Don't Forget to Donate

Two bags of clothes, ready to be donated!

 Not everyone has to face struggles such as running out of hangers or closet space. Some people face a little more serious issues- such as having clean clothes that fit appropriately. I know that I have always been incredibly blessed and that I have never gone without anything in my life. I also know that there are many people that aren’t as lucky or as blessed as I have been. 

I had always grown up giving my hand-me-downs (or clothes that I had grown out of) to my younger sister. Starting in my early high school years though, I started buying a lot of my own clothes with money that I earned working. Whether or not it was the right thing to do, I felt like if I was paying for my own clothes then I should decide what happens to them after I grew out of them. From then on, I gave my sister some of my “hand-me-downs” and the rest I donated to Goodwill. 

I always feel a lot less guilty about purchasing new clothes after I donate some clothes that I no longer wear.  Other places that accept clothing donations are homeless shelters, churches, schools, and soup kitchens. 

 It doesn't take too long to go through your closet and drawers and pick out clothes that don't fit or items that you no longer wear. Collect them in a bag and next time you are running some errands, take them anywhere that accepts donations.

So, next time you feel like you need a little retail therapy, consider those who can barely afford to put a shirt on their back.  There is no better feeling in the World than the satisfaction received from helping others.

Look to Social Media for Good Deals

Surely if you are somewhere in between the ages of 10 and 65, you have some form of social media. Whether it is Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram- we all have some way of connecting with many people at once. Most of us don’t think about using these social media sites as way to save money though. But sure enough, there are plenty of ways to use social media to find some great deals.

The main social media site that I use when looking for inexpensive items is Facebook. The town that I am from actually has their own “yard sale page” on Facebook.  I come from a rather small town and it’s less than thirty minutes from where I go to college so I look on the page often to see if someone is selling anything that I am interested in. I also use the page to sell items that I no longer need. The site is made for locals to post items that are gently used. There are rules to follow so be sure to check those out before you join a yard sale site similar to the one I use. 

Some items that are for sale on my home town's yard sale Facebook page

Another way that I use Facebook to find bargains is by looking for pages that belong to my favorite stores. Most of the national chains that have Facebook pages don’t offer too many good deals online, but I have found that local stores will often do contests and give-a-ways. If you “like” the business’ page you will receive their status updates on your timeline and will be informed of any upcoming sales or promotions.

Some examples of give-a-ways on Facebook business pages

Some other Facebook pages that can help you save are exchange or trade pages. Some colleges and universities will set up a Facebook page for students to post and sell items such as clothes, text books, and room decorations. 

Now that you know Facebook can be useful for more than just tagging embarrassing pictures of your friends- go take a look around and see how many ways you can pinch some pennies using the social media site.

Some Helpful Banking Tips

Who needs an ATM when you have a smart phone?

By the time you reach college, hopefully you have a bank account…whether it is one under your parent’s name or one of you own; it’s wise to have a safe place to keep your money. Most of the time, within a few weeks of opening an account at a bank, you receive a debit/check card in the mail. The activation process is easy and so is using the card. You just use it like cash.  The money charged to your debit card will come from your checking account. As long as you keep an eye on your account activity and you keep your account and pin number secure, there should be little to no hassle. 

There are some less obvious things to keep in mind though, when using a debit card. Because you are not relying on the visible cash in your wallet it becomes easier to over spend. An easy way to keep track of what you spend and how much you have remaining is to use online banking. Most national banks offer a free online service and some even offer apps for iPhones and Androids. If you check your account daily, you are much less likely to overspend or be a victim of card theft. The only possible issue with online banking would be a security breach if you were to forget to log out of your account and someone else accesses it. So, just remember to log out and never save your password on a computer.

Another tip to remember when banking is that when you do need cash, and your bank doesn’t have an ATM nearby- there are other options besides using another bank’s ATM and being charged. One option is to use a Cash Points ATM. These green ATM boxes may be in random parking lots, but they don’t charge you to withdraw money, which is awesome. Another idea if there isn’t a Cash Points ATM around, is to go a gas station or grocery store and buy something small and ask for cash back at the register. This could be similar to an ATM charge, but if you have to buy groceries anyways, you may as well get cash back at the same time. 

Sometimes, you just have to spend money…as long as you are keeping track of your spending and keeping your information safe, you should be okay.

Be Smart When Buying Big Ticket Items

Try saving cash/change in a jug- it adds up fast

As a college student at the age of 21, I really haven’t had to buy too many “big ticket items.” When I was in high school, I babysat and saved up $100 for my first iPod and in college I bought a $100 GPS. Other than those two items, I really haven’t made too many huge investments. Looking ahead to the future though (44 days until graduation), I know that I will soon have to start saving up for things like furniture, electronics, and of course bills.

Who doesn't love an old school iPod?

Luckily, throughout my childhood and teenage years my parents have taught me the correct way to save up and prepare for a big investment. My mom has always told me to ask myself before I buy something expensive: “Will you still want this item in six months? How about in a year?” If the answer is yes, then you should probably go for it.

The other important factor to remember when investing in pricy merchandise is that the item you want to buy may be sold at many different stores. If this is the case, it is definitely wise to shop around and find the best deal. A big ticket item should never be purchased on impulse. It is completely fine to take some time think things through and look around.

Another pointer for those who are looking to buy something expensive is to try to find out when the best time of year is to buy that item. For instance, the best time to buy a big screen television would be in February (before the Super Bowl)…not in July, when mostly everyone is spending time on vacation (outdoors). If you’re still in school, don’t forget about tax free weekend! The dates are different depending on the state you live in, but they are typically in August.

At some point in our lives, we will all have to make some investments. As long as we keep these pointers in mind though, they shouldn’t break the bank.