CONSIDERO QUE SERÍA CONVENIENTE QUE MIENTRAS TENGAN TIEMPO LEAN LO QUE
MÁS PUEDAN Y APLIQUEN LA TÉCNICA DE TRADUCIR, ESPECIALMENTE LAS PALABRAS QUE
DESCONOCEN, PERO TIENEN QUE SER SINCEROS CON USTEDES MISMOS, LAS PALABRAS QUE
EN ALGUNA OCASIÓN BUSCAMOS EN EL DICCIONARIO APARECEN NUEVAMENTE EN OTROS
TEXTOS; AL PRINCIPIO SERÁN MUCHAS LAS PALABRAS QUE BUSCARÁN PERO PAULATINAMENTE
SERÁN MENOS. ADEMÁS, CONSIDEREN QUE SI EN NUESTRO PROPIO IDIOMA NO CONOCEMOS
LOS SIGNIFICADOS DE TODAS LAS PALABRAS, IMAGÍNENSE LO QUE SUCEDE CON LAS
PALABRAS EN OTRO IDIOMA QUE ESTAMOS APRENDIENDO
25 Ways
to Save More Each Month
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The more
we spend unnecessarily, the less money we save for our true priorities and
future needs. That's especially important in challenging economic times.
BusinessWeek asked financial advisors for tips on how to reduce expenses and
boost savings. Changing spending habits can be difficult, but here are 25
suggestions to get started.
1. Track
Every Expense
Financial
advisors say the best way to control your spending is to know precisely where
all your cash is going each month. There are several options: Make a budget;
keep a spreadsheet of all spending; or buy a computer program designed to help
manage your finances.
2.
Vacation in the Off-season
Reston
(Va.)-based financial planner Frank Boucher says he is taking his beach
vacation in early September, when he found a luxury condo for half its cost
during July and August. Vacationers can also save by staying with friends or
visiting low-cost locations like developing countries.
3. Cut
Out Investment Charges and Fees
Jeff
Seymour of Triangle Wealth Management in Cary, N.C., points out that many
investors end up paying 2% to 3% off the top each year for investing costs.
Lower-cost mutual funds and index funds can slash that bill, savings that
compound over several decades of investing.
Also, save more by taking full advantage of your employer's matching contribution to your 401(k) account.
Also, save more by taking full advantage of your employer's matching contribution to your 401(k) account.
4. Cut
Back on Eating Out
Food is a
daily expense that can add up quickly over time, so office workers can save a
lot just by bringing their lunches to work rather than buying every day. Meals
eaten at home almost always cost less than evenings out, even at more casual
restaurants.
5.
Downsize Your Car
Drivers
stuck with a gas-guzzling SUV might consider selling it and finding more
fuel-efficient wheels. (Of course, that could mean a financial hit given
falling prices for the behemoths.) You can save on fuel and also on auto loan
payments. High car payments are a frequent budget-buster, financial advisors
say.
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6. Cut
Utility Bills, Especially Electricity
Experts
are full of advice on lowering electricity and heating bills: Buy efficient
light bulbs; lower the thermostat; turn off the air conditioning whenever
possible; turn off lights and unplug appliances when not needed.
7. Make
Sure You Don't Have Too Much Insurance
Life
insurance can be a bad deal if you don't have dependents. For auto and home
insurance, deductibles are often too low, advisors say. "You can save
quite a bit by going from a $250 to $1,000 deductible," says Kirk Kinder
of Picket Fence Financial in Bel Air, Md. "Also, shopping these for prices
every couple years is important."
8. Find
Cheaper Beverages to Drink
If you
can break your addiction to fancy coffee, the free office coffee can be a
money-saver over time. Unwilling to give up out-of-office coffee breaks, some
thrifty consumers switch to a cheaper drink at their local Starbucks or other
coffee shop. For alcoholic drinks, quality wines, beers, and liquor can be
found at lower prices with a little research.
9.
Examine Your Phone Service
Do you
need both a landline and a mobile phone? If you have a cell phone, do you need
long-distance service on your home phone? Canceling one line could mean one
less bill every month. Many people have phone packages that are too expensive
for their needs, so read your bill carefully.
10. Stop
Paying for Premium Cable
Some
penny-pinchers cancel cable service entirely to save $100 or more each month.
Others lower their bills by cutting out premium movie channels.
11. Drive
Less; Consolidate Trips
Think
before jumping in the car. By planning and running many errands on the same car
trip, you cut your fuel usage. Rather than driving, consider using public
transportation, or walk, bike, or rollerblade somewhere nearby.
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12. Use
Warehouse Stores Wisely
Warehouse
stores like Costco or Wal-Mart's Sam's Club can be great places to get deals,
but they can also encourage over-spending. "Just make sure you go with a
list and only buy those things that you are actually going to consume,"
financial planner Frank Boucher says. "It makes no sense to get a
'bargain' on a bulk item if you are going to throw half of it away."
13. Lay
Down the Law with Your Free-Spending Friends
It can be
hard to keep up with wealthier or less thrifty friends. Some financial planners
advise cash-strapped clients to seek out social companions with similar
budgets. However, if you're honest about your spending limits, true friends
should be willing to adjust their plans by, for example, choosing a less pricey
restaurant.
14. Find
Free Entertainment
Movie
rentals, cable TV packages, book purchases, concert tickets—it can all add up.
Use your local public library to read books and rent films for free. Depending
on where you live, it might also be possible to find free concerts,
performances, and readings.
15.
Consider Alternatives to a Gym Membership
The
health benefits of a fitness club membership are only worthwhile if you go
often. But there are other options: Exercise at home, outside, or at a local
parks facility. Or, sign up for individual exercise or yoga classes rather than
a full membership.
16. Cut
Your Own Lawn
Michelle
Goldstein of Goldstein Financial Future in Dallas estimates her family saves
$40 each time they mow their own lawn instead of calling a lawn service.
17. Be
Smart with Credit Cards
Financial
advisors admonish clients to pay off their bills each month to avoid interest
and finance charges. For those stuck with debt, move cash to cards with low
interest rates. Some find they spend less on impulse purchases if they cut up
their credit cards and use only cash instead.
18.
Annualize Your Expenses
When
reviewing your spending habits, roughly calculate how much they're costing over
the course of a year. "Realizing how much things cost over the course of a
year can really help put things in perspective," says Bob Nusbaum of
Middle America Planning in Pittsburgh. For example, if you spend $10 for snacks
and lunch each weekday, that adds up to $2,500 in a year.
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19. Force
Yourself to Save
One way
to save more is to trick yourself. Transfer money automatically from paychecks
into savings or investment accounts. With less available in your checking
account, you'll be more careful about your spending. Gradually increase your
automatic savings rate over time.
20.
Institute a Waiting Period for Major Purchases
Wait at
least 48 hours before deciding to buy anything over a certain price limit—$50
for example. After the waiting period is over, "You may decide that the
object desired really isn't worth the price," says Jennifer Hartman of
Greenleaf Financial Group in Los Angeles.
21. Pay
Bills Online—Save on Stamps, Avoid Late Fees
Set up
your finances so bills are paid automatically or online at the click of a
mouse. "There's no reason to pay for stamps and envelopes and run the risk
of a late-payment fee when bill-pay programs are usually free," says Walt
Mozdzer of Syverson Strege & Co.
22. Make
Sure You're Deducting All Business Expenses
Chris
Long of Long & Associates in Chicago says clients often make the mistake of
mixing personal and business expenses on one credit card. That makes them less
likely to get reimbursed for expenses by employers or to deduct expenses from
taxes.
23. Buy
Generic Drugs and Groceries
Store-brand
products in grocery stores are often made by the same manufacturers as the
brand-name items. If you take prescription drugs, ask your pharmacist if a
cheaper, generic version is available.
24. Buy
Used
Cars,
books, furniture, and even clothing can be bought used for a fraction of their
original cost. New cars in particular often aren't worth the extra cost; a
lightly used vehicle can save you thousands of dollars with little or no extra
maintenance expenses.
25. Shop
Smart
Coupons
are a classic way for shoppers to get great deals. Supermarkets vying for
shoppers will frequently run "double coupon" promotions.
Comparison-shopping on the Internet is easy thanks to a variety of sites designed
to help shoppers find the best deals. When retail Web sites ask for
"coupon codes," try to find one by using a search engine. But whether
online or in person, avoid the temptation of bargain-hunting for items you
don't really need. "Most of the time if an item is 20% off, we waste $8 to
save that $2," says Neerja Bhutani of Bhutani-Palmin Financial Planning in
Walnut Creek, Calif.
Fuente: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_105529.html
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