October 2016

Saving Money Everyday – How To Save On Everyday Expenses

We live in a world where the cost of living is going up each day. In order to keep up, we either must find a way to earn more or find a way to reduce our expenses. These are a few tips to help you save on your everyday expenses.

Make a list

Before you go shopping, make a list and make sure to always stick to it. Pick out everything on the list first before anything extra. Do not go window shopping because you might end up impulse buying. Get everything on the list and leave the store.

Discounts

Look out for great discounts. Learn all there is to know about promo codes and always be keen so that no deals go by. You can get great deals by watching out for these. Do not rush for these offers though, note that they have no refunds and the sale is final. Be very sure about your purchase.

At Amazon.com, you can also enjoy discounts once you sign up for their “Subscribe and save programs”. Goods are also usually shipped to your location for free. Save a few dollars a week.

Splitting bulk goods

When you got to Costco with a friend, you can buy a product in bulk for a cheaper per unit price and split the items. The both of you can save a lot of money by doing this every time you go shopping together. Pair up with a friend and do this on a regular basis.

Frugal Fitness: 6 Ways to Save Money at the Gym

by Hank Coleman

Ways to Find Great Gym Membership Discounts

Just a single personal training session at a gym could cost you as much as $60-70 per hour. For most people, even once-a-week personal training would be an unsustainable expense for their budgets. And, self-directed workouts at a gym with a membership aren’t exactly cheap either. But, you can find ways to save money at the gym and find gym membership discounts that can help.

How to Find Gym Membership Discounts

If you’re trying to get in shape or lose weight, there are several ways to accomplish your fitness goals without busting your budget.

Take Advantage of Free Trial Offers

Nearly every gym out there offers a free trial period for potential members. This may just be a 3-day pass or you might be able to workout cost-free for an entire month. This can be a big help before deciding whether or not you want to sign up for a paid membership.

Gyms offer these trial memberships ‘free of charge’ to entice more people to check out what they have to offer by means of health and fitness amenities, so it’s a win-win approach for both sides.

You’re not under any obligation to sign up for a membership after the free trial period concludes. And, don’t waste your money unless you loved the experience and truly believe you’ll come back enough to make the monetary investment worth it. However, you also shouldn’t abuse the free trial system at gyms in your area just for the sake of saving money by indefinitely avoiding a paid membership.

No Initiation Fee

When you’re ready to sign up for a gym membership, the club’s employees will try to charge you an initiation fee. If there are several gyms to choose from in your area, then do some comparison shopping before agreeing to anything.

You should continue to shop around if you already completed a free trial run and now they’re pressuring you to sign up for a paid membership. There might be other gyms with better amenities, prices, or promotions in your area that you might not know about yet.

If another promising gym in your area has a lower monthly membership fee, or if they don’t charge initiation fees, then bring this up to the folks at the other gym you’re considering. Try to negotiate the price down to something more reasonable for your budget.

Don’t always assume that the price advertised is your only option. Sometimes, they’ll waive the initiation fee altogether, and you can start working out for the cost of the first month’s membership fee.

Top 4 Tips for Homeowners Before You Consider Renting Out a Room

by Hank Coleman

If you’re a homeowner who wants to make some extra money but you don’t have enough money saved up to invest in a rental property just yet, renting out a room in your primary residence might be an option. Over one-third of Americans are renters, which means demand is consistent for non-homeowners seeking places to live without the burden of a down payment and mortgage. Tips for Homeowners Renting Out a Room Even if you only have one bedroom available, there are a few things to consider before renting out a room in your home: Host with Airbnb or Rent Long-Term? Millions of people love finding accommodations on Airbnb, and hosts even have the option of offering long-term Airbnb rentals. … Read more

Can You Still Contribute to Retirement Plans After Retiring?

by Hank Coleman

Why You Should Still Make IRA Contributions After Retirement

Here is the next installment in our Reader’s Questions Series, which highlight questions emailed to me by you, the readers of Money Q&A. This time, we’re talking about income replacement with dividends when you retire. Be sure to find out at the end of this article how you can receive a free copy of Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover. If you’re not familiar with Dave Ramsey’s book, you should run right out and get it. It is one of the best personal finance books that everyone should read. Now….on to our reader’s question. This week’s Reader Question is from Kim who writes… I am retired and do not work. Can I still contribute to either my Roth IRA or traditional IRA while retired? … Read more

The Best Personal Finance Books that Must Be on Your Bookshelf!

by Hank Coleman

Whether you are looking for a great present for a loved one this holiday season or just want to learn more about taking control of your finances, any of these ten personal finance books listed below are a great choice. In fact, they should already be on your bookshelf or nightstand. These are the top ten personal finance books that everyone should read. The best personal finance books: The Total Money Makeover The Automatic Millionaire The Intelligent Investor The Millionaire Next Door The Other 8 Hours (TIPS) The Wealthy Barber Your Money or Your Life Crush It The Richest Man in Babylon Beating the Street 1. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey If you didn’t know that I absolutely … Read more

Investing Demystified – A Five Video Series from Popular Investing Book

by Guest Contributor

You may unnecessarily be paying the equivalent of five Porsche sports cars to the finance industry over your working life! Check out this investing video series on www.kroijer.com by Lars Kroijer, who used to run a hedge fund in London and wrote the book, “Investing Demystified: How to Invest Without Speculation and Sleepless Nights“. Basically, it says you can’t beat the market, and explain why that is important.

It’s as easy as watching a cute cat video online, except it’s about index funds! But if you spend six minutes watching the first video it could well change how you think about investments. Also, it may save you reading 200 pages of an investment book or give you a good riposte for next time a broker calls you with a hot stock tip.

Investing Demystified

The series consist of five videos – here is a bit on each:

Video 1: Investing Demystified – (Intro Overview – Part 1 of 5)

The Investing Demystified video series is based on the premise that most investor can’t beat the market (or pick investment funds to do so for them). Those investors should only buy world equity index trackers for their equity exposure, and can easily implement the simple and cheap portfolio tailored to their risk profile. They will most likely be far better off in the long run as a result! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_chiIIxMGl0