September, 2019

Reasons Retiring to an RV is a Great Choice

Posted on September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 by agentinsure

If you live in Cypress, TX and have already just retired or retirement is right around the corner, you may be struggling with deciding where you want to retire. The quick and easy solution is to consider retiring to an RV. Spending your retirement in an RV means you go visit all those places you promised yourself you would visit after retiring, you can visit the grandkids anytime and you park your home near a beach during the winter. If you have been thinking about retiring to an RV, but aren’t sure if it’s good choice, InsureUs has put together a few of the benefits that come with RV living.

Save Money

One of the best benefits of retiring to an RV is that you will save money. There are campgrounds throughout the United States that offer special discounts to seniors and for those who choose to park in the campground during the off-season. You will no longer need to pay a high mortgage or expensive rent, you’ll need to ensure the RV, but you can drop your homeowner’s insurance and most campgrounds offer free WiFi and activities, so you’ll save money on bills as well as entertainment.

Downsizing

Retiring to an RV means you can significantly reduce the amount of stuff you have. Living in a traditional home means you typically have much more stuff than you really need, for instance, do you really need six skillets? Living in an RV means you can eliminate the clutter in your home and your life. It may take a minute to get used to living with only what you need, but in time, your life will be much happier. The less clutter there is your life, the freer you will feel, which means you will have the desire to get out, be adventurous and enjoy your retirement.

Make New Friends

All that traveling means you will be interacting with more people and if you tend to park in a campground that is senior-oriented, you will be amazed at how many people you meet that enjoy the same things as you. Many campgrounds offer a “get together” for their residents as well, which means you’ll have even more opportunities to develop lasting friendships with people.

These are only a few of the benefits that come with RV retiring. If you aren’t sure if it’s the best lifestyle for you, consider renting an RV for a few weeks to give it a try.

Residents of Cypress, TX that are interested in learning more about insuring their RV should contact InsureUs.

Frequent flyer plans can save on travel

Posted on September 27, 2019August 7, 2019 by Victor Varma

It’s easy to sign up for and use airline frequent flyer miles, but whether you will save money on travel depends, in part, on how much you travel.
A good rule of thumb is if you are expecting to make some major trips (or lots of small trips) in the next 18 months, frequent flyer miles might be the ticket to free air fare. But if you are not going to travel regularly, the miles might not do much good. Those miles (or points) usually expire over time.
Here is a primer on signing up for frequent flyer programs:
* Decide which airlines have a hub near you. These will be the airlines you will probably use most.
* Go to the airline’s website and sign up for its frequent flyer program.
* Book your next trip through the airline and give them your frequent flyer program number.
* When you have enough points, book a flight through the airline and the points will be credited to the cost of the ticket if you choose to use them.
You can also add up more points by using credit cards associated with the program. For example, American Airlines has two cards associated with their program and, with a substantial purchase on the card, you can get thousands of points. You can also get points for dining and shopping. Most programs offer a shopping portal to stores such as Target. If you are planning to buy something from Target, use the airline shopping portal and you get points.
One point is equal to about 1.3 to 1.4 cents, depending on the program.

The most common types of college scholarships

Posted on September 20, 2019August 7, 2019 by Victor Varma

In 2018’s college graduation class, nearly 70 percent of students took out student loans, and their average debt was close to $30,000 each, according to Student Loan Hero.
In addition, 14 percent of their parents also took out an average of $35,600 in Parent PLUS loans to help support them.
With those alarming figures in mind, if you don’t want debt, scholarships are a must.
Academics should start the scholarship hunt. Academic scholarships usually have larger payouts and can even cover the entire amount of tuition for a four-year degree. These require not just a high GPA, but also participation in extracurricular activities.
According to the MarketWatch, about six percent of all high school athletes will compete at the college level and there is $3 billion in aid available across Division I and II schools. Gymnastics, fencing, and ice hockey have the lowest ratio of high school athletes to college scholarships, while volleyball has the highest. Football, the sport with the highest total number of scholarships available at 25,918, ranks fourth on the list.
Service-based awards can be a great way to get extra money.
Local churches, civic groups, and businesses often offer this kind of scholarship to students active in their communities. If your child frequently donates their time doing something like tutoring or spending time with the elderly, there is likely a scholarship somewhere to reward them for their service.
Even if it’s not cash, the Federal Work-Study Program can help students pay for college by providing a part-time job during college.

The simple life: Minimalists shun excess

Posted on September 7, 2019August 7, 2019 by Victor Varma

Recently, a woman showed up in the conference room of a Midwestern bank wearing a T-shirt. She was 93 years old and had driven an old stick-shift car to the meeting.
She was a minimalist, and her net worth was $2.4 million.
Minimalism gets a lot of attention today. It’s all about living with less. Minimal or no debt. No unnecessary expenses. No excess stuff.
Pick an item you own. Any item. Have you used it in the last three months? If not, will you in the next three?
Look around your home. Do you really need that extra square footage? How much money could you save without heating and cooling it?
Minimalism is a theory rooted in the value of experiences over possessions. Quality over quantity may be a cliche, but it is a tenet in minimalism.
To live a minimalist life, you don’t have to get rid of everything you own but the essentials. By asking yourself, “Does this thing bring meaning to my life?”, you can pick and choose what’s right for you.
Getting rid of a few needless possessions, for example, in exchange for a hobby.
According to moneyunder30.com, living by a few minimalist philosophies can do wonders for an individual’s or couple’s finances.
Use one credit card (preferably one that offers rewards). Have one checking account, and one savings account for cash emergencies.
Don’t try to live up to another minimalist’s standards, advises medium.com. Respond to your own emotions, desires, needs, and goals. Educate yourself about minimalism. Do what serves you, rid yourself of what doesn’t. Allow yourself to evolve and to make changes. Once you know what you want, it’s easier to be a minimalist.

Four different money pros for different needs

Posted on September 6, 2019August 7, 2019 by Victor Varma

Sometimes navigating financial issues seems impossible. Here are four situations that might require a money pro.

In debt and in trouble
This problem requires credit counselors. They can help build a plan to get out of debt, give information about bankruptcy, or even completely manage money, giving clients an allowance to live on, according to creditcards.com.
Find one at National Foundation for Credit Counseling or Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies.

When you need help managing assets
A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can help manage assets built up over the years or from windfalls. They offer advice on insurance and investments for retirement, and help plan financial goals. Search for a CFP in your area and find one you trust.

Just ready to retire? Now what?
A retirement planner, usually a CFP specializing in retirement, can give you an idea of the money you will need in retirement and ideas on how to manage it.
It’s a good idea to consult a retirement planner about 10 years before you retire, but you can get good advice even on the verge of retirement.
Check out FPAnet.org for suggestions.

Can’t make ends meet
A budget counselor helps those who maybe don’t need a full-scale debt repayment plan. Budget counselors are best for those who make enough money but can’t seem to live within their means. They might have some credit card debt, which may even be manageable, but they are building debt.