Travel has a reputation for being expensive. And it certainly can be if you feel it necessary to go first-class all the way. But it’s also possible to travel on a budget. You just have to be vigilant about finding the best prices on everything.
Here are some tips that will allow you to travel without spending a small fortune.
* Find the best deals on flights, hotels and car rentals. Sites like LastMinute.com and Travelocity.com are great for finding deals on these travel essentials. But it’s also a good idea to check with individual airlines and hotels, too. Sometimes they offer deals that you won’t find on such sites.
Filed under Budget, Debt by on Sep 4th, 2010. Comment. 
You’ve worked hard all year. You’ve paid the legally required percentage of your income to Uncle Sam. When tax time comes, you find that you’re getting a refund. That’s great! But what are you going to do with it?
Few people have trouble finding something to do with their tax refunds. But frequently, that “something” is spending it with reckless abandon. Sure, it feels good to buy some shiny new things. But there are more productive things we could do with that money.
Some refund recipients dedicate all or part of their tax refund to paying off debts. Depending on the amount of debt you’re in and the amount of your refund, this could save you lots of money in interest payments. For maximum impact, it’s best to use your refund to pay down the debt with the highest interest first. If you get that one paid in full and still have some money left over, move on to the one with the next highest interest rate.
Filed under Budget by on Sep 2nd, 2010. Comment.
The college years are a time of learning, and a time for young adults to get a sampling of what it’s like to be out on their own. They are also a very expensive time for parents. By the time they pay for their children’s education, there’s often little left over to help with their living expenses.
Perhaps it’s best for college students to fend for themselves, to some degree anyway. When they’re done with their schooling, they will be out in the real world, so it’s good for them to start learning how to manage money. The college years are a prime opportunity for them to learn how to budget and live within their means before it becomes mandatory for them to do so.
As parents, we are in a position to help our children learn to manage money wisely. But many times it’s just too easy to throw them a lifeline if they have trouble. Here are some tips for teaching university students financial responsibility.
Read more on Tips to Teach College Students to Live Within Their Means…
Filed under Budget by on Aug 31st, 2010. Comment.
For some, it seems like saving money comes naturally. With very little effort, they build up an emergency fund, college fund, retirement fund and vacation fund. For the rest of us, it’s not quite that easy.
Saving money isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do. We have to spend a large portion of what we earn in order to have the necessities in life. Once all the bills are paid and those necessities are taken care of, we usually have some money left over. But there’s just so much temptation to spend it, that when it’s all said and done, we frequently don’t have anything left to put into savings.
Most financial advisors will tell you to make a budget, and allocate a certain amount out of each paycheck to savings. Then, when you get paid, put the planned amount into savings before you pay bills or spend a dime. In theory, this is a great idea. But in practice, it can be rather scary – especially if you have limited funds and no savings to fall back on.
Filed under Budget, Debt by on Aug 21st, 2010. Comment.
One of the best things about being young and childless is the freedom that it affords. You can go out whenever you like, and come back home whenever you want to. You don’t have to plan ahead. You can just pick up and go.
Having children is a life-changing event in so many ways. Our children become the center of our world and everything we do, we do with them in mind. So we often put going out to do things we enjoy on the back burner, especially when we can’t afford a babysitter.
But everyone needs a night out every now and then. Life can get really boring when you sit around the house all the time, and that can lower your morale. By getting out and enjoying yourself from time to time, you enable yourself to be a better parent. Don’t let lack of a babysitter stand in the way. Here are some ways you can get a sitter for less and still know that your child is in good hands.
Read more on How to Save Money on Babysitting and Still Have a Good Night Out…
Filed under Budget, Debt by on Aug 19th, 2010. Comment.
Owning a home is a dream for many. It represents freedom and accomplishment. But it also comes with a great deal of responsibility. When it comes time to make repairs, you may find yourself wishing you were renting so that the landlord would have to foot the bill.
Some home repairs are inexpensive and easy. Others are pricey and complicated. Here are some tips to help you save money on repairs of any size.
* Keep your house well maintained. If you clean the carpet regularly, for example, you won’t have to replace it as soon as you would if you don’t. If you keep everything clean and in good working order, it will last much longer and you’ll save money in the long run.
Filed under Budget, Debt by on Aug 17th, 2010. Comment.
Some people never seem to pay their bills on time. In some cases, it’s simply a matter of forgetting to pay them by the due date. In others, it’s because they are living paycheck to paycheck and don’t have the money to pay them when they’re due.
But no matter what the reason may be, paying your bills late can be costly. Phone and utility companies often add a late fee to the next bill if you don’t get your payment in on time. Credit card companies may charge a late fee and raise your interest rate. Banks and mortgage lenders also charge late fees, and in some cases they may demand payment of the loan in full if you get behind.
The simple act of paying your bills on time can save you lots of money each year. Here are some tips for getting everything paid when it is supposed to be.
Filed under Budget, Debt by on Aug 11th, 2010. Comment.
It’s a well-known fact that financial issues are the most common reason for divorce. Even in unmarried couples, disagreements about how to manage money can cause serious problems, and may end the relationship. We all have our own ideas about what we should do with our money, and when these ideas clash with those of our partners, it can get messy.
In some cases of financial disagreement, it’s simply a case of not seeing eye to eye. But sometimes one partner is clearly overspending or otherwise mismanaging the finances. Not only can this result in the couple having a hard time making ends meet, it can also break down the trust that holds the relationship together.
If your partner is financially out of control, it can be difficult to figure out how to fix the problem. And realistically, it’s just about impossible to fix it yourself. You must gain the co-operation of your partner if you are to get your finances back on track and save the marriage. Here are some tips to help you do just that.
Read more on Helpful Tips on What to Do When Your Partner Is Financially Out of Control…
Filed under Budget, Debt by on Aug 9th, 2010. Comment.
If you have a teenager, you know that they’re not exactly the most frugal creatures on the planet. Most have not had to work for their money while growing up, so they may not appreciate money as much as adults who know how hard it can be to come by. And with the peer pressure they face today to have all of the latest and greatest clothes, gadgets and entertainment, it’s no wonder that money seems to burn a hole in their pockets.
It may be tempting to let them carry on with their carefree spending habits. But doing so would be a disservice, as these habits tend to stick with them into adulthood. It’s much better to help them set up a financial plan during the teen years so that they may learn responsibility before they are out on their own.
Saving and Investing
Read more on How to Set Up a Realistic Financial Plan for Teenagers…
Filed under Budget by on Nov 17th, 2009. Comment.
Our sense of sight helps us perform many everyday activities. We need it to drive, read and do countless other things. It’s one of those things we take for granted until it starts to fail.
Some people are born with vision problems. Those who aren’t usually develop them at some point in their lives. Yet many of us don’t take care of our eyes like we should. We don’t get eye exams as often as recommended, and that means that we may need vision correction or adjustments in our current correction method and not know it.
Often, the main reason that people do not get glasses or contacts is cost. Many insurance plans do not cover vision. Those who are uninsured must usually put a higher priority on other health problems than vision. But there are ways to save on glasses and contacts if you need them. Here are some ideas.
Read more on Five Tips on Saving on Contact Lenses and Glasses…
Filed under Budget by on Nov 3rd, 2009. Comment.
