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Starting Over With Your Household BudgetWhen organizing your household budget, things can get a bit overwhelming. Do you know where your money goes? If you can't account for it, try scrapping everything you're doing with your money this month and start over.

 

Struggling with my Small BudgetI have been working hard on my credit score. I had bad vision up until yesterday when I got my glasses. I was able to read the fine print on some bills. I went to read the billing statements and found the interest rates horrible.

 

How To Handle Late PaymentsThere are times that we may fall short with our finances. When it happens, you must remember that it's not going to help if you will hide or run away from it. Financial difficulties is the type of problem that will not just go away. You need to do something about it.

 

Saving Money When You ShopThe first thing I do now is look at the fliers for the week and plan my menu around the sales. I give myself one hour a week to do this. No need to make it complicated by spending hours at it. Also I have started a stock pile.

 

New Years Financial ResolutionsNot all of my 2012 new year's resolutions focus on money. There are a few others like going to the gym regularly and calling my grandmother more often. But the money saving resolutions are the one I'm looking forward to the most.

 

Will the Main Street Fairness Act Affect Me?As Congress debates whether or not to pass the Main Street Fairness Act, consumers are wondering what this means to them. In fact, customers have been wondering for years why they pay sales tax to some online and catalog orders and not to others.

 

Savings Websites: The Good, the Bad, and the...There are great websites that offer deals and discounts, but then there are just as many that aren't worth the time it takes to navigate them. Beware of sites that require a subscription before you see any of their deals and discounts.

 

Smartphone KnowledgeI've heard the argument before. The expensive price tag on the iPhone is justified by the applications that it runs. It sounds like a good argument, but when the calculators come out, it doesn't work. So, what's a smartphone worth?

 

Stock Market 102: Stocks in a Few Quick StepsAfter wallowing through the quagmire of information about investing in the stock market, I finally learned that with the help of direct investments, the investment is not as difficult as it originally seemed.

 

Stock Market 101: It's Not As Difficult As It SeemsMonitor your reaction when you read the following word: stocks. Did your body grow suddenly tense and rigid with a sense of impending confusion, or were you filled with anticipation of carefully planned success?

 

Do I Need to Insure My Credit Cards?Calls to a credit card company often involve a brief speech offering various services affiliated with the card. Accumulating debt is bad enough, but paying interest on the debt and then paying to insure that debt is a poor financial decision.

 

Personal Property LiquidationWhen times get financially tough, the idea of rummaging through your home and turning items into cash isn't the move of a financial mastermind. However, taking some time to do periodic liquidation is the habit of a smart financier.

 

Essential Moves for Twenty-Year-OldsThere are many things that we know we should do. We should walk or bike to work, we should eat our vegetables, and we should keep all our receipts. Yet, there are some financial moves that everyone in his/her early twenties needs to make.

 

Reporting Errors on Your Credit Card BillsHow many of us notice errors on our credit card bills? If you're like most people, you look at the total amount due, and you scan the companies that placed charges on your account.

 

Federal Direct Student LoansThe idea of the college loan is that tuition is covered while studying, and most loans only ask for repayment after graduation. For some loans, interest isn't calculated until repayment begins, again often after graduation.

 

Prevent Identity TheftIf you're like us, chances are you know someone who's been taken for a ride by an identity thief. It's a bad ordeal, and when you're pinching pennies, it can be the last straw if someone invades your financial privacy. Here are a couple of things we do around our house.

 

Asking For A RaiseSometimes asking for a raise is the right thing to do, so don't be discouraged from seeking one! In these post downturn days, it may seem a rather foolhardy proposition to look for a pay raise for a job some bosses may think you should just be grateful to have.

 

Sell Online Or In Person?For the average person, selling used items is easy and generates a pleasing profit. Whether you opt to organize a yard sale, advertise in the newspaper, or sell online, you'll most likely earn enough money to go out to dinner but not enough to make a car payment.

 

Saving Money When Grocery ShoppingShop alone. It cuts down on distractions and curbs impulse buying. Make a list and stick to it. Allow yourself only a certain amount of unplanned purchases.

 

Frugal FundraisersJust because the economy is down and budgets are tight doesn't mean that schools and organizations can stop fundraising. In fact, it's even more important now than ever, as states are slashing educational and non-profit funding.

 

Evaluating (and Protecting) Your Credit ScoreIt was a recent trip to the bank for a car loan that alerted me to the small things that can largely affect your credit score. I suppose that's how most people learn about their credit.

 

Working More Efficiently, Not LongerFor those who work at a home-based businesses, maintaining an efficient work pace is crucial for fiscal success. Today, these piecemeal workers may need to produce more work for less cost in order to keep up with the market.

 

Lessons LearnedIt's time to look at the silver lining of the economic floundering of 2009. While unemployment is at an all-time high and the American dollar is at a notable low, the last twelve months have taught us something.

 

Snowball Payments to Get Out of DebtYears ago, a good friend of mine and I were discussing finances. I was a newly single mom, and was feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to pay my bills. By organizing and paying them as follows, you will be surprised how quickly they can be paid off!

 

Settling DebtIn times of economic stress, people turn to seemingly simple methods for erasing debt and lessening the monthly stress of bills. One of these relief options is debt settlement.

 

The $20 Money DietMy wallet, checkbook, and debit card have all gone on a diet. It's like a low carb diet, except it's a low dollar diet. Anything that costs twenty dollars or more isn't on my diet plan.

 

The Weekly WorriesThis week we're conducting an experiment in our house. Each weekend, we reluctantly run errands that total $200 or more. It's depressing. They're not meaningless, bored shopping trips; they're planned trips for essential items.

 

Utilities: What's Mine and What's Theirs?At the moment when the phone line to your home stops working, you don't expect a large bill for repairs. After all, isn't the phone company's responsibility? My company offers a repair plan with a monthly fee; is it worth it?

 

Be SMART About Your MoneyThose who want to manage their money wisely and be smart consumers need only to learn a few basic rules. It's important to teach children these rules so they grow with the ingrained knowledge about how to care for their earnings and avoid difficult fiscal situations.

 

Protecting Yourself from Identity TheftEach year 8.4 million Americans are victims of identity theft. Ask around and it shouldn't be hard to find someone who can recant the tale of stolen identity. Frozen bank accounts, canceled credit cards, and ruined credit; the tales are frightful.

 

Simply Debt FreeThe average American credit card debt is over $5,100. While it may not seem like it, this balance is manageable. Within three yeas it can easily be paid off provided that new charges are not added to the debt.

 

10 Quick Ways To Reduce Your Household BudgetNowadays, the only way to survive with gas and food prices rocketing is to find cost cutting measures for your household budget. My household budget consists of food and cleaning supplies, yard and house maintenance and entertainment and family gifts and clothing.

 

Home Business Tax Deduction ChecklistIf you're running a personal business, you need to keep close fiscal records for each year's income tax. Keep track of both your earnings and your deductions, and save a receipt for everything.

 

Time To Get Organized For 2008 TaxesThis is the time to get organized for your 2008 taxes. Start the year off right! Then at this time next year, you will have all you need.

 

Waiter and Waitress Tips and AdviceTips for waiters and waitresses from the ThriftyFun community. Have ever been a waitperson? Post your advice here.

 

Sale Of Your HomeIf you have a gain from the sale or exchange of your main home, you may be able to exclude from income all or part of the gain.

 

Avoiding the Temptation to SpendIf I watch, really, really watch, I'll be able to pay off my credit card bills within a year. Sound familiar? It's a promise many of us make but few keep. No matter how much we try, we can't stop spending. It's a cycle that catches the best of us. In trying to save we end up spending.

 

White Winter Sale StockupsThe Winter White Sale is a phrase most people have heard, but rare is the person who truly understands it. Linens appear on sale throughout the year, but January often touts the label of White Sale month.

 

Earn Tax Credits and Save EnergyTax returns are a pleasant springtime surprise for many. By cashing in on deductions, one can make that surprise even bigger. One of the deductions to plan for in the upcoming year is the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

 

How Do Credit Unions Stack Up to Other Banks?There are banks, and then there are credit unions. What are these credit unions, and how can they benefit bankers? It's worth the time to take a look at what they have to offer and invest a little money into a credit union as well.

 

Put Away Money Saved Or It's Not Saved At All"A penny saved is a penny earned," said Benjamin Franklin. However, what good is a penny saved if it's spent on something else? Think of it like this: if you purchase a pair of pants on sale for $6 off the ticket price, where does the $6 go?

 

Socially Responsible Investing: Putting Your Money Where Your Heart IsWhat if there was a way to build a sound financial future, while investing in a better world? There is. It's called Socially Responsible Investing, or SRI.

 

Combat the "I Need It" AttitudeThe economy is poor, but that's not the only reason that people are in debt. Other factors play a huge role in the circulating debt that swarms above the homes of America, and one of them is the "I need it" attitude.

 

Leasing or Buying - Which Is for Me?Purchasing a new vehicle can be quite a tedious task requiring much research in order to profit. From researching makes of vehicles to loan rates, the information can be overwhelming.

 

Paying Bills On TimeWhen I receive bills or any correspondence that has to be mailed at a certain time, I save time and aggravation by writing the date due to be mailed where the stamp goes. Only takes a second to let me know it is time to mail something.

 

The Home Equity Loan - Good or Bad?Without delving into the financial cogs that make home equity loans work and by avoiding all of the percentage signs and APR numbers, here's the ultimate question. Are home equity loans good or bad ideas?

 

Four More Things You Should Be Doing but Probably Aren'tIn follow up to the article, "Five Things You Should Be Doing but Probably Aren't" here are four additional tasks that help to prepare for unforeseen events. With a little time invested now, we can avoid hassles in our future. Take the time to complete the tasks that should be done but most likely aren't.

 

Is the Job of Direct Sales for You?Ultimately it was an act of timing. At a time in my career when I was being "downsized" and the looming dread of losing $15,000 of income a year was getting closer, I took on a job of direct sales.

 

Opting for Extra Income Through eBayAn avid fan of eBay, I often wondered about the opportunity that eBay stores offer. For those who are new to eBay, a store is just like what it sounds. Rather than post random items on the site for sale, one opens a "store" and posts all the items there.

 

Watch Those Wholesale Club PricesWhile wholesale clubs (bargain bulk warehouses like Sam's Club, Costco and BJ's) can be full of savings, the shopper must be extra savvy while shopping in them.

 

Stop the Postage HikeSaving money on postage. Postage rates climb every few years, and although $0.39 doesn't seem like a lot consider that three envelopes equals over $1 postage.

 

Ideas to Get Out of DebtI am looking for ideas to get out of debt. I ran across a little plan to get out of debt that really works if you just stick to it.

 

A Penny Saved... The Morning LatteDo you purchase a latte every day on your way to work? Ordering a latte every weekday adds up to $650 over the course of a year.

 

Clean Your House of Clutter and Reevaluate Your SpendingSpring cleaning does more than spruce up the house after a long winter. It allows people to take stock of their belongings and hopefully reevaluate their spending. By forcing yourself to look at where your money is spent, you become aware of where it can be saved.

 

How To Create A Monthly Budget For...Food is not something we can do without. Cutting back on your food bill, though, can leave you with a substantial amount of money left in your pocket at the end of the month.

 

How Much Do You Spend On Eating Out?Do you think that you don't eat out much but can not figure out just where you money is going? It's time to do an experiment to find out just how much you are eating out, how much it is costing you and how much you could have saved by making that meal at home.

 

Altering The Shopping HabitSpontaneous shopping is not only a problem but a habit as well. Have you ever gone shopping because you were bored or because it was a rainy day? This behavior leads to overspending and overcrowding in your home. Instead, follow some rules while shopping to eliminate the desire to purchase.

 

How I Went Broke Saving MoneyI haven't used more than five coupons at the grocery store in the past month, and I don't remember picking up more than a handful of items on sale. I don't "shop around" anymore, and I refuse to "stock up."

 

The Internet Shopping DietIt's hard to resist purchasing items at the store, but resisting on-line is even more difficult. High internet sales suggest that consumers are finding it hard to curb their internet spending appetite. Maybe it's because the internet offers so many great desserts.

 

Product Placement and the Price Customers PayDespite what they say in their advertisements, stores aren't out to save shoppers money. Their business is to make money, and the better they are at doing just that the more profitable the franchise.

 

Donating and DeductingFor anyone who files the family taxes, finding deductions is an effort which gives great rewards. One of the easiest places to find deductions is in tax deductible donations to charities. Any donation made to a non-profit charity can be claimed on income tax as a deduction.

 

Five Things You Should Be Doing but Probably Aren'tPeople hate to think about negative things happening, but it's a fact of life that they happen. The more people prepare for unfortunate events the less stressful these times will be. Here are five simple things that you probably aren't doing but need to be.

 

Back to the Days of Youth: The Adult AllowanceToday is pay day and it's time to dole out the allowances. Remember those youthful days of the weekly allowance? Whoever said you can't be young again? Today on allowance day I have two envelopes - one for me and one for my husband.

 

Why Is My $20 Bill Only Worth $5 Bucks?With a $1000.00 balance on your card and $20.00 minimum payment due ($15.00 will be for interest. Only $5.00 will be for the principal to actually pay down the balance. Your new balance is $995.00. Yep! You paid $20.00, but it was only worth $5.00

 

Debt Crash Diet: Spend LessIn the book Your Money or Your Life, author Joe Dominguez makes the point that money is really an exchange for your life force. Every dime spent, represents the time and energy you spent earning it.

 

Debt Crash Diet: Earn MoreIn order to meet our goal of paying off nearly $20,000 in debt and saving $12,000 in 2006, it was clear that we would have to earn more money.

 

Debt Crash Diet: Plan WellPre-teens are notorious drama queens. (The girls and the boys equally!) There is no easy way to tell them things are going to change drastically. Giving them a couple of months heads up helps.

 

Debt Crash Diet: A Giant Step Toward a Different LifeShaunta Alburger has agreed to write articles for ThriftyFun. This is Part 1 of a 4 part series she has written about her plan to go on a Debt Crash Diet in 2006.

 

Money Making Tips for Stay at Home MomsI myself was a stay-at-home mom when my children were at home. Yet I always managed to afford the same opportunities for my kids as my friends who missed those formative years with their children. I would like to share things which I did to make extra money without being gone every day.

 

Consequences Of Shopping ImpulsivelyQuestions to ask yourself first: DO I NEED IT?...

 

Buying a Home? Be PreparedBuying a home is a great American dream. However, too often first time home buyers (second timers too) save and pay for the purchase, but don't really plan for the ownership.

 

How can I prevent identity theft from happening to me?As with any crime, you can't guarantee that you will never be a victim, but you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information widely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft.

 

Bargain Hunting StrategiesWhether you do your shopping mostly in retail stores, thrift stores, or at garage and yard sales, there are some strategies that will work for you and help you to find a bargain every time!

 

Getting The Most Bang For Your Buck Out Of Your Banking ServicesI realize most people have already made their resolutions for the New Year, but try adding one more. Decide that you are going to get the biggest bang for your buck out of your banking services this year.

 

How to Save Money Without Giving Up the Things You LoveRecently, a close friend wanted to lose weight. He had psyched himself up, and he was ready to go. Until his doctor suggested he had to restrict his calories, that is. "No way!" he said. He left his doctor's office, determined to never return there.

 

Experiences With AmeriDebtBeware of agencies like AmeriDebt to consolidate your debt. Read my daughter's story and feel free to add your own experiences.