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Renting

In the current climate, most people are struggling to get on the property ladder and renting is becoming increasingly popular. But how can you find out about paying a lower amount and save money on your biggest monthly outlay? Perhaps you are under the impression that your monthly rent payment is set in stone and the only way to pay less is to move to a cheaper rental. It may surprise you, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

Communicate with your landlord.

If you are struggling financially, speak to your landlord. Landlords don’t want the hassle of looking for new tenants and chasing late payments with the chance of receiving nothing if their tenant can no longer afford their rates.

Your landlord is human and in all likelihood, will understand if you fall on hard times. You could try asking for a decrease in rent in exchange for signing a longer term’s lease – this keeps the landlord happy, as they don’t want the expense of hiring an estate agent to look for a new tenant.

When it comes time to renew your lease, don’t be too quick to agree to any increase in rent. A good, reliable tenant is a godsend to a landlord, and they may be more willing than you think to negotiate. All you need to do is ask – you will be surprised how accommodating landlords can be if they think you are saving them time and hassle.

For those living in a complex and who enjoy DIY type work, there may be the option to assist the property owner in carrying out various tasks around the complex in order for a reduction in rent. As well as simple DIY tasks, you could carry out gardening tasks or clean windows.

Check trends.

Everything is negotiable and it pays to keep up with market trends. Speak to neighbours to find out what they’re paying, and even speak to your local tenants Have facts ready before speaking to your landlord to show that you know your stuff and have done your homework.

Highlight the benefits of having you as a tenant:

• always pay your rent on time

• intend to stay there for a long time

• keep the place clean and tidy, and

• don’t give the landlord any other hassles, etc.

Showing yourself in the best possible light with confidence will go a long way in any negotiations with your landlord.

Get a roommate.

Think of the amount of money you could potentially save if you rented out a spare room. This is the best way to gain a massive rent reduction. Always check with your landlord that this is alright. Most will have no problem with it. Renting to someone you know is always preferred. If you do not have that luxury, then make sure you screen any potential lodgers thoroughly, and ask for references in order to avoid problems later on.

Consider rent subsidy.

You may be entitled to assistance from the government if you are on a low income and should make enquiries through your local housing office. You could be entitled to some form of housing benefit and it won’t hurt to ask.

There are a lot of advantages to choosing a structured settlement over a lump sum award. Most importantly, structured settlements are guaranteed to provide for the future needs of the injured party receiving the payments. Actually, most of the time, a structured settlement will provide for the personal and medical needs of an injured person for their entire lifetime. Lump sum awards, on the other hand, sometimes end up being wasted through poor investment strategies, overuse, and the ups and downs of the stock and investment market. The American Association of People with Disabilities endorses structured settlements, arguing that they could be the best and safest means of being sure an injured person who wins a tort case is provided for throughout their lifetime.

The second advantage of the structured settlement is the unique way it is managed by the tax code. More often than not, annuity payments are untaxed, meaning that more money makes its way into your pocket. Lump sum payments, in contrast, can incur a substantial tax burden which can mean that you will defintiely end up paying more taxes in the end.

Structured settlements also offer very much flexibility. In reality, no two structured settlements are the same, because each one is arranged to take into account the specific present and future needs of the injured party. For instance, several people will have the desire to receive a small annual sum, while others may want to receive several larger sums spread every few years or arranged around significant life events. Structured settlements could also be arranged to provide more money for the claimant later in life or more money as the claimant’s medical condition worsens. There are no limits to the different possibilities of the structured settlement, because it is a private arrangement between claimant and defendant.

Lastly, structured settlements have a number of exceptional advantages which end up increasing the net amount of award money for many people. For instance, your money cannot be reduced by divorce or the receipt of social security. Additionally, you may end up netting a larger award because you have to pay out less for lawyer and court fees incurred during a lengthy court battle.

You can also have the option to sell your structured settlement should you wish to cash out later down the road for a lump sum payment. There are many companies out there that specialize in this. Always take into account that companies who procure structured settlements from people have only one goal, to gain profit from their purchase, which is why occasionally their offers are a bit low. You can yet try approaching more than one company if you hope to sell a structured settlement, just to make sure that you get the highest payoff.

Ensure that the company who wants to buy your settlement is well established and well-funded. You do not want to trust your money to some fly-by-night company disappearing or going bankrupt even before paying you the buyout amount.

Ruth Rogers is a freelance writer that specializes in various financial topics like structured settlements, investments and money management.

Buying a car is a big financial investment. Most people are not able to pay cash for their new vehicle and must rely instead on car loans to make their purchase. In order to be able to make lower monthly payments, many people are now taking out loans that can take up to five years to pay off. The interest charges on these loans are quite high. By the time the car is finally paid off it will have cost many thousands more than if cash had been used to make the purchase.

In order to avoid the large outlay of money involved in buying a new vehicle, many individuals instead choose to buy a used car. This is certainly an option for some, but people who wish to own a new car can save money by following a few rules that make car financing less costly.

1. The first thing to remember is that cars are depreciating assets. As soon as a car leaves the lot it has lost several thousand dollars in value. Every year the car is worth less and those financing their car for five years are left with an asset that does not have much value. The best policy is to save as much cash as possible to pay for the car. Not only will this save a lot of money in interest over the years, it also puts the buyer in a position of power when negotiating car prices.

2. Decide on your budget before going to look at cars. Avoiding emotional buying is easier when you know how much you can realistically afford. Determine how much of a cash down payment you can afford without having to make sacrifices. There are websites that have loans calculators that allow you to check how much loan payments will be for various car prices.

3. Do comparison shopping of loans online. There are many websites that offer car loans at affordable rates. Getting a car loan at the dealership is not always the best option since every warranty or add-on that is purchased with the car will be added onto the loan and result in extra interest charges. Obtaining a loan before going to the dealership allows you to negotiate for a better deal. Do not immediately offer to pay the full price of the car. Car dealers expect to negotiate and the given price is never set in stone.

4. Car dealers love to up-sell their customers. Typical up-sells include extended warranties, rustproofing and fabric protection. Warranties can be purchased directly from the warranty provider. Car dealerships are only the ‘middlemen’ and stand to make a profit by selling them. Rustproofing is only necessary if you live in a place where a lot of salt is used on icy roads in the winter. Fabric protection is a personal choice but not generally necessary given the depreciating nature of vehicles.

5. Avoid negotiating ‘packed payments’. If the dealer tries to sell you a car based on the monthly payment you have to make, rather than the whole purchase price, be aware that this can add up to much more than the amount needed to cover the cost of the car.

Frequenting our television screens on a daily basis, we are all familiar with the scenes of the reconstructed fall followed by an presenter telling us about the sizeable cheque that the injured party received on a ‘no win no fee basis’. Said informant then encourages us to ring the number that appears on screen if we have been affected by a similar accident.

The advertisements make the process seem so simple and risk-free that it is no surprise that many people are left wondering what the catch is. It’s important to realise that if you have been injured as a result of an accident which was not your fault then you could be eligible for compensation.

However it is fundamental to appreciate that the process is unlikely to be as simple as ringing a phone number and consequently receiving a cheque in the post. With rising claims of ‘ambulance chasing’ salesmen approaching injured parties in hospitals making proposals of accident compensation claims, it is increasingly important that you make the right choices regarding your personal injury claim.

How do I know if my injury firm at legitimate?

In order to ensure that you receive the best support possible, it is important to ensure that the legal firm you choose to deal with are professional and experienced in dealing with personal injury claims.

Choosing the right solicitor can be a difficult task however it is an important one. A good solicitor should not be looking for quick sales instead they should be focussed on fully understanding your situation and working to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve, both financially and medically.

Ensure that you are dealing with a qualified solicitor from a reputable legal firm who have a strong background in successful personal injury claims. Good personal injury firms tend to offer initial advice free on a no obligation basis to ascertain whether you have a potential claim. This could prove a good opportunity for you to raise any queries which you have.

Be wary if you are approached directly by salesmen after your injury. Do not feel obliged to discuss your situation with them. They may quote large sums that you could be rewarded however with personal injury claims, there is no way of telling exactly how much compensation that you could receive until a full investigation has been completed and liability has been accepted.

Who should I turn to for personal injury advice?

The few ‘claims cowboys’ out there should not be associated with the legitimate personal injury firms who have years of experience in offering claimants an honest and dedicated end-to-end service to help them get all the compensation that they deserve.

You should not feel pressured or rushed into anything that you do not want to do. Your personal injury solicitor should help ensure that you are informed and consulted every step of the process.

Owning a home can be a very rewarding and fulfilling experience. Many Americans are determined to secure their finances in order to achieve their dreams and become homeowners. There are several steps prospective homeowners can take in order to make sure they are ready to make that life-changing decision.

Firstly, prospective homeowners should do research into the housing market, the location of interest, and determine what time of house and property would best suit their needs. Additionally, homeowners should determine if they are financially prepared to cover the costs of purchasing a house. Another important step before purchasing is to have a full inspection of the house. This step is expensive and can be saved for serious home buying considerations. However, there are several warning signs homeowners should keep an eye out for while they are searching for their dream home.

1. State of the Neighborhood – Potential home buyers should take a glance at the houses that surround the house of interest. They should take note of the curb appeal of other houses, the state of their upkeep, and even if there are a large number of other homes for sale nearby. It is also possible to research the amount of local crime reports in the neighborhood. It doesn’t hurt to contact the neighbors on the street to get their impressions of the neighborhood also.

2. Odor Problems – While walking through the interior and around the exterior of the house, buyers should take note of any strange odors they may come across. Smoke and pet odors are removable over time, but can take quite a bit of effort. If the house smells of mold, there is a chance of potential water damage. Additionally, if the house is covered with air fresheners, the seller may be trying to trick the buyer by covering up any lingering odors.

3. Ceiling Stains- If there are water stains on the ceiling, there is clear evidence that something may be leaking and causing water damage. This is a potential red flag for bathroom plumbing issues. The bathtub may require recaulking, pipes may need to be replaced, or the tiling may require repairs. Either way, this is a potentially expensive undertaking if it is not caught before purchasing the house.

4. Faulty Wiring- When inspecting the inside of a house, buyers should test each and every light switch and outlet to make sure they are in working order. Faulty electrical facilities can be extremely expensive to repair. Wiring problems are hazardous and can cause fires and electrocution.

5. Foundation Problems- When checking out the basement and the exterior of the house, buyers should take note of any sloping, bowing, or slanting in the ground and yard. Cracks at the base of the house are clear indicators of foundation problems and can cause water runoff to flow into the basement.