Why Get a Prepaid Card?

Prepaid cards sound very similar to a debit card, but they do allow you to build credit.  The reason is, when you apply, you put down a deposit.  That deposit is a guarantee that allows you to spend up to that amount.  Think of it like a security deposit when you rent an apartment.

However, unlike a debit card, you still pay off the prepaid credit card monthly like a normal card.  That deposit only comes into play if you don’t pay your bill.  So, they everything is still treated like a normal card except for that special security deposit.  And if you don’t pay your bill, the company will then use your deposit to pay off the balance and fees incurred, and they will close your account afterwards.

Is This Right For Me?

These cards are right for people who may not have credit.  The reason is that if you don’t have a solid credit history, lenders may be leery to loan or extend credit to you.  Using prepaid credit cards, you can build a credit history and show that you are responsible in making payments.  Just never be late and always pay off the balance in full.

These cards are also great for individuals rebuilding credit for the same reasons.  If you have a poor credit history, you may not qualify for traditional cards.  These prepaid cards can help rebuild your credit score if you use them responsibly over time.

Finally, these cards are great for people who are trying to watch or limit their spending.  Since there is a low set limit based on the amount of cash you deposited originally, there is no way you can buy something that you can’t afford.  If you feel like spending may be a problem for you, a prepaid card can help you by taking away frivolous spending options and making you focus on purchases that you can afford and need to buy.

Demand side economics is a school of macroeconomic theory that argues that economic growth can be achieved most effectively by creating incentives for people to purchase goods and services, effectively encouraging consumers to spend more. This school of thought resounds clearly with the clever people over at Groupon, who have embraced this idea. At Groupon you can find some amazing discounts on everything from Spa treatments to Dog collars and anything in between, so cutting back won’t mean missing out! There’s no need to worry about your budget when you’re making savings this good. The best thing is, savings on luxuries are not the only thing that is offered. Oh no!

At Groupon you can find discounts on all those staples of modern life that we just cannot do without. No need to start using old newspapers, or worse still your old clothes. At Groupon you can get a plethora of vouchers for discounts on toilet paper, food, clothes, home ware, sports equipment, services, pet supplies, you name it. Be amazed at the multitude of grandiose savings on offer. Be dazzled by the myriad of marvelous great value vouchers. Have you been made redundant
because your old employer had to make cutbacks?

Did you have to close your own business because you couldn’t get enough customers? Business isn’t booming as you had hoped? Perhaps you’re a graduate who just kind find that elusive first job. Don’t sweat, make that emergency budget go that little bit further by utilizing all the great deals on offer at Groupon. Make that unpaid internship a walk in the park with discounts on travel. Honestly, the savings are fantastic. You won’t believe your inbox! Worried the world might end with this recession? After all, the Mayans may have predicted that the world will end in on December 21, 2012. Stock up on discount tinned food for your bomb shelter whilst you still can. Don’t perish! Grab great savings on imperishable food.

1. Have a game night. If you want to keep it a simple affair, arrange a game night with your spouse and kids and play some of your favorite board games. If you are looking to take this up a notch, consider hosting a game night at your house. Have friends bring a dish to pass and their favorite game and enjoy an evening of free food and entertainment. If enough people come, you can break into several small groups of 4 to 6; each group plays a different game, and then you can rotate throughout the night.

2. Play games online. There are many free game sites that allow you to play online bingo or other games such as solitaire or mahjong. Some sites even let you test your online trivia such as the Bingo Olympics, which shares fun facts about bingo as they relate to the Olympics. There are even online trivia games for kids, if you search for them.

3. Go to a free concert. If you live near a university, college, or community college, check out some of the free entertainment. Many colleges offer free musical concerts as do some towns in the summer. You may also find a free book reading, which could be a good experience for teenagers and adults alike.
4. Attend festivals. Many festivals offer free music and other performances. Sure, they probably would also like you to buy their overpriced food, but you don’t have to. Or, you could set a small budget for yourself to sample the food, and then spend the rest of the time enjoying the free festival activities.

5. Go to the park. Many kids crave more time with their parents. You can go to the park with them and toss a ball together, fly a kite, or have a picnic. Chances are your kids will have fun just spending time with you.

6. Host your own sports party. Have friends over to play a game you all enjoy. You could pitch a
volleyball net in the backyard and play volleyball for a few hours and enjoy a potluck afterwards
or organize a round of touch football. Just pick something that is easy to learn and that most
people enjoy.

In today’s fast-paced society, we are used to thinking that entertainment is expensive, but if you take a step back, you will find plenty of inexpensive ways to enjoy spending time with family and friends. Best of all, you will be able to use the money you save to pay down debt or further your financial goals.

There are a variety of consumer products on the market intended to help you save money. While you may have to fork over a little in the beginning, the savings will help you out in the long run.

“Smart” Surge Protectors

If you’re looking to save money on electricity, check out smart surge protectors. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but ultimately have one goal: to cut back on your electric bill. A large portion of our electric bills are a result of vampire electricity, or electricity our electronics use when we’re not in use. These smart surge protectors will automatically shut off electronics and small appliances not in use, so you can keep everything plugged while still completely eliminating the building cost of electricity.

Solar Lighting Tubes

You can completely eliminate your use of electric lighting during the day by investing in a solar lighting tube. These handy tubes get installed into your roof and, through the use of innovative non-electric technology, fills a room with light as if you’re using standard electric lighting.

Putting Trash Cans to New Use

Trash cans are used for a lot more than trash nowadays. While their production and manufacture aren’t the greenest of processes, they can be used to help cut back on various expenses. If you drill a few holes in the bottom of a trash can, you can create your own composter, where you can throw your old food waste and plant trimmings, keeping your waste production to a minimum. You can then, in turn, use the broken down compost to fertilize your plants. You can also use a trash can as a rain barrel, which you can place under the downspout on the side of your house. By collecting rainwater, you can water your plants and keep your new composter moist, and save yourself a little money off your water bill.

Trash cans are also great for collecting recycling. Instead of paying for recycling pickup, look for recycling centers near you; it may be more worth your time to bring your recyclables to the center yourself. While you may not receive much, some do pay a small amount depending on the cans and bottles you bring in to them.

Bicycle

This is probably the most obvious of these, but investing in a bicycle is a surefire way to save you money. A bike is relatively inexpensive–depending on the model and design–and requires no gas. The only expense is the occasional maintenance on the bike. This is most appropriate for people living in metropolitan areas, or for people who have all their resources near by. You will get a healthy dose of fresh air every day, get a little bit of exercise, and save yourself the $40, $50 or more that it costs to fill up a tank.

So by making these small investments, you are not only protecting the environment but conserving your money as well. While some of these may cost a bit in the beginning, the potential for saving money is huge. All it takes is a little motivation and inspiration to get you started on saving your money for the more important things in life.

Post by Jim

Health Care

Obesity can lead to a variety of high-risk health factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and joint erosion. Those suffering from obesity are also more likely to suffer from heart attack and stroke, and be more prone to other forms of heart disease. To reduce the likelihood of high health care premiums and high medical bills in the future, stay within the healthy weight range for your sex, height, and age.

Food

Many who are overweight eat out at least once everyday, and eating out just once a day can quickly add up. “If you are someone who chooses to go out for lunch every work day to escape the office, you could easily be spending $50-$60 a week, or $200 to $240 a month, on lunches alone which is more than enough to cover the cost of groceries for personal breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for a month,” says Charles Bulger from Currencies.com. Instead of eating out, cook for yourself or bring your lunch to work. Your waist will shrink while your wallet will remain fat.

Clothing

Larger clothing costs more because more fabric must be used. Clothing for larger individuals also requires special tailoring and unique designs which also make it more expensive. If you have excess weight, shedding those extra pounds to fit the your body type’s healthy weight will not only make it easier to find clothes, but will also make them cheaper.

Losing weight has numerous short and long term financial benefits, and if you want to start saving additional money each month and are overweight, you should consider starting a healthy diet and exercise program. Doing so will not only help you add years to your life, but it will also help you keep money in your wallet which can be invested to enjoy the extra years you will have added to your retirement.

Go With a Friend

There are many benefits to having a friend join you on your trip to the farmers market. Of course the first one is that you have company. It can also be beneficial if you want to buy your fruits and vegetables in bulk and split the cost and produce with a friend. When you buy in bulk from merchants at a farmers market, you are more likely to receive a bigger discount.

Look Before Buying

Farmers markets can be large, and the booths may seem repetitive. Since most of the farmers are local, they may have a lot of the same produce. Before you commit to purchasing produce, you should take a walk around and compare not only prices but quality. It is a good idea to take along a notebook to write information in.

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about a product. Most of the vendors are the farmers themselves, so they can answer just about any question you may have. Most farmers are very proud of what they do and will enjoy talking to you about it. If you aren’t sure how to use a fruit or vegetable, ask for advice. You may also be able to get free samples so that you don’t accidentally waste money on something you won’t like.

Shop at the End of the Day

Generally, it is best to get to the farmers market first thing in the morning. This is when the selection is at its best. If you are looking for a really good deal though, you may want to wait and shop at the end of the day. The selection will not be as good, but many of the vendors will be eager to get rid of the produce they have left. This could mean deep discounts for you.

Be Loyal

Once you have found a vendor that has the produce you want, shop with them. By shopping with the same vendors time after time, they begin to notice your loyalty. They may start to offer you better discounts on the produce you purchase.

Ask for a Better Price

It is always good to ask for a better price, but be careful how you do it. Farmers work hard every day to grow that produce they are selling. You don’t want to offend them by making an offer that is too small. If they are not flexible on their pricing, either pay the asking price or move on to the next vendor.

Bring Cash

This is probably the most important thing to remember when going to a farmers market. Many vendors will only accept cash. It is also important to bring small bills instead of larger ones. Many vendors won’t be able to make change for a hundred dollar bill, especially if you are only purchasing something for $3. Vendors like to be paid with dollar bills and quarters, so instead of taking a twenty dollar bill, take twenty one dollar bills.

Not Only Produce

Many farmers markets have homemade baskets, jewelry, and fresh flowers or plants. Farmers markets can be a great place to buy unique gifts. Just beware of the quality of the items and the price. Sometimes these items can be overly priced and not worth the money.

Guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes for the Homeowners Insurance Guide.

Jamendo – This music community is totally free to join, and listeners will find more than 45,000 albums to choose from that are available for download. Members can also upload their own music, create playlists and widgets, and participate in a variety of forums–all at no cost.

Music Oasis – This free and legal site gives music fans an opportunity to download as much music as they want with no strings attached. All songs are downloaded in mp3 format through a program called Instant IQ.

EZ-Tracks – This website features more than 50,000 songs that can be downloaded for in MP3 format, as well as unlimited access to ringtones, widgets, and music videos–all completely free. One can browse artists, genres, popular hits, and more on this fun and easy-to-use music site.

Epitonic – With a great selection of unique genres to choose from, Epitonic dedicates itself to the independent music scene. This is a great site to find something new to listen to, and all songs can be played and downloaded for free.

Aol Music – - This popular music site offers free MP3 downloads every day, as well as free radio, music videos, music news, lyrics, tour schedules, and more. It’s a hassle-free place to enjoy your favorite tunes and stay informed in the world of music.

Crackle – Created in 2007, Crackle now offers movie fans a wide variety of movies in nearly every popular genre. All movies are free, and by signing up for an account, they can be viewed anywhere that you have internet access.

ViewCave – Here cinema lovers can watch movies for free on any device that is connected to the internet. With a large collection of movies, television programs, movie trailers, and more, this site can provide countless hours of free entertainment!

FreeMoviesCinema – This website offers members not only the opportunity to watch free movies, but the chance to be part of an online social community as well. It’s free to join, and with categories such as action, adventure, animation, comedy, horror, martial arts, noir, and more, this site has something for all movie buffs.

Hulu – This highly rated site showcases a large selection of movies and documentaries, all of which can be viewed free of charge. Search for movies by genre or title, or browse new and popular movies that are featured right on the homepage.

FreeMooviesOnline – Since its beginnings in 2007, this site now has the biggest free movie library on the web. Registration is free and easy, and users can watch unlimited movies and television shows in many different categories.

Planet eBook – Featured here is a great selection of classic titles, and all books are free to either read online or download in PDF format. The goal of Planet eBook is to provide readers eBooks that look and feel like the real thing.

OnRead.com – Here readers will find a comprehensive collection of eBooks in more than 25 genres, all free to read online. Books can be found by author, title, or category, and excerpts and reviews are readily available to help in making a selection. This site also offers a free forum where users can suggest, discuss, and blog all things books.

Page By Page Books – With hundreds of titles in this virtual library, classic literature fans are sure to find just what they’re looking for. Basic searches and a list of newly added eBooks make this site easy to navigate- and all books are free to read online instantly.

ClassicAuthors.net – Showcasing a wealth of treasured classic authors, this free site updates subscribed readers by email when new authors and titles are added to their library. To find a book, all you need to do is scroll down the list of alphabetized authors and click!

Bartleby.com – With the honor of being the first site to publish a classic title online (Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman), Bartleby.com now provides readers with a large collection of fiction, nonfiction, poetry/verse, and reference eBooks. Here all titles are available to read immediately online and they don’t cost a thing.

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes on many topics, including car insurance for www.carinsurancequotes.net.

1. Check comparison/voucher websites – moneysupermarket.com

Comparison websites are a must, especially when buying costly purchases. By simply visiting money supermarket you could potentially save yourself £100s and not have to settle for cheaper alternatives. This quick check on everything from mobile phones, broadband and credit cards takes minutes and costs nothing, but could save you valuable money.

It is also worth keeping track of what vouchers are available online, as there are often deals for everything from eating out to shopping, days out to gym memberships. Why pay the full price when a quick check could save you up to 75%? These websites often alert you of in store sales too, saving you money when you’re out and about.

2. Collect points –

Loyalty cards aren’t to be mixed up with store cards, loyalty cards reward your spending where as store cards encourage overspending. Loyalty cards really are money for nothing, with stores such as Tesco and Boots offering you reward points for every £1 you spend in store. The stores do however get something from this, although it still doesn’t cost you a penny. By using your loyalty cards the store has a record of everything you’re buying, your shopping habits and trends, so helps them to analyse the typical customer in order to improve your shopping experience. Win/win? We like to think so.

3. Shop and spend wisely –

while goods with a very long shelf-life are great to pick up when they’re on offer, items with a sell-by-date should be considered before purchase. You should be very aware of offers such as buy one get one half price, do you really need that extra item, will it be used or will it be thrown away after the sell-by-date runs out?

It is also worth avoiding the impulse buy, as it is often not needed and will be regretted the moment the credit card bill drops through the letterbox. A method that seems to work well when it comes to preventing the impulsive purchase is the 48 hour rule. Any purchase must be put on hold for 48 hours, during this time you evaluate if you really need that remote control helicopter or inflatable snowman, 9 times out of 10 you don’t and you’ve just saved yourself some cash.

4. Use cash back websites –

does what it says on the tin really, offering you cash back on what you buy when you click through their website to other retailers. Sites such as TopCashBack and Quidco are voted the most reliable; however Quidco charges a £5 annual admin fee, so worth weighing up your options. I would recommend researching cashback websites thoroughly, as it is estimated that a third of people never receive their cashback. Think of any cashback offers as a bonus, not a reason for a purchase.

5. Bank wisely –

by banking more wisely you could avoid those crippling interest charges simply by switching banks. There are several ways to be clever with your banking including switching your account when your interest-free period runs out with your current bank, making sure any payments made to the bank are fair and legal (otherwise claim them back) and taking advantage of any exclusive offers your bank is promoting. 

What happens if I mentioned that on a single gallon of gas you may increase to 200 miles. Yes that’s 200 miles. Well, I can’t really make which claim, but Wayne Gerdes the king of “Hypermiling” can. Gerdes drove 2,254 miles on below 14 gallons of gas, and also this was a student in 2006. Since then Hypermiling happens to be some what connected with an art form that’s quickly spreading. The Oxford dictionary has even selected your message because the best new word for 2008. Gerdes website clean MPG can be a Mecca of real information about Hypermiling techniques. fuel efficient autos and also a forum for hypermilers to congregate. You may also discover the techniques they are using to attain these incredible numbers.

There are also tools to provide you the best from your tank such as Scangauge 2, it monitors much of your cars data, like speed, fuel use, fuel till tank is empty plus much more. Having all this information can guide you to refine your technique and perfect your art.

You can certainly adopt some skills to your everyday drive and stretch your budget while you’re advertising online. The name might sound somewhat crazy, but it is really simply learning how to become a better driver. The truth is, it’s really a great big win for you, discover how to certainly be a better driver, save fuel and cash and assist in saving the surroundings.

Materials You’ll Need

What I like about the solar oven is that you can build it pretty quickly, with materials that are commonly available around the house. Here are the basics, along with a few illustrations, found from the Solar Now website.

• pizza box
• black construction paper
• aluminum foil
• clear plastic
• tape, scissor, and a ruler
• straw

How To Build A Solar-Powered Oven

1. Measure and draw a one-inch border around all four sides of the pizza box. Cut along three sides, leaving the side along the back of the box uncut.
2. Create a flap by folding along the uncut line to form a crease. Cut a piece of aluminum foil to fit the inside of the flap, and tape the foil onto the flap.
3. Measure a piece of plastic to cover the opening you created when forming the flap. The plastic should be larger than the opening, so you can tape it underneath the box top. Make sure the plastic is tightly sealed, so that air won’t escape from the oven interior.
4. Cut another piece of foil to line the inside bottom of the pizza box, and tape it into place. Then cover the foil with black construction paper, and tape it into place again.
5. Close the pizza box, and prop open the flap of the box with a straw. Put the box in sunlight, and adjust the aluminum flap until it reflects the most sunlight through the plastic window and into the oven.

Important Points To Note

Many solar ovens will reach temperatures between 200 and 275 degrees. While this is sufficient to cook many types of foods, it’ll take awhile longer too cook than with traditional ovens. But a nice benefit of this is that solar ovens don’t easily burn food. So you can leave your food in the oven while you go to work, and come home to food that’s warm and ready to eat!

And in the event that electricity isn’t available, you can use the solar oven to purify water and cook food. This can even make a cool science experiment. It reminds me of something MacGyver would’ve created back in the day!

To see how you can build many other types of solar ovens, check out the Solar Cooking Archive.

Do you think the concept of a solar oven is cool? Would you build one yourself?

Photo by Abri_Beluga