Lower Costs

Housing Costs

Your monthly housing costs should be about
32-35% of your gross monthly income.

Housing costs include mortgage or rent, escrow payments, utilities, and housing maintenance and repair.


Cost Tips

(links open new window)


download FREE
lowering your bills
note pad

 

Family Living

Your monthly family living costs should be about
27-35% of your gross monthly income.

Your family living costs include food and snacks, clothing, household items, personal items and other family living.


Cost Tips

(links open new window)


download FREE

lowering your bills
note pad

 

Transportation

Your monthly transportation costs should be about
9-12% of your gross monthly income.

Your transportation costs include auto payments, auto insurance, fuel, driving habits and maintenance.


Cost Tips

(links open new window)


download FREE
lowering your bills
note pad

 

Family Recreation

Your monthly housing costs should be about
4-6% of your gross monthly income.

Your family recreation costs include dining, vacation, family outings, and other family entertainment costs.


Cost Tips

(links open new window)


download FREE
lowering your bills
note pad

 

Debt Management

Your monthly debt obligations (excluding housing) should be about 18-28% of your gross monthly income.

Your debt obligations include credit card debt, personal loan debt, student loan debt, and debt management.


Cost Tips

(links open new window)



download FREE

lowering your bills
note pad


Start a Budget

Your total monthly costs to sustain your living should be around 90-98% of your gross monthly income. Anything over that is "living beyond your means".

Your goal is to budget and reduce monthly living costs to 90% or lower, leaving you 10% or more each month for savings and emergency.

download FREE
our PDF-format budget planning sheet

download FREE
our PC-based budget planning wkst

 

Increase Income

Who wouldn't want more income. Taking home more each month can help pay the rising costs of living, payoff your debts, and increase savings.

So how do you increase income? We have identified five areas of income raising strategies.


Five Income Tips

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Bargain Shopping

Wired Home

Many new home constructions are wired for home automation and home theater entertainment.

Now new product developments allow many existing homes to automate their homes with wireless technology.


Shopping Tips

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download FREE

our sheet for shopping wired home

 

Need a Vacation ...?

... but you don't want to pay too much.

Use our vacation center to find and compare the best fares for lodging, air travel, car rentals and more.


Shopping Tips

(links open new window)



download FREE

our sheet for shopping travel deals

 

Party Planning

When was the last time you planned a great party? A party with game play, decorations, great food and good lasting friends.

It doesn't take much. And now it become even easier with this handy party center.


Party Tips

(links open new window)


download FREE
our sheet for shopping your next party

 

Shopping Health

Having good health . . . it's a blessing we all hope for.

That is why you use our health and environment center to find what you need to keep yourself healthy and going.


Shopping Tips

(links open new window)


download FREE
our sheet for shopping good health

 

What's In Your Garage?

Is it new or is it used? Does it operate that way it should? Are you proud to drive it around town?

Maybe it's time to exchange your vehicle for something else. Or perhaps you want to do some maintenance to keep you car running strong.


Shopping Tips

(links open new window)



download FREE

our sheet for shopping autos and auto care

 

Improvements for Your Home ...!

... to make it more beautiful and to increase its value.

Shop our home improvement stores and garden centers for all of your home and garden needs.


Home Stores

(links open new window)



download FREE

our sheet to shop home improvement

 

 

FREE Tools

Get Your Career Going

Complete career planning and job search center.

(links open new window)

  • make career assessments
  • find jobs
  • help with resume prep
  • get interview tips
  • find career counseling
  • and more


view our career and job search center

download FREE
the job search sheet

 

How to Start

  • step1:
    view some home improvement ideas.
  • step2:
    design your home improvement spec plan and budget
  • step3:
    find a pre-screened contractor for an overview estimate
  • step4:
    arrange smart financing, if needed
  • step5:
    manage the project and inspect it

view the home remodeling center for our weekly tip


Great Tools

download FREE
our home remodeling-home improvement map

download FREE
our home improvement contractor selection guide

 

For Home Buying

  • view our home buying steps
  • use our home buying checklist
  • view our directory of home listings
  • get tips on affording your new home
  • understand how best to finance your purchase

download FREE
our home buying map for quick reference


For Home Selling

  • view our home selling steps
  • decide your method of selling: agent vs. FSBO
  • get your home listed
  • view how best to prepare and present your home
  • learn how to negotiate the sale

download FREE
our home selling map for quick reference

 

Looking to Build

It's the dream of every homeowner to custom build their next home

download FREE
home construction map

  • summarizes everything you need to know about building your home
  • helps you design the home construction specs
  • provides guides on selecting your contractor and negotiating the contract
  • show how to best finance your project

Keep the map for quick reference

 

Almost everyone has to make a move sometime in their life -

We got the tools to make it an easy and successful move


Moving Locally or Long Distance

(links open new window)

download FREE
our moving checklist

download FREE
our budget sheet



Moving to College

download FREE
college moving checklist

 

Need to Borrow $$$

First understand the concepts of financing:

  • how credit works
  • what is your best financing option
  • how much can you afford
  • managing your debt payment
  • avoiding unnecessary debt

Quick Calculate

Type Financing:

Use these modules to help select the best financing option:

(links open new window)




get more information
from our money module



do it later
bookmark web site to visit later when needed

 

Times Are Tough!

Where can you turn to if you need some extra cash?