DID YOU KNOW YOU HAVE FREE HELP AVAILABLE TO DECIDE IF YOU SHOULD BUY OR RENT A HOUSE?

    The economy is unpredictable, the housing market is hurting, and you need to move. How do you decide if you should buy a house or rent? There is no easy answer except, “That depends…..”, since many factors figure into calculating the costs and benefits of owning vs. renting.

    If you need to relocate quickly, then renting may be the best choice since you will need time to check out where you want to buy in a new location. However, the comparison of these two options is complex. The actual expenses of owning and renting need to be compared with all other outside influences, including the property taxes, length of time you intend to stay in the house or area, down payments and closing costs for home owners, monthly fees and security fees for renters, all of your other debt and credit monthly payments, calculating how much income you want to spend from your net pay, etc. Thankfully, there are online resources that can help with your calculations before you move or make any large financial decisions.

    To determine rental costs and fees, you can access the local Chamber of Commerce Web sites where you will be moving, go to online resources, such as Rentals.com, in the areas where you are interested in moving, or use the Trulia.com Web site to view local rental fees in your area. U.S. rents have continually dipped throughout the past year, and this means that in many areas you can rent more space than you could afford to buy. You also have the financial advantage of not paying for property taxes and upkeep.

    However, if you are planning to stay in one area for more than five years, you may benefit from purchasing property and developing equity. The advantages in owning your home include that property owners receive tax breaks, houses are selling at all time lows, you have the possibility of developing equity over time, and having the freedom to enjoy your own property. You may want to look into purchasing a foreclosure, and you can find the availability of foreclosed properties in your area at RealtyTrac.com.

    You can receive further help at mortgagecalculator.com for a complete list of what determines your ability and/or advantages of owning a house. Since every person has individual financial circumstances, debt, and needs, it is always good to get as much information and help as possible to make these important decisions. Check the newspapers, and bank and credit union Web sites for mortgage rates and closing costs. Check your credit ratings, and get prequalified for a mortgage to help you understand what to look for in potential property price ranges.

    After comparing the pros and cons of renting vs. owning your housing, you will be well informed to make the right personal choice for your needs and finances.

Did You Know That “Back To School” Times Can Be Peaceful and Fun?

    The summer is waning and the media is full of ads and news regarding “back to school” for all of the children in the United States. This is usually a time of emotional, financial, and physical stress for parents and children alike. The children have to face new schools or new classes, teachers, and peers while giving up the freedom and ease of summertime. Parents are faced with developing new schedules, procuring after school child care, outfitting and preparing their children for school and sports, and the financial burdens that come with all of these options.

    How can parents prepare their children for a new and fresh start in school without the usual stresses and financial burdens that come with “back to school”? With a little planning and thoughtfulness, both parents and children can make this an enjoyable time full of excitement and new beginnings. Here are a few suggestions for making “back to school” a peaceful and fun transition time.

1. Honestly Assess What Is Needed. Take the time to go through your children’s clothing, school supplies, and sporting equipment with each child. Both of you can make suggestions as to what fits, what is still useful, and what isn’t going to make it through another year of school. For example, you may not need to buy a new pair of school scissors or replace rulers every year, but you may need to purchase a new scientific calculator. Donate or throw out anything that has lost its usefulness.
   

    

2. Begin New Routines. Have your children start going to bed at the time when they normally would for school at least a week ahead of the start of school. Awaken your children at the time they need to be awakened for school. Serve meals at the same times that you would during the school year. This will have their routines regulated prior to the beginning of school.
   

    

3. Shop the Sales. There are always great bargains at the end of the summer sales. Most students won’t need their fall clothing until October, so that’s when the fall clothing goes on sale, and you can make those purchases later in the fall. If you get good buys on summer outfits, these will last in most climates until the fall sales.
   

    

4. Use Sporting Goods Swaps. Most communities will feature some type of sports equipment and clothing swaps in the fall. These are excellent opportunities to get greatly discounted sporting goods and clothing for children. Most children quickly outgrow their sports equipment making the equipment still useful for another season or two by a younger and smaller child. Often, new equipment will be featured by dealers who also frequently sell at the swaps at greatly discounted prices.
   

    

5. Buy Accessories, Not Clothes. It is amazing what a belt, scarf, flashy socks, or new shoes will do to enliven a pair of jeans, pants, skirt, or dress. Buying accessories is much less expensive than buying new outfits, and this type of shopping can be a fun exercise with a child. First, choose the outfits that will benefit from new accessories, and then go shopping with those colors and styles in mind. Have a budget and don’t exceed what you intend to spend. Sharing the budget and the cost savings in shopping approaches with your child will teach them shopping expertise and personal budget management.
   

    

6. Use Discount Stores. Most communities have dollar stores or offer access to discount stores that sell large quantities of goods for greatly discounted prices. For everything from personal hygiene products to pencil boxes and backpacks, many of your child’s back to school needs can be purchased from these facilities with savings to you. You can also use coupons at these stores to get even deeper discounts.
   

    

7. Check Out Consignment Stores. One of the oldest concepts in shopping and swapping is the consignment shop. These consignment stores are having a resurgence in popularity as they have many household, clothing, accessories, and vintage clothing items that appeal to many ages. In addition to being inexpensive, many items have designer labels and infinite charm that are now very fashionable and appealing to fashionistas everywhere. Be sure to take your child on this shopping trip as what you think is wonderful may or may not be viewed as “cool” to them.

    

8. Be Ready for Their First Day of School. Most children have mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety about the first day of school. To make the first day go smoothly, have all of their things ready and packed in the backpack, lunches made the night before, clothes clean, out and ready to be worn, and all required school forms and papers easily accessible for your child to give to his or her teacher. This will help to alleviate your stress and will also help your child feel well prepared for the first day of school.
   

    

9. Know Your Child’s School and Teacher(s). Make sure to take the time to attend all of the scheduled orientation meetings and open houses given at your children’s schools. Many schools offer tours of the facilities for both parents and children, and their teachers will be available to meet with you. If your child knows where she or he will be going for classes, and has a working knowledge of the school’s facilities, this will help to alleviate angst on the first few days of school.