Ten Tips to Home Refinancing! The bad news is that we are currently living through a frightening economy. The good news is that mortgage rates have never been this low in the last half of a century. The mortgage process, for buyers as well as home owners is a challenge at best but if you are prepared you can save money AND get through the process with your sanity in tact! Why should you refinance? There are costs involved with the process, but if you … [Read more...]
Raise Your Credit Scores Yourself!
August 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Take Charge of Your Credit Score! "If you don't keep track of your own credit score - someone else might!" - Jan Leasure Dear $uper $aver: I have been fretting over my credit for more than two years! My husband and I are trying to purchase the home we are living in. Our problem is that our credit scores are a disaster. We were trying to meet a deadline for a home purchase . When the deadline was extended because the contract was for a short … [Read more...]
Budget CSI – Average Grocery Spending
June 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Dear $uper $aver: How much does the average family spend on groceries in a year? We are a family of five and we eat pretty well. I cut corners everywhere I can but honestly, I cannot get our expenditures down under $125 a week unless I skimp on things like milk and meat. I use coupons and watch what I buy. I work full time so I don't have time for a time consuming program--time is money. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Sincerely, Cathy (name withheld) Appleton, WI Dear … [Read more...]
Beware of Check Scams!
June 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Protect Yourself Against Fraud! "All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it." - H.L. Menken As the economy dips and unemployment rises so does fraud. Check scams of all sorts are popping up with more frequency than Orville Redenbacher. The most insidious thing about a check scam isn't that it happens or that it happens to you. The worst part is that it is like a domino effect. A check scam can become complicated and puts you in a … [Read more...]
Identity Theft Protection – What You Should Know
June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
By: Jan Leasure, Super Saver So $uper $avers, did I tell you that I was the victim of identify theft last year? When I got a call in my office (Chicago) that asked ME if I was getting on a plane to Buenos Aires using MY Amex card? Well, I will elaborate later, but NO ONE is exepmt from this so take this to heart: It may seem like everything is conducted on the internet these days. From watching movies to shopping for new shoes, if you’ve got a computer with an internet connection, … [Read more...]
Insurance; Can You Get it for Less?
May 19, 2011 By 1 Comment
Are You Covered? "Fun is like life insurance, the older you get, the more it costs!" - Unknown Accident in your home? Are you covered? Ten years ago my mother fell down a small flight of stairs in my home and broke her hip. There started a never ending nightmare of personal and financial calamity that ended with my mother being wheelchair-bound, needing round the clock care. Being an only child this disaster hit me with the full force of personal and financial responsibility for my … [Read more...]
How to Tame Killer Credit Cards
May 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Credit Card Chaos - The Result of Believing in Zero Interest! "The only reason I made a commercial for American Express was to pay for my American Express Bill!" - Peter Ustinov When I first saw the quote above by Peter Ustinov (The English Actor, 1921-2004) I started to chuckle, until I realized that he probably wasn't kidding. Our love/hate relationship with credit cards (love the convenience, available credit, promises of zero percent balance transfers - hate the fees, surprise rate … [Read more...]
How to Appeal Property Taxes!
April 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Property Taxes; An Appealing Subject "If you drive a car - I'll tax the street, If you try to sit - I'll tax your seat If you get too cold - I'll tax the heat, If you take a walk - I'll tax your feet" - Tax Man, The Beatles Dear Jan: I don't know if you can help me with this issue but I think that I am in the same position that a lot of new homeowners are. I purchased a home in San Diego, CA earlier in the year. The property (some time ago) was worth $600,000. I got the home for an … [Read more...]
Buying a Home in Foreclosure
April 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Property Taxes & Buying a Foreclosed Property - Buyer Beware! By: Jan Leasure, Super Saver "A house is made with walls and beams, a home is made with love and dreams." - Author unknown Two weeks ago I was shopping at the Chico's outlet and purchased a $109 blouse for $9! I used to think that was a great bargain until I realized that home buyers are now thinking in terms of "bargains" when they purchase a home that was in foreclosure. I want to preface this column by reminding … [Read more...]
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