Search Results for: blog money saving steps to take when you are laid off

20 Ways to save $1 or More Today

What would you do with an extra $365 dollars? That is how much you’ll have at the end of the year if you just save $1 a day, $7 a week or $30 a month. It really does add up doesn’t it? Make it a goal to save $1 a day. Here are 50 easy ways to save $1, or more, today. 1. Sign up for free samples and free product coupons instead of buying snacks. I recently have gotten Bare Naked Granola, half a dozen free candy bars, free Honey Nut Cherrios cereal, free fruit leather and more (see … Continue reading →

Lifestyle Maintenance on a Budget

For many people the financial crisis hit home. Soon, things that we were able to afford before without a blink could get us into financial harm now. Still, we get used to living the way we normally live, and it can get tough trying to get used to living differently. As a result, we can get into real trouble when we continue to maintain that level of lifestyle, even if it means a ton of debt or even bankruptcy. So the trick here, is to find ways to maintain your lifestyle without spending the same amount of money that you … Continue reading →

Worrying About Losing Your Job is Bad For Your Health

Are you worried about losing your job? You’re certainly not alone. But a new study says that worrying about losing your job can be worse for your health than being unemployed. Researchers from the University of Michigan, the University of California, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development took a look at data from some long-term studies on American workers. The two studies — one done during the 1980s and one during the 1990s — interviewed workers about physical and mental health. People who were persistently worried about losing their jobs reported … Continue reading →

Preparing for a Layoff

If you are worried that a layoff might be in your future, then it is important to start preparing right now. Make sure that you do the following now, so you will be in good financial shape if you do get laid off. Medical Costs Now is the time to take advantage of your insurance. If you get laid off, you may not be able to carry insurance, depending on how long your were in your job and whether or not you can afford private insurance. Have every member of the family get physicals and well visits, so you can … Continue reading →

Curbing the Electric Bill

Electricity is one of those monthly expenses that is somewhat in your control. After all, we demand the electricity, and then the electric company happily gives it to us and sends off the bill. Here are some ways that you can reduce your usage and reduce your cost. There are two main types of ways that we use electricity in our homes. The first is on demand, such as when we enter a room and turn on the light, and the second is continuous demand, such as when we plug in the refrigerator and leave it plugged in for its … Continue reading →

Become a Home Consumer Tester and Get Free Products

One way to stretch your budget on the household items that you use is to become a consumer tester. You’ll get free products and usually a small payment besides. When my oldest child was our only baby, I did some consumer testing for a couple of companies. Basically, I would receive unmarked products in the mail, test them out and then fill out a survey with my observations and comments. After the survey was submitted, I would receive a small check in the mail for my time. Plus I got to keep the products that I tested and put them … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Can Be a Blessing

We all have different reasons for trying to save money and live a frugal life. But too often, we focus on the deprivations of living frugally, such as not being able to eat out often, or living without cell phones and cable television. But this is the wrong attitude. Frugal living is a blessing in many ways. It fosters appreciation Just the other day, my family and I were at a local park and everyone was having a great time. I felt completely blessed to have this great free resource nearby. In the past, before living frugally, I wouldn’t have … Continue reading →

Get Your Body and Your Finances in Shape

With the warm weather coming, you might be more conscious of getting your body in shape for a summer full of swimming and lighter clothing. joining a gym can be a great way to do this, but let’s face it, a gym won’t do anything for your finances. Here is how to get in shape or stay in shape while actually benefiting your bottom line. Substitute your feet Make it a challenge to substitute your feet for your car as often as possible. Take a walk or a bike ride to the store if that is feasible. Is the store … Continue reading →

How to Shop Smart

Sometimes it isn’t all about the coupons and sales but where in the store that you shop. Did you know that you can often find two of the exact same things (or at least similar things) in a store such as Target or Walmart and yet pay two different prices, depending on the section in which you find the item? Doing a little creative thinking can often save you some money. Similar use items When shopping for something first think about whether or not it might have other uses. Is it a specialty item? Are there other items that might … Continue reading →

How to Make Money at Home

Strike out and make some money at home without an investment. You have all seen the ads about making money at home in your spare time. At least 90 percent of these ads (if not all of them) can be scams that require you to pay for something up front or simply give you the instructions for placing your own make money at home ad and hope for gullible people just like you to give you money. This practice makes me so angry because the victims of it are usually frugal-minded moms who want to be able to stay home … Continue reading →