Moneytrackin': Popular global tips written in English (English)

Saving money on food

jeffx — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:21:13 +0200

The following are general rules to follow when food shopping. 1. Never shop hungry, you will get cravings which will convince you to buy more. 2. If possible, shop alone. (couples can take turns). This decreases the time spent in the supermarket because you don't have to discuss what to buy which reduces the possibility of 'impulse purchases'. Also, you will never end up saying "okay, let's just get both" like you might if you found yourself arguing with another person over what flavour or brand to get. 3. Write a list, make sure it covers every meal and snack over the week or fortnight. 4. Read information on packaging about 'servings per pack' etc. To ensure you buy what you need and not too little or too much. 5. Avoid doing 'small grocery shopping'. How many times do you plan on going to a store for bread and milk only, yet come out with several bags full of groceries. If you wrote your shopping list properly you shouldn't need anything else. Even perishables like milk have a 10 day shelf life these days, (which leads on to the following rule) 6. Check use by or best before dates. Look for the farthest away date on perishables. The newest stock should be found at/rotated to the back of the shelf, provided that the supermarket staff are doing their job properly. The general rule for supermarket shelf filling is F.I.F.O (First In First Out). 7. Buy the stores own brand. AKA, corporate brands, house brands, home brands, budget brands. These are often the cheapest products in the store yet they are all made under contract by some of the big brands/market leaders. Also, try to bring your lunch to work to prevent you from going to the nearby cafe and paying a colossal amount of money for something that you could have made 20 of for the same price if you bought the ingredients yourself.

Internet connection while traveling with fon.com

victor — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:26:47 +0200

The spanish startup FON offers low-cost wifi connection for just 5€/day. If you already have a broadband Internet connection at home, you can share a little of your bandwith and roam the world for free, connecting to the hotspots of the other members of FON community. More info at www.fon.com Find hotspots at maps.fon.com

List of low cost airlines. Fly cheap

flippel — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:11:06 +0200

Europeans have become used to flights for under 10 euros with companies like Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) and EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) which use secondary and tertiary airports. In the States Skybus (www.skybus.com) also offers $10 seats and for inter-continental flights there are Condor based on Germany (www.condor.com), Zoom Airlines in Canada (www.flyzoom.com) and Oasis Hong Kong in China (www.oasishongkong.com). Wikipedia has an updated list of Low cost Airlines: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines

How to make sure you ALWAYS make rent

missmeganbunny — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:39:51 +0200

If you're like me and you pay rent on an apartment or house every month– and sometimes don't budget your money well – try this tip to ensure you NEVER fall short when it's time to pay rent. I created a savings account in both me and my husband's names. I calculated exactly how much out of each paycheck (both of our paychecks) should go to rent. My paydays are biweekly, so every pay day I deposit half of my check into the rent account, half of it into my checking account. My husbands are direct deposit and they are every week, so I use phone banking to transfer X amount of each of his paychecks into the rent account too. I just make it a habit, and eventually it becomes second nature. This way, at the end of every month, all of the money I need to pay rent is sitting in that extra account, completely out of danger of me dipping into it by overspending. This can work for ANY type of big bill you worry about every month. Just divide the amount of the bill by as many paychecks as you'll be receiving to figure out how much of every check to deposit into the savings account. And never come up short for another payment!

How to find the cheapest petrol station near you (UK)

surfergrl — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:15:28 +0100

www.findcheappetrol.com www.petrolprices.com/ Check the cheapest station near you. Do others a favour and remember to put in how much your petrol/diesel cost wherever you fill up. I use it to avoid the tourist trap petrol stations in Cornwall!

Fuel saving tips

albert — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:35:22 +0200

We could all save a substantial amount of money by adopting a few of these fuel saving driving tips. It's good for the environment and it's good for our pockets too. By keeping an eye on your MPG you can get early warning of problems like slow punctures or engine faults before they become more serious. Allow the car to drift the last 700 yards up to a junction rather than accelerate all the way. Drive with a maximum 1/3 to 1/2 throttle - if you get the revs right you will not notice much of a loss of power. Avoid braking and stopping (2 of the biggest fuel wasters) - anticipate the road ahead and roll up to roundabouts. (If you're good you can avoid using your brakes on a typical journey!!!) f it's hot open the window rather than turn on the air conditioning, if it's really hot open another window and turn the blowers on, if your steering wheel starts melting then turn on the air conditioning. Avoid using things that drain the battery - because extra pull occurs on the Alternator requiring more fuel (air-con is very noticeable). The big drains are rear window heater, blowers & heaters, headlights. Inflate your tyres to the correct pressure. Try to maintain a constant speed - 75 mph uses far more fuel that 65 mph. A distance of 50 miles at 75 mph takes 39.6mins but at 65 it takes 46.2 mins So is 6.6 minutes of your time, the increased risk of being killed, the extra damage to the environment and the extra wear on the engine really worth the extra 25% fuel cost! Hotter engines are more economical than colder ones - changing the thermostatic control or partially blocking the radiator MAY help on SOME cars. (Run the engine too hot and you will break it - you have been warned.) Empty the boot of tools you've use and haven't got round to taking out, the camping equipment from last year, and the box of junk you have kicking around - less weight = more fuel economy so if you went on a diet that would help as well. Keep the car well serviced - change the plugs, oil, filters and check the bearings and ensure that the brakes are not dragging. Fully disengage the handbrake as well when you drive off! Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time - turn it off at railway crossings etc... Don't be lazy. Walk to the corner shop - it's only 3 minutes away.

Learn to eat at home more

jeffx — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:28:53 +0200

Cooking at home is a really good way to begin to start spending less money. If you’re used to going out to eat whenever you’re hungry, this can be a rather difficult transition to make. Our minds would like to eat more at home, but when we’re hungry emotion kicks in and we find ourselves eating fast food once again. Here are some tips that should help you kick the habit of eating out too much. Start Simple – You don’t want to overdo it and try to stop eating out cold turkey. Instead start small, and pick out a few recipes from some cookbooks or the internet and give them a try. Pick out one or two day a week where you cook for yourself rather than going out to eat. If your recipe was a successful, save it for later and make it again some day. You can even bring the leftovers to work if it was really good and that way you won’t have to eat out over the noon hour. Don’t Relegate Yourself to Frozen Food – A lot of people go out to eat because they think the food is better, and if all you ever eat is frozen food and don’t teach yourself to cook, you’re going to be stuck with some really bad food at home to eat and will start letting yourself to go out to eat a lot more. Commit yourself to making some real food with actual ingredients and put an honest effort into learning to cook. Start With Easy Ingredients – When you first begin, there’s no way that you’re going to be using some of the things that you’ll commonly see on the food network. Just start out easy with things such as hamburger, vegetables and the like. You can even use some of the conveniently packaged items such as bags of shredded lettuce and pre-made hamburger patties. It’s still cheaper than eating out, and later you can step it up to the raw ingredients. Get a Good Recipe Resource – A lot of people might suggest that you go out and pickup a classic cookbook, which is fine. If you’re web savvy, Google is a great source of recipes. Just type in whatever you want, and chances are you’ll be able to find a decent recipe for whatever you want to make online. If you’re looking for a good starter cookbook, pickup “How To Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman. Bittman shows you how to make a lot of great different foods with not a lot of ingredients. Think Mexican – If you can get tortillas, shredded chicken, beans, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream, you can make dozens of different meals with just a few different ingredients. You could make taco salad, tacos, enchiladas, or just about anything off the menu from Taco Bell. By following these tips, you’ll be able to start out small by preparing yourself a few meals a week. You’ll start out with some basic ingredients and recipes, and then later be able to expand your palate when you become a better chef.

21 Money-Saving Sites from Around the Web

albert — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:42:59 +0100

Just found an interesting link on the recommended "Get rich slowly" website. www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/21/21-money-saving-sites-from-aroun/ There is a list to many sites that could help you save some pennies by gathering free coupon codes together, as well as bargains and sales from many stores Check it out!

Look for discounts on online shops

victor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:17:08 +0200

Most of online stores like Amazon, Apple Stores and so on have a box to enter promotion or discount codes. Usually they are little discounts or free shipping, but sometimes you can get a truly bargain. There are some webs that mantains an updated databases on these codes, so I really recommend to waste 5 minutes looking these websites for the code you need: www.currentcodes.com www.retailmenot.com www.couponmountain.com www.searchalldeals.com

Keep plastic money to a minimum

dvkvarma — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:51:19 +0200

Swiping a credit card for Rs 1000 does not pinch as much as fishing for the 'big' notes in your purse. Have a ballpark estimate of your expenses before you leave home and carry that amount in cash with you. What this ensures is that most credit card transactions you make are on unplanned, mostly frivolous expenses. This will help you cut down on your credit card spending. Credit cards get you into the bad habit of swiping first, evaluating later. This way, every time you are about to make a purchase on your credit card, it will be a little reminder to re-evaluate your purchase.

Payday Loans

neko — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:00:29 +0100

Payday Loans. Well it seems like an easy fix right? Wrong. I'm still paying on a payday loan I took out a year ago. If you take out a payday loan - NEVER Extend it. It's just like taking out a new loan and you will end up coming back two weeks later to pay them the same amount. So far I've put almost $5000US into a payday loan that was originally $700US. If you take a payday loan, Give them $100US more then your interest, It will lower your rate and move the loan along alot better then extensions. Be sure you know the place too, I've seen some pretty questionable Payday Loan places that basically have you sign away your right to any form of legal action against them.

How to manage your account(s) wisely

shiyangsun — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:23:40 +0200

It's better to open a savings account and transfer some spare money to earn interest, esp. in countries where saving interest is comparably high.

Manage your Tags

moneytrackin_de — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 06:55:57 +0200

Hi All, Here is the quick tip i would say regarding the tags. Make a tag for each and different transaction. The basic tags would be food,salary,travel,Clothing,Movie,Rent etc And coming to some cases where you would need to have separate transactions like paying of your internet bill, phone recharge ,loan repayment... When all the spendings are divided among the tags, there would be a quick glance on what item i have spend in the whole of the transactions and easy way of comparing between them from month to month... Madan N

Secret Amazon discount finder

victor — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:51:47 +0100

I've found this useful web where you can search for great discounts on amazon online store deallocker.com/tool/secret-amazon-discount/

Money tracking on the web.

bsas — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:34:56 +0200

Keep track of my money. Important things in life are not for free.

Make lunch at home.

kalif — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:05:59 +0100

Be sure to mix it up so you stick to it.

Email updates on items you want

kaching — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:05:50 +0200

If you want updates on items you would like to buy in the future, sign up for FREE at dealnews.com. They gather deals and coupons from online stores all around the web and can give you updates for almost anything you can think of. I ordered a refurbished wireless router that dealnews notified me about and it works like a charm.

Cheap airfares

hugocaracol — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:09:03 +0200

If you're european, try Ryanair (www.ryanair.com/site/EN/). They have some nice deals all the time. I managed to fly to Ireland from Portugal, for €5.5

Save on gasoline(petrol)

jorgelares — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:26:29 +0200

Remember to always fill up your tank when going to the gas satiation. This is better than putting $5 of gas every other day plus you save some time of your busy schedule.

rainy days

gahlord — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:00:59 +0200

Every time you deposit money, earmark 10% for your rainy day fund. Ideally, put it in an account that is not connected to a debit card or checkbook. 10% will not be too noticeable or painful to save, but it will add up and provide peace of mind. If 10% is too hard, try 5%.

Checking Vs. Savings Accounts

neko — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:24:55 +0100

There are a lot of tips with suggestions for using a separate -Savings- account to pay bills with- So I thought I'd add this little tip. Savings accounts- Pro's: You can pay bills with savings accounts, and even pay bills Via 'Check-by-phone' payments, you just give them your regular routing number, and then your savings account number. You must establish weather or not your bank allows these transactions, but most do. You never see the balance in your checking and you're not tempted to spend it. Con's: A savings account is something the bank can use to determine if they will give you a loan. They look at how often you make deposits, and how long those deposits remain. A Savings account will normally have a 'Minimum Balance' you must maintain to keep the account open. It's a pain to find your automatic payments have come to a screeching halt because you forgot to keep $25US in the savings account. You don't get a checkbook with a savings account. Checking Accounts- Pro's: No limitations on types of transactions; credit, debit, checks, check-by-phone, and direct-debit(auto payments). No minimum balance on most checking accounts. Most banks will give you both a Primary and Secondary checking account if you ask them with no additional charges. A Secondary Checking account will have a separate statement each month so you can easily see if all of your payments were made on time. Con's: Another charge for checkbooks, if you need them. It's another account to keep track of. So when you break it down sometimes the Savings account isn't helpful to your situation. But in some cases where there is no minimum balance or credit issues, this is a most beneficial solution for most people. <3 Neko

Don't start and stop engine needlessly

victor — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:55:27 +0200

Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.

Cancel that gym membership!

dannynicholls — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:50:55 +0200

Lets be honest, 90% of you dont use it ... so cancel it!

Pumping Gas Can Save You Money.

neko — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:53:18 +0200

When you tank up, there are always the three little hooks on the inside of the pump-handle. Use the first one. This will cause the gas to pump slower, but it will create fewer fumes. When gas is pumped it's measured based on volume pumped-only problem with that is, the faster moving pumps create friction that cause the gas to change into a gas(oi! stay with the logic!) these gas fumes then come creeping out of your tank. so you can loose some of your gas before you even start your motor. pumping in the morning or evening as some have mentioned does infact help as well, just depends on your climate. If its cooler in the mornings pump in the mornings, if you live in the mountains like I do then there are times when the evenings are better. Just chek weather for the low temp of the day to be sure when to pump and KEEP IT SLOW!

Decrease shopping costs

Laurens — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:23:37 +0100

Write everything down you might need and then just buy that. Don't buy things you didn't foresee. Always stick to your "shopping list". Shops have all sorts of marketing tricks to lure the customer into impulse-buying.

Make Worldwide Phone Calls for FREE!!

dvkvarma — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:54:13 +0100

www.flashphone.ru/ Flashphone users can make and receive calls in any place of the world using any computer or even PDA (communicator), the only thing is needed is the access to the Internet. For example, you can go to the internet cafe in foreign country and make a call to your relatives minimizing your spendings. ** Call length is limited by 5 minutes 1 test per day allowed (For now in beta version)

Teaching kids sound spending habits

rlw7163 — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:40:11 +0200

The best way to encourage sound spending habits is to exhibit them. When planning a trip to the grocery or discount store, get your children involved in making a judicious list and sticking to it. This will teach them to avoid the bane of all savers: impulse buying.

Energy Tips

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:52:25 +0100

Caulk and weather strip your doors and windows it can save you up to 10% Wash dishes and clothes in full loads.

hot uk deals

apieroux — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:48:07 +0100

Try www.hotukdeals.com/ for some great bargains

Lower the water bill and save the air conditioner

snoyes — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:38:22 +0200

If water is expensive in your area, humidity is high, and electricity is relatively cheap, get a dehumidifier. Lower humidity makes your house more comfortable at a higher temperature, so your AC doesn't have to work as hard. If the relative humidity is high enough in your climate, you can get all the drinking water you need from the dehumidifier's collection bucket (be sure to purify the water first). Our dehumidifier cost $150, and pulls 3 gallons of water out of the air every day. That's enough for a family of 4 to drink and still water several plants.

Earn Money Faster

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:26:50 +0100

Sit and earn money by putting it into a high yield savings account such as ING, Capitial One, Emmigrant Direct, and HSBC

Simplfy your budget

topnotch10 — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:17:57 +0200

Moneytrackin is a fantastic service that provides accessibility and sharing of the household budget, but without an easy and effective method for using it, it is not as useful as it could be. I recently read the following article on budgeting: articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/ASimplerWayTx I've simplified the budget even further: 1. Calculate your monthly take-home income. 2. 70% of that amount is for all your daily living expenses. This just combines the "committed" and "fun" categories in the article. 3. 20% is for "long-term" savings. This combines the longterm savings and retirement categories from the article. 4. 10% is for "short-term" savings for vacations or home improvement, etc. With moneytrackin, I created 3 accounts (committed, long-term, and short-term). At the beginning of every month, the corresponding amount of our take-home income is added to each account using the periodic transaction function in moneytrackin. At the end of every week, I simply type in each of that weeks transactions in the appropriate account (almost always committed). My wife can login to see the balances at any time to adjust her own spending, and so can I. Granted, the 70/20/10 method may need to be adjusted depending on your specific situation, but the essence of the method has worked really well.

Free Mobile Games

neko — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:40:59 +0100

There are a lot of games available from your phone provider at some pretty cheap prices. But as most have found, those little games and tones can add up pretty fast. www.FunForMobile.com has a huge listing of games that are free. Hundreds of puzzle action and trivia games. The only catch to the whole deal is that they download Advertisements and you look at two banner ads before the game will load. So this is a cool option if you have an unlimited data plan. I have about 15 games on my phone that I didn't spend close to US$100.00 for. And I have checked the size, the game download includes initial advertisements so it replaces those each time it updates, so no worries of it taking up needed space. Also, when I was out of service area out in the mountains, it couldn't download new advertisements and just defaulted to the first ones. So if you don't have an unlimited data plan, they may still work and just show you the same ads over and over.

How to lower health insurance costs

thomassoerensen — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:54:48 +0100

The way I attempt to lower my health insurance cost is to be as healthy as possible and then take the highest excess package. This lowers my monthly premium. Here is how I stay healthy without being fanatic. Stay withing the normal (20-25) BMI weight range and try to not make the weight go up or down too much or too fast. I eat 2-3 apples per day - usually as breakfast. I eat a salad for lunch 2-3 times per week. I stay optimistic. I try to be happy.

High Interest Savings Accounts

sunny2404 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:49:43 +0100

Heres a quick summary of 'high' interest savings accounts offered by most Banks in Canada: ICICI Bank: 4.5% Achieva Financial: 4.35% Outlook Financial: 4.35% PC Financial Interest PLUS: 4.25% + annual bonus E-Trade Cash Optimizer Account: 4.15% HSBC: 4.05% RBC High Interest eSavings: 4.00% Altamira: 4.00% Manulife Bank: 4.00% Citizens Bank: 3.80% ING Direct: 3.75% (3% USD) as of August 31, 2007

Credit Vs. Debit Save Yourself the hassel.

Neko — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:23:02 +0100

How many of you have a single Debit/Credit/Atm Card? Have you ever wondered what difference it makes when you run it as either Credit or Debit? Well - Not much, Credit will normally take longer(normally until midnight) to post on your account. Debit will take from your account immediately depending on the POS method. Apart from that.......not much of a difference right?..Well close... See when you run something as Debit it checks to see that the money is in fact there before pulling the amount. Some Credit lines will allow you to overspend without checking if the amount is there. Also, if you run the card as Credit or Debit, the business will normally just swipe your card and Credit your card back the full purchase amount. Easy as cake right? Well if you ran your Card as Credit it can take up to 24 hours for that credit to appear. If you ran the card as Debit, it can take 3-5 business days from the credit to appear in your account. So keep this in mind the next time your swipe your card. Remember, for a Debit transaction- You may request a cash refund, as it is the same as writing a check. With a Credit transaction they will only credit the account back the amount. Happy spending <3 Neko

Few more tips on fuel saving

azzu — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 04:05:49 +0100

I get some wonderful fuel saving tips here, but these are a few more tips from me. 1. Pump fuel at night for less gas bubbles in gasoline/petrol or diesel. I was told that during the day, these gas bubbles exist in greater quantity and you're just pumping in more gas bubbles than the fuel. I've tried this and it's true. The fuel seems to last longer when I pump at night! 2. Pump in full for less vacant space in tank. The more vacant the space, the faster fuel evaporates. It is also recommended to pump in the tank full again once the tank is half full/empty. 3. Use fuel additives. Choose one that is not too costly but with a guaranteed result (I'm using AutoMax NFE). In a long term, you'll save more.

Visa Credit Card or MasterCard Credit Card?

moneytrackin_de — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:37:16 +0100

Visa Credit Card or MasterCard Credit Card? Gotten from Credit Card Expert (www.creditcardexpert.co.uk) We are often asked at Credit Card Expert which brand of credit card should I get a MasterCard or a Visa (or even an American Express (AMEX) card. Visa, MasterCard are payment systems rather than credit cards within themselves and they rely on banks all around the world to issue cards that use their payment system. From this they take a % of the amount charged to retailers to take payments via these cards. In return the retailers get a certain degree of assurance that the goods / services they have sold will be paid for. American Express are slightly different in that they run their own payment system and issue cards themselves - both charge cards and credit cards. So which do you choose? Visa Visa is probably the largest payment network in the world with a claimed 20 million outlets in 150 countries around the world accepting a Visa credit card. Visa is issued by 20,000 banks and there are over 1 billion cards in circulation MasterCard MasterCard is fast becoming the number 1 payment system in the world. with 25,000 banks issuing cards and cards being accepted in 210 countries around the world. There are an estimated 22 million locations around the globe where mastercard is accepted. Amex American Express operate in 130 countries around the world and is one of the most famous names in financial services. It is also the worlds largest travel agency, So which do you choose? We'll the choice between Visa and MasterCard is easy. Don't. Both visa and MasterCard are widely accepted all around the world and your unlikely to find too many outlets that will accept Visa and not MasterCard. Some british banks give you the option of choosing either and some may only offer a Visa or MasterCard - decide on the values of the card itself - interest rates, cashback etc rather than whether its a Visa or MasterCard. With American Express its more difficult. Its not a widely accepted as Visa and MasterCard in the UK although the number of outlets are growing. But if you like the products and services offered by Amex then don't feel put off by this. most major shops and restaurants accept the card and if you travel abroad regularly it can be used in most places - especially in the USA. Source: www.creditcardexpert.co.uk/visa-mastercard.htm

Save Money on Gas

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:42:07 +0100

Gas is sold by volume so to get your moneys worth get gas either in the morning or in the evening when gas is most dense. This way you get the most for your money.

How to save on groceries

dtbccb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 05:10:11 +0100

Check out thegrocerygame.com The site teaches users how to use coupons to stockpile on groceries.

Internet Plan

eienkisu — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:01:52 +0200

Save Money in the Web

exodus — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:15:46 +0100

Moneysaving web site: www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-the-web-2/

Envelope System

hillsidegrl — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:28:03 +0200

Use MoneyTrakin' for tracking your envelopes.

Do an audit on electricity use and see where you can cut down.

jpanzica — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:53:10 +0100

Do an audit on electricity use and see where you can cut down. For example, DVD players and applicances can consume electricity while not being used. If you put these items on a power strip it can cut costs down.

how to manage paying off a car

missmeganbunny — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:47:05 +0200

Recently, my husband and I had to do something we hoped we'd never have to do: finance a car. After MUCH haggling, we got a nice car at a decent interest rate on a 36 month loan. A lot of the cars that they were trying to push on us had 48 month loans, and some even higher. I think we got a pretty good deal. I read in "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne that the best way to get out of debt WITHOUT succumbing to the "I'm-in-debt" mentality (which often snowballs on you) is to set up an automatic bill pay system and just forget about it. I set up an automatic bill pay system from a savings account. Yes, you can do that! Open a savings account where you transfer funds on a certain date each month, and let the bill pay itself. All you need to do is remember to transfer the funds. To learn a better way to make sure the money is always there, read my tip on "how to make sure you ALWAYS make rent".

Fuel Club Cards

neko — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:52:00 +0100

Many stations have a 'Club Card' or a customer loyalty card. Basically you can save 1-3 cents per gallon by signing up for them and using it each time you tank up. Well this is a good discount but some places have taken it a bit further. Food Stores that have gas stations in their lot now have similar programs but you earn points by shopping in their store as wells. I spent my months groceries in the one store and earned enough points for 5 free gallons(with purchase of course) at the end of the month. Plus earning more point each time I fueled up there. So Check into the discount cards. They may seem to have a higher price, but after you use the card its close to most competitors.

No fast food!

daveed07 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:03:25 +0100

Take the time to go to the grocery store and buy healthy foods. This way you can pack them for work and not go out to eat or to your local tacobell! You'll feel better and you'll save loads of money!

Organize your accounts

tapsiturbi — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:52:32 +0200

Try to have at least 3 separate accounts: (1) Day to day account (2) Savings account (3) Investment account The Day to Day account serves as your daily expense account. You should take time to set the daily, weekly and monthly expenses that you are incurring so that you could move the excesses to your two other accounts. The Savings account is your piggy bank. This should not be less than 6x your monthly expense. The reason for this is so that you could survive for 6 months if you lose your current source of income (day job). The Investment account would be your money pot which you could gamble away on several investments (stocks, mutual funds) or to store your funds for something like your own business. You should only deposit to this account when you have reached the minimum amount in your Savings account.

How to save on batteries.

kydodgeball — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:11:07 +0200

Buy rechargeable batteries. They cost more up front but are worth it in the long run.

How to avoid late payment fee on creditcards?

moneytrackin_de — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:10:59 +0200

Whenever you get a creditcard bill, don't wait for the last date to pay the bill. Pay the minimum amount immediately and after some time if you get more money you can pay later. Usually people want to pay the maximum and they wait for the money but sometimes it may become late to get and meanwhile the last date will be passed. If you don't have minimum amount with you to pay, put a reminder to remind everyday with the last date to pay the creditcard bill so that you won't forget when the last date is. Better write down the statement date and last date for every creditcard you have. My strong suggestion is not to use more then one creditcard.

Budget Plan

codyr1951 — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 05:19:12 +0100

I'm using Dave Ramsey's envelope system for budgeting my money. It's fairly easy. All you have to do is set envelopes for each place you spend money (Walmart, Gas Station, Grocery, etc.) and divide up your money into each envelope. When you run out of money in that envelope, that's it. No more spending for that area. If you are running low on gas, and you are almost out of gas money, cut down your traveling as much as you can (it's good on your wallet, and the environment). I took it a step further. Instead of carrying envelopes around, and wondering where to hide them at home, I keep all the cash in my wallet, or bank account. I then have all my "envelopes" categorized into accounts on moneytrackin.com and when I spend money in that category, I take out my iPhone, and using the moneytrackin app, I deduct it from my account. It was hard at first, being tempted to spend the money in other categories, but I've gotten better. Some of my categories are: Wal-Mart Gas Petty-Cash Eating-Out Money Savings In the "savings" account, it's what I use to save up to what I want to buy, say a new computer, etc. I have a totally separate savings account in the bank as a back-up for a cash melt down or something of that sort. Hope this helped!!

How to reduce the food cost.

moneytrackin_de — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:30:20 +0200

Pls mind - eat to live, and not live to eat. (too famous quote ;-) )

Home Cost Cutters Vol.3 Tips By TLC’s “Trading Spaces”

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:11:48 +0100

One of the least expensive energy-saving tips is investing in materials such as a caulk gun and weather-stripping and weather-proofing all of your doors and windows. It has been estimated that all the leaks that are present around doors and windows in most homes is equivalent to leaving a window open. So for a small amount of money you can seal those leaks and cracks and shut that mystery window.

Change your Drive to a Commute

neko — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:15:47 +0100

I don't know if this is something that is in all places yet but in the NW US it's taken on quite well. The one here is also state supported in various ways(donations fuel discounts) but is very cheap in comparison to driving yourself. For US$12.00 a week I can drive two blocks away from home to a heated pickup station(quite loaded actually, like a little club house) and wait 10 minutes for a minivan or bus depending on the number of people and it drops every one off to their respective workplaces. I arrive on time each day, early as a rule the way they setup the routes. They have weekly and monthly rates, discounts and tax incentives that they are more then glad to fill you in about. Most states offer tax breaks to carpool groups, if you have to to get an emissions test every year. There are also some great rates if your employer is participating in the programs.

Pizza Savings

fryertuck — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:54:51 +0200

Make your own instead of ordering in. Try doing everything from scratch, including dough and sauce for a real gourmet taste.

Car expenses

moneytrackin_de — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:59:51 +0200

You can lower your car expenses by comparing prices of insurance thru the internet. Most of the time, promising deals turn out to be quite bad. Always consult an agent, they can truly help.

Cash is the Best

brewert — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:38:57 +0200

Learn to spend only what you have.

Check RetailMeNot.com for Coupons Before You Check Out Online

carnesmedia — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:18:50 +0100

RetailMeNot.com has a huge database of coupon codes that can save you money on everything from books to plane tickets. Get in the habit of checking it before you make any purchases.

Money: Dont only look at saving

razausman — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:38:14 +0100

but also at generating more finances to take care of needs

How to Really save money on Gas

BradBing — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:45:35 +0200

I work a paper route in the early mornings and a gasoline distributor offered this advice to all the poor paperboys. * Only buy gas in the early mornings or when it is Really, really cold. When it's hot and the ground has warmed up, the gasoline expands and therefore you're not exactly getting a gallon for a bajillion dollars, or however much it is now per gallon. * NEVER pump gas when the gasoline truck is refilling the gasoline at the station. You'll get a ton of dirt and debris going into your tank and that's a no-no. * See those various levels on the "gas gun" as I call it. You can set it to low, kinda fast, or "Im-in-a-hurry-fast." I know it's Chinese torture, but set the level to low when you pump gas. I forget why he told us to do this, but you get more for your buck. And pray for alternative fuel sources!!! - Brad

Home Cost Cutters Vol.2 Tips By TLC’s “Trading Spaces”

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:11:15 +0100

Install ceiling fans in bedrooms and living rooms, and make sure they have a reversible setting. In the winter months, change the setting to pull the air up and this will help in recirculating the hot air that rises and redistribute it around the room to feel much warmer. In the summer months it can be reset to provide airflow to cut down the costs on cooling the home. This helps cut costs year-round.

Eat Peanut Butter & Jelly

JHenzi — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:31:31 +0200

If you can stand it and develop a taste for it Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches for lunch are a good idea to help save a few dollars. You could go out to the fancy place, pick up something from the sheik deli, or eat out of vending machines - but all that costs money. Pack three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (or two large!) and you are in for a treat. You can eat them throughout the day if you'd like - each treat is will hold you over for sometime. How does it work? Sugar and protein. A lot of people like one or the other when they snack, but you really need both for that afternoon boost. When you eat a PB & J you get protein (n' stuff) from the nuts to make your body feel full and sugar from jelly to get your brain kickstarted. Peanut butter and jelly are cheap too - usually under a dollar, with bread not to far behind. Pack a few tomorrow and see how it feels to save.

Long Term Saving account

moneytrackin_de — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:44:30 +0200

You should start saving as early as possible because with time even tiny amount saved each months will grow to large sums of money. The IRR effect (Internal Rate of Return- the effect of interest) will give nice profits provided you have saved for a long time. it's better to put 200$ a months on the side when your 25 then to start @ 500$ when you're 35.

Try Before You Buy...

madhuk — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:02:11 +0200

This goes a long way in helping to avoid the silly purchases of things you rarely or never use. Before you buy something, especially items with big price tags, borrow one, rent one or try one out before you plunk down the cash. If you are bored with it, or determine that it truly is not something you need before you buy it (and you will be on a certain percentage of items) you will definitely be bored with it, or find it not that necessary, after!

Stop Getting Coffee Out

sloan — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:31:49 +0100

The average that one person spends on a cup of coffee at Starbuck's or an equivalent coffee shop is $5.00. This does not include any tip. $5.00 multiplied by 30 days is $150.00 a month! If you are getting 2 coffees (as my case with my girlfriend) that can add up to $300.00 a month! The mark-up on coffee is insane! In many cases it is up to 500 percent or more! Coffee at home averages about .10 to .50 cents a cup. Big savings! P.S. If you do find yourself getting coffee at a shop... Try to stay away from the big corporate places. Support someone who is working hard for the money instead. :) Plus... They are usually cheaper and better.

How to save money washing clothes

redstarny — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:42:35 +0200

Instead of using products like OxyClean just mix washing soda and baking soda.

Podcast Recommendation "You can have what you want" by Michael Neill

herzer — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:31:33 +0100

It's free and one of the best sources to improve your life that I have found so far: www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Self-Development/Goals/You-Can-5

Fuel Savers Vol.4 Tips by Consumer Reports.

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:00:36 +0100

At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. Try not to add to the drag by carrying things on top of your vehicle. A loaded roof rack can decrease a car’s fuel efficiency by 5%. Even driving with empty ski racks wastes gas. In addition, if you have air conditioning, use it only when you really need it. Running the air conditioner robs power from the engine and uses additional fuel.

Only buy things that you intend to use the same week

herzer — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:23:50 +0100

E.g. if you buy a book, make sure you really want to read it right away.

Drink more water.

eienkisu — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:41:59 +0200

Drink plain water, don't drink beverages. :x

Refuel at night

nazley — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:33:34 +0100

Petrol/Gasoline expands with heat, so filling up on a hot afternoon gives you less than refuelling during the cool of the night.

Buy Used Clothing - Save money, the environment, and help local charities

splat215 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:16:01 +0100

Shopping at thrift stores for clothing is something a lot of people think "only poor people do." Well here's the truth - it's what smart savers do. Visit your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other local thrift store and take a good look at the clothing selection available. The clothes may not be the latest fashion trends of the season but if you're not trying to "keep up with the Jones'" then they'll be just fine, and look good to boot. While you may have to dig through racks full of old ugly sweaters you will be quite surprised what you can find if you put in the effort to regularly visit thrift stores. I have purchased numerous "name brand" pieces of clothing for pennies on the dollar what they would cost new. Not only do I save money, I also feel good knowing I'm both "reducing" and "reusing" by buying local and used. Many thrift stores are connected with local charities so you will be helping people in your immediate community who need assistance. I should also note that the perception that used clothes are "dirty" or "disgusting" to be mostly untrue. Most stores I've been to wash all clothes before putting them on display. It's always a good idea to wash anything you buy used, and worst case scenario you can take it to the dry cleaner. A shirt that would cost $50 new can often be found for as little as a dollar. If you've never checked out the local thrift store in your town - now is the time to stop by next time you're in the area. Not only will you save money, resources, and help the local community you may just find yourself hooked on the thrill of finding a great bargain.

Winter is homemade soup time

samchico — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:12:50 +0100

Buy veggies in season (they're cheaper and better for you), lentils and kidney beans and start making soup. Great for the body, soul and budget. A cheap hand blender to blend soup directly in the pot is a great investment.

How to Watch What you Spend

cheapscott — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:48:18 +0200

Don't go too low level in a budget, no one wants to spend their life tracking how much they spent on groceries 1 month compared to another month. Instead try to follow something like X% Monthly income on mandatory or committed expenses (rent, food, gas, etc) Y% Monthly income on fun money (movies, dates, games) Z% on short term savings (money into a savings account for unforeseen expenses) A% on long term savings (money meant to grow over long periods of times like 5-10 years; stocks mutual funds) B% on retirement (IRA, etc) You can still keep track to a low level, but at a glance you can see if you're been over spending on mandatory expenses, fun money or not saving enough. It's worked great for me for many years and was inspired (and explained much better) by this article: The 60% solution: articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/ASimplerWayTx

Follow the step to save money ^^

tachlio — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:56:09 +0200

1. Set savings goals. 2. Establish a timeframe. 3. Figure out how much you’ll have to save per week, 4. Keep a record of your expenses. 5. Trim your expenses. 6. Reassess your savings goals. 7. Make a budget 8. Stop using credit cards. 9 Open an interest-bearing savings account 10. Know where your money is 11. Pay yourself first. Warnings: - Do not go out "window shopping" with any money on you. You will only be tempted to spend money you cannot afford to lose. Only shop with a predetermined shopping list. - Unless you're in truly desperate financial straits (like 10 seconds from eviction and your three children are starving) don't try to cut corners connected to health. Basic preventative care for yourself, your family, and your pets might cost you a $60 office visit or a $30 heartworm pill today, but the skipping it will contribute to expensive problems and heartache down the road.

23 Ways to Save on Groceries

moneytrackin_de — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:11:26 +0200

here is an amazing article i found online about saving money on your food bill www.bargainist.com/deals/2007/07/23-ways-to-save-on-groceries/

Home Cost Cutters Vol.1 Tips By TLC’s “Trading Spaces”

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:10:27 +0100

Use a programmable thermostat- This is a cheap investment that gives great potential for cutting costs. You can set the heat to only come on an hour before you wake for work and get your family ready for the day. Let the temperature drop down while you are away for the day and then have the temperature rise again around 5 p.m. to an hour before you go to sleep and the temperature will drop while you sleep. This is a great way to cut down on wasted heating while no one is at home. These are easy to install yourself and can be picked up at a local home improvement store such as Home Depot.

money trakin

GNasty — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:06:04 +0200

hi i would like to share a feau tips on how money trakin helped me to start saving money, and also know were my money is being spent to prevent it from over seeing its limits

Home Cost Cutters Vol.4 Tips By TLC’s “Trading Spaces”

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:12:32 +0100

Check that your attic and walls are properly insulated. If the attic is not properly insulated your energy bill is literally going to be through the roof. (No pun intended.) If you're a DIY-type, you can buy roll-out insulation or, to cut the costs substantially more, you can rent an insulation blower machine and purchase the recycled paper insulation that is fire retardant and environmentally safe. This will not only help you save on your energy bill, but is also better for the planet.

Cut the riff-raff

drewster75 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:54:02 +0200

in times of dire need, or if money is super tight, it means that its time to scrimp on the personal expenses. This means no eating out, no buying that case of beer friday night,no pizza and a movie. Sometimes you just have to realize that if you dont have the money you cant spend the money.

How to search for the cheapest offers on the internet

iMario — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:44:04 +0100

www.google.com/products (or froogle.com) will search and compare given product name, showing you the price and availability in online store.

Speeding costs

drjohnhall — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:20:12 +0100

Drive the speed limit. Going faster doesn't get you to your destination significantly sooner, particularly if much of your route involves stoplights, and burns more gas.

Saving money on gas

brahim1x — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:01:08 +0200

Another way to save money on gas is that if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up–most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Tire Pressure

ViperJ — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:08:42 +0200

You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

Monthly tracking

ricky_williams — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:45:07 +0100

One thing that helped me when I noticed that at the end of the month I didn't have much to save was to make notes of each purchase for a month. I recorded what I bought, cost, date and category. At the end of the month you can see how much of your money goes to different things, what you can cut out, what things were one time only that shouldn't affect future months.

Don't make it flow

moneytrackin_de — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:40:59 +0200

Never cash out money if you think it's not really necessary. Think before you withdraw your money, what are they for, and make limitations to your daily transactions, because once you have cash in your wallet, you will spend them FAST.

Save on groceries

franklinl — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:00:27 +0200

Use co-op, have groceries delivered to your door so that you have to plan what you eat in advance and you are not hooked into sweets and unnecessary items.

How to NOT spend

egyptian_flo — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:32:39 +0200

If you love using ur credit/debit cards, and can't resist usin em when u'r out & about... then lock those in ur wallet and keep limited cash with u. (Alternatively, u can get prepaid cards -if available- and restrict yourself to the amount you've put on them)

Bundle Up and save

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:00:04 +0100

Save by the “bundle”—Use the same provider for phone, cable and Internet or combine insurance coverage and you can alot.

Save money on food.

moneytrackin_de — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:21:45 +0100

-Buy most of your food in shops, don't go to restaurants, fast foods or any places like that unless some rare occasions. Bring your own food at work or to school when possible (microwave food). -When buying food, find the limit between quality and price that is best for you. For example I know that I need good quality orange juice in the morning but that I don't care what kind of steak do I eat. So I will buy expensive orange juice, and bad quality steak. -Don't throw food out, always try to save all the food you can. But don't get sick either, stomach treatment will cost you more than food saved.

Deals online

moneytrackin_de — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:40:21 +0100

Check out gottadeal.com for the best deals on anything.

gas stations

alope79 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:07:31 +0200

Hess station at the corner of Bayshore blvd. and Prima Vista has gas for under $4.00

Grocery Coupons

trleini — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:44:51 +0200

I use coupons to reduce my grocery bill. Use the website. www.groceryadvantage.com to help maximize your savings

How to convert vinyl and cassette to MP3

davemaneng — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:30:20 +0200

Do you want to save money converting old vinyl and cassette to MP3, well here's a great piece of software I got from Media Digitalizer its a small download of 3.94MB from digitope.com website at a cost of £15.00 that's about $30.00, I've been using it since 30-March-06 and I must have done about 40 cassettes or more and I'm very pleased with the results, take a look at it for yourself, there are others out there at a much higher cost £70.00 to £90.00 but they look too much of a hassle to me, I like simple and clean.

Avoid impulsive buying

saurabh411 — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:48:17 +0200

If you are compelled by the glitter of a showroom to buy the latest gadget, dress or any other thing, resist for a day. Most of the time you can realize the utility of the item in one days time. And the money and time spent to visit the showroom again is less than the savings achieved by avoiding one useless item.

Home Cost Cutters Vol.5 Tips By TLC’s “Trading Spaces”

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:13:11 +0100

It's the little things that add up to big energy cost cuts. Try things like adding a blanket to your hot water heater: This keeps the water from cooling too quickly and wasting energy to constantly heat it. And simply changing your air filters to ensure proper functioning of your furnace or heat pump can help, too. Also, open the blinds or curtains on the sunny side of your house and take in the free heat of the sun. Close the blinds or curtains once the sun has gone down. Close the vents on the house if you have a crawl space. This will keep unwanted cold air from coming in under the floor.

Lowering the Electric Bill.

mahkba — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:25:02 +0200

Many items use more electricity than you would expect. They even suck down electricity when they are turned off. If there is a device which you aren't going to use for more than a few days, try unplugging it. If you do this everywhere you can it will make a noticable difference in your electric bill. Doing this and turning my thermostat up to almost 80 during the day when I am at work (I am an Air Conditioning freak, I need it to be 69 degrees at all times) have saved me over $100/mo on my ridiculous electric bill!

Distinguish between Wants and Needs:

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:11:05 +0100

You will save a ton of money if you don't mistake wants for needs. Needs are pretty simple to identify–those items that are necessary to sustain: Shelter, food, clothing, transportation. Wants are those things that enhance or possibly improve our family life. A car is a need. Unless necessary for your business, a $40,000 Sport Utility Vehicle is a want, even if a lot of people don't see it that way. Have you ever heard (or said) "I absolutely need...?" when the actual meaning was "I really want?" This is not to suggest that you shouldn't be able to have the things you want–only that to delude yourself into believing that a want is a need–and busting your budget in the process–is a recipe for financial disaster.

Save on fees

rikahs — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:53:52 +0100

Pay your phone bill on time to avoid late charges, fees, and interruption of service.

Use the register! Keep track of your finances!

DustinH — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:32:31 +0200

The best thing you can do for yourself is keep track of your finances. I am a teller for a bank and trust me when I say that the register is a lifeline. Moneytrackin.com is the best way to keep track of your finances because it is all MANUAL, which means that YOU know what your putting in and taking out, not the bank. If I asked you how much money you have in your account, your answer should be exact via a quick lookup of your account. You should generally know at all times how much is in your accounts. You NEED to deduct the checks from your account when you make them out, no if ands or buts. If you have a bad habit about writing checks or your friends have a bad habit about depositing them quickly then use your online bill pay to pay companies and businesses (deducted immediately), make out official checks, and use your debit card at places that accept it. Remember, keep your receipt and record it on moneytrackin.com same day! Also, know your accounts! Know what the fine print says and what your account limitations are and how much things cost. I guess your question is: how will this help me save money? Banks make money off your stupidity with money. That sounds bad but it is true. If you are financially smart, you'll avoid ever having to deal with an overdraft fee or a fee relating to overuse in your account. There are constantly customers being bewildered by many fees by a bank, yet they are the easiest to avoid. A simple way to avoid this is to keep a buffer in your account. In my accounts I always have an extra 100 to 200 dollars when the paycheck comes, giving me enough money to take care of extras before a paycheck arrives. Take advantage of Overdraft Protection or a product from your bank that links your saving and your checking account together. Is something happens and you have a few checks that you forgot to record come through and you use up your buffer cash and tap into a 0 balance, these cheeeeeeeaaap prodcuts will transfer money from a savings account. In essence, a savings account at a bank should be a "backup" fund that you can tap into to make large purchases less painful to your cashflow or to make sure that in the bad times you have some backup cash. Otherewise money YOU DON'T NEED to have liquid should be placed into an account with a high APY yield...commonly associated with savings accounts (somewhat liquid) that are with online institutions...ING, HSBC, etc. Otherwise place the extra funds in a CD or a money market at your local institution. If you don't need the funds put 'em away. So to recap: Keep a register, keep track of your finances, and make sure to play your finances safe and have a lot of backup plans for in case the time does come.

the easiest way to save more money

wabashky — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:36:29 +0200

is everytime you get a raise or extra money on the side for something....just 'pretend' you didn't. For instance this year i was awarded a $.50 raise for our anual review. What i did was take what the standard 80 hour two week period was for $.50 an hour and made a seperate direct deposit for the amount. Now that is only $40 every two weeks, but that is $1040 for the year more you saved than last and you will not even feel it.

Analyze your workday expenses.

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:09:45 +0100

Instead of eating in restaurants every single day, bring your lunch to work from home as often as you can. Take your clothes to the dry cleaners early to avoid paying extra for same-day service. If it’s feasible where you live, try commuting to work by bus or by another form of public transportation. It could save you money and give you added reading and relaxation time.

Live below your means.

GPAaron — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:13:10 +0100

The only thing you should consider financing is a house. Never finance a car, furniture, computer, or anything else – even during the holidays. If you can't pay for it in cash, you cannot afford it. Also, give to a cause such as Food For The Hungry. Trust me, you will be blessed for it.

Food Cost Cutters Vol.3 Tips By Bon Appetit magazine

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:07:30 +0100

When you enter the produce section of the supermarket, don’t settle for the first display of oranges that you see. Supermarkets want to sell you the items that are going to make them money, not necessarily the ones that are freshest, tastiest or less expensive. Go around to the back of the display and there very well may be less expensive oranges that are even fresher or more interesting varieties.

Common Saving Ideas Really Work

fryertuck — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:42:41 +0200

- Make your morning coffee @ home and put your daily coffee spending into a savings account - Bring a bagged lunch to work - Open an account @ ING and have the money automatically moved from your main bank - Avoid leaving a balance on your credit card and stop the interest leak - Keep an emergency fund readily available to avoid using credit

How to pay off loans quickly

singasongyang — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:29:04 +0200

Instead of paying once a month when the bill is due, I break it into two payments and pay twice a month. This way, I can start chipping away at that balance.

Time of purchase - fuel for your car

lateral — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:20:53 +0100

The price of gasoline varies throughout the week, and even during a day. I used to fill up the tank a little bit whenever that ominous red lamp began flashing it's warning sign. Now I've found out that the price of fuel is pretty high on Sunday, but Monday morning it usually hits one of the lowest points of the week.

Take your last puff.

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:08:57 +0100

Depending on the wallop packed by the “sin taxes” where you live, you could save more than $2,000 a year if you go from being a pack-a-day smoker to a non-smoker. You’ll also qualify for significantly cheaper life-insurance rates after you quit.

Fuel Savers Vol.5 Tips by Consumer Reports.

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:00:59 +0100

An engine runs most inefficiently when it’s cold. It not only uses more fuel but also creates the most exhaust emissions and suffers the most wear. Avoid many short, separate trips — and unnecessary cold starts — by combining as many errands as possible into one trip.

Food Cost Cutters Vol.1 Tips By Bon Appetit magazine

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:05:54 +0100

Milk and other dairy is very expensive these days. Taking advantage of what is on sale is one approach. Also, look for milk from local dairies at greenmarkets; even some larger supermarkets are carrying local milk and milk products. The fact that it is produced closer to home reduces transportation costs and it will be a fresher, better product.

Budget your Per Diem

mtrinidee — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:33:35 +0200

I usually don't carry any cash and rely on my debit card to pay everything. But I was finding it difficult to keep track of just how much I was spending at work for lunch/coffee/snacks etc. So I decided on how much I should spend. Then I took that amount out in the beginning of the week and kept it with my badge. Now I know if I'm going over. (Also, keeping items like cereal at work helps to reduce spending on breakfast)

Which Fuel to use.

neko — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:37:51 +0200

Well there are a lot of options as far as fuel in the U.S. and a lot more options for what additives or detergents. This can become rather confusing, cut some of them are beneficial. Most are just a chemical additive that when burned with your fuel help clean deposits off your moving parts. Come to find out, some vehicle manufactures have very stern warnings about these additives. Ford is the most extreme case I've seen- Sinclair/Stinker gas has their own additive which will cause most ford models to Vapor-Lock. Now this is rather expensive to have fixed, mostly because it fouls the seals in your engine. Note, this occurs more frequently in newer models than older models. We shelled out over $800.00USD to have our family van repaired. Not quite worth the .83 cents we saved on that tank of gas.

Direct Deposit split between savings and checking

mtrinidee — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:38:33 +0200

If you employe does a direct deposit of you salary, check to see if they can split the deposit. My employer allows me to split it in 3. I send $300 to savings. Then I have a second account I pay my kids tuition out of – so I send their money straight in. Then the rest goes to my checking. The great thing about this is I've already taken out my savings and tuition amounts, so I don't even have to think about it.

tesco.net internet

davemaneng — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:20:21 +0200

for all you guys in the UK I've been using tesco.net for several months now and i find it very good, good on that it doesn't ever drop the connection ease of use and you get free webmail

Shopping for food

toutpossible — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:18:58 +0200

Never go shopping for food on an empty stomach. Eat first and you will see how your purchase get smaller. When you shop hungry you buy more.

how to save money

mattokahata — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:11:33 +0200

Keep yourself occupied with various activities that cost less money such as gardening, surfing, biking, and etc. Group activities together. If you go to the beach to surf, bring a camera as well to snap a few photos.

save on cable

drewster75 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:37:19 +0200

Comcast actually told me that it is cheaper to bundle internet and cable together. So I have basic cable coupled with my high speed internet. It requires a bit of self sacrifice to give up all those channels, but I figured that I didn't watch most of them anyway. so in the long run it is worth it because I can watch the TV shows that I want to for free, on demand, on the internet, without having to wade through hundreds of channels.

Reward Yourself

moneytrackin_de — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:06:52 +0200

Create a budget for necessities (groceries, gas...etc). When you are under-budget in a category, reward yourself with something small. For us, if we go significantly under-budget in groceries, my husband and I each get to eat out at lunch one day instead of bringing one. It seems simple, but you'd be surprised at how motivated it makes you to stick to the shopping list or to conserve gas.

Say goodbye to late fees.

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:08:08 +0100

If you keep finding yourself getting hit with extra finance charges because your credit-card bill is regularly due before you’ve received your paycheck, call the credit-card company and ask to have your due date changed. It might take a few months for this change to kick in, but it’s well worth the wait.

Fuel Savers Vol.3 Tips by Consumer Reports.

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:59:29 +0100

Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which not only wastes fuel but also wears the tires faster. According to the EPA, a tire that is underinflated by only 2 pounds per square inch can cause a 1 percent increase in fuel consumption. Underinflated tires can also build up excess heat, which can lead to tire failure. Check your vehicle’s tire pressures at least once a month, when the tires are cold. Also, check the tires before and after long road trips. The recommended tire pressure is found on a label inside the car — usually in a doorjamb or inside the glove-box lid.

Gas savings

ricky_williams — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:53:00 +0200

If you try to time your gas fill ups to the gas prices you will have a harder time. I always put $20 in my tank no matter the price of gas. Then when the price drops ridiculously low I fill the tank.

Do an audit on electricity

jpanzica — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:54:20 +0100

Card Insurance Protection

moneytrackin_de — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:26:12 +0200

Some credit cards offer card shield protection that seems a little price to pay as assurance that your love ones will not be charged with your bills in case of accidents. It also offers an array of \"benefits\" However, these amount is varying depending on how you use your card, the higher your expenses, the higher it might get... So if you are using your card for big purchases, avoid this add on as much as possible..

Fuel Savers Vol.1 Tips by Consumer Reports.

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:55:48 +0100

Driving smoothly and steadily makes the best use of your fuel. If you can, avoid hard acceleration or braking. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Varying your speed a lot wastes fuel. A vehicle’s gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Smooth acceleration, cornering and braking not only save fuel but also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes and tires.

lower energy bill

carter — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:59:15 +0200

buy a digital thermostat. analog thermostats are accurate only to within 3-4 degrees; whereas a digital is accurate to within 1-2 .

Tips on Tipping

zabbawack — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:42:59 +0100

Tip at least 15% unless you received bad service....Make someones day or week Tip 30-50%...Stop asking me for tips!

Ask credit card companies to forgive you a late payment!

herzer — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:20:07 +0100

Be nice to the clerk and you will be surprised how often they are going to be able to remove a late fee, etc.

2 Shopping Tips

mint — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:21:41 +0200

Make a list before you go shopping and then stick to it so you don't spend money on impulsive things. Also, never go shopping hungry; It makes you buy too much food.

Peter Marshall

eienkisu — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:42:04 +0200

When we long for a life with no difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds, and diamonds are made under pressure. - Peter Marshall

Help The Environment and Save

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:03:55 +0100

Install Energy Star appliances to save as much as $400 per year as well as tax incentives and rebates.

Fuel Savers Vol.2 Tips by Consumer Reports.

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:57:46 +0100

If your car specifies regular fuel, don’t buy premium under the mistaken belief that your engine will benefit. Most cars are designed to run just fine on regular gasoline. Furthermore, many cars that recommend running on premium fuel also run well on regular. Check your owner’s manual to find out if your engine is designed to handle either grade. And consider buying off-brand gasoline, which is most often identical to what is sold at franchised gas stations.

Free voicemail

daniel345618 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:19:56 +0200

My favorite is k7 but if you need a local number, buy a prepaid phone from 711 speakout wireless and when you need to check your messages - call from another number that way they wont charge you ;).

Pay yourself first.

dsjohny — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:38:12 +0200

Consider yourself a bill you have to pay every month. Then pay yourself in an account you don't access often. You can even set this up to come out automatically with your paychecks.

Saving on luxury purchases

moneytrackin_de — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:24:54 +0200

Hey y'all; as a grad student in an expensive East Coast city, I often envy the ability of those with steady income to buy certain status toys, like iPods or cell phones, without batting an eye. While we shouldn't encourage each other to try and live beyond our means, there is a way to bring the prices of things we usually can't afford back down to earth. You have to simply take advantage of the tools of the marketplace to get them. Here are a few examples: Electronics - Amazon.com. I was able to buy an AT&T Tilt touch-screen phone with full keyboard for $24.99 w/a contract extension. I would have paid $399.99 up-front at the AT&T store for the same; retail price is $549.99. Bargain of my life. Clothes - Filene's Basement/Loehmann's - In January, I bought a tan casual sport-coat at Filene's for $45 that regularly runs $250. You get great whole-sale discounts at either of these stores. For suits, believe it or not, you might want to shop at Target (I know...I know...). At first, I wrote the Target-brand Merona suits off when I saw them on the rack; I then unwittingly complimented a co-workers pinstriped suit the next day, only to find out that it was the same suit from Target! Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a $400 Jones New York from Men's Wearhouse and a $100 Merona from Target. **Non-luxury item tip** Groceries - Safeway w/Club Card. I've had a club card at Safeway since I was 17; I have saved up to 25-30% on normal grocery bills with the card. Safeway itself is not a discount place, but you can turn it into one with clever shopping. The bonus: doesn't require coupons.

Food Cost Cutters Vol.2 Tips By Bon Appetit magazine

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:06:45 +0100

This time of year, look for root vegetables, such as parsnips and turnips, greens such as fennel, escarole and broccolini, citrus of all kinds and even pears. These items will be fresher and cheaper because they are in season. This is not the time of year to make a blueberry pie. Make a pear crisp instead. Or simply toss tangerine segments with pomegranate seeds (also in season).

How to save gas

cchance — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:17:45 +0100

Fill up at night, it has been shown to save a few hundred dollars over the course of a year.

The way you drive can save

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:59:01 +0100

Save aggressively when you stop driving aggressively—You’ll get 33% better mileage when you eliminate speeding, rapid acceleration and excessive braking.

Food Cost Cutters Vol.4 Tips By Bon Appetit magazine

neko — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:08:34 +0100

When buying meat, look for less expensive cuts, such as chuck roast or top round for beef, or pork shoulder for pork. All of these, by the way, are perfect for winter’s slow braises and pot roasts. Buying a larger amount at a time can save money too, and many stew recipes can double easily and be frozen for leftover meals. Have pot roast with creamy root vegetables right now; serve it with filling and inexpensive pasta or mashed potatoes the next time.

How to make some money

ashraj — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:45:19 +0100

Sell on ebay, you can make some good money on ebay.

How to save money on Lirr

miyen — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:22:32 +0100

enroll pre-tax transit program at work and have it order by mail.

Save monay at the grocery store.

Kustom — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:45:33 +0200

Do not go grocery shopping before you eat. If your hungry statistics show that you will buy more food than you normally would.

Save when eating out

moneyham — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:16:59 +0200

Before eating out at a restaurant buy a desert from the local grocery store. Then instead of ordering a desert from the restaurant just go back to your place and enjoy a cheaper desert without the busy environment.

How to save money and eat healthier

victoria1982 — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:52:06 +0100

Bring food from home to work! Not only will you save money, you'll also have more control over what goes into your body.

Debt - Favorite tip and sites

jenspins — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:06:17 +0100

Many of you probably already know this, but debt is the biggest obstacle to becoming financially stable. I read a lot of online blogs and found the debt snowball to be the best piece of advice. Tackle debts one at a time from the smallest to largest (snowball effect). You can then move onto the next one and spend the payments you were making on the previous debt to pay more on the next. There are numerous great sites about this technique including criticisms (like how you should be tackleing the debt with the largest apr first...) but it's all good stuff to read and think about. A few good sites: www.getrichslowly.org/ zenhabits.net/ zenhabits.net is actually how I found moneytrackin.com

Money Trackin App for iPhone!

samuelsner — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:56:05 +0100

Use this handy app available on the appstore to track your expenses on the go!

How to save time?

karlhempel — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:27:25 +0100

Make sure you have a stop time for your activities.

Ing Direct

kd2008 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:33:52 +0200

This is a great bank for those who are big fans of online banking. There are no branches, no fees, and interest even on checking. If i refer you, you even get $25 to start!

You've seen it on bank commercials.

fbrg72 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:53:03 +0200

Try rounding each transaction up to the nearest dollar, and at the end of whatever time period you choose, reconcille your account. Then use the difference you have to pay on an outstanding debt.

Don't get credit

vgare — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:34:32 +0200

Its as simple as that. Don't spend your credit card, don't get loans.

how to keep expenses at a minimum when going out

chabito79 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:47:09 +0200

* Separate what you are "allowed" to use according to your budget * Try to keep low denomination bills (1s and 5s) and big ones (100s) so you feel bad when braking them * When drinking, dont buy the whole 12 bucket. This way you only drink as you're feeling, nobody borrows from you and you dont feel compromised to drink them all

Save and Unplug

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:02:54 +0100

Unplug chargers for cell phones,MP3 players and coffeepots—they can add 5% to your energy bill.

Track you Poker or Betting results to see if you are profitable long term.

ryanhache — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:55:37 +0100

I have created a new account in money trackin to see how profitable my poker winnings are. I simply add my buy-ins and cashouts as positive or negative.. this tells me if I am a profitable poker player and if it is an expense or income source. Good thing I'm in the green :)!! Better your poker game at: www.realpokertraining.com

How to manage your savings

constantijn — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:23:43 +0100

This is dead simple, but essential for money management Make sure you save at least 10% of your total monthly income and DON'T TOUCH IT! To make it easier, make automatic transfers every week to your savings account, so you can't spend it. I say weekly, because otherwise you will probably already have spend it by the end of the month.

The Tightwad Gazette

khostettler — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:50:21 +0100

Find a copy of "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" by Amy Dacyczyn. Some of the articles inside are dated, but there are a ton of fun ideas which by implementing one could save a lot of money. My wife and I periodically read an article or two. We get chuckles from some entries and have saved substantial money from others.

Quit Snail Mail

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:13:34 +0100

The average household receive about 15 bills a month. With stamps now at 41 cents each, you spend about $70 a year just on postage — and don’t forget the late fees if your checks get lost in the mail. Save time and money by signing up with the billers’ customer-service departments to have your bills paid by credit card or automatic debit; payments will be documented on your monthly bank statement. If you want more control, almost all major banks offer free online bill payment, which lets you schedule payments in advance.

How to track your complete money flow using multiple accounts

moneytrackin_de — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:31:54 +0200

To have a complete coherent oversight over my money flow, i'm using seperate accounts for cash, borrowed money and so on. Use the the transfer feature to note cash fetched from an ATM.

Save money by buying gas on the right day

chellex — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:33:13 +0100

I read recently in an article that gas is cheapest on Tuesdays. This is supposed to be true for most of Europe - checked it out for a while and in Croatia is really is cheapest on Tuesday. Take some time to check the gas prices at your station over the course of a few weeks and make one day your cheap gas day :)

Bring your own water

limwk007 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:08:32 +0200

When going out, why not bring along a bottle of water instead of buying water outside? This can save you $$ in the long run.

Investment Timing

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:05:35 +0100

When planning for the future, it’s most important to take a disciplined long-term approach to investments that are consistent with your goals, even during shaky market conditions. The three keys to long-term investing are being diversified, rebalancing as necessary and giving it time to work for you. It’s not about ‘timing’ the market but the ‘time’ in the market!

eat well for less : organisation is key

swallac1 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:00:48 +0200

Planning ahead can save a lot over time, especially with food. It also gives you much better control over your health and therefore reduces future health care costs. - always take water with you so you don't have to buy it - make iced tea at home and decant into smaller (reused) bottles to take out - if you drink coffee, make it at home - make going out for a coffee a special, social occasion not just a caffeine fix - go with a friend, stay and talk awhile - obviously, make your own lunch and snacks to take to work and on road trips, errands, etc. Don't forget the snacks - there's no use taking lunch and then ending up buying junk because you had the mid-afternoon energy slump - in summer, have picnics instead of eating in restaurants - you can generally make better food cheaper than most restaurants and being outdoors is fun, healthy and free! - use some of the money you save to eat out occasionally at a really GOOD restaurant - you'll enjoy it more than all that mediocre fare anyway.

Tracking Expenses

jmarquez — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:44:21 +0200

By tracking all your expenses and round them to the next digit will save some money and the end of the month.

Save with free shipping

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:15:43 +0100

Pool purchases with friends to qualify for free or flat-rate shipping offers. For example, several sites, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Circuit City, and Sony Music Store, offer free standard shipping on most orders of $25; Tower Records offers it on orders of at least $20. For other deals, use a shopping search engine, like www.shopzilla.com or www.shop.com. Enter your ZIP code and compare retailers’ prices, including shipping and handling. You can even specify “Free Shipping” as an option in your search (on Shopzilla, search for “Special Offers” and then “Free Shipping Offers”).

Save more money

moneytrackin_de — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:00:04 +0100

I am trying to save enough money to buy a good car. In order to do that, I am saving every penny as much as possible. Here are my few tips: - Stop eating out (although my work requires me to eat out but I will try to stop this) - Earn more than spend. - Reduce my money spent on beauty-care - Question myself "Do I really need it?" before purchasing everything. - Water and milk are the best drinks, no wine, no coca-cola, no pepsi, no starbucks etc. ... I will keep this update!

How to save money on food and not deprive yourself from enjoying life

angellim — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:17:14 +0100

Limit a sum of money every month on enjoyment. Then fully spend it on whatever you like - favourite restaurant, spa, etc But simplify your daily life - eat home, eat at food centers/hawker stalls/coffee shops (cheaper alternative) For more information : myfinancialinsight.blogspot.com

Investment During Bad Time

sjghosh — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:54:37 +0200

Hello .... I going to try different things and see if it works. To start with the first tip is [Tip#1] Diversify your saving or investment

take only what u can eat and what u want to eat

shayar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:07:03 +0200

take only what u can eat and what u want to eat

watch your enthusiasm - cars

briinums — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:24:44 +0100

Old and rare sporty cars take more money than you would ever predict. I`ve spent ALL my money on my 1990 Celica turbo, i thought it would need about 1-2k, but ended up paying twice the market price of the car in repairs in half year and still asking for more, and I still haven`t even started the de-rusting process... But cars are fun :D

How to save your saved money

invtr — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:23:59 +0200

Saving is a hard-to-do habit. A lot of people fail to save money even they save more and more money by cutting their expenses here and there. The most effective way to save money is by immediately deduct it when you get your income. Let say your salary is $3000. The first thing to do when you receive your paycheck is to transfer 20% (or maybe higher) of your salary to a saving account (make sure this account has no check or ATM card)

How to save money on groceries

Cacklers — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:25:42 +0100

Purchase meat on sale and make multiple meals.

How to save on food

Elwin — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:59:45 +0200

When you go shopping for food: Do take coupons. Do make a list. Don't go hungry or tired. Go alone, unless the other person will really help. Look at the sale flyer of the grocery store. Plan ahead meals so you can buy everything in one trip. Try to go when it's not so crowded. Don't give in to impulse buying. Buy the amount you need.

Prescription Drug Savings

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:22:43 +0100

Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive than their generic equivalents, ask your physician and pharmacist if a less expensive generic or an over the counter alternative is available. Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several. When taking a drug for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which often charge lower prices.

Save on your electricity bills

ltimbah — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:01:26 +0200

Unplug all your electrical appliances and chargers from the electric socket after use. Unused appliances will continue to use bits of electricity even after you switch both the appliance and the electrical socket, and you will end up paying for electricity you never know you use. I saved at least 25% off my electrical bill after I started doing this.

Value Lunches - A Meal in a box, but is it a value?

neko — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:08:50 +0100

There is an entire isle of the grocery store dedicated to the vast supply of meals in minutes. Frozen, Fresh, Cold, Vacuum Sealed, and the list just goes on and on. You can pickup a meal for as little as a buck a meal, and on up to almost eight bucks. Well that's a good deal but if you stuck with the cheap end you'd be having some issues with nutrition and if you go with the costly ones you're killing your budget and your arteries. If you check your deli counter you can normally find fresh sliced meats for $3-$5 for a pound of meat. Buy some hoagie rolls for cheap in six packs. Pickup a bulk pack of chips for $5, And you have a weeks worth of meals for under $20. Not only will you save on costs, but you will be eating healthier than any processed, boxed food could ever be. You can buy alot of fresh foods cheaper in bulk and portion them out over the week to save money. I know people who buy a ceasar salad every day from the store. That's 3-5 bucks regardless. Well you can buy bagged romaine lettuce and mixed veggies and a bottle of dressing for less than 3 days worth of buying them at the store. Saving costs is only one benefit though- by making your own portions you can waste less each day, and you're not adding a boxed meal to the landfill each day. You can even pick your own snacks and drinks!

Graywater Recycling

raphacgf — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:24:01 +0100

Any water that has been used in the home, except water from toilets, is called graywater . Dish, shower, sink, and laundry water comprise 50-80% of residential "waste" water. This may be reused for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation. It's a waste to irrigate with great quantities of drinking water when plants thrive on used water containing small bits of compost. Unlike a lot of ecological stopgap measures, graywater reuse is a part of the fundamental solution to many ecological problems and will probably remain essentially unchanged in the distant future. The benefits of graywater recycling include: *Lower fresh water use *Less strain on failing septic tank or treatment plant *Graywater treatment in topsoil is highly effective *Ability to build in areas unsuitable for conventional treatment *Less energy and chemical use *Groundwater recharge *Plant growth *Reclamation of otherwise wasted nutrients

Text anywhere in the world for 0.5p

Leemcc — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:35:18 +0100

There's a clever new service from Vyke Mobile* that utilises the fact it costs a fraction of the price to use mobile internet than it does to text. If you've a phone which has web or WAP access, which is most phones bought in the last three or four years, you can take advantage. Just download the free software, and then text from your mobile to other UK or worldwide mobiles for a fraction of a penny. The system feels virtually identical to normal texting (you can even use your phone's address book) but is actually sending the texts via your mobile's internet service. Better still the message comes from your own mobile phone, so mates can reply easily. Saves me about £5 a week texting my parents who live in Bulgaria. www.vyke.com

More Gas for Your Cash

moneytrackin_de — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:19:14 +0200

Gas prices are incredibly high and if you do as much driving as I do (I'm a commuter), you'll appreciate anyadvice on how to save a few cents here and there. I read an article that said it's best to fill up in the early morning or late at night, when gas is densest. Since we pay for volume and not density, we end up getting a little more gas for the same price. Try club gas stations like Sams Club and Costco. They try their best to beat the nearby competition by a few cents per gallon. Also, their prices change daily at 8am. If you think prices are on the rise, get there the night before or before the morning changing hour.

Too Many Minutes?

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:14:52 +0100

Too many minutes and you’re wasting money. Too few and the overages can send your cell-phone bill into the stratosphere. On average, according to the consumer research firm J.D. Power & Associates, cell-phone subscribers use only 64 percent of the minutes they pay for. If you’re still under contract, call your cell-phone company and ask it to analyze your usage. You may find that buying fewer monthly minutes but, say, getting unlimited evening and weekend minutes may work better than a more expensive plan — and you won’t pay a termination fee of $100 or more. If your contract is up and you’re thinking about switching carriers, shop for the best plan on www.myrateplan.com/wireless. Analyze special offers carefully. Cingular’s rollover minutes roll over for only one month, and Sprint’s Fair & Flexible plan isn’t all that flexible: If you go over by even one minute, you have to buy a $5 block of 50 minutes.

Quit Smoking

shirota — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:34:13 +0200

All the money that you spend on cigarettes can really add up and turn into savings once you quit. The bonus: A healthier you!

Hedge against inflation and other economic crap with gold & silver

scottyea — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:29:01 +0100

In case you didn't know, the Federal Reserve of the USA has been creating money out of thin air, in astounding proportions for too long, and the whole over-inflated Hindenburg is playing out its final moments in slow motion before our very eyes. If it was just teh Fed doing that it wouldn't be quite so bad, but most other "developed' countries have been following suit, doing what is called 'competitive devaluation' to be able to compete with trade and so on. This monetary inflation, besides being responsible for massive bubbles , in tech, in shares, in real estate for example, has also caused devaluation of currencies. This is reflected in the rising price of gold (& silver). This trend is bound to continue. how do I know? History is replete with governments who tried the same scam - printing money to solve mounting problems (mainly exacerbated by printing money). Score: governments 0. It never works for long. So, what YOU can do is get in ahead of the crowd and stock up on physical gold &/or silver, and thus preserve your buying power in the longer term. just be sure it's physical. There are a lot of crooks out there.

Call your credit card companies and ask for the best rate!

herzer — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:18:23 +0100

They will more often than not be able to give you a better rate especially of you slipped due to late payments. Do this at least quartely. If you siwtch cards altogtehr to get a better rate, make sure you cancel old cards. Do not start to collect credit cards.

Shortcuts!

zakfrazier — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 07:41:28 +0100

Use google maps to find the quickest route to your place of business. Take back roads and avoid traffic. The less time you idle, the more money you'll save on gas!

Composting Toilet

raphacgf — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:22:04 +0100

A composting toilet is any system that converts human waste into an organic compost and usable soil, through the natural breakdown of organic matter into its essential minerals. Micro and macro organisms do this over time, working through various stages of oxidation and sometimes localized pockets of anaerobic breakdown. Well, composting toilets are far from being pit toilets! They range from simple twin chamber designs through to advanced systems with rotating tynes, temperature and moisture probes and electronic control systems. They are effective biological converters of human and household “waste,” saving money and energy for the person and community. They start the regeneration of the Earth’s precious environment that is long overdue.

get Ikea card

michaelschienke — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:57:44 +0100

its free and you can collect points to use towards savings later on.

Go Vegetarian!! Go to a Hare Krishna Restaraunt!!!

scottyea — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:12:25 +0100

Vegetarianism is very healthy and inexpensive, both to your personal pocketbook as well as to the environment in general. By doing it properly you will get all the nutrients, including protein, that you need, and more!!! (vitamin b12 pills are useful, cheap too:) The key point is replace expensive non-veg items in your diet with a good variety of inexpensive alternatives. Another tip is to stay focused on positives, and avoid preoccupation with what you're avoiding... but that's just common sense. And for great tips on scrumptious vegetarian cooking, visit a local Hare Krishna restaurant (or website) and buy a paperback recipe book for a few dollars. Excellent and delicious foods like halava, rice, dahl, vegetable sabjis and much much more are only a few minutes away with your little recipe book...

Saving on restaurants & making some cash

epicure — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:05:30 +0200

Form a group for a regular meeting (you choose the theme), call around your favorite restaurants and let them know you will be regulars, given you will be a large group, ask the restaurant to either give you a group discount on the bill, give YOU restaurant credit or just pay you out a percentage of whatever the group spending is. Easy peasy if you got the extra time and love to socialize. Have fun saving and making money!

Returning things you dont need

moneytrackin_de — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:15:31 +0100

I always find myself buying things (or recieving gifts) that i only need short term (or dont need at all). I find the best way to "save" is to return them to the store without a reciept for store credit - then you have money for that store when you need it. Save those boxes!

Gym Saving

dekokerd — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:38:10 +0100

Join a medical aid which incentivises good health and accordingly subsidize gym membership.

Lower Debt

Dreadlabs — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:36:04 +0100

To work on your debts, arrange them in order, either from lowest to highest owed, or highest interest rate to lowest interest rate. Then pay them off from top to bottom. For the less disciplined, use the former to see debts removed from the roster quicker.

How you can win money with Hedge Funds Investment

finincorp — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:30:41 +0100

Finincorp Ltda. created Finintrading Investment Club, to invest in Hedge Multimarket Funds. The initial value of the application will be of Euros 35.00 or Usd 45.00 and initially the club will invest in Investment Fund Sparta Ciclico of the Administrator of Funds Sparta. Visit www.finintrading.com for more informations.

Retirement Tip

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:56:07 +0100

From ING Newsletter 04/07 The average American over the age of 50 has saved only 12% of what most experts believe will be needed to meet basic living expenses during retirement. Rule of thumb: You’ll need about 70% of your pre-retirement income (lower earners, 90% or more) to maintain your standard of living when you stop working. It’s never too late to start pumping money into your nest egg.

How to stay focus on doing important things?

realdinh — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:36:07 +0100

Make a habit of writing plan for everyday, set time and follow exactly what plan says! Cheers, Dinh

Save on Gas

deltacross — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:16:11 +0200

Western Convenience gas stations in Colorado are consistently cheaper (sometimes as much as $.13/gallon) than other gas stations.

Just to plan how much you want to save insteading of spend

hlcheni — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:58:17 +0200

Just to plan how much you want to save insteading of spend.

Saving Travel Costs

itchap — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:11:56 +0100

Instead of using the car to go 100 meters to the shop, walk instead. A car uses so much petrol just warming up that by the time you get to the shop it won't even be warm and hence waste you money

Credit Cards Vs. Cash

mobsyland — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:18:53 +0200

Credit Cards can be more useful than cash...if you are responsible. As long as you pay your balance off every month the appropriate credit card (miles; points) can actually reward you better than using pure cash. Also i find it easier to track my expenses using credit cards than with cash.

How to save petrol money.

kezz — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:41:48 +0100

This is relatively simple. Sell your car! You will gain money from the sale, AND remove the constant need to fill your car up with petrol.

Saving money on gad

radioactive — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:42:15 +0100

Travel by public transit Travel by public transit Travel by public transit Travel by public transit

electrical bill

orchids — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:17:55 +0100

all day does not leave to ingition conditioned air and buy bulbs that save electricity and observes the doors that be sealed so that conditioned air dont escape

Think twice about renovating

moneytrackin_de — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:17:29 +0100

Renovating your kitchen at a national average cost of about $43,860 doesn’t always mean you’ll make it back when you sell your house. In fact, you’ll probably recoup only 91 percent, or $39,920, according to Remodeling and Realtor magazines. On average, you’ll recover 85 percent of the cost of a new roof ($9,460 of $11,160) and 90 percent of the cost of new windows ($8,680 of $9,680). A bathroom renovation is the project least likely to lose money (a return of $10,730 on the average cost of $10,500, or 102 percent). A wiser option is hiring a professional who can give your home an inexpensive makeover. “A home stager adds furnishings, decorative touches, and details,” explains Alan Montgomery, a real estate agent in Seattle, “down to setting your dining-room table.” Montgomery had a client whose home sat on the market for six months at an asking price of $334,000. After spending $5,000 on staging, the owner sold the place in three months for $379,000. Ask your real estate agent or broker if s/he knows anyone in the home-staging business

How to lower electric bill

moneytrackin_de — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:59:42 +0200

Turn off all lights during the day Wash and dry cloths at night Set thermostate at 79 summer, 68 winter Use power strips to cut off audio, video and computer components.