Archive for December 23, 2011

DFWMoneyMatters | December 23, 2011
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Creating a Budget and sticking to it can keep you out of debt for 2012

Since 2012 is around the corner, a lot of people’s new year’s resolution will be to be debt free. That can mean many things from, paying off your current debt, creating a budget, and also having an emergency fund. Creating a budget can be a daunting task, but in reality it is a simple and proven way to keep yourself from over spending, and out of debt. It can actually be very simple to create a budget. Make a list of your most common set expenses that don’t usually change, like your rent or car payments.  Those are fixed expenses that you can’t really cut back on. Try to calculate how much money per month you will dedicate to paying off your current debt. Once all the debt is paid, keep using that money to save it as an emergency fund.

Another easy thing to do  would be to create a list of expenses that is a little more flexible. For example like how much you can spend on entertainment, eating out, or clothes.  Make sure that you keep track somehow of how much money you spend. This could be in a digital way like an excel spreadsheet or just a place where you keep all of your receipts can work as well. At the end of the month add it all up, and if you notice you over spent in a certain category, cut back on another to compensate for it. Always have a budget and a way to measure it, it is a great way to stay out of debt. Another great idea would be to have someone like a friend or spouse keep you accountable and make you stick to your budget. With these simple tips, you can make 2012 be a step closer to a good financial future.

Category: Budgeting, Personal Finance |
DFWMoneyMatters | December 9, 2011
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Negotiate everything, 7 Words that Can save you a TON of Money

Always be frugal! Never  settle for the first price you get for anything, no matter how small. When car shopping, most people do not take the first price. In that situation it is very likely that there will be a lot of negotiating. To keep more of your money it is a smart idea to always try to get a better price for anything you buy.

The first step to being a great negotiator is to build rapport, and make the person who has the power to change the price, like you. The easiest way to do this is to find a common interest or make them feel special in some way. Once the price is presented to you, the best way to get them to agree to a lower price is to ask the magical question: “ Is that the best you can do?”  Generally you will be surprised that people are more willing to bend the rules a little. You can do this for anything like purchasing a bed, a cell phone, roofing, anything and everything. More than likely the sales person will be paid a commission and they would rather get a little bit of your money than have nothing.

Category: Money Matters, Personal Finance, Ways To Save Money |
DFWMoneyMatters | December 1, 2011
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Tips to finding Dallas Self Storage Facility Units

Looking for a storage unit can be painful. I mean, there are over 200 storage facilities in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, with an average of over 100 units each. That’s 20,000 units to choose from, all different sizes with different unit types (first floor vs. second floor, climate controlled vs. non climate controlled, drive-up vs. indoor) and with different prices. Calling around is basically not an option, so I Googled Dallas storage and found SpareFoot.com.

All of a sudden, I’ve got all the information I need to make a decision: price, distance from my current location, amenities, specials, and the ability to book online to reserve a unit.

Moving into the unit is even easier if you’ve booked on SpareFoot in advance. The storage facility already had my name, email address, and phone number, so it took less time to fill out the required forms. And the final benefit: on top of the discount that the storage facility already offered, SpareFoot has a $20 rebate for anybody who books and moves into a storage unit.

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I hope to find a similar website for looking at parking spaces in Dallas, which is similarly hard to find. So if you need a place to store your belongings, check SpareFoot.com out!

Category: Featured Business |