Budgeting

What is a short sale?

22/02/2012
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Short sale

In this volatile economy, foreclosure rates are sky rocketing. For a home owner, their last chance at avoiding a foreclosure is a short sale. For the buyer, that can be tough situation to move into. The decision to put an offer on a home that is being sold as a short sale can be confusing. Researching a short sale before making an offer is a wise decision. A short sale simply means that the home will be sold at a price that is short the amount of the current mortgage note. Typically this occurs when the home owner falls behind in their payments and they are trying to sell the house before a foreclosure takes place. How Does a...

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Ways To save Money In 2012

21/02/2012
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save-money

Money is tight for many individuals and families this year and everybody is looking for easy ways to save some money. Everybody could use a few extra dollars at the end of the month to spend on groceries, medical bills, cell phones and entertainment. By making a few financial adjustments, you can squeeze a few extra dollars out of your paycheck every month. You do not have to miss out on entertainment and necessities to save money. The best way to save money is to keep track of the money you make and spend each month. Begin with the smallest expenses first. The smallest expenses are typically the easiest to eliminate. Look at your cell phone bill, for example....

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Insurance Plans you need to keep in mind before retirement

20/02/2012
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Insurance Plans

Most people who work in the United States plan to retire when they reach the appropriate age. They have savings accounts and plan to relax living out their dreams once work is no longer on the agenda, but many forget to account for insurance. Some of the policies most carry while they work may not be necessary once retired, but others should be maintained even through retirement. Policies you should plan to keep: Automobile insurance The chances that you will retire, immediately give up your driver’s license, and never get behind the wheel of a car again are slim to none. It is illegal to drive without being insured, so the car insurance has to stay. Consider upping your...

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Charity Chuggers – What Happens to Your Money?

17/02/2012
By
money

Have you ever wondered what happens to your money when you give it to a charity? Lots of people like to contribute some people run for charity, others shake collection tins, send anonymous donations, or take part in sponsored silences and other similar events, but once the event is over, where does the money go? A lot of the answer depends on how you give money. If you run for charity, collect sponsorship, and give it directly to the charity, then most of the money will be used by the charity to do whatever it is that they do. However, if you’re stopped on the street, or someone knocks on your door and asks you to sign up to...

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Do You Need to Make a Financial Change?

15/02/2012
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Financial Changes

Do you feel like you need to make changes? Is your budget just not working out? You might not feel comfortable with your income and expenses, or be unsure how to approach money. If you need a change, here are some questions that can help you get on track and find your way. Where Am I? Evaluating where you currently stand is essential before any other financial steps that you are considering. Even on a small scale, this is true; how would you compare car insurance rates without first evaluating what type of car insurance you need? Take the following points to get you started: What is your debt situation? Take a look at your debt-to-income ratio, how your...

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What Does Obama’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Mean For You?

13/02/2012
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student loans

Last fall when President Obama announced his plan to ease student loan burdens, it meant that student borrowers who have made their monthly student loan payments for a period of at least 20 years after leaving college may be eligible to have the remaining balance forgiven – and for those who have worked for at least ten years in public service positions, their loans may be forgiven once they reach their ten year anniversary of public service employment. In addition, due to the fact that recent grads are not making the kind of money that was available to them several years ago, Obama’ program also calls for the capping of monthly student loan payments at ten percent of a...

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New Software to Run your Finances

11/02/2012
By
Finances

Economy seems to have been the buzz word for the last couple of years. Everyone is paying more attention to the economy, their jobs, and especially their finances. With technology on the rise, and their prices getting more affordable, many are turning towards tech to help keep their finances in order and save as much money as possible. The economy’s future is unknown, but your finances and budget don’t have to be. If you are also turning to your computer or smartphone to help manage your finances, then you should consider the software and apps you will need in order to stay organized. Here is some of the most popular software to keep you on top of your finances....

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7 iPhone Apps for the Frugal Mom

08/02/2012
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iphone Apps

As if moms today aren’t busy enough raising kids, working full time jobs, taking care of the household, and committing to countless other obligations, we are often responsible for managing family finances. If you’re anything like me, you make it a personal mission to provide everything your loving family needs while spending the absolute minimum. You probably cut corners by not treating yourself to clothing and accessories, buying secondhand items, and never even touching an item that isn’t boasting a sale tag. There are so many ways to save money today, but it often requires a lot of time and motivation–luxuries we aren’t often afforded. Thankfully, there are several new apps for the iPhone that will make saving money...

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The Unexpected Costs of Living

07/02/2012
By
Cost Living

Life is full of mysterious setbacks and hiccups. Especially when it comes to finances, nothing is for certain and nothing should be taken for granted. A healthy financial plan should take unexpected costs into consideration, because so many times in life we find ourselves paying money for things we didn’t expect. These are called contingencies and a fraction of your Visa debit card balance should be set aside to pay for them. The following is a short list of unexpected but common occurences that you could find yourself subsidizing and what to do should they happen: Car accident. One of the great risk/reward, promise/peril dichotomies of modern living is driving an automobile. Its usefulness to business, commerce, and personal convenience...

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Real Estate Investing Tips: Finding Motivated Buyers in 2012

06/02/2012
By
Real Estate Investing

How to discern motivated buyers from “just looking” browsers Guest post by – Heather I’m considered a successful real estate investor. I have multiple rental properties that are very lucrative and I’ve flipped a few houses of my own in the past with great financial success. However, when I talk to other colleagues investing in real estate investing, they often complain about wasting time and effort on unmotivated buyers. You know the type—they always say that they are “just looking” and they never have a deadline to buy or even a pre-approved mortgage most of the time. The more I work with matching buyers to my real estate investments, the more I’m able to identify motivated buyers from “just...

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