9 Pointers for Building Up Your Savings Account

In an uncertain economy, having a meaty savings account is critically important. You never know when you might lose your job or when some other economically taxing situation will befall you, so you want to be prepared for such times. Fortunately, there are many simple methods that can be employed in order to build up a savings account. Here, we'll discuss the top nine ways to do so. Make a budget and stick to it. Identify how much money you need every month for basic living expenses -...

The Power of Education: Understanding Consumer Protection Laws

Education is one aspect of unlocking the future for financial success, by preparing you for a career that provides sufficient income for all of your needs. A college degree, however, is just another piece of paper in a frame on your wall unless you put what you’ve learned into practice. It’s the same with non-academic areas of life. You may have sat through economics and finance courses without a thought to incorporating those concepts into your daily life. If that’s you, you need to begin today...

How to Take Charge of Unnecessary Banking Fees

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, or CARD Act, instituted rules and regulations that were more friendly to consumers of financial products and less in the favor of the banks that provide them. Regulations regarding interest rate hikes on existing balances and new rules on over-the-limit fees sent banks on a search for a way to make up revenue that was lost in their credit-card departments. One of the most common ways banks sought to regain revenue was...

Couponing: An Easy Way to Save Money

Saving money on purchases by finding and using coupons is something that many people don't do at all because they think it's for old ladies. A small minority turn it into a fanatical obsession. In reality, unless you have money to burn, it's foolish not to spend a comparatively small amount of time to save what may accumulate into a sizable amount of money later. Couponing can be tedious, but it's rarely fruitless if it's done right. Follow this guide to spending less and eating better. L...

6 Tips for Always Paying Your Bills on Time

Successfully accumulating wealth often means paying attention to the little ways in which we can save money in life. One way many people squander cash is by paying late fees and interest on bills that are overdue. Although the dollars may seem small, the charges add up to significant amounts over time. Consider that the late fee for monthly bills is often $30. Over the course of a year, that's $360, but over a 10-year period, that's a whopping $3,600. Consider what even a simple investment of t...

Top 7 Ways to Save Money on Your Next Family Vacation

For some reason, travel is one of those things we take for granted as having to be expensive. The family vacation, for example, is a time-honored tradition that most families spend months saving up to take and then have to scrimp and save once they get back to make up for what they overspent. Instead of getting discouraged, though, why not look at it as a challenge to come in under budget this year? There are lots of ways to save money on family vacations. Here are just a few of them: 1. Filte...

Never Underestimate the Value of a Budget

For thousands of people across the United States, sticking to a budget is a very difficult task. Part of this reason is because there is no accountability aside from the effects of failure. It takes a great deal of dedication, willpower and persistence in order to make a home budget work. It's all too easy to spend your own money on what you want rather than what you need. A detailed budget can be laid out by the most professional of financial advisers. If the individual doesn't succumb to w...

Practical Tips to Avoid Filing Bankruptcy

Sometimes it seems that people are more interested in finding an easy way out of debt rather than learn to live within their means, overcoming the desire to get something for nothing. However, recent statistics give a more positive impression of Americans with the fewest number of bankruptcies filed since 2006. Even in the midst of a fragile economy, people are demonstrating a desire to do the right thing, even when it means doing without. If you find yourself in debt, so deep that you wonder ho...

5 Tips for Saving Cash on Your Daycare Expenses

$235,000. Gulp. Yes, that's the newest estimate of how much it costs for a middle-income family to raise a child through age 17. And then there's college. Whew! After that little shocker, you deserve a reminder of how adorable and funny kids can be, so take a giggle break with the Worry 'Bout Yo-self little lady! How great is she?! Yep. Start sharing that one. She's a keeper, and of course, so are your little ones. Nothing can offset the joy you feel as you watch your little ones...

5 Home Improvement Projects That Can Add Value to Your Property

There are always projects. Big things, small things -- projects waiting in the wings for when you have a free weekend or have saved up enough money to hire a professional to complete them. Maybe you imagine new cabinets or counter tops every time you walk through your kitchen. Maybe you've been dreaming of having the front porch replaced. Maybe you've been saving your pennies until the day that you can afford to install an air conditioning unit so you won’t feel like a roasted goose every day d...