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Readers' Tips

Pricing Craft Items for Sale

The biggest problem with pricing crafts is the temptation to expect at least minimum wage for the time you put into making the items. I have rarely seen anything sold at a craft market that actually sold for enough to really provide that level of income.

When I last sold at a craft market, I took the price of all materials, supplies and containers/wrapping and doubled it. Once I had that total, I could decide what the market would accept in addition to that amount to pay for my time. I found that the more time required to produce the item, the less per hour I was actually able to make on it.
Beth

editor's note: You'll find more comments here or join the discussion in The Dollar Stretcher Community.

Inexpensive Landscaping

We live in a relatively new development with all new homes. Consequently there is a lot of landscaping to be done. My neighbor had so many great trees that I made a point to ask where he did his shopping for them. He said that at the end of the season, one of the local nurseries has an auction each year to deplete their inventory. He has been able to get terrific buys on trees and shrubs. I am planning to go this year in the hopes of snagging some buys to fill out my landscaping.
Judy M.

Tomorrow

Taking a few minutes every evening to plan for the next day has saved me thousands of dollars and untold stress over the years. I plan what I'll cook for dinner the following day, saving a last-minute dash to the store or the decision to order out because I'm too tired to decide what to cook. If I know I'm going to be especially pressed for time, I can put something in the slow cooker in the morning or thaw a casserole from the freezer. If I have more time, I can double a dish, freeze half, and know I'll have something to turn to on busy days.

I take a look at my schedule and plan to group errands to save time and gas. If I'm likely to be out at lunchtime or in late afternoon, I pack a snack, saving me a trip through the fast food drive through. I take a bottle of water with me, saving me from a stop to buy a drink.

I look at the week ahead, too. Is there a birthday or other occasion I need a gift for? An appointment I need to make? A bill I need to pay? This helps me avoid late fees or last minute dashes to buy something. Now I can take the time to look for something on sale, or even to make a gift or card.

Five or ten minutes thinking about the day and week ahead every night saves me countless dollars and untold stress.
Cindi

The Trash Tells Secrets!

Look in your garbage to see what you are throwing out. I realized I was throwing away a lot of paper towels. So I bought a bunch of white wash clothes and use those to clean. I can throw them in with any load of laundry, and I line dry them (white won't fade in the sun). The same was true with resealable bags. I switched to re-usable plastic containers.
Kara

Handy Dishrags

I go through dishrags a lot. The cotton ones simply wear out relatively quickly. Recently, my dad suggested I try some "work towels" he bought at Sam's Club. They can also be found at any auto parts store. You usually find them near the cleaning or automotive products. They come 24 to a package, are microfiber, and measure 16" x 16". Although they are good for several uses, I decided to cut a few of mine up into 4" x 4" squares and use them as dishrags in the kitchen. If I used every towel this way, I'd get 96 dishrags for just $10. Now that's a deal. They work great, too!
Jen W.

Something to Think About

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
- Henry Van Dyke

Do you have a favorite quote that's influenced your life? Like to share it? If so, send gary@stretcher.com We'll be including them in our various publications future issues.

The Slow Cooker Buffet

At the end of the week, get all of your leftover meats and side dishes and set them in the slow cooker. You may have to use foil pouches as dividers. Set the slow cooker on low. After about 30 minutes, depending on your machine, you'll have a nice, warm buffet to munch on or eat for dinner. It's very tempting when warm!

Another similar tip is to get all of the meat leftovers like sausages, steaks, cooked hamburger, etc. and shred or cut them up into smaller pieces and put into the slow cooker. You can add sandwich meats, too. Then add your favorite BBQ sauce and stir. After an hour or two, you'll have the best BBQ sandwiches and it really stretches! Just cut up some onion and pull out the pickles and bread and even a side of more sauce.
Leah

Expiring Gift Card Reminder

I had a gift card that was almost ready to expire before I received it as a gift. Instead of using it before I was really ready, I went to the restaurant and "bought" two smaller gift cards. I used these as teacher and bus driver gifts since it was a lunch place also. Some gift cards no longer "expire," but call the 1-800 number on the back of the card to be sure.
S.

Empty Pet Food Bags

Whenever the bags for dry dog and cat food are empty, I use them for the rest of the garbage. They are strong, leak proof, and can hold a lot. They are especially handy to have when dealing with juicy watermelon leftovers or semi-liquids. They are also good for car and lawn refuse.
Doris S.

Watch for Ripeness

Many of you may be trying to save money by buying fresh fruit and vegetables at your local farmers market. When you see all that luscious locally grown produce, you may be tempted to stock up. However, I'd caution you not to overbuy. Remember that your local produce is picked much closer to peak ripeness, so it will be overripe much more quickly. For example, the cantaloupes shipped from far away that are in your local supermarket may need to be left out for nearly a week waiting for them to ripen. But fruit from your local farmers market may be overripe within a few days. Of course, you can use overripe fruit in smoothies, fruit breads, etc., but it's better to buy what you'll use within a few days to minimize waste.
Judy

Hosting a Garage Sale?

I learned an expensive lesson several years ago. When setting out the merchandise, I put the perfumes and other expensive toiletries all on a table that was not in my plain view all the time. Every single one of those items disappeared within an hour. My sister managed a pharmacy that also sold toiletries and makeup, and after I told her my tale of woe, she said that this was the biggest theft problem in her store. Where did all the stuff go? Flea markets and other sales. She even recognizes known shoplifters selling these items at flea sales.

We never buy fragrances and toiletries from these sales. My mother was interested in this, too. When she saw a sale table like that, filled with far more things than one or two families would usually own, she asked the seller where her merchandise came from. Her response was "Oh, we get shipments from Montreal every week." This did not sound true, particularly since the seller had very poor business practices.

Not all people are thieves, but you do have to pay attention and be smart. Keep these items on a table that is constantly monitored and always in plain view of those who are selling. Tell your helpers in advance what to watch for.
MJ

Don't Leave Home...

In order to avoid forgetting my lunch in the morning, I place my car keys in the fridge with my already packed lunch. Because I do this, I don't forget my lunch and end up buying an expensive lunch at work. At the office, I again place my car keys in my lunch bag so that I don't forget it on the way home. I waste less food and don't worry about accumulating dead leftovers in the office fridge.
GM

Keeping Score

When you're making a real effort to cut back on your spending through canny shopping, it can be really worthwhile to keep a written record of the savings you make. I have kept a small hardback book for this purpose for several years now. Every time I buy something on sale in a shop, I record in this book exactly how many dollars I have saved. If I purchase insurance from a cheaper supplier than previously, or if I negotiate a discount in a store, you guessed it, it all gets written in the book.

In case it sounds like a chore, believe me that the satisfaction I receive when reading back through my small, but numerous savings far outweighs the trouble of recording it. On the occasions that I read back all my savings, I realize that all my daily efforts to be frugal and careful with money really do pay off and it is a very satisfying feeling.
Sarah in England, UK

Automatic Charge Control

For purchases that automatically charge your credit card, I have a prepaid American Express card, purchased at the grocery store for $5 over the card amount. Any company that tries to automatically renew a program or a purchase without my permission will find the account no longer exists. I keep several of these cards available all the time. The small cost of them has saved me hundreds of dollars over the past year or two, and it's probably cheaper than the interest I would pay on a bankcard, and definitely cheaper than an overdraft fee.
Fran

Cleaning Granite

I have granite counter tops and the cleaner is expensive. I have found that if you purchase rubbing alcohol (you can get this cheap at a dollar store) and put it in a spray bottle, it cleans the counter tops without streaks and leaves a nice shine. I just wipe it off with a paper towel.
Jeanie B. in Huffman, TX

Grocery Scanning Errors

I stay in control of my money by watching the item prices I am charged when I buy groceries. At almost every trip, I need to ask the clerk politely to stop and verify the price I was charged since the tag on the bin had a different price. There are many reasons an item will scan incorrectly, and if you keep up with it, the savings can make a difference. I turn the cost counter to face me so I can see what I get charged for each item. It is important to be kind to the checker. The error is rarely ever their fault.
Donna C. in Leon, OK

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