GET THE APP FOR THAT
About to make a purchase but have a nagging feeling you might fi nd a better deal somewhere else? Thanks to your smartphone, you might just be able to check right there in the store. Apps like ShopSavvy (iPhone/ Android, free download) scan barcodes via your phone’s camera and search for better prices and nearby stores where they’re available.
Amazon.com also offers an iPhone app that can scan barcodes and search their massive inventory for the product.
...THOUGHTFUL SPENDING
CARD DEBT
PAY DOWN CREDIT
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an average household had $5,100 in credit card debt in 2009. This number, unfortunately, is expected to increase. If you carry a balance consider doubling your mininum payment, while cutting back on card use. It will reduce the amount of time it takes to pay off the debt, and signifi cantly save on interest.
PERSONAL AUDIT
DO A
What habits can you do without? Fast-food lunches? Designer shoes? Gourmet cupcakes? Daily double mocha lattes? Figure out what appetites—big and small— you have that are creating holes in your balance sheet. Try to pick them off one by one.
PLAN A GREAT VACATION
After the adjustments and sacrifi ces, you fi nd your savings starting to grow. Now it’s time to consider doing those things you’ve dreamed about—or use the money to relieve some ongoing fi nancial concerns. Here are a few ideas:
GIVE TO A CHARITY
In a study published in the March 2008 issue of Science, researchers at Harvard found that as little as $5 spent on another person can raise your sense of well-being.
SAVE FOR YOUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION
A student’s chances of earning an income in the top 20 percent are 54 percent greater with a college degree, reports the Brookings Institution. But the cost of college has jumped a dramatic 439 percent since 1982. To learn more about funding your children’s education, visit
statefarm.com and do a search for “education.”
If you’ve always wanted to take your whole family to Hawaii, your benefi t will be twofold. Researchers in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life found that leading up to a vacation, people were happier than nonvacationers. Sharing that experience with others will boost your happiness, and theirs too.
HOLD ON TO IT
There’s nothing that says you have to spend it now. So build up your savings account or an emergency fund because peace of mind is a wonderful experience.
statefarm.com 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28