This week, let's work together on 5 small steps that will enable you to worry less and feel more in control—so that it takes less effort to manage your finances this fall.

We all know the answer to the question, How many pairs of shoes does one woman need? (A: As many as she can wear!)

But how many savings accounts does it make sense to have, outside of retirement?

A: You need at least three active savings accounts.

1. Curveball fund. Automatically transfer at least 5% of every paycheck, to cover random expenses (a lapse of reason at a yard sale, a broken toaster).


2. Emergency fund. Ditto, but only tap this in a true do-or-die crisis. When they say, "Save three to six months' worth of living expenses," this is where it goes.


3. YouNameIt fund(s). Set up at least one other account for a looming goal or project: a cushy reading chair for the bedroom, a holiday party (or getaway from the parties), adopting a child.

Where to stash your cash?
Liz Pulliam Weston has some great advice about shopping around; Ramit likes the convenience of ING, even if the rates aren't great. Pick whatever setup works for your saving style (the rate matters more when you're holding onto the money for a few years).

And, according to behavioral economics research, by giving each savings account a name you're less likely to "accidentally" spend that money on something else.

Set up a YouNameIt fund today, and tell us what it's for.

Read more...

Remember the good ol' home-buying days, circa 2006?
You took out a $450,000 adjustable rate mortgage, at 4.25% (set to re-adjust after five years, but who cared) and bought a $440,000 home—with just $10,000 down.

You can't get away with that today—and thank heaven.

Being a smart home-buyer now means returning to the tried-and-true laws of lending: Keep your debt-to-income ratio low and only buy as much home as you can afford.

Livin' large. Not.
That means, keeping your total debt-to-income ratio at about 36%, and your housing payment at about 25% of your gross income.

Even these days, some lenders may allow you to borrow more—but in this climate, owing less and paying less is a good recipe for sleeping soundly—and being able to save.

We tried a few different affordable home calculators and liked these two: one offers a range of loans and home prices, based on your income and other variables; the other offers a target amount for each.

Bottom line
In case you don't have time to click, consider this: Let's say you earn $65,000 a year, make a $25,000 down payment, and have $350 in monthly debt payments (car, credit card). Ideally you would borrow a 30-year fixed loan of about $208,000 at 5.5% and purchase a home of about $233,000.

Total monthly payment (including taxes and insurance of $331/month): about $1,500.

With interest. Tell us: What's your debt-to-income ratio? Would you sell or downsize to get that monthly payment down to a range where you can sleep better and save more?

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Have you ever popped into a shop to buy "a few things"—and left with a full bag?

Get hip to stores' spend-more ploys and you can save a bundle, says Philip Graves, author of Consumer.ology:

1. Watch out for labels
   Studies show that you're more likely to buy products labeled "sale" or "bargain price", says Dr. Lars Perner, assistant professor of clinical marketing at USC, without considering whether the item is truly a deal, and thus you end up spending more.


2. Take your time
   Retailers use scarcity language like "one day only" or "for a limited time,” to play on your fear of losing out on something, Graves says. It's a powerful inducement to buy—but don't buy it.


3. Beware of bundles
   Retailers often “bundle” products: For example, they’ll put buns, ketchup and charcoal by the hot dogs. You end up buying the related product because it's convenient—but not cost-effective.


4. Listen closely
   Slower music encourages you to linger, which means you're likely to buy more. Higher-end stores often play classical music because it helps you associate a product with excellence, and thus pay more for it, Graves adds, so listen up before you buy.


5. Look around
   Stores often place their most profitable products at eye-level, where you're more likely to see them—and more likely to buy them, Perner says. Stores also stock the shelves near checkout lines—where consumers are a captive audience—with tempting items. Look before you buy!

It's tricky. What store schemes have you fallen for?

Catey Hill is the money editor for the New York Daily News online and the author of "Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More."

Read more...

Suzanne Kantra is the founder and editor of Techlicious, a new site devoted to making tech easy and fun. This post originally appeared on Techlicious.

Is your keychain or wallet weighed down by customer loyalty cards? Use a free loyalty card app on your cell phone instead.

Loyalty apps store the info from your customer cards so you get those on-the-spot store discounts without having to dig around for a pesky piece of plastic (or realize that the one you need is on your husband's keychain).

The process is simple. You either take a picture of the card, or manually enter the bar code number, depending on the app.

When you go to use your card, pull up the picture of your loyalty card’s bar code and the clerk scans it. Some stores won't accept a digital copy of their card—and not all scanners will work with your phone’s display—so bring the physical card the first time you try it. Here, four free apps to try:

	CardStar Lets you store loyalty card bar codes and information. Available for iPhone on iTunes and on Android and Blackberry at MyCardStar.com.
	Key Ring Lets you store loyalty card bar codes and information. Available for Android on your phone's Android Marketplace.
	MyDigiWallet Lets you store loyalty card bar codes and information. Available for BlackBerry on BlackBerry Appworld.

CheckOut
Not only does this application organize loyalty cards, it also stores gift cards. You can then track when you’ve redeemed the value of the card. Available for iPhone on iTunes.

Suzanne Kantra is the founder and editor of Techlicious, a new site devoted to making tech easy and fun. This post originally appeared on Techlicious.

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Bzzzzzzzzzzzz—your 9 year-old just sent you a text...
We’re spotting kids as young as 7 years old with cell phones. How do you choose a plan for your child when there’s so many varying needs and options?

Do you want to ensure your child can reach you even if he or she has gone over the allotted number of minutes? Are you interested in making sure your child isn't texting under the covers until 2:00 AM?

The folks at Techlicious.com have done a superb job demystifying terms and options across plans. Here’s a taste:

Costs: prepaid vs. second line
Your first instinct may be to go pre-paid—the best way to ensure your extra-chatty teenager doesn't give you a nasty surprise at the end of the month. However, it may cost less to add a line to your existing account, depending on how your child will use the phone.

Parental controls for second lines
Adding a second line for your child on your account enables you to control how and when your child uses his or her phone. Most carriers let you cap the number of minutes, messages and entertainment downloads. Plus, restricting the days and the time of day the phone can be used can help cut down on costs while keeping your child focused on schoolwork.

Control isn't free
Most of these parental control features come at a price of $5 per month and an additional fee for location tracking. Even if you don't subscribe initially, it's good to know what options are available should the need arise.

	Looking for more details on GPS kid-tracking (really?!), plan-by-plan comparisons and more? Check out the post on Techlicious.com for more on phone plans for tweens and teens.
	What plan did you choose and why? Tell us.

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Heidi Hackemer in one of her Six.

From the Little Brown Dress project to the Great American Apparel Diet, Americans have had a long, conflicted love affair with the strip-down-to-basics movement.

Here we are, a consumption-crazy, credit-obsessed society—yet with serious cravings to simplify and spend less.

In some ways, "Six Items or Less"—a transatlantic challenge to wear only six pieces of clothing for a month—could be just another installment of this ongoing fad.

Shopping is a drug
But Heidi Hackemer and Tamsin Davies, who launched the project on June 21, say it's surprising what can emerge after wearing only six items for 30 days.

Although their m.o. was never to be anti-consumer or finger-wagging ("Bad shopper! Bad!"), just putting a limit on wardrobe choices led many Sixers to realize that "they are caught in an ugly shopping cycle and they wanted to break out of it," Hackemer says.

"Whenever you acquire something new, your brain gives you a little shot of dopamine," Hackemer notes, and looking for that chemical kick, in part, is what leads to a closet full of clothes, most of which you never wear. Like most Sixers, she realized she didn't need as many clothes.

But that was just a start. An unexpected fallout from the project was a wellspring of energy for other things, Hackemer says.

What's on your list?
"I didn't re-examine my entire life," Hackemer says. "It was more like, there were things I'd been meaning to do—and maybe it wouldn't be so hard to do them."

Hackemer started walking to work more often, eating out less and meditating. She found herself willing to tackle oddball tasks—like changing the filter on her air conditioner and, yes, composting.

Forgive yourself for failure and try again
Will the "Six Items" effect keep its hold? Or will the Sixers fall back into old habits?

Hackemer had two responses that apply directly to how and why change is hard to sustain on a financial front as well.

"Americans have this weird fascination with perfection," she says. If you miss the mark, there's a tendency to give up on yourself.

"I think we need to forgive ourselves more, or we're not going to be able to stick to the changes we're trying to make."

And, she points out, it's only human to fall off the various band wagons we build for ourselves. Maybe what's required, Hackemer suggests, is to accept a certain failure ratio, and make time—whether that's once a month or once a year—to get re-centered.

Take Buddhism, she says. Inner peace was never a "set it and forget it" option. "For centuries, monks would fast or go on retreats to rebalance themselves," she notes.

Maybe a month-long clothing cleanse can do the same for you, if your consumption habits start to feel out of control.

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Caitlin O'Toole writes the Miss Jobless Chronicles for MediaBistro.

How have I survived months of un- and underemployment?

I put away emergency money away for years. I was always the annoying friend who would say, "No, I can't go to that new movie, I'm trying to save money"; or, "Let's get a six-pack and go to my house, it's cheaper than happy hour." But it paid off:

I saved one full year's worth of expenses—enough to get me through a lot of my underemployment crisis.

Besides wielding that big money-saver, "NO", here's how I did it, despite living in New York, one of the priciest cities on the planet.

I quit smoking. I had been smoking two packs a day—$20 a day X 7 days = a whopping $560 a month. I don't know where I even got the money in the first place.

I learned to cook chili. It lasts five days and it's a great protein-jolt.

I tossed my checkbook. Seriously. Paying with cash or money orders for everything can be a pain, but I always knew down to the dime how much I'd spent and how much I had left. No more late fees, no more negative balances!

I saved long-distance. I transferred all my savings to an account that didn't have an ATM card attached to it.

I joined the cheapies. Big cities offer lots of freebies if you keep your eyes peeled, and scour websites geared toward the livin'-on-less lifestyle, like Brokelyn, which list everything from free yoga classes to beer tastings.

Bottom line:
I still had a life, I just didn't pay as much for it.

How are you all doing?
How have you learned to cut back, especially in times of un/underemployment?

Caitlin O'Toole writes the Miss Jobless Chronicles for MediaBistro.

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Let's say you're a Target shopper who gets the occasional mani-pedi, subscribes to Oprah magazine, and buys rice milk by the case. (Sounds like Amanda, doesn't it?)

Enter Offermatic—a money-saving service that bills itself as the "freak love child of Mint, Groupon and Blippy."

Spend 'n' save
Offermatic tracks your spending (via debit or credit card)—then sends you discount coupons based on your unique spending habits—between 50% to 90% off.

Offermatic spots your shopping preferences, and searches its database for discounts for those stores, products or services. See how it works.

Similar to money trackers like Mint, Offermatic downloads your transactions securely—and doesn't have access to your account numbers.

Bank on this
You have to shop, so you might as well save while you're at it. We recommend that you check out Offermatic.

Read more...

Sudden savings alert! Mortgage rates are dropping again. How much could you save if you refinanced at a lower rate?

At the moment, a 30-year fixed rate loan is about 4.75%; a 15-year fixed is about 4.02%, according to Bankrate.com.

Pay less, save more
A refi only makes sense if the numbers work. For example, if you wanted to refinance your current 30-year fixed mortgage of $175,000, which is at 5.75%, down to 4.75%, you could save $162.00 per month now—and about $22,600 in interest over the life of the loan.

But, there are costs associated with a refi, as we describe here. In our current example, assuming the refinance costs are about $2,000, it would take about a year to recoup those fees.

Use this calculator to run your own numbers. (MP and Amanda are considering refis right now. MP wants to swap her 30-year for a 15-year. She'd pay about $120 more per month, but save $121,000 in interest!)

It ain't saving until you save it
But wait. There's one more key step. Whenever you kill a bill, cancel a sub or drop a charge—it ain't savings until it's in the bank.

So save your savings, as we describe in our recent post for Ramit Sethi's "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" blog.

Your move: Tell us some other ways you've saved money on a loan.

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Dear DailyWorth,
Help! I have 11 weddings to attend this summer and fall—but I can’t afford 11 presents, never mind numerous shower gifts, bachelorette parties, hotel stays. Is there a budget-friendly solution?
—Overwhelmed by Weddings

Dear Overwhelmed,
We feel your pain (and your wallet's). Here, some answers:

• Go by the book. Wedding etiquette says that you have one full year from the date of the wedding in which to buy a gift. If you can't afford it now, wait (hint: and set up a gift budget).


• Prioritize your peeps. In this Facebook era, could your high school debate partner track you down—and invite you to her wedding? Alas, yes. Are you obligated to attend the happy day of someone you barely remember? No. Must you send a gift, as tradition dictates? Not at all. It would be polite to send a card, but a gift is not required for distant connections.


• Spend smart. Many people worry that you should spend on the gift approximately what the bridal couple spends on you. Etiquette experts say: The size of your gift is determined by your budget, not someone else's.


• Save a little. It would be tough to budget for immediate events, but start saving a little extra each week for those late-summer and fall weddings. Hint: Scour our saving section for painless ways to put extra cash back in your wallet.

Your 2 cents: What would you advise Ms. Overwhelmed to do?

Read more...

1 by 1 by 1
By increasing the amount you save by a mere 1% every year, you could quadruple your nest egg. Here's how:

Bank on this
Let's say you make $60,000 a year, and that you're saving 5% of your income.

Let's also assume you have $14,000 in savings right now.

Your boss gives you a 3% raise per year.

You expect to earn, over a 20-year horizon (maybe you're 45 right now), an average rate of return of 7%.

Use this handy slider tool to run your own numbers.

Check this out
If you continue to save 5% of your income over those 20 years, you'll end up with $130,228.

But, if you were to increase that by just 1%—so now you're saving 6% during that time—you'd end up with $252,900.

Here's the kicker
BUT, by increasing your savings by 1% every year to a maximum of 16% (the limit of this particular tool)—letting it grow for the full 20 years...

You'll retire at 65 with $524,782. That's half a million dollars.

We dare you
Increase your savings by 1% today. Then brag or rant about the state of your savings.

Read more...

When we requested money-saving tips for wedding guests, we didn't expect to hear from... a bride!

But like many practical women, this reader believes in creative thinking—especially when guests can't afford $150 place settings, and there are more important things the happy couple needs.

For better or worse, thoughts from a bride:

• Details, details. Offer to supply one of the wedding essentials: ceremony arrangements or centerpieces, the wedding cake knife and server, champagne flutes for the toast, etc.
  
  From the bride, "Personally, I'm stressing about how much all the details will cost. I'd be thrilled with one less gift off the 'list' if someone would offer to take care of some of these."


• The gift of time. Offer to help out on the wedding day with set-up and clean-up. It's free for you, and a load off the bride and groom and their families, who just want to enjoy the moment.


• Connect the dots. If you have the connections—and the happy couple agrees before you ask—work out a discount for them, on catering, photography, the cake, etc.

Money-savers from other veteran guests:

• See if a registry gift is available on clearance.
• Pick your own digs; the hotel suggested by the couple is rarely the cheapest.
• Don't attend the shower and the wedding, if you can't swing it.

Bottom line
A wedding is a joyous time, and what every couple wants are happy memories of that day—not for guests to feel financially stressed.

This article was also featured on Shecky's.

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From CouponMom to Groupon, coupons have never been hotter. At first glance, the pile of circulars advertising "Buy 10, Get 12 FREE fruit roll-ups" may not seem so appealing (especially if you never planned to buy fruit roll ups in the first place), but shoppers from Main Street to Park Avenue are claiming it's worth the effort. Even Ramit "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" Sethi is intrigued by the idea.

But c'mon. Is it really possible to coupon your bill down to zilch? We'd be happy to cut our grocery tab in half. But are coupons the way to go? What about the time-value of your money: Is it worth the time you spend clipping (or clicking) to get discounts on stuff you may or may not actually need? Given what your time is worth, does a mere coupon or two (or 10) make up the difference?

If you say it can be done, we want proof. And details. Couponers—weigh in.

Read more...

Manisha Thakor is a personal finance expert for women.

Q: Help! I'm about to graduate from college and head to veterinary school, but I'm living paycheck to paycheck—even though I have $120,000 stashed away. It's my house fund and I refuse to touch it. But I really want to figure out my savings and retirement. What should I do?

A: Wow, most students I know would have dipped into that $120,000 cookie jar by now. High five to you! But you're right; you should use part of that nest egg to build some security for yourself, stat.

First, living paycheck to paycheck puts you at risk of going broke, because you don't have a cushion for emergencies.

Add up your basic monthly living expenses and multiply by six. Let's say you're living on $1,200 a month: Take $7,200 and put it aside for emergencies in a money market fund at Vanguard, Fidelity or Charles Schwab (basically a savings account, with withdrawal limits).

Next, assuming you will earn at least $5,000 this year, take $5,000 and open a Roth IRA at the same institution (it makes managing your accounts much easier). To keep your life simple, I recommend investing that money in a target date 2050 fund (a mix of stocks and bonds that will gradually get more conservative, as you approach age 65). You don't have to keep it there, but that's a start.

What happens to the remaining $107,800?

If you're not sure when you'll buy a house, I recommend this keep-it-simple formula for the rest of your assets. Put 50% in a money market fund to give you flexibility on the timing of buying your home—that could be part or all of the down payment.

Then, invest the remainder in low-cost index funds in a regular, taxable investment account (i.e. not a retirement account). For your age I'd recommend investing 75% of the money in a total stock market index fund and 25% in the total bond market index fund.

These two index funds track, or mirror, the U.S. stock and bond markets, and most investment companies offer these funds—although the names and ticker symbols vary from company to company.

I am a big fan of these three investment firms: Vanguard, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab. They will work with investors at virtually any asset level—i.e. you don't have to be rich. And they'll happily walk you through the surprisingly easy process of transferring your assets over—literally, a few forms and a phone call or two. On top of it, all three institutions have in-house staff who will answer questions and talk to you about your investment goals.

Charles Schwab—866-232-9890
Fidelity—800-343-3548
Vanguard—800-319-4254

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What if you woke up one day and women controlled most of the economy and financial sector?

What would that mean for women personally? How would greater female wealth change politics and policy—our families and futures?

Start banking on it now. The so-called she-conomy isn't some fantasy movie, teeming with Amazon women in silvery body suits. It's around the corner.

Time for a collective woot
For decades now, thanks to many waves of feminism, Title IX and Sigourney Weaver, women have been slowly, steadily pulling ahead.

Some stats to celebrate:

• Women hold 60% of advanced degrees, among adults 25 to 29, according to a Census Bureau report last month—which puts women on a higher-earning track.
• Women not only occupy half the workforce, 43% of the top wealth-holders in the U.S.—i.e. those with assets of at least $1.5 million—are women, according to the IRS.
• Women control about $4.3 trillion of $5.9 trillion in consumer spending, calculate the authors of "The Female Economy," a study published in the Harvard Business Review in 2009.

And according to a 2010 survey by Women & Co., more women today are expressing confidence in their financial abilities, and more likely to identify themselves as the household CFO.

You're so money
A rising tide lifts all boats, as they say. Take heart, take pride knowing that all our efforts are adding up. To read more, check out MP Dunleavey's column today on MSN Money—and tell us what the she-conomy means to all of us.

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Thank you for your many candid responses to yesterday's post on haggling.

It got us thinking: about the issues that face small, skill-based businesses; about the reason for negotiating; about the challenge of pricing one's goods or services.

Many readers criticized the idea that haggling should be a habit. As a reader named Joyce Marie commented:

I think it's an insult... to ask for a discount on everything I'm buying. Especially from a small business, who... know first hand how hard it is to stay afloat.

Several small business owners made the case that haggling often feels like a devaluation of their product—especially if the haggler just wants a discount.

When we wrote yesterday's post, we didn't highlight that perspective. The DailyWorth audience includes entrepreneurs and small business owners, and many other people as well.

The aim of the post was a broad one: To encourage people to ask for a better price—because often it's there for the asking. It ain't personal, it's business. As a reader named Autumn commented:

I've had customers ask for a discount, and usually I can offer up something small which makes the customer feel good. I believe that in a lot of these instances this made the difference between securing a sale and not getting one at all because our product was just slightly out of their budget initially. Every business is different though, so it may not work for all. I think that's why it "never hurts to ask" as the article advised.

We are taking this debate seriously because it spotlights several issues that concern us, as we all move toward greater self worth and net worth:

• How do you price your product so that you get its full value, not just the rock-bottom cost?
• How do you sell your product (i.e. market it) so that customers perceive its full value?
• How do we handle the rampant emotions that arise in any negotiation—pride, fear, guilt, esteem—and move toward a fair deal, i.e. get what we want, what we deserve?

Again, we tremendously value your thoughts and comments on this topic. It's a powerful and important one, whether you're working for yourself or someone else. We look forward to our greater and shared growth and understanding. Seriously.

With much respect,

Amanda Steinberg (founder) and MP Dunleavey (editorial director)

Read more...

License to bargain
Most people assume that bargaining should be limited to homes, cars and silly tchotchkes you buy on vacation.

Noooooo, say expert hagglers.

When it comes to haggling, everything and anything is fair game—from flat screen TVs to MRIs to your next mani-pedi.

Name your price
According to a 2009 survey, 66% of people said that they'd asked for a better deal at least once in the previous six months—and of those, 88% said they'd scored a discount.

This ABC News article, which follows bargain hunter Teri Gault through several live haggles, illustrates the core secret of a successful haggle:

Ask.

Gault asked for a discount on a $169 stool in a high-end store. The clerk said no; the manager dropped the price by $40. Because... she asked.

And don't stop at the small stuff. In her new book, "Save Big," Good Morning America reporter Elisabeth Leamy found that you can save thousands on big-ticket items, like "junk" closing costs (e.g. document fees) when you buy or sell a home.

Bottom line

• Do your homework. Every price has a range.
• Offer to pay cash. It's a strong incentive.
• Don't assume "No" means no. Ask for a manager.
• Be nice. The fate of the world isn't at stake.
• Walk away if you don't get your price.

Tell us how you scored a great deal here.

Read more...

Survey says...
Although working women are just as likely as men to save for retirement, they're less confident about their ability to plan—and more uncertain about how much income they'll need, according to a recent survey by the Employee Benefits Research Institute.

Let's fix that.

Lift head. Remove sand.
While most men said they'd need $1 million or more to retire, most women said they didn't know.

Women were more likely to say that they'd spend less in the first five years after retirement—while men assumed they'd spend more. (Guess who's probably right?)

Worse: 54% of men and women surveyed said that the total value of their household savings and investments (not including home equity or a pension) was less than $25,000.

Bottom line
Retirement planning can be daunting, but it's more terrifying to be 65 and broke.

Your move
Start contributing to an IRA or 401k, learn about your investment options—and next Wednesday we'll help you calculate the amount you need to save.

Read more...

Discount doesn't count
The beauty of buying a handbag, digital camera or sofa on sale for "50% OFF!" is that you feel, deep in your wallet, that you are saving 50% of the price.

But you're not, notes Peter Tufano, professor of consumer finance at Harvard Business School, who has studied this illusion. "You aren't saving money—for a goal or for your future—when you consume more at lower prices."

Luckily, there's an easy fix: Learn to save your savings.

Make it real
If you "save", say, $25 on a new pair of shoes—try to save some or all of that money. (You probably can't save it all, or you would have bought the darn shoes two months ago, at full price.)

Likewise, whenever you commit some courageous act of frugality—by hosting a potluck, mending your kids' jeans—don't pat yourself on the back for being economical.

Translate money—smart moves into tangible rewards, by throwing a few extra bucks into your savings account.

Bottom line
Saving is a series of habits and reflexes. Strengthen that anterior latissimus savingus allofit muscle right now, even if you saved just $5 by bringing lunch to work today. G'wan, save it. Then...

Tell us how you saved your savings today.

Your Move
Struggling to save? Revisit the Save-to-Spend Budget and consider a revamp.

Read more...

It's a jungle out there
For some reason, some of the best savings sites boast four-legged mascots right now. Cutesy-ness aside, join these free services and you can save like a wild thing:



SmartHippo
Why a hippo? We don't know. But this loan-shopping site helps you to compare mortgage rates at banks across the country—and uses crowd-sourcing so you can decide which offer is best, and which institution is most reliable.

You can also post questions—or answers to other people's questions. We liked the wiiiiiide range of lenders you can scope out, and the newsy stuff in the Herd blog.

MailChimp If you're a small biz owner currently using a pricey email service, swing over to MailChimp, one of the most inexpensive and efficient ways to market your product, build your subscriber list or let the world in on your newsletter. It's free up to 500 subscribers—and then super cheap (we know, we use it).

SmartyPig You know the pig, you love the pig. Now the pig loves you back—with 2.15% interest on savings accounts, effective May 19, 2010. Although you may know it as a free saving service (with a goal-setting component), the advantage of this little porker is that you can contribute to other people's accounts, and they can add to yours. You may also qualify for store discounts, when you're ready to buy that Bose system you've always wanted.

Savers, howzit going? Brag about your savings progress here.

Read more...

Small things considered
We love small steps here at DailyWorth. Money can be arduous and complicated—but who needs that?

Rather than attempt a massive lifestyle overhaul (way too much effort!), it's smarter turn your financial life around with a series of small tweaks and improvements.

And we've found that series.

Invest an Hour
The One Hour Project consists of 30 simple projects you can do any day of the week, in any order.

"And every single one will put you in a better financial state than you were before the hour," writes Trent, the founder of the Simple Dollar site and creator of the project. (It's free to click and read, or you can download the PDF for $2.)

Some are obvious (like asking for a lower rate on your card), but there are a number of gems:

• Create a visual debt reminder—Find a photo of the Tuscan vacation you want take, the house you'd like to buy, and keep in your wallet or near your computer to prevent impulsive spending and reduce debt.


• Mine your job benefits—Are you up on all the new perks? Take advantage of every dime of corporate largesse.

Bottom line
By doing a couple of one-hour tasks each week, you could be looking a whole new financial picture by fall. You're worth it. Taken a step toward healthier finances recently? Share your small change here.

Read more...

When spending heats up
Warm weather seems to sweat the cash right out of your wallet. At least during the winter holidays, you get constant reminders to watch your budget.

All you hear now is that inner voice: "But I need a..."; "We should go to..."; "There's a picnic at..."; "OMG, my roots/nails/bikini..."

Solution: Build a quick summer budget right now.

Summer fun
Step 1: Take out a calendar, and list all upcoming summer expenses. Examples:

• Events: from weddings to conferences to, oops, your sister is due in September, so the baby shower will be in August.
• Repairs: from repainting your deck to fixing the kiddie pool.
• Travel: long weekends, family reunions, vacations and guests!
• Looking hot. You know you want to. So plan for it.

Step 2: Build a ballpark budget. What's the rough tab for three long weekends, a new beach umbrella, a cuter haircut, new swim suits for the kids, etc.? Use PearBudget's 30-day free trial—it's super simple (almost fun!). You may even want to subscribe (just $3/month).

Step 3: Plan ahead. If you're using our Save-to-Spend budget, you can cull some cash from your curveball fund or your fun money. Otherwise, set up a small summer saving account now, to offset costs.

Bottom line
Hose down the lawn chairs and chill out. With a ballpark summer budget, your spending won't get too hot to handle—and you'll stay on top of other goals. Which is good. We have BIG plans for you this year.

How does your summer budget look? Share it!

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