Keep track of your savings accounts with my savings accounts

Low Interest Rate Credit Cards: Start Saving Today

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:03:50 +0000

If you carry an outstanding balance on your credit card, youre not alone. Nearly 70% of Americans keep a balance on one of their credit cards from month to month. And many of these cards have sky-high rates, which add up to hefty amounts in interest expense. By switching to a low interest rate credit card, you can save hundreds of dollars in interest. Starting with great introductory offers, low interest rate credit cards help you get back on track while enjoying the benefits of a credit card.

Introductory Offers

Credit companies continually offer customers incentives to sign up for their cards. This often includes an initial 0% interest rate. Many low interest rate credit cards carry this 0% APR feature. It allows you to begin saving even before the low interest rate kicks in.

The interest-free time is yours to take advantage of. You can make purchases and pay for them over a period of a few months, with no additional cost. If you carry an outstanding balance on a different credit card, you can transfer it to your new one. Then pay off the debt during the 0% APR time period. Before you do so, though, be sure to check that the charge for a balance transfer is reasonable.

Significant Savings

Low interest rate credit cards allow you to save even after the introductory period. Consider the difference between a credit card that charges an interest rate of 9% and one that charges 20%. If you have a 9% rate and carry a balance of $2,000 for an entire year, you will pay $180 in interest. With the higher rate of 20%, the interest expense rises to $400. That comes out to a difference of $220, which is a considerable amount. If you apply this figure to the principal balance, you will be able to pay off the debt much more quickly.

Check the Attached Fees

When looking for a low interest rate credit card, you will want to compare the various offers. In addition to looking at the interest rate, check the fees attached to the card. Some low interest rate credit cards include an annual fee, charges for balance transfers, and other costs. If the interest rate is low but the other fees are high, your overall savings may be reduced. For this reason, it is important to compare the interest rates and the other costs.

Create a Payment Plan

Even with the savings youll receive from a low interest rate credit card, it is wise to make a plan to pay off your balance. A simple way to do this is to check the minimum payment due each month, double that amount, and apply the extra cash toward the principal balance. If the payment due the following month is less, continue to pay the initial amount you chose. This allows you to reduce the outstanding amount in an organized, structured way.

Low interest rate credit cards are an excellent option if you regularly carry a balance. Over time, they can allow you to save a significant amount of money in interest expense. Check out your options online and then apply right away. You can take advantage of low interest rate credit cards immediately and benefits from the savings.

How To Save Money And Get Discount Homeowner’s Insurance

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:11:08 +0000

If you live in Arizona and are looking to insure a home, there are several things you can do to get discounts on your homeowners insurance rate and save a few dollars.

1. First and foremost, make sure that youre shopping your insurance with companies licensed to do business in Arizona. If youre not sure if the company is licensed in the state, stop by the Arizona Department of Insurance website which contains a listing of all companies licensed in the state.

2. Bundle Your Coverages: Insurance companies like to write more than one line of your coverage. By placing more than one of your policies with an insurance company, you will receive a discount. The discount varies from company to company, so make sure to ask about it when shopping.

3. Quit Smoking: Insurance companies prefer non-smokers.

4. Protect Your Pool If you have a pool, make sure it is not easily accessible to a child who may inadvertently wander into your yard. If youre thinking of installing a pool, check with your insurance carrier first. Many companies do not like in ground pools with diving boards and may refuse to provide coverage. Those who are willing to provide coverage will charge a higher premium.

5. Deductibles: Get alternative quotes for different deductibles. The higher the deductible, the more of a savings in premium. Make sure that the premium savings is worth the increase deductible outlay.

6. What type of dog do you have?: Although you feel your pooch is a sweet family pet that wouldnt hurt a fly, insurance companies feel differently. They may charge more if you have certain breeds of dog. The breeds are usually larger dogs that carry a reputation, no matter how unwarranted the reputation is. Your sweet loveable Rottweiler may be the cause of an increase in your homeowners insurance rate.

7. Shop: Always shop around and get more than one insurance quote.

How To Save Money And Get Discount Homeowner Insurance In

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 09:05:29 +0000

How To Save Money And Get Discount Homeowner Insurance In Wisconsin

As a Wisconsin property owner, you may feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to learning how to save money and get discount homeowner insurance in Wisconsin. Thats perfectly understandable, give the number of companies, policies, and ways to shop for residential real estate property protection. However, you shouldnt let that overwhelming feeling keep you from finding affordable property coverage. In WI, you can apply for free online homeowner insurance quotes.

When you shop online for inexpensive home coverage, youre able to compare the various policies multiple real estate insurers offer. This means you dont have to make several appointments with numerous insurance agents. As a matter of fact, it means you dont even have to leave your home. Just apply for free online homeowner insurance quotes and browse the results. Its that simple. Your personal information, such as specifics about you and your home, are matched up with multiple companies and policies. In other words, online homeowner insurance quotes cut out the fat for you. Once you choose a few policies that meet your budget limitations, you can then contact an agent for even further personalized rates.

Some websites even provide you with tips to save money on homeowner insurance. In Wisconsin, many homeowners dont realize simple home repairs and upgrades can increase their chances of obtaining discounts for real estate property coverage. For example, when you safeguard your home against fire and theft, such as installing deadbolt locks, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers, you can usually score more affordable property coverage in WI. The same is true for repairing or replacing your roof as well as putting in sturdier, more resistant windows and upgraded electrical and plumbing systems.

EZQuoteGuide.com not only provides you with free online homeowner insurance quotes, but they also offer tons of additional information to help you save money on homeowner insurance quotes in Wisconsin. So what are you waiting for? Money-saving opportunities are just a click away!

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:10:58 +0000

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In Wisconsin

By now you know the easiest way to save money and get discount health insurance in Wisconsin is to purchase a group health insurance policy. In Wisconsin, the most straightforward way to get group medical coverage is through employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Not only does this way help you save money on health care coverage in Wisconsin, but it also makes the shopping process relatively painless.

However, not all Wisconsin residents will be able to obtain affordable medical coverage in WI through employers. There are various reasons for these kinds of situations. Perhaps your employer doesnt offer health care plans for employees. Or, maybe your job does offer medical benefits but you work part-time and dont qualify. You may even be unemployed right now with no employer to turn to.

If you fall into any of the above categories, rest assured that its still possible for you to find an inexpensive group health insurance policy. Your employer isnt your only option; there are other ways to obtain group plans and save money on health care coverage in Wisconsin.

First, contact your labor union. Many times these organizations offer group medical coverage, and if they dont, theyll probably point you in the right direction to find alternative ways to obtain Wisconsin discount insurance. Theyre there to help you, after all. Your employer can provide contact information.

If you dont belong to a labor union, find a professional organization designed to assist people who work in your field. Most professional organizations offer some sort of medical plan as member benefits. They may even have a designated website, or link to a website, that provides free online health insurance quotes.

Finally, check with any other clubs or associations to which you belong. These organizations include credit card companies, college and university alumni associations, and national fraternities and sororities.

For free online health insurance quotes and help finding affordable medical coverage in WI, shop with http://EZQuoteGuide.com.

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:02:06 +0000

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In Washington

When a Washington state resident is shopping for health insurance there are a few things they need to keep in mind. In Washington the majority of people who apply for individual health care should be aware that they will need to complete a questionnaire. This is required in order to determine if they are eligible for coverage through WSHIP which is the Washington State Health Insurance Pool.

Beyond that the decision of which company to go with lies solely with the person seeking the insurance. To save money they may want to consider utilizing one of these methods:

Buying a health insurance plan with a high deductible can yield a savings in monthly or yearly premiums.

Purchasing a health insurance policy that has a cap on coverage can save money. This means that once the person reaches their limit on expenses, in their lifetime, the plan will not cover any additional health related expenses.

If you rarely use prescription medications, consider buying coverage that doesnt include this as a benefit. This can really lower the cost of the policys premiums.

International coverage may be part of your health insurance plan. Inquire about having that benefit removed if you rarely travel.

Taking out a policy while you are young, and in great health, can ensure lower premiums in the future.

The most important thing to bear in mind when you are shopping for individual health care is not to rush into anything. Its imperative that you carefully consider the coverage you need and then seek out a policy that offers that at an affordable price. Paying for extras or taking the first plan offered will likely result in a much higher cost than is necessary. This is one area where almost everyone can afford to take their time so they make the wisest financial decision possible.

7 Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account Plans

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:10:26 +0000

7 Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account Plans

Health savings accounts (HSAs) are wildly popular. Since their introduction in 2004, approximately 2.5 million Americans have enrolled in these so-called consumer-driven health plans. But, alas, HSA plans are not for everyone.
Here are some pointers to help you consider whether an HSA will benefit you and your family.

1. An HSA plan can cut healthcare costs by an average of 40% for many people.
Nevertheless, some people will not realize any net savings. Those most likely to realize significant savings are people who pay all of their own health insurance premiums, such as the self-employed, who are relatively healthy with few medical expenses.

2. health savings plan restores freedom of choice.
An HSA plan puts individual consumers back in control of their own health care. This also means that each individual must be more responsible for his or her own health care decisions. This approach of self-reliance is not always popular with or appropriate for everyone, especially those who have become comfortable with HMO-type “co-pay” plans.

3. Health savings accounts reduce income taxes.
Every dollar contributed into your HSA account is deducted from your taxable income in the same manner as contributions into a traditional IRA account–regardless of whether you spend it or just save it. Interest and investment earnings in a HSA accumulate tax-deferred, just like a traditional IRA. Unlike an IRA, withdrawals are tax-FREE when used to pay qualifying medical expenses. In many situations, new account holders are able to almost fully fund their HSA with money saved on premiums from a prior, higher priced plan. By stashing all or most of those savings into an HSA, the account holder realizes instant, additional savings in the form of reduced taxes.

4. You must have a properly qualified high health insurance policy in place first before
you can open a health savings account. One of the biggest misconceptions about HSA plans is that any insurance policy with a high deductible will qualify the policyholder to establish an HSA account. IRS regulations, however, are quite specific. Not just any policy with a so-called “high deductible” will suffice. It is important to be certain that you are insured under a properly qualified policy. Your best bet is to work with a qualified and duly licensed health insurance broker who is experienced in marketing properly qualified HSA plans.

5. You must be insurable in order to qualify for the HSA-qualified health insurance policy.
Because most people do not have a properly qualified high deductible insurance policy, they will need to switch insurance plans in order to become HSA-eligible. Unless coverage is being offered under small group reform laws (generally groups with 2-49 employees), the new high deductible policy will be individually underwritten by an insurance company. This means that some “pre-existing” conditions may not be fully covered. Alternatively, some companies may opt to cover certain “pre-existing” conditions in exchange for slightly higher premiums. Unfortunately, some health conditions simply render an individual uninsurable (examples: diabetes, chron’s disease, heart attack, etc.). Underwriting requirements vary by state, which is another reason to rely on an experienced health plan broker.
You should not switch to a HSA plan when the management of existing medical expenses is more important than saving up-front medical insurance premiums. Do not change health plans: in the middle of ongoing medical treatments; after a major health issue has been diagnosed; or if any family member is pregnant.
Generally, it is relatively hassle-free to qualify, i.e. no medical exams, etc. Most insurance companies offering HSA coverage will issue based on your application answers, perhaps accompanied by a follow-up telephone interview. In some cases, medical records may be requested, and companies always reserve the right to order a paramed exam.

6. Although HSA insurance premiums are low, they are not always as low as you might expect.
This happens for one main reason. Simply stated, the underlying insurance policy is just thata health insurance policy. Although it has a “high” deductible, as required by law, the insurance company still must compensate for the risk it is assuming over the deductible amount, which it does by charging premiums. Many companies offer policies with one deductible that all family members contribute toward. With those plans, it is not uncommon for premiums for a 5000 family deductible with 100% coverage after the deductible to be comparable to a 2500 “per person” deductible plan with 80/20 coverage after the deductible.
Lower premiums represent just one element of the lower net cost achieved with an HSA plan. The low net cost of an HSA plan is achieved after factoring in the benefits of lower taxes, made possible by the tax-deductible contribution to the HSA account. Thus, if obtaining the lowest possible gross premium is your main concern, you may wish to consider a high deductible, non-HSA policy, especially if you do not see the benefit to contributing to a tax-deductible savings account.

7. An HSA offers your best chance to keep a lid on health insurance rate increases.
Make no mistake-you will have rate increases with your HSA insurance policy. Because an HSA qualified policy is still a health insurance policy at heart, there is no logical reason to presuppose that an HSA policy would be immune to rate increases required by an insurer to keep paying claims and stay in business. But what you can expect is that the actual dollar amount of any future rate increases will be substantially lower compared to traditional health insurance plans (regular PPO and HMO plans). This is true because insurers base increases on percentages, and the same percentage of a lower base premium results in a lower dollar increase. It’s not a perfect solution-but it is the most cost-efficient solution for many qualified people.

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:21:37 +0000

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has made it easy for you to save money and get discount health insurance. In Tennessee, there are eight basic kinds of health coverage:

1. Major medical: Covers most health care services

2. Short term major medical: Covers everything included with major medical except pre-existing health conditions; short term major medical usually lasts for six months

3. Hospital and Surgical: Covers inpatient and some outpatient hospital and surgical care; doesnt include prescription medication coverage

4. Hospital indemnity: Covers a predetermined amount of the daily cost of a hospital stay

5. Hospital, medical, and surgical indemnity: Offers a mixture of what hospital and surgical indemnity policies cover; doesnt cover major medical emergencies

6. Cancer, heart attack, and stroke: Covers only those three conditions and shouldnt be used as your only medical policy

7. Accident: Covers accidental injuries and shouldnt be used as your only health insurance policy

8. Supplement: Supplement policies act to cover everything that isnt covered by your major medical or hospital coverage, as well as Medicare

How does having this information benefit you? Well, its much easier to obtain Tennessee affordable health insurance premiums if you first know what kind of policy you need. For example, if youve just lost your medical benefits due to being laid off from work, you might want to search for cheap health insurance quotes in Tennessee for short term major medical policies. If you cant yet afford a major medical plan but want protection against the unexpected, you may want to try to save money and get discount health insurance in Tennessee for accident coverage.

In Tennessee, affordable health insurance premiums are just around the corner when you already know what medical coverage you want. Armed with this knowledge, you can begin your search for cheap health insurance quotes in Tennessee with a clear picture of what you want, and what youre willing to pay.

Young, Self Employed, No Accounts And No Savings. How

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:20:14 +0000

Young, Self Employed, No Accounts And No Savings. How Did I Get A Mortgage?

I was having considerable problems getting a mortgage to buy my first home about four years ago. If I was to believe everything I had heard, I was the ideal candidate for a mortgage – young, a first-time buyer and with an annual income of about 30k. Easy!

No, not easy, actually. Being young with a leaning towards enjoying myself, I had no savings – nothing to use as a deposit. But what about these 100% mortgages I had been hearing about? Surely I qualified? Oh, there was something else – I was also self employed with no accounts.

Self employed with no accounts and no savings.

Could I get a mortgage? It was virtually impossible. Not a single High Street lender would give me a mortgage. Even my bank who have had my services for ten years turned me down; even though my bank knew exactly how much I earned each year and how much I spent each week; even though my bank knew that making the monthly payments on a repayment mortgage would not be an big problem for me.

Then I heard about Self Certification Mortgages.

What is a Self Certification Mortgage? It’s essentially a mortgage whereby you decide whether or not you are capable of making the repayments. And that is when the penny dropped, because you see the entire process of applying for a mortgage is premised upon an institution (such as your bank) deciding whether or not you are able to make the monthly repayments.

And what is the formula for working this out? Well, if you are employed it is your salary – a bank will lend you, say, 3 or 4 times your annual salary. Normally they will ask you for a small deposit, say 5%, to demonstrate that your intentions are serious.

Obviously, if you are self employed, and particularly with no accounts, you often do not have an annual salary and you are unable to demonstrate regular monthly income. Many self employed people – notably me – live hand-to-mouth, regularly waiting for reluctant clients to settle outstanding invoices. So how can your ability to repay a mortgage be judged? I discovered that self certification was the answer – i.e. YOU. You make a judgement as to whether or not you are borrowing too much money and whether or not you will be able to afford the monthly repayments. After all, if you are bright enough to run your own business, manage your own tax affairs, handle purchasing and invoicing, surely you are bright enough to work out whether you can repay your mortgage!

Think about it – conventional, salary-based mortgages are judged on the basis of what a person has earned in the past, but a person could be made unemployed within hours of securing a mortgage. On the other hand, Self Certification puts the onus on you predicting what you will earn in the future. Sure, you could go out of business, but a salaried person could also lose their job.

So I thought, well this is good, but I bet that a Self Certification Mortgage is the stuff of loan sharks, with huge interest rates, crushing monthly repayments and Guantanemo-style penalties.

But there was something else I discovered about mortgages. Although the High Street is swamped by lenders, there are only actually a very small number of ‘actual’ lenders: the majority are intermediaries acting on their behalf, because the number of mortgage applications is so great that intermediaries are required to perform the process of judging each applicant and assessing risk.

So I discovered that whereas a High Street lender would turn me down, a smaller lender might accept me. But get this: the mortgage that I actually received from the small lender at the end of the day was exactly the same as the mortgage which had been refused me by the High Street lender! Only the forumla for judging my ability to repay the mortgage was different, not the mortgage itself!

So what’s the catch with Self Cerftification? There is always a catch in my experience, and in this instance it was a very big catch. Whereas a regular mortgage requires the borrower to contribute a deposit of, say, 5%, my Self Certification Mortgage required a deposit of 15%. Fifteen percent!! Of course I can see why they ask for this, why if you are not being judged using the conventional formula you are expected to show some serious committment. But I didn’t have any savings. I was young and self employed for crying out loud.

So what did I do? Okay, I would not recommend this to everybody, but I was desperate for my own home and I knew that I could afford the repayments. I took out a Personal Loan shortly before my mortgage application and, supplemented with a timely invoice payment, I was able to pay the deposit and afford the key refurbishment costs on the property (roof, re-wiring, plumbing etc).

On the High Street this would be called a Home Improvement Loan and acquired AFTER you have obtained a mortgage and purchased the property. I simply borrowed a little more in the form of a Personal Loan before I had acquired a mortgage. I was fortunate in that I could afford to carry the costs of these repayments for the forseeable future and I had bought on a rising market – the value of my property was already more than the mortgage and personal loan combined before I had even finished the refurbishment (ie. 4 months after buying the property). I would not recommend this to everyone, and you have to be very, very clear about how much you are borrowing and what the total repayments will be.

However, getting on the property ladder and having my own home was the most important thing to me, and it just goes to show that if you look beyond the High Street you can actually find the same or similar financial products but with less of the hassle. The High Street had always made me feel inadequate, a financial failure

You might be interested to know that, because I was still looking for the catch in my Self Certification Mortgage, I went to a respected, independent financial advisor recently (on the High Street as it happens) and asked if I should change my mortgage to something better. His advice was that I had got a very good mortgage deal and that I should stick with it for the forseeable future. So I have.

Richard

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:36:04 +0000

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In Oregon

Oregon is a great state to live if you are looking for discount health insurance. Even if you have no health insurance, Oregons Prescription Drug Program went into effect at the end of 2006, providing deep discounts on prescription drugs to just about all residents of the state, regardless of income.

According to the Insurance Division of the State of Oregon, 39% of the citizens of Oregon are currently covered by one of the major private health insurers in the state. Many more families are covered by employer-supplied health insurance.

For those seeking discount health insurance in Oregon on their own, here are a few things to keep in mind.

One of the main ways in which people balance the cost of health care is through the raising or lowering of their plans deductible. A deductible is the amount of money you pay out of your own pocket for your health needs before your insurance begins paying. The larger the deductible, the lower the monthly premiums youll have to pay.

One of the best ways to keep health care costs down is to make a list of exactly what you and your family need most from health insurance. Do you need to have routine doctor visits covered? Do you foresee any hospital stays in the coming year? Are prescriptions your main concern? Is there a chronic health need in your family that needs to be addressed? Can you put aside enough cash to cover a larger deductible?

Once you know exactly what your familys primary needs and concerns are, there are several websites which allow for side-by-side comparisons of policy costs based on the criteria which you have determined are most important to you.

By taking the time to make a list of your major insurance needs and then comparing policies online, you and your family should be able to save money and get the discount health insurance that you need and deserve.

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:11:32 +0000

How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In New York

Did you know you could save money and get discount health insurance in New York by choosing to purchase certain kinds of coverage and opting to omit other kinds of protection? You probably did; after all, it only makes sense that paying for a portion of something is cheaper than paying for the entire thing.

However, choosing this method to obtain affordable medical insurance in NY doesnt mean youre selling yourself short in terms of health care protection. By purchasing only certain kinds of coverage, youre not only saving money on health coverage in New York youre also making a much more practical, financial decision.

Get started by analyzing your eye care needs. If you have an eye health condition, you may not want to skimp on vision health insurance. However, even if you wear glasses or contacts, its usually cheaper to pay for your vision tests and glasses and contacts out-of-pocket rather than having insurance take care of the costs. Many people only have eye exams once a year does it make sense to pay additional premiums each month for a service you only use once a year? No. Opting to pay out-of-pocket for eye care helps you get more affordable medical insurance in NY.

Next, save money on health coverage in New York by evaluating your dental care needs. Much like eye care needs, many folks wont use dental insurance more than twice a year. This means its probably much cheaper to pay for dental care out-of-pocket rather than in your insurance premiums.

By now youre probably wondering how youre supposed to make sure you have those out-of-pocket costs when the need arises. Its simple! Open a medical savings account. Many self-employed individuals are familiar with these savings accounts, and traditional employees can benefit from them, too. Theres really no need to look into companies that help set up medical savings accounts for you unless you find one that offers special options. Otherwise, simply open a savings account with a great interest program and start saving!

For more information about discount health insurance in New York as well as applying for your own free online health insurance quote, check out http://www.ezquoteguide.com.

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