Women’s Finance Blog

Why a smaller college is better for the first two years

Posted on June 9th, 2007 by Financial Diva

If you are stressed out over the possible student loan debt while you are spending two years in college, here is some advice that can help you out if you want to graduate from your dream college but without the accompanying debt loan that goes along with it.

Attend a smaller (ie. less expensive) college for the first two years, perhaps even a local one that will allow you to live and home (and save) for the first two years. Then transfer for your last two years to that better or dream college, and you will have your degree from your first choice college.

Do make sure that all the classes you take are transferable to the college you plan to attend for the second year.=, you don’t want to discover too late that some of your classes aren’t transferable for credit to your second college.

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Filed under: College

Credit Score Numbers: What they mean and how to get yours

Posted on June 1st, 2007 by Financial Diva

Your credit score is the most important number you have when it comes to applying for a loan or mortgage. It is free to order copies of your credit report, but unfortunately, you do need to pay to get your credit report.

850 is the highest score you can get, while very bad scores are in the 300s. Between 675 and 720 is the average for most Americans, with 720 considered good for loan purposes. On the other end of the spectrum, having a score below 600 will make it harder to get approved.

Ordering your credit score will run you $5.95 or more depending on where you order it from. You can order all three of your credit scores through MyFico.com or through each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies in the US, Equifax, Experian & TransUnion.

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Filed under: Credit Repair, Debt

It’s BBQ season… buy an old propane tank, not new

Posted on May 29th, 2007 by Financial Diva

Are you going to splurge on a new propane tank this year? If so, instead of buying that brand new propane tank, simply buy a used one then take advantage of the many trade in centers they have available. It doesn’t make sense to trade in your brand new tank when you are going to be getting a used one in return.

Some trade-in centers you can buy the used tanks or look for one on Freecycle (more on using Freecycle here). A new tank will run you $60 or more, so you will definitely save money in the long run. And all tanks are checked when the depots refill then, meaning you know the tank you receive is in working order.

Happy BBQing!

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Filed under: Budget

Importance of paying maxed out credit cards first

Posted on May 8th, 2007 by Financial Diva

Here is a handy tip that many women don’t realize. When your credit cards use more than 50% of the credit limit (ie. $5000 or more charged when your limit is $10000) you will get more points cut from your credit score. You should always try and keep less than 50% charged to your cards, but preferably no more than 30%. The larger the gap between your balance and your credit limit, the more points you will get for your credit score.

Use this free worksheet to track your percentages. Then you can see where each card currently is, and which cards have the highest percent. You will probably be surprised!

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Filed under: Debt, Worksheets

Things to ask a realtor before signing the house sale contract

Posted on May 3rd, 2007 by Financial Diva

Think a real estate agent will only have your best interests at heart? Maybe sometimes, but oftentimes realtors are only interested in their own commission price, especially if it means selling at a lower price now so they can get the commission now instead of waiting a month or two for a higher offer. Here are some things to check and ask about before you sign with a realtor to sell your house.

How will they promote your house?
Generally realtors pay for all advertising costs related to your house sale. So check and make sure that your house will be advertised appropriately, such as in the local printed real estate listings and the newspaper. Will the for sale sign go up the day you sign your contract, or when he or she gets around to it?

What about open houses?
How frequently will they hold open houses? Will your realtor be the one running the open house, or will it be an assistant or junior realtor with the agency?

Do they sell your property type or price range regularly?
Some realtors only deal with single family homes while others cater to condo or townhouse buyers. Likewise, some only touch listings higher than $X. Be sure to check and see that your realtor has experience in your particular area before you sign.

Contact information?
Do you have a cell phone number you can reach the realtor at easily? Or do all your calls get routed through an assistant or answering service? These are important things to check, you don’t want to end up waiting days to hear back from a phone call.

Selling price
Are you happy with the selling price the realtor is setting? Are you worried it is too high or too low? Be sure to voice your concerns before signing.

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Filed under: Real Estate

Finding a real estate agent you are happy with

Posted on April 27th, 2007 by Financial Diva

If you are moving to a new area, or the only real estate agents you know are ones you are not happy with, here are some tips to help you find the perfect one.

Get recommendations from friends or family about real estate agents they have worked with. This is a good stepping stone to get the feel for some agents that might or might not work for you.

Then, you should definitely interview 2 or 3 to find one you feel is perfect for you. If you are unhappy with the pressure tactics of one, or with the selling value one is quoting, move on. Make sure you are comfortable asking questions, even the “dumb ones”, because that shows you are probably a good match. You don’t want to feel reluctant asking questions because that can cost you in the long run.

How busy is he or she? You want to ensure that he or she will be able to devote the right amount of time to selling your house or helping you find a new one. And you want to ensure you are kept in the loop the entire time.

What if the house doesn’t sell? Check the contract before you sign to see how long you are locked into the realtor for and things including how many open houses are required etc.

Happy house hunting and selling!

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Filed under: Real Estate

Donating to Fisher House Hero Miles

Posted on April 11th, 2007 by Financial Diva

Have some frequent flyer miles that are expiring or you know you won’t use? Fisher House has a Hero Miles program where donated frequent flyer miles can be used by wounded military personnel to fly home for leave from medical centers or for family members to fly and visit those being treated.

Do you freecycle?

Posted on April 11th, 2007 by Financial Diva

Freecycling is something that has become more and more popular. The premise is basic… you list things you are willing to give away, the only requirement is the person who wants it has to meet you when it is convenient for you to do so. You can generally find anything from sofas to furniture to household appliances (both large and small). It is kind of like a mini eBay garage sale, but for free.

First, go to FreeCycle.org and search for your city. There you will get the listing for your local Freecycle, which will give you access to the rules/regulations for your city. Last I checked there were over 4,000 groups, meaning there is probably a group somewhere in your neck of the woods, and they even include countries such as France, Canada and the UK.

If you aren’t comfortable with having people to your house or apartment, meeting in parking lots of local fast food restaurants or big box style stores are commonplace too.

And as a bonus, it is GREAT for decluttering!

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Filed under: Budget

Withdrawing from your 401(k) fund

Posted on April 3rd, 2007 by Financial Diva

If you are withdrawing money from your 401(k) fund before you turn 59.5 years old, there is generally a 10% penalty on it, with the exception of special circumstances. These include:

Used to buy, build or rebuild your first home
Some medical expenses that aren’t covered by insurance, when it is more than 7.5% of your income
You have a disability
SERP program (Substantially Equal Periodic Payments)

This is just a basic list of the most common exemptions, however there are many more for special circumstances. For more information on withdrawing from your 401(k) fund, the IRS has more information here.

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Filed under: 401(k)

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Understanding your W-2 tax form

Why a smaller college is better for the first two years

Credit Score Numbers: What they mean and how to get yours

It’s BBQ season… buy an old propane tank, not new

Importance of paying maxed out credit cards first

Things to ask a realtor before signing the house sale contract

Finding a real estate agent you are happy with

Donating to Fisher House Hero Miles

Do you freecycle?

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