Don’t Spend Money You Just Don’t Have!

Do you make it a habit of spending money you don’t have? If you do then it’s time to stop this habit right away before you get into trouble with your money! 

Let’s face it- no one enjoys being broke but it is a simple fact of financial life that if you spend money that you don’t have then the financial picture for your future will be grim. Living from paycheck to paycheck or dipping into your savings for frivolous purchases may make sense in the short-term but in the long-term you will come to regret it. As well payday loans and constantly relying on credit cards is not the way to properly manage your money. 

What can you do to stop this lunacy? 

Know Your Money

In order to stop spending money you do not have accurately assess how much money you earn on a monthly or bi-weekly basis and then look at what  you pay out in bills every month. Figure out based on when each of your bills are due how much money you have to set aside from each paycheck. Always think of terms of when your pay periods are and not when your creditors expect their money. Take the time to devise a sensible financial plan for yourself but leave some room for flexibility.

Identify Your Areas of Weakness

It is important to identify what your areas of weaknesses are in terms of money and then to get serious about making changes. To stop spending money you don’t have look for opportunities to save money or spend less money all of the time. For example, brown bag your lunches for work instead of buying lunch all of the time. To use an example, if you work an average of 20 days every month and you ate your lunch out every work day and spent five dollars a day if you stopped this you would save yourself approximately $100 a month. 

Other Helpful Suggestions

Another suggestion is to cut out your morning and afternoon coffee at work as well as the sodas you drink throughout the day. Not only will this save you anywhere from $30 to $50 a month but your waistline will thank you as well. Drinking soda on a regular basis can cause a weight gain of 15 pounds on a yearly basis. This means that not only will you protect your pocketbook but you will safeguard your health as well. 

If you rent look for an apartment that is affordable and preferably one that includes as many utilities as possible such as water, power and heat. In terms of buying a car do you really need a brand new one or would a secondhand one that is in good shape be just as good as a new one?  Motor vehicles that are only a few years old are much more affordable than brand new cars and they often still have that “just new” smell and feel to them. Think about it.  

Once you get into a habit of identifying where your weaknesses lie you can make appropriate changes and swing the financial pendulum in the direction of saving money instead of spending it. You will learn to live within your means and you won’t feel as though you are sacrificing what you want most to be frugal. 

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Save for the Things You Want

There is nothing wrong with wanting to have this and that but it is how you go about paying for what you want that can lead you into the danger zone if you are not careful. To avoid a financial minefield when your eyes spy something you want keep reading.

Delay Short-Term Gratification

We all want things but we do not all necessarily go about getting them in the same way. Some people are prone to impulse shopping and want what they want immediately. Those are the people that are quick to bring out the credit card or debit card. The wisest thing to do though is to delay gratification in the short-term and save the cash for the things you want so you don’t have to worry about interest charges or mounting bills that you are unable to pay right away.

Be Self-Disciplined

To be able to save for the things you want you need to devise a budget that you can live with and you need to have a good dose of self-discipline. It is wise to come up with a rough estimate of how much money you wish to save for a future purchase whether it be a trip, a new car, home renovations, additions to your wardrobe, a new computer, a new living room set, etc. That way you can budget accordingly. This is especially helpful for individuals who have a monthly income that tends to fluctuate such as those who are independent contractors or are self-employed.

Open Two Bank Accounts

It is wise to not just have one bank account but two. Use one to pay your bills out of and then start a separate savings account that you use to save for the things you want and for long-term savings. Many people only have one bank account but it is more financially savvy to have more than one. It is also a good idea to have your accounts at more than one bank. Make sure you faithfully take money from each paycheck and put it into your savings account. Even if you cannot always put in the same amount still do put in some money to get yourself into the habit of doing so.

Develop the Right Mindset

Learn to adopt the right mindset for saving for what you want. If you get a bonus from work or earn some overtime money instead of trying to decide what you will spend your extra money on today choose to save it for a purchase down the road. Remember that if you put the money into your savings account and keep adding to it then you will be able to buy something even bigger, better or sooner than originally expected. Learning to be self-controlled and self-disciplined can go a long way in helping you save for the purchases you want. 

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Money Saving Tips for Your Bathroom

Stand in the middle of your bathroom and look around. Can you think of some ways that you can save money in this room of your home? At first glance you may think that you cannot but you need to think again …

One. If you do not have a water saving showerhead then get yourself to a store right away to pick one up. They are easy to install and can save you a ton of money on your water bill. They are also a form of water conservation that is well worth it. 

Two. When toilet paper, toothpaste, feminine care products, soap, shampoo and other products you use frequently in the bathroom go on sale stock up. The last thing you want is to have to spend full price on an item that you have just ran out of when it was on sale in last week’s flyer! Use coupons to buy sale items whenever you can. 

Three. A little goes a long way with the products you use every day. Do not be heavy-handed with your use of shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer or toothpaste. If you use only a small amount at a time then you will not need to replace your products as often. This keeps more of your hard earned cash in your pocket. 

Four. When shampoos and lotions are getting near the end turn them upside down to allow the remainder that is left to drain downward and then from there you can use every last drop. 

Five. Only flush the toilet when absolutely necessary. While toilets today do not waste gallons of water with every flush like the toilets of the past, they still use enough to be an issue. Conserve water by only flushing after you do you know what!  

Six. Browse dollar stores to see what bathroom items can be found on the shelves. If you are not fussy about the towels and facecloths you use then you can find plenty of color choices for cheap prices. 

Seven. While you are at it take a look at what these stores have to offer for beauty and hygiene products. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that not all of the shampoos, conditioners, lotions and body washes are no name products. I have found many brand name items at dollar stores. Examples of brand names include Nivea, Oil of Olay, Infusium 23, Salon Selective, Soft Soap, Freeman and many more. The only catch is that the brand name items are only there for a limited time. Once they sell out you will see other products in their place.  

Eight. Forgot buying cleaning products for your bathroom. Make your own instead. You probably already have the right ingredients in your cupboards to clean your bathroom. Put some white vinegar in a spray bottle and use it to clean your mirrors and your faucets. Good ole’ fashioned baking soda works well for the sink, bathtub and even the toilet bowl. These ingredients are safer and healthier for you and your family as opposed to commercial products.   

Nine. It is not always easy to use a bar of soap down to its last small piece(s). That last piece or two can be so irritating but you do not want to just throw it out. What you should do is to break the pieces up and drop them into either your bottle of body wash or your liquid hand soap dispenser so they do not go to waste. 

Start saving money in your bathroom today with these helpful tips!

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Shopping and Saving at the Salvation Army Thrift Store

Not far from my home is a Salvation Army Thrift Store. At this store can be found any number of treasures. The fact that I live in close proximity to the store means that I enter its doors frequently. But what really keeps me coming back week after week is the awareness of all of the treasures that can be found there- and the low prices as well! There is no HST on clothing and household items at the Salvation Army store as it is a not-for-profit organization. 

But that is just the beginning. Wait for it fellow Canadians! 

The store is open to donations. If you have gently used items that you no longer need or want than you never know who may be able to use them. When you drop off donations at the Salvation Army store an employee will present you with a $5.00 coupon for purchases totaling $25.00. These discount coupons expire in six months’ time. 

I never know what bargains I will find when I step into the Salvation Army store and that is what makes it so much fun! Just recently I purchased a couple of books, a practically new candle holder, a sweater, a blouse and a plastic basket that I am going to use to keep cleaning products in. 

Refresh, recycle and restyle is a tagline that I have seen at the Salvation Army Thrift Store’s website (http://www.thriftstore.ca/). This says it all. If you want to refresh your home, your cottage or your wardrobe then this is the store to visit for bargains and deals.

When you want to recycle do your part and donate your used goods. By so doing you help others in finding the items they need at prices that won’t break their budgets.  

As for restyling well the wonderful stories I could tell you!!

I have always been a bit of a fashionista myself so shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store satisfies my passion for adding to my wardrobe and doing so at prices that no one could argue about! How could they? The prices are about as low as they could go! I have received so many compliments about my clothing choices that I have no problem letting them in on my savvy shopping secret- shop at the Salvation Army Thrift Store often and get everyday value pricing on many different designer brands. 

At this thrift store there are up-to-date fashions with many designer labels. You can get so much for so little. Your money goes a long way when you shop at this store and it is fun to boot! It is an excellent way to spend a relaxing afternoon on a Saturday or a day off.  There are dressing rooms to try items on so unlike some secondhand stores there are no worries about buying items that do not fit. 

The staff are helpful and friendly and will come to recognize you as a regular customer if you drop by often enough. At my store (can you believe I called it my store?!) they do not know my name but they know my face and I get a smile every time I arrive to browse.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store has frequent sales on everything from ladies wear to mens wear to kids wear to seasonal merchandise. In my area seniors receive a 10 percent discount every day. This does tend to vary by area however. I noticed recently at the website that not all Salvation Army stores in all of the provinces offer the same deals at the same times. For instance if you are a senior living in British Columbia then you will receive 20 percent off of your purchases every Tuesday. 

Saving money is something that unites us all as the economy continues to hit us hard. Finding ways to spend less while at the same time spending well is important. If you want to find a store that has great finds and helpful staff then you need to give the Salvation Army Thrift Store a try! Before you know it you will coming back time and time again and it won’t be just to browse the selection!     

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Know When and Where to Look for Computer Specials

Looking for a deal on a desktop computer?

Desktop computer deals happen fairly regularly but do tend to be even more common at certain times of the year such as the back to school rush and before the Christmas holidays. Sometimes finding a deal on a desktop computer is not as simple as you might think. Other times it is very easy and convenient!  

One of the best places to start your search is over the Internet. Search online for desktop computer deals. The Internet is one of the largest retailers for computers and is at your fingertips so put it to good use. Let your fingers do the walking and the shopping!

 Another excellent place to look for deals on computers is to check the flyers that get sent to you in the mail or in the newspapers. Some stores such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart frequently offer deals on desktops. If you peruse the flyers often enough then the deals can be yours!  

Word of mouth is another way to find deals. If you know anyone who has recently purchased a computer then find out where they bought it from. This is a way to discover retailers that you may not be presently acquainted with. This is also a way to find places that repair computers if you were ever to need such a service.

To save money on a desktop computer you need to do your homework first. Know what you want, know when to look and where to look. If you happen to know someone who works with computers or works in a computer store then you may be able to get some inside information on upcoming deals and specials!   

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Should You Buy a Cheap Desktop Computer or Should You Upgrade Instead?

Is your computer on its last legs? Would you like to get a new one but cannot afford it right now?

If you need to do something about your computer right away and buying a brand new top of the line computer is out of the question then you are left with two choices- you can either purchase a cheap desktop computer or you can upgrade the computer you already have.

Just wait a minute though!

Before you decide to get rid of your current computer you might want to take another look. You should realize that the average desktop has a lifespan that ranges anywhere from two to five years. How long a computer lasts has to do with a variety of factors including the type of system it is, modifications to the software that have been done and advances in terms of hardware components.

As time passes and your computer ages, you will notice that it works at a slower speed than it used to and the storage space for files has decreased. You may also discover that the latest software will not work on your computer. Before you decide to turn your computer in for a cheaper model you might want to clean up your computer software. If that still does not do the trick then another route you could take is an upgrade.

Upgrade or Replace?

In order to decide whether you should upgrade or replace your PC consider the costs involved with each. An upgrade is a good idea if it would cost you half the price of buying a new system.  Of course bear in mind that an upgrade will not last as long as if you replaced the system all together. You need to decide what is best for your particular situation.

If you decide to upgrade your desktop then the easiest thing to upgrade is the memory. It is also the most cost effective to do and as such is the first thing that most people think of. Keep in mind that the more memory your desktop has, the more information it will be able to process without having to use the virtual memory. In case you are not up on your computer jargon, virtual memory is the memory that the computer has above and beyond the RAM.  In order to keep your computer running efficiently virtual memory is swapped from the hard drive when it is needed.

Only you can decide if replacing your desktop system is worth the money or if upgrading it would be a better investment for you. Do what is best for you and your finances and do not be swayed or pressured by others into doing something else (like splurging on a brand new PC!).   

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