Pennysaverblog – Page 219 – Smart Finance and Money Saving Tips

5 Ways To Conserve Energy And Save Money At Home

Even if you’re not necessarily interested in the plight of the environment, being naturally more concerned with your current personal problems, you are likely looking for a few good ways to lower your utility bills. And if you’re a card-carrying tree-hugger who wants to conserve and preserve, then the monetary savings associated with your efforts are no doubt the icing on the organic cake. But if you’re new to the concepts and practices of environmentalism, you might not even realize that you could be saving money even as you reduce your carbon footprint. And you probably don’t have the first idea of how to get started when it comes to planning and implementing conservation efforts on the home front. So if you’d like to save some money on your energy bill while simultaneously doing the environment a favor, here are just a few great ways to achieve both ends.

Energy-star solutions. You’re not the first person seeking products that help you to use less energy at home. And since most people are looking to save in the process, shelling out thousands of dollars for solar panels is out of the question. Luckily, you can find all kinds of options on www.energystar.gov. You might think that appliances are their only offerings, but they also have solutions for lighting, windows and doors, HVAC systems, water heaters, computers, electronics, and more. The energy-star website can clue you in to all kinds of energy-saving options, and raising awareness is the first step towards a greener tomorrow.

February 20, 2013

Shopping

The Pros And Cons Of Buying From Daily Deal Websites

Everyone likes a good deal, which is probably why deal-of-the-day websites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Woot, and HauteLook have flourished over the last several years. Some offer daily deals on services in your geographic region, from restaurants and retail stores to local events, while others provide discounts on clothing, electronics, home goods, and pretty much anything you can imagine (there are all kinds of specialized DOTD sites for various industries). And if they’re virtually handing out free money for items you’d buy anyway, there’s no reason not to enjoy the massive savings these sites can provide. Of course, there could be a few flaws in the system, especially for people who can’t seem to pass up a deal, even if it’s not exactly in their wheelhouse. So before you sign up for DOTD sites, there are a few pros and cons you might want to consider.

On the upside, daily deal websites can offer you a ton of savings. Suppose you have a hubby at home who likes to buy the latest and greatest electronic gadgets. By signing up for a membership on Woot you can get deals on items like surround-sound speakers, crazy computer casings, noise-isolating ear buds, and allergen-reducing robot vacuums, just to name a few nifty products. By the by, Woot also has a DOTD spinoff for wine (so you can sip some discount vino while your spouse sets up his new electronics), as well as pages for tee shirts, home goods, sports, and more.

February 19, 2013

Debt

5 Reasons Why You Should Check Your Credit Report

Do you know what your credit score is? If you answered no, don’t feel bad. Most people couldn’t tell you with any kind of accuracy the number on their credit report, even though it has the potential to impact their lives in a major way. Suppose, for example, that you’ve finally managed to set aside a decent amount of money towards a down payment on a home. However, when you go to a bank seeking approval for a loan, you could discover that ancient black marks on your credit report related to massive credit card debt and a spotty payment history will set you back significantly. Even if you cleared up these issues a long time ago, a failure to check your credit report could mean that they’re still dragging down your rating, leaving you with fewer (and less appealing) options when it comes to taking a major loan. In short, there are plenty of reasons why you should check your credit report on an annual basis. Here are a few that should get you going.

Awareness. If you don’t know what your credit report says you can hardly expect to improve it. And if you want to make any major purchases in the future (a car, a home, a business, etc.) you need to have a top-tier score in order to get the stellar interest rates and other terms that you’re seeking. Your credit score can not only make or break your chances at loan approval, but also your ability to attain rates that you can actually afford to repay. So before you even think about looking for a loan, you should check out your credit report to see if you’ll even qualify.

February 19, 2013

Debt

5 Tips For Graduating From College Without Debt

Most of us would agree with the fact that it is a smart decision to go to college and earn a degree; especially being that there are many studies to support the fact that the average college graduate earns about $20,000 per year more than someone in the workforce who only has a high school diploma.

That’s not to say that college is not a huge financial investment. So much in fact, that an overwhelming majority of college graduates leave college with as much as $23,000 worth of student loan debt that must be paid back. It doesn’t have to be that way for everyone, though. Below, we’ve enclosed five tips on how you can graduate from college without owing a single dime.

Take some college courses in high school. When you go to college, you are paying for each class that you take. The good news is that a large majority of high schools offer advanced placement classes that are available to juniors and seniors. By taking a few of these qualifying classes, high school students can easily shave off a semester or two of college once they enroll. (Also check with your guidance counselor to see if there are actually college courses offered at your school as well.)

February 18, 2013

Debt

5 Ways For College Students To Build Credit

College is an exciting time for students like you all over the world. As you take your first major steps into the adult world, one thing that you’ll need to consider is how to start building financial independence. Building good credit now will be a great benefit to you in the years to come. Your college years are great times to start building credit, but you’ll need to be careful and responsible in order to reap the rewards.

Start By Piggybacking
It will be difficult for many students to obtain their first credit cards without a cosigner. One great way to get a head start on the credit game is to become authorized on a parent’s credit account. This is known as piggybacking, and it allows you to start building good credit by using your parent’s account. This will also allow your parents to monitor your spending and make sure that you’re not being too reckless in your habits.

February 18, 2013

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