Save yourself some money

by Niall p. Full-time writer and social entrepreneur

Sticking to a budget and saving money is on the minds of many adults these days. With economic downturns, rising fuel prices, and the rising cost of living in some states, saving money takes perseverance and know-how. If you’re looking to save money on gas, consider the following options that might help you to keep some cash in your wallet.

Money Saved

Statistics provided by Consumer Reports state that riding a bike to work year-round may save up to $1,650. This would definitely help if you’re trying to save money on gas! During the summer when I would bike to work, I saved an average of $125 each month on fuel for my vehicle. I began with biking part of the way, just to make sure my route was well planned and that my goal was realistic. The weekend before I began biking to work, I first drove the travel route, then the next day biked it to see how long it would take to arrive at work. Make sure your bike has been recently tuned-up, and that you have any tools you may need to fix a flat or adjust the bike in case of a break down. Having a friend or co-worker involved as a back-up plan in case of inclement weather is a good idea, as well.

Save Money on Gas

With gas prices rising nearly every week, many people look for solutions — especially when trying to stick to a budget. In basic terms, in order to save money on gas you have to use less. Biking to work may not be an option for you as you try to save money on gas — but perhaps walking to work, working from home, or carpooling may be options you can live with.

Carbon Footprint

From an eco-friendly stance, biking to work is a significant way in which you can reduce your carbon footprint by reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Whether the reason you begin to bike to work is in an attempt to save money on gas, or saving the planet, significant savings can come from using your own energy to get where you need to go. In biking to work, no fossil fuels are burned, thereby cutting back on what may become a rare resource.

Health Benefits

Biking to work full-time or part-time each work day during the summer will not only help you save money on gas, it can symptoms of job-related stress and make you more productive at work. Riding a bike is much easier on your joints than running, and a brisk bike ride can raise your heart rate for a time span sufficient to improve cardio-vascular endurance. If you have a weight-loss goal in mind, biking to work will be beneficial in many ways. You will likely find yourself hungry after riding to work or riding home at the end of the day: make sure to keep healthy snacks on hand – and feel encouraged knowing that the money you’re saving on fuel comes from your body burning fat and carbohydrates as an energy source. Aside from the fact that I was able to save money on gas, I also saved $650 for the year by cancelling my gym membership and biking to work.

Bike to Work Day

In cities across the U.S. “Bike to Work Day” has become an annual event. Over the years, Bike to Work Day has grown as far as the number of participants, as well as seeing growth in the number of perks associated with the event. Some employers give allowances to employees who participate in Bike to Work day activities. Some businesses take a serious approach to Bike to Work Day, with employees finding sponsorship from their friends, families and co-workers, with all proceeds donated to a local charity. During Bike to Work Day you may have to change the route you usually take, in order to take part in perks like a free breakfast or give-aways handed out at each Bike to Work checkpoint.

Saving your bacon while you online shop

This holiday season, online shopping will be at record levels, according to a recent survey conducted by SimplePayday.co.uk. Fifty-seven percent of people said they were planning on shopping Cyber Monday, the online equivalent of the notorious “Black Friday.” The first Monday after Thanksgiving, online stores flooded with shoppers trying to score deep discounts on holiday gifts. As we are in the midst of the busiest shopping days of the year, you might want to stick to doing your Christmas shopping online.

The numbers clearly show the growing preference for online shopping, especially during the holidays. It is convenient, void of crowd and keeps everything easy. Unfortunately, there are security dangers when shopping online, especially when you are planning on doing a lot of it. This holiday season, take a couple extra steps to protect yourself and be mindful and safe.

Avoid “Red Flag” Websites

Know what to look for when shopping on unfamiliar sites. You may be drawn to a site because it advertises a great deal, but watch for these red flags before making a purchase.

Secure sites start with https, not http, according to DeseretNews.com

Lots of pop-ups are a sign of something fishy

If the site looks unorganized, sloppy or poorly designed, it could be a scam site

If you reached the site through an e-mail advertisement or pop-up, it may be insecure

Reputable sites will never ask for information that seems unnecessary such as your social security number or detailed bank information

Protect Your Identity

The Internet makes everything easier for us. Unfortunately, it also makes everything easier for hackers and identity thieves. Protect yourself and your hard-earned money. Try to shop with credit cards instead of debit cards. Credit cards usually have identity-theft protection included in their plan, so it is easier to keep your information safe. If you don’t have credit cards or another form of protection, research what your bank offers or services such as LifeLock to keep your personal information secure.

Mobile Shop Carefully

According to US News, six out of 10 Americans plan on shopping via mobile sites and apps this holiday season. Shortened URLs make it easier for scammers to fool shoppers, so make sure you trust the site you are on completely and look for red flags as mentioned before. Also, avoid mobile shopping when logged in to public Wi-Fi access. Public hotspots make it easier for hackers to access your personal information.

Don’t Shop Via Email

Receiving an e-mail with links or offers is never a safe way to shop online. Even if the e-mail appears to be from a store you are familiar with or seems legitimate, it could potentially be a fake. If you do follow a link from an e-mail to a retailer’s website, make sure it is the right URL and nothing seems off about the site. A good way to make sure you are at the right Web page is to Google the retailer you are looking for; their official website should show up at the top of the list. If you know the exact URL of the site you wish to visit, you can also type it directly.

Update Virus Protection and Passwords

Before embarking on your ultimate cyber-sale search this holiday, take the time to update the virus protection software on your computer. Up-to-date protection software on your computer or laptop will block any scammy sites from accessing your information without your permission, and it can alert you to anything suspicious so you know to avoid those sites.

Use different passwords for every account you have. The harder they are to remember the better, so keep a spreadsheet to help you remember but make them impossible for hackers to guess.

Are you due a refund?

Every year, cities, counties, electric associations and power co-ops publish lists, naming area residents who are due to receive a refund on over-payments. Locally, there’s a list published in the newsletter sent by the rural power association who provides power for the area — naming those who will receive a credit to their bill for over payment. With power outages happening on the Eastern Seaboard, residents may have an opportunity to receive credit for the days in which they were without power. In the UK there are websites that help people who have taken out a loan over the past ten years payment protection included, to see a return on mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI).

Last month my husband and I were pretty excited to receive not one, but two!, checks in the mail from our local power company. One was for £26 and change, the other was just over £24. We used them as a treat, to go out for dinner.

Options abound for those who may have overpaid — it just takes some internet digging from time to time, or finding an organization who handles the refund process, to see if you may be eligible.