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Read this article. You are bound to find some way to save some money. Isn't that what we like to do? This includes a pretty inclusive list IMHO. But then, you will have to decide if you get the yacht or the summer home in 40 years. Just sayin...
My fave~
Many mutual funds
The rip-off: Thousands of actively managed mutual funds (which employ stock pickers who try to beat the market rather than simply match its overall returns) charge fees of 1 percent or higher. Yet consider that less than 40 percent of actively managed funds that invest in large companies outperform the S&P 500 Index. Assuming an investment of $10,000 per year for 40 years, and an average annual return of 7 percent, a fund with a 1.5 percent annual fee compared to one with a 0.25 percent load will cost an extra $580,000. That's a yacht or a summer house.
Forbes.com: 10 companies that are genuinely green
How to avoid it: There are plenty of mutual funds, index funds and exchange-traded funds that can be had for fees of 0.25 percent or less.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43051881/ns/today-money/
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Graduation caps and gowns
The rip-off: Just when you think your alma mater has milked you dry! Caps and gowns bought through your university's bookstore can run up to $100. Expect to pay even more for a last-minute purchase.
How to avoid it: Buy an imitation of your school's robes for as little as $15 through sites like GraduationSource.com. And with jobs not exactly easy to find, plenty of fellow alumni on Craigslist and eBay are happy to unload theirs for a few extra bucks.
I've always thought that was an unneccessary expense to put upon students and their parents. What we need are local businesses in college/university towns that rent the gowns and caps out. They would make a fortune year after year.
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Graduation caps and gowns
The rip-off: Just when you think your alma mater has milked you dry! Caps and gowns bought through your university's bookstore can run up to $100. Expect to pay even more for a last-minute purchase.
How to avoid it: Buy an imitation of your school's robes for as little as $15 through sites like GraduationSource.com. And with jobs not exactly easy to find, plenty of fellow alumni on Craigslist and eBay are happy to unload theirs for a few extra bucks.
I've always thought that was an unneccessary expense to put upon students and their parents. What we need are local businesses in college/university towns that rent the gowns and caps out. They would make a fortune year after year.
I think you're a genius, pennywise. I've never lived in a town close to a campus. You can bet your bottom dollar if I ever do though I'll be looking around to see if they have one of those. Excellent idea!
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I think you're a genius, pennywise. I've never lived in a town close to a campus. You can bet your bottom dollar if I ever do though I'll be looking around to see if they have one of those. Excellent idea!
I second that. You would have plenty of customers and could buy them from those students that sells theirs after graduation too. I think you're onto something good there!
Thanks very much for that, micharch. Yep, that's sure what I like to do! :)
Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are. - Alfred Austin