Your Healthy Diet Shouldn't Leave Your Budget In The Red

We all know that we should be trying to make our diets as healthier as possible these days. Eating better is a great way to build up our health and help protect against a whole range of illnesses and health conditions. However, some people still struggle to add an extra portion of veggies to their meals. It’s not because they don’t like all those greens - it’s because eating healthily can be extremely expensive. For some people, it’s cheaper to fill their kitchen with processed foods and ingredients rather than fresh fruit and veg and whole grains.

Is this the main reason why you aren’t eating as well as you should? If so, fear not. In fact, it can be very easy to eat healthily on a tight budget once you know how you can save money. Read on to find out more!

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Create A Weekly Grocery Budget

We all know that creating a monthly budget is the best way to keep our finances in good shape. Hopefully, you’ve already got such a budget that you enter in all your income, regular outgoings, and one-off expenses. Well, it’s also a good idea to create an individual budget for your weekly groceries as well. That way, you can take a closer look at exactly how much you are spending on your food everytime you go to the supermarket. To do this, simply set yourself an amount for your weekly groceries. Make sure that you buy everything you need for the week in just one visit, as that will create less chance of you going over budget. Thanks, to this new budget, you’ll be able to control your spending more and will have more cash left over to go on healthy foods and ingredients.



Write A Shopping List And Stick To It

Next, it’s important to write a shopping list. Once you have done, you should stick to it! One of the main reasons why people struggle to afford their monthly groceries is because they get easily distracted when in the supermarket and end up buying things that catch their eye. Supermarkets are always putting on special deals, some of which aren’t really worth it, and it’s certainly pointless wasting your money on these items. So, plan in advance what you are going to eat for the week, and then you will find you have more to spend on your core shopping list.

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Eat Seasonally

It’s also a good idea to try and eat as seasonally as possible. If you buy items that are out of season, especially fruit and vegetables, you will find that your weekly grocery shopping will work out very expensive indeed! That’s because it can be very expensive to produce and grow certain foods out of their natural season. And all of this cost will come down to you, the customer. So, it’s best to stick to a seasonal diet to try and keep your shopping costs down. Thankfully, each season has plenty of healthy veggies and fruits you can try, so eating this way will never end up boring!

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Look For Restaurant Deals And Discounts

Whenever you eat out, you should try and look for restaurants that you know are going to have healthy options on the menu. Try not to just stick to fast-food outlets or convenience restaurants as the dishes they serve up will be really bad for your health. Unfortunately, health-food restaurants and those with a focus on healthy vegetarian cuisine can often be very expensive. There is a way around this, though. You just need to look for deals and discounts offered by these kinds of restaurants. If you look here for more information, you can see that you can even treat yourself to some gift cards for various restaurants. So, why not ask for some of these cards for your birthday?

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A post shared by ✈️In Transit Travel + Food (@intransitblog) on Apr 3, 2018 at 4:54pm PDT

 Swap To Cheaper Brands

Next time you go shopping, it’s worth taking a bit of extra time to consider all the different food brands that are on the shelf. How do the prices of the brands you normally buy compare to some of the others? There’s a chance that changing your habit could get you some cheaper food prices. In fact, if you often go for branded food and ingredients, it’s worth switching to the supermarket own brands as they are often a lot cheaper. You don’t have to worry about a decline in the quality - generally speaking, supermarket own brands are just as good as the premium products on the shelf!

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Cook From Scratch

Do you regularly cook convenience food and ready meals? If so, this is a habit that you need to nip in the bud as soon as possible! It often works out so much cheaper to cook everything from scratch. Fast food and convenience meals are often overpriced, and they simply aren’t worth it. Not only that, though, but they will be packed full of calories and sugar, and will make it incredibly easy for you to gain a lot of excess weight. If you are one of the people who struggle to find the time to cook healthy family meals from scratch, there are some solutions. One of the best, though, is to batch cook at the weekends when you do have time. Cook large portions of meals and then portion them up before freezing. Through the week, you just have to take out as many portions you need and reheat them ready for dinner.

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Don’t Shop When You Are Hungry

One of the biggest mistakes many people make is going to the supermarket on an empty stomach. When you are hungry, you will be easily tempted to buy all the delicious-looking food that comes into your eye line. This will not only push up the cost of your weekly shop, but it will also mean you are more likely to buy unhealthy food too.

Once you follow all the tips above, you should find that healthy eating becomes a lot more affordable for you. Bon appetit!

Indebted To Tech: How To Break The Chain

Advancement in technology is one of the greatest inventions of modern times. Think about how much the world relies on the internet and cell phones today. There is hardly a patch on earth on the planet which isn’t impacted. And, its rise has been meteoric. The internet was a 90s invention yet it has taken it less thirty years to immerse society fully. Plus, the surge isn’t finished, not by a long shot.

It’s easy to see why tech has become a major part of modern life. Cell phones, tablets, and laptops with connectivity are instant. Turn it on and you can be on the grid in a matter of seconds. The world is open to you and it’s accessible from any location on the planet. Also, there is the ease of use. Imagine living a life without a microwave or a fridge. The sheer effort it would take to transition would be monumental.

Unfortunately, technology is leading people into debt. Conventional wisdom says it can get the poor out of a funk and into the black. Information Age sets out how this can be the case. But, for every action, there is a reaction. Here’s how tech may hurt your finances.

Long-Term Contracts

Human nature means people want the newest gadgets and gizmos. From a vanity perspective, it’s an excellent way to show off to the world. The fact that you are one of the first followers to own an iPhone X is a statement of intent. You are a wealthy individual who doesn’t take prisoners. Everyone look and take notes. The only issue with investing in the newest technology is the contract.

Bad deals are rife because buyers have to agree to long-term contracts. Today, it’s common to pay $50 a month for a phone and data which lasts for two-years. Anyone who wants to get out of it has to pay the remaining amount off in full. In short, tech companies have your short and curlies in a vice and aren’t scared of squeezing.

Thankfully, sellers exist that don’t insist on 24-month deals. And, it isn’t as if download speeds are slow or the product is inferior in any way. They merely want to offer a service which suits both parties.

Overpaying

Suppliers tell you the cost of a monthly contract in advance of taking the money. Still, there’s a good chance that this won’t end up being the final amount. Why? It’s because users often go over their limits and incur extra charges. Data is a perfect illustration. Without wifi, the phone connects to the Web via 4G. When you are within the specified limits, this is fine because it’s already covered in the deal. However, when the bolt-ons are empty, it’s very costly.

Technology isn’t full to blame but it plays a major role. Firstly, the need to have a connection is an issue. Anyone who can go a few hours without surfing the internet wouldn’t need to fork out a great deal of cash. Secondly, the layout makes it difficult to see when and where you are spending money.

The most basic thing you can do is understand the bill and stick to the limits. If there is 1GB of data and 500 messages, then keep track of how many you use.

Transient Memory

For those who don’t know the term, it’s when you let other things act as your memory. For example, parents rely on their kids concerning tech because they are the experts. When something goes wrong, moms and dads speak to their children to fix the problem. In many ways, lots of people rely on technology to fulfill their responsibilities.

Think about online banking and setting up a monthly payment. Maybe you’re single and use Tinder? In this case, signing up to the “Gold” option costs money but you want to try it for a month regardless. Better to see if it works than dismiss it out of hand. Because you don’t have to make the payment physically – PayPal does it – it’s easy to forget. Before long, three months have passed and you’ve wasted 90 days’ worth of subscription money.

Those who sign up to trial periods and reduced memberships should cancel them as soon as possible. That way, you can still use it until the end of the deal and it doesn’t automatically renew. Or, and this is old-school, you can write it down and cancel it the day before or on the day.

Safety And Security

The only way to lose money twenty years ago was to drop it down the sofa. Or, if you were unlucky, a bank robbery may take place at your establishment of choice. Now, all it takes is a weak server and an online connection to steal credit card information. Hacking is a real danger and it happens because of technology.

As tech has advanced, savvy thieves have come up with ways to use it to their advantage. Phishing scams evolved as email became one of the most popular ways to communicate, for instance. Where there is a way, there is a way for these people.

The trick is to be wary at all times. Buy quality antivirus and firewall programs to keep hackers at bay. Also, never follow links from emails. Type the URL manually to be sure.

Contentedness

No one is content with their lot any longer. There is always something bigger and better. Homeowners are terrible for this because it’s essential to keep up with the Joneses. Forget that it’s a never ending cycle – it has to be done!

As a result, houses are full of stuff that finishes their lives as junk. Blenders and slow cookers and the next new-age, must-have products go to the goodwill store or get thrown in the trash.

Not buying them, in the beginning, can save a homeowner a small fortune. Then, the money can be spent on things such as staying out of debt. What a novel idea.

Is technology encouraging you to live beyond your means? 

Bad Habits That Are Leading You Into Debt

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Debt sucks! You probably don’t need us to tell you that fact, but as a warning, some of the consequences of debt include…

- The effects on your mental and emotional state
- The loss of financial freedom
- A poor credit score
- Possible repossession of material things, and even bankruptcy

Depressing, isn’t it! Now, there are things you can do to get out of debt if you have fallen into the trap. You can…

- Start to budget your money properly
- Come to an agreement with your debtors
- Seek help from a debt-relief charity
- Use credit restoration services

However, while there are ways to help yourself should you fall into the pit of debt, you should still make every effort not to get into a financially rocky position in the first place. To ensure you feel financially secure, look at the following habits that could lead you into debt, and make every effort to avoid them.


                                                    Avoid these bad habits

• Not having an emergency fund. Set aside some money each month, just in case you fall into difficulty. You never know when an emergency will happen - your car breaks down, you lose your job, your home needs sudden repairs - and if you don’t have the money to deal with them, you may be forced to take out a loan to manage the problem.

• Spending more than you earn. You need to live within your means - not spending more money each month than you can afford. Squandering your money is going to lead you into trouble, and using your credit cards to pay for bills when your income can’t cover them, is going to send you over the edge financially. Budget what you have - and if you can’t cover your expenses - look for ways to lower the costs.

• Making late payments. When you make late payments on bills or credit cards, you are going to cause a bigger headache for yourself. Your credit score will be affected, and you may be hit by higher rates from your creditors. If you know you can’t afford to pay something on time, speak to the company involved as soon as possible, as they may grant you some leeway. Automate your payments too, especially if you are prone to forgetting those all-important payment dates.

• Not getting insurance. You will never fall ill. Your home will never be burgled. Your car will never get involved in an accident. Poppycock, of course. Never ever think you are safe from harm. You are not infallible, and trouble may be just around the corner. If you are adequately insured, your back will be covered, and certain expenses will be alleviated. If you’re not...say hello to financial misfortune.

• Procrastinating. Don’t leave it until tomorrow to invest into a retirement fund. Don’t leave it until tomorrow to ask for financial help. Don’t leave it until tomorrow to tear up your credit cards. Don’t leave anything until tomorrow that is going to cause you financial harm in the future. What we are saying is this: sort out your financial well-being today!

If you don’t want to fall into debt, ensure you avoid the bad habits we mentioned. Form good habits instead - spending wisely, budgeting, asking for help - as these will stand you in better stead now and in the future. Take care, and thanks for reading.

Get 300 bonus SB when you sign up for Swagbucks in July #ad

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  I receive SB for sharing.



All throughout July, you can earn large bonuses when signing up as my referral on Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching the web, watching videos, shopping, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Target, or PayPal cash.

When you sign up through me this month, you can earn a 300 SB bonus! Here's how:

1. Sign up using this link 

2. Earn 300 SB total before August 1st, 2018. You'll get a 300 SB bonus for it!

3. That's it. It's super easy, and Swagbucks is for real. I use it myself, and I've earned almost $2000 worth of SB.  I have used my SB for airline tickets on Delta Airlines, Amazon.com gift cards and more!

The July Swago Board is here! #add

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  I receive SB for sharing.



The digital rewards site Swagbucks is offering big payouts during on their July Swago Board, which runs from July 9th through July 16th at 9am PT! Swago is just like bingo, but in this case, you're filling out squares as you earn points on their site for doing things you already do online. If you're thinking of trying Swagbucks, this is a great chance to learn all about how the site works and earn bonus points while doing it, meaning you can get more gift cards faster. Here are a few tips:

Each square on your Swago Board will contain an action item to complete. They can be anything from getting a search win, completing a survey, or just visiting one of our popular stores!

Once you complete the action item in a particular square the square will change color signifying the action item is complete.

You have until 12pm PT/3pm ET on Monday, July 16th to mark off as many squares as possible so use your time wisely.

Be mindful of the patterns and their corresponding bonuses located on the right of your Swago Board. The patterns will vary in difficulty and bonus value. Once you’ve achieved a pattern, the corresponding “Submit” button will light up. You can have multiple patterns available for submission, however, you can only submit ONE pattern so choose wisely.

Each activity you successfully complete on your Swago Board will give you anywhere from 1-20 spins on the Spin & Win Wheel. PLUS, when you submit your board for a bonus you'll get additional spins. The number of spins will depend on the pattern you complete. The wheel has all sorts of great prizes that you can win, and each spin is a winner!

The Spin & Win Wheel will be available all throughout Swago and you have until 11:59pm PT on Monday, July 16th to use all your spins.

Fill up your board and then submit your pattern to get even more points - if you can fill in the whole board, you get a 500 SB bonus, which is enough for a $5 gift card from the retailer of your choice.

Click here right now and click "Join" to get started! If you don't already have a Swagbucks account, you'll be able to quickly sign up; PLUS, if you earn 300 SB before the first of August, you'll get a bonus 300 SB!

It's Never To Late To Feel Financially Secure!

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Money is almost certainly one of the most common causes of anxiety for the vast majority of people in the modern era. Whether you like it or not, there are few things in life that you can do without money coming into play in some way. Even if you want to do something that doesn't technically cost anything, like something as simple as spending the day at the beach with your family, you're still going to have to take time off work which will impact your income. When faced with situations like that it's understandable that many people are so worried about their finances. Not only that but a lot of people find themselves in some kind of financial trouble which can often make them feel as though they're going to be stuck like that forever. However, no matter how desperate your financial situation may seem, they're never a lost cause. Here are a couple of things that you can do in order to pull yourself out of any financial difficulty.

Consolidate your debts

Debt is one of the scariest words in the English language for a lot of people, and it's the kind of thing that can make it feel impossible to fix your financial situation. However, there are things that you can do in order to make your debts more manageable. One of the best is to consolidate them with a single loan that reduces your debts down to a single, more manageable payment. Of course, if you're in debt then your credit score may well not be in the best possible shape. Luckily there are plenty of companies that offer personal loans in order to help with just these situations. Of course, if you're using a loan to cover your debts, just make sure that you can actually afford the repayments. Otherwise, you're going to end up starting the cycle all over again.

Curb your spending

One thing that far too many people simply refuse to face up to is the fact that most of us are simply spending way too much money on a regular basis. You might think that because you are disciplined about ignoring large and expensive purchases that you're frugal with your money but it's actually the smaller purchases that make the biggest difference. A little bit of money here and there might not seem like much but that can add up incredibly quickly, and before you know, those small purchases can lead you to spend more than you can actually afford and your bank balance is going to end up suffering for it. Shopping at places like Better Day Store can be incredibly helpful. However, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on every single purchase that you make, no matter how small.

A lot of people tend to make the mistake of hiding their heads in the sand when confronted with financial difficulty in order to avoid having to think about it too much. However, that's by far the worst thing that you can do. Make sure that, no matter how scary your financial situation might be, you confront it head-on rather than trying to ignore it.