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Save Money on Valentine’s Day Gift Giving

Sam Wilson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:43:28 +0000

For many married couples and lovers, Valentine’s Day is a time to show their most romantic side and demonstrate their love for the other person. How do you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2012? Are you planning to surprise your other-half or your special someone with a gift? If yes, make sure that you don’t get yourself into debt trouble for the sake of that one-day celebration. Here are some Valentine’s Day gift-giving suggestions that can save your budget:

Make V-day a movie parade day. Instead of falling in line in the theaters to watch a single film, why not consider renting out your favorite movies on DVD and stay in, watch movies together, over popcorns and hotdogs? It can be a lot more fun than going out if both of you loves watching movies.

Prepare a home-cooked dinner. Have you tried cooking for your special someone? Being surprised with a dinner that your partner especially prepared just for you can be so romantic. If you’re not sure what dish to prepare, why not ask help from your parent or from a friend who loves cooking. Practice it at least a week in advance so you can be perfect it before Valentine’s Day. The time and effort you spent in putting together the dinner is enough to melt your partner’s heart.

Make something by hand. If you know a particular craft or if you know how to paint, why not give your partner something that you personally made? It will surely make your loved one feel more special than a gift that is readily bought from a store.

Book an early flight. If you’ve been dreaming of a getaway or a grand vacation with your partner, you can save a great deal of money by booking your flight early. Don’t wait until the month of February or until the week of Valentine’s Day to make reservations as the price of everything – flights and accommodations, are bound to be more expensive during this season. Plan your trip at least two months in advance to make sure that you can get discounts especially if you will book your flight and make hotel reservations online.

Avoid express shipping. You can save money by purchasing online. However, the shipping costs can prove to be steep especially during holidays. While some merchants may offer free shipping as part of their promotion, most online retailers will take advantage of the season to make profit. Thus, you can save a great deal on delivery costs by avoiding overnight or express shipping. Order early and make a special request to the merchant that you need the package to arrive at the recipient’s address by Valentine’s day.

Pay in cash. Many consumers today own at least one credit card. Even college students have their own credit cards so they can easily purchase in advance and worry about repayment later. However, if you’re planning to buy a gift or spend for your loved one on Valentine’s Day, see to it that you have the cash to spend. Start saving money as early as today to be sure that you won’t be short on cash. Student credit cards can come in handy during times of emergencies but should not be an excuse to spend lavishly on V-day or any holiday.

Related Resource:

Financial Tips for Students on Valentine s Day

About the Author:

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit card reviews articles that would help build student credits.

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Myths & Facts About Online Education

Sam Wilson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:04:21 +0000

Some people may be completely opposed to the idea of online distance education. On the other hand, some may think that online learning is a quick and effortless way to earn a degree. In this article, let’s discuss the most common myths people believe about online education and the truth behind them.

Myth#1 It’s an easy, effortless way of learning.

This belief may came from the fact that online students can study at the comfort of their homes and are given the option to choose their own study schedule. Nonetheless, online education still requires a student’s commitment and dedication to learning just like in a traditional classroom setting.

While you don’t have to personally go to school to attend classes, you still need to be on prompt and be focused on the lesson at hand. As a student, it is your responsibility to conduct further research, review your lessons, be active in class and submit your reports on time.

Myth#2 You can earn your degree more quickly.

The statement above will largely depend on the student’s ability to learn and capability to put his/her learnings into practice. The truth about online education is that you can learn at your own pace.

You may choose to study while at home, in your office or while out on a trip. If you are a fast learner and focused on your studies, then you can graduate at a much sooner time than it would take you in a regular school.

Myth#3 Continuing education online is not effective.

Some people may worry that virtual classes will not be as efficient as face-to-face interaction. Nevertheless, researches have proven that online education can be just as effective as traditional schooling, as long as the student works hand in hand with the instructors.

In response to the growing demand for online education, universities and institutes offering online courses are striving to enhance their system of teaching and communications.

Many graduates of online degree programs and online vocational courses have successfully landed their dream jobs in different trades and industries. Ultimately, it will all depend on how the student responds to the learning process.

How to Maintain Good Credit Even Beyond College

Sam Wilson — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 06:55:38 +0000

Establishing credit history can be easy but keeping it in good shape is the real challenge. Are you a student who wants to build credit? There are actually many ways for you to maintain your good credit not only while in college but even beyond graduation as well. Check out the following tips:
Be timely. There’s still no substitute to timely payment. And this should not be surprising since your credit score is largely based on payment history (35%). Yes, occasional and frequent late payments will hurt your score so if you want to keep it excellent, pay your bills on time.
Watch your limit. Another big factor that can affect your credit score is how you use your limit. Credit utilization is 30% of your final rating. It doesn’t matter whether you are given a low limit or a high limit. What matters most is how you use it. Experts recommend not using more than 30% of your credit limit if you want to keep it in good shape.
Check your bill. Do you check your credit card statement as soon as it arrives? Don’t pay for charges that you did not owe. Consumers have the right to dispute unauthorized charges in their account. Checking your bill gives you the opportunity to dispute instead of paying more than you spent.
Read the fine print. A lot of people sign up for the wrong credit card or the wrong deal because they did not bother to read the fine print. DO not simple scan the contents of the Agreement. Read and understand every statement to make sure that the rates, fees and terms are reasonable.
Plan your spending. Credit cardholders are prone to overspending. Because a credit card gives you the option to buy now and pay later, many people fall into the trap of bad debt. The best way to avoid this is to plan your spending. How much do you plan to charge to your credit each month? Never use your credit card for an unplanned purchase. More importantly, do not break your own rules by coming up with excuses.
Check your credit report. It is recommended that you check your credit report at least twice a year. This way, you can be sure that it does not contain erroneous information which can hurt your credit score.
Consumers are entitled to receive one free report (from each bureau) annually. You can order your free copy from Annualcreditreport.com- the only resource of free consumer reports authorized by the government. You may find other sources that offer free report but you may discover later that the service is not completely free after all.
Cut down your debts while in college. If you acquired a student loan, try to reduce your debts by contributing to your repayment. Do your best so you can graduate without unpaid credit card debt. Since you do not yet have a regular job at this time, focus on your studies and keep your spending minimal.