Steve Repak's Blog - Posts Tagged "saving"
Different Decision for Different Results
Who couldn’t use some extra money? I know I could. Something else I know is that people who have money earn interest on theirs, instead of paying interest to someone else. If you are ready for some different results and want to start earning interest on some of your money, try applying these tips so you can spend less and save more.
1.Eliminate cable or at least reduce the number of channels to which you subscribe
2.Sell items you no longer use on Craigslist, EBay, or at a yard sale
3.Only drink water at lunch and dinner and never order dessert
4.If you have a cell phone, get rid of your home phone
5.Pack your lunches and snacks instead of eating out or using the vending machine
6.Turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer
7.Exchange your smart phone for a TracFone
8.Bargain shop for clothes, food and household items
9.Sell your plasma
10.Make a list and make sure you eat before going grocery shopping
11.Pay yourself before paying anyone else (if you bank online set it up as an automatic bill
)
12.Check out movies from the library instead of renting or ordering on-demand
13.Sell your jewelry that you seldom or never wear
14.Choose generic/store brand over brand name
15.Spend time helping others instead of spending money on things that can’t love you back
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. There are many ways that you can spend less and save more but the most important lesson is that you have to start making different decisions when it comes to your money. If you do that, you will start getting different results.
via http://thelifeofasinglemom.com/differ...
1.Eliminate cable or at least reduce the number of channels to which you subscribe
2.Sell items you no longer use on Craigslist, EBay, or at a yard sale
3.Only drink water at lunch and dinner and never order dessert
4.If you have a cell phone, get rid of your home phone
5.Pack your lunches and snacks instead of eating out or using the vending machine
6.Turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer
7.Exchange your smart phone for a TracFone
8.Bargain shop for clothes, food and household items
9.Sell your plasma
10.Make a list and make sure you eat before going grocery shopping
11.Pay yourself before paying anyone else (if you bank online set it up as an automatic bill
)
12.Check out movies from the library instead of renting or ordering on-demand
13.Sell your jewelry that you seldom or never wear
14.Choose generic/store brand over brand name
15.Spend time helping others instead of spending money on things that can’t love you back
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. There are many ways that you can spend less and save more but the most important lesson is that you have to start making different decisions when it comes to your money. If you do that, you will start getting different results.
via http://thelifeofasinglemom.com/differ...
Thanksgiving Money-Saving Tips
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
With November upon us and Thanksgiving just around the corner, now is a great time to reflect on the many blessings for which you are thankful. And because we are also entering what most of us find to be the most expensive season of the year, I thought it would be a good idea to share some tips to help you save a little money while still enjoying Turkey Day with your friends and family.
Thanksgiving Money-Saving Tips
Tip #1. Plan for the meal in advance
Maybe you have always served both turkey and ham. Try sticking with one protein this year because we all know that good meat ain’t cheap! Also plan to keep things simple. For example making a pot of mashed potatoes is much less expensive than a scalloped potato casserole. You also want to plan on shopping in advance. It seems like a no-brainer but many people wait until the last minute to find out the items or food that they need have sold out, or yes, grocery stores are indeed closed Thanksgiving morning. If there are items that you can freeze ahead of time, get them now so you can experience less stress with last minute grocery shopping and maybe save some money at the same time.
Tip #2. (BYOF) Bring your own food
Have others bring food and drinks. Not only does this help the person hosting the event because they won’t be spending the entire day slaving over a hot stove, but it is also a great way to reduce the large financial burden of having to buy everything yourself. If you completed Tip #1 and planned your menu you can now ask friends and family members to be responsible for some of the items. For example, you can ask someone to bring a side dish such as a vegetable or maybe you know someone who loves to bake that can bring a dessert. Even folks that can’t cook can help by bringing drinks, napkins, disposable storage containers or other supplies. Sharing the joy of cooking has many benefits beyond the financial and most guests are happy to contribute.
Tip #3. Show your thankfulness by serving strangers
To be reminded of how truly blessed your life is, consider showing how thankful you are by serving others. There are many organizations, soup kitchens, and shelters that are desperate for people who not only can volunteer food but also volunteer their time to help out others in need. It is a great way to spend time with your friends and family and Galatians 5:13 (NLT) says “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love"
courtesy of ChooseNow Ministries and Steve Repak
http://nicoleodell.com/2014/11/thanks...
With November upon us and Thanksgiving just around the corner, now is a great time to reflect on the many blessings for which you are thankful. And because we are also entering what most of us find to be the most expensive season of the year, I thought it would be a good idea to share some tips to help you save a little money while still enjoying Turkey Day with your friends and family.
Thanksgiving Money-Saving Tips
Tip #1. Plan for the meal in advance
Maybe you have always served both turkey and ham. Try sticking with one protein this year because we all know that good meat ain’t cheap! Also plan to keep things simple. For example making a pot of mashed potatoes is much less expensive than a scalloped potato casserole. You also want to plan on shopping in advance. It seems like a no-brainer but many people wait until the last minute to find out the items or food that they need have sold out, or yes, grocery stores are indeed closed Thanksgiving morning. If there are items that you can freeze ahead of time, get them now so you can experience less stress with last minute grocery shopping and maybe save some money at the same time.
Tip #2. (BYOF) Bring your own food
Have others bring food and drinks. Not only does this help the person hosting the event because they won’t be spending the entire day slaving over a hot stove, but it is also a great way to reduce the large financial burden of having to buy everything yourself. If you completed Tip #1 and planned your menu you can now ask friends and family members to be responsible for some of the items. For example, you can ask someone to bring a side dish such as a vegetable or maybe you know someone who loves to bake that can bring a dessert. Even folks that can’t cook can help by bringing drinks, napkins, disposable storage containers or other supplies. Sharing the joy of cooking has many benefits beyond the financial and most guests are happy to contribute.
Tip #3. Show your thankfulness by serving strangers
To be reminded of how truly blessed your life is, consider showing how thankful you are by serving others. There are many organizations, soup kitchens, and shelters that are desperate for people who not only can volunteer food but also volunteer their time to help out others in need. It is a great way to spend time with your friends and family and Galatians 5:13 (NLT) says “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love"
courtesy of ChooseNow Ministries and Steve Repak
http://nicoleodell.com/2014/11/thanks...
4 Simple Ways to Jumpstart Your Finances
If you feel that your finances are on life support and you have little hope of the situation improving, I want to you to provide you with a little ray of sunshine by showing you 4 easy ways to jumpstart your finances.
1. Start Giving More
I know what you are thinking, how can you jumpstart your finances if you are giving your money away! Truth be told, getting onto a healthier path with your finances has less to do with knowing what to do and more with doing what you know. If you truly believe that God is able to provide for your needs, then you acknowledge that by giving back to God. If you truly believe it is better to give than to receive, once again, you demonstrate that by giving to others that are less fortunate. Your money attitudes are crucial so by learning to give first, you will have no choice but to learn to live on less and that is the cornerstone of personal finance!
2. Start Tracking Your Spending
There is no secret that people who don’t run out of money at the end of the month are the ones who spend less than they make. Keeping a spending journal for two weeks can really make a big difference in your spending patterns. I think most of us know how much we make; the problem is that many of us have no idea exactly what we are spending each week. If you want to spend less so you can save more and pay off debt, you must know what you are spending your money on and then decide what expenditures you can eliminate or reduce. Consider using cash for two weeks instead of using your credit cards or debit card. I have heard that it hurts to break a $20, so maybe using cash can help you to start spending less of your hard earned money.
3. Start Knocking Out Your Debt
Don’t be one of those people who justify their debt by thinking that as long as you can afford to make the minimum payments on your credit card you are ok. You must start paying more toward your debt which will reduce the amount of interest you will pay over the life of that debt. Also by paying more towards your debt, you will be able to pay that debt off faster so you can start putting that money towards your savings and start earning interest instead of paying interest. Finally, do not be afraid to call your credit card company to negotiate a lower interest rate. The worse that can happen is that they say no!
4. Start Saving, Start Saving, Start Saving
Between making excuses, having good intentions, or just breaking the promises we make to ourselves, it’s easy to understand how we oftentimes fall short of achieving our goals, but we have to start saving money now! For our short term savings, consider opening a savings account at a financial institution different from where your checking account is (to make it a little harder to get to) and set up a bill pay or draft where you pay yourself each month before you pay any other bills. In addition, start putting money away towards retirement because retirement isn’t a question of if, it is a question of when. If your company offers a match where they will contribute a certain percentage of pay if you are setting aside some of you earnings into a company plan, you are leaving money on the table by not taking full advantage of this benefit. For example, if your company will match $.50 of every dollar you set aside into your 401k up to 5% of your salary, by putting anything less than 5%, you are basically saying no to free money. The last simple tip when it comes to saving is this: saving something is better than saving nothing and whatever you have been saving, start saving more!
article courtesy of : http://www.crosswalk.com/family/finan...
1. Start Giving More
I know what you are thinking, how can you jumpstart your finances if you are giving your money away! Truth be told, getting onto a healthier path with your finances has less to do with knowing what to do and more with doing what you know. If you truly believe that God is able to provide for your needs, then you acknowledge that by giving back to God. If you truly believe it is better to give than to receive, once again, you demonstrate that by giving to others that are less fortunate. Your money attitudes are crucial so by learning to give first, you will have no choice but to learn to live on less and that is the cornerstone of personal finance!
2. Start Tracking Your Spending
There is no secret that people who don’t run out of money at the end of the month are the ones who spend less than they make. Keeping a spending journal for two weeks can really make a big difference in your spending patterns. I think most of us know how much we make; the problem is that many of us have no idea exactly what we are spending each week. If you want to spend less so you can save more and pay off debt, you must know what you are spending your money on and then decide what expenditures you can eliminate or reduce. Consider using cash for two weeks instead of using your credit cards or debit card. I have heard that it hurts to break a $20, so maybe using cash can help you to start spending less of your hard earned money.
3. Start Knocking Out Your Debt
Don’t be one of those people who justify their debt by thinking that as long as you can afford to make the minimum payments on your credit card you are ok. You must start paying more toward your debt which will reduce the amount of interest you will pay over the life of that debt. Also by paying more towards your debt, you will be able to pay that debt off faster so you can start putting that money towards your savings and start earning interest instead of paying interest. Finally, do not be afraid to call your credit card company to negotiate a lower interest rate. The worse that can happen is that they say no!
4. Start Saving, Start Saving, Start Saving
Between making excuses, having good intentions, or just breaking the promises we make to ourselves, it’s easy to understand how we oftentimes fall short of achieving our goals, but we have to start saving money now! For our short term savings, consider opening a savings account at a financial institution different from where your checking account is (to make it a little harder to get to) and set up a bill pay or draft where you pay yourself each month before you pay any other bills. In addition, start putting money away towards retirement because retirement isn’t a question of if, it is a question of when. If your company offers a match where they will contribute a certain percentage of pay if you are setting aside some of you earnings into a company plan, you are leaving money on the table by not taking full advantage of this benefit. For example, if your company will match $.50 of every dollar you set aside into your 401k up to 5% of your salary, by putting anything less than 5%, you are basically saying no to free money. The last simple tip when it comes to saving is this: saving something is better than saving nothing and whatever you have been saving, start saving more!
article courtesy of : http://www.crosswalk.com/family/finan...
