How to save money like the pros and really plump up your wallet.Like what you hear? Help us out by writing a review at iTunes. Questions go to money@qdnow.com. Thank you!
Money Girl
123 MG Real Deal Money-Saving Tips
Hey, Fidelity. What's it cost to invest with the Fidelity app? Start with as little as $1 with no account fees or trade commissions on US stocks and ETFs. Hmm, that's music to my ears. I can only talk. Investing involves risk, including risk of loss. Zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Sell or assessment fee not included. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at Fidelity.com/commissions. Fidelity brokerage services LLC member NYSE SIPC. My dad works in B2B marketing. He came by my school for career day and said he was a big row-ass man. Then he told everyone how much he loved calculating his return on ad spend. My friends still laugh at me to this day. Not everyone gets B2B. But with LinkedIn, you'll be able to reach people who do. Get $100 credit on your next ad campaign. Go to linkedin.com/results to claim your credit. That's linkedin.com/results. Terms and conditions apply. Linked in, the place to be, to be. Hi, everyone, and welcome to Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a richer life. I'm your host, Laura Adams. I come across lots of tips for saving money. Some of them are brilliant, but some are downright ridiculous. The worst suggestions I've read lately are to raise your own chickens, grow a mushroom log under the kitchen sink, and stop eating a couple days a week. I think my neighbors might have a problem with a flock of chickens in my suburban backyard. Plus, I don't imagine I'd be too handy with a hatchet come harvest day. In this show, I'll share my favorite practical money-saving tips for ordinary folks. None of them require you to build a chicken coop, get closer to fungus bores than you really want to, or starve yourself on a weekly basis. I like to think about personal finances from a business perspective. We can get some industrial strength tips about money management from the big boys and girls at large companies. After all, corporate finance is really just personal finance on steroids. There are five broad tactics I'll discuss to help you save money at home. The first tactic for saving money is to get comfortable with negotiation. It doesn't matter whether it's your gym, hair salon, landlord, or mortgage lender. Make ask, ask, ask your new mantra for any bill or purchase that you think could be up for discussion. However, do some homework first and be sure to speak to the right person, someone like a store manager or owner who has the authority to lower a price. Let them know and calm clear language that you're cutting back your expenses. If you know their competitors' prices are lower, mention it. If you've looked at renting less expensive apartments that are bigger than yours, give your landlord the specifics. If you're having trouble meeting your mortgage obligation, let the lender know your potential risk of defaulting on the loan. You get my point, bring the reality of the situation to the other party. Then ask if they have a less expensive payment option or would be willing to work with you to keep your business instead of losing it. If you're buying a big ticket item like a new washer and dryer and can pay cash, ask if they'd consider giving you a cash discount. That works best at smaller mom and pop stores as opposed to the huge national big box retailers. Most stores pay anywhere from 2% to 5% in transaction fees when you pay with a credit card or an in-store financing offer. Retailers who accept credit cards are generally not supposed to advertise that they will discount the price if you don't pay with plastic. But they aren't obligated to turn down any offer that a customer puts on the table. You never know what the other side may be willing to do for you in our current economy. Another big way to save money is to lower your taxes. For some, taxes are the biggest bite taken out of their income. Take every deduction, credit, and exclusion that you can to legally lower your tax liability or to increase your refund each year. If your income has been reduced, you may qualify for tax benefits that are unfamiliar to you. Do some research to see if you qualify for brand new benefits such as the first-time homebuyer tax credit, the recovery rebate credit, or the exclusion for forgiven mortgage debt. If you want to learn more, Money Girl Show #113 was about the homebuyer tax credit, and you can also do a search at irs.gov for new tax law changes. The next tactic that businesses always use to save money is to manage their fixed costs. Fixed costs are expenses that don't change much or at all from month to month. They might include your housing, utilities, insurance, groceries, or car payments, for example. These are the toughest expenses to eliminate, but watch them like a hawk to ensure that they don't increase. Buy select groceries in bulk when it saves you money and keep your eyes peeled for sales and coupons, shop insurance companies each year for more competitive rates. Insurance.com is a great resource for this. Determine if you can bundle services such as phone, cable, or internet for a lower bill. Or consider going totally cellular and eliminating a telephone landline altogether. BillShrink.com is a free savings tool that finds the best deals on expenses such as cell phone plans and credit cards. Smart companies and people know that savings and investments, large or small, are precious resources. Be sure that money you've accumulated is parked in the best spot. If it's not earning interest, or is earning very little, move it. Pronto. Look for a high-yield savings account or money market deposit account at an FDIC-insured institution. Online banks have very competitive interest rates and may even offer a new account bonus. Good taste is easy to spot, but hard to pin down. You know it when you see it, and in today's culture, there's no greater signifier of taste than the car you drive. You want something sophisticated, but not stodgy. Daring, yet classic, approachable, but with an air of opulence. It may sound like a rare find, because it is. And it perfectly describes the Range Rover Evoke. Drive a statement piece with pure presence. The Evoke is charisma and motion. This luxury SUV is artfully crafted and designed to stand out, and the reductive exterior is an elegant expression of Range Rover DNA. With clean lines, the minimalist design speaks for itself. The chiseled taillights give it a sense of motion. Even at standstill, you'll find quality materials and solid craftsmanship at every turn. And you can curate your interior with a variety of distinct themes and trim finishes. It's an elevated drive for elevated lives. Explore the Range Rover Evoke at LandRoverUSA.com. September is a great month for planning. We start thinking about the rest of the year, whether it's back to school, big year-end work projects, holiday plans or travel. Planning ahead is crucial in life, especially when it comes to what happens when you're gone. Getting life insurance may sound daunting, but policy genius makes the process a breeze. With policy genius, you can find insurance policies that start at just $292 a year for a million dollars of coverage. Some options offer same-day approval and avoid unnecessary medical exams. Policy Geniuses technology lets you compare quotes from America's top insurers in just a few clicks to find your lowest price. It's the country's leading online insurance marketplace. And if you ever need help or guidance, they have an expert license support team to answer your questions, handle all the paperwork, and advocate for you throughout the process. It's never too late to plan ahead. Go to policygenius.com or click the link in the description to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you can save. That's policygenius.com. My dad works in B2B marketing. He came by my school for career day and said he was a big row, Azman. Then he told everyone how much he loved calculating his return on ad spend. My friends still laugh at me to this day. Not everyone gets B2B, but with LinkedIn, you'll be able to reach people who do. Get $100 credit on your next ad campaign. Go to LinkedIn.com/results to claim your credit. That's LinkedIn.com/results. Terms and conditions apply. LinkedIn, the place to be, to be. And on the flip side, eliminate all interest payments or service fees that you can by paying bills on time and declaring more against the accumulation of credit card debt. Interest saved is interest earned. If you're getting a tax refund, a wise way to use it is to pay down high interest debt. You can also pay less interest by maintaining a high credit rating. An impressive credit score qualifies you for lower interest rates on credit cards and many types of loans. Also, take a look at any bank fees you're paying. Here are five banking expenses that you should be able to eliminate. Number one, ATM fees. I recommend never using ATMs unless you can do it for free. Often, there's no charge to use your own bank's ATM. There are premium checking accounts that credit you back all or a certain number of ATM charges per month as an extra benefit. Number two, checks. Many banks give you free checks and even better, most offer free online bill pay service so you can reduce other expenses associated with paying bills, such as printer ink, envelopes, and stamps. For more about online bill pay and banking, you can read or listen to my episode number 120. Number three, overdraft fees. Many banks offer overdraft protection for your checking account if you also have a second account, such as a savings, credit card, or line of credit. Number four, statement fees. If your bank charges for paper statements opt for an e-statement that's free of charge and more earth-friendly. And five, transaction fees. If your bank charges fees when you exceed a certain number of checks, withdrawals, or deposits for your checking account, consider changing banks. I'm glad you're listening. Thanks to everyone who's found me on Facebook. Find all my contact information and a link to my Facebook page at moneygirl.quickanddirtytips.com. That's all for now. Courtesy of money girl your guide to a richer life. Justin and so good. Thousands of new fall deals have arrived at Nordstrom rack stores. And that means thousands of fresh reasons to rack because fall equals sweaters. Why do I rack? Because check out these boots. Because there's always something new. Save big with up to 60% off Vince, Steve Madden, Kurt Geiger London, theory, and more. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. Earning your degree online doesn't mean you have to go about it alone. At Capelli University, we're here to support you when you're ready. From enrollment counselors who get to know you and your goals, to academic coaches who can help you form a plan to stay on track. We care about your success and are dedicated to helping you pursue your goals. Going back to school is a big step, but having support at every step of your academic journey can make a big difference. Imagine your future differently at Capella.edu.