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Home > Smart Spending > Archives > 2008 > October
October 2008
Economical Entertainment, From Santa to Stockhausen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Priscilla the Pink Pig returns to Lenox Square this weekend.
Entertainment writer Shane Harrison gives you tips on events that are free or cheap.
It’s easy to have a good time without spending your hard-earned money. There are loads of fun things to do around metro Atlanta that won’t break anyone’s failing bank. Here are just a few:
For the Early Elf
Guess who’s here already? While the Halloween candy is still rumbling in your belly, Santa’s on his way to the Mall of Georgia’s “Santabration.” St. Nick arrives at 3 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Village Pavilion. Activities include live entertainment and holiday festivities culminating in the annual tree lighting at dusk and a screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Free. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. 678-482-8788.
Sirius-ly Free
Ensemble Sirius, currently artists in residence at Emory, will perform a program of music by pioneering German electronic composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. The duo - pianist Michael Fowler and percussionist Stuart Gerber - even have the composer’s stamp of approval after working with him from 1999 to 2001. See the AJC’s Pierre Ruhe’s story on Gerber’s connection with Stockhausen here. 8 p.m. Nov. 1. Free. Emory Performing Arts Studio, 1804 N. Decatur Road, Emory University, Atlanta. 404-727-5050.
Pig Out
It’s almost time to pull out the pig again. Atlanta’s holiday tradition, Priscilla the Pink Pig, takes us on a train ride through a life-size storybook that includes the original Pink Pig and her friends. Priscilla returns Nov. 1 under the big tent in the Lenox Road upper-level parking deck at Macy’s at Lenox Square and benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 1-Dec. 30; noon-6 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 1-30. $3; on Nov. 1, all children who wear their Halloween costumes ride for free. 3393 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 770-913-5639.
Show Your Appreciation
Covington and Operation Sandbox come together to help the men and women of our armed forces stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Support Our Troops Festival will includes appearances by impersonators of country music singers and the General Lee (“The Dukes of Hazzard”), along with the Archmen Band (playing classic rock of the ’50s through the ’70s). Check out the Web site for a list of items being collected to send to troops. 4-8 p.m. Nov. 1. Free admission. Historic Covington Square, 1106 Washington St., Covington. 770-786-8188.
Celebrate Collaboration
Decatur Market & Gallery, a new cooperative endeavor by a group of local artists, celebrates its grand opening 5-10 p.m. Nov. 1. The artists’ work includes paintings, mixed media, glasswork, woodwork, jewelry and textiles. The venue will have a weekly outdoor arts and crafts market in front of the gallery from 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (weather permitting). The gallery’s regular hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Free. Decatur Gallery, 153 Ponce de Leon Place, Decatur. 404-377-0755.
Read other money saving tips at Your Money, and see a list of all of more upcoming free and cheap events. Remember, it pays to save.
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Playing The Fuel: To Fill Or Not To Fill?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Devoted readers of this blog might recall during the escalation of gas prices how Mr. Cheapskatin’ would cruise around with the gauge flirting with “E,” tapping the pumps for a few gallons at a time. The goal: Wait until prices reversed course, at which time I would fill ‘er up.
Well, I’ve twice glug-glugged to near capacity, only to see the numbers continue to plummet. Each time I assume they’ve leveled off for a while, prices keep on dippin’ in concert with the temperature.
According to my favorite fuel website, the average cost nationwide for a gallon was $2.542 on Wednesday, nearly 27 cents lower than a week earlier. In a mere month, it fell by more than a buck.
It wasn’t long ago that Georgia was among the country’s highest states for gas. Now, it ranks 15th lowest. Atlanta has settled in at mid-pack among cities at an average of $2.33.
Do you keep filling up, certain that prices are scraping rock-bottom? Or are you waiting to move the needle to “F” under the belief that the numbers are headed further south?
Have your driving habits changed with the decline? Or are you spending equally less time behind the wheel as when prices exceeded $4 per?
By the way, gas guzzlers have found heaven in Des Moines, Iowa. Get this: A gallon there goes for $1.995.
Your government is at work with a website full of advice on keeping fuel costs low . Me, I’m no longer loading my tank to the top. Somebody alert me when it bottoms out.
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Animal Magnetism: Do You Go Overboard?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My girlfriend wants nothing less than the best for her precious puppy. Yeah, OK, it is kinda cute, but still …
Gourmet, healthy food? Fashionable collars and leashes? Grooming products borrowed from a beauty salon?
Me, I’d just load up a cart with cheap loot from the dollar store. Instead, I get dispatched on errands to pet shops, where prices on some food items make me wish I ate that well.
Softening the blow are coupons for $5 off every $20-plus purchase at Pet Supermarket. Not sure how I got on their list, but the offer finds its way to my mailbox at maybe once a month.
How do you handle your pet’s dietary needs? Only the finest?
A fetching — sorry about that — website, which boasts more than 12,000 non-food selections is www.petedge.com. Some stuff seems useful, others frivolous. Would you believe Halloween costumes?
What’s the craziest purchase you’ve made for your pet?
By the way, if your pup’s or cat’s vet prescribes special grub, don’t buy it from him/her before you compare prices elsewhere. The animal doctor markup can be substantial.
Some experts say pet owners typically shell out more than $1,000 annually on Sparky or Tigger. There are justifiable ways to cut corners. After all, in most cases, will Mommy’s or Daddy’s four-legged dearest know the difference?
For more (money-saving ideas), peruse and this one.
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Have Fun, Spend Less
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Entertainment writer Shane Harrison gives you tips on events that are free or cheap.
Who says you have to spend money to have a good time? There are loads of fun things to do around metro Atlanta that cost very little (except in increasingly cheaper - thank heavens - gas).
Classically Cheap
Emory’s University Chorus will join the Emory Symphony Orchestra and pianist Deborah Thoreson to present Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy.” The Orchestra will also perform the Overture to Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pathetique”). 8 p.m. Oct. 24. Free. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, 1700 N. Decatur Road N.E., Emory University, Atlanta. 404-727-5050.
Festively Smyrna
It’s time for jack-o’-lanterns in the Jonquil City. Smyrna Fall Jonquil Festival 2008 hosts more than 150 arts and crafts. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 25; noon-5 p.m. Oct. 26. Free admission. Smyrna Village Green, 2800 King St. 770-434-6600.
Fire and Flash
LeFlash, part of the Castleberry Hill Art Stroll, includes 30 artist projects, performances and installations. It’s a big production that offers a marching band, the opening of a special public art project in Cleopas Park and fireworks at midnight. 7 p.m.-midnight Oct. 24. Walker and Nelson streets. 404-413-5230.
Cavort With Canines
Put Rover in a tutu — or some other costume he’s sure to love — and head out to the PAWS Halloween Bash, a benefit for the DeKalb County no-kill shelter. 1-5 p.m. Oct. 26. The $10 admission includes a goodie bag and 10 tickets for various events. PAWS Atlanta, 5287 Covington Highway, Decatur. 770-593-1155.
Read other money saving tips at Your Money. Remember, it pays to save.
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Dialed In: Shrink Those Cell Phone Bills
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My family cell phone bill arrived the other day. When I noticed the ring-tone and game downloads, along with way-over-the-limit minutes from calls to scattered cities across America with which I have no connection, I started to dial the guilty party — my son, who lives elsewhere — and read him the riot act. Then I figured that might further inflate next month’s bill, so my strategy switched to putting a lid on costs.
Your carrier might be able to prevent certain add-ons from occurring. My son once had text messaging, which always struck me as a luxury, so I contacted my carrier and blocked it.
What’s your take on text messaging? Optional? Or (a) necessary (evil)?
It’s wise to calculate minutes burned each month to help select the proper plan. Ideally, you want a minutes-per-month plan slightly above your typical usage. If it’s much higher, you’re wasting dollars. If it’s too low, you’re getting slammed with usage charges. (Hugs and kisses to whoever first offered rollover minutes.)
Avoid calling directory assistance, which could cause a hole in your pocket.
And do you really need caller ID, call waiting or three-party calling? Be honest now.
If you can, place calls during the graveyard shift, generally from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. On my plan, the minutes’ clock stops during those hours.
For more cell phone savings ideas:. Here’s another site.
What ways have you discovered to reduce your cell phone tab?
I just got off the horn with my carrier, which agreed to “unsubscribe” us to any downloads on the account I share with my son. I can’t wait to call him with the news. Here’s hoping he has his phone turned on between 9 and 6.
Looking for other ways to save? Check out Your Money
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Do you have a question about money?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Want to learn how to better manage your money?
We recently gave readers the opportunity to ask the experts at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.
Question:
I’m trying to become debt free and don’t want even the temptation of credit cards. Should I use the bulk of my savings ($13,000) pay off the cards and cancel them or just continue to pay the monthly payment plus a few dollars more and not use the cards? - Katie
Answer:
Katie, that’s an excellent question. The answer will vary depending on how much debt your have. In general, everyone needs to have some cash on hand in a savings account in case of an emergency. We recommend you maintain six months worth of your living expenses in an FDIC-insured savings instrument.
On the other hand, your goal should also be to pay off all your credit cards and then put the cards away. But do not close the accounts. The exception to this rule is you might want to close accounts that have annual fees. But closing credit card accounts will reduce your credit limit and hurt your credit score. Let’s make some assumptions about your situation to illustrate one strategy you might take. Let’s say you have $8,000 or $10,000 in credit card debt and the interest rate is 20 percent. Meanwhile your savings account is earning a return of 4 percent. We would advise using part of your $13,000 to pay off the credit card debt and then start rebuilding your savings again over time with a goal of reaching six month’s worth of your living expenses in this account. This way you still have $3,000 or more in your savings account in case an emergency occurs while you are replenishing your savings.
Question: I’m a 58-year-old, 34-year veteran teacher nearing retirement. The TRS offers the option of taking a PLOP and lower monthly checks, or the regular retirement checks. How do I know which option is best for me? My husband has already retired from teaching and we will be debt free in about 3-4 more years. So do I PLOP or not? - Old School
Answer: For those not familiar with benefits offered to public school teachers, Old School is asking if she should take the Partial Lump-Sum Option Plan offered to members of the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia. This is a question that will vary by individual circumstance and carries important implications for a retired teacher’s financial well-being after they stop working. The option allows teachers to take a large one-time payment which is assessed against their total retirement benefit, resulting in smaller monthly payments over time than if they hadn’t taken the PLOP. Generally, a use of the lump-sum that enhances retirement income or savings may be worthwhile. Using the money for travel or things that won’t increase in value is not a good idea. Many teacher retirement systems suggest that employees consult a financial planner before they take a PLOP. Good advice.
Question:
I had saved up about 18 months of living expenses to cover my mortgage and bills in case of a lay-off. Well, I had a family emergency requiring me to spend that this past year to take care of it. I contribute the max to my 401(k) that my company allows — 25 percent — and also put in $100 a month in a Roth IRA. I want to build my savings back to that 18 month level. Should I suspend or lower my retirement contributions? Or should I claim more withholding or both? - Running on half a tank
Answer:
You are doing a great job at saving and you are to be commended on your determination and ability to think about the future. Consider temporarily lowering your contributions to your IRA to rebuild your emergency fund. Eighteen months of emergency savings is very cautious. Do you believe if you lost your job you would need 18 months to find a new job making similar income? If the answer to that question is “yes,” then resume your strategy of setting aside enough money to cover expenses for 18 months. But if the answer is “no” and you probably only need three to six months to find a new job, you should be OK with allotting six to eight months of your living expenses to an emergency fund. Make sure that your other debts are also paid while you are building up your savings. Once you rebuild your emergency fund you should resume contributing the maximum allowed to your retirement plans.
Question:
What is the calculation used to pay down a mortgage in half the time? For example, a 20 year mortgage with a fixed rate of 5.5 percent? - Keeps Money
Answer:
The calculation is a bit complicated because you have to take compound interest into consideration. We’d recommend you skip the algebraic calculation and go to Mortgageloan.com’s Payoff Calculator. Using that calculator, if you borrow $200,000 at 5.5 percent interest over 20 years you’ll pay a total of $330,187 over the life of the loan, with monthly payments of $1,376. If you paid an additional $800 per month, you would pay the loan off in 10 years and save $69,931 in interest.
Do you have questions about money matters? Submit your questions and we’ll get the answers.
For more money-saving advice, go to Your Money
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The Plane Truth: Cheap Airfares At Your Fingertips
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When the price of a barrel of oil busted through the $100 barrier and continued to ascend like a 747 taking off at Hartsfield-Jackson, I figured airlines would jack up their lowest fares accordingly. Indeed, bargain hunters like me noticed a bump, but not as much as expected.
Now, the law of gravity is kicking in, and the landing has been anything but rough. Fares offered by AirTran, for example, have dipped as far as $138, plus tax and fees, to my beaten-path cities in Florida, $158 to D.C. and $168 to New York. Those enticing numbers are remindful of a bygone era when gas was south of $2 per gallon.
Last month, I spotted a round-trip seat on Delta to LaGuardia for $204, counting extras, and snatched it up. Such a deal, eh?
Shoulda waited. A few weeks later, the same flights on selected days were available for $189 total on Delta and AirTran. (For comparison’s sake: Driving my Audi to The Big Apple and back would burn about $215 in gas, at $3 a gallon.)
Have you purchased a red-tag plane ticket lately that you’d like to brag about?
Finding some values is easy. Sign up with your most-traveled-on airlines and receive email alerts on sales. For me, as you may have surmised, it’s Delta and AirTran.
What other airlines send fare-related emails to subscribers? How do you evaluate them?
The best local source that I mine for rock-bottom deals on all flights tn and out of Hartsfield-Jackson is Clark Howard. I also tap in to several sites that are not Atlanta-specific, among them Expedia and Last Minute Travel.
Do you have a favorite Web site for checking out fares?
It’s usually a given that the most alluring fares apply to travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, sometimes Thursdays. Last I checked with AirTran, though, it extended to some Mondays. So, if you are not locked in on travel dates, hit the flexible-days tab when cruising online for fares. On Delta, you can look at a seven-day window, five on AirTran. More [travel tips]:(http://airfare.michaelbluejay.com/.)
For budget-conscious air travelers, what comes down probably will go back up. So, to cope with the ever-changing fares, heed the advice of the flight attendant: Fasten your seat belt.
To find ways to help make you way through a bumpy economy check out Your Money.
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Money woes? Ask the experts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are you worried about your money?
We recently gave readers the opportunity to ask the experts at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.
The answers were provided by Mechel Glass, director of education for CCCS.
Question:
I had saved up about 18 months of living expenses to cover my mortgage and bills in case of a lay-off. Well, I had a family emergency requiring me to spend that this past year to take care of it. I contribute the max to my 401(k) that my company allows — 25 percent — and also put in $100 a month in a Roth IRA. I want to build my savings back to that 18 month level. Should I suspend or lower my retirement contributions? Or should I claim more withholding or both? - Running on half a tank
Answer:
You are doing a great job at saving and you are to be commended on your determination and ability to think about the future. Consider temporarily lowering your contributions to your IRA to rebuild your emergency fund. Eighteen months of emergency savings is very cautious. Do you believe if you lost your job you would need 18 months to find a new job making similar income? If the answer to that question is “yes,” then resume your strategy of setting aside enough money to cover expenses for 18 months. But if the answer is “no” and you probably only need three to six months to find a new job, you should be OK with allotting six to eight months of your living expenses to an emergency fund. Make sure that your other debts are also paid while you are building up your savings. Once you rebuild your emergency fund you should resume contributing the maximum allowed to your retirement plans.
Question:
Would it be wise to move some monies from my retirement fund to a new offering from my credit union for a CD with a 7.6 percent rate? - Stefanie
Answer:
If your retirement fund is an IRA or 401(k), the transfer you suggest would not be a good idea in most circumstances. If you are younger than 59 ½ there is a 10 percent penalty for early distribution from typical retirement funds. In addition, the early withdrawal from the retirement fund will be taxed as income.
However, the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act does allow penalty free withdrawals in a handful of circumstances. For example, a first-time homebuyer who needs a down payment can withdraw up to $10,000 from a retirement fund without penalty. But would it be “wise” to withdraw retirement fund money early and park it in a CD until it’s time to close on a home? Probably not.
Question:
What is the calculation used to pay down a mortgage in half the time? For example, a 20 year mortgage with a fixed rate of 5.5 percent? - Keeps Money
Answer:
The calculation is a bit complicated because you have to take compound interest into consideration. We’d recommend you skip the algebraic calculation and go to Mortgageloan.com’s Payoff Calculator. Using that calculator, if you borrow $200,000 at 5.5 percent interest over 20 years you’ll pay a total of $330,187 over the life of the loan, with monthly payments of $1,376. If you paid an additional $800 per month, you would pay the loan off in 10 years and save $69,931 in interest.
In recent months, CCCS of Greater Atlanta has helped clients struggling to pay their mortgages. Many lenders are now more willing to help people avoid foreclosure by changing loan terms, such as lowering interest rates, in order to get the homeowner into a situation that is viable long term.
Do you have questions about working with your lender? How do you get relief and avoid foreclosure? Or, do you have questions about other money matters? Submit your questions and we’ll get the answers.
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Have fun while spending less
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Entertainment writer Shane Harrison gives you tips on events that are free or cheap.
Who says you have to spend money to have a good time? There are loads of fun things to do around metro Atlanta that won’t cost you a dime (except in increasingly cheaper - thank heavens - gas).
40 years of Woodruff
The Woodruff Arts Center’s 40th anniversary festivities begin with a free night of theater at the Alliance (Oct. 17) and continue with a community engagement day (9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 18). There will be many other activities, too, include a performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Jazz at the High, and Art Fusion 40, a late night celebration of art, film, music, dancing and global culture. See the center’s website for a schedule of events. Multiple venues. Through Oct. 20. Free. 404-733-5000.
Isn’t it always Halloween in Little Five Points?
Looking for costume ideas? Get a little inspiration from the outrageous denizens of Atlanta’s freakiest, funkiest neighborhood. The 2008 Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade; complete with live music, street entertainment, outdoor beverage vendors, children’s area, Halloween costume contest — happens this weekend. 5-10 p.m. Oct. 17. Noon-10 p.m. Oct. 18 (parade 4 p.m.). Free. Findley Plaza, 1160 Euclid Ave., Atlanta. 404-577-4212.
Four-Footed Flyers
Canine competitors (and their human counterparts) from the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe converge at the Disc Dog World Finals. The showdown is hosted by the Greater Atlanta Dog and Disc Club and serves as a fund-raiser for the Etowah Valley Humane Society. 2-7 p.m. Oct. 17; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 18; noon-6 p.m. Oct. 19. Free to spectators; $10 to enter Novice Division. Dellinger Park, 100 Pine Grove Road, Cartersville. 770-386-6184.
Tibetan beginnings
Official opening of the Drepung Loseling Monastery’s Loseling Gallery. The event includes Tibetan food, music, games and dance along with meditation classes, children’s arts and crafts, and a bazaar with artifacts and jewelry. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 18. Free. 1781 Dresden Drive, Atlanta. 404-982-0051. There’s also an exhibition, “The Loseling Dolls and Traditional Costumes of the Tibetan World,” taking place at Emory University and opening 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20. It spotlights the creations of the master dollmakers of Drepung Loseling monastery that illustrate lay and monastic costumes of old Tibet. Dollmakers Ven. Geshe Pema Ludrup and Ven. Geshe Yeshe Thokme are to demonstrate their art daily during the exhibition. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 20; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 21; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 22; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 23; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24; noon-4 p.m. Oct. 25. Free. Emory University Visual Arts Building and Gallery, 700 Peavine Creek Drive, Atlanta. 404-727-6315.
Read other money saving tips at Your Money. Remember, it pays to save.
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Something To Chew On: Use Those Restaurant Coupons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coupon clippers, once regarded as socially challenged twerps, have become accepted, even applauded.
But the looks of admiration can turn chilly toward those of use who employ restaurant coupons. We’re like the lepers of the coupon community, especially at the nicer dining establishments.
That’s why I surreptitiously slip the precious money-saver beneath my credit card in the payment folder, lest somebody at the next table think, “Well, if he can’t afford the prices here, why doesn’t he just stick to Mickey D’s?”
Do you use restaurant coupons without shame?
Waiters have frowned at the sight of my coupon. One returned with my bill and announced loudly enough for anyone not plugged into an iPod to hear, “Sir, your coupon expired last week.”
I tend to hold out for buy-one, get-one-free coupons, obtained mostly from fliers in the mail. They have dried up lately, but I expect a new batch as the recession drives restaurant regulars back to their kitchens.
Online coupons are plentiful, but the sites I’ve found generally charge a small fee or knock off just a few dollars per meal. Have you discovered any two-for-one deals online?
Some organizations hawk entertainment booklets stuffed with restaurant coupons. You can usually recoup the cost of the booklet with your first outing. An advantage here is access to local, independent sites in contrast to the chains generally found on the Web.
I like to eat out. If I can knock 15 bucks off a $50 tab, which eventually provides me a bonus meal down the road, what’s the prob? It’s more dough in the restaurant’s cash register — and in the server’s pocket, since I don’t scrimp on the tip.
Hey, hungry coupon clippers, share your experiences at the finer eateries. Have you gotten snotty harrumphs from waiters? Have your tablemates embarrassingly covered their faces with napkins?
Or, frankly, my dears, do you not give a darn?
Check out Your Money for more tips for cheap and free fun and for general money saving tips.
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Money questions? Ask the experts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What do you want to know about managing your money?
In today’s tough economy times, consumers are often left wondering what’s the best move to make to keep their households running smoothly.
We’ll use this space to occasionally have experts field consumer questions about debt, living on a budget, banking and running a small business in tough times.
Do you have a specific money-related question? We’ve asked the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta staff to help answer a few questions.
For money tips on managing your money visit Your Money.
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It’s In The Cards: Use Plastic Wisely
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember the classic cinematic scene in “The Graduate?” A fellow tells the Dustin Hoffman character, “I want to say one word to you. Just one word… Plastics.”
Well, I’d like to say a few words about plastic — the much-maligned credit card. A recent article urged consumers not to carry plastic because it creates debt and late fees.
That may be sound advice for some, but not for smart shoppers. With us, the card is providing an interest-free loan. We purchase an item, then don’t pay for it until weeks later.
Is this how you use your card? Or are you inclined to not taking care of the tab in full before fees kick in? (If so, here’s five tips on reducing your card debt.)
Last month, my son’s tuition payment of $6,800 was due. I applied it to my card and was able to wait a month to pay it off. That’s a month’s worth of interest I earned on the amount while it sat in my account.
Better yet, after I accumulate points for credit card spending, I convert them for cash. This year, I anticipate $500 getting kicked back to me.
Does your credit card offer a cash-back deal?
All it takes to benefit from a credit card is a little discipline. Pay the total on the date due, not before. Fringe benefit: No worries about stuffing your wallet or purse with cash.
Where have you gone, Mrs. Robinson?
Why, of course, you’re off to the mall, with your credit card in hand.
Learn more ways to survive during this economic downtown at Your Money
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Looking for free and cheap events?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a tough economy the best events are those that are free or cheap.
Not sure where to go or what to do? We’re going to help you out. Here are some events where you can go, have fun and not break the bank:
Moon viewing
Spend the evening learning about “Otsukimi,” or moon viewing at Agnes Scott College Friday (tonight), beginning at 7 p.m. The event is being sponsored by the Japanese Cultural Events Committee and the Astronomy Club. Other activities include haiku and poetry composition, calligraphy and a taste of Japanese tea and sweets. The event will be held at the Bradley Observatory, on campus. It’s free. For more information, call (404) 471-6430.
Sports
The Atlanta Hawks will host a free public scrimmage at Philips Arena, beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The A-Town Dancers and team mascots will also be available for photos and autographs. Get there early. The first 50 fans will also receive free tickets to the Hawks-Orlando Magic pre-season game on Oct. 20. Free parking is available at the Centennial Parking deck. Print out the parking pass and bring it with you.
Exhibits
Wonder what it was like to live on a farm during the early 19th century? You can find out through exhibits and demonstrations at Fall Farm Days in Roswell. The free event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Archibald Smith Plantation Home, 935 Alpharetta St., Roswell. For information call (770) 641-3978 or visit the website
Team trivia and other fun things
Looking to test your trivia skills? The Marietta Museum of History offers College Coffee Nights every second Tuesday of the month. The event includes an after-hour tour of the museum, snacks, coffee and team trivia. It costs $3 per person, but let Anna Morrow know you’re coming (770) 794-5710 or email her at anna@mariettahistory.org.
Has the economy put a crimp on your entertainment plans? What’s on you calendar?
Related links:
Best of Big A. Free things to do on a Saturday night. Our Picks
[Best of Big A, Your picks for free things to do on a Saturday night](
http://www.accessatlanta.com/best-of-the-big-a/content/best-of-the-big-a/your-atlanta-saturdays.html)And here’s more information on coping during the financial crisis
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No ticket? No problem
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If I had a dollar for every time friends tell me they are not attending a major concert or sports event because they lack a ticket, well, I’d have enough buy a marked-up, front-row seat from one of those online ticket brokers.
The point is, you don’t need them. Go to the arena and you’ll get in, usually at below cost. My advice often is met with a look of disbelief. But, hey, they’re my pals. I wouldn’t steer them wrong.
See, when tickets are first placed on sale, many folks purchase the maximum, thinking they will distribute them among relatives, co-workers or acquaintances. Invariably, some buyers get stuck with unclaimed seats.
Even at a high-demand event, most of them don’t care about profiting from a resale. They just want to unload the leftovers, recoup some of their money and get inside. For you, the key is distinguishing these sellers from the onsite scalpers, there to make a buck — or several. It’s easy to tell the difference.
Make sure you avoid conducting the transaction too close to the site if laws forbidding such sales within a certain distance are enforced. (Years ago, a cop snatched an SEC Football Championship Game ticket I was trying to dump cheaply and confiscated it.)
Dress and behave as if you desire to blend in with the pricey-seat patrons. The seller knows whoever takes his extras might wind up next to him.
Your pockets should contain various denominations of bills — twenties, tens, fives and ones — so you don’t have to fool with change after a price is agreed upon.
If you want to enjoy the event dirt-cheap and don’t mind missing the first few songs or plays, wait until it’s showtime. By then, it’s truly a buyer’s market.
Those are my tips. How about yours?
In the past year, I’ve snared a second-row, side-stage ticket at half-off for my favorite band, two deeply reduced Hawks ducats and a $20 seventh-row spot at a Chastain Park performance.
Out of hundreds of sold-old events I’ve attended for work or play, only twice have I not noticed a ticket that wasn’t exorbitantly priced. One was an NCAA Final Four championship when it was held in smaller buildings than now. The other was a Super Bowl at the Dome. These are the exceptions.
So, I don’t want to hear that you are bypassing the big show or game because you are ticket-less. Shoot, I prefer the onsite approach, anyway, to avoid the outrageous fees of TicketMaster, et al. There’s also Atlanta Performs, where tickets are half-price on selected theater shows on the day of the performance (available beginning at noon).
Expect additional deals may be in the future. Tough economic times are perhaps partly to blame for the availability of discounted tickets to what should be considered a hot concert. Fellow blogger, Sonia Murray, writes about half-price ticket sales for Mary J. Blige and Robin Thicke concert tickets.
Let’s hear your experiences, good or bad, from buying tickets outside an event.
And, if you want to read more about saving and other Smart Spending tips check out Your Money.
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Credit cards may be harder to get with lower limits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got plastic? If you do, you may have noticed a few changes such as lower limits and higher rates.
Richard Moody, chief economist at Mission Residential said credit card issuers rules may be tightening. “Banks are starting to see increased delinquencies on their credit-card portfolios and are trying to raise rates and tighten terms on payment,” Moody says in a Wall Street Journal article “It’s an implicit way of tightening credit.”
The article reports that “Consumer credit has grown steadily even as the housing market has gone bust and many credit sources have dried up. That is largely because consumers have piled on credit-card debt, increasingly to pay for staples such as groceries and gasoline.”
Have you been recently turned down for a credit card? Has your rate been raised or your limit lowered?
For help making it through tough economic times check out Your Money
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Saving on extracurricular activities
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A bad economy doesn’t have to mean an end to your children’s extracurricular activities.
By following some of these suggestions, you can keep your children busy without breaking the bank.
For instance, instead of buying new sports and musical equipment, consider used equipment? A new pair of football cleats can run $75 at a sporting goods store, but you can get a used pair for half of that. And check the classifieds or a music store for good deals on used instruments.
How do you keep costs down without sacrificing your children’s after-school activities? Share your tips.
You can find more money saving tips at Your Money
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From The Clothes Horse’s Mouth
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The chill in the air means it’s time to start clothes-shopping for … next spring and summer?
Yes, much like buying holiday decorations the week after Christmas, the time to refresh your wardrobe is two or three seasons ahead.
I acquire many of my duds at Macy’s. Normally, their selections are overpriced. Patience pays off when their stores unload out-of-season apparel, often reduced by 40 percent or more. I often cut costs further, up to 15 percent, by using a Macy’s credit card.
If you’re the type who requires the most up-to-date styles, this strategy isn’t for you. Macy’s works for me because they sell nice clothes that are not all necessarily in uo-to-the-moment vogue.
What stores work for you with “clearance” attire?
One other thing about Macy’s: The clothing choices vary from store to store. For example, there is a much wider (and hipper) range at the Lenox Mall location than at North DeKalb Mall. Check out their website for a list of brands, but call ahead to confirm an individual store carries them.
What are your tips for saving on clothes? Meantime, I feel a cold spell coming on. So I’m outa here … to go buy some shorts and T-shirts.
Want to read more tips? Check out Your Money
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Food For Thought: Clipping Coupons Can Be Rewarding
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got home from the supermarket Sunday and, as always, glanced at two figures on my receipt.
Grand Total: $31.74.
Your Savings at [store name]: $37.57.
Yesssss!
‘Tis a warm feeling when you save more than you shell out at the grocery. What’s the least you’ve ever spent for the most? Do you feel all warm and fuzzy?
Here’s my supermarket M.O.:
*Acquire a shopping card for discounted items at stores that offer them.
Clip coupons out of the Sunday AJC. (Shameless plug: You can get the cost of the newspaper returned many times over with the savings.)
Look for buy-one-get-one-free items, the primo money-saving deals. These are overstocked items, usually fresh — though inspect produce and meats before you buy.
Hold onto your coupons to apply to products marked down or to the two-fers. In my book, if a coupon further lowers the cost of a reduced item, that’s hitting the daily double.
When you see an item marked “three for $4.50” or “10 for $10,” the store wants you to buy them in bulk. Nice try. With few exceptions, you can purchase just one at the bargain rate.
Many shoppers prefer to print out coupons on-line. Among the most popular: www.couponsurfer.com, www.couponmom.com, www.grocerycouponmom.com. I tend to avoid them because you never know how much e-mails will rain down on you by signing up to a coupon service.
How do you minimize your grocery bill? Which sites do you hit up? Know any that do not pepper you with spam?
One last piece of advice: While digging into your pocket at the cashier to fetch your coupons, make sure you grab ‘em all. Exiting the store Sunday, I noticed one still crammed in my cargo shorts. Dadgummit, another dollar I could have saved.
There are more tips at Your Money. Check it out!
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