Hond Financial

Posts Tagged ‘recession’

Economic downturns are never much fun, but as Adam Smith noted centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Although none of us can say for sure when this most recent slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of stretching your cash in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving ideas tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do part of our shopping on the Internet now, not as many of us seem to have learned to coupon-hunt online. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com list thousands of current offers at merchants all across the Web.

 

2. Use price-comparison sites like Pricegrabber.com, Shopping.com, Google Product Search, and mySimon.com to find the best online deals.

 

3. When you’re out at a store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s text number) and enter the letter “f” followed by the name of the item you’re considering. Google will reply with a text quoting its online prices. To compare prices at local stores, visit ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club such as Costco or Sam’s and buying things in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a large family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is usually in the marketing hype and not the products themselves, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your green from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be found on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-grown food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce. Prices there are often lower since the food doesn’t have to be transported far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You should have an easy time finding them nearby since they’ve been popping up all over the place in the recent past.

 

9. Buy discount prescription drugs from online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying well under half as much for the generic medications sold at these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name medications at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your vehicle is seven years old or older and/or worth less than $2,500, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be nearing the value of your car anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk dealer and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Today’s kids love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpectedly high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messaging.

 

12. Use online classifieds to find used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are excellent resources for finding everything you need, from pre-owned furniture to baby gear. By buying from local sellers, you can save on shipping costs as well.

 

13. Go to matinees. The matinee showing is usually more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the power usage of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, have a romantic picnic instead of going to a pricey restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself an inexpensive rendezvous. Spice it up a little with a bottle of wine.

 

16. Instead of buying software, look for (legal) free software from places like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of software, the free alternatives will frequently be just as good as the paid versions.

 

17. If anybody in your house is a student, pick up the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and will get the holder 10% to 15% discounts in dozens of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will save energy when you’re asleep and away from the house. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll lower your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider quitting your health club. Less expensive options might include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby park and rec. center.

 

 

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains unchanged and links remain active.

Economic downturns aren’t ever especially fun, but as Adam Smith observed over two centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Though no one can say for sure when this latest slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of saving your money in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving ideas tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do some of our shopping on the Web now, not as many of us seem to have learned to coupon-hunt online. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com offer thousands of current offers at merchants across the Web.

 

2. Use price-comparison websites like Shopping.com, Pricegrabber.com, Google Product Search, and mySimon.com to find the best online deals.

 

3. When you’re at a brick-and-mortar store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s text number) and enter the letter “f” followed by the name of the product you’re interested in. Google will reply with a message quoting the online prices. To compare prices at stores near you, use ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s and buying in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a large family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is usually in the marketing hoopla and not the products themselves, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your green from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be found on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-grown food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce. Prices there are usually lower since the food doesn’t have to be transported very far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You should have an easy time finding one since they’ve been turning up all over the place recently.

 

9. Buy discount prescription drugs from online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying well under half as much for the generic pills sold at these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name pills at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your car is seven or more years old and/or worth less than $2,500, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be approaching the value of your vehicle anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk yard and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Kids today love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpectedly high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messaging.

 

12. Use online classifieds to find used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are excellent resources for finding everything you need, from used furniture to baby gear. By buying from locals, you can save on shipping costs as well.

 

13. Go to matinees. The matinee showing is usually more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the power consumption of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, have a romantic picnic instead of going to a pricy restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself a cheap rendezvous. Spice it up a little with a bottle of wine.

 

16. Instead of buying software, look for (legal) free software from websites like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of software, the free alternatives will frequently be just as good as the paid versions.

 

17. If anyone in your house is a student, pick up the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and will get the holder 10% to 15% off in dozens of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will save energy when you’re asleep and away. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll lower your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider quitting your health club. Less expensive options might include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby parks and rec. center.

 

20. Reduce your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

 

21. When you go out to eat, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid paying a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

 

22. Buy pre-owned books. Major online book retailers offer a “buy it used” option, where you can often find books in like-new condition at substantial discounts.

 

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and uninvolved, because someone with no experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers are sold in department stores for less than the price of some high-end haircuts.

 

24. Swap babysitting responsibilities with other families. Instead of paying a teenager to talk on the phone, send your children to the neighbors on your nights out and take their kids into your place for a few hours when they need some couple-time alone.

 

25. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights). They use about 1/4 as much electricity, last about 10 times longer, and can now often be found on sale for only $1 each if you shop around.

 

 

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains unchanged and links remain active.

 

Economic downturns are never especially fun, but as Adam Smith observed over two centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Though none of us can say for sure when this most recent slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of stretching your cash in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving techniques tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do part of our shopping on the Internet now, not as many of us seem to have gotten into the habit of coupon-hunting on the Web. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com offer thousands of current offers at retailers all across the Net.

 

2. Use price-comparison sites like Shopping.com, Pricegrabber.com, mySimon.com, and Google Product Search to find the best deals online.

 

3. When you’re at a store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s number) and enter the letter “f” and then the name of the product you’re looking at. Google will reply with a message quoting the online prices. To compare prices at local stores, go to ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s and buying things in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a large family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is often in the marketing hoopla and not the products themselves, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your cash from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be found on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-raised food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce. Prices are often lower there because the food doesn’t have to be transported far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You shouldn’t have a difficult time finding one nearby since they’ve been popping up all over the place in the recent past.

 

9. Purchase discount prescription drugs at online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying less than half as much for the generic medicines sold at these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name pills at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your vehicle is seven or more years old and/or worth $2,500 or less, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be closing in on the worth of your car anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk yard and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone expenses under control. Today’s kids love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpected high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited texting.

 

12. Use online classifieds to buy used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are great resources for finding everything you need, from vintage furniture to baby gear. By buying from locals, you can save on shipping costs as well.

 

13. Go to matinees. Matinee showings are often more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the power consumption of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, plan a romantic picnic instead of going to a high-end restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself a low-cost rendezvous. Spice it up a little with a bottle of vino.

 

16. Instead of paying for software, look for (legal) free software from places like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of application, the free alternatives will frequently be just as good as the commercial versions.

 

17. If anyone in your house is a student, get the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and it will get the holder 10% to 15% off in dozens of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will reduce energy usage when you’re sleeping and out of the house. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll cut your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider quitting your health club. Less expensive options might include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby parks and recreation center.

 

20. Cut your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

 

21. When you go out to eat, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid having to pay a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

 

22. Buy pre-owned books. Major online book retailers offer a “buy it used” option, where you can often find books in like-new condition at substantial discounts.

 

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and simple, because someone with no experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers are sold in department stores for less than the cost of some high-end haircuts.

 

24. Swap babysitting responsibilities with neighbors. Instead of paying a teenager to do homework, send your children to the neighbors’ place on your nights out and take their kids into your place for a few hours when they need some couple-time alone.

 

25. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights). They use about 1/4 as much energy, last about 10 times longer, and can now often be found on sale for only $1 each if you shop around.

 

26. Use financial-planning software like Quicken or the free offerings at Rudder.com.

 

 

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains unchanged and links remain active.

Economic downturns are never especially fun, but as Adam Smith noted centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Although no one can say for sure when this latest slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of sparing your wallet in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving techniques tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do part of our shopping on the Web now, not as many of us seem to have learned to coupon-hunt on the Internet. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com offer thousands of current offers at retailers all across the Web.

 

2. Use price-comparison websites such as Pricegrabber.com, Shopping.com, mySimon.com, and Google Product Search to find the best online deals.

 

3. When you’re out at a brick-and-mortar store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s number) and enter the letter “f” and then the name of the product you’re interested in. Google will reply with a text message quoting the online prices. To compare prices at stores near you, use ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s Club and buying things in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a large family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is often in the marketing hoopla and not the products themselves, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your green from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be found on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-grown food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce and meats. Prices there are often lower because the food doesn’t have to be transported very far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You should have an easy time finding them since they’ve been popping up all over the place in the recent past.

 

9. Buy discount prescription drugs at online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying less than half as much for the generic medications stocked by these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name medicines at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your car is seven years old or older and/or worth $2,500 or less, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be closing in on the value of your vehicle anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk dealer and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Kids today love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpectedly high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messages.

 

12. Use online classifieds to buy used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are superb resources for finding everything you need, from vintage furniture to baby gear. By buying from local sellers, you can save on shipping costs too.

 

13. Go to matinees. Matinee showings are usually more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the energy consumption of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, plan a romantic picnic instead of going to a high-end restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself a low-cost rendezvous. Spice it up a little with a bottle of wine.

 

16. Instead of paying for software, look for (legal) free software from websites like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of application, the free alternatives will often be just as good as the commercial versions.

 

17. If anybody in your house is a student, pick up the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and will get the holder 10% to 15% off in dozens of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will reduce energy usage when you’re sleeping and away. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll cut your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider leaving your health club. Less expensive options may include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby park and recreation center.

 

20. Lower your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

 

21. When you go out to eat, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid paying a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

 

22. Buy used books. Major online book sellers offer a “buy it used” option, where you can often find books in like-new condition at substantial markdowns.

 

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and simple, because someone without experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers can be found in department stores for less than the price of some high-end haircuts.

 

24. Swap babysitting responsibilities with neighbors. Instead of paying a teenager to surf the Net, send the kids to the neighbors on your nights out and take their kids into your place for a few hours when they need some couple-time alone.

 

25. Replace your incandescent lightbulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lightbulbs). They use about 1/4 as much electricity, last about 10 times longer, and can now often be found on sale for about $1 each if you shop around.

 

26. Use financial-planning software such as Quicken or the free programs at Rudder.com.

 

27. Exchange one-time-use items (such as books) with friends once you’re finished using them. If you each have things you’ll never use again but that the other wants, you can save yourselves the cost of buying them new.

 

28. Use public transport or a bike to get to work, if possible.

 

 

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains unchanged and links remain active.

Economic downturns aren’t ever much fun, but as Adam Smith observed centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Although no one can say for sure when this most recent slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of stretching your cash in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving techniques tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do some of our shopping on the Web now, not as many of us seem to have gotten into the habit of coupon-hunting on the Web. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com offer thousands of current offers at merchants all over the Net.

 

2. Use price-comparison sites like Pricegrabber.com, Shopping.com, Google Product Search, and mySimon.com to find the best deals online.

 

3. When you’re out at a brick-and-mortar store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s text number) and enter the letter “f” and then the name of the item you’re considering. Google will reply with a text message quoting the online prices. To compare prices at stores near you, use ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s and buying in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a sizable family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is often in the marketing ballyhoo and not the products, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your green from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be located on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-grown food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce and meats. Prices are usually lower there because the food doesn’t have to be transported very far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You shouldn’t have a difficult time finding one nearby since they’ve been turning up all over the place in the recent past.

 

9. Purchase discount prescription drugs from online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying well under half as much for the generic medications available at these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name medications at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your vehicle is seven years old or older and/or worth less than $2,500, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be approaching the worth of your car anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk yard and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Today’s kids love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpected high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messages.

 

12. Use online classifieds to find used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are excellent resources for finding everything you need, from vintage furniture to baby gear. By buying from locals, you can save on shipping costs as well.

 

13. Go to matinees. The matinee showing is usually more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the electricity consumption of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, plan a romantic picnic instead of going to an expensive restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself an inexpensive rendezvous. Spice it up a little with a bottle of wine.

 

16. Instead of paying for software, look for (legal) free software from websites like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of application, the free alternatives will frequently be just as good as the commercial versions.

 

17. If someone in your house is a student, pick up the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and will get the holder 10% to 15% discounts in scores of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will save energy when you’re sleeping and away from the house. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll lower your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider quitting your health club. More economical options might include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby park and recreation center.

 

20. Lower your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

 

21. When you eat out, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid paying a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

 

22. Buy used books. Major online book dealers offer a “buy it used” option, where you can often find books in like-new condition at substantial markdowns.

 

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and uninvolved, because someone with no experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers can be purchased in department stores for less than the expense of some high-end haircuts.

 

24. Swap babysitting responsibilities with neighbors. Instead of paying a teenager to do homework, send your kids to the neighbors’ place on your nights out and take their kids into your house for a few hours when they need some couple-time alone.

 

25. Replace your incandescent lightbulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights). They use about 1/4 as much electricity, last about 10 times longer, and can now often be found on sale for only $1 each if you shop around.

 

26. Use personal-finance software such as Quicken or the free programs at Rudder.com.

 

27. Trade one-time-use items (such as books) with friends once you’re done with them. If you each have things you’ll never use again but that the other wants, you can save yourselves the expense of buying them new.

 

 

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains unchanged and links remain active.

Economic downturns aren’t ever especially fun, but as Adam Smith observed over two centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Although none of us can say for sure when this latest slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of saving your money in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving ideas tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do part of our shopping on the Web now, not as many of us seem to have learned to coupon-hunt on the Web. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com offer thousands of current offers at retailers all across the Net.

 

2. Use price-comparison websites such as Pricegrabber.com, Shopping.com, mySimon.com, and Google Product Search to find the best online deals.

 

3. When you’re out at a store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s number) and enter the letter “f” and then the name of the product you’re considering. Google will reply with a text message quoting its online prices. To compare prices at stores near you, go to ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club such as Costco or Sam’s and buying in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a large family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is often in the marketing ballyhoo and not the products themselves, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your cash from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be located on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-sourced food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce. Prices there are usually lower since the food doesn’t have to be transported far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You shouldn’t have a difficult time finding them since they’ve been turning up all over the place in the recent past.

 

9. Purchase discount prescription drugs at online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying considerably less than half as much for the generic pills stocked by these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name medicines at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your car is seven or more years old and/or worth less than $2,500, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be closing in on the worth of your car anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk dealer and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Kids today love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpectedly high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messaging.

 

12. Use online classifieds to buy used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are great resources for finding everything you need, from used furniture to baby gear. By buying from locals, you can save on shipping costs too.

 

13. Go to matinees. Matinee showings are usually more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the electricity consumption of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, have a romantic picnic instead of going to an expensive restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself an inexpensive rendezvous. Add some color with a bottle of vino.

 

16. Instead of spending money on software, look for (legal) free software from websites like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of program, the free alternatives will frequently be just as good as the paid versions.

 

17. If anybody in your house is a student, get the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and will get the holder 10% to 15% discounts in scores of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will save energy when you’re asleep and out of the house. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll cut your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider quitting your health club. Less expensive options might include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby park and rec. center.

 

20. Cut your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

 

21. When you go out to eat, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid having to pay a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

 

22. Buy pre-owned books. Major online book dealers offer a “buy it used” option, where you can often find books in like-new condition at substantial markdowns.

 

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and simple, because someone without experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers are available in department stores for less than the cost of some high-end haircuts.

 

24. Swap babysitting responsibilities with other families. Instead of paying a teenager to watch TV, send your kids to the neighbors’ place on your nights out and take their kids into your house for a few hours when they need some couple-time alone.

 

25. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). They use about 1/4 as much electricity, last about 10 times longer, and can now often be found on sale for about $1 each if you shop around.

 

26. Use financial-planning software like Quicken or the free applications from Rudder.com.

 

27. Exchange one-time-use items (such as books) with friends once you’re finished with them. If you each have things you’ll never use again but that the other wants, you can save yourselves the cost of buying them new.

 

28. Use public transportation or a bike to get to work, if feasible.

 

29. When you need to upgrade your electronic gadgets, trade the old ones in for money at sites such as Gazelle.com and CellforCash.com.

 

 

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains unchanged and links remain active.

 

Economic downturns are never especially fun, but as Adam Smith observed over two centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Although no one can say for sure when this latest slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of sparing your wallet in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving ideas tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do some of our shopping on the Internet now, not as many of us seem to have learned to coupon-hunt online. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com list thousands of current offers at retailers all over the Net.

 

2. Use price-comparison sites such as Pricegrabber.com, Shopping.com, Google Product Search, and mySimon.com to find the best online deals.

 

3. When you’re out at a brick-and-mortar store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s number) and enter the letter “f” and then the name of the product you’re shopping for. Google will reply with a message quoting the online prices. To compare prices at local stores, visit ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club such as Costco or Sam’s Club and buying in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a sizable family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is usually in the marketing ballyhoo and not the product itself, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your green from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be located on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-raised food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce and meat. Prices are usually lower there since the food doesn’t have to be transported far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You shouldn’t have a hard time finding one since they’ve been turning up all over the place recently.

 

9. Purchase discount prescription drugs from online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying well under half as much for the generic pills available at these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name medications at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your vehicle is seven years old or older and/or worth $2,500 or less, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be approaching the worth of your vehicle anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk dealer and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Kids today love to text message, so save yourself from unexpected high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messages.

 

12. Use online classifieds to find used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are excellent resources for finding everything you need, from pre-owned furniture to baby gear. By buying from locals, you can save on shipping costs too.

 

13. Go to matinees. The matinee showing is often more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the energy consumption of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, plan a romantic picnic instead of going to a high-end restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself an inexpensive rendezvous. Add some color with a bottle of wine.

 

16. Instead of spending money on software, look for (legal) free software from websites like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of software, the free alternatives will often be just as good as the paid versions.

 

17. If someone in your house is a student, pick up the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and it will get the holder 10% to 15% discounts in scores of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will reduce energy usage when you’re asleep and away. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll cut your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider leaving your health club. More economical options may include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby park and rec. center.

 

20. Lower your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

 

21. When you go out to eat, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order at the cash register and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid paying a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

 

22. Buy used books. Major online book dealers offer a “buy it used” option, where you can often find books in like-new condition at substantial discounts.

 

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and uninvolved, because someone with no experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers can be purchased in department stores for less than the cost of some high-end haircuts.

 

24. Swap babysitting responsibilities with neighbors. Instead of paying a teenager to talk on the phone, send your children to the neighbors’ place on your nights out and take their kids into your place for a few hours when they need some couple-time alone.

 

25. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). They use about 1/4 as much electricity, last about 10 times longer, and can now often be found on sale for only $1 each if you shop around.

 

26. Use personal-management software like Quicken or the free offerings from Rudder.com.

 

27. Exchange one-time-use items (such as books) with friends once you’re done using them. If you each have things you’ll never use again but that the other wants, you can save yourselves the expense of buying them new.

 

28. Use public transport or a bike to get to work, if feasible.

 

29. When you need to upgrade your digital gadgets, trade the old ones in for money at sites like Gazelle.com and CellforCash.com.

 

30. Don’t shop for food when you’re hungry. If you do, you’re likely to purchase more than you actually need.

 

 

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains unchanged and links remain active.

 

Throughout the past 12 months we have seen quite a number of issues go bad with our much touted economy.  This year will go down in the record books as one that should not be repeated, but should not be forgotten.  Jump to the present and we are in a a pretty bad recession and our national deficit is spiking at an mind boggling rate.  

At this point 365 days ago gas prices were very high and people were singing the blues, if we thought that was bad jump forward to today and were crying for something to change.  

The trickle down effect started last fall when most of our giant banks began to sink and started begging for funds from the government.  This ignited chaos for scores of Americans, countless numbers of people lost their life savings in the stock market.  Speaking of which the market at one point dropped so low people were scared we were moments away from a horrible depression.  

The next sector that got majorly affected is the real estate industry.  We are now witnessing all time highs in the amount of foreclosures and the worst many think has not yet come to fruition.  The scams being run in the sub-prime mortgage sector are what began this entire mess and still continue to bring the economy down.  Most forecast it might take up to ten years for the real estate sector to be strong again.

Finally the automobile industry has run into some large problems.  Many of the large car institutions are in need of government money or are filing for bankruptcy.  If this is a sign of things to come it is quite scary.

Another growing problem for tens of millions of Americans is the escalating amount of defaults on credit cards.  Credit card debt has climbed to a record high as well.  Many debtors are going through a very hard time when attempting to get out of debt.  The good thing is there are debt solutions that can enormously help people to escape the never ending credit treadmill.  One of the more helpful systems of debt relief has become credit card debt negotiation, particularly throughout the recession.  This process aides debtors in saving a lot of income.  

The reason getting rid of credit card debt is imperative for so many is because unemployment is also skyrocketing.  Debtors need to keep more money for themselves to manage their expenses and keep them afloat.  With such hard times saving money has become so important, nobody going through problems right now should wait on trying to get themselves out of credit card debt.

While the world continues to strain under the burden of the ongoing global recession, there is never a lack of people who could use a hand, especially people in stock market trading. Many a multi-million dollar company has floundered or fallen as a consequence of successive financially crippling blows resulting from the ongoing recession, and many are still on edge. It is excruciatingly puzzling to imagine how stock market figures are dancing as companies struggle and fail one by one, and at the same time intriguing to see how analysts and traders are keeping up and riding the waves. Could it be because of their stock software? Could they have gotten their hands on a diabolical system keeping them from going off the deep end and into the chaotic mesh of stock market figures?

The World Wide Web has influenced almost every industry there is in the real world, including stock trading, and has sprouted cyber-industries that support their real world counterparts. For stock traders, the internet’s power cannot be ignored, and as a result, stock software became available and gained popularity. Traders benefit from futures trading system software in a number of ways. They can be like assistants and help with data gathering, organization, and analysis, and can even become AI traders. But to what extent can an individual making a living out of stock trading entrust his work to a packaged bundle of codes manipulated by a graphical user interface?

Anyone from stock market neophyte to seasoned stock trader can take full advantage of such systems.  It’s a known fact that many traders have other occupations as well, as such, managing stock trading at the same time can be tedious and inefficient. A stock analyzer pro review system that can analyze the data and organize information can basically do all the work and leave the decision making to the trader. And then there are stock software that completely take over the role of trader. Systems like these that collect data, analyze, and make decisions make trading almost fully automated. In a sense these programs just take the data a they’ve collated and analyzed and then take a step further by doing what they see fit in relation to collected information. Though of course many wouldn’t entrust their decisions regarding money to computers, albeit they would’ve made very similar choices based on the same data.

Either way, stock traders have lots of choices of software to invest in and rely on in the internet. A search engine could churn up a thousand and one results with one search. You might even stumble across an options university that could even guide you in those decisions. After searching, one can just go over the results and decide. In a ruthless industry markedly unique due to its risk factor, some may think letting machines call the shots may be a bit overboard, but their usefulness is irrefutable. This truth is even more stressed in today’s global crisis.

If you have been worried that you will not be able to survive the economic down turn you can stop worrying now. It doesn’t matter what your current situation is, there are many steps that you can take to help you make it through these tough economic times. Below are some very helpful and simple ideas to help you improve your current economic condition. Each idea or tip may not apply to you. However there are enough thoughts and ideas for you to find something useful. Continue reading below to find out how to make the most out of these difficult economic times.

In general credit and fast cash from the banks is getting harder to come by for a large portion of the population. This credit crunch means that people who were already living with tight budgets are extremely close to financial ruin. While it’s easy to focus on only the negative press that the recession is getting there are also many steps you can take to survive and improve your financial outlook during the economic recession. Here are some simple tips.

BE KNOWN AS A TEAM PLAYER

No one wants to lose a job. However, many people are losing there jobs during these difficult financial times. So do what you can and make sure you won’t be the next one to lose your job. Your attendance record should be excellent and you should arrive on time. Be willing to step up and take on additional work and department tasks. Stay away from confrontations with team members and supervisors as they can spin out of control under stress. This may seem obvious, but many people rather, “be right” than to stay employed. It’s not worth it and during this recession more people than ever are competing for the same jobs.

BE OPEN ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION

No one likes to admit they are having serious financial problems, but the alternative may be worse. Sit down and review your current financial situation. After you are certain about where you are at share this with family and friends. Let them know you are looking for ideas and not money and the conversation will go better. Talking over your situation will help you feel better, and the perspective of others may provide solutions that you have not seen yet.

STAY AWAY FROM ANY NEW LONG TERM DEBT

One thing to try and remember is that hard times don’t last forever. Even the great depression eventually came to a close. So now is the time to avoid debt that is going to put a major strain on your budget. Obviously, emergencies happen and you can’t avoid some short term debt, but avoid it as much as possible. Maybe now is the time to wait for that big item that will take 5 years to pay off.

Even though the banks aren’t lending in the way that they were in the past, however if you follow the ideas above they can help you through this tough time. Under the current economic times people are less willing to put emergency expenditure on to credit cards and are instead looking for a more flexible and short-term way to manage the emergency need for cash.

Cash advance loans are short-term loans and are repayable generally within a couple of weeks, more and more people are using them to handle those inevitable emergencies which strike us all from time to time. Many are able to borrow anywhere from $100-$1500 on a short-term basis using this quick and flexible method. Since these loans are available online, these budgeting tools are providing much-needed flexibility and access to credit for many people.