Save Money Blog
Tip # 26 Car Insurance - What You Need
When buying car insurance, it's a good idea to figure out what sort of coverage you need. Here are some things to consider:
Don't Get Collision on Older Cars. If you are driving around a clunker, don't get collision insurance. For example, if your car is only worth $2,000 then don't pay $500/year to protect it.
Personal Medical Insurance. Do you already have good health insurance? Then don't buy the Personal Injury Protection option on your car insurance. It's mostly redundant.
State Minimums. All states require you to have auto insurance for liability reasons. However, the minimum amount is quite low. It usually pays to buy more than the minimum liability coverage. If you hit someone and they decide to sue, the legal bills could be quite high, so make sure you are covered.
If you are looking for car insurance quotes, check out our Car Insurance Quote Page, or enter your zip code here:
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We recommend that you get a car insurance quote every year.
Tip # 25 Gym Memberships
Work Out at Home. Try working out at home for free. It's amazing what some people can accomplish with only body-weight exercises and light weights.
Negotiate. The rates at most gyms are negotiable. Don't pay the asking price.
Don't Commit! Don't pay for a whole year until you've proven that you'll use it. And like the prices, initiation fees are negotiable. Ask for a month-to-month membership with no initiation fee.
Insurance Rebate. Some insurance companies give rebates on gym memberships. Worth asking about.
The European Way. Americans spend more time in gyms than almost any other country. Unfortunately, we are also one of the fattest countries. So what gives? Outside of the US, more people stay healthy by walking instead of driving and eating moderate portions of healthy food. If you have a healthy lifestyle, you won't need a gym.
Tip # 24 Use Skype to Reduce Cell-Phone Charges
Like many people nowadays, I don't have a landline. But talking on a cellphone can get expensive. To save my minutes, I use Skype when I'm at my computer.
Skype turns your computer into a phone. You can call other Skype users for free, and other phones for very cheap. All you need is an internet connection and a headset.
Tip # 23 Save on Groceries
Here are some easy ways to save on groceries.
Clip Coupons. Did you know that most grocery stores post their weekly coupons online? This site will help you find the coupons for most national chains. Also, when checking out, ask the cashier if there are any coupons for the items you bought.
Buy Generic. Many generic products are identical to the more expensive brand names - some are even made in the same factory! Haven't tried generic recently? Many store brands, such as Safeway Select, can taste better than the brand names.
Buy Whatever's On Sale. Stock up on your favorite brands when they're on sale. If all of your usual favorites are full-price, then buy whatever is on sale. It's good to try new things.
Double-Check the Price. Watch the register as items are scanned. Make sure you are not over-charged.
Tip # 22 Save on Landline Phones
Still using traditional land-line phone service? You're probably paying too much. Here are some ways to save money.
Internet Phone Services:
Vonage looks and acts just like a regular phone. With Vonage, you can use your internet connection to make phone calls worldwide, for prices as low as $17.99/month.
Another option is Skype. With your computer, you can talk for free to other Skype users, and make inexpensive calls to landlines and cell phones. To use Skype, you will need a computer headset. This is the one I use.
Finally, some people have had success with MagicJack. It's a device that allows you to plug a phone into your computer. It makes calls using your computer's internet, and costs $40 plus $20/year for unlimited calling. Garth, from Oregon, wrote this article about the MagicJack. I'd recommend reading it, since there are some pitfalls to the MagicJack and it might not work for everyone.
To use either Vonage, Skype or MagicJack, you must already have high-speed internet.
Calling Cards:
Don't get long-distance from the phone company. If you want to make a long-distance call, use a calling card. Don't pay more than a couple cents a minute. Beware of connection fees, though.
