Home » All posts

5 Tips for Mattress Buying on a Budget

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, September 13, 2011 0 comments
Even savvy shoppers sometimes struggle when it comes to buying household items such as budget beds and mattresses. They’re not the sort of purchase that you make every year, and buying guides aren’t as common as they are for major purchases such as cars and electronics. That said, there’s no reason to dread your visit to the mattress discounters – these simple tips will help you to find the perfect bed for your needs, and your wallet.


1.Firmness matters : When buying budget beds, look for a bed that won’t give, but a mattress that will. You want the frame of the bed to be nice and sturdy, and you want a mattress that will support your body, but also mould to it slightly. A mattress that’s too firm is almost as bad as one that’s too soft.

2.Coils, springs or pockets : The type of mattress you choose will come down to a compromise between budget and personal preference. Independent coil mattresses are expensive, but a good choice if you can afford them.

3.Negotiate : Even at a mattress discounters, it is possible to haggle. You probably won’t get a discount on the cost of the bed itself, but you may be able to get free delivery, or some linen of your choice thrown in with the purchase. It never hurts to ask.

4.Know your budget : It’s a good idea to have a firm idea of what you want to spend before you go to the store. Don’t be shy about looking at budget beds that are slightly out of your price range, though. If you know your budget, and you don’t allow yourself to become emotionally invested in buying that slightly more expensive bed, then you will leave yourself in a good position to negotiate with the mattress discounters. If the salesman believes that you are willing to walk away, you will hold more power in the negotiations.

5.Check the warranty : A bed is a big purchase, and you will want to know that it really will last you for ten years. Make sure you know what warranty you’re getting, and that you understand all the terms. For example, some mattresses require that you turn them every six months, otherwise you’ll void the warranty.

Brand matters, even when it comes to budget beds. If you have the choice between a well-known brand such as “Silent Night”, or a completely unknown foreign brand, make sure you know exactly what the differences are. Don’t just believe the salesman at the mattress discounters when he tells you “Oh, this one is just as good”. If the salesman can’t give you concrete information as to how the two brands differ, then don’t buy. There are some cases where the only difference is the sticker – but in many cases there are differences in the materials used, or the quality control. Do you really want to take that chance when it’s your body that will be sleeping on the mattress for many years to come?

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of the Original Factory Shop. James writes on subjects relating to the home and loves passing on tips for frugal living.
Read more

Utilizing small business software to streamline a company and save money

Posted by Unknown 1 comment
For the small business owner, finding ways to save money is always at the top of the priority list. The economy in the world today is not really in the greatest condition, but small businesses can still flourish and save money in the process. The more money that comes back into the pockets of the small business owners, the more money they can afford to put back into their business and help it grow. Saving money as a small business owner can be difficult, but once you're able to do it month after month, you'll see the savings add up. 

This is where small business software comes in. You can save a lot of money as the months fly by with the help of small business software. The reason that this software helps to save you money is that it takes control of the tasks that you would do manually and does them automatically. For example, one section of a small business software program may deal with payrolls and taxes. Another feature on the software may handle your purchases and sales with venders. Still another aspect of the small business software may directly deal with customer service and community relations. 

The small business software saves you time by doing these tasks automatically. Saving your valuable time increases your earning capacity as a small business owner, because spending less time on these tedious tasks gives you more time to commit to the things that really make a business flourish. Who wouldn't like to have more time to figure out how to make their business earn more money while a software program handles a bunch of small jobs?

Small business software programs also physically save you money. Instead of using paper to keep track of a payroll, the software will do that automatically. You'll no longer need paper checks for payment or paper tax records, which can easily get lost or ruined. All pay records and tax information is kept neatly on the software. You'll save tons of money on paper, ink, staples and other supplies. Instead of paper invoices for dealings with vendors and clients, they'll be sent electronic invoices from the small business software. You'll save even more time and money that you would have wasted on paper with electronic invoices. 

Speaking of vendors, a small business software program can help you stay in contact with them and keep information about them stored in one convenient location. For example, if you were wondering about a purchase you made from a vendor or a purchase they made from you, all you have to do is look for their information in the software program. It will show you all relevant information about that vendor, including sales, bills, purchases and more. 

Small business software programs are invaluable tools in modern business. They are helpful resources that really save the users valuable time and assets to better spend elsewhere. You'll have more time and money to spend on what can really make your business grow and succeed.

Kieron Casey is a BA (Hons) Journalism graduate who blogs regularly on a number of topics including money saving tips and small business software.
Read more

Living Cheaply to Afford College

Posted by Unknown 0 comments
With the cost of college education skyrocketing every semester, many college students are struggling to afford a degree. We all know the importance of a degree for education and job placement, but with such high tuition costs, students and graduates are forced to live off of roman noodles and PB&J sandwiches to afford textbooks and supplies. Most universities charge additional outrageous fees on top of tuition, even for mandatory classes. As a recent college graduate with student loans, here are three tips for saving a lot of money in college and after graduation that I live by and have saved me thousands of dollars :

1. Never buy a new textbook for yourself only - 

The cost for textbooks these days are astronomically inflated. When possible, rent your books. There are several companies that allow you to rent textbooks, and this can be a huge savings when compared to the cost of buying a book you won’t use after the class. If you can’t rent, try to buy a used edition of the textbook. You can usually save around 50% of the cost compared to a new book, and who cares if someone wrote something in the margins or highlighted a few pages. 

Undeniably, there will be situations where you are forced to purchase a new textbook. If a professor writes a book that is specific to the class you are taking, it’s doubtful you can rent it and the previous semester’s version is out of date. In this case, find a friend to share the book with. By splitting the cost and sharing the buyback (if you’re lucky to get anything for it at the end of the semester), you can save money and shouldn’t be too inconvenienced. The more people you share the book with, the cheaper the cost to you. Keep in mind that this will also mean more people needing the book during exam times when you will be relying on it the most!

2. Living with a roommate - 

Whether in college or not, one can usually find a bigger, CHEAPER place to live when living with more than one person. Additionally, utilities are cheaper per person and goes down as more people live in an apartment or house. Now is the time to live with another person, especially if you don’t have a wife, family, or others commitments which would make living with a roommate difficult. If you can’t find a roommate to live with, check the internet for people looking for a roommate. There are several websites that are similar to Craigslist where people leave postings soliciting a roommate or subleasing a room (where you can usually find a discount compared to the actual price). Just make sure to do your research and actually meet with the other roommates before you move in!

3. Purchase non-perishables in bulk - 

Especially if you are living with roommates, purchase non-perishables in bulk. For example, if you are to buy a single bottle of water, it costs about a dollar. However, you can purchase a 24 pack of water for as little as four dollars! Buying in bulk is a great idea for any beverage. If you are living with a few roommates, or even on your own, it might even be worth buying a membership to Sams Club or Costco in order to save money with bulk purchases.

These tips are just a start to saving up money to get through college and start paying back student loans. There are several other tips that help save a few dollars here and there, such as purchasing generic over brand names and couponing. And these little savings add up to a big saving over time. These three tips I shared can help save hundreds of dollars per month! They are simple and center on one’s willingness to share and be a good roommate. With these three tips in mind, you are well on your way to paying off those students loans and other college debts in no time.
Read more

5 Ways to Cut Down Your Fuel Cost

Posted by Unknown Monday, September 12, 2011 0 comments
Fuel is one of the most basic necessities in life for just everybody. Sadly, because the traditional sources of fuel are depleting at a very rapid rate, not to mention the fact that fuel cost can add up to a significantly high figure by the end of the month, finding ways to cut down on fuel cost can be a real life saver. Couple the high cost of fuel and the harsh economic times that have characterized the recent past and you have the perfect remedy to a very stressful and financially straining time. The good news is that there are ways you can beat the escalating cost of fuel. These include:-

Planning your errands effectively – did you know that running day-to-day errands in a haphazard manner can cost you a lot of money as well as fuel cost? Are you going to the shopping mall? Why not pick the kids from school on your way to, or from the shopping mall? Accomplishing all your errands in a single trip can always save you a lot when it comes to fuel cost. A good rule of thumb is to start from the farthest location to the nearest.


Give your car good and regular maintenance – giving your car a good maintenance is one thing, but doing it on a regular basis is another different thing altogether. If you really want to benefit from the best mileage of fuel, ensure your car is properly maintained and on a regular basis. Maintenance can be as simple as tire rotations and regular oil changes, ensuring the tires are well inflated at all times, that the air filter is clean and at its best.

Have you ever thought of carpooling to work? – Carpooling is another great way you can cut down your fuel cost. This is where you and your colleagues living in the same area and working in the same office or in nearby offices decide to use only one car when going to work. By alternating the days, you will discover that you are saving up to 50% of fuel cost on this alone.

Avoid car idle times – one of the best and proven ways to cut down your fuel cost is to avoid allowing your car to idle. When it comes to warming up the car in the morning, 45-60 seconds is enough for that, not letting it sit idle for 15 minutes in the name of warming the car up as you finish breakfast or while watching the news. Car idle times consume up to 30% of fuel.

Only 'punch it' when it is necessary – just how often do you accelerate your car, hitting the gasoline pedal hard? Sometimes this is necessary, like when avoiding a head-on collision or an accident. Punching the pedal anytime you feel like can be compared to flushing your money down the toilet. Learn to accelerate slowly since it consumes more fuel to ensure the car is up-to-speed than it always does when it has to maintain the speed it has already achieved.

Following the above mentioned recommendations will reduce your visits to the fuel pump, increase fuel mileage, and more importantly, save you huge cash on fuel cost. 
Read more

Reporting Your Income When Filing Bankruptcy

Posted by Unknown Wednesday, August 17, 2011 1 comment
Guest post by : Bob Jones

When learning about filing bankruptcy, it's important to have a grasp on how to report your income. It doesn't matter whether you're filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, income is income. When filling out a bankruptcy petition there are three types of income that are required to be listed. These types of income that are required are actual income, projected income and last of all the current monthly income. This is actually one of the changes that the bankruptcy code received in 2005. Prior to the code changes in 2005, the debtor that was filing for bankruptcy was only required to prove their actual income and projected income. At that time, that is what the bankruptcy court used to figure out if an individual is capable of paying back a portion or all of their debts.

When Congress was working out the changes to the bankruptcy code prior to 2005 they felt that actual income and projected income didn't give a true picture of the debtor that was filing bankruptcy. This is how the means test was conceived and added to the BAPCPA of 2005. Calculating the means test is how the debtor will come up with their CMI or current monthly income.

It doesn't matter if the debtor is filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy; they will be required to prove their actual income for the two years prior to the bankruptcy filing. Actual income includes all income, meaning any income from your work, investments, gifts and rental property. Technically, this is any money a person received no matter how they got it.

Also required for the debtor to show is their projected income. The projected income is the amount that the debtor can believe they will get in the near future. If the debtor is unemployed under our current job market in the US, it would be safe to say that number would be zero, unless of course they were receiving unemployment which would extend into the future.

Lastly, the debtor is required to figure out their current monthly income. This is figured using the means test, which uses the last six months income, multiplied by two. The debtor will then check the state's median income chart and see if they are under that amount to qualify to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This for many can get confusing and should be done with the help of a bankruptcy attorney. It's not written in stone if you don't qualify under the median income chart. There are other parts of the equation that a bankruptcy attorney will be able to figure out. Also included in the formula is comparing income over expenses which in some cases will qualify a debtor that has a higher income.

Bob Jones writes about bankruptcy and debt issues including file personal bankruptcy. For all you need to know about bankruptcy or getting a free bankruptcy evaluation visit http://www.debtfreebankruptcyattorney.com
Read more

Financing Your Kitchen Remodeling Project - The Easy, Cheap Way

Posted by Unknown Saturday, July 16, 2011 1 comment
* Introduction : In an economy where it's difficult to sell any house for full value, consider remodeling your kitchen to give your old home a breathe of fresh air. Doing this the cheap and easy way does take some preliminary planning and preparation but is well worth the savings to your wallet when you get ready to roll with the project.

First, decide what you would like to replace in the kitchen. Do you need a new floor, cabinets, appliances and perhaps, a way to make the kitchen larger? Adding space to your kitchen is your first crucial area to plan out. You'll need the advice of a contractor who knows how to remove a wall, preferably not a load-bearing wall, and give you a bid for the job.

* Getting Help Designing Your Kitchen and Saving Money : Take measurements of your kitchen, where your cabinets are and their sizes, appliances and sizes, floor span and ceiling height, and lay the measurements out on a drawn diagram. If this is your first remodeling job, then go to your local home improvement store and sit down with a kitchen designer who can put all your measurements into a design program and give you help for free, initially. The home improvement designer can also help with appliance, cabinet, countertop, flooring and store credit card deals currently in place and give you a great financial package, based on those specials. It's all a matter of timing it just right.

* Cabinets, countertops and other structures : Ask which cabinet makers have the best deals right now and for how long they last. Select cabinets with the wood type, color and door style that you want and have the designer put it into the software. Decide if you want to add in an island with a cooktop if there is room. Also get a bid on a countertop currently on sale. Get a quote on installation fees with cabinet prices, countertops, and also one with just the cabinet order if you think you can install those yourself. Save your bid.

* Appliances in a package deal : Next, have your designer take you over to the appliance section and look over current sales with appliance manufacturers. Look for brands that offer a range, refrigerator, over-the-stove microwave, and dishwasher package which allows you to get a rebate of $100 or more back in purchasing a package deal. Stick with well-known brands and later, do some research through Consumer Reports on current reviews for that brand and models. Get all the information and a sales bid done through the designer.

* Financing at its best : Home improvement stores offer their own credit cards and especially if you are a first-time successful applicant, you can make charges and payments on your card for 12 months without paying any interest. You have to apply at the time when the 12-month, no interest payments are going on in order to realize all the money you'll save by going this route. Enjoy your new kitchen!

Isaac writes on behalf of Cliq Studios a home improvements business who design, manufacture and sell quality kitchen cabinets which come with a lifetime warranty. Use the Cliq Studios website to visualise your new kitchen, request free kitchen samples or check kitchen cabinet prices. Whatever your requirement – trust Cliq Studios' Discount Kitchen Cabinets to exceed expectations.
Read more

7 Tips to reduce coverage cost instead of buying cheap life insurance

Posted by Unknown Saturday, July 2, 2011 3 comments
It is needless to mention that the primary purpose of shopping around for buying an insurance policy is to get the required coverage at an affordable cost. Purchasing life insurance is no different. It is always better to try to reduce the premium cost of your required coverage than going for a cheap life insurance policy.

7 Tips to reduce the cost of life insurance coverage

You can follow these 7 tips to reduce the coverage cost of your life insurance policy.

1. Purchasing only the required coverage – Consider purchasing only the required coverage to reduce the premium cost to some extent. To do this, calculate the amount required by your family members to maintain their lifestyle in your absence. However, always reconsider coverage after 2-3 years, especially, when you have a major change in your life, such as, having a baby. 

 2. Shopping around and comparing policies – You must be knowing that shopping around and comparing policies help to choose one with the most suitable terms and conditions. This is because the insurers offer myriad policies at different premium rates. Shopping online helps to get multiple quotes at relatively less span of time.

3. Not buying ‘Guaranteed issue’ policy if healthy – It is advisable to not go for a ‘Guaranteed issue’ policy if you’re healthy. You can obtain such a policy without going for a medical exam. These policies are usually purchased by people who’ve difficulty in obtaining life insurance coverage due to certain health conditions.

4. Looking for a ‘no-load/low-load’ policy – There are relatively fewer expenses attached to a ‘no-load’ or a ‘low-load’ policy. The expenses comprise of commissions and fees of the insurance agent. To buy such a policy, you’ll have to purchase it from a financial advisor, who usually charges flat fees instead of collecting commissions from the insurers. It is definitely a better alternative than purchasing a cheap life insurance policy.

5. Purchasing rider instead of buying new policy – Don’t purchase a new life insurance policy when your needs change. Instead, buy an insurance rider and extend your life insurance coverage.

6. Paying insurance premium annually – Making annual premium payments help to reduce the policy cost to some extent as compared to paying insurance premiums quarterly or bi-annually. Insurers may also charge less if they can transfer the required payments from your bank account directly.

7. Asking for policy reevaluation – You can ask for policy reevaluation even after purchasing life insurance. Purchasing a policy with a higher premium rate doesn’t mean that you’ll have to pay high cost throughout the policy term. If you’re paying high premium due to a specific health condition, then you can ask for rate reconsideration if your health condition has improved since you purchased the policy.

Above all, improve your health condition to reduce the premium cost of a life insurance policy significantly. So, if you’ve certain pre-existing medical conditions (such as, high blood pressure or diabetes), then show your insurer evidences and reports that reveal your health condition has improved with time. This may help you to get a cheap life insurance policy that is, insurer providing you with the required coverage at an affordable premium cost.
Read more

Copyright © 2012 Financial Updates. All rights reserved.