Charlotte, Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, Rock Hill

Twelve Tactics to Become a Savvy Saver

Spend Less:

• Wait 30 days before buying anything you don’t absolutely need; chances are the urge to buy it will pass if you wait, and if not, you may find the item on sale.
• Avoid temptation by opting out of catalogs or e-mail announcements from companies trying to sell you things you don’t really need.
• Purchase birthday and holiday gifts throughout the year and keep them in a designated box or closet; making a list of every one’s special occasion needs will make it easy to take advantage of sales.
• Try frugal gift-giving, like giving the gift of spending time with someone, giving something you baked or made yourself or helping them out with a project; it doesn’t have to cost a lot to be a generous gift.
• Create a sleeve for your credit card(s) with pictures of things you really care about to remind you of what you are saving for…or the debt you’re paying off.
• Exchange your books, DVDs, CDs, video games and other items with friends and family, or use an online service to swap or sell.

Spend Smart:

• Prevent unnecessary or poor-quality home and auto repairs by finding skilled, honest professionals from a trusted source.
• Evaluate your cell phone plan options regularly to make sure they match your needs; check to see if another plan would save you money. Also get rid of the excess channels on your cable package that you rarely watch; it’s cheaper to rent a movie once in a while.
• Start shopping for airline tickets about four months before departure; look for trends and use technology like e-mail alerts to help you see when your destination has the cheapest airfare.
• Use flexible spending accounts to pay certain medical, dental and child care expenses using pre-tax dollars; check with your HR department for more information.
• Save on your insurance premiums by paying them annually or semi-annually instead of monthly or quarterly.

• Consider buying pre-owned; you can buy almost anything in a resale environment locally or online at a great price.

Don’t Get Ripped Off.

With businesses focused on increasing profits, it’s an everyday battle to hold onto your hard earned dollars.

Consider These Facts:

• Banks, thrifts and credit unions take in billions each year on fees. In 2006, they took in $36 billion, up from $24.4 billion in 2000.
• In 2003, credit card companies made $20.7 billion in credit card fees.
• The value of unused gift cards was estimated to be $8 billion in 2006.
• A recent study by Consumer Reports found that 25 percent of rebates are never claimed.
• Approximately 78 percent of cell phone minutes paid for remain unused.

There are many ways to save money these days. Buying Real Estate is still a great investment and it is important to take advantage of the new Tax Credits that are available if you qualify for them. Please contact me at 704-968-1965  for more information on the new Tax Credits available and to see if you qualify.  Don’t wait to long. Rates are still low, but they will not be for long.