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These are the 15 best spring break destinations to visit this year
Frugal living tips with a big impact
These practical ideas to save money on everyday expenses can really add up.
The post Frugal living tips with a big impact appeared first on Discover Bank – Banking Topics Blog.
Is your home a better investment than the stock market?
I’ll admit it: There are times that I think everything that needs to be said about personal finance has been said already, that all of the information is out there just waiting for people to find it. The problem is solved.
Perhaps this is technically true, but now and then — as this morning — I’m reminded that teaching people about money is a never-ending process. There aren’t a lot of new topics to write about, that’s true (this is something that even famous professional financial journalists grouse about in private), but there are tons of new people to reach, people who have never been exposed to these ideas. And, more importantly, there’s a constant stream of new misinformation polluting the pool of smart advice. (Sometimes this misinformation is well-meaning; sometimes it’s not.)
Here’s an example. This morning, I read a piece at Slate by Felix Salmon called “The Millionaire’s Mortgage”. Salmon’s argument is simple: “Paying off your house is saving for retirement.”
Now, I don’t necessarily disagree with this basic premise. I too believe that money you pay toward your mortgage principle is, in effect, money you’ve saved, just as if you’d put it in the bank or invested in a mutual fund. Many financial advisers say the same thing: Money you put toward debt reduction is the same as money you’ve invested. (Obviously, they’re not exactly the same but they’re close enough.)
So, yes, paying off your home is saving for retirement. Or, more precisely, it’s building your net worth.
But aside from a sound basic premise, the rest of Salmon’s article boils down to bullshit.
Sebastian County, Arkansas VA Home Loan Information
Table of Contents What is the VA Loan Limit? How to Apply for a VA Home Loan? What is the Median Home Price? What are the VA Appraisal Fees? Do I need Flood Insurance? How do I learn about Property Taxes? What is the Population? What are the major cities? About Sebastian County Veteran Information […]
The post Sebastian County, Arkansas VA Home Loan Information appeared first on VA Home Loan Centers.
Two months with HelloFresh: A quick look at the cost and quality of HelloFresh recipes
When I published my first HelloFresh review last June, I liked the popular meal-delivery service. Kim’s employer had given us a one-week free trial. The three recipes we received were fun and tasty. In the end, we chose not to sign up with HelloFresh but resolved to remember it for the future.
At the end of 2018, as I was evaluating my spending patterns, I was shocked by how much I was spending on food. It’s embarrassing to show the following numbers, but facts are facts and truth is truth. I was spending over $1100 per month on food.
“Something needs to change,” I told Kim. “Maybe we should try HelloFresh again to see if it can help us cut costs.”
“Do you think so?” Kim siad. “Isn’t HelloFresh kind of expensive?”
“It’s not that bad,” I said. “Besides, if having meals delivered can keep us from dining out so often, and if it can keep me from splurging at the grocery store, it might actually save us money.”
I signed us up.
For two months — January and February — we received three HelloFresh recipes each week. Based on our experience, here’s a new, revised review of HelloFresh.
Who pays for closing costs in a cash sale?
So youâre paying for your new property in cash. Congrats! Making a home purchase with cash can give you a lot of power at the negotiating table. But at the same time, it can also leave you stuck wondering whoâs paying for the closing costs. To make sure youâre fully prepared, read on for our… View Article
The post Who pays for closing costs in a cash sale? first appeared on Total Mortgage.
How to Manage Student Loan Debt During COVID-19
The government announced new, short term but open-ended policies for federal student loan holders. Here’s what you need to know to manage student loan debt.
The post How to Manage Student Loan Debt During COVID-19 appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Ginnie Mae will shorten repooling times for RPLs next month
Next month, Ginnie Mae will follow through with a plan announced last year to reduce the 180-day waiting period for returning reperforming loans to mortgage-backed securities pools. Alanna McCargo, president of the housing agency, had promised that the change to the pandemic era policy would be put in place during the first quarter of this … [Read more…]
Lower mortgage rates stabilize the housing market
Bond yields and mortgage rates have been falling since weaker inflation data was released, which is stabilizing the housing market. We’re on the verge of rates dropping below 6%.