In a tight economy, people are constantly looking for ways to save money, spend smarter, and earn a few extra dollars on the side. One of my friends, Eric Johnson, a technical trainer and supervisor in Des Moines, Iowa, uses several smartphone apps to make extra money by buying and selling merchandise online.

Eric is a savvy shopper, and he uses several smartphone apps to keep up with the latest deals (and sell merchandise to other people). Just like eBay used to be a popular way for people to make money by buying and selling merchandise, these smartphone apps are offering more efficient ways for people to find what they need – and for other people to earn a profit in the process.

Read the full post on Want to make money? Use these apps for a garage sale from your couch!.

There are so many new smartphone apps emerging each month, offering new ways to save money and spend smarter, that it’s often surprising to hear about an “obvious” app like the Amazon app. But just by using this simple app from one of the biggest online retailers, you can save money and shop smarter on your next big-ticket purchase.

We spoke with a friend, Todd Fox, who is an aerospace engineer in Houston, Texas, about how he uses the Amazon app to make his life easier whenever he’s in a store.

Read the full post on How to save money and shop smarter with the Amazon app.

Smartphones are everywhere, and most smartphone users wouldn’t know how to live without them. Smartphones help us stay in contact with friends and loved ones, find our way around, and navigate the little challenges of everyday life. But did you know that your smartphone can also help you save money?

Smartphone apps and social media tools are offering many unique new ways for people to save money, often on everyday purchases that they’re already making. You might be surprised at how you can unlock the potential of your smartphone to help you save more money and have more fun at some of your favorite retail destinations.

Read the full post on These 4 social media smartphone apps can save you big money on everyday shopping.

Written by Ben Gran

The weekend’s coming. You’re looking for something to do on the town. Maybe a nice time out with your family, maybe a hot date. Whatever the case, chances are you’ll be eating out.

If you’re trying to improve your personal finances and also live a healthier lifestyle, the best place to start is at the dinner table. The old saying “You are what you eat,” is also true for your personal finances. Saving money and eating healthy are often two sides of the same coin.

Read the full post on Eating out? Dine more wisely….

Every New Year is a time for reflection and renewal. Each January 1st presents us with a clean slate and a chance to make changes in our lives. This is why people make New Year’s Resolutions – whether it’s to lose weight, exercise more, improve their diet, get a new job, or tackle some long-term challenge that they’ve been delaying for too long.

If you want to make some changes in your personal finances, perhaps it’s time to consider making some New Year’s resolutions for how you relate to money.

Here are a few ideas to help make 2012 a more prosperous year:

Read the full post on New Year’s Resolutions for your Personal Finances.

Our Chief Marketing Officer, Brian Macias, gives us the rundown on what Term Life and Whole Life Insurance is, and how people should go about choosing which is best for them.

Before you take out a loan, you should make sure that you understand the true cost of the loan. Depending on various factors, the total cost of your loan as well as the monthly payments could fluctuate throughout the term. Understanding the numbers that go into calculating this figure can save you from paying more money than you originally intended.

The loan cost is the total of the interest, closing costs and various fees in addition to the amount that you borrow. Consider the following scenario. Someone borrows a $100,000 loan with a static interest rate of 6 percent and agrees to pay it back over the course of thirty years.

Read the full post on Understanding the true cost of a loan.

by Guest Poster, Lacey Cook

There are so many people writing books and publishing articles to tell others about how they can achieve financial success, but very few actually follow their advice.

This country is in an economic crisis, and too many people have no financial education what so ever. Many have bad habits that they learned from their parents, and they will continue to pass on these poor financial decision making habits to their children unless they do something to stop it. The following are a few guidelines that can help you achieve financial success by making small changes in your lifestyle.

Read the full post on Keys to Financial Success that are Often Ignored.