frugalexpert

[frugalexpert]

The Best Way To Store Financial Documents

I’m not sure about you, but this is one area that I have been in need of improving throughout the beginning years of my financial life. Way back in high school, I bought a little accordion style folder that I intended to use to store every piece of pertinent financial information I collected throughout the years. 

Only 2-3 years in, and it was quickly filling up! Not only was it filling up, it was completely disorganized, hard to transport, and even harder to search through in case I needed any information. In addition to this, it has hogged a lot of space in my closet, and when it filled up, I just started keeping stuff on my computer desk. As you can see, this is not a great solution, and I’ve only begun my financial adventures. Sure, I could expand into larger filing cabinets, but this only solves the problem of not having enough filing space. It would be harder to transport, would take up even more space in our place, and wouldn’t be any easier to search through.

Go Digital

Some of you may have figured it out long ago, but the best way to store documents is by creating digital copies. There are risks involved in going digital, which I’ll outline, but believe me, the benefits far outweigh the risks, especially when steps are taken to mitigate those risks.

Risks

Data Loss

The single greatest risk to storing documents digitally is the risk you take of losing your documents. Hard drives fail all the time, so how do you minimize the risk? It’s simple. Back up your documents to AT LEAST two hard drives, preferably three. If one disk fails, you always have the others.

Another solution, to minimize the risk of a disk failing, is to purchase a couple of SSD drives. These hard drives don’t have any moving parts, and so have a much lower risk of failing. Plus they are a little faster, but this shouldn’t be the reason you purchase them, as the difference is minimal for our purposes.

Another way to minimize the risk of having a drive fail on you, is to use external hard drives, and unplug them whenever you aren’t using any of the documents. Hard drives are rated at a certain number of hours that the drive can be run, and so not leaving the drive running all the time, will extend it’s life. There is talk that unplugging and plugging in hard drives all the time, will reduce it’s life, but the wear this places on a drive is minimal compared to leaving it running all the time. Also, unplugging your drives, when not in use, will minimize the risk of someone stealing your data.

Hacked Data

Another risk of having everything stored on your computer comes from computer hackers. Believe it or not, it’s very possible to get access to everything on your machine. I’ve long believed in the hacker belief, that anything connected to the web, has a way in. Here are two ways that I minimize this risk.

As stated in the last section, keep your external drive unplugged when you aren’t using it. If you have it plugged in only 10% of the time you are using your computer, this reduces the chances of someone getting into your stuff by 90%. If it’s not connected, they can’t get it, simple as that.

The other way to increase security is to encrypt your external hard drive. Maximum PC has an excellent article on the topic.

Benefits

I strongly believe that these benefits outweigh the risks involved in digitizing all your documents. All risks can be minimized.

Organization

This is the best reason to switch to the digital world in my opinion. You can organize everything, exactly how you want it organized. You can create as many folders and subfolders as you need, and you can name them whatever you want. On top of that, you can use your operating system’s built in search functionality to look for whatever document you want, as long as you name it in a descriptive way.

More Space

With the size of modern hard drives now sitting at and beyond 2 TB, you have near unlimited space to store everything you need. With a filing cabinet system, you are extremely limited, on top of having to put up with an extreme loss of space in your house or apartment.

Portability

When you store documents digitally, you can take them with you when you travel. Again, there are risks involved in this, such as theft, and downright losing of the drive, but if you are responsible and careful, this shouldn’t be an issue, especially if you have the drive encrypted.

How Do You Store Them?

For anyone who doesn’t know how to actually go about storing physical documents digitally, I can tell you from first hand experience it’s very easy.

Here’s what you need:

 A scanner or all-in-one printer. This can be bought on Amazon for less than $50.

PDF merging software. The reason I use this is to merge documents that are made up of more than sheets into one PDF. This tremendously enhances the amount of organization you get out of storing documents digitally. I use pdfsam, which is a free program that works great for what I need. You can download it here.

At least two external hard drives. For most people, a couple 100 GB drives should work just fine, and can be purchased cheaply from Newegg.com.

Using just these two tools, and a couple of external hard drives, you can back up your entire document collection, and still have plenty of space to spare, both on your computer, and in your home. I’ve been working on backing up the last few years’ worth of documents over the past week, and am over half way through them, but I’m still sitting at less than 200 megs worth of storage space used up. Definitely an improvement over having papers laying around!

[frugalexpert]

GET A FINANCIAL HELPING HAND WITH A PAYDAY ADVANCE

Today, everyone could use a financial helping hand, and a payday advance, also referred to as a payday loan, can offer that assistance.

Whether your car has broken down or you are faced with an unexpected medical bill, a payday loan can help you get by financially until your next payday.

HOW TO GET A PAYDAY LOAN

Many people might turn to their credit cards or banks when they are in need of a short-term loan, but what about those individuals who might not have the luxury of tapping into their credit cards or are unable to secure a loan from a bank? Where can these consumers turn when they are in need of short-term financial assistance?

The answer is a payday loan. Serving as a short-term loan option, payday loans provide immediate access to cash without the same hassles associated with obtaining other forms of loans. Typically, payday lenders do not need to run a credit check and there is significantly less paperwork involved.

The primary way in which payday loans are different from other types of loans is their repayment periods. Often significantly shorter than that of other loans, payday loan repayment periods are generally 14 to 31 days in length. The idea behind these short-term loans is the borrower should be able to repay the loan by his or her next payday.

While payday loans tend to be easier to obtain than other types of loans, the borrower does need to meet some qualifications in order to secure a payday loan. Generally, these qualifications include being 18 years or older, having a steady income via a job or a government program and having an active bank account.

Payday loan borrowers can acquire a payday loan from physical payday loans stores, in which they would need to provide an actual check for the amount of the loan plus any fee.

Borrowers also can secure payday loans via the Internet. When applying for online payday loans, borrowers normally only need to complete a secure online form in order to have the loan directly deposited into their bank account.

[frugalexpert]

Setting Reasonable Financial Goals

"Mariam, I don't see how you do all the things you do?" I've been asked this so many times over the past 10 years. I really don't have a snappy comeback or some magic cure for this question. I usually answer it with something incredibly mundane comment as "I write down my goals." This is not what most people want to hear, but it is the truth.

I am able to get so much done due to some wonderful guys like Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar and Earl Nightingale. Back in the 80s when I was working in the corporate world, I had the fun of being able to attend a seminar given by Brain Tracy. I learned of Goal setting and Goal planning during that seminar and I haven't been the same since. I have been able to do more, have more fun and be more productive due to the books and CDs I ordered and implemented from these motivational experts.

Here is an article I wrote when I had a group of students ask me about setting goals and life plans. You'll see elements of the above teachers as well as stuff from Hyrum Smith and Dr. Covey. I'm not saying any of this stuff is new, but it is amalgamated here after being tried, worked and digested for over 20 years. I hope it helps you in your goal planning.

The major issue most people have with setting goals is that they aim too high, too far and expect WAY too much from themselves all in one lump. Here are a few tips that I’ve learned over the years when it comes to setting goals.

Call them targets. Don't call them goals. I learned this in 1989 from Brian Tracy. Brian is a motivational speaker that was a salesman who learned how to make his goals a reality. He became financially independent and started traveling around the country giving seminars on how to create the life you want. He was the guy who first taught me that if you call goals “targets” you’ll win an internal battle every time. With targets you get “points” for getting close! With goals, just like in football, you only get “points” if you make it. You get a goose egg for missing. If you set a “target” for yourself and slip up, that’s not a bad thing because you’ll try again, you didn’t fail. Just by changing the name in my mind from goals to targets, I found myself celebrating every time I took a baby step toward my targets rather than getting all frustrated because I wasn’t moving fast enough toward a goal.

Make a hierarchy of targets and all the ways that you can move slowly to your ultimate goal. Let’s take my latest target of “exercise.” I wanted to eventually get to the point of lifting weights and doing aerobics for an hour a day. Well, since I haven’t done anything but walk and light exercise for the last four months, I knew that target was going to take some “building up” on my part. So, I sketched out a plan where I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day for a week, then I added sit ups and push ups the second week while continuing to walk the treadmill. By the third week, I would be ready for some aerobic work…and so on. Instead of going for the big “goal” up front, create a target and then work out the levels of tiny steps to give you a better chance of success.

Write your goals down. If you don’t bring these targets out of your head and post them on paper somewhere, they don’t really exist in our 4-dimensional world. It is a requirement that you write or type or paint a picture of your targets and post them where you see them every day! I know this sounds trite and maybe even patronizing. It is not meant to be. I write down my goals all the time. I have a new set for this quarter taped to the wall behind my computer monitor. That way, each time I look up, I see the list. It helps keep me focused and in line with what is important to me.

Don’t give up. When you slip up and miss a step (I do this all the time!) Don’t hang up your hat and call it quits! Keep at it. Maybe you tried to move to quick to your target. (This is usually where I mess up.) Step back a bit and take it slower. Maybe you had your steps out of sequence on the way to your target. Reevaluate your targets and steps and see if you’re trying to do too much in too many areas of your life. I suggest that you make no more than three major targets at any one time. I usually only have one or two that I work on at once, but for you type-A personalities, feel free to go as high as three!

Life is not an easy road, but it is made simpler by doing goal setting each week. I have my to-do list for each day, but once a week I look over what I have scheduled to do and then work out a plan on how to achieve what needs to be done. I must tell you. My plan rarely works out. I have to constantly adjust, amend and adapt. The one thing to remember in all this is make sure you keep giving yourself a pat on the back with each step, you’ll eventually find yourself celebrating the fact that you hit the bull’s-eye!

[frugalexpert]

Beat the Great Depression by Saving Money!

The Federal Reserve has driven rates down to the lowest level in more than 40 years so is it a wonder folks are jumping at the ability to get a loan? These lower interest rates have caused a major increase in housing purchases, which has caused an increase in housing prices which has, in turn, increased the number of mortgage refinancing so people can have more money to spend on things. Eeek!

There are problems on the horizon if this sort of spending continues. At some point the money will have to be repaid. Remember that the boomer generation is just starting to retire and pulling money from their savings to compensate for the lack of paychecks. This is adding to the negative numbers we are currently seeing and the number of retirees is going to increase over the next decade.

So, what do you do? I mean, all this negativity about saving and the consequences of excessive spending is enough to make the stoutest heart want to grab the wallet, head to the mall and SPEND! Here is what you do. Make sure that at least 10% of your income is going directly into an IRA, 401k or if you are self-employed, pick one of the solo 401k options that allow business owners to invest income in a retirement vehicle. It is important that you don’t give up your future due to the lures of today. If you are unable to save 10% of your income then start looking at what you are buying on a daily basis that can be handled in a different way.

We are NOT talking about deprivation here. If you are buying a cup of coffee at your local coffee shop every morning on your way to work, then I suggest you buy a thermos and make your coffee at home and take it to work with you. If you buy a trinket or little “something” every time you checkout at your local food mart then I suggest that you find another way to fill that emotional need. What is important is to ask yourself this question; “Why am I buying this?” It will amaze you how many times the answer is something out of a 3-year-old’s mouth. “Because I want it!” or “Because I’m mad/upset/irritated!” Often, many of my clients tell me that they get so depressed about their credit card bills they go out shopping to feel better! Talk about your vicious cycles, right?

Here are some tips to avoid this sort of trap:

Every time you avoid buying a trinket or item at checkout, put that money into a savings account. One of my clients told me that by the end of one week she had $112 in her checking account. Talk about an eye opener. She knew that she had been spending money on stupid stuff, but had no idea it was THAT much in a week!

Track all your expenses. Yes, all of them. Buy or make yourself a little notebook that you carry around with you all the time. Every time money or a credit card leaves your wallet, record the expense. Over a month of recording you will start to see patterns in your spending that are impulsive, not satisfying in the long run and destructive to your mental health. Eliminate those expenses or find low cost alternatives so you don’t go into a deprivation/splurge cycle.

Track your savings. Keep an eye on your savings account and watch it grow over time. When an emergency occurs or an unplanned expense hits, pull the money from your savings account and put that credit card back into your wallet. If you don’t have the money saved, then it is simple, don’t buy it!

Make financial goals. This is the single most powerful exercise anyone can do, but is the most often neglected. By making REALISTIC financial goals you will achieve them. What is necessary in making goals is to have a reason for them. Saying that you want to have $5,000 in a savings account by this year’s end is not enough motivation for me. I have to have a reason for that $5,000. Before I had an IRA in my name, I was totally committed to saving money so I could open it and to make sure I could fund it every year! Why? Because I had a picture in my mind of me old and grey and not able to work anymore, the thought of living with my children or being a burden to them is enough to make me save money for my IRA.

Affirm your financial goals. Instead of telling yourself or your loved ones, “Sorry, honey, you can’t have that we don’t have enough money.” Start affirming a positive financial picture. A better way to affirm abundance of money is to state, “I can’t have that, because I spend my money on different things.” This keeps the affirmations out of the negative and starts you to think about the purchases that really matter. Then, you're not just throwing your money away.

Take a look at your savings account balance as it stands today. Then, make a financial goal that is realistic for how much you want in that account in three months, then six months and then the end of the year. Write these numbers down and then post them conspicuously in your home. You will be amazed how those numbers keep floating around in your head and how they keep your fingers from grabbing your wallet the next time you pass the candy aisle!

[frugalexpert]

LAPTOP BUYING ADVICE FOR CASH-STRAPPED STUDENTS

Whether you are getting ready for the next semester or just fancy an upgrade on your existing laptop – here are four useful pieces of advice for students who may be short on cash.

What makes a good laptop?

Ideally a good value laptop should include at least 4GB of ram and a 300GB+ hard drive. This being said, more often than not, people will be swayed in favor of more ascetically pleasing design over performance features which isn’t always the best road to go down. I would always advise to splash out on the higher performance processor if you can afford it at the start, you will be thankful 6 months down the line when you are multi-tasking presentations, writing essays, all while talking to your friends on Skype. If you plan on doing lots of word processing tasks in your work I would also ensure you get the correct laptop keyboard, test some out in the store before purchasing and check you are comfortable with key weights and spacing for your hand size.

How can you save money?

A few things you can often save money on include premium design and touch screen displays that aren’t really essential for your average laptop user that wishes to just get the best bang for their buck. Premium brands such as Apple, offer laptops with much have higher resolution displays but for your average laptop user just wishing to carry out word processing tasks this is by no means essential.  When purchasing in store you may also be able to take advantage of available laptop accessories at discount prices when bought in conjunction with your laptop. Ask the customer service advisor and push for discounts where you can.

Shop Online

As always, it is well worth researching your purchase online and using price comparison prices to compare your laptop with the competitors. You may even choose to buy online, or more often than not if you mention the price you have seen online when you visit the store they may be happy to match the price.

[frugalexpert]

The Great College Hoax

The Lost Generation

I have noticed that as the job market sinks deeper into the abyss, college grads have been grumbling ever so louder. A lot of the career forums tell stories of depressed job seekers, fresh out of college, who are getting tossed to the curb. While it’s true that college certainly doesn’t guarantee a high paying job upon graduation, universities seem to imply it is much easier than it actually is. In this recession it would seem that employers are sticking with the older talent, rather than the young and eager. This is an opportunity in disguise, for the lost and forgotten. College grads should be eager to jump into the entrepreneurial mode, as the corporate world turns it’s back.

Find A Hobby

I mentioned in my article about the 2009 grads that graduates shouldn’t wait for employers to offer them jobs. Jobs are scarce right now, but working from home is the new fad. Ample opportunities are available in online business. I gave readers some entrepreneurial advice in my article Discovering Arbitrage. There are plenty of ample opportunities out there for college graduates to start small businesses. If your credit is good, you can find low interest rates on a business start up loan, from sites like Prosper, to get you started.

Start out slowly at first and experiment with new ideas. Try not to spend too much money, if at all possible. Once you get better at it you can invest more time and money into your project, as you gain experience. I tried and failed in many hobbies, before I found ones that could make me small amounts of income that I have used in Snowflaking.

My mother told me about a story she heard at work. An old man and his grandson went into business making bird feeders. The grandfather had been making them for years out of driftwood and selling them at rummage sales. His grandson started a website and integrated E-Marketplace into it. They are now making a small fortune.

In my mind college was a hoax, in the sense it didn’t give me the opportunities I desired, such as a great job. Just because life has thrown me lemons, isn’t enough for me to lose hope yet. There are great start up opportunities that have yet to be found. When the economy does finally rebound there will be many business giants that will be taken over by these small start ups. One of the companies I interviewed with after school, was started by two men during a recession. They coded a few websites for some small companies and eventually grew it into a business. They never waited for anyone to hire them. They seized a great opportunity and capitalized it into a business. Now is the time to keep one's eyes open and make opportunities happen for themselves.

[frugalexpert]

10 Ways to Save this Summer!

Its summa summa summa time and we all plan on making the most of it. Don’t let the sun shine and the free time break into your bank. Save some serious dough, while having the best summer ever, using these 10 frugal approved ways to save this summer!

1.Let’s Go on a Stay-cation!

With the rise in airline tickets and those ridiculous baggage fees, going on vacation can seem more like an expensive burden than a time of relaxation. This is the summer to stay-cation and explore the destinations around you. Look for great places around your city to vacation in; you’d be surprised at the options you will have. Save on flights by going  to places that are in driving distance or if you are able to catch a bus or train.  You can save the rest or upgrade your hotel stay!

2. Movie Matinee

Transformers 3, Captain America, Rise of the Planet of the Apes! These are just a few of this summer’s blockbuster hits and you will more than likely want to see them. A trip to the movies can easily cost you $20 per person if you buy a snack, and who doesn’t want something to munch on while seeing a movie? Save a few bucks by going to afternoon showings. You will avoid the crowded theaters, save some cold hard cash on admission and have your evenings to do other things. It may only be a few bucks, but bucks add up my friend!

3. Do your own Mani/Pedi

If you plan on baring your toes this summer, then they better look decent. That goes for you too fellas! Mani/Pedi’s can cost a pretty penny if you frequent the salon. It can cost you about $50 or more on the high end and $30 on the low end. Trust me, you want to avoid high turnover salons and save yourself the possibility of contracting a nail fungus. Doing your own mani/pedis are simple and cost effective! Purchase a mani/pedi kit from your local beauty supply store like Sally’s. It will run you about $25 and you will have it for future use!

4. Eat out less

I know, I know! There is nothing better than trying a new restaurant or frequenting your favorite spot during the summer; perhaps anytime of the year. Regardless, eating out can be very costly considering the cost of food, drinks and gratuity. Save yourself some pesos and channel your inner Paula Dean. Sharpen your cooking skills by trying out gourmet recipes from sites like Cooks.com or Recipes.com. You can find the type of food you want to cook and explore ratings, level of difficulty and reviews on the dishes before your even try it. You can splurge on high quality ingredients and still spend less than you do at a restaurant! What are you waiting for? Go and get your cook on!

5. Stop driving everywhere!

I know its hot outside, but did you really have to drive to the mailbox? JK, lol! But seriously though, we use our cars frequently for almost everything. Remember that time, before the car, where you used to walk to places or ride your bike? Well lets try that more often. The good thing about summer time is that the weather is nice. Save some money on gas by walking to destinations less than half a mile away. You will get good exercise, save on money and see your neighborhood in an entirely new way. If you must drive, try carpooling instead.

6. Never pay full price for ANYTHING

With daily deal sites such as LivingSocail.com, Groupon.com or BuywithMe.com popping up everywhere, there is no need to EVER pay full price for anything. You can get 50% or more off on goods and services that you use all the time. LivingSocial.com just launched and “Adventures' ' division that will be delivering deals on summer activities such as horseback riding, water rafting and other “expensive” activities for a BARGAIN! So whether you are going on a trip or just getting some quesadilla from your fav Mexican spot; make sure you can get a coupon for it.

7. Just Chill Out…

We tend to jam pack our summer with one activity after the next! Although summer is the time to do the things you love, don’t forget to actually relax. Relaxing, at its simplest form, can be the cheapest thing to do. This is the time to charge yourself up for a busy fall, so take advantage of the down time. Everyday or weekend, does not have to be filled with an activity. Chilling at the pool, on your balcony or on your favorite couch can be just as rewarding. Grab a book, a drink with an umbrella in it and sit yo’ ass down, just relax!

8. Make yourself some money!

With all of this free time, why don’t you make yourself some money? Tap into your natural talents and make it lucrative. Bake some pies, do some hair, cut grass, plant flowers, sell your stuff online, babysit, tutor kids or get a weekend/night gig. Additional income is SWEET! You can pretty much save it or put it towards your debt! Sit down and write a few things down that you are actually good at, and find ways to get paid for it. If it's cutting into your personal/professional life, then you need to rethink your strategy.

9. Potluck Summer Cookouts

This is the time for bbq’s, summer cookouts and parties. Hosting a party can be very expensive, especially if your guests are bringing guests. Before you host your next event, be sure to involve your friends and family and have them bring their favorite drinks and food items. For instance, you can buy all of the buns and condiments, and have your guest bring the meats and sides. Get creative! If you can get away with it, be the guest and not the host.

10. Set mini savings goals

We tend to spend more money on leisure during the summer, so setting min savings goals maybe a great way to keep track of your expenses. Keep a close eye on how much you spend of the fun stuff while also budgeting and saving for the serious stuff. Don’t loose track of your savings goals and have fun within your means.

These are my 10 ways to save money this summer while having a frugalicious time! What are some ways you plan on saving money this summer?

[frugalexpert]

5 Savings Tips for Low Income Families

When you are living paycheck to paycheck and your in the low income family category, it is imperative that you watch every dollar.  Below are some tips for saving money for low income families, and remember that every dollar adds up:

1. Motor Oil…if you are changing your oil every 3,000 miles, which is what we have all been told for years is the way to take care of your car, it is time to move to every 7,500 miles. Why?  Today’s automobiles can easily go 7,500 miles or even more between changes. Don’t ask your dealer, because of course they will tell you 3,000. Check online and see what the experts are saying about your car.  You can save $100-200 a year depending on the mileage you drive.

2. ATM Fees.. did you know that in the USA people spend more than $7 billion a year on ATM Fees.  That is INSANE!  Paying to get your own money out of a machine.  It just isn’t right.  Make sure you use your bank’s machines so that you don’t get charged.  You may be in a rush and if you are near an ATM machine, you just get your money, hit the button that requires you to accept the terms and conditions (ie. $2-3.00 to get your money) and go about your business. Don’t. It is ridiculous to pay for ATM fees, and the average household wastes $60 a year on these.

3. Bottled Water.   Americans drink on average 30 gallons of bottled water a year, and the fact is that a lot of the water is just purified by the company that brands the water.  So, just go out and buy a purifier and save your family $190 a year or more by staying away from Poland Springs, Dasani, and all of the other brands that make a FORTUNE selling bottled water that you just don’t need.

4.  Keep Your Tires Inflated- this is a great savings tip for low income families.  25% of all automobiles are driving around on under-inflated tires and that increase your gasoline consumption.  So, go to Wal-Mart and buy a $20 or less digital tire pressure gauge and start checking your tire pressure every month.  You will be shocked at how often you need to re-inflated your tires and by doing so you will be improving your miles to the gallon.  The average driver can save $130 a year or more in gasoline costs by following this advice.

5. Low-Flow Shower Head.  If you install a low-flow shower head (ie. 2 gallons of water per minute or less compared with 2.5 gallons or more from a regular shower head), you can save up to $170 a year or more.

In conclusion, these are five simple savings tips for low income families that can make an important difference in their ability to save money or redeploy the money to other areas. Ideally, you should try to save every dollar that you can, so if you implement these, put each dollar in the bank (or a cookie jar if you prefer) for future emergency expenses.

[frugalexpert]

Save Money on Business Clothes

Just because frugal individuals like to keep a firm grip on their money, doesn’t mean we don’t like to look nice.  With each new generation entering the job market, it seems the traditional suit and tie or business suit is becoming something of the past.  Sure they still have their place in society but most places of business no longer require it for a day to day “uniform”.

This is great news for the frugal clothes shopper.  It gives added flexibility when hunting for a bargain.  This article will show you how you can stretch your dollar when shopping for business casual clothes.

Ebay is a great place to purchase business attire.  When searching, look for “lots”.  These are listings that offer multiple products for sale.  Instead of purchasing one button down shirt, you would be bidding on 4-5 shirts in one auction.

Goodwill or other thrift shops usually have a large selection of business clothing.  I’ll be the first to tell you, I’m not real keen on wearing other people's clothes, but I have purchased several brand new items from thrift shops.  I’ve bought $30 button up shirts for $1, brand new name brand dress pants for a couple dollars.  You really can’t go wrong.

Better than going to Goodwill is buying from yard sales.  Usually the stuff (as far as clothes go) at thrift stores are what could not sell at yard sales.  If you go to the yard sales early prices seem to be a little more firm than buying towards the end of the day, but if you go early there is a much larger selection.

Buy clearance items from your local stores.  Buy your summer clothes at the end of the summer and your winter clothes at the end of winter.  While you may not be able to wear your newly purchased business clothes, you will have a nice new selection within a few months of the appropriate seasons.

There are several other places you can find bargain clothes that i’m not going to get into.  Freecycle.org and cheapcycle groups on yahoo offer alternative ways of trading your goods for other good.  If you are looking for free clothing due to financial difficulties, consider posting on the wanted section of Craigslist about your needs.  There are many generous people out there that will gladly help you out.

Of course if you don’t have any luck at the above mentioned there is always Amazon!

[frugalexpert]

Eating A Frugal Dinner

Speaking from experience, you can save big by eating frugal meals. By using these money saving meal planning techniques, you'll slash your spending and keep more money in your pocket.

Eating a quality, cheap dinner is not uncommon by any means in my family. In fact, we've been eating frugal dinners for most of our lives.

By doing so, we've eaten economically and saved a great deal of money.

We're here to share these easy inexpensive meals with you because you deserve to get the most value for your money as we have, especially with the high pricing of food.

Frugal Meals

Inexpensive Meals

After you get the hang of it, you'll actually have fun with our strategies, be more organized with your food purchases and certainly enjoy the savings you'll incur.

By the way, eating cheap meals doesn't mean you'll be eating popcorn casserole and spam all week. Far from it, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food you'll eat on top of the cash you'll save.

Overspending

Many people do not realize the amount of money that goes out the door for food. We certainly didn't several years ago until we started adding up our receipts to our disgust.

We were overspending on food and consistently had our refrigerator and cupboards jam packed with food. On top of that, we were throwing out food that went bad usually because we didn't get to it or we forgot about it. Uggh! What a waste.

We certainly learned our lesson and learned to get a grip on the unnecessary cash we were throwing out the window for groceries.

Frugal Eating - The Basics

Eating frugally is basically eating well without forking out unnecessary cash where it's not needed. It's eating smart so you can take the cash you save from groceries and put it to much better use.

When applying the techniques below, you will of course save a great deal of cash, but you'll also find additional benefits. You'll be better organized with your food purchases and you’ll be eating healthier and feeling better as a result.

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PROTECTING YOUR GADGETS SAVES YOU MONEY

You already know that we firmly believe in living frugally and doing things ourselves around here. We’d rather clean our carpets than replace them. And yet…we’re incredibly cavalier with our computers and mobile devices—tossing them into bags, leaving them out in cars, etc.

I started thinking about this the other day after reading about Senator Klobuchar’s letter to the major mobile carriers. Did you know that most of us, particularly those of us on Android devices, don’t have the protections we thought we did? Because it was certainly news to me! And I’m not afraid to tell you, I am not thrilled with my career right now.

The point, though, is that keeping my devices operational really shouldn’t be up to my carrier and the manufacturer of my computers and phones. I should be taking steps to keep the devices safe and operational too.

Here��s what I’m planning:

Covers Keep You Covered

You probably already have a laptop case and a tablet case but do you have a case on your phone? You should. And that case is for more than looking cute. It’s to add a layer of protection if you drop your phone and to keep it from getting overly scratched while it jostles about in your pocket or bag.

Remember, though, that it isn’t just the back and the sides that are vulnerable to scratches and cracks. You need to protect your screen, too. Good screen protectors run about $15—far less than you’d have to pay for a new phone! (Bonus: if you buy the screen at the store, the store will likely put the screen on your phone for free, saving you the hassle of doing it yourself.)

Tracking Matters

Keep track of your computers and devices. Don’t leave them lying out in the car for anybody to see when they walk by. Don’t let them sit out on your table at the coffee shop if you can help it. Yes, it is a pain but—if you’re using them in a public place like a coffee shop, library, etc, pack them up and take them with you if you have to use the restroom (unless you are with a friend who can watch them for you). Most thefts don’t happen because someone rips your phone out of your hand. They happen because you fail to keep track of the device when you’re in a public and heavily trafficked place.

Make sure, too, that you have the right type of security measures in place on your phone so that, in the event your phone is lost or stolen, you can track its location (and brick it up until you get it back).

Protect Your Guts

You already know that you need antivirus and malware software on your regular computer. The most recent threat hackers are using to compromise your machines is called ransomware. Have you heard of ransomware yet? Holy cow, that stuff is scary!

Did you know that you need it on your phone too? This is particularly true if your phone or tablet is an Android based device (Android’s OS is open source which makes it incredibly vulnerable because hackers can download it and play with it to find ways around it). If you’re using an Android device, make sure you’ve got Android specific security software to keep hackers from breaking in and stealing your information.

These are just a few of the things you can do to help keep your devices as safe as possible and help them run smoothly for as long as possible. Do you have any tips or tricks of your own that you’ve used to keep your computers safe? Share them in the comments!

[frugalexpert]

How To Survive When You Leave Your Wallet At Home

I’m sure this has happened to everyone at least once in their lives.  And if you’re like me, then this may have happened to you several times! :)  Anyway, you know the drill. You’re rushing out the door in the morning, because you’re already late for something or other, only to realize a few hours later that you don’t have your wallet.

Well, I had one of those days yesterday… my early morning bible study went a little longer than I had anticipated, and I ended up making a mad dash out the door before work.  (I commute 30 miles to work, so if I forget anything at home, coming back to get it is not an option!)

So lunch time came around and I discovered my wallet was missing.  *SIGH* Now what was I going to do? I was hungry because it's already lunchtime. No cash, no cards. I was out of luck.

Or was I?

Then I remembered my magic little organizer I keep in my purse! This little life-saver is where I keep all of my gift cards, punch cards, and non-grocery coupons. It’s a pretty handy little thing and I use it all the time!

Anyway, I quickly flipped through my little organizer and found a gift card for one of my favorite little restaurants in town. Bingo!

I also had a gift card for my favorite coffee shop, so I went through the drive-thru, and picked up my favorite Coffee Cake Latte, courtesy of my gift card. Sa-weet!

And that, my frugal friends, is how I survived a day in the town without my wallet!

FRUGAL TIP:  Go buy yourself a little organizer for your purse or handbag.  You can find them at Staples, Walmart, and anywhere that sells business supplies.  I have even found a few of these at secondhand stores for less than a dollar!  Keep all of your gift cards, punch cards, and non-grocery coupons in there.  (This will also cut down on the clutter in your wallet!)  And you may want to keep a couple bucks tucked in one of the pockets, if you really want to cover all of your bases. Then you will have your “Wallet Backup” ready and waiting when you need it!  :)

Also putting a bill at the back of your phone in your phone case will help. ;)

[frugalexpert]

Beauty on a Budget!

3 Frugalicious Tips

As the self proclaimed Frugalista (and I do live up to the name) I have a series of cheap beauty tips and tricks that still keeps me looking like a million bucks without burning a whole through my on sale wallet. With that said, here are my top 3 Frugalicious Beatified Tips

1.Don’t waste money on makeup at the department store!

We can not afford to spend full price on anything nowadays, let alone makeup! There are 3 places that I swear by when it comes to shopping for make up and beauty tools

Online

My local Drug store

Just recently, I purchased the 120 color eyeshadow palette from Ebay for $19.99.

This is hands down the most frugal beauty purchase I have made this year. Sites like Drugstore.com or elf.com always have FRUGALLY FAB deals on makeup.

2. Don’t splurge on trends!

If anyone has been paying attention during the past year, the 80′s fashion trend has come back with a BANG! I mean a massive atomic explosion! Everywhere you go you see liquid latex leggings, neon skinny jeans, tutu’s, graphic tees, bubble dresses and high waisted jeans. It's almost impossible to fight the trend. I am guilty for owning practically everything on that list. It’s fun being trendy, but the fun ends when you spend an arm and a leg on metallic blue high waisted shorts that’s going to be out of style in a matter of months. Go to Forever21 or Wet Seal and buy those same items for a third of the price. Yes, the quality sucks, but don’t forget, it's a trend! If you accessorize and put your personal touch on these

items, you will be as unique and friggin’ adorably fabulous as they come. There is nothing more fulfilling than getting complimented on an outfit you spent almost nothing on!

You don’t have to spend like a socialite to be one! Maintaining an absolutely fabulous life also means that you have to make appearances at social events. Obviously you want your friends to see you wearing your fashionably frugal  outfit. However, socializing too much can put an unforgiving dent in your budget. So, look for happy hour events, entertain at home, get a guy to buy you a drink, or places with drink specials. In my town, there is always a Ladies night somewhere, cheap appetizers or free

entry if you arrive at a certain time. Arrive early enough to find street parking. One thing that always helps control my leisure spending is I bring cash. Leave the debit card in the car (I would leave it home, but just in case of emergency). If you are celebrating with friends, call ahead of time and find out bottle specials and food deals. Sometimes a group of 4 or more and save a bundle if you put your money together.

3. Hurray for Store Brands!

So, we all are basically brainwashed to believe that the name brand products are better than the generic. About two weeks ago, I had a terrible cold and I had to get my Diva Emergency repair kit ASAP. No one likes to be around a sick person regardless of how frugally fabulous you are. So I allocated $10 bucks for meds. I took a trip to my local pharmacy and my measly little $10 could not even get me the basics. I wanted to get daytime cough syrup or pills, some Vitamin C orange juice, hand sanitizer and cough drops. All the name brand products totaled up to $17.99 before taxes. I was floored. I could not believe that I was going to have to compromise over my health in an effort to stay in budget. So I grabbed the store brand version of Tylenol am and the brand name and took it to the pharmacy technician, and he assured me that the meds are exactly the same, although the ingredients were slightly different. I bought everything from the store brand everything! My final total was $12. What a Frugalicious Deal!

So, there you go my frugalistas; my 5 frugalicious beautified tips for you. What are some frugal beauty tips that keep you on a budget? Please share!

[frugalexpert]

Great Ways To Save Money

There is that dreaded sensation when in charge calls us in and requests a run of documents. When we get to the equipment, the whole thing is entirely without fluid and just empty pieces of paper come out. A rush to the outlets cupboard exposes that there are no extra cassettes there and afterwards the yelling starts. Without a doubt, it is this sort of panic scenario that has everybody running in circles. It is for this factor that printer ink refill sets were made. Also toner cartridges can be topped up as well because these typically run out at unacceptable times also.

Not lengthy ago this was simply not possible given that the only way one could get the machine to function was to place in a brand-new tape. The caution came when discolored photos were seen so individuals had time to go to the shop and obtain a replacement. Spares were seldom kept given that they usually tend to be on the expensive side. Yet exactly what made a lot of people upset is that whenever a cassette was required, the design would usually run out stock right at the incorrect time.

Clever firms formulated the different tinted fluids to embed these aged cassettes and it has literally released everybody from very high costs and short provide. Also shade liquids are available as well and when they are blended together, they compose all the appropriate shades as required.

Although the shade liquids do not always provide perfect results, they do have a close approximation to truth shades and are commonly ample for the work that they are doing. Taking into consideration just how much the originals cost, a lot of would certainly compromise this small component to obtain a stronger return for the cash invested for certain.

One point that people need to refrain though is to allow these cassettes dry completely.

Once this has actually happened, they are rarely useful once again because the pc chip gets damaged while doing so. If the cassette is covered up consistently though, this needs to stop any kind of incidents occurring.

Certainly, there is another aspect to this than just having liquid handy at all times. The tapes take a disproportionate quantity of petrol items to make. When these tapes are utilized up they wind up in landfills all around the nation. The issue is though that they are basically indestructible and will be there for a long period of time contaminating everything that it comes in to call with. There must come a time when we quit using up the resources of the globe and recycle as much as we can and this looks as good a location to start as any kind of. Without a doubt, this not just saves the company or household money and it benefits the planet by not consuming oil and leaving something that will most likely return to spook our generations for a very long time ahead. We might not exist to witness this, naturally, but we can rest guaranteed that our kids will reward, and their children too, at one time or an additional.

[frugalexpert]

Tips For Budgeting And Saving Money

Everyone wishes to locate money, conserve cash and have additional to spend!

When I initially evacuated on my own I rapidly learned just how much I should enjoy just what I was investing due to the fact that cash faded away fast! I should make a budget to ensure I had sufficient to pay my costs. My moms and dads wouldn’t allow me to obtain any money!

Now I have a household of my own to care for where saving cash and budgeting is vital. I track what I invest once a week and try to find methods to obtain additional money in my wallet. You could discover programs to assist track your costs so I highly recommend finding one. This is useful since it will certainly assist you see where you may be throwing away cash or where you could cut down to place extra funds back in your pocket. Right here are some ideas I make use of that could help you save money putting more back in your wallet:

See if you can obtain a bundle pack to save money.Phone + cable television + web is a preferred one. A lot of companies do this now and it could save you cash!

Take a look at having all your insurance needs (auto, auto, life) via one firm.They might provide markdowns for numerous plans. Now you should also look around to see that will save you cash. This is essential specifically when a business raises their rates!

Testimonial your taxes! When you submit each year, do you have the tendency to obtain a huge reimbursement back? I utilized and determined to alter my reductions so I would get more in each income. I primarily planned the quantity I would get back in my annual tax obligation reimbursement while optimizing my regular payday. Beware to intend this right so you don’t OWE!

Analyze your expenses to see just what you could cut down on.As an example, my cable costs was high monthly and when I looked better I was paying for things I never made use of. I had exceptional channels and when I truly looked I didn’t enjoy the stations however perhaps a couple times a month. I was likewise spending for game channels which I never made use of! It might have been an impulse thing where I additionally forgot it on and forgot.

Constantly make a listing when you go shopping and stay with it!Impulse acquiring can cost you large in the wallet so keep a listing of just things you require. It’s ok to checklist 1-2 points you might “want” once in a while.

Use discount coupons and purchase things on sale. I constantly review the grocery store sales paper each week. I know just what my family members use a whole lot and I stock up when on sale, within my budget plan of the program! I also reduced coupons weekly for points I understand we use to help conserve more. Some grocery shops also double discount coupons (most approximately $1) so this aids too!

Make a budget plan and plan! Make a budget plan for all your expenditures. This is important to anybody that does not desire their credit rating detrimentally influenced.

There are a lot of methods to make a spending plan but here is a quick review on exactly what I do:

I intend my budget plan weekly, on Friday for expenses I am going to pay.

I intend a date for expenses being paid that allows enough time so it’s not late.

I feature grocery and various costs in my budget plan which tend to happen.

I pay most bills online and configuration repeating repayments.

I prepare my budget out 3 months on paper. I also utilize Excel and prepare out over a year to see any type of shortfalls I need to prepare for.

I review once a week and make modifications.

I evaluate once a week expenditures utilizing a program I purchased and reduced when possible.

You will have to locate what works for you in creating a budget plan and stick with it.

Follow these ideas and you could possibly quickly find you have added money in your wallet!

[frugalexpert]

10 Inspiring quotes to lift you up when you’re financially challenged

What is your financial programming?

Below are some of the inspiring quotes I was able to jot down in my journal. This is actually a compilation of one-liners I heard from different mentors. They sometimes serve as my go-to incantations whenever I’m experiencing difficulties (which, incidentally, tend to gear more towards finances. 😀 haha). Hope this encourages you as well.

Unless you change your self-portrait, you cannot change your mind.

Everything I need comes to me.

God shall supply all my needs.

My blessings are on the way.

You will lend to many but borrow from none.

Purpose of wealth : God wants you to love.

HOPE stands for Hold On, Pain Ends

God prospers those who do good work.

God prospers those who give their first fruits.

Wealth is created in the mind.

So those are just 10 of my favorites. How about you? What are your go-to empowering mantras?Do share in the comments section below. 👇👇

[frugalexpert]

Saving Money On Groceries

I have recently been wrestling with the problem of how to cut my grocery bill down. Maybe it’s that I have not gotten needy enough or am I just lazy? I enjoy reading Frugal Living Blogs and I marvel at how Frugal Shoppers cutting back their groceries bills, but when it comes down to doing it my effort is pretty weak. It is time for me to get off my rear end and start making use of some of these great tips.

Plan Meals Before You Shop

Certainly one of my bad habits is shopping for groceries and kind of planning as I go, well let’s see if chicken would be good tonight, mmmm… Not a good idea: print out a simple calendar, plan your basic meals, list the items you need and stick to it. Prior planning is so very important to saving money on groceries, the more I think about it I begin to realize any attempt to save more will not happen unless I plan ahead of time.

Shop Once a Week

I think this is so very important to saving money. Trips back and forth several times a week begins to add up. With my meal planner in hand there should be no reason to be running back and forth to the SuperMarket all the time. This is also where a little self-discipline comes in, if I am really serious about saving money I really need some self-control.

Use Coupons

Coupons can be put to much better use with the help of a meal planner. Many times I grab a good coupon or two head off to the grocery store with the idea of getting this good deal. However without proper planning I undoubtedly will forget other ingredients I might need and now a day or two later I’m headed back to the store.

I listed only three of the 45 tips for saving money on groceries and I am beginning to see the error of my ways. Planning, Planning, Discipline, discipline, Discipline are the only ways to save money on groceries. Thinking back I now know how my Mom always put a good meal on the table, back on the farm she did not have the luxury of running to the Grocery Store every day.