Welcome to MichaelSaves.com!
My name is Michael Timmermann, and I founded this website to share practical ways to lower your monthly bills, make extra money and reach your financial goals faster.
I’ve been a personal finance writer since 2010 after I set a goal to pay off my mortgage before my 30th birthday — I reached that milestone two years later.
But this isn’t another early retirement blog: I’m not an engineer and I don’t have 10 rental properties.
What I do have is experience building net worth quickly after living paycheck to paycheck.
I wasn’t born wealthy. I waited tables through college, graduated at age 19, moved to a new city for a career in TV news and lived on $11 an hour for two years.
More than a decade later, I run MichaelSaves.com and my YouTube channel.
Prior to going full-time with Michael Saves Media, I served as Director of Content and Senior Writer at Clark.com. My articles consistently made up 30% to 40% of the site’s monthly traffic.
Here at MichaelSaves.com, I go into more detail about specific methods I use to save money.
My philosophy is straightforward: I don’t believe that money can buy you happiness, but I do believe it can buy you freedom from a bad marriage, a bad boss or just bad luck.
Hard work, goal setting and having the right strategy are my three keys to long-term success.
This blog is about everyday ways to save for everyday people. Subscribe to my newsletter and let’s get started today!
To contact me, email michaelsavesmedia@gmail.com.
Saw your site on ClarkHoward.com, had to check it out. Love saving money so here I am. Thanks for all you do. Jim
Following
We just paid off the mortgage on our house last month (16 yrs early) and we are now 100% debt-free. We are in our mid 40s and have vowed to never take out another loan again. Our savings rate is now over 80% which has allowed me to leave a high stress job in search of new career opportunities. it’s great to see guys like you preaching early mortgage payoff. It’s flies in the face of today’s culture which is typically a good sign you’re on the right path. Keep up the great work!
Congratulations to you!
Saw your info on a friend’s Facebook.
Wow. Great site. Just found in an old email I receive Daily from Clark. I’m trying to pay off debt as well. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you. I primarily write for Clark now. I have a weekly column that’s focused just on saving money that you can find at Clark.com/MichaelSaves.
I saw your article on Clark Howard’s website, and I was like, “Wow, a young guy totally doing what I want to do!
Thanks. Not so young now (almost 33) but love to hear from people who save for their future!
Like so many others, I found ‘you’ while reading one of Clark’s daily emails. I like your tips & ideas. Is there a way to subscribe to your blog (I’m not super tech savvy). Thanks!
Hi Trish! Thank you. On MichaelSaves.com, scroll down to the bottom right and enter your email at “Subscribe to blog via email.” You will get an email when I publish new stories every couple of weeks.
You can also find my Clark.com stories all in one place at Clark.com/MichaelSaves and Clark.com/MikeTimmermann.
Hi Michael:
I still have a mortgage but have been able to save a lot of money. That enabled me to leave a very stressful job and take some time off. l rent out rooms in my large house t hat enables me to live until I figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Right now I am just taking a breather. But I am debating on paying off my house or just keeping the cash out as you never know what can happen. I will look through your site to see if you have any advice on that. I don’t see my mortgage as a burden but sure would like to have it paid off that would allow me more freedom.
I am the deal queen and love saving money and helping others as well. Thank you for investing your time and energy in helping others to do what you have done and to help them achieve “freedom”.
Hey Michael, I would like to sign-up. I LOVE the articles that I’ve read so far. You are an inspiration to me. We NEED YOU. Keep up the Great work.
Thank you for the nice note. From MichaelSaves.com, scroll to the bottom right and enter your email! You will only receive emails when I publish new articles — nothing else!
Love this!
Thanks for the tips. Do you have a newsletter or email updates?
Yes, there is an email signup at the bottom right of every page. You will receive an email when I publish new articles. Never any spam!
Hi Michael,
I am reading your advice on a variety of things and I am impressed. My area that I struggle in is Student Loans. Any advice? I am unsure with what to do as they have changed their lending company so many times, and the college has closed down. Everest University held promise of a better future and they did nothing of the sort not only for myself, but for many other people. Any advice that may help me in what to do or how to budget this would be great. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read my comment.
Thank You & God Bless,
Michelle
Have you looked into Credible? I have heard good things.
I wanted to comment on a question someone had reguarding Fetch Reward Points. I have expierenced not recieving my alotted 25pts per receipt. The 1st time I contacted their support team they credited my account. The 2nd time it happened this is the reply I got. I do hope this helps. I am nervous to try it as am unaware if it will take all my points away. I am unsure if you do this as they instruct you to if your points will remain.
Customer Support Specialist (Fetch Rewards)
Dec 26, 4:28 PM CST
Hello Michelle,
Thank you for contacting Fetch Rewards! I am so sorry to hear you’re having some trouble with the app.
Let’s try having you clear the cache for Fetch Rewards. This will clear any information that your phone has stored and hopefully resolve the issue.
Every Android device is a little different, so it may not match up exactly.
1.) Open the settings of your device. The icon usually looks like a little gear.
2.) Tap “Apps” (this could be called ‘Apps and Notifications’ or ‘Apps and Permissions’)
3.) Find Fetch in the list of apps and tap it.
4.) Tap “Storage”
5.) Tap “Clear Storage” and “Clear Cache” (if you can only select one, that is fine too.)
Once that has been done, please uninstall and reinstall Fetch Rewards from the Google Play Store. If you still run into the same issue, please let me know with as much detail as possible and we can go from there.
Have a great day!
Steven
Customer & Tech Support
Fetch
Like and Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/FetchRewards
https://twitter.com/FetchRewards
Hi, Mr. Michael. Your videos about Xfinity mobile were very helpful to me. You noted something that is a dealbreaker concern for me, and I trust you more than others. Did Xtinity mobile make it so that people like me with an Android can bring in my phone and change to Xfinity WIThOUT losing all my contacts and photos and having to buy new phone? Phone is newish, and photos and contacts priceless. I look forward to your reply and appreciate your supporting us consumers as we have a lot of murky areas to navigate!
They’ve started to allow more Androids. Just go to Xfinity’s website and the BYOD page to see if your phone is compatible. Good luck.
Hello Michael,
I enjoyed your articles on clark.com and am happy to “see” you again, this time with your own blog! Congratulations!
Guatlian