Money Matters

It happens gradually. You treat the kids to Unicorn Starbucks drinks and then get a fancy latte for yourself. You decide to grab takeout instead of making dinner. You throw random items into the cart at Target. Suddenly, your checking account is nearly at $0 and you’ve realized your spending is out of control. If this sounds like you, here are a few ways to cut back.

Shop With Tunnel Vision

Mindlessly strolling through the grocery store picking up items can turn into receipt shock at the checkout. The best strategy for avoiding overspending is to make a grocery list beforehand. This means shopping with a goal and not going rogue. Stick to the perimeter of the store where you’ll find meat and fresh foods. The center aisles are mostly where prepackaged and junk foods live; these are unnecessary to have in your kitchen and (bonus!) ditching them from your cart can help promote healthier eating habits. HouseMix has even more money-saving tips for grocery shopping (like bringing a calculator) and how to buy in bulk.

Pay With Cash

Consumers spend less when they pay with cash, according to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If you rarely pay with cash, experiment with it. You may find that you feel more connected to a purchase and value an item more when you physically make a transaction, rather than quickly swipe a card. You have the actual remaining amount of money in your hands, rather than seeing it appear weeks later on a credit card statement, which is easy to ignore. Start by cutting up your credit cards and putting cash in envelopes designated for certain categories like groceries, bills, etc.

Save on Mobile Costs

One way to lower your spending is to adjust your mobile phone plan based on your needs. Nerd Wallet recommends. T-Mobile’s Bring Your Own Device prepaid program allows you to use your current phone with a new SIM card. Making the switch without a contract can be your best deal, and it comes with features like large data plans with a low monthly cost and no overage fees. Plus, you’ll get high speed 4G LTE data. Make sure to check if you’re eligible for any discounts through work, study or serving in the armed forces.

Take a Hiatus From Social Media

Social media has hidden financial pitfalls, like sending subliminal messages to spend, spend, spend. Think about the brands you follow, pictures of friends’ fancy vacations, products your connections are selling and simple items in photos that may trigger your shopping side. Even a cup of coffee can make you want to go spend $5 on a gourmet pick-me-up as well. Ditch social media now if cutting costs is crucial; you can always return to it later once you’ve adopted better habits. Posts and pictures can be a constant reminder of what you want but don’t need.

Prioritize Co-Curricular Activities

There are many benefits that come along with our kids playing sports. They learn teamwork, sportsmanship, athleticism and commitment. Many kids play multiple sports, and for families with more than one child, those extra-curricular expenses add up fast. The National Council on Youth Sports states that more than 20 percent of parents spend over $1,000 or more on sports each year per child. Assess your children’s involvement in sports and activities. Here are some tips to help alleviate costs:

• Choose one sport per season
• Buy used equipment
• Sell old equipment
• Sign your child up for local recreational sports (these tend to be more affordable)
• Budget for all costs, even gas for travel.

You aren’t a burglar -, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on the hunt for fast, easy cash around your home. Your house and most things in it have some monetary value, and you can squeeze out a surprising amount of money if you know the best strategies and techniques. In each of the following spaces around your home, you can find a handful of viable opportunities for extra cash.

In Closets, Attics, Basements, and Garages

Your storage spaces are the most likely hiding spaces for easy money. If you are like most Americans, your storage spaces are where you toss the stuff you don’t truly want, but you also are too lazy to properly get rid of. Fortunately, now you can use that junk to bring you some much-needed cash.

First, you should spend some time sorting the wheat from the chaff ― or the potentially valuable stuff from the unsalvageable. Things that are in good condition can probably be sold relatively easily using apps like LetGo and OfferUp or websites like eBay and Craigslist. Meanwhile, things that are slightly damaged or outdated might require a bit more effort. You might be able to sell them at a garage sale or consignment store, but for less work and more reward, you might consider just donating them to an appropriate charity. Usually, charities will give you receipts that are good for sizeable tax deductions; plus, some charities will even give bonuses, like free vacations. Sometimes, giving your stuff away for free pays, too.

If you can manage to clear out your storage spaces, you might consider renting the space for some additional cash. You might renovate your attic, basement, or garage into a living space and use Airbnb (or a roommate) to supplement your income.

In Kitchens and Craft Rooms

You can replicate the process for storage spaces in every room in your house ― sifting through your belongings to find valuables to sell or donate -, but you can also find money in the practicality of certain rooms. For example, the purpose of kitchen and craft rooms is to take raw materials, like flour or glass beads, and transform them into usable products, like delicious bread or beautiful jewelry. If you have a hobby or skill, you can use it as a side hustle to scrape some extra cash. Whether you set up an Etsy store or sell baked goods at community events, you can find cash in your kitchen and craft room.

In Back and Front Yards

If your home is in a prime location, you can leverage you outside spaces to earn money on the side. Yard sales, which might include the junk from your storage spaces and the crafts you produce, can be marvelously profitable, if organized properly. That means posting advertisements online and in local papers as well as presenting your goods in an appealing manner.

Additionally, you might consider renting out your outdoor space much the same as your storage spaces. In cities, parking can be at a premium, and allowing commuters to use your driveway or yard might be a lucrative business. Alternatively, if you don’t have space inside, you might Airbnb your backyard as a viable camping spot for cheap backpackers. Since you can offer indoor plumbing, your backyard might be far superior to the actual woods.

In Bedrooms and Living Rooms

Even your most personal of spaces contain untapped sources of income. As mentioned above, any spare bedrooms can be transformed into rentable living spaces, either for travelers or long-term roommates. Some Airbnb hosts have made six-figure incomes on their rentals ― but that requires quite a bit more space and time (not to mention money) than you might have at your disposal.

Daily care services are other ways to squeeze money from your living spaces. Quality daycare, for pets, children, and the elderly, are highly sought-after, so if you have the caring instinct, you might be able to earn a pretty penny. However, it is important to note that some types of care require certification and licensing, so you should investigate the requirements for your area before advertising your services.

Depending on which study you look at, anywhere between 33-76% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. People are able to pay their bills, but they’re still in a bad spot because there’s nothing left over for savings. If there’s an emergency or unexpected expense, people often rely on credit cards, which only adds to the expense column.

Organizing your finances is an ongoing job, but it’s one of those domestic chores that really pays off. By tracking your budget at least once a month you’ll know where your money is going and where there are opportunities to save. Start by revisiting the six expenses below to see if you can get a better deal than what you’re currently paying.

Auto Insurance

Almost every state requires that drivers have a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. It’s one of those expenses you just can’t work around. But you can save money by regularly comparing offers and taking advantage of discounts. Shopping around you’re also more likely to find specialty products like cheap auto insurance SR22, which certain drivers can use to meet driving requirements.

You’ll definitely want to revisit your auto insurance if you’ve cleaned up your driving record. Often rates are heavily influenced by recent accidents, traffic tickets and charges like driving under the influence. If it’s been a few years since the last blemish on your record, it’s worth the time to shop around for a new policy.

Health Insurance

Like auto insurance, health insurance is now a requirement. Some of us are fortunate in that we get a portion or all of our health insurance covered through an employer. Even if this is the case, you’ll have to select your plan, and the monthly premium is one of the top concerns for most people.

It’s tempting to just stick with what you have when the annual open enrollment period rolls around, but that could end up being an expensive choice. It’s not uncommon for providers to bump up the cost of a plan from one year to the next. The extent of the coverage, maximum out of pocket amount and deductible could also change.

Home or Renters Insurance

Even if you aren’t trying to reduce your expenses, keeping home and renters insurance up-to-date is extremely important. Both types of insurance can cover the cost of the items in your home if they’re damaged during a natural disaster or stolen. If you buy high priced items but don’t update your insurance there’s no guarantee those items will be covered.

When your living arrangements change or you need to update the coverage this is the perfect time to compare your current policy to other offers. You may also get a better deal by using the same insurer for both your home and auto insurance.

Home and Auto Loan Rates

Interest rates on loans are never a constant. They fluctuate because they are based on changing economic factors including Fed fund rates and the general health of the economy. The situation allows for a special financial tool called refinancing.

Anyone who got a loan before the recession or didn’t get the best rate because of a past credit score that’s since been improved stands to benefit by refinancing. There will be some upfront fees that have to be paid, but lowering the interest rate could save much more money over the life of the loan.

Utilities Rates

Do you live in a deregulated area? If so, you have the ability to choose a utility provider. All providers offer their own rates, which varies depending on the current price of gas and electricity production. Paying just one cent less per kilowatt-hour could help you save hundreds of dollars over time.

Since the rates for gas and electricity change all the time, it’s something you’ll need to keep track of if you want to get the best price possible. Typically, you’ll sign a contract for a specified period. Once the contract is up you can shop around and switch providers. Because you’ll be locked in for a certain amount of time finding a better rate can have a big effect on your budget.

Phone Service

If you’re like me you held on to an old cell phone plan for way too long. I had a grandfathered unlimited data contract that was over $100 even though I basically never used more than 5GB in a month. The thought of having the coveted limitless data clouded my financial judgment.

There are plenty of providers offering a variety of plans and special deals for new customers. Analyze your cell phone use over the last six months to determine the minimum amount of minutes, texts and data that a plan needs to have so you don’t get hit with overage fees. Next, find the plans that cover your needs and compare both the reliability of the service and the cost to find the best option.

Gift cards have become increasingly popular as a way to ensure that you give family and friends their hearts’ desires. You can stay within budget while dodging an endless search for the perfect keepsake; as a recipient, you avoid the inconvenience of a duplicate gift or the wrong size.

How They Operate

As commerce has migrated from stone-and-mortar stores to the internet, traditional gift cards have expanded to digital versions. Now you can purchase a gift card online, followed by the store emailing a digital card to both the giver and the receiver. In addition to vouchers tied to a single enterprise, there are also generic cards that function as a debit card, redeemable in a wide variety of places in the world as well as online.

Documentation Saves Time and Money

Since gift cards work the same as cash, it’s imperative to archive their purchase and use. Save a copy of the card’s code in your email, plus print a copy. If the total amount of the gift is not used immediately, keep any receipts to track spending. When shopping online, file all your emails: orders, receipts, tracking numbers, and card updates. Problems are unlikely, but if there is one, it will be easier to resolve if you have information handy.

Buyer Beware

There are times a store will close before you have the chance to redeem your voucher; contact them as soon as possible to confirm if you can use the gift card or redeem it in another fashion. Check if another enterprise has acquired the store from which the card originated; often they will honor the card.

Worst Case Scenarios

As with other digital information, gift cards can be subject to fraudulent activity. Scammers will remove cards from available displays and electronically or physically copy the card number before activation. Upon activation, they can immediately use the number to make purchases. When the intended recipient uses the card, the account is already depleted. To avoid this rip off, only purchase cards from a clerk, not from publicly available racks.

Even more common are online auctions that offer discounted cards; these are often invalid because of theft or prior use. Only purchase gift cards at the issuing store or from a website starting with https://, an indication that it is secure. Some stores offer card registration so you can discover fraudulent use faster.

However, don’t settle for disappointment if you discover that your gift card is worthless. The Solicitors Guru website can connect you with a professional to advise on your next step.

Opponents of gift cards argue that you’ve chosen the most impersonal of presents. However, you can still put effort into choosing a card that matches the interests of the recipient, be it for books, sports, fine dining, movies, travel…the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. The majority of time Gift cards work smoothly. But in the event of a problem, check with a family law solicitor to explore your options and legal remedies to make sure your benefactor intended.