Every one of us has a habit which could be costing us thousands of dollars a year, and we may not even realize it. While some of us may have one single habit that is costly, even those fast-food trips and coffee stops add up and could be costing you more than you think.
Marriage can be the ultimate expression of love between two people. However, financial problems are serious obstacles that can test the bonds of marriage. From losing a job to overspending, money conflicts are one of the leading causes of divorce. Check out the following advice to avoid these financial woes to keep the marriage running smoothly.
If you've ever signed up for an introductory trial offer or thought a trial subscription that was cancellable "at any time," was too good to resist, chances are you also know that dangers lurk around the bend. Seemingly low-cost subscriptions, especially when the first month or two are offered at a discount, can be traps that add up to big bucks each year.
Whenever you're faced with the temptation to sign up for a monthly payment subscription, it helps to figure the actual cost on an annual basis before you grab the "opportunity." While a few dollars each month seems reasonable enough, the yearly cost might be cause to pause.
Online subscriptions, payable through automatic recurring charges to your credit card or checking account, can be especially difficult to cancel unless you're very organized and keep impeccable records of sign-up dates and billing schedules. Too many people forget to monitor the charges and find that canceling is too much hassle.
Before you know it, those ‘few bucks a month subscriptions’ are costing you hundreds or even thousands a year. You’re signed up for Netflix and Hulu for movies and tv shows, Pandora Plus and Spotify for your music, you have the premium version of MyFitnessPal, you’re subscribed to Audible for audiobooks, you’re signed up for a dating site and who knows what else. Pretty soon, you have five or more $5 - $10 monthly subscriptions going at once!
It’s an easy trap, and businesses know this – which is why most are switching to subscription pricing models. You see this trend everywhere, from Adobe and Microsoft software to shaving and personal shopping companies.
The thought of having to have a budget may worry you. It may even scare you. It is hard to know how much you will spend every month on the things you need to buy and the debts you need to pay. Yet, you may know that having a budget is critically important to maintaining your financial health. It all comes down to creating a budget that is designed well enough to allow you the flexibility you need. So, how do you create a budget that you can actually follow? Consider these steps.
Saving money is hard, especially when the majority of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. It's a sobering statistic considering most American households are labeled as middle class. Some families have dealt with an unexpected situation that has caused them to fall behind financially. Others may simply not make enough to keep up with their increasing bills. Regardless of the reason, not making enough money to pay bills or deal with an emergency is a serious problem millions of Americans are dealing with today.