June 2018 – Chill Maadi

Marriage and Money: Getting On the Same Page

If you are married, there’s one word that will send shivers down your spine, no matter who you are. Yes, it’s the “D” word, divorce. They are never welcome events, are always gut wrenching, and cause a lot of pain. It makes sense that couples should work together to improve their marriages on a regular basis before any major problems arise so that the “D” word never enters your vocabulary. Since money fights and money problems are the number one cause of divorce today, why not start proactively working on your relationship by getting on the same page when it comes to money?

Before I continue, it should most certainly be noted that this guide is being written from a Christian perspective. Marriage is an institution created by God, and it makes sense that the Church and the Bible should be listened to when it comes to your marriage. If you’re not a Christian, you probably won’t agree with all of the advice that I have to offer, but I genuinely do believe that my advice will be good for you and your marriage.

When you got married, the pastor said, “and now you are one.” He did not say “and now you are one, except for your money, that’s different.” Everything that is the husbands should be his wives as well. Everything that is the wives should also be the husbands. It doesn’t make sense to have separate finances. Having joint finances will allow you to better achieve financial goals, improve your communication skills, and allow you to learn to work together. Personally, I don’t believe that there’s any other way to go.

If you think that having joint finances is the way to go, you’ll need to sit down and have a heart to heart talk with your spouse. Tell him or her that you would like to sit down tonight and talk about finances. Turn off the television, and cut out all of the distractions. Tell them out of a 1 to 10 of importance, this is at least a 9. Tell them that the sexiest thing they could do for you is to work together on your money. This will definitely get their attention. Tell your spouse why you feel that working together on your money is very important to you.

If your spouse agrees to do this, now you two have some work to do. If they don’t, you can only keep loving them and praying for them. Consider talking to your local pastor or a marriage counselor if your spouse is unwilling to get on board. The first thing that you and your spouse need to do is establish some financial goals. What do you want to accomplish with your money? Do you want to save for retirement, pay for the kids college, get rid of the mortgage, or be very generous? You and your spouse need to write down a list of everything you need to do, and then prioritize them.

After you have your list of financial goals, you need a means to achieve it. You already have it, and it’s your income. You just need to make better use of it. You can do this by writing a monthly budget together. Every dollar that goes in is given a category as to where it goes. There are plenty of online budget forms and tips on creating a budget, and you can find those on your own.

If you have joint financial goals and a budget for the month, you are already ahead of 90% of couples. You’re doing great. Don’t spend a dime that wasn’t in your budget, otherwise you are breaking a promise to your spouse. If something in your budget needs to change during the month, have an emergency budget committee meeting and make some changes with your spouse.

If you can do these things, you are doing amazing. It’s certainly not going to be easy, and it’s going to be a lot of work. After all is said and done, you’ll have greatly increased communication in your marriage, and be a joint financial force to be reckoned with.

The Truth about Making Money Online

Take a moment and open a new tab on your web-browser. Open it up to your favorite search engine and do a simple search for “make money online.” There’s a 100% chance you will see advertisements for companies that give very vague descriptions with promises of making huge sums of money without any mention of work. Let’s face it, when trying to make money on the internet, 90% of the systems out there are crap. There are no easy ways to make large sums of money on the internet, it takes hard work, dedication, and a little bit of knowledge, just like every real job you’ve ever had. Let’s look at the different ways there are to “make money online.”

Scams – When you try to learn about making money online, you will find yourself visiting dozens of different pages with erroneous claims about how you can make thousands of dollars every week, just by following their proven system. Of course they don’t tell you what their proven system is or how it is supposed to make money. If you see one of these, just don’t bother. Their claims are bogus in almost nearly every case, don’t waste your time, no matter how attractive they look.

Get Paid To Take Surveys – You can actually make a bit of money here and there by taking surveys on the internet. There is a lot of misinformation about how much money you will make in hopes that whoever is trying to sell you on the idea will be able to refer you to the website and make some sort of commission. You will have to take a lot of qualification surveys, and if you meet the qualifications, then you can make $10 or so an hour to take a survey, but you definitely won’t get rich off it and probably won’t get more than a survey a week.

Get Paid to Read Email / Advertisements – There are sites online such as Inbox Dollars which will pay you to read emails. I’ve had an account there for several years now, and still haven’t met the $30 minimum to get paid, and I have nearly 50 referrals! The problem is that you’ll get an email every other day, and make 3 cents for each email you read. At that rate, it would take you over 5 years just to get your $30 payment! Don’t bother.

Blogging – Blogging works well for some people, but this takes tons of dedication and research. A lot of people start blogging hoping for some sort of great return from advertising, but the reality is that it takes work, a lot of work. In my first month of blogging, I probably put 40 hours of work into the website and only ended up making $30.00. I know I’m worked for peanuts, but it was fun, and I know that if I stay dedicated to it, over time it could build a following and I might do pretty well with it. Usually it takes years to make any sort of decent money blogging, it’s definitely not a get rich quick scheme.

Freelance Work – If you have special skills such as writing, programming, graphics, or other highly requested skills, there’s a good chance that you will be able to find some work online. The problem is that you need to find people who need your skills online. There are a number of places that will connect freelance workers and people who have projects that need to get done, but often times you have to pay a fee to be apart of these. It’s just part of doing the business. If you’re going to be serious about freelancing, you can make some money doing it, but if you’re just going to think about maybe doing a project some time, you’re better off not quitting your day job.

Why They Want You to Be Broke!

Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki’s Book is Not Looking Out for You! Did you know that Donald Trump wrote a personal finance book with Robert Kiyosaki? Well I found it a couple of days ago and think They Want You to Be Broke!

Why would anyone read a book about how to handle money by two people who had both filed for bankruptcy? Only people who do so poorly with money, they have to throw their hands up in the air and admit defeat that they cannot pay all of their bills file bankruptcy. Now, there are some perfectly legitimate reasons to file bankruptcy, such as a huge medical debt which could never possibly be repaid, but when people file bankruptcy because their business fails or they spent too much money, chances are you should not be soliciting financial advice from them.

Financial author, Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump, CEO of the Trump Organization & now the President of the USA, have written a book about how you should handle your money. The book, entitled “Why We Want You To Be Rich” is Kiyosaki and Trump’s attempt to get together to write a book about their “financial secrets.” In the book, they offer specific advice on how to invest money and become very wealthy. It sounds great to begin with, but there’s a problem.

Both Kiyosaki and Trump have filed bankruptcy. Why anyone would accept financial advice from them defies all logic and reason. Taking their financial advice from them would be like taking dieting advice from the 400 pound guy who lives down the street. It’s just not smart! If you’re looking for financial advice on how to become very wealthy, do what millionaires do! There’s a very well written book by Thomas Stanley called The Millionaire Next Door, which will tell you what millionaires do and how their behavior makes them wealthy. The book tells us that millionaires save large percentages of their money, invest it wisely, and spend very little.

Trump and Kiyosaki have another message. They tell us that they have a new way of thinking, which involves defying traditional investment logic. They tell us not to invest in mutual funds and work hard “because that does not make you rich.” They say that investing in mutual funds is playing it safe, and it won’t make you rich.

They tell us that “safe is the enemy of rich.” There is some truth to this, the greater the risk, often the greater potential gain, but they get it wrong because they ignore risk all together-that’s why they filed bankruptcy! When you let too much risk into your life you are asking for trouble. You could put all of your money on black in Vegas, but not many financial counselors will tell you to do that, because there’s too much risk!

You don’t get successful just because you take risk. You get successful because of your passion for the work, the quality of your work, your focus to be successful and your attention to detail. Kiyosaki seems to believe that the only thing you need to be rich is the desire to be rich, and this simply is not true!

This book really does not offer anything new. It’s simply a rehash of Kiyosaki’s previous books and Trump’s view on personal finance, which no one should take seriously. There are plenty of much better books from people who actually have money and have held onto it for a long period of time that will enable to you become very wealthy, but it requires hard work, dedication, and much more. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey would be a good place to start for those who really want to do what it takes to be rich.

Why Having Groceries Delivered To Your Door Might Make Financial Sense

Most people consider having luxuries delivered them to be a luxury and something that just doesn’t make sense for the common man. Many believe that the added cost of having someone else grab the items for you and deliver them is a waste of money and you’re just better off to do it yourself. For those of us who live in rural areas without grocery delivery services, this is a completely hypothetical discussion, but if you have a grocery delivery service available to you, it might make financial sense. Consider these points before dismissing grocery delivery services as an unnecessary luxury.

It takes less time. You don’t have to take the effort of driving to a grocery store, desperately looking up and down the aisles for the one or two items you just can’t seem to line and waiting forever in the checkout line. Your time has a value, and if you can save an hour or two a week by having someone else get your groceries for you, it could be worth it.

It’s better for your car. You don’t have to pay for any gasoline to get to the grocery store or have additional wear and tear on your vehicle when you have your groceries delivered to you. Instead a van will take all the deliveries for the day out and drop them off for you and anyone else who ordered groceries that day.

Impulsive purchases are avoided. When you’re picking out your groceries online, you won’t get tempted to purchase some sweets that you really don’t need. You are far removed from the items that you are purchasing, so the impulsive purchases that normally occur at the grocery store just won’t happen. You’ll spend less on groceries and end up saving money in the long run.

Better Organization . When you shop for groceries online, you can easily plan out the ingredients you will need to cook for a week and order only those ingredients. It takes all the guess work out of grocery shopping. You’ll have exactly what you need and know exactly what you will be paying for it.

You will eat healthier. When all of the junk food at the grocery store isn’t right in front of your face, it is a lot easier to resist buying it. Since your further removed from your purchases, you can purchase food based on your intellect and what you know is healthy rather than the emotional cravings that hunger causes. You’ll end up getting a lot healthier food, probably without even realizing it.

Five Signs That You Shouldn’t Be Buying a House

Why is it that so many people buy homes and then get foreclosed on them just a few months later? Nobody buys a house with the intentions of losing it back to the bank just a few months later, but it happens a lot more often than you would think. The reality is that many people who purchase homes do so for emotional reasons and are willfully ignorant of their actual financial situation. People will buy a home because they have a new child and the need extra space or because their old apartment or home is falling apart. If you’re thinking about purchasing a home, carefully consider whether or not you can actually afford it before you purchase it. Here are five signs that you have no business buying a house.

You Don’t Have a Down Payment – When purchasing a home, you should be able to put some amount of cash toward the purchase right away. This will give you a substantially better interest rate and if you make at least a 20% down payment, you will be able avoid having to pay private mortgage insurance which will easily save you $100 each month. Don’t buy a home unless you can afford at least a 10% down payment.

You Have a Tight Budget As It Is – You might be able to afford a mortgage payment, but just barely. If this is the case, you should probably wait to buy a home. If the slightest emergency happens, you’ll find yourself behind on your house payment and facing foreclosure. Give yourself plenty of wiggle room and have a nice emergency fund built up as well to take care of any hiccups that come along the way.

You Can’t Get a Decent Loan – If the only mortgage that you can get is an interest only, adjustable rate, or other sub-prime loan, you should wait and work to improve your credit until you are bankable for a traditional mortgage. You might also check into seeing whether or not you can be manually underwritten for a mortgage to get a traditional mortgage if you do not qualify for a loan based on your credit score.

You Don’t Have a Real Need – If you’re a single person and don’t have a lot of stuff, you probably don’t have a lot of need for a home right now. It’s sometimes a lot for one person to handle when you consider the utility bills, the cable bill, the mortgage, the up-keep and regular maintenance. If you don’t have an itching desire to purchase a home, it might be a better option just to live in a nice apartment.

You’re Moving in Less Than Five Years – If you plan on moving anytime in the next few years, you probably shouldn’t be buying a home. When you consider all of the closing costs and fees associated with purchasing a home up front, it probably just makes sense to rent a home for the next few years instead of buying one and then trying to sell it.

Purchasing a home can be a great blessing if you purchase it at a time when you can actually afford it and have a legitimate need for a home, but it can also be a great curse if you buy one when you don’t realistically have the money to pay for it!

Financial Freedom: 7 Benefits of Getting Out of Debt

Did you know there was a time in American history when people didn’t borrow money to buy their homes? Did you know that budgeting, saving up and paying cash for things used to be the rule rather than the exception? Did you know that as each generation comes along in the United States, it takes on more and more consumer debt? It’s all true. We Americans are borrowing money at rates never seen before and it’s going to get us in trouble. It’s time for us to buck that trend, buckle down, live on a budget, and pay off our debts! Getting out of debt will take some work, but there are a lot of great reasons to make the effort.

A Lesson Learned – As you put in all of that extra effort in budgeting, spending less, and working more, you’re going to really feel the true financial and emotional cost of borrowing money. It’s really easy to get into debt because there’s no cost up front and everything’s paid through the back end. By working hard and paying off your debt, you’ll be much less quick to jump back into it.

Cash Flow – Instead of writing huge checks to banks, credit card companies and mortgage lenders each month, you’ll actually have control of your money. You’ll be able to decide where you want it to go rather than having your financial obligations deciding where it goes for you.

Decreased Risk – By paying off all of your debts, you’ve significantly decreased the amount of financial risk you have in your life. You won’t have any monthly payments, so if you lost your job, the world won’t come tumbling down. You could probably squeak by with a service job until something better comes along.

Lower Stress Levels – When you’re in a significant amount of debt, it has a tendency to affect you in your inner-most being. We as Americans spend a lot of time worrying about our financial situations and it adds a significant amount of stress to our lives.

More Free Time – After removing debt from your life, you’ll spend a lot less time worrying about money, paying bills, and pouring over the budget to make it all work out. If one of the family members is working an extra part-time job to help pay the bills, after you get out of debt, there would be the freedom to not have to do that anymore as well.

Freedom To Do What You Want – By getting out of debt, you’ll no longer be an indentured servant to your banks and your creditors. If you want to get up and move to another part of the country or the world, you’ll be able to do it! If you want to take a lower salary somewhere else because it’s what you would love to do with life, you can do it! When you’re out of debt, you have so many more options than you did before. You can make decisions without having to question if you’ll still be able to pay your bills, and that my friend, is true freedom.

15 Ways to Green Your Life and Save Money While Doing It

Let’s face it: between soaring oil prices and rising food costs, it’s becoming harder to make those bills and still be able to go out with your friends, especially if you’re a poor college student. Here are a few easy ways to cut down on costs and feel good while doing it.

Waste

Main point: try to create little as possible and recycle what you can

Recycle: The age-old saying reduce, reuse, recycle still holds true. By using sites such as Our Earth one can look up community recycling programs in their area.

How this saves money: Many of these locations will actually buy back your waste (like aluminum cans) for a set rate. A bit of research into where and what you can sell back could end up saving a few bucks a month. Put this money in a jar and on a rainy day treat yourself to a tasty meal, or put it towards the utilities.

Donate used clothes, books,etc: While discussing recycling, many of the items that are too old or are too tedious to move into the new home can be donated at resale shops or thrift stores.

How this saves money: The very stores these items are dropped off at many times have hidden treasures that can save a buck or two.

Consumption

Smart choices that save you money later

Bring bag to grocery store: The little bags at the grocer can take up to 10-20 years to decompose and they aren’t that sturdy to begin with. Instead bring a bag that can be reused repeatedly.

How this saves money: Once having had to carry a heavier bag, those extra cookies aren’t as appealing, thus cutting down on extravagant consumption.

Buy local: Especially when it comes to produce, many of your local vendors have the same items you are already buying at the grocer, but at a lower rate.

How this saves money: Establish a relationship with your local vendor to secure fresher, cheaper, higher quality food items.

Look for the Energy Star label: Efficient dishwashers, washers and dryers, etc. equal reduced utility bills and are better for the environment.

How this saves money: While some of these appliances might cost more upfront, they save money in the long run.

Change light bulbs: Replace your bulbs with CFL (compact fluorescent lamps). While a bit more at the onset, they have a much greater lifespan and use less energy.

How this saves money: Replace all your bulbs in the house and prepare for a drastic cut in your electric bill.

Use hangers or clotheslines instead of dryer: Especially in the summer months. Just simply hanging the clothes to dry gets the same job done and costs absolutely nothing.

How this saves money: Less you use that dryer, the more you save.

Wear more clothes when cold instead of turning on the heat: Chances are you already have a few comfortable sweaters and sweatshirts that you’re embarrassed to wear outside the house, here is a perfect solution. Another method is to cozy up with someone special.

How this saves money: Same goes with the air conditioning, less you use less you pay.

Conservation

Keeping track of those bills
Unplug electronics when not in use: One of the greatest uses of electricity comes from our appliances when they are not in use. Just simply plug in your toys as you need them for a lighter electricity bill.

How this saves you money: get a longer shelf life out of your gadgets and lower the bills.

Use fans instead of air conditioning: For those times when wearing less just won’t cut it. Fans use comparatively less energy (especially ones with Energy Star labels) to power and are easier to shut on and off. Cool trick-put the back of the fan facing an open window to get in some of that cool fresh air.

How this saves money: Pay to power only one electronic instead of air conditioning the whole house.

Carry a water jug instead of bottled water: Having to keep replacing water bottles is expensive, tedious and produces more waste. In addition the plastic found in the bottles is made from the very oil that’s continually costing you more. Buy a one time sturdy bottle and have your drinking dilemma settled. As an added bonus you can transport iced tea, juice or anything else you would like.

How this saves money: Not having to lug those cases of water bottles every week will reduce stress on your back as well as your wallet.

Turn off air conditioning and lights when leaving the house: Despite what some may think, it does use more energy to keep the air conditioning on all day instead of turning it on when you get home. While you’re at it, shut off those lights as well if you know no one is going to be home.

How this saves money: Not paying to keep your lonely home light and air conditioned through the day equals extra money at the end of the month.

Shower shorter: Take your current shower time. Try to cut it in half.

How this saves money: shorter showers cuts down on the heat and water bills.

Transportation

Offsetting rising gas prices

Biking, carpool, public transport: all these options promote socialization, cost less, and are friendly to the environment. What more could you ask for?

How this saves money: by using your vehicle only when necessary you get the best bang for your buck when it comes to gas.

12 Tips on How to Become Financially Independent

Always complaining on how to make ends meet? This may be the answer you’re looking for.

Here are twelve tips on becoming financially independent that I learned from the books and experience which I tried to implement personally and seemed to work for me.

Spend less than what you can earn.

I think this is one of the most important things that we should do to free us from financial worry. But of course, we should earn a respectable amount to live a decent life. We cannot just be content with our situation. We can always do something to upgrade our economic status.

Buy what you need and be choosy in buying what you want.

This is a bit tricky. The real challenge in this tip is how to determine if what you think you need is not really a want. For example, you’ll say you need a car to bring you and your family from one place to another but then you will probably not be content with just a simple car but probably one that costs more than what you really need because you want a car that looks good thereby bringing its price to a premium. Thus, it becomes a luxury item because you want it that way. But then, you also need social approval so it must look good.

Adopt a simple lifestyle.

Simple lifestyle to me means being able to at least fulfill the very basic physiological needs such as food, clothing and shelter. As Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs put it, there are other needs that had to be fulfilled to attain self-actualization. You don’t need to spend a lot to meet those needs. For example, the need for love, affection and belongingness can be addressed by establishing open communication within the family and having a circle of like-minded friends who you can share your life with. A child will appreciate more a kindly gesture of listening to him/her than giving expensive toys that don’t talk and respond. You don’t need to throw a lot of parties to gain genuine friends.

Invest in things that will improve on your financial status

like education, self-generating business, and hobbies that earn. Well, I worked hard to finish the highest degree possible in education. This provided me somehow the security and the potential for promotion and better income once opportunities present itself. We’ve engaged in a small business that earns little but constantly and here I am writing in Triond hopefully to earn a little something while enjoying writing at the same time.

Avoid making loans or buying in installments.

It’s always better to buy things in cash. You get discounts and spared of the monthly, interest-laden bills. I avoid having to pay in installments especially if items are not really that critical in daily living such as in buying appliances. I can do away with the television because what I always see anyway are mainly bad news.

Many credit card holders have a hard time paying their purchases and get bankrupt because they couldn’t feel the weight of the purchased item’s cost using that plastic card. And I learned that credit card companies put those increasing interest rates in small prints. I once considered getting one before but dismissed the idea. I just wanted to have it so I can make purchases online, not to buy things on credit. I got a debit card instead which served my purpose.

Provide for contingencies like emergencies due to accidents and illness.

This is a tough one for me because my wife got sick with cancer, a rather unpredictable illness that will burn your pocket. But anyway, it had become manageable somehow with some thoughtful decision making. I think this is the hardest part because we can’t really predict what accidents or illness will beset us but it would help to allocate funds for this purpose. At least, my health insurance took care of me when I’m sick.

Keep healthy.

Get a lot of exercise and avoid junk foods that will make you sick. Many of the foods we eat in fast foods have carcinogens because of the way those are cooked. According to New Scientist, a chemical known to cause cancer in laboratory animals been detected in some fried and baked foods at surprisingly high levels. The chemical, called acrylamide, was found by Swedish researchers in carbohydrate-rich foods that had been fried, grilled or baked at high temperatures. Eat healthy foods.

This tip is also tricky because at one point my wife and I discovered that the apple we bought were immersed in formalin to preserve it. So that’s why I kept on smelling formalin every time I ate that apple! Time to put up my own organic garden.

If you are healthy, then you are able to work and earn more.

Don’t keep up with the Joneses.

Some people made it big financially due to many reasons. They may have been born rich, got some luck such as in winning the lotto, some obtained wealth illegally or worked for it. For those who are neither born rich nor lucky and law-abiding citizens, the last one is the only option left. Besides, many people are not really what they seem to be. What you see may just be a mask of who a person really is. For all we know, that person is just a charlatan. We should be content of what we can have.

Buy quality goods.

It is not wise to buy cheap items that do not last. It will be more costly to always change your shoes because of poor quality.

Save first before you spend.

If your attitude is to save what’s left after you spend, most likely you end up with nothing left to save. It is better to have a target savings everytime you earn something.

Use efficient gadgets, appliances, equipment.

I switched from a 85 watt, 17″ CRT monitor to a 25 watt, 18.5″ LCD monitor. That saved me electricity by a factor of more than 3. That will mean that I will be paying less than a third of my previous consumption. This allows me more time to write online.

Trust the Lord will provide your needs.

Just be content with what you can have if you can’t do anything more to do better than that. Surrendering everything to the Lord will relieve you of your burden of wants. Believing in the Lord will provide you sufficiency.

I did become financially independent but there are points in my life that I also need to consider. I couldn’t say no if somebody asks my help and where I need to extend a helping hand. But I thought they should also help themselves become financially independent too. It would be unfair on my part to live a simple lifestyle while I could see their extravagant ways. Should I support the lifestyle that I do not subscribe in?

The tips above, I would say, are all directed to one’s self, that one could do something about. And I realized the struggle doesn’t stop there. Becoming financially independent brings you to a higher level. And that is, to give when opportunity comes. And when I am able to give, that’s the time that I realize that I, indeed, have made myself not only independent but found a way to become generous and live a more satisfying life.

12 Questions You Should Consider Before Signing Up for a Prepaid Card

Curious about a prepaid Visa or Mastercard?

Well they can be extremely helpful to you if you no longer want, need or have no choice anymore when it comes to a bank checking account.

Tired of banks that charge overdraft fees? Have you had some problems in the past with opening up a checking account? Do you have no credit history? If any of these questions apply to you, then you are definitely in the market to find a prepaid card that will give you everything you need. So what questions might you want to consider before signing up?

One. How do I open a prepaid account?

The prepaid card company’s website should offer you a user friendly sign up page or the option to call them and sign up by phone.

Two. How old do I need to be to get a prepaid card?

Some companies will allow you to open a card as young as 14 years of age.

Three. What do I need to apply for a prepaid card?

Applying for the card should be hassle free. Most prepaid card companies only need your name, phone number, email address, social security number, and mailing address. The company usually sends a confirmation letter along with other information about the company and additional services they offer.

Four. How much does it cost to sign up for a prepaid card?

It’s usually free to sign up; however once you add money to your prepaid account, they will charge you an activation fee and monthly service charges will begin. If you use direct deposit to add money to your prepaid card, some companies will waive your activation fee.

Five. How much does it cost to activate a prepaid account?

Activation for a prepaid account is usually free if the company offers a service where you can setup direct deposit to your account. However, if you choose not to use direct deposit, a small activation fee will be applied.

Six. Can I open an account if I am on ChexSystems?

Yes. Prepaid card companies do not do a ChexSystems verification when opening new accounts.

Seven. Do I have to maintain a minimum balance on my prepaid account?

No minimal balance is usually required for prepaid accounts; however read the fine print.

Eight. Does prepaid cards provide monthly account statements?

Yes. Prepaid companies typically provide monthly online statements free of charge. You can also sign up to receive monthly paper statements sent to your home and some charge a small fee. Also, some prepaid card companies do offer options to get free text or email alerts.

Nine. How long does it take to receive a card?

Most prepaid cards are typically delivered within 5-7 business days after you sign up. If you need a replacement card, you will have to request it and you may be charged a fee .

Ten. How do you know that a prepaid card company is legitimate?

Be sure to check to see if they are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. A full report on the company can be found on the Bureau’s website.

Eleven. Can I use the prepaid card like a credit card too?

No, only money that is added to the prepaid account can be used; however check to see if the company offers a line of credit if you have direct deposit setup on your prepaid account.

Twelve. Who can I call with questions about my prepaid card?

Every prepaid card company should provide business hours and contact information.

Other things you may want to consider when signing up for a prepaid card would be:

Do they have a referral program?
Are there any special promotions?
Can they help me build up my credit history?
When you are satisfied with the information you have obtained and all fees are outlined, sign up.

12 Everyday Ways to Spend Less Money

A short list of easy ways to save a little cash while doing everyday things.

Is the bulge in your wallet filled more with credit cards and store receipts than actual cold hard cash? Looking for change at the bottom of your purse or between the cushions of your couch?

Here are 12 easy solutions for spending less money that can be incorporated into your everyday life.

1. Food for Thought
We all need to eat, but we don’t need to eat out. A $10 lunch might seem like a cheap meal, but do this every work day and that’s $50 by the end of the week. That’s a lot for just lunch. How will you afford breakfasts, dinners and periodic snack attacks? Save cash by “brown bagging” it, and taking your lunch to work.

2. List Bliss
So you decided to cook at home (good for you!), but first you’ll need to go grocery shopping. Don’t shop when you’re hungry and never leave the house without a list to avoid impulse purchases.

3. Join the Club
Extend your savings while shopping by using coupons and joining rewards clubs. The difference of a few cents saved from coupons or discount cards can translate to big dollar savings in the long run.

4. Go Generic
From dishwashing soap to flour to even your medications-buying store brands over brand names can give you comparable quality at a lower price.

5. That’s Entertainment
Find new ways of sourcing entertainment. For example: Rather than spending money at the movie theater, why not borrow books from the library for free? (Everyone knows the book is always better than the film anyway!)

6. Kick the Habit
In addition to the health benefits of not smoking, eliminating this habit is also good for your finances. A pack of cigarettes isn’t cheap, so give your wallet and your lungs a break by trying to quit.

7. Kick the Other Habit(s)
Eliminate unnecessary routine purchases such as coffee shop lattes and vending machine bottled water.

8. Good for You…and the Environment
Practicing energy-saving habits can also save you money on bills. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use or turn off the light when you leave the room. Try taking shorter showers. Bundle up instead of using the heater.

9. Do the Legwork
Save on insurance, gas and other car expenses. Shop around for the lowest auto insurance and/or make an effort to drive less. Consider other modes of transportation: pubic transit, biking or walking.

10. Grow Your Savings in the Garden
Find your green thumb and start a garden. Rather than buying produce from the store, grow fruits or start a container garden of fresh herbs.

11. Exercise Restraint
It’s great that you want to stay in shape, but try exercising at home or signing up for just an exercise class rather than splurging on a full membership.

12. Stay on Track
Track your expenses, pay bills on time and budget wisely. Yes, it’s just that easy!

With today’s struggling economy, it is important to watch one’s finances. Even with a limited income, it is possible for people to stop living from paycheck to paycheck. It won’t be hard to incorporate these quick and easy ways to save money into your life. And after a while, you’ll be a frugal-living pro!