Author: Erin

Moving-Saving Tips for Couples Who Want to Buy a House

Money and relationships are often a tangled web. About 40 to 50% of married couples divorce, according to the Family Council. Many of those divorces are linked to financial problems or disagreements. Saving money for a new house can be a stressful time for a relationship if you don’t have a plan. Here are some tips to help you and your partner save for a new home that can reduce stress.

Get Real About a Budget

How much money do you and your partner need each week? Money can “disappear” when you aren’t diligent about tracking where it goes. The first thing you and your partner should do is sit down and evaluate your budget. Track spending for a month. You may be surprised to find that it isn’t the big bills that are killing your finances; it’s the small spending that’s dinging your finances the hardest.

Come up with a budget you can both live with and stick to it. You may have to sacrifice your morning coffee on the way to work and eat more lunches from home, but in the end, it will build your savings faster.

Cut Back On The “Extras”

Take a closer look at your subscriptions. Some apps can do the work for you. That extra $20 to $50 a month that you’re spending on duplicate streaming subscriptions can add up when you’re trying to save money. How often do you go to the gym? Can you justify the expense of your gym membership? Take a look at all the things you’re paying for every month, and start cutting the fat.

Saving money to buy your first home is well worth giving up the extra streaming entertainment or exercising at home instead of going to the gym. The more you cut back, the more you’ll save.

Don’t Change Your Standard of Living

If you get a raise, a bonus, or a nice-sized tax refund, don’t change your standard of living. Save all the extra windfall money you get. Saving any windfall will help to build your savings account quickly. A couple of thousands of dollars can pad your savings nicely.

Stick to your budget and make sure the windfall money goes right into your savings account. You can’t miss what you never had.

Stay Home More

Have a date night at home. Watch movies at home. Cook together. Invest in little things at home that will be enjoyable, but that won’t dent the budget. About 88% of homeowners report that they enjoy staying home after painting the interior of their home, according to House Grail. Make your current home a place you don’t mind being.

Staying home more often will help you to save in many ways. Forgo vacations and functions that will cost money. Instead of dinner out, consider inviting friends over for a potluck meal.

Plan For the Added Expenses

When you’re saving for a new home, plan for the potential “hidden expenses” of buying a new one. While adding a new roof to a house will provide you with a return of about 85% when you resell, according to the Realtors Association, you still need an emergency fund to cover the costs. Don’t just save towards a down payment; save to have enough money to cover moving costs and make repairs during the first year. It’s better to wait until you have a nice savings balance before you buy the house.

Money can be a tough subject for many couples, but it’s a conversation you should have frequently. Be sure to keep the above tips in mind as you and your partner form a plan of action for buying a new house. Good luck, and happy saving!

5 Reasons to Leave Your Manual Labor Job and Get a High-Paying Office Job

The workforce is increasingly evolving each year, with The Great Resignation becoming even more widely accepted than ever. Currently, more than 73% of all active job seekers are only passively looking for a job, rather than doing so actively. If you are working a manual job and are thinking of a career shift, there are a few reasons to consider opting for a high-paying office job instead of manual labor day in and day out.

1. Reduced Physical Stress

Reduced physical stress on the body is a major motivator for those looking to exit jobs that are physically demanding in exchange for an office job. In one year, it is estimated that at least 264 million workdays are lost due to back pain alone. In the U.S., that means that each worker misses approximately two full days of work due to back pain on an annual basis. With added physical stress and labor while at work, you are putting your body at unnecessarily increased risk, especially if you are working in one location for years or even decades.

2. Reduced Risk of Injury

Along the same lines as reducing physical stress on the body, working in an office over a manual labor job will also significantly reduce your risk of being injured while on the job. When it comes to worker’s compensation, approximately 85% of all claims filed by workers are due to slipping on wet or slippery floors in the workplace. Simply working in a potentially hazardous environment while conducting manual labor drastically increases your risk of being seriously injured on-site.

3. Salary

Working long, arduous hours in a manual labor job can quickly take a toll on the body, especially if you are dedicated and committed to your work. Unfortunately, manual labor jobs are not always as high-paying as office jobs, even if you feel as if you are putting in more work physically. If you are seeking a new position that will allow you to maximize your salary, doing so is much easier by transitioning to a high-paying office role. From graphic design to data entry and administrative work, there are plenty of roles and positions to be filled based on your current skill set and abilities that will also benefit you in the finance department.

4. Toxic Work Culture and Environment

Working a full-time job requires you to be present for at least 8 hours each day, at a minimum. If you find yourself trying to make excuses to avoid going to work, you may be working in a toxic work environment. Leaving a toxic work environment and work culture is one of the biggest motivators for those who transition into an entirely new career, such as a high-paying office job.

5. No Work/Life Balance

If you are struggling to find a healthy work/life balance and your manual labor job is becoming increasingly demanding on your body, it may be time to consider a career switch. Switching to a high-paying office job may require furthering your education, enrolling in various courses, and developing new skills, but it will also provide you with the opportunity to seek roles that offer a healthy work/life balance. Because office roles and remote jobs are becoming increasingly commonplace, the workforce has more options and the ability to negotiate their positions and responsibilities. If a healthy work/life balance is a top priority for you, be sure to voice your concern during the first interview for any new position you are interested in.

Whether you have always worked a physical job and you are looking for a change of scenery or if you want to reduce your risk while at work, there are plenty of reasons to consider transitioning to a high-paying office job. From developing new skills to ultimately earning a much higher salary, there are many benefits for those who choose to enter into office roles today.

How to Save Money During Cold and Flu Season

It’s no secret that cold and flu season has been hitting the U.S. particularly hard this year. From over-the-counter medications to doctor visits, cold and flu season can take a big bite out of your budget if you’re not prepared. Here are a few key ways to save money during this annual season.

1. Get Your Flu Shot

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Vaccinating is one of the best ways to avoid budget woes during flu season. According to Medical News Today, the flu vaccine is highly effective. When the vaccine matches the circulating strain, it can reduce your risk of contracting the flu by 40%-60%. The current strain that’s been making its rounds the most this season is Influenza A.

The flu vaccine is a safe preventive measure that is proven effective. For 70+ years, flu vaccines have been helping people protect themselves from this serious virus. Many health insurance plans will cover the cost of vaccinations. If your plan doesn’t, paying for a flu vaccine now can protect your budget during flu season.

2. Stay Active

Exercise is not a cure-all, but it can help to keep you healthy. A healthy immune system can fight off viruses like the cold and flu more efficiently. If you are exposed and fit, you may avoid serious symptoms and complications. Unfortunately, according to the Fitness Council, less than 5% of American adults are active for 30 minutes a day; that works out to less than one out of three adults getting the level of activity that experts recommend.

Daily exercise doesn’t have to be high-impact exercise. Yoga stretching exercises have a low impact on joints. According to the Global Yoga Institute, about 9.5% of American adults choose yoga to care for their bodies and minds. You don’t have to make room in your budget to pay to exercise; you can walk more to get your activity level up.

3. Change Your Nutrition Focus

An immune system-building diet can help to reduce the risk of budget-busting colds and flu. It is easier than you think to incorporate immune-building foods into your diet. For example, citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons all pack a Vitamin C punch. Vitamin C is well-known for its immunity-boosting effects.

Other foods to add to your diet include peppers, mushrooms, garlic, broccoli, and ginger. A diet that is rich in immune-boosting foods can help your body to fight off viruses naturally.

4. Buy the Store Brand for Medication

If you catch the flu or a cold, don’t buy name-brand over-the-counter medication. Buy the store brand. Store brands are typically markedly cheaper. It will ding your budget less if you don’t overspend on expensive name-brand medication.

Read the labels to compare content. You may be surprised that the less expensive store brands have the same active ingredients.

5. Buy Cold Medicine in Bulk

Preparing ahead by buying cold medicine in bulk when you find it on sale is a good way to preserve your budget. It can be cheaper to buy cold medicine in bulk, especially if you have a family. Typically, cold medicine has a shelf life of about two years from the manufacturing date.

You can find cold medicine in bulk at big box discount stores. Do make sure you look for the expiration date to ensure you are getting the best value. You don’t want to buy medicine in bulk if it is getting ready to expire.

Protecting yourself from the cold and flu this season protects your budget. Try some simple steps to reduce your risk of getting sick this year. Learn more budget-friendly tips today.