Friday, October 21, 2011

Saving Money Expert


Saving money expert tips are always ready to help you if you want to save some money.

You can start saving money just now if you stop making lame excuses. Yes, forget your "I do not make enough money for this", or "I will think of it a bit later". Do not hold yourself back from better future: the sooner you start, the more you save.

Like most serious decisions, saving begins with planning. Write everything down: your short-term goals (travel) and your long-term dreams (retirement). Decide exactly how much you want to save and pay yourself automatically every month instead of leaving some cents from your salary in your pocket. Do not forget to build your emergency fund to cover several months of living expenses.

Put something into savings even if you are carrying debt. Try to pay off your credit cards as quickly as possible putting maximum amount of money toward your first debt, then cut up your cards and try to pay with cash. You can still have one card for emergencies but it will teach you to spend only money you really have. And pay your bills once they come in or set automatic deduction for them.

The rule is simple: the less money you spend, the more you have for debt reduction and savings. For this clarify the difference between 'needs' and 'wants'. Distinguish the two things: your necessary expenses like food and dwelling and your desires like brands and new huge TV set.

Make a saving plan and open specific bank account for savings. Look at different saving accounts and compare them. And avoid instant access to your savings, do not get checks or debit cards.

Yes, you need time and patience to save money but you can make use of some tricks to boost the process. Put the bills of certain denomination into a jar from your wallet every day. Save your 'raise' money increasing your savings deposit by the same amount you get at work as a raise.

Find more saving money expert help and tips online.




If you need an experienced saving money expert and need assistance in financial planning - feel welcome to get in touch with the registered financial associate and a member of the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants.




Thursday, October 20, 2011

Saving Money Quotes: Go Away From Wealth Building Myths


Are you looking for saving money quotes? If you are, then you landed on the right page. In fact, I'm going to go beyond quotes by telling you the specific actions that you need to take so that you can effectively build your wealth. Okay let's start the enlightening process that will lead you to making millions. But before we proceed, you need to stick a very important reminder in your mind. Always control your cash flow. Having control over the way you spend your money is key to becoming a successful millionaire our world today.

Aside from controlling your cash flow and practicing saving money quotes, you also need to get rid of quick rich quick myths that you have in mind. A large percent of the world's population think that the perfect way to get rich is through a path that will get you there fast and easy. This may be true in some instances but this rarely happens. Millionaires who got their wealth overnight rarely get to keep their riches for a long time. People like these are usually the ones who won the lottery. Even though they have millions in their hands, they don't have the knowledge required to make their money last and expand or grow even more. Good examples of these would be actors and actresses who were once in the lime light but are now left with nothing today because they never took the time to learn how to spend their money wisely.

Becoming rich fast is actually becoming rich within a set number of years. In wealth building, fast doesn't equate to minutes or hours. Instead, this equates to years of hard work. Millionaires are millionaires because they have the proper habits. Some of these include adhering to a set budget, tracking one's expenses, saving as much money as possible, and spending money discreetly. If you try to examine every single one of these habits, you'll know that none of them observes the get rich fast philosophy. Instead, they promote the values of perseverance and patience.

Next, establish a strong and positive cash flow. People transform into millionaires because they ensure that they spend less than the actual amount of money that they make. Developing this habit will prevent you from having debts. Once you get this habit up and running, you'll find it a lot easier to save money or to find ways for you to invest the money that you have at your disposal. In order for you to achieve a strong positive cash flow, you also need to pay close attention to the things that you spend your money on. Try looking up information about millionaires that live in America. Look up their photos and you'll discover that most of them have don't have fast and fancy cars or expensive designer clothes. Humility is part of the equation of being rich. Be careful with how you spend your money and establish moderate spending habits that will enable you to set some money aside for investments and savings. Lastly, learn how to expand your money by investing on business.




Read other short yet effective saving money quotes at the Tifkar Publishing website.




Saving Money on Your Remodeling Project


Keep a Flexible Timeline - There are certain times of year, most often during the winter, when even the best of home renovation and remodeling contractors are simply not that busy. If it is at all possible schedule your project during one of those periods; you may be able to cut a very nice deal financially with a contractor who wants (and needs) to keep busy during those lulls in business.

Obtain at Least Three Quotes - Home renovation experts repeat this over and over again. In order to ensure that you really are getting the most bang for your buck you should never go with just one estimate of the cost of your particular remodeling job. When reviewing the bids compare the materials that are being proposed for use as well as the overall dollar amount. While you want to save money, you do not want to sacrifice quality too much. Using better quality materials now will probably save you money on repairs down the line. Once you have selected the best bid do not expect it to be a final figure, there are always unexpected costs to be considered.

Consider Lending a Hand - While most remodeling projects are not suitable for DIY there are probably some tasks you can accomplish yourself, such as ripping up old flooring or adding the final coat of varnish to new wooden doors may save you money on hourly labor costs due to your contractor. Discuss the issue with your contractor; you may be able to strike a good deal. Even something as relatively simple as agreeing to sweep up the construction dust at the end of every day can add up to hours of labor costs saved by the projects end.

Weigh Financing Options - When it comes to remodeling projects of any kind homeowners usually have a number of different financing options available to them. If you are lucky enough to have built up a decent amount of equity in your home a loan based on that may offer the best terms. A home equity line of credit can also be another great way to finance a remodeling project to make sure that you do not borrow more than you absolutely need to. The one thing that most financial experts agree on however is that you should avoid using your personal credit cards to pay for home remodeling or renovations - in many case the amount of interest you end up paying on such debts can end up doubling, even tripling, the eventual cost of your project.




Please go to http://www.renovationexperts.com For a more detailed information




Saving Money Experts Provide Helpful Resources and Tips


With so many people still worrying about job security, saving money has become a huge issue for many families. To help you out we will try and provide you with helpful resources from saving money experts.

An easy place to save money is at your local grocery store. Using coupons for everyday purchases can really add up to huge savings throughout the course of a year. Saving money experts recommend that you get into a habit of clipping coupons from your local newspapers regularly. Other great places to find coupons are online. Simply do an internet search for free coupons.

If your finances are really hurting at the moment, then you might be wise to consult with a financial advisor. Finding a good advisor who can show you great ways to consolidate loans and free up cash will be invaluable for saving money, experts agree that loan consolidation is a smart move.

Saving money experts will also tell you to put a monthly or weekly budget into place. Make a list of which bills you have to pay and what your expenses are. Include everything here from groceries to your phone bill and to buying gas to get to work. This will then give you an amount that you have to spend and will show you what you have left over. This can then be applied to another bill or simply saved and put towards the next month's expenses.

Once you have your budget in place you have to stick to it. This can be extremely difficult to do, but take advice from saving money experts and don't buy anything you haven't budgeted for. If you keep to this you will see your bank account finally start to rise.

Many people neglect to check their bank statements and balance their checkbooks. Banks can make mistakes too. They can charge you for items which should have been free. So it is a wise idea to get into the habit of sitting down and checking your statement each month. Even one or two small mistakes can really add up.

Keeping a watchful eye on your bank accounts allows you to see if there is any strange or unaccounted for activity in your account. With bank and identify theft becoming so rampant, you will be well ahead of the game by just looking at your statements each month.

Saving money experts also recommend that you save your change each week. This is a great way to save up for a new item or a way to take your family out to the movies or for dinner now and again. You will be surprised by just how much change you have in your purse, your pockets and even out in your car. Get into the habit of collecting it once a week and putting it into a savings jar.

These resources from saving money experts should get you well on your way to learning how to be frugal with your money. Only buy what you need when you need it and always take the time to think over a big buying purchase. Learning to budget will have you saving lots of money in no time.




To get great information on optimal money management, please visit Your Optimal Life.




Saving Money Can Help You Avoid Bad Credit


One thing that many high schools today fail to teach students is finance management. Studies have shown that many students graduate from high school without knowing the basics of personal finance. Many of these same students will shortly be sent a credit card after their graduation and because of this it is easy to see why so many people today have problems with debt and bad credit.

Broadcasting Some Bad Habits

The news and media are a part of the problem as well. We live in a society where people are constantly told that they need to borrow money in order to pay for things like cars, houses, appliances, and other large expenses. Financial experts tout the benefits of using secured loans, home loans, or other credit tools in order to pay for the things you need. The concept of saving money is rarely mentioned. Many people borrow until they realize that they've borrowed too much, and then it is too late. They end up debt they can't get out of, and their credit could be ruined.

Save For Your Future

Saving money is a simple way of getting the things you want. It promotes discipline, honesty, and hard work. It is also a way of building long term wealth, especially if you put the money in an IRA, 401K, or other long term investments. It is a fact that the average American who makes $33,000 per year are guaranteed to make well over $600,000 in 20 years. The problem is, after 20 years have passed, most Americans don't have anything to show for it. This is because they fail to save money.

Money, Money, Money

Most choose to take the easy way out and loan money from banks and credit card companies to pay for those big expenses like houses, cars, and education. These institutions will always charge interest on these loans. Consumers will never pay back what they owe. They always pay more, because interest is money that is charged on money. In effect, credit card companies become the masters, while many consumers play the role of being slaves. These institutions are guaranteed to get back more than they loan because of the interest they charge.

Because of this, it is important to save money for big purchases. Since we live in a society that is credit based, there is nothing wrong with having one or two credit cards. However, too many people end up with so many credit products that they put their financial future in danger. Saving money is a simple thing that anyone can do as long as they have a job or own their own business. You want to set goals for yourself. If you make $33,000 per year, this means that you probably make about $2,750 per month.

Imagine What You Would Do

What if you could set aside $750 of that money and save it? By the end of the year, you would have saved $9,000. Instead of carrying this balance on your credit cards, you could have it in your bank account. If you do that for another year, you would have saved $18,000. As you can see, doing this for a number of years can give you a fantastic amount of money. This is especially true if you invest a portion of it in mutual funds or other investments.

Personal Finance Training Starts at Home

Parents should teach their children about the importance of saving money while they're young. Don't count on the school system to do it, because it is likely they won't. Instead of buying them something when they ask for it, why not having them do chores or jobs and then pay them? This will teach them to be mature and responsible when they are young, and when they get older they will not be prone to getting credit cards or loans in order to pay for expenses; saving money can help you avoid having bad credit.




Joe Kenny writes for credit card comparison site http://www.cardguide.co.uk, visit them today to transfer your credit card balance and start clearing credit card debt today.




Friday, October 14, 2011

Start Saving Money For Gas This Weekend


Memorial weekend is not very far off. If you are planning on going anywhere make sure you have all your luggage, and necessities for your trip, but don't forget to bring a cash stash!

Gas prices are rising daily. Here in Michigan it has already reached $4.15/gallon. Yesterday it was $4.05! They are not going anywhere where we want them to go. In fact they are going to keep on rising according to oil industry experts.

Its that time of year when people are starting to take summer vacations, and with gas prices so high, many people just may decide to cancel their plans for this year; or save more money before their trips, OR do less things. There are also many people who will be asking for raises for their jobs in order to defeat some of their gas budget.

I have been doing some research into HHO fueled car kits (running your car on water and gas), and it turns out that the conversion kits can save you a lot of money on gasoline. You see... the gas you put into your tank is barely even used. Our car's engines are so bad that they only burn about 20% of the fuel in the car. Guess where the rest of the 80% goes?

It goes straight into pollution 80% of your gasoline is COMPLETELY wasted. If you don't believe me, look it up. Running your car on water and gas makes your car burn more of the gasoline. Instead of only burning 20%, you end up burning 45 - 70% of the fuel; thus saving money on gas. Instead of going to the gas station every week, you can go every other week.

Many people think that these kits are extremely expensive. BUT they are not. They cost no more than $150 TOTAL. TOTAL meaning a guide, materials, and do it yourself installation. The instructions are very user friendly, and make it so you do not have to your nearest mechanic. However, you can if you want too : )

Happy Memorial Day!




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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Saving Money Tips For Personal Money Finance


This article covers more saving money tips to put extra cash in your wallet. When your home family income drops from over $100,000 per year to just around $30,000, saving money tips is the only choice that you have. Hopefully, you will never be in that situation, but here is some advice for trimming your monthly living expenses from someone that has.

Money Budgeting and Establishing Priorities

There are some home expenses that you can easily cut back on and others that you cannot. Think of this as a financial plan and your home is always a priority. If you have a high interest rate, you may be able to refinance or renegotiate the mortgage. Other than that, you could consider moving to a less expensive home or a new area, but moving itself is quite a personal expense.

In order to implement saving money tips, you need to establish some priorities; things that you will keep and things that you will give up. Things that you must keep include health, auto, home and life insurance. Not having any of those will cost you more in the long-run, but you can always shop around to save money on these items.

Utilities (electric, water and gas) are living expenses that you cannot do without, but you may be able to save. Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Set the thermostat higher in the summer and lower in the winter. Take shorter showers and choose showers over baths to use less water. Fix leaky faucets and toilets now. You would be surprised by how much a dripping faucet can raise your personal bill over a year's time.

Stop Unnecessary Monthly Expenses

Save your receipts for a while and look at avoidable living expenses. If you regularly buy drinks or anything else at a convenience store, you are always paying more than you need to. Buying a single soda for a dollar is equivalent to paying $12 for a 12-pack, when a 12-pack typically costs less than $4.

Of course, if you are serious about following saving money tips, you'll give up the sodas and the bottled water. It costs a lot less to install a water purifier and bottle your own at home. Try to figure out other ways to save grocery money.

Put Your Home On an Expert Saving Mode

If you don't need it, don't buy it. If you rent DVDs, stop. If you are buying books, get a library card. For entertainment, go to free museums and parks. Watch TV -you're paying for that already. You will be surprised by how much you can cut your living expenses by making small changes and living frugally.

Here's the last of the saving money tips: buying in bulk is not always the best choice. Go through your freezer and pantry. Come up with recipes to use the food up and then start over. Start a habit of cheap ideas and ways to reduce your personal bills.

There is no advantage to buying large quantities of something that you may never use. Toilet paper is the only thing that we buy in bulk. We use cloth instead of paper napkins or towels. It reduces our trash and saves us personal money, too.

There are likely hundreds of saving money tips for personal money finance that you can come up with. Hopefully, this will get you started. A good combination of inexpensive ideas will save you thousands.




Remember, either you control money, or money controls you! If you want more information on expert saving ideas and help paying bills, go to Expert Saving Ideas [http://www.budgetsoftwarereviews.com/articles/tipstosave].

I'm also offering an excellent FREE eBook "Money for Life - Budgeting Success". To get your FREE eBook go to Money Budgeting




Saving Money Tips For College Students


No matter your age in life you have got to learn how to save early enough. So if you are a youth or college student reading this article, then you are in luck: as this this article titled "saving money tips for college students" will take you through all the necessary steps you require to start saving money immediately in order to avert a regret later in life. Though, no matter your age, you still need and must continue to imbibe a saving habit.

Follow this step by step approach for saving money for the latter days and you will never regret the day you came across this article. You may have been an expert in handling money, but i tell you the information written here promises a better or additional but simple approach to savings.

The approach of this article is based on 7 simple steps you must observe for you to become regular saver savings as a college student:

1. Have A financial goal: first of all before even thing about the money, realize that you as a student require one need or the other, for example: to start a small side business while in school.

2. Differentiate between need and want: most student tends to get this wrong as some of them end up settling for those things they don't really need as against essentials. For example, planning to buy jewelries instead of a personal computer.

3. Don't give negative reasons: like i don't work yet, so my income or allowances are not enough. You need to know that no amount is too small to put aside for the raining day.

4. Reduce expenses and increase income: this as a simple method that can save you a lot of savings indirectly. That is, for instance instead of frequent visits to the night clubs, you can reduce that rate and start investing little or penny amount of money on penny stocks of companies.

5. Cultivate reading habits: start reading books on personal finance and all that to increase the level of your financial literacy.

6. Chose you friends wisely: you should think about leaving friends who don't share the same passion or interest as you to prevent them from pulling you down o.k?

7. Personal discipline: if I were to give a personal clause, I would say that you must observe all the above steps for you to realize your goal especially discipline. I tell you saving money tips for college students is all about discipline.




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Saving Money Tips - How To Eat Well But Still Save Money When Travelling


Practical saving money tips that can save you money while travelling. Most of us never add up the total cost of food and drink during our holiday. If we did we might be shocked to see how much of our daily expense goes on food and drink while travelling.

It's though not only about the money. Eating while travelling is also about eating healthy and safely. This can sometimes be a challenge when on the road but can be achieved with little bit of planning.

The following practical money saving tips are useful whether you are buying and preparing your own food or eating out when travelling.

Buying Food While Travelling

Everyone everywhere have to eat so there will always be some outlet selling food somewhere close to you. However, it might not sell the food that you are used to nor offer the choices that you take for granted back home.

If you can find a local supermarket then that's always good and safe bet. Local outdoor markets might though offer products cheaper, as well as be more authentic shopping experience. In many countries local markets are where everything happens and visiting them can be an important part of your whole travel experience.

Making packed lunch to take with you on excursions always makes good sense, as you don't know when or what you can find en route. Food and snack at popular tourist places tends to be overpriced and under quality anyway.

Re-using water bottles also makes sense as it saves you money and is more economically friendly than always buying a new water bottle.

The more food you buy and prepare yourself, the less you will spend on food while travelling. Eating out is however important part of any travelling and not trying some local dishes, cooked by local experts would be such a shame.

Eating Out While Travelling

Even though you enjoy eating out, most of us get bored of it quickly if we are doing it every night. Cooking yourself, if that is an option, or opting for a lighter non cooked meal in between can both save you cash and make you enjoy even more your eating out on other nights.

Few practical saving money tips for eating out include:


You can often have the same meal for much less if you go for lunch instead of dinner. It therefore makes good sense to eat the main meal at lunch time.
Avoid typical tourist dining places, the prices are usually higher and the quality is less in the tourists' locations. Eat where the locals do, you are likely to get the best food experience and best prices that way.
Another popular saving money tips includes looking for restaurants frequented by students as they tend to be more price conscious than the older clientele.
Drink what the locals drink as there can be big price difference between imported and local drinks.
You might want to share food with your travel companions, sometimes one starter or one desert can be enough for two to share.
Always check the menu before deciding on a restaurant and of course make sure the menu shows the prices.
Never order anything if you don't know how much it costs, it's the only way to avoid nasty surprises when the bill arrives.

You can find more saving money tips at Top Travel Tips.




Asa Gislason and her husband are the founders of http://www.top-travel-tips.com, a website that offers relevant, accurate and practical international travel tips and advice. Their focus is to provide you with relevant travel information that can save you time and money when planning your next trip. They also provide information about products and services that can enrich your travel experience even further.

You can find more saving money tips and advice on how to eat safe food when travelling at Top Travel Tips.




Small Business Guide to Saving Money

 


In today's tough economic climate it is more important than ever to save money wherever possible. This is doubly true for a small business or start-up business whose cash flows are not yet fully established. Here are 5 great tips on how to save money as a small business.


Money Saving Tip #1 - Pay strict attention to metrics, especially your sales volumes and expenses


It is generally acknowledged that one of the greatest businessmen of the modern era was John D. Rockefeller. Mr. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil in 1870 and went on to become the world's richest man and first American billionaire, and is often regarded as the richest person in history. However, when Mr. Rockefeller was just 16 years old he landed his first job. What was that job that set the foundation for a business career as illustrious as any man ever had? He became an assistant bookkeeper. John Rockefeller earned just $50 salary for his first three months' work. But what he truly gained was an appreciation for financial detail and discipline.


So it is with your small business - you need to have a detailed understanding of what your finances are at any given time. Note, I said a detailed understanding of your finances. The most important numbers to focus in on are your top line sales volumes and revenues and your bottom line expenses. By focusing on top line sales volumes and revenues you get an appreciation of what your business is actually able to earn in a given time period. This assists in setting budgets and goals. Focusing on the expenses gives you a realistic idea of how much money you need to earn to keep your business afloat. It is a good practice to review your finances in detail every single month. This is the first step in understanding where you may be able to save the most money in your business.


Money Saving Tip #2 - Cut out the olives


Robert Crandall worked at Eastman Kodak, Hallmark, and TWA before joining American Airlines in 1973. In 1980 Mr. Crandall became president of American. He was a notorious cost cutter and helped the airline survive and even thrive in a period of deregulation. One of the most famous and oft told stories of Mr. Crandall's business thrift has to do with the salads served on American Airlines flights at the time. You see, Mr. Crandall carefully examined the companies finances and discovered that the addition of olives to the salads was costing the airline company a great deal. Figuring that no one would really miss a few olives in their salad, Mr. Crandall ordered that the olives be removed from the airlines salads. His savings? More than $100,000.


The lesson for your small business is obvious. Look for items that you are spending money on, but that aren't giving your customers or clients any appreciable extra value. When you find them, cut them.


Money Saving Tip #3 - Renegotiate with vendors


Every business is the customer of other businesses. You get all sorts of supplies from other companies that help you to conduct your day to day business. No matter what the status of your current relationship - whether you have a long term contract, or whether you are just repeat buying the same items out of habit - it pays to examine and renegotiate with vendors on a continuing basis.


Are you getting the best deal on your phone service? Are you sure? Have you considered switching to a VOIP (voice over IP) phone system? What about using Skype for either internal or external communications? Each system or expense that comes up in your business is a potential area of savings. Challenge your vendors to sharpen their pencils and give you their best deal. Here are a few ways you can save:


Ask for volume discounts - even if you aren't at the exact volume yet. If you grow you will hit higher volumes.


Get quotes from multiple vendors and then compare them - and share them with the vendors to let them see what your costs are with their competitors.


Consider alternative solutions. For example, maybe your salespeople can share a room on a trip instead of booking two separate rooms.


Money Saving Tip #4 - Start a website


We are very fortunate to live today in an era where just about anything can be sold online. From real estate to retail to consulting, it has become natural for many people to turn first to the Internet when investigating or purchasing goods and services. In the early days of the Internet, small businesses were excluded from competing on the Internet due to high complexity and the costs associated with hiring experts and programmers to create a viable website. This is no longer the case.


One can easily find a freelance web designer for a fraction of what it used to cost by using services such as Elance.com. This is a marketplace where designers and programmers compete to earn your business. You can easily get quotes for website work in a short period of time and also see references and prior work samples to aid in your decision.


You will also need to work together with a web hosting company to house the site. Daniel Foster is co-founder of UK web hosting company 34SP.com. Mr. Foster suggests, ''Do a comprehensive search on Google for the company you are considering. Look for reviews from current or former customers. You can also use forums such as web hosting talk to help inform yourself and narrow down your choices.''


Shopping around can help you save money on everything from your site design to your domain name to your web hosting.


Money Saving Tip #5 - There is only one boss


Sam Walton is a legend in business and in saving money. Having grown up during the Great Depression, Mr. Walton understood the value of a dollar. Three days after graduating from college, Mr. Walton was hired by JC Penney as a management trainee in Des Moines, Iowa. Taking his knowledge of retailing and his cost cutting mentality and focusing them on the retailing sector, Mr. Walton founded Wal-mart in 1962. The first Wal-Mart opened July 2, 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Wal-Mart eventually became the world's largest retailer. And Sam Walton was at the head of it all. Leading the company by example. The rest is cost cutting history.


The true lesson that comes from Sam Walton and Wal-mart for your small business comes in the form of a quote. Never forget what Sam Walton himself said, ''There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'' Don't ever cut costs at the expense of angering or disappointing your customers. Those savings will be short lived.


Derek Vaughan is a web hosting industry veteran, marketing consultant and writer. Mr. Vaughan has architected the marketing growth of several prominent web hosting success stories leading to acquisition including Affinity Internet, Inc., Aplus.Net and HostMySite.com. Prior to his entry into the web hosting industry, Mr. Vaughan was responsible for online marketing at The Walt Disney Company where he marketed ecommerce for the ESPN.com and NASCAR.com brands. Mr. Vaughan received his M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University and currently serves on the HostingCon Advisory Board.


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Saving Money - It's All in Your Head


Having trouble making ends meet? Does your stomach hurt when the bills come in? Do you know that you are spending more than you are earning? Times are tough, and many of us are struggling with money. Some of us just don't have enough coming in, while others don't manage what they have as well as they could. In this article we will explore three ways we can begin to save money immediately, just by adjusting the way we think.

You know the saying "Don't sweat the small stuff", well that phrase does not apply when it comes to saving money, in fact, just the opposite is true. Living within our means is all about sweating the small stuff. It is turning off lights to save a little bit on our electric bill, and using coupons on everything we can, and combining our errands together to save some gas. Is there something that you can do today to save a little bit of money? Sure there is. When pieced together, all those little bits of saving add up to big numbers. If you concentrate today on just one area of spending and what actions you can take to reduce your spending, you will begin to feel better immediately. Knowing that the choices you made today will have an immediate, positive impact on your budget feels great. And if that's not enough motivation, ask yourself what you would rather do, give your money to the electric company or save it up for your next beach vacation?

Along with sweating the small stuff, you have to stretch what you have. Extending the life and usefulness of what we have saves us money because we don't have to go out and buy new - at least not yet. Gluing the soles on a pair of shoes to get just a little bit more time from them, or keeping that junky car just a few more months, or shopping with a grocery list prepared from the grocery store sales flyer to get the most food you can afford are all things we can do, just sometimes choose not to. As you go through your daily routine, think about the money that you will be spending today and make sure you are getting the most from it. Is it even necessary to spend that money? You worked hard for your dough, don't give it away without a fight!

The last way to get started living a more financially balanced life is by applying creativity to how you spend your money. It is easy to go and buy something new, but it's also expensive. It takes thinking outside the box to come up with creative solutions that don't require spending. One example would be what happened at my last garage sale. The morning of my sale, I realized I ran out of garage sale price stickers. I dug out my Christmas gift tags, cut off the to and from parts, and what was left was blank white space, perfect for writing down prices. The trick here is to stop and think, before you go rushing off to shop. Ask yourself, "Is there a way I can solve the problem by using what I already own, but in a new way?" You will be amazed with how many creative solutions there are to everyday problems, using things you already have. And if you think you are not the creative type, visit the forums section of my website for viewer inspired tips.

Remember that you are in control of your money. You choose how to spend it. Make sure you are getting from it everything you can.




For more Money Saving Ideas, visit [http://www.Frugality-Coach.com] where you will find how to articles, viewer contributions, frugal recipes and step-by-step instructions.

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Save Money Using This Simple Tip and You Could Effectively Earn $21,673 Per Hour!


After I graduated from university, I worked in an office for many years. Unfortunately, I knew that I had made a mistake in my career choice. I couldn't see myself working in an office for the rest of my life, so I quit my short lived career, and started a new career at home, investing in the stock market. I knew that it would be risky and that it wasn't a guaranteed income so I needed to make sure that I watched my expenses and that I was living a frugal life.

I became the king of frugality! That's when I discovered the secret to saving money. This secret is the foundation to all possible money saving ideas. Here is the simple tip:

The most successful way of saving money is to think of it as a business, and that saving money is actually a way to make money.

Let me explain. There are two ways to get richer. You can earn more money or you can spend less money, or both. At the end of the day, your ultimate objective is to earn more than you spend and have money left over for savings. So, by spending less money you are also helping to grow your savings. And growing your savings is actually a form of making money.

How do you treat saving money as a business? Just as any business would, I itemized all my expenses right down to the dollar. I used a computer spreadsheet but you can use a book to record all your expenses. Any money that left my wallet or bank account had to be accounted for and each expense was questioned and scrutinized. Every time I saved money, I got just as excited as when I made money. Remember the following rule.

Save Money By Questioning Every Expense - Ask yourself the following questions to see if you can spend as little as possible and preferably not spend anything at all.


Do I really need this?
Can I repair my old one?
Do I have an old one lying around in storage?
Can I borrow it from someone?
Can I make it myself?
Can I get it for free from the classifieds
As a last resort, can I buy it used from the classifieds

Use Google to help you with any information you need on how to repair things, on how to make things, and to find classified ads. Google is the oracle. Everything I've ever needed to know, to save money, I have learned through Google.

I will give more examples in future articles but here is one of my favourite, and most profitable experiences in saving money.

Saving Money on Home Insurance

Question #1: Do I Really Need This

When I was able to afford to buy a home, I looked very carefully at what the insurance broker was offering me in terms of coverage. He gave me what he considered a standard package that most customers just accepted. I just about took that policy but decided to ask the first question. Do I need really need this? Four hours later, the broker was exhausted after explaining every detail of the policy and I mean every detail! I left that meeting refreshed, knowing that I had saved a fortune by simply asking.

You see, I live in a city where it snows but we rarely have major snowfalls. However, hidden in the policy was an option to be covered for damage due to the weight of snow on the roof. That cost was $77/year.

Also hidden in the policy was coverage for water damage. In fine print, it said that they would cover damage due to normal rainfall but not damage due to continuous seepage from an extended period of rainfall. They would also not cover damage due to a flood. That's just plain crazy. Why would I want water damage insurance for anything other than excessive rainfall and flooding? That cost was $31/year.

I declined both premiums to save $108/year.

The policy also had this cryptic description of "Property Insurance Option 3 premium". I asked what Option 3 meant and they told me that it included coverage for several thousand dollars worth of jewellery and artwork. I declined that coverage and dropped it down to Option 2, which saved me $54/year.

My Total Savings

My total savings was $162/year. That may not seem like much. But you should make sure you are sitting down to read this because I'm going to floor you with the next calculation.

Each year home insurance goes up an average of 5% per year. If I had taken that extra insurance for $162, the next year it would have cost me $170. But what if I took that $162 and put it in the bank to earn 5% interest? And then the next year I could have put $170 into that same account to earn 5% on the combined amount. I would have saved $357. That's called the magic of compounding interest. If I did that year after year for as long as I owned a home, here's how much money I would save:


$2,262 over 10 years
$7,778 over 20 years
$19,338 over 30 years
$42,361 over 40 years
$86,694 over 50 years

Let me repeat that. I would save an astonishing $86,694 over 50 years of home ownership, by simply daring to ask questions. Spend a few hours of your time to question everything you are paying for in your home insurance policy. Slash any items that don't make sense to you. In my case, my four hours effectively paid me $21,673.50 per hour!

Now that's what I call making money by saving money!




Don't miss my next tip that could save you $169,000! Read all about it here: Save Money.




Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Saving Money - Are You Doing Enough?


It is estimated that we, as consumers, waste an average of 30% of our paychecks on items we don't need or pay way too much for the items we buy. Since 1990, spending is up 30% and debt is up an astounding 80%. What this tells us is, the average consumer is not only buying more but putting much more of a strain on their parcheck, forcing most to overextend themselves with their credit cards.

To become a savvy shopper takes more than just knowing where the best deals are. You need to develope a new attitude. A new way of doing things. This new attitude must become a way of life. If you fall back into your old way of shopping, you run the risk of becoming a bad statistic. The average revolving credit card bill for Americans now stands at over $8500 and shows no signs of letting up. This is not the direction a good money saver should be moving towards.

Finding the best deals takes patience, good timing, and lots of prudent reasearch. Just like saving for retirement or picking stocks, learning how to become a great shopper takes commitment and organization. When you are organized, you are better prepared to spend wisely.

Shoppers are not born, they are made. This holds true no matter how much you make or where you work. It takes understanding of how stores are laid out, how sales are set, and what tricks marketers use to lure you in and close the sale.

Most consumers are in the dark when it comes to how manufacturers think. If you think like a marketer, you will be able to buy with confidence because you have the inside information that can aid you in getting a better deal.

A thrifty person is not someone who buys on impulse but rather, knows how much they have to spend, how much they can spend, and whether spending the money now is a wise choice or not. Impulse buying is the bane of every intelligent shopper but one that all of us have done at one time or another.

A savvy shopper uses all the tools available to them and makes their decision based on information provided by those tools. These tools can aid in overcoming the relentless hard sell that marketers rely on to make you buy.

Whenever you go out to shop, whether it is to your local mall, the supermarket, or online, there are rules that must be followed in order to get the most value for the least amount of money.

Here are five ways to stay within budget and still get value.

1- Always make a list. Know what you want to buy beforehand.

2- Shop and compare prices and terms before you buy. Remember, the first price you see is not always the best. Use it as a starting point and a guide.

3- Stick to an amount you are willing to spend and don't go over. This will save your pocketbook unneeded grief when the credit card bill comes in.

4- Ask yourself if you can live without the item. Don't fall into the habit of rewarding yourself with an item because you've worked hard or you've been a good person lately. Excuses don't pay bills.

5- Keep a price book with you at all times and use it as a guide to get the best price.

Shopping doesn't have to be a chore if you prepare yourself beforehand and organize your priorities. If you can do this, you will succeed at becoming a saving money expert.




Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man". He is the author of two books called "How To Stop Wasting Money" and "The Saving Money Mindset", and has 15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge amounts of cash every time he shops! How much do you want to save? http://www.howtostopwastingmoney.com




Save Money With Coupons - Do You Use Them?


If you want to save money with coupons you will have to plan carefully how you are going to go about it. It is wise to take an example from couponing experts. Dedicated coupon collectors have filing systems in which they keep their mounting collections. One of the most common ways to organize these is in date of expiration order. Some coupons last several months while others expire within a day or two.

Newspapers and magazines are among the most common places to find discounts. You can gather coupons by subscribing to one or more publications each week. You can also be a part of a coupon sharing circle with family and friends. This way you can pass on the ones you won't use and receive others that are of little use to other members.

Anyone who wants to save money this way should be a regular visitor to large supermarket chains. Most chain stores operate loyalty card systems by which patrons can accumulate discount points. The great thing about these type of system is that you are not restricted in what you can buy with them as long as you spend them at the store. You can also get coupons that are on the labels of specific products at the supermarket. With these you have to buy a particular product but you can usually spend them anywhere.

You can sometimes use coupons to save money by collecting newspapers and magazines which are given freely by supermarkets. Many supermarkets issue promotional flyers that are free to take away and usually include one or two. Many restaurants and local businesses use direct mail to send coupons and these will arrive freely to you with your mail or posted directly by company representatives.

People are just learning about the internet as a major source for finding these discounts. Most internet coupons do not look like traditional ones in the print media and are actually given out as codes. These codes have to be imputed at the time of purchase. There are websites that specialize in helping people locate these promotion codes on the internet.

You can save money on coupons by subscribing to online ezines and newsletters. These publications are sent out via email as a way of promoting products and online retail outlets. Most of these circulars include coupons and discount codes.




As Baby Boomers move into the retirement years they want to be fugal and save with money coupons to help out. For more information how to save more check out http://www.retirementsociety.com




Saving Money - Discover How to Save Money the Smart Way and Avoid Long Term Debt


Many people think that they can help eliminate their own debt faster by skimping on certain things that will save them a few dollars here and there. This short term thinking can get you in big trouble down the road if you ignore the long term financial impact. Saving money in the short term can often be a great idea, but you need to understand how it is going to affect your finances over the long haul. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting deeper into debt by saving a few pennies now.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking that you can save money by skipping your visits to the doctor or dentist. You may avoid the regular fees that go along with these visits, but you could end up paying big bucks later. It's much cheaper to pay for a dental cleaning than it is to pay for a root canal or other dental surgery later.

Ever get those offers from your credit card company telling you that you can skip next month's payment? Sure, you may save a few dollars by not paying your minimum balance, but check your statement carefully. You can be sure that your credit card company did not stop charging you fees and interest. Make sure you pay your credit card bills each month. This will ensure you don't get hit with compounding charges that will keep you in debt much longer.

Some people feel like they can save some money by simply fixing things around the house instead of calling a repairman. While this may seem like a good idea, you could end up paying an arm and a leg if you mess up and end up having to call the repairman anyway. Stick with what you know and if you are not sure, call the experts. They may cost a little more in the short term, but you and your house may be better off in the long run.

No matter what short term financial decision you are making, be sure to think about the long term implications. It could be the difference between a debt free future or an overwhelming lifetime of financial obligations.




William has been writing about various financial topics for nearly 4 years. Be sure to check out William's latest raised air bed website to find the best deals on a high quality Aero air bed and give your friends and family a good night's rest the next time they stay over.




Monday, October 10, 2011

Ways to Save Money on a Mortgage - 4 Secret Ways to Save Money on a Mortgage


If you learn a few ways to save money on your mortgage, you can literally save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next couple of decades. A lot of times we don't realize how much a mortgage really costs us in the long run, we just think of it in terms of how much we're paying out each month.

To get a better big-picture perspective, let's look at a few numbers.

Using the Yahoo! Real estate page, you can use their calculator to figure out how much your monthly payments will be (not including taxes or PMI) and how much interest you will pay over the course of a mortgage.

If you use a $150,000 beginning balance on your mortgage and get a 5% interest rate for 30 years, you end up paying about $140,000 just in interest! So essentially your house almost doubles in price.

Do you see the benefits of knowing ways to save money on this mortgage? Think about how much you can save if you're buying a much more expensive home!

So let's get started with a few things you can do.

The first and most important thing you can do is RESEARCH. When you start looking to buy a house, looking at 2-3 houses isn't enough. In fact, looking at 10-15 houses isn't even enough! To really get a feel for the local market, try to look at 100 houses or more. A lot of this can be done online, so you don't have to worry about touring around houses for the rest of your life!

Investors often say that money is made when you buy, NOT when you sell. In other words, its much better to get a great deal at the beginning than to buy and hope later the house increases in value. This goes for either an investment or buying your home. The more research and better deal you get upfront, the better your chances of having it be a success.

Another thing is to make sure you don't buy a house that's outside of your price range. Experts used to recommend that you never buy a home worth more than 3 times your yearly income, but now some are even saying 2 years. So if you make $75,000 a year, don't buy a home that costs more than $150,000.

This is primarily to protect yourself from having to foreclose if you lose your job. Hopefully with a lower monthly payment, you have more money to save in case of emergencies.

So let's say you're already in your home and are looking for ways to save money. You basically have two main options (and you can combine them).

One option is to remortgage your house. Usually people do this to get a much lower interest rate, so they're paying less each month. The only way this really works is to use the new mortgage to pay off the old mortgage. Some people will take out the new mortgage and only pay off part of the old one. This is a very bad idea, because you're now paying two mortgages each month!

Using numbers to illustrate how this saves you money, let's say you got a $150K mortgage at 5% interest for 30 years. That means you're paying about $805.23 per month. If you were able to remortgage the house for 4%, now you're only paying $716.12 per month. That extra $90 may not seem like much, but it adds up over the year.

The other main way to save money on your mortgage is to pay if off early. You can either send in a payment every 2 weeks (instead of one per month), or you can add on 10% to each month's payment and make sure the bank puts it towards principal. Just doing this little trick can help you pay off the loan in about 23 years instead of 30, saving you tens of thousands of dollars (or more).

Right now this might seem like a stretch, but chances are if you try it you may not even notice a big difference. Then when your house is paid off much more quickly, you'll be glad you did this!

Good luck, I hope this taught you some ways to save money that you can put into practice.




Want to discover more tips on managing your money? Go here to download your FREE report that reveals the things you must stop doing if you want to save money. http://www.slashyourspending.com




Wedding Invitations - Effective Ways to Save Money


There are many ways to save money on wedding invitations. For starters, try setting an overall budget for your wedding or sub-budgets for attire, catering, invitations, etc... just like in personal finance, a budget is a must and sticking to it will save you money in the long run.

A budget also allows you to prioritize. For instance, if you really have your heart set on a nice invitation for your wedding then get what you want. You will be unhappy if you don't. It may be costly but there are other areas in your wedding planning that may not be as important to you; those are the areas where you can spend less. For instance, in order to afford the more expensive wedding invitations, re-evaluate the money you originally budgeted for flowers. Instead of using a florist to arrange flowers for the reception save money by using do it yourself decorating ideas instead. Martha Stewart is an expert at do it yourself projects. Browse through past issues of her Weddings magazine and you'll find a plethora of ideas on how to decorate on a budget.

Once you decide you want a nice invite I wouldn't opt for a run of the mill invitation from a vendor like William Arthur or Cranes. These guys are printing around the clock and might not give your job the the attention you will get from a smaller boutique printer. Also, don't rush, plan ahead. When you are in a rush you will have to get something fast and getting it done fast means that details will be overlooked and can cost you even more money in the long run.

I prefer to use letterpress printers. They can design your invitation just like you want and give you the one-on-one attention that you deserve. Some have a broad selection of ultra-thick papers and you can still get your invitations in a week or two. Letterpress printers also offer a diverse selection of environment friendly options such as recycled or tree-free papers and print using vegetable inks.

When choosing your invitations, look for other ways to save money. Look for options like borders that may be shown on the invites or RSVP cards. Many companies offer these extras as optional. Removing them doesn't alter the look that much and you can save up to $1.50 per invitation set. If you have very organized friends that are accustomed to rsvping in the traditional sense (that is, by writing you a handwritten note) or the more modern sense (by email) you might want to consider dropping the rsvp card entirely. This will cut the cost of the RSVP card and the RSVP envelope. Or maybe use an RSVP postcard instead, that way at least you lose the cost of the rsvp envelope.

In this economy many companies are also offering deals like free return address printing and free ground shipping. These savings can add up, as much as 20% off. If you don't see if offered, ask! Many companies are willing to oblige just to get your business.




Tayllor Jons invites you to visit their website to view some samples of beautiful letterpress invitations. Page Stationery designs, prints and distributes the finest letterpress stationery available. As a pioneer in the rebirth of letterpress printing, we give our customers access to the most diverse selection of fine papers, the highest quality printing standards, and are dedicated to the principle that less design is more. View more personalized invitations and wedding stationery.




Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sunday Newspaper Coupons - Can They Really Help Me Save Money?


Coupons have been around for decades and been used to help families save money on the groceries and household items they need. This is a great way to save on the items you need, while maintaining the level of quality and quantity your family is used to. Take the time to learn about where to get the best coupons and how to use them for the best deals and savings. The Sunday newspaper coupons are the most familiar to all of us and have available over the past years.

This is one of the best places to find coupons and one of the most cost-effective ways to clip and use coupons as well. The cost of the coupons in comparison to the amount you pay for the entire paper is close to nothing, especially when compared to the cost of ink and paper when printing coupons. Printing coupons is still a cheap way to get just the coupons you need, but Sunday newspaper coupons offer the most coupons for the lowest price and time.

Take the time to clip all the coupons in the paper to save money and file them away. Even if it isn't an item you would normally buy, if it was free or next to nothing you would like replace your regular item for a week if needed. This is also a great way to learn the trends of the grocery and retail industries to know when items or categories of items are going on sale and find even better deals through this newfound knowledge.

With this information, the coupons you clip and the weekly store ads you can save hundreds on your monthly grocery shopping budget. Can Sunday coupons really save you money? Absolutely is the answer. You can save money while maintaining quality and quantity on the items your family wants and needs. Savings money doesn't have to be hard or labor intensive. Instead, clip coupons smart and use them effectively for the best deals in town. Diversify your store selections and watch the grocery trends. With these quick easy tips you can become an expert shopper.




There are many ways to save money on your monthly food budget, and using online grocery coupons is easy-- and the savings can quickly add up! Visit our website for more detailed information on how you can save money with grocery coupons: http://GroceryCouponsSaveMoney.com.




The Experts' New Way to Begin Saving Money - For the Most Part, Forget Saving


The way uncertainties in life and the economic health of the country are going, you could be forgiven for wondering if the retirement planners and the economic experts who advise you on how to tackle it all could have a good deal of control over their finances themselves. If those know-alls might believably have a hard time with their own savings plans, what do the rest of us do when saving money for a future we don't have the feeblest idea about? Certainly, you have scientifically designed retirement planner calculators and other online tools to help you, but they can know no better than the best assumptions you give them. Whatever you tell it you will make over the next 10 years, is the best it has to work on; and the same goes for what you tell it about how your investment portfolio will perform, what the rate of inflation is going to look like, what taxes you pay, and so on.

People are finally beginning to wake up to how unfair all of it is. They slave at their jobs, make a thankless salary, and for all the sacrifices they are willing to make saving money for tomorrow and the years to come, they know that there is no telling how meaningful the financial planning sold to them will be. Everything could evaporate in the blink of an eye. It breeds weariness; a kind of fatigue.

So the financial gurus now have a plan where they ask you to work in a way that completely ignores all the uncertainty. They don't want you to put your life on hold so that you can save frantically for a future you know nothing about. Instead, they want you to start saving money early, and to merely think about the things you do have some control over, making course corrections throughout your life. This new mantra seems to be, that you are to place yourself in a comfortable-enough position that you will be able to make a good deal of any future eventuality. Flexibility is now the name of the game.

When you first start out at your career, the most important thing at this stage would be to begin to form healthy financial habits. This isn't really the time to double down and start saving money really hard. Look at it this way - if you work hard at finding a job for yourself that you could really enjoy, you'd probably end up making a whole lot more at it, because you enjoy it. And that is the best way to make a good go of your financial life at this stage. If you started worrying about saving money now, you would feel encumbered by the pressure, and you wouldn't think clearly enough about switching jobs, getting the qualifications and so on. Once you do establish yourself at a career you love, you can finally look forward to putting by 15% of what you make each month. Remember, even $5000 a year invested in an IRA when you are 25 will work out to half a million by the time you retire.

The best way to set about saving money would be to get rid of every scrap of interest-charging debt you have in your life. There is no possible investment on earth that could pay you as much as you lose on a debt. Saving money doesn't have to mean depriving yourself of every earthly pleasure today. If your heart's desire is to travel a bit and see the world, or to buy your girlfriend (or boyfriend) the most beautiful piece of jewelry ever, it's difficult to put a price on that. If you put things off now, you could end up putting them off forever.




Read more about author in:

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Four Worst Ways to Save Money on Auto Insurance


Everyone wants to be economical. In fact, in today's hard pressed society saving money has almost become a religion all its own. Unfortunately, it's a religion that many people are taking to extremes-and harming themselves in the process-by buying in to the worst ways to save money on auto insurance.

Is there a worst way to save money on auto insurance? Absolutely! Like everything else out there, there's a consumer savvy way to shop for auto insurance and there's a not-so-savvy way to shop for it, and if you happen to buy into the not-so-savvy way you're going to lose a lot more than you gain before you even know what hit you!

Since buying in to the wrong way to save money on auto insurance can cause lasting financial scarring, here's a sneak peek at the four worst ways you can save money on your insurance:

1) Buying a policy from a company you don't know just because it's cheap. Yes, finding ways to save money on auto insurance is important (after all, there is that dream vacation to Fiji to think about!) but more important, much more important, is buying a policy that's actually going to protect you if you get in an accident.

It's a sad truth that in order to offer you affordable insurance coverage many auto insurance providers sacrifice quality at the altar of economy-and their policy holders pay the price. Isn't it worth a little extra every month to make sure you're protected from the things that go bump in the road?

2) Lowering your coverage levels. Yes, most states have a minimum required level of coverage, and yes, lowering your coverage to this minimum will save money on auto insurance; however, it also leaves you wide open to the long term financial havoc that getting in an accident without being properly insured can leave behind. Most experts recommend you carry a MINIMUM of $100,000 worth of liability coverage before hitting the highways.

3) Giving up the non-essentials. In many states collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist coverage aren't required unless the bank still has joint custody of your car, and many drivers are deciding that giving them up in the name of economy is a great way to save money on auto insurance; however, this leaves them holding the bill if their car is damaged in an accident they caused or they get in a tangle with Mother Nature (or an uninsured motorist).

Having more than the bare minimum level of coverage might put a little more pinch in your pocket in the short term, but in the long run your bank account and your assets will thank you.

4) Raising your deductibles. Yes, raising your deductibles is a good way to lower your insurance premiums-to a point. Once your deductibles pass the point at which you have no more money in your bank account and roll into "couldn't pay that if my life depended on it" land it's time to start looking for another policy. Many car insurance companies use deductibles to lure in new customers, only to leave them floundering after they've been in an accident when they realize they're in over their heads.

Your auto insurance shouldn't be a sink or swim proposition, so make sure you're shopping savvy to save money on auto insurance the right way.




Michael McDonough is a National Account Representative for QuoteScout.com. For more information on how to save money on auto insurance, visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com




The Importance of Saving Money While Young


Young people don't save enough money. That may be obvious, but it is also a problem that can affect the quality of life as a person gets older.

The benefits outweigh the risks in a factor of two to one. For real. Saving money doesn't have to be a total pain. In particular for young adults, based on the council of the financial experts: Place a budget, they say. It doesn't have to be hard. At the beginning of each month, sit and look at how much money you have.

If you want to save, you can do it while keeping a goal in mind. This gives you something to shoot for. The advantages to experience to learn has led money. It is all too simple to be taken away with the lure of spending.

You can set an annual target, or instead just focus on weekly goals. You can track your own progress, which gives you the momentum to continue.

The easiest method to establish savings is the good old savings account. It does not seem as much, but it can make a difference in time. Use the car only for need as getting to and from work. Then also only utilize some other sorts of accounts if they seem appropriate and you understand what they do.

So, what do you save. Well, there is work money of course. But you can also stash away the money you get for birthdays and for Christmas. If you have a small bank at home, use that too for tracking small coins.

One common trend these days is to receive savings bonds from family and friends for birthdays and the like. You may want to keep this cash in the bank rather than at home where it will eat a hole in your pocket.

If you have a brother or sister, make a deal with him or her to put all your money together in one place and then share it fifty-fifty or save all of it to buy something special.

The result of all this is in keeping you all in control of your own destiny. This will lead you into the good life.




For a comfortable sleep, use the Microbead pillow and knee pillow.




Ways to Save Money For Your Retirement


Retirement may or may not be in your near future, however it should be something you are preparing for today. Many experts believe that being able to save money for your retirement is even more important than paying off your credit cards and/or having an emergency savings account available in case you have unexpected bills, like hospital bills, car problems, etc. However, only a little over half of working adults ages 26-40 are contributing to IRAs. So let me tell you some ways to save money to fund your retirement accounts, as well as choose which retirement account best fits you.

Ten to twenty percent of your income should go to saving for retirement. If you are closer to retirement, you need to be saving a minimum of 20%. If you are younger, I still encourage you to save 20% for retirement if at all possible. If you save money now, it will work for you and increase greatly over time, leaving you with a nice retirement in the future.

Not all of your retirement money has to come from you. There are many employers that offer a matching program. For each dollar you put into your retirement account (usually a 401K), they will put in up to a dollar as well, up to a certain amount. Find out what, if anything, your employer offers, and make sure that you are contributing enough to receive the maximum contribution from your employer.

Take your tax rebate from the government this year and add it to your retirement account. If you don't have a retirement account, start one. As you get raises throughout your lifetime, add the money from the raise into your retirement account.

There are many kinds of retirement accounts. One type is a Traditional IRA, which is funded by money before taxes. When the money is withdrawn, it's taxed as income. For those under 49 years of age, $5,000 can be contributed each year. However, $6,000 can be contributed by those ages 50 and above.

A Roth IRA is another option. This is made up of contributions after taxes, so generally when you take your money out of this account it will be tax free.

Most banks will allow you to fund your retirement accounts by automatic withdrawl. Sign up for this option at your bank so that the money goes automatically into this account each month, and doesn't accidently get spent or forgotten about.

For business owners, primarily small business owners, look into an SEP IRA for your employees. Everything you put into this account is tax deductible. It allows you to contribute money to your employees' IRA instead of to a pension fund.

In today's failing economy, it's extremely difficult to manage one's finances and find ways to save money. But this makes it more important than ever to plan for your future and retirement. Begin saving whatever you are able today, to guarantee yourself and your family a better future.




Gina Clark writes on financial issues. Click here to learn additional ways to save money and manage your personal finances.




Ways to Save Money With Dieting and Gym Memberships


Most people join gyms with a clear mind of what they want. As soon as they sign up they hit the treadmill followed by a few crunches and hope in a few months time they will achieve their objective. There is a never-ending flow of people that are willing to buy into the belief that investing time exercising will yield results.

The other side of getting in shape is dieting; most people follow fad diets or join diet clubs wanting to transform the way they look in a limited time.

What you have are two different actions to solve the same problem. Both seem straightforward. So why do so many people never achieve their fat loss goal and give up after falling at the first hurdle?

There are numerous reasons why people never achieve results but the common ones are because they are doing the least effective options available. The least effective exercise and dieting methods costs you big money and wastes a lot of time and effort.

Did you know that most gyms only have around 20% of their members use the gym regularly? That means some people join up and only use the gym once costing them a full years membership for one session. Or you get others that use the gym once a month or even once a week that will still cost a staggering amount per visit when you calculate it. The reasons for this are normally a lack of motivation or no direction to follow.

So how can you save money with gym memberships if you are locked into a 12-month contract? If you are new to exercise it is essential to invest in expert advice so you are spending your time doing the most effective methods available for your goals. Once you follow the right way the sooner you will see results and the less chance of you giving up. After all who would want to stop if something is working?

Personal trainer fees can seem expensive but so are gym memberships that never get used. This applies to fad dieting as well. Why waste time following a diet that never delivers? Wouldn't it be easier following an expert's advice and save time and money in the process? How many times do unsuccessful dieters buy into the next wonder pill? It always comes back to spending more money and wasting more time then necessary.

All this can be avoided by following the most effective methods available by asking for an expert's opinion. Always seek a trainer with credentials and good experience. Decide by what they can do for you and not what it costs you because failing to reach your goal will cost you more in the end.




Anthony Chapman is a Body Transformation Coach and creator of a downloadable step-by-step diet designed to REDUCE FAT fast. The easy to implement SIX PACK DIET is intended for busy people and options to commit at different levels are presented. To get FREE FAT LOSS TIPS everyday for the next 10 days please visit http://www.fatlossevery10days.com/.

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Friday, October 7, 2011

When Children Save Money, They Learn Good Habits Young


When children save money, they start learning good habits regarding money at a young age. This helps them in a variety of ways. In general, it can help develop smarter attitudes surrounding money early on.

When children ask for things and it's all just provided for them, they never get the opportunity to really appreciate the value of money or even where it comes from. They need to appreciate that work is needed to have money and, if one is careful with it, it will be there when it's needed. This helps not just in creation of wealth later but also in avoidance of debt.

Kids are accustomed to getting cash from parents. They're also accustomed to seeing adults just walk to an ATM and get cash from a machine. They don't necessarily see the work as well as the planning that has to go into having funds available.

Giving children an allowance according to a regular schedule is one way of getting them used to not having money come in whenever they want it but, rather, at intervals. Be sure that they know what they have to do to earn that money. There are experts who feel it's best that regular chores aren't paid for, as children need to learn responsibility as well. There are probably special chores, however, that could be included so that both goals are accomplished.

You can talk over how a plan can be made to save money for a purchase that's really wanted. You can also talk over how choosing to put money aside without spending it can lead to a greater rate of return which will greatly increase how much they can accumulate. This allows them to start seeing the advantages that come from saving and may decide to do this rather than spend.

On special days like birthdays, you may want to add to your children's investment accounts or purchase some stocks for them. When they see the amount they have getting bigger and bigger, they'll be more anxious to keep working on it themselves. As children save money, they begin learning habits that will help them be wealthy later if they're continued.




Vincent Cerally is an expert in Teaching Kids About Money. He has taught about children save money topics, allowances, budgeting and making money for kids.