Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. It’s not easy to start saving, because most of us are stubborn, and we have trouble changing our spending habits.

But don’t fret, because you’ve already taken the first step to ending the month in the black by searching for some solutions. The good news is that there are a variety of easy, simple ways to save money, and the even better news is that you can start right now!

Follow these lucky 7 tips to start saving huge amounts of cash each month.

Record Your Expenses

The most important step to start saving money today is figuring out just how much you’ve been spending, especially on nonessential items.

For one entire month, keep a record of everything you’ve spent. That includes EVERYTHING – every coffee, every newspaper, and every break-time snack you purchase, for the entire month.

Map it all out on an Excel spreadsheet (or something similar), tracking what you spent on essential items like Food and Groceries, Mortgage or Rent, Bills and Transportation, but also figure out how much you’ve blown on Luxury Items like Gifts, Clothes, Entertainment and other nonessential expenses.

You might be shocked at just how much you wasted on things you didn’t need! Many people find out that simply figuring out what they’ve been spending creates enough of a wake-up call to start culling their spending habits, and saving some serious coin.

Make a Budget

Now that you’ve got an idea of what you’re spending, it’s time to build a budget so that you’ve got a plan, and a way to limit over-spending next time around. There’s no better way to start socking money away for a rainy day than by limiting yourself to a tight budget, and sticking to it.

Remember to include regular expenses that don’t occur every month, like paying for your car insurance, registration, oil changes and other maintenance issues, or you’ll find yourself creating something totally unrealistic that can’t possibly be stuck to.

Be a realist, don’t expect that you won’t be able to spend a single cent on entertainment, but limit yourself to some reasonable number that works for your income level.

Learn How to Coupon

Find out how to save money with coupons, then start doing it right away!

Did you know that clipping just a couple coupons a week could end up saving you hundreds of dollars a year? Get into extreme couponing and you might be able to keep thousands of dollars in your bank account.

Coupons traditionally come from newspapers, magazines and other print materials, but these days you can also find excellent offers far more easily by taking your search online, and looking for things via Google.

Check out the big coupon websites dedicated to providing free offers to their fans and followers, sign up for some email newsletters that announce new deals, and start saving today!

Biking and Carpooling

In many areas, this won’t work, as virtually all suburbs require a car, but in some places you might be able to get away with a significantly cheaper alternative – your bike!

Where biking isn’t an option, try carpooling. Think about how much you could stand to save by reducing those expensive gas bills each month – for most Americans it’s a couple hundred dollars per month, at minimum.

Just because you’ve got a car, and even if you need it for work, doesn’t mean you can’t start biking locally either! Whenever the opportunity presents itself, try riding your bike or hitching a ride with a colleague, spouse or friend so you can save some cash, and the planet while you’re at it.

Consolidate and Pay off Debt

If you’re carrying any debt, the first step to getting your finances in order is to get rid of it by paying it off quickly.

The longer you’re in debt, the more it ends up costing you in the long-run, as interest charges will quickly eat into your account.

Consolidate high-interest rate debts into lower interest rate loans, then pay them down with whatever disposable income you’ve got at the end of each month.

Remember that any money paid in interest is essentially money you could have spent on investments, so don’t waste your hard-earned cash making other people rich, unless you’ve got absolutely no other choice than to carry that debt.

Entertain at Home

Almost every activity at home is less expensive than going out.

Skip the club or the bar and invite your friends over for a cocktail party, cookout or potluck meal instead, then play some cards and enjoy your massive savings!

Some people have forgotten how much fun it can be to stay in, but one great party and everyone will be back on track to finishing the month in the black.

Costs are low, and once you’ve played entertainer, your friends are likely to reciprocate with an invitation of their own at some point in the near future as well.

For family entertainment options don’t forget that most children, and especially young ones, can be entertained quite cheaply at home.

Chuckie Cheese isn’t necessary when you’ve got arts and crafts supplies that let their creativity run wild!

Make a game out of ordinary stuff around the house, like tossing pennies into a jar, or just playing cards or an old board game, and soon you’ll realize that what your children want most from you isn’t money, but time and attention.

This isn’t just a cheaper way to live, it’s a more fulfilling, more interesting, and more loving way to do it as well, so don’t neglect this simple, yet powerful money saving tip!

Unplug

Don’t forget to unplug appliances when they aren’t in use.

Stop wasting power (and money) on the TV, computer, toaster and cell phone chargers which suck energy whether they’re in use or not.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room, switch to LED lightbulbs, install dimmer switches, and keep that thermostat at a reasonable temperature.

You’d be surprised just how much of a difference these simple solutions can make!

It’s an easy thing to forget thanks to the mad dash that modern life has become, but keeping utility costs in check is an immediate way to both saving money and reducing our carbon footprint at the same time.

Car Capital Financial

Whether you end up incorporating some of these ideas, or all of them, you should have no trouble seeing your bank account start to grow in no time at all.

However, if an unfortunate incident should arise and you need emergency cash assistance, then keep in mind that you can always give Car Capital Financial a call to get a low-interest, secured personal loan.

We deliver car and other vehicle title loans within minutes of receiving your call, providing you with cold, hard cash, and requiring nothing more than temporary possession of your vehicle’s title. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us at 1-888-500-9887 to find out if one of our safe, reliable and affordable auto title loans would be a good fit for your financial needs.

Managing your money is no easy task these days.

Between paying off student loans, credit card debt, saving for retirement and attempting to navigate the complicated and expensive housing market, most of us are overwhelmed, and unable to manage our money effectively, but we’re here to help!

Some people resort to financial advisors and outsource the task to people who specialize in it, but the good news is that managing your own money is much simpler than most people think, and something that you should be doing to ensure there’s more in your account at the end of each month.

Here are 5 easy tips to help you regain control of your finances, figure out where your cash is going, and ensure that you’re saving as much as possible from each paycheck.

1. Ignore Your Salary

Whether or not you’re making good money, it’s time to return to living beneath your means.

Your job may require professional clothes and expensive housing, but you’ll want to cut costs basically everywhere else.

Don’t get a new car, don’t buy an expensive computer, use your old phone and forget about going out to fancy dinners – you’re in money saving mode now, and the savings will start to rack up quickly.

Hundreds to thousands of dollars a year can be saved simply by saying no to unnecessary expenses, so start doing that now and you’ll soon see big savings accumulating in your account.

2. Limit Credit Card Debt

Don’t rack up any more debt than you’ve already got, especially on non-essential purchases.

Remember, you need to cut costs wherever you can, and part of that is limiting the amount of exposure you have to interest on debt, which is one of the most expensive and unnecessary ways to waste money.

Credit cards carry high interest rates, tons of fees, and other costs that can cause big problems for your bank account, so avoid them wherever possible, and use cash, checks, or a debit card for everything you purchase.

Unless you’re facing a serious emergency, it’s best to avoid those credit cards altogether.

3. Pay off Debt

Keeping debt in mind, your goal should be paying it off in full each month, whenever that’s possible.

If you owe money, then it’s time to start paying off your debt as soon as possible. To decide which debts to pay off first, choose the one with the highest interest rate, as that’s the one that’ll cost you the most money in the long-run.

Put any money saved from Steps 1 & 2 towards paying down your debt, and get rid of those expensive and wasteful interest charges as quickly as you can.

4. Create an Emergency Cushion

Once you’ve got some breathing room, put together a cash cushion of at least $500 for emergency expenses, like car repairs, unexpected medical or dental costs and other absolute emergencies.

It’s not easy to stash cash, but having a cushion will help soften the blow to your bank account when that rainy day comes, and could prevent you from having to resort to new loans.

Your goal should be to have six months’ worth of expenses stored in your bank account just in case you hit a major disaster, like unexpected unemployment, or a serious injury that prevents you from earning any income.

5. Monitor Your Investments

Many people forget to keep their eyes on their investments, checking the fees, management costs and portfolio balance as their investments age.

This can result in a loss of earnings and a serious lack of preparedness for the day that retirement comes calling, which is a major problem.

Be sure to check your accounts quarterly, at the very least, and ask whoever handles your investments (if you have outsourced that task) questions about fees, opportunities and everything else.

Make sure that money is working for you, or it’s sure to be working for someone else at your expense!

Car Capital Financial

Whether you end up incorporating all of these ideas, or just a few, as long as you can keep your expenses under control you should have no trouble making some huge savings.

However, if you’re still coming up short, keep in mind that you can always give us a call here at Car Capital Financial to get a low-interest secured personal loan.

We deliver car and other vehicle title loans within minutes of receiving your call, providing you with cold, hard cash, and requiring nothing more than temporary possession of your vehicle’s title.

Whether you’ve got great credit, terrible credit, or no credit at all, we are ready and willing to help. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us at 1-888-500-9887 now to find out if one of our safe, reliable and affordable auto title loans would be a good fit with your financial needs.

We’ve all heard the phrase – “extreme couponing” – along with the stories about how learning to coupon can save hundreds to even thousands of dollars on grocery bills and other expenses, but how does it work?

This guide will walk you through the process of learning how to extreme coupon, and teach you how to start saving money today!

Why Coupon?

Getting a second job or having to resort to selling your prized possessions isn’t the only way to raise money quickly. A better way to keep your wallet full is to learn how to spend less of your income, which is where couponing comes in.

Coupons come in all shapes and sizes, for a range of products, and in a range of ways, but in the end, all of them are effective money-saving solutions that you should start taking advantage of immediately.

From printable coupons to manufacturer coupons, coupon clipping services, or receiving coupons by mail, this effective money saving tactic is one of the best ways to reduce your spending since it requires so little actual time and effort.

How to Start Couponing

While some reality shows have given couponing a bad name, coupon usage continues to be a hot trend, with sellers and buyers continuing to take advantage of their unique benefits.

Though couponing seems to be an intricate process, the reality is that it couldn’t be simpler, and while it may seem daunting at first glance, it’s really not all that complicated at all.

The good news is that starting is the hardest part of couponing. Most people who give up on couponing never really give it a solid effort, but this is one money-saving technique that really is worth your time.

Don’t give up if your first trip out only results in a few dollars saved, because you’ve got to remember that clipping a few coupons here and there for things already on your list isn’t what’s going to make a huge difference in your grocery bills – you’ve got to get more involved!

To save massive amounts of money with coupons, you’ll need to stop buying only the things you want or need each week, and start reaching for whatever’s on sale, buying as much as you think you could possibly use before it spoils, and focusing on purchasing only those items that do come with savings.

It may not be easy at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’re sure to start racking up hundreds to thousands of dollars in savings!

Where to Find Coupons

There are two major sources for coupons these days – first, the traditional newspaper, magazine or store saver weekly ads, and second, the more-modern printable online coupons.

For other sources of coupons, don’t ignore offers for free coupon booklets, either from retail locations or snail-mailed directly to your house, as well as manufacturers coupons, which can often be found online.

To download your coupons from the Internet, be sure to regularly check Coupons.com, Coupon Network, Red Plum and Smart Source – the most comprehensive coupon websites around.

For secondary sources, look to Coupon Bloggers like “Coupon Mom”, “Coupon Suzy” and “Coupon Lady”, all of whom regularly share excellent deals with their followers.

And finally, don’t forget Social Media! If you haven’t noticed it yet – coupons are often distributed by company Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and other Social outlets.

Organize Your Coupons

This part of the process is likely to make or break your extreme couponing experience – if you can’t get organized, it’ll be tough to realize any serious gains.

Don’t worry though, as there are a few different methods that you can try to keep all of your coupons in one place, and organized in an efficient manner.

One of the most popular, though it seems old-timey, coupon organization methods is to utilize a simple file box. What you’ll need is a box with traditional file folders, dividers or tabs of some sort, where you can gather up your coupons and sort them by store, product, brand, or in whatever other way makes the most sense for you.

Gather all the coupons you can from your traditional sources, websites, bloggers and other outlets, then be sure to add them to your files. Come up with a labelling system that lets you quickly view each tab or file folder to find the expiration date, product, and source for the coupon, so that you can spot things at a glance and grab only what you need on any particular shopping outing.

Traditionally, most successful couponers organize their clippings and printable coupons by category, labeling their folders with topics like “Food”, “Household Items”, “Automotive”, etc., but trying some different organization systems is the only way to find the one that works best for you.

Organizing your coupons will only take a few minutes each week, and is one sure-fire way to make sure that you don’t misplace, forget about, or fail to take advantage of the money-saving opportunities at hand!

Start Using Coupons

Now that you’ve got your coupons organized, it’s time to start saving money.

The key to maximizing your value from coupons is using them at just the right time! Wait for those items to go on sale, then hit the store with your coupon and get whatever it is for a deep discount, doing this repeatedly, and limiting yourself as much as possible to purchasing items that are both on sale, and for which you’ve got a coupon.

It won’t work for everything, because some staples never get discounted, but the more that you can leverage this tactic, the more money you’ll find accumulating in your bank account each month.

Watch for promotions, sales, and discounts of all types, scouring your weekly store ads, leveraging online offers and manufacturers’ direct coupons to maximize the value of your efforts.

Get social and start leveraging message boards, forums, social media channels and the blogosphere to identify excellent opportunities in your area, and you’re sure to start saving some serious coin on each trip to the store.

Most importantly though – don’t give up, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Sure, you might think you don’t like that flavor of juice, or that brand of bread, but how could you know for sure until you give it a shot?

Car Capital Financial

If you don’t have the time to begin couponing, or if you need to raise a large amount of cash right now, then consider calling Car Capital Financial to find out about our safe, reliable and affordable car title loans. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

We’re Southern California’s leading title loans company, and we can get you the money you need in as little as 30 minutes.

If you own your car outright, or have only a few remaining payments left, then you’ll qualify for one of our no-credit check title loans, so call us today!

Call us now at 1-888-500-9887 to find out how much money you can get!

Are you planning on getting an IRS tax refund soon? Don’t let the excitement get the better of you, and be wary of lenders promoting tax refund loans, because these can be extremely risky.

Before you consider a tax refund loan, be sure to check out alternative fundraising opportunities that are significantly less risky.

Tax refund loans, also called refund anticipation loans, provide borrowers the same amount that they anticipate receiving from their tax refund, but prior to actually receiving any money from the government.

These loans typically have extremely short life-spans, sometimes lasting less than 10 days from borrowing to repayment, with lenders requesting that the loan get repaid in full as soon as your tax refund check from the IRS appears.

Tax refund loans are typically extremely expensive, with interest rates hovering somewhere between 40% and 700%, which is extremely high, even for a short term loan.

And unless you’ve already been turned down from every other alternative fundraising opportunity, that’s probably far more than you should be spending to come up with some quick cash.

Alternatives to Tax Refund Loans

There are a number of ways to get your income tax returns sooner, without paying fees, or facing extreme interest rates. The easiest method is to submit your tax return early, as soon as you get your W-2.

You also have the option of going completely electronic, which dramatically speeds up the process. To get your refund as quickly as possible, you’ll need to abandon the traditional paper return sent via mail and file online instead.

You can get the money almost as fast as you would with a tax refund loan, but avoid the added costs of origination fees, interest and potential penalties. In fact, you may not need to pay for anything at all!

An Internal Revenue Service partnership with tax preparers and software companies offers free online tax preparation and e-filing to some taxpayers, so find out if you’re eligible, then do it if you are.

Via the Free File Fillable Tax Form option, anyone, regardless of income, can enter their tax data using online forms, and then file those forms directly with the IRS for free.

This is not a tax software program, but simply blank forms you can access via the Internet, which can be filed directly over the web, rather than having to be printed out, completed by hand, and mailed in.

The IRS says that those citizens who take advantage of e-filing will their tax refunds much more quickly than they would by doing things the traditional way – mailing in a paper tax return. Most electronic filers can expect their tax checks to show up in their mailboxes in half the amount of time it would take to get a refund from a paper-based return.

Electronic filers who opt to receive their refunds via direct deposit do even better! The IRS says that it’s possible to issue refunds to these types of filers within just 10 to 14 days of receiving their return.

But better yet, even if you choose to file the old-fashioned way (via a paper tax return), choosing the direct deposit option for your refund will still reduce the length of time you have to wait for the refund to be issued.

Car Capital Financial

If your tax refund check hasn’t arrived and you’re in dire need of emergency cash, then consider taking out a car title loan from Car Capital Financial.

We are Southern California’s leading title loans company, and we’ve got over 15 years of experience in providing safe, reliable, affordable title loans to people throughout the region.

Whether you need money to fund a business venture or wonder how to get a business loan despite having a bad credit, pay your bills, or take a vacation, we can help.

Bad credit, bankruptcies and other financial problems won’t affect your ability to get a loan from us, and won’t impact your loans terms either. In fact, we won’t even need to run a credit check. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

To get the cash you need in as little as 30 minutes, call us now at 1-888-500-9887