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How to Simplify your Living Expenses

Posted by admin on Mar 8, 2010

Here’s the thing: I’m a New Yorker. And in New York, it is amazingly difficult NOT to spend a lot of money, just on the basics! As a student of Harv Eker, I am trying to limit my expenses to 50% of my after-tax income, and I have to tell you, that is really hard to do. Harv isn’t the only one to suggest this either: almost every money-management guru gives the same advice. Simplify your expenses.

The fact is, if you want to become financially free, you must do two things: increase your passive income and decrease your expenses. Once your passive income is equal to or greater than your expenses, you are financially free. The concept is simple enough — and in other articles I address creating passive income (the easiest and fastest way to do this would be by renting your rooms). But how do you simplify your expenses? Especially when you look around and you don’t see a way HOW? Here are a variety of ways you can still live a decent life and be a bit more frugal at the same time.

Food & Toiletries

By far, making lunch at home was one of my biggest savings! I made lunch and snacks and bought them to work.

Instead of buying shower gel, go back to soap bars. They last longer and are much cheaper.

Don’t wash your hair every day, and when you do wash your hair, only wash it once. That saves lots of shampoo.

I made my own coffee at home — or cut it out altogether and put that money aside in your financial freedom jar. One guru calls that the “latte factor.”

As a nation, we eat out a whole lot more and buy convenience foods to just heat in the microwave — but these can be expensive. Cooking may take time, but it does save you lots of money.

Buy generic! I was so opposed to this, and one day I ate some potato chips that my boyfriend bought. Seriously? They didn’t taste different from the name brand. Try it. Ok, some things may be non-negotiable, but you’d be surprised what is. Your grocery bill will go way down.

Take the effort to cut coupons, take advantage of sales, and go to discount warehouses, like Sam’s Club or Costco.

Heat & Electricity

If you don’t already have one, get an electric thermostat with a timer, so you can change the temperature automatically during specific times of the day. Lower the temperature when the family is out of the house.

Use space heaters and lower the heat in the rooms you use. Use an electric blanket at night.

There is plastic covering you can get at the hardware store and cover your windows. That keeps the heat in the house.

Make sure your boiler and hot water heater are maintained properly.

Wear layers of clothing and keep the heat lower.

Use kitchen and bathroom vents sparingly in the winter

Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents

Wash laundry in cold or warm instead of hot

Use a clothesline instead of using the dryer

Use a ceiling fan instead of an air conditioner.

Cell Phones, Internet, and Communication Utilities

Avoid pre-paid cell phones, even if you just want the phone for emergencies, unless you are careful to use a plan with minutes that don’t expire. You pay exorbitant rates per minute.

Never underestimate the minutes your teen may use. Be careful not to get the lowest plan. Constant overages are very expensive overall.

You don’t necessarily need a home phone if you have a cell phone. With free nights, weekends and long distance, you may save considerably. Be careful with phone plans that have low rates, because the taxes add significantly to the bill.

For your Internet connection, you don’t have to get the highest rate of connection speed. For the average user, you won’t be able to tell the difference and that can save you $20 a month.

If you switch to broadband, don’t keep your dialup (unless you travel often outside the country or in rural areas). Also, drop paying for AOL. All AOL features are free if you have broadband.

Entertainment

If you really wanted to be extreme about it, you could cut entertainment out altogether. But that’s not really practical, so here are some ideas.

First, if you think FREE, you may not get free, but you do end up with “cheap.” Cheap doesn’t mean less fun, either. Sometimes you can have MORE fun.

If you live in a city, just try walking around. In New York, I have found impromptu concerts by street musicians or just sat in the park and people watched. You’d be amazed how much fun you can have!

Instead of eating out or going to bars with friends, host a potluck at home or just have friends over for drinks. It’s much cheaper to buy liquor than to buy drinks at the bar.

For movies, go to matinees or the $2 movie (some communities have them). Yes, those movies are second-run, but hey, it’s worth financial freedom to me. You can also always rent movies.

Cable. When times are tough, the cable needs to get going. It can get so expensive! If you do need it for the reception, get basic and then rent movies. Buying a great DVD player and renting movies is cheaper than cable in the long run. If you rent rooms in your home like I do, keep the cable — it’s a perk for your tenants that are worth paying for.

Take your kids to the bookstore and hang out.

Find free community shows, like Shakespeare in the park or fireworks.

Take the kids on the subway trip — as far as you can and go explore. In New York, take the train to Coney Island.

In the summer, there is always a local food festival or street fair.

Get your kids involved in a community group, like a theatre. They develop skills, make friends and have fun.

Clothing

For kids, don’t go over the top with the brand names, especially since the kids will grow out of them quickly.

For adults and older teens, don’t buy really trendy clothes that will only last one season. Buy classical fashionable clothing that will last, and get trendy with accessories.

Buy shirts and ties or blouses and just one suit — accessorizing is cheaper.

Buy a few pieces of quality clothing as opposed to lots of cheap clothing. They will last a lot longer.

This goes without saying, but buy clothing in the off-season and on sale. You will save a tone of money.

Transportation

A gas saving tip I just learned: put your car in cruise control whenever you can. It has cut my gas bill in HALF.

If you live in a metropolitan area, try walking around the city as opposed to taking a bus or a train. In New York, you can even get there faster sometimes!

Maintain your car — tire pressure, oil changes, everything. Preventative maintenance is way cheaper than repairs.

Never use cheap gas – use quality gas and the correct octane for your car. It may seem more expensive, but it’s cheaper in car repairs in the long run.

Don’t be afraid to walk, even in the winter. It’s great exercise and it saves a ton of money. Bring a backpack with you for grocery shopping if you need only a couple of things.

The Change Jar
I have a change jar. Every time I pay for something, I always use bills and get the change. I put the change in the jar. You wouldn’t believe how much money you can save! This money could be entertainment money, allowance for the kids, put it in a savings account or saved for emergencies. This change jar has saved my butt many times over the years, and is a great way to have “found” money at the end of the month.

A. Annika Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/how-to-simplify-your-living-expenses-77152.html

free grocery coupons | 3 Comments

Second Income From Home – Top Ways on How to Make Extra Money From Home Online

Posted by admin on Mar 2, 2010

Time was when money-spinning online businesses and ventures were unheard of. Nowadays, there are numerous ways to save money online. Money saved is money earned that equals more cash for shopping for essential or desired things.

Among the quick ways to make money by navigating websites is by zeroing in on cool sites that offer free stuff ranging from grocery coupons to books and magazine issues with free shipping, to holiday gift options, to beauty newsletters with tips on how to care for the eyes and other featured topics, health product samples, plus a special product package like gift cards of your choice if you participate in a survey. Or, web visitors may obtain a free trial to certain products or services, like DVDs that can be delivered to your doorstep.

Money-saving sites focusing on how to make money online are able to offer free products through sponsors that cover the costs of the product selected by the site visitor as well as shipping and handling fees. All that needs to be done to claim the desired free product is to keep clicking and following instructions. Indeed, such ways to earn money at home simply by surfing the internet and generating cost savings also highlight the power of material incentives.

Also incorporated as part of certain sites offering consumers how to make money fast and easy money are feature articles delving on shopping and more legitimate online money making tips that are helpful to many people, especially time-crunched shoppers may also appreciate easy tools to help with healthy meal planning. Consumers can truly have a heyday while checking out cool sites dedicated to showing people how to make extra money.

Nizzura
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/second-income-from-home-top-ways-on-how-to-make-extra-money-from-home-online-696546.html

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Spring Into Savings With Great Deals on Gifts and Flowers

Posted by admin on Feb 28, 2010

In any given year, people usually send six bouquets. This includes birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, and get well bouquets. At an average cost of $60 a piece, that can add up quickly, especially if you send more than normal. There are a few great ways to save money when buying flowers or other gifts.

Buy Locally

When flowers must be shipped over long distances, the price can increase dramatically. If you buy flowers that are grown locally, you can often pocket huge savings. Many of these flowers are grown by local farmers, so you are helping aid the local economy as well.

Buy Seasonally

While most flowers are available year round, there are some that are cheaper during certain times of the year. The flowers that are grown where you live will be easier to get and less expensive, too. If you are searching for a particular arrangement, you might consider buying online.

Talk with the Florist

If you want a particular flower, you can always speak with your florist to see what they recommend. Many times, the florist can recommend a similar flower that is in season and much less expensive. For example, if you are looking to buy roses, you might consider mini roses. You can get more flowers for a little money than you would spend on a dozen.

Shop online

Many of today’s florists only have online stores. These stores offer greater savings because they handle more volume. You can see the bouquet or gift you wish to send and complete the transaction online. Most online florists have daily specials or monthly specials too. These can save you a lot of money if they are something you like.

Find Coupons

When a holiday approaches, you can find florist coupons in your newspaper inserts or in magazines. You can also find many great coupons on some of the online coupon websites. Many times, you’ll be able to locate a coupon for so much off of your purchase or even free deliver coupons. These can add up quickly, especially if you are sending more than one item.

Look in Your Grocery Store

Nowadays, many grocery stores have floral departments. You can find some great bargains here, and you’ll be able to see what you buy beforehand. If you are looking for a gift or flowers to take with you, this can be a great way to combine some of your shopping. Many of the grocery stores also deliver and can special order your flowers as well.

Check Out Your Farmer’s Market

During the spring and summer months, you can find many beautiful flowers and other gifts at your local farmer’s market. Jams, jellies, homemade candies and baked good are all available here. This is a great option if you are looking for fresh cut flowers for your dining room table arrangement.

In Conclusion

Finding deals on flowers and gifts is not that difficult as long as you follow the above tips. Be sure to know what you are getting for your money if you are buying or sending an arrangement over the phone or internet.

Joe Deacon
http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/spring-into-savings-with-great-deals-on-gifts-and-flowers-690122.html

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Calendars: New Year Gift Idea

Posted by admin on Feb 26, 2010

With the New Year just around the corner, it is high time that we rid ourselves of what is undesirable. New Years offer a brand new hope, a fresh start, a new beginning. With this new beginning comes a new calendar.

A print calendar is a good gift idea because this is one item that most people do not buy. You normally get it as a gift or a give away from your local grocery store or some fast food chain.

As a business owner, calendar printing is a good marketing tool. One, they attract attention because they are like posters with beautiful designs. Two, they are keepers because most people hold on to them for at least 12 months.

A print calendar is proven successful marketing collateral especially when done right. They can constantly remind your potential customers about your products or services. However, there are still some print calendars that do not work. They either are chucked or used as wrapping papers.

So how can you have calendar printing that produces the best results when it comes to helping you grow your business?

Here are a few pointers to help you maximize your calendar’s purpose in your business. A few tips can go a long way in making sure that your marketing tool achieves its purpose of growing your business:

Capture a subject. Your calendar must be aesthetically pleasing. You simply cannot attract attention if your calendar is dull and boring. There are a lot of subjects to choose from that would delight people. Good subjects or often used images are those of babies, scenic spots, bodies of water, still life, etc. There are just so many things that can be captured which in turn should be able to capture the attention of your potential clients.

Develop the message. A good calendar has a theme. It has a subliminal message that it wants to convey. A hamburger chain, for example, might have a picture of a burger and fries for January and a cone of sundae for February. This is done to deliberately make you feel hungry every time you glance at your calendar. A travel company, on the other hand, might use travel spots for their calendar to remind you of the places you want to visit.

Your message does not have to appear in words. You can get your message across by selecting the appropriate subject or design for your calendar. Remember, pictures say a thousand words and twelve pictures in your 12-month calendar printing say 12,000 words.

Make it interactive. Your print calendar does not have to be static. You can in fact, make it dynamic. How? By making it interactive. You can, for instance, add coupons so every time they take off a month, they get coupons also. These coupons should offer discounts to your business or free services or other promotional items to get your potential customers involved in your business.

Finally, in designing your calendar remember this cardinal rule: always have a jolly good time.

Kaye Z. Marks
http://www.articlesbase.com/printing-articles/calendars-new-year-gift-idea-723988.html

free grocery coupons | 2 Comments

Gillette Coupons – Printable Gillette Coupon

Posted by admin on Feb 24, 2010

Print Your Free Gillette Coupons Instantly Here

You can instantly get your free Gillette coupons to be used at any local grocery or retail store near you. Grocery coupons are available to be redeemed nationwide. Print your coupons instantly by clicking on the “Print Free Grocery Coupons” link above.

With groceries and many other items in retail stores rising, many Americans are turning to use coupons to save money on their overall checkout bill. It’s easy to save money by using coupons on everyday grocery items and you can get your Grocery Store coupons by following the steps above and print the coupons directly from your computer to your printer.

Print Your Free Gillette Coupons Instantly Here

In this tough economy and many Americans are looking to save as much money as they can and the easiest way to do that is to cut your overall costs. With grocery store coupons, you can save money each week on your final bill at the grocery store.

Many retailers and manufacturers are putting their coupons directly online so that anyone can access them for ease of use. The internet has made it easy for anyone to print free grocery coupons directly from their computer.

Not only can you get your free grocery store coupons, but you are also entitled to get your free samples that you can redeem from many companies like Procter and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, just to name a couple of them. The easiest way to cut spending each month on food is to get the coupons you need for everyday products that you would be buying at the grocery store anyway.

GetRinger
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/gillette-coupons-printable-gillette-coupon-730086.html

free grocery coupons | 3 Comments

Olay Coupon – Free Printable Olay Coupons

Posted by admin on Feb 22, 2010

Print Your Free Olay Coupons Here

Groceries and overall food prices are definitely rising, and with that many Americans are turning to use coupons to save money on their overall checkout bill. It’s easy to save money by using coupons on everyday grocery items and you can get your Wish-Bone coupon by clicking on the link above or below and entering your zip code to match your coupons to your area.

In this tough economy and many people looking into the beginning of 2009, many Americans are trying to save as much money as they can and the easiest way to do that is to cut your overall costs. With grocery store coupons, you can save money each week on your final bill at the grocery store.

Print Your Free Olay Coupons Here

Unemployment is on the rise and by utilizing coupons, you are able to save money each and every week that you go to the grocery store. The internet has made it easy for anyone to print free grocery coupons directly from their computer.

The Olay wet jet is one of the most popular coupons as of date because they offer such a great percentage discount off the original store price. Coupons are easy to use since all you need to do is simply print them from your computer and then take them to your local grocery store. From there it’s easy to hand the cashier the coupon and it will be applied to your total bill.

GetRinger
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/olay-coupon-free-printable-olay-coupons-734403.html

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The Best Place to Get Printable Grocery Coupons Is….!

Posted by admin on Feb 20, 2010

Printable grocery coupons come in many forms. They may be grocery coupon deals for some new product or price reduction. They may be grocery savings coupons, like, buy one-get-one free or simply money saving coupons, like $1.00 off. Even free grocery printable coupons are offered from time to time; but, since most free things are quickly taken, you will need to hurry before they’re gone!

Usually printable coupons help you save when you shop locally. We at Local Daily Discounts offer printable grocery coupons to save you both time and money. Just print your chosen online printable grocery coupons and head to your local favorite store to present your coupon for great savings.

Most internet based companies make this process simple enough but many only give you printable coupons for grocery items found 50 miles down the road or even in the next city. In any case if you chose the right source to get your money saving grocery coupons you will save time, money and frustration.

Merchants, no matter if they have online or offline stores can immediately offer discounts to and communicate with shoppers by offering printable online grocery coupons. The process is most often simple enough and with our process the store owner can upload photos of their choice, printable coupons, free coupons or whatever type of printable online coupon they choose with just the click of a mouse, so to speak.

OK, so what’s the catch? If you the Shopper get a discount what do Merchants get out of the deal? Traffic and Sales of course! The best part is, both Shoppers and Merchants benefit in the process without spending a dime to get money saving grocery coupons since they are free to print, it’s free to join and free to use!

What are you waiting for “Be Smart …Save!” Get started saving now with Free Grocery Printable Coupons

Robert Melde
http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/the-best-place-to-get-printable-grocery-coupons-is-729455.html

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Free Online Grocery Coupons

Posted by admin on Feb 18, 2010

Free online grocery coupons are the key to saving thousands of dollars a year. Food prices are on the rise and the only way to counteract the prices is with the use of coupons. You can find coupons in newspapers and simply cut them and take them to the grocery store. Another excellent resource for coupons is the Internet. You can find tons of free online grocery coupons with the click of your mouse.

First, for the beginner, let me explain what a free online grocery coupon is. There are many sites on the Internet where you can register and check off what coupons you would like to print. You then print them off on your printer, cut them out, and take them to the store. They are pretty much the same as a regular grocery coupon. Some stores do not accept Internet coupons, although most do. Check your stores coupons policies to find out if you can use them there. The grocery coupons you print form the internet will have a bar code on it that should scan at the register like a regular coupon.

Using free online grocery coupons allows you to simply choose which coupons you want, print, and you are ready to go. You don’t need to buy a newspaper or magazine. These are also great because you can look up specific coupons for items you regularly buy and don’t have the hassle of searching through an entire newspaper for one coupon.

There are many websites that offer online coupons. Some of them will even send you an email when new coupons are ready to print. You have the option of printing more than one of each coupon, although some sites vary in the maximum number allowed. You can even install coupon bars on your computer that list available coupons. All you have to do is click and print.

Free online grocery coupons are an excellent way to save time, while allowing you to just print off coupons that you need and will use.

erin
http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/free-online-grocery-coupons-723651.html

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