What your Social Security Number tells about you!!!

What your Social Security Number tells about you!

Your social security number is a unique identification. You are the only person who has that number. But did you ever wonder what the numbers in your social security number mean? This report will tell you exactly what those numbers tell about you, and how to effectively use social security numbers as a means of identifying your customers.

Your social security number is made up of 3 parts called the AREA (XXX), GROUP (XX), and SERIAL(XXXX). I'll explain these parts separately. First, the AREA (XXX) has one of two meanings, depending on when you got your number. If you received your social security card before 1972, the area number shows what state you APPLIED for your card in. If you received your social security card after 1972, the area number shows the state you RESIDED in at the time you applied. Here is a list of the number combinations and their corresponding states.

000 NONE	318-361 IL	521-524 CO
001-003 NH	387-399 WI	525NM
004-007 ME	400-407 KY	528-529 UT
008-009 VT	408-415 TN	530-NV
010-034 MA	416-424 AL	531-539 WA
035-039 RI	425-428 MS	540-544 OR
040-049 CT	429-432 AR	545-573 CA
050-134 NY	433-439 LA	574-AK
135-158 NJ	440-448 OK	575-576 HI
159-211 PA	449-467 TX	577-579 DC
212-220 MD	468-477 MN	580 VI (Virgin Islands)
221-222 DE	478-485 IA	581-584 PR (Puerto Rico)
223-231VA	486-500 MO	585-NM
232-236 WV	501-502 ND	586PI (Pacific Islands - Guam)
237-246 NC	503-504 SD	587-588 MS
247-251 SC	505-508 NE	589-595 FL
252-260 GA	509-515 KS	596-599 PR (Puerto Rico)
261-267 FL	516-517 MT	600-601 AZ
268-302 OH	518-519 ID	602-626 CA
303-317 IN	520 WY

900-999 Were used when state aid to the aged, blind, and disable was converted to federal programs administered by the Social Security Association, not valid social security numbers.You will see that some states have more than one group of numbers. This is because their original group of numbers became exhausted.

The GROUP (XX) has no meaning other than to determine whether or not a number has been assigned. This is important to know, if you want to use social security numbers as identification for your customers. Here's how you should use this information.

Every month, the Social Security Association publishes a list of the highest group assigned for each AREA. The order of assignment is odd numbers under 10, even numbers over 9, even numbers under 9 (except for 00, which is not used), and odd numbers over 10. So, for example, if the highest GROUPassigned for AREA 999 is 72, then a customer who gives you the social security number 999-04-1234 is a fraud, because even GROUPS under 9 have not yet been assigned.

The SERIAL (XXXX) portion has no meaning and is not assigned in strict numerical order. 0000 is never used. If you know what to look for, social security numbers are an important tool for screening customers.

13 Niches to Investigate for your Part-Time Business!

Who says you can't make money doing what you love? These creative ideas will help you start that part-time business you've always dreamed of. 


Here are some more ideas for where to look as you try to find the niche that suits you best:

Personal services. Can you save someone else time? Running errands for seniors, preparing someone's tax returns or walking your neighbors' dogs are examples of valuable services to offer.

Gardening and landscaping. Consider the growing garden trade. Homeowners who lack the time or desire to plant and prune still recognize the importance of curb appeal today. Landscape design, maintenance and retail gardening businesses are hot now. If you enjoy working in nice weather around nature, the field of horticulture covers a wide range of professional specialties. You can be an arborist, look after commercial greenhouses, and care for golf courses or large private estates. With a formal education, you'll learn about jet stream patterns and their effect on which plants grow best in certain regions.

Outdoor recreation work. For some folks, there's no separation between work and play. Such types are reluctant to punch a clock or limit themselves to an indoor office cubicle to earn their living. If you're a wilderness buff, perhaps you're ready to strike out on your own and take Mother Nature on as a business partner. Business ideas include kayaking/white-water rafting outfitter; guided mountain biking, photo trekking, backpacking, or rock climbing tour operator; or opportunities within the state park system.

Pet services. Could your business be going to the dogs? Upscale pet-related services and merchandise are bringing home the bacon--to the tune of $30 billion a a year in the United States today, according to a recent research study from Unity Marketing. Pet foods, doggie daycare, shampoos and even "pet pampering" spas and hotels are just a few of the products and services that make up the industry. If you have a knack for dog handling, dog obedience is another hot extra-income generator.

Workplace design. You could be a creator of the workplace of the future. As industries evolve, tomorrow's offices will entice us through hip, ergonomically correct furnishings, the use of color, and innovative lighting. The need for experts who can implement ergonomically correct conditions is rising. Areas of specialization include industrial workplaces, occupational safety, furniture design, computer hardware, human-computer interaction, product liability, consumer products and virtual environments.

Feng shui consulting. Interest in feng shui has risen in recent years as more people seek greater levels of satisfaction and productivity in their careers, businesses and lifestyles. This ancient art promotes spiritual and material well being by devising the best way to lay out your house or office. Certified experts are hired to do "readings" for both residential and commercial space. Consultants can charge between $235 and $1,000 for a two-hour consultation, depending on the size of a property. Some businesses will pay upwards of $25,000 for large-scale projects. Field certification costs upwards of $3,500 and includes class time, mentoring and field training.

Alternative health services. As our health-care system becomes more prevention-oriented, Americans are increasingly more accepting of alternative, holistic health, and wellness practices. Healing arts such as massage therapy, reflexology, acupuncture and yoga are in demand by private and corporate clientele. Food items or eateries offering organic edibles free of processed ingredients, preservatives and sugars are sought after by the health-conscious.

Grooming services. Thanks to the popularity of TV shoes such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, men are becoming more upfront about wanting to look and feel good about themselves. For these so-called metrosexuals, a new wave of relaxation hav ens specially designated for men are cropping up. Today's hottest services include facial bronzing, stone massage, organic facials, reflexology and seaweed wraps.

Spiritual work. Spiritually minded people make humanity their life's work. Today, there are plenty of creative job paths you can pursue if you feel inspiring others is your life mission. For example, religious craftspeople and artists (think of all the Judaic and Catholic supply shops, candleholders, jewelry charms, trinket boxes, decorative nativity art and collectibles there are); church camp/counselor/director; religious writers and authors (even for religious greeting cards); and spiritual retreat leaders. These last folks lead trips to destinations with biblical/historical significance.

Senior-focused services. Don't forget the lucrative aging baby boomers. The fifty-plus population is an intelligent, active group. They need products, services and information providers to meet their entertainment, education and lifestyle needs. Today, there are senior-focused book authors; website developers; travel, insurance and real-estate companies; and computer-training firms reaping profits from the older Americans they serve.

Business writing and services. If your skill is putting it in writing, hire yourself out as a business plan writer. Too many businesses lose out on new contracts, funding or clients because they don't know how to communicate their message on paper. Businesses today have a need for marketing, strategy, lobbying and proposal writing services. Also, the demand for freelance writers with specialties in grant writing, bio met, IT, economic development and general business is high. Project work includes requests for proposals (RFPs), corporate training guides, computer documentation, white papers, government licensing applications, legislative memos and executive bios. Fees typically start at $100 per hour, or between $30,000 and $60,000 a year.

Home design and services. These days, home is where the art is. Thanks to baby boomers with discretionary income and a nationwide "cocooning" trend, interior decorating and design services are in demand. From guesthouses to second homes, vacation retreats to master bathrooms, those cashing in on the thriving home-fixings craze include architects, interior designers, landscape architects and pool builders. Other jobs include project management professionals for furniture companies or corporate facilities, and designers of hotels, healthcare institutions, retirement communities and nursing homes.

Culinary services. By the same token, staying in is the new going out and people are entertaining in their homes more than ever. Dinner parties have made a big comeback. If you have culinary skills, you're in demand. Aside from catering, you may decide to give one-on-one cooking lessons, help prepare menus or conduct demonstrations in your own home. For the many people trying to eat well, both for health and epicurean reasons, you can hire yourself out as a personal chef or nutritionist.

I got this article from a site I post on...
Thanks to ShoePrincess for this Great Article.

50 ways to make side money!

50 ways to make side money!!!!

1. Delivering pizzas (TheHappyRock). If you have a car and a decent driving record, then you qualify for this easy extra-money maker. You're likely to get some free pizzas, too.

2. Waiting tables (Serious Eats). This is the perfect job for nights and weekends. That's when all the big tips are made anyway. Pick the nicest place in town.

3. Bartending (The Beck Office Blog). Even better, I think, than waiting tables is tending bar at nights in a busy bar -- typically at least $1 for every drink you serve.

4. Teaching swimming lessons. If you're a good swimmer, you might be able to pick up a weekend swim-teacher gig at your local recreation center. Keep in mind that some places may require a special certification or that you be a lifeguard.

5. Car valet. If you hook up with a for-hire car-parking service (the type hired out for fancy neighborhood parties) you can make some nice cash tips in just a few hours at night and on the weekend, when parties are held.

6. Create Web sites (glblguy). Businesses will pay you to take them online.

7. Blogging (ProBlogger). This isn't quick money, but you can make decent money with a little luck and a few months of solid, consistent effort. Believe me, it can be tough and a bit time-consuming, but it can be done.

8. Write an ebook (Daily Blog Tips). I hesitate to put this one in here because an ebook by itself usually doesn't make money unless you're an excellent marketer. What a great ebook can do, though, is act as a sales lead to one of your other online businesses.

9. Design Web logos (Logos For Websites). If you're good with Photoshop and can work quickly, you could make some decent cash with this online business.

10. Rewrite poorly written ads. Search the ad listings at eBay and Craigslist for big items like cars. E-mail the seller and offer to rewrite the ad for a 1% commission.

11. Write reviews (Bible Money Matters). Many Web sites will pay you a little cash to write product reviews. If you're knowledgeable and can write fast, this may work for you.

12. CashCrate. There's some money to be made with CashCrate by completing the free offers, but the real cash comes from the referral program.

13. Freebie trading (ChristianPF). Freebie trading is a real moneymaker. But it takes a special person to master the techniques and be consistent with the process.

14. Freelance writer. Right now Elance.com is looking for more writers. Set up an ad and start offering up your fast writing skills.

15. Sell digital photos (Digital Photography School). Take nice pictures. Get them up on the Web at a broker or microstock site. Make some money. It's not as easy as that, but those are the basics.

16. Sell yourself online (I Wear Your Shirt). Get creative and sell you and your time online in a fresh, new way.

17. Sell micro ad space online (The Million Dollar Homepage). Start a Web site and sell tiny ads. Can this be duplicated? Or can you take the concept and make it fresh?

18. Start an online store (Gather Little by Little). Setting up an online store is extremely easy with sites like Amazon, eBay and CafePress. Once you learn how to market that site, you can begin making some cash.

19. Focus group participant (Paying Off My Future and Bargaineering). Researchers need people to help them develop their results. Become a member of a focus group in your area and get your share of their research funding. Call your local university or museum, or look in your local paper for opportunities.

20. Sell bottled water (Neville's Financial Blog and katekashman). Buy bottled water in bulk and sell it for a dollar where there are a ton of people -- parks, festivals, concerts, etc.

21. Sell your body (My Dollar Plan). Not talking about the oldest profession here. I'm talking about your plasma, hair, eggs and sperm.

22. Have a car wash. Find a business that's willing to loan you its parking lot and gather up a few friends to wash some cars. Take donations or ask for very little. People usually do this to raise funds for an organization, but there's no reason you couldn't do it for the You Foundation.

23. Cleaning houses. This is a job with flexible hours, but requires a bit of elbow grease. Some households will provide their own cleaning supplies and tools.

24. Get a 2010 census job (ChristianPF). Work opportunities begin in the spring of 2009.

25. Sell your baked goods. Are you skilled at a few special recipes? Contract your items out for parties, meetings, etc.

26. Rent out your truck or van. If I had a truck and needed extra money, this is one of the ways I would do it. Nothing seems much easier to me.

27. Drive people to the airport. Another good gig for someone with a reliable car and the ability to be on time all the time. Once you have a few happy clients and word gets out, you'll find you have to turn business away.

28. Lawn care. I grew up doing this job on the side and loved it. But it's not just a teenager gig. Obviously better for warmer climates.

29. Be a mystery shopper (Wise Bread). Get paid to shop and share your experience.

30. Become a ticket broker. No special permit required. If you know sports or entertainment enough to pick the right events, and have access to purchase the tickets at face or below, then you can use a service like StubHub or Craigslist to resell the tickets for a profit. I've done this both out of necessity and just to make some extra money.

31. Paper route. This job will likely take up only your early-morning hours. You can also search for a paper that comes out only once a week.

32. Walk dogs. If you love animals and live in an urban area, consider this job.

33. Pet-sitting. Take dog walking a step further and actually be paid to watch someone's pet for a few hours or days. This may just entail checking in on the pet a few times a day.

34. Baby-sitting. If you enjoy kids and are good with them, this can be a fun and easy way to make a little cash.

35. Tutor (Green Panda). Have a knack for a certain subject and live near a college? Consider offering up your brain power and teaching skills for some quick cash. Grade-school kids need help too, and parents pay better than college students.

36. Play music in church or at weddings. Some churches don't have volunteers for their music. A talented pianist can make pretty good money doing this on the weekends.

37. Teach English to adults. Go through your local schools and colleges to find classes where teachers of English are needed.

38. Collect aluminum cans (The Simple Dollar). I collected cans in my teens and made a few extra bills for spending money. One woman saved up $73,000 collecting cans.

39. Sign in the yard. In our neighborhood we've seen this service hired out for announcements or funny pranks. Ha!

40. Stage homes. People are having trouble selling their homes these days and could use a second pair of eyes to stage their home for the quick sale. If you've got the designing skills, offer up your services.

41. Sell stuff on Craigslist. Craigslist is the first place I go to sell something. It's best for items you think will appeal to everyone (therefore justifying the smaller audience) and large items that can't be shipped.

42. Sell your stuff on eBay. EBay should be used for those items that are unique (you need a larger audience) and that are easily shipped.

43. Sign up with Upromise (No Credit Needed). Upromise puts money in your kids' college funds while you do your normal spending.

44. EBay arbitrage (Niche Geek). Find items that you know are selling below their full value (either online or through a deal Web site like Slickdeals), buy them and sell them on eBay for more. Once you find your product niche, you can set up a system.

45. Resell computers (Shoe Money). This is slightly different than eBay arbitrage. Find a distributor that will sell to you at discounted prices. List these items online. Buy and ship to your heart's content. Basically, you become a reseller.

46. Look for odd jobs on Craigslist. People in your town need your help and they will pay you for it. Seriously. The jobs are there on Craigslist.

47. Have a garage sale. The stuff you can't sell online, you could sell from your garage on the weekends.

48. Put stuff on consignment (eHow). This is great for clothes and other items that aren't easily sold online.

49. Bank account-opening bonuses. Many banks will give you a cash bonus to open an account with them. I'd start with a bank that will pay you higher interest.

50. Credit card bonuses (Cash Money Life). Like the bank accounts, many credit cards will give you bonus cash for opening an account.

51. Rent out a room (Free Money Finance). If you have an extra room in your house, consider renting it out to a friend, relative, or random person you find using what else, Craigslist.

52. Paint street numbers (Neville's Financial Blog and katekashman). With just a few paint and stencil supplies, you could walk the neighborhoods with curbs and solicit your curb-number-painting services.

__________________

I got this article from a site I post on!

All thanks to a member named ratid for this article:)

Teach Your Kids a Lesson in Investing!

Teach Your Kid a Lesson in Investing This holiday season, consider opening up an investment account for a child

By Ben Baden

Posted: December 6, 2010

This holiday season, consider giving your kids a head start on their financial future with a lesson in personal finance. By opening up an investment account on their behalf—or even just buying them a share or two of stock—you can help them get started investing at an early age. It's also a good opportunity to educate your kids about personal finance and help them begin saving, whether it's for their first car, college, or even retirement.

First, says Richard Barrington, personal finance expert at Moneyrates.com, "figure out how you envision the recipient using the money." Then evaluate investing options to find the best fit for your child. Here a few ways to get your kids started investing:

See top-rated funds by category ranked by U.S. News Score.

Individual stocks and bonds. Buy your child a share of stock or a savings bond from the U.S. government. If you go the stock route, Barrington suggests choosing a well-known, large-cap company like Coca-Cola that has strong fundamentals and prospects for growth. It helps to also choose a company that kids recognize and can relate to.

Norm Mindel, managing partner at Forum Financial Management in Chicago, says giving your children stock can be a good idea, but it can also be a complicated process. He suggests opening up a brokerage account for a child in your name and investing some of your money on their behalf. You can track the stock's progress together, then eventually hand it over to them when you think they're ready to handle their own finances. The other option is to open an account in the child's name. Once they're no longer a minor—generally 18 years old but sometimes older, depending on the state—the account will be theirs.

See 7 Money Tips for Twenty somethings.

Mutual funds. It can be difficult to build a balanced portfolio for a child with individual stocks and bonds. Mutual funds offer more diversification because they invest in a basket of different securities. Barrington recommends the Manning & Napier series of objective-based funds, which he invests in. Each fund has different stock and bond weightings suited for various risk tolerances and time horizons, and these allocations are modified over time. Other fund options include Vanguard STAR (symbol VGSTX) and the T. Rowe Price Spectrum Growth (PRSGX), which both invest in a handful of underlying actively-managed funds, providing instant diversification. They also have low minimum investments: Vanguard STAR only requires $1,000 upfront, and Spectrum Growth, like dozens of T. Rowe Price funds, require nothing upfront—just a commitment to set up an automatic contribution of at least $50 per month.

Another kid-friendly option is the Monetta Young Investor fund (MYIFX). Half of the fund is invested in the S&P 500 via exchange-traded funds, and the other half is invested primarily in a mix of what manager Bob Bacarella calls "best of breed" companies, which are typically well-established companies that tend to have high dividend payouts (think McDonalds and Apple). Investors can buy the fund with as little as $100 upfront if they sign up for an automatic investment plan of $25 per month. "I think it's important that people set up the automatic investment plan because that's the key to accumulating wealth, especially when saving for college," Bacarella says. Monetta will also send your child investment-related advice and games to help them better understand how the markets work, and investors get tuition reward credits each year on their birthday. These credits are as good as cash at 250 colleges—and counting—throughout the country.

See Teaching Your Child Money Habits for Life.

ETFs. Exchange-traded funds are similar to index funds, but they trade on a market throughout the day like stocks. ETFs typically have low annual fees, and many provide broad diversification in a single fund. It's also becoming cheaper to invest in them, as Charles Schwab, Vanguard, Fidelity, and TDAmeritrade all recently announced commission-free ETF offerings. Funds to consider include Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB), which gives investors exposure to the entire U.S. stock market with a basket of 1,400 stocks of small, midsized, and large companies, and charges an annual fee of just 0.06 percent. To give your child exposure to stocks throughout the world, you might consider Vanguard Total World Stock Market ETF (VT), which charges an annual fee of 0.30 percent and invests in more than 2,000 stocks in the United States and abroad.

See Fundamental ETFs Go Beyond Index Investing.

529 plans. Give your child a head start to saving for college with a 529 plan. The account will be in your name, so you'll decide how to allocate the money. "If you can help your kid get through college without building up a lot of student loan debt, then once they start working, then they'll be able to start right off the bat toward saving for retirement," says Barrington. As with individual retirement accounts (IRAs), the money in 529 plans grows tax-free. The withdrawals are also tax-free, as long as they're used for college expenses. Another plus is that anyone—parents, grandparents, even friends outside of the family—can contribute to the plan on behalf of the beneficiary.

See 5 Things You Don't Know About 529 Plans.

Roth IRA. While 529 plans are strictly for education purposes, Roth IRAs are for retirement savings. To open a Roth IRA, you must have some income, so this is a gift for an older child who already a job. Some firms allow minors to open IRAs, while others require that their clients are older. Both Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs offer tax-free growth, but Roth IRAs also allow you to withdraw money from your account, tax-free, after age 59½. Your children will have to open up the account on their own, but after that, parents or grandparents can deposit money on their behalf, Mindel says.

See Consider Converting to a Roth.

http://money.usnews.com/money/person...ing_print.html

 

This is not my article. I thought it was interesting so I 

thought I'd post it here. If you would like to see more

go to the website in the article.

10 biggest money wasters!

Ten biggest money wasters you'll want to avoid!

ATM fees

Using the closest ATM, rather than the one at your own bank will typically costs you about $5. Your bank charges a fee for going out of network, and the ATM you use also charges a fee.

Your bank's ATM probably won't cost you a cent.

You could fill a gas tank a with the savings, says Gary Thurber, assistant director of community relations at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of New York. Thurber has many clients who make anywhere from five to 10 unnecessary ATM withdrawals a month, adding up to around $40 -- or almost $500 a year.

"Nowadays $40 can -- almost -- fill up a car with gas," he said.

Lottery tickets

They say you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning the lottery. But that doesn't stop people from trying.

Consumers bought more than $70 billion worth of lottery tickets last year, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. About $38 billion was awarded in prizes.

Thurber said most of the clients he works with spend between $10 to $20 a week on lottery tickets -- mostly on the scratch-off variety. That adds up to a whopping $520 to $1,040 a year. So far, none of Thurber's clients have hit the jackpot.

Gourmet coffee

Spending a few bucks a day at the local coffee bar may seem cheap. But imagine all the money you could save if you simply brewed your own coffee at home.

Americans spend an average of $8.43 each time they stop at a coffee shop, according to data compiled by Mint.com. With caffeine fiends filling up an average of 46 times last year, this adds up to a total annual bill of $385.97.

For daily drinkers, the bill can be in the thousands. Thurber said he has clients who spend nearly $4 on a cup of coffee every weekday morning, costing them about $80 a month. That adds up to nearly $1,000 a year.

"You can just see their eyes getting bigger and bigger as I add up how much they are spending on it," he said. "That really starts to show them why they're having difficulty paying down credit card debt and helps them say, `I've got to make some changes'."

Cigarettes

Not only are they bad for your health, cigarettes are also a cancer on your budget.

Americans spend $80 billion on cigarettes per year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thurber said many of his clients spend about $70 a week, or $280 a month, on packs of cigarettes.

One client quit smoking after Thurber told him that he would save an extra $320 a month (including the money saved on his health insurance at work). He then used that savings to buy a new car.

If you simply can't ditch the habit, there are cheaper alternatives, like buying in bulk.

Infomercial impulse buys

Only $19.95! Call now and we'll double your order! Such promises have lured in many unsuspecting consumers to what they thought was a great deal.

The infomercial industry brings in about $400 billion a year, according to the Electronic Retailing Association. But it's no secret that many impulse purchases go unused.

Thurber said he has several clients who spend around $200 a month purely on infomercial purchases -- most of which they admit go completely unused.

Logan Sachon, a writer for personal finance site Bundle.com, has spent at least $500 worth of quick-fix products that she never used, including the Magic Bullet Blender, the Topsy Turvy tomato planter, the Perfect Push-Up and Debbie Meyer's GreenBags. And she said another $500 worth of purchases has probably ended up at Goodwill or put in the trash.

Brand-name groceries

Food products from popular brands may come in prettier packages, but that doesn't mean they're superior to their generic counterparts. While a 9-ounce box of Rice Krispies costs $4.79 at one New York City grocery store, its 12-ounce generic brethren costs only $1.99, with an identical list of ingredients.

And a $2 or $3 price difference can add up.

"Part of the time we're not even [buying brand names] consciously, we're doing it because it's familiar and we don't have to think about it," said Diahann Lassus, co-founder of wealth management firm Lassus Wherley.

Lassus said the prices of generic items are typically 5% to 10% lower than brand-name options. Even if there are only generic options available for some of the items you buy, she estimates you could save at least $50 to $75 a month if you're spending $500 to $600 a month on groceries for your family.

If you don't want to let go of your brand name items, shop at discounters like Wal-Mart or shop in bulk.

Eating out

Eating out is one of the most expensive habits you can have.

Consumers spent an average of $28.47 on each restaurant meal in 2010 and averaged 82 restaurant visits during the year -- adding up to $2,341, according to Mint.com.

Bars and alcohol are another money sucker, with people paying even more per transaction for alcohol than they did for dining out last year. On average, people spent $42.27 each time they went bar-hopping.

"It amazes me that when someone asks you for a $20 donation to charity, you think that's too much to give, but then you don't think twice about dropping 100 bucks on dinner," said Tom Orecchio of Modera Wealth Management.

Orecchio said one of his clients used to grab lunch from delis every workday, spending $10 to $15 each time. When he realized how much the habit was costing him, he began brown-bagging his lunches, and ended up saving more than $2,500 a year.

Unused gym memberships

Automatic monthly fees are one of the easiest ways to waste money. And it's not easy to cancel a gym membership when next week is always the week you'll finally begin that New Year's resolution fitness routine.

But gym no-shows are throwing away hundreds of dollars a year (maybe even a month, for some upscale gyms).

Lassus said one of her clients had been spending $75 a month on a gym membership she never used, so she realized it would be cheaper to just buy an exercise bike for her home.

"We all come to the end of the year and say `it's time to start getting in shape,' but we don't think through whether we are willing to make that time commitment and if it is going to be worth the dollars we're spending," she said.

Daily Internet deals

Those pole dancing lessons may sound like a great idea when an email entices you with 50% off for a limited time.

And of course, with daily deals, you'll need to purchase the offer now, but cash in on it later.

But lots of those vouchers never get redeemed. Lifesta, a site that will buy back your unused deals, estimates that 20% of all daily deals go unused. That's a whopping $532 million wasted, based on the Local Offer Network's estimate that the daily deal industry will grow 138% to $2.66 billion in 2011.

That might be why you're seeing so many of them popping up everywhere. More than 63,000 local group deals were published online last year, and almost 40,000 were published in the first quarter of 2011 alone, Local Offer Network found.

"Anyone who uses a computer is now being constantly bombarded with them," said Lassus. "But what you really have to do when you see a good deal that pulls you in is think `would I even be considering buying this if I didn't have this good deal in front of me?'"

Bundled cable or phone services

Bundled packages aren't always a deal, if you're not using the extra services you're paying for.

Consumers are often lured into bundled cable, Internet or phone packages because of the reduced rates offered during the first year or a limited period of time. But paying for 500 channels that you're not watching, or unlimited text messages or airtime that you're not using, is just a waste of money.

"People will often just pick the plan they think they can afford, and then they won't check their usage compared to what they're paying for," said Orecchio. "You might be paying for the silver or gold cable package with lots of channels when you're only watching the same 10 channels, and the same goes for cell phones -- you could be paying $100 a month for your cell phone plan and only using $50."

I don't agree with all of these but it is rather informing so I thought

I'd post it here for you guys!:0) Also this is not mine I got it off a

forum I'm on from a poster named msbittersweet08 I hope you enjoy!