Hello Everybody,
I'm a new student here. I'm never and excited at the same time. Any advice?
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Going out to eat always costs money, but when there are children involved, the price tends to increase. Although it means more mouths to feed, family dinners are often an important part of a family bonding and going out to eat creates memories as well. Thankfully, going out to eat as a family doesn't have to be a financial burden. There are ways of saving when dining out with kids and here are a few of those ways.
- Skip the kids' menu and opt for something healthier and with more variety. Often times children's menus have the same hotdog, hamburger, macaroni and cheese options. Instead, get an appitizer for your child to serve as their meal. It's often healthier and is smaller than an adult portion.
- If you have multiple children, allow them to share an adult size portion. Again, these are healthier and you're paying for one meal.
- Sometimes you can order half portions of the adult meals for kids. The prices of this option may vary, but it's a great way to give the kids some diversity when they go out.
- Depending on what you order or how much your child eats, you and your child can share from the same plate.
As a student in our online personal finance school, what other money saving tricks do you have?
Toys are something every person can relate to. Whether they're collectible action figures, beautiful Barbie dolls, or characters from a favorite television show, toys are a way to remember your childhood and celebrate your youth. Some, however, have turned their playthings of the past into a way to make cold hard cash. Buying and selling old toys can be a lucrative career, but you have to know what you're looking for. Here are a few things to note.
- Toys are worth more in their original packaging. If possible, keep them in their original wrappings.
- If they are out of their boxes, make sure all of the original pieces are still there. Luke Skywalker is only worth so much without his lightsaber.
- Check to ensure there is no corrosion in the battery compartment. Remove any batteries before selling this toy to others.
- It's impossible to know the future, but think ahead a few years to whether or not this toy will still be relevant. In the mid 90s, Beanie Babies were all the rage and people were spending hundreds of dollars for rare Beanies, but today, the fad is past and the toys aren't worth much.
- Be sure the toy is truly vintage and isn't a re-issue of a classic.
As a student in online personal financial planning school, what do you think?
For anyone who drives a car, it is mandatory to have some kind of car insurance. Because it is unavoidable, saving some money while still getting the protection you need is a valuable asset. ABC News has listed some ways that you can save money on your car insurace.
- Don't pay for anything you don't need. For example, if you're driving an older car and you have collision and comprehensive coverage, you may be wasting your money. Look into just having the basic liability coverage on an older model.
- Bundle your policies if possible. Many companies offer deals if you bundle your policies - like home and auto - together. This is a great way to save, especially if you love working with one company.
- Ask about discounts. Many places have them based on your age, location, or good driving records. Some places even have a "good student" discount in place as well.
- Shop around for a good deal. You wouldn't buy the first car you see, rather you'd do your research and make sure you were getting the most for your money. Car insurance is no different.
- According to the article, "deductibles as low $100 on your collision or comprehensive insurance raise your premium. Consider a $500 or $1,000 deductible–that’s the amount you must pay when there’s claim–and you may save hundreds."
As a student in online personal finance school, what other tips do you have?
With all of the banks out there, it can get confusing to decide which one to choose. If you previously chose one bank and decide to switch to another, however, the change can get even harder. According to one study, one out of every five bank members wanted to switch their banks within the last year, but only half ended up completing the process because the "banks made it too difficult."
"Unfair bank practices and rising fees are prompting more and more consumers to consider voting with their feet and taking their money to another bank or credit union," said Suzanne Martindale, staff attorney at Consumers Union. "But many consumers don't follow through because moving your money takes a lot of time and money and some bank policies make it harder than it should be."
But why is it so hard? You'd have to open a new account at the new bank, switch automatic payments you had through the first bank to the second, and any reoccuring payments (like credit cards).
As a personal finance student, why else do you think banks make this process so hard?
When a store opens, they often have a big promotional sale to get people in the door. By handing out coupons, free samples, or other special deals, many people come to check it out. One new grocery store in Germany had a different gimmick to attracting customers. Priss grocery store offered a shopping spree of $337 (270 euros) to the first 100 naked customers in the store. That's right: the first 100 people who did their shopping totally in the buff got free groceries.
To the manager’s surprise, about 250 nude shoppers came to the store, many of whom were from Denmark. The supermarket is only about 2.5 miles south of the Denmark border. The most popular purchases? Sweets and alcohol - two of the most expensive treats in Denmark.
“I never thought that 100 people would come,” said the manager, Nils Sterndorff, who expected 10 nude people, according to one German paper. “My shop is full of people without clothes.”
Would you go grocery shopping naked if it benefited your personal finances?
