If you have no idea what I’m squawking about, I’ll briefly bring back the magic. Basically, you take your Shrinky Dink character, color it with a marker, and then oven bake it for like two minutes. The magic happens when that Dink shrinks to one-third their original size and becomes nine times thicker. Cool, eh! Kids could then turn Shrinky Dinks into shoelace charms or necklaces. So much awesome fun in a teeny tiny package.

Anyhoo, as an adult my fascination with teeny tiny things hasn’t waned. I often bake miniature morsels and I’m a little obsessed with compact packages. In my world (yeah, it’s a nice place to visit) small things can bring a lot of big fun.

But my wondrous world of the teeny tiny came to an end the other day when Carl brought home the groceries. Turns out his favorite brand of peanut butter turned into the dinks of shrinks by packing 25% less product into each jar. Yeah, the store discontinued the larger 1kg size in favor of this 750g shrunken micro mini — a decrease of 250g, or 25% per jar.

HONEY, they shrunk the peanut butter!

After unsticking my tongue from the roof of my mouth in disgust, I did a little mathy math to figure out the cost of a humble peanut butter sandwich. I went through my grocery receipts and found the prices.

The gobsmacking results surprised me, and we’re not talkin’ peanuts here, people.

Over time we’ve purchased both the 1kg and 750g jars for $3.99 each. At $3.99 per jar, there’s a jump in unit price from $0.40/100g to $0.53/100g — an increase of $0.13/100g.

Bottom Line: The lip smacking mathy math does not lie — a 25% decrease in product size at $3.99 per jar results in a 33% increase in peanut butter price!

What you can do about ‘Shrinky Dink’ products

Price inflation with product deflation is a strange, and expensive phenomenon. There’s no doubt that mindlessly buying your usual grocery products without paying attention to unit prices, sizes, and old receipts can cost you. Yeppers, those marketers are sneaky sneakers and often repackage and rebrand shrunken products JUST to charge you more.

As a smart consumer, there are a few tactics you can employ to combat the dreaded Shrinky Dink product and save yourself a little dough.

Tactics for combating Shrinky Dink products:

1. Buy the larger size. If the former regularly sized product becomes a cute micro mini, compare the unit price of the larger size, if available — it may be a better deal.
2. Compare prices at another store. When your usual supermarket becomes super at shrinking, do a price check experiment at another chain to compare prices. My Price Check Experiment at Costco shows you how to do it, and reveals super savings on certain products.
3. Make it at home. If you’re fed up with paying bigger prices for smaller grocery items, then roll up your sleeves and get friendly with the word HOMEMADE. Carl hasn’t bought peanut butter in months since he now roasts and grinds organic nuts at home for less.

   Here’s the recipe: Homemade Peanut Butter: A Visual Guide and Cost Analysis.

Lastly, calling up customer service and registering a complaint about micronized products might be worth a shot too.

Question for you guys: Have you ever noticed a shrunken product with the same price? What do you do about it?

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But hear me out for a second, ’cause most days I’ll only purchase products with proven value, need, and quality. But sometimes the most absurd gadgets can actually be kinda awesome.

I’ll probably be laughed off the cost-conscious, frugal-minded, and penny-pinching zones of the internet for admitting to these ridiculous spends, and that’s OK. I bet you’ve got a few gimmicky gadgets in your kitchen, bathroom, or closet that make your life awesome too.

Welcome to my list of ten ridiculous gadgets mostly worth the money (or gift ideas for that special someone who has everything. )

1. Egg Cooker

Which came first: The single-purpose kitchen appliance or the blogger with egg on her face?

Go into any kitchen essentials store and you’ll find a dozen different gadgets devoted to cooking eggs. EGGS? Seriously! I’ve laughed at all of them until now. After visiting Carl’s family in Berlin (yeah, Germany) I’ve come to appreciate the perfection possible by steaming a good egg with a ridiculous gadget — the Egg Cooker. Europeans (well, Carl’s family) are serious about soft boiled eggs. They are delicious when they’re not toooo hard and not toooo soft. Yes, I am now the Goldilocks of eggs.

Sure, I could boil some water (free) and use a timer (got one on my iPod) to cook a soft boiled, medium boiled, or hard boiled egg, but I’d rather use my egg cooker to get it right every dang time.

I’m not egging you on, I really did buy this silly kitchen gadget, and I’m eggstatic over it’s awesomeness. Basically, you prick the egg, measure a bit of water, start the unit, and in minutes you’ll have a good egg.

My biggest mistake is I cheaped out and got the EggGenie. I should have spent a few more bucks on the Krups Egg Cooker.

Yes, I will be laughed off the interwebs for owning this gadget. Bite me.

2. GoToob Travel Bottles

I boarded eight freaking planes in October. EIGHT! Each flight had airline liquid restrictions, plastic baggy requirements, and picky security people interested in confiscating cosmetic leaks. Me (and all of my liquids) made it through every security check without fail thanks to my super awesome, and somewhat ridiculous, $19 GoToob Travel Bottles.

These airplane carry-on approved squeezable bottles boast a ‘no drip’ valve that keeps the cap clean. The cap also has an ID dial to mark the liquid type. They are food safe and 100% BPA-free. They are also super fun (and cute) to use. I LOVE THESE THINGS.

Carl bought himself a set before our trip and I had buy one too to contain my moisturizer, conditioner, and shampoo. A great gift for travelers, campers, and those who hate big bottles cluttering their bathroom space.

3. Milk Frother

I told the internets how to Make a Starbucks Frappuccino for $0.32, and that crazy post went viral. So now I’ll share my secret for turning a regular coffee into something special. It’s called a milk frother, and it, well, turns milk (or soy) into a delicious frothy foam.

It’s easy. Just heat some milk, and use the milk frother to froth up some foam. The only downside is you’ll need some batteries. But you’ll save some cash on cappuccinos, lattes, coffee frapps, and anything else in dire need of foam. FOAM. I dunno. Guests love it, too.

The Aerolatte Milk Frother has the best foaming reviews in town. I should have bought that one.

4. Vinturi Wine Aerator

Close your eyes, ears, and tastebuds if you’re a wine connoisseur with a palette that’s only pleased with a $100 bottle of something I’d never buy. This gadget ain’t for you.

OK, everyone else pay close attention. You know when you buy that cheap box of wine (gasp) or you pop the plastic cork and the vino tastes less than satisfactory after a good breathing? Relax. There’s a cure.

It’s called a Vinturi wine aerator, and this awesome gadget “conveniently enhances the flavor, bouquet, and finish of any wine”. I’m sold.

Basically, this unnecessary gadget is entirely necessary in my home — all my guests agree! Just hold the Vinturi over your glass of wine and let the vino flow. Apparently, the Venturi mixes the proper amount of air into your drink to make it taste delicious. This thing makes a bit of a rude sound, but after a bad box of wine everyone will think it’s hilarious.

There’s a special Vinturi set for red and white wine lovers. You’re welcome.

5. Ear Thermometer

Regular under the tongue or up the bum (sorry) thermometers are cheap, like ten bucks. But once you stick that temperature gauge in someone’s ear you’re paying around $30 for the awesome convenience.

I mean, what sick little kid wants to sit there holding a thermometer in their mouth? More importantly, what parent wants to stand over their sick child (who’s probably flailing around due to being sick) and convince them to keep that thermometer under their tiny tongue?

Kate, my sister-in-law, loves her ear thermometer. With a five month old baby and a 3-year-old toddler ruling the roost, she uses this gadget frequently to “just check” and make sure that every running nose needs a tissue, not a doctor.

The Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer has some absurd feature called “ExacTemp Technology” and parents (or wives) with sick and squirmy young children (or husbands) say it’s awesome.

6. USB Charger

Why blow $30 on an Apple USB Power Adaptor when spending just $15 on a regular USB charger recharges your iPod, iPhone, iPad, cell phone, or MP3 player for 50% less.

Enter the long worded but super awesome Belkin AC Charger with Swivel Plug & Charge Sync Cable for iPod and iPhone.

You won’t need to plug your iThing into your computer ever again. Great for travelers and families with multiple devices in need of a recharge. I love mine.

7. The Epilator

It’s not easy being a female mammal. Enter the epilator — a machine that rips the hair out from under your skin with dozens of cruel tweezing pincher things. It’s hurts like hell, and it works. The money I’ve saved on razors, waxing, and other hair removal methods is astounding. I listen to Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On a Prayer whenever I use it though, ’cause it doesn’t exactly tickle.

I own an old school Epilady. For a few bucks more you too can enjoy a hair-free existence with the highly rated Emjoi AP-18 Emagine Dual Opposed 72 Tweezer Head Epilator. Awesome and ridiculous at the same time, non?

Warning for the fellas: DO NOT buy this as a gift for your wife or girl friend. Re-read that last sentence. Women don’t want men to imply that they are hairy mammals. Even though WE’RE ALL MAMMALS (hopefully) it’s not a super sentiment to send. “Here honey, go epilator that over the holidays.” Yeah, not awesome.

8. Diva Cup

I get sooooo much email about this bell-shaped thing. I’ve easily saved hundreds of dollars with this absurdly awesome gadget. Women love it, men hate reading about it. I’ll spare everyone the details.

The curious can read this insanely popular post: 10 Reasons the Diva Cup Can Change Your Life for more info.

9. ScanGauge

I slapped my forehead and produced an epic stink eye when Carl declared he needed a ScanGauge for his car. Carl, an undisputed technology geek and lover of everything with wheels decided that measuring his fuel consumption could save us money.

I’m not going to argue with the man. His words: Yeah, it’s a toy. It gives you instant feedback when your driving is burning through more or less fuel. Many times I’ve thought, ‘$hit, better ease off on the gas.’

Personally, I’m all for slower speeds and better fuel consumption.

10. Canon 5D Mark II

Buyer’s remorse lasted only minutes after I went and bought myself this very pricey DSLR camera. I saved up for over a year with the intention of buying a super nice camera that would last me many years, so when this baby went on sale I pulled the trigger and took a shot. This camera is an obscenely major upgrade from my old beginner digital camera, and that’s OK. This was a planned, and budgeted for, spend.

The sensible in me says the Canon EOS Rebel T3 (or even the T3i), and perhaps the gorgeous Canon EOS 60D would have more than met my need for thousands less. But no, I went balls out and spent $2,800 on the sexy Canon 5D Mark II ’cause that’s where my want blew past my need. Since I take A LOT of photos for business and pleasure, I’m thrilled with this insanely awesome ‘gadget’.

Oh, and I paid for this baby with cash in hand!

Your Thoughts: OK, be honest! What ridiculous gadgets do you love?

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And so I waited. Tick-tock, tick-tock. Nothing. I figured the package was delayed since the sale was international, and holiday parcel delivery was slow. Oh well, no present under the tree for my sweetie. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

The days quickly turned into weeks, and still no lovely Levi’s in the mail. Were the jeans stuck in customs? Did they get lost in the mail? Crap, how long ago did I win that auction? I checked My eBay Summary page for the auction details and counted back the days, all 47 of ‘em.

Now, you could call me many things at this point. Some would say I’m the world’s most trusting and patient eBayer on the planet. Others would say I’m a sucker who’s been had. And you’d all be right.

Despite never receiving my swanky Levi’s from a well-rated seller, I’ve been a happy eBay buyer for over ten years. During this time I’ve bought a variety of new and used goods from a slew of sellers at excellent prices, and have only been shipped counterfeit or misrepresented merchandise once.

The case of the lost Levi’s stunk of fraud though, so I decided to hit up eBay’s Resolution Center to report the stench and recoup my costs. Here are the five steps eBay recommends to defrauded buyers, and the gotchas that will cost you:

Step One: Contact the seller. Be nice.

When my jeans failed to materialize, I messaged my seller through the auction description page and left a little disgruntled digital dirt. It’s important to resist communicating via private email even if you have the seller’s address — eBay requires that both parties attempt an email resolution before opening a case, and leaving proof within the eBay system is therefore wise.

Also, be nice! A number of things can go wrong with an eBay transaction, and assuming that your seller is an a$$ (and calling them such via email) could hinder your case. Besides, many sellers are keen on keeping negative feedback from downgrading their reputation, so they’ll often offer a refund if an item fails to match the auction description, turns out to be flawed, or is proven counterfeit.

I sent three messages to my Levi’s seller. Each went without a reply. Bummer.

Step Two: File a report with PayPal or eBay.

I get a little grumpy when it comes to paying for eBay purchases — it seems that PayPal, a wholly-owned subsidiary of eBay, is the preferred payment method of sellers. And with the stiff rules for international payments I’m often stuck using PayPal on eBay.

PayPal users defrauded of funds can report grievances through the PayPal Buyer Protection Program. For all other payment methods, head on over to the eBay Buyer Protection Program to lodge your complaint. I’ve had very mixed results using both programs, mostly ’cause the rules are strict. But these rules are key:

1. You must first attempt to resolve the problem with the seller through eBay’s messaging system.
2. Only eligible purchases are protected — items like cars and real estate are not covered under either program.
3. You must open a case no later than 45 calendar days from the date of your payment.

The final point is the kicker — wait longer than 45 days to file a complaint and you won’t recover a cent. Since my jeans auction was 47 days old, I didn’t qualify for buyer protection under either program.

Step Three: Call your credit card company.

Savvy eBay shoppers know that paying with a credit card may offer the best buyer protection on the planet. So if you paid for your eBay purchase with plastic, contact your credit card issuer as soon as possible to report the fraud. Depending on your cardholder agreement, you may have up to 30 days from the statement date to recover your funds.

Tip: Using a credit card to fund a PayPal purchase may offer the best buyer protection possible. If you’re unable to exercise your chargeback rights directly with your credit issuer, go ahead and escalate your dispute by filing a claim under the PayPal Protection Program. You can’t pursue both concurrently or double dip, so pick your best option first — it only takes one program to recover your defrauded funds.

Step Four: Contact the Feds.

When you’ve passed the 45 day buyer protection limit and your credit card issuer sticks you with the purchase, eBay customer service will send you to your federal fraud agency to file a formal complaint. Fun stuff, right?

Americans: Depending on your location within the States, eBay may send you to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 works in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
• Canadians: Regardless of your province, eBay routinely refers Canucks to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) to report internet crime. The CAFC is run jointly by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Competition Bureau, and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Yeah, it’s a lot of acronyms to stomach if you’ve lost under $100 on your failed eBay transaction. But if you’ve gone this route I’d love to hear from you!

Step Five: Go ahead, leave negative feedback!

Now’s the time to make your mark and warn fellow eBayers about the dodgy seller by leaving negative feedback. Keep it professional, terse, and to the point though — these comments are publicly displayed on eBay and catty comments may reflect poorly on your own reputation. And before dropping a vicious bomb on a boutique or store, be sure the negative feedback is truly well deserved — negative feedback can hurt the seller’s reputation and harm their online auction business, especially if it’s unwarranted.

So what happened with my jeans?

I may have won the auction but I lost every penny thanks to a scammy highly-rated eBay ‘powerseller’. My loss of around $60 wasn’t catastrophic by any means, but it sure changed the way I charge my eBay purchases. Today I always pay for online purchases with my credit card and never use the balance in my PayPal account — my credit issuer has proven to be more reliable than eBay’s so-called protection programs. And I never buy a pair of jeans online unless I’ve consulted with the AuthenticForum first — these guys can spot a fake pair of denim from just a simple photograph!

Your Thoughts: Have all your eBay purchases been positive? Please do share your stories!

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So I decided to do a little experiment to see if shopping at Costco was cheaper when compared to my local grocery chain, Superstore.

I tend to do this little price comparison check every few months to make sure I’m getting the best value for my food dollar. If you’ve been checking out of your grocery store without checking in with the prices lately, it’s a good idea to run your own food bill price check — a better dinner deal may found elsewhere.

Price Check, please!

Now comparing Costco Wholesale Club prices to those at a regular grocery chain is akin to associating apples with oranges, and the variables are many. For starters, Costco offers fewer brands and sells their wares in much larger quantities than your average supermarket. Costco also supplies items generally not available in your grocer’s food aisle, such as diamond rings, flat screen TVs, and winter tires. Tasty!

So to do a fair price check, I had to do a little mathy math with some quasi-scientific rules.

Price Check Rules:

1. Compare unit prices to calculate the best price per quantity.
2. Use unit prices to scale items to meaningful quantities.
3. Compare the same, or very similar brands.
4. Only compare regularly priced items for a baseline.
5. Don’t get caught snapping price photos in either store.

Sticking to these rules was pretty simple, but trying to photograph price stickers in Costco was a huge pain. So if you run your own ‘price check’ experiment, do yourself a solid by sticking to pen and paper.

Sample Shopping List

I’m not a very exciting food shopper. I don’t buy a lot of packaged products and my grocery list generally contains real food — you’ll never find a ramen noodle thingy in my cart. But I wanted to get a good sampling of fresh, frozen, and packaged food to determine (based on unit price) if Costco really offers a better deal to consumers. I even added diapers to my list ’cause I can’t escape Costco without seeing someone with a package of Huggies in tow.

Sample List: Comparing Costco to Superstore

Bottom Line: Follow the green cells to see the product winner in each category. Surprised? Based on my sample food bill, I would have saved $25.68 — that’s almost 21% on a near hundred dollar food bill — by shopping at Costco and skipping my local supermarket. But after studying my receipts, I came to some interesting conclusions.

10 Tactics for saving money at Costco

Not everything is a better deal at Costco. And depending on the size of your family, type of membership, and buying habits you may be better off shopping elsewhere. Here’s how to win the war on warehouse ‘deals’ at Costco:

1. Skip the fresh foods.

Costco’s fresh produce tends to be more expensive than Superstore, based on unit price. For example, Costco’s gala apples sell for $2.13/kg while Superstore offers the deal at $1.28/kg. I also found Costco to be more pricey for fresh vegetables, chicken breasts, milk, cheese, and coffee.

I’ll stick to buying local fresh veggies and organic chicken to stretch my food dollar. See 1 Organic Chicken, 22 Healthy Meals, $49 Bucks for the details.

Bottom Line: Your local grocery store may sell fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat for far less.

2. Frozen foods are a steal.

Consumers of frozen foods can save a bundle at Costco — especially on Costco’s Kirkland Signature Products. I was gobsmacked by the price and quality, of Costco’s Kirkland vegetables when compared to a similar mix at Superstore.

Costco Kirkland Brand: Frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower are as advertised.

Superstore No Name Brand: Not only is the packaging misleading, but I hope you like a lot of lumber with your carrots. I see no broccoli and few cauliflower ‘trees’ in my bag.

Veggie Showdown: Don’t serve your chicken with a side of sad — Costco’s frozen veggies win for quality and price.

Any Californians out there? Please assure me that Superstore’s interpretation of ‘California-style’ mixed vegetables is bunk. I can’t fathom such a beautiful state serving these sad sad veggies to a bunch of hungry Canadians.

Bottom Line: Take a spin down Costco’s freezer section to save big on frozen chicken breasts, vegetables, and fish.

3. The more ‘packaged’ a product, the better the deal.

Stocking up on canned tomatoes, mustard, ketchup, and sandwich bread could save you up to 50% over similar brand name products sold at regular supermarkets.

Bottom Line: Three loaves of sandwich bread costs $6.99 at Costco, while breaking that same bread at Superstore costs $14.07. Products sold in cans, jars, and tubes all ring up the savings at Costco.

4. Don’t like the brand on Costco’s shelves? Don’t buy it!

Costco doesn’t offer a lot of brand variety in their warehouse, any many items are seasonal or sold sporadically. Buying a brand you don’t love is simply a waste of money, even if it’s cheaper or on sale. So, if you love swaddling your kid in Pampers, you’d better shop elsewhere ’cause, as the Canadian Capitalist Blog notes, Costco only sells Huggies.

Bottom Line: At $0.18 per Huggies diaper, you’ll save $0.07 on each crappy change by shopping at Costco.

5. Make a grocery shopping list.

Costco is a big place and it’s easy to get distracted by free food samples, live demonstrations, and seasonal stuff on display. To keep your budget in check, be sure to shop with a grocery shopping list and stick to it!

Bottom Line: Buying in bulk once a month and planning your trip with a shopping list could prevent impulse spending and save you hundreds of dollars each year.

6. Share the membership.

A Costco Gold Star Membership will run you $55 per year, including a spouse card. Based on my sample shopping list, it would take over two months just to break even on this hefty fee. If you’re a low volume shopper like me, it could pay to split this fee with a friend (or family member) and shop together.

Bottom Line: Break even on your Gold Star Membership sooner by splitting the fee with a friend.

7. Skip Costco’s Executive Membership. Maybe.

Whenever I check out at Costco, the cashier always tries to upgrade me to the $100 Executive Membership — it earns you 2% cash back on most purchases, after all. Last trip I asked my honest cashier why they give me the hard sell every visit. “We have quotas to meet,” she said. “And the Executive Membership builds stronger loyalty — customers try their best to get their fees back by spending more.”

Awesome! So before buying into that membership upgrade, do the math on your past purchases and make sure that the so-called ‘cash back reward’ pays out in your favor.

Bottom Line: You’ll have to spend $5,000 at Costco per year to break even on a $100 membership fee with a 2% cash back reward.

8. Go early in the morning.

Waiting to shop in the afternoon almost guarantees you’ll wait in a long Costco line up with the other late-rising fools.

Bottom Line: Save yourself time and a little sanity by shopping early — you’ll get outta there faster and have more weekend time to enjoy with your family.

9. Don’t get ‘pre-scanned’.

In an effort to ‘speed up’ those heinous lineups, Costco now offers to pre-scan your items right in the cart while you wait in line. In my experience, I’ve found this takes longer, especially when the cashier needs to count, and recount, your items to ensure you’re paying the right amount.

Bottom Line: If you prefer to watch your items scan and verify the prices, skip the pre-scan services. I find the whole process takes longer, and creates greater opportunity for mistakes since numberous cashiers are now scanning my items and taking payment.

10. Use the return policy. Order online.

Costco’s return policy is generous. Over the years I’ve heard friends boast about retuning wares MONTHS after the purchase without a problem. And don’t forget to check out Costco’s online offerings — over the years I’ve purchased kitchen appliances and consumer electronics for less, and shipping is always free!

Bottom Line: Don’t see your dream item in store? Go online for big discounts and free shipping — returning your wares (if you change your mind) is generally hassle free.

Final Thoughts

Just because something is billed as a ‘No Name’, ‘family sized’, or a ‘value club product’ doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Over the years I’ve learned to question product packaging, ignore fancy marketing, and rely on unit price comparisons to determine if an item truly is a superior product sold for a better price. Go ahead and do a unit price comparison on a few of your grocery bills, and then shop the store(s) that suit your family budget.

Your Turn: Is shopping at Costco worth it for you?

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Yes internets, it’s that time of year when the turkey leftovers and that tryptophan stuff have settled in our stomachs. After awakening from the holidaze slumber, it may be time to turn our attention towards Christmas. Now, I’m not big on the whole Christmas consumeritis thing that turns many smart people into spending splurgers.

But, I do love to find frugal ways to celebrate the holidays without spending a bundle. So to get you into the holiday spirit, here are 12 smart ways to save big on Christmas shopping.

1. Go online shopping

Skip the stores and save yourself some holiday grief by going online shopping to save a bundle. Many retailers offer online holiday sales and specials that aren’t available in stores — especially on Cyber Monday! So get clicking online before stepping foot in the mall to save 10% to 60% on everything from books to electronic gadgets like the Kindle. Just be sure to get free or cheap shipping before hitting the checkout — there’s no sense in killing your deal with costly shipping charges.

2. Shop with secret online coupons

Paying full price for anything when a better deal can be found can turn any Santa into a Scrooge. Bah Humbug! To get shoppers into stores, many retailers offer online printable coupons to boost Christmas cheer with big savings. So before buying that perfect gift, get online and search for coupons by entering the retailer’s name and then “coupon code”.

Check out these 8 Stealth Ways to Uncover Big Savings with Secret Online Coupons for even more ways to save like Santa.

3. Dump department store credit cards

When the cashier at your favorite department store offers you a huge discount on your holiday wares just for opening a store credit card, do your wallet a favor and take a pass. Those pesky credit cards offered by retailers carry huge interest rates that can chew into any deal if not paid off. Carrying numerous credit cards can also hurt your credit score, and no one wants to take a credit hit just after the holidays.

Want to pay off your balance sooner? Try this Credit Card Calculator to see how paying more than the minimum balance can make a HUGE difference this holiday. Results may shock you!

4. Use cash this Christmas

Save yourself some credit card shock tomorrow by spending only the cash you have today. Besides, you could save a few bucks by using cash and asking the store to cut your cost by the 2% to 3% interchange fee that banks charge retailers for credit card transactions. Become a really sneaky shopper by trying these 5 Ways To Screw Your Credit Card Company.

5. Skip brand names, buy generic

Don’t believe the expensive marketing hype behind many brand name products. Marketing costs big bucks and you’re paying for that cost every time you buy a brand name. Besides, brand name items are not necessarily better than the lesser-advertised alternatives. By purchasing quality generic products this holiday you can save 10% to 50% on gift giving.

6. Be brave, ask for a discount!

Get over your silly shyness and ask the store manager, “Is this the best price you can offer me?” You may be surprised by how often a retailer will give you 10% to 15% off the sticker price just for asking. Asking for a discount is free and saving 10% in under five minutes of work is time well spent.

7. Find bargains in bulk

Cut the cost of your holiday meals by up to 60% by buying bulk grocery items. Bulk bins are a fabulous way to save some bargain bucks on candy for stocking stuffers, baking goods for delectable desserts, and going nutty over holiday nut mixes. You’ll also find huge savings on rice, pasta, spices, and lots of mixes for the big family dinner.

8. Wrap gifts without wrapping paper

Pass on the glittery gift bags and shiny rolls of gift wrap. Wrapping paper is big business and can add to the cost of even the most frugal of gifts. Instead, get crafty by wrapping your gifts in something useful, like a reusable shopping bag. If you’ve got a baby gift then swaddle it in a baby blanket. But if you’ve gotta have that pretty paper then stock up on wrap after the holidays, when it’s 50% off.

Want more wrapping ways? Check out these 11 Ways to Wrap Gifts without Wrapping Paper and top that gift with one of these 6 Printable Holiday Gift Tags.

9. Make it a homemade holiday

Get the family on budget while having some fun by making it a homemade holiday. If you’re a shutterbug then get the family together for a photo. If you’re crafty then knit a scarf, make some ornaments, or sew something special like a Softie Christmas Tree or a Sling Backpack. For those who love baking, go ahead and get creative with cookies, cakes, and sweets. Got a hiker in your family? Then make some homemade granola!

If you’re less handy but love a fun treat, then try these 8 Homemade Gifts in a Jar — the S’mores in a Jar are super cute!

10. Keep ALL your receipts

Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, always keep your receipts. Retailers want your holiday cash so they discount and mark down items often, so there’s always a chance that the gift you bought yesterday is on sale today. If you find a price cut on a recently purchased gift, bring in your receipt and ask for a price adjustment. Most store managers will give you the better deal up to ten days after your purchase if you have the receipt. So just ask to get your discount!

11. Make a list and check it twice!

Be like Santa by writing a Christmas gift list to plan out your budget and time. There’s no sense in going over budget on a gift because you ran out of time on Christmas Eve. A well-planned list can also help you curb impulse shopping when the flashy holiday displays catch your attention.

To get you started, download the Free Printable Grocery Shopping List and plan your dinner sooner — it’s easier to catch a sale or find a coupon when you’ve got a shopping list ready to go!

12. Donate a cow

Talk to your family this year and consider starting new Christmas traditions by donating your holiday gift budget to charity. Organizations like Heifer International represent thought provoking gift ideas that go beyond the space underneath your Christmas tree. Gifts to Heifer International can include a Cattle share for $50, a Llama share for $20, or a Sheep share for $10. All livestock shares and donations can help families achieve self-reliance, can give a steady supply of nutrition in the form of products like eggs and milk, and can provide a dependable source of income from the sale of products like wool, honey, and produce. Think about making a real difference this holiday by donating to any number of charities this Christmas.

Your Two Cents: Got a smart tactic for cutting costs on Christmas shopping? Get into the spirit and share.

Love the blog? Get the book: 397 Ways to Save Money

Top Squawks

• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
• How to write a resume (series with downloads)
• Frugalicious Recipes
• 50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year
• Credit Card Calculator
• Download your free 92-page eBook: The Insider’s Guide To Frugal Food & Fitness

But there’s no need to be in the dark about dinner when you get home. There is a bright light (and a warm meal) waiting for you if you know how to flip the slow cooker switch. So don’t dial for dinner and order expensive take out on your way home, get crocking by cracking out your Crock Pot for frugal and healthy family meals.

If you don’t already own a Crock Pot or a slow cooker, here are 6 Reasons to use a Crock Pot . When you’re convinced that a slow cooker is for you, then here’s how to buy the right one! These are not your mother’s Crock Pots. I swear!

1. “Crock-Pot” vs. Slow Cooker?

Don’t get stuck by playing the brand name game. A Crock Pot is a slow cooker. But a slow cooker is not always a Crock Pot. Seriously. A “Crock-Pot®” is the brand name for those slow cookers sold by the company Rival. Slow cookers are the generic product name for a handy kitchen appliance with a heating element and an insert that slowly cooks food. Hot stuff, non?

Slow cooker competitors to Rival’s Crock-Pot® brand are made by companies like Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, Proctor Silex, West Bend, and Cuisinart — just to name a few. To keep things legal, these companies have to call their stuff “Slow Cookers”. But really, from a food preparation point of view, there is no difference between cooking with a “Crock-Pot®” and other brands.

Your biggest concern should be the features your slow cooker boasts, not the brand name it wears.

2. Size Matters

Slow cookers come in a range of sizes measuring in quarts. Picking the right fit for your family is important, especially if you want leftovers or want a crock big enough for meals like roast beef or pot roast.

Some simple slow cooker size guidelines:

• Two Adults: If you have two adults dining, then the 3 to 4-quart size can work well. Many recipes are designed with this size in mind, and there are usually some leftovers for lunch the next day.

• Larger Families: If you have a larger family or love lots of leftovers, then go with a 6-quart model.

• Love Leftovers: Get a 6-quart unit if you’re all about making double-measure recipes, cooking one big meal each week, freezing or refrigerating smaller portions, or bringing something tasty to work for lunch.

Even though we are a family of two, I prefer a larger 6-quart slower cooker. The reason is roasts. There just isn’t enough room in a smaller crock for meatier meals calling for chicken, lots of beans, or roast beef. Besides, I’m busy during the week so coming home to leftovers is bliss.

3. Shape: Round or Square?

I was always a bit of a square growing up, but I must highly recommend passing on corners and getting a round slower cooker. Rounded edges are simply easier to clean than square edges with crevices. Also, be sure to get a slow cooker with a tilted or graduated rim. Crocks with narrow or flat rims can bubble and spill liquids over the top. Who needs that mess.

4. Get a Removable Crock Insert

This is important if you want to stay sane with your slow cooker — get a removable crock insert. A removable crock is far easier to clean since it can be separated from the electronic base and set to soak in your sink. The units sold as a single crock with heating base cannot be submerged in water. Besides, a removable crock can be moved to your refrigerator if there are leftovers, making your cleanup and storage easy. I used to own one of those single units in school, and never used it because it was a pain to clean.

5. Put a Glass Lid on It

You’ve got to put a lid on it, so if you want your slow cooker to last get one with a glass lid. Lids with plastic pieces or metal rims may not withstand the test of time since they can melt, warp, and even discolor. Glass lids can also boast a higher dome, giving you more space for cooking tall foods like whole chickens and roasts.

But the big bonus with a glass lid is that you can see your food cooking. Lids that are plastic or opaque require you to uncover your crock to see where your meal is at. When slow cooking, removing the lid is a big no-no since this lets the heat escape, thus increasing your cooking time. Big energy and time waste, non?

6. Fancy Features

Slow cookers and Crock Pots are pretty simple devices — they have an insert, a lid, a heating base, and a temperature dial. But today’s slow cookers boast features that would make your mother’s Crock Pot simmer. Here are some features to consider before plunking down your dinner dough:

• Crock Material: Some crocks are made of stoneware while others are metal inserts with non-stick coatings. The choice is yours, but I’m a fan of the stoneware models since they hold heat well, look attractive served on the table, come in a variety of styles and colors, and refrigerate well.

• Digital Digits or Dials: Some units come with just a dial while others are fully digitized. The units with dials tend to cost less.

• Various Settings: Today’s slow cookers come with a variety of settings to choose from, like: keep warm settings, programmable delayed cooking timers, and multiple temperature settings. Most slow cookers with dials come standard with these settings: Off, Low, High, Warm. Slow cookers with timers are handy for those who work late or start the day early.

It’s easy to lose your head and flip over the fanciest of features. But really, a simple heating unit with a dial will get dinner done.

7. Prices

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. But with slow cookers paying a lot more moolah doesn’t necessarily get you a better meal. Generally, slow cookers and Crock Pots range in price from a mere $20 to a whopping $220 for the feature-rich and brand name units.

Here are four slow cookers that balance excellent features with frugal prices:

• Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker (on sale $45)
• Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Slow Cooker with 2, 4, 6 Quart Crocks (on sale $35)
• Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Oval Slow Cooker (on sale $25)
• Cuisinart 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker (on sale $49)

Slow Cooker Recipes

If you get a crock you’ll need some recipes. I’ve done a few frugal slow cooker meals on this blog! Here are some Vegetarian Recipes and a few for the Meat Lovers.

These classic slow cooker cookbooks are awesome and frugal too:

• Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker: Recipes for Two
• Slow Cooker Ready & Waiting: 160 Sumptuous Meals That Cook Themselves
• Fix-It And Forget-It: 1400 Best Slow Cooker Recipes
• 200 Recipes for Healthy and Hearty One-Pot Meals (vegetarian)

There you have it. Lots of details on how to dial into a slow cooker or a Crock Pot. If you still need some convincing, then here are 6 Reasons to use a Crock Pot.

Your Turn: Do you love your slow cooker? What’s your favorite cooker feature or frugal recipe?

Love the blog? Get the book: 397 Ways to Save Money

Top Squawks

• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
• How to write a resume (series with downloads)
• Frugalicious Recipes
• 50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year
• Credit Card Calculator
• Download your free 92-page eBook: The Insider’s Guide To Frugal Food & Fitness

Finding deep discounts when online shopping or uncovering savings on in-store purchases is easy. The secret is to go online before going shopping and search out the savings with online coupons and promotional codes. Try any of these 8 stealth shopping tactics to uncover some big savings. Just don’t give yourself carpal tunnel syndrome with all your clever clicking.

1. Google for Online Coupons and Promotional Codes

Launching an online coupon search with Google is a surefire way to uncover promotional codes on everything from groceries to a weekend getaway. It only takes a few minutes to Google It and see if there are savings in store.

Here’s how to Google It:

1. Open a web brower and launch Google.
2. Enter the desired retailer’s name and then “coupon code”.
3. View several results to see if the online coupons or promotional codes are valid.
4. Download your printable coupons or try your coupon codes in your online shopping cart.

You may have to try several coupon codes before finding one that works — but you’ll get lucky eventually, so be patient.

2. Sign Up for Email Alerts

Surf on over to your favorite product sites and sign up for preferred customer email alerts, Web Flyers, or Special Web Offers. By getting on a preferred customer email list you’ll get sent weekly (or monthy) coupons, deals, and discounts good for in-store or online shopping not offered in the store.

I’ve found discounts as high as 60% on clothing from Banana Republic, cosmetics from various drug stores, sports gear from Sierra Trading Post, groceries from Superstore, and on electronics by using Circuit City discount coupon codes. I often get emailed last minute flight deals from major American and Canadian airlines which saves me hundreds on flights home and on weekend getaways. Many companies like Procter and Gamble run promotions that offer email subscribers coupons worth hundreds of dollars, saving you money on everything from soap to Pampers.

Before signing up to a bunch of company email alert lists though, consider setting up an alternative email address to deal with the onslaught of advertisements. No one wants their main email account bombarded with special offers daily.

3. Visit Coupon Websites

Point your web browser to a savvy shopping coupon forum or a website that posts discounts and deals save anywhere from 10% to 70% off regular retail prices. I’ve even found free international shipping coupons by just visiting the right couponing website at the right time.

Sites like RetailMeNot.com and RedFlagDeals.com boast strong communities who post coupons and codes regularly to save you big bucks on purchases in many categories, including: travel, electronics, financial services, entertainment, apparel, automotive, home wares, and even school supplies. These sites are amazing places to find both in-store deals and online shopping discounts.

4. Search Online Sales Flyers

Some stores call them “Sales Circulars” while others call them “Store Flyers”, but whatever they’re called in your area, searching your grocery store’s online weekly specials listed in a flyer is a good way to save some dough on bread, biscuits, and baby food. Just vist your preferred grocery store online to preview all weekly sales, online coupons, and special offers to cash in on the savings before cashing out at the till. If you’re Canadian, checking out the Real Canadian Superstore Flyer weekly can save you on everything from gasoline to camping gear. I’ve saved hundreds just by planning ahead and seeking out the door crashing deals.

Many big box and speciality stores like Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Lowes, Macy’s, Kmart, Kohls, Home Depot, and Canadian Tire also advertise their weekly flyers online. Check out the store’s website and find a link that says something like, “local sale flyer” and enter your Zip or Postal Code to find deals targeting your area. You may just find secret printable coupons avilable only to those searching the flyers online.

5. Surf Store and Mall Websites

If you’re planning to visit a particluar store or mall then why not visit their website first – they may just have a few printable coupons available to entice you to visit their stores. I’ve found special offers for clothing online at H&M’s website and figured it was worth the $35 Dollar Off Coupon to shop in their store. Many of the big brand name clothing, footwear, and electronics stores post deals and coupons online to get you off the internet and into their stores. If you’re in the market for a particular item, then finding some savings online first is a sweet deal.

6. Skip Shipping Costs!

If you’ve ever gone online shopping and been dinged with shipping charges, then you know the costs of delivery can eat into your deal. Rather then pay for parcel delivery, always look for a free shipping option when buying from an online store. Getting your items shipped for free could save you tens of dollars or a percentage off the total price on your order — so it pays to shop for shipping deals. Many online retailers offer free shipping when you buy up to a specified dollar amount in merchandise. If you aren’t offered free shipping before checkout, then look for promotional codes through retailmenot.com and redflagdeals.com to cut on costs.

Another creative method for saving on shipping is to order online from a store that also has a brick-and-mortar storefront and opt for in-store pickup for free. Not only will you qualify for web-only discounts not offered in the store but you can get your merchandise much faster but picking it up in person.

7. Dial Into Savings with Your Cell Phone

A sneaky way to grab an online deal while shopping in a store is to search for a coupon using your cell phone web browser. A friend of mine used this method to save $50 off the price of a DVD player by visiting the store in-person to check out the merchandise and then ordered this player using his cell phone with coupon. While online he selected the option to pick up his purchase in person and waited only a few minutes to pick up his package. Not a bad return on only 10 minutes of cell phone air time.

8. Subscribe to Retailers via Twitter

Update: A big thank you to “JMT” who counted up my points and noted I missed one. So to be fair and give you as much bang for your coupon saving buck, I’ll add an excellent Twitter tip from the comments!

Blogger and brilliant commenter Riscario Insider says,

I read that subscribing to retailers via Twitter can yield savings too, similar to email alerts. How do you deal with the noise in your Twitterstream? Maybe a separate Twitter account is the elegant answer.

Now there’s an eighth way to get stealth and find those wicked coupons.

Over the years I’ve used all of these stealth shopping tactics to uncover big online coupons and savings. Got any other methods that have saved you some cash?

Love the blog? Get the book: 397 Ways to Save Money

Top Squawks

• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
• How to write a resume (series with downloads)
• Frugalicious Recipes
• 50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year
• Credit Card Calculator
• Download your free 92-page eBook: The Insider’s Guide To Frugal Food & Fitness

After the car was written off, it became apparent that Carl and I needed a replacement vehicle and thus had to spend some bucks on a car. Our insurance company paid out a good part of the cost (yay), but like most claims the cost to fully replace a destroyed vehicle is never a wash (boo). So given our tight budget I knew that a used car fit the bill and I asked you guys to Squawkback and share your best used car buying advice.

Well, you guys rocked this Squawkback beyond my wildest dreams and helped us replace our car. In fact, we ended up getting two used cars using your awesome advice and I want to share what worked best and what rocked most. So here’s my tale of buying two used cars on a tight budget with your advice added in! Thank you!

How to Buy Used Cars By Owner

Many readers advised us to seek a private seller locally through classified newspaper ads or to seek used cars for sale online. The reasons are simple: there tends to be less financial fuss, less marketing mess, and a lot less BS when it comes to buying used cars by owner. Here’s how I ended up buying a used 1992 Subaru Justy for $1,500 just a mile from where I live. This was to be a temporary car.

Getting Started and Knowing Your Budget

Doctor S @Finance Your Life says:

• I just do not see the value in buying brand new cars when used cars with 10 miles on them are 30% cheaper. Research and the internet have changed the way car buying takes place. Put in the amount of research and you will find a car equating to your efforts.

This just about sums up my thoughts on buying a used car over a new car. By considering newer used models Carl and I hoped to save thousands of dollars over buying new. Besides, we both like older Subarus since our written off Impreza did a darn good job of keeping us alive.

Amphritrite @Future Queen of the Universe says:

1. Ask your friends and family where they bought their used cars.
2. Decide what you can afford, at what interest rate or whether you’ll be buying with cash.
3. Figure out what styles you want and what your lifestyle needs are: truck, SUV or car.

We spent two solid weeks asking friends, family, and colleagues for any leads on a used Subaru Impreza. Carl wanted to replace his written-off AWD car and would settle for nothing less than a manual transmission. Given our budget of $20,000ish (the insurance company only gave us $17,000) we knew a used 2005 Impreza was on budget, but supply was scarce.

Where to Find Used Cars For Sale

TStrump @The Strump says:

• Craigslist is always a great source but beware of lemons. Watch our for rebuilds – they are cheaper but have usually been in accidents and may not drive the same.

We searched for used cars online via sites like: Craigslist, Autotrader, Kijiji, Buy and Sell, and everywhere in between. But we got lucky when I mentioned our Subaru search to my massage therapist. While she worked on my whiplash she mentioned her Subaru mechanic (Ivan) and gave us the goods on his credentials and the used cars he buys and fixes up for sale.

Ivan didn’t have any leads on a used Impreza since they don’t enter the market often, but he had a 1992 4WD Subaru Justy that could tide us over until a suitable Impreza became available. The Justy was a rebuild and the interior wasn’t gorgeous to look at, but it was safe and we trusted the mechanic. Everyone we spoke with said, “Ivan was the Subaru mechanical man to trust”, and this means A LOT in a very small town. Besides, a $1,500 4WD beater could easily be resold in our area. So buying this used car was a win for us.

Reasons to Buy Used Cars Locally

Ray @Financial Highway says:

• Make sure the car is not from out of province, if it is make sure you get ALL the information you can get your hands on. A friend of mine purchased a car he did not know was brought in from a different province and when he got in an accident he had major issues with insurance company.

Buying locally in province became important to us because insuring an out-of-province vehicle can be a hassle. Besides, bringing a car back to B.C. from another province is an ordeal – Canada is no small country to travel and flying by plane to one province and then driving back was a challenge given our schedules.

Get Your Used Car Inspected

Sara says:

• After deciding you think you want a particular car, take the car to your usual shop and get it inspected. Carry the inspection results back to the seller and use that to negotiate a better price if something needs fixing. Or, you might not want the car at all after the results of an inspection! Totally worth the $100-150 it will cost.

Getting a used car safety inspected is wise advice and can save you money on the deal if repairs are likely. But because we bought the Subaru Justy from a highly respected local mechanic, we didn’t feel the need to get it checked by another shop.

How To Buy a Used Car From a Dealership

After three weeks of hunting for the perfect private seller with the right car I wasn’t opposed to buying from a dealership if they had the goods. The time spent poring over used car ads, calling private sellers, and checking out cars was adding up – and a lot of the time a private seller didn’t know the details on their own car!

Carl and I grew grumpy (and frustrated) but having the Justy on hand made waiting for the right car possible. But after a long search we abandoned the original plan of getting a Subaru Impreza and instead bought a used 2007 Subaru Forester for $21,000 from a Honda dealership. Here’s how it happened!

Why Buy a Used Car from a Dealership?

Melanie Reformed Spender says:

• While you can sometimes get a better deal by cutting out the middle man, I would not go as far as to say never go to the dealer. A good dealer has minimum standards and has access to a lot of cars that you would never find in private sale.

We started calling dealerships just two days into our search. The supply of used Subarus by owner was low, and dealerships had stock and the ability to source the car we were looking for. Our challenge was that not a single dealership had a used manual Impreza in stock to sell.

Know Your Time Line, Do Your Research, Find a Used Car

Treva says:

• I bought a used car last summer from a dealership. Before I bought it I did a LOT of research on the edmunds.com, kbb.com, and consumerreports.org (well worth my weight in gold for the subscription price). I unfortunately only had two weeks to figure out what to do and I would have preferred a full month.

Having the time available to hunt for the right car at the right price is a key component many car seekers don’t consider. Carl was growing concerned that an Impreza would take MONTHS to enter the market. So he decided to be flexible and widen his criteria to ANY decent AWD Subaru (Outback, Forester, etc.) with a manual transmission, excellent maintenance record, and low mileage.

Contacting Dealerships

Spending It @Spending It says:

• Send an email to around 30 car dealers who have your car for sale. Tell them what you want and that you are sending a similar email to 30 competing dealerships and that you are going to buy from the dealer that gives you the best price.

This advice I think works best in larger cities when there are many models of your preferred vehicle on the market. In our small area of Canada (B.C. Okanagan) all the dealerships work together to deliver cars to customers. Since the Subaru dealerships were all in bed together it was impossible to negotiate a deal by playing them off each other.

So what Carl ended up doing was calling and emailing ALL car dealerships in our area (like Honda and Toyota) to see if they had any Subarus on trade in – and this is where we found some luck. A Honda dealership three cities over had just got a 2007 Subaru Forester on trade in. The car was in perfect condition, had only 45,000km on it, and boasted a manual transmission with a nice trim level. The fact it had heated seats was a super plus.

Get Maintenance Records and an Inspection

Beth @Crummy Mommy

Do you want to own your pre-loved car forever? If so, make sure the major maintenance has been done regularly. Make sure that regular oil changes have been done! If the timing belt hasn’t been done by 100,000km, that’s a) something that you’re going to need to get done and b) a fairly decent sign that the car hasn’t been serviced and maintained regularly. If the previous owner has all their maintenance records, ask for them, look them over, even give the shop that does the regular maintenance on that car a call and ask about it.

We tried not to fall in love with the Forester, but we did. The car was in exceptional mechanical order with the previous owner providing all the maintenance records. And because Carl grew up on a farm repairing and maintaining heavy equipment, he knew a thing or two about checking for wear and tear on a used car. We knew we wanted this car, but only if the price was right. So we decided on our Bottom Line and as a couple agreed upon the price. The initial sticker price of $23,888 was WAY out of our budget.

Bargain and Be Ready to Walk Away

Orion, a Licensed Automotive Technician, says:

• Don’t leave out the dealerships and used car lots in your search to find the right car. With our economy the way it is, some of the best deals can now be had at these places. The value of all vehicles has dropped considerably in the past 6+ months due to the lower costs of the new models. I find that a lot of private sale vehicles are priced a lot higher than used car lots. This is generally the case because the private seller has an idea of what there car was worth last year, and has likely invested more money in the car than it will ever be worth in today’s economy. Used car lots are hurting for sales these days and they need to move vehicles to stay afloat so do bargain with them.
• Bargain down to the right price, and bargain you must. Everyone wants top dollar for their car but that has changed in the buyers favor. Use your acquired vehicle inspection and local market research to get the price down to a fair value.

Carl bargained like crazy. He called the dealership. He visited the dealership. Then he called again to say, “My wife would like the car more if it was $500 less.” The funny thing is, blaming me (the wife) for not wanting the car unless it was under a certain dollar value WORKED. The key to negotiating is to be fair, respectful, and be willing to walk away from the deal. The dealer dropped the price three times to reflect Carl’s knowledge of used Foresters and their real market value. Carl also offered to pay in cash – which was a huge win for sealing the deal. But because I was willing to walk away from the car if the price wasn’t inline with market value the dealer had no choice but to concede to the price. So we negotiated the car for $20,600.

Beware of Vehicle History Reports

Mr. NtJS @Not the Jet Set

• CarFax reports aren’t a bad thing, but you need to know how to read them. Our month-long login caught a dealer’s lies (that truck had been worked like a dog), and confirmed a individual’s story of a vehicle’s history (the one we ended up buying).

The Honda dealership we dealt with was quick to present a CarFax report showing the “accident free” status of the Forester. The problem is, these “vehicle history reports” may not be worth the paper they are written on. Many insurance companies and police departments don’t report accidents to CarFax and these omissions can lead a buyer to think a car is accident free. Furthermore, some of these car reports are only updated periodically, which could miss a recent accident and leave you buying a busted lemon with hidden damage.

Ray @Financial Highway says:
The program CBC Marketplace did a story on vehicle history reports which is well worth a read.

• Used car history reports can steer you in the wrong direction

This story is Canadian but is applicable across North America. When the Honda dealer presented the CarFax on the Forester we knew the right questions to ask and pretty much showed little confidence in the report. The dealer agreed that car history reports were a “nice to have” tool but were not entirely accurate. We found that test driving the car, looking for bodywork, and getting an inspection were FAR more valuable to us in verifying the car’s integrity than this report.

Beware of “Dealership Fees”

Carl’s Brother (a lawyer) says:

• Dealerships like to add fees onto the price of a vehicle at the end of the deal. Be ready to see anywhere from $300-$1,000 in fees tacked onto the agreed upon price and don’t pay it. These fees may be called “registration fees”, “dealership fees”, or “documentation fees” and exist to pad profits.

I was horrified when I saw $300 added to the price of the Forester AFTER we spent HOURS negotiating the $20,600 price. The sales guy tried to sneak it in by banging his bling on the table, swooshing his pen in the air, and shrugging off the fee as a part of doing business. The frustrating thing is after spending the better part of a day wheeling and dealing, it’s easy for a buyer to be worn down by the process and eager to end the pain by just paying the darn fee. But don’t.

Because we knew about this fee in advance, Carl outright refused to pay it. The sales guy, who had chest hair in need of some serious manscaping, was stunned when Carl pointed out the bogus fee and said, “I’m not paying this.”

The sales guy challenged us and said, “You’d refuse to take the car just because of $300?”

Carl stayed strong and held ground. He said, “No. I’m taking the car, I’m just not paying that fee.”

After another 20 minutes of bickering over $300 Carl got his way and had the fee removed from the cost of the car. Victory.

Conclusions on Buying Two Used Cars

There are as many ways to buy a used car as there are people. But to drive away with a deal the best advice I could share would be to listen to Squawkfox Readers. Whether you buy used cars online, by owner, or through a dealership it’s wise to wait for the best vehicle for your specific circumstances. The best used cars are the ones that fit your budget, suit the needs of your family, and don’t cost you in repairs after driving from the lot.

After buying a used Subaru Justy for $1,500 (by owner) and a used Subaru Forester for $20,600 (by dealership) I can honestly say there are positives and negatives to both routes. The key is to be flexible when searching and to not fall in love with an automobile before the papers are signed.

Today we love both our used cars and are thrilled with the decision to forgo a sporty Impreza for a more comfortable Forester. I’m also happy to have my first car (the Subaru Justy) in over 12 years and have some mobility on the farm in the winter months since riding a bike in the Canadian winter is a little tough at times. Maybe one day I’ll become a car-loving person and ditch my bicycle. Well, maybe not.

Love the blog? Get the book: 397 Ways to Save Money

Top Squawks

• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
• How to write a resume (series with downloads)
• Frugalicious Recipes
• 50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year
• Credit Card Calculator
• Download your free 92-page eBook: The Insider’s Guide To Frugal Food & Fitness

I’ve also linked to some popular holiday posts, including wrapping gifts without paper and free printable gift tags. Free is frugal. If all else fails, give your loved ones a big holiday hug.

10 Frugal and Homemade Gift Ideas

There are lots of frugal and affordable gift ideas to choose from in this article. Everything from books, to mittens, to tea pots, and fab finds for the eco-minded. Many of these items can be found close to your home.

• 10 Frugal and Homemade Gift Ideas

Beginner Digital Cameras

Cameras are very useful and generous gifts. The prices of digital cameras have fallen in the last few years. A quality digital camera can now be had for under $100. So take aim and shoot for a digital deal.

• Beginner Digital Cameras (that won’t break the bank)

8 Homemade Gifts in a Jar

Steal some of the ideas from this insanely popular post. Do download and print the free gift tags too.

• 8 Homemade Gifts in a Jar (with free printable gift tags)

6 Free Printable Holiday Gift Tags

Free, printable, and ohh so cute. Download the whole set to use on your gifts.

• 6 Printable Holiday Gift Tags

11 Ways to Wrap Gifts without Wrapping Paper

Get creative and save some bucks by wrapping your gifts without wrapping paper. Be sure to read the readers’ comments. The readers are smarter than me (which is a good thing).

• 11 Ways to Wrap Gifts without Wrapping Paper

Got any last minute gift ideas to add? Have any frugal festive finds you wanna share?

Love the blog? Get the book: 397 Ways to Save Money

Top Squawks

• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
• How to write a resume (series with downloads)
• Frugalicious Recipes
• 50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year
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Before shooting for the stars and spending big bucks on camera gear, focus your lens on some simple tips for buying the perfect beginner digital camera on your budget. Take aim, shoot, and say “cheese” to learning the technical lingo and focusing on the important (not flashy) features. It’s a snap.

1. Set your budget.

Got big bucks? Looking to pinch some pennies? Before stepping foot in a camera shop you must first decide how much money to spend. For the beginner, a quality digital camera can be had for as low as $100. Spending more money will get you a camera with more features, but will not necessarily help you take better pictures. So set your budget and stick with it.

2. Who is this digital camera for?

Digital cameras come with a multitude of features for various uses. It can be mind boggling looking at all those little buttons and photography options. Deciding on a camera can be a lot easier if you can answer these simple questions:

1. Are you buying a digital camera for a vacation?
2. Do you want to quickly shoot family snapshots without any fussing around?
3. Are you looking for a beginner camera for your kids to use?
4. Do you plan on getting serious by learning photography skills and shooting more artistic photos?

Knowing how the camera is going to be used will help you decide what camera will work best for your intended situation. Here are three types of uses for beginner digital cameras.

• Basic Budget Camera: Priced around $100, basic digital cameras may not have all the bells and whistles, but can still take awesome photos. If in need of a camera for your kids or are a beginner on a tight budget, this one may be for you: the Canon A1200 ($89.00) is a great basic camera for the budget conscious.

• Intermediate Beginner Camera: At a higher price-point, intermediate beginner cameras have more features and often come in smaller, sleeker models. Cameras in this class are great for everyday use, and should provide you with years of photos. Everyone is familiar with Fox’s food photography, and her stunning shots are taken with a camera of this quality. The Canon ELPH 300 HS ($189) is one of the newer cameras in this class.

• Luxury Beginner Camera: These cameras have all the newest technology to help you take your pictures. These features come with a trade off of price and size. If you’re looking for a camera that can handle both family snapshots and provide you with a launch-pad for more serious photography, you might want to consider a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR). One highly rated camera in this class is the Canon EOS Rebel T3, with 18-55mm Lens ($499).

3. Decide on the camera size and type.

Just like people, digital cameras come in all shapes and sizes. For a beginner, a smaller camera is usually better since it’s easier on the pocketbook, simpler to use with streamlined features, and more fun to carry around. Larger cameras with interchangeable lenses, like digital SLRs (single lens reflex), and bigger point-and-shoot cameras won’t help a beginner take better pictures. Because of their heavier weight and larger size, they usually end up being left at home taking NO pictures. Look for the smallest camera you are comfortable using. If you have big hands you may want to try slightly larger, but still pocketable cameras. The best way to make a decision is to pick up a few different cameras and try one on for size.

4. Look at the lens.

Virtually every digital camera sold has a zoom lens. This means you can use a small lever on the camera to zoom in on far-away subjects, or zoom out to allow a sweeping landscape to fill the picture. The “zoominess” of a lens is usually expressed in one of two ways: either as a “35mm equivalent”, or as a multiplication factor like “3x” which one often sees on video cameras. A reasonable beginner camera will have a zoom in the range of 3x – 4x, or a 35mm equivalent of 35-140mm. Higher priced cameras may have lenses with even wider wide angles and closer zooms. These allow you to take pictures that make small rooms look huge, or zoom right in on distant wildlife. For everyday use, these may be overkill.

5. Count your megapixels.

For people not familiar with digital cameras, the language can seem like it was invented by a nerdy insider’s club. Megapixel what? Simply, megapixels are a measure of the number of dots the camera uses to create images. In general, the more megapixels you have, the better, but this is only true to a point. Higher megapixel cameras do take pictures that let you make larger and larger enlargements. A 15 megapixel camera will make prints the size of your coffee table, but will you actually ever do this? If all you want to do is email, blog, and make 5×7 prints, then an older 5 megapixel camera is more than enough. Unless you need them, more megapixels in a camera will do nothing for you other than hit your pocketbook. A beginner camera should boast anywhere from 5 to 10 megapixels.

6. Image Stabilization: Not all new technology is bad!

In the last few years, many camera manufacturers have added something called “image stabilization” to their digital cameras. Unlike most features added to sell product and entice photographers to upgrade, image stabilization is a feature that works, here’s how: If you happen to wiggle the camera a bit while taking a photo, the camera’s computer will wobble a sensor chip or lens in the opposite direction. This little stabilization wobble will help you take a clearer picture that would otherwise be blurry due to camera shake. Image stabilizing cameras do come at a bit of a price premium, but if it’s in your budget, it is worth looking at.

7. About batteries.

Like any electronic gizmo or gadget, digital cameras run on batteries. Some cameras take the simply classic AA batteries, while most other cameras sell with s specially engineered rechargeable specific to that camera model. Either battery system will work. The important power consideration is how long that battery will last. What is the actual life of the camera battery? You don’t want your camera to cut out just when you need it, like at a birthday party as the cake comes in. Camera review sites like DPReview test almost every camera made, looking at such things as battery life. A good beginner camera should come with a minimum battery rating of about 250 pictures.

8. Read the reviews, or not.

Camera review websites can be both a great source of information, and an overwhelming distraction. Each reviewer seems to have their own sets of tests when deciding what cameras are best. Some reviewers may even be paid for a review, so take these camera reviews with a grain (or three) of salt. What they don’t tell you is the “huge differences” in quality they report are often smaller differences only visible in a controlled studio or lab. For a beginner taking real photos, these differences often won’t be apparent. The best way to deal with reviews is to skip the technical parts, and just look at the pros and cons they mention in their concluding remarks.

Some bigger camera review sites include:

• DPReview
• Steve’s Digicams
• Digital Camera Resource Page

Other sites, such as those by Ken Rockwell and Bob Atkins can provide both entertaining reads and good camera information.

9. Skip the extras.

Whether shopping online or in a real camera store, when you’re ready to check out your purchase, you suddenly find yourself flooded with the dreaded “extras”. Camera cases, lens wipes, flash adapters, extra batteries. Do you really need all that extra gear? In short, no, most of it you don’t. The only accessory you really need is a decent sized memory card. A 2 gig card should be able to hold hundreds of photos and cost around $20. Bigger, faster cards can be bought for more money, but won’t make any difference for a beginner’s camera.

10. Beware of sharks.

When shopping for your camera, you will eventually find a store selling the one you want at a price that seems too good to be true. That’s because it is. While most camera retailers are honest, hardworking people running a business, there are scam artists lurking out there looking to make a quick buck, especially online. Some of these will sell you the camera at a really good price, but to get the manual, battery, and charger you have to pay extra. Others might just take your money and ship you a brick in a box, vanishing before you can cancel your credit card. If you have any doubts about a merchant, just look them up on ResellerRatings.com. This site lists user opinions of their experiences at pretty much any store around.

Using these tips, it’s a snap to get the right beginner digital camera for your dollar.

Got a camera story? Every feel flashed by the digital sales guy? Got a favorite camera? Do tell the digital details!

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