“Going green” has become a major concern with people across the globe in the past several years. It is evident that we all need to make changes in our everyday lives to help save our planet, and although many think taking major steps (like installing solar panels) is the only way to help, there are relatively easy ways to “go green” in your own home. Here are five tips to help you make your home more environmentally friendly. Continue reading
Things happen. It's best to be prepared.
There is an ancient rule of thumb about how much you should have on hand should you find yourself without an income. In a savings or emergency fund, you should have about two months of living expenses. This includes rent, grocery, insurance, car, medications, food, and utilities. However, in this economy you won’t find too many people who have this kind of money lying around. So, how do you create it? How do you adjust your budget so that each month you are contributing to it and where do you keep it? Continue reading
Working at home and being promised thousands of dollars by doing so can seem like a dream come true. However, these days, you need to be careful for the myriad of “work from home” scams that now exist. Here are some to avoid: Continue reading
When we decide to “tie the knot” we are also tying together each other’s financial situations, “for better or worse.” It’s a complicated process involving yearly earnings, past bills, loans, spending habits and how our parents taught us to deal with all that stuff. The biggest mistake you can make is assuming that the way you deal with finances is the way your spouse will deal with them. Money arguments are more frequent and passionate than any other topic, including religion. It can literally tear you apart. Consider these steps prior to your wedding day. Continue reading
At most colleges, school began this week. And so to did the part of the college financing process that people don’t think about until they’re smacked in the face with a huge price tag. College textbook costs can get into the hundreds of dollars and is rarely covered by financial aid. If you are strapped for cash, you have to get creative. Continue reading
The Credit CARD Act of 2009 was implemented on February 22, 2010 and was passed to protect consumers from predatory companies and banks. Though this act does not affect consumers with contracts enacted before February 22, these new rules should help limit future abuse. Continue reading
Never to early to prepare for your future.
Getting started in investing seems like a distant prospect for younger people; especially given our stagnant economy and falling stock market. However, the down economy represents a unique time for this generation to build a diversified portfolio. By investing smart and managing your risk potential; the hard work of your present will undoubtedly become the success of your future. Continue reading
Home ownership is the dream of many but should be well thought out before taking the plunge
There is a long list of factors to consider before purchasing a home. Compared to renting, investing in your own house is a more affordable and smarter move. As with any major investment, consumers should act deliberately and plan ahead. Ask yourself these questions before buying a house. Continue reading
Managing your debt is the first step to financial security. Previous indiscretions with credit cards or unexpected obligations can swamp any consumer in unwanted debt. Continue reading
According to an article from MSN Money, the five things that separate those who grow wealthy or stay poor are: marriage, home ownership, a college education, self-employment and long-term savings. Continue reading
Companies that provide paid internships are healthier.
If you are looking to build your career (and why would you not be), a paid internship is the best path to achieve that. And not just an internship, but a paid internship. College counselors and some web sites will tell you to take what you can get because it’s all about the experience but paid internships will carry you further for two reasons. Continue reading
Anyone can layout their bills, draw up a budget and have the long-term goal of sticking with it, but that doesn’t always remain to be the case. Budgets are the first step to responsibly financing and can keep you from spending unnecessary money. However, with responsibility comes the need for discipline. Continue reading
Today’s economy is not leaving many of our life aspects untouched, rather the economy has taken most of us by the ankles and shaken our lunch money from our pockets. Continue reading
All that change can add up!
Take a look around in your car and in the couch cushions and you can expect to find a couple of bucks in change. You might have even find yourself throwing away a few coins because what are you going to use .47 cents on? Overtime all of this change adds up and you could find yourself going out to dinner, picking up a new pair of shoes, or starting a savings account. Continue reading
Unless you have the budget for it, skip the Audi. At least, this time.
There are a lot of milestones in life—getting your driver’s license, going on your first date, getting your first job, registering to vote and going to college. But the last one before the big 3-0 is being of age to rent a car. This can be a confusing and expensive process. Between the terms and fees anyone can easily get taken advantage of at the rental counter.
Before ATMs and electronic transfers, the ability to make purchases required a bank withdrawal and a check book. Now the debit card is everyone’s main source of consumerism. However, despite the fact that most people are used to the process, there are many mistakes that are still made today that could cost you a lot more than having to write a check. Continue reading
Remembering to check your balance is key both in the checkbook and online.
For someone who barely squeaked out of college algebra with a C-, online banking has been a financial miracle. Balancing a checkbook really only requires the most basic of arithmetic skills, yet I always somehow managed to bounce checks and overdraw my account all the time. My checkbook register used to resemble a toddler’s interpretation of ancient hieroglyphs. Now, I use it for scrap paper.
Continue reading
Baby Connor is not afraid, but if we want to secure his and other babies' futures, we need to be a little more responsible.
For this Halloween, there is much more to be afraid of than ghosts, goblins and vampires. The U.S. economy has suffered some of its greatest blows ever. If you are searching for something to keep you up at night on Halloween—try a few of these economic facts: Continue reading
Often, the workplace is teeming with political intrigue—networks of relationships that have as much impact as the formal, established ranks. Although usually seen as negative, office politics can serve as a good way to promote yourself and your cause.
Just think—is there any real difference between office politics and “networking?” There are seven laws for surviving the unofficial power structure of the workplace. Continue reading
College is getting more expensive, even at state schools, where tuition was once affordable. Saving for your child’s education while you are trying to save for retirement can be a challenge, but there are tools available that can help you invest. Continue reading
It’s never too early to save for college!
Parents and students are seeking creative ways to pay for college, especially as tuitions rise and state schools are losing more and more government funding. Saving for college should start early, and there are many different savings and investment plans available to parents and their children. Talk to your financial adviser, or research the different programs that are available in your state. Let your little one start saving for college with a piggy bank while you set up sound investment strategies. Continue reading
When making a purchase, it is now commonplace for retailers to ask you to spend a little extra money—on the extended warranty. They want you—in the course of about three minutes—to make a snap decision that will cost you as much as a few hundred dollars. Continue reading
Open enrollment is the period provided by your employer to make changes to your benefits. Most people use this time to review and update their coverage, and make decisions about benefits offered by their employers. Use the open enrollment period to think about your current insurance and investment strategies, and consider whether any changes need to be made. Here are five considerations not to forget. Continue reading
Be careful when filling your cart at most price clubs, the savings may not be what you think.
There’s a weird rush associated with walking out of a price club with a 100 pack of Hot Pockets for the price of $26. In some social circles, it’s a brag-worthy purchase.
Continue reading
Emerngency services are notoriously expensive. Beware!
What to do? What to do?
Consumers can have all kinds of internal conflicts about whether to hit the debit or credit button. But which is the most worthy, which one will have the best after affect? Do you want the money to come out right away, do you want to get the points and/or miles and wait for the money to be extracted? What are the pros and cons of debit versus credit cards? Continue reading
Grab a glue stick and go crazy this holiday season!
Take down the skeletons and put out the poinsettias it’s Christmas time. With the recession still in full bloom, the tree might seem a little skinnier this year than last, but that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on decorations or holiday cheer. Here are a few ways to stretch your dollar and still have great looking holiday décor. Continue reading
Beautiful, but drafty.
My parent’s house is comparable to a museum: it is full of beautiful, old things and is most always uncomfortably cold. My pleas to raise the heat in their 3,800 square foot domicile were normally met with “Put on more clothes.” I had to move to Florida after graduating college to escape the induced tundra-like hell.
Continue reading
Apple 5 Update Delivered Over the Air
When the iPhone 4S came out, many Apple users were disappointed in the kinks that hadn’t been worked out just yet. In early November, Apple released the anticipated update, which will fix multiple problems associated with draining the battery too quickly. This update will also update five security vulnerabilities. This was the first update that Apple delivered over the air, which allowed users to obtain the update without having to connect to a computer and launch iTunes. Continue reading
If I could organically produce the answer to this question, I wouldn’t be supplementing my full-time job with feverish freelancing into the wee hours of the night. Like most wealthy people, I’m not afraid of a little hard work to put me ahead of my current situation.
Continue reading
All storms, even financial ones, blow over eventually
Do these things and, with patience and perserverence, your financial storm will pass and so many storms do: Continue reading
Jobs like virtual assistant and event planner can get you out of this temple of doom.
As consumers, we work really hard for our money, so why are we often so willing to part with it? I admit being a sucker for retail therapy. If something brings me down, I shop to make myself feel better. And then I get home and realize that if I had invested that $100 I spent on new boots, I would be a lot happier in the long run. Here are some things smart consumers like us should never waste our money on. Continue reading
So, you bought an apartment, not for yourself, but to rent out. Congratulations, you’ve taken your step to being a real estate mogul, or just maybe someone who wants a little edge when it comes to their investment portfolio.That’s great, your job has just begun. Like it or not, this also may be your first foray into customer relations, too. And in the apartment business, it matters, a lot. Here are four things to make sure your investment turns into that star instead of a black hole. Continue reading 
The Internet isn’t the detriment to productivity as you once thought. Procrastinators searching for employment, pray no more, as you can effectively utilize your favorite social networking sites to find a job.
Continue reading
Sometimes I worry that Thanksgiving is slowly losing its identity as a separate holiday. Many people I know rush through their turkey and pie in order to start shopping at insane hours the next morning. True, there are deals to be found during Thanksgiving as retailers prepare to lure you into their stores. Some deals will take a little patience, however. Check out this list of five things you don’t want to buy during Thanksgiving. Continue reading
Revenue sharing traditionally meant that businesses would divide up its profits or revenues among those people and entities who contributed to earning them. Sometimes, this means sharing the revenue among partners or employees. With the growth of Internet businesses and the practice of affiliate marketing, revenue sharing now has a different context. It involves a website, usually a site selling a product or service, paying affiliate websites a share of their sales if those affiliates were responsible for sending customers and buyers to the original e-commerce site. Revenue sharing on the Internet can also mean inviting people to provide content for a site, and then sharing the advertising revenue from that site with its contributors. Continue reading
With budgets tightening all over the nation, most people don’t have the moolah to trade in every 50,000 miles, so cars are running longer, harder, and on empty because of high gas prices. Maintenance is number one when it comes to your car, treat it nice and it will go for miles and miles. But your maintenance should also change when the car gets to a certain age. So when your car reads more zeros than you make in a year, how should you keep it running like new or at least until you can afford an upgrade? Continue reading
When it comes down to it, it's about the love not the ceremony.
The venue, the catering, the DJ, the bridal party, the marriage license, the dress, the cake, the limo, the lighting, the centerpieces, the flowers, the invitations, and the honeymoon are all included in wedding expenses. The average cost of a wedding has gone up in past years, which is causing more couples to hit the court house or have smaller weddings, cutting out dear friends and family. The true cost of a wedding is what is keeping many from tying the knot the traditional way. Continue reading
No one is trying to turn you into a hoarder. But if you are throwing away your receipts, even for minor purchases like that cup of coffee on your way to work, you may be making your financial house a little messier. Here are five reasons why it’s a good idea to keep all of your receipts. Continue reading
I am trying to remember what life was like before Facebook. It’s hard. I know I wasn’t able to keep in touch with old friends from high school or post pictures of my daughter doing cute things. Oh, and I had to hold an actual yard sale if I wanted to sell my crap, ahem, I mean gently used items. Continue reading
A health savings account (HSA) can be a cost effective way to pay for health care services that are not covered by your regular insurance plan, or cost more than what your plan covers. It can also complement your health insurance, especially if you have a high deductible. Continue reading
The proposed changes to the U.S. Postal Service—looking to save over $2 billion a year—will have profound effects on the average American. Look for “snail mail” to get a little slower. Continue reading
There are quite a few discouraged people out in the world right now. Many of them have over 10 years of experience in their field and can’t seem to find a job. After so long, and after unemployment runs out, you have to start looking into other options. And if you have a job, but are sincerely unhappy, there are few options that spark you as smart when the economy is in the shape it’s in. You may just be crazy enough to start your own business, but before you head to the bank for a loan, consider these three things. Continue reading
Most resolutions are about getting in shape. These are about positioning your business for its best year yet.
We’re all familiar with the personal New Year’s Resolutions; quit smoking, lose weight, go to church, etc. A new year, and a new quarter, is an opportune time for small businesses to turn over a new leaf and adjust to new directions.
Continue reading
A hedge fund is an investment partnership setup by a financial manager. It is usually in the form of a limited liability company (LLC) or a limited partnership; if the hedge fund goes bankrupt, creditors cannot go after individuals for more funds than originally invested into the hedge fund. Continue reading
With unemployment still at an uncomfortably high rate, most of us are clinging to our jobs no matter how much we would like to look for something else. Don’t be afraid to see what’s out there, however, especially if your job might be at risk. Here are some signs that might tell you it’s time to update your resume and start looking. Continue reading
You’re a salesperson, and your job is to spot an opportunity and exploit it.Here are four iPhone apps for sales that can help you do just that. Continue reading
Amazon (makers of the Kindle Fire) is among the stocks to watch for in 2012.
In 2012, your stock investments should be a little more thoughtful, and less risky. However, discretion does not mean you can’t make serious money. The five best stocks to add to your portfolio next year: Continue reading
One of the best things you can do for your financial health is to create a budget and stick to it. I am an obsessive person who likes to manage every penny. But you do not have to be as intense as me just to get started. It is as easy as making a couple of lists and then comparing them. Continue reading
Did you watch the cash register smoke when you check out during Christmas? Do you avoid looking at the receipt until you get home? Everyone dreads the bill after Christmas. The fear of never being able to pay off your credit card on time lingers all through Christmas and well past New Year’s. Here are a few ways that will help you pay off the debt: Continue reading
Romance is in the air, and you’re ready to propose. You have even found the perfect engagement ring. Unless you have spent your entire lifetime saving for this one specific purchase, your love is probably larger than your bank balance. But, that’s okay—you can still buy that expensive engagement ring. You will have to finance it, but think of it as an investment in your future. Just be sure to find the best deal on loan terms.
Tax time means more than just knowing the filing date—April 15. After that, you may forget many of the details, including how much you have paid. Some tax time trivia will affect everyone, so it pays to be prepared—and aware. Continue reading
Are you are looking to build a better mousetrap—or make an existing design more effective? If you, or your small business, spend time and money inventing and improving products, then you may be entitled for a federal R&D (Research and Development) Tax Credit. Continue reading
Frequent flyer miles are probably the best thing since sliced bread, especially if travel is an essential part of your life. Most business trips can be written off, but what about the initial cost? You can’t always afford a last minute flight. Many credit cards offer customers miles when they spend over a certain amount, but what are some other ways you can earn frequent flyer miles? It’s estimated that you only need 60,000 miles to get a cabin class ticket to Europe, so how can you earn those miles, and many more, fast? Continue reading
There is a lot of hearsay and misinformation around insurance, with many not investing the time needed to explain the fact from fiction. Continue reading
If romance is in the air but so is debt and the need to save money, you will have to be creative on your first date with a special someone. There are plenty of ways to have an inexpensive first date without looking cheap. Here are some ideas that might help. Whether there is a second date, is up to you. Continue reading
The college student graduating right now is heading into a pretty tough job market. It seems every company out there is laying off people left and right, or trying to save money by outsourcing and hiring part-time.
Years ago I thought that “bloggers” were middle-aged women using the Internet to voice their opinions and complaints. Boy, was I wrong. Blogs are a great online tool for sharing and receiving information on a variety of subjects. There’s no set rule for being a blogger. Anyone can do it, and here are simple tips in doing so. Continue reading
Mistakes happen to everyone—writing a check for more than is in your account. If this happens to you frequently, you may want to consider overdraft protection. Continue reading
There’s a tried-and-true rule when it comes to investing; the younger you are, the more risks you should take. Keep that in mind when you feel it’s time to invest some of your hard earned cash.
We here at Financial Helpers have put together a little guide for you to go by. Continue reading
Nobody lives forever—and you certainly don’t want to work forever either. If you haven’t saved for your retirement, it is always a smart idea to start now! Continue reading
A foreclosure occurs when homeowners are unable to pay the loan that was taken out to buy their home. Homeowners commonly default on loans due to job loss, pay cuts, and other difficulties. Foreclosures are disastrous to a credit score and credit report, which can make recovery seem impossible. This has been happening more and more since the economic drought has taken its toll on the citizens of the Unites States. It’s hard to drive down a residential street without seeing signs of foreclosure, and in some cases abandonment. But if you get the chance, how might you recover from such a financial train wreck? Continue reading