Where You Can Use Your Job Status To Get Discounts

On top of making your paycheck, you can use your job status to gain some healthy returns on your money from entertainment to food & drink. You just have to do the leg work and see if your job will accommodate any such discounts. They are out there, it's you chance to get them.


1. Restaurants - If you are ever in your local Chili's, tell them you work in town and would like to get the local discount that is available. I do this every time I go there but be aware that you might have to show proof like an employee card or business card to receive the discount. Also, be understanding that this will vary based on location so it makes sense to ask before hand.

2. The Gym - Local gyms will love to have your business as membership specialist have a quota to meet. Talk to someone who at your work who already has a gym membership and ask what kind of discounts they're getting. Better yet, ask your boss or manager if there are any special discounts you get at the gym just for working there. Most likely there will be so I suggest you check it out if your interested in pumping some iron while you beef up your wallet.


3. Financial Products & Services - Almost all banks and credit unions will offer low cost or free checking to those who work for a company that is affiliated with that institution. For example, Citibank has something "bank at work" where they offer a free account if you work at a company that Citibank manages accounts for. Also, if you're having trouble making your money readily available after you deposit your check into a bank, it's best to choose the bank your company uses so they can verify funds right away and your money will be ready as soon as your deposit your check.

4. Entertainment - At my job, there is a website that is provided to all the employees where you can get discounts on all sorts of stuff. For example, I can get movie tickets for the nearest AMC Theater for a discount if I buy in bulk of 8 tickets that will last until they are used. The cost comes out to $6.50 each ticket. With the current prices at the movie theaters, I would say that is one hell of a deal.

5. Department Stores - I once worked at an outlet mall and I was able to get different kinds of discounts for shopping at other stores just because I worked at the mall. Some of you might already recognized this but sometimes people don't even think about doing it. Make your move for your next Christmas presents!

6. Cell Phone Plan - Sprint, At&T and Verizon are just some of the names that offer employee discounts to qualified companies. Check and see if your company is one of them by either calling the wireless company themselves or talking to your manager.

Please let me know what you guys think. What are some discounts that your job has to offer?

How To Get A Fee Waiver On Your Checking Account

I used to work at a bank and I have seen just about every type of irresponsibility there is with financial decisions from customers. I have seen countless overdrawn accounts, missed credit and loan payments, check fraud, etc. I have also witnessed a lot of changes along the way like the recent credit card act and opting out of overdraft protection. Banks have retaliated against these profit-eating changes and most have rolled out fee-based checking and savings accounts to make up for the lost overdraft charges they have been doing for years to customers.

They are still some free accounts paying interest online but a lot of customers like the convenience of having a brick and mortar bank to go into. As an ex-bank employee here is a way to get an absolutely free checking account and possibly forever.

Leverage

Banks have to meet a sales quota on a daily basis and they are willing to earn your business. If you already have an account with a bank and are constantly getting charged for one reason or the other, go into your local bank where you opened the account and talk to your banker about placing a permanent waiver on the account or else you will close your account. It helps to have a good standing relationship with your bank or else they will be pleased to close your account.

You Can Get More Than Just A Checking

Banks have different types of accounts. Some of them call them "Checking Packages" where it consists of a checking account, a savings, debit card, credit card and online banking. Some packages will differ from bank to bank but the concept is the same. Once you find that you need a checking package that offers wire transfers and a safe deposit box but you can't meet the minimum balance to make it free, tell the banker that the only way you will open up an account if there is a permanent fee waiver.

Tip #6: Save Money On Beer

I just got back from the grocery store to do a little shopping and I picked up some of my favorite beer while I was there. It wasn't on sale but 5.99+taxes and crv isn't bad for a six pack. That comes out to $1.14 a beer after taxes and crv, pretty cheap if you ask me. Now there are ways to stretching your dollar even further. Here are somethings you can do to save on beer.

1. Look at different stores - This one is probably a no brainer to you but most of the time beers are almost always on sale. I tend to find a beer I drink on sale at one store but not at others but something that other store will be on sale when the other isn't.

2. Shop Online - That beer that I bought today at the grocery store was $5.49+ taxes and crv at BevMo! online for a pickup order at my local store; a 0.51 cent savings. Note: Sometimes your beer will not be available to purchase online.

3. Search for Coupon Codes - After a quick search at RetailMeNot, I found a coupon for 5% off an order online at BevMO! This brought the price down to $5.22+Tax and CRV; a total of 0.77 cents savings now.

4. Join The Club - When you sign up for a free membership at BevMo! and spend over $250 you get a 5% discount on your next purchase. That's and additional 5% if you find a coupon code.

5. Earn Rewards Points - When you purchase you beer, you want to earn rewards points don't you? The money you'll be earning plus the money you'll be saving after all the discounts already makes it worth it to use your credit card.

6. Buy Big - Ok, so I bought a six pack but unless you don't drink that often, you should go for that 24-pack or 30-pack. If I would have bought an 18-pack of my beer It would have come out to 0.99 cents a beer after taxes and crv. Add that 5% coupon code I found and it's down to 0.94 a beer.

7. Sharing Is Caring - If you and your friends are planning to have a BBQ or going to watch the next football game at your house, share the cost of the beer. I do this all the time with my friends because we all end up saving money while hanging out.

8. Brew Your Own - There is a simple way to brew your own way but you need time. Watch a great video below to learn more about that. I never tried it myself but it can save you a bundle by doing this.



9. Pre-game your Night Out - I don't know about you but where I live, it is so expensive for just one beer at a bar. It cost $4 a beer or more there! Try to drink with your friends with the beer you guys pitched in yourself at home and have a designated driver take you to the bar and back home. If you drink more at home, you drink less at the bars.

Save Money With Regular Auto Maintenance

I have a 1994 Honda Civic Lx model and it has way over one hundred thousand miles on it. It bought this vehicle used and it doesn't bother me that it has a lot of miles because I know Honda's can last a long time but only if you maintain them correctly and timely. Every 3000 miles, I take my car to the same mechanic shop to get an oil change at the same price.

I don't do the oil change myself because my mechanic shop checks for anything broken, loose, leaking, missing, noisy, out of order, tearing, worn out and basically anything that can seriously damage my vehicle without me knowing about it. Although I can conduct a simple oil change myself and save some money, I find it more valuable and assuring to have my oil change through my local mechanic shop so they can check if anything else is needed. My vehicle is about 15 years old but I have done just about everything to keep my vehicle running it's best. By doing this I have piece of mind and will save money in the back end by just doing regulare maintenance.

Here are some things I do that have contributed to the longevity of my vehicle and has saved me money.

1. Check the Oil - I try doing this every time I stop to get some gas, while you wait for your tank to fill-up it definately doesnt hurt to check your oil levels. Refer to your owners manual on this.

2. Tune-ups - Whether it's a new or old vehicle, every car needs a tune-up. You must refer to your owner's manual for this to find out when you should do these to get your car back to tip-top shape.

3. Rotate Your Tires - Rotating your tires on your car is one preventative maintenance often overlooked. By rotating your tires accordingly, you will increase your tires lifespan. Since tires are responsible about 80% of braking, it's not only saving you money but providing safety for you and your family.

4. Check Your Tire Pressure - We should all know by now that the right amount of tire pressure improves fuel effeciency. So if that its true, then its safe to say you will save money by doing this regular check up yourself and adjusting if necessary.

5. Change Your Air Filter - It is quite simple to change your air filter because it is so accesible. All I really needed was a phillips screwdriver to take the cover off and simply switch the old with the new. I have noticed a significant change in fuel efficiency here; about 8% better after just doint this.

So there you have it, I hope this was good info for you. I would also recommend to do most of these things yourself because they really are simple; especially checking your tire pressure. If you keep up with these small but important tasks, your car will literally go a long way.

Get Ripped, Not Ripped Off, By Avoiding Contracts With Gyms, Karate Schools

I currently have a gym membership close to where I live. It cost me $22 dollars a month and includes everything I need. After a little vacation I took to Vegas, I started to ween away from my gym which was not good for two reasons. 1. I was losing my momentum in my work out routine and 2. I was paying for something I was not really using. Greg Orlando at multimedia communications company Orlando Sentinel talks about avoiding getting ripped off on gym memberships and karate schools.

Luckily, when I signed up 6 months ago at my gym, I opted out from signing a 1 year contract and went for a month-to-month plan instead. I knew if something were to get in the way of using my gym, like being lazy or injured, then I can cancel my membership for the time being. I can't tell you enough how much I hate being tied up with a company via contracts, it makes me feel like I'm not in control of my money or my life.

Tip #5: Save Stamps by Using Online Banking

I don't really use stamps or envelopes for that matter because I do everything through my banks online banking feature. Most banks now a days offer this feature for free but check with your bank for more details. I even have an automatic payment come out every 1st of the month for rent. There is so much you can do with online banking like transfer between accounts, transfer between accounts at different banks, order new checks, money orders and statements, view statements, pay bills, view a spending report, set goals, set budgets, open a new account, apply for loans, nickname accounts, categorize transactions, view balances, consolidate accounts from other banks to one page, trade stocks, and more.

I don't really see a need for stamps and envelopes unless you are sending something other than a payment which isn't the case for me. If there is a document I need to send somebody I either go through email or fax to complete this task. I recently heard something about forever stamps and how they can save money because these forever stamps are good at the price you bought them for even if stamps increase in the future. The going rate is 44 cents a stamp starting Mother's Day up 2 cents from 42 cents a stamp ending today. I can see how this will save a small amount of money ONLY if you use a lot of stamps but Nathaniel Rich at a daily magazine company Slate answers the question "Should I Invest In Forever Stamps?"

Tip #4: Take Your Own Lunch

Sometimes we are all too often busy to make ourselves lunch for work and sometimes too busy to eat breakfast in the morning for that matter. Taking your own lunch to work can save you some serious money if you are consistent. I usually spend somewhere between $8-$12 on lunch somewhere when I could have brown bagged my lunch. If that is true then I could be saving somewhere between $40-$60 dollars a week that can be used to earn interest through bonds or buying some more stocks in my portfolio.

My History
I worked very close to restaurants, grocery stores and of course a Starbucks so it was very hard for me not to give into temptation and buy a cup of coffee or choose a pastry from the grocery store. At first, I was making small purchases on drinks and snacks at the store and going to restaurants almost every day; there rest of the time I would buy sandwiches I could have made at home myself. I took a look at my bank account statement and it showed I was making transaction after transaction purchases at the grocert store; it almost looked like an error on my statement because of multiple display name and the purchase price