By Rivan V. Stinson and Lisa Gerstner
From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
Got 15 minutes? Here are four ways to better your finances in that time.
1. Automate Your Savings
With automatic transfers from your checking to your savings and investment accounts each payday, you’re paying yourself first—and increasing the odds that your savings and investment accounts will grow. Log in to your checking account via your bank’s website or smartphone App. Go to “transfers” and set up a recurring transfer to either a connected savings account or an external account. Next, do the same for any investment accounts that you may have. You can also set up a recurring transfer from the savings or investment account.
2. Reshop Your Cell-Phone Plan
Calculate how much you could save by reshopping your plan with the major providers at
WhistleOut.com. But shop the small carriers, too. Mint Mobile, for example, allows new customers to test out its service with a three-month plan. You can choose among four plans, including an unlimited plan with free mobile hotspot that costs $30 a month for three months.
