6 Tips on How to Spend Money and Save at the Same Time

By Andrea Woroch

Spending money to save money doesn't seem like a logical concept, but if you know what you're doing then it can be a smart way to stretch your budget. The trick to this strategy is to only buy what you need and what you planned on purchasing anyway. Take toilet paper for example. Toilet paper doesn't spoil and often costs less when bought in bulk, so it's worth stocking up on to reap the savings overtime, as long as you have the storage space.

Read on for more ways you can spend money and save at the same time.

1. Purchase a Club Membership

While you have to pay for a membership fee to join clubs like Costco and Sam's Club, they do offer excellent prices on many items sold in bulk. Try not to buy on impulse, however, as you could find your pantry stocked with 20 years worth of canned beans.

2. Buy Gift Cards

Buying gift cards from discount sites like Gift Card Granny is a great way to save on everything from groceries to electronics, particularly since you can buy gift cards at these sites for up to half their face value.

3. Dive into Deal-of-the-Day Sites

I recently received an offer from Groupon to buy $40 worth of bedding plants for just $17. Since I planned on spending at least $50 on garden starts this year, that's a real deal. Make sure the group-buying deal is truly something you'll use. While a sky diving adventure may sound like a real kick, it's not worth the price if you're afraid of heights.

4. Stock Up to Increase Online Savings

Purchasing more may qualify your online order for a better value coupon or free shipping. For example, Amazon.com has free shipping on most orders over $25. If your cart reaches $22, throw in an extra item to reach that threshold and benefit from the delivery discount.

5. Stockpile with Multiple Coupons

Keep an eye out for coupons on non-perishable items you'll actually use and collect extra coupons for your next shopping trip by dumpster diving in recycling bins or ask neighbors for their newspaper circulars. Use all the coupons you've collected to bulk up on the offer and stockpile products for later while enjoying the immediate money-saving offer. Make sure you read the fine print, however, as some coupons can only be used for a maximum amount, say two or four packages of baby diapers.

6. Throw In a Little Lagniappe

Lagniappe is a term used in New Orleans referring to something extra you get for free, like a baker's dozen of donuts. Sometimes it pays to buy a little something extra you don't really need to make use of a coupon. For example, I had a $10 off grocery coupon that kicked in if I spent $50. My bill came to $49, so I tossed in a few gum packets to reach the $50 mark. Basically, the gum was free Lagniappe.
 
About Andrea Woroch
 
As a media expert source, Andrea has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or get more information, visit http://andreaworoch.com/ or you can also follow @AndreaWoroch on Twitter to receive daily savings tips.

How to Store Out of Season Clothing

by Audrey Cupo
Spring is about to be sprung! As the days quickly pass, the chance of getting a big snow storm in the Philadelphia area where I live diminishes - yeah! (You might be able to tell I am not a winter person - I love the summer.)

Well, since Spring officially begins in just a few weeks, I thought it would be a good time to provide some Quick Tips for A Better Space when it comes to storing your out of season clothing.

With a large closet, people are often tempted to keep all their clothes in the one spot and not rotate clothing seasonally. Unfortunately, this sometimes creates cramped closets and makes it hard to see what you really have in your current wardrobe.

If you have a smaller closet, this is even more of an issue. If you can relate to this situation, I would suggest the following:

Store out-of-season clothing in plastic under-the bed containers or pretty cardboard boxes that can fit on top of your closet shelf.

*  Folded clothes should be stored with acid and dye-free tissue paper so they won’t be as wrinkled when pulled out for next season.

*  Fragrant, insect-repelling herb sachets are a good alternative to mothballs. They will keep your clothing smelling fresh and well protected without being potentially harmful to your family and the environment.

Any out of season clothes that need to be hung should be stored at the very back of the closet since they do not need to be readily accessible. They should be stored in a garment bag to keep them clean and dust free in the off-season. Avoid using dry cleaner bags for this purpose. They should not be used at all, in fact, for any type of clothing protection and storage. They trap the dry cleaning chemicals which stay on your clothes and can be harmful to your health and the environment. Your clothes need to breathe so cloth garment bags are suggested.

This is also a great time to look at what you have not worn the past season and get rid of it. Chances are you won't wear it next year either. Why pack away something you will not be wearing. Make room for new purchases next Fall instead!

You will need to start planning a time to set aside to convert your wardrobe from Winter to Spring and Summer so be prepared with the proper tools to do so.

If this task is too overwhelming, consult with a professional organizer to help you out.

About Audrey Cupo:

Audrey Cupo is a full-time Professional Organizer and sole proprietor of A BETTER SPACE based in Bucks County, PA. She specializes in residential organizing and focuses her business on helping busy moms and women entrepreneurs get organized with her in-home services and her U Can Do It product line. To sign up for her free monthly newsletter "Organizing News You Can Use" or get a free "Room-By-Room Organizing Checklist", go to http://www.4abetterspace.com/.