Monthly Archives: February 2019

Travel on a budget has become easier, thanks to the internet. Here’s how to save on some parts of your trip so you can splurge on others. Don’t let a tight budget keep you from planning a getaway. There are ways to do it for less that won’t diminish your experience. Some of these 11 money-saving travel ideas can make your trip even better.

1. Be flexible on travel dates
2. Consider nearby airports
3. Travel offseason
4. Travel in shoulder season (not prime & not off season)
5. Keep shopping after booking your airfare
6. Pack light
7. Stay in a national park
8. Try a hostel
9. Swap homes
10. Eat in
11. Save on entertainment

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Financial incentives beckon workers who’ll start, or start over, in these cities, towns and states. Even Italy beckons. With many communities’ gutted by plant closures and fleeing industries, young people are moving to big cities and glittering tech regions. In an attempt to keep towns, cities, counties and even states economically vibrant, state and local governments in the U.S. are offering financial incentives for in-migration. Italy, too, is enticing migrants to its underpopulated towns. For the adventurous, here are nine intriguing places that offer money to help you start over.

1. Kansas -up to $15,000 in student loan repayments and income tax waivers
2. St. Clair County, Michigan – up to $15,000 in student loan repayments
3. North Platte, Nebraska – student loan repayments and more
4. New Haven, Connecticut -up to $80k to purchase a home
5. Grant County, Indiana – up to 5k for a downpayment for a home
6. Detroit, Michigan- for business owners
7. Vemont – a grant of up to 5k for fulltime worker who live in Vermont
8. Tulsa, Oklahoma – $10k toward moving expenses, a monthly stipend
9. Italy – anyone with children is eligible for $6k-$9k

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Navy Federal Credit Union has published nine signs of identity theft. Every 2 seconds, an American becomes a victim of identity fraud. That is about 10 million persons a year have their personal information compromised. Many find out from their financial institutions. There are some red flags that indicate your personal information has been stolen for fraudulent purposes. Watch for warning signs to make sure you don’t fall prey.

1. Unexplained charges or withdrawals
2. Medical bills for doctors you haven’t visited
3. New credit cards you didn’t apply for
4. Errors on your credit report
5. Collection notices or calls for unknown debt
6. Your credit card or application for credit is denied
7. Missing mail or email
8. Errors in your tax return or Social Security statement
9. A warrant for your arrest

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Want a car that you’ll still be driving in 15 years? Buying from one particular manufacturer is your best bet -by far. One of the best ways to save money is to buy a used care and hold it for a long time. And buying from one particular manufacturer helps boost your odds of achieving that goal.

1. Toyota Highlander
2. Toyota Prius
3. Toyota Sienna
4. Honda Pilot
5. Toyota Tundra
6. Toyota Sequoia
7. Toyota Tacoma
8. Honda Odyssey
9. Honda CR-V
10. Toyota RAV4
11. Subaru Forester
12. Toyota Camry
13. Acura MDX
14. Toyota 4Runner
15. Toyota Avalon

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Eating well can be expensive – unless you know these tricks and tips for cutting your food bill. Food is one of those things none of us can live without. You might be able to save money by skipping cable TV or avoiding expensive travel, but cutting food expenses has to be weighed against survival – not to mention health and day-to-day satisfaction. Still those meals don’t need to be expensive. Are you ready for 25 ways to trim your food costs.

1. Skip serving-sized items
2. Don’t buy processed foods
3. Use coupons
4. Sign up for a store loyalty and e-coupons
5. Stockpile the best deals
6. Learn how to cook
7. Plan menus based on ads or what’s in your pantry
8. Buy fresh ingredients in season
9. Salvage food about to go bad
10. Make the most of your freezer
11. Invest in half of a hog or a quarter of a cow
12. Make a meat dish a side dish rather than the main dish
13. Make a list and stick to it
14. Don’t walk up and down the aisles
15. Grab the generics
16. Look high and low on the shelves in the grocery store for deals
17. Check the ethnic food aisle – you may find cheaper items
18. Go to the store alone
19. Fill your stomach first
20. Consider a ware house club membership
21. Shop for food in unexpected places
22. Check out outlet stores
23. Head to a stripped down store (Aldi or Save-A-Lot)
24. Plant a garden
25. Eat less

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A few years ago, I discovered Navy Federal Credit Union offers awesome FREE financial seminars. The best news is, you don’t have to be a member. If you want to become more informed about purchasing a home, estate planning, financial planning basics, retirement income planning, social security benefits seminar, investments basics, and auto buying. You’ll find the seminars very informative and you have the option of scheduling a meeting with a financial planner at a later date. I firmly believe this is the best keep secret for anyone who wants to take an hour to learn more to bolster their financial prowess. I highly recommend these FREE financial seminars! Sign-up and invite a friend to join you! For more information visit: resources, seminars and events at www.navyfederal.org

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1. Forgetting to program the thermostat
2. Failing to treat heat pumps differently
3. Leaving the water temperatures unadjusted
4. Not caulking cracks and leaks
5. Ignoring bigger gaps in walls and windows
6. Failing to insulate the attic door
7. Fogetting to shrink-wrap windows
8. Leaving the damper open in your fireplace
9. Use a ceiling fan incorrectly
10. Not changing furnace filters
11. Failing to insulate the water heater
12. Overlooking door sweeps to keep cold are out
13. Leaving the drapes open during the day and closed at night
14. Not sealing the heat ducts
15. Skipping insulation in the basement
16. Not insulating electric outlets
17. Failing to seal outside-facing baseboards
18. Not using LED lightbulbs

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These monthly costs likely consumer most of your budget. But if you could lower them by even just 10 percent, you’d have an extra $2,895 every year. If you’ve looked over your budget and can’t cut down anymore, maybe you need to look a little harder. There are probably some expenses you could reduce or drop to save thousands of dollars a year. Following are five examples of these costs and how you could slash them. If you could eliminate all five expenses entirely, you’d save a whopping $28,949 per year, based on averages. But even if you could lower them by a mere 10 percent, you’d still be $2,985 richer by this time next year.

1. rent
2. Car payment
3. Cellphone
4. Dining out
5. Cable

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Follow these easy tips to save so you’ll have more money for things that really matter. A decision to save money doesn’t have to be life-changing or even involve sacrifice. It’s surprising how much money you can save simply by paying attention to how your money is being spent. People routinely buy things that they don’t truly need or perhaps even want. It’s all about being aware of where your money is going. Here are plenty of easy ways to save money this year:

1. Stop paying for recorded music
2. Read books on mobile devices
3. Raise your auto insurance deductible
4. Use rewards credit cards
5. Ask about senior discounts
6. Conquer impulse purchases
7. Improve your credit score
8. Reach for a sweater instead of the thermostat
9. Close your self-storage unit
10. Use coupons wisely when you shop
11. Get rid of your telephone landline
12. Set up an automatic savings plan
13. Get a roommate
14. Don’t buy a brand new car
15. Pay attention to the price per unit when grocery shopping

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Think you’re a savvy shopper? Find out how retailers persuade you to dig more deeply into your wallet. Every time you walk into a mall, grocery store, or a big-box retailer, remember: It’s you against them. Retailers, marketers, salespersons and CEO’s are determined to make you buy more than you planned. In addition, retailers have an arsenal of sales tactics that may seem silly but serve as heavy-duty artillery when it comes to persuading you to part ways with your money.

Following are 10 especially cagey tricks they may use:

1. Free-shipping offers
2. Multiple-purchasing pricing
3. BOGO deals (Buy one get one)
4. Bundled purchases
5. Coupon savings
6. Sales events
7. Rewards programs and loyalty cards
8. Psychological pricing
9. Upselling everything
10. Point-of-sale add-ons

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