Tips

Tips for Beginners Looking To Fix and Flip

August 3, 2020 By Paula Leave a Comment

Residential real estate offers great investment opportunities. If you’re someone who is looking to turn a profit and are willing to put in the work, fix-and-flip properties can be a wonderful consideration. While this is one of the easier ways to see a return on your investment, there are still plenty of risks involved. To see the best results, consider these tips for beginners.

Conduct Heavy Research

Before you purchase a property to restore, you need to dedicate time to research. Not only do you need to understand the ins and outs of how much work is involved with fixing up a piece of real estate, but you also want to know about how to select the right property. Different neighborhoods will be easier to sell a home in than others. Learn about which areas are in demand and it can dramatically alter the results of your journey.

Consider How You Buy

Financing is a big part of any transaction involving real estate. While this is not going to be possible for everyone, cash buyers real estate is a great option for those with extra funds to spare. Without the need to take out a loan or explore alternative methods of financing a property, you can cut back on overhead and sink all of your money into the project. Plus, people are more likely to sell when they receive a cash offer.

Be Prepared To Work

Fixing up a home to flip it on the market is not a small task. A lot of difficult work is involved, especially when it comes to remodeling the space. If you are going to see lasting success from this endeavor, you need to be willing to get your hands dirty and commit to long hours of painting, peeling, hammering, and anything else involved with restoration.

Sensible investments are the best way to see a return on your funds. While not a guarantee, trying your hand with fix-and-flip properties can be an amazing way to get more out of your future finances.

Understanding the 3 NEW MyWW Weight Watchers Reimagined Freestyle ZeroPoint Foods LISTS

November 12, 2019 By Paula 2 Comments

myWW ZeroPoint Foods

ZeroPoint foods are super-flexible and can be used in lots of delicious (and unexpected) ways! These foods form the foundation of a healthy eating pattern, so they don’t need to be measured or tracked. The new myWW is the groundbreaking, most customized program ever offered. On myWW, each plan has different items that are designated as ZeroPoint foods. If you are not familiar with ZeroPoint foods, be sure to check out this post where I explain what they are.

When it comes to losing weight, everyone’s needs are different. What works well for one person may not work as well for you. While Weight Watchers (Reimagined) has always offered a personalized SmartPoints Budget based on age, weight, height, and sex, now you have the option of three unique ways to experience the WW journey. And if you find that your plan is no longer working for your life, you have the ability to switch to one of the other plans! I love that all three plans are equally flexible, simple, and effective when it comes to losing weight. Each one just helps you get there in a different way.

Each food plan has a unique balance of SmartPoints and ZeroPoint™ foods.

With myWW Green you’ve got the largest number of SmartPoints to spend on any food you choose, and 100+ ZeroPoint foods (fruits and non-starchy veggies) that are zero!

GREEN ZEROPOINT LIST

FRUITS

Apples

Applesauce, unsweetened

Apricots, fresh

Bananas

Blackberries

Blueberries

Cantaloupe

Cherries

Clementines

Cranberries, fresh

Dragon fruit

Figs, fresh

Frozen mixed berries, unsweetened

Fruit cocktail, unsweetened

Fruit salad, unsweetened

Grapefruit

Grapes

Guava

Honeydew

Kiwi

Kumquats

Lemons

Limes

Mangoes

Meyer lemons

Nectarines

Oranges

Papayas

Peaches

Pears

Persimmons

Pineapples

Plums

Pomegranates

Pomelo

Raspberries

Star fruit

Strawberries

Tangerines

Watermelon

VEGETABLES (NON-STARCHY)

Acorn squash

Artichoke hearts, no oil

Artichokes

Arugula

Asparagus

Baby corn

Bamboo shoots

Basil

Beet greens

Beets

Bok choy

Broccoli

Broccoli rabe

Broccoli slaw

Brussels sprouts

Butter/Bibb lettuce

Butternut squash

Cabbage

Canned pimientos

Carrots

Cauliflower

Cauliflower rice

Celery

Chives

Cilantro

Coleslaw mix

Collard greens

Cucumber

Eggplant

Endive

Escarole

Fennel

Frozen stir-fry vegetables, no sauce

Garlic

Ginger

Green leaf lettuce

Hearts of palm

Iceberg lettuce

Jicama

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leeks

Mint

Mixed greens

Mushrooms

Mustard greens

Napa cabbage

Nori (seaweed)

Oakleaf lettuce

Okra

Onions

Oregano

Parsley

Pea shoots

Peppers

Pickles, unsweetened

Pico de gallo

Pumpkin

Pumpkin puree

Radishes

Red leaf lettuce

Romaine lettuce

Rosemary

Rutabaga

Salsa, fat-free

Sauerkraut

Scallions

Shallots

Spaghetti squash

Spinach

String beans

Summer squash

Swiss chard

Tarragon

Thyme

Tomatillos

Tomato puree, canned

Tomato sauce, canned

Tomatoes

Turnips

Water chestnuts

Wax beans

Zucchini

With myWW Blue you’ve got a moderate amount of SmartPoints to spend on any food you choose, and 200+ fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and more that are zero points!

BLUE ZEROPOINT LIST
INCLUDES EVERYTHING ON THE GREEN LIST PLUS

VEGETABLES (STARCHY)

Canned corn

Corn

Green peas

Parsnips

Peas

Split peas

Succotash

BEANS & LEGUMES

Adzuki beans

Alfalfa sprouts

Bean sprouts

Black beans

Black-eyed peas

Cannellini beans

Chickpeas

Edamame

Fava beans

Great Northern beans

Hominy

Kidney beans

Lentils

Lima beans

Lupini beans

Navy beans

Pinto beans

Refried beans, canned, fat-free

Soy beans

CHICKEN & TURKEY BREAST

Ground chicken breast

Ground turkey, 98% fat-free

Ground turkey breast

Skinless chicken breast

Skinless turkey breast

EGGS

Egg substitute

Egg whites

Egg yolks

Eggs

FISH/SHELLFISH

Abalone

Alaskan king crab

Anchovies, in water

Arctic char

Bluefish

Branzino

Butterfish

Canned tuna, in water

Carp

Catfish

Caviar

Clams

Cod

Crabmeat, lump

Crayfish

Cuttlefish

Dungeness crab

Eel

Fish roe

Flounder

Grouper

Haddock

Halibut

Herring

Lobster

Mahi mahi

Monkfish

Mussels

Octopus

Orange roughy

Oysters

Perch

Pike

Pollock

Pompano

Salmon

Sardines, canned in water or sauce

Sashimi

Scallops

Sea bass

Sea cucumber

Sea urchin

Shrimp

Smelt

Smoked haddock

Smoked salmon

Smoked sturgeon

Smoked trout

Smoked whitefish

Snails

Snapper

Sole

Squid

Steelhead trout

Striped bass

Sturgeon

Swordfish

Tilapia

Trout

Tuna

Turbot

Wahoo

Whitefish

TOFU & TEMPEH

Firm tofu

Silken tofu

Smoked tofu

Soft tofu

Tempeh

With myWW Purple you’ve got a small number of SmartPoints to spend on any food you choose and 300+ ZeroPoint foods that are zero!

PURPLE ZEROPOINT LIST
INCLUDES EVERYTHING ON THE GREEN AND BLUE LISTS PLUS

POTATOES & SWEET POTATOES

Baby potatoes

Baked potatoes

Baked sweet potatoes

Canned sweet potato, unsweetened

Cassava

Fingerling potatoes

Frozen potatoes, prepared without fat

Idaho potatoes

Japanese sweet potato

Mashed potatoes, plain

Mashed sweet potatoes, plain

New potatoes

Oven-roasted potato wedges, without oil

Oven-roasted sweet potato fries, without oil

Purple potatoes

Red potatoes

Roasted potatoes, without oil

Roasted sweet potatoes, without oil

Russet potatoes

Sweet potatoes

Taro

White potatoes

Yams

Yellow potatoes

Yucca

Yukon gold potatoes

WHOLE-WHEAT PASTA & GRAINS

Air-popped popcorn, no oil or sugar

Air-popped popcorn, no oil or sugar, with salt and/or spices

Amaranth

Ancient grain mix, no seeds

Barley

Black bean pasta

Brown basmati rice

Brown rice

Brown rice cereal, 100%

Brown rice noodles

Brown rice pasta

Brown rice–quinoa blend

Buckwheat

Buckwheat soba noodles

Bulgur

Chickpea pasta

Corn pasta

Edamame pasta

Farro

Freekeh

Instant brown rice

Instant oatmeal, plain

Kamut

Kasha

Lentil pasta

Millet

Oatmeal, plain

Oats

Pea pasta

Popcorn kernels for at-home popping

Quick-cooking barley

Quick-cooking brown rice

Quick-cooking regular oats

Quick-cooking steel-cut oats

Quinoa

Quinoa pasta

Red quinoa

Rolled oats

Rye berries

Shirataki noodles

Sorghum

Soybean pasta

Spelt

Spelt berries

Steel-cut oats

Teff

Thai brown rice

Tri-color quinoa

Wheat berries

Whole-grain pasta

Whole-grain sorghum

Whole-wheat couscous

Whole-wheat pasta

Wild rice

Wild rice–brown rice blend

Come Join Me On The New Weight Watchers Free Style Program and Get One Month FREE

Weight Watchers SmartPoints Calculator for Freestyle Program

My Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Has Begun! + FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator Get a FREE month!

Shop Smart with these 12 Financial Tips For Holiday Shopping

October 21, 2019 By Paula 20 Comments

Shop Smart with these 12 Financial Tips For Holiday Shopping

Once again retailers have their red mark-down pens out early and many consumers will begin taking advantage of bargains well in advance of the traditional Black Friday rush.

As you hit the stores this holiday season, whether you’re an experienced shopper with many years of finding the perfect gift at the right price or a novice who is just learning the ropes, it’s always smart to prepare yourself with some timely shopping tips.

Create a holiday budget. Just having an overall idea of what you want to spend floating around in your head isn’t good enough. Without a thoughtfully planned out budget, you’ll likely get caught up in the excitement and overspend in the blink of an eye.

Shop with a list. Santa thinks it’s a useful tool, and so should you. On your list include the names of those for whom you need to a purchase gift for, what you plan to give each of them, and the amount you intend to spend for each gift. We’ve got two great forms to help you plan your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping strategy at the bottom of this post! You can also download the Word Documents for each of them here Black Friday Checklist and Cyber Monday Checklist.

Avoid the high-margin items at the entrance or near the cash registers. They’re there to encourage you to impulse-buy.

Do not carry large amounts of cash. This is the prime season for pickpockets to take advantage of crowded areas and distracted people. Instead, plan to make frequent trips to the ATM to replenish your cash as needed.

Do not carry your checkbook or more credit cards than you will use during the shopping trip. If your wallet is lost or stolen, this will limit the damage.

Purchase or earn discounted retail gift cards. This tip comes from Money Talk News. Some websites sell gift cards at a discount. When you purchase these cards you create your own built-in savings when you shop or gift them. Also, throughout the year you can perform specific tasks such as surveys or visiting a store with their app open in exchange for points that can be cashed in for free gift cards.

Do not shop when you are in a hurry or at the last minute. You’ll end up spending more than you should simply so you can mark an item off your list. Also, plan to visit stores during the first hour of business as salespeople are more likely to be in a good mood. Therefore, more likely to help or offer you a friends-and-family discount.

Do not pile new debt on top of old. Some people are still paying for last year’s holiday expenses as they enter the new buying season. Don’t make your financial situation worse by being one of them. If you are in a tenuous financial situation, it will only be made worse through irresponsible spending.

Being financially responsible this holiday season is a gift to yourself and to those you care about. If you need help creating a holiday budget or paying off an existing debt load, don’t delay reaching out for help. A non-profit credit counseling service is a good place to look for help.

If the debt you have is too much to pay off in one year, consider a personal, debt consolidation loan. These loans offer lower interest rates than your credit card. You can use it to pay off medical bills, private student loan debts, as well as credit cards that carry high-interest rates. Debt consolidation loans will lower your monthly expenses and while helping you pay off your high-interest debt.

Use your smartphone while in the store to compare prices on the spot with competitors. Don’t worry about offending sales associates, ask them to match any lower prices that you find.

Sign up for emails and filter them by adding a folder for them to your inbox. Make sure you specify what kinds of emails you want to receive from them (ie. only sales, not what’s new). Don’t ignore the emails you get from brands you care about, because once in while there will be a really good deal offered only to email subscribers only.

To find the best discounts you will need to be on alert for the timing and location of the best deals. According to consumer research firm America’s Research Group, 65% of customers want discounts of 60% before making a purchase. Many retailers are hoping to wean shoppers off their addiction to discounts. So they aren’t only trying to be more strategic about the timing and duration of promotions, but also about what merchandise and even locations are included. Some have started offering shorter, limited-time-only sales, while others are launching promotions when shoppers least expect them. Many stores are also tailoring specials for its app users, credit-card holders, and rewards members. Be sure to scour social media and sign up for promotion alerts from the retailers you intend to shop. Are you planning on doing some Black Friday shopping? Be sure to check out this Wall Street Journal article for some great tips to get discounts, perks, and even bitcoin.

Give DIY gifts. Not only can a homemade gift convey a more heartfelt sentiment but it may save you some money too. If you aren’t creative, shop at craft fairs, Etsy, or give a food gift from your own kitchen. Homemade jams or mixes are always fun to give and receive. You could also give the gift of your time.

This time of year, shopping is as confusing as it gets. Your social media, mailbox, and email are bombarded with news about sales and holiday promotions. You feel like you’re missing out if you miss a deal and end up paying full price. Stores are packed and roads are already busy with shoppers traveling to the stores get a head start on this year’s shopping. More than ever, smart shopping at the holidays means finding ways to cut through the clutter and know when to buy. We hope that with these tips you will not only be one of the shoppers who get the best deal but one who stays on budget. Wishing You and Yours Happy Holidays, Happy Shopping!

Alphabetical List of 200 Weight Watchers Reimagined Freestyle Zero Point Foods

October 1, 2019 By Paula 3 Comments

ZeroPoint Foods

I want to take a few minutes to explain what ZeroPoint Foods are for those who are not familiar with them. For many years one of the main features of the Weight Watchers program has been their point system. All foods are given a points value and your goal is to stay within your daily points allowance. Now with the Weight Watchers Freestyle program, many foods such as lean proteins, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, nonfat plain yogurt, veggies, and fruit are called ZeroPoint Foods. The foods on this list form the foundation of a healthy eating pattern, so you don’t need to weigh, measure, or track any of them. They are a great way to stay within your daily points budget.

ZeroPoint Vegetables – You can enjoy most non-starchy vegetables for zero points on the plan. You will have to count any oil or butter the vegetables are cooked with. This includes fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables as long as they aren’t packed with any additional oil, sugars, or fats. There are a few vegetables that are not zero points including potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, parsnips, cassava, mushy peas, yuca, and olives.

ZeroPoint Fruits – Almost all fruits are zero points but they should be eaten in moderation since they can quickly add up and slow your weight loss. This includes fresh fruit as well as frozen, canned, or jarred fruit as long as it doesn’t have added sugar. However, avocados, plantains, and any fruit that is made into a drink or smoothie are not ZeroPoint foods. This is because a smoothie contains much more fruit than you would normally eat in one sitting. For example, you would not normally eat several whole fruits, a cup berries, and some pineapple in one sitting but is common to have all this and more in a large smoothie.

ZeroPoint Condiments, Flavor Enhancers, and Spices – The WWFreestyle program also includes as ZeroPoint Foods spices, low calorie, low sugar condiments, and many of the things that we use to enhance the flavor of foods. Some of them are vinegars, broth, fresh and dried spices and rubs, mustard, hot sauce, capers, and salsa. Note: These are zero points when used in small amounts but if you are using more in a recipe you may have to count the points.

Alphabetical List of ZeroPoint Foods

A
Apples Applesauce, unsweetened Apricots	Arrowroot Artichoke hearts Artichokes	Arugula Asparagus

B
Bamboo shoots Banana Beans, including adzuki, black, broad (fava), butter, cannellini, cranberry (Roman), green, garbanzo (chickpeas), great northern, kidney, lima, lupini, mung, navy, pink, small white, snap, soy, string, wax, white	Beans, refried, fat-free, canned Beets Berries, mixed Blackberries Blueberries	Broccoli Broccoli rabe Broccoli slaw Broccolini Brussels sprouts

C
Cabbage, all varieties including Chinese (bok choy), Japanese, green, red, napa, savory, pickled Calamari, grilled Cantaloupe Carrots Cauliflower Caviar	Celery Swiss chard Cherries Chicken breast, ground, 98% fat-free Chicken breast or tenderloin, skinless, boneless or with bone Clementines	Coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots), packaged Collards Corn, baby (ears), white, yellow, kernels, on the cob Cranberries Cucumber

D
Daikon	Dates, fresh	Dragon fruit

E
Edamame, in pods or shelled Egg substitutes Egg whites	Eggplant Eggs, whole, including yolks	Endive Escarole

F
Fennel (anise, sweet anise, or finocchio) Figs Fish: anchovies, arctic char, bluefish, branzino (sea bass), butterfish, carp, catfish, cod, drum, eel, flounder, grouper, haddock, halibut, herring, mackerel, mahimahi (dolphinfish), monkfish, orange roughy, perch, pike, pollack, pompano, rainbow trout (steelhead), rockfish, roe, sablefish (including smoked), salmon (all varieties), salmon, smoked (lox), sardines, sea bass, smelt, snapper, sole, striped bass, striped mullet, sturgeon (including smoked); white sucker, sunfish (pumpkinseed), swordfish, tilapia, tilefish, tuna (all varieties), turbot, whitefish (including smoked), whitefish and pike (store-bought), whiting	Fish fillet, grilled with lemon pepper Fruit cocktail Fruit cup, unsweetened Fruit salad Fruit, unsweetened

G
Garlic Ginger root Grapefruit Grapes	Greens: beet, collard, dandelion, kale, mustard, turnip Greens, mixed baby Guavas Guavas, strawberry

H
Hearts of palm (palmetto)	Honeydew melon

J
Jackfruit Jerk chicken breast	Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes)	Jicama (yam bean)

K
Kiwifruit	Kohlrabi	Kumquats

L
Leeks Lemon Lemon zest	Lentils Lettuce, all varieties Lime	Lime zest Litchis (lychees)

M
Mangoes Melon balls Mung bean sprouts	Mung dal Mushroom caps	Mushrooms, all varieties including brown, button, crimini, Italian, portabello, shiitake

N
Nectarine	Nori seaweed

O
Okra	Onions	Oranges, all varieties including blood

P
Papayas Parsley Passion fruit Pea shoots Peaches Peapods, black-eye Pears Peas and carrots	Peas: black-eyed, chickpeas (garbanzo), cowpeas (blackeyes, crowder, southern), young pods with seeds, green, pigeon, snow (Chinese pea pods); split, sugar snap Peppers, all varieties Pepperoncini Persimmons Pickles, unsweetened Pico de gallo	Pimientos, canned Pineapple Plumcots (pluots) Plums Pomegranate seeds Pomegranates Pomelo (pummelo) Pumpkin Pumpkin puree

R
Radicchio Radishes	Raspberries	Rutabagas

S
Salad, mixed greens Salad, side, without dressing, fast food Salad, three-bean Salad, tossed, without dressing Salsa verde Salsa, fat free Salsa, fat free; gluten-free Sashimi Satay, chicken, without peanut sauce	Satsuma mandarin Sauerkraut Scallions Seaweed Shallots Shellfish: abalone, clams, crab (including Alaska king, blue, dungeness, lump crabmeat, queen) crayfish, cuttlefish, lobster (including spiny lobster), mussels, octopus, oysters, scallops, shrimp, squid	Spinach Sprouts, including alfalfa, bean, lentil Squash, summer (all varieties including zucchini) Squash, winter (all varieties including spaghetti) Starfruit (carambola) Strawberries Succotash

T
Tangelo Tangerine Taro leaves and shoots Tofu, all varieties Tofu, smoked	Tomatillos Tomato puree Tomato sauce Tomatoes, all varieties including plum, grape, cherry	Turkey breast, ground, 98% fat-free Turkey breast or tenderloin, skinless, boneless or with bone Turkey breast, skinless, smoked Turnips

V
Vegetable sticks	Vegetables, mixed	Vegetables, stir fry, without sauce

W
Water chestnuts	Watercress	Watermelon

Y
Yogurt, Greek, plain, nonfat, unsweetened	Yogurt, plain, nonfat, unsweetened	Yogurt, soy, plain

ZeroPoint Foods List by Category

ZeroPoint Dairy

Yogurt, Greek, plain, nonfat, unsweetened
Yogurt, plain, nonfat, unsweetened
Yogurt, soy, plan

ZeroPoint Beans and Legumes

Beans (refried, fat-free-canned)
Beans (adzuki, black, broad/fava, butter, cannellini, cranberry, green, garbanzo, great northern, kidney, lima, lupini, mung, navy, pink, small white, snap, soy, string, wax, white)
Chickpeas (garbanzo)
Edamame
Lentils
Mung dal
Salad, three-bean
Succotash

ZeroPoint Fruits

Apples
Apricots
Banana
Beets
Berries, mixed
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cherries
Cantaloupe
Clementines
Cranberries
Figs
Guavas
Grapes
Grapefruit
Kumquats
Melon
Honeydew
Jackfruit
Kiwifruit
Lemon
Lime
Litchis
Mangoes
Melon balls
Nectarine
Oranges
Papayas
Passion fruit
Peaches
Pears
Persimmons
Pineapple
Plumcots
Plums
Pomegranate seeds
Pomegranates
Pomelo
Pumpkin
Raspberries
Satsuma mandarin
Starfruit
Strawberries
Tangelo
Tangerine
Watermelon

ZeroPoint Proteins

Chicken breast, ground 98% fat-free
Chicken breast or tenderloin (skinless, boneless or with bone)
Egg substitutes
Eggs
Jerk chicken breast
Satay, chicken, without peanut sauce
Tofu, all varieties
Turkey breast, ground, 98% fat-free
Turkey breast or tenderloin, skinless, boneless or on the bone
Turkey breast, skinless, smoked
ZeroPoint Seafood
Calamari (grilled)
Caviar
Fish (anchovies, arctic char, bluefish, branzino ((sea bass)), butterfish, carp, catfish, cod, drum, eel, flounder, grouper, haddock, halibut, herring, mackerel, mahimahi ((dolphinfish)), monkfish, orange roughy, perch, pike, pollack, pompano, rainbow trout ((steelhead)), rockfish, roe, sablefish ((including smoked)), salmon ((all varieties)), salmon, smoked ((lox)), sardines, sea bass, smelt, snapper, sole, striped bass, striped mullet, sturgeon ((including smoked)); white sucker, sunfish ((pumpkinseed)), swordfish, tilapia, tilefish, tuna ((all varieties)), turbot, whitefish ((including smoked)), whitefish and pike ((store-bought)), whiting)
Shellfish: abalone, clams, crab (including Alaska king, blue, dungeness, lump crabmeat, queen) crayfish, cuttlefish, lobster (including spiny lobster), mussels, octopus, oysters, scallops, shrimp, squid
Sashimi

ZeroPoint Sauces and Condiments

Lemon zest
Lime zest
Pico de gallo
Pumpkin puree
Salsa, verde
Salsa, fat free
Sauerkraut
Tomato puree
Tomato sauce

Note: There are plenty of other spices and seasonings that have a 0 SmartPoints value but aren’t considered ZeroPoint foods. Only foods that form the building blocks of healthy habits are included in the ZeroPoint foods list.

ZeroPoint Vegetables

Arrowroot
Artichoke Hearts
Arugula
Artichokes
Artichoke Hearts
Bamboo Shoot
Beets
Broccoli
Broccoli rabe
Broccoli slaw
Broccolini
Brussels sprouts
Bok choy
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn (baby, white, yellow, kernels, on the cob)
Collards
Coleslaw mix
Eggplant
Escarole
Endive
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger root
Greens: beet, collard, dandelion, kale, mustard, turnip
Greens, mixed baby
Hearts of palm
Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke)
Jicama
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce
Mung bean sprouts
Mushroom caps
Mushrooms (all varieties)
Okra
Onions
Parsley
Pea shoots
Peapods
Peas and carrots
Peas (black-eyed, cowpeas (blackeyes, crowder, southern), young pods with seeds, green, pigeon, snow (Chinese pea pods); split, sugar snap)
Peppers
Pepperoncini
Pickles
Pimientos
Radishes
Radicchio
Rutabagas
Salad, mixed greens
Salad, without dressing
Scallions
Seaweed/ Nori seaweed
Shallots
Spinach
Sprouts
Squash, summer (all varieties)
Squad, winter (all varieties)
Swiss chard
Taro leaves and shoots
Tomatoes, all varieties
Turnips
Vegetable sticks
Vegetables, mixed
Vegetables, stir fry, without sauce
Water chestnuts
Watercress

Some fruits and vegetables contain SmartPoints values. These include:

Avocados
Cassava/Yuca/Plantains
Olives
Parsnips
Potatoes
Sweet potato
Yams

My Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Has Begun! + FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator Get a FREE month!

Are you making these costly online shopping mistakes without realizing it?

September 30, 2019 By Paula 5 Comments

Common Online Shopping Mistakes That Cost You Money

No question, online shopping can be wonderful. Online shopping is such a huge part of our life that it’s hard to even recall when it wasn’t possible to get what you needed with just a few clicks. While the selection of items is nearly limitless and delivery can be fast, there are also many ways to mess up when shopping online.

Here are some of the most common and costly online shopping mistakes:

1. Paying with your debit card

Because using a debit card to pay for purchases is more like using cash than using a credit card, it is always safer when shopping online to use a credit card. The minute you check out with a debit card, money leaves your bank account. And, even more worrisome is than that card numbers entered online are more vulnerable to theft and hacking.

Under federal law, credit card transactions enjoy more protections than debit card transactions. If someone gets your credit card info and uses it fraudulently, you’re not out money while your credit card company investigates. That is often not true if the wrong person gets your debit card info, they might be able to drain your checking account of all its funds. When criminals fraudulently use your credit card, they’re spending the credit card issuer’s money. However, when criminals fraudulently use your debit card, they’re spending YOUR money.

2. Missing out on cashback

Whether shopping online or in a brick and mortar store, there are multiple ways that you can get paid to shop. There are several apps such as SavingStar and Ibotta that give you cash rebates when you shop. We believe Checkout51 is one of the best apps because it pays when you scan receipts from virtually any physical store or by scanning itemized packing slips for online purchases. Shopkick differs from the other cashback apps in that you don’t have to make a single purchase to start earning. You just have to walk into stores and scan items’ barcodes. (Use code EASY808823 to get started with 250 free kicks.) Of course, you’ll earn more points when you make purchases (online or in-store) with a connected card or snap photos of qualifying receipts. You can also get cash rebates by shopping via cash-back websites such as Rakuten Ebates, Drop, TopCashback, and Swagbucks Shop.

You can get cashback, also, by paying with a cash-back credit card. Just be sure that you pay off your bill in full every month to avoid interest charges. And of course, be sure that you take advantage of retailers’ own rewards programs to get more for your money.

3. Using a public Wi-Fi connection
You’re hanging out at your coffee shop or killing time while the kids play in the ball pit and remember that you need to order a gift. Hold that thought and that purchase!

“Sure, shopping doesn’t seem like it involves sensitive data, but making purchases online requires personal information that could include bank account and retailer login credentials. Shopping isn’t something you want to do on an unsecured Wi-Fi network.”

Wait until you get home, you don’t want to transmit your sensitive info over a public internet connection.

4. Being fooled by fake list prices
Don’t be tricked by a big red slash through a supposed list price, claiming that the item has been hugely discounted. They may be claiming an item as 50% off, but what is the real original price of that item?

Some items don’t have list prices, so they could have just made one up. Or, they could have raised the list price to make the discount appear greater than it really is. Several big-name retailers have been sued for allegedly misleading customers by manipulating list prices.

The practice of raising the list price is also done by companies offering discount codes for items. They make you think you are scoring a great deal when you could have purchased the item at the same or lower price without the code on another seller’s listing, on another site, or even in your local store.

Thankfully, just as it’s easy to do our shopping online it’s also easy to find out how good of a deal you are really getting. Simply, search for an item on other sites and see how the prices compare.

5. Depending on reviews
Online reviews are a great resource but you still need to do your own research. We tell our children not to take candy from strangers so why would you spend money based on an opinion of a random stranger?

Reviews can be manipulated. It’s always in someone’s best interests that you fork over your hard-earned cash for a purchase. But websites such as Fakespot and ReviewMeta can help you ferret out fake or suspicious critiques.

These sites use algorithms to analyze reviews, parsing them for signs of phoniness. ReviewMeta only works for Amazon reviews, but Fakespot now analyzes reviews on the sites of other retailers, including Walmart, Best Buy and Sephora. Learn more about these two product review analyzers.

6. Not knowing the return policy
Be sure the site you’re shopping has a clear and generous return policy. You should know the answers to these questions before buying:

Under what conditions does the site accept returns?
How long does the site give you to return an item?
Will the site provide a paid mailing label, or are return shipping costs on you?
Can you return an item to a local store instead of mailing it back?