Sometimes it can be hard to come up with new and useful gift ideas, so here are a few that you may not have even thought of.
The post 7 “Smart” Gifts to Buy this Holiday Season for Your Home appeared first on Homes.com.
Sometimes it can be hard to come up with new and useful gift ideas, so here are a few that you may not have even thought of.
The post 7 “Smart” Gifts to Buy this Holiday Season for Your Home appeared first on Homes.com.
Back to school season is in full swing, and that means your kids will be coming home with more and more homework. They will need…
The post Back to School: Home Office Essentials first appeared on Century 21®.
Wondering how to make a career change after years in the same job? These five tips will help you sharpen your skills so you can move on to a new gig.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
If youâve been keeping your eye on real estate home listings, you mightâve seen more foreclosed properties for sale at a reduced price. With record levels of unemployment and underemployment, many homeowners are falling further behind on their mortgages. Currently, thereâs a federal moratorium on the most common mortgage programs through December 31, 2020. Unless […]
The post What to Know Before Buying a Foreclosed Home appeared first on Good Financial Cents®.
Financial independence can mean different things to everyone. A 2013 survey from Capital One 360 found that 44 percent of American adults feel that financial independence means not having any debt, 26 percent said it means having an emergency savings fund, and 10 percent link financial independence with being able to retire early.
I define financial independence as the time in life when my assets produce enough income to cover a comfortable lifestyle. At that point, working a day job will be optional.
But what about the rest of America? How would you define financial independence? If freedom from debt is what you’re seeking, here are five areas that could be holding you back.
If you’re not planning for financial independence, chances are you won’t reach it. The future is full of unknowns, but having an idea of when you’d like to achieve financial freedom should be your first step.
Do you want to retire before you turn 65? Do you want to travel the world with your spouse once you reach early retirement? Both goals will require a significant amount of cash stashed away, so it’s important to start saving ASAP to make those dreams come true. (See also: 15 Secrets of People Who Retire Early)
It’s important to identify how much you’re currently saving, and how much you need to save in order to retire when you want to, or reach another major financial goal. Using a calculator like Networthify can help you play with various money-saving scenarios and make realistic projections about retirement.
Another way to make saving money easier is to automate it. Setting up an automatic weekly or monthly transfer from your checking account into your savings account will take the extra task off your already full plate. Even if it’s as little as $5 a week, it’s enough to start building that nest egg. (See also: 5 MicroSaving Tools to Help You Start Saving Now)
If you’re carrying a credit card balance each month, financing cars, or just paying the minimum on your student loans, compound interest is working against you. Creating an aggressive plan to pay off debt quickly should be a number one priority for anyone who is serious about achieving financial independence. Otherwise, your money is working for your creditors, not you.
If you prefer to tackle credit card debt first, there are several debt management methods you can try, including the Debt Snowball Method and the Debt Avalanche Method. The Debt Snowball Method has you paying off the card with the smallest balance first, working your way up to the card with the largest balance. The Debt Avalanche Method is similar, but here you would pay more than the monthly minimum on the card with the highest interest rate first, working towards paying off the card with the lowest interest rate. Both are highly effective methods, and choosing one really just depends on your preference.
A high income does not automatically make you wealthy. As you move up in your career, the temptation to upgrade your lifestyle to match your income will be ever-present. After all, you work hard, so why not reward yourself with the latest gadgets and toys?
However, if you continue to spend and live modestly, you can put more money away for travel or retirement with every pay raise you earn. Financial freedom will be just around the corner if you resist that temptation to upgrade your home, car, and electronics to match your income bracket. (See also: 9 Ways to Reverse Lifestyle Creep)
Fear Of Missing Out, aka FOMO, is the modern version of keeping up with the Joneses. Except now you have access to the Joneses’ social media platforms, and they go on all kinds of fun adventures. Social media is a great tool for keeping in touch, but it can also make you want to spend all your money on lavish vacations, clothes, spa treatments, and other extravagent things. Resist that urge. And block the Joneses on social media if needed. (See also: Are You Letting FOMO Ruin Your Finances?)
Have you ever sat down to go over your budget only to find out that youâve outrageously overspent on food? Local, organic, artisan goods and trendy new restaurant outings with friends make it easy to do. With food being the…
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The post How to Budget Groceries: 11 Easy Tips appeared first on MintLife Blog.
2020 was an amazing year for real estate in Arizona. What will happen in 2021? Click here to find out.
The post Real Estate Market 2020 Recap & 2021 Forecast Greater Phoenix Metro Area, AZ appeared first on Homie Blog.
Whether youâre apartment shopping in a different city or doing your own remote research at home, virtual tours can come in handy. These allow possible renters to scope out living spaces with more comfort and convenience than ever. But with all the perks that this virtual advantage brings, it can still present some drawbacks compared […]
The post Touring Remotely? Questions to Ask During Virtual Apartment Tour appeared first on Apartment Life.
Mint devotees James, 51, and wife, Carol, 43, hope to mark 2018 as the year they achieve what many only dream of accomplishing: retiring early from the daily grind. Heâs a technical manager and sheâs a self-employed real estate agent…
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The post Money Audit: Can I Retire Early? appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Here are some tips from fellow parents and experts in the personal finance space to teach your teen how to budget.
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The post How to Teach Your Teen to Budget Like a Pro appeared first on MintLife Blog.