Saving Tips for the Newly Married Couple

A savings fund should be the first thing on your agenda even if you happen to be a newly married couple. You plan on starting a family don’t you? Are you prepared to deal with any medical, financial or other financial emergencies that might come along the way? Have you started saving for a new home for a growing family?

Emergency Fund

A savings fund can make it possible for you to cover any unforeseen financial responsibilities like car repairs or unemployment. How do you plan on paying for the groceries if your boss fires you and you have mouths to feed?

Saving enough funds for the long term can prove to be a challenging prospect for a newly married couple. However, the amount of savings you will ultimately need may vary according to your specific circumstances. For example, a couple who owns a mortgage and has two salaries with no children will have different savings as compared to a couple who lives on one salary, pays rent on their apartment or has children.

Have a Goal

Of course, saving money for emergencies will hardly matter if you haven’t figured out what you are saving for. Are your financial goals for the long or short term? Keep in mind that long term goals such as a new home will cost you more as compared to short term goals such as an appliance. For example, if you are planning on acquiring a loan on a mortgage, your emergency fund needs to keep  ensuing monthly payments into account.

Focus on Getting out of Debt

Any debts that need to be resolved should be acknowledged immediately. Debts will leech off your savings. Be frugal in your spending habits. You might be enjoying your moment of marital bliss but that is soon to evaporate if your credit cards maxed out weeks ago and your shopping sprees don’t seem to end. If you absolutely have to have a credit card, control how many times you use it. Use it to pay off any lingering debts like student loans.

Save for Retirement

You don’t plan on working forever. However, you may need to keep working after you hit your golden years especially if you haven’t saved a sufficient amount of funds for your retirement. Remember, your savings should make it possible for you to retire in comfort. Inflation also plays a big part in the process.

Make a Monthly Budget

A planned budget will make it easier for both of you to control your expenses and only spend on what you need to. Also make sure that you save enough to entertain yourself. After all, just because you need to limit yourself to a budget doesn’t mean that you stop having fun.

Save as much as you can. Even a little counts for a lot. You are still young. And besides, a couple that discusses money matters on a regular basis can adapt to such situations faster.

Payday Loans in Saskatchewan

Usury practices in Canada began receiving close scrutiny 2008. Payday lenders in the United States were targeting Canadian borrowers because Canada was less regulated. When it was learned that online payday lenders were charging higher fees and interest rates in Canada, the Canadian Legislature passed usury regulations and put caps on the amount of interest and fees that Canadian payday lenders can charge. Specific payday loan rates and fee regulation was then left to each province to determine what their rates and charges would be.

Payday loans in the province of Saskatchewan cannot charge rates plus charges that are higher than 23 percent of the principal balance of the loan. Most payday lenders in this province charge on a descending scale, beginning with 17 percent interest on the first $500, 15 percent on the next and 6 percent on loan amounts $1,000 or over. Fees will vary from one establishment to another, with no fees / interest being more than 23 percent of the total balance of the loan.

Each payday lender in Saskatchewan follows an efficient licensing system. This system requires to lenders to obtain a separate license for each location even if they are associated with the same company. Payday lenders in Saskatchewan are prohibited from charging any fees when the loan is renewed or extended.

Ontario payday loans are comparable to payday loans in the province of Saskatchewan. Ontario’s payday loan interest rate cap is 21 percent of the principal balance. Ontario has also passed new laws limiting the amount that a borrower can be loaned, and this lending amount is based on a borrower’s income. There is no charge to extend a payday loan in Ontario.

Although payday loans for Canada are better regulated for the protection of the consumer, payday loans in the province of Saskatchewan have the most comprehensive licensing system.

When people need money in a hurry, a payday loan can be very helpful. It is a short- term loan, and it doesn’t require a loan committee’s approval as bank loans do. This means that approval in a payday loan is quick and easy. If borrowers want to extend their loan for another two weeks, they can do so for no additional fee if they notify the payday lender a few days before payment is due. With the new payday loan legislation, Canada’s payday loans are a reliable, trustworthy source of emergency loan funds.

Is Brand Loyalty Still Relevant Today?

 

Today’s consumers are much more fortunate in terms of the number of choices of services and products compared to a few decades ago. This has made it more competitive for companies who need to keep your patronage in order to stay profitable. Because of the number of old and new businesses that cater to the same type of product or service it’s easier to find the cheapest and best choice.

This has made brand loyalty something of a novelty. Usually, the only time when a person or household stays loyal to one particular brand is if it’s the only one providing a very narrow service or product. Today, you’ll be able to find at least two or three companies giving the same service, but at different prices.

Of course, many loyal customers still stay with one brand even if their prices are more expensive. The number one reason in most cases is the exemplary customer service. These companies will go above and beyond their primary service by ensuring that their clients are satisfied with their product. Of course, there are customers who will abuse the system in order to get products for free, but on the whole, great customer service will usually translate into a broad customer base.

In your case, you will have to re- evaluate your needs as a customer and ask yourself whether or not your chosen company is still providing you with the best service possible. It can be very easy to be complacent and say that this or that company is just okay, but take note you might end up losing on services that you were rightfully entitled to in the first place.

 

How to Save on Airline Tickets

 

Over the years, massive competition in the airline industry have made special deals and promos on ticket prices a more common occurrence. Paired with a good airline and a good route, a passenger can save hundreds of dollars in travel costs. There are also plenty of other ways to lower travel expenses even further.

Most of these airline promos are meant for more popular destinations or metropolitan cities. Passengers travelling to smaller cities may be able to save on their ticket price by travelling by road to a major city and flying from there. This can also be a good time for a road trip if his schedule allows for it.

Many promos can be snatched up in a matter of few hours, especially if they are meant for special flights with only a few seats available. This is where a mobile phone can come in handy. Travelers can check in on the airline’s website every so often to catch these deals. They can also wait for big events such as holidays or spring break as airline companies will typically have deals that will cater to round trip flights and group purchases.

There are also smaller companies that fly shorter distances. While they’re not as popular as the big names in the industry, their smaller profile will usually mean a reduction in their prices. Many passengers can see their travel costs go down to only a few hundred dollars if they follow all of these tips faithfully.

 

The Real Cost of a Solar Power System

 

One of the best ways to cut down on your power costs is to install a solar power panel system in your home. Not only will it reduce your power bill, it will also start your family on the road towards a more sustainable way of life. Of course, depending on the solar panel and where you live, you might not get the full benefit of this so called unlimited power.

First of all, these panels aren’t cheap; the average price for one solar panel is around $250. This is barely enough to power two light bulbs. The usual practice nowadays is to go with 10 or 12 panels for starters. This will cost around $5, 000 for the panels alone and will power a small room.

Aside from the costs, there are installation expenses to consider. For the safety of you and your family, a licensed professional will be the best way to get everything in working order. It’s always possible to install the panels on your own, but when it comes to electricity, it’s probably a good idea to play it safe.

Thankfully, there are government subsidies that will help lower these costs. A $500 rebate is given for first- time solar panel users, and some fees will be waived depending on your local regulations. Of course, over the next few months, you will see your bill go down little by little which is really the best power discount you can hope for.