Unlock Your Wealth eZine is Ready for June 10th 2011

Weekly Newsletter: Issue #24     Paul Rubillo and Colette Ellis drop by this week! Every Saturday at 9am PST we broadcast Heather Wagenhals’ Unlock Your Wealth Radio Show where we talk about crisis management and financial wellness designed to help … Continue reading →

How to Avoid Contractor Scams

Elena Difiore, Program Director Looking to fix up your house soon? Whether it’s a few things here and there or a complete renovation, it’s important to take time and find the right contractor for the job. That being said, there … Continue reading →

Websites that Save You Money

by Elena Difiore, Program Director

Nowadays, you can do just about anything on the Internet, including score some great deals!

Zilok.com

This is a great idea! Zilok.com is a website that allows users to rent items from individuals living nearby. The idea goes something like this…Say you’re in need of a portable power-generator for next weekend’s big tailgating party, but you can’t afford or don’t want to purchase a new one. Through Zilok.com, you can search for people in your area that may have a generator they’re willing to lend for a small fee (usually a few dollars a day).

Tax Day: The refund aftermath

Tax day was thirty days ago and if you waited until the last minute to file, you are  probably receiving your check sometime soon if you expected a refund. Two-thirds (66.2%) of tax payers are expecting a refund this year, up from 65.5 percent last year, but down from the percentage expecting a refund in 2009 (68.4%). *  It is always interesting to me to see how folks handle their payments and refunds to Uncle, State and City Sam. Take our short poll to tell us what you did with your refund and see how you measure up to the rest of America and their choices. Next week I will share my thoughts on refunds and share some tax tips from a previous show guest and tax expert. If you can’t wait that long

Coupon Codes for Graduation Gift Ideas

For graduation gift shopping online we have combed the Internet and found some great discount codes for you to shop and save for your grad this season.

If your grad needs new college duds, The Limited has 20% off on all orders use coupon code : 353

or try Old Navy and save between 10-75% off select items using this link from the retailer.

Grad Gifts on the Cheap

Elena Difiore, Program Director

It’s that time of year again…caps and gowns and tassels abound. Graduates across the country are preparing to take the next big step in their lives; whether it’s moving on from high school to college, or from college to the real world. It’s important to recognize such important achievements, but there’s no need to go broke in the process. Read on for some great gift suggestions for the grads in your life.

Mother’s Day Money Savers

By Elena Difiore, Program Director

Mother’s Day is right around the corner.  With time winding down, you may think your gift options are slim. However, before you fall back on flowers as a last resort, consider a few of the following Mother’s Day gift ideas that’ll be sure to bring a smile to her face without draining your bank account in the process.

Save Money on Your Phone Bill

By Elena Difiore, Program Director

There are some monthly expenses that simply can’t be avoided-one of them being your phone bill. However, if you’re low on cash, there are ways to cut down on your phone bill and help keep a few extra dollars in your pocket. Read on for some great money-saving tips from the Unlock Your Wealth staff.

Cut Out the Unnecessary

Still have a landline phone? It may be time to reconsider dropping your landline service. If you have a cellphone as well, then ask yourself, “what purpose does my home phone serve?” After all, wouldn’t it be easier to only have to keep track of one phone number? The beauty of a cellphone is that it goes everywhere with you, so why bother with a home phone?

If you don’t have a cellphone, or simply can’t imagine living without a landline, then it’s time to do some research. Contact your cable or internet provider and see if they offer any good deals on phone service. Most major cable and internet providers will offer significant savings if you choose to bundle your services, which would lead to savings on your cable and internet services, as well.

Take Advantage of the Internet

Nowadays, it seems the internet can save you money on everything-including phone service. Products like MagicJack plug right into your computer’s USB port and use your internet connection to make outgoing phone calls.

In addition to these types of products, there are also options you can download online for absolutely free. Skype is a downloadable internet application that has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years. The free download allows you to make free calls over the internet to other Skype users, without a limit on talk time. If you want to make an outgoing call to a regular landline or cellphone, you will have to purchase Skype credits, which currently average between $.01-$.02 per minute depending on the credit plan you purchase.

Broadband phones are another great internet option. Companies like Vonage offer great service deals that are sure to put your regular phone bill to shame. However, there’s a catch: only go the broadband route if you have a speedy, strong, and reliable internet connection. If not, calls can be easily dropped and you’ll be less than pleased with the service.

When it comes down to it, you have to choose the phone service that best fits your needs and lifestyle. The important thing is to do your research and know the options available to you when it comes to phone service so you don’t end up throwing away your hard-earned cash on unnecessary plans and expenses.

  

The magical gas tank

Do you ever find yourself excited that the distance between the full tilt of the gas gauge and the letter “f”have some super fuel economy? We are driving to Tucson for our sports entrepreneurship class and if I was just at the full mark, not full tilt when I left, I should have burned a quarter tank by now. I have uploaded you where I am. Does anyone else experience this phenomena? Can we quantify it by actual savings? If so, I would like to see your comments.

Teach Your Children Without Breaking the Bank in 4 steps

Staff Writer Ben Williams

Improving a child’s scholastic success is one of the top endeavors of every parent. Providing your child with the tools they need to succeed in school opens up so many opportunities for them later in life. While we would all like to be able to give our kids everything when it comes to their education, unfortunately we are often prohibited by our pocketbooks. But just because you can’t buy your child the latest and greatest computer learning game doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice providing them with the knowledge and understanding they need to achieve learning success . By focusing on some of the fundamentals of learning such as reading comprehension, memory and vocabulary, you can make sure that your child will have what he or she needs to do well in school. Here are some ways to improve your child’s scholastic success without having to spend heaps of money.