Saving $100 a week is actually easy - seriously I mean it!

If you think you can’t save an extra $100 a week, think again. Even in hard financial times, there are some easy steps that you can take that won’t eat into your budget.

Pay yourself a percentage of your paycheck. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10% or 1%. As long as you put away some part of your paycheck consistently, your efforts will pay off in time. If you’re living from paycheck to paycheck and think it’s just not possible to spare another cent for savings, try again.

Think about that iced coffee you just bought – save the leftover change! Every time you buy something with cash, there’s usually some change involved. Instead of throwing that change into your pocket or under the seat, put it into a jar and save it up. You’ll be amazed by what you have after only a few weeks time. Collect your change for a few months and you’ll have a large sum to take to the bank.

Quit eating out for lunch! This may seem tough to do if you like to eat with your co-workers on a regular basis, but this is one of the biggest money drainers of them all. If we figure that the average lunch costs $8 to $10, over 5 working days, that’s $40 to $50 a week that you could be saving. Instead, start packing your lunch every day. With the $40 you would have spent on lunch, you can purchase enough groceries for a week’s worth of lunches and dinners. Why pay someone $10 to make you a sandwich when you can do it for $2 or less by yourself? You’ll also save on gasoline by not slogging through lunch hour traffic every day just to grab a bite to eat.

Get a wholesale club card. Buying in bulk can be a great way to save on things like paper towels, disposable diapers and other short-term usage items. There is a membership fee of $40, but the savings you’ll see in just a few months time will more than pay for it.

Need it or Want it? Magazine subscriptions, a new pair of shoes or the latest cell phone might be things you want, but do you really need them? Before making an impulse buy, evaluate the purchase and ask yourself if it’s absolutely necessary. When you stop and think about it, you might save yourself a lot of money on impulse buying.

Cash Crisis Help - for ALL credit scores

When it comes to financial emergencies, experts suggest having at least three months salary saved in the bank and $200 cash available in your home. But let’s face it… most of us aren’t that prepared and getting caught up in a cash crisis can be a stressful time for anyone who doesn’t have a plan in place. Fortunately, there are some easily accessible funding options that can help people get out of debt and get back on track toward financial freedom…even with bad credit.

Traditional bank loans are the most popular choice for those needing to borrow funds, but applying for one can sometimes be a hassle with time wasted on tons of paper work. Bank lending also typically involves larger amounts of money loaned for longer periods of time. Paying off the loan over a longer period means varying interest rates.

Obtaining a credit card can sometimes seem like the easiest option. But beware… every time you apply for a credit card, your credit history is checked and your credit score takes a downturn! The more credit cards you have - the lower your credit rating.

Car title lenders offer a way to borrow cash against the equity in your vehicle. One of the many downsides to this type of lending is that it requires a vehicle that is less than 10 years old, as well as several other items to get started with the loan process. These items include the car title (free of all liens), drivers license, social security card, registration, proof of auto insurance, recent paycheck stub, current utility bills, four references and a spare set of car keys!

Payday loan lending is another option and it is, in my opinion, the least intrusive. It’s perfect for people with bad credit who need cash quick - less than 24 hours in most cases. Payday loan lending consists of small, short term loans and unlike bank loans, payday loans are unsecured, meaning that no collateral is required. A payday loan is typically much faster than a traditional loan, because of the absence of paperwork. With online payday loans, the customer fills out the application online and submits it for approval. Online payday loans offer even more benefits like convenience, privacy and quicker loan decision processing time.

The typical payday loan amount is $100 to $500 (although some lenders do offer loans up to $1500) and it is taken out for a two week period. The usual payday loan fee is $15 per $100. A few payday loan companies offer low introductory rates of around $9 to $10 per $100 borrowed by new customers. Many online payday loan companies do not conduct a detailed credit check, which provides another option for consumers with less than perfect credit. The only paperwork required for most payday loan lenders includes two recent pay stubs for proof of employment and a recent bank statement.

ALWAYS search around for the best rates before applying for any type of loan!

Beat the heat, without beating your bank account

Summertime is synonymous to fun, but one of the not so fun truths about summer is high utility bills. Cranking up the air conditioner and watering your lawn can add up to hundreds of dollars spent each summer. Some of those dollars can be saved with just a few quick adjustments around the house that may seem like obvious cost savers to some, but are often overlooked.

When you leave the house, turn off all of your small appliances. If you cook, be sure to turn the oven off when you’re finished and after leaving a room, switch off the lights. If you’re buying new appliances, be sure you buy ones with the “Energy Star” tag.

Going out of town? Be sure to turn off the cooling system before you leave. Old ideas out there told you that turning your air conditioner on and off can cost more that leaving it on at the highest temperature. But if you’ll be out of town for an extended amount of time, it is very wasteful to leave it running. When you’re simply running out for a quick errand or to work, increase the AC temperature and turn ceiling fans on for added circulation around the house. If it’s cool enough outside to have the windows open, you might think about leaving the fan on all day to help cool the inside and ditch the air conditioner completely.

Make sure the seal on your refrigerator is good and tight. If it isn’t, your refrigerator will be sucking more power to keep the inside temperature cool. Be sure to have your refrigerator in the coolest spot in the kitchen, away from the oven and out of the sun. If you live in a warm climate area, don’t put your refrigerator in the garage, as this could double your energy costs.

Also, turn off your computer when you’re gone. Unless you’re using your computer as a server or you just like having it on when you get home, there’s no point in running it all day long. The typical PC consumes around 300 watts. If you use your computer for about 4 hours a day, then that’s 20 hours of wasted energy if you leave it running all day. If electricity cost 10 cents per kilowatt-hour in your area, then the 20 hours represents 60 cents a day, which adds up to $219 per year.

Never let your finances force you to eat unhealthy food.

Eating healthy should never be a sacrifice, no matter what your financial circumstances may be. Eating from the dollar menu at McDonalds may have been an option for you when you were younger, but better food choices are a must as you begin to approach your 20’s and 30’s. Eating healthy isn’t always the easiest thing to do, and certainly not the cheapest. But, while it can be tough to find better food items for you and your family, there are a few things you can do to give yourself a step up on eating healthier and still save money!

• Try to shop right after eating a meal, in this way, you won’t have that hunger urge while you’re looking for healthy food. Many people have a tendency to want junk food when they’re hungry, instead of the healthy stuff. Reason being - it looks tastier.
• Before heading to the grocery store, plan out a week’s worth of meals. This will give you an idea of what you really need and lower the temptation to browse instead of shop. Research has shown that shoppers who don’t bring a list tend to buy more food, especially of the snacking variety.
• Look for a store’s weekly specials and clip coupons for in-store brands. Generic brands are less expensive and generally have the same nutritional value.
• Try growing your own fruits and veggies or find a local farmer’s market. Their produce should be cheaper and is usually fresh picked straight from the crop.
• Warehouse grocers, like Sam’s Club or Costco, have also started offering healthier, organic choices in bulk – so you pay a lot less.
• Swap out sugary snacks for some baby carrots, raisons, or unsalted nuts. These will fill you up a lot quicker than a Twinkie or a donut.

Easy (and CHEAP) ways to keep fun in the family!

In these harsh economical times, it’s easy to get down in the dumps about low cash flow. But it’s important to keep your head up and still make time to have some family fun. There are several ways to keep within a tight budget, while still showing the kids a great time.

1. Staying home for dinner and going out for dessert is a great way to save. If you really want to eat out, many family restaurants have nights where kids eat free or other discounts. In addition, sign up for a coupon book that contains all kinds of discounts for local eateries and other entertainment in the area. The Sunday paper usually contains lunch coupons, and if you don’t mind eating before the rush, you can save with early bird specials.

2. Instead of paying to see the latest big blockbuster, pick up movies that the entire family can watch from your local library or swap movies with friends to borrow for a few days. Make popcorn and other snacks to make it really special. If you want to enjoy that theater feeling, go for an afternoon movie or visit a $2 movie theater if it’s available in your city.

3. Forget about the expensive amusement parks or laser tag. Pack a lunch, take a football or Frisbee, and head out to a local park for an afternoon of fun in the sun. Beat the summer heat with a trip to the pool or other local watering hole. When the snow flurries start to fall, grab the inner tubes and head for the nearest sledding hill.

4. Set aside a specific day in the week to be game night. Have a special treat just for that evening. Whether its board games, card games, or a video game battle, this time can be great bonding that doesn’t cost you anything.

I DO... promise to save money and still have a great wedding.

With my upcoming weekend nuptial drawing nearer...and considering the average cost of a wedding in the United States is spiraling toward $30,000*, I’ve been inspired to provide some money saving tips for wedding costs. These days, couples are waiting longer to get married and relying less on parents to pick up the tab. And it’s never a good idea to begin a marriage with lots of debt. Luckily, there are a lot of great ways to have a beautiful ceremony, without breaking the bank.

1. Timing is everything

When it comes to saving money, the time you have your wedding can make a huge difference. Schedule your wedding during the off season, which is typically in the late fall and winter. There will be less competition from other couples for vendors, so they might be more willing to negotiate their prices. Having your wedding on any other day than a Saturday will also drive down costs.

2. Trim the guest list

One of the quickest ways to cut down on costs is to reduce the guest list. You’ll not only save catering expenses, but also on alcohol, invitations, and favors. Don’t invite anyone out of obligation, including distant relatives, coworkers, and high school friends. Also, consider limiting the number of people in the wedding party to save on gifts and wedding day attire.

3. Cut out some of the extras

Little things like, save-the-date cards, ceremony programs, and favors all add precious dollars to your final bill. Forgo all those extras no one will miss, so you can spend money on more important things, like the photography, the entertainment, and the food. Do you really want to cut out a videographer because you spent too much on monogrammed napkins and matchbooks? Choose (and spend) wisely.

4. Do it yourself

Another way to save money is to make some of the items yourself. Many computer programs exist to help you design and print your own invitations. Fabric and craft stores carry patterns and materials to make bridal veils, ring bearer pillows and flower girl dresses. Look for community colleges and centers for classes on flower arranging and make the bouquets and centerpieces yourself. You can keep your budget on track with just a little ingenuity and hard work.

Enlist your friends and family

Have talented friends? If they agree to it, recruit them to help out with your wedding! Does your fiancé have a friend who’s a culinary connoisseur? Ask if he or she will make your cake or help cater the wedding. Have a younger sister who is currently in cosmetology school? She can help with the bridesmaids’ hair and makeup. If you can’t think of anyone, try networking with friends, family, and colleagues. Even if one of your coworkers can’t get you their cousin’s band for free, they might be able to swing you a hefty discount.

*Reported by The Wall Street Journal

Reducing Your Utility Costs Has A Savings Benefit

During difficult financial times, we often begin to look out how we’re spending money. Cutting costs often means going out to eat less, wearing last summer’s wardrobe or settling for the generic brand. But you can also save a ton of money (and a ton of energy and water) just by paying closer attention to how you’re spending your time at home.

Replace conventional light bulbs with the new energy efficient light bulbs, they are four times as powerful and will last ten times as long.

Keep your thermostat set no higher than 68 degrees in winter and no lower than 70 degrees in summer (we have agreed on 72 degrees at my house). If you have ceiling fans, turn those on to increase air circulation throughout your home (this uses very little energy). In winter, every degree higher can raise heating costs by 3%. In summer, every degree lower can raise cooling costs by 6%.

Set your hot water heater temperature between 110 and 120 degrees. Having the temperature any higher is unnecessary and is wasted energy.

Stick to doing large loads of laundry which use about 21 gallons of water. Avoid doing several small loads, which each use about 14 gallons of water. By doing one large load instead of several small ones, you can save around 7 gallons of water. It might not seem like much, but over the course of a year, it will add up.

Don’t run the dishwasher unless it’s a full load and instead of using the heat cycle, let the dishes air dry.

Try taking shorter, cooler showers and if you just have to take a hot bath – try to limit it to once a week.