Monday's Three Things Finance

Three things I learned about finances this past week:

I learned that if you hear that the rates are going to drop, it is best to take some money and put it into a CD for 6 or 12 months. The CD will lock the rate at the higher rate before the drop. You continue to earn at the higher rate.

In most stores you can "stack" coupons. That means that if you have a manufactures coupon (for something like Huggies Diapers) and then you have a store coupon (like a Target coupon for diapers), you can use BOTH coupons on one product.

When investing, you want to max out the 401K match at work, then max out your ROTH IRA (you can put in $5,000 per person this year). If you are a stay at home mom, you can and SHOULD have a ROTH IRA for yourself if your husband is working. Take advantage of this!

Three links to help you with your finances:

OH YEAH!!! A forum (Organic Grocery Deals) to discuss how to get great deals on organic products (meats, produce, canned good, baby products...OK just about EVERYTHING organic). There is even a forum to talk about organic gardening. Please use my username lvg4him when registering. It is free to join and find GREAT coupon deals for organics!!! :) WOOHOO!!! I have only been a member for a week, and I have already saved $6!!! WOOHOO!!!

IF YOU SELL THINGS USING PAYPAL TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS BEWARE! There is a post where a woman talks about Paypal forcing her to give a refund months after transaction. Be sure to read the comments. Not that it happens a whole lot, but the fact that it happens, and you are NOT as protected as you think, is scary.

16 Ways to save money by NOT being normal

Three financial links for articles I have read recently:

75 Frugal Hacks for Your Home

How To Save A Million Dollars At Any Age. I did want to point out that with all that I have been reading, people my age (in their 30's), because of inflation, will have to save 3.5 million. THE EARLIER YOU START THE EASIER IT IS! If we had started in our 20's when we were first married, we would only have to be putting in a couple hundred a month. Right now, we will have to put in over $1000 a month in order just to have 1 million.

12 Things I Learned by 42 That I Wish I Knew At 22 oh this is so true. Thankfully I am learning them NOW, but still ten years too late. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE start early. PLEASE!

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GOOD DEAL ALERT and tip for stretching meat:
If you goto Organic Grocery Deals and go to the coupon resources and coupon generator, you will see the Target coupons for Morning Star $2 off one! Because we are 99% vegetarian, we use their meatless crumbles a LOT in place of meat.

When stretching meat (real or fake), we like to add shredded carrots to the mix. It gives it a meaty type feeling. This works especially well in chili and tacos and casseroles. The carrots kind of absorb the flavor of what you are cooking with. And carrots are MUCH cheaper than meat. :)

What we like to do for chili and tacos is add onion, frozen corn and shredded carrot to extend the meat. :)