Gettin' My Shop On (Holiday Edition)

Okay, no, wasteful spending is not something we promote here at LWG. Shopping when you need things is different, obviously. But let's be clear - holiday shopping is never about need. I always need food, and no one gets me groceries for Christmas. It's about random crap you get people to show them you were thinking about them around the last part of December.


I know it's September, but I am already thinking about the holidays. With me being nearly 7 months preggers around Christmas/New Year's, one of the last things I will want to be doing is walking around a mall with thousands of other people, trying to get gifts for my loved ones. So I'm planning to get my holiday shopping done by Thanksgiving with the help of...my credit card rewards.


For every $1 I spend, I get points. With these points, I can buy all sorts of stuff - a coffee maker, workout DVDs, and thousands of other choices. You can also redeem your points for cash back or gift cards at many stores and restaurants. While I could take the cash back option and add to my savings or retirement, I'm going to redeem my reward points for gift cards for stores that I'll shop at for holiday gifts. Here's how I look at it - it's money I was planning on spending anyway, and it's not coming out of my pocket! Plus, it will automatically set up a budget for me based on the value of the gift card.




What do you think? Good idea or bad idea? Anyone else planning to get creative with holiday shopping?

Minimizing the Latte Factor

A few years ago, a man named David Bach coined the term "latte factor". It basically means that small, incidental purchases every day can add up to be a lot of money over the course of months and years. Your daily $3 latte habit would end up costing you over $1000 a year, hence the name "latte factor". While some people's latte factor might be cosmetics or magazines, mine is definitely lattes, but here's how I'm getting it under control and still indulging.

First off, I'm brewing my coffee at home more often. I'll make a pot on Monday, put the remainder in the refrigerator for coffee later on in the week or iced coffee! Yum! Put a little milk and sugar in it and it tastes just like what you'd get at a coffee shop. Hint: if you have a Cost Plus World Market nearby, that is my favorite place to grab bags of coffee. Their coffee is great and really reasonably priced ($6 for a pound). Ask for a punch card and for every 6 bags purchased, you get a free bag! Plus, if you go on Wednesdays, you get double punches so it only takes 3 bags! It is seriously one of my favorite deals!

I still allow myself to have 2-3 lattes a week. To me, I really like having that treat, and happiness for $3 is pretty cheap in my opinion. How do I limit myself and still enjoy? I have a Starbucks card that I load at the beginning of every month with $25. Keeping that money on a Starbucks card versus using cash or a credit/debit card keeps me accountable - once it's gone, it's gone for the month. A bonus about having a Starbucks card is that if you register it, you earn one reward point every time you pay with your card. Once you get a certain amount of reward stars, you're eligible for things like free drinks, coupons, free wifi in stores, free drink customization... a pretty good deal if you're already planning on getting coffee anyway!

What's your "latte factor" and are you doing anything to keep it in check?

Rewards Clubs Worth Joining

I really love rewards clubs. Like really love them. But sometimes, some of them are just not worth having. Like the companies that fill up your inbox about a sale that's open to everyone? That's not really a reward, thanks. Or rewards perks that cost you more than the value you'd actually get out of them. Nope, don't want that either.

How about companies that actually give you something in return to thank you for your loyalty or patronage? That's what I'm talking about! We don't have sponsors or anything like that, so I'm not plugging companies for any benefit except to pass some cost-saving tips on fun stuff for you. Here are some stores at which I have a rewards membership and thoroughly enjoy:


*Borders - I love books. I especially love new books (that new book smell gets me every time). I could spend hours in a bookstore just browsing the shelves, looking at travel guides, cookbooks, magazines...sounds like a little slice of heaven. With me cutting back on spending, I'm definitely utilizing the library more (or going to Goodwill, like some of you have suggested), so my book buying budget is practically nonexistent. However, Borders makes it more affordable if you have a new book addiction. Every 2-3 weeks, I get a coupon emailed for 20-30% off any item in the store. Oh yeah, and it's free to join (unlike Barnes and Noble's reward program).


*REI - if you like spending time in the outdoors, it is definitely a good idea to become an REI member (in my opinion). For $20 (for a lifetime membership), you get discounts on equipment rental, special member-only offers for gear or clothing AND an annual dividend from all eligible purchases, usually about 10%. Once you spend $200 (which is not hard to do when you buy a tent or a couple of sleeping bags), you've already earned back your lifetime membership fee. Plus, REI has fantastic customer service when it comes to returns and exchanges, but they extend this to everyone, not just members.

*Aveda - Pure Privilege is Aveda's point-based reward system. For every dollar spent, 10 points are awarded and they can be cashed in for anything from products to spa treatments to vacations...okay, I'll never spend enough at Aveda to pay for my luxury spa weekend in Vermont, but I did get a massage before my wedding last year with my points. Plus, they offer double point events every so often. It's $10 to sign up, but every year on your birthday, you get a FREE gift (up to a $20 value), coupons for products, and other great offers. It's definitely the most relaxing reward membership I have.

*Sephora - Frugal Femme told me about her love for Sephora's Beauty Insiders. Another point club, once you have a certain amount of points, you get a FREE gift. Also, you have access to special promotions and limited edition products.

*MAC - another Frugal Femme find, if you bring back 6 containers of any MAC product, they will recycle them and give you a FREE lipstick. Maybe not quite a reward program, but definitely a great incentive to recycle!

And one I'll sign up for soon...

*Godiva - FREE chocolate every month. FREE gift every month you spend $10 or more. FREE shipping on one online order. Any time I can get free chocolate, that is definitely something worth signing up for.

Have I missed any rewards clubs worth joining? What do you guys like and what companies give back to you?