Money Monday
Let’s save some money and organize our offices and finances!
I always keep some generic greeting cards on hand, because you just never know when you’re going to need one. For example: Sympathy, get well soon, thank you, graduation, birthday, etc. This will save you last minute from having to run out to the store.
Often travel agents can save you money based on their supplier relationships or at least match the price you find while saving you time and effort. There are also hidden savings built into trips. A travel agent will likely book transfers for you, included in the price. Sometimes a package you book yourself does not include those, making the experience appear cheaper.
Instead of monthly payments, consider paying your auto insurance for the entire year up front. Many insurance agencies offer discounts when this is done.
When buying or selling your home in a tough housing market, use an experienced, reputable real estate agent to help you. This can help you gain the upper hand as you make offers and navigate your way through a “bidding war” environment. An agent with a track record of helping other homebuyers win bidding wars can be your best offense. Their experience sets them up to do reconnaissance and understand all the angles, and they can help you consider options that will be a win-win.
When people receive cash 💵 as a gift 🎁, usually they put it in their wallet to spend or deposit it into the bank 🏦. But for some reason people look at gift cards completely different, even though they really are just like cash 💵. When I receive a gift card the first thing I do is put a little sticky note on it with the amount on the gift card. If I do not use the full amount the first time, then I put the new amount on the sticky note so that way I always know what the balance is on that card. I keep my gift cards all together in a zipper bag labeled “gift cards”, that way I always know where they are and what I have. Plus, I try and make a conscious effort to use them as soon as possible. I cannot tell you how many homes 🏡 I’ve organized in over the years and we have found gift cards for stores that are no longer in business. (Borders, Linens & Things, Radio Shack, etc.)
Small amounts of money saved daily, will add up to huge amounts of money later. If you spend one dollar a day that equals $365 by the end of the year. If instead you save that $365 and put it into an investment that earns 5% a year, it would grow to $465.84. That’s the power of saving and investing!