Get Smarter with your Money

We’re all guilty of making bad financial decisions at some point in our lives. But it’s when lessons are never learned and mistakes keep happening that there is a real problem with bad financial choices.

By following some of these easy steps, you’ll be on the road to financial success in no time.

1. Don’t write checks, if there isn’t enough in your checking account to cover it. On Average, a bounced check fee will cost you over $50. So, if you’re already in a financial crunch, the chances are that paying won’t be pleasant.

2. As with the checks, don’t over extend your credit card’s line of credit. If you know that you are within $50 of your credit limit, don’t use it. Otherwise, you could end up paying at least a $30 over limit fee.

3. Don’t live by the motto “To have is to spend”. Avoid living from paycheck to paycheck and start saving a portion of your hard earned cash.

4. Finally, if you’ve tried and you just can’t get ahead, an online cash advance could help you get back on your feet. But borrow responsibly!

Now is the Time to Save Money for Emergencies

Sometimes it seems as if you’ll never get ahead in the money game. You know the feeling, when you finally get an extra $200 in the bank when you have a car accident with a $500 deductible to pay or maybe your car breaks down. Having emergency cash available during these types of events is very beneficial, but unfortunately is rarely the case. However, with enough determination a $500 cushion can be easily obtained by following these easy steps:

Save your change. Several readers tell of saving hundreds over the course of a year, even making a game of it with their children.

Use your tax refund. It’s tax refund time and the typical refund check is usually around $2,000.

Try a "buy nothing" month. Resist the temptation to eat out or have a shopping spree. Bring your lunch to work and avoid shopping for 30 days.

Source: msnmoney.com

How to Avoid Paying Too Much for Auto Repairs

We are all aware that car repairs are not cheap. In fact, automobile breakdowns are most often the cause for financial emergencies. Fortunately though, there are some ways you can avoid paying astronomical charges during your next trip to the mechanic.

1. Don’t Avoid Any Necessary Repairs When little problems become large, the costs go up… sometimes WAY up. For example, if you avoid the fact that your brakes are making noise, the chances of them grinding into your rotors and costing a lot more become higher.

Cost Comparison: New brake pads - $210, new brake pads with rotors – around $900.

2. Maintain Maintenance Requirements Auto manufacturers recommend service checkups at regular intervals, such as every 3,000, 15,000 and 30,000 miles. By following the schedule, you’ll know your car most likely won’t leave you hanging out in the cold. Owner’s manuals list maintenance schedules and schedules can be found online at the manufacturer’s website.

Cost Comparison: Follow maintenance schedule if your car is under warranty, or you may void the coverage.

3. Change Motor Oil Motor oil lubricates the engine and removes contaminants, such as small bits of metal that can cause big damage over time. Engines do bad things when they have low or no oil.
Change the oil yourself or have it changed at the mileage suggested in the car owner’s manual – usually 3,500 miles. Check the oil level every week by pulling out the dipstick, wiping it with a clean cloth, reinserting it and pulling it out again, and checking that the oil on it comes to the “full” line. If it doesn’t, add oil a little at a time, through the oil filler hole, not the dipstick hole.
Cost Comparison: New engine, $5,000; rebuilt engine, $2,500; oil change, $18; quart of oil, $1.25.

4. Never drive with temperature gauge on hot The temperature gauge indicates when the engine is running too hot. The problem may be a faulty thermostat, which regulates the flow of coolant into the engine, or lack of coolant. The result of driving with a gauge on “H” may be a fried engine.
Instead, when the gauge goes up, pull off the road as soon as possible and call for help. Never open the hood of a car if steam is flowing from beneath it, and never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot, because hot steam and coolant could burn you.

Cost Comparison: Cost of a new engine, see above; thermostat, $10; gallon of coolant, $10.
Source: Vehix.com

Eating Healthy on a Budget

Just because you’re eating on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice getting your daily dose of fruits and vegetables. Just follow these easy steps for buying the freshest produce and keeping them fresh for a longer amount of time.
First of all, if you’re feeding a family (four and up), I recommend buying your produce from a wholesale club during the colder months. In summer, try growing a garden and get the whole family involved in the process. Or buy fruits and veggies from a farm stand, where items will likely be much cheaper.

One of the most productive ways to be sure that your produce gets eaten is to separate fruits out into small individual bowls or plastic bags. This is great to store everything and ensures easy access to fresh snacks. If you buy more fruits and vegetables than you can use, don’t let them spoil in the refrigerator: freeze them!