I'll respond to each item on the list individually.
- Designer tights. Who in their right mind spends $20 on tights? Who in their right mind prices tights at $20!?!? THEY'RE TIGHTS. Tights are the clothing equivalent of cotton candy: they don't weigh much, they're not comprised of much, and they generally don't last very long. The article recommends not spending more than $10. I don't even remember ever spending that much on tights. The last time I bought them they was at Target, and they were on sale for $3. Regular price is $7. This should be a no-brainer, but apparently not. $20? SERIOUSLY?
- Brand name food. This is where I disagree somewhat. Generic food brands have improved immensely, that I agree. However, there are some things that for $0.50 more are really worth the quality. I've yet to find generic process cheese squares that hold a candle to Kraft Singles. Generic Cheerios just don't make the cut for me, though for what it's worth I also like my Cheerios straight out of the box, so that's probably where some of the difference comes in. Generic milk? It may vary in other areas, but where I live the generic milk actually comes from the same local dairy, and is therefore the exact same milk, but cheaper. Shredded cheese? No real difference. Animal crackers? Not so much. They're still not crackers, and they still taste good. A bit of a warning on this one, though. Watch the ads and such. Often when the name brands are on sale, they'll actually be a better deal; sometimes the opposite is true. Check the unit prices on the price tags. If you can't find the unit price (sometimes they'll be ripped off or blocked by a sale tag or sticker), do the math in your head or use the calculator function on your cell phone.
- Café Coffee. Though I don't drink coffee and live an hour from the nearest Starbucks, this is some pretty good advice. The same goes for raging Diet Dr. Pepper addicts like me: if a 20 oz. bottle is $1.25 at a convenience store and a 6-pack of the 20 oz. bottles is $4 at the grocery store, buy them at the grocery store. Cans are even cheaper, but less convenient when on the go.
- Mail. This one is true most of the time. However, watch out for companies that charge 'convenience fees' for this kind of service. My satellite service, internet, and cell phone companies all have free online-pay. My car insurance company charges $3 to pay the old fashioned way and $2 for direct debit (there's no free way to pay with them, always a service charge). My energy bill is free to pay the by mail, but charges $3.50 to pay with a credit card online or over the phone. $0.44 for a stamp is a heck of a lot more convenient than $3.50. If you don't use them often, buy the 'Forever' kind that can be used, as their name implies, even after there's a rate increase.
- Cocktails. I agree with the sentiment, but not the advice here. Why not drop the alcohol period? I was a rare drinker before the economy went to hell, and dropped the bottle of wine I occasionally bought to cook with once I started tightening the budget. I've never really understood people who consider alcohol a necessity for a fun evening. But hey, if you do, so be it, and remember to designate a driver and all that. Be safe!
Finally, a piece of my own advice. If you use a lot of over-the-counter cold medication or painkillers, buy generic. They're legally obligated to contain the same active ingredients (read: the stuff that makes you feel better) as their name-brand counterparts. The only differences are in the fillers/flavorings and fancy packaging. Generics are often labeled by their more formal names or active ingredients, so learn to look for those: Tylenol = Acetaminophen, Advil = Ibuprofen, Aleve = Naproxen, etc. It's the same thing, just with a different name. If you're confused, ask a pharmacist, they're there to help!
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