In general, it’s not a good idea to even have a a tax refund.  It’s better for your bottom line as well as mathematically to get that money in your paycheck throughout the year, instead of giving the government an interest free loan for a whole year, but I understand that some people just like to get that lump sum at the end of the year.  That’s fine.  However, if you choose to get the lump sum refund for your taxes from the government, you shouldn’t be counting on it for regular bills or expenses.  This money should be used to pay down debt, start (or add to) an emergency fund or invest for your retirement.  These choices will help better your life and your future, whereas buying a big screen TV will only give you short term entertainment.  Do yourself a favor and don’t budget your tax refund into your budget!

Also, I wanted to share a friendly reminder.  Tomorrow is the first day of April, which means that summer is only a couple of months away.  Have you started planning your vacation yet?? More specifically, have you started planning how you’re going to pay for your vacation?  If not, now is the time to start!  Review your budget and see if there is money left over (assuming you have no debt other than your house and are already saving for retirement) for a vacation, and if there is, you should start saving for it now!  Nobody likes to be caught off guard, and that is usually what happens at Christmas time and vacation time.  People are always surprised that vacation time and Christmas came as quickly as it did, and so they aren’t prepared.  This reminder is an effort to be sure that doesn’t happen to our readers!

The first is the obvious choice: Use only your own bank’s ATMs.  Not one on your current daily route?  Look into changing routes, or possibly changing banks to a bank with ATMs near your home or on your daily route.  One caution though:  Be sure if you decide to change banks for a more convenient location that you don’t switch to a bank with less features or worse interest rates/customer service. 

A better choice?  Skip the ATM and get cash back when you’re buying groceries or picking up something at the drugstore…any place that offers a cash back feature is a substitute ATM, without the fee.  Another good reason to use this method?  You definitely do not have to go out of your way to get the money you need!

Another option is to switch to an online bank that refunds its ATM fees (a new benefit, recently cropping up).  A great place to find a bank with this feature is Bankrate.com. 

With any of these options, you can save money on your bottom line every month.  The money you save can be allocated to paying off debt or go into savings, because let’s face it, you weren’t missing it in the first place.  It might as well be put to good use!

Well, if you are having trouble coming up with creative ideas, let me put your mind at ease that most women (not all of us, unfortunately…even though Valentine’s Day is OPTIONAL, some women expect the moon and more) are appreciative of anything you do.  So no matter what it is, the fact that you’ve done something is enough to make us happy.  That being said, if you want to get creative with the traditional Valentine’s Day ideas, to score some bonus  points, there are some great ways to do that.  For example:

• The trifecta – Flowers, candy and jewelry.  We all like roses, but get creative and get some orchids or tulips (red or pink are probably best).  Candy is great unless she’s health conscious, so either get her favorite chocolates (they don’t have to be expensive, just her favorite) or try something a little more healthy, like her favorite fruits or nuts (the expensive ones that she won’t buy herself).  Jewelry is a personal thing, but as long as you know which color is her favorite (yellow or white gold) and which type of jewelry (bracelet, earrings or necklace) you should be fine.  No matter what you choose, be sure to get creative and hide the box where it will surprise her.
• Dinner and a movie- This is a great gift for the significant other that doesn’t get to go out much.  The dinner should be to a nice place (where she can get dressed up, if she likes that sort of thing) and the movie should be her favorite (yes, that could mean chick flick, but come on, it’s only once a year, I know you’re man enough to live through it).
• Cultural – If your girl likes a little culture, a trip to the theater or a museum might suit her.  Take her to her favorite cultural outing, or to a new place (or show) she hasn’t been to yet.

If  you’re on a tight budget, some of these things can sound out of your reach.  Don’t worry!  These are ways to be sweet to your significant other while watching your pennies too!  Here are some examples of the above ideas, on a budget:

•  The trifecta – Flowers, candy and jewelry.  Flowers on a budget at Valentine’s Day isn’t too bad.  You can get them at a discount store, like Costco or Sam’s Club/Wal-Mart, the price will be what you like.  Also, it pays to buy them a week early and give them to her then, since the price will be lower (unfortunate, but yes, the florists jack-up the prices on Valentine’s Day).  Candy is easy on a budget…instead of opting for an expensive box of chocolates, bake her a delicious dessert.  This satisfies her sweet tooth, saves money and scores you points for effort!  Jewelry is easier than you think on a budget.  Most women like “costume” or “fashion” jewelry, so find out her favorite costume jewelry designer, and, if it’s in your budget, get some.  Not in your budget?  Opt for something personal, like her favorite movie on DVD, with a bag of popcorn and a note about having a movie night, or a professional massage (check your local massage school, since they often offer these services at a fraction of the cost…or, give her the massage yourself!).
• Dinner and a movie – If she likes to go out, do a dinner out, but scale back and take her to a moderately priced place.  Otherwise, cook for her.  You can buy the ingredients to make a fancy dinner at a fraction of the cost of that same dinner out.  Set the table for a formal dinner, with full silverware, linen napkins and candles.  Inform her that she should “dress” for dinner, and be dressed up yourself, since it will make the experience more memorable.  The movie can be watched at home (budget friendly), and if you want serious bonus points, a little dancing in the living room never hurt any man, I don’t care if you’ve heard rumors to the contrary!
• Cultural – Well, museums are still priced right for the budget conscious this year, but the theater is out, so if the museum isn’t your thing, you could both go donate blood together, or do some community service work together.  Not in that kind of mood?  Well, find a safe but culturally different part of town, and go on a mini “tour”.  Walking, biking or driving, it’s up to you.  Just do something to make it memorable.

There you have it!  A few (and long winded) tips on ways to get creative or stay in budget for Valentine’s Day!  Good luck, and I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

I will be the first to admit that it is sometimes difficult to decipher fees when the bill comes in, but that’s no excuse for not knowing what is happening on your account.  If, after pouring over the bill for a little while, you still can’t figure out what is going on, call the customer service line and ask them to explain it.  A nice added benefit?  If you’re more vigilant about bills, it might carry over into your bank account, and then you won’t be charged overdraft fees (if you were overdrawing in the first place, because let’s face it, you shouldn’t be).  Overdraft fees from banks are one of the biggest stupid taxes around.  If you pay attention to how much you have in your account, you won’t be charged.  It’s only when you are unaware that they happen, and no one should be unaware of what’s going on with their money.

Now, how about “mirroring”?  Mirroring is a practice of charging you twice in the same month for only one month’s service, by companies who have access to your bank account because you’ve set them up on an auto pay function, where they have access to your account.  I use this feature myself, although, truth be told, I’m very sceptical of it.  We check our bank statement carefully each month to ensure that mirroring does not occur, and it has happened to us in the past.  Usually it’s not terribly complicated to get adjusted, if you catch them quickly.  The problems start to occur when you haven’t noticed the problem over the course of months, or a year, and them try to get your money back.  They have had it for a year!  It doesn’t always go well if you wait.  Remember, if you give a company access to your account, then you have the responsibility to yourself to ensure that they are doing right by you and only taking what they are supposed to take.  Never let them take advantage of you!

First, you need to fall in love with throw pillows! They are useful in so many rooms! Bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms etc. can all be updated with a change of throw pillows. Now, the prices/quality of throw pillows can vary greatly, so keep these tips in mind:

• If it has beading, it will not be cheap.
• Shop online for good deals from reputable stores…remember, you don’t have to worry if it will fit!
• Buy end of season/discontinued patterns. They will be marked up to 65%-70% off.
• Don’t be afraid to buy them from the big chain retailers…if you like to redecorate a lot, you will save even more from these discount stores over time!
• You can add beading/lace to a pillow with just a basic knowledge of sewing.
• The most important thing about a throw pillow is its’ stitching…you don’t want it to fall apart at the seams!

Another great way to redecorate on the cheap is by changing the paint color of the room. This is a very cheap (depending on the size of the room) solution to “the room blues”! When changing your paint color, keep in mind:

• The paint swatches at the store are your friend, and they’re free…take them home.
• A big color change should be considered carefully, and if you don’t like bright colors in your clothes, you might not like it on your walls!
• The color of the paint changes based on the lighting in the room…Incandescent, CFL and natural light all look different!
• Don’t forget that whatever color you pick has to match the accessories in the room!
• You have to buy rollers, brushes, edgers and painters tape…that all adds up, so budget accordingly!

Artwork on the wall is an easy way to revamp the look of a room. It shows your personality and will always be a good conversation piece. Artwork can be hung in ANY room, bathrooms and mudrooms included. Some tips to keep in mind:

• The size of the piece should be carefully considered for the space…a too small piece will look odd on the wall, and a too large piece will dwarf the room.
• The frame should reflect the fixtures/style of the room. For example, an extremely modern room should not have a rustic wooden frame.
• Craft stores like Michael’s Arts and Crafts and Garden Ridge have great deals on artwork, and a large selection of themes and sizes that should help you stick to your budget, so don’t forget about them! Kirkland’s Home is another good choice!
• You should never worry that your Van Gogh is not a REAL Van Gogh…and no true friend will think worse of you for having a print on your wall, and you will be happy with the price tag!
• 2 other good places to check for inexpensive artwork: Flea markets and hole in the wall stores on college campuses…nobody could sell expensive artwork to broke college students!

There you have it! 3 easy ways to redecorate a room on the cheap! I am interested to know if any of the readers have any other redecorating on the cheap ideas! Keep in mind, $200 house fixtures and $150 throw rugs are not what we’re looking for here. These should be things that ANYONE can afford! If you have an idea, post a comment and let us know!

Brief summary: A survey of nearly 30,000 people revealed some insights into the way people are feeling about the economy and their money. It revealed what they are doing to help tighten the belt on their finances to get by these days.

I love surveys like this one, because it’s kind of like taking the financial temperature of the country.

Page 1 of the article tells how people are spending less on dining out, clothing and recreational activities. I am happy to see that people are refocusing their priorities and are watching what they spend…everyone could save a little more. Where a lot of people get into trouble is eating out and recreational spending. The average American eats out only 1-2 times a week, however, where are they eating? Is the whole family with them? If they eat out at pricey restaurants with the whole family, that can get costly. Even if families are only eating out at McDonald’s 2 times a week, that is probably averaging $20 a trip, or $40 a week. That works out to be $160 a month…that will pay for lots of different things…more groceries, car insurance, health insurance etc.

Page 2 focuses on gift giving. This is a hard topic for me, because I LOVE to give gifts. The survey shows how people are either buying less gifts, or spending less on them. I myself switch to spending less on gifts when funds are tight, and think it is a good way to save cash in your budget. To those people who think they have to skip gift giving because they can’t afford something really nice, I say relax. People like to receive gifts. People REALLY like to receive gift cards! And, for the most part, people don’t care how much you spent on the gift/gift card. And if they are disappointed with your gift, it’s on them…you did what you could, and if they truly do care about you, then your gift will be perfect, because it came from you!

I was absolutely elated by page 3, where it was revealed that if given $10,000 dollars, 48% of those answering the survey would put the money in the bank, and 38% would use the money to pay off debts. All I have to say to this is this…I am excessively happy that people are finally taking notice that they are not saving enough, and I hope that when the economy recovers, they continue to save and don’t go back to their over-spending, have it now ways.

Page 4 deals with something that I don’t really do very well…cutting coupons. Those of you who cut coupons every week, I applaud you, but I have never been like you. I have tried to clip coupons and use them at the grocery, but it doesn’t work for us. We use a lot of generic products, and those products never have coupons in the paper, usually (not always) because the generic is cheaper than the name brand item with the coupon. So, coupons have never really worked for me, but, my mother swears by them! So, apparently do 64% of the respondents (combination of those who have always used them and those new to clipping coupons) to the survey, thanks to the economy. I am excited to see this as groceries are one of the easiest places to cut costs, but one that some people never put the effort into.

Page 5 reveals the how people feel about the economy (well, of the opinions of the respondents anyway). Overall, 47% of the respondents say the economy hasn’t affected their long term plans and 34% think there will be an economic upswing in a year. While I hope that is the case, I worry that the economy has not completely bottomed out yet, and therefore, might take a little longer to come back. Also, our economy is tied to other economies, so we have to watch the financial happenings in other countries (like China) to get some idea of what will happen in our economy. However, I hope those who see an upswing in a year are correct!

So, in my opinion, based on this survey, the financial temperature of the economy is sickly, but people are getting by. They simply need to remember how their parents did things when they were kids…do you remember your parents using layaway? there is a reason for that. You remember them saving up to put a down payment on a car or a house? There is a reason for that. It was the RIGHT way to do things, and according to the survey, some people are finally starting to remember/take notice.

Gallop poll resource – http://books.google.com/books?id=WOug0pzW6_IC&pg=PA481&lpg=PA481&dq=average+number+of+eating+out+per+week&source=bl&ots=b2_ny9ni7M&sig=weev3bzrbR1J6iZj-3Ii9fyP52M&hl=en&ei=-uPMSYnlHpKNtgfc1vTfCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result

No matter how “good” we try to be, we will always buy things, even when we are trying to save money. We are out somewhere, and see something awesome that we just HAVE to have. A shirt, a necklace, shoes, or if you are a man, some tools etc. Then, you take it home, and you like it, but not as much as when you were in the store. Or maybe you lose some weight and the item no longer fits…either way, at some point, you decide you don’t really want it anymore. Over a little time, you will gather up several of these items, and instead of throwing them away, you should have a swap meet party with some of your close friends!

Now, there are a few Do’s and Dont’s you should know about when you plan a swap meet:

First, DON’T be offended if some of your friends turn you down…some people just don’t like the idea of wearing things other people wore…it’s just a fact of life. so, don’t get your feelings hurt, simply move on and concentrate on the friends that DO want to participate!

Second, DO decide ahead of time on the items that should be brought. Rule out items that those attending feel too private or inappropriate to swap (i.e. undergarments). Some might also want to exclude items like shoes (the whole sweaty stinky problem), so make sure you inform the guests of the items to be excluded!

Third, DO decide how things will be exchanged/purchased and let the guests know ahead of time. For example, if you are having a jewelry swap meet, you could say that the exchange will only be for equivalent items (necklace for necklace, earrings for earrings) unless otherwise agreed upon by both people at the party.

Fourth, DON’T forget to have some money on hand in case a guest needs change to purchase something!

Fifth, DON’T forget to have some food for people to snack on, but make sure you wait til after the swap to feed them…you don’t need sticky fingers touching the merchandise!

Lastly, once all the items have been exchanged, DON’T feel that you have claim to anything you have swapped with a friend, so make sure you REALLY want to swap it in the first place!

Overall, if you have a group of friends that like to (or need to) save money, a swap meet can do double duty…you can get together with friends (which everyone loves to do) and go home with some really awesome loot for little or no money AND get rid of stuff you don’t want anymore! I hope this idea will help our readers get want they want and still have “Mucho Moolah” left over!

A second job is a great way to get out of debt in a hurry. There are all sorts of side jobs that a person can pick up to make extra money. As a school teacher, you can coach one of the sports teams,monitor detention or head up one of the clubs at school…you do get paid extra for that, you know! Not a teacher? Okay, well, if you have a lawn mower, then you are already in business…just go around your neighborhood and mow the lawns of your neighbors. You can make quite a bit of money in one summer just by mowing lawns. Akin to lawn mowing is pressure washing. Pressure washing peoples homes, driveways and fences (in any combination) is a VERY lucrative business. A good pressure washer only costs around $500, and you can make that back in your first job…a word to the wise though: Know what you are doing with a pressure washer, otherwise you can damage someones property, and then you’ll be paying THEM! Not skilled at mowing lawns or pressure washers? How about being an umpire for a community parks and recreation league? Not your cup of tea? That’s ok, because you can go get a job as a delivery driver…they make good money (mostly in tips)and have flexible hours!

If none of those suggestions sounded good to you, then figure out what you are good at, and go make some money from it. Say you are a computer programmer…then find some contract work to bring in extra money. The possibilities are limitless…you just have to remember that it isn’t swallowing your pride to get a second job…There is MORE pride to be had in taking care of your family!

So, all in all, what I want you to take away from this is that you shouldn’t be hopeless when it comes to getting out of debt. Cutting back on spending and cutting costs is only one side of it…some people need more income! So, figure out what you can do to increase your income, and do it! Besides, mowing lawns gives you a tan and a mini workout…how can that be bad?