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Pay Off Mortgage Faster – or Invest?
Tweet Share on Facebook June 30, 2010 Comment (16)The stock market might be behaving badly, but that's not a reason to leave stocks out of your long-term financial planning right now. In fact, with the market near recent lows, you may be more interested in considering one of the most common financial conundrums for homeowners: Is it better to use your excess cash each month to pay off your mortgage faster or to invest?
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How to (Still) Find Free Checking Accounts
Tweet Share on Facebook June 29, 2010 Comment (2)Two weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal warned that free checking may be coming to an end. Wells Fargo has already announced that they will be ending their free checking accounts on July 1st. One by one, the major banks likely will begin raising minimum balance requirements and instituting fees on their once-free checking accounts, forcing consumers like you and me to find free checking alternatives.
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21 Things You Should Never Buy New
Tweet Share on Facebook June 28, 2010 Comment (116)If you’re looking to get the most value for your dollar, it would do your wallet good to check out secondhand options. Many used goods still have plenty of life left in them even years after the original purchase, and they’re usually resold at a fraction of the retail price, to boot. Here’s a list of 21 things that make for a better deal when you buy them used.
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5 Things You Shouldn’t Do With a Windfall
Tweet Share on Facebook June 28, 2010 Comment (3)Wouldn’t it be great to be on the receiving end of a large windfall? We’ve all got our own ideas about what a large windfall might be. Some might think that $20,000 is a hefty amount, while others require a sum ten times that amount to make a dent in their finances. But it doesn’t matter what the actual sum is; it only matters that the sum is a windfall to you.
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How to Get Ahead on Minimum Wage
Tweet Share on Facebook June 25, 2010 Comment (8)Most people think you can’t live on minimum wage, much less get ahead. The current minimum wage in the U.S. amounts to a little over $15,000 a year before taxes. While it may seem impossible to live on such a small amount, it can be done. Here are some steps to take to stretch a mimimum wage salary.
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5 Odd, Green Products That Save You Big Money
Tweet Share on Facebook June 24, 2010 Comment (5)Walk through any mall and chances are you will find something odd for sale. While that odd product may be fun for a while, can buying it save you money over time and save the environment too? Next time you're on the lookout for something different, try any of these five odd products -- you may just be surprised with how the green savings add up.
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How to Manage an Unpredictable Income
Tweet Share on Facebook June 23, 2010 CommentFor many people who rely on trading their time and energy for money to afford the necessities of life, the economy has caused an increased level of stress over the past few years. Even those of us with relatively secure jobs and incomes have been more concerned that this perceived security could vanish. I know many people who work for themselves, are consultants for hire, or are paid through commission, and they live with a level of uncertainty all the time.
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Good Credit Score? Time to Reward Yourself
Tweet Share on Facebook June 22, 2010 CommentDo you have a good credit score? Have you kept your nose clean and your credit reports spotless? If so, isn't it about time you found ways to reward yourself for good behavior? Or, better yet, shouldn’t the world somehow reward you for your responsibility?
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Your Guide to the Debit Card Fee Changes
Tweet Share on Facebook June 22, 2010 Comment (1)You might think that Washington would be all about oil, jobs, and immigration these days. But the sleeper issue of the summer is turning out to be none other than debit card fees. Specifically, the fuss is over the fees that merchants must pay every time consumers swipe a bank debit card or prepaid credit card to pay for a purchase.
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How to Build a Smart Wardrobe on a Budget
Tweet Share on Facebook June 21, 2010 Comment (5)There are many great ways to save a good amount of cash when it comes to your clothes. Now as people go, I’m not exactly a clothes horse. I tend to buy clothes when I need them rather than when I want them. I may also be a bit fortunate here because I work from home and thus, I normally don’t need to worry about picking out smart clothes to attain a professional look; I can wear whatever I like! Nevertheless, I do enjoy a great bargain when I see it, and buying clothes on a dime is something I continue to do.
Here are some frugal tips I follow to dress for less and to create a smart wardrobe on a budget:
