Live Debt Free

Pay off debt. Save. Give. Live your mission.

  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Credit Scores
  • Spending
  • Investing
  • Earn Money

Frugal Living Tips That Don’t Save You Money

09.13.2022 by Harry //

Everyone is trying to cut costs, and living frugally will become more important with a global recession on the horizon. You can do some practical things to cut costs, like turning off lights when you leave a room, but many “frugal” methods end up wasting time and money. 

Millions of frugal living tips are out there, but not all will save you the money you hoped. Some are sales pitches disguised as money savers.

Here is a list of frugal living tips that do not save money.

Skipping Routine Car Repairs and Maintenance

Oil changes can cost $40, and a new tire can cost more. You may think you can get by without either, but you will pay more when your car breaks down, or you have a flat. In the end, it is cheaper to maintain your vehicle so you can work. 

Using a Lot of Food Savings Apps

Apps are great, and you can save money on food and toiletries. However, it would help if you were careful about what you buy because some coupon apps are for higher-priced items you would never buy. 

Buying Items in Bulk

People stroll into wholesale warehouses and come out with a gallon of pickles. It never occurs to them while they are shopping if they can eat all those pickles. The truth is this: many bulk purchases will go bad before your family finishes them.

That said, you can save buying in bulk with particular items. Buying a side of beef and having it cut and stashed in the freezer may mean you never go to the store all winter. Depending on the price, it may be worth it.

However, buying one hundred rolls of toilet paper because it’s three cents cheaper per roll than a four-roll package will cost you more this week and won’t save you much.

Not Buying Health Insurance

People, particularly younger people, think they are healthy enough not to buy health insurance. The problem is that they could get hurt in an accident or come down with a sudden illness.

We got a good dose of the unexpected with the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep your insurance. 

Trying To Fix a Home Repair Yourself

Some homeowners are handy and know how to use tools. They have no problem fixing a wall socket or a leaky sink, and it would be a waste of money to call a professional. Then, there are the rest of us. 

It’s OK to learn about home repairs and try to do some things yourself but stay in your lane. Taking on a series of repairs without knowledge, experience, or tools will cost you much more money, especially when you call a professional.

https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/5-home-repairs-you-should-never-do-yourself.htm

Getting Budget Airline Tickets

There is a saying that you get what you pay for, which is undoubtedly true with airlines. Finding a cheap flight or looking for different options is not bad. The problem is when you go for the most affordable without reading the fine print. These are the airlines that may you pay for items that are usually included. 

You could be paying to stow your carry-on as well as your peanuts. It could cost you more than a standard ticket when it is all over. 

Eating Cheap Food

You may think that ordering off the dollar menu is smart, just like buying that package of hot dogs for a dollar. It’s not. This kind of food has all sorts of fillers that contain no nutritional value and leave you hungrier.

Junk food may seem cheap, but, in the end, you will spend more on it than you would on good, solid food like meats and vegetables that are more filling.

Skimping on Car Insurance

Most states have laws about car insurance and will fine those who are caught without it. Plus, it could cost you thousands of dollars and put you in legal danger if you are in an accident. 

Buying Stuff You Wouldn’t Normally Buy on Sale

Those sales are so tempting, but if it is something you wouldn’t otherwise think about buying or don’t need, then it isn’t saving money. You should make sure you need the item before you are lured into purchasing from a super sale. 

Buying from Yard Sales

People flock to yard sales because of the idea of finding that special item that could be worth a fortune. Yet, most of it is junk. Feel free to buy things that you think will add value to your life that you would enjoy or need, but do not buy them from a yard sale just because it’s interesting. 

Buying with a Rebate You Won’t Use

Rebates can help reduce the cost of an item, but they are a pain to get. You must go online, print out a form, fill it out, include a copy of the receipt, and mail it in. Then, wait four to six weeks to get your rebate check. 

Do not buy the rebate item unless you plan to go through that process. Otherwise, you will end up paying the total price anyway. 

Signing Up for Services to Get Something Free

Many subscriptions claim you can get a month free if you sign up for three months. Before you buy, make sure you want the service and will use it. Otherwise, you are throwing money away. 

Ordering More to Get Free Shipping

Some online services will give you a minimum order to get free shipping. Watch out for it because it may cost you more to meet the minimum purchase than it would be to pay for the shipping.

Conclusion

The secret to living frugally is only to buy what you need and use. That requires some planning and discipline to walk away when it does not. It is good to find what you want, save for it, and then find that item with the best price. Then you are assured of saving money.

Image Credit: [Zimmytw]

Categories // Expenses, Savings, Spending

How To Utilize Your Emergency Fund

05.05.2022 by Harry //

An emergency fund is a fantastic tool that can be lifesaving against income loss or financial emergency cases. Having a set amount of money aside for use only when necessary, can be the difference between paying for emergencies and being forced into debt. For this reason, an emergency fund must be used correctly.

This article looks at five ways to make your emergency fund go further and four things you should avoid.

How to use your emergency fund

When building and using an emergency fund, you must understand fully what it is and how to use it correctly. Let us look at how you could use your emergency fund to make it work for you and conserve your funds as much as possible.

Tip 1: Always Replenish Whatever You Take from It

As you will likely use your fund to pay for a considerable expense or substitute months of income, it must contain as much as you expect to need.

Therefore, whenever you take money from it, be sure to top it back up. In the event of an income loss, this may not be possible right away but replenish it as soon as possible.

Replenishing your fund is particularly important if you must use it for large purchases that take up a chunk of your money.

This may take longer to do, but it must get done eventually. You do not want to face another financial emergency and have nothing to fall back on, so keep track of how much is in your fund.

Tip 2: Keep Your Emergency Fund Somewhere Accessible but Separate

In times of emergency, you must have easy access to your money, so it is sensible to store it somewhere you can realistically access it. A savings account is an excellent place to start but be sure it is one you can draw from when you need to, as some savings accounts do not allow withdrawals.

Let us look at the kind of account you should be looking for when you need an emergency fund. To help you keep your emergency fund growing, you can choose a savings account with a high yield to earn interest as you add to it.

Most high-yield accounts also allow you to get your money quickly, which makes them great for an emergency fund.

However, there is an important caveat. Your emergency fund is likely to be a large amount of money, and the temptation to spend from it can be overwhelming at times – especially if you keep it alongside your regular bank accounts.

So, it is sensible to open your emergency fund account with a different provider, so you do not see it every time you spend.

Tip 3: Use It Only When You Have No Other Options

The point of your emergency fund is that you can turn to it when you are in an actual emergency. Think medical expenses, job loss, or homelessness.

Therefore, it is crucial that you only turn to it when you have no other options. If you have a regular income, your income should be the first thing you use to pay for things, not your emergency fund.

As we have seen, the temptation to spend from your emergency fund can be challenging, especially when it comes to big purchases.

However, it is essential to be mindful. You likely have good reasons for setting up your fund. You should try to be mindful of those reasons when the temptation hits.

Tip 4: Limit What Constitutes an Emergency

Your idea of an emergency will depend on your responsibilities and needs. It is important to have some ground rules.

For example, when it comes to big purchases, you might be tempted to play around with what constitutes a financial emergency. But what can feel like an emergency now is unlikely to feel that way when a true emergency comes along.

It is vital that when you are setting up your fund, you think about what would indeed constitute an emergency.

Take some time to figure out a list of things you might need money for and work your fund around that list. Your list will depend on your priorities. But a general rule is to think about medical bills, vet bills, and car trouble.

Tip 5: Make Your Fund a Priority

Your financial priorities are likely to be bills and debt, but make sure to set something aside for your emergency fund. While other things may take priority, your fund is still a significant financial expense that you should take as seriously.

https://www.moneyunder30.com/emergency-fund

Remember that your emergency fund doesn’t have to take massive amounts of your monthly income. It can be as little as the amount you can afford to contribute each month.

However, your fund should be considered a substantial investment. You should make sure to put something aside each month, no matter how much.

What To Avoid Doing with Your Emergency Fund

It can be very easy to misuse your emergency fund, so consider how to use it and avoid making mistakes. Let us look at some things to avoid doing when building and using your emergency fund.

Tip 6: Do Not Include Money That Is Used Elsewhere

The money you put into your emergency fund should be entirely free to use when you need it. This means the money you intend to use for savings or pension contributions should not be used to build your emergency fund. Since that money is already allotted to something else, and likely cannot be used in an emergency.

It would help if you also tried to avoid relying on your credit card to pay for emergencies. It can be tempting, especially as credit cards are easy to access.

However, an emergency fund can save you from using one when unexpected purchases occur. With the money, you need to be sensible to avoid debt and the extra charges with your credit card.

Tip 7: Resist Other Financial Uses

Having a chunk of money set aside without using it can seem counterintuitive. Especially if you have other financial goals you are working towards.

You may be tempted to use your emergency fund to top up your savings or cover another financial goal, like saving for a house or contributing to retirement. 

The critical thing to remember about your emergency fund is that you should consider it a different financial goal.

You should have a goal amount that you can turn to whenever. That does not mean you cannot continue to have other financial goals and contribute to them. But your emergency fund should be considered vital.

Tip 8: Learn the Different Between Accounts

An emergency fund and a savings account are two very different things. A savings account is likely to be used if you want to purchase something. An emergency fund is only used when you need something.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/best-places-to-keep-your-emergency-fund/

It can be easy to confuse the two, as they are essentially chunks of unused money sitting around waiting to be used.

Understanding that wants and needs are two very different things is essential for having an emergency fund. However, it would help if you kept the two separate and ensured you turned to your emergency fund for needs rather than wants.

Tip 9: Avoid Using It for Planned Purchases

The point of an emergency fund is to have it there when you need it for unexpected purchases and expenses.

For this reason, it should not be used for purchases you know you will be paying out for. This includes a deposit for a house, car payments, or a holiday. These things might be necessary but are expected and should be planned for appropriately.

Summary

An emergency fund can be a lifesaving tool for anyone experiencing income loss or a financial emergency.

It provides the opportunity to pay upfront for emergencies without facing debt or unnecessary borrowing. So, anyone who is thinking about setting up an emergency fund must know how to use it properly and not waste it.

Image Credit: [Avid Photographer]

Categories // Expenses, Savings

How an Energy Audit Can Save You Money 

04.12.2022 by Harry //

If you are a homeowner or a tenant who pays electrical utilities, you may be inclined to know whether you can cut energy costs by making your building more energy-efficient.

However, your home’s energy efficiency can be affected by things like the weather where you live and how well your home was built.

Completing an audit is the first step to identifying opportunities to reduce your energy consumption, save money, and improve the comfort of your home. By making your home more energy-efficient, you also cut down on your carbon footprint and impact on the world.

What is Assessed?

An energy audit may sound intimidating because of the negative connotation most of us associate with the word “audit.”

However, this audit assesses the needs and efficiency of your home’s electrical use while seeking opportunities for energy savings.

You can use the information you get from this audit to make smart decisions about your home, which will help you save money.

During an energy audit assessment, you can expect the energy specialist to walk through all the rooms of your house to evaluate the physical condition of the building, including door and window seals, insulation, and ventilation.

They will also check the functions of mechanical systems such as appliances, heating, air conditioning, and lighting. They should also perform a blower-door test to depressurize the house and its airflow test.

Your auditor will likely discuss numerous ways in which you can cut down on phantom loads, upgrade appliances, and strategize ways to minimize your heating or cooling needs. You can use the information you get from this audit to make smart decisions about your home, which will help you save money.

The audit report may also include information related to your local climate, thermostat settings, roof overhang, and solar orientation. This information can be used to improve the accuracy of the estimates by looking at how much energy you use over time.

How to Prepare for an Audit

  • First, to find an accredited auditor, check to see if your utility company has an in-house specialist who can support your audit. If they don’t, you can check with the Residential Energy Services Network.
  • It is a good idea to ask for references and ensure that the auditor uses a calibrated blower door to test the building ventilation.
  • Before the audit, come up with a list of questions for them to help you understand your home better. For example, maybe you have noticed that a specific room is always cooler than others, or you are having issues with condensation on the windows.
  • If you already have some efficiency upgrade ideas in mind, a specialist can help you prioritize the ones that will have the most significant impact.
  • Be sure to provide copies of your monthly energy bills that demonstrate your energy use patterns.
  • Some auditors may already have access to these, but it is good to be prepared to make good use of everyone’s time.
  • It all comes down to this: the more prepared you are for your audit, the more accurate the recommendations for making your home more energy efficient will be if you follow them.

How Much Does It Cost?

HomeAdvisor reports that energy audits cost between $100 and $1,650, or $409.

Keep in mind that the larger your home is, the higher the cost. Even though you will have to pay an upfront fee to have a professional come and do an energy audit, the money you will save each month will cover the fee and add up over time.

How to Save Money With an Inexpensive Energy Audit

It is also important to keep in mind that with so many community sustainability initiatives, there are often opportunities for government grants and or power company subsidies to help cover the cost of energy audits and retrofits. With their audits, many power companies offer free sealing or supplies, free testing, or other things.

How Much Will You Save?

According to Millionaires, energy audits can reduce your annual energy consumption by 30%. So long as energy prices remain stable, this would translate into a 30% savings on your energy bill. However, keep in mind that this may only be possible if you follow through with the advice that is given to you by the energy specialist.

Making energy-efficient improvements to your home may include updating lighting to LED lightbulbs, replacing old appliances with energy-efficient alternatives, replacing windows, or updating heating and cooling systems.

As you may realize, this could require a hefty initial investment that may take longer to recover. However, your home will be more comfortable as it will be able to moderate temperatures during cold winters or hot summers, leading to a better quality of life.

Still Unsure?

If you still are not sure whether you want to have a professional audit completed, you can start with a do-it-yourself home energy audit instead.

You may be able to access free, simplified tools from state agencies or local utility providers, or you can complete a fundamental assessment without any specialized tools. Make sure to follow a checklist that has been carefully thought out so that you can inspect your home and look for ways to make it more energy-efficient.

Image credit: [Arthon Meekodong].

Categories // Expenses, Savings

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 16
  • Next Page »

Popular Posts

  • Understanding & Improving your Cash Flow
  • Credit Card Debt Reduction Handbook
  • Our Monthly Debt Reduction and Savings Statements
  • Pay off Credit Cards VS Build Emergency Fund Savings - Me VS Suze Orman
  • Credit Cards - Close 'em Shred 'em & Forget 'em!
  • More Reasons to Pay Off Credit Card Debt
  • Wise Use of Paid off Credit Cards? You Decide.
  • The Whole Armor of Personal Finance
  • One World Currency - New World Order
  • Debt Testimonials - Encouraging Success Stories!

Disclaimer

Content on Debt Free Adventure is for entertainment purposes only. Rates & offers from advertisers shown on this website may change without notice: please visit referenced sites for current information. Per FTC guidelines, this website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise. We respect your privacy. Privacy policy.

Popular Posts

  • Lending Club - My Review of Social Lending
  • Understanding & Improving your Cash Flow
  • Credit Card Debt Reduction Handbook
  • Our Monthly Debt Reduction and Savings Statements
  • Pay off Credit Cards VS Build Emergency Fund Savings - Me VS Suze Orman
  • Credit Cards - Close 'em Shred 'em & Forget 'em!
  • More Reasons to Pay Off Credit Card Debt
  • Wise Use of Paid off Credit Cards? You Decide.
  • The Whole Armor of Personal Finance
  • One World Currency - New World Order
  • Debt Testimonials - Encouraging Success Stories!

Disclaimer

Content on Debt Free Adventure is for entertainment purposes only. Rates & offers from advertisers shown on this website may change without notice: please visit referenced sites for current information. Per FTC guidelines, this website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise. We respect your privacy. Privacy policy.

Copyright © 2023 · Modern Studio Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in