Finances

Most of us work for our money, and any savings we accrue are a hard-earned testament to frugality, discipline, and proper planning. What that means is that we should always think carefully before entering into a situation that could drain our precious nest egg. Unfortunately, life sometimes has other ideas. Although, just because you have a significant life event in the foreseeable future, it doesn't mean you have to wipe your savings to zero. A subject you can read more about in the post below.  Buying a new car  Now don't get me wrong, when I say ‘new car’, I don't mean a brand new one fresh off the lot. In fact, buying any vehicle, even a used one can be a costly experience. However, if you are savvy about things, you will be able to satisfy your transportation needs without going … [Read more...] about 5 Expensive Life Events (& How To Ensure They Don’t Leave You Broke)

There are, of course, some essential purchases that we all need to make. While we’d like to spend all of our money on vacations and dinners at luxury restaurants, this, sadly, is not the reality of the world. Most of our money goes on things like housing, clothes, food, and modern essentials, such as our technology. All added together, these can add up to a pretty penny. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that you don’t need to pay sticker price every time. There are ways you can cut the costs of these essentials, as we’ll see below.  Do Your Research  One mistake that people make is that they only ever take the first price that they see. They might see the cost of, say, a data plan, believe that it’s acceptable, and agree to the deal. In reality, they may have been able to … [Read more...] about How to Save Money On Life’s Essentials

Did you know most credit cardholders carry a balance from month to month? According to a recent survey from CNBC, 55 percent of American adults who have credit cards have debt. About one-fifth (22 percent) of cardholders with a monthly balance carry between $101 and $500. And about one-third (32 percent) of cardholders carry a balance between $501 and $2,500. Consumers carrying a balance have a few options: full payment, partial payment, minimum payment or no payment. Obviously, making no payment is the least desirable of these options. Doing so repeatedly will damage your credit score and send your account into delinquency. What about minimum payments though? Here’s what you should know about this option for repaying your credit card balance. Minimum Payments: The Basics Somewhere … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know About Credit Card Minimum Payments

Car financing is a practical choice since you will divide the cost over several months or years. Once your loan application gets approved, you can immediately drive the car. If you feel bothered by the idea of paying each month over a long period, you can find ways to expedite the payment of the loan.  Check the terms of the loan  Some loans allow you to make advance payments while others won’t. If you do, there will be penalties. Avoid loans that won’t let you pay in advance. You want to have the chance to pay any amount whenever you have spare money, before you spend it on other things.  Request a higher monthly payment  Even when you’re already in the middle of your payment cycle, you can request to restructure the loan. It means that you can ask for a boost in the monthly … [Read more...] about Tips to Quickly Finish Your Car Finance Payment