Monday, April 4, 2011
How to Save Money
Over the next several weeks, I am going to be featuring articles that describe many ways that the average person can save money. A lot of these articles will contain basic information that may be readily available and common sense for many people, while others may describe unique ideas that many people would never think about. I would encourage my readers to give feedback on these things and also share some of the ways you are saving money. I look forward to hearing from each of you in the coming weeks!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Earn Extra Money: Direct Sales and Network Marketing
With the holidays fast approaching, there are many individuals looking for more ways to earn extra money for shopping, to pay off bills, build up a savings account, and many other reasons. In the area where I live, there is a trend that is catching on fairly quickly and is making some individuals that I know a big chunk of change each month. Notice that I didn't say that they are getting filthy rich overnight, or any time for that matter. They are making a good supplemental income and some have even quit their full time jobs to increase their earning potential. The way they have been making money has been through Direct Sales and Network Marketing.
These two fields seem to be thriving during tough economic times because it is a fairly simple way to make some extra money; it really all boils down to relationships. There are products and supplies that people have the ability to sell that many of their friends and family want and/or need to buy. These companies allow you to sell in many different ways, ranging from having a party hosted by a friend of yours at their home to someone taking a catalog and getting orders from their friends. Not only are there benefits for you as the salesperson, but the host or hostess gets free and discounted merchandise and you can have a fun time with your friends.
Thirty-One
Thirty-One could be considered to be still in its infancy as it has been around for only the past few years. However, in that time, it has grown at a pace unexpected by even the company itself. Thirty-One is via recruiting other salespersons to sign up under you. Once you have at least two people recruited who have become qualified consultants, you begin receiving 2% of all their sales each month. As your sales and your team grows, you will be promoted. The steps are Consultant, Senior Consultant, Director, Senior Director, Executive Director, and Senior Executive Director. With each step up, you receive a bonus commission (up to 9%) for each personal sell in addition to your base commission of 25%. The company has been fairly localized to the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions of the United States but is quickly catching on in other areas and is a great business for a stay at home mom or anyone wanting to make extra money.
Scentsy
This is another fairly new company that is quickly catching on around here. Its business model is very similar, if not almost identical to that of Thirty-One and other Network Marketing companies. The difference lies in the products. Scentsy specializes in fragrances for the home and car. The main product sold by Scentsy is the warmer, which is a type of pottery (similar to a decorative candle) that plugs into the wall and has a light on the inside. On the top of the warmer is a flat surface that makes a small bowl shape. You can purchase different scented cubes (similar to small square candles) that go into that bowl. When the warmer is plugged in, it melts the scented cubes and gives off the fragrance. The warmers come in many creative designs from basic decorative designs to the sports collection which feature some of your favorite college and professional team logos. As a salesperson for Scentsy, the commission structure is very similar to that of Thirty-One, with commissions starting out at 20% and going up to 25% as soon as you have $500 in personal sales. This percentage also grows as your sales volume and team grows. You make a percentage of the sales of your recruits and then the people that they recruit to sell Scentsy as a bonus. The products are great for anyone who loves decorating the home with great scents, especially during the holidays.
MPB Today
MPB Today is quite different from Scentsy and Thirty-One as it is solely a network marketing company with no direct sales. The question that the company poses to individuals is this: "Would you pay $200 if it meant that you would never have to buy groceries again?" The company does marketing for Southeastern Delivery, which is a food distribution company based out of Florida that handles shipping thousands of different name brand foods and dry grocery goods to individuals who order online. In order to sign up as an affiliate withMPB Today, you pay $210 up front. The $10 gives you access to your official MPB Today website and back office for a year. The $200 allows you to purchase that amount of groceries from Southeastern Delivery, or you can defer until later and receive the groceries or a $200 gift card to Wal-Mart which can be used for anything, which you can get when you "cycle". A person cycles when they have 6 people signed up under them. This can be a combination of signing all 6 people up personally, signing up 2 people and then they sign up 2 people each, or any other combination. When you "cycle", you receive a $300 check and either the $200 in groceries or $200 gift card. Then you go right back into the matrix of the person you signed up under and the cycle starts again. You can "cycle" as many times as possible, monthly, weekly, daily, or even hourly. Although I have heard many people talk about how much of a scam they thought the company was, I have seen how successful a lot of people in my family and friends have been to know that it is no joke at all. You're not going to get rich, but I have seen a few people make just over $1000 for the past couple of months.
Direct Sales and Network Marketing can be some of the easiest business adventures to get started and can give you a great supplemental income and with plenty of hard work, you may be able to make it your sole source of income. The basic thing about it is this, you get out of it what you put into it. If you sit back and expect the work to just happen, you will not make anything. But if you put work into, you will see results.
These two fields seem to be thriving during tough economic times because it is a fairly simple way to make some extra money; it really all boils down to relationships. There are products and supplies that people have the ability to sell that many of their friends and family want and/or need to buy. These companies allow you to sell in many different ways, ranging from having a party hosted by a friend of yours at their home to someone taking a catalog and getting orders from their friends. Not only are there benefits for you as the salesperson, but the host or hostess gets free and discounted merchandise and you can have a fun time with your friends.
Thirty-One
Thirty-One could be considered to be still in its infancy as it has been around for only the past few years. However, in that time, it has grown at a pace unexpected by even the company itself. Thirty-One is via recruiting other salespersons to sign up under you. Once you have at least two people recruited who have become qualified consultants, you begin receiving 2% of all their sales each month. As your sales and your team grows, you will be promoted. The steps are Consultant, Senior Consultant, Director, Senior Director, Executive Director, and Senior Executive Director. With each step up, you receive a bonus commission (up to 9%) for each personal sell in addition to your base commission of 25%. The company has been fairly localized to the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions of the United States but is quickly catching on in other areas and is a great business for a stay at home mom or anyone wanting to make extra money.
Scentsy
This is another fairly new company that is quickly catching on around here. Its business model is very similar, if not almost identical to that of Thirty-One and other Network Marketing companies. The difference lies in the products. Scentsy specializes in fragrances for the home and car. The main product sold by Scentsy is the warmer, which is a type of pottery (similar to a decorative candle) that plugs into the wall and has a light on the inside. On the top of the warmer is a flat surface that makes a small bowl shape. You can purchase different scented cubes (similar to small square candles) that go into that bowl. When the warmer is plugged in, it melts the scented cubes and gives off the fragrance. The warmers come in many creative designs from basic decorative designs to the sports collection which feature some of your favorite college and professional team logos. As a salesperson for Scentsy, the commission structure is very similar to that of Thirty-One, with commissions starting out at 20% and going up to 25% as soon as you have $500 in personal sales. This percentage also grows as your sales volume and team grows. You make a percentage of the sales of your recruits and then the people that they recruit to sell Scentsy as a bonus. The products are great for anyone who loves decorating the home with great scents, especially during the holidays.
MPB Today
MPB Today is quite different from Scentsy and Thirty-One as it is solely a network marketing company with no direct sales. The question that the company poses to individuals is this: "Would you pay $200 if it meant that you would never have to buy groceries again?" The company does marketing for Southeastern Delivery, which is a food distribution company based out of Florida that handles shipping thousands of different name brand foods and dry grocery goods to individuals who order online. In order to sign up as an affiliate withMPB Today, you pay $210 up front. The $10 gives you access to your official MPB Today website and back office for a year. The $200 allows you to purchase that amount of groceries from Southeastern Delivery, or you can defer until later and receive the groceries or a $200 gift card to Wal-Mart which can be used for anything, which you can get when you "cycle". A person cycles when they have 6 people signed up under them. This can be a combination of signing all 6 people up personally, signing up 2 people and then they sign up 2 people each, or any other combination. When you "cycle", you receive a $300 check and either the $200 in groceries or $200 gift card. Then you go right back into the matrix of the person you signed up under and the cycle starts again. You can "cycle" as many times as possible, monthly, weekly, daily, or even hourly. Although I have heard many people talk about how much of a scam they thought the company was, I have seen how successful a lot of people in my family and friends have been to know that it is no joke at all. You're not going to get rich, but I have seen a few people make just over $1000 for the past couple of months.
Direct Sales and Network Marketing can be some of the easiest business adventures to get started and can give you a great supplemental income and with plenty of hard work, you may be able to make it your sole source of income. The basic thing about it is this, you get out of it what you put into it. If you sit back and expect the work to just happen, you will not make anything. But if you put work into, you will see results.
Earn Extra Money: Completing Offers and Surveys
The rise of the internet and e-business has allowed people to earn unprecedented amounts of money without ever having to leave the comfort of their own homes. A type of website that has really caught on in the last few years are those that allow you to earn money by completing offers and/or surveys. There are a multitude of websites available that allow you to earn money in this way, but there are a few that I have found extremely user-friendly with quick payments and many opportunities.
InboxDollars
The first such website that I have found quite easy to use is InboxDollars. When you sign up for an account here, you automatically get $5 added to your account. There are several ways to earn money through InboxDollars. You can earn money via reading e-mails that are sent out daily (usually $0.01/e-mail until you become a Golden member, then $0.02/e-mail), completing cash offers (many do not require credit card), redeeming coupons for groceries and other necessities, completing surveys, and even playing games. You are also able to earn money through the people that you refer to InboxDollars. I have reached pay out of $30 with InboxDollars, which automatically upgrades your membership to Golden which offers benefits like weekly payouts available and a share of the individuals who sign up for InboxDollars without being referred. The only thing that I don't like about InboxDollars is that they do not offer payout via paper check instead of PayPal. My favorite way to earn money here is by playing games.
CashCrate
CashCrate is similar to InboxDollars in that it offers you opportunities to earn money by completing offers, surveys, and playing games. The great thing about CashCrate that sets it apart from InboxDollars and other sites is the amount that you earn based on your referrals. With InboxDollars, you only earn 10% of the earnings from your referrals. As a basic member of CashCrate, you earn 20% of what your referrals earn and then another 10% of what their referrals earn. Once you have at least 50 referrals to CashCrate, you become a Silver level member and you will earn 25% of your referrals' earnings and 10% of their referrals' earnings. You can make a decent amount of money on your own through CashCrate, but in order to increase your earnings, you will need referrals. You can gain more referrals by posting links on your website, social networking site, forums, blogs, etc.
SwagBucks
I have been a part of InboxDollars and CashCrate for awhile, but I am still fairly new to the world of the world of SwagBucks. There are some similarities between SwagBucks and other sites, but there are some things that make it stand apart quite a bit. One of my favorite ways to earn from SwagBucks is through using their search engine. Also, you can complete offers, participate in daily polls, surveys, shopping at many online retailers, etc. When you complete these offers or other opportunities, you receive SwagBucks. You can then go to the SwagStore and redeem these SwagBucks for various things such as electronics, books, movies, gift cards, or cash via PayPal. I have gotten enough SwagBucks to earn $10 (1400 SwagBucks) through PayPal and I have done nothing more than use the search engine and participated in the daily polls. In addition to redeeming SwagBucks for merchandise, you can also use them to participate in auctions for merchandise, gifts cards, more SwagBucks, and cash. You can increase your earnings by using SwagBucks as your main shopping portal. I like that there is the opportunity to earn in different types of payment (i.e. merchandise, gift cards, or cash); this is one of my favorite reasons for using SwagBucks.
These are just a few of the sites out there that offer you the opportunity to earn cash and prizes for completing offers and surveys, as well as shopping. You are not going to get rich off of these websites, but you can easily earn a little extra money off of them and, with enough referrals, you could do pretty well for yourself. These opportunities are just like anything else that you do to earn money: you get out of it what you put into it.
InboxDollars
The first such website that I have found quite easy to use is InboxDollars. When you sign up for an account here, you automatically get $5 added to your account. There are several ways to earn money through InboxDollars. You can earn money via reading e-mails that are sent out daily (usually $0.01/e-mail until you become a Golden member, then $0.02/e-mail), completing cash offers (many do not require credit card), redeeming coupons for groceries and other necessities, completing surveys, and even playing games. You are also able to earn money through the people that you refer to InboxDollars. I have reached pay out of $30 with InboxDollars, which automatically upgrades your membership to Golden which offers benefits like weekly payouts available and a share of the individuals who sign up for InboxDollars without being referred. The only thing that I don't like about InboxDollars is that they do not offer payout via paper check instead of PayPal. My favorite way to earn money here is by playing games.
CashCrate
CashCrate is similar to InboxDollars in that it offers you opportunities to earn money by completing offers, surveys, and playing games. The great thing about CashCrate that sets it apart from InboxDollars and other sites is the amount that you earn based on your referrals. With InboxDollars, you only earn 10% of the earnings from your referrals. As a basic member of CashCrate, you earn 20% of what your referrals earn and then another 10% of what their referrals earn. Once you have at least 50 referrals to CashCrate, you become a Silver level member and you will earn 25% of your referrals' earnings and 10% of their referrals' earnings. You can make a decent amount of money on your own through CashCrate, but in order to increase your earnings, you will need referrals. You can gain more referrals by posting links on your website, social networking site, forums, blogs, etc.
SwagBucks
I have been a part of InboxDollars and CashCrate for awhile, but I am still fairly new to the world of the world of SwagBucks. There are some similarities between SwagBucks and other sites, but there are some things that make it stand apart quite a bit. One of my favorite ways to earn from SwagBucks is through using their search engine. Also, you can complete offers, participate in daily polls, surveys, shopping at many online retailers, etc. When you complete these offers or other opportunities, you receive SwagBucks. You can then go to the SwagStore and redeem these SwagBucks for various things such as electronics, books, movies, gift cards, or cash via PayPal. I have gotten enough SwagBucks to earn $10 (1400 SwagBucks) through PayPal and I have done nothing more than use the search engine and participated in the daily polls. In addition to redeeming SwagBucks for merchandise, you can also use them to participate in auctions for merchandise, gifts cards, more SwagBucks, and cash. You can increase your earnings by using SwagBucks as your main shopping portal. I like that there is the opportunity to earn in different types of payment (i.e. merchandise, gift cards, or cash); this is one of my favorite reasons for using SwagBucks.
These are just a few of the sites out there that offer you the opportunity to earn cash and prizes for completing offers and surveys, as well as shopping. You are not going to get rich off of these websites, but you can easily earn a little extra money off of them and, with enough referrals, you could do pretty well for yourself. These opportunities are just like anything else that you do to earn money: you get out of it what you put into it.
How to Build An Emergency Savings Fund
In tough economic times, it is essential to have at least a small amount of money stashed away to use in case of missing work due to sickness, being laid off, or any unexpected expense that may arise. Sadly, many people do not have any type of savings to fall back on in the case of emergency. According to OwnTheDollar, an online personal finance blog, at least 50% of Americans have less than one month's expenses in a savings account in case of an emergency. The opinions concerning the exact amount of emergency fund that a person needs vary from one expert to another. In his book, The Total Money Makeover, Dave Ramsey lays out some of the baby steps for becoming debt free. His first baby step is to stash away $1000 for an emergency fund. Only after achieving that step does he recommend beginning to pay off the debts with the snowball method. Ideally, he, along with others, say that the average person needs between three and six months savings built up as an emergency fund. The ideal amount for each person will vary depending on your marital status, money needed to live on monthly, etc. But I want to focus more on ways to build up a savings account.
1. Save Coins
Growing up, I remember having a small metal bank that my parents had given me. I would get any spare change that I could find and put it in that bank. It was a good feeling to get the bank filled up and then sit down and roll the coins and take them to the bank. Although coins alone will not build up a huge savings account, it will definitely add up quicker than you think. Start by looking around your house for coins. Check under the couch cushions, on the floor, everywhere! When you're out running errands, take a second to look down in the parking lot. There is always spare change there that has been dropped. The thing that I like to do the most is to use cash for my everyday expenses instead of a debit or credit card. At the end of the day, I will put all of the change accumulated throughout the day into a jar that I have at home. You would be surprised how much you can accumulate in a month's time. There are some months that I end up with around $30-40 in spare change alone.
2. Collect Aluminum Cans or Scrap Metal
Collecting aluminum cans and other recyclables is becoming quite popular again. People who wouldn't normally bother with the small amount of money that you receive for recycling these things are gladly holding onto them for awhile and then taking them to a recycling facility to cash in. For the average person, the amount of money will not be extravagant in the least bit, but it will set you on course to build up that savings quicker than you are by doing nothing. Ask friends and family members to save their cans or plastic bottles for you. Go for a walk and take a small bag with you and pick cans or bottles up along the way. If you have access to people in authority at schools, ask them if you can come in after a sporting event to pick up the cans and bottles. There are two places in my small town where you can turn in aluminum cans and get up $0.65/pound. By recycling cans and bottles, you can come away with a good chunk of change and you're cleaning the areas up too.
3. Freelance/Temporary Work
There is a growing demand for part-time workers and freelancers in many different fields. These types of opportunities are great for individuals who may already have a successful career, but just need to earn some extra money. It is also a great way to build an emergency fund quickly. In order to find freelance work, put up a flier at your local grocery store advertising for some services that you could offer along with your contact information. Post an ad on Craigslist. While you're on there, check out some of the listings that have already been posted. There are many short-term opportunities for many fields added to the website on a daily basis. There are several websites that specialize in acting as a forum to connect freelancers with people/companies needing work done. These can be either short-term or long-term and cover just about any field you can think of.
4. Set Aside Money Each Week
This is essential. It is not likely that any of these things will build a massive emergency savings fund quickly. You must be determined to set aside an amount of money each week in order to build your emergency fund. It doesn't have to be $50 or $100; it can be as little as $5 on a weekly basis. Whatever works for you is fine; the most important thing is that you are setting aside something each week. Once you get in the habit of setting aside some money each week, it gets easier and you can try to set aside a little more each week until you build a very healthy savings account.
Finally, when you reach the amount of money in your emergency savings fund that you feel comfortable with, set it aside in an interest bearing account that is easily accessible, but don't touch it! Let it sit in that account and earn interest forever, until you have an emergency that requires you to withdraw some of it. And, by emergency, I do not mean that there is a new video game, new computer, clothing, or newer car that has come out that you feel you must have. An emergency is something that affects your livelihood. You are laid off work, you lose a loved one, you or someone else in your family gets sick, etc. There is a sense of security in having at least something set aside in order to get you through a tough time in your life and you will be thankful that it is there when you need it!
1. Save Coins
Growing up, I remember having a small metal bank that my parents had given me. I would get any spare change that I could find and put it in that bank. It was a good feeling to get the bank filled up and then sit down and roll the coins and take them to the bank. Although coins alone will not build up a huge savings account, it will definitely add up quicker than you think. Start by looking around your house for coins. Check under the couch cushions, on the floor, everywhere! When you're out running errands, take a second to look down in the parking lot. There is always spare change there that has been dropped. The thing that I like to do the most is to use cash for my everyday expenses instead of a debit or credit card. At the end of the day, I will put all of the change accumulated throughout the day into a jar that I have at home. You would be surprised how much you can accumulate in a month's time. There are some months that I end up with around $30-40 in spare change alone.
2. Collect Aluminum Cans or Scrap Metal
Collecting aluminum cans and other recyclables is becoming quite popular again. People who wouldn't normally bother with the small amount of money that you receive for recycling these things are gladly holding onto them for awhile and then taking them to a recycling facility to cash in. For the average person, the amount of money will not be extravagant in the least bit, but it will set you on course to build up that savings quicker than you are by doing nothing. Ask friends and family members to save their cans or plastic bottles for you. Go for a walk and take a small bag with you and pick cans or bottles up along the way. If you have access to people in authority at schools, ask them if you can come in after a sporting event to pick up the cans and bottles. There are two places in my small town where you can turn in aluminum cans and get up $0.65/pound. By recycling cans and bottles, you can come away with a good chunk of change and you're cleaning the areas up too.
3. Freelance/Temporary Work
There is a growing demand for part-time workers and freelancers in many different fields. These types of opportunities are great for individuals who may already have a successful career, but just need to earn some extra money. It is also a great way to build an emergency fund quickly. In order to find freelance work, put up a flier at your local grocery store advertising for some services that you could offer along with your contact information. Post an ad on Craigslist. While you're on there, check out some of the listings that have already been posted. There are many short-term opportunities for many fields added to the website on a daily basis. There are several websites that specialize in acting as a forum to connect freelancers with people/companies needing work done. These can be either short-term or long-term and cover just about any field you can think of.
4. Set Aside Money Each Week
This is essential. It is not likely that any of these things will build a massive emergency savings fund quickly. You must be determined to set aside an amount of money each week in order to build your emergency fund. It doesn't have to be $50 or $100; it can be as little as $5 on a weekly basis. Whatever works for you is fine; the most important thing is that you are setting aside something each week. Once you get in the habit of setting aside some money each week, it gets easier and you can try to set aside a little more each week until you build a very healthy savings account.
Finally, when you reach the amount of money in your emergency savings fund that you feel comfortable with, set it aside in an interest bearing account that is easily accessible, but don't touch it! Let it sit in that account and earn interest forever, until you have an emergency that requires you to withdraw some of it. And, by emergency, I do not mean that there is a new video game, new computer, clothing, or newer car that has come out that you feel you must have. An emergency is something that affects your livelihood. You are laid off work, you lose a loved one, you or someone else in your family gets sick, etc. There is a sense of security in having at least something set aside in order to get you through a tough time in your life and you will be thankful that it is there when you need it!
Best Personal Finance Websites
The topic of personal finance is one of great interest in our current economic environment. Individuals are constantly looking for advice on savings, budgeting, credit management and real estate. There are plenty of websites who have capitalized on this type of interest from consumers, some of whom stand head and shoulders above the rest. But what makes a great personal finance website? There are several things that make websites stand out, such as neatly organized information, user-friendliness, and useful information. The following are some of the best websites for the individual looking for advice on the topic of personal finance.
Quizzle
Quizzle has quickly become a sensation among the average consumer for many reasons. On the surface, it is a great website that has well-written articles on just about any topic you can think of in regards to personal finance. An individual can also create a personal account on Quizzle where you can obtain a free credit report and score every six months, dispute inaccurate information with the credit bureaus, and develop a debt payment plan to keep you on track in paying off all of your debts. Although this is a very basic tool, it is extremely user-friendly and offers a snapshot of your current financial well-being and ways to maintain or improve your financial status.
Mint
Mint is a great website that combines many different financial tools in one place. At mint, you can set up a household budget and connect your checking, savings, investment, and credit accounts in a central location where you can get an overall snapshot of how you are doing financially each month. With the budget tool, you can set different goals, such as "Save $1000 for vacation" or "Get out of debt". Mint will track your progress on your goals each month. This is a great way to stay motivated and to reach your goals. Mint also gives you a snapshot of where your money goes each month in the form of graphs that are great visual tools to help you understand you are currently and where you need to be. Mint also offers tools to help you find better deals and savings on all of your accounts. The best thing about this website is that all of this is free. You do not have to pay a subscription each month.
DaveRamsey
Dave Ramsey is a person who is an expert on the topic of finance for individuals, families, and businesses. His website offers a lot of great advice on how to develop and maintain a budget for your home, worksheets and other tools to help you understand where you are at financially and set goals for where you want to be. There is also a description of Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps for financial freedom which includes, building an emergency savings fund, becoming debt free, building a retirement fund and leaving a financial legacy. The great thing about this website is that there is a forum for people just like yourself to interact with each other about financial topics. This offers a level of support for one another which is vital for anyone trying to get back on their feet due to financial hardship, or for anyone trying to build on what they already have. There are a lot of things on this website that you can purchase, but there is a ton of free information available to anyone, which is the reason I feel that it is one of the best personal finance websites available. Although there are plenty of personal finance websites out there, I feel that these three are the best around because of their ease of use, value, and the information that is made available to all consumers.
Quizzle
Quizzle has quickly become a sensation among the average consumer for many reasons. On the surface, it is a great website that has well-written articles on just about any topic you can think of in regards to personal finance. An individual can also create a personal account on Quizzle where you can obtain a free credit report and score every six months, dispute inaccurate information with the credit bureaus, and develop a debt payment plan to keep you on track in paying off all of your debts. Although this is a very basic tool, it is extremely user-friendly and offers a snapshot of your current financial well-being and ways to maintain or improve your financial status.
Mint
Mint is a great website that combines many different financial tools in one place. At mint, you can set up a household budget and connect your checking, savings, investment, and credit accounts in a central location where you can get an overall snapshot of how you are doing financially each month. With the budget tool, you can set different goals, such as "Save $1000 for vacation" or "Get out of debt". Mint will track your progress on your goals each month. This is a great way to stay motivated and to reach your goals. Mint also gives you a snapshot of where your money goes each month in the form of graphs that are great visual tools to help you understand you are currently and where you need to be. Mint also offers tools to help you find better deals and savings on all of your accounts. The best thing about this website is that all of this is free. You do not have to pay a subscription each month.
DaveRamsey
Dave Ramsey is a person who is an expert on the topic of finance for individuals, families, and businesses. His website offers a lot of great advice on how to develop and maintain a budget for your home, worksheets and other tools to help you understand where you are at financially and set goals for where you want to be. There is also a description of Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps for financial freedom which includes, building an emergency savings fund, becoming debt free, building a retirement fund and leaving a financial legacy. The great thing about this website is that there is a forum for people just like yourself to interact with each other about financial topics. This offers a level of support for one another which is vital for anyone trying to get back on their feet due to financial hardship, or for anyone trying to build on what they already have. There are a lot of things on this website that you can purchase, but there is a ton of free information available to anyone, which is the reason I feel that it is one of the best personal finance websites available. Although there are plenty of personal finance websites out there, I feel that these three are the best around because of their ease of use, value, and the information that is made available to all consumers.
Decorating on a Budget
If you are anything like me, you get a little envious at times when you watch home design shows on television or see the pictures of celebrities' new homes that are immaculate. You wish that you could have a home that looked like that, but the money to complete such a product is nowhere to be found. Even though you may not be able to have everything exactly the way you see on television or in magazines, you can easily make your home an immaculate haven for you and your family without breaking the bank. Here are a few things that can help you decorate your home on a budget.
Paint
One of the easiest ways to transform a boring room is to add color. Whether you're changing colors slightly or going for something more drastic, painting the walls in your home can make the place look like a brand new, completely different place. Colors can affect your mood significantly. In your bedroom, add colors that are calming and create a tranquil environment that is conducive to rest and relaxation. In your bathrooms, add richer, more vibrant colors that will make the area seem more spacious, motivating, and luxurious. For your living and dining rooms, make them colors that will feel warm, inviting, and comfortable for you and your guests. Painting a room can change the entire atmosphere of your home, and the great thing about it is that it can be done with very little money.
Furniture
There are many great options to find affordable furniture for great prices. A great place to go to look for furniture is the local consignment stores. Sure, there are bound to be some bad choices at these places, but recently, I have seen better quality in much of the furniture that is being sold. However, if you want new furniture, check out a store like Big Lots (www.biglots.com). They offer name brand furniture at discounted prices and have a great selection. Maybe you would rather not spend a great deal of money on furniture. A way to give your home a fresh look is to spruce up what you already have. Purchase a slip cover for your sofa and love seat. Paint your bed or tables. Change the handles on your drawers and cabinets. All of these things are very budget friendly and can give your older furniture a new, fresh look.
Layout
Although it may not seem like a big deal, changing the layout of your current furniture can make a big difference and the cost is very minimal, if there is any cost at all, depending on your situation. There are many homes where the furniture is situated in a way that makes a room feel closed off or cluttered. Try to find a way to move the furniture around some in order to open the space up more. The room doesn't get any bigger than it was before, but the layout of the furniture can definitely make it feel that way. It may not be that your layout is cluttered; you may just want a little change. You've had your furniture in the same exact spot for years and you want to make a change. Move it around a little bit. It's surprising how much of a difference it will make in the look of your home and your overall attitude.
Artwork
Your home doesn't have to look like a museum or art gallery, but a little artwork here and there will add to the atmosphere of your home and it will make your walls not look completely bare. You do not have to go out and splurge on professional artwork that costs thousands of dollars to make your home look exquisite. This is an area of decorating where you can get very creative. Sure, you can purchase artwork from online or an art gallery, but why not be unique? Take your digital camera to some of the places that you like to visit, or find different objects that you enjoy and take pictures. Once you have done this part of the project, have the pictures developed through Wal-Mart or any other place that will develop pictures and then frame them and hang them on the walls. Not only will the artwork be unique, it will also remind you of memories you have made, places that you enjoy and it transforms your home. In addition to taking pictures, go to a local craft store and get a few white canvas wraps, some paint, and a few brushes and paint whatever you want to. Maybe you enjoy geometric designs, or maybe you just want splashes of color all over the canvas. It doesn't have to be professional artwork. We're going for unique. If you have children, get them involved with the project. You will have a great time as a family and will have your home decorated without a lot of money.
There are plenty of other ways to decorate your home on a budget, but these were just a few of the things that can make a huge difference without a lot of money. You can use any magazine, television show, or anything else for inspiration, but I encourage you to make the space your own unique environment that can be enjoyed by you, your family, and friends. Your home should be a place of rest, relaxation, and release from all the pressures of life. These ideas will help you on your way to making your house a home without spending a lot of money.
Paint
One of the easiest ways to transform a boring room is to add color. Whether you're changing colors slightly or going for something more drastic, painting the walls in your home can make the place look like a brand new, completely different place. Colors can affect your mood significantly. In your bedroom, add colors that are calming and create a tranquil environment that is conducive to rest and relaxation. In your bathrooms, add richer, more vibrant colors that will make the area seem more spacious, motivating, and luxurious. For your living and dining rooms, make them colors that will feel warm, inviting, and comfortable for you and your guests. Painting a room can change the entire atmosphere of your home, and the great thing about it is that it can be done with very little money.
Furniture
There are many great options to find affordable furniture for great prices. A great place to go to look for furniture is the local consignment stores. Sure, there are bound to be some bad choices at these places, but recently, I have seen better quality in much of the furniture that is being sold. However, if you want new furniture, check out a store like Big Lots (www.biglots.com). They offer name brand furniture at discounted prices and have a great selection. Maybe you would rather not spend a great deal of money on furniture. A way to give your home a fresh look is to spruce up what you already have. Purchase a slip cover for your sofa and love seat. Paint your bed or tables. Change the handles on your drawers and cabinets. All of these things are very budget friendly and can give your older furniture a new, fresh look.
Layout
Although it may not seem like a big deal, changing the layout of your current furniture can make a big difference and the cost is very minimal, if there is any cost at all, depending on your situation. There are many homes where the furniture is situated in a way that makes a room feel closed off or cluttered. Try to find a way to move the furniture around some in order to open the space up more. The room doesn't get any bigger than it was before, but the layout of the furniture can definitely make it feel that way. It may not be that your layout is cluttered; you may just want a little change. You've had your furniture in the same exact spot for years and you want to make a change. Move it around a little bit. It's surprising how much of a difference it will make in the look of your home and your overall attitude.
Artwork
Your home doesn't have to look like a museum or art gallery, but a little artwork here and there will add to the atmosphere of your home and it will make your walls not look completely bare. You do not have to go out and splurge on professional artwork that costs thousands of dollars to make your home look exquisite. This is an area of decorating where you can get very creative. Sure, you can purchase artwork from online or an art gallery, but why not be unique? Take your digital camera to some of the places that you like to visit, or find different objects that you enjoy and take pictures. Once you have done this part of the project, have the pictures developed through Wal-Mart or any other place that will develop pictures and then frame them and hang them on the walls. Not only will the artwork be unique, it will also remind you of memories you have made, places that you enjoy and it transforms your home. In addition to taking pictures, go to a local craft store and get a few white canvas wraps, some paint, and a few brushes and paint whatever you want to. Maybe you enjoy geometric designs, or maybe you just want splashes of color all over the canvas. It doesn't have to be professional artwork. We're going for unique. If you have children, get them involved with the project. You will have a great time as a family and will have your home decorated without a lot of money.
There are plenty of other ways to decorate your home on a budget, but these were just a few of the things that can make a huge difference without a lot of money. You can use any magazine, television show, or anything else for inspiration, but I encourage you to make the space your own unique environment that can be enjoyed by you, your family, and friends. Your home should be a place of rest, relaxation, and release from all the pressures of life. These ideas will help you on your way to making your house a home without spending a lot of money.
Dining Out on a Budget
In tough economic times, most everyone is trying to cut back in spending some way or another. One area that people tend to cut back on is dining outside of the home. Indeed, dining out frequently can put quite a strain on a budget, but there are plenty of ways to save a substantial amount of money while enjoy a meal with your family or by yourself at a restaurant.
Birthday/Anniversary Coupons
Recently, my wife and I have been signing up on the mailing lists of several of our favorite restaurants. As a result, those restaurants will periodically send out coupons in the mail or e-mail. Some of these coupons may be for a free drink, entree, or dessert but some of them are even better. One restaurant in particular sends a coupon almost monthly for "Buy One Entree, Get One Free". In addition to these periodical offers, many restaurants will send out coupons for you on your birthday or anniversary. Most of these are free entrees or desserts. They may not seem like much, but this is a great way to save a lot of money without cutting out a luxury.
Coupons From the Newspaper
For the longest time, people would completely ignore the Sunday Newspapers on a weekly basis even though most of them contained hundreds of dollars worth of coupons, but people have quickly turned back to cutting coupons. The great thing is that many of those offers are coupons from most restaurants, ranging from all the fast food restaurants to nice sit-down type restaurants. It is not unheard of to spend less than $5 on a complete meal for a couple and have plenty of food because of these coupons that are available. Don't neglect the coupons that you find in the newspapers.
Share an Entree and/or Dessert
An easy way to save money while dining out is to share a meal. The portion size for most sit-down restaurants have long been a source of debate because of health concerns. So, why not save some money and calories by sharing a meal. Order a regular entree and ask for two plates and share the meal with each other. Chances are that there will be plenty of food for two by doing something like this.
Drink Water
Another way to save money and be healthy while dining out is to drink water instead of soda, tea, or alcoholic beverage. There is a clear understanding that the mark-up on these other drinks is absurd, especially alcoholic beverages. This is one of the big ways that restaurants make tons of money. Water is not only much healthier, it is free (in most cases). There are some restaurants that now charge for water, especially bottled water, but chances are, most restaurants where you eat are not going to charge you for it.
Although dining out can be a budget buster and should definitely be cut back some during tough financial times (and maybe even altogether in extreme cases), but it is entirely possible to eat very well on a tight budget by using the previous tips. However, this is not an exhaustive list of tips to use in order to save money.
Birthday/Anniversary Coupons
Recently, my wife and I have been signing up on the mailing lists of several of our favorite restaurants. As a result, those restaurants will periodically send out coupons in the mail or e-mail. Some of these coupons may be for a free drink, entree, or dessert but some of them are even better. One restaurant in particular sends a coupon almost monthly for "Buy One Entree, Get One Free". In addition to these periodical offers, many restaurants will send out coupons for you on your birthday or anniversary. Most of these are free entrees or desserts. They may not seem like much, but this is a great way to save a lot of money without cutting out a luxury.
Coupons From the Newspaper
For the longest time, people would completely ignore the Sunday Newspapers on a weekly basis even though most of them contained hundreds of dollars worth of coupons, but people have quickly turned back to cutting coupons. The great thing is that many of those offers are coupons from most restaurants, ranging from all the fast food restaurants to nice sit-down type restaurants. It is not unheard of to spend less than $5 on a complete meal for a couple and have plenty of food because of these coupons that are available. Don't neglect the coupons that you find in the newspapers.
Share an Entree and/or Dessert
An easy way to save money while dining out is to share a meal. The portion size for most sit-down restaurants have long been a source of debate because of health concerns. So, why not save some money and calories by sharing a meal. Order a regular entree and ask for two plates and share the meal with each other. Chances are that there will be plenty of food for two by doing something like this.
Drink Water
Another way to save money and be healthy while dining out is to drink water instead of soda, tea, or alcoholic beverage. There is a clear understanding that the mark-up on these other drinks is absurd, especially alcoholic beverages. This is one of the big ways that restaurants make tons of money. Water is not only much healthier, it is free (in most cases). There are some restaurants that now charge for water, especially bottled water, but chances are, most restaurants where you eat are not going to charge you for it.
Although dining out can be a budget buster and should definitely be cut back some during tough financial times (and maybe even altogether in extreme cases), but it is entirely possible to eat very well on a tight budget by using the previous tips. However, this is not an exhaustive list of tips to use in order to save money.
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