Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
The air is getting crisper every morning, the leaves are starting to change color and drop, and the Pumpkin Spice Lattes (PSLs) are back at Starbucks. It means fall has arrived. I know some people are boycotting anything pumpkin spice related until the official beginning of fall (September 22), but that doesn’t mean you can’t get an early start to slashing the upcoming “w” word’s energy bills. Here are some simple things you can do now that will pay off big-time in the colder days to come (you can even sip your PSL while you read this… I won’t judge!).
Clean, Service or Upgrade Your Heating System
One of the simplest and cheapest things you can do to maximize your furnace’s efficiency is to replace the air filter – now, and then every 30 to 45 days. Make it easy for yourself by setting mobile calendar reminders. If it hasn’t been serviced by a professional in a few years, that’s also a good idea too. Just like other pieces of equipment, heating systems need a ‘tune up’ every now and then. Finally, if you’re due for a new furnace, take advantage of federal tax credits (up to $500) by purchasing one that meets the Department of Energy’s efficiency standards. Upgrade to solar, wind, geothermal or fuel-cell technology, and you’ll be reimbursed 30 percent of the cost, including installation (you’ll need to fill out Form 5695 when the time comes). [ continue reading… ]
If you aren’t sure what to do next, a financial advisor can help you map out a plan. Here are a few times when it can make sense to meet with a financial advisor for a little extra help: [ continue reading… ]
It’s hard to go even one day without seeing an advertisement for some form of “fast, amazing, unbelievable!” diet. If you somehow managed to spend your days away from the television, internet, or social media, you still have to deal with the many times you hear friends and co-workers talk about “losing a few pounds” or trying a new program.
Unfortunately, the diet won’t last long for them more than likely and old habits will reign once again.
The problem is, psychologically, these dieters aren’t preventing the temptation from catching their eye. And how can they? If one person brings cookies to the office, the dieter might think, “Well, one bite won’t hurt. I don’t want to hurt Suzy’s feelings; she worked hard to bake these.” If that same dieter watches television, the chances are high that they will see at least three food-related commercials during that time.
And what does all of this have to do with money?
When someone tries to spend less money (in an effort to trim down expenses), they encounter the same temptation as the food dieters mentioned above. They may go out with friends who are all buying coffees at Starbucks; or, they may think that spending a few dollars here or there won’t really hurt their mission to save money.
If you think that, then you need to go on a spending diet. Yes, you read correctly, a spending diet. [ continue reading… ]
I recently saw traveler’s checks mentioned and thought “What? Those are still around? What exactly are they, anyway? Checks are becoming rare. Shouldn’t traveler’s checks be obsolete now that we have credit cards and electronic banking? Well, here’s what I found.
American Express started issuing traveler’s checks in 1891 as a convenient, secure way for international travelers to carry funds. Of course, once banks started offering international services and online banking, and credit card companies cranked into full swing, traveler’s checks fell by the wayside — but didn’t disappear completely. AMEX is one of the few institutions that still offers them in check form, while Visa and others offer modernized equivalents that work like pre-paid debit cards.
Not only have they survived the paperless banking revolution, traveler’s checks can still save the day (or at least some money) in certain traveling situations. [ continue reading… ]
It is the newest craze to hit teens and 20-somethings across the globe. Or, the newest craze to come back from the dead and become popular again as Pokémon was huge in the 1990’s.
Pokémon Go — on the surface — seems like a relatively easy game that passes time with little need for complex thinking. If you look deeper under the surface, however, you can find motifs that can help improve your life and habits… even your finances.
Take, for instance, the pokeballs you can accumulate in the game. You have to go to pokestops in order to get the pokeballs but you only get a certain amount at a time (along with other items). Think of this like a paycheck, in a way. You have to take the ration of pokeballs you receive and budget them out in order to achieve your goal: capturing the Pokémon highest on your wish list. [ continue reading… ]
It’s back-to-school season, and that means back-to-school deals for all the students out there. If you’re a student, you might even snag an awesome discount on things like laptops, software and other tech. But what about teachers?
Students and their discounts get so much attention this time of year that educators — on the other end of the spectrum — tend to get overlooked. As someone with many teacher friends, who’s seen the time and effort they sacrifice for others’ children, I think every one of them deserve a few breaks. Upwards of 100+ major retailers and countless businesses think so, too.
Besides the extra special “Teacher Appreciation Week” held in May, teacher discounts apply all year round whether you’re a K-12 educator or university professor. Take a look at some of these discounts and deals you’re entitled to. Do any surprise you? [ continue reading… ]
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