Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
We are well into November and that means the day we love to hate is right around the corner: Black Friday. While we all look forward to Thanksgiving, spending time with family, and turkey this time of the year, Black Friday might be the most anticipated event of the holiday season. And it’s not for the faint of heart.
Black Friday shopping can notoriously be crazy and overwhelming but that’s because there are some great deals to be found. The only catch is that you have to be willing to brave the crowds. In order to tackle Black Friday and get what you want at the price you want, you have to arrive with a game plan. Here are five steps to surviving Black Friday: [ continue reading… ]
November is here and it’s time for health care open enrollment. I just received my own benefit papers and information about my plan, along with my new premium. I’ll see a very modest increase in my monthly premium, thanks to the fact that I enrolled during a special period because of my recent divorce and cross-country move.
I know many people who are concerned about their rising health care costs. My premium isn’t awful yet because I have a high-deductible plan and use it in conjunction with a Health Savings Account. My son will remain on my ex’s health insurance for the time being, so it’s not been an issue for me.
My reliance on a high-deductible plan might be one of the reasons that the new law about health insurance hasn’t been a source of stress for me since its introduction in 2010.
Millennials More Likely to Support the Affordable Care Act
With all the controversy surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it’s not surprising that Americans are almost evenly split on supporting the ACA or wanting it repealed. Millennials, though, are more likely to support the ACA, and say that their health care situation has improved in the last year. [ continue reading… ]
For the last few years, many people have been treating the month of November — the proverbial calm before the storm of holiday spending — as a time to drastically cut unnecessary spending. I tend to shun fad diets, the latest fashions, and have no clue what’s trending on Twitter, but this trend might actually be worth participating in.
A Myriad of Motivations
So why do people decide, out of all the months in the year, to stop spending in November? Everyone has a slightly different answer, but here are the most common motivations:
To prepare for the glut of holiday spending in December
To recover from the glut of holiday spending, if you’re an early shopper
To ‘make up’ for lost momentum on financial resolutions started in January
Many retail credit cards offer zero percent promotional offers, and they sound like a great deal on the surface. Customers can buy what they want now, with no interest charges for six or twelve months, sometimes even longer. But there’s a catch. There always is.
The sales person may not always explain it, but the text is right there on your credit application or the terms and conditions of your credit card. If the balance is not paid in full by the end of the promotional period, the calculated interest will be added to your balance. Not starting the day after the promotion ends, but from the day the item was purchased. That’s an important detail that many people miss, or they don’t understand exactly how much it can cost them.
Additionally, retailers don’t provide any favors to help customers pay the balance in full by the end of the promotion. A minimum payment is required, but in most cases doesn’t come close to what would be needed to avoid interest charges. Customers get lazy, making only the minimum payment thinking they have plenty of time to make up payments later.
So far this year, I have been asked to be a Beachbody coach by six different people, been invited to 10 Pampered Chef, Jamberry, Trades of Hope, Avon, Cookie Lee, and Mary Kay parties, and had my social media pages plagued by dozens of Scentsy and ItWorks! representatives. I am sure there are a few companies I forgot about too.
I feel like I am constantly bombarded by individuals who are working with these type of companies. According to CNN, “roughly 15.6 million Americans worked as salespeople for multilevel marketing companies”, so there is a good chance you are being bombarded by sales and requests too. I am not saying that these companies are bad at all, but they are not for me or for my budget. How do you stop the constant pestering? [ continue reading… ]
Anyone who’s gone to college is familiar with the yearly process of filing a FAFSA to determine their eligibility for federal student aid, and the many frustrations that accompany it. For instance, it’s important to file as soon as possible after January 1st since funds are often awarded on a first come, first served basis, even though you might still be waiting on tax information from the previous year. Many people end up submitting estimated amounts rather than waiting, updating the application once they’ve completed their taxes. Either way, it’s a pain. [ continue reading… ]
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