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It is easy to file bills away without paying any attention to all those pages of charges. However, taking just a few minutes to check on what is in your bills can save you a significant amount of money in the long run. Here are five common billing mistakes that you should scan your bills for each month:

Hospital Billing Errors If you have had a recent hospital stay, make sure and check your bill carefully to see that you have not been overcharged. Patients often find that they have been charged for extra days at the hospital, for pills or treatments they never received, or for doctors that never actually treated them. Call your hospital’s billing department if you find any discrepancies.

Medical Insurance Bill Errors Insurance companies sometimes get misinformation from doctors or hospitals, or they sometimes may try not to pay for something that should fall under your policy. Make sure that your insurance pays for everything that it should. K

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I’ve come across a few freebies that I thought were worth passing along:

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Everyone knows that a low credit score is a bad thing, but very few people know the actual factors that contribute to it. Many people do damage to their credit scores without realizing that their actions are prejudicing their creditworthiness. There are numerous factors that are used to calculate a credit score and being aware of what they are will give you the ability to control your rating more effectively.

What’s your payment history? Your credit or payment history is the most important factor when it comes to determining your credit rating as it contributes to 35% of the score. If you have vigilantly paid your bills over an extended period of time then your credit score will benefit from your consistent and responsible payment. The lender will research if you have had accounts sent to collection agencies or if you have ever declared bankruptcy. If your payment history reflects either of these blotches then it will serve to lower your credit score quite drastically. <

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A Fidelity Investments study released today shows a rise in both loans against 401(k) plans and hardship withdrawals, compared to a year ago.

The economy being what it is, it isn’t surprising that more of us would be raiding our 401(k)s. If you’re ever tempted, bear in mind that there are often better ways to find emergency cash. Same for cashing in your 401(k) when you leave a job—a bad idea unless you absolutely need the cash and have run out of other options. In cheerier news, the study also found participants were still contributing an average of about 8 percent of their salaries to the plans and that more participants had increased their contributions than decreased them.—Greg Daugherty Greg writes the “Retirement Guy” column each month in our Consumer Reports Money Adviser newsletter.

Apple’s iPhone is quickly becoming one of the most versatile electronic devices on the market. The iPhone derives its malleability from the wide array of applications that can be used for anything imaginable. Many of the applications are gimmicks that should be ignored, but some of them can be quite useful. Some iPhone users have apps that are saving them money on an almost daily basis. Because of the portability of an iPhone, it is possible to carry a financial reference guide with you at all times. If you want to use your iPhone as a money-saver then you have to have these applications installed on it.

1. Currency Converter When you buy items in foreign countries there is no reason for you to get ripped off because your mathematical abilities are limited. Travelers are often short-changed because they are unaware of how much they are spending in the foreign country. The iPhone converter accesses the currencies of over 200 countries and thereby stops you from being scammed into spending too much. I

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How many times have you been in the midst of your favorite hobby and thought to yourself, “Gee, I wish I could make money doing this!” With the help of the internet, and the other resources available out there, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to turn your hobby into a financially lucrative business. All it takes is a little marketing knowledge and the determination to be a success. Here are some of the most popular hobbies and ways you can make them lucrative.

Coaching Everyone needs help and encouragement from time to time. Whatever your strength, whether it is public speaking, physical fitness, art or something else, you can find people who are willing to pay you to monitor them and give them helpful tips and inspiration. Turn your prowess for whatever you do best into a moneymaking business.

Feeling Crafty? Not only can it pay to sell your scrapbook and other homemade creations online, you can also become a consultant for other creative types who inspires and teaches others how to profit from their hobbies. Charg

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The following is a guest post by WilliamPaid.com

As a consumer, you want the best value for the price you pay. Unfortunately, there are many things out there that can entice you and keep you from making the best purchase. How do you score great deals when you buy? This article provides a 5-step guide on how you can improve your buying techniques.

Determine What You Want to Buy
Many consumers buy blindly. When you buy, you have to know what features you want to be in the product. For example, if you want a notebook computer, make sure you know what specifications you need. Maybe you want one that is lightweight, has a 250-GB hard drive and a 2.5 GHz processor because you are always travelling. Specify the features necessary in the product you want to buy and write them down. This will direct you when you encounter different suppliers. What you want to buy should be in accordance with what you need.

Research on the Item You Want to Buy
Researching on the item you want to buy ensures a cost-effective way of buying.

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