Saving Money

Money may be the root of all evil, but excessive spending is an evil you can avoid. Tired of living paycheck to paycheck or dipping into your meager savings every month? You need to create a budget and stick to it. Read on for top tips on budgeting wisely.

Imagine not having to write a rent check every month, not dealing with the hassle of late fees if you forget to drop off your check (which has probably been sitting on your kitchen counter since the first of the month, just waiting for you to deliver it to your landlord) in time, and never having to worry about bouncing a rent check. How can all of this be possible? The magic of the credit card.

When it comes to renting an apartment, it’s not quite as simple as whipping out the family American Express card. Apartments require cold hard cash, either through a check or money order. And since the initial amount due can be quite high, it’s best to start saving up early when you’re thinking about moving. Typical move in costs include first month’s rent, an application fee, and a security deposit. And if you’ve enlisted the help of a broker, you’ll have to pay them off as well. Apartment loans come into play if you’re actually investing in an apartment complex by purchasing one or many units. These could be for people wanting to become property managers, or individuals looking for an investment they can live in!

You’ve found the perfect apartment, and you couldn’t be happier. After a week of inner debate, you’ve finally gotten over the fact that the rent is a little bit more than you had originally intended, but the apartment is the epitome of elegance and comfort, and you just have to have it. I mean, you can deal with spending a little less on groceries each month, can’t you? But read closer… a $500 pet deposit? Can you deal with giving Fluffy away? Hidden fees are a huge part of finding the right apartment. Fees differ between complexes, and it’s up to you to ask the management about what these fees are for, and by how much they’re going to deplete your shopping funds.

The holidays loom with turkey legs, pilgrims, holly, and ho ho hos, but the spread on the table and the number of presents under the tree might be severely limited this year. Why? Because heating oil prices are expected to be at an all time high in the winter of 2005-2006, leading to a potential 30% increase in energy bills this winter. Other than denying little Tommy his coveted bicycle or action figure, or scarfing tofurkey (it’s just $50 for a Tofurky feast that feeds four! ) instead of a real bird, what might you do to save money in the coming months? We’ve got a bevy of tips for knocking down your heating bill by enough dollars to satisfy the kids—big and little—this winter season.