How about a free haircut? I actually got an invitation in the mail with my name on it from Fantastic Sams in Point Loma with no strings attached, so in I went. A nice surprise and something I needed, this offer was to welcome me to the area and of course for a possible re-occurring business opportunity. It worked.
Companies like Fantastic Sams and others are seeking the competitive edge in to lock in a consumer’s loyalty and offer an opportunity for people to experience their products and services. There’re deals to be had everywhere; one must pay only attention to their weekly mailers and advertised specials. Five minutes scanning the latest values will afford you extra dollars to spend on other stuff. Get the most from your hard earned dollars.
Some people believe everything costs money and that if it doesn’t cost you money, it will cost you something in the long run somehow. Even a free lunch these days, is had with the purchase of 2 drinks in addition to buying one for equal or lesser value to get it.
But this isn’t about how to get a free lunch, though let me tell you, they DO exist! This is about the underlying reality that any chance to save money and expand resources is a major tool in successful cash management.
Getting all your bills in on time should be first on your list; then savings; however for most students the ability to save seems impossible. So, I want to tell you about a way to save that takes the burden off you. Get a savings account if you don’t already have one. Good job if you have been!
The benefits of having the bank manage your money by taking it from you, is the solution for anybody’s inability to set it aside automatically. You can use it for over draft protection if you need it at a cheaper cost than using a banks credit card, which is a benefit that saves an extra ten to twenty dollars a pop!
I signed up to have twenty-five dollars automatically deducted out of my paycheck bi-monthly a couple days after it posts, at no cost to me. That way, I pay myself first, just like financial wizard Suzi Orman always says to do. I could save six hundred dollars a year by just saving that little amount. That’s three thousand in five years! Not bad for anybody who can’t seem to save for a rainy day and if I can afford to save more, I will.
My own urge to save came after my car insurance bill came; I got two parking tickets, had to smog and register my car for the year, plus, get my front brakes done! I had no savings set aside. Now I have fifty bucks and growing.
So, get on the right track. Tucking away for that rainy day is imperative. Unexpected bills can really add up and mess up other bills, don’t get stuck not planning for that unforeseen expense, it will come! Prepare and plan.
As always, the Fru-Gal wishes you peace and due diligence in your own expenses and spending habits. Know that competing markets want your dollars. Spend wisely and ask yourself if you’re getting the most from it?
