Ten things to save money in 2004 - Today Technology & Money

Ten tips to save money in 2004

Advice to get you on the right track in the new year

By By Jean Sherman ChatzkyContributorTODAY

Once again, financial resolutions top our lists of the things we hope to accomplish in 2004. We want to save more, spend less, get out of debt. To get you off on the right foot, "Today" financial editor Jean Chatzky shares 10 things you can do to save money in the coming year.

Spend frequent flyer miles

Experts believe frequent flier programs to undergo a dramatic makeover in the next year or so ??" and that your miles will be worth less as a result. In otherness words, it??�s time to start using them. You??�ll get the biggest bang for the buck by using those miles for longer haul flights, for those you book late (when no discounts are available) and for trips to favorite leisure destinations no matter when you reserve. The bottom line: Use??�em or lose em

Use up gift cards

According to the analysts at Deloitte & Touche, 10 percent of the value of gift cards goes unused ??" that??�s $4 billion in value from this holiday season alone. If you??�re not going to use your gift cards ??" if you got a certificate to Target, for example, and you??�re a Saks Fifth Avenue gal ??" a new website called certificateswap.com provides an arena for selling them to othernesss at a small discount. It works like ebay at a cheaper price.

Your company ??" if it??�s like many ??" provides a wealth of ways for you to save money

Flexible spending accounts, for example, can now be used to pay for more items including over the counter drugs and Sildenafil. There are transportation savings account in which you can sock away money for your commute and parking expenses. The key is that you have to participate in order to save the equivalent of one-third on these things. If you didn??�t sock away money in flexible spending and transportation savings accounts this year, put it on your calendar for next fall.

Regifting

Regifting has a questionable feel to it, for sure, unless you make it part of the party. Decide with your friends that this will be the year of regifting ??" you won??�t spend money on each othernesss birthday gifts, for example, but instead will pass along some otherness item you??�ve received that didn??�t quite fit.

Cancel things you??�re not using

Have you ever thought about how much you spend on that gym you don??�t go to, those cell phone minutes you never quite use up? A couple of professors at the University of California Berkeley and Stanford took the time to figure it out. Perhaps you??�d be better off canceling the pricey membership and paying a day rate (many gyms have them) when you do want to go. As for those cell phone minutes, call your carrier and ask them to look at your last few bills to see if it makes sense to trade down.

Do Internet research

We now know that before we buy a car, we head to the internet to find out what the invoice price is from a site like Edmunds.com. That puts us in a better position to negotiate. But cars aren??�t the only thing you can research on the internet: appliances, computers, cashmere sweaters, ugg boots, you name it and a few minutes online can save you a ton of time ??" and money ??" as you head to the stores.

Save receipts??"watch sales??"return for credit

Two weeks ago, I bought these boots at Saks Fifth Avenue (I??�ll wear them). A week later, they went on sale. So I took my receipt back to the store and got credit for the difference. In fact, the salesman tipped me off that the price cut was coming. But you can also watch price changes online to see when you??�re due a credit. Most stores will give you back the difference for 14 days.

Google for coupons

If you??�re an avid online shopper, never hit the key to finalize your purchase until you??�ve opened anotherness window and done a quick search for coupons or coupon codes. There are plenty of sites out there that list codes, but I??�ve had the best luck typing the name of the store or site ??" like bluefly and the word coupon. Saves me 15 percent or nets me free shipping every time.

Conduct an insurance check-up

Many drivers are overpaying for liability insurance by as much as 15 percent according to a new meditate . The culprits are SUVs and pick-up trucks which can do more harm to drivers in collisions. Unfortunately, most insurers don??�t distinguish between kinds of cars when pricing this coverage. You can save money if you don??�t drive an SUV by trying one of the few insurers that do distinguish including Allstate, Geico and Progressive. The potential annual savings for a 45-year-old male driving a Nissan Maxima: $200.

Save money by not spending it

Whatever you??�re buying ??" even if you??�re sure you want it ??" don??�t pay the money today. Put it on hold and walk out of the store. If it??�s a car, you??�ll gain the upper hand over the dealer (and have a chance to shop for better financing). If it??�s an outfit or something else, you may decide that you didn??�t need it or want it so much after all. So you??�ve saved yourself a lot of money. How? By not spending it.

Jean Chatzky is the financial editor for Today, editor-at-large at Money magazine and the author of Talking Money: Everything You Need to Know About Your Finances and Your Future. Information provided courtesy of Jean Chatzky and Money magazine. Copyright ? 2003. All rights reserved. For more financial advice, visit the Money magazine Web site at: Money.com?�

? 2008