10 Tips to Save Money on Your Prescriptions
4. Consider the possibility of splitting higher-dose pills.
It is a known fact that there is often very little difference in price when it comes to different dosages of pills. A 50mg pill will often cost almost the same price as the same pill in a 25mg dosage. Find out from your pharmacist if the medication you are using comes in different doses and if it is safe to split the larger-dose pills or not. It is important to note that some pills are not safe to split, but your pharmacist will be able to give you reliable advice in this regard.
This was my favorite tip on this list. Also, you could look into the possibility of getting a prescription for taking a pill twice a day, but only take it once. Of course, you should never do this with medicine that has a big impact on your health. That would be ridiculous. It’s more of a tip for convenience presciptions like allergy medications, etc.
A Workout Mind Hack You Can Use For Your Finances
When you’re trying to start an exercise routine, many experts suggest that you should tell yourself that you only have to go for ten minutes. If you don’t feel like continuing after ten minutes is up, you can go home and plop back down on the couch for more reruns of King of Queens. It’s so much easier to convince yourself to go for that run, bike ride, etc when you know that it doesn’t have to be an hour of misery.
So, you get out the door, fully intent on coming back in ten minutes. But, once you start going, you think to yourself “Well, I’m already out here. I’ve sweated enough that I’ll have to take a shower. I might as well go a little longer.” You’re likely to keep going once you’ve broken that metaphorical coefficient of friction.
The same effect can be applied to saving. The thought of saving up a couple million dollars for retirement can seem daunting. But, forget about that end goal in the beginning. The only thing you need to do right now is get started. Tell yourself that the only thing you have to do is set up a Roth IRA and put SOMETHING in it. Whether it’s $1, $10, or $50, it doesn’t matter. Just put something there every month. What you’ll find is that you’ll probably start bumping that number up as time goes by. You’ll be motivated by the fact that you’re making progress, and it will be easier to contribute as the balance grows and grows.
So for today, the only thing you have to do is get started. If you want to quit after that, you can. My guess is you won’t.
Technology That Pays for Itself
It’s widely known that many of your electronics continue to use electricity even after you’ve turned them off. Your home entertainment center is one of the worst offenders.
But, constantly turning the power strip on and off is a pain, and unplugging a DVR means it won’t record your favorite shows.
Belkin has come up with a great solution. It’s the Conserve Smart Energy-Saving Power Strip. For the about the same cost as other decent surge protectors, this one helps you solve the problem of vampire electronics.
It’s got a “master” plug that can be used for the tv. When you turn your tv on, it automatically turns on the other plugs to your receiver, blu ray player, etc. It also has two non-controlled outlets that will always stay on, which is great for the DVR.
Over time, this piece of tech is going to pay for itself plus more, and it’s good for the environment. I highly suggest you pick one up and give it a try.
First things first… Bankrate, I love you guys. Your site provides a huge benefit to consumers, and I am the first to send people your way to find the best fit in terms of credit cards, banks, etc.
Now that I’ve put that out there, I have to say that I disagree with the post below. It proves that most people think that the only way to come up with $2,000 extra is to make cuts in spending. What about making more money?
A lot of people could be making $2,000 more per year at work, but they’re too afraid of asking for a raise. Also, you could create something and sell it. For some reason, people are more willing to choose an option that involves less effort in the short term, but more overall in the long term.
I mean, have you actually used one of those free text apps? It’s only free if you get your friends to use it too (good luck with that). And ditching cable to watch shows online is a pain! I’ve tried it, and it’s really annoying to juggle all of the different things you have to do to watch your favorite shows.
When trying to come up with more money, you should first think about a way to earn more. It’s a lot easier to earn $100 than it is to save it. Then, look for ways to set up recurring savings, like negotiating your cable bill. Only after you’ve exhausted all of those options should you begin to look for one-time savings, like clipping coupons.
How to come up with $2,000 out of thin air
Could you use an extra $2,000? Here’s where it’s hiding. Find it and stash it.
· Get free text messaging apps like Text-Plus or Kik instead of paying for a texting plan.
· Sell your unused gift cards. Find a gift card exchange website and sell the cards you won’t use to other buyers.
· Pay attention when grocery items are on sale. Most supermarkets have sales in 12-week cycles. Stock up on items when they’re reduced.
· Most gyms give you the ability to freeze your membership during the summer months. Use these warmer months to exercise outside, freeing up room in your monthly budget.
· If possible, increase your insurance deductibles. If you’ve built up enough savings and can cover a higher deductible, you can save on your premium cost.
· Consider ditching your cable subscription, and watch TV shows on online streaming services or on-demand.
· Ask for discounted rates when shopping for telephone and internet services. Request to be billed promotional prices given to new customers on services you already use.
How have you saved money in a pinch?
Source: bankrate.com
cnbc:
What the New 401(k) Rules Mean for You
Many 401(k) plans have poor investment choices and very high fees, but new rules from the U.S. Department of Labor will now require disclosure of 401(k) fees.
Photo: Getty Images
I know, I know, 401(k)s are boring to think about. But, a lot of people make a ton of money off the fact that you don’t pay attention to it.
Take the time to learn the ins and outs of your plan so you know if it’s worth it to contribute beyond the company match, or if those funds should go into a self-directed IRA instead.
Source: cnbc.com
Q:Hi! I'm a huge fan of your site. Do you have any tips for finding inexpensive plane tickets, especially during busy travel seasons like the holidays? Do you have any favorite sites, apps, etc? I searched around the site but couldn't find anything. Thanks in advance!
I’ve used just about every travel site out there, and it’s really just a personal preference since they all tend to have the same prices when it’s all said and done. Orbitz supposedly has a program where they send you a check for the difference if someone books the same flight at a lower rate, but I’ve never seen a check come in the mail myself.
If I’m looking for a dirt cheap, last minute flight and I don’t mind flying with one of the lesser known carriers, I’ll go to CheapOair.com to see what I can find. If you end up going that route, use the coupon code CHEAPOAIR10 to save a few bucks.
Hope that helps!
7 Surprising Facts About Roth IRAs
Did you know that dividends aren’t taxed in a Roth IRA? Or, that you can use up to $10,000 for your first home purchase?
Check out the link above for more great features of Roth IRAs.
Use the Ten Second Rule to Cut Impulse Purchases
No matter how frugal you think you are, most of us make silly impulse purchases now and again. If you want to cut down on those types of purchases, frugal living blog The Simple Dollar recommends using the ten second rule to stop and ask yourself a few questions before you buy.
Source: Lifehacker
How I Saved 8.7% on a Home Improvement Project
So, the tile in our master bathroom shower was falling apart, and I knew that it needed to be redone before I had some serious water damage to repair.
I’m doing the work myself, but tools and materials aren’t cheap. I was looking for any potential savings that I could find.
If I’m buying a bunch of big stuff from Home Depot or Lowe’s, I like to order it online and then pick it up in the store. They will put your order together and have it waiting for you at the customer service desk. It saves you from having to navigate the store while carrying a bunch of 8 foot sheets of plywood.
Typically, when I buy something online, I’ll do a quick search for any promotional codes to cut down on the cost. Unfortunately, there weren’t any for Lowe’s at that time.
Then, it dawned on me that there are services out there like Cardpool that let you buy discounted gift cards. Low and behold, they had Lowe’s gift cards that you could buy at an 8.7% discount. So, I selected enough gift cards to cover my order, and chose electronic ones so that they would be emailed to me right away.
Once the gift cards showed up in my email, I simply entered my order online for in-store pickup and paid for it with the gift cards. I had about $735 worth of gift cards, but I only paid $671 for them.
So, for about 2 minutes of work, I saved myself $64.
Keep in mind, they have gift cards from all different types of retailers and restaurants, but it’s probably only worth it if you have a big purchase coming up.
Have any of you done something like this successfully?
The Comfort Principle: Spend Money Where You Spend Your Time
Are you spending money on the things that you use most during the day? You should…
Source: Lifehacker
