Cost Effective Living

Achieving financial peace and independence in life is hard, especially when you can barely afford the necessities. Life should be enjoyed, but it is hard to have a good time when you are funneling all of your money into your bills instead of your vacation fund.

Believe it or not, little changes made throughout the year is almost like giving yourself a raise. As a bonus, money saving habits can improve your health, not to mention your stress level.

With patience, planning and discipline you can add thousands of dollars to your yearend bottom line and your personal net worth.

Here are just a few ideas you can consider to save money:

TRANSPORTATION

Many families budget nearly $1000 per month for transportation costs, which may include several car payments, insurance, fuel and repairs.

Payments

Generally, buying a car less than two years old is unwise. Most cars depreciate so quickly that before you even park the car in your driveway for the first time, the loan is already upside down.

Discipline yourself to pay off one car loan before you finance a second vehicle.

Do not buy vehicles on impulse. Shop around, read consumer reports and choose a vehicle with a good resale value.

Do not buy more car than you need. It is not prudent to buy a $40,000 truck for two trips to Home Depot per year. To haul items, often you can rent a truck for less than $20 per hour.

Before financing a car, set aside the payment amount and increased insurance amount for several months. If you cannot do this, or you fall behind on other expenses, you are not ready to finance a car. If you can do this, and kept up with your regular expenses, use the saved amount as a down payment.

If you are uncomfortable taking your older car on long trips, rent instead of buying. If you were to buy a new car, at $250/month it totals $3000 per year just in payments. An older, paid off vehicle may require $1000 per year in repairs and renting a car for a weekend trip may cost around $100. Therefore, including two weekend trips per year and the repairs on your older vehicle, the cost is still $1800 less than the payments on a new vehicle.

Insurance

Shop around for the best rates. Get several quotes before you decide on a new service.

Increase the deductible if possible to decrease monthly payment.

Older, paid off vehicles do not require full coverage, refer to your state laws and see if you can make any changes to decrease your payments.

See if your insurance offers lower rates for monthly, payment in full or other arrangements. For example, many quote a lower rate if you pay six months up front instead of per month.

Fuel

Shop fuel prices, do not let yourself run so low on gas that you are stuck going to the most expensive option.

Use public transportation when possible.

Combine your trips. Instead of running multiple errands in several trips, organize a list and complete everything at one time. Do not run your errands during high traffic hours and burn fuel sitting in traffic.

Walk, bike or run to where you need to go.

Ride share.

Keep your car tuned.

Drive your vehicle that gets the best gas mileage most of the time.

Think before you go, driving to the store to buy $1 worth of soda, while spending $1 worth of gas is not cost effective.

Ask your employer if you can telecommute.

Purchase your gas from discount wholesalers like Costco or Sams Club.

Repairs

Shop around; get at least three quotes on major repairs.

Keep up the maintenance on your vehicles to prevent larger problems later.

Put aside at least $50 per month per vehicle for repairs.

food

In America, more and more families and individuals are eating out. This means they spend as much on one meal as they would an entire day or even a whole week if they ate at home.

Eating Out

Limit how often you eat out, for example once per week instead of once a day.

Use coupons or eat out at lunch instead of during the higher priced dinner hours.

Look around, often you can find a locally owned restaurant with excellent specials.

Order water with your meal instead of soda or other higher priced items.

Split a meal.

Order only what you want, if you really only want artichoke dip, just order that.

Do not let yourself get over hungry. Store in your office desk, purse or car a few breakfast bars or other low calorie snacks that can hold you over until you get home.

Eating at Home

Home cooked food is nearly always cheaper and healthier than eating out or prepackaged food.

Shopping for bulk items is not always the best bargain, check prices and quantities for the best deal.

Coupons are usually for name brand items; generally, the generic variation costs less.

Never buy anything at full price.

Stock up when you find an exceptional deal.

Teach your kids (and if necessary yourself) how to cook.

Consider the cost of habits such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. These are expensive and you may want to reduce or eliminate them.

Decrease the amount of meat and cheese that you eat, substitute or decrease the amount in recipes to save money and lower your fat intake.

Drink more water and less soda, juice, milk or other costly beverages.

Do not shop for groceries when you are hungry, on impulse or with your kids.

HOME

Winterize/summerize your home to help prevent heat loss/gain.

Keep your thermostat no higher than 65F in the winter and no lower than 75F in the summer.

Take shorter showers, or take your showers at your gym.

Use cold water when washing your clothes as often as possible.

Consider shutting off your landline telephone if you have reliable cell phones with good rates.

close doors to unused rooms and shut the vents in those areas.

Use your grill in the summer and oven in the winter.

Install water saving devices, such as a low flow showerhead.

Plan a xeriscaped yard, with native plants, that require less work and less water.

Sweep your walks and driveway instead of using water or an electric blower.

ENTERTAINMENT

Evaluate whether you really need cable television, or whether it would be more cost effective to rent a movie every now and then.

Go for a walk, hike or picnic instead of a high priced alternative.

Budget your entertainment. Plan and track your expenses so they do not get out of hand.

Instead of subscribing to a magazine, read it at your local library.

Buy used books and then when you are done resell them back.

Watch movies during the lower priced matinee hours and do not buy the expensive popcorn and soda.

It is actually less expensive in the end, to go the theatre often, than to buy an expensive home entertainment system.

Rent instead of buying, often you can rent boats, hiking equipment, bikes or other recreational gear for much less than it would cost to buy them and you do not have to worry about storing them throughout the year.

CLOTHING

When it comes to clothing, never spend an excessive amount on a trendy item that will only be worn a few times or will quickly go out of style.

Never buy anything full price.

Shop quality not quantity. It is better to have a few items that you really like, that fit and look good on you, than a closet full of stuff you do not like.

Buy large quantities of the basics if you find a good deal, such as on socks.

Shop at the end of the season for the next year.

Buy clothing that is washable and easy to care for, check care labels.

Do not shop on impulse or for other emotional reasons.

Do not view shopping as entertainment.

Bargain shop; compare prices, shop consignment stores, thrift stores, garage sales or online.

Do not waste your money by buying your kids something they do not like and will not wear.

WINDFALLS
If you do not plan how you are going to spend a windfall, it will slowly disappear into unnecessary expenses and you are going to be wondering where it went.

Tax Returns Try to budget extra money towards paying off interest charging loans or credit cards. Those that charge the highest interest rates should be paid off first.

Gifts Teach your children to put half of the money they receive as gifts into savings. Adults that receive gifts should put the money into their rainy day fund, in a vacation fund or towards interest charging accounts.

Do not pre spend windfalls. For example, taking an expensive vacation on a presumed tax refund, bonus or raise that never materializes can get you into trouble.

As you can see most of these money saving ideas are not going to change your lifestyle or cramp your style that much, they are just little things that with patience and foresight can add up to significant savings throughout the year.

References
Dunleavey, M. 8 financial train wrecks you can avoid. MSN Money Web site: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/SavingandDebt/P81712.asp.
Dunleavey, M. 20 ways to save on a shoestring. MSN Money Web site: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Savinganddebt/Savemoney/P36020.asp.
Hobson, M. Is bulk buying always better?. ABC News Money Web site: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MellodyHobson/story?id=127697&page=1.
Hobson, M. Your 2006 financial calendar. ABC News Money Web site: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/MellodyHobson/story?id=1466201.
Palmer, M., & Markish, R. (2004)The Book of Money. Baltimore: Agora Publishing.
Toups, D. Keep your old clunker or buy a new car?. MSN Money Web site: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Savinganddebt/Saveonacar/P37270.asp.

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, a review site that publishes unbaised reviews on a wide range of subjects, including software, online services, hardware, movies and actors.

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The Secret to Achieving Your Ideal Weight and Staying There

Do you fall into the category of those who have lost weight only to watch that arrow slowly return closer to the dreaded right side of the scale.

Perhaps you are in a constant state of lose 1 pound gain 2 back?

Whatever your situation, the word frustrated probably describes you...

So why is it so hard to maintain your weight?

And what's all this stuff about ideal weight? We have this idea of our "younger years" when we looked and felt our best. We want desperately to get back to that weight, but we view those days as long gone.

So is there any hope for achieving your ideal weight again?

Or perhaps the question on the mind of most, "Is it possible to stay there if I achieve it?"

Yes on both accounts!

And it's not that difficult if you make a commitment, allow me to repeat...if you make a commitment. To what? To your diet!

Don't get confused with the word diet. We are not talking about diet as in "I'm going on a diet." In which case most people have this painstaking notion about starving themselves. Unfortunately, anyone who chooses to diet like this will find themselves in the exact same position as you...Struggling with weight management.

diet, as in what you eat.

Sounds like advice from your doctor doesn't it? You have probably heard those famous words "watch what you eat" thousands of times. In fact, most people have heard it so much that they no longer pay any attention. It's almost as if those words have become boring?

Is this why so many people opt for fad diets, pills or other weight loss gimmicks? In case you haven't noticed, these methods do absolutely nothing for lasting results. They are quick weight loss fixes that provide fast results that don't last.

Perhaps you have tried one of these methods in the past? Maybe that is why you are still trying to manage your weight...?

Are you skeptical that a change in your diet would have much of an impact on your weight? It would be wise for you to keep an open mind just long enough to ask yourself, "have I ever actually followed this advice?"

The answer for most is NO!

When you make a habit of eating highly nutritious food for every meal your metabolism begins to operate at its most efficient level.

It may excite you to know that by changing your diet it is possible to achieve your ideal weight and stay there. You won't even have to think about managing anymore, your body will naturally take care of it for you.

Jason Clemens is a leading weight loss and nutrition coach.
"learn how to burn fat fast, achieve your ideal weight and feel great?"
It's easier than you thought possible!
=>Visit naturally-lose-weight-fast.com

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What is a Water Softener?

It seems a little strange that water is soft or hard. However, these are two recognized types of water. A water softener is a machine that removes certain elements from hard water, thus softening it and making it a little better to use.

hard water is water that has high amounts of calcium and magnesium. These elements can create stains on sinks and in tubs. It can also damage hair and leave skin feeling dried out and itchy. Not only can hard water be inconvenient in small ways, the buildup as a result of the calcium and magnesium deposits can actually clog pipes. A water softener can reduce the problems associated with hard water.

A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium from water. Some water softeners also remove iron. The water softener is a machine that, when connected to the water supply, actually softens hard water. Most water softeners require an amount of salt for their proper functioning. Because elements are removed from the water, they build up in the softener rather than pipes. This means that the water softener requires regular maintenance.

There are different sizes and types of water softeners. The more water used by a household, the bigger the water softener needs to be. There are also three different types of water softener: manual, semi-automatic and automatic. The automatic merely requires regular maintenance. The other two types require a more active role in the removal of calcium and magnesium from the household water supply.

While soft water is great for washing and bathing, hard water is more pleasant to the taste. As a result, many people find that it is nice to have one faucet in the home that provides hard water for drinking and cooking.

A water softener decreases the overall need for strenuous pipe maintenance due to buildup. It can also provide a more pleasant way to use water to bathe, as well as preserve the quality of clothes washed in a washing machine.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at http://www.water-softener-central.info

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Are Fat People Really Destroying America? Obesity is an Epidemic

As a freelance writer, I often look to write articles on important topics that are making the news, things people want to read about, topics that help people grow, change, learn something new, empowering, affect change or just make someone feel something or thing in a positive way.

I write for various freelance writing sites, and one of those sites allows other writers to write content for things they too think are hot topics. I enjoy reading and perusing this site, hearing what other people have to say, so one day, during a short break from writing, I stumbled across an article written by a woman who apparently has distaste for fat people she says that obesity is an epidemic, about which I cannot argue, but she goes so far as to state that fat people are a threat to national security and should be shunned by society.

She offers no solutions to the problem, but rather only rants about how she personally feels about the obesity epidemic in America today.

So I decided to do a bit of research about obesity in America and I discovered that her numbers were accurate in what was reported and the conclusion is: obesity and overweight are increasing in America, and around the globe, and it is affecting peoples health and lives.

However, to go so far as to blame all overweight or obese people for every problem that exists in America today, to say they should be shunned, or somehow insinuate that overweight people should be outcasts is just absurd and does nothing to help fix the problem of obesity and overweight issues in America.

obesity is on the rise for numerous reasons, including but not limited to: lifestyles we work more now than before, mostly office jobs, and there is not a lot of time left over for physical activity; overeating yes, some people are overweight because they eat too much; convenience and fast foods these have more starch, sugar, salt and fat than home made prepared foods; hormones cattle and poultry are raised on steroids and hormones, which when we consume meats we consume these too, and this is relatively new; better health care yes, some diseases that used to kill us now are treatable, but obesity is a potential side effect as well as new medications that werent on the market 15 years ago that cause weight gain as a side effect; and more.

If you are truly interested in battling the bulge obesity is causing in America, I invite you all to quit pointing the finger and laying the blame and saying, Bad fat people! and actually learn about why obesity is an epidemic and what we can do about it.

Michelle L Devon is a freelance writer and editor who frequently writes on the topic of obesity, overweight issues, dieting hints and tips, and provides articles on how to lose weight. To read one of her articles about the growing trend of obesity in America and the causes for it, an in depth view to the causes of obesity in America today, please visit: http://www.accentuateservices.com/obesity.html

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