These steps may seem small and insignificant, but they will help your bank account considerably when it comes to making everyday lifestyle choices and cutbacks. These simple steps include:

Household Money Saving Ideas
Cutting Costs on Entertainment
Eliminate or Reduce Costs on Cars
Tips to Save Money on Insurance

---

Household Money Saving Ideas

Consider contacting your cable company and talking to them about combining your Internet, cable, and telephone bill into a single bill. Putting the three bills into one will not only save you money but will be less stressful when the bills start piling up on your counter.

Get rid of your home telephone. This is a great way to conserve energy and conserve money. The dreaded telemarketing calls stop, and it will be one less bill to worry about. So if you don't mind relying solely on a cell phone, getting rid of a home telephone will significantly lower your monthly spending.

Shut your air vents in rooms you do not use at home. It sounds silly and inconvenient, but if you do not have forced air heating this can really help you save money on your heating and cooling bills.

Rent DVDS from the local library. There is no reason to waste money on buying or renting DVDS from the store when you can check them out at the library. The library has all the past and present DVD releases that a rental store would have. So, when you are considering a night to stay in and rent a movie, head to the library to save some serious cash.

Trash services can charge high weekly fees. Trash services also tend to be extremely competitive and always want to enhance their clients' needs. If you receive a better offer in the mail, contact your current trash service and see if they can reduce or match the rates of the competing offers.

Get your books from the library. Stores like Boarders and Barnes and Noble considerably increase their prices for the most popular and newly released books. Go to the library and check out a book or two for no money at all.

Read online! Basically everything and anything you need these days is found online. Cancel those magazine and newspaper subscriptions that are sent to your home weekly and monthly because you are wasting an exuberant amount of money. Most magazines and newspapers offer their articles online. If the online route does not work for you head back to the library and check out a magazine or newspaper. Every public library should offer a periodical section.

Replace your light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer then compact fluorescent lights. They do not work in every light fixture, so there is some research that must be done. But, in the end you can use these incandescent bulbs to save energy and money.

Put your family on a budget. Designate a night of the week to sit down with your entire family to discuss the past weeks spending and how it can be improved by setting up a goal to save. Writing down and keeping track of weekly finances with your family can not only save you money at the end of the year, but it will bring your family closer by being able to discuss the current financial situation. This approach will also bring your family together and open up other lines of communication.

Turn off your television. It is a common mistake most people do not think about when doing chores around the house. When you are occupied doing other things around the house there is no reason to have the television on. This tactic will save money and energy. Also, by having the television on the average person is subjecting themselves to subliminal suggestions from commercials and advertisements, and this will tempt you to purchase material things that you do not need. All in all, turn off the television and pick up a book (that you checked out from the library).

Do not throw your clothes away. Take your clothes to Plato's Closet or a local store in your community. Plato's Closet is a store that will pay you for your clothes and then sell them in their retail store. If there are clothes they do not accept bring them to the nearest charity in your area. You will feel better about yourself at the end of the day and have cash in your pocket.

Switch to a bank that respects you and your financial situation. No one likes to sit in front of a bank teller who judges you or makes you feel bad about your finances. You are more likely to respond to people you feel are truly there to help. Banks tend to charge a lot for maintenance fees, so when it comes to figuring out where to keep your money, find a bank that offers higher interest rates and this will enhance your savings.

Cutting Costs on Entertainment

Go to your local library and cruise their video and music sections. Many libraries now offer some of the best classic films ever produced.

Check your community centers, local colleges and the newspaper for free lectures, concerts and art exhibits.

Pack a picnic basket and take in a local amateur sporting event.

If you are a senior citizen, always ask about special discount rates. Many movie theaters, restaurants, bowling alleys and local events offer special prices.

Consider joining a local theater group. There are many behind the scenes projects for those who cannot act yet they still get to go to all the opening parties.

Invest in an entertainment coupon book and save up to 50% off on dining out. Also, check your Sunday paper for lunch coupons.

Visit area tourist sites, stroll the local zoo, or just take a nice leisurely walk in the park with your best friend.

Other Ideas for just saving some cash

If you have time, making your own gifts instead of purchasing gifts at the store will save you money. There are so many different ways to do this, and you can get creative and have fun. Look up recipes online and bake your friend an award winning cake for that homemade touch. This will not only save you money but it shows the recipient of the gift that you put a lot of time and thought into their present.

Invite friends over instead of heading out for a night on the town. You do not realize until the next day when you spend a night out with friends that it can get pretty pricey. You can have just as much fun having friends bring food and drinks over and hosting your own little get together. Almost any activity spent at home significantly keeps your bank account from going down as opposed to going out and spending a fortune not only on dinner and drinks, but also on parking.

Obtaining a rewards card can also really help you in the long run. Having numerous reward cards have the ability to pay out in cash or points that can be redeemed for additional products. American Express offers travel rewards for travelers looking for cheaper travel fares. Frequent travelers may have the opportunity for fees to be waived and many reward companies do not charge an annual fee.

Live a happy life! Statistics show that people who live a happy life considerably save money because they do not find the need to buy material things or rely on spending to keep them happy. Having material things is not as important as your happiness.

Get your hands on your community calendar. Most people tend to eat and spend money when they are bored. If you get involved in activities with friends and family around your community you will not have the time to spend money unnecessarily because you will be volunteering and using your time wisely. Become involved in community activities and charities.

Instead of spending all of your money on regular brands while grocery shopping try to incorporate generic brands the stores offer. The generic products taste no different then the regular products and you end up saving a significant amount when you leave the store.

Eliminate or Reduce Costs on Cars

Buy your car over the Internet. It may sound silly and unthinkable, but requesting e-mails from dealers for the best car prices can really help you save time and money when it comes to buying a new car.

Drive your car as long as you can. There is no reason these days to spend a fortune on a new car. Take advantage of the old saying, "if it isn't broken, don't fix it". A lot of people worry about the miles they are accumulating on their cars, and also the longevity of their vehicle when it comes to trading their car in. These are the times you can be selfish with your money, so keep your car in good working order, and this will enable you to keep that money in your bank account.

Be vigilant about maintaining your car. Stay up to date with oil changes; tire pressure and other routine maintenance that your car requires. These small sacrifices will pay often in the long run.

Pay your car insurance semi-annually. It costs more to pay your car insurance quarterly, and paying twice a year is not only cost friendly it's more convenient as well.

Speeding while driving will really cut into your bank account. Not only is speeding inefficient for your gas usage, you can also be pulled over by the police, and spend even more money on a speeding ticket. No matter where you are going or how much of a rush you are in, it is never worth it to speed and you can ultimately hurt your bank account and more importantly you or someone else.

Tips to Save Money on Insurance

Buy your car over the Internet. It may sound silly and unthinkable, but requesting e-mails from dealers for the best car prices can really help you save time and money when it comes to buying a new car.

Drive your car as long as you can. There is no reason these days to spend a fortune on a new car. Take advantage of the old saying, "if it isn't broken, don't fix it". A lot of people worry about the miles they are accumulating on their cars, and also the longevity of their vehicle when it comes to trading their car in. These are the times you can be selfish with your money, so keep your car in good working order, and this will enable you to keep that money in your bank account.

Be vigilant about maintaining your car. Stay up to date with oil changes; tire pressure and other routine maintenance that your car requires. These small sacrifices will pay often in the long run.

Pay your car insurance semi-annually. It costs more to pay your car insurance quarterly, and paying twice a year is not only cost friendly it's more convenient as well.

Speeding while driving will really cut into your bank account. Not only is speeding inefficient for your gas usage, you can also be pulled over by the police, and spend even more money on a speeding ticket. No matter where you are going or how much of a rush you are in, it is never worth it to speed and you can ultimately hurt your bank account and more importantly you or someone else.

---

Got a question? Then contact our Education Team on 561-883-2398 Ex.310 United conducts regular seminars on financial education, including "How to Budget", come along and join us - to reserve your seat contact our Education Team on 561-883-2398 Ex.310

Newsletter 01
Rev.1
January, 2010