5 of the Best States for Seniors to Retire to This Year

Hopefully, retirement brings a slower, easier, and more stress-free lifestyle. However, much of that depends on where you live. Here are five of the top states to retire. Some of the choices might surprise you, but they all have a low cost of living and a laid-back lifestyle.

Georgia

Hands down, experts rate the Peach State as the best place to retire in the United States. Not only can retirees enjoy a varied, four seasons landscape, but Georgia real estate is priced right. 

The Atlanta area median home price was just a little over $279,000 during the first part of 2021. That's $40,000 less than the national average. Georgia real estate prices are not the only thing that makes this state attractive; overall, the state has a low cost of living as well as low taxes. 

You can talk to a real estate company, like The Georgia Club Realty, about finding a home to retire to in Georgia.

Florida

It's no surprise that Florida is a great place to retire. The warm, tropical weather and endless beaches are a big plus. However, best of all, the Sunshine State does not have a state income tax, and it doesn't tax social security benefits or retirement income either. 

Furthermore, Florida doesn't have an inheritance or estate taxes. Finally, real estate and property taxes are reasonable. If you want to save some serious money during retirement, look to Florida.

Tennessee

With its mild climate and stunning landscapes, the Volunteer State has much to offer. Tennessee has the fifth-lowest cost of living in the country, around 10% below the national average. 

Add in the world-famous music venues, the numerous state parks, and its deep sense of history, Tennessee is the place to be.

Missouri

Surprisingly, the Show-Me State made the experts' top five states to retire in. Its low cost of living makes this state in the American heartland a good place to retire. 

Tax rates are reasonably low, and Missouri's natural beauty might surprise you. If you opt for small-town life, the big cities of St. Louis and Kansas City are not far away when you need them.

Massachusetts

Experts rate the Bay State at #5 mostly due to its wellness score. If you are dependent on healthcare, Massachusetts is home to some of the leading research hospitals in the world. While the cost of living is high, Massachusetts is known for its cosmopolitan and diverse culture.

While these five states are ranked highly by experts, you might find another state to call home in your golden years. When you are ready to retire, do your own research.

4 Ways to Make Your Home Stand Out Among Others if You Want a Quick Sale

If you want to sell your home quickly, making it stand out from the crowd should be a top priority. For one, remember to keep it tidy and clean. Another thing you can do is get rid of pet odor and fur. Consider a few more ways to make your home stand out.

Remove Clutter

While it can be a chore to remove clutter, you'll still have competition from those who've cleaned up more than you. In fact, excessive clutter can make your house appear dirty to buyers. 

Instead of moving it to the basement or attic where a buyer might see it, consider placing anything you won't be using in a storage unit for safekeeping.

Improve the Landscape

You can start making your landscape look more appealing by pulling weeds from driveway cracks, and flower beds, and raking leaves. 

Secondly, try placing potted plants near the front door and planting brightly colored flowers to add pops of color. Trimming shrubs and hedges, and pruning trees can give your home's exterior a crisp appearance. 

Another idea is to add fresh mulch around trees and plants. Finally, give your home a finishing touch by mowing the lawn.

Use the Right Paint

First impressions can be everything, especially in real estate. For instance, if a potential buyer sees how weather-beaten your house is, they'll likely head the other way. 

Fortunately, you can use paint to cover up many flaws such as mold. 

In addition, if they see a paint color that doesn't quite fit their expectations, they might decide against your home. For example, white is a safe option when choosing paint colors.

Polish It Up

It's often the little things that matter and real estate is no different. For instance, you might have a broken bathroom doorknob, dead lawn grass spots, or cracked kitchen tile. 

All of these details can be unsightly to anyone who's looking to spend their hard-earned money on a new house. Beforehand, try walking around to find any flaws you can fix. 

Buyers want to see a tidy house they can turn into a home that's personal to them.

Although you've likely spent years creating the cracks in the walls, little things matter. After all, potential buyers can and will notice anything that looks out of place. 

This could mean you may not be selling your home anytime soon. On the bright side, with a bit of fixing up, your house can look like new again.

Lease vs Buying a Tesla - Which Option Will Help You Get the Best Deal?

Because there are now more Tesla's on the road today, there are also many more used Tesla's available for people to purchase. With vehicles becoming more and more common to buy, there are obvious benefits to purchasing a used Tesla. There are also some reasons why people may want to avoid it and buy new or lease. 

Buy a Tesla

Some may see the purchase of a used Tesla as a risk or that it is not the best option for someone who has trouble getting along financially. While the purchase price may be lower, the repairs that have been performed on the used Tesla may not be as good as the new vehicle. 

There are also other reasons as well. When you are shopping for a Tesla to purchase, you must be thorough when searching. Look at the vehicles in your area, in your state and region, so you are sure to get the most for your money.

Start Your Search

Before you do some serious shopping, look at Tesla.com, you should search their lists of new and used Teslas that have to sell. The vehicles they offer may be the best for someone looking for a used Tesla, and the prices they offer will be lower than Teslas. 

Buy a Tesla

Second, get some quotes on used car websites like Carmax.com, Carvana.com, and UsedCars.com. These cars are in high demand, so when the market is heating up, you may be able to get a better price at these other sites. 

After getting the quotes, you have to decide if you want to buy it or lease it. You have to understand if you will still need the car at the end of the lease period. 

Tesla does not allow you to buy the car at the end of your lease period. They want your car for the autonomous taxi fleet that they plan. So buying the car is your only option if you want to keep it permanently.

After calculating the numbers for both purchases and leases, the lease is better if you do not need the car at the end of the period. A lease is better than a one-time purchase in most situations because, at the end of the lease period, you are free to do whatever you want.

What to Consider Financially Before Buying Your First Home

When you're ready to buy a home, you are probably excited about finding the right location and the best home in your price range. But be sure to consider other financial aspects of your purchase before making an offer on the home of your dreams.

Additional Purchase Costs

In planning for your home purchase, be sure to factor in the realtor fees and closing costs. These will be explained when you are ready to make an offer on a property, but you will want to have extra cash available. 

Inspection fees and maintenance costs for issues like termites or leaks should also be kept in mind. Sometimes these expenses are negotiable with the seller, but it is a good idea to set aside some additional funds for unexpected surprises.

Moving Expenses

Hiring professional movers can be expensive, although it is often unavoidable and usually best for your furnishings. You don't want to take chances with a pricy piano or a newer entertainment center and speakers. 

Expert movers will make sure that everything is wrapped or packed carefully to avoid nicks or breakage. You may also want to pay extra for moving insurance as well as additional costs for any special items as determined by the moving company. 

These might include costly china or a movable hot tub. Keep some funds handy for takeout meals and packing materials on or near the day of the move.

Taxes, Insurance, and Utilities

The taxes and insurance are probably factored into your anticipated closing costs, but check to be sure. You may need to increase your current insurance coverage on the property if you are bringing more expensive furnishings or upgrading the property in certain ways. 

Such as installing new fixtures or improving the landscape. Utility deposits may be required when the heating, electric, and water bills are switched to your name.

Funding Sources

Start thinking about your financial options before you decide which home to buy. Professional lenders like Precision Capital - Your Private Money Source will discuss your home purchase expenses ahead of time to help you prepare. 

You may be able to set up a savings account or an investment plan that will ensure the needed funds are available when you buy a house. You might prefer to take a loan to cover the upfront costs of your housing purchase.

Prepare financially in advance to have money available when you find a house to buy. Getting ready now will save time and stress later.

How to Appropriately Collect Late Payments at Your Business

Clients who don't pay on time can be a frustrating disruption to your company's cash flow, and collection efforts are a time-consuming and sometimes expensive hassle. Many late payments can be collected, however, if you start collection efforts early and take the right actions.

Start With a Reminder Letter

Some people simply forget to pay, and a reminder letter is a welcome opportunity to settle the debt. You may even want to send a letter a few days before a payment is due. 

A form letter is the best idea because clients may not be offended or take a form letter personally. Be sure to ask the client to contact you if they need to discuss payment arrangements or have a problem with the products or services you provided.

Make a Follow-Up Call

If your letter doesn't get a response within 30 days, a phone call should be the next step. If you can reach a client by phone, they may be willing to explain why the payment has been delayed or give you payment information so they can resolve the issue. 

If phoning is unsuccessful, you may choose to send an email with instructions for paying online.

Use a Collection Agency

Commercial debt collection can be especially difficult because it may involve dealing with big businesses that don't respond well to collection efforts. 

A good debt collection agency that is experienced with commercial debt collection can handle your aged accounts, overflow beyond the capacity of your accounts receivable department, and more. 

Some companies, like Leib Solutions, know that agencies can usually interface with your billing system and communicate with your on-site staff for seamless collection.

Offer Options, Not Threats

Threatening your past-due clients is illegal and unlikely to work anyway. Instead, offer multiple ways and opportunities for payment and the chance to preserve the relationship with your company so they can continue to benefit from your products or services. 

Offer installment plans and easy credit card payments. As a last resort, consider offering to take partial payment to settle the account. Getting something from the client is better than nothing.

The easiest option for your company may be to require payment for all goods and services in advance. Almost as easy is when clients perform as expected and pay on time. 

Even when these things don't happen, you can collect past-due accounts with a simple system and perhaps the help of a collection agency. Late payments are a hassle, but they can be overcome when you make the right collection decisions.

How Business Owners Can Manage Their Monthly Finances

It is essential for business owners to manage their finances properly. Proper financial management ultimately ensures cash flow to the business. It will help them to keep track of their debts and credit. Additionally, it guides them towards a suitable investment to grow their business.

Create a Financial Budget

The business may not be successful if business owners fail to set up a comprehensible financial budget. Moreover, it is about setting up a monthly financial plan and adhering to it. 

A financial budget will help the business to mitigate failure. The process opens their eyes to allocate various finances to be used in the company monthly.

Keep Track of Their Spending

Typically, business owners might lose track of how money is spent daily. If they fail to keep a record of the finances spent, they might find themselves in debt and overspending. Eventually, small expenses might end up accumulating to massive bills. 

To avoid future financial problems, business owners need to record their business transactions in accounting books monthly.

Awareness of Their Deadlines

Most businesses have loans and credit card payments. To avoid these payments from accumulating, business owners should meet deadlines. 

Awareness enables them to plan throughout the month to make the payments and avoid added interests. In addition to this, it helps them to avoid missing monthly payments.

Constantly Reviewing Their Financial Reports

Keeping a close eye on profit and loss reports, receivable and payable reports, and balance sheets is beneficial for giving insight into their business finances. The information will show them the position of the business in the growing market.

Find a Reliable Business Insurance Broker

If someone wants to start a business, it is advisable to get a business insurance broker. It can be challenging to accumulate finances to start a business. An insurance broker will help to obtain affordable insurance cover. 

After getting a compatible insurance cover, the broker will be paid a certain amount. Thereafter, the business owner can start paying the insurance company according to the set terms.

Ensure They Have Extra Savings for the Business

Alternatively, every business needs to save extra finances. The additional savings will be helpful when your business is faced with unavoidable circumstances. 

Business owners need to have separate savings account to cover emergency expenses that arise randomly. They should make monthly deposits to the savings account.

Managing monthly finances is the first step for long-term success as a business owner. Proper financial management prepares the business to face challenges and to avoid making losses. Poor management has led to the downfall of many companies globally.