Don't Get Stuck Financially: Five Things You Need To Budget For During A Move

Moving can be a stressful process for anyone. One of the best ways to make your move a lot easier is to budget ahead - knowing exactly what your expenditure will be can make the difference between a smooth, easy move, and one that ends up being way more complicated than was necessary. 

Let's take a look at five of the most important things you need to budget for during a move.

Moving Equipment

It's amazing how many boxes you can realize you need while you're moving. Make a short list of all the moving equipment you might need before you begin packing. 

This can include boxes, packing tape, padding or Styrofoam peanuts for your delicate items, and so on.

Transportation Costs

If you're moving a long distance, consider how much your transportation costs will be. For example, if you're driving, estimate your gas costs. If your vehicle needs any repairs before you set out on a long trip, add these expenses to your budget as well. 

If you're traveling some other way, such as a plane or train, make sure to look into the cost of the tickets for you and your family.

A Professional Moving Service

This is perhaps the most important part of planning your move. Take into consideration exactly what your professional moving service will be transporting for you. By making yourself a checklist, you can ensure that the quote you get from Bekins Van Lines Inc is as accurate as possible. 

If you're uncertain about anything, be sure to call ahead and ask any questions you may have. Also, remember to inform your moving company about anything that may make the move more complicated, such as stairs.

Storage Fees

If necessary, you may also need to calculate storage fees. For example, say that you're unable to move all of your possessions in one trip, but you need to quickly vacate the house or building where you were before. 

Storage units are usually fairly affordable, but this expense needs to go on your moving budget as well.

Temporary Housing

It's possible that when you arrive to the new area that you'll be living, you won't be able to move into your new home right away. This might be anywhere from a week to a month in some situations, so budget accordingly for how much the rent of temporary housing will cost.

A moving budget can make the entire process of going from one house to another so much easier. 

Instead of worrying about how much you're spending - or being caught off guard financially - you'll be able to know exactly how much everything is going to cost each step of the way.

Creating the Perfect Budget for your Family Plan and Prosper in the Year Ahead

These days you cannot afford to drift along just hoping that the money in your pocket (or in your bank account) will match up with the bills you have to pay and your future commitments. 

Failure to plan is planning to fail – so beware! Here are some straightforward tips that will help you formulate a family budget.

Tip No 1: Understand your situation

Just search on the Internet and you will find lots of very helpful sites which will allow you to enter up what you are spending. You simply can’t create a budget until you know exactly where your money is going to. 

The big items such as your mortgage and all the utility charges may be quite clear but you may be surprised on what you spend each week on food, drink, clothing and entertainment. One suggestion is that you buy a little notebook which you carry around with you. 

Jot down everything you spend, however big or small, for a full month and then enter everything into a basic spreadsheet. If your total is larger than your regular income, you sure need to create that family budget!

Tip No 2: Set your goals

When you are starting a journey, it always helps to know what your destination is intended to be. Group the family together and decide what the aim of the family budget process is. 

Paying off your credit cards? Saving towards that dream holiday? Having the spare cash to start up a fund for college education? Sharing the objectives makes the process so much easier.

Tip No 3: Make the painful choices

There are of course two elements to any family budget: what goes out and what comes in. Family members can have a say in both finding extra forms of income (car washing, dog walking, etc.) and in deciding what forms the essentials of everyday shopping and what can be left out. 

One good tip is to make a list for the weekly visit to the supermarket (we know everyone has to eat!) and stick to it rigorously. Ordering over the phone or the Internet saves the temptation of impulse buying.

Tip No 4: See how you go

To make it succeed you must do a monthly check-up to see if you are keeping to the budget. It is a racing certainty that you will need to fine tune it throughout the year as you learn from experience. Good luck!!

Financial Matters: How to Help your Loved Ones

Financial burdens can strike unannounced. Everyone suffers from financial troubles at one time or another. Your close family and distant relatives may encounter financial problems that are too much to overcome alone. 

Whether your loved one experiences an unexpected and expensive medical bill or is exhibiting worrying financial habits, helping them get to the right direction can secure their financial future. Here are four ways you can achieve that and much more. 

Know When to Come in

One important thing to remember is that when a loved one is going through a financial crisis, that it is a very sensitive subject. They may be too prideful or too afraid to say that they have a money problem and to ask for help. 

When it comes to family, most people don't want their loved ones getting involved in their financial problems. After all, it's a matter that you'd want to keep privately. Knowing when to come in and provide financial aid is important to maximizing the impact of your actions. 

If your loved one looks capable enough to manage the situation that has befallen them, give them time to fix it before intervening, but make yourself readily available to them should they come to you for help. 

Help Them Invest

Investing isn't something that you normally talk about with family members at a dinner table. However, it is financially savvy to collaborate with loved ones about possible investment vehicles that can grow their retirement funds. 

Advise against parking their free cash in a savings account and even in fixed deposits since they tend to yield the lowest interest rates. Instead, go for higher-yielding assets like stocks and currencies. Be careful giving this kind of advice to your loved ones. You will need to know exactly what their financial situation is in order to give them this advice. 

If they do not have enough money to make adequate investments, then they should be encouraged to save their money for a period of time before making such a step. Investments can be risky. If the investment fails, it could hinder your loved ones finances even more. It may be better to refer them to a professional as they can properly advise them how to invest their money wisely. 

Be Efficient

If you're going to lend money to a loved one who is in financial trouble, at least make the process as efficient as possible. Wasting time and money in delivering the cash yourself only amplifies the free cash you are losing. 

Use financial services like ShareMoney.com to send money online to loved ones in the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. The rates are cheaper and using the online platform saves you time and gas money from having to march to your bank to send payments. 

Tweak Their Lifestyle

If spending habits are slowly chipping away their retirement nest, you can help your loved ones by making subtle changes to their lifestyle. 

For example, if they are subscribed to magazines every month, you can advise them to cancel on these subscriptions especially if the materials aren't being used or isn't of intellectual or financial value. Teach them how to use coupons and when best to buy certain times like toiletries and food.

Having a financial adviser on board is also a great way to help your loved ones overcome financial difficulties. They can help your loved ones manage their money in the most efficient manner. In the end, however, it takes a solid familiar bond to actually improve the quality of living of your loved ones through smarter financial choices and decisions.

What Baby Boomers Need to Know About Social Security Benefits

Social security benefits are a valuable asset for every Baby Boomer. When combined with retirement savings, social security makes it possible to pay for medical expenses, housing, food and other essentials. It also allows recipients to travel, enjoy family time and generally make the most of their retirement. 

Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration does not exactly make it easy for people to figure out the best ways to access and use their benefits. The administration has established nearly 3000 rules to govern the system, which makes knowledge of these facts crucial to understanding your benefits .

Full Retirement Age Is Flexible

Boomers born between 1943 and 1954 can claim full benefits at age 66. However, boomers born between 1955 and 1959 must wait until they are at least 66 and then an additional two months for each year beyond 1954. Sixty-seven is the full retirement age for anyone born 1960 or later. 

You Can Start, Stop and Start Benefits

A person who is at or over full retirement age and is receiving benefits can choose to suspend these benefits for a time. It means foregoing checks for the suspension period, but it means being able to collect much heftier benefits from the time the benefits resume until the individual's death. 

Grow Your Benefits By Working In Your Sixties

Delaying your retirement is a fantastic way to ensure that you maximize your benefits. If you continue working into your sixties, you may also ensure bigger payments for your spouse or qualifying child. 

The Social Security Administration does not impose a limit on how much of your income can factor into your benefits. However, it's important to be aware that there may be income tax implications and a reduction of benefits if you continue to work and are taking Social Security benefits. If you will be working, it may make sense to delay taking benefits.

Disability Retirement

If your disability has been documented and your employer has tried all reasonable attempts to employ you in a productive capacity, you may want to consider applying for disability retirement.

If you choose to do so, it is important that you seek legal--counsel for your application and any subsequent appeals. According to Watertown Social Security Lawyer Donald Chewning , Social Security disability hearings can be very dynamic, involving interaction the between the attorney , client, and judge. For this reason, you should have an experienced attorney on your side to provide you counsel during this complex process.

Your Children May Be Eligible for Benefits

People who have children later in life are sometimes surprised to learn that their children are eligible for Social Security benefits. Children are eligible for benefits through the age of 17, or 19 in certain circumstances, as long as one of their parents is receiving retirement benefits.

Social security benefits are an important part of the financial strategy of any baby boomer as they make it possible to maintain your lifestyle. The more you understand about your eligibility and benefits, the better prepared you'll be to actually enjoy your retirement years.

5 Financial Endeavors That Will Benefit Your Family

Raising a family can be challenging both emotionally and financially. Being responsible and proactive with your earnings will pay off in the long run. Consider using these five strategies to make the most of your money and prepare for the future.

Track Your Bills at all Times

In order to fully understand where your money goes every month, create an organized list of your monthly bills. Separate your bills into different categories, such as loans, utilities, medical, and food. Review your bills to determine if there are any monthly charges that are not useful to your family. 

Many people have subscriptions to magazines, gyms, and other types of entertainment that they do not use regularly and could cancel to save money. Additionally, research the price you pay for services to determine if you have the best rates available.

Create a Budget

After reviewing your bills, determine how much you can comfortably spend on each expense, while still staving money. Some expenses may be difficult to change, but others like entertainment and food are often overlooked as a large source of spending. 

These bills can easily be scaled back with planning meals ahead and becoming creative with inexpensive family outings. 

Understand Your Resources

Life can be unpredictable and present many challenges. Review the benefits that your employer offers, as well as any community programs that you may qualify for in the event of an emergency. 

If you become injured and are unable to work, you may need to discuss your rights with a social security disability lawyer to ensure you receive assistance if you qualify for social security disability benefits. You should also become familiar with retirement plans your employer offers to maximize the contributions made to your account. 

 Professionals, like those at http://workinjuryaz.com/phoenix-social-security-disability-attorneys/, will give you an honest opinion about being approved for benefits. This is an important step when it comes to receiving social security.

Purchase a Life Insurance Policy

It’s never too soon to financially protect your loved ones. Even if you can’t afford a large policy, invest in a basic policy that will at least cover funeral expenses and ideally your bills for one year. 

Set Goals Together

All families have dreams for the future, such as taking a vacation or remodeling their home. In order to reach these goals, be realistic with how much you can spend and create a monthly savings plan. 

Having regular discussions about the financial goals your family has can keep you on track and motivated to reach those goals.

When you understand your personal finances and have created an efficient plan to save money, you and your family will experience reduced stress and the benefits of a larger savings account.

How To Score With FICO

When it comes to getting a loan for a new car, new home, or new business, you've got to be fully prepared. This preparation involves many things, but the biggest issue at hand is having a credit rating that will enable a bank or lender to judge you as an acceptable prospect for a major loan. 

If you don't have a good enough score to back up your claims, you'll quickly find yourself rejected and out of luck. So, before you even think of applying for a loan, it's an excellent idea to know exactly what you need for a good credit score. 

What Exactly Is Your FICO Score?

FICO is an acronym that stands for Fair Isaac Score, the company that created this credit scoring system. This is the system by which your credit score will ultimately be calculated. Banks and lenders will use your FICO score as the primary means of judging whether or not you are a good risk for a loan. 

If your score is anywhere from average to high, you'll have a good chance of securing a loan. If your score is less than average, you're going to have to do some serious repair work before you can even think about getting a loan in the near future.

 

How Is Your FICO Score Calculated?

The components that go into measuring your ultimate FICO score can be broken down in the following manner:

• Your payment history will count for 35 percent of your score. This includes all of the payments you have made via the medium of credit, as well as a complete record of whether you have made all of these payments in a timely manner.
• 30 percent of your FICO score will be determined by the amount of money you still owe via the medium of credit.
• 15 percent of your score will come from the length of your credit history. A person with a long history of paying by credit in a timely fashion will have an advantage over someone who has a bad credit history, or very little credit history.
• 10 percent of your score comes from what is termed "credit mix in use." This term covers the mix you may have of credit cards, credit accounts from retail stores, any loans you may be paying off via installment plans, whether or not you are currently paying off a mortgage loan, and any open accounts you may have with a finance company. 

The final 10 percent of your score will come from whether or not you are considered "new credit", i.e., whether you have a very recent and limited credit history, or whether you have taken out credit with a variety of sources in a very short and recent amount of time.

What Is In Your Credit Report?

The best way to get an accurate look at your FICO score and overall state of credit is to apply to receive your credit report. This credit report will consist of the following items:

• All of your basic information (name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, employment history).
• Trade lines. These are all of your credit accounts, including a full history of when you opened your account, your credit history, all of your outstanding payments, your maximum line of credit, etc. 
• Credit inquiries. A complete list of everyone who has accessed your credit report within the past two years. You authorize this inquiry when you apply for a loan.
• Public Record and Collections. Credit reporting agencies are authorized to collect information from state and county courts concerning bankruptcy proceedings, property foreclosures, wage attachments, settlements of lawsuits, foreclosures, liens, and other related matters.

Get Your Credit Report Today

If you have any doubts about the accuracy or the overall strength of your credit, it's an excellent idea to obtain your free credit report today. The sooner you do so, the sooner you can settle all doubt on the issue and get a realistic, accurate assessment of your credit. 

This way, if there are any areas that you care to dispute, you can do so in a timely manner. If there are other areas that are accurate, but definitely cast your credit in a bad light, you can work to improve them before applying for a major loan.

You can apply to observe your credit report today. It will give you a complete look at all of the above listed components that make up your FICO score. The sooner you have this information, the sooner you can make all of the necessary adjustments in order to render your score as strong as possible. 

Getting your credit report is the first step toward positioning yourself for success in all of your future financial and business pursuits.