SavvySugar

What's Your Most Effective Budget Tip?

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:36 -0800

Creating and sticking to a budget is hard. Period. It takes dedication, daily effort and compromise. We each develop our own smart saving style and tricks over the years, which is why we started the How Do You Save? group for you to divulge your winning tactics. We want you to dole out your advice to other SavvySugar readers trying to save a little moola and learn from their experiences.

Do you have an effective budget tip? Create a PopSugar Account or login to your account, then join the How Do You Save? group and share it! And you never know, it could be featured on SavvySugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

How-To: Prepare For the Worst Monthly

SavvySugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:00:04 -0800

No one likes a Debbie Downer, but these are trying times and you need a financial backup plan. Whether you feel a strong sense of job security or have a million bucks in the bank, it's crucial that you embrace the motto of the Boy Scouts ("Be Prepared!") so you don't end up in a serious financial and personal conundrum should you draw a short stick. The calendar changes so quickly it's easy to forget your egg's nest and backup scheme amid the momentum, but follow these basic steps and suggestions to keep yourself on track.

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6 Low-Budget Ways to Celebrate Halloween

SavvySugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:30:51 -0700

Halloween definitely isn't just for kids. They're the ones wandering around with pillowcases in the dark, but most adults love a good celebration and Halloween is the perfect excuse to do something different. If you can't afford to attend a big bash that started selling tickets back in August or pay cover charges to enter one of your city's hot events, it doesn't have to mean Halloween is a bust this year. Check out my ideas to make it a low budget holiday.

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How-To: Determine If You Can Live on One Income

SavvySugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:30:15 -0700

There are too many families who were taken by surprise when one breadwinner suddenly lost his or her job, but some couples might choose to give up an income for one reason or another. Maybe one person was offered a job in another city, leaving the other one without employment, the couple wants one parent to stay home with the kids, one half of the duo is miserable at work and wants out ASAP, etc. Before you make the choice to live on one income, you need to find out if it's a viable option by following these steps.

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10 Simple Ways to Go Green and Save Green

SavvySugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:00:11 -0700

One of the greatest perks about being more eco-conscious, aside from saving resources and living a more sustainable life, is that doing so encourages us to cut back. Focusing on the motto of recycle, reduce and reuse can do wonders on our budgets and help save more instead of spending on things we don't need. The secret to jumping on the green bandwagon and saving more cash is simple - you just have to commit to it. Check out my guide to 10 ways you can cut back, save money and lighten your footprint.

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5 Simple Steps For Creating a Spending Plan

SavvySugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:45:51 -0700

Straightforward budgets aren't always the best solution for people trying to get a handle on their money - the inflexible nature of budgeting can be a frustrating turn-off. Just because you're not one for budgets doesn't mean there isn't hope for following a plan that will get your finances on track. A spending plan is a better solution than a traditional budget for those who want a less rigid method for managing their money. Give your dollars some direction and take control by taking these five simple steps for creating a spending plan.

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Cash In on the New USVI Quarter With 25-Cent Hotel Rooms

SavvySugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:00:25 -0700

Want to book a hotel for a cool quarter? (Close your mouth.) Even though just 25 pennies will land you the room, this new promotion celebrates the newly minted US Virgin Islands quarter.

The coin features the bananaquit bird, yellow cedar flower and tyre palm tree, and you can look for all three live with a special offer from the islands' Dept. of Tourism: Seven St. Thomas resorts and four St. Croix locations now offer $.25 room rates for the first three nights of your trip. Cash in fast as travel (hotel+air) must be arranged through BookIt.com before Nov. 2, your island getaway needs to happen by Dec. 15, and the offer's good only while rooms last.

(For fun, I just priced out three nights, single occupancy on a mid-November weekend with a roundtrip ticket from San Francisco and got $640. I wasn't planning any trips, but this one just makes ~~sense~~ cents.)

Reader Tip: Tracking Your Budget Is Boring, But It Works

SavvySugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:34 -0700

We each develop a unique saving style over the years, which is why we started the How Do You Save? group for you to divulge your winning tactics. It offers a place for you to dole out your advice to other SavvySugar readers trying to save a little moolah and learn from their experiences. Senorita reminds us that tracking and keeping a budget isn't always exciting, but it is a surefire way to quickly shed light on your unnecessary spending.

To learn her story and tip, read more.

Senorita shares:

So not so long ago when I first met my boyfriend, now current husband, he introduced me to the idea of keeping a budget. He set up a really easy to follow spreadsheet where I could enter each day what I spent and set up an estimate as to what I would spend on rent, bills, food and, of course, fun! After a month, I was amazed I was spending over a thousand dollars on clothes and fun. I wasn't going out and buying a couple really expensive items but it was all the smaller stuff that just quickly adds up. I must admit I was completely shocked and afterward definitely felt like I had really had nothing to show for the money spent. Well, lesson learned, I continued to use the budget sheet, just to keep my spending in check and was eventually able to start saving a lot more each month!

If you are ready to follow Senorita's lead and start tackling your spending check out our selection of SavvySugar organizational downloads.

Do you have a tip for readers? Join our How Do You Save? group and share your helpful suggestions. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Get Organized For October With SavvySugar Downloads

SavvySugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:35 -0700

Staying organized and on top of your savings are key to both long-term financial and personal success. Doing so isn't easy without a little extra assistance, which is why we've put together a selection of pretty printable downloads that will help you get and stay on track. The beginning of a month is the ideal time to get organized.

It's never too late: Check out Savvy's 2009 Resolution worksheet!

Get your budget on track with Savvy's Spending Tracker doc!

Did he put a ring on it? Download Savvy's Wedding Planning Checklist!

12 US Cities For Traveling Every Month of the Year

SavvySugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:30:29 -0700

America, the beautiful. Summer is the most popular time to get out of town, but it's certainly not the only time. Visit a city you've always wanted to see without spending a fortune (or colliding with every other tourist in the country) when you plan a trip any time of year. Whatever month you want to travel, I have a suggestion for you.

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