Squeeze the most interest out of your savings

I don’t know about you, but I’m not too happy about the recent rise in debit card fees – judging from protests, not many people are thrilled. But despite their faults in debit card land, banks and other institutions are offering more ways to build your nest egg. I’ve been flirting with a few ways to get better returns…

Save money on flights for the holidays

With the holidays on the horizon, I’ve been looking into cheap flights. Fares have gone up over the last four to five years, which seems to keep my frugality in check. Since I’m an avid traveler, I’ve learned to save money and sniff out the low-cost options for flying. Here’s a secret: this time of year is ideal for finding bargain air travel and big savings – airlines…

Ways to save on your cable bill

As I opened my cable bill from Comcast a few months ago – it was actually an email, because I opt for their green paperless billing – and saw the $100 or so that I owed them, I started thinking about how much I actually use my cable. There is something to say for the ambient noise…

Buying organic on the cheap

Buying organic on the cheap

Purchasing organic food seems to be the most recent movement when it comes to healthy eating. Admittedly, I followed the trend to the “T” for a while, but when I saw my grocery bill skyrocket – like many others – I had a change of heart. But I still wanted to eat organically, so I cut back and found a few ways to buy…

Easy ways to save money on electricity at home

If you’re at all like me, you dread opening the electricity bill every month and loathe writing a check to “insert your electric company’s name.” And you also like to do everything you can for Mother Earth.

The last few months I have a taken a pledge to try and cut down on the amount of electricity I use. Surprisingly, I’ve cut down on my bill by doing just a…

Set savings goals, then track them

The old adage “It’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game,” may work in sports, but when it comes to your finances it’s really the end result that counts.

And, just like any sport, it’s important to keep score, or in this case, keep track of your savings. While there’s no big scoreboard out there to do this for…

Save money on your grocery bill

Is the increase in the cost of food squeezing your budget? It has mine. Although I have cut back a lot on going out to eat, I have noticed that even the foods I buy to make lunches I take to work and dinners I make at home are more expensive.

I have been looking for ways to save money on my food bill…

Get charged up about power bill savings

When I was a kid, my parents used to tell me to turn off the lights behind me when I left a room. To this day, I still hear that message in my head.

But turning off the lights is just one way you can save on your power bill. By implementing a few simple changes, you will see savings.

Yes, you can save 10 percent of your income

Have you been looking for ways to invest in your future, but having a hard time doing it? Most money managers will tell you — pay yourself first into a savings account before dipping into your paycheck for non-essentials.

Financial experts suggest that at the very least your savings should be 10 percent per paycheck. Of course that means you will have to learn to live on 90 percent…

I went on a media diet, and you can too

OK, I admit it: I am an entertainment and technology hog. I love my magazines, cable, my Internet, my iPhone, my iTunes … the list goes on, and so did the zeros on my credit card bill.

So when a friend suggested I take a look at cutting back on some of those things, it made me cringe….

Savings at the grocery store is simple discipline

How many times have you run to the grocery store to pick up a few things but when you got to the checkout your cart was stacked high and the total was a whole lot more than you expected to spend?

That used to happen to me, until I came up with a simple plan. Here’s my secret to getting…

The best cheap vacation is a staycation

Remember when you were a kid and the teacher would ask you to write an essay on what you did on your summer vacation?

Some of us went to the beach, others took a road trip with mom and dad, or maybe you were lucky enough to fly off somewhere exotic.

Truth is, you really don’t have to go too far to have a great time. With so many of us…

Rent a condo when traveling

Cramming your family into a single hotel room or trying to book adjoining rooms for your vacation can be challenging and time-consuming. And, in the end, what do you get? Probably far less space than that to which you are accustomed, little privacy, and fewer dining choices because there’s no kitchen. That’s no savings…

Fortunately, there’s a great alternative that can save you a good bit of money…

Learn to cook and cut food costs big time

Eating out can be great fun, not to mention highly convenient. No grocery shopping, lugging it all home, slicing, dicing, sautéing or dishwashing. What could be better?

However, eating out is a huge budget buster, literally eating up your savings! Even seemingly inexpensive fast food can add up quickly, one dollar at a time. At the end of a week, you can quite easily have spent three or four times…

Easy tricks to help you save more

Are your savings enough? Are you saving at all? These are important questions. I know they make some people uncomfortable. They made me uncomfortable for a long time.

If that sounds like you, cheer up. Anyone can get grip on their finances and get on the right track toward retirement planning. It’s not about huge sacrifices but it is about making choices…