Everyone likes to save money, even the least frugal among us. Very few people would turn down a discount or a good deal. However, there are some areas of life where corners should definitely not be cut. In some cases, it is a matter of personal comfort and enjoyment of life; in other cases, not cutting back and can actually be a serious loss. Not paying for something like airbags in your car, health insurance or an ADT home security system could leave you majorly regretting your budget cut in the future. If a wreck, fire or a break-in occurs, there is no telling the amount of damage that could occur.

While we can easily forgo some luxuries, there are comforts worth spending a little extra money on to increase quality of life. This would especially apply to things we use every day. For instance, the mattress you sleep on every night—since you are spending about one-third of your life on it. It should really be a joy to lie down on it every night. The quality of your sleep affects the quality of your waking hours, so investing in a more expensive option is well worth the extra money.

There are also some items that could be called “affordable luxury” which should not be skimped on if at all possible. For example, a coffee drinker who absolutely loves a certain brand of coffee should bypass the generic coffee, even if it’s much cheaper than the preferred brand. Spending a little extra to get the favored brand can add to quality of life in ways that are hard to quantify or assign a dollar amount to. It’s the “little things” that all add up to our life experience, and the things we do every day are worth the occasional extra investment.

While spending a bit more on one’s preferred brands of food and drink may be considered optional extra spending, there are other areas of life where spending more for quality is far less optional. Repair and maintenance of one’s vehicle should not be taken lightly, and definitely not be skimped upon. A reputable dealer or car repair facility should be selected for this important job, even if they charge more for their services. Having your car regularly taken care of will extend the life of your vehicle.

Smoke and fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and home security systems, are other realms where one should avoid cutting corners. When it comes to the personal safety and security of yourself and your loved ones, saving money should not be the main concern. The cheapest option may not be the best, and one should consider all options carefully. A quality home security system can provide peace of mind as well as security from fire and home invasion; and the peace of mind quality security offers is definitely something that each of us wants more of.

Authors Bio-
Holly Watson, who blogs on behalf of her favorite brands, is a stay-at-home mom and former financial adviser. She loves making cake pops and is training to run in her third marathon later this summer.

New Years Eve is a fantastic holiday. Whether your year has been fantastic or dreadful, starting a new one is oddly therapeutic. We are rarely more conscious of time passing than on New Years Eve. In the face of such a unique holiday—people just wanna party. Any soiree can get expensive. Follow these tips to throw a New Years Eve party that will make sure you still have money in 2012.

The Scene

The first way to save money is by not breaking what you already have. Prepping your house is important as New Years Eve is one of the partyingest eves of the year. When hosting a New Years Eve party you should take extra precautions to make sure all your stuff survives the excitement. Clear away all valuables. Crystal, vases and your great grandmother’s serving platter do not need to make appearances. Clean the room of lamps and candles, plugging in Christmas lights instead. Having all those guests in one place will generate a lot of heat. Prepare for this (and save a few bucks) by turning off your heaters about an hour before guests arrive. The first few people through the door may feel a little chilly. Don’t worry, by the time their first cups are empty and more people have arrived they will be as snug as a bug in an NYE rug. Although initially ridiculous, it may also be fun to cover your floor in bubble wrap. Bubble wrap won’t rip when walked on, will protect your floors and is cheaper than a steam clean. When the clock strikes midnight your guests will create a symphony of popping that Scarface would be proud of.

The Snacks

Don’t do it all yourself. Any guest worth having won’t mind bringing something to the party. Spare your wallet and ask a few of guests to bring a side dish, appetizer or bottle of New Year cheer. You’ll notice that New Years Eve is the holiday of glitter. Drinks with shimmering liqueurs like goldschlager are encouraged. Glittering icings, sprinkles and other garnishes are also appropriate. For added showpersonship you can put a sparkler in just about any food with a little girth, so do that.

The Screaming

It’s highly possible that midnight on December 31st/January 1st is the loudest time to be on planet Earth. You can’t blame the hullabaloo. A new year is exciting for so many different reasons and at no other time do so many parties climax at exactly the same time. When 2012 hits, you and your guests will want to make as much noise as possible. However, you don’t need expensive tools to put on a show. Even a budgeted party can easily be the boomingest bunch on the block. Make your own party poppers or use things found around the home. Bang together pots and pans, buy a small air horn or throw a string of those cheap firecrackers in a coffee can. Your lot can easily be the loudest, even if the Jones rented a real cannon.

Author Bio:
Holly Watson, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, is ruled by her four clever children. She was a financial adviser until she ‘gave it all up’ to stay at home with the kids. Holly likes party planning, loves party going and is trying to think up a New Years resolution that doesn’t involve rice cakes. Never. Again.

If you think creatively, you can come up with a number of money saving ideas, but it is always handy to do some research on how you can save even more money going into the new year.

Investing in cash ISAs or Individual Savings Accounts is one of those ideas. For the more financially aware there are also stocks and shares ISAs but the one where you will find the savings is the cash ISAs. The benefit of the account is that you don’t have to report the interest you earn to the IRS (up to a certain maximum) and you can withdraw as much money as often as you like. The drawback is that you cannot use the funds in cash ISAs as security when you apply for a loan.

Budget, budget, budget – if you don’t have one, the time is now. By budgeting, you know what your income and expenses are. Then, if you don’t have any money left, you cannot spend it on trivia. Your budget will prevent you from overspending.

Start a predetermined savings program. Not only will it come in handy the day when you retire but it can prove useful in the case of unforeseen emergencies.

In the event that you have debt, you must try to clear that away as soon as possible. This is the one area that is definitely going to cause you to throw money away in all the interest that you will constantly be paying.

Do You Really Need a Contract?

A contract commits you to 24 months and what you could afford when you started it is possibly not what you can afford a year along the line.

Instead of a gym contract, you can start walking in the neighborhood. Get the family to join in and get them all fit and healthier. Consider a pair of hiking boots and discover nature. Walking or hiking is something you can do whenever it suits you and will not commit you to a specified amount every month.

When your cell phone contract expires, try doing it the pre-paid way. Once again, there are no monthly payments.

Other Areas of Saving

Energy comes at a premium and will most probably not become cheaper in future. Reduce your household electricity bill without fail.

Is public transport cheaper than going by car? Can you team up with neighbors or others in your neighborhood when driving to work? You can take turns with cars, helping you save on fuel, maintenance and wear and tear on your own car.

Look out for special offers in stores. If a special is offered on an everyday item, consider buying in bulk and storing. Don’t, however, buy foods you won’t be able to consume.

You don’t have to have everything that your neighbor has. You might envy them for their car and equipment, but you don’t know how many loans they might already have to pay for all of that.

All members of the household, who are of a working age, should attempt to generate some form of income. Look at your hobbies and your interests. Is there a gap in the market where you could sell your skills?

Cancel any store cards after you have paid them off and buy only when you can pay cash for items. This way, you will instill a buying discipline.

Use the allowances of cash ISAs. You don’t pay tax on interest accrued, which is a saving already.

This article was written by Andreas, who works as a financial writer for MoneySupermarket.com, the UK’s number one comparison website for savings accounts, including bonds and cash ISAs.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation in the form of money or credit. By clicking the link you are helping to support Money Saving Secrets Blog.

Between work, family, friends and the different organizations my family is wrapped up in—we have a long list of people to be thankful for. Being a die-hard DIY’er, our house has quickly begun to resemble Santa’s workshop. The workbench in our garage trades wood and tools for ribbon and paper. I’ve been using a few great ideas to bring cheer to my friends without taking it out of my wallet. Enjoy these suggestions for great gifts that can be made cheaply.

Recipe Jars

Give a man a cake and he snacks for the day, teach a man to bake and he snacks for a lifetime—or something like that. Recipes are like currency. The best ones are hard to come by and some old recipes are kept so secret that you’d have to marry into the family to get them. Making someone a delicious dish is a great gift, but giving her or him the recipe takes it a step further.

To create a recipe jar simply combine the correct amount of dry ingredients for your favorite recipe into a mason jar. Add instructions to the top or the side of the jar. The jar recipient should be able to simply dump the contents into a mixing bowl, add the necessary wet ingredients and have something delicious in no time.

Recipe jars are especially beneficial for dishes that call for a less common ingredient. It is easier for you to buy an entire bag of rice flour or xanthan gum and give it to a few people than expect everyone to acquire ingredients they’ll only use a few times.

Personalized Wine Glasses

Plain wine glasses can be found cheaply and glass paint is available in any craft store. You don’t have to be incredibly crafty to create these. Simply print a stencil or design off the Internet and cut out the pieces you would like to be painted on.

Clean the glasses and attach your design using tape. With a small brush, fill in your stencil with glass paint. You can get creative with painting the stem or the bottom of the glasses. Paint around the rim, however, is more likely to rub off. Place your glasses on a cookie sheet and allow them to dry completely.

To set the paint, put the glasses in a cold oven and set it to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it reaches that temperature, let them bake for 30 minutes and then turn the oven off. Let the glasses cool completely before using. With treatment, the paint will be dishwasher safe.

Dog Biscuits

If you have a few canine lovers on your Christmas list, then baking some homemade dog biscuits is a fabulous and cheap gift. Not all of the items needed are “everyday” ingredients, but most well stocked kitchens should have all of them.

After preheating your oven to 325 degrees you should combine
3 whole eggs
3 tbsp fat (vegetable oil, shortening, or bacon grease)
¾ cup liquid (broth, leftover gravy, or water with a bouillon cube dissolved in it)
3 tbsp dry milk powder
3 cups whole wheat flour
½ cup wheat bran
1 tsp salt
and
1 tsp garlic powder
into a large mixing bowl.

Knead the dough for a few minutes until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. The dough can be rolled out into an 11 X 15 pan or divided into shapes with cookie cutters.

Bake the treats for one hour and then turn off the oven. Having the biscuits stay in the oven as it cools (about 30 minutes) will allow them to crisp up. Crispy treats are easier to keep in your pockets, etc. These treats will surely wag some tongues.

Author Bio:
Holly Watson, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, is a stay at home wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She was a financial adviser until she ‘gave it all up’ to stay at home with the kids.

Take a cue from other students who are earning money in creative ways

As the recession worsens and college and university tuition costs rise, students are finding new ways to deal with smaller family budgets while still pursuing higher-education and the expensive textbooks that go with it. Students might be working more and spending less on eating out or vehicles. And other students might even opt to go with textbook rentals rather than purchase their college textbooks outright.

If you’re a student struggling with the costs of college, here are 10 ways that others like you are raising the funds to go to college and buy college textbooks:

1. Get a job

In any college or university town, there are many jobs waiting for you on or near campus. Look for a part time job in a place that is willing to hire college students—that way they will be prepared to adapt to your student schedule.

2. Tutor other students

Are you an A student in English, Math, Science or Sociology? Well, post tutoring services around campus and charge for it. You can bet there are other students who aren’t doing so well and who could use the extra attention. Plus, you don’t have to pay for an office if you use the library, cafeteria or even Skype.

3. Rent your textbooks

An easy way to save money on college textbooks is to rent—rather than buy them. You can also photocopy versions of your textbooks and offer to sell them to other students for a nominal fee.

4. Get an internship

There are many organizations looking to hire students for paid internship or work-study programs for a few months. This way, you earn some bucks and learn some valuable real world skills in your profession of choice.

5. Offer to do odd jobs for elderly neighbors and family

Tell your friends and family that you are looking to mow lawns, shovel driveways, babysit, provide dog walking and pet sitting, clean homes and garages, plant flowers, and grocery shop for elderly neighbors in exchange for a small fee. Not only can you determine your working hours, but you’ll be shocked at how many people need help and will pay for the smallest of chores to be done around their homes.

6. IT repair

Are you handy with a PC? Know your way around a laptop? Offer to repair computers or hook up new systems for a fee.

7. Make jewelry

Take a look on marketplace sites like Facebook, Ebay, Etsy or Craigslist where shoppers will pay a pretty penny for a snappy new bracelet or necklace. If you have a knack with beads, make your own jewelry and list it online for sale. You can generate a pretty decent part-time income from online sales.

8. Get in the holiday spirit

Offer seasonal services—such as snow shoveling, raking leaves, delivering poinsettias, or offer to wrap holiday gifts.

9. Office assistant at large

Ask your professors if they are in need of an assistant to do things like answer phones, make photocopies, do research or even wash their car.

10. Official note taker

Offer note taking services—even if it’s just in the classes you take. Think about it this way, you’re taking the notes anyways, so all you need to do is photocopy and sell them to your classmates. If you’re notes are well organized and clear, you’ll soon find a lot of eager customers

Author Bio

Tina Jacobs is a registered nurse and freelance health writer who has written for numerous print and online publications ranging from education to health topics. Tina is a proud Georgetown University and plans to expand her portfolio while she waits to take her nursing licensure via the NCLEX exam. Most days, Tina can be found studying or writing in her beautiful bay window with her cat, Oscar, for company

Daily Deals are the best way for spreading costs this Christmas.  No matter how many times you go over your budget Christmas is always expensive so make it easier on yourself and use some of the Daily Deals Sydney sites to help get great presents for less cost!

These daily deals sites have 2 great advantages- firstly, as already mentioned the cheap costs is one of the first things to catch your eye.  These sites have some of the best deals with more than half off the price they were originally meant to be. The other benefit of daily deal sites is how easy they are to search and navigate on. One of the most stressful things about buying Christmas gifts has to be the search for the perfect gift amongst all the other millions of shoppers caught up in the Christmas rush.  With daily deals sites however you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home. It is a good way to spark a gift idea if you really are stuck for what to buy someone as you can scroll through thousands of offers- there is sure to be something that you think they will like.

Whether you are looking for a gift for dad or for your partner here is something for everyone once you start searching on these daily deals sites.  For example, if it’s the dad that you are struggling with why not get him a golfing deal so he can enjoy some time teeing off this year. Or if it’s mum a year’s magazine subscription to Marie Claire might be right up her street and at such low prices even the smallest pocket money allowance will be able to purchase a deal!

This is a sponsored post, which means I may receive compensation in the form of money or credit for publishing it.

It’s time to trade in that too-small television for a big-screen TV. While walking amongst dozens of huge televisions with huge price tags to match, you start to feel pretty discouraged. They all seem a little out of your price range, and you couldn’t find your model in the Black Friday ads… Price tags are set in stone, right?

Not necessarily.

Many customers don’t realize just how much control they have when they’re shopping for big-ticket items. Just like you’d haggle for a lower price at a craft fair or farmer’s market, you can haggle the same way for big-screen televisions.

Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle

Many people think haggling is improper or foolish when dealing with a big retailer. It doesn’t matter where you’re shopping — from a local mom-and-pop shop to Wal-Mart or Best Buy — you can always try haggling, especially for big-ticket items.

A big screen television sale represents a significant profit for the store. If you buy your TV at another store, they’re losing both commission and profit. Therefore, it’s in the salesperson and manager’s best interest to make sure you leave the store with a television — even if they have to make financial concessions to make it happen.

Ready to start talking that price down? Here are six ways to haggle for big screen televisions.

1. Use Price Matching

You can often find a cheaper price for the same television at an online retailer. However, you’ll also have to pay for shipping, often from remote locations. Shipping costs can add plenty of unnecessary expenses to your purchase. Instead, print out the online retailer’s ad and take it to a local store.

Most stores will match or beat a competitor’s price. Take that ad printout into a local store and explain you’d rather buy locally — in addition to saving on shipping, you’ll be giving back to the local economy. Most retailers will gladly meet your printout’s price. Some will even throw in free delivery.

2. Pay in Cash

Stores will gladly avoid paying extra credit card fees. If you’re able to pay in cash, they may grant you a larger discount. You may find this strategy especially effective towards the end of the month if you offer to pay with cash that day — your television sale will instantly boost a store’s monthly numbers and your offer will look especially attractive if they’ve had a slow month.

3. Know When to Walk Away

Contrary to what your clamoring family members are arguing, you do not need that big screen television today. Don’t listen to the salesperson who’s telling you about another couple that’s been eyeing that same model. Big screen TVs don’t exactly fly off the shelf. The odds are in your favor that the television set you looked at this morning will still be there tomorrow.

Don’t let anyone pressure you into buying. Rather, you should pressure them. Don’t like the price you’re hearing? Walk away. The store manager may grab you with a better deal before you even leave the store.

4. Shop in the Spring

Holiday sales run high in November and December. Television sales aren’t hurting in January, either, thanks to Superbowl demand. You’d be better off waiting until March or April to buy a new television, when TV sales are slower. Another great time to check out big screen television sales? Start price checking a week or two after the Superbowl.

5. Buy Last Year’s Model in August or September

New television models tend to start arriving in August or September. During this time, stores are eager to clear out last year’s inventory. You’ll find lower prices and a staff that’s much more willing to haggle.

6. Do Your Research on the Floor Models

Most people are hesitant to buy floor model televisions, given that they’ve been handled by strangers and kept running for countless hours each day. Yes, you should use extreme caution when considering a floor model television, however, try inspecting the floor model for a sticker that says when it first went on display. You could save hundreds of dollars on a television that’s been on display for just a few days.

Don’t see a sticker? Ask your salesperson. Most stores keep records of the shelf life of their display model televisions.

Don’t Be Afraid of Big Box Stores, Either

Consumers have reported successfully haggling at major retailers like Best Buy or Sears. So don’t be afraid to flex your haggling muscles — the money you’ll save will be well worth the extra effort.

About the Author:

Jon Vincent turned his obsession with Black Friday ads into a website – and a career! He’s been interviewed about his website, BlackFriday.info, by the New York Times, CNN, Tech Crunch and more. When he’s not hunting down Black Friday ad leaks he stays busy by writing frugality and savings advice.

The one person that has taught me the most on couponing has to be Jill Cataldo. I am fortunate that she is local and have been going to her website for years to help with my grocery shopping. I still do not leave the house to go grocery shopping without checking her blog to see if there are any deals that I missed. She has saved me thousands of dollars each year with her amazing grocery deals!

Her Super-Couponing Workshops have been extremely popular. If you can attend one, I would highly recommend it. However, if you don’t live in the Chicago area you can still  take advantage of all her couponing skills. Jill’s workshops are available on DVD!

You’ll enjoy all of the same secrets, tips and techniques taught in the live Super-Couponing and Super-Couponing 2 classes! Learn how to easily cut your grocery bill by half or more in these video workshops that are fun, fast-paced and never boring! And, with Super-Couponing 2: Saving on Everything, you’ll learn tips for saving on clothing, housewares, toys, holiday purchases… and everything else!

This isn’t the coupon clipping of our parents’ generation. With her “clipless” system, we don’t cut any coupons until we’re ready to use them, and we’re not wasting hours each week managing hundreds of little pieces of paper. You’ll learn how to save big in the least amount of time possible — minimum effort, with the maximum payoff!

Go HERE to view clips from Super-Couponing® and Super-Couponing® 2 DVDs.

Shipping is a flat $5.95

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation in the form of money or credit. By clicking the link you are helping to support Money Saving Secrets Blog.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My biggest struggle with my budget is my phone bill. I am constantly looking for ways to lower my cell phone bill. I use to think that the best way to do this was with a contract. However, I am surprised to find out that Straight Talk not only offers great pay as you go plans but also have all the features as the prepay plans.

Straight talk offers service with no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks. They have great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity. Finally, Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.

Here is a little of what you can get with Straight Talk-

Monthly Plans:

• The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.

• Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web.

• Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!

• 411 calls are included at no extra charge.

• Free from activation, reactivation, or termination fee.

Looks like you will be getting Everything you need

International Long Distance:

• Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.

You can Call a friend anywhere!

Phone Selection:

• Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Great for young users!

• Amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®

You can even get an Android on Straight Talk

Seeing everything you can get with Straight Talk, I do not see why anyone would want to be stuck in a contract. I could save so much money with this plan just with the Free 411 calls! I can not get my husband to stop using 411 and we are usually getting charged an extra $20-$50 a month! By switching to Straight Talk we can save enough money each month to be able to take a family vacation!! That got me Hook, line and sinker

What would you do with the money you could save?

Rating:5/5

Delivery: Instant download from website

Money Back Guarantee: 100% Unconditional 8-Week Guarantee

Trial Offer: Test-drive the entire system free for 21 days before paying for it.

Summary:
If you’ve been looking for a way to cut down on the amount of money you spend and make your savings account grow, then this eBook is one you must read!   Even if your paycheck is small and your expenses are high, this in-depth eBook will teach you how to save thousands of dollars per year.

In this economy, everyone feels like they don’t have enough money, but way too many bills.   Just look at the headlines. Unemployment rates are skyrocketing, fuel prices are about to go up…   People are looking for ways to save the money.

The trouble is, though, there’s not a lot of ready information online that tells you how to save.  You can find a tip here, a tip there, and old strategies like the envelope system.   But if those worked, you wouldn’t still be searching the Internet.

 It’s almost impossible to find one resource that will give someone who wants to cut their spending and save money a detailed plan to do so.   For example, how can you save money and still eat out?  Can you save money on health insurance — if so, how?    How can you afford a new car and still be able to stick money in the bank?

 Well, there’s good news.   Financial expert Brandon Lamb has written an eBook that answers all your questions and gives you a detailed plan to save money in every aspect of your life.

 From car payments, to utilities, to groceries, and even down to health insurance and medical care, Brandon gives easy to use strategies that will have you putting more money in the bank than you ever thought possible.

 The best part of this book is that it doesn’t tell you to quit spending all together.  Instead, it gives wise strategies and methods that you can use to spend more wisely.

 This book has become a Bible for so many people, and it’s not surprising.  Other savings strategies you may have tried in the past never worked because the ideas were good in theory, but not in the long term.   Brandon’s book will guide you through the next twenty years of your life and make you wonder why you hadn’t been able to save money before.

 If you want to save money and cut how much money you spend, Brandon’s book “Slash Your Spending” is a must-read.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation in the form of money or credit. By clicking the link you are helping to support Money Saving Secrets Blog.