| Saving and managing money can be challenging. | | | | retirement benefits. |
| Doing some small things on a regular basis can | | | | Debt Management |
| really be helpful in the long run. | | | | 15. Use your tax refund to pay off high interest |
| In March, 2010, the number of long-term | | | | credit card debt. |
| unemployed people (those without a job for over | | | | 16. Go to the websites where you have credit |
| 27 weeks) was a staggering 6.5 million. There | | | | card accounts and sign up for an alert to remind |
| were 15 million unemployed people. Many are | | | | you 10 days prior to the due date. |
| struggling to make ends meet. | | | | 17. Request a reduction in your credit card |
| To help you through this tough economic time, | | | | interest rates. |
| make sure that you help yourself by doing some | | | | 18. Be grateful that your debt is not as big as the |
| of these practical things. Protect yourself | | | | country's debt. |
| 1. Get a credit report every year so that you can | | | | Daily Living |
| make sure your credit is in good standing. | | | | 19. Take an oath of financial honesty, with |
| 2. Scan everything in your wallet. In case of theft, | | | | yourself and with others. |
| you'll have all your account numbers and contact | | | | 20. Use your local library instead of purchasing |
| information available. | | | | books. |
| 3. Stop overdraft fees by going online and | | | | 21. Eat at home. Avoid restaurants to limit calories |
| hooking up your checking account with a savings | | | | and cash expenses. |
| account. | | | | 22. Reassess your possessions and see what you |
| 4. Sign up for an alert that warns you when your | | | | can live without. |
| account reaches whatever amount you choose. | | | | 23. Tell a friend what you are saving for and ask |
| 5. Keep well organized financial documents for tax | | | | for emotional support. |
| purposes. | | | | 24. Practice self-monitoring. Track spending using |
| 6. Diversify your sources of income. | | | | software like quicken or see if your online banking |
| Setting Goals | | | | has a budgeting feature and track it for free. |
| 7. Decide what you want to do with your money. | | | | 25. Beware of advertising campaigns to entice |
| 8. Cover the necessities first. | | | | you to spend more on house-hold goods. Proctor |
| 9. Use free websites for tracking goal setting. | | | | & Gamble, will increase advertising expenses by |
| 10. Choose some new starting points to hope for | | | | 20% in 2010. |
| the best but plan for the worst. | | | | 26. Shop at cheaper stores. You can get Egyptian |
| Savings Strategies | | | | cotton sheets at discount stores. |
| 11. Start saving at an early age. | | | | 27. Recognize buying mistakes and vow not to |
| 12. Save money on a weekly basis and leave it | | | | make them again. |
| alone for a while. | | | | 28. Give away things you don't need to make |
| 13. Order free information for your vacation | | | | room for your new life. |
| planning. | | | | 29. If you are suffering from depression about |
| 14. For older folks, estimate your retirement | | | | your finances, discuss it with your doctor. |
| benefits online at ssa dot gov where you can put | | | | 30. Learn to live with less - do you really need |
| in your social security number and estimate your | | | | everything you have stashed away? |