All Posts Tagged With: "money"
Broke College Student? 25 Ways To Save Money In College
College is expensive but hopefully with these tips you can get the most bang for your buck. Feel free to leave a comment on your own college money savings tips.
1. Get a free checking and savings account. Many banks offer “student” accounts that don’t charge the fees that some other accounts have. Look for free online banking and bill paying.
2. Always keep your check register with you, to track your balance and make sure to avoid overdraft fees, which happen when you don’t have enough in the account to cover your checks. A lot of banks also offer mobile phone websites or apps, so you can bank from anywhere.
3. Empty your pockets and save that spare change. Count it yourself…come on, you’re in college…not as if you need to pay for those coin-counting machines.
4. Don’t drink. That’s a surefire way to flush your money down the drain.
5. If you decide to drink anyway, buy the cheap brands.
6. Take advantage of specials at college bars and dance clubs. If you don’t have to get up early for class the next day, you can to go out on a weeknight and enjoy lower prices then, too.
7. Other people’s parties – be there.
8. When you go out, don’t bring your whole wallet or purse. Ration out a small amount of cash to limit your spending.
9. Why buy new? Before you shell out for a textbook, borrow one if possible.
10. If you can’t borrow, buy used college textbooks. Try Amazon or Barnes and Noble online.
11. Cheap college food in two words: ramen noodles. If you can afford it, thrown in some vegetables and/or meat, and you have a complete meal.
12. Take advantage of your campus meal plan – eat at the college cafeteria, or if you have a declining cash balance plan, make sure you use up those dollars at approved dining locations; some schools don’t allow you to carry over dining dollars to the next year.
13. Save $2,000 during your college career by brewing your own coffee. Buy a decent coffee maker or ask for one for as a gift.
14. Skip the fast food and late night take-out. Keep healthy, affordable snacks in your dorm room or apartment – cheese, whole wheat bread, instant oatmeal, peanut butter and fruit are all good choices.
15. Avoid high-end gourmet markets; find out where the poor people shop, such as discount groceries. Don’t forget to clip coupons, too.??
16. For a date, kick your roommates out for the evening, and prepare a simple candlelight meal.
17. If you’re buying a computer, save by shopping the student specials; discounts, rebates and back to school specials. Apple Computer offers student discounts and rebates to students and teachers. And many schools negotiate special deals with manufacturers; check with your college store or the college IT department.
18. Forget about the TV; just watch cable television through your computer. Make sure your desktop or laptop has a DVD/CD player and you can also watch your favorite movies.
19. You also don’t need a stereo. Get a good set of computer speakers, preferably with a separate woofer to boost the bass. Then play away from your iTunes music library.
20. Why pay high movie ticket prices? Take advantage of your flexible schedule and hit the weekday matinee showings, which are cheaper. Also look for free movies on campus.
21. Offer your services as a tutor. Pick your best one or two subjects. Try posting your services on Craigslist.
22. It costs little or nothing to enjoy a picnic, a long walk, flying a kite, a pick up game of basketball, soccer or football, a card game or reading a good book which you can find in your college library.
23. Check your college paper and local websites for free upcoming events such as concerts, arts and crafts fairs, theater, festivals, art galleries, and museums.
24. Living on an upper floor will typically keep you warmer in the winter, but it’ll get hotter in the summer. If you go to school in a region where winters are longer then upper floors are smart, otherwise live low.
25. When it’s time to head home, check Amtrak or Greyhound for student discounts.
Dean writes:
Being broke in college brings back fond memories. It also makes me realize I’m getting older. Here are some of my personal favorite money saving tips from college
- I never did this but I have heard of people scanning text books so they don’t have to buy them.
- Always try to carry with you a nice reusable water bottle so you don’t get tempted to buy soft drinks or bottled water.
- House or dorm parties are a lot cheaper than going to the club.
- Try going to discounted college theater play or sports game for a cheap date.
- Sport drinks are nice after working out but so is water. Buy a water filter and use it.
- Your college ID probably gets your deals at restaurants so use them to cheap meals.
Photo Credit via Flickr
25 Healthy Living Tips You Can Use Today
Many people don’t realize the hidden costs of not being healthy. When you consider the long term costs being healthy can save you thousands of dollars. If being healthy doesn’t motivate you then maybe saving some money will. Here are 25 tips to help keep you living healthy while saving you time and money.
Eating Healthy At Home
1. Drink water instead of sugar-laden juice or soda. And you don’t need expensive bottled water. If your tap water isn’t tasty, get an inexpensive filtering pitcher. Better yet buy a reusable water bottle to take with you on the go.
2. Cut out the fast food. Even dollar menu items add up. And you can do without all that fat and salt.
3. Eliminate junk food snacks such as chips. They are empty calories and they empty your wallet. View our 10 top cheap and healthy foods.
4. Start a vegetable garden. Recently backyard gardens have been gaining in popularity because it provides healthy and fresh vegetables at great prices. Here is 10 tips on starting your own backyard garden. You can also use frozen vegetables. Fresh veggies can be pricey. Frozen ones are just as nutritious, require less prep time, and are cheaper.
5. Buy at wholesale prices and cut your grocery bills. How to do this? Join a food cooperative. Or order inexpensive, nutritious food from Angel Food Ministries.
6. Downsize your portions. Most people eat larger portions than they need to. Eat a little less, lose weight, and save money.
Eating Healthy Away From Home
7. When eating out at casual or fast food restaurants, try the kid’s meal. It’s cheaper and often provides enough for an adult’s appetite.
8. Skip the beer and cocktails, it adds calories and drains your bank account.
9. Share an entree with your dinner companion. Many restaurant’s portions are big enough for two people.
10. Avoid appetizers and desserts. You can have those at home.
11. Pack a lunch for work. You’ll save money and eat healthier compared to eating lunches out.
12. Don’t get coffee to go. The cost, and calories (if it’s sweetened) add up.
Your Health
13. Get enough sleep. You’ll have better resistance to illness. Create a sleep ritual. Example read a book and drink a glass of milk.
14. Check with your local health department and local pharmacies for free or low-cost health screenings and flu shots.
15. Go for a walk during your lunch hour; it’s a great way to squeeze in exercise and it’s free.
16. Can’t walk at lunch? At least use the stairs in your office building.
17. Take up dancing to have fun, meet new friends, and get exercise. Ballroom lessons can be expensive – so you might want to try soul or country line dancing, folk dancing or square dancing for beginner-friendly, low-cost events.
18. Use sunblock. Yes, this costs money, but it’s cheaper than needing treatment for skin cancer.
19. Don’t smoke. We all know this by now…smoking is dangerous as well as expensive. For more information, visit the American Cancer Society.
20. Cut your stress – it will improve your health and potentially save you medical bills. Figure out what you have control over in your life, and make some positive changes.
21. Watch less TV. Chances are you are watching way too much TV when you could doing so much other fun and rewarding things. Learn how to live without a TV and start living healthy.
Your Grooming
22. Drugstore skin creams are just as effective – and a lot cheaper – than the department store products. Check out our Drugstore.com coupons.
23. Can you get your hair cut less often? Space out your salon appointments to every eight weeks instead of every six.
24. Ladies, do your own nails and skip the expensive manicures. Learn more on how to look good on a budget.
25. Unless you have very oily hair, you may not need to wash it daily. Bathe the rest of yourself – but skip some shampoos to save money on hair care product consumption.
Photo credit via Flickr
10 Ways the New Federal Stimulus Package Can Put Money In Your Pocket
As you probably know by now, President Obama has signed the $787 billion stimulus bill into law. The package of federal spending and tax cuts is designed to revive the economy and save millions of jobs. The bill has more than 1,000 pages but you don’t have to read them all to know that the plan can put extra dollars in your pocket. Below are some of the key provisions that could pay off for you. Some of them are tax credits for buying homes and cars, so keep that in mind and plan ahead. By the way, if you want to track where all the money is going, check out the government’s official site at Recovery.gov
1. MORE MONEY IN YOUR PAYCHECK
The new "Making Work Pay" tax credit is the quickest way that most folks will benefit from the stimulus. If you make less than $75,000 per year, you’ll get $400 – and you won’t have to do anything at all. Your federal withholding will simply be reduced, giving you about $13 more per week in take-home pay, starting around June. You’ll get another $400 in 2010, and it will amount to about $7.70 per week if it is spread out over the entire year. Your employer will take care of the withholding changes and you’ll get the extra money automatically. However, if you don’t receive paychecks (i.e. you’re self-employed), you’ll need to check with the IRS (www.irs.gov) next year to see if you can claim the tax credit when you file your 2009 return.
2. MORE MONEY IN YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK
There will be a one-time payment of $250 to retirees, disabled individuals and SSI recipients receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement beneficiaries, and disabled veterans receiving benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The one-time payment is a reduction to any allowable Making Work Pay credit.
3. MORE MONEY FOR COLLEGE
The new "American Opportunity Education Tax Credit" for 2009 and 2010 will provide a tax credit based on one hundred percent (100%) of the first $2,000 of tuition and related expenses (including books) paid during the taxable year and twenty-five percent (25%) of the next $2,000 of tuition and related expenses paid during the taxable year. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income above $80,000 ($160,000 for married couples).
4. MONEY FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS
First-time homebuyers who purchase their homes before Dec. 1, 2009 will be eligible for an $8,000 tax credit. The credit phases out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a joint return). You have to keep the home for at least three years after purchase, i.e. this credit is not meant for home-flippers. As for getting a mortgage, well, the government is still working on that problem.
5. BIGGER TAX CREDITS FOR POOR FAMILIES
The $1,000 child tax credit would be extended to more low-income families that don’t make enough money to pay income taxes, and poor families with three or more children will get an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. The earned income tax credit is increased to forty-five percent (45%) of the family’s first $12,570 of earned income for families with three or more children.
6. TAX RELIEF FOR WELL-OFF FOLKS, TOO
Many more middle-income and wealthy taxpayers will be spared from paying the Alternative Minimum Tax, which was designed 40 years ago to make sure wealthy taxpayers pay at least some tax, but was never indexed for inflation.The bill would provide more than 26 million families with tax relief in 2009 by extending AMT relief for nonrefundable personal credits and increasing the AMT exemption amount to $70,950 for joint filers and $46,700 for individuals.
7. MORE HELP IF YOU’RE UNEMPLOYED
If you’re receiving unemployment compensation:
-The stimulus bill continues the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which provides up to 33 weeks of extended unemployment benefits to workers exhausting their regular benefits.
-The bill increases unemployment weekly benefits by an additional $25 through 2009.
-Those receiving unemployment benefits this year won’t pay any federal income taxes on the first $2,400 they receive in 2009.
8. CHEAPER COBRA BENEFITS
Many workers who lose their health insurance when they lose their jobs will find it cheaper to keep that coverage while they look for work. Right now, most people working for medium and large employers can continue their coverage for 18 months under the COBRA program when they lose their job. It’s expensive, often over $1,000 a month, because they pay the share of premiums once covered by their employer as well as their own share from the old group plan. Under the stimulus package, the government will pick up 65 percent of the total cost of that premium for the first nine months. To qualify for premium assistance, a worker must be involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
9. SALES TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR BUYING NEW CARS
To encourage Americans to buy new cars, the bill provides all taxpayers with a deduction for State and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of new cars, light truck,
recreational vehicles, and motorcycles through 2009. This deduction is subject to a phase-out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $125,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return).
10. TAX CREDITS TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT
Through 2010, homeowners who add energy-efficient windows, furnaces and air conditioners can get a tax credit to cover 30 percent of the costs, up to a total of $1,500. Details are not yet available but will be posted on the IRS website at: http://www.irs.gov.
Photo Credit: Flickr
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