Interested in interest

Wanna refinance? There has never been a BETTER time to refinance your home! NO really never a better time! Ya see, because of the government program called the Home Affordable Refinance Plan (HARP!). HARP allows people to refinance their homes at extremely low rates, and reduce their payments by an average of $3,000 a year. Seems unbelievable, but true.

With everything there's a catch of course, we're dealing with the government  here. Currently the program is set to expire on December 31, 2015. But the good news is, once you’re in, you’re in, nobody can take that away from you, not even the government. The thought of a lower payment or fewer years on your mortgage sounds appealing, can i get one?

The Home Affordable Program is for the middle class and only the middle class. For instance,  your mortgage is $625,500 or less you most likely qualify. The Government wants banks to cut your rates, which puts more money in your pocket.

The average monthly savings for most eligible Americans is $250. The things I could do with that extra $250. Many homeowners save EVERY month, but depending on their current rates, they can also shorten their term.

You will likely lower your payment, possibly shorten your term, even can get cash. This is how powerful that little word called “interest” is. The middle class never sees “breaks” like this. So this is your chance to get “in”.

http://lifestylejournal.com/act-now-to-refinance-your-home-before-rates-rise/?aff=1205&sub=zeremrmp

Retirement.. Let's Cut It!

Everyone wants to retire, I mean who wouldn't, you get to lay around all day and still get a check and benefits! You can retire sooner with less savings, if you're willing to give up some things now. To chill later you must work hard now! There are a variety of ways for people to reduce their bills, and it's all about management. Eliminating your mortgage is one of the best ways to make retirement more affordable, it removes the most expensive monthly bill. In most households the most expensive bill trends to be the mortgage Although you'll still have to pay taxes and expenses towards your home, that's not likely to be as much as your mortgage.

I know everyone just LOVES, for the kids to be around, but once your children are independent, it's time to downsize a little. You won't need that house with 8 bedrooms, and five bathrooms any longer. Downsizing can be a beautiful, and cash saving thing, if you do it the right way. Consider downsizing to a smaller home in a less-expensive neighborhood, and add the money you don't have to spend to your retirement fund.  Where you live plays a big role in how much you pay for food, taxes and a variety of other services. In lower income neighborhoods you have grocery stores that sell produce, that are only two or three days old, it's still consumable, but it's cheaper, and you would have to use it faster. If you live in a higher income neighborhood you have the "fresher" produce, which cost at lest two to three dollars more, and it won't go bad as fast. Moving to an area where the cost of living is less could allow you to spend down your retirement savings more slowly.

Exercise is always good, and if you don't need a car, SELL IT! When you retire, since you have no  where to really go, you can downsize to one vehicle, this eliminates, gas cost, insurance, and the money you spend when those darn brakes go out. In walkable communities with good public transportation, you may even be able to get by without a car in retirement. All and all in order to live in serenity when you retire, you must save and realize you don't need everything you had pre-retirement.