Taking care of a family is a considerably large financial responsibility. While some people might think that saving money is pretty straightforward, it’s not as easy as you might like to think when you have multiple members in your household.

Statistics show that as many as one out of five families doesn’t have any savings at all. Unfortunately, you put yourself at risk when you don’t save money for emergency situations.

Whether one of the members of your household falls ill, or perhaps your air conditioner breaks down, it’s important that you have an emergency savings account on hand to pay for what it is that you need. In order to effectively save money, you’ll need to make some sacrifices. In addition to sacrifices, it helps to know where you can find better deals. Take a look at some of the most practical tips for saving more money every month.

Start a Budget

One of the first things that you should do when you’re ready to change your money situation is to create a budget. A budget is the best way to assess how much you’re spending and where you’re spending it. Once you know where your money is going, you know where you can make improvements.

Your income should be budgeted so that it first goes to important bills like rent and groceries. After that, you can start spending your money on less necessary items.

Cut Out Unnecessary Subscriptions and Memberships

Most people can admit that they have a few memberships and subscriptions that they don’t use. Even though you might like to believe that one day you’re going to use your gym membership, the truth is that you may not.

It’s important that you are honest with yourself about how much you really use the things you’re paying for. You should make it a rule to get rid of any memberships that you haven’t used for over two months.

Auto-Save

A lot of people don’t save money because they don’t prioritize it. One of the best ways to save money each month is to create an auto savings deposit every paycheck. Your savings account will automatically draw from your checking account without you having to do anything. You won’t have to do anything, and you can let your bank account do the work for you.

Consider Taking Public Transport

One of the biggest expenses most people have every month after rent is gas. Driving to work every day can start to add up over time. One of the best ways to cut this expense down is to consider carpooling with other coworkers or taking public transportation. Not only will you pay less on gas, but in some cases, you’ll actually arrive at work sooner.

Nearly everyone has an idea of what their dream home will be like. They might have made vision boards using magazine cut-outs of penthouses, Gothic mansions, and Swanky Upper East side apartments. Most of these people are actively working towards getting their dream homes.

Purchasing a beautiful home is probably the most expensive and essential part is you can ever make. Therefore, it is vital to make the necessary considerations such as determining the amount of mortgage you can repay, managing your finances, and identifying the desired features of your dream home. Here are essential steps that you must follow to identify and buy the home you crave for.

1. Desired how you are dream home should be like

Unleash the dreamer within you. Think of what your dream home should look like. For instance, decide the number of bedrooms the home should have depending on the size of your family. Do you want a bungalow or an apartment? To get an idea of various homes, check home listings on movoto.com and other online platforms.

2. Create a sound financial plan

Now that you have an idea of your dream home, it’s time to budget and manage your finances well. How much financial resources are you willing to spend on your dream home? Once you have a fixed budget try to stay within your financial limits to avoid future financial struggles. Remember, you will need to finance other aspects of your home, such as maintenance costs, decoration, furniture, and other essentials.

3. Specify the size and location

After deciding the nature and cost of the home you want, it is the time to review the actual facts. Is the size of house enough for your family? Do you intend to get more children? Do you want a property near a school or in a specific neighborhood?

After answering these questions, analyze the available property’s prices. Can you get an affordable property? It is recommended to work with an experienced real estate agent to identify and inspect the available properties.

4. Research for an affordable home loan

One of the most important steps in purchasing a home is to figure out and manage your finances. Spend some time researching various home loans. You may want to seek expert help. Talk to a financial expert or your real estate agent with financial knowledge. Focus on choosing a loan option that’s flexible offers your desired grace period, and saves interest costs.

Calculate the EMI you will be required to pay monthly. Find out if you can continue to make these payments safely without the need for an extra loan or salary increment. Remember, poor financial choices could lead to future financial struggles.

5. Work out the property loan or mortgage details

Keep in mind that property prices rise and fall, depending on the prevailing economic and political issues. Do you intend to sell your home in the future? Do you plan to rent out part of your home to make passive income?

There are many mortgage options available. Each of these options has benefits and limitations. Decide whether you need adjustable rates, fixed interest rates, or interest-only mortgage. Consult with a real estate agent or financial expert to make an informed choice.

6. Get a property warranty

There’s nothing permanent in the world. Tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and natural disasters happen when you least expect them. If your property survives, you will need to do the necessary repairs. Besides, you need to thinks about the future costs associated with plumbing issues, rust, white-washing, and more. If anything happens to your home in the future, you don’t want to empty all your savings to handle the damage.

7. Save enough for a down payment

There are many ways of purchasing a property. However, most people opt to get a loan from a traditional lender or bank. If you are purchasing the home as an owner-occupant, you may want to know some details about the mortgage. For instance, some loans allow home buyers to put 3.5% to 5% down as an owner occupant.

It’s also recommended to save enough cash for the down payment. In most cases, the down payment is approximately 20 per cent of the property price. Failure to have sufficient down payment, there is a good chance you will be forced to get mortgage insurance. This is an extra expense and financial burden you don’t want to undertake. Therefore, it’s upon you to save enough cash.

Before you embark on the process of buying your dream home, it’s recommended to list your requirements for your property, create a plan, budget, and fix a deadline for your property purchase. Remember, how well you prepare for the purchase process will determine whether or not you will buy your dream home.

 

It’s not uncommon for people to find themselves without any money left in their bank account at the end of the month. In some cases, people have to rely on their credit cards too heavily, which then sends them into a further spiral of debt.

There’s nothing worse than looking back at your salary and seeing that you dwindled it away foolishly. In order to take control of your finances and have more money left over at the end of the month, it’s important to reduce your expenses as much as possible.

Here are some of the most practical ways to reduce what you spend each month and put more money into your pocket instead.

 

Lower Your Housing Payment

For most people, your housing payment is the largest expense that they have each month. Therefore, one of the most practical things that you can do to reduce your overall is to lower the amount that you pay for where you live. This can be done in a variety of ways. You may want to consider refinancing your home, downsizing your home, or even looking for a roommate.

By lowering your monthly housing payment by a few hundred dollars each month, you can save a significant amount over the course of a year.

 

Eliminate Unnecessary Subscriptions and Memberships

Nowadays, there are all sorts of subscriptions and memberships that you can become a part of. Whether it’s a streaming service, cosmetics, or even a gym membership, there is no shortage of temptations. If you’re already signed up for a few, it’s important to ask yourself whether you really need them in the long run.

When looking at your banking statement, keep an eye out for memberships that you have a real use for. Be honest with yourself about whether it’s really worth what you’re paying for it.

If it is, then the next step would be trying to see if you can get a cheaper deal elsewhere.

 

Drive Less

Your car expenses can start to add up quickly. All it takes is paying for parking a few times, filling up your gas tank, and paying for your insurance to see hundreds leave your bank account.

The less that you drive your car, the less that you’ll have to spend on it. If you live in the city, you should consider taking public transportation to work when possible. Otherwise, you may want to look into other creative solutions, like carpooling with other employees.

 

Use Rewards Programs

Many stores and even websites offer rewards programs. If there is a store that you repeatedly purchase from that offers a rewards program, then you should jump on it as soon as possible. Each purchase can start to add up and make its way back into your bank account.

The task of building a home is very challenging and also very expensive. Besides having to deal with numerous legal entities, people also might have to seek financing, discuss ideas with architects, negotiate terms with contractors, etc. This is all very time-consuming and that’s an investment you definitely need to make if you want a nice house. However, some of the spending can be severely reduced both short and long-term if you just use some tips and tricks that we’re going to disclose here. Have a look at 6 useful tips to save money in house construction!

No. 1 – Always keep tabs on processes & costs (Excel)

If you have a document where you keep your estimates and real-life expenditures, you can immediately spot the areas where you’re over the budget. Yes, this is slightly time-intensive, but an app like MS Excel will do the math for you while you only need to make the decisions.

No. 2 – Ask architect recommendations for contractors

Architects devise a project for the home. They are usually in good terms with at least some contractors. If you ask an architect or a bureau of architects that created the project for your home, for a recommendation, they can likely get in touch with a particular company or individual contractor to get you a better timeline or a better deal. Besides, this is much quicker than going through the ‘Yellow pages’.

No. 3 – Use more premium materials

Alright, this isn’t going to reduce initial costs of the project, but bear with us, in the long run – you’ll definitely need less frequent repairs and/or renovations.

And we’re also not talking about diamond incrusted steps or a marble statue as decoration, we’re talking about using better pain, higher quality concrete, better wood for the decking, flooring, etc. For example, instead of regular lumber, you could opt for Japanese charred timber. It has a distinct and more premium finish and texture, can be applied both for interior and exterior decoration and has waterproof, pest-proof and fireproof qualities. If you want to know more, hop on to Degmeda.

No. 4 – Keep control of material purchasing

Contractors can bill you endlessly, trust us. However, you can greatly reduce the expenditures by negotiating to buy materials on your own. This way you avoid ‘preference buying’, ‘excess buying’ and all the other stuff which isn’t necessarily bad but does exponentially increase the final cost of the job.

No. 5 – Plan ahead

Before going on a spending spree, make sure you know how much exactly of anything you’re going to need. If you’re in the US, use this calculator to have a rough cost estimate laid out before you.

No. 6 – Make sure that your accommodation is accounted for

You definitely don’t want to move into a house that has no internet wires, thermostats laid out, etc. All accommodating home systems should be installed before you move in, and not afterwards. This is an enormous save.

The Bajaj Finserv EMI Card is a unique payment system that gives you the benefit of purchasing a range of items, such as lifestyle products, home appliances, electronic gadgets and devices, and even make travel bookings to your favourite holiday destinations, on easy, no cost EMIs. You can use the card to purchase items, both online and offline. Online, the EMI card can be used on Bajaj Finserv EMI store as well as other e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, etc. Offline, the card can buy you a variety of products in various Bajaj Finserv partner stores across the country.

Shopping at the various online and offline stores is made easy using a pre-approved loan, flexible payment tenure, affordable downpayment, or in some cases, zero downpayment. While you can purchase as many items you like as long it is within the spending limit of your card, it is wise to be aware about the balance amount on the EMI card. To prevent yourself from overspending, you can keep a track of your Bajaj Finance Card on the Bajaj Finserv card login portal, Experia.

Bajaj Experia Login to Check your Balance and Statement

Experia, by Bajaj Finserv, is the official portal for addressing all kinds of customer needs, including Bajaj Finserv EMI card balance check. What makes this platform so remarkable is that it is extremely user-friendly, starting with the Bajaj Experia login, that gives you the opportunity to track the balance status of your card.

The Bajaj Experia login process is incredibly simple and easy to understand. First, visit the Experia website, which is the Bajaj Finserv customer portal. Here you would need to provide a combination of credentials for successful Bajaj Finserv card login. These include either your customer ID followed by your password, or the phone number/ e-mail ID which is registered with the card and the OTP sent to that mobile number or e-mail ID. Once you are sure about the credentials, click on ‘Next’. However, if you have forgotten or do not have access to your Customer ID, email ID or registered mobile number, you can opt for Bajaj Experia login using your Google or Facebook credentials. Once the Bajaj Finserv card login is complete, click on the section titled ‘My Relationship’. Under this section, navigate to the segment named ‘EMI Network Card’. Here you will be able to view all specific and intricate details linked to your EMI card. These include status, balance, statement, date of expiry and a host of other important pieces of information.

Check and update other things on your Bajaj EMI Card Login portal

While you are checking your balance on the Bajaj EMI card login portal, you can go ahead and do other modifications too in your account. You can view and update the contact details registered with your card. This will save you unnecessary hassles when you opt for OTP. You can also pay any EMI that you might have missed. Part of the EMI can also be paid ahead of time, as well as there is provision for foreclosure payments. In addition, you can also access information from the portal regarding your future payments. To track and manage your financial statements, you can navigate to the ‘Active relations’ tab. For past statements and transactions, you can go to ‘Previous relations’. The Bajaj Experia login portal also gives you a customised list of pre-approved offers and related details to make your purchase experience better.

Do away with maintaining tabs and excel sheets and opt for effortless shopping and tracking with the Bajaj EMI card on the Bajaj Experia login portal!

 

Buying your first family home is an exciting milestone! Creating a home for your family to grow and build memories in is something that many people dream of for years. Finally, making it happen can be a huge accomplishment! However, buying property can be a stressful experience if you’re not sure what you’re doing.

If you don’t play your cards right and have a certain amount of guidance, you could lose a lot of money. Take a look at some of the best tips to help you navigate the process of buying your first family home.

Start Saving Early

Even though you’ll likely be applying for a loan to pay for your family home, you’ll still have to put down a downpayment. As a general rule of thumb, the more money that you put down initially, the fewer costs you’ll pay over time.

Putting down less than twenty percent on the cost of your home will cost you in the long run. Therefore, you should start saving as early as possible. There are all sorts of ways to start saving if you really set your mind to it. From setting up automatic savings deposits to getting a part-time job, there are effective money savings methods out there if you’re motivated.

Don’t Settle For The First Home You Find

If you want to make sure that you find the best home possible for what your particular needs are, you should take your time shopping around. Even though you may be excited and anxious to start settling down as soon as possible, it’s essential to make sure that you’re being selective.

Some houses may seem like a good deal initially, however, a closer look will reveal that you may have been able to find a better deal elsewhere. Don’t just make your decision based on looks or price alone.

You should also take other important factors into consideration, like location and proximity to your work and children’s school.

Don’t Look At Homes Outside Of Your Budget

It may seem harmless to look at properties that may be outside of your price range. However, you’ll find that it’s much more tempting than you might think. When you walk into a home that charms the socks off of you, you’re more likely to try to find a way to squeeze it into your budget.

Going beyond your means could put you and your family into serious financial problems if you experience sudden job loss, or even unexpected medical bills. You should always allow a little wiggle room when you’re putting a mortgage into your monthly spending budget. That way you can avoid falling behind on payments.

 

One in twenty seniors live in retirement communities, and this number is expected to grow as more elderly Americans retire. Why aren’t they more pervasive in American culture? Mostly because it’s a mixed bag of expenses and accommodations.

But if you know what you’re looking for, you’ll have an easier time auditing a retirement community for yourself or a retiree. The best senior living communities all share many of the same qualities. Locating one is worth the hassle, seeing as your living situation is a major contributor to personal satisfaction.

Are you or a loved one retirement ready? Then it’s time to find the right retirement community. Here are seven factors to consider when it’s time to choose.

1. Community Living

One of the most important components of any senior living facility is the people who inhabit it. From employees to retirees, you should fit right in with the facility culture. A retirement community is a home, and it should feel like one, too.

But a community is not composed of people alone. The nearby businesses and accommodations are worth a mention. How well does the surrounding community treat the retirees?

Does the local community offer services you or your retiree enjoys? If they are fond of city life, it’d make sense to choose a retirement community located within a municipal area. Or, better yet, find one located next to a robust metro station that facilitates travel and independence.

2. Recreational Activities

With so much free time available, retirees of all kinds enjoy a litany of community events. Due to preferences and physical ability, make sure you examine the recreational calendar to see if your retiree will enjoy the scheduled activities.

Recreation also plays an important secondary role. Seek a well-rounded calendar stuffed with exercise programs. From low-impact swimming pools to yoga, a regular exercise routine is a key component to physical and mental well-being.

3. Food Quality

On the topic of health and wellness, it’d be impossible to avoid the subject of food. Nutrition is just as important as flavor. While it may seem superficial to worry about meals, your retiree would likely disagree!

Many retirement communities know that meal quality is a prime concern. For that reason, some tours include a small meal to showcase their offerings.

When a personal test isn’t available, there are still some effective ways to see what they’re serving up. The best retirement communities have their own kitchens and private chefs. Cheaper facilities mass-produce low-quality food in the same way a primary school might.

Since food is oftentimes subjective, be sure to bring your retiree along to the complimentary meal to see what they think about it.

4. Medical Assistance

Of all the services available in a retirement community, medical help is the most essential. While the most luxurious facilities have on-site primary care doctors, the vast majority don’t. This means it’s important that high-quality physicians are nearby, or that transportation services can make for convenient trips to the doctor whenever possible.

You’ll want to opt for a facility that has a 24-hour staff as part of a swift response system. This could be the difference between life or death in the case of a medical emergency.

For retirees with high needs and medication requirements, be sure to select a community with qualified on-site nurses. This would be known as an assisted living facility, rather than an independent retirement community.

5. Cost

While we would all love to put our parents in the most luxurious accommodations around, there’s no avoiding the fact that the cost of retirement communities is a serious concern. Unfortunately, retirement communities differ wildly in fees and expenses.

Some may require an entry fee or the purchase of a condo. You may discover later on that the condo won’t sell for the value you personally paid for it. These complicated finance matters can make it difficult to choose a retirement facility of any type.

If you’re worried about your long-term finances or general affordability, take a look at high-quality affordable retirement communities. You’ll save your wallet and sanity in the process.

6. Environment

Florida is a common location for retirement. Why? Because its tropical climate makes life easier for retirees — especially those who are subject to chronic pain.

Consider the local environment and weather factors before making a decision. They’ll have a massive impact on your retiree’s quality of life when winter rolls around. While some may not mind the seasons, others would be happy to enjoy a comfortable 70 degrees all year round.

If you want to stay local, there are still minor differences to consider. Some areas in the same state may experience more snowfall or colder temperatures than others.

7. Amenities

On-site entertainment is always a mixed bag. In general, you’ll want to locate a facility that offers more than your standard rental complex. This may mean an on-site library, swimming pool, or even mini-golf!

Convenience is key. Having essential facilities nearby lessens the need for expensive or complicated transportation methods. In general, you’ll want a salon, restaurant, and laundry service located within walking distance.

Younger retirees without health requirements may also enjoy an on-site gymnasium or bar.

Are You Retirement Ready?

With money and personal satisfaction on the line, don’t take a gamble on a retirement community. Instead, schedule a facility tour. If it doesn’t feel like home, then guess what?

It isn’t.

There’s more to senior living communities when you’re retirement ready. Search our blog for more advice.

When everything is going fine, the last thing on your mind is putting away money for an emergency. When you have a steady paycheck, good health, and a roof over your heads, you don’t have a worry on your mind.

However, life can throw a curveball when you least expect it. You never know when something can go wrong that throws your life for a loop. When you have kids to look after, the stress can be even more devastating. Here are some of the most important reasons why you should always have an emergency fund put aside for your family.

House Repairs

When you own your own home, you no longer have a landlord to call when something goes wrong. It’s up to you if you need your roof repaired or a pipe bursts.

Failing to have money set aside for emergency home repairs can put you at risk for catastrophe. Knowing that you can repair the home that your family lives in if something goes wrong is critical.

Job Loss

Although no one wants to believe that they could lose their cozy paycheck, you’d be surprised how often it happens. The last thing anyone expects is to go from steady earnings to nothing. Yet, many people find themselves suddenly unable to pay their bills or even cover their basic needs.

Financial experts recommend putting away at least three months’ worth of pay in case you suddenly lose your job. That way, you don’t have to rely on credit cards or borrow money from family if you’re in a pinch.

Car Problems

Although you might not want to imagine, your beloved car is capable of breaking down at any moment. The problem with car repairs is that they’re never cheap. Usually, if something goes wrong, you’ll find yourself having to foot a bill of at least several hundred.

There’s nothing that puts a halt to your life more than losing your form of transportation. Unless you have special insurance, you’ll have to find another way to get to work or drive your kids to school. Emergency savings makes it possible to make repairs to your car as quickly as possible so that you don’t have to worry about how you’ll get around.

Medical Emergencies

Even though you may have insurance, that doesn’t mean that everything is covered. Most of the time, you’ll still have to pay a portion out of pocket. Therefore knowing you don’t have to stress about how you’ll pay for your health is important.

Hopefully, by looking at these reasons, you may need to dip into your emergency fund, you can prepare yourself ahead of time before it’s too late. Even though chances aren’t always high that something bad could strike, it’s better to be prepared than unprepared.

 

Cars are expensive, it’s as simple as that. From financing your car, to repairs, it can feel like you are always putting money into your vehicle. But the convenience of being able to jump into your car whenever you want and drive wherever you need to be cannot be beaten.

There are ways to curb the financial drain of owning a car. It does take a little planning and investing in the right tools and technology, but it can help ease the stress of yet another car repair.

Financing Your Vehicle

Your largest cost will be from the vehicle itself. With the proper planning and research you can find your best option for financing. Finding the right financial advisor will not only make purchasing your vehicle a breeze, but will save you a tremendous amount of money in the long run.

“Whether you’re looking for an auto loan for a new or used vehicle, finding a low-interest rate is not something that you’ll want to overlook. The lower the interest rate, the lower your monthly payment, so be sure to take the time to find what will be best for you,” advises Jade Beckman, Vice President of Consumer Loans at Mountain America Credit Union.

Find the Right Insurance

The second-largest cost when owning a vehicle will be your insurance. Always check for discounts on car insurance and check often.

Look into new insurance plans yearly because the insurance market is extremely competitive. You might find a deal this year that wasn’t available before. Be careful to make sure you’re comparing all the options. It’s even a good idea to print out the details of each insurance option and compare them side-by-side. While one insurance may come in cheaper, you might also be sacrificing some benefits.

Save for the Inevitable

You will need to repair your car at some point. Whether it’s regular maintenance or something more serious, the longer you have your car, the more likely you will have to take it into the shop. With some planning you can lessen the pain of having to pay for a car repair. Setting aside a little every month can help you not go into debt or be financially strained when your car is in need of some work.

According to AAA, the average monthly cost for car maintenance is $99. This includes things like tire rotations and oil changes. Setting aside a little more every month, even if you don’t use it, will keep you from going into debt for your vehicle.

Another way to save money is by doing the regularly scheduled maintenance recommended for your vehicle. This will keep your car running at its best, which will also save you money in gas and save you from unexpected trips to the mechanic. A little planning can go a long way in avoiding major issues with your car.

Install Helpful Add-ons

Your car may be equipped with the things you prefer, like a great sound system, but consider some additional add-ons, especially if your car is an older model.

No one wants to pay for cosmetic damage to a car — even worse someone else’s car. So many of us have been there, backing into another car with that sickening crunch that follows will make your heart sink. Even the slightest ding comes with a hefty price tag. The best way to avoid these types of accidents is by investing in a wireless backup camera.

You should also think about dash cams, Bluetooth audio adapters, or parking aids that allow you to park in your garage without having to guess the distance. All of these add-ons can help you keep your car in top shape for longer.

With a little planning, regular maintenance, and some extra tools you can stay safe on the road and keep more money in your wallet.

If you are looking to sell your home and you want to move things along and maximize its value then there are some simple tricks which you can do to speed things up and to get more value out of the property. Having sold 4 homes here in California in the last decade we consider ourselves as the experts in making sure that your property sells and these simple changes will certainly help you to do just that. Let’s get that house sold.

Home Warranty

Home warranty plans offered by the likes of First American Home Warranty are just there to offer you protection of the systems in your home, they can also help you to sell the property. Studies show that you are 16% more likely to sell the home for an average of $2,500 more if you have a home warranty in place. Home warranties can be transferred to the buyer to give them the proaction that they need. When you compare home warranties be sure to focus on the level of protection, the price, customer service and reviews and whether or not it can be transferred easily.

Curb Appeal

The power of a first impression when it comes to selling your home is huge and that is why you have to pay particularly close attention to what is known as the curb appeal, the view of your home when you pull up. Simple changes here make a big difference and investment in a new front door and garage door will pay for themselves when you sell the property. Getting the front garden redone, repainting the home at the front and even replacing the roofing has all been shown to increase the chances of buyers and adding value to the property .

Kitchen Update

You may think that putting a new kitchen in the home will cost you big money but for an investment of $1,500 you can expect to get at least $2,000-$3000 added on to the value of your home, not to mention making your home that bit more appealing to the buyer. Millennials in particular are heavily focused on getting a home which has a kitchen which is ready to use, so this could really boost your chances of nailing that sale.

Plumbing and Electrics

Updating your plumbing and electrical systems may set you back somewhere in the region of $1,000, but doing both could add up to $3,000 on the property of the home. Increasingly buyers are looking to purchase homes which are ready to live in and even if they like a property, the prospect of having to carry out work like this can often put people off. This is a perfect example of how you can make a small investment and see your home sell quicker and for more as a result.

Don’t just put your home on the market as is, invest a little and reap the rewards.