December
20
2009
I remember reading 20 years ago that one day every home in America would have a computer. It was mind boggling at the time and now it is nearly true. I do everything on the computer including online banking and trading stocks.
Online Trading just makes sense.
What used to be done in public is now done in the privacy of your own home. You can wake up in the morning, walk downstairs in your bathrobe and slippers and contact your Online Broker about what you want and what you need.
As you sip your coffee at your kitchen table, you can log onto your laptop and trade stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs and fixed incomes at competitive prices.
Online brokerage firms now make it possible for people to do their Stock Trading at any time from anyplace you can get online with your laptop.
The world has become smaller and larger at the same time with the ease and convenience of accomplishing tasks online. Something that was hard for me to fathom only a few short years ago.
December
15
2009
It seems that right when the economy took a nose dive and people were looking for ways to make extra money, companies that buy gold sprouted up overnight.
Everyone from high-end jewelers to the corner pawn shop got into the act. People were reminded of the everlasting value of gold. But rather than investing in gold jewelry where you almost always take a loss when re-selling, it has become even more clear that buying gold coins is a more safe, secure and worthy investment.
While some people may have a gold coin or two laying around the house, it is becoming increasingly clear now that this is an investment that cannot go wrong.
If you are looking for a more substantial investment, it is worth checking into buying gold buillon.
Gold is thought to be a safe investment partly because gold in the form of something like a bullion coin can be liquidated in any country at any time.
With the uncertain economy, it helps to buy something that feels safe and secure during these turbulent times.
December
13
2009
Every few months I sit down with my budget and look over my expenses and try to figure out where I can save money. I divide my expenses into fixed expenses (mortgage, utlities, loans) and nonfixed (food, gas for car, etc.).
When I analyze my budget and look where I could possibly cut expenses, I usually ignore the fixed expenses. Big mistake.
Even though my auto insurance is under the fixed expense, I can still save money in this area with a comparison website that shows me cheap liability auto insurance.
Right now I pay $72 a month for my 2001 Honda Accord sedan. When I took about five minutes to plug in my information on this website, I received a handful of quotes, with the least expensive one being from Travelers Insurance quoting me $281 for a six-month policy.
That is $46.75 a month — $30 less than what I am paying for the exact same policy.
Just for fun, I tried to get a quote from my current company — Liberty Mutual, but was told to give them a call since I already have a policy with them. The fun part about this is that when I do give them a call, I’m going to tell them that I am able to get the same coverage for $30 a month less through Travelers Insurance. It will be interesting to see what they have to say.
What I liked about this site was that I was able to obtain several quotes in minutes and didn’t have to give highly personal information like my social security number in order to do so.
Obviously when I decide which company to work with, I can provide them all that information.
Taking the time to shop around and compare rates is the only way to truly get the best deal on auto insurance.
December
4
2009
Every year on my birthday along with treating myself to a fine dining experience, I make sure I get a free credit report.
Financial advisors recommend you check your credit report at least once a year, if not more. There really is no reason not to check. It is free and it could save you thousands of dollars and help you maintain your good credit rating.
Mistakes happen. Once a clerk mistakenly typed the wrong zip code onto my information and a hospital bill fell by the wayside. I only learned about it from checking my credit report and was able to correct it and have my credit rating amended.
If you are considering buying a home or a car or anything else on credit in the future, it is also worth getting your free credit score.
This shows you the number that creditors look at when deciding whether to approve your for a loan.
It helps to know if this number is low and work to bring it up higher before you need it.
December
3
2009
If you are a business owner you probably have noticed over the past few years that the number of clients who are not paying for your goods and services has increased as the economy has taken a nosedive.
It might seem that turning those debtors over to a collection agency is the next step, but you have another option — Debt Collection Attorneys.
By combining expertise from two areas — collection and litigation — Collection Attorneys are able to use the most effective means to make sure you get paid.
So when it comes to Commercial Debt Collection, it pays to check into professional Debt Collection Attorneys who combine their expertise to get you your money.
December
3
2009
Even the best laid plans can go awry. Forward thinking parents who have been saving for their child’s education since birth or before, may still find that they are stuck with education expenses they were not prepared for.
Going to college is almost always not a negotiable decision. Every parent wants what is best for their child and will do what it takes to see it through.
Before taking out a private student loan to cover the additional costs, it is worth shopping around and doing some comparisons between loans.
Because of the escalating costs of tuition, even students who receive financial aid or scholarships may still find they come up short. These students who are independent and paying for their own education expenses can also do some comparison shopping and find the best deals on private school loans.
These loans can not only cover the shortfalls for tuition, but can be used for many education related expenses including supplies, books and even transportation costs.
November
19
2009
Most of the world’s top financial advisors recommend that once you have paid you debt down, you set aside six to nine months living expenses in case of emergency.
A CD is a great place to put that money, but you must first be sure to research CD rates.
One-stop websites can help you compare bank CD rates. You can look them up by state and you can search for the best CD rates by how long you want the CD: from six months to five years.
That is definitely one of the benefits of stashing your emergency savings in a CD, you can earn money on interest instead of having it sit idle in a bank account.
So before you only check your local bank rates, be sure to do some comparison shopping.
It can save you money to pick the best bank CDs.
November
6
2009
For some people, holding a traditional credit card is just not an option.
Whether is because of a lack of credit history, a mistrust of banks or a bankruptcy that has destroyed credit, some people need another option.
In these cases and others, a prepaid visa is the way to go.
It could be the teenager with no credit history who just graduated from high school and wants to spend the summer traveling across the United States, but doesn’t want to have a pocket full of cash.
It could be a new citizen who just moved to America and has not established a credit history yet.
For whatever reason, the easy solution is to get a reloadable prepaid debit card.
November
4
2009
The average American walks around with a pocket or pocketbook full of Credit Cards that they whip out for everything from a latte to a new flat screen television.
Using a credit card is very convenient. You always have it with you and can use it to buy just about anything you would ever need. They are a lot easier than finding your ATM and withdrawing cash.
As credit cards have become more ubiquitous, the companies that issue them have branched out to distinguish themselves from each other.
They offer different benefits, different interest rates and so on. It helps to shop around to find the Best Credit Cards for your particular needs.
For instance, a friend of mine uses an Amazon credit card to buy everything in her life, from groceries to a glass of pinot noir at the cafe. Like many of us, she hardly ever has cash on her, but uses her credit card for everything.
Before she got this card, she did Compare Credit Cards and looked at their benefits. She wasn’t worried about interest rates because she pays her card off each month. She was interested in benefits. Now, she racks up gift cards at Amazon with her purchases and then turns around and buys Christmas gifts through the website at the end of each year.
October
27
2009
If you are a parent, you know that limiting and/or monitoring your children’s television viewing is a necessity. Watching television is one of the small pleasures in life and can enhance your family’s life.
For instance, watching Jeopardy is a fun way to relax and unwind after along day. It is a chance to learn something, by watching the local news or the National Geographic Channel. It is a way to laugh as a family, watching America’s Funniest Home Videos. It is a way to entertain young children in an educational manner, watching Sesame Street while you are fixing breakfast.
For a parent, one of the most attractive features of Direct TV helps you and your children watch television in a responsible manner. It is the special parental controls you can use with Direct TV that will help you tailor your child’s TV watching to programs you think are suitable or age appropriate. You can even block entire channels from being viewed.
The other parent-helpful feature available with DirectTV is the ability to take it along on family roadtrips. With special software, you can bring along around 150 favorite channels on the road.
Those are two features of Directv that help you as a parent, but don’t forget the other benefits. With Directv, you are offered a gigantic variety of channels to watch. Instead of just one sports, movie or cartoon channel, you will have dozens of options.
It will change the way you watch TV.