Kendra Scott talks Money – Financial Help & Advice


07/03/2012

Save money by NOT buying some tings in bulk

Category: Money Management – Tags: , , , , – Kendra 10:31

When you are in the supermarket, you know that you can save a lot when you buy things in bulk. In the long run, you save a lot of money when you buy the things you want in bigger quantities. But in some cases it is not true. Here are some things that you should not buy in bulk:

Nuts

You can buy them in big bags and big containers and it is a great deal when you buy them in bulk but nuts expire in a matter of a month or at most two months. Nuts has a high level of fat which makes them go rancid in a shorter period of time than expected. You might also encounter the same problem with seeds. Before you buy them in bulk, just think how often will you snack on them or will a good portion just go to the bin.

Cooking oil

This depends on the kind of oil. Olive oil can be good for half a year as long as you store it in a dark, cool place. Corn oil and peanut oil will last for roughly a year if still sealed. Sesame oil will only go for a few months.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is a lot healthier than the usual white rice but it does not last as long. It can only go for as long as six months to twelve but you can stretch its life by keeping it in the fridge.

Condiments

You will not be consuming your stock of condiments for quite a times. So why buy them in bulk if they are only good for about six months. Things like ketchup, mustard or mayo may go bad when you buy them in bulk. Same is true for your peanut butter and jelly.

23/08/2011

Is a savings account still useful today?

Category: Banks – Tags: , , , , – Kendra 16:33

There was a time when everyone had a savings account. It was a place to put away money for things that were needed later in life like cars, housing, or schooling. The account would be opened up and money would be faithfully added every week even if it was a small amount. The money would also accumulate interest as time passed. Savings accounts used to be very useful. However, with the current economy, increasing fees, and the uncertainty of the banking industry, people often wonder if savings accounts are still useful today. They wonder if it is still safe put money into a savings account or if it would be better off to tuck money underneath the bed.

Stack o CashThere is no right or wrong answer to this question. Whether or not to open up a savings account is the individual customer’s decision. One good point about a savings account is that it still accumulates interest. That is something that is not likely to happen if the money is held at home. Also, the FDIC will still insure the funds up to a certain amount. If money is saved at home and it gets stolen it is just gone forever. So as far as safety and actually earning extra money, it does appear that the savings account is still useful.

There is also an old saying “Out of sight out of mind”. Having the money put away somewhere where it can not be easily accessed is a great way to forget about it until the right time. No matter how strong willed a person may be it still might be difficult to avoid temptation if the funds are within reach. That is another solid reason why a savings account would still be useful.

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01/07/2011

How to Choose Between a Credit Card and a Debit Card

Category: Credit Cards – Tags: , , – Kendra 16:36

Every time you go to purchase something the cashier may ask you if you are using credit or debit. Depending on what you use, will determine how your transaction is processed. Debit cards are very much similar to credit cards. Many people use their credit cards on very large purchases, and their debit card on smaller purchases. The difference is, card credit piceverything that gets put on your credit card, has to be paid back. When you pay for items with your debit card, you do not have to pay anything back. That money is automatically deducted from your checking account.

When you use your debit card, you have the choice to decide if you want it to go through as a credit, or regular debit. If you choose for it to go through as a debit, it will make it an online transaction. If you choose credit, it will make your purchase an offline transaction.

When you pay for items with your credit card, you do not have those options. You do need to make sure that you have enough money on the card to cover the purchase, and that you will be able to pay that money back. You do not want to go over the limit, because you will then be faced with some outrageous fees, that will affect your credit.

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04/04/2011

The Importance of choosing the right bank to put your savings in

Category: Banks – Tags: , , , – Kendra 11:19

The finance market has been up and down for the past several years. Interest rates have been dropping on everything from home loans to car loans. Those kinds of decreases are beneficial for buyers. However, people who are looking to save money are looking for places with good solid interest rates for their savings. When choosing a bank to place your hard earned money in it is important to consider a few things.

What to Look for in a Bank

One of the top things to look for when choosing a bank is good customer service. People these days are looking for banks that value people. For banks, it comes down to what the top priorities are. For instance, a bank that is more concerned about money will often be impersonal and really focus on things that generate money for them.

Another thing to look for in a solid bank is the interest rates. A bank’s interest rates are usually published on a card for account holders to take with them. Look for a bank that gives extra for having a savings account with them. Some banks will often have a real low savings rate while another bank will offer more interest for having an account with them.

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15/09/2010

Prepaid Credit Cards and the Fees involved…

Category: Credit Cards – Tags: , , – Kendra 18:29

Consumer Report lets us know that Prepaid cards are extremely expensive – and MoneyTalksNews agrees. They might be a good idea, but they are NOT cheap at all!