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I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
The Senate defeated a measure that would delay the reduction of debit card swipe fees. So how much money will banks charge retailers starting next month and how will it affect you? (The Consumerist)
Dentist visits can be costly. Shopping for discounted dental care is a must to save money. (The New York Times)
Target’s new coupon policy clarifies the BOGO free policy and states the retailer is no longer accepting internet coupons for free items with no purchase requirements. Is this going to affect your shopping at Target? (Target)
Still looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift? Here’s how to find Father’s Day freebies. (MainStreet)
Headed on a road trip this summer? Follow these five money-saving tips to get you to your destination. (WiseBread)
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Car insurance makes us groan every time we think about it. Nobody looks forward to that letter that reminds us our policy is due for renewal, but fortunately there are a few easy things we can do to get the best possible deals on our car insurance.
Shop around
Many people miss out on the best car insurance deals by simply staying with their usual insurer. Use an insurance price comparison site like moneysupermarket.com to directly compare your insurer’s quote with the available other quotes on the market, and don’t be afraid to change your insurer!
Buy online
Many insurers only offer their best deals online, so get yourself connected and surf away for the lowest priced policies. If you can afford to pay for the whole policy up front, you could save some money on the interest that often applies to insurance by monthly payments.
Cut out the extras
If you feel you would be able to cope without your car for a short time, choose not to pay for a courtesy car as part of your insurance policy. Optional extras like courtesy cars and legal expenses are often unnecessary and only serve to drive up the price of your cover.
Pay as much excess as you can
The more voluntary excess you offer to pay in the event of an accident, the lower your insurance policy price will be. If you can afford to increase your excess, it could save you money as long as you drive safely and avoid accident.
Measure your mileage
One of the factors used to calculate insurance policy prices is your annual mileage. To avoid paying over the odds, make sure you don’t overestimate the number of miles you’re traveling each year. Equally, don’t underestimate your mileage either, as this would be considered an act of insurance fraud if you were caught doing so.
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Running a household is difficult enough without having to worry about burglars breaking into your home. For peace of mind, many of us choose home insurance for protection. Here are a few handy hints that can help you keep the cost of insuring your home as low as possible:
Compare and contrast
In the digital age, it’s simple to research home insurance companies and find the best one for you. Log onto a price comparison website like moneysupermarket for a wide range of home insurance quotes based on your precise circumstances, allowing you to pick the one that’s right for you. If that just so happens to be the cheapest policy, then so be it!
Keep it locked
Burglars love to prey on unlocked doors and windows, so make sure that yours are kept locked whenever you are not at home – even if it’s just for a few minutes. Five-lever mortise locks are recommended for your doors and if you don’t have double-glazed windows, these are also a good security investment, as your insurance company will lower your premium.
Stub it out
Smokers pay more for their home contents insurance, due to the increased risk of fires being started in their homes. Let lower home contents insurance be your incentive to quit!
Hide your keys
A common tactic employed by burglars is to locate a person’s front door keys to gain full access to the house. Never leave your keys within reach of a window or door, as burglars are adept at finding innovative ways of reaching into your home to grab them.
Up your excess
By increasing the amount of excess you agree to pay in the event of a claim, you can get lower premiums. Also, make sure you never make a claim on your policy unless you absolutely need to – claiming unnecessarily could jeopardise any no-claims discount you might be entitled to.
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This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
As a student there is no way I can afford driving without breaking my piggy bank. Even when you have a job, driving is pretty expensive. Gas, insurance, maintenance, and repairs are a couple hundred dollars each month.
I have always used public transportation and have found it to be less expensive. As a bonus, many universities have programs to help students pay for public transportation, like bus passes.
The University of Colorado has a student bus pass program that offers enrolled students a free pass sticker through its environmental center. While Seattle University students can get a discount of 55% off the full price of their buss pass if they meet the requirements.
Although there are some drawbacks to taking the bus – like having to wake up extra early – one of the benefits is the low cost. A monthly bus pass in Los Angeles is $62. Then I applied for a student bus card with my local transportation authority. The student bus pass is $36, almost half the original price. A couple months ago, the university I attend began a student transit subsidy program allowing students to purchase their bus passes for $15 – that’s a savings of $47 a month!
I’m not lucky. I did my homework. My school is not the only one. Many universities have similar programs to help students pay for their bus passes. A call to the student affairs office could pay off. If that office can’t help you, ask them who would manage transportation programs.
The discounts are not limited to students. Senior citizens and disabled riders may also qualify for discounts through their local transportation authority. Give them a call to find out.
If you use public transportation to get to work, inquire in the human resources office for discounts. Many companies are now helping their employees by paying part of their bus pass fee or covering it completely under employee benefits.
Related posts:
Free defensive driving lesson for teens
A recent story from CNNMoney has some great tips on how to reduce a number of household expenses, starting with your cell phone and credit card bill.
Compare your rates to other plans on BillShrink.com, which asks you a few questions about how many minutes you use, if you text and if you have a data plan. Then it spits out a list of similar plans, calculates the yearly savings and shows the signal strength at your home and work zip code. It found a slightly cheaper plan for me, but it does not include texts or data so I think what I have is actually cheaper.
For reduced medical care, the CNN story suggests checking out free Federal medical clinics for basics like immunizations, checkups, dental care and medicine. The Association of Medical Colleges might also be able to help if you are uninsured.
The article’s tips for cutting your car insurance tab were old hat – keep your credit score high because that’s what your rate is based on, ask for discounts based on your profession, and raise your deductible (if you have the savings to cover the difference!).
