Save Money On Your Next Computer

My Dell and I have been through a lot together. It has lasted through 3 years of college (this included daily rides strapped to a basket on the front of my beach cruiser), a study abroad in Europe, a sorority, my first “real” job, countless falls, and about 1,000 hours of online yoga classes. But lately our relationship has been tested. Maybe it has something to do with the 5 minute start-ups or the fact that it only holds about 18 minutes worth of a charge. Whatever it is, I feel it may be time to move on.

So where to begin? Next to a car and a house, a computer can be one of the costliest things a person can buy. And gone are the days when a personal computer was a luxury. If you are a student, employed, away from family and friends, have a bank account, travel—whatever, your computer ranks up there with water and air. So we know we want a good computer, one we can rely on. Luckily for us, price ranges vary as much as the models.

A top model computer generally runs over $1,500. Sound a little steep? Sometimes looking outside the box (no pun intended) is the way to go. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Do you really need it? Oftentimes an old, slow computer can be rescued with a few tips that can save you tons. Here are a few things to try: scan your computer system for viruses, spyware, and other malware; move all unneeded files to an external hard drive, CD or DVD (I like to do this with my pictures); remove unused programs; remove autostart programs; turn off programs you aren’t using; clean up disk space with the disk clean up tool; run Scandisk or Check Disk to check your hard drive for errors; and install additional RAM memory.

Check out the article “Frugal tips to Improve Computer Performance” for details on instructions on how to do all of this. This may be enough to put your old computer in tip-top condition, or you may be able to buy yourself some time while you save up for a new computer and shop around.

Be realistic about what you need. What do you need your computer for? Are you an average Google/Word/Email user? If so, your needs will be very different than a programmer or a computer software engineer who will need a much more advanced model. Will you be moving around with your computer? Would a desktop work just as well? Really think about how you will be using your new computer and don’t let yourself get overly excited about the high-end models if they’re not what you need.

Check with your peeps. One of the best places to start looking is amongst friends and family. With so much upgrading, moving and refurbishing it is likely that you know someone who would love to get rid of an older (but still great) computer. Send out an email asking around, make use of social websites (like the Institute and Facebook), or make a few phone calls.

Do your homework. If you're going to get the best deal you need to know what's out there. Spend some time browsing sites known for their great computer deals (like Newegg.com, Geeks.com, Buy.com & Amazon.com) and ask for advice from the computer-savvies in your life.

Think about buying used. If you don’t feel you need the “latest model” and like the idea of avoiding the high price tags that go with it, consider buying a pre-owned computer. You can check your local classifieds or Cragislist. Alternatively, check out online auction sites like Ebay for new and used computers. You’ll probably put in a little time finding and bidding, but you can find a great computer at a great price.

One word: Refurbished. Many online computer sites will take a used computer, vamp it up with some new parts, and sell it as refurbished. These “new” computers are often a great deal and of wonderful quality (depending on the buyer of course). Companies like Apple and Dell have great refurb sections with discounted factory-reconditioned models. Check out Eric Geismer’s article for tips on how to avoid buying a lemon.

Build it yourself. I have to admit that to me this sounds about as doable as building a spaceship. But if you are one of those people (unlike me) with a little “technical know-how” and some time on your hands, you can buy a “skeleton” computer for around $50. You will then add in a motherboard, CPU, RAM and hard drive, bringing your total to about $300. Then you can look around for a monitor and peripherals and get yourself a fantastic deal. If this sounds doable to you (and maybe even enjoyable!), then the more power to you. You’ll get a great price and good experience.

Mac Mini. Think small. These simple, virus-free machines can be purchased for around $500, with the monitor and keyboard sold separately. This is a very basic computer but is great for the average user.

Install your own extras. Many computers found in stores have a lot of “extras” already installed which add to the computer’s price. You can shop around separately for software extras and even get some for free (such as a word processor, anti-virus, popup blocker, spyware removal, games, etc)! Decide what extras you need and shop around to see if buying a computer with software already loaded is the best price and choice for you.

Less RAM=Better Price. RAM is the technical term for your computer’s memory. Memory space is a luxury and you will pay dearly for the extra memory space that comes with your computer. One way to save money on your computer purchase is to buy a computer with the minimum memory configuration then later upgrade the RAM. Your computer will end up with the same capabilities, but at a much lower price.

Give Linux a try. If you are willing to try an operating system other than Windows, you can get great deals on computers sold with the free operating system Linux. Ubuntu is a popular version of Linux that is easy to use. Besides the obvious price benefit, Ubunta and other Linux brands often come with lots of software that is open source and free, including office software suites, browsers and games.

Skip the financing. Resist the temptation to buy into financing deals with computer vendors. It may sound great to pay just $25 a month on your new computer, but you will pay much more in the long-run because these deals come with a very high interest percentage. Save up and enjoy your already-paid off computer for minimal stress and money.

Check your resources. Many college bookstores offer deals to students. Check with the bookstore to learn about upcoming deals and discounts you may be eligible for.

Pass on the extended warranty. Purchasing an extended warranty may seem like a smart idea, but the fact is most problems will occur early on in the computer’s life, when it is still covered by its original warranty. If you feel strongly about it, consider using the 7 Golden Words (Is that the best you can do?) on your extended warranty. Not all of these prices are fixed and you may get a great deal.

Is that the best you can do? And speaking of the 7 Golden words, always, always, always use these words on your big purchases! Worst case scenario a salesperson tells you “yes, this is the best price I can give you,” in which case you are one lucky shopper. Best case scenario you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You never know until you ask.

Much of this content came from: The Bargainist “How to Save on Buying a Computer” and About.com's Techniques to Find Less Expensive Computers.

Gas Guzzling: Lessening the Impact of Fuel Costs on Your Budget

Remember when gas prices reached an all-time high last year? (How could you forget, right?) Thankfully American’s are no longer shelling out $4 a gallon, but even with lower prices fuel is a significant expense for most individuals. While it is a great idea to look for alternative ways to travel at least some of the time (walking, biking, public transport, etc.), the fact is that most of us rely on our cars.

After some research, we’ve come up with a list of ways to save money on gas. Here’s what we learned (content from “15 Ways to Save Money on Gas" by BankRate) and “How to Save Money on Gas—29 Tips” by Andre Gunther:

Engine Warm Up
1. Avoid prolonging your morning engine warm-up. Even on a very cold day 30-45 seconds is plenty of time.

2. Don't start and then stop your engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the same amount of gas as starting your engine.

3. Eliminate “race-track” starts. Once the light turns green accelerate slowly (keeping the pedal about ¼ of the way down). This allows for peak functioning of the carburetor.

Change How You Drive
4. Brake Sparsely. Cars consume the most when they accelerate—once the car is moving it doesn’t require much gasoline to keep moving (think: an object in motion tends to stay in motion). Keep an eye on the cars in front of the car in front of you so you can predict when a slow down is going to occur so you can ease off the gas (rather than breaking abruptly and then starting up again.) This can give you 10-20% better gas mileage. Also, take comfort in knowing that the car tailgating you is not just annoying—the driver is wasting gas because they are subject to your stops and accelerations.

5. Keep windows rolled up when traveling on the highway. Open windows cause air drag and can reduce your mileage by 10%.

6. Think ahead when approaching hills. If you want to accelerate do it before the hill, not on it.

7. Drive the speed limit. It is set for drivers’ safety but will also get you better gas efficiency. For example, driving at 55 mph give you up to 21% better mileage when compared going 60-75 mph. (You’ll also avoid the panic and subsequent break slamming when you see a cop car out of the corner of your eye.)

8. Avoid rough roads—dirt and gravel consume an extra 30% on gas mileage.

9. Plan Ahead. Take alternate routes if the drive will be shorter, safer and straighter. Compare traveling distances, remembering that the shortest distance is always a straight line (so try to minimize curvy roads and sharp corners) I like using mapquest.com to find the shortest and fastest routes. Mapquest will even calculate how much gas your car will use on your chosen route, which is wonderful for calculating travel expenses.

10. Stoplights are usually timed to benefit the motorist. Travel steadily at the legal speed limit and you have a higher change of “green lighting” all the way.

11. Avoid reversing when possible to save gas.

12. Do not rest your left foot on the brake. The slightest pressure could cause a drag that will demand additional gas use—and wear out the brakes sooner.
Shopping for Gas

13. Buy gasoline during the coolest times of the day (like early morning or late evening). Cool temperatures cause gasoline to become dense, and gas pumps measure (and charge) by volume rather than fuel densities. Dense gas=more gas.

14. Don’t top off your gas tank. Too much gas will just slosh or seep out. If the fuel nozzle is automatic don’t fill past the first “click.”

15. Buy the lowest grade (octane) of gasoline that is appropriate for your car (check your owner’s manual for this information). As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping, the fuel is fine for your car. This can save you hundreds every year.

16. Pay cash at stations that charge extra for credit cards.

Maintenance
17. Keep your tires inflated properly. Not only is this much safer, but under inflated tires waste fuel and wear out the tire tread. Check your tires’ alignment and balance regularly.

18. Don’t forget to tune up! Get regular tune ups and follow up with your car’s routine maintenance (check owner’s manual for your car’s recommended maintenance intervals). A well maintained engine runs more efficiently and uses less gas. Pay special attention to maintaining clean air filters, diminished air flow increases gas waste.

19. Lighten up! For every extra 250 pounds your engine supports, the car loses about 1 mile per gallon in fuel economy. Only carry items in your car that you really need. Hauling junk around just isn’t worth it.

20. Only use snow tires when you need them. Driving on deep tire tread burns a lot of fuel.

21. During cold weather watch for icicles frozen to car frame. Up to 100 lbs. can be quickly accumulated which can cause a lot of wind resistance. Use warm water to quickly get rid of the ice.


Happy Driving!

Spring Cleaning the 5 Lessons Way

Whether or not April finds you amidst warm weather and chirping birds, a few post-Easter dust bunnies may be just the inspiration you need to get started on a good spring cleaning. So where to begin? We’ve collected a few tips that will have you rethinking your yearly spring clean and preserving your money and your sanity!

Rethink “Stuff”
Think about this statistic from MSN Money’s article “The Hidden Costs of Too Much Stuff:”

“Since 1970 the size of the average house has increased nearly 40%, from about 1,500 square feet to 2,300 — and that’s despite an overall decline in family size. In addition, we’re building new homes with bigger kitchens and more bedrooms, bathrooms and closets than ever before.” (Quote from Gopal Ahluwalia, director of research for the National Association of Home builders.)

So here’s a scary image for you—more and more of us getting into debt for items we don’t need, only to spend more money to house all of them. When we buy bigger homes and garages to house exorbitant amounts of stuff we end up paying higher mortgages or rent, utilities and taxes. Commit today to rethink what things you really need in your life.

Keep, Give Away, and Unsure
Now is the time to clear out those stacks of junk-mail and cart away the piles of things you’ve been sidestepping for weeks. Think for a minute, how many unused kitchen utensils do you have in your kitchen? One drawer full? Two? What about your closet? Take an honest look at each room of your house and create three piles: Keep, Give Away, and Unsure. The “unsures” are items you’re not sure you’ll use but aren’t ready to get rid of. Put them in a box and tuck it away in a closet or the garage. If you don’t use the items within a month or two then go ahead and give them away.

Still unsure? I found this helpful survey in Donna Smallin’s book “Cleaning Plain and Simple”:

“What if you’re undecided about what to do with a particular item? It’s probably something you could give away, throw away, or sell, but for whatever reason, you’re not quite ready to part with it. Ask yourself:

Have I used this item in the past year? Yes/No

Has anyone else in my home used it in the past year? Yes/No

Do I have a definite use for this in the foreseeable future? Yes/No

If it’s broken, is it worth fixing? Yes/No

Does this item serve a worthwhile purpose in my life? Yes/No

Do I need to keep it for legal or tax purposes? Yes/No

Is it more important to me to keep this item than to have the space it occupies? Yes/No

Do I love it? Yes/No

Does someone in my household love it? Yes/No

Would it be difficult or expensive to get another one if I/we needed it? Yes/No

A “yes” to any of the above questions provides a sound reason to keep the item. A “no” answer, on the other hand, gives you a good reason to toss it.”


Cleaning Green & Cheap
It seems that there is a spray, powder, or scrub for just about every corner of our house, each guaranteed to get the most dirt and germs out. With so many choices it’s easy to end up with an expensive closet full of cleaning potions—many of them environmentally unfriendly and potentially harmful to your family and pets. So what is a householder to do?

Duh duh duh duh! Cheap S. Kate to the rescue! Kate is one of the Institute’s experts and in case any of you missed her blog entitled “Become Your Own Cleaning Lady” here are some of the wonderful solutions she shared with us about creating our own cleaning supplies. (And be sure to visit her Institute group “Cheap S. Kate” to post your savings questions!)

Spring Solutions for the Cheap Cleaner:

WINDOW CLEANER
1/2 teaspoon of Dawn
3 tablespoons of vinegar
2 cups of water

ALL PURPOSE CLEANER
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
Squirt of dawn
2 cups hot water

(This is fantastic solution to use on just about anything, but do not use any vinegar-based solutions on marble. It will stain it. The one below works wonderfully on my marble countertops.)

MARBLE CLEANER
2 cups of water
1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide

FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon of mineral oil
1/4 cup of vinegar
Add a squeeze of lemon or orange

BATH TUB SCRUB
This makes a creamy scrub and is far less noxious than what is on the market.
1/2 cup of baking soda
big squirt of liquid detergent

Add some water sponge scrub in tub, rinse and wipe down

TOILET BOWL CLEANER
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

Put in bowl in order listed above. Let foam for three minutes and then scrub with a toilet brush and then flush.

MICROWAVE CLEAN-UP
Cut one lemon in half. Microwave on high for 2 minutes on a paper plate. Take lemon out. (Careful, it will be scorching.) Wipe down. This is great for splatter stains and getting that popcorn smell out.

Be sure to check out Cheap S. Kate’s blog and send her your questions via forum.

Here are a few more recipes from Annie B. Bond’s “How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit:”

OVEN CLEANER
1 cup or more baking soda
Water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water.

VINEGAR DEODORIZER
Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar in your kitchen near your cutting board and in your bathroom and use them for cleaning. I often spray the vinegar on our cutting board before going to bed at night, and don’t even rinse but let it set overnight. The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off.


Make Good Use of Everyday Items
REUSE SPONGES
Use one of the following techniques to disinfect sponges so they can be used again:
1. Place damp sponges/cloths in microwave and cook for 1 min (they MUST be wet or they could catch on fire).
2. Soak sponges for 5 min in a dishpan containing a solution of 1 c. liquid chlorine bleach and 1 gallon water. Rinse with clean water and hang them to dry.
3. Put sponges and dishcloths through the washing machine on the hot water cycle
4. Put sponges and dishcloths in the dishwasher with a load of dishes.

(From Donna Smallin’s book p. 89)

BAKING SODA—Use it to Clean Everything!
As you’ve seen in the recipes above, baking soda has a plethora of cleaning uses, and for $1 a box, why not see what it has to offer? Go to www.armhammer.com and click on “visit our neighborhood” for a room-by-room guide to using baking soda to clean, deodorize and scrub. Baking Soda can be used to clean everything from the garage to the nursery.

VINEGAR—A Multipurpose Cleaning Product
Who would have thought Vinegar could have enough uses to warrant its own institute? Go to www.versatilevinegar.org for a huge list of ways to use vinegar as a cleaning product in your home. This site will give you tons of great ideas.

HOUSE PLANTS
Don’t forget to clean your home’s air! Give rooms a regular airing out by opening windows and turning off the heat for a couple of hours. The Sunshine Cleaning Service blog recommends removing indoor air pollutants with houseplants such as chrysanthemums, English ivy, spider plants, and Boston ferns.


Good Luck on your Spring Cleaning! Remember, organization in one area of your life can lead to more order and control in other areas of your life—namely your finances!

The Freecycle Network--Giving & Getting Free Stuff

5 Lessons Institute member Margaret Capener submitted a great savings tip. She found a service called "The Freecycle Network" where members can give and receive FREE stuff.

Here's a quote from the Freecycle Network website:
"The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,689 groups with 6,497,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills."
http://www.freecycle.org.

Free? Environmentally friendly? Does it get any better? Thanks for the great tip!

Save Money on Your Electric Bill with Lightswitch BINGO

This tip came into the 5 Lessons Institute earlier this week (we loved it!) and we wanted to share it.

"It seems that our electric bill keeps going up, so we have started playing Light Switch Bingo at our house. Each person has a bingo card with specific rooms in the house in each square. When they find an empty room with the lights on they turn the lights off and get to mark that square on their card. When they get bingo they get to pull a prize or a treat from the reward bucket. We are having fun and saving $$."

--Alan Smith

How are you saving or making extra money?

Save Money with Home Spa Treatments

When I married my husband last year I became aware of a reality that I had long suspected—women cost more than men. This first became apparent to me as I observed our different morning routines. My husband rolls out of bed and into the shower where he uses his body wash/shampoo/conditioner for an overall clean. A quick inspection determines whether today is a shaving day or not. Occasionally he will rake his hand through his hair a few times, but besides that he manages to be up and looking presentable within 10 minutes, having used approximately $0.15 of soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and hot water.

And then there’s me. Although I pride myself on being somewhat low-key when it comes to my appearance, my routine is an entirely different story. An average morning looks something like this: Wake up about 35 minutes before my husband to take a shower. Shampoo and deep condition hair, wash face with special scrub, shave legs and use a scented body wash. Exit shower and apply toner and lotion to face. Apply make-up. Style hair with blow-dryer and round brush, and finally, apply hair-spray to finish. Overall an unhurried but brisk morning requires about 45 minutes and approximately $4 worth of make-up, hair products, and lotions.

So what is a girl to do? Does budget have to come before beauty?

As a newly-wed on a student’s budget I started getting creative. The first thing that had to change was my salon routine. As you women know, an average trip to the salon (for a cut and color) generally costs between $75--$150. I was spending an average of $110 every 6-8 weeks. This was no longer an option for me so I started looking for alternatives.

I like my hair dark, so although I was initially terrified by the thought, I started researching home hair coloring kits. And I was pleasantly surprised. I was worried about the harsh chemicals in these at-home kits so I found one that didn’t contain ammonia. I use L’Oreal Natural Match No-Ammonia hair coloring. Within 2 dyes I found my best color, and not only does it look professional, but my hair is healthier and my wallet happier. I now pay a meager $45 ($35 professional haircut + $10 home color kit) every 6-8 weeks to keep my hair looking fabulous. *Another brand that came highly recommended was Clairol’s Nice and Easy which you can find for $13.99 at Walgreen’s.

Being something of a hair novice I was surprised by how easy to use these kits were. In the words of my husband (which he immediately regretted) “If you can do it, anyone can!” ($35 savings/month)

And then I really started getting creative. Face-wash, toners, and face-masks were just adding up too quickly. So remembering my teenage fondness for home beauty remedies I did a little research and found some incredible recipes for inexpensive natural body care. My best find was a book published by Klutz called “The Body Book: Recipes for Natural Body Care” by Anne Akers Johnson (2001). This fun book is full of recipes that use inexpensive ingredients, many of which you’ll find in your own kitchen. Here’s a sample of my favorites:

1. Natural Face Scrubs. Rather than spending $15 a month on a facial wash I’ve started making my own with much gentler natural ingredients. I’ve tried several of the facial scrubs in this book but my favorite is the almond scrub which is made with ground almonds and a little water. To add variety you can add other items like baking soda or rosewater (another website even recommended adding honey!). This softens and exfoliates the skin. ($12 savings/month)

2. Soothing Facial Toner. This book touts many recipes for facial toners that use Witch Hazel as a base. Witch Hazel can be found at most grocery stores and pharmacies and has excellent astringent (pore tightening) qualities. Anything from essential oils to lemon juice makes your toner complete. ($10 savings/month)

3. Face Masks. Another place to save money is with homemade face masks. Everyday ingredients like bananas, yogurt, avocados, honey and oatmeal can be mixed to create a great facial routine. My favorite is made from honey and oats—it makes my skin very soft and is great for clearing pores! I just have to be careful not to eat it! ($8 savings/month) Check out Anne Akers Johnson’s book for the complete recipes and a “home spa kit”! I found the book on Amazon, where as always there were some great discounted copies. This book also has great ideas on making inexpensive “spa gifts” for friends and family.

Home Pedicures and Manicures. Rather than a $30 professional manicure or pedicure why not try one at home? I soak my feet for about 10 minutes in a basin full of warm water mixed with Epsom salts and a few drops of lavender essential oil. I then exfoliate with a pumice stone. After cleaning and trimming my nails I use a thick moisturize that I can leave on overnight. And men—don’t be shy about getting in on the action; my husband loves these foot soaks (sorry I’m ratting you out honey!). Also, many sources claim that lemon juice is just the thing for whitening and strengthening your fingernails. Try soaking your fingertips in lemon juice for a few minutes as part of your weekly manicure and notice the great results! ($30 savings/month)

The Miracles of Olive Oil. Maybe it’s my Italian blood, but I have found olive oil to be the best beauty ingredient out there (think of how many commercially-made beauty products feature “With Olive Oil!” as their main selling point.). For a really deep conditioner I run a few teaspoons of olive oil through my hair, let it sit for about 10 minutes and then rinse it out thoroughly. I also regularly rub olive oil into my hands, cuticles and feet for a deep moisturizer.

Girls’ Night In. As an extra tip, rather than spending upwards of $30 for dinner and a movie with the girls, why not hold a “Girl’s Night In” and share your new-found beauty tips? I’ve done more of these nights than I can count and I can tell you for a fact that you’ll have a fun, relaxing night.

Research. I’ve shared just a few of the things I’ve found to work in my beauty routine—but there is so much more out there! Try scouring your local library or doing an internet search on home beauty remedies, you’ll find tons of information.

So yes ladies, budgeting does factor into our beauty routines. But with a little creativity, research and everyday kitchen items we can bring our beauty expenditures down while still maintaining our beautiful, glowing selves. And don’t be surprised when you have a ball doing it.

Happy Beautifying!

How to Avoid Hidden Hotel Fees

As a consultant for corporations, I’ve traveled a great deal during the past several years. During that time I have noticed a fundamental change in the travel industry. The cost of travelling used to be much more forthright, with the price quoted generally being the price paid. And then society changed. To keep up with that change, hotels, airlines and rental car agencies began lowering prices to compete for business—and began tacking on “hidden” fees. I’ll never forget the time I thought I’d gotten a great deal on a hotel stay, only to have sticker shock when the final bill included over $130 in extra charges. For a long time I just accepted these fees, and then my sister-in-law gave me a copy of The 5 Lessons, for Christmas. It was then that I decided I worked too hard to not add to my wealth through savings.

My financial attitude wasn’t an easy habit to break. Growing up, my parents always told us kids we couldn’t afford whatever it was we wanted. I promised myself I wouldn’t live that way as an adult. And, as you know, impressions are important in being successful. I was in the habit of being “generous” with myself and everyone around me. Dickering over dollars and cents just didn’t feel worth it. Until I started keeping track of just how much those dollar and cents added up to in hours of my life spent away from my family, making money we would never benefit from. That was enough to encourage me to find ways to “Win in the Margins through Savings”.

Jeff’s TOP 5 Tips for Avoiding Hidden Hotel Fees

1. Research. Although federal law requires hotels to disclose information, it’s a good idea to call ahead and ask about fees that may not be included in your room rate. If the hotel your staying in has a towel fee, hospitality fee, valet fee, groundskeeping fee, resort fee, bellman fee, maid fee or any other fee you won’t be taking advantage of or feel uncomfortable with, address it on the front end while making reservations and checking in. Don’t wait until you’re checking out.
2. Skip the bellman. Buy a suitcase with wheels on it, if you travel enough to warrant that. Otherwise, only bring what you can carry. (This helps with airline baggage fees, as well.)
3. Use your cell phone. Never, ever use your hotel’s room phone to do anything but place calls within the hotel.
4. Don’t order room service. If you must eat at the hotel, sit in the restaurant. Better yet, walk down the street. Personally, I stock my room with water (don’t even think about drinking the bottled water provided in your hotel room) and healthy foods. I only eat out with clients.
5. Don’t approach the mini-bar. Some hotel refrigerators will charge you for moving the contents over to add your own food. Others will charge you for leaving your hand inside the door for too long. If something requires refrigeration, walk down the hall to the ice machine, fill your ice bucket and use it.

I’ve come to enjoy saving my dollars and cents, and, if anything, I’m more generous because my money doesn’t disappear into fees. In just under two years, I’ve saved approximately $16,000 on my travel expenditures. And I’ve never had anyone react negatively to my frugality. In fact, professionally, I have better relationships with my clients. They trust me not to waste their money.

How to Lower Homeowner's Insurance Rates

Every year I anxiously await Richard Paul Evans’ newest novel. Imagine my surprise, a few years back, when I discovered his newest book, The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth, wasn’t a novel at all, but a financial guide. I’d wanted to get sucked into a great story, only to be asked by my favorite author to look my darkest fear straight in the eyes. Plus, I was skeptical. I had failed financially too many times not to be. But as I turned each page, I felt hope grow inside me, and excitement. This, I thought, is something I can do!

After reading about the “Seven Golden Words”, I set The 5 Lessons down and called my phone company. Once connected with the representative, I asked how his day was going, and then asked if my phone rate was the best they could do? It only took a few minutes for him to cut unnecessary services and fees from my phone bill and reduce my payment by more than $30 a month!

With proof that the “Seven Golden Words” worked, I set out to fry a bigger fish: namely my homeowner’s insurance rate, which had been steadily climbing for years.

Instead of expressing my frustrations to the woman who answered my call, I kindly explained my situation and asked if she would help me find ways to reduce my rate. It worked like a charm, as she began looking for ways for me to save. By paying for a $150 inspection on my recently replaced roof, I received a rate-reduction of $723 per year, and found that I was eligible for additional savings if I would complete a few very minor upgrades, like putting deadbolts on all my exterior doors. I got a reduction for being with my insurer for more than six years, and for having smoke detectors and a security system. I stopped ensuring the land my home was built on, because neither fire nor flood would take it away. I even got a reduction for not smoking. Best of all, none of these reductions compromised my home’s coverage. When everything was said and done, my homeowner’s insurance was reduced annually by more than $1855!

I now share The 5 Lessons with everyone I know and love watching it change lives. A visiting friend made fun of me when I wouldn’t shop without a coupon and always used the “Seven Golden Words”. By the end of her vacation she was following my example and saved enough to pay for her return airline ticket home. The 5 Lessons have taught me how to save money without the consequences of giving up what I really want. I just ask, and then put the savings into what I want most—my growing nest-egg!

Welcome

Welcome to the Winning in the Margins blog. This blog is based on Richard Paul Evans' book The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth, a succesful financial book that outlines basic principles to help anyone succeed financially.

The 5 Lessons are as follows:

1. Decide to be wealthy.
2. Take responsibility for your money.
3. Keep a portion of everything you earn.
4. Win in the margins.
5. Give back.

These 5 tools have helped hundreds of people to reclaim their lives and finances--and we want to help you do the same.

We've had a lot of people write to us about wanting to know more about the concept of WINNING IN THE MARGINS. So what is it? Winning in the Margins is any action that helps you to save some extra money, whether it is through extra income, or savings you find in everyday expenditures.

Through the years many "5-Lessoners" have shared their tips and secrets with us. We want to share these ideas with you and hear how YOU are managing to save during this difficult time.

We invite you to post your thoughts, comments and ideas. Our mission is to create a community of individuals dedicated to promoting peaceful, meaningful lives through financial stability. Welcome! We're glad you're here.