Personal Finance and Money Management

Saving money is something that most people look forward to, is a must if they want to buy something, and is something that can be done very easily.  Finding good deals on everything we buy would be nice, but what people don’t know is that it’s possible.

Stop spending pull price on everything, and start hitting the sales and start saving money!  Continue reading below to find out how you can save on everything you buy!

Food – Food is something we cannot live without, therefore we must spend money on it.  Start shopping with coupons (and use GroceryGame), use a smaller cart, buy what’s on sale, and stock up when items are on sale.  It is so easy to buy what’s not on sale, but really if you make this a habit you’ll spend much more than you need to.

Clothing – Clothing is another thing that needs to be updated, and shopped for occasionally.  Start considering thrift stores, shop from clearance racks, and shop for the opposite season.  You can find the best deals for summer clothes in the winter, and the best deals on winter clothes in the summer.  Also, shopping at an outlet mall is where I find the best deals.

Electronics – Whether you’re looking for a new MP3 player, TV, xBox, etc, there are several ways to save money.  When I find the best deals I find them using , shopping with a coupon, or around the holidays when they’re on sale.  Also, check out the website Buxr.com to find the best deals!

Vacations – Vacations are something that we rarely take because of the price, but if you start searching for the good deals, you will be able to take them much more often.  Book ahead of time, and start using the website .

Gas – Gas for our cars is another expense that we hate paying for.  Several of us spend the majority of our paycheck on it!  Start using a gas credit card.  You can find a great list of these at .  I have the Discover card and I save 5% on my gas purchases.  What’s great about this is I’ve been able to redeem the money saved for gift cards or cash!

Bills – Are your bills keeping you strapped on cash?  If so, try to eliminate the ones that aren’t necessary or do some downgrading.  For instance, if you have HD channels for TV and you have a high cable bill, downgrade.  Or if you have a cell phone and land line phone, consider getting rid of the land line if you don’t use it.

There are several different ways to save money as you can see from above.  So, if you’re strapped on cash, stop paying full price on things or spending more than you have to.  Consider a few of these tips above, and start saving more than ever!

Handling the money that we make can sometimes be the hardest thing to do.  There is impulse buying, things that need to be replaced, and a retirement that needs to be planned for.  Although there are several distractions that keep us in the way of obtaining our goals, saving money and handling well is possible.

Most of America handles their money poorly, and continues to make the same mistakes which lead them farther away from their goals.  Are you guilty of these common money mistakes?

My money keeps vanishing - Somehow our money keeps vanishing.  We don’t know where it goes, or how it happens but when it does, it leaves us with hardly any money left to save, if any at all.  Does this sound like you?  If so, you really need to consider making a budget at the beginning of each money.  This will help keep track of where your money goes, what you’re buying, and will help you save enough to put away.

My children’s budget keeps growing – So your child first needs diapers, formula, a place to stay, all new clothes, baby items, etc.  Now, they are begging you for the latest toys that come out, a new car, and are hinting at you to save for their college education.  When you have all this coming at you, you will realize that your child’s budget keeps growing.  Instead of saving money for yourself, you’re spending it on your children.  Keep things basic for them, buy used, and have them start saving for their future.

I have a checking account, and somewhat of a savings – So, you have a checking account and a savings account at the same bank.  This may sound good and convenient but most likely you have it at a typical bank collecting hardly any interest.  The best way to make money is off of your money.  What’s better than making money while you sleep, and while you’re doing nothing?  Start taking advantage of these interest rates you can qualify for!

I use my credit card for just about everything – It’s okay to use your credit card.  In fact, I encourage you to.  It helps raise your credit score, and you will find that you get rewards, rewards that you wouldn’t get with using cash.  Although are you responsible with your credit card?  Do you pay the full balance off each month?  If so, good for you!  If not, you already know you need to work on this.  If you can’t use a credit card wisely, you will need to consider a secured credit card!

Spending and saving money can be the hardest thing to do.  We have so many things we need to save up for, but knowing you can buy what you want without even having the money to pay for it is tempting.  Stop making these money mistakes, and start planning for the things that really matter in life!

So, you’ve decided that enough is enough, and you’re ready for the road to filing bankruptcy.  If there’s nothing that you can do about your debts, this may be the only road you can take.  Let’s just hope that you can learn from your mistakes in the past, and can turn it around in the future.

Before you file for bankruptcy, you’ll want to make sure that you need to file.  Be sure to read our recent post on “”

STEP ONE:  Make sure this is the right choice

Bankruptcy isn’t the only option when it comes to filing.  There are so many other things that you can do to avoid this.  If you’re only a few thousand dollars in debt, it doesn’t make sense to file.   Instead, you’ll want to make sure that you know what you’re getting yourself into.  Bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for at least 7 years, and can prevent you from getting a mortgage, as well as a loan.

STEP TWO: What kind of bankruptcy are you going to do?

There are a few types of bankruptcies.  The most common types are Chapter 7, as well as Chapter 13.  A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a straight forward bankruptcy, where you won’t owe anyone anything.  A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is when you can work out some sort of credit plan with your creditors.

STEP THREE:  Get a lawyer

I can’t stress this enough, and you will hear horror stories about this.  If you don’t get a lawyer that specializes in bankruptcies, you’re going to find that you’re going to be going down a dangerous path.  Make sure that you get a lawyer that can assist you with your process.  It will make it a lot easier for you, trust me.

STEP FOUR:  Price compare your lawyer

Now that you decided to get a lawyer, you’ll want to price compare at least 3-5 lawyers.  Get their fee, and price schedule to know what you’re going to pay.  If it helps, make sure you get a reference as well.  You won’t want to deal with someone that doesn’t know what they are doing, or talking about.

STEP FIVE:  Prepare for your lawyer

The next thing that you want to do is gather up all of your debts.  You’ll want to gather your most recent statements, so that your lawyer can contact them, and let them know what’s going on.  This is one of the main reasons you want a lawyer to do this job is because you will no longer receive the pesky phone calls, and other things that relate to your debts.

STEP SIX:  Wait out the process

As you wait for time to go by, your lawyer is going to do all the dirty work with the creditors, and such.  If any creditor wants to come back, and sue you during this time, they can.  This is why it’s important to have all of your ducks in a row with your creditors.  Once everything gets situated, your lawyer will most likely file, and it may take months for your process to claim, depending on the courts.

Obviously bankruptcy is a little more complex than this, but this should give you a good idea on where you will stand.  I can’t stress to you enough to get a lawyer for business like this.  As long as you think you should file, I would do so, and consult with a professional.

Debt is something that millions of people are in.  Whether we own money on our house, our vehicle, or it’s racked up in credit card bills, it’s still debt.  Debt isn’t a good feeling, and is something we always think about.  If you’re looking to get out of debt, you can start doing that right now.  Get out of debt, change your life and do it fast and easy.

How to Get Out of Debt Fast and Easy:

Pay off your credit cards first, and pay off as much as you can each month instead of the minimum. Stop buying Full Article