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Shiny New is Overrated: Buy Used to Save
Money
Money saving is never easy. Most American’s simply don’t do it.
Yet, saving money is crucial sometimes. It’s a lot better than
using credit. How often do you see a commercial that says,
“Save up for six months and buy this new couch set!” America
wants instant gratification. Unfortunately, that can cause us
to get into debt that we can’t climb out of. Instead of debt,
try saving. Let’s say your short term goal is to buy a boat-you
have a few options. One option is to borrow the money from a
lender. Another option is to charge it on a credit card, and
the final option is to save for a few months and buy it with
your own money. All three ways will give you that boat. Some of
those options are not the wisest. If you use a lender and are
late with one payment, they can put on a 99% interest. If you
use a credit card, you have interest and more debt. If you
save, you’re fine. But, how do you save?
Here are some very practical ideas. First of all, don’t go out
to eat. If you do, get water and share a dish with someone. If
you calculated the amount of money you spend on dining out in
one month-you will most likely be surprised. Save that money,
your short term goal is worth it. Another way to save is to cut
out some extra spending. Instead of going to see a movie, rent
one and stay home with some popcorn. Instead of buying an
entire CD, buy the track and save that money. Another way to
save some money is to buy bulk. This is especially effective
for large families.
Sometimes it’s hard to save up by cutting things out of your
life. This is understandable, not everyone can afford to go out
to eat as much as others. Not everyone can afford nights out at
the movies. In this situation, take your checks and put ten
percent away in a savings account right away. Do this for as
long as you need. Just act like you are literally making ten
percent less until you reach your short term goal. These are
just a few ways you can save for short term goals. Some will
say that if you need extra help financially, there are trained
professionals just a call away for advice. Remember that debt
is never a wise choice to make if at all possible, because of
interest and other things.
When doing your research, consider the following: Look into
these programs: door-to-door, fee-per-ride, ride-share,
carpools, and private shuttle services. Some services require
advanced notice or reservations. Use services that are no or
low cost to seniors.
Use pay as you go or monthly coupons. Use public or private
transportation (taxi, mini-bus or van, bus, rail).
If you’d like to keep your vehicle, it might be a great idea to
fill in the gaps for when ride services are not available. You
might find that you can have greater control over the cost of
fuel by maintaining your own vehicle and using ride
services.
If you decide to keep your vehicle, be sure to look into lower
discounted insurance rates for mature individuals. Also, if you
find that you are moving slower when walking, ask your medical
professional about assisting you with obtaining a handicap
sticker, tag or license plate for your vehicle. Here’s a
suggestion, even if you decide to get a handicap license plate,
also ask for a handicap tag. That way you can display it when
traveling in a vehicle driven by someone else. Check with your
local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for information specific to
your area.
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