Pay off the mortgage quicker... or not? We need your advice...

Filed under: Banks , Borrowing , Budgets , Debt , Wealth The status of using a credit card to pay for dinner, a movie, clothes or anything else you need or want immediately is a lot of fun to have -- until the bill arrives. And the joy of using a credit card, as almost everyone who has used one on a spending spree or a weekend out knows, can easily turn to sorrow a month later, if the bill isn't paid on time. Late fees, not paying off the balance each month, and 18% or higher interest rates add up and turn that $250 night on the town into a $300 debt. With more people watching their spending in a sour economy, and the enticing lure of a credit card just sitting in their purse or wallet unused, more Americans are rethinking how they pay for things. Credit cards are so out. Here's an example why credit cards are dangerous, according to the Delaware County Office of Consumer Affairs : On a balance of $2,000, making the minimum monthly payment, such as 2% of the outstanding balance or $20, whichever is less, can take 22 years to pay off at 19% interest. Interest payments will total nearly $4,800, which is more than double the original $2,000 borrowed 22 years ago! OK, so it gets somewhat better if the monthly payment is doubled to 4% of the balance owed, shortening the payment time to seven years instead of 22, and saving about $3,680. Continue reading What's out: Paying with credit cards. What's in: Paying with debit cards. What's out: Paying with credit cards. What's in: Paying with debit cards. originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Fantastic Freebies Rayovac is offering a coupon for $1 off any pack of its batteries. Click here to print it. Rayovac batteries can be found for $1 per pack in some stores, so all you'll need to pay is tax if you buy a small pack.Rayovac Batteries originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Extracurriculars , Travel Disney World (and I can't believe I'm writing this) was once the ultimate family destination for many of my friends. I can specifically enumerate examples of friends for whom a Disney World vacation was such an important life event, they planned future childbearing and other major personal decisions around the family trip -- and, what's more, planned the trip more than a year in advance. Disney World has been, for many families, truly a signal that they've arrived as consumers of American culture. For this year already, 10% fewer families have arrived. Disney earnings, released a few weeks ago, indicated that visits to its iconic amusement parks were down 10% this year . And, indeed, the stock has been depressed as investors expect "Armageddon at the parks." The fact is that families strapped for cash to heat their homes and buy groceries are probably going to avoid the indulgent and expensive family vacations. The coming credit card meltdown is sure to put a dent in families' ability to use credit card points for "Disney Rewards," as well as reducing the main way many people finance their magical vacations. And these days? Conspicuous consumption is over; and enjoying your family is coming back. If Disney World is out, public parks are in. Continue reading What's out: Disney World. What's in: Public parks. What's out: Disney World. What's in: Public parks. originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Extracurriculars Marriage may be hard work, but divorce can be financially cataclysmic . Can't happen to you,? That kind of denial is one reason that divorce brings about economic disaster, since planning for that eventuality seems disloyal. Nonetheless, 43% of first marriages in the U.S. end within 15 years , according to the CDC. One in five will end within five years, one in three with ten years. The statistics vary according to a number of variables, and divorce360.com has created a Marriage Calculator (which I'd call a divorce calculator) that, based on the averages taken from census data, will give you odds on your marriage lasting. Enter gender, date of marriage, education, age when married, and number of years married to calculate the estimate. For example: If you are a male high-school dropout married after 1980, at the age of 20 or younger, and have been married for five years --13% of people with your background have already divorced, and 26% will be divorced over the next five years. If you are a female without children married after 1980 with a high school diploma who was 22 to 24 at the time of your marriage and have been married two years so far -- 2% of those with similar backgrounds have divorced already, and 13% more will do so over the next five years. Female with kids, married 1960-1979, college grad, married at 23 or 24, and have been married now for 30 years-- 28% of those sharing your background have already divorced, and 2% more will divorce over the next five years. I'm pleased to report that 0% of those sharing my background will divorce in the next five years. Of course, these are very coarse projections, but if you are in a category with high divorce rates, you might want to learn a little more about why marriages fail so you can head off possible destructive conflicts. Read more: Five steps for cleaning up your credit after a divorce Divorce Calculator shows odds your marriage will last originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Saving What could be more a more traditional gift to teach a youngster frugality than a piggy bank? We've found some very interesting takes on the old standby that would make great gifts (especially if some jingle-jangle is already on deposit). First, however, our candidate for either the most moronic or ironic, depending on your point of view: the Boob Job Money Jar from Wake Up Frankie. Combine this with the Florida surgeon's book for four-to-seven year olds explaining mom's new rack, "My Beautiful Mommy," for a a truly tacky gift. Some of my favorites -- The Wine Money Bank ($12.95), for the wino on your list The Skate Boarder bank ($12.95). which should be given out by your local orthopedist The Cyborg bank (I'm a Sarah Conners Chronicles fan, so this resonates with me) $29.95 The Viagra Fund bank ($24.95) The Auto Save bank , in the shape of a large computer 'Save' key The Sperm Coin Bank The Coin Commode Toilet Bank Boob Job Money Jar and other inspirations to save originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle , Shopping , Simplification Now that I've self-identified with the "frugalista ," it's already time to buckle down and start budgeting for the rest of the holiday season. Frugalistas are known for spending little on typical consumer goods (think expensive decorations, electronics and clothing) but maybe a little more on good food (that they cook themselves, natch) and what I like to call "vital luxuries"; maybe a couple of hand-made wooden toys for their children, or a top-of-the-line food processor (the easier to make great dinners at home instead of going out). So: what is in the frugalista's budget this year? Here's how my Christmas spending plan breaks down: Christmas tree: Purchased from a local charity I believe in , $40 Food: Extra organic cream, some direct-trade shade-grown chocolate, and a heritage turkey from a local farm, plus a couple of splurges on cheeses and cured meats from my favorite farmer's market vendors, an extra pound of coffee for my dad, about $200 Toys: One or two hand-made wooden toys for each of my three little boys, $120 Crafty: Four skeins of yarn to complete knitted Christmas gifts, $60 Stockings: A trip to REI to get socks and new bike lights for my boys' stockings, $50 Husband: New fenders for his bike, $30 It adds up to $500 all told (and my husband has already earned the money working more than usual in November); I'll make gifts out of materials I already have for my sisters and nieces, and each of my boys will get a new handmade stuffed toy. I'll wrap my gifts in recycled paper from years past, or newsprint that the boys paint for me; we'll make holiday cards out of one of a million different Martha Stewart-inspired recycle-y ideas. That's how this frugalista plans to spend her holiday money; how about you? What does your holiday budget look like?Holiday spending plan: Where are frugalistas using their budgets? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Bargains , Home My last TV cost me $20,000. Well, the TV itself didn't actually cost twenty grand, but being the serial home improver that I am, that single appliance purchase ignited a viral home improvement spree that spanned two floors. It included new furniture to fit the TV, new paint -- because you can't put a new TV in a room with walls needing paint, and newly finished hardwood floors -- because what would the neighbors think seeing a new TV on a floor that was dull and scratched? Not willing to leave well enough alone, I took the project upstairs where new wall to wall carpet, paint and furniture made absolutely sure that new TV would fit in just perfectly. That was then, this is now. Not only would I not buy another new TV, millions of Americans (who I'm sure think a TV would look fine in their homes just the way they are) won't be buying a new TV either. Instead they'll invest in one of the hottest trends in gadget purchasing: buying refurbished. A refurbished gadget isn't "used." But it is fair to say that it was "previously owned." In most cases, a refurbished product is one that was purchased but then returned to the retailer who sends the unit back to the factory to be tested and repackaged. Deals are a many with some refurbished products selling for 25% less and include the original full factory warranty. Continue reading What's out: New gadgets. What's in: Refurbished gadgets What's out: New gadgets. What's in: Refurbished gadgets originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Fantastic Freebies Even before the turkey leftovers run out, millions of American will be unpacking their holiday decorations, hoping to set up light displays bright enough to be seen from the International Space Station. If instead of blinking lights, you discover your light strings are on the blink, here are five fast and easy ways to get the joy back in the joyous season: Inspect - As you unpack your lighting supplies, begin with a visual check of the items that starred in your displays last year. All should bear the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) seal of approval and be free of broken or cracked light sockets, worn or frayed wires and loose, damaged plugs. Test - Before you hang the light string, test each string to be sure it still works. Even if it was fine when you put it away last year, home improvement gremlins may have set in and caused a bit of mischief. Secure - If the light string isn't working, unplug it and check each bulb to see if it is loose in the socket. Do this by gently pressing each bulb into its socket. Even though lights are often designed to work if a single bulb goes out, they won't work if a bulb is unplugged. Once you have tightened the bulbs, plug in the string back in. Re-fuse - If the string still doesn't work, unplug the light string and check the fuse. Most strings have a fuse built in to the plug. Open remove the fuse and check that it isn't burned out. If it is, replace it. Most light strings are sold have extra fuses taped to the string somewhere in a very small plastic bag. Replace - If you have success with the above techniques but find your short on parts, relegate one of the light strings to salvage status and use those bulbs and fuses to get the rest of your light strings in working order. Continue reading Five fast, free and easy fixes for holiday lights Five fast, free and easy fixes for holiday lights originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments