Putting Some Perspective on Your Living Standards

So I share lots and lots of advice and stuff about how one can possibly go about stretching each and every one of their pennies spent, which is only a good thing I guess. After all, the cost of living is indeed rising at a rate which many of us cannot keep up with by default, so it’s a handy skill to learn, that of how to ensure you squeeze every bit of value out of any financial transaction you enter into.

While I’m happy to share what are effectively “micro” cash-saving tips and hacks, doing it in-the-small and occasionally in this fashion can only go so far. You have to take a few steps back and zoom out every once in a while so that you can have a good look at how the bigger-picture is developing. There has to be a bigger picture, for starters…

The bigger picture is that of the “end-goal” to reduce your cost of living and operate your personal finances in such a way that as time goes by, you build up a surplus which can either be saved up, ideally invested or just parked in case of a rainy day. Additionally, before moving to a new place or calling a state your home, it may be advisable to check for the average living cost of that place. For instance, you can visit https://tubac.com/tubac-az-cost-of-living or other such websites that can break down the cost of living of the region you wish to relocate to. That way, you can plan for your expenses and savings beforehand.

I mean look – it’s okay not knowing what to do with some money you have lying around for a while. You can always get back to it later – get back to how you’re going to proceed to make wise decisions about what you’re going to do with it, that is… In the meantime make sure not to spend it and undo all the efforts which went into uncovering it in the first place.

How do you do this though? It’s simple. You have to put some perspective on your living standards and proceed to determine what it is exactly you’re comfortable with. Try to make a list of all expenses that fall under the cost of living in Houston (or whichever city you live in) and separate those from the costs that can fall into the leisure category. Do not fall into the trap of proceeding to match your means to your living standard, especially if that living standard is higher than that which you would otherwise be content with.

What you can consider, however, is making upgrades to your home that offer you versatility or enable you to make savings. For example, you could have a look at modern flex room ideas, and renovate a room in accordance with your preferences. Maintaining a flex room enables you to transform that space, and turn it into an office, guest room, personal gym, or even a playroom. This reduces the need for you to make extensive changes to your home in many situations. One upgrade you can make to enjoy big savings is the addition of a solar power unit. The cells you attach to your roof can help produce electricity, and even heat up your home. This is a practical approach to enhancing your standard of living.

What you want to avoid doing is making unnecessary expenses that end with you having to pay more bills. Don’t upgrade to a bigger car which guzzles more gas for example and don’t start being reckless around the house with things that contribute to your variable costs, such as your utilities. A lot of the things which you spend your money on forming part of your existing life are perhaps representative of a standard of living you already find comfort in, some of which might even offer you a lot more value than what you pay for them.

Some of the best Christmas gifts to send can still be found on platforms such as Broadway Basketeers’s online store for example, so there isn’t all that much higher to go, if at all. Let the money pile up and if you can, invest it in a segmented way which allows for part of it to grow, fuelled by compounding interested.

Ready or Not, Here Comes Winter

As winter approaches, there are plenty of things to check in terms of making sure that your vehicle is safe and ready for winter driving. Check out the blog on Cars.com for lots of suggestions for keeping your car in tip-top shape all year long. Special preparations should be made as winter approaches, especially if you live in a location that experiences cold, snowy and icy weather. [Read more…]

4 Questions to Ask Before Buying Commercial Real Estate

Who is to say what is the best way to invest your hard earned money. Sure, sometimes starting a business may be a great solution, but keep in mind that it could require more time and effort than you have to spare. Because of this, it might be for the best to purchase a commercial property, that could generate a passive income overtime. Later on if the price skyrockets, you can sell it and in this way achieve capital gain. Nonetheless, buying the right commercial property is not a simple matter and here are four questions you need to ask before finally making your mind to buy. [Read more…]

What Really Attracts Young Job Seekers?

The question that hovers in most business executives’ minds is how to attract and retain top prospects in today’s business climate.

As everybody knows, talented employees are well worth the effort it takes to recruit them. According to recent Gallup research, when companies select top 20% most talented people for a role, they see a 10% increase in productivity, 20% in sales and a staggering 30% increase in profitability. [Read more…]

How to Save for a Hot Tub

Before you go out to buy a hot tub, doing your research beforehand and even renting one of the smaller inflatable tubs can really help you inform your decision. Not only will you be able to figure out whether buying one of the expensive tubs is worth it for yourself but you’ll also be able to tell whether you need an expensive one. The cheaper inflatable ones can be more convenient and don’t require as much upkeep. They’re portable meaning that you can take them wherever you need them whenever you like. All this research will come in handy when you finally get the hot tub of your dreams, if you want to shorten the process you can always Google phrases like – ‘Hot Tubs Near Me‘ to see what is available for you close to home.

If you have already decided that you want to buy a ‘proper’ hot tub, then the price tag won’t be something you weren’t expecting. You can get basic hot tubs from 2000 upwards, with the middle tier tubs having a hefty 5000 price tag. If you aren’t fortunate to have spare cash lying around, then you may have to save up for your tub over a period of time. Many hot tub stores have payment plans in which you can pay off your tub on a monthly basis, but depending on how long you want to pay it off, this can still amount to nearly 200 a month depending on the tub you’ve chosen. We have a few money-saving tips to help you along the way with paying for your hot tub.

Firstly, most banks allow you to set up a savings account, especially with online banking in which you can set up a savings account but not be given a debit card for it, so you can’t withdraw from the account. By setting up small payments each month, you can save up a substantial amount over time and you won’t be tempted to dip into it.

Researching your energy suppliers may also help you out in the long run too. Generally, hot tubs raise the electricity bill and some energy suppliers may charge you more if you’re using a substantial amount of energy. Hot tubs also consume more energy when not maintained regularly, so you should have the contact details of a good hot tub service on hand too. Furthermore, some suppliers have tariffs that suit households that consume more electricity, they offer a reasonable unit rate which could bring your bills down quite a bit. If you do this before you get your hot tub installed, then switching suppliers or tariffs can actually save you up to 30- 40 a month. This money can then be put away to help pay for the tub itself, especially if you go for the monthly payment option.

By assessing your outgoings and cancelling off anything that you really don’t need (like a subscription to knitting weekly) then you can really save quite a bit of money. Sometimes we don’t realize how much money we spend on subscriptions especially if we took them out quite a while ago. Putting away a little of the expendable income that you may have and keeping focused on putting it into your savings account can really make money add up and you’ll be relaxing in your hot tub in no time.

If this still seems like too much for you, I’d recommend booking a hot tub holiday in the UK. Spending 300 on a long weekend with a hot tub is much more manageable than scrimping and saving to get enough money for your own. After all, how often will you really use a hot tub at home? I see time in a hot tub as more of a treat, and if you have one sitting in your backyard it’s not going to be as remarkable to hop in and spend some quality time.

Have a shop around for cottages with hot tubs, cabins with hot tubs, and hot tub lodges, there are loads on offer. Here’s a handy guide that outlines everything you need to know:

https://www.iknow-uk.com/article/2595-the_ultimate_guide_to_hot_tub_holidays

Collecting Coins For Love and Profit

In the first half of the 20th-century coin collecting was a hobby that many youngsters enjoyed. All that was necessary was a good magnifying glass and the ubiquitous coin books all in royal blue. The books were composed of three pages with slots available for each coin in a particular year and with a unique mint mark. Here the magnifying glass became very important. These coin books were fine examples of a functioning America where at that time all the best things in life were produced, and these coin books were an example of the value and quality of American production from that period. Numismatists and collectors still have the books that started the spirit of collecting 60-70 years ago. Back then if you were armed with your coin books, you needed three for pennies, two for nickels, and two for dimes, and your magnifying glass, you were all set to go. Parents of future collectors and numismatists would go to the bank and buy rolls of coins and leave the discovery of the different years and mints to the child. The child would become a curator of his collection changing out coins in poor condition for those in fine and very fine condition. It was one of the fun alternative investment ideas.

[Read more…]