1. Ask for open-box items - display models or unused products returned to the retailer (but not returned to the factory like refurbished items). A $1,200 MackBook Air, for example, was purchased in an open box for $230 less.
2. Get Taxes done free. AARP Foundation offers free tax preparation to people with low to moderate incomes. Go to aarp.org/taxaide or call 888-687-2277. You save: $273.
3. Adopt a mutt. Many shelters offer pets for free or a small fee; a breeder can charge $500 or more.
4. Buy gas on Monday. It's the cheapest gas day in 23 states. according to GasBuddy. Thursday is the most expensive day. Stick to Mondays and save $325 a year.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Money Saving Tips - Part Thirteen
1. Before eating out, look for coupons for your destination at Restaurant.com. A coupon that costs $10 could be worth $25 off your bill. You save: $15.
2. Pay off credit cards faster. Credit cards charge interest daily. If you have a $5,000 balance and pay $121 every other week rather than $242 at the end of the month, Bankrate.com says you can cut interest payments by $359 a year on a card with a 17 percent interest rate.
3. Buy glasses online. It can be 70 percent cheaper to buy at sites such as zennioptical.com than at a store. That's $210 off a $300 pair of specs. AARP members can save at EyeMed.
4. Shop around for meds. Area drug prices can vary widely. For example, a customer in Raleigh, N.C., was quoted $249 at a national chain for duloxetine. Costco charged $43 for the same prescription. You save: $206.
2. Pay off credit cards faster. Credit cards charge interest daily. If you have a $5,000 balance and pay $121 every other week rather than $242 at the end of the month, Bankrate.com says you can cut interest payments by $359 a year on a card with a 17 percent interest rate.
3. Buy glasses online. It can be 70 percent cheaper to buy at sites such as zennioptical.com than at a store. That's $210 off a $300 pair of specs. AARP members can save at EyeMed.
4. Shop around for meds. Area drug prices can vary widely. For example, a customer in Raleigh, N.C., was quoted $249 at a national chain for duloxetine. Costco charged $43 for the same prescription. You save: $206.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Money Saving Ideas- Part Twelve
1) Buy tires online
The best price at a local tire shop was $448 for a particular set of tires, installed. The same tires were $300 at tirebuyer.com, with free delivery to a participating shop. Add $80 for installation. Savings: $68.
2) Make your own salad dressing
Store bought salad dressing can cost $2.99 or more; why not make your own? A vinaigrette is 2 tablespoons wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup olive oil, and pepper to taste. Save $1.50 a week (the cost of roughly a hlaf bottle of dressing) or up to $75 a year.
3) Go meatless once a week
One study concluded that vegetarians save approximately $750 on their food bill each year. So by ditching meat one day a week, you should be able to save $100 a year.
4) Obsessed witha particular pricey clothing brand?
Go to Poshmark.com or similar sites for top-grade secondhand clothes. For example, a summer dress from Soma (retails for $59) was recently available for $18 plus shipping. Two or three purchases could save you $100.
The best price at a local tire shop was $448 for a particular set of tires, installed. The same tires were $300 at tirebuyer.com, with free delivery to a participating shop. Add $80 for installation. Savings: $68.
2) Make your own salad dressing
Store bought salad dressing can cost $2.99 or more; why not make your own? A vinaigrette is 2 tablespoons wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup olive oil, and pepper to taste. Save $1.50 a week (the cost of roughly a hlaf bottle of dressing) or up to $75 a year.
3) Go meatless once a week
One study concluded that vegetarians save approximately $750 on their food bill each year. So by ditching meat one day a week, you should be able to save $100 a year.
4) Obsessed witha particular pricey clothing brand?
Go to Poshmark.com or similar sites for top-grade secondhand clothes. For example, a summer dress from Soma (retails for $59) was recently available for $18 plus shipping. Two or three purchases could save you $100.
Monday, January 14, 2019
Money Saving Tips-Part Eleven
1) Parking at the airport?
Prebook your long-term parking. At Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, parking is about $7 less a day if you prepay through its website. Savings: $28 over four days. AARP members can check savings at ParkRideFlyUSA.com
2) Get cell service from a mobile online network operator such as Tello or Ting.
You'll pay full price for your phone, but after that you could save about $30 per month over major carriers.
3) Check out your local open mic.
Enjoy great music without forking over $50 for a concert ticket. Open mics are free or cheap. Some performers are diamonds in the rough, but that is part of the fun.
4) Create an annual holiday: Apple Day!
Once each autumn, visit a pick-your-own farm and stock up on apples. You'll pay about half what a store charges. So if you pay $18 to pick half a bushel, you'll save $24.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Money Saving Tips-Part Ten
1) Wait to upgrade your phone
Keep using your phone after you've paid it off, and drop the extended warranty. Total monthly savings: $45
2) Replace dead or dying phone batteries
Order another battery online-- for about $40 at several easy-to-find sites. You'll save up to $45 a month if you don't have to buy a new phone.
3) Buy bulk movie tickets
Tickets can cost $12.69 at an AMC theatre. You can get 10 tickets shipped free from Costco.com for $91.98. Savings: $34.90. Regal offers AARP members $9.50 tickets online too.
4) Don't pay for redundant virus protection
Add-on software can cost $25, but your PC likely came with virus protection already loaded. Or try a free program such as Avast.
5) Have a Gmail account with Google?
Set up the calendar to send email reminders when bills are due. This will help you budget and could save you $35 on a single late fee.
Keep using your phone after you've paid it off, and drop the extended warranty. Total monthly savings: $45
2) Replace dead or dying phone batteries
Order another battery online-- for about $40 at several easy-to-find sites. You'll save up to $45 a month if you don't have to buy a new phone.
3) Buy bulk movie tickets
Tickets can cost $12.69 at an AMC theatre. You can get 10 tickets shipped free from Costco.com for $91.98. Savings: $34.90. Regal offers AARP members $9.50 tickets online too.
4) Don't pay for redundant virus protection
Add-on software can cost $25, but your PC likely came with virus protection already loaded. Or try a free program such as Avast.
5) Have a Gmail account with Google?
Set up the calendar to send email reminders when bills are due. This will help you budget and could save you $35 on a single late fee.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Money Saving Tips - Part 9
1.) Become a pizze chef
The secret is premade pizza dough bought at the store. add tomato sauce from a jar, cheese, herbs, and toppings for a total of about $4 per pizza. Compared with a large one-topping pizza to go. Monthly savings: $8
2.) Buy tea in bags, bot bottles
Twelve bottles of iced tea can cost $36 if bought individually. Tea bags are about 10 cents apiece. Add two teaspoons of sugar at about 4 cents and make an equivalent amount of iced tea for $1.48. Monthly savings: $34
3.) Seek store brands
The Three Thrifty Guys website recently compared brand-name and store-brand prices for 16 grocery items they normally buy. the brand-name versions added up to $56.24; store brands totaled $41.51. Monthly savings: $14.73
4.) Have a happy meal
Many bars and eateries offer discounts on appetizers during happy hour. For example, at a Del Frisco's Grille restaurant between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, cheesesteak eggrolls are $6 (normally $12.50). Monthly savings: $19.50
The secret is premade pizza dough bought at the store. add tomato sauce from a jar, cheese, herbs, and toppings for a total of about $4 per pizza. Compared with a large one-topping pizza to go. Monthly savings: $8
2.) Buy tea in bags, bot bottles
Twelve bottles of iced tea can cost $36 if bought individually. Tea bags are about 10 cents apiece. Add two teaspoons of sugar at about 4 cents and make an equivalent amount of iced tea for $1.48. Monthly savings: $34
3.) Seek store brands
The Three Thrifty Guys website recently compared brand-name and store-brand prices for 16 grocery items they normally buy. the brand-name versions added up to $56.24; store brands totaled $41.51. Monthly savings: $14.73
4.) Have a happy meal
Many bars and eateries offer discounts on appetizers during happy hour. For example, at a Del Frisco's Grille restaurant between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, cheesesteak eggrolls are $6 (normally $12.50). Monthly savings: $19.50
Friday, January 4, 2019
Weekly Mortgage Rates!
Weekly Mortgage Rate Update
The downward trend of mortgage rates continues this week! Perfect timing for those buyers that are getting an early start to the upcoming spring market. Mortgage rates fell about 0.125% across the board on all mortgage products since my last update.
Here are latest mortgage rates:
Conventional
30 year fixed = 4.50%
20 year fixed = 4.375%
15 year fixed = 4.00%
FHA/VA
15 year fixed = 4.125%
30 year fixed = 4.50%
Jumbo (loan amounts over $484,350)
30 year fixed = 4.375%
15 year fixed = 4.125%
7 year ARM = 3.875%
** Above rates considering 780+credit score, 25% down payment, owner occupied, 30 day rate lock, $250,001 minimum loan amount, purchase & escrows. Rates can change at any time without notice..
Please let me know if you have any mortgage related questions or have clients in need of a Mortgage Pre-Approval. Thanks for your support!
Sincerely,
Scott
Scott Jacobsen
Vice President of Residential Lending
Cell # (630) 673-3103
E-fax # (312) 592-2232
NMLS # 664645
Key Mortgage Services
475 N. Martingale Rd. Suite #100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)