Personal-Finance Articles
How To Save On Magazine Subscriptions
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 480)
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Reading is our essential necessity for information. Everyone knows that periodicals are the best way to get updated information - from business and current affairs to latest fashion trends and movie reviews. We all are different, so are our interests. The vast range of popular magazines is there to satisfy our any information need.
Through thousands of categories and titles you can definitely find the ones that will become your family's favorites, advisors, best friends. Even with all kinds of resources available on the Internet, to actually hold a nice glamorous issue is a different pleasure altogether.
However, to provide all the family members with magazine subscriptions is rather a luxury for an average family. The father would want an edition stuffed with news and essential information, like News Max or The Week; Mom would go for something like Good Housekeeping or Easy Home Cooking. Teenage daughter would be all for a piece of glamour like CosmoGirl or Teen Vogue. And a little son would be thrilled getting his regular issue of Boy's Quest or Child Life. Does that mean spending hundreds of dollars annually? May be. May be not. Depends on how smart consumer you can be. Just a few tips will allow you to save on subscriptions and get the magazines you want.
Everyone knows that to buy a magazine subscription is cheaper than to buy the same editions separately every month. But before you go for a magazine subscription, be sure that this particular magazine is actually what you want. If you are not sure it's good enough, it pays buying an issue or two at a newsstand or borrowing them from a library. Don't get carried away with commercials - loud titles and glamorous design may turn out to be zero useful information. Make your own opinion and remember - the most expensive doesn't mean the best.
Once you decided which magazine subscriptions you want, look for the lowest price. The longer the period of subscription is, the cheaper is the rate per issue. That's how you will also be spared of overpaying in case the price rises. Beware of magazine subscription scams! If you are not buying a subscription from a publisher, at least find out whether the subscription service provider is reliable. Check if there are hidden costs that will add up to a low price, making it high eventually.
Study the cancellation policy before you subscribe to any special offer. Also, if you pay by your credit card, some magazines will automatically renew your subscription unless you call to cancel it.
Finally, hunting for your favorite magazine subscriptions online, give preference to the companies, providing magazine subscription coupons or magazine coupon codes. They will help you save even more than you could do on special offers or magazine sales and get more favorite periodicals for your family.
Funny Ways To Save Money
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 425)
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There was a list of funny ways to save money on a "frugal living" website. They weren't necessarily meant to be funny, but were gleaned from real suggestions sent in. Some cheapskates don't seem to notice that an extra hour at work might put them further ahead than many hours of penny-pinching.
The following are real suggestions, and then there are some funny ways to save money that you really shouldn't try.
Funny Ways To Save Money - The Real Suggestions
One person suggested ways to save money on weddings that included picking up the leftover flowers at a cemetery. I'm not sue how you can tell which are "leftovers."
Another creative penny pincher found a way to save money on a car wash. He washed his entire car using the squeegee at the gas station.
A woman confessed that she has the kids stuff their pockets with the free ketchup, salt and other condiment packets every time they were in a fast food restaurant. That's not all, though. She actually had the kids squeeze ketchup and mustard from the packets into regular jars of ketchup and mustard, and claims she hasn't bought these condiments in years.
To save money on an umbrella, one man suggests going to the lost and found department of any large public library. Tell them you lost a black umbrella. They will have several, from which you can pick the best one and claim it as your own.
Call people long-distance when you know they won't be home. Leave a message for them to call. That way, they pay for the long-distance call.
Funny Ways To Save Money - Don't Try This At Home
Don't pay baby sitters! Get young couples who are thinking about having kids to "rent" yours for the evening. They get to see what it will be like, and you can get paid instead of paying for sitters.
Turn off the TV and all the lights to save electricity. Tell the kids it's a game of hide-and-seek.
Train your dog to beg for food from strangers, so you won't have to buy dog food.
Rub pine needles under your arms instead of buying deodorant.
Take extra napkins from fast food restaurants to save on toilet paper.
Borrow your neighbors toothbrush instead of buying your own.
If I write a book on ways to save money, funny or not, will I make much in sales, or will everyone take my suggestion and borrow it from the library instead of buying it?
Kill Bills
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 623)
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Get Rid of Some "Extras"
The key to financial freedom is building wealth. The key to building wealth is eliminating all your extra bills so you have money to save. The average consumer's credit report carries quite a burden from these bills as well. Let's start with what hurts the most. Eliminate any habits you currently have. Most habits cost money and if it's a habit it can't be healthy for you in the long run anyway. Smoking, drinking, candy, coffee, collecting junk, etc. You will be surprised how much cash you pocket if you just quit 1 or 2 of the above (if any apply of course). By giving up a habit you are not only saving money and maybe even your health, but you are also gaining self-discipline helping you mature financially.
Food: Dine In or Carry Out
Let's look at the two separately AND together. If you eat out once a week, even at $25 you are spending $100 a month. Pretty simple math. Let's say you get carry-out (drive-thru) 3 times a week at $5 per visit. This equals $60 a month. These figures are below average, but even so, this is $160 in 1 month that could be used to eliminate some smelly debt. Pack a lunch for work. Try cooking at home. It's a fraction of the cost, it tastes better than "fast food" and it is usually healthier. If you can't eliminate eating out then try cutting it in half for starters.
Grocery List (or lack thereof)
Many consumers head to the grocery store with no plan or list. BIG mistake. This is what grocery stores are designed for. Go ahead, walk down each aisle and tempt yourself with row after row, shelf after shelf of junk food, extra stuff that you don't need. A list could save you 50% alone - that much more to wipe out those irritating loan payments. A grocery list serves two purposes. It saves you quite a bit of money which you notice immediately. Secondly, it allows you to be more prepared for the upcoming week, month or however often you shop. You can make out a daily meal plan ahead of time so you know exactly what you need to purchase and approximately how much cash you will need.
Sell Some Stuff
Everyone has stuff lying around collecting dust. Remember the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure."? You could probably knock out a couple of stagnate bills with some of those collectibles sitting in a box in the closet. You would be surprised to know that an object you have absolutely no interest in could sell on an auction site and pay off that hospital bill that's been chasing you around like a mad hornet.
Cash, Cash, Cash
Only buy with cash. Plastic looks the same when you spend it. Dollar bills disappear and you will feel the impact when you start to get a shortage of it. Start a cash envelope system - at least one for gas, food and clothing. Like any new system, it will take a few times before you get the right amount in the envelopes. You will start to notice a large impact on your budget though and will find it worth while. If you buy something with cash you don't owe on it. You might think a little longer about it too when you hold on to that $100 bill. If you apply the various techniques and ideas in this article you will start to knock chunks off your overall debt. This will get you closer to achieving financial freedom and your credit report will begin the long awaited healing process. Start today!
Tips On Finding Reputable Debt Counseling Services
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 552)
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For the debtor who is already at the end of his rope and trying to figure out how to get out of debt, the last thing he needs to worry about is whether the debt counselor he has chosen to help him is going to make his problems worse. He needs to be assured that he is not making a mistake by choosing debt counseling over bankruptcy or working out a settlement with the creditors.
The first thing one should do to gain some certainty that the debt counselor they are planning to choose is reputable is to check with the Better Business Bureau. Of course, this isn't a guarantee since they only have on file information from people who have filed complaints, so if it's a new company or one who has had no complaints filed against it, you really aren't going to know. Nonetheless, this is the best tool you have, and you should utilize it to the greatest degree possible.
Another way to find out the reputation of a debt counseling service is through word of mouth. If the company is reputable, they will not mind providing you with information about other clients. Of course you want to be sure that they are not giving out false or unsolicited information. If they are really reputable, they will likely have something on their application allowing them to release information to other potential clients.
If it's a local company, perhaps you even know people who have utilized their services. If they are not willing to give you references you can check, then you're much better off to move forward to someone who is willing to cooperate with you. In most, though not all, cases, refusal to provide references means there is something they are trying to hide, and this is not the kind of person with whom you want to do business.
The Internet is a wonderful place to search for information on various subjects, and if there is a company of questionable reputation, there is more than likely a forum that has been set up to complain about this company. Strange as it may seem, people on the Internet actually set up websites, forums, and groups on Yahoo and MSN to do nothing more than complain about companies they feel have treated them unfairly.
Utilize all the tools that are at your disposal, and if it's a local company, be sure you check with all of the local agencies including the Attorney General's Office who would know of any illegal activity that has been reported. If you have come this far, you do not have the funds to be taken for a ride, so you want to be very careful to whom you give your money. It's not going to help your situation if the person you choose doesn't do the job they promise to do, and you can't even collect damages in court if they ultimately close down their operation.
Choose a company who has been in business long enough to have a record of clientele, and choose one you feel is looking out for your best interests and not just wanting to take your money. Choose a debt counselor as carefully as you would choose a babysitter for your newborn baby.
Rolling Over Your 401k Plan The Easy Way
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 526)
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So what is a 401k retirement plan? A 401k plan is actually a retirement investments plan that is subsidized by employee or worker payments and often, corresponding involvements from your manager or employer. In addition, the most important draw for these plans is that the payments are taken from your pre-tax wage, and the funds rise tax-free until such time that it is withdrawn or pulled out. Also, the plans are, to some degree, independent and self-sufficient, and the good thing is that they are manageable and convenient.
401k retirement plans are for profit and many kinds of tax-exempt associations and institutes can create these plans for their employees and working staff. Moreover, a 401K plan is a corporation-supported retirement plan for workers. Payments and earnings in a 401K retirement plan are not subject to federal and most state income taxes until the account is withdrawn or pulled out. With a 401K plan, you can save and invest cash from a pre-tax starting point with the employers contributing corresponding funds to add to yours, which makes the plan even more profitable. Most of the time, you will have the option to choose how much you want to contribute, up to the maximum allowed by the government and also the option to choose where your contributions go. You pick your investment vehicle from a directory of funds provided by your retirement plan sponsor or manager.
You can learn when you are entitled and permitted to start contributing in your business's 401K retirement plan from your assistance manager or director. In addition, once you are qualified to sign up, you will be given an inventory of funds in which you can choose to invest in. You can choose to invest the maximum of $14,000 in 2005 and $15,000 in 2006. There are numerous benefits and gains to 401k plans.
First and foremost, since the contributor is permitted to make a payment to his or her plan with pre-tax cash, it lowers the total tax taken out of every pay check. Subsequently, all company payments and several enlargements in the principal capital are free of tax until withdrawal. Moreover, the compounding result of steady cyclic payments over the phase of 25 or 35 years is remarkable.
In addition, you can decide where to target upcoming payments or place present savings, giving more power over the assets to the contributor. Consequently, if your company matches your contributions, it is like receiving additional funds on top of your earnings. In addition, unlike a regular retirement fund, all payments can be shifted from one business plan to another company plan if you change jobs.
Because the plan is an individual investment for your retirement it's sheltered by the retirement fund (ERISA) laws and regulations. This gives you the extra security of keeping your funds from the hands of creditors in case of bankruptcy. This does not apply to household relations court cases that deal with divorce orders or child support orders. Indeed, a 401k retirement plan is a good way to start setting yourself up for an enjoyable retirement.
Cash Is King
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 519)
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If you understand and follow the basic principle of "Cash is King" you can change your life forever. Your life will be less stressful financially and you will be taking your first major step toward "financial peace of mind".
"Cash is King" is an easy principle to understand; however it may be difficult to follow. This principle is the key to less stress within your financial life. Many things tell us how to manage our finances and it seems that none of them address the "root cause" of our financial problems.
The biggest problem is that we live in a world of plastic and for all practical purposes we do not respect or understand the value of cash.
If you follow this simple but different principle of "Cash is King" you will start on the road to "financial peace of mind". Here are two basic suggestions on how to follow the principle of "Cash is King":
When you are paid make sure you allocate enough money to pay your rent/mortgage, utilities and any other fixed expenses you may have. Any amount of cash that is left should be withdrawn from your checking account to be used for food, clothing, gifts, entertainment, gas, etc. The best way for you to control this cash would be for you to divide and allocate certain amounts of cash for each variable expense and store this cash in labeled envelopes, like the envelopes found in the BUDGETkeeper SYSTEM.
Now remember that this cash is the only way you can spend. Once you have used all your cash there will be no spending until your next paycheck. This is tough! No credit/debit cards? You must be kidding! How will I ever get through to my next payday without using my credit/debit cards? They say smoking is hard to give up, I think sticking to the principle of "Cash is King" may even be harder!
Stick with "Cash is King" and manage your money. You will start by finding the cheapest places to buy gas, run your errands more logically and take your morning coffee from home instead of buying that latte every day. You will have to find many new ways to manage your cash and the first few weeks will be the toughest. You may even run out of cash before your next payday, however, you will stick to the principle "Cash is King" and eventually find "financial peace of mind".
After several weeks it will get easier to manage your cash and you will be surprised to find extra cash available before your next paycheck. What will you do with that extra cash? Many say put the extra cash into a savings account or pay a little extra towards one of your debts. I say put it in a coffee can and let it accumulate then take yourself out and have one great party!
If you can follow this principle, you will be on your way to establishing a personal/family budget. Let the BUDGETkeeper SYSTEM show you the way to "financial peace of mind".
Id Theft What Is This And How Do I Protect Myself
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 577)
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Identity Theft is when someone uses another person's social security number, driver license, name, address, telephone number and any other information about that particular person as their own. The unauthorized person that obtains this information without the other person's knowledge uses this information to commit theft and fraud.
How does a person committing ID theft get my information? By going through your trash, hacking into a computer that you may use, securing a copy of your credit report, stealing credit card and debit card numbers that you may have, stealing your mail,completing a change of address form to reroute your mail to a different address, stealing your purse or wallet, and scamming information from you by posing as a business person.
How would I know if I am a victim of ID theft? If you receive credit card statements for accounts you did not apply for, you do not receive your mail, your credit is being denied and you do not know why, counterfeit checks are used to withdraw money from your bank account, you receive calls from collection agencies about bills for accounts established with your personal information that you do not know about,and other problems that you may have with your personal information.
Should I order a copy of my credit reports to find out if I am a victim of identity theft? Yes, you may want to consider doing this if you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft. You would want to order a copy of your credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies which are: Equifax www.equifax.com 1-800-685-1111; Experian www.experian.com 1-888-397-3742; and; TransUnion www.transunion.com 1-800-916-8800.
What should I do if my identity is stolen by someone? Contact the three credit reporting agencies as soon as possible and let them know that you are a victim of ID theft and ask them to place a fraud alert and your statement as a victim in your credit report file. Order a copy of your credit report from each agency to check the information on your report.
Contact the credit reporting agencies fraud units at these telephone numbers or addresses: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, P.O. Box 74021, Atlanta, GA. 30374-0241:: Experian: 1-888-397-3742, P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX. 75013:: TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289, Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA. 92834-6790.
Should I close my credit and checking accounts if ID theft has occurred? Yes, you may want to consider closing your credit and checking accounts if you suspect identity theft. Contact your bank and creditors about your identity being stolen and consider closing your accounts and establish new ones.
If your checks are stolen, request that your bank notify the check verification company that they use. You may also want to contact the major check verification companies as well.
The major check verification companies that you would want to contact are the following: Telecheck, 1-800-710-9898 or 1-800-927-0188:: Certegy Inc., 1-800-437-5120:: and; International Check Services, 1-800-631-9656.
You may also want to contact a company known as Scan at 1-800-262-7771 to find out if an identity thief has been using your checks. In addition, you should also contact your local police department and report that your identity has been stolen.
Make sure that you file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about your identity being stolen as well. You can file this report at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
5 Tips To Save Money And The Earth
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 336)
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You just can't get that memo right, can you? You print out the first draft and find a misspelling. You print out the second draft and discover you missed some commas. You print out the third draft and later decide on a new title. Now the final draft is ready for printing. Before you throw away those wasted sheets of paper, stop and realize that you could be costing your business as well as the environment.
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.
Thinking About Buying A Vehicle Here Are Some Things You Should Consider Before You Do
(category: Personal-Finance, Word count: 642)
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You're thinking about purchasing a vehicle but are not quite sure about what type of vehicle you should choose. Well, it's not easy making decisions about a major purchase. Especially if it's a vehicle you're about to buy. Before you decide, take a look at these tips and information which may help you in determining what vehicle may be right for you:
1) First and foremost, how much money do you have to spend for a vehicle which will fit comfortably within your budget? That's right! Can you afford to add a monthly payment to your budget for a vehicle? If so, how much can you afford to spend without creating problems with your finances. Think about it, and make the decision which will be right for you.
2) After you make the decision to purchase a vehicle, determine what you will be using the vehicle for. This will assist you with deciding on the type of vehicle you may want to purchase. For instance, do you have a long commute to your job? You may want to purchase a vehicle that gets good gas mileage.
3) Do your research on the vehicle you want to purchase by using the internet as a resource. This is by far your greatest source for getting the best price on the vehicle you want to purchase. For example, a source you may want to consider viewing, would be www.edmunds.com. At that particular website you can get information on the dealer's invoice pricing. This will assist you in negotiating the price of your vehicle with the dealership you're considering purchasing your vehicle from. In addition, you may want to also consider checking out www.cars.com and www.pricequotes.com to assist you in securing pricing information for your next vehicle.
4) Get your financing before you make your vehicle purchase! That's right, get pre-approved. By doing this, you'll be in the driver's seat when you're negotiating your vehicle purchase with the seller for the vehicle you're trying to purchase. You'll want to research the best interest rate you can get. A great way to do this is also via the internet. Some of the websites you may want to consider checking for vehicle finance rates are: www.bankrate.com and www.eloan.com.
5) Make sure that you check your credit report and FICO score prior to applying for your vehicle finance loan. You want to ensure that you know your credit history and score so you'll be in a better position to negotiate your interest rate with your prospective lender.
6) To buy or lease what should I do? Good question. That will depend on what you will be using your vehicle for. You'll need to determine the pros and cons of leasing or buying. You'll want to think about the number of miles you'll be driving per year, money you have for a down payment, how long you want to keep the vehicle and anything else you can think of. To help you decide whether or not you should lease or buy, you may want to do some research by using the internet and visiting such websites like www.smartmoney.com. . Websites like this, can provide you with detailed information on whether or not you should lease or buy your next vehicle.
So, you can see how important it is to do some research before your purchase your next vehicle! You'll be in a better position with the information you have obtained when you're ready to make your purchase. You'll be glad you got the information before you attempted to purchase your vehicle. You've probably not only saved yourself lots of time, but, more importantly you've saved yourself money and have become more educated as a consumer about purchasing a vehicle in the long run!
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