Forty to fifty years ago, we were using products that we would never dare think of using today because we've discovered that they are unsafe and cause health issues.  The two that come to mind are lead paint and asbestos based insulation.

I had a startling thought the other day, as I wondered what products we're using today that will be looked at in the 2050's as completely unsafe and banned from use.

I'm sure there are some out there, and that's not even the worst part.  The worst part is that based on how much more processing we're doing, my guess is that some of the stuff we're using today is even worse than the lead paint and asbestos and/or there are probably going to be more products identified.

On that encouraging note, have a great weekend!

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My wife recently laid a coupon on my desk that she found in Parents magazine for 20% off a diaper purchase at Amazon.

Upon doing some digging, I found that this was a really good deal.  It apparently was stackable with a promotion that they were running on a Subscribe-And-Save promotion.  Subscribe-And-Save allows you to sign up and typically receive 15% automatic shipments of staples like diapers, batteries, household cleaners, etc.  They were running an extra 15% off.

That means that we were looking at:
15% the original subscribe and save
15% for the bonus subscribe and save promo
20% off the coupon

The discounts all worked off the original price, so it amounted to a 50% discount!  The coupon was only good off one package of product, so we made our purchase.

So a package of diapers that retails for $41 at our local store would cost a little over $43 after you add tax, plus you have to spend time and gas going to the store to get it.

With Amazon, their price was $40, which was lowered to $20 after all the discounts!  Plus, they were offering free shipping on subscribe and save options, so even though we hadn't spent the normal $25, we didn't pay for shipping.  Two days after placing our order, a box of diapers showed up.

Now, many people shy away from the subscribe and save option because you later get 'stuck' with stuff at a higher price.  Amazon seems pretty good about it:

• You can set your frequency.  Right now, ours is set at every six months.
• If you need something sooner, you can request a shipment earlier.
• If you don't need it, you can postpone the shipment.  And they will e-mail you well in advance to ensure that you get adequate notice of a pending shipment.
• Your 15% discount sticks.  You'll always get 15% off the current price.  The wording even suggests that the extra 15% might stay as long as the order is open, but that's a bit unclear.
• You can switch your product.  I'm pretty sure that if we need to switch diaper sizes as Little Boy Beagle continues to grow, we can update this on the order.
• You can cancel anytime.  Many people would have already canceled by now.  I figure I'll leave it in place and see what the price is next time I need it.  If the 15% is still cheaper than the store, why not leave it and adjust the orders as needed?  If the bonus 15% sticks, that's even better!  

On top of all this, they also rewarded people who purchased diapers a three month Amazon Prime membership.  This gets you free two-day shipping on all orders, with the normal $25 free shipping waived.  This alarmed me when I first saw it, because with the typical 'free' Prime membership, you have to opt out after the trial membership expires or you'll start getting charged the monthly fee.  Not so with this.  At the end of it, it simply expires (though I'm sure I'll get an e-mail or two asking me to consider paying for it).

All in all, this was a pretty great diaper purchase.  It just goes to show two things.  First, Amazon has great service.  Second, there is a huge markup on diapers if Amazon can offer all this and still make money, because you know they wouldn't be going all out on selling diapers if it weren't lucrative for them. 

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One of the ways we've saved a little money is that my wife now cleans my work shirts.  I still work in one of the remaining few offices where you're expected to wear a button down shirt and tie (Friday's are more casual).  Before my wife left her job to be a stay-at-home-mom, we would take my dress shirts in to the dry cleaner to get laundered and pressed.

She's started doing it, and for the most part it works out well.  It is time consuming, mainly the ironing, but she'll usually reserve a couple of hours and combine it with other ironing to get it all done every few weeks.  And, the savings have been noticeable!

One thing we've noticed a couple of times is that there appear to be stains on the shirts. I generally don't stain  my shirts at work and don't come into contact with anything that would explain this, so it was puzzling.  In most cases, re-washing it with a little degreaser seemed to do the trick.  Still, it was annoying.

I did a little research and I guess this is somewhat of a common occurrence, and can be blamed on one or both of the following: Dryer sheets and Fabric softener.

Apparently, both of these contain some oils that can actually cause grease stains on materials which contain polyester.  Most of my shirts are made of a blend of mostly cotton but a slight infusion of polyester to assist with the wrinkling, so it kind of started to fit together.

I guess with high efficiency washing machines (front loaders), it's easy to use too much fabric softener, which is something that my wife adds to just about every load of our clothes.  Even though the stuff we buy is made for such machines, and even though we add what the machine reservoir indicates is a good amount, it may still be too much, and then running it through the dryer cycle with a dryer sheet, which also contains some oils, can be overload.  So, from now on, we'll be using less fabric softener in every load, and hopefully that will eliminate the random occurrences of stains on my shirts.

If you have a high efficiency washing machine, follow these tips to avoid the 'fabric softener / dryer sheet' stain problem:

• Use less fabric softener than is called for.  Cut the recommended amount down by half and monitor.  You'll find a point where your clothes are still soft but you eliminate the stains.
• Clean your fabric softener line.  One thing that didn't apply to us, but I saw was a problem, is if your fabric softener area gets gunked up.  At this point, you could have clumps that would enter the machine during a wash cycle and oversaturate particular areas with fabric softener.
• Use dryer sheets carefully or eliminate them altogether.  For smaller loads, use half a sheet.  Consider phasing out dryer sheets and replacing it with a dryer ball, which does not contain the oils that plague dryer sheets.  
• Place your dryer sheets on top of the load before starting the dryer.  Placing the sheet in your dryer after your clothes are put in will reduce the likelihood that the sheet will remain stuck to one item.  This happened to us on our duvet cover, and after the dryer finished running, we had a spot the exact size of a dryer sheet from where it had gotten stuck.

Washing and drying clothes has sure gotten a lot easier than the 'old days' of wash tubs and drain boards, but there's still a lot that you have to know in order to make sure that your clothes last and remain wearable for as long as possible.



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 We go shopping at the nearby outlet center twice per year.  For us, it happens to coincide with our birthday months, due to a chicken dinner at a world renowned restaurant that is given for free during the month of your birthday.

We have usually scored pretty well at the outlet mall, so I thought I'd offer up a few tips on how to save money at the outlet centers:

1. Have a game plan - If you've not been to the outlets before, think about taking a 'stakeout' trip where you don't shop.  If you're a seasoned veteran, you probably know your way around, but you should have a plan from parking to stores you know you want to hit, etc.
2. Have a shopping list - Just like when you go grocery shopping, it's important to have a list of things you know you might need.  How much you stick to that is up to you.
3. Have a budget - Know the upper limit of what you are willing to spend.  If you have no self-control, then get cash out for that amount and leave your credit / debit / ATM cards at home.  If you've got self-control, you should still have a budget number anyways.
4. Know when to go - Outlets, just like other stores, will have better deals around certain times of the year.  We usually go around Memorial Day and Labor Day (back-to-school) so there always seem to be extra deals.  You will have to deal with larger crowds, but if you have your game plan sorted out, it's a small price to pay for some big savings.
5. Search for coupons - If you know particular stores you want to go to, see if they have any coupons available for printout online or through the website.
6. Sign up for deals - Many outlet stores will have sign-up sheets in the store to get you on their mailing and e-mail lists.  It might seem like junk mail, but if you're suddenly being delivered coupons for 30% off your purchase at a store you plan on shopping at anyways, it's definitely worth signing up for.  
7. Stay hydrated - Doing effective shopping most likely means you'll be doing a lot of walking.  Make sure you bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. Avoid too much coffee or soda as the caffeine will work against you in efforts to stay hydrated.
8. Eat - Don't be that cranky shopper that gets that way because your stomach is growling.  Be prepared with some on-the-go snacks that you can use for a quick boost.  Granola bars, apples, carrot sticks, and crackers are easy to carry around, wont' spoil, and will give you a much needed pick-me-up.
9. Leave unwilling participants behind - My wife and I (along with Little Boy Beagle) go twice per year.  That's my limit.  Any more than that would drive me crazy.  My wife will usually go at least one more time with her mom and sister.  If kids or spouses are going to mope, complain, drag, otherwise, either plan for a shorter trip if they must be there (back to school shopping) or have them find other arrangements.  
10. Comparison shop - Keep your eyes open for deals, even on stuff you've already bought.  You might love the pants you got at Store A for $20, but don't stop looking even if you made the purchase.  You might find a different / cheaper option at Store B, and returns are usually easy, especially if done the same day.
11. Know return policies - Make sure that you know the return policy for every item you bought, so that you aren't surprised if you want to return something and can only get store credit or if you lose a receipt.  
12. Be patient - Outlet shopping can be overwhelming and a big task, but if you're patient and keep a cool head in the midst of other crazy shoppers, you can have a fun day filled with savings.

Happy shopping!


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Today is my birthday so no finance post today.  I'm now officially closer to forty than I am thirty, as today is the big three-six! 

Catch you tomorrow!

Thanks for reading! Please subscribe to my RSS feed. This original Money Beagle post Copyright 2010 Money Beagle is authorized to appear only on www.moneybeagle.com. Thank you for reading and remember: It's a great day to be alive!
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We're heading off for a final camping trip for the summer so I thought I'd leave you with some excellent blog articles I've read over the past week.

Give these a read and consider subscribing to their blogs as they have great personal finance advice and stories. 

•  Sustainable Life Blog is a little apprehensive about spending money on vacations and wonders "How Much Fun Should You Have While In Debt?"  My opinion is that you should have a balance where you make sacrifices so that you get out of debt but that you don't burn yourself out by not enjoying life at all.  This article demonstrates what I'd consider achieving that balance!
• Free Money Finance was introduced to "A Creative Way To Give".  I've never done this or been on the receiving end of it, but it seems like you could easily make someone's day with this approach. 
• My Dollar Plan is "Uncovering Rewards Programs For Every Purchase You Make" and this is definitely one worth checking out as you could be missing out on rewards for items that you purchase anyways.  Great tips!
  
• Money and Such is sensing a change in the air at work and not in a good way.  Rather than bury his head in the sand, he is taking the bull by the horns as he announces "My Job Search Is On"
• Budgets are Sexy brought in a guest post who wrote some "Tips From A Vegas Virgin" which are helpful for anybody looking to go to Vegas for the first time or who hasn't been in a while.  I've only been to Vegas once and some of these would have been good to know beforehand.
• My
• Financial Samurai felt a little uncomfortable in a recent social situation and wonders what do you do "When Rich People Call You Cheap".  Definitely not a cool situation to be in, and made all the more difficult when it's a 'friend' making you uncomfortable!
• 444Express gave us a penny by penny breakdown on how you should "Save money - Eat at home" using one of my favorite treats (ice cream) as the example.  Anything involving ice cream is good in my eyes!
• Funny About Money had an "Estate Sale Coup" and found some great items at bargain prices.  I've always thought estate sales might be a way to find some good treasure, but it sounds like you definitely have to do your homework!
• Little Miss Moneybags gives some advice on "How To Eat Cheaply In New York: Dining Out".  These are great tips to keep in mind not only for New York, but really anyplace where you might be looking for ways to eat out on the cheap.
• Give Me Back My Money is "Dreaming About Buying Property".  I love articles like these because it shows that even with the housing market in shambles and the threat of deflation and every other bit of glum economic news, there are still people that want to buy and own a house for reasons that stretch outside of the purely financial.  There is hope yet!
• Len Penzo has been subjected to  "DVDs From Hell".where movie studios have introduced their latest intrusion into your life with previews that seemingly cannot be skipped.  Fear not, though, as the ever-resourceful Len provides tricks to get past this pesky intrusion.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the reading!

Thanks for reading! Please subscribe to my RSS feed. This original Money Beagle post Copyright 2010 Money Beagle is authorized to appear only on www.moneybeagle.com. Thank you for reading and remember: It's a great day to be alive!
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I haven't been riding my bike too much this summer and that has bummed me out.  We didn't even take them down last year, because Little Boy Beagle was just a newborn, and things were crazy enough without having to worry about the bikes.

This year, we took them down, but mine was cursed with a problem with it changing gears by itself, which is extremely annoying to say the least.  I kept putting off and putting off taking it to a bike place, mostly because I dreaded paying the bill.

We're going on a trip for our anniversary next month where we've gone in the past and bikes are a must-have for us.  I knew I couldn't put it off any longer, so last week I toted the bike off to the repair shop.  I had e-mailed them and described my problem, and they had given me a 'ballpark' quote of around $80.  So, knowing that things usually cost more, I was figuring on dropping at least a hundred smackers for this repair.

I wheeled it in and explained the problem.  The guy working the repair area placed it on a bike stand, took a look at things, said the chain, wheels, brakes, and frame all looked good.  When I told him what was going on with the gears, he looked at it from behind, said 'Oh, yeah, this things right here (the derailleur) is a little bit out of alignment and that'll do that.'  He pulled out a tool, make a quick adjustment, and said 'that should do the trick'.

I asked how much it would cost, figuring he'd at least charge me $20 or whatever.  He waved it off.  I joked with him that I was going to go ride around the parking lot and how confident was he that I wouldn't be coming back in?  He was pretty confident.

Well, I rode it around the parking lot and a couple of surrounding streets, putting it through the test of changing gears, and he was right, I didn't go back in.

I was happy as can be about the money I saved.  For the record, I did walk out spending $15 for a new kickstand, which also needed replacing.

While I had been waiting, the customer before me had an issue with a tire, and the same repair guy made quick work, and again, let the customer leave with 'no charge'. I wondered how they could do that but it occurred to me that it's a great practice.  Why?

• It didn't take long - Both repairs he did while I was in the shop took less than five minutes.  Even a handful of these per day is not taking a huge amount of time out of his work.
• There wasn't a lot of other work - Because most repair work happens earlier in the season, there wasn't a long queue of bikes in the back that did need a lot of repairs that I was taking his time away from.  And, most importantly....
• They created a future (paying)  customer- After getting a simple repair job done for free, customers will most likely go back even for repairs that they have to pay for.  Plus, when it's time to replace a bike, I'm sure they'll get some sales from the goodwill that they created.  All in all, the little bit of time pays for itself from money that they can potentially make down the road.

So, I was very happy from my experience.  I saved money and found a place that appears trustworthy that is now at the top of my list for future repairs and sales.

The only bummer in the story is that I didn't think to do this sooner, and missed out on a good portion of being able to ride my bike during the summer months.

Thanks for reading! Please subscribe to my RSS feed. This original Money Beagle post Copyright 2010 Money Beagle is authorized to appear only on www.moneybeagle.com. Thank you for reading and remember: It's a great day to be alive!