What is the 52-week Savings Challenge?

You’ve probably heard about the big craze at the end of last year – the 52-week savings challenge.

After it being all over your favourite social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you might be thinking you’re a few months behind. But the good news is, it’s never too late to start the challenge. And by this time next year, you could have saved yourself a small fortune.

So, what is the 52-week savings challenge? Here’s everything you need to know.

The 52-week savings challenge is actually a super simple concept. All you have to do is put a small amount into a separate savings account every week and gradually increase this amount each week.

To start with, pick a day of the week that works best for you and do your very best to stick to it. Most people will likely choose a Monday as it’s the start of the week and just after the weekend. However, if for example, you get paid weekly and it’s on a Thursday, then perhaps that day could be ideal for you.

Secondly, you should set up a separate savings account specifically for this challenge. This will allow you to track the progress of the challenge much easier and can be a great motivator to stick to your weekly amounts.




Then it’s up to you to begin the challenge and stick to it for a year! Most people start with a £1 and increase the amount by an additional £1 every week. For example, for week 1 you should put away £1. Then week 2 will be £2. Week 3 is £3, and so on. Then when it comes to the same time next year, you’ll be putting away up to £52 per week and, providing you’ve stuck to this amount for the entire year, will end up with £1,378 in your account which can be a great amount to kickstart your longer-term savings plan.

When the year is up, you can decide what to do with the extra money you’ve managed to save. Whether it’s buying yourself a little treat for your commitment, keeping it as a backup for life’s emergencies, or maybe even using it as the basis for further saving (such as a for a deposit for a property) there are many possibilities.

Of course, you should always set a target that you know you can afford. So if this means increasing by 50p instead of £1 each week, or maybe having to skip a week to cover a vital expense, then you should always do so. Likewise, if you’re in a stronger financial position than expected, then perhaps consider putting a little more in your savings pot if you’d like – after all, you can never have too much in savings, right?

Having savings in place is the ideal way to be able to overcome those unexpected expenses. If however, that rainy day has come a bit too soon, then a credit option such as payday loans could be an option for you as long as you can afford future repayments.

4 Home Window Repairs You Don't Need to Pay a Contractor For

Without windows, your home would be a dark and lonely building. Having windows in your home, though, can present some unique challenges when your windows have problems of one type or another. Although repairing a window yourself can seem daunting, the truth is that most window repairs are fairly easy to do on your own.

Broken Glass

Although caution should be used, broken glass is a problem that you can fix yourself. Depending on the type of windows that are installed in your home, disassembling the window to remove the broken pane of glass is fairly straightforward. 

By using a sharp knife to cut through the adhesive, you can have the old glass out and the new glass installed in no time. Just be sure to ask for some help to ensure you don't drop the new pane of glass.

Inadequate Sun Protection

If you find that your windows allow in too much sunlight, the good news is that you have plenty of do-it-yourself options to correct this problem. One option for reducing sunlight intrusion is window tinting. 

Since the tinting comes in pre-cut sections, all you have to do is smooth it over your window. Of course, you can also opt to install ziptrak awnings to provide extra shade and prevent the sun from invading your home.

Leaky Seals

One of the most common entry points for unconditioned outside air is through the seals around windows and doors. Fortunately, repairing the seals around your windows is an easy fix. 

All you have to do is remove the old, cracked caulk surrounding the windows on the inside and outside. Once the area is clean, apply new caulk, smooth it out, then allow it to dry. Before you know it, you'll have an airtight seal that can help to lower your energy costs.

Trouble Raising and Lowering

Opening your windows on a nice day is a great way to keep your home smelling fresh. Unfortunately, different problems with windows can make them difficult to raise and lower. In many cases, though, this problem can be fixed by simply lubricating the various moving points in the window until they begin to slide as easily as they're supposed to. 

In other cases, you may need to work with the counterweight to ensure it's properly attached to the sash. Ultimately, though, these repairs are simple and can help restore the proper operation of your window.

Performing your own window repairs can be a great way to avoid the costs of contractors and avoid having to buy new windows. While performing window repairs, though, it's important to keep safety at the forefront. 

Windows are quite heavy, and if one of them falls on you without being slowed down, it can cause a serious injury. Therefore, work smart, making sure to support the window when you're working on its components. Then, when you're done, you can sit back and appreciate your handiwork.

Financial Organization Skills You Should Know After Retirement

When it comes to your financial well-being, there is a lot that goes into it. Over the years, you'll be sure to develop more and more knowledge on how to properly take care of yourself in a financial sense. When it comes to the organization of your financial well-being, here are some of the things you should know after you retire.

Budgeting

The basis of all your financial organization skills should be budgeting. This is recording how much income you have coming in each month and what you'll be spending it on. Your budget should include things like rent or mortgage, insurance, groceries, and so forth. 

When you have budgeting skills, you can ensure that you make your payments on time and you don't go into unnecessary debt.

Bill Payment Calendar

Apart from building a good credit score and being able to sleep at night, making your payments on time can help you to avoid costly overdraft fees. Some credit card companies may even increase your interest rate if you don't pay your bill on time. Having a calendar system to ensure that you pay your bills on time is a necessity. 

Some retirees may find it easier to set up automatic payments for things like their mortgage and car insurance so they don't have to worry about paying for them manually each month.

Determining Asset Delegation

As you get older, you're more pushed into thinking about what will happen to all of your assets in the event that you die. Apart from getting insurance to help cover the costs associated with your funeral expenses, it's vital that you get your estate planning figured out. 



While most states will allow you to create wills yourself, it's highly advisable to seek out professional legal help. This way, you can ensure that your estate is delegated the way you intended it to be.

Financial Literacy

There are many financial terms out there that we have all heard of. But, how many of them do you actually understand and can utilize in your financial planning strategy for the future? 

It's a good idea to take some time to learn in-depth about things like annual percentage rates, CDs, mutual funds, trust funds, and so forth. This way, you can properly plan out your financial future using mediums that make sense to you.

Just because you're retiring from your day job doesn't mean that you have to stop learning. In fact, the years after retirement give you a great opportunity to capitalize on the wealth you've created. To get started, you should hone in your skills on the topics of the financial organization listed out above.

How to Make Money While Cleaning Your Home

Thoroughly cleaning your house every spring or fall can give you a great sense of accomplishment as well as make your home feel more spacious. While it is easy to find the obvious things you want to get rid of in the regular living areas, don’t overlook additional places in and around your home that need a good cleaning and will let you earn money in the process.

Attic

Past generations of mementos and trunks full of retro-style clothing can fetch a fair price when sold. Buyer interest and pricing depends largely on the items’ condition, their age, and the prevalence of similar items on the market already. 

Look through old boxes, bags, stacks, and trunks of things that you might not have thought about for a while. Chances are good that there will be plenty of items to part with, some of which could be bringing in unexpected income.

Basement

The basement or any storage area of your home may be full of unwanted trash that others will happily consider as treasures. Books, unused furniture, old toys and games, and similar possessions that no longer are used in your home can be advertised for sale online or locally at competitive prices. 



Make sure they are clean and in good condition and take care when shipping anything to a buyer to ensure that it is wrapped protectively and tracked by the shipping service to confirm delivery.

Shed

Your shed may need a good decluttering to make room for a new riding mower or other lawn equipment. Older tools and equipment are often sought by homeowners, contractors, and entrepreneurs who are looking for quality products at affordable prices. Unused construction leftovers, lawn decorations, and pet supplies may also draw buyer interest.

Garage

Don’t forget to look through your garage to get rid of things you no longer need. Extra painting supplies, garden tools, and patio umbrellas or kids’ swings are typical of used merchandise eager buyers are seeking. 

Vehicle enthusiasts will gladly pay cash for junk cars to restore and drive them or dismantle the frames for parts. Bicycles, skates, and other outdoor sports gear are also popular on consignment lists or at thrift stores.

Organize everything you no longer want or need, market it locally or online, and then collect cash as buyers carry away or receive by shipment your discarded debris. There is hardly an easier way to make easy cash.

Figuring Out Your Finances Before You Choose a House to Retire In

When it's time to retire, you need to consider where you want to spend your retirement. You need a final home where you are comfortable and safe. Of course, you also need to be able to afford the home. Here are some tips on figuring out your finances before you choose a house to retire in.

Living Within Your Means

Ultimately, you want to pick a home that you can afford easily. You don't want to stretch out your finances in your golden years. You want to have money to spend on vacations, dinners, and spoiling the grandchildren. For that reason, you need to pick a place that is in your budget.

Take the time to look at your retirement plans and income. It may be helpful to sit down with a financial advisor so that you set up a solid budget. They will be able to help you understand what money you have, what income you can get, and where you might be able to grow your money a little more. With all this information, you’ll be better able to set a
 manageable budget. Then you can figure out what you can afford to pay for your home.

Consider Additional Expenses

As you probably know by now, a home comes with a lot more expenses than just the sale price. You need to consider all of the additional costs you will have with your new home including HOA fees, home repairs, landscaping, taxes, and cost of living. These costs can add up quickly, so you need to include them in your budget every month. Make sure you have money for repairs, and good insurance, too.




When you start the purchasing and closing processes, you might consider consulting a real estate law firm. They can help you make a contract that protects you from paying too much or making too many concessions on a house that may need work to be up to your standards. They can also help you with other issues that might come up during the buying process.

Think About Medical Expenses

As we get older, we are more likely to run into serious medical issues. These medical problems are draining on the body, but they are draining on the bank account, too. You need to save plenty for any medical expenses that might come your way, including in-home care when you get to your final years. These things do not come cheap, so be prepared.

Your final home is an important decision. While you want to be comfortable in your golden years, you also want to have money to spend and give to the people you love. Before you pick a home, consider these aspects of your finances to help you make the right decision.

Sane Investing for Crazy Times

Smart investing in the best of times can be tricky, but figuring out how to manage assets while the world is going crazy can seem impossible. The good news is that experts like wealth management firm AOG's Frederick Baerenz tell clients that even in unprecedented times, there is a roadmap to sane investing.

Act Rationally

As president and CEO of AOG Wealth Management Inc., Frederick Baerenz has helped many clients through personal and global financial crises by never letting fear win the day. Instead, he advises clients to act according to long-term financial goals rather than panicking because their assets are losing value day-to-day. 

Making decisions based on emotion can cause fearful investors to cash out of temporarily volatile markets before they understand the impact and longevity of the current trend, so he recommends investors stick to what they know instead of what they feel.

Move Slowly

For folks who have many years of earning ahead, weathering the storm is often a better strategy than pulling their money out of investments too quickly. Although there will be times when selling at a loss makes sense, those who can wait it out should. 

Not only will waiting afford the time to make better decisions, but losses to assets such as stocks and real estate also are not realized until they’re sold, making it beneficial to simply wait and see what happens.

Choose Wisely

If the time does come to sell, investors should examine each asset’s historical performance rather than worrying about how much value it is currently losing. 

Performance history provides a better understanding of which investments typically bounce back and which consistently underperform, making it easier to streamline and fortify investment portfolios for the next time the markets don’t cooperate.

No matter what causes economic upheaval, investors can prevail even in the craziest times through sound principles and a levelheaded approach.