January 10th, 2009 by Esswi

Mint.com is a free service that helps you manage your money.

According to the site, about 600,000 people are already enjoying the service which tracks about $50 billion transactions.

One of my most favorite feature of mint.com is that it gives you tips on a weekly basis and it makes recommendations based on your personal spending habits.  In less than a few minutes you can sign up and add your account information secured by their data security and visually track your spending pattern.  For example, it tells you how much money you spend on dinning for the last month or year while recommending ways to cut back or find other alternatives.  It even sets up a budget for you to save your money and help you do more with your money.

Mint.com sends you weekly emails with where your money is going, bill reminders & alerts,  investment performance while finding extra savings.  It even shows you a full picture of your assets and debts once you’ve accurately added the appropriate, respective accounts.  For example,  take a sneak peak of what my Weekly Financial Summary starts off with, excluding my personal financial information.

Your Weekly Summary

	Three Principles of Personal Finance Personal finance is simple. Spend less than you earn. Make the money you have work for you. Be prepared for the unexpected.

Mint.com even gives you a visual guide (graphs, charts, etc.) of your financial situation.  Check out the CEO, Aaron Patzer’s Demo on Mint.com.

This site keeps you in much closer contact with your money and a very close eye on your balance so that you are in less danger of over-drafting your accounts.

Did I mention, it’s FREE!

Financial Blessings,

Nisha E.

January 8th, 2009 by Esswi

According to Womansday November 2008 issue, you can find huge savings on prescription drugs by comparing prices online at pharmacychecker.com or drx.com.  They recommend Edward Jardini, MD’s book, How to Save on Prescription Drugs.  Pharmacy Checker promises that you can “find the best from verified online pharmacies.”  I say, check to make sure the site you are ordering from is a licensed and accredited Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPP).  Look for the acronym VIPP to be on the safe side.  Not only are the prices lower but you get convenience and access to more generic drugs.

You can also receive financial assistance if you have difficulty affording health care or your prescriptions.  Partnership for Prescription Assistance pparx.org is a means based program and qualifications varies by program and state.  This program helps with Insurance Premiums and Co-pays. It helps qualifying patients who lacks prescription coverages get affordable prescription drugs that are sometimes “free or nearly free.”  The partnership is enrolled in more than 475 patient assistant programs and have access to over 2,500 medicines.  rxoutreach.com is a similar site.  It even has a chart that outlines your income eligibility per household.

Financial blessings,

Nisha E.

January 7th, 2009 by Esswi

Are you tired of buying clothes online and finding out it doesn’t fit you right.  Well, www.shopittome.com has a solution for you.

According to the site, you can “get [a] heads up when sites put your favorite bands on sale in your size.” “It’s like having a personal shopper,” they say. And the best part it is free to sign up.

Here is how it works:

1. Sign up
2. Enter size
3. Select your favorite clothing brands
4. shopittome.com sends you notice when the site put your “most wanted” styles on sale

Enjoy the savings while shopping!

Financial blessings,

Nisha E.

January 7th, 2009 by Esswi

Did you know if you buy an item from Amazon and the price drops in 30 days, Amazon will refund you the difference?  The largest refund found is $3,860.00.  In total, the site has save shoppers $101,781.32 to date.

Here is what you have to do:

• Sign up at www.refundplease.com and have the company track the price and notify you when it drops
• Enter the item number
• Enter the purchase date
• And your email address

Waalaaa!  Look out for your check.

Just remember, always make your money work for you.

Financial blessings,

Nisha E.

January 7th, 2009 by Esswi

In case you did not know, Bath and Body Works is having their Semi Annual Sale this week.  Now, I am not encouraging you to shop but if you love their products like many of my girlfriends, you just might make out well with some of their best deals of the year.  I say to minimize the damage, carry cash (no credit cards) and spend only what you bring with you.  No additional trips to the ATM, please.  The sale is happening both online and in stores. They have as much as 75% off.  My girlfriend told me she got one of their facial product for $18, originally priced at $68.

For a great deal, go to www.retailmenot.com, type in Bath and Body Works and find coupon codes for their in stores and online site.  Remember, some coupons can be combined with their sales.  Don’t be afraid to ask.

When shopping, just remember, I always have a birthday around the corner

Financial blessings,

Nisha E.

January 7th, 2009 by Esswi

Buy Bulk products and save hundred of dollars

Check out your local Food Coop (http://www.localharvest.org/) your Farmer’s Market or Local mom and pops grocers for bulk products.  Not only will you save money on gas, but you will save yourself time and buy more for less.  Except for staples that you need to replenish frequently, such as, milk, eggs and bread (which can be purchased during other errands), shopping locally will spare you the cost and headache.

My local Food Coop sells bulk products, such as beans, rice, produce, spices and other staples.  For being a member at my local food coop, I automatically get 2% off any product in the store which is a lot considering the prices of organic foods today.  If I wish to save more I can work 3 hours a month, get 10% off or work 12 hours a month and get 26% off my bill.  Can’t beat that!  And the best part is my family and myself can split the hours scheduled to work for the month among each other.

Another way to save time and money is to compare local prices. Don’t drive all around town to get the best prices, check out www.shoplocal.com to do an instant online search for the cheapest prices at stores near you while you save on gas.

Also, use the “Yellow Book” or the internet to call around and find the best quote for products and staples for your home.

Financial Blessings,

Nisha E.

January 1st, 2009 by Esswi

In these hard times, accepting free, slightly used items is no longer tabou.

If you’re ever looking for or want to donate good items for free instead throwing it out into our landfills, go to The Freecycle Network™.  According to the site, it is made up of 4,659 groups with 6,298,000 members across the globe.   It is a  “nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns.”  The membership to this is absolutely free.  You can sign up by typing in  your town or community in the search box.  Walaaa!  You are connected with folks who are giving and looking for free items.

http://www.freecycle.org/

Happy Search, Happy Find!

Financial Blessings,

Nisha E.

January 1st, 2009 by Esswi

To YOU and YOURS!  May your year be crowded with overwhelming JOY.

May your resolutions become your lifetime achievement and may you evolve into the greatest person you chose to be.

Circle, let us all look back, stop and meditate and scan ahead of copious images of an abundant (financial) future.  Let us not only create and leave beautiful memories but legacies of tangible silver coins for our descendants.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Financial Blessings,

Nisha E.

January 1st, 2009 by Esswi

This is a one stop deal.  You can pay if not all, most of your bills on this site and its absolutely free.  I love it! I absolutely love it!  No stamps, no stress.  I mean don’t get me wrong you can probably do it at your bank and I say go for it.  But this is free.  Some banks charge you a monthly fee while others ask that you maintain a certain amount of money in order to use their bill-paying service.  But with Checkfree.com you don’t have to worry about that.

You’re probably saying, well, why is it free?  Well, for most of these types of service out there, its all about Ads.  The more you visit the more money they get for advertisement.

And what I love most about mycheckfree.com, they email you when a new bill is due.

1. Go to MyCheckFree.com and sign in.
2. Add e-Bill info
3. Wait a short time for confirmation
4. Find this e-Bill on your e-Bills page.
5. Click Pay or Make Payment next to thi e-Bill.

January 1st, 2009 by Esswi

You’re probably saying, “for as little as $1?  You’ve got to be kidding?!”  No, I’m not.  I have done it so I know its real.  My Mom was actually the one to enlighten me about this deal.  She said my brother traveled from NYC to Boston for $1.  I said, “WHAT!”  So of course I had to go look it up.  And, Yep!, its real.  I actually purchased one for $1.  And can I tell you the buses are no Shing-Dig buses, they are NICE.

Here’s the deal, if you purchase your ticket way in advance, you can get a trip for as little as a $1.  It is no secret and it is no lie.  I’ve actually seen these limo buses parading in the City with the ad all over the bus.  And its also international.  Megabus is in the United Nation, Canada and the U.S.

In the U.S., Megabus goes to Toronto, Boston, Phili, N.Y. Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Washington D.C., etc. Check out the site and you may just find a bus to your destination.

I recently found out that a couple went to Toronto for $50 round trip from NYC.  And that was the TOTAL for both, round trip.  So say you have to go to your brother’s graduation in May or June and you know the exact date, book your tickets now and you can get a ticket for that deal or if you can’t Megabus may still be lower than your regular carrier.

Also check out Megatrain.com

Save Ride!

Financial Blessings,

Nisha E.