As your DollarsDirect family watches our summer fade into a twilight, we have a variety of money saving tips for you. Some of you may spending your last sunny days a home, or taking the family on a road trip.  Either way, these tips will work out well for you this (and every other) weekend!

• Restaurants – The Internet is a great place for discounts.  Search the Internet for free coupons or discounted gift certificates.
• Movies – Most movie theaters have special pricing Monday thru Thursday. Are the days a little hot?  Save some money by catching a movie during these “off-peak” days.  Trust us, you maybe spending less money, but it’s still the same movie
• Travel – Your DollarsDirect teammates have a lot of advice when it comes to travel!  Book flights online during Tuesdays or Wednesdays when prices are historically the cheapest.  When the weekend rush is over, and managers want to fill rooms, book your hotel on a Sunday night.  Lastly, one of our favorite tips, travel with another family or group to get discount rates on flights, hotels, and transportation.
• Beach Bum – Our beach days are limited, but you can still save money.  Remember to stock up on food and drinks before leaving.  This way you will not be paying outrageous prices at the beach.
• Gas – Fuel up mid week when gas is historically cheaper. Also, if you are traveling, ask your hotel if they are offering gas rebates at the front desk.

From money saving tips, to fast cash with an online, short-term payday loan, your DollarsDirect family is here to help.  Kick back, relax, and enjoy the twilight of summer.

Photo: Flickr User

Everyone loves the word “free.”  Your DollarsDirect family loves the word “free” because it means saving money.  We put our heads together to come up with some everyday free offers we use to save money.  Some may surprise you at how easy these tips are to take advantage of. Just don’t use all your “free” time reading them.  Don’t worry, we will accept your free hug later.

• Cell Phone – Most carriers will give you a free phone when signing a new contract. Ask around at your local carrier store, they should be able to point you in the right direction.
• Books – If you think about it, there is no reason to ever pay for a book. Drive over to your local public library to find all the literature you need to check out a book for free!
• Water – Besides your monthly water bill, why are you paying so much for water?  It’s because everyone loves to pay for bottled water.  The same water that comes out of your tap.  Save some money and buy yourself a reusable aluminum water bottle.
• The News – We both know you are on the Internet.  That means you have access to thousands of news sites, locally and world wide.  So why are you paying for a newspaper?  Cancel your delivery paper, and visit its online site.
• Shipping – If you love to buy online like many of your DollarsDirect family members, you should never pay for shipping.  Search the Internet for coupons mentioning free shipping for the website you are buying from.

Your DollarsDirect family would love to hear your own free tips.  Post them in the comments below. We know everything in life is not always free, and sometimes you need a short-term, online payday loan for a cash advance.  We are always here to help.

Photo: Flickr User

Your DollarsDirect team is full of parents, young and old.  There are many challenges to being a parent, no matter how old you, or your children, are.  One topic that comes up around our DollarsDirect parents is how to teach your child the value of money.  It’s a battle to be fought at a young age, so we gathered some of our best tips to help out our DollarDirect readers.

• Allow an Allowance – I remember receiving three dollars each week for doing chores around the house.  I loved earning the money, and my mother loved giving me work.  An allowance, no matter the value, teaches your children how to use money when received from a source of income. Remember, their allowance should be tied to the work they actually preform.  This will instill a good work ethic along with their new sense of money and value.  Plus, who says putting your kid to work around the house is a bad thing?
• Save, Save, Save – Use something your child wants as lesson on saving.  Do they want that new bike?  Develop a savings plan with your child to teach them the value of saving at a young age.  Before you know it, “I want to save for a new bike,” will be replaced with “I want to save for a new car.”
• Money Talks, Literally – Your DollarsDirect parents all mention the importance of making money a topic of discussion in the household from an early age.  Show your kids how to balance a checking account, teach them about savings accounts, and discuss credit cards.

Kids grow up quickly.  That piggy bank can turn into an online savings account fast.  Teach your kid the basics at a young age, and never stop talking about money.  Remember, from money saving tips, to an online, short-term payday loan, your DollarsDirect family is always looking out for you and your family.

One of our DollarsDirect teammates recently cut his cell phone plan and noted how much money he continues to save each month.  This got us discussing simple money saving tips some of your DollarsDirect friends have already done.  Here are some of our favorites that are bound to save you a little money.

• Cancel Your Land Line:  Seriously, who uses a “land line” anymore?  Odds are you are paying money for something you do not use.  Use your cell phone, lose the land line.
• Cancel Your Gym Membership:  You do not have to go to a gym to work out.  Save the money you spend at the gym and work out at home.  You can purchase free weights at a local sporting goods store, or even better, find some used equipment on the web.
• Cancel Cable:  This was a tough one for a couple of your DollarsDirect friends to handle.   Before you cancel everything, decide what shows and channels you watch, then try to find them online.  You’ll realize that most, if not all, can be watched on the Internet.  Why pay for cable and Internet, when you just have to pay for one?
• Sell It:  Everyone in the DollarsDirect family admits they own things they do not use anymore, or never used. These personal belongings can sit around for a lifetime, or are thrown out.  My mother always said, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  Have a yard sale, or post your items on the web, someone is willing to put money in your pocket!

Your DollarsDirect family knows it’s the little expenses that can add up.  Try out some of the tips above, or send us suggestions of your own.  We would love to hear them.  Moreover, if you are ever in need of help with those “little” expenses, we are here to help with a short-term, online payday loan.

Photo: Flickr User

Your DollarsDirect family love our pets as much as we love giving out online payday loans.  Our pets are a daily discussion around the office.  Pets can be a big, but loving, expense in our life.  In order to try and save money, some team members put together a list of the best money saving animal care tips.  Take a “bite” out of our advice below.

• Become a Pet Store Member – Most local pet stores offer special savings for signing up to become a member.  Once you’re a member, enjoy savings sent to you by postal mail, or email.  Make sure to check your email regularly, as some pet stores send out advance special sale reminders.
• Super Stores – Shop the super stores with your super pet.  Just like with our fancy human super stores, everything can be bought in bulk.  Stock up on food, toys, and comforts for your best friend while saving money.
• The Internet is Your Friend – Bookmark the webpage of your pet’s favorite food as most manufacturers have coupons right on their website.  Also, other large pet websites can offer daily promotions on medications, food, or grooming.
• Back to School – Take you pet to a veterinary school instead of a veterinarian for minor surgeries, vaccinations, and dental care.  Most veterinary schools can save you up to half the cost of your normal veterinarian bill.

Your DollarsDirect family loves our pets just as much as you do.  As always, we wanted to share some money saving tips to help you and your other best friend.  We are in the business of helping you through stressful financial times with online, short-term, payday loans.  Your DollarsDirect family is always here to offer financial tips or a cash advance when you need it.

Photo: Flickr User

If your DollarsDirect family said that you would spend over 50% of your lifetime earnings in just five areas of your life, would you call us crazy?  Your home, car, children, education, and retirement can put a financial strain on your life if you are not paying attention.  Trust us, we are here to help you keep that “piggy bank” of savings full while you spend.

• Your Home – How much “home” can you actually afford?  As a general guideline, you should not purchase a home more than three times your annual household income.  Be aware that buying a house is not just one price tag; you must consider annual costs such as upkeep and property taxes.
• Your Car – Much like your house, your car has reoccurring expenses.  Most people can afford a car 1/3 of their annual income.  Your DollarsDirect family does not want you “driving” yourself into debt.
• Your Children – Be careful to not lovingly overindulge your children.  According to this Yahoo! Finance story, “the Dept. of Agriculture estimates it will cost $220,000 to raise a child born in 2008 from diapers to age 18.”  Surprisingly, that figure does not even factor college.
• Your Education – How high is too high of an education?   According to Yahoo! Finance, “Don’t take on more in total education debt than you think you are going to earn on average annually during your first 10 years after graduating (from college or grad school).”
• Your Retirement –Figure out how much money you need to retire by starting with the end in mind. A good reference is to multiply your current annual income by 25. It is never too early to start saving.

Your DollarsDirect family wants you to know that you can still save money even when you have to spend it.  Life can come quickly with unexpected expenses, that’s why we are here to help you out with a short-term, online payday loan.  You can get started here.

Photo: Flickr User

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

• 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.

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

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!