Use this handy credit card payoff calculator to get out of debt faster!

Extra monthly payments can save you hundreds – maybe thousands – in interest. Use this credit card payment calculator to plan your finances and help you eliminate debt you owe to a credit card company or bank. Enter your current loan or credit card balance, interest rate and minimum monthly payment. The calculator displays your payment and savings in a graph with details below.

Check it out here.

4 Reasons Why Savers Fare Better Than Spenders

A penny saved is a penny earned. - Benjamin Franklin

Chances are this saying, or something like it, has been pushed on you for most of your life. Some people ignore it, others live by it. 

For those who didn’t save their mone: Sorry, it looks like your mother may have been right. A recent online HSBC Direct survey suggests that active savers had an easier time weathering the recent financial storm. (For background reading, see Save Without Sacrifice.)

What’s even more telling is just how much better off the savers were. Of respondents who were active savers, 46% said that they felt comfortable with their financial situation and had not been forced to cut back their expenses. By contrast, 37% of non-savers said they’d had to scale back on their spending as a result of the recession. Clearly some people are managing their money more effectively than others. If that isn’t enough to convince you of the importance of saving, here are four more reasons:

Read ’em all here.

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, August 12-14

Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 12, 2011, and end at midnight Sunday, August 14, 2011. During this period, no sales tax will be collected on sales of clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $75 or less, or on certain school supplies selling for $15 or less.

• 2011 Sales Tax Holiday Tax Information Publication
• List of tax-exempt and taxable items
• Frequently asked questions

5 reasons why you can’t stick to your budget

The word “budget” brings up similar feelings as the word “diet” for most people; it means restriction and a lack of fun. While you may never get to the point where budgeting (let alone dieting) is something you consider fun, there are ways to make it a less painful process. Here are five reasons why you might not have been able to stick to your budget in the past – and how you can make sure to stick to one in the future.

Read ‘em all here.

Save up to $8,800.00 around the home

7 Steps to Forming Financial Habits

What are your habits?

Do you eat from the vending machine each day, go to the same place for lunch with your co-workers, and fall into bed at the same time each night?

Maybe you’ve made a habit out of spending on impulse, avoiding a budget, and staying up as late as possible.
It’s pretty clear that the habits you adopt will shape who you are.

When it comes to your finances, the two habits that define your financial health are your income/savings and spending habits. In fact, everyone that you know who is in great financial shape has dialed in these two important habits.

If you aren’t happy with your finances, then simply adjust your income/savings and spending habits habits.

Here’s how.

The Store Sales Cycle: Your Monthly Guide to Clearance Prices

For various reasons, including overstocking of products that are in season and clearing the aisles for the next big holiday, stores put items on sale at the same times every year. With very few exceptions, the same products get cleared out as regularly as clockwork every year, and knowing when they go on sale can help you stock up and save money. (See also: Wise Bread’s Shopping Calendar product-buying guides)

Here’s a basic, month-by-month guide to the major products, produce, and categories that go on sale throughout the year.

Keep it handy the next time you plan a big shop, or when you clip a few coupons (I’m not against coupons, just extreme couponing). This is for the United States, by the way; other countries will have the same kinds of sales after major holidays or events, but many other factors will vary the list.

Read it all here.

Better meals on a tight budget

Do you need to slash your food bill?  Some things you can learn at cheapcooking.com:

• How to save money grocery shopping
• Read here for some basic strategies for cooking on a budget
• Calculate the cost per serving
• Save money by packing lunches for school and work
• Learn about home food storage so you don’t have food go to waste
• Learn how to cook dried beans
• Get some ideas on how to grill your vegetables for a simple healthy side dish
• Make your own meatballs and get creative about ways to serve them

How to have a successful yard sale

A garage sale can be a great way to clean out your closets and make some extra cash. But if paying customers can’t find you or aren’t interested in what you have to offer, your hard work can quickly turn into a wasted Saturday morning.

Garage sales aren’t complicated, but they can be intimidating if you’ve never had one before. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can follow to ensure that your garage sale is a huge success.

Read ‘em all here.

Tools to Teach Kids About Personal Finance