Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
Are you a Mac person? Or a PC person? Whichever side you’re on, when it comes time to buy a new computer, how do you really get the most for your money?
Benefits of Buying a PC
PC people love their familiar-to-operate computers. Windows is a well-known operating system and is the one most often taught in schools and tech classes. PCs mesh well with most popular apps, and they’re easy to set up with file sharing, printer sharing, and other commonly-used functions. Most people know a few basic PC tricks, like CLT+ALT+DEL, which will bring up a window to stop an unresponsive program or allow you to shut down a frozen computer.
PCs are fairly inexpensive, but you can purchase high-end systems if the desire strikes. The PC crowd often complains that Macs are too expensive and that learning a new Operating System is too much of a hassle. [ continue reading… ]
Do you have a bad habit that’s flushing your money down the drain?
If so, you’re in good company. Everyone has their own set of faults, addictions, and bad habits. Some, however, are more costly than others.
I’m usually not the person to offer the “skip your daily latte” type of financial advice. Recently though, I was thinking about a friend’s smoking habit and just how much money he was wasting.
When I added it up, it was quite shocking. He smokes two packs of cigarettes per day at $6 a pack. Though it may not sound like a lot, that adds up to $12/day, $84/week, and $4,068/year. Now, that is a lot of money!
My habits are a bit different: I tend to purchase energy shots more than I should. This habit is a little less costly than smoking, but is still unhealthy and a waste of money.
One of the most frustrating activities you can engage in is car shopping. (I’m not very fond of any type of shopping, and car shopping is the worst of all.) At least it’s not something you have to do very often.
If you are car shopping, it’s important to avoid the following pitfalls, as they could get you locked into a loan you don’t want:
1. Sitting down to talk numbers
Once you enter the dealership and sit across from the salesperson at the desk, you’re on someone else’s turf. Not only does the pressure to buy go up, but the longer you’re there, the more inclined you are to buy the car. Sometimes the salesperson will even leave to “see what can be done.”
My friend Geoff, who runs FindTheBestCarPrice.com, once told me to negotiate via email or phone — especially for a new car — rather than going in to the car dealership to talk numbers. [ continue reading… ]
Whether you agree or disagree with the Affordable Care Act (more commonly known as Obamacare), one important provision of the Act will officially begin on October 1, 2013. As of that date, individuals may purchase insurance through the ACA’s Health Insurance Exchange (HIX).
Here’s a basic introduction to what you can expect through this new marketplace:
Pricing & Eligibility
Many people are suspicious of insurance because of long-standing practices throughout the industry — such as denying insurance to those with pre-existing conditions, assigning higher prices to individuals like the elderly and women of child-bearing age, refusing claims based on pre-existing conditions, and placing annual and lifetime spending limits on health care. [ continue reading… ]
Telematics devices are all the rage with car insurance companies. They promise that if you install a little gadget in your car, you’ll get discounts galore on your monthly premiums. But do these gadgets really save you money? Perhaps not.
With back-to-school in full swing, parents are researching how to give their children a head start in paying for college. Many look to 529 plans.
With education costs increasing, and more students using loans to cover their university needs, it makes sense to consider a 529 plan.
And, as we approach the end of the third quarter of the year, it’s also a good time to do a little tax planning. Not only could your contributions to a child’s 529 college savings plan help him or her save for the future — but it could also mean a tax deduction for you right now. [ continue reading… ]
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