Posted by admin on May 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment
In a struggling economy, more and more people are looking for ways to save money. Many stores, however, are taking advantage of this market and are trying to convince you that they are running sales and specials, that are really no bargain at all. The only way to really spot this out is to know your prices. If a price is genuinely lower and bumped up for the sole purpose of discounting it and still making close to the same profit, then really it is just a scam to get you to spend your money. That is why it is very important to be a wise shopper.
TIPS TO SHOPPING WISELY:
- Shop with a list. This will keep you from being drawn to items that you don’t need just because they are “on sale”.
- Be sure to use flyers from stores as well as the internet to shop around. Many times when a certain store in your area has a product on sale, you will find that other stores in your area will reduce the price on that item even more.
- Know the prices of the items that you regularly buy. This can help you spot what is truly a good deal.
- Consider buying items that you use a lot in bulk. Some of these items can actually be purchased online and shipped to you for less.
- Don’t impulse shop. If you have a specific need, then look around before making a purchase, don’t fall into the trap of I need it right now. This can allow you to fall victim to price gouging.
- Don’t be afraid to wait. Many times we just buy what we need because it is there, but it is truly best to buy everything when it is at its lowest possible price.
- Ask around. Many times when you are looking for a good deal on something, the people you know can be your biggest helpers. So don’t be afraid to ask, they may just know a friend of a friend or a bargain basement store where you can get a better deal.
It is important to use all the resources available to get the best prices these days. So don’t just buy the ads that the stores are running. Do the comparison yourself and you will find this method can help you really save big.
Filed under cutting back · Tagged with bargain, bulk, deal, discounting, economy, impulse, money, price, profit, purchase, reduce, running sales, save, scam, shop, shopper, specials, spend, stores
Posted by admin on February 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It is time to start thinking outside the box when it comes to making money. Conventional jobs are becoming more and more scarce, and yet people are still in need of money to survive. What can you do if this is you? You have cut back everyway you can think of, and yet you are still struggling just to pay the bills and eat. Maybe, you have even suffered a layoff, or a cut back in your hours, making things tighter than they have ever been before.
Everywhere you look people are saying SAVE, but you are thinking I can’t afford to save, I can’t even afford to survive. Okay, then this is the blog for you. It is time to begin thinking about skills and abilities that you possess that you can use to generate more money.
Here are some really simple ideas that could generate you some dollars for you with very little or no overhead at all:
1. Start A Cleaning Business. Office cleaning, house cleaning, many people use a cleaning service, and with only a few supplies you can start up a business that you can work on your own schedule.
2. Tutoring. If you are good at a certain subject, take on tutoring. You can even hang up signs or put ads in the newsletter at your local schools.
3. Find Treasures. Some people are good at thrift store shopping and can find things that are worth a lot for a little, then they resell them online and make good money doing this. It takes a good eye for this one.
4. Babysit. Another way to pick up some extra money. If you don’t like kids then this is not for you.
5. Lawn Service. Believe it or not, this is one of the most lucrative home businesses and affords you to make some really nice money with just the few lawn tools that you already have.
6. Handyman, maintanence. If you are handy, then advertise your services. With more and more women living on their own, this is a business that is always in demand. Even the women who can handle some of the jobs around the house, usually can’t keep up with all of it. This type of business could also be a renovation business if you are that handy.
7. Buy and Sell. Many people are buying things wholesale and marking them up like the retailers do. With the help of the internet you can do this too. Start by looking up wholesale companies and see if you think that you found something that would be worthwhile to sell. Stay away from knick nacks, with the failing economy these will be the last items that people will be buying.
There are lots of great ideas out there, so think outside the box and get on your way to finding some money out there that you didn’t even know existed. There is always need, you just have to find it.
Filed under Making More · Tagged with afford, affords, babysit, business, buy and sell, buying, cleaning service, conventional jobs, cut back, dollars, extra money, failing economy, handyman, home businesses, jobs, layoff, lucrative, maintanence, making money, more money, nice money, renovation, resell, retailers, save, scarce, survive, tighter, tutoring, women
Posted by admin on November 17, 2008 · Leave a Comment
I think it is amazing that so many people know how important it is to save for their retirement, and still when you ask them about their retirement funds they have no clue. They don’t know whether they are in stocks, bonds, or funds, they don’t know how much they are yielding, how much they are contributing or even how much money they have in there.
It is important that you not only begin saving for your retirement, but that you make the most of the money that you have invested in there. Right now the market is up and down, and although that has a few people sitting there hoping that they don’t lose anything, this is also a great time to get in on the ground floor of a company that will weather through the storm. Taking this opportunity to by some really good stock cheap is a wise move, and as long as you don’t need your money in the next few years, this really could be the opportunity you have been looking for to make your retirement fund grow in ways you never thought possible.
It is okay if you are unsure as to what you are doing. If you really don’t understand the whole thing, then seek out some financial advice. It is really important not only to save for your future, but also to take advantage of the opportunities that this current economy may be providing you with. It is a good idea to put money into your retirement, but if you have it sitting in a low interest fund, then you may not be making the most money that you can. It is time to look towards the future, and you can begin that process by first understanding your money and knowing where it is.
Filed under Investing · Tagged with bonds, cheap, contributing, down, financial advice, funds, future, invested, lose, low interest, market, money, most money, opportunity, Retirement, retirement fund, retirement fund grow, retirement funds, save, saving, saving for your retirement, stock, stocks, understanding your money, up, yielding