Cutting The Cost Of Your Home Bills

Posted on May 18, 2012 by admin

We all want to save a few more dollars these days, and short of cutting out that trip to the local coffee shop every lunch time (and perhaps on the way to work), we may be running out of ways! And we all try to save money on our bills by using less, or even switching suppliers. But there are other, quite inventive ways of bringing down your bills.

Home Bills

Home Bills

Do a ‘leak audit’ of your house
One leaky tap can cost you up to 300 gallons of water a month. It’s a frightening statistic, especially given that the country is in drought at the moment, and we all need to do as much as possible to help out. One thing you cannot switch is your water supplier, so it may be worth getting a plumber in for a couple of hours if you have any serious leaks. Check all of your taps, and also check the toilet for any leaks – they are difficult to spot, but if you listen carefully, you can hear the water trickling.

Insulate your hot water pipes
Do you turn the hot water tap on in the morning, only to wait 30 seconds before the water heats up? If so, you may need to insulate your hot water pipes so that you get hotter water, quicker. This way, those 30 seconds of water that are wasted before the hot water starts up can be cut down to 10 seconds – saving you hundreds of gallons of water per month.

Is it time to change your boiler?
Your boiler could be costing you hundreds of dollars per year more than you need to pay. A condensing boiler is the most energy efficient, with heating controls that help you get the most out of your boiler. You can book yourself a free audit from many boiler installation companies, and there are often grants or ‘boilers for scrap’ schemes around. If it’s not time to change your boiler, just turning the thermostat down by 1 degree can make noticeable savings without a noticeable change of temperature.

Do a ‘plug audit’
Keep a record of where your plugs are, and what’s plugged into them on a permanent basis. Are you using all of those plugs? Many people tend to leave DVD players plugged in all the time, which uses energy despite hardly ever being used. Once you have a wider view of all of the energy points in your house, you can go round the horse, taking the plug out of anything that you haven’t used for a month.

Get some new habits
There are some really simple things that you can do to increase those savings. For example, only fill the kettle with the water that you need – any more and you’re using extra power for no reason. Put a lid on pans while you’re cooking so that the water heats up quicker, and make a note to turn appliances off instead of putting them on standby.

These are quick and easy ideas that can make real savings every month. As always, keep an eye on your meter readings and wherever possible, switch suppliers so that you get the best tariffs – but the best savings come from the little changes you make around the home!

personalfinance4all.com

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Cutting Your Grocery Budget

Posted on May 11, 2012 by admin

We don’t have a lot of control over many of the big parts of our budget. There’s only so much we can do about our rent or mortgage, for example. You can only find a place to live that’s so cheap while remaining safe, or convenient to work, or near the right schools. We can only cut our utilities so far, given the condition of our homes and appliances.

Cutting your grocery budget

Cutting your grocery budget

You’re In Control!

Food is one area where we have more control than we tend to realize. I certainly didn’t realize how much control I had over my food budget until a point in my life when ends weren’t meeting; I was going to be losing money each month, it was just a matter of how much, or how little, I could get it to be. These are some lessons I learned.

Try Generic. Many people are used to buying a certain product simply because that’s what they’re used to. Are you sure you genuinely prefer the brand, or have you even tried the generic or store brand? I’m definitely not saying you should switch to all store brand products, but they are worth consideration.

Cut out paper products. Let’s face it: you don’t actually need paper plates. They are enormously convenient, but you can cut them out and just do more dishes. Same goes for paper napkins: you can buy cloth and wash them.

Don’t buy prepackaged foods. Generally, the more packaging you get with your food, the more money you’re shelling out. Single serving bags of biscuits, crisps, and other junk foods are the biggest culprits here. If overeating is an issue, divide the food yourself into reasonable servings in re-sealable bags, then reuse the bags.

Buy produce in season. You can eat healthy, wonderful food on a budget; you just have to shop smart. If you buy produce in season, it is far cheaper than the junk food people tend to fall back on. Just compare prices and don’t be afraid to try something new.

Take your time and price compare. Every time. It’s so easy to hurry and just grab what you’re used to getting. Stores count on that. When I buy peanut butter, for example, there are three sizes available, and I have found each size to be the cheapest per unit at different times. It only takes a moment to compare, and it can save you a lot of money.

Compare fresh and frozen meats and produce. This is along the same lines as the previous tip, but it merits its own mention. Sometimes pre-frozen foods (chicken, beef, vegetables, etc) are cheaper, and sometimes fresh are cheaper. Especially when it comes to meats, this can be a big money saver.

Freeze it yourself. When you find an economy pack of fresh chicken, for example, at a low price, don’t hesitate to buy. After you’ve cooked what you want right away, wrap up the rest in several layers and freeze it. You can do the same with ground beef or other meats.

The key to saving on food is really just awareness. It is easy to get used to what we buy and how much we spend, and just stop paying attention. Make a point of going shopping when you’re not hungry and not in a hurry, so you can slow down and really pay attention to what goes in the trolley. This will seem very slow and time consuming at first, but it does get faster as you get used to price comparing. And best of all, this thoughtful approach will definitely save you money.

frugalliving.com.au

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Saving Money Online

Posted on May 3, 2012 by admin

Saving money on the Internet is something that many shoppers strive to do; it can, however, be an overwhelming prospect. There are so many stores and websites to explore that a person may feel that they are missing out on something, or that they are spending too much money. To save money where possible, the tips below should be considered.

Saving Money Online

Saving Money Online

Go to price comparison websites:

A person that wishes to save money should not purchase an item that they want from the first store that they come across. While the price may seem affordable, it could be priced at a significantly lower amount at another online store. There are a number of websites that aim to help people find the best price for something, and they have long proven themselves popular. If a person wants to obtain a loan of some kind, they can look for an unsecured loan comparison website. A loan comparison website will be able to assist them when it comes to cutting out costs.

Take advantage of coupons:

Some websites, in an effort to gain attention and encourage customers to come back and purchase something, will release coupons. These coupons can provide discounts on specific items such as books or office supplies, or they can be general in their scope. Some coupons can be acquired simply by signing up for a mailing list, while others may be displayed on the website for anybody to use. In any case, they can help a person save money, no matter how large or small the amount.

Make use of free shipping:

Free shipping is something that many shoppers wish they could make use of. Some websites offer shipping with no added costs no matter how much a person buys. However, other websites may require that a customer spends a certain amount of money. In either case, free shipping can help a person pay less than they would if they went to a physical store to purchase an item. The shipping method may be slow, but patient customers can deal with the inconvenience and take in the rewards when they arrive.

Plan out shopping excursions:

It can be easy for a person to spend more than they can afford when they do not work out some kind of plan before they shop. An online shopper should think about what they are looking for and stick to that idea, rather than become distracted by something else.

Come up with a budget:

On top of knowing exactly what will be purchased, an online shopper should also know their spending limits. When they are aware of how much they have to spend, they will be less likely to stray and cause financial problems.

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Cutting Back On Auto Insurance

Posted on April 19, 2012 by admin

Auto insurance is one of those things you just need to have in life, no getting around it. You can, however, take steps to ensure that you’re not paying for what you don’t need. Maybe you can even get by with a little less coverage and save some money without sacrificing. Of course, there is a required legal amount needed to drive, but there may be extra expenses you can trim without giving up the coverage you need.

Auto Insurance

Auto Insurance

Talk to Your Agent

Insurance agents love to talk about the fascinating world of insurance and yes, it would be great if they spent their days reviewing your policy looking for unnecessary costs, but they don’t. So it’s your job to make them take a closer look at your policy now and again. Remind them that you’re a good customer, one with a solid driving record and a history of paying your premiums on time. Some insurance companies offer “good driver” discounts and other perks for drivers who don’t have accidents for a certain period of time. Got a new car recently? Even if it’s used, but new to you any safety upgrades might make you eligible for discounts with some companies.

Eliminate Duplicate Coverage

Life happens fast and circumstances change all the time, so it’s easy to forget to call your agent and make changes to your policy. Coverage you needed when you first signed up for your auto insurance policy may not be what you need now. If you have more than one car, you may have duplicate coverage. This is especially true if you have different insurance companies for each vehicle. This is often the case if you’re not married, but have a live in mate; you may qualify for a family discount and not realize it. Roadside assistance and gap coverage (a loan/lease payoff protection plan) are often duplicated, especially if you have multiple policies. Consider consolidating coverage with a single insurance carrier. If this isn’t possible, cancel coverage that overlaps from other policies.

Bundle Policies

In addition to auto insurance, you probably have other forms of insurance such as homeowner’s coverage and life insurance. Consider consolidating all coverage with one company, if possible. Granted, not all insurance companies offer all forms of coverage, but many larger companies offer multiple kinds of coverage. Combing coverage might even earn you a discount. Insurance companies tend to appreciate customers who sign up for several insurance “products” and show their thanks by offering “loyalty discounts” or “consolidated coverage” discounts. What’s more, bundling policies under one roof may make it easier for your agent to assess your opportunities for savings.

Compare

The insurance industry, by nature, is extremely competitive. (Note the abundance of car insurance commercials on TV.) Compare coverage and rates online. Get some quotes and take these back to either your existing insurance company or the one you are interested in switching too. You have better leverage if you come to the table prepared. You’d be surprised at how willing an insurance agent is to bargain with you. This may include matching rates and offering perks not normally advertised.

Ultimately, how much or how little auto insurance you have depends on your needs and your comfort level. If you’ve had auto insurance for a while, you likely have some areas where you can eliminate unnecessary coverage. Start by reviewing which vehicles are covered how extensively. Look for areas of duplicate coverage, usually this includes roadside service and gap coverage. Finally, talk to your insurance agent. If you’re what is considered a low-risk policyholder, you may be eligible for certain discounts or be able to negotiate a better deal.

moneyestate.com

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How To Stick To Your Budget

Posted on April 11, 2012 by admin

Sticking to a budget is hard enough, but shopping centres, chain outlets and grocery stores don’t make it any easier; with countless promotions, sales, and strategically-placed impulse-buy items, make it easy to get sidetracked and overspend.

Willpower and discipline are great tools to combat overspending, but many people find it hard to maintain them when faced with a great sale.

How to stick to your budget

How to stick to your budget

Never fear, there are a few simple tricks and tips you can use to help keep you on track and overcome the temptation to overspend.

Always take a list.

While seemingly simple, and even obvious, this is a great way to help keep spending on track.

If you have a specific list of items you need, you can shop with more purpose, and avoid unnecessary browsing (which all too often leads to unnecessary buying).

Consolidate shopping trips.

Whenever possible, it’s best to combine all your shopping into one day.

This is a great way to make sure you don’t spend extra time in a given store, browsing unnecessarily, or getting sidetracked from your pre-set shopping agenda.

Plus, consolidating your shopping into one big outing will save fuel in the long run, which is always a good thing, both for your budget, and for the environment.

Clip coupons.

Check your local weekly paper for circulars and coupons.

Be sure to have your list ready when you do this, to avoid adding unnecessary items (remember, just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean you need it).

While you may not find coupons for everything you need, you’ll likely find savings somewhere.

Over time, even a few dollars a week will add up big time.

Look at it this way: if you save just $4 per week, you’ll end up with an extra $208 each year.

Plan ahead; shop accordingly.

Food is arguably one of the largest costs in any family’s budget.

It’s one that can’t be skipped or compromised, and with costs of everyday items like milk rising considerably, it can be a huge drain on any spending plan.

While there’s no realistic way around this need, there are ways to help maximize your spending.

Planning meals a week in advance can help you make the most of your purchases; simply plan consecutive meals that use the same primary ingredients.

Buy those ingredients in bulk to save even more. And always, always save (and use) leftovers.

Reward yourself.

Regardless of the best intentions, it’s easy to get sucked in to unnecessary spending; it’s practically human nature.

An unexpected sale at your favorite store, a discount on an item you don’t need, but have wanted for some time.

You can curb overspending by operating on a rewards system.

Set goals for yourself, like limiting spending to a certain amount, and make room in your budget for a special treat or reward when you reach your goal.

If you don’t achieve the goal, leave the reward money in place and try again for next month.

Having something special to look forward to will make it easier to exercise self-control and avoid splurging on items you don’t really need, or even particularly want.

money-tips.com.au

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Living The Frugal Life

Posted on April 3, 2012 by admin

There are a lot of things that one works hard to accomplish. No matter what your goals are, they’ll only be achieved if you are committed to seeing results. A great example is being frugal. The chances of saving a lot of money are only high if you are committed, confident and creative. All you have to do is to carefully think about a plan, then decide what you should and should not do when it comes to spending. From here on out, it’s only a matter of sticking to it!

Living the frugal life

Living the frugal life

Read these tips to guide you in your plans:

Bills

Pay all your bills on time. By doing so, you will not have to pay extra charges. You should also do away with all unnecessary expenses. This way, you will have enough cash to have all the payments made on the day they are due and less bills to pay in the first place.

Budget

You have to come up with a budget. Make sure that you list everything that you cannot do without. You should then calculate the amount of cash that you are supposed to use in one month or week. Once you have it all down, you have strictly follow the budget. Only if you are true to the plan will you save any money.

Spend Less

Live below your income. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to spend a little more than you make each month, thinking you can pay it off later. Once you commit to this new method, you’ll be in a great position to actually save cash at the end of each month. Keep in mind, though, that if this is your only or primary method of getting frugal, you won’t see results right away. However, if you’re patient, you’ll see results after only a couple of months.

Through frugality, you will be in a good position to meet any financial goal. Maybe you need to put away more for retirement or college. Maybe you want to go on a trip down the road. Regardless, the best thing about frugality is that it’s a lifestyle choice. Like any healthy lifestyle choice, you’ll get used to your new, positive results. This is perfect, because if you decide to splurge on a big trip someday, you’ll have the skills to save up for another trip after you’ve returned! Never stop being frugal – you’ll be happy you listened to that little voice inside your head.

financewand.com

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Simple Habits To Help You Stay Out Of Debt

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

In case you are under too much debt and want to come out of this financial mess, then you must consider various ways that will help you get out of debt. You should always remember that you are responsible for the debt situation that you are into and it is only you who can help yourself in coming out of this situation. What you must strive towards doing is not only getting out of debt, but also staying out of debt. Before you consider traditional forms of debt solutions such as consolidation or settlement, to eliminate your debts, you must consider certain things that you can do for yourself.

Simple habits to stay out of debt

Simple habits to stay out of debt

Some of the habits that you can inculcate to get out of debt as well as stay out of it are as follows:

Recording what you spend: The basic reason why you end up spending a lot is the fact that you are unaware of how much you are spending and where you are spending. The first step that you should take in order to get your financial life in order is to record what you spend. Every little expenditure that you make must be recorded. This will ensure that you know what you are spending and where your money is going. This will also help you avoid a situation in which you are spending what you do not have.

Categorizing what you spend: You should also try to categorize your spending. Make categories for what you need to have and what you want but can survive without. Try to put in more money towards things that you need to have and save on the things that you want to purchase. Thus, the amount that you save can be put towards paying off your debts.

Finding out how much you owe: An important step that you must take to get out of debt is finding out exactly how much you owe and to whom you owe it. You should find out the minimum amounts as well as the interest rates that you have to pay towards every debt. This is essential as you get a clear idea and knowledge about how much you need to pay and to whom. This makes you more aware of the debt that you have and keeps you motivated when it comes to paying off your debts.

These are a few habits that you can instill in yourself if you want to see yourself free of debt and free of the stress that it causes.

financeaz.com

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Avoiding The Debt Trap

Posted on March 20, 2012 by admin

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get out and stay out of debt. Debt represents one of the top concerns for most people. There are some simple steps that you can take to help keep yourself from falling into the trap of debt.

Avoiding the debt trap

Avoiding the debt trap

Cool Down Periods
Before you make a purchase of big money items, provide yourself a five to fourteen day delay. This cool down period will diffuse the emotional high that is often accompanied with making a purchase. Spending experts say that people are less likely to buy something if they are given time to think it over. Think of how many times sales staff tells you that you must act now. They do not want to give the buyer a chance to think about the purchase.

Avoid Credit Offers
Credit card companies have gotten very creative in their marketing approach. Points may seem attractive, but they are also a temptation to make purchases that are not needed. Point systems may encourage people to spend when they normally would not. If you do use reward points, make sure that it is used responsibly or only in emergencies.

Cash is King
Use credit cards only for emergencies. Use cash or debit to keep your spending under control. It is proven that when people spend less when they limit themselves to what they have in their cash accounts. Make sure that all your major expenses and budget items are paid for. Limiting yourself to what you have left over is a great way to curb spending.

Create a Realistic Budget
Sticking to your budget can be one of the most difficult tips to follow. Make it easier by creating a budget that is realistic. Budgets that have no room for error or place hardship on you are very difficult to follow. Allow yourself reasonable expenditures, and do not assume you can cut everything down. Be realistic about what expenses you can lower and by how much. It is far better to save more than expected, than to fall short.

Concentrate on Debt Elimination
Existing debt can be a huge stumbling block. Focus on getting rid of the debt so that more cash is available to cover your day-to-day expenses. Debt can snowball and quickly get out of control. Pay off credit cards quickly and then tackle long term debts like auto loans and mortgages.

These simple steps can help keep you out of debt and even help to build savings. Debt is a major cause of stress and can even cause problems with relationships. With a little work and guidance, you can avoid debt for this year and many years to come.

personalfinance4all.com

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Overcome Your Fear Of Investing

Posted on March 13, 2012 by admin

When you watch people who are really good at something, the tendency is to say, “I could never do that, look at how much skill they have.” So when we see people who are investing, and profiting, during these turbulent times of flash crashes and flat portfolios, we think we just lack the ability to be a savvy investor.

Overcome Your Fear Of Investing

Overcome Your Fear Of Investing

The reality is that being a smart investor has less to do with what’s in your head than what’s in your gut. The best investors have fear, but they have the ability to lessen the role fear plays in their investment decisions. Fear clouds our thinking. Instead of thinking rationally, we react emotionally. And emotional investment decisions are usually poor decisions.

Here are two ways to help you invest with confidence:

Educate Yourself

In almost every aspect of our life, the unknown is worse than the known. It’s no different with investing. One reason why markets “behave” the way they do is investors tend to invest based on what they think will happen.

A quick review of current events lets you know there’s a lot of uncertainty. If you know that markets, and investors, hate uncertainty, you won’t be surprised, and in fact you’ll expect, to see a certain amount of volatility in the market. But in times of volatility, an informed investor can make money. By knowing what to look for when you’re looking at a company’s financial records, you can shut off the “white noise” that you hear every day and make a rational decision. This may include making smart buys even when the tide of investor sentiment is going the other way.

But education also serves as a reality check against misplaced optimism. Once we make money on a stock, we can easily fall in love with that stock as it drops, and fool ourselves into believing that it will bounce back. Clearly understanding what company financials are telling you can take the emotion out of walking away and cutting your losses.

Start On Paper

Paper trading is a simulated trading process in which would-be investors can ‘practice’ investing without committing real money.

According to TurtleTrader®, “Paper trades are powerful because they teach through suspense and surprise. They demonstrate rather than tell. Instead of simply reading about trading, you experience it, making decisions about potential trades, and then watching those decisions play out.”

And now that computers will do most of the calculations, you can practice as long as you need to before putting your own money at risk. There are even paper trading investment clubs that can join to practice different strategies and build your confidence.

There is no such thing as risk-free investing. And as long as there’s risk, there will be fear. A healthy sense of fear is always important when investing. After all, you’re dealing with your money. However, investing is one of the only ways you’ll be able to reach your long-term financial goals, and you can’t succeed if you’re not in the game.

moneyedup.com

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Make Money Using Social Media

Posted on March 6, 2012 by admin

Social media has changed the way we do business, find work, and network with one another.

Something as simple as Twitter has taken the ultimate marketing technique – word of mouth – and turned it on its head. Meanwhile, Facebook allows companies and individuals to interact directly with customers. LinkedIn has taken the idea of professional networking – whether you are looking for a better job or more customers – and turned it into one of the few companies posting large earnings in this shaky stock market. And last, but not least, Google+ is positioning itself to take the internet by storm.

Social Media

Social Media

While big companies are taking notes on how they can reach target audiences and generate income through the use of social media, you too can use it to supplement your pay checks. Below you will find a list of ways that you can use social media as a side hustle, and maybe even turn it into a full time gig someday.

Social Media Management

Companies and small businesses are embracing the power of social media. Some, like Etsy, have even become famous for their effective use of social media marketing strategies. As a result, many companies and small businesses — particularly startups — are creating new paid positions for social media management.

You don’t have to wait for companies to embrace this to make money yourself, though. In fact, you can freelance as a social media manager for small local businesses and individuals as a means of income. All you really have to do is check out Craigslist, and you’ll find a multitude of freelance job postings from people who need help running their social media sites.

Finding New Clients

While shameless self promotion is rather taboo in the world of social media, it doesn’t hurt to plug yourself every once in a while. Take Twitter for instance. Posting a quick update every once in a while that says, “Looking for new freelance writing clients,” can actually get you some work. Because, you see, you would not only be sending the message to your followers; they in turn can resend the message to their followers, and so forth, thus creating the ultimate form of word of mouth where you reach hundreds if not thousands of potential clients who could be seeking your services.

Build Your Own Brand

Building a brand is key these days, not just for finding clients but perhaps even for finding more traditional means of work. Use your social media accounts wisely so that you can build your own online presence and thus show others that you can also build a brand for them.

In other words, perhaps you need to find a specific niche – like environmentalism or personal development – and centre your social media accounts around that. This shows people and businesses with the same interests that you have authority, and that you can help them in reaching their key markets.

When it comes to traditional work, you can definitely put these newly acquired marketing skills on your resume – showing your current boss or potential employers that you are up-to-date with technology and can really help the company move forward.

Social media has changed the face of traditional marketing by creating new jobs and allowing anyone to make some extra money from it. Take advantage of the myriad of free resources out there to polish your social media skills, and start using them to generate some extra cash flow.

frugalliving.com.au

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