Leap Day

Leap Day. Use this opportunity to set financial goals for the next Leap Day in four years.

National Tooth Fairy Day

National Tooth Fairy Day. Tooth fairies bring change for lost teeth. Use this opportunity to discuss money with your children.

Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Do your children love fairy tales? Consider sharing a story that has a financial moral and will inspire them to think about their future.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Expenses So You Can Spend More on Things that Matter

I hope that the tips I've shared thus far have proved helpful for you. This is the final two steps on easy ways to save $4,000 in a year.  This will seem like simple commonsense, but when you help people with ways to manage their debt, you realize that people overlook the small things that they can do each month will help them overcome their overall debt situation. 

Take a good hard look at the things that you "need" and really examine them. In the grand scheme of things, if you gave these things up, would your life end? If the answer is "No" then it's time to consider how they're affecting your financial health.

• Look for ways to reduce your cell phone bill. My cell phone is integral to my life as I'm sure yours is as well. But does your cell phone company have a plan that costs less but still lets you do the things that you need to do? Is there a competitor that might give similar perks at a lower rate? If so, go for it and put the difference into your savings account. Looking for more ways to reduce your phone bill? Check out this article on Acorn.
• Cut down your cable bill. In today's world of instant streaming, Roku, Amazon, Netflix and Hulu is there really a reason to have a high cable bill. Many families have eliminated cable from their lives completely and haven't missed a beat. The internet makes it possible to entertain ourselves without breaking the bank. 
• Save on your entertainment costs. Living in New York there is always some form of entertainment to be had. One of the best ways to see a Broadway play is to get discounted tickets. Here's a great article by TimeOut New York on how to find the best deals. 
• Think twice about buying a name brand. Now don't get me wrong. I love name brands as much as the next guy, but if purchasing a name brand at full price is coming between you and your goal to get out of debt just leave it on the shelf.  We're trying to build savings so that we can enjoy the better things in life, including that brand name item. But first you  have to build up your finances before you can indulge. 

The final tip to help you achieve the goal of $4,000 in one year is to not think of saving as a chore, but as a game that leads you and your family to a better way of life. But getting started is always the hardest step to take. So here are some apps that might make that first step less daunting:

• Digit. It's not really an app but it is a mobile program that you work with on your mobile phone. Transactions are handled through SMS messages. According to their website, "With Digit, saving is easy. Just link a bank account and we'll save a few dollars for you every few days."  In addition, the have a three month reward system to keep you motivated to keep saving. Here's a very clear review of the Digit system that you may find helpful.
• Acorn.Acorn was the first app to help people get on the road to savings by removing some of the anxiety that accompanies changing or creating a new habit. Using your mobile phone you can automatically invest the change from purchases you make everyday into an account that they maintain. To learn more about this you can visit their website at www.acrorn.com or check out this review from Investor Junkie.
• Schedule automated transfers to your savings account. Many banks offer this service as a free or small fee. Check with your particular bank to see what programs they may be able to offer you.

This week we've gone through a few ways to help you save an extra $4,000 in 2016. As you can see, there's no great secret or steep learning curve to savings. All these tips can be easily incorporated into your daily life and will help you save money - one dollar at a time.  The key to saving money is to find something that works for you. Make a step-by-step plan, focus on adopting one new habit at a time, and reward yourself when you save. For more information on how to manage your debt, be sure to stop over at my other blog, Timberline Financial where we cover the subject in more depth.

And remember ... 

“You must learn to save first and spend afterwards.” -  John Poole

Be a Smart Shopper to Grow Your Savings

Being a smart shopper can be tough, especially when you're dealing with a growing family. But even when you're single, you'll need to strategize to be sure that you aren't falling into the trap of impulse buying.  A person who is single will obviously have a different strategy from a family with young children. Each situation is unique, so here are a few ideas to help you come up with your own private smart shopping guidelines:

• Try different strategies to figure out what works for you and your family. If you have children, do you find that you spend more on groceries when they're with you? If so, leave the kids at home with a responsible adult so that you can stick to your list and not give into the begging symphony conducted by the kids. 
• The best approach to smart shopping depends on how you and your family live, how much time you can spend on shopping and cooking, and on what you enjoy.  Let's face it -- most of us don't have a lot of time to prepare meals after a long day of work or school. So when you're budgeting be sure to embrace your eating out lifestyle by budgeting for it the same way that you would if you were going to grocery store and picking up the ingredients. 

Now, if you're really into home cooking you can adopt these simple habits to save on groceries and other household expenses:

• Use coupons and discounts to save on items you would normally buy. Keep an eye out for the myriads of weekly circulars that you probably throw out when you get the mail. You can base your meals upon the specials coming up, see which items you can stock up on for meals down the road.
• The golden rule of couponing is to NEVER purchase an item just because you have a coupon. Remember that you're not saving money if you're spending it on things that aren't actually necessities.
• Download apps, like Grocery IQ or The Coupons App, to automatically look for coupons. You can also check with your local grocery store. Many stores provide digital coupon clicking apps in their bid to keeping you as a loyal customer, so be sure to take advantage of these as well.
• Plan your meals ahead of time and make grocery lists. After you go shopping, be sure to set aside some time during the weekends to make large quantities of your family’s favorite foods and freeze meal-size portions. This will eliminate the need to grab fast food after a long day of activities.

“It’s good to have money and the things money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy. -George Horace Lorimer

Don't Let the Banks Eat You Alive!

Now that you've taken a moment to consider your daily spending habits (you have done your homework, right?) we are ready for our next tip. Let's move on to the big guys -- financial institutions. 

Many people use check cashing companies or just keep cash on hand because they don't trust the banks, they don't understand the fee structures and feel that they are being ripped off.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid falling into common financial institution fees.

Tip 2: Don’t Let Financial Institutions Charge You For Their Services

•      Banking fees can seem trivial, but these expenses add up over time.

•      If you cannot avoid a monthly fee at your bank, get a free checking account elsewhere. There's a great article called The Best Checking Account in 2016 that you can use to see which bank best suits your needs.

•      Overdraft protection is really the only service you should be paying for if your bank does not offer free overdraft protection. 

Avoiding Payment Processing Fees

•         Use online banking to schedule automated payments directly from your bank account.

•         Always compare your payment options and ask about fees. It's important to understand your rights and understand what constitutes predatory lending. You can learn more in this post called Identifying Traps in Predatory Lending.

Avoiding Credit Card Interest and Late Fees

•      If you feel that your credit cards are costing you too much, contact the company and ask them to reduce your fees, or shop around for a better option.

•      Transferring your balance to a different card can be a good option if you qualify for a lower APR or for a card that doesn’t compound your interest on a daily basis.

Use these strategies to reduce the amount of money you spend on credit card fees

•         Always pay more than the minimum monthly payment.

•         The best method to avoid interest is to pay your entire balance each month.

•         Schedule automated monthly payments to avoid late fees.

If you keep these points in mind you'll be able to avoid paying extra fees. Hey, you may even want to pocket the fees that you are no longer paying and add them to your savings account!

Tomorrow we'll explore the world of smart shopping for yourself and your family.

“Beware of small expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”  - Benjamin Franklin

5 Easy Steps to Save $4,000 in a Year

"If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage"- Bringham Young

 

Saving is a challenge for many people today, especially when you feel that there just isn't enough money to go around.  Ironically, savings is just what people with limited funds need to be diligent about doing. And really savings isn't dictated by how much you make but how smart you wish to be with the finances that you have.  Saving money doesn’t have to be hard. You can still have an enjoyable lifestyle when you’re putting money away. In this series we're going to discuss  five steps to take the pain out of your bank account's gain. So let's begin at the beginning with Step 1.

Step 1: Take Control

Track your Habits

The immediate benefit of tracking your spending habits is to identify recurring expenses that you could easily avoid.

You could save from $3 to $15 a day, depending on your habits:

• Do you pick up coffee? Make coffee at home and buy a travel mug to save $3 or $4 a day.
• Do you have news subscriptions? Look up the free versions of your favorite.
• Do you eat lunch out? Save $10 to $15 a day by buying groceries and cooking meals in advance instead of eating fast food for lunch every day.
• Do you have a Candy Crush fascination? Toughing out the puzzles can save you anywhere from $2.99 or more when you purchase boosters.

Establish a Budget 

•      The key to creating a budget that works for you is to find a method you like using.

•      Try a popular budgeting app, like:

•      You Need A Budget (YNAB)

•      Pocket Expense

•      Budget Simple

•      Good Budget

•      Mvelopes

Sticking to Your Budget

•         Assess how much you need to cover all your recurring expenses.

•         The money that is left after you cover all your expenses is not for splurging!

•         Apps, like Level Money, can help you keep your spending under control on a daily basis.

This week is a great time to begin gaining control of your finances. Tomorrow we'll be discussing ways to cut finance charges at your banking institutions. You won't want to miss it!

“You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.”
- Dave Ramsey

Be Humble Day

Be Humble Day. You don’t have to show off your wealth to enjoy it. Are you leading a humble life?

Ryan Sasson: Financial Expert

As the CEO of Strategic Financial Solutions, Ryan Sasson has a lot of specialized knowledge about his industry. He is an expert in finances. In an effort to establish his expertise, he offers his knowledge to the general public in a way that they can understand. After all, finance is not a topic that is discussed exclusively by academics or people who hold certain degrees. Everyone needs to know how to excel in the financial industry and maximize his or her revenue. Everyone needs to know how to save money. Recognizing that he has a very prudent and practical area of expertise, Ryan Sasson labors to relay his knowledge to help the public.

He will often publish content related to financial struggles and solutions through his social media channels. His company will also educate their clients about getting out of debt. Many people obviously struggle with debt. Since he has the expertise to help them, his company makes it easy to find the information that they need. Similarly, Strategic Financial Solutions will educate their clients about difficult topics such as debt negotiation. Many people are overwhelmed with debt and do not see any way out. Ryan Sasson provides applicable solutions that people can use in their everyday lives.

National Battery Day

National Battery Day. Batteries power our lives. What powers your financial future?

Presidents Day

Presidents Day. Consider the contributions made by these past leaders. What can you learn from them and apply to your finances?

Your Valentine's Day Tip of the Day

Happy Valentine's Day. Celebrate your loved ones and consider how you can work together to achieve your financial dreams. Dreams really can come true!