Articles written by Pat Merewether in Personal Finance

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About me - Pat Merewether

Thank you for visiting my Helium page. My passion for writing started when I was in high school and won a nationally run essay contest for my school. The writing came through in letter writing (Back when people still wrote letters). Shortly after my husband

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Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Single parents: Budget tips: 1 of 20
Being a single parent is rewarding and fun, but often stressful when the budget just won't stretch far enough. Small changes make a big difference in saving money, and here are a few suggestions that will help.FOODThe best way to save money on food is to plan ahead. My mother-in-law taught me her method and it's worked for me... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Top 10 tips for financially struggling students: 2 of 21
The words "financially struggling'" and "student" are fairly common words to see together. Here are some tips to help you struggle less. Here are some tips to help you avoid financial difficulties.1, Make a list of your monthly expenses and another list of your sources of income from family, scholarships, loans or part time j... More..
Personal Finance > Spending & Saving (Other) How to cut energy costs during winter: 3 of 21
The sound of the furnace kicking in on a cold winter day is comforting, but can also cause a bit of stress as we become more and more aware that this also means the energy bill is climbing as the temperatures are falling. Here are some tips that will help you cut your energy costs this winter, which is good for the planet an... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving How to get free samples: 2 of 13
Free samples are great fun and plentiful if you know where to look and are willing to ask.One place I always ask for samples is the doctor's office. Pharmaceutical companies provide doctors with free sample of medication all the time. I especially ask for free samples when my doctor wants me to try a new medication. Why shell... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving 7 tips on saving money: 26 of 151
There are ways to save' money by cutting back on daily expenses, and also ways to save' that money and make it grow.Here are a few places where you can cut back on your expenses so you'll actually have money to put away for that new car or for retirement.1. If there are four people or more in your family, consider joining a f... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending How to plan your grocery list to avoid impulse purchases: 17 of 90
One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to have a plan and be prepared. My husband and I were on an extremely limited budget when we were first married and my mother-in-law shared her shopping secrets with me. I still use them, decades later!Make a list of seven dinners and shop once a week. I often make the list a... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving 2008 financial trends: The ultimate moves to save cash: 3 of 15
Yesterday I saved two dollars by paying cash when I filled my gas tank. This may not seem like much, but two dollars a week for a year is a hundred and four dollars that would have been gone with the wind.I used to rarely carry cash and use a debit or credit card for everything. Even fast-food restaurants take credit cards th... More..
Personal Finance > Retirement 2,838,071: The number of Americans turning 62 in 2008: 2 of 9
This year 3,000,000 of my peers and I will celebrate our sixty-second birthday. That's a lot of cake and I'm worried about the smoke from all those candles affecting our lungs!Many of us live in the same homes we've owned for at least twenty years and it's starting to take a toll on our time, energy and finances. We love work... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending Black Friday sales promotions: Are the deals worth it?: 8 of 29
Do you like getting up very early, standing in line in the cold and dark in order to get a bargain on the day after Thanksgiving? It the answer is yes, then the Black Friday sales are probably for you. Are the sales worth it? Yes, if you're dedicated to the hunt and stay focused. Some people love the thrill of buying that new... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending The benefits of shoe repair: 2 of 6
Shoe repair will save you a lot of money and time, but first you must have shoes that can be repaired. Owning only a few pairs of good shoes, especially for men who wear dress shoes to work, is one of the best wardrobe investments around. Women's shoes benefit from repair and can also be dyed, stretched and have those gas-ped... More..