Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
(Sorry guys, this post isn’t likely to be directly useful to you, but you can share these tips with the girls in your life and look really knowledgeable and respectful about girlie things.)
Makeup is one of those items that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love trying new colors, dolling up my best friend’s teenage daughter for prom, and goofing around with the girls for a spa night at home.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I can go weeks without wearing makeup and be perfectly happy; it’s not essential to my life. But it’s fun to be creative and play with color combinations and application techniques.
Makeup also holds great potential for a shopping addiction. Before I had kids (when I had considerably more spending money), I used to shop for makeup on a regular basis. I stopped shopping at the drugstore and began venturing into the department store’s line of more pricey products. The products were nice, but the price tag was outrageous. When my kids came along, I simply couldn’t afford to keep up. I learned how to make what I had last longer and how to spend significantly less on my makeup.
One of the best things you can do for your financial future is to start preparing for retirement as early as you can. Unfortunately, not very many Americans are getting ready for retirement. Indeed, according to a report from the Federal Reserve, 31 percent of Americans have no retirement savings at all.
Not only that, but less than half of Americans have even assessed their retirement needs. Are you one of those with no retirement savings and no idea of how much you need to retire? (Here are some suggestions that will help.)
This is a serious issue for many people right now, and it’s important that you prepare as early as you can – or you might be stuck without sufficient assets later on. Inflation, health care costs as you age and other issues can slow your finances down. Now is the time to prepare for retirement, or you could be in trouble later.
Figure Out What You Need
Too many Americans aren’t adequately preparing for retirement. In fact, an alarming number don’t even know how much they will need in retirement. As a result, too many people probably aren’t setting aside enough money for their retirement needs.
It’s tempting to think that the $200 you’re setting aside each month will be enough to fund your golden years, but the reality is that it probably isn’t going to cut it. You will likely need to set aside a lot more for retirement – unless you happen to be a teenager right now.
Did you know that those hundreds of pennies lying under the couch cushions and on the car floor could be a source of income? You have several options that are far more favorable than rolling and cashing them in at the bank.
Recycling pennies may sound a bit like a late night infomercial, but there is some merit in the concept.
Pennies minted before 1982 are comprised of nearly 95% copper. As of the date this post was written, recycled copper was selling in my area for $4.13 per pound (and the price has been rising steadily for several months thanks to a crappy economy).
You’ll need about 151, pre-1982 pennies to make a pound of copper. Yep, your $1.51 could yield $4.13 for the work of sorting through a few pennies and driving to the nearest scrap yard.
“But wait! Can I just bag my pennies and haul them in?” Nope, there are a few catches:
I always thought that a $150 cable bill is more like the maximum people pay these days but I overheard a conversation recently how someone is paying $260 currently and that he knows a few people paying $350 on their cable bills. What the?!? Add in a $150 cellphone plan and they could be paying $500 a month for basically Internet access! How can anyone ever retire overpaying like that?
I seriously doubt any MoneyNing.com reader is paying these obscene amounts, but we can all use a refresher on how to cut some fat off our cable bill. How much are you paying for cable service now? Here are a few ways to reduce your bill. [ continue reading… ]
With all that’s going on, I’ve been trying to look for ways to be grateful. And with Thanksgiving being my favorite holiday, it naturally pop into my mind. I love Thanksgiving because it’s not supposed to be steeped in consumerism. And, for me and my family, it usually isn’t. We relax, eat good food, and enjoy each other’s company.
Recently, my son pointed out that the holiday season comes with a rather odd juxtaposition. We’re supposed to be giving thanks for what we have on Thursday morning, but by the night of Thanksgiving, when retailers are opening at 5 p.m. for Black Friday deals, all is forgotten and we’re in “gimme” mode.
While thinking about that, it occurred to me that many of us could be much happier (and richer) by practicing gratitude and learning contentment. [ continue reading… ]
I shop clearance racks and thrift stores as part of my frugal lifestyle, but I’ve always been hesitant to utilize online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist or the scores of smaller websites and apps that have popped up over the last few years. Alongside the good finds, you still hear horror stories of scamming, stalking, and otherwise bad experiences.
Still, there’s something to be said about finding a great deal, especially on high-ticket items like furniture and electronics that tend to be overpriced by retailers. In the effort to find some new-to-me furniture for our new house without paying full price, I’ve decided to take the plunge and start engaging with a few of the newer mobile-friendly sites more actively. Here are some common-sense tips I’ve learned so far. [ continue reading… ]
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