"83 Little Known Secrets To Saving Money |
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Welcome To Day 7
61.
Check
Receipts and Statements
If
you were to check your grocery or store receipt, approximately 50% of
the time you would find an overcharge.
This happens all the time and in some cases, the charge can be
substantial. The same is true for credit card statements, bank statements,
phone bills, etc. Check the
detail because it is quite common to find errors.
These mistakes can easily be corrected simply by asking and
providing a copy of the receipt or statement. 62.
Overdraft
Protection
Almost
everyone has at one point or another had an insufficient check. Most banks charge $20 per returned check, which if not
careful with your account, can quickly add up to a lot of money.
If you have a savings account, consider adding overdraft
protection onto your checking account so if you ever go into a negative
balance, the money would automatically be covered by your savings.
Most banks offer this service free. 63.
Bank
Accounts
Make
sure you work with a qualified banker that can set up the “right”
kind of account for your type of spending.
There are numerous options specifically designed for people that
write a good number of checks versus those who do not.
Check with your existing bank to ensure you have what you really
need and if they are not willing to work with you, change banks.
In general, credit unions are good options. Their rates are typically lower and because they are employee
owned, you can find better options. 64.
Organization
You
may be wondering what being organized has to do with saving money but in
reality, it has a lot to do with it.
For example, if you miss a credit card due date by one day, you
will be charged anywhere from a 15% to 25% penalty.
The same would be true for taxes.
Missing one simple date can cost thousands.
You need to be organized so you know the exact dates your bills
are due as well as keep all receipts, contracts, etc. in an orderly
manner. 65.
Good
Health
You
need to make sure you take care of yourself physically.
Missed dental cleanings (every six months) can lead to gum
disease or tooth decay that can cost thousands to fix.
The same is true for your health.
After trying home remedies or over the counter medications, if
you still do not feel well, see a doctor.
It is far better to pay the doctor visit than to let your simple
summer cold turn into pneumonia. 66.
Automobile
Care
Keep
your car oil changed, tires rotated, and overall care up-to-date. First, the $30 for your oil change will save wear and tear on
your car, which could result in significant money. Second, you need your car to get to and from work.
By not having your car in top working condition could put you in
a bad position when it comes to required transportation. 67.
Vacations
While
Paris, England, or Germany offers excitement, they also cost money to
visit. Unfortunately,
people on a regular basis forget about the United States and even the
very state in which they live. One
man had lived in Arizona his entire life.
At age 50, when asked by a friend what the Grand Canyon was like,
he was unable to answer because he had never been there.
The next time you get ready to plan your family vacation, look
around where you live and consider an exciting road trip that will not
only be educating but cost effective.
A vacation does not have to be expensive to be fun and memorable. 68.
Borrowing
Money
Unless
you have an emergency, avoid those enticing advertisements to lend you
money at incredible rates. Banks
and lending institutions make it much too easy to borrow money and
especially during the holidays, they flash all their great
advertisements drawing people in. Afterwards,
you have borrowed money that you could have done without and now you are
locked into a five-year repayment contract.
If you want a new car or boat, it is better to save.
If you do need a new car, avoid brand new cars, which lose
massive amounts of appreciation the minute you drive off the lot.
Instead, look for something a year or two old where you will
still have a nice car but much more in line with an appropriate cost. 69.
Repair
versus Replace
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