Many U.S. citizens consider living abroad. For some, the declining U.S. economy coupled with salary freezes and price increases on consumer goods spawn the idea. For others, the outrageous cost of health care drives their decision. In many instances, the cost of living abroad is much less expensive than living in the U.S.
The holiday season usually triggers a flurry of activity. Most of us spend a lot of time preparing the home for the coming festivities, all to make these hectic few weeks flow more seamlessly. By the time New Year’s Eve rolls around, a New Year’s resolution is the last obligation we face after a long list of chores and responsibilities. Regardless of whether you believe in such decrees or not, the New Year is the perfect time to put your finances in order. Why not focus on improving the health of your financial situation.
It is that time of year again—time to make your New Year’s resolution for 2013. It seems that as this time of year comes around everyone starts thinking about their physical health. Advertisements for weight loss programs are on every television channel and gym memberships reach an all-time high come January 1st. Well how about instead of setting another resolution to lose that 10 pounds you’ve been holding onto for years you make a resolution that would impact your health in another way—your financial health.
Getting together with friends shouldn’t be expensive, but it often is, especially at New Years when people usually drink a lot, and eat expensive foods. Everyone wants to throw the most awesome party of the season, but no one wants to pay a fortune for it. Not only is extravagance difficult right after Christmas, but most cultures agree that it is very bad luck to waste money on New Year’s.
The headlines are everywhere. The dreaded fiscal cliff… the edge over which our economy is about to fall. Personally, I prefer to think of it as a political game of chicken the GOP can’t afford to lose. So, I’m not going there. I’m not going to tell you how worried you should be, how terrible the consequences may be or what you should do to prepare for it. Instead, I’m going to offer you other perspectives on why the fiscal cliff doesn’t really matter, and I’ll urge you to take action on an issue that really does matter… helping those suffering in Newtown. 
People have three credit scores and a FICO credit score. While the sources and data may vary, all scores use the same scale of measurement. A score of 620 is very poor and may result in being rejected for a loan. A score of 760 or higher is good enough to qualify for the best interest rates. Chances are, your score falls somewhere in between. Part of planning for a major purchase is getting your score as high as you can before applying for credit.
Everyone has been seduced by retail’s charms at some stage of the shopping experience. Shoppers encounter vibrantly decorated stores with music and tempting seasonal foods, gifts and knickknacks strategically placed around the store. Companies have even upped the ante by offering such things as two for one deals, fuel discounts and loyalty shopper programs. But with the rise of the World Wide Web, savvy shoppers have shown an ever-increasing preference for online shopping.
As a blogger over the last five years, I’ve learned some hard lessons about managing money. Self-employment means income is irregular and occasionally non-existent. Income can rise and fall sharply in an instant, making it hard to plan ahead. Go through a few cycles of income spikes and drops and you figure out how to even things out so you don’t starve during lean times. Here’s what’s worked for me to turn my irregular income into a regular salary:
Having no credit is better than bad credit, but it's still a challenge. Trying to get a home load, qualify for an apartment or getting a car loan at a reasonable interest rate is difficult if not impossible without a credit history. If you find yourself staring at a blank credit report, here are the best ways to turn it into good credit fast.Tip Categories
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