10 Tips for Retirement Savings

images (61)10 Tips for Retirement Savings

Source: http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/retirement-planning/10-tips-for-retirement-savings.htm

Make a Plan for Retirement

Saving for retirement can be a bit difficult to figure out at first. If you need to get a handle on what you need to do to create a large nest egg, you need to begin with a plan. The U.S. Department of Labor recommends that you start by determining your net worth — the total value of your assets minus the value of your debts (things like the value of your house minus the value of what you still owe on your mortgage). You want this number to be positive, with your assets worth more than your debts. Don’t be disconcerted if that’s not the case. Even if you find your net worth is negative (as many people do), start there to figure out what you can do to make it positive. (more…)

Money Saving Tips for Real Estate Buying

download (8)15 Smart Ways to Save When You’re Buying a Home

Source: http://ideas.thenest.com/money-advice/money-saving-tips/articles/smart-ways-to-save-when-buying-a-home.aspx

Save on a home loan

1. Think ahead: If you’re planning on looking for a home in the next six months, fill out a pre-approval application with your chosen lender to uncover any credit issues that might impede your chances of getting the right-size loan.

2. Get a good broker: Brokers can help you find the best deals, and they’re usually paid by the bank — not you — so they’re especially helpful for first-time buyers who are finding their way.

3. Take advantage of a low interest rate: If you’re buying a home when the interest rate is “historically low,” opt for a fixed mortgage so you can lock in that rate. (more…)

Money Saving Tips for Parents

images (59)Parents’ Money Saving Tips

Source: http://www.familyandparenting.org/our_work/Families-in-the-Age-of-Austerity/Financial-Advice-For-Families/Parents-Money-Saving-Tips

What better way to find out how families can save money than getting tips straight from the horse’s mouth?

We asked over 5,000 families (through a YouGov survey) how they were coping with the tougher economic climate. Some said they had to tighten their belts, others said it was nothing new – they’d always struggled financially and probably always will.

These are the things parents told us they are doing to save money … (more…)

5 Handy Ways to Save on Home Rehab

327c2ed5b0da456feec6778d383686b95 Handy Ways to Save on Home Rehab

Source: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/12/13/handy-ways-save-home-rehab/#ixzz2ZFB6F02z

Fixer-uppers fight market downers

No question, housing sales have soured. So if this lemon of a market has you involuntarily housebound, why not make lemonade by fixing up your digs?

Bargain basement prices on home renovations are the silver lining of today’s horrible real estate market. According to the National Association of Home Builders, bids from contractors are coming in at 10% to 40% below what they were during the housing boom. And smart consumers have apparently taken notice. A recent American Express survey found 62% of homeowners will embark on a home improvement project this year. They’re focusing on do-it-yourself, or DIY, projects, like indoor cosmetic work, and spending an average of $6,200. (more…)

Money Saving Tips for People With a Low Income

images (58)Money Saving Tips for People With a Low Income

 

 

 

Source: http://newcenturyida.blogspot.com/2012/12/money-saving-tips-for-people-with-low.html

Have an emergency fund and three months’ worth of income in a savings account just in case.

Avoid scams that rip off the poor: used car leasing, rent-to-own, banks, payday lenders, and buy here, pay here car lots.

Save save save! Save as much as you can, whenever you can. Shop on clearance, don’t impulse buy, and create a budget. Shop at the Goodwill or the thrift store instead of paying full price for clothing. Use coupons and if you go out to eat, choose the special instead of ordering off the menu. Know what your money is going to each month! (more…)

Money Saving Ideas for Parents

download (7)Money Saving Ideas for Parents

Source: http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/photo-gallery/smart-saving-tips.aspx#/slide-1

Every penny counts when you have a family to take care of. So whether it’s pregnancy costs or pricey baby gear that’s getting you flustered about your finances, here’s the good news: Saving money can be surprisingly simple. Read on to pick up smart-savings strategies from WTE members who’ve got budgeting down to a science. (more…)

Money Saving Tips on Groceries

download (6)How to Save Money on Groceries – Top 20 Ways to Save

Source: http://www.moneycrashers.com/ways-save-money-groceries/

When I was in my twenties, I didn’t care how much I would spend at the grocery store. When the shelves of my refrigerator or pantry became bare, I would simply drive to the nearest store and put whatever items looked appetizing into my cart. I rarely prepared home-cooked meals, and would need to run to the store to get an ingredient or two if I did have an inkling to cook something.
It wasn’t until a few years ago when I got married and my husband and I began to manage our money as a married couple that I began to see the errors of my ways. As we formed a budget for our household, I realized that our grocery and food spending was out of control. I had no methodology to shop on a budget, nor did I know of any strategies to save money. Therefore, it became my personal mission to decrease our grocery spending.
There are numerous, simple ways that anyone can save money on groceries. Here are 20 tips that I have implemented to shave my grocery bill by 50% or more! (more…)

Money Saving Tips on Tight Budget

download (4)Eight Ways to Save Money Even on a Tight Budget

Source: http://voices.yahoo.com/eight-ways-save-money-even-tight-budget-71665.html?

1) Do your grocery shopping more often. For us, this was a key. We had developed a tendency to go shopping once every two weeks and get enough food to last. The problem was, it didn’t cut down on those little runs to the store for bread and milk and the half dozen things we forgot in between. And, we rarely stuck to the menu plans we had made. By the end of our shopping period, we were more likely to go out to eat than to cook at home (a HUGE expense) and many things, like fresh fruits and vegetables were rotting before we got around to using them. (more…)

Money Saving Tips on Sports Equipment or Sports Gear

images (5)Saving Money on Sports Equipment for School

Source: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Back_To_School/Shopping/Saving-Money-on-Sports-Equipment-for-School.html

Get It Free, Cheap or Used

Free-cycle is where I would start. If that did not work, there is a really good store called Play It Again Sports. They buy gently used sporting goods and re-sell them. They also sell new items. We bought our daughter’s “kids size” tennis racket there for her lessons.

Big 5 is great too they always have sales on everything. (more…)

Money Saving Tips on Jewelry

images (4)Saving Money on Jewelry

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Better_Living/Frugal_Living/Shopping/Saving-Money-on-Jewelry.html

Buy Used Jewelry Instead Of New

At the beginning of our relationship, my husband would buy me one nice piece of jewelry for Christmas. When we actually married, we couldn’t afford to buy a brand new engagement ring. I found one I loved at a pawn shop for $500, and it appraised for $3500. My husband always wanted to upgrade me to something nicer. (more…)