Halloween is one of those holidays where people love to decorate and customize their homes for the season. The National Retail Federation (NRF) writes that consumers in the US will spend $2.7 billion on decorations this year, even more than the $2.6 billion they will spend on candy. Add in 3.2 billion for costumes and…
Posts By: Melinda Opperman
To rent or buy? If the question of renting vs. buying a home has crossed your mind we encourage you to consider the benefits of homeownership. However, the advantages of owning vs. renting are different for everyone. If you’re not already a homeowner, then it’s always time to be thinking about when to buy your…
We’re in the final quarter of the year, and a lot of holiday expenses are impending. Many people will find they aren’t fiscally prepared for the holiday season, and some last-minute savings will be needed to make it through to the new year financially intact. It’s also important for a lot of people to have…
Renovating your home wisely can increase its value and make it more appealing to buyers. Even if those renovations don’t get you a 100% return on your investment, they can make the home sell more quickly, save you money on extra mortgage, insurance and tax payments you’ll have to make while the home sits on…
Since 2010, financial institutions are required to get your permission for overdraft protection, a service that you would opt in to receive. If you’ve opted in, you will be charged overdraft fees if you exceed your account balance. Many banks and credit unions offer overdraft programs, and these can vary by institution. It might seem…
Owning a home comes with ongoing responsibilities. Maintenance and upkeep will become a part of every homeowner’s regular routine for as long as they own a house. But it’s important not to look at these maintenance responsibilities as onerous chores—while there is work involved in homeownership, doing necessary upkeep will make your home more valuable…
Raising your credit score can make a big difference when it comes to getting a loan, and how much that loan will cost you. If you are getting ready to apply for some kind of credit, or you’ve already applied and have been offered less-than-great terms, it might be worth your while to take some…
When you buy a home, a home inspection is critical to ensure that your home purchase—most likely the largest single purchase you will ever make—won’t come with any unpleasant surprises. A home inspector will give you a report on the condition of the house and all of its systems. This gives you a chance to…
Back to school time can be financially challenging, whether the students in your life go to elementary school, college, or somewhere in between. It’s critical to budget carefully to get through the early fall and give your students the best start on their academic year. One thing that is important to note about budgeting is…
Homeowners insurance is an absolute must-have, but there are ways to make sure you’re paying as little as possible for this coverage. Even if you’ve already had homeowners insurance for some time, take these steps to reduce your insurance costs: Compare Carefully Whether you’re getting insurance for the first time or renewing for another year,…
Student loans are meant to help college students pay for education expenses. Some people get the idea that they can use student loan funds to buy assets; this is a dangerous practice with many downsides. Recently, surveys hit the news suggesting some borrowers are using their student loan money to invest in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin….
If you’re in the market as a first-time home buyer, you’ll probably be concerned about your down payment. There is a lot of conflicting information and advice about how much you really need to have. How can you effectively save the money? How Much Should Your Down Payment Be? You’ll see a lot of advice…
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