Personal Finance Blog « Quizzle Wire

Archive for September, 2011

How to Decide between a 30-Year and 15-Year Mortgage

September 30, 2011

When buying a new home or refinancing an existing home, one of the many decisions that must be made is what kind of mortgage you’re going to get. With that decision, is the option of term – or the length of your loan (ex: a 30-year loan has payments spread out over 30 years). For most borrowers, this means choosing between the ever-popular 30-year or 15-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Before you decide what term is best for you, make sure you weigh the pros and cons of each to determine which option is right for your personal financial situation.

14 Frugal but Fabulous Beauty Tips

September 29, 2011

Just because you’re trying to cut back doesn’t mean you want to stop looking good! The salon and spa budget may be the first to go, but there are still many very inexpensive ways to look your best.

New Realities of Mortgage Refinancing (Part 2)

September 28, 2011

In part one of this series, we discussed some of the new realities of mortgage refinancing in an interview with Quicken Loans Vice President and mortgage industry veteran, Stephen Luigi Piazza. The discussion continues here in part two, with more tips and trends that homeowners should know about if they want to refinance their mortgage today.

6 Weird Ways to Boost Your Emergency Fund

September 27, 2011

If your emergency savings fund is looking a little sad these days – or worse, is non-existent – it’s time to get creative. After you’ve made as many cuts to regular bills and expenses as you can to free up cash for your savings, the next step is to increase the income side of the equation? Don’t have time for a second job? Don’t worry – there are plenty of unusual ways to earn cash without taking on another job.

How to (Peacefully) Improve Your Spouse’s Credit Score

September 26, 2011

Marriage often joins two very different people together: introverts and extroverts, frugal and spend-thrift, good credit and bad credit. Consequently, happy marriages are typically the result of blending the best of the two into a stronger one. Improving your combined personal finances is no exception.

Credit reports are a big piece of that new combined financial picture. They will impact major financial decisions all newlyweds have to make: renting or buying a home, purchasing a new car, maybe even getting a new job. Find out how to peacefully improve your spouse’s credit score for a better shot at marital bliss and the best deals on life’s largest purchases.

Money-Saving Apps: Shopkick

September 26, 2011

We’re up to round two in our new series about the best money-saving mobile apps. This week, we cover Shopkick, an app that rewards you simply for going to your favorite stores.

How to Do the (Operation) Twist

September 23, 2011

In the early 1960s, a new dance craze gripped the nation: The Twist. Youngsters stopped slow dancing and started “twisting the night away.” At the same time, the American economy was slow dancing too and The Twist sounded like just the thing to get the economy moving.

Flash-forward to 2011, the economy has slowed again and the Fed is out of new dance moves. This has given rise to new talk of “Operation Twist,” a strategy used in the 1960s to spark a similarly stalled economy. Find out what it is and how it affects you and your wallet.

First-Time Home Buyers: Get Help on Your Side

September 23, 2011

The first time you buy a home is a huge step in life. And because you have never done it before, it is wise not to go it alone. That’s why it’s important to assemble a team of experts to help. We show you how.

Make the Most of the Clothes You Buy

September 22, 2011

The average American spent $1,881 on clothing and related services in 2009. If that seems like a hefty sum, consider the clothes you buy and how you take care of them. Many of us could cut back on our clothing budgets simply by making the clothes we already have last longer. Learn 11 great tips on how to stretch your clothing’s life – and your money.

New Realities of Mortgage Refinancing (Part 1)

September 21, 2011

With mortgage rates at record lows, many homeowners are looking to refinance their mortgages to save money on their monthly payments and/or pay off their mortgages faster. But what do people need to expect if they want to refinance? Is it still possible to get a home loan? Do you need a perfect credit score? What does it take to qualify, and what options do borrowers have for structuring their new loans?

Pros and Cons of Paying Cash for a Home

September 20, 2011

Considering paying cash for your dream home? So are more and more people. The number of all-cash deals has risen 25 percent from a year ago, making up 30 percent of May 2011 home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors. These all-cash buyers are typically either trading down for retirement, investors or wealthy folks. Learn the pros and cons of paying cash for a home, and where this is an option for you.