General

Join A Money Club

If you want to make some serious financial changes in your life but you are finding it difficult to stay on track, you may want to join or start up a money club.   Money clubs consisting of 6 or 7 people is ideal.  It gives everyone a chance to share their own money experiences and provide tips to the group for what’s working for them.

By joining a team of people who are open to sharing their own financial experiences, you will be made to feel accountable to achieving your own financial goals and it will help you to stick to your budget even during tough times.

Continue Reading

February 23, 2011
Family

Save For Your Family Vacation As A Team

If you want to go on a family vacation such as taking a trip to Disneyland, a great way to save enough money is to do it as a family.  Get the kids involved by encouraging them to think of creative ways they can contribute.  Open up a savings account specifically for the trip and then as the funds come in, put them into this account.  Give your family frequent updates on how much has been saved so everyone is aware of how far you’ve come and how far you still have to go in order to achieve your goal. If you want to take your savings to the next level, read this guide about how to plan and save big on Disney vacations.

Make it a team effort to come up with the money.  It will be fun!  Your kids can do odd jobs around the neighborhood to earn extra cash.  Perhaps they are old enough to babysit or can pitch in and help with recycling.  Collecting cans and getting a refund is a simple way to earn some cash.  A lemonade stand is also a fun idea.

Continue Reading

February 21, 2011
Banking

Be Smart When Using ATM Machines

Interested in learning an easy way to save a bit of extra cash each month?  Break your habit of using other bank’s ATMs and use your own bank’s instead.  If you are someone who likes to take out cash every payday, rather than going to the nearest ATM, why not look for one that you can use for free?

So many people pay so many fees to their banks in the name of convenience or perhaps ignorance.  Some people just don’t realize that they are being dinged time after time with fees charged not only by their own bank, but also by the bank whose machines they keep using.

Continue Reading

February 19, 2011
Credit Cards

Credit Card Fees You Need To Be Aware Of

Earn Spend Save: The Savvy Guide To A Richer, Smarter, Debt-Free Life by Kira Vermond

While reading through Earn Spend Save, I came across some great tips on what to watch out for when it comes to credit card fees.  The author emphasizes the importance of understanding what fees you are being charged on your credit card, and she encourages people to be really careful when selecting the right credit card for them.

The fees you to need to be aware of include annual fees, cash advance fees, convenience checks, over-the-limit fees, inactivity fees, and foreign currency conversion fees.

Annual Fees

If you are currently paying an annual fee on your credit card, you may want to consider converting your card to one that is free instead.  However, some cards with fees do have significant perks so make sure it is in your best interest before cancelling your current card.  Right now my husband and I do have a card that we pay for annually as we feel that it’s worth it due to the rewards points we can redeem towards airfare overseas.  However, there are many free rewards cards available these days so it pays to do your research.

Continue Reading

February 17, 2011
Money Saving Tips

How A Green Mortgage Can Help You Save Money

I received a great tip from a reader recently about green mortgages.  If this concept is new to you (as it was to me) you are probably wondering what a green mortgage actually is.

To put it simply, a green mortgage is when you borrow money to make upgrades on your home in order to make it more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  You get to borrow the money as part of your mortgage so you can make one single payment instead of two.  And, as mortgages usually have lower interest rates than other types of loans, you will be able to borrow at a fairly low interest rate.

Continue Reading

February 15, 2011