Being a tightwad doesn’t mean that you have to be a horrible Scrooge of a cheapskate. Sure, asking for discounts is one thing, but there are times that doing it can be in bad taste. These days, saving even a few cents is pretty much understandable but mind you that there are times when it can be annoying. Here are a few tips on how to haggle in good taste.

Mind the context. Haggling is usually best done in garage sales and flea markets and not shops and stores. However, you may try asking for discounts in those venues as well. Keep in mind that haggling is not commonplace in grocery stores and discount stores and that asking for discounts on items might cause clerks to raise an eyebrow.

Try sale items and coupons first. For venues such as shops and stores, discounts are usually reserved for sale items and coupons. So you might want to try the sale rack or clipping coupons. The internet has boatloads of information on sales and coupons so try those first. Stores are obligated to honor them and you need not haggle anymore.

Ask politely. Negotiations are more effective when the other party is at ease and has a positive take on you. Some cheapskates appear and sound confrontational or demanding when asking for discounts. Mind your tone and ask politely.

No low-balling. Don’t expect huge discounts. A few cents off would can be a welcome discount for items worth a few dollars. Unlike in flea markets where you can take more than a half off, be glad if shops and stores already give you a dollar discount on an item.

Ever heard of stories about old people storing their life savings in shoe boxes or some hole in the wall of their homes? Financially, that’s a bad move for several reasons. What if the house burnt down? Shoe boxes can’t protect those bills from fire. And letting all that cash “sleep” without earning interest is just wasted opportunity. Here are some ideas on what to do with the money.

Consider diversifying. If you have enough money in your savings account. Consider diversifying where you place it. Savings accounts usually have measly interest rates and it’s better off stored in other types of accounts or investments

Put up an emergency fund. Before diversifying, make sure that you have an umbrella for the rainy day. Consider taking out 6 to 12 months’ worth of living expenses and place them in a highly accessible savings account.

Get a high-interest deposit account. Now that you have an emergency fund, consider placing your money where it can earn. How much it earns depends on the risk you’re willing to take. Certificates of Time Deposit commits your money to a longer term to the bank but it earns a tad more interest than a regular savings account. And they’re protected by the FDIC even if the bank goes bust.

Get insurance and retirement funds. Worried about the wife and the kids just in case you suddenly pass away? Get some insurance with your money.

Buy bonds and stocks. Stocks can earn you higher but has more risk (you can lose money).  Bonds are like lending the bank your money for them to use. Depending on the type of bond. Still, this can carry risk. But since you already have an emergency fund and some money stashed away (in CTDs), you may try and grow part of your money this way.

Invest on property. Thanks to the housing bubble crash, it’s still a good time to buy good but cheap property. Real estate values can fluctuate but at least you’re owning something tangible. Besides, you can always rent out property even if you decided not to live in it.

One of the bad things about this rapid obsolescence of technology is a perpetual state of GAS. And we’re not talking about the need to burp or pass it out, it’s gear acquisition syndrome. You just have to have the latest, the smallest and the fastest gadget around. It comes with a very dear price though – on your finances. Here are some ideas to curb that wanting and keep your finances in the black.

What do you really need? So do you really need all that added computing speed, storage, megapixels and connectivity? For phones, for example, do you really need a smartphone? In my case, my use for a phone has always been to call and text people. So a model from 10 years back could still pretty well serve my purposes.

There is no complete gadget. Manufacturers have become savvy as far as model lineups are concerned, making sure that there is no one model that can do everything. That’s because they want to create a constant opportunity for you to upgrade and for them to make a sale. Your gadget is designed to be the “old” model in just a few months.

Check your finances. How much can you actually spend on gadgets? You see, no budget planner ever has an spaces for entry for “technology” or “gadgets” by default. Many people who keep track of their money often fail to allocate funds for these. And worse, there can be other recurring expenses such as monthly subscription and apps purchases. If you plan to buy one, save for it. Buy in cash. And don’t buy on credit.

Set a cycle to buy replacement gadgets. While most gadgets get new versions in just a matter of six to nine months these days, keep in mind that they can last you a year under warranty and, if cared for, at the very least two years. I have a laptop that’s still functioning and it’s five years old.

Some people just don’t get the very simple rule of financial wellness – living within your means. It can be challenging, of course, with all the temptation of keeping up with the Joneses. The fact of the matter is, the Joneses are struggling too. So why follow a bad example? Here are some ideas for living within your budget.

It all starts out with a budget. Find out how much money you have (savings) and how much you owe (debt), spend (expenses) and earn (income) for the past year. Use your financial documents such as payslips, receipts, checkbook and billing statements to find out.

Use a spreadsheet so that you can accurately keep track of and calculate the figures. If you can afford software like Quicken, feel free to use them.

Break down the figures into monthly and into quarters (every three months). Managing the shorter term can help you project your cash flow better. However, keep track of some yearly expenses such as holiday and vacation expenses or insurance payments.

Focus on your monthly cash flow. Determine your income versus expense. Hopefully, you’re making more than you spend. If not, then it might be time to take a look at your expenses and find out which ones you can live without – the weekly movie, the cable TV, the newspaper subscription, the daily pack of cigarettes…

Build up an emergency fund. If your savings don’t amount to half-a-year’s worth of living expenses, then you’re inviting trouble. Make sure that you have that kind of amount in your savings account for the rainy days. They will come and you don’t want not to have the big umbrella.

Get out of debt as quickly as possible. You don’t want to be tied down with losing interest on a monthly basis. If you think you can spare additional payments to your mortgage, consider early payments. As for credit cards, make sure you don’t carry a balance. Interest on credit cards can kill you financially.

Paying your bills on time will save you from a lot of headache and additional expense due to late charges. This can also boost your credit line should you need a bank loan in the future. Here are some tips to paying your bills on time.

Have a system for paying bills. Create a system that is tailor-fit to your needs and lifestyle. Some people would want to pay their bills as soon as the statement arrives in the mail. Others pay on the first, last or middle of the month. Some make use of their online banking system to automatically deduct the payment from their savings account. Choose the system that you are most comfortable in and stick with it. Paying bills on time will come more naturally if it is in your regular routine.

Have designated folders or bins for paid and unpaid bills. This will keep track on which bills you have already paid and which ones you still have to pay for. Merely remembering them would likely be futile if you live a hectic lifestyle. Having them in bins can help you visualize if you are on time or your bills are piling up. Seeing an empty bin for unpaid bills can also motivate you to pay your bills on time (and keep the bin empty).

As much as possible, pay for your bills personally. Should you need to appoint another person to pay your bills, ask for the receipt or proof of payment as soon as possible. People tend to forget these details if they did not do it themselves. Also, make sure that the correct name and account nmber appears on the checks before letting someone else pay for your bills.

Here are some tips on how to obtain credit card report.

Check your credit reports and go through each detail. Make sure you
check and double check information and make sure they are correct.
This includes the spelling of your name, the account number, the
transaction details – most especially the date and amount in the
transactions.

When you spot an error, contact the credit bureau and find out the
necessary instructions on how to contest an item. You can also contest
through the creditor itself. File your dispute in writing. Make
yourself clear and very detailed. Send copies of required documents
and not the originals. This is for documentation purposes.

Follow up regularly if the credit bureau does not reply soon enough.

Here are some tips on how to efficiently shop and store food:

Plan your meals. A menu is a good starting point not only for your
food shopping, but also for your cooking. Simply plan the meals you
wish to have (including some snacks, etc.) and break them down into
ingredients which you can consolidate for your grocery list.

Choose a supermarket that you are familiar with. This will ensure that
you spend less time in the grocery as you are already familiar with
the layout. Not only will this save you time, but it will also save
you money by not being tempted to buy anything not in your list. Stick
to the list.

While packing the groceries, pack them according to storage groups.
All items to be stored in the pantry will have to go together, and
same with freezer items, or crisper items, etc. When you get home,
make sure you unpack and place them in their rightful places
immediately.

Here are some tips on how to save money on electricity:

Try doing laundry using cold water. Using a lot of hot water can only
add to your electricity consumption. There are detergents available
that can be used in cold water. As for using hot water on other
things, you can just lower the thermostat so that it won’t be too hot.
Too hot water means it used more electricity to heat it up.

Use a programmable thermostat so that it can adjust or set your air
conditioner and/or heater to a certain temperature when the air
reaches a particular temperature. These thermostats are also energy
rated so even if they are a little more expensive, they can actually
save you more money in the long run. Keep the warm air in by sealing
windows, doors, and other small cracks.

Change your incandescent light bulbs as they get very hot. CFL light
bulbs  or compact fluorescent light bulbs will save you more money as
well.

Here are tips to make Black Friday sales safer, easier, and even fun!

Check the newspapers and store websites everyday, for at least a week
before Black Friday. Write down the store that is best to visit and
the items you plan to purchase. Don’t forget to read the fine print
because you might not end up getting a deal.

List down the items you want to purchase. Limit yourself to a maximum
of ten to make it more manageable. If you know the layout of the
store, list them according to ease of logistics.

It’s better to go with someone, as this allows you to cover more
ground – meaning you can get in and out of the store fast! However, do
not bring kids along. Get up early and make sure you dress warmly.

Never bring a purse. Just bring a car and some cash which you can keep
in your pocket. This is for ease of purchase, and as well as safety
and security.

Here are some tips before considering renting out your home:

Make a list of your terms. Decide if you will include all/some/none of
the furniture. Find out how long you want the lease to be. Write
everything down and draft a contract based on it. It should be
comprehensive. Make sure you include all the responsibilities of the
tenant and the landlord. Include the stuff that are prohibited.

If you are deciding have your house rented without the help of a
realtor, consider a renter that you know or at least, know the
background. If you do decide to get a ealtor, make sure you get from a
friend’s recommendation.

When the tenant makes an inspection, be present. Go over each room and
document each damage beforehand so as to find out which damages have
been made before occupancy.