Learning How To Invest
So, you have a little extra money and aren’t quite sure what to do with it. Well, you’re not alone as there are literally millions of people out there right now who have the desire to invest money in something (in order to make even more money) but don’t know where to start. Fortunately, we have a few places that we think you should start looking into that may be perfect for investing money. Interested in seeing what they are? Scroll down!
Websites
Nowadays, most people don’t realize that even websites that don’t sell a product or offer a service still make money. That makes websites great for a potential investment. You could either buy well established sites (or sites that have promise) or build your own sites and then sell them. Either way, this is something that you should research if you want a good investment opportunity that isn’t typical or common. A good place to start is Flippa.
Real Estate
This one may be a little more expensive than investing in websites but the potential is pretty much unlimited. You also have the option of buying a home that is in pretty rough shape, fixing it up, and then flipping it for a profit. Although very risky depending on where you live, a lot of people still make their full time income by completing this process over and over. Be sure to check local regulations though as you may need a special license.
Stock
Now we get to the most common way to invest money: stock. This one requires a ton of research and if you’re serious about learning how to invest and making a significant piece of money, you’ll want to monitor the stocks you own like a hawk. Stocks change every single day and one day you could be poor and the next day rich. It’s a very risky game!
Local Business
Finally, the last place we’d like for you to look is right next door. Chances are, someone you know has a cool idea for a business they’d like to open but maybe they don’t have the cash on hand to do it. That’s where you come in! Invest in their business (or buy part of it) and not only will you potentially make money but you’re supporting both small business and the local economy. We’re also pretty sure that your friend will be thanking you forever.
But of course these are just starting points. There are tons of investing opportunities out there ranging from movies to products and everything in between. It’s up to you to pick what you want to invest in. After all, it’s your money so spend it wisely. Never jump into anything too quickly and have a backup plan in case your venture fails. Other than that, we wish you the best of success and hope that your investing adventure is a good and fun one!
Affordable Brands of Guitar
Have you ever wanted to learn how to play guitar but didn’t quite know where to start? Wonder no longer as we’ve put together a list of the best beginner guitars on a budget. What that basically means is that we’ll be giving you our opinion of the best bang for your buck when it comes to buying guitars. We won’t be giving you any off-brand guitars that you’ve never heard of but we will tell you which big companies have affordable lines of guitar. Ready to get started? Go ahead and scroll down so you check out this cool list!
Schecter
The first guitar on our list is one that we have actual experience with. In the world of music, $400 isn’t a lot of money and that’s about what you’d spend on a Schecter guitar that is built well enough to last you a lifetime. The particular model that we’ve had some experience with is the Schecter Damien Flying V with Floyd Rose (you know, the whammy bar). If you want a solid guitar that doesn’t cost a fortune, Schecter may be the way to go.
Fender
Next on our list is the classic guitar that is Fender. They make telecasters, stratocasters, and more. Regardless of what kind of Fender you get, you’ll have a quality guitar to play on. Best of all, you can get a good Fender for as little as $200 in some stores which is a steal if you ask us. However, we’ve noticed that Fender guitars are limited on what styles of music they can handle but that’s nothing a new set of pickups and a pedal can’t change.
Dean
While most people know of Dean guitars because of Dimebag Darrell (yeah, the guy from Pantera), they are pretty popular in the guitar community. They also make some very nice and affordable acoustic guitars that should only run you anywhere from $300 to $400 in most cases. While they aren’t for everyone, we do recommend giving Dean guitars a fair try.
Ovation
Finally, the last guitar to make our list is Ovation. We like the Ovation Celebrity acoustic guitars as, to us, they sound like a Taylor or Martin. In other words, these guitars sound like they cost $2,000+ but they only cost around $500 at the very most. We’ve seen them for as cheap as $300 or so but expect to spend around $400-$450 on these guitars. One last note on Ovation guitars though. They come in some very amazing and eye catching color schemes!
So, that wraps up our list on the best affordable guitar brands for beginners. Even if you aren’t a beginner, this list will serve you well. We definitely don’t think that you’ll run into any problems with any of these brands but we do recommend checking out each brand if you have the time. Then, you can make an educated decision as to which guitar is best for you. Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s get out there and get a new, affordable guitar!
4 Cheap Sports To Try
Trying something new can be a pretty scary thing and sports are definitely no exception. They’re challenging, they’re physically demanding, and you’ll have a lot of pressure on you from the rest of your team. After all, everyone wants to win and no one wants to lose but that isn’t what is important here. What often stops people from trying new sports is the amount of money involved to get going. Well, we have 4 Cheap Sports To Try that we think you are going to like. Not only are they cheap to get started with but they’re fun too! Now, are you ready to get started with the list? Good, because we are ready to start too!
Basketball
The first sport to make our list is basketball. Why? Because literally all you need is a basketball which will cost you $30 at the very most. That’s also being very generous as you can get a cheaper basketball for around $4 or $5 but we went the Spaulding route as it is our favorite brand of basketball next to Nike. Now, do you want to give basketball a try?
Baseball
Baseball is a little more expensive to start than basketball as not only do you need a ball but you also need a bat (and probably some protective gear if you want to play it smart). The only reason that we put basketball over baseball other than random coincidence is because you kind of need two people to practice baseball but you don’t for basketball.
Tennis
Tennis is the third cheap sport on our list and while it can get pretty pricey over time, it’s pretty cheap to start. For under $30, you can get a beginner’s racket and a tube of balls. Don’t have someone to practice with? That’s fine! Find a flat wall such as your garage door or the side of your house to practice on. Just be sure not to break any of your windows.
Boxing
Finally, the last sport that we have for you on this list is boxing. It may be a little tough for you to find a boxing gym in your area depending on where you live but the only money you will really have to spend on boxing is on your gym membership. The gym should have just about everything that you need. The only thing you’ll want to buy is a good pair of shoes, shorts, and a mouthpiece. If you’re a male, you may want to consider buying a cup as well.
Now, what are you going to do? Are you going to keep procrastinating and wishing that you could try a new sport for the first time or will you get out there and do it? It won’t cost you a lot of money, you’ll get some quality exercise, and most of all, you’ll have a blast. As we mentioned above, we know it can be scary to start something new but in the very end, it’ll all be worth it. Now, let’s get up, get active, save some money, and have a blast!
How To Sell Your Website
So, you have a website that is turning a nice profit (or maybe it isn’t) and you’re interested in selling it. Maybe you don’t know where to start? Well, luckily, we have a few solutions for you that will enable you to sell your website, get the most money possible, and make the most out of your investment. We cannot guarantee that you will see your website using one of our sources or that you will ever sell your website at all but these places are a good start. Now, let’s move forward and check out the valuable list below.
Flippa
Obviously, the first place that we are going to point you to is Flippa. They are pretty much the king of selling websites and hundreds of websites (if not thousands) are sold on their site each and every week. We’ve seen sites sell for as little as $50 and we’ve seen them sell for as much as $100,000. It all depends on what you have and how you market it.
Forums
While forums require a little more effort on your behalf, they are a great place to find buyers for your website. With all of the internet marketing and business forums out there such as Warrior Forum, there’s no reason that you can’t run into a potential buyer or two for your website. The key to this though is communication. Don’t be afraid to connect!
Craigslist
While most of you think of Craigslist as a place to look at personals, used cars, and other cool stuff, it’s also a great place to sell your website. A few years ago, people were a lot more skeptical about buying virtual goods on Craigslist but that’s not the case now. Try to connect with people just in your area and be willing to meet in person. If you do this, you should have no trouble getting a few leads for selling your website on Craigslist’s site.
Specialty Companies
Finally, there are specialty companies out there that specialize in buying websites whether it is too run the new site themselves or sell it for even more later on down the road. Either way, these companies are always on the lookout for new sites to buy. Just make sure that you have some decent traffic (a few thousand visitors a day would be nice) and that the site you are trying to sell them is making money. If you do this, they should be interested!
And that’s it! These are pretty much the only places that you’ll have to look in order to sell your website. Unless you know someone personally that is interested in buying your site, we recommend going through these sources in order as you’ll most likely find a buyer on Flippa. If you don’t, move on to the other sources and see what you come up with. Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s get out there, sell that website, and make some money!
Saving Money At The Movies
Who loves going to the movies? We know that we do! Hopefully, you do as well because we put together a little list of some pretty cool ideas as to how you can save money when you go out to watch a movie. We definitely think that all of you are going to benefit from this and we hope to run into you one day while you’re in the middle of practicing some of what we teach. Now, are you ready to learn how to save money at the movies? Good!
Eat Beforehand
One of the most common tips that we give people when it comes to saving money at the movies is to eat before they go to the movie. This will keep you tempted from buying things like popcorn, candy, and drinks. Not that any of those are bad but we all know how much movie theater popcorn costs (and how good it is). Sometimes, we just have to beat temptation though and suck it up. If you want to save money, eat before you get there.
Buy From Fandango
We actually happen to be big fans of Fandango and the fact that you can buy movie theater tickets in advance at practically any theater out there. You can even get them for cheaper when you buy more than one and just for the fact that you bought them in advance. On top of all of this, they run some pretty cool promotions from time to time that’ll save you cash.
Sneak In Snacks
We don’t mean to sound like little kids on this one but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. It won’t hurt anyone to take a handful of nuts or a pack of crackers into the movies. You’ll please your stomach, you’ll save a little money, and you won’t be like some of those people that sneak in cans of soda and you can hear them clearly open it.
Watch What You Love
Finally, the last tip that we have for you is for you to simply focus on watching the type of movies that you enjoy. This is a pretty practical tip but it works when it comes to saving money at the movies and here’s why. If you filter out all the “what if” movies and just stick to your genre of choice, you’ll watch far less movies and in the long run, you’ll save!
So, these are our tips for how to save money at the movies. We hope that you found these tips both practical and helpful. If not, be sure to let us know! However, if you did like this list and any of these tips work for you, feel free to share this page with your friends, family, and anyone else that enjoys going to the movies. We’re sure that they’ll be happy to save a little money while doing something almost everyone loves to do. What is it?
Going to the movies!
Crushing Your Current Electric Bill
We’ve probably done a little bit on this before and guess what. We’ll probably do it again! It’s a pretty important subject and when it comes to getting your electric bill lower than it normally is, the advice is ever-changing. You see, every single day it seems like someone comes up with some type of scheme or “easy” method that will help others reduce their electric bill. We don’t have any of that stuff. We just have what works and below, you will find out what it is. Trust us when we say this. These methods actually do work and well.
Turn It Down
The first tip that we can give you is to turn down your thermostat (or up depending on what time of the year it is). If it’s Winter, we suggest setting your thermostat on about 68 degrees. If it’s summer, we recommend setting it around 74 degrees. Both of these are pretty good temperatures that aren’t toasty or freezing cold but will get the job done.
Shrink Wrap Your Windows
Yes, this really does work. These kits can be found at almost any retail store for about $10 and it will give you enough supplies to do at least 2-3 windows so we recommend buying 2 kits. This will prevent air from entering or escaping around your windows which works very well if you have older windows. You’d be surprised as to how much you can save here!
Lights At Night
A lot of us have a bad habit of leaving a lamp on at night or the porch light to give the weird impression that “we’re home” to any potential intruders. Well, we understand this but if you are willing to budge just a tad bit and turn off those lights, you can save a lot of money. In fact, you can probably save enough money every month to purchase a home security system which will do you a heck of a lot more good than just leaving the light on.
Open A Window
Finally, the last tip we have is this. When it’s Spring or Fall, why even use your Central Air? Why use your fan? Why use whatever it is that you typically use? Simply open up a window and enjoy life. It’ll cut down on your electric bill and you’ll feel great as well. Are you worried about allergies? If so, buy one of those mesh screens and put it in the window. It will not only keep pollen, grass, and more out but it’ll keep your allergies tamed down.
But of course, these are just a few of the tips that we have for you today. You can check out some of our other great lists by searching the site or clicking one of the featured stories on the main page. Yes, there are a LOT of coupons there but that’s where we also update you guys with new, lengthy posts like this one. Now, what are you waiting for?
Let’s get out there and cut down on those electric bills so we can save money!
Tips For Your First Credit Card
Getting your very first credit card is something that you’ve probably been quite anxious for. The day that most of us turn 18, we have two things on our mind. We’re now legally adults and we can now get a credit card. Well, unfortunately, most of us have a tough time with our credit card whether it’s avoiding the temptation to max it out the day that we get it or with getting a credit card in general. We’re going to assume that you’ve just gotten your very first credit card and we have some helpful tips for how to control it!
Controlled Spending
The first piece of advice that we want to give to new card holders is to control your spending. What we mean by this is that you should keep a very close eye on what you are using to buy your card and what the total of those purchases is. For example, for most new card holders, we recommend using your new credit card for gas and emergencies only. You have to put gas in your car anyways so use the credit card and pay it off every month.
Switch Cards Regularly
Every few months (or 6 months at the most), try switching credit cards. Keep one card active, use it for a few purchases, pay off the balance monthly, and then get a new card. Doing this will ensure that you’re never stuck with the same company for too long and you’ll get some pretty sweet offers from other companies. It also looks good on your credit card application because you’ve had various accounts, all of which are in good standing.
Don’t Increase Your Limit
We know that companies like Capital One typically start you out with a $300 spending limit. We don’t recommend ever getting a credit card with more than that on it. Later on down the road, once you’re more experienced with credit cards, you can get a card with more of a limit but for now, $300 is perfectly fine. It’ll pay for a tow, groceries for the month, a full tank of gas, or whatever else you would ever possibly need the card for in the future.
Communicate Regularly
Finally, the last tip that we have for you is to contact your credit card company regularly just to check on your account. You’ll probably have access to an online account but we’d like to think that it’s better to speak with someone in person. This will ensure that your account is in good standing, has no outstanding balances, and nothing has changed on it.
So, there you have it. This concludes our list of Tips For Your First Credit Card and we hope that you walk away (or click away in this case) with some valuable information that will help you time and time again. Be sure to check back often as we’re always putting up money saving tips, ideas, and practices that appeal to a very wide audience. As always, get out there and live life, have some fun, and save money. After all, that’s what it’s all about!
4 Dinners Under $4
Cooking dinner is something that all of us stay at home moms have to do on a pretty regular basis but sometimes, we sit back and wonder if there is a cheaper way. Well, we have some pretty good news. There is a cheaper way! You see, we’ve put together a small list of 4 Dinners Under $4. What this basically means is that we’ve brainstormed hard and long for dinners that will costs you just a little more than a gallon of gas for your car. Are you ready to find out what these dinners are on our list? If so, scroll down and enjoy!
Ramen Noodles
What list would be complete without mentioning Ramen Noodles? They are literally under .25 cents a pack and for most people, one pack will do the trick. You have a large variety of flavors to choose from so don’t be afraid to serve up a bowl of Ramen Noodles for dinner. They are tasty, affordable, and easy to prepare. They are packed with salt though!
Spaghetti
A box of spaghetti will only cost you about $1 and a can of sauce is another $2 or $3. If you must have meat in your spaghetti then consider buying meat based spaghetti sauce. We’ll assume that you already have condiments in your home in which case you can add a little bit of hot sauce and cheese to your finished bowl of spaghetti. Pretty complete meal, huh?
Hamburgers
Next on our list is hamburgers. Most people don’t think of hamburgers as being a cheap dinner unless they are getting a burger off of the dollar menu at McDonald’s but that’s not the case. You can buy a pound of ground beef for around $3 and some off brand buns for another $1 or so. This should give you enough supplies to make 2 or 3 burgers. So, with that being said, if you have a small family and need dinner, try some hamburgers!
Macaroni and Tomatoes
Finally, the last dinner to make our list is the delicious Southern dish of Macaroni and Tomatoes. You’ll hear a lot of different names for this dish which is fine. We just call it what it is. Try buying canned tomatoes to save even more money as the macaroni should be no problem. It’s no more expensive than spaghetti and makes for a great dinner. Kids don’t like tomatoes? Try substituting ground beef for the tomatoes and you have a meal!
So, there you have it! This completes our list of 4 Dinners Under $4. We hope that we sparked some creativity when it comes to your menu planning and that you’ll take advantage of these delicious dinner ideas. Sure, some of them are a bit obvious but that’s what it takes sometimes to come up with a real gem. Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s get out there, save some money, enjoy a good meal, and come to PYP when we need to!
Where To Buy Affordable E-Juice
If you’re reading this right now then one of two things attracted you to this page. You’re either curious about electronic cigarettes or you already use them and want to save a little extra money on e-juice (also known as e-liquid). Luckily, we have quite a bit of experience with this and have been around electronic cigarettes since they first took off. How does that benefit you? Well, we’re about to tell you where you can find the best e-juice at the best possible price. Ready to find out where you need to look? If so, scroll down now!
Mt. Baker
Mt. Baker’s vapor is some of the best e-juice on the planet and while it isn’t the cheapest brand on our list, Mt. Baker has some of the best tasting e-juice out there. It won’t cost you an arm and a leg and if you order over $15 worth of e-juice, you can get a free bottle to use as a sample in a flavor of your choosing. That’s a pretty good value if you ask us.
Alien Vapor
Another top notch e-liquid provider is Alien Vapor. They have some pretty off the wall flavors including candies, drinks, and exotic herbs. Regardless of what flavor you are in search of, you’re bound to find it over at Alien Vapor. There e-liquids tend to run a little cheaper than Mt. Baker but we can’t honestly say that the quality is equally as good.
Mad Vapes
Next on the list is Mad Vapes. While they don’t just sell e-liquid, they do have some very good prices and we make sure that we stop by here once in a while to keep track of their current promotions. They do run sales and promotional ads once in a blue moon which means that you can save even more money than you normally would with Mad Vapes. In other words, we definitely think they are worth your time so go check out their stuff!
Zeus E Juice
Finally, we make it to the dark horse on our list. Not many people in the vaping community know about this company but they have some pretty good products at fair prices. What we like even more is the fact that they advertise how many flavors they carry which is at around 230 flavors at the time of this post. That’s a lot of e-juice! Their actual site is a little out of date when it comes to appearance but we promise that they are the real deal!
Now, what are you waiting for? You now know a few good places to get e-liquid at a good price so why not take advantage of it? If you’re just smoking electronic cigarettes now then you are already saving money but you could always save more. All that you have to do is take advantage of these great prices on e-liquid and vape like you have never vaped in your life. Be sure to share this list with your friends too so they can save on e-liquid!
100% Free Places To Enjoy Music
Like most human beings on the planet Earth, we enjoy music just as much as you do. It can either be relaxing, pump you up, or give you the urge to go run some laps. Regardless of what music does for you, we think that everyone should have access to whatever type of music it is that they listen to. That’s why we put together this list that will give you some pretty awesome sources of free music. Yes, you read that right. 100% free music! Now, let’s scroll down, take a look at what made the listen, and enjoy some free music together!
Playlist.com
Playlist.com used to be a lot different than it is now. In recent times, it has became a lot like Pandora radio but we like the feel of it a lot better. If you plan on listening to music on your phone then Pandora might be the best choice but if you’re at home, we hope that you will consider using Playlist.com instead. Now, are you ready to move down the list?
YouTube
Despite what anyone says, we still think that YouTube is a great resource when it comes to listening to free music. You can watch music videos, read lyrics, listen to cover songs, and of course, listen to the real deal. The only thing is, there isn’t a system yet where you can really build your own playlists and roll through your songs in an easy, effortless manner.
The Radio, Duh!
Okay, so we aren’t undermining your intelligence with this one but a lot of people seem to forget about the radio in this day and age of the Internet. Forget about burning discs or streaming music on a site for a while. Hop in your car (or use your home radio) and listen to some good tunes. The radio still might be the very best source of free music out there!
iHeart Radio
This app is available on many devices including video game consoles and it’s 100% free. We have to admit something though. We absolutely love this one and it could be due to the app name but who cares. It’s a good app that still has some kinks to work out but we think that it will be a major player somewhere down the road. Definitely check out this app!
Now, you know a few good free music sources so what are you waiting for? We invite you to get out there and try every one of these sources. See which one you like the most and share it with your friends. Not sure which one they will like? Then share this list instead! Almost everyone on the planet appreciates good music (especially if it’s free) so we’re very confident in saying that they will thank you for sharing this awesome resource with them. Don’t worry though! We’ll be back in the future with even more free music sources!
What Makes A Good Deal? Find out!
If you’re reading this right now then you probably love to save money and guess what. So do we! Saving money is what we’re all about here at Pinching Your Pennies so we thought that it was about time we throw something else together for our readers that just revolves around saving money and saving money only. Below, you will find some practical advice on how to spot a deal when you see one and what makes something a deal. All too often, we’re tempted to buy something just because it’s a deal. Let’s find out if that’s good.
Do You Need It?
The first thing that you have to ask yourself when it comes to figuring out whether or not something is a good deal is if you even need the product in question. It may be a good deal but if you’re not going to use it or it will never benefit you in any way, it’s probably not a good deal for you personally. It may be for someone else but remember, it’s not for you.
Is It A Gift?
Another possible scenario is the purpose of buying the product in question. If it’s a gift and it’ll be cheaper to buy it after the birthday, holiday, anniversary, or whatever the gift is, it’s probably not very beneficial to give the gift late. In that case, it isn’t a very good deal in the sense that you would have it too late. If this is the case, pay extra and miss out.
What’s The Shipping Time?
We’ll assume that you are buying this item online and it looks like a good deal. Let’s say that by buying it online from a specific site, you will save $10. What if it takes 5 days to get there and the shipping is $5? That means you’re only saving about $5 and you have to wait for 5 days to get the product. Is it still a good deal? How fast do you need it? This is just something else that you should ask yourself before you commit. When will you get it?
Will It Get Even Cheaper?
Finally, we have one more piece of advice for you on what makes a deal a good one. Is it a product that will potentially go on sale again? Is it something that they no longer make? Is the retailer in question going out of business? If something will be even cheaper in a few days, why not wait and buy it then? This is something else to take into consideration.
But at the end of the day, you have to trust your gut. Whether or not something is a good deal is just an opinion and we’ll leave it up to you to decide. We merely wanted to give you a few general questions that you should play around with before you make the final choice of buying the product and then being stuck with it. Now, let’s go save money!
Getting Deals On Fresh Fruit
Are you absolutely in love with fresh fruit? Well, so are we! We love it so much that we went out of our way to put together a little “tip list” full of ways that you can save money on fresh fruit. Yes, we know. It sounds like a pretty awesome concept, huh? Anyways, getting back on topic, we hope that you’re ready to cut down on your fresh fruit bill which will thus enable you to enjoy more of the fresh, ripe, juicy fruit that you love to devour!
Buy Locally
The first way that you can save money on fruit is to buy it locally. Buying fruit locally will ensure that you get the freshest fruit possible for the best price. You’ll also be supporting local farmers or small businesses which is great for your area’s economy. Trust on when we say this. The best way to buy fruit is to find a small fruit stand or shop and buy it locally.
Buy It Regularly
Our second tip is to buy your fresh fruit on a regular basis. In other words, buy it as you need it. What we typically like to do is this. Let’s say that we want some bananas and we usually eat a banana a day. We’ll buy 2-3 bananas max and eat our one banana per day. Once we run out, we go back to the store and get more. Yeah, buy your fruit like that.
Prepare It Yourself
Buying fruit already cut and prepared is pretty convenient but we’re not a fan of it. It will cost you more for that box of sliced fruit than buying the actual fruit and preparing it on your own would be. You get three times as much fruit for half the price. Watermelons and pineapples are both good examples of fruit like this. So, prepare your own fruit and save.
Buy It Canned
Every once in a while, you’ll want to buy canned fruit. Avoid canned fruits that are heavy in syrup or added sugar though. It’s absolutely horrible for you! If you just want your fruit fix though and are on a tighter budget than normal, try buying some canned fruit. If you want to reverse all the added sugar’s effects, eat the canned fruit as soon as you wake. This will ensure that your body’s blood sugar count is low and you’re simply refilling it.
And if you follow all of this advice, we promise that you will save a ton of money on fresh fruits as well as your grocery bill in general. It’s not rocket science and it’s not tough. You just have to make all of this a habit and the savings will come on their own later on. Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s get out there, enjoy some fresh fruit, and save a little bit of money while we’re doing it. As we often say, that’s what life is all about. Fun savings!
Cheap Types Of Exercise Equipment
Getting in shape is one of the most daunting tasks on the planet. Not only do you have to cut out your junk food but you also have to make time to go to the gym. Or do you? We do not think that you do but this is just an opinion. However, we will give you one good reason that you don’t have to make time to go to the gym. Because you don’t need it! You can get in just as good shape at home as you could in the gym with some affordable equipment that won’t cost you an arm or a leg. Scroll down and see what we recommend.
Shoes
The first thing that we recommend to anyone that wants alternatives to going to the gym is a good pair of shoes. We don’t have any recommendations other than going out to a shoe store or two and seeing what feels comfortable. Now, you can walk at home or around your neighborhood which means you don’t need to go to the gym and get on a treadmill all day.
Jump Rope
A good jump rope is one of the best cardiovascular exercises on the planet and it also works on your hand-eye coordination. Best of all, you can buy a jump rope for around $5 which is about 1/5 of what a gym membership would cost you for one month at the very cheapest. Where can you buy a jump rope at? At pretty much any retail store out there.
Dumbbells
While these can get pretty expensive ($1 a pound in most cases), they are definitely good to have. You can do curls, presses, lunges, squats, tricep extensions, and numerous other exercises. We recommend getting a pair that you can handle and get a good workout with for a long time. For most females, that number is anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds. For males, that number is usually anywhere from 15 to 35 pounds. And it’s one heck of a workout!
Bicycle
Finally, we recommend getting a bicycle just to mix things up a little bit. What if you’re too sore to walk or jump rope one day? Hop on your bike and go for a ride. You won’t even think of it as exercise and you could literally probably cycle all day long unless you had a lot of hills to deal with. Either way, getting a bike is detrimental to working out at home.
So, we think that you’re ready to skip the gym and start working out at home. It will take a little mental motivation and you will have to make yourself do it for a while (until it turns into a habit) but it will definitely pay off. You don’t have to get in the gym to get a great body but it does make things easier. If you can afford a membership, get one. If you can’t afford a gym membership, gather the items on this list and workout from your own home.
How To Better Manage Your Money
Learning how to manage money can be a pretty challenging task but it doesn’t have to be. You see, we know what it’s like to have to juggle multiple things every single day. The kids have to go to school, clothes need to be washed, you have a business to run on the side, and during all of this, you’re trying to better manage your money. Well, we have a few tips for you that will help you get on the right track and in the long run, save money.
Get A Savings Account
Most people in the world have a checking account but it’s a shame how many people don’t have a savings account. At most banks, getting a savings account on top of your checking account isn’t any more expensive and most banks offer some very cool features. With your online log-in information, you should be able to access money saving tools on your bank’s website which will come in very handy. We definitely recommend using those regularly!
Get Your Significant Other Involved
If you have a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife then we suggest letting them know that you’re making a conscious decision to save money. Chances are, they will follow suit which is extremely beneficial to you. It’s always easier to save money or meet a goal if you have another person doing it with you. If you can find someone to do it with you, do it!
Save For A Reason
Now, we’re going to ask you to sit down and ask yourself what exactly you are saving for. Are you saving up for a new car? A big vacation? A new camera? Or maybe you are just saving for the sake of saving. A certain peace of mind comes with knowing that you have enough money in your savings account to live off of for a few years if something ever were to go wrong with your primary source of income. So, in other words, we suggest doing it.
Repeat The Process
Finally, our last tip is this. If you ever fall off of the wagon and have trouble saving money the first time, repeat the process. No, you don’t have to go out and open a new savings account but we do suggest maybe sitting down and talking to someone at your bank. See if they can offer any sound advice on how to save money and then go through the rest of the tips that you see above. Trust us on this one. Doing this is going to be extremely beneficial.
But at the end of the day, saving money comes mostly from willpower which we can’t teach. We know that you can do it though and hope by this time next year, you’ll have a big chunk of change put back in your savings account for whatever reason. Good luck and we look forward to seeing what kind of results you have by following these easy tips.
Easy Ways To Save Money On Business Taxes
Starting your own business is one thing and while we admit that it’s tough, we think that there is something that people struggle with even more. What is it you ask? Well, it’s the taxes that come with owning any business. Working for an employer, the tax process is pretty much automated for you but when you own your own small business, that’s when you have to start figuring stuff out. Luckily, we put together a small list of a few things that you can do to save money on your business’s taxes. Ready to find out what they are? Good!
Make Claims
The first thing that you can do to save money on taxes for your business is to make claims at tax time. In other words, you need to keep receipts for all your major purchases for the year (as well as expenses) and see what you can claim as a tax deduction. An example of that would be if you had a home office and bought a new computer for $700, you could claim that as a business expense on your taxes. Trust us on this one. This is very handy!
Hire More People
Generally speaking, if you have an employee or two, it will benefit you greatly on your taxes because the government likes small businesses that create jobs. This may not end up being a huge tax break for you but it is still beneficial in its own way. If you don’t want to pay in to social security or aren’t able to offer benefits yet, hire them as an independent contractor and all you will have to do is report their earnings. They hold their own taxes.
Evolve Your Business
Over time, many businesses fail because they refuse to evolve. A food establishment that we know of was open for nearly 25 years before it went in the hole for about $700,000 due to the fact that it didn’t evolve. It served food geared towards an older generation for that area and once those people passed away and a new generation came in, this fried chicken joint went under. Don’t be scared of change and be willing to adapt or change.
Now, these are just a few tips as to how you can save money on your taxes. Saving money on taxes as an individual is pretty much the same thing but you have far more options as to what you can do. Before you start trying to claim things on your taxes though, be sure to do a little research for tax information on your state and business. A good place to start would be to get in touch with your local City Hall and have them point you in the right direction. From there, we hope it’ll be smooth sailing and you cut down on your business taxes! It’s going to save you a lot of hard earned money and get your small business ready to succeed.