Layaway: A Good Alternative to Credit Cards?

Have you ever found an item that you wanted to buy, but it was out of your price range? It’s tough when that happens, and sometimes you wish you could break your budget anyway.

There are options when you find yourself faced with this dilemma. A popular way to go around it is to use a credit card. When you use your credit card, you can pay off the purchase slowly over time. However, as you pay it off, you’re also paying your credit card issuer through interest payments as well.L

Another option is to take advantage of a store’s layaway program. Unlike a credit card, where you will pay off the purchase for weeks or months after bringing the item home, with a layaway program you will make regular payments until you have paid the full amount–then you can bring it home. Continue reading…

Bang For Your Buck: How to Choose the Best Used Car

Choosing the right used car can be difficult. You want one that’s safe and reliable, but you also want one that looks nice and is fuel-efficient. It’s hard to find one that meets all of these standards and is also affordable.

Fortunately, there are options out there that are not only affordable, but also nice, reliable cars. Here are seven great cars you can find for less than $10,000.

1. Mazda3 i

Consumer Reports explained this popular car is not only reliable and safe, but also fuel-efficient. It comes as a sedan or a hatchback and upgrades like leather, Bluetooth phone pairing and seat heaters are an option for buyers. A small car that is highly responsive, the Mazda3 can get you wherever you want to go, fast.

2. Volkswagen Rabbit

While Americans haven’t really welcomed the Rabbit into their garages, this car has been a favorite of drivers across the globe for several years now. The hatchback design comes in handy when you’re in need of extra space. The downside to this car is that it’s not as fuel-efficient as some would like.

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Big Money Mistakes You’re Bound To Make: Part 2

Personal finance is something few people learn early on and many people are thrown into suddenly when they reach adulthood.

Because of the lack of preparation before entering adulthood, many people wind up making mistakes when they start managing their own finances. An Assets & Opportunities Scorecard found that 55.6 percent of Americans have subprime credit scores. These scores prevent them from qualifying for loans at prime rates. Instead, when they need a loan, the only rates they are able to obtain are high ones they may not be able to afford.

Many of today’s adults did not receive any sort of financial education prior to gradating high school. Business Insider reported that, 20 years ago, Illinois was the only state with the requirement. Now, 16 other states have joined Illinois in mandating financial education for students.

More states beginning to require that high school students take a personal finance class before they graduate is a step in the right direction. However, if you were one of the many Americans who graduated from high school without taking such a course, you likely learned about some common money mistakes the hard way. Here are some of the big ones many people discover on their own:

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The Rise and Fall, and Rise of Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid vehicles have been available to consumers for about two decades now. They boast an environmentally friendly alternative to gas-only engines, and gives car owners the ability to save some money at the pump.

Hybrid innovation had a lot of industry professionals excited for the years to come. In 2010, J.D. Power and Associates predicted that in 2020, 7.3 percent of all cars sold would be either HEVs or battery electric vehicles, a total of 5.2 million. This was in comparison with the 44.7 million sold in 2010, just 2.2 percent of all vehicles sold.

Scientific American pointed out that other, more optimistic predictions were shared among auto industry experts.

A survey from AutoPartsWarehouse.com found that 86 percent of people think these alternative vehicles will be sticking around, with more than two-thirds of them adding that they will decrease in cost and more people will begin to adopt the trend.

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Big Money Mistakes You’re Bound To Make: Part 1

Throughout life, you’ll probably hear loads of unwarranted advice on every subject from your career goals to your love life. You’ll also find yourself picking up some recommendations about how to manage your money.

It’s important to have a plan for your hard-earned income. Without some ground rules about spending and saving, you may find yourself making unnecessary or expensive purchases, without any money stowed away in case an emergency were to occur.

The advice you’ve gotten over the years has probably shaped how you spend and save your money. It also may have influenced the way you conduct your life.

While some of these words of wisdom may be in your best interest, it’s also valuable to know that you can pick and choose which rules apply to you based on your own circumstances and goals.

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