It is better to give, than receive.” We have all heard that phrase before. Recently, some of the world’s billionaires are taking this advice to heart by giving upwards of more than half their wealth through a program called The Giving Pledge. In these rough economic times, the world is pulling closer together. Mint.com has provided an excellent image to put this worldwide charitable donation into perspective. Click on the picture below for a larger view.

Notes of interest:

• Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett started the Giving Pledge in June of 2010.
• The Giving Pledge is estimated to grow to $600 billion (US Dollars).
• Most Impressive Stat (voted on by the DollarsDirect family): 230 billion dollars would feed 862 million people for 7.7 years.

Budget Plannerfrom Mint.com

One of your DollarsDirect family members overspent at the grocery store this weekend.  How did a quick trip to the store for cereal and milk cost seventy dollars?  We won’t tell you who, but he may be writing this very post to remind himself, and others, the top reasons we over spend.

• Paper or Plastic? – According to the “8 Top Reasons You Overspend,” consumer spending rises when paying with a credit card.  “Credit cards allow consumers to focus more on what they’re getting, or buying, than what they’re losing, or spending,” Kit Yarrow, a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University.

• Music – Paula C. Peter of San Diego State University states, “Louder music in restaurants pushes people to eat faster, order more and consume more food because they can’t talk to each other over the noise.”

• Thinning Waistline, Thinner Wallet  – Sometimes, dieting can cause weak will power, causing you to overspend.  Kathleen Vohs, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota says that when on a diet, “people are less able to restrain their impulses, so whatever they are tempted to do — like spend on needless trinkets — will emerge.”

No one is perfect; we all overspend at some point.  Follow our advice above to stay on the right track.  Your DollarsDirect short term loan family is always here to save you some money.

It’s hard to determine if you are emotionally ready to be a parent.  However, you can take steps towards becoming financially ready to a parent.  Your DollarsDirect family has some ideas from The Simple Dollar to help you out.

1)   The Time is Now? –  The emotional decision to have a child can cloud a decision based in reality. Do the costs (time, money, energy, etc.) outweigh the benefit of a child?

2)   Plan for the Future –  According to The Simple Dollar, “The sooner you get your own financial house in order, the easier the arrival of children later in your life will be. Get an emergency fund started. Pay down your debts… Invest your energy in building a sustainable career.”

3)   Smart Money – Low cost solutions does not mean low quality for your child.  Such as, purchasing clothing at resale stores.  That money you save can be better spent on an education.

Becoming a good parent sometimes begins before your child is even born. Your DollarsDirect family is always here to help in any time of need with advice, to a short term loan.

Photo: Flickr User

Meet Wallet and Purse, the new DollarsDirect mascots. They made their debut in a DollarsDirect TV commercial beginning 26 July 2010. The commercial highlights DollarsDirect’s payday loan services as a convenient solution to short-term financial needs for credit-crunched consumers.

View the commercial below to receive a 25% off promo code that can be applied to the initial finance charge of your first payday loan.  Use this code over the phone, or online!

The DollarsDirect TV commercial is filmed from the point-of-view of a savvy purse and cash-strapped wallet while they talk about their owners’ financial situations. In the commercial, Purse highlights DollarsDirect’s easy service, and advises Wallet on what to do when hit with too many immediate expenses.

Stay tuned for more adventures, advice, and promotional codes from Wallet and Purse!

Your DollarsDirect family has found a very creative way to save money on your grocery bill. Start a food club.  Follow the steps below for advice on how to start your own club and take advantage of buying in bulk.

• Spread the word – If you’re going to have a party, you have to send out invitations, right?  Ask family, friends, and neighbors about joining.  Start with a group of at least five families and add more if necessary.
• Compare  – Sit down and compare shopping lists.  Everyone drinks milk, but everyone may not drink fat free milk.  Also, make sure to track how much the items on your list normally cost.   That way you can find better savings in the future.
• Club Duties – The leader of the club should designate roles to all the club’s members, instead of doing everything.  According to Mint.com, “Once the food is purchased, the group will have to decide where it will be stored … split up [and] delivered.  If there are perishable items like fruit or meat, the group may decide pick up has to be right after the shopping spree.”
• Have Fun – Your food club should not be a chore.  Arrange potlucks and share recipes.  The more fun everyone has , the longer your club (and money) will last.

Food is the most basic necessity, and expense, in life.  Sometimes it “pays” to get creative with your most basic expense in life.

The easiest way to ruin a vacation is to over spend.  Your vacation may end, but your debt will follow you home. A vacation is supposed to be about relaxing, and your friends at DollarsDirect discovered some great ways to save money while traveling from GetRichSlowly.org.  Take a look below to read some of our favorite advice.

• 20% Rule – Budget 20% more than you think the trip will cost.  You never know where that extra money will end up, like impulse spending (everyone loves a souvenir), or unexpected needs (Tylenol for a headache).
• Be Prepared – Do some research about your vacation location.  Some places have additional taxes and fees that can really hit your budget.
• Create a Savings Goal – Set a limit on your spending.  If you come home below your goal, put that extra money towards credit card bills, or into a savings account.

Want more tips?  Take a look at this post from GetRichSlowly and share with friends and family.  We know that everyone loves to travel, but everyone really loves to save money.  DollarsDirect is here to help!

Image: Flickr User

Shopping online should not only be convenient, it should also be cheap.  Everyone at DollarsDirect loves to shop online, just like you (it’s okay, you can admit it). The site ShopItToMe.com just released some of the best online shopping tips out there.

• Mondays: Best for buying men’s and women’s dress pants. The average sale is about 48% off.
• Wednesdays: Find lowest prices on shoes. The average discount is 38%.
• Fridays: Biggest sales on accessories like jewelry, belts and scarves. The average discount is 42 percent.
• Search for more discounts by Googling the name of the online store with words like “coupon” or “promotional code.”
• Follow the Facebook Fan Pages and Twitter accounts of your favorite stores, they often offer special discounts.

For more money saving online tips, please visit CBS Money Watch.

A large part of our online payday loan business is the help we give our customers, and we could not wait to pass this information along.

Image: Flickr User

For many, June, July, August, and September include another season besides Summer.  Welcome to Wedding Season.  We have already covered how to save money during the summer, now we want to help you save money on one of the most important days of your life.

Wedding Money Saving Tips from OurDreamWedding.com:

1. Wedding Dress – Many of us have been told to literally fight the crowds at a bridal outlet, but there are other options.  Via OurDreamWedding: “Make your dress. If you have a sewing talent, use it! … Just remember that certain extravagant fabrics can get costly too …  [Or] buy a bridesmaid’s dress.”
2. Flowers – Buy your flowers from a wholesaler, or avoid having your wedding around a holiday when prices are at a maximum.
3. Food – This maybe the most important to your guests, and to your bank account.   You can have a simple buffet instead of a sit down dinner, or keep the hors d’oeuvre menu to a minimum.
4. Photography – Find a reasonable photographer and book as far in advance as possible.  Alternatively, involve your guests by supplying disposable cameras on each table.
5. Music – Hire a wedding DJ instead of a band, or put the power of music in your own hands.  Literally.  Create your own wedding playlist on an iPod and rent out a sound system.

For more advice about your wedding day, check out OurDreamWedding.com.

Since our colleagues have been swamped with their own weddings, we wanted to reach out to our customers.  Enjoy your “second season” of summer while saving some money.

Image credit: Flickr user epsos.de

Our world is becoming more and more technologically powered. We have little devices that not only let us talk to people thousands of miles away, but also let us watch videos or listen to music on them. Not to mention video chat with someone else who has the same little gadget. And what about those huge screens that show movies where the characters pop out and almost touch you?

We understand that sometimes it can be hard to keep up with all the new technology? Years ago, when you wanted a cash advance, you probably went to payday loan shops. But now you have the option of just staying at home and getting a fast cash loan online. DollarsDirect understands that sometimes all this technology is overwhelming. So if you ever get confused on our website, or just have some questions you need answered, we are always here to help. You can call or email us, or you can even send a regular letter in the mail.

But the best part is that you can talk to us instantly through our online chat! The technology isn’t complicated at all, you just click one button and right away we will (virtually) be there to answer any of your questions!

Its summertime and the carefree mood may make you forget about your budget. Weekend getaways to the beach, new bathing suits, fresh fruit, air-conditioning in the car, all these things can actually be very dangerous. You can have them all, just remember not to overspend! Here are a few tips, just in case:

1) When taking a long drive to your weekend destination, instead of turning up the air-conditioning, roll down the windows. The fresh air won’t feel burning hot when you’re going 100 kph!
2) Also when driving far, try to get a large group together so that they can all pitch in on the gas.
3) If you always buy new summer clothes so that you can fit in with the latest summer trend, try buying them for cheap. If you buy your clothes on sale or at cheaper, yet still trendy, stores, you can either buy larger amounts of clothes or have more money to spend on other things you need.
4) Save on your mobile phone bill. Its summer and the weather is beautiful – go out and see your friends instead of sitting in your home and talking to them on the phone!
5) If you follow these tips and still find yourself in need of cash for emergencies that you didn’t see coming, don’t worry. You can always get a fast cash loan from DollarsDirect!