Thoughts on Debt

These days I think that everyone is becoming more conscious about how they are spending their money.  The companies who have the necessity items and have them for less are about the only one’s that are profiting, as a matter of fact, it seems that overall most companies are really hurting and reports show that we are not buying anything extra these days.  This includes items like clothing, jewelry, electronics and so forth.  We are instead, looking for new and better ways to hang on to our money, and miscellaneous spending is becoming a thing of the past.  There are some very simple ways to go about saving some money, and so here are just a few of the ways that cutting back a little can save you a lot in the long run:

1. Make coffee at home rather than buy it every day. You’ll save about $2 a day or $40 a month. This is $480 a year, and that can be money in the bank.  Depending on where you go, it could be a lot more. 

2. Bring in lunch from home instead of buying it. You’ll end up with at least $5 - $7 dollars a day in your pocket.  That is a $25 per week savings at least, and a savings of $1300 per year.  Now that would make a nice vacation don’t you think?

3. Stop getting delivery of magazines and newspapers at home. Most of the content is available online and you can read it everyday—for free!

4. Shop around for credit card interest rates and consolidate credit cards, if you keep a balance.

5. Use cash or debit cards instead of credit cards and incurring interest charges.  Not only will this save you more money on the interest charges, but you will also be more aware of what you are spending your money on, and how fast it goes.

6. Save your stamps and pay bills online, usually for free.  Most companies will allow you to make payments right on their web site, either using a check or debit card, and most banks offer online bill pay services for nothing as well.  This is a very convenient way to pay your bills, and you can also put them on automatic payment, which is great because this way your bills will get paid on time, without missing payments and accruing late charges.

These days every little bit of savings helps.  It is nice to see the gas prices come down, but who knows when they will go back up again and grocery prices are still high.  So be sure to keep a good handle on your spending the rough economic times are not gone yet.

You do realize that we practically live in a virtual world, don’t you? The fact is nothing is what it seems and what you are being told is probably not the truth, so let’s look at the facts— The crude oil prices are dropping rapidly and the price on gas at the pump has come down some.  Did you know that it can take about 3-4 months for the pumps to have a decrease from a drop in the oil prices today.  Also, did you know that part of the reason for the increase in gas prices, aside from the economy and the war, is that the demand for gasoline has been rising and the supply has not.  The United States has not built even one oil refinery since 1976 which is 32 years of ignoring that we need more oil and not taking any action.  Also, in fairness to the average gas station, they make very little money on their gasoline sales and rake in a much bigger profit from keeping their gas prices competitively low, to encourage you to come to them and buy something to drink, cigarettes, lottery tickets and so forth.  It is the mini marts themselves that bring in the revenue in these places and not so much on the gas.

I still personally see a big difference from region to region on gas prices and in my travels this past weekend found gasoline prices that ranged from the highest price I saw at $3.39 per gallon for regular unleaded to $2.95 per gallon.  A savings of .44 per gallon is not laughing matter.  Especially when you consider, I didn’t go on a massive country wide trip, I only drove down the highway about an hour and that is how much the gas prices varied on a short drive.  I don’t care what they say in the news, I know that some of this must be price gouging, I don’t mind when the prices vary a little but when I can drive to the next town over and spend .20 less per gallon, something is rotten in Denmark!