Budget Babble

  Yes! Every day, brands offer free stuff because they want you to try their products.    Try it Before You Buy It! Free samples are extremely popular for many reasons:  You can try your favorite brands and new brands without spending any money Small size is perfect for travel  Make personal gift baskets They come in handy for college students A treat for anyone on a tight budget! Open a free email account just for your freebies Naturally, you will receive lots of email from the sample businesses.  Most companies will send sale ads or newsletters, and some send   confirmation   emails that you need to confirm in order to get your samples. This is so the companies can keep track of who has received a sample from them already, as there may be limits on the number of requests allowed.  A dedicated account will keep your personal inbox clean and you don't have to sift through all the other mail to find your offers.  Y ou can get a free acco...

If you think you're too broke to make a donation, THINK AGAIN! Animal shelters are struggling with an ever-growing number of homeless dogs and cats. The Shelter's  need for cash AND supplies is dire! Now more than ever donations can do a world of good for our lost and homeless pet population!                 Want to Hear a Sad Story? I once worked in a city animal shelter. The number of pets that ended up in just that one shelter was heartbreaking! It was an absolutely gut-wrenching and tragic reality.  Because our, like most shelters, was not-for-profit, we had few supplies to work with. Feeding bowls, toys, collars & leashes, blankets to lay on , cleaning & bathing supplies, just to name a few! Each of these items cost only a few dollars, yet-it wasn't in our budget.  I saw firsthand the enormous impact a single donation can make, no matter how big or small.  And If you  can't  donate  cash, consider do...

When you are strug gling to make ends meet, saving can seem an impossible goal. Even on the barest of budgets, there are ways to keep your money in your pocket longer. Start by saving money shopping. Coupons, deals and discounts are widely available and can save you time and effort, too! Here are 5 easy, but often overlooked budget tweaks for starters: 1) Shop at your local $1 dollar store                                                                         Dollar stores can be a goldmine of bargains for everyday items. Sandwich bags, paper towels, trash bags, toiletries, and even groceries can be purchased for only $1 a piece. You’ll just have to skip the brand name items…you don’t need to stock your shelves with expensive stuff when the cheaper version will do just fine. Many of your cleaning product...

What are Payday Loans? Payday loans are also called cash advance loans. They are small (up to $700), unsecured loans-meaning you can borrow without any credit or collateral. These loans are paid to you quickly, usually instantly or within 24 hours, and due to be paid back with your next paycheck. These loans are popular with people with bad credit or no credit. Anyone who can prove a regular monthly income with pay stubs or bank records can get one.  Sounds convenient, right?     Let’s discuss the fees before you rush out to take out a loan for yourself.                                  A  payday loan -also called a  cash advance loan - may seem like the answer for people with bad credit, but as with any loan there are pros and cons. While one the one hand you can get money quickly, on the other, they cost a lot. Still, they may be the only option for some people who need some e...

Tired of living paycheck to paycheck?  Here are 5 money saving tips that will leave you with a few extra dollars in your pocket.               1) Shop at your local $1 dollar store. Dollar stores can be a goldmine of bargains for everyday items. Sandwich bags, paper towels, trash bags, toiletries, and even groceries can be purchased for only $1 a piece. You’ll just have to skip the brand name items… you don’t need to stock your shelves with expensive stuff when the cheaper version will do just fine. Many of your cleaning products as well as hundreds of other everyday items can be purchased at dollar stores for a fraction of what you’d pay in a grocery or drug store. 2)  Take advantage of coupons and specials           When grocery shopping, take advantage of coupons and specials. Cut all the coupons you can use and organize them so they’re easy to find. For some items, you can search online and find additional co...