credit cards
Don’t Let Debt Ruin the Holidays: Proactive Steps
According to numbers for the 2018 holiday shopping season, American shoppers incurred an average debt of just over $1,000. And not everyone could pay that debt off quickly, leading to expensive, long-term credit card debt for some. But holiday shopping debt isnât the only financial burden people face. Many enter the season with other debt…. Read More
The post Don’t Let Debt Ruin the Holidays: Proactive Steps appeared first on Credit.com.
Learn How To Become Debt Free – Stop Living With Debt For Good!
Do you want to become debt free? Would you like to no longer have debt payments hanging over your head? Do you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, and instead be able to save for the future? Paying off debt is hard work. If it weren’t so hard, then it would be no problem […]
The post Learn How To Become Debt Free – Stop Living With Debt For Good! appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.
Reader question: Can I use multiple Priority Pass memberships to bring in extra guests?
Money-Saving Hacks to Implement Now
Redo your monthly budget (and stick to it)
You can do plenty of things to improve your budget, and it's not all about pain and suffering, as many would have you believe. Everyone has a few things they overspend on. The challenge lies in identifying those particular items and weeding them out. A good place to begin is with restaurant spending, grocery bills, and impulse buying. A wise general philosophy is to assign a destination for every dollar you earn and place that category on your budget. Try cutting restaurant expenditures in half, reducing impulse buys at convenience stores, and shopping for groceries just once each week to regulate what goes toward food items.
Refinance your education debt
If you have any education debt still hanging around after all these years, refinancing student loans through a private lender is a way to lessen your monthly expenses. Not only can you get a longer repayment period, but have the chance to snag a favorable interest rate. But the clincher for money-saving enthusiasts is that your monthly payments can instantly go way down. That means extra cash for whatever you want. Use the excess to fatten savings or IRA accounts, or pay off high-interest credit card debt.
Install a programmable thermostat
For less than $20, it's possible to chop at least three percent off your utility bills and perhaps much more than that.
Programmable thermostats are easy to install. You don't need special tools or advanced skills. Be sensible about summer and winter settings and you'll see a difference in your electric bill almost immediately, especially during the hottest months of the year. Don't forget to program the device to go into low-use mode while you're away for long weekends or longer vacations.
Join a shopping club
Although shopping clubs come with annual membership fees, the savings on groceries, household items, and gasoline usually offset them within a month or two of actively using the membership. That leaves the other months of the year for you to save money on household necessities.
For people who drive a lot, shopping clubs with on-site gas stations offer one of the best deals going. Not only do the clubs offer gasoline for about 10 cents off the regular price, but some also offer free car washes and coupons for repair work at participating shops. Although shopping clubs are a win for most anyone, a family of three or more can log thousands per year in savings.
Refinance your home or car
If you have owned your home or car long enough to ride the interest rate waves, you likely qualify for a refinancing agreement. This strategy is excellent for consumers who have better credit now than when they made the original purchase.
Young couples are perfectly positioned to refinance a home after several years of making payments on it. Likewise, anyone who still owes on a vehicle and can get a lower interest rate should look into a car or truck refi. Not only can you get additional months to pay off the obligation, but with a lower rate, you stand to save a nice chunk of money.
Take bagged lunches to work
One of the oldest, more reliable ways to instantly cut personal expenses is to prepare and take your own lunch to work each day. Not only do you save money by not eating out or buying lunch in the company cafeteria, but you also have added control over what you eat. That means you're doing a favor for your wallet and your health at the same time.
Don't fall into the rut of eating at your desk. Consider taking your bagged meal outside and enjoying the scenery, taking a walk after eating, or joining friends in the cafeteria to socialize.
Use public transportation as often as possible
If you live on or near a bus or light-rail route, do the logistical planning necessary to travel to work at least a few times each week by public transit instead of by car.
Unless you reside in a small town, chances are you have access to buses and trains for commuting purposes. Once you get into a habit of using the public transit system, consider buying a one-month or annual pass, which can represent a major discount on one-time fare prices. Public transportation can take a bit longer to get you to your destination, but it's easy enough to make use of the time reading, catching up on work, or just relaxing.
Use credit cards wisely
If you use credit cards to make purchases you can't afford, you're headed for trouble. But if you use your plastic wisely, you can reap real benefits.
If you have a good credit rating, you'll likely qualify for cashback cards that give a percentage of your money back on some or all of your purchases. You can use that cash to pay for a portion of your monthly credit card bill. You could also let your cashback savings accumulate and use it to pay for larger purchases in the future.
Just make sure not to outspend your monthly budget so you're able to pay your credit card balance off in full each month. Keeping a balance on your cards is counterproductive because you'll also be paying interest fees.
80+ Best Side Job Ideas To Make Extra Money in 2021
Do you want to know, “What can I do as a side job?” Today, I have a list of over 80 possible side hustle ideas for 2021. With these side jobs, you can make extra money in 2021. So, what is a side job? I say side job meaning something that you do on the […]
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Strategies for Avoiding and Reducing Taxes
Taxes can take a big bite out of your income, especially if youâre in a higher income tax bracket. And even with careful planning, itâs possible that you could still be hit with an unexpected tax bill. The good news … Continue reading →
The post Strategies for Avoiding and Reducing Taxes appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
A Guide to Southwest Flights to the Caribbean
If your travel plans include booking a Caribbean getaway on a budget, your choice of airline matters. Southwest flights to the Caribbean are worth a look if youâre interested inâ¦
Escaping from a Payday Loan Organization: Tips for Getting Out of the Payday Trap
According to a 2016 Pew Research study, most borrowers who incur payday loan debt end up paying a lot in fees. In fact, most pay more in fees than they borrowed. Pew Research also notes that more than half of payday loan borrowers already struggle to meet monthly obligations. When you have an emergency you… Read More
The post Escaping from a Payday Loan Organization: Tips for Getting Out of the Payday Trap appeared first on Credit.com.
How to Prepare Your Finances for the New Year
How to Prepare Your Finances for the New Year is a post originally published on: Everything Finance – Everything Finance – Its all about Money!
Preparing for the New Year can always be a challenge. After all, most of us are trying to figure out how to make sure we do it better than we did this year. And with the pandemic going on this year, next year is certainly no exception! Because of COVID-19, a lot of us took some pretty big financial hits this year. I don’t know about you, but we want to make sure that we do everything in our power to secure our financial success next year so it won’t be as painful. Therefore, we wanted to give you a
How to Prepare Your Finances for the New Year is a post originally published on: Everything Finance – Everything Finance – Its all about Money!