Personal finance is all about making choices. There are, of course, right choices and wrong choices. Sometimes, of course, right verses wrong is dependent on the particulars of the situation. More often than not; however, when it comes to personal finance, some choices are more likely to be wrong than they are right as it is noted in this article.
Ask your accountant or other tax professional about deductions and tax credits you qualify for when doing remodeling on your home. Some things might bright you a bigger return while others won’t yield you any tax savings at all. Sometimes something as simple as the appliances you choose, can get you another tax credit.
Banks offer two different types of loans: fixed and variable interest rate loans. Try to avoid variable interest rate loans at any cost as they can turn into a disaster. Fixed rate loans will have the same interest rate throughout the loan’s life. The interest rate of the variable rate loans and their monthly payments change either by following the fluctuations of the market or the contract between the bank and the borrower. The monthly payment can easily reach a level the borrower can’t afford.
When trading your pairs, do yourself a favor and only trade one or two currency pairs. The more you have, the harder it is to keep up with all the times that you should trade them. By focusing on just a couple, you can effectively become aware of their trends and when to make a trade to make a profit.
Have a plan for dealing with collection agencies and follow it. Do not engage in a war of words with a collection agent. Simply ask them to send you written information regarding your bill and you will research it and get back to them. Research the statue of limitations in your state for collections. You may be getting pushed to pay something you are no longer liable for.
Never use a credit card for cash advances. The interest rate on a cash advance can be almost double the interest rate on a purchase. The interest on cash advances is also calculated from the moment you withdrawal the cash, so you will still be charged some interest even if you pay off your credit card in full at the end of the month.
A student should always consider every option before taking out a student loan. Grants, scholarships, and savings funds can be great ways to pay for college. Student loans will saddle you with debt and can lead to a shaky financial future, should you default. Plan ahead and pay for college wisely.
If you need more income, start your own business. It can be small and on the side. Do what you do well at work, but for other people or business. If you can type, offer to do administrative work for small home offices, if you are good at customer service, consider being an online or over the phone customer service rep. You can make good money in your spare time, and boost your savings account and monthly budget.
If you live near a group of employees that you work with, form a carpool. This will allow you to save money on gas, reducing one of your expenses dramatically over the year. Carpooling is not only fun, but a great way to implement as a money management tool for the year’s expenses.
Although one would never expect it, money can be made from spiders. Not just any spiders, but select tarantulas that are in high demand in the pet trade, can yield great benefits to one’s personal finances, if one chooses to breed them. If a person has an interest in spiders, they can use it to their gain.
Ordering items that are in limited edition productions or getting the items pre-ordered before everyone else can get it in stores will often allow one to resell it for a higher price than they initially paid. This difference in prices translates into a gain for ones personal finances for a quick resale.
Avoid ATM fees by using the ATM of your bank. Financial institutions have heavy monthly and per-transaction fees if you use other ATMs, and those can build up fast.
Use cheap sponges to make your own disposable paintbrushes. You can buy these sponges a dozen or more at a time at the dollar store. Cut them to the size you need and clip them to a spring-loaded clothes pin. You’ll have a perfectly functioning paintbrush that cost only a few pennies to make!
Determining what is right and what is wrong is, in most cases at least, an intuitive process. This is even true in regards to personal finances. Most of us know when we are wasting money. It is sometimes a bit harder to understand when we are wisely investing it. However, we can attain that understanding using the tips noted above.
