Top Ways To Get More Money Into Your Savings Account
Even when you understand the need to put money away in a savings account, it is sometimes very difficult to find enough money to do so. Unforeseen circumstances and weak will power are the leading causes of inability to save significant amounts of money. Other times, it is inability to see the opportunity to save money when it presents itself. This piece therefore takes a look at how you can spot these opportunities and save more money for the future.
Save salary raise
Salary raises are not an opportunity to increase spending. If you were able to get by on your past salary, you should be able to continue on it while saving the new addition. Similarly, you should consider working a few hours above your normal schedule and strictly put away the overtime pay at the end of the week or month.
Save bonuses and commissions
When you plan your day to day spending, you don’t include bonuses into the equation. Why then should you spend the bonuses when they come? Bonuses are a good opportunity to ramp up the digits in your savings account. If you get a large commission on the other hand, always use it for something that will be of benefit in the future. Think of a retirement investment or a comfortable home.
Cut expenses
When the topic of cutting expenses arises, it is often common for people to look at money spent on activities like smoking or drinking as where to start saving from. Whilst this is a good idea, you can save even more money by cutting expenditure on your hobbies. If you love playing bingo games for instance and spend money trying out new sites, you should consider playing on no deposit bingo sites where there is no need to deposit your money before getting a feel of the gaming experience. Similarly, you should review the amount you spend on protein shakes, personal trainers, video games etc. Cutting back on hobby spending for a year could add a tidy sum to your savings account.
Cross check taxes
Do you get tax refunds? You should put the money straight into your savings. If you don’t get any refunds, you should consider talking with a tax advisor to see if there are tax refund options you haven’t explored. Your tax advisor should also be able to do a comprehensive assessment to be sure you are paying an amount that can be deemed fair value in taxes. Assessments can save you a decent amount of money in property taxes especially. Even when you feel you are paying the exact amount you should pay in taxes, professional accountants properly qualified to look over taxes can help you plug loopholes. The important thing to keep in mind is to always put away all the money saved in taxes to your savings account. You would have lost the money to the government anyway so why not put it to good use?
Analyse credit card payments
Are you making any credit card debt payments? You should look around to see if you can get lower rates elsewhere on the same product or something similar. Take a balance transfer credit card for instance could see you reduce 7% interest rate to 3.5% or less. Here’s how to get lower interest rates on your credit cards.
A Quick Guide on How to Save Money
A Quick Guide on How to Save Money
It’s time to save a lot of dollars with patience and determination. Cutting down costs is never an easy task, but it’s definitely accomplishable. If you already think about saving money, you are on the right path. You have actually made the first step…now it’s time to act.
The following pieces of advice can help you save a lot of money in time. The results can be noticed from the start, but you will manage to save money after a couple of months or so. But the effort is worth it. All you need is a goal, a purpose. That will be the fuel that will keep you on track. You want to save money to get your kids through college, to buy a new house or a new car or to go abroad. Whatever your reasons, stay committed to your dreams.
Be Eco-Friendly
Sustainable designs are really popular for several reasons: they are environmentally friendly, they consume less energy and the bills are significantly cheaper.
What’s Useless?
Ask yourself a simple question “what’s useless?” Have you stopped watching cable TV for some time now? If the answer is yes then cancel the subscription if you don’t think you’ll be watching TV anytime soon. Switch the lights off when you’re not in the room etc.
Just DIY
If you have always been picky, you’ll understand the appeal of any Do-it-yourself project. Sometimes you want a particular thing but you can’t find it anywhere. It’s time to take matters into your own hands and engage in a DIY project. You can follow some step by step tutorials that will really help you out. Choosing the materials and fabrics that you like will always help you come up with something unique and less expensive. You’ll cut some major costs by choosing DIY projects.
Cooking
Cooking may seem tiresome at times, but it’s recommended. You will eat a home cooked meal that’s healthy for your body. You can also ask your family or friends to help you out. It’s a fun way to socialize, you gotta admit it. And it’s also a fantastic tip to save a lot of money. Instead of constantly dining out and spending too much money.
The Shopping List
Keep the products on your shopping list to a minimal. Try cooking different meals and don’t give in to junk food. Buy enough food to keep everybody happy, but stick to smaller portions. Otherwise you end up throwing a lot of food away. It often happens to most of us.
Make Use of Everything that You Own
Interior design can be a thing. If you like DIY projects you can organize your space better and maximize it. Get rid of useless items and obsolete elements of décor. And if you really need to buy something, stick to essential items. If you also have a garden, consider yourself lucky. You can grow fruits and vegetables and enjoy eating healthy products while saving a lot of money in the process.
Save Money for Father’s Day – Skip the Card!
Have you bought your Father’s Day cards yet? If you are like me, you haven’t. Strolling down the card aisle with all of the pictures, jokes and sappy lines makes me a bit nauseous. It isn’t the silly sayings and bad jokes that turn my insides around. It is the crazy prices on the backs of the cards that always make me feel a little ill.
With greeting card prices on the rise, you can easily spend over $5.00 buying just one card. If you add music, pictures, embellishments the prices climb toward $10.00. Yikes! If you are a bargain shopper like me, you see that as enough money to buy another gift! Who wants to waste money on something that ends up in the trash hours or days later? I sure don’t. This thought of not wasting money on cards has sent me on a quest to find things to use when gift giving, instead of store bought cards.
Make your own card.
I know it sounds a little bit like a trip back to preschool but it really can be fun and inexpensive. Use scraps of things that you already have around the house. Recycle old cards and pictures from magazines and ads. Use a photo and make a card that dad or grandpa will love. Use anything you have around the house, just make it yourself without spending money on fancy supplies or embellishments.
Make a gift tag.
Simple could be the answer. How often do we read a card and then toss it after the party is over. Do we appreciate the gifts with fancy cards more than those without cards? Cards are rarely important to me. I read them and then usually do not give them another thought. I have started to just make a simple gift tag for many of the presents we give. Quick, cheap and easy.
Think outside the envelope.
I have really thought about cards and why we are so much in the habit of giving them. We usually use them to convey and idea of love or appreciation. Why not use something other than a card? One of my new favorite ideas is to use a children’s book. Picture books look cute on top of a gift, even when giving the gift to an adult. You can get a themed book and write a note or two on the inside cover, just like a card. For Father’s Day consider a book about dad or grandpa, there are lots of cheap favorites at places like Amazon, Walmart or your local book store. Some great and super cheap books can be found in new condition at your local thrift shop.
It must be a store bought card.
There are some situations when you may feel like you absolutely have to buy a card. Shop smart when buying a card. Check the dollar stores. Our local Dollar Tree has a great selection of cards and they are just $1.00. Stores like WalMart have $.50 and $1.00 sections for every occasion including Father’s Day. Look for card multipacks with a number of different greeting cards for a great price.
Whatever you choose to do: make a card, use a gift tag, use a book or buy a card, remember to pinch your pennies!
Have two printers? Save money!
Let’s talk about a great way to save a little money. It is something that almost everyone has and almost everyone spends money on every month or two. Some of us spend a little and some of us spend a lot. Let’s talk about printing and printers. Do you love yours? If you are like most of the people I meet, the answer is probably no. Lately I have met so many people that say they hate their printers. People talk about how expensive their printer was and how much the ink refills cost. They talk about how much they print using black ink and how little they print using colored ink. Many times when you replace the black ink you also have to replace the colored ink. Some printers even take the expensive colored inks and mix them together to print in black ink. That’s crazy! Those things make having a printer and replacing the ink cartridges so expensive. There is so much frustration surrounding ink and printers. We’ve solved that problem at my house in a very different way – we have two printers.
Have two printers? Some people have told me how crazy this sounds but it works really great for us. The printer we use all of the time is a black and white laser printer. A couple of years ago we were in the same ink using predicament. We hated using colored ink up when we didn’t need to. We looked at what we really print at our house and even with four kids; the majority of our printing was just black ink. We found that we rarely use our color printer. We use our color printer for school projects and a few other things but not day to day printing. It made sense to look for something that made printing cheaper.
We love our printer – it is a HP LaserJet Pro P1102w Wireless Monochrome Printer. It is such a fabulous printer. It uses a black LaserJet toner cartridge instead of ink. Toner cartridges do not dry out the way ink cartridges dry out. One toner cartridge for this printer prints about 1600 pages and costs around $50. That’s about 3 cents a page! I love the wireless feature too. We can print from any computer or mobile device from anywhere in our house. This is the printer I use and some of its features.
HP LaserJet Pro P1102w Wireless Monochrome Printer
List Price: $159.00
You Save: $70.00 (44%)
Price: $89.00
- Wireless HP LaserJet printing in the home or office
- HP ePrint – Now, print from your smartphone or tablet from virtually anywhere
- Save with the most energy-efficient laser printer on the planet
- Use HP Toner for great results, print after print
We still have our color printer. We use it when we need color prints, which isn’t that often. We don’t buy color ink cartridges very often anymore – a great money saver. Having two printers has turned out to be a great choice and a great money saver. Do any of you have two printers or a printer you love? What do you use? Let us know, we love to hear from you.
Christmas Shopping Prep! Make a list!
If you have been shopping lately it is hard to miss the fact that the Christmas shopping season is just around the corner – or in many cases, it is already here! The stores are lavishly decorated and the Christmas music is playing to put shoppers in the buying mood. There is nothing like a Christmas song and pretty display to make you start buying your Christmas gifts. Have you done your Christmas shopping prep?
Exactly what is Christmas shopping prep? Christmas shopping prep actually includes a lot of different things. Christmas shopping prep as a whole is the one thing that you have to do first to avoid Christmas shopping chaos which includes too many shopping trips and overspending. Sound confusing? It isn’t! Follow these simple steps and your Christmas shopping prep will get off to the right start.
Make your list
Do you know everyone you need to give gifts to this year? There are probably more people than you think. The best way to get an accurate picture of your gift giving plans is to list ALL gift recipients. Be sure to list family, friends, coworkers, teachers, coaches, everyone and anyone that you will give a gift to this year. Don’t skip this important step in your Christmas shopping prep.
Set a budget for each person
After you have listed all of your gift recipients, decide the maximum amount you will spend on each person. This will help keep you from overbuying gifts. This step in your Christmas shopping prep is important to keep your holiday budget from going bust.
Find out likes, sizes or wants
I like to give people things that they will love. I always try to do a bit of research and find out what people like or want for Christmas. If you are giving clothing or something with a size, find out what size your gift recipient wears. This part of Christmas shopping prep will help make your gifts a hit.
Look at last year’s gift giving list
If you need ideas or don’t want to duplicate a gift, check last year’s gift giving list. This also may help you remember what a person likes. Christmas shopping prep starts in the previous year. If you didn’t keep last year’s list, remember to save this year’s list for use next year.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm a few different ideas for each person on your list. Your first idea isn’t always your best. Don’t be afraid to play with lots of different ideas and think outside the box. As you do this part of your Christmas shopping prep jot down lots of possible ideas.
Narrow it down to favorites
Now it is time to narrow down your gift ideas. Take all of your ideas and pick a couple of the best ideas for each person on your list. List them in the gift giving order you prefer. I try to stick with about 3 ideas for each gift I need to give. After I have done this I usually toss the other Christmas shopping prep I did and just keep this one clean and organized list.
Decide on a few extras
Think about picking up a few extras to have on hand for surprise gifts. I always seem to need a small gift or two that I didn’t think or know about when I made my list. I always try to add a few small items to my list to use if I need a last minute unexpected gift. I like grabbing a couple of inexpensive but fun gift cards to this purpose.
Follow these Christmas shopping prep steps and you’ll have a great list to help you begin your Christmas gift shopping. Have ideas to share? Let us know! Stay tuned as we feature more Christmas shopping tips.
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Save money – cut out fast food!
Is your family like mine? Is busy an understatement? I know so many families that are a lot like mine these days – all so very busy. There are activities and meetings and practices and school events and games and the list goes on and on and on. It seems some days we use our homes as more of a rest stop than a home base. If you are like me, you are always looking for a way to save time. All too often trying to save time leads families to grab fast food. Grabbing burgers or pizza on the go can save a precious half hour or more. But this easy way of saving time ends up costing us money. I have found some ideas to save time and money – I cut out fast food almost completely.
At first trying to cut out fast food seemed impossible. What about those nights where there was no time at home at all? How were we going to do this? After a little bit of thought and planning, I found out that it is actually pretty easy. There are some great ideas and tips that made it easy. These are a few of my favorites.
Crock pot
A crock pot is a great way to come home to a warm and ready dinner and cut out fast food. No more pizza to go! This classic kitchen item may seem a little threatening at first. What do you cook in it? The answer is easy! Anything you want! There are SO MANY great recipes and websites with ideas for crock pots and make ahead meals. There is nothing like coming home to something yummy and ready to eat!
Freezer meals
This is another simple idea! Make a meal ahead of time and freeze it! Pull it out of the freezer earlier in the day and pop it in the oven or microwave when you get home. Another great idea to cut out fast food and crank up the yum!
Pack a picnic
Take your food with you! If you have kids this is sure to be a hit. Pack a meal picnic style and take it out on the road with you. You can make a picnic to eat in the car or on a blanket between events. This works for snacks too. Taking snacks with you keeps you from grabbing some on the go. Cut out fast food and have fun!
Shelf stable supplies
Keep some of your favorite meal items on hand, especially those that are shelf stable. If you have a few minutes at home, you can easily grab the ingredients to one of your quick meal favorites. This equals another yummy meal and way to cut out fast food.
Keep a favorite quick recipe list
This one seems like a no brainer but it isn’t. In a hurry you won’t be able to think of some of the good, fast dinner options that you would remember another time. This recipe list is great to use with the idea just mentioned, keep the supplies for some of these recipes on hand.
Have more ideas to help busy families cut out fast food? Share them with us!
A PYP Best Blog! Keeping the Holidays Simple!
Just in case you missed this article on keeping the holidays simple the first time we shared it a couple of years ago, we are republishing it. After Marne wrote this blog originally, we got an awesome response. The holidays are a couple months away but these ideas for keeping the holidays simple are good to start thinking about now. This is one of the PYP Best Blogs!
We always have great aspirations of keeping the holidays simple, don’t we? Then when they get here it can be a different story. What is important to remember is that we are in control of our own environment. If those around us choose to make the holidays overly crazy and tiring, you don’t have to choose that. Simplicity is a choice, although not an easy one most of the time.
Here are a few things you can do to make the holiday season a little more stress-free, simple, and budget-friendly.
- Make gift giving simple. There are many ways to do this. Forgo the big extended family gift exchange and donate all the money that would have been used to a shelter or other needy establishment. You can decide to all give homemade gifts from the heart. Have a contest to see who can give the most meaningful gift. Instead of having a minimum for family gift exchanges, have maximums, ie, don’t spend over $10. These are fun and creative, not to mention less stressful approaches to gift-giving.
- More isn’t always better. Spending lots of money on countless toys and gifts that don’t mean anything to the recipient has two problems: wasted money on the giver’s part, and a receiver who doesn’t really want the gift. It is better to give one or two meaningful gifts (even to children) instead of several. I am a firm believer in not giving my children lots of toys at Christmas. Too much causes more chaos, fighting over the gifts, and just more gluttony…they always are looking for more. Teach them to appreciate what they do have, and less can become more.
- Forgo the Christmas cards. Going one year without sending out Christmas cards isn’t the most horrible thing you could do. It will be one less thing to worry about, and it really is no big deal. If sending out cards is important to you, then plan ahead so your holiday season can be less stressful. I keep a list every year and update it as I get new cards. This way I already know who I am sending cards to without hunting for names and addresses.
- Don’t do a lot of baking. I am not boycotting baking here, since I enjoy it at the holidays also. But it is one thing you can cut out to allow more time to spend with your family as well as save you calories on your waistline. If you really want to bake some goodies, try baking after Christmas, around New Year’s. It is still the holiday season but the rush of Christmas is over.
- Save ahead for your gifts. It is obviously too late this year for this tip, but try saving for Christmas all year. That way when it is time to go shopping, you have some money saved up. Much easier on the budget, and it will give you peace of mind as you shop. Always set a limit and don’t go over it.
Hopefully you can sit down and relax during this holiday season with a cup of hot chocolate by the Christmas tree. Take time to soak in the wonders of the holiday season and remember all the other stuff isn’t as important…but the feelings, traditions and memories created stay.
A PYP Best Blog! Cooking From Scratch!
Just in case you missed this article on cooking from scratch the first time we shared it a couple of years ago, we are republishing it. After Marne wrote this blog originally, we got an awesome response. This is one of the PYP Best Blogs!
I grew up with a mother who was always cooking from scratch. That is all I knew. Our home was consistently blessed with homemade whole wheat bread, granola, yummy casseroles, and what have you. My mom was ‘famous’ in our small town for her bread and rolls. Even things like maple syrup and other delicious syrups were homemade. Our family did a lot of canning and preserving too. I was jealous of some friends and kids that I babysat because they got to have store-bought macaroni and cheese, store-bought white bread, and other convenience foods. They were so lucky, I thought at the time.
I know differently now. I am so thankful my mother instilled in me the desire for cooking from scratch. Not that I do it all the time, mind you. I have to fight that desire to do the quick and easy thing. Cooking from scratch takes more time usually, but it is healthier for you and much cheaper. Nowadays with all the great nutrition information out there cooking from scratch is having a comeback. Everyone is realizing how great and simple and cost effective it really is!
When you are cooking from scratch it is important to make sure you have a well-stocked pantry with basic ingredients and spices. Then you are able to throw things together quickly and easily. Things that I always have in my cupboards or freezer are: oats, sugar, wheat, rice, butter, sour cream, spaghetti sauce, cream cheese, peanut butter, taco sauce, pasta, chicken & ground beef, eggs, onions, potatoes, cheese, and lots of various spices..just to name a few things.
I wanted to share with you today a few of my favorite recipes when I am cooking from scratch. If you have a few favorites, please comment and share what you do! We can all learn and benefit from each other.
Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
1 c. Magic Mix
3/4 c. Chicken Broth (either from a can, bouillon, or liquid from canned chicken)
1 t. Dry Parsley
Dash of Onion Salt
Mix together with wire whisk over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
Magic Mix
2 1/3 c. powdered milk
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, room temperature (NO margarine!)
Combine together in a mixer bowl. I use my Bosch. Whip up nice and thoroughly until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Put in the fridge and use for a variety of recipes, including condensed soups. (Using it for chocolate pudding is really good!) Will keep in the fridge for several months.
Banana Muffins
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 c. white sugar + 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (I use sour cream)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large or 3 small)
*In a large bowl combine flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine and stir the egg, oil, yogurt (or sour cream) and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in mashed bananas. Try not to overstir. Just moisten all ingredients. Can add chocolate chips. (We like them better without chocolate chips.) Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
Here are some other recipes that I make from scratch that I LOVE and make all the time. Some I have posted here on PYP before.
Drop Biscuits
Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Whole Wheat Bread
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal Pancake Mix
Chicken Ranch Pizza
Homemade Granola Bars
Homemade Crunchy Granola
Have you heard about Walmart’s new Savings Catcher program? Save time and money!
Have you heard about Walmart’s new Savings Catcher program? It’s now available nationwide!
Savings Catcher compares your receipt to advertised prices from top stores in your area, and if it finds a lower advertised price, you get the difference on an eGift Card. All you have to do is enter your receipt and Walmart does the work for you.
Find more information on the program here:
Saving Money With Canning
Back in the olden days, only the very rich had refrigerators, and people had to do things in order to keep food as long as they could. The only real way they had to preserve food was to can it, and then they could store the food in their basements or cellars for a very long time, maybe even years. However, canning became something people do not do too often when refrigerators became more affordable, but believe it or not some people still can food, and it can actually save money for the following reasons.
#1. End of season canning supplies are very cheap.
The typical canning season is the spring and summer, and when the fall comes, no one cans anymore so stores have their canning supplies reduced significantly just to get rid of them. People can go and pick up the supplies for practically nothing, and people can really can things all year long if they want to.
#2. Find the best deals on fruits and vegetables.
While spring and summer is the best time for a lot of different produce, and this is also the time for it to go on sale as well. However, people need to remember that groceries stores are not the only option when it comes to finding fruits and vegetables. During the spring and summer, there are farmers markets that are available on the weekends.
These markets can offer fruit and vegetables for prices a lot lower than a national chain of super markets. Also, people should consider buying from these local markets because it supports local growers who sell what they grow in order to care for their families and pay their bills.
#3. Meat can also be canned.
People may not know this, but other things can be canned other than fruits and vegetables. Meat may seem like an unusual thing to can, but it can be done. Beef, pork, and chicken can be canned as long as it is done properly and a pressure cooker is used. To make canning easier, some canners like to make meals that they can like stews and soups, which will keep for a lot longer as long as it is done properly.
#4. Consider growing your own vegetables.
The summer means that produce is on sale, and also the seeds and seedlings that people plant in their gardens to grow their own vegetables are also available to buy. If people do not want to deal with spending money on vegetables, then they can easily grow their own, and when it comes to canning, all they need to do is go outside and pick what they want to can.
#5. Canned fruits and vegetables can also be sold.
Some people really love the taste of canned peaches, canned beets, and even canned corn, and when they find out that people are still canning, they may be willing to pay for jars of canned fruits, vegetables, and meat. People with the skills and talent to can things can make a little money on the side, which will really help them financially.
Homemade Popsicles Can Save you Money
Summer is here now, and treats to keep cool are very popular. However, while the grocery store freezers are full of popsicles, the fact is that they can be expensive. Here are some tips on making popsicles at home that are a lot cheaper than what is sold in stores, but just as cool, refreshing, and delicious.
#1. Using store brand fruit juice.
There are a lot of popular brands of fruit juice, but when the labels are compared to the store brand version, they will see that they are virtually identical. The difference between the brand name and the store brand is the price, and parents can save a lot of money by using the store brand version of fruit juice.
#2. Leftover fruit puree can make all natural popsicles.
Some parent s like to make their own fruit juice, but there is always left over fruit puree when they are done. Instead of just letting that it go to waste, the puree can be used in popsicle molds, and then frozen to make delicious all natural fruit popsicles.
#3. Yogurt can be used for creamy popsicles.
Some kids prefer to eat popsicles that are smooth and creamy, which will mean making them out of yogurt. Yogurt is also considered a cool summer treat, and stores everywhere usually have it on sale because it’s so popular. All parents have to do to make yogurt popsicles is to take a wooden popsicle stick, simply put it in the container, and then just put the container in the freezer. After a couple of hours, the yogurt will be frozen, and then all kids have to do is turn the container upside down, and take off the plastic container.
#4. Sugar-free Koolaid can make tasty and colorful popsicles.
Grocery stores usually sell envelopes of sugar-free Koolaid for a very low price. The packets of Koolaid not only make for a great drink, but they can also make for tasty and colorful popsicles. The Koolaid can be mixed in a pitcher, and then poured into ice cube trays or popsicle molds.
#5. Jello popsicles are quick and easy.
Another great way to make popsicles is to use Jello. The jello can be mixed with orange juice, then poured into molds for tasty cold popsicles that will definitely beat the heat.
#5. Pudding can be frozen for popsicles.
A great snack that kids love to eat is little pudding cups, and parents can take those cups and use them to make delicious popsicles. Typically, little pudding cups are not expensive to buy, and there are even the store brand version of pudding cups that can be even cheaper. Like with the yogurt, the pudding cups come in their own container, which can be used in mostly the same way. Putting a wooden stick in the center of the pudding cups, and then placed in the freezer. After an hour or two, the pudding will have frozen solid, and kids can turn them upside down and take the container off to enjoy their pudding popsicles.
Saving Money On Summer Camp For the Kids
When the summer comes, parents often get the idea to send their kids to summer camp. The fresh air, exercise, and socializing with other kids, can help make the summer memorable. However, everything is getting more expensive these days including summer camp, but there are ways to find the right camp for a lower price.
#1. The search for summer camp should begin as early as possible.
There is no such thing as starting to look for summer camp as early as the spring, and the early bird can really get the worm because some camps may offer a lower price depending on what month parents decide to book their children. After a certain month, camps may actually increase their prices for those parents who enroll their children into the camp at the last minute.
#2. Look into summer camps that offer discounts.
Some camps want to attract children to their camp, and may offer discounts for things like siblings, and the number of camps that the children participate in. Also, parents can qualify for discounts depending on their career such as teachers, policemen, firemen, and nurses may qualify for a special discounted price.
#3. Volunteer work at the camp can mean a lower price.
Some camps are in desperate need of volunteers to help with the kids, and if parents want to get a lower cost on camp then they might be able to work something out with the camp managers. If parents volunteer to work a few days a week, then they may get some money knocked off the price of having their children go to the camp.
#4. Ask the camp about financing or making payments.
Some camps are willing to work with parents on the price, and one way that they do it is by offering parents financing. Though it may seem weird to finance a summer activity like going to camp, the truth is making a few payments over the course of the summer is a lot easier for parents to handle instead of just one giant payment.
#5. Camps may offer price matching.
Some areas of the country have summer camps of every kind, and there are so many camps that they are in constant competition with one another. Because the area has so many camps, this is a great opportunity for parents to do some comparison shopping. Camps may offer different things, and parent should seek out a camp that can offer the biggest variety of activities.
After a parent has found out the prices for each camp, and then has made a decision about which two or three are the best, then it is time to try and get the camps to lower their prices down. By letting each camp know what the competition is charging, the price may be matched to whatever the lowest price is. There is no harm in trying to get a lower price, especially if it really is the camp that parents want to send their children to, and businesses are more willing to do things for their customers if given the chance.
How To Save Money on Your Home Insurance
Like cars, houses need to have insurance just in case something goes wrong like a water pipe bursts and ruins the carpeting and tile, a storm comes along and blows the roof off, or a fire breaks out and the house burns. While house insurance can be high, there are ways for homeowners to save money on their policy:
#1. Talk to the company about discounts.
There is nothing wrong with going to pay a visit to your home insurance agent and talking to him or her about the cost of the policy you pay for every month. The insurance agent may have some ideas to what you can do to lower the cost, or even review your policy to see if all aspects of it are really necessary.
#2. Do things to protect the home from natural disasters.
Depending on where you live, you may be prone to natural disasters such as high winds, floods, tornadoes, or even earthquakes. Insurance companies often put out a list of things that homeowners can do to reinforce their homes, which will prevent anything from happening to their homes, and certain things like stronger windows and doors, may also qualify for a discount on the cost of the insurance.
#3. Look into a home security system.
Robberies happen all the time, and when they do, insurance companies have to pay for the loss of the items plus any damage that the robber did trying to get into the home such as breaking down the door, breaking out windows, or a combination of both. A home security system can cost a small amount of money to install, plus a small monitoring fee every month. The fact that you invested in a security system is going to show that you do care about your home, and they may offer you a discount. Also, for protect against fire, installing things like smoke alarms and heat alarms, can get you another discount too.
#4. Check out private insurance.
In certain areas of the country that have been badly hit by a natural disaster, the Federal government may step in and offer insurance. However, the cost of government insurance can be higher than you think, and it may not hurt to look into private insurance from another company. Getting insurance coverage is important, but finding a good deal on it is just as important, and everyone needs to have insurance coverage they can actually afford.
#5. Your neighborhood can make a difference in what your home insurance costs.
If you live in a neighborhood that is close to something like the ocean or a lake, then it may cost you more to live there than you think. The cost of insurance can be higher in neighborhoods that are close to things like the ocean because the chances are higher for them to flood or get hit with a natural disaster like a hurricane. If you do a little research into other neighborhoods, you may be surprised to find that their home insurance is a lot more reasonable.
How to Save Money Buying Shoes
Buying shoes can cost a lot of money, but there are ways that you can get the shoes you need without it having a major negative impact on your bank account. Here are the secrets to saving money whenever you need a new pair of shoes. Scroll down to get started on the tips I have outlined for you.
#1. Wait until the end of the season to buy shoes.
When a season like summer or winter is ending, stores will have the shoes that go with that season on sale for sometimes as much as 50 to 75 percent off.
#2. Take advantage of buy one get one free sales.
Every once in a while, shoe companies will have advertisements in the local papers, or online, where people can get a pair of shoes and another pair for free. These special sales are a great way for people to get not only shoes for themselves, but shoes for members of their family.
#3. Check online for great deals on shoes.
Companies not only have stores, but webpages too, and sometimes if inventory is too high these companies will have special deals on shoes that are so low it’s like they are giving them away. Another great deal about these shoe companies is that they will have a deal with great savings on shoes, but they may also offer free shipping if people take advantage of their sales or do something else like register with their website.
#4. Check out yard sales.
Sometimes people go crazy when it comes to buying shoes, and end up having way too many pairs. A yard sale is a fast and simple way to get rid of those, and sometimes the shoes have barely been worn, which will mean a great bargain for someone in the market for low prices on shoes.
#5. Flea markets can offer big bargains on name brand shoes.
Many cities have flea markets every weekend, and at these markets, sometimes vendors come with a huge supply of shoes. People can get tennis shoes, dress shoes, and every other kind of shoes they want for a low price, and may even be able to buy many pairs of shoes.
#6. Clearance sales offer huge savings.
After big shopping holidays, stores are itching to get rid of items, and will sometimes put a lot of shoes on sale just because the shoes can take up a lot of space in their stockroom. Clearance sales can mean at least 50 percent off of shoes or even more just for the simple fact that stores want to make room in their storage areas.
#7. Thrift stores have donated items in good shape.
Shoes in good shape are often donated to thrift stores where they are cleaned up and resold. People who need shoes, but they have hardly any money at all, can go to these thrift stores and check out their shoe department. Sometimes brand new shoes are donated, and it is always an amazing find for people who are in desperate need of new shoes, but are very low on cash.