| Most people would love to get a raise; but did you | | | | it, try it for a month and keep track of your |
| know that by lowering your bills, you're giving | | | | savings. If it's more hassle than it's worth you can |
| yourself a raise? For every $100.00 a month that | | | | stop. But I'm betting you'll be surprised at how |
| you can lower your bills, you're getting a raise of | | | | fast it adds up. Pay attention to prices at |
| about 60 cents an hour based on $1200.00 a year | | | | different stores. Most stores offer some products |
| divided by 52 weeks and 40 hours a week. It | | | | under wholesale just to bring you in because they |
| doesn't sound like much until you figure that most | | | | know most people will buy other things and they'll |
| companies are giving 3% annual raises and you | | | | make money on the higher priced items. |
| would have to make $20.00 per hour to get a 60 | | | | Do you still smoke? I bet you're expecting me to |
| cent raise. Not only that, but $1200 would pay for | | | | say quit. Well, that would save you money but |
| a decent big screen T.V. | | | | I'm not going to. If you want to quit then I wish |
| In this article, I plan on showing you a few easy | | | | you luck because I know it's hard. Try out the |
| ways to save money and with any luck, at least | | | | cheaper cigarette brands. Buy a single pack and |
| one that you didn't think of. | | | | see how they taste. If you find a brand you like |
| The first thing you should do after reading this | | | | and it's a $1.00 a pack cheaper then look at how |
| article is grab a notebook, PDA or some other | | | | much you'll save. If you smoke a pack a day then |
| way to keep track and start recording your | | | | you'll save about $30.00 a month, $365.00 a year. |
| spending. Write down every purchase you make, | | | | If you're scared of what people will think, buy a |
| even a soda or snack from a vending machine. | | | | nice case. They'll never know you're smoking |
| Keep it up for at least a month and then look at | | | | cheap cigarettes. |
| where your money goes. You may start to see a | | | | Take a look at your cable/satellite package. Look |
| trend that you want to stop before the month is | | | | at what stations you watch and which package |
| over and by all means, change it. You may also | | | | they're included in. If you don't watch anything in |
| want to do this more than once. It's a great way | | | | the higher end packages, drop the extra or find |
| to keep from falling back into or developing new | | | | out if you can get just the channels you watch. If |
| bad spending habits. | | | | you have cable, take a look at satellite providers |
| Improve your credit card balances and rates. This | | | | such as Dish Network and see if you can save |
| is a given and dozens of books and articles have | | | | money if that's an option where you live. Some |
| been written so I won't waste too much of your | | | | apartments don't have access to the correct |
| time repeating the same old information. Just | | | | direction to use satellite but if you do, then it |
| know that the lower your rate and the faster | | | | could be a better deal and you may receive a |
| you pay it off, the more money you save. Start | | | | channel you've always wanted. |
| with your highest rate card and pay as much | | | | Check your phone bill. This is one of the easiest |
| extra as you can until it's paid off, and then go to | | | | bills to be over charged for and one of the |
| the next and include what you were paying on | | | | easiest to change. Most people think they don't |
| the first card. You could easily drop $100 per | | | | spend enough to bother with it, but many |
| month just from this. | | | | companies hide fees or make up their own. Some |
| Take your lunch and snacks to work. If you | | | | will even tell you a fee is mandatory when it's |
| spend $5.00 a day on fast food lunch and drink 3 | | | | really just an administrative fee. What you may |
| sodas a day, you can easily save about $15.00 - | | | | not realize is that depending on your calling habits |
| $20.00 a week and that would be about $60.00 to | | | | or the area you live in you may want a different |
| $80.00 a month just by packing a lunch, not | | | | long distance company or you may want to go |
| including gas and wear and tear on your car. Not | | | | with VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) if you |
| to mention how much healthier it would be. You | | | | have a broadband internet connection. We offer a |
| may only want to cut back on the lunches but it | | | | calculator that compares 11 companies and shows |
| would still be a savings. Just a thought, you could | | | | the rates for your area. There's even the |
| use the extra time to read a book or just relax. | | | | advanced calculator that takes your calling habits |
| Buy Regular Unleaded gas unless your car requires | | | | and finds the best rate for you based on if you |
| higher octane gas. Check your owner's manual to | | | | call more instate or out of state. |
| be sure. Most places charge 20 cents a gallon | | | | The point of these tips isn't to make you a |
| extra for Supreme over Regular Unleaded and | | | | cheapskate, but to allow you to choose where |
| unless you're driving a sports car you won't be | | | | your money goes. You can save the extra |
| able to tell the difference. Depending on your gas | | | | money, go out to a nice restaurant each month |
| mileage this could add up quickly. | | | | or spend it in any way you want, even to buy a |
| Use a shopping list and stick to it. Avoid impulse | | | | new T.V. And wouldn't it be much nicer to choose |
| buys unless they're something you'd normally use | | | | where you spend your money instead of |
| and on sale. Clip coupons. If you think it isn't worth | | | | wondering where it went? |