Day 3 of America Saves Week - Big Ticket Savings

Day 3 – Big Ticket Saving Occasional “Big Ticket” or expensive purchases can be unavoidable in life. People simply need cars and homes, and want to send their children to college. The best way to deal with these necessary purchases is to plan ahead and be prepared. There are of course many ways to do this, but perhaps the easiest is to devote a percentage of each paycheck to one of these items. The percentage of a paycheck you can set aside for this kind of preparation will vary for every individual. The percentage could be 10%, 5%, or even as low as 2%. The farther in advance you start preparing, the lower the percent necessary to save. As an example, consider someone...

Posted on Feb 26, 2013

Looking for a Used Car? Ask the Right Questions

One of the most stressful buying experiences can occur when you are purchasing a used vehicle. Used vehicles can save you a lot of money compared to buying a brand new vehicle – if they are in good shape. Below is a great article from MSN Money on How to Shops Smart at a Used Car Lot. Seven years ago, when Alysia Welch-Chester needed a new car, she settled on a 2001 Toyota Prius that she found at a used car dealership. “(It was) the best $7,000 I’ve ever spent!” she says. Secondhand cars present a great option for consumers, because a new car depreciates in value almost as soon as the dealer hands the keys to the owner. “There is no better deal...

Posted on Mar 28, 2011

So You Want to Buy a Car

One of the best kept secrets in business is that everything is negotiable. This is particularly applicable when shopping for a car. You’ve probably seen car salespeople hovering in the doorways of the dealerships, watching your every move and waiting to strike. This is because they make money every time they sell a car…which puts you, the consumer, in a position of power. In order to use that power, you need to be an informed consumer; you must know what type of vehicle you need and the price range you can afford. You should decide how you are going to pay for the car. You should also know your credit score because the higher your score, the more negotiation power...

Posted on Jun 12, 2008