by Mrs C | Feb 20, 2020 | Blog
Buying a house is among the most significant purchases that Americans will make in their lifetime. However, a mortgage is an essential component when seeking to buy a house.
You should know that selecting the best mortgage solution is vital since the length of the repayment period is substantial. Mortgages also charge interest, so you should remember that this is your money, and you should try to get the best deal.
Shop Among Multiple Lenders
When looking for the best mortgage rate or refinancing, it is essential to shop for different offers. Remember you don’t have to automatically go with the first rate you’re presented. Researching will make sure that you get the best deal on your mortgage. It would be best if you looked beyond your realtor, bank, or credit union. Talk to different lenders and explore the options offered online. Comprehensive research will position you to get the best deal. Once you narrow down your options, compare the mortgage rates. This is easy, as there are many options online for the best mortgage rates.
Don’t Worry
In financing, you are allowed to switch lenders before pre-approval if you feel you are not getting what you deserve. You can even select a mortgage provider that is different than your realtor. Worrying how to break it to your realtor is a common concern, so you aren’t alone.
Most people may be worried about how they would part ways with their realtor. If you get a better deal, you may bow out gracefully. Communication is critical rather than going behind the realtor’s back.
Manage Expectations
Whether you are purchasing a house as a seasoned buyer or a first-timer, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information you need to review. While researching your mortgage options, you will be given many “helpful” guides and legal disclosures. It will be beneficial if you manage your expectations so that you can select the best deal on your mortgage. It is not uncommon to seek advice and help when you feel overwhelmed.
When looking for a better deal on your mortgage, look at various contracts. Always seek expert advice when unsure to avoid making the wrong decision with your money. If you decide to change lenders, you should be transparent with your bank or realtor and explain that you have switched for better rates.
You might also like this article: Financial Mistakes You Should Avoid as a Family
by Mrs C | Feb 19, 2020 | Blog
With today’s rapidly increasing health care costs, it is understandable to be concerned about how this will potentially affect your family. While you can never protect yourself fully from having to deal with costly medical bills, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you are ready to financially handle these expenses. Here are three ways that you can deal with your family’s exorbitant medical costs.
Start a Health Savings Account (HSA)
An HSA can help you to prepare for major medical costs so that you do not have to pay out of pocket for what your insurance company does not cover. Major injuries, like those to the spinal cord, can come at great cost due to the many long-term expenses. Having an HSA will give you peace of mind of knowing that you do not have to rely solely on insurance to cover all of your medical bills. As a bonus, money put into an HSA also comes with significant tax advantages.
Understand Your Benefit Plan
Many people do not fully leverage the power of their health insurance plans because they do not completely understand all of the ins and outs of the benefits. It is worth your time and effort to learn all of the details of your specific plan so that you can fully utilize its coverage. Things that you need to pay close attention to are your deductible amounts, prescription medicine costs and outpatient care allowances. You should not assume that your treatment will end once you leave the hospital, making it important that you understand how far your benefits extend.
Explore All of Your Options
In the event that you do end up with a large medical bill that you are not able to pay, it is important to explore all of your payment options. The first thing that you should do is to talk to the hospital or the provider to see if you can work out a cash discount or any other type of payment plan that will help to ease your burden. Many hospitals also offer charity care programs to help those in need.
Medical issues are hard enough to deal with without the added stress of wondering how you are going to pay for all of the expenses associated with the proper care. Taking the steps now to ensure that you are covered will help you to sleep better at night.
Here’s another article you might like: Ways to Save Money on Your Utility Bills
by Mrs C | Feb 3, 2020 | Blog
The price of running a home goes up a great deal when you don’t have control over the cost of your utilities. The price tag on these bills runs the average home dweller $300 or $400 a month. That adds up. The good news is these expenses don’t have to cost as much as they do. If you want to reduce the amount you pay on your monthly utility bills, then consider trying the following three tips.
Make Repairs Around Your House
Keeping your home in good shape helps you to save money on utility bills in the long run. Performing tasks like replacing the filter on your AC unit and sealing the cracks in the windows or doors means that your appliances don’t have to work quite as hard. High Quality Home Maintenance recommends making regular repairs to the exterior of your home because having a durable roof reduces utility costs.
Unplug
It’s not enough to merely turn off your appliances when you want to save money on your utility bills. It’s best to unplug appliances and electronics when you can. Items like computers, electronic games, and other devices suck up a lot of energy and can cost you an extra $100 or more over the course of the year. Save the $100 by unplugging these items when they’re not in use.
Go Low Tech
It’s tempting to crank up the heat in the winter or the air conditioning in the summer. However, these appliances cost a great deal of money to run and there are cheaper alternatives. When it gets cold outside, put on a sweater, and sit under a blanket in the evening. When it’s hot outside, keep the blinds and doors closed. Use fans instead of air conditioning most of the time. SunSetter Awnings recommends putting awnings and shades on the windows on the outside of the house. These items provide an extra shield against the sun, making it easier to keep your home cool.
It is possible to save a chunk of money on your utility bills, but doing so takes a bit of forethought as well as some specific strategies for lowering costs. By implementing the ideas in this post, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars a year. After all, any repairs you have to make in the name of saving money will pay for themselves over the course of time.
Looking for more ways to save money? Check out our grocery coupons.
by Mrs C | Jan 27, 2020 | Blog, Pet
When looking to add a new member to your family, adopting a puppy is always a great option to have. They can be sweet and cuddly, and they are very loyal and protective. Like a child, there is a lot that goes into adopting and taking care of your new pet. You have to have a specific budget set in place, and you should also prepare your home for your new companion, so if you are looking to adopt a puppy, here are a few things you should consider so that you may be prepared.
Adoption Fee
As mentioned, adopting a dog can be very exciting, but you should always consider how much it will cost. Adoption fees can vary based on the dog’s breed, age, and location. However it is possible to adopt your new furry friend for free.
Since dog shelters are not government funded, the cost to adopt your puppy depends on the owner of the shelter. Some owners may charge $200 to $500 while other owners may just want to get the puppy into a safe home quickly, so they either give the puppy away for free or charge a small fee such as $20 or $50. The shelters that charge little to nothing will usually encourage people to donate money if they are able to. Shelters that do charge higher fees usually provide everything the puppy needs to be sent to a new home. This can include vaccines and other veterinary exams. Higher fees could also mean the money is used to care for the other animals who have not found a home. Puppies typically cost more than adult dogs, but it all depends on where you go. You can use a national animal shelter database to find a puppy near you.
If the puppy breed you want costs a couple of hundred dollars or more, it is always wise to save and look for the best options. When people think of adopting a dog, they tend to automatically think of animal shelters, but you can actually find puppies to adopt in other places, and they may be cheaper. You can find Facebook groups for people who house and rescue dogs. You can also attend an adoption event. Organizations such as PetSmart Charities have a National Adoption Weekend four times a year, and Petco stores host adoption events for rescue groups.
You can also find coupons that will help you pay for your puppy and things it will need. The objective is to get these loving animals into homes, so it is possible to find a great deal. If you still need ways to raise money to adopt your puppy then you and your kids could have a car wash, start a bake sale, or even have a garage/yard sale. Another method is to become a dog sitter. This will not only help you raise money but give you valuable experience taking care of a dog.
Preparing Your Home
Once you have enough money to adopt your puppy and cover other expenses such as food, toys, and visits to the vet, you should turn your focus to your home. Experts suggest it’s vital to prepare your home and your family for puppies. You may need to make some adjustments to make your home puppy proof.
Put away any floor plants, shoes, clothing, and any other decorations that may be on the floor. Your puppy can get ahold of these and ruin them. Get your family into the habit of closing all closets and putting away book bags, shoes, and other items they may leave on the floor. Lock and put away all hazardous materials such as medicine and cleaning products. Just as these shouldn’t be accessible to your children, they also shouldn’t be in a puppy’s reach Store all electric cords and put away all small toys and other small items your puppy may choke on. Fence all escape routes in your yard and house so that your puppy doesn’t get into places it shouldn’t.
Once your house is puppy proof, you should also set rules for your family if you have children. Set a schedule for your puppy and allow your children to be apart. Set a time to walk and feed your dog and set up an area for your puppy’s bedding and bathroom. A puppy can be a great way to teach your children the concept of responsibility.
Other Tips
When you are ready to adopt your new puppy, you should also consider the amount of money you will have to spend each year to maintain your new family member’s needs. The average cost of expenses for a small dog in the first year is approximately $1,400. To save money, buy your puppy food in bulk. Look for coupons to help you save money on food and other essential needs. You can typically find coupons on your go-to dog brand’s website. Another money-saving option is to groom your puppy at home instead of going to a pet groomer. To avoid costly visits to the vet, keep your dog healthy by exercising and keeping up with your puppy’s shots.
One thing that ends up costing a lot is dog training. You can also attempt to train your dog yourself if you don’t want to spend the money on a trainer. There are a lot of resources available to help you train your dog. You can find books online or at your local library or use YouTube. The internet is a good resource for training because people tend to be more honest about their experiences and share the different tactics that work for them. You can also find information specific to your breed of dog and your living situation.
Once you have a budget for your puppy and have prepared your home, you are all ready to adopt your puppy. Remember to always do your research on the puppy you are interested in and the shelter you are adopting your dog from, and most importantly have fun. Congratulations on your new family member!
by Mrs C | Jan 23, 2020 | Blog
If you have decided to sell your house and move somewhere else, there are some steps that you should take before you list your property for sale. There are often some minor repairs and changes that should be made in order to increase the value. This will also help increase your chances of selling in a short period of time. There are some very specific things that attract buyers to your home if you’re selling.
Plenty of Storage Space
Adding storage is a great way to help your home stand out among the others on the market. The key is to make it look natural and go with the style and look of the home. A construction company can help with the construction of storage space before you’re ready to move. They can also help you get ample storage in your new location. If your current home doesn’t have a lot of closet space or pantry space, this is a great way to make your home more tempting to buyers.
Keep It Neutral
There’s nothing worse than viewing a home for sale, only to find out that there’s a ton of cosmetic work that will be needed when you close. Very bold and dark colors can be a turnoff to buyers. It might seem simple to paint over it, but there can be a lot of work involved in priming over a dark color and then painting it. It’s a good idea to keep your home neutral. This way, your home will be move-in ready.
No Repairs or Upcoming Replacements
It’s difficult to sell a home if a buyer knows that they’re going to need to invest thousands of dollars in repairs on top of the purchase price. If you know there are some parts of your home that need to be fixed, it’s a good idea to complete these tasks before you try to sell. This could include something as simple as a leaky faucet. You could also be aware that your home needs a new roof. Even though you’re going to be leaving soon, it might be wise to replace the roof now. This prevents a buyer from having to think about that expense themselves.
You don’t have to remodel and redecorate your entire home before you list it for sale in order to make for a quick sale process. In fact, some minor changes are all you need to worry about. This will make your home more tempting to someone who wants to buy and close quickly.
Here’s another article you might like: 4 Strategies for Reviewing a Mortgage Policy
by Mrs C | Jan 22, 2020 | Blog
You’ve been planning for the long-awaited getaway. Destination, schedule, and itinerary are coming together. Saving money while you’re at it would be amazing, wouldn’t it? Here are a few suggestions to help you plan the financial side of your vacation.
Use Credit Cards
The piggy bank image often comes to mind when people talk about saving for a vacation. However, the reality is that most people use a debit card or credit card to pay for reservations, meals and activities while on vacation. Many times, cashback and travel service options make credit cards especially beneficial for travelers. Some of the travel perks are standard features of regular credit cards. For example, many credit cards provide car rental insurance for cars rented with the card. Additional travel services are offered by travel-specific credit cards.
Rent a Smaller Car
For a road trip, it’s a great feeling to load everything into a clean, shiny rental car. It will be tempting to opt for the cargo space and legroom offered by a vehicle that’s larger than yours. But, it’s worth considering that many smaller, more efficient cars provide significant fuel savings. Economy cars can typically have a fuel economy of 35 mpg or even better. By saving money on your rental car, you can have more money in your travel budget for additional activities, pricier food, or even just to save for later. If you and your family can make a smaller car work, by the end of the trip you’ll be happy with your savings.
Plan Ahead for Tourist Attractions
When you choose your destination, start planning for the meals and attractions you’ll be enjoying on your trip. Plenty of online coupons and discounts are available to save you money if you plan ahead. Many vacation memories will be found in the new places you go and the favorite places you revisit. Look for a visitor’s center website for the area where you’ll be vacationing, and plan some activities before you go. Read a travel blog and find a blogger who’s been to the places you’re going. This can give you inside information on some of the attractions you’ll want to visit, and you can look for deals and discounts before you go.
Traveling will provide you and your family with rich experiences and special memories. Saving money on your vacation gives you the extra bonus of making it possible to do more of what you love. You don’t have to spend a lot to have a great time.
