Blog Posts by SavvySugar

Source: SavvySugar

You're only human. You can't expect to handle your money flawlessly 24/7, but you can live your financial life with a few golden rules. Because we're not perfect, there's always room to improve. Keep these seven sinful behaviors in mind as you assess the big financial picture.

1. Skipping Statements - Definitely save paper by opting to receive your statements online, but don't forget to open your "statement available" alerts. Looking through your monthly statements forces you to review your monthly spending and gives you the chance to look for fraudulent charges.
2. Denying Retirement - Although the golden years seem far away, the time to start saving for them is yesterday. You need to think about the now and later when designing a financial plan.
3. Failing to Save - Emergency funds don't exactly fall into the most exciting area of savings goals, but you can lead your everyday life with less worry when you know there's a rainy day fund sitting in

As a lovely, law-abiding citizen, you pay your taxes. But as someone who's savvy, you certainly don't want to part with more money than is necessary. There are a handful of new tax deductions and credits that have been introduced to give you a bigger refund (which the government hopes you'll use to stimulate the economy). Find out four ways to pocket more of your money this tax season.

• American Opportunity Credit - As long as you earn less than $80,000 or $160,000 as a married couple filing jointly, students (grad school included) are eligible for the American Opportunity credit of up to $2,500 a year for 2009 or 2010 college tuition and other expenses.
• Homebuyer Credit - The government designed the homebuyer credit as an incentive to get people excited about entering the real estate market. First-time homebuyers can receive up to $8,000 for buying their homes by April 30, 2010, and homeowners who have lived in a home for five years but are buying a new house may receive

There's more to saving money at the supermarket than clipping coupons. Go beyond your normal routine and add price matching to your saving strategies at the grocery store. If you think that's easier said than done, just learn these simple steps and you'll be a pro in no time.

• Go For the Deepest Discounts - Time will be on your side if you select the most deeply discounted items at one store to use for price matching. The strategy gives you access to the lowest prices around without having to visit every store.
• Call Around - Not every store will advertise that they offer price matching, so take the initiative to ask. It only takes a few minutes to call your preferred stores and the small effort could pay off in a big way.
• Ditch the Circulars - Forget about dealing with messy mail circulars. Stick with what's clean and easy by visiting sites like couponmom.com and mygrocerydeals.com that list your local grocery store sales.
• Prove It - When you first

Everyone gets worked up at work on occasion. Sharing close quarters while juggling your co-workers' different abilities, communication styles, tempers, egos, and the overall office hierarchy can create a ticking time bomb. When your temper starts to boil, it's important to address your frustrations in the most professional manner possible so you don't regret anything you say later.

If your instinct is to immediately sit down and write a passionate email (whether to your co-worker, supervisor, or boss) I suggest taking a two-minute break to considering the following things.

• Can you just talk it out? - Confronting the issue verbally allows the person you are upset with to give you some sort of explanation for the behavior and the opportunity to defend him or herself.
• Keep it clean and appropriate - Standing up for yourself or expressing your frustration isn't always easy. If you write an email, read it over and think about how you might feel if you received it. Watch your

Instead of suggesting you spend on lust-worthy Must Haves, I've compiled a list of March Must Dos to help you stay on track with your 2010 goals and keep your finances in order. Jump into Spring with these savvy moves.

• Do Your Taxes! - If you didn't follow my advice last month, do it now! Compile your documents and set a date with your tax person or map out when you will do them yourself. April 15 is six weeks away!
• Embrace the Natural Light - Daylight Savings Time begins on March 14! The California Energy Commission reports the later sunset reduces the time between sunset and bedtime and this means that less electricity is used for lighting and appliances late in the day. "We may use a bit more electricity in the morning because it is darker when we rise, but that is usually offset by the energy savings in the evening," says the Commission. Keep the time change and your energy usage in mind as you try to save money and be more green by keeping the lights off in the am.

Writing an effective, direct, and friendly professional email is an art form. It takes forethought, tact, and careful effort. It also means paying attention to possible pitfalls before you hit send. Here are seven avoidable sins you can steer clear of with a little extra care.

• Sin 1: Angry Email - It's easy to get worked up at work. Sharing close quarters while juggling everyone's different communication style, temper, ego, and the overall office hierarchy can create a ticking time bomb. When you do get upset, it's important to address your frustrations in the most professional manner possible so you don't regret anything you say later. Don't make flighty accusations or excuses on the fly. Consider the consequences before you hit send.
• Sin 2: Poor Timing Too late: If you wait too long you risk appearing out-of-the-loop and someone else on the chain might trump your great idea or needs.
  
  Too soon: You run the risk of looking overeager, uninformed and making hasty

SavvySugar reader Findingmyway recently asked for realistic tips for cutting her grocery bill in our How Do You Save? group and fellow shoppers offered up some standout advice. Here are seven of my favorites from the many smart suggestions:

1. Try researching food co-ops in your area. - benheld
2. Farmers markets are great. Buy in season and only what you need. - Anonymous
3. Go vegetarian a couple of times a week if you don't already. Meat can tend to cost the most at the store. It's a double-whammy of cheaper and healthier. - Deidre
4. Buy in bulk, especially beans, rice and pasta. Whole Foods' bulk bin is pretty cheap and you can base most meals around one of those three items. - beram1220
5. I think one of the best things my husband and I started doing was actually planning what we were going to eat for dinner and lunch for the week. We pick up the basics we need for the week plus ingredients for whatever we are going to make! - Lauren
6. Ethnic markets have great prices on

How you write a work email isn't going to make or break your career (well, in most cases). But your email etiquette can affect how seriously you're taken, and even how well you're liked, in the workplace. Read on for 10 things to keep in mind before hitting send.

Related Content:

7 Unprofessional, but Avoidable Email Sins

I'm Asking: What's Your Most Embarrassing Work Story?

How-To: Step Up Your Game at Work

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Source: SavvySugar