Thursday, March 20, 2014
Simple Tricks To Save Hundreds Of Dollars Every Year
It has happened to all of us to spend money recklessly, just to realize that we have lost thousands of dollars on unnecessary items. On the other hand, another thing that wreaks havoc on your budget is the lack of organization – if you do not track your weekly or monthly expenses, you are likely to waste money without even realizing it. If you are trying to put some money aside for the rainy days, then you surely know that every dollar counts and that being said, here you will find 8 simple and efficient tricks to save hundreds of dollars every year:
1. Save Money On Your Car Insurance
Car insurance can be quite pricey these days and although these policies come with great savings opportunities, most of us simply overlook them. This is the time to re-examine your yearly car insurance policy and see whether you can lower your premium. If you are a good driver and you had no accidents or speeding tickets over the past years, then this can help you get cheaper insurance – on the other hand, make sure to use online price comparison engines, as they will automatically analyze the offers from various insurance companies and come up with the cheapest and most comprehensive policy for your needs. This will help you save a lot of time, money and trouble!
2. Pay With Your Credit Card Rather Than Cash
Have you been paying with cash all along? If so, then it is time to change your strategy – paying with your credit card can help you save anywhere between 5% and 10% of the total sum, especially if you have a cash-back credit card. The only condition to be eligible for such a card is to have an impeccable credit score and if you do, then you can easily apply for one and use it to pay the monthly bills, pay for gas, groceries and anything else. This can help you save a lot of money in the long haul, so why not do it? It is fast, efficient and effortless and besides that, you do not need to worry about carrying large sums of cash with you. The cash-back credit card will give you the peace of mind you need, knowing that your money is safe even if you lose your wallet!
3. Switch To Prepaid Phone Cards
If you have a contract phone, then one of the best things you can do to save hundreds of dollars every year is switching to prepaid phone cards. Also known as “no-contract cards”, these cards work exactly the same as the contract cards, the sole difference is that you will re-charge them whenever needed. The prepaid phone cards are a cheaper alternative to contract phones, and if you have been tempted to sign a contract just to get the latest smart phone model at a cheaper price, you might want to thing again – some simple math will help you understand that you will end up paying more in the long run, as these contracts often cover a 24-month period, if not more. You will be able to save money only if you look at the big picture!
4. Consider Online Shopping
Nowadays, many people steer clear from online shopping, and for a good reason – it is normal to try an outfit or a pair of shoes before you buy it, especially if you plan to buy designer products. However, if you know your shoe or dress size, then you should definitely consider online shopping as most retailers offer special discounts to those who choose to shop online. Not only is it cheaper, faster and easier, but it is also a lot more comfortable as you get to buy the items you need from the comfort of your home. At the same time, many retailers offer significant discounts when you subscribe to their e-newsletter, not to mention the wealth of promotional codes, coupons and discounts that you can get online. However, it is very important to carefully check the return policy of the online retailer before you place the order, just to make sure that you can return the items and get a full refund, if they do not fit you.
5. Invest In Energy Star-Rated Appliances
Another very efficient trick to save a lot of money over the year is to invest in Energy Star-rated appliances. In a nutshell, these appliances are designed to reduce the overall energy consumption by up to 70% or even more. If your home is properly insulated, then buying energy-efficient appliances and investing in LED light bulbs will dramatically reduce the utility bills. You can get an Energy Star-rated TV, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, coffeemaker and so on – besides this, make sure they come with a “power saving” mode, just to prevent wasting energy. This is both cost-effective and environmentally-friendly at the same time!
6. Give Up Your Cable Subscription
The television era is slowly declining, and the Internet has taken over the media and the entertainment industry for quite a while now. In that case, why pay a cable subscription fee if you only turn on your TV when your favorite show starts, given the fact that all of them are broadcasted on the Internet as well, completely free of charge? Unless you have a strong reason to keep your subscription, it is better to give it up and switch to online entertaining. All the mainstream TV shows and movies appear online within hours from the moment they are broadcasted on TV, not to mention that you can easily connect your computer to your TV and enjoy them on full screen!
7. Save Money On Food
Have you ever tried to calculate your expenses at the end of the month, just to realize that you have spent hundreds of dollars and you have not bought anything significant? If so, that happens because you have spent too much money on food, but the great news is that you can save thousands of dollars a year on food shopping.For instance, you can invest in a faucet filter or a water dispenser – this way, you will no longer spend money on bottled water which is not only expensive, but also harmful for the surrounding environment. Also, try to cook your own food more often and make your own coffee in the morning, rather than stopping by at the café to grab your daily dose of caffeine. You will be amazed to see how much money you can save with these minor lifestyle changes!
8. Do Not Neglect Your Health Insurance
Last, but not least, it is extremely important to take out a comprehensive health insurance for you and your family, as it is better to be safe than sorry. Medical treatments and surgeries are extremely expensive nowadays, and you might be tempted to think that you will save money by not getting a health insurance, but you will spend a lot more if anything happens to you and you need urgent medical assistance!
To sum it, these 8 efficient money saving tips will help you save hundreds of dollars a year, without making any compromise. You will still enjoy your comfortable lifestyle, as these tips will help you eliminate only the unnecessary expenses.
1. Save Money On Your Car Insurance
Car insurance can be quite pricey these days and although these policies come with great savings opportunities, most of us simply overlook them. This is the time to re-examine your yearly car insurance policy and see whether you can lower your premium. If you are a good driver and you had no accidents or speeding tickets over the past years, then this can help you get cheaper insurance – on the other hand, make sure to use online price comparison engines, as they will automatically analyze the offers from various insurance companies and come up with the cheapest and most comprehensive policy for your needs. This will help you save a lot of time, money and trouble!
2. Pay With Your Credit Card Rather Than Cash
Have you been paying with cash all along? If so, then it is time to change your strategy – paying with your credit card can help you save anywhere between 5% and 10% of the total sum, especially if you have a cash-back credit card. The only condition to be eligible for such a card is to have an impeccable credit score and if you do, then you can easily apply for one and use it to pay the monthly bills, pay for gas, groceries and anything else. This can help you save a lot of money in the long haul, so why not do it? It is fast, efficient and effortless and besides that, you do not need to worry about carrying large sums of cash with you. The cash-back credit card will give you the peace of mind you need, knowing that your money is safe even if you lose your wallet!
3. Switch To Prepaid Phone Cards
If you have a contract phone, then one of the best things you can do to save hundreds of dollars every year is switching to prepaid phone cards. Also known as “no-contract cards”, these cards work exactly the same as the contract cards, the sole difference is that you will re-charge them whenever needed. The prepaid phone cards are a cheaper alternative to contract phones, and if you have been tempted to sign a contract just to get the latest smart phone model at a cheaper price, you might want to thing again – some simple math will help you understand that you will end up paying more in the long run, as these contracts often cover a 24-month period, if not more. You will be able to save money only if you look at the big picture!
4. Consider Online Shopping
Nowadays, many people steer clear from online shopping, and for a good reason – it is normal to try an outfit or a pair of shoes before you buy it, especially if you plan to buy designer products. However, if you know your shoe or dress size, then you should definitely consider online shopping as most retailers offer special discounts to those who choose to shop online. Not only is it cheaper, faster and easier, but it is also a lot more comfortable as you get to buy the items you need from the comfort of your home. At the same time, many retailers offer significant discounts when you subscribe to their e-newsletter, not to mention the wealth of promotional codes, coupons and discounts that you can get online. However, it is very important to carefully check the return policy of the online retailer before you place the order, just to make sure that you can return the items and get a full refund, if they do not fit you.
5. Invest In Energy Star-Rated Appliances
Another very efficient trick to save a lot of money over the year is to invest in Energy Star-rated appliances. In a nutshell, these appliances are designed to reduce the overall energy consumption by up to 70% or even more. If your home is properly insulated, then buying energy-efficient appliances and investing in LED light bulbs will dramatically reduce the utility bills. You can get an Energy Star-rated TV, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, coffeemaker and so on – besides this, make sure they come with a “power saving” mode, just to prevent wasting energy. This is both cost-effective and environmentally-friendly at the same time!
6. Give Up Your Cable Subscription
The television era is slowly declining, and the Internet has taken over the media and the entertainment industry for quite a while now. In that case, why pay a cable subscription fee if you only turn on your TV when your favorite show starts, given the fact that all of them are broadcasted on the Internet as well, completely free of charge? Unless you have a strong reason to keep your subscription, it is better to give it up and switch to online entertaining. All the mainstream TV shows and movies appear online within hours from the moment they are broadcasted on TV, not to mention that you can easily connect your computer to your TV and enjoy them on full screen!
7. Save Money On Food
Have you ever tried to calculate your expenses at the end of the month, just to realize that you have spent hundreds of dollars and you have not bought anything significant? If so, that happens because you have spent too much money on food, but the great news is that you can save thousands of dollars a year on food shopping.For instance, you can invest in a faucet filter or a water dispenser – this way, you will no longer spend money on bottled water which is not only expensive, but also harmful for the surrounding environment. Also, try to cook your own food more often and make your own coffee in the morning, rather than stopping by at the café to grab your daily dose of caffeine. You will be amazed to see how much money you can save with these minor lifestyle changes!
8. Do Not Neglect Your Health Insurance
Last, but not least, it is extremely important to take out a comprehensive health insurance for you and your family, as it is better to be safe than sorry. Medical treatments and surgeries are extremely expensive nowadays, and you might be tempted to think that you will save money by not getting a health insurance, but you will spend a lot more if anything happens to you and you need urgent medical assistance!
To sum it, these 8 efficient money saving tips will help you save hundreds of dollars a year, without making any compromise. You will still enjoy your comfortable lifestyle, as these tips will help you eliminate only the unnecessary expenses.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Drinks That Help You Lose Weight
Fruit Juice – Cranberry And
Pear
Fruit juices are delicious, easy to prepare and very rich in
nutrients, vitamins and minerals – besides this, there are literally hundreds
of different fruits you can choose from and pear and cranberries are only two
of the most delicious, most efficient and most sought-after ones given the fact
that they contain high amounts of vitamin C. Not only will the cranberry and
pear juice help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism (your body’s
natural fat burning machine), but it will also increase your overall energy
levels and deliver your body all the essential vitamins and proteins that it so
much needs. At the same time, it is a known fact that the cranberry juice is
essential for preventing various infection of the bladder, such as the
infection with the E-coli bacteria. Pears, on the other hand, add magnesium,
potassium as well as phosphorus to your fruit juice and they are essential for
a healthy lifestyle, not to mention that they are very rich in Vitamin C and
Calcium, the latter being particularly important for keeping your bones healthy
and strong.
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