Lately, we’ve been having some cold days where I live. Just the other day it was almost 90 degrees, then the VERY next day it was only 35 degrees. What?! This crazy weather is most likely hurting my wallet. One day I have the air conditioning on and then the next day I have my heat on.

Some of you probably don’t do this and would tell me just to adjust myself to the temperature, but I like to feel comfortable in my house

If you’re like me, all you did was flip the switch to turn on the heat but didn’t think of anything else that you could’ve been doing. However, every year my gas company gives me a comparison of my usage and costs compared to the year earlier, and this year I would like to beat that and use less heat and spend less money on my bill.

There are many things that you can do to save money on your heat bill this year. All of the tips below are really quick and easy things that you could be doing, but maybe you haven’t thought of them yet since we are so early into the cold weather season so far this year.

1. Curtains.

There are curtains that you can buy that can help keep the heat in and keep the cold drafts out. They might be fairly expensive near you, but they can be a good investment. Also, opening curtains on sides of the house where all of the sun’s heat comes in is good also. Open up those blinds and soak up the sun!

2. Wear warmer clothes.

I’m still running around in my warm weather clothes and pajamas around my house, when I should be bundling up. Wearing an extra layer of clothes such as a cardigan or pants can help a lot once it starts getting colder. Wearing socks and slippers definitely helps as well.

3. Thicker blankets.

Instead of cranking up the heat when you’re about to go to bed, buy a warmer blanket! Seems like a no brainer right? I’m sure you have extra blankets around the house, get them out of storage and put them on your bed. Heated blankets work wonders as well and they usually don’t cost too much.

4. Adjust the temperature for when no one is home.

If no one is home for hours and hours during the day, then turn the heat down so that you can save more on your bill. However, if you will only be gone for 1 or 2 hours, then it’s probably best just to leave it where it’s at, as your furnace will have to work extra to get it back to where it was before you left (thus eliminating any gain that you could’ve made).

5. Monitor the thermostat.

Do you notice a big difference between 68 degrees and 72 degrees? Your body may not notice that big of a difference, but your wallet definitely will. Adjust the thermostat to see what you are comfortable with. Higher temperatures of course equal higher bills. Lately we’ve been keeping it at around 68 degrees and I believe last year our bill averaged around $150 a month.

6. Change your fan setting/direction.

A tip that I didn’t know of until last year was that you should be adjusting your fan setting. Usually there is a “winter” setting that is located right on your fan. Just click it over and that will help you save money as well.

What do you do to save money on your heating bill?

Everyone who is human has struggled financially at some point. It may not be to the same degree as others, but the statement still holds. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone is always learning new things. While many people will try to convince others that they have it all figured out, it is a lot of deception.

When lies are unveiled and the truth is not hidden from sight, we all begin to realize that personal finance is complicated. Not only do unexpected expenses pop up out of nowhere, but we also face difficult financial times that are beyond our control. This recent recession is evident of that idea. While managing your personal finance is often difficult and challenging, forcing you to make decisions without certainty of success, there some basic principles to managing your personal finances.

1. Spend Less Than You Earn

The one way that you can alleviate much of the stress associated with finances is by reducing your spending. In fact, the less you spend the better. Start with spending less than you earn. Not just some months, but all months. This will prevent you from financing your current situation on hopes of future pay raises and will keep you in the black. If there is one thing that I have learned over the past few years, it’s that life is much better in the black than in the red.

2. Create an Emergency Fund

The second thing that I have learned is that expenses pop up. Some people may have no other choice than to use payday loans, but you should do everything you can to give yourself a cushion. If you have a little extra money coming in each month, do yourself a favor and save that money in an emergency fund. Establish a certain amount and promise yourself that you will only touch it in an emergency. Some emergencies may be unexpected unemployment, car repairs, etc.

3. Invest Aggressively

Investing regularly is one of the only ways to build wealth. Unless you plan to live off of the minimal payments you get from social security, you will need investments in order to retire. While it may be hard to eliminate the lifestyle inflation, it will be worth it in the long-term if you can prioritize your savings and investing now.

4. Help Others

One of the core tenets of this personal finance blog is to do everything you can to help others. Our wealth that we build is a privilege. We need to use this wealth to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves. If we ignore this aspect, we run the risk of losing sight of what is important and becoming obsessed with money. While money is nice to have, it’s a means for something greater – it is not the end result.

While these are some of the basic principles of managing your personal finances, these are only the beginning. They help us with the basic framework, from which we can overcome some of the greater challenges that come our way.

Short-term financial problems are a part of life. You may have had an unexpected car repair bill, taken a few unpaid sick days from work or received an unexpectedly utilities bill. Just about everyone experiences these kinds of emergencies, and with a little bit of resourcefulness, you can overcome this difficulty. Below are a number of strategies you could employ to fund emergencies as these happen.

Find Extra Work:

Ask your employer if you can work some extra hours. A few additional shifts or a couple of hours a day can add up to a significant amount of money on your next payday. If that’s not an option, register with a local temporary agency. Often labour and construction employers need people to start immediately for short-term jobs and they may pay you on a daily basis.

Get the word out that you are looking for some quick, short-term, employment. Often friends or family will know someone who needs a job done and is willing to pay. If you have a skill, such as cleaning or tutoring, place an advertisement on the Internet and put up notices on local bulletin boards; websites such as Craig’s List can be a great place to start.

Use a Cash Advance Service:

Taking a loan is often the easiest and quickest way to deal with a financial problem. There are many lending options available. Friends or family may be willing to lend a hand, provided you have a solid plan for paying them back. Banks often allow for an overdraft if it is prearranged. The cash advance option is one that many Americans are using every day to help them ease short term financial issues. These can be obtained online or at a local store. You can find better rates for short term funding online and can have a response in minutes and the money in your account in a matter of hours.

Sell Something:

Look at your possessions. Chances are that you have things you don’t need anymore. See if you can sell something to make quick cash. Working electronic devices, furniture and sports equipment can all be sold easily. TV shows such as Pawn stars show the prices that can be achieved from items that could be lying in your attic right now and rather than growing your level of debt decreasing clutter can be a great way to deal with your financial emergency. If you have a longer period of time using services such as Craig’s list or Gumtree may deliver a higher price for your items but the downside is that the period to sale is likely to be longer and your money may not arrive in good time for you to make payment.

Negotiate:

Whatever your financial need is, there is someone at the other end of it who is ready to collect your money. Contact them and see if you can make an arrangement to pay later. For example, a utility company will often allow you to increased time to pay off the debt. It can be embarrassing to let a stranger know that you are having financial difficulties to a stranger but taking the time and the effort to let your lenders know your situation can be one of the best ways to help you overcome short term financial issues.

For short-term difficulties, banks may allow you to pay interest only on a loan and defer the remainder of the payment. If you don’t have the money to pay for a service such as car repair, then ask about a payment plan. You won’t be the first person they’ve dealt with who has been short of cash and companies would prefer to wait slightly longer than write off debts.

The important thing is that short term funding of any sort should be for the short term, it should not be a regular part of your life. If you find you are in a difficult financial situation every month without any emergencies coming up it is likely to be most prudent to look at your overall income and spending patterns and look to tackle these instead.

To some Western ears it sounds a little harsh and argumentative while to others sweet and flowing. Whatever your thoughts about the Arabic language, its cadences and rhythms will quickly captivate and enthral the moment you arrive in Egypt. And don’t worry too much if you find the language difficult to comprehend. Most Western people do. But the good news is Egypt is full of English speakers, too!

However, you’ll quickly learn making the effort to speak even a little Arabic, the odd word or phrase, will be greatly appreciated by all Egyptians you come into contact with. A little definitely goes a long, long way in this scenario, signalling as it does a deep respect for the country and its culture.

Having somewhere comfortable to stay is probably one of the main priorities when it comes to setting up home in a strange, new country, all the more so if you’re taking your children along, too. There’s no getting away from it, the worry, that is. It comes with the territory, so to speak. Having the correct information well ahead of time will greatly help in relieving any stress and worry.

If you are looking to buy a home, the good news is it’s a lot easier than it used to be. Property is comparatively cheap when compared to the UK and the cost of living is also a lot lower.

Ex-pat children usually attend one of the many international schools which provide education to an extremely high standard. Some of the schools are British or American, but other countries, too, are also well represented.
Anyone contemplating setting up home in any foreign country is also likely to be worried about access to their hard-earned cash and savings. Banks in Egypt are some of the best in the world whether multinationals like HSBC or Barclays, or one of the many home-grown varieties like Banque du Caire, the National Bank of Egypt or Banque Misr. From current accounts to overdraft facilities, personal finance is well and truly covered in Egypt. Click here to view available current accounts from HSBC Egypt.

Like everywhere else in the world, including the UK, opening a personal bank account means proving who you are. To do this, you’ll need some official documentation. This will include your passport, naturally, a work visa and a residence certificate. Take along a couple of passport-size photographs and, if possible, details of your home bank. Some recent bank statements should prove handy, if you have them, and maybe a letter from your UK bank manager, too. The more documentation you provide the easier the whole process will be.

Whatever bank you decide to go with, it will probably have its own network of cash machines allowing you to withdraw your money free of charge whenever you need it. But, be warned, using an ATM belonging to another bank may result in charges. Just as in the UK, there will be a limit as to how much you can withdraw on any particular day, the maximum ranging from about EGP £2,000 and EGP £4,000 (about £220 – £450 GBP).
Click here to learn a little basic Arabic!