Super Saving Tips

How to Save Money on Your Summer 2020 Road Trip

July 14, 2020 July 12, 2020

Summer is here and that normally means summer vacation, right? This summer, however, is very different. COVID-19 has made everyone feel nervous about doing whatever it is we normally do and for older folks like me, even more so. But it is summertime and we all do want to try and get out of the house and have the chance to enjoy the weather. Perhaps even get to the beaches or parks or some other place where we can relax and try to resume some normalcy. When we do any traveling this summer, it will most likely be by driving our cars to our destination. Will that be expensive? Is it safe? What can you do to insure those things and save money on your summer road trip?

Many people are planning a road trip this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here's how to save money on your road trip and travel safely.

Driving Is Better?

According to sources like the AAA, driving is better and safer than flying this summer. During the time frame between now and Labor Day in September, people taking a “road trip” is expected to be up 72% from last year, with 62% of consumers planning to travel by car on their summer vacation. But one problem is that with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to stay safe during your summer road trip and try to keep your road trip on the cheap.

Frugality, Saving & Investing

10 “E-Z Ways to Save Money” Tips

July 10, 2020 July 10, 2020

We all understand and get that saving money can seem impossible sometimes. It’s not even worth pretending that everyone has the innate ability to save money, but that’s likely the reason the headline above drew you in, isn’t it?

If you're looking for E-Z ways to save money, I have ten tips to help you get started without a lot of work. Check it out and get started today!

While saving money may not come easy to everyone, it’s something that anyone can try to do. The idea is that as long as you actually try, there’s a chance. But it’s not all about some drastic cutting back on everything you have and want and it’s not some secret scientific formula that I’m planning to sell to you that will make me rich. It actually is way more subtle than that and that’s why I have called it E-Z. So here are my best E-Z ways and save money tips to get you started!

Home, Retirement

When Does Having a Mortgage Really Suck?

July 7, 2020 July 6, 2020

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Let me be the first person (today at least!) to tell you that owning your own home is a great idea. If you are looking to help build your financial wealth over time, then buying a home is a great way to build equity. It also has lots of money-saving benefits for you as well.

Mortgages are great in that they let many people afford homes, but at a certain point in life, they suck. Having a mortgage in retirement should be avoided.

The alternative to owning your own home is of course renting. Renting is very much like having a big hole that you keep pouring your money into and it never gets filled up. Even in 2020, and with my 70 years on planet earth, owning a home is still a pretty desirable goal to have and a good way to build wealth.

Cars, Entertainment, Frugality, Home, Shopping

Buy Everything You Need When It’s on Sale

July 3, 2020 July 2, 2020

Yes, it’s your biggest dream and a worthy goal. Only buy the things you want and need when they are on sale and always get the best deal when you do it! If only, right? Well, you may not be able to guarantee it, but you can at least try. And that leads me to my mantra and it must always be yours too: Never, ever buy any appliance, furniture, or any other item if it’s not on sale!

To save money on what you need, always buy on sale! Here's when and how to buy everything from homes and cars to clothing and home furnishings.

That must be your number rule if you wanna be “a star in my show”. And guess what? Retailers know you understand that and so they will use every way they can think of to trick you!

Taxes

Will the Pandemic Affect Your Taxes and Services?

June 30, 2020 June 29, 2020

It may be hard to think about anything but the illness and trauma that COVID-19 is causing here and around the world right now. We have just experienced a “springtime” that was at best lost and at worst only a taste of what may be coming down the pike. Outside my front window the sun is shining, but even though everything may look serene, it’s really not. Intellectually, we all know that eventually this pandemic will end. But way before it does end, we are all going to be facing several issues, and among them is this: How will the pandemic affect our local taxes? Will there be a property tax increase?

As the pandemic continues, the economic effects are troubling. How will it affect your taxes and services? Will there be a property tax increase?

Taxing Times Are Ahead of Us

Around the world and here at home, cities, states, and local governments are looking to close the massive budget shortfalls created by the coronavirus pandemic. They all have spent tons of money helping fight this disease and even though there has been money doled out by national and federal government agencies, private companies and public donations, local and state governments are considering raising taxes on homes, cigarettes, alcohol, local businesses, and even global tech giants. Why? Because local economies have seen their budgets decimated because of this virus.

Health

11 Ways to Save Money on Vitamins and Supplements

June 26, 2020 June 26, 2020

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I never really gave much thought about “taking my daily vitamins” when I was younger. Being young has a way of making most of us think that we are immortal and that it really isn’t necessary to take vitamins and supplements every day. That’s for older people and mostly those who aren’t healthy (like me), right? Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth. With the way we live today and our fast food lifestyle, taking some sort of daily regimen of vitamins is not just a good idea, it is really a necessity!

Vitamins & supplements can help to improve your health and save you on long-term healthcare costs. Here are 11 ways to save money when buying your vitamins.

Taking a daily multivitamin can fill the gaps of any vitamins or minerals you didn’t get throughout your day. Even the most health-conscious people still may be lacking in a certain vitamin on any given day, so each vitamin or mineral serves a specific purpose for your body’s needs. It can be anywhere from basic functionality to providing an extra energy boost throughout the day. But buying vitamins can cost significant money, so how can you save money when you shop for vitamins and supplements? Are they worth it in the long run?

Food

Grocery Delivery from a Highly Unusual Source

June 23, 2020 June 22, 2020

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Wondering where and how can you get the food you need without venturing out and taking some risk? You probably weren’t doing much thinking about that before a pandemic had you staying inside most all of the time, were you? But the answer was and still is to order online and have things delivered. I know you know that lots of supermarkets are offering these services as well as retailers like Walmart, Target, Amazon, and others who also sell food and beverage, but what about buying grocery delivery from your local office supply store?

When you need a grocery delivery, have you ever considered an office supply store? They have some great breakroom supplies at competitive prices.

The New World

Ever since the world has been standing on its head after being struck by COVID-19, I have been sheltering in place almost all the time. Yes, I know that many of you are now under the impression that “it’s over” and we are getting “back to normal” as some of our politicians are touting and trying hard to ignite. But when you are older or have underlying health conditions, you are less likely to just hop on board the party train and think that the risks are all gone. Every day I continue to see spikes in the cases and deaths from the disease and for me the risks continue to be just too great. At least that’s how my wife and I both feel about it.

How COVID-19 Is Changing Life Permanently

June 19, 2020 June 18, 2020

If you thought that from March of 2020 through today was weird, scary, and over you had better think again. The coronavirus pandemic which completely upended our day-to-day lives will be with us for a good long time yet and is right now in the process of changing life permanently all over the world. You know it has happened with the advent of masks, gloves, and social distancing on an individual level, but it has also occurred on a much larger scale affecting societal, economic, and political levels.

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing life for most of us. Here are the long-lasting effects I see in our future, both good and bad.

No one knows right now how long the pandemic will last, but certainly the pandemic will eventually end. When it does end, many of the enormous changes that have happened because of the virus will likely return to normal. But some things will never go back to the way they were. The outbreak has affected so many parts of life and so many people that it stands as a pivotal point in our world history and fundamentally it has really altered the way we live. Life has changed and we are going to have to get used to it.