I am trying to learn the right method for me in thrifty shopping. I like to keep a pricebook and a calculator with me. Also, there's coupons and sale ads to keep up with. I found some helpful information below to keep all this in one!
http://athriftymom.com/category/how-to-organize-your-coupons/
http://tipnut.com/coupon-organizer-system/
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
100 Easy Ways to Save Money
Here's a great online document with 100 ways to save money! I already knew these, but they are a great reminder and great for someone who doesn't already know. :)
http://www.bargaineering.com/100EasyWaysToSaveMoney.pdf
http://www.bargaineering.com/100EasyWaysToSaveMoney.pdf
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Meet the credit score perfectionists
Meet the credit score perfectionists
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/meet-the-credit-score-perfectionists.aspx?ucpg=2#uc2Lst
Here's how they achieved (or came close to) the ultimate rating for creditworthiness and what the rewards are for keeping the scores so high.
By CreditCards.com
Most Americans likely strive for good credit scores, but others take special care to achieve great ones. Meet some credit score superstars -- and learn why and how they keep those precious three digits so high.
Good scores are key to financial health
Credit scores were developed as tools to help banks and businesses make objective decisions. To generate them, a mathematical formula pulls credit report data and transforms it into a numerical rating. FICO scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850, and, according Fair Isaac, the creator of the scoring system, mortgage lenders consider anything above 760 as ideal.
Though it is the dominant score used, FICO isn't the sole scoring model. For example, the three major credit reporting bureaus -- TransUnion, Experian and Equifax -- produce the VantageScore, with a scale ranging from 501 to 990.
Factors that lower your credit score
Despite differences in each ranking system, they have one thing in common: A higher score indicates less risk. And having high credit scores makes you more appealing to lenders, employers and landlords.
Consequently, focusing on your credit scores is only natural. "People are drawn to this subject because it allows them to measure something that they equate to financial health," says Jose Rivas, the national education manager for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco.
That focus, however, can turn into anxiety, and conflicting information is often to blame.
"One article states that consumers should close their unused accounts," says Rivas, and "another states that consumers should never close their accounts." For this reason, getting the facts from reliable sources is essential. Like the following high achievers, you can create terrific credit scores with real knowledge and a specific sense of purpose.
Credit score vigilante
Dan Nainan, a comedian who frequently travels between New York and Los Angeles, has carefully built an 830 FICO score. Doing so enabled him to negotiate preferential terms with his premium reward card.
"I was able to drop the annual fee for my $450-per-year American Express card to $150!" Nainan also cites the "feel good" factor: "It's a comfort to know that wherever I go and whatever I apply for, I can get it."
Vigilance is Nainan's strategy. "If there's anything at all that might affect my score, I ask a ton of questions and go to the Internet and do as much research as possible. If I test-drive a car or sign up for a health club, I look at the fine print very carefully to see if they have a right to hit my credit file with an inquiry."
Nainan has programmed everything online "so that all of the bills pay themselves, and any and all credit card balances are paid off immediately."
Protecting a long history of timely payments
Want the very best vehicle loan available? Let your numbers do the talking. When Brenda Avadian, the founder of The Caregivers Voice, out of Pearblossom, Calif., was applying for a car loan, her 849 score helped her secure top financing.
"Saving thousands on interest charges is a tremendous motivator," says Avadian, who locked in 0% interest for five years. A loan with a 4% rate would have cost her an additional $3,200 on the same vehicle.
Avadian attributes her impressive score to a long history of timely payments. "And on those rare moments when a bill sneaks under some paperwork and it's either late or due that day," Avadian says, "I call and take care of it."
She believes her loyalty to the same banks (three credit accounts -- not too many, not too few) also helps. "Instead of constantly shifting to capture the best deal, discount rate, rebate points, etc., I've stuck with the same folks for years."
Regular charges, zero balances
At last check, Paul Entin, a marketing company president from Bloomsbury, N.J., held a 990 VantageScore. For him, it's a matter of honor and integrity.
"A high credit score indicates your name and your signature on a contract have meaning," he says. "It's an indicator of certainty . . . of character. It would be difficult to trust someone with a poor credit rating to the same extent you can trust someone with a higher credit rating."
Entin maintains his high score by using his business and personal credit cards regularly and paying them off every month. "It's not magic. Pay your bills on time, and pay the debt. Make it a priority. Pay attention to spending."
Keeping the right mix of credit
"Every time someone runs my credit, they say, 'Wow, I almost never see someone with credit that high,'" says Carrie Rocha of Minneapolis, the founder of the Pocket Your Dollars blog. She keeps it first-rate to preserve her autonomy.
"As someone who got out of $50,000 in debt in less than three years, I take a lot of personal pride in my financial freedom," she says.
Though Rocha has no plans to borrow money again, "I have no barriers when it comes to employment, insurance or other areas of life where my credit score is used to assess the kind of risk I am."
Besides "the obvious things like pay my bills," Rocha says she increased her scores by talking to her credit union loan officer, who said an overabundance of idle retail accounts was driving it down. She had opened the cards randomly during in-store promotions but never really charged on them, so there was no history to protect. After formally closing the accounts, her scores that were previously in the 720 to 740 mark rose to the 800s.
Does the perfect credit score exist?
Pursuit of excellence is often wise, but does "perfect" exist? Yes, says Craig Watts, the public affairs director for Fair Isaac. "Several thousand consumers do, in fact, have the highest possible FICO score."
Though most people won't reach the credit score apex, you can get close by consistently following three simple guidelines:
Pay all bills on time.
Keep credit card balances low.
Take on new credit only when you really need it.
Don't obsess over small credit score variations. "Lenders decide what score they will accept for their best-interest-rate product," assures Watts. "They genuinely don't care if your score is 50 or 100 points higher than that."
Clearly, A-plus credit has its advantages, but there is no reason to go overboard. Find a balance between attentiveness and fixation by understanding what those numbers can do for you and knowing how you can improve them. And remember: Credit scores gauge your borrowing history, not your value as a person.
This article was reported by Erica Sandberg for CreditCards.com.
Published May 3, 2010
More from MSN Money and CreditCards.com
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/meet-the-credit-score-perfectionists.aspx?ucpg=2#uc2Lst
Here's how they achieved (or came close to) the ultimate rating for creditworthiness and what the rewards are for keeping the scores so high.
By CreditCards.com
Most Americans likely strive for good credit scores, but others take special care to achieve great ones. Meet some credit score superstars -- and learn why and how they keep those precious three digits so high.
Good scores are key to financial health
Credit scores were developed as tools to help banks and businesses make objective decisions. To generate them, a mathematical formula pulls credit report data and transforms it into a numerical rating. FICO scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850, and, according Fair Isaac, the creator of the scoring system, mortgage lenders consider anything above 760 as ideal.
Though it is the dominant score used, FICO isn't the sole scoring model. For example, the three major credit reporting bureaus -- TransUnion, Experian and Equifax -- produce the VantageScore, with a scale ranging from 501 to 990.
Factors that lower your credit score
Despite differences in each ranking system, they have one thing in common: A higher score indicates less risk. And having high credit scores makes you more appealing to lenders, employers and landlords.
Consequently, focusing on your credit scores is only natural. "People are drawn to this subject because it allows them to measure something that they equate to financial health," says Jose Rivas, the national education manager for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco.
That focus, however, can turn into anxiety, and conflicting information is often to blame.
"One article states that consumers should close their unused accounts," says Rivas, and "another states that consumers should never close their accounts." For this reason, getting the facts from reliable sources is essential. Like the following high achievers, you can create terrific credit scores with real knowledge and a specific sense of purpose.
Credit score vigilante
Dan Nainan, a comedian who frequently travels between New York and Los Angeles, has carefully built an 830 FICO score. Doing so enabled him to negotiate preferential terms with his premium reward card.
"I was able to drop the annual fee for my $450-per-year American Express card to $150!" Nainan also cites the "feel good" factor: "It's a comfort to know that wherever I go and whatever I apply for, I can get it."
Vigilance is Nainan's strategy. "If there's anything at all that might affect my score, I ask a ton of questions and go to the Internet and do as much research as possible. If I test-drive a car or sign up for a health club, I look at the fine print very carefully to see if they have a right to hit my credit file with an inquiry."
Nainan has programmed everything online "so that all of the bills pay themselves, and any and all credit card balances are paid off immediately."
Protecting a long history of timely payments
Want the very best vehicle loan available? Let your numbers do the talking. When Brenda Avadian, the founder of The Caregivers Voice, out of Pearblossom, Calif., was applying for a car loan, her 849 score helped her secure top financing.
"Saving thousands on interest charges is a tremendous motivator," says Avadian, who locked in 0% interest for five years. A loan with a 4% rate would have cost her an additional $3,200 on the same vehicle.
Avadian attributes her impressive score to a long history of timely payments. "And on those rare moments when a bill sneaks under some paperwork and it's either late or due that day," Avadian says, "I call and take care of it."
She believes her loyalty to the same banks (three credit accounts -- not too many, not too few) also helps. "Instead of constantly shifting to capture the best deal, discount rate, rebate points, etc., I've stuck with the same folks for years."
Regular charges, zero balances
At last check, Paul Entin, a marketing company president from Bloomsbury, N.J., held a 990 VantageScore. For him, it's a matter of honor and integrity.
"A high credit score indicates your name and your signature on a contract have meaning," he says. "It's an indicator of certainty . . . of character. It would be difficult to trust someone with a poor credit rating to the same extent you can trust someone with a higher credit rating."
Entin maintains his high score by using his business and personal credit cards regularly and paying them off every month. "It's not magic. Pay your bills on time, and pay the debt. Make it a priority. Pay attention to spending."
Keeping the right mix of credit
"Every time someone runs my credit, they say, 'Wow, I almost never see someone with credit that high,'" says Carrie Rocha of Minneapolis, the founder of the Pocket Your Dollars blog. She keeps it first-rate to preserve her autonomy.
"As someone who got out of $50,000 in debt in less than three years, I take a lot of personal pride in my financial freedom," she says.
Though Rocha has no plans to borrow money again, "I have no barriers when it comes to employment, insurance or other areas of life where my credit score is used to assess the kind of risk I am."
Besides "the obvious things like pay my bills," Rocha says she increased her scores by talking to her credit union loan officer, who said an overabundance of idle retail accounts was driving it down. She had opened the cards randomly during in-store promotions but never really charged on them, so there was no history to protect. After formally closing the accounts, her scores that were previously in the 720 to 740 mark rose to the 800s.
Does the perfect credit score exist?
Pursuit of excellence is often wise, but does "perfect" exist? Yes, says Craig Watts, the public affairs director for Fair Isaac. "Several thousand consumers do, in fact, have the highest possible FICO score."
Though most people won't reach the credit score apex, you can get close by consistently following three simple guidelines:
Pay all bills on time.
Keep credit card balances low.
Take on new credit only when you really need it.
Don't obsess over small credit score variations. "Lenders decide what score they will accept for their best-interest-rate product," assures Watts. "They genuinely don't care if your score is 50 or 100 points higher than that."
Clearly, A-plus credit has its advantages, but there is no reason to go overboard. Find a balance between attentiveness and fixation by understanding what those numbers can do for you and knowing how you can improve them. And remember: Credit scores gauge your borrowing history, not your value as a person.
This article was reported by Erica Sandberg for CreditCards.com.
Published May 3, 2010
More from MSN Money and CreditCards.com
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Buying car tips
Buying car tips
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveonaCar/car-dealer-scams-to-avoid.aspx?page=2
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveonaCar/car-dealer-scams-to-avoid.aspx?page=2
Friday, June 12, 2009
Gas Saving Tips
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1065686
1. Multitask your shopping expeditions
If you know of a certain gas station that consistently sells lower priced gas and it’s out of your way, you might want to consider making a weekly journey to this destination.
This way you can take a day to get gas, buy your groceries, and take a walk in the park within a different area of the city where you live. In effect, what you are doing is multitasking and saving money on your fuel costs at the same time.
2. Paying for your gas the smart way
One of the ways that you can save money at the gas pump is by using a gasoline credit card. When you have a gas card you’ll be able to get 5 or 10 percent back on the purchase of your gas.
This can amount to as much as $300 each year. If you have multiple drivers in your family you’ll want to make sure that every car driving person carries a gasoline credit card with them so that you can take advantage of multiple gas sales.
Many gasoline companies are joining up with other retailers to give you numerous savings at the gas pump. You’ll be able to not only save on your gas purchase, but you’ll be able to earn points towards your next purchase with participating retailers.
3. Buy your gas in the morning or evening
Gasoline becomes denser in colder temperatures. Gas pumps are set to measure the volume of the fuel that you pump -- not the density.
This means that if you fill up your gas tank in the cooler morning temperatures or in the colder evening hours, you’ll be getting better gas price economy. (Try to fill up your gas tank later in the evening to avoid the rush of day hours.)
4. Buy gas from a busy station
Try to buy your gas from a gas station that is consistently busy and therefore has its underground tanks filled on a regular basis. Gas stations that are slow will have gas that has been sitting in underground tanks for longer periods of time, leading to gas contamination.
This contamination can mean that the gas you are purchasing is less powerful than fresh gas and will decrease your fuel economy.
5. Avoid fast getaways at the stoplight
Accelerate slowly when the light turns green. The faster that you accelerate the more gas that you are going to consume.
Make sure you start at the stoplight slow and steady so that you conserve as much fuel as possible while you are going from a stopped position into driving mode.
It may be tempting for younger people to accelerate and race away from the stoplight. Don’t fall into this trap and you can save up to 20 percent in fuel costs just by being a safe driver.
6. Accelerate before hills
If you are approaching a hill try to accelerate before you reach the hill. This will help you to use up less gas while you are climbing the hill in your car.
Remember to accelerate in a safe manner or you won’t be able to use this gas saving tip. You in no way want to put your life, or the lives of others, in any danger.
7. Ride a bike!
People know this works, but don’t do it! Try it, you might like it! You can save lots of money on gas, help the environment, and help your body. (Even a motorcycle or moped will save you money on gas.)
Top 10 Fuel-Saving Tips
Stop Driving Like a Maniac
Changing the way you drive is the most effective way to reduce the amount of fuel your car consumes. Accelerate gradually, drive smoothly and with care and you could see as much as a 33 percent gain in fuel economy on the highway and 5 percent around town, compared with what you'd get with an aggressive driving style, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That means skipping those jackrabbit starts at stoplights and sudden pedal-to-the-metal maneuvers on the highway.
Limit Use of the Brake Pedal
Anticipate stops so you avoid sudden braking. In fact, spend as little time on the brakes as possible. "Any time you hit the brake [in a traditional gas-powered vehicle], you are throwing away energy," says Eric Kaufman, engineering manager for fuel economy and drive quality at General Motors. Take a long view of the road ahead, coasting safely to an intersection in front of you where you see traffic stopped.
Observe Posted Speed Limits
A car or truck moving at 55 mph can get about 15 percent better fuel economy than the same car going 65 mph. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas.
Use Cruise Control Whenever Possible
Sure, it's a luxury convenience. But, when used properly, cruise control can also be a fuel saver. It smoothes out driver input, helps maintain an even speed and allows the driver to take a long look at the road, rather than reacting to every little change in the surrounding traffic.
Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling uses more fuel than turning the engine off and restarting it again. So if you are stopped for more than a minute, shut off the car. That means don't waste fuel by sitting in that drive-thru lane at McDonald's or Taco Bell; park and go inside instead. And shut off your vehicle while waiting outside the elementary school to pick up your children.
Turn the AC Down
When you're in slow city traffic, keep the air conditioner off, if possible. Lower the windows and open air vents to keep occupants comfortable. The air conditioner is a burden that uses fuel, and if you're tooling around town, you can see a slight improvement in gas mileage by keeping it turned off. On the highway, however, keep the windows closed and AC on low. Open windows will impede aerodynamics and hurt fuel economy.
Pulse and Glide
This is a favorite technique of so-called hypermilers, a unique breed of drivers who go to extraordinary lengths to get as much as they can from each gallon of gasoline. However, it can be done only with hybrid vehicles. The first step is to accelerate the vehicle to around 30 or 40 mph (pulse). Then, ease slightly back on the accelerator until no energy arrows appear on the energy monitor, indicating that the vehicle is neither relying on the engine nor recharging the battery. As a result, the car begins to glide. When the vehicle slows to about 30 mph, repeat the whole process again. The pulse-and-glide technique improves fuel economy by minimizing use of the internal combustion engine.
Plan Trips Ahead of Time
Combine your errands into one trip, rather than striking out multiple times during the day. Organize your stops so they're near each other and so you don't retrace your path. You may even be able to park in one central spot and walk between some of your stops, rather than driving and parking at each one. For commutes or events, organize a car pool and plan to travel during less congested times of day. When there's less traffic, you're more likely to drive smoothly. Use navigation aids on the Internet or in your vehicle to keep from getting lost — and thus wasting fuel — when you're headed to a new, unknown location.
Keep Up With Maintenance
A well-maintained vehicle operates at peak efficiency. An inefficient engine — with fouled spark plugs, for example — won't make optimal use of fuel. Be sure the air filter and the fuel filter are clean. Replace them if they're not. Even something as simple as having tires inflated to the automaker's maximum recommended pressure can improve gas mileage by as much as 6 percent, while periodic wheel alignments can help improve fuel economy up to 10 percent, according to the EPA.
Get Rid of What You Don't Need
Clean out that trunk, cargo area or pickup bed. Take out unneeded items that only add weight to your vehicle. Extra weight decreases gas mileage. According to the EPA, every 100 pounds of unnecessary weight could reduce fuel mileage by up to 2 percent. Also remove anything that causes additional aerodynamic drag, such as a bug shield, roof rack or cargo carrier. These have the same effect as adding weight; i.e., they increase the demand on your engine, causing premature wear and tear and reducing your car's fuel efficiency.
http://oursweetyhome.blogspot.com/2009/06/7-little-known-tips-that-will-save-you.html
7 Little Known Tips That Will Save You Money on Gas
With the rising cost of gas prices, and no end in sight, everyone wants to save as much money at the gas pump as they possibly can. You may not be able to control the price of gas but you can change certain habits and follow some basic guidelines to help you save as much money as possible.1. Multitask your shopping expeditions
If you know of a certain gas station that consistently sells lower priced gas and it’s out of your way, you might want to consider making a weekly journey to this destination.
This way you can take a day to get gas, buy your groceries, and take a walk in the park within a different area of the city where you live. In effect, what you are doing is multitasking and saving money on your fuel costs at the same time.
2. Paying for your gas the smart way
One of the ways that you can save money at the gas pump is by using a gasoline credit card. When you have a gas card you’ll be able to get 5 or 10 percent back on the purchase of your gas.
This can amount to as much as $300 each year. If you have multiple drivers in your family you’ll want to make sure that every car driving person carries a gasoline credit card with them so that you can take advantage of multiple gas sales.
Many gasoline companies are joining up with other retailers to give you numerous savings at the gas pump. You’ll be able to not only save on your gas purchase, but you’ll be able to earn points towards your next purchase with participating retailers.
3. Buy your gas in the morning or evening
Gasoline becomes denser in colder temperatures. Gas pumps are set to measure the volume of the fuel that you pump -- not the density.
This means that if you fill up your gas tank in the cooler morning temperatures or in the colder evening hours, you’ll be getting better gas price economy. (Try to fill up your gas tank later in the evening to avoid the rush of day hours.)
4. Buy gas from a busy station
Try to buy your gas from a gas station that is consistently busy and therefore has its underground tanks filled on a regular basis. Gas stations that are slow will have gas that has been sitting in underground tanks for longer periods of time, leading to gas contamination.
This contamination can mean that the gas you are purchasing is less powerful than fresh gas and will decrease your fuel economy.
5. Avoid fast getaways at the stoplight
Accelerate slowly when the light turns green. The faster that you accelerate the more gas that you are going to consume.
Make sure you start at the stoplight slow and steady so that you conserve as much fuel as possible while you are going from a stopped position into driving mode.
It may be tempting for younger people to accelerate and race away from the stoplight. Don’t fall into this trap and you can save up to 20 percent in fuel costs just by being a safe driver.
6. Accelerate before hills
If you are approaching a hill try to accelerate before you reach the hill. This will help you to use up less gas while you are climbing the hill in your car.
Remember to accelerate in a safe manner or you won’t be able to use this gas saving tip. You in no way want to put your life, or the lives of others, in any danger.
7. Ride a bike!
People know this works, but don’t do it! Try it, you might like it! You can save lots of money on gas, help the environment, and help your body. (Even a motorcycle or moped will save you money on gas.)
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