Are you getting the best rate of return on investment? Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine annually discusses ways to boost your investment yield in its latest issue. I have to say that I am always pretty disappointed with their recommendations. I love the magazine, but I didn't really care for a list of mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). But, I wanted concrete ideas on how to earn a 10% annual rate of return on my investments. US Treasuries are earning less than 1% and money market funds are not fairing much better. Certificates … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Guide to Earning a 10% Rate of Return on Your Investments
How to Get the Most Out of a Health Savings Account (HSA)
One of the most commonly confusing concepts for consumers when it comes to health insurance isn’t the insurance policy itself – it’s something called a health savings account, which some people ignore or dismiss because they mistakenly equate an HSA with a regular savings account. There are actually quite a few advantages that an HSA offers compared to a regular savings account, though not everyone is eligible to open an HSA. It all comes down to your health insurance policy’s deductible limits. If you’ve been offered HSA options from an … [Read more...] about How to Get the Most Out of a Health Savings Account (HSA)
What Is Affirm and Is It Worthwhile for Consumers Financing Big Purchases?
When you’re tight on cash and need to make a relatively large purchase, it can be challenging to decide how to pay for it without breaking the bank. Some folks immediately whip out their credit cards, while others look for ways to avoid the purchase until they can afford it. Another more moderate approach could be paying for the purchase in monthly installments over a set period of time (e.g., 3, 6, 9 or 12 months) through a lending program. One increasingly popular way for consumers to finance their purchases over time is by checking out … [Read more...] about What Is Affirm and Is It Worthwhile for Consumers Financing Big Purchases?
4 Scenarios Renting vs Buying Makes More Sense
Most financial wisdom you come across these days strongly advocates for homeownership, but is this really the best financial path forward for some people? We have no problem renting movies, leasing cars, staying in vacation rental homes, and even clothing (thanks to those personalized style subscription services that consumers are flocking to in order to keep their wardrobe fresh) – why do we always assume that owning a home would be a better option than renting? Of course, there are tons of benefits to owning your own home, the most … [Read more...] about 4 Scenarios Renting vs Buying Makes More Sense
PocketGuard Review – Easily Track Your Spending and Create a Budget
There are only so many hours in a day to manage everything from house chores and work to preparing meals, staying in touch with family and friends, and taking care of your kids, pets, plants, etc. When you add in multiple financial management obligations like remembering payment deadlines, allocating funds to the appropriate accounts, tracking your spending and regularly putting money into savings, life can get pretty hectic! Fortunately, there are plenty of new, innovative solutions for simplifying consumers’ busy lives, and I’m not … [Read more...] about PocketGuard Review – Easily Track Your Spending and Create a Budget
How to Ask for a Pay Raise Without Getting Fired
According to a Careerbuilder survey, a whopping 56% of workers have never asked for a raise, and women are less likely to ask than men. An analysis by Salary.com found that failing to negotiate could potentially cost you more than a million dollars over the course of your career. But, how do you ask for a pay raise? There are a couple of techniques that you can use to learn how to ask for a pay raise. Although unemployment rates are currently at their lowest levels since before 9/11, a major problem for many … [Read more...] about
Can You Save for a Mortgage Down Payment With Student Loan Debt?
According to Mother Jones, the median income for Millennials has decreased by 10% since 2000 while average home prices have increased significantly from where they were in 2000. This massive gap is caused by a combination of stagnant (or even deflated) wages and a housing market roaring back to life after the 2008 era crash. It is often preventing many people under 35 from being able to purchase their own homes. Student loan debt isn't helping either. But, should you consider saving for a down payment and buying a house with student … [Read more...] about Can You Save for a Mortgage Down Payment With Student Loan Debt?