In 2010, Americans earned $48 billion in frequent flier miles, credit card points, hotel rewards and other loyalty schemes – and nearly a third of that amount expired without being used! Ever since Texas International Airlines offered the first frequent flier miles program in 1979, we have been saving up miles and points like crazy to take advantage of the best possible deals.

However, not everybody has the time to study how to get the greatest benefit from frequent flier programs and therefore, we present our 20 Top Frequent Flier Blogs which will provide advice on the best way to get started with frequently flying, the fastest routes to accumulating frequent flier miles, and the best ways in which to redeem them.

Comprehensive Frequent Flier Blogs

The Points Guy – Brian Kelly has a history of identifying the best deals around, ever since he planned a family vacation to the Cayman Islands using his father´s US Airlines miles – at age 12! Now he is a full-time travel consultant who has been featured in The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times and on The Today Show.

Frequent Flier – Remarkably comprehensive blog which covers mostly frequent flier programs offered by airlines and dissects the charges and fees added by airlines when you book a flight using frequent flier miles. Very news orientated for the latest offers.

Frequent Flyer Bonuses – Patrick Sojka produces a weekly “cliffs” summary of the best frequent flier promotions and also has at the top of the home page an easy to access list of all the major deals currently live. Follow on Twitter or Facebook for news of deals as they break.

Frequent Flier Blogs for Beginners

The Frugal Travel Guy – Rick Ingesoll´s major claim to “Frequent Flying Fame” is that he and his wife visited Europe for five years in succession without once paying for an airline ticket! His site includes a valuable Rookie 101 that all new fans of frequent flying should read as a priority.

Free Frequent Flyers Miles – A great source of information to the frequent flying novice and weathered bargain hunter alike. Gary´s “How to Begin” section gives a comprehensive overview of frequent flier programs and – most importantly – how to avoid common mistakes.

Milepoint – Not actually a blog, but more like a “flog” (forum cum blog). Great for beginners with a Milepoint wiki explaining what all the frequent flier programs are all about, Q&As among the members of the forum, and trip reports which give feedback on frequent flier experiences.

Frequent Flier Credit Cards

The Mr Pickles Blog – Mr Pickles once achieved notoriety by featuring in a WSJ front page article which suggested he had collected millions of frequent flier miles without ever once stepping on a plane! Find out how it was achieved in this enlightening blog.

Online Travel Review – Jared Blank presents news and reviews about some of the best online travel deals and how to maximize the advantages provided by frequent flier debit and credit card programs. The site is now in its eighth year, so completely credible

Million Mile Secrets – Daraius Dubash also acquired millions of miles without ever setting foot on a plane but, once he started, he never stopped. Find out how Daraius has visited 30 different countries – and flew his girlfriend to London for a marriage proposition – without paying a cent

Bucks – The NYT´s “Making the Most of Your Money” pages has regular useful news for frequent flying enthusiasts who want to maximise the potential of their spending by credit card. Some would say accurate news without the gloss added by motivated affiliate marketers, but only so good if you already know what they are talking about!

Frequently Flying to Hotels

Loyalty Traveler – Frequent flying deals lose some of their value when you have to pay rack rate for your accommodation. Ric Garrido finds the best loyalty programs among the leading hotel brands to reduce the cost of your hotel stays and enhance the hotel experience.

Priority Club Insider – PCI provides loads of information about taking advantage of the Intercontinental Hotels loyalty scheme. Accommodation upgrades and cheap nights can also be found at the group´s other hotel brands, so good for frequent flyers who stay in Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels.

Best Rate Guaranteed – Our host “David” provides daily listings on the best discounted and free hotel rooms in the US. Many of his listings include a link to the Trip Advisor web site, so you can see genuine reviews from people who have used the accommodation before you book.

Fine Dining for Frequents Fliers

Mommy Points – Mommy Points demonstrates that you do not have to fly in the middle of the night and out of season to get the best of frequent flyer programs, and among all the useful hints for taking a family on holiday, the ones among the dining pages make this blog a worthwhile read alone.

Travel Sort – Hilary Stockton hosts a very comprehensive travel guide blog, on which she has taken the time to identify the best Frequent Flyer Dining Programs. Some of the featured restaurants are attached to international hotel brands, so you can accumulate points wherever you are in the world.

Flyer Talk – Flyertalk is another indispensible source of information for people who want to make the best out of the frequent flying programs and their “flog” on rewards from dining makes comprehensive reading. Seeing as how we all eat, it makes sense to review this site as much as any other!

Frequent Flier Experiences

Points Miles and Martinis – It is only okay to have to “best” frequent flier program if the experience at the end of it is worth the effort. Genuine reviews from the Weekly Flier, with plenty of photographs to compliment the likes and dislikes of specific frequent flier experiences.

One Mile at a Time – A student who flies 200,000 miles a year? Actually it is true, but you will have to read the blog to find out how Ben Schlappig does it! Some great photos and tales from a traveler who regularly visits Europe and Asia without paying anything like full fare. Contains a good Q&A as well.

Plane Reality – Not about the buying and selling of planes (with frequent flier points!) but about what you can genuinely expect when you take advantage of a frequent flier program. Plenty of pictures compensates for the lack of text and makes you start wondering about your next upgrade.

View From the Wing – A really comprehensive blog describing the author´s own experiences of using a frequent flier program and linking to other authors blogs who have written about their own experiences. In a word – practical.

Penny Stocks, or “chicarros”, is the common name for shares in US companies which generally trade at under $1.00/share. Many of them have a value of a fraction of a cent, but it is an investor´s dream to get involved with Penny Stocks which subsequently multiply in value many thousands of times over. Trading these low-value shares is much simpler now that almost everybody has a credit card and internet connection, but getting accurate and impartial advice on which Penny Stocks could boost your finances can still be fraught with hazards.

Many Penny Stocks have a low liquidity value – meaning that there are so many of them available so cheaply, that few people want to buy them when you want to sell them. This presents the danger that you could be parting with dead money from which you never see a return, however a bigger danger is that of fraud – where the price of the Penny Stock has been manipulated to give the appearance that it is on the rise, but in reality it is just about to crash.

Our 20 Top Penny Stocks Blogs aim to guide you in the right direction for making a prudent and potentially lucrative investment however the Frugal Saver and Savings Account.org accept no liability for any action undertaken in reliance on the information provided on our list, and disclaims all warranties or responsibilities for loss, injury, claim or damage of any kind.

Great Penny Stocks Beginners Blogs

The Penny Stock Blog – The Penny Stock Blog provides one of the most comprehensive guides for beginners to Penny Stock investing. Not just good for tips and helpful advice, but also warning of potential pitfalls.

Bull Rally – A well laid out site which guides you through the pros and cons of Penny Stocks trading, advises you how to get started and provides the latest Penny Stocks news via bulletins and Tweets.

Stock Egg – Stock Egg defines Penny Stocks as being under $5.00 and focuses on unusual activity within that range. The site offers a free daily newsletter which “tips” three stocks which are expected to perform profitably, and also hosts a useful Penny Stocks 101.

Penny Stock Pick Alert – This recent addition to the Penny Stocks Blogs may not be the most comprehensive in terms of content, but has some practical advice about the “do´s and dont´s” of Penny Stocks trading and worth a read.

Penny Stock Capitalist –Not strictly speaking a blog, but a good advice guide which is regularly updated and which should be read by anybody considering taking their first steps into the world of Penny Stocks trading.

Hot Stocks Everyday – More of a “How to” blog than a “When to” tipping service, Hot Stocks Everyday provides the information about where to get the data you need to make your own decisions about investing in Penny Stocks.

Penny Blog – This blog provides Penny Stocks trading lessons in video format which is really useful if you wish to learn how to interpret charts and stock market signals. Even experienced Penny Stocks traders will find this blog of value .

Penny Stocks Market Watch Blogs

Hot Penny Stocks – Hot Penny Stocks blurs the definition of a Penny Stock a little – with many of the stocks it reports on costing upwards of $2.00 – but, with updates two or three times a day, provides valuable information for those waiting for a move to happen.

Penny Stock Guru – Sage advice from Penny Stock Guru Bob Wilcox, who justifies his forecasts with charts and historical trends. Bob also provides a daily email service and hosts a chat room facility in which subscribers can ask Bob questions directly.

Hot Otc – Hot Otc is another blog that includes news on expensive stocks as well as Penny Stocks, but the blog does have a useful “Penny Stock Scanner” which predicts the three stocks most likely to be upwardly active during the following day.

Stock Gumshoe – Stock Gumshoe is an active blog with plenty of information and cross-chat between contributors and commentators. Some of the content is “premium”, but most of it is news, views and advice and well worth browsing.

Buy Penny Stocks – An excellent blog which highlights the major movers and traders of the day, but also has a live “Stock Watch” page on which you can see in which direction your chosen stocks are travelling. Compulsive viewing even without a financial interest!

Penny Stocks Success Blogs

Timothy Sykes – Mr Sykes claims to have turned $12,415 into $2 million by investing in Penny Stocks and he will show you how you can to – for a premium. The (free) blogs on the site are worth reading just to see how others have experienced Penny Stocks successes.

Penny Stock Prophet – Ultimately the aim of this blog is to relieve you of $97.00 for  a lifetime´s worth of prophecies, and although we would not normally list this type of blog as a “top” Penny Stocks blog, there is plenty of useful information for free (and a money-back guarantee on the paid content!)

Penny Stocks Prediction Blogs

Stock Preacher – Stock Preacher is a comprehensive stock trading advice web site, but click on the tag for Penny Stocks and there is regular news concerning low budget opportunities. An active chat room will also help with any questions you have about trading Penny Stocks

Stock Buy Online – Another comprehensive general stock trading blog which has the facility to sort the articles and advice by the tags. “Best Penny Stocks” and “Penny Stocks to Watch” are the most useful categories for bargain hunters.

Lotto Pick – An infrequent blog which provides occasional tips and information about investing in Penny Stocks, but which looks as though it has been successful to date. Best to follow on Twitter or subscribe to the free SMS service for new Penny Stock postings

Stock Reads – This site collects all the Penny Stocks newsletters, calculates which are the most highly recommended Penny Stocks and hands out awards  to those who get their predictions right. A good site to review if you are checking the credibility of your chosen blog´s newsletter

Penny Stock Rumble – Penny Stock Rumble does pretty much the same thing as Stock Reads, but requires a (free) subscription to access the information. It all depends on whether you want your Penny Stocks news “lite” or with greater depth of coverage

Stock Wizards – Despite the irregularity with which articles are published, the industry news items and “Hot Stocks” listing are useful tools for making your own predictions should none be provided for you.  If you are looking to find that “investor´s dream”, it could well be on Stock Wizards!

Being “frugal” does not mean that you have to live your life in a “Scrooge-like” existence, or that you have to go without enjoying the pleasures of life because you are watching the cents. Although you need a lot of discipline to maintain frugality, the effort can be rewarding and fun – with a deep sense of achievement once you reach the goals you have set yourself.

Many of our “Top 50 Frugal Blogs” offer handy ways of saving money through couponing and by taking advantage of the freebies offered by leading stores. Some of the suggestions in the blogs require a complete change of lifestyle, while others simply invite you to save money at your leisure. Like most things, the more you put into living frugally, the more you will get out of it.

Frugal Shopping Blogs

Money Saving Mom – Crystal Paine is the queen of supermarket savings and has a hugely successful blog to prove it. More than 85,000 Twitter followers log in every day to find out how they can become proficient in “couponese” and win the “drug store game”.

Deal Seeking Mom – Tara Kuczykowski is a mother of five, yet still finds time to manage her web site which provides “Deals of the Week” from stores around the country and details of some great freebies.

Consumer Queen – A great site, anonymously produced, which focuses on bargain opportunities in stores around Oklahoma as well as coupon and giveaway deals which are available nationwide.

For The Mommas – A frugal shopping blog compiled by “Shannon” which mixes a concoction of coupons, deals and money-saving recipes. “Liked” by more than 48,000 on Facebook – see how many people “like” your bank!

Stretchy Dollar – Stretchy Dollar covers practically everything you can buy online and shows you how to acquire the best deals. Groceries, travel and gifts are among the most popular pages on this comprehensive web blog.

Household Budget Made Easy – David Kimball is a man in the charge of the household budget – worth a read to see if you agree or not with his ideas on maintaining a frugal household!

Frugal Confessionals – “Never go without, but never pay full price” is the tag line from this popular Houston-localized blog. Good frugal shopping advice throughout the rest of the site squeezes “Confessions” into our Top 50

Mrs Nespy´s World – Mrs Nespy follows Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover tips in a bid to shrug off the debt she and her husband accumulated in their youth. Hundreds of freebies and quality advice.

Penny Saver Blog – This blog covers many aspects of how you can save pennies and live frugally, as well as supplying general tips and advice of how to shop for your groceries and the mistakes to avoid.

Girls Just Want to Have Funds – This blog justifies its entry on just the title alone and includes numerous tips on saving money on shopping, personal finance, marriage and motherhood.

Frugal Couponing Blogs

Common Sense With Money – Mercedes is your host on one of the most popular couponing blogs on the Internet. Money saving tips and details of online deals compliment the many frugal couponing opportunities

Krazy Coupon Lady – Young, savvy moms are on a mission to empower women (not men?) to slash their weekly grocery bills by 50-90%. Good tips for the beginner, and any men who are wondering what the heck is going on in their homes!

Free Snatcher – What started off as a blog advising people about free goodies in the Chicago area has developed into a frugal couponing blog which also offers information about store deals and sweepstakes.

Living Rich With Coupons – Cindy Livesey is the mom in a family of 5, and saves over $8000 a year in groceries by couponing. After 25 years of marriage, multiple school tuitions, sports travel and much more, Cindy and her husband have decided to become 100% debt free.

Coupons and Freebies Mom – Giveaways, freebies and extreme couponing placed together in one handy resource for moms. Also includes info about paid surveys and other income-from-home sources.

Dealicious Finds – A lively, predominantly couponing blog, written by “Jasmine” with links to contributing sites, often has details of social media freebies and store giveaways on the site

Coupon Album – Possibly the most comprehensive selection of coupons, searchable by store and product, with a daily blog to keep you informed about the newest offers and those about to close.

Saving Cents in the City – Where “Sex and the City” meets “Swagbucks” with a blog providing more codes than coupons for the more upmarket products available in NYC.

Frugal Desert Dwellers – Sadly not a money saving blog for the sweet-toothed, but one with the tag line “It´s hot out there- let´s get some cool deals!” An a-bun-dant supply of couponing opportunities

Coupons for Your Family – This blog provides its own couponing opportunities and links to plenty of other comprehensive couponing databases to maximize the savings yo can make for your family

Frugal Cooking Blogs

5 Dollar Dinners – 5 Dollar Dinners is a handy blog compiled by Erin Chase, who produces meals for her family (a husband and two young boys) for less than $5.00. The site also contains an excellent Q&A and resource guide for growing food at home from scratch.

Chief Family Officer – Kathy is a full-time mom with two young sons who, after following her own frugal lifestyle and cooking her own recipes, has been able to give up work to support her family emotionally rather than financially.

Lean Times – Manhattan native, Viviana, moves to London, but can still find time to prepare recipes and menus for those living on a budget – possibly harder to do when you get paid in dollars and shop in sterling!

Cooking Manager – Hannah Katsman is a mother of six and understands the problems of finding time to prepare nutritious food for her family. Advocating good organizational skills, Hannah is a top cooking manager

Square Pennies – This blog is all about saving time and money in the kitchen, to enable you to spend more quality time on other pursuits and have more money to do them with

Cooking For Seven – Not as frightening as the title may make out, as our author – Erica Lea – was cooking for four siblings and her parents before recently marrying her husband – who eats just as much!

Cakes and Ale – Calories and alcohol may not seem a frugal way of life, but Amanda Wagner shows how you do not have to forgo the culinary pleasures of life just because you are living on a budget

Practical Housewives – A community blog in which many subjects related to frugal living are discussed but which also hosts a “featured recipe” in pdf format so it can be printed out and kept in the kitchen.

Not Without Salt – An incredibly fascinating blog – not exclusively frugal –with many fantastic ideas for money saving meals and making the best of leftovers. Particularly interesting feature on making your own salt including

The Frugal Cook – Fiona Beckett – author of 27 frugal cooking books – brings many of her most successful (English measurement) recipes to the Internet along with her Credit Crunch Drinking Guide

Frugal College Life Blogs

Money Smart Students – A nice bright blog which provides information and tips to high school seniors and college freshmen to help students prepare for life on their own, either at college, or out in the real world.

Frugal Law Student – A little out of date now, but Brett McKay´s useful advice about surviving college and making the most of the money saving opportunities which come your way is still a valuable read.

Equal Justice Works – Students can find everything from checklists to podcasts and videos to help them understand and qualify for public service loan forgiveness and income-based repayment.

Grad Money Matters – Not so much big financial issues, but big ideas to make small amounts of money regularly to improve your disposable income thru college. A well presented blog which is very easy to read.

Engineer Your Finances – One for the well-off kids who have the money, but not the sense to know what to do with it. Good tips for anybody with a few dollars in their pockets.

One Budget – One Budget is a personal finance management blog for all aspects of live but, thoughtfully, it has some practical frugality advice for students before and after they attend college

Graduated Learning – “Steph”, our author, started this blog five years ago when she was studying at Boston MIT. As much as the archives will be of value to new students, how she managed through her college years, and what has become of her now, is a fascinating story.

The Smart Nickel – A clever and funny blog written by Alex Yuan, in which he teaches college students and young adults how to make a nickel on every dollar and develop habits which will earn you money.

My University Money – A Canadian blog which shies away from providing direct financial advice, but provides many good resources for students throughout North America to search for college financial advice

College Students Are Poor – A general frugal blog for college student, with details of college coupons and college freebies, as well as tips on how to make money and save money when in college.

Frugal Lifestyle Blogs

Wise Bread – Wise Bread provides hugely valuable tips on how to live it large on a small budget. Information provided by a community of bloggers can help you make money, save money and enable what money you have go further.

Blog and Save – Savings.com´s own communal blog invites you to live well by spending less.  The site claims to finely tune your “saving senses” with their combination of tips and resources.

Bargain Briana – What initially appears as a couponing blog is actually an excellently written site in which Briana Carter integrates stories surrounding her family into a fun guide for a frugal lifestyle.

Hey It´s Free – You don´t get any more “frugal” than free, and this very funny site written by “Goob” and Adam provides details of all the latest giveaways and samples being offered by the stores.

The Motherload – Amy Clark creates a daily blog full of money saving ideas which include couponing and shopping hints, but also “how to”s which will save readers a considerable amount of money

Frugal Dad – Frugal Dad claims to make being frugal cool again and, if you want a break from the penny-pinching blogs written by professional “frugalistas”, you may find this blog more to your liking.

Budgets Are Sexy – Another male orientated blog (with the occasional female contributor) which follows the fortunes of a man who has just realized that some financial responsibility is the order of the day.

Frugal Upstate – New Yorker Jenn Fowler makes saving fun with an eclectic assortment of money saving ideas. Her skills in novel frugality, DIY and crafts and what she can make for dinner may amaze you

The Greenest Dollar – Heather Levin blogs from the Upper Mid-West about the savings that can be made by enjoying a green lifestyle. The blog includes project lists (with updates) and links to other environmentally friendly blogs.

Sustainable Life Blog – A frugal blog which advocates saving money by saving the planet at the same time. A running total of how much the authors have saved justifies this blog´s existence

The term “personal finance” covers a huge range of subjects and affects us all virtually from the cradle to the grave. Unfortunately, we do not always get impartial and practical advice from certain financial institutions who use their customer service departments as vehicles to up-sell existing clients, so it is important to seek out an independent view of how we should manage our money (or lack of it).

The bloggers listed below have earned their position in our “Top 50 Personal Finance Blogs” due to their popularity on the web and the vast numbers who already take advantage of the advice they offer. We have categorized them into handy groups for quick reference, but you may find a cross-over in some which have similar subject matters.

Personal Finance Lifestyle Blogs

The Consumerist – “Shoppers Bite Back” is the key phrase of this hugely successful blog published by the non-profit making Consumers Union. As many as twenty articles a day highlight the persistent, shameless gaffes of modern consumerism – and the latest scams, rip-offs, hot deals and freebies.

Get Rich Slowly – An excellent site written by J.D. Roth which focuses on making “cents” of personal finance. Awarded the title of “Most Inspiring Money Blog” by CNN/Money in 2008, Get Rich Slowly is a sensible yet education read.

Christian Personal Finance – Christian “PF” is a good read for anybody requiring motivation to positively re-arrange their personal finances. Bob Lotich adds a little spirituality to each message, but the advice provided is sound irrespective of your faith.

Queercents – Personal finance advice for the LGBT community from a syndicate of personal finance writers who have first-hand experience of the issues and discrimination encountered by the non-heterosexual public

Moolanomy – Moolanomy found its way onto this list because it has sections on just about everything you might need to get your personal finances in order. Loads of advice on how to earn more, spend less and live smarter

Financially Poor – Good tips and advice for all types of personal finance, but Kevin also introduces ways of making money by “working” online to provide additional income to help generate an additional income and eliminate debt.

Moneyed Up – Some good ideas for changing your lifestyle to become more financially responsible, presented in a way which makes common sense yet is thought provoking and motivating.

Credit/Credit Cards Personal Finance Blogs

Consumerism Commentary – Consumerism Commentary is one of the longest established personal finance blogs on the Internet. Applicable to many areas of personal finances, Consumerism Commentary is particularly strong on loans and finance resources

Credit Karma – Help and advice for those who need to improve their credit rating and information about the latest credit card deals together with some handy tips on how to moderate your spending on credit.

Free Money Finance – “FMF” has plenty of valuable information about saving money and personal finance but is probably best read to discover how the author gets free money from credit card companies

Ask Mr Credit Card – Actually this a “Mr and Mrs” blog, as Jacqui Stewart and Jason Steele not only provide details of the latest credit card offers but go out and spend to find out just how easy these deals are to redeem.

PT Money – PT is Philip Taylor, a man on a mission to save money on his credit card fees and charges. In his blog he describes his personal journey with advice on how you too can save on those nasty little hidden charges.

Dough Roller – Dough Roller provides bits and pieces of advice for many elements of personal finance, but where the site is strongest is in its content with relation to credit cards and credit management.

Debt Management Personal Finance Blogs

The Simple Dollar –Trent Hamm is now in his thirties and has experienced most of the debt problems that young people find themselves in. This blog explains how he turned around his personal financial circumstances by making just a few key changes.

Man vs Debt – Adam Baker sold all his belongings and took his wife and daughter on a voyage of financial discovery. Adam´s blog is about getting released from the things which prevent you from being free of debt – without necessarily having to follow his extreme footsteps.

Beating Broke – This blog covers plenty of topics beyond how to deal with debt, but many revolve around taking control of your finances which, of course, is the first phase of debt management

Ask Jack About Debt – Jack Edmonston is a volunteer consumer complaint mediator who has learned the best procedures for stopping debt collection, dealing with adverse credit reports and for making settlements of legitimate debts. Now they are on his blog for free!

Debt Guru – Debt Guru represents the American Credit Foundation which is a licensed, non-profit organization offering free advice and other services to anyone who wants to get out of debt and improve their financial situation.

Debt Sucks – A personal journey related by “Jake” who is trying many different ways to clear $44,500 of debt that he acquired during school by the year 2014. An interesting read despite not really managing his debt well.

Personal Finance and Taxation Blogs

Tax Policy Centre – The Tax Policy blog is compiled by nationally recognized tax experts who provide facts and analysis about how taxation affects yields from investments and income. Fairly straightforward reading in clear English

Don´t Mess With Taxes – Journalist Kay Bell provides commentary on current Federal taxation policy and finds the loopholes through which you can substantially reduce your tax liability – legally!

Tax Resolution – Michael Rozbruch is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and comments in his blog about current tax issues and how they affect the individual´s personal finance

Mauled Again – Professor James Maule delivers a verdict on some of the tax laws which affect the individual and hinders them from escaping from debt and building a personal investment portfolio

Tax Girl – Kelly Phillips Erb keeps a close eye on the IRS (on behalf of Forbes) and highlights any changes to personal finance taxation that the IRS might have liked to have kept under the carpet. Revealing!

Retirement Personal Finance Blogs

Cash Money Life – The author of Cash, Money Life had the aim of retiring at 40 to enjoy his money and life. Then the crash came and the plan has been put back a little but still heading in the right direction. Good info on Roth IRAs.

Five Cent Nickel – Five Cent Nickel carries a lot of information about reducing credit card balances and obtaining the best savings rates, but also has some great articles about cutting long-term credit with one eye to the future

Joe Taxpayer – Although only in his late thirties, the author tends to provide a great deal of taxation advice and content for those approaching retirement. Good to browse through if you are considering your long-term financial future as well.

Saving to Inve$t – Saving to Inve$t focuses a great deal on reducing your personal tax liability to create saving which to invest. The blog also carries information about stock trading, high yield savings accounts and mortgage rates.

Financial Ducks in a Row – Jim Blankenship suggests that you get your financial ducks in a row by providing information on personal income tax, detailing many of the provisions of IRA and other retirement plan rules.

Wealth Pilgrim – As bloggers get older, so do their subject matter. Neal Frankel has been looking after his own finances since both parents passed away when he was seventeen. Now his thoughts turn to retirement planning and balloon payment mortgages

Personal Finance and Banking Blogs

Bargaineering – This recent arrival to the personal finance blog-o-sphere has shot near to the top of the ratings partly due to its excellent video “how to” series. Good for banking news and where the best CD rates can be found.

Bankvibe – Practically everything you wanted to know about banks, credit and the money market in one handy resource. Good information and up-to-date news about banking makes Bankvibe a must-read blog

Bank Bonuses – The latest bank bonuses and incentives for you to open an account with them, provided by an ex-law student who took advantage of many of these to pay his way through school.

Personal Finance Blogs for the Young

I Will Teach You To Be Rich – Ramit Sethi produces financial advice for students leaving the world of education and heading into the job market for the first time. Recommended by the WSJ and NY Times

Money Crashers – Although Money Crashes is a relevant personal finance blog to read whatever stage of your life you have reached, the content provided by Kira Botkin and Kalen Smith is invaluable to those just stepping out into the big, wide world.

Debt Kid – Not an invitation to get into it, but how to get out of it from somebody who has been there, sweated the loss and bounced back to revitalize his finances. Ideal for any young person who is struggling right now with a debt problem

Money Under 30 – David Weliver was just 25 when he started this blog packed full of advice about getting (and keeping) your first credit card, car loan and mortgage. David also provides an agony uncle feature which answers young reader´s personal finance questions

NevBlog – A tongue-in-cheek blog from Neville Medhora who reveals the money-making “experiments” he did in college so that he never had to get a job! Should come with the warning “Don´t try this at home”, but very funny (unless it is all true!)

Couple Money – A fantastic blog for young couples thinking of making a permanent commitment to each other. Plenty of financial matters are discussed which you may never have considered due to being dewy-eyed!

Personal Finance Investment Blogs

Money Ning – Money Ning is a general “frugal living” blog with tips on all aspects of managing your finances but has an excellent investment 101 for people new to investing with a useful Q&A section.

Money Blue Book – This blog is similar to Money Ning inasmuch as it provides the wannabe investor with the first few steps beyond cutting credit card costs and analyzing the best CD rates. Interesting reading, even if you know it all already

Good Financial Cents – Jeff Rose is a certified financial planner plenty of solid information on estate planning and insurance planning. This blog is ideal for the low-risk investor who treasures financial security above all.

Darwin´s Money – Short-term high-yield investments are discussed in this blog which carries the tag “Financial Evolution for the Masses”. The unnamed author also writes for the American Express Currency Blog

Dividend Growth Investor – Mr D G Investor shares his quest for achieving an increasing dividend income stream from stocks with above average dividend growth, which consistently increase their distributions over time.

24/7 Wall Street – Around the clock news on the performance of stocks and equities, plus rumors, analysis and commentary to for US and global investors – all in news style format or delivered to your inbox by email.

The Div-Net – DIV-Net is a network of investors who blog about dividend investing and value investing with a long-term buy and hold philosophy. Plenty of useful tips and advice for those with a long-term investment strategy

The Underground Investor – The Underground Investor focuses a great deal on commodities such as gold and silver and provides some interesting conspiracy theories about how their prices are manipulated and what this means for the future

Buy Like Buffett – Mark Riddix is a much-published personal finance consultant and, with his team, focuses on many different aspects of personal finance investment and financial modeling.

All About Alpha – Kristin Fox is the lead writer on a multi-contributor blog which promotes alternative investments. An interesting read if you are considering a move away from mainstream investments.

A Rich Life – If you are a nervous investor, please look away now! Rob Bennett provides persuasive arguments that old ideas on savings and investing do not work, and provides some alternatives which he believes will provide generous yields.

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</p> <p><a href="http://www.savingsaccount.org/frugal-saver/higher-education-bubble-in-america/"><br /> <img src="http://images.savingsaccount.org/highereducationbubble.jpg" border="0" alt="Higher Education Tuition Bubble" width="600" /><br /> </a></p> <p><a href="http://www.savingsaccount.org/frugal-saver/higher-education-bubble-in-america/">Higher Education Bubble</a> by <a href="http://www.savingsaccount.org/" >Savings Account.org </a></p> <p>

The Top 50 Stock and Investing Blogs

What constitutes a “Top” Stock and Investing Blog is not necessarily how much money it makes for its readers, but the information it provides for its readers to make informed and justified investment decisions.

The Frugal Saver “Top 50 Stock and Investing Blogs” are categorized wherever possible into their respective genres, but by browsing through all of them, you may well find a niche which you previously overlooked that provides you with regular and lucrative returns.

Quick Access Investment Blogs

Abnormal Returns – Tadas Viskanta provides trusted and proven sources from around the blogosphere and provides his own commentary via video and social media. Good for investors lacking in time.

All About Alpha – The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association provides research, analysis and opinion on making complex decisions in the world of alternative investments.

Alphaville – Global investment news delivered in bit size chunks by the Financial Times, with daily 6.00am (London, New York and Asia) briefings despatched straight to early riser´s mobile phones.

Calculated Risk – Bill McBride authors what Time.com described in March 2011 as “an accessible summary of key economic data … (with a) knack of recognizing what facts really matter”.

dShort – Economic and market updates given in graph format by Doug Short of Advisor perspectives, with analysis, comment and advice for financial advisors and asset managers alike.

Stock Trader´s Almanac – A blog developed by Jeff and Yale Hirsch providers an instant view of the bearish, bullish and neutral development in the major stock markets.

Stock Investment Blogs

Ahead of the Curve – Joseph H. Ellis was a partner of Goldman Sachs and was ranked for eighteen consecutive years by Institutional Investor magazine as Wall Street’s #1 retail-industry analyst.

Capital Speculator – James Picerno is an ex-Dow Jones analyst who provides finance and investment information with relevance to the link between the business cycle, asset pricing and the bottom line.

Marketbeat – Mark Gongloff heads the WSJ editorial team reporting on market-moving news, analyzing trends and highlighting noteworthy commentary from the best blogs and research

Trader Mike – Blain Reinkensmeyer produces excellent resources for independent traders, with stock market recaps and in-depth analysis of the market presented in a way which is fresh and easy to understand

The Kirk Report – Charles E. Kirk is an independent trader who has created a $3 million portfolio over the last eight years from scratch. His blogs are designed to help small time investors make more informed, intelligent and unemotional decisions about their investments.

Minyanville – Multi-contributor blog which highlights some of the overlooked stock movements and analyses where they might be headed. Main site also contains an excellent 101 on stock trading

S&P 500 Blogs

Afraid to Trade – Corey Rosenbloom provides mentorship and an education centre for those apprehensive about misinterpreting market signals.

Bespoke Invest – Paul Hickey and Justin Walters provide a research platform which enables investors to gain the data and knowledge necessary to make intelligent and profitable investment decisions

Crossing Wall Street – Eddy Elfenbein was named by CNN/Money as the best “buy-and-hold” blogger after his recommendations out-performed the S&P 500 four years in a row.

Dr Ed´s Blog – Dr Ed Yardeni highlights some of the more interesting relationships and developments between various indices and the performance of the S&P 500

Footnoted – The Morning Star´s own finance blog provides a lot of information for the small investor about where the big players are putting their money

Market Club – Market Club is a blog designed to help stock traders and provides plenty of free, helpful information as well as a premium subscription service for those who want to take their investments to a higher level.

Bonds & Banks Investment Blogs

Accrued Interest – The author pleads anonymity in this well-written blog concerning the long term prospect of bonds and the factors that will influence their future performance.

BondsOnline – More of a resource than a blog, but provides instant access to over 3.5 million stocks, bonds, indexes and other securities covering markets and exchanges across the globe.

Deal Breaker – Current domestic and international banking news presented by Bess Levin and Matt Levine with analysis of the effect global finance decisions will have of stock portfolios.

The Institutional Risk Analyst – News, views and analysis on how the banks are spending their your money and bespoke ratings provided for each of the institutions (premium service)

The Streetlight Blog – Kash Mansoori discusses the relationship between the Federal Reserve and the rest of the world´s banks and the impact their policies make to the global investor.

Tom Brown´s Bankstocks – Thomas K Brown provides insight into the performance of bank stocks and bonds, plus posts up breaking finance news as it happens.

Economic Analysis Blogs

Econbrowser – James D Hamilton and Menzie Chinn (both Professors of Economics at recognized universities) provide analysis of current domestic economic policies and investment conditions

Freakonomics – A number of renowned economists provide views on some of the economic news which might have slipped under the radar elsewhere

Real Time Economics – Phil Izzo leads a team of Wall Street Journal-ists to provide exclusive news, analysis and commentary on the economy, Federal Reserve policy and economics.

The Reformed Broker – Joshua Brown is a New York City-based investment advisor for high net worth individuals, charitable foundations and corporations who analyses about the economy and financial markets

Floyd Norris – Floyd Norris, the chief financial correspondent of The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune, covers the world of finance and economics.

Real Estate Investment Blogs

Foreclosure Pulse – A multi-author blog which was established long before the current real estate crisis provides valuable advice for those looking to take advantage of foreclosures and auctions

Furman Centre – The Furman Centre for Real Estate and Urban Policy is a news blog and resource for all interested in real estate investment beyond repossessions and foreclosures

The Housing Bubble – Ben Jones reproduces real estate news from around the country and examines its effect on owners, lenders, regulators, realtors and the economy as a whole

Irivine Housing Blog – Larry Roberts and Shevy Akason provide information about the repossessions market and answer questions about whether now is the right time to buy a house

Matrix – Jonathon Miller of Miller Samuel interprets movement in the real estate market and justifies his conclusions with historical indices in relation to geographical data.

Reverse Mortgage Daily – Top information from John Yedinak and his team about the growing reverse mortgage industry with comments in regard to capital release, trends and legal issues.

Political Finance Analysis Blogs

A Fistful of Euros – Multi-contributor analysis of the political influences throughout Europe and how they affect global investment decisions. A blog for the macro-investor

Cunning Realist – The influence that government investment strategy has at the gas pump and in the grocery store in analyzed in this self-proclaimed “oasis in a world of hacks, hustlers and hired spin”.

Zero Hedge – Primary contributor, Tyler Durden, aims to widen the scope of financial, economic and political information available to the professional investing public.

Paul Krugman – Paul Krugman is a widely published economist with an axe to grind through the pages of the NYT about the influence federal policy is having on free market trade.

The Angry Bear – Left-of-center economic commentary on corporate news, politics and the economy from a team of economists, financial historians, business consultants and financial professionals.

Shadow Government Statistics – John Williams exposes flaws in US Government economic data and assesses underlying economic and financial conditions, net of financial-market and political hype.

Investment News Resources

Digg Business – An amalgamation of business news stories appealing to the “Digg”-ers can provide fast and potentially vital information to everybody involved in stock trading and investments.

Economagic – One of the simplest “access to database” web sites to negotiate, with hundreds of graphs enabling one to compile their own opinion of the investment marketplace.

Economist´s View – Mark Thoma – Professor of Economics at Oregon University – provides a resource packed blog, with links to many other resources of research and information

Financial Armageddon – Michael Panzner postings illustrate a grim picture of the US economy, but he also provides some useful links to news elsewhere on the web which will be of benefit to investors.

Global Postcards – Just to prove that the world is an open market, South African Prieur du Plessis provides insight and resources for investors considering worldwide opportunities from Cape Town.

Stock Market Charts – Most of the daily performance charts from around the globe are published on this daily blog including BSE Sensex, NSE Nifty, S&P 500, Hang Seng, FTSE 100 and Taiwan TSEC index chart.

Tickersense – Effectively promoting their own web site, but have an extremely useful side column containing economic indicators, a futures index and links to specific bond performance.

Risk Management Blogs

The Aleph Blog – “The markets always find a new way to make a fool out of you”, states David Merkel, but the author is adept at providing quality advice about how to control your exposure to risk.

Bank Implode – Possibly the Armageddon of investment blogs, but a valuable resource to keep an eye on to avoid the big mistakes that might negatively consequence your investment portfolio

Catching a trend at the beginning of its ascendency can be extremely lucrative – even more so if you create the trend yourself! As trends can begin and end in the twinkling of an eye, it is equally important not to waste resources of an innovation that will fail because you are ill-prepared.

Our Best Trend Blogs show you not only how to keep ahead of trends and how to create your own, but how to be prepared for them and exploit them fully when they happen. Much of 21^st century trending happens on the Internet and is driven by social media, but we have also found space for the TV and the movies, and even trends in education! All worth a read.

Best Marketing Trends Blogs

The Viral Blog – A guide to what is attracting the public’s attention on the Internet rounds up quite nicely with a “Viral Friday” feature, highlighting the week’s most popular videos and commercials.

Fever Bee – Popular UK based blog which advises subscribers how to develop, grow and manage successful branded online communities with the right perspective on what is “successful”

Movie Marketing Madness – Compares the relative successes of films against the marketing that each has received and analyses the good and bad.

Greg Verdino – Greg is a highly respected and much followed Internet marketing guru who was exploiting the Internet as a marketing tool as far back as 1998

Cherry Flava – Cherry Flava is a marketing consultancy company, and in their often humorous blog they highlight some of the more “out of the box” marketing ideas which catch the imagination

Reel Seo – An excellent blog which explains the principles of getting a video to go viral and looks at digital tools to give your video the edge. Very revealing!

Best Technology Trends Blogs

The Next Big Future – Pre-empts the trends by providing information about the latest technological advances and analyzes their potential for improving (or disrupting) our lives.

Crenk – Absorbing blog which covers many fascinating uses for “new” media and also looks at evolving media and where the next trends are coming from. Great for ideas!

Tech Cocktail – Highlights some of the emerging web sites that could help you to keep pace with existing trends and create new ones. Also carries a tech job board

The Purveyor of Cool – A lot of technological bias in this entertaining and enlightening blog about trends on the Internet which evolve through their own merits rather than marketing

CScout – Global trending, design and technology all rolled into one. Useful resource for turning consumer behavior into insight-driven strategy

Pop Gadget – Superb blog built around the concept that technology ignores women, and as a result women ignore technology. A fine attempt to redress the balance

Best Industry Trends Blogs

Futures of Entertainment – Trends explored within the entertainment business and news about “Transmedia” events (the telling of a story across multiple platforms)

PSFK – This colorful blog is a great source for new ideas and inspiration in the worlds of digital advertising and design. Good marketing strategies included as a bonus!

.edu Guru – An excellent and educated blog about Internet marketing and web development in higher education. Interesting insights into a very competitive marketplace

Agency Spy – News about what the advertising agencies are about to turn out, and then retrospective feedback on how those ad campaigns performed

Best Social Media Trends Blogs

Whats Next – Very easy to read blog with practical, common sense advice on integrating the biggest trend of them all (social media) with your business marketing strategy.

Trends Spotting – “The Next New” is one of the highly successful features of this blog which comprehensively investigates untapped potential in social media

Digital Influence Mapping Project – A blog which does exactly what it says on the label – Maps the influence of digital marketing in social media. Some fascinating results!

Brendan Cooper – Saving the best till last! A huge resource for anybody wishing to take advantage of all the tricks and tools available on the Internet to create a trend of their own. A must read!

Which advertisements make you sit up and take notice, and which do you instantly forget? How powerful is the draw of internet advertising? Or have we all become blasé to the gimmicks used by the ad agencies? All these questions, and more, are answered in our Best Advertising Blogs.

A lot of the blogs’ content will be recognizable from what you have seen on the web and on TV, but the stories behind why those particular ads were made (and who they were targeted at) reveal much about 21^st century marketing and advertising.

Best TV and Radio Advertising Blogs

Adrants – Very funny, yet pertinent, look at the gimmicks being used by advertising agencies to attract our attention money.  Has a lot to say about gender stereotyping

I Believe in Advertising – Not strictly TV orientated but, with so much content on site, provides details of TV campaigns that you may not see elsewhere

Mastercom – Mastercom is a zappy little site which discusses advertising in many formats. Likes to use a lot of TV content to make its point

I Creative Network – Has a lot to say about the TV ads we see for lawyers, realtors and doctors and how they should be integrated into a web presence

Strategic Media – Radio advertising is given a positive spin in this useful and practical blog. Not too many secrets are revealed however – they have a book to sell!

Best Internet Advertising Blogs

Adverblog – Nicely written blog about marketing in general, but with a specific focus on the technology market and how it is marketed online

Adverlab – The latest gadgets explored and the future of digital advertising explained. Occasionally goes off-track with some very eyebrow-raising content

Blog Herald – Big on digital marketing through the mediums of social networking. Does anybodywrite about “business” networking anymore?

Ad Freak – Adweek’s own blog on what is new in the world of advertising leans heavily towards new technology and online marketing techniques

Adverliciuos – An archive of the best digital advertisement to have appeared over the years. Can be sorted by brand name, celebrity or industry

Best Creative Advertising Blogs

The Inspiration Room – A well subscribed to blog, which includes an excellent “Creative Showroom” highlighting inspirational marketing across many media.

Scary Ideas – Images and videos from around the world, featuring creative (and not so scary) advertising concepts without words. Makes you “get the picture”

Adland – Takes a look at some of lighter creativity in the advertising world, but also includes a dash of topical news in this very readable blog

AD Goodness – This blog brings the best and the worst ads from around the world, and includes a synopsis of why the ad was made and who by

Nick Burcher – Nick is Head of Social Media and Digital Innovation at ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, but leaves his day job to present this excellent and humorous blog

Best Advertising News Blogs

Ads of the World – This blog presents breaking news in the world of advertising and has its own “Ads of the Month” awards. A good insight into the advertising industry

AdPulp – The cutting edge of advertising news blogs, with opinions by the author which often attract a wealth of reader comments due to their controversial nature

Osocio – Incredible blog featuring social advertising. PSAs and non-profit campaigns from around the globe – many of which are truly thought provoking

Influential Marketing Blog – More a guide to advertising psyche, and what you need in your head to be a success in marketing and PR. Kept topical by the inclusion of recent news items

Aim Clear – This well-subscribed blog provides information and resources for advertising agencies, in-house creative talent and PR personnel

A tip when looking for the Best Financial Blogs is to make sure that their content is current. If a blog advocating the purchase of a particular investment opportunity has not been updated since 2009, it is a fair sign that the advice was not so sound.

We have selected the most established and successful blogs to include in our Best Finance Blogs portfolio, and sub-divided them into easy to access categories. Obviously there is going to be some cross-over between the subject matter, so it may be in your best interests to subscribe to all of them!

Best Personal Finance Blogs

Five Cent Nickel – Personal finance advice aimed towards the less wealthy individual, with information on how to save money on insurance, loans and credit cards.

Frugal Dad – This blog has always been well-written and readable, and provides genuine down-to-earth about taking care of your personal finances

Passive Family Income – How to save money, spend less and enjoy a better standard of living with just small changes to your lifestyle. Very informative and much commented

Rich Credit Debt Loan – An excellent blog which discusses wealth, leverage and cash flow in plain English. Easy to follow and exceptionally informative

Financial Ducks in a Row – Excellent personal finance advice regarding retirement and education funding which provides help with tax issues and concerns

Best Finance Stock Market Blogs

The Motley Fool – The most comprehensive and most visited personal finance blog on the Internet. Big on stocks and shares and more profitable than most!

Jago Investor – Jago Investor argues that the majority of the problems in your financial life are purely because of psychological reasons. You will have to read the blog to discover the cure!

The Kirk Report – Charles Kirk has been a successful Wall Street trader for seventeen years and, on his site, offers information to enable you to make your own successful investment decisions

Finance Markets – News and views on the stock market, commodity trading, forex and the economy, with plenty of tips about good money management

Random Roger – Despite the “random” in the title, Roger has been providing valuable news on stock prices and dividends for seven years. He must be doing something right!

Best Small Business Finance Blogs

Fox Business – provides a lot of information for small businesses looking to cut their tax bills and invest the savings in themselves. Clearly explained and comprehensive

SF Gate – The San Francisco Chronicle’s own finance blog is heavily weighted with content for the local area, but much of it has relevance for small businesses everywhere

The Financial Brand – The “FB” provides financial marketing news, analysis and insights in respect of what the banks and financial institutions should be providing as a service

Slate – Slate is the Washington Post’s web magazine, and carries a lot of helpful small business articles among their “Business and Technology” blogs

Blogging Stocks – Fed mostly by news links from other sites, this blog provides a good starting point to scan business financial headlines and then click through to stories of interest

Best Corporate Investment Finance Blogs

Deal Book – The NYT’s own guide to mergers, acquisitions, venture capital and hedge funds. Carries the biggest business news on the biggest businesses

Biz Money Matters – Corporate advice and support, on a blog which focuses on key management issues and provides a commentary on achieving challenging goals

Direct Capital – Direct Capital is a provider of funds for equipment leasing and purchase, however their blog is not too sales orientated and provides some valuable information

Green Energy Reporter – At a time when substantial tax credits can be acquired for using sustainable energy sources, every business should take advantage of this blog

PF Blogs – One of the many aggregator blogs (which publish news from other sites), but mercifully ad-free and easy to select the most relevant posts for your business

Photo: Jeff Keen

Possibly one of the most difficult places to hold on to a dollar is in college—assuming that you have money to begin with. You’re probably tempted to go wild and spend everything you get your hands on right now, but it’s a better idea to learn how to save it.

After college, most people need tips on how to save money, but in college, you need a guide. So to get you on the right track, here’s your College Student’s Guide to Saving Money.

Bank Accounts

Probably one of the first things you should do in college is open a checking account and savings account. Here are some ins and outs of opening bank accounts in college.

Finding a Bank/Credit Union

• See if your college works with a credit union: Some colleges have their own credit unions while others are closely affiliated with a credit union in town. Consider this first since memberships often come with perks like discounts on amusement park tickets.
• Consider a local bank: If there isn’t a credit union to join, you could open an account with a local bank. Often times they’re easier to work with and offer personal touches that national banks don’t.
• Use caution with national banks: There are benefits to national banks, the biggest being that you can find them anywhere you travel. But national banks are often stricter (ex. requiring Direct Deposit to avoid fees) so use caution when deciding whether on this route.
• Online banks: A number of online banks offer accounts at better interest rates and lower or nonexistent fees and penalties. Consider these banks if you have Direct Deposit or some way to electronically move money into an account.

Opening Accounts

• Open a checking account: Most checking accounts require very little or nothing to open. They give you access to your money via checks and are excellent resources for those who need a place to hold their money.
• Open a savings account: You should also open a savings account to get an early start on life-long saving. As a college student, it’s not always easy to save, but if you create a budget that leaves room for it, you might be surprised by what you can set aside. To find out more, learn about 10 things you didn’t know about savings accounts.
• Look for student savings and checking accounts: Often times, banks offer student accounts that come with fewer restrictions and guidelines. It’s always good to see if a bank offers them before going with standard accounts.
• Look for FDIC insurance:  You always want to work with a bank that’s insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Currently, insurance covers deposits of up to $250,000 if a bank fails.
• Read all of the small print: Banks are allowed to impose a number of fees and penalties for reasons like overdrafting an account or not maintaining a minimum balance and they’re not inclined to share those fees. Be sure to find out what those fees are and look for other small print so you’re not surprised by money vanishing from your account.

Managing Accounts

• Check your balances frequently: Always check your balances to make sure they’re correct. If you report incorrect balances immediately, the bank can usually investigate the situation and restore your money.
• Don’t overdraft your accounts: Whatever you do, don’t take more money out of your account than what is actually in there. Banks will allow you to pull out too much money then kindly charge you penalties for overdrafting the account, so be careful when withdrawing funds. Also, look into overdraft protection, which many banks offer.
• Stay above your minimums: Some banks penalize for falling below a minimum daily balance. Find out if this is true of your bank and specific account to avoid penalties.
• Don’t write checks that won’t cash: If you’re not sure whether you have enough money in the bank to cover a check you’re about to write, don’t write it. Too many bounced checks can land you on TeleCheck, a system that lists bad check writers and can prevent you from opening accounts in the future.
• Follow all the rules: Follow all the rules of your accounts at all times. If you mismanage your account enough and the bank decides to close your account, you could find yourself in ChexSystems, which means you’re listed as a bad banker. In most cases, banks won’t allow you to open an account when you’re in Chexsystems and it takes five years to get taken off the list.
• Report if you lose your checkbook or ATM/debit card: If you lose your checkbook or ATM/debit card, report it to your bank immediately to avoid someone having access to your funds.

Money Management

For most students, money management is an afterthought. But learning to manage money is something that not only should be learned now, but continued after graduation. Here are some ways to make great money management decisions that will last for the long haul.

Budgeting Your Money

• Look at what’s coming in: The first step to setting up a budget is looking at the money that you have coming in. Whether you have grants, scholarship money, an allowance from your parents or cash from a job, this is the money you’re bringing in.
• Look at what’s going out: Next, take a look at the money you have going out. If your tuition, room and board are pulled out of your financial aid or are paid by your parents, they don’t have to be added. But definitely jot down regular bills you may have like food, phone, car payment, etc.
• Create a budget: Once you’ve looked at what’s coming in and going out, it’s time to create a budget. Set up amounts that you can spend per month on bills, food, entertainment and emergencies, as well as what you’ll add to your savings account.

Managing Your Money

• Honor your budget: The first thing you want to do after creating your budget is honor it by sticking to it. It will help to ensure you actually manage your money well by spending less and saving more.
• Add money to your savings account: One good reason to open a savings account is that it makes you feel the pressure to add money to it. Also, because it comes with restrictions (ex. only 3 withdrawals per month), you’ll feel obligated to keep your money in there.
• Save up for what you want: If there is something that you want, don’t go buy it if it falls outside of your budget. Instead, add this item to your budget and plan how you can save up for it without spending more than you earn in a month.
• Only take what you need from the bank: When you go to the bank for money, only take out what you need. Whenever possible, go inside and receive the specific amount you need from the teller. But if you have to go to an ATM, take the extra out, buy what you need and put the rest away.
• Put your change in a jar: If you have change leftover from your purchases, but it in a jar. Over time, you can take the cash to the bank to deposit into your savings account.
• Pay your bills on time: Don’t fall behind on your phone, cable, electric, etc. bills since late fees add up to much more than you budget will estimate in costs.

Making Smart Decisions

• Don’t spend impulsively: With this being your first time on your own, it’s understandable that you’ll want to make impulse buys. But since you’re now the primary financial decision maker, it’s up to you to refrain from impulse buys for the betterment of your budget.
• Don’t succumb to peer pressure: Your friends are likely going to want you to get do just about everything (financially and beyond) that they’re doine. If their ideas don’t match yours, don’t succumb to their peer pressure.
• Steer clear of big spenders: You may have friends who don’t pressure you into anything but simply spend a whole lot more than you. To avoid feeling weird when they dine at 5-star restaurants while your budget is set for Burger King, don’t hang out with them when it’s time to spend.
• Regularly check on your finances: Once you start making good financial decisions, it’s important to keep them going. So once a year, conduct a financial spring cleaning to stay on track.

Income

Many college students don’t have the opportunity to earn money because they’re too busy studying. But if you’re able to bring in money, why not make the most of the savings opportunities it provides?

Getting a Job

• On-campus job: Many campuses offer on-campus employment for students, sometimes through a work-study program. The pay isn’t always good, but it is income, so take advantage of this opportunity—preferably by working in your department of study.
• Off-campus job: You could also take on an off-campus job that pays a bit more. However, keep in mind that these jobs usually don’t offer the same flexibility as on-campus jobs because they rely on you more.
• Substitute teach: Substitute teachers have very flexible schedules and are usually only required to have two years of college classes under their belts. If you’re a junior with time off during the week and want to earn up to $100 a day, consider signing up as a substitute teacher in your college town.
• Paid internship: Probably the best option is to find a paid internship during the school year. You can get tons of experience in your field, earn good money, build your resume and acquire amazing after-graduation networking connections.

Taking Advantage of Free Money

• Save grant money: If you receive grant money, which of course doesn’t need to be paid back, instead of going on a wild shopping spree, pay your bills then place at least three-fourths of what’s left in the bank.
• Save scholarship dollars: Use the same concept for grants with scholarship dollars and see your savings start to add up.
• Be creative with gifts: If you receive birthday/Christmas money, you can put it away in your savings account. If you receive gift cards, consider trading them in for money.

Starting Your Own Business

• Provide services to friends: Good at cutting hair, installing hard drives, moving furniture or DJing parties? Consider providing services for your friends that could add up to some quick cash.
• Work online: The list of people starting amazing businesses online while in college is growing—possibly the biggest now being Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. Find out for yourself the benefits of starting an online business then take steps to start your own.
• Do contract work for businesses: If you’re learning a lot from your studies and want to prove your worth to local companies while earning money, become a contractor. You’d be surprised by how far this could take you.

Investing Your Money

• Consider low-risk investments: Banks offer a number of money-growth options, including money market accounts, certificate of deposits and even interest-bearing savings accounts. Consider them as great ways to save and grow your money.
• Check out higher-risk investments: If you’re interested in taking greater risks (i.e. stocks) consider websites like ShareBuilder. This site allows you to invest any amount of money (even $20) and only charges $4 per trade.
• Start saving for retirement: If you really want to look toward the future, consider opening an IRA that will allow you to begin saving toward retirement. Unless you already are employed with a major company, you probably don’t have a 401(K), but an IRA can get you on the right track.

Expenses/Purchases

As a student, you know that making purchases can be problematic. Sometimes you have to make purchases but don’t want to spend your money and other times you want to make purchases but don’t have the money. Here are some ways to try to save while spending money in college.

Buying School Supplies and Books

• Purchase used books and supplies online: You could cut costs significantly by buying your used books and supplies online. Check for coupon codes to get even deeper discounts.
• Share with friends/classmates: Another option is to split the cost of books with a friend or classmate to save. To save majorly on supplies, consider buying in bulk with a group of friends.
• Borrow from the library: For books, you could borrow from the library. Take a look at the syllabus to see when the book will be needed then put your name on a waiting list to make sure it will be available.
• Buy books from friends: If you have a friend who has a book you need, buy or borrow from them instead of buying a new one from the bookstore.
• Take advantage of sales tax holiday: Many states eliminate sales tax on school supplies right before schools starts. Consider your state’s sales tax holiday as a way to save.

Keeping Your Stomach Full

• Use coupons: Clip those coupons and look for some online to save big when grocery shopping.
• Buy generics: It’s no secret that generic foods are often just as good as brand names. Shop generic to see for yourself.
• Eat soup: Soup is one great way to stretch out ingredients while getting the nutrition your working mind needs.
• Have pot-luck meals with friends: Get your friends together for potluck dinners to get big meals at a low price.
• Lay off the junk: Steer clear of junk food since it adds unnecessary costs to your budget. Also, it contributes to the freshman 15 you’re trying to avoid.
• Visit warehouse bulk stores: If you have a Sam’s Club or Costco in your town, get memberships to get items in bulk.
• Get food stamps: Some people turn their noses up at Food Stamps, but they can really be of major assistance to students struggling to make ends meet in college. They come in the form of an ATM card nowadays and can offer students up to $300 a month in food.

Making Your House a Home

• Live on campus: Living on campus is a good option if you have a scholarship or grants that will cover the costs. This way, many of your expenses are taken care of for you (electric, phone, cable, Internet, food, etc.).
• Get an apartment in town with friends: You could also get an apartment in town with several of your friends. Part of the college experience is bonding with your buddies, so why not live together while saving some money in the process?
• Find a place through HUD: Most college towns have HUD offices that are willing to provide affordable living to students. Check with a local office to see if you can find a nice place for a small amount of rent.
• Buy furniture from other students: Sometimes you can catch a graduating senior who needs to get rid of some furniture. Strike a good deal with a few and see how much you can save.
• Visit Craigslist’s free stuff: You can find good deals almost anywhere by looking on Craigslist. But if you visit their “Free” section listed under “For Sale,” you might find a lot of great stuff at no cost.
• Decorate creatively: Once you get your place, try to decorate creatively at a low price.

Spending On the Fun Stuff

• Partying: Instead of spending some money on a steep cover charge at a local club, attend a Greek party or have a get together in the dorm frequently.
• Have a low-cost spring break: Instead of traveling to Cozumel this year, spend your break on campus and have a potluck or throw a BBQ with those who stick around.
• Enjoy free activities: Find free activities in your college town and on campus (plays, orchestra events, on-campus movie nights, socials, etc.) to avoid spending money unnecessarily.
• Learn how to cheap date: If you’re a guy looking to take your crush out, learn the art of cheap dating.
• Pull back from vices: Drinking, cigarettes (and the other smoking activity) are common in college. But do your best to avoid them to not only save money, but be more productive in school.

Credit Cards and Bad Debt

Credit cards and bad debt seem to follow students like a plague. Don’t fall victim to these problems that can haunt you later in life. Get them under control now.

Dealing with credit cards

• Step away from credit card offers: While credit card companies are not allowed to heavily advertise to students anymore, you could still fall prey to good deals that could cost you later. Since bad credit follows you for seven years, it’s good to avoid credit card offers unless you definitely have money to pay your balance.
• Pay your balance on time: If you do have a credit card to buy books, food or other expenses, don’t forget to pay your balance on time each month to avoid penalties that add up.
• Don’t buy what you can’t pay off: Avoid buying that 50-inch plasma TV just because you have money on your credit card. If you’re buying something you can’t pay off within the month, you don’t need it.
• Know your rights: Before obtaining a credit card, know your rights via the Credit CARD Act so you’re not taken advantage of.

Controlling your debt

• Take smaller student loans: While taking the maximum on your student loan is sometimes tempting, if at all possible, it’s better to take just what you need to pay for school and bills to avoid bigger loan payments down the line.
• Avoid buying a car: With gas prices through the roof and regular maintenance costs not being cheap, a car should be the last thing you want. Avoid buying a car–or driving the one you already have–and instead walk, ride or bike or take public transportation to reduce costs significantly.
• Protect your identity: Take steps to avoid identity theft so that your money isn’t stolen from your bank, accounts aren’t opened in your name and/or your credit isn’t ruined.

Your School’s Resources and Benefits

You probably have no idea just how many resources a college offers that cost big money in the outside world. A great way to save on your expenses is to use all of the resources your school has to offer.

Career Services

• Resume help: Most campuses offer free resume writing assistance. Take advantage of this resource to get a great paying job down the line.
• Career advice: Your campus’ career services center probably also has someone available who offers career advice. This can be an expensive service after graduation, so take advantage of it now.

Health Services

• On-campus clinic: Before finding a doctor in town and paying for health insurance (or using you parents’ coverage), see if there’s a clinic on campus and make full use of its free or low-cost services.
• Dental services: Some college campuses either offer dental services or are closely affiliated with an in-town dentist office that will provide low-cost services. Find out if there’s one for your school.

Student Memberships and Discounts

• Amazon: You could join Amazon Student, which offers purchase and shipping discounts.
• Student Advantage: Obtaining a Student Advantage Discount Card offers a cash crop of discounts for college students, including deals with travel (Amtrak, Greyhound), technology (Toshiba, T-Mobile), clothes (Foot Locker, Macy’s) and more. It’s a must-have for any college student.
• Student Savings Club: This club is another great option for students looking for discounts.
• The Student Discount Card: The Student Discount Card is offered to students attending certain colleges in California. It also offers great discounts you don’t want to miss.
• Other student discounts: Every place from a movie theater to insurance company offers student discounts. So before paying full price for anything, ask about discounts and be ready to flash your student ID.

Other Resources

• Computer labs: Don’t buy a computer if you don’t need one. Instead, use the campus’ computer lab.
• School library: Most campus libraries are so extensive that non-students use them for their resources. Take full advantage of them yourself (books, Internet, etc.) to save money.
• Student union building: Campuses usually have a student union building that offers video games, free cable and more. Visit it as much as possible to gain access to free services.
• Media center: Instead of paying for expensive programs on your computer, visit the campus’ media center to get your high-tech projects done.

Saving money in college is sometimes easier said than done. Hopefully, these tips will get you on the right track to putting money away for your future.