Archive for category Saving Money

Tips From A Frugal Millionaire

Yesterday, I was listening on the radio to my frugal mentor, Clark Howard, and he was talking about the millionaire next door. In particular, he was talking about the fact that there are ordinary people in America who are indeed millionaires. They became millionaires not from what they make each year, but rather from what they don’t spend. I love this principle and I wish more American adopted this lifestyle, rather than indulging their champagne tastes when in reality they should be on a beer budget. Which of course leads to debt and financial stress in your life.

Read More at Almostfrugal.com

No Comments

8 Ways to Save Money on Your Next Holiday

Jimi St Pierre asked:


ere are endless ways to save money on most things these days – the credit crunch has meant that retailers are crying out for us to spend our cash. Sales in the High Street used to be an occasion, and escape from the Christmas claustrophobia, or a time in late spring when remaindered summer clothes would make way for the Autumn collections. Now it seems, every day is a sales day – and looking at the range of specialist TV travel channels and the myriad offers in Travel Agents’ windows, this is also true in the world of travel and holidays. Every day seems a good time to grab a bargain.

And yet we still seem to find that the dates we really want, the hotels we really need, and the departure airport which is a must for convenience and minimum hassle – all these are hard to find in the right combination to create the headline “bargain”. So, sometimes, a little creative thinking is needed – and this creative thinking might start with the golden rule – be flexible, and you will save a heap of money. Here are a few tips towards creative thinking, a great holiday, and cash remaining firmly in the bank:

1) Book Early: How obvious! And yet it is absolutely true in the world of low cost holidays as with any other business affected by the basic economics of supply and demand. The best time to book, according to most reputable travel agents and flight brokers, is 11 months before you are due to travel. Seats on the key scheduled airlines are released for sale through agency outlets – including web suppliers – and there’s usually a mass of cheaper seats available.

2) Book Late: Now there’s a thing – equally obvious. But lest we forget, the laws of supply and demand favour the most flexible of holidaymakers, and a few clicks of a mouse or a short trawl through the TV text listings will always yield some superb bargains.

3) Buy a Package: Now, this is getting less than creative, I hear you say! Yes, the web has been revolutionary for people who wish to cut out the travel agent and arrange their own trips. But it is most definitely still the case if you are booking a flight and a car, or flight and accommodation, an agent can often offer a much better deal than if you were to book separately, even online. This is especially true of a multi-sector long haul trip.

But, if this is not creative enough, we can look at some other options. How about:

4) Visit countries which cost less: Sounds obvious as well, but make sure you get the knowledge. Many people, for example, see Greece as a low cost option, but recent inflation following the change of currency to the Euro it has become relatively expensive. This is less true of Turkey, which remains outside of the European community. Some online research might also lead you to Italy, or the Dominican Republic, or even Kerala. But perhaps, for UK travellers, not America, where the dollar is finding it feet again against to pound.

5) Stay at home: Why not just swap rooms with the kids for a couple of weeks, and spend time out and about visiting those local landmark – churches, parks, bowling alleys … kids at a young age they enjoy simple pleasures like farms and pet shops, and just the extra attention they get when parents are not out working. A change is good as a rest. It’s free and can be great fun.

6) Share the cost: If you are the sociable type, enjoy being in a group and can manage to share with friends or family you can save a lot of money. A holiday home that sleeps ten people is never five times more expensive than one that sleeps two.

Or, just by ensuring that the “extras” involved in any holiday – airport parking, insurance, travelling to the airport, currency exchange and so on – are given close attention, you can make sure that all the good work researching the best holiday price is not undone by paying more than necessary for those. Thus

7) Watch the “Commission Free” Currency: Commission-free doesn’t mean profit-free. Make sure you study the actual exchange rate before exchanging currency. No two providers are alike, and some can be less than generous.

8) Book your airport parking in advance: Turn up on the day with your car and you’ll very likely be staggered at the price to park your car for a week or two at any holiday airport. So do your research, go-online and check the possibilities of booking ahead – even on the day of travel – and save up to 60% on such costs. Or, you can check your insurance or car-breakdown membership for special tie-in offers, or you can check hotels that offer one-night, pre-flight stays that include long-term parking, or you can look for off-site parking offers. Whatever you do, do not simply turn up with you car – it is likely to cost almost as much, if not more, than you paid for the flight!



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

How To Save Money On Gas With Credit Cards

Matt Chang asked:


Gas prices continue to rise. Although in recent months we have experienced a slight downturn in the price of light sweet crude, it is projected that by wintertime will be back to our high prices and those peaks may be exceeded. As of this writing some of the highest priced gasoline is in Hawaii where the average gallon price is $4.50. Everyone is trying to figure out how to save money on gas and here’s a tip that you might want to consider.

It’s odd, it wasn’t more than a few months ago where consumers were extremely upset over the fact that gasoline was over $2.50 a gallon but now, if we could pay anything in the three dollar range we be ecstatic! While we continue to pay higher prices than ever before, the oil companies could to rake in record profits.

One of the things that you can consider in an effort to save money on gas is get a gas company credit card. Getting a credit card from a gasoline company allows you to take advantage of benefits. Depending on the card you can get different rebates or rewards.

Some of the different kinds of benefits that are provided our cash back, discounts on the gallon price, or points that you can redeem for gifts or cheaper gas.

It may be true that gas credit card rebates are helpful to any card holder or a car owner, but take note that different companies differ with their card features and benefits. Some rebates are long term and consistent, while others have high rebates on the first few months, and slashes down for the succeeding months.

Because of the differences that you can see or receive with a different credit card companies, make sure that you read all of the information in the offer provided, and you compare different gas company cards.

Another thing to consider is how convenient it is to use the gas card and how close you are to the gas company. If you get a card that’s only good at gas stations that you never drive by, your likelihood of using them goes down significantly.

One of the things you need to be sure you are in control of what you use a gas credit card is the fact that you are extended credit. Gas company credit cards only makes sense if you can pay off the balance due every month. The reason that gas companies offer credit cards is because they hope that you’re going to use it run up a credit balance and then not make the full payment. Once you get past your introductory period, interest rates on credit card balances can be anywhere from 10 to 20%. If you are the kind of person that runs up a balance and pay the minimum, you can quickly you wrote any savings that you incurred by using the card in the first place.

So, one way to save money on gas is to use a gas company credit card. Again, the benefits are that you can get rebates, points, and discounts on gasoline you buy for your car. But the only way that this makes sense is if you are not going to run and incur an ongoing balance. If you feel like you are the kind of person that will allow yourself to have a balance on a credit card, then do yourself a favor and not give in to this temptation.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

5 Tips to Save Money–and the Earth

Silvester Thompson asked:


You probably know that by recycling you can save landfill space. But did you know that recycling also can produce a profit for your company? Follow these recycling tips and your workplace will be ready to save the world.

* Create a recycling program. Almost all types of office papers are recyclable. So is most plastic, aluminum and cardboard. If your office doesn’t already have a recycling program, contact your local recycling company to see how to start one.

* Use recycled products. If you recycle but don’t buy recycled products, you’re defeating the purpose, in a sense, by discouraging manufacturers of recycled products.

* Conserve paper. Find paperless ways to communicate, such as by e-mail. Also, save used paper for scrap, make double-sided copies and only print pages you actually need. By cutting back on paper consumption, your office will save money and natural resources.

* Recycle office equipment. Did you know that computers can be recycled, as well as cell phones, PDAs, pagers, chargers and rechargeable batteries? Many local recycling companies and retailers, including Staples, offer easy ways to recycle your equipment.

* Recycle empty inkjet and toner cartridges. The fewer drafts you print, the more money you’ll save on cartridge replacements. But when that inkjet or toner cartridge is empty, recycle it through mail-back programs or local retailers like Staples.

In fact, Staples offers a Recycle for Education program that gives $1 to local education charities for every empty inkjet or toner cartridge you recycle in their stores.



, ,

No Comments

Save Money Buying A Used Car

Daniel Legal asked:


With the economy changing as much as it is, one has to wonder if a new car is really worth it. Is it worth spending that extra money when you could get a used car that is in good shape? When people buy a used car, the sticker price is not the only thing they save on. There are many ways you can save when you buy a used car.

First, you can save on gas. Many people think the new cars offer all the gas savings, but that is actually not true. You could get a new hybrid and save on gas, but studies have shown it can take you between five and ten years of owning a hybrid to actually get ahead in the cost department. That is because of the sticker price of a hybrid.

There are many cars that were made in 1990s to the early 2000s that get excellent gas mileage. Consider a Corolla, or a Mazda Tribute. They are both affordable and will save you a great deal of money on gas. When you are able to get an affordable vehicle that also offers a great savings on gas, you will save quite a bit of money in the long run.

Also, you will save money on insurance. When you buy a new car, your insurance company is going to give you an expensive policy. The cheaper the car, the less you pay for the insurance. That means people who are driving around in used cars are going to get some great deals.

Many used cars are also cheaper to maintain. The parts in cars are getting more and more expensive. If you buy a used car, you have a greater chance of getting a car that has replacement parts for a much better price.

In addition, many people pay off a used car faster than they pay off a new car. Because of that, they are able to get rid of their car payment and then really feel the difference in their bank accounts. Most people take out a five year loan with a new car, but when it comes to a used car, many people only finance for three years. That means less interest and less time paying on the loan. You can save quite a bit of money this way, and you are likely to really benefit from this savings.

Used cars offer a great deal of saving. Of course, you are going to save money on the cost of the vehicle, but then the savings will continue. If you are looking for a long term savings, consider a used car.

Add up how much your savings can be with a used car and you will probably be shocked. Think about gas, insurance, parts, and repayment. When you look at all of those factors, it only makes sense to buy a used car. With the way that the economy is, it is in your best interest to purchase something that will cost you less money instead of more money.



, ,

No Comments

"save Money on Electricity Bills" System © – You’ll be Amazed!

Jason Gilford asked:




It simply provides a perfect opportunity for you to say goodbye to the Power-Company – “Save Money On Electricity Bills” System enables you to quickly produce your own in-house power-supply. Quite amazingly, this technique makes it possible for almost anyone – novice/professional to get it to work in just a few days. By reading this quick article you’ll be able to find out more about this creative technology.

Short overview

The ‘secret’ behind this unique “Save Money On Electricity Bills” System is about getting one of these special guides that walk you through each and every step on how to easily make Solar-Panels. Just like everything else in life, some guides deliver and some other don’t; verify that it provides the following: clear illustrations, photos, diagrams, videos, and technical support. This way or another, here are several tips & benefits that may help you to know more about this subject.

What are the main benefits?

Now that we get the idea, let’s see what is in it for us:

* Helps our nation on becoming less dependent on external oil suppliers.

* Helps on reducing the amounts of carbon dioxide in the air.

* Cuts down on the usage of non-renewable enr. resources.

* Rely only on your own energy-resources and not the ones supplied by governments or corporations.

* Saves hundreds month-after-month.

Tip

Remove any objects/obstacles that may shade your unit; you want to get maximum sunlight for max. efficiency.

Article summary

It isn’t just about saving thousands each year; this powerful “Save Money On Electricity Bills” System enables us to preserve our planet. It would be quite easy to find other advantages provided by this remarkable ‘machine’, simply because it is highly-effective. Now it is time to take action, so at this point it is advised to try it in order for you to enjoy the benefits that it offers.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

The Cutbacks in How to Save Money

Martin Lukac asked:


Cut back on groceries and gas expense to save money

Groceries:

If our body did not require food, we would have more money. However, our body needs nutrition so we must learn how to save money. Groceries are very expensive these days and prices are going up every day. All these high-rising expenses are because of changes in our economy.

We can save money by making changes in how we buy and eat. It takes a few changes but we can learn how to save money by changing our grocery spending habits and taste buds.

You can save coupons to save money, check out the Internet to find free coupons. The coupons that come in newspapers and magazines are free so take advantage to save money. It only takes minutes to cut or print them.

You will find there are many coupons that offer you various saving options. Watch for different ways; some will offer you money back on certain products. These are called rebate coupons. You will find some coupons that say buy one get one free. When you buy, one you will be saving the full price on the next item.

Buy ahead when you use coupons and watch for sales. Save money by using your coupons and buying items in cases rather than one item at a time. Buying a case on sale can save you a bundle of money.

Change brand names to save. Most items you buy in a can are all made by the same company only have different labels. Watch for savings by reading labels and prices to save you in the future. Maybe one-week buy a case of something and the next week buy a case of something else that is on sale.

You will be saving money by using coupons and buying cases of items when on sale. Stocking up can also be good if you can’t get to the store every time you need something. This will save money on car expense by buying ahead when on sale.

Car Expense:

Save gas money, wear, and tear on your vehicle at the same time by buying groceries ahead. With the way gasoline is today, we all need to save on gas expense.

Don’t make a trip to town everyday to buy something you need for supper. When you buy groceries ahead, you will have extra items such as spaghetti sauce, mushrooms and extra vegetables for a side dish.

Save car expense by buying groceries ahead when they are on sale to save gasoline, tires, and food. Start learning how to save money today by buying sale items ahead.



, ,

No Comments

Ways to Save Money on Your Heating & Energy Bills

Jamie Clark asked:


Want to save money on your heating and energy bills this winter? With natural gas and heating oil prices skyrocketing, it’s a good idea to do everything you can to make your home as energy-efficient as possible. Below you’ll find a few useful tips to help you save energy and lower those bills this year.

Easy and inexpensive energy-saving tips:

1. Add new attic insulation — Many home attics are much warmer than they should be, and lose a lot more heat than they ought to. Making sure you have at least 12 inches of insulation in your attic is one of the easiest and most effective ways to save money on your heating bills.

2. Check your windows — Minimize the loss of warm air from your home by repairing any broken or cracked glass. Putty old windows and make sure that they close properly. Also, consider adding new weatherstripping and caulking the frames around windows.

3. Check your doors — Make sure all of your external doors close tightly. Replace any doorknobs, latches, and striker plates that don’t work properly. Also, consider adding weatherstripping and caulking door frames as well.

4. Check the fireplace — Make sure that it has a tight-sealing damper and that you close it when not using the fireplace. If you never use the fireplace install a chimney block to eliminate heat loss through the chimney.

5. Use energy-efficient light bulbs — Replace all of your old incandescent light bulbs with newer energy-efficient bulbs. They’ll help you save on your electric bill and you may even be able to get a rebate from your utility company by using them.

6. Install low-flow showerheads — Over time these can save you quite a bit on your energy and water bills.

7. Reduce your hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit — Many people keep the water in their tanks way too hot. Lower the thermostat and save a bunch of money.

Other energy-saving improvements you may want to consider:

(Note: These improvements are more “involved” and costly but well worth the investment in the long-run.)

1. Install automatic setback thermostats that adjust your home’s heat on a schedule.

2. Add new insulation to your walls, basement, crawlspaces, and flooring.

3. Install exterior storm windows.

4. Replace your normal curtains with tight-sealing or insulated window coverings



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Save Money During the Holidays – Here are Six Ways

Dewey Kearney asked:


Did you know that the average American will spend approximately $791.10 this year on holiday gifts (including food and decorations), according to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation? Here are some ways to make the holidays less painful and a lot more fun.

What’s more, consumers will also plan to spend on average $99.22 each on gifts for themselves.

If spending $890.32 isn’t in your plans (and don’t forget to add in credit card interest to the total), it’s time to get smart before you get trapped. Here are some ways to save money during the upcoming holidays.

1. Try a non-traditional tree and save a lot of cash for presents

· If you live near a National Forest, contact your local Forestry Office to see if they sell Christmas Tree permits. My son lives in Northern California and his family does this every year. It’s cheaper than buying from a lot, and you can make a family day of going out and picking your own Christmas tree! They have done it for years and have a ball!

· This is not an endorsement of Christmas Tree farmers who let you cut a tree for yourself. Those places are usually more expensive than just going to the local Wal-Mart shopping center and picking a pre-cut tree.

· Get a well-made artificial tree. All the major retail stores sell them and if you spend some time checking them out you can find some very realistic looking trees. I bought one last year – an 8-foot tree for about $100.00. That sounds like a lot but if you figured you would have spent $50 for a real one, this one is paid for in two years and could last for 10 – 15 years until you get tired of it and want another one.

2. Brave the post-Thanksgiving crowds!

· If you’re not faint of heart, you can actually save money by shopping the Friday after Thanksgiving according to Ellie Kay, author of several money-saving books, including “The Debt Diet.” Kay is a firm believer in bargain hunting and has done so for years. She says, “I often start at 5 a.m. and finish about 9 a.m. just in time for breakfast and a nice cup of coffee.”

· Kay suggests that you shop strategically. “Plan your day in advance, and then read through the sales circulars on Thanksgiving so you’re well prepared. Be sure you know the store opening times, which often are as early as 5 a.m., and watch for the fine print regarding popular items such as ‘until stock runs out’ or ‘available to first 100 customers.’” If you have a bargain- minded buddy she also suggests you take them along. My wife had two of those that she loved to shop with. She said these friends could sniff out a bargain a mile away!

3. Use up store credits and gift cards

· I’ll bet you’ve wondered why gift cards are so popular with merchants. It’s not for your convenience but theirs – up to 70% of those are never used! Some of them expire after a certain date, which means the money is theirs to keep and you never actually purchased something. If you still have a gift card the holidays are a great time to use it before you forget about it again.

4. Don’t shop for yourself

· I know it’s tempting – the old Madison Avenue mentality, “you deserve it, you’ve been working hard.” Remember that National Retail Federation report that the average shopper will spend $99 on themselves. Take yourself off the list and save some money.

5. Shop early online

· This is a great tip if you know you will have trouble controlling your spending. Avoid the mall and do targeted online shopping. No need to wait till Thanksgiving, this type of shopping you can do all year and put the items away till the proper time.

· Lots of online stores offer free or discounted shipping (plus most of the time you don’t have to pay sales tax).

6. Keep a running list of things you want and shop for them throughout the year as they come up for sale

· Many times the perfect gift will be on sale after Labor Day for 50% off. Take advantage of that and pocket the difference. The same thing for After-Christmas sales – they are the same online as at the mall plus you avoid the temptation to over-spend. Look for opportunities to save and you will find them. Instead of paying full retail you can get them for practically wholesale and save money all year long.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

5 Ways to Save Money at Your Office

Adam Hockemeyer asked:


5 Ways to Save Money at the Office

Office supplies and the office in general can quickly become just another task that can get in the way of dealing with everyday tasks. On top of that, the office supply budget can become viewed more on the needs list then the wants list, thus causing the person in charge of office supplies to neglect searching for great prices and cost saving alternatives. The problem that may come when searching for office supplies are that there are many resellers offering what appear to be similar items, at similar prices, and when time is a crunch, most often someone from the office will have to be rushed out to the local office supply store to pick up a replacement toner cartridge or a ream of paper. With some simple planning and intuitiveness, an office can save money and be more prepared with less down time and more productivity.

1. Compatible Ink Cartridges & Compatible Toner Cartridges

If you have tried to save money at all in your office environment, no doubt have you come across the compatible ink cartridges and compatible toner cartridges, and probably even the refills. Compatible ink and toner cartridges can be a great way to save money over the expensive Genuine OEM cartridges that printer manufacturer’s offer. Generally compatible or remanufactured cartridges can save you 50% or more compared to the OEM printer cartridges. It is important though to not always look for the best deal when buying generic cartridges. Many people who purchase the cheapest cartridges possible on sites such as Ebay, have problems with the cartridges not performing like they should, with toner lines through the pages or ink not printing correctly on the pages. The best way to save money is by finding a reputable reseller of compatible and or remanufactured cartridges and pay just a little bit for the quality assurance. For example, online retailers such as Professor Ink offer a 12 month warranty on all products sold through them.

2. Recycle paper that has only been printed on one side

The next way to save money in your office is to use your own method of recycling paper. Depending on the office type, you could either print a lot of pages that are used for internal use only, for a short period of time, or you could print paper and have it used for clients use. For the first case, many companies will just print on one side of the page, and then throw the paper away. The best way to save money is to start a pile that has all of the printed sides of paper facing down, and then once you have a decent size stack left, insert them into your printer, so that the other side of the page can then be printed on. If used effectively, this method could essential cut your paper usage in half.

3. Turn off computers or put in Stand-By mode when you leave for the day

The next way to save money at the office is to simply turn off your computer or put it into stand-by mode at the end of the day. This can be a simple habit to get into and can save the company money on utility costs since less power will be used. Turning off the monitor is a good start, but by turning the computer off, or by putting it in stand-by mode will save even more electricity.

4. Replace your old printer

The next tip is to analyze how often you use your printer, and to examine the cost the consumables, such as printer ink and toner cartridges. One example could be that if you are using an inkjet printer, most of the cartridges will only print between a few hundred pages before needing to be replaced. If your office does much printing at all, you should consider upgrading to a laser printer. Printers such as the HP Laserjet 10150 use the HP Q2612A toner cartridge which an OEM cartridge from HP would cost about $69. Professor Ink offers the compatible version of the HP Q2612A for only $21.99, and the cartridge is estimate to print about 2,000 pages, as opposed to inkjet cartridges which print about 200. Doing some simply math and we find out that with the compatible HP Q2612A toner cartridge, the price per page is only $0.01, where the ink cartridge price per page is about $0.06. So in this case, the inkjet cartridge price is almost 6 times more expensive then the laser printer with a toner cartridge.

5. Buy office supplies in bulk

The final tip is to consider purchasing office supplies in bulk. Generally purchasing anything in bulk will always save money. Consider purchasing paper, toner cartridges, ink pens, sticky note pads, and even computer systems in bulk to save additional money.

After utilizing some or all of these 5 ways to save money at the office, you should be well on your way to doing your part to help the company out. Make sure to let the boss know if your achievements as well, hey maybe you will get a raise.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Money Saving Techniques – Save Money; Save Out Living!

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


When you keep part of your earning safely to meet futuristic needs, it is said that you are saving.

There are many factors that necessitates saving and it ranges from the purchasing of an automobile to acquiring a home, whatever the case might be, it is always good to save.

The list of the different saving techniques can not be exhausted, but you can choose the one that suits you most from the different methods explained here:

1. One of the major ways of keeping money for futuristic uses is to start an account for saving. This method has to do with putting some amount in your account which you can collect at any time. The balance left in the account is used to calculate the rate of interest added. the savings account system can be used to save money fro present or futuristic uses.

2. You can also decide to use an interest based current account which gives you an advantage of withdrawing with cheques or ATM. you have to always leave aparticular balance in the account daily; so that it can yield interest.

3. There is another type of saving that will perfectly suit you if a long term saving is what you want – this is the insured account of money markets. Since it is for a long term basis, the financial institution give a high interest rate. It is advisable for one to put a huge sum in accounts like these to incur maximum profit.

4. Then, one can also lend money to financial institutions for a specified period and after this period the money is repayed with interest. The duration of the loan determines the rate of interest added.

There are two major types of financial institutions to save with, you can either use the banks or Insurance company, depending on your plan. The interest rate of the latter seems better, you should investigate before choosing the one that offers a better rate.

The most important fact one should consider while saving, is that, a long term saving method should be used when futuristic projects are planned, this way the money is not tampered with. Always do a good search to find out which financial institution offers the best before making your choice.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Elliptical Machines – Best Features To Look For In An Elliptical Trainer And Save Money Too!

Helen Hecker asked:


Thinking about buying an elliptical machine or trainer? Before you start shopping, review our list of some of the best tips to help determine which elliptical trainer will work best for you and your current situation and how you can save money too.

Elliptical machines offer one of the best cardiovascular workouts. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete, the elliptical trainer works with whatever your exercise level to give you the best experience for your fitness level.

A very important part of a successful cardiovascular exercise routine depends on the comfort level you experience while you’re using the machine. An elliptical machine works well because it has a smooth, flowing movement that encourages you as you go.

It’s important to note that a key part of its rhythmic movement depends on the length of the stride. There are some models on the market that have a 14-inch stride. But you should always buy a trainer with a stride length of at least 21 inches for optimal use.

You want to look for a machine with an adjustable incline and with varying levels of resistance. The incline feature will give you more aerobic activity. And as you become more experienced you can challenge yourself to an even more optimum fitness level.

The machine should offer a range of incline and resistance levels so you have a wide array of workout programs available to choose from. So when you decide to change incline or resistance levels during your workout, the change should be smooth and non-jarring so you can change the inclines any time during the workout you like, while enjoying an optimum workout routine.

Another important factor is to check and see how noisy the machine is? It’s important when you’re buying a new piece of home exercise fitness equipment to find a model that is quiet enough for you. When you work out, you want it to have a quiet, shushing sound, so you can listen to your favorite music or television program at the same time.

Check for good safety features. Make sure there is a cooling fan and warm-up and cool-down programs so you can work your muscles both comfortably and effectively.

Look for a heart rate monitor. It can help you work out smarter, not harder. With the heart rate monitor, you can be sure you’re reaching your best aerobic/heart rate goals.

Look for upper arm handles that move smoothly with your normal routine. And with the dual-action upper body handles, you can get a complete body workout each time.

An LCD front panel display can give you a reading and monitoring system that’s easy-to-understand and read. You can read the time, speed, distance, calorie output, hand pulse and other options in a very easy format.

Check to see what the maximum user weight is for the machine. Compare to the weight of the users in your household to ensure that they can all use the machine.

Do you have enough available space for the machine? Measure the area you plan to use and note the specs on so you can use the full range of motion without hitting a wall or a piece of furniture. An average unit will be about 52″x 24″x 62″.

Try to find a fairly maintenance-free elliptical machine with a warranty of at least one year for labor and one to three years for parts so you have the ultimate workout exercise program each and every year. Whether you buy a new, used or refurbished machine read the warranty or guarantee first!

Check Consumer Reports magazine and see if they have a current elliptical machine review with ratings. You can save money by checking out prices online and comparing them to the prices in your local fitness or big box stores. Many online dealers offer free shipping. If you find the brand and model you want you can try it out locally and then compare with the online prices.

Some of the used sporting goods stores and used sports consignment stores have slightly used or refurbished trainers at much lower prices; some will be in remarkably good condition because many people buy fitness equipment and don’t use it. If you really want to save a lot of money look for close-out sales, steeply discounted sales, lesser known brands and possible wholesale connections.

Keep these tips in mind when you’re shopping for this great piece of home fitness equipment. These elliptical machines can give you a great workout, but as with all major purchases, it pays to know what to look for before you invest. Armed with these tips you should be able to buy the best machine and save money too.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Internet Guide To Saving Money For Recessionistas

Kathryn Katz asked:


Over the last few years, the Internet has exploded with opportunities for consumers to spend and save money. In these difficult economic times, it’s important to take advantage of these money saving opportunities. Remember, cheap is the new chic. Every savvy recessionista needs to keep a few tools at hand to find the best deals. Just remember, in your zeal to take advantage of online sales, make sure to keep a level head and only purchase what you need.

Coupon Sites

In this day and age, you should never have to pay full price anything. There are coupons for beverages, household good, food, personal care, entertainment, healthcare and pet care. Many websites like Coupons.com offer printable coupons for you to use in the store, or some offer exclusive online deals. A good rule of thumb when you’re searching for coupons is to go to a search engine and type in the name of the product with “coupons” or “promotional code” afterwards. The search engine will pull up all the results related to that keyword phrase. Before printing out the coupon or using it online, check the date to make sure the discounts are still valid. Sometimes search engines cache old coupon pages and you might be too late to get that deal. Also if you’re buying online, make sure that the cost of shipping doesn’t outweigh the savings you receive with the coupon.



Deal Forums


Search for hot deals on forums such as www.FatWallet.com. Fellow recessionistas search the web for the best deals and post them on the forum. You can find information on free stuff, online auctions, contests and sweepstakes, coupons, and hot deals. If you’re too busy to monitor FastWallet.com, it offers Topic Alerts. This feature will notify you via email whenever a post is made related to the item that you’re looking for. All you have to do is go to the Topic Alerts section, fill in your information and then deal alerts will be sent to you, saving you time and money.

Shopping Search Engines

Coupon sites and deal forums are great if you know exactly what you’re look for. But what if you don’t? Recessionistas don’t despair! You just need to visit a comparison shopping search engine. Google, Yahoo and MSN all have shopping sections to their search engine. Just go to the shopping engine, enter in the item you’re looking for and the search engine will pull up results. Google Product Search shows pictures and product reviews next to the items to make selection easier. Once you find what you’re looking for, you can click on “Compare Prices” to find the best deal.

Daily Deal Sites

Some online websites, like Amazon.com, offers daily deals within their website. These sale items are usually discounted at extremely low prices, offering recessionistas a great place to find quality products. There are even websites, like Woot.com, that only sell one item a day and if you don’t buy it that day then you miss the sale. Of course, the prices must be low to attract a large score of buyers. However, both of these types of sites are dangerous on the budget because it’s encouraging impulse buying. You might visit the deal of the day site and think, “Wow, that’s a great price. I don’t need it but it’s a great price!” Then you end up buying something that you don’t need, and that’s a bad idea. If you’re going to take advantage of these types of sites, make sure to look at the deals with a level head and don’t buy anything that you don’t need…no matter how good the deal is.

Online Auctions

Online auction websites, like eBay.com, are garage sales on steroids! Recessionistas come together to buy and sell products from the convenience of their homes. All you have to do is enter what product you’re looking for and the website will pull up the latest auctions. You tell the site how much you want to pay and if you’re willing to pay the highest for the product, you win. However, be very careful when using online auction sites. Sometimes bidding will start low and then as it gets closer to the auction’s closing time, you’ll find yourself in a bidding war over the item you want. Make sure you understand how much you’re willing to pay and don’t allow your ego to talk you into paying too much for what you want. Also, watch out for outrageous shipping and handling charges. Sometimes auctioneers will discount the price but make up for the discount by charging a higher than normal shipping and handling charge.



Online Classifieds


Remember the days when you would flip through the newspaper, looking at the classifieds? Well with the advent of Craigslist and other online classified sites, there’s no need to pick up a newspaper. Modern recessionistas just look at online classifieds. Go to Craigslist. Select the city in which you live, type in the item you’re looking for and read over the classifieds. Buyer Beware: out of all the places to find great deals, this one offers the least amount of anonymity. There isn’t any buyer’s protection. Oftentimes you have to contact the person directly to pick up the item and complete the sale.

Lastly, consider joining an online community, like Twitter, and following a few recessionistas that are tracking hot deals. These coupon clipping, deal watching ladies tweet the latest sales from their Twitter accounts. Or if Twitter isn’t for you, consider collecting a few RSS feeds from the shopping savvy. Just go to Google Blog Search and type in “hot deals”. It will pull up the most recent blog posts and you can choose which ones to subscribe to. Good luck and happy deal hunting.

For more information on how to shop smart and save money, read Shopping and Saving at Consolidated Credit’s website.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Eight Ways to Save Money on Gas Without Going Into Debt

Lorna Goldsborough asked:


nd yourself using your credit card just to gas up? Bad idea. With sky-high gas prices, it can be difficult to gas up without going into debt these days. Here are eight ways to save money on gas without going into debt.

Tip # 1: Shop around for your gas

Maybe you are not used to shopping around for your gas. In the good old days of $2.00 gallons, you could afford to stop at the first gas station you came across in order to fill up. Not anymore. Now it is possible to feel the difference simply by filling up at a station offering its gas for a few cents less per gallon than the competition across the street. Make sure to shop around for gas before filling up. In most cities you can find gas stations selling gas for ten to fifteen cents less per gallon than their competitors. Use web sites such as Gas Buddy in order to find the cheapest gas in your area.

Tip # 2: Buy gas from your grocery store

One of the trends we have been seeing in recent years is grocery stores offering discount gas to customers. Many stores are now offering these types of savings discounts. Usually you will need to sign up for a store savings card, and some stores offer deeper discounts after you have spent a certain amount on groceries. Some stores are known for offering deep discounts during special promotional periods, so keep your ears and eyes open.

Tip # 3: Ride your bike for work and simple errands

So you haven’t ridden a bike since you were twelve, you say. It’s time to practice your skills and remember why riding a bike was so much fun in the first place. With more people on bikes than ever before, you will probably not be alone in commuting to work on your bike. Plus, you get the added bonus of getting in shape. Get a good basket put on your bike and use it for small shopping errands around your neighborhood. Even if you only ride your bike a few times a week, the savings on gas will quickly add up.

Tip # 4: Start your own rideshare

Even if you have never commuted before, it’s probably time to start. Commuting is a low-stress and money-saving way to save money on gas. There are many web sites that now help connect people who need to save money on their daily commute. You would be surprised how many people in your neighborhood probably drive to roughly the same area.

Tip # 5: Move closer to work

If you are used to a long commute, it’s probably costing you an arm and a leg just to make it to work. If you rent an apartment or even if you own your own home, it may be the right time to consider making a move. If you love your job and are willing to make the move, this can save you considerably on transportation costs. Sit down and do the math if you are not convinced, and think about how much time and stress you will save by working close to home.

Tip # 6: Invest in a bus pass

Even if you have never ridden the bus before, maybe it’s time to start. Many cities offer discounted bus passes for commuters. You would probably be surprised how easy, efficient and relaxing it can be to sit back and let another person do the driving for you.

Tip # 7: Always fill up with cash

Many gas stations are now offering discounts for cash purchases. Not only is cash a cheaper way to buy gas, it can also help you stay out of debt. The last thing you want is to spend five years paying for a gallon of gas, but that’s what interest rates will do to you.

Tip # 8: Telecommute

If possible, look into the option of telecommuting. Even telecommuting once or twice a week from home can save you a lot of money on gas.

Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Save Money By Saving Your Change!

Nocita Carter asked:


Save money by saving your change can add up to thousands of dollars for your nest egg! That’s right, by taking the change you have in your pockets, purse, vehicle or anywhere you keep change, can help you to start saving money. Think about it, you can start saving your change today and you are guaranteed if you continue to save your change every day, that you will save a significant amount of money over time.

You’ve been saying, that it’s hard for you to save, and you just don’t make enough money to be able to do this. Well, you can start slow by just taking that spare change you have laying around and putting it in a jar and just let it grow over time. It won’t take long before your change jar starts growing and you now have money saved.

Imagine when you count the amount of change you’ve saved, after six months of dropping your change in your jar, you are astounded at how much money you have collected in just a short period of time. You can do it, just start saving your change today! Don’t wait to save, it doesn’t matter that you’re starting out small by saving your change. It only matters that you just start saving!

These five tips should help you when you start saving your change:

1) Get yourself a jar to put your change in. Nothing fancy needed, the idea is get yourself a jar so you can start saving your change now!

2) Make it a goal to collect all your change and put it in a jar on a daily basis from either your purse, wallet, clothing, vehicle or any other place you may have your change.

3) Put your change jar in a special place in your home where it is not tempting for you or anyone else in your home to remove change from your savings jar.

4) Make it habit to keep all the change you receive when making purchases so you can place this change in your change jar.

5) Plan to count your change every six months and deposit your change into a special savings account at your bank. This will assist you in keeping track on how well you’re saving money by saving your change!

You may think this idea of saving money by saving your change may not work. I’m here to tell you that it will! Over the years I have used this method to save money and it has worked very well for me. In fact, I have several change jars around my home that I always use for my change. I have been able to save lots of money by doing this. It is easy and I have trained myself just to drop my change in my jars, which helps me to continuing saving money on an ongoing basis. So, if I can do it, I know you can.

So, save money by saving your change today, so you can help yourself to improve your finances today and for your future.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

How to Save Money at Your Next Auto Auction

Monique Tarver asked:


Car auctions are a place where you can get a good car for less than what you would pay at your local car dealership. But, you can easily end up paying more than what a car is worth if you’re not careful. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to ensure that you save a huge amount of money at the next auto auction you attend.

The first mistake that many people make when attending an auto auction is not knowing the car’s worth. If you don’t know the value of the vehicle you’re bidding on it’s very easy to get caught up in a bidding way and end up over paying.

So, always make sure that you bring a Kelly’s Blue Book with you to every auto auction you attend and make sure you know how to use it. It is also ideal to use the car’s trade-in value as your target price. Anything significantly over that price is something that you should pass on, as there are plenty of other cars for you to bid on.

Another mistake people make is not fully inspecting the vehicle before bidding on it. Which is a mistake that can cost you hundred or even thousands of dollars. So, it is best to bring a mechanic with you to check the car’s engine, transmission, electrical system, etc. which can all be costly to repair. Also make sure that all of the vin number on the car match because non-matching vin numbers can be an indication of a stolen vehicle or one that was in a food or fire. Neither of which you would want to purchase.

So, it is possible for you to save a ton of money at the next car auction you attend. That is if you know the car’s worth and give it a through inspection. After that you’re well on your way to getting a great car at an excellent price.

 

Now that you know how to save money at any car auction, your next step is to find one near you, which can be painless by joining a car auction list. Visit MyCarAuctionReview.com for a reviews on the best ones



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Holiday Savings: How to Save Money and be Stress-free This Holiday Season

Carolyn Davey asked:


Saving money at any time of the year is great, but it’s especially welcome during the holiday season.

Let’s face it. The holiday season is a mixed blessing.

On the one hand, it brings closer connections with loves ones, holiday parties, celebrations, wonderful feelings, and a renewed sense of peace and purpose.

On the other hand, it brings last minute hassles, stress-filled gift decisions, “holiday shoppers syndrome”, and the worst of all: money worries.

Sad but true, millions of people get maxed out on their credit cards and empty their bank accounts in the spirit of giving. And this casts a big shadow on what really should be the best time of the year.

So what to do?

Here are 5 tips to insure that your holiday season is merry and bright:

1. Plan Ahead.

You can do 90% of holiday preparations well in advance. Buy your decorations, choose your recipes, book your travel tickets, clean your guest room, etc. now, rather than waiting until the night before.

When you do anything in advance, it remains fun and enjoyable. If you have to rush at the last minute, you’ll be harried and stressful.

2. Save Money.

Look for ways to save money on all your holiday purchases.

One simple way is to buy your gifts now at a lower price. Once the holiday season starts, prices can begin to skyrocket.

Another way to save money is to join a discount membership website. These are websites where you can save money on all the things you normally buy every day.

You can save money on things like groceries, household items, clothes, auto, electronics, travel, sports, etc. Basically anything you want to buy, there is a way to save money on it.

Look particularly for gifts, travel, restaurants, hotels, and anything that would relate to the things you will be buying over the holidays. Make sure they are of the quality you want at the price you want.

If not, look for another discount membership site.

Be wary, though, as not all the discount membership sites are created equal. Make sure the one you choose has multiple ways to save money both online and offline, is very low cost to join, and has no hidden fees.

Make sure you can start saving money right away, as that is the whole point. That way, you can get a head start on your holiday shopping by creating some extra cash up front.

3. Save Time.

Look for ways to save time when you are shopping, decorating, and planning.

Include family members in holiday preparations and enjoy the time spent together with them.

Try and find stores or websites that have multiple products you need all in one place. Discount stores or membership sites are great for this and save a lot of time and trouble.

Nothing is so frustrating as having to hop around from one store or web site to another just to find the things you want.

During the holiday season, time is at a premium, and anything that saves you time is well worth it.

4. Think Out-Of-The-Box.

When you’re choosing gifts for your loved ones, think of giving them something different, something unique.

How about a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant?

Or a weekend at their favorite hotel?

Or a ticket to their favorite sports event?

Give them something that shows them you really thought about them and what they would like.

For a unique gift that would show them you really care, why not get them a membership to the same discount membership site you are part of?

This is a gift that would keep on giving, for they would be saving money all year long.

5. Stay Rested.

Hard to do, but well worth it. Try to do most of the activities during the day, and keep the evening for relaxation. Going to bed earlier will also make all the activities during the day go much more smoothly.

If you plan ahead using the above steps, then come holiday time, you’ll be able to feel happy, relaxed, and enjoy all the good times and wonderful company you have in store.

Stay well, stay happy and enjoy the holiday fun!



, ,

No Comments

How to Save Money by Reviewing Economic Expenses

Martin Lukac asked:


How to save money by reviewing your economic expenses is a great start. To save money you can review economical items such as:

Electric:

Electric it something we all need to keep our home running and safe. We need electric to do the laundry, run the refrigerator, to run the fan on the furnace for heat and to supply us with water. Every household needs electricity to function on a daily basis.

Learn how to save money on electric by turning the hot water down to a lower temperature. You don’t need the water heater to be scalding hot it could be very dangerous and harmful.

Dishwashers can save you money on electric by having one that will heat the water as it builds up. You will also find that a dishwasher uses less water by doing a full load that five or six sinks of hot water. By doing one full load of dishes you will save on the hot water supply, dish soap, and electric that is supplying the pump to pump the water into your home.

Take your cloths out of the dryer before it goes into the cool down zone. Put the next load in while the dryer is still hot to save running the electric again to heat it up.

Heating expense:

Learn how to save money on your heating expense by turning down the heat at night and adding more blankets to your bed. You can save by turning your heat on 72 degrees and leaving it there through the day. At night turn, it down to 68 degrees and adding a blanket will save electric and heat expense.

If you get chilly during the day put on a sweater or sweatshirt, you keep you cozier. You can also add a wood stove or fireplace as a heat saver. Instead of using your furnace during the day all the time fire up the fireplace to add warmth to your home.

Wood burning stores may offer you solutions in saving money. With a little effort, you can find cheap firewood by asking people if you can clean their yard for the wood.

Home Phone:

Save some money on phone expenses by doing some research to find a cheaper carrier. Many different carriers now offer packages to fit different needs.

Shop for the different packages that allow you to save money, make a list of the options that are really needed and the ones you don’t needs. You might have to give up one option to get something you need.

Making better decisions will help you save money. Start saving money and make some changes in your way of living.



, ,

No Comments

How to Save Money Dining Out

Brent Vanderstelt asked:


The best way to save money on dining out is with a membership in the Zurvita Care Savers Program. Zurvita Care Saver is your personal discount program at your favorite restaurants, movie theatres, local retailers, daily services and, personal care and pet care providers. Zurvita Care Saver Card is your onsite discount program on everyday purchases and services.

The Zurvita Care Saver program will save you up to 50% on home repairs and home security to name a few. But an additional benefit of membership is that you also save the same savings (up to 50%) on over 600 online or offline retailers, Health an beauty services, 20,000 hotels, personal services and 50,000 restaurants.

As a Zurvita Care Saver member, you can enjoy “star treatment” by taking advantage of big savings on movie tickets and DVD rentals at the most popular and favorite places. Members get to enjoy the big screen at a small price.



Save up to $6 per movie ticket!

Choose from more than 1,500 theaters nationwide!

3 national movie rental chains create access to millions of titles!



Another benefit of the Zurvita Care Saver program is the Zurvita Personal Assistant. Having a team of professional personal Assistant at your beck and call just a phone call away. Once you begin using Zurvita Personal Assistant to help you take care of life’s little challenges you will begin to see the benefit of having a personal Assistant whenever you need information or a task performed.

You can use the Zurvita Personal Assistant to make restaurant resvervations and get your movie times and reviews. Order your Zurvita Care Saver membership for today and start saving money on dining out.

The best way to save money on dining out is with a membership in the Zurvita Care Savers Program. Zurvita Care Saver is your personal discount program at your favorite restaurants, movie theatres, local retailers, daily services and, personal care and pet care providers. Zurvita Care Saver Card is your onsite discount program on everyday purchases and services.

The Zurvita Care Saver program will save you up to 50% on home repairs and home security to name a few. But an additional benefit of membership is that you also save the same savings (up to 50%) on over 600 online or offline retailers, Health an beauty services, 20,000 hotels, personal services and 50,000 restaurants.

As a Zurvita Care Saver member, you can enjoy “star treatment” by taking advantage of big savings on movie tickets and DVD rentals at the most popular and favorite places. Members get to enjoy the big screen at a small price.



Save up to $6 per movie ticket!

Choose from more than 1,500 theaters nationwide!

3 national movie rental chains create access to millions of titles!



Another benefit of the Zurvita Care Saver program is the Zurvita Personal Assistant. Having a team of professional personal Assistant at your beck and call just a phone call away. Once you begin using Zurvita Personal Assistant to help you take care of life’s little challenges you will begin to see the benefit of having a personal Assistant whenever you need information or a task performed.

You can use the Zurvita Personal Assistant to make restaurant resvervations and get your movie times and reviews. Order your Zurvita Care Saver membership for today and start saving money on dining out.



, ,

No Comments

10 Ways to Save Money in a Slow Economy

Tom Noonan asked:


As the economy slows down, everybody is looking for some extra ways to save a few bucks here and there.  Sometimes it seems like you are always trying to save but just need some extra ideas to help you keep that last buck in your pocket.  Here are 10 ways you can save money in a slowing economy:



Share a room – For most Americans, their number one expense (after taxes) is their housing cost.  If you are single and living in a two bedroom place, consider renting one of the rooms out or getting a roommate to help you split the costs.  Not only do you save on rent or get a subsidized mortgage, you also split utilities.

Share a car – If you and your wife or girlfriend or roommates can swing it, try getting rid of one of your cars.  You will save money on insurance, registration, and maintenance.  Plus, selling a car will put cash in your pocket.

Quit smoking – Although there are a million other reasons to quit smoking, maybe the cost will push you over the edge.  Quit smoking because it costs too much, not because you aren’t cool enough to smoke.

Don’t get tempted by all the sales – I have seen some pretty incredible discounts offered for some of the stores that are going under.  If you buy a new pair of shoes for $20 that was originally $80, how much are you saving?  You aren’t saving anything, you are spending!

Don’t get tempted by the financing offers – No payments for 2 years on this new HDTV!  How do you know if the economy will be back on track in two years?  You don’t, so avoid.

Turn your computer and TV off – Turn your computer off especially when you aren’t using it.  There is no reason to leave the darn thing on all the time.

Cancel your cable and internet – Let’s face it, you don’t need the TV or internet.  Why not go outside and enjoy the fresh air?  Cancel your cable and internet to save on the monthly subscription cost.  If you need to watch something on TV, go to a friends, go to a sports bar, go to the gym, or skip watching it.  See if you can get free wifi somewhere outside your house, or just use the internet at work.

Quit the gym – I don’t mean stop working out, but exercising shouldn’t cost you anything.  Go jogging for cardio.  Get some elastic bands for resistance training.

Compare alternatives – You might have a commute where you could drive, walk, ride your bike, take bus or train, and you don’t know which is cheapest.  Keep track of your gas bill or train fare, parking fees, and everything in a spreadsheet.  Eventually you will be able to see which form of commuting is the cheapest.  Put some variables and functions in your spreadsheet so you can see what happens if (when) gas prices go back up.

Keep track – Monitor your expenses closely so you can patch up any leaks.



Keep your expenses low and maximize your savings account, and you should be able to whether the storm.



, ,

No Comments

How To Shop and Save Money

Paul Hata asked:


You have long known the credit card. It is said to be your ultimate gear when you go shopping. The plastic can even be a best friend to a happy shopper.

Considering the times nowadays, this plastic seems to be the least practical option out there. It is actually the most convenient tool used for consumption when you are out of cash. It lures you to spend. Is there anyway for your credit card to be useful for your saving endeavors?

Yes, actually there are ways that the plastic can be helpful. You CAN actually save money with that credit card.

1.0% Balance Transfers

If your present credit card has high interests, you can transfer your balance to one with a low-interest or no-interest at all. It can offer you a 0% interest for a certain period and then a lower regular rate later on. A 19% interest rate can be transferred to one with 16.1%. The 2.9% difference means a lot, especially in the long run.

2.Lower Interest Rates

Look for one with the lowest rate among others to further maximize having a credit card. This definitely spells savings. If you do not have a balance yet, it is best to look for a card without annual fees.

Take extra precautions, too, in assuming that the lowest interest rate is the best for you. Factor in your buying habits. You may be attracted to the low rates, but the end result may not be desirable if combined with the annual fees and the like.

3.Rewards Program

Reward points system and cash back programs are offered now. This can save you money. Maintaining a low balance despite your frequent buys will give you at most 5% off on purchases.

There are even cash rebates up to 5% when you use the credit card at certain gas stations, convenience stores and groceries. This can be automatically applied to your bill, the more you can feel the savings you are making.

4.Maximizing the Experience

To reap the rewards, you must avoid the drawbacks. A prudent person will definitely look for the best deals and grab it right away but with some caution.

Thus it is necessary that you read the details. Check the fees that may be charged and the penalty rates in case you delay. This may be the downside of the deal offered to you.

For example, be careful of cash advance features of credit cards. Some of them can be very expensive. They can come with numerous fees and higher rates. Be wary! Spending cannot be avoided at times. Just don’t forget your goal, getting a good deal to save.



, ,

No Comments

Does Shopping Online Really Save Money ?

Jenny How asked:


 

Shopping online and looking for bargains are certainly not new phenomenon.

Ever since the introduction of sales, bargain hunters are everywhere seeking out the best available prices on product, be it groceries, clothings or electronics items. Thrifty consumers are always seeking out ways to save money while shopping and reduce their shopping bills as much as possible.

Well, online shopping offers shoppers many new ways to save money.

You can find heaps of best deals online. Besides, there are many ways you can find more deals online for further reduce costs. That is why more people are turning into online shopper everyday.

This article will discuss some of the ways you can save money and will also discuss how you can ensure the authenticity of an item when you buy online.

One of the best thing I found shopping online is that I can compare shops easily. Back then shopping traditionally, it could take me hours, days or even weeks traveling from one store to another to determine which one is offering the best prices. Have you experience that before?

By shopping online, I can accomplish this very same task with just a click of a button and I’m sitting comfortably in at my own home, in front of the PC!

Shopping online is as easy as going to a particular website and finding the best deals by looking at the list of retailers for a particular item. Then click to produce a comparison chart which provides you information about costs of items from each retailer. Easy, isn’t it?

This is an extremely easy method of comparison shopping and finding the best deal. However, even when this option is not available finding the best deal on a product online is typically not difficult.

Usually, you can find the best deal online by simply visiting websites of several online retailers and noting the price at which they are selling the item in question.

Then, open a new web browser window for each online retailer the shopper is comparing. This way, you can simply browse through the open windows all at once and then only keep open the browser windows from online retailers offering the item at the best prices.

Once you narrow the search down to a few online retailers who are offering the item at a favorable price, you can then use other factors to make your buying decision. For example, shipping prices and incentives offered to buyers for future discounts.

Comparison shopping is one way you can find the best deals online but you can find additional ways to save money while online shopping.

One of the most popular ways is to seek out promotional codes offered by online retailers.

You can accomplish this by doing an Internet search including the name of the online retailer as well as phrases such as, “coupon,” or “promotional code.”

This type of search may return a number of different websites which compile coupons and promotional codes for a variety of different online retailers.

These coupons and promotional codes may offer you savings such as a discount off the final price of an item or free shipping. However, it is important to note that not all of these codes will be valid.

You should verify whether the promotional code is and also carefully review the restrictions involved with using the promotional code to be sure that you are eligible to use the promotional code to obtain a discount.

As much as getting a discount is important for your shopping bills, verifying the authenticity of the item is too. As scams and fraud are rampant nowadays, it is really vital for you to at least know whether the item you are buying is authentic, especially if you are buying antiques or branded goods.

You don’t want to end up buying replicas, do you?

To be sure you are buying original items, you can purchase from online retailer who is licensed to sell the item. Or when in doubt, check with the Better Business Bureau for the seller’s reputation.

But you won’t be buying online from these authentic online retailers only as a shopper is always on the lookout for other deals, designs or collections. So, the real problem is when you purchase an item from an auction site or through the individual sellers.

In these cases the items may be misrepresented either intentionally or unintentionally.

Regardless whether or not the online retailer is attempting to deceive the buyers or simply makes a mistake, you should know how to determine the authenticity of an item. You should know your products well, or do a research on them. Take note on special markings, their original retail prices, colors and features.

Remember this golden rule – if an item is priced too low and look to good to be true, chances are it is fake.

Copyright @ www.couponcodescash.com



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Survey: Saving Money Easier to Say Than Do

Silvester Thompson asked:


* New Yorkers stress over money, but they also tend to be spendthrifts, putting their savings toward pampering. Conversely, 36 percent of New Yorkers save for education expenses versus 27 percent for the average American.

* Los Angeles residents’ highest priority is paying bills, but they also tend to put money aside for special occasions.

* San Franciscans are less inclined to set financial goals, but 64 percent of residents are saving for retirement, compared to 55 percent of Americans in general.

* Residents of Miami are worried about saving for themselves and their families, but just 23 percent are actually saving.

* Chicagoans are three times more likely to comparison shop to find the best price and think of themselves as frugal. Twenty-four percent of Chicago residents use direct deposit to help save money compared to 12 percent of average Americans who do the same.

* Seventy-six percent of Dallas residents are likely to save for the future in general rather than for a specific purpose. If given an extra $1,000, they would be more likely to put it toward home improvements.

Any of this sound familiar? Do you often find yourself with little or nothing after paying the bills and using that remainder for a luxury rather than putting it in the bank?

“Americans know they need to save for a rainy day, but they need a helping hand. Bank of America’s “Keep the Change” savings program helps consumers save for a rainy day, one penny at a time, through everyday purchases,” said Diane Morais, deposits and debits products executive at Bank of America.

“Keep the Change” is an automatic savings program that helps consumers build and keep stronger savings habits. When consumers in the program make a purchase with their Bank of America Visa check card, the price is automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar. At the end of the day, the difference is transferred to the customer’s savings account. Bank of America matches 100 percent of the transfers for the first three months of enrollment and 5 percent thereafter, up to $250 paid annually.

The program has already helped more than 2 million Americans save over $60 million in loose change.



, ,

No Comments

Save Money: Some Easy Methods

Jerry Leung asked:


Everyone knows it it important to spend less than we earn. And it is also important for us to save money. However, the truth is that a lot of people will spend more than the amount they can make. As a result, these people will be in debt. Even if you are now currently in debt, you should try to spend less if you are unable to save some money every month. Of course you may wonder how you can save more money. And here are some tips for you.

First of all, you may consider cut down your household expenses. One of the things you can consider is to cut down your electricity bill. You should make sure that you only use appliances which are energy efficient. Besides, you should not switch on the air conditioner when it is not needed. In fact, switching on a fan will be good enough in most cases. You will find that you can save a lot if you do not always switch the air conditioner on.

Besides, there are people who tend to buy new appliances such as TV sets every year. This is because they want to keep up with the latest trend and technology. However, this will certainly cost you a lot of money. You should only buy a new appliance when you really need it. You should understand that this will certainly help you to spend less and you can save more money in your saving account.

You may also consider using second items. As you may know, it is a lot cheaper to buy a second hand item than buying a new one. The price of a second hand mobile phone will only be a fraction of a new one. However, you should always bear in mind that you have to check the item carefully when you are purchasing a second hand item. It will only cost you more money if you purchase a second hand item only to find out that it does not work! Yet you will be able to save a lot if you can purchase second hand items wisely.

Apart from the above, you will also be able to save more money if you cook yourself.

As a matter of fact, there are a lot of ways for you to spend less and save more money. Yet you need to have the discipline and you have to keep reminding yourself that you have to save money. You will be able to save money successfully if you can really have this kind of attitude.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

How to Save Money by Cutting Back Expenses

Martin Lukac asked:


The most effective way to save money is to cutback on expenses. Start by analyzing your situation. Sit down and think about what you are paying on now. How to save money by cutting back is noted below:

Start saving money today by making some changes in areas that you don’t really need to have in order to survive on a daily basis. Are you a beer drinker? That’s ok you can have a beer; but do you really need to drink as much as you do?

Beer and alcohol;

Think about how much beer you might be consuming in a day or week. Cut it back to drinking half the amount. Think about your health. How you can improve your health if you cutback now. Think of the money you can save.

Switch to a cheaper beer. If you drink the higher priced beverage, learn how to save money by changing your taste bud.

Pop:

Cutting back on soda can save you money. We sometimes are hooked on the caffeine in soda that could be harmful to our bodies. Cut back on your pop and drink more water. Rather than paying $1.35 for a 20 ounce soda, save the money and drink water to spare your health also.

Drinking too much pop can affect your health causing diabetes; eat the lining from your stomach, as well as causing kidney problems.

Cigarettes:

Cigarettes are harmful and can cause death. Stop smoking to improve your health and save money at the same time. Smoking cigarettes is a dirty habit, that none of us needs to be around even if they are smokers. By not smoking, you can save up to $50.00 a week and improve your health at the same time. Protect everyone around you and yourself from not smoking.

House cleaner service:

Instead of being a couch potato and hiring someone to come in to clean your home do it yourself to save money. You will improve your health also, since your body will benefit from the exercise.

When we are busy, you won’t eat so much and that is a plus. You will have a healthier life and bank account. By cleaning your own house, you will get more exercise, which helps to relieve stress by keeping you busy instead of letting you sit and worry about how you’re going to pay the electric bill on the table.

Learn how to save money by cutting back expenses on beer, pop, cigarettes and paying for house cleaner service.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

"save Money on Electric Bill" System © – it Really Works!

Jason Gilford asked:




Already spending hundreds month-by-month on these rising electricity-bills? It seems like a simple “Save Money On Electric Bill” System can easily save you all that trouble. Many users already found out that this technique takes no more than just few days to be completed. By reading this quick article you’ll be able to learn more about this creative technology.

Quick overview

Assembling such “Save Money On Electric Bill” System doesn’t require any special technical skills – you simply need to follow a ‘proven-to-work’ guide that teaches how to create Solar-Panels. It is highly important to work with a professional guide; verify that it is written in simple language and that others already reported that it worked for them. Anyway, here are some key-advantages and tips that may help you to know more about this subject.

Main benefits

Going down to the bottom-line we notice the following benefits:

* Leaves us almost unaffected by any possible energy crisis.

* Uses Wind-Power as a backup when having long periods of cloudy days.

* It is now amazingly affordable like never before.

* No need to remember to switch off the lights each time we leave the room.

* Enables us to store the produced elect.-power at zero cost.

Tip to go

Nowadays it is possible to get deep cycle batteries at no cost, so you can store your energy for free.

Article summary

There is no question – “Save Money On Electric Bill” System truly provides an outstanding opportunity for any household to ‘cut’ their elec. expenses to almost zero. It wouldn’t be that hard to find other great advantages provided by this exceptional idea, simply because it is innovative. By the end of this quick article the best advice would be to simply try it so you could truly experience the various opportunities that it brings.



, ,

No Comments

How To Save Money on Transportation

Paul Hata asked:


Prices go higher every year, especially the cost of gas. Transportation is one big factor that makes the household budget difficult to cover all your expenses. Here are some guidelines to help you save money from transportation:

1.To save money, you must always check on your vehicle regularly. A well-maintained vehicle can get you out of trouble on repair expenses. You can actually spend only $50 on maintaining your vehicle and save up to $800 on repair costs in a year. You can even save more if you do the maintenance yourself and not bring your car into an auto shop.

2.If you want to save more money, it is recommended not to buy a new car. The value of a car depreciates automatically when you drive it out off the showroom of the car dealer shop. You may buy a car that is used at least one year. It will save you thousands of dollars to the actual worth of the car when it was new. The owner will then pay all the depreciated value of the car.

3.Save money on buying used cars by comparing the prices of the car dealer and the actual price on the list of the used car dealer ads. To ensure the car that you buy is well conditioned, you may ask for the help of a mechanic to check if the car is good enough for its price. It is better to buy a used car from a person you know and trust. This will help you make sure that you have a good deal in acquiring a car.

4.Try to compare gasoline rates. You may refuel your car with the gasoline station that offers the lowest price on gasoline. You can even save more by pumping gas yourself and use the lowest octane in your car’s manual. It is also recommended that you pay cash than credit cards that charge extra rates. Do not forget to check the gas cap if it is tightened to ensure no gas is spilled out.

5.Always keep your engine tuned-up and have your tires inflated to their desired pressure to save you more money. A well-maintained engine consumes less gas. Keep your car’s trunk clean to save more fuel. Heavy loads in your vehicle can consume more fuel because of the excess weight it carries.

6.Try to limit the use of your car on your daily route. You may take the bus or the subway to save gasoline. You can also save time by ignoring the traffic that you encounter everyday on the streets.



, ,

No Comments

A Few of the Best Ways to Save Money

J. Snyder asked:


In today’s financial climate it can get very hard to find a little extra money to put away for that rainy day. I did not say that it was impossible just kinda hard to be able to build up the emergency fund when it seems that every day is an emergency. Here are three of the best ways to save money even when money is tight.

Save Your Change

Set up a change jar. I have mine set up at the kitchen counter by our back door where I always empty my pockets. I throw my keys on the counter next to my wallet and I plug in my cell phone and throw all my change (every day) into my jar. Twice a month I empty my jar and take it to the bank sometimes there is only two or three dollars in it and sometimes five or six. It is amazing how fast it adds up. At approximately $8.00 each month it comes to $96 a year. Not a fortune but better than a sharp stick in the eye.

Save Coupons and Use Them

Start to clip coupons or better and easier, just print them off your computer for the brands you use. It is amazing how much you can save on your monthly grocery bills if you just do a little work at it. Of course if you are going to save then the money you do not spend you must put into your savings account. What we have done is set our bi-weekly food budget for the amount we spend to eat each payday. Then we clip coupons and look for deals while shopping so we do not spend our entire budgeted food allowance. Depending on the coupons we find for the two week period we can save $10 to $20 each time which adds up to an average of $30 per month totaling $360 per year. Again not a fortune but $360 plus the $96 comes to $456 each year.

Pay Yourself First

This is a must if you are ever going to build up your emergency fund. Just put yourself in the budget and pay yourself every payday the same as you would pay your electric or phone bills or any other creditor. Make sure that you drop it into your savings account right away or you will spend it on something you really do not need. If you pay yourself only 10% of every payday it will add up fast. Say you bring home $400 per week 10% is $40 times 52 weeks totals $2080 per year. At only 5% it would total $1040 per year.

As you can see just these three of the best ways to save money can put a sizable sum into your emergency fund in as little as a year. Add seven more ways to save and look out world here we come.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Little Frugal Changes Can Save Money

Martin Lukac asked:


Too many people simply assume that a penny saved is just a penny saved and nothing more. But save enough of those pennies and you will have a dollar, ten dollars or even a hundred dollars.

And the best part of saving a penny is that it doesn’t take a great sacrifice on your part. You are just talking small frugal changes, not cutting out everything from your life.

Frugal living isn’t about sacrifice. It is about spending less and getting the same amount or more. It is about cutting the costs associated with your everyday living. Will turning off a few lights around your house take a huge sacrifice on your part? No. And after a while it becomes a habit. And your electric bill is a tad smaller.

You can change your habits. Challenge is a good thing that motivates you. Challenge yourself to be frugal this year.

The easy thing about living frugally is that you do it day by day. You don’t have to think any further than right now. You simply take it penny by penny. But this can also make it hard to see what you are really saving. It is like watching every single pound when you are loosing weight. You are constantly wondering if you are getting somewhere.

So in your frugal lifestyle, stop focusing on the individual pennies. Take the steps one at a time, but remember that each step is saving you money.

It can be as simple as buying a few dozen cloth napkins and dish clothes and vowing to never use paper napkins or paper towels again. You can save $54 a year doing this. Or you can find an insurance policy that could save you $100 a year in premiums. Either way, those small steps are saving you pennies that add up to big savings. They don’t take a lot of work, but they save you money.

Okay, you may be saying that these things are so small that they don’t really matter. Well, what could you do with $154 extra dollars? How about renting a movie instead of going to the theatre three times this year? That could save you another $75. Change your own oil in your vehicle and save around $40. Quit eating out and eat in one additional night a month and save $240.

Before you know it, these little changes will add up to a nice vacation, new furniture or a college fund for your children.

The options are endless. Saving up your pennies really does make sense. Frugal living is a nice way to take it day by day. The key is to put your savings in an actual savings account. When you notice that your electric bill is lower, put the extra money in your savings. When you spend less at the grocery store, put the extra money in savings. When you eat in instead of dining out, put the saved money in your savings account. It won’t take long and you will see how it starts to grow.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Online Grocery Coupons – How to Save Money Online

Vincent Dramis asked:


With the ever increasing cost of inflation for consumer goods purchased, there are two words that have become common place in our everyday society and have literally become a formost concern in our everyday function… and that is “SAVING MONEY”.

Were all trying to save a buck now days! Most manufacturers and retailers are well aware of the need to stand out foremost in the eye of the consumer, you. Manufacturers/Retailers are compeating against heavy competition to attract your dollars to their door step. They’ll stop at no end to get you sale.

One of the most popular techniques in the manufacturer and retailers industry is as old as the word, “sale”, itself. That is discount, on sale, coupons, rebates and the every loving, “buy one get one FREE”.

Think about the many purchases that you will complete just during a simple routine day. Now image the purchases you’ll complete during weekend outings, visits, day trips, family fun nights etc… No wonder why the words, “save a buck” are so popular.

In addition how many birthday presents do you purchase per year along with holidays such as Christmas, Easter, New Years etc… What about your personal needs Cars, trucks, clothing, gifts, jewelry, groceries…Wow seams like all we do is spend.

Imagine a place that you could walk into and at one counter purchase whatever you wanted with an immediate discount or coupon to save you money today.

At that same same counter you’ll get del and discounts on everything…because that counter in that same store sells everything…

Simply put, save money today on everything that you’ll every buy…before you go out to buy it and do it all at the same sales counter…your table.

Imagine every time you purchase a TV, radio, bed, gifts car rentals you name, getting a discount coupons or finding out what rebates are being offered before you go out to buy it.

How many times have entered a search query only to find too many results confusion the experience and leading to a less than pleasing result.

Here if you cannot find it at first glance then you ask for it buy name, ie. “Grocery coupons”.

To find out more about save lots of money online start at:

http://www.clickaround-coupons.com

Take advantage and have fun it’s free!!!



, ,

No Comments

Saving Money: Saving the Best for Last!

Nicholas Tan asked:


The value of money cannot be underestimated. In a recent national survey, more than 96% Americans agreed that early monetary savings would help one achieve a fruitful and stable life.

Saving is a way of insulating oneself from the many symptoms of health and natural adversity. While an average youth of yesteryears thinks more about short-term financial goals such as purchasing a new pair of signature shoes, owning a new jet ski or a brand new car, statistics show that more and more are starting to realize the importance of keeping a personal savings.

Long terms goals are described as goals that have a lasting effect should a person’s present actions be religiously maintained.

The following statements are outlined to provide information and tips on how you can start up your money-saving gimmicks and ensure a happy and financially stable future and list the reasons as to why saving money should occupy a greater place in our list of priorities in life.

Reasons for Saving:

Saving for your Future and Present Needs – Saving today will provide you with flexible financial resources in the future.

Keeping at least 20% of your monthly earnings while using the other for your household, personal and unexpected expenses will surely play a big part in your pursuit for a stable future.

Saving for an Investment Need – Savings can also be a source of your future capital for engaging in business enterprises.

It will provide you more opportunity for venturing on your unexplored talents and earn you a huge potential in increasing your money exponentially.

Saving for your Retirement – More than 23% of today’s elderly were shown to have failed in one instance in their lives, to save and strategically used their money for preparing their way to retirement. As a result, these folks extend their entire retirement career working on an equally satisfying job that pays them enough to cover their basic expenses.

Keys to Fulfilling your Saving Goals:

No matter how good our intentions and objectives for saving are, we should also take note that goals can fall and touched the following baselines or characteristics.

Attainability – Goals should be something attainable and one which can be achieved without you doing something extraordinary or illegal. A little amount of patience and hard work are key.

Consistency – Changing your goals from time to time due to incidents that may arise in the near future are sure ways to deterring your intention to save.

While we need to focus on the present incidents, we also need to take hold of our original intention and continue until you have gained enough leads to get it.



, ,

No Comments

Ways to Save Money on Gas,half Water Half Gas – Uncover Tips

John Kent asked:


Gasoline prices across the nation are sky rocketing to unbelievable prices. The prices have been raising due to the weakening dollar and after much speculation in world markets, these prices do not look be lowering anytime soon.

Ways to save money on Gas.

With the gasoline prices raising so rapidly, consumers are searching for ways to save money on gas. With a couple tips you can slash your gas prices.

Ways to save money on Gas.

Firstly running your car on a hydrogen system can save you over 50% of the money you are currently spending on gas.These systems are fairly easy to install and thousands of people have already started implementing this concept. With half water Half Gas, your car will not solely be depending on fuels, thus resulting in lower prices of gasoline.

Your car will also run longer distances, have a higher mileage, and emit less greenhouse gases. The best option by far.

However, here are some other ways to save money on gas.

1.)Keeping your car well maintained.

Keeping your tires inflated properly, is a simple lifesaver. Under inflated tires waste fuel. Also check alignment and balance regularly. As well with regular tune-ups, making sure your car is running properly is just one way to save money on gas.

2.)Clean out your trunk.

A weighed-down car uses much more fuel. For every 250 pounds your engine is hauling you lose one mile per gallon.So carry only emergency equipment, or things you absolutely need.

3.) Cut down on the Air Conditioner.

While driving don’t use your hair conditioner, this is a fuel burner! Turning off your air conditioner can cut your fuel costs by roughly 20%.

In summary, although these tips are a good idea. You still will not be saving as much as you’d like to at the pump.Half Water Half Gas is the best way to save money on gas.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Learning to Save Money

Martin Lukac asked:


Saving money is at the heart of all of your financial goals. Want to get out of debt? Want to save for retirement? Want to just make ends meet each month?

You are going to have to learn to save money. It can be hard to learn, but is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. Here are a few tips for getting started.

First, you have to start organizing your finances. This will help you in seeing your true financial situation. How will you be able to get out of debt if you don’t know how much debt you have? How can you save if you don’t know what you are spending? Gather all of your financial documents and calculate what your monthly bills are. Take the time to create a budget. Be honest and include everything — otherwise your budget won’t work.

In order to truly budget, you are going to have to know what you spend each month. This helps you see where all the money is slipping out. You can use a computer and personal financial software or a small notebook. The key is to write down every penny you spend. This sounds time consuming, but can be a lot easier if you simply get receipts for every purchase. Then write them down every couple of days. Anything you don’t get a receipt for you will need to write down immediately.

Now the savings begin. You look at what you are spending and see where you can cut things. You may need to be extreme and cut out everything but the necessities. Satellite TV and cable can go. You can reduce your cell phone plan and use it for emergencies only. You can look for ways to reduce your utilities and grocery bills. If you are buying coffee each morning, stop buying it and make it at home instead.

If you have your paycheck direct deposited into your account, have your employer split it and deposit a portion into your savings. This can be $10 or $200. It doesn’t matter. The idea is to start saving money. When it is automatically put in your savings and you never see it, it becomes quite easy to forget about it. If you get a raise, have the amount of the raise put in your savings each month. When you never see the money, you learn to live without it. It is the easiest way to save.

If you want to protect your budget from disruptions, you need to start a savings account that will handle your annual expenses. These are the things that don’t come due on a monthly basis. You need to save for Christmas, holiday spending, birthdays, annual insurance premiums, property taxes and other annual events. By saving this amount, you won’t stretch your budget beyond its limits later.

With the same idea in mind, you should start contributing something towards an emergency fund. You never know when something will break down. When it does, it usually puts you in a financial pickle. You can avoid the stress to yourself and your finances by having an emergency fund. Most financial advisors recommend that you have at least three months of expenses in the fund. Don’t let this discourage you. Put anything you can in there. Even if it isn’t a full month’s worth, it will help out in an emergency.

This is ironic. One of the best ways to save money is to get out of debt. And that is why you start saving money in the first place. So I guess you could say that by getting out of debt you can save even more money. Think of how much you are paying in interest. That amount could be going into your savings and earning you interest. Instead of paying a lender, the bank could be paying you. It is important to get your debt paid off first, then work on your savings.

Don’t focus on trying to save a certain percentage of your income unless that goal drives you to save. The key in the beginning is to save as much as possible. Have goals that you are working towards. Budget wisely and make saving a habit. It will pay off in the long run.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Save Money in your Home

Bob Guy asked:


Are you looking for painless ways to save money? There are many small changes that you can make around your home that can add up to big savings. Whether you’re concerned about your bank account or the environment, saving energy is a great place to start and anyone can do it. Everyone wants to save money, but no one wants to sacrifice comfort to save a few pennies. The trick is to make lots of little changes that you can live with and let the savings add up to a significant amount of money in the bank.

Your first goal should be to cut down on energy costs. Turn off lights when you leave a room and insist that everyone else do the same. Lighting is one of the biggest money suckers in your home, making up about one quarter of your monthly power bill. Incandescent lights (regular light bulbs) give off great amounts of heat, which means that they are an extremely inefficient way to light your home. Most of their power goes to producing heat, not light. All that heat can also add to your cooling bill.

Replacing all of your old normal light bulbs with efficient ones can save you the money you spent in one month. You’ll continue to save over time and you’ll be doing something good for the environment without putting forth hardly any effort. Fluorescent lamps use only about a fifth of the power that incandescent bulbs use. They’re now available in compact styles and with softer light than they used to be, so don’t be turned off by the assumption that they’ll provide harsh light or hum like they used to. Look for ways to use lighting controls like motion sensors, dimmers, or timers to reduce your bills and save you more money.

Your next concern should be all the appliances in your house. Make sure that filters are changed monthly. Check the seals on your oven and refrigerator. Replacing appliances that have been around for a decade or more could be a really smart move. You could even get a special tax credit from the government for upgrading to energy efficient models.

Check your attic for non-insulated places, such as on the attic door, to determine where heating and cooling might be leaving your home. Check for weather stripping on doors and windows. A roll of insulation and a tube of caulk could save you lots of money on heating. Using a programmable thermostat can save you loads. You can program it to switch off when no one is home and come back on half and hour before you arrive back home. Make sure that fireplaces and their dampers are closed when not in use. Use thick curtains to cover windows in any season. Some even have a thermal backing that can significantly cut costs.

If you really want to get serious, use your breaker box to turn off your hot water heater when it’s not in use. It heats water all day long whether you use any or not. What’s inside is insulated and generally stays hot until you’re ready to use it. Another tip is to cut off electronics at the power strip or unplug them all together. Big adaptors and chargers **** lots of energy, staying in a ready state, even if the power is off on your TV, stereo, etc.

Maximizing energy efficiency in your home is not only good for your budget, it’s also good for the environment. Implementing just a few small changes into your life can help you start saving money. You’ll have more freedom in your financing and help the environment at the same time. You should immediately reap the benefits and feel good about it, too.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Do Electric Cars Save Money?

Mark Warner asked:


With the economy in a state and fuel prices rising, many people are turning towards purchasing an electric car. The real question is whether electric cars can actually save you money. Unfortunately, the answer really depends on the individual car owner.

Let’s start by discussing the technology involved. When individuals say “Electric Car,” they’re referring to one of two things. The first is a completely electric car. Instead of a traditional gasoline powered engine, these cars run wholly on batteries. We’ll discuss these in just a moment.

When most people talk about an “electric car,” though, they’re talking about a hybrid – a gas/electric vehicle designed to function just as typical gasoline powered engines do. Wondering if these will save you money? Let’s take a look.

When purchasing a hybrid car, you will quickly find that the sticker price of the car is much higher than the gas-guzzling counterparts. The reason for this is simple – supply and demand. Of course, the technology in an electric car is also much higher than a typical gas vehicle, so the cost increases again. However, even with the higher price of the vehicle, do the monetary savings at the gas pumps close the gap? Actually, no.

Even with gas as expensive as it is and an economy in turmoil, the gap between the cost of an electric car and the gas savings is not closed -meaning that you’re spending more for your electric car than you would a traditional vehicle.

Another major issue with electric cars is depreciation. According to Consumer Reports’ analysis, electric cars lose two to three per cent more in value after five years of ownership when compared to identical gas vehicles.

However, there seem to be two electric hybrid vehicles that would save money over five years – the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid save a little over $300 in five years. The only reason these vehicles would save owners that money is do to the US federal tax incentives for hybrid vehicles – otherwise, the cost of ownership rises to $2,700 out of pocket. Other hybrid vehicles cost their owners thousands of dollars more than the non-hybrid versions in five years of ownership, even after the tax credits.

When you’re talking about savings, though, there is an argument that we can’t put a price on the environment. This is true, and perhaps there is a payment due for trying to fix what has been broken. This seems to be coming onto the backs of vehicle owners today, in the cost of “green” vehicles that will help to reduce emissions and the use of fossil fuels.

There are technologies for full electric vehicles, such as the ZENN vehicle that is made in Canada. The ZENN (which stands for zero emissions, no noise) is a full electric vehicle – running on a battery you plug in to your home electrical socket. While the technology might not be all the way there yet, these types of full electric vehicles may save more money in the long run, as they do not use non-renewable resources at all, but rather electricity which can be man-made and generated through renewable resources such as wind and water.

Many people are looking to save at the gas pumps, especially with the rise in gas prices in the recent years. Gas prices will continue to rise as wars erupt overseas and the demand for gasoline increases. With this, eventually, if gas gets expensive enough, electric hybrid vehicles will be cheaper to run, however gas needs to be almost $10 a gallon before the savings will be worth it.



, ,

No Comments

How To Save Money On Gas With A Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Matt Chang asked:


As of this writing, the US is concerned about the oil supply coming through Russia, as there are renewed tensions there, and the US is also concerned about the upcoming hurricane season affecting the gulf oil drilling. Prices continue to rise on light sweet crude, and there really doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. That has caused many consumers to consider other options in how to save money on gas.

One way to consider how to save money on gas is consider a hydrogen fuel module. This technology takes advantage of water, and improves gas mileage. Almost a century ago the technology was uncovered that allowed someone to take ordinary water, and by applying a small voltage to it, separate the water molecule into a burnable gas called HHO, or Brown’s gas. This technology does not allow you to drive on water alone but it does allow for a 50/50 conversion ration which will still go a long way in terms of helping with a tight budget.

The following are the 6 reasons why you should consider running your car on hydrogen fuel from water if you haven’t already converted your car to a water powered car.

1. Gas mileage is said to improve by as much as 20%, sometimes more. A twenty percent increase in mileage is almost enough to get your spend on gas to previous year pricing.

2. Hydrogen fuel offers more efficient and clean consumption of gas, minimizing build up of carbon in your engine. As a result of this, there will be less carbon deposits in the engine, saving you on engine maintenance cost in the future.

3. Operating temperature of a vehicle can be minimized by 20%, increasing the life of the engine. High temperatures have a way of breaking down the working mechanisms.

4. Because you use more efficient fuel, and you use less, you have a positive impact on the environment.

5. The cost of buying a conversion unit is significantly less than the cost of the purchase of a new hybrid vehicle.

6. Typically, your vehicle warrany is not voided by installation, as the unit can easily be removed.

The above are just some of the reasons why you should convert your car to run on water. You can get started using the water fuel technology in your car today. There are many companies that offer conversion kits, and there companies that offer guides to build your own. In general, the technology and techniques are the same. Check pricing before buying a kit or a guide.



, ,

No Comments

Oem Parts – a Great Way to Save Money With Your Pc Build

lee jones asked:


Saving money is one of the many rewards of building or upgrading your own computer. You can reduce the cost of your new computer by hundreds of dollars by simply building it yourself. Buying OEM parts is a great way to save moneywith your PC build. 

The phrase, OEM (original equipment manufacturer) refers to businesses that manufacture products for other businesses to repackage and sell. Almost all computer components and software manufacturers make two versions of the same product based on a variation in the supply channels.

The first version is the retail boxed version, where products are sold mainly through retailers. Guess who is paying for the pretty packaging, which cost vendors extra material and labor to produce? Retail packages also takes up more spaces and cost more to ship.

The second version is the OEM version, where products are sold mainly to system builders as large as HP or Dell and as small as a regular home grown pc builder. These products are of the same quality and often carry a similar manufacturer warranty as their retail counterparts. They are mass produced, and distributed by bulk without the fancy packaging materials. Eliminating the packaging cuts down on manufacturing, marketing, labor, shipping, and storage cost.  It also cuts down on your cost.

These parts can be purchased by the public at a savings of up to 30%. Hard drives are purchased in an anti-static wrapper without a box, cables and often without drivers or a manual. The warranty is generally the same, and you can get technical support and downloads for drivers and user’s manual online, when not provided with the product itself.

Many “original equipment manufacturer” CPUs, however, do have shorter warranties. The retail version carries a three-year warranty, and the OEM version, one year or less. Be sure to check   for support and warranty details, when considering buying these parts.

So, don’t you agree that this is definitely a great way to save some money? These products offer a great opportunity to save some green when building or upgrading your computer. However, for those who aren’t as comfortable with technology, retail packaging will supply everything you need for the product, often including a toll-free number for support. OEM products might be better suited to those who are at least minimally computer literate.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Saving Money – Ways To Save At Home

Paul Hata asked:


In the midst of all these skyrocketing prices, come the how’s, ways and means to save money and earn extra.

There are creative but practical ways you can engage in to help the family save and at the same time earn extra. The things that have been sitting in your attic for sometime and those that become all too familiar and useless might mean extra bucks. This way, it saves you space, cleaning materials and containers. This reduces maintenance expenses.

Garage sale at home is a save-and-earn endeavor for starters. Look at the success of flea markets where people can buy almost anything at a lower price but large amount of income for vendors.

How to maximize the potential of flea markets and bargain sales to help you save? Primarily, a flea market is a place where almost all who have something to sell can sell for tremendously lower costs but good quality items. If you have the right tools and enough preparation for a day’s trip to a flea market, then you are ready to go with some handy tips:

1.Ready your tools, maps, measurements and cash:

- easy-to-carry tool kit with screwdrivers, pliers, tape measure, pencil, ropes, set of swatches, paper and plastic bags and boxes;

- floorplan measurements;

- maps, directions and phone numbers;

- bring enough cash and checks for high-priced items;

- dress yourself appropriately for bargain hunting.

2.Early birds usually get the best selections.

3.Keep a critical eye during shopping.

- Be ready to negotiate and haggle on the prices of items.

- Items sold here have greater possibilities, either you can redecorate or repaint them to make it look unique and attractive.

How to make this activity an earning endeavor? After your hands-on training in an established flea market, hope you took note of your observations and ideas; it is time to try out on your own.

Bear in mind five things crucial to garage sale success: location, date and time, variety of goods, organization/presentation, advertisements and prices.

-Spot a strategic location where people can access and drop by easily. Your house is the perfect venue for this. Weekends are the best to schedule your sale.

-During your cleaning session, take note of candidate items for the sale, label them (keep, for repair, must go) and give them a brand new look.

-Organize them well according to prices, use arrangement styles, decide on the tables, baskets and boxes for the items and decorate your venue with fabrics and other helpful materials.

-Lower your prices. The idea here is to dispose of the things but earn from them reasonably.



, ,

No Comments

Using your Thinking Cap in How to Save Money

Martin Lukac asked:


When you explore your options you can see how to save money. Using your thinking cap will help you develop new ideas, which opens the door to solutions.

You will see how to save money by examining your budget, spending habits, and then analyzing your situation. To help you get started let us together consider your budget and expenses.

Budget -

How much do you make each week or month? What is your total net pay after taxes? Are you on social security, SSI, or welfare? How much money do you receive each month or week? Add up your total.

Expenses:

Gasoline

Travel

Medical expenses

Heating

Lights

Groceries

Accessories

Household items

Cable

Phone

Internet

Entertainment

Dining out

Insurance, includes house, car, health insurance, life insurance, etc

This is a short list. Perhaps you have other expenses to review. Write them down so that you can see how to save money.

Breaking down the list:

Gasoline – how much each week do you spend on fuel for your car? Use your thinking cap. Can you see carpooling? Can you see walking to get milk or bread rather than driving in town? Use your taking cap and think along the same line when considering travel time.

Medical expenses -

Can you take out healthcare insurance that will help you save money on medical expenses? Can you start exercising, eating healthier and cutting back on items that causes your body harm to save money?

Heating -

Do you need to turn the heat up to 80 degrees? Can you use blankets or warmer cloths to cut back on expenses on heating?

Lights -

Do you leave the lights on day and night? Do you leave unused electrical appliances hooked up all the time? Can you turn the lights off and use a night light? Can you unhook items you are not using?

Groceries -

Do you buy name brand products? Did you know that generic products have the same ingredients most of the time, yet the products are cheaper? Did you know that you could save a fortune by using coupons? Did you know you could save a fortune by preparing a new meal from leftovers?

Accessories -

What accessories do you buy? Do you need every accessory that you purchase? Can you save money by using coupons for some of the items?

Household items -

Did you know that you could learn how to save money by considering household items? Sure, you cannot use banana leaves as a substitute for toilet paper, but you sure can save money by buying sale items, using coupons, or buying cheaper brands. What about house cleaners, did you know that vinegar is cheap? Did you know it would clean damn near anything in your home better than most name brand household cleaners?

Keep going, using your thinking cap and continue comparing your budget verses spending to see ways in how to save money.



, ,

No Comments

Can The Digital Switchover Help Save Money During the Credit Crisis?

Andrew Regan asked:


The economy is sliding, and people across the globe are subsequently feeling the effects. So it makes sense that an increasing number of households in the UK and beyond are implementing a budget plan to save money. Many families are cutting out unnecessary costs such as holidays, while others are trying to economise with everyday costs such as utility and food-shopping bills. But can certain purchases actually help you save money during the credit crisis?

While spending money on new home items seems to defeat the purpose of economising during the credit crunch, certain smart buys can actually help save you money in the long run. Energy-efficient light bulbs pose one example. You’ll initially have to purchase all the light bulbs for your house; but once you replace all your regular light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, you’ll save on your electricity bills.

Purchasing with an eye on special deals is another way to save money. For instance, if you know your family goes through a certain item quickly, and you notice that item on special offer at the store as a bulk-buy, you should make the purchase. Even though you’ll spend more money than usual up front, it’ll end up costing you less in the long run.

Likewise, satellite and digital TV can help save you money during the economic slump – particularly if you tend to spend a lot of money going out to movies. Think about how much you might spend on a movie ticket and dinner in a restaurant then compare that cost to a home-made meal and a movie on satellite television. The savings are apparent, and the financial benefits clear: satellite and digital television can save you a considerable amount on entertainment costs. And because digital TV offers more channels, better picture quality and interactive features compared to standard television, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on entertainment.

In addition to saving on entertainment costs, switching over to digital TV now will help save you on extra television equipment later. That’s because by 2012, TV in the UK will – region by region – go completely digital. That means all televisions will have to make a digital switchover in time for the digital switch in their area. Not switching over might mean you need to buy extra equipment – like a set-up box – if you want to use a TV after switchover, and that means extra costs later on.

So if you’re trying to save money during the economic crisis, get smart about your purchases. Make the satellite and digital switchover, and save on entertainment and equipment costs by enjoying a variety of channels on high-definition TV at home. It may prove to be one of the wisest purchases you can make during the credit slump.



, ,

No Comments

How to Save Money on Gas, Food, and Home Remodeling

Johnathan asked:


During these tough economic times, people are searching high and low to find ways to save money on gas, food and even remodeling projects. Knowing where to look can not only save you time, but also a great deal of money.

Where to find the best priced gas:



Gasbuddy.com

GasPrices.mapquest.com

FuelGaugeReport.com



How to save money at the grocery store:



Make a grocery list before you go shopping. Not only will you save time, but you won’t buy things that aren’t on the list.

Check out the weekly grocery store ads before you go shopping and stock up on items that can be stored. Canned goods, pasta and grains have long shelf lives and poultry and meat freeze well.

Don’t buy pre-cut, pre-bagged items. Buy ziplocks for a couple bucks and bag small portions of chips, veggies, fruit, etc.

Don’t waste money on pre-cubed, pre-pounded or pre-seasoned meats or poultry. While these can save you prep time in the kitchen, they cost quite a bit more than plain cut meat.

Look for family packs whenever possible, as the price per pound is much lower.

Coupons do count! A few dollars per week adds up to real savings over the course of a year. File all your coupons in a convenient place where you will remember to bring them to the grocery store.

Follow the basic rule of shopping: If you won’t eat it, don’t buy it…even if it’s cheap!



To find discounted home remodeling items try:



Do a quick internet search for “discount kitchen sinks” and you’ll see just how much information is out there on finding discount sinks.

Keep your eye out for liquidation centers or bargain building centers. Sometimes these are known only to contractors, but start asking and you might just find them.

Check out a bargain building supply store. These often carry both new and used discounted sinks. These stores can even carry higher end items such as Blanco sinks and Danze faucets. Used sinks can save you a great amount of money, just be sure that you inspect it for any noticeable flaws.

Talk to local contractors who may have contacts with local builders. They also might have a heads up when it comes to any pending sales on household building supplies such as discounted sinks, countertops, etc.

Keep your ears open for word about a going out of business sale or an auction of kitchen materials. You can probably find this information in the local classifieds for ads on auctions and end of business sales.





, ,

No Comments

10 Ways To Save Money On Your Electricity Bill

Ward Miller asked:


Saving your hard earned cash on your next electricity bill just got easier than you ever imagined. In this article, I have compiled the a list of the top 10 tips to help navigate you on your campaign to save money and knock your electricity bill down. Along with each tip you will see the possible energy savings you can potentially expect to receive.

In addition to conserving your money, you will be making your house more enjoyable, and you will be helping to preserve the enviroment and your surroundings.

1. Adjust your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees (save up to 10 percent on water heating costs; verify this by placing a thermometer below some of your taps). Most people in general don’t comprehend that their electric water heater is essentially constantly on heating the water.

If you will set the water temperature around 120 degrees your water heater will not have to re-heat the water as much as it does at hotter temperatures therefore saving you electricity and money.

2. Wash and dry only full loads of garments. Use cold water as much as possible (save 2 to 4 percent on your energy costs). This additionally saves time when you plan ahead and wash a full load of your items. Who wants to fold thir stuff more than necessary?

3. As a general rule, typically once a month, change your air conditioner’s air filter (save up to 5 percent on your yearly electricity bill). Moreover, this helps with dust and dirt in the air making your house cleaner and more enjoyable place to live.

4. Put compact fluorescent lights in high-use fixtures (save close to 66 percent on lighting cost per light). Furthermore, these type of lights manage to last much longer than the conventional light bulbs that many of us use today.

5. On hot, sunny days, keep your drapes shut on windows facing to the south and west (save 2 to 4 percent on your energy bill). The drapes will help keep the suns heat from heating up your house which means you use less energy to stay comfortable.

6. Keep your doors and vents shut in rooms that are not being used (save up to 3 percent on cooling costs). There is no need to spend money cooling off rooms that are not being used – this can be a huge savings depending on how many square feet you have in your house.

7. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors (save 1 to 4 percent on your energy bill). Many folks skip over this step, but heat seeping around cracks means you have to use more air condition and essentially more power which means you’re wasting money.

8. During hot weather place your thermostat at 78 degrees or above when you’re at your house, and at 85 degrees when no one is there (you save 1 to 2 percent per degree increased on your electricity bill). Additionally, use a ceiling fan or a fan that rotates back and forth. This can make a room appear nearly 4 degrees cooler!

9. Use your microwave oven instead of your conventional cooking range (save up to 50 percent on cooking costs). Microwaves are much more electricity efficient than ordinary traditional ovens. A traditional oven uses a lot of energy to heat up and to stay hot.

10. Take advantage of super low electricity rates from Ambit Energy and save up to 16% on your next electricity bill – for the average user this is over $250 per year!

This is one of best ways to save money right off the top of your electricity bill with doing almost nothing. All you have to do is switch your electricity provider and you can do it online in just a couple of minutes.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

14 Ways to Save Money at the Gas Station

Blue Turbit asked:


With gas prices having gone up so much, here are a few tips on some ways you might consider to save some gas money at the local gas station.

Consider taking some of the following steps:

1. Take out a credit card. Some credit cards offer gas savings when you use the card for purchases. This works in much the same way that some credit card companies give you frequent flyer miles when you use their card for purchases.

2. Get a gas membership card. Look for membership benefits. In addition, department and grocery stores give discounts at the fuel pump when you use their store membership cards. Shopping at Giant Eagle grocery store and using their membership card, it’s possible (at the time of this writing) to fill a car’s tank for .79 cents a gallon, with savings of $1.36 per gallon.

3. Give your car a good tune up. While giving your car a tune up won’t actually save you money at the pump, it will save you in gas. Using less gas saves you money over all. Have the oil changed, and have a certified mechanic give your engine a twice over.

4. Check the WWW for deals. Web sites let you find the best deals in your area.

5. Buy a hybrid car. Not only do hybrid cars give you immediate savings at the pump, the U.S. government and your local state offer tax breaks for people that use gas saving cars. Federal deductions for using gas saving cars can be as high as $2000. If you can’t afford the growing number of hybrid cars out there, consider getting a regular car with good MPG (miles per gallon), like the Toyota Echo.

6. Turn off the AC. Running the car’s air conditioning puts extra strain on your car’s engine. This translates into you car eating up more gas per mile. Use less gas, save money. Depending on the car you drive, at highway speeds, the AC might put less drag on your car than if all the windows are open. Therefore, you might want to keep it cool on the highway.

7. Use the cheaper stuff. Most modern cars run just as well with the cheap gas as they do with the more expensive gas. In fact, engineers assume the car buyer is going to use the cheap gas, and so, they design the car’s engine accordingly.

8. Don’t fill the tank when prices are higher. Gas suppliers and gas station owners can charge high prices for gas because they know people will pay for it. The owners monitor how much gas people are putting into their cars each day. If they hike up the price a few cents and people are still filling up their tanks, this tells the owners that people are willing to pay the high price. Adding only a few gallons to your car when prices are high sends a message to the owners that people are not happy about the high prices.

9. Don’t drive. Don’t drive when you don’t absolutely have to. Carpooling, walking, taking the bus, and riding a bike not only saves you gas, but these are better for the environment and may be better for your health. Do you really need to drive to the store when it is only a couple of blocks down the street?

10. Check the tire air pressures weekly. Buy an inexpensive manual air pump and an accurate tire gauge (not a pencil gauge as they are not accurate). Keep all tires inflated to the same pressure as recommended for your car but not for your tire. Go by the sticker on the doorframe and not the tire wall.

11. Drive at a consistent speed and keep the windows up tight. Keeping the windows closed reduces the drag on your car. Sticking to the speed limit also helps. So, will using less gear changes and revving the engine less. Avoid accelerating fast or braking suddenly. Use cruise control when you can.

12. Clean out any unnecessary items in your car. If you have heavy objects in your car that you don’t need – remove them. If your car is lighter, it will use less fuel to get you to where you’re going.

13. Avoid leaving your car idle. If you are going to be stopped for more than one minute, you will save gas by turning the car off and restarting when you are ready to go.

14. Buy on cold days. Buy fuel on cold days and if you can, drive on the hot days. When you buy on cold days, and pay for volume, you buy more “mass” of fuel for the same price. Never fill the tank completely or it will overflow when it becomes hotter.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

5 Quick Ways to Save Money While Dieting

Simon Lovell asked:


(c) 2008 SCL Health & Fitness

You want to lose weight, but not in your wallet, right? A lot of diet plans can be costly requiring specialized foods and let’s face it, quality foods like produce and lean protein can be a bit pricey at the market. There are, however, ways around this… read on!

1. Buy Local!

Buy produce at a farmer’s market or a grocer that brings in produce from local farmers. Not only will you be helping your community, but you’ll likely save a bunch too!

In one light, you are cutting out the middle man by buying directly from the farmer. Even grocers who buy locally cut out something that costs a great deal these days: shipping costs! Saving money while dieting can be quite beneficial to everyone.

Another benefit is that the produce will be extremely fresh having less time in between the field and your kitchen. There will be less spoilage and a lengthier shelf life. Not only that, but buying local means buying what’s naturally in season and usually in abundance. If you’ve ever noticed, seasonal produce is the tastiest when the price is the lowest!

2. Check out the frozen aisle!

Nobody could argue against fresh is best, but we can’t always have fresh if it’s not in season. Always have some frozen veggies in the freezer. They last a very long time and are a great substitute for those lean weeks that maybe the fresh produce is a bit out of your price range.

Aim for organic if possible, but if not, no flavourings or added sodium. This also helps save money while dieting because opting for the plain old plain old is usually cheaper.

3. Remember to eat less!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the idea that we need to eat healthfully to lose weight that we forget that in order to lose weight, we’ll be eating less. When you cut down on portions and realize that you only need a small amount of things like lean protein, you’ll really start to save at the market!

You can still buy in bulk which usually saves money while dieting in the long run, but portion things like chicken ****** and freeze what you can then use later. A portion of lean protein is around the size of a deck of cards. That’s it. Suddenly, that premium cut of lean beef just went a bit further, right?

4. Flavour for less!

If you scan the market shelves in search of flavour for your foods, you’ll find that many of the pre-made creamy dressings and sauces are at a premium. Onions, garlic, pepper sauces and vinegars on the other hand are relatively cheap. When you learn to flavour your foods with these items, you’ll not only save calories, but pennies as well! This can be a substantial savings when dieting.

5. Plan Ahead!

By planning healthful meals ahead of time, you can save money when dieting as well as time. It’s really simple to grill an extra chicken ****** or salmon fillet the night before to save for lunch tomorrow. Believe me, you can fix a much more delicious and less costly salad the next day rather than grabbing one of those fast food salads that is usually less than fresh. Saving money while dieting can be done!



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Saving Money for Retirement – are You Saving Enough?

Boris Tomson asked:


Saving Money For Retirement – Are You Saving Enough? :

Are you saving enough money for retirement? Do you know how much to save? Where are you saving your money?

http://makingmoney-info.blogspot.com

There are people that are not saving enough money to retire independently and comfortably today. In many major cities if you are 65 and single and living in a one bedroom apartment it would cost you around $20,000.00 annually for food, housing, transportation, and health care.

If you are single and live in your house without a mortgage, it would cost you almost $19,000.00 per year. If you were still paying on your mortgage that would run you $26,000.00.

If you are a couple those numbers would be higher. By owning your own home without any mortgage your annual cost would be about $29,000.00. If you still owed on your mortgage it would run you about $36,000.00 annually and if you still rent it would run you $30,000.00.

Social Security does not cut it anymore. Please look at those numbers again. Hopefully if you read this it is a wake-up call for you. Somehow need to build up a retirement fund.

What are you going to do if you aren’t saving money? How are you going to survive?

There are some things you need to do. You need to create a budget and see where all your money is going. Once you have your budget set then every month you have to work with your budget. At the beginning of every month put down everything you have spent and earned so you can see where you are.http://makingmoney-info.blogspot.com

By using your budget you can find a way to start putting some money aside. This will create a habit of saving money.

Please you need do this. You have to find a way to either reduce how much you are spending or find a way to increase you income.

It is your future.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Save Money Using High Interest Rate Savings Accounts

Fred Peters asked:


Are you just wasting your savings in a traditional savings account? Many Americans out of habit settle for very low interest savings rates. But, you don’t have to. There are many great options today for high interest rate savings.

What are high interest rate savings? These are payments made by the bank to you for leaving your money in the bank. By depositing your money in the bank, your bank utilizes a portion of it in its loan operations where it subsequently earns through interest and loan charges. In effect, the income they receive trickles down to you, their source of money. This savings interest rate is actually an effective incentive system. Why so? If you save more money in your bank account through your deposits and savings, you end up receiving a higher return on the savings interest rate than other people would.

The last one is perhaps the most obvious feature of the bank that people do not take advantage of. A bank, being a financial intermediary, can actually help you save money efficiently. Here’s how.

First, you are required to keep what is called a maintaining balance in your bank account. This means that even if you make deductions in your account, the bank requires you to save a bare minimum in order to continue enjoying their services. And yes, that translates to a forced saving on your part.

When it comes to financial management, even business professionals reach a consensus as to what is the most effective, reliable, and secure means to manage your money, and that is through the bank. Your bank is an effective means to manage your bills payments, keep track of your transactions, receive your income and whatever extraneous cash inflow, and help you save effectively.

Another feature of bank saving is the fact that you are free to continuously add to your account whenever you can. Otherwise, your money will remain safe in your bank. Moreover, while it’s staying in the bank, you are actually earning interest rates on your money.

Banks have a threshold amount for you to be able to participate in the bank’s long-term, higher yield savings schemes. Time-deposit accounts, mutual funds and the like require you to leave your money untouched for a longer period of time. In exchange for the bank’s use of your money for a longer period of time, the percentages of interest return are double those that you would get in a regular savings account. You can add increments of a certain amount in order to increase the capital you invest in your time-deposit account or mutual fund. An increased account obviously translates to bigger interest gains.

Talk to your local bank about their savings schemes. They offer various mechanisms to encourage us consumers to entrust their money to them. In a bank, your money is in a safe place, and it is growing while it stays there.

But, don’t just settle for a low interest rate for your savings account. Do your research. Go online and find a high interest rate and open an account at that bank.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

How to Save Money on Dining Out

Brent Vanderstelt asked:


The best way to save money on dining out is with a membership in the Zurvita Care Savers Program. Zurvita Care Saver is your personal discount program at your favorite restaurants, movie theatres, local retailers, daily services and, personal care and pet care providers. Zurvita Care Saver Card is your onsite discount program on everyday purchases and services.

The Zurvita Care Saver program will save you up to 50% on home repairs and home security to name a few. But an additional benefit of membership is that you also save the same savings (up to 50%) on over 600 online or offline retailers, Health an beauty services, 20,000 hotels, personal services and 50,000 restaurants.

As a Zurvita Care Saver member, you can enjoy “star treatment” by taking advantage of big savings on movie tickets and DVD rentals at the most popular and favorite places. Members get to enjoy the big screen at a small price.



Save up to $6 per movie ticket!

Choose from more than 1,500 theaters nationwide!

3 national movie rental chains create access to millions of titles!



Another benefit of the Zurvita Care Saver program is the Zurvita Personal Assistant. Having a team of professional personal Assistant at your beck and call just a phone call away. Once you begin using Zurvita Personal Assistant to help you take care of life’s little challenges you will begin to see the benefit of having a personal Assistant whenever you need information or a task performed.

You can use the Zurvita Personal Assistant to make restaurant resvervations and get your movie times and reviews. Order your Zurvita Care Saver membership for today and start saving money on dining out.

Brent Vanderstelt is a real estate developer and vacation rental business owner and owns and manages Your Travel Buddy Vacation Rentals, a Free Vacation Rental Listing Service and offers the Zurvita Care Saver program to millions of travelers and vacation home owners.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Avoid Spending Full Price For & Save Money


Browsing is best for shoppers and Internet users with a basic idea of what he/she desires. Thus, as one narrows a search to avoid spending full price for an item to save money, each website provides product-specific methods to obtain detailed information about the search results.

For example, if one is shopping for electronics on a website, he/she can set a limit of price so one can see only specific products priced within a dollar range that’s specific. He/she can even select a particular feature, like a brand or type. To avoid spending full price on an item to save money, a search for a particular brand within a price range of $100 to $200 can turn up approximatley 12 products. With the proper research, the shopper can find the least costly product listed at three stores at a price range of $101 to $120, with tax and shipping.

Browsing on the Internet works best when one is looking specifically for items such as clothing, shoes and jewelry. To search for a particular designer shoe or handbag/ pocketbook model, however, the results are usually less useful. A store may list each color and size of a shirt as separate items, while another places differing colors and sizes in one merchandise listing. Naturally, this can have an effect on the process, which causes reading the results to be frustrating since the list can be populated with duplicate merchandise at that same store.

Books can be especially difficult on the Internet to avoid spending full price to save money. For example, a search for a bestselling paperback copy on a website can bring over 1,500 results from a number of stores. Due to the results including not only the searched item but also large-type, foreign language and hardcover editions of the title, the range of book prices can be vast—from less than a dollar for a pamphlet to $700 for a collector’s edition.

Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Pay yourself First to Save Money

John Weise asked:


Pay yourself first to save money means think about taking care of you before something can happen.

Keep yourself health is the first step to saving money and your payment to you. There are many ways to staying healthy and taking care of you.

Stay on a good diet by staying away from fast food. Eating a lot of fast food is expensive and you don’t get the nourishment from fast food that you get from eating the right foods. Fast foods are high in calories and cholesterol, which are both bad for the heart and could cause you to have a stroke.

Get a lot of exercise to keep you healthy and save money by being in good health. Exercise will help to relieve stress, keeps your blood circulation flowing more freely, help prevents strokes and exercise will help the mind and body to relax more. Exercise for you will save money by helping to keep the doctor away.

Take care and save by taking long walks on a daily basis. Walking relieves stress, depression, anxiety; helps prevent strokes and heart disease. Walking is cheap only costing you maybe an hour a day from your busy schedule. Pay yourself for the things you’ve neglected to do for you alone by exercising.

Save money by paying yourself first when you are less stress. Stress can cause a lot of health problems causing strokes, heart diseases and mental problems as well. Stress is the most common reason for illness. Chronic depression is a large result of stress. Relieve some of the stress by exercise and eating right in paying yourself first to same money.

Communicating with others, can help pay you fist by letting you forget and relieve some stress. You be taking time out to enjoy people around you letting you do something besides thinking what wasn’t done on that day, to do list. Communication can give you a chance to know and learn what is happening out there in the world that is surrounding you. You can learn new skills on how other people pay themselves to save money, by just listening to them talk.

Paying yourself first will save you a lot of stress, keep you healthier, boost up your communication skills, and it can give you the confidence you didn’t know you had or was capable of having.

When a person pays himself or herself, first they can save money by not having to make trips to the doctor, do and buy things they don’t really need or want. So taking care of you is the first and most effective way to save money.



Discount Coupons Here

, ,

No Comments

Save Money On Your Monthly Bills

Michelle Sky asked:


Owning a home can be very costly.  You have numerous expenses such as mortgage, insurance, and utilities, but don’t worry; there are many different techniques that you can use to save money on your monthly bills.

Electricity:

1. Lower the temperature in your hot water heater to anywhere between 110-120 degrees.  Having the temperature any higher than 120 wastes a lot of electricity and is unnecessary.

2.  Put fluorescent light bulbs in those light fixtures that you leave on for long periods of time.  Fluorescent bulbs last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs and provide much more light.

3.  Insulating your hot water heater and putting in new windows could save you lots of money on electricity each year.  A home with windows that leak air will have much higher electricity bills.

4.  Dryers consume a lot of electricity, so try to use your dryer less frequently.  Hang your clothes up to air dry instead. 

5. Use a microwave rather than an oven whenever you can.  Ovens can use up to twice as much electricity as a microwave.

6. Turn your air conditioner down when you are not home.  There is no sense in cooling a house when you are not there.

7.  Turn things off when you’re not using them.  Things such as TVs, computers, and lights do not need to be on if you are not using them.

Water:

 1.  When washing laundry, always wash full loads.  Doing two large loads of laundry saves more water than washing several small loads. 

2.  Use warm or cold water instead of hot water when washing clothes.  Also, use cold water for the rinse cycle.

3.  Fix leaking toilets and sinks immediately.  A leaking toilet can waste 1,000s of gallons of water each year.

4.  Install low flow shower heads and faucets.  These restrict the water you’re using, and can also prevent you from wasting 1,000s of gallons of electricity.

5.  Only run your dishwasher when it is full, and let the dishes air dry rather than using the drying cycle.

Insurance

1.  Home insurance is pretty important. It is required if you have a mortgage on your house, and can protect you if something such as a fire destroys your home.  Home insurance doesn’t have to be expensive. You need to make sure you compare quotes from multiple home insurance companies to ensure that you are getting the cheapest rate possible with the best coverage amount.  Home insurance premiums can vary greatly from company to company, so it’s a good idea to compare quotes from a few different companies. One company might offer you a rate much lower than another.  You might want to consider getting your home insurance and your car insurance with the same company. This can save you a lot of money each year.  InsuranceRates4Less.com allows you to compare quotes from multiple home insurance providers in your area for free.   It is a great tool to help you lower your insurance premium. 

Other Utilities:

 1.  If you don’t need cable TV, don’t pay for it every month.  Cable TV can cost over 100 dollars a month.  Some people pay for channels they don’t even use. 

2.  Stick to basic phone service.  You don’t need features like call waiting and call forwarding.  These can almost double your phone bill.  If you use your cell phone alot, you might want to consider getting rid of your main home phone line.

3.  When landscaping your yard, plant perennial flowers rather than annual flowers that only last one year.

Mortgage:

 1.  Consider refinancing your home to get a lower interest rate.

2.  Consider getting a 15 year mortgage instead of a 30 year.

3.  You can save a considerable amount of money if you pay an extra principle payment on your loan each month.

4.  Pay half of your mortgage every two weeks rather than the whole thing once a month. This can help you pay off your mortgage much sooner and save you lots of money on interest.



, ,

No Comments

Visit Here For Free Grant Money

Visit Here For Free Grant Money

Money is available for

  • Home Purchase
  • Debt Consolidation
  • College
  • Personal Grants
  • Medical Expenses
A grant is “free money” given to an individual, business or organization by a foundation or the government. Most of the time, the money does not have to be repaid! The money is literally given to you FREE OF CHARGE to help you fulfill your potential and reach your goals.
Every year the government provides billions of dollars in free debt grant money to those who need financial assistance. This is money that never has to be paid back, and any US citizen can submit a request.

The government realizes that there is a severe debt problem and people are having trouble keeping up with their bills. This is not only bad for the consumer and their credit score, but it hurts the economy bad.

By providing free grant money to help Americans pay off their debt, the government is doing a service in saving the economy. Of course this is a great deal for individuals who apply to receive these grants and obtain money that never has to be repaid.

These debt grants can be used to pay off credit card bills, their rent or mortgage, and even help with personal expenses. This is money that not only every American can potentially get, but every citizen should try to get.

These programs are paid for through your tax dollars, and there are millions of people claiming these funds every single day. Unfortunately, most people are not aware of how to find or apply for these programs, but those who do are cashing in.

Because there is no limit on the number of grants you can receive, some people are able to obtain multiple checks in the mail for thousands of dollars a piece. And since this money doesn’t have to be repaid, it’s a wonderful check to cash.

To see how much you can qualify to receive in free grant money, go to:

Visit Here For Free Grant Money

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

, , ,

No Comments

How much does it cost to run your appliances?

Appliance
Bathroom Typical wattage Cost (cents) per
Bathroom heater – fan 2400 43 hour
Bathroom heater – infrared 1100 20 hour
Heated towel rail 80 35 day
Shower 74 10 minutes
Small bath 86 bath
Large bath 140 bath
Heating Typical wattage Cost (cents) per
Cupboard heater 180 78 day
Fan heater – 2 kW 2000 36 hour
Fan heater – 2.4 kW 2400 43 hour
Heat pump – 4.4 kW heating output 2000 36 hour
Heated towel rail 80 35 day
Heater – one-bar 1200 21 hour
Heater – two-bar 2400 43 hour
Nitestore heater – large 3300 33 hour
Nitestore heater – medium 2500 25 hour
Nitestore heater – small 1700 17 hour
Oil-filled heater – small 1200 21 hour
Oil-filled heater – medium 2000 36 hour
Oil-filled heater – large 2400 43 hour
Kitchen Typical wattage Cost (cents) per
Breadmaker 500 9 loaf
Cake mixer 350 7 hour
Carving knife 230 5 hour
Coffee percolator 750 14 hour
Cooktop (per element) 1700 30 hour
Crockpot 230 33 8 hours
Dishes 14 sink
Dishwasher – 15 years old 2000 66 load
Dishwasher – new 2000 34 load
Electric frypan 1240 23 hour
Electric jug 2400 3 boil
Extraction fan 40 1 hour
Food processor 375 7 hour
Freezer – chest 164 L 19 day
Freezer – vertical 300 L 38 day
Fridge/freezer – 10 years old – 380-450 L 54 day
Fridge/freezer – new – 380-450 L 43 day
Kitchen radio <1 hour
Microwave 1000 18 hour
Oven 1900 79 roast
Oven (scones) 1900 32 batch
Rangehood 150 3 hour
Toaster (2-slice) 1400 1 load
Waste disposer 7 hour
Laundry Typical wattage Cost (cents) per
Clothes dryer – 5kg load 1800 74 load
Clothes dryer – 3.5kg load 1800 53 load
Ironing 1400 25 hour
Washing machine – older front loader, cold * 165 11 load
Washing machine – older front loader, warm * 165 17 load
Washing machine – new front loader, cold * 165 3 load
Washing machine – new front loader, warm * 165 16 load
Washing machine – older top loader, cold * 165 3 load
Washing machine – older top loader, warm * 165 34 load
Washing machine – new top loader, cold * 165 2 load
Washing machine – new top loader, warm * 165 23 load
Lights Typical wattage Cost (cents) per
40 watt bulb (incandescent or halogen) 40 5 6 hours
60 watt bulb (incandescent or halogen) 60 7 6 hours
100 watt bulb 100 11 6 hours
150 watt bulb 150 16 6 hours
Compact fluorescent – 50 watt equivalent 11 1 6 hours
Compact fluorescent – 60 watt equivalent 15 1 6 hours
Compact fluorescent – 90 watt equivalent 20 2 6 hours
Fluorescent 1.2 m 40 5 6 hours
Fluorescent 1.5 m 65 7 6 hours
Other appliances Typical wattage Cost (cents) per
Computer and monitor 200 3 hour
Dehumidifier 300 43 10 hours
Digital alarm clock 8 3 day
DVD 20 1 hour
Electric blanket – double 200 3 hour
Electric blanket – single 150 2 hour
Fan 200 3 hour
Hair drier 1600 29 hour
Power drill 500 9 hour
Security alarm 5 1 10 hours
Sewing machine 200 3 hour
Shaver 15 8 week
Stereo 85 1 hour
Television 81 1 hour
Vacuum cleaner 1100 20 hour
VCR 21 1 hour
Waterbed – queen size 110 day
Pools Typical wattage Cost (cents) per
Swimming pool filter 235 day
Spa pool 6000 108 day

No Comments

Powered by WP Robot