I have a birthday coming up, so this article immediately caught my eye. I’m always on the lookout for free or discounted stuff! The article on Yahoo! Finance provided a list of restaurants and other places to get freebies on your special day.

Denny’s

For kids 10 and under they can get a birthday card for a free kid’s meal and sundae. They must be enrolled in the Denny’s Birthday Club and accompanied by an adult who pays for a regular entree.

Red Robin

Get a free birthday burger and gift when you sign up for the restaurant’s eClub. You have to fill out a survey when you sign up. There is no age limit.

Firehouse Subs

Go and grab your favorite sandwich when you add yourself to the Firehouse Subs mailing list. You’ll get a certificate for a free sub during your birthday month.

Black Angus

If you’re in the mood for a great steak, a free steak dinner awaits you. You can redeem it two weeks before and up to two weeks after  your birthday at any U.S. Black Angus or Cattle Company Steakhouse restaurants.

Coldstone Creamery/Baskin Robbins

As the weather warms up I’m definitely in the mood for some ice cream. Get the “sweetest birthday possible” from Coldstone Creamery by just creating an account on the company’s website and get a free sweet treat. Baskin Robbins also offers a free 2.5 ounce scoop of ice cream and discounts on ice cream cakes. You also have to create an account on their website.

Bob Evans

Boys and girls can get a free kid’s meal on their birthday. Parents have to sign up for the birthday club. You can get mac and cheese, chicken strips and mini cheeseburgers and some other yummy dishes. It’s for kids under 12.

Taco Time

Get a kid’s meal that includes a taco, burrito or quesadilla plus fries, a small drink and Crustos or a toy. This is also for kids 12 and under.

Olan Mills

Track your child’s growth with professional studio pictures on their birthdays. Get photos of your babies up to age 3 with one 8 by 10, one 5 by 7 and four wallet sized photos. All for free! You can also get 20 percent off additional portraits.

Toys “R” Us

Have a celebration with your kids on their birthday at this major retailer. Your child can get a balloon, crown, gift and a birthday announcement to the store. This offer is for kids 10 and younger.

The Bible teaches us many things about money. We have a pastor of financial planning at our church in South Carolina and his business continues to grow as he travels around the country teaching others how to handle their finances in a Biblical manner. The Sun Sentinel in Florida recently wrote an article about the increase in Christian-debt elimination programs.

Seminars are now being offered at churches throughout the U.S., according to the article. Our financial pastor, Joe Sangl, is traveling to churches in areas such as Missouri, Florida, Kentucky and many others sharing his Financial Learning Experience. In South Florida, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University has been very popular. There are 4,000 churches that have started offering the classes throughout the country.

A spokeswoman for Ramsey said the average family pays off $5,300 in debt after taking the class. And they save $2,700 within three months. With the recession it seems people are definitely finding these classes appealing.

According to Crown Financial Ministries, the Bible offers more than 2,000 verses related to money. Sangl and Ramsey both discuss Bible verses in their classes. Sangl’s class schedule: New Life Center in Bridgeton, MO March 6 and 7. New Spring Church in Greenville, SC March 11, Cowee Baptist Church in Franklin, NC March 14 and Main Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, KY March 20-21. Check out Ramsey’s website and you can type in your zip code to find a class near you. You can also attend online.

Here are some websites that I found that might be helpful as you follow a Biblical-based financial plan:

Christian Financial Planner

Biblical Stewardship

Crown Financial Ministries

Christian Money

The CBS Early Show recently featured the CEO of Billshrink who discussed the many things that we tend to pay way too much for.

Non Bank ATM Fees

You can pay an average of about $3.50 every time you have to use an out-of-network ATM, says Peter Pham, with Billshrink. According to Bankrate, Americans pay more than $4 billion in ATM fees per year. Pham offers this tip: take some time to search for a bank with a good ATM policy.

Credit Card Late Fees/Overdraft Fees

All of these fees can really add up, says Pham. Consider a card with an annual fee. A fee could save you thousands in interest rates. Also, try to cut back on the amount of cards that you have. Consolidate your debt into one or two cards, says the article. Watch out for “processing fees” as well.

Car Maintenance at the Dealership

I learned my lesson when I was young and didn’t know any better and continued to take my car to the dealership. Now, I ask around and find a reputable locally-owned garage. Almost $9,500 is the average amount spent by Americans to maintain their car each year. Those repairs can often be done by a local shop. And you’re helping out your fellow neighbor. Negotiating a job is also easier when you are at a mom-and-pop shop. Another tip from Pham: check out a local community college and see if they have an automotive technical program.

Pseudo Health Products

Watch out for fad health foods. Check the ingredients. They may not really be as healthy as you think and are often more expensive. Think about making some of your own healthy snacks, suggests Pham.

Cell Phone Plans

According to the article, 80 percent of us overpay on our plans. The biggest reason is people don’t really know how much they use texting, voice minutes and data. Many more people are getting family plans to help. Sit down and go through your cell phone bill. Look into a family plan, look at who you call the most and see which carrier they are with. Take advantage of the free phones they often offer with contracts and get rid of those services you really don’t use, says the article.

The average credit card rate in the U.S. is almost 16 percent, according to a recent article in Good Housekeeping. There’s a new act out there, the CARD Act, that gives credit card holders protection from unfair practices. The CARD Act stands for Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure. This act will help you save.

No more retroactive rate increases. Now changes to your interest rate won’t affect previous purchases, says the article. Credit card companies can only increase your rate on new purchases. Here’s an example: if you’re paying the minimum due on $5,000 at an old rate of 10 percent instead of the higher one at 15 percent, you can save $541 in interest charges.

You now have options for over-limit buys. You can choose to let the purchases go through and pay a fee or the transactions will be declined. Before the act was put into place, you would just find out about the fee when your bill arrived.

Pricier balances get paid first. If you pay more than your minimum that is due, the rest goes toward the portion of your balance with the highest interest rate, according to the article.

Get used to more generous deadlines. Now, under the new act, any payment arriving by 5 p.m. on the due date is on time! Issuers also have to mail statements 21 days before the due date.

Say good-bye to universal-default clauses. Credit card companies can no longer increase your rate because of a late payment on say, your electric bill. If you have questions or concerns, call the card’s customer service number.

One of my favorite places to go and get financial advice is Joe Sangl’s web site. He is the Pastor of Financial Planning at my church and travels around the country teaching seminars on money.

He recently wrote about maximizing your tax refund and I wanted to share it with you.

Before You Spend It, Plan It

We all start dreaming about how we’ll spend our new wad of cash that we receive over the next few months. Some say they’ll take a vacation, make home improvements, pay student loans, etc. Joe suggests that before you spend your refund, plan it out first.

Fill Your Emergency Buffer Fund

You need at least $1,000 for your Emergency Buffer Fund, says Joe. If you have a house or children, you really need $2,500. Use your refund and fill it up!

Fund Your Known, Upcoming Non-Monthly Expenses

These non-monthly expenses include: Christmas, vacations, taxes, insurance premiums, health club membership fees or homeowner’s association dues. If you haven’t saved for these already, when they show up it can really throw you for a loop.

Eliminate Debt

First, make sure you take care of the two items above and then you can work on paying off your debt!

Fulfill Some Dreams

If you already have an emergency fund, you have saved for non-monthly expenses and are debt-free, you can use your refund for your dreams, says Joe. Give to others, invest in an IRA and/or treat yourself to something fabulous. Just make sure you get a great deal.

Should You Even Receive A Refund?

If you can abide by your budget every month, you could consider increasing your W-4 exemptions so you come close to breaking even at tax time, he suggests. But if you haven’t proven to yourself that you can follow a budget, Joe recommends leaving your exemptions alone. Focus on money management first.

In today’s tough economy it can be difficult to put away some cash and keep it there. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the personal saving rate in December was 4.8 percent, up from 4.5 percent in November. The personal saving rate is calculated by subtracting what Americans spend from what they make. A recent article in Florida Today newspaper discussed the importance of saving.

Motivation:

Emergencies are one of the most important reasons to save some cash. The next reason should be retirement and then saving up for something you really want like a new car or television. Here’s a rule of thumb: have enough money to live on for six to 12 months. And it’s important to consistently put money into it, says the article.

Teaching Kids:

I remember getting my first piggy bank and I was so excited when I was able to drop a few dimes or quarters into it. Encouraging our kids to start saving early is important for their future. Here’s a tip: teach them to divide any money they earn or get into two piles. put half in the bank and keep the other half or spend it. Also, teaching kids how credit cards work is important as well. According to a 2008 Sally-Mae credit card study, college seniors graduated with an average of more than $4,100 in credit card debt.

Stick to a Plan:

Keep to a budget no matter how difficult things may seem. Continue contributing to your 401(k) and continue stashing away some cash. When it comes to retirement, start saving NOW, says the article. First, you can analyze your spending and expenses. Try cutting back and look for free entertainment or cook more at home. One thing my husband and I do is keep loose change in jars. When they fill up, you can take them to the bank.

Easy Ways to Save:

$15: Amount you can save each month if you stash 50 cents a day in loose change.

$6: You can save this amount per month if you cut back on soda by 1 liter per week.

$40: Monthly amount you can save if you switch from cappuccino to regular coffee.

$25: Your monthly savings if you pa your credit card bill on time.

Check out America Saves for some more tips and help.

Suze Orman has talked about tracking spending, looking at your credit, shopping for insurance deals, finding a credit union and challenging our property-tax assessment in her article in O, The Oprah Magazine this month. Now, her final topic is saving and being prepared for the future.

Build Security

1. Boost your emergency fund to cover eight months of living expenses. Hopefully you are saving a bit of money here and there. Now you need to have at least eight months’ worth of living expenses, says the article. Check out myfdicinsurance for information on banks and ncua for credit unions. Make sure you have your money in a place that is federally insured.

2. Get the maximum 401 (k) match at your job. Call your human resources department or the company that is in charge of the plan. Increase your contribution so you qualify for the max match, says Orman.

3. Roll over 401(k)s from former employers into an IRA. I made the mistake of not taking this advice and was left with quite a bit less money in my pocket. When you leave a job, you can roll it over to a brokerage or fund firm. Roll it all over into an IRA. Pick a discount brokerage or no-load mutual fund company.

4. Fund a Roth IRA. In 2010 the maximum is $5,000 ($6,000 if you’re 50 or older) for individuals with modified adjusted gross income below $105,000 and married couples filing a joint return with MAGI below $167,000. Find out if there is a program that lets you invest small monthly sums of $50.

5. Leave your retirement funds alone. If you’re dipping into your retirement money to help pay bills now, when it runs out then what will you do? You still have money problems and then your retirement is gone. Go to moneychimp and click on the calculator tab. Under “current principal” enter the value of your 401(k). Orman says leave “annual addition” blank. For “years to grow” enter the difference between your age and 65. For “interest rate” use 5 percent. Look at the future value. The difference between that and the current value is what you’d be giving up by cashing it out, says the article.

6. Convert to a Roth IRA. Since the beginning of this year, anyone can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Money in a Roth can be withdrawn for retirement with no taxes. If you take money out of a traditional one, you will be taxed. Orman says if you have deductible and non deductible traditional IRAs, ask a CPA to determine your tax liability.

To ask Suze Orman a question, you can go to Oprah Magazine’s website.

Suze Orman continues to give money advice in O, The Oprah Magazine this month. Her list “guaranteed to be ridiculously easy to implement” has several bits of advice. The first was track your spending, calculate your net worth and check your credit.

Find Hidden Savings

1. Shop for insurance deals. We’re always shopping around looking for great bargains, right? So, do the same for auto and home insurance. Just don’t reduce your level of coverage. These websites insweb and netquote can help you find quotes from different insurers.

2. Raise your insurance deductibles. If you raise your auto and home deductibles to $1,000, your premium cost falls 10 percent or more. Low deductibles can cause you to make claims for small-ticket items. There is also a nice payoff for a higher deductible, says the article. Just go ahead and call your insurer and ask for a new quote based on a higher deductible.

3. Check out a credit union. I don’t use a credit union, but I’ve heard great things about them. Sometimes you can get a better deal with a credit union. They also tend to pay higher yields on deposits. Findacreditunion can help you track down the best one. Make sure you look for one that is part of the federal insurance program run by the National Credit Union Administration.

4. Challenge your property-tax assessment. Orman says home values are down an average of 30 percent since the 2006 peak. If your assessment doesn’t reflect that, you might be overpaying. Call up your county tax assessor to find out more. The National Taxpayers Union also has a book on the topic.

Less than 25 percent of women feel they are “very well prepared” to handle their finances. World-renowned financial author Suze Orman gave her advice to women in a recent issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.

Get A Grip

1. Start tracking your spending. We usually pay close attention to the big-ticket items, but we often ignore the little things that begin to add up before you know it. All you have to do is get all of your credit card and bank statements. Suze Orman offers Suze’s Expense Sheet. You input your average monthly expenses and see where your money is going.

2. Calculate your net worth. This is important because we often forget about our debts. You have to pay attention to the big picture, says the article. Go to a search engine and type “net worth calculator.” There are lots of free tools out there on the Internet.

3. Check your credit profile. Your credit score can affect so many things, such as interest rates and insurance in some cases. Check out Annual Credit Report to get a free credit report. You can get one free report each year.

4. Cut spending by 10 percent.  According to Orman, the median pay raise for this year is expected to be around 3 percent. So, take a look at your spending and try to cut it by 10 percent.

Turns out the answer is yes! As I was writing about paying taxes I was curious about what the Bible says about the topic. I wanted to share an article written by Mary Fairchild who writes a Christianity Blog.

In Matthew 17:24-27 it shows that Jesus did pay taxes. “From whom do the Kings of the earth collect duty and taxes – from their own sons or from others?” asked Jesus. And Peter answered “from others.”

“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Fairchild also explains that Matthew, Mark and Luke tell of another account. In Matthew 22: 15-22 it talks about the Pharisees trying to trap Jesus in his words. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Then Jesus pointed out that it is Caesar’s head that is on the coin. He said “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

According to Fairchild, the gospels show that Jesus taught others to give the government any taxes that are owed.

In Romans 13:1 it says “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Fairchild points out that this verse shows that if we don’t pay taxes, we are rebelling against the authorities that were established by God.

Finally, in Romans 13: 5-7 Paul makes it pretty clear. “Therefore it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are also God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

It’s that time of year again… tax season. April will be here soon and there are so many deductions and things you need to be aware of, so you don’t pay more than you have to. Wallet Pop has put together a list of the top ten most overlooked deductions.

1. Mileage Deductions

My husband and I were just discussing this the other night. As a freelance writer I have tried to keep track of the mileage I’ve put on my car driving around to different assignments. What I didn’t know is you can also deduct mileage for medical care. If you have to make frequent medical trips for physical therapy, blood work etc., this applies to you. For 2009 the medical mileage deduction is 24 cents per mile. Do you volunteer regularly for a charity? Well, you can also take a deduction for those miles. This rate is 14 cents per mile.

2. Tax Deduction Even If You Don’t Itemize

A new law was passed in 2008 and it lets you increase your standard deduction by the amount of real property tax you could have claimed if you did itemize and that’s up to $500.

3. New Vehicles

If you purchased a car between Feb. 17 and Dec. 31 of last year, you are able to deduct the sales and excise taxes that you paid. That’s up to a maximum price of $49,500.

4. State Tax Deduction

If you paid state income taxes in the spring, don’t forget to count it towards your 2009 state income tax deduction.

5. “Going Green”

You can get a tax credit for up to 30 percent of your cost for an energy efficient heating and cooling system. Any improvements that you made to your home to help save energy can also get you a tax credit up to $1,500.

6. Selling Your Home

My husband and I were finally able to sell our home in Florida in late 2009. I didn’t realize that if you sold a home last year, you can get some tax deductions. You can deduct the money that you had to pay, such as closing costs and the commission to your agent.

7. Deductions for Homeowners

Are you paying private mortgage insurance? If so, that expense is deductible. This applies if you took out a first mortgage or refinanced after Jan. 1, 2007.

8. Deductions for Investors

Write off any investment publications that you subscribe to. You can also deduct expenses such as financial advisor fees, mileage and safety deposit boxes.

9. Those Who Are Unemployed

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act made the first $2,400 you receive in unemployment benefits tax free. You also might be able to deduct your job search expenses like resume preparation, phone calls, travel and employment agency fees.

10. Working Parents

Paying for childcare is expensive and if this is you, you can reduce your taxes up to $3,000 for one child and up to $6,000 for two or more! The tax credit depends on your gross income. If you make $43,000, you can claim a 20 percent credit on your costs, says Wallet Pop.

I’m always looking for a good book. I’ve been fortunate because my church often hands out books to its members to help them with their Christian journey and that includes financial help. Here are some Christian-based books that might come in handy when you’re taking a look at your personal finances.

“I Was Broke, Now I’m Not” by Joe Sangl: This is a quick read and very helpful. My small group at church read this book together. If you’re tired of living paycheck to paycheck and tired of being broke, check out this book.

“The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness” by Dave Ramsey: Take a look at seven easy-to-follow steps that will lead you out of debt.

“The Sound Mind Investing Handbook – A Step-By-Step Guide To Managing Your Money From a Biblical Perspective” by Austin Pryor: Pick this one up and learn how to put Godly principles of finance in motion.

“Financial Parenting: Showing Your Kids that Money Matters” by Larry Burkett and Rick Osborne: Teach your kids the Biblical principles of handling money.

Here are some books that aren’t Christian-based, but may also help you to focus on your finances.

“Money 911″ by Jean Chatzky: This book can rescue you from more than 100 money emergencies.

“Shoo, Jimmy Choo!” by Catey Hill: This one is a guide to spending less money and written by someone who used to splurge.

“Save Big” by Elisabeth Leamy: Find out how to save thousands on your biggest expenses.

“Making The Most of Your Money Now” by Jane Bryant Quinn: With more than 1,000 pages, this book talks about so many topics from auto insurance to zer0-coupon bonds.

“Shoptimism: Why the American Consumer Will Keep on Buying No Matter What” by Lee Eisenberg: Read up on what drives people to keep spending money.

“Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties” by Beth Kobliner: Give this one as a graduation or wedding gift and help those just getting started to learn more about finances.

“Spend ’til The End” by Laurence Kotlikoff: Are you thinking about retiring? Pick this one up to learn about stretching your retirement savings.

As we all have Haiti and making donations on our minds, I came across some websites that help you give back to a variety of charities. And all you have to do is log onto the Internet or use your iPhone.

Good Search

First, enter a charity or school that you wish to help out. Then start surfing the web. The search engine is powered by Yahoo! so you get great search results. Fifty percent of the revenue generated from advertisers is shared with the charity or school of your choice. There is also a Good Search shopping mall. When you click on one of their partner merchants and make a purchase,  the charity you chose earns money. It’s that simple. The shop includes stores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Staples.

Free Rice

This is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. Its goals are to provide education for free and help end world hunger. Now all you have to do is play a vocabulary game. Answer some questions and for each correct answer, ten grains of rice is donated. Since it began in October 2007, the organization has donated more than 73 billion grains of rice.

Free Kibble and Free Kibble Kat

This one is similar to Free Rice, but for those with a heart for animals. This site gives food to dogs and cats in shelters when you correctly answer trivia questions. For each right answer, ten pieces of Kibble are donated. Free Kibble has 14 shelters across the country. Since it began in April 2008, more than 215 million pieces have been donated.

If you have an iPhone, there is a cool application that also helps you donate to charities.  As you go around town, you “check in” with the shops or restaurants and earn Karma points. It’s called Cause World. When you click the donate button, you can choose from a variety of causes to help out. You can even donate your Karma points to help those in Haiti.

So do some Web surfing, use your iPhone and play some games to help others!

Continue reading »

I wanted to continue to share information from Real Simple magazine on how to save on food, health care, entertainment, the home, transportation and apparel. Let’s look at some tips on saving on transportation.

According to the article, driving from place to place costs about $8,604 annually. Check out these ideas to help you save.

Be a Zen driver.

If you are an aggressive driver, you are using up tons more gas. Having a little road rage can guzzle up to 33 percent more gas on the highway and 5 percent more driving around town, says the U.S. Department of Energy. Here’s some interesting advice offered by AAA: pretend there is an egg under the gas pedal and make sure you don’t break it.

Take the quickest route.

Pay attention to the path to your destination. Does it have more traffic or more stop signs and lights. Traveling three miles with lots of stops versus four or five miles on empty roads can make a difference.

Ignore the tire manufacturer.

When adding air to your tires, fill them according to the pressure printed on the sticker on the driver’s side door. You can get 3 percent better fuel efficiency.

Get a checkup.

Make sure you do regular tune-ups on your car. The U.S. Department of Energy says it can boost your gas mileage by 4 percent.

Evaluate your insurance.

Check out Kelly Blue Book to take a look at our car’s current value. If it has a low resale value, you might want to get rid of collision coverage. Take your comprehensive and collision premium and multiply that figure by 10. If your car is worth less than that, get rid of the coverage.

Use two wheels instead of four.

You can save up to $240 per year by using a bike. Those who ride bikes to work three days a week can get a tax break of $20 each month from participating employers to cover equipment costs and storage, says the article.

According to Real Simple magazine, housing costs an average of #17,109 per year. The magazine has offered up some advice this month on saving around the home.

Ways to cut your mortgage or rent:

Appeal your tax bill, says the article. You might be paying way too much in property taxes. Grab a copy of your home’s assessment and compare it with assessments on similar homes in your area. Believe it or not, 75 percent of appeals often result in a reduction of taxes.

Look into refinancing. Interest rates continue to be at historic lows for home loans. Check out the calculator at Bank Rate. It can help you figure out how much you can reduce your payments by locking in a lower interest rate. It will also tell you how long it will take you to recoup the cost of refinancing your home.

Renegotiate your rent. Log onto Rentometer to see if you might be paying way too much for your area. Then go and discuss it with your landlord. It never hurts to try.

Reduce your payments. You might be eligible for a Home Affordable Refinance or Modification if home values have dropped in your area or if you’re having trouble making payments. The federal program allows home owners to refinance at a lower rate or modify their loans. Check out Making Home Affordable for more information.

Ways to cut your home owner’s insurance:

Install safety devices. You can often get discounts of about 5 percent from insurers if you add smoke alarms and dead bolts to your home. Make a call to your provider to discuss your options.

Boost your deductible. You can save up to 25 percent on insurance costs each year by increasing it from $200 to $1,000. Real Simple says the average person files a claim once every 8 to 10 years, so you’re better off putting the amount of your deductible in an interest-bearing savings account.

A few others ideas for saving around the home include auditing your bills. The average cell phone user can save up to $331 per year if they would shop around for a better plan, according to a recent study. Go to Bill Shrink or Lower My Bills to compare cell phone plans. Also, don’t forget to look at your cable bills. There might be some services you can really do without like those premium movie channels.

Families spend $2,835 per year on recreation. Real Simple recently had an article about saving money in many areas including entertainment.

When it comes to electronics, you can save some money by purchasing refurbished iPods and computers from Apple. Click on “store” and find pre-owned stuff that have the same warranty as the new ones.

Another idea is to surf the Internet for cheap tickets for concerts, shows and sports events. Check out Zebra Tickets. This site puts together prices from major ticket retailers to find you the best deal, according to Real Simple. Zebra Tickets can also alert you when tickets dip to a lower amount you can afford.

Now is a great time to take a ski trip as the winter weather continues to hit the U.S. hard. Liftopia is a great site that offers an average 33 percent discount at more than 120 ski resorts.

Many of us love to watch movies, but have you thought about swapping? Sites such as Title Trader and Swap Tree allow you to exchange DVDs, CDs and even books with other people. Good Reads is also available to help you get reading updates from friends. Then you can ask them to borrow those books when they are finished.

If you aren’t able to afford heading out to have some fun, consider having a family game night. And when the kids get restless send them to a city park. They often offer free lessons for different sports. Also, keep an eye out for free local events downtown or discounts on admissions to the zoo or other parks.

Real Simple magazine recently published an article discussing ways to save on food, health care, entertainment, the home, transportation and apparel.

The second topic, health care, is an item that you constantly hear about. Medical bills are increasing at an enormous rate costing the average household #2,976 last year, says the article. Here are some tips on saving money in that area.

First, try using a retail clinic. Instead of spending the money at your doctor, an urgent-care center or the emergency room, consider going to a medical clinic at a nearby pharmacy. If it’s not a serious problem, heading to a clinic can save you money. You can save as much as $168 per year if you go that route.

Next, check out Planned Parenthood. If you are in need of a routine Pap test, a birth control prescription or flu shot this is a good option. Just call your local office to see what they offer and the prices. Many of them also accept insurance.

Going to a dental school for checkups can also save you some cash. Most of them have second or third-year students that can do cleanings. They can be up to 50 percent off. Call Oral Health America to find a school by you.

Consider joining a network. If you don’t have dental insurance, you might try a discount dental plan. For $100 to $200 per year, you can get discounts from 10 percent to even 60 percent for treatments. Head to Dental Plans for ore information.

Log onto the Web for eyewear, suggests Real Simple. There are several websites like Vision Direct and Lens for contact lenses. Check out Zennioptical where you can purchase a pair of frames for 8 bucks.

The last bit of advice deals with prescription drugs. To save some money you should start by determining which store has the best prices. Log onto Shopping Destination Rx. Then take a look at online pharmacies. Real Simple performed a recent search and found out these numbers for the medicine Celexa. At a local pharmacy it was $99 for 20 mg. The same amount was $104 at Costco.com, $114 and Drugstore.com and $136 at Familymeds.com.

This month the magazine Real Simple has plans laid out on how to save money on food, healthcare, entertainment, the home, transportation and clothing.

The first area you can focus on is food. The average household spends almost $4,000 on groceries per year, says the article. First, use some coupons. Sign up with Coupon Mom, become a member of eCoupon’s Grocery Coupon Trading Club and check with your local supermarket to see if the will match other store’s discounts.

How can you save up to 50 percent on bread? Head to one of the local outlets for baked goods like Entenmann’s. Go to Gwbakeries for locations.

Stay away from some prepackaged foods. Save $4.50 per pound by purchasing large green apples instead of already sliced apples. Buy a head of romaine lettuce instead of a bag of greens or a regular package of cookies instead of small snack-packs.

Real Simple discusses six other ways to cut grocery bills:

1. Track your food budget. Keep an envelope by the refrigerator and drop in your receipts when you take a trip to the grocery store. Then analyze your spending at the end of each month. See if you can spend no more than $125 per week for a family of four.

2. Cut your meat. You can always cut back on the amount of ground beef that a recipe calls for. It can add up quickly.

3. Buy more fruits and veggies. When these are added into your meals, families save money as well as shed some pounds.

4. Make friends with the store managers. They can tell you when the food will be marked down in price.

5. Stick to your list. Try to avoid impulse buying and save on your grocery bills.

6. Join a food co-op. Check out Coopdirectory to find a co-op near you to become a member of a locally-owned grocery store.

It’s called “Collective Buying Power” – the slogan of Groupon. I just came across this bulk-buying website where you can find daily deals on stuff to do in cities across the United States plus Canada and even London. Get one deal per city, per day in places like Charlotte, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Tampa, San Francisco, Nashville, Pittsburgh and many others.

Here’s how it works: The deal is dependent on a certain number of people for the deal to go through. By promising businesses a certain number of customers, Groupon can get great discounts. Once you subscribe Groupon sends you a daily e-mail with a deal for a local business or event. If you’re interested in the deal, you log onto Groupon’s site and pay with a credit card.

This is also good news for business owners. Get on board and you can get more business as users log on and buy the deal you have offered. You can see exactly how many people bought and redeemed their Groupon. Groupon takes a portion of each one that is sold and since a minimum number of people are required for each deal Groupon guarantees businesses paying customers. It’s also free to be featured on the site.

Here are some deals that Groupon has today:

Atlanta: Get three personal training sessions at Fitness Together for $55 instead of $225. So far seven people have bought it, but 43 more are needed for the deal to go through.

Charlotte: Saffron Indian cuisine is offering $35 worth of food for 15 bucks. So far, 50 people have bought it so the deal is on.

Dallas: Pay $50 for $200 worth of eyewear plus an exam at Vision City Las Colinas. The deal is also on for this one.

Los Angeles: Learn how to tango at Oxygen Tango and pay $25 for four classes. Nobody has purchased yet, so if you’re ready to do some dancing then start buying.

Nashville: You can get some great clothes at Studio 615. Pay $20 for $50 worth of trendy outfits. One more is needed to get the deal.

Seattle: Get a five-day pass to the local boat show for $11. Deal is on if 27 more people purchase it.

According to Smart Money, this is the week to find some great sales at your favorite stores. Here are some retail shops you may want to check out this week. Sales on electronics will be great at Best Buy and Wal-Mart.

Best Buy: You can get an HP TouchSmart all-in-one computer for $799 and $899 through January 2.

Wal-Mart: Through New Year’s Day Wal-Mart is extending its previously announced sales. That includes Blu-Ray movies for under $20, a $50 gift card with the purchase of an XBox 360 and get an eMachine netbook for $228. You can also pick up home holiday items for 50 percent off.

Toys ‘R’ Us: Find Buy One, Get One Half Off sales through Jan. 2. Buy one Leapster software program and get another one free while the purchase of one DVD gets you half off other DVDs. Also save money on LEGO’s Star Wars.

Macy’s: Go to this department store’s website and get some discounts on selected items. For purchases of more than $99 type in the coupon code MERRY and get free shipping.

Bliss: Get 70 percent off on skincare items at Blissworld with its Christmas Blowout Sale that ends Jan. 5 plus get free shipping on items worth more than $25.

Barnes & Noble: With this store’s After Holiday Sale, you can get 50 percent off on some books and calendars. And some are even 90 percent off. DVDs, music and toys are also included. If you are purchasing textbooks through the end of January, you can get 10 free song downloads.

Piperlime: With the Lime Tag Sale, this online shoe and accessories site for Gap brands, you can get up to 40 percent off footwear, accessories and apparel.

ALDO: You have until Jan. 4 to get an extra 30 percent off of sale items online. In-store discounts are only good this weekend.

80’s Purple: This online fashion boutique is offering an extra 20 percent off an entire purchase through Jan. 4. Use the code THANKYOU when you check out.

I am definitely trying to save money at the grocery store, but it can be difficult. Buying on impulse is easy to do, clipping coupons may seem like too much work and comparison shopping takes time. I recently came across an article in AARP Magazine about top ten tips for paying less at the supermarket.

Tip #1: Make Shopping A Job

When you get ready to grab your groceries, think of it as a job. You need to complete it on time and under budget.

Tip #2: Take Stock

Before I take a trip to the store, I try to take a peek in the pantry to see what I already have. According to the article, many people reported that they already had in the pantry, freezer or fridge 15 percent of the foods they bought at the store. Check your stash of food before you go shopping. Plan meals ahead of time and stick to them.

Tip #3: Bring a Calculator

Try to keep a tally of how much you are spending. This will help you save money and start really paying attention to prices.

Tip #4: Start at the Center

Phil Lempert, author of the article, suggests starting your shopping in the middle of the store with the boxes, cans and jars. A lot of the bargains can be found in this area.

Tip #5: Compare Aisles

Each department in the store operates differently. You can sometimes find the same product cheaper in a different location. For example, some cheese may be found on a fancy cheese table, but is often more expensive than what you find in the dairy case. Take a look at the freezer cases. Sometimes frozen items can still be just as good and cheaper. When it comes to ground beef, consider buying frozen in a vacuum-packed “chub.” It can save you 25 percent. Fresh refrigerated pasta is always nice, but dried Italian pasta is usually just as good and a lot cheaper.

Tip #6: Go Back to White Eggs

Brown eggs can cost 50 cents more per dozen than white.

Tip #7: Select “Select” Beef

There are three quality categories for beef. Prime is the highest and most expensive, Choice is the middle grade and Select is the least expensive and least fatty.

Tip #8: Try Store Brands

I used to buy mostly name brand items, but I have found that store brands are often just as good. Store brands can save you 20 to 30 percent.

Tip #9: Customize Your Cereal

Try buying a basic high-fiber store brand and save 20 percent instead of buying an expensive name brand cereal. When you buy the store brand,  you can then add what you want such as fruits, nuts and sweeteners.

Tip #10: Skip Fake Convenience

Take a closer look at what looks like a great idea, but may not save you any money. For example, you can buy oatmeal in single serving packets, but they can be expensive. Try buying oats, add in your cinnamon and other ingredients and you’ll save money. Also, buying pre-washed salads may make more sense than a head of lettuce which can spoil quickly.

Looks like it might prove to be a harsh winter with the recent snow storms on the East Coast and cranking up the heat in the house will definitely be a reality for the next few months. And the federal government is here to help. Almost 8 million households received assistance to heat their homes this fiscal year which is up 33 percent from 2008, says an article in USA Today newspaper.

As the economy continues to struggle, the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association says more and more will be needing assistance with keeping their homes warm. Congress gave $5.1 billion to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. That’s much higher than the $2.6 billion last year.

The federal government is working to step in and assist those in need the same way they help with other needs, such as health care and food. This year, millions of households had their utilities shut off due to non-payment and it’s increased. According to the article,  the average amount given to a home in 2009 covered 48 percent of winter heating bills.

Along with the government, there are others who are helping those who may need some help with bills. As Christians it is our call to help others in need and I know of several churches in my area that assist local people with utilities. Many churches have programs set up to help you pay a late heating, water or electric bill, so you won’t be left without these basic needs. While the government works to help others in need, let’s remember especially at Christmas that people in our community need our help.

As all of us continue to shop for Christmas using our credit cards, we need to be careful when it comes to paying off our cards and keeping our credit score in check. I was listening to the radio when the John Tesh radio show came on and he often discusses finances. The topic of the evening was “Common Myths About Credit Scores.” I thought it would be important to share this time of year. Some of the tips also come from the website Wallet Pop.

Myth #1: My credit score only changes once a year.

There are three credit agencies – Trans-Union, Equifax and Experian. These agencies recalculate your score each time that you apply for a new loan or sign up for a credit card. It’s a good idea to get copies of your credit report from each company once per year.

Myth #2: One missed payment won’t hurt my score.

Paying your bills on time is one of the most important factors in determining your credit score. One late payment and your score decreases.

Myth #3: Checking your score too often will lower it.

I know I’ve heard this one before and wondered if it was true or not. You can actually check your score as often as you like with no problems. Your own credit is considered a “soft inquiry” so it doesn’t affect your history.

Myth #4: Carrying no debt is the best way to boost my score.

According to the banks, they consider higher risk people to be those with no credit cards and no loans. Those who use their credit cards responsibly are seen as positive.

Myth #5: My score will be fine as long as my debt never exceeds 30 percent of my income.

Actually, credit bureaus don’t keep track of your salary. How much you make doesn’t factor into your credit score. They just want you to pay your debt off in time.

What’s the best credit score to have? You want to try and have at least a score of 740 to get the best loans, credit cards and interest rates. Go ahead and shop, but make sure your pay on time when that bill arrives.

Yesterday I opened my mailbox and was very aggravated once again. I continue to receive a magazine that I did not subscribe to and it is one that is somewhat risque. I am a strong Christian and do not want it in my home. This happens every few months and I’m not sure why. Right after receiving it, I found a phone number for the magazine and called them up. They looked at my account (which I shouldn’t have had in the first place) and said I was paid through April 2010. I had never even heard of this magazine until it showed up. The customer service representative was very nice and canceled the subscription, but couldn’t tell me why it was sent to me.

I decided to do some research hoping I could find out how to avoid this from happening again. I found a few words of advice and thought I’d share them with you. The Consumerist has a website and bloggers offered up some words of wisdom. There are a bunch of similar stories on the site of people having the same problem that I am having.

Here are a few ideas that readers shared and seemed to have worked:

When someone continued to receive mail for the previous owners of the house, they printed off “return to sender” labels and put them right back in the mailbox. This also seemed to work for returning magazines.

If you have a good relationship with your mail carrier, try asking them to throw things in the trash instead of delivering it. Some of them will be willing to help you out.

Go ahead and call the magazine. One reader had to call InStyle magazine. They gave out an e-mail for a marketing company. He wrote them a nice note asking for the subscription to be canceled and it worked.

Call the magazine again and put a “mail stop” on your subscription. This will suspend it and then you just never call back. Not sure about this one but someone also suggests calling the magazine and changing your address to the postal office.

Also consider just handing the magazine off to a friend. Maybe there is someone that would really enjoy getting it. You can call in and change the address and name to a family member or friend. One of my neighbors did that for me.

I continue to receive a magazine that I did have a subscription to more than three years ago. I didn’t renew and it still arrives once a month. But I like this one, so it doesn’t bother me. As for the other one we’ll see if it disappears.

I don’t know about you, but I am running out of creative ideas for Christmas gifts. These sites caught my eye because the gift cards not only put a smile on someone’s face, but it allows them t to give back to their favorite charities.

The Good Card: With this holiday gift card, choose your amount and they choose which cause they want to help out. Most people have a charity that means a lot to them. With the money you put on The Good Card they can choose to make a donation to any of more than 1.8 million organizations. The cost? Your donated amount and  $5 handling fee per card.

The Good Card can be ordered online or through snail mail. The card is good for six months and is also tax-deductible for the buyer. To redeem your gift card visit the site’s redeem page, type in your charity then click donate now. Let’s say you’re a business owner and want to give a gift with some special meaning. Order them for your clients, employees and customers. Show your passion for giving back. You can even co-brand the corporate version of The Good Card. Get creative and even design your own!

TisBest Charity Gift Cards: This site is the same idea with a few differences. Choose from tons of different designs for the cards with Christmas and Birthday ones to name a few.You can even customize it and upload your own image for the card. You can print the cards on your home printer, an instant gift card by e-mail or regular mail. If you select snail mail, it comes with a greeting card and you can add a personal message.

There is no extra charge for printing or e-mailing. If you want a plastic card, it’s a $1.49 fee. With TisBest Charity cards you can choose from 250 charities. There are National ones such as the ASPCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, World Vision and Doctors Without Borders. And local ones from a few different large cities like New York and Chicago. These donations are also tax-deductible and do not expire.

Disney is hoping to inspire one million people to volunteer in their communities. Kick start the new year by giving back to your community. Starting Jan. 1, 2010 if you volunteer a day of service, you get a free ticket to Walt Disney World or Disneyland.

To get started visit Disney Parks online. First, search and sign up to volunteer with a participating organization at the beginning of the year. Second, give of your time and volunteer and then receive a voucher to redeem your Disney ticket.

Disney is working with HandsOn Network, part of the Points of Light Institute. Points of Light is the largest volunteer network in the U.S. There are more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers which are community hubs for people to get connected  and get involved. Volunteering opportunities are available in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada and include many impact areas such as children and youth, religion, animals, hurricane relief and other areas that need assistance. HandsOn facilitates about 30,000 projects a month and includes more than 70,000 nonprofit, faith, education and community-based organizations. According to the agency’s website, it delivered more than 30 million hours of service last year.

Volunteer activities suggested by HandsOn Network: Visit seniors and play games with them, donate items to homeless shelters, clean up a park, participate in a local charity walk or help sort items at a local food bank.

And don’t forget you can also get a free ticket for your birthday!

Now you can start turning to your computer for advice on saving energy at home. Microsoft has developed a new software and the best thing is it’s free. Microsoft Hohm is a free Web-based beta application that an aid you in saving energy and money. The program will help you understand the amount of energy being used by your home and give you advice on how to conserve energy.

Hohm: H + OHM is the unit of measurement for electrical impedance. Once you sign up on their website, you complete a survey with facts such as your zip code, size of your home, the year it was built and other questions. Hohm provides you with an overview of your annual energy usage and how your home compares to others in your area. You can also enter your actual electricity usage by connecting to your energy provider or by manually entering your usage.

Once you fill out your information you are on your way to being more energy efficient. Click on the recommendations tab and you’ll see a breakdown of ways you can start saving energy and money, according to the website. The more detail you give them about your home, the more comprehensive report you’ll get. Then check out their library with several available energy-saving recommendations.

Take a look at the Hohm blog and read up on topics such as “Why Buy Green?” and holiday blogs. The CBS News Early Show recently did a segment about Microsoft Hohm and asked a family in California to try it out. They found that their garage refrigerator was costing them a bundle and they realized by combining loads of laundry they could save lots of money.

Quick tips from their site: Install and program your thermostat, seal your home with weather stripping and replace the filter in your furnace.

Not long ago I was cleaning out our “junk drawer” in the kitchen (you know the one we all have) and found a couple of old gift cards. I had no idea I even had them and and probably won’t use them. Have you ever received a gift card from a store that you know you won’t go to? Maybe it was a restaurant that is nowhere near where you live. Now there is something you can do with your cards. Consumers are expected to spend $50 billion on gift cards this year.

I saw a segment about Gift Card Rescue on the TV show Shark Tank and then saw it again in a magazine. This company allows consumers to sell or exchange their unused cards. One of the best things about it is you can exchange it and Gift Card Rescue will send you another one from a store of your choice (they have a list of popular places) and you can purchase cards at discounted rates from such places as Bed Bath & Beyond and L.L. Bean.

Here’s how it works:

Trade it for cash or exchange/swap gift cards. Enter in your card details and the site will tell you how much it will buy your card for. Gift Card Rescue typically buys cards for between 60 and 80 percent of the card value depending on its popularity, according to the website. Then you can receive cash through PayPal, exchange it for another card from the site or swap it for an Amazon gift card.

There are also a few other sites that offer similar services.

Plastic Jungle: On this site you can pretty much do the same thing. Cash in your cards with a minimum balance of $25 for up to 85 percent of the verified card balance. You can purchase discounted gift cards or even donate them to benefit your favorite charity.

Monster Gift Card: You can browse by category and you use a “Monster Point” system which allows clients to buy, sell and trade gift cards with other clients anonymously and set their own price.

Our next Twitter Tuesday profile is with Jeremy Vohwinkle, a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor by day and a personal finance blogger by night. Much of his writing is done at Genxfinance.com, a blog that features lots of great information and tips for this particular generation. He also tweets about these topics under the name @JeremyVoh. This married father of one lives outside South Bend, Indiana and tells us why he says becoming a millionaire is easy.

OODC: How did you get started blogging and tweeting?
@JeremyVoh: I got started blogging back in 2006 as a response to some of the limitations of my day job. In the past I had worked as a financial advisor, so I was able to assist people with any number of financial issues. But when I started my job as a retirement plan specialist I left working for the general public and instead only assisted 401k/403b plan participants with their retirement planning needs. I felt like I was leaving a lot of knowledge on the table so I decided to start my own personal finance blog so that I could share even more information with more people. This blog then eventually lead to additional freelance writing opportunities and then signing up with the social networking sites such as Twitter to help broaden my reach.

OODC: What special financial needs or questions to members of Generation X have right now?
@JeremyVoh:Generation X is in a unique position right now. This demographic is largely in their 30s to early 40s and that means most people are finally settling down in terms of a career path and with family. It is during these years that there is an opportunity to really start to save for the future, yet we’re also faced with our aging baby boomer parents who may need some help as they retire. Many baby boomers haven’t saved enough or planned accordingly and we need to decide how we can help, if at all. And that’s while trying to save for our own retirement and possibly start putting money away for our children’s college education. There are a lot of important money decisions pulling us in different directions and it can be difficult to balance everything.

OODC: On your blog you say becoming a millionaire isn’t that hard. Are you a millionaire and if so, was it really an easy goal to achieve?
@JeremyVoh:Becoming a millionaire isn’t hard if you do the right things as soon as you can in life. Sure, if you’re $50,000 in debt and planning on retiring in a few years and have nothing saved up you might have better luck if you win the lottery. But for Generation X, most of us still have a lot of time ahead of us, so if you act now and put the right habits in place that milestone won’t be all that difficult to reach. This means eliminating debt, spending less than you earn, and saving a decent portion of your income, and then investing that money properly. The sooner you do this, the more time your money has to go to work for you, and the more likely you’ll reach that milestone.

You asked if I’m a millionaire and whether or not that was an easy goal to achieve. I’m on the young side of the Generation X demographic so I haven’t had much time to become a millionaire yet, but I also faced the same problems most people face. I graduated college with a ton of debt, student loans, and made many poor decisions with my money that set me back. The idea of becoming a millionaire just a few years ago seemed impossible. But instead of saying “I can’t” I was determined to say “I can.” I spent a few years using every spare penny I had to aggressively pay down those debts and make some tough, but better decisions with my money and came out in 3 years virtually debt free. Now, all of that money that was being put towards debt reduction can go directly towards building wealth. So, I don’t see that milestone too far away. Was it easy? At first, no. trying to break the cycle of debt and get down to a strict budget is never easy, but after a while it just became the norm and what was necessary. As time goes on you adjust to these changes and before you know it, it’s on autopilot. It does take a little effort to break some bad habits, but if people are serious about making the most of their money it can be done.

OODC: What do you hope people get out of your Tweets and blog posts?
@JeremyVoh:When I blog or tweet I just try to provide some value to readers. Sometimes I have a personal story or experience to share, and other times I simply throw out some helpful financial information. In the end, I want someone who reads what I write to come away with something that they can use. Whether or not they are able to act on it or not is one thing, but at the very least I don’t want people to feel as if they have wasted their time. Granted, the occasional tweets can be a little lighthearted and not very educational, but it’s good to interact with users in a way that helps you come across as a real person.

OODC: Who are some of your favorite money tweeters?
@JeremyVoh:Some of my favorite money tweeters are @bargainr, @The_Weakonomist, @behaviorgap, @flexo, and @NealFrankle just to name a few.

Thanks again to @JeremyVoh for being a part of this week’s Twitter Tuesday Profile! Interested in being considered for an upcoming profile? Just tweet me!

We’ve been discussing Joseph Sangl’s Fundamental Rules of Money Management. Let’s recap what he’s laid out for us.

Rule #1: Make hay while the sun shines. Make sure you are saving and storing money for the future.

Rule #2: Sow some seed. If you want to harvest something, you better plant something. Are you saving and investing in a 401(k)?

Rule #3: Nothing will happen until you do something. If you are stuck in a dead-end job, find what you are passionate about and pursue it. Want to take control of your finances? Step out there and work on it.

Rule #4: You must have margin. This can help when any financial emergencies come up and allows you to consider new opportunities without having to say “I don’t have the money.”

Finally Rule #5: If it sounds too good to be true, it’s most likely a scam.

I think we’re all pretty familiar with this statement. There have been plenty of times that I’ve heard of a great deal, but had to remind myself to take a step back and really check it out. Joseph recalls a time when he was presented with what seemed like a great opportunity to make some money. All he had to do was pay in $1,000 and then once eight other people joined in he would receive $8,000. I’ve also been presented with similar schemes.

Many of Joseph’s co-workers jumped into it and then of course the ones running the scheme took off with the money. Here is what Joseph says he discovered: When you are broke, you are way more susceptible to get-rich-quick scams and schemes.

As tempting as it might sound, the best thing to do is remain calm and especially patient when it comes to financial decisions. I know when my husband and I put our trust in God and let him handle our finances, things seem to fall into place.

We’ve discussed saving, investing and getting up and doing what you love. Joseph Sangl, a financial guru at my church, has been putting together some rules to help readers manage their money. Once again, this rule focuses on saving to improve your  life.

Rule #4: You must have margin

There are many, many  people who don’t have any savings. Joseph discusses how he lived in that situation and didn’t have any money for emergencies. He says he never really realized how important it was until he finally had some money tucked away.

A good savings account provides margin. This helps you think seriously about the future. It can aid you in choosing a career path, business decisions or moving. You don’t want to have to say “That will cost money. Money I don’t have.”

Joseph says “financial margin allows you to absorb unexpected financial events” like problems with your car or washing machine etc. It helps to keep you from incurring new debt. You can also use it to take advantage of some bargains.

I’ve realized that not having to worry so much about money really improves your well being. My husband and I finally sold our house in Florida on Friday after being on the market for two years. We now can boost our savings, have a little extra money for some fun and our stress level is beginning to decrease.

We’ve covered Rule One and Rule Two of Joseph Sangl’s rules of money management – dealing with saving and investing.

Rule #3: Nothing will happen until you do something

Joseph used to have a regular job – a 9 to 5 type – but instead of being excited every morning about his work, he would wake up and just want a cup of coffee. He says he wanted to do something that really made a difference. I’m sure all of us have met plenty of people who just hate their job and feel like they have hit a dead end. I have definitely been there before and it’s tough.

Joseph has also been there, but instead of complaining about it (like many do) he decided to get up and try to do something about it. This is when he began working as a financial counselor. He offered it for free to people he knew and he realized it was something he really enjoyed. He realized he had to make the first move and find something else to do with his career.

So you want to score big when it comes to your finances? You want to save money and invest wisely? Go ahead and take that step to better your life. It’s tough at first. My husband and I have realized that since we started tithing we haven’t been as stressed out about our finances. God has provided for us. We are able to save and spend our money wisely.

I took a big step personally a few years back. I was in the same career field for many years and decided to try something different. Although my background helped a bit, I was still having to learn a new field. I was glad that I tried it and took a step to do something that I’d enjoy. Now, I’ve learned from all of my jobs and continue to move in the direction of my ideal career.

You can do it too. Taking risks can often have a great ending and with God on your side the possibilities are endless in your personal life and your finances. Putting your trust in Him and His plan for your life, you’ll always end up ahead.

Joe Sangl has continued his series on managing your money. Relating it to farming is an angle for this series and he makes it simple to understand.

Rule #2: Sow Some Seed

You better plant something if you want something to harvest, he says. Discussing corn kernels is his way of explaining it. If you don’t plant them in the spring, you won’t be able to harvest them in the fall.

Here are the similarities when it comes to your finances.

Being stingy with seed leads to a poor crop. Seems pretty common sense to me. If you’d rather not have any money (which sounds silly) then don’t save. Don’t invest in anything and Joe says you’ll have a poor crop.

Some seeds will be eaten or rot. In his explanation he says you can coat the seeds with pesticides and other poisons, but some seeds will still be eaten. Others will rot and not germinate.

If enough is planted, an abundant harvest will appear before you. Make sure you plant enough seed and it will lead to great harvesting. Think about the future.

Just one seed has the ability to produce hundreds or thousands more seeds. Think about the harvest that will bring.

Now he puts it in more solid, financial terms. Are you investing in a 401(k)? Are you putting some in a savings account at your bank for something you want to do in the future? Are you investing in different things such as stocks, bonds, real estate, small businesses or other ways to grow your money. Don’t be afraid to be a bit aggressive, especially if you are young.

Sangl tries to provide real world advice when it comes to handling your money. We all could use some encouragement even though it’s tough to think about saving when you are living paycheck to paycheck. Just take a little bit at time and see the benefits.

I often check to see what the financial adviser for my church is up to and he has provided his readers with the five rules for managing your money. I wanted to share them with you. Joe Sangl has an ongoing blog with advice on saving and managing money.

Money Management Rule #1: Make hay while the sun shines

Joe Sangl talks about his days of growing up on a farm and having to make hay while the sun was shining. Winter was coming and a famine for the livestock. He says you can relate this to your finances.

There will almost always be a time of famine, he says. Many are being laid off, subjected to pay cuts, healthcare issues and having to endure increases in expenses. This can especially be tough if you have no savings.

When you cut hay, more will grow to replace it. Sangl explains that if you don’t cut the grass it will die off.  If you do cut it, you’ll have more growth. When it comes to your finances, if you save it will lead to more growth.

When you save plenty of hay, it gives you confidence. Setting up emergency funds make you feel safe and ready to handle any difficulties that come along. Even if you are just putting a little bit away it will add up in the long run. You’ll feel more confident and ready for the future.

I have plenty of friends who don’t have savings accounts and that can lead to anxiety. Fortunately, my husband and I have been able to put some money away in case we have any unexpected expenses.

I’ve heard about the website that helps you find unclaimed money. I thought, yeah right, must be a hoax. I decided to check it out because I heard about it on the radio, so maybe it’s legit.  This site is run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. The site says they represent state governments that actively find owners while protecting forgotten funds until claimed.

Facts About Unclaimed Property: Every state has unclaimed property, as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other areas. In 2006, more than $1.7 billion was returned to its rightful owners. You can also take a look at other facts on the website.

Free Search for Money by State: The first thing that you see is a map of the U.S. and surrounding territories and provinces. It’s good to search in every state where you have lived. I lived in Florida for about 18 years, so I decided to see what would happen when I clicked that state.

First, the website for the Florida Department of Financial Services appears. Click on Search for Unclaimed Property and you’re on your way to see if there is some free money out there with your name on it. The Bureau of Unclaimed Property holds unclaimed accounts valued at more than $1 billion.

Where does that money come from? It’s mostly dormant accounts at banks or other financial institutions, insurance or utility companies, securities and trust holdings. I typed in my last name and several Elizabeth’s popped up, but unfortunately it wasn’t me. What you see is the person’s address and a listing of what kind of property is owed to them. Most people were owed cash.

If you find your name, click on your account number. It then tells you the property type and who it’s reported by. I clicked on someone with my maiden name and she was owed money from Ford Motor Company. Mmmmm….. it’s intriguing. I don’t know of anybody who wouldn’t want some extra cash in their pocket.

After chatting with your spouse and children, it’s now time to talk with your parents about money. Real Simple magazine recently featured an article about money conversations that everyone should have. Let’s review the last couple of postings. Talk with your spouse about where all the money in the household goes, are there any changes that need to be made and is the retirement fund on track. Next, the kids also need to be aware of finances. You need to discuss responsibility with money and college funds.

The article also discussed conversations to have with your parents. Thirty percent of adult children contribute to their parents’ finances, says the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C.

Do you have enough to retire comfortably?

Now, many retirees will most likely outlive their savings accounts. If you want to prepare before talking with them, you can use a retirement calculator at Bank Rate. This will help you see how large a nest egg they might need.

Have you thought about long-term-care insurance?

Real Simple says a private room at a nursing home can be $75,000 per year. It’s good to talk with them when they reach their 60s and are healthy. Do some research about the subject and share some information with them. Smart Money has an insurance evaluator tool to help you find out possible costs and insurance benefits.

In an emergency, who do you want to manage your finances?

Talk about it now! As much as we don’t like to think about possible health problems in the future, everyone needs a power of attorney. A software program, Quicken WillMaker Plus 2010, can help. Talk with your folks and see if they have a will or not. Make sure you know where the paperwork is if they do.

Along with your spouse, the next family members that should be aware of finances is your children. Kids need to have a grasp on what is and what isn’t something needed and that will help them with their spending habits the rest of their lives. Real Simple magazine’s November issue suggests starting those conversations as soon as they start to understand how much things cost and that’s usually early elementary school. According to a study by Schwab and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 60 percent of the teens surveyed  said that learning about money management is a priority.

Print out a copy of your family budget.

Go over it with your kids and show them where the money goes each month. If you don’t have a budget for the family, you can get a free one at Microsoft Office’s website. Search for “family monthly budget planner” and work on it together.

Discuss the plans for college.

College is expensive and the average annual cost is about $25,000 for a private school and $6,500 for a public one. Parents should keep in mind how to help their sons or daughters afford it, says the article.  When you have your child, talk to your spouse about college and start saving as soon as you can. When they get to middle school or so, talk about the costs. Saving for College can help you get started.

Consider a credit card.

At the end of high school, you want to make sure your child can be responsible and handle a credit card. I remember being in college and everywhere you went companies were hassling you to open an account and would give out free t-shirts and other items. According to Real Simple, the average credit card debt for college students is $3,173.  To teach them some responsibility you can add them to your card and set a limit. Explain the ins and outs of using one. Show your kids the proper way to use it and pay it off.

Money can be a touchy subject and one that may cause stresses on a relationship. One way to help combat problems is to communicate with one another. According to a Wall Street Journal poll, 75 percent of Americans have disagreements over money or household finances with their significant others. Money issues are also a contributing factor to divorce. In the November issue of Real Simple magazine, the money section talks about these conversations to have with your spouse.

Where does all of our  money go?

The article suggests that every couple have this discussion. Overspending is often a problem in relationships and needs to be addressed. If it seems everything is fine, it’s good to check in and make sure things are still okay. One suggestion is to keep a monthlong spending journal to track expenses. When it’s the end of the month, sit down and take a look. Create a list of goals and look at ways to cut back spending if necessary.

Do we need to change who does what?

My husband is the one who handles our finances and he’s very good at it. However, in some relationships the husband or wife may not want to handle everything themselves. Real Simple suggests you compile a list of all financial decisions or tasks that are made in your home. Maybe hold a monthly time to sit down and go over your list and see if the responsibilities need to be switched.

Are our retirement plans on track?

With 401K’s taking hits and other problems, make sure you discuss this topic. Take a look at your account statements (as painful as that might be).  Be honest and discuss concerns or fears about the future. The article suggests using an online calculator. Maybe you need to schedule an appointment with a financial planner to offer advice. To find a licensed one check out Fpanet.

What is our risk tolerance when it comes to investments?

Work as a team when discussing investment goals. Whether you are risky with investments or like to be conservative keep your emotions in check and find a middle ground. Check your portfolio online and read some articles or books on investing.

We’ve all been stuck with an unexpected repair that’s needed on our car. There are some things you can do to help save some cash and make some smart decisions when that day comes. CBS Money Watch had a recent article with some tips on saving money on car repairs.

First, spend a little cash for regular maintenance. Doing this will help prevent trouble down the road which can cost a fortune. DriverSide says only about 41 percent of car owners follow the manufacturer’s service schedule. DriverSide offers repair estimates, information on your car’s value, advice from mechanics and helps you figure out what may be wrong with your vehicle. Another helpful website is RepairPal. This site gives you repair estimates to help you avoid high prices that those shops might be trying to charge you. I typed in the make and model of my car and it brought up a huge list of any repairs you could think of from brakes to air conditioning. RepairPal showed me an estimated repair price.

Second, don’t get unnecessary oil changes. Some say you need one every 3,000 miles; however, most newer cars can go 5,000 to 10,000 miles between one. Check the owner’s manual for more information.

Third and maybe the most obvious, find an honest repair shop. I usually take the advice of a friend and go to someone that they recommend. Unfortunately, many mechanics and even dealerships will try and charge you more than is needed. A recent study found that dealers charge an average of 30 percent more than independent shops. A great resource is AAA’s website, says CBS Money Watch. You can find shops that are part of AAA’s Approved Auto Repair Network. One piece of advice is to try out a repair shop with an oil change before you let them make repairs. See how they treat you. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau and see if there have been any complaints.

You can also shop around for deals. I’m always checking out our coupon packs that come in the mail for specials on tires, oil changes, brakes etc. Hop on the Internet and look around for local shops who might have some special coupons.