• How Small Savings Can Go a Long Way

    by  • May 14, 2013 • Tagged: ,

    Even if I am exceptionally good at saving and budgeting money I often forget about small expenses, and whoever said “Don’t sweat the small stuff” obviously didn’t have an expensive daily coffee habit. Despite being organised and striving to be financially secure, if I look at my weekly purchases there are so many small ways I could save money. All these small things add up, and at the end of the month I could have saved myself a lot of money if I had just been more conscientious.

    Now it’s not worth beating yourself up about that extra cup of coffee or the magazine you did not really need, but when you fritter away money on small expenses it can make a large dent in your potential savings. Those 3 take away cups of coffee a day add up and could be your whole credit card payment at the end of the month.

    More often than not we don’t count small things unless we are really broke and watching every penny. But in order to be financially secure and stable accounting for every penny needs to happen all the time. Work out how much you spend on little things and see if you can make changes to your daily routine that will help you save cash. A little monetary consideration before you put your hand in your pocket is worthwhile and there are many alternatives to spending on the little things so you can save for the big.

    For example; if you buy 2 coffees a day, cut down to one and either keep instant coffee in your drawer at work or drink water. If you enjoy a quick visit to the casino every few days switch to mobile casinogaming as you will avoid a whole slew of small expenses such as gratuities, parking fees and exorbitant drinks prices. Snacking can also be an expensive trait and homemade snacks are generally healthier and cheaper to make, as are home cooked meals over ready meals or take always.

    You will be amazed at how little purchases can add up and if you monitor your minor expenses you may find you could even afford a holiday or a weekend away with the small change you have saved.

    Do you have any tips for cutting back small scale spending to save big?

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    Choosing the Best Gas Supplier for Your Large Business

    by  • May 8, 2013 • Tagged: 

    Organising energy providers and paying monthly bills is an arduous task for homeowners and small businesses, let alone large businesses and enterprises. Ensuring that the process of organising and paying for large business gas supply is streamlined and simple will mean that the person in charge of the utilities will have an easier time of it.

    As with energy supply for your home, choosing the right supplier for large businesses is essential. You may think that the supplier you’re already using offers the best rates but it’s a competitive market and tariffs and plans change all the time. Whether you’ve moved to a new premises or expanded substantially over recent years, take a look at the provision of business gas from British Gas to see some of the superb deals and rates available.

    With substantial experience of supplying gas on an industrial level for many years, British Gas certainly have the know-how any large business needs. If you have an annual spend of £100,000 on energy bills, they could be an excellent provider to turn to. But why?

    They offer a tailormade service that takes your large business needs into account. If you talk to them about what you require, they should be able to arrange something that would be mutually beneficial. Contracts including electronic billing or reporting systems to assistance with the British Gas’s Business Energy Efficiency Programmers are available to ensure that the solution they provide will suit your individual business needs rather than pigeon-holing your requirements.

    Flexible energy plans are available so that your energy requirements aren’t standardised. They will assess your consumption and recognise any emerging patterns in energy usage, so that the contract you sign up for reflects your business’ use perfectly.

    With over half a million organisations utilising the expert services of British Gas, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re in safe hands. Years of experience mean that they know what they’re doing and will help to resolve your energy queries promptly and effectively.

    If you’re a large end gas user, consider your options today and sign up for a energy contract that has your best interests at heart.

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    Paying Off Credit Card Debt and Improving Your Credit Score

    by  • April 10, 2013 • Tagged: ,

    There is no doubt that having credit card debt is stressful – especially when you know that it just keeps on growing day after day. Paying down credit card debt can be just as stressful as trying to ignore it, however, paying off your debt is recommended – ignoring it is not!

    There are a number of options open to you if you have decided it’s finally time to get rid of that debt. We’re going to look at balance transfer credit cards, to see if that is the right route for you.

    Balance Transfer Credit Cards

    Transferring the balance from your current store or credit cards onto a balance transfer card can give you a great opportunity to pay down debt, without having to worry about interest. Transferred balances will attract low or no interest for a given period of time, giving you a chance to pay off more of your actual debt, while taking a break from interest.

    To do this properly, it’s important to choose the right balance transfer offer. Offers vary according to the card provider, so you could get a card with 0% on balance transfers for six months, or another card with 3% on balance transfers for 12 months.

    To choose the right offer, you will need to work out how long you need to pay off your debt. If you’re certain you can pay it off quickly, go for a card with the lowest possible interest over a shorter period of time.

    If you think you will need longer to pay off your debt, you may need to choose a longer offer. Bear in mind that longer offers can sometimes charge higher interest – but, you will still be paying a lot less interest than a standard credit card.

    Try using a balance transfer calculator or a credit card calculator to work out what you can afford, and what is the best option for you. Also be aware of the card’s reversion rates, what happens when the offer ends, and be sure to read the terms and conditions of the card.

    After You’ve Paid Off Your Debt

    Congratulations, you’ve paid off your debt! Now it’s time to think about whether the balance transfer card is still the best card for you. You may find that the card has reverted to a much higher interest rate, in which case, you need to decide if it’s still affordable.

    If you pay off your balance at the end of the month, you shouldn’t need to worry too much about the card’s interest rate. However, if you have trouble paying it off each month, then you may want to switch to a low interest credit card. This will help you keep a lid on the amount of interest you’re paying on your debt.

    While you may not always be able to pay off your balance each month, it is certainly something to aim for. Never just pay the minimum repayment, or it’s likely you’ll end up in trouble with your credit card again sooner rather than later.

    Again, it’s a good idea to use a credit card calculator and a comparison site, to find the best credit card for you, and to ensure you get what you need from your card.

    Improving your Credit Score

    Treating your credit cards with respect can help to improve your credit score. This means, always pay your bills on time, try to pay off the balance in full each month, don’t apply for more than one credit card at once, and keep a good relationship with your credit card provider.

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    Creative Ways to Tackle Debt

    by  • March 28, 2013 • Tagged: , ,

    Many adults find themselves swimming in credit card debt, car debt, house debt and other types of debt. This can be very stressful and you might feel like you’re walking through every day with a gorilla on your back. Whether you’re dealing with unsecured or secured debt, eliminating it from your life will make a huge difference in your financial stress. Here are some easy ways to help you pay off debt.

    Three Debt Elimination Strategies

    1.  The Budget

    Probably the most important tool and strategy anybody can use to pay off debt is the budget. For you, the word “budget” might bring up thoughts of being poor or broke. A budget is just a tool and doesn’t say anything about how much money you have or don’t have. However, if you’re in debt, you are broke. This is just a fact. Whether you can afford the payments on your car, house and credit cards or not, you’re broke.

    The best type of budget to use assigns each dollar a place to go. For example, if you make $5,000 every month (take home pay) and your bills come out to $3,500, you have $1,500 left over. This money still needs a place to go, whether it’s to pay extra on a debt, savings for retirement, entertainment or something else. Give every dollar an assignment and you might just find money within your budget you can use to help pay down your debts.

    2.  Cut Back on Savings, Temporarily

    This strategy is a hard one for many to swallow, but it will answer the question, should I save money or pay off debt? If you already have thousands of dollars in the bank, why not use some of that money to pay down some of your debts? Of course, you don’t want to use it all because you need a little cash set aside for emergencies. Some experts believe an emergency fund of about $1,000 is enough, while paying off debt.

    Just imagine how much better you will feel and how much freedom you’ll find within your budget when the car is paid off, the credit cards have a zero balance and even when you’ve paid off your mortgage. Imagine what you could do with your paycheck every month if it wasn’t already spent before you receive it. You could really start saving towards retirement, make sure your children can go to college and take that vacation of your dreams, finally.

    3.  Sell Some Stuff

    The fastest and easiest way to eliminate debt is by selling some stuff. It’s just stuff and once you get out of debt, you can start saving money to buy some more stuff. If you have a TV, vehicle or anything else (other than your house) and you owe money on it, sell it and use the cash to pay it off. Anything you don’t need to survive, can be sold to help pay down debts until you get yourself out of this hole.

    Paying off debt frees up the money you need for other things and the faster you can eliminate all your debt (except the mortgage), the sooner you can experience the peace of mind that comes with financial security. Use a budget, cut back on savings (temporarily) and sell anything you really don’t needs to free up the necessary cash to pay off your debts.

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    How to Avoid Fighting About Your Finances

    by  • March 19, 2013 • Tagged: , ,

    Money is a topic that can put strain on even the healthiest of relationships. When finances are tight, stress, frustration and fighting are all common side effects. But while we all experience concerns over our bank balance from time to time, money doesn’t need to damage the special bond you share with your partner.

    With this in mind here are some top tips to help you avoid fights and tension when it comes to managing your finances.

    couple yelling at each other

    1.      Keep it in perspective

    When we’re worried and stressed about money, it can be easy to take your frustration and fears out on the people closest to you. Instead, it’s important to keep the bigger picture in perspective. Keep in mind the fact that in today’s tough economic times, there are plenty of couples in a similar financial situation to you – not to mention quite a few that are much worse off. Money isn’t everything, and while limited funds can be stressful, they aren’t worth losing a loved one over.

    2.      Identify the problems

    If you and your partner fight about money on a regular basis, try and identify a pattern behind the arguments. Do they usually take place in the same week as your rent payments? Are you more likely to quarrel at the end of the month when funds are limited? Once you have identified the common problems, you’ve got a better chance of fixing them.

    When you empathize with your partner about the things that are stressing them out, there’s also a better chance they’ll go out of their way to return the favour. For instance, if your partner’s stressed about cooking meals on a tight budget, make a point of helping out in the kitchen to help carry the work load.

    3.      Keep communication lines open

    In a healthy relationship nearly all fights can be avoided through clear communication. It’s important not only to express your feelings, but also to be receptive to the issues your partner raises.

    Always try to talk through your worries about money rather than bottling them up. This way you won’t end up angry and frustrated at your partner, which usually leads to aggression and hostility.

    Worried man talking on cellular phone

    4. Have a plan

    If money is a constant source of tension, then it might be time to review your budget. Sit down as a pair and consider ways to cut back on costs.

    If you feel like your partner spends too much money on unnecessary expenses like socialising or fashion, this is a calm environment to raise your opinions – rather than shouting at them in the heat of the moment.

    5.      Find love on a budget

    Money not only puts a strain on maintaining relationships, it also adds stress to the dating game itself. For people on a tight budget who are looking to find love, wining and dining on ‘traditional dates’ can prove costly. It is for this reason that free dating sites have proven such a popular way of meeting new people.

    Relationship websites have helped thousands of money-conscious singles to find their perfect match. Instead of heading to pricey nightclubs and bars to meet people, dating sites allow users to view and connect with other compatible local singles for free. To find out more about your compatible matches, visit www.eharmony.ca today.

    images: hang_in_there, photoloni

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    Don’t Spend Your Savings!

    by  • March 13, 2013 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    Maybe it’s a problem unique to me, but every time I used to find a way to trim my budget, I ended up just spending the savings. Spending My Savings Prime example – I used to spend roughly $3 per workday on coffee drinks, which multiplied by 20 workdays a month, meant that I coughed ... Read more →

    Insurance for Pubs

    by  • March 8, 2013 • Tagged:   • Comments

    A pub isn’t like most other businesses, and has specific problems that may arise that are unique to it, such as loss of license, damage caused by customers, and potential injury to members of staff. Ideally, these types of incidents will be few and far between but, if they do occur, it will be important ... Read more →

    Top Eight Ways to Deal with Spousal Debt

    by  • March 6, 2013 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    Dealing with financial matters is very important for any married couple. It may make or break a relationship as the future of the family is at stake. It is the job of every couple to make sure that they are financially secure. But in certain circumstances the expenditures may go over the set limit. There ... Read more →

    How Plastic Can Actually Help

    by  • February 22, 2013 • Tagged:   • Comments

    In the financial services industry, experts often give credit cards the lion’s share of the blame for consumers accumulating debt. Although credit cards can definitely cause problems if they are not used correctly, they can actually be good when in the right hands. If you’re concerned about how credit cards can hurt your financial situation, ... Read more →

    Income Insurance as a Way to Protect Against Debt

    by  • February 21, 2013 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    If you have an income, you should be thinking about income protection insurance. Many of us protect our cars with car insurance, we protect our bodies with health insurance, and we protect our homes with home insurance. Nevertheless, many of us seem to overlook protecting our income. Most households rely on at least one salary coming in, ... Read more →

    The Tale of My First Electronics Purchase

    by  • January 30, 2013 • Tagged:   • Comments

    I grew up with an 7-years older brother who loved electronics, most notably home theater stuff. When he was in college, he would come back with an awesome a/v receiver, a cd player from a brand that I’ve never heard of, a hi-fi cassette tape deck, and the newest high quality VCR player (hey this was ... Read more →

    Green-Eyed Monsters

    by  • December 10, 2012 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    Despite having what one might call a healthy sense of self-confidence, there are moments when I feel overwhelmed with envy for what other have. If I’ve been eyeing a dress online and deemed it irresponsible to purchase it, I’ll seethe just a little bit when I spy a co-worker wearing it the next week. This ... Read more →

    You’re Hired! Now Here’s a Car Payment

    by  • December 6, 2012 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    One of the great things about my current job is that my wife and I can commute together, whether it be by public transportation (in the past) or by car (currently). While I’ve waxed poetic on how much I love my job, I found myself a few weeks ago interviewing for another position. It’s a ... Read more →

    Cyber-Monday Pity Shopping

    by  • December 3, 2012 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    I have been exceedingly good when it comes to spending and saving in these last few months of 2012. Influx of money from doing more work than anticipated? Into the savings account it goes! Need a new dress for a variety of upcoming occasions because I’ve worn the same two dresses so many times that ... Read more →

    The Trouble with Christmas

    by  • November 15, 2012 • Tagged: , ,  • Comments

    The title here is deceptive, because really, the obvious trouble with Christmas is that I’m Jewish, and don’t celebrate it. But! When you marry someone who does celebrate it, and you don’t have your own family competing to get you to celebrate it with them, then Christmas becomes your holiday too. No, the real trouble ... Read more →

    Are Two Birthday Parties Too Many?

    by  • November 13, 2012 • Tagged: , ,  • Comments

    After almost 2 years of being parents, my wife and I have realized that we have a “Spirited Child”, ie, a child who is just more of everything. As such, we’re trying to be sensitive to his needs, temperament, and personality. Large scale disruptions can mean hours (yes, plural) of uncontrollable tantrums. Included in these ... Read more →

    Giveaway Reminder! Favorite Tweets!

    by  • November 9, 2012 • Tagged: , ,  • Comments

    Just a reminder that the $100 giveaway contest ends today at 11:00 PM CST. Read about emergency funds and enter the contest here! As I’ve talked about on our Facebook page, we’re pretty much all set for Thanksgiving; we’ve ordered a turkey and sides. That’ll help immensely considering the difficulty it will be to even ... Read more →

    Planning for Holiday Spending

    by  • November 7, 2012 • Tagged: , ,  • Comments

    One of the most revolutionary things my young financial mind discovered upon entering the world of personal finance writing after college was the concept of early saving for holiday spending. I had always found myself unpleasantly stressed as the holidays arrived, particularly after I started spending Christmas with my husband’s family. They are a very ... Read more →

    Ways to Spend Money in a Hurricane

    by  • November 5, 2012 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    As I write this (ed. last week, of course), Hurricane Sandy is pounding down our door (read: causing some trees outside to sway slightly). Work has been cancelled; schools are shut down; public transportation is offline, and we’re holed up inside waiting to see if the hype was accurate. One would assume that in the ... Read more →

    Giveaway! Guest Posts! Favorite Tweets!

    by  • November 2, 2012 • Tagged: , ,  • Comments

    Happy Friday! It’s been quite the week here at Make Love, Not Debt. Here’s a wrap up of what’s been going on. Guest Posts Abby wrote a guest post for Couple Money — Figuring Out Financial Equality in A Marriage I wrote a post for Reach Financial Independence — Who Did I Marry, Financially? Giveaway ... Read more →

    My Only Domestic Skill

    by  • October 29, 2012 • Tagged: ,  • Comments

    When my husband and I moved in together, it became evident that certain things would be left to him, and certain things to me. His idea of “making the bed,” for instance, involves mostly pulling at the blankets until only part of them are a giant, wadded-up mess; I prefer a taut surface you can ... Read more →