My finance tips

Archive for September, 2009

Slash Your Grocery Bill

Become a coupon queen and save a bundle every week

Susan Samtur Select Coupon Program

Recently I paid 3.53 for 158 worth of groceries using coupons some from my local newspapers some from the internet and some from manufacturers’ web sites. Coupon manufacturing has grown into a big business with over 250 billion coupons being issued this year. Eightnine percent of consumers use them but many are in the dark about the full extent of savings coupons can offer and others are unsure of how they work. But for the couponsavvy consumer coupons can turn into big savings. Here’s how to join their ranks.

Step 1: Set up a coupon folder. I use a sturdy 4″ x 8″ accordionstyle coupon folder that is actually manufactured to hold monthly checks. Each tab in the folder represents a different category and all of the categories are in alphabetical order.

For example this week I found Sobe Vitamin Water on sale for .99 per bottle. I had a .50 per bottle coupon that was doubled by the supermarket. My final cost: eight bottles for 0!

Step 2: Organize your coupons. There are a number of wellknown methods for organizing your coupons. I like the category method. The category method involves matching the aisles in the supermarket with the categories in your organizer.

I have about 20 categories in my organizer such as Baking Goods Beverages Cereals Condiments Dairy and so on.

Step 3: Compare your coupon categories with the store flyer. Go through the flyer and match up as many store sales as possible with your coupons. This should go by quickly since each section in the flyer is devoted to a different category which makes matching the two easier and more time efficient.

I keep all of the store flyers in one location in my house. This way when I am preparing to go shopping I can easily find the flyer I am looking for.

Step 4: Shop at stores that double. This is one of the best ways to save really big. I always keep track of which stores are doubling and try to stick to these stores. You can find out which stores are doubling by checking the store circular.

So that’s it. Use these four simple steps and I promise you will save at the checkout. At first this might seem a little timeconsuming but once you set up your folder and categories shopping and saving become a seamless process.

Printable Coupons of the Day:

29 in Assorted Betty Crocker Coupons

About the writer:  Susan J. Samtur is Editor and Chief and Publisher of Refundle Bundle Magazine started in 1973 and founder of Select Coupon Program a grocery coupons site. Susan is nationally recognized as the “Coupon Queen” and has been featured on Live with Regis Today CNN Fox Friends and Good Morning America. She is the author of the bestselling book Cashing In at the Checkout a millioncopy seller as well as two other books. She has contributed to Family Circle magazine for over twentyfive years and has been featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines articles.

A Good Debt Elimination Program Starts With A Budget

Debt is a financial disease that is affecting a vast majority of middle class Americans today. Many find themselves living pay check to pay check each month and wondering where all the money went while their level of debt keeps getting higher and higher. Those who are successful with money have one thing in common; they control where their money goes and how it is spent and they do this by using a budget that tracks every last dollar they make and spend.

If you are one of those people who find yourself in financial hardship then you need to start a debt elimination program that is built around a personal budget. The reason for this is simple if you know how much income you have and how much your expenses are each month you can make adjustments to your spending habits to bring your spending back into line with how much you make. A budget is the first step to taking responsibility for your financial future and for most people that means eliminating debt.

While creating a budget can be a scary proposition because of what it might show it is a necessary part of any good debt reduction plan. The truth of your spending habits staring back at you from a sheet of paper isn’t fun but it is the quickest and easiest way to get started.

By writing down your income in one column and your expenses in another column your financial picture will soon come into focus. Be sure to leave nothing out because you want a complete picture of what your money is doing. Add up both columns to see if your income is keeping up with your spending. If you are like most people who are suffering the effects of overwhelming debt you will find that your expenses are probably much greater then your income and the biggest bulk of this may well be the monthly payments on lines of credit you may have that can include a mortgage car loan students loans and credit card debt.

Because of this you may want to make a separate spreadsheet that lists all your outstanding debts owed to your various creditors. Make a column for each of the following categories; name of creditor balance owed interest rate and interest being paid each month. Add up the numbers in the balance owed and interest being paid columns and write it down at the bottom. This will show not only how much debt you owe in total but also to each individual creditor.

This will allow you to come up with a game plan to start paying back these debts and work your way out of the financial hardships they have caused. Because money can be an emotional issue one of the best ways to stay motivated is to start with your smallest debt and get it paid off first. This will give you a good feeling and keep you moving on to the next highest debt until it is paid off. Keep working your way up until you knock out that biggest debt.

By starting with a budget outlining all your income and expenses your debt elimination program will soon have you back on your financial feet. You will have much greater financial freedom once the heavy weight of all that debt is no longer on your back.

About the writer:  If you are serious about reducing debt and want more information about a Debt Elimination Program please visit the website Debt Reduction and Consolidation by Clicking Here.

Trying To Retire With Less Money Than You Need

The younger you are the easier it is to ignore what’s going on with the economy and the effects of the financial crisis on your personal finances. You can afford to be more optimistic about your financial future because you have so many years ahead of you before you need to worry about retiring.

The closer you are to retirement the more concerned you will naturally be regarding the amount of money you have in your retirement savings. With every downturn of the economy you watch your nest egg grow smaller. Here are some practical ways you can survive on less money during your golden years:

Decrease Expenses: You might be surprised discover how many things you pay for every month that are just not necessary. Go through your expenses with a fine toothed comb and make sure you are sticking to the mandatory expenses and not going overboard with unnecessary purchases or subscriptions. Try little changes like grocery shopping from a list only to limit impulse purchases take less expensive trips or vacations get rid of credit card debt or take advantage of a balance transfer offer to save on interest expenses. The money you save can be added to your retirement savings to help extend the length of time your savings will sustain your lifestyle.

Downsize: Do you have a house that was suitable for a growing family but seems larger than what you and your significant other really need? Consider downsizing the home to save money on mortgage and/or utility costs. Maintaining a smaller home costs less than maintaining a larger home. You may also be able to move into a condo that involves no maintenance on your part at all depending on your personal preferences.

Learn to Live Frugally: Cut back on your energy consumption by living by lowering your heat a degree or two or helping the central air work less by keeping it a degree or two warmer in the summer. Change hot water heating setting to warm instead of piping hot. None of these small changes will decrease your lifestyle any and within a week or so you won’t even notice the changes other than in your wallet. Try energy efficient compact florescent bulbs for your whole house to decrease your electric bill and unplug everything you’re not currently using since many items draw electricity even if they’re not on.

Consider a Part Time Job. If you feel like you’ve reduced your expenses as much as possible consider a part time job that will let you earn a little extra cash. If you are computer literate you can work from home writing or doing virtual administrative assistant work. Otherwise many retailers or restaurants are good places for part time work. In addition to boosting your income keeping your mind active helps keep you sharp and alert.

Improving your financial situation is often as simple as making small adjustments to your everyday spending habits. Not all of the ideas in this article will work for everyone but using just a few can add up to big savings over the long term.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Elizabeth Williams EditorinChief for CreditCardFlyers.comCreditCardFlyers.com makes it easy to compare and apply for a variety of credit card offers featuring low balance transfer rates. We are the leading source for searching 0 apr balance transfer offers online.