Many people struggle to decide just how much they should contribute to their 401(k) plan to get the biggest benefit for themselves. Most people try to contribute at least as much that their employer agrees to match to their 401(k) account, if their employer offers matching contributions to its employees, to get the most out of their plan. However, you should also consider if you want to make extra contributions to your 401(k) in addition to those your employer matches. Things to Consider Before you decide if you want to contribute more than the amount your employer will match to...
Pay day loans are taken out by all sorts of people to cover all sorts of expenses. Here are five facts you should know about pay day loans in before you take out a pay day loan. Pay day loans are strictly regulated Just about every country in the world has laws in place to protect consumers from unscrupulous pay day loan practices. These laws have been commended by other countries which have perceived problems with the pay day loan industry. A pay day loan is permitted under the Criminal Code. However, the provinces need to enact their own specific...
Hitting the shops can be a stressful affair for many, as shops are there to tempt us to buy things we want but don’t need, so how do you achieve the perfect balance between spending but not overspending? Some people avoid shops altogether, some shop online and other just accept they can’t help but spend impulsively but read our guide to being a frugal shopper in 2014 and you will gain a renewed sense of hope that you can become an effective, efficient and frugal shopper. Pride yourself on the ability to have and exercise willpower Willpower is so important...
Get sensible A solid household budget is an essential financial tool. It gives you clear guidelines on how much you can spend every week, month and year and it also shows you where you can cut back on spending. Your budget is a record of how much money is coming in, and how much is going out. You can see what your main expenses are, and so you can keep track of your spending and make plans for the future. Sensible planning helps you to avoid sticky situations that’ll have you reaching out to the scary loan folk like wonga...
Right so you may have a rota in your house, which requires a certain person to do the dishes on a given day, do the washing or take out the rubbish. We all establish house regimes to help us keep our house ticking over and in good shape. Have you ever thought of making your house regime one that achieves a dual purpose though? So for example having an environmentally friendly regime, or a ‘reduce energy’ regime, or a regime which centres on saving money. Read on and we will show you how to turn your simple house routines into...
Starting a restaurant can be one of the most challenging businesses to open. Most restaurants fail within the first year. The main reason why they fail is because they run out of money before they start to become profitable. Indeed, in the restaurant business, it is all about survival of the fittest – or the tastiest, for that matter. When it comes down to it, there are a number of ways to cut overhead expenses – without sacrificing the quality of the food. No matter how much money you save, one bad review and you could wind up going out...
It’s not really that common to see home listings that are for sale by owner (FSBO) because very few homeowners opt to sell their property without the representation of a qualified professional, which is to say, a real estate agent. Of course, there is some appeal to the prospect of going it alone. You will be able to avoid some of the fees incurred by using a selling agent, meaning that you have the potential to earn more on the sale of your home. But you will miss out on the valuable guidance that this trained and experienced professional can...
There are a lot of people who dream of owning a house. But if you happen to be someone with a job that requires that you move around a lot or you don’t want to be responsible for house maintenance issues or even if you haven’t quite decided what kind of property you would like to ultimately own, renting an apartment or home might be the better solution for you. And if you do decide to go this route, it’s important that you take out a renter’s insurance policy. If you’d a few reasons why this is a worthwhile investment,...
Some people ask themselves this question all the time: should I ask my insurance broker to help me find a new homeowner’s insurance policy? When it comes down to it, you may be ready for a change. Either your insurance policy is too expensive, or you are looking for a company with a better policy for a better price. Switching your homeowner’s insurance policy is incredibly easy and people do it all the time. However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when you do. When you do make the switch, there are a few people you...
Purchasing your first home is a really big deal – it’s what puts you in the big leagues. No more do you have to keep shelling out money for rent and not really seeing any return except for the comfort of having a roof over your head. Of course there will always be that section of people who believe renting is better than buying, but if you are truly financially and emotionally settled in your life, you should definitely purchase. However, there are a few basic and fundamental rules that you must follow before you do. Owning a home is...
House hunting is an exciting experience. You are searching for a new home where you will be able to share your life with your family and enjoy countless memories. While this is an experience to look forward to, it can also be an overwhelming and stressful experience if you are unfamiliar with the real estate process. When house hunting, here are 5 important things to look for so that you can invest wisely in a new home. Location is the most important factor to consider when searching for a home. You could find your dream home, but if it is...
With the rise of more and more natural disasters – not to mention economic uncertainty – the cost of insuring homes is skyrocketing. While most insurance companies are reaping the benefits, homeowners are left trying to figure out how to pay for it all. On top of your mortgage, taxes and all the other costs that go along with homeownership, the last thing in the world you want to be gouged for is homeowner insurance. Luckily, there are a number of resourceful ways to save money and reduce costs on your insurance rates. You may have to make a few sacrifices...
Although most of us are looking for a place to call home when we seek property to purchase, very few people totally disregard the prospect of resale value in the decision-making process. The majority of us look for a house that we can envision ourselves living in and loving. But we are also cognizant of the fact that buying real estate is a big investment – one that stands to deliver a major payoff one day when we’re ready to sell. And the nice thing about having such an asset is that even if it never appreciates in value, you’ll...
Right now, the real estate market is at a healthy middle point between profitability and the slump that it was in only a few years ago. This means that now is the perfect time to start investing in rental properties. When it comes down to it, investing in property with the purpose to rent out apartments and houses to tenants is one of the smartest investment moves you can make. Not only are mortgage rates at an all time low, but also there are a lot of available properties out there that can offer a significant return on your investment....
Traveling light may also mean traveling on a budget. In most cases, there aren’t a lot of opportunities where you can plan your dream vacation and make it become reality. Most people don’t have the budget for this kind of spontaneity or frivolity. However, just because a certain dream vacation doesn’t fit your budget, it doesn’t mean that you can’t tailor and customize your dream vacation so that it does fit. Sure, you may not get the expansive villa and you may not fly to your destination first class, but you will get to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells...
Moving can take a serious toll on you. People say that the simple act of moving to a new apartment or house can be more stressful than anything else in your life. Most of this stress has to do with how expensive it is to move. Not only do you have to worry about paying for your first month’s rent and a deposit, but you also have to pay for other expenses too, like hiring a moving truck, boxing up all your items, fuel and purchasing furniture for your new house or apartment. However, there are a few ways to...
There are a number of reasons why you may be experiencing floods or water damage. Floods can be caused by the simple fact that your town or community is on sea level and it becomes inundated every time there is a major storm, or the flood can be caused by a number of different factors. Floods can cause water damage and loss of personal property. Not to mention, floods can be incredibly stressful and tragic, especially if you lose your home and prized possessions. Moreover, many people have no idea how to better protect their home from water damage. When...
Although a college education is one of the best investments that you can ever make, it’s definitely not the cheapest. In fact, according to many published reports, not only do 60 percent of people who go to college need financial assistance, but over 37 million of them find themselves in debt following graduation. And when you owe the government money, that can significantly affect your credit score which can ultimately hinder you from making major purchases like houses and cars. That’s why if you’re a college freshman, it’s important that you start your college career off strong by making wise...
There used to be a time when if you heard that someone was attending a college overseas, there was a natural assumption that they must be wealthy. However, as of late, there are actually many articles which indicate that some people are choosing to go to school abroad because one, they feel that they are able to get a more quality education and two, it is more affordable. If you find that second point to be pretty hard to believe and you would like some reasons why more and more people are coming to that conclusion, we have provided you...
Most people shy away from conversations about death. And that’s understandable; a vast majority of people find it very hard to come to terms with our mortality. But in truth, death is a part of life, and so making allowances for the inevitable is both responsible and financially beneficial. It’s true that we cannot put a price on our lives, but we can save money on life insurance. Here are some great tips to help you do just that. Do Your Research The widespread prevalence of the internet in recent times has meant that businesses in general are becoming far...
All of us are looking for ways to save money. So, if you haven’t taken out a life insurance policy yet because in your mind, you feel like it’s an additional expense that you don’t need, we want to take out a moment to provide you with a few solid reasons why having life insurance is a good idea. For one thing, should you happen to pass, it will provide your family with the monies that are needed to pay for any medical bills and funeral costs. Secondly, if you happen to leave any unpaid debt or taxes behind, life...
A number of things affect our insurance premiums, none so more than our lifestyle. How we live and how well we look after our health, property, and other belongings has a direct bearing on how much we pay for them in the form of insurance premiums each year. Whether it’s your house, your car, or your health, you can bring down the premiums for each of them by taking good care of everything you own. Seriously, the good ole sense of responsibility is universally rewarded! In this post we look at how a bit of carelessness here and there can...
Most people would probably rather not find themselves in search of a new place to live during the busy holiday season, but if the timing is right, you’ve just sold a home, or you’ve finally saved up enough to get out of your tiny apartment and into a house, then perhaps the best present you could give yourself and your family is a home for the holidays. Although it is already a stressful time of year and you’re likely not keen on the prospect of heaping on the additional pressures of house hunting, filling out loan paperwork, and moving, you...
Some people just aren’t well-suited for the demands of collegiate programs. In some cases they simply don’t want to continue going to school when they could start working instead. Or they may have learning disabilities that make academic coursework more of a struggle than it is for other students. But if the reason you’re not chasing your dreams of earning a college degree has to do with the fact that you’re lacking in funds, you should know that an MBA program isn’t out of your reach simply because you’re low on cash. Even broke students can find ways to continue...
No-one wants to be in debt, but the reality is that most people will have to borrow money at some point during their lifetime. You cannot underestimate the importance of a sensible loan repayment service that is integrated within a loan facilitator. It is vital to plan your debts in order to avoid costly penalties. Be Honest Many people with lots of different debts, including secured and unsecured loans, credit card debt and overdrafts, don’t want to face up to how much they actually owe. However, if you’re honest about this you can start planning a strategy for dealing with...
