App Review: Acorns

Way back in the day you may remember this blog having articles with the theme "Thrifty Girl". I loved those. Sales and saving money are one of my favorite things to do, sometimes to a fault... Anyone remember that J. Crew blow out a few weeks back? Well, my wallet sure does and our closets are still trying to deal with the influx of pretty, soft things.

Of course, saving money and investing money go hand-in-hand in the bigger picture. We save to have a nest egg to fall back on, get that thing we have been really wanting (hello house, car, vacation), or, just for safe keeping. Investing is really the same, we invest to increase our assets, get to that retirement, bigger house, college fund, or anything else just a bit faster. But, let's face it, the average family just starting out or single guy/gal rarely has the kind of money needed to start setting aside.... Or so you think. Welcome Acorns.

Acorns is a nifty little app that is great for those already investing or just starting out in the investment game. Simply put, Acorns rounds your purchases up to the even dollar and invests that small amount. Unlike many things out there, the app makes investments easy to understand and lowers that limitation wall most newbie investors are afraid of crossing. The hubs recently found this app, and although we already invest, we decided that doing a little more wouldn't hurt. The good thing is that the app has taught us both a bit more about investments and it has helped us find what kind of investors we are.

When you start up Acorns you will tie the app with a few different bank accounts of your choosing. I know that some of you have freaked out at this idea, but let me say, it is as safe as Mint which is pretty darn safe. Next, you decide what kind of investments you want: Safe and untouched for the next ten year, moderate and available in 3-5, or those dangerous penny stocks that will take or multiply your change. We chose the moderate and connected it with the debit account that I use most often.

Although it is the second most common card we have (the first being a credit card we pay off every month), I only use it enough to average about $10 of investments per month. Of course, you can always add money to Acorns. In fact, you start off by adding anywhere from $5 up.

And, that's it. Next time you purchase things, you will also be purchasing stock for your future. Well done, you can now, actually, celebrate that sale in more than one way! But, be sure you are ready for those deductions, it will round up your expenditures and thus round down your available moneys.

For those who want to be able to keep track of what is happening, the app does it too. You can see your stock portfolio, each stock's past month, and your projected income for the next 20-years. Best of all, the information is actually easy to understand. I know, the whole not needing an MBA to understand your stock portfolio is a new idea to many, but it is a real one.

Whether you are wanting to save a bit and investing is new, or you are the Kevin Rose of young investors, this app is a big recommendation from me. Saving money and investing a bit is just plain smart. This app makes it both simple and easy and I have yet to see a downside in using it :) Oh, and did I mention it is free?!! It's free.

Thrifty Girl: 5 Ways to Save Money at EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival

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There are 29 booths at the 2013 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival including the new refreshment booth and Scotland booth. With this many booths filled with incredible food, it is no wonder we can overspend before blinking. There are a few simple way to save money at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival without feeling emaciated or missing out on anything you love. Follow these five tips on How to save and you are sure to leave with a full tum and full wallet!

Plan Ahead

Like most money saving methods, planning ahead for the Food and Wine Festival is a primary way to make sure the budget stays. Planning ahead does not mean figuring out which country you will start in and having a game plan for the day- thank goodness. Instead, we are talking about knowing how much you can spend and where you want to spend it. If planned well, a couple can get a ton of food and have a great time with as little as $25!

The best way to do this is to first, decide on a budget. Once a budget for each person is put in place, go check out some of the food that will be offered along with the prices. The Disney Food Blog does a great job of listing all the foods along with prices and items that are new.  This food list is one of my biggest commodities during the festivities; there is nothing worse than picking an item that is more than you want to spend, trying it, and realizing you got it last year and hated it just as much. Spending fail. Looking at the food options ahead of time will keep you from some of the most expensive and worst tasting pitfalls.

Note: Be sure to write down the foods that you want to try and take this list to the park. It can be as simple as a list on your phone, but it will be a handy reminder of all the amazing things you want to try... And all the not-so-great ones to avoid.  

Gift Card It

EPCOT has started an amazing gift card program that can be worn around your wrist and purchased inside the park. These gift cards even come with art from this year's Food and Wine Festival! Gift cards can be purchased at almost any gift shop inside EPCOT and can have more money placed on them at almost any gift shop as well. These gift cards are great for lines when you have food from the previous booth still in your hands and feel completely embarrassed rummaging through your bag. Been there. Plus, these handy guys will keep your spending on track and make payments a breeze. Every receipt will also have the current balance left on your gift card. A bookkeepers delight.

If you and your friends/family/significant other want different food items from the park, I highly recommend getting separate gift cards for each person. This will help ensure that both are getting the same amount of food and responsible for there own spending. The hubs and I each agree on a budget, plan what we want, then go to the parks and make it happen. This is so much easier than trying to figure out how much Mary Jane spent and what we have left per person.

Time Your Meals

There is not a bad time to start your EPCOT feast, it all depends on what you want from the day. If lines are the bane of your existence, get there earlier and plan for a lunch around the World Showcase. Lines usually start picking up around 5:00 PM, so try to be finished around then.

If you prefer late eating rather than early, that is fine too. The key is to plan to eat when you would normally eat. By seeing these little mini meals as your lunch, dinner, or both, you will save a massive amount compared to those who eat around the world, then go out for a Disney meal afterwards. Personally, I enjoy getting to the park around 2:00 PM, starting my World buffet, and taking some breaks between. By doing this we are able to get enough food to count as lunch and dinner, but are not simply eating the entire day away. 

Share

Let's go back to kindergarten and remember the rules of sharing with friends. When it comes to the Food and Wine Festival, sharing is the best way to try it all and stay in budget. If you and your tasting buddy are wanting to try the same thing, take this moment to save a few and share it instead. The hubs and I alternate paying for what we share to make sure that everything stays fair.

Yes, this does take some group planning or at least a little talking before each booth, but it can be totally worth it for your wallet. If the food is bad, you just saved a few on something everyone hates. If the food is too good to share another bite, you have only lost some time in line. Not the worst outcome in the history of the universe.  

Savour

Finally, enjoy your time at EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival. This event only happens once per year, so take the time to enjoy it. We have done this festival in two hours and in an entire day. The moments I remember most and the times that were the most fun were those that we slowed down to enjoy. There is a ton of delicious food here and it can be hard to not run from booth to booth like Tommy Boy on speed, but taking things slow is guaranteed to make the whole day better. Savouring each booth will make each mini meal a little more tasty and stop that not-so-great feeling of eating too much too fast. When we slow down to enjoy the festival rather than the food alone, we tend to leave with a few bucks remaining on our wrist cards and our bellies quite satisfied. Now that is what I call and Food and Wine Festival win!

Thrifty Girl: Ways to Save on Produce

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Sometimes, when I talk to people about adding more fruits or vegetables into their diet, their biggest concern is the price of good produce compared to the price of meat or carry-out. Budgets are important and I think we all can understand wanting to keep budgets in-line, no matter what "in-line" is. Of course, the fact that produce is the number one wasted food in the house does not lessen concerns of throwing away money.

Since budgets are something this family is concerned with as-well, I have a few tricks and tips up my sleeve that may help those concerned with spending extra money on produce. If your bigger concern is carry-out vs. home-made, I suggest watching this Jamie Oliver Food Revolution episode. In it, he helps a low-income family make a completely healthy, large, and well rounded meal for less than they spend at McDonald's; it blew my mind!

Shop in Season

Yes, there are some foods like broccoli and bananas that seem to never be out of season, but most other vegetables have times when they are locally grown and times when they are shipped in. The difference in price for locally grown foods compared to imported foods is substantial. With imported foods, you are not just paying the farmer, his workers, and the grocer for your goods, you are also paying a (possibly) hefty transport fee. To taint the transport biz a little more, foods that are transported over long distances are harvested before ripe so they do not spoil before delivery. This means that we are getting shorted out of taste and nutrition- and paying more for it! 

Wisebread.com​ has a great list of in season produce for those living in the northern North American states. This list is fantastic for knowing when to plant and harvest depending on climate zones, gotta love that!

Buy Local

Buying from one go-to store is quite a bit easier than specialty grocers for produce, meats, baked goods, and everything else on your list. Although this option may not be for everyone, buying directly from local farmers at farmer retail stores pays. ​Some of these stores even co-op with local cattle, dairy, poultry farmers, and bakers to sell it all under one roof. One of the greatest perks of buying locally is the support of mom and pop businesses. Buying local save on our environment and help boost our local economy. Talk about a win-win-win!

If you live near a local farm, opting to buy directly from the farm instead of the local farmer retail shop can get you some major savings. Farmers tend to give good deals if bought directly from them, since you are not having to pay transport or grocer employees at all. ​

Grow Your Own

Of course, growing your own produce is the least expensive way to purchase fruits and veggies, by far. Whether you live on the middle of a perfectly soiled property or a concrete jungle, some portion of food can be grown on your own. If you have the ability to start up a kitchen garden (which I am completely jealous of)​, there are some great starter guides to take a look at. Earth Easy has a great starter guide for getting a kitchen garden ready for planting.

If a back yard garden is not quite what you are ready for, an indoor herb garden may be a great option. Herbs, for some reason, seem to be one of the priciest produce options. Growing your own on a counter or near a window could save tons and keep herbs around for much longer. A few years ago we got an AeroGarden for Christmas. If growing plants is not your forte, you will love this. Follow the directions and in a matter of weeks you will have your own sustainable garden!

Thrifty Girl: Household Money Saving Myths

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We all want to know the secrets for saving some extra money. Whether your vice is coupon clipping or sale shopping, there are a few ways that we all try to save. Money saving myths have been going around for as long as I know, and really, who can blame them. There are quite a few great money saving tips and tricks out there, but even more that really do not amount to anything. Here are four money saving myths broken, and one that holds it's own. Can you guys which is the real deal? ​

Buy Bulk and Save

False. Buying bulk is not always the deal we think it is, sometimes, it even costs more. Do the calculations before buying bulk; certain foods are the same price in bulk as they are in the smaller version, while some companies have even started marking up their bulk products. When buying bulk, also keep in mind how much you will be using. Depending on the sell by date, you could be spending a whole lot on food that will go bad before there is time to finish it. ​

Reduced Electric Rates

True. Oh how I love this myth, especially since it is true! Depending on where you live and who your electric supplier is, you may be getting reduced rates during non-peak energy hours. Peak hours are usually daytime hours and non-peak hours occur after 8 pm and weekends in most rural areas. By turning on the dryer, washing machine, and dishwasher at these non-peak times, we could save as much as 8% annually!

Turn your AC off to Save Gas

False-ish. There is a myth that turning our car's AC off and rolling down the windows will save on gas and money at the pump. Depending on your speed, driving with the windows down will save little to no money. If you are driving slow, it will save you a few pennies at the pump, but interstate speeds with the windows down will end up costing you more than that precious AC. The wind resistance a car must battle from the windows being down takes up far more fuel consumption than driving with the AC on full. ​

Get Groceries Once per Week

False. Unless you are very good about planning out each meal and sticking to that plan, buying groceries once a week can waste a whole lot of money and even more food. Buying canned, frozen, and other long-lasting foods once a week is a great idea. Buying produce and meats on the other hand, could be burning a whole through your wallet. The average household throws about 30% of their fresh foods away because it has spoiled before they were able to eat it. If going to the grocery every night is not feasible, try going every few days instead. ​

Big Stores Mean Big Savings

False. There is a new surge of Mom-and-Pop shoppers opposed the the big box shopping. Part of this is because we all want to fund our local businesses, and part is because the people are getting wiser about the big store money saving myth. Sure, there are a few items that you can get at big box stores for less, but most groceries will cost less from local stores and farmer's markets in the end. Shop seasonal produce to save a little extra and try the farmer's market later in the day- it may be surprising how much you can save! ​