5 Quick Money-Saving Tips

Looking for new ways to cut back? Here are a few quick tips that could help you improve your budget.

Mix up your shopping
Doing all your grocery shopping in the same place may be convenient, but it could be costing you more money than necessary.

Different stores tend to offer better prices on certain things. For example, you might notice that one store is cheapest for fruit and vegetables, while another might be better for toiletries such as soap and deodorant. Try to learn which stores offer the best prices for each area of your spending.

Halve your 'luxury' spending
We all like to enjoy a few luxuries from time to time, but they can really eat into your income unless you're careful. So if you're really serious about improving your finances, why not aim to halve the number of non-essentials you buy?

This could be a lot easier than it sounds. For example, try buying a coffee every other morning, instead of every day, or buying take-out food every two weeks instead of every Friday. You may barely notice the difference in your lifestyle, but your bank balance will thank you.

Consolidate your debts
If you have a number of debts, trying to manage them all can be confusing. But by rolling them into one, you could make things much simpler - and it could even save you money each month.

For example, by taking out a debt consolidation loan and using it to pay off several existing debts, you'll be left with one debt instead of many. You could also reduce your monthly repayments by extending your repayment period - but keep in mind that you'd pay more interest this way than you would over a shorter repayment period.

Also remember that this isn't a suitable option for people with serious financial problems - there are other more appropriate solutions for that kind of situation.

Find out how much debt consolidation could save you each month with this debt consolidation calculator.

Take the gym outside
Are you donating a large chunk of your earnings to an expensive gym membership? You could save yourself a lot of money by avoiding the treadmill and taking to the streets instead.

Outdoor running allows you to enjoy the scenery while keeping fit - and apart from the cost of your workout gear, it's completely free.

Keep the change!
How often do you tell people to 'keep the change'? Some people give away a lot more money than they realize by doing this.

Instead, keep your change and start putting it into a 'piggy bank'. You're unlikely to raise a huge amount of money this way, but it does mean you have plenty of change available when you need to make a small purchase. And that means one less trip to the cash machine!

My Favorite Deal A Day Sites

There seem to be more and more of these deal sites around! I have found quite a few and thought I would make a list of my favorites.


I will start with the sites have free credits for signing up:

• HomeSav - Get $10 free for signing up! (Home decor, clothing...)
• Plum District - Get $5 free for signing up! (Local restaurants, spas...)
• Trubates - Get $5 free for signing up! (Food, spas, trips...)
• Heartsy - Get $5 free for signing up! (Handmade items from Etsy.com)
• BuyWithMe - Get $5 free for signing up! (Spas, events, clothing...)
• LivingSocial - Get $5 for signing up! (Trips, classes, events...)

*Note - the credits may take up to 48 hours to show up in your account for some of these sites.

My other favorite sites:
• WeShop -(giftcards, onlineshops...)
• One Kings Lane - (Mostly home decor items.)
• Rue La La - (Clothing, home decor, trips...)
• HomeRun - (Events, classes)
• Groupon - (Spas, trips, events, classes)
• VeryJane - (Handmade items)
• Barking Deals - (Dog items)
• Meowing Deals - (Cat items)
• Doodle Deals - (Items, classes for kids)

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Guest Post - Ways to save money on broadband

There are plenty of options to anyone who fancies getting themselves connected to mobile broadband, and oodles of gadgets that make the process simpler too. Best of all, thanks to increased competition and a pile of different deals always on offer, it is becoming increasingly cheap to enjoy high-speed internet while you’re on the move.
If you’re looking to save money then one of the main things to do before anything else is to go to a comparison website such as Broadband Genie. This allows you to get up-to-the minute information on every kind of broadband deal, as well as mobile options and smartphones.
Getting broadband at home offers plenty of choice with a variety of providers delivering high-speed internet, but use the online tools to find out whether or not the area you live in is well served by the deals that you like the look of. You can use a postcode checker tool to see if the services are available in your neighbourhood and also a line speed checker to see if the broadband will be of a decent rate when you do connect.

Going mobile

Signing up for mobile broadband is becoming an increasingly popular option for people on the move who wish to stay connected while they’re away. There are pros and cons for mobile broadband, as coverage is not always universal across the UK, which is why the postcode checker tool comes in handy again, and it can also be susceptible to fluctuations in speed and reliability.
However, there are always plenty of mobile broadband deals doing the rounds, and a little bit of time spent on a comparison site like Broadband Genie will allow you to weight up the options, and all without spending any money. Mobile broadband companies have lots of different incentives to persuade you to sign up with them including free laptop deals and also dongle deals.
A dongle is a small plastic USB device that plugs into a laptop or netbook to receive the mobile broadband signal. When you sign up for mobile broadband you may get given one of these, although it largely depends on whether you go for a pay-as-you- go option or a contract deal. PAYG can be good as you only pay for the time you are connected.
People who need their mobile broadband connection more frequently might be better off with a contract deal as these generally allow more flexibility, although will need you to sign up for a fixed period. Deals are plentiful with either option though, and lookout for special offers and also any freebies that might be thrown in with the deal, such as a router, software, extra data allowances or all of the above.

Smartphone options

Another route to take if you fancy having mobile broadband but without the need to lug a laptop around is the smartphone. These gadgets are becoming so powerful that they do much of the stuff that you'd normally need a PC for. However, the downside is that they have smaller screens and keyboards, but they can be perfect for people who need to stay connected while they're on the move.
A smartphone can be susceptible to the same coverage issues though, in much the same way as mobile phones can often lose their signal. However, there are also loads of deals for smartphones with some really generous packages doing the rounds. Lookout for data usage terms and conditions with all of these connectivity options, as there are limits on how much you can download and penalties for overstepping the mark.
Aside from that though, the world of broadband and mobile internet can actually save you a great deal of money overtime as you'll be able to find lots of money saving deals by being online much more. The speed of service and flexibility of mobile broadband also makes it hard to resist, no matter what device you’re using to receive it.  

About the author: Rob Clymo writes on behalf of www.broadbandgenie.co.uk, the independent comparison website for broadband, mobile broadband and smartphones.

10 Cheap, Fun Activities for Young Children

Every parent dreads hearing a certain two words come out of their kids' mouths: "I'm bored." Those words are even more discouraging if you're trying hard to save money. After all, it gets tough to say no to new toys and video games and to big-money trips to theme parks, concerts featuring the latest hip Disney star and kid-friendly hotspots like Chuck E. Cheese's.

The good news is that with a little creativity (and a willingness to let the house get a little messy) your family can have plenty of fun for cheap. Here are 10 great ideas to get you started.

1.) Make a giant fort in the living room. Pull out all of your blankets, sheets and towels, clear out an open space in the house and challenge your kids to make the biggest fort possible. All they'll need is some chairs, clothespins, thumbtacks and similar supplies to hold up the sheets. You can even allow your children to use the couch cushions to build walls.

2.) Camp in the back yard. Get out your old tent and host a camping trip in your own back yard. You can start the day by taking your kids on a hiking adventure around your neighborhood or a local park, staying on the lookout for interesting birds, insects and animals. Later you can grill hotdogs and hamburgers outside and even make s'mores in your microwave to make the experience more authentic.

3.) Check out movies from the library. You don't have to pay for pricey movie tickets, go to a movie rental store or buy your children their favorite movies to have a fun movie night with the family. Your local library will have plenty of children's movies you can check out for free. You might also ask fellow parents if they have any fun movies they can lend you. You can also save serious cash by getting a Redbox movie (only $1 a night) or by taking the kids to a matinee earlier in the day.

4.) Have a family picnic in a local park. Eating lunch together, feeding the ducks, rolling down grassy hills and playing on the playground makes for a fun, low-cost afternoon.

5.) Children's museums on free days. Children's museums (and even grown-up museums) are great educational experiences for the whole family, and the good news is there are always certain days during the year (usually state holidays) when admission is free. Be on the lookout for those days and plan your trip accordingly. Besides, you'll need something to do on the days the kids are out of school!

6.) Slumber parties. Ask your child to invite over his or her best friends and plan low-cost activities, such as scavenger hunts, sack races and three-legged races to keep them busy. Keep low-cost foods like hot dogs or finger sandwiches at the ready and low-cost drinks like Kool-Aid or homemade lemonade on hand.

7.) Plan a craft day. Go online and learn about fun crafts you can do with your children. You might use print paper to teach your children how to make unique snowflakes, teach your children how to make their own play dough or let them cut up a stack of magazines to create beautiful collages.

8.) Bike rides together. Put on your helmets and go for a bike ride as a family.

9.) Family game night. From Candy Land to Twister to Battleship families can have a blast playing games together at home. Card games are also fun with games like Go Fish and War being perfect for young children.

10.) Plan a water fight/bubble day. Water balloons and plastic water guns are fairly cheap and can provide hours of entertainment in your backyard on hot days. You can also easily make your own bubble solution using a little dish soap and water and fashion a wand out of a metal clothes hanger.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Roger Elmore, who writes on the topics of hotel management degree. He welcomes your comments at his email Id: rogerelmore24 @gmail.com.

Financial Haikus to Help You Save Money

Money worries can cause panic, so why not calm yourself with these helpful money-saving haikus?

Haikus are an ancient form of Japanese poetry, comprised of three lines of prose divided into five syllables, followed by seven, then five.

Why not reflect on your own financial issues and calm yourself to a Zen-like state by composing your own haikus?

Loose change

“Small piles of pennies

Grow into spendable sums

With time and restraint.”

After a night out, a friend of mine used to take the small change that remained and put it in a jar. Often it was only two or three pounds, but over time the small change would add up and he found himself with enough money for another night out. Of course you could put the money you save to better use, but it’s still a money-saving tip that requires very little effort.

Travel costs

“A lone man pays more

Than one who has company

Car-pooling saves cash.”

If you know somebody who lives near you and works in the same area as you, it would save you both money to share a lift to and from work. You can effectively cut your fuel in half by splitting the cost with another person, but why stop there? If there are three of you, organize a driving rota and cut your costs by two-thirds, and so on.

Savings

“Money is fleeting

So capture some in savings

For a rainy day”

It sounds simple, but if you are working to sort out your finances, your money should also be working for you. Putting your money into a savings account like a Cash ISA will not only keep some funds in reserve for emergencies, but it can also accumulate interest.

Utilities

“Be not complacent

For you may be paying more

Than you need to be.”

It’s easy to continue paying your monthly utilities bills without paying much attention. You may be able to save money by switching to a different supplier for your utilities. Use a price comparison website, or find out what sort of deals your friends get from their suppliers.

Food

“Your left-over food

Is a chance to save money

Freeze, thaw and enjoy.”

As the old saying goes “Waste not, want not”. You can cut your grocery bills down by buying and making food that can be kept for another mealtime. Chilli, for example, tends to result in leftovers in my house. If you wait for it to cool completely, you can cover it over and put it in the fridge for the following evening.

[Mark Hooson writes for the financial group at Moneysupermarket.com, one of the UK’s leading price-comparison websites, on the subjects of debt, money-saving and other personal finance issues.]

Money Saving Date Ideas

The important thing to remember is that you don’t need to come off as cheap in order to go on a cheap date. Sometimes affordable dates can be much more enjoyable than blowing a whole lot of money.

If your date is only interested in how much you’re spending maybe you should rethink this new relationship. Either way, here are some affordable date ideas that will allow you to have a great time without breaking the bank.

• Stargazing

All you need is the following: a night, a blanket, and a date. That’s it. Depending on where you live, you might want some bug spray or a winter jacket but this date idea is pretty straightforward. Curl up in a nearby park or even in your backyard. I’m not condoning drinking in a public place but a nice bottle of wine would make this a perfect evening.

• Movie date

You don’t need to sneak into a movie theater to catch a cheap flick. Stay home and watch it on your own television. Make sure you tell your family or roommates that you’re having a movie date so that it doesn’t become a free-for-all. There are more and more cheap ways to watch films in your home too: rent them, download them, borrow them from a friend, or watch one of those DVDs from your collection. Pop your own popcorn too and add a little extra butter for that authentic taste. Don’t automatically equate having a good time with spending money!

• Museums & Art

You’d be surprised at the number of free museums and art galleries that offer cheap days or a 2-for-1 deal. You can also take your date to free art shows that take place at local art colleges and universities too. The best art is free art.

• Picnic

Skip the fancy Italian restaurants because it’s time for a picnic. With a little creativity you can have a delicious meal at a quarter of the price you might pay at a restaurant. It’s also a lot easier to sneak a kiss in a park then it is in a stuffy restaurant. Your wallet will thank you.

• Wine tasting

Many wine shops and wineries hold free tastings. You can take your date on a nice drive out to the country and get to enjoy some fine wines – for free!
You and your date will get to nibble on some cheese and crackers and pretend you are connoisseurs of fine wine.



Going on an affordable date is easy with a little bit of planning and creativity. Good luck.

This is guest post is by Gary Kohler from the life insurance website LifeCover.ca.

Coupon Cactus - Cash Back for Shopping Online!

Because of my busy life I do about 70% of my shopping online, which I'm sure a lot of you do too. I am always looking for the best promotions out there to take advantage of.

Because of this it is great to find a site like CouponCactus.com. If you have never used a site like Coupon Cactus before, this is how it works. Every time you shop online you go to their site and look for the online store you had in mind. They are very likely to have whatever store it is since they have over 3,700 listed! After you find the store it will show you how much cash back you get after. Plus it will automatically bring up coupon codes that relate to that store. Once you have chosen your store and any coupons you would like simply click on "Shop with cash back only" or "Use coupon". from there it takes you directly to the store and you can shop like you normally do.

If you selected a coupon the discount will show at checkout so no need to enter any codes. How easy is that!

After you are done shopping your cash back will appear in your Coupon Cactus account in a few days. You can be sent this money by check or even directly into Paypal.

Plus best of all it's free to sign up. You can sign up here.

Father's Day gift guide... From Marshalls and T.J.Maxx

Marshalls and T.J.Maxx are the places to find the same designer merchandise as department and
specialty stores but for up to 60% less for every different father out
there. Here are just a few gift ideas that are perfect for dad - no
matter how hard he is to buy for:

*       For the "Techie" Dad: If dad is always in search of the newest
gadgets, why not pick up some great accessories to pair with them. Get
some MP3 add-ons like speakers, headphones or a leather carrying case to
make his music listening experience a special one. You can also grab
some fun laptop and office supplies that can make work more enjoyable.

*       For the "Sports Enthusiast":   For the sports fanatic in your
life purchase  some apparel from his favorite sports team so he can
showcase his pride. You can complete the package with a new pair of
brand-name sneakers.

*       For The Gourmet Chef Fanatic:  With summer right around the
corner help get him prepared with grilling tools and unique spices. A
new recipe book and apron will guarantee a summer full of tasty treats.

*       For the "Beach Bum":   If dad is happiest at the beach, help him
update those faded swim trunks and worn out flip flops with brand new
beach gear.  Add in a beach towel and a pair of designer shades to
complete the look.

Guest Post - 12 Deal Sites No Frugalista Can Live Without!

Online shopping has become one of the easiest, most convenient ways to buy what you need and have it delivered right to your door. Savvy women everywhere are utilizing the web to score major deals and browse larger selections than ever before. Check out these Top 12 deal sites that every frugalIista should know in order to get some great tips on where to begin your online search for trendy, inexpensive wares. Happy shopping!

1.Overstock.com – Overstock is the granddaddy of all fashion shopping sites, offering designer goods, including clothing, jewelry, and even furniture and incredibly discounted prices. Free shipping is often available as are “secret” designer sales.

2. Groupon.com – A relative newcomer on the online shopping scene, Groupon uses the scope of the web to link strangers together to utilize coupons only redeemable in groups, such as a “buy 4, get one free” deal.

3.Zappos.com – If shoes are your thing, Zappos is the place to start. Featuring literally thousands of brands, styles, and even a variety of unusual sizes, this website offers users a huge selection at super low prices.

4. Pricegrabber.com – This site allows you to search for a specific item, say, a designer scarf, then crawls the internet and brings you back the best deals, all in easy to read, clickable results. It’s a great way to avoid spending all day searching multiple sites for prices.

5. RueLaLa.com – Women everywhere are buzzing about Rue La La: a private, invitation only online store which features boutique sales on hard to find designer items. The sales are only open for a short window, but great deals are to be had if you can score an invite.

6. ShopItToMe.com – Perfect for the woman with so little time she can’t even manage to web shop, Shop It To Me scours the web in search of your pre-selected brands of choice, and sends you personalized email alerts when those labels go on sale or release VIP promotion codes.

7. TheBudgetFashionista.com – Around since 2003, The Budget Fashionista is a blog run by an admitted frugal shopper. Constantly updated features include news and information on brands, sales, and the latest collections.

8. RetailMeNot.com – Retail Me Not is more or less a coupon hub, offering the latest and most useful coupons on the web today. Search here for the brands you never find on sale and you just may get lucky!

9. DealTime.com – This sites works as an aggregate. You type in the brand or item you’re looking for, and it brings you back the item at the lowest price on the web. You can then purchase your find directly through the site, which has free shipping and a money-back guarantee!

10. Shopzilla.com – A great way to find out what’s trendy, Shopzilla works like other bargain hunting sites as it draws together deals from the web. However, it’s special in that it also displays what others are shopping for right now – a surefire way to stay on the pulse of what’s hot in fashion.

11. BagBorrowSteal.com – One of the most talked about sites of the last 3 years, Bag Borrow Steal allows users to actually rent pricey designer handbags for a specified time. This is a great way to get the latest bag while still having enough left over to keep some money inside it!

12. Amazon.com – Tried and true, amazon.com truly is the premiere site for deal hunting. Featuring books, electronics, clothing and more, start and end your search here for the end-all, be-all of shopping comparison sites.

When not shopping for Amazing deals, Melissa Tamura writes about online degrees for the Zen College Life blog. She most recently ranked psychology colleges in the USA.