We all love money! And in these tough time, we like to save as much as possible. Even saving small bits of money can add up in the long run! Let us know your tips as well!
Tax Tips Tax Day’s right around the corner, and according to the IRS, almost half of all taxpayers will hire a professional accountant to help file their return. Experts say that’s a smart way to make sure your return’s filed correctly, but if you’re not careful, hiring a tax pro could also cost you more money! Here’s what you need to know, according to MSN’s financial blog “Business on Main.”
You’ll pay more if you’re not PREPARED. Tax pros charge fees based on the complexity of your return, and the number of hours it takes to crunch the numbers. Unfortunately, they can’t start crunching until they have all the necessary numbers. So, if you’re the type who brings a W-2 form one week, and then a stack of receipts the next week, you’ll pay a higher fee.
Another thing a tax pro won’t tell you: Early birds generally pay less. Accountants do most of their business between March 15th and April 15th. So, experts say the ideal time to hire a tax pro is in February. That’s when they’ll have more free time to focus on your paperwork, and get the job done faster. As a result, you’ll pay less.
Also know this: Tax pros don’t like rush jobs. Good accountants will rarely accept new clients within a week of the April 15th tax deadline. Why? Because the less time they have to work on your return, the more likely they’ll be to make mistakes, and mistakes are bad for business. So, if you plan to wait ‘til the last minute to file your taxes, be prepared to pay much higher fees.One more thing tax pros won’t tell you: Some make less than a fast-food worker. During tax season, most big accounting chains hire part-time workers to help sort through the mountain of paperwork. Those part-timers rarely have any kind of formal training, and they generally make less than $9 an hour! That could be a problem if they make a mistake that costs you more money down the line. So, before you trust anyone with your financial information, ask if they’re a certified public accountant. CPAs will generally handle your return faster, so you can pay less.
Money Saving Tips for Renters - From Smartmoney.com Smartmoney.com has these great tips. Pick a friendlier credit card
“Being on the wrong card can cost people thousands more a year in interest rates and fees,” says Schwark Satyavolu, a co-founder of comparison tool BillShrink.com. “Even if you pay off the balance in full each month, you could be leaving hundreds of dollars on the table in rewards.” Terms and conditions are changing rapidly as banks add fees and jack up interest rates in preparation for the new federal regulations that go into effect on Feb. 22. After that date, compare your options using a site like BillShrink.com or CardRatings.com to make sure you have the best card for your financial situation and spending habits.
Get Ready For Tax Time: Tax Time is around the corner, andThesimpledollar.com has some great tips that you can do NOW to be ready by April. In a nutshell, prepare by getting things in one place, get your software now and learn it before crunch time, make an estimate, and if you need a preparer, do your research to find the right one.
Things Not To Buy In 2010: As more and more products come out, and platforms change, here's an article of things not to buy in 2010, as they might be outdated in the future. Including Textbooks. Buy those at Cheapesttextbooks.com, Booksprice.com or even Amazon.com. Download them at Coursesmart.com even rent them at Chegg.com. For the links and more things not to buy, check out the article here.
What to buy in January at the stores: The time to buy home goods is now, says Dan de Grandpre, the chief executive of sale-tracking site DealNews. Small appliances, kitchen gadgets and some home décor items are being sold for cheaper prices than normal.
However, television-set shoppers will have to wait a bit before they can see substantial markdowns. The best deals for TVs pop up right in the middle of January, he says. “Retailers usually aim for some sort of Super Bowl tie-in,” de Grandpre says. Thanks to Smartmoney.com
11 Things Not Worth the Money from savvysugar.com Bottled Water
You need to drink enough water on a daily basis to keep yourself properly hydrated, but you don't need to drain your wallet to do so. Avoid buying bottles of water that are only good for a few uses; it's better for your wallet and the environment to invest in one that's ready for endless use.
Something you don't need to ask your landlord - If saving money is your main concern, start by taking small, simple steps to cut your electricity bill, like replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent or halogen bulbs and unplugging electronics when they’re not in use, or plugging them into a power strip that you can easily turn off. Some power strips now come with remote controls to save you having to “crawl back behind the desk,” says Jung.
How to Save Money in 2010(or anytime for that matter)
Track your cash
Shoppers can’t account for an average $21 spent each week, according to a September survey by Visa (V). Tallied up, that’s $1,092 per year in mystery purchases. Sign up for a free financial management site like Mint.com or Wesabe.com, which sync with your bank accounts to automatically sort and track purchases. You can also set budgets for individual categories, and receive email or text alerts when your spending nears that pre-set limit. There are plenty of sites out there, so use our guide to find the right one for you.
Join loyalty clubs
Retailers offer benefits in loyalty programs, knowing that most customers are apt to forget their cards or otherwise miss out on perks, says Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Pace University in New York City. Don’t make that mistake: Keep cards in your wallet or on a key-ring, or add the account numbers to your smartphone. Loyalty programs can cover varied purchases, including books, movie theater excursions, restaurant meals and even flu shots.
Hunt for coupon codes
The marketing strategy of offering coupon codes to cement customer loyalty is increasingly popular with retailers. Take advantage. Step 1: Type a retailer’s name and “code” into Google. Step 2: Use the results to save significantly on your in-store and online purchases. (Headphone maker Skullcandy, for example, recently offered code FROSTY50 for shoppers to save 50% on its products at checkout.) Bookmark our list of all-around favorite coupon sites here. We also have lists for parents, and for saving on groceries, clothing and electronics.
Shop the grocery sales circular
Though many products on circulars only come up on sale once every 10 to 12 weeks, by shopping smart, you can still cut your bill by more than 50% with a combination of coupons, weekly grocery store sales and store rebates. “They’ll practically pay you to take that bag of potato chips out of the store,” says Cindy Chapman, a spokeswoman for social networking site MomsLikeMe.com.
Pay cash
Buy-now-pay-later of credit cards sound friendly, but are designed to entice you to spend more. A 2008 study by researchers at the University of Toronto and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City found that the opportunity to earn rewards led more consumers to pay by credit, even if they were already carrying a balance. Instead, flash bills. It will keep you in check and might also lead to discounts on everything from health care to jewelry to gasoline.
Reassess your phone plan
Carriers constantly offer new plans and promotions -- which may mean a better deal than your current selection. Use tools at LetsTalk.com and BillShrink.com to compare available options against your current plan. Infrequent talkers (fewer than 200 minutes a month) may save more in the long run by paying an early-termination fee and switching to prepaid service.
Cut spending on pets
The fuzziest members of your family need to adhere to the household budget, too. In 2008, pet owners spent an average $670 per dog and $447 per cat on vet care, food, grooming, treats and toys, according to the American Pet Products Association. Pay less by shopping around. Petco offers its signature plush dog toy for $5.97, while Wal-Mart has a three-pack of a similar toy for $7 -- roughly $2.33 apiece.
Haggle
“When times get tough, consumers have to get aggressive,” says Scott Testa, an assistant professor of business administration at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pa. “On a high-priced item, you’re crazy if you don’t haggle.” It doesn’t take a hard-line negotiation in most cases, either – you just have to ask if there’s any chance for a better price, he says. For example, 68% of landlords said they would lower rents or give a month or more free to retain tenants, according to a recent Rent.com survey. (For good haggling opportunities to take advantage of, click here and here.)Collective buying groups like Groupon.com serve as haggling on training wheels, offering prenegotiated discounts if a certain number of shoppers buy in. For more on those opportunities, click here.
Seal up your home
Don't let the air you're paying to warm in the winter and cool in the summer escape through cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets and other places. Enough sealing products like caulk and weather-stripping to block drafts would set you back just $25 to $50. In return, you’ll see your home’s energy efficiency improve by up to 20%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. For the average household, that could amount to more than $400 annually.
Join loyalty clubs
Retailers offer benefits in loyalty programs, knowing that most customers are apt to forget their cards or otherwise miss out on perks, says Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Pace University in New York City. Don’t make that mistake: Keep cards in your wallet or on a key-ring, or add the account numbers to your smartphone. Loyalty programs can cover varied purchases, including books, movie theater excursions, restaurant meals and even flu shots.
Hunt for coupon codes
The marketing strategy of offering coupon codes to cement customer loyalty is increasingly popular with retailers. Take advantage. Step 1: Type a retailer’s name and “code” into Google. Step 2: Use the results to save significantly on your in-store and online purchases. Bookmark Smartmoney.com's list of all-around favorite coupon sites here. We also have lists for parents, and for saving on groceries, clothing and electronics.
Shop the grocery sales circular
Though many products on circulars only come up on sale once every 10 to 12 weeks, by shopping smart, you can still cut your bill by more than 50% with a combination of coupons, weekly grocery store sales and store rebates. “They’ll practically pay you to take that bag of potato chips out of the store,” says Cindy Chapman, a spokeswoman for social networking site MomsLikeMe.com.
Brand Name Cleaning Supplies, Meds, Etc.
So many of the store brand options at the supermarket are just as good as the brand name products. Sure, there might be a certain item or two that you consider to be better quality than the store brand, but in general it's usually a wash — except for the prices. A word of warning: store brands aren't always cheaper, so make a habit of comparing prices.
First Class Tickets on Domestic Flights
Shelling out extra cash for a first class seat on a flight to a domestic destination isn't worth it in my book. Save your front of the plane experiences for longer, international flights.
DVDs
I love movies and own several DVDs. But you know what? The cost-per-use calculation for the majority of my collection is negative, so most of them weren't worth the money I paid for them. It's easy to get carried away and buy every movie that you think is pretty good, but try and limit your buys to the films that you know will be watched over and over again.
Regular Lunches Out
Most of the time, the lunches you buy out could have easily been made at home at a fraction of the cost. Unless the 10 minutes it takes to put together a lunch is more valuable than your $8 lunch, brown-bagging it seems to be a smarter move on most days.
Premium Gas When You Don't Need It If you're filling your tank with a higher grade of gas than your car's user manual calls for, you're probably wasting your money.
Magazines Without a Subscription
Most annual magazine subscriptions cost less than $20, but a publication purchased from the newsstand can cost $4 or more. The math says it all, buying mags without a subscription are typically not worth the marked up price.
Meals Out That You Could Easily Make Yourself
Dining out is something that I make room for in my budget, and when I go out, I make sure to order something I couldn't easily make myself. Why pay more for a meal that could be put together for less and taste just as good?
Upgrading Your Rental Car It's oh so tempting to rent a ride that's much sweeter than your own when you're on vacation. Resist the urge to upgrade your rental; depending on the length of your stay, you could end up paying hundreds more than necessary. A rental car isn't a status symbol.
Bottles of Wine at Restaurants Every time I select a bottle from a restaurant's wine menu, I cringe at how much the prices are marked up from the retail cost of each bottle. Try and find places that will let you BYOB or order by the glass, and save the wine list ordering for special occasions.
Detergent That's For Darks Only The laundry detergent intended for dark clothes only is a pretty smart marketing gimmick, but it's not worth buying into. Despite what the companies want you to believe, one bottle of detergent is enough to cover your various color loads without ruining the brights and darks.
Become a savvy shopper with these tips from MSN Money. Mainly dealing with tricks that supermarkets use to get you to spend more.
One of the tips - Inconvience Yourself:
Pre-sliced meats, bagged salads and chips packaged in handy snack packs all save you time in the kitchen, but they'll take a bigger bite out of your budget. Case in point: A head of green leaf lettuce at a New York City grocery store runs $1.99, while a bag of already-cut and washed lettuce from the same store is $2.89.
The lesson: You'll save money if you do more of the work yourself.
The same is true of processed foods. Instead of buying a jar of pasta sauce, you can buy a can of crushed tomatoes and some spices and make your own. And you might even cut some unwanted sugar or salt from your diet.
Kidzola is another - classified ads to help you buy and sell things for children. Kidzola even offers consultants who help you price, photograph, and post items to sell. It's good for the environment and good for your wallet!
For other swap sites, check out:
Freecyle is worldwide "gifting movement" to reduce waste. Join a local online group and give away what you don't need and get what you do.
2Swap is a book-exchange website that gives you "swap credits" for sending your old books to 2SWAP members, and lets you use your credits to "buy" other books.
And that's just swapping sites...there's a long list for just giving away your stuff!!! Check out the Cookie Magazine link.
And Last but not least..don't forget the Salvation Army for a local connection!
Take Care of Your Car Prepare your car for the road by inflating the tires. Filling them up will ultimately save you money on gas. Keeping your lead foot to a minimum will also help you get the most mileage from your tank of gas, and you're less likely to be stuck with a pricey fill up.
Estimate Gas Costs Before You Go When you're budgeting for your excursion, you must consider the inevitable cost of gas. Try using the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator to calculate the cost of your trip. The tool generates its calculations with average regional gas prices and the details you enter including your starting city, destination, and your vehicle's make, year and model. Because it uses regional prices the calculation should be looked at as an estimate, but AAA does update the prices daily. Check it out here.
Pack a Cooler
Bring a full cooler along for the ride to save money and your waistline from too much fast food. You'll need more than a bag of pretzels to get you by — take ingredients to make sandwiches, containers with cut up vegetables, fruit that doesn't require refrigeration (like bananas), and plenty of water.
Keep Your Receipts
When traveling with friends, it can be tedious to split every expense. If your group doesn't want to bother with exact numbers until the trip is over, simply designate someone to hold on to all the receipts. That person should write down the name of the friend who paid to make it easier to calculate who-owes-what at the trips end.
Negotiate Hotel Rates Don't just call it a night at any price. If you're refraining from making reservations before your trip, try to negotiate a lower rate for your room when you pull in for the evening. You'll find the most success at accommodations with noticeable open spaces in the parking lot.
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Ways to stretch your health care dollar. From Blue Cross Blue Shield magazine. Detroit Medical Center doctor and author Larry W. Stephenson, M.D. says
1. Live a healthy lifestyle – “One of the most important things you can do to keep costs down is to stay healthy Many patients are surprised to discover that their behavior and their lifestyles can play a major role in determining their overall health. If you avoid obesity by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, you can greatly reduce your risk for many health problems. If you smoke, you should get the help you need to quit.”
2. Get recommended screenings and checkups – early detection usually means better health and lower costs. Found early, heart disease, diabetes and cancer can often be stopped in their tracks. Ignored, they can cost you good health, years of life and yes..big bucks.
3. Follow your doctor’s advice if you have a chronic condition – “This is an area where patients can have a major impact on the cost of their care – pay careful attention to the doctor’s treatment plan and then follow it!”
4. Get a second opinion before surgery or expensive tests – ask about less invasive options, for example, physical therapy instead of surgery for chronic back pain.
5. Be choosy about prescription drugs – to limit this large out of pocket expense, ask your doctor if a lower cost generic is available.
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We are talking weddings this week. For more articles and a great place to plan your wedding check out Ithacabridal.com.
Tips from About.com:
Trim Your Wedding Guest List - Each time you add a name to your invitation list, you're increasing your budget significantly. It's not just the catering costs, but also the extra centerpieces, favors, rentals, etc. Don't invite anyone you haven't talked to in five years. Don't feel obligated to let single people bring a date. Avoid feeling pressured to invite all your work colleagues. And don't let your friends bring their children. You can also decide to eliminate categories like "relatives more distant than first cousins" or "friends from volunteer work." By not inviting anyone from that group, you'll help avoid hurt feelings.
Save Postage on Your Wedding Invitations - Forgo the inner envelope and blotter paper, which are leftover relics from times when ink needed time to dry, and people wanted a pristine envelope. Rather than having a reply card, ask guests to reply online or by the telephone. Not only will you save money from the printer bill, it should also reduce your postage expense.
Change the Day of the Week - Have your wedding on a weeknight or a Sunday. There is less demand for these dates, so vendors will often be willing to give you a better rate
Make the Most of eBay - It's a great source for everything from second-hand dresses to wedding favors, cake toppers, ring pillows and more. Be sure to allow ample time for the auction to end, and for shipping. Look for trusted sellers whose feedback indicates they have accurately represented what they have sold.
Get Crafty - Do It Yourself - Throw a "pitch-in party," where you ask your friends to be a special part of your wedding by helping you assemble favors and make invitations, centerpieces, and other homemade inexpensive touches. Be sure to put out delicious snacks and have inspiring tunes on the stereo, so that your friends feel like they're at a party, not just part of an assembly line. Click the link below for DIY wedding projects.
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Sheknows.com asks how do we help stimulate the economy, yet protect our own financial interests?
1. Think!
2. Budget Carefully
3. use cash whenever possible
4. Spend wisely
If we use our heads and spend wisely, we can save money for ourselves, as well.
For great tips on buying a freezer, a crockpot, getting clothing after season, rebates and useing resturant coupons and early bird specials, click here!
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Trying to tighten your grocery budget? If you're not careful, you may have to loosen your belt. "In an effort to save money, many women trade fresh produce and lean meats for processed foods that are high in calories and fat," says Molly Morgan, R.D., author of Choose Right Supermarket Shopping Guide.
"But some of the most nutritious foods are also the cheapest." Add these wallet-friendly picks to your shopping cart.
Sweet Potatoes / 60 cents each
Each spud packs 4 grams of fiber and more than 25 percent of your daily vitamin A and C needs. "Cut one into wedges or thick slices, toss with olive oil and sea salt, and bake for 30 minutes at 425°F," says Morgan.
Frozen Spinach / 45 cents per 1/2 cup
These greens are just as flavorful and vitamin K.rich as fresh spinach. After defrosting and draining the excess water, mix into pasta dishes.
Black Beans / 34 cents per 1/2 cup
Ounce for ounce, these legumes have the most antioxidants of any bean. For a quick meal, saute with onions, garlic, and tomatoes and serve over brown rice.
Eggs / 16 cents each
Eggs are one of the best sources of protein. Hard-boil a batch at the start of the week, says Morgan, then slice one on top of toast or add it to a salad or sandwich.
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Did you know that according to Money magazine, 78% of credit card holders who ASK for a lower interest rate, get it? So it never hurts to ask,
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Want some good news about the crummy economy? If you’ve got money to spend, you can find a lot of great bargains, because when buying slows down, prices drop. So, if you’re one of the 90% of workers who’s still employed – and you’ve got some cash on hand – here’s what to shop for, courtesy of the financial experts at Time magazine:
Cameras. 77% of all households already have a digital camera, and sales are way down. So, manufacturers are offering steep discounts to entice buyers to upgrade – or buy a second camera for a family member. Right now, you can find modest point-and-shoot digital cameras for less than $100, 10-megapixel cameras and camcorders are available at half price – which is less than $200, and high-end digital cameras with interchangeable lenses are hundreds of dollars less than they were just two years ago.
High-end clothing. Clothing orders were placed months before the bottom dropped out of the market. The biggest discounts are in tuxedoes, formal dresses, and high-quality cashmere sweaters, scarves and blankets.
You can also find bargains on furniture and other items for the home. Tons of inventory reductions and “going out of business” sales mean you can find furniture and decorative items at 70% off – which is right around wholesale price. Some of the best bargains are high-end towels and bedding. Many flat-screen TVs cost half what they did two years ago.
One final great buy in a bad economy: Computer memory. If your computer’s more than two years old, it probably has less than one gigabyte of RAM, which can make it run painfully slowly with today’s more-demanding programs. Right now there’s a huge oversupply of computer chips, which means you can get 4 gigabytes of extra memory for $50 – down from $200 just two years ago.
Of course, don’t splurge if you’re having trouble making ends meet, and don’t run up your credit cards on these things. If you have cash saved up and your job’s on solid ground, take advantage of these bargains.
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Here's a way to save on perscriptions from billeater.com. Since you really can't do without these, you can at least save some money. Here are a few of the tips from their list:
Go Generic! Make sure to ask your doctor to specify generic.
Ask for free samples. - but you have to ask!!
Double up the dosage - Higher strength tablets often cost the same, and if you get them filled this way you can double the time in between refills by splitting the larger doses in half
Get a flat rate prescription plan - great for those without helath insurance. but great for those with as well.
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Saving water is good for the enviroment..and your pocketbook..what can you do in your garden to help? Seattlepi.com has a great article. Some highlights:
Mulch - Use a 2 inch layer. It reduces evaporation, good for weed control, erosion contol and adds organic matter to the soil.
Age matters - Established plants and trees can be watered less frequently.
Irrigation control - Timing and placement of sprinklers is important. and be mindful of terrain, and run-off.
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Gas Comparison Shop: There are a few websites that publish current gas prices for thousands of stations nationwide. Bargain-hunting can save up to 8 cents a gallon--$1.28 on a typical 16-gallon tank--for each fill-up. Away from home? Gas Price Watch also lets you text your current zip code to gas@fuelgo.com, and they'll reply with the names and addresses of the cheapest local stations. http://www.gasbuddy.com/ http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/default_V3.asp
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Try DIY. Check out howtomendit.com for directions on fixing everything from fridges to faucets. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, installing new plumbing fixtures costs $372 if you go it alone, versus $709 if you call a professional. You save $337. But make sure you are up to the job, if you make things worse it will cost you more in the long run!
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Set a savings goal. To do that, figure out where your money is going. Carry a notebook around for a month and write down every purchase you make. At the end of the month, look for where you can trim, and then set a goal that makes you stretch a little but doesn't leave you subsisting on Ramen noodles. For a rough idea of what you should be saving, consult the chart "How to Retire a Millionaire in a Better World" at coopamerica.org/pubs.
PS. This also works if you are trying to diet. Write down all the food you eat, and you might be surprised! Since you have the notebook with you, keep track of this as well!
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Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List says "The biggest energy hogs in your house are air conditioners, refrigerators and water heaters. Run those devices at top efficiency and you’ll save money without breaking a sweat."
Air conditioner tips:
-Dialing for dollars: Each degree you go below 78 degrees increases your energy consumption by about 8 percent. If your monthly electric bill is about $100, you’ll save $8 a month with EACH degree you can stand above 78.
-Programmable thermostats cost between $100 and $150, but they’ll help you more easily adjust your room temperature to be lower when you're out or in bed and higher when you're hanging out..
-Inspect your filters every other month: Replace dirty air filters to save even more by keeping your AC running at top efficiency. This is for your heating times as well.
-Made in the shade: Air in a shaded space is cooler than the surrounding air meaning the AC will have an easier time cooling the air before pumping it into the home.
Refrigerators:
Clean the condenser coils once a year.
Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers.
Check door seals to ensure they’re air-tight.
Check the temperature. Recommended settings are 37° to 40°F for fresh food and 5°F for the freezer. Stand-alone freezers should be kept at 0°F.
Refrigerators should last about 15 years. If yours is more than six-years-old and repair will cost more than half its original cost, get a newer, more energy efficient model.
Water heaters:
Lower your water heater base temperature to 120 degrees: You won’t notice the temperature drop, but you’ll notice the savings.
Drain a quart of water from your water heater tank every three months to remove sediment that slows down heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater. Your owner’s manual should offer instruction.
Properly insulate your water heater tank and pipes to increase efficiency. Don’t cover the tank thermostat.
Use low-flow faucets and shower heads throughout your home to decrease the amount of water and energy used.
The fact that food prices are rising, while paychecks are dwindling is news to nobody. Cooking can be cheap, tasty, nutritious, and filling - so long as you follow a few simple tips. We put together some ideas for eating on a dime without feeling like a pauper. Basic tips for the bargain gourmet:
Utilize those leftovers!- Leftover meats and veggies can easily be made into a soup for the next day using some plain chicken, vegetable, or beef broth. Try using leftover meats in a sandwich or wrap the next day for a unique brown bagged lunch for your children or yourself
Packaging DOES make a difference, for example canned beans vs. dried beans. Try cooking all the dried beans and storing them later. Out of season fruits and vegetables can be purchased cheaper in the frozen foods section. Frozen produce retains nutrients.
For staples you buy often, like flour, sugar, rice, beans, dried pasta, frozen veggies etc, purchase in bulk quantities. Be sure to only do this for items that will keep well. Like the package says, keep them in a cool, dry place.
Freeze foods! Most foods are good for up to six months in the freezer, and meats for up to a year. Avoid freezing pastas you have already boiled, they defrost very mushy and the consistency of the sauce just isn't that good. If you are freezing milk be sure to empty about a cup out of the gallon- It will expand.
Invest in some herbs and spices- using these saves a lot of money as compared to pre made and packaged sauces and flavoring packets.
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Freeze your credit card. No..literally! Put it in a jar full of water and freeze it. You'll have to go through alot of work to get it out. And no fair memorizing the card number.
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Today's tip comes from John Tesh - Debit cards aren’t the same as cash. Contrary to popular belief, using a debit card won’t prevent overdrafts. In fact, debit cards trigger almost half of all fees for banks! So, set the overdraft amount on your account to 0. That way, purchases that put you in the red will get rejected.
Mike E-mailed in: Here's an alternative to setting your overdraft limit to 0. Take your checkbook with you and everytime you use the card, record the expenditure and calculate the new balance. I've been doing that for 17 years and no problems.
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If you get an official-looking email claiming that your bank’s in trouble, or money was stolen from your account, beware! It’s a scam to get your personal information for identity theft, or to steal from your bank account. Remember: Banks and government agencies send problem letters only via snail mail. So, if all you got was an email, ignore it.
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If you need to file a tax extension, you can fill out form 4868 from the IRS website to apply for a 6 month extension on filing your taxes. Remember, the extension allows you more time to file your tax return but it doesn’t extend the date that your taxes are due.
You still need to mail in a payment for your taxes by April 15th or the IRS will charge you late fees and penalties. So how can you pay if you don’t know how much you owe? Well you’ll have to estimate how much you owe but remember if you underestimate you may have to pay fees on the unpaid amount.
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Choosing the right color for your exterior walls plays a big role in your energy-saving strategy. Walls that are painted a dark tone absorb 70 to 90 percent of the radiant energy from the sun, a good choice in areas with very cold winters and mild summers. Lighter colors, which reflect the sun's heat, are more suitable for areas with hot summers and milder winters. Also, painting your ceilings with light colors reflects light downward, making the room lighting more efficient. You can then use lower wattage lighting, saving a few more bucks.
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Find a good price on wines that you love, and buy by the case. Most places will give a significant discount when you buy by the case, and it saves you the back and forth to the wine store. (and sign up for newsletters/frequent shopper cards…many times you’ll get deals emailed to you)
