Category: Money Saver

Fashion, Kids, Money Saver, Tips and Tricks

7 Secrets To Finding An Epic Costume at Goodwill Stores

Erin Sluka
7 Secrets To Finding An Epic Costume at Goodwill Stores

My local Goodwill region (Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region) has 2 gals they call, Costume Experts. Having Whitney and Morena locally means we get great tips, talent displays and DIY ideas. Creating a costume that is unique makes Halloween so fun (or you can be a Baby Shark Mom with like else).

Whitney and Morena have put together some tips to finding a Costume that will stand out and I wanted to share a few of them with you below.

Use Your Smart Phone. Technology today allows us to merge what we scan on our phones to what we see in stores. Searching ideas on your phone and using images to know what items you need makes the outfit complete. Want to be ‘Grandpa”, search some photos and head to the men’s section of Goodwill.

Plan ahead. When you start now you can visit several stores in your area to piece the perfect items together. Having an 80’s family costume this year? You’ll find everything you need if you check all local stores and keep going back because new stuff is on the racks daily.

Have a budget. Most stores offer new and used costumes and costume ideas. If you are looking for a trending, new costume see if Goodwill has it for a lot less than most retailers. Is the budget thin? Shop used costumes and save even more.

Know your Halloween night plans. What will you be doing with your costume? Will you be outside in the cold, trick-or-treating with kids? Will you be at a kids party or adult party? Know your scene and then you can choose a costume with kid-friendly in mind or even weather in mind.

What are you favorite movies, TV shows? How do your favorite actors/actresses or characters dress? My son is a huge Stranger Things fan and he likes Steve’s character so he decided on Scoops Ahoy Steve for Halloween this year. You can find a lot of inspiration within your favorite media.

Leave the Halloween section. If you are visiting Goodwill stores for your costume hunt, leave the Halloween section to find the right pieces for tops, bottoms, hats, socks, etc. elsewhere in the store.

Find a Goodwill helper. Most stores have DIY experts that can help you find costume necessities and even help find a style or idea you’ll love. There are ‘Whitney’s and Morena’s’ at Goodwill stores nationwide so check your stores experts.

Don’t forget to think about year-round needs while there. My son is in the middle of October Awareness week at school. When I was Back to School shopping I kept colors in mind so we are good to go this week for Orange Day for Anti-Bullying and Pink/Black Day for Breast Cancer Awareness. It’s always a good idea to grab those bright color items in your kids sizes for school events when visiting Goodwill stores especially if they are the day’s colored tag sales.

Goodwill thrift store sales fund free education in a variety of career fields such as culinary, barista, construction, advanced manufacturing, warehouse, computers and more. Shop to help your local community and continue the cycle by donating your past Halloween attire along with other household items!

College Bound, Fashion, Giveaways, Kids, Money Saver, Reviews by Anthony, School, Tips and Tricks

5 Reasons You Should Thrift Shop for Back to School #Giveaway (Wa. State)

Erin Sluka

I graduated high school in 1995 and I remember the stigma around ‘Goodwill clothes’ as a teen. Back then it was not considered cool to thrift shop. You were singled out as ‘poor’ or teased for wearing worn clothing. You felt that not only was name brand what you needed, but it was also where you bought it. Had I known back then the tips to thrift shopping, no one would have ever known where I bought the name brands I was wearing. Today is different!

Today, thrift shopping is trendy. That is because the styles are lose, colorful and a step back to the ‘Stranger Things 80’s’. Recently, Anthony and I attended a media fashion event at our local Goodwill store. This invent included teen models and aspiring fashion students who were able to talk to Mom’s about the in’s and out’s of todays fashion and how Goodwill offers the choices needed to put together your child’s style. From ripped jeans to Converse, we saw it all there.

So, how do you thrift shop? We were not caught dead in a thrift store 25 years ago and now our kids style tells us to shop here. It can be overwhelming to step inside a thrift store to racks and racks of clothes. Where do you start? Anthony and his school friend paired up with a College student for the shopping experience at our local Goodwill. Here is what he (and I) learned.

You will find what you are looking for! Because donations come in daily, the clothing arrives on the racks daily. If you become a frequent Goodwill shopper you will find yourself coming back more than once a week at times because you realize how quickly new stuff arrives on the rack. If you have a list of wants and needs for your kids, you can get it all and keep checking back to fulfill their lists.

You save more than you think you would! We all know that thrift stores prices are low due to the clothing being pre-owned and sometimes never even pre-worn. We found a lot of items with new tags still attached on the racks. On top of the everyday thrift prices, they have tag sales. When we were there Goodwill had 2 different tag sales – a yellow .99Cent and a red 50% off. On top of lower thrift prices and tag sales, most Goodwill regions offer discount calendar days like Student Sundays, Senior Tuesdays, Military Wednesday and Fan Fridays for additional savings on most items. It doesn’t stop there! Our local (South West Washington) Goodwill stores have a Denim BOGO (buy one, get one) coupon runs Aug 19 – Sept 1 (and) a BOGO mug for college students that expires Aug 17 (Coupon).

Thrift shopping relieves daily pressures! If you have older kids you may realize that as they move through high school and into College their style changes. It almost relaxes. They hit years of harder homework, tighter deadlines and now jobs and having to spend their own money so suddenly cheap and comfy is in. It is in because it is easy. They stayed up all night getting that assignment done and nothing feels better than a favorite pair of sweats and hoodie in the morning to head out the door. Goodwill is a place to offer these options for your older teen. Comfy, big and worry-free from high prices.

Thrift shopping teaches a budgeting lesson! What is that lesson? There are options with your money. At age 15, all parents are ‘loaded’ and wanting the big brands at large department stores is no skin off their back because they have no clue. If you walk into a thrift store and hand them an envelope and challenge them to check everything off their list and stay within that budget it is fun to see what they can put together. If they really want ‘name brand’ head to the mall after the thrift store and hand them the same envelope (as a tool) and challenge them to spend the same $50 or $100 there). These are teens, they don’t get it until they see it actually drawn or played out. Reminding them they are getting 2 items at that department store versus 10 is the difference that opens their eyes. It did for Anthony.

The last reason for thrift shopping is that your clothes are already worn in! No multiple washing or the discomfort of new and stiff. Whether you find a great pair of jeans or new jacket, it has the break in already and nothing feels better than a great, relaxed pair of jeans ready to bring you comfort all day right from the start.

These local teens made thrift shopping fun and cool! One of these gals has even been noticed by the European fashion community for her tips and topics as she makes finding trends in Goodwill enticing. You now see celebrities and Instagramers thrifting and it is now OK to be seen in Goodwill, so take advantage of that. You’re wallet will thank you. Make sure you sign up for the deals and offer announcements.

One more way to save that I forgot to mention is to donate! Bring those old items in and grab your 30% off 1 item so that when you find that piece you like and it is not currently on sale you have a coupon.

Looking through displays like our Goodwill store has of outfits and styles is great inspiration like the ones in the above collage that our student models picked out around the store. They found styles from the Skater, to the Stranger Things 80’s, casual and the soft female. Don’t forget the backpack, dorm supplies and school supplies while there. They have it all and Goodwill has a Back to School DIY page for inspiration.

Giveaway

1 lucky Western Washington reader will win a $50 Goodwill Gift Card. (see this store locator to see if your area qualifies, note Seattle and North does not qualify). Giveaway ends on 8/27. Enter below and good luck!

$50 Goodwill Gift Card
2018 Holiday Gifts, Deals, Money Saver, Reviews, Toy Reviews

Destiny 2: Forsaken Legendary Collection Video Game

Erin Sluka

Destiny 2: Forsaken Legendary Collection

2018 Holiday Gift Guide Feature: Destiny 2: Forsaken Legendary Collection

Are there video games on any of your wish lists for the family? Chances are someone on your lists wants video games especially the tweens, teens and young adults. I recently gifted a family friend an extra code for Destiny 2 and this code was for the Legendary Collection. My son (Anthony) is 10 and typically shares the video game reviews as  I allow him to play certain T-Teen games but this is a fresh opinion from a college-age player for my readers. Anthony has this game, but not the collection so I wanted to feature why buying the Legendary Collection is the best way to gift this game.

Destiny 2: Forsaken is a fast paced first person shooter providing a fun yet challenging experience. Allowing you to play solo or with other players creating different scenarios. The game itself has characteristics of an rpg (role playing game) but is set in a universe filled with other players, making the game feel a little more lively.

Getting the legendary collection is best because it expands the universe that’s already long to begin with, adding even more hours to the story. The legendary collection also provides equipment and weapons for your character that would be unavailable in the base game.

Shopping for Destiny 2: Foresaken Legendary Collection video game

Available at Best Buy  for around $59.99 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC

Need more gift ideas? Visit the 2018 Holiday Gift Guide!

Comment: I was sent product so that my feature can be authentic and my own original thoughts for you. I am a Best Buy Associate and I may be compensated for your purchase through my links.

Car Talk, Deals, Education, Money Saver, Tips and Tricks

Finding The Best Car Insurance in Washington Is Full of Surprises…

Erin Sluka

Trying to find the best car insurance can be a trial. We all know the big car insurance brands: State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate — but after browsing those sites, I’m never sure if I’m actually getting the best deals. So this time I used Clearsurance, and what I found totally caught me by surprise. All those household brands we all see advertised so often? They aren’t ranked very highly. Clearsurance, which is a website that collects reviews from people about their insurance company, uses the data it gathers to create unbiased rankings of car insurance companies, both by state and nationally for 2018. The detailed breakdown helps you compare companies and find coverage that’s actually the best deal for your location and driving history.

Once I got over my surprise, I decided to see what companies other consumers ranked as the best car insurance options in Washington and if my car insurer was rated highly by other consumers. I didn’t even recognize some of the companies that ranked ahead of the giants in car insurance, including my own insurer.

For instance, Amica Mutual, which offers a home ownership discount, was founded in 1907 and ranks as the third best company in all of Washington. Amica Mutual’s 4.46 rating out of 5 on Clearsurance is significantly higher than that of Progressive (4.16) and Allstate (4.1).

Take a look at what companies are ranked as the top 5 car insurers in Washington on Clearsurance:

  1. USAA — 4.68
  2. California Casualty Group — 4.47
  3. Amica Mutual Insurance Company— 4.46
  4. Metromile— 4.45
  5. American National Property & Casualty Company — 4.43

These aren’t the names we typically associate with car insurance. So why are these brands so much better than the big companies we all know? Clearsurance has tons of great information to help you navigate your car insurance coverage, and one of the things I discovered is that companies like Geico and Allstate spend billions of dollars a year on advertisements to become the names we think of when it’s time to buy car insurance or consider switching car insurance. But those advertising dollars have come to from somewhere, and it ends up driving up the cost of our insurance premiums.

 

Why should we be paying more to insure our cars so that our insurer can solicit new business?

For the most part, the companies rated highly in Washington are lesser known than the big names. But the bottom line is, they’re better. These are the companies that other policyholders have found offer fair prices with good customer service and claims handling.

Still, we’re not all eligible for these top insurers, and we don’t all have the same insurance needs. That’s something else Clearsurance understands and helps you navigate. For example, USAA is the best car insurance company for Washingtonians, but it only serves active and former military members and their families. And at a company like Metromile, it offers a multi-car discount. Plus, not all car insurance companies cover high-risk drivers, so if you have a lot of accidents on your record or a DUI, you may not be able to obtain coverage from one of these companies.

What’s a good option for high-risk drivers in Washington?

I did some digging into the car insurance companies that sell in Washington and offer policies to high-risk drivers, often referred to as non-standard drivers. If you’re looking for a cost effective option, The General offers affordable coverage. The General has a rating of 3.68. Consumers seem to believe The General offers cheap prices, but the low rates are reflected in the customer service and handling of claims.

 

Finding the best car insurance for you or your family shouldn’t have to be completely mind-boggling. Once you step outside the buzz of all those big name brands, figuring out which companies actually offer the best customer service at the best price becomes a lot easier, especially if you’ve got Clearsurance on your team.