Our office puts in a dollar per week for birthdays, weddings, babies, etc. One dollar isn't bad when paid per week. For birthdays we give $10 PLUS someone makes a treat. Weddings - $100 and new babies - one dollar per employee which in our office is $65. We open a savings account for the baby.

I can totally relate to this post, as I am a member of the circle of debt. This is a great site that I didn’t know about! Definitely going to try it out.

Good Post. Thank you.

I love Pandora. So far, its limitations aren't a problem for me. See if your ISP has an online music service--it can be another source for cheap tunes.

Thanks so much for this post! I think many people assume federal loans won't help them or they won't qualify, but it isn't the case. A little research can really pay off!

I've been wanting a new car, but I think I've decided to keep my current vehicle for now. Taking on a new loan is a big expense, and I have other expenses that are probably more important right now. I know it's the smarter decision, but you're right, that little Darth Vader was still pretty persuasive!

Great post! I have the same problem. If I hear one song I like, I'll buy the entire album. It's a huge spending leak, and I always regret it if I end up not liking the album. I've been trying to use Pandora more frequently, and I also check out album reviews on RollingStone.com, since you can preview most new albums there as well. I still impulse-buy from time to time, but I've gotten better!

Auto insurance is an important part of being a car owner. Through this, the car owner gets to be protected from future incidents or accidents and injuries. In order to avoid paying high amount, we should drive safely to avoid any accidents like collisions or car crashes. Many are reckless drivers, and because of being such, they end up paying high insurance premium and high hospital bills. Following driving rules is not a bad idea, because by doing so, we can avoid risking our lives and our money.

This is good advice.

Sounds like you two planned it out and were smart about it. Hope you are enjoying your new home :)

I read recently that it's best to let your jeans be worn as long as possible before washing - great news! I guess it helps them hold their color and shape longer, but it also means I don't have to do the wash as much (especially since I wear jeans A LOT)

We just bought our first place, but I'm glad we waited until we were really ready. It's true - owning a home is great, but it does come with a huge amount of commitment and responsibility. Things have broken and needed to be fixed, and it's totally on us to get it done (and paid for!) My husband and I rented for years before determining what we needed and what size house we would be comfortable in for about 5 years... I would definitely say to anyone considering buying to make sure you feel 100% on board with the decision before biting the bullet... if you get sick of the place, too bad, you're stuck with a mortgage!

Thanks Susan! And I agree- they may be expensive, but they are my little doggies!!

Glad to hear Teddy is better. It sure can be expensive--but what's a dog mom to do? ;-)

Thanks :) And Teddy is doing much better!

Congratulations on your new home! I think you made a really smart decision. Older houses have a lot of great character, but if it isn't where you're looking to stay put for long, the condo sounds like the right choice! Personally, I think condos are a great way to ease into owning an actual house. You can figure out what works for you without worrying about the extra responsibilities of yard work, extensive repairs, etc. just yet. Bonus: Not having to worry about home repairs will leave you more time to really enjoy your new place!

As a recent college grad, I'm in the same boat you once were, trying to save as much money on food as I possibly can! But with all the recent emphasis from documentaries and TV shows on paying attention to where your food comes from and trying to eat as healthy as you can, I've become a little more conscious of what I'm buying at the grocery store! For now, I think I've struck a good balance: I can't afford to buy ALL organic, but I buy some of what I need at organic stores and the rest at regular grocery stores. It's a small step for now, but hopefully it's a positive one!

I've always wondered if these types of plans for pets were actually a good deal. It's great to hear your firsthand opinion! I hope Teddy is doing better. He and Ozzy are too cute for words!

See, I look at it that shoes and a handbag have a longer shelf life for me. I rarely read a book a second time, but I use a purse or shoes on multiple occasions.

I hear you on this one! I hate waiting forever for a popular book at the library, so I always end up heading to the bookstore to buy it. But I never walk out with just one book, of course! For me, I think it's easier to justify spending on books because books have a more positive connotation: "Hey, reading is good and wholesome, so it's okay for me to drop $30 on that new hardcover! At least it's not a new pair of shoes or a handbag!" But when you stop to think about it, spending on books can put just a big a dent in your budget. So thank you for all the great ideas! I'm definitely going to check out GoodReads.com now!

Same problem here..love books, love reading and re-reading books, love owning books. My parenst have a huge home library and I always wanted to have one to when I "grow up." I have a Borders member card and get 30 to 33% off coupons every week in emails which use whenever I need to get a new book that I want to have in my library. It's not much, but it helps!

Great post! I think it goes to show that doing a little research and thinking it through before you buy, rather than having to decide on the spot whether or not you want the protection plan/extended warranty, can save you money in the long run.

Think this is an excellent idea!

Thanks for the post and this post will help me to choose the right reward card or the next time at least think about this thing. Hotel Key Cards

hi

The first sentence of my previous post should have said uninsured motorist, not underinsured, motorist coverage. Sorry for any confusion.

In hit-and-run cases, you should be looking to file a claim under your underinsured motorist (UM) coverage, if you have it, not collision coverage. Many states now require motor vehicle policies to include UM and underinsured (UIM) coverage. UM coverage applies when your vehicle is damaged in an accident caused by an uninsured vehicle or by a vehicle without the minimum limits of liability insurance required by your state's financial responsibility laws. Hit-and-runs are a classic UM situation. Typically, deductibles are far lower for UM coverage than they are under your collision coverage, and because UM coverage applies when the other vehicle is at fault, you may not be assessed any insurance points that would raise your premiums. Be sure to always have your insurance agent explain your policy to you, and know your coverages.

I have the exact same problem!! I love books. I love reading. But I have a problem with buying too many books. I also am a library snob. I like to own the book, that way when I want to read it I can. But I've started to use the library a little more and have tried to cut back on buying books. It's really challenging, but right now, it's an unnecessary expense.

If they're going to make this happen, they should do it sooner rather than later... I would think that news like this would keep buyers on the sidelines for a few extra months in the hopes that rates will drop. So, we actually suppress home buying instead of stimulating it...

I never thought of this before! Usually I just donate to Goodwill, but this might be a little more lucrative. Great idea!

I have a helmet now. A lovely gift for my birthday. But I wear it reluctantly.

No helmet?! What--are you saying you don't have anything worth protecting?

Absolutely. Our happiness is just as important as our money. (What's the fun of retirement if you're miserable and felt you never got to experience life?) I've never been a big shopper and it always seems to me that what I love one minute is something I want nothing to do with the next. But recently I began taking Karate lessons. The confidence, strength, inspiration, health, and joy I've acquired through these lessons have been a great value to me and I'm happy with the choice I made.

Craziest job? I guess it wasn't crazy, but when I was younger several of my friends and I worked at a telemarketing firm that did political surveys. It was interesting because a) we weren't even old enough to vote and b) you wouldn't believe how often we got chewed out for calling someone at dinner time!!! :) But, I at least learned a lot about who was running for city council in some dinky town in Rhode Island. :)

I've known several people who have tried to earn money this way- some successfully and some not. I guess the issue is that you really have to calculate in the time you spend on the items along with cost of materials. Once you do that, the price of each item goes up and that may deter some buyers. However, I think it is possible to be successful at this if you have a truly great product, you are able to produce a sufficient amount in a short period of time, and you are dedicated to getting your product out there.

Keep in mind, too, that most guests opt to give the new couple cash these days instead of a gift. So perhaps you'll make a bit of the money you spent back that way. :) Good luck!

I never know if I should send a thank you or not. I like the idea of being sincere when you finish the interview and thanking them in person. But maybe a card should be sent?

Thank you notes probably won't make or break a decision but don't you think they can (if they're done right) reinforce good qualities such as attention to detail and leave a lasting impression?

I have never felt the thank you notes were necessary. They did not affect the outcome of my decision whether or not to hire someone. They were kind but really not necessary. I did, however have one candidate that said whether I hired him or not, he was happy to have had the opportunity to meet me. That is sufficient for me.

i'm not sure how i feel about this yet. i haven't had to buy my own insurance but will in less than a year. i suppose i will probably shop around online, but i might want to talk to someone to make sure i'm getting everything i need.

Office politics & nepotism have always been around, and will always be around... your best shot is to work hard, take initiative, and stay humble, but not too humble. Sometimes, if you don't toot your own horn, others won't realize what you're up to.

Sometimes you can spend years working hard and still you get nowhere because you aren't related to the "right" person.

sounds like a great plan to save for retirement. best of luck with your wedding!

Fireboxes are a good idea... so is renter's insurance if you only have an apartment. I had a friend who lost everything in an apartment fire and luckily she had renter's insurance. She didn't have a firebox though, and lost a bunch of important docs like her passport and birth certificate. You can replace those things, but it's a pain. I hope everyone was okay after the fires in your neck of the woods...

It's definitely worth it, cost wise, to take care of your body. Especially in the long run, if you live a healthy lifestyle, you'll help prevent long-term, debilitating diseases like diabetes, which would be costly to treat.

I think it's also always a good idea to ask a lot of questions! It shows how interested you are, as well as gives you another opportunity to show that you are prepared.

The rates on my loans dropped too! I was excited! And like you said, its a great opportunity to pay down some of my principal.

I remember how surprised I was when I first learned how much one late payment can affect your credit score! It's amazing how such small things that no one thinks about can damage your credit.

Basic car maintenance works for me... keeping the tires at the right pressure, changing the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, and making sure the air filter is clean. These are small fixes, but they make a difference...

I disagree completely I would go with the lower deductible on auto insurance. Even though it may be a little more its not so much more that it should affect how much you save. Most auto insurance places offer discounts for good drivers and for being a student and for having multiple policies with them. For disability 6 months seems like a long time waiting for your disability to click in. By that time you will use all of your savings depending on the situations. So why wait and spend all your savings when you can get disability sooner. If your disabled for a long term your savings should not be used up because you may really need it.

The steps that I am taking is maxing out my 401K. My husband and I are both maxing out our 401K. Its the best thing to do and we have different kinds of accounts. One is retirement another is a savings for any immediate use and another is short term investments.

Keep your retirement for just that... retirement. I know with my general savings account, I used to build it up a little, and then use it to pay bills... I wasn't really saving anything in the long run. My biggest challenge has been to keep my hands off of that savings account and let it grow for a rainy day. It sorta the same thing with taking $ from your 401(k). Yeah, it could help with a current emergency, but your doing a lot of damage in the long run.

Good point... especially with cars, think about what you're getting yourself into before you do it. I must admit I have an SUV to get me through the 100 inches of snow we get in the winter... but I almost got a little two-seater instead... but getting around snow drifts, having to add snow tires, etc. would not have been worth it.

Many people just don't realize that pets can be a huge budget strain. A co-worker of mine's pug just got diagnosed with cancer (at only 2 years old!) and needs radiation therapy. Even with the pet insurance they have, it is going to cost them $10,000+. People need to consider whether they can afford these kinds of needs of their pets as well, because obviously a $10,000 pet medical payment could be financially devastating.

I agree that this would be a situation where an emergency fund would have alleviated the problem. Planning ahead is hard when the future is uncertain... but that very uncertainty should be what drives us all to save for a "rainy day".

This article is really important for young people because I think a lot of them (and I did this too when I started the job hunt) overlook the benefits aspect. As the writer of this article mentioned, it's really important to research the companies you're applying to (or have gotten offers from) to see exactly what they can offer--a nice salary is great, but so is a good health plan!

It doesn't matter what age you are. Your responsibilities are what matter. If you have kids and a spouse then a 6 month plan is best, if it's just you then you could get by with 3 months.

I just adopted a second cat from a shelter and I was amazed (and pleased)about how thorough they were in checking my financial situation to make sure that I could afford the costs of another cat. They asked both my references what my financial situation was! And if it makes you feel any better, I go through a jug of litter every week or more!

I know it's the responsible thing to spend it repaying my credit card debt, BUT I'll slowly go insane if I don't spend it on some vacation instead. But kudos to you for being responsible Ted!

Nice blog topic! I have a lot of friends who changed jobs since leaving college a couple years ago, and I always wondered about the 401k issue...now I know how it works!

I've got too much debt and not enough time for a vacay... my rebate AND my refund are going straight to credit cards :(

I'm torn between trying to form a "3 month rainy day fund" or a "6 month rainy day fund"? This would be money for the exact same situation as above, but enough to carry you for 3 months or 6 months without a job. I always figure I can get a new job within 3 months...but my Dad says, 6 months is more realistic. I think that's "old school". Which is more realistic for a Gen Y'er?

Agreed... I can't stand a cluttered space and it is amazing how great it is to finally get organized!

Agreed, I am amazed at the small things we can do to save energy, I recently learned that you can save a ton of energy by unplugging your tv and stero system when you are not using it. I ended up putting a surge protector on mine so I could just switch it off, and it actualy make a difference on my power bill!

Good thoughts, I agree it is hard to watch my account get smaller instead of bigger but like you said, we have to look at the long term trends, great article!

But don't forget that there is something to be said for having "liquidity" in these uncertain times! Even though you may be able to buy at a discount, you'll still want to be sure to have some emergency cash as well!

Something else to think about, especially for those people without health insurance, but who may be healthy and not need it, are Health Savings Accounts, which in additional to catastrophic insurance are a good way to avoid paying health insurance premiums if they are unneeded. Might be cool to see an article or a blog talking about them and their tax advantages.

Great story and post. I think that too many people get stuck doing something that they are comfortable with and they never try and take a step outside their comfort zone and do something they actually are passionate about. This guy did something that not a lot of people have the courage to do and it paid off!

I agree that you don't have to be rich or a celebrity to follow the green movement. Sometimes it just takes a few tweaks here and there to make a difference. And if you can do something bigger, I like to remember that although it may cost more up front, it will end up saving a lot of money in the end.

Isn't my tax rebate my "secret savings account" for my "free money"? Why spend it on something useful? vacation it is...

I have too much clutter, but invested in some new shelving and rubbermaid boxes, which while they cost me money initially, save on the stress when I get home and make it more comfortable for time I actually get to spend there. It's admirable to have a organized home, but sometimes it's easy to focus on the other aspects of your life...jobs, friends, family.

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. Can I smack you around a couple of times?? The hidden cost of owning a car is parking tickets?????? How about gas, maintance, accidents, car washes???? wtf

Yeah its ridicolous. I actually bought a Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R 636. 45mpg =)

Yep, CDs are good, but I think the biggest problem is getting the money from your checking account to whatever savings method you choose... CD/401K/IRA That's where direct deposit helps. I have a portion of my paycheck that goes straight into savings... I don't even notice it's gone!

Live in Los Angeles and you'll regret being carless!!

Better DIY can be found in many car specific forums, like IS300.net and G35driver.com =) Also buy brake pads from online stores, and remember to get OEM pads or something better than OEM pads. For my car, OEM pads cost $65 for the front and $45 for the back. When I buy it online I save about $40 =)

Saving is a really hard task if you do not have a lot of money to put away for emergencies purposes. It seems like when I start to save an emergency always comes my way. I have found that opening an open CD works for me. You can put money in your CD monthly but you can not take any money out. I think you should look into getting a CD where you are able to deposit money into the CD at anytime but you are unable to withdraw anytime you want. The CD you can break just like any CD but you would be unlikely to break the CD because of all the penalties. This helps me to save a lot money. Victoria Utendahl I am 22 and I work for a credit union.

So, where did the $950 come from? Was it from a credit card, or did you have it somewhere in savings??