Do anyone agreed that the money we save now is depreciating though we keep in the bank ?
915567
Damn good question, you forgot about the best part, weakness of the dollar. Gold is a fools bet at best, you have to be invested ahead of the crisis, and sell out during the crisis to profit, and vintage lever action Winchester rifles have given a better return over the last few decades than gold. Same thing with other collectables (easy to transport and perishable) that people want to replace what they once had or always desired. Bonds, especially municipal bonds tax-free, are another possibility but again low intrest, yet safe, safe as the dollar anyways. In all practicality, I would say invest in something that will allow you to gain wealth like  your education, real estate that will prosper in a niche market like waterfront or near new mass transit routes, or allow you to do a secondary line of work/at home business such as selling discount goods online, or the like. Put it to work generating more wealth for you. Or you can try stock picking and hope for a multi-national exposed stock or fund, but remember democrats like to punish the "rich", that is anyone who invests what they earn, with taxes on your payroll and your stock dividends/stock sales margins from stock you bought with your already taxed income. Remember even the best stock pickers only average success 50% of the time. Or be like millions of other sucker, myself included, and buy a lottery ticket now and then, that's why it exists, to give us "hope".
1059268
If the rate goes towards 5.25%, then there's definitely more money to be made in savings on saving at 5.25% (and higher CD rate), since some stocks haven't delivered those returns over the past year.\n\nExpect the loser stocks to drop further, as people are cashing out of stocks growing 1-5% a year, and that will perhaps take the entire stock market down with it.
740381
I did it the old fashioned way. We had newborn twins and were living a month ahead of our income (we'd spent it before we'd got it, if you see what I mean) continually being overdrawn. \nWhen the bank asked us to return our chequebook, I started a book, writing down every single thing we spent for a complete month (and I mean EVERY single thing). The next month, we were able to distinguish the things we really didn't need and from that were able to make serious adjustments to our way of life for the next six months. \nIt was difficult, but we did it. (The 6 months, went over Christmas, which made it all the more difficult. Maybe without Christmas, we could've sorted ourselves out sooner).\nFrom then on, I kept the book and we religiously recorded our spending for three years. I still have the book and it makes interesting reading, purely because of the things we used to buy and the prices at the time. \nIt's also a reminder to keep our spending in check. Now, we spend within our means. The only things we've bought since with a loan, is the car and the house. Opening that letter from the bank was the worst experience, the most embarrassing thing to happen to me. I was so ashamed and I never want to be in that position again. \nToday, debt seems to be the norm, it doesn't hold the same social stigma. Students come out of University owing the same amount of money we paid for our first house and they think nothing of it! They actually start off their lives with this enormous weight of debt around their necks. It's something I will never be able to come to terms with. To me, debt is unacceptable, not an acceptable part of life.
234429
You have not stated how small the bank is, thus I am not sure if you have any electronic banking.  Basically, if you can migrate your transactions from the counters to automatic machines or online services, that will surely be cost savings.  You may consider charging inactive accounts!
695031
My husband and I both have our own separate savings and checking acct as well as one joint acct we both contribute money to as we're both employed.  All the household bills and mortgage payments are taken out of the joint acct.  Personal spending is taken out of our own accts.\n\nThe reason ours is set up this way is because my husband is the bigger spender between us two and we want to have emergency money for "just in case" as u never know if something will come up.  This was an agreed upon arrangement prior to getting married.
345624
No, it is not.  For instance, the current savings bond rate is 3.20%.  Last year, the inflation rate was 3.42% so your real rate of return on the savings bond is -0.20%.  Factor in a nominal federal tax rate of 15% and your real rate of return is -0.67%.
1177365
Wow everyone seems to do exact. I however round up to the nearest dollar. I've been able to put away a few hundred extra dollars a year by doing this.\n\nAlso, if you ever go over, you'll know you have a little extra in there to protect you. To me, doing exact is not good. It only takes a small mistake and your check book is off.
802409
Yes dear.  You spent the money.  If you objected to the increase you should have called and had them lower it or not spend the money.
471470
Yes.\n\nI buy the things I need, when I need them. Buy used whenever it makes sense. Return things I do not use. Save for the things that are important to me, and make sure I have enough emergency funds to be in control of my life at all times.\n\nGood Luck!
1111495
i think the problem is primarily the money is being spent in all the wrong places. it should be evened out. happiness is no longer the goal, money is the goal.
856046
absolutely not, unless i needed it for electricity or food or medical expenses. because:\n\n1) insanely high interest rates\n2) digging a deeper hole\n\nyour best bet is to cut back expenses temporarily that aren't absolutely essential (cell phone if you have a land line, downgrade cable packages or eliminate all together, stop eating out at fast food or restaurants, take public transportation, buy less expensive food, etc.). alternatively, buy less expensive christmas gifts. when your situation improves, then you can adjust accordingly.
1051842
First, when I compare my expenditures to those of my friends, the obvious savings is the fact I do not own a vehicle.  Even with monthly bus passes and the occasional taxi, I spend hundreds less monthly.  Second, I look over my budget almost weekly to see how things might work better.  Once, I worked in a set amount of retirement/savings into my budget so it became a "necessity" like any other bill.  Suddenly, my cable and cell phone stood out as nice-to-haves, not need-to-haves, so I cut them out entirely.  Third, though I'm always on top of my bills, I started using auto-pay functions to ensure I would never get behind.  Fourth, I started eating in and brown-bagging far more, which decimated the amount I was spending eating out.  My next step is to have my bank automatically send money monthly to my investor, like a bill, so it gets done despite how busy I get.
93781
How much money are we talking about and what interest rates are you paying?
957392
To me the best way to save money is put aside some amount every week systematically you can't miss one deposit, then forget about that money is there, there is no other way around unless you have several thou to play with..☺
1143480
I think every penny adds up. I know people who collect pennys and turn them in and get over 100's in cash. A penny saved is truly a penny earned.
30187
Pay off those charges, especially if your interest rate is over 10%.  It's always good to have some money in savings, but if you want your money to go further, get rid of those charges, it's like paying a middleman for an item purchased for YEARS!!!
613581
As an Economist once said on TV, if Your wearing it on Your Ass, it is not an Asset.  It is better to save, then you can take care of Yourselves in the years to come.  With the rising cost of Fuel, Utilities, and Health Care, if You do not save You may become destitute simply trying to pay for these simple life's needs.  The people that save, are the ones that have nice houses,(paid for), are able to take nice trips, and help the less fortunate.  You want to be able to help the less fortunate, not Be the less fortunate.  The way government is talking about Social Security possibly being non existent in the Years to come, what else can You fall back on.  You can splurge a little from time to time.  As long as He is not a complete miser, I have to back Your boyfriend on this one.  If You have ever been without money in Your lifetime, then You learn to appreciate it more.  But if You have always gotten by, then You do not know what it is like to be without.  I have two Sons, one built His house, and His wife likes to spend, and He is working 2 to 3 jobs.  My other Son had a house built, His wife likes to save, they are young, and everything they own, is paid for.  Which sounds better to you?