How To Increase Your Savings

The road to financial freedom is a lot shorter than you may think. For those of us who did not start our lives wealthy because of our family, we only have 46 to 49 years of income producing – more if you want to work into your “retirement” years.

During that time, we must complete our education or training, get a job or open a business, while meeting the many demands on what income we have left after
taxes.

We have to provide for food and shelter, clothes and transportation, child rearing expenses, college tuition, vacations, Christmas presents, insurance premiums and more. The list never seems to end.

How is it that some people can retire at age 50 in spite of all this while others will never retire at all. If you read the article, Get Rich Slowly – http://www.credit-yourself.com/get-rich.html – you can see how you can use the power of compound growth to amass millions if you start young. However, this is the period in
most people’s lives where the greatest demands seem to be made on their income.

First of all, you’re just starting out and are nowhere near your peak earning power. You might have just married and need a home and furnishings.

You might have to buy your first suits or business dresses for your new job. And you want to enjoy life, so you vacation, buy or lease new cars frequently and just basically run up debt, many times to be piled on top of your existing student loans.

But some people manage.

First they live within their means and save as much as possible.

They take advantage of all the tax shelters the government allows and if possible, save even more.

They invest in or start a part time business, rental properties or learn to increase their returns by smart investing.

They insure against potential risks that could ruin them financially.

They use debt wisely. They don’t necessarily shun debt, but use it as a tool to grow wealth. For example, they can leverage one 20% down payment into a string of
houses using mortgages. They can use margin debt to double the amount of their investment funds.

They can take advantage of tax credits, government guaranteed loans or grants offered to small businessmen or to certain minorities to fund multiple streams of income.

But they don’t use debt to fill the house with things. They pay cash for their new TV’s and stereos.

They take taxes into account when planning their lifestyle and investments and use all the tricks the IRS lets them get away with.

For a little over $3.00 a day, starting at age 22, you can amass over $850,000 in an IRA.

The difference between the financially independent and most of the rest of us is that they can find that $100 a month and don’t consider it some kind of sacrifice to invest it rather than spend it.

Most people will complain they have no money left over and that they live from paycheck to paycheck. But in almost all cases this is a lifestyle choice.

There are many stories of very low income people managing to put multiple children not only through college, but also graduate school or leaving millions to a favorite
charity.

These people are special in the sense that they had a goal and stuck to it no matter what. They worked hard, saved their money and achieved what they wanted to achieve.

Everyone can do this. You just have to ignore the siren song of commercialism, and decide whether a secure future for yourself, a college education for your children or a large bequest to your favorite charity is worth skipping the daily double latte at Starbucks.

That about all it takes to get you well down
the road to financial freedom.

The road to financial freedom is literally paved with gold, yours for the taking.

According to a survey conducted by the New York-based College Board, college tuition costs are rising faster than the pace of inflation. Between 1993 and 2003, for example, the average cost of tuition and fees for four years rose 47 percent at public colleges and 42 percent at private institutions.

Thus, parents should start saving for college as soon as possible, says Stuart Ritter, a certified financial planner at T. Rowe Price, the Baltimore-based investment management and mutual fund firm. One way to do so, he says, is by taking advantage of state-sponsored 529 college savings plans.

These plans are becoming popular as a way to save for college because they provide some of the best tax benefits available, including an exemption from federal income tax on withdrawals made for qualified education expenses, and have high contribution limits to help save for college.

As a result, a 529 plan can potentially provide more money to spend on education than other investment products such as taxable accounts and Uniform Gift to Minor Acts (UGMA) accounts, an alternative way to contribute assets to a minor for investment purposes, says Ritter. An individual or a family can usually contribute more than $200,000 total in a 529 plan.

Currently, all states offer some type of 529 plan, with about half offering incentives to in-state residents. So while it may be practical for some parents to turn to their home states first when considering a plan, families are not limited to their own states’ plans. "It could pay to comparison shop," Ritter says, adding that in addition to looking at potential state tax benefits for their contributions, parents should also evaluate the fees, expenses and investment options.

Another tool, the College Savings Comparison Calculator, compares saving for college in a 529 plan with doing so in a UGMA account.

One caveat is that due to provisions in the tax laws, the federal tax exemption for qualified educational expenses expires in 2010 unless extended by Congress. After that time, earnings would be considered income for the beneficiary – usually still beneficial since most 18-year-olds are in a low tax bracket. Also, earnings on a distribution not used for qualified expenses may be subject to income taxes and a 10 percent federal penalty.

Sorting through the array of 529 plans can be overwhelming, but experts say it is important for parents who are hoping to get the maximum return for their savings.

It is general knowledge that residents of the United Kingdom are typically not savers. They tend to spend much more than they save; according to studies, saving money is not as popular as it once was. Saving is extremely important to the quality of life you expect to live in the future. Think about it, what would happen if your car suddenly quit working? What would you do if the heater or refrigerator within your home just decided to give up one day? Imagine a situation where an emergency occurred and you had to travel immediately for some reason, what would you do?

Saving your money within an account can be an excellent source of immediate funds for an unexpected emergency. It makes a great deal of sense to simply put away money into an interest bearing account for these types of events, instead of having to take out a loan or bill a credit card for them. If you do either of these things will result in more debt and higher interest payments. Many experts believe that you need to set your priorities in the right direction and you should attempt to, over time, save an equal to your salary over a three month period.

Many people may find this a lot of money to put back when bills need to be paid, that is fine, consider saving as much as you possibly can without setting yourself into a deeper hole. If you simply saved

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What business & personal finance advice do you wish had been taught to you when you were at school? Isn’t the purpose of education to prepare children for the real world?

I believe that all children should learn basic business & personal finance skills from the age of twelve to sixteen years. Why not teach children how mortgages and pensions work. Everybody needs a place to live and if they have a long life they will need to retire one day.

Schools should teach their students how to manage credit card debts. They should be taught how credit card companies make their money by charging extortionate amounts of interest far higher than a personal loan to people that pay late.

Students should learn how to negotiate and barter. After all they are going to be doing this every day for the rest of their lives. What about learning the difference between mark up and profit margin?

Learning how to handle money would be the best compulsory course at school. If you add a class like "Business & Personal Finance" and make it standard for all children then what subject would you remove or do less off?

I had a period a day of Latin. This has been pretty much useless in my life. Has anybody benefited from learning Latin? I read about the Greek gods, translated old books and I have to admit that after doing it for over 4 years, I only remember a handful of phrases now.

How many of you remember sweating over stuff like Algebra and Trigonometry? Has this been useful to you in life? Surely this does not need to be taught in such detail to every child & only needs to be taught to budding scientists and mathematicians?

I had art classes. Where they really necessary? I was also taught how to knit and dance? What was the point of that? What about religious education? Shouldn’t this type of stuff be taught in Sunday school? Should this subject really be taught in school at all?

I am not advocating that we remove these subjects completely. As you can see it would be really easy to teach slightly less of some other subjects to make space for one period a day of Business & Personal Finance for all older children.

Would this benefit the UK economy? I am sure it would. Imagine students leaving school having basic understanding of fixed and variable interest rate mortgages. They would have learnt how to manage their bank account and check their bank statements. Wouldn’t it be great if they knew how to calculate gross / nett profit margins and compare one investment with another?

Many people will make the argument that this information should be taught by parents and not by school teachers. The problem is that many parents themselves do not understand basic concepts of personal finance! Some view their own personal finances as a private matter that should not even be discussed in front of the children.

What subjects do you think they should teach more of and which subjects should they teach less of to make room?

Good news: Consumers can save nearly $3 billion a year just by using coupons when shopping. According to the Promotion Marketing Association Coupon Council, spending just 20 minutes per week clipping coupons can save you up to $1,000 per year. It’s easy. Over 85 percent of all coupons issued in the U.S. are found in Sunday papers. And it’s popular. Seventy-six percent of Americans are already coupon users.

The following tips can also help you on your way to becoming a savvy coupon clipper:

Finding Coupons:

• Look in the store. You’ll find coupons in retailers’ advertising flyers, on the shelf, at kiosks, even at the checkout. Turn your register receipt over-sometimes there will be coupons there, too.

• Try samples offered in the store and you’ll often be offered a coupon to take home a package of the products.

• Check product packages. Your favorite brands want to keep you loyal, so you’ll often find coupons on or in the package.

• Look on the Internet. There are coupon sites where you can print coupons and find providers who will e-mail you coupons. A product manufacturer’s Web site may offer coupons for brands you love. Check the store’s Web site too. Be cautious online, however, of someone offering to sell you coupons…there’s no need to buy them when there are so many available free.

Using Coupons:

• Organize your coupons in the order that you shop the store to save time and make sure you use them all.

• Make coupon-clipping a family affair–it can be a great math and savings lesson for the kids. Involve them in the process and let them "earn" coupon savings money.

• Use coupons with shorter expiration dates first.

• Shop on double or triple coupon days and use manufacturers’ rebates to realize additional savings.

If you can set aside $10.00 and invest it into a proven program that can create financial freedom for you in 60 days would you consider it as an alternative to filing for the Hawaii Bankruptcy Law? There is an alternative available to YOU right now that will not only give you back your good nights sleep but also carries no negative consequences along with it like taking action on the Hawaii Bankruptcy Law does.

In the next few minutes you are going to discover a simple system that can get you out of debt without any work on your end and can be implemented immediately anywhere in the world. In as little as 1 hour from now, you will know how to create a FREE online account that can clear up ALL of your existing debt in 2 months and then go on to establish the wealth you want throughout this year so you can start enjoying your life again.

Before we discuss all the details that this opportunity has to offer YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES, let me share with you quickly why I wrote this article in the first place. I have been helping people improve their finances for the past 10 years and working online since 2003. I recently did a search on Overture to see how many people are looking to file for bankruptcy in the hopes that I could help and I was saddened to see that Hawaii Bankruptcy Law was searched for over 10,000 last month. This fact could provide you some comfort in knowing that you are far-from-alone in the situation you face and that there is someone out that who is looking to help you turn your finances around today.

I have made it my job to present you with an a-s-t-o-n-i-s-h-i-n-g alternative to filing for the Hawaii Bankruptcy Law because I have been blessed with financial freedom and have access to important information that you may never even knew existed since your debt must be foremost on your mind. It should put your mind at ease to know that the system I am going to tell you all about in a moment costs a lot less than Hawaii Bankruptcy Law filing fees, works faster than the preceding process and allows you to not only keep your current assets but will create more wealth then you’ll know what do with in less then 1 year!

Did you read the last line?

“Create more wealth then you’ll know what to do with in less then 1 year”!

Hard to believe BUT true and I am going to prove it to you.

The only thing you have to do is invest the next half an hour studying the system I am about to share with you and then you can decide whether you are going to act on the advise that can create financial freedom faster then anything else out there or choose the Hawaii Bankruptcy Law as your only other alternative. The solution I offer is not only the more affordable way to go but could quite possibly be the most exciting opportunity you will ever encounter in your life. It was the best decision I ever made along with over 48,329 other every day people facing the same situation you now are and I would be happy to help you every step of the way while getting started.

If you can afford a cup of coffee every morning then you will have no problem finding the necessary funds to participate in this program. You can start with as little as $10.00 and turn it into $9,567.06 within 1 year or start with $20.00 and make more then the Average Yearly American Salary which is $39,795.00. Would $39,795.00 eliminate most of your existing
debt?

Did you know that it could cost as much as $200.00 just in filing fees and take up to 6 months before finding out if you have been approved for bankruptcy discharges? The same $200.00 and in 6 months with this system can create $231,537.66 profit in your pocket. Of course, you would be responsible for taxes but there will be A LOT left over for paying off your debts, spending on relaxing vacation and anything else you desire.

Don’t believe me…then you do the math and see for yourself that what I am saying is accurate.

STEP 1:
Go to http://aurumgames.com/calculator.php and type in $200.00 in the DEPOSIT box. Next, type in the number 3 in the INTEREST box and then type in 60 days in the INVESTMENT PERIOD box. Make sure you check off the COMPOUND field before clicking the calculate button. Last but not least, scroll down to the bottom of the form and click the CALCULATE button.

If you typed in the figures I provided you should have come up with a Total Value of $1,178.32.

Remember, we are going to have to repeat this process 2 more times for a total period of 6 months to prove my point above.

STEP 2:
Now, go back to the top of the form and type $1,178.32 into the DEPOSIT box. Next, type in the number 4, because your interest has range has increased due to the new amount, in the INTEREST box and then type in 60 days in the INVESTMENT PERIOD box. Make sure you check off the COMPOUND field before clicking the calculate button. Last but not least, scroll down to the bottom of the form and click the CALCULATE button.

If you typed in the figures I provided you should have come up with a Total Value of $12,395.49.

STEP 3:
Once last time, go back to the top of the form and type $12,395.49 into the DEPOSIT box. Next, type in the number 5, because your interest has range has increased again due to the new amount, in the INTEREST box and then type in 60 days in the INVESTMENT PERIOD box. Make sure you check off the COMPOUND field before clicking the calculate button. Last but not least, scroll down to the bottom of the form and click the CALCULATE button.

If you typed in the figures I provided you should have come up with a Total Value of $231,537.66.

Now do you believe me?

We are talking over TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HERE so if you did not take those 3 simple steps above please write them down and prove it to yourself when you are finished with this article.

I am personally involved with 2 such powerful programs and the interest rate ranges we used in the example above ARE real!

I invite you to take an eagle eye look into this precise program by going to www.lazy-way-to-wealth.com and ask yourself seriously before considering taking action on the Hawaii Bankruptcy Law, could this be the answer you have been hoping for? If you answer with a WHOPPING YES that this is the p-e-r-f-e-c-t program for eliminating YOUR present debt problems, then please e-mail at theprovenpath@optonline.net and put “Hawaii Bankruptcy Law” in the subject field so I can better assist you personally.

Please feel free to e-mail me anytime at theprovenpath@optonline.net if you have any questions pertaining to this article.

Best Wishes and Wealth Your Way!

Jamie Briggs

Managing your finances may be easier than you think. That’s because online banking offers the same services found at bricks-and-mortar institutions-plus many others.

For example, through online banking, customers can check their account balances, transfer funds, pay bills and more. And because of the convenience, online banking can make it easier to get your finances in order. Here’s how:

• Eliminate clutter and help save the environment-Pay (and receive) your bills online and you can get rid of unnecessary paper, envelopes and stamps. You can also view images of your paid checks and account statements online.

• Simplify your Web life- Instead of bouncing from site to site to view and pay your bills, you can do it all through your bank’s Web site-and save yourself the trouble of multiple log-ins and passwords while you’re at it.

• Easily monitor your accounts-You can choose to receive e-mail alerts when checks are paid, deposits clear, bills are due, your account reaches a certain limit and more. Alerts also help you stay on top of recent account activity so you can detect and prevent fraud.

• Reduce your chances of fraud-A study released in January 2006 by Javelin Strategy & Research shows that Internet-related fraud incidences are less severe, less costly, and less prevalent than theft detected offline due to online account monitoring.

• Manage your investments-Invest and build your portfolio using helpful tools and resources online. You can also watch your retirement savings grow and decide how to invest your money.

Some banking sites take customer service even further-even if you’re not a customer. That’s because these sites serve as valuable "at your fingertips" resources for everything from current interest rates to protecting your accounts to retirement tips.

One Web site, wellsfargo.com, offers an added benefit for its customers called My Spending Report. This expense management tool gives customers a "big picture" view of their spending, combining payments and purchases from credit cards, check cards, checking accounts and online bill payments in one convenient place. My Spending Report automatically organizes these expenses into 19 categories, including gas, groceries, health care and entertainment.

This article may upset some people. Money can be a touchy subject. And when you combine the subject of money with religious feelings, there can be conflict.

I saw a commercial on television that really bothered me and I wondered why it was so disturbing to me. Perhaps you’ve seen it, or similar commercials, or even heard a message like that from a pulpit. I finally figured out what was upsetting me.

The message was intended to make me feel guilty if I didn’t give money to help poor people. Now I am in highly in favor of helping people, but let’s stop for just a minute to consider those living in poverty.

First of all, God never intended for human beings to live in poverty. The very first recorded words in the Bible from God to man were, “Be fruitful.” It was not, and still is not the will of God for people to be poor and have lack. Secondly, Jesus Christ said that the poor will always be here. So, any talk of eliminating poverty from the face of the earth is to say that Jesus lied.

Now there are people all over the world in need of help. No one can deny that. But why do some religious people try to make you feel guilty if you don’t give to help the needy? That is a violation of the principle of giving. The Bible says that we ought to give, not grudgingly or of necessity, because God loves a cheerful giver. You cannot give cheerfully if you are made to feel guilty about it.

In my opinion, making someone feel guilty so that they will give you their money is stealing. Your feelings are being manipulated; you are being forced to give your money. Thievery!

And have you ever wondered why is there so little preached about the benefits of giving? God has promised that as you give, He will fill your barns or storehouses with plenty. He has promised that you would have abundance. He has even promised that He would open to you the windows of heaven and that He would pour you out a blessing that you would not even be able to receive! The principle that God set up is that of giving, and receiving.

When was the last time you heard someone ask for money and also remind you of the blessings that you should expect to receive back? Rare isn’t it? Instead, they want to take your money and not even tell you that you are supposed to expect to receive back. If people do not know that they are supposed to receive back, they will not be looking for it or expecting it. If you think that there is no fruit on a tree to pick and eat, you wouldn’t even consider going over to the tree to look. So, good, sincere, God loving people are robbed again, this time from the blessings they should be receiving back for their giving.

Instead of making people feel guilty about what they have, and guilty about the lack others have, why not teach people about the abundance God has promised? Why not teach people how to prosper? The Bible says that God wishes above all things that you prosper and be in health. Why not teach people the principles of prosperity that are clearly defined in the Bible?

Someone may shame you into giving up fifty or a hundred dollars. But think of what could happen if instead, they taught you how to prosper. What would happen if your income increased by 20, 30, or even 50 thousand dollars a year? Wouldn’t you have a lot more to give to help people in need? And you could give to help them, not grudgingly, but cheerfully. It is not a sin to be wealthy. Money is not evil. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil.

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Christians need to believe God’s promises of abundance and operate the principles of prosperity. Then their lives will be blessed and abundant and they will have plenty to give to those in need.