Gas prices…up. Food prices…up. Utility prices…up. The only thing going down these days is our discretionary spending. Budgets are taking a real beating. Who isn’t looking for ways to earn and/or save money? Well, Vantage is here to help with our new MyE-Rewards program, where the saving is easy, automatic and FREE!

You already know credit unions rock, right? They’re owned by their members, they’re not-for-profit, and they operate under a People Helping People mindset, just to name a few very awesome things. But did you know besides saving you money with great rates and assorted free services, you can save money on select services and purchases simply by being a member? Oh yeah, it’s true!

The savings are all through lovemycreditunion.org and their Invest in America program. For example, savings on your wireless plan...

Those high winds finally knocked down that old oak tree in your back yard. Luckily, no one was hurt, and no property (other than the tree) was damaged, but the fact remains, there’s a 40-foot tree on its side in your yard. You now have a few options for dealing with this problem. 1) You can hire a professional tree removal service, which could get expensive. 2) You’re pretty handy with tools, so you could buy a chainsaw to tackle the hardwood, which could also get expensive. 3) You could rent a chainsaw for a day or two.

Yes, in areas such as real estate, it may be a buyer’s market, but there are also times when renting just may be the way to go. Let’s take a look at a few examples where ownership may take a back seat to a short-term relationship.

Back in November, we shared with you some products that were known to offer pretty good deals for consumers right around the holidays. Well, wouldn’t you know it, the post-holiday retail lull offers some nice deals, too, as merchants try to shake the retail hangover left over from all the holiday spending sprees. So because we’re all about saving, let’s once again take a look at some items that could help ease your budget.

Warm Clothing, Hot Deals 
Hey, it’s January in the Midwest…we still have a few months of cold weather to muddle through, right? And you need warm clothes, right? You’re in luck! By January, most people have competed their winter wardrobes. That means retailers are looking to shrink their inventory, which means deals on all those hats, coats, gloves, even flannel pajamas. Experts say you could see price cuts of 40%-70%. Bingo!

Everyone’s looking to save money. That’s what you were doing when you looked to refinance your home. There were literally hundreds of dollars in savings per month with a new, lower mortgage rate. Trouble was, you weren’t sure your present financial status would look good to the lender, so you fudged a few items on your application. You stated your income was higher than it really was, and you didn’t disclose some of your debts. No biggie, right? Wrong. What you did was illegal.

It may surprise you to know that some seemingly innocent practices involving money can be illegal. Let’s take a look at a few so you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Ah yes, there’s no place like home for the holidays, especially when you’re a college student. The food is free, the bed linens are fresh, and alarm clocks are simply clocks with no alarms. But after all the gift exchanges and jello-mold binges, school will call again. After all, there are classes to take and social functions to attend! So when you’re back in the Ramen noodles groove, taking notes on Steinbeck and creating imaginary business plans, here are some tips on saving money. Because as well all know, money seems to be in short supply in college after all the bills are paid.