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Frugal Simplicity is a frugal blog about the various aspects of frugal living and living on less: Frugal living tips, how to be frugal, coupons, coupon codes, printable coupons, freebies and free stuff, better budgeting, money saving tips, simple living, cheap living, budget tips, and frugal recipes.
Frugal Simplicity – It’s Not Just About Saving Money, It’s a Way of Life! Let’s Be Frugal!
Times are tough for a lot of people. Even people with jobs are finding it difficult to just get by – to pay the bills and put food on the table. Perhaps an unexpected illness or accident depleted your savings. Maybe you need cash now for something important but you don’t get paid until next week. Maybe your credit isn’t the best and you can’t get a small loan.
If you find yourself in a situation where you absolutely need cash now and you simply have no other options, then I highly suggest trying the method shown below. You’ll usually be able to quickly get the cash you need for your financial emergency, without having to wait.
To be clear: Those that know me know that I do not advocate using what’s known as payday loans because the repayment interest is usually higher than what you’d pay with a regular bank type loan or if you used a credit card. But if you are in need of cash NOW and you can’t get a loan and you can’t use a credit card, then by all means use this method if you have no other options open to you. Simply try to pay it back as quickly as possible. Sometimes a person is only needing cash but they don’t get paid until a week later, etc.
The following method for borrowing cash is simple and short – so if you need cash NOW, fill it out and you should know sometihng very quickly. Good luck!
Do you want to get in on the extreme couponing craze that seems to be sweeping the nation in these money-conscious times? Couponing may seem overwhelming to consider at first – who has time to clip, organize, and calculate coupons? You do! It doesn’t have to take a tremendous amount of time, and the money saved (if it’s done efficiently) is said to be worth it.
Here are some coupon tips!
How Do I Do This?
Organization is the key to effective couponing. Experienced couponers suggest the following organizational tips:
* Get a coupon book or notebook. Organize it alphabetically, by item type, according to your store’s layout, etc. You might want a special section for items that are on special on shopping day. Do whatever works for you and helps minimize time spent standing in the store trying to fish through coupons.
* Know your store’s specials, discounts, and coupon policies. Some stores routinely double coupons; others do so periodically or for certain items.
* Count on anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour to prepare for your shopping trip – this includes clipping, downloading, printing and organizing your coupons and studying up on your store’s deals.
Where Do I Find Coupons?
You can find coupons at a surprising variety of places. There are electronic ones, paper ones, coupons stuck to the outside of products or printed on the inside of boxes, and so forth. Here are some ideas.
1. Websites
Coupon websites can offer printable coupons, sometimes in conjunction with your store’s current deals. Here is a partial list of some well-known coupon sites:
If your store has a website, visit it and see if there are places where you can sign up or join. Some stores offer electronic coupons that you can upload onto a card that is scanned at check-out. Also, when you begin participating in a store’s coupon program and upload various deals, they may send you coupons in the mail or electronically. You can even sign up for electronic notice of store specials.
2. Flyers
Your local newspaper and other local publications are a great place to look for coupons. Flyers are also a great way to see what’s on special at your store.
3. Product Sites
If you visit your favorite products’ websites, look for coupons offered there. If, for example, you like sauce made by The Hot Sauce Company, you can do an internet search for “The Hot Sauce Company coupons.”
Know When it’s Not Worth It
The point of couponing is saving. If you find yourself spending a lot of time and gas money driving long distances between stores just for that great deal, or if you are uncomfortable having to go to stores whose business practices you don’t agree with, then you might want to back off a bit. If you’re not clearly saving, then it’s probably not worth it.
To be frugal, you need to know where your money is going. In every area of your life, it’s important to submit yourself to a checkup to find out how you’re doing. That way, you can make course corrections and ensure that you’re remaining on the path to the success you were born to experience.
This is especially true about your finances. Your fiscal health affects your overall sense of well-being, self-confidence, and happiness more than anything else. Once or twice a year, it’s important to evaluate where you are financially, where you’re going, and how best to get there.
Follow these tips to perform a personal financial checkup to help you be frugal:
1. Identify where you are. If you don’t have a family or personal budget, now’s the time to create one. Simply list your income and monthly expenses. Any time you spend money, write it down. Simply being aware of your spending habits and the amount of money you have available will cause you to make more sound financial decisions.
* If you already have a family budget, now’s the time to make sure that all of your expenses are listed in the budget and funded accurately. An updated budget is your roadmap for your journey into the next few months.
* The more clearly you see your current financial status, the more motivated you’ll be to make the changes you need to reach your goals.
2. Identify where you want to go. If you’ve already established financial goals, evaluate whether those goals still make sense in light of your current situation. Think about what’s most important to you, and match your financial budget and goals to those values. Include a fun purchase or vacation to keep you motivated.
3. Review your insurance coverage. As the circumstances of your life change, your needs for protection may change as well. Look over your homeowners insurance, health insurance, and life insurance and make sure your coverage meets your current needs. Also consider disability insurance, especially if you provide income that your household counts on.
4. Create or bolster your emergency fund. The backbone of any financial plan that truly provides comfort is a fund that can pay for unexpected expenses. If the car or air conditioner breaks down, your emergency fund makes sure that all the financial claims you made above stay intact.
* While other families struggle to make ends meet, falling behind at the first unexpected expense, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you’re covered no matter what goes wrong. This can only come from a well-funded emergency fund.
5. Establish or update your will. While the end of life is an uncomfortable subject for many, it’s important to have your affairs in order for those you may leave behind if something should ever happen to you.
6. Evaluate your investments. How’s your investment portfolio performing? Are you investing in the right vehicles to match your retirement, college savings and other goals? You may want to seek the advice of a financial advisor if you’re unfamiliar with this area of your financial picture.
7. Adjust your tax withholding, if necessary. Many people provide the federal government with an interest-free loan every year. At the end of the year, you should be close to breaking even. Instead of receiving a large refund, adjust your deductions and use a savings or money market account to make interest off the difference.
8. Think about upcoming life changes. Do you anticipate anything big happening in the near future? Is your car getting old? Are there any medical expenses for a surgery or pregnancy that’s coming up? To complete your checkup, think through upcoming expenses that are outside your normal budget and plan ahead.
Once you’ve set yourself up for financial success by reviewing these areas of your family’s plan, repeat this personal financial checkup once or twice a year. The keys to be frugal are awareness, determination to succeed, and the ability to dream big dreams. Your personal financial checkup is the roadmap that’ll keep you on track.
