Identity theft is a growing crime in the US. If you think about it, that makes sense. After all, you don't even have to meet a person to steal their identity. There is no threat to the thief. It is a safe and surprisingly easy crime.

Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. There is a pretty good chance that you will be a victim of identity theft at some point in your life. It happens when someone uses your personal information for their own gain. The thief might open a credit card, bank account or utilities in your name. They could use your credit card or checking account to make purchases. They could even have a driver's license with your name and their picture.

It can be as simple as a clerk re-running your credit card number and taking the money from the register. It could be that someone opens a cell phone using your name. A friend or family member could use your credit card or ATM card without you knowing it.

The first thing you can do is to guard your information. Only give out your Social Security number when you are required to by law or when absolutely necessary. Don't carry your card in your wallet. Don't write down your children's numbers in easily accessed locations. Always ask if you can use your driver's license number instead of your SSN.

Don't carry everything you have in your wallet. Don't carry all of your credit cards, your Social Security card, your birth certificate or your passport in your wallet. Make copies of all cards you do carry and have everything written down in your safe deposit bosx. If you lose your wallet or purse, you will be able to quickly call all of your banks and lenders and notify them.

You should memorize all of your PIN numbers. Don't use your phone number, your birthday or anything easily guessed. Don't write down your PIN numbers where they can be found or accessed. If you feel the need to write them down -- in case of emergency -- put them in your safe deposit box at the bank.

You need to go out and buy a shredder. Shred any documents that contain your personal information. Never throw out your bank statements, credit reports, credit card offers, charge receipts, insurance papers or checks and bank statements without shredding first.

You should closely check your bank statements and credit card bills. You should always make sure that you receive all of your bills. If you miss a bill or statement, it could mean that your account address has been changed by a thief. The thief hopes you won't discover it until he or she is through splurging on your account.

With that in mind, you should make sure that your mail is secure. Remove your delivered mail from your mailbox as soon as possible. Do not leave your outgoing mail in your mailbox. You should deposit all bills in a post office mailbox. If you are going to be away from town, ask your post office to hold your mail. It is very easy for someone to simply take your mail from your mailbox.

Retirement Planning - you're never too old.

With retirement pensions reduced, ageism being outlawed, skills shortages, will there be a renaissance for the older worker? There are loads of opportunities for retirement jobs.

Crafts men, plumbers, carpenters, builders, interim managers, consultants, coaches, mentors, there is an ever growing list of opportunities. More and more people are starting to see that retirement is not a must. They are setting self employed employment plans and 'going for it'. Great!

Age is a serious business. Growing old is better than the alternative but increases in life expectancy have to be paid for. It seems without longer working lives and later retirement that many could face a miserable future. Retirement jobs may be an opportunity for the older worker now but may also be an issue for the not so old, who will need to plan for eventual retirement.

In the UK only 28% of those aged 60 are in any kind of employment. 40% of people who retired early felt they were pushed and would rather work. There is good news, and opportunity.

It is forecast that in the next 20 years the number of workers aged 20 to 29 will reduce by 20% while the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25%. This change is being driven by reductions in the birth rate and greater longevity.

What does this mean for everyone regardless of age?

OPPORTUNITIES! Huge OPPORTUNITY!

All trades craft, plumbers, carpenters, builders, interim managers, consultants, coaches, mentors, secretaries, innovative online businesses, there is an ever growing list of opportunities. More and more people are starting to see that retirement is not a must. They are setting self employed employment plans and 'going for it'. Great!

Recent research has revealed that the over 55's are the most likely to come up with new ideas on a daily basis. I have long contended that we are the people who still have a contribution to make provide we adopt the right mind set. Yes I'm a silver head.

A friend of mine is currently winding down his business activities after a long and successful period as a manufacturer and retailer of men's clothing. Because of my consulting background we talk a lot and it really grates when he repeatedly justifies an action saying "at my time of life I don't want this or that". He is justifying his withdrawal to himself on the grounds of age.

Ageism is nonsense (as I've told him). In another survey more than 50% of people felt that they had been discriminated against, and more. 39% believed that they had been blocked from promotion because of ageism. At age 28 "you are too young" was used against me - so it does happen.

'Too old', 'too young', what drivel. If you have a contribution to make equal to the demands of the job age should not be an issue. Get that firmly in your mind and set out to grab the opportunities. Employment or self employment it's surely up to you.

Why not set a small business retirement plan?

As we have worked through the early retirement phase which is resulting in skill shortages and lack of management experience demand is growing for skilled competent people in all occupations and disciplines.

Don't be like my friend, go out grab the opportunity which suits you, create a small business retirement plan, forget about retirement. Make things happen for you - you will be more fulfilled and better off if you do.

These days, many of us are finding ourselves having to stretch the ends until they meet.

Here are some tips for stretching every dollar.

1. Save a penny, keep a penny.

Dump your pocket change into a jar each night. Invest it in a high-interest bearing account at the end of each month. Woman's Day magazine recently suggested this money-saver, adding that if a couple puts just one dollar each into the jar every day, the sum will top $700 at the end of the year. Invested at 10 percent interest over 10 years, that pocket change will grow into $12,000.

2. Use your computer.

You can save big money by shopping online, if you know where to look. Do a Google search for coupon codes before you start shopping from online merchants. You can also purchase a local coupon book for offline purchases (The Entertainment Book, for example.) I use mine all the time for groceries, oil changes, and dining out.

3. Write letters.

Whether you love the product or hate it, write the manufacturer a letter. A company that receives a complaint is bound to make amends. On the same token, many companies will acknowledge--and encourage--your satisfaction with coupons and discounts.

4. Shop smart.

Look at the grocery store ads before heading off to the store. Maybe you can reserve a few items for purchase at a nearby store that is offering unusual bargains.

5. Ban impulse buying.

Make it a family policy: if you see something you like, write it on a wish list and wait at least three days before buying.

6. Watch out for "nickel and dime" expenses.

Those little snacks and coffee stops can easily add up to more than $500 per year.

7. Shop around.

Recently our son and daughter in law were blessed with the birth of our grand daughter Maisy Leigh, a wonderful baby who seems to have a smile on her face at all times and is a sheer delight to us all. Like all proud grand parents we only want to ensure her safety in life and provide for her future and it seems that the UK government share our concern and have now given a helping hand in the form of the Childs Trust Fund.

As with all these type of savings and benefits at first glance the paper work may seem confusing so I decided to give a brief and basic overview as to how it will benefit your child or grandchild and how you go about setting up such a Childs Trust Fund.

At the time of writing this article any child that is born within the UK will be entitled to a voucher to the value of £250, which has to be invested in a Childs Trust Fund with a view to providing a nest egg that will become available on the child’s 18th birthday.

The account also gives provision for you to invest up to an additional £1200 per year and is free from personal tax under the current rules.

There are many well-known banks and building societies that are available and provide Child Trust Fund accounts and these accounts can be divided into three types of risk factor. I like to access these three types of account as low, medium and high risk growth potential and the choice of which one you choose is purely an individuals choice, bearing in mind that the medium and high risk savings accounts involve investment in shares and of course these can go down in value as well as increasing over the course of 18 years.

The low risk account is the Non-stakeholder savings account which is similar to a bank or building society savings account and these pay interest on the money saved.

Medium risk account in my opinion is the Stakeholders share account, which invests in shares in companies however the Government has made special rules for these accounts to reduce the risk of share investment.

Third type of account is the Non-stakeholder shares account, which invests in shares but does not have the same rules to reduce risk as the stakeholder account.

Which way you decide to invest your child’s £250 voucher is important and all options I feel should be considered however personally I feel that perhaps the safest one is possibly the medium risk account that gives both security with the possibility of good long term growth.

This is a very basic overview of the Child Trust Fund and how you can invest your initial Child Trust Fund voucher, I would always advise that you give great thought to this matter before you make any decisions and it is also well advised to seek expert advice from an independent financial advisor.

Fear of economic insecurity will leave you with the right approach. My grandmother once said to me, “You die if you worry, you die if you don’t. So why worry”? Wise words indeed, but they didn’t sink in when every waking moment was spent worrying about money.

However, I got myself into such as state that I was heading towards making myself very sick with worry (literally), if I didn’t do something to remove these financial fears from my head. It was easier than I thought it would be. The most important thing I had to learn was perspective.

I realized that worry had no positive side effects. It’s not like a healthy fear which keeps us safe. In fact worry can make us unsafe and unstable. Too much worry can make life a living hell, not only ourselves but those around us. Without any question of doubt, worry clouds your judgment. It’s not possible to function when so much of your head space is occupied with uninvited thoughts on money concerns. Bad decision, wrong decisions and no decisions at all, are all likely if you allow money worries to live inside your head rent free.

I started this article by talking about perspective and it is perspective that freed me from the bondage of financial fear. Let me attempt to explain this better.

Where I come from, no one dies of hunger. No matter how desperate individual cases are, I don’t know of one single person who has died of starvation or thirst. I don’t know of one single person who has gone to prison because they got into debt. I know of one guy who spent a couple of months in jail for REFUSING to own his debts, but none that sought help with their financial predicament.

I had no money in 1997. Not only did I not have any money, but I didn’t have an income. Not only did I not have an income, but I was in debt, big debt. I stopped worrying the day I got this into perspective.

I remember waking up one morning thinking I can’t go on like this. A problem shared is a problem halved (more wise words from my grandmother), so I surrendered and sought professional help to manage my debts and creditors. I soon realized that months of worrying did absolutely nothing to make things happen. In fact I was paralyzed by the situation.

Action, in my case, was seeking help from a free organization who specialize in debt management. My head was cleared almost instantly as perspective replaced negative thinking. This organization helped me form a workable plan of action and over time I not only got out of debt but I got a job, savings, and freedom from the fear of financial insecurity.

A personal loan is almost always made for personal, family, or household use, and is neither a business-type loan nor a long-term mortgage loan to finance real estate. The personal loan is generally used to meet personal requirements. Personal requirements like a vacation can be satisfied with the help of personal loans.

It is necessary that personal loans must be processed in a very short time period, as this type of loan usually covers travel expenses, holiday expenses or medical expenses which are not generally planned. To satisfy this need and to compete with rising competition, many financial institutions offer personal loans.

The Internet is used for the providing loans by banks. The banks or financial companies provide forms on their Websites. The borrower fills out these forms. The forms are provided with required documentation. The borrower either sends the documents by mail or scans the documents and emails them to the banks or financial companies. The bank then processes the online forms and checks if the proper documents are sent or not. Then the bank approves the loan if it fits their policies. If necessary, the banks may send a representative to the borrower. This representative then guides the borrower through the process.

Online loan processing reduces the cost of loans. It saves time for the borrower as well as the banks. It also reduces paperwork. The option of user-friendly forms removes the necessity of excessive manpower. Thus, an online personal loan facility is useful for both the borrower and the lender.

Personal Loans provides detailed information on Personal Loans, Bad Credit Personal Loans, Unsecured Personal Loans, Online Personal Loans and more. Personal Loans is affiliated

Saving money and trimming your budget requires constant action on your part. If you set all the pieces in motion and walk away for any amount of time, you will simply fall back into your old spending habits. In order to make sure your budget is as trim as possible, you need to stay on top of it week after week. Here are some helpful hints to free up some money that you might not have considered:

Look At Your Cell Phone Bill Does your cell phone plan reflect current usage? Are you anywhere near your allotted minutes? If not, look into switching to a cheaper plan with fewer minutes. On the flip side, if you consistently use more than your allotted minutes, you are paying dearly for it. Call your cell phone carrier and inquire about increasing your minutes. Research this and figure out if it is financially prudent to pay for a more expensive plan. Depending on when you call, it may take an entire billing cycle (i.e. 30 days) for changes in your plan to take effect.

Think About Your Auto Insurance Does your auto insurance reflect your current status as a driver? A recent career change not only decreased my commute from over an hour to barely five minutes, but it also decreased the distance I was driving by nearly 500 miles per week. Unfortunately, it did not dawn on me to call my auto insurance company until last week. I did and my rate was lowered by a considerable amount. Use Google to figure out what else might get you additional driver discounts.

Look At Your Financial Statements and Credit Card Bills This one is almost a no-brainer, but you would be amazed at how many of my friends confess to me that they don't scrutinize their statements. I admit with shame that I used to count myself among this group. However, with identity theft claims on the rise, it only makes sense to analyze your financial statements more closely. In fact, I go online at least once a day to my bank and credit card accounts to make sure that the statements reflect what I have written in my spending log.

Pay Your Bills On Time Look at your bills to see when they are due and get the check in the mail with time to spare. Late fees are the equivalent of throwing your money away. Over time, they add up to hundreds of dollars a year in unnecessary expenses. If you have trouble keeping checks or postage stamps in stock around the house, use your bank's online bill pay. Also, late payments can seriously damage your credit and result in an increased interest rate on your credit cards.

Saving money is an ongoing process. By staying on top of your payments and making sure insurance and cell phone plans reflect your lifestyle, you'll be able to free up money to either pay down existing debt or invest in your future.

Saving money can begin by taking little steps to control unnecessary spending. One of the problems that arises when attempting to control unnecessary spending is that we are not always aware of how much money we actually spend. There are a few things that can be done in order to get a handle on unnecessary spending in order to save money.

1. Set up a monthly budget

We have all been told this at one point in time or another - budget your money. In general, we all know the basic things that need to be in our budget - rent or mortgage, utilities, credit card payments, car payments, insurance payments, gas money, food expenses, clothing allowance, savings allowance and an entertainment or miscellaneous allowance are just some of the major budgeting areas. When setting up a monthly budget, however, many of us simply are not as detailed as possible and at the end of the month we spend more money than our budget actually allows, usually in the form of credit card expense, which costs us more money in the long run with interest rates.

While some areas of our budget are already predetermined, other areas can be micro-managed. These areas include our food expenses and our entertainment and miscellaneous expenses. Many times we don't realize just how much we spend on food or other expenses because we don't take the time to save those receipts and calculate just how much we spend. This is a mistake because without doing so, we cannot see just how much we might be spending unnecessarily.

2. Get Rid of Unnecessary Spending

To get rid of unnecessary spending and start saving more money, take a month and collect the receipts for everything you spend money on, even if it's as small as a candy bar. Create a spreadsheet that lists each item you spent money on, how much you spent and why you spent that money. Then go through and decide whether that expense was necessary or unnecessary.

Deciding what is necessary and unnecessary can be a difficult task. The way I go about making this decision is based on whether I can change some of my habitual spending in order to save money. For instance, looking back at how much money I spent on food, I realized that I had spent a total of $105 on breakfast last month. Why? Because rather than eat breakfast at home, I decided that it was easier to stop in at some drive-thru and pick up breakfast. Had I made the same breakfast at home everyday, I would have saved approximately $65. This was just my savings on breakfast alone, when I did the same thing for lunch and dinner, I realized that by changing my habits I could have saved about $300 on my food expenses alone. When I applied the same calculations on my coffee drinking habits, which is not as great an expenditure for me as it is for others, I realized that I could save an additional $50 a month.

This technique may seem like a nickel and dime way to save money, but it adds up. Saving $350 a month just by little changes will end up saving $4200 over the course of the year.

There are many different ways to budget your money. For those who lack will power or often go over budget, methods like the envelope method work wonders. This method teaches budgeting by strictly cutting off your resources and allowing you a very small amount of money to work with each week. It sounds harsh, but by the end of just a few months you will be living like you were never on a budget and saving a lot of money at the same time!

How it works

The envelope method is simple. You are going to pay your bills like normal, but for things like groceries, entertainment, gifts and eating out, you are going to have a specific budget to follow. These are the areas that people often struggle in. So you need six envelopes. Figure out how much you want to spend weekly in each area. For my husband and I, we spend $60 on groceries, and $30 on entertainment weekly. For the month we have $60 dollars in the miscellaneous envelope, $50 dollars in the gift fund and $60 in the eating out fund. Every time I buy groceries I take out $60 dollars and just bring that to the grocery store. I can’t spend more because I can’t afford it, I don’t have any other money with me. When I get home I put the receipt in the envelope. This way I can see exactly how much I have spent and I can only spend a certain amount.

Why it works

It seems harsh, but the envelope works because it becomes a sort of competition with yourself. You will quickly find yourself trying to not spend all the money in the envelopes, and every bit that you save each month can go towards savings or paying off debt whichever. As your debt shrinks and your savings grows, you will be more and more motivated to save moneY

In the past few years, many banks and credit unions have implemented a program called “Courtesy Overdraft Protection”. While that name sounds nice, it is simply another name for “High Priced Overdraft Loan”. Banks and some Credit Unions like this product because it enables them to get a significant boost in fee income while providing a so-called “service” to their customers.

Courtesy Overdraft Protection works like this. Banks or Credit Unions place their customers on the Courtesy Overdraft program, sometimes without their knowledge. If the customer writes a check that they don’t have funds to cover, the bank or credit union will cover the check temporarily. The bank or credit union will still assess a fee for insufficient funds to the customer but the check has been paid. The next deposit made by the customer will help to cover the short term loan.

Many customers like the concept of Courtesy Overdraft Protection. From their perspective, they’ve written a check that they don’t have funds to cover. The bank or credit union pays the check and assesses a “small” convenience fee. The customer’s creditor is none the wiser. Their bill has been paid and they don’t assess a separate fee to the customer for writing a bad check. In addition, there is no black mark on the customer’s credit report.

The banks or credit unions like the Courtesy Overdraft programs as well. From the financial institution’s perspective, they are making a number of low-risk, short-term loans and getting fee income each time they do it. Customers enrolled in these programs may be more likely to overdraft their accounts more frequently increasing the institution’s fee income even further.

Everyone wins….right? Wrong! If you do the math these short-term loans come at a very high price. For example, say you write a $500 check you can’t cover. The bank or credit union covers the check for you and charges a $35 fee. A week later, you get your paycheck and the loan is paid off. For the privilege of a $500 loan for one week, you pay $35. This equates to an interest rate of over 400%! Who in their right mind would take out a loan with a 400% interest rate? No one, that’s who. But this is one way banks continue to have record profits each year.

There is a better way. Check with your financial institution to see if you can have overdraft protection from your savings account. In that way, if you write a check without sufficient funds in your checking account, the money will come from your savings account instead. You may even be able to set up overdraft protection from your credit card. Yes, this would technically be a loan but it’s at a far lower interest rate that with the Courtesy Overdraft programs.

Do any of the following thoughts ever cross your mind as you are preparing the monthly bills? How did your friend get a new job with a 20% pay raise? Wasn’t she almost fired last year? When is your manager going to move on? You are certainly more qualified. Whatever happened to the move up or out policy? Your debt has gotten out of control. You need more income. Why should you struggle each month living pay check to paycheck? It’s time for a change?

Now think back to your last large pay increase. Are you better off today than you were before the increase? Of course you are. You have nicer stuff. May be you are living in a larger house or finally purchased your dream car. You take a winter and summer vacation. Your kids are in private school. If you are better off, then why are you still struggling from month to month? A higher paycheck translates directly into a more expensive lifestyle. My wife and I vacationed in Hawaii a couple of years ago. One morning at breakfast while overlooking the most spectacular ocean view I had ever seen, my wife stated that she needed a vacation like this every year. I said that you would like to have a vacation like this each year. She replied, “No, this is a need.”

As your paycheck increases, so does your NEEDS. The bottom-line is that people that overspend on a modest income will usually find ways to overspend on a higher income.

About the Author

Michael Dawson recently said goodbye to a 20 year career in Engineering, Marketing and Sales to focus on living his dream of financial independence. He has since founded The Time and Money Group as vehicle to encourage others to do the same. The company's mantra is "Why trade time for money ... when you can have both." Sign up for their free weekly newsletter, where he and others discuss the different paths to financial freedom and offer insights for your successful navigation.

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. -Proverbs 21:20

Saving money is not a matter of math. You will not save money when you get that next raise. You will not save money when that car is paid off. You will not save money when the kids are grown. You will only save money when it becomes an emotional priority.

We all know we need to save, but most people don't save like they know they need to save. Why? Because they have competing goals. The goal to save isn't a high enough priority to delay that purchase of the pizza, DVD player, new computer, or china cabinet. So we purchase, buy, consume all our dollars away or, worse yet, go into debt to buy these things. That debt means monthly payments that control our paychecks and make us say things like, "We just don't make enough to save any money!" Wrong, wrong, wrong! We DO make enough to save money; we just aren't willing to quit spoiling ourselves with our little projects or pleasures to have enough left to save. I don't care what you make - you can save money. It just has to become a big enough priority to you.

If a doctor told you that your child was dying and could only be saved with a $15,000 operation that your insurance would not cover and could only be performed 9 months from today, could you save $15,000? Yes! Of course you could! You would sell things, you would stop any spending that wasn't required to survive, and you would take two extra jobs. For that short 9 months, you would become a saving madman (or madwoman). You would give up virtually anything to accomplish that $15,000 goal. SAVING WOULD BECOME A PRIORITY.

The secret to saving? FOCUSED EMOTION. The secret to saving money is to make it a priority, and that is done ONLY when you get some healthy anger or fear and then focus that emotion on your personal decisions. Harnessing that emotion will make you move yourself to the top of your creditor list. Then ask yourself, "Which bill is the most important? After tithing, who should I pay first this month?" The answer is YOU! Until you pay God first, then yourself, then everyone and everything else, you will never save money.

The advertisers and marketing community are affecting our emotions every day and taking every dollar we have by making us see our wants as needs. It is time for this to stop! Emotions make great slaves, but they are lousy masters. No matter how educated or sophisticated we are, if we are not saving all we should be, we are being ruled by emotions, not harnessing them as financial planning slaves.

You can always change your finances -- all you have to do is get started.

We talk about it all the time, but yet find it hard to actually put our thoughts into actions. We all want to get out of debt, yet we continue to spend our money. We all want to retire one day, but we don't ever start saving.

If you have never actually started saving, gotten out of debt or stuck with a budget, it's time to start. Right now. How, you ask?

By taking it a small step at a time.

For example, the holiday's are coming up. Holiday shopping is a big deal to many Americans. Credit cards help carry the holiday burden. Set your goal right now. Don't put your holiday on the credit card.

Why pay for gifts for years to come when you can pay for them now and forget them. Simply start right now. Plan ahead. You can set up a Christmas account at your bank. A small amount is taken out of your checking each month and set aside for your holiday shopping.

Or add up how many gifts you have to purchase. For example, you need to buy twelve gifts. It is currently August. You have five months to purchase gifts in. Divide your purchases up and buy three gifts this month, three next month, three the next and so on. This spreads your spending out over time -- making it easier on your monthly budget.

You can adapt this method throughout the year. Buy Mom's gift in January, Dad's in February, your sister's in March, and so on. You'll have gift shopping to look forward to each month. And you'll miss all the last-minute crowds. It will be nice for your budget and your spirit.

One of the most important things to change about your finances is your long-term financial planning. Have you looked at retirement yet? Chances are that you haven't. But you should. Retirement will take up decades of your life. You want to be comfortable and stress-free during this time. It is what you work your entire life for.

Contribute to an IRA or your employer 401(k) program. The 401(k) is easy, as the money is deducted from your paychecks. You never even miss it. It is saving without any thought.

The earlier you start saving, the more you will have at retirement. You won't have to play catch-up or sacrifice as much.

Start by learning to make the most of your money. Form a budget. Constantly look for ways to live on less. It is an addiction. You start out by realizing how much you can save each month by eliminating your credit card debt. Then you move on to trimming other expenses. Finally, you end up looking at ways to save even more money, such as solar panels for energy and planting a garden for summer produce. It isn't what you would think. It is a lot of fun to watch those pennies stay in your account.

Recently I discovered a tendency to spend less money when I am actually paying for merchandise with real paper bills instead of using a credit card.

Credit and debit cards have become so quick and efficient (almost everywhere you go takes visa or mastercard) that people do not carry money. Instead they have a wallet full of plastic debt cards. The credit card gives people the dangerous ability to buy now and pay later. Many times this can lead to impulse buying, instant gratification is granted without an afterthought to the purchase.

If used correctly credit is good. If you don't pay off your credit cards in full, you are paying several times more than the original purchase price (after tallying up interest, and late fees).

My advice is carry some money. I'm not talking about your life savings, just enough to cover expenses you expect to encounter in the next week. When you have money in your wallet you will definately think about the purchase before handing over your hard earned cash to the cashier. It is easier to quickly swipe your credit card and forget all your worry.

Limit credit card use to bigger expenses such as groceries, and major purchases. You might find yourself thinking before you act, which is a very good thing.

Recently my wife and I went to pay a visit to our Financial Planner. We scheduled the meeting to in order to get a detailed picture of our financial situation. We went into the meeting with our financial records and excitement. After he asked a number of questions about our assests, our professions, salaries, plans, etc. he found that we could combine our debts into a nice Mortage Equity Loan. Then he crunched the numbers and spun off some facts and figures.

At one point in the conversation he actually said and I quote "we're practically giving money after." This is where I started to get an uneasy feeling. Then he went on to compliment my wife telling her that she looks like Nicole Kidman. I was not too pleased because well she was still blushing, and he was eager to get us to start filling out the loan application. I told him that we will think about it and get back to him.

After the 1 hour meeting, I found myself not trusting our financial advisor, because although the plan to combine our debts (- school loan, parent's loan, and mortgage) it would be a poor choice at this time. He wanted to take our equity and increase the amount of time we would be paying off debt. He told us - don't pay off your debts, you're gonna need that money, instead get another loan to combine your debt into one payment.

Basically this deal is good for the bank and not good for us, so we've decided not to take his advice at this time. This brings me to my original question- Who can you trust with your money? How do you know which CPA are really working for your best interest, versus working for their own best interest, they are in business.

Americans love everything to be fast and easy, it is the way of life in America. We live in a fast paced world, where every single second counts. So when something comes by that seems to be a time saver, we love the idea and want to give it a try. As with many other new ideas, Americans are making the move from the bricks and mortar banks to new online banks. We are finding it ever more convenient to bank online and to do it from home.

Statistics show that many Americans are using Internet banking to save money and time. For instance, 22 million Americans used online banking as their main way to deal with their finances in 2004. So unless something extremely spectacular happens to either the Internet or all the banking web sites, then it seems likely that the 22 million figure will rise year after year. Many more Americans will sign up for an online bank account in the future. This might be because of how easy it is to bank over the computer compared to banking over the phone or walking down to the local bank. In addition to this, the only cost you incur banking online is the cost of your Internet connection, which you probably paying already. In contrast, if you phone in transactions to your bank, they might charge you for their service.

The statistics themselves highlight the growing trend of Americans who are using the new banking services and technology. The only problem that Americans may want to know more about the service is the safety precautions that online banks take to secure sensitive customer information. Many Americans each year are victims of identity fraud. Banks are always improving their online security and will mostly replace any funds that go missing if you follow their instructions whilst using their services. Quite rightly Americans are always concerned about their safety, especially when it comes to giving out sensitive information over the Internet. The Internet is rife with spyware and viruses that exist for the sole purpose of extracting information from you. This is the main reason why many Americans are staying away from online banking at the moment. Instead they continue using either telephone banking or going down to their local branch to conduct their banking business.

If you're like most people, then your monthly telephone payment is simply a must-have bill that has to be paid. When it comes time to tightening up the budget or get rid of some of the luxuries, the phone bill will probably be near the bottom of the list. But that doesn't mean you can't do anything to reduce your monthly payment. One alternative many people are starting to use now is Internet telephony, also known as Voice Over IP or "VoIP" for short. But how does this stuff work and can it really save you money?

Internet Telephony 101

In a nutshell, internet telephony works by using your existing internet connection to make phone calls. You simply sign up with the service provider of your choice, choose your calling plan (similar to when you sign up for mobile phone service) and you can take advantage of quite a few benefits over traditional telephone service. First, the phone company charges you extra for long distance calling. If you make a lot of long distance calls, you might not have any idea how much your phone bill is going to be until they mail you your statement. That can be a real shock if you're not keeping track of your calling but with most internet-based phone services, long distance is included in the flat monthly rate.

when you sign up for most internet phone services, you can either keep your existing number, choose a new number or do both. The benefits of keeping your old number are obvious. But there are some advantages to adding a second number also. That's because when you pick your new number, you can choose any area code, even if it's not in your local area. So imagine you have family or friends that live across the country. You could simply add a second number based on their area code, which would cost you a few extra dollars per month. Then, they can call you anytime they want and to them (and on their bill) it's a local call. Depending on how often you talk with friends and family out of your local area, this might be an attractive, money-saving option for you.

Another great aspect of internet telephony is that most services offer you a wide range of features as a standard part of their calling plans. These features are normally things you would have to pay extra for when you sign up with your local phone company - features like call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding, etc. Features like these usually come as a standard part of the calling plans offered by the major providers. And the calls are just as clear as what you get with your traditional phone service, if not better.

Monthly Cost and Equipment Needed

Internet phone service can run anywhere from $9 - $10 on the low end up to $35 - $45 on the high end, depending on the company and calling plan you choose. This is typically a flat fee with no extra hidden charges, taxes or anything else tacked on to your bill. To take advantage of internet phone service, you will need the following an internet connection, a regular telephone and an adapter for your phone to make it compatible with the service (usually supplied by the company). You might also choose to purchase a phone specifically for your new internet phone service, but there's no need to do that initially.

In a previous article, we wrote about how you can reduce debt simply by saving money on your major household utilities. The basic idea is: Reduce the utility bills, so you can put more money towards paying off the debts faster. This article looks at simple ways you can reduce your telephone bills.

1. Turn off the long distance. Yes this may sound drastic, but you'll be amazed at how much money you save. Most phone companies charge you a set fee each month to have long distance service - even if you don't use it. You're also charged more in taxes and other misc fees when you have long distance phone service. Not having the service will also make you think twice instead of simply picking up the phone and calling long distance anytime you feel like it.

That doesn't mean you should go without long distance service though. When you turn this service off with your telephone company, you should replace it with a more financially controllable source.

My favorite long distance alternative is calling cards. Spend just $20 once on a calling card, and you'll have much better control over how much is spent for long distance calls. You don't pay anything extra if you don't make calls one month, and the service is there whenever you need it. Once you've depleated the time available, it's simple, quick and easy to refresh the card.

Another alternative to long distance telephone service is becomming quite popular: The Internet. Email and Instant Messages are used by almost everyone these days, and most Instant Message programs allow you to talk by voice now too. Some even allow you to have both voice and video, so you can actually see the person you're talking long distance to!

2. Turn off the bundled services. Many telephone companies today are trying to sell you on bundles. They claim that by adding 10 different services to your telephone, you'll actually save money. Well... You might be surprised.

In my own experience actually, it was not the case. I added up the services individually and found I was paying more with the bundle than I would have if I'd added them all separately. And to make things worse: I didn't need or want over half of them.

So consider your extra, or bundled, phone services closely. Do you actually need three way calling? Do you use it? What about call return or call waiting? Are they essential to your everyday life? Some people will say yes to these, but I suspect most of us don't really need every single extra we've currently got on our phone bill.

So remove anything and everything you absolutely can, and you may be surprised by how much you save. In fact, just by removing bundled services and long distance from my own home telephone services, I've saved almost $40 a month. That's $480 a year! Couldn't you think of better uses for that money too

One of the best ways to reduce existing debts, is to pay extra on those debts each and every month. Most Americans with large amounts of debt however, believe they don't have a dime to spare for paying extra. It may be easier than you think though. There are a myriad of ways to save money every day, but this article will concentrate on how to save money with one of your most expensive household utilities: Electricity.

Tips on Reducing Your Electric Bill:

1. Plant trees around your home. Trees are particularly useful, because they provide the most shade. You'll want to place the trees to provide the best amount of shade for large windows, and large sections of your roof. Planting trees alone can reduce the temperature by as much as 20 degrees. Creating this reduction in temperature around your house allows your cooling system to not work as hard, and this saves money on the bill.

Trees which shed their leaves in winter are the best investment, because they allow the sun in during winter. This allows your heating system to not work as hard, because the sun provides additional warmth naturally. The trees will also help reduce wind hitting your house, again helping your heating system to do it's job.

2. Clean your appliances. This may seem like a given for many, but I'm not talking about normal cleaning. Your refridgerator has coils on the back, and these get quite dusty and dirty. The more dirt that's built up, the harder the fridge has to work - and the more energy it uses. So clean the coils thouroughly at least twice a year. This will help reduce your electric bill and also increase the life of your fridge too.

Next you need to clean your air conditioner. Or the filter in it rather. Most cooling units have filters in them that collect dust, dirt and grime throughout the year. These need to be cleaned no less than once each year, but twice is better. If you live in a very dusty area, you'll need to clean the filters once a month during the hot season.

The third major appliance that needs to be cleaned is your furnace, or heating unit. These also tend to have filters, and those filters also need to be cleaned regularly. Cleaning this one at the start of the cold season is good, but cleaning it at least twice a year is better.

3. Unplug small appliances. Many people don't realize that small appliances can use electricity even when they're not in use. Modern coffee pots and microwaves are great examples: They have a digital clock display that's on all the time. By unplugging some or all of your smaller appliances, you can reduce the amount of overall electricity being used in your home most hours of the day.

4. Adjust your thermostat. By placing your cooling unit at 72 or higher, and your heating unit at 68 or lower, you can cut the cost of your electricity by as much as 30% each year. Additionally: Adjust the thermostats when you're not home - before you go to work for instance, or before leaving for vacation.

5. Spend more on light bulbs. Replacing your standard light bulbs with energy efficient ones can also drastically reduce your overall electricity costs. It seems more expensive to pay $5 for a bulb or two instead of $1, but you save much more money in the long run. Because not only do these special bulbs use less energy: They also last much longer too!

Many people dread going on a budget because they feel like they will have to give up so much in order to save money. They equate living on a budget to living in poverty. What many people don’t understand is that there are ways to live on a budget and still have fun.

Don’t lose everything

Instead of cutting all the luxury out of your budget, keep a few things that are necessary to survival. So you might have to start bringing your coffee to work every day instead of getting Starbucks every day, you can still go for your weekly trip to the ice cream parlor. Budgeting can’t be instantaneous; it is something that takes time. Give up a little at a time, and it won’t be so bad

Do what you love

Living on a budget does mean you have to cut out unnecessary spending, but it doesn’t mean you can’t still reward yourself. One thing that people cut out of their lives when they go on a budget is eating out. They think this means they are doomed to a life of boxed macaroni and cheese and cheap ground beef at home forever. Why not try to make a fancy meal at home? Do you love the vegetable lasagna at your favorite Italian Restaurant? Well try making it at home? It is much cheaper, and nothing tastes better than hard work. Instead of going to a movie at night, go to a Saturday matinee, which is sure to cut the cost down by at least a few dollars. Eat before you go so you won’t be tempted to buy snacks. You don’t have to completely cut out fun, just scale it down a bit.

Save for a big goal

Instead of just buying what you want, when you want it, try saving for things you really want. If you are in the market for the newest gaming system, save a little bit each month for a few months. It will feel a lot better to know that you won’t have to pay interest on it later.

Sometimes things just come up. You have an unexpected expense, or just flat out forget. Many people think this is no big deal, forgetting to make a credit card payment won’t hurt you in the long run, as long as you make your payment the next month right? Well actually, missing a credit card payment can actually ruin your financial health. There are three main things that can happen when you miss a credit card payment. Each card is different and some are more or less strict, but this is just an overview of what could happen.

Bye Bye Promo

So you get a new credit card with a great promotional rate like 2% for the first year on all your purchases. So things are going along well, you rack up some charges and then one month something comes up. You can’t afford to pay all of your bills, so you figure you will just skip your credit card this time. Well, in most cases, if you do this, you can say good bye to your promotional rate. This rate is a reward for staying a responsible customer, and if you don’t stay responsible you can forget about keeping it.

Default Rate

Even worse, if you don’t make a credit card payment, the company will often change your rate back to the default interest rate which is normally quite high. So if you think that you are having trouble affording your minimum balance when your rate is at a promotional rate of 2%, try affording it when it is at a rate of 20%.

Credit Score

Most credit companies will report you to the credit bureau for just one late payment. This can lower your credit score by several points and can cause you to be turned down for credit in the future. It seems like a lot for just one late payment and it is, but it is not worth it to risk it all for one payment. It is best to pay the minimum, even if you have to move money around a little and may not be able to do something extra like go to a movie or out to eat. But in the long run it will be worth it.

Everyone is making resolutions for the New Year. The three most common resolutions are to lose weight, get into shape and take control of personal finances by starting a budget. Usually by the end of February or even as early as the end of January, these resolutions are forgotten. I know first hand that one of the biggest reasons the resolution for personal finance fail is due to not understanding The BUDGETkeeper SYSTEM’s Budget Killer #3: The Four-inch Problem.

A book written by Tim Piering, “Mastery” states “if you only had two tools to help you succeed, they would be well written goals and the ability to take action despite the “radio voice” in my head.”

The Four-inch Problem and “radio voice” are very much the same. You have to understand that your mind and “radio voice” are very powerful deterrents that will stop you from accomplishing your budget and personal finance organization.

For example, some voices may say “My neighbor spends a lot of money all the time and we have a similar financial position to them”. Forget about your neighbor, you need to wear blinders like a horse in a horserace and look straight ahead and not be distracted by the horse on either side.

In the beginning this theory may be very difficult to apply and understand. However, you must realize that more than 70% of individuals spend 10% or more then they actually make each month. Until you learn to spend only equal or even less than you actually make each month, this theory is going to be very hard.

The voices inside your head telling you why you should not budget are endless. Once you understand that the “Four Inch Problem” and “radio voice” is one of the main budget killers you will be able to take control of your personal finances and stay on a household budget. Won’t it be really nice to say that last year I made a resolution to take control of my personal finances and one-year later I am still honoring my resolution!

This can be accomplished by using the BUDGETkeeper SYSTEM. You must also stick with the SYSTEM’s rules and simple principles to guide you to the road of financial peace of mind.

Thomas Martucci started developing the BUDGETkeeper SYSTEM in 1999. As a business owner for 20+ yrs, he understood the need for a budget in business. At home however, it was never a necessity until a financial firestorm hit and made home budgeting a task that had to be done, like it or not.