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It seems that every time you go grocery shopping it is a little more expensive than the last time. Prices seem to be consistently creeping upwards by a few more cents all the time. Weather damaging the crops, animals falling ill, gas prices increasing – these and many more factors are such that their impact will be resilient enough to be felt at the grocery store as well. Instead of dreading shopping use these tips to help save money and keep your grocery bill in check –

Coupons

Coupons are a great way of saving money on groceries. There are some Sunday papers that still offer coupons to cut out. In order to get more of them do a quick search on the Internet and you will come across websites which will feature coupons. Some will need to be printed while in case of others you would simply need to load the coupon to your favorite grocery store card. Now if the coupon is used for an item that is on sale it can result in added savings. Some grocery stores double and even triple the value of a coupon up to at least a dollar.

Price Book

This is one of the easiest things to do and can take the form of a notebook or even an excel sheet. Since there are certain items like canned goods which are purchased every time, they could be written down per page or column if using a spreadsheet. List the stores that you shop at on the left and then list the normal price that is usually paid. This type of system makes it easier for tracking popular items and then comparing the sale ads to see if the best price can actually be picked up at.

Meals

Write down the meals that you would like to cook for the time in between your shopping. This makes it easier to look through the ads and see if the needed ingredients are available on sale anywhere. Planning meals helps to make the money last even longer when shopping for grocery.

Cook from Scratch

No matter how many members are in a household it always seems to be easier to come home and serve a packaged meal. This is nice but it does cost almost double than if you made it yourself. It is understandable that after a long day at work you are worn out and exhausted but it is equally important to realize that a crock pot on the counter is the perfect way to make your meals. Just put everything in it before getting ready for work and upon your arrival at night it is already cooked and ready to serve.

List

As you thumb through the ads and gather your coupons make a list while proceeding downwards. This helps you stick to buying only what is needed and hence ensures maintaining of the budget. Sometimes when walking through the store there will be items on sale that might seem tempting. However, before grabbing these it would be wise to think if the offer is a good one and if the items are truly needed at home.

As we approach the end of the fiscal year, many business owners will need to ensure everything is in order for their tax return. If you are the owner of a new or small business, you may be a little concerned at this point in time especially if things are a little uncertain with regards to your financial position at present, which is the why the following guide has been comprised to offer simple advice.

Get Your Books in Order Today

Looking at the books gathering dust is such a common thing, but now really is the time to brush them off and start the process of getting them in order. A bookkeeper is always an asset to a company but if you are not able to pay their wage then this is something you must take control of yourself. There are many online resources that will help you get to grips with what is involved so take some time out of your schedule to read a few guides and start the process of getting everything in order.

Analyse your Financial Position

There is no better time to analyse your business finances than in the run up to the end of the financial year. After you have completed the books and have all the information you need, the main documents to look at will be the balance, income and cash flow sheets. Take the time to carefully understand each of these as this will give you a good idea of the position you will be in at the start of the new financial year.

Discuss Finance Issues with Experts

There will be times where this analysis will send alarm bells ringing due to unhealthy looking finances, in which case it is always best to turn to the experts. Business recovery specialists in your area are the best people to speak to as they will understand the business in relation to the area you are operating in. Discussing your recovery options as soon as possible will give you the best chance of finding a solution to your financial difficulties in time for the new fiscal year.

If you are having trouble getting to grips with what needs to be done ahead of the new financial year, take some time to go through these points and conduct your own research through discussing your circumstances with other business professionals who can lend a helping hand.

Sophie works alongside a specialist business recovery organisation that has helped numerous companies across industry sectors to regain control of their finances and make a success of their business.

When it comes to finances many people bury their head in the sand and spend up to, or over their means every month without considering the future. If people are happy with their lot and lifestyle then this is not necessarily a bad thing – so long as debt is kept under control.

However, of course the majority of people have dreams and aspirations for which healthy finances are helpful or even vital. The average person could never save up for a house deposit, for example, without cutting down on outgoings and planning ways to conserve funds. Such a person would also need a good credit rating to secure a mortgage, which they may not have if they live on credit and are constantly in debt.

There are numerous benefits to having one’s finances in order. This reduces the stress and anxiety that go with unmanaged debt and therefore leads to a greater sense of ease and comfort. It is also good to know that some money is put aside in savings or investments, for a rainy day or perhaps to make a large purchase such as a property. With the advantages of financial planning in mind, here are 5 tips that are well worth considering:

1) Pay off credit cards

Credit cards carry high interest rates so if the balance is not paid off each month, they can incur considerable interest. Making minimum payments will barely touch the outstanding balance either, so credit cards should be paid off completely as soon as possible. Sometimes low interest loans are the best way to do this, but a banking manager should be able to suggest a suitable plan of action.

2) Reassess outgoings

An effective way of saving money is simply to cut outgoings. Many people are in a habit of spending more than they need to, so by reassessing what they spend each month they will most likely be able to find several areas where savings are possible. People should check direct debits and if they are not necessary or beneficial, stop them immediately.

3) Use an ISA

An ISA is a way to save up to £3000 in a tax free account and this benefits savers much more than a regular savings account. People should choose an ISA if they are saving and use their full ISA allowance to maximize its effectiveness.

4) Get a pension

This is certainly an area that many young people ignore, but this could be to their financial peril in the years to come. A pension is a vital form of financial planning and there are a variety of products available, offering facilities such as pension release and drawdown. Anyone wanting a comfortable retirement should ponder their future without a pension.

5) Make a will

Making a will is another area that people often ignore, perhaps unaware of the possible consequences of dying intestate. Making a will ensures that someone’s money and assets goes to the people they want it to, and stipulations can be included in a will if the donor wishes. A will is not a death wish, merely a shrewd financial precaution.

If you’ve got a pickup truck sitting in your driveway and need extra money, why not put it to work for you? As more people make the change to smaller, more economical cars, they have more of a need for people with trucks. Here are five great ways to make money with your pickup truck:

Help Someone Move

Have you ever watched a neighbor try to move, hauling carload after carload of stuff to their new house? It can take forever! Eventually, you’ll see a U-Haul show up in the driveway to help move the larger items like furniture and appliances. Why not offer your truck for the job?

Pickup trucks, especially those with larger beds, are great to use when moving house. Many people spend hundreds of dollars on moving vans.  Why not get some of that money for yourself? The next time a neighbor, family or friend is moving, offer them the use of your truck, for a small fee of course.

 Haul Dirt, Gravel or Mulch

With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect opportunity to hire your truck out to haul landscaping supplies. Chances are that you know someone who could use some help getting mulch from the nursery into their front yard.

Maybe you know someone who is putting in a sidewalk or driveway. There’s no doubt that this person would be more than happy to give you $50 to use your truck for the day! It will be far cheaper for them and easy money for you.

 Garage Sale Delivery

People announce their garage sales in the newspaper about a week in advance. If a phone number is provided, call the homeowner and offer your delivery services. Decide what you can fit in your truck and what you can reasonable move, and then set your fee. The benefit is twofold: people will be more apt to buy larger items if there is someone available to move them, putting more money in the pocket of the homeowner, and you’ll also make money delivering the goods.

Plow Snow

Turning your truck into a plow will take an initial outlay of cash, but you’d be surprised at how many people are willing to pay someone to plow their driveway in the winter. Install a plow onto the front of your truck and go visit your neighbors. Charge $20 per driveway, get five clients and you can easily make $100 on a snowy day. If you show up on time and do a good job, word will spread and you’ll be making more money than you can shake a stick at.

Transport Junk

Everyone has something sitting in their house that they don’t want anymore, simply because they don’t have the means to take it to the dump. Offer to take items to the town dump for a fee. You won’t be able to make a living out of doing this, but it can be a good way to make some money on the weekends or your days off.

If you decide to put your truck to use for you, there are some great ways to advertise. Put an ad in the newspaper, post an ad on Craigslist, or even hand out flyers around the neighborhood. Think of performing one or all of these services.  It can be a great way to make extra money each month with a vehicle that would otherwise be doing nothing but taking up space.

Author Dan Nielson is a contract electrician and blogs for trucksping.com, a site that specializes in suspensions for trucks. They have everything you need from replacing an air bag suspension to leveling kits.

The average household would probably say that food is the biggest expense they have.  This is why you have enter the grocery store with a plan.  The advice below will put you well on your way to saving big and spending less!

1. Create a List
Many people mess up by not creating a list.  They may have a couple of things in mind, but they really may not know where all of this stuff is located.  This means they have to go down aisle after aisle looking for what they need, picking up more along the way. Another, even safer, form of insurance is sticking to a budget. And I don’t mean “I’m only going to spend $50.” I mean only taking $50 in cash and leaving your wallet in the car. Or better yet, at home!

2. (Double) Coupons
Many stores offer double coupon discounts (usually during the middle of the week) on their products.  Please don’t let this opportunity pass you by.  A store that offers double coupon discounts can help you cut your grocery bill literally in half. There are all types coupons, which you can find in newspapers and on the internet.  Do a google search for anything and everything + the word “coupon” “deal” “promo” or “discount.”

3.  Brands
There’s no need to spend all your money on name brands.  Generic brands of many products are very similar.  Sometimes you won’t even know the difference.  The only difference is that the name brand might look a little fancier. Don’t get caught up in the pretty packaging though!

4. Sales
Don’t overlook sales! You may be missing out if you are totally in your own world and never branch out.  Sometimes a bigger box of cereal may cost less than the smaller box that you usually buy, and who knows, you might like it more too! It’s hard to explain why sales like this exist, but forget about the rationale behind this.  Just buy it! But don’t also buy the product you normally buy, or that’ll defeat the whole purpose.

5, Stay Strong
Many people have heard of impulse buys at the checkout lane. This includes things like magazines, gum and candy bars.  Consumers should avoid these, but they are not the only things that throw your grocery store budget off track.  There are many things throughout the grocery store that can make you spend much more than you anticipated. To avoid this, stay out of places like the snack aisles or the bakery, unless you need something specific from there.

6. Try a New Item
New items pop up all the time.  Companies make it their business to drive consumers towards these products with discounts.  Take advantage of it.  They may cost much more once they have become established items, but for now,  ride the wave and get them while they are cheap.  You don’t always have to buy the same beverage or brand of chicken!