When Buying the Expensive Version Can Save You Money

Usually buying the expensive version of a product or service would seem counterintuitive to saving money. In fact, being frugal doesn't seem to have any link whatsoever with indulging on expensive things. Let me explain why there is a connection and why it's not as tenuous as you may think. No, I'm not leading you down the path to selling your house and moving all your stuff into StorageMart. What you're about to hear are actual ways in which buying the expensive version of something can save you money:

Buy a fuel-efficient electric or hybrid vehicle: While the upfront cost of a hybrid is comparable or a bit more than a new gasoline powered car, the money you save on fuel and emissions updates will even out the costs. Depending on the year and model of the hybrid you buy, you many even wind up saving more money in the long haul. Also, you'll be helping the human race save money on cleaning up the environment.

Buy high-quality coffee beans: Stopping by your favorite coffee shop every morning can easily lead to a monthly tab of $100 - and that's assuming you don't also need a caffeinated pick-me-up throughout the day. By buying high quality coffee beans, which run about $15 a pound, you will be able to reduce your monthly coffee bill to about $30 by bringing your own coffee from home. Another reason to buy high-quality beans is that they will keep you riding a more potent, smooth wave of caffeine exuberance, making you need less coffee throughout the day. So invest some of your scratch into top-notch fair trade beans and save yourself money.

Buy appropriate car insurance: Sometimes opting for the more inexpensive option can not only be risky, but downright financially life threatening, and buying car insurance is one of those instances. Getting inferior coverage in order to save $10 a month is not a smart move. If the worst case scenario happens, in which you and the other drivers' cars are totaled and people are injured, you're going to wish you had full coverage on injury and collision for all parties. It could be the difference between a few hundred dollars on a deductible vs. tens or even hundreds of thousands on repairs and surgery costs.

These are just a few of the instances in which buying the expensive version of something can save you money in the long run. Spending more upfront on a product or service is not always prudent, but in some cases it's the right move.

Why You Should Stick to Those New Year's Resolutions

If you are serious about your personal finance, it may be in your best interest to stick to a few of those New Year's resolutions that you made this year. While many make their resolutions in vain and give up after a few short weeks, choosing to stick with your resolutions can actually help you increase that personal net worth – even more so than switching car insurance policies or putting away an extra $5 a week. Here are a few ways that some of the most popular New Year's resolutions can save you money:

Losing Weight

Losing weight affects more than just your waistline. Choosing to shed a few pounds can actually save you a substantial amount of money long-term. In addition to reducing the amount of money spent on eating out and your regular grocery bill, choosing to lose weight will also reduce the amount you will spend at the doctor's office in the future. Having a lower BMI will also help you qualify for cheaper health insurance rates which can easily save you a couple hundred dollars a year.

Quitting Smoking

There is no denying that smoking is an expensive habit. Depending on where you live, a pack of smokes can reach nearly the $8 mark, and if you are a heavy smoker, that's over $200 a month you are spending on cigarettes. In addition to the outright cost of cigarettes, smoking can also lead to numerous health conditions that can lead to high medical bills in the future.

Getting Out of Debt

Sticking with your goal of getting out of debt is going to save you for obvious reasons – the quicker you pay down debt, the less money you will have to spend on high interest rates. However, paying down debt can help you save money in a few other, less known ways. By having a lower debt-to-income ratio, you are more likely to be approved to lower mortgage and car loan rates which will save you money, and it will also help you keep your credit score high which will keep you from having to pay steep deposits with your electric company or phone service provider.

We all want to keep our finances out of the red, and for many, choosing to stick to those New Year's resolutions is a great way to keep a few extra dollars in their pockets. So before you give up on that resolution yet again, think about how not choosing to follow through will affect your wallet. You just may find that the calculated dollar sign is enough motivation to push through.

Fatten Your Wallet Not Your Waistline

The New Year is upon us, and for their 2012 resolution many will opt to lose weight. Obesity is one of the biggest epidemics facing many industrialized nations, and because of this, it is often the most popular choice for New Years Resolutions. However, losing weight isn't just good for your overall health, it is good for your wallet too. If you are serious about bettering your finances in the upcoming year, losing weight may be one of the best ways for you to save money both short and long term. Losing weight will help you save money in the following year through:

Limited Healthcare Costs

Being overweight wears your body out. Your organs have to work harder and are often bogged down by fat, your joints work harder to carry the excess weight, and your heart works harder to pump blood to your bigger body. Not only does your body wear out quicker, but you are at a higher risk for diabetes, stroke, and heart disease – none of which come with a cheap price tag.

While Britain does have universal healthcare, the general upkeep of dealing with diseases such as diabetes or heart disease, isn't always covered. In terms of home care or certain medications, some claims may be denied, forcing you to pay out of pocket. By keeping your waistline trim, you will be able to avoid the high fees of caring for someone in poor health which often leave many calling a bankruptcy attorney.

Lower Food Bills

Those who are overweight may not typically eat more than someone who is fit, in regards to quantity, but they do generally eat out more which comes with a high price tag. If you eat out every day for lunch, there is a good chance that you spend about £ 50 a week on lunch alone. If you are also eating out for dinner a couple of times a week, there is probably another £ 40 to £ 50. That is about £ 300 to £ 400 a month that you could save by skipping the high calorie meals out. Not only will you have quite a bit of money left over at the end of each month, but you will drop a couple of sizes too by bringing a more nutritious lunch from home.

Smaller Clothes Have Smaller Price Tags

If you where anything larger than a XL, there is a good chance that you are paying a couple of bucks more for your shirt than someone who wears a XL or smaller. Larger clothing costs more to make, and therefore manufacturers have to increase the costs of the item in order to profit. By shedding some weight, you will be able to fit in to smaller sizes and spend less on clothing.

By choosing to lose weight in the New Year, you will not only improve your overall health, but you will get to fatten up your wallet as well. So do yourself a favor, and set a resolution that will benefit you in more ways than one.