Archive for the ‘Family Budgeting’ Category
Your Retirement Guide To Living Cheap…Four Ways To Have It All
The guide to living cheap does not mean sacrifice. If you think you do not have enough money to retire…stop a minute. Here are four different lifestyles which has kept the writer and wife retired for 15 years. They are not only cheap they are fun as well…you can do this too.
1) Living on a sailboat in the Caribbean. We lived the life Jimmy Buffett sings about for eight wonderful years. Up and down the island chain from Venezuela to the Virgin Islands. Cheap…we averaged spending $1,000 a month when in the islands. Remember there is no charge for dropping your anchor in a beautiful bay. Ashore in the hotels they were paying $500 and up per night…we had a better view.
2) Full time RV is a great frugal retirement lifestyle. If you enjoy traveling without the hassle of packing and unpacking, give it a try. Monthly rent was around $450…pretty cheap including utilities. We used the RV as a means of finding a permanent retirement home. You can enjoy this fun, frugal retirement lifestyle too.
3) Live Overseas…we did for eight years. It is fun, cheap, safe and interesting. Currently one million Americans are living in Mexico. You can live very well here for $1500 to $2000 a month…including a maid…and health insurance which is $270 a year. You are three times more likely to a victim of violent crime in Mexico vs the US. Jimmy Buffett is right folks…changes in latitude changes in attitude.
4) Downsizing…when we moved from a 1800 square foot home to a 35 foot sailboat…about 50 square feet of space where you can stand up. You quickly find out that you can do without 98% of your stuff…and that is conservative. Downsizing from a big house to a condo is a piece of cake.
Still think you can not afford to retire?
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February 19th, 2010
Planning The Perfect Spring Break On A Budget
Every year, thousands of College students head to exotic island hot spots for spring break. Unfortunately, the recent economic conditions and the rise in the price of tuition have now left many students on a tight budget. Many students cannot afford the usual spring break exotic vacation destinations. Fortunately, there are many things a student can do to plan the perfect spring break vacation while on a budget.
1. When planning a spring break vacation, you should figure out how much you can afford to spend. Once you know how much you can afford, you can plan a vacation that will not have serious financial consequences. You should set the amount of money aside and stick to your budget. Do not take more money than you can afford to spend as you will likely spend it. As well, you should plan how you will spend your money on things like, transportation, food, entertainment, and other expenses. Wherever possible, use cash to buy your items instead of a credit card. You do not want to return from your trip and find yourself saddled with high credit card debt that you cannot afford.
2. Selecting the right vacation destination is a key component to helping you stick with your budget. Decide where you want to go for spring break. If you cannot afford a traditional exotic beach vacation, you should consider a more local destination. Miami and Las Vegas are fun places to vacation. They can also be more affordable destinations. The internet is full of travel sites that offer special spring break packages. Once you have decided on your destination, make sure you book early to ensure you get the best and cheapest deal.
3. Traveling alone or with one person can be expensive. Plan your vacation with a group of friends. You can often get great travel and hotel discounts if you book as a group. If you are traveling by car, travel with a group of friends so that you can share fuel costs. You can also share a hotel room. Having about four people per room will significantly cut down on the cost of accommodations. It can also be really fun staying together.
4. Restaurant costs can really take a bite out of the budget. Instead of dining out every day, get a hotel room that has a kitchenette and buy your food from a supermarket. If you do dine out, look for restaurants where you can get a cheap meal such as a fast food franchise restaurant. By doing so, this will significantly cut down on food expenses.
After calculating how much money you will need and you discover you still cannot afford a vacation, there are many other options to take advantage of such as going on a road trip with friends for a few days, visit family or friends, or take a day trip to another city or fun attraction such as an amusement park. No matter what destination you choose, you should have fun, relax, stay safe, and enjoy the break from your studies.
Adriana Noton is a freelance writer who specializes in providing great financial information for Canadians. When searching online for debt counselling or credit counselling, one of the many resources available is Consolidated Credit; offering a variety of debt counselling services and financial planning tools to help Canadians get their debts under control.
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February 12th, 2010
Lucky Seven: 7 Budget-Friendly Decorating Tips
If you are a decorator on a budget, this is the perfect read for you. Below are some money-saving ideas for home improvement:
Recycle - old furnishings are not synonymous to tacky just as new furnishings are not all chic. You can still use whatever furnishings you have by simple upgrading and this you can do by polishing, re-upholstering, accessorizing or thorough cleaning. Believe it or not, these simple methods can make your old furniture and rooms look brand new. Rearranging the furniture, switching pieces and adding few accessories can transform your home for a lot less!
Apply a Coat of Paint- This is one of the best ways to change the look of a room. It’s also very affordable. You can use your imagination and choose an entirely new color scheme or use a set of stencils for a unique look. If you aren’t sure of the color, buy a small can of paint and test it out first.
Use your artwork. You don’t necessarily have to be Picasso to display your artwork. Simple creative and artistic stuff you have will look nice. After all, it’s your home you’re decorating and not an art gallery. A collage of pictures, paper art or origami, flower arrangement, swatches of fabrics, murals, etc. are already works of art that look will make your home interior unique and artistic, even if you’re not a real artist. See, no need to spend for a painting or whatever wall decor.
Make New Curtains- Curtain are one of the easiest things to sew and you can create an entire new look for your room for just a few dollars. You can also find many curtains at yard sales and thrift stores, if you feel you are a little bit “sewing challenged.”
Buy an Area Rug- An area rug can quickly change the entire feel of a room. You’ll need to make sure you measure your room before you start looking, as you don’t want to buy a rug that is too big. Make sure the rug is large enough to fit under all four legs of whatever furniture you put it under. Otherwise, you’ll end up with furniture that is uneven. Circular rugs work best in smaller rooms, while rectangular rugs work best in larger rooms. You can also change the rugs between rooms to create new looks.
Use area rugs - your decorating endeavor will only be called complete if you have area rugs to adorn your floors or walls with. If you don’t wish to buy new pieces, simply switch area rugs between rooms.
Install new lighting - no well-decorated home will look polished with a dull light to boot. Your place will only look shady and dim. What a shame for that redecorating effort. Change old lightings. If you have money to spare, buying a new lamp to add to your bedroom or living room will be a refreshing treat for the eyes.
There are many ways that you can save money when you are redecorating a room. Most of the above tips can be completed for under a hundred dollars, and some for much, much less than that. Use your imagination to create a look that inspires you and is right in line with your tastes.
Making Dollars Out Of Cents.…. 101 Tips For The Frugal Marketer.
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February 11th, 2010
Things You Might Find In a Pawnshop
Pawnshops of today are one of the primary facets of modern society. They are not dingy, back-alley shops owned by a decrepit old man with pound signs in his eyes anymore. In fact, they are not at all unlike every other high street stores.
Take Uncles Money for instance, one of the most popular pawn shops of today. Walk through their doors and you will not find yourself in a dimly lit room made impossibly small by towers of shelves cluttered with other people’s old tat. Instead you will find a neat and orderly store filled with all manner of items and friendly staff with a drive to assist.
In many cases if you are looking for a good quality computer, laptop or even TV then this is a place worth considering visiting. However, when it comes to UK pawn shops, unlike those in America, these are unable to accept or sell guns. Before any item can be put on their shelves they will need to assess the condition of the item in question. Plus, they will also look at whether the item that has been brought in to get a loan is something that they will be able to sell on in the future should the borrower default.
So when it comes to pawnbrokers accepting certain items in their store, they take into account how much in demand a certain item is, not only on a national but also on a regional basis as well. In some areas you may find that, when attempting to use a stereo as collateral for a loan, because there are so many already available at a cheaper price the pawnbroker may choose only to take the better quality well branded models.
Although many pawnshops do accept electrical goods as collateral for loans, they may limit the number of items they take in. Again, the main reason is that any electrical item, including computers and tools (garden and DIY) can quickly be replaced by much better models. So actually being able to sell an item that is out of manufacture becomes much more difficult.
Of course, pawnshops dont just provide everyday conventional items. You can find standard musical instruments like guitars and drums, as well as some rarer instruments like flutes and saxophones which, though likely to be second hand, would otherwise cost a fortune.
The best thing about pawnshops is that they offer goods like cookers, freezers and televisions at excellent prices and goods that may even be practically brand new, rare or incredibly unique so it’s definitely worthwhile giving one a visit.
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January 29th, 2010
Want to Want to get more for your money?
There is a simple money saving exercise that everyone should do at least once in their lives. It is ultimately one of the best ways to save money, because it is not about pinching pennies, but about discovering what you really want and getting it. It is so simple you may hesitate to try it. Just try it. Here it is:
List everything that you have spent money on, are currently spending money on, or might spend money on.
Don’t just read this and think of a few things. Take the time to actually write it all down. Review your bank statements if you have to, in order to remember and include everything.
Now go through the list, and carefully consider each item. Take the most time on the big items - past, present and future possibilities. If your timeshare on the beach is worth half what you paid, costs $1,000 per year in expenses, and is rarely used, you need to learn from that - not to punish yourself, but to have a richer life.
If you think honestly about the number of times you will use that Recreational Vehicle, and the cost, it may be $250 for each day of use. That’s okay if that is worth it to you, but maybe you really would enjoy $100 hotels more. Or maybe you can rent an RV for less overall cost, thus freeing up money for other important goals.
You see, saving money isn’t about sacrifice. We all are aware of the scrooges in life that pinch their pennies, bank the savings, and then do nothing with it. The point should be to save money in one area of life so you can use it in ways that make your whole life richer.
Suppose you notice you’re spending $8 per month on subscriptions to magazine you don’t read, or on insurance for a motorcycle you almost never ride? Cancel the subscriptions or sell the
motorcycle, and what have you lost? Is it a big deal? What will that $8 get you instead?
- Bank it for ten years, and use the $1200 to take a second honeymoon.
- Use it to pay for a day off work once a year, to spend with the kids.
- Invest it, to have an extra $50 per month during your retirement years.
- Buy six good books a year, to learn something new.
- Make banana splits for the family once a month.
- Give $100 per year to a worthy cause.
$8 per month can do a lot if used wisely. Imagine what you could do if you stopped wasting $200 per month. That’s why it is so important to discover what you really want - and what you don’t want. This is one of the most intelligent ways to save money.