Ways to Save Money on Holiday Shopping

The holiday season will soon be upon us. That means plenty of gift giving opportunities. This also can mean a large financial expense. Here are some ways to ensure you are still not paying for this years gifts when Christmas comes around next year.

Earlier in the week we discussed making a list of all the people you need to buy a present for. This will make sure you don't forget anyone. The we talked about setting a budget. One of the biggest tips I can give you for saving money this holiday season is to stick to your budget.

If you want to save money on holiday gifts consider fighting the crowds on Black Friday. You can get some great deals on some of the years hottest gifts. Go through the ads and find which stores have items on your gift list.

Shop at bargain stores like the Dollar Store, Big Lots, Ollie's, etc. Whatever bargain stores you have in your area are sure to have great gift items. Bargain stores often buy closeouts from another high end store. You can get gifts for a fraction of their regular price.

Another way of saving money on holiday gifts is to make your own. Most people love homemade cookies and candies. You can put them in tins and baskets that can be reused for other purposes. This type of gift is also great for unexpected guests.

You can save money by shopping online too. Check for online coupons before you make your purchase. Lots of stores will be offering free shipping for the holidays.

You don't have to go into debt to have a happy holiday. The price of the gift is not what is important. Remember it's the thought that counts.

Start Planning your Holiday Gift Giving List

Christmas is two months away. While this may seem like a long time, it will be here before you know it. Start planning your list of who you need to buy gifts for now. Avoid rushing to finish your shopping at the last minute.

Begin by listing everyone you need to buy a holiday present for. Next you will want to set a price limit for each person. If you don't want your budget to go out the window, you have to be firm and stick to the price limit. No matter how much you think so and so would like that sweater, if you can't afford it, don't buy it.

Holiday debt haunts many families for years to come. Do you really want to be paying on this years holiday present two years from now? If you are exchanging gifts with friends and family, talk with them and set a price limit on the gifts. Most people are in the same boat with the tough economy, they will be glad to have a limit set.

After all the holidays are not about who can spend the most money. They are a time for friends and family to get together and have a good time.

Once you have set a budget for your holiday shopping write down a few ideas for each person. This will make shopping easier. Unless you enjoy wandering endlessly around the store trying to find a gift.

Starting your holiday gift giving list now will allow you time to shop without dealing with the holiday crowds. Also check online for sales. Be sure to look for online coupon codes before you make your purchase.

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Ways To Save on the Vet Bills

The cost of medical care for your pet may shock you. Vet bills can easily run into the hundreds. A simple checkup can cost $100. There are ways of saving on your pet's vet bill. The most important advice I can give you is to have your pet see the vet regularly. The vet will be able to spot if something is wrong and catch it before there is an emergency.

Emergency vet costs can quickly turn into thousands of dollars. That money might have been saved if your pet had been regularly seeing the vet.

Another way of saving on vet costs is to see if your area has a veterinarian school. These schools will often have clinics where you can take your pet in for care at a reduced cost. The students have to learn how to do the procedures so the schools are willing to provide care for next to nothing. All of the students are completely supervised to ensure your pet's safety.

If your pet need medications don't always buy from your veterinarian. You can sometimes get these medications cheaper online. This is true for flea preventive medication as well. Medications you get at the vet will be priced higher because the vet is making profit from the sale.

Your pet must have proper medical care to keep them healthy and happy.
Photo created by L. M. Powell

Saving on Pet Supplies

Pet supplies can be very expensive. If you are looking to save money, but still give your pet the best care, I am going to share some tips to help you.

First off we will look at food for your pet. Most pet food companies offer coupons. If you visit the company site you can often printout coupons to help save on the cost of pet food. Also the Sunday paper is a great place to find coupons for pet food. Look for store sales.

If you have a cat you will need cat litter. If you look at the store you will find several different types of kitty litter. You can save money by going with the store brand. Don't worry about odor from using a generic brand of cat litter. Simply sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the litter pan before you fill it up. Then when you clean the box you can sprinkle a little more in.

You pet doesn't need twenty outfits. Sure it might be cute to see your doggy dressed up, but those outfits are expensive. The same goes for the other accessories you can get. While they might be cute, most likely your pet is not going to use them anyways.

Before you buy supplies recommended by the pet store it is a good idea to do your own research. They want to make a sale and will try to sell you plenty of items you don't need. Sometimes they might not be informed what your new pet needs and can sell you items that are actually dangerous for your pet.

You can save money on pet supplies. You just have to look for sales, use coupons, and avoid buying everything you see.
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The Real Cost of Having a Pet

Everyone loves cute puppies and kittens. A large percent of families have a pet of some sorts. Too often though, the family does not take the time to research the costs associated with being a responsible pet owner.

There are numerous costs when you have a pet. First there is the cost of getting the pet. If you buy a puppy at the pet store you can spend several hundred dollars. Then you have to buy supplies for your new pet like food, bowls, leashes, cage(depending on animal you get), bedding, etc. These are not cheap and the cost can add up quickly.

Next there is the cost of vet care. Your pet will need care just like a child. There can be vaccinations to consider. Dogs and cats need to be spayed and neutered. These costs can add up to hundreds of dollars. You also need to consider the costs if your pet were to become sick. Emergency vet costs are extremely expensive.

So while it is great to have a pet you need to realize there is costs associated with owning one. Being prepared will help you deal with the costs. Later this week we will be discussing ways of saving money while still being a responsible pet owner.

Photo created by Benjamin Earwicker

Ways to Save on Your Cell Phone Bill

Last time we went over some ways of saving on your monthly phone bill. Today we are going to look at your cell phone bill. Cell phones are a great way of keeping in touch, but the costs can add up quickly.

First look at your plan. Are you using all of your minutes each month, or do you have a lot left over? If you never use all of your minutes consider switching to a plan that has fewer minutes and costs less. If you find you are going over your minutes and having to pay for extra each month it is time to move up to a plan that offers more monthly minutes. Some companies now offer an unlimited plan. This might be a better deal for you.

Look at the add-ons you have on your plan. Do you have texting and internet? Some plans combine these features and will cost less than paying for each one separately. Do you pay to download ringers and games from your cell phone company? This can be a huge expense. There are plenty of places you can download ringers and games for free.

You can lower your monthly cell phone bill you just have to take the time and look at your bill. See what extras you can combine, or what you can do without. Cell phone companies will try and tack on as much extras as they can. You have to pay close attention to your bill. If you see a mistake or a service you didn't agree to call the company right away and dispute the charges.

You would be surprised how many people never look at the bill thoroughly. They just see the amount due and that is it. You want to know where every penny of your money is going. Be sure to examine each bill carefully.

Photo created by Maira Kouvara

Ways to Lower your phone Bill

Does your phone bill seem to climb month after month? There are some things you can do to lower your monthly phone bill. Let's face it, we all need a phone to communicate. Whether it be a cell phone, or a land-line we depend on a phone to keep in touch.

Today we are going to look at ways to save on home phone. If you want to save money on your phone bill you need to know exactly what your being charged for. Get your bill out and look at the different charges.

Are you paying separately for things like caller id and voice mail? Most phone companies offer a bundled plan that includes several calling features for one price. Are you still paying for long distance, or do you have an unlimited plan.

Some phone companies now offer bundled packages that include internet and satellite service along with the phone. They offer these packages at a cheaper rate than if you were to get each individually.

Sometimes just calling your phone company and telling them you are considering canceling your service for a better deal elsewhere will be enough to get them to offer a better deal on your bill.

It can never hurt to try. We need to save money any place we can.

Photo created by Ivan Prole

Ways to Cut your Outdoor Water use

Even though we are enjoying the cooler Fall weather( depending on where you live) you may still be using your water hose outdoors. Using water outdoors can as much as double your water bill if you are not careful. Here are some tips to cut down costs on outdoor water usage.

1.Use mulch around your plants and trees- This will allow your plants to hold in the moisture longer. This will mean less watering.

2.Plant shrubs and flowers that do not require much watering- This will help cut outdoor watering costs.

3.Only water the grass when it truly needs it- If you can step on the grass and it springs right back up it doesn't need watering.

4.Water your lawn early in the day- This will ensure the water is not evaporated quickly by the heat of the day. It will also help prevent slugs and other lawn pests.

5.Check for leaks around outdoor pipes- Check around the hose connection and any other outdoor pipes for signs of leaks.

6.Don't waste water while washing your car. Use a bucket and sponge for cleaning your car, then only use the hose for rinsing. You can waste up to 150 gallons of water washing your car.

7.Keep a cover on your swimming pool when not in use- A cover will help prevent your pool water from evaporating in the summer's heat.

Ways to Save on your Water Bill

If your water bill is going up and up each month there are some simple things you can do to cut costs. These are all easy steps you can take to lower your monthly water bill. In tough economic times like we have today we need to do everything we can to save money.

1.Check for leaks- If you water bill suddenly starts going up check to make sure you don't have any leaks. If you are not able to do this consider hiring a plumber to check your pipes thoroughly. When checking pipes make sure to check all of the faucets in your house for leaks. The washer in your faucet could have become worn out. A drippy faucet can waste several hundred gallons of water a day depending on how big the drip is.

2.Install water saving shower head and faucets- When you shower you can use up to five gallons of water a minute. Using a water saving shower head can cut the water use in half or even more. Hey are very easy to install and will make a big difference on your water bill.

3.Consider a low flush toilet- Toilets today use far less water than they used to. If you cannot afford to replace your toilet right now there is still hope. Put a brick on the inside o the toilet tank. It will cut down on the water needed to fill the tank.

4.Turn the water off when brushing your teeth- Once you wet your toothbrush shut the water off. There is no reason to leave it running while you are brushing.

5.Only wash clothes and dishes when you have a full load- You are wasting many gallons of water when you are only washing partial loads of clothes and dishes day after day. Instead wait until you have a full load.

By following these tips you will be able to save money on your monthly water bill. Next time we will discuss ways of saving water outdoors.

Save Money, Use a Free Anti-virus on Your Computer

You have to have some form of anti-virus protection on your computer or it will become infected with viruses, trojans, and other harmful programs that will you ready to pull your hair out. Anti-virus programs can cost a couple hundred dollars. There is no need to pay that much for one when you can protect your computer for free.

There are several free anti-virus programs that you can use to keep your computer free of programs wanting to cause your system harm. We are going to go over a few of these great free anti-virus programs today.

1. AVG- AVG is one of the more known free anti-virus programs. It will keep your computer running virus free and won't cost you one cent. The downside tot his program is some users find it hogs to much of your computer's resources. It seems to vary by computer. I have successfully ran AVG for years on one of my computers.

2. PC-Tools- Another great free anti-virus program is PC-Tools. It will protect your computer from viruses, trojans, and worms. This is a newer free anti-virus program. I have tried it out on two of my home computers and had no problems at all.

3. Microsoft Security Essentials- This is a completely new program. It was just released last week. I am currently running this program now. So far I am thrilled with the results. This free anti-virus program does not hog your computer resources. I can tell no difference when it is running in the background. It will protect your computer from any security threats for free.

As you can see there are several options for protecting your computer that won't cost you a dime. As long as you keep your anti-virus updated regularly there is no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on an anti-virus program.

Do You have a Rainy Day Fund

Times are tough there is no arguing that fact, but there are still opportunities to save money for unexpected expenses. People often refer to this as their rainy day fund. It is important to have a rainy day fund. What would you do if your car suddenly broke down tomorrow? Would you have the funds to have it repaired?

You never know when an emergency will arise. Planning ahead for these unexpected costs can save you from worry when the time comes. Here are some tips for adding to your rainy day fund.
* Skip the take out- instead put that money into your emergency fund. You figure you would spend $20 on take out. That can add up very quickly if you like to eat out often.

* Rent a DVD from the library- DVD rentals can run up to $5. Renting from your local library will be free. If you like to rent several movies at one time think about all the money you will be able to put into your rainy day fund. The same can apply for renting books instead of buying them.

Skip the trip to Starbucks- Those coffee shop lattes are extremely expensive, but oh so addicting. Even if you can't give up your daily trip to Starbucks completely you can skip a day or two each week.

Take the money you save by using coupons and add it to your fund- Even if it is just change that can add up fast. anytime you use a coupon take the difference between what the item originally cost and what you paid and add it to your rainy day funds.

As you can see these are simple tips, but they can save you a good bit of money. We cannot control when an emergency is going to occur, but we can be prepared financially.