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Employee Assistance & Wellness

Financial Tips: Your 2¢ worth

Your 2¢ Worth is a web page by and for Fresno State faculty and staff.  If you need some tips to deal with the pay reduction from furloughs or to help save for something - see if you can find something here. 

If you have tips that you would like to add - email them to us at eawellness@csufresno.edu

BANKING AND MONEY MANAGEMENT

  • Budget using the envelope system. When you are out of cash you are done!
  • Once you pay off your car continue to make acar payment into your savings account and pay cash for the next car.
  • Save using automatic deductions into a savings account.
  • Shop around for the best rates on checking accounts, savings and CDs.
  • Pay off highest rate credit cards first
  • Use credit cards to earn air miles but only if you pay of the credit card each month
  • Consider having "no spending" days and designate one or two times a week to do your shopping.

Related links:

CONSIGNMENT & THRIFT SHOPS

Thrift Shops

Consignment Stores

Things for the Home

  • Consignment Cottage
    5043 N Palm Ave
    Fresno, CA 93704-2232
    Palm & Shaw
    (559) 225-9718

EATING OUT & ENTERTAINMENT

  • Recent videos are available at the library
  • Shop for coupons and good deals at restaurants
  • Sign up to get online coupons from your favorite restaurants

FOOD

  • Cut down on snacks
  • Use popcorn and bag it as a healthy snack
  • Make large batches of cookie dough and freeze it in balls ready to bake
  • Take ads to your grocery store to obtain price matching
  • Take your cloth bags to the store to shop and earn $.05 per bag in some stores
  • Fresh produce is less expensive than canned or frozen so shop at farmers’ markets
  • For cooking at home, aim for $5 per meal
  • Dollar stores often have good produce

Related links:

HEALTH & HEALTH INSURANCE

  • Use online programs to assist you in staying healthy
  • Participate in healthy rewards programs. For example, Blue Shield Healthy Rewards offers $200 per year to each family member for participating, including children over the age of 18
  • Take advantage of mail order pharmacies through your insurance company

Related links:

HOME REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

  • Take advantage of free do-it-yourself clinics and on-line tips

Related links:

OTHER WAYS TO SAVE

  • Use 20% less printer ink by changing fonts

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PET CARE

  • Humane Society offers low-cost spaying and neutering and vaccinations
    http://ccspca.com/
    103 South Hughes Ave
    Fresno, CA 93706
    559.233-7722

  • HOPE Animal Foundation spay/neuter and vaccine clinic
    http://www.hopeaf.com/
    5490 W. Spruce Ave
    Fresno, CA  93722
    559.271.0209

  • Pet insurance might save you from some extremely high veterinary bills

TRAVEL FOR LESS

  • Take advantage of online deals

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UTILITIES

  • Spend time at the library or the malls to save on your own energy bills
  • Basic phone service can cost as little as $8 a month; talk to your vendor
  • If you have medical equipment in your home such as a CPAP or oxygen, you will qualify for a medical discount
  • Participate in energy company discounts and rebates
  • Comparison shop

Related links:

WORK/PAY

  • Check your deductions
  • Maximize your pre-tax deductions: 1) Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA), 2) child care deduction
  • Consider taking a part-time job

Related links:

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