Though many people find it fairly easy to stay committed to a budget, vacations often become the straw that breaks the camel’s back. They tend to be seen as one of those things that, if they’re worth doing, they’re worth doing right, meaning spending what it takes to enjoy your vacation to the fullest. While that’s understandable, think about if the following tips will work to help keep you on budget while you’re enjoying time away.

For one thing, consider what other options you have besides a hotel. Are you traveling to a destination where you have friends? Even if you just spend a night or two with them, it could make a huge difference in overall costs. You can thank them with a nice bottle of wine and still walk away with a substantial amount saved. There are also a number of options online to rent rooms in local homes or the entire property. Even the latter can often cost less for a hotel room during the same amount of time.

You should also look at the money you’ll be spending on food. The nice thing about renting a home or apartment—so long as it’s affordable—is that you’ll most likely get a kitchen to use. Doing your grocery shopping and preparing your own meals is not just a great way to better understand the area; it will keep money in your pocket too.

Lastly, book your vacation soon enough that you can choose the parameters. Experts say that Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest days for flying, as well as the actual day of a popular holiday. Many airlines will also allow you to type in where you wish to fly to and they’ll tell you when it will be most affordable to do so.

With a little planning ahead, your next vacation can be plenty enjoyable and maybe even your most affordable yet.

Source:

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/smart-spending/budget-friendly-vacation-tips.aspx

Everyone wants to get in better shape, but as we approach New Year’s, it will become more and more commonplace for people to make it their goal to finally shed some unwanted pounds once and for all. Unfortunately, losing inches around the waist often coincides with dropping dollars from the bank account too. Here are some ways to do the former, not the latter and get the healthy foods you need.

You can save a good chunk of change simply by going meatless one day a week. Although meat packs plenty of protein, it is generally the most expensive form of food, so laying off it for just a single day a week can really add up when you do it 52 times throughout the year. On top of that, by taking away such a central component of your diet, you’ll be forced to consider other methods of consuming protein (nuts, legumes, beans, etc.) and have more space for vegetables you may have been ignoring.

One good way to invest these savings would be by purchasing your healthy food choices in bulk. Yes, it’s more money upfront, but you’ll also save in the long run. Furthermore, when you invest in something healthy, you can’t spend that money on something unhealthy, plus you’ll be more motivated to follow through, so as not to face the shame of wasting that cash.

If you have a hard time saying no to certain foods you know aren’t good for you, try sticking to just the perimeter of your grocery store. It’s there that you’ll find produce, meat, legumes and nuts. In the center aisles is usually where they keep the cookies, soda and sugary cereals.

While you should definitely think about working out, diet is by far the most important thing you can change about your current lifestyle if you want to lose weight.

Source:

http://www.businessinsider.com/9-cheap-ways-to-lose-weight-2013-11

Just because you want to build a healthier, better looking body, doesn’t mean it will be that easy. Unfortunately, aside from the desire, motivation and time you need to put forward, it often also costs a lot of money just to reshape your own body. Gym memberships can cost a lot of money upfront before adding the monthly cost to your budget. They also tend to be very difficult to cancel. If you have the room for home workout equipment, there’s still the issue of affording it.

Instead, look around your hometown for easy replacements. For example, if you have a local high school or college, chances are they have a track and many of them will allow people to use it as they please during certain hours. Nearby parks may also have running trails. A lot of them will even be preferable seeing as how they’ll change levels on you and often offer steep inclines.

If you’re looking to build muscle, the only weights you really need are your own body. Try doing some pushups, for example. Those who can’t can do them from their knees or place their hands on a table or other elevated service. People who can do pushups with ease can either elevate their feet or slow the pace they do them. This is just one example of many different body exercises that can be adapted countless ways to give you the results you want.

You can always go online too. Whether you want to look for exercise ideas, motivation or the virtual equivalent of a “workout buddy”, you can find all that and more online for absolutely free. It will definitely save you money over a personal trainer at the gym.

Don’t let your budget become an excuse for not working out. The above methods are just a few ways you can grow stronger and healthier without hurting your bank account.

Source:

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/five-inexpensive-gym-alternatives-for-exercise/

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Free-Alternatives-Gym-29019613#photo-29019630

With so many options for where to put your money, it can be a real challenge at times to make the correct decision. While there’s no one right place for all your money to be, there are a lot of arguments to be made for investing a good chunk of your money into a mutual fund.

For one thing, mutual funds guarantee diversity, which is an especially important feature of any investment portfolio. As mutual funds spread your money across a number of different stocks, you stand far less a chance of losing much of it off of any one development. Aside from the entire market crashing, your mutual fund should be able to resist a lot of negative events.

Mutual funds are also a great way to take advantage of the economics of scale. You know how a lot of stores will sell you mass quantities of products at a smaller per-unit-price than if you bought fewer? The same thing happens with mutual funds. Investors get more shares in more stocks than they otherwise would if they tried buying them on their own.

It’s also easier to pursue dollar-cost averaging with mutual funds too. When most savvy investors buy stocks, they do so slowly but surely, over time. This practice, called dollar-cost averaging, usually means the average amount of each share decreases. Mutual funds are such a diverse marker that it’s easy to find affordable ones where you can invest more and more month after month. Many very respectable funds only ask for a $100 minimum investment.

As long as you do your research, mutual funds are generally as cheap as if not cheaper than using a broker. This makes it very easy to get in and out, meaning your investment is never far from being liquid.

While there is no end to the vehicles you can use to grow your money, mutual funds are definitely deserving of your consideration for all the above reasons.

Source:

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/03/040403.asp

No matter how well you take care of it, at some point, your home is going to need some repairs. Owning a home can already be expensive enough, meaning the bill for repairs can be especially painful. Fortunately, it’s not mandatory that repairing your home leaves you financially burdened.

First, before you ever start out with repairs or hiring a contractor to handle them, be sure you’re aware of how much the entire project will cost you. Before you get too far under way, then, you should map out exactly what the repairs will entail and how much you plan on spending. Amongst other things, this step will ensure you aren’t missing any costs or necessary purchases, which can help you save money in the long run.

Next, go online to see whether or not a project is something you can handle. A lot of times, even if you lack experience, certain repairs and even renovations are well within your grasp. These days, there are countless tutorials that will walk you through every step of executing most home repairs.

Once you have the instructions, it’s time to start looking for materials and tools. For the latter, always rent what you don’t think you’ll need again in the near future. When it comes to materials, look for sales at your local home improvement stores. However, don’t forget about stores like Sam’s Club, Costco and others where bargains are always offered. These stores usually sell home improvement materials too. Be sure to look online, too. Even when you factor in the cost of shipping, websites like eBay and Amazon often have a lot to offer in terms of savings.

If you decide to go with a contractor, get quotes from all your local options. Then revisit them all to let them know what the lowest bid for the job was and find out if anyone is willing to beat it. Of course, you also want to research candidates to ensure you wind up with quality.

With a little planning ahead of time, making repairs on your home doesn’t have to be an overly expensive process.

Source:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2012/10/01/6-ways-to-save-money-on-home-repairs

Part of owning a car means eventually having to pay for its repairs. Unfortunately, that can easily make up a large part of your annual budget. Far too often, people find themselves having to put off repairs their cars badly need simply because they can’t afford them. However, there are some easy ways to save on these necessary repairs too.

First and foremost, always shop around. Use the Internet to look up the professionals in your area who can fix your car and do it for a fair price. Then read your owner’s manual to find out how often your car is supposed to receive maintenance. Take your vehicle in as often as recommended to garages you trust. Not only will this help keep expensive repairs to a minimum, it will also allow you to build a relationship with these garages, so you can expect better and more affordable service in the future.

Second, be sure you’re aware of what certain repair or maintenance jobs should cost, based on local averages. What someone in Cleveland pays to have a drive belt repaired is going to differ from what someone in Seattle pays. Still, by going online, you can get an idea for how much you should be spending and then avoid getting overcharged.

Third, never pay for something you can do on your own. Again, thanks to the World Wide Web, you’d be surprised how many repairs you can probably do all by yourself without spending a small fortune in the process. Oftentimes, you can simply buy the parts you need at an auto body store and then ask the professionals there to help you with installation. You’ll save a lot of money and they’ll earn customer satisfaction points and, most likely, repeat business.

Between insurance, gas, and the cost to purchase them in the first place, we spend enough on our vehicles as it is. Use the above advice to ensure you don’t spend even more throughout the year.

Source:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nine-ways-to-save-money-on-auto-repair.html

When it comes to healthy financial decisions, more often than not, it’s deciding to avoid making certain mistakes that will leave you with the most in your savings. Unfortunately, there are a number of common practices far too many people unquestionably take part in that puts their money at risk.

One good example of this is an auto title loan. When you need quick cash, it might make sense to use your title as collateral. Most people don’t have too much of an issue paying the loan back either. The problem is that the high interest rate usually makes paying back the rest of it pretty difficult. Many people actually end up taking out a second auto title loan to pay off the first one. These are just never a good idea, especially when compare them to other loan options that are way better.

A far more common mistake, though, is not putting your money to work. While everyone should have some version of a healthy investment portfolio under their belt, it’s just as important that your savings don’t simply stay put. Without using a vehicle to help them grow, inflation will soon ruin your attempts at being fiscally responsible. Consider 401(k)’s, IRA’s, CD’s, and other reliable methods of keeping your money safe, while earning a little extra.

Speaking of which, every year you should be reviewing your bank’s programs and comparing them to others. Far too many people pay big banks a lot of overhead for everything from ATM fees to checks when they could be getting the exact same services for far less from a competitor.

Lastly, but along the same lines, review your credit cards too. If you’re paying more than the average 16% in interest, you’re getting burned. Look for companies that charge less and offer the types of rewards you’re most likely to actually use.

Sources:

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/slideshows/9-scary-things-consumers-do-with-their-money/2

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2014/01/03/14-money-mistakes-avoid-2014/

While just about everyone has a savings account, that doesn’t mean it necessarily makes sense as a permanent feature of one’s financial landscape. Instead, consider other places you can keep your money that may come with far more benefits.

If you absolutely know you won’t need your money anytime soon, there’s almost no good reason to keep it in a savings account. Instead, you should commit the money to a long-term CD (a.k.a., long-term certificates of deposit). Doing so almost always guarantees you a much higher return without the risk that comes with investing it elsewhere. Keep in mind, too, that in the worst-case scenario, you can still retrieve your money from most CDs, so long as you pay a small penalty.

You’d also probably be surprised to find out that prepaid credit cards make a lot of sense as an alternative too. Find those that come with FDIC-insured savings accounts and then look for the options that come with the highest interest rates. Many will pay you around 5%, which is a lot for such a small investment on your part. Of course, unlike CDs, you’ll also never be separated from your money.

Another good option that won’t carry too much risk is putting your money into mutual funds. While this isn’t the type of investment that will make you rich overnight, your money will definitely grow much faster than it would in a savings account. Do the right research and you’ll also have very little to worry about where mutual funds are concerned.

Finally, sometimes the best place for your savings is being used to pay down debt. Most of us have a healthy amount of it, which only gets worse over time with interest. You have to make payments on it anyway, so why not use excess capital to pay down the principle?

Although savings accounts certainly make a lot of sense, you should explore all your options to ensure you make the most of this money.

Source:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2010/09/09/6-alternatives-to-low-rate-savings-accounts