Tax Return on Your Visa Prepaid Card

December 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As the year gets ready to come to a close, it’s almost time to start gathering all of your tax documents together for 2012.  This past year has been pretty rough for a lot of people.  I, for one, really hope to get a return this year, but we expect that it will probably be a bit less than in years past.

If you are also expecting a return, the big question on your mind will be, “What am I going to do with it?”  Are you going to take the family for a vacation?  Maybe you could save it for “Back to School” shopping?  How about saving it up for next Christmas?  A couple of years ago, Beth and I used ours to pay for a major landscaping project.

The big problem with having plans for your tax return is that most people deposit their returns directly to their checking accounts.  When this happens, you tend to think of the money as just there to use.  The idea of using it in the future is easy to forget about in the short-term.  Even a deposit into your savings account is easy to take advantage of because of the ease of online account transfers.

Have you ever considered putting your return on a Visa Prepaid Card?  Think about it.  You can deposit the money on the card, put it in a safe or in the back of a desk drawer and, really, just forget about it until it’s time to use it.  You can just go about your monthly budget without having to consider all of the extra.

Imagine how great it would be to have your summer vacation paid for.  When Beth and I used a card for our landscaping project, it actually helped us budget because we knew that we didn’t have any extra after the card was empty.  Plus, because of Visa’s “zero liability” policy, your tax return is completely safe, even if the card is lost or stolen!

Now, here’s the really good news!  To help people get ready for tax season, Visa has created the Know Your Numbers instant win game.  You can play for a chance to win a tablet PC or a $15 Visa Gift card and learn about the importance of knowing your accounting and routing numbers. Also, every game play gives you a shot at winning the grand prize:  a $2,000 Visa Prepaid Gift card! Click Here to check it out!

What do you plan to do with your tax return this year?  Are you going to load it onto a Visa Prepaid Card?

 

I am blogging on behalf of Visa Prepaid and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Discover more at http://www.VisaPrepaid.com or join the Visa Prepaid community at http://www.facebook.com/VisaPrepaid.

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How to cut down what you spending on gas

December 13, 2012 By 6 Comments

In the midst of the recession and with new laws in place to encourage drivers to be more fuel-efficient, we now have more incentive than ever to save fuel. If you are looking for a greener car to replace your gas-guzzler, try finding one online – sites like VCARS.co.uk have used cars for sale.  There is no need to worry however, as being fuel efficient does not necessarily require forking out your hard-earned cash on a new car.

Here are few ways to make your existing car more fuel-efficient:

Use your brake cautiously

While it would be counter-productive and incredibly dangerous to stop using your brake, constant and unnecessary use of the brake wears out your tires more quickly and can increase your car’s petrol consumption by 35%! Get out of the habit of riding on your brake and watch your savings grow.

Change your air filter

Nearly one out of every four cars is running with a dirty air filer. If that’s the case with your car, swapping it out for a new one can improve its gas mileage by as much as 10%.  It is estimated that a quarter of cars in the UK are running with dirty air filters , and consequently this is a prime cause of fuel-inefficiency – the air filter is vital for your car’s smooth operation, and if clogged up will also eventually lead to your bank balance being clogged too.

Check your tires

Around 30% of cars have tires that are under-inflated, leading to both premature and uneven wearing. If your tyres are inflated by the average 3.4kg, then this will lead to 2.8% loss of fuel-efficiency.  Check your tyre pressure fortnightly to save 6 pence per gallon.

Definitely need a replacement?

If you’re on the lookout for a greener car however, why not check out the Series 1 BMW – you can purchase a used BMW from VCARS.co.uk at a great price.

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A Complete Guide to Managing Holiday Debt

December 9, 2012 By 1 Comment

The festive season brings warmth and joy to every family but with it, the risk of accumulating debt increases. Paying for presents, organizing a wonderful celebration and possibly assisting family members during the holidays will leave you worrying about repaying the holiday debt.

This Christmas season, you can introduce some preventive measures and you can also make use of the holiday debt management strategies that will help you recover faster.

Source: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8248709963_2578b83723.jpg

Gift Shopping on a Budget
Starting your gift shopping early enough may actually be a great way to prevent holiday debt from accumulating.

Think about the presents in advance. Create a list of the things that you want to get and the amount of money you can allocate to each purchase.

Waiting for discounts and promotional offers will help you decrease some of the holiday expenditure. This way, you can get high quality products without spending a fortune on them.

Repay Debt as Soon as Possible
If you have already accumulated holiday debt, you will come up with a repayment strategy that will help you deal with it as soon as possible.

Do you find it difficult to repay everything? In such instances, begin with the debt that accumulates the highest amount of interest.

Asking for assistance is always a good idea. A relative may be willing to help you handle all of your debt right now. Repaying that person will be an easier task than having to deal with a financial institution.

Be Careful When Shopping!
In your attempt to deal with holiday debt, you are very likely to go for inexpensive offers. These may look like a bargain in the very beginning but such options can pose hidden dangers.

If you are a fan of online shopping, always go through the terms and conditions page before buying anything. Understanding your customer rights will give you the option to send the product back or to demand a refund, in case you are unhappy with the outcome.

Did you get something that you are unhappy with? Consult a forensic accountant about starting a commercial dispute. Such a professional will help you handle the situation in an efficient manner and get your money back.

Enjoying Christmas with your family does not mean you will have to go into debt. Take some time to do planning and start shopping early enough and you will be happy with the results.

Simply Budgeted benefited from this post written by Jack Williams.

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The Black Friday Money Mindset

November 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

We are excited to bring a guest post to you today from Steve Siebold!

Just after Thanksgiving comes another American tradition: Black Friday. Millions of people will lineup at retail stores all across the country in hopes of scoring some great deals on merchandise, everything from games and toys to jewelry, electronics, clothing and more.

Unfortunately, another tradition, not as exciting for the Black Friday diehards is that of debt.  While most stores advertise huge savings on hot ticket items, most people fail to recognize the “Black Friday Money Trap” they are stepping into. Just how bad is it?  Last year, American’s spent a whopping $52 Billion.

The core of the problem is that middle Class America is notorious for living beyond its means, especially on Black Friday. People are brainwashed about how much money they are supposedly saving on Black Friday, and they end up buying way more than they would any other day during the year.  In fact, Black Friday leads many people to financial devastation.

The statistics back it up: In 2010, the census bureau reported that total credit card debt in the United States was $886 billion. On Black Friday, either the consumer racks up even more credit card debt than they already have, or they pay cash but spend so much that they don’t have enough left to pay their mortgage, car payments and other essentials.

But there’s some good news for all the Black Friday fanatics out there: you can still enjoy your day of shopping without breaking the bank. The key is mental toughness.

Here are some tips to keep your money mindset in check:

  • Ask yourself if you would rather have the short-term satisfaction of expensive material possessions, or the long-term results of financial freedom and abundance?
  • Don’t fall for marketing campaigns that make you feel as if you’re getting a great deal when you’re really not (i.e. buy it today – pay for it tomorrow)
  • Allocate a certain amount of money for each person you plan on buying gifts for and don’t overspend by even a dollar.
  • Define your budget prior to Black Friday. Know how much money you need to pay your living expenses for the month, how much you need to put into savings, and figure out a comfortable amount you have leftover that’s just there and can be used for shopping at the holidays.
  • Don’t even think of using a credit card unless you are 100% sure you can comfortably pay it off at the end of the month.
  • Don’t get caught up in the moment.  If your shopping cart is overflowing, step back, regroup and make sure you can really afford everything you plan to purchase.
  • Kids learn by example.  Even parents who have failed to reach their financial dreams can still teach their kids important lessons about money during the holiday season.
  • There’s no shame in telling people that this year will be a lean holiday season when it comes to exchanging gifts.
  • There are good deals to be had on Black Friday, but be mentally tough to know when enough is enough.

The bottom line when it comes to money on Black Friday: put your emotions on the shelf and let reason be your guide. By all means go out and enjoy getting those doorbuster deals, but be smart and mentally tough about it, and don’t spend more money than you have.

Steve Siebold is author of the book How Rich People Think, which hit # 31 on Amazon.com this year.  He spent the last 30 years interviewing some of the world’s richest people to get inside their heads to see how they really think about money.  He discovered 100 differences in thinking between the middle class and wealthy that are extreme.  For more information and to download five free chapters, visit www.howrichpeoplethinkbook.com

 

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Black Friday Coupons for Online Shopping

November 9, 2012 By 2 Comments

With a busy shopping season coming up, it’s a good time to start thinking about how you are going to save money.  Cyber Monday has been getting lots of publicity over the past couple of years, but did you know that you can get great online discounts on Black Friday, too?  With three kids in tow, we just can’t wait in the ridiculously long lines and fight the crazy crowds.

Same Items, No Lines

Who wants to get up with the chickens to wait in the freezing cold to maybe get something if it’s still there?  Many of the major stores will sell items online that you can pick up in the store.  Last year, Beth got me a table saw on Black Friday by buying it online and having it shipped to the local store for pick up.  We saved the same money that we would have by standing in line, but we avoided all of the craziness.

Combining Black Friday Sales with Coupon Codes

Often you can find great deals online and pair them with great coupon codes for discounts or even free shipping.  Sometimes the shipping costs can be just as much, if not more, than the discount merchandise.  My sister-in-law loves clothes, so sometimes it’s worth considering whether we should be looking at better deals from American Eagle or using coupon codes for Aeropostale.

Do you wait in line or shop online on Black Friday?  Do you love the thrill of the hunt or would you rather avoid the crowd?  Leave us a comment and let us know.

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Scott Shared Values Consumer Rewards Campaign

October 24, 2012 By 1 Comment

Are you still looking for a few new ways to save on your budget? One of the tips we go back to often is Reward programs and coupons. It is amazing how much I can save with coupons from the Sunday newspaper or how much using a reward program can save me on our overall budget. We are excited to introduce the Scott Shared Values Consumer Rewards program to you and hope that you see the benefit of joining too!

Why did we decide to sign up for the Scott Shared Values Consumer Rewards program?

We are always looking for easy ways to save in our budget. Some times those easy ways are reward programs that offer coupons. We are excited to find the Scott Shared Values Consumer Rewards program so we can save on products we already buy!

One of our favorite SCOTT products is the napkins. Did you know that all SCOTT Naturals™ Napkins are plain white and contain a sensible blend of 80% recycled fiber?We haven’t tried the SCOTT Flushable Wipes though yet. I was thrilled to learn that SCOTT™ Flushable Wipes do not contain alcohol, oils, soaps or anti-bacterial agents and are safe for septic systems which we have! Plus SCOTT™ Flushable Wipes participate in Box Tops For Education program.

Why sign up?

  • The program offers unique deals and rewards to members.
  • Signing up is free and takes only a minute.
  • Those with military mailing addresses in the U.S. can sign up for SCOTT® Shared Value!
  • When you sign up you’ll receive a coupon for immediate savings!
  • If you share the values with others, YOU will have access to a $1.25 coupon.

Some example rewards are $5 in Amazon MP3 credit, three Blockbuster Total Access rentals by mail, or even a Free 10-day Fitness Pass to Anytime Fitness.

Sign Up HERE:

Check out the overview of the Scott program to learn more!

NOTE: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Scott. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating and am able to earn additional rewards throughout the campaign.

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Budget Friendly Errand Trip Lunch

October 20, 2012 By 1 Comment

Brian is working today but I had a list of errands to do. By the time we were ready to leave after the kids cleaned up from their morning play time, I realized we would be out during lunch time instead home right at lunch time like I planned. I did not want to spend $20-30 on lunch for the four of us. I had leftovers in the fridge we were supposed to have for lunch. So in an instant of brilliance, I packed a lunch in a cooler. I put Capri Suns, apples, crackers, ham, and packages of cookies in a cooler with some napkins and dessert plates. Off we went to our errands with our lunch packed in the van but no place to eat it. After our second stop that took way too long, the kids were starving. I was still trying to figure out where there was grass for a blanket or picnic tables near where we were. Then I remembered the Elementary School across the street from where we were. So we went over there and parked and ate in the grassy area under the tree.

The kids loved talking about fall, the leaves, the school … we just talked. Normally, if we are out to lunch they are bored so it was wonderful to have that conversation with them. The weather today was perfect for an errand picnic too!

Have you ever packed a lunch when running errands? What is your favorite budget saver idea? Leave me a comment and let me know!

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Organizing your family finances: stress-free ways

October 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Money problems is the number one factor leading to divorce in the United States, so finding ways to handle the family finances together, and to do so successfully and with as little stress as possible, is very important.

Tips for organizing family finances

One of the most important methods to organize family finances is to work out a monthly budget for the household. This budget should include the rent or mortgage payment, all utilities and any other living expenses that are regularly incurred during the course of an average month. It is also advisable to add a little extra to the total to allow for possible emergencies.

Household bills should be paid as quickly as possible after receipt and preferably should be settled on a weekly basis. Online bill paying is a stress-relieving option, saving both time and paperwork, as well as ensuring that the payments are processed and registered quickly.

The family should set agreed financial rules for the household, such as only using credit cards in an emergency situation. Agreeing to them jointly ensures that everyone understands them and is able to adhere to them; it also makes sticking to them easier for the entire family.

Saving money should be a priority every month.  As soon as money comes in, a portion should be taken off the top and saved, ideally 10 percent of income. Taking 10 percent and putting it aside for the future helps the entire family’s stress level to go down as, over a period of months, they steadily build financial security.

One of the greatest stresses to families or anyone for that matter is trying to live within their means. This is particularly difficult for households with two incomes, since the temptation to live off both paychecks is so great. Living within the limits of a single income, even if a supplemental or second income is available, will ensure that extra funds are always available, whether for emergencies, extra charitable giving or to be added to the family savings.

For many families, utilizing the expertise and assistance of financial experts and programs may be necessary to keep family finances organized and stable. Just as small businesses may employ the services of umbrella companies in order to manage aspects of accounting procedures that they cannot, families may choose to seek the services of accountants and brokers to assist them in understanding and handling their household financial issues. For example, a family may seek the guidance of an accountant or broker to help them plan for their children’s future education or to create nest-egg accounts for them.

Using any of a variety of financial management software programs may also significantly reduce the stress of handling basic household financial management. These programs make calculations based on the information entered into their databases, providing a current and accurate total of incoming and outgoing money. They are designed to log receipts and paycheck stubs, as well as calculate tax payments and store reminders for weekly, monthly and yearly bills and tax payments, as they become due.

 

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Five ways to budget for that once-in-a-lifetime holiday

October 9, 2012 By 1 Comment

Going on holiday can be extremely expensive – but we’ve got some brilliant budgeting tips so you can make your once-in-a-lifetime trip happen. Perhaps you’d like to book a holiday to Africa with Mahlatini.com, or fancy exploring Asia or traveling across Europe. No matter where in the world you dream of visiting, read the following advice to enable you to afford your break away.

Set a budget – and stick to it

The first task you need to do in the planning stage of every holiday is to make a budget containing all the likely outgoings, which should include everything from airport car parking to spending money, accommodation to travel insurance and flights to day trips out. The earlier you start planning, the easier it should be to get the money together.

Open a special ‘holiday’ bank account

It’s important to ring fence any money saved to make sure it doesn’t simply get spent as a living cost. Having a separate bank account especially for holiday funds should motivate you more when you see the balance gradually going up as your trip away gets closer.

Get the kids involved in being thrifty

If you’ve got children then it’ll be easier to save if you explain to them what you’re doing and why you’re doing it – ultimately to give them a holiday they’ll remember for years. Then find ways to keep them occupied in the meantime that won’t break the bank. For instance, avoid theme parks and other expensive attractions and find alternative forms of entertainment.

Start saving straight away

Affording to go on holiday will probably mean changing your lifestyle in order to be able to put enough money aside. This could mean cutting down on luxuries such as nights out with friends and buying expensive food during the weekly shop, so be sure to bargain hunt every time you go shopping to make your money stretch that little bit further.

Boost your short-term income

A determination to make your dream holiday a reality could mean you have to put in some additional hours at work or get a second job to boost your income. Another way to improve your finances in the short term could be to make money out of your unwanted possessions, which is where sites like eBay may prove lucrative.

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Finding Good Value by Eating at Home

September 30, 2012 By 3 Comments

Have you ever thought about what kind of value you get when you eat?  How often do you take your family out to eat only to get stuck with a $50 bill for something that you know that you could have made for $15?  I’m not talking about fine dining, here.  I’m talking about just going to get an appetizer, a salad, and a pizza at the local Italian place or heading out to get a steak dinner.  Even hitting up fast food restaurants can set your family back $30 without blinking an eye.

Every family needs to prioritize how it spends it’s money.  In our family, we look for those “good value for money” moments.  Some items are not worth spending your money on.  We would rather spend a little more money on a great steak that we cook at home than spend triple that on a mediocre steak at a restaurant.  Even finding coupons for large bags of chicken nuggets and french fries can save you bundles over buying kids meals at a fast food restaurant.

Other things are worth spending some money on.  Beth is allergic to certain types of seafood.  It is not worth the expense or effort of cooking a lot of seafood when I am the only one eating it.  In these cases, it is well worth it to have a special night out.

So when you look to find value for your food money, think about trying to plan your meals ahead of time.  Too often, we choose to eat out due to a lack of available options.  If you know your busy nights in advance, you can plan meals that are easy to prepare or that can be prepared days before or even in the slow cooker.  You can save the harder to prepare dishes for the nights when you have more time.  Most importantly, having a plan for eating at home can save you loads of money that you can use to really enjoy those special occasions.

What are your “good value for money” moments?  Leave us a comment and let us know.

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