How To Save Money On Your Phone Bill

According to the CITA or the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association, there are over 100 companies providing different forms of phone service all across the country. This means you are using one of them at home and in a recession, you have to figure out different ways to save money on your phone bill.

But how do we do that? Well we first have to understand that the different providers offer us land based phones, wireless communication and broadband internet. Some of these companies offer two or three of these services and since the competition is intense, you are sure to find someone who could be offering you a better deal compared to the one you are getting right now.

You will never know when is the best time to switch providers unless you check your phone bills the past few months and see if there has been a significant increase in usage. This increase depends on who you called and the location of the person you contacted.

If you don’t make calls often and still the phone bill is quite high, review the miscellaneous charges. Most of the time, this is subject to tax but if you find this to be too high, perhaps now will be a good time to call your service provider and ask them to explain this further. For those who can’t accept it, now is the time you should consider switching to another provider.

To do that, you have to get a quote from the different service providers and then compare each one. You can get this information by logging on to their company website or calling someone from their office and asking them to send you a quote.

While you are talking to a potential service provider on the phone, ask if there are special rates to new subscribers. They may even have a tie up with a credit card company which will save you money and at the same time earn points.

If you think you have found a better phone provider, one last thing to ask is if there are other charges that will be reflected in the phone bill. Unfortunately, a lot of people forget to ask that before they sign up and then are shocked to see other charges when they get bill.

We mentioned earlier that the frequency of your calls determines how much you pay for month especially when the rates for local and international calls vary.

To save on money for international calls, let the other party call you instead of the other way around. So you don’t spend hours talking on the phone, buy prepaid cards so this will limit the time you spend on the line.

If you have a computer, talk to the other person using the free call service provided by such services such as Skype or Yahoo Messenger. As for those using their mobile phones to place calls, make them during off peak hours because you are charged a lower rate compared to peak hours.

There are ways to save money on your phone bill and it does not always mean having to cancel your current subscription and then switching to another provider. You just have to play it smart by so the money you save can be used for other things like paying for other necessities like electricity, food, gas and clothing.

Saving Money Using The Internet

Are there places you want to go to or even eat but can’t afford to pay full price? Well, maybe this will help because there are ways to save money and still get in. The only thing you have to do is find the time to go online and find it.

The discounts that we are referring to are similar to those discount coupons that you will normally find when you look at the newspaper, magazines or flyer given out by the grocery store. When you are able to find these websites, you have to become a member. You don’t have to pay for anything since registration is free and when something new comes out, you will get a letter in your inbox.

Now that you know the mechanics, it is time to find these sites. To do that, you can type in keywords using a search engine and then just wait for it to come out. One example is to type online discounts and within seconds, you can explore each one until you find something you like.

One thing you have to watch out for when looking for online discounts are fraudulent sites. There are a few online and it is hard to tell the real ones from the fake ones so be careful especially when you are filling up the form and giving certain information about yourself.

If you have friends who also get discounts online, ask them for some referrals so you don’t have to look for these through trial and error.

For people who have not yet found any good discounts, perhaps changing the keywords will bring you better luck. You could type the name of the company you want because there are some retailers who offer discounts to people who buy directly from them rather than from a distributor.

Most of the time, membership to get discounts is easy since the only information they ask is your full name and email address. As a member, you may even get certain benefits such as rebate scheme which earns you points that you can redeem on other purchases.

But not all sites require you to become a member. There are some that will give it out for free and the only thing you have to do is print it out and then present this to the store.

Is it really possible to get discount coupons online? The answer is yes because there are hundreds of retailers online which are now using the web to market themselves since it is much cheaper to sell goods online rather than doing it conventionally by putting up a store.

So you don’t embarrass yourself when you present a discount coupon, be sure to check its validity. Some discounts are offered for a short period of time while there are others that can be redeemed for the next few months. If the coupon is expired, try to get in touch with someone from their company to ask if you can still use it.

There are ways to save money and if you think that you can only get it from brochures, flyers or the newspaper, think again because some companies are now offering the same thing online. You just have to find it, print these out and then present this when you want to make a purchase.

6 Ways Anyone Can Save Money

No matter where you look at it, there will be always ways to save money if the person has the will do so. If you are one of those who are trying to come up with ways to save money in this unstable economy, it is best to start with developing a simple lifestyle. When you are able to do this, the rest will follow. But, if you are one of those who are not sure where to start, here are some eight simple ways to save money.

1. Cut down on grocery or shopping sprees. Although buying groceries is a necessity, this doesn’t mean that there’s no opportunity for you to save. The best thing that you can do before going to a supermarket is to conduct an inventory on your supplies. This will help you determine how much more you have and can help you estimate the period of time that these supplies will last. After knowing what are the things that you need, make a list to prioritize the items that are of utmost importance. The same thing can be applied when shopping for clothes and other accessories.

To save money, the key is to limit expenses on the items that you really need and keep whatever cash you have at hand. Try not to buy something that just tickles your fancy and if possible, limit your trips to the supermarket or boutiques to veer away from the temptation of buying something. If you are able to do this, you will save at least $20 every time.

2. Make adjustments to your withholding. People who are getting tax refunds every, they are the ones who are giving a free loan to the government. To save some money, you can adjust your withholding so the difference can be taken for your home pay.

3. Get as many coupons as you can. These days, coupons are not only applicable to just groceries only. In fact, major establishments such as restaurants, cinemas and even boutiques accept and give out coupons to its customers to offer a discount. If you keep these coupons, you can get a little discount on establishments that you usually go to.

4. Avoid using your own car. With the gas price hike, you can save lots of money if you take advantage of public transportation or even carpools. Aside from saving some money on gas, you can also save some since you wont have to pay for the car’s maintenance and parking anymore.

5. Take time to audit your own bills. Before, people are used to just paying whatever amount the bill states. But since there can be major discrepancies in these, it is best if you audit your charges once in a while. Auditing is best for telephone bills since some charges are being repeated, thus, making you pay for calls you didn’t actually make. Auditing can also be applied for your credit card bills since many companies add hidden charges.

6. Conserving energy means saving money. Many people do not realize it but one of the best ways to save money is to save energy. It is unfortunate that many people still don’t realize that leaving an electric appliance plugged to the electricity outlet means that appliance still consumes almost 20 percent of the electricity it consumes while it is turned on. So, to save money as well as energy through electricity makes it a habit to unplug cables from their outlets when not in use.

Save Money & Stay Fit With Yoga At Home

More and more experts agree that one of the ways to save money for fitness buffs out there is to learn and practice yoga at home. Aside from helping them to be disciplined in doing yoga exercises at their most convenient time, doing yoga at home can also help them cut down their expenses when going to fitness centers and paying for yoga classes and instructors for something that they can do by themselves.

The best alternative

No matter how hard a yoga practitioner tries to attend each session or class, there are always those times that they are caught up with their association with the outside world such as work schedules and even budget constraints. For those who are trying to save some money but would still want to continue practicing yoga, the best alternative would be learning and practicing it at home with the help of yoga videos.

These days, yoga videos are proven to be helpful and practical alternative because these can be very useful tools especially in getting started with the exercise. And with the help of modern technology now, most of the yoga video collections are available to be ordered not just in fitness stores but online as well.

For starters, you can choose from a wide selection of yoga instructional videos such as “Total Yoga: The Flow Series” by Tracey Rich and Ganga White, “Yoga Zone” by Alan Finger, “Living Yoga, A.M./P.M.” by Rodney Yee and Paticia Walden, “Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies” by Sara Ivanhoe, “Yoga: Mind & Body” by Ali MacGraw; “Crunch Yoga Mama: Prenatal Yoga”; “Yoga Practice for Strength” a Yoga Journal by Rodney Yee; “Ashtanga Yoga” by Richard Freeman; “The Power of Hatha Yoga” by Naader Shagagi; and “Kundalini Yoga: With Grace and Strength” by Carol Carlson.

These yoga videos are not only suitable for beginners but also to intermediates, and experienced practitioners because these videos feature highly exercises and effective yoga postures and positions. If you are online, you can choose from an assortment of which can also as an inspiration for you to enhance your practice. These videos are also a great substitute when you feel terrible in missing a single class.

But before buying any yoga video or any fitness video for that matter to save money, you might want to consider your:

– space since a specific yoga video may teach advance postures that would eat up a space in your home;

– personal inclination and comfort since you will be doing the sessions on your own. If you have chosen to get into yoga, then you better choose a yoga video that can complement your basic knowledge on the exercise.

– goals and your objectives on what you want to achieve since this will help you get going. If you think that you need to learn the discipline to promote control of the body and mind, then better get a good yoga kit that include at least a set of basic yoga videos.

Although learning and practicing yoga at home is one of the best ways to save money, make sure that you have the heart and the discipline to go through it. Remember, there will be no instructors to guide you so it is a must that you know within yourself what you should so you will continue practicing yoga even if you are at home.

Working At Home

When one thinks of ways to save money, it is very seldom that one would come up with a business. Why? It is because coming up with one would require a certain sum of money as well as time and effort. But for those who are thinking of long term benefits, coming up with a business—especially those that are hone-based—would help them save lots of money in the long run.

How can home business help you save money?

Yes, coming up with a business would require one a lot of investment. But, did you know that you could save money by just coming up with one? This is because you will be able to save money from everyday expenses when you are working in an office.

The first thing that you would cut down some costs is transportation. If you own a car, you can save lots of money just by not spending on gas. Can you imagine how much you can save if you are not using your car off to work or in going to places that is related to your job? And, if you can handle it, you can even sell your car since you won’t be using it that much because you have to stay at home to manage your business.

Aside from transportation costs, you can also save some money by not spending so much on clothing and other things that you need in order to look good in an office setting. Many people who work in offices are obliged to wear corporate attires that would cost a lot of money. Can you imagine how much you can save when you don’t have to buy a skirt or blouse to use? Or how much money you can save when you don’t have to buy a new pair of shoes or a bag just to match your outfit?

Operating your own business at home can also help you save money because you will be veered from the temptations outside. Although this would mean that you have to give up your nightlife or everyday lifestyle but imagine how much money can you save when you don’t have to spend so much on foods that you will eat in a restaurant or the drinks you will order from the bars.

The easiest options

Aside from saving money, having a business at the comforts of your home can also be the perfect job for you since you will be in control of your own working patterns. Imagine, when you prefer to make money from home, you can set your own working hours. And if you are just looking for one, there will be no need for resumes, job interviews, dress codes and slave driver bosses.

If you are one of those who are thinking of ways to save money though a business, the most viable option for you are those that are related online. With Internet, almost everything became virtually available. This is the reason why more and more people decide on operating online home businesses because there are so many target markets here. Some of the online business options you can work on would include writing for online sites, selling products online and offering services online.

Aside from these, there are so many opportunities available online for you to explore. But, if ever you decide to put up a business at home as one of the ways to save money, make sure that you consider very well the pros and cons in working all on your own so you won’t have any regrets in the end.

How To Save Real Money Purchasing Items On Sale

In this time and age, who wouldn’t love a sale? People of all ages and statures love going on a sale because this is one of the best ways to save money.

During a sale, items such as clothing, accessories, shoes, make up and even perfume are slashed into prices one cannot imagine. This is the reason why many people go gaga once a season sale has been announced. In fact, there are those people who even have a list of the dates when they favorite stores or boutiques will go on sale and would make sure that they will be there on the first day no matter what.

Unlike before where women are only known to go crazy over sale, there is a growing population of men who also rush to stores and department stores during a sale because they know that they will save a relatively huge sum of money.

But, how exactly one can save money during a sale? Here are some of the realizations how one saves money when she or he opts to go on a sale. People who shop during sale season are:

1. Able to buy quality items for a lower price. This is the aim of almost all people who go on a sale. In some stores, they even give as high as 80 percent discount for their items when they are on sale. If you are one of those who are eyeing for good and quality finds, try going on store during its sale season.

2. Offered many choices and alternatives. Unlike on regular days where you only have limited options due to budget constraint, your world can be opened up to as many choices as possible when you go on a sale. Here, since many stores would want to sell their items, you can find pieces that can be bought for less than its original worth. Since the trend during sale—especially on malls—is to have a mall-wide sale, you can hop from one store to another and still find something that will make your day.

3. Find designer items for less. Many people, even the affluent ones, look forward to sale season because this is the best time to but designer items for less. Can you imagine buying a designer item such as a bag or a pair of shoes with a slashed down into half? Think of Prada bags, Guess jeans, and Blahnik shoes that you can buy for lesser prices than their regular prices. You can also buy designer perfumes, make-ups, and other designer item that you can treasure for the rest of the year.

4. Purchase many items within a budget. There are also those people who look forward to sale because they would want to buy as many pieces of items within their limited budget. During sale season, there are greater chances for you to buy two new whole outfits in a price of one during the regular season. You can also buy basic items in twos during the sale season without having to compromise quality.

Although sales are one of the best ways to save money, don’t let it alter your personal taste. If you can, always try to be original but innovative. Do not purchase items just because it is cheap but buy things that you really like in cheaper price. If you can’t find anything that suit to your tastes, don’t get depressed because there is always the next time.

Ways to save money during a recession

There is no doubt that times are hard. And though you are not part of the pack who have lost their jobs in recent months, you’d still feel the crunch when prices are sky high and you just understand why money is harder to come by these days. You are not probably thinking of ways to either earn additional income or ways to save money.

This is especially true for those who are used to having part time jobs that supplement their income. Right now, additional jobs are harder to come by. Not only are their fewer jobs, there are also plenty of competition and frankly, employers will prioritize those who do not have day jobs.

But saving money is actually not as difficult as people make it out to be. Like everything else, it’s all about discipline. If you are committed to the task and you can do anything you want, even manage to squeeze in all your expenses into one measly budget and have enough left to put in the bank. Here are some of the ways on how to save money that you never really thought of.

1. Mind the plug
One of the biggest wastage that people do is their electricity. You don’t realize it but you are probably paying far more for your electricity that what you are supposed to be not because of the cost of electricity but because you have managed to waste those watts when you forget to unplug the appliance or you have left the lights on even when nobody is there already. By changing the schedule of your laundry and your ironing, you can already make a lot of changes in your bills and therefore save tons of money. All you need to do is to always remember. Besides, you will not only save money but you will also be able to help lessen the problems on energy.

2. Skip the coffee
If you are the coffee addict and you just can’t go through the day without the cappuccino, curb the habit. If you can’t, at least resolve to have that cup of coffee inside the house and not buy it from Starbucks or other coffee shops. Coffee there are just so expensive and it is an absolute crime to spend money on just a single cup of coffee, something that you will be able to do at home. Lessen your trips to the coffee shops and you will find that you have a room in your monthly budget.

3. Take a walk or the sub
If you are so used to taking the taxi to work, now is the time to start walking and riding the sub. It’s not actually so hard. You just need to wake a little bit early so that you will have enough time to walk. Although it will definitely take more effort, commuting offers a lot of advantages. If you are on the plump side, you can already lose a lot of pounds when you do it. You can even forgo with your gym class because you are already getting the exercise that you need from it. If you are the fashionista, commuting can provide you with the chance to display your fashion sense.

Just imaging traipsing through the sidewalks of California or Manhattan. It will be a wonderful way to save that money.

How To Save Money On Your Water Bill

Water conservation is a must these days because even if it is abundant, this is something we have to pay for as reflected in the water bill. Just like electricity and gas, this may go up or down on a monthly basis so you should know the different ways to save money for this utility.

The first way to save money will be to check for leaks. You can do this by inspecting the pipes under your kitchen sink or the pipes in your basement. Another test to check for leaks will be to turn off your water and inspect the rest of the house.

Another place that leaks frequently is the bathroom. The best way to check if there is a leak here is to use some food coloring and if the color should spread, it means one of the pipes has a problem and this should either be repaired or replaced.

While you are still in the bathroom, check your toilet . By placing a water bottle in the tank, you get to consume half the volume of water that you used to consume whenever you have to flush it.

People who have a water heater know that it takes time before warm water comes out of the shower. You can speed up the time it takes for the water to get warmer by insulating the pipes so hot water comes out once you turn on the knob.

Another way to save money will be to replace the old shower head with one of the water saving models and your faucet with a low flow faucet aerator. These things are not new and if you visit the hardware store, you will see the different models to choose from so just pick from the selection which one is the best value for your money.

Whenever you wash the dishes or take a shower, turn off the faucet first until it is time to rinse. The same goes when you are shaving or brushing your teeth because this can save 10 to 20 gallons of water which is a huge savings again on your water bill.

If you have to use the dishwasher or the washing machine, make sure to do it only when you have a full load. We all know that this is sometimes not possible so when this happens, adjust the water level so you will only use the correct volume rather than wasting it.

As for water from the washing machine, don’t just throw it away and instead use it to water the plants, clean the car or wash the driveway.

Unlike other things that you spend on, you can’t expect to switch from one water provider to another since there is only one in a given area. This means that you have to practice the different ways to save money so you don’t have to pay that much the next time you get your water bill.

If you review the different ways to save money as mentioned, these are things that anyone can do so you shouldn’t have any problems. In fact, leaks are normal due to wear are tear and this can be avoided if you inspect your pipes on a regular basis or have a local plumber do it.

How To Save Money At Home

With the global financial crisis that the world faces today, it is only natural for people to think of ways how to save money. Some do it by cutting down their expenses on their basic needs while other save money by making wise decisions about their investments.

If you are one of those who are thinking of ways to save money, the best place to start is at home. For people who spend most of their time at home, they have all the opportunities to save money through simple acts of conservation. For those who are barely at home, they can save money by having time to stay at home and do the things that they are used to do outside inside the confines of their abode. Here are some of the ways on how one can save money at home:

1. Cook and dine at home. People who are barely at home don’t realize it but eating out is one of the biggest chunks in their budget. This is because eating out would mean that you would be paying not only for your food but also for its preparation, the venue where you are eating it, the people who serve it to you and other additional taxes that the establishment charge you. If you cook and dine at home, you will save more money since you won’t be paying for these charges and you can even choose the ingredients for your food. Also, eating at home can also pave the way for healthier food choices not only for yourself but

2. Watch movies at home. Although watching is cinemas is not considered as a luxury, it can be if you do it too often. In these times of financial crisis, one of the best ways to save money is to stay at home to watch a movie. You can rent video cds of your favorite movies and watch it anytime of the day. The best thing about this is that you can do everything you want while watching the movie and nobody will make a fuss over it. And, unlike in the cinema where you are forced to finish a movie even if you don’t like it, at home, you can turn it off without regrets since you have not paid much for it.

3. Turn off appliances when not in use. Many people still don’t realize it but leaving appliances plugged to their outlets add up to the electricity bill since the appliance still consumes electricity. To save on electric bill, develop habit of unplugging appliance when not in use. Aside from saving up on electricity, you are also veering yourself as well as your family members out of the harm’s way when an accident happens that is caused by the appliance.

4. Invite friends to your house. This is one of the best ways to save money especially to younger people who are used to go out with their friends at night. Instead of meeting up your friends in some place, say a restaurant or a bar, why don’t you invite them at home and prepare something for them? in this way, you will save some money since you won’t have to pay for an entrance fee and for a drink in a bar or you won’t have to pay so much for the food that you won’t actually eat.

Save Money Giving Personalized Gifts

These days, one of the best ways to save money is to avoid buying things or items that you can make yourself. Through this, you have the control over the entire product as well as of the outcome of it. You can apply this when giving out gifts for people during special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, baptismal, or even in specific seasons such as Christmas, Valentines, or Thanksgiving.

Different people, different gift ideas

For many people, nothing beats the uniqueness and thoughtfulness of the person who gives out personalized gifts. And why not? Personalized gifts are made from the sincerity and creativity of one person. If you have the artistic knack and the time to create personalized gifts for the people close to your heart, the major consideration should include the age, the gender, and the personality of the individual. Here are some personalized gift ideas that are appropriate for age, gender, and even preferences.

For special someone—girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, husbands, or partners—something with a sentimental touch would do the work. For women, guys can give them a home-made perfume, a bouquet of flowers from your garden and you personally arrange, a fancy dinner wherein you cook the meals by yourself, an out-of-town trip where you will spend the money that you took time to earn, or a piece of accessory that you made by yourself. Women on the other hand can also give their respective partners custom made shirts and other apparels, memorabilia from their favorite sports teams, and a personal scrapbook of memories.

For grandparents, something that they can use will do. You can give your grandfather a coffee mug with his name scribbled in it or a special fountain pen with his name or favorite phrase engraved on it. For your grandma, make a slipper with her name on it or a commemorative plate with the photos of her grandchildren on it.

For your parents, something that will remind you of them will do. Give your mom items that she can use in the home such as a kitchenware, a quilt with your family’s memories, or a new set blankets of her favorite color. Personalized everyday items such as towels, pens, mugs, ashtray, or cigarette case are perfect gifts for your dad.

For your siblings, something that matches their personalities and preferences will do. You can give your male siblings a personalized shirt with his favorite image on it, accessories of his favorite material and color, and an autographed CD of his favorite band or artist. For the girls, give her cute and sentimental stuff such as her favorite book with the author’s signature on it, a personalized key chain or jewelry box.

For your cousins, give them something that would remind you both of your childhood days such as mugs, photo albums, key chains, stuffed toys, pens, and notebooks.

For your friends, something that will match their individual personalities, hobbies, and interests would do or general gift ideas like personalized picture frame with your best photos on it, a scrapbook that contains all of your fond memories since you have met, and something that you both love or share.

However, not all people have the time and the innate artistic knack to create a personalized gift. But, despite time constraints, getting gifts from stores that offer personalized pieces is also one of the best ways to save money on instead of buying the generic yet expensive ones.