Bigger Cellphone Budget

In just ten years cellphone have changed dramatically, not only have cellphones themselves changed but so have the prices of the phone as well as the cellphones bills. Cellphones are now used for a lot more than just for making calls, smartphones now can perform multiple tasks, such as:        

•       Surfing the internet
•       Texting
•      Watching Videos
•       Playing Music
•      Games

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Americans spent an average of $210 for service per year in 2001, in 2010 the average cell phone service was more than $760 per year, that’s $63 per month.

That is a big increase, a 15% grow for cellphones, yet only a 2% for household expenditures.   

Cellphones have been growing significantly but what happened to landlines? Landlines have been decreasing at just a dramatic rate. People just don’t need a landline anymore, why would they when everyone is using cellphones; which can perform a lot more tasks.

The bottom line is that technology is growing at a dramatic rate and the prices with it. Spending on phone and services are rising, but household expenditures are not. So what is a house hold cutting down on?

 Is it worth it?

How much are you paying for your cellphone and service?

MSN Money

Plot Twist: Women are Better at Buying Cars

Here’s something you probably didn't expect: men do a worse job buying cars than women do. Studies indicate that although men do have more knowledge than women do about cars, they tend to overestimate their abilities.


Women don’t know much about cars, you say. It’s true but being knowledgeable about this subject is actually more of a disadvantage. You see, it may cause you to refuse to intake any additional information that may actually benefit you.


Women, as a whole, are more practical than men are. This means they are better at researching and gathering important information about the vehicle of interest. Men, on the other hand, feel the need to not ask questions because they already assume that they already know everything there is about cars.


So guys, next time you decide it’s time for a new car, bring your girlfriend/wife along for the ride. With the information you “already know” and the information she could find out, finding the best deals will be a walk in the park.


Source

Budget Then Don't Fudge It



Budgeting isn't just for people that say they need to stick to a budget, it's for everyone. A budget helps you manage your money flow and ensure you can have enough money for not only paying bills but also going to the movies or going on vacation.

When you stick to a budget you can see where your money is going. Sometimes we feel like we have a lot of money for little things but feel like we can't splurge on the big things. With a budget you can see if you really need those little things or if you can cut back and buy that new flat screen tv or a new car!

Here are some tips from the article, Budgeting 101, that make budgeting seem more attainable:

• Track everything, it may seem tedious but it can uncover hidden money flow that you didn't even realize you were doing.

• Don't overspend. If you have $200 to spend on groceries one month then don't spend more than that. Stretch what you have and make good use of every dollar spent.

• Use cash for purchases. When you have a certain amount of cash on you then it is a lot easier to see how much you are spending.

• Stick to the budget. If you really want to be successful budgeting then you need to continue to track expenses and stay on point.

About.com

10 Tips to Buying a Car

 

1. Browse with no intent of buying

If someone approaches you to try and sell you a car, tell them you are just looking. If you can, go to the dealership when they are closed to avoid being hassled by car sales men and women. This allows you to do some looking and researching to make sure you buy the car you want.

2. Know what the dealership paid for the car.

If you know what they paid for it, it will make it easier for you to bargain with them and get it for a lower price.

3. Get an online quote.

If you get several quotes from different dealerships online and print them out, it gives you a bargaining chip. It will make them more likely to lower the price of the vehicle.

4. Get your paperwork in order

Print out invoices of the vehicle or vehicles that you are looking at, have your online quotes with you, have any financing information with you, and find out your credit score beforehand so you know what you are dealing with.

5. Leasing

Dealers push leasing because it is profitable for them, which means that it is almost always a bad idea. You only have a certain amount of time with the vehicle, and after that time expires, you have nothing to show for it. You cannot get any money back from years of paying for your car.

6. Don't talk financing or trade-ins until you are settled on a price

If they give you a price for trade-in on your car, the deals will most likely take that into consideration before settling on a price for the new car. Settle on a price for a new car, and then ask what they would give you for your car.

7. Test Drives

Just because it is a new car doesn't mean that you should not test drive the car first. While taking a test drive, if there is a salesperson in the care with you make sure that you do not get too giddy or excited about the car. If they know that have gotten attached to the vehicle, they will try and get you to spend more money on the vehicle.

8. Take a close look at the fees.

Some dealships will bill you for things that you think they should have to pay for. Expect to pay for sales tax, destination charge, tittle and registration fees, advertising charges, and dealer prep fees. You can try get the dealer to pay for as much of these as you can, or try to get them to lower the cost of vehicle itself.

9. Be cautious of dealership services.

Lots of dealers will try and sell you things like fabric protection, rust-proofing, window VIN etching, and paint sealant. All of them are scams. Most modern cars already get rust-proofing from the factory. The rest can be done by you at a fraction of the price.

10. Be ok with walking away.

If a dealer sees that you are willing to walk away, they are likelier to take you seriously and be willing to barter prices with you, because they would rather make some money than none at all.

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/10-tips-for-regret-free-car-buying

Tips on Managing Your Credit Card

Author Janna Herron offers helpful hints on managing your credit card the smart way. Her first tip is to know where you stand with your credit report. Knowing this number will affect interest rates and credit limits when you receive a credit card. Her next tip is to start building your credit score; a better score means lower interest, which would ultimately save you money. 

After your credit score is good, she then suggests that you start looking at benefits that you would like your credit card to offer. Such as other perks to consider: cards with “low balance transfer fees, cards with low penalty or late fees and specialty cards such as secured, retail or prepaid cards”. 

Afterwards, the credit card holder should then compare different types of credit card companies to see which credit card dis right for you. Make sure to read the small print, because a lot of credit cards even come with perks such as roadside assistance and other miscellaneous items.

 If you do happen to get denied for a credit card, companies are not required to disclose your credit score, alone with the five top reasons your scoring is bad. If you can’t get approved, there are some alternatives to getting better credit; you can either apply for a secured credit card, or become an authorized user on another person’s credit card.

When you have a credit card, it would be in your best interest to pay above the minimum; with interest rates so high, prices can really balloon up from only paying the minimum. Plus, your credit score will raise if you’re paying above the minimum payment.

In addition, many companies offer benefits and rewards if you “like” them on social media sites such as Facebook. However, credit cards can be a threat to your financial security if you don’t keep tabs on it. Make sure to monitor transactions every few days to make sure nothing is amiss.

         

            Lastly, if you foresee yourself not being able to make payments, for whatever reason, contact the company. Many times, creditors will set up a payment plan until you can get back up on your feet. By following these tips, your credit card will be your friend, instead of the enemy.

Source

Tips For Getting the Best Deal on A Cell Phone

Cell phone contracts can be a hassle to deal with, here I will give you some tips for getting the best deals on a cell phone.

• Do your research, If you look around, you will most likely get the best deal possible.
• Tell a carrier that you can get a better deal elsewhere and try to haggle them to a lower price.
• Look into Prepaid, it may sound bad but there are actually some great deals out there.

Prepaid phones can be a great alternative, as stated in Prepaid Phones are Cheaper. Why aren't they Popular? An article in the New York Times, by Brian X. Chen. 

"Contract-free phone plans account for only 23 percent of the wireless customers in the United States phone market, according to the research firm Ovum. The rest are subscribers locked into contracts and paying higher monthly fees."

"That’s despite the fact that prepaid phone plans are generally a better deal for most people, who can save hundreds of dollars over the course of two years compared to a contract plan."

"The iPhone with a two-year contract on AT&T, for example, costs $200 for the handset and then upward of $90 a month for the plan; over two years, including the cost of the phone, customers pay at least $2,360. With a prepaid plan with Virgin Mobile, which is owned by Sprint, the iPhone costs $650 for the handset, and then $30 a month, including unlimited data (the type of data plan that people are happier with, according to J.D. Power). Over two years, that would cost about $1,370."

That is savings of $990.00 a year, why not make the switch to a prepaid plan and save some money that could be used elsewhere?  The choice is yours, do your research and decide what works best for you.

Prepaid Phones Are Cheaper. Why Aren't They Popular

9 Smart Ways to Use Your Debit Card

Debit cards are used every day in our society but are we using them correctly? Allie Johnson, who wrote the article “9 Best Practices for Credit Card Use”, thinks that there are many ways we are using our debit cards wrong.  Allie (Johnson 2010) gives us some simple every day steps to help us when using our debit cards.

1.       Know Yourself

If you know you tend to spend your money way to easily then maybe instead of pulling your debit card out every time you crave a snack use cash instead. This normally helps you to not overspend because you only allow yourself so much cash and when it is gone, it’s gone.

2.       Keeping Track of Your Transactions

When you purchase something or pay a bill you should always write it down. Keep track of all your purchases to avoid over drafting and the fees that come with it. Married couples with joint accounts especially need to do this and keep good communication to avoid financial disasters in the future.

3.       Don’t Opt in

In 2010 the federal regulations passed a new law stating that the banks are prohibited to allow customers to overdraft unless opting in first. Even though the bank will urge you to do this instead set up an overdraft protection plan by having your checking connected with your savings. You won’t have to pay a fee and you have a piece of mind just in case something unexpected decides to come out.

4.       Watch out for Holds

When going to a hotel, renting a car, or sometimes buying gas always ask if they will be putting a hold on your card. If they do make sure you ask for how long the hold will be on and for how much. Experts say to use your credit card for these so you don’t have your money tied up when you need it.

5.       Debit vs. Credit

When using your debit card to purchase something they always ask if it credit or debit. When this happens use debit and punch in your code so your transaction gets put on your account immediately rather than choosing credit it could be days till its posted, leaving you thinking you have money still when you don’t.

6.       Choose Your Pin Number Wisely

When choosing your pin make sure it is just a random bunch of numbers that’s easy for you to remember, otherwise a criminal could easily guess your birthday, kids birthday, social security, or even just 1111.

7.       Check Your Account Daily Online

When using your debit card it is very easy to not notice a double charge, hold, or fraud happening on your account. This is why it’s very important to check daily because if you don’t you lose your money not the banks.

8.       Link Your Accounts Wisely

When linking your checking to your savings for protection be careful how much you want to put in there and how many accounts you link to. Remember if your account gets hacked all the accounts linked to checking becomes the criminal’s money.

9.       Credit Cards are Best for big Purchases

When making large purchases your credit card is best because your debit card doesn’t have half as many consumer protections as a credit card. So if you buy something and it’s not delivered you can get your money back rather than having it be gone forever.

Now that you know a little more about how to use your debit card and when not to , I wish you the best on your future purchases.

creditcards.com