March 2009 Archives

Critical Questions for Twenty Somethings: Guest Post On Pimp Your Finances

By Vincent Scordo on March 27, 2009 | Comments | 0 TrackBacks

I recently had a guest post on PimpYourFinances.com and the entry dealt with critical questions every twenty something should ask him or herself if they'd like achieve goals and lead a quality life. Here's an excerpt:

If you're a Twenty-something consider yourself very lucky.

You're probably healthy, super educated (only about 26 percent of Americans have a bachelor's degree), full of energy, have a full set of teeth, and have very few, real-world commitments.

You've probably just started to think about how to go about "living" in the world, but have continued with the same day-to-day / task oriented existence that you've operated under since kindergarten, as opposed to an existence focused on goal setting and planning.

If, however, you are that rare twenty-something who can plan ahead and set specific goals, you may have already started to figure out how you can truly enjoy a high quality of life over the long term.

Money Goals

What do you want money to do for you?

Do you want to earn money so you can purchase stuff (such as a car, flat screen TV, clothes, etc...), or do you want to earn money so you can make money work for you (in the form of an investment such as the purchase of stock or a CD)?

Would you feel better about saving 10 percent of your salary or 70 percent? Do you see money as a means of security or as a vehicle to help you acquire things? Do you want to earn more to secure debt?

How do you want to earn your money; that is, by working for someone else or by starting your own company? Do you get excited when you think or talk about money or does money make you feel uneasy?

Happiness Goals

What makes you happy each and every day?

Do you like to make things, sell things, talk about things, research things, teach other people about things, etc...? Can you see yourself doing the same type of job every day or do you require new challenges?

Do you crave being around people so you can get things done or are you most happy as an introvert? Can you point to a few, consistent, things in your life that have made you happy?

Is your personality consistent or does it change with the weather? Do your family members all feel happy about the same sort of things?

Go to PimpYourFinances.com to read the full article.

Home Improvement Tips From a First Time Homeowner

By Vincent Scordo on March 25, 2009 | Comments | 0 TrackBacks

(The following is a guest post from David at Pimp Your Finances - click here to subscribe to his blog)

I'm new to the world of home ownership, but I've already learned a lot. I'm big on doing things myself. It's incredibly satisfying, and I like the idea of saving money.

Here are some of the projects I've worked on so far: built a 200 foot retaining wall (with french drain), installed a screen door, installed a storm door, installed two ceiling fans, dug a garden, grown grass from seed, built a 400 foot fence, and wired my living room walls for surround sound.

It's been a lot of work, but it's also been fun, and I've learned a lot too. Here are 14 home improvement lessons I've learned.

1. Make a plan

Before you so much as pick up a hammer, you need to have a plan - and not just for the current project. It should include at least the next few years of projects. There are a few reasons why.

First, if you don't have an over-arching vision, you'll end up with a bunch of projects that look good individually, but don't tie together at all.

And second, if you don't do your projects in the right order, you may end up having to redo previous ones.

As an example, I built a retaining wall beside my driveway. Then I had the driveway paved a few months later. The company that did it ended up hitting the wall, so now I'm stuck with a crooked wall in a few places.

I should have paved the driveway first, then built the wall.

2. Add one-third onto your material estimates, one-half onto time estimates

As obsessive as I am with planning and numbers, none of my initial estimates are ever accurate.

I've found that if I add one-third onto all of my material estimates, it gives me enough to finish most projects. I'd rather have too much than not enough.

You can always take extras back to the store later. Plus running to the store in the middle of a project is frustrating, and a waste of time.

On the time side, I've found that everything always takes longer than you think. Nothing ever goes according to plan.

If I add one-half to all of my time estimates, it makes things more reasonable, and prevents me from taking on too much at a time.

3. Make sure you get irrigation right

Irrigation is by far one of the most destructive problems you can have with your property. If you don't get it right, water will run towards your house. This can be disastrous, as it can lead to foundation problems, which are among the most expensive and difficult to fix.

Do yourself a favor, and fix the irrigation on your property first and foremost. Water should be channeled away from the house, and the ground should slope upward anywhere it touches your home.

4. Recognize your limits

As much as I like to pretend I'm superman, there are some things I just can't do. Take irrigation for example.

I managed to successfully direct water away from my driveway, but now it just goes straight into my backyard. I've tried two or three times to correct it, but it's just not working.

At this point, I'm ready to pay someone to do it for me. It's getting so bad that water is running towards my house (and basement walls), and I'm not going to put my foundation at risk.

For me, it's worth it to hire someone to do it. After the irrigation is taken care of, I can the rest of the landscaping myself. But until then, it doesn't make sense to do anything because the water is so destructive.

5. Buy supplies from local, independent companies when possible

I found a great landscape supply company just a mile or two from my house. I can buy dirt, gravel, etc... by the ton for much cheaper than I could get at the big chain stores.

As an example, dirt normally runs $2-$5 for 40 pounds at Home Depot. I can buy a ton of the same quality dirt for $30 from the local store. That's a savings of at least 70%.

You'll need to have a truck to really take advantage of it, but the prices are so good that it would be worth it to rent a truck from Home Depot for an hour.

6. Consider renting tools you'll use infrequently

As fun as it is to have a big tool collection, sometimes it's a waste of money. If you're only going to need tools once or twice a year, it may make more sense to rent them from hardware stores. You can rent tools for between $40-$100, depending on the tool and how long you need it.

If you're going to use a tool infrequently, it doesn't make sense to buy it. You've got to store it, maintain it, and pay to fix it if something goes wrong.

A good example - I needed an auger to dig holes for fence posts. Instead of buying one for at least $300-$400, I just rented one for the day for $60.

7. Don't forget regular maintenance

Make sure you take the time to do regular maintenance after you finish big projects.

I spent a lot of time last spring working on growing grass from seeds. It took about 4 or 5 months, but I finally had a healthy looking yard.

Then I let the grass grow too long. When I finally cut it, the yard was shocked.

Then a drought hit, and most of the grass completely died.

I lost six months worth of progress because I didn't spend two hours mowing the yard. It's an awful feeling.

8. Do it right the first time

With most things in life, it doesn't matter if you get it exactly right. I've heard some people say that you really only need to do something 85% of the way to get the benefits of it.

Home improvement isn't one of those things.

You have to live with your work for years. Take the time and effort to do things right the first time.

You don't want to have to redo it later (wasting your time), and it could bug you for years if something isn't quite right. Parts of my retaining wall aren't straight, and it absolutely drives me crazy.

9. Don't put off projects until you're getting ready to sell

I've seen people that put off home improvement projects until they're getting ready to sell their house. As a result, they never get to enjoy it.

Their house is actually at its best right before they move out. It just doesn't make sense.

Make sure you get to enjoy your improvements... do them for yourself, not the next owner.

10. Make improvements because they're important to you. Not because of what it will do for the value of your home

If the recent housing bubble has taught us anything, it's that you can't count on your house always increasing in value.

When you make improvements to your house, you should do it because it's something that's important to you and will make your life more enjoyable. You shouldn't do something just because you think it will increase the value of your house.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't be aware of how projects could affect your property value... just that it shouldn't be the deciding factor. If you choose projects that are important to you, you won't regret them later.

11. Choose plants that makes sense for your climate

When you landscape, choose plants that make sense for your situation. Don't just choose something that looks pretty. Your first criteria should be what makes sense for your:

>> average rainfall

>> temperatures

>> directness of sunlight

Too many people choose plants by their looks, and try to force it to work in their climate. It ends up wasting time, energy, and water.

You'll be much better off choosing plants that naturally thrive in your situation.

12. Most of the real yard work is done in the fall and winter

The most important yard maintenance is done in the fall and winter. This includes things like aerating, fertilizing, repair, and reseeding. By the time you get to the full heat and sun of the summer, it's too late to grow anything from scratch.

13. When you hire contractors, get estimates and references. Also, pay them in cash for a discount.

There are times when you have to hire outside help, but that doesn't mean you have to pay an arm and a leg for it.

When you hire contractors, get estimates from at least 3-5 people. Also, ask for references! You want to make sure that they actually see jobs through to completion, and take care of any customer concerns.

Don't forget to ask if contractors offer a discount for paying by cash (or check) instead of credit card. In my experience, many offer a 2-3% discount. This is especially true if you work with independently owned businesses.

14. Have fun, and take pride in your work

Home improvement is hard work. It's time consuming, and it can be expensive.

But that doesn't mean it can't be fun. Try to enjoy the work you do. Take pride in it, and try to think about how your home will be more enjoyable after you're finished with the project.

You'll enjoy yourself more, and the quality of work will improve if you keep a good attitude.

Even though I'm busy every weekend with one project or another (and a to-do list in case I finish early), I still love working around my house.

I love knowing that I'm making my home more enjoyable (and hopefully more valuable). I also love that I'm saving money - and maybe doing a better job - by doing it myself.

About the author: David writes at Pimp Your Finances, a personal finance site aimed at young adults, but full of information that everyone can use. He tries to keep things fun and informative. If you like this post, subscribe to his blog to read more.

Don't Be Stupid: When It's Not Appropriate to Be Frugal

By Vincent Scordo on March 24, 2009 | Comments | 3 TrackBacks

Apologies for the short hiatus, life gets in the way of posting at times but I'm fully re-charged and ready to dispense some tips! Today I'd like to look at when it's not appropriate to be frugal; after all, you don't want to put yourself in a zero-sum game situation because you've become a mindless pragmatist! Here are six areas where it doesn't pay to be frugal (both in terms of quality of life and ROI):

Food

Cheap food is bad because it usually tastes awful and has poor nutritional value. My food philosophy is simple: eat high quality food and it will make you feel rich. For a quarter of the price of a nice meal at a restaurant I can purchase top notch ingredients and prepare a multi-course meal, including a great bottle of wine. I splurge on fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, cheese, breads, pastries, and coffee.

Shoes/Clothes

There's really no way around it, good shoes are expensive. And you don't want to buy inexpensive shoes given that you will directly feel the impact. By good shoes I mean handmade dress shoes that have a leather sole, hand stitched seams, real leather exterior, and a quality heel. Handmade leather shoes often cost $250-$350 and should, technically, last a lifetime. Proper shoe maintenance includes buffing and conditioning the leather and using shoe trees. High quality shoes also have a replaceable leather sole and heel. As far as clothes, I think designer labels are a waste of money but I do believe in buying good quality dress pants, shirts, belts, socks, sweaters, coats, and suits. Suits and dress pants should be made of high quality wool and should have a thread count in the hundreds.

House Upkeep/Maintenance

All homes require upkeep, including recently constructed homes. Older homes are notorious for needing constant upkeep, but regardless of whether you live in an early 20th century foursquare or a modern, glass infused, home, you'll need to constantly deal with cracking sheetrock, aging roof, shifting asphalt, faulty windows, aging tile and appliances, exterior and interior molding and trim, landscape, etc. My simple advice: fix the important things as they happen and don't delay a repair. A simple fix on some exterior molding, for example, can prevent interior water damage and more serious repair down the road. If you need replacement windows, for example, look at all wood, low E double glass, replacement windows as opposed to cheaper old vinyl alternatives. Spend as much money as you can on quality materials without buying top of the line (for example, you probably won't make your money back on exotic marble from Brazil, but you'll certainly get ROI on a standard color granite).

Treating Family and Good Friends Well

Being stingy with family members or good friend is wrong headed and does not preserve relationships. I'm a big believer in developing social networks and treating the important people in your life with respect and kindness. A good life can't be lived alone or in isolation. Invest in people and you'll get great ROI!

Car Maintenance

I don't believe in spending a ton of money on a new vehicle, but I do recommend buying a slightly used vehicle (about three years old) and maintaining the vehicle until it becomes to costly to own (usually after about 10 years.). You'll also want to figure out the right time to sell your vehicle private party so you can maximize your profit and fund your next used car purchase. Proper vehicle maintenance includes routine oil/filter changes, belts, filters, liquid monitoring (transmission/brake/anti-freeze/etc. fluid), brake pads, spark plugs, rotors, exhaust system, tires, car washes, etc.

Life Experiences

Do you have an adventurous soul but do not travel because you can't stand the thought of moving a few thousand dollars out of your bank account to fund your strip to southeast Asia? Do you dream of hitting the perfect backhand to win a match but get queasy about spending money on tennis lessons? Do you wish you read Aristotle as an undergraduate but can't stand the thought of spending money on a college course at your local university? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you may be sacrificing life experiences for the sake of saving money (or better yet, not spending money). It's one thing if you don't have the resources to try new things (you do not want to incur debt to pay for lessons of any kind or take on debt to feel the rush of a finely tuned German vehicle), but if you've been wise with your money and can splurge on new experience then you should go for it!

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What Type of Cook Are You and Who Is the Nutritional Gatekeeper in Your Home?

By Vincent Scordo on March 19, 2009 | Comment | 0 TrackBacks

According to Food and Wine magazine home cooking is the number one food trend for 2009! And the news is no surprise as more and more people elect to not eat out and cook meals from scratch. This is great new, right? Well, according to a recent New York Times article by Tara Parker Pope it really depends who is doing the cooking, the recipe, and in what size dishes the food is served.

A 2006 report in the Journal of American Dietetic Association states that the person who purchases and buys the food has the biggest influence on family eating habits (the research labeled these individuals as "nutritional gatekeepers!" and they also seem to influence children's lunches, snacks, and food ordered at restaurants). The old guard nutritional gatekeepers used to be comprised entirely of women, but these days the gatekeeper can be a grandmother, father, housekeeper, or nanny.

The New York Times article also went on to describe the distinct types of nutritional gatekeepers found in most homes:

>> Giving - these cooks specialize in home cooking and baked goods; they're also very eager to cook for people.

>> Methodical - these cooks follows recipes exactly and all the food they produce is a byproduct of the cookbooks they read.

>> Competitive - these cooks want to impress people and don't really care about health.

>> Healthy - these cooks are a little less concerned about taste and prepare lots of fish and vegetables (and use fresh ingredients in general).

>> Innovative - these cooks experiment lots with ingredients and cooking styles and they tend to produce healthy meals.

The New York Times has a quiz that will allow you to determine your cooking personality. There are also some great tips that come out of determining what type of nutritional gatekeeper you are, including:

>> "Giving" cooks turn out to be the least healthy.

>> "Innovative" cooks seem to employ the best overall philosophy, using fresh ingredients to improve taste and the heath factor.

>> Recipes should be scrutinized; just because a recipe calls for 3 sticks of butter and 10 egg yolks doesn't mean you need to produce the dish in the same exact manner. A study by two universities concluded that, "Even some cookbooks recipes have fallen victim to the super sizing trends made popular by fast food restaurants. Researchers examined seven editions of the Joy of Cooking published from '36 - '07. In 14 of the 18 recipes studied the calorie content had surged by an average of 920 calories or 44 percent per recipe."

>> The dishes and bowls you serve food in can increase food consumption by more than 20 percent (see the book, "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think").

>> Foodies will probably not want to associate with "healthy" cooks, as they are focused less on flavor and taste.

Scordo.com Selected for Blog Carnivals: The Penny Daily & MoneyNing

By Vincent Scordo on March 17, 2009 | Comment | 0 TrackBacks

MoneyNing.com hosted Money Hacks Carnival #55 and included Scordo.com's post, "Benefiting From the Recession."

The Penny Daily hosted the Carnival of Everything Money #6 and included Scordo.com's post, "Top Collosal Money Wasters: 11 Tips"

For other top, practical living blog, entries this week, see:

>> CleverDude.com read my mind and wrote "7 Tips To Extend the Life Of Your Business Clothing"

>> Cooking Up a Story has the "All American Pie Dough Recipe."

>> From From Broke asks the question whether "Is Savings 8-12 months Expenses Even Possible or Practical?" - I think it's both necessary and do-able, by the way.

>> WiseBread.com has the "Top 6 Reasons Why Using Cash-Only Rocks" - this is music to my ears.

Excercise and Your Life: Just Do It

By Vincent Scordo on March 16, 2009 | Comment | 0 TrackBacks

Sport has always been part of my life; partly because of genetics yet mostly because of the hyperactive friends I made growing up in 1980/90's New Jersey. As a young kid, I played on our suburban block until dusk and only came in for dinner after my mother unleashed her fiery call: "il pranzo è pronto!" As a 13 year old I spent my weekends traversing New Jersey and New York in a white Dodge van, running up and down a soccer field dreaming of becoming the next Roberto Biaggio or, if our deeply committed coach Frank was particularly inspirational that day, Diego Maradonna. By the time I reached high school, I was in love with many sports and split my time as a wannabe Flutie-esque quarterback, a mediocre tennis player, and a way too skinny striker on the soccer team. My senior year in high school I fell in love and shrugged off the athletic pursuits for romance - dropping the proverbial "ball" turned out to be a godsend as the woman I feel in love eventually became my wife.

I still have urges to run fast and throw an oblong ball down field, but I'm limited to the occasional run on my treadmill and weekly tennis matches. Sport makes me feel good and along with the physical sensation of moving through the air and hitting good topspin on a forehand, for example, I enjoy the competition and how I feel the next day (namely, a bit tired and sore; there's something about using your body that makes the primordial brain release lots of good neurotransmitters!).

Are you looking for a few reasons to get back in shape? Maybe you want to start playing club soccer again or want to train for a 5K race? Whatever the reason there are some obvious benefits to keeping active, here are six:

1. Mental Sharpness
Sustained physical activity makes your brain work more efficiently and actually improves neural performance.

2. Stress Killer
Does your work environment resemble a battlefield? If so, getting in a morning workout will help combat your super aggressive, Patton-like, boss.

3. Waistline Preserver

If you don't like to eat (and have a nice glass of wine) then you're not human in my book! If you pursue sports as a hobby, then you'll be able to eat well (with the occasional, high fat, splurge) and have your nightly glass of wine without too much guilt or additional weight gain. And if you're blessed with the metabolism of a humming bird and thinking, "I don't need to exercise", trust me that will most likely change at some point in your life.

4. Money Saver

Being fit (both physically and mentally) will save you trips to the doctor's office and your local CVS pharmacy. Keeping your heart rate, cholesterol level, and blood pressure in line can help you with your bottom line!

5. Better Sleep and, Yes, Sex!

Consistent exercise can help you fall asleep faster and also provide for a much deeper slumber. On the improved sex thing, exercise can help with circulation and energy level.

6. Overall Health

Exercise combats chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain type of cancer (source Mayo Clinic). Regular exercise can also help combat mental illness such as depression.

5 Practical & Low Cost Ways To Go Green

By Vincent Scordo on March 13, 2009 | Comment | 0 TrackBacks

This is a guest post from Heather Levin at TheGreenestDollar.com TheGreenestdollar.com's goal is simple: to give people easy, common-sense ways to save money and go green.

These days, "going green" is on everyone's lips, and with good reason. One quick glance at the headlines and it's obvious our planet needs some help, and quickly. But it's not just that; with the economy in shambles, many people are discovering that going green can actually save money as well. And the best news? It doesn't cost a fortune to implement some money-saving, eco-friendly strategies. It's easier than you think to save green by going green.

Want some easy tips on how to get started? Let's go...

1. Switch to CFL Bulbs

One of the easiest things you can do is switch over to CFL bulbs. I know you've probably heard this tip before, but there's a reason why so many people bring it up!

EnergyStar.gov (source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls) estimates that if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a CFL bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for one year. That's significant. And, that's just one bulb. Imagine if more of us replaced all our bulbs...

CFL bulbs use 75% less energy, and last up to 10 times longer than a regular bulb. It's a small investment to get started, but you'll quickly earn the money back on your lower electric bill. If you do make the switch to CFL bulbs, keep in mind that you can't just toss them in the trash once their life is over. They contain a small bit of mercury, and must be safely disposed of. Fortunately, Home Depot makes this easy. You can recycle your CFL bulbs for free at any Home Depot store.

2. Make Your Own Rain Barrel

Another great way to help the planet and save money is to buy or make your own rain barrel.

How does this help? Well, if you live in the city then you probably pay for water. Every time you turn on the water hose, just visualize shiny silver dimes pouring out in place of your H2O. In my town, water costs so much that it almost amounts to that. If you had a rain barrel, however, there'd be no need to turn on the water faucet and use "bought water" on your lawn or garden. You'd immediately be saving money.

Harvesting rainwater also helps the planet because you're using resources that are falling from the sky. Water that comes out of your tap takes lots of energy to treat, so the less you use the more energy you save.

Visit the TheGreenestDollar.com for more tips on how to go green!

3. Figure Out Your Carbon Footprint

Knowledge is power. So, take a few minutes to figure out what your carbon footprint is.

Do you know how many tons of Co2 your household emits each year? Most people don't. Once you factor in transportation, heating and cooling, groceries, and house size, the average American household puts out over 42 tons of Co2 per year. That's 500% of what the rest of the world puts out, at least according to the Berkeley Institute of the Environment (source: http://coolclimate.berkeley.edu/ ) .

Learning how much Co2 your family puts out can be an eye-opening experience. And as the old business adage goes, "What gets measured, gets managed".

The Berkeley Institute created this incredibly easy Carbon Footprint Calculator (link: http://coolclimate.berkeley.edu/) that allows you to see just how much Co2 you're really putting out, and how your emissions compare with the rest of the country. It's definitely worth the time to find out how you're doing. And don't forget: with this knowledge comes the power to change!

4. Invest In A Push Mower

According to Joanna Yarrow's book, "1001 Ways To Save The Earth", an average, gasoline-powered mower can produce as much pollution per hour as 40 cars.

Yikes. If you want to help the planet, then ditch your gas mower for a traditional, human-powered push mower. Push mowers cost around $100-$150. But, you'll quickly make up this investment because you'll no longer have to buy gas or oil to mow your lawn. And because there's no motor or electrical parts, your push mower will last longer.

You'll also reduce air pollution, noise pollution, and get more exercise. What's not to love here? I have a push mower myself, and can honestly say I'll never go back to using a gas mower. It's heaven.

5. Start Using Reusable Shopping Bags

According to the Boston Globe (source: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/11/10/sack_the_plastic_shopping_bag/ ), there are over 365 billion plastic bags used each year just in the United States. And, less than 1% of those are ever recycled. The rest get dumped into landfills, where they'll sit for the next 1,000 years. Decomposing. Plus, plastic bags are made with oil. Not good. Want to make a big difference in the world with a small thing? Then carry reusable shopping bags with you to the store. I know it doesn't seem like much, but the fewer plastic bags you take home means the fewer that end up in a landfill, on the side of the road, or in our oceans. Plus, you might even save money doing this; many stores are rewarding customers with coupons or money back for every reusable bag they bring in to use. My grocery store up the street gives me 5 cents for every canvas bag I bring in to reuse. Sure it's not much, but it adds up over time. In fact, the Boston Globe estimates that one canvas bag will replace over 1,000 plastic bags during its lifetime, if it's used consistently. That's a lot of bags, a lot of energy, and a lot of oil you're saving.

Last Word...

Many people think that saving the environment involves doing something big. You know, attending a protest, chaining yourself to a tree...that sort of thing. The reality is that it's the little things that make the most difference. Shopping less, buying used, being aware of excess packaging on products...all these little decisions can add up to major changes. Especially if we all start doing them together.

Visit the TheGreenestDollar.com for more tips on how to go green!

Basics of Couponing and Getting Free Stuff with GeorgineSaves

By Vincent Scordo on March 13, 2009 | Comments | 0 TrackBacks

This is a guest post from Georgine Kaczmarek at GeorgineSaves.com.

Georgine Kaczmarek has been a professional penny pincher for over 40 years. Given the moniker "Coupon Queen" by various media outlets, Georgine has offered advice and suggestions for television, magazine, and news publications. She has given lectures to help people learn to shop better and save money.

Couponing has been a way of life for Georgine for over forty years. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother but started as a teenager. She learned quickly that she could get coupons for free items and also cash rebates. Since then, Georgine always looks for ways to get everything free or almost free. Some of the free items Georgine often gets are groceries, health and beauty items, toys, appliances, telephones, clothing, cameras, books, and much more.

Georgine believes that if you are a savvy shopper and aware of sales / control impulse buying everyone everyone can save money..

Here are 10 simple couponing tips from Georgine:

1. Be organized.

2. Read sales circulars to find the best deals.

3. Clip coupons and combine them with the deals in the circular.

4. Get store loyalty cards as these often give benefits.

6. Get rain checks when products aren't available.

6. Always check your cash register receipts.

7. Watch cashiers as they ring up your purchases and check for accuracy.

8. Stock up when items are on sale.

9. Get anything for free ... If you can't use it, someone else can.

10. Don't be brand or store loyal.

Go to Georgine's blog for great, daily, coupons and deals!

Recipe: Lentil Soup

By Vincent Scordo on March 12, 2009 | Comments | 3 TrackBacks

We love soup at Scordo.com and we're not very picky when it comes to the variety. However, we do have a couple of pet peeves about soup preparation:

Soup must be homemade (we're vehemently opposed to canned soup).
Homemade soup must start with water and not pre-packaged chicken, beef, or vegetable stock (there are some exceptions), but we generally like to taste the main ingredients in soups which isn't stock or broth.
If you're going to have soup for dinner you need to include a "secondi;" that is, a second dish or entree that can help fill you up and provide a complete meal. This can include a piece of grilled chicken or fish, for example. There are exceptions, for example, when making lentil soup with pork or chicken sausage.

Given the above prerequisites, the undisputed "king of soups" is Lentil (at least here at Scordo.com). Lentils are tasty, packed full of protein, and fairly straightforward to prepare.

Here's our classic lentil soup recipe.

Ingredients

1 large onions
2 medium sized carrots
2 medium sized celery stalks
1 clove of garlic
salt and pepper
olive oil
1 cup of dry lentils
2 cups of passato or pureed canned tomatoes
4 cups of fresh, filtered, water

Process

Finely dice the onion, celery stalks, carrots, and garlic. Sauté the above mixture (add salt and pepper to taste) for 8-10 minutes (depending on strength of flame) with 2 teaspoons of olive oil.

Next, add one cup of dry lentils and about two cups of pureed canned tomatoes (not tomato sauce). You could substitute the canned tomatoes with a tomato paste/water mixture, but the flavor component will be different. Thereafter, add 4 cups of fresh water (filtered or purified water is best; remember water is the main ingredient in soup so opt for the best quality). Cook the ingredients for an hour (low flame) and serve! Add freshly grated Parmeggiono Reggiano.

That's it, there's no magic to preparing soup. Other soup recipes vary, but the basic steps outlined above are consistent across hundreds of soup

How to Haggle Or Get the Best Price

By Vincent Scordo on March 11, 2009 | Comment | 0 TrackBacks

Haggling is fun! Yes, you heard it here first! Haggling is comprised of deal making, arguing particular points, and, ultimately, winning a game.

I witnessed my first haggling experience during a street fair in Italy. I remember my very bold and sassy aunt telling a street vendor that his shoes were too expensive and that she couldn't believe he was making any money! The shoes being sold were all-leather sandals made by hand; they were, from my perspective, a pretty good deal on a good product. My aunt named a price and the back and forth started with extreme intensity. My aunt argued that she could walk a few hundred meters and find the same pair of sandals for a bit less and that she was also thinking of buying more than one pair. The street vendor lowered his price and pointed my aunt to another similar product that was being sold at the price she wanted. My aunt countered with the fact the he wasn't going low enough and that the other pair of shoes were of less quality. My aunt began walking away and the street vendor yelled at a price that was fair and my aunt came back. She tried one more price point and the vendor said, look, you're going to drive me out of business, do you want the shoes? My aunt purchased a single pair of shoes and got about 35% off the advertised price. When the vendor called her back she knew she was going to get a good price.

Haggling requires a little showmanship and the ability to be bold and logical. You won't always get the price you want, but the game doesn't require you to buy (so if the price isn't right simply walk away). I've haggled on everything from contractor services and clothing to wine and appliances. I've been laughed at by sellers and yelled at for demanding too low a price. At the end of the day, however, there are tons of sellers who will offer the product you want at the price you are willing to pay; the trick is to not want the product too much and be willing to wait for the right vendor.

Here are some quick tips on how to haggle:

1. Never settle for the advertised price as it's always marked up.

2. Start your counter-offer at about half of what you are willing to pay and set a limit in your mind. The seller will always want to go up in increments because he knows that you're playing the haggling game

3. Mention to the seller that you have many friends and relatives who are interested in buying from him and that you will promote his product or services to them (most small businesses rely on word of mouth marketing). Also, Ask the seller for business cards so you can pass them out to friends and family

5. Before you plan on making a purchase do your research and a get a sense for the quality of the product and what other folks are selling the item for (many shops <online included> price match).

6. Mention, or better yet, suggest to the seller that you don't need the product he is selling and are willing to wait for the right price.

7. Mention to the seller you will pay in cash (the credit card has killed the art of haggling).

8. Smile and use your charm, but stay composed and cool (sellers will pick up on your intentions if you seem nervous and really want the product).

9. Don't be ashamed or too proud.

10. Be ready to walk away.

11. You can haggle on most products and services (including large ticket items such as appliances, cars, electronics, house, and small items such as clothing, shoes, etc.). Everything is negotiable.

Note: Thanks to Simon for the photo above!

Home Renovation 101: Tips For Homeowners

By Vincent Scordo on March 10, 2009 | Comments | 4 TrackBacks

When I first purchased my 80+ year old home I had countless, uncontrollable, urges to renovate every square foot of the house; I wanted a period kitchen with white, maple, cabinets, a claw tooth soaking tube with 1inch hexagon tile, and new cedar clapboards for the outside of the house with luxurious copper gutters. When I explained everything I wanted to do to my master-renovator father, he almost strangled me. His advice was to take a deep breath and figure out what I could live with and which items in the house needed immediate attention and would return the most benefit to our family. I took his advice to heart and I learned to live with the many flaws of an older home.

What we did decide to work on has, indeed, provided the most comfort and benefits to our family: we put in new kitchen cabinets along with new, modern, appliances, a new, super efficient, furnace and central air condenser, re-finished all of the white oak hardwood flooring, painted each room, insulated, planted grass, installed a paver walkway, re-graded the property to avoid water getting into our basement, and installed a new garage door.

Photo: my mom and dad - the inspiration for much of the content on Scordo.com!

There's plenty of work to still do and I suspect we'll never get done with all of the items on our master punch list, however it's been both a gratifying and eye opening experience working on a older home! In turn, I wanted to share a few quick tips with folks who are overwhelmed with all of the constant work older homes require, including the best renovation tip of all: don't look for problems, renovate smartly!

The Kitchen Comes First

The first room we tackled after purchasing our home was the kitchen. You should consider renovating your kitchen if you lack cabinet space (or have poorly functioning doors and drawers), have 15+ year old appliances, lack adequate lighting, receptacles, and electrical current. Most wood kitchen cabinet doors can be repainted, but it does require a considerable amount of time (you'll want to apply several coats of high quality, kitchen-use, paint). Your kitchen floor is also important given the wear and tear it will go through, so you should evaluate the condition of tiles, hardwood, or linoleum in your kitchen. A major kitchen renovation can be costly, especially if you choose to use high-end materials and appliances. Go for good quality cabinets with all wood construction and a tough exterior finish, reliable appliances, and solid flooring (porcelain tile is the best choice in my view).

Cooling / Heating / Insulation

Our old steam furnace had been in use for 25+ years and we sensed that the unit would go at any time. So, as if on cue, when we fired up the unit on the first cool October day one of the main pipes leading into the unit failed (and when we inspected the unit itself there was corrosion everywhere). We had the same experience with our Central AC condenser (which looked like it was in good shape during our inspection, but we couldn't test because of the ambient air temperature). Good, efficient, heating/cooling systems are vital to a comfortable home, so don't skimp on furnaces and cooling units. In terms of insulation, everyone should conduct an energy audit and see where you can insulate and save money. High quality windows are expensive and the ROI, at least to me, is uncertain (unless of course energy prices soar well beyond what most homeowners are paying currently).

Bathrooms

Our bathrooms are circa 1975, but they're all functional and have no leaking pipes (I know, it's a miracle), so we haven't done any major work. However, if you're bathroom leaks, has cracking tiles and mold, and poor ventilation and lighting, you may want to consider a full renovation. It's almost always a good idea to get down to the studs when renovating a bathroom so you can properly fix old pipes, run new electrical wire, put in new blueboard for tiles, etc.

Re-finishing Hardwood Floors / Painting

These two tips are no-brainers and should be done before moving into your new home. Choose a good quality polyutherine finish (as opposed to water based alternatives which do not protect your floor as well) and sand down to bare wood. We hired a professional to refinish our floors and I think it was well worth the money. Painting, on the other hand, is an easy DIY given you prepare your surfaces well and give yourself plenty of time to complete the task. It took us 3 weeks (with a two man crew) to paint the interior of our home (including all the trim).

Landscape

Your first urge when you move into your new home may be to rip up all of the ugly ivy and cut down every bush and small tree, but I'm advising you wait! In the grand scheme of things, the landscape can wait until you've completed all the necessary interior items on your checklist. In our case, we had a grading issue and needed to level certain portions of the property within the first year of ownership, but we waited about a year before we trimmed bushes, put in a lawn, etc.

Roof / Siding / Gutters / Soffits & Facia

You can usually tell if your typical asphalt roof is need of a repair / replacement if the shingles crack easily or if you bend a particular shingle and it does not bend back. Asphalt shingles also show their wear, so make sure to inspect your roof often (especially if it's older than 15 years; most asphalt roofs last anywhere between 15 - 25 years). If you have a natural surface exterior (like cedar) then you'll need to paint or stain the surface every 8-10 years depending on climate conditions or inspect the cedar for insect/water damage if left natural. There are some nice man-made materials that look like natural clapboard or cedar shakes and they do not require as much maintenance. Protecting a home can be done remotely through the use of ADT security systems and an iPhone. Your gutters are critical to keeping water away from your house, so get them cleaned twice a year (if you can't do it yourself) and watch for areas in your gutter system that do not function correctly (like an avalanche of water coming off your roof during a rain storm!).

Note: JD Roth at Get Rich Slowly has a nice article on saving money with regular home maintenance.

Top Colossal Money Wasters: 11 Tips

By Vincent Scordo on March 9, 2009 | Comments | 1 TrackBack

Let's get right to the tips this morning, but before we do so I wanted to highlight my recently posted, and highly relevant, article on Wisebread.com entitled 10 Life and Money Lessons Learned From Immigrant Parents:

1. Auto renewing products and services.

This can be a magazine subscription, Netflix service, cell phone with unlimited text messaging, emergency/repair service offered by a utilities company, cable, etc. I like to look at all my auto-renewing services every three months or so and eliminate what I am not using or can do without.

2. Eating out consistently / not bringing your lunch to work.

Do you eat out at least once a week? If so, you're throwing money out the door and could be affecting your health, as well. Try to limit eating out to special occasions or 1x - 2x per month. Eating out used to be a privilege and something most folks did not do very often, now it's seen as an entitlement (this is the wrong mentality if you care about your bottom line and waist size).

3. Going to the car wash.

If you have access to a hose, then you can easily wash your car. You'll need a small upfront investment for car soap (yes, you need special car soap, dish soap will do bad things to your paint), microfiber clothe and sponge, a bucket, and a squeegee for the windows. Washing your own car in the winter can be difficult, but if the temp goes above freezing you can wash your vehicle provided you have a bucket of hot water.

4. Landscaping services or having someone else mow your lawn.

Unless your backyard resembles a botanical garden, then you can easily cut your own grass, trim trees and bushes, and re-seed dead portions of your lawn. You'll need a good quality mower and a few garden tools, but you should be able to re-coop your costs quickly.

5. Luxury Vehicle / High End Clothes / Jewelry

Do you really need heated leather seats, navigation, satellite radio, and a V8 engine? Cars, in general, are money-losing propositions but most folks need a vehicle for everyday use. So, opt for a quality used vehicle that's about three years old (let someone else pay for the depreciation) and make sure the vehicle has key safety features (stability control, ABS, side impact/front airbags, etc.) and good reliability (hint: Toyota and Honda), as opposed to fancy electronics and Napa leather. In terms of clothing and jewelry, buy high quality clothes without the designer label and a few pieces of jewelry (such as a good watch and a nice necklace for special occasions).

6. Technology/Electronics

Don't be a gear slut! Resist the temptation to get the latest mobile phone or flat screen TV. There will always be something "newer and better" on the market and trying to keep up with tech gadgets is a loosing proposition (especially for your wallet).

7. Babysitting / Day Care

Did you see the latest headline: Outrageous Day Care Fees are Killing American Families: The Two Income Trap (viz., because both mom and dad need to work to keep up with an inflated lifestyle)? OK, so I just made up the headline, but parents spending thousands of dollars a month on childcare is happening. What can you do? Do you live near your parents and, if so, can mom or dad help raise little Timmy? This is the European model where Nonna helps raise the kids and when Nonna becomes very old she's taken care of by the family (not the nursing home). Sometimes it's good to preserve old world traditions because they help preserve wealth.

8. Paying strangers, contractors, etc. for services and not using your social / family network.

This tip is similar to the babysitting item above. Do you have an uncle who lays tile or a cousin who knows carpentry? If so, don't run to a local contractor and pay him/her to renovate your home, rather use your social network to see who has a certain skill set you need.

9. Premium Gasoline.

If your car manual says regular gas can be used (even with a slight performance penalty), then use it. Your engine will not be harmed and you'll save money (unless of course you'll be racing the minivan at the Daytona 500, then you may want your engine pushing out an extra 2-3 horsepower!).

10. A single family home.

Disclaimer: I live in a single family home. However, my advice to most young families looking to buy their first home is to purchase a two or three family home. A multi-family home provides income to off-set mortgage and property tax payments and the idea of earning money without "working" is one of the keys to building wealth. I wish I would have purchased a multi-family home, but am working towards owning a second home as an investment.

11. Warranties of any kind (appliances, cars, electronics, etc.).

Just say no to warranties. Instead, buy a high quality item with good reliability history and treat the product well and maintain it according to manufacturer specs (and you should be ok).

Scordo's Link Round Up: Savers Aren't Bad, Best Deals, Lucky Buyers

By Vincent Scordo on March 6, 2009 | Comment | 0 TrackBacks

Smart or Just Lucky: The Home Buying Roll of the Dice

Excerpt: My point in sharing all of this is, we're not all that different from someone that stretched to buy a house in the last few years, and then got burned by the tanking housing market, increasing unemployment, a catastrophic illness, or the stock market's decline. All the circumstances over the past 18 years: low interest rates, job security, increasing housing prices, and our increasing income, worked in our favor. via RetiredSyd

Savers Are Not Bad for the US Economy

Excerpt: I'll take it a step further, and argue that savers are good for the economy. We're thinking about long term success and prosperity. We won't be late on our mortgage, miss credit card payments, or declare bankruptcy. We'll pay our debts and live a sustainable lifestyle. via PimpYourFinance

Save Money With All Kinds of Deals

Excerpt: 5 dollars off $25 coupon at Rite Aid. Good deals at Walmart.com. Free shipping for Bats and Gloves at Modell's. Stop and Shop Double Dollar Days. March is Frozen Food Month. Restaurant.com Certificates 50% Off via GeorgineSaves

How I Become a Millionaire (Part I)

Excerpt: One of the most complicated questions I'm asked is, "How, exactly, did you do it? How did you become a millionaire?". I find myself scratching my head and "uhmm"-ing in response, not because I don't remember, but because it was a process rather than one identifiable event. My short answer is this: we lived below our means and invested in our future. Via MillionaireMommyNextDoor

How To Make Homemade Tomato Sauce

By Vincent Scordo on March 5, 2009 | Comments | 26 TrackBacks

(photo: Strozzapreti, or priest choker pasta, with our homemade tomato sauce)

I've been asked by a few readers to post a traditional tomato sauce recipe and I've included one below that uses crushed, uncooked, tomatoes from our annual Fall tomato canning. Tomato sauce is easy to make and incredibly versatile. I use tomato sauce for pasta, other sauces, soups, etc. Making homemade sauce is a no-brainer, so don't purchase the canned variety at your local supermarket. Plus, our recipe comes from Calabria, Italy! Here's the quick recipe:

(photo: making the raw product: this is basically crushed plum tomatoes that are canned in the late Summer and is the base for my tomato sauce)

(photo: passato from Fall tomato canning, this is not yet tomato sauce as it needs to be cooked with onion, garlic, and herbs/spices)

Ingredients:

- 1 large mason jar of homemade crushed, plum, tomatoes (uncooked) or 2, 28 ounce cans of crushed San Marzano tomatoes. If the price doesn't blow your budget, opt for canned San Marzano tomatoes from Italy (San Marzano and Cento both use tomatoes from Italy). The tomatoes I crush in the summer for canning are from plum or roma varieties from California.

- 1 large red onion finely diced

- 1-2 garlic cloves finely diced

- 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil (for sautéing onion and garlic, click here for a review of olive oils)

- 1 teaspoon of sugar (optional if you have superb tomatoes, standard for all other tomatoes)

- 1 teaspoon dried Oregano (if you can find the imported kind from Italy it will make a difference)

- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt

(photo: simple ingredients for a simple tomato sauce: dried oregano from Calabria, garlic, red onion, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper)

Process:

Start with a medium sized pot with a lid - Le Creuset makes a nice 8.5 round casserole pot but you don't have to get fancy (any pot will do). Begin to heat your pot and thereafter (about 4-5 minutes later) add the finely diced onions and garlic (along with a bit of salt and pepper).

Sautee the onions and garlic until the mixture becomes translucent and, thereafter, add the crushed tomatoes and stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil and then set your heat to simmer. Next, add the sugar, dried oregano, pepper, and salt to your pot and mix well. Let the mixture simmer for 35-45 minutes without the lid (you can keep the lid on but your sauce will become a bit thicker). You'll want to mix the sauce every 15 minutes or so. Some folks let tomato sauce simmer "for hours", but I haven't found that a longer cooking period increases flavor (what it does do is turn tomato sauce into thick gravy, which isn't very appealing in my book).

Once the sauce has finished cooking transfer the contents of the pot to a food mill; note, the food mill should sit on a large bowl to catch the processed tomato sauce (I like to do this in the sink so I don't make a mess). A food mill is a great, inexpensive, tool and it yields a perfect consistency for tomatoe sauce (and also opens up the flavor of all the ingredients). The brand I like is called, Mouli; I see this mill all over Italy and for $39.99 it's a great product!

(photo: the mighty food mill, a kitchen staple and necessary for any good tomato sauce; note you don't need to use a mill if, for example, you have excellent plum tomatoes during the late summer months. With a fresh tomato sauce, simply crush plum tomatoes (removing seeds) and cook with garlic and olive oil)

That's it, you're done with making homemade tomato sauce! Note if you want to turn the above tomato sauce recipe into a "meat sauce" simply use your pot to brown 4-5 pork spare ribs, 6-7 medium sized meatballs, and 4-5 links of pork sausage. You'll want to remove the meat after browning and begin sautéing the onion and garlic mixture. Add the meat to your pot after adding the seasonings and cook the entire 45 minute time period (the key with getting a flavorful sauce via meat is to brown the ribs, meatballs, and sausage well).

Bring Your Lunch to Work: Guest Post on SaverQueen

By Vincent Scordo on March 4, 2009 | Comments | 1 TrackBack

Bringing your lunch to work every day is one of the easiest ways to save money and control your diet (trust me, you don't want Sal at the local deli making your hero sandwich). So, when the Canadian, frugal living, blogger SaverQueen asked me to do a guest blog post for SaverQueen.com, a make your own lunch entry came immediately to mind!

Here's an excerpt from the guest post (make sure to click through to Saverqueen.com to read the rest of the article):

I've been "bringing my lunch to work" since I was 5. The habit started in Kindergarten when my mother used to pack my chicken cutlet sandwiches for me; now, 27 years later, I'm still packing my own lunch and bringing it to work - the only difference is that I have to do it myself (Mom, if you're reading, please feel free to whip up a few sandwiches)!

Packing your own lunch has many benefits and not just the obvious money saving advantages, consider the following before purchasing your lunch at your corporate cafeteria or local pizzeria:

1. You can control calories, fat, salt (nutritional content) if you bring your lunch.

2. You can choose the quality of ingredients by making lunch at home.

3. You can control portion size, if you pack your own lunch.

4. You can control the flavor and spices of your lunch (in other words, you can make it just like you want it).

5. You're helping the environment by not eating off paper plates, plastic forks/spoons, Styrofoam cups, etc. (if you use re-usable containers and lunch bags).

Read the rest of the article at SaverQueen.com

5 Reasons Why It's Important to Have Good Social Skills

By Vincent Scordo on March 4, 2009 | Comments | 4 TrackBacks

A recent article in the New York Times by Natalie Angier argued that we could learn a lot by watching the social habits of babies. More specifically, Angier suggested that the social skills of infants are at the core of what make us human:

"...a baby promotes many of the behaviors and emotions that we prize in ourselves and that often distinguish us from other animals, including a willingness to share, to cooperate with strangers, to relax one's guard, uncurl one's lip and widen one's pronoun circle beyond the stifling confines of me, myself and mine."

This got me thinking about the benefits of getting along with people and having good social skills, in general. Individuals who are "good with people" usually work well with groups, empathize with others, and try to put themselves in other people's shoes so they can figure out what others are thinking and feeling.

Here are five advantages associated with having good social skills:

1. More Relationships

Identifying with individuals leads to both relationships and, at times, friendships. And, as most people know, you can't advance very far in life without being able to leverage relationships. Focusing on relationships will help you land a job, advance in your job, make new friends, and give you a better outlook on life (a large social network equals satisfaction with life).

2. Great Communication Skills

Relating with people and being able to work in large groups inadvertently develops one's communications skills. After all, you can't have great social skills without good communications skills and, in my view, being able to convey one's thoughts and ideas maybe the single most important business skill of all time.

3. More Efficiency

If you're good with people you can probably avoid being with the people you don't like very much. For example, many folks dread social interactions because they don't want to spend time with individuals who do not have similar interests and viewpoints. So, if you're at a business get together and don't want to spend time with Joe because he can't help you close a particular deal, a great set of social skills will allow you to politely convey that you need to spend time with other folks at the get together.

4. A Better Career

Most worthwhile jobs have a people component and the most lucrative positions often involve a large amount of time spent interacting with employees, media, colleagues, etc. It's a rare individual who can isolate himself in his office and still excel in his or her job. Most organizations are looking for individuals with a particular, tactical, skill set and the ability to influence people to get things done.

5. Increased Quality of Life / Happiness

Getting along with people will open up many personal and career-related doors. Striking up a conversation at a work related conference may lead to a new job offer with a higher salary or a smile and hello at your local tennis club may grab you a new tennis partner! It's also been widely acknowledged that retirees with a large social network have a higher level of happiness during their later years versus depressed and lonely 60-somethings who spend the majority of their free time watching TV with little or no social activities planned.

12 Things You Wanted to Know About the Common Cold

By Vincent Scordo on March 3, 2009 | Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Melinda Beck of the Wall Street Journal's Health Journal column has an excellent piece on everything you wanted to know about the common cold (and, yes, your mother was right, chills may lead to a cold).

Here are some great tips / info to help you get through the last few weeks of winter:

1. When we experience a cold it's not a virus, it's the body's immune system making chemicals to help flush out infection.

2. Bradykinin, a key chemical present in colds, stimulates the nasal membranes to produce a runny nose and also produces other chemicals leading to a scratchy throat and congestion.

3. White blood cells release cytokines, which cause fever, headache, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.

4. The body chooses to fight certain cold viruses and not all of them (this is a medical mystery, but it's about genetics, the virus, and the patient).

5. People who sleep less than 7 hours are most susceptible to getting a cold.

6. People with low levels of Vitamin D are also more susceptible to colds.

7. Any type of stress can make a cold worse (such as job loss, death in the family, bad hair day, argument with spouse, etc.).

8. In 2005, researchers at the Common Cold Centre chilled the feet of 90 subjects in cold water and found they developed 2x as many colds as subjects with dry feet.

9. Keep your nose covered in cold weather.

10. It takes 5-10 days to get rid of a cold and there's no evidence that treating the symptoms actually speeds up recovery.

11. There's no proof cough medicines work, but you try and make yourself comfortable via acetaminophen (Advil), hot liquids, and decongestant sprays.

12. Colds do not spread as easily as most people think; unless of course folks are around kids (such as teachers - sorry if you're reading this in your classroom!). Kids are "bags of viruses", as Beck states in the article.

Blog Carnivals at Free Money Finance and MySmallHomestead.com

By Vincent Scordo on March 2, 2009 | Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Free Money Finance hosted a Carnival of Personal Finance this week and included Scordo.com's article, "Starting Your Own Business: An Interview With a Practical Entrepreneur"

Cindy at Small Homestead hosted a Carnival of Homesteading and included Scordo.com's article, "How To: Canning Tomatoes"

Both Carnivals have tons of other great content including:

- How to Manage Job Burnout at Digerati Life

- Planning Your Vegatable Garden Now at AchingDebts.com

- Making Your Own Trail Mix at Hubpages

- My First financial Mistake at Living Almost Large

Weekly Food Shopping: A Typical Stop at the Local Market

By Vincent Scordo on March 2, 2009 | Comments | 1 TrackBack

I'm often asked how and what I purchase for food each week given my love for food and my desire to save money. And my answer is: I look for fresh, high quality, food first, then price, and finally food items that gave me pleasure.

My first stop at the local, independent, market is the produce section. Fresh fruits and vegetables are relatively inexpensive when compared to prepared and package foods, so I load up on these items each week (keeping in my mind the quality and whether or not I will consume all the items in a given week). Here's what I purchased this week:

1. Dandelion greens (bitter)

2. Oranges (8)

3. Pears (5), Organic

4. Romaine Lettuce (3 large hearts), Organic

5. Bananas (5) Organic

6. Eggplant (1)

7. Strawberries (1 package)

8. Red pepper (5)

9. Cantaloupe (1)

10. Escarole (1 bunch)

11. Carrots (1 pack), Organic

12. Potatoes (5)

13. String Beans (3/4 of a pound)

The above list of fruit and vegetables may seem like a large amount for two individuals, but we have no problem getting through the items by the end of the week. I usually prepare at least one green with dinner each night and we consume fruit for both lunch and dinner (there's usually no dessert in the Scordo home - dark chocolate and occasional cookie doesn't count, correct?!).

I next head to the butcher and dairy aisle; this week I picked up:

1. Bell and Evans chicken breast with bone and skin (about 1.5 pounds)

2. Pork Chops with bone in (2)

3. Stonyfield 1 percent yogurt (4 small containers)

4. Laughing Cow spread able cheese

With just two individuals in our family, I do not purchase milk or eggs every week. Next, I'll pick up bread and other grains:

1. 100% Whole Wheat Bread (sliced and with no corn syrup in ingredients)

2. Arnold's Brick Oven Bread (this is a great bread to toast in the morning)

3. Kashi Autumn Wheat Cereal

Finally, I pick up miscellaneous items that we've run out of or need for a special meal:

1. Natural or organic peanut butter

2. Jelly (Polaner's All Fruit is nice because it does not contain sugar or corn syrup)

3. Red wine vinegar

The total bill for the above items came to $60.00 and included many organic items and/or free range products. You can of course clip coupons and visit large, national, supermarkets and probably save quite a few dollars on the above shopping list items, however I like to buy the freshest ingredients possible, support my local independent food store, shop locally (use less gas), and purchase as many organic/free range/antibiotic free products within reason (there are products that do not need to be organic). Note I also purchase fresh fish every week, but I do not purchase it ahead of time (rather just before consumption).

Here are two related articles on Scordo.com:

1. How to shop for fruit, vegetables, and fish

2. Why I spend more on food (or food and happiness)

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Homemade Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil Recipe
Don't settle for the canned varieties found at supermarkets; find out how to make your own [+]

H ow to Make Authentic Tomato Sauce
This is the authentic Scordo family recipe - straight from Calabria. You'll be amazed at how simple the recipe is to make [+]

Guide to Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
My grandfather produced his own extra virgin olive oil in Italy and I've put together an olive oil buying guide just for you [+]

How to Make Rice Balls or Arancini At Home
The ultimate Italian street food - these fried treats are great for the holidays or for any lunch or dinner; try them with your kids [+]

Guide to Making Espresso at Home
Making good espresso at home isn't easy but once you master a few easy tips you'll never settle for the junk served at most cafes in the US, including Starbucks [+]

Why You Should Not Eat Out
My argument on why eating out doesn't make sense [+]

Guide to Italian Meats: Salame, Capicola, Prosciutto, etc.
Learn all about the great "deli meats" and authentic cured specialties from Italy [+]

Scordo Pizza Recipe
Who doesn't love pizza, but did you know it's real easy to make at home [+]

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