You Have More Money in Your Pocket Than You Think

You Have More Money in Your Pocket Than You Think... by Gabriel Nijmeh

Let me be the first person to say, Why wasn't I smarter with my money? I look back over the years in amazement at how my money innocently slipped through my hands.

Ultimately, beyond those fleeting moments of gratification, I can't really say I have much to show for some of my misspent money. I certainly don't want to be a killjoy or anything and I don't advocate being a penny-pinching scrooge that doesn't enjoy life but there are small, yet significant steps you can take to keep more money in your pocket.

Just off the top of my head I came up with these and you can probably add a heck of a lot more to the list. Here we go:

Bank Service Charges:

We all know how our banks love to nickel and dime us. For reasons such as not maintaining a $1000 monthly balance or using another banks ATM machine. Whatever the reason these small fees quickly add up over time. Pay attention to your bank statements and review all bank documentation regarding service fees. You are looking at savings of $4 to $15/month.

Magazine/newspaper subscriptions:

Visit your local library or subscribe to magazines that offer professional/courtesy subscriptions. Tradepub.com lists various free publications across a range of subjects. Otherwise, carefully pick and choose the magazines you really want to subscribe to and look out for introductory subscription rates.

Stop smoking:

Preachy, I know... but that's a lot of money going up in smoke (pun intended!). Not only is this good for your wallet but for your health as well and if you are applying for life insurance, your premiums will be lower because you are classified as a lower risk individual. At $4 a pack and two packs a week that's $32/month.

Telephone services:

Do you need all those bundled services (call waiting, call answer, call forward). Pick only the services you absolutely need otherwise save at least $5-10/month.

Books and CDs:

Why pay full price when you can get a gently used or previously enjoyed copy of that best seller for a fraction of the price. I have bought CDs from local used CD stores that were almost brand new and saved $8-9 off the retail price for each CD.

Rebate Programs:

Always take advantage of rebate programs. It might be a hassle to fill out the forms and send them off but your savings will add up. Check out Rebateplace.com or AsmartShop.com

Coffee/Muffin mornings:

I'm guilty of this? I have to have my morning coffee (the office coffee is not very good) but at least I've learned to cut back on the muffins and donuts. At $3.00/day over the course of a month you are looking at a potential saving $60.

Lunch:

I finally stopped being lazy and started preparing my own lunch. Not only is it expensive but also fast food is not entirely healthy either. If you save on average $5/day that adds up to $100 for the month.

Sales patterns:

In my experience, Christmas merchandise is discounted 50% or more a day or two before Christmas and following Christmas.

Also consider buying seasonal products (boots, winter/summer clothing) as the seasons change. At times it might be difficult to find your exact size or colour but luckily that's usually not the case. We're talking savings of 40-60% and sometimes even more.

Case in point, I bought a leather jacket from Eddie Bauer last spring which was regularly priced at $498, and which was reduced to $199 and then further reduced by 30% during their annual spring sale. What made the deal even sweeter was that I had a $75 gift certificate, which I earned through MyPoints.com. Not a bad deal and one, which I'm proud of because I don't really have shoppers luck. As much as I like a deal, I can never find exactly what I'm looking for... maybe I'm too picky.

Something else I noticed where I live, gas prices are usually at their lowest Thursday through Monday and by Monday afternoon gas prices go up 5 - 8 cents per liter. However, pay attention to price patterns and news in the gas industry to have an understanding about where gas prices are heading and how it might affect you.

Month end recap:

By the end of the month, depending on your lifestyle choices and spending habits, you just might end up with an extra $50, $100 or more that you thought you never had. You can do it without depriving yourself and without a noticeable difference in your day-to-day life.

It's a balance between living for today and planning for the future. It's not always easy but it's worth it!

Think of these little sacrifices as an investment, which will reap you multiple rewards many times over.

Gabriel is the editor and Webmaster of The Money Advisor - http://www.the-money-advisor.com. He believes that everyone is capable of controlling their financial destiny with the right combination of rich thinking and smart action. The Money Advisor, a knowledge network of people, articles, tips, e-books and ideas about making money, saving money and building wealth!

Who Needs Cash When There's Electronic Money!Merle

It's a new world. Gone are the days of writing paper checks and entering credit card numbers. Now with the click of a mouse you can pay anyone anywhere, anytime, or you can receive payments yourself without a merchant account. All you need is the right service and an email address.

There are so many electronic payment services on the Net today, if you're not taking advantage of them you're missing out on a fast, simple way to move money around. If you're selling products or services online, adding one or more of these payment processes to your site will give your visitors more options and possibly result in more sales for you.

Let's examine some of the Top Players a little more closely:

1) PayPal http://www.PayPal.com

PayPal has to be the most popular of the payment services available by far. They offer three different account types: Personal, which has a limit of 100.00 per month in credit card payments; Premier, for those in need of high transactions (which means you need to accept a large number of credit card payments); and Business accounts, which are intended for business use only. A business account includes the ability to accept payment from your website and use of PayPal's shopping cart along with your own ATM/Debit card which allows you to access your funds at any local bank or use the debit card like a credit card at any store.

Fees: For Premier accounts these are 2.2% of each transaction plus $.30. Business users pay 2.9% per transaction plus $.30. There are no transaction fees for personal accounts. They do allow International payments for some countries; check the site for details.

2) BidPay: http://www.BidPay.com

Owned by Western Union and devised to make paying for online auctions easier. Basically, when you open an account with them you purchase money orders that they send out to pay for any auctions you may have won. Cannot handle transactions over $700.00. The money orders are mailed out within 24 hours. Emails are sent to the buyer and seller once payment is on its way. All payments under $100.00 are charged a $5.00 flat fee. Money orders between $100.01 and $700.00 are charged $5.00 +2.25% of the face value of the money order. International access allowed but limited to certain areas.

3) Yahoo Pay Direct http://PayDirect.yahoo.com

Send and receive money anywhere in the US with only an email address. You can transfer money to and from your online account with a credit card or from your offline bank. U.S. accounts only with no fees of any kind to use the service. The minimum amount of money you can send is $5.00 and the max is $200.00 -- that is, until you respond to a special verification mailing from them, after which they up your limit to $1,000.00

4) C2IT : http://www.C2It.com

This service is a part of Citibank, and when you register with them you'll receive a $10.00 sign up bonus. This one can be used to send cash to anyone in the U.S. with only an e mail address. Funds can be drawn from a credit card or your offline bank as well. Fees range depending on the type of transaction. Sending cash from your C2it account will cost you 1.00% of the transaction amount with a minimum. of .50. To transfer funds from your linked bank account to any linked account 1.60% of transaction with a .50 minimum. Requesting a check will run you $3.00. You must be a resident of the United States to use this service.

As you can see, there are many options available to you for moving cash around the Net quickly and easily. Personally, I use PayPal and have found the majority of people I encounter on the Internet have a PayPal account. You'll want to take into account a service's popularity before deciding on which one is just right for you.

Moving money electronically is a beautiful thing! And that you can take to the bank -- literally!

Merle http://www.EzineAdAuction.com Where some of the BEST Deals in Ezine Advertising are Made Buy & Sell Ezine Ads in a live auction setting! Publishers sell off your excess inventory and Buyers pick up some Fantastic bargains. Go now.

INTELLIGENT INVESTINGStephen R. Renfrow

Talk at the cooler about investing, is usually around Stocks.
Although I make money in Commodities, there is a safe way -
that banks and investment houses use, but they won't tell You!

How about a product that returns 12 - 42%, is 100% insured and
backed by the assets of the wealthiest institutions on the planet.
Your banker takes your CD money and invests in this vehicle.
Now you can turn the tables with this special insurance contract.

Earn ROR equivalent to, or exceeding, the equity markets!
Without any market risk or risk to principal - Guaranteed!!!

Its called a Viatical Settlement - and here is how it works.

Viatical Settlement - the sale of a life insurance policy at a
discounted rate to a group of investors by a person who is in
the advanced stages of a terminal illness.

The Investors hold the policy and receive the full face value of
the policy at maturity. A win-win situation. The viator is able
to enjoy the cash proceeds of his policy while still alive, and
the investor receives substantial returns that have been g'teed
by a major life insurance co. as well as the state's g'tee fund.
This means it's safer than a bank CD for amounts over $100,000.

Imagine ... NO exposure to downside risk! So instead of 4.75%
return on a CD you can receive 3 times as much, with no risk to
your principal or earnings on that principle. They are so safe
they qualify for placement in IRA, 401K, and Keogh private plans.

Maturities are available from 12 - 36 months, and are taxed as
capital gains when they mature.

CAVEAT: Do Not use contestable or policies that offer to buy
back annually or at maturity. They are more likely unregistered
securities. Ask only for one who represents a viatical settlement
provider who is licensed, bonded, insured. Make sure the policies
are raditional, conforming, non-contestable viatical
settlements.

Isn't it time you join the professionals? Your Banker won't tell
you! Nor your Insurance Broker or Attorney! Not even your Fund or
Trust Manager! For more info on Viatical Settlements and reputable
firms, please visit this page;

http://www.quackwatch.com/02ConsumerProtection/viatical.html

Stephen R. Renfrow, a Freelance Writer from Florida
is also Director of Consolidated Investors Group and
creator of the HOME BIZ NETWORK http://www.homebiznet.nu