I’ve recently seen a television commercial that shows people throwing away food as soon as they’ve purchased it, rationalizing that they’re just going to throw it away later, so they might as well take care of that now. The commercial then goes on to state that we throw away around $500.00 of food every year because of spoilage. That really rang true for me—I clean out my fridge weekly, and tend to find all kinds of little things in there that shouldn’t be consumed by human mouths. I would estimate that yes, I do throw away about that much food. … Continue reading →

Earlier this week, I watched Extreme Couponing for the first time. I knew that people were saving big using coupons, but I had no idea that they were walking away with carts and carts of merchandise for free, or even getting all of their items for free and then getting money back from the store. Of course there were things that I noticed about the show that helped me to understand that there are drawbacks to the whole coupon thing, such as the types of foods and items that a person can find coupons for and the time that extreme … Continue reading →

With the holidays fast approaching many people are reconfiguring their household budgets to afford gifts, parties and other unexpected expenses that come with hosting out of town guests. Tis the season to get creative with your savings techniques That may mean cutting out your daily dose of Starbucks or re-evaluating whether you really need that weekly manicure. Another option is to channel your inner Martha Stewart so you can spruce up your house for holiday guests without breaking the bank. For example, instead of spending money on expensive storage units, decoupage affordable containers to use as totes for household items. … Continue reading →

Financial experts, from Suze Orman to Maria Bartiromo often suggest putting away a set amount of cash each month to cover emergencies. The advice looks great on paper, but when you’re pinching pennies saving money can be next to impossible. After all, how can you save what you don’t have? According to experts, in cases where your budget is stretched to the limit, you should still put aside a few dollars per month. Even if you are only able to sock away $250 to $500 in a year’s time that money can help offset unexpected expenses, such as vehicle repairs … Continue reading →

The habits we develop determine whether we are a success or a failure. The way we handle stress, the things we do to reward ourselves, and our payday routines will all impact our financial stability. If we go shopping when stressed or as a reward and come home with bags of unneeded items, we’re obviously not laying a solid financial foundation. But what about our payday habits? What do you do when you first get your check? First, I hope you verify the amount instead of just assuming you received the same as always. Sometimes deductions are taken without our … Continue reading →

The lure of luxuriating in a brand-new home, vehicle or outfit is extremely enticing for many people. However, being able to pay for all that glittery, brand-new goodness can be a challenge, especially if you struggle with saving and budgeting. Financial experts recommend carefully evaluating your income, spending habits and credit prior to purchasing new. For example, if you are eyeing a new vehicle, it’s a good idea to save at least 20 percent for a down payment rather than borrowing the total amount due. If you don’t have the cash, then look at raising some by trading in an … Continue reading →

I hate ATM fees. Hate. Talk about a waste of money. I firmly believe ATM and credit card fees, as well as bank overdrafts are piranhas in the world of personal finance. These days, some banks charge up to $5 per transaction if you get cash from a machine that is not in your ATM network. Meanwhile, some banks charge $25-$45 per overdraft violation. Don’t get hit with these frivolous fees. Instead, plan ahead so you have cash on hand without having to hit up an ATM that’s not approved by your bank. To avoid overdraft fees, each time you … Continue reading →

If you are anything like me, for much of my life I thought that if you were going to buy something and there is a price listed on the item then that was the price that you had to pay. When I started working in the hospitality industry a few years ago, I realized that the listed price is not always what every customer pays. As part of my job working at the front desk of a nice country inn, I was given the authority to bargain with people that came in off of the road looking for a room … Continue reading →

Impulse buying—we all do it. In fact, I would wager that every time we go to the store, we come home with at least two things we threw in our carts totally spur of the moment. An item here and there can’t really break the budget, can it? Well, if it’s an item here and there every time we go to the store, those extra dollars add up and we find ourselves wondering where all our money went. How do we keep that impulse buying under control? Here are some ideas. First, as you place something in your cart, ask … Continue reading →

Everybody knows the importance of creating a budget to keep your finances on track. There are some situations that make creating and sticking to a budget difficult. Irregular income is certainly one of these. If one or both wage-earners in a family are self-employed or work at jobs that do not pay on a traditional regularly-timed, predictable earning schedule it is hard to know how much money is going to come through the door each month. Unfortunately, the world does not provide exceptions for those of us with irregular incomes. Your bills are due on the same day every month … Continue reading →