Commit. Plan. Take action.
Do you remember when your cell phone was a way to contact people when you were away from home? Now, the cell phone is a camera, portable internet point, music player and games station.
All that extra technology doesn’t come cheap. When the iPhone X launched, it came with a $1000 price tag.
It’s only natural that you’d want to protect your investment.
Do you have caviar tastes on a ramen noodle budget? Or maybe all your hard work has finally paid off and you’re ready to splurge.
But only a little. You don’t have to spend all your money to look well put-together.
We’ve compiled a list of the top discount designer websites to help you look stylish and save a little coin in the process.
Keep reading to discover the discounts.
Energy saving is important for everyone to practice, not just for the sake of your finances, but for the sake of the environment as well. Use these tips below for energy saving around the home to ensure that you get an energy-efficient home that will leave both you and the environment with a smile when all is said and done.
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that all the appliances in your home are always well-maintained. This will keep them in a good state at all times, in which they will consume minimal amounts of energy as they work as optimally as they were intended to work by their manufacturers. This will save you a considerable amount over time, an important thing given the fact that the average family today spends $2,000 each year on energy bills. Half of this goes towards keeping the home warm or cool in different seasons, so making sure that your appliances are working efficiently is one of the best things you can do.
Technology has come a long way since the first appliances were made, so it’s good to stay modern as far as your appliances go. If you still have the same appliances you had about a decade ago, you can make sure that your family will enjoy the utmost comfort by switching them out for newer models. While this may cost you a bit upfront, the savings you make over time will be every bit worth it. Shop around for those that have the best Energy Star rating to be sure that you get the very best deal, and one that you will enjoy for a long time to come.
You can also save energy with your landscaping. A simple way to do this is to plant deciduous trees on the west and south sides of your house. This will have the effect of having shade over your house from their leaves in the summer, while you get added warmth in the winter when the bare branches allow extra sunlight to filter through to your house. Installing a fence is another way to save energy, as it will give you a 65% return on investment while offering you protection from high-speed winds that could cool your house or even destroy its structural value in case it’s accompanied by hail.
To make sure that you’re not losing treated air from your indoors to the outdoors, it’s important to insulate your home. Start with the windows, looking to see if there are any gaps and cracks which you can seal with caulk and weather stripping. If you can afford it, change your windows from single-pane ones to double-pane ones, which will afford you better insulation and enable you to keep your home a lot more comfortable with minimal energy. Also make sure to repair any pest damage as this can leave you with leaks you’re not aware of. Termites, according to the LA Times, were the main pest concern for 20% of homeowners in a survey, so have your home fumigated if you suspect any pest damage.
Finally, make a lot of use of natural lighting by reducing your reliance on artificial lighting. South and north-facing windows will be a lot more effective at letting in sunlight that will also warm your home better and reduce harsh lighting in winter. While working on the lighting, you could also change any conventional lights you have in the house to LED lights which will be a lot more energy-efficient and more eco-friendly as well.
Use these tips to enjoy an energy-friendly and comfortable home in all seasons!
No one wakes up knowing all about home construction loans, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need one for your home.
Whether you’re looking to build or remodel your home, a home construction loan can ease your way financially without having to sell your kidney in the process.
So keep on reading if you want to know all about how home construction loans work and the types of loans you can choose from.
In the simplest of terms, a home construction loan is a form of a self-build loan.
It allows homeowners to get the finances they need to cover the costs of their building or renovation project. This loan would cover multiple aspects, from the construction company fees to the cost of land and building materials.
So, how does a construction loan work? Let’s start by looking at the lenders’ views of your project.
Traditionally, lenders will assign a high level of risk if it is a building-from-scratch type of project.
Your home doesn’t exist yet, and since you can’t use a hypothetical home as collateral, you’ll find the price tag to be a bit higher than usual.
The implementation of this strategy shows in the variable rates and short repayment terms. In addition, the initial down payment on the loan can reach up to 25% of the project cost. But if you do your research, you’ll find some lenders that have more borrower-friendly rates in the 10% range.
Furthermore, once you have the loan in place, you’ll find the lender disbursing the loan amount in installments to the homebuilder.
As for the construction phase, you’ll be making interest-only payments on your loan. And since it’s a variable-rate loan, you’ll have to keep an eye on your interest-only payments for fluctuations in the monthly amounts.
The final step after the finalization of construction is paying off the loan, or converting the remaining amount into a traditional home mortgage.
Every borrower has their own special needs, so lenders have different types of loans that fit different home construction scenarios.
Usually, these different types of home construction loans fall into the following five categories.
This loan allows you to take two loans, one for the construction costs and the other for the mortgage. The trick here is shopping for a mortgage lender whilst construction is active. But keep in mind that you’ll be paying two closing costs when you take out a mortgage.
This is more of a centralized loan. You’ll have your construction loan converted to a traditional mortgage at the end. It’s great for locking in your mortgage interest rate after paying your closing costs once and for all.
If you’re simply renovation your home, you can borrow against the expected value of your renovated house.
This the type of loan you should go for if you’re building your own house. However, you’ll have to present your certification to your lender.
This loan comes in handy when the builder takes on the costs of construction. After the constructions are complete, you get to buy the finished house from the builder with a mortgage.
After getting to know all about home construction loans, make sure to check whether you’re in good financial status to move forward in your home plans.
And the tips never stop coming! So make sure to learn more about income-vs-mortgage and much more in our blog.
Did you know that American’s spend over $1000 on holiday gifts alone? Gift giving can get expensive. So how can you give gifts on a budget without looking stingy?
It’s easy to find small ways to save money when gift giving. We’re breaking down five simple hacks to keep cash in your wallet, while still wowing your friends. Here’s how you can shower your loved ones with gifts they’ll love.
There is no shame in shopping the sale rack! If you’re looking for an easy way to find deals at a store stop by the sale section first. There are always hidden treasures in the discount aisle.
The sale or clearance section is perfect for both in-store and online shopping. This is a great way to purchase a gift from your family member or friends’ favorite store but pay a lower price.
Coupons are a great way to get in-season products at a lower cost. Coupon clipping is not just for extreme couponers. It’s easy to find coupons online, in apps, and of course, the mail.
Many websites have great collections of coupons. For example, at prettysweet.com there are great deals for Snapfish. It can be fun to hunt down the right coupon for your gift!
Regifting may be perceived as a faux-pas but it can save you in a pinch. If you have something of value that was gifted to you and you aren’t using it, regifting is a good way to save money and not let a product go to waste.
Owning two coffee makers doesn’t do you much good. However, regifting your second coffee maker to a newlywed couple, or a student going off to college is a great use of a brand new product. Regifting saves you money and reduces product waste.
Homemade gifts can be a great alternative to forking over cash for an expensive gift. For a fraction of the cost of a store-bought gift, crafts can be personal and unique gifts. Save money by getting crafty!
Find beautiful DIY gift ideas on websites likes Pinterest. Homemade gifts can be very thoughtful and heartfelt. If you like to craft or have a special skill such as knitting, DIY is a great way to save money and have fun.
If your heart is set on an expensive gift but you still want to save money, try creating your own card. Websites like Canva help you design your own greeting card. This can save you money by printing at home.
Personalized cards are an easy way to save $5. Creating your own card also gives you the freedom to design it to your liking. Finding the right card at the store can be tricky, avoid that hunt by making your own at home.
Gift giving on a budget is easy and fun! There are many ways to stay on budget while still giving gifts that your friends will cherish.
Explore our blog to learn more ways to save money on gifts.
Every quarter, we try to take a step back and take a good look at how we are managing our money. Right around tax time is a great time to do that again – whether you are getting a refund or you owe (like we did). Either way, a good review of your finances and where your money is going is always a good practice. So, without further ado, here is our financial update for April 2023.
There seem to have been a lot of changes in our family finances recently. Of course, my husband got a really great job last year and that’s helped us a ton financially. However, our needs and expenses seem to be continually changing.
We have to start thinking about daycare for our little one (she’s just too active these days for us to get our work done at home). That will be about $1,000/month expense – but I need to do some looking around. Additionally, clothes seem to be grown out quickly. We’ve had to make adjustments to the house due to all of the changes happening with our daughter. It’s a beautiful time in our life, but it’s also pretty expensive. So, we need to start planning around some of the changes happening there.
On top of that, I’ve been dealing with some pretty significant health issues. I have been having problems with my blood pressure and heart racing occasionally. This has led to a number of medical bills piling in, all about $300 each. We are on a payment plan for that, but it has had an impact on our overall finances for sure.
Additionally, I stepped away from a small writing job I’ve had for 1.5 years. It was a weekend gig and it didn’t pay me much (about $3,600 last year), but it is still a loss of income. I was also able to write more/do more with that job to increase my earnings. That’s not possible anymore. I’m glad I left for many reasons, but the bit of lost income always sucks.
The key takeaways from our April 2023 financial update and review were this…
That’s all for now. What did you think of our latest financial update? How often do you review your finances? Let me know in the comments!
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In the present times, so many countries are struggling with economic crises. The economic situation eventually affects the finances and budgeting of households as well. This is why it is extremely important to manage your finances and start saving money.
Considering the present times, people need to develop a habit of managing and sticking to a budget. Saving money can be a hassle without creating a budget and keeping track of where you are spending your income and savings but there is always a solution to every problem. We would recommend keeping a plan and spending only, what you have.
Saving is a great investment into your future. For saving, keeping track of your income and expenses is very important. Although this task can be very meticulous and can take most of your time, it is worth it. If you want to save time, a better way is to opt for money-tracking and money-saving applications. These applications help you to monitor and keep the saving optimally.
You simply need a smooth internet connection to keep track of your income, expenses, bills and savings. You can simply go to Localcabledeals.com and find a provider that works best for you, be it at home or work –it has the solution to your entire internet or cable connection worries.
With that aside, your monthly savings will help you enjoy financial freedom and worry free future. We will tell you one thing for sure, you’re not going to regret doing it. Learn more about budgeting applications and applications that help you to save and not make it a task for you to do so.
What Are Budgeting Applications?
Budgeting applications are the type of applications that optimize and improve the amount of money you spend in a certain period. A budgeting tool can provide you with more insight into your financial choices and habits by centralizing all of your financial commitments and goals. If you are someone who struggles with budgets and cannot follow one then you are in luck because these applications are specially designed for such people.
Budgeting apps or Money tracking apps help you in managing your finances so you may keep a record of them and save money. Some other benefits of Budgeting apps are:
In this article, we have listed some of the best budgeting applications for 2023.
Mint is one of the best applications for budgeting with the most and the highest reviews on both Playstore and the Appstore. This application offers almost every feature that a person would need to save and manage their money. Creating different categories of your expenses can help with keeping track of them and this can be done easily with Mint. The app allows you to create unlimited categories and can also be optimized accordingly. This app also notifies you when you have any bills that are due or when you are about to reach your budget.
You Need A Budget or YNAB is an exceptional budget application as it is listed as the best one among all. The reason it is better than other apps is that it not only assists you in keeping track of past financial records but also helps you in planning your spending. This award-winning application helps you to get out of debt in an organized manner and it encourages you to become more intentional with your money spending. YNAB is compatible with all devices and it also has a guide on how to use the app
Formerly known as Personal Capital, Empower is a great budgeting application for those who are looking to save money for long-term use. The app offers both budgeting and investment services and this app helps you to save for retirement, emergency cash, or if you have any debt to pay off. Empower also offers financial advising tools that will analyze your financial reports and track your cash flows. You can have detailed insights into your financial situation by using this application.
If you are a beginner and just starting with your journey of savings and budgeting then PocketGuard is the right pick for you. Linking your financial accounts is optional as this app allows you to track your finances manually. However, by linking your accounts or credit cards, you can find out how much money you can spend after deducting the expenses and bills. With the help of Pocketguard, you can simply visualize your finances through charts and you can avoid overspending.
If you prefer to use the application for hands-on envelope budgeting then Goodbudget is the right option for you. The term “envelope budgeting” refers to dividing your monthly income into particular spending categories (referred to as envelopes). This application focuses more on future planning for your finances. You can label each envelope with its purpose and spend accordingly in a budget. However, this app doesn’t allow you to link your account so you may enter every detail manually.
Honeydue works as a joint application for a duo. This app specially targets couples to manage and track their finances. The synchronization of accounts, credit cards, and investments can be easily done through this app and it also automatically organizes the finances into categories. It also allows you to set monthly limits so it encourages you to save more.
Conclusion
Budgeting and saving money is an essential part of fool proofing your future. Especially with the current economic situation, it is no longer an option but a necessity. The apps listed above will encourage you to stop overspending and save money.
Recently, I talked about our bad eating out habit on our sister blog, Blogging Away Debt. After we sat down and did the math, we figured out that we were spending about $1,000 per month eating out (ON TOP of our grocery budget). That’s insane. There are a few reasons this was happening and we’ve nailed down some ways to improve our spending habits.
There were a number of reasons we wound up eating out a ton. After I gave birth to our daughter, balancing work and life has been difficult. Of course, we want to spend all of our extra time with our little one. We don’t necessarily want to spend it on meal planning and prepping (which I hate anyway). When we are able to leave our desks at the end of the day, the last thing we want to do is head into the kitchen and cook.
On top of that, I’ve been dealing with a number of health issues. As the person in our home that usually cooks the meals, standing up for a long time or having to be active at all has been difficult, if not nearly impossible. So, when I’m feeling really bad, my husband usually pops out and grabs us some food.
The main problem was that we’d be spending anywhere from $30 to $100 per day that we wound up eating out. As I said, when we actually sat down and did the math, it equated to about $1,000 monthly in fast food and restaurant tickets.
We did the math at the end of April and decided we needed to make a change. This month, we’ve cut back considerably. We went from spending $1,000 to about $300 this month on eating out. We’d still like to shave that down by half ($150 per month), but we are getting there!
The biggest things we’ve done that have made this successful is cutting up the responsibilities. So, if I cook, my husband cleans (and vice versa). This helps me not get so tired and sick feeling while preparing a meal. We’ve also added in some meals that are quick and easy for the nights we still don’t really feel like it (i.e. frozen lasagnas, pre-cooked freezer meals, sandwiches).
I won’t lie, the largest motivator behind continuing to cut back on eating out is definitely the savings. We’ve already saved $700 by making these changes for one month. I can only imagine the savings over several months’ time. We’ll be snowballing our debt with this “extra money” as well as setting some aside for our emergency fund, which has been depleted after several medical emergencies recently.
Readers, what is something your family struggles with when it comes to spending? How do you try to control it? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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Nobody wants to be in an auto accident. What is even worse is being in an accident where you are seriously injured through no fault of your own, and the other driver is uninsured. If you live in a no fault state, or have uninsured motorist coverage on your insurance policy, you might think you don’t have to worry about being compensated for your medical bills and lost wages. Think again. The goal of many insurance companies and the adjusters they train is to find any way possible to devalue or deny claims. They have specific strategies and tactics to accomplish this goal that everybody needs to know about.
Everyone wants to get ahead, right? That means saving money, making smart investments, and working harder than those around you. It also means you need to have a side hustle.
Side hustle jobs are a great way to generate extra money. There are many lucrative side hustles, and some are so fun that they don’t even feel like work.