The Real Cost Of Eating Out
As paychecks wither in this economy, it may comes as a surprise that the simple act of eating out can cost you $2000 a year. Unfortunately, people who work outside the home have to factor in the occasional coffee, and the daily lunch costs, and many times that can significantly impact their budget, too, especially if they’re only working part time jobs. Add to that birthdays, holidays, and just the urge to eat out every now and then, and the costs of eating out quickly take a huge chunk out of what’s left of your disposable income. If you’re looking for somewhere to save big this year, consider some of these strategies to rein in those dollar munchies. (more…)
As paychecks wither in this economy, it may comes as a surprise that the simple act of eating out can cost you $2000 a year. Unfortunately, people who work outside the home have to factor in the occasional coffee, and the daily lunch costs, and many times that can significantly impact their budget, too, especially if they’re only working part time jobs. Add to that birthdays, holidays, and just the urge to eat out every now and then, and the costs of eating out quickly take a huge chunk out of what’s left of your disposable income. If you’re looking for somewhere to save big this year, consider some of these strategies to rein in those dollar munchies. (more…)
It may come as a surprise, but even small amounts of pocket change can help you build a hefty savings account. Don’t overlook the potential to save even $20 a month, if that $20 can end up being diverted to an interest bearing savings account. Over time, that $20 can grow into $240 a year, and near $1000 in four years, with the right strategies and compounding interest. Many people may overlook small ways to save thinking it isn’t sufficient to create a decent emergency buffer or worth the financial incentive. Nothing could be further from the truth. The hard numbers show that the earlier you start saving, the more that small amount grows. It also helps to create savings habits that last a lifetime.
Regardless of your age, odds are you have had dreams of amassing the large sum of money that allows you to quit your day job and live life like you had always dreamed of. While this may be an easy task for some, many of us are shocked back to reality due simply to too many bills and not enough income to cover them all. This commonly causes most people to take on a second and possibly even a third job in order to make ends meet. Instead of being happy, most end up feeling depressed and wondering if they will ever achieve their dreams. While it may not be possible to amass a million dollars overnight unless you win the lottery, there are some things that can help you improve your current financial status. Here are some simple tips on how you can improve your net worth, regardless of how old you may be.
Charity is about giving without expectation of return, but investing is about expecting a return on your spent money. These days, you don’t have to choose between being an open-hearted philanthropists or a hard-nosed investor, you can do it both at one time. There are now organizations that help you fund microloans to individuals to help them succeed in their ventures, whether financial or social, with an expectation of a return on that investment in the form of interest. You can invest in social projects of merit, and make money too.
The Case-Shiller index may have good news for homeowners recently, with a rise of 1.4 percent in housing prices in the first quarter. That’s not as good news as it is for homebuyers, however, since the over all drop in housing prices is 15% since the same quarter last year. What this combined set of data shows is that we may be turning the corner in some housing markets. If you’ve wanted to buy in some of the
Nothing is worse when bills start to pile up, the phone is ringing off the hook with “courtesy” or bill collector calls, and you are being fee’d to death by your friendly, neighborhood, bank. Unfortunately, more and more Americans are finding themselves in this position, due to the aggressive tactics that can put anyone on a round of never ending phone calls, even if for years they’ve had a sterling 
