Money Talks

Do you need to save money on your regular expenses to have money to invest for retirement?

We'll share some money saving tips from AARP's 99 Great Ways to Save https://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2019/top-ways-to-save.html and our expert, Ryder Taff https://www.newper.com/ will comment.

Reimbursed ATM Fees:      Most online banks and some traditional banks will reimburse you for fees incurred when you use another bank's ATM. That can save you an average of $4.68 per transaction.

Hire a Haggler:    Not a negotiator? Companies like Billfixers and Billshark will haggle with your cable TV company or other service providers in exchange for a cut of your first year or two of savings. Billfixers says it saves clients $300 a year.

Property Tax Breaks:  Many states offer property tax breaks for homeowners over 65, including rebates, caps on assessed value, and tax-rate or assessment freezes.  In Mississippi: Persons 65 years or older and persons who are totally disabled, who are otherwise eligible for homestead exemption, are exempt from taxes on the first $75,000 of true value on their home.

Go All In on 401(k)s:  One-quarter of the workers employed at companies offering 401(k) plans don't take advantage of the full company match of the first few percent invested in the plans. That means they are missing out on an average of $1,336 in free money annually.

Mortgage Magic:         A 30-year $300,000 mortgage at 4 percent costs $1,432 a month. But if you pay $716 every two weeks, you can cut interest payments by $34,000 over the life of the loan.

Credit Card Rewards:          Stay on top of your points and use them before they lose value. Don't waste the cash or credits.

Get Savings Matched:                   Individual development accounts are designed to help people of modest means buy a house or start a business. Some programs provide up to $4 for every $1 you save. Go to ProsperityNow.org/map to find community organizations that administer IDAs. Their website has a number of enterprise development organizations in Mississippi.

Negotiate Bank Fees:                    Banks now charge fees even for receiving money via wires, something many customers may not realize. Be sure to check your statements, and dispute those fees if you find them — even if you need to speak to a manager. The bank needs your business. A 10-minute call may save you about $25.

Stop Smoking:  Nonsmokers, exercisers and people who maintain a healthy weight can get as much as a 50 percent savings on life insurance.

Combine and Save:    Companies charge up to 20 percent less if you get home and auto insurance policies from them.

Raise Your Deductible:       An increase from $500 to $1,000 can save you up to 25 percent on a homeowner's premium.