photo credit: jessiphotoworld

Over at the No Credit Needed blog, a recent post looked at the writer’s financial priorities for the future. It makes for an interest list and something that a lot of people in debt are probably striving to achieve - and we know that making a list of your goals always helps you to achieve them faster and better. So let’s take a look at the key financial priorities on this list:

• Live within a budget - always have a written budget so you know where you plan to put your money
• Have insurance - always have sufficient coverage of the necessary kinds of insurance (for example, health, dental, life or disability)
• Have an emergency fund - for at least six months’ worth of living expenses
• Fully-fund retirement accounts - that makes the annual tax bill lower and increases the wealth for the retirement days
• Fund self-education accounts - the No Credit Needed blogger has three young children, and has the goal of saving enough for their college tuition
• Live without borrowing money - but with one big advantage - this guy has a house funded by his employer
• Continue to live without credit cards - he uses a debit card instead for situations where a credit card is usually very convenient.

It might be interesting to reconsider your list of financial priorities, too.

credit: Joshua Davis (jdavis.info)

Buying insurance is always about weighing the odds, and now, more than ever, it seems that travel insurance is well worth the gamble. However, as you plan where to go, investing your hard-earned cash, devote a bit of time to the best travel insurance for your needs: (more…)

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Insurance salespeople will assure you that a dozen different kinds of insurance are necessary to feel secure in life. But often these very insurance policies are what’s holding you back financially, insuring you for low-risk “what if” scenarios, and very often not even actually covering what you think they are. Try these tips to figure out exactly what insurances are important in your life:

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When you’re planning your retirement – and some of us dream about finishing work from practically the first day we start – it can be complicated to think about how you will fund it. A Gallup survey found there are ten main sources of income for retirees, with some being more significant than others. Have a look at the list and consider where your retirement income is going to come from: (more…)

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Auto insurance in one of those frustrating expenses in life – it can be quite expensive, but the alternative of not having any and being involved in an accident can be a whole lot more expensive. Here are some ways you might be able to save money on your car insurance:

1. Compare quotes from at least three different insurance companies – the amounts can vary considerably, and some might offer discounts if you can pay the premium annually.
2. Ask if you can get a discount by buying your other insurance needs from the same company.
3. Keep your driving record clean, and remind your insurance agent if your accident or speeding fine is more than three or four years old – at most, after five years, you can usually be insured as a driver with a clean record.
4. Increase the deductibles on your policy, especially for highly unlikely events. Check with your insurance agent about exactly what the possibilities are – some insurance companies have standard deductibles that won’t change unless you ask about them, and this could lower your insurance costs.
5. Be aware that if you are a student, having good grades can actually get you an insurance policy discount as well.
6. Consider installing anti-theft devices to your car – check with your insurance company about how much these will decrease your premium and decide if it is worthwhile.

credit: dodge challenger1

Got your eye on a particularly beautiful new car? We probably all have gazed at our brand new dream car at some stage, but if you are also keeping your eye on your bank accounts, then it might pay to head to the used car lot instead.

It’s no big surprise to consider the idea that you will probably save money by buying a used car, but some people are surprised by just how much you can save. The big problem comes with the depreciation cost of a new car.

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Life insurance can be a superb investment for a parent or breadwinner, but lately, we’ve been bombarded with offers to insure children. If you have a young child, you may consider taking the plunge and beginning a life insurance plan for him, but experts say that kids do not need life insurance.
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