Sticking to Your Budget

If you find that you are getting a sizeable refund from the government each year after filing taxes, you may want to adjust the amount of taxes your employer is withholding from your paycheck. If you do, you should set up a savings account and automatically deposit the excess amount that is appearing on your paycheck each period. This way you have a painless way of setting up an emergency fund to avoid relying on credit when unexpected emergencies come up. Plus, you earn the interest on the money, not the government.

Usually when someone sends a greeting card, they only write on one half. The half that has the picture usually doesn't have writing on its reverse side and can be salvaged for other uses; you can cut the picture out, poke a hole in the corner, write a message on the back and use as a gift tag; cut the card in half and save the side with the picture to use as a postcard; or cut the card in half and glue the side with the picture on it to blank cardstock to use as a home-made greeting card.

If you have a quality item that you no longer use, consider trading it with a friend for something they don't really need. It could even be a trade for services. Maybe your tike has grown out her crib, and is ready for a big girl bed. If your neighbor needs a crib, you could offer to trade it for a couple of babysitting gigs.

November and December are the best months to go to thrift stores. Many people give away clothes and other items to get a final tax deduction before the year ends. You'll not only find a great selection this time of year, but bring along any unwanted items of your own and get yourself a tax deduction too!

To make the most of your monthly budget, you should track your expenses over a 30-day period to see exactly where your money is going. You should be able to identify where you can save money by making minor changes. For example, a cup of coffee purchased each weekday morning could cost you $400.00 over the course of a year.

It's not hard to trim your family's bill on book buying if you eliminate hard cover books from the mix. Instead of jumping on new bestsellers, wait for the paperback edition to come out. You can also check sites like: powells.com; strandbooks.com; Amazon.com; and overstock.com for used and overstock books.

The cost for men's and ladies' cut 'n' style is typically $40 (and more...lots more) at your local hair salon. You can save a bundle on your personal grooming costs and give a needy student a hand (and a head) by getting your hair styled at a beauty school. Don't worry, students are under the watchful eye and careful supervision of their instructors. Who knows? You may get the "next" Vidal Sassoon!

Don't let the post-holiday blues get you. When the holidays are over, the sales begin: on wrapping paper, greeting cards, ornaments, and ribbon. You know that the holidays will roll around again next year, so stock up this year and avoid paying full price...plus inflation! Stock pile items for celebrations like birthdays, Fourth of July parties, Halloween, etc. and use when needed.

When it comes to your finances, what you don't know CAN hurt you. The best way to catch errors, correct mistakes, avoid late fees, and have a clear picture of your overall budget is to review your finances regularly. Set a date and time aside to organize your financial papers. Pick a day to do all your online bill paying.

If you get paid every two weeks, you will have two months out of the year when you receive three paychecks instead of two. Since your bills for that month are already paid, put the money into savings. This is an excellent way to start or grow a rainy day fund or set aside funds for Holiday shopping.

Sending a greeting card may be a thoughtful gesture to mark a special occasion, however a nice one can sometimes set you back $5.00. Consider getting a box of personalized stationery that can be used on any occasion. After all, it's the acknowledgement of the event that is important, not the Hallmark poem.

If you are struggling to pay your bills, make sure you evaluate all your options. In some cases, such as the loss of a spouse, or with children grown and gone, people find themselves with more house than they need. This not only means more rent, or a higher mortgage payment than is necessary, but the larger the living space, the more you pay for utilities and maintenance. Consider moving to a more appropriate and less expensive abode, such as a townhouse, condo, or apartment.

Keep some emergency back-up meals on hand for those nights that you get home late, or are just too tired to cook. Having a pre-cooked frozen meal in the freezer, or a frozen pizza to heat up can help prevent a costly call to the carry-out. A $25 carry out order every couple of weeks might not seem like a lot, but can add up to over $600 per year.