Despite all the recession-induced sales going on at the moment (some as much as 90% off), theres no way to ignore the effects of our currently crippled economy. Its gotten to the point where sometimes just grabbing lunch can set-off a flood of financial guilt (i.e. how could I spend $15 on a salad?).

However, there are many easy ways to be frugal, even on a campus (such as Penns) where you are seduced by American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, and the not-so-cheap Cosi all within a block of your dorm. Here are some ways to save a few bucks without needing to grow your own vegetables on a rooftop garden in Philly.

1.) Eat Cheap
An avid, diehard fan of Gia Pronto, even I will admit that the aforementioned expensive salads may be unnecessary in times of economic need. So take advantage of the amazingly cheap food carts scattered around campus and youll find yourself paying a mere $2.00 for a sandwich.


2.) Along Those Lines, Stick To Your Meal Plan
Meal plans are only required for freshmen, and yes they are a pain in the ass dont underestimate the stamina required to scavenge around Commons or Hill looking for a decent meal. However, seeing as the plans are pre-paid, try to use them as much as possible rather than shelling out extra cash for food.


3.) Dont Take Cabs
Though cabs are enticingly convenient, they can also get annoyingly pricey. So try walking, biking, or SEPTA-ing your way downtown.

4.) Find Ways to Drink For Less
Not every club charges $12 for a watered-down vodka soda, though it sometimes seems that way. Plenty of bars (including those on campus) offer awesome drink specials that will get you nice and buzzed for a quarter of the cost.

5.) Dont Forget About the Sales
If your heart truly aches to shop, like mine does most of the time, dont forget that sales are quite conducive to making smart purchases. Yes, spending no money is better than dropping $50 on a sweater but if that sweater happens to be cashmere, and marked 75% off, I say go for it.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - For better or for worse, it looks like more married couples are staying together for the sake of saving money.
When couples vow to stay together for richer or poorer, they're probably not thinking about the poor state of the economy.
But State Supreme Court Justice John O'Donnell says they should because the main reason people get divorced... "It's money. It's money problems that exacerbate any problems they have."
"We had a case yesterday where people had 180,000 dollars in credit card debt."
According to the Erie County Clerk's Office in 2007, they received about 2900 divorce filings.
This past year, that number dropped to about 2800.
Some divorce attorneys argue the drop is due to lack of assests, money, and people realizing that financially, it would be better to stay togehter.
Divorce attorney Shari Jo Reich said, "A number of us are noticing that people have called us for appointments have called to cancel with the economy now they might not have the retainer fee."
Meanwhile, Judge O'Donnell says the hardest part is settling divorce cases.
Even marriage counselors at Catholic Charities in Amherst say they've noticed a spike in couples seeking help because of the recession.
Catholic Charities marriage counselor Jennifer Przynosch said, "Even though the economic situation is in a crisis right now that could be, we hope the impetus for people to work on their marriage.

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I was worried that Christmas might blow our budget completely. But we had agreed to cut any extra spending to a minimum so December passed the acid test. Savings over 50% on the normal weekly shop. Last year I was careful and struggled to shave £5.00 off our bills. This year I was wanton, trying every strategy I could think of for lowering our bills whilst still living comfortably.
Our Christmas menus were loosely based around the goose (a present from my mother) and a half leg of organic ham that we cured and smoked ourselves. This made the ham a real bargain. The remains were frozen in chunks to be used for other meals in the future. Small packs of goose meat were also frozen to be added to game pies. The slow cooker bubbled away for a day creating a superb goose stock from the carcass.
We also set a maximum limit for presents. I’d been squirreling away little bits and bobs throughout the year so filling the Christmas morning stockings wasn’t a problem. We didn’t have time to send many cards last Christmas so had a couple of boxes just pleading to be filled in.
I was also lucky. Finding good crackers in the Tesco sale just before Christmas and a living tree in a pot for a fiver at the Tesco garage. Our old tree was bought for ten quid a few years ago and is now to big to drag into the cottage. The great thing about a smaller tree is that I could decorate it in half an hour. The only problem was searching the dingy attic for the small Christmas tree decorations and the mini lights.
The amazing thing was that we enjoyed each treat far more than the lavish flamboyance of past. Each mouthful of the wedge of Stilton was relished, and the fresh fruit savoured. Our vegetables (organic and on offer were snapped up a week before Christmas and stored in the barn. They were fine and tasted as fresh as if they’d been bought on Christmas Eve. It didnt feel like a budget Christmas at all.
Our ceiling on the cost of the presents forced us to find luxuries for each other for under £25.00. Danny’s favourite present was a cashmere beanie from my mum. It folds easily into a pocket and is very warm when he needs it. My best present was from my mum too, she has the knack. I now own my very own pair of fur (fake) lined Wellington boots. Perfect for this chilly weather.
We were lucky too. I was given a brace of pheasant just before Christmas and a wonderful bottle of pink champagne when I fixed someone’s computer. I also discovered that the left over ingredients from last years Christmas cake, just slightly out of date made a superb cake this year. Our best ever.
So we’ve completed the challenge (initially the target was to save 25%), doubled the savings and will continue it forever as in the end we’ve really enjoying the ducking and diving.
In a couple of days time I’ll outline the strategy that worked best for us in 2008 and announce our new challenge for 2009.

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here.) Question for the WSLCB: If the three-tier pricing scheme is so effective at regulating price and deterring consumption, why does anyone need an Alcohol Impact Area to prohibit the sales of cheap, high-ABV product? (Brian Smith of the WSLCB says that the three-tier system is meant to prevent retailers from flooding the market with below-cost alcohol.)

Prohibition was a disaster, and this sort of prohibition-lite is comical. Reducing alcoholism and public nuisance is a legitimate goalthere's definitely a place for the WSLCB's education workas is protecting microbreweries from predatory pricing. But in this game, demand rules. There will always be demand for both high-quality and high-alcohol product, so the supply will materialize, regulated or not.

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Your car insurance rates are affected by a lot of factors, yet there are some things you can do to save money. Check out this Top Ten list of ways to cut your auto insurance costs.
What you pay for auto insurance depends upon your age, your driving record, the type of car you drive, where you live and more. With that in mind, you can control a lot of the costs.
1) Shop around. This is one of the easiest ways to save because rates do vary from one company to the next. It is recommended to get at least three quotes from different agencies or companies in order to see some savings. An insurance comparison Web site is one good place to get some different quotes from the convenience of your computer.

2) Keep a good credit score. Credit ratings are used by a lot of insurance companies as one component for assessing risk. A good credit score is associated with a good underwriting risk and thus you may pay a lower rate.

3) Increase your deductibles. The lower your deductible, the higher your premium. You could save quite a bit by increasing your deductibles.

4) Review your coverages. Make sure you’re not paying for more coverage than you need. For example, you may want to get rid of comprehensive coverage on an older vehicle.

5) Drive less. Car insurance companies consider your risk to increase the more you drive, and will often give you a discount for low annual mileage. If you can take advantage of public transportation it could save you on insurance and gas costs.

6) Insure your vehicles with the same company that insures your home. Most companies offer a multi-policy discount which may also apply if you don’t own a home but have renter’s insurance.

7) Consider insurance costs when you are car shopping. Some vehicles are considered less safe or more apt to be stolen than others, and insurance companies will increase rates for riskier vehicles. Repair costs also can affect how much your insurance is.

8) Take a defensive driving course. Many insurers will discount your premium for approved courses.

9) Maintain a good driving record. Accidents, speeding tickets and other moving violations can make your car insurance costs go through the roof. Too many violations and you may have trouble finding a company that will insure you.

10) Ask about all other discounts available, and take advantage of them [ Via Xiyad.

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It's a Shameless Conspiracy because the government wants and hopes that you will FORGET (or be too lazy to get the forms) to file taxes this year.

Because if 50% of the people who file, forget to file chances are that the government will save BILLIONS by not having to send tax refunds because most Americans ask for refunds because most people have their taxes deducted anyway.

The Government only stands to save if you "forget" to file.

Real Business and Self employed will never forget to file because if they do, the government only gains on the deal by fining them later, because they all make their "money on the books" and can't hide for long anyway, before the taxes are forcibly collected.

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Happy New Year!I'm kicking off 2009 withinformation about a cool newseries of Partnercastsfocused on how you canhelp your customers save money and increase efficiencies in their businesses.The challenging economy continues to be a worry for partners and customers alike, so we're pleased to offer some ideas and resources to you in an easy-to-use format.

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It seems that during a recession is the hardest time for the average person to save money and put it towards more productive tasks. Stocks are dropping, wages are dropping and retirement funds are slowly disapearing. So what can you do to save a little extra cash that can go towards paying off your debt? There are literally hundreds of different small things you can do to save money in your every day life.
Use Your Local Technical Colleges/Schools
If there is a technical college in your area, or a school that tailors to a specific profession, use them! Many automotive repair classrooms at your local college are more than happy to repair your damaged car in class for little or no cost, they are just happy to provide a real world experience for their students. For the women, if there is a cosmetology school in your area go there for your manicures, pedicures and facials at relatively no cost.
Do Your Shopping Online and Buying Used
While shopping online for your groceries may not be as lucrative as their marketing campaigns may lead you to believe, there are many other goods that are available used for free or cheap online. Take a look in the new and used section of amazon, or scour your local areas craigslist for any items you may need. You can save a bundle of money every month, just by looking through what is available used, rather than heading out to your local Sears to pick up that item youve just got to have.
Combine Your Communications Bills
Take a look at the deals your local service provider is offering for your different communication devices in bundle packages. Many companies, such as Comcast, offer internet, phone, and TV at a highly discounted rate when you order all three through them. I literally cut my communications bills in half just by deciding to go with one company for all my needs.
Only Subscribe to the Sunday Paper
In a world with TV and internet there really isnt too much of a reason to pay to have the paper delivered to your house every day. Any information that would have been in that paper is more than likely free on their website, or will appear on the evening news. You can still be informed without paying a bundle.
Take Your Lunch To Work
If it will keep you from spending money everyday on food, take your lunch to work. The next time you take a look at your bank statements, go ahead and highlight every time you bought food in the last month, and then take a look at all the food you have sitting in your cupboards and your fridge. You could reduce your monthly food costs by a lot by just bringing your lunch with you to the workplace and not tempting yourself to spend more money on food.

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First, if I may, I would like to clarify my position on taxes. Many people are under the misconception that I will raise taxes across the board, but this is not true. Taxes will only increase for the super, excessively wealthy, as defined by people that earn more than 150 dollars per year. Everyone that earns less than that will actually receive a tax cut.
Strapped, one thing is certain. You absolutely can not count on the financial institutions to keep your money safe. Forget stocks, mutual funds, and even low risk investments such as money market accounts. If weve learned one thing from this financial crisis, its that if you put your money in the bank, your money will wind up being used to give a half million dollar mortgage to a hobo.
I suggest investing in mattresses. Matresses are heavy, so it will not be easy for someone in the burgeoning industry of home invasion and burglary to steal your money. It wont wind up being loaned to a hobo, and mattresses last for years.
However, after my policies are implemented, you will probably only need a crib mattress, because you really wont have all that much money to stuff away into the mattress. I hope this has helped you horde away a little bit more of your spare change.
Disclaimer, dont take your advice from a political humor site. We are not liable if you attempt to save money using any or all methods outlined in this humor advice column.
Next time we will take on some more of the reader submitted questions. Ask what would Obama do? in the comments section.

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Happy New Year!I'm kicking off 2009 withinformation about a cool newseries of Partnercastsfocused on how you canhelp your customers save money and increase efficiencies in their businesses.The challenging economy continues to be a worry for partners and customers alike, so we're pleased to offer some ideas and resources to you in an easy-to-use format.

See more: how to save money

Happy New Year!I'm kicking off 2009 withinformation about a cool newseries of Partnercastsfocused on how you canhelp your customers save money and increase efficiencies in their businesses.The challenging economy continues to be a worry for partners and customers alike, so we're pleased to offer some ideas and resources to you in an easy-to-use format.

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The popular media are chock full of ideas on how consumers can save money this year.  The frugalists who write personal finance blogs are particularly good at identifying clever and unique ways of saving money on almost anything you can think of.
Unfortunately, I have been reading articles in my local paper and elsewhere that some people are saving money in ways that are shortsighted and financially risky.  That got me thinking that maybe someone should point out those mistakes and perhaps prevent others from doing the same things.   So I appointed myself - Mr. ToughMoneyLove - to do that job.  
1.  Dont save money by cancelling you car insurance.  Yes, Ive read that there is a big upsurge in people dropping their automobile insurance.  There are several very good reasons not to do this.  
First, many states require that owners of vehicles registered in their state carry liability insurance.  In fact, some states will not even register a vehicle without that proof.  At the least, if you are pulled over for a traffic violation and are not insured, you will get an extra ticket and fine.  
Second, most lenders and lessors require that you carry insurance covering any car that is financed or leased.  If you breach the loan or lease agreement, an aggressive lender/lessor can call the loan or cancel the lease.  
Third and foremost, you need at least liability insurance to protect your assets in case of an at-fault (or alleged at-fault) accident.  Even if you are not at fault, just having to hire an attorney on your own to defend you can cost you thousands.  You also need to keep your uninsured motorist coverage to protect yourself in case an uninsured driver hits you.
If you want to drop collision coverage (if your loan or lease agreement permits) and/or raise your deductibles, fine.  But do not cancel your insurance altogether.  
2.  Dont save money by cancelling your disability insurance.

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A lot of people being frustated by such as debt-thing, they could not repay their debt because of their consuming-lifestyle. More worst is when they having more than one credit card bill. Typically if you have three or four or more credit accounts, the credit ceiling on those accounts probably have gotten pretty high. That is because, as what just reviewed, if you carry debt but pay on it, that sets a cycle in motion for the credit card companies to offer you as much debt as they think you might use so you can owe them even more money. Thats why for some people debt free life is often to reach.
But theres several thing to consider before you ask for someone or a company for debt-consollidation or debt counseling, its about saving money! Yes you can easily control your spending and income with some simple money saving tips. Beside you can view money saving tips on the link mentioned above, this is simple tips that I excerpted from many sources:
Set your budget plan
Its a simple idea. Keep a track of what you spend and resisting the urge to pull out the credit or debit card when you cant afford something. Its about managing your earning and balance them with your spending, a monthly based plan would perfectly works for everyone since most people get their salary once every month.
Save early, save often (as you can)
Even if youre only able to put away $1 or $2 a week now, do it. Its a good habit and you should do that from now! Every cents counted and youll see theyre growing fast. A good idea is to have a bank account with NO credit card with the account. Another credit card will make a new bill for you, so avoid it.

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There are ways that you can save money, and all you need to do is learn about managing money wisely to do it. You are not necessarily being frugal, per say, but rather you are learning how to be wise in the decisions that you make. Unfortunately, most people do not learn what it takes to manage money. Going beyond budgeting and learning about managing money wisely is absolutely vital if you want to have a good hold on your finances over time. Here are some excellent ideas for managing money wisely. At the end of the day, it may surprise you to see how much money you have saved without altering your quality of life at all.

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Looking for a new home can be exciting and for some a once in a lifetime experience. One often overlooked fact about a home is the taxing authorities. Buyers often overlook the fact that in addition to their mortgage payment will be an amount usually placed in escrow monthly to cover the taxes associated with the property. Knowing the taxing authorities before a home is purchased can save you thousands of dollars and make your monthly mortgage payment much more manageable.
For example, if a home of similar value is located within the county taxing authority only, you pay just county real estate taxes. However, if the same home is also located within the city limits, you pay city taxes as well. Together, city and county taxes can be several thousands of dollars annually, depending upon the assessment value of the home. If an employer does not require that an employee live within city limits, choose a home that is within county limits only. Annually, this could save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Cash back at closing is a great way to get a little cash to fix up a purchased property. For example, a seller is asking $150,000 for the home. Not wanting to negotiate, the buyer agrees to the full asking price providing the seller pays all closing costs and provides $3,000 back at closing to cover all minor problems found on the home inspection report. This is just one example of many to be considered. Be reasonable when asking for cash back at closing. The seller may not agree to pay all of your closing costs and give you cash too. However, its worth a try. An easy way to compute whether or not you are being reasonable is to ask your realtor at what percentage of the asking price do homes sell in the area. Lets say homes sell at 95% of the listing price. In our example, the seller would net $142,500 before commissions and other related expenses if the seller would sell the home to an average buyer.
However, you are asking for all closing costs and $3,000 in exchange for payment of the full $150,000 list price. The average closing costs in this example may be approximately $3,000. To the seller, thats a cost out of pocket of $6,000. It is better for the seller to take this offer because the seller retains $1500 more in net proceeds. However, if homes are sold at 98% of listing price in the area, the seller may not find the cash back offer and payment of closing costs at the request from the buyer at full price as attractive, knowing that it would only cost 2% of the listing price, which would be $3,000 at 98%.
Knowing the length of time the property has been listed on the real estate market can provide valuable insight for the buyer. The longer the home has been listed on the real estate market the more likely the seller is willing to negotiate. When negotiating, keep in mind that if you need cash, make that a part of your offer. Cash back at closing is a great way to put money in your pocket.
Most buyers need cash when buying a home. Knowing the taxing authority, asking for closing costs and cash back at closing, as well as knowing the length of time the property has been listed will put money in your pocket. Be patient in your search and look for a seller that is willing to negotiate either on price or cash back and paying closing costs.

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