How to Efficiently Deal with a Financial Emergency

It happens to everyone at least once — just when you think you are on top of your finances and your budget is flowing smoothly, disaster strikes. The size of the disaster may not be huge; it could just be a blown tire during your tightly budgeted vacation. Or it could be as big as the loss of a job, a house fire or a disabling health condition. Whatever your financial emergency, you can get through it if you have planned ahead and prioritize.

A big part of making your budget is saving for the unexpected. Most financial experts agree that everyone should have an emergency fund of at least one month’s expenses. Ideally you should have savings and investments that could support you for six months or more.

Have a “No Splurge Month”

Do you need to save some money for a big purchase or recover from a large bill you just paid? Perhaps you just want to gain better control of your spending. Having a "No Splurge Month" could be the answer for you.

A “No Splurge Month” is when you designate a month where you won't spend any money on anything that isn't absolutely essential. There is no spending money on anything you don't legitimately need. When done as a family, this is a great way to save some money and learn more about what you can really live without.

5 Ways to Make Your Salary Stretch Further

Living on a budget is not always an easy thing to do, especially when expenses will arise when you least expect them. But, even though it may not seem possible there are many ways to make your salary stretch further. Avoiding needless spending, comparison shopping and utilizing budget billing are a few ways to achieve this.

1. Avoid any needless spending.

• How many times have you gone to the store to pick up one or two items and left with a cart full? Sometimes it is easy to get drawn into sales that you did not know about and spend more than you wanted to. Most of the items are not necessary or needed at the moment.

• To help you curb unnecessary spending, either wait until you have a list of items to buy or keep yourself limited to the items you only need. Wants can be purchased at a later date as your budget allows.

7 Easy Strategies to Practice Self-Discipline and Frugality

Deciding to practice self-discipline and be frugal in your spending is one thing. Actually doing so is often quite another. Our old habits are hard to break. However, if you apply strategies to your spending, you will find it easier to practice self-discipline and frugality. Here are some easy strategies to get you started.

* Change your attitude about money. How you think about money determines the role it plays in your life. Stop thinking that you have to have the same things as everyone else. Instead, focus on what you really need instead of what you just want.

Top 5 Features of a Successful Budget

Budgeting seems simple enough, but when put into practice most people suddenly realize it is incredibly difficult to make and stick with a budget if certain factors are not developed. Successful budgets, no matter the size or purpose, all have a few common denominators: reality, goals, commitment, focus, and self-discipline.

1.  Reality

• Your budget needs to be tailored to fit your particular needs. Consider your income, debt, housing payments and utilities, insurance costs, food requirements, clothing requirements, transportation, activities for each family member, the ages of family members, and your particular financial goals.

• Do you need to budget semi-temporary expenses or long-term goals? Do you have plenty of income or are you barely scrimping by? Look at your own situation and seriously consider what money needs to go where to meet the needs and wishes of yourself and your family. Don’t forget unexpected and once-a-year expenses in your planning.
  
  

Discipline Yourself to Spend Less

No one wants to go into debt. We try to avoid it if we can, but we fall into the traps of credit cards and delayed payment specials so easily. Curbing our spending requires discipline and an honest effort.

As consumers, we have to learn to live within our means. This is more than having enough money in a paycheck to pay our bills. Financial security is having something in a savings account and money left over from our paychecks to use in an emergency if we need it.

Living paycheck to paycheck can be dangerous, especially if you have a family. Children get sick; cars break down. Taking money from the bills is not a wise decision, but if you are in a bind, you do what you have to do. The way to break this cycle is to spend less money each month.

Frugal Fourth of July Party Ideas

Summer is a time for celebrating and the Fourth of July is the keystone summer holiday. Fourth of July celebrations can get quite expensive, especially if you throw a big party every year. There are ways to keep your costs down without sacrificing the quality of the party. Here are some ideas to help create the perfect Fourth of July party without the big price tag.

Close neighborhoods are famous for a potluck get together. A potluck is where each person attending the party brings a food item to share with others. This way, no one person bears the brunt of the hefty food bill. In turn, it is an excellent way for neighbors and families to try different recipes.

Frugal Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

We all want to celebrate and honor our moms on Mother’s Day, but you may be stumped for frugal Mother’s Day gift ideas this year. Giving Mother’s Day gifts doesn’t have to break your budget if you use one of these ideas.

Many restaurants offer discounts for mothers on Mother’s Day; some even allow moms to eat for free. You can check your local newspaper to see if there are any local restaurants offering this type of deal.

If you can’t find a restaurant that allows mom to eat for free or a reduced price, that doesn’t mean you can’t take mom out for the day. You may be able to find a museum or concert that has a Mother’s Day special. Check local colleges or universities, the newspaper, or online to find a venue offering a special for Mother’s Day.

8 Tips to Help You Beat Budget Busters

If you want to have control over your finances, a budget is essential. Knowing exactly how much money you have coming in each month and how much it will take to pay bills, buy the things you need and save a little, is the best way to prevent a financial meltdown. But it only works if you follow it closely.

Sometimes sticking to a budget is easier said than done. Everyone has a lapse every now and then, and while a couple of dollars won't make a huge difference, it can add up when it happens repeatedly. This will throw off your budget, and it could leave you struggling to come up with the money for the things you truly need.

By planning ahead and avoiding impulse buying, we can beat the budget busters. Here are some tips:

Setting Financial Priorities During Hard Times

Most of us have experienced times of financial hardship at one time or another. Sometimes it's because of layoffs or reduced working hours. Other times, it's due to large, unexpected expenses. But no matter what the reason, financial difficulties necessitate taking a look at our priorities.

When money is no object, we often spend it on things that we do not really need. We might go out to fancy restaurants every week, buy designer clothes or buy expensive high-tech toys for the kids. But when our disposable income is reduced, we must often give those things up to have enough money to pay the bills and spend on necessities.

7 Tips for Setting Up Your Christmas Budget

There are many ways you can set up a budget for Christmas. The key is to begin early. Since Christmas is only three weeks away, you will probably need to put your Christmas gift list together now.

Here are some tips:

Get Personal at Christmas and Save Money

With the Christmas holidays so close, you may be checking your budget to determine how much you can spend this year. Perhaps this may be the year that personalized gifts may be more appropriate in order for you to save some money.

Over the last several years, personalized Christmas gifts have become the norm rather than the exception. Certainly, this year you may be considering trimming down your list as well as coming up with creative presents you can give to your friends, co-workers, and family members.

The Cost of Not Having Health Insurance

One of the biggest concerns in our society is health insurance.  On the one hand, it costs so much of our pay to have a health insurance policy in the first place.  On the other hand, millions of people are living day to day without the umbrella of health insurance to cover them and their families.

These people are just like you and me.  They are not necessarily poor or destitute.  People whose jobs are part time may not be offered health insurance as a part of their benefits. 

This means that they must look for an independent policy.  Depending on their age, medical history, and other demographics, their independent policy may be more than they can afford on their salary.  As a consequence, they and their family go uninsured.

With the high price of premiums, it may cost several hundred dollars a month for health insurance for the entire family.  This means less money in the paycheck for living expenses.  Families have to make a determination of what is more important at the time.

Many people use the emergency room at the hospital as a doctor’s office.  When they have a serious health problem, they go there.  A community hospital accepts patients without insurance with their promise to pay the bill.  These bills can be high and payment can drag on for some time.

To combat the costs of uninsured patients, hospitals raise their fees for service to offset the cost.  These increased charges are passed on to patients with insurance.  Depending on what their health insurance company is willing to pay, that could mean a substantial hospital bill after your stay, even with health insurance.

Without health insurance, people cannot get the help that they need when they are feeling poorly.  Conditions worsen until they must go to the hospital.  Now, the cost is more than it might have been if the person had had the means to visit the doctor.

Children make up a good percentage of the uninsured.  When their parents can’t afford health insurance, they go uncovered as well.  Over-the-counter medications substitute for regular check-ups at the doctor’s office.  Childhood vaccinations are important for the future health of a child.  Children that don’t receive them are at risk for various diseases that the vaccines would prevent.  

Another health concern is pregnancy.  Those who have no insurance and can’t afford prenatal care are more likely to develop problems during their pregnancy, either with the mother or with the child.  Pregnancy may seem like an event that takes care of itself, but all sorts of things can happen during those nine months.  Being under a doctor’s care brings peace of mind and immediate help if something is wrong.

What is the high cost of not having health insurance?  It is increased illness, higher premiums and hospital charges, not to mention deaths.  This is a serious issue for which a resolution couldn’t come a moment too soon.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Majority Supports Obama Health Plan (mydd.com)
• What's the Rush? Almost 5 Million Lose Insurance in 9 Months (dailykos.com)
• If health care reform fails (lockergnome.com)
• Health-care public option: 'Preference' (swamppolitics.com)

Making the 4th of July Festive on a Tight Budget

There are so many things you can do and food you can make that doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but will make your 4th of July sparkle as if you spent a fortune! Below are some decorating ideas, food ideas and other inexpensive things you can do!

Decorating Ideas

Red, white and blue decorations and patriotic decorations come out before Memorial Day, so you should be able to find an abundance at your local dollar store.

Homemade 4th of July decorations are easy to make and you probably have some or most of the supplies you’ll need already on hand.

Here are some inexpensive things you can make using items you have on hand:

Craft Stick Flags

Paint 5 sticks red and 4 white (per number of flags you want to make). Let dry. Glue the painted sticks together in an alternating pattern by gluing them to one craft stick on the right side and two broken craft sticks in the middle and on the left side. Cut a small square of blue construction paper and color white stars using a white gel pen. When the glue has set, turn the flag over. Glue on the square of blue construction paper and glue another craft stick to the long craft stick on the back. Let the glue set.

Stars on a String

Cut out large stars using red, white and blue construction paper. Decorate as desired. Fold over one tip of each star and staple or glue to desired length of red or blue string. You can use these to decorate your base camp!

Festive, Yet Inexpensive Ideas for Food

Chicken: You can usually buy chicken on sale really cheap. So, before the 4th is upon us, be checking your local store’s weekly sales paper for chicken on sale, then stock up. You can make great bbq chicken on the grill.

Corn on the Cob: Summertime is the best time to get inexpensive corn on the cob. You can grill it in their husks right along with the BBQ chicken!

Watermelon: Watermelon is one of the least expensive foods for the amount you get. You can make watermelon salads, fruit bowls and other yummy side dishes that will fill your family and guests up!


Other things you can do inexpensively to celebrate our nation’s independence are:

• Have a backyard party and have everyone bring a dish to pass.
• Add sparklers to your burgers when serving them.
• Don’t pass up invites to friends or family who are having backyard parties and take a dish to pass.
• Don’t feel like you have to go all out with decorations. Simply using red, white and blue paper plates, cups and napkins will give your home a patriotic feel.
• Use a vase you already have and fill it with flags from the dollar store. Give one to guests as they arrive too.

Celebrating the 4th of July shouldn’t cost a fortune, especially in a recession! Using simple tips like the ones above will help you stick to your budget AND enjoy a festive Independence Day!

Ten Tips to Create, Prioritize and Manage a Budget

Mention the word “budget,” and people’s eyes tend to glaze over. Budgeting isn’t the most exciting activity in the world, and on the surface it is extremely limiting. We don’t like it when other people try to tell us how to spend our money, and even setting parameters of our own may seem too much.

What many of us do not realize is that a budget is the ticket to financial freedom. It restricts what we spend each month, but in the long run it allows us to get more out of our money. Instead of frittering funds away on things we could comfortably do without, we can save up for emergencies as well as things we enjoy.

Here are ten tips for creating a budget, setting priorities and keeping tabs on spending.

1. Be realistic. All too often, we create the perfect budget on paper, only to completely blow it in practice. This is frequently because we are not realistic about our expenses. It may help to save all receipts for a month before you start on your budget. That way you can evaluate how much you’re really spending and avoid budgeting too little for any given item.

2. Remember the little things. Eating out every day instead of packing your lunch might not seem like a big deal, but it can really add up. The same is true for many of the habits we have. Cutting back where practical can save you more money than you might think.

3. Lower your bills when possible. A good place to start is with your cable bill. Do you really need all of those movie channels? What about your cell phone bill? Would a less expensive plan meet your needs? Knocking a few dollars a month off of your bills could leave you with hundreds of extra dollars each year.

4. Get the whole family involved. A budget affects the entire household, so everyone should have a say. You may have to make changes that everyone doesn’t agree with, but they will be more likely to accept them if you listen to all input. Family members may also have ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.

5. Give everyone an allowance, not just the kids. Setting reasonable limits for discretionary spending will help prevent your budget from being derailed.

6. Make sure the necessities always come first. Budgeting for entertainment and other wants is important, but if push comes to shove, food, water, clothing and shelter are the most important things. Budget for these and the things that enable you to work (such as transportation) first.

7. Include savings in your budget. Saving up some money for emergencies is crucial for every individual and family. Try coming up with an amount to save each month and include it in the budget before any non-necessities.

8. Keep track of all expenditures. Save receipts or write down every expense so you can compare your actual spending to your budget. If you spend less money than budgeted, consider allocating more to savings. If you spend more money than you planned, you need to either watch your spending more closely or make adjustments to your budget.

9. Avoid using credit cards irresponsibly. Buying on credit will result in less spending of money in the short run, but you will have to pay it back with interest unless the balance is paid in full each month.

10. If you get extra money, use it wisely. Consider putting it directly into savings or using it to pay down debt. Spending it on something you want might feel good, but that doesn’t help your overall financial picture.

How to Create a Family Budget

For singles, creating a personal budget is relatively easy. They tend to have a good handle on how much money they have coming in, and when tracking expenses, they only have their own to think about.

But creating a family budget is a whole new ball game. Most families have multiple sources of income. And when there are multiple spenders, that makes things much more confusing. This is one of the main reasons that families lack a formal budget. But having a budget and sticking to it can greatly improve a family's financial outlook.

Making a family budget may be tricky, but it can be done. Here's how.

1. Take inventory of all income. If a certain source of income fluctuates from month to month, use the lowest amount or average it out.

2. Keep track of all expenses for a month or so. Keep all of your receipts, and ask all family members to turn theirs in to you each day.

3. Add up your monthly expenses. Be sure to include bills, debt payments, groceries, and everyday expenses such as lunch money and transportation costs.

4. Get the family together and discuss ways you can trim the budget. Getting input from other family members will help you determine which expenses are necessary and which ones could be cut down or eliminated. Maybe you or your spouse could start taking lunch to work instead of eating out, or maybe the kids can drop an extracurricular activity.

5. In addition to individual expenses, discuss how you can cut down on the electric bill, groceries and other necessary family expenses. Consider such things as carpooling or taking public transportation, buying more generic foods and adjusting the thermostat.

6. Estimate how much you can save on regular expenses, and cut the completely unnecessary items out of the budget. Then re-figure it and see where you stand.

7. If you end up with a surplus, allocate a portion of it to savings. If you're in the red, go back and rework the budget until you have more income than expenses.

Being Realistic

One reason that family budgets often fail is because they're just not realistic. It's great to cut down on expenses, but sometimes we tend to go too far. For example, cutting entertainment out of the budget completely might look good on paper, but we all need a little diversion every now and then. Instead of cutting such things out of the budget completely, consider finding ways to lower the cost.

Going back to the entertainment example, maybe you've been going to dinner and a movie as a family twice a month. But eating in and renting a new release would be much cheaper, and you would still get to spend quality time together.

Individual expenses can also be tricky. This can be resolved by allocating a certain amount for each family member to spend each week. If someone spends his entire amount before the week is up, reevaluate his expenses and adjust if necessary.

Creating a family budget can help keep spending under control, leaving more money to pay down debts and save for future goals. But in order to succeed, close monitoring is essential. Your efforts will be rewarded, however, with less financial stress and more money in the long run.

9 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Groceries

It never fails, we budget for our groceries, but the bill always ends up being more. We underestimate, run out of things faster than expected and overall, everything is becoming just too darned expensive!

To make things a little bit easier, here are 9 simple ways you can start saving money on your groceries.

1. Go with a List:

Yes, I know it's a pretty obvious suggestion, but it's amazing how effective it can be. You purchase only what you need and avoid all the other yummy distractions of the grocery store.

2. Meal Planning:

Planning your meals in advance makes it easier to get your list together and ensure you buy only exactly what you need. You can get help with your meal planning at Dine Without Whine AND they actually put your grocery list together for you too.

3. Eat Before You Go:

Another classic tip. If you're hungry, you'll want to buy (and instantly eat) everything! Have a meal or good snack before you go to avoid impulse purchases.

4. Stock Up on Staple Items When They're On Sale:

If you see ketchup or your family's favorite sauce on sale, stock up. Or if it's a certain type of soup or frozen vegetable your family eats all the time, buy a bunch of it. As long as it doesn't spoil and you have space to store it, you will save money in the long run. The nice thing about this is if you continue to stock up on a variety of items, you'll have a nice pantry full of food at any given time.

5. Cook from Scratch More Often:

Yeah, yeah, it sounds easier said than done, but it doesn't have to be too complicated. It's no secret that pre-packaged items and convenience foods come at a premium price. They save you time in preparation, but they eat up your budget and let's face it, time IS money. Plus, if you're using Tip #2 and planning your meals, cooking from scratch more often is a whole lot easier.

6. Comparison Shop Before You Leave Home:

No, I'm definitely not suggesting you go from store-to-store looking for the best deal. That takes too much time. Check the flyers that come to your door and see who is offering the best deals on what you actually need. If you don't have any flyers at your door, visit the store website as they generally post flyers online.

7. Use Coupons Sparingly:

Sure, coupons offer a great deal, but most coupons you'll find are for items you don't really need or use. Resist the urge to think, "Wow, that's a good deal" and search for coupons based on items you need to purchase instead.

8. Keep the Little Ones At Home:

If you have young children that want everything that they see, it's easy to get into the trap of buying items you don't need, treats that aren't healthy and become victim to other grocery store distractions. Keep the kids at home with Daddy (it's a good bonding opportunity) or a relative. You can even swap grocery store shopping times with your neighbor. Not only will you save money, but you'll save your sanity too!

9. Make Quick Stops for Fresh Ingredients:

This may not be easy if you're on a tight schedule, but if you can work it in, it can save you a bundle. One of the biggest culprits in grocery budgets gone bad is spoiled food. If your fruits, veggies and other perishable items are always going bad, consider shopping for them more frequently, but in smaller quantities and restrain yourself from buying items you don't need. If you have any teen-aged kids, this would be a great chore for them too.

There you go, 9 ways to save on groceries. But in order to make these tips work, you really need to have a plan in place. You need to know what your family needs and what you'll be eating. To make your meal planning a whole lot easier, sign up for you 1 ¢ no-risk trial at Dine Without Whine. You and your grocery budget will be glad you did.

Ten Tips for Budgeting Your Holiday Season

Image via WikipediaThe tree isn’t the only item that will be trimmed down this December. Here are ten tips for budgeting your holiday season to enable you to not only enjoy the time spent with your family and friends, but make it an affordable time as well.

1. If you usually give presents to sisters, brothers and their children – try and exchange presents with just your nieces and nephews. This can save quite a bit of money in the long run.

2. Shop early – very early. Begin holiday shopping during the summer months at stores that have sales every week.

3. Make your holiday list ahead of time. Decide how much you are willing to spend for each person and stick to it. Keep in mind that in January you will be getting those bills and may find it difficult to pay them off.

4. Pay off all your holiday expenses beforehand. You can accomplish this by shopping early and paying with cash. If you must use a credit card, pay it off when you receive the bill. This will decrease the amount of bills you receive after the holiday season is over. Moreover, you will feel terrific!

5. Buy ornaments, wrapping, bows, and decorations early. How early? The day after Christmas is when every card and ornament is on sale for as much as 50% to 75% off. If you can make it a point to buy these items after Christmas, you will have enough to carry you through the next two or three years.

6. Open a Christmas club account at your bank. It’s very easy and a great way to save for the holiday season. You can begin in February and put away as little as $5.00 a week. By October, you will a nice little check to use to purchase gifts.

7. Make your own decorations. This can be a wonderful experience for the entire family. Everyone can pitch in and make ornaments for the trip, wrap gifts with newspaper, or decorated bags. Make holiday cards on your computer, send out holiday cards through the internet, and make your own holiday gifts as well.

8. Buy gifts online this year. It not only saves you time standing on long lines at department stores, but you can save money as well. In fact, you are probably receiving emails from stores right now who are offering discounted merchandise. Check it out!

9. Use coupons to buy holiday gifts. There are a myriad of online coupon sites wherein you can save a bundle on specific items.

10. If you have set up a budget for gift giving, why not give gift cards. They have become very popular over the last several years. In this way, you can set a limit to the amount you wish to spend and, at the same time, the recipient will be able to buy a gift they need or want.

The holiday season is a time of reflection: thinking about all the people in our lives that we love and cherish. A present is just the icing on the cake!

Personal Budgeting: How Far Ahead Should You Plan?

When developing a personal budget or personal financial goals it can be tricky to figure out how far in advance you should plan. If you’re too short-sighted you could wind up with savings that don’t meet your needs. Conversely if you think too far out, you could be putting some of that money you’re tucking away for your savings to better use.

Here’s how to figure it all out: What are your personal financial goals?

List your personal financial goals on a piece of paper. They might be goals like:

* To save for my child’s college education
* To save for retirement
* To save money for emergencies
* To buy a new car or house

Once your personal financial goals have been listed, here are a few calculations you can make to know how much to save.

Emergency fund:

Experts advice people to set aside at least three to six months of cash or liquid assets (investments you can easily convert to cash) in the event of a loss of job, medical emergency, short-term disability, etc. Figure out how much you have to set aside for this emergency fund after your current expenses, and create a goal. If you make $3000/month then you’ll want to set aside a minimum of $9000. This doesn’t mean you have to save it all tomorrow – begin saving for it and create a plan. Maybe you’ll be able to save that much in a year, maybe it’ll take two.

Debt:

Most experts agree that your total monthly debt payments shouldn’t exceed 36% of your gross monthly income. This debt includes your mortgage, car payments and credit card debt. Add up your debt and calculate your monthly gross income to see where you are. If you’re above this ration, create a plan to get your debt down quickly.

Savings:

You’ve probably heard the rule that you need to save 10% of your income. This rule is a good rule to follow, assuming you are placing additional money into a retirement account. Use this 10% rule with your other savings goals including your emergency account, college education or other goals.

Retirement:

Experts tell us that our retirement income should be 75-80% of pre-retirement income. This means if you’re making $50,000 right now, your retirement income will need to be $37,500.

Using these numbers will help you determine exactly how much you need to save, how much you have to work with, and how long it will take you to save the money. A little basic planning and goal setting will make the process understandable and manageable. The numbers presented here, and the guidelines, are just that - guidelines. Your personal budget and personal financial plan needs to meet your needs and the needs of your family. This is why it is important to set personal financial goals and to save with a purpose.

Recommended: Family Budget Guide Ebook

Related articles

• Urgent personal finance advice [via Zemanta]
• The Six Key Steps to Healthy Finances in Your Relationship [via Zemanta]
• Stick to Your Budget with "Reverse Credit" [Saving Money] [via Zemanta]
• Harness the Power of Impulse Saving [via Zemanta]

Review: Dig Out of Debt eBook Package

Product Name: Dig Out of Debt eBook Package
Rating: 9
Where to buy: Living On A Dime

Description:

A complete eBook package containing 5 eBooks to help you get out of debt involving everyday situations. These eBooks are full of articles, money saving ideas and tips and even recipes to help you save on your grocery bill. Written by two women who have been there, these eBooks will help you to become frugal with your money and time.

Review:

These eBooks are great. They have given me resources that I never imagined. You always know there are ways out there to save your money even if you have very little income to start with. If you’re like me you never really spent a lot of time trying to figure them out. These eBooks have laid them all out for me.

One of these eBooks contains information on money management. Through the articles and ideas in this eBook I have learned how easy it is to set up a budget and stick to it. Now my money works for me.

The Cleaning Cents eBook taught me a lot about just getting rid of the things I don’t really need. It showed me how I can save money just by doing little things around my house. I am a work at home mom and have found that it’s pretty easy to spend all day in front of my computer. All of a sudden there you are it’s time to start fixing supper and your still in your PJ’s, haven't showered, the laundry isn't done and the dishes, well, we won't talk about the dishes piling up in the sink. There is a tip in this eBook about getting yourself up and dressed and how it affects you and your money. I tried it and it works.

The Debt Free Holidays eBook is very helpful. I always seem to spend more money than is necessary when it comes to the holidays. This eBook provided me with the information and the hope I needed to keep myself on a budget for all the holidays. I still give my heart out but it doesn’t cost me my firstborn anymore.

Speaking of my children there’s an eBook in this package called Kids Cents. It tells you ways to get your kids to help you, how to save on school supplies, recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch and snacks and even how to keep your children entertained during the long summer months.

My very favorite one though is the Grocery Savings eBook. I hate to shop and the grocery store is my least favorite place. I used to spend hours cutting out coupons only to find they expired or I left them at home on the table. Not anymore. I have cut my grocery bill in half with the tips and ideas I’ve found in this eBook. I don’t cringe at the thought of heading to the store anymore. I still hate to shop, but not to the point it feels like pulling teeth to do it.

If you're looking for ways to save money, get yourself out of debt and live a better financial life try this package. It’s so full of great ideas, tips and common sense that you’ll find yourself wanting more and more of their information.