Living well and centsibly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
Goodwill has a fabulous sale going on now through December 30th!
Save 50% off holiday items including holiday decor, ugly sweaters, tableware and more!
There are dozens of Goodwill store locations in the Twin Cities and suburbs.
Don’t forget their sale on Monday, December 19th too – save 30% off kids clothing, shoes and toys if you’re a VIP member! (It’s free to join)
Goodwill is already a great place to get items for your family cheap and for a good cause, but you can save even more on Monday, December 19th if you’re a VIP!
Save 30% on kids clothing, shoes & toys on Monday, December 19th, 2022 if you’re a VIP. It’s FREE to become a VIP – just sign up for texts from Goodwill (info here).
This is a great opportunity to stock up on toys, puzzles and board games for holiday gifts and for winter!
The barcode to show the cashier is on their website here.
There are dozens of Goodwill store locations in the Twin Cities and suburbs.
Note that this offer is valid on black, blue, green, pink and yellow tag kids clothing, shoes and toys on Monday, 12/19, up to $100 purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers, coupons, promotions or used on prior purchases or gift cards. Valid at Goodwill locations listed on gesmn.org, (not redeemable at Goodwill Outlets, Wholesale or shopgoodwill.com). See store for details. Must be VIP member to redeem.
Your teenager is finally ready to drive and has their license to prove it. Now it’s time to find the right vehicle to set them up for success. Choosing the right car for your teen can seem a little overwhelming at first. You want to be sure to choose a car that will keep them safe without completely breaking the bank. To help you make the best possible decision, here are a few tips you can use to find the best car for your teen driver.
Used vehicles are ideal for teen drivers because you don’t need to worry about the car’s value depreciating when your child inevitably makes a mistake on the road. However, it’s important to do your research on the history of the vehicle to make sure it hasn’t been involved in a car accident in the past. Vehicles that have been involved in past accidents can have long-lasting damage that may not always be visible.
It’s important that you not only do your research on the vehicle’s history but also that you thoroughly inspect the vehicle. CARFAX recommends sitting in each seat in the car and looking for signs of wear and tear. Musty smells and stains could be a sign of water damage of which there are three kinds: clean, grey, and black water damage. You don’t want any type of water damage in your teen’s vehicle.
Many drivers like tinted windows because window tint can block out 99% of harmful UV rays while also keeping the inside of the car a mystery to potential thieves. However, if you’re choosing a vehicle for your teen that has a window tint, make sure that the tint is legal. Windows need to be covered with tinting that allows more than 35% of light transmittance and reflective material isn’t permitted. Additionally, tinting is only allowed on the top five inches of the windshield.
While some parents like to keep their teen’s car a surprise, it actually might be a better idea to have your child come with you to pick out the vehicle. Since your child will be the one driving the car, be sure to let them test drive the vehicle after you take the car for a spin. You want to be sure that your teen feels comfortable behind the wheel and feels that they can easily maneuver the vehicle in and out of parking spaces.
Your teen may know the basics when it comes to driving. They know not to use their phone when they’re behind the wheel, they know how to parallel park, and they know the federal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%. But if this is the first time your teen has ever owned a car, the price and responsibility aspect of the vehicle will be entirely new to them. Because of this, consider including your teen in on conversations about gas mileage and prices, maintenance and repair costs, and insurance costs. Seeing the financial side of owning a vehicle will help them not only make a smart choice when choosing their first vehicle but it will also help them when they choose to buy a new vehicle in the future.
It can be challenging to find the right car for your teen driver. You want to be sure the vehicle is safe, reliable, and affordable. By following the tips above, you can feel confident that you’re making the right decision when the time comes to buy your teen’s first car.
Planning a wedding is extremely exciting! However, it’s worth noting that it can be even more stressful than it is exciting. In fact, 50% of women find planning their wedding more stressful than they imagined, with a reported 11 hours each week spent planning.
Here are some great tips that should help you save some money on your wedding in 2020 and beyond:
Rather than just buying the first item online whenever you’re shopping for something specific, you need to breathe, take a pause, and actually spend some time doing some research. More than 34% of desktop searches and 62.5% of mobile searches are zero-click searches.
It’s best to stick to buying from organizations that have a solid reputation, a strong brand, and years and years of experience. It’s no secret that consistent branding across all channels increases revenue by 23%, so make sure you’re taking the time to search online for legitimate companies before buying any product or service.
Additionally, it’s always a great idea to reach out to references online. This will help you not only avoid scammers but also find out exactly what kind of quality this particular company offers.
Maybe you’ve been planning for this day your entire life. That’s great! I’m sure you’ll be able to incorporate certain aspects of your dream wedding form when you were just a kid! But… your wedding visions might’ve been a little… grandiose back then. For instance, it might not be fiscally responsible to have your entire wedding party arrive on unicorns. Cuts are going to have to be made — so you might have to settle for only one or two magical unicorns.
Fantasy characters aside, you have to make sure you develop a realistic budget and stick to it no matter what. Yout want to have an amazing day and night, of course! But it’s not worth sacrificing your financial future for a single day. Instead, carefully plan out all the financial aspects of your big day and make sure you can have everything covered. If not, even more magical unicorns will have to go!
Make sure the venue you’re booking doesn’t require you to use its own catering service. If you have to, you might be out of luck. But if not, rather than hiring an expensive catering service, think about serving all the food at the reception yourself!
Sure, you are going to be a little preoccupied throughout the day. But maybe you have a skilled grillmaster in your family. Or maybe just a close friend (who isn’t a part of your wedding party) can handle grilling duties for the night! You’ll be able to have a magical evening with all kinds of delicious foods for much cheaper than hiring a professional catering service. Stick with the classics: burgers, hot dogs, veggies, and some chicken breast will do the trick!
It’s a wedding. People are going to dance and have fun with some nice speakers and a solid Spotify playlist. You’ll probably want a little more than this, though, which is fine, but don’t opt for an expensive DJ or a big band.
Instead, do a little research around your town to find out if there are some quality bands that are charging a significant amount less than some competitors. You might even be able to hire a friends’ band for real cheap! Just make sure you go over the setlist and a few ground rules. Heavy metal, for example, might not be the best option for your romantic evening. But who knows, maybe that’s exactly what you’re looking for!
This is a stressful time but it doesn’t have to be as bad as you’re making it. Take a deep breath, take a few more, and sit down and spend some time to really think about how to make this wedding special without breaking the bank! Have fun and congratulations!
Just Between Friends Kids Sales are one the best ways to save money on gently used (and new!) kids items, and to make some cash selling your kids’ used items!
And I’m excited to partner with Just Between Friends of Eagan and Apple Valley, whose next sales are coming up in late July and early August! COVID-19 has affected and cancelled a lot of things, including consignment sales that had been scheduled for this year. But with the proper social distancing guidelines in place, sales are now happening safely including Just Between Friends sales in Eagan and Apple Valley!
Normally, JBF of Eagan has their fall sale in early August, but because they had to cancel their spring sale, they are having ALL SEASON sales so you can find everything your kids need year-round!
It’s Presidents Day this Monday and these thrift stores are offering 50% off sales!
Presidents Day Sales – Monday, February 17th, 2020!
Arc’s Value Village – President’s Day 50% Off Storewide Sale today! Includes all departments. The storewide 50% off sale means bargains in every department (except brand-new items marked with orange and white tags). Shop our 50% Off Sale and stock up on sweaters, jackets and scarves to kick that cabin fever! You’ll also find housewares and books on sale, as well as supplies for those creative DIY crafts!
All five locations are filled with great stuff and fantastic values.
· Arc’s Value Village Bloomington, 10546 France Ave. S.; (952) 818-8708
· Arc’s Value Village New Hope, 2751 Winnetka Ave. N.; (763) 544-0006
· Arc’s Value Village Richfield, 6528 Penn Ave. S.; (612) 861-9550
Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota – Take 40% off your purchase of $25 or more with a Goodwill tote February 16-17! Offer is valid on black, blue, green, pink and yellow tags only, up to $100 total purchase with a Goodwill tote.
Salvation Army Thrift Stores – 50% Off Clothing and 25% Off Everything Else at their new goods store only. Location: 900 N. 4th St. Minneapolis. 9:00am – 9:00pm.
Savers (and Unique Thrift Stores)– 50% off clothing, shoes, accessories, and bed & bath. Excludes new merchandise (red tags), books, jewelry and items tagged media. Not valid with any other coupon or discount. US stores only. Regular in-store discounts not available on sale day. 9:00am-9:00pm.
Did you know? Cars wouldn’t last more than a few years on the road without the appropriate maintenance. Of course, buying the car is what comes first and that’s what we’ll be discussing in this article.
Buying a new vehicle is exciting and for good reason. It’s always fun to get something new, and cars are especially interesting since they impact our daily lives in so many ways. And as one of the three most valuable commodities transported by U.S. freight companies, alongside electronics and machinery, vehicles tend to carry hefty price tags with them, especially when they’re brand new.
Unfortunately, that hefty price tag can be a problem for many car shoppers. It’s not enough just to find a car you can afford — you also have to resist the ever-present temptation to overspend. To find out how to stick to your budget when buying a car, keep reading.
Obviously before you can stick to a budget, you have to make one. With unemployment rates declining across the nation, down by 3.7% in September, more people are buying cars. Besides being the result of an improving economy, more workers means more people needing cars. But sadly, just because you need a vehicle for work doesn’t mean you can justify any car at any price.
When you decide how much car you can afford, it’s important to take multiple factors into consideration. First of all, there’s the price of the car itself. It can be tempting to focus entirely on the monthly cost of your loan or lease, but that’s usually a bad idea, as a very expensive car can be had for a relatively manageable monthly price. Instead, figure out what total price is actually reasonable for you with your income, expenses, and current liabilities. That includes taxes and fees involved in buying a car.
Next, take into consideration what you can afford for insurance and auto maintenance. This will be different for various vehicles, so knowing in advance what you can afford will help you choose the right one.
Here’s a good rule of thumb for setting your budget: you should be able to put at least 20% down on the total purchase and finance the rest for no more than four years. Then, your monthly car-related expenses should be no more than 10% of your monthly gross income (that includes your car payment, insurance, and maintenance). With about 87% of families already in debt, it’s important to manage how much more debt you’ll be adding with your car financing plan before you sign off on it.
There are two things you must have crystal-clear in your mind before you begin shopping for an expensive item like a car: your available budget and the exact sort of item you’re looking for. In this case, you need to know exactly what kind of car you want to buy before you think of setting foot in a dealership.
A classic strategy to use for defining what you need and want is to take two sheets of paper, and write on one of them all the things you absolutely must have in your new car. If you live in a cold climate with lots of snow and ice, you may need certain features for safe winter driving. If you’re forced to do a lot of driving for your job, you may need a sturdier or newer car than if you only drive a couple of miles to work every day.
On the other piece of paper, write down all the things you’d like to have in a car but are negotiable. This way you’ll have taken all the things you want into consideration, but also acknowledged that they aren’t what’s really important. If you find a car that features everything you need and want at a price you can afford, then great! And if not, it’s okay, as long as you’re within budget and you’ve found what you have to have.
If you aren’t completely clear on this at the start, a pushy salesman could easily make you think you need more than you really do. You might even get hypnotized by a certain car’s flashy features without considering that they aren’t important for you. Knowledge is power and, in this case, knowing what you want and need can give you the power to stay within budget.
When you’re looking for a new car with a budget, going to the dealership should actually be one of the last things you do. That’s because the dealer and salespeople are the most likely to try and force you to consider options above your budget, so the more research you’ve done in advance the safer you are from overspending.
To start your car search, try checking out listings on Craigslist or eBay. Only around 33% of retailers have the mobile infrastructure necessary to display their available inventory online, but many local dealerships have frequently-updated websites where they list the cars they have for sale. This is a great way to find out what your options are locally before actually visiting a dealership.
As you find cars that seem to fit your budget and needs, write them down. You will use this list to compare insurance rates and probable maintenance costs.
With your new list of possible cars to purchase, you should research the safety and reliability ratings of each. Find out what their gas mileage is and how frequently they break down or need maintenance. The more expensive a car will be to own, the less helpful it is to find it for a great price.
You should also talk to a few insurance providers to find out what insurance would cost for each car.
By now, you’ve done more research than most people even think about when buying a new car. You’re finally ready to strut into a dealership and get the right car at a good deal, all while staying within your budget.
Labor Day Weekend is here which means many thrift store 50% off sales! It’s a GREAT time to get last-minute back to school clothes shopping done for your kids! Here are some sales in the area:
Arc’s Value Village – Shop their 50% SALE and stock up on clothes, housewares, media and more! Village Rewards Members save 50% on Sunday, September 1st as well when they present their new white member card! Shop with a purpose to support The Arc Minnesota. Sale excludes orange and white tag merchandise. 4 locations: Bloomington, New Hope, Richfield, & St. Paul. http://www.arcsvaluevillage.org/
Locations:
· Value Village Bloomington, 10546 France Ave. S.; (952) 818-8708
· Value Village New Hope, 2751 Winnetka Ave. N.; (763) 544-0006
· Value Village Richfield, 6528 Penn Ave. S.; (612) 861-9550
· Value Village Saint Paul, 1650 White Bear Ave. N.; (651) 788-8300
Goodwill – Save 50% on clothing, housewares, electronics, home decor and more ALL WEEKEND LONG. Sale is August 31 – September 2. Check website for participating stores. 9:00am – 6:00pm. See their Facebook post for info. http://www.goodwilleasterseals.org/
Salvation Army – Save 50% on all clothing! 25% off everything else. 9:00am – 9:00pm. 9 locations in the Twin Cities.
https://www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyStoresTwinCities
Savers and Unique Thrift Stores – 50% off clothing, shoes, accessories, and bed & bath. *Excludes new merchandise (red tags), and items tagged jewelry, books, media, housewares, and furniture. US stores only. 9:00am-9:00pm. Club members can shop on Sunday, September 1st. https://www.savers.com/shop
If you have another thrift store near you, be sure to check out their own specials and hours!
Navigating all the Black Friday deals can be so overwhelming (especially since some actually started weeks ago!). That’s why I’m excited to offer a Black Friday Price Comparison Sheet for you, which will be updated regularly!
Some tips:
Did you know that back-to-school season is the second-biggest shopping season of the year? The average household spends around $500, and it goes up every year. But there are many ways you can save money on everything from school supplies to clothing. Here is a roundup of 25 tips to keep more money in your wallet:
1.Check what you have on hand, first. You may have unopened boxes of colored pencils, notebooks, rulers, or glue in your house. My kids have unopened boxes of crayons they’ve received as gifts, as well as scissors and other basics from last year that are still in great shape! Check what was leftover from last year and use it instead of buying new.
2. If you’re shopping with the kids, do a scouting outing first. Tell the kids you’re just going to see what’s out there without buying anything. Then make a list of their favorite items and get back to those after you get the essentials and there’s room in the budget. [Read more…]
