Penny Priorities

blahShould you pay debt before saving? This is the question that a lot of people are faced with when they are just starting out. They’ve wracked up a couple of credit cards’ worth of debt, they’ve got student loans, their first jobs don’t pay very well. They know that building a savings is important but they don’t want that debt to sit over them forever.

Why can’t you do both?

It’s okay if you want your debts to take priority in your budget but don’t completely write off saving. Even if you can only save a few bucks a week, it’s better than nothing.

Speeding Up the Process

The goal is to get the debt paid off as quickly as possible so that you can focus on saving, right? Here’s how you do that.

1. Take stock of your current living situation. Is there anywhere that you can cut costs? Can you take in a roommate? Do you really need that expansive cable package? If there are savings to be had, go after them. Be ruthless! You can live large later, when you aren’t struggling to pay your bills (when it will be more fun anyway).

2. Learn credit law.  A creditor can only collect your debt once. Make sure you keep receipts and confirmations for all of the payments you make—especially when you pay off a debt. As long as you are paying at least the minimum due each month, a creditor has no reason to send you to a collector. What’s more, once you’ve paid a debt, you’re done. A creditor cannot decide suddenly that you still owe in extra fees or expenses.

3. Contact each creditor and ask about your interest rates and fees. Ask to have them lowered or reduced. If the creditor gives you the run around, threaten to simply close the account. A creditor wants to keep your business—he’ll probably give you a lower interest rate to keep you around.

4. Be wary of balance transfers. You’ve undoubtedly been sent a few offers for credit cards that will allow you to transfer a balance at o% APR for six or twelve months. It seems like a great deal and it can be…but only if you can actually pay off that debt in the time allotted. If there is even one penny of that transfer left on your card after the allotted time has passed, you’ll have all of the interest you could have been charged during that time tacked on to your debt.

5. Consolidation is a Last Resort. If you are truly drowning in a lot of different debts, you might want to consider consolidating them—but you should use this as a last resort. Sometimes credit consolidation can look bad on your credit report. Still, having just one payment every month is tempting, isn’t it? If you do decide to go the consolidation route, go with a non-profit organization. These organizations actually want to help you. The private ones just want to charge you a bunch of money in fees and then leave you holding the bag.

Eventually you’ll pay down your debt and you can put all of the money you were spending on your payments into your savings account—an account which has been growing in its own right!

The key is to stick to it. It takes time to pay off your debt and to save up a good nest egg but it is an accomplishment that feels amazing to achieve!

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New Printable Coupons for May 2013

Green Mountain Coffee couponIt’s the beginning of a new month, which means many new coupons to print from Coupons.com, RedPlum and more! Typically, coupons reset once (sometimes many times) a month. The biggest reset happens on the 1st of the month, which could mean coupons long gone may reappear to be able to print again.  Remember, you can print two coupons per computer!

Here are some of my favorite printable coupons available today:

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New Printable Coupon -$1.00 off ONE Green Mountain Coffee K-Cup packs

$1.00 off ONE Green Mountain Coffee K-Cup packs

There’s a new printable coupon from Coupons.com for $1.00 off ONE Green Mountain Coffee K-Cup packs! To snag this coupon, just click here to be directly taken to this coupon.

This coupon has an expiration date of: July 31, 2013

Remember, you can print two coupons per computer.

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New Printable Coupon -$2.00 off ONE Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color

$2.00 off ONE Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color

There’s a new printable coupon from Coupons.com for $2.00 off ONE Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color! To snag this coupon, just click here to be directly taken to this coupon.

This coupon has an expiration date of: July 31, 2013

Remember, you can print two coupons per computer.

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New Coupon Network Coupon – $1.00 off 2 Carnation® Breakfast Essentials™ No Sugar Added

There’s a new coupon from Coupon Network for $1.00 off when you buy any TWO (2) Carnation® Breakfast Essentials™ No Sugar Added packages or multipacks. Remember that there are only a limited number of prints, and to print this coupon if you want it. Also, you can print up to two of the same coupons per computer.

This coupon has an expiration date of: May 10, 2013

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New Coupon Network Coupon – 85¢ off when you buy SIX (6) Gerber® 1st Foods® Baby Food

There’s a new coupon from Coupon Network for 85¢ off when you buy any SIX (6) Gerber® 1st Foods® Baby Food. Remember that there are only a limited number of prints, and to print this coupon if you want it. Also, you can print up to two of the same coupons per computer.

This coupon has an expiration date of: June 16, 2013

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New Coupon Network Coupon – $1.00 off TWO (2) Glade® Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator

There’s a new coupon from Coupon Network for $1.00 off when you buy any TWO (2) Glade® Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator. Remember that there are only a limited number of prints, and to print this coupon if you want it. Also, you can print up to two of the same coupons per computer.

This coupon has an expiration date of: June 30, 2013

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New Coupon Network Coupon – $1.00 off (1) Glade® Sense & Spray® refill twin / (2) single

There’s a new coupon from Coupon Network for $1.00 off when you buy any ONE (1) Glade® Sense & Spray® twin refill or TWO (2) single refills. Remember that there are only a limited number of prints, and to print this coupon if you want it. Also, you can print up to two of the same coupons per computer.

This coupon has an expiration date of: June 30, 2013

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FREE Sample of Garnier Ultra-Lift Targeted Line Smoother!

FREE Sample of Garnier Ultra-Lift Targeted Line SmootherHURRY on over to request a FREE Sample of Garnier Ultra-Lift Targeted Line Smoother! This freebie has been available, and it looks like they are still taking requests! After filling out the form, just allow 6 weeks for delivery.

Thanks Freebie Shark!

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Ink Garden: 50 Business Card Magnets Only $2 + $4.99 Shipping (A $17.99 Value!)

Ink-Garden-Business-Card-Magnets-SaleInk Garden has a deal for new customers where you they can score 50 business card magnets for only $2! You will have to pay for shipping, but it’s a low $4.99 to be shipped straight to your door. So in all, it’s about $6.99 + any applicable taxes. You can easily design your own custom business magnet, or choose from a selection based on your industry, theme, or even shop by color. It’s really easy to do.

  • Visit Ink Garden and click where it says “Shop Now.
  • You’ll have options to choose a template, to customize, or even build your own design.
  • At checkout, make sure to use promo code MAGNET2.
  • Your total will show $4.99 for shipping, and $2 for your magnets.
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