| Financial Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
Home
ownership has always been an important component of the American Dream,
but many consumers are worried about their ability to buy a home at a
tumultuous time in the real estate market. It’s important to know that
there are still financing options available for borrowers seeking a
responsible, safe and affordable way to buy a home.
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| What to Consider Before Buying a Vacation Property
Many
people enjoy vacation properties because they promote spending quality
time with friends and family and create cherished memories. If you are
considering this investment, it’s worth your time to consider your
options to make sure you get the right property for you. Here's what
you should think about.
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| Do Your Homework before Refinancing Your ARM
What
should consumers do if their adustable rate mortgage (ARM) is about to
reset? There is no “one size fits all” answer, so it’s imperative that
homeowners educate themselves and take action before their ARM resets.
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| Seven Tips to Slash Soaring Home Heating Bills
Consumers
will likely pay record prices to heat their homes this winter, up an
average of 10.5 percent from last winter, says NEADA, a group of state
energy aid officials. Now is the time to give your home a “check-up.”
Here are seven tips from the Comfort Institute to make your home an
energy sipper instead of a gas guzzler.
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| Feeling Underappreciated at Work? Demand Some Recognition!
People
have a basic human need to feel appreciated, and employee recognition
programs help meet that need. Recognition should not only come from
managers to employees, but also be distributed among peers so that
everyone within the company feels that they are contributing to the
greater whole.
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| Roof Now, Pay Later
Because
your roof protects the rest of your home, keeping it functioning
properly should be a top priority, but roof shingles have a finite
lifespan and sooner or later will need to be replaced. Fortunately,
homeowners have a number of financing options that won’t require
tapping into the kids’ college funds.
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| Protecting the ‘Invincibles’ – How Health Benefits Can Help Young Adults
A
recent survey finds that adults between the ages of 19 and 29 are the
fastest growing group of uninsured Americans. While young adults are
generally the healthiest portion of the population, there are
advantages to having insurance coverage, aside from the financial
protection it provides.
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| Money Saving Moving Tips
For
many, moving can be a daunting task. Whether your new home is across
town or across the country, advanced planning is important. In addition
to devoting time to organize and pack your belongings, make sure to put
aside time to prepare financially as well. Here are some tips to get
you started.
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| Concentrate on Grocery Store Savings
Editor Alert: Includes Recipe
Take
a look at your supermarket bill. Chances are it is higher than it used
to be. Prices are on the rise and that’s forcing budget-conscious
consumers to look for affordable ways to enjoy their favorite foods and
beverages.
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| Earn Extra Money Making Your Friends Beautiful This Holiday Season
The
holidays are a wonderful time of year that brings much anticipation.
But with all the fun also comes a pinched family budget. What if there
was a way to learn about holiday beauty trends while earning extra
holiday money? Here are the hottest trends for the season and how you
can take advantage.
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| The Change in Seasons: A Great Time to Reassess Your Finances
According
to many accountants, financial planning is especially pertinent now.
Late summer and early fall are the best times to analyze your finances.
The idea is to get everything in order today because you won’t be able
to change the bottom line when December 31 rolls around.
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| Life of Success to a Life of Significance
Jim
Wyner is having the time of his life. He lives in La Jolla, Calif., and
although he retired six years ago, he’s ecstatic about his new career
after retirement. And Jim is not alone. The nation is experiencing
large numbers of executives retiring, and this generation of retirees
is not sitting at home playing bingo. These Baby Boomers are looking to
give back to their professional community and aiming to positively
affect the lives of other executives.
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| Main Street Vies with Wall Street for Investor Affection
Despite
the dire dips and drama of Wall Street in recent months, news from the
private sector is surprisingly good. Smart investors are finding plenty
of opportunity and profit in the nearly 24 million private companies
that impact the everyday lives of most Americans through employment and
products.
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| Helpful Tips for a Confident New You from Queen Latifah
Undoubtedly,
being confident affects every aspect of a person’s life. While women
have made many strides in nearly every profession, sport and industry
in recent decades, even the most accomplished women can lack
self-confidence in certain areas. According to a national YWCA online
survey, women cite not feeling attractive or good about their
appearance as their top confidence shaker (62 percent), followed by not
excelling in their career/not doing a good job (46 percent) and not
feeling accepted/feeling like an outcast (40 percent).
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| Cable Choices Have Millions of Phone Customers’ Ears Ringing
Consumers
looking for choice in telephone service are increasingly turning to
their cable companies. In fact, recent industry figures show that more
than 11 million Americans have dropped their phone companies and
switched to next-generation digital phone service from cable. It works
just like traditional phone service, it's easy to install, has all the
expected calling features and is competitively priced.
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| A Savings Revolution to Instill Hope in Young Americans
You’re
busy establishing yourself in your career and your life. You want to
buy a home, get married and have children. There’s only one problem:
you can’t even think about these things because all your money is going
toward paying off student loans and credit card debt. And, oh yes --
you have your eye on that plasma big-screen TV.
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| Money-saving Tips for the Entire Family
Jonni
McCoy is a leading expert on shopping and frugal living. She is the
author of the acclaimed Miserly Moms, Frugal Families, and Miserly
Meals and has established herself as a knowledgeable family budgeting
expert. Here are some of her most useful tips.
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| Finance Education Pays Off
The
proportion of American families carrying an average credit card balance
of $5,100 rose to 46.2 percent, according to the 2004 Survey of
Consumer Finances conducted by the Federal Reserve Board. Many people
may not realize how debilitating this type of credit card debt can be.
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| Get More from Your Credit Card
As
we move closer to what will be a virtually cashless society, the number
of ways we will be able to use credit will continue to increase. This
trend underscores the importance of selecting the right kind of credit
card that offers the features, tools, services and rewards that are
designed around the specific ways you choose to use credit.
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| Debt Doesn’t Have to be a Four Letter Word
For
the average American, debt is a fact of life. But not all debt should
be considered detrimental. Buying a house or a car, or funding your
education can be positive, wealth-building steps even though they often
require incurring some debt.
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| A Luxury Travel Option that Makes Financial Sense
Whether
vacationing domestically or internationally, traveling produces
priceless moments. But as much as we cherish the unforgettable
memories, in reality, these vacations can cost thousands of dollars for
you and your family. Many luxury travelers are left wanting more than a
room at a lavish hotel or the hassles of second-home ownership. More
people are finding the vacations they desire through destination clubs,
an option that makes financial sense.
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| Simple Tips for Funding Your College Education
The
cost of tuition continues to skyrocket. In fact, on average, the cost
of college tuition at both public and private universities has doubled
over the last 20 years. The news is not all bad though, as the
selection of financing options and financial aid packages available to
students continues to grow.
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| Going Back to School After Military Service
When
returning from the service, the decision to go back to school can
become a difficult choice for many servicemen and women. Here is some
advice for taking the first steps.
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| Personal Finance: Selling Your Home in a Buyer’s Market
Selling
a home can be a daunting task for any homeowner, and in a “buyer’s
market” the process can feel overwhelming. While many sellers think
that homebuyers have the upper hand, with a little patience and a few
helpful tips from GMAC Real Estate, you can successfully sell your home.
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| Personal Finance: Do’s and Don’ts to Finding the Right Real Estate Agent
Buying
or selling a home is likely one of the biggest financial transactions
you will ever have, and it can often be a complicated and
time-consuming endeavor. By enlisting the help of a real estate
professional, the process can be made considerably less stressful and
much more enjoyable.
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| Working Women Less Prepared for Income-Limiting Disability
Working
women are experiencing serious disabilities at an increasing rate and
much faster than working men. In fact, the rate of disability among
working women in the United States has grown almost twice as fast as
among working males during the past decade (more than 60 percent
compared to 32 percent respectively) according to Social Security
Administration data.
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| Options for Paying for College
Do
you have a son or daughter heading for college next year? Are they
prepared for the costs and financing decisions when heading off to one
of more than 4,200 colleges and universities in the United States?
Every year, the federal government makes more than $81 billion
available to help 10 million families and students finance a
postsecondary education. To find the best scholarship opportunities,
you should begin your search in December or January.
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| Tour Directing: A Dream Job For Seniors
Baby
boomers are reaching the age of retirement and it’s a great time to do
the things they’ve always wanted to do. For many, this means traveling
and experiencing different places and cultures. What if that passion
for travel and people could be changed into a second career? Being a
tour director can do just that, providing the opportunity to see the
world with the flexibility to work whenever you want.
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| Giving to a Good Cause is as Simple as Sending an Instant Message
The
urge to help others runs deep in America. In 2006, roughly one in four
adult Americans, 61.2 million total, volunteered their time, according
to a new federal report by the Corporation for National and Community
Service. Now there's a new way to give back that incorporates
charitable giving into our daily lives.
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| Tips for Managing Credit
Consumers
have many options when it comes to selecting a credit card that best
fits their needs. For instance, some people may use credit cards
strictly for big-ticket items, while others may use them for all their
everyday purchases; some may carry a balance while others pay it off
every month. Even though people use credit in different ways, one fact
remains the same: good credit card management is important to everyone.
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| When Google and Yahoo Can't Help You Find What You Need
If
you run a small business today, you know the critical need for
information. Like no other time in history, accurate, timely and
credible information is the key to making sound business decisions and
ultimately achieving business success. Look to independent resources
with proven credibility, like the non-profit James J. Hill Reference
Library, a trusted source of practical business information.
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| How to Make Miles Cards Work for You
Whether
you’re loading up your cart with groceries or paying for your spring
wardrobe at the counter, you can -- in the process -- rack up miles
toward that well-deserved trip.
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