TFDuesing/flickr

If you want something you don’t have the money for, figure out how to make it. (I’ve already talked about getting things by swapping or repurposing).

Personally, I have found that learning to make something is the best way to go. I get what I need, and I know how to repair it. Here are my five favorite sites to go to when I want to learn new things:

1. General instructions - Instructables - You can learn anything from how to carve a pumpkin to how to build your own computer to how to construct a rocket ship. Instructables has more pictures and instructions than videos.
2. Video tutorials - YouTube – Now that YouTube has grown beyond silly home videos, you can find all sorts of wonderful how-to videos. Check on the length of the video before choosing which one you want to watch. It’s pretty boring to watch a 10-minute video on how to tie a knot and it’s pretty useless to watch a 30-second video on how to do your taxes.
3. 5 minute Life Videopedia – Five minute videos about all sorts of stuff.
4. The ultimate handyman site - DIYnetwork – I also like HandymanUSA. These are both wonderful sites to go to when you want to know how to fix your broken doorknob or unclog your sink.
5. Hundreds of the best 18-minute talks on Technology, Education & Design - TED talks – Think of the very best speaker you ever heard. Now imagine the talk being no more than 18 minutes long. These are TED talks. My favorite ones are by Sir Ken Richardson on the subject of education.

There are so many things we pay for someone do for us that we could do ourselves. By hiring others to weed our gardens, cook our food, and fix every broken thing, we lose the joy of creating our own lives.  The internet gives us access to information that allows us to learn new things with a few clicks. Use it!

What are your favorite sites to learn new things?

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

catd_mitchell / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Seems like every year we make resolutions only to break them, but could it be that in the end we are saving money by not sticking to them? Below I calculate the amount of money spent on meeting New Year’s resolutions and share tips to getting them done on a budget.

I will get fit.

A gym membership costs about $40 a month (if not a lot more). In a year, you’ll spend $480! Can’t afford the gym? Get in shape on a budget with our tips. Heck, you can even make money while you exercise. How about taking up a part-time job as a dog walker?

I will read more.

New books cost $10 – $20 at bookstores. If you buy one every month you’ll spend between $120 – $240 a year. The solution? Head to the library for classics and new books for free – as long as you return them on time. You can also download the classics for free on your iPad, iTouch, or iPhone. I recently downloaded Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice for free! Have a Kindle? Here’s how to get free ebooks for your Kindle.

I will quit smoking.

Not only is this good for your health and those around you, but it will cost you. I did a search online for Nicorette Gum and found it for $68. NicoDerm Patches cost $156. Together it cost $224 and depending on how long it takes you to quit it will keep adding up! Don’t make this a reason not to quit. Smoking costs you lots, too. Bobbi shared a while ago how quitting smoking can save thousand of dollars a year. To lessen the cost of quitting smoking, keep in mind that some health care providers will cover some of the costs of quitting.

I will work on my finances.

Getting your finances in order can be a daunting task that’s why many rely on the expertise of financial advisers. Working with a CPA can cost up to $1,500 a year. Though this may seems like a hefty price to pay, keep in mind that professional advice can save you money. Planning for the future? Here are six cheap ways to stay on top of your finances and financial management tools to track where your money is going.

Although many of these resolutions carry a high price, look at the long-term benefits. To make it easier on your wallet, tackle one resolution at a time. What do you want to accomplish this year?

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.

Time is almost out to win $175 budgeting software!

Today is your last chance to win a budgeting software package worth $175!!! One lucky winner will get a copy of You Need A Budget software, an hour of one-on-one coaching, the YNAB book, and their audio book!

So far only 55 readers have entered. Make this a Christmas present to yourself by entering no later than today, Dec. 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

YNAB will teach you how to get out of debt, save money, and stop living paycheck to paycheck. The personal finance software runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux so it’s easy to install and use. You can budget using the envelope system or download the companion iPhone and Android app. The best part is no forced upgrades or annual fees. Plus, YNAB offers totally free, education webinars almost every day.

To win the YouNeedABudget prize pack on BargainBabe.com:

• Join our freebie and deal email
• Like Bargain Babe on Facebook
• Share this post on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter @BargainBabe
• Like YouNeedABudget.com on Facebook
• Tweet “Win @ynab budgeting software on @BargainBabe http://bit.ly/uPLuTj”
• Follow @ynab on Twitter

Make sure to leave a comment for each entry so we know how many times you’ve entered! Can’t wait to get your hands on the You Need A Budget software? For a limited time, You Need A Budget is offering a 20% discount to Bargain Babe readers who buy the software through this link.

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA. This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

KB35/Flickr

This post is brought to you by AmeriLoanSearch offering no credit check loans with instant approval.

There are 11 common mistakes people make when buying or selling a used car, according to the October 2011 issue of ShopSmart, published by Consumer Reports. All of them add up to lost money. Summarized below. About to buy a new car? Here’s how to negotiate a good price and the three steps of haggling. Did you know you can save a lot of money buying car parts from a junk yard? Make sure to check this car recall site before you pay for any repairs.

Seller mistakes

1. Settling on price. Trading in your car is quicker and easier than selling it yourself, but the dealer price will be lower than if you sell it on AutoTrader.com, Cars.com, or Ebay.

2. Risking your privacy. Don’t list your address or full name or you may attract unwanted visitors. It’s a good idea to meet potential buyers in a public place, instead of your driveway.

3. Combining buying and selling. Trading in your car and buying one at the dealer is a super

complicated process. Negotiate the price of your new car first, and if the dealer won’t meet your selling price, either walk away or sell your used car privately.

4. Selling dirty. Cleaning up your car’s body and interior can raise the price of your vehicle and perhaps lead to a quicker sale. Some people even buy “new car smell” air freshener.

5. Getting ripped off. Do not accept a personal check or installment payments from a buyer, even if the buyer is a friend or family member. A car deal gone bad will effect the relationship. Cashier’s and certified checks can be counterfeited, so verify the check is good with the bank before you sign away the title. Offer a discount for buyers who pay in cash.

Buyer mistakes

1. Owning up. Never let the seller know what you can afford. Unless you are happy to pay that amount.

2. Going in blind. If you don’t know the value of the car you are trying to buy, how will you negotiate a fair price? Best to check multiple sources, like Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, Cars.com, Ebay, and AutoTrader. The mileage, condition, and maintenance history will effect the value.

3. Rushing. Dealers like folks in a rush because they often forget to inspect the car and ask important questions. Slow down or come back another time.

4. Staying put. Being able to walk away is a crucial – and detectable – bargaining tactic that will influence how you and the seller discuss the car and come to an agreement on price, or not. If the seller won’t accept your top price (assuming you’ve started with a lower price and slowly worked your way up), walk away.

5. Nixing your mechanic. Have your own mechanic inspect the car, even if the seller says they had it inspected for you. Tell the seller ahead of time that you want to deduct the cost of repairs from the selling price.

6. Blowing off VIN. Do a background check on your car by getting a VIN (vehicle identification number) history report. The report costs a few bucks, but will reveal any accidents and how many past owners the car has had. A car that has been in an accident is often less worth, and a car that has had many owners may have more problems.

AMagill/Flickr

I spend a minimum of 30 minutes a week on my finances. Mine are more complex than a single person or two working adults with no children, so you may spend less. What do I do during this time?

1. Pay all my bills. I pay on time and so I save on late fees and keep my great credit score. If I can’t pay the bill yet because I am missing the funds, I write on the envelope the amount that is due and the due date. I make sure the bill won’t be late if I

   put it off til next week.

2. Read the fine print on my credit card (if I haven’t already). The bill and the inserts explain the rules of the game. Ignorance of the agreements will not keep you from being charged and liable. Also, there are sometimes events and rebates that are announced this way. I have gotten free low flow water shower heads from the water company because it was announced on the insert in my bill.
3. Update my check register to reflect all debits and credits. I don’t just say “check number 4321.” I make a note so that I know what I spent that money on. This comes in handy at the end of the year when I do my taxes. It also serves as a record that I paid for something. Now that there are a lot of electronic transfers, this could be the only record I have.
4. Balance my checkbook. I’ve have many people tell me that just go with the balance the bank says they have. Egad! Let’s just give the bank ALL of the power over your fiances. The truth is that the bank hardly ever makes a mistake. But the figure that the bank says is available doesn’t include all the outstanding checks that haven’t been cashed or deposits that haven’t cleared. I also find that when I balance my checkbook I get a better idea of what I have spent my money on.
5. Make sure my credit and debit card charges are legit. If I have a question about a charge, I call immediately to contest it. I keep a record of all the charges that I make on my credit cards. I allocate money to pay that bill when it arrives. When the bill comes, I check the charges against my list. Then I check off the ones that I have paid.
6. Be aware of how many checks I have left. Order new ones in a timely fashion to avoid rush charges, which are very expensive.
7. Order stamps online or by mail. This is super convenient if you never get to the post office. You can also buy them from the ATM machine, but you will pay more that way.
8. Read my utility bills carefully. Is my current usage in line with last years usage? This is a good way to see if you have a leak or if something is wrong with your meter. I file all my similar utility bills together so that it is easy to refer to them in this fashion.
9. Check my phone bill. If you have a family plan, this is a good time to see if the kids have ordered something without your knowledge or if they are using way more text messaging or phone time than you have allotted for them. Perhaps it is time to change your plan. Last month I discovered that the phone company added a service to my plan without asking me. I called and got them to take it off. If I hadn’t read the bill, I wouldn’t have known.
10. Once I have paid my bills, balanced my checkbook, and filed my papers, I take time to contemplate the future. What is coming up? A wedding? A vacation? A party? Have I set money aside to cover this expense? Take a look at your budget and see if it needs some tweaking. This is a great time to make changes since your current financial scene are clear to you.

How much time do you spend on your finances each week or month?

We all make good and bad financial decisions. Overall, I am pretty happy with mine. They have allowed me to live the kind of life that is important to me. I get to be an at-home mom and have been there to raise my kids. The trade off? Used cars and no fancy address.

Looking back at my choices, my worst financial decisions have been:

1. Not buying a house 30 years ago. I knew that I would be moving a lot, so I didn’t want to buy a house. But in fact, I always stayed longer in each place than I meant to and with the rising housing market all those years, I would have made a lot of money on each turn over and I’d own my house now.
2. Not putting money into

   a weekly investment account. There just never seemed to be any left over, but even if I had just put “something” aside each week it would have grown.

3. Not learning more about how to effectively grow money. I wish I had learned this very early on.
4. Not marrying a millionaire. Well, that would have been a good financial decision, but I love my non-millionaire hubby.
5. Not asking my dad more questions about finance and his experience and learning in the subject before he passed. My dad knew a lot about business and money, but he never got around to teaching it to me and I never tried hard enough to get the information. Sad.

The best financial decisions I made are:

1. Paying off my credit cards in full each month. I might not know how to grow money, but I’ve accomplished something perhaps as difficult. Not growing debt.
2. Balancing my checking account statement each month. This one process forces me to look at my finances with a fine tooth comb at least once a month. Doing so gives me great control of my finances and I highly recommend it to everyone. I don’t care if you think that “the bank knows what they are doing.” That is not the point. The point is – do you know what YOU are doing!
3. Keeping good track of our expenses and setting-aside money for various expenses that always come up. Doing No. 2 above allows me to do this step. Having money set aside means that I don’t have to worry about how I will pay the bill when an unexpected expense arises.
4. Only buying cars we can pay for in full. New cars are expensive, long story short. I have never had a car payment and I never want one.
5. To always live within the means of my husband’s paycheck. Even when I was still working and before we had kids. This meant that we did not have financial obligations that would make it impossible for me to stay home and raise our kids.

What are your best and worst financial decisions?

How are you going to pay for college? Credit: Sean MacEntee/Flickr

A 529 plan is a college savings plan with tax benefits. They have been around for 15 years, but there are still many misconceptions. I summarized these four tips from Marina Goodman, an investment strategist at Brinton Eaton in New Jersey.

1. Not realizing you can sign up for a 529 plan in any state. Just because you don’t live in Idaho doesn’t mean you can’t join that state’s 529 plan. While you can get lower state taxes for joining your home state’s plan, each state sets its own

fees and rules so joining an out-of-state plan may earn you more money in the long run.

2. Not calculating plan costs. Some 529 plans have an account maintenance fee, typically if you have a low balance or live out of state. But not all plans carry this fee. Other fees may include managing the plan and for the mutual funds in which the 529 plan invests. Whether the plan lists them separately or together, make sure you have a finger on the total cost of the plan. Some of the cheapest 529 plans charge between 0.25% and 0.35% and are offered by Iowa, Michigan, and New York.

Tip: If your kid is about to enter college or already enrolled, invest in a conservative plan (because you can’t afford to lose any money). You can do this for free in a few 529 plans, including those in Connecticut and Michigan.

3. Forgetting about gift tax consequences. Contributions to a 529 plan are considered a gift under Federal law and may be subject to additional taxes. You can give up to $13,000 per year ($26,000 for married couples) into each 529 plan (one for each designated beneficiary, i.e. your kid) without incurring the gift tax.

Tip: You can contribute up to five years’ worth of gifts at once – $65,000 in one year for each beneficiary and $130,000 if you are married. But contribute anything more to that kid over the next five years and you may be subject to the gift tax.

4. Ignoring rewards programs. Fidelity has a credit card that contributes 2% of all your purchases to one of their 529 plans. Upromise chips in a percentage of qualified purchases to a few different 529 plans, including Iowa and New York.  If you average $2,000 in monthly expenses on your credit card, that adds up to an extra $10,000 in the 529 plan by your child’s junior year in college.

Tip: A great resource that Goodman recommends for more info on 529 plans is www.savingforcollege.com.

digitizedchaos/flickr

A couple years ago, I knew NOTHING about cars. They appeared in my life (from my parents) when I needed them. This lovely, but unsustainable situation, disappeared with the passing of my folks. I had to learn about a subject that interested me as much as fantasy football.

Two years later, I am a used car buying guru. As a follow up to my post about free car repair via recalls, here are ten key websites that I have found necessary to educate myself prior to buying an “out of warranty” vehicle.

Entering the arena of “over 8 years old or 100,000 miles” is tricky. You have to know things you never even thought about, like: how much should you pay for the car, what problems do people have with this make and model, and what is the previous owner not telling me?

1. Edmunds.com. Without a doubt, this is the site I go to the most. Search for the year, make, and model of car. You well get pictures (inside and outside), prices to buy and sell, reviews, and options that come standard or add-on for that model.
2. Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com). The standard for pricing in the used car industry. I find it interesting that the prices on KBB are always much higher than the prices at Edmunds. I always print out both and take them with me. This helps me negotiate a better price.
3. Craigslist. Still the best place to look for used cars being sold by owners in your area. I would NEVER buy a car that had to be shipped.
4. Recycler. If you are in Southern California, this was THE place to find used cars prior to Craigslist. Still has a pretty good supply of cars for sale.
5. Recalls.gov. The government site that lists recalls on cars. Similar to the site where I found out I could get my car fixed for free.
6. CarMax.com. A great place to find newer used cars. It is very easy to look at lots of different cars there. I find the cars overpriced, but there is no haggling, and you can buy a warranty if you want. The cars tend to be in pretty good shape, but check each listing carefully.
7. CarParts. You can buy your replacement parts YOURSELF. You don’t HAVE to buy them marked up 200% from the dealer. Check out this site to see if you can find a replacement for your little broken gizmo.
8. AutoTrader.com. A huge online car trading site.
9. Traveling Mom. Car reviews from a mom perspective. These review look at things that aren’t normally noticed in regular reviews. Mostly new cars, but someday, that new car will be a used car.
10. How Stuff Works. If you are just starting out learning about cars. Check out these very comprehensive pages on how a car works. It is much easier to buy a car if you understand how it works.

I hope these sites help you. Good luck. May the car buying forces be with you.

brtsergio / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

CNN Money recently published an article about a company that lets you make money on your morning commute. The company offers you gigs you can accomplish via your iPhone and then get paid. How cool is that?

I take public transportation to save money on gas, and after seeing the CNN article I started thinking of ways to make money during your free time. Here are four suggestions.

1. Get a hobbie – If you love to do something, why not get paid to do it? If you’re a photographer, let your friends and family now you’ll be available to take photos at their next celebration. I recently discovered I’m good at giving cheap haircuts and have let friends know. So far, no takers.
2. Use your smarts – Tutor local students. If you are good at math, science or any language, there’s probably someone that needs the help and is willing to pay to get their child tutored. A friend of mine is an amazing graphic designer and during the summer she makes extra cash by building friends’ portfolio websites and designing their business cards. She’s doing what she loves and getting paid for it as well. How awesome is that?
3. Pet sit – If you love animals as much as I do, but you can’t afford to have them, how about sitting while the owners are away? Need some motivation to get out and hit the pavement, start walking your neighbors’ dog – for a fee, of course. If pet sitting is not your thing, baby sit.
4. Start your own lemonade stand – Go back to the days when you where a little kid and you may either have sold or bought lemonade from the stand in your neighborhood. Put those practices in use and sell what you are good at baking or cooking. I wouldn’t suggest an actual stand in the street unless you can get a food license from your city. My aunt is a good baker and she uses her skills to cater celebrations to make a few more bucks on the side.

What other suggestions do you have to make money at home while avoiding scams and doing what you love?

Got money on the brain?

Credit: neon_neon/Flickr

Financial psychologist – that’s what Brad Klontz is. I chatted with him recently about why kids should fail financially, how our money problems stem from unconscious beliefs, and the money disorder test that can save us.

What is a financial psychologist? I’m trained as a clinical psychologist and in the last 10 years I’ve developed an expertise in personal finance. I created a treatment program for money disorders.

What is the most common money disorder? This will come as no surprise, but it’s overspending. We have a negative savings rate, credit card debt, and we’re modeling all these behaviors for our children.

So we’re teaching our kids bad habits? Yes. They watch what we do and model it. When kids see parents head down to the store, swipe plastic, and bring home a TV, what do they learn? One thing that I encourage parents to do is to break down the skills of money management. Even if you can afford to buy that TV, put a jar in the living room, put money in it. Talk to your kids about saving for it. 80% of college students have credit cards now. On average they have about $3,000 in revolving debt. Half of college students have four or more credit cards. (My emphasis.) We require kids to take a drivers ed class before they get behind the wheel, but there is no class to get a credit card.

What are three money lessons kids need that they are not learning in school?

We have to teach them self control. We have to talk about money with our kids. We need to model savings. The best way to involve kids in modeling is to use allowance purposely. Most parents give their kids allowance and then complain that it’s gone right away. Kids are impulsive. They want to feel now. Have structure around allowance. You can start this with a four year old. Have them save a dollar, have them spend a dollar, have them give a dollar away.

What’s the biggest complaint you get from parents? My teenager ran up a $1,500 cell phone bill! Get them on a prepaid card. There is a certain number of minutes and then it’s gone. The first month inevitably the minutes are gone in a week. You say, “Wow, you really burned through your minutes. You get 1,000 more minutes next month. Maybe there are ways you can stretch them out.” You can’t bail them out because you’re teaching them that if they are in trouble someone else will swoop in. You have to let them feel some of that pain. Help them fail.

Why would a parent want their child to fail? Because that is a really strong learning experience. Let them fail when the stakes are small. When it’s not repossession of a car or something big like that. Help them see the consequences of not delaying gratification.

You’ve won awards for your work money and wealth issues. Can you make me rich? Oh yeah, sure. Absolutely. Just start saving when you’re five. It’s interesting because if we all had a financial education when we were 18, there’s no excuse for all of us not to have a million dollars when we retire. It’s actually very simple. Save for the future. Don’t spend more than you make.

So are we all just really stupid? I think that we have not been educated. I remember economics form high school, but there was no applied economics, balancing checkbooks and managing money. The other thing is when we are engaged in destructive financial behaviors, which is always the result of money scripts.

What is a money script? A money script is a belief about money, typically unconscious, that drives all our financial behaviors.

Sounds powerful. They have a powerful negative impact. They are typically taught from our parents and they can go through generations. For example, my grandfather watched his family lose all their money in the Great Depression. Watching this he learns you can’t trust financial institutions. My grandfather died at 92 never having put a penny in the bank. He kept all his money in a box in the attic.

And he passed it down. My mother had an intense fear around money and not having enough. She wouldn’t invest in the stock market.

What are the other money scripts? Another is money avoidance: the belief that centers around anti-rich statements. Rich people are greedy. People get rich by taking advantage of others. Money corrupts people. I do not deserve to have a lot of money if others have less than me. You’ve associated having money with being bad so you subconsciously repel money. Or if money comes into your life you spend it or sabotage it in some way. You might be comfortable at a certain socioeconomic level. So you get rid of the money somehow.

The second pattern is money worship, what my family had. Things would get better if I had more money. Money is power. Money will solve all my problems. You either become a hoarder where you save religiously, or you spend money as soon as you get it. I’m never going to have money anyway, so get what you can when you can get it.

The third one is money status. Your self worth equals your net worth. People are only as successful as the money they earn. If you are good, your financial needs are taken care of. If you really believe that money is going to give you all these things, you take unreasonable risks in your business ventures or become a workaholic. You’re likely to overspend because it has to be new. You want everyone to see you in that car because it raises your status.

So if we could just uncover our personal money script? There are some questions you can ask yourself. I created a money disorder test. The assessment code to take it is mindovermoney.

Post-interview: I took Dr. Klontz’s 4-minute test and was told I had two issues:

• Your response style suggests that you are at-risk of developing a problem with workaholism.

• Your response style suggests that you exhibit one or more symptoms of financial infidelity.

I can certainly relate to the money avoidance script. I save intensely, but then am distrustful of financial institutions so I may be losing money by not properly investing it. What did your test say? Do you think it’s true?

niallkennedy / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Spending money is subjective. What I think is a waste of money may be prized by someone else as a necessity or an investment. Here’s what I save and splurge on.

What I save on:

• Cable TV – I’ve never had Cable TV. I see no point in paying for TV when there are free channels. When I have time, I watch my favorite shows on Hulu. You too can stop spending money on cable TV. (easily saves $40 per month, or $480 per year)
• Newspaper and magazine subscriptions – I seldom subscribe to newspapers or magazines unless I find a really good deal. I can always catch up on the news online or head to the library to read magazines, though I am considering paying for an online New York Times subscription. (saves $12 per month, $144 per year)
• Transportation – I live in L.A. and don’t drive.
  I use public transportation. It would cost so much more to buy a car, pay for insurance, and budget for repairs and gas. I  save money on public transportation by taking advantage of student discounts. (easily saves $200 per month, $2,400 a year)
• Entertainment – This category gets many people into trouble, but I’m always on the lookout for free events. I have to admit that I am a workaholic, but I don’t deprive myself. Luckily, I live in an area where I can easily head to the beach, museums, and parks to get away for free. (saves $50 per month, $600 per year)

What I splurge on:

• iPhone -  I bought the first generation iPhone when it went on sale for $99. This summer I plan to upgrade to the iPhone 4. I couldn’t live without it because I can do everything from work to play. (costs $1,500 per year)
• High speed Internet – I pay about $40 a month to surf the web. Up until two years ago, I used the free dial-up connection that made the dialing noise, but upgraded for work purposes. (costs $480 per year)
• Cosmetics – I tend not to wear a lot of makeup, but I’m very picky about moisturizer, sunscreen, and anything that touches my face so I take advantage of free makeup samples. I am known to drop a pretty penny to purchase cosmetics without harsh chemicals. (costs $200 per year)
• Organic food – I only shell out money to buy organic items that are on the dirty dozen list and make sure I shop around for the best deals. I also splurge on organic milk. (costs $30 per week, $360 per year)

My savings add up to $3,624 while my splurges are only $2,540. My biggest expense is my cell phone bill. I don’t feel as guilty about this expense as I use it mostly for work and I’m making changes to my plan to lower the monthly cost when I upgrade.

Are you spending or saving on similar items as I am? Find out what Bargain Babe can and can’t live without.

A screenshot of a comparison between Mint and CommonSense from FindTheBest.com

This post is sponsored by Cash Advances US providing fast payday cash advance online.

Do high-priced financial software programs manage your money better than free ones? A new site called FindTheBest.com says no. FindTheBest compiled reviews of 146 financial management programs and created a comparison that is useful and easy to digest.

A chart like the one above lists basic info about each program like its name, features, and how many stars it received. Click on a few programs that interest you and compare them in detail. The detailed comparison page has color coding to make the information easy to absorb. Each program’s star rating is an average of the reviews it received on CNET, CBS MoneyWatch.com, and PC Magazine.

FindTheBest is an aggregation site that also ranks topics as diverse as colleges, ski resorts, and dog breeds. My email exchange with Brandon Coakley, the site’s business development manager, is revealing:

Me: How does FindTheBest make money?

Him: We have investors, but are not taking in revenue yet. We are strictly focused on building a great service that can be trusted. Ultimately, we want to be peoples go to resource for comparing their options on products, services and the big decisions of life (college, work, etc).

Me: Does site make money through referrals?

Him: No we do not. We will make money from ads in the future, hopefully, but as of now we are not worried about revenue. We are strictly focused on finding the best products and services based on the data that matters for our users.

Consider it a major bonus is that FindTheBest does not receive kickbacks for recommending one software program over another. A rarity among software and credit card comparison sites.

As for free versus high-priced money management software, the No. 1 spot for financial management programs on FindTheBest is currently being held by the free site Mint.com.

FindTheBest is based in Santa Barbara and was founded in Aug. 2010 by Kevin O’Connor, the founder of DoubleClick. Hope you find this site useful in managing your money.

A little graduate. Banana Custard / Flickr

This financial planning post is brought to you by Towry, the UK’s leading investment management and wealth management firm. Towry offers independent financial advice, pension advice, SIPP and retirement planning.

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Graduation season is in the air. If you’ve already received graduation announcements, it’s time to start thinking of the perfect gift. Here are four helpful gift ideas to set grads on the right financial track.

1. Retirement accounts – Students seldom think of retirement because they are busy being young. This gift not only includes a chat with you or a financial adviser about retirement, but a cash gift, which we all like. Sit down with your graduate and help them start planning for the future. By starting early, the power of compounding interest and time will allow your graduate to build wealth. If they are working for a company that provides employee retirement plans like a 401k, encourage them to take advantage of it. Before they do, make sure to read Bargain Babe’s post on how to determine if your 401k plan sucks. If your graduate will be self-employed, a talk about how to open an IRA is a must. Keep in mind that whatever amount you are willing to gift your graduate is up to you and know that it will be welcomed and appreciated.

2. Start an emergency fund – Helping your graduate set up an emergency fund will keep them from falling into debt when unexpected expenditures come into his or her life. After graduation, your graduate will have loan payments to make and will probably not think of setting aside money when they have debt to pay off. By opening a high interest yielding account and gifting them the money to start it, you are setting your graduate for financial success.

3. Books on finances – Voracious readers will appreciate a book that will help them understand the transition they are embarking into adulthood and all its financial responsibilities. Make sure the book is written for the younger crowd. After spending endless hours in the library reading textbooks for classes, graduates do not want to spend time reading dry, boring material. If you need some suggestions, check out our personal finance book reviews.

4. Job search help – Unemployment is a reality many are facing. Lend your graduate a hand by helping them prepare for job interviews. It can be as easy as proof reading their resume, asking them standard interview questions, getting them a new suit, or passing on a contact. For many jobs, it’s not what you know but who you know that lands you an interview. Scroll through your Rolodex and help your graduate network his or her way to a new job.

What else would you gift a recent grad to get them off to a good financial start?

wrestlingentropy/flickr

My son has officially become an adult. I know because he gets credit card applications almost every day. I’m amazed at what banks are offering a teen who does not have a job or any way to pay off the debt he might incur. Juxtapose this against the tremendous scrutiny that my credit report underwent recently when I applied to get a mortgage and you can see that something is amiss. Why is my penniless son being lured into debt while the banking industry is making great credit-scored working adults pay huge fees to get a fully collateralized mortgage? Sorry, I don’t have the answer to this question, but if anyone else does, be sure to enter a comment so that I find out the answer.

What I DO have the answer to, is how to save a lot of money by being on time with your bills and keeping on top of paperwork.

As I stated, my son has been getting frequent credit card offers. I don’t shred them. I read the fine print with my kids as a way of educating them to the perils of over-extending your credit. THEN, I shred them.

Instead of going into the fine print of your credit card contract, I will state firmly that if you are a person who wants to keep out of debt, sit down with a dictionary, a magnifying glass, and something to calm your nerves as you make your way through the maze of fees and penalties that can befall you if you miss a credit card payment. Although the contract does not state that the bank will send someone to break your knees with a tire iron, they will produce a similar result by raising your interest rate to a sky high amount AND possibly informing your other credit card companies that they should do the same as well.

Granted, the reforms of the Credit Card Act of 2009 have caused the credit card companies to make their type faces bigger, their words more comprehensible and their fees less hidden. However, the truth of the matter is that if you fail to pay a bill on time, you will pay more than necessary. Sometimes you will pay LOTS more.

People usually pay their bills late for only two reasons:

1. They don’t have the money.
2. They forgot or didn’t know the bill was due.

No. 1 can often be avoided by only using your credit card to purchase things that you already have saved money for. When the bill comes, you have the cash. Of course, there are other reasons that people don’t have money to pay their bills, such as losing their jobs or an unexpected emergency. An emergency fund is one way to safeguard against this.

No. 2 is easily remedied. Set aside time once a week to work on your finances. I don’t want to sound too simplistic here, but if you make at least 30 minutes each week to balance your checkbook, pay your bills, go over your budget, and plan out your financial actions for the week, you will avoid most penalties and fees associated with lateness or being overdrawn. I’ve been doing this for decades and I attest that it works.

Laughing Squid / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

This spring don’t just focus on having a squeaky clean home. Like your closets, your finances also need an overhaul and these six steps will help you keep your financial life in order. Keep this check list handy and check off items as you go.

1. Organize paperwork – Clean up your finances by trashing old ATM receipts, paycheck stubs and bank statements.  Make sure to shred these documents to avoid identity theft. Signing up for paperless billing reduces clutter so check with your bank or credit card company to see if they offer this as a free option. File other documents in a safe place. For really important documents that you must keep forever like birth certificates and wills, invest in a water and fireproof safe.

2. Check your credit report – Make sure everything in your credit report is accurate by downloading the free credit report you are entitled to receive every 12 months.  You can ask for a free copy at AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the only authorized source able to provide you with a free credit report. You can access your credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. If you find a mistake, report it.

3. Get the most from your bank – Compare the interest rate on your bank accounts with other bank offers. Even if you find an account that yields a slightly higher interest, consider switching as it can add up.

4. Reassess your retirement plan – If you are not participating in an employer-sponsored retirement program because your employer doesn’t offer this benefit or you are self-employed, open an IRA and start contributing to it today.

5. Protect what’s yours – Make sure your insurance is up-to-date and accurate. File it away in a safe place that is easily accessible in case of an emergency. While, you are add it, go thorough all your bank and investment accounts and review your beneficiaries. Make sure proper beneficiaries listed and if not make changes.

6. Update your budget – If you’ve been putting of reconciling your budget, now is the time to do it. Find out where your money is going and steer it in the direction you want it to go. This may mean sitting down with your financial adviser. Don’t have a financial adviser? Try a financial managing tool instead.

What are you doing to keep your finances in tip top shape?