Finances

Have you ever had that moment after work when you realize you have dozens of errands to run but all you want to do is eat pizza and watch the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars? Well, maybe it wasn’t that type of food and television program, but you get the picture. Running errands can take up a ton of time, and sometimes even things you want to do don’t fit in your busy schedule.

Luckily, the Internet has made everything super convenient, and you can even save money by taking the easy route! (How often does that happen?) Here are 4 things you could be doing online to save you both time and money.

Managing Finances

The days of having to stop at the bank on your way home to deposit your paychecks and needing to whip out your checkbook to pay your bills are long over. With the Internet, you can manage and transfer your money using online banking; track your credit card expenses and pay your bill; and even deposit checks using mobile apps. Many banks will also send you email alerts about account updates if you’re participating in online banking, so you can save money by making sure you don’t overdraft.

You can benefit from more than just common banking transactions, though. If you need money quickly, you can even take out a payday loan online so you don’t ever have to leave your house. If you’re going to college, financial aid is generally dealt with online, and almost every financial aspect of your life can be managed via the Internet.

Getting Groceries

When you’re low on groceries, you know you’ll have to set aside at least an hour to trek to the supermarket and get everything you need. Browsing around can take a while, especially if you’re not sure what you want and there’s 50 billion other people wandering the aisles.

You can cut down on your shopping list by participating in programs like Subscribe & Save through Amazon, which delivers nonperishable grocery items right to your door at a lower cost based on the schedule you set up. There are more than 50 online services that help people get their groceries easily and cut down on all of the non-perishables you’re always buying at the store.

Taking Classes

College classes are expensive anyway you spin them, especially if you’re going to school full-time. Why not take classes online? It might not be cheaper, per se, but it’s definitely more convenient and would save you a ton of time — you wouldn’t have to travel to class anymore. Whether you commute, walk, or take public transportation, all of that time spent going to and from class really adds up over the semester.

You don’t even have to be a college student to take advantage of getting knowledge online. Instead of enrolling in expensive courses or programs, there are plenty of free online tutorials and webinars that can save you a ton of money in the knowledge department. This list of resources can help you find which free online courses make sense for you.

Finding a Date

It’s hard to find a date these days, and going out to a bar trying to meet people isn’t exactly easy. Flirting can be awkward (especially if you’re trying too hard) and buying expensive drinks can really lighten your wallet. Plus, these days it’s difficult to even find the time to get out on the town when you’re not working or doing chores around the house.

That’s why online dating has become more and more popular. Sites like eHarmony and Match.com will try to connect people according to their compatibility, but these sites usually charge a fee. Other sites like OkCupid and Plenty of Fish offer free online dating services, so you can make a profile and meet people based on your likes and dislikes without having to go to expensive bars and restaurants or worry about having enough time.

Conclusion

The Internet allows individuals to do things they generally wouldn’t have time for, but it also offers people new ways to do things already commonly present in their lives. If you’re looking for a cheaper or faster way to get stuff done, do your online research, and you’ll most likely find an Internet-based way to do it!

The rocky economy has left many wondering what 2012 has in store financially for the United States. Everyone from market experts to typical American workers has an opinion on what the New Year will probably bring, but it’s hard to know for sure.

Will things really start turning around, or are people being overly optimistic? Here’s a look at three major components of U.S. financial health and predictions on how things will change (or not change) in the coming months.

Stocks

While it’s difficult to predict what will happen in the stock market in the coming year, many people have given it a shot. The CNBC “On-Air Stocks” editor Bob Pisani predicts the U.S. stock market will keep on outperforming the rest of the world like it’s outpaced Europe in the fourth quarter.

Co-portfolio manager of the GMG Defensive Beta Fund Oliver Pursche told Forbes he has a positive outlook. He predicts the S&P will gain 10% at least, saying that markets often receive boosts during years involving a presidential election.

On CNBC, Nariman Behravesh said the market will probably be “slugging along” with 1.5% to 2% growth. He also said that a lot of the domestic risks have decreased and that the bigger threat is the struggle European banks are experiencing. It seems that the general predictions for the market are moderately positive while suggesting minimal growth.

Jobs

The 2012 job market forecast is on the minds of many Americans who aren’t satisfied with the current rate of growth or who are still looking for improvements. According to Danielle Kurtzleben’s US News piece, Americans can expect improvement in the job market, similar to the growth experienced in 2011.

However, the growth won’t be significant, as 2011’s was relatively moderate. So while growth will continue, it won’t be enough to notice much of a difference. Industry experts responding to Bloomberg about the unemployment rate had similar predictions.

CEO of Loews James Tisch guesses that the unemployment rate will be about the same at 2012 that it is now (about 9%). Chief Economist of Moody’s Analytics Mark Zandi thinks it’ll remain close to 9% throughout the next year. Most other of the video’s featured experts don’t think the rate will drop below 8%.

President Barack Obama says it’s possible the unemployment rate will fall to 8% before re-election, but he also mentioned that he can’t say with certainty what will happen — his job is to put tools in place to allow the economy to grow.

Housing

The housing market has taken a huge hit in recent years, but will it start to see some signs of recovery in 2012? Bloomberg reported that according to a Zillow Inc. survey, home prices in the United States will keep declining throughout the year and the market might not see an increase in prices until about 2013.

The New York Times reported about surveys and other indicators of how the housing market might do next year and came to the conclusion that the latest housing report shows more declines are likely in 2012. At best, there might be a period of slow recovery.

The Huffington Post presented more confident opinions, like the one from Tom Lawler, an independent consultant who used to work for Fannie Mae, who said there’s potential in the job market turnaround, the number of people needing housing, and the lack of newly built homes. This article sparked more than 500 heated comments about the reality of the housing situation and how positive things really are.

Conclusion

Not many aspects of the country’s financial health seem due for an overwhelmingly positive transformation in 2012. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that things will be worse — just that some variables might remain the same. It’s difficult to know for sure what lies on the horizon, but the predictions seem to be either negative or moderately confident that things will remain the same or get a little better.