Tag: Save money

  • Money Saving: Your Choices for the Best Results

    Money Saving: Your Choices for the Best Results

    There are certain suggestions that will help you to save money every month without sacrificing your quality of life. Here are the Money saving tips that you should be aware of.

    Saving money every month is quite important in order to prepare for an unknown future. It will be able to organize projects with peace of mind (holidays, children’s education, retirement) with the help of a tiny safety mattress, as you will no longer have to worry about the hassles of daily life (and what if the washing machine breaks down?)

    Make your payment in cash (not with a card)

    Using your bank card to make a purchase is really convenient. Furthermore, with contactless payments, it becomes a child’s game to make purchases. We pull out the credit card, insert it into the machine, and the transaction is complete!

    However, when we use this mode of payment, we soon lose track of our expenditures and debts. You are no longer aware of the money leaving your wallet and entering the pocket of someone else. If you have a tendency to overspend, consider using cash instead.

    Make a budget for the week, withdraw the money from the dispenser, and spend the rest of the week just with the money you have removed from the dispenser. This method will make it much simpler for you to keep your spending under control, as you will soon discover.

    Quit smoking if you are a smoker

    The use of cigarettes is detrimental for your health as well as your bank account. If you smoke, do you have a clear understanding of how much money you are spending (burning) on tobacco?

    Yes, these figures are out of this world. Can’t save money while also smoking? So there you have it, you just have to concentrate on this one and only step at this point. Your pocketbook and your hands will express their gratitude.

    Never hesitate to visit your primary care physician or a tobacco treatment expert if you want to stop smoking. Though difficult, the effort is well worthwhile.

    Reduce your intake of alcoholic beverages

    Cigarettes have a corollary in the form of alcohol. A little glass of white wine at home, a small Mojito in a bar with friends, and a vodka-redbull at a nightclub are all acceptable options. Alcohol is incredibly costly, whether it is purchased in pubs, restaurants, or stores. Indeed, taxes account for almost 80% of the cost of a bottle of strong alcoholic beverages (whiskey, vodka, and pastis).

    Make use of your company’s Works Council

    If you are fortunate enough to work for a major firm, you will almost certainly be able to participate in its works council.

    Stay away from private sales

    Your query is valid; on private sales websites, you may discover some very remarkable bargains and special offers. However, the issue with these sites is that they encourage users to consume their content. You enter onto your account with no actual intention of making a purchase, and then you stumble across a wild promotion. However, given the deal, you convince yourself that you won’t be able to resist purchasing this product.

    And you end up making a purchase

    You might get your mouth watering by visiting private sales websites. They begin by teasing the sale a few days before it really takes place. Then, once the sale is underway, you must act quickly since the merchandise is limited in quantity. The first come, first served policy applies. No amount of time may be provided to allow you to consider whether or not you really need these products.

    Volunteer as a mystery shopper

    Companies use mystery shoppers on a regular basis to ensure that their quality standards are maintained. As a result, these customers will take on the role of inspectors, completing a questionnaire and noting any areas that may be improved.

    As recompense for your inquiry, the corporation may offer you a salary ranging from a few hundred euros (for the simplest tasks) to many tens of thousands of euros (for more complex missions). Other firms will give you the opportunity to win gift cards in lieu of cash. In any case, you will be paid for any expenses you may incur!

    Re-negotiate the terms of your insurance policy

    Insurance is a requirement for everybody who drives a vehicle or rents an apartment, regardless of their financial situation. Each month, you must make a payment to your insurance company in order to be covered in the case of a loss. Is this, however, the best option? Shouldn’t you be looking at what’s going on in other parts of the world? As a result, switching insurers might result in significant savings; thus, do not hesitate to get quotations on the internet. When switching insurance policies, use caution and don’t only look at the price. You should also consider the services provided, the amount of deductibles, and other factors.

    Place large quantities of orders

    When compared to a major distributor, you have less negotiation leverage as a small customer. It’s a little like the story of David and Goliath. As a result, customers developed the notion of banding together to make an order in order to have more negotiation leverage.

    Be on the lookout for gondola heads

    Gondola heads are used by distributors to draw attention to their major specials in supermarkets. We’re not simply doing excellent business there, however, so keep an eye out for that! As a starting point, ask yourself whether you really need those 30 candy bars. Although it’s true that the promotion is appealing, we’re still talking about the 30 bars here.

    Make sure the coupons are valid (and cashback)

    On the internet, it is simple to compare costs across various companies and get fantastic offers on the products you want. However, by being a bit more resourceful, we can reduce the amount even more! And all of this is possible because of discounts and other cashback schemes.

    It is difficult to save money when you have to pay for things such as lodging, food, and entertainment. Furthermore, one out of every two French citizens saves less than $50 every month.

    Conclusion

    Know that when you acquire a new product, its value reduces by 20 to 30 percent during the first 30 days after purchasing it. After a few months, its present worth is just around half of what it was when it was purchased. The value of new items depreciates at an alarming rate.

  • 6 Tips for Living a Healthy Lifestyle on a Budget at Any Age

    6 Tips for Living a Healthy Lifestyle on a Budget at Any Age

    Eating healthy, managing stress, and staying physically active are the most important things you can do to stay healthy at any age. It’s also possible for anyone, even older adults, to live a healthy lifestyle on a budget.

    Life insurance rates are based on your health status, medical history, age, gender, and occupation. These rates are the cheapest when you are young and healthy. It can be challenging and costly to find term life insurance for seniors, but there are other insurance options for older adults.
    We will include why a healthy lifestyle is important, tips for living a healthy lifestyle, and the impact this has on insurance rates.

    Why is a healthy lifestyle important?
    Eating a healthy diet and staying physically active are the best things you can do to lower your risk for health conditions. Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are some of the most common chronic diseases in Americans. Living a healthy lifestyle goes a long way in helping prevent these conditions.

    If you are eating nutritious foods and staying physically active, you will also experience many other health benefits. You will feel more energized, have improved moods, sleep better, and manage stress.

    Older adults will find they feel better and move better when they are living a healthy lifestyle. You will have more energy to keep up with children and grandchildren. You will also find it easier to complete daily activities like carrying in groceries, checking the mail, and cleaning.

    6 Tips for Living a Healthy Lifestyle

    #1 – Plan Your Meals
    Planning meals and snacks not only helps you eat healthier but can also save you money. Before you go to the grocery store, think about what meals you will eat in the few days or weeks ahead. See what you have on hand and make a list of what you need for those meals.

    You can use the store advertisements to see what foods are on sale and plan your meals around those foods. Plan meals and snacks to include at least two to three food groups with a source of protein and fiber. Include colorful fruits and vegetables, plenty of whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy products for a balanced and varied diet.

    #2 – Use Nutrition Labels
    The nutrition labels on foods are a wealth of information. They list the calories, portion size, the amounts of various nutrients for health, how those nutrients fall into our daily recommendations, ingredients, and common allergens.

    A quick and easy way to evaluate a food to see if it’s healthy or not is to use the percent daily value to the right of most of the nutrients on the label. If the percentage is 20% or above, the food is high in that nutrient. If the percentage is 5% or less, the food is low in that nutrient.

    #3 – Try Other Protein Options
    Meat can be an expensive part of your food budget. You can either cut back on the amount of meat you are consuming, buy meat on sale, or try other protein options. Foods that are a good source of protein but less expensive are beans, eggs, canned tuna, nuts, seeds, nut butter, and soy products like tofu and tempeh.

    #4 – Schedule Exercise
    One way to stick to an exercise routine is to plan it in your day like a doctor’s appointment or write it in your calendar if that’s helpful. Some people like to schedule fitness classes or meet with a personal trainer to help stay accountable. Others have success with exercising first thing in the morning, while some enjoy a workout after work or during a break in the day.

    Staying active can fit into any budget. If you don’t want to pay for a gym membership, fitness classes, or a personal trainer, hit the great outdoors. You can walk, run, or do bodyweight exercises in a park or your neighborhood to enjoy the benefits of physical activity.

    #5 – Do Activities You Enjoy
    There’s no reason to participate in physical activities that you don’t enjoy. You are more likely to keep up with a routine if you are doing exercises and activities that you like doing. Swimming, walking, biking, or dancing are affordable and fun for any age.

    #6 – Manage Stress
    Everyone has stress in their lives, but the key is finding a way to manage that stress. Hobbies, exercise, counseling, relaxation, spiritual activities, social engagement, and staying organized are all ways to manage stress.

    How does health impact life insurance rates?
    Life insurance rates are based on your health status, medical history, age, gender, and occupation. These rates are the cheapest when you are young and healthy. Your health status and any medical issues can make insurance more costly.

    You can work with an insurance agent or compare rates online to find the best life insurance options for your situation. Taking care of your health improves your quality of life and keeps you energized to live your best life.

    Stay Healthy and Save Money
    Living a healthy lifestyle can fit into anyone’s budget, from young adults to older adults. There are many ways you can eat healthily, stay active, and manage stress to stay healthy and manage money.

    Melissa Morris writes and researches for the life insurance comparison site, ExpertInsuranceReviews.com. She is a university professor of nutrition and a certified sports nutritionist.

     

  • Tips for Making Travel More Affordable

    Tips for Making Travel More Affordable

    Making your travel dreams a reality does not have to come at the expense of all your hard-earned money. Travel can fit into any budget. Often, people worry that travel can’t be a reality for them because of cost, but with these simple and practical tips, you can make your travel dreams come true.

    Whether you’re flying across the globe and looking for the best flight deals or heading out on a road trip and need roadside assistance plans, there are many ways to make travel more affordable. Here are some of the best ones to keep in mind.
    Shop Around for the Best Rates
    For everything from flights to insurance, it’s best to do your research and shop around to find the best price possible. The four major expenses of any trip are transportation, accommodation, insurance, and the activities you partake in your location such as tours, eating out, or drinks.
    Transportation
    Transportation can quickly add up to the most expensive aspect of any trip. You’ll have to consider everything from car rentals, flight options, driving costs like gas, or even using ride-sharing apps. This is where the research comes in. Finding the cheapest transportation options isn’t always easy, but if you’re patient and put in the work, it can save you lots of money.
    Accommodations
    There are tons of different types of accommodations to choose from at all different budget levels. If you have a bit more wiggle room, you can look into hotels and resorts. But if you want to cut costs, those don’t have to be your only options.

    If you’re going abroad and want to save money, perhaps check out the hostel options. You could also look at rentals like Air that tend to have more budget-friendly options. Camping is also a great inexpensive option.
    Insurance
    There are various types of insurance you will need depending on what type of trip you’ll be going on. Road trip? You will need car insurance, maybe something with roadside assistance. If you’ll be renting a car, you’ll want to look into car rental insurance. If you’re flying to another country, you want to make sure you have international traveler’s insurance.

    There are countless options. This is where you will have to do a bit of research and compare the price and coverage of each insurance plan. While some may be more expensive, it might be worth it for better coverage and peace of mind on your trip. It could end up saving you money in the long run if something were to go wrong.
    Activities and Attractions
    If there are popular tourist attractions in your destination or must-do activities, it’s likely that there are multiple tour companies offering similar experiences at these places. Shop around and compare prices and offers from each group. You might also want to check with your accommodation to see if they offer anything at a discounted rate.

    This is an area where you can make smart decisions to save money. Choose not to go to the most expensive restaurant, or perhaps cook a meal at your Airbnb. You could even stop at the grocery store and pick up items for breakfast and lunch to save on two meals a day. This is an area where you can save loads of money or rack up a big bill quickly.
    Travel During the Off-Season
    This might just be one of the top money-saving travel hacks out there. Traveling to a destination during its off season can save you loads of money. Typically, accommodation prices jump way up during peak season, as do popular tourist attractions. Flights may also drop dramatically during these off periods.

    Going to a location during their less busy season can have many additional benefits. Having fewer people to contend with means smaller crowds and fewer lines. You might also get to see a place from a different viewpoint because you are visiting when most people don’t. It can be special to visit a place during these less crowded times of the year.
    Use Point Systems and Travel Credit Cards
    Using points systems such as airline miles and travel credit cards that let you redeem points to cover travel costs can be a huge money saver. It may not seem like it, but these points can add up quickly, and in the long run, they will save you money on baggage fees, accommodations, rentals, and more. Some rewards programs are even free.

    Keep in mind that you have to find the right credit card for you and a point system that fits your needs. For example, if one card offers points for shopping at a particular grocery store, make sure you actually shop at that grocery store, or you won’t accumulate points very quickly.
    Make Travel a Priority
    At the end of the day, you won’t save money for travel unless you really want to travel. You have to make it a priority to save extra money for travel. Can you forego that latte? Can you cut your monthly budget by not eating out and save the extra for your next trip? Every little bit helps, and when you commit to saving for travel, you will be that much closer to making it a reality.

    Sam Timmerman writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsurance.org. She is an experienced budget traveler who has been to more than 40 countries around the world.

  • How Auto-Pay Can Help You Stay on Top of Your Bills

    How Auto-Pay Can Help You Stay on Top of Your Bills

    The worst part about being an adult is the responsibility of paying your bills. Utilities such as water, heat, electrical, and gas are a necessary pain. Insurance premiums for your home and vehicle are also imperative to keep up with.

    Staying organized and being punctual with your payments will save you money in the long run and keep you in the good graces of those to whom you owe money. Many banks allow you to use auto-pay options, which take away the hassle of remembering when everything is due.

    Even when you know a due date, life can get in the way and make it more convenient to change the due date to a different time. But is every entity that you owe money flexible with due dates? Or do they desire for their customers to be right on the nose?

    This article will help answer many of the questions you may have about paying your bills, such as “Can I change my car insurance payment date?” and “Do auto-pay options with my bank have any drawbacks to them?”

    Car Insurance Companies and Late Payments
    When it comes to car insurance bills, most companies will be flexible with their due dates on payments. Remember, the best insurance companies will treat the relationship between customer and business as a humanistic one. Don’t be afraid to communicate and treat the relationship as one that is on equal footing.

    So many customers fret that they need to fear the auto insurance industry as they do the IRS or another federal entity that is going to arrest them and discipline them for a late payment. Your business is valuable and if you find that your current provider is not working with you in a reasonable manner, it may be time to explore your options and make a switch.

    It’s easy to take control of your insurance options by shopping online or asking a friend. Remember, though, that if you are switching insurance companies frequently, think about why you are never satisfied with your agency and their policies on things like late payments.

    Healthy understanding is a two-way street. Never paying your bills, even when you have asked for multiple late payments, will lead to consequences.

    If it feels like manual payments are never going to be right for you, you should take a look at auto-pay options.

    The Pros of Auto Payments

    Setting your bills on auto payment is super easy and allows people who have a hard time keeping track of all of their expenses to never have to worry about late fees or other repercussions of forgetting to pay up.

    Auto payment can be especially helpful if you are on your last limb with your insurance company, you want to stay with them, and you promise to pay up after messing up so many times in the past.

    This is also important if you are forgetting to pay bills that are essential to living a suitable life for your family and yourself. Never paying the water bill is going to put you at risk of losing one of nature’s greatest gifts; not paying for electricity is going to send you back to the Renaissance for lighting resources.

    The Cons of Auto Payments
    This doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides to automatically paying for bills, though. What if the payment changes on a monthly basis? You may find yourself searching for funds or wondering why the auto payment has bounced when there aren’t enough dollars and cents in the piggy bank.

    If you decide to put entertainment subscriptions on auto pay, you’ll look back with extreme regret that you didn’t give yourself the opportunity to cancel before paying another 80 bucks for four different streaming services, three of which you never watch anymore.

    These problems won’t affect everyone. Many people will look at and evaluate all of their auto payments on a monthly basis to make sure their bank accounts have a sufficient balance and that they aren’t getting overcharged for paying for something they no longer use.

    But if you are the type of person who meticulously examines your finances for ways to save money, why would you need auto payments? You would just as well want to manually pay each and every bill so that you can save time worrying about what’s flying out of your account without your knowledge.
    The Verdict on Using Auto-Pay for Bills
    Whatever is best for you, make sure that you evaluate what types of bills are right for automatic, and which ones are better suited for manual. It’s always nice to find a balance for everything in modern society.

    Financial responsibility is actually a very personal and unique experience. Some of us want to earn online, and others are more old school. Even though we all have to worry about paying our expenses, the ways we do it are specific to our lifestyles.

    Gather the information you need and go from there. Success should always follow this philosophy.

    Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, autoInsurance.org. He enjoys helping people evaluate and maintain their financial situation.

  • Saving money: Tips for more money at the end of the month

    Saving money: Tips for more money at the end of the month

    For the money saving tips you need to be strategic in every possible manner. You need to be specific when addressing the entire process of work.

    The view of the balance at the end of the month causes discomfort for many people, because often than just the money reserves are drawing to a close. We’ll tell you how to save more money so you can check your balance without worries.

    How you can save money

    Everybody has a wish that he would like to fulfill in good time. What are often missing is time and the necessary financial reserves. Here’s how to plan your time better. How you can save money, you can find out below.

    There are many areas where you can save money. In some cases, there are small amounts; in other cases you can save several hundred euros over months. Small changes seem hardly worthwhile at first. But if you count the savings together for months, the change has paid off. It will be even more rewarding if you change many little things. After a year you will notice how your savings add up and you get a financial buffer.

    The smallest changes can do a lot. Your quality of life will not suffer from these changes. When you realize what you can do with your savings, you realize that you can even improve your standard of living. You could for example:

    • Pay off your debts
    • Go off on holiday
    • To fulfill a long-cherished wish
    • Give a present to your sweetheart

    So you can go through life carefree, make yourself and your loved ones happy. It will give you more pleasure to spend your money on these things than to waste nothing for the entire month. Saving money also ensures that you live more consciously and think about your consumption. For the money saving tips the followings are also important.

    Saving money in the household & in everyday life

    In the household, there are some things that you can keep in mind to save money permanently. Many changes you will not notice, others are fast becoming routine. What you’ll notice are the positive changes in your wallet.

    But only in the household, but also in the normal everyday life, you can save a lot of money. If you notice a few simple things and consciously consume them, you can relieve your wallet.

    Change supplier

    If you want to start saving money, it’s worth looking first at your ongoing contracts. These include electricity and gas providers and your DSL tariff. Compare the contribution you pay to other offers. If these are cheaper, you should change providers as soon as possible to avoid losing more money.

    Save money with free checking account

    Many people have had the same account at “their” branch bank for decades – and pay unnecessary fees for account management and wire transfers, which are not charged by direct banks without thousands of costly branches. There is enormous potential for savings here, which is only associated with a small one-off effort – registration with the new bank, changes to direct debits and permanently brings enormous savings without compromising on comfort.

    When selecting a direct bank, the availability of free pick-up options should be ensured. If you have to pay high fees for every purchase of cash, the apparent cost advantage of direct banks over branch banks can quickly turn around.

    Affordable insure with direct insurance

    Similar to utilities and the bank account, many people are still stuck in old and expensive contracts with vendors with a costly network of branches and agents who pay dearly for contracts. The change to a direct insurer promises here beside cost savings of fast several hundred euro in the month also a large comfort plus, because with inquiries and in the insurance case the solution is often only a mouse click or a short telephone call away.

    Save money with cheaper credit

    If the end of the money is still a lot of month left or unplanned expensive purchase pending, your account balance will slip into the downside. The result: expensive overdraft interest.

    If you have a larger spend, or you want to balance the checking account and avoid the excessive interest rates, there are two recommended ways to save money for different needs.

    Reduce power consumption

    In the household you need a few large devices that can eat a lot of electricity. These include dishwasher, fridge, freezer and washing machine. They can already account for one fifth of the total electricity consumption. With some tricks you can reduce the power consumption of these devices.

    In addition, you can make sure that you turn off some devices completely and does not leave in standby mode. For this you pull the plug the best. It also offers connectors with integrated switch, with which you can easily remove devices with a push of a button power. This is useful, for example, in televisions, coffee machines, dryers and washing machines.

    There are many small things that you can change to reduce power consumption. If you switch to LED energy-saving lamps, you can already lower your electricity bill by a few percent. It is also effective if you think about your consumption. Many people tend to use multiple electronic devices at the same time. While the TV is on, they are surfing the internet. The TV often works casually without anyone paying attention to the program. If you only turn it on, if you want to actively watch a show, or even think about your general television consumption, you can lower your electricity bill.

  • Some mental tricks which helps in Money Saving

    Some mental tricks which helps in Money Saving

    The biggest barrier between saving and spending is probably comfort. It is difficult to reject something that we can enjoy at the moment because of something we will obtain in the distant future.

    Saving money is not a simple task: it is difficult to think in the long term to resist the temptations of the moment. However, fortunately we can trick our brain to do so. We bring you the 10 best mental tricks to save more and spend less.

    Let’s see what some of the best are:

    • Do not give up things, enjoy them more: Instead of thinking that you will have to give up eating at your favorite restaurant every week, think about how much you will enjoy it when you do it once a month. Psychologically it will be much easier to think that you are not giving up something, but enjoying it more.
    • The brake or accelerator method: A popular method is to imagine yourself inside a vehicle every time you make a financial decision: depending on what you decide you will be stepping on the brake or the accelerator. It depends on you how quickly you want to reach your destination.
    • Try the technique of the “unknown”: Every time you go to buy something imagine that a stranger gives you the option to choose between the product and the money that is worth that product. What would you choose? If you would opt for the money, you already have it in your pocket.
    • Impose the rule of 3 days: The technique consists of always giving you a few days to think between the moment you set out to buy a product, and the time to do it. Maybe during that period you realize that it was not so necessary.
    • Involve another person in your savings plan: Have a savings partner. Both you must share your financial goals and the plan to achieve them. Once a week you will meet to tell your progress. If you feel the support – and pressure – of another person you will be more likely to keep your word.
    • Try the technique of false rewards: This technique may be somewhat peculiar to you, but there are people to whom it works. Every time you buy something, imagine someone telling you that they will give you 3 euros if you do not. The mere fact of stopping to think can make you realize that you do not need to buy it as much as you think.
    • Put a photo in your portfolio that reminds you of your financial goal: Visual images have more impact on our brain. Keep a photo that reminds you of your goal in the portfolio, every time you go to pay something you will see it and ask yourself: what is more worth it?
    • Cover up your credit card: Put a physical barrier between you and your card by wrapping it. You can draw pictures of your goal or write down notes to remind you that it is only for emergency use.
    • Use the emergency test when you go shopping: To avoid wasting money on clothes before buying a garment, ask yourself if you would put it right out of the dressing room. If the answer is negative, it may not make you so excited.
    • Write down your savings goals: Studies show that people who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them. Write down your financial goals and take them with you when you feel tempted to spend.

    Other than these mental tricks there are some wise practices which while implemented in our daily life help in money saving:

    1. Write a list of all the things you want to fulfill. Dreams, goals and specific objectives such as paying your credit cards, a trip to Europe, buying the new Smartphone or a new computer, paying the initial of a house, etc.
    1. Make sure your goals are realistic and prioritize each of your savings goals. This helps reduce frustrations and escalate aspirations.
    1. Once the goals and the priority of each of them have been established over time, determine the amount of money you need for each one.
    2. Now make a list of all your monthly and annual expenses. If you already work with a budget, it will be easier to know how much money you have.
    3. After having your accounts clear, decide an amount to save money and for how long you will have to save that amount to achieve each of your objectives.
    4. Set a fixed monthly fee to save. The minimum recommended is to save 10% per month of your income. You can add up all the expenses to identify how much you spend in this category and start saving it instead of wasting money on small and unnecessary purchases.
    5. Consider saving money as a fixed monthly obligation, which is as important as the payment of basic services or rent. In this way you convert savings into a commitment and not an option, guaranteeing the fulfillment of your goals.
    6. One of the best tricks to save is to not use these funds for purposes other than the one that was established. Do not stop fulfilling any of your monthly payments and take care of the money you have saved. The best way to achieve this is with a budget.
    1. Finally, choose a means of formal savings. A savings account in the bank is the best option, this not only gives you the opportunity to save safely, but you can also get a return on the money saved with interest.

    Conclusion: Most people believe that money should be saved only when “left over”; They believe that they should wait to earn more money, get out of debt or get a better job to start saving, but to acquire the habit of saving, you just need to organize and have clear goals.