money saving tips – Page 5 – Luv Saving Money

My Rules For Buying Refurbished Electronics

Buying refurbished electronics used to be a gamble for me until I started following these rules for buying refurbished electronics.

Listen, I’ve been disappointed by refurbished products before. I remember one time I bought a “refurbished” GPS navigator on ebay. The price was amazing (like too good to be true amazing) so I thought, well I need a GPS I’ll give it a go. I got my device. I charged it and it turned on immediately. I thought, great, I really did get a deal. But it would never pick up my location. When I tried to contact the seller I got the run around and eventually nothing in the end. I contacted the manufacturer and they told me from the sounds of it I bought a defective product. I was never able to actually use it.

Finding the right refurbished electronics

Another time I decided to buy 2nd hand Nintendo DSs for my boys for Christmas (I couldn’t afford to buy them both brand new ones at the time) It still wasn’t that cheap but much cheaper than buying them new. I bought them at a popular store known for video games. Well I decided when I got home I was going to check them out make sure they were in good working order before I wrapped them to give them to my kids as their “big Christmas gift”. I was so glad I did. The one system wouldn’t even turn on after charging. The other had some kind of orange gunk all over it including in the crevices. It looked like someone was eating Cheetos and never washed their hands. I was so upset, but also thankful, I had the foresight to check it before wrapping them and my kids opening the Christmas morning only to be disappointed. I took them right back to the store and told them how disappointed I was. They took them back and I ended up buying brand new ones for my boys anyway because I didn’t trust to buy used ones from them anymore.

It was years before I was willing to roll the dice on another 2nd hand or refurbished electronic item. That is until I started following these rules for buying electronics that aren’t new:

Does the store or site offer some type of return policy? If they don’t offer one at all I don’t buy. If they offer one but only under weird circumstances or an unreasonably short period of time, I don’t buy.
Does the store or site offer a warranty on refurbished, open box, or used items? In my opinion, if a site is confident in their skills to refurbish an electronic item, or is confident in the sellers on their site they’ll offer some type of warranty. Anything: 14 days, 30 days, 90 days, give me something!
Buy from trusted sites and sellers: I will no longer buy refurbished electronic from Joe Schmo on ebay UNLESS this Joe Schmo has credentials, high positive feedback and lots of sales to back it up. I’m more confident in buying from places that specialize in electronics like Best Buy, DealScoop, Staples, etc.
If it sounds too good too be true it probably is
What is their definition of “refurbished”? Do they actually check it? Look at it? Fix it? Or do they just throw it in a box and say “sold as-is”. If it has some issues are they forward about it?

Why DealScoop?

I mentioned DealScoop. Some of you might be thinking “I’ve never heard of DealScoop. Why should I trust them?” That was my thought. I investigated their site before I ever agreed to work with them. They follow my rules for buying refurb products. They had a lot of positive reviews on the site. DealScoop has a grading system for their refurbished products so you can choose the best product for your needs. “A grade” means it’s a new product. The box has been open but the product has never been used. “B grade” is refurbished but like-new. There may be some minor cosmetic flaws but should work like new. 90% of DealScoop’s products are B grade. C grade products will have more noticeable flaws or scratches but should still work like new, according to the DealScoop site. If for some reason a product is missing a part, flawed, etc they will state this in the description.

I received a refurbished HP Envy Photo 7855 printer. Which is perfect because my older boys got laptops for Christmas for school work and we needed a printer for their laptops. The item arrived quickly. It was packaged well and had all the parts to it including printer ink! I honestly thought I’d have to buy printer ink for a refurb printer.

My 15 year old son was able to set it up and start using it immediately. As you can see, the test print went well. I showed him how to use the copier on the top. The touch screen was very responsive. It made a perfect copy as well.

We examined the scanner top and it looked like brand new. No noticeable flaws or cracks anywhere on the printer. This printer has wifi capability too. Perfect for both my boys to be able to print from both of their laptops. The wifi works, we tested that too.

I would absolutely consider DealScoop the next time I need a new electronic item. I could not have asked the is printer to be any better. If they would have told me it was brand new (which they didn’t) I would have totally believed them.

DealScoop wants to offer Luv Saving Money readers 10% off your purchase at DealScoop.com with code: LUVSAVINGMONEY or you can go through my Dealspotr Influencer link: https://dealspotr.com/getcode/WwJ8B

I received the above mentioned product at no cost in order to complete this post. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Beauty Tips On A College Budget

Living on a college budget is going to be difficult in pretty much every area of life (hence the ramen stereotype).
That said, budgeting living is no reason to drop the ball on your beauty routines. After all, confidence is a huge part of success, so looking your best will help you to feel and perform your best as well!
Here are some tips for maintaining those beauty goals while on a tight college budget.

Question the Price Behind Branding
There is a balance to be struck between cutting corners to lower costs and inflating prices because of aesthetics.
Of course, you don’t want to only choose the lowest prices with everything you buy, particularly when it comes to beauty. Sure, 99 cent shampoo costs virtually nothing and will last about as long as luxury brands, but it will also damage your hair.
That said, many brands and ventures are able to hide behind presentation as they upcharge you. Make sure you aren’t just paying for advertising and aesthetic, because there is almost definitely going to be a cheaper alternative that offers the same quality.

The best way to do this is to search for reasonably priced ventures and products and then looking for the specifics (this may take a little research).
For instance, know what ingredients you should be looking for (or avoiding) in your regular skincare, hair and other beauty products. For ventures like med spas, research the specific treatments you are looking for so you know how to narrow down your options based on service,
knowledge and testimonials rather than biased advertising.

Make a Spa at Home
Facials, luxurious baths, mani-pedis and other relaxing treatments don’t have to be found at day spas – they can be found right in your own home!

Even if you live in a small apartment or dorm with several roommates, it’s more than possible to set up a relaxing self-care station for yourself. All you need to do is set aside a specific block of time and stock up on any necessary materials like nail polish, face masks, wax or any other treatments that interest you.

If you are looking for some DIY fun, you could even make your own facials, scrubs, bath bombs and plenty of other spa-day must-haves. The important thing to remember is that this is your time, so structure it however you want and maybe even put together a playlist to really get yourself in the mood for some pampering.
Best of all, since you are doing all of it yourself, you will be paying a fraction of the price that it would cost to go to a professional. A good rule of thumb is that if you can do it yourself, it could be fun (and economical) to try!

Take Advantage of Free Consultations and Offers
For the things you just can’t do at home (medical procedures, professional insight, etc.), make sure you are taking advantage of special offers and free consultations so that you are getting the best deals and service possible.
Luckily, for ventures like med spas or dermatologists, most places will offer those consultations to help evaluate your specific situation and give you invaluable advice.
By taking advantage of things like this, you will make sure that you aren’t wasting money on the services you are saving up for. After all, for more significant needs, it may take some time and planning to pay for it with a college budget.

Dr. Sarah Bennett, a naturopathic doctor in Scottsdale with a med spa of her own, pushes her free consultations more than anything:
“I always try to get those brief meetings with potential clients for a number of reasons. Firstly, it makes it possible to determine whether we make a good match or whether I can help direct them to more appropriate assistance. Secondly, it gives me the chance to really evaluate the individual and give professional advice on treatments and solutions. Lastly, though, I can really
work with the person and their specific situation so that we can be honest about the “less fun” matters like money and availability. That way, I can really work with them and help them get the services they need on the budget they have.”
Since most places will have special deals or, at the very least, free consultations, you can probably rule out any ventures that don’t as an easy process of elimination.
After you’ve done that, feel free to book some of those consultations to get advice on how to proceed with your financial and personal situation.

In Summary
No one likes budget planning, especially when they are tight on cash and have academic responsibilities that make it harder to boost income.
That’s no reason to let your self-care and beauty routine take a backseat, though. By questioning the branding of your products and services, doing all that you can do yourself at home and taking advantage of special offers and free consultations, you’ll be able to keep up with your appearance and maintain your confidence.
For more great articles on budgeting, be sure to look through our other posts!

About the Author

Katherine (Tori) Lutz is a graduate of Florida State University and current student at Columbia University. Professional, she is a writer and editor with a great deal of freelance experience surrounding articles, marketing, and other various areas. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, and hopes to one day be a journalist.

New Teen Driver? How To Save On Car Insurance

When my oldest son got his permit we started talking to our insurance agent about how much it was going to cost when it was time to add him to our insurance. Our insurance was already pretty high and when they told us it would double, well we started looking around for ways to save.

We talked to two different insurance brokers who told us the insurance company we’ve had for years is one of the most expensive ones out there if not the most expensive one. So we got a few quotes through the broker and did some on our own and found out that almost any one we went with was going to be cheaper. But there were a few that gave better rates for new drivers.

By just doing that we were able to save $1000 when adding our oldest son to our policy. We’re now paying as much with my 16 year old son added to our policy as we were with my my husband and I with the old company!

Find out what else you can do to save money on insurance with a new teen driver in the post I wrote for Quigley car dealership: New Teen Driver Insurance

5 Budgeting Tips for Living in Florida

Summer is coming up, so it’s no surprise if you are looking to save some extra money for a
vacation or simply looking to enjoy the season without financial strain.
Living in Florida, this can be a little tricky considering the inflated prices in wealthier or more
tourist-heavy areas.
To help keep your wallet from emptying, here are five great tips to budget well and save some
extra cash while living in Florida.

Publix Coupons
While Publix may not always have the cheaper options compared to places like Walmart, Trader
Joe’s or other on-a-budget grocery choices, knowing how to work their coupons can make a big
difference (and allow you to enjoy the Publix experience).

One of the most effective and modern ways to do this is to download the app where you can
plan your shopping trips ahead, browse coupons for inspiration, manage prescriptions and even
order online.
While the best part of downloading the app is giving yourself the ability to browse coupons and
deals at the tip of your fingers, the other features are a fantastic bonus.
Plus, Publix has new deals every week that can help you save money, and the way they
structure their shopping experience helps to give you a lot of inspiration on meals for the week
so that you can further plan things out according to your finances.

Beauty on a Budget
Summer is approaching, and it’s completely normal to want to start looking into beauty
treatments and options to get you feeling beach-ready.
For common skincare and spa treatments, you can save money on this by doing it at home and
avoiding high prices at salons and day spas.
For more complicated treatments that may require doctors or medical spas (laser hair removal,
vein treatment, etc.), you might have to put a little more effort into researching the places by
you.
The good news is that at this particular time of year, most medical professionals are really
pushing to bring in new clients since we are approaching swimsuit season, so it’s definitely
possible to browse available coupons on deals.
The most important thing to remember is that any form of beauty treatment is really about
feeling healthy and confident in the skin you’re in, so take a moment to really reflect on what
might help bring you closer to that and narrow down your options from there.

Vacation for Less

One of the perks about living in Florida is that you get “Florida
Resident” discounts on most theme park options, giving you a
range of choices for your next vacation.
Instead of splurging on expensive cruises or out-of-state
adventures, plan your vacations right at home and think ahead to
further save money.
Buying tickets ahead of time online, planning vacations for less
popular months like February or September, packing your own

meals and making sure to check out free attractions are all great ways to further make the most
of your experience.
Plus, you can have even more fun by investing in multi-day passes for most of the theme parks
to spend less on each individual day (especially if you were planning on a full week or weekend
anyway).
Above all, make sure you stock up on gas far away from places like airports or theme parks as
you plan out your road trip – these will have exorbitant prices in comparison to other locations.

Be Smart About Housing
If you don’t already have a permanent residence in Florida (or you are looking to move soon),
considering the location of your home can save you BIG bucks in the long run.
Living in downtown areas, picking locations close to the water or living in big-name cities can
cause your rent to skyrocket.
While the location will affect rent in any state, the range of prices is extreme in Florida. For
instance, if you are looking to live in the Miami area, you will pay a great deal more to live in a
suburb like Coral Gables or in Downtown Brickell than in areas that are even just a few blocks
away in some instances.
Definitely do your research beforehand and consider choosing cities that are on the outskirts of
bigger areas and that won’t have extremely high pricing.
After all, you will likely still be able to enjoy all of the same great things that Florida has to offer
without living smack in the middle of it (plus, it may even be a little less crowded).

Avoid Shopping in Those Expensive Areas
As mentioned, the cost of living can fluctuate wildly between different areas in Florida, and this
doesn’t only apply to housing.
One of the biggest things to remember about Florida is that it is a tourist state, so many places
(Miami, Destin, Tampa, Orlando, etc.) will have inflated prices to take advantage of that.
In some instances, gratuity will even be included on tabs, so you will have less control over that
part of bills and also will need to be careful about accidentally double-tipping.
Ultimately, you should try your best to avoid shopping, dining, stocking up on gas and generally
spending money in these more tourist-heavy areas so that you can avoid paying these tourist
prices.

By just enjoying all of your leisure activities in surrounding areas or generally less pricey
neighborhoods, you will realize that your financial stresses will decrease immensely.

In Summary
Everyone wants to save money, even in places like Florida that can have a wide range in terms
of cost of living.
By just remembering these five tips, you should have some extra spending money in your
pocket this summer:
● Become a Publix coupon expert
● Spend wisely on beauty treatments
● Save money on vacationing
● Choose a low-cost housing option
● Don’t shop in tourist-heavy areas
For more great budgeting tips to help you save money, be sure to check out our other fantastic
posts!

About Our Guest Writer

Free Resources To Help Keep Your Finances On Track with August Funding

During my first marriage, my financial life was falling apart. There were times when I honestly didn’t know how we were going to buy groceries or put gas in the car. When we got divorced I had a new set of challenges. Paying off debts from that marriage and getting my finances back on track. With the help of August Funding, I’m sharing my experience with you.

It’s no secret that I had creditors calling. If my parents hadn’t let my boys and I stay with them I don’t know what i would have done. I was determined to work on getting myself financially independent and into a place of our own. It felt hopeless to me and I honestly looked into things like being a surrogate and donating plasma just to keep my head above water. But I didn’t end up having to do any of that. Here’s some free resources that helped me along the way.

Turn To The Money Gurus

It was obvious that I needed help so I started looking at the finance and debt gurus like Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman. I liked what they had to say. I remember one of Dave Ramsey’s books. It started off with, something along the lines of, him pulling up to a gas station in his vehicle and not knowing if his credit card was going to be decline to put gas in his card. That really resonated with me. Like, he knows what I’m going through. While you can buy the books you don’t have to. Dave Ramsey has free resources on his website, you can check out his books at local libraries, or ask to borrow from a friend.

You Can Get a Free Credit Report

I did pull a credit report when trying to get my finances in order. You are allowed to get 1 free credit report every 12 months. This helped me see exactly where I was at with creditors, amount owed, what might be coming down the pipes, and fix errors that might have showed up. Seriously check it. My husband’s parents had declared bankruptcy at one point. My husband’s name is very similar to his dad’s he ended up having to call because his dad’s bankruptcy info was showing up on his credit report! Obviously that would effect his credit if he hadn’t gotten it fixed! Sites like annual credit report help you to get your free credit report you’re entitled to.

Keep Tabs On Your Credit Score and More in One Place

I discovered Credit Sesame all those years ago. At first I ignored it thinking there was a catch but it’s still one of my favorite tools to use to keep me on track even after repairing a lot of damage. Here are just some of the FREE benefits of Credit Sesame:

free credit score
tips to increase your credit score
Up to $50K in aggregate identity theft insurance
credit monitoring
payment history
credit usage grade

Read Financial Blogs and Sites Like August Funding

I’ve found that there are a lot of helpful financial blogs, websites, and debt sites that have very helpful information on repairing your credit after a divorce, consolidating debt, and avoiding bankruptcy. AARP has great info for retirement finances as well.

Believe it or not, the debt collectors themselves can even be good sources. One recommended a debt consolidator to me. Another one called me and I basically poured my heart out to them. The “Hey I’m a single mom paying off all the joint debt from my failed marriage. I’m not getting any child support, I’m trying” I really didn’t expect much feedback. I honestly expected nothing but I was caught on a stressful day. But this debt collector actually told me just to keep paying what I could afford to pay like I was doing. Tell other debt collectors what I told her and most of them would work with me. You know what?! Most of them did. I might have paid $10 a month a first but once I started paying those off I started snowballing as Dave Ramsey might suggest paying $20 a month, then $50 a month. So on. I paid off $30K in joint marriage debt.

If you feel the need to you can even consult with financial professionals like August Funding to see how hey can help you. Or speak with a local financial consultant.

What I want you to understand is that it didn’t happen overnight. It it didn’t even happen over a year. It took me a number of years to do it but I did it. My credit still isn’t perfect but it’s a heck of a lot better than it was after my divorce. You can do this!

This post is sponsored by Diamond Links