Inexpensive Exercise

Every year, many people make the decision to become healthier and get into shape.  Many buy 

gym memberships or DVDs so they can start working out. However, this can be a waste of 

money if you are not using these expensive resources frequently. This week, we will discuss 

ways to make exercising less expensive, especially if you’re having trouble finding time to work 

out frequently.


Did you know that are exercising apps that allow you to log your food intake, exercise and 

goals? With the right free app, you can easily enter your eating and exercise goals. This can 

increase your motivation to exercise.


Your local public library probably has exercise DVDs that you can check out. You can also find 

free exercise videos on the Internet. And if you rent DVDs or stream videos from Netflix, you 

could try out some exercise DVDs with them. Even if you are exercising in front of a small 

screen, you can still get an intense workout at no cost. 


Lastly, now that it is spring, take advantage of the good weather. Walking or running around 

your block or at a local park with a friend will help keep you motivated. If you own a bike, be 

sure to use it because cycling is great exercise. If you are big on running or biking, you might 

want to look into runners groups or cycling clubs. Find a group that fits your exercise personality 

and you can get in shape without spending all your money.


READERS, what do you think?

1. Are you using any of the techniques above to make exercising less expensive?

2. Do you know of any other ways to reduce the cost of exercise?


References:


Kaplan, D. A. (2015). 5 Cheap Ways to Exercise. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from 

     http://www.bankrate.com/finance/smart-spending/cheap-ways-to-exercise-1.aspx.

Tips for Buying an Airplane Ticket

 Non-Holiday Travel

Buying an airline ticket can be expensive if you do not buy it at the right time. Timing matters when booking a plane ticket. If you buy a ticket during the right period, you can save significantly. According to CheapAir.com, the average cost for domestic flights was least expensive 47 days ahead of the flight. However, prices increase an average of $111 if you wait until two weeks before the flight. Keep in mind that airfares vary widely based on destination, day of the week, and time of year.

Holiday and Summer Travel

If you plan on flying to a popular beach or other well-travelled destination during the summer, you might want to buy your tickets early. For domestic flights, this might mean booking around Thanksgiving and Christmas. For international flights, plan even farther ahead. Keep in mind how many people you will be traveling with, because that will make tickets more expensive as you will need to plan further ahead if several of you want seats near each other. Kiplinger.com says, “If you see a good price, don’t wait for it to go lower because it’s more likely to rise than drop.” And Airlines Reporting Corp. found that the best time to book a ticket for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel is around October 8-10.

International Travel

If you plan on travel outside the U.S., you will likely find prices more expensive. Buy international plane tickets very early! For good prices on international airfare, definitely book more than 90 days in advance. According to CheapAir, book tickets to Europe at least 276 days ahead of the flight; to the Caribbean, at least 144 days in advance; at least 318 days ahead for Asia; 262 days for Africa; 251 for Mexico; 244 for the South Pacific; 213 for the Middle East; and 96 days ahead for Central and South America (Kiplinger.com).

Other Tips on How to Save on Airfare

The more flexible you are with departure and arrival times, the more you can save. Morning or late night flights are less expensive. FareCompare.com has found Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday flights more economical. Flights with connections are less expensive; but, if you want a nonstop flight that departs at a reasonable hour for you, book early to ensure a good price.

Also be aware that prices may decrease after you book your flight. Depending on the airline or travel agency, you could receive a rebate on your plane ticket if you alert them of the new and lower price. However, re-booking your flight for a lower rate is not always worth it because added fees could outweigh your rebate.

READERS, what do you think?

1.     Have you found any good ways for booking cheap plane tickets?

2.     If you have flown anywhere, how did you buy your plane tickets?

References:

Forgione, M. (2014, October 23). How Early Should You Buy Airline Tickets to Get the Lowest Price? LATimes.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015, from http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-airline-ticket-buying-report-20141022-story.html.

Huddleston, C. (2015, February 18). Best Times to Buy Airline Tickets. Kiplinger.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015, from http://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T059-C011-S001-best-times-to-buy-airline-tickets.html.

How to Overcome the Pitfalls of Mobile Banking

With the majority of Americans having smart phones and ours being such a mobile society, most banks have their own smart phone app. This allows customers easier access to their bank accounts. The most common feature on mobile banking is the function to allow consumers to check their account balances and transaction statements 24 hours a day. Another good feature on mobile banking apps is being able to pay bills and transfer money to different accounts.

Some bank apps allow you to deposit checks to any of your accounts by taking a screenshot of the check (front and back). The bank receives the image of the check and processes the transaction. If you plan on using this feature, make sure you read the fine print of your bank’s mobile banking policy to see if there is a fee to deposit checks through the app. Also make sure you know how soon the money will be available to you in your account, especially if it is an out-of-state check.

Most banks have an alert system that will notify you via text message regarding your account activity. If you sign up for bank alerts, you may be able to detect if someone is stealing money from your account. Instant notification of activity helps you take immediate action. Some mobile banking apps even offer rewards such as shopping discounts and deals from retailers where you shop frequently.

A word of caution: Keeping your phone passcode protected makes your mobile banking more secure. Also, in the app, make sure you never have the “save my user ID” feature on; doing without that “convenience” makes it harder for criminals to access your bank account information if something were to happen with your phone.

If you do lose your phone, be sure that it is traceable and cannot be used by anyone else. If you are an iPhone user, then you should have the “Find My iPhone” app; this enables you to lock your phone remotely, making it useless for whoever finds it. See if you can put a PIN lock on specific apps on your phone, which will give your bank information more security. If this service is available to you, however, it might cost extra.

Make sure all of your bank apps are updated because criminals can easily hack into your outdated banking apps. It is also important that you check to see if your bank account can only be linked with certain devices. This will make it harder for hackers to access your bank account.

READERS, what do you think?

1.     Do you use your bank’s mobile app? If so, do you like it? Are there any drawbacks that you see?

2.     What do you usually use your mobile bank app for?

References:

Davis, G. (2013, March 8). Pros and Cons of Mobile Banking. McAfee Labs. Retrieved February 11, 2015, from https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/consumer-threat-notices/pros-and-cons-of-mobile-banking.

Gerstner, L. (2015, March). Make the Most of Mobile Banking. Kiplinger.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015, from http://www.kiplinger.com/article/credit/T005-C000-S002-make-the-most-of-mobile-banking.html.

 

Huddleston, C. (2014, January 9). Why You Should Try Your Bank's Mobile App. Kiplinger.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015, from http://www.kiplinger.com/article/credit/T005-C011-S001-why-you-should-try-your-bank-s-mobile-app.html.