September is the Best Time to Buy These 6 Things

Sometimes saving money is not about clipping coupons or shopping sales, it can be about shopping seasonally. If you can, choose September the buy end of summer items when they are drastically marked down. Do not buy when everyone else does, a little delay of gratification can go a long way toward stretching your dollars. September is the best time to buy these 6 things!

Patio Furniture

As summer comes to a close, patio furniture takes up a lot of space in store's floor plans and they heavily discount sets to get ready for the next season. Take advantage of up to 90% off patio furniture during September.

Bicycles

Not many invest in a new bicycle at the end of summer when they have to wait all through the cold season to ride it often. This means huge savings for you! Upgrade your bike in the fall and reap the savings.

Older iPhones

Each September, Apple releases the new iPhone and flocks of people upgrade their device. If you want to upgrade your iPhone, but do not necessarily care about getting the absolute newest version, previous-generation iPhones are heavily discounted during September. The prices will be lowest during the end of the month after Apple does the new iPhone release.

A New Car

Fall is usually the best time to buy a new car because the next year's models are hitting the lot and dealers are trying to make way by discounting the current year's cars. You can find discounts between $2000 and $5000 pretty easily, plus great car loan options.

Lawnmowers

Of course, another seasonal item that makes sense to buy at the end of the summer, not the beginning when everyone else does. Lawnmowers can be very expensive, so if it is time for an upgrade, wait for September sales.

Vacations

You could save hundreds of dollars by booking holiday travel or last minute vacations in September. Deals on hotels and especially on airfare are prevalent during this mid-season between summer and holiday travel.


Although September does not have a “Black Friday,” there are still rock bottom prices to be found on certain items if you are informed. Shop seasonally and save this September!

Take the Stress Out of Holiday Shopping

It may not quite be that time of year again, but people have already begun to gear up for the holidays. For many people the holidays have become a time when the debt starts piling up from all of the holiday shopping. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are ways to shop smart and on a budget, but it takes effort, focus, and planning. We have developed the following list of some great tips to help avoid overspending this holiday season:

Set A Realistic Budget

Figure out how much money you can afford to spend this holiday season and make it non-negotiable. Remember to factor in things such as postage and holiday cards, which can otherwise throw of your budget. Once your budget is set, stick to it. Starting early makes it possible to stretch that budget even further.

Have A List

Shopping without a list is a recipe for disaster. It leads to more impulse buying because of all the deals and “door-busters” you are presented with. Seemingly low prices will tempt you to buy things that are unnecessary for your holiday plans, so make a detailed list of the gifts and items you need for an event and don’t stray away from what you need.

Avoid Credit Card Use

Using a credit card for holiday shopping can put you on the fast track to debt, so use cash or a debit card instead. This means you only spend money that you actually have, rather than paying a ton of interest as well.

Do Your Homework

There is nothing worse than buying a gift at full price and later finding out you could have gotten it for a much cheaper price at a different retailer or online. Many times, stores will also offer deals through their mobile apps or website that aren’t available in the store. So put that smartphone or laptop to use and make sure you are getting the best deal possible.

Don’t Procrastinate

If you wait until the last minute to do your holiday shopping it not only adds stress, but it is much harder to make budget-friendly choices. The longer you wait to get started on your holiday shopping, the less time you will have to compare prices, and the more likely it will be that you will overspend. Set a plan, and get your holiday shopping started ASAP.

These tips are sure to help you save money during your holiday shopping spree, but sometimes the money just isn’t there to begin with, such as if you have an unexpected emergency that put a dent in the holiday shopping funds you had saved up. If that’s the case a loan may be a better option than financing at the store and Financial One Credit Union can help.  We offer budget-friendly financing options to meet your needs with much lower interest rates than you would pay if you loaded your holiday expenses on a credit card. We are here to to help save you from stress and extra headaches this holiday season.

Money Saving Valentines Day Tips

Between the flowers, fancy restaurants and extravagant gifts, Valentines Day can end up being one of the most expensive days of the year. Making the perfect plans for you and your loved one can be nice to think about, but when you measure the costs, sometimes you can end up biting off more than you can chew chasing the movie-based romantic dream. This Valentines Day, keep in mind some of these money saving tips.

The Flowers:

Flowers are a quintessential part of the big day. When purchasing flowers, keep in mind that the longer they are kept cool, the longer they will last. Try not to buy flowers from venues that are outside, or kept somewhere too warm. Also, when buying flowers online, pick them up from the store. Most delivery trucks are not refrigerated and you never know which stop your flowers will be on. Look for tight bulbs in bouquets, cut the ends of the stems off after a day or two and use the food!

The Dinner:

Rule #1: stay away from restaurants! Most places are nearly impossible to get into without a reservation a month in advance, and when you do get in they can be crowded, loud, and anything but romantic. Instead, pick another area of your home to have dinner. Sprinkle some flower petals on the floor, light some candles, and even a delivery pizza will seem much more intimate and romantic (not to mention lighter on your wallet!)

When it comes to the dessert, go for something light after a big meal. A small sorbet does wonders. Also, most people do not know the difference between good champagne and bad champagne. If you really want that extra boost for the evening, go for it, but we say skip the fancy bubbly.

The Gifts:

In times when DIY is all the rage, try out some new gift ideas made with your own two hands. A card hastily picked out from hundreds of options at a grocery store won’t hold a candle to one written in your own handwriting with construction paper hearts pasted to it. If you do go for the extravagant route, research before you buy. Online sites may say they are certified, but you cannot be sure of what you are getting until it arrives.

This Valentines Day, try something a little different. Saving money doesn’t have to mean skimping on the one you love. Try something new as a couple that you have never done before. You just might end up making memories far more special and any “store-bought” day will never be able to compare.

DIY Holiday Gift Ideas

Like many of us, you’re probably feeling the holiday spirit this season. While it is supposed to fill you with cheer, it can sometimes leave your wallet empty. Keep the spirit of giving going this holiday season with these inspired DIY gifts. Easy to create and fun to give, the magic of Christmas generosity lives on with a budget that even Scrooge would be comfortable with.

Paperwhites in Mason Jars

Happy little growers just add water.

You’ll need:

-Paper white bulbs

-Mason jars

-Colorful stones or glass

Your paperwhite bulb will not need chilling in order to bloom, and will grow easily without soil. You can find the bulbs at most gardening stores or nurseries. Fill mason jar ¾ full with stones, and set paperwhite bulb on top of stones. Secure lid over the bulb, allowing bulb to stick out of lid. Add a decorative flare with pine trimmings, twine or ribbon, and attach a homemade instructions card.

Stylized Porcelain Mugs

For the coffee enthusiast, a pretty way to brighten any morning.

You’ll need:

-Porcelain mug

-Sharpie paint oil based markers or Decoart glass paint markers

-Oven

Wash mug and stencil on design with pencil, or using painters tape. Draw design with paint markers (we like metallic gold for polka dots or chevron designs) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes to set paint. Allow to cool in oven. Voila! Mugs are dishwasher safe, but for best long term results, hand wash only.

Coffee Bean Soap 

A little bit of homemade luxury.

You’ll need:

-1 lb package melt and pour soap base

-Ground coffee beans

-Milk and honey fragrance oil (find at any craft store)

-Soap mold

Measure out how much soap base you will need, per soap mold instructions and cut soap base into cubes for melting purposes. Place soap in microwave safe bowl for melting and heat at 15 second intervals, stirring between each, until soap base is melted. Once melted (be sure not to overheat), quickly add in coffee grounds and stir, adding in fragrance oil and stirring (fragrance will come with amount directions). Pour soap into molds, nixing bubbles on the top of molds with a spritz of rubbing alcohol if needed. Soap will take 1-3 hours to harden. Pop out of molds and soap is ready for gifting!

His Favorite Beer Glasses 

Turn used bottles into treasured glasses.

You’ll need:

-Favorite beer bottles

-Acetone

-Small dish and rag

-Scrap string

-Sandpaper

Fill sink with cold tap water and handfuls of ice. In a small dish, pour enough acetone to soak your string. Cut a piece of string long enough to wrap bottle 5-6 times around, and tightly wrap string around bottle where you want to separate the glass you’ll have from the top of the bottle. Tie a knot in the yarn and trim extra from ends; slip off of bottle and submerge in acetone. Slip soaked yarn back onto bottle where the cut will be made. Hold bottle horizontal over sink and light the string with lighter, rotating the bottle until flame burns out after about 30 seconds. Once flame burns out, submerge bottle and string in ice bath and the top should separate where the yarn was (if top does not come off, repeat process until bottle separates). Use sandpaper to smooth the edges, and you’ve got a guy-approved gift!

The holidays should be a season for spreading cheer and spending time with family and friends. Don’t let the financial strains of the season stop you from getting into the Holiday gift-giving spirit. From all of us at Financial One, we hope you have a safe Holiday season and a very happy New Year!