Category Archives: Saving Money

Budget-Friendly Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day is approaching fast! Have you planned a date with your significant other yet? If you’re like many Americans still recovering their finances after the holiday season, you’re likely looking for inexpensive date ideas that still show your special someone how much they mean to you. The good news is there are so many low-budget ideas out there that only need a bit of creativity and time to pull off.

Keep reading for four budget-friendly Valentine’s date ideas to try this year.

Cook their favorite meal

Does your partner have a favorite meal they like to eat? Instead of going out for dinner on Valentine’s Day, recreate that meal at home. Not only will you save money by skipping high-priced dinner and drinks, but you’ll also be able to make enough for leftovers. Not to mention you’ll get to avoid crowded restaurants! Try cooking the meal in advance and surprise your significant other with a romantic, candlelight dinner. Make the dish together if you’re looking for an activity to do alongside one another, and if you both enjoy cooking.

Have a movie marathon

Skip the movie theater and buttery popcorn, and opt for an at-home movie marathon instead. Is your special someone a big Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Twilight fan? All the more reason to surprise them with hours of their favorite movies at the comfort of their own home! Plus, you can have endless snacks, soda, and candy that are way more affordable at your local grocery store.

Get crafty together

You don’t have to be a professional artist to enjoy making arts and crafts with your partner! Enjoy the artistic process together by bringing paint-and-sip to your home or creating a memory book of your relationship. No matter what you make together, you’re guaranteed to remember it and have a fun keepsake of your crafty evening together.

Play games

Embark in some friendly competition this Valentine’s Day with a couples game night. Create a scavenger hunt, play your favorite two-person board and video games, or even create your own game. This could be a great way to learn more about your partner and experience something new together – all while on a budget.

No matter what you decide to do on Valentine’s Day, your financial wellness should always be top-of-mind. That’s where we can come in and help! At First Financial, we put our members’ financial needs first by offering useful products and services that are customized to their lives. To get started, call us at 732.312.1500, email info@firstffcu.com, or stop by any of our local branches.

 

 

5 Ways to See Your Favorite Sports Team on a Budget

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Seeing your team win in person can be great, but it can also be very expensive. If you’ve ever been to a game, you know very well that even cheap seats don’t really come cheap. Plus, if you want to take your entire family with you – it will cost even more. You’ll be paying for game tickets, snacks, parking, and most likely a souvenir or two. What some may not realize, is that you certainly can attend a sporting event on a budget.

Here are five ways to not to miss out even when you’re on a budget:

Keep an Eye Out for Discounts

If you’ve never heard of “discount nights,” read on. Some sports teams offer all-in-one deals that cover everything from parking, tickets, and food. You just have to take your time to compare prices, stay tuned for updates, and save the dates on your calendar. This will give you more than enough time to plan and save up.

Consider Buying from Resellers

Buying tickets directly from your sports team is still the most popular option, but there’s a less expensive world you may not have explored: ticket reselling. You can typically find deals on platforms like StubHub, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Just make sure you’re buying from legitimate sellers. One way to do this is to check their reviews and ratings.

Say No to Buy Now, Pay Later

As they say, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” You might be asking yourself, why shell out $500 when you can pay for the total in five easy installments? These types of online payment plans are only good if you can pay consistently, but what if you suddenly can’t? You can easily rack up interest, and you’ll usually end up paying more than what you’ve bargained for.

Try the Cheap Seats in the Back

We’ve already mentioned that cheap seats aren’t exactly cheap, but they’re still exactly that — the cheapest. You and your family may not be able to see your favorite players up close, but at least you’re ready to cheer them on even if you’re all seated on the upper level.

Rely on Word of Mouth

Have you ever been to a game and noticed empty seats? We have two words for you: Ask around! Sometimes, tickets don’t get purchased. Other times, there’s that colleague of yours with an important family event to go to, who needs to sell their tickets — fast. Try to negotiate, especially when the date is close. You’ll likely end up with a good deal.

To Wrap It Up

Attending sporting events can be a fun experience for you and your family, but going to a live game can empty out your wallet. If you want to have fun at sporting events without breaking the bank, keep these tips in mind to stay within your budget.

Go team go!

Article Source:

https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/6-ways-to-enjoy-sporting-events-on-a-budget

 

How to Save on PSLs this Fall

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If you’re a pumpkin spice latte lover – this is probably one of your favorite times of the year. However, this tasty Fall coffee drink can get expensive. How can you save some money during PSL season? Follow these money saving tips!

1. Join a rewards program. If you’re a frequenter of Starbucks, Dunkin, or Panera Bread for your PSLs – make sure you subscribe to their rewards program and use their mobile apps for extra savings. You’ll be able to rack up points with each purchase for future discounted or free menu items.

2. Make your own PSL at home. It’s much easier than it may sound! Follow this recipe, which will get you two 10 ounce pumpkin spice lattes.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of milk
  • 4 Tbsp of canned pumpkin puree
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ cup of brewed coffee or espresso
  • Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

  • Stir the milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice together in a stovetop pan over medium high heat. Bring it almost to a boil, but don’t actually let it boil. Stir constantly and after about one minute, the mixture will begin to froth.
  • Pour the mixture into two mugs, then slowly add your brewed coffee or espresso by pouring it at the edge of the cup so your milk stays frothy. If you’d like, top with whipped cream and another pinch of pumpkin pie spice topping or a dash of cinnamon on top. Enjoy!

3. You can also DIY your own pumpkin spice coffee creamer. If you’d rather brew your own regular coffee at home, but make your own pumpkin spice creamer – check out this easy recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 & ½ cups of heavy cream or half & half
  • 2 Tbsp of canned pumpkin puree
  • 2 Tbsp of maple syrup
  • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 or 2 cinnamon sticks

Directions

  • Whisk together the cream or half & half, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice in a small stovetop pan over medium heat. Add a cinnamon stick and turn the heat up until the mixture is boiling, whisking occasionally.
  • After one minute, take the mixture off the heat and let it cool for five minutes before adding it to your home brewed coffee.
  • You can keep the leftover creamer in your fridge for generally about one week afterward – just be sure to shake it before using. Enjoy!

And there you have it – three simple ways to save on the most popular coffee drink of the season. Happy Autumn!

 

Article Source: Pennyhoarder.com

3 Easy Ways to Save Money this Summer

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Wouldn’t you rather spend your money on making lasting memories with friends and family this summer? If you’re on a tight budget but still want to enjoy all that summer has to offer, here are three easy ways you can save.

  1. Save up to $300 by packing your lunch. Making your lunch is usually healthier and cheaper than eating out. Instead of buying lunch every day, take a few extra minutes in the morning (or the night before) – and make your lunch at least two or three times a week. You could save $20–30 each week, which will add up to $200–300 throughout the summer!
  2. Let Mother Nature dry your clothes. Give your dryer a break and let the warm summer air dry your clothes for free. You can also use cool water in the washer more frequently, which can clean your clothes just as well as warm or hot water. Changing up your laundry habits is an easy way to start saving money on summer bills.
  3. Earn up to $100 by selling your old clothes. No time or space for a yard sale? Clean out your closets and take those clothes you “might wear… someday” to a consignment shop, or sell your clothes from home through an online marketplace like thredUP or Poshmark. Put the money you make toward a summer vacation.

How about one bonus way to save?

Did you know you’re not stuck with the car loan you got at the dealership? Dealers can make a good bit of profit by increasing the rate on customers’ initial auto loans. For example, Lender “A” offers a loan at 5% APR but you may end up paying 7% APR with the dealer. You may be able to save money and/or lower your interest rate by refinancing your vehicle loan with us.*

It costs nothing to find out if you could save, and you may then be able to pocket some big savings to use for a vacation this summer.

Get started by completing our quick Auto Loan Review Inquiry Form.

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Not all applicants will qualify, subject to credit approval. Additional terms & conditions may apply. Actual rate may vary based on credit worthiness and term. A First Financial membership is required to obtain a First Financial auto loan and is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. Current loans financed with First Financial FCU are not eligible for review or refinance.  See credit union for details. A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account/loan.

Why is Everything so Expensive Lately?

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Houses. Cars. Gas. Why is everything so much more expensive than it was a year ago?

If you think you’re spending more on things like gas and food than you were at this time last year, you’re right. That’s because we seem to be reopening to a more expensive economy than the one that existed pre-pandemic.

It’s not necessarily price gouging. In fact, it has a lot to do with a shortage of materials that manufacturers need to make their products. When supply is low, prices climb for manufacturers – and consumers ultimately often end up paying more for the end product.

It seems silly, but even the cereal Grape-Nuts, has been hard to come by. Kristin DeRock, the Grape-Nuts brand manager, said in a recent interview that making the unique breakfast cereal involves “a proprietary technology and a production process that isn’t easily replicated, which has made it more difficult to shift production to meet demand during this time.”

You’ve probably also noticed it’s been hard to get your hands on things like fitness gear, sofas, and lumber too. The shortages and price increases have to do with several factors. The work from home economy put never before seen pressures on companies that both struggled to estimate demand, and were forced to halt production for safety reasons.

As imports have picked up speed on the back of surging (and erratic) consumer behavior, U.S. shipping ports have become unusually congested. The early 2021 freeze in Texas also compounded these problems, suspending oil production and impacting the manufacturers who rely on it.

Tight capacity, low inventory, and fiscal stimulus have created the “perfect storm” causing both big-ticket and everyday items from hot tubs and bikes to meat and cheese, to cost a whole lot more because of the unusual conditions created by reopening.

So how long will these high prices last?

Experts agree and anticipate these disruptions may last until early 2022. Until then, the stimulus will continue to drive demand and the pandemic will continue to rattle the movement of everyday goods, keeping prices higher into early next year.

Valentine’s At Home and Virtual Date Night Ideas on a Budget

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This Valentine’s Day looks to be a little different, as the global pandemic continues. If you are unable to get out for a Valentine’s date night this year, or feel safer celebrating at home – here are some low cost ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day at home or virtually.

If You’re Celebrating V-Day At Home:

Fine Dining. You can definitely recreate a restaurant experience at home, complete with dressing up for the occasion and actually sitting down and/or being waited on. Take it a step further by printing real menus, get dressed up, set a fancy table, and pick your own restaurant name. Have fun cooking something you typically don’t make together, or if you have children who will be home and want to participate – include them as well and make it a fun family affair.

Ballroom (or any kind of) Dancing. You might not make it out to your local dance studio or any Valentine’s Night Out Parties this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still learn how to dance or dance at home and still have fun! Find a YouTube video, clear out a spot on the living room floor, and give it a spin.

Game Night. Maybe it’s not the peak of romance for some, but sitting down to a game of Scrabble or Monopoly together is a great way to spend some quality time while also giving your brain a workout. Get dressed up, serve up some snacks and pour the wine to make it feel even more like a date night.

Virtual Hometown Tours. If you didn’t grow up in the same place as your love, Google Earth offers a great date night opportunity – a virtual tour of your hometown, complete with stops at all the most important places. Even if you are both from the same area, use Google Earth or Google Maps to show your sweetheart around your college campus — or explore a city you’re hoping to visit together someday.

At Home Spa Services. Treat yourself — and your significant other, to some DIY indulgence. Whether you give each other manicures, facials, or massages, it’s bound to be more affordable (and more fun) than it would be in a salon or day spa. Check out this list of spa treatments you can do at home.

If you can’t be with your love in person this Valentine’s Day, here are a few virtual ways to celebrate, or adapt some of these ideas to your at home February 14th plan:

Virtual Coffee (or Cocktails). Zoom and FaceTime make it easy to recreate classic first date ideas like grabbing a drink together, or a cup of coffee while chatting over your drink of choice.

Read to Each Other. This can be romantic whether you’re at home together or apart. If you’re not in the same location, you can read to each other via video chat or over the phone. The options are endless, choose a book neither of you have read before or revisit an old favorite.

Live Stream Concerts and Events. Since the pandemic began, many entertainers have transferred their live shows to streaming services or made them available on their websites. Many are even free! Re-create the concert experience at home with a drink and sport some concert attire. Not to mention the added bonus of being able to hear each other talk during the virtual show and not have to shout over the music.

Virtual Movie Nights. It’s always fun to snuggle up with your sweetheart for a movie, even if it’s on the couch at home. If you’re stuck apart this year, you can spend time in front of the screen together. A browser extension called Teleparty is able to sync Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and HBO videos for multiple viewers while also providing a scrolling text chat along the right side of the screen. Don’t forget the popcorn!

Arts and Crafts. A romantic idea for the daring: paint or draw each other while on a video chat application. If that’s a little too intimidating, you could also spend virtual time together being creative with a craft like knitting, cross-stitch, or something else entirely. Plan to gift each other the products of your art creation!

Some Other Tips: If you’re at home together – put away the phones and digital devices, and look for the joy in the little moments spent together. If you’re spending the holiday apart or virtually – get dressed up anyway, and remember this is only temporary.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Article Source: The Penny Hoarder