Most internet users hardly ever pay attention to how much they use the internet until the day the bill arrives at the end of the month.

That is when they realize how important it is to try and cut down on internet costs.

But in the modern world where internet penetration seems to be growing by the day and the number of internet service providers is on a steady rise, the wide variety of choice means that internet users no longer have to pay through their noses in order to be able to stay online.

If you find yourself struggling to pay your internet bills then there is probably something that you are not doing right and below are a few tips which, if properly applied, should be effective in helping you cut down on your internet bills.

Check your internet speed

Internet service providers typically charge users according to internet speeds. Faster internet speeds cost more money while users with slower internet connections may pay much less.

However, not all internet service providers actually provide internet users with the exact speeds that they advertise.

In some cases you might be paying a lot of money in order to be able to access high speed internet and yet the kind of speeds that you are getting are worth just a small fraction of what you are being asked to pay.

As such, the first step in reducing your internet costs is to test the speed of your internet to determine whether you are actually getting real value for your money or if you’re just being taken for a ride. There are numerous online applications out there that you can use to test your internet speed so it should not be too difficult to find one to use.

If, after testing, you find that your internet speed is slower than the advertised speed then it might be time to start looking for a new internet service provider.

Know and balance your internet needs

It is important to take time and understand the things for which you need and use internet the most. Some online activities usually require more bandwidth than others and, as a general rule, internet service providers will normally charge more fees for more bandwidth.

For instance, while normal surfing activities such as email and social media can be managed well enough with 1 Mbps or even less, online gaming would require up to 2 Mbps of bandwidth while heavier activities such as HD streaming of videos would require up to 4 Mbps.

When tackling this part, the main question you need to be asking yourself is whether or not you need all the bandwidth that you are paying for. If, for instance, you just use the internet for light surfing but you have a subscription for 4Mbps bandwidth then you need to have your ISP adjust that downwards so that you do not have to incur all the unnecessary expense.

Negotiate your internet bill

It’s funny how some people will negotiate and haggle for hours on end before making simple purchases and yet never think to do the same when it comes to the costs of internet. This is perhaps due to the fact that the internet is still relatively new and most people just assume that the rates set by their internet service providers are cast in stone.

But here’s the thing, most internet service providers are actually quite flexible in their rates and would be willing to revise them downwards if you try to negotiate with them. This is particularly true for organizations and companies that require a lot of bandwidth in order to conduct their activities.

You do not even have to be a great salesman and convince them, all you need to do is point out that you know of a better deal that you can opt for if they do not adjust your rates.

Buy your own equipment

Renting equipment such as routers and modems from internet service providers might definitely seem cheap in the long run but the rental expenditure keeps accumulating over time. The total cost of renting the equipment for, say, two years when calculated will almost always be higher than that of buying and using your own equipment.

This morning I read an article on Yahoo Finance titled 12 Times Being Cheap is Totally Worth It.   The author shares 12 examples of items where you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get good quality.  I’m all for saving money at the supermarket whenever possible, and I also love shopping at Costco because there are so many great deals to be had.

Below I have listed each of the 12 examples along with some thoughts of my own.  

Shampoo.  I don’t put much thought into shampoo but my wife swears it pays to spend a little extra.  I’m fine with using whatever is on sale or shopping at the dollar store.

Produce.  The article mentions that frozen fruits and vegetables are generally cheaper than fresh, though I would caution that isn’t necessarily true.  There’s a farmer’s market nearby where I often stop for fresh fruits and veggies and the price can’t be beat.  But we also keep some frozen vegetables on hand, especially during the winter when it is harder to find them fresh.  I think we have some frozen corn in the freezer right now as well as some berries and mixed fruit.  We like to use those in place of ice when making smoothies.

Prescriptions.  I always ask the pharmacist for the generic version of prescriptions because they are just as effective for a fraction of the cost.  The same goes for over the counter pain killers and cough syrup.  Why pay more just for a name?

Water.  Bottled water is a total rip-off, but it is something I’m guilty of buying from time to time.  I know filters work great and all but the convenience of grabbing a cold bottle of water out of the fridge on my way out the door is something I appreciate.

Contact Lens Solution.  I don’t wear glasses or contacts so I don’t have much opinion on this one.

Tools.  As a do it yourselfer, I don’t completely agree on this one.  While it’s usually not necessarily  to spend top dollar on tools, you don’t want to go too cheap or you’ll end up with something that doesn’t work.  I’d say I usually buy mid-ranged tools…they may not have all the bells and whistles but they have enough of them and I’m confident they’ll last for a while.

Coffee.  Umm, no.  My wife and I are both coffee-lovers and the generic brands just don’t cut it in our house.  I’d rather spend a few extra bucks and grab a bag of Starbucks when it goes on sale.  I NEED my morning cup of coffee!

Cell Phone Plans.  We have a family plan through Sprint and I’m happy with that.  I spend more than the author of the article does but it’s not the most expensive plan either.

Toothpaste.  I don’t have any brand loyalty when it comes to toothpaste.  We buy whatever is on sale and with coupons you should never have to pay full price for a tube of toothpaste.

Pantry Staples.  We almost always buy the generic version of items like cereal, rice, and canned goods…with a few exceptions.  Anything but Hellman’s mayonnaise is gross to me.  And as an avid griller I like to try different barbecue sauces…the cheap stuff usually isn’t very good.

Toilet Paper.  Completely agree with the article…Scott’s toilet paper is horrible, but the store brand is usually just fine.

Wine.  My wife and I both enjoy drinking wine and there is definitely a difference in quality as price increases.  We usually shop in the $9 to $12 range for a 750ml bottle and I find that’s a nice balance between quality and price.  The cheaper stuff is usually not very good.

In the end, it’s all about trade-offs and balance.  I’m more than willing to shop smart and save some money on most items so I can afford to spend a little bit extra on a few items that are more important to me.

Your son’s foot slips while backing into the driveway and he crashes right through the garage door.  A water pipe bursts and floods your basement.  Your furnace dies in the middle of winter. Your company is downsizing and you suddenly find yourself out of a job.

Life is full of financial emergencies like these, which is why it’s smart to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses or a loss of income.

But how do you go about setting up an emergency fund?  Where do you get the money from?  Where do you keep it?

Have no fear…we’re going to answer all of your questions about emergency funds below.

How Big of an Emergency Fund Do You Need?

There are many opinions as to the optimal size of an emergency fund.  One common rule of thumb is that it should be big enough to cover three to six months of your living expenses.  Some people suggest you need at least a year’s worth of living expenses while others believe you can get by with just $1,000.

We recommend a minimum of three months expenses, but ultimately the size of your emergency fund will depend on your own personal circumstances and monthly bills.  Someone who is frugal and doesn’t have many expenses wouldn’t need as much as someone with a hefty mortgage, multiple car payments, and a host of other bills to pay.

Of course if you did suffer a long-term financial emergency, such as a job layoff, you’d want to trim your expenses to the bare minimum to make your money last as long as possible.  You don’t want to miss mortgage payments, so it could be time to scale back your cable package and stop eating out every Saturday night.

Do you have any dependents?  The more people who are relying on your paycheck the larger your emergency fund should be.  This is not only because you have more mouths to feed, but also because there are more opportunities for an emergency to take place.  My kids have made several trips to the emergency room and while none of them were particularly serious they were all expensive.

How to Fund Your Emergency Fund

Perhaps the most frustrating part of creating an emergency fund is finding money to get it started, especially if your budget is already stretched to the limit.  Here are some tips to help you build up an emergency fund no matter what your current resources are.

• Start small.  Putting away $20 per paycheck may seem futile at first, but it is important to get the ball rolling and start saving something.  Thanks to compound interest, even small amounts will grow over time.  And you can always increase your savings amounts when you can.
• Get a bonus at work or a fat tax refund check?  Put in towards your emergency fund instead of spending it.
• Get a part-time job.  It doesn’t have to be a lifetime commitment, but a second job can give your emergency fund a healthy boost.  To stay motivated you can set a goal such as, “I’ll work two jobs until my emergency fund account reaches $5,000.”
• Sell your extra stuff.  We all have stuff stored around the house that we know we’ll never use again.  Why not turn your trash into cash?   You could hold a yard sale, sell it to a consignment shop, or sell it online at sites like eBay or Craigslist.  My wife found a neat Facebook group where moms from our area post items for sale.  She’s already sold a handful of items and made about a hundred bucks on stuff I was going to throw away.
• Dig under couch cushions and car seats.  Keep a jar at home and empty all the spare change from your pockets into the jar every day.  You’d be surprised how quickly it will add up and once the jar is full you can deposit it into your emergency fund.

Where to Keep Your Emergency Fund

Emergency fund money should be kept where it can earn some interest and where you can access it quickly and without penalty.  It also needs to be somewhere safe.  Remember, your emergency fund is for saving, not investing.

Where NOT to keep your emergency fund:

1. Under your mattress.  While we do recommend stashing a small amount of cash (say $200) somewhere around the house for minor emergencies, keeping large sums of money under your mattress or in a drawer is foolish.  It could easily be stolen or destroyed in a fire or flood.
2. The stock market.  Remember, you want your emergency fund to be safe and easily accessible and stocks are anything but.  You’ll incur fees to sell stocks and what if the market is down when you are forced to sell?  Bad investment choices could sink your entire fund in no time.
3. Certificates of Deposit.  While CDs are safer than stocks and they do earn interest, you will usually be charged early-withdrawal penalties if you have to cash them out early.

The Best Place to Store Your Emergency Fund

A high-yield online savings account offers the perfect balance between safety, liquidity, and earnings.

Your funds are FDIC insured so you won’t have to worry about losing money like you would in the stock market.

Your money is easily accessible through a bank transfer, or if you have a checking account set up you can even write a check or use an ATM to withdraw money.

You’ll earn interest.  You certainly won’t get rich given current interest rates but at least your money will be working for you and growing a little.

We have our emergency fund in a Capital One 360 Savings Account and we recommend you do the same.  It’s easy to set up and there is no minimum balance.  If you want you can set up automatic deposits to make sure you contribute to the account every month and keep it growing.

Interest rates are much better than those found at traditional brick and mortar banks, and you can set up multiple sub-accounts and label them however you like.  Having multiple “buckets” to place your savings helps you track your progress towards various savings goals.

You can go online anytime and check your balances and transfer money around between sub-accounts and even to and from a traditional bank account.  And if you open an online checking account you can write checks or withdraw money from an ATM.

Obviously the combination of safety, liquidity, and earning potential make a high-yield savings account the best place to keep your emergency fund.

There’s a myth in this country that eating healthy is expensive as is getting in shape.  However, just as there are low cost alternatives to joining a gym to get in shape, there are also low cost ways to eat healthy on a budget.

But first, let’s dispel the myth that eating healthy is expensive.  If you buy your family a crockpot meal from the freezer section that you simply dump in the crockpot, you’ll likely pay $6 to $8.  However, those meals are small, and if you have a family of 4, you’ll likely need two.  You’re now looking at $12 to $16 to feed your family, and that’s assuming that you don’t eat anything else.

Compare that to a meal from scratch using fresh, organic ingredients.  You could buy a bunch of organic Swiss Chard for approximately $2 to $3.  This is the vegetable that keeps giving; there’s enough in a bunch to serve as an ample side for a family of 4.   Then, buy a 5 lb. bag of organic potatoes.  These will likely run you about $5, but you can use just 2 pounds to make homemade french fries for $2.  Add in some organic chicken breasts for $8, and you are now paying $12 for your home cooked meal.

The difference is that you are eating healthy, nutritious organic food with no chemical additives for the same price as a factory made meal filled with chemicals and ingredients that aren’t very good for you.

If you buy conventional Swiss Chard, potatoes and chicken instead of organic, you will be able to serve the same meal for much less, likely $8 or less.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be more expensive.

Here are some other ways you can gradually change your diet to more natural, less processed food, without seeing your grocery budget go up significantly:

1.  Buy vegetables that are cheap.  Things like kale, Swiss Chard, spinach, cabbage, carrots, celery and potatoes can be purchased at very reasonable prices, and the quantity is abundant.  You can make at least two meals out of a head of cabbage.   Many of these products are also high on the ANDI scale (which stands for Aggregate Nutrient Density Index and measures how many nutrients a food has).  The higher the ANDI score, the better.

2.  Buy from a CSA.  CSAs (which stands for Community Supported Agriculture) are popping up all over the country.  You buy straight from the farmer (often an organic farmer).  You pay upfront, say between March and June, for 26 weeks of produce.  In return, the farmer delivers produce from his local farm to you every week during the growing season, usually between June and late October.  Often you will get more than you can consume in a week, so you can freeze some for the fall and winter months.  Generally, the price is much cheaper than the grocery store.  You can find a CSA by looking at localharvest.org.

3.  Take advantage of Recyclebank.  Recyclebank gives you points for doing tasks related to living a “green” life.  My favorite way to use those points is on coupons for organic products and produce.

Eating healthy, nutritious, minimally processed foods doesn’t have to be more expensive than eating factory made food filled with additives.  If your New Year’s resolution is to become healthier, taking a close look at the food you buy is a step in the right direction.

How have you been doing with your New Year resolutions?  The new year is a time when millions of people swear off their bad ways.  No more junk food, no more lack of exercise.  This is the year you will eat healthy and get in shape.  At least, that is what many people tell themselves.  And then they waste a lot of money by rushing out to join the gym.

Gyms are in business to make money, and one way they do this is by requesting (or requiring, depending on the gym), that people sign up for the year with automatic deposit.  They know the majority of people who flock in to sign up in December and January won’t be there by March or April, but they will still be taking out your monthly payment each month.

If you want to avoid this fate, there are plenty of ways you can get in shape for much less than the gym charges:

A quick look on my local Craigslist shows treadmills available for $50 to $100, and a nice exercise bike for $100.  This sure beats how much you will pay for a one year gym membership, and don’t forget that you can negotiate the prices on Craigslist.

2.  Buy exercise DVDs.  There is no need to take expensive exercise classes at the gym.  Simply buy a few exercise DVDs and work out at home.  If you have a specific choice, you can buy it at the store, but if you are not fussy about the workout program, you can find exercise DVDs on Craigslist for as little as $2 to $4.  At that price, you can buy several, and it will still cost less than one month at the gym.

3.  Take a class through the Wellness Center at the local hospital.  Many hospitals offer Wellness Programs that include classes on nutrition as well as exercise classes.  Choices often include aerobics, yoga, meditation and tai chi.  These courses often only cost a few dollars per session.  Likewise, your local community center may also offer different exercise classes.

These classes are a great alternative to the gym because you still get to go out and socialize with other people.  They are also a good choice if you lack the discipline to work out on your own at home.

4.  Go for a walk.  If you live in temperate area, you should be able to walk all winter long.  Walking is easy on the joints and an exercise that most anyone can do.  All you need is a good pair of shoes.

Getting in shape in 2013 is a great goal and one you should pursue.  However, don’t feel obligated to make a full year commitment to the gym.  There are plenty of other ways to get in shape and exercise that will only cost you a small investment, saving you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.

The holiday season can be tough on your wallet. If you are looking to increase your emergency savings or attack debt with a vengeance, there are some easy ways to find the extra cash.

We recently used several of these tactics to add $700 to our emergency fund in two weeks after a series of events battered our emergency fund. We are still raising more money and hope to have our emergency fund up to $3,000 in 4 weeks.

Try these tactics to find extra money:

1. Turn in your change. If you keep loose change in a jar, turn it all in. Make sure to go to a bank rather than Coinstar, which keeps a 10% commission (unless you choose to get your money as a gift card).
2. Cash out reward points. If you get rewards from your credit card or use a site like Swagbucks, cash out the money you have earned.
3. Sell your outgrown kids’ clothes. If you have name brand clothes for your kids like Gymboree, Gap, Hanna Andersson and Janie & Jack, you can make good money selling on eBay. I buy my kids Gymboree clothes on sale with a coupon and then sell them on eBay when they are outgrown. In one week, I made $175 selling them. If you don’t buy those kinds of clothes, you can sell them on Craigslist or at a second hand retailer like Once Upon a Child.
4. Sell your kids’ outgrown toys. Christmas is right around the corner, so now is the perfect time to list your kids’ toys on Craigslist and eBay.
5. Sell your stuff around the house. Look in your basement and closets. What can you get rid of? I made $100 on Craigslist by selling 2 window guards and an old breast pump from my nursing days. We still have to list a brand new suitcase and some of my husband’s tools. Price the item just a little bit higher than you want to get and be willing to negotiate.
6. Save reimbursements. Do you get reimbursements? If so, save those or apply them to your debt. We get reimbursements from FSA for health and childcare. We were also reimbursed from my husband’s employer for travel expenses he had to pay to attend a conference.
7. Save raises. Instead of absorbing a raise into your budget, have the difference automatically withdrawn and put into savings. You won’t miss the money, and you will be growing your savings.
8. Save your savings. Do you shop with coupons and a store loyalty card? Keep what you save and use it to pay down debt. If you saved $12 using coupons, put that money in the bank or on your credit card.
9. Have a no spending challenge. Have one day, week or month where you decided not to spend. For a no spend day, you won’t spend anything. For a no spend week or month, you set an amount you will spend like no more than $20 for the week or $300 for the month. That amount will be used for entertainment, eating out, buying gas and grocery shopping.
10. Have a pantry challenge. You probably have odds and ends in your cupboard like the fruit medley you never ate or the jar of cranberry sauce. Determine a period of time, usually 2 to 4 weeks, when you will only buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Everything else you eat will be food that you already have at home.
11. Give up restaurants for a month. Many Americans eat out 2 to 3 times a week and spend $10 to $20 for each person each time. If you are single and don’t go out to eat for a month, you could save anywhere from $80 to $240 or more!
12. Find a side job. If you haven’t started a side hustle, now is the time to get one. If you are a teacher, maybe you could start tutoring. Someone with writing skill could start freelance writing. You could clean people’s houses. The ideas are really endless. My mom makes a few hundred each holiday season selling holiday cakes and desserts. People buy them and serve them at their holiday parties.

When you are short on money, you can feel desperate.  Take back control by using some of these methods to bulk up your emergency fund or pay down debt.

What is your favorite way to earn extra cash?

Many people are excited by the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but there are actually many things that you can buy at a steal after Christmas.  Stock up in late December and early January, and use many of the items throughout the year or save them for the Christmas season next year.

Why are so many items on sale?  Retailers want to clear out their holiday inventory and their heavy winter clothes as they prepare for the spring selling season.  In addition, January 1st is a heavily marketed period for those companies that help people get in shape and lose weight.

Here are some steals you can expect to find after Christmas:

1.  Anything with a holiday theme or pattern.  If you don’t have quite enough holiday decorations, buy them at 50% or more off after Christmas for next year.  This also applies to big purchases like artificial Christmas trees.  Now is also the time to buy Christmas cards for next year as well as wrapping paper.

You can pick up items with a holiday theme and use them all year long at a steal.  I frequently make muffins, and muffin liners usually cost $1.50 for a pack.  I stocked up on red and green ones after Christmas for .20 a pack, and we used them all year.  Another idea is to buy discounted candy like red wrapped Hershey’s Kisses and save them to give to kids and friends on Valentine’s Day.

2.  Winter jackets.  Retailers are looking to shed their winter inventory for the spring inventory, and they deeply discount winter jackets, snow pants, and boots as well as gloves and hats.  I always buy my kids’ winter clothes in January for the next year so I never have to pay full price.

3.  Gym memberships.  If you want to get in shape, your local gym will offer a steep discount on memberships to lure you in for a year or more.  Make sure you are committed, though; many people join a gym for a year but only actually use the membership for a few months.

4.  Exercise equipment.  Many people buy exercise equipment for Christmas presents and New Year’s resolutions.  Look to buy these in late January at  a deep discount.  Or, you can wait until March and buy exercise equipment from those selling on Craigslist once they realize they aren’t actually going to use the item and it is just taking up space!

5.  Jewelry.  Jewelry is often on sale in January.  If you are planning to give a gift of jewelry for Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day, buy it during the January sales to save a bundle.

6.  Televisions.  Wait to buy until late January, and you could get a deal on a new television set thanks to Super Bowl sales.

7.  Calendars.  By mid-January, retailers will want the 2013 calendars gone.  If you don’t mind having fewer choices, you will save as much as 75% off by waiting a few more weeks to get your calendar.

8.  Toys.  Retailers stock up on toys for the holiday season and then want to down size their toy section after the holidays.  Many toys go on sale for 50% off or more.  This could be a good time to stock up on toys for upcoming birthdays or next year’s Christmas presents.

We are conditioned to think of the sales around big events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but there are many sales going on after Christmas that may save you even more money than the widely advertised sales.

What are your favorite items to buy after Christmas?