Almost Frugal » Guest Posts

Saving on School Supplies

A Guest Writer — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:00:05 +0000

A few packets of pencils, more erasers, add a dozen pens and a few notebooks and watch the total money spent on school supplies soar. Many parents don’t bother to budget for these ancillary materials during back-to-school shopping but according to the National Retail Federation an estimated 3.1 billion dollars were spent last year on these products. That’s not chump change. So what can you do to avoid unnecessary spending on these types of school supplies? Just follow these tips and you’ll see the difference once you reach the cash register.

Reuse Old Supplies: Have your kids do an inventory of the supplies they have left over from last year. Chances are they will have erasers, pens, rulers, a calculator, crayons and even a carry case to keep them in. Why bother buying new stuff when the old things work just as well.

Buy in Bulk: When you discover a big sale at your local retailer don’t just buy what you need for the beginning of the school year. These items will probably be back to full price during the school year so purchase enough to last you through the term. This will enable you to replenish your kids’ school supplies as needed and will also save you another trip to the store.

Hunt for Values: One store may have a stellar sale on crayons while another may be offering notebooks or notebook paper for half price, if that’s the case then purchase what you need at one retailer and leave for the next store. If you don’t want to waste the extra gas find out which store price matches and then do all of your shopping there instead of driving around.

Tax-Free Holiday Shop: Find out if your state is offering tax-free holiday shopping and then do your purchasing on the designated days. You could save big money even if you have to fight the crowds. So remember to bring some extra patience with you.

Avoid the Extras: Once you start shopping you and your kids will start to notice all the cool items for sale such as the wild variety of crayons, markers, pens and other accessories. Just ignore that stuff. Go for the basics because in a few weeks all those fancy things will be collecting dust as your kids utilize their pens and pencils. Remember, all those glam-looking items are just there to entice you to spend money. It’s like the shelves of candy at the checkout line, sure it looks good but do you really need to spend the extra money – and that money adds up quickly.

Customize: If your kids don’t like their “plain” looking school supplies then have them embellish them with their own drawings, or buy favorite stickers and you’ll witness their notebooks, backpacks and other accessories become unique to their own tastes.

There you have it, a few quick and easy tips to help you save money this back-to-school shopping season. But there’s one other thing you should keep in mind, stay focused and disciplined and you’ll reap the benefits of being a savvy shopper.

About the Author

The following is a guest post from Kathryn Katz, a Certified Personal Finance Counselor who works for Consolidated Credit Counseling Services in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Their non-profit agency helps families through financial crisis using credit counseling, debt consolidation and financial education.

Saving on School Supplies by A Guest Writer | Permalink | 5 comments

Keeping Records: How Long is Too Long?

A Guest Writer — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:00:37 +0000

This guest post was written by Debbie Dragon, from Backtaxeshelp.com, a site designed to help you pay back taxes. Owing back taxes to the IRS is stressful, and negligence will only worsen the situation. Learn how to get back tax relief.

Are tax records taking over your house? Well don’t throw them out just yet, they may come in handy. There are federal laws that document how long to keep supporting tax documents. While many people often work hard at fighting clutter around the home and choose to dispose of things they feel they no longer need, when it comes to tax documents there are several regulations to be followed to ensure the necessary paperwork is available should it be needed down the road.

Period of Limitations

This is the amount of time that people have to amend their tax return or that the IRS can assess more taxes (i.e. audit). The most common period of limitations is three years. Keeping records for three years is the norm. After that, unless there has been a substantial understatement of income, the Period of Limitations is longer at six years.

If there is a fraudulent tax return, the IRS will have reason to suspect future fraud and all records should be kept indefinitely. Likewise, if you have not supplied the necessary tax information then records should be kept indefinitely. The statute of limitations does not begin until the tax form has been filed.

The rule of thumb to keep all tax related documentation is three years. However, if a document is required to back up related tax income or deductions then the paperwork should be kept indefinitely. For example, keep records to support any depreciation, amortization or deductions that are done. These documents may include costs for machinery or education and should essentially be kept filed away anyway for reasons besides taxes. If the statue of limitations has run out, some of these documents may be necessary to back up any insurance claims or for investment purposes.

What Happens If You Don’t Have the Records

Not having adequate records to support the tax forms is not an acceptable excuse in the eyes of the IRS. If the “I don’t have that” excuse is used, the IRS will simply extrapolate to the best of their ability, what your income was. The only acceptable reason for not having adequate records is in the case of a natural disaster. For example, any person that fell victim to hurricane Katrina and having proof of being a victim of the hurricane may have a reason to say, “I don’t have that”. Otherwise, it is up to the tax payer to do everything in their power to obtain copies of the necessary documents.

Keep a Copy

When sending in a tax return, remember to get a copy of the return and all related documentation. Keep all of the paperwork filed in a safe place. Remember that the IRS gets millions of copies of tax receipts and returns which are all handled by humans who are capable of misplacing things. Keeping adequate copies and sufficient documentation should keep the IRS at bay should an audit become necessary. It will also help prevent weeks of frustration when documents need to be produced in a timely manner. Additionally, when mailing tax documents, use the Return Receipt Requested/Certified Mail services from the US Post Office to prove the tax office in fact did receive your return in a timely manner. Keep postal receipts and stubs together with the tax forms and supporting paperwork in individual file folders clearly marked by the tax year.

Kelly says: I just finished filing both my French and my American taxes (as an expatriate, I have until the 15th of June to file my American tax return). Now I’m getting ready to tackle disposing of my old paperwork and set up my filing system for 2010. I know, I know, I’m only six months late, but this was a very timely guest post!

Keeping Records: How Long is Too Long? by A Guest Writer | Permalink | 2 comments

Turning a Passion into a Business

Kelly — Fri, 21 May 2010 06:37:48 +0000

This interview is with Katie from Making This Home. She’s been featured before on This is What Frugal Looks Like, but she recently launched a new shop, turning what was just a passion, into a new business. I like what she does, so I asked her to share!

Tell us about how you got to be where you are now:

I’m an American; my husband is German. We split our time between a 480 square foot apartment in Berlin, Germany and a home made out of recycled tires in the Rocky Mountains. We have an enormous passion for life and just getting out and doing as much as we can. Last summer, I earned a pilot’s license.

My journals document our adventure. It took me years to figure out how to write interesting journals.

I started journaling in second grade. I could write and write and write. And today reading those journals is about as interesting as cleaning the shower. I fall asleep, and these journal entries are my own!

My problem was a common one: I had no idea how to write about who I was.

All I could write about was what I did every day – swimming lessons, Girl Scouts, speech and debate…

Today I use all sorts of fun writing prompts, lists, and papers to really keep the creativity going. I study literature, poetry, politics, art, history, nature, foreign language – all sorts of expressive art forms that I incorporate into my books. I think we’re always learning. And journaling is important because we’re always learning about ourselves.

You write a blog, take lots of pictures and journal- what are the most important elements of telling a story for you?

You have to be true to yourself and explore the things that matter to you – not what your parents think or your friends think or anyone else. That can be a really difficult thing. But journaling really lets you be yourself. No one else is reading that space. It’s all you.

Sometimes I imagine blogging and photography that way, too. But they’re not completely expressing the story of “you”. You’re writing for a specific audience, seeing what they comment, and keeping many types of personal items off the internet. I think that’s totally fine. Blogging is well worth it! I guess for me, the real “you” story comes out in journaling, so I have to do that, too.

Why did you decide to turn your hobby into a business? Does having done so change anything for you?

My husband and I were visiting my hometown in the United States to celebrate my grandma’s 90th birthday. NPR’s StoryCorp was in town, inviting folks to share their stories. My dad and I thought it could be a really beautiful opportunity for my grandma to share some of her stories.

I created a list of prompts and questions for my grandma – much like the tricks I use in journaling. My grandma and I practiced a little over a bowl of ice cream, then stepped into the recording bus.

The only problem was my grandma couldn’t remember it all.

Later she tried writing her story about college and meeting my grandfather. You can imagine how much she struggled. Too much time had gone by.

My dad turned to me and said, “Katie, I need you to write about what life is like for you today.”

He was fascinated by his parents’ story, something he’d never truly get to understand. That’s when I really started thinking about the stories we all have to share with others or document for ourselves.

Turning my hobby into a business has been one of the greatest things. I know a lot of people want to journal. Many struggle with blank pages and slip into the this-is-what-I-did-today type writing. Knowing my journal products are helping people achieve their journal goals has changed everything for the better for me. No question!

Where do you get your inspiration and resources?

I’m incredibly lucky to have experienced life in Europe and the United States. It’s opened my mind to so many values and ideas about life, so I can create prompts that can feel specific and personal to one person as much as a completely different person.

Living on two continents has also given me the great opportunity to select beautiful journal materials. My favorites are Italian patterned papers, American library cards, and 100% recycled German paper. The texture really inspires so much in a writer!

I am also inspired by my world. I am not just journaling for me. I’m documenting my husband’s story. I’m recording Berlin’s journey and the changes in America’s West.

What are some of the issues related to turning a hobby into a business?

The lines between what you’re doing for pleasure and what you’re doing for work get blurred. That gets tricky. Some people lose their passion for the hobby. I haven’t experienced that yet; I try to keep other hobbies where I never have to think, “Okay, how can I incorporate this into my business.”

Turning a Passion into a Business by Kelly | Permalink | 3 comments

Frugal Getaways: 5 Ways To Treat Yourself With A Frugal Vacation

A Guest Writer — Fri, 07 May 2010 10:00:00 +0000

This is a guest post from Amy, who enjoys exploring cost-effective and fun-filled options to create a great lifestyle. She is a tabletop fountain artist as well as a full-time student. Amy invites you to browse her most recently launched collection of solar fountains for patio and garden enthusiasts to save money on energy-costs.

Vacations are one of the best ways to rejuvenate and replenish your spirits. Proactively planned and thoroughly researched vacations can give you a “time-of-your-life” experience while saving you a ton of money. Here are the five easy ways you can have fun-filled and relaxing vacations without breaking your wallet.

Consider staycations – a local vacation, often times known as staycation, has become a popular concept in last few years because of recession. It simply means discovering the fun-filled activities in your local area. A nearby water park or amusement park, local museums, natural parks, picknicking are just the few examples of how to have fun locally. Visit Goby.com to browse the local activities of your interest – It’s a search engine for creating your own adventure.
Grab the Entertainment book of the city that you plan to visit. You may find the Entertainment book of your destination travel city from your local Barnes and Noble store or just browse Amazon for it. The Entertainment Book covers most of the major metropolis in U.S and Canada. Each major metropoly has an Entertainment Book dedicated to it. These Entertainment books have several money-saving coupons of local businesses, restaurants, and adventures. On average, an Entertainment books saves you about $175 on your total trip expenses.
Don’t forget to use your membership benefits when you travel. AAA membership, Alumni membership, and employer membership are some of the most common membership organizations that result in vacation savings.
You don’t have to invest in timeshare to be able to take advantage of its benefits. Consider borrowing timeshare of your friends or family. Most of the timeshare companies offer a lot more vacation time than its owners can use. Instead of letting it go to waste, your friends or family would be happy to let you use it. Borrowing a timeshare would certainly save you big bucks on your vacation.
Browse websites like “Cities On The Cheap” for the city that you are planning to visit. “Cities on the cheap” sites include several cost-effective family entertainment options like concerts, art performances, and movie coupons. Visit citiesonthecheap.com for more information.

If planned carefully, you can save significantly on your vacation. A typical American family spends about $1500 to $2000 on summer vacation every year. Frugal vacations are not by any means taking away the fun from your vacation.

Kelly says: You can probably guess that I am a fan of vacationing as frugally as possible! But I also happen to have the misfortune to like/need to travel to expensive destinations. One of my favorite cities ever is London, which is not known for being cheap. Not to mention the small matter of going to see my family every once in a blue moon- summer airline tickets for our family of five could cost more than €5,000 (we’ll go at Christmas time, when it’s less expensive).

As summer draws nearer, it’s not too early to start thinking about your own travel plans! What are your favorite frugal vacation tips?

Frugal Getaways: 5 Ways To Treat Yourself With A Frugal Vacation by A Guest Writer | Permalink | 2 comments

Do-It-Yourself vs. Hire a Professional

A Guest Writer — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:00:17 +0000

By Kathryn Katz

Ever since my father died, my mother has leaned on me more to help her whenever something with her condo goes wrong. Recently, I got a phone call that her A/C unit, which is located on the roof, had a leak, and had damaged the drywall in her closet. She had already gotten the A/C fixed, but wanted to know if I wouldn’t mind helping her replace the drywall. I had done a similar project before, so I agreed.

When I surveyed the damage in the closet, it didn’t look so bad. I took some measurements and went to the store to get drywall and other materials. However, with some do-it-yourself projects looks can be deceiving. When I tore down the damaged drywall, I found mold growing inside and rotted wood. This quick five hour, two-person project ended up turning into an eighteen hour project that lasted over two days. When I add the labor and materials spent to correct the issue, it ended up costing more than what a professional had originally quoted my mother.

Whenever you’re considering a do-it-yourself project, it’s important to consider the time and money that’s going to go into it. Here are some quick, simple questions you should ask yourself before committing to a project:

Do I have the knowledge and skills to do the project?
Do I have the time to get this project done?
Would it be less expensive to have a professional do it?
Will I enjoy doing the project?

Be honest with yourself. If you don’t have the knowledge and skills to do the project, you can end up making the problem worse. When you have it corrected by a professional, it can end up costing you more than if you had just hired the professional in the first place. If you’re doing any projects that change the integrity of the house, such as walling in your porch and turning it into a den, you may need special permits. Do your research before committing to a project.

Also, you don’t want to start a do-it-yourself project that you don’t have time to finish. Luckily, I was able to clear my schedule that weekend to finish the drywall project for my mom. Otherwise, she would have been without a closet for at least a week. I’m sure I would have heard about the fiasco for the next few holiday dinners if I had left without finishing the project.

Lastly, a do-it-yourself project is only worth it, if you’re going to save money. Besides the cost of materials, you also want to calculate your time. MSN Money has a great calculator that help you figure out how much is your time worth; just do the math and make sure your project is a frugal one.

About the Author

The above is a guest post from Kathryn Katz, a Certified Personal Finance Counselor who works for Consolidated Credit Counseling Services in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Their non-profit agency helps families through financial crisis using credit counseling, debt consolidation and financial education.

Do-It-Yourself vs. Hire a Professional by A Guest Writer | Permalink | One comment

9 Simple Tricks to Save $1000 Per Year on Coffee

A Guest Writer — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:00:30 +0000

This guest post is from Raza of TheCoffeeMakerStore.com.

It’s hard to argue against these two facts: 1) people love coffee and 2) people love money (sometimes it’s hard to tell which one they love more). So if the first thing you look for in the morning is coffee, then listen up, because the following tidbits could save you hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars per year.

Sound outlandish? Well think about this; coffee is the second most highly traded commodity in the world, after oil. According to some research, Americans consume about 10 pounds of coffee beans per year. Coffee is big, big business. And you’re a big part of it.

Let’s assume you buy two large specialty coffee drinks per day. Assuming it’s $4 per cup, you’re spending over $150 per month on coffee. Not to mention lunch, muffins, or other snacks. Living it up like this might not be much of a strain on your pocket book, but most people could definitely afford to pinch some of those pennies. So how can you get some of that money back in your pocket? Check out these 9 simple tricks to help you save over $1000 per year on coffee:

Expensive Isn’t Always Best

In a blind taste test by NYMag food critic Adam Platt, he ranked 7 cups of coffee, of which Starbucks ranked last! Their coffee is $2.11 vs. $1.79 for Dunkin Donuts. Choosing DD could save you almost $230 per year, that’s if you just have to have coffee when you’re out. The savings are even more dramatic if you’re willing to brew at home. Buying Starbucks beans and brewing them at home can save you upwards of $1200 per year, and over $1000 if you buy beans from Dunkin Donuts. That’s enough for a cruise to the Bahamas. Let that sink in for a while…

Alternate Your Energy Fix

Many people just drink coffee for the caffeine boost. If you just drink coffee for the caffeine induced energy fix, consider this; exercising or eating fresh fruit may give you more energy than a cup of coffee. Some studies say that eating an apple produces much more energy than a cup of coffee. Most people don’t eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables anyway,s o you can’t go wrong with this. Exercise has many known health benefits, including adding more pep in your step.

4 Ways To Re-Use Your Grounds

Used coffee grounds can save you a lot of money around the house. You can use coffee grounds as a natural deodorizer in your fridge or freezer. You can use coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer in your garden or compost heap. The high nitrogen content is very good for the soil. Coffee grounds are also great for keeping neighborhood cats and ants out of your garden. Cats just don’t like the smell, and chemicals in coffee burn ants’ legs. As if that weren’t enough, you can stretch the coffee you drink by simply adding 50% new coffee grinds to your already used coffee grounds. It’s just enough to make it taste fresh, and also stretch the beans. You may want to do this especially if you’re buying expensive coffee. Just try it out and see if you can taste a real difference. You can always tweak the ratio to match your tastes.

Buy From Walmart?

Some large retailers (even ones known for not treating their employees very well) are starting to offer Fair Trade coffee. This is good for coffee farmers because it helps them earn a more decent living wage for their work. But it also helps consumers because this coffee, which is typically more expensive, is more affordable now that it’s on the shelves of major retailers. It’s too early to tell if this will have a lasting and meaningful impact on coffee famers, but it’s a good start. If you can buy fair trade coffee at a slightly cheaper price, why not?

Mix It Yourself

If you love Starbucks Frappucino’s for example, opt for an iced latte instead, it’s pretty much the same thing. The trick is to ask for extra syrup. If you’re still feeling creative, buy black coffee and add your own combination of milk, cream, sugar, etc. Or you could ask for a double shot of espresso in a large cup, and then create your own latte by adding your own milk. You may not get the taste right the first time, but it will help you save some money in the long run. Plus, it could be fun to make your own creative combinations at the condiment station.

Look for Gift Cards

Gift cards won’t necessarily save you money, but here’s a creative twist. Look for gift cards on Craigslist and Ebay. If you work for a big company, see if they sell discounted gift cards. In most cases, you can probably find unwanted gift cards and discounts. This probably isn’t worth your time if you’re an occasional coffee drinker. But if your coffee habit is burning a hole in your pocket, this tip could save you quite a bit.

Get Spicy!

Do you like flavored coffee? Why not make your own? Here are some cool things you can add to your coffee grounds: whole cloves, dried blueberries, grated orange peels, lemon peels, cinnamon sticks, toasted walnuts, toasted almonds, cocoa, nutmeg, etc. You can even add the liquid extracts to ground coffee like vanilla.

Membership Has It Benefits

If you buy your own coffee beans, consider membership to a coffee club. There are plenty of coffee clubs online. Typically you’ll save money by buying from them rather than buying beans here and there. Just Google “coffee club” and you’ll find tons of coffee-of-the-month clubs to cater to your taste and budget.

Buy a Coffee Maker

Now this one is near and dear to my heart. Buy a good coffee maker! Buying a high quality coffee maker and consistently using it is the best way to save money on coffee. You’re buying the beans and grinding them at home anyways (you are, aren’t you?) Pod coffee makers are getting really popular, and while they’re great because you don’t have to make an entire pot of coffee (especially if you live alone), the price of constantly buying new coffee pods might start to get a little out of control. Still, they’re a lot cheaper than going to your favorite mega coffee chain.

So here are 9 little tricks that will help you save lots of money on your coffee habit. Following this simple advice could you tons of money without having to completely give up your favorite indulgence.

TheCoffeeMakerStore.com is a daily blog and e-commerce store about coffee, coffee makers, and coffee culture. Check it out for the latest coffee tips, tricks and news.

Kelly says: as a complete slave to my morning (and mid-morning and afternoon and snack time) cup o’ joe, I’m always looking for ways to save money yet still drink delicious coffee.

How do you save money on your hot drinks?

9 Simple Tricks to Save $1000 Per Year on Coffee by A Guest Writer | Permalink | 11 comments

Frugal Living: Solar Fountain Design – 4 Easy Steps to Design Your Own Solar Water Fountain

A Guest Writer — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:00:58 +0000

This is a guest post from Amy C., who is a tabletop fountain aficionado. She enjoys designing innovate water features to create calm and relaxing indoor and outdoor spaces. She also owns a retail outlet known as Tabletop Fountain Store.

If you are a gardening enthusiast, you would be thrilled to know that it is possible to design your own a solar fountain for a fraction of what a typical solar water fountain costs! A typical solar fountain costs around $130, however, this guide will reveal how to design your own solar fountain for less than $60. The best part is that designing your own solar fountain not only helps you save money, it also helps you express your creativity. A solar water fountain is one of the most essential aspects of an energy independent garden. It helps you create a calm and relaxing outdoors and serves as elegant garden decoration item.

A typical solar fountain constitutes of 5 main parts: a solar panel ($25), a submersible low voltage DC water pump($5), a container or basin($10 – $15), decorative fixture or figurine($20), and some vinyl tubes($5). Here’s quick and easy guide on how to effortlessly design your own solar water fountain.

Choosing the right combination of solar panel and pump is vital when it comes to designing your own solar fountain. Here are the two most important things you should consider when shopping for a solar panel – Voltage Output, and, Current Output. A typical solar garden fountain needs a solar panel that outputs 6 to 9 volts of electricity and about 180 to 220 milliamps (mA) of current. If you get a solar panel that produces 1 watt of power, it should be sufficient.
Choose a low voltage DC pump so as to minimize the power consumption. A typical low voltage DC pump would consume about 6 volts of electricity and 150 milliamps of current. This kind of water pump would give result in a flow rate of about 55 to 65 GPH (gallons per hour).
Pick a nice decorative terracotta bowl and use it as a basin. If you chose to give your garden a zen-theme, consider using well crafted bamboo spouts to design a bamboo water fountain. On the other hand, if you prefer a traditional fountain, go with a decorative piece like a lion-head wall fixture, or cascading slate tiers. The important thing to keep in mind here is that your bowl size should be in proportion with the size of your fixture, otherwise it would result in a non-uniform design.
Pass the tubing through the basin onto the fixture. Make sure that the tubing is connected snugly to the pump and the fixture. Leaks in the beginning or end of tubing would cause non-optimal water circulation and thereby may damage the pump.

If you want to protect your pump from getting damaged, consider using a solar pump controller. It is a must-have for larger units of solar fountains that have higher flow rate of 300 to 500 GPH.

The above mentioned resources and guide should be enough to get you started on the path of designing an effectively functional and elegant solar fountain.

Kelly says: All the homes that I have lived in as an adult have had very limited outdoor space, and our current apartment is no exception. And, let’s face it, my black thumb hasn’t been much encouragement in trying to make our balconies or patios more garden like. But I like this idea because one of our balconies faces due west, and is big enough to hold a (little) fountain. Not to mention that a fountain would probably attract birds, which would add some excitement to our (indoor) cats’ lives!

What are your favorite frugal garden features?

Frugal Living: Solar Fountain Design – 4 Easy Steps to Design Your Own Solar Water Fountain by A Guest Writer | Permalink | No comments

Frugality Tip: Save Hundreds and Buy Your Next Pair of Eyeglasses Online

A Guest Writer — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:05:39 +0000

This is not a paid post- I have received no compensation for allowing this guest post to be published on Almost Frugal.

This guest post was written by Jocelyn Gibbons, from JustEyewear.com. JustEyewear.com has also included a coupon, for Almost Frugal readers!

At some point, nearly every person needs vision correction. If you’re like most glasses wearers, you probably think you paid too much for your last pair. We’re here to tell you this necessity doesn’t have to be expensive. Read on to discover the combined wisdom and frugality of buying prescription eyeglasses online.

If you look for a pair of name brand prescription eyeglasses at a traditional retail store, you’re looking to spend between $178 and $390 per pair, sometimes more—a hefty price tag. There are many reasons why prices have traditionally been so high, and whatever the price, people had to pay it, because seeing is a necessity and there weren’t any alternatives. But, like with other things, the internet is changing that.

How much does a pair of glasses online cost? Typically they go for $20 to $30, and that’s including lenses – they can even be as low as $8 per pair. The first thought when you see these prices, if you’re like most people, is that the quality must be worse, that when you buy online you’re getting cheap frames and lenses from China. So…

What about quality? Aren’t these cheap and poorly made? Surely I’ve been paying for something.

Yes and no. The quality of the frames and lenses is generally the same. When you buy online, they do come from China and other countries in Asia, but that’s also the case when you go to a traditional retail store. Almost all lens blanks (the raw lenses used by labs to create your custom prescription) are made in China, Taiwan and other countries in Asia, as are most frames. There are a few frame companies that manufacture in Italy, France, Germany and a handful of other countries, but these are expensive designer frames that cost hundreds of dollars before even adding lenses.

The real difference between buying online and buying at a traditional store comes down to two things: overhead and extra service. Traditional retail shops have significant overhead to maintain, including retail space, sales staff, inventory, etc. Online shops can do a much greater volume from a single location and don’t have to rent expensive retail space at the mall or hire sales staff to sell only a couple pairs per day.

The other part of the equation is extra service: when you go to a traditional store, there is someone there to help you pick out a frame and advise you on lens materials choices and add-ons. Online, it’s up to the consumer to educate themselves about these things. It’s kind of like going to Best Buy and having them pick out all of the components of your home theater system versus going online and figuring out what you need to buy yourself. If you’re willing to learn a little bit, you can save a lot of money.

Pros of Buying Online:

The glasses quality is the same as what you’d get at a traditional retail store.
Sales price way cheaper (we’re talking hundreds of dollars saved).
You have the convenience and selection of buying online—being able to shop at your pace and browse thousands of styles.

Cons of Buying Online:

You don’t get to try the glasses on before you buy them. This con is often compensated for by online glasses retailers by providing generous return policies, much like policies of online clothing and shoe retailers – you can return for any reason, including that you just don’t like them.
When you buy online, there is no salesperson physically there with you to help you pick out a frame, select glasses options, etc.
Online is not ideal for bifocals, progressives or particularly strong prescriptions (see Who Should Buy Online? below)

Who Should Buy Online?

Single vision lens wearers are the best candidates for buying online, although progressives and bifocals are also available. For single vision glasses, you really are getting the same exact glasses that you would get at the traditional retail store. The only thing missing are the slight adjustments made after your glasses are made to fit more snuggly, which are generally not needed and even if they are you can often do yourself.

Progressive and bifocals, however, require a seg height. The seg height is the distance from the bottom of the lens to either the pupil or slightly below, a measurement that can only be taken when you’re wearing the frame you’ve picked out. When you buy online, this figure must be estimated instead of taken exactly, and while it usually works it’s not ideal. A similar measurement is important for people with strong prescriptions.

Ok, I’m ready. What do I need to get started?

There are three essential facts you must know to effectively buy glasses online:

Your Frame Size—Look inside an existing frame, usually on the temple, for a series of numbers, such as 50-18-140. These are the lens width, bridge size, and temple length, respectively. Then, you can search for a frame according to style, with the measurements to know how the glasses will fit. These measurements are in millimeters, so they only need to be close, not exact. If you don’t have an old pair of glasses, don’t fret; pick the frames you like and if they don’t fit, you can always return or exchange them.
Your Prescription—Have your glasses prescription ready (this is different than your contact prescription). Simply ask your eye doctor for it at your next visit, or have your doctor fax it to you. Though your prescription may seem complicated, it’s not, and most online glasses retailers will provide you with all the info you need to decipher your prescription.
Your Pupillary Distance (PD)—PD is the distance between your pupils, in millimeters. The best way to get this is to ask your eye doctor for this measurement when you get your prescription. They may request you pay a small fee. If needs be, you can also measure your PD yourself.

With that, you know all the basics of buying glasses online. Now you have one more tool in your frugality tool belt to save you hundreds on an expense you often can’t avoid!

Ready to Get Started?

We’re offering a special coupon just for Almost Frugal readers.

More Resources:

Glassy Eyes: A blog dedicated to buying glasses online, it often has coupons for many leading online retailers.
New York Times: Do It Yourself Eyeglasses: New York Times article discussing buying glasses online
Consumerist: Don’t Spend $1,000 on $8 Glasses: Article at consumerist on saving money by buying online and other options.

Kelly says:

As with most other healthcare related issues, buying glasses is one of those times that I really appreciate living in France. I paid €28 out of pocket last year for two nice pairs of glasses and I’m about to buy another two pairs in a month or two. I have personally never bought glasses online, but I know people who have (although not through justeyewear.com) and they were very happy with their purchase.

And just a reminder: this is not a paid post- I have received no compensation for allowing this guest post to be published on Almost Frugal.

Frugality Tip: Save Hundreds and Buy Your Next Pair of Eyeglasses Online by A Guest Writer | Permalink | One comment

Are you in awe of debt collectors? Know your rights.

A Guest Writer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:00:44 +0000

Are you tired of debt collector calls? This is a common harassment faced by debtors. Debt is itself stressing and on top if debt collectors keep on chasing you, it is sure to turn down your senses. It is important for you to know that debt collectors cannot harass you as the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act has laid a national standard for collection agencies.

Rogue debt collectors are a pending problem across the nations such as in UK or US. Debt is sweeping nations. In UK, the Office of Fair Trading also has implemented certain guidelines for regulating the debt collectors. Whether you are into a UK debt management plan or an US debt management plan, the issue is always making your payments. The moment you miss one or skip one, these debt collectors are let out to recover money. Since debtors want to get debt free, so they resort to many debt management plans. When they fail to make their payments, these debt management companies start recovering debts with the help of debt collectors. At times, these debt collectors drive the hell out of you and keep on pursuing you or threat you with dire consequences.

To combat these odds, the federal Fair Debt collection Practices Act has certain guidelines that prohibit harassing or abusing debtors by breaking through their privacy. Check out these rules to know your rights as a debtor:

A debt collector can call you but not before 8 am and after 9 pm. You need to inform the debt collectors when you would be available. For instance they cannot call you at your workplace since you are not allowed to receive calls during office hours.
As FDCPA puts it, debt collectors must divulge the truth about them and avoid all false statements. A collector cannot pretend to be an attorney or a government official. A collector cannot confuse you with documents that are made to look like legal documents or threat you to be a criminal because you owe debts.
It is true that a collection agency can file a lawsuit for recovering debts but they cannot use this to threaten you to collect debts.
A debt collector is not permitted to use abusive or profane language while in conversation with you.
Debt collectors are not allowed to inform others about your debts other than you or your attorney. They can only contact your friends or relatives to ask for your address or phone number.
Debt collectors cannot ask for more than the debt amount.
Once a debt collector has called you, within the next five days, he must send you a written notice mentioning about your debts and your creditors.
It is a duty of debt collectors to verify all your disputed debts in writing before renewing collection calls. The collection can start only when you get a proof such as copy of a bill for the amount of debts that you owe.

There is no federal license or registration for these collection agencies to operate. However many states in the US require debt collectors to acquire a state license and some states even require them to be bonded. But they cannot cross their limit that has been set by FCDPA. If you find a breach of these rules by any debt collector, you should immediately report it your state attorney general office or the Federal Trade Commission. If in the process of getting debt free, you have fallen a prey to these debt collectors, you can contact your state attorney can help you out with your rights as well. You will get detailed information on consumer protection agencies as well as state attorney general offices at the www.consumeraction.gov/state.shtml.

You may file a complaint with the FCC by:

E-mail: fccinfo@fcc.gov
Online: www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html
Telephone: Voice (888) CALL-FCC, or (888-225-5322)
TTY (888) TELL-FCC, of (888-835-5322)
Mail :
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaint Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Debbie Brown is a financial writer and offers free advice to get out of debt. Read more at Free Debt Advice, Articles and Tips to Become Debt Free.

Are you in awe of debt collectors? Know your rights. by A Guest Writer | Permalink | 3 comments

Borrow Is The New Buy

A Guest Writer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:00:59 +0000

Kray Mitchell is Marketing and Community Relations Manager for BorrowMe.com.

We are all victims, although it’s our basements, garages and pocket-books that end up getting hurt. We had to have it, we needed it for that project, it called to us. Now it sits there, gathering dust and reminiscing about the good old days when you couldn’t be without it.

Consumerism has affected us all at some point or another, and now we’re stuck with the remnants. We have things that were only used once, that we thought we would use again (but didn’t) or that remain from when the kids were babies. How much of it did we really need to buy? What if your neighbor had one, couldn’t you borrow it, or rent it for a small fee? What about that pregnant co-worker; could she use that crib and stroller sitting in the corner?

We have become stuck in a paradigm of consumption. We purchase everything we require, adding to the clutter around the house, adding to the landfill as we go and draining our already depleted savings. It’s high time we looked at alternatives to buying.

Resource sharing is a simple idea, let others borrow or rent the items we have sitting around and are not using. But how do you keep track of all that stuff and let others find it? Enter BorrowMe.com.

BorrowMe helps consumers, local clubs and organizations to buy less stuff, and make more of what they’ve got. Whether you borrow, lend or rent – we’ll help you organize and access the abundance in your own community. Earn a tidy profit without giving up your things, or save a bundle for the things that matter most. It’s that easy!

With the largest feature set available in an online trading platform, BorrowMe allows you to choose your transaction options (Sell, Lend, Rent, Gift), as well as providing advanced options to define your sharing settings (ie you can lend an item to a friend, but rent it to a neighbor).

The Facebook Connect option will get you signed up in a few clicks and let start posting immediately, you can even post your Items and Wishes directly to your Facebook wall to give them more exposure. Try setting up a group for your office, your friends or your neighborhood! You can’t change the world, but you can make a dent!

Small things can can add up pretty quickly. Not only can you save hundreds, maybe thousands, in a year by borrowing and renting what you need, you can make back what you spent on those items you don’t use often by renting them out to others. As an added bonus, you can get to know your neighbors better, and help to strengthen overall relationships in your community. It’s economical, efficient, and a responsible way of life! Check us out!

Kelly says:

I don’t use the BorrowMe site (sorry Kray!) but I do often borrow and lend stuff with my friends. Most of the time it’s books and baby clothes, but I’ve borrowed and lent sewing machines,vaccuum cleaners and even a car a time or two. Borrow me seems to be an interesting service- if you live in an area where it’s well developed (not too many people in France, yet, unfortunately.)

What do you borrow and loan?

Borrow Is The New Buy by A Guest Writer | Permalink | 3 comments