Raise Some Extra Cash
Monday July 6, 2009
It is the season of yard sales. If you are looking for a way to make some quick cash to build your emergency fund or put towards debt, you may be considering having a yard sale. You also may be considering doing this if you are moving. It is a great way to get rid of a bunch of stuff quickly. However, yard sale prices are about the lowest so is it the right place to sell your stuff?
If you have items that are collectors items or that you think you could get a higher price for in a bidding war, you may consider using eBay to sell some of your items. This takes more time and effort. To get a good price, you will need a camera to take a picture of the item, and deal with the hassle of shipping the items. But the higher prices may be worth the extra effort.
If you have larger items, that you think could fetch a decent price, but they are too big to deal with the hassle of shipping, consider using Craigslist or the classifieds in your area to sell the items. You can sell furniture, cars, and anything else on Craigslist. It's a great way to make a little money and to get rid of your extra furniture or other items. Generally the buyer worries about moving the items for you. Though you should be careful when arranging an exchange to protect yourself.
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Beach Reads and Money Books
Friday July 3, 2009
One of the best parts of vacations is that you can have a little extra time to read while you are on vacation. Generally beach reads are fun books that you can read through quickly while relaxing in the sun. This year take just one money book to read on vacation. It could change your life. Plus you'll still have some time for your other beach reads.
Here are life changing books that are easy and quick reads.
Make Your Bank Work for You
Thursday July 2, 2009
Are you making the most of your checking account? There are a lot of options when it comes to a checking account. The key is to finding an account that provides the best services at the lowest cost to you. To make your life simpler you should have an account that does not limit debit card usage and allows you pay your bills online for free. You should also look for an account with no minimum balance requirement and no service fee. Often if you sign up for direct deposit the bank will waive the service fee.
Beyond your checking account your bank may offer you several different services. You can often get a slightly lower rate on loans or higher rates on savings accounts if you stick with the same bank. It makes completing your transactions easier. Be sure to include credit unions when you begin the search for the right bank for you.
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Wednesday July 1, 2009
With reductions in benefits, furloughs and other ways that companies are trying to cut cost many employees will be hit in at least one area. It can be difficult when your paycheck keeps getting smaller. If this is the case then you need to take a moment to assess your budget and find ways to save money as well. In regards to health insurance often premiums are being raised while coverage is being lowered. This means you pay more for the insurance each month and more out-of-pocket when you are sick. You may need to increase the amount you budget for medical expenses each month.
There are always options that we tend to forgot about or brush aside when it comes to cutting costs. You may consider looking at your cell phone plan. Can you decrease your minutes to save money? Are you using mainly the text or data portion of your plan and only a portion of your minutes? Can you adjust your plan or change companies to find a plan that better meets your needs.
What is the biggest area of spending in your budget? Is it your home, your car or an expensive hobby? What can you do to the lower the cost of the top three ways that you spend money each month? You may consider moving to a less expensive apartment. If your car payment is a big drain, could you sell it and get a less expensive car? Instead of an expensive membership, can you save money by paying as you go each week? Do the math and see if that membership actually saves you money.
Often we assume that the big expenses are set expenses. We can't change them. But the simple truth of the matter is that we can. Look at your set expenses and see what you can adjust so that you can continue to save money and get out of debt.
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