3 Simple Financial Changes For The Better

gmastasquirrel

11:07:43 pm on August 4, 2008 | # |
Tags: changes, financial, freedom, Money

picture credit: thedailygreen.com

Sometimes in Hawaii, you feel like you just can’t get ahead. Everything is expensive, and jobs don’t pay as much. I’m not complaining, it’s the truth. Lately, I have not been able to put anything into my savings. Gas is at an all time high. Debt is the current way of life. This all needed to be changed. This week, I am trying a new things, which hopefully stick, to change my financial situation for the better.

Cheaper Cellphone Plan. Now days, it’s hard not to have a cell phone around. Most, like me, use a cell phone as our house phone. But plans can be outrageous. I was paying close to $60 a month on a cell phone I hardly used. 500 minutes on my plan, only really used 150 minutes. Answer? I changed to a lower plan. Now, if you are like me and like to hunt for a bargain, check cell phone forums. They can give you the heads up on all sorts of great cell plans. Howard Forums is where I would start. This is the forum that I used to find Sprint SERO Plan. This plan consisted of 500 anytime minutes, Free nights and weekends after 7pm, unlimited mobile to mobile, unlimited text messaging, and unlimited data. All this for $30. Serious. Karate chop on the savings.

Brown Bag Lunch. This maybe a no brain er for most people, but Hawaii has LOTS of great cheap eats. Every job is near some sort of plate lunch place selling an ahi special or hamburger steak. 5$ a plate doesn’t seem to bad considering how much food they put on the plate. But if you get a plate every other day, the bill starts to add up. I now buy a loaf of bread $3 and some sort of cold cuts (whatever is on sale normally baloney for $3) and or peanut butter and make me sandwiches for lunch. A loaf usually last the whole week and cold cuts normally will last me two. There are other healthier alternatives like salad and air biscuits (just kidding), but I like my sandwiches and so should you!

Mass Transit (The Bus). I love my car. Though it may not show when you look at it’s dirty black exterior, it is a joy to my heart. Gas for my love is out of this world. Right now the lowest gas price is $4.29 and that is in the middle of downtown Honolulu. The last time I filled my tank full, the price was $71. HOLY CRAP! I have finally decided to attempt to catch the bus. I say attempt because the bus is full of crazies and it’s crowded. But, I will try. Right now, I am getting my bus passes for free! That is a savings of immense proportions. $71 for gas to free? Alright! But, even if I had to pay for the bus pass for $40, It would still be cheaper. Many Honolulu Businesses support mass transit by giving discounts to employees for bus passes. click here to see if your business is on of them. Go bus!

These are not all the changes that I am making, but it is a start for financial freedom. What one really needs to truly kick start change is the will to WANT TO make a change for the better. You have any financial changes to share? Comments are always welcome.
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