One of the ways that you can save money on your health insurance premiums is to get high deductible health insurance. In this case, you pay more out of pocket for your health care, which results lower premiums. As many begin to consider their options during this year’s open enrollment season, it is little surprise that many are considering the high deductible option. However, it may not always be the best option. Here are some things to consider before you spring for high deductible insurance:

Loopholes in coverage: As always, read the fine print. In some cases, you might find there …read more

This week has seen some really great stuff come out of the personal finance blogsphere. Here are some of my favorite posts from this week:

How to Get Laid Off: A Step-By-Step Guide from Wisebread
Why You Need a Larger View of Your Finances (And So Do I)! from Redeeming Riches
Being Good With Money When You’re Bad With Math from Fiscal Fizzle
Debt Testimonials — Rethinking Interest Paid Moves Fred Into Action! from Debt Free Adventure
Another Case for Emergency Savings — Credit Score from Free From Broke
Review: The Bogleheads’ Guide to Retirement Planning from The Oblivious Investor
How To Save Money Without Thinking from …read more

Many people operate on the idea that they can borrow from the future — or just get an advance on something — in order to make their finances work. (Our government has been doing this for decades, but that’s another story.) However, this is usually a bad idea. In many cases, it is an indication of a lack of financial discipline. Instead of saving up for things, or creating some sort of a plan to determine where the money goes so that everything is paid for, the idea of an “advance” or raiding one’s savings or money jar, is one …read more

Outstanding consumer credit continues to take a hit in this economy. For the seventh straight month, the August numbers for outstanding consumer credit showed a decline. This means that fewer people are getting new credit, and some are even paying down what they owe. Indeed, one of the biggest reasons that outstanding debt has fallen by $12 billion is that people have been paying down their credit cards. And that is a very encouraging sign.
Credit restrictions limit credit acquisition
The other side to this, of course, that credit is not growing. Lenders are imposing stricter credit standards on potential customers. Credit …read more

This week, I thought it might be interesting to share other people’s round ups. Of course, there aren’t a lot of round ups this week. I don’t know whether most people do them on Saturday like I do, or if they’ll go up at a different time of day. At any rate, here’s what I got so far. Enjoy the round ups. It’s provide you with a wide variety of posts to peruse this weekend.

Friday Links from The Canadian Finance Blog was based around babies and children, and included some posts on preparing financially for a baby, as well as …read more

One of the most expensive things that we pay for is health care. One way you can save money is to live a healthier lifestyle. Interestingly, going green can actually help you with that. You can fight climate change (the theme of this year’s Blog Action Day), improve your health and save money. Here are some things that you can do improve your health, all the while saving money and the environment:

Walk or bike to work: This one is pretty obvious. You’ll get good exercise, and reduce emissions. Plus, you’ll save money that you would have spent on gas. If …read more

Right now, airfares are actually fairly reasonable. Fares are falling, encouraging people to take advantage of fall fare sales. However, airlines are still looking for ways to make money. And one of the ways to do that is to charge extra fees. The cadre of fees you are subjected to these days may easily erase the lower fares you are paying. And you may not notice them until it is too late. Here are some of the fees you might run into this year as you travel:

Daily surcharges: Busy travel days are now being targeted. American Airlines, Delta, U.S. Airways, …read more

I maintain that now is a good time to start your holiday shopping. You’ll go easier on your wallet that way. However, whether you start holiday shopping now or not, you can save some money between now and the holidays. All it takes is a little planning. Here are 3 things you can do right now to pad your holiday spending by Christmas:

Check your tax withholding: This is probably the way you can save the most. I like to try and get it so that my tax refund is $0. This is because if you are getting a tax return, …read more

Enjoy some especially fabulous personal finance blog posts this week:

7 Ways to Make Your Money Go Further from Redeeming Riches.
10 Attributes Of The Perpetually Broke from Bible Money Matters.
How to Rollover a 401k Plan into an IRA from Cash Money Life.
What is Social Investment and How Does It Apply To You? from Gather Little by Little.
What Comic Book Characters Taught Me About Personal Finance from Green Panda Treehouse.
5 Steps to Optimize Your Freelance Job Search from Mrs. Micah.
Own a Home? You’re On Welfare from My Two Dollars.
Time to Scale Back Market Exposure from Stock Trading To Go.
How to Prepare for …read more

I am a science fiction fan. I also enjoy the occasional Japanese animation. So the following Geico commercial featuring Speed Racer tickled me. (Hat tip: Geek Culture and the fabulous list of 15 sci-fi character sell-outs.)
I’ve actually had Geico in the past. We were fairly satisfied. But when we moved to a college town, the premium went so high that we had to switch to something else. We are quite happy with our current car insurance, on which we have a triple discount (we have term life and homeowners with the same company). And our insurance company returns 25% of …read more