http://theshoppingnazi.com Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://theshoppingnazi.com/spring-cleaning-your-closet/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/spring-cleaning-your-closet/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/spring-cleaning-your-closet/ It is amazing what golden treasures can be found from the simple act of cleaning out the bedroom closet. Treasures get pushed back to the rear of the closet out of shear neglect. Other treasures are put back to the rear of the closet for safe keeping. Still other treasure are put there we don’t want to acknowledged their existence. Clothes get the honored place at the ends of the wooden hanging rod just because they are not worn. It was a week ago when I got tired of wrestling shirts and pants that looked vaguely familiar. I knew many of them could not of have been mine. The pants were two, three, and four inches narrower in the waist than what I wear. The shirts were so tight they felt like plastic wrap around my chest. All those strange articles of clothing were placed in one big plastic garbage bag. The following day my wife escorted the bag to the local thrift store. As much as our closet needed a good old fashion Spring cleaning, I have seen other closets in much worst conditions. The first one that comes to mind is the closet of the mother of a friend. This closet was off the [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/spring-cleaning-your-closet/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/it-is-never-to-early-to-plan/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/it-is-never-to-early-to-plan/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/it-is-never-to-early-to-plan/ Growing my dad would continually tell me, “Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.” Several years ago, I a friend would constantly quote, “Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance”. I have observed and proven in my own life the more I do plan, the better the out come. If my planning is for a career change, marriage or even a simple shopping trip produces better results. Over this past weekend, I introduced our daughter to a spreadsheet. Her assignment was to put together her Back-to-School budget. Since she will be going into 7th grade, we figured it was time to step up her budgeting skills. It all started giving our daughter a certain amount of money for her school supplies and back to school clothes. She could no spend more than what we gave her. Last year she progressed to writing out her school supply list and clothing, then present us with it. We discussed it and adjusted her budget accordingly. This year she is to put her budget together, and present it to us. Since this year she is going into 7th grade. In addition she has been accepted into a special program for kids who are college bound, [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/it-is-never-to-early-to-plan/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/comparison-ads-fact-or-fiction/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/comparison-ads-fact-or-fiction/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/comparison-ads-fact-or-fiction/ The underlying theme for this year has been comparisons. NO! It is not just an underlying theme, it is a must when it comes to smart shopping. Whenever I go shopping there is always comparisons taking place. In the back of my mind I am running the figures as to the price difference between brand A and brand B. I reduce their cost to the lowest common unit;  per ounce, per box, or per gram. At the same time I am thinking back to  what other stores are selling the same brand at the lowest common unit from that store. Finally, before I make a decision I look at the quality difference between brand A and brand B. It was back in the mid 1980′s when Pepsi and Coke Coca went head to head with each other. We were seeing a lot of taste test comparison commercials.  I was titled the Cola Wars. Since then we have seen a lot of there companies do the very same thing. We are in an election year. As we go into summer we are going to see the major candidates compare themselves with their opposition more and more.  They will be comparing themselves on all the [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/comparison-ads-fact-or-fiction/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/ This last winter I read Innocents Aboard by Mark Twain. The book is about one of the first luxury curses made from the United States through the Mediterranean region, and on to the Holy Land. Mr Twain documented his side trips and adventures with is unique sense of humor. Realize it took place a more than a century and half ago. We have come a long way in our vacation travels since then. Back then many countries did not like the idea of welcome American vacationers visiting. Today, we are welcomed with open arms. Talking with various people who take a vacation abroad have told me it can be less expensive than taking a weeks vacation at a Disneyland resort. The numbers I have ran show it to be pretty close. In the last couple of years I am seeing more and more people starting to really travel, again. One individual I know spent last week on a Norwegian Cruise  for the technologically minded. A fellow writer will in a few weeks be taking a week long vacation with his wife traveling throughout Ireland and England. I have talked to another individual who is taking his entire family to Costa Rica for a family vacation. All this global [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/document-fixed-monthly-expenses/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/document-fixed-monthly-expenses/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/document-fixed-monthly-expenses/ Not having a idea as to your current bank account balance is just an idea. The reality can be a couple hundred dollars difference. The same holds true for where you are at with your budget. If you have your finances document it is be easier to track. Over the years, every job I have had required a certain level of documentation. In fact the more successful businesses documented every little thing that was done. I had one boss who firmly believed, “If it was not documented, it did not happen”. This holds true through out all the modern business world. If the business world requires documentation, should our home finances and budget be well documented? Seeing budget, income and expense numbers before our eyes makes for a clear understanding. If we are wanting the best for our family, we need to give them the best financial tracking as possible. Sharing this documentation of the family finances will help curb impulse purchase that can break the budget. The most basic of way to document any financial budget is a good old fashion spreadsheet. You can make one by taking a piece of lined paper. Take a ruler and pen then draw [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/document-fixed-monthly-expenses/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/out-of-milk/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/out-of-milk/#comments Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/out-of-milk/ Why many businesses fail is they just don’t run it like a business. They try to run the business like they try to run their home. If they ran their home more like a business then when it came time to start their own business, it would have a better chance of success. Success requires paying attention to detail. One such detail is the managing of the food and supplies. I have personally seen business that did not have good control over their inventory spent money than they needed. Thus having more money tied up in goods waiting to be used. This money could of have been put to better use elsewhere. The same holds true for what is in the kitchen. Is there items sitting on the shelf  gathering dust? Take green beans bought on sale, but no one in the house really likes green beans. How much is in there duplicated? Things get bought over and over because no one checks inventory before heading out shopping.  Just over a month ago, I wrote about The Grocery Shopping List. There I wrote about all the components that should be considered when making the perfect shopping list. One of those components is [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/out-of-milk/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/where-has-all-the-money-gone/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/where-has-all-the-money-gone/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:00:04 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=7575 It is Wednesday.  This past weekend was a good one. The whole family had fun.  I just check the checking account we over spent the budget by $150. There is another seven plus days left before payday. Where has all the money gone? Does the previous paragraph sound like you and your family? Does the same thing play out for you between ever pay check? Are you aware this is Financial Literacy Month? The topic for today can be found on FinancialLiteracyMonth.c0m and flm.TheShoppingNazi.com. Today’s post is short because everything that needs to be said in today’s post is said already, over at flm.TheShoppingNazi.com. If I was to give you a summary here, it would be over a thousand plus words. So the answer to finding where all the money has gone, is looking at your spending habits and budget. The Shopping Nazi is here to help you find ways on saving when buy things while getting the best possible quality at the best possible price.]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/where-has-all-the-money-gone/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/7-top-shopping-myths/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/7-top-shopping-myths/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/10-top-shopping-myths/ It always amazes me how easy myths, misconceptions and just out right false hoods get started. All it starts from some parent, or authority figure make what sounds like a reasonable statement. Then with good intentions that false statement is accepted without any critical research, by other people. If the untruth concerns a any product or service will lead to loss of precious hard earned money. It does not take any college degree to do some critical thinking, and discern what is true. Just by taking lessons learn from science class about the scientific method along with good old fashion math is the place to start. All the tools needed is a calculator, some paper, and a pencil. You  can confirm what I have listed below by a little observation and reducing costs to the lowest common denominator. 1. “Cheaper by Bulk” I will admit some things are cheaper in larger quantities, but not everything. Consumer Reports project editor Tod Marks agrees smaller sizes may actually be cheaper. It can be as high as 25% of the products on grocery store shelves. That is why it is best take a calculator with you shopping. By simply figuring the cost to things like the [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/7-top-shopping-myths/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/smart-financial-goals/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/smart-financial-goals/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/smart-financial-goals/ There are all sort of acronyms to help us remember. Face it if we all need little reminders through out the day and through out life. Why self have people made so much money creating date books, calendars, and even alarm clocks. All to help us to remember. As part of Financial Literacy Month, today’s theme is “Set SMART Financial Goals”. The acronym of SMART has been used by for years. When I looked up the word “smart” in Merriam-Websters Dictionary, I found the definition quite interesting. The definition starts with the phrase, “Making one smart : causing a sharp stinging”, “Marked by often sharp forceful activity or vigorous strength<a smart pull of the starter cord>, “brisk, spirited <a smart pace>”, and “Mentally alert : bright“. I like the idea of sharp, vigorous, spirited, and mentally alert. This is what we need to be when it comes to our finances and our shopping. I have noticed in myself, when I get into a relax, non-sharp attitude, more money is spent than is necessary. In fact that is the time the budget is over spent. Setting SMART goals along with putting them into daily practice is so important. Before you think about setting goals, review the five parts of SMART goals. S – Specific means [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/smart-financial-goals/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/family-cfo/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/family-cfo/#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/family-cfo/ Ancient cultures to modern day businesses have a structure so does the family as a unit. Each member of the family takes care of different aspects of the family business. Each family member is responsible for their own personal area as well as some portion of the family as a whole. As part of Financial Literacy Month, today the subject is Family CFO; Family Chief Financial Officer. I see this position more as a gatekeeper. Picture in medieval days cities would have a this guy standing outside the city gate with armed guards. He said who could go in or leave the city. I firmly believe that every family needs to have a Family Financial Gatekeeper. The Family Financial Gatekeeper is responsible for monitoring income and expenditures. It is the family gatekeepers job to guide the rest of the family making sure everyone is getting the best possible quality for the money they spend. When my wife and I first got together I was constantly trying to get her to manage our finances. She just didn’t have the desire to take on the duties. Finally, I took over the  responsibility. It turned out between the two of us I was more comfortable in [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/family-cfo/feed/ 0