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It is very important to make a budget so that you can take control of your finances and begin to plan financially for the future.  It is impossible to know how much you are spending unless you keep track of your finances and create a budget to make sure that you don’t spend more than you can afford.  Here are some simple tips for creating a budget that is simple to follow.

Start by listing all of your expenses and the amount that you spend on each expense each month.  The list should include necessary expenses that must be paid monthly and discretionary expenses that are more of a choice than an obligation.  This will give you a good picture of your spending habits, showing you where your money goes each month.

After you have made a list of all of your expenses, look for areas where you can trim your costs.  For example, if you have the deluxe cable package but are rarely ever home to watch television, you may want to consider downgrading to a basic cable package that costs less or getting rid of the cable package altogether and watching movies or online content for entertainment.  Most people can find multiple areas where costs can be reduced once they can see where their money is going.

Once you have decided on what expenses are necessary and which ones can be eliminated, it is time to create a spending plan.  The spending plan must be detailed to ensure that all of your bases are covered when it comes to spending.  List each of the expenses that are important to you and the amount that you should be spending in each category each month.  Be sure to include savings in your savings plan of at least 10% of your income to make sure that you have enough saved to take care of an emergency situation without having to use credit.

The list that you have just created should be your spending plan for your budget.  It may need to be tweaked a little bit in the first few months of using the budgeting plan as you find that your estimates of how much you spend are wrong or when forgotten expenses arise.  Outside of these small tweaks to the spending amounts or addition of new spending categories, you should try to stick to this budgeting plan as closely as possible.

Although it may be hard in the beginning, as you continue to follow the budget that you have created, you will find that it will become easier and easier to stick to the plan.  Diverting the recommended amount to savings will help your savings account grow quickly and ensure that you have money available for emergency expenses.  Creating a budget and sticking to it is a great way to monitor your spending and secure your financial future.

Buying a home is simultaneously exciting and terrifying for the first time homebuyer. The experience can be equally trying for the homebuyer moving up or downsizing.

Do your homework and understand and evaluate true loan costs, as well as review your monthly obligations using a mortgage repayment calculator.

Many first time homebuyers are emotionally committed to the home buying process before understanding it thoroughly. There is no question that buying a home is the single largest financial decision most people will face.

The national average for foreclosure home sales is 31%. It should therefore be expected that one out of three homes you tour will be a foreclosure sale. Foreclosures should not be confused with short sales.

A short sale is when a home is listed and/or sold for less than the loan balance. The buyer of a short sale home may not be dealing solely with the seller. Often, the bank holding the current mortgage will have final say regarding the actual sale price.

Being prepared for all the potential issues of purchasing a short sale or foreclosure home is vital to surviving the home buying process with your sanity intact. Not all listings are created equal, nor are all loans. Foreclosure and short sale homes often do not qualify for FHA loans.

Many foreclosure or short sale homes have been left empty for extended periods of time. Slight to severe damage to the home may influence not only the selling price, but the loan type for which the home and not just the buyer will qualify. Understanding which loan is appropriate for any given property is essential.

FHA loans require the property to have no structural damage. The home must be in move-in condition, with all appliances in place and working properly. Nothing beyond cosmetic damage is acceptable; not even a cracked or broken window.

Conventional loans provide the homebuyer with more flexibility on home purchase choices. However, they will not include funds for rehabilitation of the property. A home requiring rehab will require a second loan or out of pocket payments to cover any additional expenses.

Conventional loans will require a larger down payment, higher credit scores and often carry higher interest rates. FHA loans are backed by government funding, therefore allowing the specific lender to offer lower interest rates and in some cases homebuyers may qualify for zero down payments.

Rehab loans have come into the mainstream with so many short sale and foreclosure homes requiring extensive rehabilitation to be inhabitable. The loan amount is higher than the purchase price to cover the additional construction expenses.

Not all homes requiring rehabilitation qualify for a rehab loan, nor do all lenders provide these types of loan instruments. The homeowner cannot do the work and will be required to use only approved contractors.

The payments to the approved contractors will be made directly from the lender. Once complete the loan is finalized and converted to a more conventional mortgage. Buyers should be aware of fees, delays and potential hidden costs of rehab loans.

Once qualified for a loan and the property is selected, take a few moments and review some options on your payment choices. An online mortgage repayment calculator is a great tool for new or experienced homeowners. Using a mortgage repayment calculator will show you how simply adding one additional mortgage payment over the course of a year can change your overall cost of the total loan.

Play around with a mortgage repayment calculator and see how an extra $100 per month paid directly to the principle will change your overall loan cost. Just making that extra payment to the principle not only changes your total interest over the life of the loan, but will reduce the term of the loan as well.

Ask questions. Be an informed buyer. Use logic over emotion and never stretch your budget to accommodate a larger monthly payment.

With medical costs rising every year, it is more important than ever to find the health insurance option that is best for you and your family.  Shopping for a health insurance plan should involve more than just reviewing premium prices, especially if you are shopping for private health insurance.  Understanding the different types of health insurance plans available and what they cover will help you make the correct decision of what type of health insurance is best for you.

There are three types of health insurance to choose from: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs).  HMOs provide comprehensive coverage at fairly inexpensive rates and consumers generally don’t pay any deductibles or co-payments for basic care. Your choices will be limited to the doctors and hospitals within the HMO’s network, and your designated primary-care physician will determine your level of care and when you need to see a specialist.

PPOs allow you to go to network providers and pay a small co-payment, or go out of network and have a portion of your costs reimbursed.  The reimbursement amount is typically around 60% to 70% of your costs.  With a PPO plan, you are not required to get a referral from your primary-care physician to see a specialist.  Many people choose to use in-network providers as getting reimbursed for out-of-network claims can be a hassle.

HDHPs are health plans that are linked to a health savings account or a health reimbursement account.  These plans are often offered as an alternative by employers that also offer HMO or PPO plans.  HDHPs work similarly to PPO plans, but the deductibles are much higher, often around $1,000 for an individual.  Many people that choose a HDHP also choose to use a health savings account to put aside pre-tax dollars for their medical expenses.

When choosing a health insurance plan, the first thing you should do is find out what health insurance plans your doctor currently accepts.  You should focus on plans that cover the things that you and your family need most, such as vision care, mental health care, or dental care.  Once you have found plans that cover your health care needs, you should compare the premiums and deductibles of each plan to figure out which one is the best deal for your money.

There are many misconceptions about banking and how the banks work to keep your money secure.  Rumors and misinformation can result in people avoiding banks because they believe that they are not trustworthy or that their money will somehow be at risk if it is deposited with a banking institution.  Learning the truth about banks and how the system works can go a long way towards easing any fears you may have about placing your money in a bank.

Bank Deposits Are Safe

A bank account is considered to be one of the safest places to store your money for a wide variety of reasons.  Bank deposits are insured by the federal government, with some accounts insured for up to $250,000 per depositor.  This means that if anything ever happens at the bank to cause it to fall into bankruptcy or shut its doors, the federal government will give you up to $250,000 of the balance of your account back.

Banks Pay Lower Rates

Banking institutions generally offer lower interest rates on interest bearing bank accounts than mutual fund companies or brokerage firms.  Different banks may use different methods to calculate interest rates, but the reported “annual percentage yield” or APY is calculated the same way across all banking institutions.  To compare the amount of interest that will be earned from various accounts, compare the APY of each account type with the others and see which ones will have the highest yields.

Fees Can Reduce Your Balance Significantly

There are a wide variety of fees and charges associated with bank accounts that can deplete the balance of the account quickly.  Fees for using a competitor’s ATM can cost you between $3 and $5 per occurrence and having less than the minimum balance in your account can result in a monthly charge designed by the bank.  Some banks also charge for having too many transactions within a specific time period, using a teller instead of the ATM, or transferring money between accounts.  It is important to review the various fees associated with the account that you are interested in before signing up for the account to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future.

There are usually some warning signs before you head off of the proverbial financial cliff.  These signs and signals of financial devastation appear months before cumulating in foreclosure, eviction, repossessions, bankruptcy, or any of the other financial disasters that ruin people’s lives.  Being able to identify and correct these behaviors can help you avoid financial disasters and secure your financial future.

One of the biggest signs that you are in financial trouble is that you are unpleasantly surprised when you view the balance of your bank account or on your credit card statement.  This is usually an indication that you have been spending at whim and are unaware of how much you have been spending.  Any charges that go over your credit card limit are penalized with hefty fees and bounced check charges are very expensive.  Be sure to monitor the balances of all of your accounts on a regular basis so that you know how much you are spending and what you are spending your money on.

Another indication that you are headed for financial trouble is that you have no savings available for emergencies.  Financial emergencies can happen to any person at any time and not having savings available to handle the issue can result in having to use high interest credit or payday loans to solve the problem or having to neglect the problem until you have the money to correct it.  Having money available for emergencies can save you a large amount in additional costs over time.

If you are carrying a large amount of credit card debt, try to pay off the balances as quickly as possible.  Credit card debt carries a very high interest rate and reduces your financial flexibility for the future as more and more of your income goes towards debt servicing.  Cut spending in order to pay off your credit card debt as fast as you can and use the credit cards for emergencies only.

Having very little discretionary income is one more indication that a debt disaster is right around the corner.  If you are living paycheck to paycheck and nearly every dollar is spent before the paycheck arrives, you need to reduce your expenses immediately before it is too late.  Chances are, some of the items that you view as necessities you can do without if you consider all of your options and reducing your spending will give you a much healthier financial outlook for the future.

With the recent downturn in the economy, it can seem as if improving your financial situation and meeting your financial goals are impossible tasks.  Many people now claim debt reduction as their most pressing financial goal and many of these individuals are $10,000 or more in debt.  Other important financial goals reported include saving more money, increasing credit scores, and limiting reliance on credit cards.  Improving your financial health and meeting your financial goals will take time and dedication, but following these simple tips may make your task easier.

Review Your Worth

It is impossible to know how you are doing financially if you do not know your net worth.  Your net worth is the total value of all your assets minus the total value of all of your debts.  If your debt exceeds the value of your assets, then you are in a very precarious financial situation that will need to be remedied as quickly as you possibly can.  The goal should be to grow your net worth each year and carefully limit the amount of debt you carry.

Set Specific Financial Goals

Experts have found that it is much easier for individuals to save and limit their spending when they have concrete financial goals to aim for.  Success is more likely to occur when a particular problem is identified and the steps to necessary to rectify the problem are put into practice.  The financial goals can be short term or require years of preparation, as merely having concrete goals will increase your chances of success.  Many people aim for several financial goals simultaneously but trying to accomplish too many goals at once can lead to discouragement.

Make Bill Paying And Saving Automatic

There are many different ways to automate the practices of paying your monthly bills and transferring money into your savings account.  Many large banks allow their customers to set up automatic bill payments or transfers from checking to savings online using their secure website.  Automating your bill payments can help you avoid late fees, a decrease in your credit score, or cancellation of services.  Automating your savings account transfers will help the balance of your savings account grow quickly with a minimal amount of effort.

If you are interested in saving 20% or more of your money, use a flexible spending account.  Every time you make a purchase that can be classified as medical, such as prescription eyeglasses, doctor or pharmacy co-pays, or over the counter medication, you could be saving a significant amount of money.  Here are some tips on the best ways to use a flexible spending account.

A flexible spending account allows you to use pre-tax money to pay for medical expenses that are not covered by your health insurance.  The flexible spending account can be used for a wide variety of expenses, including insurance deductibles, medications, and birth control, which are not paid for by some other health plan.  By using pre-tax money for these items, you will save a lot of money in taxes to Uncle Sam.

It is estimated that 35 million Americans use flexible spending accounts to save money on their healthcare expenses.  Federally, there is no limit to the amount that can be placed into a flexible spending account but many of the companies that administer the plans cap the amount at $5,000 annually.  The accounts are funded by diverting a portion of your paycheck directly into the flexible spending account, like funding a 401(k) account.  The amount that is placed in the account during each pay period for the benefit year is determined by the account holder during the benefit enrollment period each year.

There are several different ways to access the money in the flexible spending account.  For some accounts, the user is issued a debit card that can be used to access the money in the account for eligible expenses.  Other types of accounts require the account holder to pay for the eligible items out of pocket and then file for reimbursement from the company managing the accounts.  Because most flexible spending accounts are obtained through an employer, the individual may have little control over which types of flexible spending accounts are available to them.

It is important to make sure your flexible spending account is not over-funded because all of the money that is left in the account at the end of the plan period is forfeited, which means that you will not get the unused portion back.  If you have a lot of money left in the plan at the end of the year, be sure to try to use up the allotted amount before the end of the grace period.  This would be a good time to purchase an extra pair of glasses or stock up on the medications that you know you will need during the coming year.  When a flexible spending account is used correctly, it is a great way to save 20% on money you were going to spend anyway.

Everyone could use a little more money these days and most people have items in their home that they no longer want.  Instead of allowing these items to clutter up your home or paying to use a storage unit, you can turn these unwanted items into cash that you can spend on items that you need or save the money for future emergencies.  Different types of items can be traded in for money using different methods and here are some of the methods typically used today.

Word Of Mouth

If you would like to sell an item that is large, is fragile, or would be difficult to ship, a good solution would be to ask friends or family members if they would like to purchase the item or if they know anyone that would like to buy the item from you.  With the numerous ways to contact individuals these days, it will only be a matter of time before word reaches someone that is interested in purchasing the item.

Social Networks

The rise of social networks has given people a way to contact a large number of other individuals very quickly.  Asking your entire network of friends whether they would like to purchase a particular item that you would like to sell takes a very short amount of time and will not cost you anything.  Even if your friends are not interested in your items, they may know someone who will be or may be willing to repost the information for their network of friends to view.

Garage Sales

One of the most common ways to turn unwanted items into cash is to sell the items at a garage sale.  Garage sales are the most successful when they are easy to find and easily accessible.  Some neighborhoods choose to hold community garage sales, allowing many members of the community to sell their unwanted items at a central location that is easily accessible and can handle large amounts of foot traffic.  Some cities require the registration of garage sales within the city limits and some cities require a specific permit based on the size of the garage sale, so it is best to review local regulations before deciding to hold a garage sale on your property.

If you are drowning in credit card debt, take a step back and recount your financial missteps.  Sometimes the only way to stop a snowballing problem is to find out what started it.  Consumers with large amounts of debt make common financial mistakes that can be prevented with behavior changes and discipline.  Knowing your financial weaknesses can help keep you from falling into a debt disaster that will be difficult, costly, and time consuming to extract yourself from.

Using Balance Transfers Incorrectly

Transferring balances from high-interest credit cards to credit cards with a lower rate can be an effective technique for saving money on interest costs, but it is easy to make mistakes while using the technique. If the balance is transferred onto a card with a low introductory rate, you can save money on interest if you do not charge any purchases on it and pay off the balance before that introductory rate expires. If you charge on the new card, you will end up with more debt once the introductory rate expires.

Balance transfers will not get you out of debt if you cannot stop charging.  Cut back on unnecessary expenses such as restaurant outings and cell phone extras and put the money you save toward paying off your balances.  If you have a very large debt load, consider getting a part-time job and dedicating your earnings to paying off your debt. Pay for all new purchases with cash or a debit card.

Neglecting To Check Credit Reports

If you use credit, pull your credit report at least once a year and check it for errors.  Erasing inaccuracies can be crucial for getting lower interest rates, obtaining the employment you desire, and stopping identity theft from destroying your credit score. Dispute anything that should not be there. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows for the correction or deletion of inaccurate, outdated or unverifiable information, but unfortunately, negative truthful data will remain. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing will remain on your credit report for 10 years and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing will remain for seven years.

Failing To Budget

Everyone can benefit from budgeting (deciding on certain amounts for spending), and sticking to the plan.  It makes sense to budget for known future expenses so you will not have to charge expenses to your credit card or cut into funds set aside for necessities.  To create a budget, keep track of where your money goes for a month using a spreadsheet, financial software, or just a pen and paper. Cut back as necessary without cutting out expenses important to you.

Finding the insurance options available can be a daunting task for the millions of individuals that need insurance products.  There are a large number of insurance companies offering the same or slightly different products and many different places where an individual can find information to make comparisons for the products that they need.  The benefits of comparing insurance options online have led many individuals to choose this method before deciding where to purchase their insurance products.

Comparing insurance options online is easy compared to other methods of obtaining an insurance quote.  Calling the insurance companies directly and talking to customer service representatives takes the largest amount of time, but you will get the most detailed information using this method.  Talking with an insurance broker takes more time than researching the products online, but they can give you information from more than one insurance company.

When you compare insurance options online, the first thing that you must do is find a good website for obtaining information.  There are many different websites on the internet that can provide you with information about insurance products and a website may focus on a particular type of insurance product.  Some websites have information about many different insurance products and will allow you to search for the exact information that you need.

Once you have chosen the insurance products that you are interested in, you may be able to get an insurance quote from the website.  In many cases, the website will give you quotes from several different insurance companies after you fill out a single online form on the website.  This makes it very easy to research insurance options on the internet and compare prices to find the best prices for the products that they want.

Finding a website to obtain your information from will not be difficult if you choose to use a search engine to conduct your search.  The most difficult part of the entire process is being able to distinguish good websites with accurate information from web pages created by dishonest individuals and scam artists.  Any website that is being used to obtain a general insurance quote or compare insurance products will not ask you for your social security number or personally identifying information because those items are not necessary to obtain a general insurance quote.