New article posted at "Everything Finance"
Everything Finance
New article posted at "Everything Finance" |
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What to Consider When You Buy Your First Car Posted: 09 Oct 2014 01:09 PM PDT What to Consider When You Buy Your First Car is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
I knew how much I could comfortably afford on my $1600 a month salary at the time. I knew I wanted something cute, sporty, and more high-end than the ’96 sea green Ford Escort I had been driving around since high school. At this point in my life—young, naïve, and with a freshly-inked diploma—I felt I deserved a nice car. So really, when I say I researched my car, what I really meant was I looked to see the maximum amount of car I could afford on my salary. And then when I went to buy a car, I absolutely disregarded the little research I had done. What I did do, was take $3,000 of my hard-earned savings, plunk it down for a down payment, and then ended up with a $434 monthly car payment for six years. How could I be so stupid? I let myself get carried away with buying what I thought I deserved, instead of what I could realistically afford. Here are some tips on things not to do when buying your first car. Figure Out Your Budget Before You Buy Just because you have a $3K down payment, which really only covers taxes these days, doesn’t mean you can afford a $30k car. Deciding how much you can realistically afford will save you lots of agony in the future. Furthermore, don’t tell the dealer what your max monthly payment should be. Only talk about the total price of the car. Dealers will pull tricks by saying they can stick to your max monthly payment, but will then have you sign a six-year payment plan, rather than a more comfortable three-year plan. Or they’ll add taxes to the end, which can easily make your payment jump even more. Think Into the Future I bought a coupe, because I thought the four-door looked too “old-looking” for me. Now at 30, I never ever in my wildest dreams thought I would still be driving the same car eight years later. Yet here I am, and the worst thing is I would still be driving the car for several more years (haven’t had any issues) except we’re hoping to expand our family, and will need a family car. I’m not saying you need to buy a minivan, but if I had just gone with the standard four-door model, I wouldn’t even need to be worrying about switching cars right now. Be frugal I know it’s so incredibly tempting to get all the high-end top-of-the-line additions you’ve been dreaming of, especially now that you have a job, but not knowing what the future holds, it’s best to be frugal until you are have more stability in your career.
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Best Columbus Day Sales for 2014 Posted: 12 Oct 2014 09:33 PM PDT Best Columbus Day Sales for 2014 is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
Best BuyHave an old iPhone you wish you could upgrade with very little money? Best Buy is offering the iPhone 5s (16GB) for $1 with the trade in of any working iPhone and signing up for a two-year activation with the new iPhone 5s. Best Buy also has Macbooks on sale for up to $125 off, as well as huge savings on LED Smart HDTVs. The sales are going on now through October 19th (However, the iPhone deal expires on the 18th). Macy’sYou can expect there to be a crowd at Macy’s with their Columbus Day sale. They have discounted many items, and they have also included a 20% off Wow Pass and a $10 off of $25 printable coupons on their website. Kohl’sKohl’s is one popular store that embraces every holiday for a chance for a sale. You can print coupons for 20% off anything (No Kohl’s Card required for this coupon). They also have a $10 off of $50 home purchase and $10 off of Rock & Republic Jeans coupon – both are printable and applicable to online shopping. Let’s not forget that it is Kohl’s $10 cash days, so you will earn $10 cash for every $50 spent. SearsSears is the hot spot for mattress sales this Columbus Day. Their mattresses are up to 60% off. Also, their Kenmore appliances are up to 30% off. Both have free delivery incentives if you spend over the minimum amount. Deals are online and in-store. There is a printable 20% coupon for clothes and accessories, as well as coupon codes for $35 off of $300 for online purchases. LowesLowes is offering 10-25% off major appliances of $399 or more. They also offer free local delivery and haul away. If you are looking to spruce up a room for next to nothing, Lowes is also offering a $5 rebate on their Valspar Signature or Reserve Interior paint. Dick’s Sporting GoodsDick’s is one store that has embraced the Columbus Day holiday by celebrating the year 1492. Shop online at Dick’s Sporting Goods to receive 14.92% off. JC PenneyJC Penney has a printable $10 off of $25 coupon on their website. They are also having a Columbus Day furniture and mattress sale with discounts from 40-50% off. Also, if you plan on using your JC Penney card, you can get an extra 20-25% off. Columbus Day sales have proven it is a good day to save money on mattresses, electronics, and big appliances. Many stores at the mall are also having good clothing sales. |
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Three Things Worth Paying More For Posted: 13 Oct 2014 06:48 PM PDT Three Things Worth Paying More For is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
MattressMy parents paid under $800 for their mattress over twenty years ago, and slept on it for twenty years. Not only did they buy a cheap mattress, but they also used it much longer than they were supposed to. When I told my father that we had paid $2800 for a specialized mattress with a 20-year warranty, his eyes almost popped out of his head. He was completely shocked that anyone in their right mind would pay that much. However, can you really put a price tag on better sleep, less back pain and joint pain, better posture, and less sick days? A good mattress can give you all of those things. When you buy a cheap mattress, you will be paying in back and joint pain further down the road. You may also not get the best sleep you can get, which leaves you groggy and less productive in the morning. Finally, if the bed does not protect against water damage and bed bugs, you could be getting sick from bed bugs and mold. You should be spending eight hours a night there, so why not invest in a nice mattress? Quality ShoesI am not advocating spending hundreds on brand name high heels. Instead, I am saying that you should buy quality running/walking/exercise shoes instead of buying them from Payless or Walmart. Exercise shoes come with a better design that will protect your foot and joints when you exercise or when you just walk around. Ask anyone who has suffered from knees problems or foot problems, and they will tell you that once they got the problem, it never really went away. The best thing to do is to prevent these problems with good shoes that have shock absorbers and keeps your arch supported. VacuumIf you read my Kirby review, then you know that I am a big fan of high quality vacuums. My mom and grandma both had a cheaper model vacuum, and they were always complaining about it and paying to get the vacuum repaired. I stay home all day, so cleaning is a big part of my day. I need tools that are high quality that will not cause me trouble. Before the Kirby, we had spent $200-300 on a Dyson. Both the Kirby and Dyson are better buys than your cheaper model vacuums because they last longer, they clean better, and they are easier to work with. With the Kirby, my home actually looks cleaner (so no need to hire a maid), and my allergies are virtually gone due to there being less dust in the house. These are my top three items that I will always pay more for if it gets my better quality. I think that even though you pay for more for these items upfront, you end up saving in other ways, such as health costs or frequent replacement costs. What items do you pay more for? |
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Posted: 14 Oct 2014 11:30 PM PDT Motif Investing Review is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money! With so many online brokerage firms to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down the selection and find one that is the right fit for your investment goals. If you are searching for greater control over your investment portfolio while keeping the trading costs manageable, then consider what Motif Investing has to offer. Note that I do not have an account with Motif Investing therefore this is an unbiased opinion based on my analysis.
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Posted: 14 Oct 2014 07:13 AM PDT What To Do With Your Raise is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money! I recently got a fairly large raise at work and immediately breathed a huge sigh of relief knowing that it would make a huge difference in our debt pay-off journey, especially on top of the money I make freelancing. You see, my freelancing money is basically a windfall for me – it’s money I haven’t budgeted for because I don’t require it. No matter your financial situation, it’s smart to have a plan in place for the extra money your budget says you don’t need, otherwise you will never know where it went. Maybe that extra money is a raise. Maybe it’s a windfall – a one-time financial pick-me-up like a tax return, bonus, or inheritance. Having a plan for that money will ensure that you continue to achieve your financial goals and achieve them more quickly. What you do with a raise really depends upon your individual financial situation (this is why it’s called personal finance). Are you in debt payoff mode or savings mode? If you are in savings mode – are you close to retirement or are your kids close to college? Now is the time to step back and reassess your goals and the steps you want take to achieve those goals. Check Your BudgetAs you reassess your goals, it’s a great time to just double check your budget. You might have a need to invest in yourself, so to speak. Make sure you know where all your money is going to and if you are short in a category, now is the time to add in some funds to bring your budget back into balance. For example, I knew we were pretty short in our personal care category, especially given that our daycare has refused to use cloth diapers, which I had initially budgeted on. With my raise, I can add some money into that category to make sure I have enough money to buy diapers. Check Your Emergency FundNext, check your emergency fund. Maybe you established your fund a long time ago and have left it alone, believing it’s enough. But now that you have rechecked your budget, do you really still have 3-6 month living expenses in that fund? Have you dipped into it here or there without realizing it? Or maybe your needs have grown and you didn’t account for that in your fund. Now is the time to take care of that. Check Your Debt StatusYour budget is solid. You know you have plenty of money in your emergency fund. Are all your debts paid off – even the doctor bills and other nonrecurring charges? If you have any debts at all, put the rest of your money toward the debt. You’ll end up richer in the long run by not paying all the interest, so avoid the temptation to run out and treat yourself (or at least don’t keep treating yourself). Check Your SavingsSo you are a financial rock star – your budget is in good shape, emergency fund is solid, and even your debts are paid off. That means you are in saving/investing mode. You are probably throwing a little party, knowing that your raise can be put straight toward those goals. For everyone else, just know that this is where you will be one day if you continue to handle your pay increases wisely. First Loan Payoff!For us, I have rechecked our budget, shored up a few categories, and now I am looking at paying off the first of our student loans this year. No, it’s not as fun as booking a trip to Paris, but paying off our first loan feels much more satisfying! |
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Five Costs to Consider Before Adopting a Pet Posted: 16 Oct 2014 06:28 PM PDT Five Costs to Consider Before Adopting a Pet is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
Health CostsEven adopting or purchasing young pups can come with a lot of health-related costs. You have to think about the vet wellness visits, vaccinations, and the cost to have then neutered. Those are all typical costs. Then you have to think about the not so typical costs. For example, a curious puppy can swallow something dangerous and leave you with a pricey emergency vet bill. Older dogs can have hip conditions and arthritis that need to be treated regularly. Even cats that are prone to wonder can get into trouble on a stroll outside. For these unexpected costs, pet insurance may be worth it. However, that is another cost you have to factor into your budget. Grooming CostsBefore you choose your pet, consider how much it will cost to groom them each month. Some pets require very little grooming. Other pets need regular baths and trims just to avoid looking mangy and having mangled hair. Even my two dachshunds that do not require hair cuts or baths still need to have their anal glands squeezed, teeth maintained, and nails ground down. Each pet comes with their own level of grooming needs. FoodThen there is the obvious cost of food. The bigger the dog, the bigger the food bill. In fact, many large breeds can cost up to $100 a month to feed. Feeding two dachshunds specialized dog food (grain-free, corn-free food) costs me about $60 every two months. Cats definitely seem cheaper to feed and are not prone to overeating like many dogs are. EquipmentAll pets require some type of equipment too. Here are just a few things you will have to buy:
And the list can go on depending on your pet. Many of these items end up being a one time purchase every few years. Traveling CostsFinally, you have to consider traveling costs. If you want to take your pet with you on a vacation, it is going to cost money. If you want to leave your pet behind, it is going to cost money. If you are one who enjoys a lot of travel, then you have to consider how costly the arrangements will be to travel with your pet or to get them a pet sitter or to board them. A few days in a kennel can quickly add up to $100. Many people choose to own pets for pleasure rather than because of costs. It is just wise to consider all the extra costs that an extra pet can put on your budget, especially if the money is already tight. |
