HowToDoThings.com Recent Tips & Tricks Articles

How To Find Coupon Codes

marcalex — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:35:06 -0600

Coupon codes are the codes that retailers include on special offers, coupons and mailings that indicate what savings a consumer can qualify for. Each retailer has their own codes that tell their computers and cash registers what coupons to apply to any sale. If you want to find coupon codes without being on hundreds of mailing lists, then follow these instructions.

How To Save Money on Ice

melhow36 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:59:36 -0600

How To Get Pizza Coupons

marcalex — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:25:19 -0600

Pizza delivery is one of the most convenient and inexpensive meals for your family. If you are looking to save even more on this night out, consider getting coupons that help you save. There are several ways to get pizza coupons so follow these steps and you should be able to collect coupons for whenever you need them.

How To Get Credit

marcalex — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 01:28:14 -0500

Since the 1970s, American consumers have become increasingly dependent upon credit. We use it to finance our homes, cars, splurges and even our basic needs. While this dependence is not recommended there are some good and necessary uses for credit. If you need credit, try following these steps to get it.

How To Get Money Fast

Cassandra — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:29:45 -0500

Sometimes your financial needs exceed your ready cash. If you need to get money fast there are plenty of things you can do. Be aware that you will need to make some sacrifices and put in some hard work but if you follow these instructions you can get money fast.

How To Make Money Fast

Mikey — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:39:28 -0500

There are really only two ways to increase your financial well being - earn more and spend less. In these troubled financial times many people are seeking new ways to make money fast. If you are looking to increase your income consider trying these tips.

How To Use Credit Cards Wisely

a2yands2n — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:31:08 -0500

It could have been quite long since you would have handled a few notes of currency, thanks to the advent of the Plastic Money. Due to the credit card revolution, there is no need for us to carry cash anywhere we go! We are never short of money to buy something which we really want; we never get into the trouble of not having enough cash for the rest of a holiday tour we are enjoying due to overspending, and we even get rewards and prizes from the credit card company because we spend through their credit card!! Hats off to credit cards. Almost all transactions that we do day to day are through credit cards. They have made things simple and convenient.

However, a credit card not wisely used is like a nuclear bomb in the wrong hands. The following points give you suggestions that can help you get the most out of your credit cards.

How To Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

jasonkeeley — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:50:58 -0500

How To Shop at a Wholesale Store

lilly — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:32:17 -0500

How To Save Money at the Grocery Store

tpenatzer — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:15:24 -0500

Never shop with children of any age. This is rule # 1 for a reason! You will end up spending twice as much as you intended. There are always things kids have to have that are not on your list. You will feel guilty saying no, and why even go through it?
Make a list and stick to it. The only exception is if you find a great unadvertised special. I sit down with the ads from the stores in my area and make a list trying to incorporate the sales into my meals for the week. I do not go to all the stores, usually just the one with the best deals. Sometimes I will get the majority of the groceries from Walmart and then pick up any really great specials at the grocery store. Some stores have great 'Buy 1, Get 1 Free' specials. Winn Dixie will run such specials on meats, and I imagine you can find a store in your area that does this as well.

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How To Stay Debt-Free

aphrodisiac101 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:24:49 -0500

For every person who is working full time and living paycheck to paycheck, it has always been the case that being in debt is the norm.

Guess what? It isn't the norm. It's an epidemic that is spreading throughout the country. Being in debt had caused a lot of families to break down, elevated the divorce rate and affected children. Almost everyone who is in debt is digging their own grave 6 feet below the ground. Is this the life you want to have -- a life full of fear, anxiety, stress and misery? Here are some tips on how to stay out of debt.

How To Choose an Accountant

bronwyn — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:33:46 -0500

Is tax time coming up and you don't even know how to start? Are you running a small business and having trouble keeping track of finances? If so, you are not alone, and there is help! An accountant is a professional who takes care of the accounting needs of an individual or a business, including bookkeeping, tax preparation, financial advice, and more. Choosing an accountant is a highly individual process, as everyone has different needs.

How To Save Money Every Day

angeleyez320 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:03:49 -0500

I am a stay at home mother of 4. My husband is a truck driver who is gone a lot, but makes decent money. So all the finances and budgeting fall on me. Now even though we live in a one-income household, we are actually very successful. We own our own house free and clear. We own our own vehicles free and clear. That's right, we are mortgage and car payment free.

Now I am sure most of you have heard of the man who takes 2-ply toilet paper and separates the rolls into single ply rolls. Trust me, I don't go that far. Honestly I don't have time in the day to do that. A few of my tips are not conducive to everyone's lifestyles -- especially if you live in a city setting. But there are still a lot of things that you can do that will save you money every single day.

How To Fix Bad Credit

chane — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:19:18 -0500

The best way to fix bad credit is to be pro-active in removing negative account reports and adding positive account reports to your credit report. Both of these processes can take some time. The time to start fixing your bad credit is now, not on the day you are ready to apply for a loan. Depending on how bad your credit is, it can take as little as 1 or 2 months to fix and as much as 12 months to fix. Here are the steps to fixing your credit:

How To Choose the Right Part Time Job

aphrodisiac101 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:10:07 -0500

Are you someone working full time who wants to earn an extra income? If so, then this article is for you. As they say, nobody becomes rich by being an employee for all of his or her life. Most likely, if you are an employee, you are living paycheck to paycheck and may even be in deep debt. One way you can improve your life or at least lessen your debt is to find a part time job. Earning an extra income does not happen overnight. You need to assess what jobs you can do for a couple of hours per day that will suit your schedule and skills.

Here are few tips to help you locate a part time job that is right for you:

How To Save Money in Your Everyday Life

bronwyn — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:27:38 -0500

Most people are constantly thinking of how to save money, but not very effectively. There are some very simple ways to save money in your everyday life; although they may seem like small steps, they definitely add up!

How To Make Extra Money Online

kushta — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:44:26 -0600

In a world that, in many ways, has grown quite accustomed to talk of the "web" or the Internet, it is still surprising that some people do not know the moneymaking potential locked up in this virtual world. Any of them can take the opportunity to make a little extra money on the side or even build their own online businesses, with little to no start-up costs involved.

It may be that these people simply don't know that much about the various ways or methods that are currently being employed by web users every day to make that extra cash they need. Often the best place to start is with a little information. People want to know the sort of options that are out there. A typical question asked by those interested is: "How can I make extra money online?"

How To Get a Free Credit Report

thedave — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:44:05 -0600

Under Federal law you are entitled to a free credit report once a year. This report, by law, will show any and all information contained in the files of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). To receive your free credit report you must first complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form, which can be completed in any of the following three ways:

How To Protect Your Credit Rating and Your Identity

DeniseRichardson — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:25:07 -0600

What if your reputation or financial status is threatened by an inaccurate credit score caused by erroneously reported information? Or your personal information is stolen by an identity thief who hacked into someone else's computer without your knowledge? The truth is - odds are if it hasn't happened yet -it will. It is difficult to imagine the amount of time and the physical and mental energy it takes to deal with having your identity stolen...until it happens to you!

Identity theft (or inaccurate credit reporting) is often exacerbated by the fact that consumers typically don't review their credit reports or take any steps to prevent ID theft due to the false belief that they aren't vulnerable to fraud.

The reality is - data breaches continue to happen and thieves continue to find new methods to hijack, then sell our personal information.

How To Ruin Your Credit Rating

bronwyn — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:38:43 -0600

Read at your own risk - these steps are guaranteed to ruin your credit rating and destroy your financial future faster than setting your wallet on fire!

How To Prevent Identity Theft

bronwyn — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:26:04 -0600

Identity theft is a frightening thing to contemplate. Identity theft has become increasingly widespread with the explosion of the Internet, as well as increasing credit card use. It can negatively affect your credit report and cause huge headaches. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to prevent identity theft.

How To Give Financial Gifts for Christmas

miniguru — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:16:35 -0600

It’s the time of giving. Christmas is approaching. We all have relatives and friends that could use a little extra moolah. What better gift to give than a financial gift? But you wonder, oh what, oh what should I give? Before you rush to your ATM machine to withdraw cash, consider giving one of the eight financial gifts below.

How To Eliminate Personal Debt Faster

omehaney — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:41:40 -0600

Do you remember when it was difficult to get a credit card? Well, these days it's not too hard at all. All the major retail stores have them and with on-the-spot financing, making it easier than ever to load up your wallet with plastic. And if that's not enough, you needn't look further than your mailbox to find credit applications or even pre-approved credit cards and loans. All this readily available credit makes spending more money than you have all that much easier.

Here are a few useful steps to follow to get out of the black hole of credit card debt a little bit faster:

How To Save Money When Buying a New Car

omehaney — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:41:34 -0600

Buying a new car is something most people do several times in a lifetime but not a lot of people take the time or have the know-how to negotiate the best deal they possibly can. People drive off the car lot every day with cars that they could have saved thousands of dollars on. You may have done the same and even felt as though you paid too much. By following some of the tactics listed below, you can put yourself in a position to better negotiate the price of a new car. Of course, all dealerships and sales associates are different and the results of these tips will obviously vary. Regardless, I'm sure you will have fun getting a better price on your new car and you will definitely feel much better when you do.

How To Teach Your Children About Money

bronwyn — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:15:19 -0500

All parents wants their children to be happy and successful. Teaching children about money from a young age is one way to ensure their financial success in later life. Even very young children can be taught about money, by words and actions.

How To Save Money on Prescriptions

bronwyn — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:32:34 -0500

We all know that health care costs keep going up. Luckily, there are some ways to save money on prescription drugs so that you are not struggling to afford necessary medication! Savings will depend upon your health insurance plan and prescription drug coverage, but there are ways for everyone to save on their prescriptions.

How To Build Good Credit

kushta — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:32:07 -0500

Your credit history is possibly one of your most valuable assets. A good credit score enables you to qualify for loans, save money with lower interest rates and fees, get certain jobs, and qualify for an apartment. As important as good credit is to your quality of life, the sooner you start to build good credit, the better.

Because creditors are reluctant to trust consumers without a track record, building good credit from scratch can be difficult. Even once you start to establish a credit history, you will need to understand how your credit score is determined, in order to maintain a good credit score. This article provides advice on both points: getting started and understanding what you need to do in order to build good credit.

How To Use Credit Cards Responsibly

bronwyn — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:59:38 -0500

Credit cards can either be thought of as the best thing to ever happen to shopping or the reason for your debt, headaches, and sleepless nights. Credit cards are actually a wonderful tool -- when they are used responsibly. These tips will help you to stay on top of your debt and make sure that you are using your credit cards in the best way possible.

How To Make Some Extra Money

ralexander — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:11:43 -0500

Could you use a little extra money? If you are looking for creative ways to earn some extra money, use these tips and ideas to bring cash in for bills or just for fun.

How To Earn Rewards For Paying Bills Using my Own Payday

george_gilbert — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:34:23 -0500

There are credit card companies that offer rewards for using their cards. Using such a credit card to make bill payments affords the opportunity to get something back just by paying your bills. The challenge to earning rewards for paying your bills with a credit card is to do so without either going into debt or paying interest. Doing so is exceptionally easy with myOwnPayday. The trick is to set up your billers in such a way that they can be managed normally in myOwnPayday while not actually making payments directly to those billers. Setting up a special account to receive the biller payments is key. Here's how.

How To Consolidate Credit Card Debt

kushta — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:26:20 -0500

Nothing is worse than feeling like you have accumulated more credit card debt than you can handle. And, realistically, almost any amount of debt can quickly become too much to handle, thanks to the high interest rates most revolving debt carries. For this reason, many people decide to consolidate credit card debt.

Why Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt?

The only reason to consolidate your credit card debt is because you want to get out from under it – and, realistically, who doesn’t? However, if you do not keep this goal in mind, you can easily make a decision that will cost you more in the long run, or even jeopardize your credit score. So remember, when consolidating your credit card debt, make sure every move you make will result in less interest and fees and/or a shorter pay-down period.

Consolidate Credit Card Debt on Another Card

How To Repair Your Credit Score

kushta — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:36:53 -0500

Your credit score is one of the most important factors in getting a loan, qualifying for a mortgage on a house, getting financed on a new car, or being approved for a new credit card. Repairing your credit score is essential if you want to be eligible for the best deals available. A high credit score tells lenders that you are reliable, and as a result you will get lower interest rates and better terms. On the other hand, a low credit score labels you as high risk, making lenders more likely to charge you a higher interest rate – if they don’t reject you altogether.

How To Set Up a Savings Plan Using my Own 10-Key

george_gilbert — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:29:13 -0500

There are generally two types of savings plans. One is where you decide to set aside a fixed amount or percent of your income with no purpose in mind other than accumulating savings. Then there are savings plans where you have a specific amount that you need by a specific date. This procedure addresses the steps you can use to set up the latter type of targeted savings plan. The purpose of the plan can be any goal, such as a large purchase, a vacation, something as far off as retirement, or just for "a rainy day."

Setting up a targeted savings plan requires that you know (1) how much you will need; (2) when you will need the money; and (3) the amount of interest your savings account will earn.

How To Contest Invalid Credit Card Charges

george_gilbert — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:53:33 -0500

Anyone with access to your credit card information can process charges against your account. However, you are not defenseless against this type of theft. There are Federal statutes that lay out specific guidelines for both the company that prepares your credit card statement, and for how you go about contesting invalid or incorrect charges.

How To Teach Your Kids the Value of Money

aljacobs — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:36:12 -0500

Over the years I’ve witnessed the offspring of many friends and relatives display an inability to handle money. The number of youngsters I’ve known that grew to adulthood without the ability to make regular payments on their home mortgage, pay their credit card bills without incurring interest and penalties, or even balance a checkbook, is frightening.

Whatever praise or criticism you may direct at the American public school system, one thing must be acknowledged: The handling of personal finances is not a subject to which much attention is devoted. Whatever the average American knows about monetary matters did not come from the classroom. This is understandable, of course, if only because the typical classroom teacher is equally mystified by the world of money. It’s for this reason I’m convinced that a child’s indoctrination into financial matters must be rooted at home.

How To Reduce Your IRS Tax Debt

Staff468 — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 16:08:00 -0600

Much of the tax debt in this country is not due to negligence or lack deliberate refusal to pay, but is instead the result of misunderstanding. Like many Americans, you might be facing IRS tax debt and wondering how you will ever emerge from it. Here are some ways to reduce your IRS tax debt.

First of all, consider hiring a tax professional (CPA or tax lawyer) to help you assess your situation and determine the best course for reducing your IRS tax debt. Visit our article about how to get an IRS tax lawyer.

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How To Get an IRS Tax Lawyer

Staff468 — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 16:40:00 -0600

Finding and choosing an IRS tax lawyer is simple; just Google "tax lawyer" and pick one from the many IRS tax lawyers online... at your own risk. If only it were that simple. The best way to find a good IRS tax lawyer is to combine your extensive searching with solid research on the lawyers' credentials and reputation. You've probably already seen how many IRS tax lawyer websites there are on the internet, all of them desperately competing for your business. From flashy fonts to regal photos, each of these firms could be helpful, but they could also be more of a hindrance to you. How can you decide which IRS tax lawyer to choose when faced with so many options?

Do not judge by any appearances when it comes to finding a good IRS tax lawyer, unless your lawyer appears in an alleyway drinking out of a brown bag. Appearances are often deceiving, as are claims of excellence. The following will help you find a reputable, effective IRS tax lawyer.

How To Stop an IRS Levy

Staff468 — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:52:00 -0500

An IRS levy refers to the actual seizing of property authorized by a tax lien. If a tax lien is the IRS's authorization to act by seizing property, then the IRS levy is the actual act of seizure. So how can you stop an IRS levy?

When the IRS does a levy, they bypass the courts and simply take your property, whether real or personal. The only time the IRS levy will involve the courts is when the IRS seeks the ability to seize property that is within the lien but currently beyond the reach of the IRS levy, such as necessary clothing, textbooks and certain business necessities.

How To Save on Gas

Ken18 — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 09:28:00 -0500

So how do you like putting $40 of gas into your car when it used to take only $20...and the size of your gas tank hasn't gotten larger? If you don't like it and want to save some money on gas, read on.

There isn't a whole lot you can do as an individual about the price of a gallon of gas, but you can influence how often you need to stuff that $40 into the pockets of "Big Oil". The answer is simple..........USE LESS GASOLINE............This is no secret, but the key word in that phrase is USE...it is a verb that implies that YOU need to take action...to change your driving habits and the way you use your car.

There are basically three types of things you can do to reduce your gas consumption and save some money:

How To Resolve Money Problems

Michael 129 — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 19:09:00 -0500

Many relationship experts rank financial issues second only to infidelity as a root cause of marital strife or dissolution. Indeed, how a couple handles money problems can be a real-time litmus test of their lines of communication. Few people enjoy discussing their finances, either out of a fear of failure or an overly-developed sense of pride. This is precisely why some married couples find themselves living far beyond their means, locked in a desperate effort to keep up appearances or maintain an idealized lifestyle. The syndrome of 'keeping up with the Joneses' is a real phenomenon, and can be a serious financial trap for married couples just moving into a more comfortable phase of their financial lives.

While many arguments between husband and wife appear to be money-related, quite often the real issues are rarely addressed satisfactorily. Here are some tips for resolving money problems before they have a chance to overwhelm the marriage.