Pennysaverblog – Page 183 – Smart Finance and Money Saving Tips

Debt

Pay Off Your Student Loans Ahead Of Schedule With These Money Earning Ideas

When most students finish their college education, they graduate with a hefty amount of student loan debt. Investing in education is a wise investment since many of today’s top jobs require a college level education. However, paying off student loans can be a huge problem in your family’s financial plan.

If you are able to bring in more money, you can make extra student loan payments. However, most people do not have the time to work a second job when they already have a full-time job. If your regular job is already keeping you busy, it is time to think outside the box when it comes to making extra income.

If you want your loan balance to disappear quickly, it is important to apply your extra funds to the principal of the loan. Once you start making extra payments every month, you will be thrilled at how quickly your balance decreases. The following ideas can all help you make extra money that can be applied to student loan payments.

Sell Unwanted Items

We all have things in our homes that we do not need and will never use again. Instead of having those items clutter up your home, start selling them for cash! eBay and Amazon charge a commission from every sale, but there are plenty of ways to sell your items without paying a fee.

Craigslist allows an unlimited number of free listings, and the site allows you to focus on buyers in your area. Pictures are king on Craigslist, so be sure to include attractive pictures of your items with each listing. To avoid scammers, accept only cash for your items.

If yard sales are popular in your area, consider committing one weekend to hosting a yard or garage sale. You can make your sale a family effort by encouraging all of your family members to get rid of unwanted items. At the end of your sale, offer the items for 50 percent off to ensure that you do not have to put them back in your garage.

October 27, 2013

General

Comparing Term To Whole Life Insurance: Which Is Right For You?

Most people don’t spend undue time worrying about an early demise when they’re still young, healthy, and seemingly invincible. But all it takes is one serious illness or injury or the death of a loved one to remind us that we’re only human, we’re fairly fragile, and that life is fleeting. In short, many adults, at some point, start to consider what kind of mess they’ll leave behind when they pass away. This can prompt them to explore the prospect of writing a will, letting a loved one know where important legal documents are kept, and of course, purchasing life insurance. But you’ll find that there are many different options when it comes to life insurance policies. The two most common categories, however, are term and whole life. The only question is, how can you decide which is right for you?

Although both term and whole life insurance will pay out in the event of your death during coverage, this is about the only way in which the two types of policies are the same – from there they diverge considerably. As you might have guessed from the names, term life insurance covers you only for a specific length of time, determined when you start coverage, whereas whole life insurance is good for life (although in both cases coverage is dependent on your ability to continue paying for the policy you have selected). So far, whole life sounds better, but don’t get ahead of yourself.

October 26, 2013

Household

5 Tips For Heating Your Home In Winter For Less Money

As the winter months approach, many homeowners prepare for the cold, chilly months, and the associated high cost energy bills! Instead of wasting energy and money to keep your home comfortable, try using some home energy saving tips to reduce waste and cost, while still enjoying a comfortable, cozy home. Here are 5 tips for heating your home in winter for less money.

Get rid of drafts. Often drafts will seep in from under your doorways, allowing cold winter air in, and allowing comfortable warm air out. These drafts also tamper with your thermostat sensor since it thinks the entire house is colder than it actually is, causing your heating system to overwork. When your heating system works harder, it is wasting additional energy and costing your more money every month on your energy bills. To help reduce drafts and save money, consider buying or making a draft snake. These attach just under your door and are a barrier between the cold and the inside of your home. You can even use a makeshift draft snake by rolling up an old towel and propping it under the draft door.

Replace furnace filters in your home. These should be changed or cleaned at least once a month during the winter months for best results and to ensure that your furnace works well for years to come so you can save money by not needing a pricey replacement. When the furnace filter is clogged or dirty, airflow is restricted and so your system uses more energy to heat your home. Keep track of replacement dates on a calendar so that you can be more diligent about changing filters in a timely manner. You may also consider purchasing a permanent filter such as a HEPA or Electrostatic filter, which will cost a bit more upfront but will save you in time and energy. These filters are not only easier to use, but also they are much better at trapping bacteria, pollen, viruses and mold that can be dangerous for your family to inhale.

October 25, 2013

Debt

Down Payment Options For First Time Home Buyers

So, you are looking for a savvy way to put a down payment on a new home – where do you look first? Purchasing a home for the first time can be a big deal – a really big deal. Not only will this be the biggest purchase of your life, but it will also be the biggest decision of your life. If you have just gotten married, or you are thinking about starting a family, purchasing a home can be a great way to get some roots in the ground and start thinking about the future. When it comes to real estate, purchasing a home is a great place to put your money. However, if you don’ have the money for a down payment, there are a number of different options. Here are some down payment options for first-time home buyers.

One great place to start is with relatives. Chances are that if you just got married, your new extended family would be glad to chip in on a down payment for a new home. In fact, instead of setting up a wedding registry, you could set up a down payment fund that friends and family members can put money into. When it comes to getting the financing you need to purchase your new home, this can be a great way to get the starter home of your dreams.

Another place to look for loans is with tax refunds. If you work a steady job and have a decent annual salary, you could stand to make a pretty hefty tax refund at the end of the fiscal year. In fact, if your spouse makes the same amount of money, your combined tax refunds could be big enough to set yourselves up with a pretty handsome mortgage and your first home. Just make sure, though, that the down payment is big enough to make the monthly mortgage payments manageable.

October 24, 2013

Shopping

Top 5 Car Dealership Negotiation Tips

When it comes time to purchase a car, you need to have the negotiating power to take down the asking price and fit in a good compromise with the dealer if you need financing. The key is to not pay a big premium when it comes to the down payment and you need to push the APR down to near zero. When it comes down to it, a dealer will be getting your money regardless, but it is a question of how much. Do you want to drive away with the vehicle of your dreams or do you want to drive away with a sour feeling of regret. Here are the top five car dealership negotiation tips.

Have a solid budget all lined up. Having a budget in place will keep you within a certain price range. With a budget, you can reduce the risk of a car dealer pressuring you into a price range you can’t afford. Also, you want to have a budget on your monthly payments as well, because if you don’t consider interest, the car dealer could raise the APR to make up for any “deal” he or she gives you.

Make sure to do your research. The more research you have, the better equipped you will be to counter any false claims. Plus, it will give you a huge leg up when it comes to being able to argue or haggle down a price. Even when it comes to after market add-ons, you want to be able to show the dealer that you can simply go to In Sixth Gear (ISG) to get all the add-ons you need. That way you can get a more fully equipped vehicle for much less money.

October 23, 2013

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