Learning how to save money and stay on a budget can be tough if you were not taught the basics as a child at home. Now that you are off to college or out of the house, reality has probably sunk in that the bank of mom and dad doesn’t flow as free as it used to. Here are some basic financial tips that can help you stretch your budget and save where you can.
 

* Pay cash as much as possible. Actually pulling cash out of the wallet makes you aware of how much you actually have and it will help you think twice about spending as much as you would if you used a credit or debit card. If you do have a credit card, make sure you are paying it off every month. The fees add up quickly and carrying a balance can catch up with you fast.
 

* Shop around for the best deals before making a purchase. If you are contemplating a large purchase of anything over $50 or so, look around for deals, coupons, free shipping offers or whatever you can find. By taking the time to find the best price, you will also be thinking about whether you really need this item after all.
 

* Shop around for the lowest rates on bank fees, credit cards, ATM fees, etc. There is a big variance on what banks and credit unions charge so look for the lowest fees and the highest rates where applicable. ATM fees can really rack up fast, so go back to the first tip.
 

* Don’t carry a balance on your vehicle. If you have to buy a car, save up your cash and buy a used model outright. The additional interest adds up and the additional expenses that go along with a newer car, like insurance, can take a lot of your income.
 

* Make yourself save a portion of your income every week/payday. Set a financial budget to save as much as you can early in life so you can retire early and have plenty of cash reserves. Time goes by quickly and saving now for the future can make a huge difference in your life. You don’t want to look back and think of how much you should have saved.

When it comes to personal finance and even business finance, the question has been around for years as to whether it is better to pay off your mortgage early or keep it. There are are different opinions for certain but one this it has to do with is your long term financial goals. Lets look at some of the schools of thought.
 

1) Having a mortgage is a great write off – While this is true if you are doing the long form and can itemize your deductions, you have to look at your percentage of savings and versus your interest paid. Most people are finding that they are saving more money even without the tax write off.
 

2) Using your mortgage as a savings vehicle is not a stable theory right now. Taking the amount of money you would have been paying your mortgage company and investing into an investment process where you can track the percentage of growth makes more sense. Your retirement is going to be much more stable with a greater amount of savings that you were able to invest for your future.
 

3) Eliminating debt is a strong argument – With the instability in the job markets, the investment market and the stock markets, being as debt free as possible is a smart step. What you gain in financial freedom speaks louder than any tax write off.
 

4) Paying those interests rates only make the bank rich – It is scary to look at the 30 year amortization table when you take out a loan… enough said.
 

Sit down with your tax adviser and see how much you would save and gain if you lost your mortgage deduction and started loading your IRA’s, Roth’s, 401(k)’s, Money Markets and every other savings vehicle you could. I think you would start a plan to get your mortgage paid off immediately.

Everyone is looking at ways to save money and for most of us, looking inward at our household spending and tweaking our budget is the first place to start. After trimming the obvious fat, there are still ways to cut expenses without feeling deprived. Here are some tips that you can look at to stretch your household budget.
 

Coupons:
This may seem obvious to many that clipping coupons is a great way to start. It does take dedication and organization. And there are many more places to find coupons then just your Sunday paper. Look on Coupon sites, sign up for manufacturer discount news letters and use their Facebook pages for coupons to print.
 

Earnings Sites
Sites like Swag Bucks or My Points are sites that allow you to print coupons and earn points towards gift cards and other discounts by shopping through specific links and doing other activities to earn points.
 

Daily Deal Sites
There are many daily deal sites that list discounted items for a day so if you are looking to buy certain items such as shoes, clothes, electronics, jewelry and more, they can be purchased for deep discounts.
 

Changing What You Buy
You can save a lot of money by reducing and getting rid of paper products like paper towels, paper plates and changing to use cloth towels and cloth napkins. Many moms are making their own cleaners from basic products like baking soda, washing soda, vinegar and other non toxic items. These items are very inexpensive and you can save a lot of cash by not purchasing commercial cleaners and soaps.
 

These are just a few ways that you can start making a dent in your household budget. Of course, purchasing your personal checks, business checks and banking supplies will help you save more money as well. Check out our great prices and selection.

As a small business owner I often wonder if I am getting all of the write-offs I am due because of my business and personal finances. For many years I used the same tax preparer up until last years preparation. Because of difficulties with my personal finances, a different preparer looked at our taxes. She was able to save us thousands of dollars over what the other guy was doing. What was the difference? She is a work at home tax professional that studies the tax laws and knows them inside and out. She works with million dollar accounts and knows their business.
 

So that makes me wonder – is professional preparation the only way or is self preparation any better?
 

The reason I ask that is because I know that as a small business owner, I need to use a professional. If I even attempted to max my write-offs by preparing the myself, many would be missed that are due to me because of ignorance of the laws. Software programs cannot offer every nuance and situation. But there are many small business owners I know that self prepare their taxes and I cannot help but think of how much money they may be leaving on the table.
 

As one who looks to save and make money any way I can, I am personally and professionally sticking to professional tax preparation. It has been proven to me that the best way to save money is to let a professional show me how!

What is a nondurable Power of Attorney (POA) vs. durable POA and why do I need one?
 

The non durable POA is usually for real estate transactions or when you want to give someone the ability to sign for you and run your finances when a particular event occurs. They are perfect for extended absences such as traveling abroad or in case of extended illness or disability where you are not available to run your finances.
 

A durable Power of Attorney allows your appointed person(s) to act on behalf of you even after you are determined to be not mentally competent or physically able to make decisions. After you sign a durable POA, it may be used immediately regardless of health status, until it is either revoked by you or you die, at which time the POA will expire.
 

Using a POA can be a very useful tool if you have a lot of assets. You can appoint your agent (spouse or other) to manage your finances, buy and sell real estate, pay taxes and many other financially based needs you may have if you are incapacitated or have too much to manage.
 

You can also restrict what they can and cannot use the POA for too; to protect yourself. One thing your appointed person cannot do at all is prepare your will.
 

Using a Power of Attorney can help you if your spouse is active military, travels a lot, or just cannot deal with financial obligations. Many older people use them so their children can help pay bills, etc. It may be worth looking into to see if it is right for you.

How can you help? Make the commitment- Decide to be an organ and tissue donor. You can sign up on your state’s donor registry, which usually comes with your drivers license. Your decision to be a donor may help to save or enhance over 50 lives. To learn more and see how you can help, go to OrganDonor.gov.
 

You can also show your support too by purchasing Checks Superstore Awareness Ribbon Checks with the Green Donate Life – Organ Transplant Awareness Ribbon emblazoned on it. Bring awareness to others by choosing an awareness ribbon check.
 

We have many others to choose from so if this is not the right cause for you, choose another from our big selection. We make ordering your checks online quick and easy as well as securely.
 

Make a difference in someone’s life today with the simple act of showing your support getting involved.

Deductions:
you need to save and file the back up for the deductions that you are taking. So if you have receipts for donations, business expenses, medical payments, etc then you should have a copy of check, paid invoice or some type of back up to prove that the deduction is legitimate.
 

Mileage logs are a must. If you are claiming a deduction for work, charity or medical mileage, keep a separate log.
 

Business Expenses
If you have a business at home and have a dedicated office, you need to read the rules for taking the deduction for that on the IRS website. You will need to keep the bills of each area that you are claiming such as electric, gas, phone, internet, etc.
 

Make sure to keep other backup invoices, bills or statements for equipment, supplies and any other business expenditures. Payroll records, income statements and sales receipts if you sell product. Also inventory records are necessary too.
 

Get Organized
The easiest way to be organized is to use software that you can just back up for your tax preparer. If you do yours manually, keeping records monthly is the easiest method to get it done quickly. Envelopes and file folders work great! Your records and detail can be boxed and stored for 4-7 years depending on what it is for. Check the IRS website for their recommendation on that.

* When comparing car or home policies, make sure that you are comparing like coverage. Sure anyone can say that their insurance is cheaper because they may not be covering you at the same amount as your old company. But if you are looking for 100,000 in liability coverage, 300,000 in comprehensive coverage and 100,000 in collision other wise known as 100/300/100, you need to make sure that is the quote you get from all carriers. Don’t compare apples to oranges.
 

* Compare what you get in services along with your coverage. If your coverage covers towing, car rental and easy claims, ask the price on that for each company you price. Many do not include extras or have hidden costs you were not advised of.
 

* Easily lower your bill by getting higher coverage, but increase your deductible. You can save hundreds a year in a flash.
 

* If you are a home owner, you need to have a minimum of 100/300/100 on your vehicles to protect your home. If you are involved in an accident, having enough coverage to protect your home and your family is critical. You might pay more monthly but will be transferring the risk to the insurance carrier and may not have to pay out of pocket for damages.
 

* If you have multiple cars with younger drivers and homes and/or are a business owner, definitely look at umbrella coverage for your home and cars. This type of policy adds an additional layer of protection over and above your car and home insurance should a large claim occur. There are many perks included in these polices that make them very desirable and they are very affordable. They are also available for commercial coverage should you have business vehicles and building that you insure.
 

Most people see the value in insurance coverage. Paying the insurance company to assume the risk and paying out big claims in your behalf is going to keep money in your pocket should a large claim occur. Enjoy the peace of mind and protect your investments.

As parents we all go through the same thoughts and feelings about our kids. We genuinely want them to do better than we did and to be more financially sound. But how do we teach financial responsibility to our kids in terms that they can understand and embrace? Here are a few tips that may help you show them how to make good money choices and to create future millionaires.
 

If you have younger children at home, it is so much easier to teach them how to save money early. When they understand the concept of money, many parents set up a three part savings system that incorporates 3 portions. A portion to one piggy bank for sharing; another portion to a piggy bank for saving and the final portion for spending. This works well because they can always see how their money is physically accumulating and they can understand visually.
 

Older children can graduate to their own savings account while following the same concept of portioning our a part for giving, saving and spending. Depending on the age, you may want to add in investing or moving money into a college fund that cannot be touched. Older kids can enjoy watching the number on the savings accounts grow and the encourages even more savings.
 

By showing your children how to save money, how to share and donate money to others and how to spend money wisely, the more ingrained it will become in your children and the more they will make smart money decisions in the future. It is a lesson that many adults wished they had learned as kids and struggle with today.

If you are planning a trip overseas or out of the country, there are some things you need to know about how to carry your money. Currency exchanges being what they are, you need to be aware of your options so you can make informed decisions on how to safely deal with your money when traveling.
 

Credit Cards:
These generally are the safest and most recognized money vehicles world wide. They are great for your airline tickets, hotels, car rentals and large purchases. There will be a currency exchange fee on them by the issuing company and the retailer, so your deal that you found, may not be such a great deal when you get home. Ask about exchange fees before your trip.
 

Credit cards are safe to travel with as you can usually get a replacement pretty quick and if it is lost or stolen, you are not liable for unauthorized charges. Some banks will allow you to take cash from local ATM if you have the pin number set up on your credit card. Be aware of extra fees for cash advances on your own card.
 

One issue many be that there are some retailers in Europe, Asia and South America that require a special chipped card that requires a pin that you put in at the time of purchase. The US issuers have not instituted that yet overall. Be prepared with funds from an additional source in any case. Some banks are coming up with Traveler cards that will help overcome this.
 

Debit Cards:
While these are good to get cash, they may not be your best bet for purchases such as hotels, airlines and larger items. Holds can be placed on your funds to cover entire purchases. Make sure it has the PLUS or Cirrus network symbols.
 

Travelers Checks
These are pretty much defunct except for American Express. It may not be a bad idea to carry some with you in case of emergency as American Express offices located around the world will cash them for you. Worth checking out.
 

Cash:
It is always good to carry some cash with you. While exchanging it can be a pain sometimes, you can access it easily. You need it for incidentals, food taxi’s and many more things on your trip. Losing it can be bad as it will not be replaced, but thankfully most places have ATM’s in the cities that you can access more cash in local currency.