The Importance of a Gas Budget

I love to save money on purchases and in general. I have learned somewhere in my adulthood about being careful with money. It really started when I started blogging. I learned quickly that it wasn't always steady each month like a job outside the home. It became something I started doing very quickly. Using tools like coupons and fuel budgets are a great way to really know what you are spending. It will help you know where your gas money is going or even how much you are spending. You can easily cut down.

We budget for food, entertainment and clothes. We often forget about car related expenses like gas. Even with the lower gas prices depending on your mileage you may spend $45 each time you fill up. If you do a lot of driving that has to add up quickly. If you drive a half hour each way to work that can become expensive. Most jobs don't offer reimbursement on fuel. It's just part of having a job. The only way they will reimburse you is if you are traveling for business. I am pretty sure pizza delivery drivers aren't reimbursed for their gas while working. Hopefully they make more to factor in their fuel costs. A fuel budget is pretty important to them because they may find out that delivering pizzas is no longer worth it to them.

Making a fuel budget is really easy and can help you know what you spend on gas each month. Learn how to create a gas budget.

Campus Book Rentals Helps College Students Save Big Bucks!

The Summer Semester is starting soon. Many college students are trying to get things in order and dreading paying for their books that they will use for only several months. Sure they can spend a fortune at the campus book store but who wants to do that? Those books will probably sit in a box for the next 15 years in someone’s garage anyways. Campus Book Rentals has the solution, they will rent you books for whatever class you need them for. You can save 40%-90% off bookstore prices. The selection is amazing. Seriously, you may think they wouldn’t have a book for that class but they do. I have a friend who is taking classes for something really specific, that is only offered at a select number of places, and Campus Book Rentals has books for her class.

 It’s so great for the environment when you rent your textbooks instead of buying new.  You can even have flexible rental periods to make sure you have the book as long as you need.  Don’t worry about highlighting in the textbooks, it’s totally allowed. If you are just learning about Campus Book Rentals, have no fear, you can sell your old text books too. It would be a great way for college kids to make an easy buck, free up space and help others. So, if you took classes recently, dig out those old books, and check out Campus Book Rentals.  Campus Book Rentals offers Free Shipping both ways.

Campus Book Rentals also supports the amazing charity Operation Smile. Operation Smile helps babies and children with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate get surgery and the treatment they need to suck, eat and speak and smile. Smiling is important. Just think if you couldn’t smile.  Operation Smile saves babies and children’s lives.  

For more information on Campus Book Rentals check out their website.

Are you a One Car Family?

Not everyone can afford the luxury of being a two car family. Having cars that are safe is the most important thing no matter how many cars you have. I have friends that are one car families. Everyone's situation is different. Maybe they don't go many places without each other. Maybe they live in an area that they can walk to places. Many people live paycheck to paycheck and can't afford it. When I was married, we were a one car family. I was usually the one at home. He would drive me to work and then go home. It worked for us. He didn't work most of the time so I didn't have to worry about not picking me up. I also worked close to home so I could walk if I needed to. We definitely didn't have much money.

The economy has really effected almost everyone. Throw in rising food prices and some people have to sell their second car just to pay bills. An extra couple hundred dollars a month may not be something everyone can afford to spend. Being a one car family regardless of the reason is fine. We all live differently. Cars have become status symbols and it shouldn't be that way. If you decide to become a one car family, there are things to consider. You have to discuss and see if it's an option for you. You can always save and get another car down the road.

Check out my post about becoming a one car family.

Don't get Scammed by your Mechanic

Most of the time when you go to a mechanic, it is a smooth experience but every so often you can get scammed. Someone who is close to me, got new tires recently and they ended up doing something to her car battery. She had no choice but to purchase a new one. She never had battery problems before this. Of course the mechanic would not admit it was his fault. He blamed it on the “cold weather.” Cold weather meaning 50 degrees, which was not cold compared to what the car had been other times. They also set the tires to 40 instead of the suggested 30. Thankfully, she had an oil change and they fixed it for her.  It’s really important that you know what you are getting in to.  The mechanic can be intimidating when you don’t understand what they are talking about.  It’s easy to trust someone because it’s their job. Most of the time, they are trustworthy and don’t try and rip you off, but you need to be educated. Some prey on women or older people who may not know that they don’t need new brakes or that’s their engine is sound.

 Here’s an infograph by Active Insurance to help you know what the warning signs of auto repair scams.  It also gives you an estimate of what certain parts cost and just some good tips. I love the tip about asking for the old part when it’s replaced. I would have never thought of that. It’s to make sure they really replaced it. You are in the waiting room and you never know what they are doing in the garage. 

Are you comfortable with getting car repairs? Do you get them yourself or do you send your husband or dad to take care of it?  Did you learn anything new?

How to Save Money for Travel

When you love to travel like I do, you want to do it often. You also have to think of ways to fund your trip. You can save all your change or have a special travel fund. It seems like that may take forever. Sometimes trips come up at the last minute. You decide to get away or a loved one needs you. Unexpected travel happens. You have to plan for the unexpected. You should have a small savings if possible. It doesn't have to be strictly for travel. This fund can be for anything. Traveling doesn't have to be really expensive. There are tips and tricks to save while traveling. Everything from staying with family to packing your own meals. You could see as many loved ones as possible. Try to put together an impromptu reunion or get together. I love when my family gets together. Even when it's family I see often. We sometimes get together because someone is In town. It gives an excuse to see each other. I grew up really close to my cousins even though I am the youngest. We are still really close but don't spend nearly as much time together now that we are all adults with children, jobs and we are more spread out. One of my cousins lives in Switzerland now.

Cutting down or out some of the expenses can definitely help you have a better trip without making your pocketbook hurt.  Check out my tips and tricks to save money while traveling.

Tips to Save on Cyber Monday and an Amazon.com Giftcard Giveaway

It’s almost time for the best sales of the year. I don’t participate in Black Friday. I think it is ridiculous, the crowds and the insanity just to save money. I went once and never again. It was not fun to me at all.  I worked at Bath and Bodyworks one year on Black Friday, and I wanted to walk out. I do however like Cyber Monday, because I can save money and shop online in my pajamas. I don’t have to wait in lines or deal with massive amounts of people. I remember the one Black Friday I went shopping the line was at the back of the store. Since I love to save money when I shop online, I thought I would share some ways to save money during Cyber Monday Sales.  That way you can really stretch your bucks and get more.

Shop around. If you want something particular, check out a few different sites. See where you can get the best deals.

Use coupon codes. I always use them when I can when I shop, but there are usually extra special coupon codes for Cyber Monday. I really like Coupons.com Coupon codes because they have a great variety and I don’t have to spend time looking at different sites.

Don’t get sucked in to minimum free shipping deals. If you aren’t planning on buying $50 worth of stuff, don’t buy $50 worth of stuff to save $5 dollars. Spend the amount you are planning and pay shipping if you have to spend a lot more than you planned on.  While you are saving but you have to spend more than you want to save a little.

Avoid impulse buys. Don’t buy something because it is on sale, if you don’t need it or if it’s not on your loved one’s list.  Trust me I have done this before.  Some of those things I have never used.

Stick to your lists. I know that it’s always fun to give some surprises. I used to put on my list to Santa and some surprises, but think if this is something they would really enjoy.

Stick to your budget, don’t go hog wild because it is cheap. All of those cheap purchases add up quickly.  Ever gone to the dollar store and picked out items and next thing you know you owe thirty dollars?  Me too.

You can enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card to help you with your holiday shopping.  Please use the Raffle Copter Form below

 

This Giveaway is provided by Coupons.com