Learning how to be an effective and efficient researcher is a skill that takes a little time to hone as a college student, yet students of today have an asset that those of yesteryear didn’t: the web. Sites like Google Scholar can help you quickly and more easily find the information you need to write a stellar paper and do well in your classes. Whether you’re new to using Google Scholar or are just looking for a few ways to improve your searches, here is everything you need to know about using Google Scholar.

Understanding Scholar

Here you’ll find answers to the most basic questions surrounding Google Scholar.

1. How can I search through my college? If you want to search through your school, you can use a computer at your school, configure your browser to a library proxy or login with your library password.
2. What does Google Scholar include? Using Google Scholar, you’ll be able to search through articles, books, theses and court opinions that are found in journals, databases and universities.
3. What are the basic features? Google Scholar works much like Google. Users can search for helpful research materials online and in university libraries and databases, as well as get help with managing citations and doing continuing research.
4. How does it rank documents? The search engine weighs the full text of the documents it scours, taking into consideration who wrote it, where it was published and how recently it was written or cited by other scholars. This ensures you get the best search results during your research.
5. How reliable are the results? Studies have shown that Google Scholar performs as well as, if not better than, a wide range of library-based search engines and databases. Essentially, you’ll be getting the same quality of results as you would in your on-campus library.
6. How is it different from regular Google? Unlike regular Google, Scholar only searches through academic and scholarly sources, ensuring you have information you can trust and that is appropriate to use in a research paper at the college level.
7. What are the advantages of using Google Scholar? Google Scholar makes it easy to start looking for materials for your paper or to even find a paper topic. Students can access it at any time of day or night and do not have to leave home to find many of the materials it contains.
8. How can I find full-text articles? Once you’ve searched for a topic, you’ll be able to click on your results to see where an article is from. Some may be free to access and others may require that you access them through your university.
9. Will this help my research? While research is really only as good as the researcher doing it, Google Scholar can be an excellent starting point for any research project. It can point you in the direction of some important articles, books and resources that will be essential to writing a good paper.
10. Why is it in beta? Beta means that the search engine is still in the trial stages and that some kinks are likely to be worked out as users discover the pros and cons of the existing system. It does not necessarily mean that it won’t deliver quality search results.
11. What does the quote on the main page mean? The main page features the quote, "stand on the shoulders of giants." As a research tool, Scholar lets you metaphorically stand on the shoulders of the researchers, scientists, scholars and academics who’ve come before you.
12. How does Google Scholar compare? While some specialty services may be able to deliver better results, students can still expect to find the vast majority of what they need, or at least a starting point through Google Scholar.

Explaining the Basics

Here you’ll find help understanding the basics of what you’re looking at when you do a Google Scholar search.

13. Search box. Just like Google, this is where you’ll enter in your search query, whether by topic, journal, author or title.
14. Advanced settings. Using advanced search you can do a more detailed search, digging exclusively through journals, authors, catalogs and even through legal results in each state.
15. Scholar preferences. With this tool, you’ll be able to choose language, collections, libraries, number of results and citation management.
16. Articles, patents or legal opinions. Using this check box, you can determine what kind of results you’ll get whether they’re just articles or they include patents and legal opinions.
17. Collections. When you choose a collection, you’ll be able to exclusively get results from categories like Life Sciences, Medicine, Social Science, Engineering and more.
18. Search results. Once you’ve done a search, you’ll get a list of search results. This will direct you towards articles and books that fit your topic.
19. Cited by. Below the title and author of your results, you’ll see a number next to cited by. This will tell you how many other books and articles have cited this particular source.
20. Related articles. When you’ve found a real gem of an article, this tool will allow you to find others that are similar to it.
21. Versions. Sometimes there may be multiple versions of an article out there from different sources. This link will let you see the different ones that are available.
22. Book or article. You will find the form of your results in brackets in front of the title. This will let you know if you can find it in a journal, in a book or if its available as a PDF.
23. Library search. Click on this link to search through your WorldCat to find if an article or book is available at your college library.

Make the Most of Scholar

These tips will help you ensure you’re getting the most out of your Google Scholar experience.

24. Your school can give you access to additional materials. Using Scholar when signed into your school account can give you free access to a wide range of articles.
25. Never pay for full-length articles. Always check to see if your school has access to the article through one of the databases it pays for first. If you’re not sure, ask a librarian.
26. You can hook up Scholar with RefWorks, RefMan, EndNote and BibTeX. Many schools offer these reference tools to students to use, so make your research a little easier by downloading scholar citations to them.
27. Several editions of an article might be online. This can mean some are free while others cost something, but students should beware as early versions of articles can have undergone major revisions along the way.
28. You can find materials outside your school library. If your school doesn’t carry the books you need, check out the Library Link in scholar to search WorldCat.
29. Cut your research time in half by using cited by. This will link you automatically to other articles that are related to your topic and that cite it as a source.
30. Not everything is online. Keep in mind as you’re doing your research that not all journals and sources have been digitized or are searchable online. Look outside of Google Scholar as well.
31. Set your preferences. Knowing what language you need, what library you’re searching and the kind of results you want is essential to doing good, productive research.
32. Refine, refine, refine. Scholar lets users refine what they are looking for to a pretty good degree. Once you know what’s out there start refining your search using the advanced tools and some search tricks.
33. Use Scholar as a starting point. Google Scholar should never be the only tool you use to do research. Treat it as a jumping off point and take your search elsewhere when you’re done.
34. Not all materials are covered. Remember when you’re using Scholar that Scholar doesn’t index every journal and database out there. You will need to search outside Scholar to be comprehensive.
35. Ask for help. If you are not familiar with Scholar or doing college level research, never be afraid to ask for help from someone more knowledgeable.

Search Tricks

Make your searches as efficient, effective and awesome as they can be with these helpful tips.

36. Search by author: If you want to search by just the author’s name, type in author:author’s name.
37. Search by title: You can find an exact title by putting your search term in quotes, like "Title of materials".
38. Find the most recent research. Use the drop down menu to change your period of interest.
39. Find court opinions. Before you search, choose legal opinions and journals in the check box below the main search box.
40. Limit court jurisdictions.To do this, go to the advanced search page then select to limit your results to just federal or courts in a given state.
41. Use the related articles tool. This can make it much easier to find things that are really on topic and that suit your research needs.
42. Find articles in specific publications. Using the advanced search tool, you can limit your search to only one journal or scholarly publication.
43. Search by topic. When you’re just trying to get an idea of what’s out there, it can be useful to search by topic alone or several terms at once.
44. Click on citations. These will make your life a lot easier as they can instantly link you to relevant articles that are similar to a particular article.
45. Search by author and topic. If you know the author you want information from, you can find what they’ve written on a certain topic by searching for both at once.
46. Select collections. Through the advanced search, you can limit your search to just certain collections, a big advantage if you are working on something for a science course versus a social studies course.
47. Check out foreign language journals.Not all the good stuff will be published in English. Search through foreign language journals as well by using Advanced Search. You can translate later.
48. Craft a more precise search. Once you’ve picked a research topic, you’ll want results that are most related to what you’re writing about. Slowly craft a more precise search and you get more of an idea of what is out there.
49. Add a plus sign to key words. By adding a plus sign, you’ll be able to emphasize that a certain term must appear in the results.
50. Add more keywords. Adding more words, and placing emphasis on those that are the most important, will help you get results that are most pertinent to your needs.
51. Use OR. If you’re trying to refine your search it can be useful to use the OR operator which will let you search for two terms at once.
52. Use the minus sign. The minus sign will ensure you don’t see any results with particular terms.
53. Use a tilde. By adding a tilde in front of your search terms, you’ll allow scholar to bring up items that are synonyms as well as those that match your term exactly.
54. Do a timeline search. You can limit your search to only resources published within certain years, which can be helpful when you’re looking for recent research or that done in the past.
55. Search smart. Don’t just search blindly for what you need. Instead, search smart, constantly refining and revising your search terms.
56. Create an alert. A recent feature of Scholar is to allow users to get alert when new articles on their topic are added.
57. Try a web search. If you’re not finding what you need through Scholar, do a quick web search to see what comes up. You might be looking in the wrong direction.

Helpful Links

These links will take you to other Google sites, apps you can link up with Scholar and essential online resources.

58. RefWorks: Manage all of your research using this handy online tool. Your school may even be able to set you up with free access.
59. RefMan: You can purchase Reference Manager to keep your citations in order when working on a big research paper.
60. EndNote: Hook up your Google Scholar results with this citation manager.
61. BibTeX: Read up and use BibTeX to keep yourself organized.
62. WorldCat: You’ll be able to find any book, anywhere using this search tool.
63. Google Custom Search Engine: Build your own search engine for your research here.
64. Google Groups: Set up a group here to work with others on schoolwork.
65. Google Notebook: Keep track of your notes and important information using this tool.
66. Google Code University: Computer science majors will get help writing code here.
67. Google Knol: Got a question? Get expert answers here.
68. Google Docs: Start writing your paper or keep notes using this web-based tool.
69. Google Books: If you find a book you need on Scholar, see if it’s available on Google Books here.
70. Google Scholar Blog: Read up on the latest news regarding Google Scholar here.
71. Google Guide: Learn everything there is to know about using Google from this blog.
72. Google Chrome: Integrate Google into your browsing experience with this free browser.
73. Googlepedia: The Ultimate Google Resource: Find out more about Google using this encyclopedia resource.

Helpful Articles

If you’ve got some lingering questions about Google Scholar, these articles can help to answer them.

74. 56 Google Search Tricks for Students: Find new and better ways to use Google with help from this article.
75. 100+ Google Tricks That Will Save You Time In School: This article is full of tips and tricks to make using Google a snap.
76. Google Scholar Wikipedia: Learn all about the basics of Google Scholar from this Wikipedia article.
77. Research Digest: Google Scholar and/or Impact Factor?: This article will teach you how the search results of Scholar can actually affect the research community.
78. Create Your Own Google Scholar RSS Feed: If you’re working on a long term project, you might want to create an RSS feed of related topics as they become available. This article can tell you how.
79. Google Scholar Is Ideal for Some Things: Here, you’ll find an article that tells you what kind of projects Google Scholar really is best suited for.
80. Google Scholar Bibliography: Want to do a little reading about Google Scholar? This site pulls together dozens of articles all about it.
81. Google Scholar: A New Way to Search for Cases and Related Legal Publications: Check out this article for information on using Google Scholar to do legal research.
82. How Scholarly Is Google Scholar? A Comparison to Library Databases: Worried about the quality of Google Scholar results? Here you’ll get a comparison with scholar and library search tools.
83. How to Use Google Scholar to Find Research Paper Material: If you’re searching for a research paper topic, try using this trick on Scholar to find one.
84. Finding Research Paper Topics With Google Scholar: Still need some help finding a topic? This article will show you how it’s done.
85. Save Hours Writing Research Papers with Google Scholar & Refworks: Learn how to better use the integration of Scholar and Refworks when you’re writing a paper.
86. Google Scholar and Other Scholarly Search Engines: Check out this article for tips on using a scholarly search engine.
87. Make the Most of Google Scholar for Journal Articles: If you’re looking for journal articles, this post will explain how to find the best ones for your topic using Scholar.
88. A Google Scholar open search plugin for Firefox and IE: Techies can apply this plugin to their browsers to more easily search through Google Scholar.
89. Using Google Scholar Tools in Blackboard: Did you know you could integrate Scholar and Blackboard? This article explains how.
90. Google Scholar: The Pros and the Cons: Learn both the good and the bad when it comes to Scholar from this article.

Browser Tools

Trick out your browser for maximum Google Scholar searching power with these extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

91. Google Scholar Firefox Add-On: This extension adds Google Scholar to Firefox’s search bar.
92. Zotero Scholar Citations for Firefox: For those using Zotero, this tool will automatically collect the citations in it from Google Scholar.
93. Scholar H-Index Calculator for Firefox: Use this Firefox add-on to see the citation indices related to the results you’re getting on Google Scholar.
94. Google Scholar Legal Content Star Paginator for Chrome: Those doing a little legal research on Google Scholar can use this Chrome extension to change results to look more like Westlaw or LexisNexis.
95. Handy Google Shortcuts for Chrome: Add this tool into your Chrome to get quick shortcuts to all Google’s tools.
96. Scholarometer for Chrome: Extract bibliographic data from Google into Scholarometer using this easy tool.
97. Zotero for Firefox: Make your research a little easier by adding this tool into Firefox.
98. Google Search Sidebar for Firefox: Put a sidebar into your Firefox that makes it simple to search Scholar.
99. Research Access for Firefox: Download this tool to make all research papers become links to Google Scholar.
100. DeeperWeb for Firefox: This tool will help you more easily navigate your Google search results.
101. Scholarometer Sidebar for Firefox: If you use Firefox rather than Chrome, use this tool to integrate Scholarometer into Scholar.

Although one doesn’t often associate history with up-to-date information, finding out the latest in history developments from Twitter is both fun and useful. With the help of a variety of Twitter feeds, you can stay on top of what’s going on in the history world, today and yesterday. Check out our collection of Twitter feeds for history geeks to find the best.

General

From news to history blogs, you’ll find it all from these history Tweeters.

1. @historytweeter: This Twitter feed is all about history.
2. @GentlemanAdmn: This gentleman is a history blogger and academic administrator.
3. @PocketHistory: Check out @PocketHistory to find random facts from world history.
4. @mnhs: Read this Twitter feed to find facts in Minnesota history.
5. @Historyday: See what happened on this day in history with @Historyday.
6. @greathistory_: Great History highlights the best in history blogging.
7. @katrinagulliver: Katrina Gulliver is an urban historian, writer, and photographer in Munich.
8. @gcolliasuzuki: Gina Collia-Suzuki is a historian, novelist, and friend of Charles Darwin.
9. @HistoryOfAll: Here you’ll find the official Twitter page of Everything is History.
10. @HeritageTwit: @HeritageTwit has the latest news and thinking on heritage policy.
11. @Linc4Justice: This man is geocaching through history.
12. @timelines: Use @timelines to discover, record, and share history.
13. @VHStudio: @VHStudio shares history through visual art and imagery.

Media

See the historic media at work on Twitter.

14. @historynetwork: This network specializes in history podcasts.
15. @HistoryChannel: @HistoryChannel has a variety of non-fiction series and specials.
16. @TimesArchive: Rose Wild is the Archive Editor for the Times, sharing weird history.
17. @MilitaryChannel: Check out this feed for tweets from the Military Channel.
18. @ArchaeologyDN: Archaeology Daily shares news, headlines, and more in archaeology and related disciplines.
19. @BBCHistoryMag: Dave Musgrove is the editor of BBC History.
20. @HistoryTimes: Through this account, you can learn from the editors of the History Times.
21. @Discovery_News: @Discovery_News has a variety of programs on history and beyond.
22. @HistoryToday: On @HistoryToday, you’ll find news and thoughts from Paul Lay of History Today magazine.

Periods & Regions

These Twitter feeds have a concentrated focus on specific periods or regions.

23. @lucyinglis: This historian covers Georgian London on her blog.
24. @jntribolo: Through @jntribolo’s tweets, you’ll find news about Roman archaeology.
25. @WichitaHistory: Wichita History is a world class local history museum.
26. @kyhistory: This Twitter feed shares tidbits from Kentucky history.
27. @HouseHistorian: Melanie Backe-Hansen specializes in the history of houses in London and the UK.
28. @VanArchives: @VanArchives will give you access to Vancouver’s city archives.
29. @HistoryLink: @HistoryLink is the online encyclopedia of Washington state history.
30. @MarquetteMuseum: Read tweets from the Marquette County History Museum here.
31. @NZHistorydotnet: This Twitter account makes New Zealand history fun.
32. @brooklynhistory: This center is dedicated to the history of Brooklyn.
33. @Medievalists: Read this Twitter feed about the Middle Ages and Medieval history.
34. @GeorgianGroup: @GeorgianGroup works to protect Georgian buildings in England and Wales.

Educators & Students

Check out these feeds for the educational side of history tweeting.

35. @MisterHistory: David Hilton uses online resources to teach history.
36. @nchsucla: This organization brings historians and teachers together.
37. @martice: @martice is an MA History student.
38. @hadleyjf: Hadley Ferguson is a history teacher and tech enthusiast.
39. @history_geek: Holly Tucker is a college professor in the history of medicine.
40. @titzel: Art Titzel teachers American cultures in Pennsylvania.
41. @clioweb: Jeremy studies history and works at the Center for History and New Media.
42. @tanya_roth: Tanya is a PhD candidate in American and women’s history.
43. @historying: Cameron Blevins studies digital American history.
44. @jmcclurken: Jeff McClurken’s work lives at the intersection of teaching, history, and technology.
45. @dancohen: You’ll learn about history and new media from this professor of history.
46. @hist_enthusiast: Check out this history professor’s tweets.
47. @PrivateTeacher: Elivan Souza Usque is a teacher of Mediaeval English Literature and American History.
48. @Adam_Crymble: Read tweets from Adam Crymble, a history PhD candidate at King’s College.
49. @rguimaslima: Read tweets from Rui Lima to learn about history.
50. @mcohen00: Melissa Cohen tweets about high school history and film.
51. @jsmummert: Jeff Mummert shares technology integration in high school history.
52. @thinkbigbebig09: Waldemar Rollan is an economy and history professor.
53. @jaheppler: Jason Heppler is a PhD student in history.

Documents & Publications

These feeds specialize in maps, documents, books, and more.

54. @TheHistoryPress: This publisher specializes in history texts.
55. @TimeMaps: TimeMaps works to visualize history and chronology.
56. @OspreyBooks: Osprey Publishers are the leading publishers of illustrated military history.
57. @kevinmccann: Kevin is an author of books on Tennessee, Civil War, and more.
58. @LookBackMaps: Jon Voss shares history through maps.
59. @archivesinfo: Melissa Mannon is a professional archivist.
60. @UAarchives: The UA Archives follows the library’s digital library initiative.
61. @tannerritchie: Here you’ll find a publisher of daily historical sources.
62. @history_book: @history_book shares new history book releases.
63. @historycellar: This blog has unseen documents and more.
64. @RagLinen: @RagLinin is an online museum of rare newspapers.
65. @footnote: Check out @footnote to find original documents online.
66. @NS_Archives: Lauren shares the history of Nova Scotia one tweet at a time.

Museums

Keep in touch with history museums all over the world through these accounts.

67. @TheWomensMuseum: @TheWomensMuseum highlights heroines from the 1500s to the present.
68. @MesaHistoricalMuseum: This is the museum of Mesa’s history.
69. @NYHistory: This is Twitter feed of New York’s oldest museum.
70. @Culture24: @Culture24 has news, listings, and more from thousands of historical resources.
71. @ShelburneMuseum: The Shelburne celebrates art and design.
72. @amhistorymuseum: Find real stories and real stuff from the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian.
73. @RAFMUSEUM: This museum shares the history of the RAF.
74. @neiltyson: Neil Tyson is an astrophysicist with the American Museum of Natural History.
75. @mohistorymuseum: Find treasures from St. Louis history in this museum.
76. @tenementmuseum: Check out this museum to learn about tenements.
77. @museumnerd: This museum nerd posts about museum exhibits and more.
78. @NatHistoryWhale: This is the whale on the ceiling of New York’s Natural History Museum.
79. @halfspoon_com: Halfspoon has a variety of historical exhibits and programs.
80. @CapitolHistory: This organization educates the public about the history of the US Capitol and Congress.
81. @Gozaic: This travel community explores heritage sites and culture rich places.
82. @fordstheatre: Read tweets from America’s most famous theater here.
83. @bletchleypark: See what’s happening at this British heritage site.

Military

These accounts specialize in military history.

84. @wceberly: Here you’ll find a historian, author, and oil painter.
85. @WWIIToday: AT Nelson tweets about news and ideas from WWII.
86. @OspreyRich: Richard Sullivan is a military history nut.

Genealogy

Interested in finding out about your family background? Follow these accounts.

87. @bobbitt: Calvin is the Toombs County History and Genealogy Project volunteer.
88. @Familytreeman: Richard Brashier researches family trees.
89. @HicksShauna: Shauna is an Australian genealogist and family historian.
90. @megansmolenyak: Megan is a genealogical adventurer.
91. @Herstoryan: @Herstoryan discusses genealogy and family history.
92. @webduck: Carol Wilkerson is a Facebook geneablogger and genealogist.
93. @Luxegen: Joan Miller studies genealogy and family history.

Historical Tweets

Read these accounts to see what Twitter would have sounded like throughout history.

94. @HistoricTwits: @HistoricTwits has a collection of the best tweets that might have been in history.
95. @historicaltweet: You’ll find funny Twitter messages from history on @historicaltweet.
96. @Wendell_Howe: Wendell Howe is a temporal anthropologist from the Victorian Age.
97. @TwtsFromHistory: Here you’ll find a Twitter study of history.

Miscellaneous

Sports history, technology, and more can be found on these Twitter accounts.

98. @Peter_R_Casey: Check out Peter’s Twitter feed to find college basketball history.
99. @alexismadrigal: Alexis Madrigal is wrapping up a book about the history of American green technology.
100. @OccultSecrets: Read @OccultSecrets to learn about the history of secret and occult societies.

Glee clubs, show choirs, a cappella groups: call them whatever you want, but with the success of Fox’s "Glee," kids with killer voices are once again taking center stage. Student singers are in the pop culture spotlight in a big way, and this list is dedicated to those groups who know what it’s really like to put together a show-stopping number. Even if you’re taking classes online, these schools will make you stand up and cheer.

1. P.S. 22 Chorus: These kids are fantastic, and their earnest covers of pop songs have garnered national acclaim.
2. Visual Adrenaline: This show choir from Ankeny High School in Ankeny, Iowa, is one of the many whose style inspired "Glee."
3. Olentangy Keynotes: This Ohio glee club is so good they were featured on CBS’ "Sunday Morning."
4. Georgia Tech Glee Club: Anyone who doesn’t start dancing in their chair to this mash-up of "Brown Eyed Girl" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is crazy.
5. The Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones: This coed group based at Harvard College boasts amazing harmonies and original arrangements.
6. Acquire A Cappella: Based at UC Santa Cruz, this vocal group racked up YouTube hits with their awesome cover of The Lonely Island’s "I’m on a Boat."
7. Powerhouse: John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, has an outstanding glee club, as they demonstrated for the country with an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
8. UC Men’s Octet: This all-male group at UC Berkeley cooks up some fantastic arrangements, and they’ve got so many good ones that I had to include two videos. You’ll thank me.
9. DeCadence: Another UC Berkeley group, DeCadence found online fame with a cover of Ben Folds’ version of Dr. Dre’s "Bitches Ain’t Shit." (Got all that?)
10. Resonance: This MIT singing group was founded in 2001, and this cover of The Killers’ "Mr. Brightside" showcases their musical prowess and pop music knowledge.

For young adults, making smart financial decisions can be hard because most of them are about saving for the future or planning for retirement, things that can feel impossibly far away for recent college graduates. But whether you just walked the stage or are just now starting to take some online classes, here are some important financial tips to help you spend wisely and plan ahead.

Basic Saving

Whether it’s holding onto more of your money or spending it in different ways, there are plenty of ways to save.

1. Take 10 percent off the top: Take 10 percent out of every paycheck and put it into savings. You can split it further into long-term and short-term savings accounts, but the key thing is to take that 10 percent off the top, before you spend anything else. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your savings starts to grow.
2. Start an emergency fund: Put some money every month toward an emergency fund that you can use for things like hospital trips or car repairs.
3. Cut the excess: Sure, it’s nice to have a Netflix subscription or premium cable channels. But if you really want to see savings, you’ll eliminate those luxury perks.
4. Consider the options: Paying yourself first by taking 10 percent off the top is smart, but putting that money to work in a higher-yield savings account over the long-term is even smarter. Talk with your banker about how to get the most from your money.
5. Sack it: Do you eat out for lunch most days? Time to trade that habit for a brown bag lunch. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by preparing your midday meal at home and taking it to work with you.
6. Hop a bus: This might be easier for people in big cities, but public transportation is still a great way to save money by cutting down fuel expenses. Plus you get to help the environment.
7. Don’t use credit cards: One of the best ways to save money is to eliminate all — each and every one — of your credit cards. Just don’t use them, period. Pay off the balances and you’ll be floored at how much you can save when you don’t have to pay monthly minimums.
8. Shop for generic brands: When you’re at the grocery store, buy generic brands of products like soda and medicine. You get the same ingredients for a fraction of the cost.
9. Shop in bulk: Consider joining a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s Club. The cost of the annual membership can be easily offset by some of the savings you get from buying in larger quantities.
10. Set your thermostat higher: I know summer can be brutal, but setting your home’s thermostat at a higher degree will keep the air conditioner from running all day in a futile attempt to turn your house into a refrigerator. Buy a couple of oscillating floor fans to help with circulation.
11. Change those bulbs: It sounds like a little thing, but it’s not: Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs can save you hundreds, especially since they last years longer than traditional bulbs.

Retirement Planning

It’s never too soon to start making plans for your future.

12. Set a date you want to retire: When would you like to retire? When you’re 65? 60? 70? Picking a date is the first step in planning because it sets a goal and will let you figure out what it will take to reach it.
13. Start saving immediately: Waiting just a few years to begin storing away money in a retirement fund will lower your eventual savings by tens of thousands of dollars or much more. Jump on the opportunity today.
14. Set up automatic investments: Have part of your paycheck automatically transferred to your savings account to make sure it gets done.
15. Find out how your employer can help: Many employers that offer 401(k) plans will match your contributions (up to a certain amount) every year. Ask how much your company will chip in.
16. Start a Roth IRA: A big benefit of a Roth IRA is that contributions you make are taxed, meaning you don’t have to pay taxes when the money is withdrawn in the future. Talk with a financial advisor for more information. These are great tools.
17. Adjust as necessary: As you save more and grow, you’ll be able to revise your savings plan based on changes in income and other situations.

Investing

Investing can be a scary concept for people who don’t know much about it. Use these tips to familiarize yourself with the process.

18. Set clear goals: Why are you investing? Is it for short-term or long-term gain? What do you hope to accomplish? Ask yourself these questions before parting with any of your money.
19. Consider a target-date fund: A target-date fund automatically changes its risk set-up as you age based on your planned retirement date. This is a good pick for first-time investors.
20. Listen to your gut: Before investing, take a while, or even a night, to carefully consider the move. If the thought of it keeps you up and distracted, and if it just doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.
21. Avoid "too good to be true" situations: If an opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t over-extend yourself or wind up in a hole by chasing fantasies. Invest wisely, with planning.
22. Take investing seriously: Not to sound overly dour, but investing isn’t a game or a hobby. It’s a calculated financial move designed to yield a net gain. Approach it with caution and intelligence.
23. Understand fees and commissions: A fee is a flat rate, while a commission is a percentage. Generally, try to pay fees on big cash amounts and commissions for smaller ones.
24. Brush up on the Efficient Market Theory: Basically, this states that stock values are perfectly priced when you factor in all possible known information, so that the only way to really make big money is to take risks. Knowing this will help you plan those risks accordingly.
25. Don’t be greedy: In addition to the moral issues, greed is a bad financial choice. Just because you see someone making money through a particular investment doesn’t mean it’s a smart one to make. Always, always, always do your homework.
26. Consider overall value: In addition to a stock’s price, try to get a sense of its true value and how that might fall or rise with time. This is the true indication of a stock’s potential.
27. Get lots of advice: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is thinking you don’t need help, especially as a beginner. Talk with advisors and trusted friends with investing experience before starting out.
28. Don’t believe the hype: If you hear about a "hot tip," ignore it. There’s no such thing as a sure winner or inside scoop, and believing there is will just get you burned.
29. Be prepared to invest time and money: In addition to the money you’ll want to invest, you should prepare to spend plenty of time studying and researching the market and spend money on software or online memberships to trading sites that will let you invest.
30. Deal with the truth: If you’ve got a losing stock on your hands, no amount of wishful thinking will turn it into a winner. Don’t be afraid to confront the reality of the situation and save your money while you can.
31. Don’t forget taxes: Know how much taxes are required for different investment choices, and when it’s advisable to pay them. Taking tax policy into account before you invest ensures you won’t have any nasty surprises.

Buying a Car

It’s great to have a new set of wheels. Follow these tips to ensure you get a good deal.

32. Look at used vehicles first: Most of the time, you’ll be able to find a great used car that meets your needs and doesn’t break the bank.
33. Do your homework: It doesn’t matter what car you think you need, or what you think will be best for you. In order to get the truth, research your desired make and model to see how it performs over time and how much you’ll have to spend on repairs.
34. Take a mechanic with you: Avoid getting a raw deal by having a friend with automotive training accompany you to the lot and help you weed out the lemons.
35. Get the Blue Book value: The Kelley Blue Book is an invaluable resource and will let you know what a car is potentially worth.
36. Shorten your financing period: You can improve your credit score and own your car sooner if you can afford to finance for, say, 48 months instead of 60. It’s worth it.
37. Drive safely: In addition to, you know, keeping you alive, driving safely will lower your insurance premiums.
38. Set a budget: Figure out what you can afford for monthly payments before you even start shopping. This is the best way to make sure you don’t sacrifice too much to get a car.
39. Get multiple quotes: If you’ve selected a make and model, call around to various dealers and check online to see what the price range is, which will give you a big advantage in negotiations when it’s time to finally buy.
40. Get your financing settled in advance: This is extremely important. Getting financing through a dealer can often add time and cost to the buying process, but if you get your financing taken care of in advance, you’ll be on much sturdier ground when it comes time to decide what you’ll pay.
41. Keep an eye out for special events: Dealers tend to offer better deals on cars when they’re under pressure to get rid of old stock so they can make room for new. These "events" can add up to major savings.
42. Always be willing to walk away: This is your money you’re spending, so don’t think you owe the dealer anything. If the offer isn’t exactly what you want, walk away.

Buying a Home

Next to choosing a spouse, buying a home is the biggest decision you can make, so use these tips to guide you through the process.

43. Research government-backed loans: Although they don’t go directly to consumers, they do help lenders cover the risk of the loan, which can have a positive impact on your interest rate.
44. Always get an inspection: Never, never, never buy a home that you haven’t had inspected by a professional. You need to know what you’re getting, and what might need to be repaired down the road.
45. Focus on the house: Don’t be discouraged if you don’t like the decor. Take a hard look at the layout and foundation to get a better idea of whether to invest in a particular home.
46. Use your agent: Relying on an agent for help can be a great way to save some money, since he or she can help you navigate the market and get the best deal possible.
47. Don’t over-invest: One conservative rule of thumb for buying a home is that your payment on a 15-year mortgage shouldn’t be more than 25% of your take-home pay. This is a strict way to go about things, but a good way to save money.
48. Work to pay off your mortgage: Even if you wind up with a great interest rate, it’s a smart idea to work hard to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible.
49. Start saving before you shop: It’s not uncommon for sellers to ask for as much as 20% of the purchase price as a down payment, so start saving now for the home you want to buy in the future.
50. Build a fund for miscellaneous costs: The cost of buying a home is always more than you think it will be, thanks to closing and other costs. While you can often roll the closing costs into the mortgage, miscellaneous items like application fees and appraisal costs will need to be covered in cash. Be prepared to spend several hundred dollars here.