If there’s one day that seems to come too fast each year, it would have to be April 15. Yet since tax day is one that none of us can afford to avoid, it’s important that we take all of the necessary steps that we can in order to be as prepared as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to hire a professional to prepare our taxes for us. If you’ve never used a tax preparer before and you’d like a few helpful tips that can connect you to a reputable one, we’ve got five essential...
Many people don’t know how to navigate around the tricky arrangement of cost negotiation, especially when it comes to expensive surgeries. Well, if you need a surgery that can save your life, it is time to start practicing your haggling skills now. Indeed, it may seem strange to haggle on such a delicate matter, but if you don’t have health insurance, it may be a difference between life and death. Luckily, the medical industry isn’t a fixed cost industry – some doctors and hospitals bill patients differently, which leaves you plenty of room to negotiate. Here are five surgical cost...
As the flowers begin to bloom and the temperature starts to rise, all of this is a sign that summertime is on its way. And while we all look forward to things like swimming, eating ice cream and wearing shorts an flip-flops all day long, if there’s one thing that many of us don’t really want to deal with, it’s getting our energy bills in the mail. Luckily, there are a few things that can be done that will not only keep the rooms in our homes cooler, but can also save us money on energy costs as well. If...
As a new homeowner, you are learning many new things and taking on new responsibilities. You are now responsible for your mortgage as well as other large expenses such as utilities. Often new homeowners don’t realize how expensive their energy bills can become each month if they are not careful. Here are some helpful energy savings tips and pieces of advice for new homeowners. Use energy efficient light bulbs throughout the house. These light bulbs are a little more expensive than regular bulbs, however they are worth the money and the initial investment. Energy efficient bulbs last significantly longer, so...
Moving into your first apartment can be a really exciting time – you get to finally have your own space. This means that you can decorate it the way you want, you can play your own music and you can be the master of your own domain. If you are moving out of your parents’ home, moving into your first apartment can be a revelation. However, renting an apartment can be expensive and there may be a lot of costs that you haven’t taken into consideration. For someone that is not used to making rent their number one responsibility, it can be...
You are moving into a new place and the opportunity is exciting as well as nerve wracking! While you are thrilled to be going somewhere new to start a new chapter of your life, you are also worried about all of the work and expenses that go into a big move. Luckily, if you keep some helpful and essential tips in mind, you can reduce the cost and the amount of time invested in your move. Here are 5 easy and effective ways to save time and money when you move. First of all, you should never spend money on...
As if starting up a new business isn’t stressful enough, you also have to figure out how to file your corporate taxes. And you’ll quickly discover that unearthing every possible deduction is an essential part of ensuring that you don’t pay the IRS a cent more than you need to. If you want your business to succeed you can’t throw money away. So here are just a few effective tax deduction strategies that should help you to come out on top. Save every receipt! This is where many new business owners fall short. But you absolutely have to keep receipts...
If you were to ask anyone who works at your local post office when the busiest time of the year is for them, hands down, they are going to tell you that it’s the holiday season. That’s because it’s the time when people are standing in line in order to ship presents to their loved ones all over the country and sometimes even the world. If you plan on being one of those people, then you’ve come to the right article. That’s because we actually want to provide you with a few failsafe tips on how you can save money...
As a homeowner, it is essential that you have him insurance to protect you, your family and your assets. While it is a necessary expense, you don’t need to pay excessive bills every month. With some research and action, you can reduce you bill to help make it more affordable for your budget and your lifestyle. Here are 5 easy and effective ways to reduce your homeowners insurance bill each month. First, never settle for continuously paying your current rate. If the cost is out of control and unfeasible for you, you can do something about it! Even if you...
If you’re someone who happens to live in apartment, while it does tend to come with certain benefits (like having a landlord who is responsible for your repairs), the reality is that you’re paying money, each month, to simply rent out the space. So, if you happen to be someone who is looking to put money in a savings account towards a new house or if you simply want to keep as much money in your wallet as you can, it’s important that you know about some easy and effective ways to save money on apartment living. We have provided...
There are commonly two steps in the car buying process. There is the part where the dealer uses his or her powers of persuasion to make you fall in love with the vehicle and then once you are ready to buy, you will be moved to the finance department. This is the part of the vehicle buying process where you become a little surprised by all the additional car fees. Some of these fees are appropriate and have to do with taxes, but some have to do with profit margins. Basically, some of these fees are implemented for the sake of...
Nobody relishes the idea of preparing their annual income tax filing, but it’s something we all must do in order to avoid fines and jail time. We may end up giving a fair chunk of our earnings to the government each year, but we get to live in a country where we are granted unparalleled freedoms. And when you look at how much Canadians pay, 20-25% doesn’t seem so bad. In any case, you can at least lessen the burden of time you devote to your taxes come April by doing some prep work ahead of time. Here are just...
Long-haul trucking is a tough industry, no doubt about it. Not only are the hours long and the deadlines tight, but you also have to deal with paperwork, weigh stations, protecting your cargo and getting it to its destination in one piece, and the dangers of inclement weather, bad roads, and other drivers, just for example. Then there are the psychological and physical hardships that come from sitting by yourself in a truck all day, eating at roadside diners, and leaving your family behind for days, weeks, or months at a time. On the upside, trucking companies often provide decent...
When choosing a car insurance policy, you will want to get the best rate and price possible to help making driving your car on a regular basis safe and much ore affordable. One of the best ways to save a significant amount of money each month on your car insurance is to apply and qualify for safe driver insurance discounts offered by many car insurance companies. Here are some tips about how you can qualify for a safe driver insurance discount. First, be sure to keep your driving record clean. Often if you are found to be at fault for...
Do you have a dream of restoring that old classic in your garage? How about an old junker sitting on a street corner that could be brought back to life? Rebuilding a classic car is one of the best ways to own a beautiful, vintage automobile without the big sticker price that you would find at auto auctions and antique dealers. Indeed, there is a lot of work that goes into rebuilding a classic car, but it can totally be worth it. Moreover, one of the biggest things holding people back from a total car restoration is the investment. But the truth...
Although there are a lot of things about the summertime to enjoy, if there’s one that none of us looks forward to, it’s the increase in our energy bills; ones that are usually directly related to how much we use our air conditioner. In fact, it’s during the summer months that many of us find ourselves spending more money on electricity than any other time of the year. The good news is that there are a few things that you can do that will help to cool down your air conditioning costs. If you’d be interested in knowing what some...
Dealing with a seemingly uncooperative health insurance company can be incredibly frustrating. While health insurance policies are just trying to protect their assets, it can be hard when an agent tells you that he or she will not be resolving your claim. However, there are numerous ways to handle a claim dispute that don’t involve blowing your top. One of the most important things to know is that you must remain calm and patient. The more frustrated and angry you grow, the harder it will be to resolve your claim. In the end, the more calm and diplomatic you are,...
It’s almost tax time again, which means that you have to find someone to prepare your taxes. As much as we’d like to think we can do our own taxes, it can help to have a professional organize our books and get the most out of our returns. Plus, who actually likes doing their own taxes? So, if you are like the rest of us and don’t like to prepare your own taxes, you need to know how to find the right tax preparer. Not only do you want to make sure to find someone who is truly qualified, but...
With all the money you’re spending to book airline tickets and hotel rooms when you travel, not to mention what you’ll have to pay for food during your trip, you might not have a lot left over to spend on entertainment, including activities and tours. Luckily, there are ways to cut costs in this area and still have a lot of fun. Here are some tips that should help you to stick to your travel budget while finding the entertainment options that suit your preferences. Plan your own tours. With travel guides, websites dedicated to delivering tourist information, and plenty...
You’ve no doubt found countless ways to protect your home from the assault of winter weather, including snow, storms, and freezing temperatures. Storm windows and shutters are a good addition if your region suffers severe storms. And having a backup plan that includes batteries, flashlights, and a stockpile of wood for the fireplace is essential preparation for potential power outages. But while these steps could certainly prevent damage to your home and your family, possibly saving you from extra expense and hardship down the road, they won’t necessarily help you to cut costs when it comes to standard home maintenance...
Packing and shipping is a critical part of any business. If the packing and shipping costs are too high, it could drive away customers. Because of this, it is critical for business owners to find ways to cut costs. For small businesses on a bootstrap budget, this is even more critical, because you don’t want to wind up coming too far out of pocket or alienating your customer base. Luckily, there are a lot of options and with enough resourcefulness, you can cut down costs – to the point where the costs are manageable for your business and for your...
Computers are often essential to our everyday lives and work habits. In order to get things done, we need to have a computer that works efficiently and has various features. Once you are ready to buy a new purchase, you expect it to be a large investment. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you’d expect. Here are 5 simple and effective ways that you can save money when buying a new computer. Buy a refurbished computer. Often companies get returned items or those that fail quality control checks. These computers are then restored and repaired in order...
Getting a great deal on truck insurance is difficult. Oftentimes, insurance companies charge a premium for truck insurance rates – mainly because the risk is higher. Because trucks are so large, they present a greater probability for accidents, which could cause injuries and significant mechanical damage. So, in order for the insurance company to protect itself and its assets, it must make truck insurance policies more expense. However, there are a number of ways to minimize some of these risks and to work with the insurance company to secure lower rates. Here are five tips for getting the best possible...
Pay day loans are taken out by all sorts of people to cover all sorts of expenses. Here are five facts you should know about pay day loans in before you take out a pay day loan. Pay day loans are strictly regulated Just about every country in the world has laws in place to protect consumers from unscrupulous pay day loan practices. These laws have been commended by other countries which have perceived problems with the pay day loan industry. A pay day loan is permitted under the Criminal Code. However, the provinces need to enact their own specific...
Hitting the shops can be a stressful affair for many, as shops are there to tempt us to buy things we want but don’t need, so how do you achieve the perfect balance between spending but not overspending? Some people avoid shops altogether, some shop online and other just accept they can’t help but spend impulsively but read our guide to being a frugal shopper in 2014 and you will gain a renewed sense of hope that you can become an effective, efficient and frugal shopper. Pride yourself on the ability to have and exercise willpower Willpower is so important...
