Apartment Living on a Budget: How to Get the Most for your Money

Living paycheck to paycheck is never fun, especially when living in an apartment and being restricted by your lease terms. 

According to a recent survey done by The National Multi Housing Council, 63% of renters have an income of less than $35,000. If you find yourself struggling to make ends meet each month or simply want some extra spending cash, follow these tips for renters looking to cut costs. 

Research Hidden Costs

Saving money as a renter starts before you even move in. Instead of making a decision based on the rent price, do as much research as possible before putting down a deposit. While you'll know upfront how much your rent will cost, there are plenty of hidden fees that can add up once you're living somewhere.

By gathering the following, you can make an educated projection about your monthly expenses:

• Contact your local utility provider and ask about the average monthly bill for a certain apartment complex. 
• Check apartment review sites to see what past and present tenants are saying. Seek out any mentions of unexpected costs from landlords. These Orlando apartment reviews are a great example of what to look for. 

Talk to current tenants. When checking out an apartment, ask the property manager if they can put you in touch with tenants so you can ask about their experience. 

Buy Used Furniture

Shopping on Craigslist can save you thousands of dollars if you plan to furnish an entire apartment. With 50 million people using Craigslist every year, even smaller cities may offer a surprisingly abundant furniture selection.

To get the most out of buying secondhand furniture:
Look for moving or estate sales, where sellers are trying to get rid of items quickly. You can often negotiate lower prices if you buy a bundle of items.
Ask if the furniture has been in a smoker's home or a house with pets. While some odors may air out, pet stains and smoke will most likely linger forever.
Don't get distracted by fabrics and color. You can always re-upholster or paint furniture. Above all else, focus on quality and design.

Cut Back on Utility Costs

According to a National Consumer Spending Survey the average amount of money spent on gasoline and energy bills per month is $151. 

Fortunately, there are plenty ways for renters to save on energy costs:

Use compact fluorescent bulbs. While these are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they can save you tons per light bulb over the course of a year. 

• Considering how many bulbs you may have in your apartment, this small change can bring you huge savings. 
• Be smart about using power strips. Appliances plugged in when not in use are still using electricity (such as TVs, computers, and gaming consoles). Instead of leaving these appliances on all the time, you can plug them all into a power strip and switch the strip off when not in use. 
• Ask your landlord to redo any worn away weather stripping on doors and windows. Cold air seeping in can increase heating costs, while warm air getting in will make you run your AC more often. 

The bills for living in an apartment and everything that goes with it don't need to leave you with an empty bank account. If you buy secondhand furniture, project an accurate monthly budget before moving in, and cut down on utility bills, you might actually be able to save money.

How Will the Affordable Care Act Affect Medicare?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is set to take full effect next year. The legislation is set to cut $716 billion from Medicare and will bring some significant changes to the program. The Affordable Care Act has already expanded Medicare coverage to include preventive care, and it’s slowly closing the coverage gap in Medicare Part D. 

The Affordable Care Act aims to improve the quality of hospital care for seniors by rewarding hospitals that provide quality care with increased funding, and penalizing those who provide poorer care with decreased funding. Although the legislation does cut some Medicare programs, these cuts aren’t intended to affect benefits; instead, they’re meant to increase Medicare’s cost-effectiveness by moving the money to areas of the program where it can be put to better use.

How Are Medicare Benefits Changing?

The Affordable Care Act broadens existing Medicare benefits, making it possible for seniors on Medicare to receive preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs. Seniors can now get check-ups, cancer screenings, vaccines and other forms of preventive care for free. These changes have been in effect since 2011.

Another important change in Medicare benefits under the Affordable Care Act concerns the so-called “donut hole,” or the coverage gap in Medicare Part D. Under Medicare Part D, many seniors must pay for their own prescription drug costs. As of 2012, seniors receiving Medicare became eligible for discounts on brand-name and generic prescription drugs. These discounts will grow each year until 2020, when the coverage gap should close completely, and Medicare recipients will only need to pay co-pays for their prescription drugs.

The Affordable Care Act also aims to reduce federal spending on Medicare Advantage, a form of supplemental Medicare insurance administered by private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage, which was originally intended to reduce federal spending on Medicare, has turned out to cost the government 14 percent more per patient than traditional Medicare. It is hoped that cutting federal spending on Medicare Advantage will lower overall Medicare costs.

What Is the Value-Based Payment Provision?

Under the Affordable Care Act, providers who offer high-quality care to Medicare patients stand to receive a one percent increase in Medicare payments in 2014, and a two percent increase in Medicare payments in 2015. Conversely, those who provide a lower standard of care — as measured by high re-admittance rates and patient dissatisfaction — stand to lose up to two percent of their payments from Medicare by 2015.

In this way, the Affordable Care Act intends to improve the quality of care seniors receive.Quality care is something that professionals in the field will have to focus on. Though it may have gone unmentioned before, health care employees had better take notice or suffer the consequences. Human services will be especially influential in this regard and it is anticipated that more positions in human resources will be created to address the importance of quality care. To learn more about earning a human services degree online, you can research online for a program that fits you. 

Where Are the Medicare Cuts Coming From?

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the anticipated total cost of Medicare over the next 10 years will be about $7.5 trillion. Between 2013 and 2022, the Affordable Care Act plans to cut $716 billion from Medicare. Of that amount, $415 billion comes from federal payments to care providers and private insurance companies. The rest of the cuts come from parts of the program that are not considered to be cost effective, such as the Medicare Disproportionate Share Program, which compensates hospitals for treating lower-income Medicare recipients who do not have supplemental insurance.

How Does the Affordable Care Act Change Medicare Funding?

The Affordable Care Act changes Medicare funding by reallocating the $716 billion in cuts to other parts of the program, where it’s believed the money can be put to better use. The new law will also levy a 0.9 percent tax on members of the top tax bracket in order to raise money for the new law.

The legislation also allows for the creation of an Independent Payment Advisory Board, which will have the authority to recommend reduced provider payments if Medicare spending grows too fast in the future. Payments from Medicare to health care providers will also grow at a slower rate. These two things are intended to keep Medicare costs down in the future. Medicare is expected to cost $900 billion per year by 2022.

The Affordable Care Act has expanded Medicare benefits to include preventive care like checkups, vaccines and cancer screenings. Over the next several years, it will gradually close the coverage gap in Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug coverage to seniors. It will also cut spending on Medicare Advantage and tie providers’ payments to the quality of the care they give. The Affordable Care Act intends to fund these changes and keep Medicare solvent in the future with $716 billion in cuts to other parts of the program and with a 0.9 percent tax increase on members of the top bracket.

About the Author: Contributing blogger Alisa Martin has more than 15 years of experience in public health policy. She currently works with his local government to improve public health services.

The Secret to a Long and Happy Marriage

Whenever I see happy couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, I find myself amazed and often wonder how they managed to last that long. Even more amazing are those couples that reach their 60th or Diamond wedding anniversary. What’s the secret of their decades happy union? Here are some ways you can keep the fires burning steadily throughout the years.

Start with a Solid Foundation

Most people believe that the key to lasting relationship is a foundation based on friendship. A couple who began as friends sometimes tend to be more solid than those who started dating because of chemistry. Granted, attraction is important and you feel that sparks are important for you to be able to consider someone else as a potential partner. However, once the sparks are gone and the giddy feelings of falling in love have faded, what else is left? This is why I believe that the happiest of relationships is when your significant other is someone you can consider as your best friend, someone who knows you inside out, and who loves and accepts you for who you truly are, flaws and all.

Set Aside Time for “Date Night”

Ever wonder how some couples remain so in love even after being together for so long? Despite being busy raising their children and working hard to provide for their needs, these people still manage to find some alone time for themselves, for “date night.” This is also true for celebrity couples like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who despite their huge brood, and hectic schedules, still find time for a romantic dinner. A friend revealed to me how her parents, who are in their 50s, still go out for dinner or a movie once in awhile. It’s no wonder why their love hasn’t diminished over the years.

Keep the Romance Alive

I think that romance is important in any relationship. Aside from date nights, little surprises count as they help spice up your relationship with your significant other. Celebrate your anniversaries and mark each milestone--like your 25th anniversary--with a special gift. You can’t go wrong with giving jewelry as a gift. There is a wonderful selection at David Yurman, where you can choose from earrings, necklaces, rings and other accessories. For your 30th anniversary, pearl earrings or a pearl necklace would make a lovely gift. If your spouse is the adventurous type, a romantic getaway is just the thing that would keep the fires of your relationship burning.

Utilize the Five Languages of Love

Many a marriage has fallen apart because of lack of communication. Sometimes, it’s not because there is less talking but more of less understanding each other. The crux of the matter often lies in how you choose to express your love to each other. If you truly know your spouse inside and out then you know what language of love she or he best understands. If you both have different love languages, I think it’s important that you learn to compromise and reach a middle ground where you can use each other’s way of expressing love. If both are secure in their love for each other then there would be no need to hear the words everyday affirming that love.

About the Author

Based in San Diego California, Tiffany Matthews is a professional writer with over 5 years of writing experience. She also blogs about travel, fashion, and anything under the sun at wordbaristas.com, a group blog that she shares with her good friends. In her free time, she likes to travel, read books, and watch movies. You can find her on Twitter as @TiffyCat87.

Related articles

• How To Get Out Of the Brother Zone with Your Wife (peeksi.wordpress.com)
• 3 Marriage Tips That Can Wreck Your Marriage - and What to Do Instead (dreamarriage.wordpress.com)

How to Deal With Mortgage and Credit Card Management

As we are all aiming to ride out the financial wave to safety, you may be currently facing issues when it comes to repaying on a credit card or taking out a mortgage. Thanks to the economic recession we have all be tightening our fiscal belts whilst taking out favourable terms with a number of different credit card firms or banks. Whether you are seeking alternatives or looking to control your personal finance, here are a few options on how to cope with managing your credit. 

Do your research

If you wish to keep a hold of your credit cards then it is essential that you scan a wide variety of companies on the net. This is in order to obtain the best interest rate or APR so your repayments or as low as possible. Different firms will charge different types of rates so it is essential you find the best deal where you can reduce interest rates and more. This includes;

• Decreasing monthly payments.
• Eradicating any charges.
• Asking for a lower interest rate.

Settle debt immediately

Whether you have a credit card or are renewing an existing mortgage loan, it is crucial that you pay off the monthly debts in good time. This is because you may run into trouble in the long run when it comes to missed payments. Like a credit card, a mortgage payment is taken monthly so you should ensure;

• Settlement of any outstanding monthly payments as soon as possible in one lump sum.
• Ask to discuss how to pay less over the course of a month.
• You have enough money to pay or your credit rating may be affected. 

Prioritise

Do you really need to take out a credit card or struggle with mortgages? If you really do not have enough funds to cover these monthly payments then you should draw up a schedule. Credit card repayment can be left to a certain extent while a mortgage needs to be paid off in full. Alternatively it may result in the loss of your home. Yet, if you speak to an independent financial advisor, they will be able to put you in the right direction as far as the best home loan rates are concerned. This will provide you with the opportunity to repay within your budget so that you are not short at the end of the month.

Little and often

If you choose to pay back the minimum amount each month, it will allow you to be in control of your personal finances. In this way, it may take you longer to pay the full amount back on your mortgage or credit card but paying in bite size chunks will ensure you don’t run into debt. By adopting a less is more attitude you will have the chance to;

• Be in control.
• Repay the lowest amount when necessary.
• Not rack up any additional loans.

Seek help

If you have been unable to agree on reduce interest rate payments as well as reduced balance, then there are other solutions available. You can always seek approval from independent advisors or ask friends or family to cover you until you can repay them back. This won’t be as much of a burden especially as it will only be a temporary loan to tide you over until your next pay cheque.

If you are disciplined and keep a close record of all your outgoing and incomings then you will have the ability to manage your finances. By following just a few of these steps, you will be well on the way to financial freedom and taking control of your personal finances.

About the Author:
Westpac is one of the banks in New Zealand that offers the best and reasonable home loan rates. They also have credit card deals and more.