Setting up a budget If you want to get on top of your finances, a budget is a really good way to start. It’s just a record of money you have coming in (from things like your salary or wages, pensions or benefits) andpayments that you make (such as your rent or mortgage, insurance and Council

Buying life insurance for the first time can be overwhelming. You’ll run into a lot of terms that you may not understand at first. The good news is those terms are not very difficult to figure out once you do a little research. These tips are designed to help you create an organized approach toward

1. You’re a statistic. To an insurer, you’re not a person; you’re a set of risks. An insurer bases its premium (or its decision to insure you at all) on your “risk factors,” including your occupation, who you are, what you own, and how you live. 2. Know your home’s value. Before you choose a

Home banking refers to a facility in which you can have a virtual banking branch where you can supervise and be in control of your funds. You can enjoy this service round the clock, on every day of week absolutely free. The major advantage of this is that you do not have to even move

Refinancing a mortgage means paying off an existing loan and replacing it with a new one. There are many common reasons why homeowners refinance: The opportunity to obtain a lower interest rate; the chance to shorten the term of their mortgage; the desire to convert from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage, or

A share pledge loan is a type of personal loan available only from a credit union. For an individual with a credit union banking relationship, this type of loan can be a low-cost way to borrow some money. Different credit unions will apply different terms to share pledge loans. Credit Union Accounts Credit unions use

Signature loans take less time for a bank to process than other types of loans because the lack of collateral means that the loan underwriter bases the decision to approve or decline the loan purely on your own financial situation. Not all banks offer signature loans, and bankers may direct customers to apply for credit

Balancing your checkbook is one of those crucial life skills. It will give you a clear sense of not only how much money is in your bank account, but where your money goes. It can also help prevent you from bouncing checks, stick to your budget, help you avoid fees, and detect errors from your

A money market account is a type of savings account offered by banks and credit unions just like regular savings accounts. The difference is that they usually pay higher interest, have higher minimum balance requirements (sometimes $1000-$­2500), and only allow three to six withdrawals per month. Another difference is that, similar to a checking account, many

Entrepreneurs and small business owners always seem to have 10 things to do before the day is through. You never know what might come up, and sometimes not every planned task gets done on time. In the midst of this fast-paced lifestyle, retirement might not be the first thing on your mind. It’s easy to put