All you have to do is set up your account, which takes about five minutes or less. As soon as you have added your bank, credit card, home loan and investment accounts, Mint.com will do the rest of the job – which it does so well.

Security won’t be an issue as Mint.com does not require information on your identity. A valid email address, password and zip code are the only things that separate you from a working Mint.com account.

Also, Mint.com boasts of banking security and privacy validated by VeriSign and TRUSTe.

How Mint.com works

Everyday, Mint.com automatically downloads, categorizes and graphs all of your finances. Mint.com will show you how much you spend on groceries, restaurants, parking, rentals, gas, and other purchases.
Mint then automatically analyzes and graphs your investment performance. You will also be alerted on upcoming bills, low balances and fees in a timely manner.
Simply put, every time you check your Mint account, you see a fresh picture of your financial standing, which would lead you to act if there is a need to.

As if that’s not enough, Mint.com also goes as far as searching for the best deals suited for your lifestyle, from bank accounts to credit cards, brokerage accounts, and more. In this way, Mint.com does not only help you monitor your expenses, it also helps you save.

Why use Mint.com

You don’t have to be an accountant or a money expert to be able to manage your expenses well. But if something as efficient, secure and precise as Mint.com can do this job for you, why go through the hassle yourself?

The website is so easy and safe to use, uncluttered and informative. Alerts are sent to you by email or mobile, depending on your preference. It also runs a blog which publishes relevant articles and advice on money management, debt reduction and budget control, among others. But the fact that Mint.com makes lives easier and is rich in useful features all for free is by far the best thing about it.

Today, there is a growing excitement in the market with the release of PocketMoney version for iPhone. Currently, the latest version is PocketMoney 2.2.1. Hardy Macia of Catamount Software, makers of PocketMoney, said that the 2.3 version will be out very soon.

PocketMoney and iPhone make an exceptional combination. Many former Palm OS users who have switched to iPhone are grateful that they can continue using PocketMoney. They can also migrate their Palm OS PocketMoney files or database to their iPhone.

And because the timing is perfect – being that people are compelled to monitor their expenses and control their budget more than ever before – this application proves very useful to anyone who is conscious and careful about where his or her dollars go.

PocketMoney works by helping you track your cash flow, know your net worth, and improve the overall health of your finances. While money matters can get complicated, this application has been designed to be simple and easy to use.

PocketMoney for iPhone sports new changes and features, and these are outlined in detail in a document that can be downloaded from www.catamount.com. Of note is a library of video tutorials that guide users through the features and uses of the application. The new budget feature is a personal favorite, as with others, because it gives users an overview as to how they are faring in terms of meeting a categorized budget.

The good thing about PocketMoney is that it continues to make waves and to innovate, although it has already shown excellence ever since. It remains an authority in managing finances in the palm of your hand. Regular fixes are being made on the software in response to users’ requests and preferences. The upcoming 2.3 version, for instance, will feature an automatic refresh of exchange rates.

PocketMoney is available in English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese languages. It is the no. 1 finance application in several countries. Users from all over the world flock to the active users forum at www.catamount.com/forums to seek answers and to discuss anything and everything about this powerful software.

PocketMoney 2.2.1 is currently on sale for US$4.99. If you want to try it first, there is a free Lite version available at iTunes Store that has all the capabilities of the full version but is limited to two accounts and two repeating transactions.

Recycle

Everything need not be new.  Shoes, clothes, lunch boxes, and left-over pens, pencils and pad papers can still be used for the coming school year.  Hence, bring out last year’s boxes and search for usable materials.  These should provide substantial savings.

Bargain hunting

Stores normally have back-to-school promos wherein prices are slashed by as much as 50 percent.  Discount stores are places you would want to explore as well.  But don’t limit yourself to stores and garage sales. Auction websites or sites such as Craig’s List will work as well. With so many people trying to turn their unused stuff into liquid cash, you are sure to get good deals out of them.

Buy items with size allowances 

Think about buying shoes for your kids that are one size bigger.  By doing this, they may be able to use the shoes for up to two years, delaying the purchase of a new pair by at least another year.

Buy the right computer

Unless your child is a graphic design or an architecture student, a typical computer will do.  By typical we mean the usual Core 2 Duo processor, 1 gigabyte of RAM, DVD-rom, 124 megabyte-graphics card will do.  These computers are more than strong enough to run word processors, spreadsheets, and Internet browsers for their school research.  Make it clear to the kids that your purchase of a computer is mainly for school assignments and not for games.

Use this as an opportunity to teach

As always, financial IQ is never too early to be taught.  The earlier you teach them, the more aware they become of wise spending principles

The savings you make on these bargains are quite considerable once you put them all together and should be able to help you during these times.

The stock market is where publicly listed companies trade shares of stock to the public at an agreed price. The stock market is one of the most important ways for companies to raise money for continued growth.

However, investing in the stock market gives no guarantee that your money will earn more. Although a savings account has a pitiful interest rate, you can be rest assured that come end of the month or year, your money will have grown at the promised rate. The stock market is not the same. Even though the returns are high, there is an equal amount of percentage for failure. So why is investing in the stock market so popular? It’s because when you win, your returns are high. So much so that trading in stocks has made millionaires out of paupers, and paupers out of millionaires.

Below is a list of traits and skills that you need to be able to be a successful trader.

Sound grasp of financial principles
If you can’t even read a financial statement, don’t bother. You can still trade, but you will leave the decision making to your broker. That is if you trust him that much. Knowledge of financial principles will give you insight into how a company is performing, that is – if a company has a multitude of assets but a greater number of liabilities, then consider it a shaky investment.

Risk behavior
If you are the type of person who is risk-averse but wants guarantees in your investment, then stock trading is not for you. Go and invest in Treasury Bonds, Commercial Papers, and Debt Instruments from big companies as these will guarantee your investment.

Money
Stock trading is highly recommended to people with extra money that they can afford to lose. As mentioned in the introduction, people have become millionaires in stock trading, but plenty have lost their shirts.

Broker or a trading system
Financial institutions have brokers which do the stock trading for the ordinary folk. They get commissions out of each trade they perform, whether it is a buy or a sell. In order to trade with them, you need to apply for an account. Choosing the right broker is as much important as trading itself as some brokers can anticipate quickly the market’s movement as opposed to the rest.

The stock market is one of the most readily available investment tools that one can use. Rewards and losses largely depend on a person’s orientation in terms of taking on risks. But knowing the nuances slightly helps tip the favor towards you.

These are issued by municipalities that wish to raise capital for projects such as schools, roads, bridges, healthcare, or other benefits to its citizenry. They are tax-free because of the federal government’s stand that it is for the benefit of the constituents.

There are two types of Municipal Bonds:

1. General Obligation Bonds. These are IOU’s that are backed by the taxing power of the issuing agency. A municipality with a lot of business establishments is more capable of paying off these IOU’s than one with a small population.

2. Revenue Municipal Bonds. These are issued by an agency, commission or authority that is created by the local council, such as water agencies, light and power, and other utilities. It is guaranteed by the revenue that these businesses will generate.

Although it is quite tempting to bite tax-free munis, one must do a little research before jumping into investing. First, you must take a look at the credit rating of the municipality. Do credit agencies have high confidence in them?

Second, take a look at their area of jurisdiction. Is it a growing community or one that is over crowded? What are the plans of the city for the future? Do they have goals that they are trying to reach? If so, do these coincide with a progressive outlook?

As with any type of investment, it pays to know potential risks against the returns you will get.

Many employees today are unhappy in their jobs because they feel they are underpaid. However, only a handful of these employees would ask for a raise because most of them are either shy or afraid of being thought of as greedy by their employers. Unknown to them, job dissatisfaction relating to low salary might cause their downfall later on if it will affect their day-to-day work performance.

Below are our top tips on how to break away from a salary rut.

Know your worth

In terms of your education, accomplishments, job experience, trainings and work potential, it is important to evaluate your worth in the industry before asking for any amount of salary or salary increase. Take time to ask friends or people doing similar jobs and with the same experience as you have, to give you a ballpark figure in what they are earning. It is also helpful to look on job sites such as salary.com or careerbuilders.com for insights on pay scales corresponding to your overall worth.

Moreover, you need to research the salary scales of your company. Up to how much can they pay? I had a friend who recently accepted a job from a multinational company thinking he went away with a great deal in terms of basic salary and based on the average market pay. Later on however, he discovered that most of the staff in the company at his same level are getting a far higher paycheck. It was too late when he realized that his company has an above average salary scale and was willing to give a higher than entry-level pay if only he knew how much or had researched further.

Update your skills

In negotiating for a higher salary, employers will normally look for basis of an increase. Why should they give in to your demand? What is your edge over others, the deciding factor that will make them give you the pay that you want. Bottom line is, the more knowledgeable you are of more skills, or the more flexible you are, the higher are your chances of getting a higher salary.

Avail of the various trainings offered in and out of your company. Ask your HR for a list of general or job-specific trainings planned for the year and enlist in those you think are relevant to your skills or interest.

You may also delve into self tutorials for a particular computer application for example, if you feel that it will lighten your work process. In this regard, you can ask for assistance from your IS department. Some companies allow this, but from time to time, you may ask your boss if you can work with or sit in a department whose function requires your assistance or skills. This could be one effective way of exchanging skills and knowledge about the business with others, therefore making you a more valuable employee.

There may come a time when a position in the company suddenly opens wherein your acquired skills and knowledge would be needed and you could be considered for a higher salary. If your boss finds that you’re valuable and would want you to stay in the department, that in itself is an opportunity for you to negotiate.

Be confident

To be confident requires that you build up a good case. You probably won’t walk away with an increase if you are not prepared at least with a bottom line figure. However, don’t mention the amount as soon as you’re asked. Say something along the lines of “according to the salary scale…,” or “according to the industry rate…” If you’re new to the company, you may ask back, “How much can you offer your best candidate?” The company will have a higher regard for you if you know you are professionally sought- after.

State your facts in a matter-of-fact manner. Much as you wanted to stress that aside from the salary, you would also be thrilled by the challenges the job can offer and how much else can you contribute, you might not be able to convince your employer by stating “I won’t settle for anything less than $60,000” unless you really mean it.

Banks normally offer these accounts to valued clients generally those that make a large initial deposit, keep the account untouched at long intervals, and probably do business with the bank in some other way to qualify.

So how do you find these High Yield Savings Accounts? First and foremost you must ask your local bank if they have one and what it takes to qualify. If, however, they don’t have one, then we suggest that you scour the Internet.

Internet banking is convenience personified. No lines, no crowds, just basic banking from the comfort of your office. If you are comfortable banking online, then you might want to search for “High Yield Savings Accounts.” There is a lot so better check out the companies offering it.

Remember the rule of thumb: “if it’s too good to be true, then it mustn’t be real.” Some companies will offer ridiculously high rates but would have no real infrastructure to be able to make your money grow. Does the phrase “ponzi scheme” ring a bell?

Lydia Sermons-Ward, spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counselors, said that there is a tendency for American consumers to take advantage of credit offers without really thinking through the consequences of overspending.

And how big can a consumer debt be? Below are some of the most unsettling facts about debt in America taken from Paul Banister’s “25 Most Fascinating Facts about Personal Debt.”

• Some 43 percent of American families spend more than they earn each year
• Average credit card debt among all American households is $8,400
• About 60 percent of active credit card accounts are not paid off monthly
• Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the past decade

But getting out of debt doesn’t have to be hard if you make a plan and stick to it.

Credit cards

Focus on paying off high-interest-rate credit cards. You can do this by freeing up more money each month. Simple things like making a well-discerned list before shopping and sticking to it helps a lot. Weed out unnecessary expenses. Cutting down on the frequency of shopping trips can make a difference as well.

Studies have shown that people using credit cards in fast food restaurants spend up to 50 percent more than when they pay cash. Therefore it would be a lot easier to control purchases and stick to your budget if you leave your credit cards at home and pay by check or cash. Better yet, start making it a habit to cook your own meals and bring your own lunch at work than eat out.

Mortgage debt

More often than not, lenders are open to helping their customers needing more flexible mortgage payments plans. Therefore, as soon as you’re encountering difficulties in your monthly payments, it is important that you contact the lender at once. Current laws stipulate that since lenders must take your present paying circumstances into account, the following are some arrangements they may agree to:

• Reduce your payments for a period
• Allow you a “payment holiday”
• Allow interest-only payments, if you’ve got repayment mortgage
• Extend your mortgage term in years to reduce your payments

The flexibility and helpfulness of a lender can also be influenced by your track record. Therefore, whether you are on a normal payment schedule or on a new arrangement with the lender, make a real effort in keeping up with the agreed payments as it will show them that you are serious in paying off your debt no matter how long it takes.

Student loans

Statistics have shown that the average debt per bachelor’s degree recipient grew from $10,600 to $12,400 within the 2006-2007 academic year. Add this to the fact that in the 2007-2008 school year, lenders gave out about $17 billion dollars in private student loans (a whooping 592% increase from the previous decade), students nowadays seriously need debt management skills.

If your monthly loan payments are starting to become difficult and financially heavy, consider consolidation in order to lower your monthly payments. Or, you may find out if you are eligible to defer your student loans. However, a good credit score may be required or advised since consolidation loans carry fluctuating interest rates.

Car loans

If you are paying a loan for a second car, you may consider downgrading to an older model but just as efficient car that you can buy without a loan. You may also save around 15 percent off your insurance premiums by increasing your insurance deductibles from $250 to $1000 for both the first and second cars. At the same time you’re doing it, you may scout around for lower car insurance rates.

One way to support your plan to pay off all kinds of debts is to effectively manage utilities expenses. It is said that next to monthly rent and mortgage, utilities are eating a big chunk off an average American household’s budget. Consider getting a programmable thermostat, which can cut your heating or cooling bill by approximately 10-20%. You may also replace as many light bulbs as possible with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s) as they use 75 percent less energy than most incandescent lamps and last 10 times longer.

Finally, if you can bundle your phone, Internet and cable services into one package, then it can save you up to $50 month. How about that monthly savings to add to your debt payments?

Remember the B-word. Budget your monthly expenses, stick to it and pay as much as you can on your debt obligations. You’ll surely never get lost on your road towards financial freedom.

The following is a list of suggestions:

Pay off debt. Give more attention to debt with large interest rates such as credit cards, personal loans, and others. The more you pay these off, the smaller the principal becomes, and the lesser the interest piles up.

If you don’t have much debt, then saving the refund would be a good idea. Some people come up with nest egg that they nurture and grow till such a time that its intended purpose comes to pass. You can start with the refund and build from there.

Trade stocks. One misconception about stocks is that when prices are falling, nobody wants to come in and trade. But if you know your numbers, you’d be surprised how some really good companies have very low prices during such times. If you believe in the company and possess some knowledge of its history and financial performance, then by all means buy. Recessions don’t last forever, and strong companies are most certain to regain their balance first.

Perform car maintenance. A well-maintained car provides for little surprises that require huge expenses. So while there is an influx of cash, you might as well have your car serviced for preventive maintenance rather than let any problem get out of hand and affect the running mechanisms in it.

Always remember that refunds can be used to further stabilize your finances. The discipline to stifle the urge to use it all up for materials that you have no need for is paramount. Use it wisely, and it could be of great help in the future.

Discount dental plans are a good option for many individuals and families. Most require a yearly a membership fee and will provide you with a membership card which you will need to present to participating plan providers in your area. Unlike dental insurance there are no annual limits, no health restrictions, no deductibles and no waiting period for major services (like crown or bridge work). With discount dental plans, you can start saving up to 60 percent on most dental procedures even cosmetic dentistry and orthodontia.

Discount dental plans allow you to take advantage of a wide range of common dental services at reduced rates, including checkups, root canals, braces, cleanings, dentures, x-rays, extractions, fluoride treatments, surgery, dental implants, fillings, crowns, bridges, and so on. Ask your dentist what type of plans he/she accepts or turn to the web to find additional options.

One trusted discount dental plan provider is DentalPlans.com, which has been in the industry since 1999. A visit to their website can give you a quick and easy trip to their plans, services, participating dentists, and other significant information that you need to know. DentalPlans.com is also willing to take in your questions and concerns, especially if you are new to this kind of dental program. They also have attentive customer service staff who can give you an informed decision by guiding you in choosing the right dental plan for you all the way.

Another website you can check out is eHealthInsurance.com, known for its wide range of insurance plans. Browse over their list of available dental discount plans, which you might find limited compared to other sites. But here, you have the option to pay monthly or to shell out an annual premium.

There are other big insurance providers that offer discount dental plans, look in to options from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealth. The choices are countless, that’s why it pays to look for the most reliable and affordable dental plan provider.
If you are seriously considering saving money without compromising your dental health, discount dental plans is the way to go. Start saving so that you can keep smiling.