Ben Edwards's Blog: Money Smart Life, page 30

5 Ways to Save on Air Conditioning Costs this Summer

One of the biggest contributors to high electric bills is summer air-conditioning. That should make finding ways to lower your air-conditioning usage a necessity. There are ways you can do this without investing a lot of time or spending a lot of money.

1. Make your home as airtight as possible.

Most of us are well acquainted with the idea of weatherproofing our house for the winter, but it often seems to be less important in dealing with the summer heat. But just as cold air flowing into your...

How Debt Can Hurt and Help Your Career

When we think of the harm that debt can do, we often just think about the way it can lead to higher loan costs – or the risk of being turned down for a loan.

However, debt can also have an impact on your career. Depending on the job you want, and the situation you’re in, debt can be a real hindrance. In other cases, though, a little debt can make sense.

Employers Checking Your Credit

It’s becoming increasingly common for some employers to check your credit as part of the screening process. Techn...

How to Save Money on Prescription Drugs

We all have a healthcare cost “war story” to tell – usually several – but one area of rising concern is prescription drugs. We seem to be more dependent upon prescription drug therapies than ever before, and many people are on more than one. But like all things related to health care, prescription drug prices are rising rapidly.

There are a few ways to fight back at the high cost of prescriptions, and you may find that one or a combination of several of the strategies below will save you a sub...

5 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

Next to achieving a fully funded self-directed retirement account, paying off your mortgage early is probably the Holy Grail of personal finance success. As well it should be – once you’ve paid off your mortgage, your monthly living expenses take a dramatic drop. That opens up the opportunity to save even more money than you ever have in the past.

Since paying off your mortgage early is so desirable, what are some ways to do it without having to completely rearrange your finances?

1. Refinance...

3 Ways to Backup Your iPhone or Android

I just bought my first iPhone, and I’m already enjoying the features associated with it. I’ve already moved a decent chunk of my life to the iPhone. As a result, I would be rather put out if my device were lost, stolen, or damaged.

Your iPhone or Android device likely has photos, apps, and other information that you don’t want to lose. Just as you (hopefully) backup your computer, you need to backup your phone. Here are some ways to backup your iPhone or Android device:

1. The Cloud

One way to e...

3 Home Energy Scams to Avoid

With summer coming up, consumers once again want to figure out how to save more money on their home energy costs. Indeed, saving money on home energy becomes more important during winter and summer, when more extreme temperatures demand more from air conditioners and furnaces.

Looking for ways to cut your costs is smart, but you need to be careful. There are plenty of products and services out there that claim to help you save money on your home energy costs. You need to make sure you know the...

How and Why I Became a Landlord

I am a risk adverse person by nature, so becoming a landlord is not a natural thing for me. But here I am, a landlord with two rental properties, and looking forward to more. This article is my story about how I became a landlord and why I did it.

I have always had a mixed feeling about becoming a landlord. I hear too many horror stories about bad tenants that you can’t evict, midnight calls, maintenance problems, and much more. On the other hand, I don’t personally know anyone that does any o...

7 Ways to Save Money on Jewelry

There’s something about having a little bling that can make anyone feel a little bit better. While I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, I do like to have a few items (in addition to my wedding band) that I enjoy – and that I can wear for special occasions.

Buying jewelry, though, can be expensive. If you want to save money on jewelry, here are some cost-saving techniques:

1. Avoid the chain stores.

That jewelry store in the mall? The galleria on the corner? It’s going to have a huge markup. I know som...

5 Ways to Lower Your Investing Costs

Not too long ago, investing was seen as something expensive . . . something that only the rich could do. Now, though, that’s changed. Investing is something almost anyone can do.

However, investing can still get expensive. If you pay relatively high investing costs, usually due to fees, commissions, expense ratios, and taxes, you could see lower overall returns.

If you want to make the most of your investing dollar, here are some ways to lower your investing costs:

1. Know what you’re paying.

The...

Jemstep Review: A Free Way to Monitor and Improve Your Portfolio

Feeling unsure about whether or not you’re saving enough for retirement? Feeling unsure about whether or not the money that you have saved is being invested in the right way?

Saving for retirement can be a daunting process. Essentially, you need to invest enough money to support yourself for the rest of your life. Plus, if you feel like you don’t get the same kind of high-caliber advice that wealthy people get, retirement planning can be that much scarier.

Fortunately, there are things you can...