Planning for your retirement is obviously a good idea. The phrase "the earlier, the better" describes what your policy should be for handling your transition from a harried work life to your relaxed golden years. At best, take twenty four to eighteen months to prepare for this significant change in your life.
1. Cleaning Up
Try to pay off any outstanding debts or fiscal responsibilities before moving on, especially those that are hedged against your retirement plan. If you don't, you'll probably be paying them out of your pension/savings and that is an incredibly bad idea for a retired individual.
2. Doing the Paperwork
A year before you retire would be a good time for you to start doing the necessary paperwork for your retirement. Birth certificates, passports and other identity papers should help smooth your transition to a senior citizen.
3. Health Care
Always check with the employee benefits department six months to a year before retirement. Ask them how your health insurance will change once you're not a member of the company. Depending on the answer, you may have to look around for new or additional insurance for yourself. Also, take into consideration any continuing ailments that you may have. Covering them with health insurance is a good idea, since they may take out a significant part of your retirement income.
4. Budgeting For Yourself
Check what your income sources will be after retirement. This can be from your employer - with the company's own pension plan, Social Security and your own personal savings. After that, make a budget that would fit your approaching financial situation. You really need to do this well in advance, so that you may be able to change it for any required adjustments such as paying for new medical insurance and other expenses that may pop up. A year should give you a large enough margin to prepare. If you're having trouble balancing it all, a financial advisor is a good investment. Try to find one that has a good solid reputation so as to avoid any problems.
5. Making a New Tax Payment Plan
Switching from your salary to your retirement income is a big change but you still have to pay taxes for that change. After retiring, contact your tax advisor on what forms you'll have to submit and how to set up a good payment plan so that you'll be able to maximize what you can out of your payout from retiring.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Preparing for Your Golden Years
Why Retirement Is The Best Part of Your Life
Sometimes transitioning from your workaholic daily life to a relaxed rhythm of the golden years is not easy. Some people have difficulty finding the same feeling of accomplishment they had while working in the fast lane. They see retirement as a dead end. This shouldn't be so - retirement is retiring from your job not your life. It's like shifting to the slow lane on a highway - less demanding, more relaxed and even pleasurable.
Put things into perspective: remember the days at your job when you wanted to chuck it all in and go off to relax somewhere. Think of the times when you just wanted to kick back and not care about anything at all. Retirement is all about that. You may dislike the slower pace but, in the end, it is what you've been working towards in your job and it is time that you enjoy the fruits of your labors. It’s finally time to handle life on your terms!
All your anxiety and restlessness is just a reaction to the change you're experiencing. Make no mistake; retirement is a major life change that brings with all that it entails - a bit of emotional displacement and depression. You can handle it like all the other changes in life: go with the flow and learn to adapt.
When the honeymoon phase of retirement is over, you will inevitably feel all these things and more. This is where you start to figure out ways to spend your retirement time - what you want to do, how much time you want to spend on whatever interest you have and what interests to pursue. The difference here from your working days is the fact that you'll be answering to no one but yourself, not the company boss or the company itself. This is your "me" time and it will last for the rest of your life. You may have put your dreams on hold when you went to work and began making a living - why not start them up again?
Here are a few more pointers that may help you on how to enjoy your golden years:
- Sharpen your talents: Singing, dancing and many other interests may have been hard to pursue during your working years, but retirement offers you the opportunity to enjoy and even improve them.
- Reaching out: All the people you've met through the years and your old friends that you've fallen out of contact of, people you wished to know more about and to keep in touch with? What better way to spend your golden years but to revive these old ties and hook up with old pals?
- Travel: It's always good to see the rest of the world and now you have a lot of time to spare. Pack your bags and call your travel agent, it's time to go on a trip!
These are just a few suggestions. Remember, when you're in your golden years, the sky's the limit!
Credit Card Debt
In the world of credit cards, credit debt is all too common. Debt from credit cards can be very stressful, and lead to a very crippling situation. No one is immune to credit card debt, as even students can experience debt with their credit cards as well. With people using their credit cards more these days, more and more people continue to take the plunge into debt. Debt is never good, as it leads to bankruptcy and the destruction of your credit report.
Even though getting in credit card debt is simple to do, getting out of it is something that takes a lot of work. Even if you go to an agency or company that specializes in helping people out of debt, it won’t happen overnight. To get out of debt, it will take you quite a bit of time and effort as you get the debt under control and begin the long process of rebuilding your credit.
To properly defend yourself from credit card debt, you’ll need to know quite a bit about credit, managing your money, and finances in general. Normally, you can stay out of debt by creating an ideal budget and saving money whenever you can. If you stick to this plan and avoid steering away from it, you’ll normally have no problems staying out of debt.
If you have other credit cards that you don’t use, such as store credit cards that are known for high interest rates, you should dispose of them. If you have a lot of open accounts, you should look into debt consolidation, which will combine all of your debts into one payment so you can get them out of the way quicker. By using debt consolidation services, you will only have one bill to pay.
When you receive your credit card bill, you should always strive to pay more than just the minimum. If you only pay the minimum amount, you could very well end up being in debt the rest of your life - as you could be paying nothing but the interest. Every month, you should strive to pay the minimum amount and then some. Paying more than the minimum amount will also help to pay off your credit card bill faster as well.
No matter how much credit card debt you are in, you can always find debt management services and agencies that will help you fight back. Credit card debt is very common these days, something many of us have experienced. Although there are ways out of credit card debt, the best way to get out of it is to avoid it all together. If you pay your bills on time and never miss a payment - you’ll always live a debt free lifestyle.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Worry-Free Retirement
Planning can be a tedious activity especially if you are planning for retirement. Many people realize how advantageous financial planning for retirement can be while others find it mysterious.
In fact, most experts say that for people who are only making enough money to make due payments in each month, then it means that they should start contemplating on how they can still make money even if they are already retired.
Surveys show that almost 75% of the American population is earning enough money to pay their monthly bills. This means that they do not have any extra money to put in a bank or in any financial institution that could provide them enough profit after their retirement.
What's more Social Security is not enough guaranteed income for retired people to live on. Actually, it is still a big question if one’s Social Security will still exist when the retirement day comes.
Hence, it is extremely important to generate some methods that will provide an individual a reasonable amount of money in the future. This should be done regardless of how much an individual earns, the important thing is to start saving today.
1. Visualize and calculate
It is important for a person to visualize his or her own situation after retirement. Then, you can calculate how much money is needed to live on after retirement. Furthermore, people need earnings that compensate 75% of the present amount that he or she is expected to take home.
2. It is important to seek the help of a financial planner or any person competent in financial planning.
By asking for advice from the experts, you will be able to gain more knowledge know how to proceed for you situation. These people are proficient and knowledgeable in all kinds of financial planning and they can provide the most feasible and workable approach for your individual needs.
3. Get rid of loans, debts, and other financial obligations in as little time as possible.
By simply paying off all debts, loans, and other financial obligations in a shorter period of time, you can realize a substantial amount to invest for that retirement. A good financial planner will know exactly how to direct you so you can meet your retirement goals.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Money Saving Tips When Buying A Car
Going to the car dealer and buying one of the vehicles is something a person is unable to do everyday. It's not because the customer can't fit this into the daily schedule but because it costs a lot of money.
The average price for most cars in the United States is from $15,000 - $18,000 and this will be more expensive when choosing to get an SUV or a van for the home.
Given the high cost of fuel, is it still worth it to get one? Yes, because it is more convenient to go to work, do some shopping activities that the family may have during weekends and holidays.
The price of a car is something many Americans won’t be able to earn in 6 months. By following these tips, you may be able to get right vehicle that is really value for money.
1. You should decide what kind of car is suitable for the home. How many people live in the house and who will be using it? Will it be used to carry anything heavy? These are just a few factors that you must put into consideration.
2. After answering all these questions, it is now time to visit the various dealers to check the models that fit the criteria listed above.
Some things to focus on are the price, miles per gallon and safety features. You must remember not all the brands offer the same amenities as the other.
3. The information given by the sales agent is just one side of the story. Reading some material from automobile magazines that review the model’s performance over others available on the market will be better.
4. It will be a good idea to park the current vehicle a block or two away from the dealer. Agents who see the type of car driven in can gage the price range that will be offered to you. This may not give you some leeway when it is time for the negotiations.
5. There are ways to save money even when thinking of buying a new car. Some companies give discounts if a bigger down payment is paid up front. Others throw in freebies and other things if a car is traded in.
By doing some research and playing it smart, you will be able to save money and drive off the dealer’s lot with a new car.
Priorities Bring Focus to Family Budgeting
Often times, the family budget is a source of conflict. Most of the time, the major earner makes the final financial decision, which isn’t always a welcome deal for the rest. Since money is such an intrinsic part of family life, families need to achieve accord in this aspect. There is a four-step cycle in budgeting the family money to maintain peace and harmony.
1. Set your priorities.
Priorities are different from goals. They are aspects in your family’s life that you, as a family, want to set focus on, say health or children’s future. While goals are specific targets that support priorities.
In setting priorities, do not set too many as it defeats the purpose. Ideally, there should only be one, but because life is not ideal, 2 to 3 are reasonable.
As the priorities are set and agreed upon, write them down. Post the paper where everybody can see them to remind them of what your family is focused on for the next few years.
2. List down your goals.
Once the family has set and agreed on priorities, the next step is to set the goals. Goals are specific and measurable conditions that, when achieved, will support the priorities.
In setting goals, establish a target that is both challenging yet achievable. A 10-15% of the family’s income is a good savings target for a child’s future education: stretching yet reachable.
Try to limit your family into setting 1-2 goals per priority, to maintain focus.
3. Work towards your goals.
After setting your priorities and goals, start living by them. All of the family’s activities will be geared towards working at your goals. Track progress, particularly on financial goals, by using an income and expense-tracking tool. The simplest way is to get a notebook and list down all expenses and incomes and set a budget for future spending. There are those that invest in computer software or a family accountant. Whatever it is, the important thing is to have a system of monitoring the family’s performance towards achieving their goals.
4. Evaluate your family life.
At a certain point in time, when you feel like it’s time to evaluate your life, check how your family is doing against the goals. Goals that have been achieved can be checked off the list, and new ones can be formulated.
At times, in major changes, say a career move, or when a family member goes away, it may be time to re-evaluate priorities. When such a time comes, then the cycle begins, just like what it’s for: life!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Why Banking Works?
When it comes to financial management, even business professionals reach a consensus as to what is the most effective, reliable, and secure means to manage your money, and that is through the bank. Your bank is an effective means to manage your bills payments, keep track of your transactions, receive your income and whatever extraneous cash inflow, and help you save effectively.
The last one is perhaps the most obvious feature of the bank that people do not take advantage of. A bank, being a financial intermediary, can actually help you save money efficiently. Here’s how.
First, you are required to keep what is called a maintaining balance in your bank account. This means that even if you make deductions in your account, the bank requires you to save a bare minimum in order to continue enjoying their services. And yes, that translates to a forced saving on your part.
Another feature of bank saving is the fact that you are free to continuously add to your account whenever you can. Otherwise, your money will remain safe in your bank. Moreover, while it’s staying in the bank, you are actually earning interest rates on your money.
What are savings interest rates? These are payments made by the bank to you for leaving your money in the bank. By depositing your money in the bank, your bank utilizes a portion of it in its loan operations where it subsequently earns through interest and loan charges. In effect, the income they receive trickles down to you, their source of money. This savings interest rate is actually an effective incentive system. Why so? If you save more money in your bank account through your deposits and savings, you end up receiving a higher return on the savings interest rate than other people would.
Banks have a threshold amount for you to be able to participate in the bank’s long-term, higher yield savings schemes. Time-deposit accounts, mutual funds and the like require you to leave your money untouched for a longer period of time. In exchange for the bank’s use of your money for a longer period of time, the percentages of interest return are double those that you would get in a regular savings account. You can add increments of a certain amount in order to increase the capital you invest in your time-deposit account or mutual fund. An increased account obviously translates to bigger interest gains.
Talk to your local bank about their savings schemes. They offer various mechanisms to encourage us consumers to entrust our money to them. In a bank, your money is in a safe place, and it is growing while it stays there.
How to Cheat On Wedding Preparation Costs (Don’t Worry, it’s Legal)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Christian Debt Relief
Debts can hit anybody, Christians or non-Christians alike. But for Christian loaners and debtors, there is a special group of people to accommodate your debt management services, the Christian way.
If you are a Christian, it would be better that you get the services of Christian debt relief companies. Here are the reasons why:
1. They genuinely help. People with Christian values are expected to deliver good results if only to profess their faiths to the rest. People who are living in the light are supposed to be doing what is right and godly. They aren't supposed to fool you or take advantage of your situation.
2. The group incorporates human development plans into debt relief strategies. Christian debt relief services also aims for a better human advancement. They believe in the essence of a person and that should be one of the important things that have to be integrated in the goal of setting one to be free of debts.
3. They don't delay debt relief. They are bent on helping others and they give it immediately. The aid is sometimes even given without asking anything else in return. One of the goals of their company is to free all people from debts in the best way possible.
4. They build partnerships. And this doesn't mean just a regular partnership. What they build is a lasting relationship between them and their clients. It is done so everybody will feel comfortable in their respective situation.
5. They understand. These people don't help merely out of profit and personal gains. They do it mostly for humanitarian purposes. They even do it to promote their good office in such a way more people will come to them, either Christians or non-Christians.
6. You are sure to be offered realistic expectations. With a Christian debt relief service, you are given accurate information all the time. And these are professionally handed to you in a manner you can use it to your advantage.
7. You are guided accordingly. A Christian debt relief service will sure help you every step of the way, until you get to your main goal. And that is to be debt-free for the rest of your life. A Christian debt relief will surely do that for you.
These are the good points why you should select a Christian debt relief company over others. But it really doesn’t matter whether you are a Christian or not, you are sure to benefit if you go to them.
Monday, February 18, 2008
What Are Expenses?
Society is becoming so commercialized that no person is exempt from this world-wide phenomenon called spending and mounting expenses. The high cost of living has paved the way for an increase in the spending habits of people.
An expense refers to the disbursement or spending and it generally has something to do with money. Anyone who lives in the 21th century isn't exempt from having expenditures even just for day to day living.
Expenses can either be essential or those expenses necessary for the survival of a person, or non-essential expenses, which refer to expenses that aren't really necessary or are considered as luxury expenses.
The most common and essential expense are those spent for food and for the daily subsistence of a person. A person couldn't survive without food and water so almost all people are forced to spend money on these items. Expenses for housing utilities like water and light are also considered essential expenses because any household couldn't operate efficiently without them.
For people on the go, the cost of fuel or fare is also considered an essential expense because they couldn't go about their daily work without spending for these items.
Essential expenses are the expenditures that a person couldn't live without because these are necessary for the day to day subsistence of a person. Try scrimping on food expenses and any person will soon realize how essential food is in the daily household budget.
People work so they will earn money that will be used to pay for their essential expenses. A person who isn't lucky enough to get a good paying job will definitely have no choice but to lessen the budget even for his essential expenses. This means cutting back on his basic needs like food, water and power consumption and even his toiletries.
However, there are some people who earn less but still spend more for their household expenses. These people have failed to manage their finances and they will soon be deep in shit. The key to successful household management is to limit the expenses to the minimum.
The expenses of every person differ and the money allotted for each type of expenses depends on the priorities of the person. While each person has a household expense, there are other expenses that are necessary to fulfill his various responsibilities in life.
A person who is engaged in business will definitely be familiar with business expenses. These are the necessary expenses to run a business and sometimes it is called overhead expenses. Any entrepreneur should keep his expenses at a minimum and it should be much less than the total sales of the business so that the business will be able to make a profit.
An entrepreneur can have expenditures related to the promotion of the business, advertising, maintenance of the business establishment like expenses for power and water, salaries and wages for the employees and other expenses. A person who works at home can claim a certain percentage of the household expense as a business expense.
While business enterprises should cut back on their overhead expenses to get a decent margin of profit, a homeowner should keep his household expenses to the minimum to achieve a reasonable savings. Savings advocates however argue that savings shouldn't be the remaining cash after the expenses are deducted from the total income. They say savings should be deducted from the total income first and the remaining cash should be the basis of the monthly budget of the person.
Every person who wants to profit and to achieve savings should be a wise spender. Each person can keep the expenses at a minimum by availing of grocery sales, promotions, and free coupons. A person can choose to buy a cheaper product with the same functions and quality as another known product which is more expensive.
It is always wise to become a critical spender so manage your finances wisely and keep the expenses low by availing of different strategies like buying from the bakeshop when it is near closing time as most shops discount their bread products by as much as fifty percent during this time.
There are a thousand and one ways to save money and keep expenses low; it is however up to you to achieve these goals.
How to Manage Your Expenses to Get Out of Debt
It’s very easy to know what to do to get out of debt; it’s the doing, however, that’s the difficult part.
The Problem is How You Feel about Saving Money
Most people find it hard to save money. Don’t make the mistake however of thinking that it’s impossible to do so. Once you start feeling that your situation’s hopeless, you’ll never be able to pay off your debts. The trick is to think positive; it’s simple but it works.
Be Realistic about Creating a Budget
Don’t eliminate expenditures like there’s no tomorrow. Forcing yourself to live a Spartan existence will only stress you out more and make you less able to pay off your expenses. You need to have your budget work on the first try because it will give you exactly the motivation you need for the succeeding months.
Be Practical about the Budget
It’s okay to leave a little space for personal expenses in your budget if you can afford it. Don’t however overindulge yourself as that will just get you back to square one and with even more creditors pounding on your door.
Focus on the Credit Card with the Highest Interest Rate First
The card with the highest rate is always accompanied by the most demanding creditor. So, for your own sake, it’s better to get rid of the creditor with the most at stake. Then, proceed on eliminating credit card debt until you end up with only the credit cards that have low interest rates and well-mannered creditors.
Cash, Please
Leave your credit cards behind. If you feel that you’re absolutely unsafe without plastic money, take just one credit card with you and no more than that. Credit card purchases are always more expensive than cash purchases. Even if you don’t see or feel it, you’ll save lots of money on interest alone just by paying cash.
Lowering Credit Limits
If possible, ask for your credit card and phone company to lower your credit limit. This will ensure that you won’t go over the budget no matter what you do.
Know the Right Places to Shop
When you’re on your penny-saving days, it’s time to say a temporary farewell to your favorite designer boutiques and your other expensive fancy pursuits. It’s time to cut back on the good life and make use of all the discount coupons you can cut out off magazines.
If you still don’t think you can save money and lessen your expenditures, you still have one more option left to get rid of debt: find ways to earn more money!
How to Pay Off Debt
Michael and Ronnie have been dating for quite awhile. Less than a year later, the couple decided to get married. The expenses for the ceremony were way beyond the means of both that until now, the couple is still paying off this debt.
What is debt? This means something a person owed. This is usually in the form of money with corresponding interests given back to the creditor.
Is it easy to pay off a debt? Yes but it is going to take some hard work and sacrifice before the individual can live a considerate lifestyle again.
The reality is that there isn't enough money to pay off the loan in one swift stroke. This is because the spouses have to also spend on other things for daily living such as rent, gas, food and clothes.
One way to pay off debt slowly will be borrowing money from family and friends. A certain amount can be collected and returned later on without returning this back with interest.
It sometimes takes two heads or more to work better than one. If the couple has a hard time controlling the expenses, perhaps getting the help of a financial expert is in order. These professionals can deal with the banks and even consolidate the remaining amount by up to 40%.
The spouses will have to write down all the expenses. The expert will then help cross out those that aren't important. As long as the two follow the plan, a calculation can be made as to how long before the debt is paid.
Aside from dealing with this situation in one front, the couple mustn't forget to deal with rent and other bills that come at the end of the month. Being focused on one and neglecting the other can also do some damage.
The worse thing is getting a bad credit rating, which will make it difficult for anyone to apply for a credit card or a much needed loan in the future.
People must remember that it is one thing to spend on something and another when getting the bill and reading the fine print.
The only way to get out of a debt is to pay for it. By getting help from people and learning to spend within the available means, Michael and Ronnie can recover from this obstacle and work hard to prevent it from ever happening.
Five Great Ideas to Save Money
Want to save money but don’t know how? Feel like depriving yourself when it comes to saving money? Don’t be disheartened. Try these five money saving ideas, without breaking up a sweat!
Reduce or eliminate magazines. If you are a typical American family, your mailbox gets its regular fill of magazines: business, sports, home and garden magazines. Can you imagine how much each of these subscriptions cost? Annually, it is an average of about $20 per magazine. If your family is subscribed to 5 different magazines, that’s already $100 savings per year! If you still need the information from such mags, try to check out their websites and you’ll be surprised at how much free information is available!
Buy in bulk. How can warehouse and discount clubs drastically lower their prices? Because they buy and sell in bulk. And so should you! Consumables that are non-perishable can be purchased 10-15% cheaper when bought in bulk. Be sure to stock up only on fast-moving items such as kitchen towels, cleaners, canned goods, etc., to avoid wasting money on rancid food.
Eat at home. Eating out has become an American lifestyle. What used to be an activity to celebrate special occasions has become part of the daily, fast-paced life. But did you know that eating out could chomp as much as 40% of your budget for food? That’s as much as $40 weekly, saved just by eating in!
Plan your meals. Eating out 4X a week need not be your solution to a dynamic lifestyle. Menu planning is! Take time on weekends to plan for the following week’s meals. Every night, before you hit the sack, take out the ingredients for the meals of the next day from the freezer, and store them in the refrigerator. By the time you get home from work, everything is thawed and ready to be cooked. And because eating out is part of the American way of life, you would have saved enough money to spend for dining out on special occasions!
Homemade skin care. Is your dermatologist eating up your budget? Don’t you wish you can be beautiful and save money at the same time? The answer is yes, you can! By using ingredients from your pantry, you can take care of your skin and still save a fortune. Try the following:
- Honey and oatmeal can exfoliate dry skin.
- Ginger seeped in a bath softens your skin.
- Cucumber and milk softens tired skin.
Without drastically changing your lifestyle, you have started your path on saving money. Secure your future by using these money saving ideas, today!
7 Ways to Boost Your Retirement Income
Retirement contributes almost 1/3 of a person's life. It is for this reason that retirement should be given preparation and planning. Many Americans forget to save or just ignore their retirement. It’s very easy when you are young to think you have time to consider retirement later. However, the years roll by quickly and you can find yourself approaching middle age with no plan in place.
You need to start now and think of better ways to prepare for that time. It doesn’t mean that money will also retire once a person has retired. Here are some ways on how you can boost your retirement income:
1. Start saving now. It is never too late to start saving even for a little amount of money. When you save money, make it as untouchable as possible. Allocate your cash on your savings starting today and you will be surprised by the amount of money you will have by the time you retire if you start now.
2. Make a review of your finances and revise your budget. Reviewing your expenses will help you analyze where you spend your money the most. This will help you to cut your expenses and eliminate the things that you do not really need. This also teaches you on how to choose your priorities and weigh the things that really matter in your lifestyle. If golf is something that you can live without, why not allocate the money you spend on golf in your savings?
3. Review your insurance terms. Increasing your deductibles will help you cut your premiums to 20%. Do not count on Social Security or your pension plan.
4. You may want to make a quarterly payment on your taxes instead of being automatically deducted from your retirement distributions. You can also seek the help of a tax advisor regarding this issue.
5. Consider where you take your distributions. You may want to withdraw funds from your Social Security first, then your taxable investments like the IRA. The main purpose here is that you should be able to cover your monthly expenses, lessen your tax fees and save as much money as possible.
6. Research investments that are intended for retirement. There are establishments that offer an investment while in retirement. You may want to get involved with with-profit bonds, stock market bonds, individual savings account, distribution bonds, and venture capital trusts.
7. Make use of your company plans. If your current company offers retirement services and then consider contributing the maximum amount. This will help you take advantage of pre-tax contributions.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Is Re-Financing Worth the Hassle?
Some homeowners may never re-finance while others may re-finance frequently. This is a decision which is largely a matter of personal preference. Sure there are some financial benefits which may result from re-financing but for some homeowners these benefits are not worth the hassle of going through a mortgage re-finance. For these homeowners the amount of savings overall or the opportunity to lower monthly payments is simply not worth the effort of investigating the re-financing options, comparison shopping for lenders and paying closing costs to obtain a re-finance.
Are Some Homeowners Just Lazy?
Yes, let’s face it we have all visited a friend’s house to find dust bunnies under the couch or unfolded laundry lying on the floor. However, laziness is usually not the culprit when a homeowner opts not to refinance despite the opportunity for an overall savings or lower monthly payments. In these cases the homeowner may simply decide not to re-finance because they are not confident in making the right decision. These homeowners essentially decide they are happy with their current financial situation and are not willing to make changes which may or may not improve this condition. It is likely that these same homeowners would re-finance their home if all the work was done for them and they were guaranteed an improved financial situation.
Do Some Homeowners Just Not Understand the Financial Benefits?
This may be true as well. Homeowners who do not fully comprehend the potential savings which may be involved in re-financing are not likely to undergo the re-financing process. For these homeowners it may seem as though the efforts are not worthwhile for the benefits that are received. If the homeowner had a clearer understanding of the situation they might have a different opinion but in this case the homeowners may be unable to comprehend the ramifications of a re-finance.
Consider the factors involved in re-financing. Most of the equations use to justify the benefits of re-financing are rather complex. There are calculators available online which make it extremely simple for homeowners to enter the known information and obtain the desired results. However, these calculators typically do not explain how the calculations are performed. This can make it hard for some homeowners to simply accept the results produced by these calculators. When this is the case the homeowner is not likely to be inclined to automatically accept the results generated by these calculators. Additionally, the homeowner may not consider re-financing until they are able to confirm these calculations. Depending on the homeowner’s mathematical skills, this could be either a short process or a long process.
Can You Convince a Homeowner to Re-Finance?
This is a hard question to answer because it depends on a number of factors. Some homeowners may be extremely trusting and may be convinced to re-finance with little effort at all. Conversely some homeowners may be quite guarded in terms of their financial situation. These homeowners may be suspicious of claims that the re-financing can improve their financial situation. These suspicions can make it extremely difficult for a homeowner to be convinced to make a change. Once suspicions begin to develop the homeowner may either seek out more information on the subject or become less receptive to additional information. While one case may lead to the homeowner being more likely to be convinced to re-finance the other case will likely make him less willing to re-finance.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Decision to Re-Finance
The decision to re-finance a home mortgage is a serious decision which should not be taken lightly. Homeowners should give this decision a great deal of consideration to ensure they are making the best possible decision for their financial situation and personal needs. Some factors to consider when deciding whether or not to re-finance is the type of loan to choose, the lender to choose, the costs associated with re-financing and the hassle of the process.
Consider All of the Options
Homeowners who are seriously considering re-financing owe it to themselves to consider all of the options available to them. They may have a friend who recently refinanced with a specific type of loan but this might not be the solution for all homeowners. Each homeowner should consider their situation to be individual and not likely to closely mirror the situations of others.
Some of the options to consider include the type of re-financing loan. The basic options are fixed interest rates and adjustable interest rates. There are also mortgages which combine these two options. The homeowner may have a specific type of mortgage in mind but the lender may or may not be willing to offer the homeowner this type of loan. Lenders are more likely to offer fixed interest mortgages to homeowners with good credit and adjustable rate mortgages to homeowners with poor credit.
Consider the Lender
Homeowners will also have to carefully consider the lender they select. This is important because not all lenders are going to be willing to offer the same interest rates and terms to the homeowner. Homeowners may have to receive quotes from several different lenders in a short period of time to make an accurate comparison. This is important because interest rates can change without notice and homeowners who wait too long to make a decision may find the rate they were originally quoted is no longer available to them.
When selecting a lender the homeowner should also consider how responsive the lender is to their questions. This is important because a lender who does not pay attention to the homeowner or respond to their inquiries in a timely fashion can make the process of re-financing considerably more stressful than necessary. Selecting a lender who offers slightly higher rates but is more responsive may be warranted.
Consider the Cost of Re-Financing
Re-financing is not cheap. There are certain costs associated with re-financing. These costs are typically very similar to the closing costs associated with securing an original mortgage on a property. These costs may include application fees, loan origination fees, property taxes, appraisal fees and other miscellaneous items. These costs can be quite extensive and homeowners may find they are often left paying more than the benefits they are going to gain from re-financing. In this type of situation the homeowner should make the decision not to re-finance because it is not a financially sound decision.
Consider the Hassle of Re-Financing
Let’s face it; re-financing can be an absolute hassle. The time and energy spent researching different re-financing options and contacting lenders to see who will offer the most favorable rates can be quite taxing. A homeowner should consider the time and effort required for this endeavor in deciding whether or not to re-finance. Simply stated, refinancing is a hassle and homeowners may better spend their time with family and friends rather than running around trying to find the best rates in town.
Money Saving Tips for Your Retirement
Preparing for your retirement is an important thing that you should consider while you are still working. Saving for your retirement could be the best decision when you are starting an early career life. However, this could be the last priority that most young people do while they work.
They invest on things that can satisfy their personal needs and wants forgetting their future and realizing it when they near retirement. This is the time that they become more anxious and motivated to save money. However, saving late for your retirement could be less effective. You won't have the time to invest and save more money for a secure and better future.
If you have realized that now is the right time for you to invest and save for your retirement, you should learn how you could change your lifestyle and start budgeting your money. You may also include a retirement plan for your future. Here are some tips on how to save more money in preparation for your retirement.
1. You should determine the right age for you to retire. This will help you in determining how long you can save. In this way, you can have an idea on how much you could save each time you receive your paycheck.
2. Choose a retirement plan that is best for you. You may choose a personal savings plan, an employer sponsored plan, or a self-employment plan. There are contributions that you will have to pay on each plan. These will serve as your investments. Your contributions will grow and they are tax-free until the time you reimburse them for your retirement.
3. Invest on stocks that can provide you long-term profits. In this way, you can be aggressive and more confident on other investments. You may also prefer investments that are volatile for short-term profits if you are nearing your retirement.
4. You should consider the charges and commissions offered by the plan provider. In most cases, plan providers have different trading fees on their plans. There are plans that will hold your accounts on mutual funds and investments.
5. You should estimate how much money you will need after you retire. It is better to have enough money during your retirement age. The money you save may be used for your housing, medical needs and other expenses.
Start saving early and prepare for your retirement. You should be motivated in limiting your expenses and focus on saving money for your future. Set goals for yourself so that you can determine the things that you may need to have now and for your future.
Appreciation -
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Save Money even When Kids are Around
You should be an example for your kids when it comes to saving money. Your kids are smart enough to understand the value of saving and managing their own money. You should deal with your kids about money management at an early age. In this way, you will teach them the importance of having a good financial habit while applying it as they grow.
Kids may learn how to deal with their money by teaching them and allowing them to experience how to handle an allowance. Kids having a budgeted allowance will make their spending choices more reasonable. They will also appreciate the things that they buy when they use their money.
When determining how much money you will give them, you should know the things that they need to buy for school. Let them make their choices on what food or items they will buy at school. Most of the time kids allot their allowances for the things they spend in school, sharing it with their friends, or saving a portion of their allowance for future uses. Here are some tips on how to give your kids a reasonable allowance that they can manage.
1. You have to decide how much money you will give your kids for the week. Know the expenses that they will spend in school such as meals, classroom daily contributions and other miscellaneous expenses.
2. Teach your child to work for his allowance. You may assign several weekly tasks that he can do conveniently. He may do the dishes for you, clean the kitchen, or clean his room. In this way, he will value his allowance more since he worked for it.
3. Teach your child how to make the right purchases. In this way, he will learn to select the items that he needs most.
4. You may spend some time in helping your kids to understand how to manage and count money wisely. Let them pay simple buys when in the mall or at a store.
You should always monitor your kids’ use of the money. You can ask them what they bought for their allowances for the day. In this way, you can guide them on what reasonable items they will spend for their allowances. Discuss with your kids that it is important to manage their allowances. This will help them develop a sense of responsibility in saving money.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Is Re-Financing Always Worthwhile?
This is a very important question which all homeowners should ask themselves both at the start and towards the end of the process of re-financing. The answer to this question can spur the homeowner to investigate re-financing further or convince the homeowner to table the thoughts of re-financing for the moment and concentrate on other aspect of owning a home.
Establish Financial Goals
This should be the first step in the process of determining whether or not re-financing is worthwhile. Without this step, a homeowner cannot accurately answer the question of the worthiness of re-financing because the homeowner may not fully understand his own financial goals. While financial goals may run the gamut from one extreme to another the most basic question to ask is whether the more significant goal is long term savings or increased monthly cash flow. This is important because re-financing can usually achieve these two goals.
Do You Want to Save Money in the Long Run?
Homeowners who establish a goal of saving money in the long run should consider re-financing options such as lower interest rates or shorter loan terms. Both of these options can considerably lower the amount of interest the homeowner is paying on the loan. This is significant because paying less interest will result in a greater cost savings.
Consider an example where a homeowner has an existing debt of $100,000, an interest rate of 6.25% and a loan term of 30 years. Just by reducing the loan term to 15 years the homeowner can significantly decrease the amount which is paid in interest during the course of the loan. However, this option will also result in an increase in the monthly payments made by the homeowner. Therefore this type of re-financing option may only be available to those who have enough cash flow to compensate for the increase in monthly payments.
Do You Want to Increase Your Monthly Cash Flow?
Some homeowners may have a chosen goal of increasing their monthly cash flow. For these homeowners the overall cost savings may not be as important as having more money available to them each month. These homeowners might consider a re-financing option in which they are able to extend their loan terms. This means they will be repaying the existing debt over a longer period of time. The homeowner will pay more in interest in the long run but will achieve their goal of lower monthly payments and an increased cash flow.
How Will Re-Financing Affect Tax Deductions?
This is another serious consideration for homeowners who are interested in investigating the possibility of re-financing. The interest paid on a home loan is often tax deductible. A homeowner who re-finances in a manner which results in less interest being paid annually may adversely affect their tax strategy. The implications of this type of chance can be amplified for homeowners who were previously just below a significant tax break line. A significant decrease in the amount of interest paid will mean a significant decrease in the deduction the homeowner is allowed to take. This reduced deduction can put the homeowner in an entirely different tax bracket and could end up costing the homeowner money in the long run. For this reason, homeowners who are considering re-financing should have a tax preparation professional determine the ramifications re-financing will have on their tax return before a decision is made.
Is It Time to Re-Finance?
Whether or not to re-finance is a question homeowner may ask themselves many times while they are living in their home. Re-financing is essentially taking out one home loan to repay an existing home loan. This may sound odd at first but it is important to realize when this is done properly it can result in a significant cost savings for the homeowner over the course of the loan. When there is the potential for an overall savings it might be time to consider re-financing. There are certain situations which make re-financing worthwhile. These situations may include when the credit scores of the homeowners improve, when the financial situation of the homeowners improves and when national interest rates drop. Lets examine each of these scenarios and discuss why they may warrant a re-finance.
When Credit Scores Improve
There are currently so many home loan options available, that even those with poor credit are likely to find a lender who can assist them in realizing their dream of purchasing a home. However, those with poor credit are likely to be offered unfavorable loan terms such as high interest rates or variable interest rates instead of fixed rates. This is because the lender considers these homeowners to be higher risk than others because of their poor credit.
Fortunately for those with poor credit, many credit mistakes can be repaired over time. Some financial blemishes such as bankruptcies simply disappear after a number of years while other blemishes such as frequent late payments can be minimized by maintaining a more favorable record of repaying debts and demonstrating an ability to repay existing debts.
When a homeowner’s credit score improves considerably, the homeowner should inquire about the possibility of re-financing their current mortgage. All citizens are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. Homeowners should take advantage of these three reports to check their credit each year and determine whether or not their credit has increased significantly. When they notice a significant increase, they should consider contacting lenders to determine the rates and terms they may be willing to offer.
When Financial Situations Change
A change in the homeowner’s financial situation can also warrant investigation into the process of re-financing. A homeowner may find himself making considerably more money due to a change in jobs or considerably less money due to a lay off or a change in careers. In either case the homeowner should investigate the possibility of re-financing. The homeowner may find an increase in pay may allow them to obtain a lower interest rate.
Alternately a homeowner who loses their job or takes a pay cut as a result of a change in careers may hope to refinance and consolidate their debt. This may result in the homeowner paying more because some debts are drawn out over a longer period of time but it can result in a lower monthly payment for the homeowner which may be advantageous at this juncture of his life.
When Interest Rates Drop
Interest rates dropping is the one signal that sends many homeowners rushing to their lenders to discuss the possibility of re-financing their home. Lower interest rates are certainly appealing because they can result in an overall savings over the course of the loan but homeowners should also realize that every time the interest rates drop, a re-finance of the home is not warranted. The caveat to re-financing to take advantage of lower interest rates is that the homeowner should carefully evaluate the situation to ensure the closing costs associated with re-financing do not exceed the overall savings benefit gained from obtaining a lower interest rate. This is significant because if the cost of re-financing is higher than the savings in interest, the homeowner does not benefit from re-financing and may actually lose money in the process.
The mathematics associated with determining whether or not there is an actual savings is not overly complicated but there is the possibility that the homeowner will make mistakes in these types of calculations. Fortunately there are a number of calculators available on the Internet which can help homeowners to determine whether or not re-financing is worthwhile.
How to Reduce Debt
When people don’t have enough money around, many have no choice but to borrow. Those that give a lot are banks and other lending institutions that will want this paid back with interest. The payment terms are reasonable and returning a little each month on time is all that these creditors ask for.
There are many ways to reduce the debt. By thinking of ways to deal with it, the person can overcome this obstacle and look ahead for the future. Here are a few ways tips that are worth doing:
1. People who think this can be solved within the means can set up a budget. This means only spending for necessary things for a while and neglecting the luxuries. Everything should be paid in cash reducing the use of credit cards.
A good rule is only using the card when there is enough money in the wallet if this was to be paid in cash. If it exceeds then the individual shouldn’t because this will all amount to something bigger when the bill comes at the end of the month.
2. The debtor can apply for a home equity loan. This allows the owner to use the home as collateral, which can be paid back under a fixed term quite different from the regular one offered at the bank.
3. Another could be getting a second job. Though this may be tiring, the extra cash can help the employee pay off the monthly amortization on time thus reducing any penalties.
4. If there are some things in the home that aren't being used anymore but are in good condition, these can be sold off for extra cash. This can be done by offering this to a pawnshop, holding a garage sale or featuring them on eBay. There are many venues and it just takes some time to find out which is the best.
5. Some people who have tried all the possible means have no other choice but to file for bankruptcy. This may offer the person some protection against the creditors but the borrower will be on the blacklist for the next 7 to 10 years making it difficult to get a loan in the future.
The credit rating can be built again by starting from scratch so that banks can give the individual a second chance.
Reducing the debt won't be easy and working hard to achieve it will be the only way to get the banks off the person’s back.
How To Prevent Debt
The only time people go to the doctor is when there’s a problem. Working out regularly, taking vitamins and visiting the physician regularly are the best ways to prevent sicknesses. These steps prove that the proper precautions can help patients from ending up in a hospital bed.
Prevention in another form can also be applied to the consumer. Instead of getting sick, the individual can work on a budget to avoid getting into trouble and paying off debt.
The first thing anyone should do is to write down the list of expenses. This can be done weekly or monthly which should includes the amount spent on gas, rent, utilities and clothing.
Next, the person must determine which of these are luxuries and which are necessities. The objective of this exercise is to check how much is earned in a month compared to the amount that is spent.
Should this be more than what the individual is earning, then some cutbacks needs to be made. This should be stripped down only to the essentials so that there is money available in case of emergencies.
Before buying anything, the individual must always ask if this is really necessary. If not, then this is one thing the consumer can walk away from without feeling any regrets.
Sticking to this is very difficult if the person has always lived a lavish lifestyle. The reality is that there isn’t that much money around so it will be a good idea to just put up with it until maybe the salary increases or a better opportunity comes knocking at the door.
The only way to know if the plan is working is by writing down all the expenses made daily and comparing this with the original list done a few months ago. If some money has been saved, then it is effective.
The cash should be deposited in the bank or invested in stocks so that this will grow and earn some extra income.
People need money to survive every single day. This is to put food on the table, clothing to wear, gas for traveling and payment for utilities.
Regardless of the amount of dollars earned monthly or in a year, the person must still know how much money is on hand and where it is spent. This is because it is only through budgeting that debts of small or large amounts can be prevented.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Tips on How to Save Money
In this world today, prices seem to go higher every year. Saving money can sometimes be a tough job for many people. To help you save money, here are some pointers for you:
1. Determine the things that are important to you. Identify the items that you need and the items that you want to have. Always remember that you should only buy things that are important and needed in your lifestyle.
2. Make sure that you spend your money only on basic needs like food, transportation, shelter, and clothing. These basic needs are worth spending for because these are important for your health and security. They are the things that you cannot live without and should be allotted in your budget.
3. Make a list of the things that you want to buy and be sure that the items that you are buying are good enough to sustain your basic needs. You have to be satisfied with the things that you have now, as long as it is still useful and can accommodate your needs.
4. You may avoid unwanted purchases by trying the item first before buying it. This is to make sure that the item is worthy enough to acquire. There are instances that you tend to buy things without even knowing its effectiveness and quality. You have to keep in mind that you always need to spend your money wisely on items that have quality and are according to your budget.
5. You may try to budget your money in advance. You can make a plan first before spending your money. There are instances that you spend your money without even thinking that it is not the right time to have it. It also advisable to buy items at the end of the season, prices at this time of the year are low and cheap.
6. You may compare items on their prices. Do not limit your options to just one store only. You may find the best item that can be useful and affordable to you by window-shopping first rather than buying by impulse. Many stores out there carry the same items and can offer lower prices.
7. You can save more money in your household by conserving electricity. Be sure to turn off appliances that are not in use. You may compare your monthly electric bills regularly to check if you are maintaining your desired bill.
8. You can save on your transportation by traveling wisely. It is recommended that you make your itinerary to help you to not forget your destinations. Being organized will help you save money and time.
How to Save Money and Avoid Temptations
Saving money and financial management is very crucial in one's life. Money is very important in order to survive in this world but only a few people know how to manage their household budget properly. Many people have a hard time saving money even if it is for their own good.
Most of the time, you may be motivated to save money but there are times when temptations come your way and before you know it, you have already spent the amount that was supposed to be added to your savings account. Here are some helpful tips on how you can avoid temptations and be able to save money:
1. Try hard to avoid those things that keep you from saving. If you are fond of buying shoes even if you don't really need them, try very hard to stay away from them. Keep yourself away from shoe stores so that you will not be tempted to buy one.
2. When going to grocery stores. Always bring the exact amount and bring with you a grocery list. If you have limited money in your pocket when in grocery stores, you will be forced to buy only those important things that you need. Preparing a grocery list will also help you get organized and will help you in deciding the things that need to be prioritized.
3. Go to the malls only when needed. Do not go shopping if you do not need anything important to buy. Window-shopping will only tempt you to buy the dress you saw in the boutique even if you don't really need it.
4. Do not bring with you your credit cards all the time. Having a credit card in your pocket will only tempt you to buy things that are not necessary. This will also help you lower your balances and have a good credit score.
5. You may want to save money in the bank or invest in time deposits. You will not be tempted to get money from the bank every time you need cash, if they are placed in a time deposit account.
6. You may also want to consider consulting a financial advisor. There are a lot of programs that offer these services for free. They may be able to help you and give you advice on how you can avoid temptations and save more money.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
How to Get Out of Your Credit Card Debt
Having a credit card is very convenient. You don't have to carry a lot of cash around and won't feel bad should it be stolen. This is because one phone call can have the credit card canceled while there is no way to replace money that was lost.
But if the shopper spends too much, this could be a problem. The individual will be paying these off with interests, which is much more than the amount that was actually purchased. Here are some tips that can help get anyone out of credit card debt.
1. You should write down all the expenses over the last 3 months. If these are too much, it's time to sit down and work on a monthly budget.
This should be stripped down only to the necessities such as rent, food, gas, utilities and insurance payments. This will give you the extra cash needed to pay off the credit card debt.
2. Sometimes it is hard to monitor all the expenses if there are a lot of credit cards in the wallet. Financial experts advise those in debt to only keep two and cancel the rest. One will be used regularly while the other is kept for emergencies.
This makes it easy to monitor especially when most banks send the monthly statement at the end of the month.
3. Most banks will either call or send a letter if payments are late. You should talk to these people about the steps being taken to remedy the situation to avoid getting a bad credit rating.
Those who don’t will have a hard time later on in getting another credit card or a loan since nobody will trust the applicant anymore.
4. Setting aside a portion of the salary each month may not be enough to pay the credit card debt. Should this happen, the owner will have to get rid of some of these expensive items. An example will be giving up on the car since a certain amount is spent just to make the monthly payment.
5. Some people decide to get a home equity loan to pay off the credit card and other debts. Going through the phone directory or asking around can help the individual find a firm that can combine everything into one payment at a low interest rate.
Getting out of credit card debt will be a challenge. You should stick to the plan and be committed to doing it. Otherwise, all the planning and cutbacks done will amount to nothing.
How to Cope with Debt Incurred During the Holidays
This the season after Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring but you. Actually, you are cringing after receiving and reading your credit card bill and discovered that the total amount due has drastically increased by more than a hundred percent.
According to a survey by SpendingPulse, Americans spent eight percent more during the 2007 holidays than the year before. Most of those purchases were made via the power of the plastic card. Visa USA has even announced that credit card holders were able to spend more than thirty billion up till the Christmas week.
Therefore, the numbers could very much translate the following scenario. The average family in America had almost ten thousand dollars in credit card charges for last year and up until Christmas of this year – as they are purchasing items - they are still paying debts incurred a year ago.
How to avoid such a scenario? Simple, don't charge when you are still deep in debt. The following are basic tips you could do to not go overboard in debt and on how to cope with debt that is already incurred.
Plan, plan, plan
As early as today, start planning for Christmas. Take whatever it is that you have spent for the current year and divide it all by ten. That amount will have to be put aside each month.
Store it in an account, preferably a money market. That way, by October the following year, you are on your way to a debt-free holiday.
Remember to include in your expense list any items incurred during Christmas, these include postage, decorations, mail, foods, drinks, cards, photos, etc.
Be honest with yourself
The best way to know if too much has been spent for this holiday is that if you aren't able to pay for the first two or three months any of the bills you incurred during Christmas.
Be wise also, if you were able to pay for an item thirty percent off its price, yet it is taking you a whole year to pay it off, then your savings are off.
Assess your situation, if more than twenty percent of your salary is used to pay off debts, you need to seek help.
All in all, how should one pay off everything before the new year comes? The answer is simple, stop using your credit card. Either you decrease your expenses or increase your income. The decision is yours to make, because the bills will eventually be yours to pay.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Understanding the Basic Concepts of Debt
