The last time we examined a few ways to cut costs during leaner times.  This week we will continue with some additional economical ideas. Pay the mortgage bi-weekly.  If you pay a monthly mortgage, you may be able to reduce the number of payments by checking with your lender to find out if they have [...]

Few people can say we’re not living in uncertain times.  The stock market is erratic, banks seem unstable, jobs are scarce, sure things are not so sure anymore; and, at least for some, the Golden Years are not so golden. What can we do?  Here are some money-saving tips. Downsize.  You have a three-bedroom home [...]

Last week we touched on some basic constructs of annuities; this week we look briefly at annuity income and riders. Annuity income is determined by different factors.  Some contracts are set up to provide retirement income for a specified period, some are constructed to supply retirement income for life, and certain plans even afford income [...]

In today’s volatile climate, investments seem to be wading in uncertain waters.  Even one-time solid choices like blue-chip stocks are swimming in rough seas.  Because of this, investors sometimes examine a myriad of possibilities to secure or help their money grow. So what are annuities?  They are products that take the form of insurance contracts.  [...]

Group coupons seem to be gaining popularity in the discounting market.  We hear about people saving 50% or more on enviable services or products like massages, facials, and designer clothing.  But what are these programs, and how do we access them?  Well, let’s look at a popular group coupon business, Groupon.   Groupon is an [...]

Sometimes our homes can benefit from an update or two.  When this is the case, we are then confronted with the question, “Should I renovate, or should I just let it go for a while?”  Naturally, there is no one size fits all answer.  Yet, there are occasions when sprucing up the surroundings make sense [...]

Mutual funds are collections of capital from different investors with the purpose of realizing growth through investments. Investment areas include money market funds, bonds, stocks, and U.S. government securities.  Skilled professionals, called mutual fund managers, typically select the investments according to their research, area of expertise, and/or level of intended risk. So what are some [...]

A crucial part of retirement is having enough money to live on.  Unfortunately, some individuals do not properly plan and are left wondering how to supplement their income. While few people can say they are guaranteed a favorable monetary future, there are some steps individuals can take, similar to the ones below, that might bolster their positioning. IRA.  An Individual Retirement Account [...]