Pets are an important part of many people’s lives — a source of comfort, companionship, entertainment, and lessons in patience. True pet lovers would never put a price on these special members of their family, but the reality is that taking care of pets can be expensive. Even if you adopt a stray or answer a ‘free to good home’ ad in the paper, pets are never “free.” To begin with, they represent basic costs for food, treats, litter, grooming, and gifts. Taking on responsibility for an animal isn’t a light manner, and like any decision that involves money and time, should involve serious thought. Before you add a furry friend to your family, consider these hidden expenses of having a pet and make sure your budget will allow you to enjoy the advantages without regretting the costs.
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Social Security will celebrate its 80th birthday on August 14, 2015. In honor of eight decades of the program, let’s look at some of the common urban legends about one of America’s most popular government programs. Which of these “facts” have you fallen for?
1. 65 was chosen as Social Security’s standard retirement age because of a German Chancellor.
At some point in school, you probably learned that the very first social insurance program was created by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1889. You may have also heard that Bismarck himself was 65 years old at the inception of Germany’s program, which is why 65 has been the default retirement age ever since.
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One of the ways many people invest is through their 401(k) plans. These plans come with tax advantages, and some employers even contribute matching funds. For many people, the 401k plan is a way to save for retirement without too much effort. However, there are some things you should consider when it comes to your 401(k). Retirement startup FeeX offers these considerations when evaluating your 401(k):
Do You Know What You’re Paying?
First of all, do you understand what fees you are paying for your 401(k) plan? Many of us don’t stop to think about investment costs since we don’t physically have to pay from out of pocket. However, check for fees and expenses that might be reducing your real returns over time. There’s a difference between a plan that with 1% in fees and one with more than 2% in fees and expenses. Over decades, those fees can mean tens of thousands of dollars missing from your nest egg. And plan administrators are required to share this information with participants, so look it up and make changes accordingly.
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We all know what Amazon.com does best. Chances are you’ve even shopped there at least once. The online shopping giant has become a household name by carrying one of the largest product selections online and having low prices. They’re also known for their speedy delivery and just overall dominating the eCommerce industry. But even so, navigating Amazon and finding the best deals can be quite confusing.
I’m a very loyal Amazon.com customer and do a large part of my shopping there (everything except for groceries). Shopping the site can definitely be difficult at first, as there’s just so much to browse, but you can definitely score great deals with a few tips. Here is how to find the best prices on Amazon.com:
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Traveling for business is a part of many people’s careers. While they’re not usually thought of as a vacation because of their purpose, business trips sometimes involve interesting locations, venues, and upscale hotel accommodations that can be enjoyed during your down time. If you’re unable to travel other times of the year because of finances or family obligations, these can be great opportunities to squeeze in mini-vacations that are more affordable since the largest expenses (transportation and lodging) are paid for by your employer. The next time you have to travel for work, try a few of these tips to turn a mandatory business trip into a relaxing, adventurous vacation.
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I don’t normally get into penny pinching, but I do like to try to get good value for my money when I’m planning a big expense. The good news is that I normally find a few areas to save money on when I do make the effort. This was again the case when I took eight days to drive from my old home in Pennsylvania to my new home in Idaho.
After the moving truck was loaded and on its way, we packed up the car with what was left, and headed out. Here are some things I did to save some money while we traveled:
Drive Moderately
One of the ways to improve your gas mileage while on a long road trip is to drive moderately. I didn’t go over the speed limit in an attempt to keep my gas costs lower. This was especially important, since we had items tied to the top of the car and bikes on the back of the car.
I also make it a point to maintain my car so that it runs smoothly and gets the best gas mileage possible. Over the course of 3,000 miles (we tool several detours to see things a little out of our way), those savings can add up.
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