Here are a few little tips to help you put some pennies aside for the holidays. Thank you to billshrink.com for this information.
Lay Off the Starbucks = $160 savings over next few months
A tall coffee at Starbucks approaches $2.00. If you drink one of those every weekday, you’re spending $10 a week, $40 per month and roughly $520 per year. (And this is one of the cheapest items at Starbucks!)
If you absolutely need a caffeine fix every day, consider making your own coffee. After about $15 to buy the coffee maker and the filters, a bag of coffee only costs $8 and will keep you awake for weeks.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, see what other “daily luxuries” you may enjoy. Whether it’s micro-brewed beer, gourmet chocolates or a Ben & Jerry’s addiction, cutting back -- or substituting a cheaper alternative -- can easily buy a few gifts for the family.
Bottled Water = $78 savings over the next few months
Water is one of those things that you should try not to pay for. With 2/3 of the world covered in water and filters that convert “tap water” to filtered water (such as a Brita) for about $20, you should stick to filling up a water bottle rather than shelling out $1-2 for bottled water. If you buy bottled water a few times a week, you can save over $200 a year and about $80 by the time Christmas rolls around.
Gas = $87 savings over the next few months
BillShrink.com found that gas prices vary as much $.50 per gallon in the same neighborhood. This means that by simply driving to a nearby gas station, you can save $260 a year. Use BillShrink’s gas comparison tool to find the cheapest gas on your commute for the next 4 months and you could be looking at an extra $87 bucks in your pocket.
Ease Up on Eating Out = $520 savings over the next few months
Eating at home is not only healthier, but it is also much cheaper. When you eat out, you are paying a mark-up for not only your meal and drinks, but also for the service that comes with it. Try staying in two nights a week and save about $30 a person. If you continue this until the holidays, you’ll have saved $520 – enough to treat the whole family to a nice Christmas dinner.
If cutting out dinner is too hard, try packing your lunch rather than going out and dropping $6 during work. This will also save you about $30 a week and by combining the two, you’ll double your savings and have some delicious leftovers to bring for lunch the next day.
Quit Smoking = $347 savings over next few months
The cost of smoking is not getting any cheaper with an average pack costing between $4-6. If you smoke four packs a week, you’ll pay over $1000 a year. Since quitting smoking is easier said than done, it may be worth it use some of those savings on nicotine patches or gum to help you quit.
The caveat of this strategy is that you’ve got to want to quit smoking in order for this to work. While you can save some money doing this, you’re not going to be able to use that as motivation alone. You’ll need to weigh the other benefits of quitting as well and determine the reason why it’s time for you to quite now.
Turn Down the Monthly Fixed Costs = ~$200 savings over few months
According to BillShrink, most people are overpaying for their cell phone plan. By simply visiting BillShrink or other comparison sites, you can quickly analyze your wireless, credit card and cable plan. If you’re paying for more cell minutes or texts than you need, you could be losing $420 a year and the same goes for the cash-back rewards you could be missing out on from your credit card and the extra channels you pay for that you never watch on your TV. By only paying for what you use, you could save nearly $200 over four months.
If you already have the best plans for you, feel free to call up your phone or cable provider and try to negotiate a better price. Since it is cheaper for them to retain current customers than get new ones, they want to keep you from leaving and keep you happy. See if they have any specials that will entice you to stay.
And if you still find yourself short of Christmas cash, just remember: you can always sell things on eBay. After all, getting rid of old stuff is the best way to prepare for this year’s new stuff.
Showing posts with label saving money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saving money. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Car Purchasing Tips for Women
I receive articles every day to be considered for publication in SNEWoman Magazine. Unfortunately, we just can't fit them all in the issues. That being said; I've decided to post some of the articles received here on the blog for your review. Hopefully you will get some great information out of them and on a regular basis. This particular article was submitted regarding Women and Car Purchases. Happy Reading!
Car Purchasing Tips for Women
The automobile industry is changing the way people purchase or lease vehicles. This article is to point out how women should adapt their automobile needs and finances to work best for their overall lifestyles. Here are some interesting facts and statistics :
1. Women buy more than 65% of all new vehicles, and even if they're not the ones signing the check, they are a decisive influence in 93% of all vehicle purchases, according to Road And Travel Magazine's market research.
2. J.D. Powers and Associates found that female car buyers pay an average of 0.2% more on their cars.
3. According to a Consumer Reports survey, 69% of women use a variety of sources to research before buying a car, compared to 86% of men. Women also seem to be shy about negotiating the price, with 68% of women talking numbers with the dealer, as opposed to 76% of men.
Now that we can see that women are the primary buyers, lets put some helpful hints together for you to make your buying experience, a smarter and more efficient one.
A. Identify your financial situation before you start. Determine how much you can spend on a vehicle per month if you should have a payment. Find out your credit score before you start.
B. Should you lease or buy? If you like to change vehicles every 2-3 years, you drive 15,000 miles or less per year, and you don't plan on putting a lot of money as a down payment, then leasing may be the way to go. The example I give is that a women buys a $25,000 car. She takes a 72 month car loan of $349 per month. Adding up the cost of tires, brakes, etch, her monthly cost will rise to $400 per month. Wouldn't it make sense to lease a NEW vehicle for 36 months , then get another one after that? Many women say well "I don't own the leased car" When you have a 72 month loan, you don't own that car either. Decide if it makes sense to pay a loan of $350 per month after 3 years with 3 years left? At this halfway point in your loan, you may have already lost 50% of its value.
C. DON'T buy a payment, buy or lease the vehicle that you WANT. So many people buy a car for the payment and end up disliking the car for years as they write their monthly loan check. Even worse, some people trade their car in and lose thousands of dollars, trying to buy a payment, instead of the RIGHT vehicle for themselves.
D. Consider insurance, gas mileage, and property taxes, as part of your monthly vehicle expenses.
E. Should you look at new or preowned? Preowned is a great option if you can purchase a 2-3 year old vehicle with an extended certified warrantee. (extend the original new car warrantee for additional time)
F. Do your research on the internet. Many purchases are done over the internet today. It's a great resource tool!
G. Go to a dealer who, you trust with a great service department. When you go to the showroom after doing your due diligence, make sure the salesperson you are dealing with, feels comfortable to you. If not, ask the Sales Manager to speak to another person. You need to feel that the sales person is working in your best interest and that you can put your trust in them to help you make the right decisions.
Robert Fioravanti is a Corporate Sales Director at Inskip Automall and can be reached at rfioravanti@penskeautomotive.com.
Car Purchasing Tips for Women
The automobile industry is changing the way people purchase or lease vehicles. This article is to point out how women should adapt their automobile needs and finances to work best for their overall lifestyles. Here are some interesting facts and statistics :
1. Women buy more than 65% of all new vehicles, and even if they're not the ones signing the check, they are a decisive influence in 93% of all vehicle purchases, according to Road And Travel Magazine's market research.
2. J.D. Powers and Associates found that female car buyers pay an average of 0.2% more on their cars.
3. According to a Consumer Reports survey, 69% of women use a variety of sources to research before buying a car, compared to 86% of men. Women also seem to be shy about negotiating the price, with 68% of women talking numbers with the dealer, as opposed to 76% of men.
Now that we can see that women are the primary buyers, lets put some helpful hints together for you to make your buying experience, a smarter and more efficient one.
A. Identify your financial situation before you start. Determine how much you can spend on a vehicle per month if you should have a payment. Find out your credit score before you start.
B. Should you lease or buy? If you like to change vehicles every 2-3 years, you drive 15,000 miles or less per year, and you don't plan on putting a lot of money as a down payment, then leasing may be the way to go. The example I give is that a women buys a $25,000 car. She takes a 72 month car loan of $349 per month. Adding up the cost of tires, brakes, etch, her monthly cost will rise to $400 per month. Wouldn't it make sense to lease a NEW vehicle for 36 months , then get another one after that? Many women say well "I don't own the leased car" When you have a 72 month loan, you don't own that car either. Decide if it makes sense to pay a loan of $350 per month after 3 years with 3 years left? At this halfway point in your loan, you may have already lost 50% of its value.
C. DON'T buy a payment, buy or lease the vehicle that you WANT. So many people buy a car for the payment and end up disliking the car for years as they write their monthly loan check. Even worse, some people trade their car in and lose thousands of dollars, trying to buy a payment, instead of the RIGHT vehicle for themselves.
D. Consider insurance, gas mileage, and property taxes, as part of your monthly vehicle expenses.
E. Should you look at new or preowned? Preowned is a great option if you can purchase a 2-3 year old vehicle with an extended certified warrantee. (extend the original new car warrantee for additional time)
F. Do your research on the internet. Many purchases are done over the internet today. It's a great resource tool!
G. Go to a dealer who, you trust with a great service department. When you go to the showroom after doing your due diligence, make sure the salesperson you are dealing with, feels comfortable to you. If not, ask the Sales Manager to speak to another person. You need to feel that the sales person is working in your best interest and that you can put your trust in them to help you make the right decisions.
Robert Fioravanti is a Corporate Sales Director at Inskip Automall and can be reached at rfioravanti@penskeautomotive.com.
Friday, August 20, 2010
I know this won't apply to everyone, but I am a mom with three kids and I am always looking for ideas on how to save money on day to day things they may need. School is right around the corner and coinsidentely I received an email from someone with budgeting tips for school shopping. Being a mom and woman who loves to share information, I thought I would pass it along to you. Hope you get a few tips out of it as well.
TOPIC: BACK TO SCHOOL BUDGET
It’s that time of year again – back to school – which means families everywhere are heading out, stocking up and forking over fistfuls of money on everything from pencils… to peanut butter. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends $550 on school supplies each fall, making this time of year second only to Christmas – for total consumer spending.
Talking Points/Tips
Tip #1: Make a list and set your budget:
It's a good idea to know what you need to buy and how much is available to spend before you go shopping. 85% of people plan to spend less– but if the average is nearly $550 – what does that truly mean for you and your family – $200, $300? Having a defined back-to-school budget and sticking to it is essential. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to begin teaching your children about budgeting habits. Before you go out to restock on back-to-school supplies or clothes, work with your child to craft a budget. When you’re shopping, work as a team to find the best deals. If you have money left over, reward your good work with a small treat or put the extra money into a rainy day fund.
Tip #2 Cash or Credit?
If you pay off your bills each month, you may want to use credit and get rewarded for your back to school purchases. Find cards offering the best rewards points, and you can narrow down results by the types of rewards you want to earn, whether it’s cash back, points at your favorite retail stores, or miles. Is your credit card earning you an A in savings? Nearly 80% of people are on the wrong credit card. Find out which is right for your unique spending habits. If your child is heading off to college, you can find the best student credit cards to fit their needs and help them start building good credit.
Tip #3 Get Connected on the Cheap
If your child is old enough, consider joining a family plan so everyone can stay connected, especially when the carpool plans fall through or games get cancelled. Find the most cost-effective plans for your family that can satisfy your teen who can’t live without texts and your need to access your email.
Tip #4 Buy Books Online
Look online to find the most affordable books. At BetterWorldBooks.com, readers can find used books and textbooks up to 80% off, and shipping on book orders is not only free anywhere in the U.S. but it’s a carbon offset! What's more, when you buy through Better World Books, you're supporting global literacy programs - a portion of all revenues goes to organizations like Books for Africa and Room to Read, and to date they've raised over $6 million for literacy. Save upwards of 80% on all your textbooks, and with college text books costing up to $200, that’s a lot of savings.
Tip #5 Alternative Transportation
If you’re close enough to school, have your kids walk or ride bikes with their friends. Otherwise, take the school bus or start your own carpool. Gas prices can vary by $0.50 within one neighborhood, so use free online tools like BillShrink.com that can help you find the cheapest gas prices along your route. With the average commute, that’s a savings of up to $130/year just during the week.
Tip #6 Get cash back on supplies from top retailers
With cash back deals and partnerships with over 800 retailers from Staples to Office Depot to Wallmart, chances are you’ll find what you need for back to school shopping all in one convenient location – FatWallet.com. Websites that offer cash back on your online purchases are a great way to put some extra money back in your wallet, where it belongs.
Tip #7 Save on Sports
If your son or daughter is planning on starting a new sport this school year, see if there’s a way to find a deal on equipment. A great way is to contact graduating athletes or family friends to see if they have an extra lacrosse stick or baseball glove that they would be willing to part with. Plus, if your child is trying something for the first time, make sure they like the sport before buying the newest equipment.
Tip #8 Only Buy What You Need
Once you're in the store, all those fun extras can be tempting – colored pens, locker accessories, self-stick notes, the list stretches on and on – but chances are, your back to school budget doesn't. To avoid overspending, determine how you'll handle your child's requests for non-essentials before you head out to shop.
Some Ways to Handle Your Child's Requests:
§ Allow one extra purchase
§ Have your child foot the bill for anything that's not on the list
§ Have your child pay the difference between what you're willing to buy, and what they want to buy
Tip #9 Buy This Now, Buy That Later
Some stores actually raise their prices on popular back-to-school items before school starts. Search for school bargains all year. Why wait until September to purchase notebooks, pens and clothing? You can spread out your spending and get great deals if you’re on the look-out all year long, instead of dropping hundreds of dollars in August. While school supplies are generally cheaper during back to school, clothing sales go on throughout the year, many times with better deals than during back-to-school season.
Tip #10 Take Advantage of Tax-Free Holidays
Many states offer tax-free holidays around the start of the school year. Find out if your state has one planned; and if it does, be sure to take advantage of it. Shopping on the right day could take as much as 10% off of your back to school tab.
Information was sent to me by Billshrink.com. Check them out at BillShrink.com to if you’d like more information on how you be smarter with finances.
Happy shopping!
TOPIC: BACK TO SCHOOL BUDGET
It’s that time of year again – back to school – which means families everywhere are heading out, stocking up and forking over fistfuls of money on everything from pencils… to peanut butter. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends $550 on school supplies each fall, making this time of year second only to Christmas – for total consumer spending.
Talking Points/Tips
Tip #1: Make a list and set your budget:
It's a good idea to know what you need to buy and how much is available to spend before you go shopping. 85% of people plan to spend less– but if the average is nearly $550 – what does that truly mean for you and your family – $200, $300? Having a defined back-to-school budget and sticking to it is essential. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to begin teaching your children about budgeting habits. Before you go out to restock on back-to-school supplies or clothes, work with your child to craft a budget. When you’re shopping, work as a team to find the best deals. If you have money left over, reward your good work with a small treat or put the extra money into a rainy day fund.
Tip #2 Cash or Credit?
If you pay off your bills each month, you may want to use credit and get rewarded for your back to school purchases. Find cards offering the best rewards points, and you can narrow down results by the types of rewards you want to earn, whether it’s cash back, points at your favorite retail stores, or miles. Is your credit card earning you an A in savings? Nearly 80% of people are on the wrong credit card. Find out which is right for your unique spending habits. If your child is heading off to college, you can find the best student credit cards to fit their needs and help them start building good credit.
Tip #3 Get Connected on the Cheap
If your child is old enough, consider joining a family plan so everyone can stay connected, especially when the carpool plans fall through or games get cancelled. Find the most cost-effective plans for your family that can satisfy your teen who can’t live without texts and your need to access your email.
Tip #4 Buy Books Online
Look online to find the most affordable books. At BetterWorldBooks.com, readers can find used books and textbooks up to 80% off, and shipping on book orders is not only free anywhere in the U.S. but it’s a carbon offset! What's more, when you buy through Better World Books, you're supporting global literacy programs - a portion of all revenues goes to organizations like Books for Africa and Room to Read, and to date they've raised over $6 million for literacy. Save upwards of 80% on all your textbooks, and with college text books costing up to $200, that’s a lot of savings.
Tip #5 Alternative Transportation
If you’re close enough to school, have your kids walk or ride bikes with their friends. Otherwise, take the school bus or start your own carpool. Gas prices can vary by $0.50 within one neighborhood, so use free online tools like BillShrink.com that can help you find the cheapest gas prices along your route. With the average commute, that’s a savings of up to $130/year just during the week.
Tip #6 Get cash back on supplies from top retailers
With cash back deals and partnerships with over 800 retailers from Staples to Office Depot to Wallmart, chances are you’ll find what you need for back to school shopping all in one convenient location – FatWallet.com. Websites that offer cash back on your online purchases are a great way to put some extra money back in your wallet, where it belongs.
Tip #7 Save on Sports
If your son or daughter is planning on starting a new sport this school year, see if there’s a way to find a deal on equipment. A great way is to contact graduating athletes or family friends to see if they have an extra lacrosse stick or baseball glove that they would be willing to part with. Plus, if your child is trying something for the first time, make sure they like the sport before buying the newest equipment.
Tip #8 Only Buy What You Need
Once you're in the store, all those fun extras can be tempting – colored pens, locker accessories, self-stick notes, the list stretches on and on – but chances are, your back to school budget doesn't. To avoid overspending, determine how you'll handle your child's requests for non-essentials before you head out to shop.
Some Ways to Handle Your Child's Requests:
§ Allow one extra purchase
§ Have your child foot the bill for anything that's not on the list
§ Have your child pay the difference between what you're willing to buy, and what they want to buy
Tip #9 Buy This Now, Buy That Later
Some stores actually raise their prices on popular back-to-school items before school starts. Search for school bargains all year. Why wait until September to purchase notebooks, pens and clothing? You can spread out your spending and get great deals if you’re on the look-out all year long, instead of dropping hundreds of dollars in August. While school supplies are generally cheaper during back to school, clothing sales go on throughout the year, many times with better deals than during back-to-school season.
Tip #10 Take Advantage of Tax-Free Holidays
Many states offer tax-free holidays around the start of the school year. Find out if your state has one planned; and if it does, be sure to take advantage of it. Shopping on the right day could take as much as 10% off of your back to school tab.
Information was sent to me by Billshrink.com. Check them out at BillShrink.com to if you’d like more information on how you be smarter with finances.
Happy shopping!
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