The day after thanksgiving, known as “Black Friday” in retail circles, is the most popular shopping day of the year. So be prepared to wait in line and surf through large crowds. But there’s one thing that doesn’t have to stress you out on the biggest shopping day of the year, and that’s spending money. Bankrate.com provides 5 tips for shopping success on Black Friday:

1. Do your research – Check online and in the Thanksgiving Day newspaper for coupons and deals. You can also comparison shop online. Similar to how AccuQuote compares term life insurance rates, many department stores compare consumer product deals.
2. Create a game plan – It’s best to choose a shopping destination that has multiple stores. This way you can avoid extra driving, traffic and parking. And, make sure your car is cleaned out so you have room for all of your new purchases.
3. Shop early – Karen Hoxmeier, founder and owner of MyBargainBuddy.com, suggests that shoppers remember to “go early and get done early.” You can also try shopping on Thanksgiving Day when many deals become available online up to 24 hours earlier.
4. Bring a friend – Long store lines are easier to handle when you have a friend around. Or, have one of you stand in line while the other snatches deals. It’s also suggested that the kids stay at home, as large crowds can irritate the whole family.
5. Wait for cyber Monday – The Monday after Thanksgiving weekend is one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. Many sites offer great deals and free shipping.

Happy shopping!

For money saving tips, continue checking AccuQuote’s blog, become a fan of AccuQuote on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. And don’t forget to check here first to learn about the benefits of term life insurance coverage. By shopping online for free term life insurance quotes, you could save up to 70%!

In today’s economic condition, it’s important to learn how to shop. Ok so you probably already know how to shop, but it’s important to lean how to wisely spend money. And with the vast array of products and discounts available, it’s easy to save money. Check out these five money saving tips from msn.com.

1. Make the store your last choice – Before going into shopping mode because you think you need an item, see if you can borrow it from a friend or even find it for free somewhere.
2. Negotiate when possible – Not all prices are set in stone. Before walking away with an item for full-price, see if you can negotiate a lower price.
3. Time your purchase – Don’t wait to purchase an item until you actually need it. If you do, you risk losing out on a sale or you may find yourself trying to use an expired coupon. Or see if you can get a better deal somewhere else. When it comes to newly released products, you may have to wait a while before a sale emerges.
4. Substitute – If you can’t afford an item you really want, think about substituting it for a smaller, less expensive item that has the same purpose. Also, consider giving it some time and asking yourself if you really want the item. You may find that it was just impulse thinking.
5. Expand your shopping universe – You’re probably comfortable shopping in one or two places, but you may be able to save money by shopping in places outside of your comfort zone.

Keep checking AccuQuote’s blog every Friday for more valuable money saving tips. You can also learn more about term life insurance by becoming a fan on Facebook and following us on Twitter. And be sure to shop online to get free term life insurance quotes. You may be able to save up to 70% on your term life insurance cost!

Everyone seems to be “going green” these days, but it’s not just a trend that will pass. It’s a choice that not only helps the environment, but helps you save money too. And who doesn’t like to save money?

Reducing energy use is one of the best ways to go green and save money. According to the RenewablePlanet.com, there are 10 easy ways to reduce energy use:

1. Insulate and Ventilate – Properly installed insulation can keep in heat during winter months and air conditioning during hot summer days.
2. High-efficiency appliances – These appliances use significantly less electricity. They cost more at first, but in the long run they’ll save you a lot of money.
3. Fluorescent lighting –This kind of lighting uses much less electricity than traditional lighting and it lasts much longer.
4. Reduce phantom power – When items such as your TV, computer and lamps are not being used, they should be turned off to reduce energy waste. Wasted energy can total almost 25 percent of a home’s energy bill.
5. Reduce home temperature – Lower your home’s temperate by a couple degrees. This will ensure that little heat is wasted.
6. Use water efficiently – Cut back on wasted shower/bath time, and use a low-flow shower head. This can cut water consumption almost in half.
7. Change furnace filters – A clean furnace filter will allow the furnace to operate more efficiently.
8. Avoid batteries – Only use batteries when you have to. When you do, it’s best to use rechargeable batteries that can be recharged by the sun.
9. Buy items locally – The further a product has to travel before it gets to you, the more energy it has consumed along the way.
10. Walk, bike, use public transportation – Reducing the amount of time you spend driving you car, reduces the amount of gas you use.

We love providing tips to help you save money. So if you like what you see, keep checking AccuQuote’s blog, become a fan of AccuQuote on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more valuable money saving tips. And don’t forget to check here first to learn about the benefits of term life insurance coverage. By shopping online for free term life insurance quotes, you may be able to save up to 70% on your term life insurance cost!

Dining out often at restaurants, preparing too much and wasting leftovers are just some of our flaws when it comes to feeding our families. But thanks to CookingLight, I’ve discovered five great ways to stretch your family’s food budget!

Check out the tips below:

1. Eat more meatless meals – Meat is the most expensive item you’ll buy at the grocery store, so try making one or two vegetarian meals a week, or just use less meat in meals. And according to health experts, eating more plant-based foods can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer (you’ll also save on your term life insurance coverage the healthier you are.)
2. Make a meal plan – Before you go to the grocery store, map out your daily meals for that week. Then only buy those items you need. By doing this, you’ll avoid buying items you don’t need and you’ll probably waste less.
3. Do it yourself – Avoid buying prepared items like frozen pizza crust, and make things from scratch.
4. Learn to stretch meat, poultry and fish – Rather than making protein the center of the plate, use it sparingly for flavor and texture.
5. Eat in season – Out of season produce is costly, and it usually doesn’t taste as good as fruits and vegetables that are in season. Try eating in season produce, when it can usually be found for a great bargain.

If you like our money saving tips, keep checking AccuQuote’s blog, become a fan of AccuQuote.com on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more valuable ways to make the most of your money. And be sure to shop online to get free term life insurance quotes. You may be able to save up to 70% on your term life insurance cost!

As a new parent, you can expect your expenses to rise to an unprecedented amount of money, actually about $11,000 more a year, according to the Department of Agriculture. But there are ways to keep spending to a manageable level by following these expert money saving tips for new parents from USNews.com.

Decide on a work (or no-work) plan – Before your child is born, it’s important to decide if, when and who will go back to work. It may not make sense for both of you to go back to work if one of you makes less than the cost of childcare.

Don’t mix debt with babies – Reducing your debt, such as credit cards, auto loans and student loans, while you’re pregnant should be a priority before your child is born. This will help to stabilize your financial situation and make spending less of a burden when the baby arrives. It’s also important to have an emergency fund equal to about three months worth of living expenses.

Take advantage of your body’s free food supply – Baby formula costs around $100 a month, while breast milk is free, according to Erica Sandberg, author of Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families. Talk to your doctor to see if this option is right for you.

Set up a trust and buy life insurance for your family – New parents need a will to specify where their assets will go in the event of a premature death. It’s also important to set up a trust and purchase life insurance to protect your child’s financial future. Term life insurance is also an inexpensive option to provide your loved ones with financial support when you’re no longer around.

Ask yourself: Did this exist a few years ago? – Recently there have been many new inventions in the baby market, like leather diaper bags and video baby monitors. It’s likely that you can live without many of these new products, especially if they didn’t exist years ago when your parents were raising you.

Keep checking AccuQuote’s blog, become a fan of AccuQuote.com on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more valuable money saving tips and to learn about the benefits of term life coverage. And be sure to shop online to get free term life insurance quotes. You may be able to save up to 70% on your term life insurance cost!

Want to get out of town but don’t want to pay an extraordinary travel cost? Thanks to Mahalo.com, I’ve discovered no-hassle ways to book a cheap flight. Check out the tips below:

1. Do research (like we always say) – Know what a good price is before booking a flight. This means knowing peak travel times for your destination, looking for deals/discounts and keeping track of airfare trends.
2. Clear your cookies (and I’m not talking about the chocolate-chip ones) – Many airfare booking sites use small files called “cookies” that are stored in your computer’s memory to keep track of other airfares you’ve been researching. Clearing your computer’s cookies may give you the upper hand when comparison shopping online.
3. Shop online at fare-comparison sites – Just as AccuQuote.com compares term life insurance rates, fare-comparison sites compare airfare prices. By providing information like your departure city, destination city, date of anticipated travel and number of travelers, a fare-comparison site will compare airfare rates among several airlines allowing you to book the cheapest flight.
4. Monitor the fare – Many airlines and booking services have a “best fares” guarantee. This means that if the price drops by midnight on the same ticket, you may be able to get the price difference refunded. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the best fares guarantee for your airline or booking service.
5. Use a travel-bidding site – Travel-bidding sites allow people who are flexible with their travel dates/times to bid for cheap flights online.
6. Travel light and fly with a courier service – If traveling overseas, it’s best to use a courier service to get important documents to your travel destination. How does this work? The courier service checks the documents as your checked baggage, and in return, the courier service pays for part of the courier’s flight. If choosing this option for your important documents, you may want to carry-on your clothing and other personal items to save on the cost of luggage fees.
7. Be flexible – The more flexible you are, the easier it is to find a cheap flight.
8. Deals don’t last forever – If you see a great deal, you may want to book it immediately, as the deal probably won’t last very long.
9. Sign up for email alerts – Email alerts will let you know when there is a great deal on airfare or an airline promotion.
10. Book a hotel with your flight– If you need a hotel room when traveling to your destination, booking a vacation package could save you money on both.

Like our weekly money saving tips? Keep checking our blog, become a fan of AccuQuote.com on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more valuable ways to save you money for life! And for affordable term life coverage, be sure to shop online to get free term life insurance quotes. You may be able to save up to 70%!

Have you ever gone a day without spending ANY money? Financial expert, Suze Orman, challenged her fans to go an entire day without spending a dime, and now we’d like to challenge you too!

Her three step challenge went like this:

1. Go an entire day without spending ANY money
2. Go a week without using credit cards
3. Go a month without eating at restaurants

Is this challenge unimaginable or just hard to hear? Check out how to achieve each step of the challenge below:

Step 1: Go an entire day without spending ANY money – Instead of buying coffee in the morning, getting a midday snack out of a vending machine and going out for lunch; opt to bring your own coffee and food from home. It will not only likely be healthier, but it will save you time throughout your work day. Think about how great it’ll be to have some extra cash in your pocket at the end of the week!

Step 2: Go a week without using credit cards – Not using a credit card means not spending money you don’t have, avoiding additional interest payments and dodging impulse spending. Did you ever think that if you waited to buy an item, you may not even want it anymore? Your credit card statement will be much easier to look at if you follow this step.

Step 3: Go a month without eating at restaurants – This one may be the hardest step to follow, but your financial situation will benefit the most from it. It will teach you to price grocery store items, eat healthier and appreciate time at home. By following this step, you’ll save an unprecedented amount of money!

At AccuQuote, we hope you’ll follow Suze Orman’s challenge. And, if you’re in the market for term life insurance, we hope you’ll trust us to help you find affordable life insurance that fits your family’s budget. Remember, we compare life insurance rates among the best life insurance companies.
For more, read 9 Small Financial Steps That Will Pay Off Big in the Future.

Not only does maintaining a healthy lifestyle improve your quality of life, but it allows you to save money. How? The healthier you are, the fewer trips to the doctor you’ll have to take and the less expensive your term life insurance will be, since rates are lowest for those who are young and healthy.

I found 10 ways to manage your health for free on stretcher.com that are easy for everyone to follow. Check out the tips below:

1. Sleep – A full night’s rest can prevent several things from weight gain to depression. Talk to your doctor about how much sleep is enough.
2. Drink plenty of water – Water is not only cheaper than most drinks, but it’s much healthier for you.
3. Exercise – Staying active is good for your overall health, and aerobics exercises such as walking and jogging are free.
4. Meditate – If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes each day to collect your thoughts and breathe to improve your mental health.
5. Stop unhealthy habits – Bad habits such as drinking, smoking and taking drugs greatly decrease your quality of life. You’ll also pay more for health and life insurance.
6. Eat healthy – When at the grocery store, you might as well buy the healthy stuff since you don’t have to go out of your way to get it.
7. Choose your environment – Stay healthy by removing yourself from a smoky room or use cleaning products that are environmentally friendly.
8. Play with your kids – Playing with your kids is a great way to improve your physical and mental health.
9. Listen to music – Listening to music has been proven to lower blood pressure, calm nerves and improve your attitude.
10. Join a group – Whether it’s a support group or group exercise class, it’s good for your overall health to have peers to talk to who can motivate you to live a healthy life.

By following these simple tips, you should be able to maintain a healthy life that will allow you to enjoy yourself everyday and save money while doing it. And remember, by staying healthy you can purchase affordable life insurance that will protect your family from devastating circumstances.

Keep checking AccuQuote’s blog, become a fan of AccuQuote on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more valuable money saving tips and to learn about the benefits of term life insurance. And be sure to shop online to get free term life insurance quotes. You may be able to save up to 70% on your term life coverage!

Buying your first home can be an exciting experience, but if you’re not careful, you could fall victim to the extreme plunge in the real estate market, like too many homeowners have already witnessed.

According to The New York Times, seven rules should be followed when shopping for your first home:

1. Start with the basics – Put 20 percent down so you have less of a chance of owing more than you house is worth if real estate prices drop again. Also try to get a fixed-rate mortgage, so your biggest housing bill remains stable, and try not to spend more than 35 percent of your pretax income on mortgage, property tax and homeowner’s insurance payments.
2. Consider your income – First-time home buyers in their 20s and 30s will probably see their incomes grow more quickly than older people buying their second or third home. Harvey S. Rosen, a Princeton economics professor says, “People can, on average, make reasonably good predictions of their future incomes and act on them in sensible ways by buying bigger houses.”
3. Bow to unknowns – Plan ahead, such as considering if and when you’ll have children. Bobbie D. Munroe, a financial planner with Fraser Financial in Atlanta, encourages younger clients in this situation to model out their budget, including any proposed mortgage, three ways – with both spouses working full time, one working part time and one staying at home for a few years. She also suggests imagining or even practicing living on one income, to see if it’s truly realistic.
4. Map out expenses – Consider the amount you are willing to stretch for a house and if that amount will affect how much you spend on maintaining it. According to financial planner, Dennis G. Stearns, if you buy a newer home, you’ll probably spend around 3.6 percent in upkeep and 4.5 percent if you buy an older home.
5. Buy best (or cheapest) – If you can’t afford your dream home right now, don’t buy the next best thing. It’s better to buy a smaller starter home if you can’t afford the big house you really want. A middle of the road house will end up costing you a lot and still not live up to your standards. By purchasing the smaller home, you’ll be able to save more for your dream house when you’re in a better financial state.
6. Stretch the house – Consider paying less for a home that you can upgrade periodically when your income is stable and your savings or available credit make it possible. This will help you avoid paying unnecessary moving costs.
7. The eight hour rule – Make sure you can sleep soundly through the night without having any financial nightmares.

For more money saving tips, continue checking AccuQuote’s blog, become a fan of AccuQuote on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. And remember, to save money on term life insurance, go to AccuQuote.com to get free term life insurance quotes. You may be able to save up to 70% on your term life coverage!

Have you ever the heard the phrase “I’m a poor college student?” I think most people who went to college have said or have heard their peers mutter these words a time or two, especially in today’s economic condition where money is tight for everyone. Fortunately, there are ways to cut back on spending and help your college student enjoy their college experience without financial frustration.

To help cash-strapped college students spend less on added college expenses, check out the top 10 tips that the ABA Education Foundation recommends:

1. Be responsible – Create and stick to a realistic budget.
2. Watch spending – Cut unnecessary spending, such as dining out or shopping.
3. Limit credit use – Don’t let credit card debt get out of hand. It could be haunting after college.
4. Open a bank account (if the student doesn’t already have one) – A bank offers a valuable way to protect and save money.
5. Be on the lookout for savings – College students can receive valuable money, such as scholarships and student discounts.
6. Buy used – Buy used books and shop online for cheap deals.
7. Socialize on a budget – Stick to a budget when it comes to social activities. Many college’s offer fun activities that are free to most students.
8. Be careful with your money – Don’t trust everyone when it comes to money. Be skeptical and determine if lending money is a safe financial risk to take.
9. Save – Put a little bit of money aside periodically to save for a mishap, such as a computer glitch or an unexpected school fee.
10. Ask questions about money – Talk to people who know the ins and outs of college spending. It’s better to ask a lot of questions than play the guessing game.

By following these tips, your college student will be able to make the most of their college experience and concentrate on the things that matter most.

For an additional way to save money, shop online to get free term life insurance quotes. You may be able to save up to 70% on your term life coverage! Continue checking AccuQuote’s blog, become a fan of AccuQuote on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more valuable money saving tips and to learn about the benefits of term life insurance.