The Importance of Living Wills

Written by adminJanuary 19, 2018
Insurance

The one thing we can all agree on about life is how unpredictable it is.  And one day, it will all end.  As we move towards our undeniable fate, there may be plenty of ways you’ve begun to prepare, such as drawing up your last will and testament, having enough life insurance to cover any last expenses, and making sure all your debts are paid.   

Thinking about our passing is always a difficult subject, but it’s something we must all do as we come to grips about our mortality.  There’s still one major area of concern we often gloss over when it comes to our health during the final days, weeks, and even months of our life.  While we all know the importance of our last will and testament, have you taken the time to consider a living will?

There might come a time in your life where you find yourself in an incapacitated state.  It doesn’t necessarily have to happen towards the end of your life either, as a living will deals with your care while you’re still alive.  For example, if you’ve been in a severe car accident and find yourself in a coma.  How would you like your family to proceed?

 

A Difficult Choice

This can be a truly heart-wrenching decision for any family member to have to make, especially if they’re unsure of your wishes and how you desire the situation to be handled.  Should they take you off life support?  Keep you going a while longer?  And not to forget the whole Terri Schiavo case where family members had very different opinions on what should happen next.

Everyone from lawyers and estate planners to the majority medical professionals have advocated for the need for a living will.  But it’s important not to confuse a living will with your typical will, which deals with how you’re going to divide your property amongst family and friends.  A living will is strictly about making an advance directive while you’re still alive.

Despite the insistence by top professionals to obtain a living will, only a small number of people have made sure they have one.  Hiring a lawyer (if you haven’t already) can be useful if you want to get advice on how to plan your living will.  While it’s recommended to hire one, you can set it up on your own without one by obtaining the forms online.  Many hospitals also have the correct forms to fill out.   

It’s also important to discuss with your loved ones your plan in the event of an emergency.  It can go a long way to helping them know how to handle a potential tragedy.  You can also assign someone as your power of attorney and let everyone know who you chose to make decisions on your behalf.   

And finally, file your living will with your doctor’s office, as well as with your attorney, and your power of attorney.  The whole process only requires a few steps, including getting your living will notarized.  Once you have it taken care of, you will be prepared.  Whatever happens, you and your family will be taken care of.

 

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Teaching Kids about Financial Responsibility

Written by adminJanuary 16, 2018
Credit & Debt Settlement , Personal Loans , Saving

It happens in a blink of an eye. We spend our childhood getting just about everything we could ask for. Our parents worked very hard to give us a good life and to make us smile. If you were like me, you had a room packed full of toys, most of which you didn’t even play with. No matter what toy I had, my mind was always on the next thing. Then one day, it all changes.

Kids have virtually no concept of money. If they want or need something, it’s often provided for us. As we get older, we start to pick up a little more responsibility. Whether it’s your job to clean up after dinner, take out the trash, or vacuum the floors, we start to learn about work for the very first time.

A lot of parents will teach their kids that if they want that new toy, then they must earn it. But often, the biggest lessons of all are rarely taught. We all know as we get older that we must work for our money, but the concept of saving is seemingly lost on younger generations. Whatever they get in, they must spend immediately.

Spending Less than You Earn

According to Forbes, most 20-year-olds aren’t saving their money. They live right at where they can afford, opting for the more expensive car or apartment rather than living under their means and saving that money for later. Forbes also suggests, in their article 20 Things 20-Year-Olds Don’t Get, that young adults should learn how to spend 25% less than they make.

This is especially important when you consider that teens and young adults hop from job to job. They don’t have a steady work or credit history, yet they are at risk of making their financial life much more difficult if they don’t get spending under control earlier in life.

Here are several ways to help your child prepare for adult by teaching them financial responsibility.

1) When they’re younger, buy them a piggy bank.

A lot of kids already do have a piggy bank, but not a lot of parents use it as a method of teaching about savings. Once they start being able to help out with chores around the house, having them earn an allowance. When it’s time to get paid, it would be beneficial for you to sit down with your kid and go over their ‘budget’.

Yes, give your kids a budget! Do they want that new toy? Find out how much it costs and create a goal for them to save at least half of its value. When it’s ‘payday’, show them the money they earned. Discuss with them about how much they want to use right now (let’s say, for the ice cream truck? To get a dessert after dinner?), and how much to put in the piggy bank for the toy.

2) Offer a bonus for extra work.

The idea isn’t just to teach them how to save money, but how to have a good work ethic. Reward them for doing extra work around the house. If their only job is taking out the trash and keeping their room clean, but they start helping do the dishes and taking initiative, don’t be afraid to give extra.

In the real world, they’re going to have to hit the ground running. There will be no laziness on the job or slacking off. Once they know the value of hard work, they will be prepared to go to the extra mile for what they want in the future.

3) Show them how to budget for expenses,

A lot of kids love to go shopping with their parents. You can use this to your advantage by getting them involved in the shopping process. Disclose to them what the budget will be for that particular shopping trip. Sit down and go over what you need to buy. Show them how to clip coupons and find the better deal on items.

4) Teach them how to balance a checkbook.

This is one lesson that rarely gets taught to children. It can be a good way help them understand the importance of having good math skills. When they decide what they want to do with their allowance money, teach them how to keep track of the amount of money they have in their piggy bank and how much they’ve spent on junk.

It can be quite eye-opening for them to see how much money they wasted on things that could’ve gone to better uses. Not to mention learning a basic skill everyone will need to know.

5) Don’t forget about credit.

At every college around the country, credit card companies line up ready to get your kid to sign up. In fact, one of my closest friends told me about how he got into major credit card debt. It started the same way it does for a lot of students. His first year in college, they had tables everywhere for students to sign up.

Of course, he didn’t know a thing about credit cards, minimum payments, interest rates, or building credit. He was young and all he knew was he had a card with a certain limit on it. Before he knew it, he was thousands of dollars in debt and now in his 40s still trying to pay that off. It’s a warning to every parent who sends their kid off without knowing how credit works.

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How to Make Sure You’re Financially Prepared for Marriage

Written by adminJanuary 16, 2018
Credit & Debt Settlement , Personal Loans , Saving

Congratulations! You’re engaged and about to go on what should be the greatest adventure of your life!

Of course, in your mind, you’re working through all the ways the two of you can successfully navigate any stormy waters that might brew. You make plans and prepare, discussing everything to ensure the marriage starts off on the right foot.

But one area where couples struggle is when it comes to finances. Maybe you’ll have the preliminary talks (What do you do? How much do you make?), but a survey from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling has revealed that 70% of people had ‘negative feelings’ about discussing money with their fiancé.

20% of those surveyed believed that a real, in-depth conversation would either end in a fight or the end of the engagement altogether. The consequences of this are devastating!

Lack of Communication Reveals Nasty Surprises

We’re all different in the way we approach money. These differences can lead to difficulty after the wedding. Our views often come from our parents and the way money has been spent around the house as a kid. If your parents helped you get a savings account at an early age, you’ll be more likely to save.

On the other hand, if you received a lot of gifts and weren’t taught to save, saving might not be in your vocabulary. This often leads to a rift between couples who were raised differently. They join in matrimony only to find out their spouse is a huge spender and has been hiding a massive pile of debt under their mattress.

Now that debt belongs to you. Isn’t marriage fun?

This is why money problems are the number one cause for divorce in the United States. Couples who don’t communicate later regret it and are often ambushed by a partner who doesn’t share their same views. And when incomes are combined and bank accounts are shared, those can be dangerous waters to tread.

Improving Your Odds

If you’re intent on having a successful marriage and NOT becoming another statistic, then you’re going to have to get over the fear of having the talk you need to have with your future spouse. It’s 100% CRUCIAL for a good marriage to get the financial stuff situation beforehand.

Here are some ideas to help ensure you’re financially prepared for marriage:

1) Don’t start off your marriage in debt.

Weddings are expensive. They are often one of the most expensive milestones in our lives, next to getting the house and the car. As much as we dream about having this extravagant wedding, full of beauty and wonder, it can set your marriage back in the long run. It doesn’t exactly set a good tone going forward starting out your lives together in debt.

The average wedding in the U.S. costs $25,000, and that’s without the honeymoon or any of the other expenses that come with marriage. How many years will it take you to pay off that one single day? Plan a budget and stick to it! Sticking to the budget is the difficult part, as the cost of a wedding can add up fast.

2) Have the difficult talk.

Be aware of your partner’s financial situation. Are they a spender? Are you a saver? It’s okay to have different ideologies towards money, but it requires a lot of open communication to make it right. Sit down with your partner and make sure you have a serious, but non-judgmental review of their spending habits. Go over their debts and a talk about ways to make it work.

If you’re a saver, try to be understanding that people make a lot of mistakes when they’re younger. Most people often don’t know how to save, especially when they’re single and don’t need to. Now that things are getting real and responsibilities are piling up, it’s time to get serious and work out a budget together.

3) Build up your savings.

Married couples often live to their max on both incomes. If you buy a house, you’re most likely going to do it together with the mortgage based on what you both make together. That’s perfectly fine, but what if one of you loses your job? This is where being financially prepared can save your marriage from a ton of heartache and frustration.

The vast number of divorces over money happen when times are difficult. The economy slows down, jobs are hard to come by, and the family loses out. That’s why it’s more important, especially in the beginning, to forgo some comforts to put that money into a savings account. Build up at least six months’ worth of emergency savings in case the worst happens.

4) Plan, but take your time getting there.

There’s no doubt you spent a lot of time daydreaming about white picket fences and a yard full of kids from the moment you feel in love. To go along with building up your savings, hold off on making the big purchases for a while. It’s not going to hurt to rent a decent apartment for a few years while you build up your savings.

Do you really need the top of the line car or the best cable package? Whatever the case may be, sit down and plan out your future. Cut spending while you can, save as much as possible, and keep your plans close to your heart. Write down a timeline with your goals in place. Maybe buy a house in 5 years rather than right at the beginning.

Are you prepared for children? I wouldn’t be surprised if many kids born are happy little accidents. You can plan for them all you want, but they have a knack of showing up when you least expect them to. Either way, these are all things you should sit down together and talk about. Write up a budget, determine what will go into savings, and grow together.

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Taking Finances (and your life!) to the Next Level

Written by adminJanuary 12, 2018
Credit & Debt Settlement , Refinance , Saving

The American dream. Financial freedom. Being able to do whatever we want, whenever we want. That’s the life so many people chase after, but often don’t know how to achieve.

We often get into the grind, thinking we’re making the right choices. The sad truth is, we’re running around and around in a giant hamster wheel, working our tails off to keep it moving, but going nowhere at all.

If you can have enough money in your bank account that you never have to worry about living month-to-month or paycheck-to-paycheck, that IS freedom.

So, how do you take your life to the next level?

Step #1: Look at your earnings and make bold calls if you need a change.

The difference between where you are now in life verses when you first got out of college or graduated high school is you’re a bit more experienced in life.  Whatever you’re currently doing, you’ve most likely been working on it for nearly a decade.

You’ve learned, studied, grown, made mistakes, gave up, went after again, and so on.  If you take all of this into account, what stage would you say you’re at?

And most importantly, where do you see yourself in another 10 years?  On your way to becoming a millionaire?  Then great!  Don’t change a single thing.  Keep plugging away doing exactly what you’re doing.  

But be perfectly honest with yourself.  Do you need to make a change?  Maybe you’re in over your head?  You might need to make a slight or a drastic change to stay ahead.  As they say, “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results”.

Step #2: Make sure you focus on your top client.

Here’s the thing, you need to remember one person.  And that person is yourself.  We often forget about our own well-being and seek to please others first.  If you work at an office while attempting to start your own business, will working those extra hours really net you anything?  

 

This might sound selfish, but you have to ask what’s in it for you.  What will you get out of it?

As long as you’re working for your boss, you’re helping them fulfill their own dreams and reality.  They get to go on longer breaks and vacations while you plug away extra hours to make them more money.  

 

And it’s a waste of your time!  Instead, make sure you’re getting something out of it.  If you’re not, consider it time wasted away from what you should be doing: setting up your business!

Step #3: Other Money

This might seem counterintuitive, but If you need some money, borrow it.  Don’t be afraid of borrowing money and using that to get things going.  It’s used most commonly perhaps in real estate, where someone takes out a mortgage, buys and fixes up a house, and then uses rent payments he collects on the interest.

As with anytime you borrow, it does come with risks.  There can be a downturn in the economy, but I’m willing to bet that most successful businesses started out with an idea, drive, and a loan.  

 

They often say that you need money to make money, so you can try borrowing if it’s worth the risk. It may be the only way you get to take that step.

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Worst Credit Card Options for Debt

Written by adminJanuary 10, 2018
Credit & Debt Settlement

The invention of credit has been both a blessing and a curse for millions of people throughout its existence. Without credit, most average people couldn’t afford the things in life we often take for granted, like cars, college, and even your home.

The problem is, sometimes the temptation is too much. We all enjoy buying things and making purchases that make us feel good, but the use of credit often has numerous drawbacks. The biggest drawback to having a credit card is its cost.

According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, seven out of 10 adults used their credit cards for everyday purchases. This is a major issue with a lot of people who can’t even afford to buy the things they’re using credit to buy.

The banks don’t make it easy…or cheap. Fees, interest, charges, overdraft, and so much more can suck the dollars and sense out of your bank account and your peace of mind. This is where the Catch-22 comes into play.

We NEED credit. Without it, most of us are just out of luck. But if you’re one of many Americans who are currently searching for ways to get out of debt while improving their credit, here are several credit cards you should stay away from:

1) The Visa Black Card

One of the more popular cards on the market, the Visa Black Card will cost you $500 per year just to use it. That’s not bad enough, you be sucked dry with 14.99% APR. While it’s quite an expensive card to own, it also doesn’t really come with any benefits either. If you have debt, the last thing you want to do is pay this kind of money use a card with little benefit.

2) Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card

Here’s another card was very little reward. You must pay an extra annual fee is to receive any benefit at all. Not to mention, this card has zero protection on it comes to arbitrary interest rates being increased. If you’re in debt, you shouldn’t be willing to subject yourself to higher and higher levels of interest.

3) First Premier Bank Platinum MasterCard

This card is another dozy. No wonder people are in a lot of debt! But if you don’t mind paying a $223 annual fee PLUS 36% APR, I’m sure you will be in line to get this one.

4) Centennial Classic Credit Card

This is another card issues by the same bank as #3. Just to open an account, you’ll need to dish out nearly $100. Fees will total around $120 per year with the same wonderful 35% APR.

5) Best Buy Reward Zone Credit Card

Sometimes people like to ‘invest’ in credit cards that offer a lot of rewards. For example, if you’re a fan of technology, games, and entertainment, then it would only be natural to have a credit card that offers you those rewards.

The problem is, the card is exceptionally expensive to own. Not only are you paying nearly 30% APR, but any interest fees you didn’t manage to pay will roll over into the next year, adding to your debt. Is that really worth the rewards you can only use at their store? This is why most themed reward cards are never good investments.

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10 Steps for Obtaining Financial Freedom in 2018

Written by adminJanuary 4, 2018
Credit & Debt Settlement

The New Year is finally here!

As the holidays wind down to a close and the earth completes yet another rotation around the sun, we tend to get sentimental about starting the new year right. It’s easy to reflect and see the things we want to improve upon while correcting the mistakes we did make.

Weight loss is usually at the top of all resolutions, either from the holiday gravy train that wouldn’t quit, or it’s the few pounds you quietly put on throughout the year. It’s not difficult to see the problem, but fixing it something else altogether.

The same goes for deciding to get your finances in order and obtain TRUE financial freedom!

Is such a thing possible?  YES! Here are ten ways for you to find financial freedom in 2018:

1) Determine where you’re at right now.

The simple fact is, you can’t figure out how to get to where you want to be if you don’t know where you’re currently at. Sit down at the table (with your spouse, if applicable) and go over everything. What are you worth? Are you in debt? Are you paying off your mortgage? How long until the car is paid off?

Go through your assets, subtract liabilities, and find out your overall net worth. It can be difficult to see any issues with your budget when you’re not proactive about seeing it all listed together. If you see you’re spending more than you’re bringing in and relying on credit to get by, then you have some important decisions to make.

But you won’t get there until you figure out this step first.

2) Exchange credit for debit

Unless you’re working on building better credit, your credit cards are only holding you back. We get into the cycle of buying everything on credit and paying MORE for it later with interest and fees. Is the convenience really worth spending more in the long run? Try to spend only what you can afford to right now, rather than borrowing.

3) Give yourself an allowance.

Even though step #2 says to use your debit card rather than your credit card, you can take things a step forward by using cash more often than cards. Determine what you need ahead of time for regular expenses, pull out the cash, and put the rest into savings. It’s easier to spend, spend, spend when you have a card, but can’t track what you have left like you do with cash.

4) Cut spending!

I’m sure you knew this was coming, but it’s true! Right now, in this modern technological age, we spend a lot of money on gadgets and plans. They are all convenient, but do you really need them? Can you survive on Netflix and Hulu while cutting the cord? That’s potentially $100 per month savings right there.

Look at your phone bill. Do you need unlimited everything, or can you survive perfectly fine with a cheaper plan? Can you plan to eat in more often and save more throughout the year? These are all conscience decisions you can make to drastically improve your bottom line. The only way to lose weight is to eat less. The same lesson applies here.

5) Plan your goals.

You probably have the same big goals I do. It’s one thing to have a dream in the back of your mind, and another to actually sit down and do the math. You can’t hope your goals into existence. No, you must plan for it and scrape together everything you can. It will be a journey getting from Point A to Point B, but it should be an enjoyable one.

Where do you see yourself next year? In 5 years? In 10? Think of all your short-term AND long-term goals and write them down.

6) Strategize your plan of attack.

The great thing about writing down your expenses and figuring out what to cut is you can actually see your plan coming into fruition. If you know you can cut “X” amount of dollars from your budget and stick that into a savings account, you’ll have an approximate idea on where those savings will take you.

You may not save a ton, and that’s perfectly fine! It’s always good to have a bit of extra saved in the bank, which brings us to the next point:

7) Have an emergency fund.

It was said recently that most people don’t even have access to $400 if they needed it for an emergency. That’s a sad statistic! We’re so busy living above our means and charging everything to credit (and paying more for it later) that we don’t actually think about our safety. It’s a good idea to have at least $1,000 in savings for an emergency.

8) Check your taxes.

I know in the previous points, where I say you should look at cutting your spending habits, you didn’t think I was going to suggest hiring a tax accountant, but it might very well be worth it in the long run!  Let’s face it, most of us are clueless and do our best to file as accurately as possible. Because we’re not experts, so we could be missing out on huge deductions we had no idea were possible!

9) Start paying off small debts.

Think of debt as the amount of weight you need to lose. You might step on the scale and see a large number, causing you to panic. How can you possibly lose all this weight?! The answer is simple, one pound at a time. The problem is, we think about ALL the weight we need to lose rather than the short-term progress and results we’ll experience.

Start cutting into your smaller debts and get those out of the way first. It will build your confidence and allow you to see yourself slowly gaining control of your finances. It’s a cool feeling to free yourself out from under its worrisome burden!

10) Keep your plan with you at all times.

Once you get all your numbers organized, write up your goals, and make a plan of action, turn your notes into canon. Officially recognize your plan as the way to move forward and stick with it. It will be difficult. There will be unforeseen events that pop up. Do not fret! The plan is solid and it will get you through!

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10 Ways to Save Money Each Month

Written by adminOctober 26, 2017
Credit & Debt Settlement

Saving money can seem nearly impossible when you don’t know what steps to take. Start with these 10 ideas to start spending less every month.

1. Consolidate Your Debt

If you have several types of debt, you can consolidate it into one account with a lower interest rate. Once you consolidate your loans, you only have to make one easy payment per month. As long as you get a lower interest rate, you could save hundreds of dollars a year.

2. Refinance Your Car Loan

Car loans don’t seem expensive when you get them. Those monthly payments add up quickly, though.
Talk to several banks in your area about refinancing your car loan. If one of them gives you a lower interest rate, then you can make your monthly payments more affordable. Even a few dollars each month will make a difference.

3. Find Cheaper Car Insurance

Take a few minutes to search for cheaper car insurance. Call your insurance company to ask them about a lower rate. You may have to increase your deductible, but it’s worth it as long as you don’t have an accident.
You should also get quotes from other insurance companies. You never know what kind of deals you’re missing until you get offers from several companies.

4. Consolidate Student Loans Into a Lower Monthly Payment

Repaying student loans can make it difficult for graduates to start saving money. You can often lower your monthly payment by consolidating your student loans.
When you consolidate your student loans, you could lock in a lower interest rate. Plus, you’ll only have to make one payment per month instead of worrying about loans from several lenders.

5. Use a Credit Repair Program to Get Lower Interest Rates

It’s hard to repair bad credit on your own. Consider talking to a credit repair program that will negotiate lower rates on your credit cards, loans, financed purchases and other debts. It helps to have a pro on your side.

6. Look for Cheaper Health Insurance

You can also save money by getting cheaper health insurance. Try looking for plans that don’t cover as many medical services. You can also increase your deductible to lower your monthly payment.
As long as you don’t get really sick or hurt, you won’t even notice the higher deductible.

7. Buy a New Car With Lower Payments

Sell or trade in your current car so you can get a vehicle with lower monthly payments. You’ll need to research several cars to make sure you save money, but it’s worth it. Plus, driving a new car means that you don’t have to pay a mechanic to fix mechanical problems that happen in older vehicles.

8. Get a Payday Loan Advance

If you can’t afford to pay your bills one month, get a payday loan instead of letting your credit report take a hit. Make sure you repay the lender as soon as possible, though, to avoid extra charges.

9. Find a New Credit Card With a Lower Interest Rate

It pays to shop around for a new credit card that gives you a lower interest rate. You’ll see a big difference in your monthly bill even if you only knock off a few percentage points.
Look for cards that will give you an interest-free trial period. That way, you can start paying off your debt without worrying about interest.

10. Take Your Lunch to Work

Grabbing lunch at a restaurant gives you a break from the workday, but it also costs a lot of money. Eating out for lunch costs about $11, so you can easily spend $50 from Monday to Friday. Taking your lunch only costs about $6.50.
Pack your lunch everyday to save about $90 a month.
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to save money when you know how to do it right. With these tips, you could start spending less and saving more!!

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10 Ways to Save Money Every Month

Written by adminOctober 26, 2017
Credit & Debt Settlement

Most Americans are interested in ways they can save money every month to pay off debt more quickly or put savings aside for their futures. Here are just ten ways you can save a little each month.

1. Keep a Budget

The first step in saving money is tracking how you spend it. When you start keeping a budget, you can begin to see where you’re spending too much. You may find you could cut back on eating out, start clipping coupons or skip that morning coffee habit to save some serious cash.

2. Consolidate Your Debt and Student Loans

The next step in saving is to track all your debts. Once you have a handle on how much you owe and what your interest rates are, it may make sense to consolidate your debts at a lower interest rate. This saves you money in the long term on interest payments and cuts down your minimum monthly payments.

3. Shop Around for Auto Insurance

Auto insurance companies will raise your rates every year. It’s a good idea to switch providers regularly to negotiate for lower rates. Also consider paying quarterly or annually to save money in the long run.

4. Decrease Your Monthly Car Expenses

Now that you’re tracking your budget, you may find you’re spending too much money on your car – either in monthly repairs, gas or your monthly payment. Consider making a change to your auto expenses by buying a different car that won’t cost as much in those categories or driving less to save on your gas bill.

5. Cut Out High-Interest Credit Cards

After you’ve tallied all your debts and interest rates, you may find some of your credit cards come with high interest fees. On top of that, your minimum payment covers mostly interest, which means your principal balance could take a very long time to pay off. Consider moving your credit card balance to a provider who will offer you a lower interest rate.

6. Enter Into a Credit Repair Program

If your credit is in bad shape, you may want to look into applying to be in a credit repair program. These programs allow you to get lower interest rates on your debt so you can work on rebuilding your credit score. Overall, you could save money and be in a better place financially to make important purchases down the road.

7. Lower Your Health Insurance Costs

Health insurance costs can be costly expenses. Talk to your HR representative at work (even if you only work part-time) or shop around online if you have insurance from the Health Insurance Marketplace. There may be a tax incentive or benefit you’re missing out on that could save you money.

8. Implement a 30-Day Rule

The biggest way to save money each month is to not buy things you don’t need. If you’re trying to get control over a shopping habit, try a 30-day rule, where you don’t buy anything until you’ve wanted it for 30 days. Keep a list of purchases you’d like to make and evaluate them over the next month to see if they’re things you really need.

9. Consolidate Your Student Loans

If you’re one of millions of college graduates who feel overwhelmed by your student loan debt, consider consolidating your loans. Through this process, you can merge multiple balances into a single balance to lower your monthly payment, interest rate, or both. It’s a great option for graduates who are struggling to make a dent in their overall loan debt.

Stick to a Grocery List

Rather than buying without a list and when you’re hungry, plan your weekly meals and stick closely to your list to avoid overspending at the grocery store. Also try sticking to the perimeter of the grocery; produce, dairy and proteins are both healthier and more cost-effective than processed foods in the center aisles.

If you’re looking to trim your budget, consider trying one, two or all ten of these simple money-saving hacks.

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5 Ways to Save $531 Every Month

Written by adminOctober 16, 2017
Saving


Your budget is bulging at the seams. You know there’s got to be a better way to budget, leave some room for an indulgence or two and save money. There is a way. Take the reins of your financial situation, treat yourself and potentially pocket $500 a month in savings.

1. Consolidate Unsecured Debt into One Lower Monthly Payment

Credit cards are an example of unsecured debt, and quite often, the most frequently cited reason for overwhelming monthly debt expense. If your monthly credit card payments are straining your budget to the bursting point, explore consolidation. The average household carries two to five cards and spends approximately $650 per month making payments. Consolidate those cards and reduce your monthly expense by $225-$325.

credit_card_debt

2. Refinance Auto Loans

A monthly car payment follows as a close second to your monthly rent or mortgage payment. It can be one of your biggest budget busters! Financing options for automobiles range between 48 to 72 months. Examine your current loan. It might be possible to refinance from a 48-month term to a longer period of 72 months and reduce the payment up to 50 percent! You could potentially save yourself several hundred dollars each month.

3. Re-Evaluate Auto (and Other) Insurance Needs

Life today is filled with all sorts of insurance requirements and needs. Medical, auto, life, home – and insurance is one of the most neglected areas of our lives when it comes to assessing for savings. As a general rule, we should evaluate our insurance needs on a yearly basis because of life changes that occur over time, e.g. marriage, divorce, etc.. That yearly review could net you 25-percent savings on insurance expense. So, if you’re currently spending $2,000 a year on all your insurance coverages, it could mean an extra $500 in your pocket each and every month.

4. Opt-In for Student Loan Consolidation

Student loans are big business. The average college graduate is carrying $30,000 in debt. Quite often, the debt is spread over three to five loans, with payments totaling more than 35 percent of the borrower’s monthly income. If you are one of the more than 1.3 million graduates struggling with monthly student loan payments, you should consider loan consolidation. There are federal as well as private options that allow you to consolidate into a single loan option with one monthly payment. Federal programs will also allow you to choose an option based on your monthly income; if you’re just starting your career and your monthly income is at a lifetime low, this option could reduce your payment to a much lower level. With three to five loans, you could be paying as much as $400 each month; consolidated, the monthly payment would be closer to $250 per month. You could realize a monthly savings of over $150!

Did you know that there are actually companies out there that specialize in consolidating your loans insanely quickly and efficiently?  Used by millions…Click here to find out more.

student_loan

5. Explore a Credit Repair Option

Quite often, bulging (or completely busted) budgets lead us down the dangerous path of poor credit. Missed payments, late payments and loans that are in default contribute to declining credit scores. As a result, obtaining new credit becomes more difficult, and if approved, it comes with a higher interest rate. Proactively working to repair your credit file really does save you money, it’s just that it doesn’t happen overnight. However, if you realized any savings from the options presented above, you can, with persistence, improve your credit score. Begin to make payments that are more than the minimum, make payments early and strive to reduce the amount of debt that you carry. All of these steps work to improve your credit score, and an improved credit score opens doors to better credit options.
So what are you waiting on? Get up off the couch, explore all the options in this article and watch the expenses shrink, the budget improve and your savings grow! All while you sip that special latte!

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10 Easy Ways to Keep More Money in Your Pocket

Written by adminOctober 16, 2017
Saving


When you’re already living paycheck to paycheck, it can seem impossible to save money. The usual sites offering financial advice aren’t too useful either with their suggestions for better stock investments and squirreling away hundreds of bucks a month. Well, we’re here to help with a few of our favorite tips you can actually use. They won’t make you rich, but they’ll help you stretch your dollar a little bit further and give you some breathing room.

1. Student Loan Consolidation

If you have multiple student loans from different years, reach out to your lender or one that specializes in refinancing and consolidate them into one. You’ll usually get a lower interest rate that will allow you to pay down debt faster.

2. Credit Card Debt Consolidation

Look around for a new credit card with a balance transfer promotion of 0 percent or very low interest for a set amount of time. Transfer all or part of a balance from your highest APR card and pay it off. Just be sure to transfer only what you know you can pay off before the promotional period ends.

3. Get a Card with a Lower APR

Get a credit card with the lowest APR possible. Whatever you do, don’t get behind on it; that can trigger late fees and a penalty APR that could even affect your card rates with other lenders.

4. Repair Your Credit

The better shape your credit report is in, the better credit card terms you can expect. This means lower rates, higher credit limits and sometimes extra perks like cash back. If your credit could use some help, look into a credit repair program to help get your credit back on track.

5. Reduce Health Insurance Costs

Generally speaking, the healthier you are, the less expensive you are to insure. Doing things like stopping smoking and drinking and losing weight make you a better bet for insurance companies. Make sure your progress is noted in your annual physical and then contact your insurer for a review.

6. Reduce Car Insurance Costs

The safer you drive, the better your insurance rates will be. If it’s been a while since your last accident or traffic violation, contact your insurance provider to negotiate a better rate.

7. Refinance Your Car Loan

If you’re still making payments on a car you bought when your credit was worse, contact your lender to ask about refinancing your loan at a lower APR. If they won’t play ball, threaten to refinance through another bank. If that doesn’t work, take your business elsewhere.

8. Buy a New Car

Let’s say you’re not actually making car payments. Instead, you own a beater you’re dragging into the shop every week. It sounds counterintuitive, but you might look into buying a brand-new car. Not only will you have a much more reliable ride, but new cars will stay under warranty for a number of years, meaning less money you have to shell out for repairs and routine maintenance.

9. Get a Prepaid Phone

Traditional cell phone contracts often include all sorts of unnecessary extras you never use, so why are you paying for them? Prepaid service is just as reliable and often much cheaper than a contract. You do have to pay for the phone upfront instead of getting it free with a new contract, but you’ll save money in the long run by only paying for the services you actually need and use.

10. Cut the Cable

You’re paying a premium for all those cable channels that never show anything you want to see. Well, it’s time to break up with your cable company. You can keep it for internet service, but cut out the TV subscription. Sign up for online streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and others to watch what you want at a fraction of the cost of a monthly TV cable bill.

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