Five Tips to Slash Your Home Finance Costs

Cut your mortgage down to size with these five instant money saving tips.

It’s no wonder that the majority of homeowners dream of one day being able to pay off their home loan and live a life free from the shackles of interest rates, home finance and worries about meeting the monthly mortgage payments because the largest expense the majority of us take on in a lifetime is our mortgage and each month our home finance payments take a substantial chunk out of our take home pay.

Just think what you could do with all the extra money you would have spare if you didn’t have to meet your mortgage each month! Interested? Well, here are five steps that you could take today to substantially slash your mortgage repayments and the overall cost of your home loan and even speed up your rate of repayment so that the day when you’ve paid off your home finance and are free to live the life you want comes that much sooner.

Step One – Demand Better Service!

As a loyal customer of your mortgage lender isn’t it about time you were rewarded for your financial commitment, for making your regular payments and for being a good, long term customer?

Well, you can rest assured your mortgage lender will not reward you unless you ask for a better deal on your mortgage!

So get on the phone, call up your lender, ask to speak to someone in customer services or the customer retention department and explain that you’re looking around for a better mortgage deal. Ask them for an evaluation of how much you have left to pay so that you can give it to any one of the hundreds of other mortgage lenders out there all willing to give you a better deal.

If you are indeed a valued customer you should receive favourable feedback to your demands and receive details of better offers currently available to you from your current lender.

Remember, if you don’t ask you don’t get and be adamant about what you want!

Step Two – Shop Around.

If step one doesn’t get you the deal you deserve, shop around. There really are well in excess of a hundred lenders out there all seeking new customers who will offer you incentives to take up their mortgage product.

Use the internet to get an idea of rates being offered and special deals available to you. Do remember that lenders will do everything they can to make their deal seem like the most attractive one available and do everything within their power to attract new customers so you need to be shrewd.

Look for any hidden charges or tie in clauses and make sure you evaluate products offered on a like for like basis taking into account all the features of the mortgage offers available.

Step Three – Call in the Cavalry.

Well, not the cavalry exactly but expert assistance in the form of a licensed and regulated fee free independent mortgage broker. In the UK these guys are now regulated by the Financial Services Authority and in the US they should come under the scope of The Responsible Lending Act.

As independent brokers they have access to and understanding of every single mortgage product available and they should be best placed to assist you find a better deal than the one you have now where your repayments will be less, your interest rate will be lower and the amount you repay over the entire duration of your loan is reduced.

Make sure your broker is fee free and remunerated by any company you decide to take a mortgage out with. More importantly than this, make sure they are regulated and licensed correctly and if possible ask for professional references or testimonials.

Step Four – Cut Out All Extras

Mortgage lenders are notorious for selling overpriced add-ons such as life insurance, home insurance, contents insurance, income protection cover…all these insurances have their value of course – but you can bet your bottom dollar that you can every last one of them for a fraction of the price by going directly to an independent insurance house or even seeking the services of an independent financial adviser to find you the best deal available.

You could literally save yourself thousands each year in insurance premiums!

Step Five – Throw Some Money at It

So, you’ve cut your interest rate down to size, reduced your monthly repayments, maybe received a cash lump sum from a new lender and saved yourself thousands on insurance products – now turn all those savings back into your mortgage and repay early.

Make sure you have it negotiated into your new mortgage contract that you can make early repayment or lump sum annual top ups and get rid of the millstone round your neck, free yourself from your largest financial commitment as soon as possible and save thousands in interest payments and enjoy freedom of life once again!

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About the Author

Rhiannon Williamson is a freelance writer whose articles about property investing and emerging real estate markets have appeared in publications around the world. She is currently working on a brand new property investment resource http://www.amberlamb.com/

Use Gas Credit Cards Carefully

Gasoline prices are on everyone’s mind, and so is saving money. With some gas prices crossing the $4.00 per gallon mark in certain areas of the United States, it is not surprising that many consumers are looking for new ways to save money at the pump. Gasoline credit cards are a great way to make this happen, but they must be used carefully.

This type of credit card works exactly the same as any other card in most instances, however when purchasing gasoline the card offers a certain reward in return. Many offer up to 5% cash back, while others have points or even free gas.There are many things you must keep in mind when choosing a gasoline credit card. The first of which is not all rewards cards offer cash back. Many offer shopping discounts or merchandise for making purchases. If you are looking for this merchandise, then you can actually get more value out of your credit card because rewards programs tend to offer more back when cash is not involved. If the point of this card is too save you money however, cash back is the way to go.Be sure not to limit yourself to the point that you cannot accumulate rewards from your credit card. Some card offers are limited to which gas stations you can make purchases at, while others offer rebates for a limited time or in a limited area. If you make purchases within these very specific limitations, you can save some money. If however you get the wrong offer and live or travel to an area without the correct stations, then you are out of luck. The more limited the offer, generally the better the return, so if you can use your card within the specified limitations it is possible you can create more value for yourself.Credit cards will cost you money if you carry a balance, and gasoline credit cards are no different. If you are getting 5% cash back on your rebate card, it can look pretty good until you carry a balance that incurs a 12.5% interest fee. Now the cash back is completely nullified, and the card is costing you money. If paid off every month however, these gas cards can be a real savings, especially in today’s economy where gas prices are through the roof.At the end of the day the spending habits of the consumer will decide if a credit card is right for them. The trick is to be careful, research all your options, and get the most value from the credit card you choose.

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About the Author

Jon Norwood is a founder and managing partner of the credit card directory BankCardFinder.com, a site dedicated to providing fast and accurate financial information regarding credit cards that consumers need to make an informed decision on which credit company is right for them.

4 Computer Money-saving Tip

Here are four tips that’ll save you money when buying your next computer.

Tip #1 -- Rebates: A rebate is not always a bargain. Computers with rebates are often close to being discontinued. You may pick up a good deal or purchase technology that's about to become yesterday’s news. What's more, stores will often package computers with a bunch of free items to make it look like you're getting more value. Chances are the extras are either poor quality or items you're unlikely to use. Also, they’re counting on you to not redeem your rebate, a very common occurrence.

Tip #2 -- Extended Service Warrantees: Buyer Beware! They're a gamble, but not always a bad idea. If you're purchasing a laptop and you plan to travel a lot, an extended warranty that covers replacement of the monitor/display can be a good gamble. Replacing a display can cost $400-$600, making the warranty worthwhile. On the other hand, if you plan on buying the warranty for routine maintenance; save your money. Oftentimes it can take weeks for the store to send your PC out for service. Also, remember the store where you purchased your computer does not always do warranty work during the first year, instead you may have to ship it directly to the manufacturer. In general, extended warranties cover electronics [things you can't see]. They don't usually cover physical damage. Most extended warranties have large gray areas, leaving the warranty provider a lot of room to reject claims.

Tip #3 -- Monitors: Don’t throw away your monitor if it's still working properly. Instead, keep it and save a chunk of money by just replacing your old CPU [computer tower]. Monitors last much longer than CPUs and the technology is usually compatible between your old monitor and the new CPU. However, if you’re dissatisfied, then monitors, keyboards and mouses are the three tools to spend extra money on, since you use them every day!

Tip #4 -- Networking: How are you connecting to the Internet? If you're using a high speed Internet connection, such as cable broadband or DSL, you'll want to make sure you have a network card built into your system. If you have a wireless network at home or at the office, save money and installation time by buying the wireless card built right into the computer.

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About the Author

About the Author
Sharron Senter is co-founder of http://www.VisitingGeeks.com - an on site computer repair, security and networking company serving north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks’ technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, popups and securing and making computers perform faster. Learn more about Sharron at http://www.SharronSenter.com

How to “pump” money back into your pocket. Gas money saving tips.

With Gas prices around $2.60 dollars a gallon, how would you like to get 15, 20 or even 35 cents off each gallon you buy? At www.pumpandsave.com you can learn gas saving tips, compare and apply for great offers and save Big at the Pump each and every time.

Here are few tips from www.pumpandsave.com:

1. Stay within posted speed limits. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use.

2. Use overdrive gears. Overdrive gears improve the fuel economy of your car during highway driving.

3. Use cruise control. Using cruise control on highway trips can help you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, reduce your fuel consumption.

4. Anticipate driving situations. If you anticipate traffic conditions and don't tailgate, you can avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, and improve your fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent.

5. Avoid unnecessary idling. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait. No matter how efficient your car is, unnecessary idling wastes fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air.

6. Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

7. Remove excess weight from the trunk. Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by one to two percent.

8. Keep your engine tuned. Studies have shown that a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent depending on a car's condition.

9. Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. Underinflated tires cause fuel consumption to increase by six percent.

10. Change your oil. Clean oil reduces wear caused by friction between moving parts and removes harmful substances from the engine.

11. Check & replace air filters regularly. Your car's air filter keeps impurities in the air from damaging internal engine components. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in fuel consumption.

12. Buy only the octane level gas you need. Remember, the higher the octane, the higher the price. Check your owner's manual to determine the right octane level for your car.

13. Own a fuel efficient vehicle. The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $1,500 over 5 years.

And here are the top best ranked Gas Credit card offers. You can easily compare the offers and choose the best gas cards at www.pumpandsave.com

• Gas credit cards will SAVE you money if you use them correctly.
• Discover® Platinum Gas Card consider to be the BEST overall Gas credit card. You can get up to 5% Cashback Bonus® on gas purchases & up to 1% Cashback Bonus® on all other purchases. Here is the best part you can DOUBLE your Cashback Bonus® when you redeem for gift cards or certificates. The APR starts off as low as 7.99% and it's easy to get approved! Get introductory 0% APR for 12 months, too.
• If you carry a balance or need to make a balance transfer, the Chase® Cash Plus Rewards card gives 0% APR for up to 12 months on both. Plus, get 5% cashback on ALL gas purchases.
• If you use Hess for your gas, use the Hess® Card from Chase. Get a full 10% cashback at Hess for 90 days, then 5% lifetime at Hess. Get 1% cashback everywhere else. The most popular station specific card.
• If you have Excellent credit, the Citi® Dividend Platinum Card gives you 5% cashback at all gas stations, supermarkets, and drugstores. A great way to save money on everyday purchases. Students can also get 5% cashback with the Citi® Student Dividend Card.

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About the Author

Dmitry Popov- the founder of www.pumpandsave.com - on line portal for the web users to learn money saving tips, compare offers and apply for the top performing gas crdedit cards to save money on high gas prices.

Life Insurance – Money saving Top Tips

Buying life insurance online is easy but this article provides 5 money saving tips that the man in the street would otherwise be unaware of. Essential reading.

More and more people are buying life insurance online and the numbers seem to be doubling every two years. The reasons are clear. Prices are lower on the Internet and life insurance is fundamentally a simple insurance product. Despite the underlying simplicity of life insurance, most web sites channel their online clients through a telephone based help and advice service manned by experienced personnel. They represent your safety net so if a little technical knowledge is called for, help is at hand. But it’s always a good idea to have a few Top Tips in your back pocket when you’re shopping online for life insurance. They’ll help you ask the right questions and find the best policy.

1. Always have your Life Insurance policy “Written in Trust”. This means that in the event of a claim, the money goes directly and immediately to the person(s) you nominate when you first take the policy out. It also avoids all possibility of your estate having to pay Inheritance Tax on the proceeds of your policy and that could represent a 40% tax saving ! All you have to do is tell the online brokerage organising your policy that you want your policy “Written in Trust” and the names of the people who the life insurance company pay in the event of a claim. They will then sort it all out for you. The extra good news is that this service is invariably free of charge. So it’s a win win situation and there aren’t many of those around these days !

2. In the early years a Reviewable Life Insurance Policy will be cheaper but a Guaranteed Policy will work out a better buy in the longer term. With a “Guaranteed Policy” the insurance company guarantees never to increase your policy’s premium. With a “Reviewable Policy” you agree that your insurance company can review the cost of your policy at regular intervals. But don’t be kidded – in our experience a “review” is just another word for a price increase. After all, who’s ever heard of an insurance company passing up a chance to charge you more! The review intervals are usually between 2 to 5 years but this does vary between insurance companies. You will find the details of the review intervals on the documents sent to you before you accept the insurance – these are called The Key Features Documents. So, comparing otherwise like for like policies, in the early years the premiums for a “Reviewable Policy” will undoubtedly be lower than the premiums for a “Guaranteed Policy”. Thereafter, the premiums for a Reviewable Policy increase eventually catching up with and overtaking, the premium for a “Guaranteed Policy”. In our experience, you can expect the monthly premiums for a Reviewable Policy to exceed those of a Guaranteed policy in about 7 to 10 years and then within the following 10 years, more than double again. If your budget is currently tight then by all means choose a Reviewable Policy - after all your salary may increase in coming years and ease the strain. On the other hand, if the premiums for a Guaranteed Policy are affordable, we think they represent your best buy. A footnote. Many insurance companies have stopped offering “Guaranteed” rates for standalone critical illness insurance policies. This because they have experienced much higher claim rates than they initially expected. However, you may still find a Guaranteed life insurance policy that also provides critical illness cover. As we have explained, “Guaranteed” rates are especially good value and if you can get a quote for a Guaranteed life policy that includes critical illness cover, you may have a real bargain.

3. Thinking about a Joint Life Insurance Policy? A Joint Life Insurance policy is usually written on a first death basis. This means that the policy will pay out on the death of the first policyholder, subject to the policy being in force at the time. This leaves the second person uninsured and older. Older people can struggle to get life insurance at an affordable premium, so rather than a Joint Policy consider taking out separate policies now. Overall it will work out a little dearer - but you get twice the cover and double the peace of mind.

4. Taking out a Life Insurance Policy? Now would be an ideal time to include Critical Illness cover. Are you likely to need Critical Illness Insurance in the future? Yes? Then consider adding it now to the life insurance policy you’re arranging. Why? There are three reasons. Firstly, a Life Insurance policy combined with Critical Illness cover will work out significantly cheaper than buying two separate policies. Secondly, as we have already explained in the footnote to Tip 2, you may be able to buy a combined Life and Critical Illness policy with a guaranteed premium. That could be a real bargain. Finally, premiums for critical illness cover increase rapidly as you get older – so the sooner you take it out, the cheaper it will be.

5. Don’t confuse Terminal Illness cover with Critical Illness cover. There’s world of difference between Terminal Illness and Critical Illness cover so it’s important to understand the difference. Terminal Illness cover pays out the insured lump sum if a Medical Doctor diagnoses you with an illness from which the Doctor expects you to die within 12 months. Most good life policies automatically include Terminal Illness cover at no extra cost. It’s basically an early, and welcome policy payout. A Critical Illness policy pays out the insured lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a wide range chronic illness and there is no life expectancy criteria. Indeed, with many of the insured illnesses you could expect to survive for many years. For example: certain cancers, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, loss of speech, sight or hearing, onset of Parkinsons or Alzheimers disease, third degree burns etc. Say you were an engineer aged 40 and you lost your sight. A Critical Illness policy would pay out immediately and that money could well be vital in helping you and your family through many difficult financial years ahead. If you just had Terminal Illness cover there’d be no chance of a payout. So as you can see, Critical Illness cover is far more comprehensive than simple Terminal Illness cover and for that reason critical illness cover always costs you extra.

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About the Author

Michael Challiner has 15 years experience in financial services marketing at senior level, the last 5 of which specialised in online marketing. Prior to that he spent 15 years in advertising with two of the world’s top advertising agencies, J Walter Thompson and Saatchi & Saatchi.Michael now works as the editor of Express Life Insurance on behalf of Andromeda Webs LtdAdditional reading on Critical Illness Insurance Additional reading on Terminal Illness Insurance

How Much Are You Saving by Refilling?

There is a formula for figuring out exactly how much money you can save by using a refill kit. You already know how expensive OEM inkjet cartridges are and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that you can save money by using them. But how many people know EXACTLY how much money they are saving? If you really knew I'd be willing to bet that if you aren't refilling now, you are going to take another look after reading this.

I'm going to use our HP790C3B kit as an example. This kit is used for refilling the very popular HP 51645A black and HP C6578 color cartridges.

Here is the formula:

S = (RC x CCC) + (RB x CCB) - RK

S = Your actual savings over the life of the refill kit
RC = The number of color refills in the kit
CCC = Cost of a new color cartridge
RB = The number of black refills in the kit
CCB = Cost of a new black cartridge

Lets plug in some numbers. Today I checked the prices of the aforementioned OEM cartridges on Staples web site.

HP 51645A - $29.99
HP C6578AN - $54.99

Our HP790C3B kit refills:

Black - 3 times
Color - 5 times

The kit sells for $27.95.

Here is the formula with the numbers plugged in:

S = (5 x 54.99) + (3 x 29.99) - 27.95
S = (274.95) + (89.97) - 27.95
S = 364.92 - 27.95
S = 336.97

Quite an eye opener isn't it? By spending $27.95 you can save $336.97. I would get some ink on my hands to save $337.00!

I believe wholeheartedly that if more people knew how much money they can save there would be a lot less of these cartridges ending up in the landfills.

Just please remember, start small. If you've never refilled before don't start by ordering a gallon of ink.

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About the Author

Barry Shultz is the author of Atlascopy News, and President of Atlascopy, Inc. Atlascopy specialized in affordable alternatives to the high cost of printer supplies.
http://atlascopy.com