Financial Downsides and Potential Issues of Owning a Pet

financially downGetting a dog, or any other animal, to become a loved member of the household is a big step that many families decide to take at some point in their lives. Dogs and cats and other little domestic animals can offer a lot of love and warmth to a home, which is why so many welcome pets into their loving arms. With anything, there are both pros and cons to pet owning, and one of the biggest things that concern a family when it comes to the decision of welcoming a pet is the financial impact it will have.

Dogs are one of the most common pets that are seen in modern households. They’ve been man’s best friend through the ages. A dog can offer additional security and protection, as well a fierce friend that will last a lifetime… in dog years.

However, they also can get expensive. Some dogs, like purebreds, can be hundreds of dollars, and that is just the initial price of your pet that doesn’t include all of the supplies and equipment you’ll need to care for them for the years to come.

Regular and emergency vet visits. Dogs should be seen by a vet often and stay up to date on their immunizations and treatments to avoid getting medical problems. Sometimes these things can still happen, so you’ll have to also plan for the possibility of extra medical bills for your pet.

Special care equipment and furniture. Large dogs and older ones will need special beds that can get expensive. Walking gear can vary depending on the size and strength of your pet, and if they have existing medical conditions, they may need certain food that can get expensive. Planning for these things can help you decide a budget.

Potential injuries and prevention. Your dog may get hurt or may end up hurting others. This is rare, and some legal funding companies will offer a dog bite loan to help you stay on top of things financially while you’re working through the repercussions financially for a dog bite.

Many people have allergies to pet fur. Making sure that everyone has medicine and makes an appointment for allergy testing can get expensive depending on how many people are in your home.

Destroyed or damaged furniture and items. Dogs, especially puppies, are playful and energetic. They’ll get bored and lonely when you aren’t home. In the early months before your dog is fully trained, you may have to deal with damages to the things in your home. This can also go for cats.

Moving can get a little pricey if you have to bring the pets. Paying for transportation for a pet can get expensive depending on the size and weight and type of your pet. Some can get in the car with you, but you’ll have to make more frequent stops.

Clearing Debt Fast

clearing your debtsIf you’re in over your head with debt, you may be desperately seeking ways to get rid of it. Debt can hang over you like a black cloud about to strike you with lightning, but there are ways out. The first rule when it comes to clearing any sort of debt is to tackle it head on instead of avoiding it. Avoiding things like debt will just make the situation worse. So, how do you clear debt fast?

Plan It

Before you put any plan into action, you need to sit down and figure out where to start. What debt do you have? What are the interest rates on your Credit 24 loans and credit cards? Lay it all out in front of you, even if facing it makes you feel anxious. Common sense would tell you to pay a little towards each one every month, but it’s best to tackle the debt with the highest interest rate first. That’s not to say you should completely ignore the others, but if you can put more money towards the one with the highest interest rate, your payment per month should significantly decrease over time.

Transfer Your Balance

When you got your loans or credit cards, you may have been in a position where you had no choice but to go for higher interest rates because they were the only ones that would accept you. By transferring your balance to a loan or card with a lower interest rate or a 0% interest rate for a certain amount of time card, you’ll have the chance to catch up on payments.

Prioritize Payments

You shouldn’t take money that supposed to go towards your mortgage to pay a credit card. There are ways you can save money but you must prioritise your payments. Sort out the needs from the wants. For example, paying your electricity bill is a top priority, but paying for games on your Xbox is something you can cut back on. Here’s a list of other cut backs you can make to save money. The money you save can go towards paying your debt so don’t be tempted to use it on things you want.

Stop Using Credit Cards

There’s no point in working hard to pay off your debt if you’re still spending at the same time. It can be a habitat and an addiction when it comes to spending. So, if you don’t trust yourself with your card, ask a family member or friend that you trust to keep it for you. If you know you’re likely to spend again and end up in the same situation, maybe it’s time to give the card the chop.

The main thing to do when it comes to clearing debt is to not bury your head in the sand. If you need help, ask for it. There are many places you can get advice and it helps you to feel like you’re not alone. Just by reading this, you’re already on the right track. Good luck!

Can You Afford To Buy Your First House?

buying homeBuying your first house can seem like an unattainable dream at times, but every once in a while you hear a story of a couple who were able to save enough money for a down payment. It gives makes you think that, someday, that could be you. However, there is more to buying a house than saving up for a down payment. Read the guidelines below to determine whether you really can afford to buy a house at this time.

Do you earn enough?

If you’re struggling to set aside some money while paying the bills and the rent, chances are you will have a difficult time keeping up with mortgage repayments. You also have to consider the property tax in the area, home insurance, and the fact that you will be responsible for home repairs. This is the step that traps most prospective home buyers.

But don’t give up because you can’t afford a house just yet. Use the time you have to get on top of your financial situation; pay off as much debt as you can and boost your credit wherever possible. This will help your chances of getting a good mortgage.

What kind of financial help can you get?

Once you’ve managed to save some money, you need to find out how much a lender will be willing to give you to buy your first home. A mortgage lender will look at your income, how much debt you have, and how long you’ve been at your current job. All your debt payments plus your new housing expenses – mortgage, homeowners association fees, property tax, homeowner’s insurance, etc. – shouldn’t equal more than 43% of your monthly gross income, according to the federal housing administration (FHA). Based on your calculations, you may have to adjust your expectations on what kind of house you can afford.

Fortunately, there are a lot of other options available for first-time buyers who don’t have a 20% down payment. Your state may have its own programs for first-time home buyers. Your mortgage interest rate will also have a major impact on the total price you pay for your home, so shopping around will pay off.

The buying process

Buying a house isn’t limited to looking for homes for sale on real estate websites. Put out some feelers with friends and family, or look at rental ads and see if the owners are open to selling. This may not be an accepted method, but it will save you from going up against experienced buyers.

Squeeze them for information

Don’t be taken in by what may appear to be a dream house. One of the best kept secrets about buying a home is that your real estate agent has to be honest with you, but only if you ask questions directly. No question is too silly; how many viewings have they had? Why do the homeowners want to sell? Who lives upstairs/next door? You’re hoping to live here, so avoid any unpleasant surprises by finding out everything you can.

Low-Cost Investments to Start Making Money From Home

investment for online businessOne of the most popular ways to secure financial freedom in this current generation is to establish multiple streams of income. It could be from multiple jobs, a personal business or even investments. With job security an ever-growing problem for people all over the world, it seems like the most secure living you can get these days is to invest in the internet and work from home. Not only does working from home bypass the minimum wage that is set in your country, you also guarantee a wide range of clientele and the ability to work with people all over the world.

But most home-based investments require a lot of money. Trading stocks, starting up a business or investing in a company takes a lot of cash to start, making it a difficult option for someone who’s climbing out of debt but still wants to secure a comfortable future financially. In order to give you a hand, here are a couple of low-cost investments to get you started with making money from home.

Low-Risk Investments

When investments are concerned, we often think about expensive high-risk purchases like stocks, foreign currencies and even property. However, among all of the investments that people can make in life, there are some low-risk ones that have a very small chance of making you bankrupt. For instance, you can learn how to trade penny stocks online as a way to practice stock trading and you could invest in land purchases instead of entire properties. There are many low-risk investment options available to you as long as you do your research and look at the stability of a market instead of the potential gains.

Penny shares are, as the name implies, very low in price, meaning you can trade them freely without much consequence. However, don’t expect to turn $10 into $1,000 in a single week, and don’t even expect to make money within the first week of getting started. It’s a gradual and slow process, but that’s the nature of low-risk investments.

For property investments, you typically have a lot of factors involved when developing a property to be sold such as the location, target audience and so on. However, when it comes to investing in land, not only is the price a lot lower because you’re factoring out the development costs, it also doesn’t have a defined use, making it a versatile purchase for your buyers.

Starting a Content-Focused Business

A business could mean anything from a YouTube channel to a small company. However, the cheaper options here are definitely content-focused, such as a video channel, news website or a blog. You can monetize most of your content with the help of advertising services, but if you’re feeling brave then you can always upgrade to affiliate programs or even offering a product.

For instance, if you have a popular blog about the history of candy, then you could compile all of your material and blogs into a book to be sold. Ebooks are a natural transition for blog owners due to the content being relatively similar. All you need to learn is how to publish your own eBook and then advertise it to your viewers, social media and so on.

Got A Big Payment On Your Hands? Here’s How You Can Easily Afford It

bills to payThere always comes a time when all of us could do with a little extra cash. The unexpected payout can sometimes be launched on us as a result of something beyond our control – a sudden illness or a car crash, for example. Or, it could be the case that you have something to pay off (like a vacation) and it has just dawned on you that you may not have the money together in time. Whichever situation is relevant to you, there’s no denying that having a large bill weighing on your shoulders can be extremely stressful. Your focus should, therefore, be on being as thrifty as possible to get the money together in time – but what do you do when time itself is against you? Here are a few ways you can save and make money quickly so you can afford that big payout with no questions asked.

Cut out everything you don’t need

The impending payment you need to make may be necessary to your life, or something that you can’t possible wriggle your way out of. However, if you sit back and take a good look at your finances, you may find that you notice certain things that maybe aren’t quite as necessary to your life. For example, could you still be paying a subscription fee for a magazine you don’t even read anymore? Or, perhaps you are wasting lots of money each month by overusing the heating in your home – don’t simply turn it on every morning just due to a force of habit! Cancel everything that isn’t integral to your everyday life, and isn’t something your family relies on too much. These little savings might not seem like a lot initially, but they can certainly go a long way.

See what you might be owed

You might not realize it, but you could have money hidden away in places you weren’t aware of. Read this Fairfield Funding structured settlement review for more information on structured settlements. You may be receiving your settlement in monthly payments at present, but if you urgently need money for something specific, you can apply to have the cash presented to you in a lump sum instead. Equally, if you have been particularly frugal with your household bills lately, you could be in credit with your energy companies, in which case they will owe you money.

Sell, sell, sell

Most of us have a whole hoard of clothes and items taking up space in our homes. Back in the day, we relied on garage sales and car boots to get rid of the things we no longer needed. But thanks to the internet, it has now never been easier to quickly sell your unwanted possessions online for a decent price. Teach yourself the basics of websites like eBay, Gumtree, and Shpock. Providing you can take a few good pictures of your items, and you have the time to post them quickly to your buyers, you can make a lot of easy money just by using websites like these.