Daily Handy Tips

Archive for the ‘Saving Tips’ Category

We decided to share some tips about personal budgeting in hopes of being able to provide some valuable tips and advice that can save you from financial ruin and filing bankruptcy. Listed below are several tips that will enable people to save more money.

Money Saving Coupons: This should be one of the most important rules when it comes to personal budgeting. Why you ask? If you take the time to get your hands on some money saving coupons you will be amazed at how much money you can save each time you do your shopping when you reach the checkout line.

Buy in bulk: If your favorite products are on sale, buying in bulk may cost you more at present but could end up saving you a lot in the future. Some good examples are items that do not have an expiration date, such as soap, shampoo, toiletries and other household items. Canned foods, which carry a long expiration date, are also ideal for buying in bulk.

Start collecting and saving your pocket change each day this is great for helping you with your personal budgeting plan. In fact before you even realize it all that loose change will add up to an extra $50 or $100 each and every month.

Personal budgeting means that you want to save everything that you can and the truth is that most people do not give their loose change any thought. However when you become serious about your personal budgeting plan then you will find that everything counts regardless how big or small.

Put a portion of each paycheck into a savings count each week or month. Whether its a few dollars or several hundred, always make sure that you are putting aside some amount of money into a savings account. If possible, deposit 10-20% from each paycheck.

Stop impulse shopping: We have all done it before we bought something and then regretted it later on. If you are an impulse shopper it is time to stop and think before you make that purchase. Take a day or two to decide if you really need it or not.

Shop the sale racks: Everyone enjoys sprucing up their wardrobe now and then so, when it comes time to add a few new pieces of apparel, stop by the sale rack for big savings. There is nothing wrong with keeping a few extra dollars in your pocket, which can be later be used for life’s little essentials.

Of course these a just a few of the tips that you can use to help you with your personal budgeting so that you can avoid filing bankruptcy and staying on top of your finances. If you want to learn more about handling your financial obligations and avoiding bankruptcy then be sure to visit the site below.

Summary: Air gets into and out of our homes from a wide range of places. Many of these can be fixed with some simple do it yourself handiwork. Undertake any of these and you’ll start to realize instant energy savings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, American homes lose energy from the following places (in decreasing order of importance): floors, ceilings and walls (31%), doors and windows (21%), heating/air condition ducts (15%), fireplaces (14%), plumbing penetrations (13%) and all others (6%). Recognize that these numbers may vary based on home type, age, geographical region and other factors.

It’s pretty simple to save on your energy bills by installing more efficient doors and windows or by replacing your insulation. These, of course are also some of the costlier ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency. There are also some very easy and less expensive ways to stop air leaks in your home.

You can save plenty on your energy costs by putting in energy efficient windows and doors as well as upgrading your insulation; but these are also expensive propositions. You can also stop air leaks with some easy, low to no-cost DIY projects using materials you probably have on hand already.

Reapply caulk (pushing the bead to ensure it gets into gaps). Be sure NOT to caulk window weep holes (small holes at the bottom of the window that allow for any condensation to drain). It’s best to apply the caulk when outdoor temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In most locales, this is when most building materials are at the midpoint of their contraction and expansion range.

Choose the type of caulk and color that is best suited to your home and any associated remodeling activity. But in most cases, a paintable, light-colored caulk is what you’ll want. What works for windows and doors, also applies to skylights and any other places where gaps may occur. This can include places where air conditioning, phone or electric lines enter your home. You can now find special cover plates that be placed over the once massive caulked or sealed areas. You’ll still need to seal these, but it looks a lot more attractive.

You should seal any and all air ducts in your attic, basement and crawl spaces. This is a little easier than doing your windows and doors - you can use duct tape here instead of caulk.

You should look for air leaks in your ductwork, especially in your basement, attic and crawlspaces. For this job you can use duct tape instead of caulk, making this a much easier and faster job. However, you can make this easier still and seal those leaks you can’t reach by using an aerosol sealer. These sealers will collect wherever they pass a leak, sealing them without you having to crawl around through your home trying to duct tape them all!

After seeing to your home’s ductwork, check your weather stripping. Weather stripping will wear down with age and develop gaps which air can flow through. Sometimes you may be able to fix these by just sliding in a new piece, but often you will have to remove the door or window in question and replace the weather stripping entirely.

Finally, you can seal leaks around electrical outlets and light switches, especially on outside walls. Make sure the electricity is off before you start and remove the plug covers and switch plates, feeling for air leaks. You can cover most of these using foam inserts and if needed, you can use some insulation or aerosol foam sealant. Wait until the sealant is in place, then feel for air leaks again.

These are all easy projects which can stop air leaks, make your home more energy efficient and save you quite a lot of money in energy bills. Best of all, the savings begin as soon as you complete these easy projects; you may wonder why on earth you didn’t do these projects sooner!

Car maintenance is not an option. Even if you know nothing about how a car works or have no mechanical aptitude whatsoever, there’s a few simple steps you can take to keep your car running in top form. This simple maintenance will save you time and money, as well as making for a safer, better performing vehicle.

–Wash your car regularly: Keeping the exterior clean may not be as important as taking care of what’s under the hood, but it still has a number of practical upsides. A clean car looks better, of course, and its much more enjoyable to drive a clean car than a dirty car. More significantly, frequent washing will keep your headlights and windshield clean, as well as preventing rust and corrosion.

–Wash the undercarriage of the car: This is particularly important if you live anywhere it snows. The salt, sand and chemicals that are used for ice and snow removal accumulate underneath your car and will rust out the body faster than anything else. Even in the coldest weather, its a good idea to wash your car at least once a week giving special attention to the wheel wells and undercarriage of your car.

–Wash your engine: Not only is your engine subject to the same ‘threats’ as the exterior and undercarriage of your car, it also collects crusty oil, battery acid and a variety of other contaminants. Keeping your engine clean will not only protect against corrosive damage, but will help your car run cooler and more efficiently. Wash your engine every time you wash your car, and let it idle before you start driving to allow it to dry completely.

–Clean your air filter: Change your filter every time you change your oil filter. In between changes, give the filter a good spray with a compressed air hose and blow out the filter chamber as well. Filters are so cheap that you have no excuse to be running around with a dirty one.

–Check and change your oil: Back in more civilized times, a full service gas station would check your oil every time you filled up. You should do the same. Change your oil frequently”at least every 5,000 miles and better still, every 3,000 miles. Change your filter when you change the oil or youre going to be pumping clean oil through a dirty filter which doesnt do you a bit of good. Oil changes are a pretty easy job even for those without much of a mechanical background, and drive thru oil change businesses are ubiquitous in any decent sized market. Most of these places do a decent job and charge a reasonable fee. Many also take care of several other of the maintenance tasks on this list.

–Check and top off other fluids: Change your anti-freeze/coolant annually, and check the coolant reservoir anytime youre under the hood to make sure that its full. It’s also a good time to look for cracks or other damage. Check the transmission, brake and power-steering fluids frequently, and top off when necessary. If your car is going through a lot of these hydraulic fluids it indicates a leak or other mechanical issue and needs to be looked at as soon as possible.

–Check your air pressure and rotate your tires: Check your air pressure levels with a tire gauge at least once a week, keeping them filled to manufacturer specified levels. Also, don’t forget about the spare. Rotate your tires every few months to insure even wear. Some automotive chains will do this free of charge if you’re a regular customer, but even if you’re not it’s a lot easier for them to do with the car up on the rack than for you to do with a jack and jack stand. Simply checking the air pressure in your tires and rotating them periodically prevents countless problems and saves you a ton of money.

Emergency supplies: Obviously if you just drive cross town your emergency equipment needs will be different than someone who drives cross country in bad weather. You’ll definitely want a flashlight and tire gauge. A set of jumper cables isn’t a bad idea either, as is a few basic tools: slip joint and needle nose pliers, flat head and Phillips Screwdriver, adjustable wrench. If you travel through remote areas some emergency food like Cliff Bars are good to have, as is a blanket in case you have to sleep in your car. A cellphone charger–particularly one that doesn’t require an external power supply–are also helpful. If you travel during the winter in snowy areas don’t forget sand, salt, a small shovel and tire chains.

–Auto club membership: Just a great investment that will pay for itself the first time you lock your keys in your car or need a tow. AAA is the best known, but there are many others. Most credit card and cellphone providers offer this type of service, and a growing number of car manufacturers including VW and Mini Cooper offer it free of charge for new car buyers. At minimum, they should offer free towing, trip continuation insurance, lockout service, free maps, and some other bells and whistles. Keep in mind, however, that all roadside assistance companies aren’t created equal. Compare what they offer, and consider the type of driving you do–if you frequently travel through remote areas you’re better off going with a bigger company due to their larger network of covered providers.

None of these tips require any significant mechanical competence or even more than a basic knowledge of how the car works. Still, they can help save time and money, extend the life of your vehicle and provide a safer driving experience.

Are you feeling the pinch of the economic crisis that brought down multinational firms and companies on the brink of bankruptcy? Do you feel more money conscious now compared to last year? Are you worried that you might be laid off from your job and your dwindling savings may not be enough to cover your expenses until you can find a new job?

If you answered yes to the previous questions, relish in the fact that it is a normal reaction being experienced by every single person in this country. After all, many economists and financial analysts have claimed that this recession the country is undergoing right now rivals the so-called Great Depression in the 1920?s. What you feel is not exactly unheard of. Therefore, in order to bring calm to your sense and to put your mind at ease, you should do your part in keeping the cash in and minimizing your expenses. Though this sounds a lot easier said than done, it is not totally impossible.

Here are the tried and tested ways to save money in a household. Use them to your advantage and be prepared to see your so-called purchasing power increase tenfold.

The first thing that you should do is to watch over your appliances. They are fast users of electrical energy resulting to a surge in your electric bills. Therefore, have the air conditioner filter cleaned regularly. Defrost the freezer every so often especially if clumps of ice have hardened. Failure to do so will cause inefficiency in the cooling system of this equipment. Also fill up the dishwasher to its full load before using. If you are only about to wash a few plates, just do it in the sink using running water and a cleaning detergent. You may also opt to avoid a long bath and just have a quick cool shower to lower your water consumption. Don’t forget to unplug all electrical appliances when they are not being used. Turning them off is simply not enough.

Second, before heading off to the department store, jot down all the things that you need to buy so that you will not spend an unnecessary amount for spontaneous purchases. Marketing consultant know that clients are prone to indulge in their temptation if they see something they like to buy. This is the reason why they display chocolates, fashion magazines and other assorted knick knack near the cashier. Another tip in order to save money is to leave the young ones in the house. Parents know that bringing them along will make them see a lot of favorable items. If you don’t get them something that they really want, they will be prone to throw a temper tantrum.

Buying in bulk will also minimize your expenses. Most stores offer a discounted rate to customers who buy bigger packages instead of smaller ones.

Third, skip the dinner at a fancy restaurant unless necessary. If you make it a regular habit to dine out, you will be forced to spend extra on your clothes, your car’s gasoline, the expensive food and the waiter’s tip. Instead, try learning a new dish from a cookbook or ask from recipes from your parents and other relatives. They will be more than happy to hand down their great tasting dishes.

Lastly, spend cash instead if credit card. If you are not going to buy an item that requires you to bring a large amount of money, it pays to be wiser and just use cash. Bear in mind that credit card companies charge you a fee when you pay don’t your monthly bills on time.

Whether it’s a first apartment or a new empty nest, furniture and decorations are keys to making a house a home. Lamps, rugs, lots of interesting pictures can give a space definition and appeal. Stylish home accents cost money and if you are not budget conscious, the cost of making your home a personal haven can quickly get out of hand. While you want your home to look the best that it can, does it require everything to be brand new off of the showroom floor? Probably not. In fact, some of the best home decor and furniture can be found right at a local second hand or consignment shop. For a mere pittance when compared to the retail price, you may be able to get some really high end pieces, or possibly antiques, for your home.

In addition to furniture, art is everywhere. When you frequent the second hand or thrift shops, they often harbor pieces of art that people have made for their own enjoyment. You may be able to find many unique works of art that enhance your decor as well, for much less than you’d find at an art gallery. Here are different ways and places that you find home furnishings even if you have a super low budget:

1. Find tons of treasures at your local thrift store. At thrift stores, shoppers can buy for cheap all types of home decorations and other household wares. Often these fab finds are the ultimate score for frugal fashionistas that don’t want to skimp on quality just because they can’t afford to buy in the regular retail stores. Shoppers can expect to find lots of furniture and art in nearly perfect if not perfect condition that is usually brought to the thrift store as a result of a family’s relocation or death of a loved one. In addition to the perfect pieces, frugal fashionistas can find some items that could be a wonderful home addition with the simple addition of a slipcover or a professional cleaning.

2. Get in on local garage and yard sales for deals. Most people have made a move in their lives. If you have moved before, then you know how it to want a fresh start in your new home. So, to ride themselves of the excess or unnecessary, people will hold garage or yard sales. You can often find super buys on just about anything that you can use for decorating your home. From chairs to artificial flowers, garage sales usually have a little bit of everything. Check your local newspaper for listings and get there early to get the best deals!

3. Go online for a world of decorating deals. Websites such as Craigslist.org, EBay, and Freecycle have more home decor deals available than you could ever imagine. The best thing about websites like Craigslist.org or Freecycle is that you could actually find exceptional home decor pieces that are 100% FREE! Keep in mind that if you do find a free deal or really, really cheap deal during this economy crisis, jump on the deal and be prepared to make immediate preparations to pick-up the item. You could use a cheap truck rental service like U-Haul should you need a larger vehicle to pick up what would be a “big ticket” item in a store like a chair or sofa.

Furnishing your home doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you may be able to get some really chic arms and legs on all of those low and no cost chairs and tables that you’ll find!