State budgets are being slashed left and right. One of the things states tend to cut are funds intended for state universities. The school then has no recourse but to increase tuition rates. Across the nation we are seeing tuition rates on the rise, thus it is never too early to start saving for your kids college education. This article will discuss the benefits of the 529 College Savings Plan and how it can make saving for college a bit easier.
Many of us who are in debt and on tight budgets likely made a basic resolution for the coming year: we resolved to save money and reduce the size of our budgets. This is naturally easier said than done. Certainly, we can go shopping less frequently, eat out less often, and avoid taking any lavish vacations. All of these more frivolous expenses add up quickly and can be easy, with some self-resolve, to minimize and avoid.
But what about those more routine costs? Specifically, how can we reduce our core expenses in the coming year? Doing so can be more difficult and less rewarding on a per-item level, but lowering our core costs – such as food, utilities, rent, and transportation – can translate into substantial savings in the long run.
Every day we live our lives chasing the almighty dollar. Every day we work hard to make money and we strive to have more of it. It is this endless pursuit of money that I want to write about today.
I want to ask you a question, would you be happier if you had more money? In order to answer this question, one must ask what happiness is. In my opinion, true happiness comes from love – and as the Beatles said, money can’t buy you love.
Think about presents given to you on your previous birthdays. Do you value the expensive presents more than the cheaper yet thoughtful ones? Think about your memories. Do you value the memories of your luxurious getaway more than the memories of spending quality time with your family? Happiness is free.
Should you pay off your credit card now or wait until you’ve saved up more money? This is a question many people face. Perhaps unemployment and other poor financial circumstances may have caused you to accrue credit card debt. But now you’re back on your feet with a new job and a little bit of disposable income. But yet you still have that pesky credit card balance which isn’t going anywhere. Do you pay off your debt now or wait until you have even more money? Let me break down the three different options available to you:
While tax time isn’t until April 15th 2012 but there are several actions you can take over the next several days that will either reduce what you pay Uncle Sam or increase your tax return come April. Here are some end of the year tax savings tips to do before you ring in the new year.
Are you expecting an end of the year bonus? Well you’ll have to pay taxes on that bonus. If you don’t want your taxes to be too high this year, ask your employer defer the payment until the first of January. Sure, you’ll still have to pay taxes on that income, but not until April 2013. So put the money in an interest-bearing account and collect the interest for well over a year, rather than just a few months.
I’ve set up a new real estate blog at: Housingpedia.com. In due time it will be full of useful tips on everything to do with the real estate market. Home values may have already hit rock bottom, which means buyers should act soon before prices spike up. It’s also a great time to buy a house since interest rates are at record lows.
It’s also an exciting time for homeowners who have been looking for a sign of hope in this dismal housing market. Those who have equity and good credit can take advantage of a lower monthly payment by refinancing.
With the holidays rapidly approaching you’re undoubtedly looking for just the right present for your friends and relatives. If you can’t figure out what to give, a gift card is always a safe option. While you may have heard bad things about gift cards in the past, things in the gift card game are changing. These changes are making gifting and receiving gift cards a more pleasant experience. Here are some things you should know about gift cards.
There is a whole new market that has been created the last few years. It involves people selling their gift cards for cash. Sure you won’t receive the full amount left on the card, but it’s a neat way to get some value out of them. Other users can then purchase your gift card at a discounted price.
There are a lot of financial predators out there. Companies everywhere are looking to balance out losses from the recession and figure a good way to do that is to bite off a few extra bucks from the consumer. They figure if it’s just a few bucks here and there nobody will mind or even notice.
Some are flat out scams while others are labeled as offers, upgrades and insurance which are offered supposedly for your benefit. If you’re not careful, you can end up being the victim of these casual and simple rip-offs. Here a few situations where you should put your guard up:
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Be sure to start your PPI claims before time runs out.
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