The average house price in 2009 has depreciated in most areas around the country, which is good news for buyers. Add to that incentives like the 8,000 home buyers credit for new home buyers and even existing homeowners, and everyone has something to cheer about in the housing market. With low mortgage interest rates available, if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the market to bottom, now’s the time to jump right back in, but first you have to qualify. (more…)

While we all know that we need to have at least six months to a year’s worth of our salary stored in savings should the unforeseeable occur, it can be quite hard to funnel our money into a savings account when the shopping bug strikes. Whether you have to have the newest fashions, or the newest electronic device that will make your neighbors green with envy, our society tends to prefer the gratification of owning a particular product to the stability of a portly savings account. A quick look at the number of American families who carry a hefty credit card balance goes to prove that material things tend to rate higher than having money in the bank.

Only recently has this trend begun to change. With the increasing number of Americans that are unemployed, we’re finally starting to realize that the stability of our jobs may be in jeopardy which is prompting many of us to start saving. Here are some simple tips to help you build you savings balance so you can be prepared no matter what unforeseeable event may occur in your life. (more…)

Ever hear of the old parable of the frog who doesn’t know he’s boiling to death because the water only slowly increases in temperature and he doesn’t have the sense to jump out in time? That same analogy can apply to anyone who has suddenly realized that they may be in debt way over their head and it’s too late to cut back on their standard of living to fight off bankruptcy. In today’s aggressive financial climate, this sort of thing happens more and more. Current salaries are being decreased across the board while fees, interest rates on debt, and day-to-day expenses soar. It doesn’t necessarily take the loss of a job to get to the point where a medical emergency or family disaster pushes one overboard in an instant. That’s why consumers have to be really aware of when they are reaching that point of no return, and quickly reduce expenses before they can no longer recover the situation.

Here are some ways to tell when you might be getting into trouble in the near future: (more…)

When it seems like everywhere you turn there is more bad news about the state of the economy, more people are becoming quite concerned about finding ways to keep their money safe. Even those who may have been big risk takers in the stock market have scaled back for fear that another dip in the stock market may cost them everything they have. With all the bank failures and bailouts that the economy has suffered in such a short period of time, it is no wonder why so many people have become so concerned. While you could always hide your money under your mattress, here are some simple tips that can help you keep your money safe no matter what the economy may throw at you. (more…)

You’ve heard of the big rebates being offered for changing out water boilers and heaters to energy efficient models, but who has a spare couple grand to spend right now, right? What you may not know is that there are plenty of small changes that you can implement to your house that are easily budgeted, that cost very little upfront and produce a great return on their investment over the course of a year. They can include changes in your daily habits, how you obtain a service, and/or simple household fixes that change your consumption habits without too much trouble. (more…)

If you’ve been hearing funny noises coming from your refrigerator, or you’re wondering how to reduce the energy consumption of your household, the federal government is going to make your life easier next year. Many states, in conjunction with a federal cash for appliances program, are offering rebates on energy efficient models of household systems like air conditioners, refrigerators, and clothes washers, and more. In addition, each state has other types of incentives, like utility and appliance discounts and rebates, that can be stacked together to provide an even bigger incentive to get rid of your old appliances now. The rebates will vary with each state, but all do require you to purchase an Energy Star model, which indicates that the appliance you are buying meets federal guidelines for energy efficiency. Even if you’re short of cash to front the payment for a new appliance, you can opt to borrow knowing that you will get that money back shortly from the program. A paycheck advance would work well if you can cover the the cost of appliance, and then repay the loan in the next paycheck cycle. This way, you don’t miss the opportunity to purchase these appliances while the rebate program is running. (more…)

With the current state of the economy, banks have become more and more stringent on who they loan money to. Only a few years ago you would have been able to qualify for a mortgage for an amount that was beyond what you could possibly afford. These mortgages usually required little to no money as a down payment, and borrowers could also qualify for no asset, no income mortgages that allowed them to purchase homes that they could realistically not afford. (more…)

If you’ve felt like you’ve been taken sometime during this recession, join the crowd. Bernie Madoff may have been a prominent scam artist that got caught, but there are bound to be hundreds more that are still out there trying to swindle money. The fact is that as times get tough, many people do try to scam other people as a way to generate income, and sometimes it can be hard to tell who the good guys or the bad guys are as greed takes a hold. For your protection, always deal with others in a business-like and professional manner to help you avoid being scammed, especially in your financial dealings where money is involved. (more…)

Times are often tough, but there many options for those who are need of money. From personal loans that are available at banks and financial institutions and pay day loans that are available online and at check cashing place in your area, you have ways to get money to pay past due bills and other financial obligations. Although bank loans have much paperwork to deal with, their interest rates are lower than any of the other options available to consumers. Payday loans are great because they are quick and easy and have very lenient credit guidelines. Once you get the money you need, you can pay off any bills and repay your loan when you can. (more…)

Congratulations and condolences to you, if you’re one of the 2009 college graduates to be entering the job market this year. You got the pig skin, that valuable diploma that tells everyone you’re worth something in today’s job market. How to capitalize on that in one of the worst job markets and make the most of your situation is the question facing many of today’s graduates. Unfortunately, they are competing with a glut of highly qualified, professional, people who recently lost their jobs and have years of experience under their belts. (more…)