Ann Marie Talks Money

 

"So, how do YOU know?"

Ann Marie has some unique qualifications in bringing you financial advice:

  • Ten children.  (Let that sink in for a minute.)
  • Retired from work-a-day life at 36.
  • No consumer debt. (Think about that.)
  • A brick and mortar store.
  • An Internet store with three fronts.

Most Americans die with debt.  If you would like to be part of the minority, keep reading.

Money Saving Tips

on Oct 28, 11 at 06:45 PM

Saving by Plastic and E-Mail Make your credit and debit cards and bills help you save.

Debit Round Up

You saw in the last post how to round up on dollars and weekends. When your bank statement comes in, round it up.

Any purchase you made with your debit card needs to be rounded up to the next dollar. After you calculate your savings, write yourself a check for the amount. Put the check where you have your saved bills. When it is time to deposit, you will have the check to help you reach that minimum deposit.

Credit Card Keeping

Your mobile alert says you have spent $146.82 since your last statement. Pay the penalty. Round credit cards to the nearest $50. If you cannot swing a $35 savings this month, round to the nearest $25. 

This time, instead of hoarding your savings, apply it to your cr

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Let's look at the five ways to get your package shipped for free! 1. Buy in bulk. Shipping and handling charges are waived on almost every viable web store front when you purchase a requisite amount...More>
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Credit Ratings & Identity Theft

That all-elusive perfect credit score is not impossible to get, but sometimes is difficult to keep. Victims of identity theft lose a lot of credibility. 

Protect yourself from theft.

Keep your credit rating spotless from the beginning. 

Repair damaged credit.

Keep reading.

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To weigh the system of credit ratings, the simplest path is pros vs. cons. The "pro" arguments are either expensive or myths. By looking at what does into a credit report (and the bizarre thing which...More>
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Protecting your child from identity theft is even simpler than protecting yourself. With a few basic precautions, your child can be assured that at 18, a clean credit slate will await. 1. Do not h...More>
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From phishing to pharming, the Internet is a hotbed rife with cyber-crime that nets more than drug trafficking: US$105,000,000,000. Try these easy steps to protect yourself from identity theft. •...More>
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Homeowner's insurance does not cover identity theft until you add coverage, an endorsement or rider to your policy. According to the "Federal Trade Commission":http://www.ftc.gov (FTC), nearly nine m...More>
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Much of what is thrown in the trash can point an identity thief's telescope into our lives. But you have the power to blacken the lens. Junk mail, prescription bottles, receipts and packaging to prod...More>
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Most people find the idea of a potential employer checking their credit to determine job eligibility morally repugnant. Let's take a walk in the employer's shoes to understand. An average corporati...More>
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Credit Cards

When polled, many people say they cannot function from day to day without credit cards.  I say, "Pshaw!"

Credit card debt insures you are paying no less than five times as much for everything you purchase.  If you knew your morning latte costs $18.00, would you put it on your credit card?

Read below some ideas on how to get out of the credit card spin cycle...It is only sucking the dollars out of your wallet.

How to Avoid Spending Your Future on Vacation

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The Future: Yours & Your Children's

Passing a healthy financial baton to the next generation is as important as holding a healthy one yourself.  Managing money is a learned behavior, not a genetic trait.

  • Take active steps to avoid passing debt as an inheritance.
  • Teach your children how to avoid debt in the first place.

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It is never too early to plan for retirement. The landscape of the world of retirement accounts changes as you reach retirement age. Tax benefits begin to disappear. Tax implications become more pl...More>
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Plan early and thoroughly. Seems simple enough, but there are some tricks to being effective. Asset protection At the time you acquire your first asset, you need to be planning your estate. This i...More>
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Learning about earning and paying is a lesson that cannot come too soon for a teenager. I have found the best way to teach money discipline was to open an account in "Bank Mom". When my teens go...More>
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Would you like to teach your child to build his very own nest egg? You can start securing your child's wise use of money by teaching savings and exercising his math skills. Teaching money saving tech...More>
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Today's youth are the adults of the future. Instilling philanthropic values in children, teens and young adults is vital to solve community and global issues. Philanthropy is defined by Merriam Webs...More>
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Zone Manager

Helium member since Feb 22, 07
Education:
Louisiana State Univer...CLE credits
Number of Zones: 20

From Toddlers to Grandparents to Non-Profits, Zones span the spectrum. Check out my Blogs on my Writer's Portfolio, Ann Marie Talks Money & Ann Marie Goes Green.

Comments (1 to 8 of 8)

Ann Marie Dwyer
May 05, 10 at 12:11 PM
If you pick up a tip, be sure to leave a thumbs up!
Shaheen Darr
May 23, 09 at 07:17 PM
This is a wonderful zone Ann, very useful indeed, will be visiting regularly for ideas. Thanks as always :)
Ann Marie Dwyer
May 20, 09 at 02:39 PM
And I am glad you did. I am pulling ideas for this week's tips now!
Ethel Smith
May 20, 09 at 02:36 PM
Popped back for an update.
Tina Hartley
Apr 12, 09 at 05:12 AM
What a great resource! You have covered what the average person really needs to know and covered it well. *applause
Sheila Watson Kraklow
Apr 11, 09 at 06:08 PM
Terrific, I have to really dig into this zone for more infomation, I see answers to some of my maney questions! Great work as always Ann Marie... Su-u-per!
Olivia Bredbenner
Apr 09, 09 at 12:47 PM
Ann marie, Timing is everything , informative and interesting zone. Olivia
Ethel Smith
Apr 08, 09 at 08:18 PM
Very useful zone, especially these days. I have had to be careful with pennies over the years and have survived quite well. Ten children though! Awesome.

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Credit Cards

I use my credit cards to...
Buy everything
More than debit or check cards
Less than debit or check cards
Only in emergencies
I don't have a credit card.

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Landscaping is an investment in your home and the environment. Average landscaping increases the value of a home by five percent. Excellent landscaping can increase property value by as much as 11 p...More>
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An efficiently, well-lit house is ideal for security and entertaining. Dual purpose lighting and correct "on times" use less energy than traditional nighttime incandescent floodlights. Consider the ...More>
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The advent of the "instant tax refund" was designed to target low-income workers by H & R Block in the 1980s. The outline of the profitability of the program was very clear. Traditionally, the u...More>
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Do You Know the 10 Commandments of Grocery Shopping?

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

Amassing wealth is often less about bringing home more money than it is about spending less of what you do bring home. 

Saving habits cannot be taught too early and should extend well past retirement. 

This misnomer of "fixed income" is a day-to-day reality to most Americans.  Workers paid by the hour are just as limited in income potential as salaried workers.

The solution is to make your money work for you.

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As the price of gasoline and insurance skyrocket, everyone needs to cut driving expenses to stay competitive and liquid. Four major options can cut the driving expense budget and start you saving mon...More>
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