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Blog
02.25.10 A Latte a Day Keeps the Money at Bay Posted under: Saving Posted by: Will.i.x
Ok…the title is a little cheesy, but the concept is not. The Latte Factor is a phrase coined by David Bach. Basically, his view is that if you stopped buying all of the little ‘must haves’ that you buy everyday, the amount of money you could save or redirect into other financial vehicles would be monumental!
The ultimate example is an expensive latte a day, but the same principal can work for almost anything, e.g. bottled water, magazines, gas station fixes, etc.
Check out www.finishrich.com/lattefactor/ to try David Bach’s Latte Factor Calculator and see how much your ‘little’ expenses could really cost you in the long run.
What do you think? Do you buy it, or consider the little expenses as just that, little?
No Comments »02.23.10 New Credit Card Rules Posted under: Credit Posted by: Will.i.x
You may have heard recently about the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) that went into effect February 22, 2010. You may not, however, have taken the time to look it over.
Smartmoney.com has a great article that outlines the main changes that you need to know about. These things do affect you if you have, or plan on getting, a credit card. Rules have especially changed for college students. If this is you, take a few minutes and check out the article, because when it comes to credit, ignorance is not bliss…it’s downright dumb.
1 Comment »02.19.10 10-2-Spend Posted under: 10-2-Spend, Saving Posted by: Will.i.x
02.18.10 Got a Credit Card? Use it Correctly Posted under: Credit Posted by: Will.i.x
Credit cards can be a tricky thing. They can be a great tool by helping raise your credit score, but they can also dig you into a rut if you don’t know how to properly use yours. Here are some helpful tips if you have a credit card or are considering one:
1.Picking the right card is important. Look for companies offering the lowest interest rates possible. Also, try to find a card that gives you points back. So if you are a traveler, there are cards available to help you earn points for airplane trips. Or there are cards that will support charitable organizations. These allow you to earn a little extra instead of only points towards your credit score.
2.Pay off your balance every month. If you can’t pay it off in full, at least try to pay a little more than the minimum. This will save you money on interest charges and also enhance your credit rating.
3.Protect against fraud. Make sure to keep an eye on your monthly bill for any unusual purchases. Use caution when using your card number over the phone or Internet. If you ever suspect anything unusual is going on, report the activity to your provider immediately.
Do any of you guys have credit cards and want to shed some light on using it the right way? Anybody else have questions they would like to ask? If so, please share in the comments section below.
2 Comments »02.17.10 i[e-service], do you? Posted under: e-services Posted by: Will.i.x
Home banking, e-statements, online bill pay…you name it, I’ve got it. Not only does it save time by avoiding waiting in lines and writing out checks, but it also saves tons of space because I don’t have all sorts of paper statements and bills floating around. The other huge thing e-services saves me? Money. That’s right, no more 44 cent stamps, no more trips to the post office and no more having to order more checks.
According to payitgreen.org, on average, if you receive 6 paper statements per month and mail 6 paper bills with checks each month, switching to e-services could save you over $30 per year. Just as important, it also saves an estimated 12 square feet of forest from deforestation, 91 pounds of greenhouse gasses, 22 gallons of water and 2 pounds of paper!
Plus, you can access your account information, pay bills, make transfers and check your balance from anywhere you can access the internet! It’s easy to make the switch and well worth it. Don’t waste another day, or paper statement. Find out now from your financial institution about how you can switch to e-services. If you’re a Georgia’s Own Credit Union member, just visit georgiasown.org/homebank.html to learn about making the switch!
No Comments »02.10.10 Valentine’s Day Posted under: Lifestyle Posted by: Will.i.x
Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend (that’s right guys, it’s on Feb. 14) and every year Americans spend extra cash to woo that “special someone.” There is a solution, however, if you’ve waited until the last minute or may not have the ‘extra cash’ to buy expensive jewelry or overpriced roses and chocolates: you can cook a meal for your significant other. Since Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year, you’ll have all weekend to prepare a nice yet easy dinner and you won’t have to spend your dough at a fancy restaurant or on gifts. As an added bonus, your “special someone” is more than likely to appreciate the extra time and hard work you put in to V-Day this year making something special just for him/her.
No Comments »02.04.10 Skip the PIN and Sign Posted under: Checking Posted by: Will.i.x
Checking accounts are one of the most common financial accounts that people have, and now, the debit card has revolutionized it. Before the debit card, we all wrote out our checks, but now, we just have to swipe and we’re out the door.
As you’ve probably noticed, when you use your debit card the machine usually automatically prompts you to enter your PIN number. While it is easy to enter the PIN and continue on, the better option is to sign for the transaction. All you have to do is ask the person behind the register how you can proccess your debit transaction as credit. They’ll tell you to hit enter, or cancel, and then instead of entering you PIN, you sign for the purchase.
A few reasons skipping the PIN is a good idea:
- Signature-based transactions are accepted at more places, and don’t require you to enter a PIN
- Signature-based transactions can provide extra security against fraud (because no one can steal your PIN if you don’t enter it)
- Signature-based transactions can entitle you to the Zero Liability Policy (based on your card issuer and financial institution), aka, you won’t be held responsible for fraudulent charges, whereas if you enter a PIN, the burden is on you
So, next time you’re checking out, try asking for your transaction to be processed as credit, instead of debit, and see for yourself how easy it is to make the switch!
No Comments »02.02.10 i[x] Welcomes Will Posted under: Uncategorized Posted by: Will.i.x
Hey everybody – it’s Will here! Check out my welcome video where I spend some quality time with Allison. See you all soon!
