailers to make coupons more easily available online, says Stephanie Nelson, the founder of CouponMom.com, which tracks deals. (For a list of some of our favorite coupon sites, click here.)
Haggling
In recent years, bargaining for a lower price has been relegated to yard sales and flea markets, but that’s beginning to change. “Now, consumers are much more creative and frankly, much more aggressive about asking for a better price,” Testa says. To retain customers amid slowing sales, even mainstream retailers are open to negotiation on prices — especially if you can point to better deals at a competitor. (For more prime haggling opportunities, click here.)
Another expense worth haggling over is rent. According to a summer survey from property listing site Rent.com, 68% of landlords are now offering free or reduced rent to tenants. (For tips, click here.)
Price comparison
“A portion of the population has always done this, but now it’s across all income levels,” says Ann Mack, the director of trend-spotting at brand-building agency JWT. It’s a strategy so ingrained that many shoppers compare prices without thinking, whether online or in person. But now more of those shoppers are taking their findings to heart. Some are even splitting their grocery shopping up to take advantage of more rotating weekly specials at local stores, Mack says. (For the best online price comparison sites, click here.)
Bartering
The Internet has expanded opportunities for consumers who want to trade goods and services without money. Craigslist reports that the number of posts in its barter section has more than tripled over the last 24 months. The company declined to provide more specific current figures. (For tips to effectively barter, click here.)
Group buying
Many frugal consumers not only share deals with their peers, but also band together to get a better value, Winskie says. “It’s mothers, neighbors, buying in bulk and splitting the cost to save,” she says. New sites like Groupon also offer shoppers the opportunity to get discounts by collaborating with strangers. (For details, click here.)
Layaway and Christmas clubs
Thanks to the credit crunch, retailers and consumers are looking at these old options, which had faded with disco. “They went away as people bought things on credit and found other ways to pay,” Testa says. Last year, Sears (SHLD: 66.53*, +0.35, +0.52%) and Kmart heavily promoted their longstanding layaway programs. This year, they introduced a new Christmas Club that matches 3% of consumers’ savings.
Source: SmartMoney
5 Ways To Stretch A (date) Buck
I was going to title this post “cheap dates” but then thought better of it. Because I’m not a cheap date and I’m going to assume that the rest of you aren’t either. 🙂 The purpose of this post is to talk about ways to enjoy a date with your spouse or significant other without spending a lot of money. Because some of the best dates that I have been on with my husband haven’t cost us a thing.
• Go out for coffee/dessert as opposed to dinner. This is a great way to treat yourself to a fancy smanchy restaurant for less. This is also just as fun if you go to a local ice cream shop in the summertime.
• If you like to go to the movies, go to a matinee or the dollar theater. Or rent a movie (or find a free Red Box code!), pop some popcorn and watch a movie at home.
• Go to a park – have a picnic, walk/bike/roller blade on nature trails. This is both inexpensive and good for you! If you aren’t the active type, take along your favorite books and magazines to read after your picnic.
• Check out your local area for cheap and free activities such as concerts in the park, street fairs, high school plays/musicals, and amateur sporting events.
• Head to a Barnes and Noble/Borders/other book store for coffee and to check out new books/magazines.
If you have kids, child care can be expensive. To save money ask some of your friends if they would be willing to swap babysitting duty with you. For example my husband and I are going out for V-Day on Friday while our friends watch our daughter, and then our friends will go out on Saturday while we watch their daughter. (If you are blessed to live near family who will watch your kids for free, I’m mostly happy for you. :-))
Source: Stretching A Buck
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