April 2018 - WiseDollar

Archive for April 2018

3 Things Gymtimidation Could Be Costing You

April 30, 2018 Kayla Sloan Lifestyle No comments

For some, going to the gym is a regular part of their daily routine. For others, even with the best of intentions, a trip to workout can seem to cause more anxiety than it?s worth.

Depending on where you are in your fitness journey, the gym can be an intimidating place. You might picture perfectly toned females, dressed skimpily and logging hours on the treadmill, or muscular regulars dominating the weight room, people who walk confidently into the facility.

If you?re less familiar with the machines, self-conscious, and worried about looking silly or unfit for the gym, obtaining the motivation to go is nearly impossible.

That being said, if gymtimidation is hindering your exercise routine, it could be costing you more than just your dream physique. Here are three ways gymtimidation could be affecting your wallet.

1.?You?re Paying for Something You Don?t Use

Unfortunately, a gym membership tends to be anything but cheap. Often times, signing up for even the most basic of packages can run you anywhere from $30 to $100 per month for some of the specialized studios.

If you?re getting your use out of the facility and dedicated to going, then that?s money going to a good cause. However, if gymtimidation is causing you constantly postpone your workout, then you?re simply wasting money on something you don?t use.

2. You?ve Resorted to Other, Costly Options

There?s no doubt about it that going to the gym solo can be intimidating. For some, that intimidation can lead them to opt for other alternatives.

Whether you hire a personal trainer, purchase your own machine, or choose to focus on diet and sign up for Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, most gym alternatives come at a hefty price.

If gymtimidation has forced you to go with one of the options above instead, you could be spending a lot more money than you might on a monthly membership.

3.?You?re Impacting Your Overall Health

Great overall health isn?t just good for you in the long-run, but it?s good for your wallet as well. While proper diet and exercise doesn?t make you invincible, it does indeed help you foster a healthier body and lifestyle. And keeping your body healthy, likely means less doctor visits.

Unless you?ve found another way to stay active, the anxiety over going to the gym could cause you to skip it altogether. In the long-run this could equate to lesser overall health, more health issues, and more, expensive doctor visits and procedures.

When you step foot into the gym, it?s all too easy to look at those with, what you perceive, as the perfect bodies and feel intimidated. You might begin to think that they?ll judge you or that you?re simply not ready yet for the gym.

Whatever the cause for your gymtimidation, it?s important to remember that we?re all in different spots on our fitness journey. No matter where you are, the sheer fact that you want to go to the gym and take care of your body, in itself is something to be proud of. Don?t let gymtimidation cost you extra money or a healthy life.

What?s one way you can overcome gymtimidation? If you don?t feel that you?re ready for the gym, what are some inexpensive alternatives?

Photo courtesy of: skeeze

4 Easy Ways to Save Money and the Earth

April 25, 2018 John Schmoll Saving No comments

We all love to save money. Saving money today means you have more money to spend in the future ? and that?s a good thing. You may need that money for some unexpected expense, or you may be able to use it for something fun like a vacation. Whatever the case, we should all agree that saving money can be seen as a positive.

At the same time, taking steps to save the earth should be seen as a good thing as well. So, can you serve both of these goals at the same time? We think so.

Let?s take a look at four ways in which you may be able to save money and the earth at the same time.

Buy a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle

You probably saw this one coming. One of the best things you can do with your money in order to save both the world and dollars down the line is to purchase a fuel-efficient vehicle.

On the personal side, owning a fuel-efficient car will allow you to stop at the gas pump less frequently, saving you money. As far as the earth is concerned, using less gasoline means less oil needs to be consumed, and fewer emissions will be put out into the atmosphere.

Fortunately, car manufacturers have made great strides in fuel-efficiency lately. So, you can pick from a wide range of models when shopping.

Pay Attention to Home Efficiency

So much of this discussion is going to come down to doing things efficiently. Just like you want to use an efficient car, you should also strive to live in an efficient home.

A well-designed home with plenty of insulation should be rather energy efficient. This means you?ll use less energy to heat it in the winter and cool it in the summer. That?s good news for the environment, and it?s good news for your pocketbook, as well.

Consume Less

While you probably don?t think about it much when shopping, buying a large amount of consumer goods is going to have an impact on the environment. Plus, it is going to impact your wallet.

Most of what you buy will need to be shipped a great distance to reach you. Shipping requires the use of lots of energy resources. The more we consume, the greater the stresses that we place on the environment around us.

By reducing your consumption and leading a simpler lifestyle, you can keep more money in your bank and do a small part to help the earth at the same time.

Buy Local

This last point is a takeoff on the previous point. When you do need to buy consumer goods, do your best to purchase things that have been produced in your local area. Local goods not only prop up your local economy, but they also have to travel a much shorter distance to reach your home.

While you might not save much money with this option, you can feel good about the impact you are having on both your local area and the environment as a whole.

Have you ever done of these things to save money and help the earth? Do you have other tips?

Photo courtesy of: stuarthampton

3 Ways to Handle Roommates Who Take Advantage of You

April 23, 2018 Kayla Sloan Lifestyle No comments

There are a lot of great advantages of having a roommate. For instance, it can lower your rent or house payments, as well as other monthly bills. Assuming you get along well you may also have a shoulder or two to cry on when you need one.

When you are a student or new graduate, it is almost necessary to have a roommate to share the bills with. Rent in college towns can be higher than other areas making sharing a good way to save money.

On the other hand, everything isn?t always hunky-dory when you have roommates. You may find that the differences you have bug the crap out of each other. In addition you may find that they don?t treat you well.

Fortunately there are ways to handle roommates who take advantage of you.

1. Put Your Foot Down

One method to handle roommates who take advantage of you is to put your foot down. Though they agreed to split costs with you they may not realize their actions are inconsiderate.

Let?s say your roommate frequently comes in at all hours of the night or fails to make it home at all on occasion. When they don?t let you know, it may cause needless worrying about their safety.

But to your roommate it?s their right to do whatever they want now that they are on their own. It may not have occurred to them that someone would be worried about them.

No matter what it is driving a wedge between you, have a heart to heart conversation with them. Let them know you aren?t trying to be their parent but instead a concerned friend. Just make sure you talk when neither of you is tired or emotional.

2. Develop House Rules

Another way to handle roommates who take advantage of you is to develop some house rules together. Of course, if possible, it?s the most effective to do this before you even move in together. This way if you discover a difference that no one is willing to compromise on you can find another roommate.

Make a written agreement on how monthly bills like utilities, food, rent, curfews and shared spaces should be handled. Don?t forget to document how it will be handled if one person moves out. That may cut down considerably on any disagreements you could have.

However, if your living arrangements have already been chose you can still develop some rules to abide by. Just get together, make a plan and have everybody there sign off on it. Make sure to include consequences for failure to uphold the agreement.

3. Don?t Be Bullied

If you can?t get cooperation from get roommates who take advantage of you there are less options for what to do. Obviously one option is to move out, but moving isn?t cheap so don?t do it if you can avoid it.

When roommates financially abuse you it may be possible to get them kicked out. Talk to your landlord about the situation to see what your options are. Maybe they will let you replace the roommate with another to keep their own money rolling in.

Simply not holding up their share of split costs might prompt you to take less drastic action. Keep your food separate and lock it up. Do the same with personal items and valuables.

Whatever you do, don?t let yourself be bullied into action you don?t want to take.

Having roommates can ease the strain on finances whether you are a student or simply trying to make ends meet. But there are ways to handle roommates who take advantage of you.

Have you ever been taken advantage of by a roommate? What did you do?

Photo courtesy of: StockSnap

3 Financial Preparations to Help You Move Out of Your Parent?s House

April 18, 2018 John Schmoll Lifestyle No comments

Moving out of your parent?s house is an exciting time. For the first time in your life, you?ll be responsible for everything that you need to do on a day-to-day basis. Sure, it can be a lot of work, but most people love the feeling of freedom that comes with it.

In addition to regular chores like laundry and dishes, you?ll now be on your own when it comes to finances. Most likely, this is going to be a bit overwhelming ? and the toughest part of the move. Fortunately, by preparing yourself well in advance, you can make this transition as smooth as possible.

The three steps below should go a long way toward helping make this move a successful one.

Start Saving Now!

One of the best things you can do is build up some savings that can be used for various moving expenses. If you have a job ? and you should, of course, if you are thinking of moving out ? try to save as much of your paycheck as possible.

While you are still living at home, it is likely that your expenses are pretty low, even if you chip in to help your parents with some things. Take advantage of your current living situation by saving as much as you can. Without a doubt, those savings are going to come in handy later.

Make a Budget in Advance

You should have a budget for your independent life when you move out, but there is no reason you have to wait until you move out to design that budget.

First, consider what your living situation is going to be, and determine how much of your income is going to go toward rent (assuming you will be renting rather than buying). Also, budget for things like a car payment and insurance, food costs, etc.

Pretty quickly, you?ll get an idea of how expensive living on your own can be. It is smart to do this budget in advance to avoid moving out only to find that you don?t have enough money to make ends meet.

Build New Habits

Again, this is another step that will be easier if you do it in advance. While living at home, you may have many habits that are typical of young people ? such as eating a lot of your meals out with friends, and spending excess money on things like entertainment and clothes.

We aren?t saying that you won?t be able to spend any money on those things moving forward, but your budget is going to take a hit. So, before you even move out, get used to your new lifestyle.

Cut back on unnecessary spending, make more of your own food, etc. By establishing a new set of habits before you leave your parents? house, you will be in a for a softer landing in the ?real world?.

Avoid getting into financial trouble when you move out on your own by starting your financial preparations well in advance of your move. This way you can start out on the right financial foot when living on your own.

When did you move out on your own? Were you financially prepared?

Photo courtesy of: ArtisticOperations

4 Crazy Money Superstitions You Shouldn?t Believe

April 16, 2018 Kayla Sloan Money Management One comment

Four Crazy Money Superstitions You Shouldn?t Believe

There?s no telling how certain myths and various tidbits of wisdom get passed down. Unfortunately, when they do, they have a tendency to stick around even if they aren?t or are no longer true.?When it comes to your finances, there?s an array of money superstitions out there that you might follow, even though they are untrue or have become misconstrued over the years. Especially when it comes to your money, the last thing you want to do is follow the wrong advice.

Whether or not you know you adhere to certain money superstitions and myths, take a look at these four you shouldn?t believe. They may make you consider adjusting your habits.

1. Keeping a Balance on Your Credit Card Helps Your Score

Don’t fall for this money superstition. You in no way need to or should keep a constant balance on your credit card. While using your credit card regularly can help your credit score, it only does so if you?re able to pay it off in full each month.

A balance will just accrue interest, which only benefits credit card companies. If you keep using your card for occasional or smaller purchases, then a zero balance is perfectly fine to keep.

2. If You Can Afford the Monthly Payment, You Can Buy It

More often than not, we get the idea that as long as we can afford the monthly payment, then we can have whatever we want, even if you could never purchase the item in-full in one setting.

Whether it?s a house, car, furniture, or appliance, you should always consider the total cost of something, not just the monthly amount. Paying an item off monthly, as opposed to outright, simply means that you have less money for longer to put towards other financial goals.

3. Your Credit Card is Your Emergency Fund

For some, a credit card is their answer to a lack of an emergency fund. They figure so long as their limit is high, they can use credit to pay off larger expenses.

Unfortunately, using that card for emergencies simply means you?ll have debt to pay off in the long-run. Having a stable emergency fund, however, enables you to pay off those surprise expenses in the beginning.

This can save you from having money tied up in debt and interest, and giving you the opportunity to put future income towards a new emergency or savings fund and other important goals.

4. You Can Do Everything Yourself

We all have our area of expertise, which is why there are those that choose to specifically work in finances. Even if you?re someone who?s good with numbers and money, there are times when you should seek professional advice.

Whether it?s with taxes, investments, or even basic management, sometimes getting another and expert opinion can make all the difference.

Simply because most people believe something to be true, doesn?t mean you should jump on the bandwagon. Most people no doubt have their opinions on how best to handle finances. Because of that, certain myths and money superstitions have become long-held.

Of course not every popular opinion is for your benefit. Thus, you need to avoid these four money myths and do your homework before following others.

What are some money myths you have found to be true? Have you fallen for any of these money superstitions?

Photo courtesy of: Designer-Obst

« Older Entries

WiseDollar

Personal Finance and More!