9/11
Here is some food for thought: According to a recent Yahoo!Finance article, "in the United States, 43% of families are spending more than they earn each year." This is slowly starting to change as more Americans begin to modify their spending habits. Here's a couple of things to keep in mind, which could save you some money :
-U.S. banks are set to earn $38.5 billion this year from overdraft fees alone...." which means it is critical that you stay on top of your finances to avoid the overdraft fees and finance charges that are making the banks more money.
Set email alerts that notify you when your balance is low or send reminders when your bill is due.
-Watch your fees.. This applies to bank accounts and credit card accounts. Make sure to read the fine print regarding your "free" bank account, which may require a minimum balance or monthly direct deposits.
9/8
Consumers have more than 100 shopping days left until Christmas, but retailers are already angling to secure a chunk of your holiday budget. There's no question that the economy has forced retailers of all sizes to get more creative than they have before.
Several retailers are experimenting with programs that offer rewards tied to your fall spending. The idea is to get you spending in stores now and committed to more spending closer to the holidays.
Macy's: Members of Macy's Star Rewards program can enroll in the Thanks for Sharing program for $25, of which $10 goes to charities, including Make-A-Wish Foundation and March of Dimes. In exchange, shoppers receive a 10% rebate on purchases made Sept. 19 through Dec. 31.
Sears: Sign up for the Christmas Club program before Oct. 31, and then add cash to your card. The retailers will award a 3% rebate (up to $100) based on the value of your account on Nov. 14. The card can be used at Sears, Kmart, Lands End, The Great Indoors and MyGofer.com.
For more information, log on to smartmoney.com
9/4
Everybody knows that store brand foods, pasta, canned veggies, cookies, condiments, whateverare cheaper than the national brands. The assumption is that the national brands taste better. Consumer Reports says they don't. the October issue of the magazine puts store brands in head-to-head competitions with national brands, using trained taste-testers to decide when --if ever-- it's worthwhile to pay more. The conclusion: Switching to store brands can be a painless way to cut your grocery bill.
In blind tests, trained testers compared 29 food categories. Stores and national brands tasted about equally good 19 times. The national brands won six times, while the store brands won four times.
The store brand foods Consumer Reports tested cost an average of 27 percent less than their name brand counterparts.
9/2
Early September means back to school. We've talked about the price of school clothes and supplies, but what about the cost of books for college students? Why buy? Did you know college students can easily pay over $700 for their text books? Often times, the college book store doesn't have what you need, either. I have a solution. Buy used books on line. Better yet, how about renting the book from chegg.com There is also cengage.com, not only do they rent books, they also provide electronic files. Whether you buy used, rent or share, it'll save you hundreds of dollars.
9/1
If you've ever done some online shopping, you may notice it in your shopping cart during the checkout process... It's a text box where you can apply an online coupon or promo code and, if valid, get a discount on whatever you're purchasing. There's actually websites dedicated to providing all those special codes. So next time you want to shop online, you may want to check this out. The first site is retailmenot.com. They cover more than 30,000 online stores with more than 150,000 online coupon codes. You may also want to log on to currentcodes.com. They provide coupon codes and let you know which ones are still valid.
8/31
Want to ditch that old window air conditioner that sounds like a jet engine every time you switch it on? Uncle Sam is giving you a little more incentive. On the heels of the cash for clunkers program, which ended Monday, the Department of Energy (DOE) is betting a similar program will inspire consumers to junk their old, electricity-sucking refrigerators, air conditioners and washers to buy new, more energy-efficient models. The initiative is designed to retire inefficient home appliances while stimulating the economy at the same time. Rebates will be available only for products with the government's Energy Star label. The Energy Star-qualified categories eligible for rebates include central air conditioners, room air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, furnaces (oil and gas), clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators and water heaters.
8/27
On the heels of Cash for Clunkers and riding the tide of heightened interest in product safety, Toys R Us is making an unusual offer: Bring in your used cribs, car seats and other baby products and get a discount on new ones.
Bring in these products and you'll get 20% off in certain categories and only from certain manufacturers..
The trade-in program will begin at Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores on Friday, August 28, and run through Sept. 20.
Manufacturers participating in the "Great Trade-In" include Baby Cache, Babi Italia, Baby Trend, Bertini, Britax, Chicco, Contours by Kolcraft, Cosco, Delta, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Graco, Jeep, Nature's Purest by Summer Infant, Safety 1st and Sorelle.
You can read more about the promotion at www.walletpop.com
8/25
Granite Staters are really no different than any other Americans. We are tightening our belts in response to the recession. So it should come as no surprise, traditional NE thrift has created increased demand at thrift and consignment stores. One in particular, Mother and Child Clothing in Amherst, they say business is up more than five percent from last year. Even though regular department stores report losses. It's not just the buyers that are getting great deals, either. More and more people are selling their stuff at consignment shops. It's a way to clean your closet and make some extra cash. Everyone seems to benefit these days from the local consignment shop.
8/24
Most people probably have rubbing alcohol lying around the house. There was a recent article in Reader's Digest I thought I'd pass along as a good money saving tip. You can use rubbing alcohol for so many things around the house and it's very inexpensive. and a bottle of rubbing alcohol is less than a dollar.
- Clean bathroom fixtures - "...It does a great job of making chrome sparkle, plus it will kill any germs in its path."
-Remove hair spray from mirrors - "...will whisk away that sticky residue and leave your mirror sparkling clean."
- Clean venetian blinds - "...does a terrific job of cleaning the slats of venetian blinds..."
-Clean your phone - "...It'll remove the grime and disinfect the phone at the same time."
- Remove ink stains - "...Try soaking the spot in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before putting the garment in the wash."
- Erase permanent markers - "...Rubbing alcohol will dissolve the marker back to a liquid state so you can wipe it right off."
8/20
If you have significant savings earning a low interest rate, consider making a large down payment or even paying off your car loan. This could save you as much as several thousand dollars in finance charges. You can save as much as hundreds of dollars in finance charges by shopping for the cheapest loan. Contact several banks, your credit union, and the auto manufacturer's own finance company.
When you have the loan, pay off the principle as soon as possible. Adding $50 more to your monthly payment can take a year or more off your loan.
8/19
We're always looking for ways to lower our energy bills, so here are a few more tips you may be able to use, especially during this mini heat wave we're experiencing..
1) Reduce air conditioning needs by installing an attic fan. Hot air trapped in stuffy attics sinks into rooms below, adding to your summer cooling costs.
2) Install your air conditioner in the shade. When it's in direct sunlight, it uses more energy.
3) Operate your stove, oven, dishwasher and clothes dryer in the morning or evening when it's cooler outside. They add extra heat to your home and make your air conditioner work harder.
4) If no one is at home during the day, turn off the A/C. If it's programmable, set it to kick on a 1/2 hour before you get home. There's no reason to cool the house, if it's empty.
8/18
Why is it, when we make plans to go out, it's always in the evening? As early as I get up in the morning, an evening out is not likely, especially during the week. This actually is saving me significant money. Think about this, you can go out to lunch instead of dinner. Go to your favorite restaurant, enjoy the wonderful food, but the lunch menu is always cheaper. AND, how about the movies? Head to the matinee and you'll pay a lot less for an early movie than you will for the evening show.
8/17
When do you make your insurance payments? Monthly? Did you know, you could be paying more by paying once a month? Most insurance porviders give you many ways to pay, monthly, quarterly and annual payments. What's really important is the option that enables you to pay th eleast amount per year. Multiply the annual payment by twelve, the quarterly payment by four and the semiannual payment by two in order to make a fair comparison among them, and sign up for the plan that makes you pay the least each year.
8/12
Connect your entertainment center and/or computer setup to a true smart power strip. A device like the SmartStrip LCG4 http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Bits-Ltd./Item/LCG4/ basically cuts power to all devices on the strip depending on the status of the first item on the strip. So, if you have your workstation hooked up to this, every time you power down your workstation, your monitor powers down, your printer powers down, your scanner powers down, and so on. You can do the same thing with your entertainment console - when you turn off the television, the cable/satellite box also goes off, as does the video game console, the VCR, the DVD player, and so on. This can save you a lot of electricity and significantly trim your power bill. For more money saving ideas, check out thesimpledollar.com
8/11
So your son is heading off to college in a couple of weeks. Are you worried about whether he'll have enough money to get by but don't really trust he's responsible enough for a credit card? Or, maybe you got caught in the recession and filed bankruptcy and now getting a credit card is near impossible. You may want to try a prepaid credit card called the Achieve card.
AchieveCard is a prepaid debit card so it can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted, but it doesn't require a credit check like a credit card does. Plus, it offers 100 percent guaranteed approval, meaning anyone can get an AchieveCard. It's the perfect solution for people having trouble getting a regualr credit card.
And most importantly, there's no way you can spend more money than you have. www.achievecard.com
8/10
This comes from Money magazine. With home prices down 30% from their peak, trading up now can land you a bigger house at a bragain price. True, you may take a hit selling your own home, but the mount you'll save on the bigger house, should more than offset that. Plus, it's also easier these day to sell a starter home due to a new $8,000 federal tax credit for first time buyers. Sure, you might get an even better deal if you wait. But it could be risky. Just remember, the bigger the house, the more time it'll take to clean it.
8/3
My friend Kathleen just had her central air conditioning and her furnace replaced. She was very excited about a tax credit she's going to get, so I thought I'd pass the information on to you.
The first credit is for 30% qualifying home improvement and equipment expenditures in 2009 and 2010. The maximum credit over the two years is $1,500. For example, if you claim a $1,000 credit this year, you can claim up to another $500 next year. While that $1,500 limit may sound modest, the credit covers a broad range of energy-saving expenditures for your principal U.S. residence. As for your water heaters, furnaces and A/C unites, make sure you get the most energy efficient ones!
7/30
This makes for a really energy efficient hot water heater! I know this is kind of weird, and may be a pain in the rear, but you if you're really into saving money, give this some thought. You can save money by killing the water heater's breaker switch when you're not using hot water. When you're ready to take a hot shower or do the dishes or whatever, turn the water heater back on. Just remember, you'll need about 15 minutes to get the water hot. If you don't want to make that much effort, try dropping the temperature you've got the heater set at, and buy a water heater blanket, it helps maintain the temp. Finally, if you're ready for a bigger investment, consider a tankless water heater. It heats the water instantly therefore, nothings running during the day when you're not home.
7/29
FREQUENT FLIERS MAY GASP FOR AIR WHEN THEY HEAR THIS. STARTING TOMORROW, UNITED AIRLINES WILL NO LONGER CHARGE A RAPID REDEMPTION FEE FOR LAST-MINUTE AWARD TRAVEL. THAT MEANS A SAVINGS OF 100-DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE TICKETING LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. AND, A SAVINGS OF 75 DOLLARS FOR TICKETING WITH LESS THAN 21-DAYS NOTICE. IT'S A VICTORY FOR CONSUMERS WHO BELIEVE THAT FREQUENT FLIER AWARDS SHOULD ALWAYS BE FREE. OF COURSE, BOOKING YOUR AWARD TRAVEL THROUGH A UNITED AIRLINES EMPLOYEE, CANCELING YOUR AWARD TRIP OR CHANGING THE DESTINATION IS STILL GOING TO COST YOU.
7/28
Perhaps one of the most stressful shopping experiences is the one that has to do with shopping for school supplies. Your kids always need new stuff and it can be so expensive! Here's an idea, before heading out to the store to buy everything on the supply list your child's teacher sends home. Take a minute and look around your house first. Especially check the arts and crafts bin. You just may find glue sticks, crayons and rulers. It doesn't matter if they're not brand new. And, another thought, Choose quality over cheapness. Of course you want to save as much as you can but a few cents more on a pencil is wiser than a cheap pencil that breaks easily. A cheap backpack that rips or a lunch box that doesn't keep things cool You know the brands that have always excelled in quality; so don't go buying the cheapest ones because as far as quality goes, it's worth it.
7/27
I cleaned the bottom drawer of the fridge this weekend. Not a pleasant experience. It made me think about how much money I wasted by purchasing produce I never touched. Americans actually waste about 40% of food produced for consumption. According to Wasted Food http://www.wastedfood.com/about/, that amounts to an annual cost of over $100 billion. It got me thinking about those Green Bags. You know the ones that reportedly help your produce last longer? Well, I decided to look it up on line, and I am glad I did.
From Consumer Reports.org:
We saw green inside the Green Bags, but often it was mold. Blackberries became moldy after three weeks, strawberries and basil after a month, and peppers and tomatoes after five weeks. It was a tough test, but the same foods stored in other ways nearly always had less mold or none after the same time. Only bananas fared significantly better in Green Bags: After two weeks, they were firm and had not turned black.
Buy only what you need for the week and avoid stocking up with food which could spoil quickly.
7/20
Monday's are always good days, if you need to grocery shopping? Why, because if you're a coupon clipper, you've got your fresh sales items from yesterday's flyers. However, Use coupons, but use them effectively. Take a calculator with you if needed, but always figure out if you are getting a better deal with the coupon or another brand without the coupon. Don't use coupons just because you have them. If it is an item you don't normally use, don't bother with the coupon.
7/16
Chances are your, your biggest monthly bill is your mortgage. Wouldn't it be nice to lower that payment? Here's a couple of things to consider...
Refinance you mortgage. -If you can reduce your interest rate by one percent or more, it is often beneficial to refinance. This is particularly true for those with high rates due to less than stellar credit scores. If your score has improved, you may qualify for a better rate.
Get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance. If your down payment was less than 20%, you are probably paying PMI. Once you have a 20% cushion through reducing your debt and home appreciation (yes, prices do go up from time to time), contact your mortgage company to start the process of removing the PMI.
For more money saving tips, go to doughroller.com
7/15
How many rewards programs are you a member of? Grocery stores have their reward card so you can earn cheaper gas or good sale prices. Card and gift stores even offer rewards for buying a certain amount of goods. I found three very popular programs that have recent changes I wanted to share with you.
-Bed Bath & Beyond stopped offering in-store rebates for the Upromise.com college rewards program on July 1.
-If you're not a big spender, chances are you're getting a very different loyalty club experience than someone who is. Best Buy recently announced that as of Oct. 31, members in its standard Reward Zone program must redeem points in the year they are earned. Premier Silver members have no such restriction.
-on the upside: Retailers are giving consumers more control over how they access discounts. CVS began allowing customers to print ExtraCare reward certificates from home last year, instead of just printing them at the bottom of receipts.
7/14
For many families, summer time is travel time. A fact not lost on the airlines, who traditionally raise airfares to sought-after destinations during the summer months. But this year may be different because many airlines are now doing whatever it takes to fill seats.
So if you want to plan a trip, here's a few tips: don't wait till the last minute and shop around. Remember to be flexible with your travel dates and times.
And where you find the most competition between airliners - is where you'll find the best deals.
But these low prices are preparing for lift-off. Future travel trends include the grounding of more planes to keep seats full and an expansion of the a la carte approach where you select different price points for different levels of service and amenities.
Bottom line? When airlines compete, you win. And it's not just airfare specials going on right now: some airlines are tripling frequent flyer miles and others are offering first class tickets at economy pricing… so before you check in… check it out! www.moneytalksnews.com
7/13
Many families are facing toughing economic decision including whether to keep their home or sell. Some have already realized they have no choice but to sell. Here are a few pointers on how to sell your home in a hurry: Market your home to first-time buyers. Thanks to low mortgage rates, and new tax credits, first-time buyers have accounted for half of the homes sold this year. Since the average age of those buyers is 30 years old, you need to go where they go - online. In fact, 80% of today's buyers use the Internet! So advertise your home on real estate search sites, like Trulia.com. Then announce your next open house using online social networks, like Facebook and Twitter. AND
Make your advertising pop with pictures. 80% of buyers use the internet to find a home, and just like with online dating, online listings with pictures are viewed more often.
7/7
In good times, you just threw stuff out. But in a recession, consumer interest in both buying and selling used electronics and other goods is thriving, with a whopping 63% of thrift and consignment stores reporting an increase in revenue this year. For those of us who don't have time to create an eBay listing, respond to all the auction queries and ship the item, there are easier ways. But you may not make as much money. cexchange.com and eztradein.com are also worth checking out. For more ideas, go to smartmoney.com
7/6
Today's On The Money, comes from a listener, this is what Lynette wrote to me last week:
One of the ways I have been able to get down to a low level of weekly cash spending is by taking my lunch to work instead of buying lunch every day. One day I realized that if I were to go out to lunch or eat in our cafeteria every day, I would spend anywhere from $5 to $15 (let's say $10 on average), times 5 days a week is $50 each week! Calculate that over a month (~$200) or a year (~$2500), and that's a lot of money! So I started making my own lunch to bring every day, and by planning out my groceries to account for lunches is helpful for both spending and variety. Sometimes I make a crock pot of soup or a pot roast, or bake a full lasagna, and then freeze lunch-sized portions that can be easily reheated. A pre-planned lunch for me is typically cheaper and healthier Thanks Lynette
6/26
On these rainy days of summer, you could spend a small fortune entertaining the kids by bringing them to the movies. Why not watch movies at home? By going on line, you could save money on DVDs. From bargain basement sites to used DVDs, there are a many options for you.
There's always ebay and amazon, but here's a few other sites that you may not have heard of:
- www.dvdempire.com... where you can buy many movies for less.
Then there are the trading sites:
- titletrader.com allows you to list your DVDs, you earn credits, towards movies you want to borrow.
- zunafish.com allows DVD swapping, there is a $1 fee per transaction.
6/25
This may scare you, the average low to middle income family in the U.S. has $9,800 in credit card debt. If you make only the minimum payment on a card with a 18 percent interest rate, it will take more than 57 years to pay it off and you'll pay $28,000 in interest! That should serve as enough incentive to not use a credit card at all, or at the very least, pay it off every month. More information at CNN.com
6/24
Saving energy is saving money. One of the new energy guzzlers is the digital photo frame. I have one. This always-on gadget burns a barely noticeable $9 extra a year into the average household electric bill. Doesn't seem like much, but if every household in America owned one, it would take five medium-sized power plants just to keep those family photo slide shows rolling. My point is, take a walk around your house. Look at how many of your power outlets have something plugged in. Does it run 24 hours a day? Don't forget many devices, such as a DVD player, use phantom energy. Start unplugging when you're not using, and I bet you'll start seeing a lower electric bill. Remember, it all adds up.
6/23
I'm constantly looking for ways to lower my grocery bill. And of course, I want to pass the ideas on to you. So, here is something you can do to eat a little cheaper...
Just last week I bought the kids ice cream from the Ice Cream truck. $7.50 for two ice creams! I didn't have enough cash on me, to get myself one! So, with summer vacation upon us, try making your own popsicles. It's easy. You can buy the plastic molds and popsicle sticks. Just mix cool aid, freeze it and avoid the Ice Cream truck.
6/22
I have a great way to get yourself more than $1,000 in discounts and help a good cause at the same time. With summer vacation upon us, I felt I needed to pass this on to you. It's through Breath NH. Breath NH is a organization dedicated to helping those with lung disease. Here's the deal, you pay $25 for a Breath NH Fun Pass book. Inside, you will find over 100 New England family attractions, including Story Land, Canobie Lake Park, and the Boston Duck Tours. In today's economic climate, we are all looking for a great deal. the Fun Pass Book has great offers, most of them are a free children's pass with the purchase of an adult ticket. There's no doubt, I'll use this coupon book. Buy a booklet and help a great cause... visit www.breathnh.org/funpass
6/19
Gas prices are on the rise again. The average price for a gallon of unleaded is $2.67. Here are a few reminders of how you can save on gasoline.
-Pay cash at the pump. Many gas stations are charging more for credit card purchases.
-Keep your car in good running condition. Just keeping your tires properly inflated can help save you cash. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll and decrease a car's fuel efficienc. Driving with properly-inflated tires can improve fuel economy by 3% over a year.
- Remove excess weight. Golf clubs, bowling balls or that bag of salt from last winter -- any unnecessary equipment or baggage in a car can decrease its fuel efficiency. Gas mileage decreases by up to 2% for every 100 pounds.
-Whenever possible try to keep the air conditioner at the lowest level. Having it maxed out can reduce your fuel efficiency by up to 25% compared to having the A/C turned off,
For more tips, check out smartmoney.com
6/18
I've got John from Londonderry to thank for today's On The Money. John recently sent me an email and asked me to check out a website. It's called goodeatsnh.com. Click on the area of the state you live in, then the town, and you'll see lists of restaurants. Several of these restaurants are offering 1/2 price coupons. For instance, I clicked on Manchester. There are 32 restaurants listed, 15 of the restaurants had some kind of coupon offer. All of the business links have the restaurants address, phone number, website (if they have one), hours of operation and some even had the menu. It's a great resource, and if you can get 1/2 price dinners, it's a great deal.
6/17
Here's a couple of thoughts on saving money on your car insurance.
Increase insurance deductibles.
Think before submitting an insurance claim.
6/16
Instead of just waiting until something breaks to deal with it, develop a monthly maintenance schedule where you go around your home (and your car) and perform a bit of maintenance where it's needed. This little activity, taking very little time, will keep things from breaking down and help you see problems before they become disasters.
-Check the tire pressure on all cars and air them up to the recommended maximum
-Check the fluid levels in all automobiles and adjust as needed
-Check and clean range hood filters
-Check and replace furnace filters
-Remove grills on forced air system ducts and vacuum inside the ducts
-Check all faucets for dripping water and change washers if needed
-Check and clean refrigerator and freezer coils
Early maintanance is much cheaper than having to replace parts or paying a repair man.
You may not want to submit a claim on a loss that is less than twice your deductible. So for a $250 deductible on an auto loss, consisder paying out of pocket any loss up to $500. Why? The $250 you'd receive from your insurance company is not worth the increased premiums you'll likely have to pay. You may want to call your insurance agent to find out how a claim will impact your premiums before filing the claim. Most of us don't need to be insured for all losses over $100 on our car, for example. Although we wouldn't want to pay a $250 or even $500 deductible, we could. If that's you, find out how much you'd save from raising your deductible.
6/15
Many people with cable services often are paying for a premium package but rarely watch those extra channels. For the longest time, I was subscribed to HBO and Starz , yet I may have only tuned in once a month at best. I also had some digitial voice mail for my phone. Did I use it? No, I have an answering machine. So I called my cable, internet and phone provider and asked what I could do to lower my bill. I cut out the voice mail, and dropped Starz and guess what? I lowered my monthly bill by about $40 dollars. I still have HBO, and several other channels, high speed internet and phone... and if I want, I can still rent a movie for a lot less money. It doesn't hurt to ask.
6/12
One great way to realize the value in frugality is to map out small savings over a year. Take a soda from a machine at work at $1.25. Five days a week, 50 weeks a year. That's $312.50. With taxes, you have to earn about $400.00 to buy those cans. Buy a case of soda at 15 cents a can and bring a can to work every day, five days a week, 50 weeks a year. Cost: $37.50. Savings on just that one item is $275, a savings of 88 percent. At a big corporation, they'd make you CEO for saving 88 percent. Now multiply that thrifty behavior throughout as many purchases as you can and you start to see the difference.
6/11
Did you do your Spring cleaning, yet? Get the dust off the curtains, clean the baseboards... did you think about your appliances? You really should check all of your appliances to make sure there isn't any dust clogging them and that they're fairly clean. Look behind the appliances, and use your vacuum to gently clear away dust. Check all of the vents, especially on refrigerators, dryers, and heating and cooling units. The less dust you have blocking the mechanics of these devices, the more efficiently they'll run (saving you on your energy bill) and the longer they'll last (saving you on replacement costs). We hate seeing the electric bill jump because of A/C and fans, but lets make sure we're not overpaying.
6/10
Most everyone knows the value of having a good health insurance policy, but finding one that is priced just right is not easy. Health costs are so high. In spite of that, though, here are a few tips that can enable you to find affordable health insurance.
Get a Health Savings Account (HSA)
You may already have heard about Health Savings Accounts. This program was created by the government a few years back and is a great way to get family health insurance. The key to making them work for you, however, is to have enough of an income that you can put sufficient money into the account on a regular basis.
Choose Health Insurance Based on Needs
Health insurance plans are very different from each other. This will mean that you will need to get several health insurance quotes and then find out which ones provide you with the best program for your needs.
Eliminate Habits That Raise Insurance Costs
To be able to reduce your insurance costs considerably, you want to make sure that you do what you can to eliminate bad habits. Oftentimes, smoking or drinking, or even eating too much, can lead to health problems that will cause your insurer to raise your rates.
For more tips, check out www.billeater.com
6/9
If you've been paying attention to my money saving tips, you've probably figured out, I'm going to direct you to the web as often as possible. I just find it so easy to find great deals and these days there are fantastic websites dedicated to helping us get thru this tough economy. So, I've got a new site for you to check out. It's called moneysavingmom.com. It's an upbeat and encouraging blog dedicated to helping you find great deals, stretch your hard-earned dollars, and live on less than you make so you can save more and give more.
6/8
Do a price comparison - and find a cheaper grocery store. Most of us get in a routine of shopping at the same grocery store, even though quite often it's not the one that offers the best deals on our most common purchases.
First,
Next,
Once you've done that, make a regular shopping trip to each of those stores. While there, note the price on each of these items in that store. Take down the price of every item on the list.
When you've done this for each store, just add up the prices of all of the items to get your total for each store - and then you should do your regular shopping at the store with the lowest total, you'll automatically save money.
6/5
credit cards can be so confusing, especially if you have more than one..
Some advice: If you don't like what the credit card company is doing, tell them. Often, if you question it, they won't charge you the fee or they won't increase your interest rate, but you have to be persistent.
This is a good time to figure out which credit card works best for you. Ask yourself: "Are you someone who always pays the bill in full or are you someone who carries a balance, whether it's routinely or just occasionally." This is a real fork in the road in terms of how you shop for a credit card.
If you pay your bill in full every month, like 40 percent of Americans, then a rewards card that offers cash back, airplane mileage or other incentives is for you.
However if you carry a balance --even occasionally-- then your motivation should be getting the lowest interest rate you can and keeping your total costs of credit low. Do it even if the card has an annual fee.
6/3
Master the thirty day rule. Whenever you're considering making an unnecessary purchase, you know those impulse moments when you see the perfect pair of pumps, wait thirty days and then ask yourself if you still want that item. Quite often, you'll find that the urge to buy has passed and you'll have saved yourself some money by simply waiting. If you want, you can even keep a "thirty day list" where you write down the item and the day you'll reconsider it, or just keep this one in my head - that way, you may simply forget about the unimportant things that would have cost you.
6/2
I may be hitting on a delicate subject, but I'm going to discuss it anyway. Are you a collector? Most people collect something . Is it something that consistently brings you joy? Or is it something that you just do out of habit at this point? Does the collection itself have value? Could you perhaps "trim the fat" from this collection by getting rid of duplicates or getting rid of the items you no longer use? Also, could you perhaps cut down on your spending on that hobby? And, while you're at it... if your collection is valuable, but not sentimental, sell it! Think of how far that money could go..
5/29
There are few things more important during a recession than keeping close count of your finances. You don't have to wait till you're in front of the computer to do it, either. There are many services now that offer applications to down load to your smartphones. Mint.com is one of the webs most popular financial management tools. It's a free site which syncs your various accounts for a complete picture of all your finances, from your checking account at the credit union to your credit-card bill at American Express. With the applications, you can get all of your information on your smartphone, including Blackberry. What's nice, is you can set budgets and receive alerts if you are within $100 of your credit card limit. Check it out, mint.com
5/28
I realize we need to spend some money on entertainment. We can't cut all the fun out of our lives in order to tighten our budget. Are you subscribed to a DVD rental club? Do you pay for premium movie channels? How about a book of the month club? regular bills for entertaiment purposes are great places to look for areas where you can reduce spending. Ask yourslef how much you honestly use these services and whether or not the monthly bill you pay is really worth it. Explore alternatives for the same thing. How about a trip to the library. Sure you can take out a book, but you can also rent movies for a fraction of the price. If your paying a bill every month just to entertain yourself, ask yourself if there's not a better option available that isn't a constant drain on your budget.
5/26
We're always looking for a good deal, and thats true when grocery shopping. I've told you about the benefits of coupons, and compared shopping at the grocery store compared to the big box store. But how about grocery shopping on line? Check out amazon.com . I was surprised to find several great food and health and beauty items with great discounts. For instance, you can save 20% on General Mills cereals. 30% off select Pampers and Luvs diapers and some coffee products are up to 50% off. It's worth checking out. Go to amazon.com and on the top left hand column, click on grocery. It's easy... and another way to save money.
5/19
Not only are BEVERAGES such as soda or other premium beverages generally unhealthy for you, they're also far more expensive than water. Even if you spend as little as $1 on average per day brewing your own coffee, that adds up to $365 a year; a daily dose of your favorite caffeine product can cost as much as $1700 a year. Get a refillable and reliable set of reusable water bottles and keep them filled in the fridge with your filtered water...or powdered drink like lemon aide or iced tea. You can cut your daily spending habits and still enjoy a good drink.
5/14
Baking soda, vinegar, and water are pretty much all you need for most cleaning situations in your home, and considering you can buy these items cheaply at the grocery store, consider switching to them for your cleaning needs. Need to scrub something down? Make a paste out of a spoonful of baking soda and a spoonful of water and use that paste to scrub the dirty dish or spot on the floor. Want to mop? Dilute a few capfuls of vinegar in a bucket of water. Got some foul odors? Sprinkle some baking soda on the source of the stench, or dilute some vinegar in water and use a spray bottle to spray a mit around teh room.
Credit Cards.. you can't live with them, you can't live without them. Atleast some of us feel that way. There is a great website called BillShrink.com. It's very helpful if you are considering applying for a new credit card. The site compares cards for you so you can make an educated decision. Ranked best for carrying a balance is Discover Motiva card. They have an introductory offer of 3.99%. There's no annual fee. And, you can receive cash bonuses. Discover is also one of the few payment-friendly issuers, letting you choose your own due date and make free payments via phone -- even at the last minute. It follows the Fed's rule that any payment made by 5 p.m. on the due date is on time.
Discover doesn't have the best ratings for earnings rewards or transferring balances..I'll tell you about those cards later this week. Remember do your research at BillShrink.com
5/11
Consumers, legislators and advocates are clamoring for new legislation that will rein in the credit-card industry. The aim: a kinder, gentler card. However, many credit-card issuers have a long way to go before they'll put an end to some of their nastiest practices -- including raising rates on existing balances for any reason they choose, applying payments to the lower-rate part of a balance while the higher-rate portion gathers finance charges and slashing credit limits to below consumers' existing balances. For the rest of the week, I'll fill you in on some of the best credit cards out there. For now, check out BillShrink.com, a web site that compares credit-card terms and deals. For more financial advise, click on smartmoney.com
5/7
Often times we tell you to pay cash and use your credit card as little as possible. But not today. When you get your car repaired, pay for the repair with your credit card and then pay the credit card balance off immediately. Why? Credit cards offer significant consumer protection against fraud. If your car repair is faulty, you can contact your credit card company and have them deal with it rather than trying to fight it yourself...Just make certain you pay your balance!
5/6
Spring has sprung and many of us have been busy working to clean up our yards. Are you thinking about buying a new lawn mower or other lawn maintenance equipment? You don't have to spend a lot of money and buy new stuff. Why not hit yard sales and look for stuff on the cheap? Many people upgrade to riding mowers while their push mower still works. If you can get just a year or two of use out of such an old mower, you're ahead, and then you can upgrade your mower on your own terms and allow time for research. The same holds true for the weed wacker and leaf blower.
5/5
The seasons are changing, the weather is warming up. It's time to change the direction of your ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are great tools for reducing energy use inevery season, buy you have to be a bit clever to maiximize their value. In the winter, set the fan to run in a clockwise direction, which pulls the warm air from the ceiling an dpushes it down toward the floor. But now, you need to have the fan run in the opposite direction. Air circulation can make the room feel as much as 8 degrees cooler, and combined with a temperature adjustment strategy can save you as much as 30 percent on your cooling bill.
5/4
Double, triple, even quadruple your casserol! According to thesimpledollar.com http://thesimpledollar.com, casseroles are nice, easy dishes to prepare, but on busy nights, it's often still easier to just order some take-out or eat out or just plop a prepackaged meal in the oven. Instead, the next time you make a casserole, make a few batches of it and put the others in the freezer. Then, the next time you need a quick meal for the family, grab one of those batches and just heat it up - easy as can be. Even better, doing this allows you to buy the ingredients in bulk, making each casserole cheaper than it would be ordinarily - and far, far cheaper than eating out or trying a prepackaged meal.
5/1
Looking for a job? Try volunteering! You can gain some extra skills that you may not have thought about. You may be able to brush up on old skills or learn new ones. and while volunteering lets you do something good for others, you are also filling an employment gap. You may not be getting paid, but you're doing something you can talk about with prospective new employers. Maybe you've been doing marketing for the Red Cross or managing inventory at the food pantry. This could build your skills and level of experience and that could give you a leg up on the competition. Volunteering also helps you network, especially if you help with someone in your career path. They could recommend you for the next job opening.
4/30
I'm quickly turning into a download pro for my kids ipods an mp3 players. Easter bunny gave them down load giftcards so we're spending lots of time on i-tunes. But here's the thing, prices vary. If you have a burning desire to own your music and carry it with you everywhere you go, llike my kids do some comparison shopping first. Downloadshopper.com tells you which of the big three -- iTunes, Amazon or Wal-Mart -- offers downloads at the cheapest price. Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music," for example, comes up as $1.29 at iTunes, 99 cents at Amazon and 94 cents at Wal-Mart. Also check for weekly free songs on the various sites. This week's freebie may be next month's hot new song. The website again is downloadshopper.com
4/29
I recently reworked my household budget and the one thing I had to adjust was my monthly grocery allowance. Are we buying more food or is it price increases? It could be both. Marketers know a lot about how you shop and what's likely to make you pick up a product. For example, stores have discovered that shoppers are more comfortable staying to the right as they move through a store. How much difference does it make? According to market-research firm Sorensen Associates, shoppers moving counterclockwise spend $2 more per trip than those who go the opposite direction.
How to avoid getting psyched out by savvy marketing? Know what you want to buy before you enter the supermarket. Plan your meals for the week, make a list and stick to it. ... and most importantly... never shop when you're hungry!.
4/28
Here's an idea that can help you save some money and the environment. Americans spend billions of dollars every year on bottled water. There is an extraordinary markup on the cost of water and the bottles are a major contributor to landfill waste, and even those that are recycled eat up energy in the process. A recent study concluded that as much as 2,000 times more energy is spent producing and distributing bottled water compared to tap water. According to the study, our bottled water addiction used up the equivalent of 32 million gallons of oil or more lat year.
Many grocery stores now have water dispensing machines that sell filtered water by the gallon for a fraction of the pre-bottled price. By bringing in your own containers and refilling them, you can save a lot of money. And by using this water at home to refill single-serving sized bottles, you can save even more and do the environment a good turn. Check out walletpop.com for more ideas...
4/27
I found an interesting money saving tip in the NH Sunday News yesterday that I thought was perfect for ON the Money. It's also timely for those of us with kids on school vacation week.
Log on to newhampshire.com and type in "free" in the keyword search. Besides all the free events happening in the state, you'll find attractions under ten dollar, cheapest gas prices, half-price gift cards to stores, services, restaurants and other venues all over New Hampshire. Among the FREE things to do, you can tour the State House, The Basin as Franconia Notch State Park, and the Anheuser Busch Brewery in Merrimack. Check it out.. NewHampshire.com
4/22
Yesterday I talked with you about three websites that help find electronics at lower prices. I found one more that I thought was worth passing on.
It's called woot.com . Woots posts just one item per day, but its prices are typically the best around. A new item goes up at midnight Central Time, and is available for 24 hours or until it sells out, whichever comes first. Many of the offerings are discontinued or overstock electronics. Recent deals include a Pentax Optio E60 digital camera for just $80 and a $30 Philips DVD player.You'll also occasionally see home beer-making kits, Star Wars bobble-heads and other off-the-beaten-path finds.
Sample deal: Friday's item was the Digital Concepts AC/DC Battery Charger for $10 (plus $5 shipping). BuyDig.com sells the same device for $24 (shipping is free). You'll save 37%.
4/21
Its a tough economy, but we still love our gadgets. So, we may as well get them cheap. Here are three sites that smartmoney.com put to the test:
1. Dealnews.com
DealNews.com continuously posts updates with the latest in in-store and online sales, coupons and deals. Users can sort deals by the time they were posted, by category or by "hotness" to see what other visitors are checking out.
2. shopper.cnet.com
Think of this site as one-stop shopping. Not only do users have access to extensive reviews, but it also helps them hunt down the best price. Comb the listings of the latest sales and coupons and use the site's price-comparison feature to find the best deals on a specific model. Sign up to receive an email newsletter of the best sales and coupons that the site turns up on popular items.
Sample deal: amazon.com currently has the Canon PowerShot SD880 for $245 -- a discount of $55 off its regular price. You'll save 18%. (No end date listed.)
3. Pricespider.com
This gadget-focused site offers up-to-the-minute price comparisons. Enter the specific gadget you want, and you'll also see the median and lowest prices over recent months. Check the deals section for the discounts that other users have found, and vote for your favorites to push them higher in the listings. If the discounts you see still aren't deep enough, set a price alert to be notified via email when a store lowers the price to the level you want. (Not all price-comparison search engines are created equal.
4/20
Banks an lenders will always check your credit score, and you should too!
Maintain a low debt load
Try to keep your total debt relative to the amount of credit available to you under 30%. If you have a credit card with a $2,000 credit limit and a $1,000 balance, you're 50% "utilized" on that account, lowering that balance will help to improve your score.
Hang onto old cards
The longer you've had a line of credit, the better. That's because credit history is another factor that can greatly impact your score. So if you're tempted to close an old account because you rarely use it, don't! Then make sure you purchase something with it. As credit-card delinquencies rise, issuers are closing inactive accounts. To prevent that, you can charge as little as $10 a month and keep it active.
Avoid getting too much new credit
Applying for a single new credit card may have a small impact on your score, but applying for several credit cards can do plenty of damage.
And finally, Don't Be Late! Late payments create big flags on your credit report.
Here's a few good coupon based web sites worth mentioning again:
Coupons.com and couponmom.com. Both are easy to navigate and easy to remember.
You can also find all of the newspaper Smartsouce coupons online. They're at www.smartsource.com . It's all the magazine's coupons, but they are just a click away.
couponcabin.com is great if you are into on-line shopping, they will send you a weekly email of the best online deals.
4/16
Clean Up your remaining bills..
After you've eliminated some of your regular bills, look for options to clean up your remaining bills. Go through those bills and look for optional services that you rarely or never use. Don't text message? Eliminate buying text messages for your phone. Don't watch channels outside of the basic cable? Downgrade your cable or satellite package. Simple moves like these cut down your bills, giving you more breathing room each month. Just downgrading some services can move you from treading water to making progress against your debt.
4/15
Do you have a child planning on going to college someday? Do you have a college fund started for them?
Finding the right way to pay for college just got easier with Sallie Mae's Education Investment Planner. This free online tool offers easy-to-follow guidance on paying for college based on your budget and financial goals.
The Education Investment Planner lets you:
-Estimate and compare cost of attendance estimates at over 5,500 colleges and graduate schools.
-Understand and explore your funding options based on a combination of savings, scholarships and grants, and student loans.
-Forecast estimated repayment costs if student loans are part of your paying-for-college plan. Check it out at www.sallymae.com
4/14
So far, the average tax refund this year is $2,740, according to the latest IRS statistics. That's not chump change - and it comes in handy at a time when many consumers are trying to tackle their debts and save as much as they can each month. In fact, with so many competing priorities, figuring out where to spend your refund can be a bit overwhelming.
1- Create a Cash Cushion: With today's unemployment rate at a 25-year high, you'll need an emergency fund that can cover at least six to nine months of expenses.
2- Pay Off Debt: Start with any department store cards you have since they tend to charge the highest interest rates of any consumer card - often 22% or higher - even for their best customers.
3- Splurge a Little: Once you've set some of your refund aside in an emergency fund and tackled some of those pesky debts, consider spending some cash on yourself. Retailers of all kinds are slashing prices, so you may be able to get a great deal on that coveted designer dress or take that once-in-a-lifetime trip. After all, consumer spending helps the economy.
For more financial advice check out www.smartmoney.com
4/13
Ever stood at an ATM and seen that dreaded message, This Bank Charges a $2 fee for use of this ATM"? I recently had a $3 charge. Blame the bank. In order to cut corners, they've decided to exclude ATMs from their network. Your bank should always have the widest ATM network possible. If you find yourself seeing those messages regularly, that adds up to significant cash straight out of your pocket. Talk to your bank and make sure that you at least have a debit card with a MasterCard or Visa logo on it so you can use it as a credit card. Often your'e able to use it as a debit card in the checkout lane and get cash back. You'll avoid the FEE.
4/9
With auto makers and dealerships slashing prices and offering extremely generous incentives, buying a new car now could actually prove to be cheaper than buying a used one. Just be prepared to stomach the risks of bankruptcy-protection filings and swift depreciation.
Typically, used cars are a better value. Not only are they cheaper, but depreciation is less of a factor. However, now a perfect storm of events in the industry have put monthly payments for some new vehicles on par with (or, in some cases, even less than) those of models from just a year or two ago.
Here's a few things to consider:
Financing : Even though lending remains tight, loans for new vehicles have become easier to secure recently. The average rate on a 36-month loan for a used car is 7.64%; for a new car, it's 7.01%, according to Bankrate.com.
Depreciation : Of course, depreciation should always be factored into the equation. Consumers planning to keep a car for fewer than five years will likely get a better value buying a used car from a recent model year, which already has that initial depreciation built into the price.
The brand's future : General Motors has already said that if it can't sell its Saturn, Saab or Hummer brands soon it will have to shut them down. That could mean reduced resale values for anyone owning one of these cars.
4/8
You're in the market for a big ticket item. Maybe it's that flat screen TV you've been eyeing, or maybe the washing machine died. Either way, you can expect to pay quite a bit of money. You head out to the nearest store that has a big red 'SALE' sign on the window. Perfect! You're getting a great deal...or are you? If you did a little research you'd know. Shop before you shop. Spend a little time and compare prices. google.com http://google.com has a great tool to help. Under the shopping tab at google.com http://google.com you'll see Product Search. Click on it. This will allow you to window-shop from your computer. There is also amazon.com http://amazon.com . Through their Merchants and Marketplace program, you can check product prices from various retailers and also read about product ratings. You can learn a lot with a little research. So before you grab your wallet and head out the door, shop before you shop!
On The money 4/7
Many busy families resort to eating out regularly simply because of time constraints, even though this habit costs them considerable money. A much more sensible tactic is to prepare complete meals in advance and freeze them so that when the time comes to use the meals, they can be pulled out of the freezer and tossed into the oven. Spending time preparing meals at home and freezing them is great for the budget. And you can't argue, a home-cooked meal is healthier and much less expensive than the alternatives.
April 3
With virtually every industry cutting jobs these days, your'e probably asking yourself: Am I next? Online job board careerbuilder.com has some advice on making yourself "recession proof" at work, or at least as much as you can in this economy.
First - Volunteer to take on different duties. The more you can do, the more valuable you are.
Second - It's all about the team. Show that you can work with others and share information and resources.
Third- Offer ideas, especially if they help save money.and finally- Stay positive. Try to remain focused on your work, instead of paying attention to rumors
April 2
You're likely to see some more green in the next couple of weeks. Not only on the trees. Very possibly in your wallet, too. President Obama has asked that all employers adjust their payroll systems so eligible workers can start receiving the new Making Work Pay tax credit through their paychecks. The credit, available for 2009 and 2010, was a part of the economic recovery package lawmakers passed in February.Just how much extra cash you will see depends on your marital status, your salary and how many allowances -- or exemptions -- you normally take.
As a rough guide, singles eligible for the credit might get between $10 to $15 per paycheck if paid weekly; for those married filing jointly, they're likely to see an extra $15 to $20.
Who is eligible?
The credit is available to those with earned income. It's worth up to $400 a year for single filers and $800 for joint filers.
April 1
With auto sales falling off a cliff, auto makers are desperate to clear the lots. Not only are they slashing prices, but they're also offering generous incentives and financing options. Tack on the tax incentives being offered to new car buyers in the government's stimulus package and the deals are even harder to resist. To get the best deal on the lot, follow these tips.
1.Combine incentives and financing deals: It's the rare car these days that doesn't come with a special offer attached, be it cash back or promotional financing. A few even have both.
2.Come prepared with competitors' prices: "Make sure the dealers know that they're competing for your business,". Consumers can drive a hard bargain in this economy. And by letting dealers know you've also asked for quotes from the competition, they'll likely do most of the negotiating for you.
3. Beef up your down payment: In the tightening credit market, excellent credit isn't enough to secure financing for a vehicle. Many cash-strapped lenders are reserving the best rates for those consumers prepared to put at least 10% down.
4. Take advantage of tax incentives: Under the government's economic stimulus plan, consumers who buy a new car before Dec. 31 can deduct state and local sales and excise taxes on an auto purchase.
March 31
The tax filing clock is ticking... will you get audited this year? According to the most recent data, in 2007 the IRS audited approximately 1.4 million returns, a 7% increase from 2006. And this year, it's unlikely that number will fall.So what will make the IRS question your return? Here are some common red flags that the IRS will be on the lookout for this tax season.
1.Make sure you report all of your income. In addition to salary and bonuses, make sure to include proceeds from sales of stocks and bonds, dividend earnings, brokerage and bank accounts and any other interest-earnings investments. Also, if you received unemployment income, that needs to be included, too.
2.Don't ignore Forgiven Debt. Just because a credit-card company (or other lender) agreed to reduce your debt doesn't mean you're off the hook from paying taxes on it. Make sure to include the forgiven debt in your tax return.
3. Home-office deductions are often abused and therefore big red flags for the IRS according to Pricewaterhousecoopers. In order to qualify for this deduction, the office must be your principal place of business and used exclusively for business. So, you won't be eligible for a deduction if you use the office for business during the day and as a family room at night or if your employer is offering you work space at the company office.
3/30
Overdraft fees can run as high as $35 apiece and banks have a host of sneaky tricks that can cause even the most diligent consumer to overdraw on an account. For example, they may approve debit purchases that would put you in the red, or re-order transactions so that the biggest purchases go through first -- and deposits get processed last. To protect yourself, sign up for overdraft protection, which can cost as little as $5 to $10 a year (and is often free with high-level checking accounts).
Potential Savings: Pay $5 annually for a connected line of credit at Citibank. It kicks in only when you overspend, helping you to avoid the $30 fee per overdraft. Mess up just four times within a year and you've saved $115. For more great money savings tips, log on to Smartmoney.com
3/27
Think twice before you shell out $10 a month for a two-year protection plan on your pricey new BlackBerry. New products tend to malfunction within the manufacturer's initial warranty period, or well after any extended warranty has expired. (Most extended warranties exclude accidental damage, too, so you'd still be out of luck if you drop that Blackberry and crack the screen.) To protect yourself, pay with the right credit card. Many credit cards -- including most American Express and MasterCard cards -- double the manufacturer's warranty on purchases, adding up to another year of free protection.
Potential Savings: Someone buying a 40-inch Samsung flat panel high-def television at Best Buy for $800 has the option to add a four-year protection plan for another $150. (The set already has a one-year manufacturer's warranty.)
For more money saving tips, check out smartmoney.com
3/26
We're all looking for ways to cut our energy bills. Here's an idea that is good for home and the office. It's the hibernate mode on your computer. If it's available on your computer, the hibernation mode is the best possible balance of intelligent energy use and convenience in powering up. By putting it in hibernate before you leave, it copies your current computer state to the hard drive, then powers down the computer entirely, just as if you had turned it off. Besides the energy savings, meaning your electric bill lowers a bit, the computer also starts up quicker.
3/25
Auto Insurance often give discounts for consumers who don't drive long distances," says Sam Belden, a spokesman for insurance.com. If your driving habits have changed in recent months -- say, you've switched jobs or cut out pricey trips to the mall - call your insurer to ask if you now qualify for a better rate.
Potential Savings: A driver who cuts back to fewer than 7,500 miles a year could shave 5% to 15% off his premiums, depending on his insurer. Considering that the average driver shells out $817 a year on auto insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute, that saves $40.85 to $122.55.
For more money saving tips, check out smartmoney.com
3/24
For the longest time, Apple iPod and iPhone owners were stuck downloading their music from iTunes, while consumers with other MP3 players couldn't put the service's content on their devices. But now, most online music purveyors (including Apple as of March) offer content in a DRM-free format -- meaning you can listen to it on any MP3 player. That frees iTunes users to pursue cheaper music from sites like Wal-Mart and Amazon.com. Music fans with other MP3 players may benefit from Apple going DRM-free, too. The company plans to revamp its fees in April, charging 69 cents to $1.29 per song instead of the current flat fee of 99 cents. Bottom line: Check prices on several sites before you download.
Potential Savings: "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry costs 99 cents at iTunes, but just 74 cents at Wal-Mart and 79 cents at Amazon.com.
3/23
Getting your recommended eight glasses of water a day by bottle instead of tap is a huge waste of cash, says Phil Lempert, founder of Supermarket guru.com. That buck-a-bottle water you down on a regular basis can really add up. (Even more so now that some cities collect an additional tax of five cents per bottle.) Here's a thought: Spend $37and buy a 40-ounce Brita pitcher and filter plus a four-pack of replacement filters, and you'll be able to filter 200 gallons of water. Buy that much water in 24-packs of 16.9-ounce Aquafina bottles, and you'd spend $283.50. Your total savings: $246.50. Sounds good to me! For more ideas, got to smartmoney.com
3/20
Ignore Freebies offered by banks: One tactic that many banks like to use to entice you to switch to their bank is the free gift. "Sign up with us and you'll get a free blender!" "Switch to our 'free' checking and you'll get a $75 signup bonus!" Those initial freebies are often hiding something about the account, something that will help them earn their money back over the long haul. Look very carefully at the account they're offering you with that bonus. Often, there are clauses like minimum balances, hefty overdraft fees, no interest at all, a poor ATM network, or other "features" that will cost you more in the long run. If you're going to switch to anew bank, switch because the account itself is good, not because of a welcoming gift.
3/19
Having trouble justifying some of your expenses? The local library has become an absolute treasure trove of entertainment options. Beyond the enormous collection of books, most local libraries have extensive CD and DVD collections that can be checked out for a minimal cost if not for FREE. Many communities also have movie nights at their library and that too is sometimes free. There are plenty of things you can do at the library for entertainment and at a much cheaper price. Most communities give out a free library card to anyone who lives in their town. Take the time to visit your local library, bring the kids so they can pick out a movie while you're there.
3/18
At some point in your life, disaster will strike. Your car will break down. An unexpected medical bill comes your way. It can be costly if you're not prepared. You could use a credit card, but you hate that current interest rate. You need extra cash on hand. Start an emergency fund. Ask your bank to automatically take a tiny amount out of your checking account each week and put it in to a savings account. Even if it's just $20. You'll hardly notice it's missing. It's going to earn a bit of interest, too which is a bonus. Planning ahead now can make an enormous difference later on. For more ideas check out thesimpledollar.com.
3/17
You finally decide you are going out for the evening but you need to factor in your budget. Not only do you need to pay your way, you also need to pay the babysitter. Here's an idea that could save you quite a bit of money. Create a babysitter exchange. It's easy. Talk to your friends who also have kids. Offer to watch their children on their anniversary night,in exchange for the same treatment on your anniversary. Birthdays, holidays or just date night. You can trust the adult watching your kids and it won't cost you anything but babysitting duty next weekend.
3/16
How much money did you spend this weekend? Did you go out to dinner? Movies? Shopping? Here's an idea. Why not try a money-free weekend? The kids are probably shaking their heads in horror right now! Next weekend consider trying it. Use the food in your fridge, it's a lot cheaper than having pizza delivered. As for entertainment, there are plenty of free things to do. Go through your DVD or VHS collection and watch an old favorite, play a board game or curl up and read that book that keeps staring back at you. There are lots of things you can do with the whole family without spending a dime. If you need to get out, check your community calendar for FREE events. You can start at WZID. com
3/13
The cost of batteries is out of control! Have you switched to rechargeable batteries, yet? Rechargeable batteries have come a long way since the nearly unusable battery chargers of a generation ago. Today, top-qulality rechargable batteries, such as the Eneloop batteries available from GE and Sanyo, don't become weaker after each charge and hold a charge for a very long time, maintaining 85 percent of their charge after a year of sitting on a shelf. An investment in a top quality battery charger and a sufficient number of rechargeable batteries can keep your home equipped with ample batteries to keep your electronic devices going while saving you significant money over the long haul. For more money saving ideas check out thesimpledollar.com.
3/12
Cut your spending. That's one thing investment advisers are telling their clients. If your debt is out of control, reel it back in. If you have a variable mortgage, you may want to refinance with a locked interest rate. And while there are all kinds of expenses you can trim, there are certain things you should never cut. Be real careful of Life Insurance. Make sure you don't cut back on that. Health Insurance is very important. What will you do if you lose your job? Property and Casuality Insurance should be off limits in your list of expenditures. These are tough times, you don't need to panic, but you do need to prepare wisely.
3/11
Have you checked out the price of microwave popcorn? My kids love popcorn but I can't justify spending so much on a snack item. Think you need a fancy bag in which to pop popcorn in the microwave? Think again! You can use a regular paper bag and you're going to get a lot more bowls of popcorn for a lot less money.
Here's what you'll need:
1/4 C. popcorn kernels
Vegetable oil
Salt
Paper Bag
Coat the popcorn kernels with just a bit of oil before pouring into the bag. Don't use too much. Use just enough to barely coat the kernels. Also, only use 1/4 C. kernels, since the excess won't pop anyway. Put in a brown paper bag, fold the top over, and microwave. Don't overcook, as this popcorn is more likely to burn. You just saved on your snack bill.
3/10
Buy generic! Many products (not just food) are available in a store-brand or generic form for significantly less money - quite often with the name brand, you're paying for their advertising budget with the higher cost. Look carefully at the ingredients in generic and name-brand products and if they're the same, go with the generic one on a regular basis, which will consistently trim money from your shopping bill. Ofcourse some items just don't compare. For instance Saran Wrap, the cheap stuff doesn't cut it. But check out cleaning products, over the counter medicines, and the cereal isle. You may be pleasantly surprised.
3/9
If you've ever applied for a credit card, a personal loan, or insurance, there's a file about you. This file is known as your credit report. It is chock full of information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses with a legitimate need for it. They use the information to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or a lease.
Having a good credit report means it will be easier for you to get loans and lower interest rates. Lower interest rates usually translate into smaller monthly payments.
Nevertheless, newspapers, radio, TV, and the Internet are filled with ads for companies and services that promise to erase accurate negative information in your credit report in exchange for a fee. The scam artists who run these ads not only don't deliver - they can't deliver. Only time, a deliberate effort, and a plan to repay your bills will improve your credit as it's detailed in your credit report.
You can learn more at the Federal Trade Commission's website ftc.org .
3/6
One way to start saving money looking at all your credit cards and loans and determine what percentage rate you are paying. You can always call your credit card company and ask for a reduced rate. It can't hurt to ask. But, check out your loans. You may be able to lower the monthly payment. How? Sign up for automatic debt repayment plans. Many installment plans, particularly those with student loans, offer an interest rate reduction if you sign up for an automatic plan. You should never pass these up - not only do they save money automatically each month, they're also incredibly convenient. If you have any installment payments (particularly student loan debt), see if such an offer is available to you.
3/5
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are receiving a big push right now and their advantages are great: a longer lifespan and significantly less electrical usage. Stick with the name brands for now. A tip: when comparing bulbs, use the lumens number to compare bulbs, not the equivalent wattages - the lumens indicate the actual amount of light emitted by the bulb. Remember also that under normal usage (4 hours a day) and normal electrical rates ($0.10 per kilowatt hour), replacing a 75 watt bulb with a 20 watt CFL saves $0.66 per month. Multiply that by all the bulbs in your house to see how much you'll save every month.
3/4
Here's two more ways of saving money and energy..Install a programmable thermostat. It will allow you to automatically alter the heating and cooling of your home when you're not at home, when you're asleep, and so on, saving significantly on your heating and cooling bills. AND unplug all unused electerical devices. Are there any electrical devices around the house that stay plugged in, but that you rarely use? Most electric devices use a small amount of electricity constantly, a phantom charge. To eliminate that usage, unplug the items.
3/3
Yesterday I mentioned phantom charges on your electric bill. Here's one way of cutting back.. utilize timers and power strips to turn electrical devices on and off. A power strip with a switch on it, when turned off, blocks the phantom charge on those devices; a timer can automatically turn off the charge going to a power strip (or anything plugged into it) at a certain time each night. This is a great way to eliminate phantom charge on your home electronic equipment at night.
3/2
Another idea on lowering your energy bills. Install a blanket for your hot water heater and reduce the temperature. In many homes, the hot water heater is a major energy drain; the water is kept hotter than most people ever use, plus the heat is constantly lost to the environment, meaning you have to burn more energy than ever to keep the water so hot. Solve both problems by dropping the temperature down to 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit (around 60 degress Celsius) and also installing a blanket on your water heater to keep in the heat - a blanket can pay for itself in about a year.
2/25
Shop Online for Better Price Comparisons:
Whenever you're looking to buy any nonperishable item, particularly one that costs more than a few dollars, always do price comparisons online before buying. Utilize the websites of your preferred stores as well as the websites of online retailers and seek out the best price the item you want. The more expensive the item, the more valuable this compairson shopping can be. You can often save 10 to 15 percent off the purchase price of an item with just a few moments of comparison shopping. For just a few minutes' worth of footwork, that can be a very solid return. You can get more spending advice from Trent Hamm at thesimpledollar.com.
2/24
You've finished making a mess in the kitchen and now its time to clean up - both the dishes and the stains on your kids' clothes. Are all cleaning products created equally? Not usually. When it comes to laundry detergent, many of the low budget options just don't cut it. They contain nearly twice the amount of water than a brand name.
Whether you're in the produce section or the laundry aisle, remember, shopping smart means getting the best value for your dollar, not just settling for the cheapest item on the shelf. Check out the full article at mommysaver.com
2/23
We all know the economy is bad and many of us are struggling to get by. If you have debt collectors calling you, make sure you know your rights. Federal laws protect you from the abuse some collectors dish out. Did you know, a debt collector can not legally call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you give them permission? Also, they can not contact you at work if they know your employer doesn't want such calls. If they lie about the size of your debt, threaten to take legal action, use profanity or harass use by repeatedly calling you, they are breaking the law. For more information , check the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at ftc.org.
2/22
Laundry is time consuming and it can cost quite a bit of money. A few ideas on how to cut back on the cost of washing your clothes. First thing is try washing your clothes in cold water. There's no sense in paying for the water heater to kick on if you don't need to.
If your clothes aren't dirty, don't wash them. Many items can be worn more than once. This not only cuts down on the amount of laundry you do, it also extends the life of the garment.
Try using 1/2 of a fabric softener sheet. It basically does the same and you wont' have to buy as many dryer sheets.
Avoid buying clothes that need to be washed separately. Every separate load requires the full cost: the water, the cost to run the water heater and the cost of running the washing machine and dryer. (Not too mention, the less laundry you have to do, the happier you'll be!)
2/13/09
Some of you are still holding off on coupon cutting. If you're like me, you're cutting them but then forgetting to bring them to the store. We really need to start utilitzing coupons if we want to make it through this tough economy. If you find a manufacturer coupon and a store coupon for the same item, you're in luck. Almost all stores will honor both coupons, meaning you can often double your savings with little effort. If you're doing coupon searches online, open up two browser windows, one with a manufacturer coupon site like coupons.com, and another with the website of your favorite retailer. Don't forget, always check with the store to make sure they take printed coupons from the web. You may find certain retailers have not yet jumped on the online coupon band wagon.
2/12/09
Here's another easy way to cut your grocery bill. According to the founder of thesimpledollar.com, Start off with a plan for what you'll eat in the coming week. The cheapest way to get started is to pull out the store flyer and see which items are being sold very cheaply to get you in the door. Identify a handful of these, then use them to plan your meals for the week by using those items as the core ingredients in most if not all of your dishes. For example, if you notice that chicken is discounted highly, as is broccoli, look for dishes that utilize both and plan one or two of them for the week. Not only does this reduce your cost, but it also encourages diverse meals when you base your meals on what's on sale instead of eating the same old tired thing you buy on every grocery trip.
2/11/09
If you are one of those people who want the discounts that coupons provide, but don't have the time or patience to go around collecting them, the Entertainment Book may be just what you need. I found it on line at mommysavers.com. It includes thousands of dollars worth of restaurant, shopping, hotel and entertainment savings. The Southern NH book has $16,200 worth of coupons. I found some very well known restaurants, movie theatres, golf courses and museums some with 1/2 price deals. Each book also offers national coupons that can save you big money on such expenses as rental cars and airplane tickets.Ofcourse it's not free. It's about $30, but depending on how much you utilize the book, you could save over 16-thousand dollars! Go to entertainment.com, enter in your zip code and click on the Southern NH 2009 book.
2/9/09
As the economy continues to slow, people are needing cash. Be very careful who you get a loan from. According to smartmoney.com this is a great time for scammers. If you see an ad in the paper for a company willing to give you a loan with no credit check...think twice. The Better Business Bureau is warning the public about advance pay loans. It's simple. The scammers say they'll give you a loan, but because they are not doing a credit check, you are required to put a certain amount of money up front. For instance, they'll guarantee you a $5,000 loan but you need to insure it by giving them the first five months of payments. The scam is, you wire them the advance payments, they get your money, then they take off. Here's some advice, anyone who offers you a loan without doing a credit check is probably not legit.
2/6/09
How much credit card debt do you have? The average American family has nine credit cards and $9,000 in credit card debt. Do you really need that many cards? If you made the minimum payment each month, it would take you 31 years to pay it off. However, if you increased your payment by just $10 a month, you'd get rid of the debt in about five years! You'd also save close to $9,000 in interest. You can find an extra $10 somewhere in your monthly budget.
As you start to see your debt go down, that doesn't mean charge more. Your best bet is cut up your cards. Keep a couple in a safe place for an emergency. If you don't have self control, take those two cards, put them in a bowl of water and freeze them. Since it'll take effort to defrost your cards, you'll think twice before you spend.
2/5/09
Is a hybrid car right for you? Some argue US carmakers would be in better financial shape now if they'd switched to hybrids years ago. But a report from cnnmoney.com says not so. The fact of the matter is no company makes a lot of money selling hybrid vehicles.They are more expensive to make. A hybrid doesn't use as much gasoline, so you will definitely lower your cost of filling the tank, but they also cost more to buy. Hybrids have higher price tags so they take longer to pay off. On the other hand, buying a hybrid means you are doing something good for the environment. If you are buying a hybrid to save money in the long run, it's a good idea, but if you are looking for a quick fix to the monthly budget you may want to think twice.
2/4/09
Where is it cheaper to food shop, at the grocery store or big box store? According to smartmoney.com it
depends on what you're buying. Wine, liquor and beer can be 35% cheaper at Sam's and BJ's. Milk, butter and eggs are about 20% cheaper at the warehouse stores. But, paper products tend to be cheaper at your local grocery stores.
Part of the reason warehouses can sell at lower prices, is Sam's Club, Costco and BJs Wholesale Club make most of their money with membership fees. You'll pay $40 to $100 annually for the priviledge to shop at their locations.
But remember, if you are going to shop at the warehouse, make sure you can eat everything you buy. It's not such a great deal if you throw some of it out.
2/3/09
Want to save money? Put the plastic away. Not just the credit cards. The bank card, too. Women's Day magazine recently printed an article by Cornell University economist Robert Frank. He says, "it's a fact we spend more when we pay with plastic." Forking over cash is a more vivid sensation than promising to pay something later. Paying with cash puts strict limits on what you can buy and how much you will spend. Try taking some cash out this week. Only spend that cash. As you go through your day, you'll become shockingly aware of how often you reach for the plastic . At the end of the month, you'll discover you spend less when you depend on cash.
2/2/09
There was a story in Sunday's NH Sunday News that I thought was rather eye opening. This is a "buyer beware" story. The bad economy means we are seeing more and more liquidation sales. I'm sure you've noticed the big Going Out Of Business sales never really have great deals, atleast in the first few weeks. You may get an extra 10% or 15% off, but the longer you wait, the better the deal. Atleast that's what we all thought. According to America's Research Group in South Carolina, in the final days, liquidators sometimes bring in their own goods to sell. That very well could mean reconditioned electronic goods. So be very careful in the final days of a Going Out of Business sale. You may not be getting what you thought you paid for, and remember, all sales are final.
1/30/09
I was looking thru all the CDs I have piled in my car and I thought to myself, what a waste! I have spent a lot of money on cds over the years and now I hardly use them. Some, I forgot I had. Same holds true for DVDs. Especially the kid's collections. We have so many old movies and they are just collecting dust. Was it a waste of money?
I found a few websites that are worth checking out. swapacd.com and swapadvd.com are cool. Basically, you list the CDs and DVDs you have at home and swap them with other members. You can go through their music and movie libraries and if there is something you want to check out, swap. It does cost about 50 cents to swap the cd, plus postage, but you also earn credits. There is a similar site for bookworms too, paperbackswap.com. It's a great way to give yourself something different to listen to, watch or read, but it costs a fraction of what you'd pay to buy new.
1/29/09
Next time you go grocery shopping, don't just compare prices, compare sizes. Did you know, many of the products we have been buying for years have gotten smaller? The price hasn't changed, but you're getting less for you money. According to consumerreport.org , manufacturers are slimming their product size.
For instance, Breyer's Ice Cream, went from a 56 ounce package to a 48 ounce package.
Tropicana Orange juice was a 96 ounce container, it's now an 89 ounce container.
Kellog's Fruit Loops was 19.6 ounces, it's now just 17 ounces. That's a 14% decrease!
The Consumer Reports Research Center found 75 percent noticed packages are shrinking, and 71 percent said the main reason for downsizing was to hide price hikes from consumers.
Not all products have changed, but shoppers are taking note.
1/28/09
How many of you joined a fitness club for New Year's? Did you know the average cost of joining a club is $775 a year? Here's a few tips that could help you save some cash.
Tip One: Check for discounts from your employer and health insurance company. You could easily save 30% on a monthly membership.
Tip Two: In this struggling economy, many gyms are willing to negotiate if it brings in new members. Stop in and ask them to waive the initiation fee or drop the monthly rate.
Tip Three : Coupons! Keep your eye out for a good deal from a local fitness club. During a tough economy, new sign-ups slow way down. You'll start seeing many of your favorite clubs offering huge discount memberships similar to New Year's Eve sales.
**You can always go out for a jog...that won't cost a thing!
1/27/09
You get to the checkout of your favorite department store and the friendly cashier says," Would you like to open a store credit card with us today? You'll receive 10% off your purchase." Don't do it! While it's tempting, it's not worth it.
First, the interest rates on in-store cards are often incredibly high, some approaching 30% annually.
Second, the card itself will tempt you. You want to go shopping, you look in your wallet, no cash, but AHH..the department store card is there..you can go spend cash you don't have!
Third, every time you open a new credit card, you hurt your credit score.
So think about it, you may save $10 or $20 at the register, but how much will you pay later?
1/26/09
Let's talk about portion control and how it can save your waistline and your wallet. Most American parents serve themselves and their children huge portions of food. Their families eat only part of it, and then they discard the rest. Next time you scrape those half eaten plates of food into the trash, think about this: 30% to 50% of the food and drinks we buy gets thrown away. That's at the dinner table as well as in a restaurant. If you don't believe it's true, observe your own family this week. Take note of how much is wasted. That's money out of your wallet. If you feel like you HAVE to clean your plate, put less on to begin with and you may just shed a pound and a gain a dollar.
1/23/09
Pre-packaged items can take a big bite out of your budget. Instead, buy a box of sandwich bags and divide big bags of pretzels, popcorn, chips into individual sized portions yourself. Better yet, have the kids do it! Separate individually sized servings of applesauce, pudding, carrot sticks, or other healthy foods your child will eat into reusable containers. It's a lot cheaper to buy a large economy bag of pretzels than to buy the individual snack size bags. Taking just a few minutes to do it yourself on a regular basis can add up to big savings over the course of the year.
1/22/09
I remember in High school a few of my friends had credit cards to department stores in the mall. Wow, 17 years old and already with a wallet full of charge cards. I was 22 before I got my first credit card. What is a good age for kids to have a credit card?
The first thing you need to consider is, is your child responsible enough to handle credit? One of the easiest ways to get your teen started is by getting them a debit card from their bank account. That way, they learn how to use and respect plastic but they'll only spend the money that's already in their bank account.
There is another card though that may be just what you are looking for. It's called a Visa Buxx card. It's a prepaid credit card. Not a bad idea, deposit $250 and that's all they have to spend. According to cardratings.com, with the Visa Buxx card, you can also log in and monitor your teen's spending online. Ofcourse, if you don't trust them and need to check up on them, maybe they're not ready for a card in the first place.
Just remember, the economy is in rough shape and many credit card companies are very choosey with who they give a card to. In the meantime, check out
cardratings.com, a prepaid credit card could be your solution.
1/21/09
You applied for a loan and you were turned down. It could be your credit score. How high that score is determines just how credit worthy you are. Here are a couple of things we all can do to improve that number.
Maintain a low debt load
Try to keep your total debt relative to the amount of credit available to you under 30%. If you have a credit card with a $2,000 credit limit and a $1,000 balance, you're 50% "utilized" on that account, lowering that balance will help to improve your score.
Hang onto old cards
The longer you've had a line of credit, the better. That's because credit history is another factor that can greatly impact your score. So if you're tempted to close an old account because you rarely use it, don't! Then make sure you purchase something with it. As credit-card delinquencies rise, issuers are closing inactive accounts. To prevent that, you can charge as little as $10 a month and keep it active.
Avoid getting too much new credit
Applying for a single new credit card may have a small impact on your score, but applying for several credit cards can do plenty of damage.
And finally, Don't Be Late! Late payments create big flags on your credit report.
1/20/09
You're in the market for a big ticket item. Maybe it's that flat screen TV you've been eyeing, or maybe the washing machine died. Either way, you can expect to pay quite a bit of money. You head out to the nearest store that has a big red 'SALE' sign on the window. Perfect! You're getting a great deal...or are you? If you did a little research you'd know. Shop before you shop. Spend a little time and compare prices. google.com has a great tool to help. Under the shopping tab at google.com you'll see Product Search. Click on it. This will allow you to window-shop from your computer. There is also amazon.com . Through their Merchants and Marketplace program, you can check product prices from various retailers and also read about product ratings. You can learn a lot with a little research. So before you grab your wallet and head out the door, shop before you shop!
1/16/09
The economy is on our minds and many people are looking for ways to save money. Maybe it's cutting expenses by not eating out as often. Maybe your renting movies instead of going to the theatre. But another big money saver is parked out in your driveway. Your CAR. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security because gas is less than $2 a gallon. Prices can rise very quickly. Case in point: just five months ago, gas topped $4 a gallon. One way to prepare for such wild swings is to keep your car in tiptop shape. Not only does a well-maintained car have fewer problems on the road, but it also burns fuel at a more efficient rate. Replacing a dirty air filter, for example, can improve fuel economy by 10% -- saving you roughly 17 cents per gallon, according to fueleconomy.gov. Keeping tires properly inflated saves about 5 cents per gallon. And pay cash to fill up, some stations charge less if you pay cash and you won't have the credit card bill.
1/15/09
I'm sure you've noticed your grocery bill has skyrocketed over the last several months. Suddenly the family budget is hard to stick to. Are you buying more food or is it price increases? It could be both.
Marketers know a lot about how you shop and what's likely to make you pick up a product. For example, stores have discovered that shoppers are more comfortable staying to the right as they move through a store. How much difference does it make? According to market-research firm Sorensen Associates, shoppers moving counterclockwise spend $2 more per trip than those who go the opposite direction.
How to avoid getting psyched out by savvy marketing? Know what you want to buy before you enter the supermarket. Plan your meals for the week, make a list and stick to it. ... and most importantly... never shop when you're hungry!.
1/14/09
Tough economic times means many of us are tightening our purse strings. Some of us are cutting back on take out food, buying the generic brands or cutting coupons. The Sunday paper used to be the source for grocery coupons. But now they're increasingly available online, from sites like Coupons.com as well as manufacturers' and supermarkets' own Web pages. The problem is, they aren't always easy to use because many employees are still unfamiliar with the online coupons.
In fact, if you're printing out coupons, bring along a copy of the store's coupon policy which you should find on their website.
If you're headed to Walmart... bring your coupons, they accept one internet coupon per item per customer, as long as it's legitimate and scans at the register.
And by the way, those two coupon websites.....coupons.com and couponmom.com
1/19/09
I poured my coffee Sunday and sat down for a morning of coupon cutting. I figure using a few coupons can't hurt. The newspaper is no doubt a great resource for coupons, but the internet is also beneficial. Sure, it'll take a bit more effort having to print it out, but you may find it well worth your time.
After doing a little research, I found five great coupon websites, two of which I mentioned last week that are worth mentioning again. coupons.com and couponmom.com. Both are easy to navigate and easy to remember.
But, in case you threw out the paper, there is smartsource.com, all the coupons in the Sunday flyer's Smart Source magazine but just a click away.
couponcabin.com is great if you are into on-line shopping, they will send you a weekly email of the best deals.
retailmenot.com
1/118
This information is from the Baltimore Sun. With virtually every industry cutting jobs these days, your'e probably asking yourself: Am I next? Online job board careerbuilder.com has some advice on making yourself "recession proof" at work, or at least as much as you can in this economy.
First - Volunteer to take on different duties. The more you can do, the more valuable you are.
Second - It's all about the team. Show that you can work with others and share information and resources.Third- Offer ideas, especially if they help save money.and finally- Stay positive. Try to remain focused on your work, instead of paying attention to rumors.2/20/09
make a list of the twenty or thirty items you buy regularly. This includes basic food staples like bread, eggs, and cheese to toiletries and other such supplies. List produce, list beverages, list prepackaged meals - whatever it is that you buy regularly. identify all of the grocery stores that you'd be willing to shop at.
