Although there are a lot of things about the summertime to enjoy, if there’s one that none of us looks forward to, it’s the increase in our energy bills; ones that are usually directly related to how much we use our air conditioner. In fact, it’s during the summer months that many of us find ourselves spending more money on electricity than any other time of the year. The good news is that there are a few things that you can do that will help to cool down your air conditioning costs. If you’d be interested in knowing what some...
Dealing with a seemingly uncooperative health insurance company can be incredibly frustrating. While health insurance policies are just trying to protect their assets, it can be hard when an agent tells you that he or she will not be resolving your claim. However, there are numerous ways to handle a claim dispute that don’t involve blowing your top. One of the most important things to know is that you must remain calm and patient. The more frustrated and angry you grow, the harder it will be to resolve your claim. In the end, the more calm and diplomatic you are,...
It’s almost tax time again, which means that you have to find someone to prepare your taxes. As much as we’d like to think we can do our own taxes, it can help to have a professional organize our books and get the most out of our returns. Plus, who actually likes doing their own taxes? So, if you are like the rest of us and don’t like to prepare your own taxes, you need to know how to find the right tax preparer. Not only do you want to make sure to find someone who is truly qualified, but...
If you’re someone who likes to spend time traveling while being out on the open road, have you ever thought about becoming a professional truck driver? There several benefits that come with taking this kind of position. For one thing, you don’t need any kind of previous experience in order to apply. Also, once you are hired, you are able to receive top-notch affordable training that can give you a high-income earning potential. In fact, many owner-operators factor freight bills in order to pay for the upfront costs involved in operating a truck. That’s not to say that there aren’t...
Whether you’re someone who is looking to buy a home for yourself or you’d like to purchase a house that you can renovate and then sell for a profit, you should definitely consider looking into getting a distressed property. Those are basically homes where previous owners have defaulted on their mortgage. Not only is it a great way to get the house of your dreams, but one at a cheaper price than some of the other homes that are on the market. If this sounds like something that you would really be interested in, we have listed five things that...
With all the money you’re spending to book airline tickets and hotel rooms when you travel, not to mention what you’ll have to pay for food during your trip, you might not have a lot left over to spend on entertainment, including activities and tours. Luckily, there are ways to cut costs in this area and still have a lot of fun. Here are some tips that should help you to stick to your travel budget while finding the entertainment options that suit your preferences. Plan your own tours. With travel guides, websites dedicated to delivering tourist information, and plenty...
You’ve no doubt found countless ways to protect your home from the assault of winter weather, including snow, storms, and freezing temperatures. Storm windows and shutters are a good addition if your region suffers severe storms. And having a backup plan that includes batteries, flashlights, and a stockpile of wood for the fireplace is essential preparation for potential power outages. But while these steps could certainly prevent damage to your home and your family, possibly saving you from extra expense and hardship down the road, they won’t necessarily help you to cut costs when it comes to standard home maintenance...
Packing and shipping is a critical part of any business. If the packing and shipping costs are too high, it could drive away customers. Because of this, it is critical for business owners to find ways to cut costs. For small businesses on a bootstrap budget, this is even more critical, because you don’t want to wind up coming too far out of pocket or alienating your customer base. Luckily, there are a lot of options and with enough resourcefulness, you can cut down costs – to the point where the costs are manageable for your business and for your...
Computers are often essential to our everyday lives and work habits. In order to get things done, we need to have a computer that works efficiently and has various features. Once you are ready to buy a new purchase, you expect it to be a large investment. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you’d expect. Here are 5 simple and effective ways that you can save money when buying a new computer. Buy a refurbished computer. Often companies get returned items or those that fail quality control checks. These computers are then restored and repaired in order...
Getting a great deal on truck insurance is difficult. Oftentimes, insurance companies charge a premium for truck insurance rates – mainly because the risk is higher. Because trucks are so large, they present a greater probability for accidents, which could cause injuries and significant mechanical damage. So, in order for the insurance company to protect itself and its assets, it must make truck insurance policies more expense. However, there are a number of ways to minimize some of these risks and to work with the insurance company to secure lower rates. Here are five tips for getting the best possible...
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...
