So without further adieu, Coupons.com names its top frugalebrities of 2011.

• Sarah Michelle Gellar – TV’s former Buffy the Vampire Slayer and current star of Ringer uses coupons for everything from her groceries to her dry cleaning, stating “I clip coupons all the time.  Why should you pay more for something that someone else is paying less for?”
• Manny Delgado – We don’t know if actor Rico Rodriguez is a super saver in real life, but his Modern Family TV counterpart Manny Delgado recently took the blame when his dog fell in the pool and said, “I got caught up in my couponing.”
• Halle Berry – The beautiful Bond girl doesn’t take her riches for granted, saying she’s “pretty frugal” and always saving for a rainy day.
• Hilary Swank – Hilary may be a big star but that doesn’t mean she’s too good for big box stores. The A-lister knows that a penny saved is a penny earned and believes in buying essentials, like toilet paper and toothpaste, in bulk. She also said she sees coupons as “a dollar in my pocket.”
• Roy Hibbert – When he’s not busy putting up free throws, the Indiana Pacers center likes looking for other freebies. The 7-foot-2 NBA star says he tries to live modestly, clipping coupons and looking for deals when dining out. “Going to restaurants, I make sure if I have a coupon, I use it.”
• Kourtney Kardashian – A recent episode of Kourtney & Kim Take New York showed that the oldest of the three reality show sisters had taken up a new hobby: couponing!
• Renee Zellweger – Renee Zellweger hasn’t let the Hollywood lifestyle overshadow her upbringing. While she may command multi-million dollar paychecks now, the star says, “I was raised in a household where we were very frugal.”
• Tim Hasselbeck – ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck knows that real men save money. Tim’s wife, and co-host of The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck proudly admits that she “married a coupon guy,” and is thankful for that.
• Caroline Channing – Former rich girl, and one of CBS’s 2 Broke Girls, Caroline Channing went from coupon snob to coupon convert in a recent episode. But she’s still not sure, is the money-saving word pronounced “COO-pon” or “CUE-pon?”
• Nicole Scherzinger – The ex-X Factor judge and lead Pussycat Doll isn’t afraid to cop to the occasional splurge but says she makes up for them by always hunting for the best bargains at the grocery store.

About Coupons.com Incorporated

(Guest Post)

As your company grows, so does your responsibility to properly compensate your employees for their time and contribution to the company’s bottom line.  Making sure your workers are paid accurately and on time, not to mention the governmental regulations that every business must understand and comply with, can be a real headache, especially for the small business owner.  One in three companies has been charged with a mistake related to their payroll, costing them hundreds of dollars in penalties and fees.

With the tax code becoming more complex every year and regulations changing all the time, it is all a small business owner can do to keep up.  Making sure employees are paid accurately and on time is only half of the payroll challenge.  Taxes and governmental regulations add yet another layer to the complexity of handling payroll.  Do it yourself payroll software is one option, but it takes time to train someone to use it, not to mention an expensive investment in software and printing costs.  Manpower is the most expensive asset for most businesses, so it is a resource best used judiciously.

Fortunately, there is a much simpler, more cost-effective solution.  A freelancer payroll company can save your business both time and money.  By outsourcing payroll, a business reduces liability in compliance matters, as well as freeing up resources that can be better used to build profit.  Compliance with tax codes and accuracy are two of the main reasons businesses choose to outsource payroll operations.  Typically, payroll services offer a variety of services tailored to meet your business’ needs.  Accurate records are kept for tax purposes, employees receive their compensation, paystubs and tax forms in a timely manner, and the payroll company manages the paperwork to make sure that your business stays in compliance with tax codes, saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars in penalties and fees for late filing, withholding issues or other compliance problems.

When choosing a freelancer payroll company, it is important to understand what services you are receiving and what your company’s total cost will be.  Be sure to interview several companies to see which will be the best fit for your needs.  Be sure to clarify such issues as who would be responsible in case of an error, how long reconciling mistakes would take and how much it would cost.  Ask the company for references, preferably from current clients.  Make sure you understand the cost of setting up an account, as well as the prices of services and what your contract will cover.

Payroll doesn’t have to be an accounting nightmare that drains time and manpower away from day to day business.  By outsourcing payroll operations, companies can save time, money and frustration.  A smart business owner understands hiring an expert to handle complicated and time-consuming tasks, such as handling payroll, often reduces the cost of doing business.  The time and money saved every pay period make hiring a payroll company one of the most intelligent investments a small business owner can make.

(Guest Post)

Life insurance can be a complicated subject, however in today’s world it has become a necessity if someone wants the peace of mind that his or her family will be taken care of financially even in the event of an untimely death. It only becomes more complicated for smokers, whom already face discrimination every day from increasingly strict smoking bans from both the Government and most businesses.

As a result, life insurance companies charge higher rates for people who smoke. It varies from company to company, but generally using any tobacco product within the last twelve months qualifies an individual as a smoker for insurance purposes. Sometimes this can include up to the last two or three years, and generally will include cigarette, pipe, or cigar smoking as well as the use of smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, snuff, e-cigarettes, or even smoking cessation products like nicotine patches, gums, and lozenges. Even non-tobacco products like marijuana and herbal cigarettes are enough to be branded a smoker. Many insurance companies require meeting with an insurance agent and sometimes even a full physical from a doctor, so simply lying on an insurance application is not an option.

Life insurance works like any other type of insurance, such as automotive or home insurance, where a premium is paid to a company by many people, and the company provides money to cover the object which is insured, in this case a human life. The insurance companies would lose money if they had to pay money back to every insured person, so life insurance companies increase the premium rate for those who are more likely to die within the coverage period. People who smoke provide a greater risk for the insurance provider, as smoking can lead to health issues such as emphysema, vascular disease, osteoporosis, and several types of cancer. Life insurance for smokers is risky for any insurer, so the increased rates are necessary to offset the increased number of payouts.

There are many options for a smoker shopping for life insurance. The cheapest but most difficult method is to quit smoking for the period of time necessary to no longer be considered a smoker; this is dangerous as it leaves one without insurance. One option is simply purchasing a less expensive life insurance policy, such as Term Life Insurance Illinois, will allow a smoker to have the benefits of life insurance without the cost of some of the more expensive policies.

Term life insurance policies differ from other life insurance policies in that they insure a life for a specific term, such as ten or twenty years, as opposed to life insurance policies which provide coverage for an entire lifetime, but with a lifetime’s worth of insurance payments. A Term Life Insurance policy could be useful for a smoker who intends to quit eventually, as he or she could pay for a cheaper short-term policy for coverage for the years necessary to quit smoking and no longer be considered a smoker, then purchase a longer-term policy several years down the road at non-smoker prices.

(GUEST POST)

A recent survey conducted by The Reason Foundation has discovered that more Americans trust their banks than they trust their government. After all of the Occupy Wall Street and Tea Party movements we have seen over the course of past few years, people would rather turn to Cavalry Portfolio Services and US Bank instead of their nationally elected Senators and Congressmen. American’s have always been highly skeptical of those in power, but this shows that the trust in elected officials has reached a new low.

A total of 72 percent of Americans gave their banks favorable ratings while only 32 percent had a favorable view of the federal government. Participants believed that the government is responsible for getting us into the current economic crisis and do not want them to interfere too much about trying to fix it. They feel that the government can only screw things up more than they already have by sticking their noses into private enterprise and small business.

According to Daily Finance, the survey may be skewed because it was taken by an organization that is known for their hardline Libertarian and Conservative stances on virtually all economic issues. While they do stand to the right, the results were not skewed because President Obama was given a 49 percent approval rating while most conservatives bash his performance at any chance.

This shift in the public’s trust is probably due to the divisiveness of our government. People view the whole system as a convoluted mess and can not find any redeeming qualities in elected officials. While they do not trust Washington DC, the system will not change any time soon because most people have a favorable view of their own elected officials.

Banks on the other hand, work as a neatly oiled machine and are more than willing to help their customers at any given opportunity. Because they run on a for-profit model like an actual business, inefficiencies are eliminated at the first sign of a potential problem. Government simply does not have the same operating standards and has major problems when trying to accomplish tasks.

The next time you are in line at the bank and think you are having an inefficient experience, take a look at government run operations like the DMV or Department of Revenue offices. Banks may not be perfect, but they do excel at efficiency and customer service at a much higher level than government.

(GUEST POST)

Contrary to popular belief, there are a few differences between insuring a car and purchasing pickup insurance. The latter takes into account the fact that pickup trucks are usable in various ways, as well as the things that make it differ from a sedan. For example, trucks are used for more business or commercial uses, but they can also deal considerably more damage and are more expensive to repair.

What is Pickup Truck Insurance?

This type of insurance is basically a type of risk management, allowing the owner of a truck to transfer the great economic costs of operating the vehicle to another party. Many kinds of insurance exist to tailor the specific needs of the owner.

For example, commercial trucks can be covered by a policy tailored for its use and the possible losses that come with its business use. Some owners might also require off-road insurance in addition to this for recreational uses.

Why The Need for This Coverage?

The specifics to this question largely depend on how often a person uses a truck, but chances are good that the usage differs than how they use their regular car. Because of this, specialized coverage will guarantee protection for just about any incident from using the truck.

For example, one must consider that the owner is likely hauling or transporting items in the back end of the truck, or there may be add-ons included like ladder racks or toolboxes to help with business. Normally, these vehicles additions would not necessarily have coverage. To prevent forgetting any types of coverage, it is essential to understand the policy and what coverage types are needed.

How Much Insurance is Necessary?

Again, this amount varies from owner to owner. One thing to remember is that, being larger, trucks will naturally deal more damage in an accident than a small coupe or sedan. Just this one reason makes it very important for truck owners to purchase insurance with higher liability limits.

Additionally, after an accident, replacement or repairing a pickup truck can be considerably more expensive than the average car. Because of this, ensuring the purchase of collision and comprehensive coverage is of vital importance to the truck owner. Once this is done, the owner can feel free to pick from the different types of coverage insurance companies offer, allowing them to obtain the specific type of insurance they need for the operation of their truck and to protect their financial interests.

Note that truck owners who are a member of a group due to business or hobbies may qualify for certain discounts depending on the insurance company, especially if the group is directly related to trucks and their potential activities. Additionally, if the truck is used for business purposes, a personal lines insurer may also be willing to either write a second policy for that truck or refer the truck owner to a commercial lines carrier.

(GUEST POST)

Workers’ compensation is a topic that too many employees don’t know enough about.

People often ask, what is a workers compensation settlement? It is simply an agreement between an injured employee or dependents on a claim for workers’ compensation from an employer.

The agreement, which may also be known as a workman’s compensation settlement is typically between the employee and the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer, may call for periodic payments or payment in a lump sum.

Why Its Important

Understanding what a workers compensation claim is will help in understanding what the settlement entails. Depending on the person’s occupation, if a worker is injured while on the job, the worker may present a claim for workers compensation to the employer. This is no-fault coverage.

All states have some form of workers compensation law, though what is paid may differ among states. However, here are forms of compensation common to most states.

Medical Expenses

If the employee incurs medical expenses due to an on the job injury, the employer, or the employer’s insurance company, will be required to pay the medical expenses. At times, the employer may choose the medical provider.

If the employee is not satisfied with the medical treatment, some states provide the employee the ability to seek a second opinion. This is usually done through the state’s worker’s compensation office. In some cases of permanent injury, the case may provide that the employee may seek reimbursement for necessary medical expenses in the future.

Lost Wages

If the employee has missed work due to the on the job injury, the employee is usually paid a portion of their lost wages. The amount paid may be a percentage of the employee’s wages (typically about 60%), or on a schedule set by state law. There is often a maximum period for an employee to collect lost wages.

Permanent Injury

Often, the injury suffered results in some type of permanent injury. A shoulder or back injury, for example, may never fully heal. These type of injuries are handled in a number of ways. Some times injuries are listed in state regulations that will set a specific amount of disability based on the severity and nature of the injury.

In other cases, the permanent injury must be determined to cause the employee to lose the ability to perform certain job functions. If a back injury limits a construction worker to lifting no more than 20 lbs., the worker’s ability to perform the functions of that job will be compromised. The employee will seek compensation based on his or her disability rating and decreased earning capacity.

Permanent injury compensation is usually paid based on the 1) weekly wage the worker was earning at the time of the injury 2) the severity of the injury based on a percentage of disability and 3) a number of weeks or years, usually set by the state, for the compensation to be paid.

The weekly wage is multiplied by the percentage of disability, which is then multiplied by the time set by law for payment of permanent injuries. It may be paid on a weekly basis, or in some cases, in a lump sum.

The Workers Compensation Settlement

The employer may often dispute the severity of the injury, whether it is permanent, or whether it was incurred on the job. In those cases, medical evaluations are usually conducted, along with depositions and hearings. If the parties can agree, a settlement will be reached.

This is the basic format of what is a workers compensation settlement. Claims vary based on their facts and the state in which the worker resides.

If you are in the over 50-age bracket, life insurance is an investment in the security of your family. Death can have catastrophic consequences for those who depend on you. This is especially true if you are self-employed and uninsured. The good news is that there are affordable options for you, regardless of your age.

Over 50s life insurance is a type of guaranteed acceptance policy. The requirements for qualifying are minimal, making it easier to obtain coverage. There are usually some restrictions, such remaining in the same geographical area and keeping the premiums paid up.

The amount of the premium will depend on the type of the policy that you choose and the risk category that you fall into. While each companies risk scale is unique, there are some common defining factors. Age, sex, general health, and smoking habits are used to determine how much over 50s life insurance will cost.

This type of insurance has a time limit that will expire. During the period it is in effect, the amount of the premium remains fixed. When it elapses, you must either renew at a higher rate or lose the coverage all together. Term policies have no cash value, other than the benefit the beneficiary will receive upon your death. The different types of term insurance are:

Level Term

Level term policies are probably one of the most common types of life insurance. The length of coverage can last between 10 and 30 years, depending on your exact age. In this situation, the premiums and conditions remain the same throughout the policy. The benefit amount is guaranteed at the start of coverage.

Decreasing Term

The benefit amount of the policy starts out at set amount, then decreases each year until it has no value. Decreasing term can be a good option if you have outstanding loans that would have to be repaid upon your death.

Increasing Term

This is very similar to decreasing term, except that the benefit amount will increase each year. If you anticipate continuing coverage over a long period, it may be right for you. The pay-out amount typically goes up five per cent annually, depending on the rate of inflation.

Convertible Term

Convertible term insurance allows the policy to be converted into a whole life plan upon expiration. Although a little more expensive, it offers many advantages. The primary gain is that it guarantees you a new policy, regardless of your health conditions. Expect to pay about 10 per cent extra on premiums.

In some cases, a standard plan may offer lower rates if you are able to meet the health requirements. To offset the cost, policies and insurers will sometimes offer a premium cap option. This is beneficial if you plan to keep the policy over a long period. It guarantees the monthly premiums will never exceed the value upon death. Keep in mind that if the over 50s life insurance policy expires, it won’t pay any benefits.

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(Guest Post)

Do you know how much it costs to get around every month? Most people don’t. There are several factors that contribute to the cost of driving, including gasoline expenses, car payments, maintenance costs and car insurance. Here’s how to figure out how much you’re really spending on monthly car costs.

Cost of your car – Figuring out how much your car costs over time is simpler than calculating gasoline expenses, but you won’t really know how much a car costs per month until you get rid of it. You may have monthly car payments, but ideally you’ll still be driving it after the car is paid off. Spread the total cost of the vehicle over the entire time of ownership to get an idea of monthly car cost.

Gasoline – Gas prices, vehicle fuel efficiency and driving distances vary drastically, so this figure can be difficult to determine. The easiest way to calculate how much money you spend on gas every month is to keep a log. Track your gasoline expenses every time you fill up, and check the odometer to figure out how far you drive every month. After a few months, or ideally a whole year, you can figure out how much you’re spending on average per mile in gasoline.

Maintenance and insurance – These monthly car costs are lumped together because they’re easy to determine. Every time your vehicle is serviced, record the expense. Car insurance premiums are usually a flat rate every month, and won’t change often. If you have affordable auto insurance, it can help bring your total monthly car cost down. To find affordable insurance, request several auto insurance quotes before you pick a policy.

How does it add up?

Imagine two hypothetical drivers:

Jack is 21 and bought a 15-year-old, well-worn car for $1,000. He drives less than your average motorist at 10,000 miles per year. His insurance is inexpensive for such an old vehicle, costing Jack $45 per month. But the old beater isn’t as fuel efficient as it once was, getting only 24 miles per gallon. During the two years Jack owned the vehicle before it died, he spent a total of $1,600 in maintenance and repairs. If gas prices were $3.50 per gallon on average, Jack’s total vehicle cost would be $5,138.33. Spread out over two years, that would bring his monthly cost of ownership to $214.

Jill is 35 and bought a brand new car for $28,000. She logged 14,000 miles per year with a fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon. Jill had the car serviced regularly and kept it running for 15 years. Her car insurance was high at first, but lowered gradually, averaging $60 per month. Maintenance costs came to a total of $4,000 during the life of the vehicle. Using the same gas price estimation as Jack, Jill’s total vehicle cost comes to $67,300. Spread out over 15 years, Jill spent $373.88 per month.

Through these examples, you can see how several different factors come into play when determining your car cost per month, and how small expenses can add up over time. Remember to take all of these factors into account when calculating your monthly car cost and budgeting for a new automobile.

Often, when selling your old home, it’s all too easy to concentrate on the new home you’re going to be buying. You have chosen the ideal place, found the best value new mortgage and insurance deals and you are looking forward to moving in.

But losing focus on the home you’re trying to sell can end up costing you a lot of money. In these tough times, that’s money you can ill afford to lose. To make sure that you avoid making this mistake, you should ensure that you optimise the value of your current home.

Here are a few things that might lower the value of your property in the eyes of many buyers:

1. Poorly maintained plumbing or electrical systems are very off-putting to potential buyers. Either fix any problems yourself if you can, or get in a contractor to do it for you. A few hundred spent sorting out these kinds of issues can add thousands to the price you achieve for your home.
2. Before buyers even enter the house, they will check out the roof. They know that roofs are expensive to fix, so if they see any problems, you can expect a lower offer on your property.
3. You might like to express yourself by using bright colors in your home. Remember, though, that they will not appeal to everyone. Redecorate with neutral colors before you show your home and you will get much more interest from buyers.
4. A garage is often an important requirement for people looking to buy a new home. If you don’t have one, or the one you have is too small, then you might have a real problem getting a good price for your house. Building a new, good-sized garage might well prove to be a good investment.
5. Think about the layout of your property before putting it up for sale. Would it work for most people? A poorly designed or awkward layout will significantly lower the value of any home. Think about the needs of the average family and, if necessary, change the layout to make it more appealing.
6. Nothing deters buyers more than an outdated bathroom or kitchen. These are the two most important rooms when it comes to selling your home. Trends change quickly, so what was in fashion when you bought your house a few years ago might look seriously out of date now. You won’t necessarily have to change everything. New work surfaces, rather than a whole new kitchen, can work wonders.
7. Make sure that the front of your house and your front yard are kept neat and tidy. A poor first impression won’t help you to meet your asking price on the property.
8. The outside space around your house can be important to buyers. Mature plants, trees and shrubs can add to its appeal and therefore to its price.
9. Storage and lots of it, is a key factor for many buyers. If you don’t have enough, you are definitely lowering the price you might get for your home.
10. A crucial part of making a good impression on buyers is to use natural, or artificial, light to give the rooms in your property a bright, airy appearance. Having a dark, depressing home for sale is going to cost you thousands.

All of these things come into play if you want to maximize the value of your house. Not paying attention to them could cost you a lot of money.

A bit of time and effort and a few small investments in home improvement could help you to get the best possible price for your home. The reward for you is that you’ll have a bigger deposit and a smaller mortgage when it comes to buying your new home.

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Article provided by moneysupermarket.com, use their mortgage calculator tools to see how much you can save on your mortgage.

(Got this in an email today — maybe it helps someone?)

It’s graduation day.  Your name was just called and you are steps away from receiving your diploma.  Your family looks on, proud of your accomplishment.  As you reach for your diploma, you smile as you remember all the hard work it took to get to this moment.  You then receive your diploma, take your first steps as a graduate, and begin to think…what’s next?

Planning for your future after graduation is one challenge many young people are faced with.  Many graduates are having difficulties making critical life decisions as it is hard to get a sense of how their decisions will affect their future.  Decisions such as pursuing higher education, becoming career focused, starting a family or enlisting in the service are just a few examples of decisions that will play a part in how one’s life unfolds.

The Army National Guard has a new application they created and is designed to give users an online visualization experience that will help the user plan their future.  The program titled My Life helps users customize their “life” through different environment, occupation, and interest decisions showing users how their decisions will affect them financially and professionally.