Home appraisals are a fact of life for buyers, sellers and anyone who needs to refinance a mortgage loan. It’s the appraiser’s job to make sure that the lender doesn’t become overextended by providing more money than the property is worth. If the appraiser’s opinion isn’t in harmony with an agreed upon sales price, that … Read more
I really enjoy finance as a hobby, and that is why I started and continue to run Wealth Artisan. I love helping people, I especially enjoy interacting with everyone, and I love hearing when my information has helped someone. I write a lot about building wealth, starting a business, and managing money, but I also … Read more
Marketing isn’t the devil, but marketing also isn’t your friend. Marketing can be used in a terrible way, and more often marketers try to make it your friend, but marketing takes on no persona. As an example, if you’ve ever purchased a recommended item from Amazon, liked an ad on Facebook, or went to a movie at … Read more
The best work is often done with a rested mind. A tired person tends to rush, make mistakes, and have less concern for the quality of the outcome. This isn’t because they have no regard for work quality, but because they want things done quickly and they are not using time management. As a frequent … Read more
Since 2006, the U.S. Postal Service, U.S.P.S., has increased the price of stamps four times, going from 39 cents a stamp to 45 cents a stamp. Now, only a month after their last price increase in January, U.S.P.S. released their plans to increase the stamp price to 50 cents a stamp, a whopping 11% jump! … Read more
Identity theft is a big problem in America. It’s estimated that it’s about a $3 trillion per year problem, to be specific. Identity theft can hurt credit scores, cost you money, and even harm your reputation. While there are a number of scenarios that identity thieves might use to get personal information and take advantage … Read more
Living within your means is the mantra of the frugal few, but maybe it is time to learn how to live within your means. The authors of The Millionaire Next Door discovered something not so astonishing about the world’s millionaires: they control money & live within their means. Many like to brush it off with … Read more
I’ve written about customer service in the past, but I wanted to bring it up again as it is a vital piece to your business. One specific aspect I want to talk about is the “it’s not my job” mentality that lots of businesses seem to suffer from. Customer Service Is Everyone’s Job Your business … Read more
Regardless of your financial situation, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to get a loan at some point in the future. This could come in the form of a mortgage, a student loan, an auto loan or a small business loan. While these loans are for different purposes, the process of applying and qualifying … Read more
Each year, consumers are deluged with commercials and songs about free credit reports. I have a contact at the Better Business Bureau who wanted me to help spread the word about this. This article is absolutely in no way a commercial article, and I’ve received no funding for posting it. The information contained in it … Read more
Guest Post by Ed O’Brien There are many consumers searching for the ideal way to pay down their debt to have more financial freedom and improve their credit. While there are varied ways and methods for eliminating debt effectively, no one program will work for every consumer. The first step in effective debt relief is … Read more
If you’ve ever seen a film such as The Illusionist, or the Shawshank Redemption, then you’ve seen a theatrical interpretation of the power of patience. While the films themselves may show unlikely scenarios and feats by the use of patience, this should not diminish the power of patience. Indeed, patience can be your greatest asset. … Read more
For the most part, the grass is the color you make it. I have a friend, and for the purposes of this article, we will call him Steve. Steve has “grass is greener” syndrome worse than anyone else I know. I’ve told him this, and he tends to chuckle, but I seriously mean it. Anytime … Read more
This last week, I was on a staycation. If you don’t know what a staycation is, it is a vacation where you stay at home. Staycations have become more popular lately as the economy has tightened everyone’s’ wallets. With less money to go on cruises, road trips, flights to exotic locations, and extravagant theme park … Read more
Identity theft is sadly becoming a common problem, with new and surprising ways for thieves to gain important information about you, your bankcards and your current accounts. What Is Credit Card Skimming A technique called credit card ‘skimming’, where thieves copy the information held in your card’s magnetic stripe when your card is swiped, has … Read more
When people hear that someone has money, we tend to think that they have a high paying job, they were born into money, they hit the lottery, or some other method of instant windfall. Rarely do we consider that the person might have just been responsible, and saved their money. I’m a huge fan of … Read more
Are you trying to sell your home and get the best return on your home renovation upgrades? Or, simply want to spruce up your personal space without spending a lot? Most realtors, appraisers and interior designers will typically suggest starting with your bathrooms. Apart from your kitchen, the bathrooms in your home are the spaces … Read more
When it comes to saying, “I do,” there are few topics that come up faster than the issue of money. Whether it’s paying bills, sticking to budgets, combining finances or consolidating debt, the topic of money has the potential to divide or unify. So, whether you’re recently engaged, newly married, or just finally getting around … Read more
Deciding whether you need to refinance your home or opt for a homeowner loan, such as a second mortgage, can be a stressful decision. Maybe you’re only beginning to weigh your options, but here’s something that may ease your mind. The average homeowner will keep their first mortgage for a mere seven years or less. … Read more
We are all guilty of living for the here-and-now, at least some of the time. It is easy to get caught up in the moment, and forget that there is some sort of future in front of us. Call it a lack of planning, or a lack of experience, but it seems to effect everyone, … Read more
You’ve spent years saving up your down payment, checked out the calculator at moneysupermarket, found a real estate agent and are in the process of buying a home. While you may think the monthly mortgage payment including closing costs, fees and homeowners insurance are all it takes to get you the house of your dreams, … Read more