Not Made Of Money

No, this isn’t a Capital One commercial. Seriously, what is in your wallet? Some people carry nothing but cash in their wallet. Others carry just about every type of identification or financial information they have in their wallet.

In a perfect world, the things you actually should carry in wallet lie somewhere in between these two stereotypes. There are definitely items that you should have with you at all times. But you also don’t need to have everything with you. In the event that your wallet is lost or stolen, minimizing the things in your wallet will help you contain the damage you will face.

Things you should carry in your wallet include:

Your Drivers License – It’s important to have valid identification with you at all times.

Your Auto Insurance Card – If you’re driving, you’ll be required to be have proof of insurance with you.

Cash – Although you don’t want to carry too much cash, it is nice to have a minimal amount with you.

One Debit or Credit Card – Carrying multiple credit cards with you is like an invitation to identity thieves to have a field day with your wallet. However, if your car breaks down, you’ll be glad to have a way to pay for a tow to your mechanic’s shop. Remember this card is for emergencies, not indulgences.

Medical Emergency Information – Allergies and medical conditions you have could be very important information if you become ill or are in an accident. Having that information with you could save emergency workers valuable time.

Things you should NOT carry in your wallet include:

Your Social Security Card – Never carry your social security card with you as a routine. If you need to provide it to an employer or to show it at a Social Security office, carry it with your for that particular day. Once you get home again, make sure you pull it back out of your wallet and put it safely away.

Tons of Credit Cards – Don’t stuff your wallet full with credit cards. You might be tempted to have them all with you just in case you need them. You’re much more likely to use your credit cards if you have them with you when you feel the shopping urge.

Your Birth Certificate – Like your social security card, your birth certificate should only be taken out of your home when there is a specific need. Very rarely will you need to present it to anyone.

Contact Information Cards – When you buy a new wallet, the wallet often includes one of those blank cards for you to write all of your vital information on. The premise is that if you lose your wallet someone will see the card and call you. Unfortunately, the other possibility is that some one will find the wallet, your credit card, and your private information.

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The sky-rocketing prices of gas are a problem across the nation. Whether you drive a big SUV or a small economy car, you’ve probably been trying to come up with some ways to control what you’re spending on gas. You can’t, however, always control the distances that you have to travel each day.

While you can’t quit driving to work and school, you can do a few things to help improve your gas mileage or save on your gas purchases. By making these types of changes in your driving and spending habits you can whittle your fuel expenses down to a, hopefully, more manageable portion of your budget.

The first, and possibly easiest, thing you can do to improve your gas mileage and stretch your gas purchases a little further, is to get rid of all of the extra stuff in your car. Children’s toys and sports gear are notorious for making their way to your car and staying there. Reducing excess weight in your car will improve your car’s performance and efficiency. Be sure to look in your trunk or cargo space for extra items that can be removed.

Keeping your car in good running shape is also important to improving your fuel efficiency. Maintaining your car requires that you make sure your car has regular oil changes and tune ups. You should also make sure that your tires are inflated to the right tire pressure. If you’re not sure what the recommended maintenances requirements are for your car, you can check out your owner’s manual.

Finally, saving on gas costs can be as simple as scheduling your errands to coincide with other times you have to be on the rode. Commuters should plan to do as much of their shopping while they’re in town as possible. Weekend errands should be grouped together to minimize the miles you’ll be putting on your car. It stands to reason that if you simply drive fewer miles, you’ll spend less money on gas.

Making small changes in the way you drive and maintain your car can add up to significant changes in your car’s fuel efficiency. Over time these changes will lead to a decrease in your family’s gas expenses and an improvement in your financial situation.

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Graduating from high school or college are monumental occasions that should be celebrated by family and friends. If you have a loved one who is about to reach one of these milestone moments, you are absolutely right to want to commemorate the occasion with a special gift. Aside from wedding gifts, graduation presents are the types of things that young adults will remember forever.

Choosing a special graduation gift may tempt you to spend more than you normally allot for family gifts. Who wants to be the one family member who gave a cheap gift? Budgetary concerns don’t have to be an issue, however, if you take the time to choose a gift that will carry meaning for you and the graduate.

Family Heirlooms – If you’ve been saving a special family piece for an appropriate occasion, graduation just might be the right one. Examples might be a pair of earrings or a tie tack. Graduation gifts often mark the rite of passage that the graduate has just experienced by giving them a gift that shows that you recognize their personal maturity.

Household Tool Box – Since graduates are often about to set up house in their first apartments, they are certain to appreciate the thought of this gift. Think back to your first apartment and the tools that you wished you had. This tool box should include a hammer, an adjustable wrench, a couple of screwdrivers, a tape measure, and a level. Choose a container for your gift that suits the graduate. A guy might appreciate a sturdy, steel toolbox. A young lady might prefer a bright-colored plastic box.

A Gift that Reflects the Graduates Tastes – Gifts that show you know what types of things interest the graduate are always great gifts. If your graduate just got his degree in journalism, he might appreciate a copy of a famous journalist’s biography. The artist in your family will love tickets to an upcoming art exhibit. Think about the types of things the graduate talked about last time you saw him and try to correspond your gift with that topic.

Ultimately, finding an appropriate graduation gift just requires that you spend more time than money. Think about your graduate’s likes, his future plans, and your family traditions and you’re sure to find the perfect gift.

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Have you been hit with the urge to do a little spring cleaning around your house? Would you like to earn some extra cash? If you said, “yes,” to these suggestions, a garage sale is the project for you. In one day you’ll be able to rid your house of all the things you no longer want or need and earn enough money to buy something you do want or need.

You’ve probably driven by plenty of garage sales before. You may have noticed that some are teeming with crowds and activity. Other garage sales, however, look rather sad and dilapidated. How did the successful garage sale hosts manage to do so much better than their counterparts? Following tips like these is a great start.

Advertise your garage sale. Take out an ad in your local paper advertising your sale. You can even mention reasons that your garage sale is worthy of making their list of sale destinations. If you’re selling an old set of living room furniture, say so in your ad. If you have tons of children’s items, tell potential customers about that. Buyers at garage sales can be motivated by lots of different kinds of merchandise; you just need to get the word out about your sale to the buyers who will like the stuff you are selling.

Put up lots of signage in your neighborhood. You don’t want potential buyers to have to work to find your sale. Put signs around the neighborhood that show buyers where you’re located. Mention the major items you’re selling again, too.

Place in-demand items where they can be seen from the road. Veteran garage sale buyers often make a list of the places they want to check out before they venture out for a day of bargain-hunting. If they don’t see anything interesting when they drive past your house, they may deem your sale unworthy and continue to the next house on their list. Furniture, appliances, and nursery equipment are always popular items at garage sales.

Sell refreshments at your garage sale. You don’t have to get carried away with anything extravagant. Stock up on some types of drinks that your family likes and ice them down in a cooler. You can sell these to add to your garage sale proceeds and keep the leftovers for your family to drink. Likewise, you might consider purchasing small packages of chips or trail mix to add to your refreshment offering.

Arrange your sale items neatly and attractively. You know you don’t like to shop in a messy store; your garage sale customers don’t want to pick through all of your items, either. Place similar items together. Place books and cd’s in a position so the titles can be viewed. Hang clothes up on cheap hangers.

Although garage sales are wonderful sources of extra cash, running a successful garage sale requires some hard work. Commit right now to doing the things that will make your garage sale stand out from the neighbor’s. You’ll reap the rewards of your hard work when you’re counting your proceeds at the end of the day.

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It’s no secret that coupons can help you save money; the problem usually lies in finding these coupons. Sometimes you get lucky and come across a great coupon, but luck doesn’t lead to consistent savings. Here are a few tips to help you find coupons that will help you save money on things you really wanted to buy.

Your Sunday newspaper is still a viable source for coupons. Although you may not find a lot of coupons with large discounts in the paper, no other source can beat the newspaper for sheer volume of discounts. You can increase the buying power of your newspaper coupons by finding a grocery store that has a double coupon day each week.

Many companies now make their coupons available in the grocery store. How’s that for convenience? While you’re doing your grocery shopping, pay special attention to those little plastic coupon dispensers. Make sure that you pick up coupons related to any of the products that you regularly purchase. You might even be able to save the coupon until the product is on sale for additional savings.

Companies will do just about anything to get their customer’s demographic information. If there is a product that you particularly enjoy, or one that is particularly expensive, visit that company’s web page. Often, if you register your email address on their site, the company will send you special coupons or other offers.

To encourage consumers to make repeat purchases, manufacturers will sometimes place coupons on the product’s packaging. Look on the underside of labels for coupons that you can take with you on your next trip to the grocery store. Since the coupon was on a product you already purchased, you’ll already know if your family likes the product.

For useful coupons that are suited to your own locality, don’t forget to check out the annual “Entertainment Book.” These books are usually sold as fundraisers for schools, churches, or other groups. You can find coupons for everything from restaurants, retailers, and attractions in Entertainment Book.

Once you get used to looking for coupons, you’ll really start to see them everywhere. Don’t be surprised when you start expecting to see them on the backs on your grocery store receipts and behind the index of your phone book. Before long, you’ll become an expert at finding everything you need at a discounted price.

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