Six Money Saving Tips for Seniors

1. Check out your favorite stores for their senior discount policy. Some stores offer a 5-10% discount on all purchases made by seniors every day of the week. Others have a senior day, perhaps on Wednesday of each week, where seniors get a 20% discount. You may have to ask for the discount, although many stores now just automatically figure in the discount for anyone who looks as though they might fit into the “senior” category. The important thing is to be armed ahead of time with the policy of each store so that you can arrange your shopping trips in order to take advantage of any savings you are entitled to.

2. See if you regularly use items that can be diluted or otherwise cut back on to save money and to make your product last longer.

a. The recommended amount of laundry detergent is often far more than necessary to get clothes clean. Experiment to see how little you can actually get by with.

b. Reuse dryer softener sheets. I usually save them in a small cardboard box until I get a sizeable number. Then I place them in the laundry room and use two each time until they are gone. Not a huge savings, but a worthwhile one.

c. Dilute thick shampoo with water. Keep a spare bottle on hand and pour half of your new bottle into the spare bottle. Then fill both the rest of the way with water. Once they are shaken up, you can barely tell the difference, and it doesn’t take forever to get the shampoo to come out of the top opening like it does with the thicker shampoo. (This really works well when teen-age grandchildren come to visit. They love to slop it on, and this way, they are really only using half as much, but will never even notice.)

d. My husband’s very favorite trick is to save several “used up” tubes of toothpaste, snip the bottom off of each one, and see how many brushings he can still get out of an “empty” tube of toothpaste. He is known as the toothpaste miser around our house.

e. Buy large economy sizes of things like catsup, mayonnaise, and spaghetti. Then divide them into smaller containers so that the extra won’t spoil after the package or bottle has been opened. (Reasonably priced re-closeable containers are available at most department stores.)

3. Pick up gift items for birthdays and for Christmas throughout the year. If you keep your eyes open, you will find lovely gift items for a fraction of their original cost this way. Keep them tucked away in a closet somewhere so that they will be ready at a moment’s notice. Cards and wrapping paper are also great items to stock up on ahead of time. No last minute rushing out to buy Aunt Harriet a birthday gift. All you need is a 5-minute notice and you will have a gorgeous gift wrapped and ready to go.

4. Make lists. Grocery shop with a list to discourage impulse purchases. Post a list at home so other members of the household will be reminded to keep an eye out for a good buy on posted items. Update your lists frequently.

5. Eat out infrequently. As well as being less expensive, home-cooked meals are usually healthier. Watch for coupons offering senior discounts or special prices at your favorite restaurants for when you do go out. Eating out too frequently can quickly become so routine that it no longer seems to be a special treat. Save eating out for special occasions, and you’ll be surprised at how much more you enjoy it.

6. Don’t overlook online shopping if you are a regular computer user. Do your homework and you will often find brand-name products at huge discounts. Watch for special times when online stores are offering “no-shipping cost” prices. Many stores like Target, Circuit City, Staples, and Walmart now have online outlets where you can order online and choose home delivery or you can pick up the item at your local store. No more being jostled about by other shoppers; perfect for Christmas shopping from an easy chair in your very own living room.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Money Saving Tips for Senior Pet Owners

Money Saving Tips for Pet Owners, by Rebecca Quimby

In today's less-than-robust economy, everyone is trying to find ways to save money, and pet owners are no exception. After all, owning a pet can be expensive. According to an American Pet Products Association survey, we spend over $45 billion a year on our pets. But having a dog or cat doesn't have to be a pricey proposition, here are our top five budget-friendly tips for getting and taking care of that animal family member.

1. Start By Rescuing A Pet
If you are pinching pennies (and even if you aren't), go visit your local animal shelter. They have animals of all ages, temperaments and sizes and often only charge what it costs to vaccinate and spay the animal.

If there is a specific breed that you absolutely adore, you still may find your true love at the shelter as pets of all breeds end up needing new homes. Or reach out to the breed-specific rescue organizations. For example, you might find the perfect pooch at Chihuahua Rescue, PugRescue.com, or French Bulldog Rescue Network. You can also search for dog-breed clubs in your area. They often have rescue or fostering organizations that can help connect you to the breed of your dreams while also giving a home to a pup in need.

2. Take Advantage Of Subsidized Spay/Neuter Services
At your local vet, paying full price to get your dog fixed can cost up to $200-300. But many organizations offer discount services, sometimes charging as low as $45 or nothing at all. Check ASPCA's special search function for low-cost and free resources in your area. SPAY/USA and Friends of Animals also provide great lists of low-cost services.

3. Buy Discounted Pet Food
Sites such as Pets Warehouse, PetFooder, PetFoodDirect and large retailers such as Costco, Petco and PetSmart may offer big discounts on your favorite brand of dog food or even special bulk pricing. You should also check out some of the online coupon web sites such as couponmountain.com, slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com or register at your pet food company's site for email newsletters and discount offers.

4. Shop Around for Vet Services
Clearly you want to give your animal the best care you can afford but vet bills can run you up to $340 a year, and that cost skyrockets if your pet has an illness or accident. Ask your vet about discounts, which may be available if you have more than one animal. Check out PetSmart's in-store vet offices which offer coverage for a flat annual fee that can potentially save you up to 50 percent on your veterinary care or Petco's Vaccination and Preventative Services offerings.

Also consider bringing your pet to a veterinary school clinic for discounted care. Once you've gotten a prescription for medications from the vet, comparison shop online to see if you can get better deals on pharmaceuticals at sites such as PetCareRx and 1-800-PetMeds. For people who are really in a bind, The Humane Society offers a list of services that provide financial aid to pet-owners in need.

5. Practice Preventative Care
Save money on vet and grooming bills by doing basic petcare and maintenance at home. Start by brushing your dog's teeth or cat's teeth to prolong the time between pricey professional cleanings and extend your animal's life. Grooming your own pet will save you lots of money too and there are many videos online to teach you grooming techniques. Also, just like with humans, a sensible diet and plenty of exercise will work wonders to keep the pounds from creeping up and help keep your pet healthy and happy.

Most of all, remember that what your pet wants and needs most is simply your love and attention. And those, mercifully, are free.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Using Coupons Can Save 50% on Groceries

Savvy shoppers tap into the money-saving power of coupons

After being laid off from her job, Darrelyn Carte of Lafayette started to use coupons more often. She also made an effort to learn the art of being coupon savvy and even attended coupon classes at a local church last year.

"It's fun," the 55-year-old said. "It's a challenge to make your money go as far as it possibly can."

It's no wonder that coupon use is on the rise for the first time since 1992 and coupon distribution hit the highest level recorded since 1988, according to Inmar, a business process improvement company. The rise in coupon use started in the fall of 2008, coinciding with the country's economic crisis, according to Inmar.

With the economy continuing its state of flux, people are still trying to be frugal and find ways to save money. Following the national trend, some local residents have turned to coupons as a major way cut back on costs. Some veteran couponers have used coupons for years and even perfected the art behind the craft.

Doug Alexander of Brookston said he started using coupons about a year and a half ago to save money on his grocery bills. He also went to a coupon class in order to learn more about getting discounts.

Although a novice coupon user, Alexander has learned how to really trim the fat off his grocery bill. He said his family used to spend $150 a week on groceries and now he spends about $75 a week on groceries buying about the same amount of food.
He said the trick is to stockpile or purchase sale items in bulk that you normally use and use lots of coupons to reduce the cost even further.

Alexander finds coupons on the Internet, searching manufacturer Web sites and Facebook manufacturer pages for good discounts.

"A lot of people don't use coupons so get your neighbors' and families' extra inserts," the 43-year-old said. "Keep the ones you are going to use and pass the rest along to people who might use it."

Lillian Phillips of Lafayette cannot remember when she started using coupons. "It's just in my blood," the 65-year-old said. "My mom grew up in the Depression."
Phillips said she is "really big on the coupons," adding, "I think it's really important because it's a way of controlling your money and how you spend it."
One trick that Phillips uses is to coordinate the coupons with the sales that are going on at the local grocery stores.

"I always try to coordinate the coupons to go with the sale that way you get a better deal," she said.

Phillips also keeps the coupons at her finger tips for easy access.
"I even travel with them," said Phillips, who keeps coupons in her purse.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524