Asked what keeps them awake, 35 percent of men replied "nothing."
Ah, to be a man.
Lack of time to pinch pennies is a real problem for most women, particularly those forced into the supermom role, buried in the sandwich generation, or serving as home CFOs. Here are six tips to help all you superwomen make the best use of your time to save money.
1. Co-cook
Share cooking duties with another family by creating super-large batches and dividing it for future consumption. You'll save money on supplies by buying in bulk and have the pleasure of a partner's company while you cook.
2. Avoid Multiple Shopping Trips
Take advantage of such inexpensive services as Hoseanna, which delivers a run-free pair of pantyhose to customers' doors every month. Or you can reduce time and money on food runs by opting for home delivery of groceries from sites like AmericaGrocer.com.
3. Use Mobile Coupons
Extreme couponers spend untold hours organizing and preparing for a shopping venture. Why put yourself through that when you can use mobile coupon apps right in the store? Check out PCWorld.com's list of "15 Shopping Apps That Can Save You Big Bucks" and stock up on digital must-haves.
4. Try Manilla.com
The free, web-based service Manilla helps consumers better manage all their household accounts -- including finances, utility payments, subscriptions and travel-rewards programs -- in a single, secure, online location.
5. Reduce Paper Clutter
Lack of organization drives more women crazy than men, according to the survey. Roughly half of female respondents said they felt relaxed and 40 percent happy when organized. One way to reduce the clutter that creates havoc is to pay bills online so you can just electronically file the receipts. Best of all, you don't have to write and mail checks, which always entails that lengthy hunt for stamps.
6. Shop for Presents All Year
This sounds impossible, but a little organization early on means less frantic shopping at the last minute. Which also means you won't grab an expensive item just because time is running short. And if you do find yourself panicking mid-December, don't forget about Free Shipping Day on Friday, Dec. 16. With free shipping offers from 2,000 merchants, this one-day event gives supermoms the added power of making last-minute purchases for arrival by Christmas Eve.
Andrea Woroch is a nationally recognized consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc.
View Comments (2)
I am glad to hear I am not the only one who shops for Christmas gifts year round! It's so much easier to spread the cost out over the course of the year, rather than having to come up with all that extra money in November and December. I keep a binder with gift ideas for each family member and update it if I hear them mention something they would like. If there is something I am buying off Amazon for myself, I often add something I have in the binder to my order to qualify for the free shipping. And of course I use Amazon gift cards earned through Swagbucks to pay for it.
Thanks for all the great tips!
Thanks so much for your great tips too, Jen! A gift idea binder is a terrific idea! I find that if I shop year round for gifts, I end up giving more than if I wait 'til November and December to shop, which makes the recipients so happy...and me too. I'm always surprised come December when I see all of the loot I've collected for everyone through the year, and knowing I don't have to battle the crowds always lifts my spirits!