Money Saving Tip #1
Get Excited About Saving Money
The first step is to get excited about saving money! Learn about the benefits of being frugal. Perhaps even learn how to become frugal yourself. Just ask any frugal person. Most of them will enthusiastically give you all the reasons why and then give you 10 ways to save money.
Get Excited About Saving Money
The first step is to get excited about saving money! Learn about the benefits of being frugal. Perhaps even learn how to become frugal yourself. Just ask any frugal person. Most of them will enthusiastically give you all the reasons why and then give you 10 ways to save money.
Money Saving Tip #2
Chart Your Monthly Expenses & Create a Budget
You can find many ways to save money once you get visibility of where your money is going. You cannot do this until you chart all your monthly expenses. This means making a list of every place you spend money during a full calendar year, and beyond if necessary to account for everything.
Chart Your Monthly Expenses & Create a Budget
You can find many ways to save money once you get visibility of where your money is going. You cannot do this until you chart all your monthly expenses. This means making a list of every place you spend money during a full calendar year, and beyond if necessary to account for everything.
You can do this by creating a personal budget on a spreadsheet or a sheet of paper. Once you have all your monthly expenses listed on the left and your expenditures entered into each month of the year, you can look for ways to reduce your expenses. In cutting expenses on things that you have control over, researching items for possible rate reductions, and negotiating lower prices on other things you are in effect creating a personal budget.
Money Saving Tip #3
Shop for Better Insurance Rates
It's a good practice to shop for better rates on your health, auto, and home insurance every couple of years. Some of you are going to immediately become concerned about how things will play out with your agent. If you found out through your research that you are paying much more per year with your current agent than what you could get with another reputable company, would you allow blind loyalty to stop you?
Shop for Better Insurance Rates
It's a good practice to shop for better rates on your health, auto, and home insurance every couple of years. Some of you are going to immediately become concerned about how things will play out with your agent. If you found out through your research that you are paying much more per year with your current agent than what you could get with another reputable company, would you allow blind loyalty to stop you?
Once you shop around, learn more about your options, and then give your agent the opportunity to look for ways to reduce your premium; s/he may meet or exceed what you discovered during your research.
One of the best ways to reduce your insurance rates significantly is to increase your deductibles. If you haven't been in an accident in 10, 20, or even 30 years, you've spent a lot of extra money for the so-called peace of mind of having a low deductible. If you are a careful driver who rarely if ever gets into an accident and you have enough money in the bank to cover a higher deductible, you should look at increasing your deductible.
When it comes to health insurance, changing your deductible is a completely different matter. It all depends on your age, health, medical needs, career status, and financial position. It's important to check rates every couple of years, however, as premiums and coverage can change significantly between companies.
Money Saving Tip #4
Shop for Better Telephone & Cable or Satellite Television Rates
Telephone and television services are very competitive industries. Consequently, they are constantly changing their rates and offering new packages and specials. It's worthwhile to do a little research to find out if you're getting the best deal. Some companies offer a lot of free stuff just for switching over to them, so sometimes it won't cost you anything to make the change. You've got to ask the representative about current specials when you call though. And don't be afraid to ask them how they can sweeten the deal if you are switching from another company or setting up service for the first time.
Shop for Better Telephone & Cable or Satellite Television Rates
Telephone and television services are very competitive industries. Consequently, they are constantly changing their rates and offering new packages and specials. It's worthwhile to do a little research to find out if you're getting the best deal. Some companies offer a lot of free stuff just for switching over to them, so sometimes it won't cost you anything to make the change. You've got to ask the representative about current specials when you call though. And don't be afraid to ask them how they can sweeten the deal if you are switching from another company or setting up service for the first time.
There are many ways to get much better long distance rates than landline telephone companies' offer. There are 1010 numbers, Internet based telephone service providers, and even prepaid long distance cards that offer good deals.
I used a 1010 number for many years without any problems. I think the rate was 5 cents a minute plus a small connection fee and taxes. When you make a long distance telephone call using a 1010 number the charges are added to the bill of your existing landline telephone service provider.
Money Saving Tip #5
Eliminate Premium Telephone, Television, and Internet Services.
How many of the extra telephone services, like call waiting and caller ID, do you really need or use? Look over your telephone bill and drop the services that you don't really need or use. And do you really watch all 900 television channels?
Eliminate Premium Telephone, Television, and Internet Services.
How many of the extra telephone services, like call waiting and caller ID, do you really need or use? Look over your telephone bill and drop the services that you don't really need or use. And do you really watch all 900 television channels?
Cable Internet providers often try to sell you on upgrading your service to a "faster speed" on the basis that it will greatly enhance your online experience. Those faster speeds only benefit you when you are downloading or uploading a file and how often do you do that? When you are just surfing the Web doing normal things like processing email, reviewing your bank balance, paying your bills, buying a product, posting comments, or working on your website(s) there will be little if any noticeable difference with the higher speeds. So why pay extra for it?
Money Saving Tip #6
Shop Dealerships for Vehicle Maintenance & Repairs
It is often assumed that factory authorized dealerships charge the same amount for scheduled maintenance, repairs, and even accessories. This is not true. The amount dealers charge for scheduled maintenance can vary significantly. The amount they charge for repairs and accessories can vary greatly!
Shop Dealerships for Vehicle Maintenance & Repairs
It is often assumed that factory authorized dealerships charge the same amount for scheduled maintenance, repairs, and even accessories. This is not true. The amount dealers charge for scheduled maintenance can vary significantly. The amount they charge for repairs and accessories can vary greatly!
When you need a scheduled maintenance, repair, or accessory, call around to at least three (3) dealerships in your area even if one of them is a considerable distance away.
Also, only allow the dealer to do what is recommended by the factory as shown in your owner's manual. Also, do not automatically agree to "dealer recommended" additional services. In most cases, you do not need them. Your service advisor may use various tactics to get you to do these extra services, so be on your toes. And don't be afraid to ask questions.
Money Saving Tip #7
Shop for Better Rates on Regular Services like Drying Cleaning, Hair Care, & Vehicle Wash
We all get into the habit of doing business at the same places. The problem is sometimes new businesses open or old ones remodel that offer much better prices, products, and services than the store or individual we've been using for years!
Shop for Better Rates on Regular Services like Drying Cleaning, Hair Care, & Vehicle Wash
We all get into the habit of doing business at the same places. The problem is sometimes new businesses open or old ones remodel that offer much better prices, products, and services than the store or individual we've been using for years!
Most of your research can be done by telephone. Just call each of them and ask for their price on the services you regularly buy.
Money Saving Tip #8
Shop for Better Rates on Professional Services
Many people would never consider comparing the fees they are being charged by their dentist, medical doctor, accountant, or lawyer. As the years go by and their fees gradually increase, your dentist or other professional may become the highest priced provider in your entire area.
Shop for Better Rates on Professional Services
Many people would never consider comparing the fees they are being charged by their dentist, medical doctor, accountant, or lawyer. As the years go by and their fees gradually increase, your dentist or other professional may become the highest priced provider in your entire area.
Also, do not automatically agree to their recommended treatment or service plan. Always ask them to tell you about all the other less expensive options. Then ask them as many questions as you want. Remember, doctors, dentists, and other professionals are business people too.
Choosing a less expense option does not necessarily mean that you will get an inferior treatment or service. It may be just as good or it may suffice for now and meet your current financial situation.
I hope you find these money saving tips useful.
No comments:
Post a Comment