You spend a lot of money each year on stuff.  If you are accustomed to buy now, pay later you are paying even more for the interest on your stuff.  Don't be tricked into the monthly payment mindset--that immediate gratification type of thinking will wipe out your long-term wealth building potential.

1. Furniture: BUY
Unless you move every year or two and pay big moving fees each time, never rent furniture.  Temporary international relocation might be an exception.  Scour the nickel paper for garage sales and pick up odds and ends until you can afford the expensive Haverty's set.  I've found the best sofas at yard sales.

Some rental companies charge up to 50% more than the furniture retail value.  And you have no guarantee as to the quality of rented furniture.  Calculate the overall payout for your rented furniture--you'll find it is much higher than you anticipated.   $200 per month may not hurt your pocketbook immediately, but you'll have nothing at the end of your lease term.

2. Recreational Vehicle: RENT
RVs range between $9,000 and $200,000 with wide differences in quality and performance.  Unless you live in the thing or need it for cross-country travel at least once a month, you'll come out ahead spending the $500 per week rental fee (plus mileage) for your yearly getaway.  Hard core campers who travel 50 days out of the year or more might consider buying a used (at least three-year-old) model.

3. Tools: RENT
Attempting that home improvement job and need a tile cutter?  Just rent one unless you plan on becoming a mosaic artist.  Need to spread a mound of dirt to fill in holes in your backyard?  Round up the neighborhood kids and a bushel of shovels or get a backhoe if the job is a biggie.  

If the carpet looks shabby and needs a shampoo, I like to rent a carpet cleaner from Lowe's or Home Depot.  For an industrial grade cleaning, it's far cheaper than hiring a company and better than the units I can afford.  Keep a cache of the basics for everyday jobs, but for bigger tasks check out your local home improvement store.

Photo by garethjmsaunders

Shopping online is convenient and can be cheaper than shopping retail. But do you know your rights when buying on the Internet? A recent survey revealed consumers don't know their rights and regulations and  thus take big privacy and security risks.

To help ensure your safety when shopping online, we offer the following 10 tips.

1. Know the company: Does the company provide information about its background and ownership? Are details about each product posted? Is there information about your rights and security? Investigate further if you can't find a contact address on their web site.

2. Cooling-off rights: There  should be a cooling-off period for most goods and services purchased online. Usually extending for seven days after you receive the purchase, a cooling-off period entitles you to a full refund if there is a problem or you are unhappy with the purchase. If details are not provided, the cancellation period can last for up to three months.

3. Security: Make sure the payment page is encrypted so your financial information can't be hacked. The company should indicate encryption is provided before you enter your bank account data, credit card number, etc.

4. Shipping costs: All too often, delivery charges aren't added until the end of the transaction. This can greatly increase the price of your purchase. Because you've already filled out all the required forms, the company hopes you'll simply go ahead with the purchase. Make sure you examine the final cost before clicking approval.

5. Free delivery: Because competition has increased in recent years, many retailers now offer free delivery if you purchase over a certain amount. Comparison shop and visit Freeshipping.org for offers.

Photo by Dan4th

The Amish could teach us a lesson or two about using old-fashioned construction and cooking methods.  According to a Wall Street Journal article over 600 Amish contractors working in more than 12 states can save homebuyers up to 30% employing simple, yet stable, building techniques and few tools.  

Not everything with a cord will make life easier--and it doesn't usually simplify things either.  While we come a long way from barn raising sans electric tools and churning our own butter, it's worth a second glance to comparing manually driven tools and their electronic counterparts.  After all, saving money speaks across the decades.

Clothes Dryer
Assuming your dryer, which is 5,000 watts, runs for 4 hours every day of the month, you'll spend roughly $60 per month on drying costs alone!  Most of us don't use our dryer that much, but you have to factor in wear and tear on your clothing and the age of your machine.  Older, less efficient units take longer to dry the clothes and you'll end up with faded darks if you over dry.  On the other hand, running a 48" fan for 12 hours each day on hanging clothes will only run you about $2.50 for the month.  Using a drying rack and natural air to get the job done will keep your clothes brighter longer and save money on your dryer.
The Winner: Drying rack with a fan

Can Opener
Forget the electric can opener--I want my hand crank.  The electric gigs run off track so often and unless you spend a bit of money they don't give a smooth cut.  Plus when the electricity goes out and you need to break into the pantry cordless is a necessity.  My pick is the OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Manual Can Opener.
The Winner: Hand crank opener

Toothbrush
Here's the deal.  If you don't brush your teeth regularly, it doesn't matter if your brush is gold-plated with diamond studs--teeth don't brush themselves.  I tend to get lazy about how long I brush and I get bored.  The electric toothbrush is fun for me to use.  There are a few studies roaming around that say using an electric brush reduces plaque build-up, but most are dependent upon users.  While you can easily dish out over $100 for a rechargeable brush, the Oral-B Vitality costs just under $20 and does and excellent job.  It doesn't have a built-in timer and only has one-brush motion, but it is rechargeable and you can't beat the price.  Consumer Search rated the Oral-B Vitality the Best No-Frills Electric Toothbrush and the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice found that using this brush is comparable to receiving a dental prophylaxis followed by a manual toothbrush.  
The Winner: Electric for lazy operators, manual for diligent scrubbers

Beater
I have both sitting side by side in my pantry.  While I like the feel of my manual beater, it is nearly impossible to beat baked goods (especially cookies which need to take an extra whipping) long enough without a complete forearm workout.  I'll use the whisk on light jobs, but most recipes need a simple electric (not necessarily the giant Kitchen Aid) beater.  I purchased mine for under $20 and it has lasted for five year.
The Winner: Electric beater

All new parents will quickly learn that an attractive, award-winning toy may or may not make the grade for your toddler.  Usually, the more expensive your purchase, the less of an impression it makes on Junior.  After several repeat episodes of buying toys designed by "experts" to "stimulate" this or that part of the noggin, we are sadly disappointed with a banished toy and empty wallet.  

The ugly truth is most of us seek out gizmos that will occupy our kiddos to give us extra time to "get stuff done" around the house.  Many of the great classic and even good modern toys aren't that expensive, but require more direction from parents.  This means you can check your child at the toy bin and go about your day.  There's no need to rent a POD out back to stock all the toys in--your best bets are always the simplest and least expensive options.

A word to the wise: if you are genuinely seeking toys that help develop your child's creativity, you'll need to "help" them learn how to play.  It is far easier to buy a $70 delux music table and let them do their thing for hours--it's another to actually reveal the possibilities of a set of $10 blocks.  Here's a peek at some of the best toys you can buy for Princess under $15.  

Toys with Sound
Regardless of where you stand with yammering toys, gird your loins for a repeat marathon of the same songs.  Most of the table toys that have a music and learning option cost well over $40, so to keep things frugal opt for instruments. Little ones will love the Baby Einstein Count and Compose Piano for just $14.99 or The Farmer Says by Fisher Price at only $12.99. Xylophones, maracas, whistles, or even make your own percussion studio out of old water bottles and beans.  Leap Frog makes a fun set of complicated maracas, but Junior will have just as much fun with the real thing.

What to avoid: One-trick-pony toys like the Tickle Me You-Know-Who that do one thing and stop. Before buying that singing monstrosity ask yourself what your child can learn from it.

August is the christened month for tax-free savings across several states in the union. If you live in a chosen state, you've either heard about your particular weekend or been brave enough to shop it. The government-won't-take-any-of-my-money incentive offered for back-to-school shoppers may be an attractive one, but will it actually save you more money than any other shopping window?

• Check your state's guidelines on tax-free items and limitations.
  Some states include computers, clothing, school supplies, and even other merchandise in the non-taxed category. My Lone Star State, Texas, only includes clothing under $100, backpacks under $100 for elementary and secondary students, and certain layaway items. Tennessee, on the other hand, includes clothing and school supplies under $100 and computers under $1500. Review your specific location before shopping.
• Only shop if you take a list and stick to it.
  Tax-free weekend is a veritable feeding frenzy and don't assume you won't fall victim to the herd mentality. Unless you have an itemized list of needs, perhaps a few wants, the sales may seem too good to be true. And no kid needs a new backpack every year. Keep backpacks 2-3 years and consider shopping at resale digs for higher end bags at cheaper prices.
• Go early. Never go late.
  Have you been to a Chinese buffet after rush hour? The beef and broccoli somehow leapt into the lo mein, sweet and sour sauce has been drizzled on the crab meat, and your shoes reek of soy sauce...the whole scene looks like a flavored Jackson Pollack. Your poor mall will be pillaged just the same after a few short hours and you'll get zero service. Check ahead for extended hours and only go early in the morning. Any later than lunch and you'll get no service and have to hunt through bonfire clothing piles rather than neat stacks of jeans.

If you don't have a vision plan with your health insurance, prescription glasses can cost a fortune.  The last time I went shopping for new glasses my total for glasses was going to be around $350 which included designer frames, prescription lenses and a non-glare coating. 

I also looked at buying some new prescription sunglasses which also totaled at about $350.  All together I would have had to spend $700 to get new glasses and sunglasses and $700 was not something I wanted to part with.  

So what do you do to save money on prescription glasses?  Shop online.  I purchased the same pair of designer glasses, with prescription lenses and a non-glare coating online for $175.

Here's how I saved over 50% on my glasses.

1.  Get your prescription from an optometrist.

2.  Shop in stores for the frames you want.  Jot down the brand name and model number.

3.  Ask to get fitted for frames at the store and ask for that information.  They should give you the size of frames you need and the distance between your pupils.

Ah!  The smell of freshly sharpened pencils and plastic wrapped textbooks is upon us.  College freshmeat; get ready for a whirlwind of a year.  Maybe you chose your childhood friend to room with or you went potluck.  Regardless of your bunkmate, you will soon be sharing a blank slate with her.  Ladies especially get giddy after breezing through Bed, Bath, and Beyond, eyeballing the mini-stainless fridge, coordinating desk, and comforter.  Adorning a room need not incur your father's wrath--be smart about outfitting and you can get a study-ready haven for less.

Know your limitations.  Have an accurate measure of the space you'll be living in and ask if the bed is a regular or extra long twin.  Measure all spaces precisely if you plan on buying any electronics or a desk.  Some schools prohibit the use of candles or halogen lamps--know before you buy.

Sheik storage.  If you're short on cash, buy milk crates and spray paint them a coordinating color for an attractive and cheap option.  Score cinder blocks and several 2"X4" wood planks from the home improvement store, spray paint them, and layer for bookshelves.  

Wall wonders.  Head to the thrift store to look for faux vintage tins or a large map for an old world feel.  Sarongs also make fun, cheap wall hangings for a bright beachy motif.  My personal favorite (especially if you have a bunk setup) are large bulb Christmas lights draped across the room.

Divide the space.  You may love your roommate, but at some point in the near future you will want some space to your own.  Depending on the dorm layout, you may be able to put up a curtained divider to preserve privacy.  

Check out Ikea.  If you are fortunate enough to live near one, it's definitely worth a visit for cheap and sheik design on a dime.  If not, the additional shipping costs are reasonable.  Prices can't be beat for all home products from futons and bedding to curtains and bath accessories.  Ikea has the best selection of dorm-like goodies to choose from for far less than traditional retailers.

A top yearly highlight for me is my mother's family reunion in the Texas Hill Country.  Aside from rocky hills and clear blue streams, the Austin area has my favorite attraction--the San Marcos Outlet Malls.  This place is not for the faint of heart.  With over 350 stores, the Tanger and Prime Outlet centers are a beacon of cheap goods for shoppers around the world.  I once got caught in a midnight traffic jam for over two hours trying to get in for Black Friday sales.

You'll need a GPS system and leashes for all the children, but most importantly, come armed with insider information to getting the best deals.

1. Eradicate the word "sale" from your vocabulary.
Women, this tip's for you.  When we see a cocktail dress for $549.99 marked down to just $130 (on the obese clearance aisles) we feel like we've struck gold, cheated the house.  At such a deep discount it's hard to pass up.  I would encourage you to ignore the litany of markdowns in red felt tip pen--would you have bought it if the MSRP were $130?  Outlet malls are notorious for huge price gaps that may not have existed to begin with.  As attendance and sales have skyrocketed over the last decade, owners have wised up to the "outlet=best deals" motto.

2. Avoid crowds at all costs.
Part of scoring a deal is keeping your cool.  When surrounded by mounds of discarded clothing and frantic shoppers snatching up handfuls of jeans, you really need to go away and come back later.  No one can really pinpoint at what point a crowd becomes an angry mob, but basement prices and frenzied deal seekers are a perfect recipe for disaster.  The best time I've found to shop the outlet malls are mornings during the week or, if you must on the weekend, the earlier the better.   

3. Get outlet coupons.
Sign up for those annoying emailed coupons from the outlet mall--they will pay off.  Many offer a flat percentage off purchases from any one store and give additional holiday coupons, food discounts, and current deals.  Prime Outlets and Tanger Outlets keep their promotions up to date.  I wouldn't buy a coupon book, even though they're cheap.  You'll end up spending more to "make up" for the cost of the book.

My husband and I are researching options to transform our screened in porch into an enclosed playroom for our little girl. A recent sale on flooring at our local home improvement store made me wonder which type of flooring would give us the best value.

Consumer Reports has a feature in the August 2009 issue detailing types of flooring and what you get for the price. Here are six:

Solid wood/Bamboo

• Pros: It’s made from a renewable resource, which makes it a popular choice. It can be sanded and refinished multiple times.
• Cons: Shouldn’t be used in bathrooms or other places where moisture is present. The wood can discolor and tends to dent and show wear quickly.
• Cost: $7-$12 per sq. ft.

Engineered wood

• Pros: Easy to install and may be refinished if needed.
• Cons: Damaged easily.
• Cost: $5 to $10 per sq. ft.

Plastic laminate

• Pros: It’s tough and the finish is often better than some wood.
• Cons: Shouldn’t be used for bathrooms; can’t be refinished.
• Cost: $4 to $8 per sq. ft.

Vinyl

• Pros: Easy to install. Most cost efficient. Best for bathrooms and budget kitchen remodels.
• Cons: It looks like vinyl, which isn’t popular or pretty.
• Cost: $3 to $7 per sq. ft.

I have a trove of garage sale memories from my childhood.  Mom and I always woke at the crack of dawn-thirty, loaded up with ham and cheese kolaches, and headed out to the garage sale circuit, bleary-eyed and eager.  The night before we highlighted our favorite spots and mapped out a route for assured victory. 

The most interesting aspect of the yard sale has always been the wide variety of stuff.  It would be just as fascinating to craft a personal narrative based solely on stuff relegated to a garage sale as The Things they Carried.  

Sentimentality aside, shoppers are cutthroat at these places.  They come in posses, groups of six or more, and will ruthlessly snatch items from your clutches.  Serious buyers know that the goods go quickly, within the first 45 minutes, so gird your wallet and obey the following:

1. Plan your attack.
Check the Thrifty Nickel-type papers, newspaper, and community sheets for local sales.  I haven't had much luck with online database sites, but it can't hurt to try Yard Sale Database.  Craigslist is quickly becoming a solid site for reliable garage sale postings--you'll usually get a better description than the classifieds.  Hit neighborhoods that have multiple sales in one area to save on gas and browse a wider variety of options.

2. Get up early.
You want the best, chinch on rest.  If you have your heart set on an antique sideboard at one spot, call the night before for more details and get there fifteen minutes before it begins.  Most of the attractive sale items are picked up within the first two hours.

3. Hit the nice spots in town.  
It's no secret that folks who have a bit more dough generally buy nicer things.  Make it a point to scope out the wealthy parts of town to buy a once-used patio set for dirt cheap.

4. Dress for success.
A little rain can scare away the bulk of shoppers leaving you huge bargains.  Wear covered toe shoes and bring a rain jacket--you'll reap big savings from sales that have relocated to the garage or indoors.

5. Bring a bag.
Pick up your recyclable grocery bag before heading out the door.  If you're juggling children, Barbie houses, and glassware, you'll need a tote to help you out.  Make sure you let the seller know it is clearly a shopping bag and not a purse.