Condo Fees You May Not Be Aware Of

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Many 20-somethings graduate college and move to the city.  Not quite ready for homeownership, many of them may consider buying a condo.

Recently, I observed a billboard for a condo building in downtown Chicago that piqued my curiousity because it clearly was seeking to attract young professionals.  I went home and looked on their website, which was sleek and obviously catering to the 20 to early 30s crowd.  There were beautiful pictures of the high rise from the outside, pictures of the inside of different condos highlighting the beautiful city view, floor plans, and even interviews with a half dozen of the residents (all of them young professionals except for the token near retirement empty nester).

What really caught my interest was their page that declared, “You Can’t Afford Not To Buy!”

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Do You Need Disaster Insurance? What Type Should You Get?

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Once again, a natural disaster has brought the attention of many to the possible need for disaster insurance. Hurricane Irene might not have been as fierce as many expected, but there will still probably be plenty of insurance claims from floods and other damage.  Whenever we hear of a hurricane, an earthquake, tornadoes or some other disaster, it often prompts a double-check of the homeowners policy to see if you would be covered in a similar disaster were to befall you.  Do you need disaster insurance?  See the different types available and if you need it.

Types of Disaster Coverage

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PerkStreet Financial 5% Cashback Powerperks September 2011

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PerkStreet Financial, the online checking account, have released their September 2011 5% cashback Powerperks.  For those who don’t know PerkStreet yet I suggest you check out my PerkStreet Review.  We’ll wait.  All caught up?  Good.  So you know, PerkStreet offers cashback on their debit card spending (pretty rare for a checking account and for some, better than receiving an interest rate on checking).  You always get between 1% and 2% on your debit card spending.  On top of that, every month they select specific categories and retailers where you can earn 5% cashback.  The selections usually revolve around a seasonal theme, which makes the categories both practical and fun.

For September, PerkStreet wants to help you get your family and home ready for the Fall season with cashback on clothes, home goods, and more at the following retailers: Continue Reading

Popular Honeymoon Spots on the Cheap

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Big spending has dropped in popularity since the 2008 financial crisis.  The era of glamorous weddings and honeymoons appears to be over.  Engaged couples and newlyweds are downsizing to more affordable scenarios.  More couples are choosing to emphasize the emotional and conjugal aspects of marriage instead of focusing on “bling.”

Honeymoons have shifted from exotic, romantic locations to places that, while still beautiful and romantic, do not cost so much to travel to them.  Affordable honeymoon locations are more popular than ever.  Many of them serve their patrons well.  Couples can start a life together just as well if they stick to a budget when planning the trip.  Here are the top five most popular,cheap honeymoon locations. Continue Reading

Transportation Alternatives for One Car Families

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Many of us grew up in two car families, and more recently, even three car families.  A car for each adult (and sometimes teenaged) member of the family seems to be a necessity, but is it?  Are there transportation alternatives for one car families?

We live on the outskirts of a major urban area and have lived happily with one car our entire married life.  By not having a second car we have saved thousands of dollars.  Consider the following:
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The Best Online Discount Brokerages for Cheap Trades

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Do you recall the days when you needed to call up a stock broker in order to make a stock trade?

And you needed to make the trade in a “round lot” (you had to buy 100 shares)?

Did I just date myself? 

Thanks to the internet that’s no longer the case and it’s easy for anyone to invest in stocks with an online brokerage.

But where do you go to trade online?

You want a brokerage that’s easy to use, has cheap trading costs, and has tools to help you track your trades and the market in general.

So what are the best online discount brokerages for cheap trades? 

Take a look below and see which one is best for you: Continue Reading

Homeowners Insurance Coverage: Are You Truly Covered?

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One of the biggest purchases you make is your home. It is an expensive item to own, and its protection is quite important if you want to maintain financial freedom.  After all, if something happens to your home, it can be quite expensive to fix.  Insurance is purchased to help you afford unexpected problems, and this includes homeowners insurance.  However, it is important to realize that not every situation is always covered by homeowners insurance.

Before you consider that your entire home, and everything in it is covered, it is important to double check what is actually covered by your policy.  You may need to purchase additional insurance coverage if your homeowners policy is lacking.  Here are some of the more common items not covered by some homeowners insurance policies:
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East Coast Natural Disasters, Steve Jobs Resignation, and Links

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The east coast is getting hammered with its second natural disaster in a week. For the usually calm area (from a nature perspective), many are not sure how to react.  Some in the coastal regions of the impacted states are ignoring warnings to evacuate at significant risk to their own lives.  An earthquake happened earlier in the week, Steve Jobs resigned from Apple, and now a hurricane.  Quite the eventful week.

Is your portfolio and personal finances prepared for a natural disaster? Use this week as inspiration to consider disasters moving forward. Check out these great articles to get started:

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Alternative College Housing Options to Save Money

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If a student decides to go to a college one or more hours away from home, a large part of their living expense is room and board.  Of course, there are the traditional dorm rooms and meal plans or off campus apartments.  But both of these options are rather expensive.  At my Alma mater, the University of Michigan, a dorm room and a meal plan can run a student anywhere from $8,370 for a triple to $12,530 for a single with a private bath.  A studio off campus can run $650 per month and a 3 bedroom apartment $1,500 a month.  Neither of the apartment options includes heat, electricity or food.

However, if a student is willing to take the non-traditional route, there are a few options available that will cost the student less out of pocket and ultimately reduce the amount of student loan debt they may have to acquire. Continue Reading

Should You Start Your Own Business?

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Employee career shift

Do you ever find yourself dreaming of having your own business? I think most people do at one time or another (that is, those who aren’t already self-employed).  Striking out on your own to blaze an independent career path is an integral part of the American Dream.  But is being your own boss something for everyone to pursue?  Should you start your own business?

You probably should be self-employed if…

Being self-employed requires, as much as anything else, a different mindset.  What makes up that mindset?
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