We all have rainy days. Having a little pot of savings is like always having an umbrella in your car. Not only that – Ben Franklin was absolutely spot on when he said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Those saved pennies can be used for investments that can grow into wealth.
My friend Larry is a financial guru. He believes in putting aside some money in a savings account for spending before any other bi-weekly expenses or expenditures. That way, if something comes up that his son or wife wants, they take a look at the balance of that account, and many times he can say, not yet. We used to say, “Bum bye” (= laters). Sometimes laters never comes, or you change your mind and find something else you want. It’s good discipline and different from the instant gratification of credit cards going crazy.
Rich Dad also believes in paying yourself first. Three “piggy banks” – 10% to savings, 10% to investment, 10% to charity, tithing. Even starting small with $10 in each account, or even 5¢ from the kids’ allowances will improve your life and life long habits. It is blessed to give, and smart to save, and even smarter to invest.
Another way to save is to spend less. I have learned mantras that I will use the next time I go in to buy a car. Below are other ways to spend less.
Zippy’s has a great site that changes every other week for coupon savings off of specials. (sometimes they do not have coupons)
Are you a “couponer?” Aunty used to cut out those discount saving coupons from newspapers and magazines in the old days. Now they are available online. A great website for finding them is MrsCarrigan.com.
MrMealDeal.com is a great website for discounts at various restaurants in town. Or, you can pick your own city in the USA. Print out the coupons and please pay attention to the expiration as well as the specifics of each offer.
Island Burger in Ala Moana, Tuesday kids eat free. For every adult ordering an entrée 2 kids eat free. Yes, 2 not just 1!
Show your AAA card at Crocs Stores, and get 20% off! I love my Crocs! I now have leopard printed Crocs, but found out that AAA and Crocs no longer have a discount deal together. Sometimes the nice sales staff will let you get a discount if a special is running.
Groupon is a great way to get daily deals sent to you. If you are interested in signing up, please use the link on the ads bar on this page. That way I get $10 credit when you first join. I have used it to get a $50 Nordstrom Rack certificate for $25 – not too shabby since that is also one of my favorite stores. I also just purchased a $15 certificate for Kaimuki Grill for $7, more than half off! [update: I purchased a hair removal (lol, tmi) certificate that I knew I wouldn’t be able to use before the expiration date, contacted customer service via email, and was immediately refunded so I now have a credit balance in my account! THAT’S great service and reflects a great company.] Another great thing about Groupon is that they send you reminder emails to use your coupons – good for someone like me who forgets things more and more.
Speaking of Kaimuki Grill, google search Kaimuki Grill coupon and it will take you to a coupon site, pretty neat place where you can search by categories for places that may have coupons! Going there with some great friends soon, and we’ll be saving 10%!
If you go to your local USPS post office, ask for their address change packet. In it you will find a 10% off coupon from Lowe’s, or click here and download a printable coupon.
Get a CVS card (stores are still called Longs Drugs here in Hawaii) and get a credit of 3% when you show the card to the cashier before they begin processing your purchases. Not quite sure how that works, but every little bit counts! And have a mainland friend get that pretty green leaf that you attach on a shopping bag so you get credited 25¢ each time you use your own bag for your purchases (limit of 1 credit per day) Boohoo, CVS does not honor the leaf credit anymore. Still, the CVS card will get you built up credits and nice discounts from time to time.
Cardpool.com is a great place to get gift cards that are discounted. Choose your favorites and they will email you when your choices become available. Aunty likes the Ross gift cards and uses them on senior Tuesdays to get an even bigger discount!
Senior discounts where it pays to be older. Very nice to be rewarded this way!
More senior discounts, or updated ones for you!
Some mainland discounts for our generation.
Travel saving tips to share with you. I feel like a veteran traveler now that I go to Vegas and California at least 3 times a year. Aunty loves flying on Hawaiian Airlines, and now I am an affiliate of them! So please use the banner or ad link that you see on this page to book your flight on Hawaiian, and Aunty will make 1.5%!