EPISODE 26 ~ SAVE MORE: Shop Where You Sell: Buy Gorgeous Threads At The Consignment Stores Where You Sell

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Sandra Packwood, owner of Do You Deja Vous, already taught us how to sell at consignment shops. Now, she’s doing double duty by  teaching us how to “Save More” by consignment shopping, as well!   

So Sandra, the women who shop at your store, are their finances tight and they can’t afford to shop retail?  Or are they upscale but like a bargain?  What brings them in?

Both!  I get all kinds of women of all different ages and means.

Do you find that some people have to get over the idea of wearing someone else’s “used’ clothes?

Rarely.  Interestingly, the ones who are the most squeamish are teenage girls, perhaps because their parents have always bought them everything and they don’t understand the value of what they are getting.

What would you say to those folks to help them get over it?

Many of the clothes for sale in  my shop are brand new with tags on.  Others have been drycleaned.  Everything is in top condition.

Now let’s talk about the deals people get when they shop at a store like yours.,  Give me 2 or 3 examples of what things would cost new versus what you sell them for.

Gucci scarf: Original price $500.  Consignment Price: $222.

Kate Spade shoes: Original Price: $200.  Consignment price: $39.

Kate Spade Dress: Original Price: $350.  Consignment price: $129.

Would you say your shop is pretty typical as far as the percentage savings people can expect?

Yes, savings of 50-75%.

Do you think your customers wear your clothing on the down low and keep it a secret that they bought it at a consignment shop?  Or do they brag about it? 

Both!  Some women tell me they get so many compliments.  Some don’t tell because they don’t want their friends to come because they wear the same size and they don’t want the competition!

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EPISODE 9 ~ SAVE MORE: Prescription Medications: Did you know you can get prescription drugs for free?

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THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION MEDS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE PAST DECADE AND I KNOW FROM MY WORK AS CONSUMER CORRESPONDENT FOR THE DR. OZ SHOW THAT THIS IS A REAL PAIN POINT FOR PEOPLE.

SO, HERE’S THE DEAL: EVERY YEAR, THE BIG PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES EACH GIVE AWAY MORE THAN $200 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FREE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. YES!

IT’S TRUE. FOR SOME REASON, ALMOST NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT THESE OFFERS.
THEY’RE CALLED “PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND THEY’RE MEANT TO HELP
PEOPLE WHO AREN’T OLD ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE AND AREN’T POOR ENOUGH TO
QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID. I’VE FOUND THAT THE INCOME THRESHOLDS, ARE REALLY QUITE GENEROUS.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN MAKE AS MUCH AS 90-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR —EVEN MORE IF YOU LIVE IN AN EXPENSIVE AREA LIKE SAN FRANCISCO OR NEW YORK— AND STILL QUALIFY FOR THESE
FREEBIES. IF YOU DON’T QUALIFY FOR FREE MEDS, YOU MAY VERY WELL QUALIFY FOR DISCOUNTED
ONES.

THERE’S A CENTRAL CLEARINGHOUSE WEBSITE YOU CAN GO TO TO SEARCH FOR
PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT COVER YOUR DRUGS. AND PRE-QUALIFYING TAKES…I’M GONNA SAY…2 MINUTES. I’M NOT EVEN EXAGGERATING! YOU JUST ENTER THE MEDS YOU TAKE, YOUR AGE, ZIP CODE, NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND YOUR INCOME. AND THEN UP POPS A SCREEN TELLING YOU WHICH FREE MEDS YOU QUALIFY FOR AND HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR
APPLICATION. AT THAT POINT, YOU USUALLY HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF INCOME AND DETAILS LIKE
THAT.

EVERY DRUG COMPANY’S PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT BUT IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 10 DAYS TO
GET FINAL APPROVAL. THAT’S IT! YOU WILL EITHER PICK UP YOUR FREE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AT A LOCAL PHARMACY OR YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE.
I HAVE LINKED YOU TO ALL OF THE RESOURCES YOU NEED TO SEE IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU
KNOW CAN GET FREE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS:

•Needy Meds: This nonprofit was started by a nurse and doctor to help
people find these programs: www.needymeds.org

•Partnership for Prescription Assistance: Run by PhRMA, the largest
drug industry trade group: www.pparx.org

•RX Assist: Founded by Volunteers in Health Care, which is affiliated with
Brown University: www.rxassist.org

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EPISODE 06~ SAVE MORE: How To Raise Your Credit Score in Days Through “Rapid Rescoring”

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[LISTENER QUESTION] Hi my name is Jamie and I’m about to buy my first home and I’m worried about my credit score. Is there some way to improve my score before I apply for a mortgage? And how long will it take?

JAMIE, I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THIS QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU’VE GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK UP ONE OF MY FAVORITE LITTLE-KNOWN STRATEGIES. IT’S CALLED “RAPID RESCORING” WHERE YOU HIRE PROFESSIONALS TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU. THESE PROFESSIONALS HAVE SPECIAL ACCESS TO THE BIG THREE CREDIT BUREAUS, SO THEY CAN CORRECT ERRORS ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT THAT ARE DRAGGING YOUR SCORE DOWN. AND THEY CAN DO IT FAST, LIKE IN 2 TO 6 DAYS.

RAPID RESCORING IS OFFERED BY WHAT ARE CALLED LOCAL CREDIT BUREAUS, WHO WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE BIG THREE CREDIT BUREAUS, EQUIFAX, EXPERIAN AND TRANSUNION. IF THERE’S SOMETHING UNFLATTERING ON YOUR REPORT AND IT’S TRUE, THERE’S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. BUT IF THERE’S A MISTAKE IN YOUR CREDIT FILE THAT IS UNFAIRLY HURTING YOUR SCORE, THAT, THEY CAN FIX. THESE RAPID RESCORING EXPERTS HAVE ACCESS TO DEDICATED PHONE, FAX AND EMAIL LINES AT THE BIG THREE, SO THEY CAN BYPASS ALL THE BUREAUCRACY THAT CAN MAKE CORRECTING YOUR OWN CREDIT REPORT TIME-CONSUMING.

THE RESULTS CAN BE DRAMATIC. I ONCE PROFILED A MARYLAND WOMAN NAMED VALERIE WHO SAW HER SCORE RISE FROM 598 TO 790 AFTER RESCORING. HER CREDIT REPORTS ERRONEOUSLY STATED THAT SHE HAD FAILED TO PAY OFF HER CAR LOAN. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IS THAT HER BANK HAD BEEN BOUGHT BY ANOTHER BANK JUST AS SHE MADE HER FINAL PAYMENT AND THE RECORDS WERE LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. RESCORING TO CORRECT THE MISTAKE ALLOWED VALERIE TO QUALIFY FOR A SIX PERCENT INTEREST RATE INSTEAD OF EIGHT PERCENT —THIS WAS A FEW YEARS AGO. AND HERE’S THE AMAZING POWER OF RAPID RESCORING. THAT 2 POINT DIFFERENCE IN INTEREST RATE MEANS THAT, OVER THE LIFE OF THE LOAN, SHE STOOD TO SAVE 72-THOUSAND DOLLARS!

RAPID RESCORING, ALSO CALLED CREDIT RESCORING, IS ONLY AVAILABLE WHEN YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE, BECAUSE THERE’S A RECOGNITION THAT THAT’S WHEN AN IMPROVED SCORE IS MOST CRITICAL. IF YOUR SCORE NEEDS A BOOST, YOUR MORTGAGE LENDER OR BROKER CAN REQUEST RAPID RESCORING. UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S NOT AVAILABLE DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS. TO HELP THEM FIGHT UNFLATTERING ERRORS ON YOUR REPORT, YOU WILL WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS BY POURING OVER YOUR CREDIT REPORTS, SEARCHING FOR MISTAKES, AND PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION THAT PROVES YOUR CASE.

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EPISODE 5~ SAVE MORE: Creative ways to join a gym for less.

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Look for Daily Deals. Never join a gym without A QUICK CHECK OF GROUPON AND OTHER DAILY DEAL SITES. Gym memberships and other exercise classes are one of their most common offers. There were 534 exercise deals on Groupon alone when I checked.

Pay as you go: Better, yet, don’t join at all. Sometimes it makes more economic sense to get an exercise “class card” or pay daily rates as you go, especially if you’re unsure how committed you are. Paying daily or month-to-month may cost more, but it will actually save you money if you decide to bail out.

Try Apps that pay for wellness:
Apps like Welcoin AND Pact WILL pay you to exercise, WHICH YOU PROVE BY SENDING PHOTOS OR LINKING THEM IN WITH SOMETING LIKE A FITBIT. ON THE Wellcoin AP, you earn points you can then use to purchase products LIKE gym classes. Pact ACTUALLY GIVES you cash! WHERE DO THEY GET IT? FROM OTHER MEMBERS WHO FAILED TO MEET THEIR GOALS! IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY, YOU GET AN intangible motivational value.

Exercise Your Health Insurance. many INSURANCE COMPANIES now offer some sort of gym benefit as part of their plans. For example Aetna says it offers discountS at more than 10,000 gyms. And United Healthcare reimburse PLAN PARTICIPANTS $20 each month IF you visit one of its LISTED fitness centers at least A DOZEN times.

Go to the Hospital. That’s right, many hospitals have fully-equipped fitness facilities where they welcome the public. Best of all, most do not require ironclad long term contracts. For example, ONE HOSPITAL IN Washington, DC offers memberships for $80 a month. And ANOTHER runs all sorts of fitness series, from Aqua Aerobics to Zumba, for about $8.50 a class.

AND FINALLY THERE’S Fitness Financial Aid!: IF YOU STILL DON’T THINK YOU CAN you can afford a commercial gym, The YMCA offers financial assistance and says it never turns away members who can’t pay. There are 2,700 YMCAs ALL ACROSS AMERICA.

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Episode 4~ SAVE MORE BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE NOt INEVITABLE —YOU CAN APPEAL.

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According to the National Taxpayers Union, between 30 and 60 percent of properties in the U.S. are over-assessed. THEY’RE CHARGING YOU MORE TAX THAN YOU SHOULD PAY. AND YET less than 5 percent of homeowners appeal. the majority of thOSE WHO DO win at least a partial victory!
IT GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN, BUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS MAKE YOUR HOUSE SOUND AS CRAPPY AS POSSIBLE! MY FRIENDS Josh and Alicia Green embraced the concept of trashing their own house WHEN THEY MADE THEIR APPEAL. THEY REMINDED THE CITY THAT THEY LIVED ON A SUPER-BUSY ROAD. THEY WENT ON AND ON ABOUT EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THEIR HOUSE NEEDED, LIKE A NEW ROOF. AND THEY NOTICED THAT THE D.C. GOVERNMENT LISTED THEIR HOUSE AS HAVING 3 BEDROOMS, BUT A PREVIOUS OWNER had knocked out a wall and made it two bedrooms, SO THEY POINTED OUT THAT LOWERED THE VALUE, AS WELL. IT WORKED! The Greens SAY they spent about 5 hours and saved at least $5,000 ON THEIR property taxes OVER THE SEVEN YEARS THEY LIVED IN THAT HOME.
I DID A STORY ON A HOMEOWNER IN NEW JERSEY, WHERE PROPERTY TAXES ARE EVEN HIGHER, AND HIS APPEAL SAVED HIM $5,000 PER YEAR.
SO HERE ARE THE STEPS TO APPEAL YOUR PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT:

FIRST, Meet the deadline. Tax assessments ARRIVE AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, SO FIND OUT WHEN YOUR JURISDICTION MAILS THEM OUT AND BE READY. you typically have just 30 to 120 days to file your appeal.

NUMBER 2, Understand “assessment ratios.” Some jurisdictions tax your house based on 100 percent of its value, but others assign a lower “assessment ratio,” LIKE 60 percent. SO a house with a market value of $100,000 would have an assessed value of $60,000. If you see a number that’s lower than your home’s true value, check the assessment ratio before assuming you don’t have a case.

NUMBER 3, Look for errors on your “property worksheet.” THESE ARE THE nternal notes and data the assessor used when setting a value for your property. CHECK THE lot size, house age and dimensions, number of bedrooms and baths, most recent purchase price and anything else that could BE INFLATING your home’s value. This is the tactic the Greens used when they pointed out their house had two bedrooms, not three.

4TH: See if the “comparables” are really comparable. The government’s internal notes will also include “comparable” properties the assessor used to help determine the value of your house. Look for reasons why the properties the assessor chose are not appropriate. Are they bigger? Newer? Newly remodeled? Do they have watertight roofs, while your house needs a new one, like the Greens’ did? Next, identify three to six alternative comparables that are more favorable to you. You can find them for free using A website like Zillow.

NUMBER 5: Escalate as needed. Some property tax disputes can be settled through informal discussions with the assessor’s office. More commonly, you will be asked to fill out forms and the entire process will be done on paper. If THAT fails, then most jurisdictions offer an in-person hearing as the next step. HERE’S A HOT Tip: Attend somebody else’s hearing first to get a feel for the process.

AND FINALLY, Hire help if you must. If you don’t have time to follow the steps above, you can hire help. Some real estate attorneys take property tax appeals on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay unless you win. If you do WIN, a typical fee is A third to A half of the first year’s savings.

THAT’S IT! MY FRIEND ALICIA SAID APPEALING THEIR PROPERTY TAXES WAS EASIER THAN FILLING OUT HER KIDS SUMMER CAMP FORMS AND FOR THE TIME INVESTED, SHE GOT MONEY BACK INSTEAD OF FORKING IT OVER!

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