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Bad date last night? Don’t despair. It’s not as bad as you may think. Here’s some good news: you may not know it, but when it comes to your money, that bad date can teach you an awful lot about successful investing.

Think I’m joking? Think again. Although I was a far cry from being the King of Dating, I did have a few albeit rare lucky streaks in me. And looking back over those rare few times, my moderate success on the dating circuit did teach me quite a few things about prudent investing.

Here’s a few quick examples…

1) DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Dating: The guy was over a half-hour late, his outdated shirt barely matched his Taco Bell stained pants, the rain gave him a lethal dose of bed-head and back then the busboy was making more than he was. If that wasn’t bad enough, his humor was a bit stale and the car he drove had a weird putter that attracted nothing but aliens from the evil Planet X. While at first the girl thought it was going to be a dinner date from fiery hell, little did she realize that guy was I, and I’d soon wind up being the one she’d marry.

Investing: The receptionist was sure nice, but the carpets were dull and the musty furniture reminded you of grandma’s place in Brooklyn. You were ready to take your money to that Private Wealth Management Firm — the one with the white marble staircase and baby grand — but when the well-mannered financial advisor appeared, you figured you’d be courteous and give him a few minutes of time. A little into his pitch, you were most pleasantly surprised when he touted low cost, tax efficient investments that perfectly matched your goals. It was then you realized there’s a reason the furniture in his place is a bit out-dated, mainly, because the guy isn’t touting the high fee investments.

Lesson Learned: First impressions can easily get the best of us. Whether it’s a date or your money, taking a step back to peek behind the curtain will typically put both your money and heart in a much better place.

2) COSTS COUNT

Dating: She liked Dylan Thomas, idolized Ginsberg, despised the conformists and was clinically depressed that she missed last year’s Monterey Pop Music Festival. The perfect 10 from down in the Village strummed an acoustic, wrote poetry and even donated your favorite Levis to a homeless guy on the street. While at first lust got the best of you, months after helping her pay the rent, her organic meals and for all those Warhol movies you pretended to like, you were finally worn out, leading you to realize that when it comes to dating, costs most definitely do count.

Investing: The mutual fund was barely moving. Five years into it, you just couldn’t quite figure out why you weren’t making much money. Then, one fine day, you wisely took the time to research the fees you were paying, only to realize the fund was charging you way too much per year in annual costs and causing you all sorts of taxes.

Lesson Learned: When it comes to investing and dating, costs most definitely do count. Taking the time to evaluate how much you’re paying for your dates and funds is an essential part of anyone’s success.

3) IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE

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It’s obvious that the pension system is in dire straits and within the talks and discussion of concerns; many people are sharing ideas that could revamp & re-ignite the pension system.

Recent research found that only half the working population belong to an occupational pension scheme and that over 50% of employers offering a defined contribution plan found that the majority of their staff failed to even sign up for it, even when the employer is making a contribution. What is the turn off from pensions and what (if any) is the turn on?

Could the following idea be the ON switch?

There have been a number of blogs and reports talking about changing the pension rules to make pensions more useful to people throughout their working lives and not just in retirement. The idea is simple and has got a lot of people talking.

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Summer is quickly approaching and school will soon be out. Many families are trying to find an affordable vacation or decide if they can afford a vacation.

Just because our economy is slipping does not mean your family will have to go without a family vacation this year. Here are a few tips and ideas to get your family on the road again.

Walt Disney World is a great vacation spot, especially if your family has children. Vacation packages start for around $1,300 for a 4 day, 3 night stay. It equals to spending about $82.00 a day per person. There are other options and packages with more days and nights.

Cruise ships are also a very affordable way to take a vacation. Carnival cruise line has ships leaving Galveston. There are many options available. Vacationers have the option of choosing how many nights they want to cruise and what destinations and ports of call they want to visit. Many cruises start at around $300.00 per person and food is included with the price. There are many packages to choose from, so the best way to plan your cruise is to find a website and review all the options available.

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Saving money is on everyone’s minds right now, but many people aren’t sure how to go about cutting day-to-day costs. Here are ten things you can do right now to put more money in your monthly budget.

1. Change your driving habits. Cut your fuel costs by driving less. Evaluate whether you really need to run to the store for a last minute item. Find ways to car pool with others and check out public transportation. Also, avoid idling your car longer than one minute.

2. Rethink your entertainment options. Instead of going out to the movies, hit the rental store. Limit your night out clubbing to once a month, and have friends over on Friday nights instead for potluck and BYOB. Utilize your local public library for books, music and movie rentals.

3. Lower your insurance costs. Insurance rates, especially auto insurance rates, can vary a lot from company to company. By getting at least three different comparison quotes, you could lower your premiums by hundreds. An easy way to do this is online at an insurance comparison Web site. Driving less and taking advantage of discounts can lower your rates as well. Also, consider raising your deductibles on both auto and home insurance to immediately lower your premiums. Just be sure you can come up with the higher deductible in the event of a claim.

4. Eliminate expensive gym memberships. If you need the incentive that comes with the gym social scene, look into joining a local running, hiking or other workout club.

5. Dine-in more often. Prepare more meals at home rather than eating out. Cutting out one restaurant meal a week could save you $70 or more a month, per person.

6. Brew your own. Gourmet coffee-to-go can cost you $3 or more a cup. Buy an inexpensive grinder and coffee maker and brew a thermos of the good stuff that you can take to work or school, for only pennies a cup.

7. Cut your utilities costs. Change furnace filters regularly. Install weather stripping around doors and windows. Fix leaky faucets and running toilets. Lower your thermostat and wear sweaters.

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It’s Friday and you just got paid! After sending off that last check to pay for necessities; food, car payment, rent, etc., you have $100 left. What should you do with it? Save it or pay down debt? It’s hard to give a one size fits all answer to that question. Everyone’s individual situations, goals and needs are different and questions need to be answered. First, what kind of debt do you have- mortgage loan, student loans, credit cards? Are you planning to make some large purchases such as a house or car? What are your investment goals/needs? For the next few weeks we will focus on ideas to get your savings, debt, and investing plan in order. First, who’s getting the most return on your savings account?

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