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. … [Read more...] about Ten Ways to Earn a 10% Rate of Return on Your Investments
Top 4 Mistakes to Avoid When You Move Out of Your Parents’ Home
Moving out can be the best and worst time of your life. There are many ways that you can trip up when you are moving out on your own from your parents home for the first time. There are many financial mistakes when you are moving out on your own and moving out for the first time. On one hand, you get unparalleled levels of freedom that you never had living with your parents. Stay up until 3am playing video games? Sure! Drink a cocktail or two after work or school? Why not? But with great freedom comes great responsibility. And, if you’re not … [Read more...] about Top 4 Mistakes to Avoid When You Move Out of Your Parents’ Home
Tipping Tips – Your Excessive Tipping Causes Poor Service
My friend Greg and I were eating at a restaurant the other day when he started complaining about the amount I tipped our server. He thought that it was excessive tipping and accused me of ruining service for the rest of us who would later come into contact with that server. He said it reinforced bad service. I wasn't always excessively tipping servers at restaurants. It was quite the opposite in fact. My wife has changed the way that I tip servers at restaurants. I'll say right up front that I've never worked in the foodservice industry. I … [Read more...] about Tipping Tips – Your Excessive Tipping Causes Poor Service
The Simple Truth on How to Get the Lowest Interest Rate on a Car Loan
The interest rate you get on your car loan can have a significant impact on the amount you will pay over the life of your car. Even a change of 0ne percentage point can bring down your overall costs by thousands of dollars, depending on the terms of your loan and the price of the car. How do you get the lowest interest rate on a car loan? It is important that you do everything you can to bring down the interest rate on your car loan so that you can save money over the life of the loan. Here are a few tips for how to get the lowest interest … [Read more...] about The Simple Truth on How to Get the Lowest Interest Rate on a Car Loan
Are Buying Extended Warranties Worth It or a Waste of Money
Are extended warranties worth it? Retailers are pushing extended warranties with more fervor than ever, and consumers are buying. But in almost every case, they are a bad deal. Extended warranties are everywhere. It seems like every retailer is offering them now, even for purchases as small as a $30 toaster oven. And according to research done by Protect Your Bubble, a third-party gadget insurer, 40 percent of U.S. buyers are taking those stores up on the offers. Sales of extended warranties have seen between 15% and 20% annual growth over … [Read more...] about Are Buying Extended Warranties Worth It or a Waste of Money
How to Run a Household Like a Business and Maintaining a Budget
When you assume the responsibility of running a household, you also must take an accounting of the costs it takes to make a house a home. In effect, how to run a household can be likened to running a business if you want your home life to be successful. That is why budgeting is so important in maintaining your home for you and your family. For example, just like a business, you should take an inventory of all those items you have on hand in your home for insurance and financial purposes. How to Run a Household Like a Business The Importance of … [Read more...] about How to Run a Household Like a Business and Maintaining a Budget
Top 10 Ways to Save Money Eating Out at Restaurants
Are you looking to learn how to save money eating out? My wife and I love to eat out at restaurants. Thanks to a recent look at how I spend my money, 8.8% of my income actually goes towards eating out every month in fact. But, I do not make any apologies for it. My wife and I simply hate cooking and love eating out at restaurants. It is something that we love to do. So, my wife and I make a conscious effort to budget eating out at restaurants so much. Restaurants rely on more than ambiance and the aroma of your favorite foods to get you to … [Read more...] about
Pros and Cons of Automating Your Personal Finances
Wouldn’t it be great if you could pass off all your personal financial management to someone else, effectively freeing up more time to spend on activities you truly enjoy? Thanks to the rapid development and diffusion of artificial intelligence and machine-assisted technologies, it’s already possible to leave much of your financial planning in the hands of super-intelligent algorithms – if you would want to. After all, Netflix’s fictional Black Mirror series about the terrifying wonders of futuristic technology isn’t too far from reality … [Read more...] about Pros and Cons of Automating Your Personal Finances
Why I Am Considering Refinancing My Mortgage
When I was in the bank the other day, the teller was telling me about the new rates on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage and how I could save by refinancing my current loan. So, it got me thinking about my mortgage. So, I thought that I would consider refinancing my mortgage. Here are a few things to consider when looking at refinancing and what I look for when refinancing my mortgage. With interest rates on the rise, lock in a low, fixed rate with Figure’s Home Equity Loan Plus today. Refinancing a Mortgage My Current Interest Rate When my wife … [Read more...] about Why I Am Considering Refinancing My Mortgage
Should You Create a College Fund or Focus on Your Own Retirement?
There are more than 44 million people holding on to some piece of the $1.5 student loan debt pie. Future parents and new parents are understandably concerned about their children’s future ability to pay for college tuition, textbooks, room/board and all the other jaw-dropping expenses required to obtain a college degree nowadays. However, a new financial concern is looming on the horizon, and that's approaching retirement age with no savings. By the time you retire, perhaps your mortgage will finally be paid off and you won’t have any … [Read more...] about Should You Create a College Fund or Focus on Your Own Retirement?
Top 5 Incredibly Easy Ways to Make Money While Getting in Shape
If you’re like most Americans, getting or staying in shape is probably one of your top priorities for the new year. But, do you know how to make money while exercising? Another popular New Years’ resolution is managing finances better, whether you want to make more money online without wasting your time on low-paid surveys or boost your financial well-being by getting more involved in your investments. The problem with New Years’ resolutions is that most people’s motivation tends to wane after the initial spark of determination you get from … [Read more...] about Top 5 Incredibly Easy Ways to Make Money While Getting in Shape