Re: 100 tips to help you SAVE Personal Finance --------------------------------- 51. Start saving something today. It doesn't have to be a large sum. Even on a tight budget, a small amount adds up over time. Get an envelope, cookie jar, coffee can or whatever you like and set aside the same amount every week. The trick: Don't count it, don't spend it! 52. Treat saving as a bill. Consider having the amount transferred automatically from your checking account or paycheck. Pay your account every month or every two weeks. 53. Empty your pockets — or your purse — at the end of the night. Put all the change into a jar. Not only will you feel lighter, but your spare change adds up a lot faster than you think. 54. Just paid off a big debt such as a car loan or child's tuition? Keep making the payments — this time to yourself. 55. Trying to lose weight this season? Each time you go without dessert, that midafternoon candy bar break or that fatty mochaccino at the coffee shop, put the cost of your forgone goody into your savings jar. 56. Involve the whole family in saving. Plan a treat for everyone when you reach the savings goal. Make it something everyone will look forward to, but inexpensive, such as a day at the zoo, museum or beach. 57. Some online banks offer high-interest checking accounts. If these accounts meet your needs when it comes to balance requirements, debit card usage and convenience, why not earn interest on your balance? 58. Stay up-to-date on your checking balance, either by balancing your check book or checking your account online frequently. You'll avoid overdraft fees and better track what goes in and out. 59. If you bounce a check, and it's the first time, ask for forgiveness, including waiver of any fees. A bank will sometimes do that for goodwill. Of course, don't become a repeat offender. 60. Make it a habit to use only your bank, thrift or credit union's ATMs. You'll avoid paying surcharge fees to your bank and the other bank. Or consider opening an account with an online bank or brokerage that covers out-of-network ATM fees. 61. To avoid ATM fees, get extra cash at the grocery store — most of the grocery store point-of-sale terminals are free. 62. Think before you charge. Unless you're in the habit of paying your credit card bill in full each month, don't use the cards for anything you can eat or wear and avoid using credit cards to buy "wants" such as a new stereo or TV. Wait until you have the money to buy it. 63. If you're knee-deep in credit card debt, get rid of all of the credit cards but one. Take that one and make it hard to impulse shop with — freeze it in a bowl of water in your freezer. 64. Don't take cash out of your credit card. The rate for cash advances is much higher. And there is no grace period — you start paying interest right away. 65. Read your monthly credit card statements carefully. Look out for hidden charges, such as credit insurance. 66. Don't pay for theft insurance on your credit card. If your credit card is stolen, you're only liable for $50 at most. 67. Avoid credit card fees. Dodge $39-and-growing fees by not exceeding your credit limit. And send your payments in early — if you're five minutes late it could cost you $29 or more. 68. Pay more than the minimum. It'll take a very long time and cost you a lot in interest to pay off your balance if you only pay the minimum. 69. Don't be late on any loan or credit account payment. Credit card companies check their customers' credit reports frequently, looking for any late payments to justify raising the interest rate — a phenomenon called "universal default." In some cases, triggering a universal default can double your credit card's interest rate. 70.Negotiate better terms — lower interest and higher limits — with your credit card issuer, especially if you've had a year of on-time payments. 71. Consider transferring your balances from high-interest cards to low-interest credit cards. Then, make the same payment as before, or double the minimum. 72. If the opportunity exists, work overtime or an extra shift at least once or twice a month. 73. Participate in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan. Your contributions are made with pretax dollars. You save for the future while reducing today's taxable income. 74. Set up a tax-advantaged IRA or Roth IRA account to build up your retirement savings. 75. Save your raise. The next time you get a raise at work or a tax refund, consider directing half to savings. If you're not used to the money, you won't miss it.
Re: 100 tips to help you SAVE Car and Commuting --------------------------------------- 76. Look for ways to cut out your car altogether. Consider walking, biking or telecommuting. If you live in an area that has good public transportation, take advantage of it. Even if you can't quit driving altogether, using some of these methods, your family can get by on one car instead of two. 77. Consider carpooling. Carpool matching services are available free in many communities. Do a search online for a local carpool center or call your local government. 78. When using mass transit, be sure to take advantage of multiple-ride discount cards, monthly passes and any other deals for riders. 79. Maintain your car. Keeping tires inflated properly saves fuel and tread wear, and a well-tuned engine that gets regular oil changes burns less gas. 80. Buy the lowest grade (octane) of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping, the fuel you're using is fine. 81. Don't top off the gas tank. Rapidly starting and stopping a gas pump can cause it to overcharge you for the small amount of gas you put in, and there's a good chance gas will slosh or seep out. 82. Lighten up on the accelerator, and don't make fast starts or sudden stops. The faster you drive, the more gas you use. For example, driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph can improve your fuel economy by two miles per gallon. 83. Tighten the gas cap. And if your cap doesn't fit snugly, buy a new one. Gas easily evaporates from the tank if it has a way to escape. 84. Buy a fuel-efficient car. When pricing cars, factor in long-term fuel costs. Keep in mind that sunroofs add to wind resistance, lowering the mileage per gallon. 85. Be smart with the air conditioning. On the highway, closed windows decrease wind resistance, so run the air conditioner. In stop-and-go traffic, shut off the air conditioning and open the windows. 86. Comparison shop for auto insurance at least once a year. Check with at least three companies before signing up. 87. You can save money on car insurance by changing your profile. Improving your credit, getting married, moving to a better neighborhood, taking a defensive driving course or joining the right national and local organizations can lower your insurance. 88. Keep your driving record as clean as possible, and if it's pretty spotless already, make sure your insurance company knows it. Be a squeaky wheel about discounts if you've gone a certain number of years without an accident or ticket, store your car in a garage or drive fewer than a certain number of miles each year. 89. Bundle insurance coverage. If you have more than one car, insure them on the same policy to get a break. Or try insuring your auto policy through the same company that insures your home, for a discount. 90. Don't buy more insurance than you need. Consider raising deductibles (bank that amount for emergencies) and increasing your liability coverage. 91. Consider dropping collision insurance if you drive an older car. Ask: How much of your premium is collision insurance? Do you have $2,000 if you needed a new car tomorrow? 92. Rein in those ridiculous teen-driver insurance premiums. Make sure your teen studies hard — some auto insurers offer discounts to good students. If she'll be driving a family car, designate which vehicle she will drive to avoid be charged as if they're driving the highest-risk vehicle on your policy. And when she goes off to college, take her off your insurance altogether to save big. 93. Car shop on a rainy day, at the end of the month or toward the end of the year. Car dealers will be begging for business. You will probably get a better deal and more for that trade-in. 94. Know your credit score before you car shop and secure your financing ahead of time from your bank or credit union. That way, you can ask the dealer to beat the offer you already have. Either way, you can be confident you got the best financing deal. 95. Use the Internet to get the best auto deal. Find the value of your trade-in and search online to find the lowdown on pricing and financing options on the car you'd like to buy. Visit several Web sites to compare everything from sticker price to customer rebates to regional incentives from manufacturers. 96. Let car dealers haggle with each other. E-mail, fax or phone several car dealers. Make it clear that you're contacting several dealers and you'll buy from the dealer that makes the best offer. 97. Negotiate the price of a new car, the price of your trade-in and your financing separately. A dealer will try to roll one or more of these transactions together. Don't let him. 98. Be prepared to walk away from a deal. You know within a few hundred dollars what you should be paying, and every minute spent discussing a figure significantly higher than that is wasted. 99. Bite the bullet. Sell your old car privately, get someone else to assume the lease or stay with the thing until it's paid off. Don't roll negative equity into a new car loan. 100. Consider buying a one- or two-year-old car. If the factory warranty is still good, you could get a car with 95 percent of its life left for 20 percent to 30 percent less than the cost of buying new.
Re: 100 tips to help you SAVE Shubha, wonderful tips…thanks for sharing them. Some tips like charging a working offspring won’t work in Indian families…still others are great. I was not sure whether I will read all the 100 , but surprisingly read each and every tip carefully. Thanks for sharing.
Re: 100 tips to help you SAVE i know .. some tips doesn't work in India .. glad that you read all of them .. hope u got some nice ideas..
