 Budgeting for the holidays
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The period from Halloween and ending with New Year's Eve is three months of entertaining, decorating and exchanging gifts. Staying within a budget can be challenging. Now is the time to formulate a realistic holiday budget. Here are two tips on how to stay within your budget: - Use cash as opposed to credit cards. Physically place cash into an envelope or envelopes marked for holiday spending. Many clients find this extremely helpful, because they know exactly how much money is remaining. Also, you will not accumulate new credit card fees and finance charges.
- Write down the total budget for holiday spending on an index card. Continually deduct all amounts spent from the total. Most clients collect receipts and update their spending plan weekly.
For more money coaching tips and ideas regarding budgeting, make an appointment with Diane Nissen Friedman by phone (201)447-1137, or email, today. |
What does the S&P 500 Index mean?
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The Standard and Poor's 500 index is composed of 500 large-cap widely held U.S. stocks from four different sectors - industrial, transportation, utilities, financial. It is considered a leading indicator of the U.S. stock market. Many financial professionals believe it is a better indicator than the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). The S&P 500 is a market value weighted index which means that stocks with a higher price impact the index more than lower priced stocks. Read more at Investopia. |
Money Saving Tip for October 2009
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Many consumers do not realize that money can be saved at the grocery store without clipping coupons. Here are few tips on what to watch during your next visit.
- Group all sale items and watch the price as each one is scanned. Errors for items on sale occur frequently, and generally the store will refund the money.
- Watch to be sure that all vegetables and fruits are keyed correctly.
- Even if the price is 2 for $1, buy only what you need.
- Do not buy personal-care items and non-grocery items at the grocery store. Buy these at a discount or chain drugstore store, where they will almost certainly cost less.
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