Get More For Your Money
Debt consolidation can lower monthly payments to put more money back in your pockets.
Buy In Season
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- Spring for a Good Back Pack
Backpacks and lunchboxes take a lot of abuse. If you spend a little more on these items to get durable ones, they should last a number of years. Watch out for getting trendy, or character themed items, because a year from now Junior might balk at carrying his books in a "Shark Boy" backpack.
- Attend a Spring Festival
During the Spring, visit a public garden or spring festival to take in a free flower display. For example, Washington D.C. has a Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the blooming of the cherry trees lining the Mall. That festival alone supports 150 international cultural performances and 90 special events. So, keep an eye out for free seasonal activities that offer top entertainment with beautiful garden displays.
- Clean the Gutters
Cleaning your gutters and downspouts twice a year, during late spring and late fall, can save you thousands on repair bills. Proper maintenance and cleaning may prevent flood or leak damage to your home's interior, as well as wood damage to shingles.
- 5 Dangers of Paying with a Debit Card
1. Loss limits - Like credit cards, federal law limits your liability for fraudulent transactions on a debit card to $50. But that's only if you notify your financial institution within two days of discovering the theft, so if you aren’t vigilante, you could lose everything. 2. Reimbursement delays on fraudulent charges - If someone has fraudulently used your credit card, you don't have to pay the charge. But when somebody has fraudulently used your debit card, the money comes directly out of your account right away. That means that you are out the money until the bank is done investigating your fraud claim. 3. Reimbursement delays on merchant disputes - If you have a problem with an item purchased online when paying with a credit card, you can dispute the charge and stop payment. If you used your debit card, the charge is paid when you made the order so the merchant has your cash and you have to fight to get your money back. 4. Overdrafts - Overdraft charges have sky-rocketed recently and often those overdrafts are the result of a debit card transaction. Many consumers mistakenly believe that if they don’t have the money in their accounts, their bank wouldn't approve the debit charge. But unless you "opt out" of automatic overdraft protection, a $5 purchase could cost you $35 in overdraft fees. 5. Skimming – Criminal have been using "skimming" machines to steal card data and make charges to those account. When your debit card is skimmed, your bank account can be drained of money before you realize it. To read more about protecting yourself from identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission website.
- 5 Things You Need to Know about Student Loans
1. Students should start with FAFSA - Full-time students who complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a federal loan agreement provided by their school's financial aid office can generally borrow at least $5,500 a year through the Stafford student loan program. 2. Consider Pre-paying expenses before filing your FAFSA - If you plan to take money from a college savings account to pre-pay expenses like tuition, room and board, and fees, you should consider paying those before you fill out the FAFSA. 3. Financial Aid Officers may have flexibility - If you can’t pay a student loan back in its entirety, or if you need more aid unexpectedly, go to the schools financial aid office, explain your situation and the financial aid officer may be able to modify your agreement if you need help. 4. Lock in your interest rate - Whenever possible lock in a fixed rate for your loan. The interest rate on many loans is tied to bills issued by the U.S. Treasury Department and can fluctuate. When interest rates head up, you may want to restructure the loan and lock in a low rate. 5. Private loans should be your last option - Private lenders rarely offer as generous terms as the government and they usually require a credit check, which can eliminate many students from eligibility. Private lenders may also require you to start paying interest while you’re still in school, which can be difficult for a full-time student.
