How to Cut your Grocery Bill

Cut Your Grocery Bill with These Tips

How much do you spend on food? If you are like the majority of people, food is one of the top expenses in your life and although it is a vital expense for survival, many of us spend more than we need to. If eating healthy is a priority in your life and you spend a lot because of this reason, you can still cut your grocery bill without settling for highly processed cheap eats. Below are some tips to help you slash your grocery bill!

Meal Planning and Store Sales:

Rather than going to the grocery store and picking up whatever is on sale at the time, which leads to inevitable extras that you didn’t really need to pick up but you grabbed them because they were on sale, make the most of your grocery shopping while avoiding overspending.

First and foremost, check for deals before you even head to the store. Make a meal plan based on what is on sale and make a list of what you need accordingly. Look for ingredients that can be used in more than one dish, using the idea of cross-utilization.

Use apps like Fetch or iBotta to trim your grocery bill down by simply using your phone!

Shop in Season:

Another way to save significant funds at the grocery store is by eating seasonally – especially if you eat organic produce! By shopping for in-season produce, you not only get better tasting fruits and vegetables most of the time, but you also will be able to get a good amount at a significantly lower price.

Use your Freezer:

Another way to reduce your grocery bill is by saving any in-season produce that you buy on sale by preserving it. Freeze vegetables and fruit for later use!

Eating well on a budget is a skill that can be developed by following these grocery-bill-cutting tips!

Thank you once again for taking the time to read our Blogs. 

Mr. Rafael Ulloa, on behalf of Madison Monroe & Associates.  

Two Healthy Credit Habits to Begin

Whether your credit score is low because you have not maintained good credit or simply because you have never established credit, maintaining a good credit score is an important aspect of financial health. Below are two healthy credit habits you can employ now to establish a good credit ranking.

Use Less than 30% of Available Credit:

The amount of credit you utilize accounts for 30% of your total credit report. This number, however, only applies to credit cards, which have a total limit for credit.

Credit bureaus note consumers who use more than 30% of their available credit. Using too much makes the bureau think you rely too heavily on cards to fund your lifestyle. Even if you pay that balance off every month, the utilization is still reported to credit bureaus.

To avoid using more than 30% of your available credit, keep a close eye on your account to check the balance and divide that balance by your available credit. This calculation will generate the percentage of available credit you are using.

If you do go over 30% every month, pay half of your credit card bill before the billing cycle closes! This will help cut down your utilization ratio by the time it is reported.

Carefully Open New Accounts:

You can easily tank your credit score if you open too many new credit accounts. Credit bureaus ding customers that open too many credit card or loan accounts in a short period of time as it may be viewed as a sign of financial instability. This component makes up about 10% of your credit score.

Opening too many new accounts also brings down the average age of your credit history, a component that accounts for 15% of your credit score. Lenders look for borrowers with the highest credit history age possible so avoid opening too many accounts.

When you do open a new account, consider whether it is worth negatively impacting your credit score.

Thank You for taking the time to read our Blogs. 

Mr. Rafael Ulloa 

8 Strategies for Building a Successful Career by Rafael Ulloa

Improving your earnings potential is one of the best ways to take control of your financial life. Here are eight tips that can help you build a successful and rewarding career:

 

1. Consider your goals. Some dream of running Fortune 500 companies, getting into the Senate, or being professional athletes -- others are happy to work a day job that leaves them plenty of time to share with family, pursue hobbies, and enjoy the small things in life. There are no rights or wrong answers in life, but considering your goals before planning your career will help you find the right path for you.

 

2. Make a plan. Some careers require lots of advanced education to even begin -- but even if your career can be started after high school, you can likely gain benefits by opting to travel, to take a class, or to volunteer for special duties. Research career paths in your chosen field, and make a plan that will get you where you want to go.

 

3. Manage money wisely. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, it will be difficult to plan ahead and get where you want to go in the long term. It will also be difficult to make investments in your career, such as going back to school or taking a sabbatical year. Employers can even deny you a job if they find that you have bad credit! So smart money management is crucial to professional success.

 

4. Be a learner. Acquiring useful knowledge and new skills will put you one step ahead of the competition. So whether it is in a formal academic setting or on the job, you should always have your mind focused on learning as much as possible.

 

5. Make connections. We've all heard the old saying -- it's not what you know, it's who you know. This old adage proves true more often than not, which is why professional networking is such a crucial part of almost any career.

 

7. Don't be afraid to ask. Perhaps your employer is willing to give you a raise and/or considering you for a promotion. Perhaps your employer's competitor would gladly double your salary to have you working for their team. If you don't ask, you will never know.

 

8. Have an exit plan. Without a plan, retirement will be a struggle. Invest in your future by making a concrete retirement plan and contributing regularly to a retirement fund.

 

For more tips on earning, saving, and staying out of debt, visit Madison Monroe and Associates online today!

 

 

 

 

A Brighter Future: 5 Reasons to Get Out of Debt

When credit card debt, student loans, or medical bills have become a consistent part of your life, the prospect of getting out of debt can sound overwhelming. But the truth is that no matter how large or small your debts may be, there are time-tested strategies that can help you get back on your feet. And though the road to debt recovery can be challenging from time to time, the end result is well worth the effort. In this article we will discuss a few reasons why getting out of debt is so worth it.

 

1. Access Education. According to the College Board, the average cost of in-state tuition at public universities in the US is a little over $9000 per year. And although scholarships and grants may cover a portion of this cost, the truth is that taking out a loan and/or dipping into savings funds are usually necessary strategies. Getting out of debt is the first step toward helping yourself and/or your kids to achieve those big dreams about higher education!

 

2. Become a Homeowner. Even for people who are quite well-off, a home loan is usually necessary in order to make such a large purchase. This underscores once again the importance of good credit and a low debt-to-income ratio.

 

3. Increase Your Mobility. Another common problem that people with bad credit suffer from is difficulty getting financing to buy a new car. So reducing your debt can be a great way of getting a better ride!

 

4. Prioritize Healthcare. Don't let medical bills be a determining factor in the healthcare choices you make: getting rid of medical debt is easier than you think!

 

5. Invest in the Future. Most financial experts agree that reducing debt is actually a more profitable expense of money than most investments.

 

For more information on reducing your debt in a sustainable way, visit Madison Monroe and Associates online today!

Three Things to Do Before Selecting a Realtor

Buying a home is the dream of countless renters -- and even though owning a home doesn't guarantee financial security, it is oftentimes a good investment. As long as you buy within your budget, make payments regularly, and take care of the house and the property, owning a home can be a great way to increase your net worth while paying for the necessity of living space. That is one important reason why homeownership is such an important aspect of the “American dream”.

 

As much potential as purchasing a home does offer, it can still be an intimidating process -- especially for people who are buying their first home. If you are unsure how to go about buying a house, then this article can help you get through the initial stages of the process up until you have an experienced realtor guiding you.

 

Step One: Research. Here’s the good news: if you are reading this article, then you are already doing something right! If you are planning on buying a home, then you should learn as much as you can about the home buying process, your local real estate market, your local realtors, etc. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about buying a home, the better!

 

Step two: Budget. Most financial experts recommend that your mortgage payments should not exceed 28 percent of your monthly income. With that in mind, check out this mortgage payment calculator to estimate the budget you can allot to buying your new home.

 

Step three: Pre-qualification. Contact banks in your area to get pre-qualified for a mortgage. This process is relatively straightforward -- the banks will simply give you a rough idea of how much you can afford to take out on a loan. If your credit is poor, this may not be enough to buy within the budget you had allocated -- in which case you may wish to work on improving your credit score before beginning the home purchasing process. If you can afford a home within your budget, however, then you are ready to begin searching for a qualified realtor to begin the home purchasing process!

5 Health Conditions Associated With Excessive Debt Problems

It’s easy enough to see how illness can cause debt. Even for the financially responsible, an unexpected health condition can lead to thousands of dollars in insurance deductibles and medical travel expenses, and this doesn’t even begin to cover the financial impact that needing to take time off of work can cause.

 

What might not be as obvious, however, is that the relationship between debt and illness goes both ways. In other words, not only can illness cause debt -- debt may actually be a contributing cause of illness, as well.

 

A recent BMC Study on Public Health came to this exact conclusion, stating that “indebtedness” was impacting patients negatively by causing stress, impacting their relationships, and causing them to make unhealthy choices such as skipping checkups and eating poorly.

 

Here are a few of the most common health conditions that debt can help cause and/or exacerbate:

 

1. Anxiety. The link between anxiety and debt should be fairly obvious: we all worry about money from time to time, and for people with clinically significant levels of anxiety, falling into debt can complicate treatment.
2. Depression. Feelings of worthlessness and guilt, inability to focus, and persistent low energy are all listed among the most common symptoms of depression. And, even though a person’s worth is in no way determined by their financial status, society often tells us otherwise. This is just one reason why depression and debt is a bad combination.
3. Blood Pressure. Worry and stress can contribute to high blood pressure, which is one potential explanation of the correlation between high blood pressure and debt. Financial problems often impact people’s diets, however, which could also make a difference. We’ll talk more about that in the next point on obesity.
4. Obesity. Eating healthy, organic food is more expensive than eating canned food. And people who are in debt may be forced to work more than one job, which makes unhealthy fast food an attractive option compared with coming home and cooking after a double shift. And the prospect of paying for a gym can sound flat out ridiculous. These are all reasons why financial problems and obesity tend to go hand in hand.
5. Immunity. Studies also show that people who are in debt are more likely to be immunodepressed. This could be in large part due to the previous four factors listed.

 

Looking to free yourself of debt and live a healthier, happier life? Visit Madison Monroe and Associates online today to learn about our stress relieving debt reduction programs!

How To Help Your Teen Cope With Moving

WHAT IF YOU’RE TEENAGER DOESN’T WANT TO MOVE TO A NEW CITY?

You've got a new job offer across the country and you are planning to pack your things, buy or rent a new home and make the big move. However, when you tell your 17 year old daughter your plans, she lets out a mournful wail and cries that it is not fair. How can you possibly take her away from all of her friends, her favorite hangout spots and the cute boy she just started seeing?

Moving house is a difficult transition and it is even more traumatic for teenagers. The teenage years are an important stage where young adults establish their individuality and independence and during this time their social circle is extremely important to them. Being removed from that against their will can make any teen feel sad, confused, angry and resentful. Also, fitting into a new social scene in a different location can be a challenge for a teen that might be singled out as the “new kid".

How can you help your teen during this transition so that the experience will be easier on them?

Here are some tips that will make the experience of moving cities a little bit easier on your teenager:

Give them as much notice as possible so that they have time to adjust to the idea of moving. They will feel like they have enough time to say goodbye to their friends and close a chapter of their lives.

Try to schedule the move around the school calendar, as moving in the summer is much less disruptive to your teen's life than relocating in the middle of the school year.

Make sure that they have ample time to spend with their close friends before they leave and once you arrive, understand that they might go through a grieving process of missing their old pals.

When you get to your new home, make sure that your teen has plenty of ways to keep in touch with their old friends, such as an internet connection and a cell phone plan.

Encourage your teen to get involved in the community of your new hometown, such as joining sports clubs or attending events. This can help them to make new friends

Can they stay behind? Only recommended for kids 18 and over

In some situations, the better option might be to let your teenager stay behind. If they are in their older teens, they will have finished high school, maybe have a job and be independent people of their own. Perhaps they could stay with a family member or parents of a friend for a while until they are old enough to move out on their own. This might make them a lot happier in the long run, rather than taking them along with you if they really don't want to move.

Below are some links to help you with the transition:

How to talk to an angry teen: http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/talk-angry-teen-5913.html

Make new friends: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/how-to-make-a-bunch-of-new-friends-in-any-new-city.html

Have a job: http://www.youngupstarts.com/2012/09/13/12-compelling-reasons-your-teen-should-work/