Do Refurbished Electronics Really Save You Money?

A few years ago, my brother-in-law needed a Blackberry, but he and my sister just couldn’t afford it. That year for Christmas, she decided to surprise him by finding one reasonably priced on Ebay. It quit working after two months. When he took it to get repaired, he found out it was not new like the seller had promised. It was refurbished. By the time they paid the repair costs, it would have been cheaper to buy one brand new.

My sister would not have purchased that phone had she known it was refurbished. That doesn’t mean all refurbished gadgets are junk. It just means you have to be careful – especially on auction sites where you’re not always sure you’re getting what is advertised.

Refurbished electronics typically are items that are purchased brand new, returned with defects, fixed to factory specifications and re-sold to someone else. They often sell for half the price or less of that same item when it’s sold brand new. That’s an attractive offer to someone in the market for something like a phone, a computer, a tablet, an mp3 player, etc. Personally, I stay away from refurbished electronics. If the price is too good for you to pass up, keep these tips in mind:

Check to see if the item you want to buy comes with a warranty. Often, the manufacturer will offer a warranty on refurbished items. Sometimes the retailer has one, as well. Consider that your insurance policy if something goes wrong.

Check to see what the seller’s return policy is. If the item is sold “as is”, it means you are on your own if something goes wrong. Don’t by something you can’t return unless it’s so cheap that you really wouldn’t consider it a loss if it broke.

Look for items that are “recertified”. Newegg.com uses this term to describe items that have been retested to ensure compliance with original manufacturer specifications. Other retailers may use this term, as well.

Buy from a reputable seller. If you do buy something on an auction site like Ebay, make sure it’s a store, and not just a person selling their used cell phone or other gadget. Also, pay with PayPal, which has protections in place for buyers who have problems with the merchandise they purchase.

There are definite risks associated with refurbished items, but if you’re smart about the way you buy something, you could end up saving a ton of money. Just be careful.

 

Don’t Pay for Debit Card, Checking Accounts, Etc.

I am absolutely amazed at how many people are willing to pay for things that should be free. Several big banks around the country have announced recently that they will start charging a monthly fee for people to use their debit cards. That’s not okay, and as consumers, we should let them know that’s not okay by taking our business to a place like a credit union, where people matter more than profit.

When banks first announced these fees, someone who gives financial advice on the Internet was actually recommending that people give up their debit cards completely and only use credit cards. That’s terrible advice. Credit unions still have free debit cards, checking accounts and other services you shouldn’t have to pay for.

Take our checking accounts for example. Some banks are charging a monthly fee for those, as well. We have some accounts that are not only free. They also give rewards, like cash and free iTunes downloads. We don’t charge a fee for our debit card, either. Use it as often as you want. It’s still free.

We also give you access to thousands of ATMs around the country that don’t charge you money to use their machines. Use more than 50,000 ATMs in places where you already are, like Target, Walgreens, gas stations, grocery stores and more. As long as they are part of our partnering networks, they won’t charge you a fee. If they do, we’ll refund it. Look on our ATM page for more information.

You’ve heard the saying that nothing in life is free. That may be true if you do business with a bank, but at Neighborhood Credit Union, we’ve got your back (and your budget).

 

Save Money by Making Your Own Condiments

I was making a recipe recently that called for pickle relish. It’s something I rarely use, but I haven’t made this dish in a long time, and the pickle relish really adds to the flavor. About two days after I spent close to $3 on a small bottle of pickle relish, it dawned on me that I could have made it myself.

There are so many things we can make ourselves, with ingredients we have on hand, that are not only cheaper, but faster than driving to the store and healthier than many store bought products. Here are few for you to try.

Pickle Relish

Chop a few slices of your favorite pickles with a kitchen chopper. It’s that easy, and it lasts as long as your pickles do in the refrigerator.

Fresh Salsa

Four romas tomatoes, quartered

Half of an onion, quartered

Half a bunch of cilantro

One ore more jalapeno peppers

One teaspoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

Salt to taste

This is my absolute favorite salsa. I rarely even follow a recipe. I just throw some stuff into a food processor, turn it on, then poor in the lemon juice (or vinegar) and sea salt while everything is mixing. It lasts for weeks in my refrigerator and takes less than five minutes to make.

Yellow Mustard

Mix four parts mustard powder, two parts water, one part white wine vinegar and one part white vinegar with a whisk until well mixed. Let sit about 15 minutes. You can also get creative by adding bolder spices and flavors.

Basic Mayonnaise

Place two large egg yolks and three tablespoons of lemon juice in a food processor. While the food processor is running, drizzle about a cup of oil (olive, sunflower, canola or vegetable) into food processor until everything is thoroughly mixed. Add salt to taste. There are some alternate recipes that call for a little bit of Dijon mustard, as well. If you have it on hand, you may want to try it. If you want the mayonnaise to be white instead of yellow, use egg whites, instead – about two whites for every one yolk. For specialty flavors now sold in stores, add extra flavors like basil, horseradish and other herbs.

Thousand Island Dressing

Mix together ketchup and mayonnaise.

Homemade Italian Dressing (taken from copykat.com)

1 C. vegetable oil
1/2 C. cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. crushed chili pepper
1/2 tsp. minced garlic

Mix all ingredients together well. Store in an airtight bottle or jar.  Chill several hours before serving. Shake well before serving.

What condiments do you like to make at home. Please share the recipes here and continue the conversation.