Check out these great ideas to help Santa find your family!
NINE SANTA STRATEGIES FOR TRAVELING FAMILIES
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Monday, December 7, 2015
Financially Prepare for Christmas
Christmas always seems so far away, and then suddenly….it’s here.
Even though we technically have 12 whole months to plan, most of us {including myself!} wait until the last minute. It’s almost like we enjoy frantically rushing around grabbing last minute gifts and making sure holiday traditions are kept, no matter how much they add to our stress level.
Although hardcore planning may not completely erase our anxiety, there are ways to make it just a little bit easier. These financial tips give your wallet some much needed room to breathe, and perhaps help you relax a little bit more too!
1. Start setting money aside now
It’s always a good idea to budget for Christmas gifts, food, decorations, etc, and if you haven’t done so yet, it’s time to start.
Think about what you would normally spend around the holidays. Then take a specified amount of money each week from your paycheck to put in a cash envelope, or as a separate column in your budget sheet. Even though it’s almost December, this post on Money Saving Mom will explain why it’s still not too late.
2. Make a menu plan, and stock up when items are on sale
Baking supplies come very cheap starting in November, but they often have limits of 2 per customer. Try to buy at least one or two items each time you make a trip to the store, so you don’t have to make a last minute run to finish your favorite cookie recipe.
You can also bake cookies, pies, bars….pretty much anything you make in advance will freeze, which will give you more time to enjoy family, and less time in the kitchen.
3. Stick to your list on Black Friday
I love scoring amazing deals on Black Friday, but they aren’t such a good deal if I’m buying more than I need, or “just because” it’s a good deal.
When you go through store ads after the Thanksgiving meal, make a detailed list of what you’re getting, who you’re buying for, and stick to that list. No wandering!
4. If you find a good deal, count the retail price, not the discount
What exactly do I mean by this?
Let’s say you find an $8.00 doll for your niece, marked down from $20.00, and you normally spend $15 on her. Don’t go looking for another $7.00 to spend to make up the difference. Cross her off your Christmas list and count it done. No one has to know!
5. Start making homemade gifts
Homemade gifts are a great way to save money, and still give a family member or friend something really special.
A pretty package full of homemade gourmet popcorn tied with a ribbon, or a fancy sugar scrub doesn’t have to cost more than a few dollars, and they’re so well-received.
6. Pare down the gift giving
Christmas really isn’t about all the gifts, and if you really want to make a difference in your budget, reduce your spending limit. Buy one or two gifts for each of your kids, rather than 10-15 toys they’ll use that day, but never touch again.
Also, if you have a large extended family that keeps growing, consider talking about eliminating gifts all together, or buying a gift for each family unit, rather than individually.
7. Limit the amount of Christmas cards you send
The wonderful thing about technology, is that we can stay up-to-date without waiting for the annual Christmas letters. Plus, with the cost of stamps being so high, sending Christmas cards can get really expensive…fast.
Either keep your list to a select few, or figure out another, more affordable option.
This year, I’m planning on sending an email newsletter to my friends and family. With services like Mail Chimp, you can still send something really personal, add pictures, and write a small {or long!} greeting. And you can still send snail mail to Grandma if you need to.
8. Make a list of items for next year
As you are wrapping gifts, making cookies, or decorating the tree, make note of what you have, what you use, and what you’re going to need for next year.
Just because wrapping paper and boxes of ornaments are 70% off after Christmas, doesn’t mean you need to add to your stash. Look at what you will actually use, and buy items based on needs, not finds.
I hope you don’t think me too much of a Grinch after reading this post! I just know how much Christmas can take a toll on a family that has a very tight budget {which is exactly where we are}, and I love finding ways to help ease that burden, if only a little at a time.
What is your best tip to prepare for Christmas?
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Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Budget Friendly, Last Minute, DIY, Christmas Decorations
The holidays can sneak up on you, and suddenly all your plans turn into last-minute panics. Don’t let decorating be part of the hassle. Get inspired for the holidays with these great DIY decorating ideas.
Click the image below for 45 Last Minute DIY Christmas Decoration Ideas:
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Monday, October 26, 2015
Simple Money Advice That Works
Financial planning can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By starting with the basics, you can build strong monetary habits that will last you a lifetime. Here are 7 basic money principles that can help you prepare your finances for the future.
Here are a few of the best tips that I have heard over the years:
1. You will not get rich in the stock market. You will get reasonable rates of return, but that will be over a long time horizon. People get rich in one of four ways: They inherit it, they make it in real estate, they make it by owning a business, or they save a tremendous amount over a long period of time. Do not overestimate the stock-market returns and understand how it works. Develop a reasonable investment strategy, stick to it and over time you will do fine.
2. Save — no matter what. There is always a reason not to save but successful people do the right thing on a consistent basis. Often the best time to save is when times are at their worst. Looking back on 2008, the greatest returns in your portfolio are from dollars invested during that market downturn.
3. What is your plan B? “Plan A” never works and you need to make sure you have something to fall back on. Most successful people have not had everything go their way all the time. They know that no matter time and preparation that they do, things will never go exactly as planned. Having other alternatives that you can use to make the plan work is the key to being successful.
4. The tortoise always wins! Success is not the result of one great action and it is not a one hit wonder. It is about consistently doing the right things on a regular basis. The individual that gets in early, takes additional training and education, and consistently works to make themselves better in all aspects of their lives (family, friends and business) will beat the person who is more sizzle than substance.
5. Get the smartest people to work with you. My goal is to be the idiot in the room because that means I’m in the right room filled with very bright people. Every major decision I make I run by my advisors and associates first before I do anything.
I just put an offer on a building and prior to that, I ran the numbers by my accountant, how to structure it with my attorney, my contractor had walked through the property with me, and my mortgage person gave me the financial options … all prior to making an offer. Nobody can be an expert at everything, and understanding what your limitations are and then bringing in top people to help will make for much better decisions.
6. I have saved more money by saying “no” than by saying “yes.” Not all deals are great ones and anytime something doesn’t fit what you are good at, it is better to walk away and live to fight another day. Getting involved with projects that don’t fit your core strengths generally is labor intensive, mentally exhaustive, and, more likely than not, you will lose you money.
7. Understand the “reasonable range” for anything. Someone offers to sell you a brand new Porsche Turbo convertible. “Zero to 60 — in 3.3 seconds. It has a seven-speed power-shifting transmission with 520 horsepower and 524 pounds of torque. The list on it is around $160,000 and I can get you a brand new one for around $80,000 … what do you say?” If you say “I’m in,” then you are going to be ripped off for $80,000! People get themselves in a lot of trouble when they get away from reasonable ranges. Generally, deals that seem to have no risk are the riskiest, and investments with guaranteed large returns generally will guarantee that you lose money. I am not saying that there are not great deals out there, but if it is being proposed to you, really do your homework and due diligence.
I have been fortunate enough to work with some amazingly talented people over the years and they have given me some tremendous opportunities to learn from them. People make things way too complicated. These rules are simple and will make your life a lot easier!
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from Check Into Cash http://ift.tt/1PPDTXJ
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Check Into Cash Launches #CheckIntoPink Campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
New educational resources will be featured in Check Into Cash’s social campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer risk and prevention.
CLEVELAND, TN, October 1, 2015: Check Into Cash, a national leader in alternative financial services, launches its #CheckIntoPink social campaign today to help spread knowledge about breast cancer. This is the second year in a row that Check Into Cash has participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise support for women’s health. The campaign, which will run throughout October, will lead the audience to http://ift.tt/1KTe9mL, an informational page featuring tips and other educational resources.
“We are proud to join the global community in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Check Into Cash President Steve Scoggins. “By going pink and actively sharing information, we hope to help people understand the importance of breast cancer prevention and annual screenings.”
The #CheckIntoPink campaign uses social media, email, and mobile app channels to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourage others to show their support by going pink. The focal point of the campaign is the Go Pink informational webpage with helpful links and resources about getting involved and learning more. Visitors are encouraged to share the campaign resources on social media to help spread awareness.
“We encourage businesses and individuals alike to join us by going pink in support of breast cancer awareness,” said Scoggins. “When we educate ourselves about breast cancer and share our knowledge with others, we move one step closer to a cure.”
To learn more about Check Into Cash and the services they offer, visit CheckIntoCash.com. For information about breast cancer risk, prevention, and treatment, visit http://ift.tt/1KTe9mL and NationalBreastCancer.org.
About Check Into Cash
Founded in Cleveland, Tennessee, in 1993 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Allan Jones, the Check Into Cash brand is state regulated and offers customers a wide variety of financial solutions. Check Into Cash stores offer consumer credit, check cashing, Western Union® money transfers, prepaid U.S. Money Cards, and other convenient services as a complete one stop money shop.
Check Into Cash is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), the trade association representing the nation’s payday lenders. The CFSA advocates for best practices and helps enact legislation that balances the needs of the consumer with the interests of the industry.
As a national leader and industry standard bearer, Check Into Cash firmly believes in truthful advertising and full disclosure of its services.
©2015 Check Into Cash, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Katherine Bartcher
423-473-4186
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One-Week to Organizing Your Finances
Do you feel completely overwhelmed when you think about organizing your finances? You’re not alone. Financial planning can be intimidating for many people. With a few simple tools, however, you can be well on your way to living debt-free. Check out this one-week guide to organizing your finances!
Day 1: Create a Budget
You may say “Im already on a budget” but today I want you to sit down and write out a NEW budget (your budget should be revisited every month) which will spend every penny of your paycheck! This is called a zero balance budget. If you are paid differently each payday, you can still create a budget. This is called “irregular income planning”. With this plan, you will prioritize your spending by importance. So if you get paid $2000 this payday, you will spend the $2000 right down your list of importance until its gone. For the irregular income budget form, go {here}.You can learn more about cash flow planning & budgeting at www.daveramsey.com. My challenge is going to be very basic, enough to introduce you to financial organization and get you on the road to financial peace. Once you have completed your budget, place it in your home management binder (for now).
Dave Ramsey says “Every single dollar of your income should be allocated to some category”. When you are done with your cash flow planning (detailed budget), your income minus expenses should equal zero. That means, if you have money left over after budgeting, it needs to go to savings (or somewhere).
To track your spending for the next 6 days, all you have to do is carry a little notepad with you. Write down EVERYTHING that you spend… coffee, gas, food, etc… This is going to show you exactly where your money is going.
A few great places to find budget forms are:
daveramsey.com
Clean Mama Printables
Read more: Days 2 – 7 Click Here
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
A Healthy Car is a Happy Car
Vehicle maintenance is a must, but most people don’t go beyond the basic car wash and oil change. Unfortunately, not giving your car the regular attention it needs may lead to costly repair bills down the road. Here are some easy maintenance tips that can keep your car running longer and save you money in the long haul.
1. Know your car’s maintenance schedule.
There isn’t one maintenance schedule that all cars should follow. The make, model and year of your car, along with its mileage, affect what maintenance it needs and when. Edmunds.com has a free tool you can use to get a customized maintenance schedule for your car.
Regularly taking care of the little things can help you avoid big, expensive problems down the line. Knowing your maintenance schedule will also prevent you from performing unnecessary maintenance. For example, the oft-cited 3,000-mile mark may actually be too frequent for many people to get oil changes.
2. Find a trustworthy mechanic.
In her book, “Buying a Car for Dummies”, Deanna Sclar recommends finding a good mechanic before you need one. Test the shop’s services on a small job to get an idea of whether you can trust them with the inevitable large job.
Asking for recommendations from people who take good care of their cars is a great way to find a repair shop. If that’s not an option, seek the advice of independent agencies like the American Automobile Association (AAA), Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). AAA and CAA approved facilities provide a 12-month/12,000 mile/20,000 km warranty and must meet high standards of service. Their websites provide lists of approved repair shops by region.
Participating AAA-approved facilities also offer inexpensive vehicle inspections that check all of your car’s major components. The ASE, an independent, nonprofit group, offers voluntary certification to mechanics. All ASE-certified mechanics have passed at least one test, have at least two years of relevant work experience, and must be recertified every five years.
Approvals aside, a shop that’s busy is often a good sign.
3. Check your fluid levels.
Even if you barely understand anything about how cars work, you can easily learn how to check and replenish your car’s fluid levels yourself. Most of these items are readily accessible under the hood. According to “Auto Upkeep: Basic Car Care” by Michael E. Gray, these are the most common fluids car owners need to check:
- Engine oil
- Transmission fluid
- Coolant
- Brake fluid
- Clutch fluid (for manual transmissions)
- Windshield washer fluid
- Differential fluid
- Power steering fluid
- Battery electrolyte
These should be checked whenever you get your oil changed. Note that some of these fluids come in more than one formulation; make sure you know which formula your car requires before adding anything. Your mechanic will probably check and replenish your car’s fluids for free or for a nominal fee when you get your oil changed, but it’s still a good idea to know how to do it yourself so you can troubleshoot and prevent problems when you’re at home or on the road.
4. Keep Your Tires Inflated
A sticker usually located on the inside of the driver’s side car door will tell you how much air to keep in your tires. It may say “32 PSI,” meaning your tires need 32 pounds of air per square inch. You can easily tell how much air is in your tires by using a tire gauge (this should cost less than $10). For a few quarters, you can add air to your tires at most gas stations. Check your tire pressure once a month when your tires are cold. Don’t forget to check the spare!
An underinflated tire can cause a blowout, meaning that in a best-case scenario, you have to buy a new tire sooner than usual, and in a worst-case scenario, you can cause an accident resulting in thousands of dollars of damage to your vehicle and others. Properly inflated tires also save you money by improving your gas mileage. (Gas prices getting you down? Check out Getting A Grip On The Cost Of Gas.)
Looking at the tread wear pattern on your tires when you’re inflating them can help you spot other problems with your car that should be addressed by a mechanic, like an alignment problem, unbalanced wheel or worn shock absorbers. And when the tread on your tires is down to less than 1/16 of an inch (which you can check by putting an upside-down penny in a groove and seeing if the top of Abe Lincoln’s head is visible), it’s time to get your tires replaced.
5. Invest in an OBD-II reader.
This handy electronic device is easy to operate and can pay for itself in just one or two uses. For less than $100, it will allow you to read the codes produced by your car’s electronic on-board diagnostic system if your car’s model year is 1996 or later. This means that when your check engine light goes on, you can find out what’s wrong and how serious the problem is without having to take your car to the mechanic. Some engine light messages don’t need to be repaired right away, giving you time to save up and shop around. And knowing what the light is on for can keep you from getting ripped off by an unscrupulous mechanic.
Conclusion
This isn’t an exhaustive guide to maintaining your car, but learning how to take these simple precautions will help you save money by keeping your car running smoothly and avoiding unnecessary repairs. Perhaps they’ll even give you the confidence to delve deeper into understanding how your car works.
Source: Top 5 Money-Saving Tips For Your Car
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Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
5 Game Day Party Tips
Fall is here, and so is football season! Hosting is fun, but having people over to the watch the game every week can get pretty expensive. If you want to throw a fun football party with no financial flags on the play, take a look at these budget-friendly party ideas.
1. Make it a pot luck. Food is essential for any party. Ask your guests to bring a favorite game day dish. This takes the burden off the host because they won’t have to buy all the food or even cook it! Our favorite game day food is Tyson Any’Tyzers.
2. If you’re anything like me you love to decorate for any party! Check out Wal-mart or your local dollar stores for some inexpensive decorations. I found these fun football plates at Wal-mart. They were a great size to hold a variety of food! You can also look online for free football printables and decor.
3. Alcohol can also be very expensive and adds up quickly. Ask quests to bring their favorite beer or wine.
4. Don’t throw a football party or tailgate without Wet-Nap. Print out this $.55 off coupon for Wet-Nap here while supplies last. They are essential if you plan on serving wings.
5. Watch for sales and use coupons. If you have football gatherings quite frequently, stock up early and watch for deals on things like chips and soda.
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