Saves Money

Landline Phones are a Waste of Money, but if You Want One Here are the Cheapest

The Basics: 

ATT SucksIn the 21st century a landline phone is the equivalent of the horse and carriage.  With the advent of cell phones and more importantly smart phones there really is nothing you can do with a landline that you cannot do on a cell phone.  There are some however who like the security of having a landline phone in the house and for you there is good news. 

There are several ways to get landline phone service for less a fraction of what you used to pay.  If you want to save money, get rid of the big phone and cable corporations and take a look at these options.

Before Your Finances Can Go Forward You Must Get to Zero

Rich Black ManWhen most people talk about their finances they talk about how much money they want to make or have.  Being "rich" or having a lot of income is a great thing, but there is far too little discussion about debt.  If you make a million dollars but have two million dollars worth of debt you are actually in worse shape than 90% of Americans.  In fact you are in worst shape than a person who makes minimum wage and has no debt.  

If you want true financial freedom you must focus on both sides of the equation - generating income AND reducing your debt.  When your total assets equal your total debt you are at a zero net worth.  For those who have gotten to zero they know that this is one of the best places to be.  If you don't think so yet, read the rest of this article and I bet you'll be convinced too.

Where to Buy Your Work Clothes at a Discount

The Basics: 

black man in suitCongratulations!  You've just got your first white collar job.  No more asking "do you want fries with that?".  You're now moving up the business ladder, working in an office environment with big hopes for the future. 

After you land that first office job there are several things that you need to do in preparing for your daily trips to work.  Of course you need to learn your job so you can contribute, but you also need to look the part so that people can clearly see that you belong.  Finding clothes for work does not have to be a daunting task, but if you don't spend your money wisely you can go broke before you get your first few paychecks.

Cable TV is an Overpriced Scam but there are Other Options

The Basics: 

Cable TV ScamWhen many families go through their monthly bills they find that cable TV is one of the biggest household expenses.  Only a few decades ago cable was a great new thing that exposed people to channels and programming never seen before.  Over the last 10 or 15 years however cable has been monopolized by a few major companies (think Comcast) and have forced millions of people to buy into overpriced bundles of services and channels that we don't really need.

With the rise of YouTube, and online TV, cable is no longer the only way to watch programming.  In this article we examine what you really get for the money with cable and hopefully convince some that there are other ways to watch your movies, videos and programs at a much better price.

Home prices are still falling and expect to drop through 2012

According to RealtyTrac all economic indicators show that prices may drop 10% or more in 2012. If you want to buy you should wait until next year (at least).  10 Cities With Biggest Price Drop

source: 
RealtyTrac

Drive-In Movies - Old School Dating in the 21st Century

The Basics: 

Drive In CoupleFor many, the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the the word "drive-in" is a 1950's car with two young teenagers watching a black and white movie.  It is true that drive-ins reached the peak of their popularity in the 50's and 60's but they still exist today and many people still use them.

For those looking for a different dating experience a drive-in may be a fun dating option. Many of the remaining older drive ins have been renovated and new drive-ins have actually been built in both rural areas and major cities.   Today's drive-ins offer the traditional popcorn and snacks, but many offer full scale meals; creating a brand new twist on the "dinner and a movie" experience.

How to Save 50% or More on Your Cell Phone Bill

The Basics: 

Black Man on Cell PhoneIn the 21st Century most Americans cannot live without their cell phones and rightfully so.  The cell phone is the simplest and most efficient way to always be in communication with friends and family, and it is a necessary device to have in case of emergency when traveling, driving or just performing day-to-day functions.  The problem is that the major carriers (Sprint, At&T, etc.) know this and are substantially overcharging users. 

Because only a handful of companies dominate the industry they have a monopoly and use their power to fix prices; using long-term contracts to rope you into monthly bills that can destroy your budget, and your credit.  There are things you can do to ensure that you get the best deal possible on your cell phone.  this article outlines some of those methods.

Food Stamps and the ‘Near Poor’ - How to Make Ends Meet in 2011

African American woman and child shop49.1 million Americans are below the poverty line —$24,343 for a family of four.  An additional 51 million are in the new category “near poor”; those with incomes less than 50 percent above the poverty line (source U.S. census).

For both categories of Americans food stamps under the SNAP program are a necessary source of income to battle hunger.

How to Save $50,000 on a $150,000 Mortgage

The Basics: 

Calculator and HomeIf after reading the title of this article you think that you will reduce the cost of your house from $150,000 to $100,000 then you are just one of the millions of people who have been misled by the mortgage industry. 

When you "buy" a house for $150,000 with a 30-year loan at an interest rate of 5% what you are actually doing is signing a 30 year contract with a bank to pay $280,000; $150,000 of your principal and a whopping $130,000 in interest.  With that reality in mind, there are ways to reduce that $130,000 interest amount by $50,000 or more just by making simple adjustments to your loan.

Late night grocery shopping can save you 50% or more on baked goods and other items

Baked goods that won’t sell the next day often get marked down 50% or more right before closing time.  Other items like rotisserie chickens and sushi may go for 2 for 1 or at steep discounts.

source: 
RealSimple.com