Personal Finance and Money Management

Winter time is not only expensive because of the holidays, and all the Christmas shopping we do, but it is known to be more expensive due to our bills as well.  Simple things like running the heat more will really add to your bills.  If you’re looking for creative ways to save more this winter, be sure to do a few of these simple fixes!

Ways to Save on Your Winter Bills:

Furnace Filter:  They say that if you change your furnace’s filter, you can really save some money.  Over time your filter will clog with dirt and other debrees which will then make your furnace run less efficient.  When it runs less efficient, it takes more time to heat your house which then costs more money to run more often.

Windows:  Getting new windows or simply caulking around them can help save on your bills as well.  If you have bad windows or the slightest cracks, the cold winter air will get into your house which then costs more money because of running the furnace more often.

Programmable Thermostat:  Getting a programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to save money.  A lot of people leave the heat on when they go to work, run errands, and when they’re sleeping.  What they don’t realize is that they can program it to shut on and off at certain times of the day or even week.  By cutting down just a couple hours each day you will be saving a lot of money each week.

Light Bulbs: Getting florescent light bulbs to replace your incandescent or halogen light bulbs is known to save up to 75% less energy when the lights are on.  This can make a big difference over time since 20% of a homeowner’s energy bill each month is due to lighting.

Winter is a season that not too many people are fond of, so to make the best of it, and to save even more than we usually do, consider a few of these tips above.  Saving money is a great thing, and is always something we should look out for!

Assuming that the level of interest on standard variable rate (SVR) mortgages will remain low for the long term may be risky, according to one website.

Moneysupermarket.com said that the average rate on an SVR deal is now at 4.2 per cent above the Bank of England base rate, currently standing at 0.5 per cent.

This is compared to 2.68 per cent 12 months ago, showing a slow and steady go that could creep up without interruption mortgage borrowers who assume they will always be getting a good deal.

Hannah-Mercedes Skenfield, mortgages channel manager at moneysupermarket.com, suggested that lenders are still trying to increase their profit margins during the recession .

” Borrowers need to be aware that lenders are hospitable to price their SVR during the time that they please, and therefore an SVR deal might not be the best way to get the most benefit from the low base rate environment,” she said.

The Sunday Times recently claimed that discount mortgages may not be the best deals at the moment because they track lenders’ own SVRs, rather than the Bank’s base rate, leaving customers “at the mercy” of lenders. Full Article

Quicken Loans Capital Markets Update for November 25, 2009

Yesterday, treasury prices surged higher after the $42b 5yr auction drew the strongest demand in over two years.

Not long after the auction, treasury prices received another boost as the Fed (FOMC) minutes indicated that officials believe mortgage rates would remain at very low levels for an extended period.

This morning, treasury prices are mainly unchanged, ahead of another busy day of economic agility.

The markets will be closed tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Medical bills are an easy way to go into debt. They are usually large, unexpected, and can come at the most financially inconvenient times. There may not be a convenient time for unexpected medical bills but they seem to come when they are least welcome.

To avoid debt or even the need to file during bankruptcy you need to know what to do. These tips could help save your financial future.

Get Good Health Insurance

The main thing to remember about health insurance is that you need to have it. Yes, the monthly payments can be another drain on your finances but unexpected medical bills could do much more than that.

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