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September 12, 2008 • Posted by Erica Adams

Put A Little Social In Your Saving

An article titled "I'm So Totally Digitally Close To You," by Clive Thompson in the most recent issue of New York Times Magazine was of particular interest to the SmartyPig team. Mr. Thompson wrote of today's most popular social media sites like Twitter and Facebook and the way high-tech connections are made between people. He introduces the Dunbar number (Established by Robin Dunbar to determine the number of people one can be in a social, personal relationship with at one time) and the fact that it currently sits around 150.  

It got us thinking about our own social connections. How many friends, family members and business acquaintances do we keep in touch with? So out came to the calculators. And the average number of people each individual who works at SmartyPig is connected to through social networking sites is 580! Could it be true that each of us corresponds personally with 580 people? Probably not, as routine would suggest otherwise. However, there's a comfort in knowing that at any given time you may connect with old friends from college, your step-brother, co-workers at a convention, whomever and for whatever reason. 

In a Cosmopolitan New Etiquette Guide from the '60s readers were warned "Don't talk about politics, money or religion." That was then, this is now. We share salaries, we share photos, we definitely share our politics - and we share most all of it with the world. Open books, one and all. Well, at SmartyPig we want to put a little more purpose in the personal connectivity and sharing.

If you show your kids, your vacation photos, even your exact location at any given time, why not let people know what you and your family are saving for, as well with a SmartyPig widget on your social networking page? Furthermore, why not invite your friends and family to share in the experience? Aren't goals easier to meet when done out in the open with others helping out? And isn't any learning process more meaningful when it is fun?

Social networking is the way we communicate. We're plugged in. We're always available. Learning how to be financially responsible while letting others join in on the process is just another way - and one that can actually pay, and pay well.

 

Tags: saving   •  social networking   •  money

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August 25, 2008 • Posted by Erica Adams

Break Up With Your Abusive Credit Cards

Most Americans are in an extremely abusive relationship - with their credit cards. And more often than not, it's their wallets that are taking a beating. Americans have been so accustomed to putting everything on plastic and worrying about it later, that when banks recently started jacking up credit card rates and cutting back on who they would actually give plastic to try to save themselves (after bleeding you for years), it was a dose of harsh reality to people not living within their means. See, the jig is up.The days of living on cards are over, as are the days of cheap credit. No more posing or pretending. It's time to deal.

This brings me to an interesting article I came across on Fortune.com. Jeff Colvin questions readers, "Personal debt is much higher than before, and average pay is still going nowhere in real terms. So now how do we live as if our standard of living is still rising?" Quick answer: We can't. But we can change things for the better. And Smartypig believes we can help. How? By helping people save up first and begin to reverse the "buy now, pay later" credit card mentality that has gotten so many millions of us upside down financially. Save for your family trip, save for the holidays or save for a your home improvements, but just save!

When you use SmartyPig, you can put away an amount you choose every month for your big purchase while earning one of the most competitive interest rates in the country. Once you've started your goal, put to use the social networking aspect of the site, by sharing your goals with your family and friends that saving money is back and better than ever. And when you reach your goal, enjoy cash boosts of up to 5% on the things you need or want, from your summer vacation to new home appliances.

So whatever you classify as your good life, you can make it even better when you save up for it. It makes all the difference in the world when your things belong to you - not a high-interest credit card company.

Tags: smartypig   •  saving   •  creditcards   •  money   •  debt

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August 6, 2008 • Posted by Erica Adams

Over the river and through the woods...

To Grandmother's house we go? It feels as though the majority of us have just unpacked our suitcases from summer travels. The thought of taking a trip for the holidays most likely hasn't crossed our minds. But before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here and soon after, the holidays. Problem is, the idea of discount travel - thanks to unstable gas prices - is now firmly in the rearview mirror.

Popping up across the web are sites like TripIt and Dopplr to help you plan and share your trip with friends and others from your area, sites like Trazzler to help you find the perfect trip based on your interests close to where you live and even GasBuddy, which finds the most inexpensive fuel, based on your location. And while these are all good ideas for hitting the road, what you really need is a way to get you where you're going in a financially sound way.

Putting your trip to Grandma's house on plastic will have the Big Bad Wolf in a mailman's clothing dropping big bad credit card bills in your mailbox for months. But if you use SmartyPig and create a goal for gas or plane tickets and maybe even your gifts, you'll have the next five months to make a dent in your holiday bottom line before it bottoms out - all while earning one of the most competitive interest rates in the country and cash boosts of up to 5% from America's top retailers and travel companies.

For many, spending the holidays with those you love most is a cherished occasion, an event that's anticipated for months. And when you save up with SmartyPig instead of racking up huge credit card bills, getting there can again be half the fun.

Tags: smartypig   •  travel   •  holidays   •  saving   •  money

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