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Money Saving Tips

Ways To Reduce Your Moving Expenses

When it’s time to move to another house or even another area of the country, although the transition of entering into a new season of life can definitely be exciting, if there’s one thing that no one really looks forward to (and may not have created a budget for either), it would have to be incurring additional moving expenses. Although it is one more expenses that can be quite a bit of a pain, you can save a substantial amount of money by simply being prepared.

Below are some tips on how you can make moving much less stressful by making it as inexpensive and as smooth a process as possible:

Learn about your local moving companies. Whether you’re moving to Spain and need to research removals to Spain, or even if you’re moving a short distance, you may end up paying more than you had to if you would have simply done a Google search and looked up the moving companies in your area. So, spend some time looking at their hourly rates and mileage rates and comparing them with other companies. That’s a better way to get a good price. Also, it’s good to know ahead of time that movers tend to charge more money during the summer, on the weekends and during the holiday season. So, if there’s any way that you can move around those dates, you’ll be glad that you did. If you’re not moving far, don’t be afraid to simply ask friends and family members to help you move. They will likely be glad to help you out and this route will save you a lot of money.

April 27, 2013

Money Saving Tips

Cheap Ways Students Can Store Their Stuff

Many students are not able to live with their parents while attending college for a variety of reasons. So, they often are left with the dilemma of how and where they should store their stuff once the school year is over. Below are just a few ideas that will help make student storage a little easier and more affordable.

Ask around. If you have a friend or family member living in the same city as you, ask them if they have some room in their basement or a spare bedroom that you can use to store your stuff until the school year begins again. Many people won’t expect payment for this, but still make sure to offer.

Check the local newspaper. Some people will put an ad in the paper to let others know they have storage space in their homes or offices that is available for rent. If you do see an ad, don’t be afraid to negotiate with the seller regarding their price. Most people are quite flexible and willing to accept a lower amount than they asked for.

April 26, 2013

Money Saving Tips

5 Ways To Save Money And Help The Environment At The Same Time

With the economy the way it is and the environment the way it is, now has never been a better time to be more eco-friendly and frugal. Luckily, both go hand in hand. In most cases, making more earth conscious decisions will save you much more money. Almost every facet of our daily life has an impact on the environment, from the cars we drive to the showers we take. It’s a wonder why everyone is not making greener life choices in an attempt to cut back on costs and their carbon footprint. Every day the reports about our negative impact on the environment are getting worse. And the economy is barely chugging along.

Here are 5 ways you can save money and help the environment at the same time:

1. For one, you can save money on your electric bills and cut down energy use by up to 75% just by switching to CFLs and LED light bulbs. Replacing your energy sucking incandescent light bulbs with CFL or LED light bulbs could potentially save you up to $500 a year on utilities. These energy efficient light bulbs will also save you from having to go out to buy replacements, because some of the CFLs and LED bulbs last up to 35 times longer. Also, they are just as easy to install as regular light bulbs.

April 4, 2013

Money Saving Tips

How To Create A College Savings Plan For Your Kids

We all want to give our children the best opportunities they can get, but that is not always easy in today’s world, nor is it simple. A college education is a necessity for career opportunities in many industries, but the rising cost of education is making it very hard for many students to get their credentials without accruing massive amounts of debt. No one knows where this trend will go in the next few years, which makes it ever more necessary to make sure that you’re prepared. Starting a college fund for your kids is a great way to keep them on track for success, but how can you start saving?

The best way to begin creating a college fund for your kids is to know what kind of savings account options are available to you. A standard savings account with your bank may seem like the easiest choice, but it is not always the most beneficial. If you hold your child’s college fund in a savings account, it will still be counted as part of your total estate. This will make it more difficult for your child to receive financial aid from the government when he or she starts college.

March 26, 2013

Money Saving Tips

Study Shows Energy Star Homes Less Likely To Default

If you live in an Energy Star home or you’re in the market for one, there are definitely some benefits that come with owning one. They have great insulation. Their windows come with protective coatings that block ultraviolet sun rays. Their energy-efficient central air systems are quieter while reducing the levels of humidity within the home. They also come with appliances that are Energy Star certified; many of which use 50-60 percent less electricity than other standard models. Plus, there’s the added bonus of the fact that all of these things combined can save homeowners an average of $200-400 in utility bills annually.

Perhaps that’s a big part of the reason why a study that was recently released by the University of North Carolina – Center for Community Capital reveals that another benefit of having an Energy Star home is that it is much less likely to default than other ones. How much less likely? A whopping 32 percent, to be exact.

This data was released after approximately 71,000 Energy Star single-family homes were compared to similar homes that do not have that certification. What was discovered was that no matter where the homes were located, the value of the house or the loaner’s credit history (among other criteria), consistently, across the board, Energy Star homes did not go into default nearly as much. Another interesting fact that was also published in the study is that the more energy efficient an Energy Star house proved to be, the lower the risk of default became.

March 22, 2013

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