Ben Edwards's Blog: Money Smart Life, page 27
June 17, 2013
Credit Card Debt Lessons Learned
Considering the debt I am slowly paying off, I am probably the last person that should be giving advice on how to spend money. But, since approximately 60% of Americans are in debt, I’m definitely not alone. Hopefully what I’ve learned may help you before you find yourself digging out of a financial hole one teaspoon at a time.
1. Have only one credit card – for emergencies only.
Yes. Like many people I have substantial credit card debt. As a single parent going to college, the credit cards cam...
June 14, 2013
Five Free Financial Apps for Your Investment Portfolio
It has been said time and again, how everything is at the tip of your fingers. There is an app for just about anything these days. This includes your investments. You have more options now with your smartphone than were available on any platform just a few short years ago. Get quotes, analysis, breaking news, place trades, and more, all with a few swipes of the finger. For those adept enough to navigate the swirling waters of these volatile markets, there are some great resources out there.
He...
June 13, 2013
Best Credit Cards for Parents of Young Kids
Having young children is an enjoyable, challenging, and expensive time of life. If you are going to be spending so much money, why not try to get cash back, points, or other credit card perks? If used wisely, credit cards can save you a ton of money by generating extensive rewards on your normal everyday spending.
That is, if you have the right credit cards.
Best Credit Card Tips for Parents with Young Kids
Before you run off to apply to every credit card company under the sun, you need to know...
June 12, 2013
Top 10 Books for the Unemployed
Few of us like the idea of being unemployed. Looking for work is difficult and demoralizing. However, it can also open up new avenues. Many people use their time without a job to improve themselves and look for new opportunities.
If you are looking for inspiration, or just looking for helpful hints, here are 10 books that you can read while you are unemployed to help you boost your efforts to improve your life – and maybe even find another job!
Read through these books as quickly as possible to...
June 11, 2013
How to Find a Job (and Enhance Your Career) Through Social Media
We mostly think of social media as being a playground for teenagers, college students, and young adults. But it can be a lot more than that, particularly as it relates to your career.
Social media provides a quick and fairly easy way to get connected with people who you might not ever meet in your everyday life. That gives you an opportunity to get to know other people in your industry or career field – including some of the major players – and that has serious implications when it comes to fi...
June 10, 2013
5 Tips for More Effective Business Networking
These days, who you know matters. Whether you are a business owner looking for a partnership or some other deal, or whether you are trying to advance up the corporate ladder, a good network can help. Even if you are unemployed, the right approach networking can help you find a job.
If you want to boost your networking efforts, here are some tips that can help you improve your chances of seeing the outcome you want:
1. Figure Out What You Want to Accomplish
You are always more effective at anythi...
June 7, 2013
5 Websites that Help Homebuyers
With the power of technology getting faster and smaller, every industry has had significant changes. The real estate business is no exception. According to a recent survey completed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Google, real estate related searches on Google have grown 253% over the past four years.
These searches have helped potential homebuyers find real estate agents, research specific communities, take virtual tours of homes and learn about rates and other options as we...
June 6, 2013
Student Loan Options – Comparing Types of Student Loans
The cost of college tuition and living expenses like room and board continues to rise. The increasing costs of college do not appear to be slowing down any time soon. Over the last 10 years private non-profit college tuition has increased 65% while their public school counterparts increased 104%. Last year alone public school tuition, on average, increased 4.8%.
All of this leads to a larger percentage of students needing significant student loans to get through college. There are a wide array...
June 5, 2013
How to Figure Rate of Return on Investments
We don’t invest money in our retirement accounts just to see what happens. We all want high returns, positive growth, and a big pile of cash to retire on. Investing your funds through automatic investments is a great way to start, but at some point you have to do some math to figure out if you are earning a return or not.
This is surprisingly difficult.
Brokerage firms and mutual fund companies don’t want to make it easy for you to calculate your personal rate of return on an investment. Why? B...
June 4, 2013
Top 3 Tools to Ace the Job Interview and Get Hired
One of the toughest parts of the job search process is the interview. You will sit down, face to face with someone who is evaluating you, and hope to stand out.
The interview is especially intimidating because you don’t know what you are up against. You won’t see how others perform; you only have your own experience to go on. Before you go in for an interview, it’s vital that you get ready.
You can boost your advantage in a job interview with the help of the following tools:
1. LinkedIn
Before yo...
