Alternative ways to pay for Christmas
Many stores are touting their layaway plans this year as well as store credit cards. While these are both ok options, I prefer to stay away from credit cards and thus avoid the temptation to overspend. So this year, instead of throwing Christmas on your credit cards or putting something on layaway, check out these great ways to save or make a few extra bucks that you can put towards the Santa fund.
1. http://www.volition.com/
This site offers information on getting paid to surf the web, freebies from a variety of websites, coupons, and much more. I often use Volition to sign up for mystery shops when I have some free time. While mystery shops will not pay the bills, they are great if you want some extra cash. Many sites make you pay to have access to this information but with Volition you get it all for free. So if you are interested in making some extra money shopping or eating out, don’t pay for the info, check it out here instead.
2. http://riveroffers.com/?cogid=frend&refid=
This site offers everything you can imagine, If you are tired of your current cellphone provider, check this site out. You get the newest phones free from all the name brand providers plus free shipping and accessories as well! My husband and I don’t shop anywhere else when it comes to cellphones because nobody has been able to beat these deals. They also offer over 25 different credit cards sorted by what you want out of your card, ie points, low interest rate, cash back, etc. They also offer web hosting, domain names, high speed internet and much more. The best part, you can become an agent for free and then purchase what you need from yourself for additional discounts. Check it out.
3. www.couponmom.com
While not as exciting as the other two, this website offers a variety of ways to save money on your grocery bill and nights out on the town. Their weekly emails give you the best sales in town and options to print out coupons for additional savings.
Making a Budget Stick
Budgeting is like dieting, people always start out with good intentions but often fail to see it through. One reason for this is unrealistic expectations. The best way to budget is to make it a life change by doing a lot of little things to save money and live within or under your means.
One problem I have noticed is debit cards. Yes, they make life easier, but people no longer keep track of everything in the bank account. With checks you saw the money coming out of your account with each purchase, at least if you kept a running balance in your checkbook. If you aren’t keeping track of what you make and what you spend, you will be more likely to run up excessive fees for overdraft or other bank goodies. One way to avoid this is to create envelopes.
Envelopes? Yes, when you deposit your check, take out your money budgeted for food, groceries, and other items you usually purchase with your debit card. Put the amount for each category into an envelope and when you go to the store, don’t take your debit card. Instead, take only your envelope so that you can’t spend more than budgeted. This way, when you are tempted to purchase those chocolate chip cookies and the roasted chicken, you will have to decide what you can really afford and which item you can live without.
As an added bonus, put all the money left in the envelopes at the end of a month in a special savings account to save for a rainy day and watch the funds grow.
Christmas without Credit
It’s that time of year again. The weather is turning cold, kids are back in school, Halloween will be here and gone before you know it, and then there will be Christmas.
This year the experts are predicting that there will be less credit available for Christmas, meaning stores won’t be offering as much free financing for the big ticket items. So how can we have a nice Christmas without breaking the bank?
Some people have been diligently buying things all through the years when they find something perfect for that special person in their life and saving it for Christmas. I used to be that person, I used to brag to friends that I finished my Christmas shopping in July. Unfortunately, now I am just like the rest of the world, wondering how I can take care of everyone on a budget.
Well, there is hope. You can still get some great gifts for less than you might think.
My favorite place for shopping is outlet malls. The best outlets I have found are Chelsea Premium Outlets. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/ They have a great variety of stores and you can usually find some good deals. If you want great deals, however, check out their website and become a member of the VIP club. Membership is free and it entitles you to exclusive online coupons at several of the stores as well as a printout for a coupon booklet that you can pick up at the outlet with additional savings for a lot more stores. If you want to save even more, ask the outlet stores you use if they have a loyalty program. With this combination of loyalty program discounts and coupons, I often save an additional 50% off the outlet store price.
Come on, who doesn’t love a Banana Republic dress for $5 or a Victoria Secret lotion for $2. Check it out regularly for the best deals as sales change.
How to clear your credit card.
Turn all income and saving to reduce debts. As soon as your income come, you have to pay from 90% of your salary, 10% is saving or living cost( if you want to). If you pay 100% of your income to credit card, you can use credit card for daily living. The benefit of this thing is all credit cards will give you some days of interest free. Therefore, you have to clear the old credit to reduce the interest fees, and the new credit you still have some days before the bank start counting the interests. By this way you will clear your credit card debts faster and you can save some buck from the interests.
Fix your money in 3 simple steps.
1. Write down all your expenses as they occur for a month to find out what minimum amount you need for living per month. Now you can keep that amount in your current account every month.
2. Turn savings into debt reduction. Instead of saving you should pay your debt. The money that you save from the debt’s interest will be bigger that the money from your saving account’s interest.
3. Reduce your credit card. If you can’t afford, do not buy! Save the credit card for large amount of spending or emergency case.
Credit cards are worth good …
Credit cards are worth good if you use it wisely. If you use it unwisely then it becomes home of your debts. Actually, a credit card is tool to meet your instant financial needs. Credit card helps you to avoid carrying cash when you go to shopping or anywhere you can’t take risk to keep cash. It is really helpful when feel scarcity of money and if you really need extra money. Using a credit card is worth good.
But, if you use a credit card to just enjoy or spend money unwisely then it becomes home of your debts. If you want to use it by this way, then first put enough money in your credit card account. Otherwise, if you don’t repay spent amount on due date, then be ready to pay it with high interest rate.
To avoid this kind of unnecessary debt, use your credit card when it really needs. Other wise keep it in your wallet.
Save money on meals
If you spend one hundred dollars a week on average on all of your meals, including eating out and at home, and you could cut that amount then the money you save could go towards your debt. Now, I know that one hundred dollars may seem like nothing to quite a few of you but it is possible for a family of four to eat in comfort and perhaps even eat healthier than they normally do.
So, let’s just pretend you spend one hundred dollars a week and you can adjust the idea to what you actually spend. If you could only spend $75 a week save the other $25 then you would have an extra $100 a month to go towards your debt. It may seem difficult but it is not that hard to cut back on the cost of the food you eat for a week. Many people could pay off great amounts of debt just by eating at home and not eating out.
You could also shop at a discount grocer such as Aldi’s instead of hitting the locally owned, and often higher priced, grocery store on the corner. Even a trip to Wal-mart often can cost twenty to thirty dollars more than what you may spend for the same amount at an Aldi’s type grocery store.
Another way to save money on meals is to share a meal when you go out and cut out the appetizers and alcoholic drinks. This alone can turn a fifty dollar meal into a ten dollar meal and you still get to go out and have a good time. Often, my friends and I will have an appetizer at home before going out so that we do not order as much at the restaurant.
Try saving money on your meals for just one month and see how much extra you have to send to your credit card debt!
my online purchases
Because of my business, I do have stuffs that I’m buying online and send to my sister in the California for her to send me her in the Philippines. I never thought that it could be this addicting and never realize that my credit card is almost full.. I do have online purchases that has been cancelled because of that. Maybe I just need to pay all my debts first before pursuing to purchase a new one.
Facts in having Credit Cards
It is common today that most of the employed individual or even unemployed one carries a credit card on their wallet. Is it because they need to have one or because they want signify or implied something? The answer to that question probably lies on the person owning the card.
Credit card as we define it is a plastic card carrying a magnetic strip issued by bank or a business entity authorizing the holder to buy goods or services on credit. Owning credit cards carries both advantages and disadvantages result. Some of the advantages of owning credits cards includes (1) you will be able to establish your credit standing, (2) it is much safer to carry credit cards than cash especially, (3) you can be able to maximise the value of money wherein you will only pay the total amount on your due date which is around thirty days from the purchase date, (4) you can use it during emergency situation, and (5) it signifies that you have high social status.
Disadvantages on the other hand of owning credits cards includes (1) it carries high interest and finance charges once you are unable to pay the whole amount due, (2) it might result to your poor credit outstanding once you failed to settle the entire obligation, (3) additional annual expenses brought by the annual membership due and (4) you might not be able to control your expenses especially if your are impulsive.
Considering the positive and negative effect of owning credit cards, is it advisable to have one? As for me, having or not having a credit card is not a big deal. Everybody can have many credit cards as he wants, provided he knows the implication of having it and be able to settle them when it becomes due. Just remember that every swipe you made using your credit cards carries responsibility. So if you think you need one…go ahead…enjoying swiping your cards!
Work with Creditors and Cut Back
With the economy going downhill and difficulty getting a paycheck, it can be hard to fix finances. One key thing to remember when you are living paycheck to paycheck, is to work with your creditors. Many of them will work with you to make a partial payment. Even if you pay just a few dollars on the debt, that is better than nothing. It shows them that you are really trying.
Cancel anything that is not absolutely needed. If you have multiple credit cards, cancel all but one. Focus on paying off the other cards and then cut them in half. Make sure to send a written letter to the finance company or credit card company to let them know of the cancellation.
Do you really need DVR service? Do you really need that extra tier of cable service? Could you do without the call waiting, extra minutes and unlimited text on your cell phone for a couple of months to get caught up on bills? Look closely at what you spend on and think of ways to cut. Cutting out expenses will help the most for fixing finances. Living within your means and taking steps to get out of debt, not only creates a better financial situation, but often a better and less stressful lifestyle.