It’s only February, but spring break is almost here. As a parent, I know how excited my kids get about this week-long break. Waiting until the last minute can be expensive, but over the years, I’ve found a few ways to keep costs down. STAYCATION: The simplest way to save money is by not traveling…
Selling your home can be tough, sometimes taking weeks, months, or even longer, depending on the housing market. The more time your house spends on the market, the more likely you’ll feel pressured to lower the price. However, small details often make a big difference. If your home is empty or needs a bit of…
There’s no simple solution to protecting your home, and many companies claiming to offer loan modifications and foreclosure prevention have turned out to be scams. Lots of struggling homeowners have been tricked and ended up losing money that could have saved their homes. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is trying to fight these fraudulent companies,…
Union Bank, one of California’s top four banks with over $60 billion in deposits, is introducing a new checking account service called ‘Banking By Design.’ Although Union Bank operates branches in California, Oregon, and Washington, this new feature is currently only available to California residents. The user-friendly online platform allows potential customers to select various…
Choosing whether to rent or buy a home is a hot topic in personal finance. Many people struggle with deciding which option is better financially. If you’re renting now and thinking about buying a home, it’s important to take an unbiased look at your own situation because this decision depends a lot on your unique…
With rent prices constantly going up, fewer people are able to make the jump from renting to owning homes. More and more renters are finding that a big chunk of their income is going towards rent, which makes it tough to save money for a future down payment. Zillow’s latest report shows that less renters…
In my last discussion, I talked about the importance of setting up separate emergency and retirement savings accounts. You might be wondering why it’s necessary to have so many different accounts. The answer is simple: having specific accounts for different goals helps you manage and track your savings more effectively. For example, if you pull…
Getting a pet can be a wonderful experience, bringing lots of love and companionship into your life. But it’s also important to remember that having a pet can be quite a financial commitment. When you decide to adopt or buy a pet, the initial cost can be anywhere from $100 to $900, and the expenses…
A Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC, is a type of loan that homeowners can get by using the equity in their homes as collateral. It acts like a second mortgage, with the primary mortgage being the first claim on the property. This brings us to the question: which is better for you, a…
Buying your first home can be both exciting and intimidating due to the significance of such a big decision. It can feel overwhelming, but with some guidance, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Thinking Long Term When buying your first home, it’s important to focus on your long-term goals. In today’s housing market, moving frequently…