Fighting Over Spending Habits

The second installment in this brief series in fighting over money is the other most common reason couples fight: spending habits. We all develop our own unique spending style and philosophy. Some fun loving individuals believe in the motto – you only live once – and therefore spend with that goal in mind. Others look further ahead to the future and all that money can provide them if they save and invest wisely. If these two types marry, then the setup is certain disaster. Most couples are not this extremely different, but everyone has some disagreements about spending. We are … Continue reading →

To Tip or Not To Tip

When you go out to a full service restaurant do you always tip? Do you tip at least ten percent? If you say no to either one of these questions, you are potentially hurting another person who works hard for her money. Many people sit back at restaurants wondering, why exactly should I tip the waiter? I don’t get tipped for my job! But, many of these people may not realize exactly how the wages of a waitress actually work. Like it or not, the tradition in the United States is to tip at full service restaurants. Because of this … Continue reading →

Friends and Money

Do your friends influence your money decisions? You may be surprised at how much they really do. Your friends are not necessarily a bad influence, and you may be surprised at the decisions that you are making on a subconscious level because of your friends. I have seen groups of friends that spend a great deal of time shopping together. If this is the way you spend time with your friends then your money decisions, the places that you shop and how much you spend may be directly influenced by your friends. If your friends are the type that love … Continue reading →

Walk Away

To continue on with our discussions on good shopping techniques, I wanted to elaborate more on dealing with a strong sales pitch. Salespeople who work on commission can be brutal in their approach to get you to buy a product. In general, it is good to use a store employee for basic advice and to ring up your purchase… but try to avoid them when they begin that typical sales pitch. Being a salesperson is an art form, especially if when one is very talented. It can be easy to be swayed by their pressure, even when you may think … Continue reading →

Phone Bill Savings

Competition for your phone bill dollars is fierce. From the introduction of cell phones to the newest in Internet, cable and fiber optic phone systems, the marketplace for keeping in touch has exploded. Generally speaking, whenever there is a large amount of companies vying for your business you should be able to get a great value. I use the word value, instead of price for a reason. Mainly because I don’t want to encourage you to go for the best price, as the best price may actually be worthless if it doesn’t fit your needs. A good example of poor … Continue reading →

Why Not Ask?

Have you ever been out shopping and notice that something you are purchasing has a small flaw? Did you put it back on the shelf or buy it anyway? If it is something you can live with, next time… ask the store for a discount. Last time you were shopping, did you have to wait in an especially long line? Was there an unusual delay to the start of an event? Next time, ask for a discount. Basically, it can often simply take the effort to ask and you can save money. Certainly the worst thing the store can say … Continue reading →

Check that Bill

Are you checking that bill and checking it twice? Whether it is your phone bill or credit card statement, it is critical you spend a little time verifying each debit and credit. Understanding how you are billed and what exactly is on your statements cannot only help you find errors; it can help you prevent scams and identity theft as well. It surprises some to think that scams can even occur on everyday expenses such as your home phone bill. Unfortunately they do happen and many consumers pay these expenses completely unknowingly. Really, before you ever pay any bill or … Continue reading →

Use the Phone

Have you ever found yourself driving all over town to find an item at the best price? Then finally giving in and buying it at the second stop to save the hassle. This is a common situation where we start off with the best intentions to save money and then the traffic or the swift salesperson throws us off. The phone is your weapon in defense. A crafty salesperson can’t convince you to buy and you can cover more ground much quicker. Using your phone for product research can benefit you whether you are buying school supplies or a car. … Continue reading →

Do Coupons Really Save You Money?

Are you a coupon clipper? Do you think maybe you should be? Certainly the question has arisen in anyone’s mind who doesn’t clip any coupons… should I be? Then there are those who are actually clipping the coupons who ask the question… is this really making any difference? I have tried it both ways. To be brutally honest, I think coupons make very little difference in the big financial picture, and to do them right they take loads of time. Now, I know there are those out there who would disagree with me. If you are one, please comment on … Continue reading →

Rural Living Money Saving Tips

If you live in the country you will be faced with different advantages and challenges in saving money. Let’s examine some of the most common. Take advantage of the following ways to save money with rural living: 1. Country living usually means more opportunity to live off the land. In this case, you can save money on food by having a garden or raising chickens. 2. Easier access to quality handmade goods. Whether you are crafty yourself or just live near a rural community, the opportunity to purchase and sell quality handcrafted items is plenty. With rural living offering farmer’s … Continue reading →