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What’s in Your Investment Portfolio?

April is Tax time, and with it, a great opportunity to think more about your finances, and in particular, your financial goals and investment portfolio.

Here is an example that might help you with planning your own portfolio:

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Michael and Janice are a couple in their early thirties. They don’t have any children, nor do they plan on having any. While they’ve started saving and investing for retirement, they haven’t made a lot of progress to date. They currently invest 3% each in their respective 401(k)s. Their employers match contributions at 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6%. The Stuarts also have a few thousand dollars in savings bonds that Michael got from his grandmother. They make over $150,000 a year combined and have minimal debt.

They do, however, have a rather extravagant lifestyle. Janice is a major shopper, and while Michael doesn’t buy things frequently, he likes his expensive toys.

Clearly their priorities are not conducive to having a prosperous retirement. Their 401(k)s offer a great opportunity to amass a lot of wealth over the long haul, but they aren’t taking full advantage of it.

Everyone should make every effort to get the full match from his or her employer. It’s free money; no one in their right mind should leave free money on the table. You might think you are barely able to make it from paycheck to paycheck, but if it is tax free and taken out before you ever get your hands on your money, then you will hardly miss what you never saw, but it can add up to big dividends long term.

While savings bonds are better than nothing, they are a very poor choice for someone with a long-term time frame. This couple would be much better served with more growth-aggressive investments.

Appropriate stocks and some bonds for diversification would be more in line with their goals.

Their combined income is quite high, but it is largely being wasted on non-essentials and luxury items, as it often is when people are young and have no real financial goals yet.

Considering they don’t have children and minimal debt, saving 15+% of every paycheck should be easy for this couple. They would be well served to examine their spending and eliminate the excess.

This couple still has time before they retire; they certainly have every opportunity to turn things around to provide for a wonderful retirement and any other goals they might have, especially if they do not have any children.

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Top Shopping Deals for the Month of April

With several religious holidays this month, you’ll likely be preparing some big meals.

Thankfully, there are also plenty of deals at the grocery store for ingredients you’ll need to cook up those feasts. In April, you’ll discover great buys on the following:

• Ham
• Eggs
• Candy (especially if you wait until after Easter)
• Rolls and prepared dough products
• Pre-made pie crusts
• Frozen pies
• Cake mixes and frosting
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms

You’ll find some very good prices for non-food items as well. Whether you need some new sneakers, or want to cook your holiday dishes in new pots and pans, it’s time to go shopping! Check out this list of April bargains:
• Athletic shoes
• Cookware
• Electronics
• Fabric
• Tires and other car accessories

Take advantage of these deals while you can and get ready for the holidays and the nice warm weather.

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Frugal Living Tip: Check Out eBooks from Your Local Library

How Much Can You Save? ? $40+ monthly on Electronic Books for Your Reading Device

Making It Work:

Are you enjoying the latest trend in reading with an electronic reading device? There are plenty:

Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, Sony’s e-Readers, Onyx’s Booxes, Pocketbooks and many others.

Since most of these readers offer you the latest mainstream books at reduced pricing, you’re already paying less money for electronic books than for printed ones. But did you know many public libraries offer to loan ebooks for free?

Depending on the library, you can access the latest books written by your favorite top authors for nothing!

Financially, this is amazing when you think about it, particularly if you’re an avid reader. All you have to do is get out your library card and access your local library’s website using your device. You’ll most likely be asked to enter your library card number early in the process. Navigate to the library’s e-resources webpage, which they’ll have if they offer electronic books.

There, you’ll find a link to the listing of devices onto which you can download the library’s ebooks. Use your device and the library’s software to proceed through the process step-by-step. Then, browse their current electronic book library. Once you find a book you like, click the “download” button to load the electronic book onto your device.

The books will remain on your device for you to read for two to four weeks, depending on the library’s terms and whether your selection is a new book or not.

Depending on how much you read and how often you purchase books for your device, you stand to save $40 or even more monthly accessing your library’s electronic book collection.

Why spend your hard-earned money on books to read once? If you check out electronic books at your local library you won’t pay a single cent!

You can read all you want at no cost to you. Plus, some libraries also offer magazines, journals and other resources electronically for free as well.

Now, that’s a great way to save money and still live well.

Visit Eternal Spiral Book to see their catalog and then head to your public library. You can also browse through Amazon’s site and find titles you like, then see if they are available through your library.

Earth Day is coming up, for example. Why not borrow this handy guide? Earth Day and Every Day: A Beginner’s Guide to Green Activities and Recipes (Green Matters)

Easter is only a few days away: Quick and Easy Easter Dinner Recipes (Holiday Entertaining)

Head to your library to see what other great titles you can borrow.

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April Financial Calendar

1-30 Financial Literacy Month. Established in the US to encourage people to educate themselves about all things financial, Financial Literacy Month is the time to learn more about budgeting and improving your money habits.
Do something this month to expand your knowledge of financial matters—attend a financial seminar or read a book about finances written by one of your favorite money gurus.

1 Are you ready to file your taxes? Ensure you have all the forms and records you need to do your income taxes so you can file by April 17.

6 Good Friday. Spend time with loved ones today.

7 United Nations’ World Health Day. This holiday commemorates the importance of the health of all peoples. Every year on this date, the UN releases its message in terms of current health priorities. Why not use this day to survey your current financial health? It’s time to ensure your budget is in shape.

8 Easter. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Look over your entire investment portfolio this evening to ensure you’ve diversified your “nest egg” to ensure the best results.

17 Income Taxes Due. If you haven’t filed your taxes yet and can’t do it today, file an extension today so that you have until October 15 to file them. If you owe money though, the money is still due, so if you don’t pay until October, you’ll owe interest and penalties as well.

22 Earth Day. Established to celebrate our “neighborhood,” this holiday reminds us to give pause and thanks for the earth. Why not renew your recycling and re-purposing efforts? You’ll save waste at the local landfill and get double-duty from more of your personal belongings. Recycle, re-purpose and save money! For more information, and great activities for the whole family, see: Earth Day and Every Day: A Beginner’s Guide to Green Activities and Recipes (Green Matters)

25 Administrative Professionals’ Day. This day is designated to honor all the administrative professionals who keep the offices going. Why not splurge this year and give the administrative professional(s) at your office a $25 savings bond?
30 Get ready for spring. Have you thought about having a garage sale to make some extra money? Do some spring cleaning and price items you’re ready to get rid of. Deposit the money you make into your savings account. Good job!

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Best Shopping Bargains in March

Before you know it, the first day of spring will be here. Along with March’s arrival, grocery stores will offer some nice buys.

The National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association has declared March to be National Frozen Food Month. And who will benefit from this designation? You, the shopper!

You’ll notice several coupons for frozen food items and great sales at your grocery store, too. Combine the two of them and you’ll save big money. It’s definitely the month to stock the freezer.

• Frozen Foods
• Lettuce
• Mangoes
• Pineapples

Non-food items are also available at bargain basement pricing. Boats are on sale again this month as showrooms need to be cleared for the new incoming models.

If you love good deals on perfume, March is your month. Because the perfume industry’s biggest shopping days are in December (holidays) and February (Valentine’s Day), their figures take a dive in March. So, in order to keep moving perfume off the shelves in March, they mark down their prices significantly. This is a great time to get that perfect birthday gift, or plan ahead to Mother’s Day!

Also, it’s almost time for gardening! Gardening tools are also on special this month, so check your wish list for garden implements.

If you don’t mind last year’s patterns, flatware and China will also be on sale in March. Here’s the quick list of March non-food deals:

• Boats
• Perfumes
• Gardening Tools
• Flatware
• China
• Luggage

Fill your freezer with frozen food deals this month. Then, prepare for gardening by purchasing all the tools you need on sale. Finally, take advantage of pricing on perfumes. When it’s all over, don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking forward to next March!

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March Financial Calendar

1-31 National Nutrition Month. Spearheaded by the National Dietetic Association, National Nutrition Month was established to remind people to eat nutritionally and develop healthy exercise habits. During March, concentrate on your nutritional intake and level of physical activity. Your good health = more money in the bank.

1 The first quarter of the year ends the 31st of this month. Maybe it’s time to take a look at your earnings so far this year. Are you meeting your mark? Think creatively about what you can do to increase your income every quarter this year.
2 Read Across America Day/Dr. Seuss’ Birthday. Dr. Seuss books serve as encouragements to read for a lot of kids every year. Why not donate a large stack of Dr. Seuss books to a local nursery school, grade school or foster care program? You’ll feel so wonderful to know you’re giving the gift of reading to children, plus your donation is tax deductible, which means you’ll benefit, too at the end of the year!
11 Daylight Saving Time Begins. Although you’ll lose an hour when you set your clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m., ultimately you’ll save money by using less energy for lighting. After all, when Daylight Saving Time begins, you save daylight!
15 Business taxes are due today for many people who run their own business. This is also a good day to start gathering your paperwork for April 15th.
17 St. Patricks’ Day. Who doesn’t love to celebrate the patron saint, St. Patrick, of Ireland? Have fun with your friends and family and don’t forget to wear green. Speaking of the color green, put an extra $50 away this week in honor of St. Patrick.

20 First Day of Spring. With the amount of daylight and night-time nearly even today, you might say it’s a day of balance. Take a look at your stock portfolio to ensure it’s balanced in terms of growth stocks and stable CDs.
22 World Water Day. This day in March is designated by the United Nations to increase the world’s understanding of the importance of water to the lives of all people. Do you do everything you can to conserve water in your home and office? Take shorter showers and teach your kids to do the same. You’ll not only conserve water, you’ll also save on your water bills.
31 Review monthly grocery expenditures. Gather your grocery store cash register receipts for this month. How much did you spend for the month? Plan to reduce your monthly total by 10% next month.

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