Term or Whole Life Insurance?
October 28, 2011 by Jon the Saver 2 Comments
I had an interesting conversation with my fiancee's father recently. The topic was life insurance and words like "term" and "whole life" started flying and I was confused to say the least. With marriage looming in the not too distant future, life insurance has been on my mind lately and I've realized that I know very little about the subject. So, what better way to talk about life insurance than an educational post! There are two main types of life insurance out there: Term Life and Whole Life but what does it this life insurance cover? The two may sound similar but they are very … [Read More...]
Common Sense Ways to Save on Electricity
October 28, 2011 by Jon the Saver 11 Comments
Electric costs can put a damper on any household’s budget. Current energy costs aren’t helping in the difficulties of the recession, which makes the financial end of saving energy even more pressing. Luckily, there are plenty of simple ways to cut down the electric bill, which the following will just begin to cover. Start Simple: Lighting Lighting is one of the easiest ways to undermine the electric bill. By switching a light bulb or replacing a fixture, you can realize immediate savings. Remember this term: compact fluorescent light bulbs. Well, to be precise, you only need … [Read More...]
Controlling Expenses From the Top Down
October 26, 2011 by Kevin 3 Comments
In an attempt to get control over finances, we’ll usually start with an assault on the smallest expenses; because they’re the smallest, cutting them will produce the least amount of disruption in our lifestyles. But it’s equally true that cutting small expenses also produces the lowest savings. No amount of coupon clipping, turning out unused lights or canceling subscriptions will offset a crippling house payment or an outsized car payment. If we’re serious about controlling our finances—and I mean really serious--nothing will have greater impact than lowering expenses from the … [Read More...]
How I Got Screwed by my Lack of Patience
October 24, 2011 by Jon the Saver 21 Comments
Patience has never been one of my strengths. I can think back all the way back when I was a kid and even the long road trips for family vacations irritated me. I've always been someone who wants things to get done quickly with very little waiting around. I could excuse myself by saying that I need that type of mentality because I work in the construction industry where schedule is EVERYTHING. However, that would just be a poor excuse. I'm a sinner like everyone else. I mess up and let my lack of patience get the better of me. It's never a good ending when you are impatient. … [Read More...]
Getting that Security Deposit Back!
October 22, 2011 by Jon the Saver 8 Comments
You've been a good tenant, never bothered anyone, and always paid your rent on time. Now, it's time to move and you've cleaned the apartment so well that you could eat off of the floors. Now there's only one thing left to worry about: how do you get your security deposit back when you move out? The first step to protecting your deposit is to have a clear understanding of what the apartment looked like before you moved in. This means going over it thoroughly with the landlord and noting everything that is wrong with paperwork and photos. That way, you won't get stuck with issues when you … [Read More...]
Is Your Local Retailer Out to get You?
October 21, 2011 by Jon the Saver 4 Comments
Does your local retailer deserve your business? For many consumers, local retailers are certainly a good aspect of the local economy, and for good reason. However, you might want to be careful if you see some of the following signs present at a local business. Customer Service Some people strongly associate customer service with local business. After all, local retailers will generally take the extra step to connect with their customers. The contrast can be strong with regard to larger businesses. In fact, the same general group will often look down upon these … [Read More...]
Betterment Interview With CEO Jon Stein
October 19, 2011 by Jon the Saver 5 Comments
You may have seen Betterment.com ads around this blog before. In fact, I have one up on my sidebar right now. Betterment is one of the few companies that I support and recommend all my readers to utilize in their total financial portfolio. I was approached a while back to interview Jon Stein and took the opportunity to do just that! I had the chance to ask some deeper questions than usual. Jon Stein was a pleasure to interview and I love his passion for helping average Americans! But first, here's a short snapshot of his background from Betterment.com: Jon is the Chief Executive … [Read More...]
Ultimate Guide to Grocery Store Savings
October 17, 2011 by TJ 6 Comments
Working as a helper clerk at QFC for three years, I acquired a great deal of knowledge about the products sold inside of a grocery store. I also saw first-hand how people shop and the amount of money they spend on each trip, much of which was unnecessary. As a part of my job, I was tasked with stocking inventory on the shelves, which was directly connected to how well the product sold and what price it was at. So, here are some tips for those of you who are looking to save money every time you go to fill up your pantry: 1. Read grocery store advertisements like businessmen read … [Read More...]
Best Gift Ideas for Men Under $100
October 15, 2011 by Jon the Saver 11 Comments
Let's face it ladies: shopping for a guy is not always easy. In fact, depending on the individual, it can be an almost impossible task. No matter what the occasion, finding the right gift for the man in your life requires thought, especially if you want to keep it below $100. So what are the best gift ideas for men under $100? Here are a few suggestions. Before you can being shopping you have to consider the man. Does he wear suits or jeans to work? Is he into polo or rock climbing? Does he prefer the outdoors or the indoors? This gives you a place to start from. The white collar … [Read More...]
Three Tools to Teach Your Children Financial Responsibility
October 14, 2011 by Jon the Saver 7 Comments
Parents who find themselves relearning financial responsibility often have trouble passing down these new skills to their children. Here are three tools you can use to make sure financial responsibility doesn't end with you. Give Your Child an Allowance I'm often asked if children are too young to get an allowance. Although each family needs to take actions that are best for their own family, I believe that children begin a fuzzy concept of money even before they can walk. They watch you exchange it for food, swipe cards for gas, and put coins into machines that return small toys. … [Read More...]
Biblical View on Paying with Cash to Get Out of Debt
October 12, 2011 by Kevin 7 Comments
How many times do you hear or read that Credit Card A pays X-percent on their rebate program, or Chevyotassan Motors is offering zero percent financing on their 2011 model Q cars? How about “90 days financing as good as cash?” Or the favorite of all credit offers--buy now and pay NO interest until January 2013? You can’t blame businesses for trying to grease the wheels of their sales by offering too-good-to-pass-up financing deals. And maybe these packages are even all that they say they are. Does that mean you should jump and buy if they are? Not if you’re already in debt. In … [Read More...]
Discover Credit Cards Extravaganza
October 10, 2011 by Jon the Saver 5 Comments
I've always been impressed with the Discover card lineup. My fiancee has a Discover credit card and loves it. It's a company I recommend to anyone I know, mainly due to their fantastic customer service and putting their customers first. Many of you (not me, not old enough!) might remember the first unveiling of the Discover card during the 1986 Super Bowl (video here). During those days, annual fees were common and cash back was unheard of. Discover was a pioneer during their time and offered to their customers what other "big boys" weren't. Discover is now one of the largest … [Read More...]
