To find cheap airline tickets, plan ahead, buy early, check weekly airfare pricing trends and take advantage of technology. Image: lemoncat1/Flickr

To find cheap airline tickets, it’s best to study airfare pricing trends, do your homework and remain vigilant. Airlines offer a certain percentage of seats at a discount to fill planes, but they don’t want to make it too easy. Because airfares are in a constant state of flux, finding cheap airline tickets takes timing and a little bit of luck.

Finding the cheapest airfares is a challenge

Airlines can change ticket prices several times a day. To know when the cheapest airfares are available, it’s best to sign up for e-mail alerts on travel web sites that track constantly changing airfares. Some travel web sites also help you to stay informed about airfare pricing trends, fees and surcharges. The earlier you purchase airfares, the better. Having that flexibility expands your options, especially if you want to borrow money with a short term loan to take advantage of savings on a dream vacation. Airlines start marketing the cheapest airfares about four months ahead. Planning ahead also helps you identify trends to determine when the cheapest airfares are available.

Airfare pricing trends

When you can’t plan ahead, savvy travelers say the cheapest day to buy airline tickets is Wednesday. Airfare pricing typically goes through a one-week cycle. Most sales, in which seats can be discounted up to 25 percent, begin Monday night. A discount carrier such as AirTran will offer a deal, and its competitors will match the price. Airlines often try to bump up airfares across the board on Thursday night. Such behavior makes Wednesday from midnight to 1 a.m., in the time zone of the airline’s home base, a good time to buy. That’s when airlines dump reserved low-fare reservations that aren’t booked. Get online late at night to snap up these opportunities because they go fast.

Going, going, gone …

The weekly airfare cycle is a relic of the time when airlines advertised daily sales in the newspaper and travel agencies sold tickets Monday through Friday. Sales launched early in the week gave time for the word to get out. Sales launched at the end of the week didn’t get noticed. The pattern still holds, even though the Internet lets airlines sell their own fares and screaming deals can pop up in Twitter tweets on smartphones anytime. It won’t be long before airfare prices are unpredictable. Ultimately, to find the cheapest airfares, you need technology on your side.

Sources

MarketWatch

ABC News

Seeking Alpha

There are ways to save serious instant cash on leisure activities, like checking out books from a library instead of buying them at a bookstore. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

There are a lot of ways to save instant cash by cutting corners on leisure activities. Believe it or not, there are ways to still have fun and not have to sacrifice much at all. One just has to be creative and know a little.

Ways to cut leisure expenses and save some serious cash

Leisure activities are a necessary expense in order for people to stay mentally healthy. For instance, a lot of people love movies. It’s a time honored tradition, and a lot of instant cash gets spent at theaters every year. However, that doesn’t mean paying full price. For instance:

• Matinees at theaters are usually 25 percent cheaper or more
• Most cities have discount theaters that show films that have been out for awhile at half the cost or less
• Only go to the theaters if it counts – limit your trips to just a few special films and wait for the rest to come out on DVD
• Check out free streaming movies Netflix and other services

Get a library card

Libraries are increasingly neglected resources. Most are funded publicly, and a library card is worth it. Late fees won’t make a person run for a loan until payday. Checking out a book from the library means not having to pay Barnes and Noble a lot of money, and because most public libraries have DVD selections, you may even be able to avoid paying for rental. There are public libraries in nearly every town in America from Alabama to Alaska.

Learn to cut corners

There is no reason to pay full price for anything there is an alternative to if quality is not compromised. Just because a movie or book is a little older doesn’t mean it is no good. Cutting corners when it comes to leisure activities without sacrificing is entirely possible and can mean some serious spare change in the pocket.

Shoppers may have to part with less pay day cash to stock up under the tree this year. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Shoppers may end up having to part with less pay day cash during holiday shopping this year. Consumer items that are common gifts are priced drastically lower than they have been in decades. The news may not be fantastic for retailers if sales are sluggish, though.

Gift items going for least amount of pay day cash in decades

Shoppers may have to part with less pay day cash to stuff stockings this year. The average prices on consumer goods that typically fly off shelves during the holiday shopping season are at the lowest levels in decades, according to CNN. The price of small appliances, like toasters and coffee makers has dropped 30 percent since 1998. Television sets have dropped more than 90 percent since 1980, and stereo equipment has dropped 50 percent in price since that time. The benefit for consumers that they “get to buy more crap,” as John Norris, a wealth management director in Birmingham, Alabama, puts it. Typically, a good shopping spree results in a lot of people needing installment loans to cover the tab, but that may not be the case this year.

Discounts at register pick up the pace

Retailers are offering more discounts than ever, despite the fact that shoppers were buying more this year, according to USA Today. The gains in holiday sales, especially around Black Friday, have been slight, but gains were realized nevertheless. Consumers have been shopping more, but not using credit cards to excess and running for a loan until payday in January. Retailers are willing to keep offering sales and discounts to get people into the stores to spend some instant cash.

Every little bit helps

Though economic conditions are such that people are not spending wildly like in past years, they are willing to spend a bit on gifts for the holidays. Whether it is a little something for themselves, or a loved one, the confidence among the public to shop again is an encouraging sign.

Sources

CNN

USA Today

Retailers can celebrate, as the November haul of quick cash was better than anticipated. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The retail industry has cause to celebrate, as the haul of quick cash was better than expected last month. November brings with it Black Friday at the end, which is when a lot of money gets spent. The retail industry has been hurting for payday cash throughout the recession.

November nets retail industry a lot of quick cash

Holidays bring with them tradition. Thanksgiving, in particular, has certain traditions like pumpkin pie and the Thanksgiving Classic series of football games, but the day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, is a huge shopping day. Many people spend a lot of quick cash buy Christmas presents for themselves or others, and the retail year revolves around that time period. November 2010 retail sales, according to USA Today, were even better than expected, and a better pay day for an industry in a down economy is good news, indeed. Also, since fewer shoppers are using credit cards, that means fewer installment loans are needed to cover the tab in January.

Gains posted over last year

Analysts were predicting a gain in retail sales of 3 to 4 percent in November 2010 over November of 2009, but were closer to 6 percent. That means more instant cash is going into the economy, and also reveals that consumers are feeling more confident this year. Luxury retail stores Neiman Marcus and Saks posted sales gains over 5 percent more in November 2010 than in 2009, and Abercrombie and Fitch posted a 22 percent gain in November 2010 over November 2009. These brands experienced declining sales in 2009, but have begun rebounding. This is impressive, since some items in those stores would send the average person running for payday loans to cover the bill.

Good signs

This does not exactly mean that gray skies are clearing up and happy days are here again, but it means that recovery is certainly on track. The American economy is a consumer economy, and that is where some very positive signs are coming from.

Sources

USA Today

Even if you are far from home, a quick payday loan can help you out of a money emergency. Running out of money can put a damper on your vacation fast and so can an unforeseen drain on your funds, such as having your car break down before you even reach your destination. Get your vacation (and car) back on track and avoid having to spend another day in East Nowhere by getting cash fast with a payday loan.

Why get a quick payday loan?

The following features of a quick payday loan are precisely the reason why many people choose this type of short term financing:

• Convenience — the online payday loan application is fast and easy
• Availability — you can apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Accessible — loan applications can be done online from anywhere in the world
• Fast — apply in less than three minutes
• Easy — no complicated forms to complete
• No fax — you typically don’t need to scramble to find a fax machine to fax documents
• No credit check — no waiting for your credit to be checked
• Response in minutes — get a response in just minutes
• Get up to $1,500 deposited quickly, upon approval
• Money can be available in as little as two hours

A quick payday loan can help you handle:

• Car repairs
• Weather emergencies
• Medical emergency
• Airline tickets
• Lost or stolen wallet
• Hotel room upgrade
• Extended stay
• Underestimated costs

Get a quick payday loan and enjoy your vacation!

How many times have you faced a potential vacation disaster and wished you had fast access to extra cash? Whether it’s a transportation issue or you simply want to extend your vacation to explore more places, all you need is a computer with an internet connection, and you can have the money you need through a fast payday loan. Don’t let a small money emergency put a snag on your vacation plans. No matter where you are in the world, you are just a few minutes away from a quick payday loan that can help put you back in vacation mode.

Start your quick payday loan application HERE!

"PersonalMoneyStore.com helps people in our situation get payday advance loans in two hours or less." (Photo: Thinkstock)

To start off this little tale, I’d just like to say that payday advance loans are a financially wise choice for getting the help you need at the drop of a dime.

My name is Geoff. I have a beautiful wife named Sarah and two little girls, Alexis and Anna. We recently discovered how much we enjoyed boating. To get our hobby underway, the first thing we did was go to a used boat dealer. Why used? Because even though my pay isn’t bad, it’s not in the pay grade that buys a Catamaran. So we looked around and found several nice boats, but none that truly captured our attention.

Our summer sailing with payday advance loans

I never would have thought payday advance loans would come to our rescue. After looking through the newspaper ads, we then headed for a dealer on the other side of town. It was there that we spotted the boat for us. It was in a driveway beside a nicely manicured little home. An elderly gentleman sat on a vintage porch swing, enjoying the fruits of his labor while nursing a tall glass of lemonade.

The “FOR SALE” sign on that beauty called my name, so I pulled into the man’s driveway, where I was soon greeted with a warm welcome and a nice, firm handshake. We exchanged small talk after introducing ourselves and he asked what he could do for us.

I told him that the boat in his driveway is one of the most gorgeous boats we had ever seen, and I would love the chance to make an offer. He said that he was asking $4,500, but since we only had $4,000, he cut us a break. We thanked the kind man several times as he helped me hitch the boat to my old Chevy extended cab.

Off to the lake… or not.

After we left his house, we headed straight to a beautiful launch near our small Pacific Northwest town. I had my wife back up the truck and lower the boat into the water, as I was in the boat ready to start it up.

We soon realized the boat’s battery hasn’t been charged for some time. Being that we had spent every dollar we had except the girls’ college savings, our boating trip was moored in dry-dock. What’s more, I would not be paid for another 10 days, and summer was dwindling fast.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Feeling dejected, we got back in the truck. Then a thought flashed through my wife’s brain. She mentioned that PersonalMoneyStore.com helps people in our situation get payday advance loans in two hours or less. I knew that was the answer to our problem! They got us the cash we needed in two hours; we got a new battery and finally closed the day with quality family time on the water!

Apply for payday advance loans | Start HERE

Vacation Loans can help today!

Luckily, even if you have bad credit, there really is help you can get today. In most cases, there’s no credit check done. Everything is online, from the application to the deposit to your bank account and paying back the loan. You don’t have to make a phone call, and no faxing is required, either.

More about a Vacation Loan:

• Secure, hassle-free online application
• Funds available in as little as two hours
• Nothing to fax
• No credit check
• Bad credit OK
• No credit OK
• Bankruptcy OK
• Military loans available

Personal installment loans can be a better choice than credit cards

Even with bad credit, it’s sometimes possible to get credit cards. But overspending can result when using a credit card. You can’t overspend with these loans and so there are no surprises later like there can sometimes be when you get the credit card bill. It’s easy to spend with a credit card and the debt can become unmanageable. With these loans, you’ll know exactly how much you owe and when it will be paid. You can adjust your spending and budget accordingly.

Enjoy the vacation of your dreams, without worry

Go ahead, enjoy your vacation, and then when you come back, you can make several payments over a period of time to pay off the loan. In the meantime, you’ll be enjoying the photos and memories of the special vacation you had.

For Vacation Loans, Apply HERE!

Parents with school-aged children can sympathize with me, I am sure. What do you do when your child’s school continually asks for money to fund field trips? Chances are that you are tempted to take out a cash advance on your salary, so let’s consider the cash advance option.

The cash advance amount you need

When field trip permission slips come at you with no end in sight, a cash advance can provide the very help you need. The amount you take out depends on the amount the field trips cost. Luckily, only a few of my children’s field trips needed money. No matter the amount needed to cover the costs, remember to only take out what you need and what you can afford to pay back with your next paycheck. A cash advance is just that–an advance on your salary.

Apply now for a cash advance!

Applying for a cash advance is easy. All you need to do is to click on the green “Apply” button and fill in your details on the secure form. Once you have submitted your information, it will be forwarded to a lender to review your details. A decision will be reached within minutes, and you will receive the money you need upon approval. Then you can pay for the field trips and your children will be happy they get to get out of school.

Pay on Time and Avoid Late Fees

There is a simple trick to avoid the high late fees that come with a cash advance. Pay on time with your next paycheck. All it takes is just a little planning and commitment, and you can avoid these late fees.

Start your cash advance loan application HERE!

Ten no-cost or low-cost Easter gift ideas

1. Kite flying. It’s spring and time to get outside. Take your family or loved one kite flying. And here’s a little secret if you don’t have kites: Most dollar stores have them! For only $1 you can have a day your family will remember out in the fresh spring air.
2. A special dessert. Make a special dessert with an Easter theme. Strawberries are coming into season, opening a world of possibilities for desserts. Trifles, shortcakes, pies.
3. Make homemade chocolates. Make them together, husband and wife, children or friends. Chocolate making can be a special Easter memory. You can even dip fresh, ripe strawberries in warm, melted chocolate.
4. Pick a bouquet of spring colored flowers. Go outside with the ones you love and pick flowers. Make Easter bouquets to scatter throughout the house.
5. Spend time together. Look for activities in your area. You will find many free things to do, such as festivals or art shows, or just get out for a hike or bike ride.
6. Egg hunt. Nothing says Easter like an egg hunt. You can do this with friends; just ask each family to bring 1 dozen eggs per person participating. Don’t exclude anyone. Teens and adults can hunt for eggs, too! Want to get the teens involved? Put $20 in one egg. They’ll hunt and laugh and always remember this activity.
7. Sidewalk-chalk hopscotch. Get a box of sidewalk chalk at the dollar store and go out to your sidewalk. Play hopscotch and draw big Easter baskets, eggs and bunnies.
8. Piñata. This one is a little more expensive. But you can save money by making your own piñata. Blow up a balloon and make it into an Easter egg piñata. Look online for a glue recipe or mix good old Elmer’s with water and dip newspaper strips in. Plan ahead because this will take days to dry. Then paint it bright Easter colors. Fill with candy and hang and break. Your family will remember this one for a long time.
9. Bunny prints. Take a water color marker and make bunny looking paw prints on your kitchen floor and tell everyone the Easter Bunny’s been here!
10. Color eggs. You can’t forget to color eggs.

Add your Easter activity ideas to the comments below

I’m not suggesting that you get same day loans on Easter to buy Easter gifts; BUT! If the stress you are under because of overdue bills is threatening to ruin your Easter with your family, get an Easter loan here and relax and enjoy the holiday.

Apply here for your Easter Loan!

In a struggling economy, families find it especially hard to find satisfying, yet inexpensive weekend activities. This doesn’t mean that a good time cannot be had on a budget; it simply means that adults have to find creative ways of planning family activities that will not break the bank or do not require elaborate credit card spending. The following suggestions are affordable and can be enjoyed by small and large families alike:

Rent Movies from the Library

Public libraries offer DVDs at much lower prices than most rental stores do, and some even loan them out for free. Titles are generally the same that would be found in a retail store, and movies are usually loaned for at least a week. One of the best inexpensive weekend activities that families can enjoy together is a movie marathon, and public libraries all across America make this an easy, affordable way to enjoy a little family time.

Community Events

Every community hosts public events that are family friendly and offered at little or no cost. This means that the entire family can participate in local activities together while saving money at the same time. Events can range from free concerts to cultural activities and can usually be found in a local newspaper or by calling a local Chamber of Commerce.

Join a Community Sports Team

Sports are a great way for children and their parents to learn the value of teamwork and discipline. Team sports also help families maintain good health and adequate physical exercise. Most are offered at very reasonable rates and give family members an activity each can enjoy together as either a spectator or as a player.

Volunteer Activities

Inexpensive family activities don’t always have to be recreational in order to be enjoyable. Volunteer activities are rewarding in a variety of different ways. Not only do families learn to come together to help others and build a sense of community, but most also meet interesting people who enrich their lives in the process. Volunteer activities are usually free or may require a very small, but affordable monetary donation.

Have a Garage Sale

Everyone has junk that they used to treasure, but now have little or no interest in. Someone else may be able to get some use out of these items and selling them at a yard sale is a great way of making extra money to pay off credit card debt or for spending on a planned family activity. Children and parents can easily participate by donating their items and spending a day working together to create an income stream that the entire family can benefit from.

Host a Board Game Night

This can be done at home, at a neighborhood park or even at a local coffee shop, but inviting a few other families to join in on a board game marathon is a great, fun and wildly inexpensive way to enjoy a weekend. Most people have board games that are collecting dust in their homes that can be used to host a board game tournament or just a friendly family get-together.

Elaborate family outings are fun, but inexpensive weekend activities are often discovered to be the most enjoyable since they are not accompanied by stressful spending. They also create an opportunity for families to enjoy themselves even when living on a budget. Anyone who is interested in plain, simple fun is encouraged to try a few of these while teaching children that it is possible to have a good time without going into debt in the process.

Consumers who are looking to find cash now should look at their television and communication costs. A new survey done by the New York Times shows that the average consumer spends $997 a year on cable TV and internet and another $1,000 on cell phone charges. It’s a new high in the cost of entertainment and communication to the American public. For the first time, people are spending as much on TV and communications as they do on dining out.

For example, the study done by the New York Times showed the example of a family of four regularly spends $400 a month on TV and communication. That number includes texting plans, two annual subscriptions to Xbox Live, DirectTV, Netflix, high-speed internet and Blackberry data transfer. Though this family is on the higher end of the study, there were more people spending higher amounts on entertainment than ever.

The cable bill

For those who don’t want to spend $5,000 a year on entertainment and cell phones, there are ways to cut back. The first thing to look at is the cable or satellite TV. Companies make it hard to settle for smaller packages. They strategically position the better and most popular stations into the higher priced packages. The basic cable package won’t have nearly as many options as one up-grade does. Of course that up-grade can come with anywhere from an additional $10 to $30 a month cost. When it comes to watching TV, there are many other options. For example, www.Hulu.com offers free TV and movies, and www.Netflix.com offers a monthly program that is very reasonable. Both are much more cost efficient than paying a cable company or a direct TV provider. Of course, there also is the totally free option of going to the library and signing out DVDs and CDs.

Cell phone plans

The next way to find savings is to look at the cell phone plan. Even if a contract isn’t up, cell phone companies may still negotiate. Every consumer should look at his or her own needs and then ask for a plan that caters to it. For example, heavy texters may find it advantageous to spend the extra $14.99 cash now for an unlimited texting plan. On the other hand, consumers with family far away will find free long distance more valuable. There are numerous options today in terms of individualizing a cell phone plan, and many offer substantial savings.

Internet usage

Internet usage is another area where consumers are spending a lot of money. Sure the cable company advertises their super high-speed internet connection that lets you download things at the drop of a hat, but is that really necessary? Consumers need to consider how much they really download in any given month. For anyone who isn’t downloading streaming videos, it may surprise them how a basic plan is adequate to serve their internet need. There are also ways to comparison shop with internet usage. Bundles come from some companies and can save a consumer money, while other companies have good introductory charges. It’s good to take advantage of an introductory charge because it gives the consumer a way to figure out if a specific package is sufficient for them.

Saving in today’s economy

Saving in today’s economy isn’t easy. But those looking for cash now have some options. Businesses are highly competitive and know that in order to keep old customers and bring in new ones, they have to create plans that serve the needs of the people. Consumers should all do research and find ways to cut back on costs. With some careful planning, finding savings can be done.

Need Cash NOW? Apply HERE!

With consumers struggling to earn payday cash, many are cutting back on the extras. A recent study showed that those extras include beer. The previous notion was that beer was impervious to market changes—even when Americans were limited with cash, they still would buy beer. Possibly a repercussion of the recent recession is showing its power again with the visible decline in alcohol purchasing. Craig Purser, the CEO for National Beer Wholesalers Association, said, “Lots of folks have thought beer is recession-proof or recession-resistant. The numbers don’t bear that out.”

The beer market post-recession

One of the biggest beer companies in the country, Molson Coors, posted a loss this past year in Q4. Earnings were $1.02 per share, which is 8¢ below analyst’s projections. That’s bad news for the company and on top of that drop, sales were down by 4% since early last year. The company’s CEO Peter Swinburn said, “In the US, MillerCoors’ fourth-quarter results reflect a significantly weaker beer industry than expected.”

Molson Coors is not alone in its declining numbers. IBISWorld, market research firm, announced that beer overall is down 2.7% already from last year. The recession is contributing to overall market downturns for almost every industry, and that includes alcohol consumption. Part of the reason is that despite the difficult economy, there are few discounts to attract customers. Traditionally, every retailer uses bonuses and specials to bring in customers. During a recessionary period, they still use the tool as a means of maintaining sales and bringing in new customers. The beer industry has not turned to discounting. In fact, according to Nielsen date, the average cost for a case of beer is up by 2.5% since last year.

Why prices aren’t going down

Beer has been steadily increasing in price over the past few years. The reason is because brewers have had to struggle through their own rises in cost. Crude products have risen over the years and brewers have no way to handle the extra cost other than to keep increasing the price point for the end-user. Without some ease in purchase price, consumers can expect their payday cash to be limited when it comes to beer-buying power. In 2010, the price of beer is not set to come down at all. Experts are projecting that beer will continue to grow in cost as the economy regulates itself. Though the recession is over, there are still high costs for businesses to manage. Since all crude products are most likely not declining in cost, most likely neither will beer.

How consumers will manage

Surveys are showing that consumers will cut back on beer if it doesn’t fit in with their budgets, but that doesn’t mean they will completely stop buying. Many bars and pubs reported that though their numbers have yet to make a substantial jump, they haven’t declined either. That’s good news for breweries. Though they likely won’t see huge revenues, they will still be able to manage and hope for an increase in customers in the future.

Paying bills rather than buying beer

Breweries are struggling just like the rest of the world. Consumers want to return to their old buying patterns, but payday cash is just too precious a commodity right now. Luxuries like beer and alcohol in general are being put on hold. Consumers would rather focus on building up cash reserves, paying down debt and keeping their heads above water.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smcdevitt/ / CC BY 2.0)

Start Your Payday Cash Loan Application HERE!

I know that my spending habits have changed in the last couple of years. Yours likely have too. This change is the result of job cuts, lower pay and the overall financial downturn. We all need the economy to recover and getting out there and spending some money would certainly help turn things around, but few people can afford to do that at this point. We are basically just spending money on the essentials these days, and even that spending has changed somewhat.

Where is Money being Spent?

According to a recent article on the U.S.News site, market research is showing some definite trends in how and where Americans are spending their hard earned money. One noticeable shift is in the amount of debt that most of us are willing to carry at this point. Before the recession people were more likely to buy on credit and to spend money on large items that were not essential. Nowadays consumers are sticking much more to the basics and trying to pay in cash as much as possible, sometimes taking short term loans when necessary.

Thinking Outside the Box

Tough times often inspire more creativity. People do not want to completely give up the pleasures in life. Dinners out with friends, family trips, fancy coffees and home renovations are all things that can be altered to fit a more frugal lifestyle. Organizing rotating potluck dinners at friends’ houses can replace dinners out. Camping or visiting local attractions can substitute for larger family trips. Buying some quality coffee beans, a grinder and a milk frother will allow you to create specialty coffee at home each morning. Doing basic home updates yourself such as painting, can really save money.

Labels No Longer Matter

There was a time when name brand products were king. This way of thinking has all but disappeared in recent years. Particularly when it comes to food items, many people have turned to no name and store brand products instead of the pricier name brands. There are many great-quality products in this category, some of which are even made in the same factories, right alongside the name brand products. Many consumers are finding that saving a few cents on each item really adds up and, with the quality being surprisingly good, they will continue to buy the lesser known brands in the future.

Removing the Temptation

Another finding is that consumers are spending far less time casually browsing stores. They now tend to go to the stores only when there is something they truly need. On the same note, if there is a larger item you need, such as furniture or appliances you can often find used ones for a lot less online or in the classified section of your newspaper. Conversely, if you have items that you no longer need you can make some extra cash by selling them off and you will be de-cluttering your house at the same time.

A Little Extra Help

We are all doing what we can to save money and get by from one payday to the next. Unfortunately, sometimes unexpected costs arise before payday. In these instances you may want to consider a payday or installment loan. Both are quick and easy to apply for online and can offer you a way to get through the rough patch.

Building up cash today can be as easy as looking to your diet habits. The diet industry is a billion-dollar venture. From gyms to diet foods and sportswear to equipment, Americans are buying. There are thousands of products consumers buy to help manage their weight.

The number one culprit is the gym

Depending on your location, gym memberships can cost anywhere from $29.99 to $120.99 a month. With initiation fees, one-time service fees, enrollment charges and price hikes yearly, you end up spending a lot of money. Added to the cost are individual classes that normally don’t come with a basic membership. Then there are the costs of personal trainers and nutritionists. These are rarely included in a gym membership, or if they are it’s only for a short introductory period. Research is showing that average gym-goers spend upwards of $1,200 a year on working out.

Then there is the clothing

Lululemon Athletica boasts high-performance Yoga pants that allow your skin to breathe while working out. They capitalize on the fitness craze by stating that by adding oxygen to your workout, your body is working more efficiently. Whether or not that is true has yet to be proven, but what is proven is that the magic Yoga pants cost $100 a pair. Then there are shoes. Sure if you are doing high-impact workouts you need good shoes but is there really a proven difference in Nike $39.99 running shoes and Merrell’s $104.99 pair? The bottom line is that clothing and good shoes are necessary but they create a huge expense for anyone committed to working out.

Fitness magazines offer advice at a high price

You see them every time you go to a store. Aisles are lined with magazines that claim to have the latest miracle diet. There is a reason why there are so many too—they sell. If you add up a few magazine subscriptions ranging from $10 to $30 a year, you are spending a good amount of money on magazines you’ll eventually just throw out. Finding cash today means cutting back in small ways and then watching your savings add up. Magazines can be a huge drain on your budget.

Health insurance may not pay off

A recent study showed that about 40% of bankruptcy filings by individuals are predominantly a result of medical costs. The reality is that having medical coverage won’t protect you against financial hardship. In 2008, the average US family spent $3,354 in premiums. That figure does not include prescriptions, therapy or any other uncovered medical expense.

The airlines may not be helping your budget

Despite the fact that ticket prices on planes are decreasing, some obese Americans are not benefiting. Earlier this month, United Airlines announced that unless a flight attendant can find an extra empty seat for obese passengers, they will have to pay for two seats. Southwest Airlines has the same policy. This is just another way that health can cost.

Vices add to high costs of health

Building up cash today is virtually impossible with the rising costs of cigarettes. In New York the tax alone on one pack is $2.75. Some industry analysts are predicting that there will be a similar tax on soda. Congress has already proposed a soda tax to be included in the 2012 budget. It’s difficult to find money these days and health can be a huge drain on funds. Take a look at the amount of funds you put into overall health care and see where you can cut back to find added savings.

Apply Here for Cash Today!

For anyone looking to save cash today, there are money drains everywhere. The world of technology is vast and has a lot to offer. It is constantly parading new items and services in front of consumers, hoping they will consider them the next “must-have” products. 2010 is promising to be just like former years in that technology is pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

A few short years ago no one had heard of an iPod or flat-screen TV. They made due with tapes and regular 30” TV sets. Now, things are much different and the world is moving quickly into a high-tech society where every month brings new products to make live easier and more streamlined. It can be difficult to sort through the options, but there are some items that are on the brink of extinction. Cutting them out of a budget can provide substantial savings.

New items that probably won’t last

Don’t be fooled. Every item costs and its relevance in upcoming years may or may not be evident. Here are some items to walk away from:

• DVDs. Video stores are dying out. Back in September of 2009, Blockbuster announced that it is planning on closing about 22% of its stores by the end of 2010. The days of renting movies are quickly coming to an end. With cheaper high-tech options like Netflix and iTunes, it makes more sense to leave DVDs at the store. For example, DVDs sell for about $20 but you can buy a subscription to Netflix for just $6.99 a month and watch as many movies as you want. Sure the movie doesn’t belong to you, but a lot of people stopped collecting movies a long time ago.
• External hard drives. In today’s world a lot of information is kept on disc. Many consumers are using external hard drives to free up space on their desktops and laptops. The external drive is an option, but newer and more efficient options are coming into the market. For example, Carbonite.com and Mozy.com are two websites that allow users to store their data online. It’s a great and reliable option for information and the good news is that it’s retrievable from any location where internet service is available. Saving money by not buying an external hard drive and putting that money into a monthly internet service that stores information can be a wise decision. Although external hard drives are reasonably priced, finding cash today is found by making changes in small areas. Combining the little savings, adds up.
• Smartphones other than the iPhone and BlackBerry. There have been smartphones other than iPhone and BlackBerry on the market, but they haven’t taken off nearly as well. The problem with that is many developers know which phones are most popular and most likely won’t put dollars into creating new applications for lower-selling phones. According to ComScore, the BlackBerry holds about 40% of the market on smartphones and iPhones hold 25%. That leaves just 35% for other brands.
• Newspaper subscriptions. Newspaper advertising revenues have declined in 2009 by 17.7% according to the Newspaper Association of America. Overall newspaper reading and subscriptions are down due to most people turning to the TV, online resources or the radio for up-to-date information. Carl Melvill of WXTR Radio in Pittsburg said, “Newspaper is out of date no matter how quickly they get it to the stands. TV is closer to moment by moment and radio is even closer.”

Outdated products

There are many other items that are going the way of the dinosaurs, including compact digital cameras, CDs, college textbooks and non-Energy-star rated appliances. Every one is showing nascent signs of phasing out in the market. For those who want to start raising cash today, cutting these out of a budget can bring added savings.

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(Image from atbaker, Flickr.com)

This year is no different from last year. Saving money is still the main concern for many consumers these days. If anything has changed over the past years, then it’s definitely more people joining in on the quest to save money.

New Year’s Eve is just three days away, and it’s going to take a lot to come up with some New Year’s Eve party ideas – or not. In order to save a trip to your local payday loan store, you have to be creative. There are tons of cheap and simple New Year’s party ideas available for your New Year’s celebration that everyone will remember throughout the years to come.

New Year’s Eve Party Menu

You don’t necessarily have to spend big bucks to have a great New Year’s Party. One of the best things you can do is get together with friends and family and plan out a get-together that will be easy on everyone’s pocket. Write down different food items on small pieces of paper, fold them up one by one, throw it in a hat or a bag, and have each participant pick one out. You’d be amazed how much food you can put together with just a little touch of teamwork.

Party Decorations – Head North to the Attic

If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t waste anything that can still be used again. As a matter of fact, right before Christmas, I found a box of used gift bags that were still in great shape. I also found party streamers, opened bags of balloons, strings and fancy ribbons that came in quite handy while awaiting Santa’s arrival last week. I saved a bunch of money just by digging around the house and reusing items I saved from previous years. And you can do the exact same thing. Christmas and birthday decorations can definitely turn your New Year’s party into something explosively chic. Like I said earlier on, all you really need is to be creative.

New Year’s Party Games for the Entire Family

Let’s go back to the hat idea, but this time with a different twist. Charades is one of the best family games ever. Once you get into the game, there’s no stopping the fun and excitement you get out of it. Another idea for New Year’s party games involved a swift beat of music. Freeze Dance was one of my favorite childhood games, and I’m sure kids still enjoy playing it after all these years. You can also make little candy grams for the kids as prizes.

If dancing with your feet sounds a bit too chaotic for your taste, why not pull out the old board games that’s been sitting for ages in the closet? Scrabble, Yahtzee and Twister are only a few of the many favorite board games of all time. You can never go wrong with board games. That is, of course, if everyone play by the rules.

No Need to Stress for the Best

Whatever you choose to do this New Year’s Eve, whether you go green and save money or apply for a payday loan to cover the New Year’s expense is really up to you. Like I said, there are tons of cheap and simple New Year’s party ideas. Don’t stress over finances this New Year’s Eve, but uncover the best with your creative creations.

Do you have some New Year’s party ideas in mind? Share it in the comment box below!