Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
I have an odd work schedule throughout the year. I only work at my full-time position between March and August, after which I have to find another job. Since the off season is only six months long, there aren’t many companies that are interested in hiring me. With a college degree and some time on my hands, where do I turn?
Before the off season begins, I start to look for jobs that fit my schedule. I usually work out in the mornings for a few hours and leave some time at night for other baseball activities. This leaves the middle of the day for work. As I mentioned, I have a college degree — but I can’t really find a job that requires it.
In the past, I’ve made a list of criteria to narrow down my job search. The last two off seasons, I’ve been a freelance writer. I also work as a baseball instructor when the opportunity presents itself. These jobs give me what I need: good pay and flexible hours. This means that I don’t have to schedule my workouts or home life around another job. I can work wherever and whenever. [ continue reading… ]
Last week, CardHub.com released its quarterly report on credit cards. The results indicate that balance transfer deals are on the decline, and that now might be the time to transfer your balances — if you have access to the best deals possible.
According to the report, the average length of a balance transfer introductory offer is 9.94 months. This is shorter than last quarter. As a result, CardHub believes that now is the time to lock in a good balance transfer rate — before the initial period gets even shorter.
How a Balance Transfer Can Help
Balance transfers can help you pay down your debt faster by providing you with a way to avoid putting a large portion of your payment towards interest. For many people, especially those with high-interest debt, the biggest deterrent to paying down debt is interest.
When you pay interest, all you’re doing is making a payment for the privilege of carrying the balance. It doesn’t actually reduce what you owe. Your monthly credit card payment, if you pay the minimum, includes a large chunk of interest. It’s why your balance seems to go down at a snail’s pace. [ continue reading… ]
Dan’s tried to build his financial portfolio for years, but he’s not gotten far. He’s finally reached the point where it’s shut up or put up. He needs an adviser.
Unfortunately, Dan has no idea how to hire a financial adviser, or find the one that’s right for him. Too many options make things confusing.
Here are nine things that Dan should consider when hiring a financial adviser:
What to consider when hiring a financial adviser
1. Background
Dan should be looking for a solid job history and good credentials. Someone who’s hopped from job to job isn’t likely to be the right candidate, because they’re probably not focused on their customers as much as themselves. Dan should look for an adviser who will have his best interests in mind. [ continue reading… ]
When my husband bought his first house in January 2005, he qualified for and took on a piggyback loan. Basically, my husband took a traditional 80% mortgage on his new house, and also took a 20% mortgage in the form of a higher-rate home equity line of credit to cover the “down payment.” He took this option as a way of avoiding mortgage insurance, since he didn’t have enough money saved to cover his down payment.
This 80/20 type of piggyback mortgage was quite popular before the housing crash, as it allowed borrowers to buy a house with no money down. Of course, we all know what came of it: borrowers who took on more house than they could afford. When these borrowers defaulted, our economy took a major hit.
You might think that lenders would’ve banned piggyback mortgages forever because of the housing crisis, but apparently these types of mortgages are making something of a comeback. While you can no longer get the kind of 80/20 mortgage my husband had, there are still some piggyback options available to homebuyers in 2013.
Here’s what you need to know about the return of the piggyback mortgage: [ continue reading… ]
For those who are responsible with their money, credit cards can be great financial tools. This is especially true of travel rewards cards. If you enjoy travel, the right rewards card can be just the thing to help you get the most bang for your buck – as long as you are smart about how it’s used.
Racking Up the Rewards
One of the great things about many travel rewards credit cards is that you can rack up the rewards fairly quickly. Depending on how you use your travel rewards, it’s possible to get double airline miles when you book a flight, or get extra rewards points when you stay at certain hotels.
If you belong to a travel loyalty program, it’s usually possible to get a credit card associated with that brand, helping you earn rewards faster. Pay attention to ways that you can double, or even triple, your points or miles so that you can accumulate rewards that much faster.
You can also use your travel rewards credit card for every day purchases as well. With the right approach, every grocery purchases, utility payment, and fill up at the gas station can translate into travel rewards that you can use on your next vacation. And, while you are vacationing, be sure to use your credit card to earn even more rewards. [ continue reading… ]
After we got married, car insurance was one of the first things my wife and I added to our monthly expenses. We each had our own cars and were on our own for the first time. Choosing the right company and the right insurance package was important. And though using car insurance is never fun, it’s sometimes necessary. Here’s my advice for choosing and using car insurance.
How to Choose the Right Package
When my wife and I had to change our car insurance from our parents’ plans to our own combined plan, the first thing we did was start comparison shopping. Every company offers different benefits and drawbacks. Some offer extremely low rates, while others offer unparalleled customer service. When choosing a plan, you need to determine what’s most important to you. Some companies also offer customizable plans that can include things like roadside service and rental cars. [ continue reading… ]
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