Looking for ways to make your dollars really count? (Who isn't?) We've lined up a panel of experts to dole out advice on how to keep from stretching yourself financially thin. Here's how to save when it comes to eating, heating your home, filling up the gas tank and entertaining your family.
How you can save with financial planning
Expert: Sharon Epperson, CNBC anchor and author, “The Big Payoff”
Hire a financial adviser, by the hour or as needed
You may actually be able to get the advice you need for free. Big no-load mutual funds, like T. Rowe Price, will offer anyone free assistance in deciding which assets to choose and how to diversify them in their 401(k) or IRA. If you’re a “do it yourself” type, you can also log on to Morningstar.com and check out the tools they offer to help with 401(k) planning. Or, for $40 a quarter or $150 a year, FinancialEngines.com will tell you which specific mutual funds you should choose for your 401(k) or IRA based on your risk level and retirement goals.
For those who have a more complicated financial situation — several retirement accounts, debt management concerns, college planning needs — it’s wise to hire a financial adviser. But you don’t have to go broke. Garrett Planning Network has 290 advisers, most of whom are certified financial planners, who will work with you on an hourly basis (about $180/hour on average).
Just starting out with little money invested outside of a 401(k)? You’d likely only need an hour of the adviser’s time — which will cost you $150 to $300, depending on where you live. A more complicated analysis for someone with several IRAs and 401(k)s could run about $500 to $800. Considering that by doing nothing, your portfolio could lose that amount in one day — it’s probably worth the investment to make sure you’re on the right track.
Buy stocks — a little bit at a time
Don’t walk away now. The sale is on and you don’t want to miss it. U.S. stocks are down 10% on average so far this year. Blue-chip companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average are 15% cheaper than they were in October. If you saw a sign that said “10-15% off” for the flat-screen TV you’ve been longing for or that designer bag, what would you do? Probably buy it, right? When it comes to stock investing, you’re really stretching your dollars in a down market. You’re able to buy more shares of stocks or mutual funds now than you would have been able to a month ago, with the same amount of money. Start now with $50 a week. A 35-year-old who invests $50 per week until she’s 65 will have $515,000 to spend over her retirement. Can’t figure out how to spare $50? Think about the half a million you’re giving up if you don’t do it.
Lower your mortgage payments
Mortgage rates were already falling before the Federal Reserve’s emergency cut of ¾ of a percent this week. So if your rate is 6.25% or higher for a conforming loan ($417,000 or less), you should be talking to your lender and trying to get a lower rate — particularly if it’s an adjustable rate mortgage. Rates on 30-year fixed rate loans have dropped to 5.49% on average this week from 6.18% a month ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Rates on one-year ARMs have fallen from 6.5% last August to about 5.5% now. If you have an adjustable mortgage, lock in a fixed rate now. If you have a $165,000 loan — reducing your rate from 6.5% to 5.5% could save you more than $100 a month ($106.06) — more than $1,200 ($1260) over the course of the year.
Add funds to money market account
Although it’s important to stick to your investment strategy, it’s hard to watch your stocks and mutual funds lose value. So it’s comforting to know that at least you're building your savings in case you lose your job or have a medical emergency. You don’t want to tap into a long-term investment. You want quick cash. Money market rates are likely to fall considerably in light of the Fed rate cut. Still, you can definitely find money market yields of 4% or higher, which is considerably higher than your return on stocks at the moment.
How you can save at the pump
Expert: David Champion, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports
Easy does it Driving smoothly and steadily makes the best use of your fuel. If you can, avoid hard acceleration or braking. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Varying your speed a lot wastes fuel. A vehicle’s gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Smooth acceleration, cornering and braking not only save fuel but also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes and tires.
Get regular fuel If your car specifies regular fuel, don’t buy premium under the mistaken belief that your engine will benefit. Most cars are designed to run just fine on regular gasoline. Furthermore, many cars that recommend running on premium fuel also run well on regular. Check your owner’s manual to find out if your engine is designed to handle either grade. And consider buying off-brand gasoline, which is most often identical to what is sold at franchised gas stations.
Watch the tires Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which not only wastes fuel but also wears the tires faster. According to the EPA, a tire that is underinflated by only 2 pounds per square inch can cause a 1 percent increase in fuel consumption. Underinflated tires can also build up excess heat, which can lead to tire failure. Check your vehicle’s tire pressures at least once a month, when the tires are cold. Also, check the tires before and after long road trips. The recommended tire pressure is found on a label inside the car — usually in a doorjamb or inside the glove-box lid.
It’s a drag At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. Try not to add to the drag by carrying things on top of your vehicle. A loaded roof rack can decrease a car’s fuel efficiency by 5%. Even driving with empty ski racks wastes gas. In addition, if you have air conditioning, use it only when you really need it. Running the air conditioner robs power from the engine and uses additional fuel.
Stay warm An engine runs most inefficiently when it’s cold. It not only uses more fuel but also creates the most exhaust emissions and suffers the most wear. Avoid many short, separate trips — and unnecessary cold starts — by combining as many errands as possible into one trip.
How to save on cooking costs
Expert: Dede Wilson, Bon Appetit magazine
Are your family's food costs sky-high? How do you feed a family well and still stay on a budget? The answer is to buy seasonal — and local, if possible — ingredients that will not only be fresher and better for you, but will be easier on the budget as well.
Save on dairy products
Milk and other dairy is very expensive these days. Taking advantage of what is on sale is one approach. Also, look for milk from local dairies at greenmarkets; even some larger supermarkets are carrying local milk and milk products. The fact that it is produced closer to home reduces transportation costs and it will be a fresher, better product.
Buy in-season produceThis time of year, look for root vegetables, such as parsnips and turnips, greens such as fennel, escarole and broccolini, citrus of all kinds and even pears. These items will be fresher and cheaper because they are in season. This is not the time of year to make a blueberry pie. Make a pear crisp instead. Or simply toss tangerine segments with pomegranate seeds (also in season).
Don’t buy the first fruits you see
When you enter the produce section of the supermarket, don’t settle for the first display of oranges that you see. Supermarkets want to sell you the items that are going to make them money, not necessarily the ones that are freshest, tastiest or less expensive. Go around to the back of the display and there very well may be less expensive oranges that are even fresher or more interesting varieties.
Shop smart when it comes to meatWhen buying meat, look for less expensive cuts, such as chuck roast or top round for beef, or pork shoulder for pork. All of these, by the way, are perfect for winter’s slow braises and pot roasts. Buying a larger amount at a time can save money too, and many stew recipes can double easily and be frozen for leftover meals. Have pot roast with creamy root vegetables right now; serve it with filling and inexpensive pasta or mashed potatoes the next time. Get the recipes here.How to save on your heating bill
Expert: Brandon Russell, TLC’s “Trading Spaces”
Use a programmable thermostat This is a cheap investment that gives great potential for cutting costs. You can set the heat to only come on an hour before you wake for work and get your family ready for the day. Let the temperature drop down while you are away for the day and then have the temperature rise again around 5 p.m. to an hour before you go to sleep and the temperature will drop while you sleep. This is a great way to cut down on wasted heating while no one is at home. These are easy to install yourself and can be picked up at a local home improvement store such as Home Depot.
Use ceiling fans
Install ceiling fans in bedrooms and living rooms, and make sure they have a reversible setting. In the winter months, change the setting to pull the air up and this will help in recirculating the hot air that rises and redistribute it around the room to feel much warmer. In the summer months it can be reset to provide airflow to cut down the costs on cooling the home. This helps cut costs year-round.
Weatherproof your homeOne of the least expensive energy-saving tips is investing in materials such as a caulk gun and weather-stripping and weather-proofing all of your doors and windows. It has been estimated that all the leaks that are present around doors and windows in most homes is equivalent to leaving a window open. So for a small amount of money you can seal those leaks and cracks and shut that mystery window.
Check your insulation
Check that your attic and walls are properly insulated. If the attic is not properly insulated your energy bill is literally going to be through the roof. (No pun intended.) If you're a DIY-type, you can buy roll-out insulation or, to cut the costs substantially more, you can rent an insulation blower machine and purchase the recycled paper insulation that is fire retardant and environmentally safe. This will not only help you save on your energy bill, but is also better for the planet.
The devil’s in the details
It's the little things that add up to big energy cost cuts. Try things like adding a blanket to your hot water heater: This keeps the water from cooling too quickly and wasting energy to constantly heat it. And simply changing your air filters to ensure proper functioning of your furnace or heat pump can help, too. Also, open the blinds or curtains on the sunny side of your house and take in the free heat of the sun. Close the blinds or curtains once the sun has gone down. Close the vents on the house if you have a crawl space. This will keep unwanted cold air from coming in under the floor.
How to save on entertainment costs
Expert: Robyn Moreno, Woman’s Day magazine
Search online for deals From mommy blogs to local tourism offices, great deals abound. Sign up for newsletters with your local cultural center or movie theater and be the first to know about discounts and upcoming special events.
You don’t have to avoid restaurants to save money, just know when and where to go A number of high-end restaurants are beginning to create expensive menus for diners on a budget. Guests have the opportunity to experience the same delicious food with a much more affordable price tag with “restaurant weeks.” Usually occurring twice a year in winter and summer season, many high-end restaurants offer prix fixe meals for a deep discount. Search online for a restaurant week in your area. Some city Web sites include www.centercityphila.org and iloveny.com.
Another way to hit up a trendy restaurant year-round is to make it a daytime affair. If you’re hankering to try out the new hot spot, but hesitant to drop a lot of cash, trade in a Saturday night for a Sunday afternoon and enjoy a brunch instead. Many brunch places offer a deal that includes Bloody Marys or mimosas, so you can still have fun and check out the cool environments, but at a fraction of the cost.
Money-saving movie ideas To save money at the movies, Costco offers members super-saver movie tickets for several large theaters such as AMC, Cinemark and Regal Entertainment. Discounted group tickets save $2. For more information, visit Costco.com.
AMC Theatres also has a fun program called A.M.Cinema, where morning guests have the opportunity to see first-run movies at their best ticket price of the day before noon on select Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holiday periods at all AMC locations in the U.S. and Canada. Guests can enjoy ticket prices of $4, $5 or $6, depending on the theatre and the market, and at all locations the price is lower than the child’s price!
This year they are also bringing back their popular Oscar event where for $30, you can get an all-day pass to see all five Oscar-nominated best pictures on Feb. 23. Your admission also gets you a bag of popcorn with free refills. Check out www.amctheatres.com for more information.
Contact convention and visitors bureaus Next time you travel, especially with a group (like for a reunion or wedding), contact the city’s convention and visitors bureau. They can often send out a lead to hotels and find out the best room rate for you. Most people don’t think of the CVB, but they can save you time and money. www.neworleanscvb.com and www.sanantoniocvb.com are very nice and helpful.
You can also discover your own backyard. Instead of hopping in the car for a weekend away, strap on your walking shoes or hop on your bike and discover neighborhoods in your own city. From architecture tours to scenic bike routes, many cities offer free excursions that allow you to affordably explore your town and get some exercise in the meantime. If you prefer to stay away from groups, you can also download maps and forge your own trail.
Game on With the weather cold — and maybe the pockets tight after post-holiday shopping — this Friday night, stay in with family and friends and let the games begin. Monopoly has an updated version, the “Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition,” with an all-new debit payment system. Each player receives a Monopoly debit card and starts off with $15M and keeps track of their balances, a great way to introduce kids to the world of finance. Visit Hasbro.com for more information.
Another hugely popular game is the Cranium Whoonu — Dakota Fanning is a fan. The fun-filled “What’s Your Favorite Thing?” Cranium Whoonu is as fun to play as it is to say. This exciting game is loads of fun as players guess — and celebrate — each other’s favorite things. Dad likes karaoke better than college football? Your best friend likes hip-hop better than flip-flops? Whoonu! The goal of the game is to win the most points by correctly guessing each player’s favorite things. Fun for kids and adults. Visit Cranium.com for more information.
Get cultured Most museums offer a free day or evening, so find out when it is and take in some art with the family. Attend art openings at galleries — they are usually free to public, serve up wine, and offer you an opportunity to expand your art knowledge by talking to the artist firsthand.
Host a tasting party More posh than a cooking club, and more fun than a book club, holding a tasting party is an affordable way to learn about food and wine. From high-end tequilas to artisanal cheeses, have guests pitch in and bring items, download info from the Internet, and learn to discern the nuances of a 100 percent Blue Agave tequila, or compare the differences between English and Vermont Cheddar.
Travel off-the-beaten path
Forget bustling Napa. Wine connoisseurs can head to idyllic and not-crowded wine and spirits destinations, like the tranquil Texas Hill Country — located just outside of Austin — which is the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the country and the No. 2 destination behind Napa/Sonoma for wine enthusiasts. The area is home to world-class varietals and free tasting rooms. To learn more about Texas wines, just go to www.gotexanwine.org. Another hot spot is the historic Bourbon Trail, located only 30 minutes outside of Louisville; the bucolic region boasts seven distilleries that are open to the public for tours and tastings. Besides serving up top quality whiskey, the area also offers visitors a riveting lesson in American history as well as the ethereal pastoral landscapes. Visit www.kentuckybourbontrail.com
Always ask about discounts
Many discounts are offered to students, senior citizens, or military personnel and families at movies, theaters and theme parks, and often aren’t posted or listed, so don’t hesitate to ask.