tools

5 Free Accounting Tools for Freelancers

Kat Tretina — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:30:17 +0000

As a freelancer, you're responsible for every aspect of your business. Not only do you need to deliver a great product, but you also need to manage your expenses, invoice clients, and handle your own taxes. And as a freelancer, time is money. Instead of juggling spreadsheets and files yourself, check out these five accounting tools that are completely free.

1. Zoho

Zoho is one of the most robust bookkeeping platforms out there. With the free version, you can invoice up to five customers a month. And you can track expenses, customize your invoices, receive online payments, and manage timesheets.

2. Due

If your business is growing and you need to be able to accept credit card payments rather than just cash or check, Due may be the solution for you. Due is free to use, and you can send invoices and get paid online. Due charges a processing fee of 2.8%, and promises to match any lower offer.

3. PocketSuite

For people running smaller businesses, such as dog-walking services or housecleaners, some of the bookkeeping software can be overwhelming with unnecessary features. And many of them don't offer essential features those freelancers need, such as scheduling or client contact options.

Pocketsuite is a mobile app that allows you to connect with clients and manage your business finances all in one spot. With the free "Pro" version, you can schedule appointments with clients, send professional invoices, accept credit card payments for a flat 2.5% processing fee, send messages to your customers, and even accept tips.

4. PayPal

PayPal allows users to upgrade to a free business account in order to receive credit card payments for purchases and create invoices as needed. You won't pay a transaction fee for shopping through your personal account, but upon receiving funds for goods or services, you will pay a 2.9% fee, plus $.30, of the total amount received. PayPal also lets you run reports on all funds coming and going, so you can seamlessly track your professional finances.

5. Wave

Wave's bookkeeping and accounting services are completely free; you only pay a fee if you add employees. They also charge a 2.9% processing fee if you accept credit card payments from clients.

You can track your expenses and income, and with the easy-to-use platform, it's easy to manage even if you don't have experience in accounting. Everything is cloud-based, so you can check your account and update your information from any computer or mobile device.

Best of all, Wave generates tax reports that will save you time and money at tax time, making your life — and your accountant's — much easier.

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This article is from Kat Tretina of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Tools and Gadgets Your Smartphone Can Replace

Damian Davila — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:30:27 +0000

Cameras, phones, GPS devices — we all know about those. But did you know that your smartphone can replace a wide range of esoteric tools and devices? From the scientific calculator to the credit card reader to the remote control, here is a list of tools and gadgets you can replace with your smartphone.

1. Math Software

Yes, your smartphone already comes with a calculator and a scientific calculator. However, those calculators will give you little help when facing the challenges of a quadratic equation, system of linear equations, or inequality with absolute value. (See also: 11 Useful, Genius Math Tricks That Are Actually Easy)

This is where Photomath comes in, allowing you to snap a pic of virtually any type of math problem. The app then solves that problem for you, and showing you step-by-step instructions. Think of this app as one of those bulky Texas Instruments calculators on steroids! And the best part is that downloading the app is free.

2. Check Deposit Machine

It's Saturday, you just got that $600 check that you've been waiting for, and there's no way you can get to the bank before closing time. You also have no clue how close the next ATM that accepts check deposits is. Instead, you could endorse your check, add a note "for mobile deposit only," snap a pic of it, and receive up to $200 the next business day.

As early as 2009, many banks around the country have issued a smartphone app that allows account holders to do mobile check deposits. Most financial institutions make the first $200 of a mobile check deposit available for withdrawal the next business day, and the rest of the funds available on the second or third day for withdrawal. Contact your financial institution for more details and applicable rules.

3. Thermal Imaging Camera

Drafty windows are one of the sneaky home money pits that sap your savings. Hiring a contractor to check this out for you can cost you hundreds before even starting to fix the problem. The Flir One Thermal Imager is a device that turns your smartphone into a thermal imaging camera, allowing you to find drafty windows and other poorly insulated spots.

While you'll have to invest about $250 in a Flir One Thermal Imager, you can quickly make back that money by lowering your energy bill by up to 10% per year and taking advantage of rebates and special offers from Energy Star products used in your insulation projects.

4. Credit Card Reader

Since about 40% of Americans carry less under $20 in cash on them and 9% of them carry no cash at all, you shouldn't be surprised that it is even harder nowadays to get your friends and relatives to pay you back that $15 they owe you.

But you do know that your debtors have a debit or credit card laying around! So, leverage a credit card reader from PayPal or Square and start accepting card payments on your smartphone. While the two companies mail you the first credit card reader for free, PayPal and Square charge 2.7% and 2.75% per U.S. debit or credit card swipe, respectively. Paying up to $0.41 for having your $15 today instead of in two months isn't a bad deal at all.

Got no Internet connection? No problem, Square's app allows you to collect payment as long as you reconnect to the web within 72 hours from the time of the card swipe.

And if you want to forgo the phone attachment, you can also choose from several apps that allow users to transfer money to each other directly. (See also: 6 Mobile Payment Tools You Should Start Using Today)

5. Car Diagnostic Tool

As cars are becoming smarter, they all provide much more information than you think. With the Automatic Pro, you can connect to just about any car's standard diagnostics (OBD-II) port and unlock the data in your car's onboard computer. Most cars manufactured since 1996 have this port and are compatible with the Automatic Pro (here's the full list).

By investing about $130, you'll become a "car whisperer" and pay zero fees for unlimited monitoring. As a bonus, the Automatic Pro connects to many apps, such as Expensify and Freshbooks for invoicing mileage driven.

6. Level

How many times have you needed a level to hang a frame, mount a TV, or adjust the height of a table? A bubble level can cost you anywhere from $5 to $50 at your local or big box hardware store. Not to mention that you have to drive there, stand in line, and drive back, delaying your start time by up to a couple of hours to start that home project.

Instead, you could download a free level smartphone app, such as Bubble Level for Android devices or iHandy Carpenter for Apple devices, and get to work right away.

7. Universal Remote

At my home, we used to have a separate remote for the DVD player, the TV, the cable box, and the air conditioner. That was until we discovered that a smartphone can connect to many electronics and home appliances through its built-in infrared (IR) blaster.

While there are many universal remote controller apps out there, Peel gets top marks because it connects your smartphone to TVs, set-top boxes, DVD players, entertainment portals such as Roku and Apple TV, audio systems, and home appliances such as air conditioners and heaters. You can download Peel for free, but you may need to purchase the Pronto 360-degree IR blaster, depending on the connectivity options of devices that you want to control.

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This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Manage Your Money — No Budgeting Required

Emily Guy Birken — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 11:00:10 +0000

The basics of creating and maintaining a budget are deceptively simple: Determine how much of your money comes and goes each month. Easy peasy, right?

Wrong. If you don't have the time, inclination, or skills necessary to keep careful track of your finances, the "simple" tasks that make up budgeting are anything but easy.

But money management is a necessary part of financial health, whether or not you commit to creating and following a traditional budget. Thankfully, there are several options available to the budget-averse who need to get a handle on their finances. Here are three ways to manage your money — no budgeting required.

1. Have Your Paycheck Deposited Into Savings, Not Checking

Instead of having your entire paycheck deposited into your checking account, have it sent to savings. Once a month, transfer the amount you need for expenses and bills into your checking account. You'll automatically spend less than you earn and save money every month without having to draft up an actual budget.

If you correctly calculated your monthly expenses, the money should last until the next transfer. If you are running short before the end of the month, you can decide to move more money from your savings account, or go on a financial fast (that is, make no purchases until the next month begins). If you find that you're constantly adding a second transfer near the end of the month to make ends meet, it's time to evaluate your expenses. Find the sweet spot that allows you to cover your expenses without dipping multiple times into your savings.

2. Follow the 50/20/30 Rule

Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with her daughter Amelia Warren-Tyagi, introduced the 50/20/30 budgeting rule in their book All Your Worth. This proportional budget recommends that you divide your income into three buckets:

50% should go toward essential expenditures like rent or mortgage, groceries, utilities, child care, and the like.
20% of your income should go toward savings and/or financial goals, such as retirement savings, a down payment for a house, or your child's 529 college account.
30% of your income should go toward your "lifestyle" expenses — i.e., the unnecessary purchases you make because you want them. These expenses include things like travel, entertainment, dining out, luxury items, etc.

You can easily follow the 50/20/30 rule without having to specifically follow a budget. Create targeted accounts for each of your spending categories. When you receive your paycheck, have 20% of your income automatically transferred into a savings account or investment account, and have another 30% automatically transferred into a separate checking account. When you make a nonessential purchase, use the debit card associated with your 30% checking account, so that you can never be in the position where you've accidentally spent your rent money on a weekend to Vegas.

Finally, the 50% that remains in your primary checking account should cover your essential spending — although it's always a good idea to maintain an emergency fund just in case. (The 20% transfer into a savings account can help you create an emergency fund in the first few months of adopting this system.)

3. Let an App Do the Work for You

If you know that thinking about money will always be the last item on your to-do list, then you are a good candidate for an automatic savings or budgeting app. These three apps allow you to productively ignore your money.

Digit is a free program that syncs with your accounts in order to analyze your cash flow. About twice a week, the program will determine an amount of money (between $5 and $50) that is safe to transfer out of your checking account and into an FDIC-insured Digit deposit account. This is a safe way to save money without ever having to think about it.
Level Money syncs with your bank account, calculating how much money will be available in your account after accounting for upcoming bills, recent purchases, and the savings goals you have created in the app. With those calculations, Level then gives you an estimated amount that is safe for you to spend that day, that week, and that month. Like Digit, Level Money is free.

Pennies is an iPhone app that requires a little more hands-on approach. If you don't mind some more direct involvement in your budgeting, this one is worth a try. Pennies asks you to set a budget amount for various types of spending, such as monthly fun money, weekly food spending, monthly transportation costs, etc. You will enter in the start date, the length of the budget term, and the amount available to spend, and you will need to enter each purchase you make into the app. Pennies then shows you how much money and time is left in each budget. Pennies costs $2.99 in the App Store, and has no other fees.

Money Management Doesn't Have to Hurt

Just because you've never held onto receipts or willingly opened an Excel spreadsheet does not mean you can't have a good handle on your money. Consistency is the key to good money management, so finding a system that works for you is the most important part of keeping track of your finances.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Things Not to Buy on Black Friday

Mikey Rox — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 10:00:08 +0000

If I had to choose one word to describe Black Friday, it would be pande-frickin'-monium. Consumers go berserk for doorbusters, big deals, and deep discounts, but all may not be as it seems. Take a look at these typical Black Friday "best buys" that are anything but to help stretch your budget and keep your sanity in check.

1. Virtual Reality Headsets

Primitive virtual reality headsets have been around for a few years now, but they're just starting to enter mainstream technology now that major tech players, like Sony, are designing their own devices. The main problem here, however, is that the tech still isn't where it needs to be to justify the high cost of these coveted Christmas-list items.

"Though it's tempting to get your hands on a virtual reality headset, we recommend sitting it out for one more year," suggests BuyVia, a website and mobile app that combines in-store and online shopping across smartphones, tablets, and laptops. "In order for the headset to be worthwhile, you need a high-end fast PC, which can be pricey without giving you great results. For instance, The Core i5 processor will run you at least $800, plus the Nvidia GTX 970 video card. The PlayStation VR costs $400 but is still pretty slow, and has limited software selection and tracking problems."

Of course, given VR's popularity right now, you do run the risk of crushing someone's holiday hopes, like, big time, if you opt out on this item — but, eh, whatever. There's always next year.

2. Winter Apparel

It's not that you won't find great deals on winter apparel this time of year, but Black Friday may not be the best day to go on a shopping spree for the long johns and wool socks that your nephews are totally dreading. (Seriously — eeeevery year, lady?)

"While you're sure to see deals on select clothing items during Black Friday, it's better to hold off until Cyber Monday when sitewide savings of 60% plus free shipping give you more options," says savings expert Kendal Perez of Coupon Sherpa. "Black Friday clothing deals are often limited to one brand or style — a crew-neck cashmere sweater, for example. What's more, discounts on winter clothing and boots are deeper in January, when these garments go on clearance to make room for spring styles, which typically debut on showroom floors in February."

3. Health and Beauty Items

Like clothing, wait until Cyber Monday and deeper-in-December sales. Prices on individual items and sets, as well as discounts for brands and subcategories, will be much better.

"You may find a few spectacular doorbuster-like deals on makeup, polish, and fragrances, but waiting until the traditional storewide discounts we see on Cyber Monday will bring you a bigger selection of items to choose from," FatWallet.com's Brent Shelton says.

Or you can do what I do: Wait until after the holidays to pick up grooming sets, from brands like Axe and Old Spice, at slashed prices and stash them away until next year. Just make sure the products won't expire within a year or two. Which is important — unless you like the idea of giving your brother a holiday rash.

4. Tools

You may be getting fooled on tools on Black Friday, according to Mike Catania, founder of thesaving community PromotionCode.org.

"While there are plenty of Black Friday 'sales' for tools, the reality is that they're marked up more for the holidays than any other time of the year," he says. The offers look good on paper — up to 30% off — but the original price is 40% higher than it was at the end of summer. This is particularly true for tools in the quality range beneath 'pro-sumer.'"

This doesn't mean that hubby can't get the new table saw that he'll use once before he starts using it as a storage surface. Just do your research and compare prices before purchasing.

5. 1080p HDTVs

Flat-screen TVs have long been a staple of Black Friday doorbusters — many shoppers have the trample marks to prove it. But this year, 1080p versions are hitting the skids for higher-end (but still affordable) 4K HDTVs.

"4K is definitely the future of TV, and the price has dropped significantly over the last year; a 50-inch 4K HDTV is about $400," writes BuyVia in a recent blog post about Black Friday. "4Ks are optimized for Blu-ray, Netflix, Amazon, DirectTV, and YouTube, and you can add Smart TV functionality with an inexpensive $40 Roku box. Plus, if you want to spend a little more money, you can find a 4K TV with HDR imaging for incredible image quality."

The one and only issue I have with this trend — and full disclosure, I own 4K TVs myself — is that cable technology hasn't caught up with TV tech. It may be another year or two until you'll get the full experience of 4K, but you can at least take advantage of the Internet-connected "smart" part of the sets in the meantime.

6. Home Furnishings

The general consensus here is that you should avoid buying new furniture this time of year, not just specifically on Black Friday. Perez explains why.

"Black Friday is all about doorbuster deals on TVs, gaming consoles, tablets, and other electronics," she says. "Rarely do we see an epic deal on love seats and recliners, and Black Friday deals for national chains like Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Pottery Barn, and the like are minimal, often limited 15% to 20% off select items and deals on holiday accessories which don't compete with post-holiday sales. Furniture deals are better in January and July/August, when new styles debut and clearance prices offer better savings compared to Black Friday discounts."

7. Gift Cards

Boy, do I love a good gift card — mostly so I can exchange all the long johns and wool socks my aunt gave me yet again and get what I want. Deal-wise, though, you're better off waiting until December to stock up on these precious pieces of plastic, says Perez.

"Gift cards are a better buy in December when restaurants and select retailers offer bonus cards with gift card purchases. In the past, we've seen free $5 to $25 bonus gift cards with purchase of restaurant gift cards $25 to $50 from Chili's, Benihana, Olive Garden, and more. Retailers like LL Bean, DSW, The Children's Place, and Toys 'R Us also offered free gift cards ranging from $5 to $25 last December with select purchases."

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Ways Siri Can Be Your Personal Finance Assistant

Tim Lemke — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 10:30:15 +0000

We're still a few years away from having personal robot assistants, but voice-activated applications on most modern smartphones are already making our lives easier. Apps like Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana can be helpful in a number of ways, and are particularly useful as personal finance helpers.

I personally use Siri a lot to help me stay on track with my finances, and I am always surprised at how much the app can help me get information without the need to even type or search the web myself.

Siri won't make you rich, but it can help you be smarter about your finances without a lot of work. Check out these personal finance tasks that Siri and similar apps can help you with.

1. Check Stocks

It's easy to use Siri to track the performance of your investments or the overall stock market. Just say, "I need the stock price for Apple," and Siri will tell you the price and the daily movement. It's also an easy way to check on the ticker symbol.

2. Helping You Calculate the Best Bargain

Quick, what's a better deal? Three 20-ounce cans of juice for $6, or four 24-ounce cans for $9? To find out, you'll need to calculate prices on a per-ounce basis. Asking Siri to perform some simple math will help you learn that the second deal is a little bit better.

3. Driving Directions

Yes, accurate driving directions can help you with your finances. That's because you can plan trips to ensure the shortest route, thus saving you gas. You can also find routes to avoid tolls and bad traffic.

4. Finding the Nearest ATM

You need cash right away, but you'd rather not go to the first ATM you see, because it may not be tied to your bank. To avoid a fee, you can ask Siri to find you the nearest branch of your bank or a surcharge-free ATM.

5. Research Food Ingredients

When you're at the grocery store, you may come across products that like to tout certain ingredients, and you sometimes pay a premium for them. ("Sweetened with agave nectar!") Before you buy, you may want to do a little bit of research on what these ingredients are and whether they are worth paying extra for. Siri and similar apps can help you with this.

6. Set Reminders

You never want to be late paying your bills, and you don't want to be charged for missing things like doctor's appointments. You can use Siri to remind you of important things. All you need to do is tell Siri what you want to be reminded about, and when. ("Remind me to finish this article for Wise Bread at 10 p.m.") There's even location-based reminders, like "Remember to mail the mortgage check when you are near the post office." You can also use Siri to adjust or create to-do lists on your phone.

7. Figure Out Tips

What's 18% of $43.95? And how can you split that four ways? Siri can help you. Siri will even know local taxes, to help you calculate checks before they even come.

8. Find Out How Much Things Cost

Using Siri, you can look up pricing information for a wide range of products. If you simply ask "Find me prices for a Toyota Corolla," it will provide you MSRP and invoice prices, plus other related charges, and even shows a chart with historical price information. It's still not easy to do true comparison shopping, but you'll learn enough to know if a particular store is trying to rip you off.

9. Find Budgeting Apps

If you need some extra personal finance help from your smartphone, Siri can help you find it. A simple query like, "Find me some budgeting apps," will give you a list of saving and money management apps from the app store.

How do you use Siri or Cortana or Google Now to help you stay on top of your finances?

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This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Turn Old Clothes Into Money With These 4 Tools and Apps

Ashley Eneriz — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 10:30:14 +0000

A great way to make extra side cash is to clean out your closet and sell clothes you no longer wear. Not only will you make a few bucks, but you will also benefit from decluttering.

Getting top dollar for your used clothing can be tricky, especially if you try to sell your clothes at a yard sale or through a Facebook selling group. Instead, try these top sites and apps to make more on your old threads.

1. eBay

Let's start with the most obvious: eBay. It can be a hit or miss for selling clothing. I have listed several higher-end brand name items, such as a rare pair of True Religion jeans, but felt like they did not sell as well as they could have. However, other brands have sold better than I expected. I listed an Old Navy peacoat last winter with the assumption that anything is better than selling it for $2 at a garage sale. The coat sold for almost $40, which was more than I originally paid.

So check the recent selling prices for clothing like yours. You can do this by dropping your item into the search box, clicking "advanced," and then check sold listing and hit "search" again. This will allow you to see every similar item that sold in the past 30 days and give you a better idea of how much you can make on your item.

2. Poshmark

Business Insider shared a story of one mom who made $50,000 from selling clothes on Poshmark last year. With PoshMark, you get to set your prices, and listing is as easy as listing on eBay. However, unlike eBay, shoppers prefer better quality photo listings. However, don't let your photo skills keep you from trying the app out.

3. Tradesy

Tradesy is another easy-to-use site that allows you to set your price points for clothes. The site also makes shipping items simple, since the company sends you free shipping boxes and prepaid labels.

Tradesy charges a 9% commission and a 2.9% fee if you transfer your earnings to PayPal. And if a buyer decides to return an item, Tradesy will accept the return and allow you to keep your earnings.

4. ThredUp

Don't feel like listing each of your clothing items for sale? No problem. ThredUp allows you to cash in on your clothing with as little effort as possible. All you have to do is sign up for an account and request a free bag from the site. Once your bag arrives, fill it with acceptable items and then seal it. Attached to the bag is a prepaid shipping label, so you can drop it off at the post office or request an at-home pick up.

ThredUp is extremely convenient and fast to use, but with that convenience comes a couple minor drawbacks. For example, your items will probably not get you as much as you hoped for. You can request your unaccepted items back, but this will cost $9.99 and it must be selected before you order your bag. It also takes a few weeks for the ThredUp team to process the bags they've received, so you won't get a payout immediately. Still, it's better than having the clothes collect dust in your closet, right?

Where do you sell your used clothes when you are done with them? Share with us

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This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 7 Best Free Tools to Improve Your Work Performance

Kat Tretina — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 10:30:15 +0000

With tight deadlines and heavy workloads, there are never enough hours in a day to get everything done. If you find yourself constantly pressed for time, your work performance can get impacted. Constant stress at work can cause mistakes and delays. But there are free tools that can help improve productivity, stay organized, and catch errors, and improve your output at work.

1. Reduce Typos With Grammarly

Grammarly is a free grammar checker, more powerful than the standard spell check tools in Word or Outlook. While you can use it to proofread your projects, you can also install the extension so that it will scan your blogs, social media posts, and emails for typos and errors and correct them — before you send them to your boss (or the public). Unlike other tools, Grammarly uses context clues to identify issues with misused words, such as if you typed "manger" instead of "manager." It will also highlight grammatical errors, explaining the issues and how to fix them. If you have always struggled with past participles and direct objects, Grammarly is an easy way to get in-the-moment guidance. While there is a premium version that is more detailed, the free option is robust enough to help improve your daily communications.

2. Manage Your To-Do List With Wunderlist

Between work and your home life, juggling errands, tasks and shopping lists can be overwhelming. To-do list apps can help make things simpler. Wunderlist is a powerful platform that lets you create and share lists, prioritize tasks, and set up reminders for deadlines or recurring projects. It is available on your phone or desktop, so it can be accessed any time, anywhere.

3. Take Notes on the Go With Evernote

If you're the type of person who depends on a notepad and a pen to take notes and stay organized, you know how frustrating it is if you have a great idea and don't have paper in front of you or if you forgot your notes at your desk. Evernote is a solution that lets you take notes anywhere. Type reminders to yourself, take a picture of something that inspires you, or save a snapshot of whiteboard drawings to refer to later. The free plan offers 60 MB of storage and can help you manage various projects and long-term plans.

4. Produce Professional Graphics With Canva

Whether you're a social media manager or simply need to make professional looking graphics as part of your job, design software can be prohibitively expensive — the basic cloud-based version of InDesign alone can cost over $230 — and cumbersome for new users. Canva makes it easy to create polished images, even if you have no graphic design training. There are free templates, images, and elements that are fully customizable. Premium content, such as stock photos, can be added for just an additional $1. You can also upload your own images to use to create custom artwork.

5. Simplify Timesheets With Timely

If you need to track billable hours, you know how difficult it can be to manage and reconcile your timesheets. Unlike other tracking platforms, Timely allows you to track hours as you work but also provides a calendar so you can plan ahead. That way, you can compare time you actually spend on a project versus how much time you thought it would take, helping you budget your time more accurately.

6. Manage Emails With Boomerang

Boomerang can completely change how you handle email and increase your productivity. It allows you to hide emails for a certain amount of time and schedule emails ahead of time. If you're one of those people who just can't ignore an email in your inbox, the hide feature can be useful in helping you focus on your tasks at hand. You can set reminders so that when you do need to address the email, it will flag it for you. By scheduling emails, you can write out notes as you think about them, but plan to send them the next morning or when a coworker is back from vacation, keeping it from getting lost in an overcrowded inbox (or you can make your boss think you work long into the night by scheduling emails at 2:00 a.m.). Boomerang also allows you to set up a follow-up feature, so if you have not received a response, it will notify you and ask if you'd like to send a reminder.

7. Automate Tasks With If This Then That

If This Then That (IFTTT) is a free service that allows to create "recipes," or actions in response to specific triggers. For instance, you can set it up so that if someone tags you on Twitter, a private message to that user is automatically generated. Or, if you get a new follower on Facebook, ITTT can establish a recipe which saves a photo of that user for your archives. It can help you manage social media platforms around the clock — and a whole lot more.

Do you use any free tools to help with work performance? Share with us!

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This article is from Kat Tretina of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Old School Tools to Help You Stay on Budget

Max Wong — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:01:03 +0000

Because I am a visual thinker, low-fi tools like datebooks and check registers help me keep my finances better organized than when I use digital tools like Quicken and Excel. Surprisingly, these olde time-y office supplies also keep me from overspending.

1. A Receipt Spindle

I actually hate bookkeeping. As a result, my desktop used to be a mess of receipts at the end of every month — until I started using a cheap spindle to organize my paper receipts. Every night I pull the receipts out of my tiny wallet and stick them onto the prong. At the end of the month, I pull the receipts off as one stack, flip the stack, and voila — receipts in chronological order ready to be reconciled with Mint.com. After double checking the receipts against my bank records, I then put the receipts into an accordion file in the odd event I need hard, tangible evidence at tax time. While my system might sound fiddly, it actually takes less than 20 minutes a month to manage my receipts this way.

2. Paper Checks

No pain, no gain. There have been, conservatively, 55,321 studies in the last two decades that show that people are willing to spend up to twice as much for the same item when they pay with a credit card instead of cash.

Coupling is the psychological term for that negative feeling you get when you shell out cold hard cash for purchases. I double down on the discomfort by paying with checks. When I use a check, I am forced to write out the cost of a purchase, twice. The evidence of my consumption is right there in my own handwriting. While the moment it takes for me to pull out my checkbook and write a check might be annoying to anyone standing behind me in the checkout line, that moment gives me one last chance to think to myself, "Do I really need to spend money on this?" More often than not, that answer is no.

There are several other reasons why I refuse to kick my check writing habit:

When Digital Banking Technology Fails You, Paper Won't

My neighbor's debit card was just spoofed. Although her bank caught the theft within hours, she has to wait 10 days before her new ATM card arrives. She's currently living off the $200 the bank allowed her to draw down without her card. If she had checks, she wouldn't have to live off $20 a day.

Also, ATM machines and credit card machines require phone lines and electricity. During disasters like Hurricane Sandy, when the utilities go down, a paper check might be the only way to pay for emergency supplies.

Some Businesses Charge Extra Fees for Credit Cards

Many restaurants and small businesses charge an extra fee for credit card payments, or have a minimum amount for credit card purchases.

Utility Companies and Government Agencies Might Not Take Plastic

I thought I was going to just rack up the frequent flyer points by paying for all my utilities with my credit card. Alas, many of my utilities don't accept credit payments.

Use Checks to Create a Paper Trail

Not only do I use checks, I use duplicate checks. They make it easy to keep track of expenditures because they act like additional receipts.

3. A Spending Book

A spending book is a diet journal for your bank account. If you want to create a budget and save more money, you first have to know how you are spending all your filthy lucre. Most people don't blow through cash at the craps table in Las Vegas. Instead, they fritter away huge sums of money every year on super boring purchases and experiences. This is the reason why financial writers are constantly harping about why you shouldn't buy bottled water or to-go coffee. Those little impulse purchases are death by a thousand cuts to a budget.

A spending book helps save money in two ways. First, it gives you a detailed, down to the penny, view of your spending habits. Secondly, like writing a check, it makes parting with your earnings that much more painful.

4. A Record of Financial Triumphs

In addition to tracking my spending in the week-at-at-glance section of my Moleskine datebook, I use the month-at-a-glance section of my datebook to track my income. And by income, I mean the dime I picked up off the street, my garage sale earnings, and the money I made by selling old textbooks. All those teeny weenie income streams can add up to serious money over the course of one year. My husband didn't think we would be able to afford to fly East to visit friends and family over Christmas, but we handily paid for our 10-day vacation to NYC and Washington, D.C. with the money we'd earned from these little transactions.

5. The Envelope System

My grandmother taught me how to budget using the envelope system when I was a child and too young to open a savings account of my own. Yes, this budget hack is so simple, that even a nine-year-old can use it.

In brief, the envelope system uses cash to help visualize a budget and control spending. For example, three main spending categories for my household are groceries, records, and gas. Say my average monthly grocery budget is $200, my record budget is $100, and my gas budget is $200. To cover these three categories, I will withdraw $500 in cash from my paycheck and put the cash amount for each bill/budget category into their respectively named envelopes. This method prevents me from spending money out of pocket or my checking account because money has already been earmarked for every bill.

This type of budgeting is also called zero based budgeting because 100% of the spending money for each month is allocated to envelopes and zeroed out at the end of each month.

Personally, I like to have money left over in my envelopes each month. This little visual incentive is another reason why the envelope system helps me save money. I have tangible evidence of my good behavior!

6. A Portable Filing Cabinet

I think the main reason why old-fashioned bookkeeping tools have fallen out of favor is that many people have a hard time keeping track of paperwork. After years of trial and error, I finally found a solution that keeps my house free of loose papers.

I use eight plastic accordion files to keep track of my tax documents. One for this year's bills and paperwork, and one for each of the seven previous tax years. Although I have gone the "paperless" route with many of my bills, I still use this type of file to manage the hard copies of everything (real estate paperwork, recipes, knitting patterns) in my life.

I also like envelope closure accordion files because I am a klutz who is constantly dropping her paperwork. These files keep my records neatly separated by category, even if I accidentally put them into my bag upside down. These files are also great for people like me who live in small houses with no storage space.

What low-tech tricks do you use to manage your money? Share your skills with your fellow Wise Bread readers so we can all stay on budget when our Robot Overlords take control of the Matrix.

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This article is from Max Wong of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Household Tools Every Frugal Homeowner Should Own

Paul Michael — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:30:10 +0000

If you have a home, you need a tool kit. It's an essential for any household. But what to put in it?

Well, the good news is you can get by with just essential 10 items. You will of course need more tools as time goes by, but this list is a great starting point. (Oh, and you will need a sturdy toolbox to store them all. You can find used ones for cheap, or even free, on Craigslist. Or try your local thrift store.)

1. Multi-Bit Screwdriver

There are many variations of the multi-bit screwdriver. On the cheaper end, the bits come in a separate holder or case. You can also find ones called "auto-loaders" that contain at least six different varieties of bit. You want one that fits both Phillips head and slot head screws. With this one tool, you have a starter set of screwdrivers that will work for most jobs around the home. (See also: 10 Easy Plumbing Repairs That Don't Require a Plumber)

2. Power Drill (Go Cordless)

There are so many different jobs around the home that require a power drill, so your frugal tool kit should include one. If you want to save the most money and have something much more handy, go with a cordless drill. They don't have as much power as an equivalently-priced corded drill, but for everyday needs, they're just fine. Ideally, get a good, refurbished brand rather than a cheap new one. DeWalt or Makita are reliable, and will last you many years. This will definitely be the most expensive tool you buy in this kit, but it's worth it. You will also need a variety of drill bits. Luckily, many drills come with a starter selection.

3. Claw Hammer

There are several types of hammer available to the DIY enthusiast. A ball peen hammer, a tack hammer, a club hammer, and even a sledgehammer. But for the basic, frugal tool kit, your best bet is a claw hammer. Its two uses, driving in and removing nails, are ideal. When you get into more specific tasks, other hammers for specific jobs are much better, but for a starter kit, the basic claw hammer is just fine.

4. Adjustable Wrench

The key word here is adjustable. As you're building a frugal tool kit, you want your tools to have as many uses as possible, whenever possible. The adjustable wrench can fit a wide variety of nuts and bolts, and is therefore perfect for your kit. Buy a wrench that is big enough to cover a large array of sizes, without being so big that it will be cumbersome on smaller nuts and bolts. Anywhere from eight to 12 inches is good.

5. Retractable Tape Measure

You probably know this as the Stanley Measuring Tape, but they are available from many different manufacturers. However, Stanley has been making these for decades, and they're very good at it. In particular, the PowerLock model is a great tape measure for having around the house. They're available in many different sizes, but for the minimal price difference, go for the 25'x1" model. It's sturdy, long enough to cover most jobs, and very reliable.

6. Needlenose Pliers (AKA Long Nose Pliers)

Again, there are so many different types of pliers available on the market, all doing slightly different jobs. For the frugal starter kit, you are better off going with a pair of sturdy needle-nose pliers. We're looking for tools with more than one function, and these include a wire-stripping tool whilst also having a long reach and the ability to twist small wires and objects. When you start building up your kit, you can add locking and adjustable pliers. But for the basic kit, these will serve you well. Stanley's eight-inch long nose pliers are solid, and usually sell for under $10.

7. Retractable Utility Knife

Just like the tape measure, Stanley has also become synonymous with the utility knife. In fact, many professionals and amateurs still refer to it as the Stanley Knife. You will need a sharp knife for a countless array of DIY jobs, whether it's cutting carpet or vinyl tile, to wallpaper, wood veneer, or even sharpening a pencil. With a good retractable knife, you have safety as well as versatility, with a variety of different blades on the market available.

8. Hacksaw

There will be more than a few DIY experts screaming "No!" at this next statement, and I would usually concur — but this is a frugal toolkit, after all. Instead of buying a wood saw and a hacksaw, simply buy the hacksaw and use it for both purposes. There. I said it. If you only have the money for one saw, a hacksaw is at least multi-functional. It cuts through metal and plastic beautifully. It can also cut wood, although it's inefficient, slow, and clogs the small teeth — but, it will do it. Try cutting metal with a wood saw and see how far you get. There are several different blades available, so if you do need to cut wood, opt for blades with the fewer teeth per inch. For instance, 14 will perform way better than 32.

9. Level (AKA Spirit Level, Bubble Level)

For so many jobs around the house, you will need to make sure something is straight, or level. This is why a level is an essential part of your toolkit. They come in various sizes, from as small as three inches, all the way up to several feet. For your purposes, anything from nine inches to three feet is a good bet. Make sure your level has three different bubbles inside, for vertical, horizontal, and 45 degrees. If you really don't want to spring for a level, and have a smartphone, you can find an assortment of free level apps. The phone is not as good, but it's better than nothing at all.

10. Rechargeable Flashlight

Finally, the flashlight. When the lights go out, or the fuses blow, you'll need a flashlight. When there's a leak in the corner of the basement, you'll need a flashlight. When there's a wiring issue under the counter, you'll need a flashlight. Basically, without a flashlight, you'll be groping around in the dark, and that's not safe at all. Now, regular flashlights are fine, but most people will tell you — the batteries die at the worst possible time. So, go with a rechargeable one. They stay plugged in, and are ready to go whenever. Plus, they're affordable, starting at around $10.

What would you include in a basic frugal tool kit?

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Your Kitchen: Splurge on This, Save on That

Ashley Marcin — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 11:30:07 +0000

Do you like spending most of your time in the kitchen? Whether you cook or bake, you know there are a ton of gadgets and gizmos out there to help you in the process. The thing is, you don't need them all. Here are just a few items you might consider splurging on, and others that aren't necessarily worth the money.

Note: Your own list will have a lot to do with your favorite cooking or baking activities, so we'd love to hear your picks in the comments!

1. Mixer

Splurge: If you're anything like me, you're concocting something baked on the daily. I use my KitchenAid stand mixer ($150 to $250+) almost exclusively. It comes with beater, whisk, and dough hook attachments that work wonderfully for most tasks. I've been known to bake brownies, pizza dough, and a double batch of bagels all in the same day, so help with the heavy lifting is important. Bakers over at ChowHound share that this stand mixer does indeed make baking faster and more efficient, definitely earning its value a million times over.

Save: If you'd rather simmer soup than bake a cake, you might want to skip any type of mixer and just stick with standard whisks and spoons. You can get most basic, occasional baking done this way, from chocolate chip cookies to no-knead breads. If you'd like something motorized, I've also fallen in love with my KitchenAid hand mixer — it whips up frosting in seconds, creams together sugar and butter like a dream, and costs less than $40.

2. Knives

Splurge: Cooks rely heavily on knives to slice and dice. Though you don't need all the many options you'll get in a big set, it's worth investing in a few quality pieces for your collection. Start with a quality chef's knife ($100+). Consumer Reports shares that knives that are forged versus stamped may cost more, but they'll hold up better over time. They are created from a single piece of steel and won't bend as much with use.

3. Mixing and Prep Bowls

Save: The sky's the limit with the prices you'll see on bowls. I use a vintage Pyrex set handed down to me by my husband's grandmother. My mom, on the other hand, has used the same set of stainless steel mixing bowls ($15+) since her wedding shower back in 1980. You really don't need to go expensive on this item. Same goes with prep bowls. You can skip them entirely (I do) or pick up a set of four for under $6.

4. Cast Iron

Splurge: You've probably heard of the many merits of a cast iron Dutch oven (perfectly even cook with roasting, braising, frying, baking, etc.) and wondered about the top-notch brands. When asked, readers of Serious Eats weighed in on the matter. Their overwhelming response? Le Creuset ($170+) is worth the price, especially if you plan to use it often. Check local shops (and hunt around online) for the best sales and deals. That way, you can build your lifetime collection slowly. (See also: How to Pick the Best Cookware for Your Needs)

Save: You'll also find a ton of cast iron cookware at a fraction of the price, which might work well if you're only going to use it every now and again. Read reviews before you buy and look for notes on chipping and cracking (a common complaint with enamel on cheaper coated cast iron). Another good budget option might be Lodge ($40+). Though a good number of their pans are not coated and need to be seasoned before use, they still offer the benefits of cast iron.

5. Digital Scale

Save: I've learned the importance of weighing ingredients versus measuring with my baking. My digital scale has been a big help with preventing bread-related mishaps. My kitchen scale only cost me around $10. You don't need one with lots of bells and whistles. A simple weight will do in a pinch.

6. Food Processor

Splurge: I use my food processor almost every day. It blends together a perfect hummus, makes an amazing pesto, whips up delicious pasta dough, and even gifts me with crazy-good homemade peanut butter, among many other things. It's not hard to spend well over $100 on one (I've have this Cuisinart 11-Cup Pro model for the last eight years) — but the cheaper options, in my experience, don't hold up to frequent use. I've burned out many motors in my time.

Yes, you can get by without a food processor — but with its versatility, you won't want to. In fact, you may end up saving money by making things you usually buy at the grocery store from scratch. (See also: 35 Grocery Items You Should Make at Home — And 5 to Buy)

7. Grater

Save: Though I use a grater frequently, I wouldn't say it's an item you need to buy at a premium. The most important feature, in my opinion, is that it's easy to clean. Beyond that, you will probably want a couple different size options, course to fine. You can get away with spending less than $7 for a simple grater that works well.

8. Veggie Peeler

Save: Same goes with a vegetable peeler. We had a fancier model that recently bit the dust. I replaced it with a $6 basic peeler, and I couldn't be happier. When you're looking at peelers, try to find information on rust. The one I bought guarantees not to rust for 10 years!

9. Thermometer

Splurge: I'm a vegetarian, so I didn't know how important it is to have a good thermometer until a friend clued me in. You don't want to over- or under-cook an expensive piece of meat, for example. And you can buy a cheap thermometer that will record an accurate temperature and serve you well.

Why is this one a splurge? A quick-read thermometer will give you that reading in a blink (four seconds), which might mean the difference between delight and disaster.

Save or splurge: What's on your list?

This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 7 Best Objects to Pawn

Mikey Rox — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:00:10 +0000

Strapped for cash? You might be interested in pawning a few items — that is, providing something of value as collateral for a monetary loan — when you're in a bind. What's some of the best stuff to pawn? Peep this list of popular items that bring home the big(ish) bucks.

1. Scrap Jewelry

Jewelry, especially gold and silver, intrinsically holds value — so long as the market dictates, and people like shiny things. And pawnshops are always on the lookout for a potential payday on your precious-metal rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

"This is most true with scrap jewelry," says Kurt Heckman, president of vCalc, an online calculator for determining the real value of jewelry. "Whether it's an old necklace from a past boyfriend or girlfriend, or something you've inherited from an aunt, even the ugliest scrap jewelry can have significant value."

I can personally vouch for scrap metal bringing in a decent dollar amount. When my grandmother died, she left me one of her wedding rings. Considering that I'm married to a dude and not interested in having children, I didn't really have much use for the ring — and I don't believe in having something just to have it. Thus, I sold the gold and kept the diamonds so that I can have them reset into another reminder of my grandmother that I can actually wear and cherish.

2. High-End Electronics

Higher-end electronics, including relatively large LED and LCD TVs, new gaming systems, digital cameras, tablets, laptops, and more, are promising pawn items. The value of these items at the pawn shop is similar to what they're going for on sites like eBay. Just make sure your item is complete and in excellent condition to get the most value from it. Missing cords, controllers, and even packaging material — particularly for Apple products — can reduce the value considerably. Also, make sure that the devices are fully charged before going to the store so the attendant can test the items quickly and efficiently.

3. Gas- and Battery-Powered Tools

Believe it or not, there's a huge secondhand market for power tools, both gas and battery powered. Like your high-end electronics, you'll want to make sure that all of the components (cords, accessories, etc.) are with the item for maximum value, plus charge them or fill them with gas before bringing them to the shop so you can demonstrate that they work. As these items have a propensity to get dirty, taking a soapy garage rag to them to before showing them off isn't a bad idea either.

4. Coins and Currency

Perhaps one of the surest bets at the pawnshop is coins and currency. Collectors frequent pawnshops to find rare currency for their collections, so the market is strong. Plus, since we're dealing with money here, you'll almost always get face value (but hopefully more). Ideal pieces to take into the shop include U.S. collectible coins, gold coins, silver dollars, half-dollars, American Eagles, proof sets, silver certificates, Federal Reserve Notes, and rare paper money. (See also: 15 Surprisingly Valuable Uses for a Penny)

5. Musical Instruments

A story on NBC News a few years ago revealed that musical instruments are popular pawn items, much to the delight of parents everywhere whose elementary-school children quit violin lessons after four weeks. Guitars and amplifiers are among the most coveted items, however, most likely to the chagrin of parents whose high-school children dream of garage-band stardom.

6. Guns

It probably comes as no surprise that gun sales are big business for pawnshops given the political climate in which we live. Gun sales are tricky, though. For starters, you must be the registered owner of the gun that you're trying to pawn, and you have to find a shop that accepts your type of weapon. Some shops will only accept antiques, or they might have restrictions against automatic weapons. Plus, gun-control laws are getting stricter, and policies are changing all the time. These items may start to become scarce in pawnshops in the near future.

7. Rare Collectibles and Items With Historical Value

Ever watched Antiques Roadshow in amazement (and a little bit of jealousy) at the seemingly ordinary items that people bring in that have an astonishingly high appraisal value? You might have some of those hidden treasures in your own attic, basement, or displayed prominently in your house. The value will increase if your item is a rare collectible or has historical value. If you have a hunch that something may yield a big payday, research it online first to see what you're working with and go from there.

Have you ever pawned anything? Was the outcome what you expected? Let's discuss in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Beauty Tools That Aren't Worth the Money

Ashley Marcin — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:00:04 +0000

I'm relatively low maintenance when it comes to my own beauty routine. That being said, I've gotten sucked into different trends and products throughout the years. You know what? There are tons of grooming and beauty tools out there that just aren't worth the money. Here's our list of some items you can live without.

1. Toe Separators

Save money by painting your toenails at home and skipping the pricey pedicure. While you're at it, you can also skip those creepy foam toe separators. Yes, they may be cheap and make painting slightly less messy, but you can get the same benefit by weaving a little tissue paper between your toes. Save your hard-earned pennies for more pretty polishes!

2. Clarisonic

I jumped on the Clarisonic bandwagon several years ago. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it's a device that exfoliates skin using a motorized brush that costs around $149. It actually does work well. My skin did get more even with use. But the upkeep of the system is expensive and — in my opinion — not worth it when there are low-tech alternatives. For example, you should change the brush every three months and refill heads cost a crazy $22 each.

A good exfoliating cleanser (you can even make your own!) or plain old washcloth can do wonders for scrubbing your skin without the high price tag.

3. Makeup Brushes

A full makeup brush set is also not a necessity. In fact, I've never owned more than a couple brushes until recently (and those were Christmas gifts). The other 16 years I've been wearing makeup, I did most of it with my fingers or whatever tool comes free with the product.

If you just have to have some kind of applicator, makeup sponges — like these foam wedges — are the way to go. You can apply both liquid and powder products with them. Prefer something reusable? Check out this sponge blender that you can wash and dry between uses.

4. Zit Zappers

I had awful skin as a teenager and even as a young adult. Had zit zappers, like Zeno's Hot Spot, been on the market back then, I probably would have forked over the money to buy one. Unfortunately, the reviews on this device are pretty split. Some claim it really does work while others share it actually made their skin issues worse. If you look at reviews for other models, the trend continues.

Desperate for clear skin? You can try mixing together your own zit zapper balm using coconut oil and tea tree essential oil. Otherwise, keep up with cleansing your face, changing your pillowcase often, and checking in with your dermatologist for suggestions if you have severe acne.

5. Eyelash Curler

I asked my friends for their top pick in this topic, and their resounding response was: "An eyelash curler!" In fact, one of my friends had even injured herself using one, pulling out a chunk of her eyelashes before an important event. I've never used a curler. In fact, I think it looks like some type of medieval torture device, so I just wear plain mascara.

Still crave a bit of curl? Certain cosmetic brands offer curling mascara formulas. You can also use Allure's spoon method and heat a spoon with a mug of warm water, press the curved part onto your lashes, and hold for 10 seconds.

6. Hair Removers

Have you seen those tiny battery-operated hair trimmers meant to clip off unsightly hair from your lip, nose, eyebrows, bikini area, mustache, and more? They're marketed to both men and women, but they're definitely not a must-have in your personal care stash.

Similarly, the no! no! hair removal device looks great in theory. After all, who wouldn't want to remove hair from certain areas for weeks at a time with one easy process at home? The reviews on this product aren't so great. With 54% of buyers giving it just one star and many claiming "false advertising," this is yet another grooming item not worth the cash.

A razor can clean up most of your trouble areas, and tweezers or simple grooming scissors work for much of the rest.

7. Curling Iron, Flat Iron, etc.

If you like to maintain your hair in a certain way (curly, straight, etc.), a single tool of choice might be a good bet. If you like to mix your style up often, you might be surprised to learn that you don't need multiple tools. And between curling irons, flat irons, curling wands, waving tools, etc. — it pays to simplify.

Here's a cool trick: You can use a flat iron to curl hair with some practice. Simply wrap your hair in the flat iron as if you were using a curling iron, but do not close it entirely. You'll want to turn your wrist slightly as your move the tool toward the ends of your hair. Spritz with some hairspray, and you're done!

What beauty or grooming tools have you banished from your bathroom?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: 22 Clever New Uses for Your Tools

Amy Lu — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:00:12 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles clever new uses for your tools, reasons why you’re addicted to Facebook, and ways that decluttering will improve your health.

27 Things You Should Have in Your Utility Drawer

Marla Walters — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 13:00:10 +0000

You know the kitchen drawer — the one with an interesting assortment of odds and ends? Well at some point, the "utility drawer" often turns into the "junk drawer." And if yours is bordering on being more of a scrapbook, maybe this is the time to clean it out and stock it with some really practical items.

The well-stocked drawer is going to contain some very tiny items, as well as some rather unwieldy ones, so start by investing in divider trays. Next, begin collecting tiny tins (think empty Altoids containers) for some of the smaller items below. If you own a label printer, you can really make your drawer look spiffy — but masking tape and a marking pen will work, too. "Found items" like clean, empty tuna cans, old muffin tins, or even ice-cube trays are helpful for sorting the goods.

Then it's time to stock up on the following.

1. Flashlight

Probably one of the most important items in your utility drawer, and it needn't be bulky. For Christmas, my husband just got me one of these powerful, tiny LED flashlights. It takes up very little room, but boy, does it throw a big light.

2. Batteries

I keep an assortment of all sizes in the drawer, since you never know what you'll need.

3. Barbeque Lighter

These long lighters aren't only for the barbeque. I use mine to light my gas stove, candles, or the outdoor fireplace. When the power goes out, this is one of the first things I grab.

4. Tape Measure

I like both the retractable tape measures and the flexible tape measures that you use for sewing. I also have the freebie paper tape from Ikea, which is really handy.

5. Band-Aids

Keeping Band-Aids in the kitchen makes more sense than the bathroom, to me. There I'll be, slicing away, and oops! So having an assortment of Band-Aids right there in the utility drawer is pretty handy.

6. Safety Pins

Wardrobe malfunction right before work? Grab a safety pin. Buy a box of pins in assorted sizes.

7. Sewing Kit

Lose a button, or is a hem coming out? I love this zippered sewing kit that keeps everything in one place.

8. Eyeglass Repair Kit

Do you, or does a family member, wear glasses? If so, this little eyeglass repair kit will be a lifesaver. We even bring our kit on vacations.

9. String or Twine

I like this food-safe cooking twine. Tie a plumb-bob to the string end and get a straight edge for hanging wallpaper. String is one of those things you don't know you need until you need it.

10. Mini-Hammer

I could not live without my mini-hammer. It cracks nuts, pounds tough meat, and hangs pictures. They are nice for little hands when kids want to "help daddy," too.

11. Pliers

Ideally, your toolbox will contain a larger assortment, but a small pair of pliers are great to have in the drawer for emergencies.

12. Duct Tape

My favorite use is to get rid of pet hair, but here are 10 other great uses for duct tape.

13. Deck of Cards

I recently learned to play Texas Hold 'Em, which turned out to be a lot of fun and a great way to kill time. Of course, I had a deck of cards handy in that utility drawer. If the power goes out, light a votive candle and deal 'em, pardner.

14. Matches

I like to keep two types in the drawer: book matches and stick matches. If you live somewhere humid, the book matches can fail you. Store in a plastic bag.

15. Screwdriver

This is another "must-have." I like this ratcheting screwdriver that has the multiple bits.

16. Utility Knife

Also known as an "X-acto knife" or a "boxcutter," these are hugely practical. Keeping one in the utility drawer ensures I won't be tempted to use one of my good kitchen knives when a box is delivered.

17. Votive Candles

I'm not a big "candles-as-atmosphere" person, but when the power is out, votives are the greatest. Not only are they inexpensive, but you can also buy unscented ones. I also own some of the "flameless" candles, but they don't have a long life — so for disaster preparedness, I like real candles.

18. Take-Out Menus

Pizza, anyone? Chinese? Whatever your preference, if you keep your take-out menus in your utility drawer, you are ready to make a phone call. We keep ours in a manila folder so they stay tidy.

19. Tweezers

Sliver? Bones in fish? Thorn in the dog's paw? A pair of tweezers is a great addition to any utility drawer.

20. Nail File

The cheap emery boards will work, but a friend got me hooked on these crystal nail files, which perform so much better. They come in a case, which also makes them much easier to find.

22. Rubber Bands

Keeping rubber bands in your junk drawer makes good sense. How many times have I used only half a bag of frozen peas? Grab a rubber band out of the drawer, seal them up, and send them back into the freezer. Keep them in a Ziploc bag so that they stay tidy and out of the humidity, and they will last longer.

23. Pens and Pencils

Absolutely indispensable and inexpensive. You'll need both in the drawer.

24. Thumb Tacks

I am a big fan of bulletin boards, so naturally I keep thumb tacks around. I prefer push pins, which are easier to dig back out of the cork.

25. Tape

Let's face it — the drawer is not complete without tape. Stock up.

26. Chip Clips

Keep those chips, crackers, and bags of cereals crispy with clips. I really like binder clips the best, since they clamp more tightly than some of the "clothespin" types. They also take up less room.

27. Glue

I like two types in the drawer — Super Glue and Elmer's. Both get regular use.

Still not inspired to whip that drawer into shape? Then take a fun look at people whose utility drawers well, failed. And then get to organizing!

Is there anything I've forgotten? What's in your jun… err, utility drawer?

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This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Kitchen Gadgets That Aren't Worth the Money

Ashley Watson — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 12:00:05 +0000

Everyone wants to save time and get creative in the kitchen, but many kitchen tools simply aren't worth the money. Many "new" gadgets are designed for tasks that can be done with tools you already have in your kitchen, and some are just so weird that you'll probably never use them, no matter how gorgeous those turducken popsicles look on the infomercial. (See also: 13 Must-Have Kitchen Purchases Under $10)

So check out this list of 10 kitchen gadgets that aren't worth the money, and then maybe just stop watching infomercials altogether.

1. Garlic Press

Go into any home, and you'll probably find a garlic press tucked away in the back of a kitchen drawer. If you've ever used one, you know why. The poor results and the difficult clean up are not worth the money for many people, even professional chefs. Once you press the clove, most of it turns into a liquid paste that you can't use, and then you have to try to figure out how to salvage what little is left once it goes through the press.

It's quicker and cleaner to mince the garlic with a sharp knife. The same goes for a garlic peeler. You can get the same result with a knife. Gently crush the clove with the broad side of a large knife, and the peel comes right off. Then you only have to clean one tool instead of two.

2. Zester

No zester I have tried has never given me the results that you see in the pictures from food magazines. Either use a vegetable peeler, or if you need a finer grade, use the finer side of your cheese grater.

3. Wire Cheese Slicer

I've actually owned two of these. One was a gift, and the other I bought after the first one broke. They always break. You're better off slicing cheese with a knife, especially harder cheeses. If you want thinner slices, you can use non-waxed dental floss and get the same effect.

4. Egg Poacher

While a microwave egg poacher might be worth the money if you are in a hurry and want a quick breakfast, metal egg poachers are a huge waste of money. They are designed to be placed in the bottom of a pot of water, but if you are going to go to the effort of boiling water, you are better off just poaching your eggs the traditional way. The eggs typically get stuck to the metal unless you use a lot of butter, and trying to get the pan out of the boiling water without burning yourself is nearly impossible.

Poaching eggs isn't that difficult once you get the hang of it. The trick is keeping the yolk intact when you crack the egg into the water (fresh eggs are ideal for poaching since the yolks tend to hold up better). If you have a slotted spoon, you can easily remove the egg from the water when it's done.

5. Nutribullet

I've never owned one of these, but a friend of mine bought one and said it broke after a few uses. She also said it took too long to grind the food and even longer to clean after use. Plus, you lose a lot of the nutrients because it removes all the fibrous material. Most people buy these to save space, but if you are serious about juicing, look for a traditional juicer. You get more of the fiber and nutrients, and they tend to be more reliable and last longer.

6. Cake Pop Molds

I may be slightly biased on this one since I've never understood the concept of a cake pop. Why not just make a cake? But they can be fun for parties and for children. However, keep in mind that they are not as easy to make as it sounds. I looked up several reviews of different brands, and most people said it took them several tries before getting the right consistency. The pops also stick to the pan more often than not, so unless you really want to make cake pops all the time, it's not worth the money or effort to make them for one or two parties.

7. Electric Can Opener

I have to admit, I grew up with one of these, and they can be handy. But manual can openers are made with smarter designs now, making them easier and safer to use. You can get a decent manual can opener for under $10, and you'll be saving a little counter space.

8. Pickle Grabber

In theory, these are a great idea. But you could also save your money and just use a fork to get that last pickle out of the jar.

9. Strawberry Stem Remover

Yes, as the name suggests, this tool is designed solely to remove strawberry stems, but some people also use it to remove the tops of tomatoes, too. You can also do this easily with a serrated knife, or provide a dual use for your grapefruit spoon (which is actually handy gadget if you eat a lot of grapefruit).

10. Pepper Prepper

Of all the items on this list, I think this one has to be the biggest waste of money. This tool is designed to remove the cap of the pepper and the ribs and seeds from the middle. You can do that just as easily by cutting around the middle in four slices, which also takes care of the next part of the prep work. If you are making stuffed peppers, I can see how this item might be appealing. But again, you can easily carve out the cap with a knife and remove the innards by hand and only need to clean one tool.

What kitchen gadget do you own but rarely use? Please warn us in comments!

This article is from Ashley Watson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: