The Save Money Blog

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Every spring and summer we rush out and take our cars into the local garage and  have them serviced for the upcoming season. A winter or spring tune-up is important as preventative maintenance for a vehicle as it takes care of little problems before they become large more costly problems. It also ensures that our cars run more cost efficiently.

The same thing can be said about home air conditioning systems. We all know that they can be a sizable investment for a family yet most of us forget that they too need an annual seasonable tune up. Our air conditioning unit runs every day during the summer months and it is important to make sure that the unit runs efficiently because this effects our hydro bill.

I have read that that an annual tune-up can save as much as thirty percent on your monthly hydro bill and could save you much more than that in the long run. This is because the certified technician will find leaks that are costing  you money and will also find an failing parts or components that may end up costing your more money down the road. Failing parts may cause other parts to fail and that can be a nightmare to your wallet.

Just take a look online you can find many companies like the Austin HVAC company and schedule your spring tune-up. Spending a little on maintenance now for your air conditioning system can save you money later on.

Managing finances and staying out of debt is a worthwhile goal for 2012. As more families and individuals are starting to realize the problems that come with high debts and decreased income, it is imperative to start making plans to prevent debts from piling up. Fortunately, staying out of debt is a simple process.

Create a Budget

The first step of staying out of debt is understanding how much money is available each month and where spending is required. This helps determine how much is still left over for entertainment, special events or simply spending cash.

When making a budget, organize the details by importance. For example, always put the rent or mortgage, groceries, utilities and other needed bills on the list first. Add any further expenses that are preferred, but not necessary in a secondary list. The secondary list might include the cable TV or other entertainments around the house. When all of the bills are considered and subtracted from the monthly income total, the remaining funds available are for extra spending or building up savings. 

Those who have found that they are spending more in bills than the income provides need to start removing some of the extras from the secondary list to stay out of debt. This is a matter of living within your means.

Pay with Cash

Instead of paying with a credit card, always carry some cash for spending. This ensures that the spending is limited, particularly when making purchases. Even groceries are best purchased with a set amount of cash to prevent overspending beyond the allotted amount determined in the budget. 

Build up Savings

Saving money is a necessity when trying to avoid going into debt. Without an emergency cash fund available, those little events like a car breaking down can lead to large debts that keep building up.

Put aside as much as possible each month to build up some savings after the necessary expenses are paid. This will help ensure debts do not become a necessity and avoid spending on a credit card or taking out a loan.

Remove the Credit Cards

Carrying a credit card makes it easier to overspend by using the card on hand. By removing it from a purse or wallet, the only remaining method of payment is through the cash payment. This helps curb impulsive spending by forcing the mind to think about whether or not that purchase is necessary.

Keeping debt to a minimum and preventing new debt is primarily a matter of taking precautions against overspending. By taking measures to create a workable budget, cut back on those unneeded extras and avoid spending on a credit card, the year will end without new debts.

About the Author

This article was written by Phill of CompareLogbookLoans.co.uk – an independent financial website comparing logbook loans.

For the last couple of days I had been driving around with no windshield wiper fluid in my car. I don't drive much or go far so it wasn't like I was being unsafe. I stopped at a gas station but wasn't paying three times the amount for a jug then I would at a hardware store. I finally stopped by my local hardware store, picked up a few jugs and was on my way.

This gave me an idea about saving money or habits that help saving money. Just because I have two jugs of wiper fluid doesn't mean I can or should waste it.  When I was driving around with none I thought about how much I had wasted washing my windows every two minutes when it didn't really need it. That made me think about when you run out of ketchup and you remember back to when you were pouring that new bottle like it was a bottomless bottle and ended up washing piles of it down the sink that was left over on your plate. Think about when you threw that piece of bread in the garbage that had a ripped crust next time you are out bread. Catch where I am going?

If you want to conserve or save money you have to change your habits. Just because you have lots of something on hand doesn't mean you have to live frivolously with it. Live every day like you are running out of your resource and stretch things out. That is bound to save you money.

I don’t know what some of these guys are shipping with on ebay but some of their shipping costs over the border are totally off the wall. I know you avoid Chinese sellers that have low prices and high shipping costs like they are the plague but these are just regular sellers who’s costs are completely ridiculous.

I have been scouting out a few sets of comic books and have to pass on them because the cost of shipping doubles or triples the cost. I realize that the people shipping them have to use extra packaging corner protectors and padding for protection but when they are shipping a few comics books for more than they are charging for a full set of golf clubs you know something is wrong.

This weekend I was set to buy some sets or runs of The Walking Dead (which is already a pricey item). But after looking at the auctions I am out. There is no way I am paying ten dollars per issue when you factor in shipping.

I don’t know what has caused the spike. If it is just greedy sellers of the fact that gas is more precious than gold these days or maybe both. Either way, it’s the sellers who are losing out.

I am always looking for ways to cut down on my monthly electricity bill. A while back I switched out every incandescent light bulb in the house with the new CFL bulbs which are far more energy efficient. If you haven't done this yet I highly suggest you do. CFL bulbs are every where now and are very cost efficient compared to when they first showed up on the market. As we make the move to these new light bulbs they might not be the best choice as led lights are making a splash in the market place.   

Led light bulbs have many energy saving advantages over other light bulb types. These energy saving feature all add  up to saving you money on your monthly electricity bill. Lets look at some of the advantages of these new light bulbs.

Led lights last as much as ten times longer than CFL bulbs. This is a huge improvement over conventional incandescent light bulbs and will save you in replacement costs right off the start.

They are also much cooler that other lighting types. It think of the pot lights in my basement. We had a few couples over this past summer and with the lights on the room became really warm forcing me to crank up the air conditioning. Even my led tv is much cooler and doesn't contribute to heating up my rec room.

These new lights are also very durable. They have no filament like an incandescent bulb. We can all picture taking a new incandescent bulb out of the package and having it break easily with a little shake. Led lights won't need to be replaced as often as they hold up much better than conventional bulbs.

As they become more common place and advancements are made in technology led lights are becoming much more affordable and cost efficient. Over the next couple of years we should see big strives made in the field of led light bulbs and they will become much more common.

What are your biggest expenses each month? Most people would agree that it is their heat and hydro and then maybe food, vehicles and loan debt. The one thing that is over looked is just how much we spend on our entertainment or home services such as tv, internet and home phone plans. I know my bill is a dandy each month when I add them all up. If you want to save some money then this is one area that you can definitely go out and do something about it.

Chances are right now you aren’t getting any kind of deal from your current provider. This is especially if you have been with them for any length of time. The fact is there are many top of line service providers that are offering all sorts of discounts and incentives just to get your business. You just have to know where to find these coupons and discounts.

I recently found www.couponcactus.com and what drew my interest is the selection of coupons being offered for companies such as AT&T. I was looking at the coupons they offer for AT&T Uverse. This is a service where your television, internet and phone are all connected through the internet.

They are giving away cash back incentives for joining their various plans. Depending what you are paying for your services now this really could end up to great saving for you every month. Wouldn’t it be great to wrap up all of your services under one plan and save money each month?

It doesn’t stop there because the coupon website also offers a cash back incentive just for using their website. You just have to join up to their website for free. It’s worth checking out if you want to have a look at your current plan and see if you can reduce your monthly charges.

I haven't had much time to blog as of late but I thought I would share a quick story about how I cut my heating and cooling costs down with a quick trip to the hardware store. A quick and inexpensive trip.

It was during a recent cold snap I was tying my shoes up by the back door when I felt a really cold breeze coming through the bottom of the door, near the corner. I recently replace my two outside doors and thought that the company that had installed them had caulked them well enough but I was mistaken. I found the source of the breeze and it was a spot in the corner where they had missed with the caulking.

Upon further investigation I also noticed that I could see sunlight coming through the door at a couple of the corners and I could feel a bit of a breeze coming through the seems around where the door hinges are. Off to the local hardware store I went and picked up a roll of weather stripping for the door and tube of caulking. All for under $20 and with about fifteen minutes of work there was no more breeze. No more cold air coming through the door and no more heating money going out the door. It is a double saving because this little bit of work will help with my air conditioning in the summer as well. I think sometimes we forget about sealing up the house for the cooling season.

A little note about weather stripping. There are all sorts of different types. I opted for the kind that has a peel and stick side on it so you just have to peel it and stick it. No messing around with staples. You can if you want but there is no need, this stuff hold pretty good.

Weather stripping also comes in different sizes. Getting the size right is important. If your stripping is bigger than your gap then you are going to cause more leakage than you originally have. If it is too small then you aren't helping your cause. It might be worth while to try and get a measurement of your gap.

I also notice that most caulking tubes don't have a cap on them. If you let it sit then the air will get into it and it will dry up. I take screw or nail and shove it in the end of the tube to stop it from drying out. Works pretty good when you go to use that tube four months later.

Here is a picture of the exact weather stripping I used for my doors.

Life insurance is one of those financial products most people avoid talking about. The topic feels too depressing and we immediately think about something cheerier like how our favorite baseball team is doing, or what pizza you are going to eat tonight. But it is important, however, to take out life insurance, and discuss what options are available with your spouse or partner. Here, we will look at ways you can save money on life insurance.

Use an Online Calculator

Don't let a salesperson talk you into taking out a policy which is unsuitable for your needs. You might end up with excess coverage or be under-covered. Use an online calculator to get a better idea of how much cover you need to support your loved ones in the event of your death.

Choose a Term-life Policy

A term-life policy is the easiest option for most Americans aged between 20 – 50. They offer coverage with fixed payments for the term of the policy.

Find Quotes Online

The easiest way to save money is to find quotes online. Websites such as Accuquote and InsWeb search through hundreds of insurers to find the best deal for your needs. You'll still have to fill out a detailed form and undertake a medical exam, though.

Be Healthy

Being in the best possible health can reduce policy costs. Stop smoking, get in shape and lower your cholesterol to save money. You'll not only feel better, but your wallet will thank you, too.

Choose Where to Buy

Choosing where to buy life insurance can save you money. You can buy direct from the insurer and save on agent's fees, or pay a fee to a financial planner who will help find and arrange it for you. Your choice.

Understand How Everyone Gets Paid

Remember that insurance agents and commission-only financial planners earn money through selling policies. Some might not necessarily recommend the right policy for you if it doesn't earn them much money. Fee-plus-commission financial planners charge for advice and recommending a product, while fee-only planners only charge for advice. It's up to you to apply. Choose wisely and get the best deal.

Research

There's no substitute for researching the best policy that's right for you. Look online and read financial magazines to get a good deal.

Buy From a Financially Healthy Company

Make sure your insurer is in good shape. Look for an "A" rating or higher from rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch Ratings. This will help ensure your investment is in good hands and you won't suffer any losses should the company be in trouble.

Be Alert

Avoid agents or salespeople who claim to be more knowledgeable about the insurer than a ratings agency or who try to bully you into a policy which isn't suitable. Complain to a senior manager and file a complaint with your state's insurance department or attorney general.

Make Changes when Needed

Your life insurance will change over time. You may get married, have kids, or even divorce. Adjust your policy to suit your circumstances and don't just forget about it. You may not even need a policy when you are retired and have enough saved up.

A guest post by Liz Goldman, personal finance expert and freelance writer for Sunbird Forex Broker – the CFD broker