iReconcile

This application ranks high among the tools that can help you manage your finances. iReconcile has an excellent budget tracker tool that is incomparable to other apps. For only $2.99, you can track your budget on a daily, weekly, monthly, and even on a yearly basis. It also features a built-in check register and an online backup or sync service that has a monthly fee of only $1.99/month, allowing you to check your money even if you do not have your phone with you. Another positive feature of iReconcile is its budget setup system which gives you full control over which optional categories should be included. Many users find the system’s rollover option very useful because it lets you carry over your unused funds from the previous month to the succeeding month without any hassle.

Expenditure

Another popular application to help you manage your money is Expenditure, which can be downloaded for only $1.99. One of its best features is the option that allows you to add a photo or a note of whatever transaction you perform, so you can determine exactly how and where you spent your money. It also has a currency converter with a long list of supported currencies, perfect for those who travel frequently or those who receive money from abroad.

PocketMoney

Downloading PocketMoney will cost you $9.99 but this amount is surely worth it. This application can serve as a mobile checkbook, tracking your accounts regardless of how many they are. You can choose an option that permits the application to auto-complete your transactions, and it generates financial reports complete with pie charts for easy reviewing. PocketMoney can import files from other devices and synchronize them using a desktop app that comes with it.

Pennies

Pennies is another popular budgeting application that can be downloaded for $2.99. Although its features are not quite comparable to other excellent money manager applications, Pennies is a very efficient tool for basic budgeting. This app allows you to establish your monthly budget and track your daily spending based on this budget. It indicates how much money is left to prevent you from going way over your budget. Its finger-friendly keys are perfect for those who find it hard to use the very small keys of other budget applications.

You never know which of these apps will fit your lifestyle or personality so grab free trials whenever possible before paying for one of them. For more tips and thoughts on saving money, visit Billeater.com.

The world is in uncertain times, both financially and educationally. Governments around the world are defaulting on loans and the lure of a college education isn’t what it used to be. When individuals consider a college education, time constraints and money are always at the top of the list. How does one pay for college and still maintain a manageable level of debt?

Reducing Debt

Although several reports have indicated rising costs of higher education, what isn’t discussed is how online education can help reduce individual debt. When you consider costs of traditional education, you have to include tuition/fees, room and board, meal plans and books. If the college/university is located miles away from home, you have the added cost of travel to and from school and out of state fees.

Online colleges and universities only require students to have an Internet connection and purchase course materials. You live in the convenience of your home and don’t have to worry about purchasing a meal plan.

Online Classes

Online colleges and universities offer the ability to achieve an advanced degree over the Internet. Online classes provide an individualized learning environment that allows greater customization to fit individual learning preferences. And while the paths toward learning objectives may be different than traditional universities, the final result is the same—a degree.

Online degrees and classes are taken at the pace of the individual seeking the advanced degree. You won’t have to conform to the rules of traditional campuses. In the hectic world of today, an online education is an ideal fit for career-minded professionals seeking to enhance skill sets or individuals seeking an alternative to a traditional campus setting.

Overall Benefits

Studies have shown that the number of people seeking a higher education degree will increase over the next several years. Several factors go into a person choosing an online education as it relates to reducing debt:

• Convenience: When considering an online degree, the first thought associated with debt reduction is convenience. Traditional campuses require students to attend classes at a specific time in order to earn a degree. Online colleges and universities allow student to follow a path that fits his or her own particular lifestyle. Several online programs are available 24/7, something traditional classrooms do not provide.

• Self-paced: Family commitments and work schedules do not have to be compromised due to online classes. Online courses are self-paced, so an individual does not have to worry about not attaining their educational goals.

• Affordability: With student loans expected to rise to $1 trillion, individuals seeking higher education need an affordable alternative

Continuing fulltime employment while pursuing education is achievable by attending an online college or university. Education is never cheap, but the rewards are plentiful. If you want to potentially improve your skill set, minimize your financial footprint, and earn a degree, consider all of the available options.

Piggy Bank / 401K / CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting into a better financial situation has never been easy, but the 2009 recession made it more difficult than ever for many working families. The average amount of personal debt has increased in recent years, and income is not keeping pace with inflation according to most calculations. There are still ways to save, but they require organization and the wise use of limited funds.

Several smartphone apps have been designed to help you easily access financial organizing tools. Others bring together methods of saving that go beyond the traditional clipping of coupons. A few will be useful to everyone, and some will only pertain to a select crowd. It is worthwhile to investigate apps and find the right ones to help you start saving cash today. These five are only a few of the most popular.

Mint

This personal finance manager has been around in web-based format for years, and it is now available for smartphone. Set-up takes longer than the advertised few minutes, because you must enter your usernames and passwords for all financial accounts to be tracked. Once this is accomplished, Mint will retrieve all the information and put in into easily managed categories. Budget limits will be suggested, but it is up to the individual to ensure that spending totals are in the correct categories and to set budget limits best suited to the individual’s lifestyle and habits.

Pageonce

The free version of this app is similar to a scaled-back Mint. It collects bank account information, including bills, and creates averaged totals over a long period of time. This makes it easy to track expenses and is much simpler than the old method of sitting down with pen and paper to create past monthly budgets and projected budgets.

Key Ring

A large number of common stores offer special rewards to loyal customers. The problem comes in remembering to use them. An app like Key Ring, and there are several other similar ones, stores reward information. This ensures that you will not miss out on gaining rewards due to forgotten cards, and you’ll always be carrying reward information ready for use.

Supermarket

One of the best calculator programs to have handy when shopping for groceries, Supermarket allows for quick price comparisons. Some stores have started sharing this information with customers on the shelf labels, but it is common to find one item listed as price per ounce and a similar item listed as price per pound. The Supermarket app simplifies the math by providing preset fields for all the numbers.

ShopSavvy

A major problem when shopping either online or with a local retailer is the vexing question of whether this particular item is really priced fairly. It is a shame to buy something only to find the same item elsewhere at a much lower price. This will be far less likely with ShopSavvy, because prices can be quickly compared with numerous online and local retailers to discover whether a better deal can be found elsewhere.

Even with tight finances and higher costs, it is possible to thrive with the right help. Apps are ready to address every aspect of finance, and this is only a sample of what is possible with a smartphone. Investing, retirement planning, and dining out are only a few other areas where you can benefit by searching appropriate apps.

Christine Lukes is a personal finances guru and freelance blogger – one of the biggest financial tips she recommends is to open a Savings Account and actually use it.

Look at all the cash you could be saving under your piggy bank!

In order to be successful in life, one must have a plan. A plan entails having goals and objectives that are aimed at defining one’s purpose in life. The small goals that one makes are what lead to success in future. This is true even when it comes to savings. When you start saving, it may seem like a big dream, but with consistency and patience the sky is the limit.

When coming up with saving goals, it is important to ensure that it is realistic. It does not make sense to set very high standards for yourself, which are very difficult for you to achieve. Start by analyzing your income critically and then determining how much you can set side for your savings. For instance, if all you can afford to save each month is $ 20, then start out with at. By the end of the year you will have saved at least $ 240 and in ten years time you will have $ 2,400. Never ignore small beginnings as they give rise to big things in the future. If you can afford to save $ 1 each day, by the end of the year you will have $ 365. Having a savings account is important as you can bank the amount that you want to save regularly.

The savings goals that you make must also be measurable. The small savings that you put aside are quantifiable and can be measured in terms of growth. If you save $50 each week, by twelve weeks the amount would have grown to $ 600. This growth can be measured. This amount saved may look small in the beginning but it can really grow especially if the amount is used in a profitable venture.

The goals that you make must also be attainable. It does not make sense to come up with saving objectives that you can hardly achieve. When one is not able to meet his or her saving goals; depressions sets in, which can prove very dangerous. Therefore, do not look down at the small savings that you are making each day as they could yield amazing fruits.

Have a time frame for the goals that you set. Even if the savings may look small, have a certain time frame and work towards getting to the desired amount. This amount can further be reinvested in to a profitable business and consequently yield better returns.

Generally, small as they may seem, your savings goals should be very specific. Work towards them and ensure that you meet your targets. Note that, even as humble as your savings may look, they could lead to financial security in the future. Saving in to a retirement plan is a good idea. Ensure that you do not misuse the money in your savings account.

Article by Noelle Greenwood of savings account comparison website HISA.

Don’t Give Yourself Away – The things about craigslist is that you respond blindly to ads.  Be careful with what you respond with.  If you aren’t comfortable having strangers call you, don’t put your phone number there.  If you don’t want to get conned, don’t tell the seller that you have set your heart on the item and that you would sell your younger sister to get it.  Knowledge is power, so keep some of that power to yourself.

Read The Fine Print – Like anything that you buy, you need to know for sure what you are getting into when you buy things.  If the seller has a great table mentioning only on a side note that it hasn’t been built yet, you need to catch that.  Don’t just skim those postings: take a look at the all the details available to you.

Ask Questions – Sometimes, posters don’t bother with fine print.  A lot of people who post on craigslist only offer the absolute bare minimum information about their product.  Don’t hesitate to ask questions, and questions about the questions.  If you aren’t sure what sort of things to ask, see what sort of information is listed about the type of item on ebay, and use that to get the right questions started.

See First, Pay Second – Unless you are buying something outside the state, there is no reason why you shouldn’t take a look at the thing you are buying before you hand over the cash.  Craigslist people usually don’t offer a refund or have a return policy.  Once you’ve paid for it, it’s yours.  That means that you could wind up paying a lot of money for a car that doesn’t run or paint that is the wrong color.  Set up a meeting to pick your item up and only hand over the cash after you are satisfied it’s the right thing.

Trust Your Gut (When it feels bad) – Some of us are a lot better at this than others, but we all have a little voice in the back of our heads that can tell us when something is not right.  If you have that feeling about something that you saw on Craigslist, it is better to be safe than sorry.  Don’t get yourself caught in a scheme because you were too concerned with seeming a nice guy, than with listening to your own racing heart.

About the Author

Kan A. is a writer for MyCriminalJusticeCareers.com. Take a look at this site to learn what it takes to become a forensic scientist , and what programs are available to forensic scientists.

With college prices as high as they are, you may barely be able to afford to pay for your child’s education. Most of the time loans are required. Beyond the price of the tuition, your child will require a ton of other expensive things, like housing, books, food, clothes, and beer. Hopefully they’ll have a job to help, but more than likely they’re going to ask you to open your wallet. And when they do, should you let them use your credit card?
Trust Matters

You’ve worked very hard to maintain your credit. Do you really want to risk it all by giving your irresponsible child access to it? Well, is your child really that irresponsible? Before you loan out your plastic, you’ll have to evaluate the relative maturity of your child. Let’s be honest here – most college students don’t grasp the concept of money as well as us weathered adults do. No matter how responsible your child is, you’ll have to consider their financial aptitude. If you feel that you can trust your child to at least be honest with you and make a genuine effort to spend responsibly, having access to your credit card could be a valuable learning experience.
Out on Their Own

Your child needs to learn about finances, but do they really have to do it with your credit card? Something else to consider is helping your child apply for their own credit card. If need be, perhaps you could be a cosigner in order to get a better interest rate. If you really think your child can’t handle having a credit card yet, it might not be a good idea to risk their own credit. If they can handle it, this might be an excellent way for them to begin building their credit history. They’ll certainly feel more like an adult when their card has their own name on it rather than mom’s or dad’s.
Setting the Limit

If you do loan your college student your credit card, you’re going to have to set some limits. Discuss with your student exactly what can and cannot be charged on the card. What do they think they’ll be buying? What is a necessity versus a want? Set a dollar limit for them. If they go over it or do any spending you don’t approve of, there have to be consequences, and you have to follow through. Make sure your child understands not just the credit company’s terms and conditions, but yours as well. If things go wrong, you can always cancel the card. Getting denied at the register in front of their friends will teach them a lesson real quickly!

Alexander Pierce is a children’s psychologist and dedicated father of 2 living in Seattle. He is often asked by his children for help when it comes to essay editing and now that his kids are getting older they are needing help with college application essays.

It is important to realize that, according to Yahoo! Finance, the average American ends up spending around $727 on monthly food items. This amount can be reduced substantially if the right money saving techniques are followed. Saving money on food will not only allow you to have a fatter wallet but also spend money on different things that you could not purchase before. Below are 5 great tips on how to save money on food.

Follow a Great Nutritional Plan

According to the Yahoo! Finance, a family of 4 people can easily live on a good nutritional diet on $500 per month.

Following a great nutritional plan is a great way to save money. It is important to realize that people that tend to eat less have more money saved on food because they do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on various food items.

A steady nutritional diet will allow you to only consume foods that your body requires without the excess junk that can cause an array of health problems. Remember, according to the World Health Organization, over 1.5 billion adults over the age of 20 are clinically obese and prone to several health issues such as diabetes and heart problems.

Use Coupons

Food coupons are a great way to save money on food. Coupons are mailed by many companies as part of their promotional and advertising campaigns. These coupons usually offer a certain percentage off various food items and should be availed by the consumer. This way, you will be able to save money on food items.

Shop at Big Discount Stores

It is important to realize that retail shops usually tend to charge a higher price for a food item than a wholesaler or discount store would. For example, a retail outlet may charge you $5 for a packet of cheese whereas at a discount store, you may get it for $3. Yes, it is that big a difference. If you are serious about saving money on food, then it is a good idea to do your monthly shopping at discount stores and wholesale outlets.

Adopt a Budget

Create a budget for yourself. Write down all the expenses in categories such as food expenses, misc expense and etc. Under the food expenses, look at all the foods items that you purchase and then weed out the items that you can do without. This way, you will be able to save yourself a little bit of money each month.

Purchase in Bulk

Purchasing in bulk usually tends to provide the consumer with a bulk discount. With that being said, if you have storage room at home, then purchasing in bulk will definitely help bring your food expense bills down and save you money.

One doesn’t need to sacrifice their lifestyle in order to save money on food. Just being aware of the food items purchased and where savings can be made is all it takes to save money.

Allan is a frugal blogger. He has written several articles on how to save money on daily basis.  As part of his savings strategy, Allan put all the money he saves on food on his Ubank term deposit account.

In the art, of negotiating a home purchase there are times that after the sale that buyers will undoubtedly think that they over paid for their home. There will always be this little nagging in the back of their mind that if they had submitted a lower offer would the sellers have accepted it? Even if, the offer for the home purchase at the time was equivalent to fair market value. But, most do not think to put in a lower of an offer, because they are afraid the sellers will not be willing to accept it. So, I have put some small points together for those that are in the process of purchasing a home.

1. Be prepared to walk away

We all find the perfect home, and when we do we let our emotions start to overtake the decision process. This is the first no, no of home price negotiation. You have to leave your emotions at the door before you walk into the room. The home might be complete perfect with just the right amount of bedrooms, amenities, design, and convenience to everything that you want. But, if you let your emotions trigger the prospect you will either overpay for the property. So, when negotiating and asking the seller for the maximum amount of concessions in the sale, if they do not meet them then just walk away.

2. Do the numbers again and again

When you are, about to spend a substantial amount of money on a home then you need to bring your math skills back to the surface. Make sure you have some seriously vital pieces of information to be able to make the initial offer on a home. When you first are looking at the numbers check and see, if the numbers in the neighbor hood correspond to the seller’s asking price. Similar homes in the neighbor hood might have sold for more or less than what they are asking. Always check the sold prices within a mile or so of the house you are interested in. This will determine how much you are going to ask for the price. If, your initial price is a decent market value and you have put your offer in with the maximum amount of comps and the sellers do not accept it. Then refer to rule number one be prepared to walk away you will find another.

3. Drive by the comps

Go and look at the comparable properties in the area that have sold or that are listed around the area. Sur you can check the photo, but you will get better acquainted with the market values in the neighbor hood. These properties may have even been ones that you toured before in your property search. If, you need to go see them several times then do it. It will help you get the best selling price up front.

4. Determine a price

Once you have taking a look at the comparable properties in the area then you should have a pretty good idea what type of numbers you are looking at. For example, if comparable homes sold for about ninety five percent of the actual asking price. Then your maximum limit being only one or two percentage points higher than the ninety-five percent they sold for you are in a good position to ask. Another contributing factor that can work to your advantage in setting a negotiating price is if the home has been on the market for a longer period of time. So, take the chance and ask for the lower option first with maximum compensations and if they do not accept be prepared to walk away.

5. Set a tone with earnest money

Another way besides asking price to entice your offer to sellers if you are truly interested in the property is with something called earnest money. So, as long as you close on the home the sellers will get the money that you put up for earnest. Usually people will put up twenty five hundred or more in earnest money. The higher the amount you put up the more it shows you are committed to purchasing the home. These types of offers work well in buy owner contracts. Then again if they come back with more then what you are willing to pay remember to just walk away.

6. Set an expiration date for your offer

When you put in an offer for a home you want to also add a expiration date on the offer. Typically this is within twenty-four to forty-eight hours after you submit the proposal. The reason for doing this is for the seller to give you an answer quickly and not allow the seller to consider multiple offers on a home. This leads to better price for the home and better concessions on the seller’s part.

7. Ask for financial concessions

In today’s market it is considered a buyer’s market. One of the stipulations that you can ask for in a seller’s negotiation contract are the closing cost. It is pretty straight forward to ask the seller to pay for all city and state taxes, inspections, appraisals, or simply return your money that you have spent on these at the closing table. You can also ask the seller in these terms to repair any faulty appliances, carpets, walls, décor that you feel is a hazard from the initial inspection. This helps the buyers get a great home for the very best price that is available.

Visit the California Apartments Blog to get more home improvement and home living tips as well as new home builder reviews including these new Tampa homes for sale and these new homes in Naples, FL.

As we come to realize that our resources are not infinite and must be preserved, we turn towards using greener forms of energy and changing the way that we live. Businesses and companies are being rewarded for switching to greener ways of running their equipment and power, giving our civilization a running start into a cleaner world. However, to be more efficient overall it requires the cooperation of citizens as well. One easy step that you can take to helping the world by switching your light bulbs to CFL lights bulbs, a much more efficient way of lighting your home.

How it Helps the Environment

Even though CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and need to be disposed of properly — like finding a local retailer or other recycling program — these bulbs can last up to ten times longer than an incandescent bulb. That means less waste in a landfill. Due to their design, these bulbs also reduce the amount of energy needed to light a room by 75 percent. Imagine reducing your lighting costs by 75 percent! This is an especially huge savings if you own a larger home—definitely worth the effort to switch over!

You can find CFL bulbs for dimmer lights and three-way lamps. Imagine if the whole world switched their light bulbs? That could make a monumental difference in the amount of energy our world consumes.

How it Saves You Money

Even though you are helping the environment, you are helping yourself as well. Compact florescent light bulbs save power, which means that you use less of it. Since you are using less power, your electricity bill will be reduced. Additionally, these bulbs last longer than an average iridescent, meaning they are replaced less — which means less money from your pocket and less hassle replacing bulbs. On average, by switching the light bulbs in their home, people save roughly 11 percent on their total electricity bill.

Switching your light bulbs has many advantages, especially for those that are on a tight budget. With the current state of the economy, saving money is vital. Switching your light bulbs is the first step to saving money and stretching your dollar further. And you can feel great about doing something kind of the environment!

Make the choice to switch to more energy efficient light bulbs today. After all, it is a very easy method to save both power and money in one easy swoop! It all comes down to you—do your part.

Andrew Greene is an eco-conscious freelance writer and blogs for http://www.debtmanagement.org.uk a site that provides debt management for people in need.

The Light Bulb Designed To Last 20 Years (available now)

Update:  If you’re willing to take the long view, Phillips just released a new LED light bulbdesigned to last 20 years!  It retails for $60 but check with your local power utility to see if any subsidy is available – some may be able to get it for as low as $25 which means it’ll be paying you back in just over a year (compared to incandescent bulbs which are being banned in the U.S. in 2014 anyway)

So, if you are in the fortunate position to have some money to lend and a friend or family member comes to you cap in hand asking for it, what do you do? Many people would feel obligated to let their friend or family member borrow the money but before you agree you need to think about what you’re doing and whether this is a good idea.

Of course, many of us have had friends and family members ask to borrow a few dollars not and again, which isn’t usually a big deal other than the fact that you might be helping them to develop bad habits! However, if someone wants to borrow a substantial sum of money, you could find yourself in a predicament. Most people want to help because it is a friend or family member. However, you also need to think about your own finances and situation.

With some family and friends you just know for a fact that they will borrow the money for a short while and then pay you back faithfully. However, with others this may not be quite so obvious and you have to think carefully about whether or not you can risk losing that money, as there is always a chance that you may not get it back. This is for a number of reasons. First off, the person who is borrowing the money may feel less obliged to repay it because you are a friend or family member rather than a bank or financial institution. Secondly, you may find that you are less inclined to chase the money in the event that you do not get it back as agreed because you feel embarrassed about chasing your money from a friend or family member, which can be awkward.

If you are planning to lend money to a family member or friend, make sure you come to an agreement with regards to when it will be repaid and make sure you chase it if not received so that the borrower doesn’t assume that you are letting them off. Also, assess the likelihood and ability of the borrower to repay the cash before you make your decision, otherwise you may end up having to write it off.

Esther is a personal finance writer and blogger. She regularly covers everything from loans to tax, from investments to consumer law. She also blogs for a Illinois injury accident law firm.