Americans are still a bit unsure about which way the economy is going to swing. After seeing a little bit of recovery from the recession, hiring trends are starting to cool and unemployment rates are holding steady, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). Finding more cash flow without getting a second job may sound impossible, but there are a few things you can do to free up money you may not have known about.
First, if you have any credit cards, sit down and look at your current terms. CreditCards.com showed in their most recent survey of average national interest rates that the low average has reduced somewhat in 6 months, and instant approval cards carrying higher rates than other cards might stand a chance of being adjusted to lower available terms if you just call your card company and discuss your options.
You may also be carrying around other things in your wallet apart from your credit cards that cost you money without even using them. If you have a gym membership, a movie subscription program or a bank card with a monthly fee you might want to consider deactivating or switching these services. It may be worth it to open an account at a new bank that doesn't charge you just to keep a debit card active every month, as those fees will add up over time.
If you rent your home, you might also want to sit down and review your lease terms. If you have a good history with your landlord, you should consider requesting a reduction in rent or a change in terms, like including utilities or other incentives. Residents can have a strong sway on landlord decisions; just recently a group of tenants in Boston joined together to try and negotiate a more amenable monthly term after realty group Alpha Management Corporation bought a large number of Boston properties. Having a financial plan including monthly rent can help you determine what would work best for you while also being used as a negotiating tool with your landlord if you can present strong evidence that you deserve the reduction.
Seek out tools like online banking to help you keep track of where your money is going on a regular basis. Above all else, the best strategy for putting more money in your pocket is to make sure you aren't spending it in places you don't need to.Americans are still a bit unsure about which way the economy is going to swing. After seeing a little bit of recovery from the recession, hiring trends are starting to cool and unemployment rates are holding steady, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). Finding more cash flow without getting a second job may sound impossible, but there are a few things you can do to free up money you may not have known about.
First, if you have any credit cards, sit down and look at your current terms. CreditCards.com showed in their most recent survey of average national interest rates that the low average has reduced somewhat in 6 months, and instant approval cards carrying higher rates than other cards might stand a chance of being adjusted to lower available terms if you just call your card company and discuss your options.
You may also be carrying around other things in your wallet apart from your credit cards that cost you money without even using them. If you have a gym membership, a movie subscription program or a bank card with a monthly fee you might want to consider deactivating or switching these services. It may be worth it to open an account at a new bank that doesn't charge you just to keep a debit card active every month, as those fees will add up over time.
If you rent your home, you might also want to sit down and review your lease terms. If you have a good history with your landlord, you should consider requesting a reduction in rent or a change in terms, like including utilities or other incentives. Residents can have a strong sway on landlord decisions; just recently a group of tenants in Boston joined together to try and negotiate a more amenable monthly term after realty group Alpha Management Corporation bought a large number of Boston properties. Having a financial plan including monthly rent can help you determine what would work best for you while also being used as a negotiating tool with your landlord if you can present strong evidence that you deserve the reduction.
Seek out tools like online banking to help you keep track of where your money is going on a regular basis. Above all else, the best strategy for putting more money in your pocket is to make sure you aren't spending it in places you don't need to.