Be Financially Prepared For an Emergency...

Jun 24, 2014 by

Be Financially Prepared For an Emergency

A little planning now can help you handle a natural disaster or other emergency. Many Americans have focused on their need to be prepared in case of an emergency. Very few, however, consider financial preparedness in their plans. From keeping an evacuation box with important documents to setting up an account with emergency funds, preparing now can be the difference between financial security and financial crisis. These simple tips from financial experts at Savemoneyliverich.com can help anyone prepare financially for a natural disaster: Conduct a Household Inventory – Create a household inventory for items of significant value and locate originals of important financial and family documents. Store original documents in waterproof bags in a safe deposit box or durable “evacuation box” and photocopies in a safe place. Use a CD to back up key...

read more

Are You Living Beyond Your Means...

Jun 24, 2014 by

Are You Living Beyond Your Means

You’ve worked hard all day and come home at night, only to discover that you can’t get comfortable in your own bed. You toss and you turn for well over three hours. As 3a.m. approaches, you finally go to sleep but the alarm sounds all too quickly at 6 a.m. It’s time for you to go to work. Day two comes and you’re off again to the usual rat race. You repeat the same pattern once you get home. Later that night you lay in bed, thinking how you’re going to pay all of these bills. Despite your best efforts on the job, including overtime, it doesn’t seem to be enough. What can you do? Who can you to turn to? Does this sound like you? Are you having sleepless nights because of your...

read more

10 Warning Signs to Identify You Are Living Beyond Your Means...

Jun 24, 2014 by

10 Warning Signs to Identify You Are Living Beyond Your Means

Do you find that keeping control of your finances is becoming increasingly difficult? In today’s society, advertisements bombard us with offers which encourage us to spend!  Spend!  Spend!  With promises such as- “Easy Credit!” “Pre-approved loans!” “3 years interest-free credit!” “Free gift when you apply!” To most people this can all seem rather tempting, given the current “live for today” attitude.   But too much can be spent on luxuries, leaving not enough to pay the bills. Certain kinds of debt may be appropriate, such as a mortgage or a car.  Many people, however, try to buy more than they can afford.  Indeed, banks and businesses encourage us to do so. Credit cards can be too easy to obtain yet too difficult to maintain, especially when people find themselves borrowing from one card to pay...

read more

A Look at Personal Bankruptcy & What to Expect...

Jun 24, 2014 by

A Look at Personal Bankruptcy & What to Expect

One of the most difficult decisions that you can face is whether or not to file for bankruptcy. For individuals, there are basically two types of personal bankruptcy, which includes Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Designed to give the filer a fresh start in life by wiping out certain debts, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy will rid the filer of credit card and other unsecured debt. A chapter 13 bankruptcy, on the other hand, is a court-approved payment plan in which the filer is required to repay a predetermined percentage of their debt. The determination of which chapter to file will be based on the filer’s disposable income, if any, after paying their necessary monthly bills. When many people file for bankruptcy, their first thoughts are of their assets and whether or not they may...

read more

7 Indicators That You May Be Carrying Too Much Debt...

Jun 24, 2014 by

7 Indicators That You May Be Carrying Too Much Debt

Debt has practically become a national pastime. The United States and its citizens largely run on credit. While credit can be a great convenience, it can also create major financial challenges. Carrying too much debt creates a lot of additional costs and stress that are unnecessary. Anyone who’s had a sleepless night because of debt knows how much it can negatively influence your life. Most of us are used to having a significant amount of debt. But, how much is too much? Look for these signs that you’re carrying too much debt: You’re carrying a credit card balance. If you’re carrying a credit card balance each month, it’s critical to your financial health to pay this debt down. If you’re unable to pay it off, that’s a sign that you have too much debt....

read more

How to Use Store Credit Cards

Jun 24, 2014 by

How to Use Store Credit Cards

Many of us have and use store credit cards. We’re commonly enticed to complete store credit applications by promises of discounts and rebates. But are these store credit cards a smart decision? It isn’t easy to know. A little self-evaluation is likely to yield the best answer. Stores issue credit cards in hopes that you’ll shop in their stores more frequently. They’re also betting that you won’t pay your full balance each month. Companies that issue credit cards make a lot of money from interest payments and late fees. Be cautious and avoid falling into those common traps. Store credit cards can be useful, if they’re used correctly. The savings can be great, but the interest rates are high. The value of store credit cards is largely dependent on using them responsibly and intelligently....

read more

Why You Need a Living Will

Jun 24, 2014 by

Why You Need a Living Will

You don’t need to be an economics major to figure out that if health care is going up 10% or more every year while income is only going up 2-3%, things are not looking too good. It is entirely possible for a person to work their entire life and retire with a nest egg of $500,000 or more only to have it wiped out by one major medical issue. This is especially the case when machines must be used to keep you alive due to a severe injury or illness. It is in tragic times like these that a living will can be the difference between saving or breaking a family—economically at least. A living will is a legal document granting another person the right to cease treatment in the event a person becomes...

read more