Times are hard right now. Medical costs are sky-rocketing, jobs are uncertain, and the foreclosure rate is at an all-time high. Now, more than ever, you need a savings account as a safety-net to catch you during financial emergencies. With Social Security and Medicare on the rocks, you should be saving for retirement, too. You know saving is the right thing to do, so why is it so hard to get started? Prioritize If you're like most people, you have the best intentions when it comes to savings. As soon as that extra money shows up, you know you'll put it straight into the bank. The problem is, extra money never seems to show … [Read more...]

You know when you “want” things, rather than “need” them? How do you cut down on the wants? Whether you're trying to get out of debt, pay down credit cards or save for a home, you need to stop buying things you want. Full stop. No "stop buying things you want, unless it's a really good sale" or "but if it's the last one on the shelf it's OK" excuses. Here are some helpful hints on how to stop buying things you want, in order to live a more financially stable life. Why Are You Buying? Identify why you're buying, or why you want to buy, this item. Purchases are often caused by a variety of … [Read more...]

By attempting to forecast cash needs in the future, many people can save money on ATM surcharges. Frequent withdrawals from these machines can be avoided with careful planning and adherence to a monthly budget. You pay fees by using the ATM services, so in order to reduce this amount by a significant margin, consider making larger withdrawals on a less frequent basis. There are actually two separate entities that collect these fees: the ATM owner and the network provider. The costs of getting money in this way can be as high as three dollars each time it is used and are earmarked as surcharge fees. Although this does not … [Read more...]