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An Update on Our 2023 Financial Goals

September 4, 2023 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Mount Fuji in the background with a woman in a kimono facing the mountain in the foreground

Back in December 2022, I shared two big financial goals my husband and I had for 2023. The good news is that we’ve partially achieved those goals, but as usually happens with life, not in the way we had imagined nine months ago when we set the goals.

Goal #1: Prioritize Domestic and International Travel

Our goal in December 2022 was to travel both domestically and internationally.

Domestic Travel

Domestically, I wanted to travel to Maine. Unfortunately, that did not happen. We did not travel domestically this year and likely won’t next year, either.

International Travel

Internationally, we wanted to save money for a trip to Europe. (We knew we wouldn’t take that trip in 2023 but wanted to save for it.) Unfortunately, we were not able to do this, either.

However, we did take our family on an 11-day trip to Japan to visit my husband’s family for the first time since our kids were born. (They’re all teens now.) We found out in January 2023 that my father-in-law’s cancer had returned, so we set aside our other travel goals and prioritized traveling to visit my husband’s family, and we’re happy we did!

Goal #2: Buy a New Car for Mostly Cash

Side view of a Toyota Corolla Cross

We saved for a new car for several years. Regrettably, the market was hot. when we needed to buy the car. If we could have waited until the market stabilized, we would have, but we couldn’t.

I would have loved to have bought another minivan, but that was outside the budget. Instead, my husband and I decided on a Toyota Corolla Cross.

We wanted to take out a car loan for $10,000 or less but had to go a bit higher. The car price fit our budget, but we neglected to consider the expenses beyond the sticker price such as tax (wow, was that a lot!), a warranty, and gap insurance. We ended up with a car loan of $16,800. We’ve had the loan for six months now, and the balance is down to $15,041, so we’re making progress on paying it off early.

While we’re disappointed that the car loan wasn’t smaller, we’re also excited that we were able to pay a significant chunk down on the vehicle. Ideally, by the time we need to buy my husband a replacement vehicle, we can put even more down on his car so that over time, the amount we need to finance gets smaller and smaller each time we buy a new vehicle. (We keep our cars until well over 200,000 miles, so we don’t buy cars frequently.)

Final Thoughts

I’m happy that we accomplished our two primary goals for 2023—traveling internationally and buying a new vehicle. Like so many things in life, our plans didn’t work out exactly as we hoped. However, travel worked out better than expected because we prioritized seeing family we hadn’t seen in over 20 years. We created memories with older family members; Europe and Maine can wait a few more years.

Read More

Why Buying a Toyota Sienna Was One of Our Best Decisions

4 Budget-Friendly Travel Tips

Haggling or No Haggling When Buying a Car?

Filed Under: Goal Setting Tagged With: financial goals, new car, travel

How Routine Care From Professionals Helps You Avoid Significant Costs

August 31, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

You may be facing a significant amount of financial responsibilities and challenges with costs rising every day. As a result, looking for ways you can avoid substantial costs is the best strategy when trying to stay out of debt. Routing care, like many valuable approaches, is often overlooked. This article will take a look at how routine care from professionals can help you take care of your finances.

Oral Health Maintenance Saves on Dental Bills

The preeminent way to prevent costly dental issues is with regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Catching dental problems early can spare you from more complex and expensive procedures. The good news is as of 2023, in the United States, there are 185,897 dentists’ businesses, according to IBISWorld.

You never know when a dental emergency will pop up. Routine dental care helps identify potential issues before they escalate into emergencies. Find local dental professionals in your area who work with most insurance providers so you can get the care you need without having to break the bank.

Prevent Water Emergencies to Save Home Damage

According to JB Water Damage Restoration, industry estimates suggest that 14,000 people in the U.S. experience a water damage emergency every day. In addition, 98% of basements will suffer some amount of water damage. Regular maintenance of plumbing systems prevents the need for costly water damage restoration. This variety of maintenance can identify leaks while allowing you to address water issues quickly. Look into affordable basement waterproofing contractors in your area as well to avoid issues regarding flooding.

Safeguard Assets through Professional Care

Regular check-ups with a healthcare professional detect health issues early. In the same way, routine maintenance for your possessions can rescue you from unexpected expenses. This type of maintenance often looks like oil changes for your vehicle and tune-ups for appliances.

Reviewing your insurance policies falls under necessary personal routine maintenance. Included in this review process should be consulting legal advisors for finances. This step provides protection when you need to be within legal standards and requirements. These measures help you stay financially stable and out of debt.

Roof Maintenance Prevents Whole House Destruction

According to Bob Vila, the average homeowner pays over $9,000 for roof replacement services. To avoid these costly replacements, make good use of routine roof inspections and maintenance. These result in the ability to identify minor issues before the damage becomes significant. If you find concerns, you can repair them at a small percentage of the cost of a complete replacement. When repairs are no longer feasible, find a roofing company that offers discounts for replacements.

Create a Culture of Responsibility with Finances

When you embrace routine professional care, it’s reflective of a mindset of proactive financial responsibility. Even better is that this mindset expands to many aspects of life, including budgeting and investing. When you don’t protect yourself properly, significant cost increases can lead to increased debt. When you invest time into your routine care, you can reduce the possibility of being caught unaware of financial setbacks. These scenarios may result in borrowing money, leading to further debt.

Choose Professional Expertise to Assist You

The right professionals do more than help you make informed choices to save money. They’re instrumental in your overall financial stability. This type of routine care supplies peace of mind. Ask your family and friends for referrals in order to feel confident in hiring routine care providers in your area.

Incorporating routine care from professionals into your life creates a strong foundation for a healthier financial future. Routine care serves as a powerful tool to steer you clear of debt and achieve financial freedom. Utilizing these measures today helps you be proactive. You will find you’re working towards an unshakeable and prosperous tomorrow.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How Proper Planning Can Help You Manage Larger Expenses

July 28, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

As you navigate adulthood, you realize how unpredictable managing your finances can be. You could be making a good amount of money, but the moment you’re faced with a large expense you could be forced to reaccess your budget again. Here’s how having a plan will make it easier to manage larger expenses.

1. Maintenance To Prevent Water Damage

Water damage is among the top reasons for home insurance claims. The risk of this type of damage rises as your house ages and the climate shifts. According to iPropertyManagement, 98% of basements experience water damage in different forms.

Plumbing issues such as rusted pipes to extreme events like coastal flooding can cause water to end up in places it shouldn’t be. The longer it stays there, the more it will cost you to address the issue. Homeowner’s insurance typically covers various types of water damage. However, some policies may only cover the issue if it resulted from an accidental and sudden cause like a burst pipe. In most cases, gradual damage and flooding are excluded.

Keeping up with your plumbing system’s upkeep will improve your repair efforts. Work with your local plumber to come up with a plumbing maintenance plan. They’ll consider the size of your home, the number of people living there, and other factors to recommend the best solution.

2. Estate Planning

For a surprising number of people, estate planning isn’t a top priority. 34% of people between the ages of 35 and 54, according to Caring.com, have never talked about estate planning with anybody. However, it’s one of the best ways of ensuring you can manage larger expenses in the future.

Without planning how you wish your assets to be distributed, you’re putting your loved ones at risk. If you were to pass away suddenly, the provisions of your default plan would be determined by the laws of the state in which you now reside. Your estate will be administered by a person the courts choose, which can be a costly process you can’t control. Estate planning involves various financial and legal documents.

Enlisting the help of a financial expert will make the process much smoother. They’ll help you account for all your assets, finances, and life situation. A financial professional will also simplify your trustee’s job by taking on most administrative tasks, which often get overwhelming. No matter your age or financial situation, consult an estate planning attorney to understand how you’ll benefit and ensure your loved ones are cared for even after your time with them ends.

3. Taking Action to Address Debt

Debt can have a significant impact on your ability to manage your finances. According to Hoke Law Firm, after standard deductions, creditors may garnish up to 25% of your income, according to Polston Tax. Do everything you can to avoid taking out credit and falling further into debt.

Set up an emergency fund for those unexpected expenses when making your budget. A great tip is saving at least six months’ salary in a bank account to ensure you have a plan to address whatever financial issues may arise. If you lose your job, suffer an injury that affects your ability to work, or require money for an unanticipated but necessary need, this will help cover your expenses.

You should also take your time to establish the difference between your needs and wants. Doing this will help you realize there’s always room to cut back. Holding yourself accountable and taking charge of your spending can help you keep your money in your hands.

Emergencies and unexpected expenses can make things difficult if you’re not prepared to promptly handle them. Hopefully, this guide will help you understand how planning is beneficial in making larger expenses manageable. Take the time to work on your financial planning and create a budget so you can stay in control over your finances.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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