How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew (26 page)

Step 1:
Make your list. Whether you’re hitting the grocery store or the hardware store, decide what you need to buy first and write it down. Seeing your shopping goals on paper will help prevent you from being seduced by discounts. Remember, if you buy something you don’t need, it’s not a good deal for you, no matter how little it costs.

Step 2:
Hunt for discounts. Scan your local paper, especially the Sunday edition, or search the Internet for coupons on the products you need. No luck? Go to the manufacturer’s or store’s website. Oftentimes, they’ll offer coupons that you can print out and bring with you to the store.

Step 3:
Check for bonus deals. Some stores offer double coupon days, which means you can save, say, $2 with your $1 off coupon on certain days. Other stores will honor coupons issued by competitors or even expired coupons. Call to get the scoop.

Step 4:
Cash them in. Bring your coupons with you when you shop, and present them before the cashier rings you up. After you pay, check your receipt and celebrate your savings by dancing out of
the store. (Suggestion: Try moonwalking. It’s cool. Just make sure there’s no one behind you.)

• Never buy something online without using a promo code. Take two precious seconds to enter the retailer’s name and “coupon code” into Google, and you’ll usually be able to score free shipping at the very least. That’s time well spent.
  

• Keep a stash. If you spot great coupons that you might be able to use in the future, clip them and tuck them into an envelope, so you can redeem them when you’re ready.
  

Step 1:
Gather your merchandise. In this case, getting organized can also mean getting rich (well, sort of), so go through your closets, search under the bed, and tidy up your garage. If you find anything that you (1) no longer use, (2) never did use, or (3) don’t even recognize, put it in the sale. Gather all your unused treasures in a designated, out-of-the-way spot, and once you accumulate enough, set a date for your sale.

Step 2:
Get the word out. Advertise your sale by telling your friends and family, placing an ad in your local newspaper or online,
and hanging a few flyers around your neighborhood. Make sure to include all details: the date of your sale (and rain date, if you set one), the start and finish times, your address, and some highlights of what you’ll be selling. You would not believe how many people would like your mint-condition poster of Rick Springfield.

Step 3:
Tag your wares. Write your asking price on a piece of masking tape affixed to each item or, if you want to get fancy, on a piece of cardboard tied on with ribbon. Keep your prices simple (go for $5, rather than $5.49), so you don’t have to make crazy change all day. And make your tags visible. Some customers may be too shy to ask for the price, so if they don’t see a tag, you’ll lose the sale.

Step 4:
Prepare your “store.” The day before the sale, go to the bank and get $50 worth of change in fives, ones, and quarters, and tuck it into an old toolbox or another secure box. And tidy up your yard. You want to draw in potential customers, not drive them away.

Step 5:
Be a master merchandiser. The night before the sale, arrange your sale items by type (clothing, electronics, knickknacks, etc.) or by price ($1, $5, $10, etc.) on tables or blankets, which you can carry outside first thing in the morning. If you have fancy clothes, string them up on a clothesline to make them look stylish.

Step 6:
Open for business! At the designated hour, move your merch outside. Deal hounds tend to show up early, so be ready right away. Smile and chat with the people who show. Not only is it good manners, but it’ll help you sell more stuff and, even more important, have more fun!

• If you have unsold wares, don’t throw them away! Take them to Goodwill or donate them to the charity of your choice.
  

• Team up with the folks next door and plan a sale together. It’s a neighborly thing to do—and you’ll get twice the foot traffic.
  

• Run a heavy-duty extension cord outside, so you can plug in any electronic goods to demonstrate that they are in fine working shape. Also, have a mirror handy for anyone considering a clothes or sunglasses purchase.
  

• Remember, your goal is to clear the clutter, not to become Donald Trump, so don’t try to drive too hard of a bargain.
  

Step 1:
Open a new savings account. You should aim to have three to six months’ worth of savings socked away in case of emergency. Choose an account that carries FDIC insurance, no minimum fees, and, if you can, at least a 4 percent interest rate.

Step 2:
Divert funds. Whenever you receive a paycheck, ask your bank to automatically transfer 10 percent to your new account. Chances are, if you never see it, you’ll hardly even miss it. And if you do, well, then learn to make do. Tiny budgetary adjustments, like making your own coffee at home or driving a little less, make a big difference.

Step 3:
Revel in your success. Check in on your savings a few times a year to ensure adequate growth.

• If you’re planning for a new baby, house, or career, open a separate savings account for the venture and give it a name that means something to you. For example, “Money for diapers,”
  “My big chance at my dream job,” or “No more couch surfing.” That’ll help you tap into it for its designated purpose only.
  

• Charge yourself interest. Vow never to dip into your SOS shoe box before you deposit the funds, but if you must, require yourself to pay it back, plus 10 percent.
  

• Hey you, wake up! This money stuff is utterly boring and very unglamorous, but very important. Step to it!
  

• Get lucky! For small savings, choose your favorite denomination, whether it’s nickels, dimes, quarters, singles, or fives. Whenever you receive any of your lucky money as change, sock it away in a jar or shoe box. Deposit contents monthly into your savings account.
  

Step 1:
Check your heart. Who you give to is much more important than how much you give. Identify your goals, and then rank them from the most important to the least. Find a charity (local or global, small or large) that supports your desires. The better match you find, the better you’ll feel about your gift, and the more likely you’ll be to keep on giving. Oh, happiness! Such a vicious cycle.

Step 2:
Check your budget. If you can spare some change at the end of each month, please do. Collect quarters in a coin jar. Or, round each paycheck to the nearest zero and earmark the rest for charity. (If you earn $213, designate $3 for donations.)

Step 3:
Write that check. Sometime this is the hardest part, but it’s also the most rewarding. Promise. Can’t get the pen to paper? Schedule automatic monthly payments with your bank to your charity
of choice, so you don’t even have to think about it. Even if it’s just a few bucks, it can add up.

Step 4:
Plan for spontaneity. When times are tough, you may encounter people in need every day. Keep an extra piece or two of fruit with you to distribute when called upon. Surely, it will be much appreciated.

• Ask your company if it has a matching program. Oftentimes, whatever you give, it’ll double.
  

• Donate your time if you can’t afford to donate your money. Many organizations rely on the skills and kindness of strangers to stay afloat.
  

• When you see a great sale at the grocery store, say, five cans of tuna for $5 dollars, stock up and split your bounty with your local food bank.
  

• Clear your clutter seasonally, and deliver your out-of-use goods to your local thrift store. It’s a twofer: You’ll get organized and feel satisfied.