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Cool Ways to Cover Summer Expenses

07.23.2011 by Guest Author //

Summertime is certainly here, and with it come barbeques, outdoor sports, and vacations – as well as the inevitable increase in household spending. Kids need something to do, gas prices skyrocket, and the electric bill climbs up along with the rising heat. What almost never accompanies these summer month expenditures is the increase in household income. Kids can mow lawns to make their ends meet, but what about you?

You’re already hard at work during the day and so is the spouse. You’ve streamlined the summertime expenses, but don’t want to be forced to cancel the annual trip to see some family in Florida. Coupons are cut out, the air conditioning is monitored diligently, and still gas prices rise and your bank account lowers. What’s a family to do?

Depending on your particular situation, you could consider trying one of the following ideas. Some are simple, some seem a little too simple, but none are complicated and they all do a good job putting you back in black during the red hot season.

Keep the fridge stocked

The refrigerator and freezer consume nearly 17% of a home’s energy, more than any other appliance. You can cut down the amount of energy it takes for your fridge to keep cool by keeping it full. By doing so, the cold temperature of the fridge can be better re-established after it’s been open on account of the cold items already inside. Keep several pitchers and other containers of water inside to take up space and to always have cold water available.

Recirculate air correctly

We should all know why the recirculation button accompanies most automobile air conditioning systems – it allows for colder inside air to be re-used which saves your engine some trouble. But not everybody knows the best way to go about using it properly. You should start your car with just the A/C running for at least ten minutes before applying the recirculation function in order to build up enough cold air for it to function the right way.

Look for online work

I can’t say you’ll be able to find a way to make stacks of cash by sitting at your computer, but if you’re spending money on keeping your home cool why not try and earn some money while you’re inside of it? Sites like Survey Head are always looking for people to take surveys through their home computer. Cold hard cash takes several surveys to amass, but these sites tend to always provide very useful product giveaways and other gifts and promotional items. What’s an hour worth of clicking “yes” or “no” while you watch TV if it means you can get some free toothbrushes for the family?

Use a clothesline

There’s no reason why anybody should be drying their clothes in a drying machine when it’s hot enough outside to fry an egg on an engine block. Clotheslines can be assembled pretty much anywhere on Earth where there are two walls next to each other or any other object you can tie a string to. Spend an hour assembling yourself a clothesline apparatus and enjoy free clothes drying for several months. Take a survey to net yourself some fabric softener.

Shop online and save

Whenever possible, shop online. It saves you a lot of cash. Coupon codes are a lot easier to find than the ones floating around newspapers and junk mail, and so long as you order something from another state there’s no state sales tax applied. When you consider all the time you spend driving from one place to another finding the right “bargain”, burning fuel to do so, it’s crazy still wanting to stick to traditional mall rat tactics.

You don’t need to cancel the family trip to save on summertime costs. You just need to know which corners to cut and where you can find opportunity when you otherwise can’t find the time. The summer shouldn’t be synonymous with spending money. Start associating the season with saving starting today.

Categories // Earn Money, Expenses Tags // Reduce Expenses, Work

How To Go Without Cell Phones

06.07.2011 by Matt Jabs //

How To Go Without Cell PhonesIn the wake of the recent WHO news release that cell phones emit enough radiation to cause cancer, this is a perfect time to tell you how I stopped using a cell phone 7 months ago and why I don’t plan to go back.

My cell phone history

First you need to understand that I purchased my first mobile phone contract 10 years ago in 2001.  Since that day I was continually updating to the latest and greatest the industry had to offer and, beginning in 2005, was the guy holstering the “smartphone” complete with access to email, GPS mapping, Internet, RSS, streaming audio, video, and the like.

You get the idea… I was always connected, until that fateful day toward the end of October 2010 when I was downsized.  Naturally, since they would no longer pay for my mobile phone plan I had to transfer ownership of the contract back to myself – because there’s no other option right?  Or is there?

The decision to go without a cell phone

My other option, the option most of us simply overlook, was to let my mobile phone plan expire and go without.  It is possible… I’ve been without a cell phone ever since and don’t plan to go back.  Why?  Because I simply don’t need one and after living both scenarios I prefer going without.  Have you ever thought about going without a cell phone?

Remember that I was a heavy cell phone user before deciding to get rid of mine.  Depending on your work you may be able  to do it too.  Never forget that you can choose your own way.

Alternatives to using a cell/mobile phone

Cell phones can be very handy, and in some circumstances are a need, but not always.  If you challenge yourself you could certainly do without one – you did 10 years ago right?  Each of these alternatives will also allow you freedom from cell phone radiation concerns.

  • Landline – You could cancel your mobile phone and return to a landline.  Many media companies will give you a package deal that includes cable or satellite TV, Internet, and phone service for one discounted monthly price.
  • Skype – You can place free calls to other Skype members using your computer.  If you have a laptop you could do it anywhere you have an Internet connection.  I use Skype when I will be talking to others who have a Skype account.  If you want to call non-Skype numbers you will have to pay a per minute fee (at time of writing they have plans for as low as $01.2 per minute.)
  • Google Voice – Since October of 2010 I have used Google Voice as my exclusive phone service.  The best part?  I can place calls to any number in the continental United States completely free of charge.  International calls are very low cost, but I have yet to make one.  I purchased a Plantronics Voyager Pro bluetooth headset for around $70 (cost of the average monthly cell phone plan) and use it to talk through my laptop.  Yes I need my laptop and an Internet connection, but those are pretty much constants for me anyway so it works great for my situation, and the price is definitely right.
  • MagicJack – A little device that plugs into the USB port of your computer and accepts a regular phone line input allowing you to make calls over your computer with any old phone.  The device and service cost around $40 (plus S/H) to get started.  It is basically a VOIP service like Vonage but it is much cheaper and is portable.  Here’s an excellent MagicJack Review to find out more.
  • Vonage – A VOIP service provider that allows you to make calls over your Internet connection through a regular phone.  It is similar to the MagicJack but costs more (still relatively inexpensive at $25/month) and requires non portable equipment to be installed.

There are many other alternatives, but this list should wet your chops and help get you started to cell phone free living.  Another proud cellphone free friend I know is Jacob from ERE.

Could you go without a cell phone?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Categories // Money Management Tags // phones, Reduce Expenses

Track Expenses To Help Create a Budget

05.20.2011 by Matt Jabs //

For many people creating a budget can be a huge undertaking, and simply getting started is the most common roadblock.  Why?  Because established patterns of behavior can be hard to change.  With that said, if an established pattern has become problematic – as is the case with the financial habits of many – it needs to be changed.

To make change happen let’s focus on how tracking expenses can help break bad spending habits and create a working budget.

1. Keep a spending journal

Carry a pocket moleskin notebook (or any dollar store mini-notebook) in your pocket or purse to record and categorize every financial transaction you make.  This may sound annoying or cumbersome at first, but it’s easy to implement and will play a huge role in getting a handle on where your money is going… so if you’re having problems, start doing it.

In your journal simply record 3 items for each transaction:

  • record the date – so you know when each transaction took place and how many you tend to make each day.
  • record the amount – so you know how much you’re spending.
  • record the category – so you can determine how much money to attribute to each budget category each month.

Remember to take ownership of this journal by using my suggestions as a starting point and adapting it to fit your needs.  Also remember that your categories are alive; they can be created, deleted, and changed to better fit and accommodate changes in your life.

2. Buy simple budgeting software

While You Need A Budgetyou journal your spending you should also begin downloading transactions into a budgeting software.  Doing so will further help you categorize, track, manage, and plan your financial future.

I’ve always scratched my head at people who don’t want to spend $60 on a budgeting program that will likely help them save hundreds each month, but they have no problem dropping $60 on going out to dinner every Friday night!  I encourage you to stop making excuses for not buying a budgeting program and just go buy one; it could easily be the best $60 you spend this year!  I recommend – and personally use – You Need A Budget (YNAB) for both my business and personal finances, and I love it.

If you’re worried about the $60 then simply forgo dining out a time or two this week to reclaim the cost.  If you’re not willing to make that sacrifice then you might as well quit reading now and go shopping.

3. Be disciplined and follow through

You can start your journal, purchase the budgeting software, and feel good about getting started… but if you don’t follow through and make this behavior a habit you will not be successful.  Remember that established behavior patterns are hard to change, but not impossible to change!  Making the switch to wondering where your money went to telling your money where to go will take time, discipline, and follow through.  Are you up for the challenge?

It’s time to change the course of your life.  It’s time to grab your finances by the throat and take control back.

You can do this… all you have to do is get started!

Categories // Money Management Tags // Money Management, Reduce Expenses, Spending

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