Discover Card 2015 Cashback Bonus Categories

Discover Card offers a 5% cashback bonus on a "seasonally rotating" list of spending categories. For the Q1 2015, these bonus categories are as follows:

Q1 2015: Gas & Ground Transportation: Gas Stations, Trains, Buses, Taxis, Rental Cars

Discover has not yet announced what the specific categories will be for the rest of 2015. But based on the information currently on the Discover website, these are my guesses as to what the cash back bonus categories will be:
Q2 2015 (Food and Fun): Restaurants and Movies
Q3 2015 (Summer Spruce Up & More): Home Improvement Stores, Department Stores, and Amazon.com
Q4 2015 (Holiday Shopping): Online Shopping & Department Stores purchases

PF Stock

Cheap Thrills: Financial Spread Betting

Traditionally, trading in foreign exchange or in stocks and shares comes with a high bar to entry. Dealing with fees, commissions and taxes have historically put such markets out of reach of the average man or woman in the street. It is refreshing, therefore, to see Financial Spread Betting (FSB) opening these close markets up to low-budget, cost-conscious individuals.

In an ideal world, our financial portfolio will entail a budget for entertainment. If it also has something set aside for high-risk investment, FSB provides the means to hybridize the two. If you have a pocket of cash set aside for a recreational purpose, FSB is worth investigating.

FSB delivers precisely what it sounds like. Nothing is bought and sold; instead we are invited to bet on the movement of stocks and shares or currency movements. If they move in the direction we have predicted, the bet pays out; the more the stock moves, the more the bet pays. The downside to this is that the provider stakes a range that the stock has to move before we start to win and, potentially more seriously, losses are worked out on the same basis as wins. In other words, if we've called it wrong and the market goes against our bet, the more wrong we are, the more we lose.

Naturally, this equation calls for some insight into the stock or currency being bet on. It also points to the logic in treating FSB as a form of paying play, rather than an out-and-out investment vehicle. Some people do use FSB as a full-time trading vehicle, but these are very much the exception rather than the rule.

Accessed via either a browser of a desktop app, FSB has the great merit of being available 24/7 as thousands of different worldwide markets exist to trade on. There is a danger that one might be tempted to playing in an area about which we know very little. Once again, the rational approach is to deal solely in areas about which we have some actual knowledge.

There are free demonstration applications available on sites such as Tradefair which offer a perfect way to acquaint oneself with what is an undeniably fascinating medium. The desktop delivers a highly sophisticated dealing screen, complete with a range of charting and analytical tools. Watching prices shift moment by moment and seeing your account balance move correspondingly is a thrill in itself.

CC by AndreasPoike

Even without actual cash at stake, making decisions based on the trending of a particular stock or commodity is an intense, nerve-wrenching business. FSB is undeniably the closest that any of us are likely to get to trading on Wall Street, but if there is an area in which you enjoy some measure of insight, FSB offers the means to capitalize on that.

More involved and more scientific than sports betting, but too short term in nature to be considered anything other than a speculative investment vehicle, FSB occupies a middle ground on the financial map; part fun, part investment. It is, admittedly, an unusual hybrid. But for all that, it is something well worth taking a look at. If only because it offers a taste of what being a high roller might be like.

Use It or Lose It: Flex Spending Accounts

It is that time of year again when companies hold their annual open enrollment. This is when employees have the opportunity to change medical or dental plans, and to opt into making contributions to a flexible spending account (FSA). In general, a flexible spending account allows one to deposit pre-tax dollars into the account to pay for medical expenses, or to pay for dependent care. (Note that these are two different types of accounts.) The ability to use pre-tax money to pay for expenses is a good benefit that can save you money.

One thing to keep in mind when contributing to an FSA is that most flex spending accounts operate on a "use it or lose it" basis. This means that any balance you have in the account at the end of the calendar year is forfeited to your employer. This is something that I would rather not do, since I never want to leave any money on the table.

Warning:
In the current economy, I also want to warn my readers of one more potential hazard with FSAs. Having been downsized before, I can tell you that the "use it or lose it" provision also applies if you are terminated without cause (i.e., laid off). Any money that you have left in your FSA plan when you are terminated will be kept by your former employer. This may seem totally unfair, but that has been my real life experience.

PFS

Save Big on Overpriced Junk

A while back, I was reading a review of a rewards program with dubious benefits. One of the comments went something like this:
"Yea, that rewards program is basically a scam. The points can only be partially applied to overpriced junk in the form of a small discount."

I guess that comment could apply to many reward programs. A couple of them that come to my mind are Citi Easy Deals, and Verizon Smart Rewards Points. Can you think of any more?

As for the original poster, here's what he did with their offer letter: "I threw it in the trash."

PFS

Money Tips #8: Plan Your Finances

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received, each categorized by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for Planning Your Finances

• Check your banking statements. Be careful of rewards programs where you might have to pay an annual fee!
• Best tip for saving would be to set up automated withdraws to IRA's, savings accounts, etc... What you don't see in your bank account, you won't spend.
• Don't necessarily choose the cheapest insurance, choose a company that will cover you in a loss AND has good premium costs.
• This is not as much a money saving tip as it is a budget on a shoe string. I divide my monthly bills into my paychecks and pay that portion each and every paycheck. This was it is smaller amount and easier to budget.
• The best tip would be to save more than you spend. Other solutions would be to always survey prices using certain apps that can scan barcodes and also to keep track of daily expenses with a limiting budget set for each month.
• If you want a new car. Start saving the monthly payment for at least 6 months prior to ensure you will be able to afford it. Also if you save it for 6-12 months at $500 a month that is $3000-$6000 cash. You could use this to buy a used car paid in full and start saving the monthly payment again but 12-24-36 months. This will then give you $6000-$18,000 cash to pay for a very nice car including the trade in value of your car you bought for 3-6 grand.
• Never spend change, just save it.
• My best advice is to budget, budget, budget! And, like the above poster mentioned, saved change adds up in a hurry. Lastly, avoid impulse purchases like the plague lol.
• I believe in setting realistic goals for myself when figuring out what I should be buying and saving. I know my needs vs. wants. I spend based on both, but I only spend on the wants if I have enough to cover those expenses. Too many people spend over the amount they really can afford because of impulse spending. That's bad budgeting. I've learned to plan ahead. Keep a "rainy day" account for those emergencies that may pop up. Plan for the future.

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed most of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation.

Also See:
PF Stock Money Tips #1: Use Coupons
PF Stock Money Tips #2: Credit Cards
PF Stock Money Tips #3: Taxes
PF Stock Money Tips #4: Shopping
PF Stock Money Tips #5: Organize Your Purchases
PF Stock Money Tips #6: Reduce Wasteful Spending
PF Stock Money Tips #7: Live Below Your Means

Money Tips #7: Live Below Your Means

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received, each categorized by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for Living Below Your Means and Saving Money

• Automate your savings so you'll be sure to pay yourself first.
• Pay yourself 10% first. David Chilton's advice will serve you well. Also - don't pay bank fees! Get a no-fee bank account at PC Financial or ING. Use a no-fee credit card and pay off your balance. And finally and most importantly - Spend less than you earn! [PFStock: David Chilton is the author of the classic personal finance book, The Wealthy Barber.]
• Do not carry credit card balances. Realize you cannot Keep Up With the Kardashians.
• Make a budget and stay on it and always avoid the temptation to "keep up with the Joneses."Make a budget and stay on it and always avoid the temptation to "keep up with the Joneses.
• Contribute the most you can to a 401(k) plan at work.
• Read PFStock and other personal finance blogs.

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed most of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation.

Also See:
PF Stock Money Tips #1: Use Coupons
PF Stock Money Tips #2: Credit Cards
PF Stock Money Tips #3: Taxes
PF Stock Money Tips #4: Shopping
PF Stock Money Tips #5: Organize Your Purchases
PF Stock Money Tips #6: Reduce Wasteful Spending

You Can Still Apply for a US Airways Credit Card

Even though US Airways and American Airlines have merged, it is still possible to apply for a US Airways credit card. Following the merger, the US Airways brand will eventually be retired. Even so, there is still a limited opportunity to apply for the US Airways Premier World MasterCard. The card gives you 40,000 bonus miles after your first purchase, but it carries an $89 annual fee.

If you fly on either US Airways or American Airlines, this is still be a good deal because 40,000 miles is more than enough miles for a domestic a round-trip flight. The reason why there is some urgency for people wanting to take advantage of this offer is that the offer will certainly disappear when the US Airways brand disappears.

This US Airways credit card is issued by Barclaycard. The American Airlines version is issued by Citibank. To be honest, I had canceled both my US Airways and American credit cards a while ago. I had applied for them long before airlines started offering such generous sign on bonuses.

But if you don't fly on either US Airways or American, it is probably not a good idea to apply for this card. In that case, I suggest the Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard with no annual fee as it is my favorite travel card. Travel rewards can be used on any airline or actually for any type of travel. This one gives you 20,000 miles (approx. value $220) as a one-time bonus. They also offer the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World MasterCard which offers a 40,000 mile ($440) bonus, but has an $89 annual fee after the first year.

Let me know if you have US Airways MasterCard, or have other comments. Thanks.

PFS

Money Tips #6: Reduce Wasteful Spending

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received, each categorized by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for Reducing Wasteful Spending

• My best money saving tip is to reduce wasteful spending like cigarettes, liquor, eating out... and to coupon when you can... you will save money faster than one might think.
• My best money saving tip is to reduce the amount of monthly bills you have to the smallest number possible. For example get rid of cable, you do not need it. You can get rid of all the monthly bills except electricity and phone.
• I try to save my money because I am a college student.
• My best money saving tip is to buy something even if you don't need it (except foodstuffs) when it's on sale, especially if you use it, because then you won't need to buy it when you need it.
• A saving money tip I suggest is don't spend on unnecessary. Spend on needs, not wants!
• One money saving tip is loose your cable company. With today's platform integration, who needs regular TV? There are so many free options with internet TV and YouTube. I say who needs it?
• Stock up when commonly used items are on sale.
• Money Saving Tip~ BUY GENERIC EVERYTHING. Generic is just as good as brand name!
• Lots of good tips. I try to buy whatever I need when it's on sale and try to save every extra cent I can, which is hard to do today with the high price of rent, etc.
• I grow a garden in the summer and try to put up as much as I can to have fresh veggies and fruits during the summer and preserved food the rest of the year.
• I set aside a food budget. I do not use any other money outside of the food money. It helps us plan better and get what we really need.
• Shopping around and comparing prices... never buy right away!
• My best tip is wait one week before buying any large ticket (non-essential) item. It truly gives you the time to think about the item and stops you from an impulse buy. It seems so simple but I have really instituted this rule in my life for anything over $100.00 and I have saved a large amount of money doing this. The time also gives you an opportunity to shop around and decide if you really need it and maybe, yes maybe, you forget about the item. If you do, you have saved money and realized eventually that it wasn't that important (when you think about it again in the future).
• In addition to using coupons and shopping around to get the best price you should work to keep the things that you have in good working order so that they don't need to be replaced and get as much use out of everything as you can - for example, you can use less than the recommended amount of laundry detergent and still have clean clothes; you can use half as much toothpaste and still get clean teeth, reuse disposable items (with care, you need to be sure that they CAN be reused without harmful effects) or don't use disposable at all.

Also See:
PF Stock Money Tips #1: Use Coupons
PF Stock Money Tips #2: Credit Cards
PF Stock Money Tips #3: Taxes
PF Stock Money Tips #4: Shopping
PF Stock Money Tips #5: Organize Your Purchases

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed most of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation.

Win an iPad

PFStock is doing it again! We are giving away another Apple iPad. This time there are two ways to enter: sign up for Personal Capital and/or Tweet about the giveaway.

Personal Capital is an account aggregation service like Yodlee or Mint. It is free to sign up. They will ask you for an Email address and telephone number. Someone with Personal Capital may try to contact you. If you are not OK with this, then don't sign up.

In order to enter the drawing, you must sign up for Personal Capital AND link at least one financial account to your portfolio (10 entries). I will also allow one entry for tweeting about the contest.

Sign up for Personal Capital by using the link, or by clicking the banner ad.



A winner will be selected approximately 3 weeks after the close of the contest. This is to allow time to verify valid entries with the sponsor. The winner will receive a new Apple iPad mini (16GB, WiFi version). The winner also has the option to select a $300 Amazon gift card in place of the iPad.

Update: The iPad giveaway is now over. Thanks everyone for entering. The winner has been selected and notified. Thanks everyone for entering.

If you have any questions, please Email me. Good luck to everyone!

PFS

Create a Budget in Less Than an Hour

If you’re looking to become financially secure, the first thing you need to do is get a good understanding of your current finances. In order to do this you’ll need to work out a budget. It’s actually pretty simple to create one.

By following just a few simple tips you could have a detailed budget ready within one hour.

Working out your incomings and outgoings
The first step to creating a budget is to write a list of all of your outgoings and your incomings. That way you’ll soon see whether you’re spending more than you’re earning.

It’s important to write absolutely everything down. Include not only your bills, but your daily spending too. How much do you spend on food and entertainment? Do you allow yourself small treats on a daily basis? It can help to keep a diary for a week and see exactly how much you’re spending.

The Money Advice Service offers free useful calculators to help you work out where your money is going. Using online calculators is a great idea as it saves you a lot of time and effort. It will automatically calculate the total and show you exactly how much money you have left over.

Making adequate savings
Once you know exactly what’s coming in and going out, you can then work out where you could potentially save money. For example, could you save on those daily expenses? Instead of driving to work every day, could you share a car some days to save money? There are many ways you can cut back on your budget; you sometimes just have to think outside of the box.

As well as cutting back, you may also be able to figure out ways to earn a little extra money. If you have a creative talent, you could use it online to bring in a little extra income each month. Web designing, photography, wedding planning and writing are all talents that can be used to bring in a little extra.

Dealing with unexpected outgoings
Your budget isn't going to be the same every month. Every now and again you’ll come across unexpected emergency bills that need to be paid. If there isn't enough money in your budget to accommodate them, you may want to think about taking out a payday loan.

Designed for short term cash flow problems, payday loans can give you the money you need the same day you are accepted. It takes just a few minutes to apply for a loan from lenders like From lenders like wonga.co.za. However this would only be advisable in an emergency, the more prudent course is of course to try your best to budget for these unexpected events. This is best dealt with by budgeting a percentage of your earnings towards the clichéd ‘rainy day’ - this is money that you put away for these kind of emergency payments, the priority is that the cash must be in an account that is easy for you to access as soon as you need it, which means you’ll be omitting this cash from investments and high interest savings accounts (which will penalise you if you make a bulk withdrawal more often than not.)

Often you don’t realise just how much you’re spending until you start adding it up. A budget is a great way to stay on top of your finances and make necessary improvements. Writing down a list of your outgoings and incomings is the easiest way to work out how much available cash you have left over each month.

If possible, it’s recommended you save a portion of the leftover funds for times of emergency. This isn't always possible, but once you've made cutbacks to your overall spending, the money you save could easily build up over time.

Money Tips #5: Organize Your Purchases

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received, each categorized by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for Organizing Your Purchases

• Coupon, and organize with a list - the time invested will be worth it.
• Always make a list and never ever buy on the spot for big purchases.
• Always use your grocery store's discount card and always look for coupons before you go shopping.
• Carry your store affinity cards in a coin purse, separate from your wallet. This way, all of your store cards are all in one place and easy to find.
• Make a list before shopping and stick to it. Resist those impulse buys.
• My best money saving idea is to take a list when you go shopping and stick to it.
• Stay out of stores! Only grocery shop with a list - and stick to it.
• I sign up for loyalty rewards from my favorite stores. Besides that I earn points whenever I use it, I also get special discounts.

Also See:
PF Stock Money Tips #1: Use Coupons
PF Stock Money Tips #2: Credit Cards
PF Stock Money Tips #3: Taxes
PF Stock Money Tips #4: Shopping

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed most of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation.

How Could You Save by Refinancing Your Home Mortgage?

Our homes are generally our biggest assets and they may come to our aid in many occasions. Owning a home increases your statue and it would be even nicer if you owned your home outright. However, you achieve this goal faster if you manage to save money today. Most of the time, it would be cheaper to borrow on your home equity than any other loans because of the underlying security.

A home loan is a long term commitment but that doesn’t mean you cannot replace it with a better one. This could make sense if you are still saving money after all the costs of switching taken into account. Even small savings can add up over time considering you would be paying interest for years. Here are some of the ways how refinancing a home mortgage can save you money.

Putting a Cap on Your Monthly Payments
There are many mortgages in place with adjustable interest rates that fluctuate from month to month. Low interest rates offer a great opportunity to fix your rates so that you know exactly how much you will pay each month. You will stand to lose if the rates go down even further but you will be well protected if they go up.

The main problem is that fixed rates could be slightly higher than current flexible rates. This is the price to pay for peace of mind of keeping the same monthly payments. Another option is to get a flexible mortgage with caps on rates in that rates can go up and down along the lines of underlying interest but it cannot go up more than pre-fixed ceiling rate.

Taking Advantage of Low Interest Deals
Many lenders offer special incentives for several years when you take a new home loan. Many people are attracted to those initial low monthly payments. So, it comes as a big surprise when the interest rates and monthly payments suddenly shoot up. This would be a good time to look around and see if you could find savings. A new provider is likely to offer similar incentives as well that can be used to offset the refinancing costs.

This time you should have a longer view and check carefully as to what will happen after the discounted rates end. If you are not going to go for fixed rates you should find out how wildly your rates can fluctuate. There are mortgages that are set as base rates + a certain margin of interest. For example if the base rates are 1% and the margin is 2% you pay 3% interest and this changes to 4% if the base rate goes up to 2% and vice versa.

There are many reasons why people would end up with a bad mortgage deal in the first place. One of the reasons is that you get all excited about owning a home and you overlook a few points. Another one is to have a poorer credit score at the time and can only get mortgage from certain companies. This wouldn’t be a problem if you managed to keep your payments and improved your credit score. As soon as you see a good deal you can rearrange your home loan for the better and save money

Paying Off Home Mortgage Earlier
There are many ways of saving money. Paying more towards paying off debt earlier is like putting money in the bank because you will have larger and larger equity at your home each month. Early payments can be achieved in two ways. You can either make lump sum payments as and when you have money. However, we tend to spend money before we even know it. So, if you are not confident about achieving your saving goals this way, it may be better to reduce the term of the loan by paying a bit more each month.

You don’t really need to refinance to reduce your mortgage term with some lenders. It is possible to talk to your provider and switch for a better product and reduce the term of the mortgage in the same time. While talking to other lenders don’t forget to talk to your own lender. Initially, they may not give way, but they may change their mind when they realize you are going to leave them. If they don’t you could still go with the best option for you but with another company.

How Else You Could Save Money?
The next money saving opportunity could be looking at your insurance arrangement. People achieve large savings on their home and automobile insurance every day especially when they buy both policies from the same provider. When you are getting your home loan make sure that you are not tied down for your home insurance. Both your lender and financial advisor may try to steer you toward the products they are affiliated with. Check your options carefully before making your mind.

When you can control your main outgoings you can budget better for the future. Many people go to considerable trouble to save a little money. They cut coupons, give up eating out and even leave home with a mug of coffee instead of picking their coffee on the way from their favorite vendor. However, they do nothing about possible large savings they can get with refinancing, switching home and car insurance providers.

About The Guest Author
This article is written by Joe Moore who comes from financial services background. He currently helps building an auto insurance forum called Talk Car Insurance.

Citi Dividend Card Q2 2014 Categories

I had written before that I have a Citibank Dividend MasterCard. One of the benefits of this card is that it offers 5% cash back on rotating categories of merchants. The main problem I have with this arrangement is that I always forget which categories are currently offering 5% cash back when I am at the store. As a result, I often miss out on the bonus dividend dollars. In order to help me remember, I have decided to post the categories which change every three months here.

For Q2 2014, you will earn 5% for purchases from:

• The Home Depot
• Home Furnishing Stores
• Home & Garden Stores

Note that "Q2 2014" means from April 1 - June 30, 2014. Also note that even if you have a Citi Dividend Card, the enrollment is not automatic. You have to login and sign up for this offer at the Citibank website.

See also Discover Card Q1 2014 Cash Back Bonus Categories.

PF Stock

The Quick Guide to Setting Appropriate Credit Limits

Credit limits can be a bit of a prickly question, particularly following 2008's terrifying credit crash. How much is too much? How much is irresponsible? How low becomes restrictive and starts to eat into potential profits? It can be a complicated minefield. For companies who are not sure how much credit to allow individuals or businesses, we've put together a quick guide to setting appropriate credit limits which protect your business from defaulted payments, keep your clients from financial trouble and ensure that you don't put the dampeners on potential growth.

Everyone's different
It may sound simple but this is an important consideration to take into account when setting credit limits. Every client you take on is different, with different financial situations, different needs and different patterns of behaviour. Taking a closer look at each prospective client on an individual basis is an important way to get to grips with where their individual credit limit should be.


Many businesses set blanket credit limits, but a quick look at a sample of businesses in just one industry using RM Online's free company checking tool shows that there are radically different financial situations to contend with and, more importantly, varying degrees of risk to protect against. By showing a company's financial position, recording non-payments and CCJs and disclosing any legal issues, this tool clearly demonstrates why careful research needs to be conducted before credit limits are set.

Categorise your clients
It can help to segment your customers on the basis of your findings and research. Take a wide-angle view of the businesses you offer credit to and consider their similarities and differences. If possible, group them into categories ranging from the high risk to the low risk. If you can build profiles around each group then you can create different credit limits which fit each group, minimising how much work must be done to decide on each business's credit limit. If you will be delegating the setting of credit limits to staff, this process can be very helpful, particularly if it can be condensed into a short series of questions i.e.:

• What is the the company turnover?
• Does the company have any outstanding invoices?
• Has the company been flagged for non-payments?
• Has the company been given a CCJ?

Define your goals
If you have a clear idea of the effect you want to achieve with your credit limit, you can tailor your policy to help make it happen. For instance, if you want your customers to feel confident and spend more, higher credit limits can encourage bigger spends. Meanwhile if you are particularly vulnerable to non-payment, lower credit limits will provide peace of mind and ensure clients only have access to credit they can easily afford. The overall goal for most businesses will be to give low risk clients the freedom to make the most of your services and ensure high risk clients have structures in place to avoid slow or non-payment.

Monitor trends
This is an ongoing process and it is important to keep a close eye on the effect of your credit limits. Watch for emerging trends and focus on things like slow payment, delayed payment and customers who repeatedly hit their upper credit limit and consistently pay on time. Evaluating the effects of your limit over time will help you to find the perfect system which protects both your business and your clients, while giving low risk customers the freedom to help your business grow.

What is your approach to setting credit limits for your customers? Do you use a blanket approach or do you invest time and resources in tailoring limits to particular customers? Share your thoughts and experiences with our readers below.

Budgeting Tips: Simple Ways to Get Through the Month Until Next Pay Day

Too many of us struggle to get through the month financially these days, so here are some very simple ideas to spread your income more effectively:

Cope with emergencies
We all suffer from the odd emergency: washing machine breaks down; car need insuring; dog needs an operation; school trip needs paying for; too many birthdays arrive in a single month and so many more. Rather than stick this in a credit card, consider using Wizzcash. Despite what the press will have you believe, if you use it just for an emergency and pay it back in time, it can be cheaper in the long term. We've all put something on the credit card and only paid back the monthly minimum. With quick loan sites like Wizzcash.com you can choose how much to borrow and see instantly how much it will cost relative to the time frame you pay back the loan in. It’s not an ideal financial situation to be in, but at least you can retain clarity and control over the situation.

Make a shopping list and stick to it
How often do we come home with those little extras? We see something carefully placed by the supermarket marketing types and think we couldn't possibly get by without it. Don't fall in to their trap! Check your cupboards and fridge and list what you need, even making a weekly menu and sticking to it.

Use your local market
We've got so used to buying fruit and veg from the supermarkets, that we’ve forgotten just how cheap the local market can be. They get their produce from the same places, and if you leave it until near closing time, you can pick up some fantastic bargains. You also get an opportunity to blow off the cobwebs on the long lost art of haggling to carve out some good deals for yourself too - I recommend checking out the haggling guide here for some great tips.

Say "NO" more often
An invitation to a swift half after work can too easily result in a drinking session and a £50 bill. The children won't starve if their pleading for a McDonald's/Burger King/KFC is answered with "no". The toy they plead for in a pound shop won't last more than a day, and they'll have forgotten about it by the time you get home

Walk
This is a no-brainer. It keeps you fitter and costs nothing. Rather than drive a couple of miles, or even take the bus, walk. You'll meet neighbours you've never seen before, see things you never noticed in the car and the calories will drop off.

De-clutter on-line
You can quickly and easily bring in some cash by selling unwanted items on eBay. Even better though, use your local Facebook group as you can sell in hours, have the cash brought to your doorstep and there are no insertion fees.

Make lunch
Don’t stop off at the sandwich shop, café, pub or fast-food joint for your lunch, make it at home. In minutes you can make a delicious sandwich, salad or pasta. If you’re lucky enough to have microwave facilities at work, re-heat last night's left overs or warm up some soup. These will almost always be much cheaper and often far healthier too!

Money Tips #4: Shopping

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received, each categorized by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for Shopping around (Online and in Stores)

• Always Google or check RetailMeNot for coupon codes for online purchases. Use ebates or another site to earn cash back on your purchases.
• Check websites for the best deals.
• Look at sale flyers online weekly and compare prices and coupons.
• I comparison shop online then search for coupon codes to save extra money.
• Compare prices every where online and check for coupon codes for free shipping.
• Always search online for coupons and sales, and if you don't 'need' the thingy wait for a coupon or sale (example: I like 3D movies but they cost way too much, I waited for Black Friday and got them for 1/2 price).
• Always price compare online before purchasing a desired product.
• If you are looking for a new computer, check out the Dell Home Deals Page.
• Shop around online, you can find great deals and compare prices.
• My tip is to set alerts from deals websites for the things you need so that when a good deal comes around, you can buy it and not have to worry about buying at retail.
• If you shop at Best Buy stores or shop online at BestBuy.com, it pays to join their Reward Zone.
• I always check prices on the internet for things I will be buying. I try to shop for groceries from the store ad. I stock up when items are on sale and try not to pay full price for anything.
• Shop secondhand shops for clothing and housewares!
• A good money saving tip would be look at other stores before jumping in and buying something because you wouldn't believe how many things I've looked at on one site and kept looking around and have deals on things. Another good tip is look for coupon codes before checking out on sites there are some really good codes out there for free that you can easily find with searches for free shipping and percent off of your total order which helps around the holidays and anytime! Hope I helped and thank you for the amazing giveaway good luck everyone!

Also See:
PF Stock Money Tips #1: Use Coupons
PF Stock Money Tips #2: Credit Cards
PF Stock Money Tips #3: Taxes

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed most of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation.

Money Tips #3: Taxes

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received, each categorized by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for Taxes

• My advice is to not lie about your income. Be honest and pay your taxes.
• I use the internet as a tool to make sure I'm claiming every deduction and credit that I can qualify for.
• My father was an accountant and used to say the best thing was to break even every tax year and not give the government an interest-free loan of your money (by getting a refund). I know that I'd never be able to save the money otherwise so I always made sure to have plenty of tax deducted in order to get a nice refund check. Now I make that money work for me; I put some aside every year and put it into a CD.
• I make sure that I organize all year. I have folders I make in January for that year's taxes so that come tax time, I don't have to hunt for my receipts and paperwork.
• 
  
• Spend some time learning about every single deduction you are eligible for and then take them. Think; give away lots of stuff to charity; contribute as much as possible to retirement savings plans at work.
• File your taxes for free online. Many websites let you e-file and offer free online filing if you meet their criteria.
• Bloggers should keep track of all expenses throughout the year whether it is for mailing books for giveaways or hosting fees.
• Contact your local libraries, chamber of commerce, or city officials, to find out which agencies offer free tax filing for low-income families.
• Buy a copy of J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax or the Ernst & Young Tax Guide
  to help with understanding tax laws and with preparing your taxes. Better yet, check out a copy of either one from your local library for free.
• I'm just anxious to get this done. Get your taxes done early so you don't get stressed about it come April 15.
• I came to realize the tax I paid on my car last year was tax deductible. Check for all the credits!
• I have added extra to my payroll deductions in order to make sure that I don't owe any additional taxes.
• If you have a complicated return work on it a little at a time so you will not be overwhelmed.
• If you find you owe every year and adjusting your with holdings just isn't working out make sure to take the number you owe each year, divide it by the amount of paychecks you get per year, and stick it in a high yield online savings account. I say add at least $5-$10 more per paycheck so you have a cushion. In the worst case, you will have extra savings!

Also See:
PF Stock Money Tips #1: Use Coupons
PF Stock Money Tips #2: Credit Cards

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed most of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation.

PF Stock

Money Tips #2: Credit Cards

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received and categorized each one by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for using credit cards to your advantage

• Make sure to pay credit cards off in full in month. I keep a list of all our monthly charges, each charge goes right on the list, so I know exactly what we will owe. We don't buy unless we have the money ahead of time. Also, Get a credit card that doesn't charge a fee and look for one with rewards.
• Avoid credit cards and pay with cash. You will be surprised how much money you will save.
• My best tip is if you can't pay cash don't buy it. I am currently credit card balance free. (knock on wood)
• For travelers, check out the credit card threads on FlyerTalk. You can literally fly for free with the great sign up bonuses on so many credit cards.
• Get a Travel Rewards credit card and receive a sign up bonus.
• If you pay with cash you will spend less. It's too easy to hand over a card and not think about how much you're spending.
• Plan purchases and watch hidden costs if you have to charge. Getting 18 months no interest and not paying things off is costly. You pay interest on the whole purchase after 18 months even if you only owe a few dollars. BEWARE!
• Price match, use coupons in store and online, shop around before purchasing, take advantage of credit card rewards and other store loyalty programs etc.
• Order your credit report from the 3 major reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com. I joined creditkarma.com to monitor my actual credit score for free too.

Also See:
PF Stock Money Tips #1: Use Coupons

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed most of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation.

PF Stock

IRS e-file – When Will I Get My IRS Tax Refund (2014)?

If you are wondering when you can expect to receive your tax refund from the IRS, you are not alone. In past years, the IRS published a table where you could look up when your federal tax refund would be deposited in your bank account (by direct deposit), or when your check would be mailed. It seems that this document, Publication 2043, either doesn't exist or doesn't provide a table anymore. From previous years, the IRS reported that most refunds were issued 7-15 days after the IRS tax return was accepted. Also, they stated that 90% refunds were issued in less than 21 days last year. The same results are expected in 2014.

You can also check the status of your income tax refund using this link. (And of course, en Español: ¿Dónde está mi reembolso?) You will need to enter your social security number, filing status, and refund amount to see your refund status.

I've heard some anecdotal stories about the IRS a long time to process refunds in 2013. So I will be curious how the IRS does this time around.

If you haven't prepared your tax return yet, I encourage you to use either TurboTax or H&R Block Software.

PFS

Credit Cards with the Best Intro Bonuses

With the economy improving, credit card issuers are trying harder than ever to attract new cardholders with good credit, offering extremely generous introductory bonuses to help sway you to their card. Still, with all the credit cards out there, how do you know which ones have the best bonuses? Luckily, we did the research for you. We looked at all the top rewards credit cards and found the cards with the best introductory bonuses, ranging up to the equivalent of $400 in airline flights. Check them out to find which card bonuses sound best to you.

Best Overall Intro Bonus Credit Card: Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard

This card is kind of insane when it comes to bonus features. First, you get 40,000 points when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months, which is $400 that the card is pretty much just giving you, and redemption is simple as you can just use the $400 to pay for any travel purchase on your credit card statement. On top of that, the Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard gives 2x the points on every purchase, which is higher than most other travel cards. And beyond that, you get another 10% bonus on any points you use for travel, so if you spend 10,000 points on travel, you get 1,000 points back. The only downside is the $89 annual fee, but even that is waived for the first year. This card took the top prize as best travel rewards credit card, so chances are you’ll want to make this the most-used card in your wallet, even after you redeem the $400 intro bonus.

Editor's Note: A no-fee version of this card is also available: Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard - Earn 1x on All Purchases

Citi Dividend Card Q1 2014 Categories

I had written before that I have a Citibank Dividend MasterCard. One of the benefits of this card is that it offers 5% cash back on rotating categories of merchants. The main problem I have with this arrangement is that I always forget which categories are currently offering 5% cash back when I am at the store. As a result, I often miss out on the bonus dividend dollars. In order to help me remember, I have decided to post the categories which change every three months here.

For Q1 2014, you will earn 5% for purchases from:

• Macy's
• Drug Stores
• Fitness Clubs

Note that "Q1 2014" means from January 1 - March 31, 2014. Also note that even if you have a Citi Dividend Card, the enrollment is not automatic. You have to login and sign up for this offer at the Citibank website.

See also Discover Card Q1 2014 Cash Back Bonus Categories.

PF Stock

Money Tips #1: Coupons

Over the years, PF Stock has collected numerous money and tax saving tips from readers. In this series of posts, I have compiled some of the best money tips that I've received and categorized each one by topic. In addition, I am including other money tips from the internet and from my own experience. I hope that this will come in handy my readers. Today's topic:

Tips for Using Coupons

• Make sure to use coupons!
• Use coupons and shop on sales.
• I look at sales fliers online weekly and match coupons and sales.
• Use Coupons.com and print your own groceries and other coupons.
• Avoid impulse purchases. Make yourself go to a store twice before you make a big purchase.
• Match up coupons with sales.

• Use coupons, keep an eye on good deals, and buy in bulk.
• My best tip is to use coupons on products that you buy.
• Use coupons, watch sales and check the clearance racks.
• Also use coupon codes when shopping online. You can use this coupon code: DRYBB on these websites: Diapers.com, Soap.com, Wag.com, YoYo.com, BeautyBar.com, Casa.com, AfterSchool.com, Vine.com, Bookworm.com, and Look.com. You will save 20% off your first order from EACH website.
• Use a free coupon with a Buy One, Get One Free offer, doubling your savings!
• Make a budget, use coupons, buy items on sale and use cash so you don't overspend.
• Only shop sales, use coupons and make a plan so you don't overspend.
• Food is a big ticket item, follow the sales, use coupons, cut down on non essential food items,you'll save money and learn to eat healthier.
• I religiously cut coupons and follow several great blogs that feature coupon matchups at local stores, so I can shop efficiently, quickly and most cost-effectively.
• My car is a walking coupon shop. I have an envelope with coupons for shopping such as Macy's, Express, Chico's etc. Then I have another with restaurant and fast food restaurants. Then the last is for grocery store items. I continually check Groupon, the radio and newspapers for deals to purchase both for at home and as gifts. We live on what we earn. We do not go out or buy unless we have the money for it. We drive older cars and my husband is in the car business. We save as much as we can in the 401K and have a savings for unexpected expenses. We pay off credit cards, do not take out loans and you'd be surprised what we earn. We would never stop in a coffee shop for a coffee when you can make it at home. We don't drink alcohol so that saves money.

Thanks again to all of my readers who contributed many of these tips. If you have more money saving tips, please share them in the comments below. Your tip may be featured in a future compilation!

PF Stock

Discover Card 2014 Cashback Bonus Categories

Discover Card offers a 5% cashback bonus on a "seasonally rotating" list of spending categories. For the Q1 2014, these bonus categories are as follows:

Q1 2014: Restaurants, Movies

Discover has not yet announced what the specific categories will be for the rest of 2014. But based on the information currently on the Discover website, these are my guesses as to what the cash back bonus categories will be:
Q2 2014 (Fresh for Spring): Home Improvement Stores, Furniture Stores, and Bed Bath & Beyond
Q3 2014 (Summer Break): Gas Stations
Q4 2014 (Holiday Shopping): Online Shopping & Department Stores purchases

PF Stock