I shop online a lot.  It’s safe to say I shop online far more than I do in any brick and mortar store.  Shopping online has a lot of great features, I can compare prices, I can always find what I want and need, and I can shop in my pajamas if the mood strikes me.  Unfortunately, shopping online has a downside as well.  I can always find what I want and need, and I can shop 24 hours a day if the mood strikes me.   If I’m not careful,  I could end up with a lot of stuff that is a result much more of a want than a need.

As I have become more and more accustomed to shopping online, I’ve instituted something that I call the “One Day Challenge”.  It’s a pretty simple idea, and it works like this.  When I find something that I want, I do my research and make sure I’ve found the best price possible on the item.  If I establish that I have, I may even add the item to my shopping cart.  Once I’ve done that, I click away from the site, and put a 24 hour hiatus on my purchase.  I give myself 24 hours to think about spending that money, and to decide if I really want the purchase, and if I can really afford it.

Placing my purchases on 24 hour hold really helps me spend my money wisely.  A lot of times the thing that I thought I just had to have becomes something I can really live without.   Giving myself a day also gives me time to think about where else that money could go.  Sometimes I realize I could use the money I would have spent in a way that will benefit me more than making that purchase would.

There is almost no occasion when waiting a day will have a negative effect on your life.  If you find yourself getting into financial trouble because of your shopping habits, or even if you just want to use your money wisely, I’d suggest you take the “One Day Challenge” and see how it effects your life and your bank balance.  I’m guessing you’ll see an improvement in both.

One of the ways to becoming more frugal is to stop impulse buying. It’s so easy to convince yourself that the item you’re about to buy is a really good deal. But the real question is, do you really need it? The post I wrote Saturday was about a few good deals I got on a few Christmas items. Did I need those items, no but I will use them come Christmas time and I am avoiding paying full price come next Christmas. The difference is I didn’t purchase more than I would need nor will it sit in a closet and never be used.

There’s a difference between impulse buying and buying things you need. If you have 20 pairs of jeans in your closet and jeans are on sale right now, do you really need another pair of jeans? Probably not but you just can’t pass up a good deal. That’s when you need to learn to tell yourself no and re-think your spending habits.

Consider the following before buying on impulse:

Just say no. It may not be easy to do but once you start telling yourself no, you will feel confident in controlling what you need and what you buy just because you want it.

Make a wish list. If you’re looking to re-decorate your house or add a few items here and there like new couch pillows, make a list of those items. Consider keeping your list in the order of what is needed most.

Do your research. Keep track of pricing trends. Watch for sales at rock bottom prices. They do come around every so often.  This will prevent impulse buying and paying full price.

Stop browsing. If you enjoy shopping just to shop maybe you need to find a new hobby. Shopping leads to spending.

Stop convincing yourself. How many purchases have you made because you convinced yourself you really need it?  Where is that item now? In the closet with the tags on it? This is a good reminder that you probably don’t need it.

Feel good about saying no.  Over the years I’ve learned that it feels good not to waste my money on impulse buying.  I use to be an impulse shopper.  I’d buy things without even looking at a price tag and never think anything of it. 

I look back and realize just how much money I wasted on stuff and how some of those items sat in my closet.   I now have convinced myself that spending my money wisely is more important to me than having all that stuff.  

On Thursday I mentioned that today would inaugurate a new series here on A Frugal Housewife.  Like a lot of people I make resolutions about my finances at the beginning of every year.  Unfortunately, like many other people who make such resolutions, I haven’t always been diligent about sticking to them.   In order to make sure this year is different than years past,  I thought it would be a good idea to create a series of posts that offered tips and tricks for sticking to the financial resolutions you’ve made.   This post marks the debut of the series.

One of the most common financial resolutions that people make is to manage their money better.  Whether it’s to save more, spend more wisely, spend less or track spending habits, many people want to have a better handle on and better control over where their money is going.   If you fall into this group, the easiest way to keep your resolution and to accomplish your goals is to make a budget.

The first step toward making a budget is to track current spending.  You need to know what money is coming in and where it goes when it goes out.  This tracking should go beyond simply what you spend to pay bills.  If you spend money of any kind on anything, it should be noted and tracked.  Everything from paying your mortgage to the impulse purchase of a pack of gum in the supermarket line should be noted.  That’s the only way you can get a clear picture of your spending patterns.

Once you’ve tracked your spending, which most experts recommend should be done for at least a month, sit down and take a look at where your money is going.  Start determining where you can cut back.  Tracking your spending habits will often allow you to see waste that you didn’t even realize was happening.  A pack of gum once in a while doesn’t seem like much, but if you buy one every day the cost adds up.  Tracking your spending shows you where the money sinks are, and helps you avoid them.

Now that you have a clear picture of what you spend and what you might have been wasting money on, it’s time to decide what your financial goals are.  Maybe you want to save for your child’s education.  Perhaps you want to save for a trip.  You might want to buy a house, or a new car, or pay off credit card debt.  Your goals will help you determine how much you need to save and can also give you an indication of what sacrifices you might need to make.

Finally, it’s time to make a budget.  The goal of a budget is to have less money going out than you have coming in.  If that isn’t currently how your money flows you may need to look for more ways to cut your spending, or ways to increase your income.   Write your budget out, or put it on a spread sheet and allocate every penny you spend.  Don’t forget to allow yourself a few small luxuries.  A budget that is built solely on deprivation will be hard to keep to over the long haul.  You luxuries should be in line with your available income, but almost any budget will stretch to a cup of coffee or a paperback book every once in a while.

Once you have your budget made, you face the hardest challenge of all, sticking to it.  You may want to find a way to keep your financial goals in mind.  Put a picture of your dream house on you fridge.  Keep your children’s pictures in your checkbook.  Do what you have to do to remind yourself why you made this budget in the first place.  If you keep your goals firmly in mind, you’re much more likely to succeed in keeping your financial resolutions.

Now is the perfect time to stock up on Christmas items for 2009.  This week I shopped at a few stores and couldn’t believe the amount of sales that were going on after Christmas.  One of my trips was to Target and their Christmas items were 75% off.  Most of everything had been gone through but I was able to pickup a few items.  They did have quite a few Christmas trees left so if you’re looking to replace your Christmas tree, you can get one for 75% off.  I think in the next week or so you should see the items marked down to 90%.

I got these bags and name tags for .20 each.

And I also got these cute stocking holders for about $2.00 each.  They look like deer and seeing I’m The Hunter’s Wife and my life is all about deer, these would look cute on my wood chest I have in my living room. I also got this door hanger for $1.00.

So now I’m a little stocked up for next Christmas.  I still have a ton of wrapping paper I got a few years ago on clearance at 90% off.

Also, Walgreens and CVS are two other great stores to find marked down Christmas items at this time.  It is well worth stocking up for next season.

This post comes to us from Gina at Six In The Country - Today’s Guest Blogger:

Magazines, books, catalogs, websites. Everywhere you turn there are sweet visions of beautiful homes. It seems so hard to replicate these dream homes into reality, especially on a tight budget. Hard, but not impossible. Sometimes the hardest part is learning to step back and take a look around you, seeing what works and what doesn’t.

Do you keep items because someone gifted them to you, even though they are not your taste? Do those items fit into your vision of the home you would like to create for yourself? Learn to let go of the things you do not love. Once you have let go of the clutter, not only will you be left with items that truly represent you, there will be space around them so that they are actually visible and not lost in the clutter.

While you are taking a look around, move things around, too. A side table doesn’t have to be an actual side table, it could be a lovely crate topped with an old serving tray. Or, better yet, you could not have a side table at all, to give your room more space. Although some designers fill rooms to the brim with furniture everywhere, I tend to prefer having room to move. I am no great designer by any means, but I do know what I like. If your vision for what you want your home to be includes lots of furniture, then go for it!

Does the picture that hangs on your bedroom wall look best in that room or would it look better paired with something in your living room. While we are at it, a picture does not have to hang on the wall, it could rest against the wall while sitting on a table or mantle. Groupings of items bring more attention to them. I am not a big fan of a whole wall-scape, but there is more impact when a small plaque is hung over a mirror with ribbon than when hung alone.

Look for things that can be revived. A can of spray paint is about $1 at the local big-box store and can revive an old chest or bookshelf. Paint can transform just about anything, from an old picture frame to a bedroom suite.

Even though you may be on a tight budget, allow yourself as little as $5 a week to bring something new and refreshing into your home. Five dollars can go a long way on the $1 table of fabric for new curtains, or in buying thrift store items. Thrift stores are a great way to find classic items that can add a whole new dimension to your home. Although you might not like the fabric on a pillow, at 99 cents it is much cheaper to buy a pre-made, well-constructed pillow and recover it than to buy filler and completely make a new pillow. While you are there you might find some beautiful fabric in a pillow case, napkin or even a scarf to recover that same pillow.

Adjusting small touches and making small changes can completely change the way a room feels. Having a new view of things brightens up my day and gives me pride beyond words. Creating a beautiful home for your loved ones is something anyone can do. Just find your inspiration and work towards your dreams!

Since today is the first day of 2009 (Happy New Year, everyone) I thought it would be a good day to talk about financial resolutions.  I know I’ve made plenty of them over the years, everything from pay off credit card debt to spend my money more wisely to start saving more for retirement.  A lot of people who make New Year’s resolutions probably make at least one about money.  Whether it’s about spending less, keeping more or ensuring financial security, resolutions about your finances are easy to make.  Keeping them, however, might be more of a problem.

Since this is a blog about finances and money, how to save it and how to use it wisely, I thought it would be nice to inaugurate a new series for the new year.  It will be called “Keeping Your Financial Resolutions” and it will, obviously, deal with tips and tricks for keeping the financial resolutions you’ve made.  Maybe you resolved to get your family’s finances in order in case of accident or natural disaster.  Maybe you want to save up for something special.  Maybe you’d like to make a budget and keep a better handle on your spending.  Maybe 2009 is the year you just want to pay down some debt. Whatever your financial goal, this series will help you achieve it.

If you have a specific issue about which you’d like some advice, please e-mail us or leave us a question in the comments section.  We’ll do our best to get you the answers and advice you need.  For right now I’m going to switch out Sunday’s Sanity Savers with this new series.  “Keeping Your Financial Resolutions” will appear every Sunday for at least the next few months.

All of us who write for A Frugal Housewife want to wish you and yours a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.   I hope we all have a wonderful 2009.

We are just a day away from the new year and we have some exciting things that will be happening here in 2009.

Have a safe and happy New Year from all of us at A Frugal Housewife.

If you were to examine the lists of New Year’s resolutions that average people make you’d probably discover that “make a financial plan” shows up quite frequently.  Almost everyone wants to improve their financial status.  A lot of people want to have more money or be better managers of the money they do have.  Many want to achieve a financial goal, whether it’s buying a new house or a new car, or saving for a child’s education or a long planned trip.  A lot of people want to do more and better when it comes to money.

Like a lot of New Year’s resolutions, the ones that involve money can quickly fade into nothingness.  If you’ve made, or are planning to make a resolution regarding your finances this New Year’s Eve, here are some tips that will help ensure your resolution lasts longer than the bubbles in your New Year’s Eve beverage.

Tip 1:  Determine Your Goals - If you don’t have kids yet, planning for their future isn’t high on your priority list.  If you’re near to retirement,  financing your life after you stop working is a high priority.  When forming your financial plan the first thing you need to do is determine where you are and where you want to go.  You financial plan should take into account your goals and what’s important to you.  Working to save for a goal you don’t really want to achieve is a sure recipe for disaster.

Tip 2:  Make a List - A lot of people, particularly those who are dealing with a tight budget, don’t like sitting down and listing their debts and their income.  It’s can be a bit disheartening.  Despite the fact that confronting your debts and obligations can be difficult, it is necessary.  The only way you can move forward is to establish where you are right now.

Tip 3:  Mark Your Path - You now have a list of goals and a list of income and debts.  Using these two lists, it’s time to plan how you will achieve your goals.  Determine how your money will be spent and how much will be saved every month.  Allocate monthly debt payments.  Create a budget that allows you to meet the goals that are important to you while still living a reasonable lifestyle.

Tip 4: Learn From the Experts - Here are some links that can help you learn more about financial planning

Russell Baylin’s Financial Planning Blog

Personal Financial Planning Blog Directory

The Dough Roller

Wise Bread

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  Some of us had a few days off and are headed back to work this morning.  I had big plans this past week with the extra days off and then I got sick.  A bad cold that put a damper on celebrating and getting myself organized.  The three days I had planned to accomplish some things just didn’t work out.  I slept those days away and didn’t even turn on my computer.

What I learned from this is things don’t always go as planned and I just need to move forward.  I can look at it as I just wasted three days laying around but I choose to look at it as some much needed rest.  Being away from work and my everyday routine has given me a fresh look at what needs to get done.

If you are lucky enough to have a few more days off this week, maybe you need to do the same.  Take a break from your everyday routine.  Step back and try not to think about what needs to get done.  Give yourself a day or so of rest.  It really does your mind and body good.

When things don’t go as planned, it might not be a bad thing.

I had to pay bills this weekend and, as usual, I was grumbling about having to do it.  On my personal scale of likes and dislikes, paying bills ranks about in the middle.  It’s not as bad as having to go to the doctor, but it’s less fun than reading a good book.  I know it has to be done, but I don’t have to like doing it.

As I was writing checks and logging into accounts to pay bills on line I suddenly realized that I was being rather ungrateful.  At a time when a lot of people are losing their jobs or under threat of losing their jobs I have a stable income.  In a year when a lot of people have lost their houses, I bought a house.  I’m not worried where my next paycheck is coming from or if it will come at all.  When I pay my bills I grumble because I’d rather spend the money on fun things that I want.  I’m not spending hours agonizing over how those bills will get paid.

I have a lot of plans for how I’m going to improve my life in 2009 but one thing that I’m going to add to the list is this:  I want to remember to count my blessings and be grateful for the good in my life.  All of us face challenges.  Everyone has things in their life that they would change if they could.  Despite those facts, we also have a lot of good in our lives.  As we enter 2009, I’d like to invite everyone to join with me in not only seeing the good, but appreciating and expressing it as well.  Attitude can have a big impact on how you handle a problem or come through a crisis.  Let’s all make a pledge to see the good and to be grateful and thankful for all the blessings that surround us.

I’m certainly going to try to recognize the good in my life.  I hope you all will as well.