Ho, Ho, Ho Or Bah Hum Bug

Posted by on October 13, 2008 · Leave a Comment 

I have always loved the holidays.  Always a fun and exciting time of year filled with hustle and bustle.  Some years, though, have been more difficult than others.  Many years, we didn’t really have enough money for Christmas gifts, and it put a lot of added stress on us.  The years had more and didn’t have to go into hock to make a Merry Christmas were also a lot nicer.  I didn’t have to worry about what I would get everyone, I could relax and shop early and get whatever I idea came into my head for that special person.  On years when I didn’t have enough money I would stress and by the time Christmas day would roll around, I would be completely broke and miserable knowing that I spent money that I didn’t have to get through it.  This year, I think that with the economy where it is, we all need to take a few steps back and really look at how much money we are spending on Christmas.  There is nothing fun about buying gifts and then stressing about how to pay for them.  I know I wouldn’t want to think that anyone was getting stressed about a present that they bought me and really couldn’t afford, the gifts are not that important but the people are.  It is a great time of year to acknowledge people, but you have to make practical choices and shop for the deals.  There are a lot of good bargains out there and a lot of really creative ways to give exciting gifts without spending too much money.  This year, let’s all be smart and limit our spending of dollars and just spend time with the ones we love instead.  It is more important than ever to realize that the material stuff is just stuff.  Let’s not buy into the madness that the local businesses perpetuate, let’s take a step back and just enjoy the holidays and not go broke in the process, after all you don’t want to end up in the same financial state as our government do you?

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Feeling The Crunch??

Posted by on July 23, 2008 · Leave a Comment 

If you are like most people you are probably starting to feel like the walls are closing in on you.  For so many people, who in the past have been making just enough money to keep their heads above water, the tide has shifted and the heads are not having any room to come up for air.  Well, everyone is feeling the pinch, some more than others, but instead of complaining about the issues, make a pact with yourself to take the necessary steps to give yourself some breathing room.

1. Watch your unnecessary spending.   So many of us spend without really thinking about it.  We are functioning on automatic pilot when we are out there in the world.  Sometimes just cutting out that extra cup of coffee and donut on your way to work in the morning can be enough to ease a little bit of the pressure.  Did you realize that if you buy one cup of coffee a day for a week that is the same amount of money that it would cost you to buy a coffee maker? Even with the price of coffee these days, you still save an enormous amount just by brewing your own.  Not only that but invest in a plastic travel mug and clean it out.  You will not only save on $$$ but also be helping out the environment.

2. You can do your own car repairs.  Did you know that many of the instructions for performing an oil change or changing out filters can be found right online? You can even find a diagram of your car’s engine, so that you will easily be able to locate filters in the car more easily. This will take a little extra time, but it is a wise investment that will not only save you money, but will also take up some time in which you might otherwise be spending money.

3. Cut out your home phone bill.  Did you realize that in addition to just functioning on cell phones, that you can also get cheap home phone service through your high speed internet connection? Not only that but you can reduce your bill from about $70.00 per month to about $20.00.  These online phone services don’t charge you for long distance fees, and you can sign up right online and choose your own phone number.  It is worth your time to look into this option.

4. If at all possible ride a bike to work or carpool.  This will save you on fuel expenses and let you use the fuel you are buying for recreational purposes.  Again another money saving tip that will also help the environment while also reducing the wear and tear on your car, which provides truly a double savings.

5. Save as much money as you can and put it aside.  Hanging on to your money is definitely the way to go.  Now more than ever, saving is important and needs to be looked at.  When the economy goes through a rough spot companies will be cutting back, so unless you are in the food or fuel industry, your job could become an extra expenditure that your company doesn’t need.  Being prepared by having a little nest egg tucked away just in case is definitely the way to go.

There are many things that we can do to help ourselves feel a little less out of control.  We may not be able to control the economy, but we can control how we spend our money.  We must use this ability to create a more powerful perspective on the situation.

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