Don't Let Moving to a New Home Destroy Your Bank Account

When you're moving your family, it seems like your bank account takes a hit. From the payments made to the utility companies to the gas that you need to purchase for the vehicles to get your belongings back and forth, all of the expenses seem to add up quickly. 

Make a plan before you begin moving so that you can save money instead of spending it while making sure your family has everything in order. 

You Have To Eat

Going to a restaurant or getting food to bring home might seem like a good idea, and while it is if you get the inexpensive foods, it can become pricey over the weeks and days leading to the move. 

Prepare foods ahead of time, storing them in your freezer so that you can easily heat them up in the evening. This will allow you to save the money that is spent on gas to get to the restaurant and the money that is spent there. 

Coupons and Discounts

Look for coupons whenever possible. Some moving companies, such as Wheaton World Wide Moving, offer discounts that are worth looking into. 

Some companies do such discounts based off of whether or not you use multiple services, such as the movers packing and unpacking after transporting. 

There are coupons for packing supplies that you can get as well to save money on everything from tape to trash bags that you might use to hold blankets or sheets. 

Bundles for Utilities

One of the things about moving is that you have to get new utility services started. This can take a huge chunk of money from your bank account, especially if you have to pay deposits for each service. 

Consider bundling your services as much as possible, such as cable and internet. This will save on your monthly bill as well as the installation fees that you need to pay as everything can be done at the same time. 

Selling What You Don't Want

Instead of spending money, you can make money for your bank account when you're moving. As you go through each room, make it a time to sort the items that you no longer need. 

Consign the nicer items, and have a yard sale with the items that are mediocre or that you can't sell at a consignment store. An added benefit is that you can count any donations on your tax return. 

Moving is an exciting time. It's also an expensive time as you have to pay for connections for services and items needed to move. 

If you get the family involved with the move and ways to save money, then you can begin to pad your bank account instead of spending money.

5 Crazy Ways Millennials Are Making Money

As the newest generation coming of age and a rather large and significant one at that, millennials are a crafty bunch. 

Much of their effort has gone towards coming up with and seeking out new and crazy ways to make money, whether on the side or as a primary income. 

In spite of the stereotypes, millennials are a very entrepreneurial generation, and here are five of the crazy ways they are actually making money.

1. Freelancing or Starting Their Own Businesses

Millennials are considerably more likely to buck the norm of being employed by someone else. 

Even if they are searching for full-time employment, many of them will freelance or start a business venture on the side to make extra cash and gain experience that will serve them well in traditional jobs. 

Or they might choose to remain self-employed and grow their own businesses.

2. App Development

As a generation always on their smartphones, many millennials find the opportunity to develop their own smartphone apps an attractive one. 

With a basic understanding of app development scripting, or even commercial software that makes creating apps easier for people without serious programming knowledge, many millennials are creating helpful, fun and cool apps for everyone to use.

3. Streaming

Live streaming, especially of playing video games, has grown exponentially in popularity thanks to big sites like Twitch and VideoGameBroadcasts.com. 

Often these videos are for entertainment value, but they can also be an educational walkthrough of how to play the game and uncover its lesser known secrets.

4. Driving

Whether with Uber, Lyft or other companies, many millennials (the ones who have cars, anyway) are acting as chauffeurs to drive people where they need to go. 

They've taken Uber and Lyft up on the offer to work on their own schedules and earn a flat fee in addition to the distance traveled after Uber or Lyft take their cut for providing the connection between driver and passenger.

5. Selling Photos

Millennials interested in photography are taking photos and selling the licenses to bring in some decent extra cash. 

The new app Foap takes an even more creative direction—it allows users to sell licenses to photos taken on their phones and then, when someone wishes to buy the license, the original taker of the image gets a cut.

Everyone else can learn a lot from the cool ways millennials have learned to make money. So perhaps try out some of these money-making methods for yourself and see why millennials are attracted to such crazy, different and creative ways to make money.

Seeking Financial Help: 4 Reasons Why It's A Step In The Right Direction

Your credit score can influence many aspects of your life. Having good credit can be the difference between getting approved or denied for a home loan. Having bad credit may even prevent you from getting a job or renting an apartment. 

Understanding the difference between good credit and bad credit is the key to knowing when you need to seek financial help. According to a study by Lexington Law Firm, many American consumers still do not understand their credit score. 

The study estimates that of all consumers with a poor or fair credit score, roughly 30% of them believe that the cost of credit repair is what is keeping them from taking action. 

To the contrary, the benefits of hiring a credit repair law firm can far outweigh the cost of living with poor credit. To help you decide if this path is right for you, here are 4 reasons to seek financial help:

Get Results Quickly

One of the biggest advantages of seeking credit repair assistance is that they take immediate action. Working on your behalf, the credit repair agency or firm will work directly with your lenders to resolve your credit issues. 

This means that you never have to worry about tackling the long and tedious task of repairing your credit because a dedicated team is already working on it. When dealing with your debtors, there are many laws and processes that you need to be aware of. 

Additionally, there are some situations that may require disputing or challenging items with the credit bureaus, collection agencies or original creditors. By enlisting the help of a credit repair firm, you are placing this responsibility in the capable hands of experienced professionals. 

They can review your reports, gather information and develop a plan to remove questionable items from your credit report.

Avoid Getting Caught In A Web Of Legalese

Another advantage of hiring a credit repair agency is that they have a thorough understanding of the law. They can leverage federal laws to help you get the credit that you deserve. Credit repair firms can ensure that creditors are in compliance with federal laws such as:

• The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
• The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
• The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA).
• And other applicable statutes.

Enjoy The Long-Term Benefits Of Your Short-Term Investment

Once they have successfully repaired your credit, you may be able to get lower interest rates on loans or credit cards. 

Many lenders use your credit score to determine how much they will let you borrow and how much interest to charge you. Setting aside funds now for credit improvement may save you a lot of money in the long run.

Get More Time To Spend With The Ones You Love

Credit repair companies do all the hard work so that you do not have to. They spend hours combing over your credit report, searching for inaccuracies and reaching out to creditors. 

If necessary, they may be able to help you negotiate with your creditors or have negative items removed entirely. While the credit repair agency is hard at work repairing your credit, you are free to spend more time at school, work or with your family and less time worrying about your credit score.

The road to better credit can be long and bumpy. Luckily, you do not have to travel this road alone. Seeking financial help to improve your credit score may lead to more positive credit decisions and increased employment opportunities. 

If you need help choosing a firm, research credit repair company reviews so you can find the one that is right for you. Don't go another day with poor credit. Seeking financial help can be your first towards getting organized financially and in life.

Fresh Auto: 4 Reasons People Should Budget Before Buying A New Car

Buying a new car may be a worthwhile investment especially if you are constantly taking the bus or putting money into your current junker. However, new cars can be really expensive. 

That is why it is always a good idea to create a budget long before you start shopping for your next vehicle. That way you can make sure that you have the right amount of money saved up to be able to afford the car of your dreams. 

Here are some other reasons why it is a good idea to save up for a new car. 

You Don't Want a Salesperson Telling You What to Buy

When you determine your budget ahead of time, it helps to determine what type of car that you will buy. For instance, if you determine that your budget is $10,000, you aren't going to buy a new Mercedes. 

Instead, you may be looking at a late model Hyundai or a Nissan Versa if you want to buy a vehicle from the current model year. 

Never Base Affordability on the Monthly Payment

Many people determine if they can afford a car based on the monthly payment that they are given. What most people don't realize is that lower payments are generally the result of a longer loan term. 

While buyers may think that they are saving money, they are really paying their lender more interest and building equity in the vehicle at a slower pace.

Make It Easier to Shop for Financing

Lenders base their interest rates based on how much you borrow, how long you want to borrow for and whether the car is new or used. 

Setting a budget ahead of time allows you to do so with those factors in mind. This helps you determine if you want to go to a credit union for a loan, talk with an online lender or just see what a dealer has to offer. 

Those in the Cincinnati area can visit dealers like those at Milton Ruben Toyota if they need a loan.

Can You Afford to Buy Right Now?

Just because you want a new car right now doesn't mean that you can afford buying a new vehicle that meets all of your needs. 

In some cases, it may be best to lease a vehicle or save up for a few months to make a down payment. Waiting may also be a good idea for those who need time to improve their credit to get a better interest rate.

If you are in the market for a new car, it may be a good idea to consider your financial situation before you start shopping. This enables you to control the car buying process as opposed to allowing a salesperson to make decisions for you.