SavvySugar

In Case You Missed It: How Money Are You

SavvySugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:30:46 -0800

Quizzes are way more fun when they don't affect our GPA, and throughout 2008 we've been exposing our knowledge of news and random facts through little exams. Hopefully, you've enjoyed taking them as much as I've enjoyed creating them. In case you missed some, here are the most popular quizzes from 2008.

Real or Fake Job Titles	Billionaire College Dropouts	Michael Phelps Endorsement Deals
Credit Report Timelines	The Sexiest Jobs	Average Wedding Statistics

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In Case You Missed It: I'm Asking

SavvySugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:30:28 -0800

I've been throwing questions out there all year, and whether they're fun or serious questions your answers are always interesting. Here are some of the questions that received the most enthusiastic responses in 2008.

When Cash Is No Object?	When You Grew Up . . .	Hard Cash or Hard Abs?
Most Valuable Cheapy Secret?	What Comes Up When You Google Yourself?	How Did You Get Into Debt?

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The Best Everyday Saving Trick in 2008

SavvySugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:30:48 -0800

Bringing lunch to work was the obvious winner as your pick for the best everyday saving trick in 2008. Something that seems so small can make a huge impact on our budgets, and I've seen the difference in my own bank account by bringing my lunch more often this year.

Bringing leftovers or cooking a batch of something on Sundays makes packing your lunch a less time-consuming process. If you've been meaning to pick up this money-saving habit, why not make it a goal for the New Year? While you're at it, pick up the number two saving trick of the year by automating your savings.

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In Case You Missed It: Ask Savvy

SavvySugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:30:14 -0800

All year you've been asking me smart, challenging questions that I've had the pleasure of answering to the best of my ability. I absolutely love trying to help you savvy ladies, and I always end up learning something, too, when you weigh in with your own comments and advice. Here are some of the most popular Ask Savvy posts of the year.

Ask For a Raise or Look For a Job	Job Interview Attire	How to Ask For Lower Rates
Sticky Reference Situation	Boyfriend's Parents Ruined His Credit	Can't Pay IRS in Full

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Your Favorite Money Management Tool in 2008

SavvySugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:00:00 -0800

According to the website, Mint.com has been named the best online personal finance tool by Money, Kiplinger, and PC magazines, and is PC World’s Editor’s Choice; now Mint can add another line to its accolades as the SavvySugar readers' favorite of 2008!

Unsure of what this online money management tool entails? Mint is a free website that allows you to view all of your accounts in one place, provides budgeting tools that help determine where would be easiest to cut spending, and helps find interest savings by comparing your bank account and credit card rates to others. Online management tools are extremely helpful in goal-setting, which sounds just perfect for the New Year.

Have you tried Mint? Why do you like it or dislike it?

How Much You Spent on Gas in 2008

SavvySugar — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:00:45 -0800

Gas won the crown of the most overpriced expense in 2008, and if you drove at all there's no way you couldn't notice its impact on your bank account. Most of you estimate that you've spent between $1,000 to $2,000 on gas over the course of 2008.

Now that prices have come way down, I encourage you to save the money you're no longer spending on gas. You were able to get by when you were paying almost $5 a gallon, and since gas prices are now about half of what they were at their peak, you should notice that you have a little more disposable income on your hands. Estimate how much you've saved in gas this month compared to what you were spending at the height of gas prices, and apply at least part of the difference to the amount you transfer each month into your savings account.

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Lehman Brothers Shocked You Most in 2008

SavvySugar — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:00:03 -0800

Nearly half of you voted that Lehman Brothers made the most shocking banking headlines this year, and I agree that the 158-year-old firm filing for bankruptcy was the news that really took me off guard in 2008. Lehman's failure is the biggest bankruptcy filing in US history, and the collapse of such a large and well-respected institution made everyone uneasy.

Some investors believe that we've seen the worst of the financial industry's problems, but the majority of you are skeptical. Here's hoping that 2009 will be a better year for banks.

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The Most Secure and Overrated Careers of 2008

SavvySugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:30:04 -0800

It has been a rough year for the job market, though the recession has weeded out some shining exceptions to the bad news. In a landslide vote, you chose health care as the industry with the most secure jobs in 2008. I agree it's a secure field relative to most others, and it seems that health care workers are always in demand.

As for the career you voted as most overrated, real estate agent beat advertising executive in a marginal win for the career that delivers the least in terms of expectations meeting reality. It's definitely a subjective matter, but it seems those of you who have tried these careers or know people who did, haven't exactly gotten the best impressions.

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Staycation Is the Best Word of 2008

SavvySugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0800

There's nothing quite as satisfying as putting vacation days on your work calendar, even if you're not actually leaving town. While the New Oxford American Dictionary named hypermiling the word of 2008, if you had it your way, you would name staycation the best word of 2008. Runner-up to staycation is the phrase toxic debt, which received 21 percent of the vote.

Thirteen percent of you put the word staycation into practice when you took time off from work without doing any traveling. And whether you were lounging on your porch or on a tropical beach, most of you at least took advantage of your vacation days. Over 60 percent of you took 10 or more days off work this year, although four percent of you said you had perfect work attendance!

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What You Splurged on in 2008

SavvySugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:15:49 -0800

You know that going through life with constant deprivation is really no way to live, and this year 28 percent of you chose to splurge on clothes, shoes, bags, or jewelry. Vacations were also a very popular splurge in 2008, capturing 26 percent of your votes.

The easiest way to splurge without guilt is to save up for the things that we covet. In fact, I think that I end up loving something more because I've worked hard to save for it, and having to wait to make a purchase prevents impulse spending. Do you already have your eye on another splurge-worthy expense?

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