10 Easy Ways to Save Money Right Away

The economic news continues to be bleak, with ongoing reports of job losses, gloomy forecasts and weaker economic numbers. Not even the euphoria of an Obama victory or aggressive rate cuts by numerous foreign central banks has been able to wash away the harsh realities of the current financial mess the world is in.

Now is the time to hunker down and tighten belts. While never easy to change one's long-standing habits, it can be easier than one thinks. Here are some easy ways to quickly (and somewhat painlessly) save some cash.
1. Lessen your debt by cutting up your credit cards, so that you don't spend as much

2. Reduce interest costs by paying off as much of your credit card debt as possible, or by consolidating your loans

3. Review all your insurance (car, home, life) and utility (cable, phone, cellphone, Internet) rates and change vendors

4. Cook rather than buy prepared foods (cheaper and healthier)

5. Cut out daily impulse purchases, such as candy, lattes, cosmetics, magazines etc.

6. Sell unused items - those items that you have purchased, but now languish in a closet, garage, attic or basement.

7. Use the library as your source for DVDs, books and magazines

8. Use coupons, and buy in bulk on staple items that are on sale
9. Comparison shop before actually buying

10. Dine in with friends, rather than dining out at expensive eateries

Sweetening the Deals in a Car Buyer's Market

With news that the Big Three Detroit automakers are flirting with bankruptcy, it is probably a great time to make a deal on a new car. While prices are rapidly falling through generous incentives and discounts, financing may still be expensive, but for anyone with cash, this is a particularly fruitful time to start shopping for a vehicle. I have noticed that prices have been dramatically lowered on cars that do not need to be financed through the dealership. In Canada, you can buy four cars for less than $10,000 if you pay for them in cash. These are the Hyundai Accent, Chev Aveo, Kia Rio and Pontiac Wave. I have recently seen the Kio Sportage SUV offered for less than $15,000 (cash price), a discount of $5,000. Or when I was in Vancouver last month, I saw a Honda dealership offering a brand new Honda Odyssey minivan for $24,000, an $8,000 discount on the $32,000 MSRP.

While you won't find incentives for the most popular of the fuel efficient cars such a the Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris, it is the complete opposite for the (sometimes perceived to be) gas guzzling sectors such as trucks and SUVs.

Traditionally the best time to buy a new car in North America is at the end of summer (mid-September onwards) as dealers attempt to get rid of the current year's stock, and making space on showroom floors for next year's models. Models whose sales have been disappointing are also ripe for a great deal. These days, with sales of almost all vehicles falling (and therefore having disappointing numbers), most car manufacturers are offering deals, discounts, rebates and incentives on almost all models.

With Christmas looking bleak for many consumer-oriented sectors including retailers, look for December 2008 and January 2009 to be another opportunity to strike a good deal, as car dealers experience a quieter-than-normal new year lull. Certain cars have specific times of the year when it is best to buy them. For obvious reasons, autumn and winter is the best time to buy a convertible. Likewise, after the summer holiday driving season is over, the price of minivans start to fall.

For new car buyers with cash in hand, the next year or two will feel like Christmas all year round.