From a financial perspective, do you have extra money to funnel away every month? If you are like most of us, the answer is “no.” Saving money is no laughing matter, especially since a rainy day can occur at any given time. You may feel that you have countless bills to be paid every month and that you can’t save money, but you actually can. Here’s how:

Counting Your Coins

Because many people don’t have a surplus of cash that is readily available, we may need home loans, auto loans and credit cards. Some begrudgingly speak about blemishes on their credit report that has negatively impacted their credit score. However, a good credit score can save you a small fortune over time because you will pay less money for items. What’s more, the savings can easily mount to tens of thousands of dollars in a span of a few years. This is one extra reason to keep your credit in good standing.

Cell phones make our lives easier and can keep us connected with the rest of the world. If you are seeking to lower your monthly cell phone bill consider looking into prepaid cell phones. You can find prepaid cell phone plans that charge $0.10 per minute. And, because they are prepaid, there is no need to commit to long-term contracts. Two popular prepaid cell phone carriers are Net10 and Cricket. T-Mobile recently has rolled out a plan in their stores, Simply Prepaid, for customers who also are interested in the prepaid arena. Be on the lookout for additional companies that offer prepaid services, switching from your traditional plan to a prepaid plan may only require you to make a phone call to your cell phone carrier. Overall, seeing what these companies have to offer in terms of prepaid service may definitely prove to be worthwhile.

Do you shop online? If not, you may want to think about doing so. Many retailers give special discounts to online shoppers. The vast majority of online companies that sell products or services provide coupons, discounts or promo codes that are good toward your item purchase. The next time you have a big purchase planned, make sure to browse the Internet for deals before shelling out big bucks.

Getting in shape can make a major difference in your wallet. You may save a lot of money on life insurance and individual health insurance plans. With the rising cost of healthcare, this is something that everyone should consider.

Managing Your Finances

Even though the new year has begun, you can still make a resolution to keep a watchful eye over your expenditures. The aforementioned are only a smattering of ideas that you can use to manage your finances. Can you think of more ways to do so?

Web Links

–http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/slideshows/8-painless-ways-to-save-money/4

-Kimberly Williams