Family

Marriage, Money, & The Recession

Money issues in a marriage can be tough at the best of times.  keep your marriage strong during the recessionCouples argue about how much to spend, what to spend it on, whether or not they should have joint accounts, and the list goes on.  Differences in spending habits definitely can make for some interesting conversations, or should I say, arguments.  It truly doesn’t matter how much or how little money a couple has, disagreements about money still arise.  During a recession, however, finances can get tight, and the pressure is on. 

 The most important thing to realize is that your marriage is way more important than your financial situation.  As a couple, you need to stick together and work out a game plan for how you are going to tackle the situation as a team rather than letting the tough times divide you.

 You can start by sitting down together and discussing your specific situation.  Create goals as a couple and write them down.  Think of ways you can cut back spending and extra things you can do to supplement your income.  Come up with a plan involving both of you so that you can have the sense of working together and feel the satisfaction of attaining your goals. 

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May 16, 2009
Budgeting

What You Should Know About Mortgage Pre Approvals

mortgage pre approval figures are not necessarily accurateIt is a good idea to get a mortgage pre approval by a financial institution prior to doing some serious house shopping.  It is free and usually offers a 60 day interest rate guarantee from the date of the pre approval.  However, it is important to understand that the dollar figure they present to you is not necessarily the amount you can truly afford.  You don’t want to end up being “house poor” so I would recommend taking a serious look at your current financial situation and goals before deciding on how much to spend on your home.  You want to take into account not only the mortgage payments, but also the utility costs, taxes, and so on.  Make sure these expenses can fit into your budget.

 As an example, when my husband and I went to a lender to get a mortgage pre approval, we were presented with a dollar figure that seemed quite high considering our current financial situation. During that time, if we had actually purchased a home for the amount we were pre approved for, we would have gotten into financial trouble.  Instead, our goal was to spend at least $30,000.00 less and that is exactly what we did.  

 So, if you are considering buying a house, make sure to buy one that is within your budget so that you don’t become overwhelmed with financial stress.  It’s just not worth it, and rather than regretting your home purchase, you can enjoy it, knowing that you made a financially sound decision.  It is definitely wise to get pre approved, just be sure to take the figure with a grain of salt.  

May 15, 2009
Travel & Entertainment

How We Saved Money On Our Road Trip

Last year my husband and I went on a 10,000 km road trip and had a blast. ways to save money on your roadtrip We went for two weeks and our budget was $2000. We were able to stay within our budget despite the outrageous gas prices, and we had a great time.

Here are some things we did to save money while traveling:

1.We ate our own food. For the most part we ate food purchased from grocery stores along the way. We brought along a cooler and a Coleman cooking stove so we could cook our own food. We did eat a few meals in restaurants but usually we did so only when we were visiting friends. We ate a lot of cold cuts and buns, eggs, and various veggies and fruits. We brought along some granola bars as well so we wouldn’t be tempted to stop at convenience stores for snacks.

2. We camped instead of staying in hotels. We brought along our tent and camped along the way. For a few nights we stayed with friends at their homes. We also slept in our car for two nights. I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in your vehicle every night, but if you just do it once or twice it is okay.

3. We maintained our car. Before we left, my husband gave our car a tune up. He changed the oil, made sure the air filter was clean, and checked the tire pressure. Throughout our trip he checked the oil and tire pressure. Thankfully we had no car trouble and our car was extremely fuel- efficient! Taking care of your car really does pay off.

4. We used a GPS system rather than relying on maps to get around. This saved us both money and time. We didn’t have to stress over where we were or how to get to the next destination. The GPS also provided us with the most direct route to our destinations so we weren’t wasting fuel going in the wrong direction! I highly recommend using GPS if you are going somewhere unfamiliar.

5. Our entertainment was enjoying nature. Along the way, we often stopped at curious sightseeing spots such as canyons, small waterfalls, etc. We didn’t have to spend a lot of money on entertainment as we were so enthralled by just being able to see such beauty all around us. We visited friends along the way and had a great time catching up. Except for a few tourist attractions, most of our entertainment was free!

May 14, 2009
Book Reviews

Forbidden Advice by Reader’s Digest – A Great Resource

Reader's Digest Forbidden Advice is a great bookReader’s Digest Forbidden Advice: 1,703 Rarely Divulged Secrets to Save Time, Money, and Trouble by Jeff Bredenberg with Camilla Cornell 

Forbidden Advice is full of all kinds of “insider secrets” that experts from various fields share to educate readers so they can make wise choices and not waste their money and time on things that aren’t worthwhile.  I especially like the section on organic foods.  They tell you what is really worth buying and what is just a scam.  There are also some great tips on how to improve your kitchen and bathroom, how to repair furniture, how to choose a cell phone service, and so much more. 

It’s great how they put something in there for everyone so no matter what stage of life you are in, you will find this book useful.  Along with household, gardening, and landscaping tips, there is a lot of information about retirement planning, finding a lawyer, choosing auto insurance, – the list is endless.  I highly recommend that you check out this book.  It’s definitely worth your time as there is sure to be something in it that will spark your interest, and ultimately save you money.

 To give you a little taste for some of the content, here are some interesting things I discovered by reading this book:

 *Buy organic eggs even though they are more expensive than regular eggs.  They are much higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for your mental and physical health.

 *Go cell phone shopping at the end of the month when sales personnel are more likely to give you a discount because they need to meet their sales quota for the month.

 *To get the best possible customer service, the best time to shop is around 2PM.  The morning staff are still available and the evening staff are starting their shifts.  The worst time is just before closing or within the first 45 minutes of opening because then they are either thinking about going home or trying to get things set up for the day.

 *Airlines release booking schedules 330 days in advance so you can book early for peak travel times.  Booking early is especially important if you are planning to use any type of reward miles.

May 13, 2009
Health & Beauty

5 Ways To Use Olive Oil As a Beauty Product

use olive oil as a beauty productBelieve it or not, olive oil makes a great beauty product!  It is natural and inexpensive if you buy the regular kind.  No need to buy the more expensive extra virgin olive oil for anything except cooking, however, there are some oils you can use for just about anything!  If you read up on this Gundry MD Olive Oil review, for example, you’ll find that there are a number of uses.  Next, check out these 5 creative uses for olive oil that you might not have expected.  Who would have thought that oil could make you more beautiful! 🙂

 1. Get rid of acne.  Make a paste by mixing together salt and olive oil.  Rub it on your face, let it sit for about 3 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water.  Do this for about a week and then do it less frequently (2 to 3 times a week).  The salt exfoliates your skin and the olive oil moisturizes it.

 2.  Use olive oil as a massage oil.

 3.  Use it as a hair conditioner.  Shampoo your hair first, and then apply the olive oil to your hair.  Be sure to rinse thoroughly.  Another option is to heat up some olive oil, apply it to your hair,  wear a shower cap or wrap a plastic bag over your hair for about 30 to 40 minutes and then wash your hair with shampoo.  Olive oil will moisturize your hair and make it look shiny.

 4.  Soften your cuticles before a manicure by dipping your fingernails in olive oil.  Rub the oil into your nails.

 5.  Use olive oil in place of shaving cream.  Women can use it to shave their legs.  Men can use it on their faces.  It is a great alternative for anyone with allergies or for people with dry skin.

May 12, 2009