Notepad Corner

There are many ways to save money but a lot people seem to find it hard to be frugal and continue with their current ways of spending. The rising costs of necessities and the way the economy has sagged are pushing more families to become penny-wise and stretch their meager finances. Like most families, yours might also be clueless as to how you can have a trimmer lifestyle. Here are five simple ways on how you can practice frugality at home and at work. Monitor Your Expenses . The simplest way to being frugal is to create an accurate costing of your expenses. This includes housing costs, utilities, transportation and even your daily dose of coffee at the corner store. Many people find it helpful to track expenses as it provide where exactly their money goes. It also allows you to see where you can trim off your budget.

The latest movement is prepaid debit and credit cards. They are everywhere. People rate these types of cards better than bank accounts because they have less fees, more deposit options and work just like any other debit or credit card without high interest fees or overdraft charges. If you are running a budget, this type of card is a perfect choice for you. For example, Kaiku offers one of the top credit cards prepaid on the market. It's easy to add money through direct deposit, bank account, cash locations or even card-to-card transfers. Members of Kaiku also have a lot of account options and tools. They can budget and manage their money easily online or even use the Kaiku app to access their account, send money, receive text alerts and check for in-network ATMs.

photo credits:  freedigitalphotos.net Living on a student budget can be stressful so it’s wise to do some financial planning prior to starting a college or university course, whether or not this will be undertaken close to home or abroad.  A financial plan does not have to be sophisticated but it does need to be honest about everyday expenditure, and it’s a good idea to build in a few ways in which income can be stretched a little more.  Here are some basic tips for watching your budget while studying. Creating a budget Begin with an honest analysis of typical monthly expenditure.  Track every single item on a spreadsheet, or in a notebook or smartphone app.  From the total available to spend, first set aside funds for the major bills – tuition fees, books, accommodation costs, meal tickets, etc.  If there are large amounts to be spent once or twice per year – for example, on travel if studying abroad – make sure to include these.  What mon...

Keeping up with a tight budget and yet there’s a call to buy things for your home? There’s no more need for a long wait on mall bargain sale as you can also save with Endless coupons . Coupon code is one of the best approaches to budget shopping money as you can find more for less. Online purchasing gives us the advantage to enjoy shopping without sweating, unlike going to garage auctions and mall deals wherein you have to brush shoulders with other sale seekers just to buy what you need and most often, in the end you will come to realize that you spent more than what you have expected. In order not to burn a hole in your pocket at the same time get pleasure from your bargain hunting adventure visit websites like couponcodes4u and start buying for coupons that will fit your intended budget. It will definitely help you maintain your financial plans as you will only be spending your allocated funds. You can find many bits and pieces for your home improvement as well as other...

In today's recessing economy, it's important to keep one's finances in the forefront of your mind. Each decision that you make should have your budget in mind. If you don't have a budget in place, it's time to create a financial map for yourself. Image by RambergMediaImages via Flickr

Most people have heard the term “business casual” as it concerns work-dress codes. Generally, the term refers to clothing which allows you to work comfortably, but still project a professional image. For many new employees, the words business casual are cringe-inducing. Indeed, the thought of spending hundreds of dollars to meet wardrobe requirements can kill any joy being felt from landing a new job. However, there are several ways to shop for the proper clothing without going broke in the process. Thrift Stores and Online Shopping There are high-quality, second-hand clothing available now more than ever. The popularity of thrift-store chains like Goodwill have made it easy for people to unload clothing they no longer use and buy lightly worn clothing, all in one place. There are all sorts of reasons for people to get rid of clothing that still has life to it. For some people, gains or losses in weight result in wardrobe overhauls. Thrift stores make it easy to clear clos...

The cool breeze in the morning, the Christmas lights and decorations everywhere, Christmas carols played every now and then in radio stations, shopping malls on sale, bazaars here and there, are the things which remind us that Christmas is just around the corner. As Filipinos, we enjoy spending much during this occasion. Time to buy holiday presents for our loved ones, god children and friends. I, for instance take pleasure in shopping, but do we really need to be a big spender? Do we have to spend lavishly? According to my friend economist, this is the time of the year wherein one can generate extra income, employed people received extra money from company bonuses, thus at which point we can add more to our savings for future needs or necessity. He taught me that the proper way to maintain a financial plan is through the the budget formula: Income – Savings = Expenses. Whew! I do it the other way, income minus expenses equals savings or none at all. Buying gifts and Christmas wish ...