These are just a handful of the tips I list for our credit repair and debt relief clients who are trying to cut a few corners with their monthly bills.  So while the focus is on saving green, the added bonus is in “going green.”

Energy is Money

Think of everything in your house that uses up energy, whether that be gas, electric, coal, rubbing two sticks together.  Everything that’s fueled by energy costs you money, so think to yourself if you’re being as efficient as possible.

Get used to setting your thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer.  Wear a little more clothing, or a little less; the amount you save over the course of the year will be startling.

When your outdated light bulbs burn out replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs that last longer and use less energy.  You’ll also want to look into “smart” power strips for power draining devices such as computers, entertainment systems and unpluggables like cell phones and laptops than continue to use energy (and waste money) even when not in use.

Water is Money

As someone who has family on both coasts, I understand that drought conditions are completely different.  Whereas some people are completely in tune with saving water, there are plenty in our country that have little care for practical water usage.

That being said, there are obviously several simple steps you can take to save water and some money while you’re at it.  If you’ve never been one to time your showers, and I’m certainly not, buy a low-flow showerhead.  Lastly, be wary of how much you’re watering your lawn.  Most people grievously overwater just so their lawn will be the greenest on the block.  Don’t be that person.

Gas is Money

This one I must admit I don’t subscribe to myself, but walking or biking is obviously going to save you a boatload of money.  Not only that, but you’re investing in your own physical health.  You’ll also want to consider telecommuting or even possibly finding a job closer to where you live.

Food is Money

If you’re like me, a red meat eater, try to add at least one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the supermarket, and when you factor in the related environmental and health costs it becomes even more expensive.  Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can.  Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy and cuts down on money spent on preservatives and chemicals.

While not an end all list, it is a start.  You’re not going to save a million dollars (or the world) overnight, but I’m sure you’ll find that every little bit helps.

What you certainly don’t want to do is end up knocking on retirement’s door and be desperately in need of credit repair or debt relief. The closer you get to retirement, the harder it gets to properly prepare.  But those who get it right are likely to share these almost necessary traits.

Planning Ahead

Successful retirees planned well ahead of time to meet their retirement's financial needs.  The planning process helped them to figure out the amount of money they would need to retire in relative comfort for their remaining days.  Most of them also had a good idea about what they would need for their retirement and a target portfolio size that would provide just that.

So many Americans either bury their heads in the sand for too long, or maybe even worse, simply ignore their 401k’s assuming that if they’re paying money into it, then they must be fine.  If you’re not 100% positive of how your finances will play out on you hit retirement, it’s highly advisable that you meet with a financial adviser to make sure you get it right.

Keeping a Low Overhead

There are obviously two sides to the equation: the money you have vs. the money you’ll be spending.  So if the money coming in and the money you have saved isn’t enough, you need to keep your expenses at a minimum.

You want to be either debt free or minimally indebted on your real estate properties when you retire.  That meant no new fancy homes at the age of 65.  A low overhead gives you greater financial flexibility since there are a lot of uncertainties once you’ve reached retirement.

Growing, Diversified Portfolios

Retirees who triumphed had very diversified portfolios which minimized volatility.  One of the greatest challenges for a retiree is to beat inflation.  Three percent inflation can double the cost of living in approximately 25 years.  Your retirement portfolio should hope to earn a return which is above the inflation rate to keep your purchasing power intact over time.

Having a growing portfolio during your retirement is a big change from the theory that advocated a predominantly bonds dominated portfolio.  Our life span is continually increasing and if we want a good return on our assets we’re probably going to have to take some risks.  So taking too little risk during retirement might actually be a big risk.

Periodic Check Ups

What’s is discusses here is largely accurate regardless of the time or the state of the economy, but in order to have a carefree retirement, it’s vital to have a periodic check up of our portfolio.  Make sure that you’re still on track to retire the way you initially planned.

And whatever you do, don’t take your retirement fund for granted.  And don’t bury your head in the sand.  The sooner you address what your retirement needs are, the sooner you can get yourself on the road to a comfortable retirement.

Even if you’re not involved in credit repair or debt relief, the ability to adequately budget affects your day-to-day and long term finances.  What’s so amazing about Mint is that they’re doing most of the dirty work for you.  You just enter in your online bank accounts and credit cards, and they’ll pull all of the vital information for you.

Most Financial Sites are Confusing

Most banking websites aren’t easy to use and credit card sites aren’t exactly helpful with trying to analyze where your money’s going.  The truth is that there’s no reliable way to examine all of my spending habits without manually entering information onto a ledger or spreadsheet.  But this is exactly what Mint is going to do for you.

Mint covers all that and more.  All you need to do is enter your credit card info, bank accounts, student loans from the federal government, even IRA’s.  Instantly you’ll have all of your account information stretching back a few years.  It’ll even organize your expenditures.  See how much you’re spending on entertainment or takeout food.

Taking a Hard Look at Your Spending

Most of our clients know that they’re credit profile isn’t exactly in tip-top shape, but what they don’t understand is why.  They know that they ran up a lot of credit card debt, but don’t even remember what they bought.  Mint is going to force you to take a look at what you’re spending your hard earned money on.

What too many people find is that they’re spending more than they’re making.  Not exactly a formula for success.  Now, it’s up to you to make the changes, some fancy internet site’s not going to do that for you.  But at least you’ll have an idea of what expenses are out of hand and need to be trimmed.

Creating a Budget

While it’s a powerful tool for analyzing spending habits, it’s even more helpful if you use Mint to put together a budget.   They’ll breakdown your spending habits month to month, set up savings goals and even tell you how much you have left in your budget for each category.

Again, just because you set up a budget using these tools, it’s entirely up to you to stick to your budget.  Don’t spend impulsively and don’t cut corners when it comes to your finances.  Create goals and utilize Mint.com to help you reach them.

That’s right, in order in combat the sometimes unbearable heat and humidity (depending on where you’re spending your summer this year), the majority of us will run to the air conditioner and see how quickly we can get it going full blast.  Then, we’ll go to every room in the house with a fan, ceiling or otherwise, and crank that sucker up to 11 too.  Or we could just build a tent in front of the fridge and call it a day.  Hey, it worked for the Simpsons…

Whatever method you choose to keep cool this summer, it’s probably a safe bet that your energy bill is about to add an extra zero to itself, especially if you are leaving it at full blast for the majority of the day.  That’s quite a lot of hot water you could find yourself in.  Since we all like to save money – especially in the summertime, when there are so many better things to spend your hard-earned duckets on – I thought I’d share some tips for saving on your energy bill so you can spend on more important things, like beer and ribs.

• Close all the blinds.  Okay, maybe not ALL the blinds – we all like a little sunlight in the house for the natural light.  But having every window open means the sun’s pouring in a lot of heat as well.  Your best bet to beat it?  Keep the blinds of any room in the house not occupied closed.  Sure, the house may be a little darker, but it will also be quite a bit cooler as well, which means you won’t be running the fans quite as often.

• Clean out your filters.  If you want to make sure your air conditioner is running at its full capacity, and not just using up all the energy in the room, make sure you clean it and any other air filters in the house.  Clean filters improve air filtration, meaning it’ll be easier to get the hot air out.  Experts say you should change your filters annually, to remove any dust and dirt that builds up and traps hot air inside.  You should also regularly clean the drain in your air conditioner to prevent the moisture and dust from turning to mold.

• Turn the air off when you don’t need it.  When you’re asleep at night, or out during the day, don’t leave the thermostat on in the name of coming home to a cool house.  The air is cooler at night anyway, so why bother keeping extra cool air circulating at the cost of a paycheck?  As for when you’re out and about during the day, switch the air off and, if it really is hot out that day, run a fan by the air conditioner or vent to help circulate cool air.  You might also want to look into a programmable thermostat to make adjustments even easier.

• Do it yourself.  In addition to drawing the blinds in your rooms, you can come up with other ways to provide some shade to home as well.  Anything from adjusting an outdoor umbrella so that it shades your windows from incoming sunlight, to planting a tree that will eventually shade your roof, anything you can do to naturally cool the air in your home without raising your energy bill is welcome.

As always, for more detailed advice on personal finance, credit repair and debt relief, consult a specialist at My Credit Group.

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• 5 sites to help you stretch your budget
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A Gallup Poll found that 41% of Americans have little or no emergency fund at all.  That’s 41% of our population that would suffer harsh financial hardships if and when these unexpected events come their way.  With no steady income the debt piles up until it completely overwhelms them. 

Perhaps what’s most alarming is the breakdown by income levels.  Those that are probably in the worst situation financially are the least likely to have a nest egg of any sort.  When you’re barely making enough to get by it’s difficult to build up any sort of emergency fund.

How Long Can We Last?

Losing a source of income can obviously be a devastating setback to any household.  But even those with an emergency fund in place can only last for so long.  With the job market the way it is now, almost 10% of Americans unemployed and another 20% underemployed, how long you can survive on your rainy day fund might mean the difference between making it through the rough times or burying yourself in debt.

More than half of those that claimed to have an emergency fund in place admitted that they would not be able to last more than six months on what they have put away.  In this financial climate that might not be enough.  The poll asked: “How many weeks or months do you think you could exist on your emergency fund before you would be in serious financial jeopardy?”

Are We Saving Enough?

Obviously Americans aren’t saving nearly enough to prepare for the lean financial times that are bound to happen.  Statistics for bankruptcies show that the vast majority of those filing simply didn’t plan for a rainy day.

While the leading cause of bankruptcy indicates that consumers simply overextended their credit, the next 7 reasons, totaling a whopping 73% of all bankruptcy filings, were because people simply didn’t have money in reserve to pay for unseen circumstances.

Causes for Bankruptcy

• Overextended on Credit 24%
• Unexpected Expenses 19%
• Reduction of Income  19%
• Job Loss   12%
• Illness or Injury  11%
• Divorce   6%
• Birth or Adoption  3%
• Death in the Family  3%
• Retirement   2%
• Identity Theft   1%

SOURCE: BankruptcyLawFirms.com

Two of these reasons that people file for bankruptcy are because people were utterly careless: overextending their credit and not planning for retirement.  The rest were just facts of life that are going to affect even the best financial planners.  Not having the money put away to get over these financial humps can create a downward spiral of bad credit, mounting debt and eventually, bankruptcy.

Why it’s So Vital to Have an Emergency Fund

If the statistics above don’t frighten you, then maybe some day-to-day benefits will be more convincing.  A financial emergency doesn’t always lead to credit repair or a bankruptcy, but it could hurt your finances, your credit scores and your borrowing power.

• Avoid Late Fees – Unfortunately many Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck.  When an emergency hits, they’re often forced to miss credit card payments for a month or two, or maybe overdraw their bank accounts.  While you may be able to recover financially, your credit score (and your borrowing power) will take a considerable hit.

• Keep Debt Low – When something unexpected happens and we need money, the first resource is usually our credit cards, or even worse a personal loan.  Being able to keep your debt steadily on the decline while utilizing your emergency fund is key to not reaching you financial breaking point.

• Maintain Your Budget – As I’ve said in many blog posts, budgeting is so important if you truly want to succeed financially.  Having a rainy day fund can keep your budget intact when something unexpected crosses your path.  Otherwise you may find yourself scrambling to devise a new budget.

Later this week I plan on getting into the best ways to start an emergency fund and discuss what it could mean for your finances and your overall credit profile.

Related Articles:

• How late payments lower your credit score
• Improving your credit score after a bankruptcy
• How to remove a bankruptcy
• Websites that help with budgeting

But with great location comes great financial responsibility.  In other words, it’s freakin’ expensive living out here.  Anyone living in a semi-major metropolitan area can attest to the serious toll high gas, food, and utilities prices are taking on their wallets.  And since most of us aren’t exactly ready to give up this cushy life of roomy SUVs and chocolate lattes and run to the hills for simpler times, we’re always on the hunt for ways to save a buck or ten.

I’m right there with you, and so I decided to compile a list of the top 5 websites that can help you stretch that dollar out just a little bit more.

• Craigslist -  Althought it's getting a little spammy, I love this site.  The Classified page for the Matrix generation, it’s great for finding housing for sale or rent, a new job, and a myriad of other goods and services for sale.  Need a new gas grill, but don’t feel like paying retail price?  Find it on Craigslist.  Want to unload some old jewelry or sell the tickets to the concert you can’t make?  Sell ‘em on Craigslist.  If you ever want to buy something on the cheap, check Craigslist first.

• RetailMeNot - For the items and deals you won’t normally find on a site like Craigslist, another great place to turn to for deals online is RetailMeNot.  Imagine if all the moms of the world decided to get together and compile every coupon and clipping they’d ever found and put it on a website.  You’ve got RetailMeNot, a page boasting coupon codes to 50,000 online retailers, from Amazon to Pizza Hut to Victoria’s Secret.  If you ever shop for anything online, check this site for coupons first.

• Skype - Tired of being charged 3/4s of your paycheck for your phone bill?  Consider giving Skype a call.  The site lets you use the internet as your phone service, allowing calls to any number in the US and Canada for about $3 a month (up to $13 if you want to make international calls).  That’s something no other phone service can claim to offer.  Sure, you may not have the coolest new apps for your cell phone, but you won’t have to pay for them either.

• GasBuddy -  Ah, gas prices.  Probably the one subject everyone can agree on, finding the cheapest gas in town can certainly be a hassle.  Until you check out GasBuddy.  The site compiles lists of every major fueling station in every major city in the US, along with their gas prices.  So anytime you need to refuel, hit them up to find the cheapest prices in your area.

• BillShrink -  Say you’re in the market for a new cell phone or need to open a new credit card.  Where’s the best place to check rates on a new card, or to find the best cell phone plan?  Head over to BillShrink.  Let them know just what you’re looking for, and how much you’d be willing to spend – or how often you use credit cards –  and they’ll find a list of options for you most people may not get by looking on their own.  A great site for helping you save in the long-term.

Know of any other sites that offer a great bargain?  Let us know in the comments!

Related Reading:

• Tips for eating healthy on a budget
• Does eating healthy cost more?
• Breaking bad spending habits
• Amazon over charged me
• Using tax credits

With that said I was providing you with the problem but not the solution.  So today’s blog, which focuses more on budgeting than credit is dedicated to eating healthy without plunging yourself into debt as a result; since it’s entirely possible to eat better while sticking to the same budget.

Tip #1:  Cook at Home

If you only take my advice on only one of these tips, make it this one.  I look at this the same way I do budgeting: is it the most exciting option?  Probably not.  However is it going to make a huge difference for me financially at the end of the month?  If done properly, absolutely.  Plus I’m able to say that I can make more than Mac & Cheese now.

Tip #2:  Eat Less Meat

This is one of the easiest ways to save money and maybe the hardest thing to do.  Maybe it’s just me, I’m a steak & potatoes kind of guy, but meat is something that I was eating almost every day.  Meat is expensive, there’s no way around it.  Now, I’m not saying you should go vegan or anything, but if you cut it down to one or two days a week it will cut back considerably on your budget.

Tip #3:  Buy in Bulk

I’m sure we’re all aware that buying in bulk saves money, but this can go beyond just so-called staple foods.  Things such as dried fruits, flours, and nuts will keep; and even more perishable items like meats and poultries will last a few months in the freezer and eggs can stay fresh for up to a month in the fridge.  You just need to plan ahead and ration properly when dealing with items in bulk.  If you end up wasting it because it spoiled you’re defeating the purpose.

Tip #4:  Go Frozen

Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked when they’re ripe.  They’re then frozen immediately to preserve both flavor and nutrients.  On top of that they’re usually cheaper than their fresher alternatives and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be looking for big bag specials at your local supermarket.

Tip #5:  Eat Seasonally & Locally

Most people buy food depending on what we think is going to taste best.  However just because you want Blue Point oysters from New York, off-season, while you’re living in Los Angeles doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best idea.  When you buy food that’s in season and not shipped in from half way around the world, not only is it less of a dent on your wallet, but it’s probably going to taste better too.

Tip #6:  Focus on Grains and Beans

It’s often difficult to move away from eating so much meat or other big entrees when there’s nothing “heavy” in meal.  Grains and legumes are excellent when it comes to filling you up and they’re full of nutrition as well.  Beans are a good substitute for the protein that you’re missing out on with less meat intake.

Tip #7:  Cook for a Rainy Day

If you’re anything like me, you eat out often not because it’s better tasting, but just because you’re lazy.  Standing over a stove isn’t always the perfect end to the day.  So I plan ahead, I cook double what I normally would and pack the rest away for one of those days where sitting down to eat is about all I’m willing to do.  Leftovers never seem glamorous but the amount of money you’ll save is substantial … not to mention that “picking something up” normally means eating unhealthy.

There are of course plenty of other tips that can save you money and allow you to eat healthy, but these are the 7 I try to live by most often.  Like I said earlier, I know this was a bit off-topic, but is there anything major any of you think I’m missing?

Other Articles:

• Effects of late payments on your credit score
• The cash for clunkers program created more debt
• Eating well and saving money
• The cost of eating healthly

Not only is he taking on the uphill struggle of getting Americans away from our beloved junk food, but the obstacle that’s not talked about is the cost of eating healthy.  I don’t want to suggest that we’re unhealthy eaters because it’s cheaper.  Generally I believe that our unwholesome dieting is due largely in part to our processed / fast-food / supersized / deep-fry-everything culture.

The truth however is that eating healthy does actually cost more.  A University of Washington study done a little over 2 years ago stated that “calorie for calorie, junk foods not only cost less than fruits and vegetables, but junk food prices also are less likely to rise as a result of inflation.”  This according to a New York Times article on the costs of eating healthy.

Why Eating Healthy Costs More

The study compared prices per calories.  A somewhat odd methodology, but I like it because junk food tends to be calorie dense and more filling than low-calorie fruits and vegetables.  According to the survey junk food costs about $1.76 per 1,000 calories while more nutritional food’s price tag was at $18.16 per 1,000 calories.

That wasn’t the only bit of startling data to come from the study.  Apparently, during the course of the study, a little over 2 years, the price of nutritious food increased almost 20 percent, whereas junk food prices dropped 2 percent.

Budget Conscious Means You’re Eating Junk

“If you have $3 to feed yourself, your choices gravitate toward foods which give you the most calories per dollar,’’ said Dr. Drewnowski, author of the study.  “Not only are the empty calories cheaper, but the healthy foods are becoming more and more expensive.  Vegetables and fruits are rapidly becoming luxury goods.”

It’s difficult to separate the financial woes that many Americans are facing from the concept that we are a nation of unhealthy eaters.  Given the option to fill up on a bag of chips or an apple that costs the same amount, many are opting for junk food since it’s generally considered more filling.

Of course choosing to eat empty calories over nutritious food might save you money, or “fill you up” a little more, but the cost ends up being repaid through bad health and shorter life expectancies. 

On Wednesday I’ll blog my tips on eating healthy on a budget.  Because you shouldn’t have to choose between eating healthy and breaking the bank.

Related Articles:

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It might give the auto industry a little boost, and will probably help the used auto parts industry. That’s all cool. That means more jobs, maybe a little more spending etc.

The program may have some benefits.

But there’s a downside and we’re already seeing it with some of our clients. Yes you know who you are – and you knew this lecture was coming

In general when we really want something, we tend to put blinders on. We see what we want to see, and we always figure out a reason why it makes sense to buy it.

Yep, Cash for Clunkers is the perfect excuse for some of you.

What better time than now to finally get a new car right?

Uncle Sam is one hell of a guy and he’s going to make the down payment for us. Ok that’s super cool – Sam you’re the man! But he’s not making your monthly payment.

Do I need to remind everybody what happened with the housing market? If we had a pulse and could drool on a contract, lenders had the perfect adjustable rate mortgage for us.

We had no clue how we were going to make the payments, but who cares – we’re getting a new crib.

We are seeing a lot of our very own credit repair and debt settlement clients trade in cars that were working just fine, for new cars when you know you can’t afford the payments.

I get it, I promise I do. If I needed a new car, I’d probably be taking advantage of this program too.

But I can assure you, I’d be looking past the 4500.00 Uncle Sam is forking out, and I’d be focusing on the payments I’m obligated to for the next 5 years.

If you are absolutely sure you can afford a couple hundred more each month for the next 5 years, maybe it’s a great time.

If you’re sure you’re job is not the next to start letting employees go- than maybe it’s a great time.

If you’re credit cards are paid off – than maybe it’s a great time.

Am I starting to sound like Jeff Foxworthy?

But if you find yourself figuring out a way to buy a new car, than it’s probably not the right time. Do the right thing. There will be a better time later on – I promise.

Sorry, what was that last one?

Apparently the generics aren’t happening so much. In fact, we’re buying more luxury foods and other home goods than ever before. There was a good article in the Atlantic Monthly recently called Home Economics, where researchers found that while people are spending less on pamper-me stuff outside the home, they were spending tons more on luxury materials INSIDE the home.

So instead of going out to a restaurant for a nice steak and a glass of wine, those same consumers go to the grocery store and lay down a fair chunk of change for some filet mignon and a nice cabernet to take home and make themselves. When you think about it, it’s a marked improvement. You can have your delicious food without that condescending waiter or that guy at the next table talking too loudly to his disinterested girlfriend about his many business conquests. Not bad at all.

Now, the idea is that all of these consumers are still saving themselves money. If you usually spend $100 on a nice meal and wine for two at your favorite restaurant, and the same meal components cost you only $60 to buy at the store, you’ve saved yourself $40 that you can then use to pay off your credit card debt. Rinse and repeat and you’ve got a nice little debt reduction strategy that you can gloat about over those homemade gourmet meals, right?

Not necessarily. The problem is that many people don’t actually budget precise amounts. They see a luxury item that they want (steak) and think, “Well, we stopped eating out, so we can afford to do this.” And that’s true. Unless they start indulging at home even more frequently than they once did out at a restaurant. In which case they may wind up spending more than they used to when they were gadding about painting the town red.

Our food example is simplest, so let’s stick with it. If you usually eat out once a week, and instead you substitute the homemade gourmet meal, you’ve saved yourself $40 by our count, right? Except since you’re not going out to eat, you think that you’ll indulge a little more often, because why should you have to live like a peon just because the budget is tighter these days? So now you do your luxury meal thing twice a week.

Every at home luxury meal costs you $60, remember. Every night out used to cost you $100. If you bump up your luxury meal to twice a week, you’re actually spending $20 MORE every week than you used to. You might as well go back to going out every week – it’d be cheaper.

So what’s my point?

Deciding to indulge at home is no big deal – in fact, it’s a great idea, since it can still give you that nice luxurious feeling while still allowing you to set aside extra money every month to put toward improving your credit. That said, you should sit down and crunch the numbers. Make sure what started as a money-saving idea doesn’t turn into just as much of a cash sink as the indulgence you just got rid of.

And folks, Mint.com is the perfect addition.

See, Mint.com helps people keep track of their credit and debt through simple, easy-to-use tools that show you where your money goes each month, how much debt you currently have, and when your bills are due.

Instead of letting you mess up and then fixing it afterward, Mint.com helps you create a budget you can stick to and gently reminds you when you’ve gone over or you’re about to miss an important payment.

People make better credit choices when they can see where their finances are going. Remember last week, when I talked about how you can drastically improve your credit if you just find another $150 a month to put toward your credit bills? Well, Mint.com helps you find it.

You can see that you’re spending an extra $50 every week on a small expense that you weren’t really even aware of, like buying a sandwich and a soda at Whole Foods. And then you can brown-bag it and put that money toward your credit instead.

How awesome is that?

Even better, mint helps you improve your budgets everyday. Just the other day, I found out that I spent over $1,300 last year in ATM fees. I didn’t even think about it, because it’s only a few bucks at a time whenever I get money out of the 7-11 ATM.

We’re incorporating Mint.com into the services MyCreditGroup provides. Our strengths complement each other so well. Fixing credit and helping you budget to get out of your current credit hole. It’s just perfect, it really is.

Did we mention Mint.Com was free? Go give it a shot.