How to Better Manage Your Money
By Nancy Muldoon
• Lose your long distance phone company and get a calling card. They can range from $10-$20 dollars depending how many minutes they have on them. You pay for the card up front so there is no bill later on to worry about. Calling cards are sold in most drug stores and supermarkets.
• Get rid of your cable, now that winter is over you will be spending more time outdoors and paying for movies and programs you are not watching is truly a waste of money. Cable is a want not a necessity.
• Buy groceries in bulk and try to shop only once or twice a month. This cuts down on gas costs and be sure to make a list of everything you need. Stick to the list.
• If where you are going is within walking distance, walk and encourage your children to walk too, childhood obesity isn’t only caused by eating the wrong foods its caused by a lack of exercise. This saves money on gas and encourages healthy attitudes and well being.
• Reduce texting, it isn’t really necessary and it’s a waste of money, take 15 minutes of your day when you are available to really talk to people and call them personally or e-mail them.
• The more efficient the appliance, the cheaper it is to run. Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient ones.
• Make sure windows and doors are sealed, why let the heat or cold escape. Caulking and sealing and weather stripping are inexpensive ways to reduce energy bills and usage.
• Don’t cancel credit cards you don’t use, rather use them as tools to negotiate zero interest for purchases and balance transfers. Every time you apply for a new credit card there is an inquiry on your credit report, you don’t want too many inquiries.
• Car pool, invite your friends over for pot luck dinner, rotate houses. Take turns babysitting kids, one weekend you babysit for a friend, the next weekend they do it for you.
• Shop around for gas prices, use regular unleaded as it is always cheaper, so few cars require anything else.
• Rent movies from the public library, they have a wonderful selection of features, documentaries, and foreign films, ALL FREE!!