Evan Vitale

Evan Vitale – Tips to Save Money While Moving

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Moving to a new town; new house or apartment can be one of the most stressful things you may have to do in life.

Most people must move due to their employment requirements; college or a family need. All of these changes cause many people to make poor decisions when it comes to moving.

I’m writing this blog as a friend of mine is currently moving and I know the pain he’s suffering as he’s trying to wrap up things in one location, while starting new things in another location.

The biggest concern is the additional expenses that go hand-in-hand with moving. Do you move your possessions on your own, or do you hire a professional moving service to help you?

If you choose the “do-it-yourself” model, you’ll be responsible for packing everything; renting a truck; loading said truck; driving it to your new location; unloading the truck and unpacking your items. It is a lot of hard work and labor.

If you choose to hire the professional, most will pack; load; haul and unload your possessions saving you time and wear-and-tear on your body. This is the easiest method, but it can be expensive. The best way to hire a moving company is by a referral. Talk to friends and family members and see if they can recommend a local, professional (and ethical) moving company that you can hire.

My friend who is moving is taking the “do-it-yourself” approach. However, as he prepares to move, he has decided to host a garage sale and sell off most of his possessions rather than move them (especially heavy furniture). He says some items are old and he’d rather sell them at a low cost and not have to move them to a new location. Instead, he’ll buy new furniture at his new place at a later time.

If you choose the “do-it-yourself” model, try to get some friends and family members to help. You can take your time packing boxes (don’t make them too heavy) and offer to buy pizza for everyone who helps you load up your truck. Maybe someone will offer to drive the truck for you!

With either approach, the best way to prepare for a successful move is by planning ahead. Pick your moving date and work backwards. Give yourself enough time to pack; turn off utilities; forward your mail and rest a little bit on the packing and unpacking side of things. Don’t hurt yourself!

Moving is not fun, but if you take proper steps and good planning, you can help alleviate some of stress that is caused by moving.

Evan Vitale – Get Back On Your Budget!

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By Evan Vitale

As I write this, it is hard to believe that June 2017 is just a few days away. Which begs the question: How are you doing on your personal budget for this year? Making progress? Struggling a little or have you totally discounted creating and sticking to a new budget?

Don’t give up. There is hope and here are some ideas that you can use to either create a personal budget for you or get back on track.

Ready? Here you go:

  • During the month of June, create a plan – a good plan – with the idea of moving into the second half of 2017 of sticking to a new budget for yourself.
  • Review and give full consideration in all areas that you can possibly think of in order to cut extra spending and save money. For example, review your cell phone bill, cable tv service and other regular monthly expenses. In many cases, a quick call to your cell phone or cable TV provider can save you some money quickly.
  • Start eating more meals at home. While eating out at restaurants or fast food places is fun (and yummy), you’ll quickly burn through any extra money that you can be saving for a rainy day. A friend of mine and his wife plan to eat one (and only one) meal out per week.
  • Take your lunch with you to work. Again, this will keep you from eating lunch out and will help you save money and time.
  • Take your coffee with you in the morning. Consider how much are you spending at Starbucks or other fancy coffee houses every money. By taking your own coffee, you’ll save money and time.
  • Other ideas include: forming a car pool; using public transportation; find a cheaper parking lot (if you have to pay for parking), etc.

Regardless of where and how you cut your budget and start saving, there are many areas in which you can review and start trimming the fat. It might be a little painful at first, but the rewards are greater in the end.

Evan Vitale – Tax Return Tips

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By Evan Vitale

Although it’s only the middle of February – and Valentine’s Day might be on your mind – you don’t want to wait too long when it comes to preparing and filing your individual tax returns.

Now, if you own a business, I’m hoping you’re already on your way in getting a few things off to your accountant so he/she can have plenty of time. It’s an entirely different ball of wax when it comes to business tax returns. A delay here can cost you plenty in penalties and fees.

On the individual side of things, by now you probably know what you need to do. Make sure you have the proper forms from your employer(s) and your other necessary paperwork in place. Here are a few other things you may need to consider:

  • Are you going to file online or in paper format?
  • Do you think you’ll owe taxes this year or will you be expecting a refund?
  • Make sure you have the necessary paperwork for your State, County and Local returns. You definitely don’t want to be out hunting for local paperwork on April 15th!
  • Are you using software to file your return? If so, make sure it is updated. Again, don’t wait too late in either downloading an update or purchasing a software update. The longer you delay, the harder it will be in finding software at your local office supply store or in download speeds as you get closer and closer to tax deadline day.
  • If you are printing out necessary tax returns, always make sure you have plenty of paper and printer toner on hand. Again, finding out you are out of ink will set your body into panic mode, especially on April 15th.
  • Finally, depending on your location, you can always expect websites will be slow (or might get overloaded) and Internet speeds will also be slower the closer and closer you get to the tax deadline. Give yourself plenty of time in case of possible delays.

Do all the necessary groundwork now and plan to set aside some specific time on a specific day in order to get your tax returns completed and filed on time!

 

Evan Vitale – Setting Personal Goals (Part I)

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By Evan Vitale

When it comes to creating and setting a goal, we all have the best intentions in mind. We want to save for a vacation or a new car; lose weight or purchase a new cell phone or computer.

Unfortunately, the goal-setting enthusiasm soon fades away. We let other obstacles, interests and distractions get in our way and we eventually lose sight of our goal.

Why?

Setting a goal is a good idea. You have a plan. Goals (or at least one goal) gives you purpose, motivates you to take action, helps boost your self-confidence, helps you do more in your life and makes you better at what you do.

Some people set goals only once a year (New Year’s resolutions). However, you can set a goal at any time. They can be weekly or monthly goals; short-term or long-term goals, or even goals for your life.

The most crucial part of setting and reaching your goals is segmentation. Break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized targets.

For example, let’s say you want to save money in order to buy a new car. Great!

Now, break down your goal into segments or steps. How are you going to reach your goal? Do you need to save more money? If so, how much each week and how will you do that? Do you need to cut expenses? If so, how? Do you need to get a part-time job? If so, when will you start looking and how many hours per week do you need to work at your new job?

See how that works?

Break down your BIG goal into smaller steps. Figure out how you are going to reach your goal. This will help you take baby steps into getting to your ultimate target.

In our next blog post, we’ll share more points about setting and reaching goals.

Evan Vitale – Keeping Your Car Cool

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By Evan Vitale

Traditionally August is the hottest month of the year. Soaring temperatures and high humidity can take a toll on the human body.

However, August is also tough on automobiles, so here are a few tips on how to keep your auto running well during this hot month and avoid a trip to the mechanic:

  • When your car is cool, check your radiator fluids. If your radiator coolant has a milky or rusty color to it, then it’s time to have it flushed and changed. Remember: never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot. If you don’t want to do this yourself, have your mechanic check it for you during regular oil changes. You should always have your system flushed every 24,000 miles.
  • Visually check your hoses for any leaks or cracks.
  • Get into a regular habit of checking your oil level. Learn where your car’s dipstick is located and how to check your oil level. Depending on how much your drive, oil should be changed ever 3,000 miles or 3 months (whichever comes first).
  • Keep an eye on your battery for corrosion around the battery posts. This will cause a poor connection making it difficult for your car to star and pull proper power during the summer months.
  • Obviously, air conditioning is extremely important during the hottest month of the year. An easy test is to stick a thermometer through your car’s air vent to see how cool the air is that’s pumping into your car. If it’s not cool, you may want to consider changing your car’s cabin filter, which should be done every 20,000 miles. If you can’t get your AC to blow out cool air, then you should see an auto mechanic.
  • Always keep an eye on your automobile’s temperature gauge (located on the dashboard) to make sure your car is not getting ready to overheat. Typically, driving at high speeds, idling in traffic or at a stop sign or running the AC will cause your car to heat up faster. If your temperature gauge is starting to climb to HOT (and possibly overheat), a quick solution is to turn off the air conditioner and turn the heater on MAX (yes, the heater!). This will help vent some of the engine heat and keep your car from overheating.
  • The biggest concern during the summer months is an overheated car. If your car becomes overheated (and the little light on the dashboard warns you of such a problem), you should never continue to run your car as this can lead to expensive damage.
  • Always keep an eye on your tires during the summer months and check your tire pressure frequently. Check your automobile manual to make sure you’re inflating your tires at the correct specifications.

These tips will help you – and your car – stay cool during the hottest month of the summer. Drive safe!

Evan Vitale – Big Savings At Dollar Stores

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By Evan Vitale

You’re probably used to seeing them in just about every town and, sometimes, they are located in nearly every strip shopping center these days.

No, we’re not talking a Starbucks Coffee shop, either.

Instead, “dollar” stores are becoming a very popular retail destination for many people (young and old) when trying to stretch your dollar, stay within your monthly budget, and find good days on every days products.

Dollar stores have come a long way. They are no longer the dirty, low-rent stores selling absolute and out-dated products. Have you visited one lately?

Dollar stores are easy to operate and, in some cases, the inventory is refreshed with new products added almost daily. Here are a list of things you can expect to find at a dollar store:

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Paper goods, such as napkins, paper towels
  • Personal health care items, such as shampoo, etc.
  • Toys, coloring books, etc.
  • Party supplies
  • Pet care, automotive products
  • Office supplies and back-to-school supplies
  • Seasonal items, especially for Christmas, Halloween, etc.
  • And, yes, in some cases, food items including soup, tuna, bread, drinks, candy, etc.

When you visit a dollar store for the first time, take your time and browse every aisle. You’ll probably be surprised at what you find and you’ll quickly spot items that you’ve purchases elsewhere (and paid more money).

Get into a habit of saving money by making the dollar store a regular weekly stop on your shopping trips. Some will visit the dollar store first before going to their regular grocery store.

If you’ve haven’t been a regular shopper at a dollar store, it’s definitely something you should consider when living on a tight budget and saving some money!

Evan Vitale – Give Coupons A Chance

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By Evan Vitale

You’ve probably have seen or heard of the “extreme” couponing reality television shows in which a mother (or family, dad, etc.), buys a ton of groceries and pays next to nothing because they used a million coupons in order to make their purchase.

While you might not be ready to go crazy with coupons, you can definitely learn more on how to effectively use coupons in order to save money.

Just to get started, here’s where you can find manufacturers’ and local coupons and start saving a few dollars on your weekly grocery bill:

  • The Sunday newspaper. Always a good place to start finding coupons as the Sunday paper usually contains many coupons.
  • Magazines, such as Women’s Day and food magazines.
  • Local newspapers, weekly newspapers and grocery store flyers.
  • In-aisle coupons. Sometimes you can find these next to the product.
  • Grocery store bulletin boards sometimes carry coupons or rebate forms.
  • On the Internet. Some grocery stores are doing this now, so see if your favorite grocer is publishing online coupons.

When using coupons, make sure you read the detailed information. Are there any coupon restrictions? Do you have to buy five items in order to use the coupon? Pay attention to the coupon expiration date.

Be aware of the grocery store’s policy when it comes to coupons. Most have changed their guidelines because of extreme coupon users. Check to see if your grocer has a double-coupon day? Do they have a Senior Day that might give you an extra 5-10% off your grocery bill? Does your grocery store match competitors’ coupons?

Please note there may be restrictions on Internet coupons, coupons without a barcode, some coupons may not be automatically doubled (like meat or dairy products).

You don’t need to go crazy and buy a coupon organizer if your main goal is to save a little bit of money on the products you regularly purchase at the grocery store. However, just a little bit of coupon-clipping can go a long way in spending less money and saving more.

Evan Vitale – Save Money With Thrift Stores

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By Evan Vitale

One of the biggest ways you can save money, have nice things and save money – all at the same time – is to consider going shopping at thrift stores.

Now, I realize that some people are turned off by thrift store shopping. However, the vision you have in your mind is entirely wrong with the way most thrift stores operate today. When you find a good one, you’ll know it: the store is clean, organized and sells nice clothing and merchandise.

Most people hit the thrift stores for clothes and there are some great deals and great finds to be had. Look for the brands that you like and currently wear. When you find something, check for tears, stains, missing buttons, etc. Most thrift stores have dressing rooms, so you can try it before you buy it.

Thrift stores also carry household goods, gifts, electronics, picture frames, shoes, hats, books, toys and more. Sometimes, you can find something that’s new, unopened and still wrapped in the original box!

The trick to finding the best deals is to visit a thrift store first thing in the morning when employees and volunteers are stocking the shelves. Thrifting experts say Monday and Tuesday mornings are the best days to go, but this might vary from store to store. In addition, some thrift stores have coupons or sales specials, such as “Senior Citizens Day” etc.

Before you make your final purchases, do a final check with everything in your cart and make sure you feel good about your purchasing decisions. Double-check tags, sizes and condition of the items you are going to buy.

Once you take your items home, clean everything and immediately wash any clothes you’ve purchased as there is virtually no pest or bacteria that will survive after its been through a good wash and thoroughly dried.

If you’ve been avoiding the thrift stores because you one heard a “horror” story, it’s time to give them a chance. Update your wardrobe, find some inexpensive gives, stay within your budget and continue to save some money!

Evan Vitale – Save Big on Food Costs

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By Evan Vitale

One of the biggest expenses we face every day is the cost of eating.

Whether we are avid grocery store shoppers or enjoy eating out for meals every week, our consumption of food is one area that you should definitely watch what you spend and look for ways on how to save on your weekly eating expenses.

Of course, we’re not talking about cutting way back to the point of eating saltines and drinking water every day. Instead, let’s look at some reasonable ways in which you can save money, but still enjoy the kinds of foods you like to eat.

Here are some helpful tips:

– Take your lunch to work. We’ve probably heard of this one our entire lives, but it’s true. Taking your lunch to work saves money from eating lunch at local restaurants and fast food joints. It also saves time during your lunch hour of standing in line or waiting for a table during the busy lunch time.

– Use coupons whenever you can. If you like to shop and purchase name brand products, using coupons is the only way to go. Here, you can still enjoy the brands you like to purchase, but save a few dollars at the same time.

– Join the grocery store’s shopper club. Yes, they are going to track your purchases, but they also give you discounts each week on certain products when you use your shopper card. Some grocery store chains even offer fuel points which give you up to $1 per gallon of gasoline based on the fuel points you have earned with your shopper’s card.

– Consider buying the store brand instead of the name brand. You might not notice the difference in taste or quality, but you will notice the savings.

– Keep a grocery list at home; take it with you and follow it. By doing this, you’ll avoid impulse purchases and keep your grocery budget in line.

– Cut the number of times you eat out each week. If you’re eating two or three meals at a restaurant each week, consider cutting it to one or two at the most. Cutting out one meal at a restaurant can save you up to $75 a month (per person) depending on what and where you eat.

These simple tips will indeed help you save on your grocery shopping and food consumption bill. Eat well, but save, too!

Evan Vitale – Saving Money At Home

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By Evan Vitale

We all look for ways to save money, trim budgets and make ends meet when things are getting a little tight in the financial department.

However, there are some easy-to-find money saving ideas that you can find at home. These include:

  • Electricity. Of course, we all know the rule of turning off lights when we leave the room, but you should also consider using low-wattage, energy-efficient light bulbs as well. If you are in a habit of turning on a porch light, consider turning it off sooner (before you go to bed) or switching to a motion light which only turns on when someone approaches your house.
  • Appliances and electronics. While this also goes into the “electricity” category, always consider using energy-saving appliances if you need to buy a new appliance. In addition, your DVD player and other electronics are actually “on” and burning a little bit of power even when you turn them off. Consider plugging them into a surge protector and turning it off (or unplugging it) when your electronics are not in use.
  • Call your electric and/or gas company. Most of these offer free energy inspections to help you save on your electrical and heating and cooling costs.
  • Do you have a home phone service through your Internet provider? Do you also have a cell phone? Is there a need for two phones?
  • Cut back on your cable TV service. Call your cable TV provider to see if you can reduce your cost by dropping down into a lower-priced tier.
  • Take quicker showers or consider saving water by using a low-flow shower head. This will save on your water consumption and it will also save electricity/gas needed for your water heater.
  • Speaking of water heaters, buy a water heater wrap. This will help prevent heat escape from your water heater year round.
  • When possible, use less hot water to wash clothes or with your dishwasher.
  • As temperatures warm up with the upcoming summer months, try to use a fan or a ceiling fan at night to stay cool instead of running an air conditioner.
  • When summer arrives and you rely on the air conditioner more often, you’ll save energy and costs by setting the AC at a specific, comfortable temperature and never change it. Some say 70 degrees is ideal for both day and night temperatures.

This is a simple start. As you look for ways to save money in your home, you’ll be surprised at other opportunities you will find.