Gas Saving Tips – Personal Finance Basics

If you are like me, you loathe spending money on gas. Especially the time when, for no good reason, it goes up five or ten cents over night. Many of my clients seeking personal finance help are searching for tips on saving money in certain areas. For now, I’ll focus on how to manage money in relation to your fuel economy. Keep in mind, It is vitally important that you have a good quality budget in place so that you have a pre-determined spending goal on gas. You could search Google for various budget tools, or go to our resource link for a detailed budget spreadsheet. Here are three very useful tips.

Drive Sensibly – My grandma’s Lincoln Town Car has a mileage gage. It’s amazing the change on the gage when I accelerate quickly (imaging it’s not a town car, but I pretend it’s a Ferrari) versus taking it easy. Studies have shown that fast acceleration, speeding and abrupt braking can lower fuel economy by 33% on the freeway and 5% city driving. So, take a lesson from my grandma if you want to learn how to manage money better, drive safe and slower. Fewer accidents, save on fuel.

Use Cruise Control – On top of cruise’s ability to allow you to relax your legs on lengthy trips, it also helps you avoid speeding which uses more gas. Also, it limits how often you drop your speed which causes you to speed up more often to get back up to speed. Not only will cruise save you gas, but as you’re using it as a method of how to manage money, you’ll prevent those expensive speeding tickets.

Buy fuel efficient vehicles – There are many benefits with this one. Smaller, more fuel efficient cars are also less expensive off the lot. When I show my clients how to manage money and be more frugal, their pick of a car usually plays a big role. They save cash on the purchase and smaller vehicles are a lot better on gas. When I purchased a 2008 Honda Civic, it qualified for Canada’s eco-auto rebate program. I received $1000 back from the government.

So I know how much you’d love to appear wealthy and successful and have people everywhere staring at your big SUV, but it’s bad for the environment and for your wallet. In most of the how to manage money lessons I have with my clients who are thinking of buying a new vehicle, I tell them to choose cars that are better on gas. They will not only have more money to save for their future after they buy the car, but they’ll also save lots of cash on their gas. Search online or check out our budget spreadsheet to figure out which car you can afford and what vehicle will save you more cash.…

Gas Saving Tips – Personal Finance Basics

If you are like me, you loathe spending money on gas. Especially the time when, for no good reason, it goes up five or ten cents over night. Many of my clients seeking personal finance help are searching for tips on saving money in certain areas. For now, I’ll focus on how to manage money in relation to your fuel economy. Keep in mind, It is vitally important that you have a good quality budget in place so that you have a pre-determined spending goal on gas. You could search Google for various budget tools, or go to our resource link for a detailed budget spreadsheet. Here are three very useful tips.

Drive Sensibly – My grandma’s Lincoln Town Car has a mileage gage. It’s amazing the change on the gage when I accelerate quickly (imaging it’s not a town car, but I pretend it’s a Ferrari) versus taking it easy. Studies have shown that fast acceleration, speeding and abrupt braking can lower fuel economy by 33% on the freeway and 5% city driving. So, take a lesson from my grandma if you want to learn how to manage money better, drive safe and slower. Fewer accidents, save on fuel.

Use Cruise Control – On top of cruise’s ability to allow you to relax your legs on lengthy trips, it also helps you avoid speeding which uses more gas. Also, it limits how often you drop your speed which causes you to speed up more often to get back up to speed. Not only will cruise save you gas, but as you’re using it as a method of how to manage money, you’ll prevent those expensive speeding tickets.

Buy fuel efficient vehicles – There are many benefits with this one. Smaller, more fuel efficient cars are also less expensive off the lot. When I show my clients how to manage money and be more frugal, their pick of a car usually plays a big role. They save cash on the purchase and smaller vehicles are a lot better on gas. When I purchased a 2008 Honda Civic, it qualified for Canada’s eco-auto rebate program. I received $1000 back from the government.

So I know how much you’d love to appear wealthy and successful and have people everywhere staring at your big SUV, but it’s bad for the environment and for your wallet. In most of the how to manage money lessons I have with my clients who are thinking of buying a new vehicle, I tell them to choose cars that are better on gas. They will not only have more money to save for their future after they buy the car, but they’ll also save lots of cash on their gas. Search online or check out our budget spreadsheet to figure out which car you can afford and what vehicle will save you more cash.…

College Self Storage

College self storage has become a fact of life for most students. It could be just for the summer or it could be all year long if they are living in a dorm. Students attending college are traveling outside of their immediate area with greater frequency, which means that there is no convenient place to stash their stuff. Even though money can be tight for college students, skimping on storage space isn’t always the best idea. Here are a few tips to make sure that your college self storage spaces deliver everything that you need.

College Self Storage – Access

When it comes to choosing a storage unit, access should be a top priority. This includes both the times that you can get to your unit as well as its location. In order to not compromise on security, it is always best to use a storage unit that has keypad access. This will not only allow you to get to your stuff whenever you want, but will also keep your unit secure. Proximity is also something to consider. Most colleges have at least a handful of self storage units near campus and most of them may even cater to students, which means that there is a good chance that there will a student discount.

College Self Storage – Transportation

There are several things to consider related to transportation. The most important is that you have space to actually use your storage unit. This means that there should be some form of nearby parking, ideally without meters or parking permit requirements. You also need to make sure that you can get your vehicle near the unit. This can be a problem depending on where you unit is located so make sure to check it out before you agree to the specific unit that they will be renting to you.

College Self Storage – The Details

There are a few details that need to covered regardless of the self storage that you choose to use. The first is insurance. If you aren’t keeping anything valuable, then you may care a little less than if you are storing your entire dorm room for the summer. Many storage units will provide a very basic form of insurance, however this is rarely enough to cover your belongings. Getting additional renters insurance is a great idea, especially if you aren’t going to be visiting your unit on a regular basis. You also need to make sure that you choose the right size of unit. If you it is too large then you will end up wasting a lot of money, even if it is only for a couple of months. On the other hand, if it is too small then you will either have to rent two small units, which again can be expensive, or you will have to rent one larger unit and spend time moving everything again.

College self storage is something that no one wants to deal with if they …

Top Tips To Consider When Searching For The Right Self-Storage Facility

More people are searching for the right self-storage facility that can house their belongings, especially since both people and businesses are downsizing to save expenses. This has caused a boom in the self-storage market which can be found in almost any area where you live or plan to move to. Even small towns will have a self-storage facility that can be utilized for business or personal needs. With so many choices for storage it is important to know about the business where you will be storing your valuables. Here is some insight into the self-storage facilities that are available.

Consider The Usefulness Of A Storage Unit

In the past storage facilities consisted of companies that would pack your belongings and store them for a cost. This was very restrictive and costly, so people started looking towards places where they could store their goods more economically while allowing them the freedom to easily control when they had access. In the beginning people would search for an empty garage or warehouse that was looking for some added income, which eventually turned the self-storage facilities into a thriving business. People wanted to know that the space that they were renting was secure and that they could come and go without the worry of additional costs. The self-storage facilities provide this and more.

Take A Guided Search For A Self-Storage Facility

Since there are so many facilities available that have self-storage it is important to find a reputable company that will take care of your property. When you start searching for the right facility it means asking some direct questions about the policies and procedures of the facility, along with checking out business ethics and terms. The area in which the facility is housed, as well as the facility itself is a good indication of whether your items will be safe. But there are other means of security that should be questioned such as video cameras and alarms. What are their policies on people coming and going? Both of these areas should be checked into. In addition to this, you want a company that is customer friendly.

The Keys To A Self-Storage Agreement?

An agreement is a contract between the self-storage facility and yourself stating that they are renting you a space the size that you require and in exchange you will pay a monthly fee to guarantee that space is yours to use. The agreements spell out the terms of your rental of the space and will include such things as what happens if you do not pay your rental fee or if you terminate your agreement what will be charged for usage. Most reputable companies will not charge you for additional fees, but may require a deposit or first month’s rental fee up front.

It should also be noted that in some cases if you do not pay your fees after a certain amount of time that the storage facility has …

How to Deduct Miscellaneous Expenses

In the world of finance, the person who spends less and earn more prevails. The concept is simple as it sounds but harder to do. There are many categories when it comes to expenses. The list includes ration, house loan, car loan, entertainment and so on. But there is one more category you should pay special attention to. This one is called the miscellaneous expenses. They are called as such because of their menial costs. But in most cases, they are not small at all.

Know that miscellaneous expenses are deductible on Schedule A (of ‘IRS’ or Internal Revenue Service).

You will find that the expenses related to the miscellaneous section come from your job and when managing your finance.

Education has its own expenses too

You can deduct the cost of tuition, books if your education is related to your career. In more details, you can deduct these expenses if your course work improves your work skill. Also know that courses required by law or our employer o maintain your position are also deductible. However, if you decide on a new career path that is unrelated to your university course, you would not get deductibles.

When looking for a job

After your successfully land your first real job, you can deduct legitimate costs related to finding another job within your field. For new job interviews, you can deduct the cost of your courses and trips. This even applies when you do not change your job. In case you hire a career consultant, you can also subtract that cost.

Job expenses that are not reimbursed

Maybe your job involves you to study more on the latest technology and methods, especially needing you to subscribe to journals. Maybe you need to upgrade the office chair for better posture. Know that you can also deduct these costs. Even uniforms can be counted in, too, especially when your job requires you to wear a specific clothing type. This of course only applies to special uniforms that you would not wear outside your work.

Expenses on investments and taxes

Are you aware that investments and tax-advisor fees are also deductible? This even includes the subscription costs for investment-related publications. Best of all, the accounting fees that are needed to prepare your tax return or conduct tax planning during the year are also deductible. Legal fees are counted in as well. What if you use a personal computer to track these investments or to prepare your taxes? You can deduct that expense too.…

A Quick Look At Self Storage Units

Many people are moving or down-sizing to meet the challenges of the economy. In order to make a transition to a new location or down-size it is often necessary to find a place where items can be kept in a safe and secure environment. The use of self storage units gives an individual the ability to keep items that are important to them, even when they must temporarily leave them.

There are many benefits to this types of storage facilities. In most cases, they have on-site care-takers and are have several security measures in addition to the locks that are on your individual unit. Since they are available in different sizes, this is an affordable way to keep a few items safe or all of the items in a home.

When you are looking for the best facility, it will be important that you take a tour and check the unit that you are considering. Most facilities offer insurance that covers damage if there is flooding or fire at the facility. In addition, the contract that you are asked to sign will clearly specify the payment plan, items that may be stored in the unit, and emergency contact information for the care-takers of the facility.

When you are going to store items, it will be important that you spend some time covering items so that they do not get dusty or damaged. Small items should be placed in water-proof tubs and large pieces of furniture should be covered with a tarp or plastic. It is important to remember that the units are not air-conditioned. Do not put food or items that can melt in the heat if you live in an area where it gets extremely hot in the summer.

By taking the time to stack items in clearly marked containers, you will be able to find specific items more easily when you need them. In addition, if there is a natural disaster, such as a flood, your property will not be damaged when it is protected. Choosing self storage units that are near the location where you will be living will make it more convenient to retrieve the items when you are ready.…

Storage Solutions Provided by Self-Storage Facilities

Your storing problems can be amply solved by the self-storage facilities in your locality. People looking for storing solutions turn towards such self storage facilities which have storing units of varying sizes and types to take care of all your storing needs. Whether you wish to store a few items of personal possessions or the complete furnishings of your home, such storing facilities have the ability to provide what you wish.

Why Storing Facilities?

There are many reasons why people need the services provided by the self-storage facilities in their locality. People have the habit of accumulating personal possessions over the years. At some point in time they find their possessions out growing their living space. Not wishing to dispose of the possessions, they look for storing facilities to store them safely.

People may downsize to smaller homes when their children grow up and move away. They may not have enough space in their smaller home to take in all the possessions. This is when self storage facilities come in quite handy.

When renovating their homes, people need such storing facilities to move their furnishings into, albeit temporarily. These facilities provide adequate storing solutions to your storing problems.

What You Can Store

You can store all the furnishings of your home, whether they are personal belongings, or furniture, or your car, boat, yacht, or RV. Care needs to be taken that you do not store any materials that are a safety hazard, such as explosives, chemicals, acids, and similar materials.

For storing your furniture as well as sensitive electronic equipment and expensive musical instruments, you have the option of selecting climate controlled units. These units are temperature controlled as well as humidity controlled. Such self-storage units ensure that your possessions do not get damaged by dust, mold, mildew, pests, insects and rodents. These units are great for storing your works of art as well as wax works and fragile crystal ware.

Storing units of 5′ x 5′ size are enough to take in around 36 standard sized boxes. There are large units of 10′ x 30′ that can be used to store all the furnishings of your 5 or 6 bedroom home.

Many storing facilities also provide space to store cars, boats and RVs. These are more affordable than leasing private garages for your vehicles. You can park your vehicles out in the open or opt for covered parking.

Security Arrangements

Facilities that provide storing solutions ensure that they also provide adequate security for your possessions. These are state-of-the-art systems. They provide authorized access into their facilities through electronic gates having keypad coding. Some facilities have biometric access through fingerprint identification.

It is a norm with good self-storage facilities to install 24 x 7 video camera surveillance systems. These systems monitor and record all the movements inside the premises as well as inside the warehouses that have storing units.

There are latest door alarms, smoke detectors, fire detectors, as well as water sprinklers. Rest …

Storing Fragile Items In Self Storage

Self storage facilities can accommodate as many dry items that you want to keep regardless of the duration you prefer. But it’s in the way you pack and organize things that make the difference in ensuring your items will stay in good condition inside the unit.

People including families who are moving to a new house can benefit greatly from renting a self storage unit. At least when they cannot immediately bring their personal belongings to the new abode, they can always keep them safely in the unit without having to worry about them getting damaged or stolen.

When storing fragile items, however, there are some things you need to keep in mind. These items can be antiques, home decors and accessories, electrical appliances and electronic gadgets. These things have to be packed properly to avoid the buildup of moisture, mildew, dust and dirt while they’re in the self storage unit.

For small and medium items, you can put them in a sturdy box. Using a box is a good option instead of sealed plastic bags. The humidity in the rental unit can cause mildew to build up if you use sealed plastic bags to store your items.

Fragile items and breakables need to be wrapped using paper or bubble wrap. Investing in bubble wrap is ideal because this material really does a good job in protecting your breakables. When wrapping fragile items, wrap them separately to avoid damaging them while inside the box. This applies for dishes, glasses and ornaments made from breakable materials such as glass or ceramics.

If you’re storing mirrors and pictures, make sure to wrap them well using a protective covering. The bubble wrap will do well in protecting your breakable items. Label them as “fragile” as much as possible. When storing mirrors, do stack them on their ends and never store them flat.

If you have lamps, separate the bases from the lampshades. Again, do wrap them properly to ensure they don’t suffer from damages during storage.

For your chairs, stacking them seat by seat is an ideal option to save space. Just cover the leg parts with protective wrapping for added protection.

Wooden furniture need to be sprayed first with a quality furniture spray to protect them during storage. If you need to store small furniture on top of each other, put a dust sheet or any cover in between the items to prevent scratches and damage.

As for electrical appliances such as your computer, stereo components and television sets, pack them in their original boxes if you still have them. If you’ve thrown away the original boxes, find new boxes of the same size as the appliance and fill the gaps with paper or Styrofoam.

When you’re done packing your things in their respective boxes, your final steps should be to seal them with a packing tape and label each side of the box. This will make it easy for you to identify your items inside …

Storing Fragile Items In Self Storage

Self storage facilities can accommodate as many dry items that you want to keep regardless of the duration you prefer. But it’s in the way you pack and organize things that make the difference in ensuring your items will stay in good condition inside the unit.

People including families who are moving to a new house can benefit greatly from renting a self storage unit. At least when they cannot immediately bring their personal belongings to the new abode, they can always keep them safely in the unit without having to worry about them getting damaged or stolen.

When storing fragile items, however, there are some things you need to keep in mind. These items can be antiques, home decors and accessories, electrical appliances and electronic gadgets. These things have to be packed properly to avoid the buildup of moisture, mildew, dust and dirt while they’re in the self storage unit.

For small and medium items, you can put them in a sturdy box. Using a box is a good option instead of sealed plastic bags. The humidity in the rental unit can cause mildew to build up if you use sealed plastic bags to store your items.

Fragile items and breakables need to be wrapped using paper or bubble wrap. Investing in bubble wrap is ideal because this material really does a good job in protecting your breakables. When wrapping fragile items, wrap them separately to avoid damaging them while inside the box. This applies for dishes, glasses and ornaments made from breakable materials such as glass or ceramics.

If you’re storing mirrors and pictures, make sure to wrap them well using a protective covering. The bubble wrap will do well in protecting your breakable items. Label them as “fragile” as much as possible. When storing mirrors, do stack them on their ends and never store them flat.

If you have lamps, separate the bases from the lampshades. Again, do wrap them properly to ensure they don’t suffer from damages during storage.

For your chairs, stacking them seat by seat is an ideal option to save space. Just cover the leg parts with protective wrapping for added protection.

Wooden furniture need to be sprayed first with a quality furniture spray to protect them during storage. If you need to store small furniture on top of each other, put a dust sheet or any cover in between the items to prevent scratches and damage.

As for electrical appliances such as your computer, stereo components and television sets, pack them in their original boxes if you still have them. If you’ve thrown away the original boxes, find new boxes of the same size as the appliance and fill the gaps with paper or Styrofoam.

When you’re done packing your things in their respective boxes, your final steps should be to seal them with a packing tape and label each side of the box. This will make it easy for you to identify your items inside …

Climate Controlled Self Storage Units Are The Best

Self storage units have been around for quite some time now. Every major city in the US has these self storage facilities and big cities have many of them in different neighborhoods, which people find most useful.

These storage units are used by various groups of people – home owners, students, business people who are always traveling – and by small businesses too, which want a safe place for their consignments or belongings. The facilities can offer many kinds of storage – RV storage, car storage, boat storage, furniture storage, storage for electronic products, cutlery, bicycles, books, clothing and anything else that you might need to keep stacked away for a while. The units are available in different sizes at the facilities – you will just have to select one that matches your storing needs.

If you are leaving home for a while and need to safely keep your automobile, you can find a place that offers garage storage facilities. Not all of them offer these facilities, so you need to make sure that your place does.

The Self Storage Units Are Changing

Like everything else, the world of self storage units is also changing fast. They have modernized a great deal over the years, and the fact is that, the places where these units are located are today much more than just a simple warehouse. The modern day storage units are climate controlled. Yes, it is true that for many of your household articles, you might not need a climate controlled unit, but then, there is often a need for such special units, even for your common everyday home items that must be stored away. Examples of these kinds of products include wooden furniture and some kinds of antique ware.

During certain times of the year, there is a lot of humidity and at other times, it can be very dry, and then there is the winter. The adverse weather conditions can damage your items beyond repair if you do not store them properly. This damage could happen from the buildup of biological contaminants like mildew, mold, bacteria, dust mites and viruses. When they start to grow within your precious belongings, it can lead to degradation of wood, paper rotting, unpleasant odor and even some health problems.

Here Are Some Items That Can Be Stored In Climate Controlled Self Storage Units

Clothes – Adverse weather can make clothes damp if they have not been stored properly, and particularly when they are not used regularly.

Electronic devices – You need to protect your electronic devices against acute cold weather. The best places for storing them are warm and dry areas.

Upholstery and wooden furniture – Antique furniture is costly and you need to take good care of them. But they can get damaged if there is too much moisture or when the weather has become very dry.

Books, artwork and paper documents – Climate controlled self storage units are where you should …