Buy buy buy - why now is a good time to save money online

With the Australian dollar in parity with the US dollar now is a fantastic time to save money on your online purchases! So what is this PARITY business?

Parity, when referring to economics is equality in price, rate of exchange, purchasing power, or wages. In this case, the Australian dollar is equal to and if not performing better than the US dollar. Which means, that the Aussie dollar stretches further now when you purchase products from the US.

So get on the bandwagon and save some money by shopping online this Christmas.

Some great sites you should consider:

www.ebay.com

www.amaon.com

www.eastbay.com

www.ezibuy.com

And if you want to find out the exchange rate, the bext webite to do this on is www.xe.com

We don't know how long this will be the case, so take advantage today!

Tip #14 - If you can walk, don't drive!

If you live in an area where you don’t have to drive far away to get to work or stores, walk, bicycle or take a bus/train!

Not only will you save money but you will be healthier.

Tip #13 - Eat before you go shopping

Everything looks good at the grocery store when you are hungry. If you go to the store before eating you may find that you stuff your cart with more than you need! Try to go right after a meal to avoid impulse buys and to avoid getting more than what you need and spending more money than planned.

Tip #12 - Cut banking costs and fees

Enroll in totally free checking plans, avoid ATM fees by using your bank's ATM (this can be tricky, but try planning ahead and withdrawing money at the start of the week or every few days).

Tip #11 - Cook from scratch (as much as possible!)

Cooking from scratch with simple, inexpensive ingredients is one of the greatest ways to save money on your grocery budget while also eating more healthfully.

With some planning ahead and cooking in bulk and freezing, you can eliminate the need for many processed foods without spending a great deal of time and thought.

The following have some excellent recipes you can use to help save money and cook from scratch:

All Recipes
http://allrecipes.com/

Taste.com.au
http://www.taste.com.au

NineMSN Recipe Finder
http://recipefinder.ninemsn.com.au/

Best Recipes
http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/

Masterchef
http://www.masterchef.com.au/recipes.htm

Lifestyle Food
http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/

Tip #10 - Pack lunches

Packing lunch instead of eating fast food is not only cost effective but it’s a healthier choice.

There are some great resources online for parents looking to put together cost effective and healthy lunch boxes for their kids.

Here are a few sites I came across:

Easy Packed Lunch Recipes
http://hubpages.com/hub/Easy-Packed-Lunch-Recipes

eHow - How To Pack A Lunch For Teens
http://www.ehow.com/how_3725_pack-lunch-teens.html

Kids Health - School Lunches
http://kidshealth.org/parent/food/general/lunch.html

Remember, kids perform better at school when they have had a healthy lunch.

Tip #9 - Use coupons

It’s been proven time and time again that coupons can save thousands of dollars throughout the year. Coupons are also available these days online. There are many reputable sites where moms can log on, print coupons and go.

Here are just a few:

Hot Dockets
http://www.hotdockets.com.au/

Coupon Line
http://www.couponline.com.au/

Why Pay Full Price
http://www.whypayfullprice.com.au/

Coupon Snapshot
http://www.couponsnapshot.com.au/

eVoucher
https://www.evoucher.com.au/

Know of any other sites... let me know!