It’s that time of year again. Even the most frugal of homeowners is turning up the thermostat as the weather starts its yearly winter onslaught. This also means that my husband and I have begun our yearly “discussion” over better ways to heat our home. As someone who is always cold, I would certainly love to find a cheaper option than the natural gas we use so I could keep the thermostat higher — although I don’t want to do any extra work or more harm to the environment. And there’s the rub! Each heating fuel option offers various positives and negatives, from cost to maintenance to environmental factors. Here’s a quick run-down of what you can expect from each heating fuel option:
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Is a sense of entitlement holding back your finances? We all operate from an entitlement perspective at times when we believe we deserve a special purchase or have the right to spend our money how we see fit. And you do deserve to reward yourself for working hard, but what happens when those rewards get bigger and more expensive, like that HD television or that new Cadillac Escalade? What good is a million dollar house if you’re never home to enjoy it because you have to work overtime just to make your mortgage payment? Sometimes, that urge to buy something you deserve (or something your neighbor has that you think you deserve as well) can significantly hurt your financial health.
When considering a purchase, if the thought that you “deserve it” comes into play, here are a few tips to help you evaluate the financial soundness of following through with your purchase.
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Many of us are reluctant to rock the boat at work during tough economic times. After all, what happens if you cause problems — and your superiors decide that it’s time for someone to go? If you are a “new guy” or an “outsider” or just someone the boss isn’t too sure of, you could be the first to go.
In the past few years, many people found themselves trying really hard to hold on to jobs that they may not have wanted when times are better. However, now might be the time to find a new job, and take charge of your financial future. Jobs data is improving, and the labor market seems to be picking up. That means that now might be the time to quit, while you can do so on your own terms. Here are 4 signs that it might be time for you to move on:
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My family is getting a tax refund this year. According to some, this isn’t exactly great news because it means that we gave the government an interest free loan but personally, I’m happy not to owe anything like we did last year. I suppose we could have played around with our W4 and such to get the number down to zero but our situation is complicated. We were content to keep a reasonable “cushion” in taxes paid just in case things didn’t pan out the way we thought they would because my husband receives bonus income (which is taxed at the highest rate) and my income fluctuates as a freelancer. Losing out on the potential interest or utility gained by less than $100 a month was less uncomfortable for us than the prospect of finding ourselves owing a substantial amount in April.
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After the two-decade shopping binge that was the 90s and 2000s, pretty much every American can claim an enormous abundance of once-used, rarely-used or even never-used stuff lying around the house. Back when the economy was booming and credit flowed like water, needing to use a tool once was a good enough reason to go out and buy it. But once the recession hit, many individuals found themselves looking for extra money, but unwilling to sell off their stuff. Luckily, somewhere out there is someone who needs to temporarily use the stuff you have and is willing to pay you for the privilege.
That’s the basic idea behind a new method of rental income. Websites like rentalic.com, zilok.com, and snapgoods.com allow you to offer up your goods for rent. Though most people don’t think about renting items other than apartments, cars, movies, or possibly sporting goods — and all of those from a rental agency — there is a real need for the ability to use an item temporarily. Not only does it save the renter money, but it also helps the environment, and generates income for the owner. It’s a win-win-win.
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