only backgroundI'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.
Archive for the ‘Finance’ Category
Another house just went up for sale in my neighborhood. I can’t believe how many houses are available. Even more amazing is how much people are asking for these homes. I can understand a remodeled or renovated home being at the high end of the scale but the real estate market around here is really a buyer’s market right now. High prices just aren’t going to fly.
Maybe by the time I’m ready to sell our house, it will be a seller’s market. Wouldn’t that be great?
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One of the most difficult lessons to teach our kids is the value of money. We start out providing everything for our children, naturally, and often find it very difficult to smoothly transition to expecting them to provide for themselves. After all, we parents love to make our kids happy; if we could, we’d give them everything their hearts desire. That would be a parenting mistake, of course, but it sure would feel good to see our children so happy.
I think we all struggle with wanting to meet our children’s needs and wants while also teachng them the value of a dollar. We all know it does no good to just hand a child anything he or she wants; a child will not learn to appreciate what they have or the hard work that goes into earning money for the things they want. And they’ll never know the satisfaction of having worked and saved for that special item.
By giving our children everything they want, we deprive them of the good feelings that come from earning on their own.
How do we teach our children about money and work and saving? Well, there are many ways, of course, and technology has created a few more solutions. PayJr.com is a new site with some great features whether your kids are under 12 or over 13. The site has been built with both kids and parents in mind.
PayJr.com has two distinct but integral programs. The PAYjr Chore & Allowance System is a free educational tool geared toward those 12 and under, although I’ve found that it can be adapted to older children as well. This system allows parents and children to work together toward creating a chore list and a fair reward. Both parents and children have access to the online list; the web site also provides printable chore charts and online calendars for managing chores an rewards. Payjr.com even tracks the “Balanced Owed” so kids can see their money adding up.
An additional note: After parents sign up and add one child, you can go back into your account and add additoinal children. I started with my 10 year old then added my two teens.
I love this system because it give a child a visual connection between work and reward. It allows kids to watch their money grow and drives home the lesson of saving and sacrificing today for a greater reward tomorrow. This is such an important lesson in today’s world of instant gratification.
When a child is ready to have more control over their own money, at around age 13, PayJr has a next-step program just right for the older child. Stay tuned for Part II and the real gem of this program.
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There are many websites and companies willing to help with personal financial problems. Most will offer advice on credit cards, mortgages and consolidation loans. Any reputable financial advisory company will do that.
If you’re looking for real debt help, however, you want to go to the people who will offer the best solution for you own situation. I’ve checked out plenty of sites that offer a one-size-fits-all solution; those just aren’t for me. I want a financial service that takes into account my entire financial history, my spending habits and my family dynamics to come up with a plan that will work for me. Credit counseling should aim to lessen the chance of the same financial problems recurring.
Since I do like to do my own research - it’s part of my healthy skepticism - I love the articles on credit counseling at DebtHelp.com. That’s some excellent advice, especially in the 45 Questions to Ask a Credit Counselor article.
If you’re just not sure about all the financial services and need a nice breakdown, DebtHelp.com provides some of the best guides to these services that I’ve ever read. Even better, if you’re like me and prefer to have things broken down in a condensed, chart-like version, you can look over the Comparison Chart for quick answers. That page gets its own bookmark; it’s that valuable.
If you’re like most people, you’ll want to bookmark this site as a handy reference for all things financial. You never know when you’ll need some good advice on how to manage your money.
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I’ll start off right away by stating that I am not a big fan of credit cards. I’d rather use my debit card as much as possible, and I do. I’ve never gotten into trouble with credit cards, it’s just my own theory on money. However, I do like to keep one card with a low limit for emergencies and larger online purchases.
The credit card I have now is okay but it’s time to start looking around for better rates. I like to keep my limit at around $2000. I know, that’s tiny by today’s standard. I just don’t need much more than that usually. The one time I needed more, a quick phone call got it increased on the spot. That was one time and I’ve had that card for 11 years.
Since it’s been so long since I shopped around for a credit card, I really need some assistance. One thing I love about the internet is the ability to comparison shop with ease. Finding the Best Credit Cards is no different. The Credit Card Search Engine makes finding the perfect credit card, with all the features I want, a snap.
Whether you’re looking for Reward programs for purchases, airline miles, gas credits or just the lowest interest rate possible, you can find the best deals with this search engine. Do you want a specific card, like American Express? Click on your card choice. Looking for a certain card issuer? You’ll find everyone here, including Citibank, the largest provider of cards.
I’d never recommend abusing credit cards but they can be a valuable tool if used properly. And it’s just as important to get the right card. Credit Card Search Engine makes finding the right credit card so easy, there’s no reason to stay with a high rate or a card that isn’t giving you the rewards that you want. Go ahead, see what kinds of deals are there!
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Last week when I went to the mall, I forgot my debit card at home. YIKES! I felt totally lost without my debit card. Isn’t that strange? I can remember my first checking account; it didn’t even come with a cash card. Back then, it was called a MAC card and then an OWL card. (Hard to believe I remember that!)
Now I do everything electronically. I pay bills online. If a business or utility isn’t set up for their own online payments, I do it through the online billpay at my bank. Whether I’m using paypal or relying on electronic check processing, I almost never use paper checks anymore.
Come to think of it, is money even necessary these days? Perhaps not. It will be interesting to see what the next decade brings, won’t it?
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No, I am not kidding. I’m serious. It feels so good to write checks or click online to pay my bills. It’s so much better than looking at the bills piling up and not having the money to pay them.
Of course, I’d rather keep the money in my own account. Or, at the very least, have a lot more money left over after I’ve paid my bills. There is still something very reassuring about knowing that I at least have enough money to cover what I owe this month.
I think most of us average folks know quite well what it’s like to owe a lot more money than you have in your account. We’ve all been there. Sometimes, when things are going well, we forget about those leaner days. Sometimes we forget that other people are dealing with that situation right now. Sometimes we get so caught up in bemoaning how little is left over after the bills are paid that we neglect to be thankful for the simple fact that there is enough to pay the bills.
So, yes. Today I am happy to pay my bills. There is enough money to cover what I need to pay today, plus some left over for food and gas and incidentals. How fortunate I am!
And if I start to complain about having to pay such high prices for utilities, food, gas, etc., I trust that someone out there reading this will remind me of this entry. 
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I always thought it was ironic that a bank would lend you more money if you already had money in an account with them. Seems the people who need money the most are those who don’t have a savings account. Those who need it least are the one who have the most money saved.
Likewise, those who need financial advice, especially about bankruptcy, have the least amount of money to pay for that advice. The problem, then, is finding free financial advice so that you don’t end up even further in debt. That’s where the internet can be the most help.
Since all my friends and family know how much I love the internet, it isn’t surprising that a friend asked me just last week about helping to find information about financial solutions. And I was happy to assist. I found a great site and after going over the bankruptcy guide with my friend, I bookmarked the site so I could look over the other information there.
My friend was really interested in the definitions of the different types of bankruptcy. I think most of us get a little confused about the difference between chapter 7 and chapter 13; I know I do! And the section titled, “Is Bankruptcy Right For Me?” was very helpful with straightforward information in a no-nonsense tone.
When I came back to the site, I immediately checked out the section on Debt Consolidation. I don’t think my debts are too terribly outrageous but I always wonder how consolidating them would help me in the long run. The really nice thing about DebtHelp.com is that they provide an interactive questionnaire that helps you determine the best solution for your financial situation. You just answer some questions, provide contact information and get recommendations on how best to proceed. I love it!
DebtHelp.com can assist you with tax payments and student loans as well. Besides the services they offer, the articles and information is excellent. If you’re like me, you like to do a little of your own research first, before you turn to a professional. DebtHelp.com lets you do just that. They even offer financial calculators to help decide if you should refinance or even to figure interest rates. If you can’t find the information you need, you can always fill out the form to ask an expert.
DebtHelp.com is really a one-stop financial help center. For those of us with no financial education this site is a real gem. I’m passing it on to as many of my friends as possible. You should, too.
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A very long time ago, my Grandma bought her dry goods from an Italian immigrant who drove a cart through the streets of her little coal mining community. When my Grandpap’s check was very small, my Grandma would have to charge her purchase. Like all the other coal mining families, Grandma always paid her bill on time.
Years later, after the United Mine Workers persuaded the coal company to sell the homes to the miners, they all turned to the local bank for their loans. Every loan was approved by the bank president, an Italian immigrant who used to sell dry goods from a cart that he drove through those very streets. He admired the hard working coal miners who always paid their bills.
I still live in a small town but I don’t know of any small, community bank like that. There is no personal touch. In fact, it seems that there are two or three main banks and they own everyone else through acquisition or merger. Perhaps that is why hopping from bank to bank in this valley, searching for the best interest rate on a savings account always leaves me wondering why I even bother. Hard to believe that 1% interest is considered good.
This is why I’ve turned to online banking in search of a good interest rate on my savings. I love the site I’ve found that gives rates of several different banks. You can Compare online banking, find a savings account or checking account and earn more interest today with SavingsAccounts.com In fact, I found an online bank offering 6% interest on savings accounts, with no monthly fees and no minimum balance.
SavingsAccounts.com is laid out in a logical order and is very easy to understand. They gather the information and present it cleanly so that you can make your own choices. Their Resource section contains a number of excellent articles to help the young and old alike. This is the kind of website my Grandma would have loved because it would have given her more control over her money.
And this is the website I’m using to narrow down my choices for investment and savings accounts. I know Grandma would approve.
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My husband just turned 50; I’m not far behind him. It’s kind of mind-boggling that he’s actually eligible for AARP membership. Retirement isn’t that far away now.
In about 6 years our house will be paid off. Amazing. Granted, we got a late start with home ownership so we opted for a 15-year loan. Last year we finally paid off our other piece of property so we have full equity in that now. It’s a comforting thought.
I’ve read a little about a Florida Reverse Mortgage and I’m wondering if that’s available here in my state. I know there are a lot of retirees in Florida so the market is probably better there for this type of financial product. Nevertheless, I’d be interested in learning more about it.
By the time Brian and I are 62, our home will be paid off. A reverse mortgage could afford us the opportunity to maintain our standard of living or even help with the increasing cost of health care as we age.
The Reverse Mortgage Calculator is a great tool for helping to think this through. I’m impressed with this site especially after finding their resources for avoiding reverse mortgage pitfalls. There is quite a bit of information there, a lot to absorb and think about, and I’m glad that it’s all in one place like that.
I’m under the impression that there will be no social security for my generation in another decade. I’m pretty certain that my kids will be struggling with their own families and trying to get by financially. The thing my husband and I have is our home and property; that’s what we’ll be depending upon in our later years. Reverse Mortgage may be the best option for us. It’s definitely worth a closer look.
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Since I began putting more effort into my blogging, I’ve become more aware of SEO or Search Engine Optimization. It’s a complicated but ineresting topic and it’s taking me quite a while to grasp it.
Right now I’m still trying to do this on my own but I’m beginning to see how an expert in this field could help me a great deal. I know I learned a little about it from my last job. There’s just so much more to it, though.
During my searching I found several ineresting SEO Companies. I was especially impressed with Bay Street’s comprehensive offerings. They can help with everything from Google SEO to Text Link Building. Bay Street offers convenient packages at very reasonable prices, too.
The one caveat of SEO is ethics. Not every company operates by a code of ethics that ensures that your site will stay on the good side of various search engines. “Gaming” the system is not ethical. Bay Street SEO does follow a code of ethics which ensures that your search engine rankings will be honest and true.
I’m still a small time blogger but I’m not giving up on growing my reader base and increasing my page rank. I’m going to start off with Bay Street’s Guide to Search Engine Writing to learn as much as I can about this. If all goes well, next year at this time I’ll be able to take the next step and purchase one of Bay Street SEO’s packages to help my site to really take off.
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