This time last year, no one dared to leave their job. In fact, the “quits rate,” a measurement of people’s willingness to leave their job, has remained at a low 1.5-2 million since January 2010, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics. But, the Department of Labor reports, more than 500,000 jobs have been added in the last four months and chatter about “double-dip recession” has dissipated. If you’re unhappy with your job or salary, this could be the time to kiss your employer goodbye. In fact, getting a new job could improve not only your daily mood but also your finances. Whether you help create inventory management software or you’re a freelance web designer, here are some indicators that you should hit the job search:
Unless we are unemployed, self-employed, or choose to telecommute, most of us have a physical commute that we undergo daily as we move from our homes, to our place of work, and then back to our homes again. As online calculator can show, the trip back and forth every day can be a costly one – especially if you drive a car. While there are certainly many factors to take into account, a person who commutes 10 miles to work and drives a car with average gas mileage can expect to pay over $200 per month on commute-related costs. This includes primary expenses (gas) as well as more peripheral ones (car maintenance). It does not include the cost of a parking pass at your place of work.
On its own, therefore, your commute can be similar to the cost of a home loan in the long run. For most people, this is simply an accepted fact of life; you need to commute in order to receive your paycheck, after all, and most Americans do not have easy access to mass transit.
That being said, if you’re looking to cut costs and you have the ability to explore other modes of transit, you may want to consider forsaking the car for a more budget-friendly (and environmentally-friendly) means of travel. Here are your options, broken down by cost:
We all reach a point where a new pair of shoes has to be weighed up against the fact the gas bill is due, but being savvy with your cash doesn’t mean you can’t have a great wardrobe too. There are lots of easy (and fun!) ways to save money on your fashion fix – and you could even get the season’s must-have items for free! Take a look at our guide to saving money on your wardrobe for some inspiration:
Use Coupons And Voucher Codes
There are hundreds of web sites offering a host of discounts, offers, and deals to use in-store and online – and high street stores love them! Keep an eye out for coupons for up to 50 per cent off items at your favorite shop at sites such as myvouchercodes and Groupon. And remember, often you can double up on vouchers if you find more than one, just check the terms and conditions. Many vouchers can also be used on already discounted items. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for in-store publications, which often carry tear-out vouchers for last minute discounts and freebies. For Penny Saver Blog UK readers New Look, Dorothy Perkins and Marks and Spencer are good ones to look out for!
Everybody is scared of a possible recession. This has become apparent during the last global financial crisis. Now, many households are assessing the stability of their finances. Of course, no one wants to be a casualty of any possible recession. Are your family finances recession-proof? Here is a simple checklist.
1. The main source of household income is not formal employment. It is logical that employment is not a secured income source especially during recession, when many companies from across various industries fold up and dwindle. Job loss is an inevitable and potential occurrence that may happen to all formally employed professionals. It could spur financial crisis and instability.
2. Family income comes from a home-based or small business. The recent financial crisis has allowed so many households to realize the advantage of owning and operating a business over relying on formal employment. Businesses are more likely to grow exponentially. A household has the potential to earn so much more from running a business, compared with formal employment wherein monthly income is fixed.
Once the new year begins it won’t be long before you start having to sweat over your taxes. Nobody wants to be thinking about taxes right now, especially with the holidays approaching, but now is the best time for you to take action to ensure you trim the most off your tax burden next year. After all, it will be this year’s financial decisions that affect what you will be paying in just a few short months. With gift buying stresses, bad weather, and the day-to-day annoyances that occur no matter what time of year it is, you probably don’t want to be thinking about taxes. But if not before the taxable year is over, when?