Cub Foods — They offer a point program where you can earn points for purchases. Even if you spend a dollar you can accrue five points. Typically its dollar for dollar, so if you spend $80 you earn 80 points. Some products carry bonus points to help with their sale. Once you reach 2000 points you earn a $10 gift card. Not a decent return, but adequate if you’re going to shop loyally. And they also offer your tenth milk free.

CVS ExtraCare Rewards — CVS has a rewards program where you can earn 2% back from any purchase made in store or online. They also offer 1 Extra Buck for every two prescriptions filled at the pharmacy. Again, customer loyalty gives back at this location. If you’re using cash and pay without a credit card then this can mean money in your pocket. The points you accrue will print on your receipt every three months.

Walgreens Rewards — This rewards program grants you payback money when you buy exclusive Walgreen brand products. So if you’re enrolled, you buy the products marked with the Walgreens W and will receive points that can be used in store. Even things like passport photos and digital prints can help accrue Walgreens reward points.

Best Buy Reward Zone — The BB rewards program has been around for a while. If you’re planning on buying a piece of electronic equipment, then you should probably know about this program. Reward points accrue at a $1 to 1 point increment. Every 250 points you receive $5 reward dollars. This comes in the form of a coupon that you can use in store. Being a member of their reward zone also entitles you to decent coupons that appear quarterly and also some Black Friday specials.

I know there are probably quite a few reward programs I haven’t covered. So what program do you use?

The best way to combat financial problems comes with good money management before anything bad happens. A true testament of our financial strength is how well we handle money when life is full of blue skies and flowered walkways. What happens when clouds gather and mud slops up our pant legs?

If you don’t save money each month towards an emergency fund, then you should reassess your budget and make room for this crucial element. According to most financial experts, having two months worth of expenses in a fund should suffice. It will help weather a job loss, giving time for unemployment checks to arrive. It will also help fend off creditors in case something major happens where you can’t pay your bills. It happens. It’s probably happened to many Americans this week alone.

The fund won’t cure all financial ills, but it will help to offset costs, keep credit at a good rating, and allow you to continue providing for you family. A good budget is one that takes into account all expenses. It’s also imperative to track money as it comes and goes throughout the month. If your budget doesn’t fit what you’re actually earning or spending, then it needs to be reassessed.

Do you think your credit card is your emergency fund?
In the past, I’ve thought that I didn’t need an emergency fund because I have a credit card with a high limit. If something happens then I’ll just use that. Something did happen, I used the card, and now I’m paying it off with interest. That’s not the solution. That’s a money sink.

We prepare for the unknown, stick to a budget and track our monthly expenses and income to the letter, then we can begin to find ways to save even more money. It’s possible and it might just save a ton of heartache.

How’s your budget look this month?

A  study by ICOM revealed that of shoppers 35 years-old and under, 60% owned up to using more coupons in the last six months.  Seeking savings can be a huge financial help.  But before you get scissor happy and butcher those innocent glossy ads, you need to ask yourself several questions to make sure what you cut is actually a good deal:

Do I need this item?

So elementary, yet fundamental.  Many manufacturers put out coupons for new products to lure shoppers into trying them out.   This is fine if you are out of deodorant and could try out the new scent with a discount.   While you need to have some margin for basement price hoarding, stick with your grocery list at least 90% of your budget.  Some products (like a new teeth whitening system or all-in-one cleaner) could be purchased much cheaper or not at all.

Become a nutrition label reader.  So many clippable coupons promote buying pure fat and sugar.  You don’t need Cheetos–it doesn’t matter if they are $.05 a bag, your spare tire has had enough.  The same goes for the Little Debbie end cap, frozen treats, and virtually everything on the snack and faux juice aisle.  Cheap doesn’t mean nutritious and you must put your health first.

How much time are you investing in seeking out coupons?

If you plan on integrating coupon searching into your weekly chores it will become easier and faster the more you practice.  But it starts to become a time sucking sickness, look at your opportunity cost.  If you spent four hours three times a week to reap $120 in deals, your time might be better spent finding a work-at-home part-time job instead.  Give yourself a time limit and stick to it to avoid wasted time.

What does the fine print say?

Grab a magnifying glass and inspect the miniscule novel at the bottom of your coupon.  Can you use it on more than one item?  Is there a minimum purchase?  Is it a mail-in rebate (if so, burn it)?  Know what it says because the checker surely won’t understand it.

Do you pay for coupons?

Are you a subscriber to a coupon service?  Do you buy your coupons from Ebay?  Do you get the paper mainly for the deals?  Check out sites like Coupon Sherpa that combine online, printable and even mobile coupons in one spot. Take advantage of the folks who mail deals directly to you for free and always ask to subscribe for mail out promotions from your favorite stores.

Is it truly a good deal?

Be careful if the deal requires that you by a ridiculous amount before redeeming any offer.  This encourages waste at home unless it’s a frequently used product in the house.  Sometimes even with deals on cake and muffin mixes you’ll make out better baking from scratch.  Avoid the convenience foods, even ones with an attractive coupon.

Could I get it cheaper in bulk?

Know your bulk store prices.  They rarely change and usually offer the same products year-round.  Let hubby take the kids for thirty minutes one evening and do some product research at Sam’s or Costco.  Make a list of your most frequently purchased items and what they cost per ounce.  Compare your list to the coupon offers to make the best-informed decision.

Who will give me the greatest discount for my coupon?

Call your area grocery stores and inquire about double and triple coupon days.  Put it on the calendar and do your shopping accordingly.  If your coupons don’t expire for a while, watch for sales on the item to score even bigger savings.

About Luke Knowles

Luke Knowles is the co-founder of  Coupon Sherpa and his cohort of money-saving super hero friends The Frugals.  Visit CouponSherpa.com to find reliable online coupons, printable coupons and grocery coupons. You can also download the free Coupon Sherpa iphone app with mobile coupons.

1. Cleaning out the gutters — this time of year, the gutters can get clogged with leaves, debris, and sticks. When your gutters clog, the water has no where to go. It ends up flooding over the edges and can do damage to your foundation, or worse freeze when the temperature drops. The heavy load of ice could damage the structure of the gutters and even cause a backlog into your attic. Take an hour over the weekend to clean them out.

   Cost to clean? $0

2. Put weather stripping on doors and windows — if you live in a cold weather climate, then weather stripping should become a common word. It’s simple to install and relatively cheap. You can do it yourself too!

   Cost to install weatherstripping? $10

3. Replace batteries in smoke alarms and CO2 detectors – I don’t have to mention the dangers inherent with a fire or CO2 exposure. You know. So buy the 9V package of batteries and make sure to protect yourself and your family.

   Cost to replace batteries — $6
   

4. Re-caulk bathtub and around sink – When was the last time the tub was sealed? If you can start to see it shriveling in its crevice, then its past time for it to be replaced. Don’t think you can do it? It’s really very simple. Buy a tube of 100% silicone bath caulk and take it home. Scrape the old caulk from around the tub, clean the area really well, let it dry, then apply the caulk to the crevice in a smooth line. Use your finger to push the caulk into the crease. Allow it to dry for 24 hours. Done.

   The bathtub that has old caulk can allow water to seep behind the tub and create mold. The mold can get into the walls and grow. This can be a nightmare to repair and end up costing a fortune.

   Cost to re-caulk bathtub? — $20 (caulk gun $15 and $5 tube of caulk)

Refinancing can be a breeze compared to the original financing process. Depending on your housing market, many mortgage companies will do a streamlined refinancing process that eliminates the need for financial records. This largely depends on what the mortgage company believes your home to be worth coupled with your payment history.  If the value of your home took a nosedive during the housing downturn, then now might not be the time to refinance.

It does cost money to refinance. There’s closing costs and an escrow account to fill back up with the real estate tax, PMI, and home insurance funds. Many times the closing costs can negate a few years of payments, if you have no money to pay for the costs out of pocket. This can hurt you in the long run, but with the economy and so many foreclosures, sometimes it’s a necessary evil in order to get out of a financial rut.

Typically if you’re switching from different types of loans, then you’ll want to fully understand the difference. A fixed APR greatly differs from an adjustable rate. Know what you’re going to be paying, how the loan differs in terms and payoff limitations, and all the other fine print.

If you’re going from a fixed mortgage to another fixed mortgage, make sure the change in interest rate justifies all the closing costs. If you can save money in the long term, then you’ll be better off. Remember to think about ten years from now. Will you be financially able to pay more on your mortgage? If you believe you will be able to, then the mortgage interest rate won’t play as big a factor. It’s about math. We all need to become math students when dealing with fixed rates, adjustable rates, closing costs, and all the other variables.

If you decide to refinance, make sure you shop around for a bit. The first bank might come at you with a good rate, but there may be an even sweeter deal to be found with a little legwork. Good luck locking in a terrific rate.

I recently looked at my bank account and noticed the gas station charge. It was over five dollars, actually a full dollar more than the cost of my Cornnuts and coke. So how did that happen. I rummaged through my receipts from the and indeed verified they had charged me a dollar more than the receipt said.

The problem seems to be that many gas stations and other places now charge a service fee when you use your pin with your debit card. Ridiculous. Now I’ve heard of gas stations verifying you have funds by holding $1 on the card, or even a larger amount. But this is a blatant service charge for using my debit card.

In a society that’s very rapidly moving towards electronic banking and transactions, it’s more than disconcerting to find businesses charge money to use the same card I can use elsewhere and not receive a $1 penalty.

To be clear, it appears gas stations only charge $1 if it’s below a certain cost. When I fill up my car, I don’t receive an extra $1 charge with my debit. I’ve yet to talk to the gast station about it, but I would just like others to be aware. Maybe cash really is king? Little nickel and dime charges can really add up. I and I’m sure you don’t want to be losing a $1 every time a cornnut craving hits. I guess I’ll have to hit the ATM and stick to cash transactions. At least then I know what I’m paying.

Just last week I read how natural gas charges should be lower this winter than they were last. The decrease shouldn’t be a surprise to most. The real question is whether your utility company has locked in higher rates for the winter due to forecasting costs. For the most part, all of us in the harsh winter states should see a lower utility bill and we’ll passively save money as a result. But let’s get active! How else can we save money on the utilities this winter?

1. Remember that thermostat I walked by? If it was programmable I could have set the time of day for different temperature ranges, which means we would save money while we’re out of the house. No need to heat an empty home, except to keep it mild.
2. Now might be the time to add an extra layer of insulation in the attic. The added insulation will allow heat to stay trapped in the house and not slowly seep through a small layer of insulation. It’s a DIY project, but be sure to use a service like Angie’s List to find a respectable contractor if you don’t have the time or the desire to do the work.
3. Be sure to change your air filter in your furnace. Having a dirty one can lead to more energy being used to heat your home.
4. When we had our baby, I read somewhere that the hot water heater temperature should be turned down to 110 degrees. While this helps us save our little one from inadvertent burns, it will also help you save money heating water you won’t use.
5. A few years ago, I helped a friend wrap an insulation blanket around his water heater. The unit was in a tight cramped closet, which was why he called for my help. This solution also helps to eliminate dissipating heat from the heater. Assuming you don’t have a cramped space, the project should be a quick job.
6. Remember to use plastic over windows that have a draft or to install weather strips to eliminate that cold breeze. It can make a world of difference in heating costs.

While this is a huge topic, I think I’ve hit on some key things we can all do to winterize our homes. If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments. Stay warm!

Get out from under the debt. A debt snowball outlines your overall debt, and then each pay period you throw whatever is leftover towards one debt until it’s erased. It’s really a gratifying feeling, and can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars in interest fees. If you have the funds, pay whatever extra (the snowball) to the car loan each pay period. This will help to reduce the principal on a simple interest loan, and cut the time from your overall loan period.

If the snowball plan won’t work with your budget, you could ask the loan holding bank if you could pay twice a month on the car loan. This effectively reduces the overall amount you’ll pay in interest, which can amount to one or two full payments, depending on the length of your loan.

Use any additional funds you receive to payoff the car loan. Suppose a relative passes and they leave you a good chunk of cash — instead of buying a new flat screen, put the money towards the car loan. The same goes for tax money, extra savings, aside from your emergency cash, and other sources of revenue. Have a hobby that makes you a bit of cash? Put those added funds towards your car loan too.

Has your credit rating improved since you bought your car? Maybe you would be qualified for a lower interest rate now that you’ve straightened out your finances. Check with the loan originator for a lower interest rate. If it’s possible lower the time period too, if the lower interest rate lowers the payments significantly.

If you don’t have extra money to pay down the loan, then maybe it’s time to create a budget and forage out the cash. It might also be beneficial to take a second part time job or to do odd jobs to make some extra money. Getting out from under interest payments will help you as you go on your way to creating wealth.

The Small Business blog will focus on ways to help businesses improve their improve their cash flow, reduce their operating costs, and increase their bottom line.

Read more about Alfonso and the Small Business blog’s goals in his profile.

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We also have a great writer named Kay writing about Home and Garden topics, where she focuses on ways to decorate and create on a budget.

Let’s help support the newest members of the Save Money network, as they bring us content to help us stay on budget, work within our means, and develop new perspectives on old habits.

How will the plan work for those who have insurance?

The health care plan will reduce federal subsidies to hospitals that care for the uninsured. Many hospitals take in the uninsured and receive subsidies to pay for the cost of that service. Since more Americans than ever will be insured, this fund can be dropped as those hospitals should be receiving money from insurance payouts instead of from subsidies.

For the most part, the hospitals will likely either become efficient in their patient care or pass the lost revenue back onto their patients. The overall effect could be a good one for many of these hospitals, but bad for the individual receiving services from them.

Another effect of the bill would be similar to the hospital subsidies. The plan calls for lower payouts for Medicare coverage. This could be another blow to hospital revenues and the money they used to pay for certain clinics and services might close as a result.

Other Factors and Thoughts

As an insured individual, I’m a bit concerned about the cost to my own coverage. What will happen to my annual premium rate? According to Erik Gordon, a health care analyst and assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, my costs might increase close to $780 a year. At least, if I’m a family of four. The cost of health care could be passed on to me, the insured, for anywhere from 10% to15% of my existing cost.

And, according to a CNN Money article, I could lose five key freedoms found in my existing policy. There’s so much to discuss and consider with a healthcare overhaul. Of course, from the viewpoint of the uninsured, the key issues take on a different hue. I’m fairly certain the bill would benefit many, but at what cost?