Savvy Saving Black Friday Strategies

We’re just a week away from what I like to call the Black Friday Bonanza! It’s not here yet, but as usual the hype starts early. There are people who are already frantically searching for circulars and comparing early bird prices online, while getting themselves in a tizzy over which stores to hit first.

Now, I understand not everyone is into Black Friday. It can be a hassle trying to maneuver through malls when it seems everyone is out and about. But, some of the deals you can get are probably some of the best you’ll find. Notice I said some!

So without further ado, I’d like to share my savvy saving Black Friday strategies. Why? Because, I am here to help you.

1) Shop for Deals First – You can find deals online and in newspapers long before Black Friday gets here. Do some price comparisons to see who is offering the best deals. And by all means, please know what you want before you start looking for stuff you don’t necessarily need.
2) Mark Your Territory – Figure out which stores you need to hit and at what times. A lot of stores will give you what I call a window of opportunity. That simply means you’ll only be able to buy certain items at certain prices during certain times, like from 6AM-10AM.
3) Map Out a Route – If you know where you’re going, then it’s really easy to figure out the best way to get there. First of all, Black Friday traffic (for lack of a better word) sucks! Have a map or an outline of the best ways to maneuver from mall to mall or store to store. If you don’t know the shortcuts, then start looking for them.

Now, all of these things probably sound great. But, if your pockets are empty, it sounds like you’re putting the cart before the horse. If your next paycheck isn’t coming in before Black Friday, then go online and get a payday loan. Did you know you could qualify for up to $1500? Did you know there were new customer discounts and cash rewards for referrals? So, think about that for a minute. They are going to pay you just for doing business with them? It really doesn’t get any better than that.

So, whether you’re shopping for cash, gifts, or those little things you want for yourself, keep all of these Black Friday strategies in mind and most importantly…be savvy and save!

To Invest or Not to Invest: The Stock Market Samba

Surely, you haven’t pulled completely out of the market. And, yes I just called you Shirley! If you aren’t familiar with that line, it is only one of the most memorable quotes from the 1980 comedy Airplane. In the movie, Ted Striker saves the day and the passengers aboard a commercial flight after crew members get so sick they are unable to fly the plane.

By now you’re probably wondering what in the world does that have to do with investing. It’s simple! Just as Striker steered the plane to safety, so should you when it comes to steering your finances. Just a few months ago, we saw the stock market take one of the biggest nosedives in U.S. history. Now it’s time to figure out if it’s okay to get back onboard for a little stock market samba.

Don’t Knock it ‘til you Try it!

This rule applies to everything you do. If you’ve never invested in the stock market, it’s not as scary a beast as it’s sometimes made out to be. However, if you are not careful, the stock market can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. It’s a big system full of stocks and bonds from a number of companies and the prices are based on supply and demand. There’s the buyer, the seller, and the guy in between who’s often called the stockbroker.

It is the broker’s job to do all the wheeling and dealing, but both the buyer and the seller must agree on a price before any transaction takes place. If you’re the buyer, your goal is to buy at a low price, so that you can sell later when the price goes up. When the price does go up, you can either hold on to it or sell it. That’s when you become a seller. (Told ya this was easier than it looks…)

Taking on the Stock Market

The good news is, you can make money in the stock market. The bad news is, there are no guarantees. That’s why you always want to invest wisely so that you will know what you’re getting yourself into. That’s also where your broker comes into play. Ask question after question after question after question…until you are sure you get it.

In my quest to keep it simple, I’ll bullet point the next steps to take if you decide to take on the stock market.

• Set goals and determine needs – This will help you figure out how much you should invest.
• Determine value of stocks – Don’t just look at the price, look at the company’s worth.
• Diversify – Don’t risk it all in one place. Protect your money and invest in high and low risk stocks!

Hopefully, these little tidbits will help you decide whether to invest or not to invest. Just remember though, the stock market is a long term financial strategy. If you’re looking for a short term fix, then you may want to consider taking out a short term online loan. It’s one of the easiest and convenient ways I know of when it comes to getting ahead. More is surely to come…and yes, I just called you Shirley once again!

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul…with Bad Credit

I’m not really sure where the phrase came from, but it’s one I’ve referred to quite often. Many of you reading this post may be thinking…”hmmm I don’t think I fit into this category, so I’ll just ignore this one.” That would be problem #1. If you know what the title implies, then you might want to think twice about skipping this article.

When you have bad credit, you have very few options when it comes to borrowing money. If you go to a bank, you run the risk of getting rejected and further ruining your credit. If you go to a payday loan store, you run the risk of being seen by people you know. I, personally, would rather keep my personal finances separate from personal friends, but that’s just me.

There is always a way out of a bad situation, even when your personal forecast calls for even cloudier days ahead. It’s not easy, but it can be done.

First, don’t follow the rob Peter to pay Paul method. This will only end up getting you deeper and deeper in debt. (As the saying implies, you will owe Peter even if you do pay Paul. So, what’s the point?) Shying away from this approach is especially important when you have bad credit because this could lead to bills not being paid on time, which could then lead to more negative marks on your credit report…and well, I think you get the point.

What’s more important is for you to identify where you stand financially, right now. That’s something only you can answer. You know what goals you want to reach. You also know how far off or close to those goals you are. As my father always says, “if you don’t understand where you are, then how will you know how to get where you’re going.”

Make Arrangements! Say you’re in a tight spot and you just cannot figure out a way to pay the bills. I know it sucks, but you can make arrangements. It is a much better idea to do that, instead of messing up your credit even more. For those of you saying to yourself, ‘my credit can’t get any worse,’ think again! Your credit status includes information like the amount of debt you have and your payment history. The last thing you need is for a company you’re dealing with to submit negative information to the credit bureaus. That doesn’t go away overnight, no matter how quickly you resolve the issue.

Pay on Time! If you have a mortgage, always pay it first and pay it on time. Make that a habit and don’t break it. For reasons I won’t get into, mortgage payments carry a lot of weight. I hate to do this…but if for some reason, you are abducted by a space alien for two weeks and lose your job as a result, then by all means call your lender and see if something can be worked out. I don’t think the story will work, but at least make the phone call.

Get Help! As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I have gotten help before and quite frankly I am not afraid or ashamed to do it again. In the past, when all else failed, I turned to online lending companies for help. Again, the key here is not to bite off more than you can chew. Figure out how much you need, then compare it to how much you can pay back. The really good thing about them is that I know for a fact they will work with you. And, don’t worry about your credit. They accept all kinds.

All I’m saying is don’t keep robbing Peter to pay Paul if you don’t have to. There are ways to get out of the financial rut you’re in. Just dig in your heels and get going on a path to financial sanity.