by Mrs C | Sep 1, 2022 | Blog
If you’re working just to pay the bills, you’re not thinking far enough ahead. As you save and invest your money, you should have specific and achievable goals in mind. These goals should work together to help you create a stable and more secure future. Dreaming about a good life is great, but it’s time to take action now.
Buying a Home
Buying a home is still a great investment. Owning a home can protect against inflation since property values almost always appreciate with time. Moreover, once you have built equity, you can access cash for home improvements, paying for college, starting a business, and other goals.
It’s possible to buy a home without a down payment, but it’s always better if you can have the full 20% to put down. This reduces your total mortgage costs and your monthly payments. If not, try beginning with a “starter house” and work your way toward your dream home.
Retirement
When your career is just beginning, the last thing on your mind is retirement. But the sooner you start saving, the greater your retirement income will be. If you have a 401k or other retirement plan offered by your employer, save the full amount your company will match.
Budgeting is a critical step in the retirement planning process. You may be tempted to pull money out of your retirement account if a need arises, but don’t do it. Instead, budget in a separate savings plan to create an emergency fund. That will help you keep your expenses under control.
Becoming Debt-Free
Becoming debt-free is the first step to achieving all of your financial goals. Without the burden of monthly payments, especially credit cards, you will find it easier to budget and save. You’ll experience less stress and your credit score will improve.
Each person’s situation is unique, but in general, you should begin by eliminating any interest-bearing loans. Pay more than the minimum, beginning with your smallest loan. As you pay them off, you can then increase your payments on the others. If your debt is high, consider consolidating and refinancing your debt.
Overall, it’s important to know that you are in charge of your financial future. Learn what you can about personal finances, and make goals that you can realistically work toward. The spending and saving decisions you make today can affect your well-being decades from now.
Check out this article on how to reduce your personal environmental waste!
by Mrs C | Aug 11, 2022 | Blog
Are you wondering how you can take better care of your home? Whether you are a brand new, first-time homeowner or a seasoned retiree looking to downsize, taking care of your home is always important. Here are a few tips that will help you to keep your home maintained over time.
Fix Minor Damage
First of all, it is important to fix minor damage that you notice around your home. This will help to prevent more serious, expensive problems from developing. Minor home repairs can usually be taken care of without having to hire a specialist to come to help you. Minor repairs could consist of things like window and door caulking, unclogging drains, repainting walls, cleaning your gutters, putting in a new toilet, adjusting a window, etc. Make sure that you keep an eye out for minor issues that you can take care of, especially during changing weather and seasons when issues can develop.
Keep it Clean
Next, it is important to keep your home clean regularly. This includes everything from dusting to scrubbing toilets to vacuuming the carpet to cleaning the oven to shining the windows. Make sure that you have a cleaning routine each week that you can stick to in order to clean your home. If cleaning the entire home on the weekend feels overwhelming, try to split it up throughout the week and do a few small cleaning tasks each day. This can help your home to last longer and stay in better condition. For example, vacuuming regularly can make your carpet last longer.
Update When Needed
Lastly, make sure that you can update your home when needed. Sometimes, an update is required to keep things running properly without causing more serious issues. For example, if one of your kitchen appliances, like your fridge, is starting to die, you should update your kitchen by buying a new fridge. This can save you money and energy that the dying fridge is sapping up. Or if you have a cracked window that is letting out your cool air in the hot summer, you can save on your energy bill and spare your HVAC system by replacing the window. Sometimes, updating is the best solution to save and care for your home long-term.
So, if you are trying to take better care of your home, make sure that you keep these tips in mind. Fix minor damage around your home whenever you see it, keep your home clean regularly, and update it when needed. This will help your home to be cleaner, and more comfortable, and will also help it to last longer.
Check out this article on how to pay for unexpected expenses!
by Mrs C | Aug 4, 2022 | Blog
When you’re buying a home, even a minor mistake could lead to a detrimental outcome. If you’re investing that much money into a home, you want to be sure you’re thinking it all through. The following are some common mistakes you should be sure to avoid when buying a home.
Waving Inspections
The home inspection is the time when you’re able to discover the condition of the home you’re about to purchase. An inspection can show you if there are any repairs that the home needs before it becomes livable. Waving the inspection could mean purchasing a home that requires these extensive repairs without receiving all the information you need beforehand. Getting an inspection is well worth any hassle. Inspections can be time consuming and may seem unnecessary, but it can save you from making an unwise purchase.
Not Working With an Agent
A real estate agent is an essential part of purchasing a home. Real estate agents are professionals that know the ins and outs of the real estate industry. They take on the complicated parts of the process and make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. Without a real estate agent, the process ends up being much more difficult on your end. You need to take on all of the aspects they usually take care of in addition to your packing and moving. You also have the possibility of overpaying without someone on the inside helping you. Real estate transactions can get petty, so it helps to have a professional on your side.
Settling
In the past few years, it’s become increasingly difficult to purchase a home. Home prices are higher than ever, and fewer homes are on the market. This means the competition is fierce, and many individuals place an offer on a home before even walking through it. In order to buy a home, they often need to do it blind. Unfortunately, this means many people have to settle for a home that is less than ideal. When you’re going into the home buying process, it’s important to create a list of things that are absolutely essential. This way, you’ll be sure the home you buy fits all the criteria.
Purchasing a home is an incredibly daunting process that can, unfortunately, lead to errors being made if not done correctly. These are some common mistakes that people make when buying a home. Do your best to avoid these when purchasing a home.
Check out this article on big home items you need to save up for!
by Mrs C | Aug 3, 2022 | Blog
Protecting our environment is a responsibility that falls to every person on Earth. If each person takes small steps to reduce their personal environmental impact, the cumulative effect can result in a cleaner, healthier world for all of us. The idea of reduce, reuse, and recycle is a good starting point, but also think about the details.
Use Less
If you’re like most people, you have more clothing and personal belongings than you actually need. You may find yourself throwing out perfectly good items because you just don’t use them anymore. While donating to charities is one option, you should also think about reducing the amount of things you buy.
Using less not only keeps unwanted items out of the landfills, it also reduces your environmental impact at the source. The manufacture and transport of goods use precious energy and create carbon emissions. Think twice before filling up your closet and your home with excess items you don’t really need.
Recycle Materials
Many municipal trash collection companies offer curbside recycling, and that has made a big difference in reducing waste. But there may be some items you can recycle that you haven’t given much thought to. One example is metals like aluminum and steel. Metals should be recycled to save limited resources.
Large metal items such as refrigerators, washing machines, and furniture can be recycled. Metal scrap collectors and specialty recycling companies will accept these items. In addition, wood, textiles, plastics, and construction materials can all be recycled.
Reduce Plastic Use
Plastic is one of the most harmful substances to wildlife, water, land, and the human body. While you may not be able to completely avoid plastic, you can reduce your use by choosing alternatives. Using reusable cloth shopping bags is a start, but don’t stop there.
Avoid buying beverages in plastic bottles. Carry a metal water bottle and bring reusable cups to your favorite coffee shop. For your leftovers, buy glass storage containers instead of plastic (they’ll last longer, too). For plastics you can’t avoid, such as soap containers, buy reusable bottles and purchase refill size containers.
Reducing your personal impact on the environment starts with an awareness of the problem and a desire to contribute. You’ll only need some small change to begin reducing your waste. Over time, you’ll develop good habits that will lead to a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Check out this article on big home items you need to save up for!
by Mrs C | Jul 19, 2022 | Blog
Having a side gig has become a pretty normal part of modern life and a way to add a little extra spending money to your pocketbook. If you are looking to earn more money without quitting your main job, adding something on the side is a great option. You just want to make sure that you choose a side gig that is a good fit for your schedule and is something that you actually enjoy.
Freelance
One great way to make extra money on the side is to do a little freelance work. Working freelance can be a great way for you to apply your skills in new and interesting ways. Many freelance workers are needed in a variety of fields, and you can often set your pay based on your own experience and skill set. It’s important to remember that you will be responsible for paying your own taxes with this kind of work, so you want to make sure you are taking care of that.
Start a Side Hustle
You can also think about starting your own business on the side, if you are interested in entrepreneurship. Building your business can take time, but it is also a productive and fulfilling way to spend your time outside of your regular jobs. You can make your side business as small or large as you want it to be. For example, some companies pay drivers money to have vinyl wraps applied to their cars.
Get Into the Dog Business
There are so many fun dog related jobs that you can do on the side of your regular full time work. Whether you want to walk dogs and have a chance to get out in nature or simply hang out with dogs when their owners are on vacation, you have plenty of options available. There are multiple apps online that can help match you with the perfect canine friends to earn a little extra money while also having fun with local dogs. You can plan this kind of work around your schedule and even use it as an opportunity to travel and dogsit, especially if you work a remote job as your nine to five.
Finding a fulfilling side gig to keep you occupied and earn a little extra cash can be a great option. You can choose a kind of work that makes sense for your schedule and that is fulfilling your financial needs. Whatever you choose to supplement your regular work, make sure it is something you enjoy.
Check out this article on what to know before deep cleaning your home!
by Mrs C | Jul 19, 2022 | Blog
The reality of life here in the United States is that a car is a necessity pretty much wherever you live. Having a car is essential for reliable, efficient, and safe transportation to and from work, school, activities, services, businesses, and entertainment. But with car prices having soared out of control in the past few years, buying a new car can be daunting or impossible. Luckily, you don’t need to buy new to get a new car for your family to use. Here are a few alternatives to buying to get a new family car.
Buy a Used Car
The first way that you can get a new family car without buying new is buying a used car. While a used car won’t exactly be “new” it will be new to you and your family, and if transportation is key for you, then having a used car at an affordable price is better than no car at all. Used cars are a great option that can save you all sorts of money. New cars depreciate in value in a way that used cars don’t lose value as fast. Getting a used car can be a major cost saver for your family.
Lease a Car
Another way that you can get a new family car without buying new Is by leasing a car. Cars are a lot of responsibility to own and are a major investment. If you don’t have to deal with the huge upfront costs of buying a car and then owning, you can lease for a much lower overall cost, and stay in a newer car when it comes time to renew your lease. You need to at least have an acceptable credit score to lease a car. Avoid debt and don’t go crazy with credit cards if you want to lease.
Trade-in
The final way that you can get a new family car without buying new is by trading-in your current vehicle at the dealership for a discount on a new or used car. While trading in your car might not be a solution for everyone, if you are looking to upgrade to a newer vehicle, then trading in can save you thousands of dollars. Ask your dealership if they offer trade-in deals.
Getting a new car can be out of reach financially for many people. But there are many ways to get a car without buying a new one. Consider these three methods to get a car without bothering with buying new.
Check out this article on big home items you need to save up for!
