How to Save Money on Travel

As gas prices continue to climb and the overall costs for travel soar, many think that travel is out of reach and shelve plans for their dream vacation for “someday.” Retirees may give up on the notion completely, thinking that a big trip just isn’t possible on a limited income. 

However, there are many ways that you can save money and make travel a reality. Here are just a few ways you can make just about any trip fit your budget: 

Travel Off-Season 

Everybody wants to go to Paris in springtime. Unfortunately, that means that lines will be longer, your options will be limited, and you will pay more for everything. While traveling in the dead of winter when it’s cold and snowy most places may not seem appealing, that’s exactly how you can travel for a fraction of the cost. 

Talk with a travel agent about what constitutes “off-season” for the place you want to travel. You may be able to travel in the fall or spring when temperatures and conditions aren’t ideal but are still bearable. Just put on a warm jacket or a packable rain jacket if it rains, the Eiffel Tower won’t seem any less amazing!

Save on Flights 

There are many ways you can save on airfare if you’re willing to do a little research or be flexible in your dates of travel. Start by researching the lowest fares on comparison sites such as Travelocity or Orbitz. You can find out what airlines are offering the lowest fares, then try to bid for lower prices on a service like Priceline. 


If you’re flexible with your travel dates, this can lower your fares significantly. Do a search that includes flexible dates and find the lowest fares. Even being flexible enough to fly Tuesday through Thursday can drop a lot off your ticket prices. Of course, last-minute fares – just a few weeks or less before travel – will also be significantly cheaper.

Choose Low-Cost Lodging 

Low-cost lodging doesn’t mean 3-star hotels. You need to think outside the hotel. One popular option includes a hostel, which puts you in a room with a few other strangers but can cost as little as $10 a night. You can get a private room in a hostel, but the cost is a little higher (though still potentially cheaper than many hotels). 

A couple other options include renting an apartment for the week (usually less than the cost of a hotel), volunteering on a farm or non-profit organization (which usually offers lodging in exchange for the help), or couch surfing (in which you connect with good travel Samaritans who offer you their spare couch or room for a night or two for free). 

Skip Restaurants 

Eating out at home can be expensive, and it’s even worse when you travel. Don’t eat at restaurants, and you’ll save a lot of money. If there’s a kitchen in your hostel or your hotel room, you can purchase groceries from the local market and make meals there. If there isn’t, you can purchase ready-made items from local markets and grocery stores. 

Even if you don’t want to get your meals this way, at least grabbing snacks such as granola bars, nuts, and fruit can help you reduce the number of meals you have to buy out. 

Travel doesn’t have to be a distant dream for when you win the lottery or one of your investments finally pays off. By brainstorming ways to save, you can make just about any trip a reality. 

How do you save money when you travel? Share your tips in the comments! 

Charissa Newark is a writer and manager for Accountingdegree.net, where she has recently been researching requirements for an accounting degree. In her spare time, Charissa enjoys gardening and volunteering at animal shelters.

Are You Responsible for Your Spouse's Tax Bill?

Income tax (Photo credit: Alan Cleaver)

When you say "I do" you are not only merging your lives together you are also merging your tax responsibility. Unlike, your individual debt responsibilities, which are wholly an individual problem. Your tax responsibilities, when you file joint returns, can affect the other spouse.These liabilities include back federal and/or state taxes, child support, and unpaid student loans.

The IRS wants all couples to know that:

1. Tax, interest and penalties are a joint responsibility — even after divorce or death.
2. A divorce decree, written in stone, that your ex is responsible for your joint taxes, does not mean the IRS won’t hold you liable.
3. Even if none of the income on your joint tax return is yours, the IRS can still come after you.For example, in 2010, you were a W-2 employee and your spouse was self-employed, and you filed a joint tax return. In 2011 you divorced, and your spouse left for parts unknown. Several months ago, the IRS audited your 2010 joint tax return and determined that not all of the income from your spouse’s business was reported.
The IRS agent is going to say that you are responsible for the tax plus interest and penalties, and your wages are going to be levied to pay this debt.

There can be relief, however, if you can prove that you are an “innocent spouse.”

1. If the understatement of tax was due to cheating, or what the IRS calls “erroneous” items, and
2. When you signed the return, you didn’t know, or have reason to know, of the under reported income, and
3. You did not benefit from that income, and
4. It would be unfair to hold you liable.The IRS considers an erroneous item to be unreported income, or incorrect deductions. These include unreported cash income, as well as unsupported deductions like claiming expenses that were never incurred.

Not knowing, or not having reason to know, refers to:

1. The nature of the item. This means that if your spouse had unreported gambling income, and those records were totally maintained by your spouse;
2. Your educational and business background. In other words, should you have known or should you have questioned.Did you benefit? Are you living in a $1,000,000 house with reported income of only $100,000? Being unfair to hold you liable includes whether you received a significant benefit from the understatement, whether your spouse deserted you, and whether you are divorced or separated. There are two other types of relief — separation of liability and equitable relief. Under separation of liability relief, you divide the understatement, including penalty and interest, between the two of you. This relief covers unpaid liabilities due to tax understatements. The requirements are that you are legally separated or divorced, including widowed, and you did not live with your spouse for the past twelve months.

Equitable relief is provided if you do not qualify for either of the other two, and require, amongst other things, that you did not intend to commit fraud, and were not involved in a fraudulent scheme to defraud the IRS, a creditor, business partner, or ex-spouse, that it would be unfair to hold you accountable, and the income was not yours.

Related articles

• Does Your Tax Preparer Have the Proper Credentials? (50plusfinance.com)
• Stay-At-Home Spouses May Get Credit Cards With CFPB Help (50plusfinance.com)
• 50+ Concerns About Retirement Savings (50plusfinance.com)
• What is a Joint and Survivor Annuity? (50plusfinance.com)

Basic Money Management Advice

Finance (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

In the era of technologies and mass media there are some people left who think of their financial life as they are able to see a distinct connection with this aspect of life with a well-being of others. Most people do not understand that finances are an inseparable part of our lives and they will not just get rid of it by their wish. If you are ignorant about how to control your money, you should better learn to as you will just lose money you have been working so hard for. Managing money is a learnable thing. So why do so many people stay away from money management? Just begin to learn and get to know all kinds of information for becoming stronger in this sphere of life and you will soon notice how life changes for better. 

Though the process of learning may seem difficult and perplexed, it does not mean that it is the same way in reality. Indeed, the basic two criteria are the most momentous: self-control and a plan. 

Probably many times in your life you have heard such a word: budget. Try to learn it and use it as a golden book. Set up a budget and plan everything, all your expenses, incomes, bill payments, track literally everything, even the sum of money which you spend on coffee. The best variant is to jot down all your spending at once, for not to forget anything. It will be easier for you to control your money in that case. 

Self-control and discipline are the same terms. Remember all the deadlines and terms of the bill payments. If your money is tight for the moment, then do not buy anything that you don’t really need. Think and take care of your future. Nevertheless, there is plenty of advice for money management and the previous two were just the basic ones. If you want to improve your financial life completely, to turn it upside-down, then try to follow some other pieces of advice below. 

Organize your expenses 

If you spend too much money on something where you can save, then why won’t you do that? If you buy coffee at Starbucks or any other cafeteria, then make coffee at home and that will help you to save even more money than you expect. 

Savings account is a must 

Put some money away for a rainy day. The perfect option is to use a bank for opening a savings account. The point of such account is that you are getting an interest rate and the more money you have there, the higher your interest rate is becoming. 

Learn how to deal with emergencies 

The urgent situations are usually unforeseen and nobody may predict them, that is why be prepared towards anything. Save some money from every your salary for an emergency case and you will not fall behind when any situation occurs. 

Still if you do not have any money for a rainy day, neither for an emergency case, then you may use such a convenient option like immediate loans till payday. They intended for people who are not able to pay for some service or bill in time. Money will be sent and withdrawn from the customer’s personal bank account automatically. There is not need to collect the papers on the personal data as the service is faxless. 

As far as you can see, you have a lot of advice for working out your financial life. Nonetheless the most momentous point is your willing. Without it you will never climb on the top.

Related articles

• 5 Healthy Financial Habits To Build Wealth (50plusfinance.com)
• 10 Ways You Can Save More Money (50plusfinance.com)
• 5 Beginner Tips On Making Wise Financial Decisions (50plusfinance.com)

Loan Approval Rates Post Drop in July

In recent property news, home loan approvals have declined by their highest rate in five months in July because of inflated interest rates in other developed economies, dissuading home shoppers from the Australian market. The decline in loan approvals equates to 1% for July after the 1% increase for the month of June, according to the statistics bureau which reported the news from Sydney on September 9th. Bloomberg News had conducted a survey among 16 economists and the general consensus was that the rate for borrowers taking out home loans would remain unchanged for the month of July. 

The news has been taken as an indication of a weakening economy in the aftermath of a recent decrease in retail sales, the loss of 8,800 jobs and the realisation of the seventh consecutive monthly trade deficit. The data has also prompted speculation that Glenn Stevens, RBA’s Governor would be looking at dropping interest rates in November after the cuts in May and June left the national cash rate at 3.5%. Analysts have been speculating about whether 2012 would hold further rate cuts but the last three months have not seen any changes coming from the Reserve Bank of Australia with regard to the national cash rate.

The decrease in home loan approvals has also been taken as yet another sign of consumer conservatism and analysts warn that until consumer behaviour trends can do a turn around, the property market growth rate may continue to disappoint forecasters. The recent credit shock, which highlighted how much debt Aussies have accrued in credit card debt, coupled with the an increasing urgency to increase their savings coffers seems to have had its effect on the property market with consumers not being taken in by low interest rates, preferring to invest their energies into paying debts off and coping better with the rising cost of living which hit a high when the government launched its carbon taxes, sending household utility costs skyrocketing.

The sum total of mortgages dropped to $20.1-billion, a decline of 18 %, for the month, while lending to owners decreased by 1.4% compared to figures released for June. Investor home loans for resale and letting decreased by 2.7%, further highlighting investor conservatism and a slowdown on property developments. However, the market is still optimistic in this respect, with property investment loans on offer at http://www.bankwest.com.au/personal/home-loans/home-loans-overview#investing-in-property.

On a more positive note, the number of loan approvals granted to first time homebuyers increased from 18.5% in June to 19.2% in July. Even more impressive was the year on year increase of 16.5% to first time buyers and indicating that there is potential for growth from the younger generations.

The economic slow down has been attributed to the rising cost of imports and weaker housing markets even though the gross domestic product increased by 0.6% from the three months through to June when it saw a 1.4% improvement.

The country’s two biggest lenders, Westpac Banking Corp (WBC) and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) have announced that fixed mortgage rates have been reduced in an effort to lower borrowing costs for consumers and stimulate more activity in the housing sector. By contrast, an August report revealed that house prices had risen in the second quarter after five consecutive quarters of lowering prices. In addition, while analysts seem to concur that the downward spiral has come to its highly anticipated end, the last three to four months have only reflected what has been considered as flat line activity. It’s not all bad news though, as a spike could cause further market volatility and the flat lining could be giving home buyers more time to ease into the property market.

Related articles

• Homeowner Loans - the Simple Way (50plusfinance.com)
• The Scoop on Buy To Let Mortgages (50plusfinance.com)
• Get Updated on Your Financial Situation with a Credit Report (savealittlemoney.com)

3 Ways to Keep Learning in Retirement without Paying for an Expensive Degree

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Having talked to many friends and family members approaching retirement, one common goal among many of them is to go back to school. Of course, most of these aspiring learners don’t necessarily need the credential of a degree. Rather, they just want to keep on learning, and they’re interested in becoming an expert in a specific field of study that’s different from the one they chose when they were in college. If this is you, consider the benefits of learning outside a traditional degree program. Here are a few options: 

1. Research continuing education centers in your community. 

Almost all universities and/or major cities offer continuing (also called “adult) education centers. These programs don’t necessarily grant degrees, but they do offer courses that are specifically tailored to your interests and passions. What’s more, most continuing education centers offer courses with very flexible times and dates. This is especially important for those in retirement, who may have many other projects and activities they’re pursuing. For an example of what a continuing education center may look like, check out Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies in Houston. 

2. Enroll in a Massive Open Online Course. 

Massive Open Online Course, also known as a MOOC, is the latest trend in education technology. A MOOC is essentially a free course, usually offered through an established university that encourages the participation of students from around the world and has virtually no cap on the number of students who can participate. The most successful MOOC to date was an artificial intelligence course offered through Stanford. 160,000 students enrolled including several Stanford students, and 23,000 students ended up completing the course. The professor who taught the course gave a certificate to each student who completed the class as well as a grade. 248 students received a grade of 100 percent, and none of these students were from Stanford. MOOCS provide retired, lifelong learners the opportunity to learn in a collaborative environment for free, all the while being taught by world-class professors and improving their computer skills. 

3. Join a club or organization. 

Sometimes being self-taught is the best way to go if you want to learn a new skill. It’s also the cheapest way. At the same time, learning in a group setting can spur motivation and help you learn more efficiently from those who are more skilled. One way I learned to speak Russian fairly fluently was by teaching myself using different books, coupled by joining a Russian language MeetUp group. MeetUp.com is a great way to find a local learning group that focuses on whatever skill you endeavor to pick up. 

Of course, none of the above ideas is necessarily comparable to enrolling in a full degree program. At the same time, if the learning is what you're looking for, and not the credential, the above all great options for learning without having to pay an arm and a leg. Good luck! 

Katheryn Rivas is a freelance writer and former educator. She enjoys writing about trends in higher education, college life, and lifelong learning. Check out more of her advice and reporting at OnlineUniversities.com. Feel free to share your comments and questions below!

How to Avoid Extra Costs at the End of Your Car Lease

Car Lease (Photo credit: NobMouse)

$250 to dispose of your vehicle, $1000 for extra miles you put on the clock and $200 to replace the light bulb and the worn tires—lease agents constantly nickel-and-dime consumers when their lease runs out. 

Here’s a rundown of what can trigger those fees, and some steps to take in self-defense.

Disposition fee: Leasing companies charge you if you choose not to buy the vehicle at the end of your lease. This fee is set as compensation for the expenses of selling, or otherwise disposing of the vehicle. It typically includes administrative charges; the dealer’s cost to prepare the car for resale and any other penalties. Make sure this fee is stated clearly in the contract and is agreeable by you before signing on the dotted line. At lease-end, you are left in no position to negotiate as the dealer can apply your refundable security deposit towards this fee. 

Excess mileage charges: Almost all leasing companies will charge a premium for each mile over the agreed upon mileage stated in your contract. This penalty can be as high as 25 cents per mile and can add up quickly. To avoid the risk of running thousands of dollars in excess mileage penalties at the end of your lease, always check the “per mile” charges in your contract and be realistic about your mileage before you sign any contract. If you think the limit is unrealistic given your commutation needs, then negotiate with the dealer to get a higher mileage or contract for additional miles. 

Excess tear-and-wear charges: Another potential cost at the end of the lease is any incidental damage done to the car during the lease. This is deemed any excessive damage done to the normal tear and wear of the vehicle. Notice the use of the terms “deemed”, “excessive” and “normal”. There is no standard formula to define what’s “excessive” and “normal” and it’s up to the leasing company to assess – or deem – the damage and determine what they are going to charge. This leaves you at the mercy of unscrupulous leasing agents who set stringent tear-and-wear standards. 

Make sure you read the description of these standards, understand them and agree to them. If your leased vehicle is damaged prior to the end of the lease, you may find it cheaper to repair the damage yourself than pay the excessive charges of the leasing agent. In the event of a dispute over the charges at the end of your lease, get an independent third party to do a professional appraisal detailing the amount required to repair any damaged parts or the amount by which tear-and-wear reduces the value of the vehicle.

Related articles

• Buy or Lease? Which is Best? (50plusfinance.com)
• 10 Ways You Can Save More Money (50plusfinance.com)
• How to Save Money on Car Insurance for under 25 Drivers (savealittlemoney.com)
• Adding Your Children Onto Your Insurance Policy: Pros and Cons (50plusfinance.com)

10 Ways You Can Save More Money

Many people have little money leaks that they may not even realize. Over the years these tiny amounts of money add up to hundreds of dollars. Being conscious of where your money is going is the difference between winning and losing in the money game.

I have listed 10 ways to save money and plug up those money leaks:

Savings Tips

1. Consider your needs vs. your wants. Think about items you purchase on a regular basis. These add up. Where can you save?

• Do you eat out at restaurants a lot? 
• Can you cut back on daily expenses, such as coffee, candy, soda, or cigarettes? 
• Do you have services you do not really need, such as cable television or a cell phone? 

2. Set up a direct deposit and an automatic transfer to your savings account.

• When you get paid, put a portion in savings through direct deposit or automatic transfer. 
• If you have a checking account, you can sign up to have money moved into your savings account every month. What you don’t see, you don’t miss! 

3. Pay your bills on time. This saves the added expense of:

• Late fees, extra finance charges 
• Disconnection fees for phone, electricity, or other services 
• Fees to reestablish connection if your service is disconnected 
• The cost of eviction, repossession and bill collectors 

4. If you use check-cashing stores regularly, you might be paying $3 - $5 for each check you cash. Consider opening a checking account at a bank or credit union.

5. If you get a raise or bonus from your employer, save that extra money.

6. If you have paid off a loan, keep making the monthly payments to yourself. You can save or invest the money for your future goals.

7. Avoid debt that does not help build long-term financial security. For example, avoid borrowing money for things that do not provide financial benefits or that do not last as long as the loan. Examples include: a vacation, clothing, and dinners out in restaurants.

8. Save your change at the end of the day. Take that change and deposit it into the bank (every week or month).

9. When you get a tax refund, save as much of it as possible.

10. If your work offers a retirement plan, such as 401(k) or 403(b) plan that deducts money from your paycheck, join it! Most employers will match up to $.50 on each dollar you contribute. The matched amount is free money!

Related articles

• 5 Healthy Financial Habits To Build Wealth (50plusfinance.com)
• Ways Your House Can Earn You Money (50plusfinance.com)
• The One Mistake That Will Kill Your College Savings Plan (whatisa529plan.com)

Payday Loans Are Still Popular with Consumers

Loans (Photo credit: zingbot)

Short-term financing is the common choice for those who have money difficulties. With pay day loans, you have the convenience of getting a particular amount of money through a faster process. Payday loans need to be settled within a certain period of time like 15 days, 30 days or even 60 days. Note also that there are cases when lenders allow a 6-month term for loan repayment. This, however, is on a case to case basis? 

How do you qualify for payday cash loans? 

The reason why many consider these cash loans is that it does not have too many requirements. As a matter of fact, lenders just want a guarantee that you can pay back the loan on time. As such, expect that they would ask about your current employment. Usually, qualified applicants are those who have already been employed for at least 90 days. Proof of steady income for the previous months would also be required if you aren't currently employed. Documents can be sent through fax or email. But, there are also times that lenders do not require such paper works. It's best though to be ready to ensure a faster transaction. 

It's also vital that you have an active bank account where the lender would deposit the cas fast. Lenders prefer to elect bank accounts under the applicant's name. Contrary to popular notion, credit standing has no impact on pay day loans. Should the loan be granted, it would also not affect your future credit rating. 

How long is the loan application processing? 

Competition among payday loan providers have provided a big edge for borrowers. Majority of lenders promise pay day loan approval in less than an hour. Some can even go as extreme as 15 minutes. 

Why use payday loans? 

There are many conveniences when you get one week payday loans. For one, it has a lot easier application process. It's good if you're not targeting a relatively large sum of money and it  doesn't have upfront fees. All you need to provide is the information on your finances. You can also choose your application medium. Do it online or by phone and the results would still be the same. 

The bottom line is that you won't be tied to a loan that you need to finish in years. You get to solve your credit problems immediately. At the end of the day, pay day loans are really the best options for unplanned cash problems. 

Related articles

• Reverse Mortgage vs. Payday Loan, the Hard Facts (50plusfinance.com)
• Why Would You Want Payday Loans Online? (savealittlemoney.com)

Planning for Top Quality Christmas Parties on a Budget

christmas 2012 (Photo credit: paparutzi)

We’re getting to that time of year when people are starting to think about their Christmas parties, what they’re going to wear, where they’re going, how much they can afford to spend and what the theme is going to be. Unfortunately, these traditional parties occur at a bad time of year – there’s enough expense around Christmas time as it is, but you just can’t miss out on “the party of the year” whether you’re a student, a mother of two or retired. 

The main problem for the person entrusted with the task of arranging the whole thing is usually a financial one. The company might set aside a budget for them to spend on the venue, entertainment, food and drink and whatever else they might need, but the planner also needs to consider the needs and financial restrictions of the guests – there’s no point blowing the budget on an expensive restaurant if people can’t afford the food for instance. 

Fancy dress parties are always good for a laugh, but the chances are that the majority of people attending will have to go out and hire a costume. With it being peak time for the fancy dress hire companies, they can charge what they like safe in the knowledge that the customers will still pay for what’s on offer, so if they have to buy a costume, ensuring that costs at the party are low is essential to prevent people spending hundreds on the night itself when you include food and drink. 

A smart casual theme is quite possibly the best as it allows people to “play dress up” and get glammed up, especially if there’s a relaxed dress code in the workplace. The ladies can go out shopping for new party dresses and the men can don the shirt and tie they bought with their Charles Tyrwhitt promo codes but never had a use for and pretend they’re James Bond for the evening! 

Whatever theme you go for as the organizer, you need to remember that the financial restraints aren't just around the party budget, but the guests as well. With Christmas presents to buy, the “big night out” with the team from the office could be something they'd choose to avoid if they have to pay a lot so a cheap and cheerful party could be the ideal option. Keep venue costs low and food and drink free and you'll be the best party organizer ever!

Related articles

• Holiday Shoppers Using Layaway Plans to Stay Debt Free (50plusfinance.com)
• Planning Family Fun Activities without Breaking the Bank (50plusfinance.com)

5 Healthy Financial Habits To Build Wealth

Without money (Photo credit: Toban Black)

To be financially successful you need to have the habits that contribute to building wealth. Learning from those that have success and ignoring advice from those that don't succeed is what you need to do. Most people struggle all their lives to make ends meet and never accumulate any savings, they live week to week, never getting out of that rut. 

Building wealth and being successful with money doesn't take a college degree or any extra intelligence. The concepts can be understood by anyone with only a minor education.

Work

This simple concept of having a job and having one that pays well is mostly ignored by many financial experts. Many people start their work life in a low paying job and stay there all their life. To accumulate money, build a life, and save for retirement takes money. If you find yourself in a low paying job you will never be able to be successful with money because you don't have enough money. 

The costs of taking care of yourself and a family is costly and the costs are rising all the time. The greatest investment you can make is to improve yourself. That can mean job training, education, or looking for higher paying jobs. If you sit in front of the TV every night wondering why you broke, maybe it's time to make a move to increase your income.

Saving Money

If you live from one paycheck to the next it's because you spend everything you earn. Financially smart people know the secret to being successful with money and that secret is to save money. Americans are blessed with a never ending supply of things to buy. Don't beat yourself up if you are caught up in this bad habit. Each time you earn money you should make it a habit of depositing at least 10 percent of it in a bank account that is solely designated for wealth accumulation. 

As this money begins to pile up, you may be tempted to spend it. Don't. Consistently saving at least 10 percent of your income and resisting the urge to use that money for anything other than sound investments is the most important healthy financial habit to develop. This habit lays the foundation for other healthy financial habits.

Manage or Eliminate Debt

Besides overspending  the other bad habit to keeping you broke is debt. Buying things on credit because you cannot afford them is another reason you're broke. Being in debt is not in itself bad but it does keep you from your goals if you don't have the money to pay it back. 

The main cause of going into debt is you have a had an unexpected expense and your only solution is to use credit because you don't have the money. This can be stopped by having an emergency fund funded to cover these expenses. 

Control Expenses

If your sloppy with your spending and don't have a budget you overspend on the wrong things. Start the habit of making a budget every month. You should have a plan for how you will spend the money you earn before you receive it. Your spending plan would include the money you intend to save automatically and enough to make all your debt payments and cover the household bills. 

The habit of budgeting your income -- and knowing where every single dollar goes -- will motivate you to cut costs wherever possible in order to increase the amount of discretionary funds you have left after meeting your monthly financial obligations. 

Have a Plan

Make your budget and have a plan for saving and paying down debt. Set short term and long term goals. Make plans to save a certain amount in a 6 month or a 12 month time frame. It's hard to break bad habits, you may fail but the secret is to keep trying and not give up.

Related articles

• 5 Beginner Tips On Making Wise Financial Decisions (50plusfinance.com)
• How to Get Out of Debt (savealittlemoney.com)
• 3 Key Steps to Eliminate Personal Debt (savealittlemoney.com)

Ways to Save on Car Insurance

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Among the biggest expenses any household has is car insurance and finding ways to save money on that expense is essential. With a little time and work you'll be able to find many ways to save on a car insurance policy.One of the simplest methods to save money on automobile insurance is by just shopping around. Comparing prices at a few different automobile insurance companies will help you check if you're paying too much for insurance. You'll discover that rates vary between different insurance companies a lot. A few factors in how much you pay is your age and gender, plus your driving record. Commonly, males will pay more than females, and younger drivers will pay more than older ones.

After finding a good rate for your automobile insurance ask your agent if they have any discounts for bundling all your insurance policies together. A lot of auto insurance companies offer a price reduction to customers who have multiple vehicles. Think about changing over your homeowner’s, life, or tenants insurance policy to the same company. Huge discounts can be had when you give an insurance company all your business.

Raising your deductible is another method to save a lot of money on automobile insurance. If you have a deductible of $250, it is to low, think about raising it to a deductible between $500 to $ 1,000. Raising your deductible keeps down the liability the insurance company bears therefore you'll make a smaller payment. With the higher deductible more of the insurance liability falls on you. Make sure you have the money in savings to cover the amount of the deductible.

Presently, car insurance companies are extending discounts to clients who regularly wear their seatbelt, install a car alarm system, have airbags in their car, change their oil regularly, and are considered by their state to be good drivers. Remember that discounts can vary a lot between companies. There are also discounts extended for personal behaviors such as having good grades, not driving at night, and not drinking.

There are a lot of discounts available to you when you shop for car insurance. The insurance agent may not offer them to you, it is your business to inquire.

Auto insurance quotes in Washington D.C.

Related articles

• How Is Classic Car Insurance Different from Regular Car Insurance (50plusfinance.com)
• How to Save Money on Car Insurance When You Retire (50plusfinance.com)
• How to select the best car insurance for luxury car? (50plusfinance.com)
• Adding Your Children Onto Your Insurance Policy: Pros and Cons (50plusfinance.com)
• Best Car Insurance For College Students (whatisa529plan.com)

Buy or Lease? Which is Best?

It’s the classic dilemma that faces every auto-consumer out there: Pay cash upfront or forego the ownership and pay monthly settlements instead? Buy or lease for a new set of wheels?


As is the case with every other common dilemma, there is no slam-dunk answer. Each option has its own benefits and drawbacks, and it all depends on a set of financial and personal considerations.


First, your finances. Affordability is clearly key, and you need to ask the question of how stable is your job and how healthy is your general financial situation. The short-term monthly-cost of leasing is significantly lower than the monthly payments when buying: you only pay for “the portion” of the vehicle’s cost that you use up during the time you drive it. 

If you have a lot of cash upfront, then you can opt to pay the down payment, sales taxes - in cash or rolled into a loan - and the interest rate determined by your loan company. Buying effectively gives you ownership of the car and that feeling of “free driving” that goes on providing transportation. If, say, you want to get into luxury models but can’t afford the upfront cash of purchasing the vehicle than you’re a good candidate for leasing.

Unlike buying, it gives you the option of not having to fork out the down payment upfront, leaving you to pay a lower money factor that is generally similar to the interest rate on a financing loan. However, these benefits have a price: terminating a lease early or defaulting on your monthly lease payments will result in stiff financial penalties and can ruin your credit. You need to make sure you carve out the monthly lease payment in your budget for the foreseeable future, at least for the duration of the lease. 

Besides the financial aspect, making a buy or lease decision depends on your own particular lifestyle choices and preferences. Think about what the car means to you: are you the sort of person to bond with the car or would you rather have the excitement of something new? If you want to drive a car for more than fives years, negotiate carefully and buy the car you like. If, on the other hand, you don’t like the idea of ownership and 
prefer to drive a new car every two to three years then you should lease. 

Next, factor your transportation needs: How many miles do you drive a year? How properly do you maintain your cars? If you answer is: “I drive 40,000 miles a year and I don’t really care much about my cars as I don’t mind dealing with repair bills”, then you’re probably better off buying. Leasing is based on the assumption of limited-mileage, usually no more than 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, and wear-and-tear considerations. 

Unless you can keep within the prescribed mileage limits and keep the car in a good condition at the end of your lease, you might incur hefty end-of-lease costs.

Related articles

• Buy a Fuel Efficient Car or Keep the Used Car? (50plusfinance.com)
• The Benefits of Quick, Fast and Hassle Free Logbook Loans (50plusfinance.com)
• How Is Classic Car Insurance Different from Regular Car Insurance (50plusfinance.com)

Stay-At-Home Spouses May Get Credit Cards With CFPB Help

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau(CFPB) is proposing a new rule to make it easier for stay-at-home spouses to obtain a credit card.

The CFPB proposal allows the stay-at-home spouse or partner to rely on shared income when applying for a credit card account, rather than individual income.

"When stay-at-home spouses or partners have the ability to make payments on a credit card, they should be able to obtain a card in their own name," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray in a statement. "Today the CFPB is proposing common-sense changes that would facilitate credit access for spouses or partners who do not work outside the home."

A 2009 CARD Act provision currently mandates issuers look at a consumer's individual income, rather than their household income, when deciding to approve that consumer for a credit card. The rule originally tried to prevent young adults from using their parents' income to obtain a credit card and subsequently ringing up too much debt in their own name. The unintended consequence of this provision is that it hurt the stay-at-home spouse that generates little or no income.

Is this a positive move forward?

When partners or spouses are denied credit because they do not have the income needed, it makes sense to deny them a credit card. But what if the partner or spouse can share their credit worthy status and show that their income will be the source of the ability to pay back debt. Would that make sense.

It could work if the spouse with the income would take responsibility for the debt to be paid if the account went into default. This works when a cosigner is need for a car note. If the borrower defaults the creditor goes after the cosigner. I works there so why not use it with credit cards.

What are the problems with the CFPB proposed rules?

When credit card issuers issue credit they have a reasonable expectation that when someone applies they are not overstating income. The reason why the rules are the way they are now is because household income is different than individual income. If one spouse applies for a credit card and indicates they make $50,000 in income, the credit card company issues an amount of credit based on credit history and other debts.

Now the spouse who doesn't have an income also applies for a card and indicates $50,000 as household income under the proposed CFPB   rules. The spouse probably doesn't have any debts, so the credit card looks on the applicant as a good risk not knowing about the any debt. This can't work.

In other words, allowing applicants to list shared income and personal debts is a recipe for disaster.  Considering the rate at which we’re incurring debt now, the last thing we need is to open the floodgates by diluting the effectiveness of underwriting.

The Solution

Instead of reversing course and allowing consumers to list shared income on credit card applications, the CFPB should first require that all credit card issuers accept joint applications.  This would enable couples to apply together, listing both of their Social Security Numbers as well as their combined incomes and debts, thereby allowing underwriters to make truly informed approval decisions and giving both applicants the ability to build independent credit.

Instead of reversing course and allowing consumers to list shared income on credit card applications, the CFPB should first require that all credit card issuers accept joint applications.  This would enable couples to apply together, listing both of their Social Security Numbers as well as their combined incomes and debts, thereby allowing underwriters to make truly informed approval decisions and giving both applicants the ability to build independent credit.

Related articles

• What Is a Good Credit Card Deal? (50plusfinance.com)
• 5 Signs Students Have Out of Control Debt (whatisa529plan.com)
• 5 Myths About Credit Reports (savealittlemoney.com)
• Student Loans Within a Marriage Can Complicate Finances (whatisa529plan.com)

7 Methods for Making Money for Those Over 50

 (Photo credit: thinkpanama)

Being on the back-nine of your life doesn't mean you have to take it laying down. There is still much to do and money to be made. Let the younger generation beat themselves to a pulp trying to get ahead in life while you reap the benefits. How can you capitalize on the younger generation without extensive physical effort?

1. Real Estate - Investing in real estate is a great way to put a few dollars in your pocket. Depending on your goals, you could easily amass an empire from rentals to those younger folks who need homes.

2. Stocks - While buying stocks could be risky at times, preparing yourself could yield a handsome retirement bonus. Research methods to help you achieve your goals by using the Internet. The information is yours for the taking.

3. Forex - Trading currencies on the foreign exchange is similar to the risks in trading stocks. Essentially, you are betting that one type of currency will out-perform another. This could pay off in excessive amounts of money, or tap everything you put into it.

4. Business Ventures - There are many people across the globe looking for someone to invest in his or her business. If you have the finances to back a business, you could turn yourself into a successful entrepreneur as well.

5. Take 1 - Did you know that you could make videos of demonstrating your favorite hobby or career choice for money? By posting videos on YouTube of you performing or explaining a subject you're knowledgeable in, you can monetize the videos and generate ad revenue from Google.

6. Instructional Website - Much like the YouTube suggestion above, you could create a website based around your knowledge or expertise in any given subject. This can be used for ad revenue, affiliate sales, and more depending on what your website is about.

7. Learn - It may be difficult to see yourself going back to school, but education could open doors you never thought were there because of your age. With the nature of online courses, you could even earn a degree from the comfort of your own home.

When it comes to making money, your age is never an issue. Age just alters the methods that are available to you. While physical restraints will prevent you from becoming a star athlete, your mind will always be your greatest asset. Out-think the competition and you'll succeed at anything.

Author Bio:
Jack Meyer is a regular contributor for http://www.nannybackgroundcheck.com/. As a detective he wants to spread the knowledge of terrible things that can happen when people don’t fully verify the credentials of a caregiver or any employee. He also writes for various law enforcement blogs and sites.

Related articles

• The Importance of the Right Platform in Forex Trading (50plusfinance.com)
• Top Ways to Make Money Online After Retiring (50plusfinance.com)

Hard Money Lenders – The Common Policies You Need to Know

Finance - Financial injection - Finance (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

Before you apply for hard money loans, you need to make sure you understand your lender’s policies and underwriting procedures. Most of the lenders have these policies on their websites. Here are the sorts of things you might expect to find… 

Borrower down Payment 
Generally, the finance providers will expect you to put at least 20% down. Most borrowers are required to put down 25%, although those who need $250,000 or more in funding may be required to put down 30% or even more, depending on the lender’s underwriting procedures. Keep in mind that this is cash equity, not “created equity” such as a commission carry-back. 

Loan-To-Value Percentage 
You may be able to secure up to 100% of the funding you need. However, generally the finance providers won’t finance more than 60% of the value of the property. This is referred to as the LTV, or loan-to-value percentage. 

Improvement or Repair Draws 
Usually you can’t get hard money funding solely for the purpose of making improvements on a property. However, lenders may, at their discretion, allow you to include home improvement funds as part of your regular loan, provided you don’t exceed the LTV percentage. 

TIP: Generally, the hard money services put time limits on the repairs. For example, you may need to show proof that the repairs were made within three months after you secured your loans. 

Concentration Limits 
Another common underwriting procedure for the lenders is to create concentration limits. Basically, this is the limit on how many loans and funding any individual, group of individuals or business can receive. Generally, the lenders put a concentration cap of 5%, meaning one individual or a group of related individuals can’t hold more than 5% of the lending company’s total portfolio. 

Collateral Quality Control Because hard money loans are asset-based loans, the hard money lenders will usually install policies that help ensure these assets aren’t damaged, devalued or destroyed. For example: 

• The lenders may limit the type of properties they fund. For example, most hard money lenders will fund residential single-family homes. However, many lenders who’re offering hard money financing will NOT fund mobile homes, vacant lots, construction projects, partially constructed properties, and similar types of loans. 
• The lenders may limit the areas they’ll serve. Generally the hard money lenders will fund properties within a certain geographical limits, and any other areas at their discretion. However, these lenders tend to avoid funding properties in high-crime areas. 

Bottom line… 
Even though many hard money finance providers tend to have similar underwriting procedures, the point is that you need to thoroughly read and understand these policies before you apply for a loan and secure funding. 

Bio line – Philip is a guest blogger writing informative contents related to Finance on behalf of Active Funding Group LLC. For more information please explore Arizona hard money loans on their website.

Related articles

• Understanding Pay Day Cash Loans (50plusfinance.com)
• The Benefits of Quick, Fast and Hassle Free Logbook Loans (50plusfinance.com)
• The Scoop on Buy To Let Mortgages (50plusfinance.com)
• Homeowner Loans - the Simple Way (50plusfinance.com)