Although it is not as popular now as it once was, the art of bartering is making a comeback.  With the price of everything on the rise, people are looking for ways to get what they need for less.

So, what is bartering?  To barter simply means to trade a good or service for another good or service.  It really is a simple concept that has been around for a very long time, and due to the economy today, it is back.  It goes far beyond trading something with your neighbor.  There are several sights online that are set up to enable you to barter your goods or services for the goods or services of others. 

What can you barter?  Well, you can pretty much barter anything.  If you have a certain skill that others are looking for, do not be afraid to suggest a barter or “swap”.  For instance, if you are great at building a website or blog, why not “swap” those services for something you need.  Or, if you are available to babysit in exchange for yard work, make the offer. 

Finding ways to get the goods and services that you need in exchange for other goods and services will certainly help you stay within your budget.

photo source: lusi

If you have been working hard to save your hard earned dollars, you probably know how rewarding it feels to walk out of a store and pay half price for your items.  Or better yet, the joy that comes from looking at your electricity bill, and seeing that you have saved 25% by implementing your money saving strategies.  However, what do you do with all of the money that you save?  Below are a couple of suggestions on what  you can do with all of your extra cash.

1.  Take the amount of money that you save and put it in a separate account.  For instance, if you go to the grocery store and save $10.00 by shopping wisely and using coupons, instead of wasting that $10.00 on something else, why not place it in a special savings account.  It can be your rainy day account, or your large purchase account.  Whatever you choose to call it, it is really rewarding to watch that amount grow.

2.  Take the money that you save by shopping and living wisely and pay extra on an existing bill.   Do you have a credit card that you are working to pay down, or what about a car loan?  If so, take that extra money that you save each month and apply it towards the balance.

The important thing to remember when you do save money is to use that saved money wisely.

photo source:  ZoofyTheJi

A new year is beginning, and along with it comes new years resolutions.  Many people spend time at the end of each year trying to compile a list of things they will or will not do in the coming year.  While it is good to think about how you want to improve yourself and your life, how long do we usually keep our resolutions?  Some people are lucky if they make it through the first week of the new year.

This year instead of spending hours trying to think of a list of new years resolutions, why not dedicate that time to creating a budget, and setting your savings goals.  This, unlike some resolutions, will be worthwhile.  If you are new to budgeting, this may take a little while, but the benefits are worth it.

Having a budget enables you to see exactly what your expenses are, and how much income you have available.  It also allows you to see where you may be losing money.

Setting a savings goal is also an important part of your financial security.  It is important to have money saved in case an emergency arises.  You also want to save money for things like retirement and college for your children.

This year why not make it your goal to become more financially responsible.

photo source:  ba1969

Now that Christmas time is over, it is time to start thinking about the next big expense of the year.  For many people that would be Summer vacation.  Weather you plan on taking a week long adventure or just a weekend trip, it is a good idea to start planning and saving for it now.  Below are a few tips on how to plan your vacation without breaking your budget.

1.  Call your favorite vacation hotel to see when their rates increase.  Many hotels have lower rates until around the end of May.  If you can plan early, you may be able to secure a really good rate.

2.  Contact the city hall office for your planned destination to see if they offer a visitors guide.  Sometimes these guides come filled with coupons, and you can have them mailed directly to your home.

3.  Look for a room with a full kitchen.  This way you can prepare your own food while you are on vacation, and save money on dining expenses.

4.  Take advantage of all of the free things while you are there.  If you are going to a beach, plan to spend a lot of time playing or lounging on the beach.  Children will love the water, and the best part is that it is free.  There may be parks and gardens to visit as well.

If you start planning now, by the time your vacation arrives you will have enough money saved up, and your itinerary all planed out.

photo source: iprole

The choice of weather or not to have credit cards is a big one all in itself, but if you do use credit cards regularly there are some things you should do to keep your credit in good shape.

1.  The most important thing to do with any credit card is to pay on time.  When payments are late, companies will hit you with late fees.  Some companies will also increase your interest rate, which will cost you more money in the long run.

2.  Pay more than the minimum payment.  If you can not pay off your entire balance from month to month, you should at least try to send in more than the minimum payment.

3.  Look at your monthly statements.  You should always check your monthly statements to ensure that the correct charges appear on your account.  Also check the interest rate to make sure that your credit card company has not increased the rate without notifying you.

4.  Be aware of your card history.  If you have had a card for a long period of time, you may want to hold on to it.  Sometimes the length of your credit history plays a role in your credit score.  You may want to make a small purchase occasionally on that card, to prevent the credit card company from canceling it.

If you decide to use plastic, always use it wisely and make it work to your advantage.

photo source:  Lotushead

As we all know, there are several different ways to save money. There are almost as many ways to store that saved money as well.  Many people choose to go with a savings account to store their “nest egg”.  Savings accounts seem to be more stable and secure than some other forms of investments.  You do make interest on the money that you have saved, and it is accessible to you at most any time.  If you are considering opening a savings account, there are two major options to consider, online savings accounts and traditional savings accounts.

Online savings accounts offer some advantages.  They usually pay a higher interest rate, due to the fact that they have fewer business expenses than traditional banks.  They also offer the option of transferring your money from your checking account to your savings account online.  There are some disadvantages as well.  Being that most online banks will not have a local office in your area, the accounts need to be associated with an existing account.  In order to deposit money into your account you will need to transfer it, or have it directly deposited from your pay check.  Online savings account can also take a little more time when you are trying to access your money.

Traditional savings accounts do offer a lower interest rate, but if you prefer dealing with people rather than your computer it may seem like an even trade.  You are also able to deposit and withdraw money more quickly.

No matter how you decide to save your money, the important thing to remember is be consistent with building your savings account.

photo source: RAWKU5

Christmas time is full of traditions for many families.  Sometimes those traditions can add up to a quite a bit of money that comes out of already stretched budgets, however it is possible to have a memorable Christmas on a budget.  The traditions that you start with your family do not have to be expensive to be memorable.  Below is a list of some inexpensive, but fun things that your family will be sure to love, and they will not break your budget.

1.  Hot chocolate and Christmas movies.  On Christmas Eve, make a big batch of hot chocolate and gather around for a Christmas classic.  You can check out movies from your local library for free, and hot chocolate is relatively inexpensive to buy.  Enjoy spending time together with your family at this special time of year.

2.  Bake Christmas cookies.  This is fun, especially if you have small children.  You can make a basic recipe, and let everyone add in their own special things, or just let everyone decorate some cookies however they like.  This is not only fun, but is also a great way to spend quality time together.

3.  Jump in the car and go see some Christmas lights.  If you live in or near a community that is decorated with Christmas light, make an evening out of viewing those lights.

These are just a few examples of how you can have fun and spend family time together without spending extra money, which will hopefully make it easier for you to stay within budget for the year.

photo source:  tinneketin

When it comes to bills that are not essential, the television and cable fall into that category. Cable is definitely one thing that many of us could do without. To be honest, I don’t think that I could watch 900 channels if I tried, and not many people could.

With that being said, if you are looking for a place to cut back in your budget this year, why not try to either go without cable, or go down to the bare minimum. It may sound challenging, but you will survive without your beloved TV.

If you are going to try to make the commitment to do without all of those channels, do not fear, there are still plenty of things that you can do. This is the perfect motivation to spend quality time with your family. Start a family game night with your children. This is something that they will look forward to every week. If your children are a little too small for games at this time, why not have a book night. Get a stack of their favorite books and sit together and read them. There are literally tons of things that you can do, and after a while you will not even notice the loss of your channels anymore.

photo source: lusi

Along with the new year, comes the time to review your yearly budget. Although this may seem like a daunting task, it can be really helpful.

When you review your budget, first see if you were able to stay within your budget every month. If not, can you identify the problem areas? Were the bills and essentials too much for your budget, or did the little non-necessary purchases add up and take you off track.

Once you find any problems that you may have had, next go through both your income and expense columns and make sure all of the amounts are still the same. Are you still making the same amount of income, or has it changed? Have you added any new monthly bills, or paid any off that you can take away from your list? Did you realize half way through the year, this past year that you forgot to add an important category to your budget?

One you have made all of your reviews and changes, make sure that both you and your partner look over the new budget to make sure that you did not forget anything.  It is important for both of you to know exactly what is going on with your finances, so that you can help each other stay on track.

Photo source:  greekgod

We all know that automobiles are expensive, especially if you have to buy a new one.  So how can you get more out of your old auto?  Below are a few tips on how to make you car last a little longer.

1.  Have you oil changed regularly.  There are different recommendations on how often you should change the oil, some oil companies recommend every 3,000 miles or three to six months.  Others recommend every 5,000 miles.  Which ever you choose make sure that you are consistent.

2.  Change your filters regularly.  Make sure that your oil filter and air filters are changed regularly.  They help to keep your car running at it’s best.

3.  Take care of your tires.  Make sure to keep your tires properly inflated, and rotate them regularly.  Maintaining the proper air pressure in your tires can also help on gas mileage.

4.  Find a good mechanic that you can trust.  This may seem a little difficult, but once you find a good one, stick with them.  Once you find a mechanic, you want to take your car in for a tune up every so often as well.  This will ensure that everything is in proper working order, and possibly help prevent major problems in the future.

By taking proper care of your car, you can make it last longer, while saving money on major repairs.

photo source:  mzacha