Bills are a lot like bad weather. They’re going to come anyway, so you might as well not try to fix them, right? For some bills, that’s the case. For others, though, you can make a big difference in your monthly budget with a little legwork. One of the bills you can change is […]
You’ve shopped for weeks and you’ve packed for hours. Now, you’re finally ready to load your trunk and pull out of the family driveway toward your next stage in life. Which set of wheels will accompany you on your rite of passage into the grown-up world? Yes–you’ve chosen your college, your major, and perhaps your […]
If you’re like many of us, you’ve been trying to stick to a budget for a while, but by the time each month is over, you’ve busted your budget – again. Because of this recurring pattern, you’re probably wondering if there’s a better way. Fortunately, the answer is yes! The money envelope system has been […]
Q: Help! I’ve been hit with a financial emergency and I don’t know how to pay for it! What are my options? A: Ideally, you’ll want to have an emergency fund in place for this very reason. If you don’t, or the money you have set aside isn’t enough, you have several options to consider. We’ve […]
Retailers across the country expect big sales for the first quarter of the year. They know this is the time of year when 75% of Americans get a big check in the mail courtesy of Uncle Sam. Nobody likes filing their taxes, but everyone likes getting a refund. It’s free money, right? Whoa … hold […]
Q: I’d like to take out a loan against my home’s equity, but I’ve heard that interest rates are expected to climb soon. What are the differences between a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a typical home equity loan? How does an environment of rising interest rates impact each choice? A: It’s true […]
When you’re making improvements to your home, you’re not just making your life better in the short term. You’re also making an investment in your future. Ideally, the increase in the value of your home will exceed the cost of the improvement. However, it seldom works out like that. The most efficient home improvements don’t […]
Q: I’m hoping to buy a house in the next few months. How much of a down payment should I have saved up? A: When you think about your down payment, balance is key. If you think you might sell the house within just a few years of ownership, having a large down payment […]
If you been approved for a mortgage for your next home, you might be assuming you can breathe easy now and just concentrate on packing and preparing for your move. Not yet. While most of your hard work of building a good credit profile and amassing savings for a down payment and closing costs is behind […]
Don’t Drink The Water! How To Be On Alert For Water Purifier Scams For millions of Americans, warming weather and longer days mean more than just baseball and allergies. It’s a great time to be rolling up your sleeves, opening up the toolbox and getting started on home improvement projects. With recent crises like the […]