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	<title>Financial Planning Made Easy &#187; finance</title>
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	<description>Money management isn&#039;t hard if you know how it works.</description>
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		<title>How to Find the Highest Interest Rates for Your IRA Investments</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/05/10/how-to-find-the-highest-interest-rates-for-your-ira-investments/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/05/10/how-to-find-the-highest-interest-rates-for-your-ira-investments/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 May 2011 18:13:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[highest ira rates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ira interest rates]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[How to invest your IRA funds is surely one of the most crucial decisions that you have to make in opening an IRA account. As we all know, IRA account holders are given different options on how they will invest their IRA funds. They may choose to invest it in stocks, certificate of deposits, mutual [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>How to invest your IRA funds is surely one of the most crucial decisions that you have to make in opening an IRA account. As we all know, IRA account holders are given different options on how they will invest their IRA funds. They may choose to invest it in stocks, certificate of deposits, mutual funds, and others. With all the choices available, the different things that need to be considered, and the stakes so high, choosing the type of investment can be a challenging task for some.</p>
<p>Those conservative individuals will often choose certificate of deposits as a type of investment for their IRA account because it is virtually free of risks. CDs are like regular savings account where you gain interest for depositing your money. The difference is that there is a specified term for CDs. Acco8unt holders must wait for this term to mature so that they will be able to withdraw their deposit along with its interest. Because of this, CDs are awarded higher interest rates that regular savings account. The <a title="IRA interest rates" href="http://irarates.org/ira-interest-rates/ira-interest-rates/">IRA interest rates</a> usually depend on the type of CD that the account holder invested in.</p>
<p>In order to get the best IRA interest rates for your CDs, you need to do a research on different financial institutions that offer this type of investment. Always keep in mind that the <a title="highest IRA Rates" href="http://irarates.org/">highest IRA rates</a> for CDs are not always the best. You also have to consider the terms and the minimum deposit for your CD. Usually you get the highest IRA rates with Jumbo CDs that require a large amount of minimum deposit. The minimum deposit for Jumbo CDs usually ranges from $100,000 to $200,000. However, there are also institutions that require less deposit for these CDs. Compare rates for one institution to another. This way you will be able to find not only the highest IRA rates but will also have higher returns.</p>
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		<title>Understand Investing in Penny Stocks</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/05/10/understand-investing-in-penny-stocks/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/05/10/understand-investing-in-penny-stocks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 May 2011 18:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stock investing for dummies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stock market for dummies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/?p=429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Before investing in penny stock, you need to understand what they are. Manuals on stock market for dummies are one of the best sources of it. Penny stocks are the shares issued by small or new companies that are not big enough to make it to the major exchanges. These stocks are usually cheap and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Before investing in penny stock, you need to understand what they are. Manuals on <a title="stock market for dummies" href="http://stockmarketfordummies.net/">stock market for dummies</a> are one of the best sources of it. Penny stocks are the shares issued by small or new companies that are not big enough to make it to the major exchanges. These stocks are usually cheap and this is the main reason why you will find a lot of traders dealing with such stocks. The initial amount of money you spend on buying the stocks is not all that much and slight upward movement in the prices could easily double this amount. You should also know that a downward movement of the prices will also have a negative effect on the investment.</p>
<p>The fundamentals of investing in penny stocks include: understanding the financial and the general status of the company. There are two reasons why a company can be issuing cheap stocks. It is in financial turmoil and it is new. Most of these companies deal with simple businesses mainly resource production and the prices will depend on the cost of the resources.</p>
<p><a href="http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/stack-of-pennies.jpg"><img class="alignright" title="investing in penny stocks" src="http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/stack-of-pennies.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="220" /></a>One thing that you need to understand is that penny stocks are risky, and this is why investors will stay away. The main problem is that regardless of how much research you conduct you can never be a hundred percent sure that the stock prices will move up. You should also know that the stocks are not as monitored as mature stocks and thus this gives room to scam artist to devise means of conning unsuspecting investors in the market.</p>
<p>The most common plan that is used by scam artists is the pump and dump. This involves false information about a cheap stock which makes people purchase the stocks and after the prices are high enough due to demand, the artists sell their stocks which account for the largest part and thus leaving a lot of investors in problems because the stocks they will be holding will be valueless.</p>
<p>If you need more information, always remember that there are a lot of sites that offer guidelines on <a title="stock investing for dummies" href="http://stockmarketfordummies.net/investing/stock-investing-for-dummies/">stock investing for dummies</a>.</p>
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		<title>Things To Know Before Investing In Private Mortgages or Florida Hard Money Loans</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/05/01/things-to-know-before-investing-in-private-mortgages-or-florida-hard-money-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/05/01/things-to-know-before-investing-in-private-mortgages-or-florida-hard-money-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 10:56:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[florida hard money loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investing in private mortgages]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/?p=423</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Investing in private mortgages as well as Florida hard money loans are growing in popularity especially for people who want to invest in something that yields excellent returns in just a short time. However, before you actually start putting up money for private mortgages, here are some things that you need to know first. Look [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.c-mortgage.com/investors">Investing in private mortgages</a> as well as <a href="http://www.c-mortgage.com/florida-hard-money">Florida hard money loans</a> are growing in popularity especially for people who want to invest in something that yields excellent returns in just a short time. However, before you actually start putting up money for private mortgages, here are some things that you need to know first.</p>
<ul>
<li>Look at the value of the property in question first – the collateral used in private mortgages is the real estate property that the loan will finance. If somebody asks you for a hard money loan, the first thing you need to do is to look at the property that the loan will finance first. If you see that there is actual value in the property, you can now start considering becoming a private mortgage investor.</li>
<li>Loan terms should synchronize with the calculated quick resale value of the property – in order to minimize risk on the part of the investor, a hard money loan is often dependent on the quick resale value of the property. If the quick resale value was determined for six months, the hard money loan terms should also be for six months.</li>
<li><a href="http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/house.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-489" title="private mortgage" src="http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/house.jpg" alt="" width="333" height="250" /></a>Charge high interest rates – due to the high risk on the part of the investor, it is ok to charge higher interest rates for loans compared to other traditional institutions. This is because most of the borrowers of hard money loans are people with no credit or very low credit ratings. This is why it is justifiable to charge high interest rates regardless of the collateral for the loan.</li>
<li>Always have an exit strategy – this is always a good idea when investing in private mortgages as well as Florida hard money loans. Always make sure that you can easily dispose of the collateral property if the loan is unpaid. You can also sell private mortgages to other investors if you want a lump sum return instead of monthly payments.</li>
</ul>
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		<title>A Guide to Getting a Second Chance Checking Account</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/04/16/a-guide-to-getting-a-second-chance-checking-account/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/04/16/a-guide-to-getting-a-second-chance-checking-account/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:25:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[second chance checking account]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/?p=413</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you have any trouble opening a new bank account due to your bad financial standing? I can relate to how you’re feeling because I have gone through the same thing. Fortunately, there are banks that offer a second chance checking account for people like you and me. But before you get too excited, there [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Do you have any trouble opening a new bank account due to your bad financial standing? I can relate to how you’re feeling because I have gone through the same thing. Fortunately, there are banks that offer a <a href="http://clockworkaccounting.com/second-chance-checking-accounts/">second chance checking account</a> for people like you and me. But before you get too excited, there are basic things you need to know about it.</p>
<p><strong>ChexSystems</strong></p>
<p>If you ever experienced being rejected by a bank from opening a regular checking account, the culprit is most likely ChexSystems. This company keeps a list of people who have bad credit standing and disseminates this list to different banks. Banks which are members of ChexSystems provide them the names of delinquent payers so that they would be included in the list.</p>
<p><strong>How does second chance banking work?</strong></p>
<p>First, you can look for <a href="http://clockworkaccounting.com/non-chexsystems-banks/">banks that do not use ChexSystems</a>. However, you would find that only a few banks are not members. Your next best option is to get a second chance banking account. You can search for banks that are willing to give you a second chance through the internet. Usually, they are national and local banks, and credit unions. There are also other financial institutions established solely to provide service to people with bad financial records. A second chance checking account has almost the same perks as a regular account.</p>
<p><strong>Fees and Terms</strong></p>
<p>It’s not wise to make hasty decisions because many second chance banking accounts do not come for free. Some of them require membership fees or monthly or quarterly fees. As such, you have to be careful in deciding which bank to go to. Better read the terms and conditions well to ensure that you have understood everything or end up regretting it.</p>
<p>Finally, don’t take second chance checking accounts lightly. This could probably be your last chance so make the most out of it. If you maintain good financial standing, most banks would consider upgrading your account to a regular one. That would be great, right?</p>
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		<title>instant cash for your settlement now</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/03/24/instant-cash-for-your-settlement-now/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/03/24/instant-cash-for-your-settlement-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:34:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[assets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cash settlement]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[If you would like instant cash for your settlement, you need to contact a service with experience in helping others obtain cash for settlements that they are entitled to. If you have recently won a settlement due to an accident or the fault of another person, it is likely that you are suffering. This suffering [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you would like <a href="http://amateurassetallocator.com/2010/07/11/cashing-out-a-structured-settlement/">instant cash for your settlement</a>, you need to contact a service with experience in helping others obtain cash for settlements that they are entitled to. If you have recently won a settlement due to an accident or the fault of another person, it is likely that you are suffering. This suffering comes along with medical bills they are can you several thousand dollars every month, but you would be unable to pay these because of the fact that you are unable to generate income.</p>
<p>Settlements are awarded in cases where you have been hurt due to the fault of another person or business. These damages will be awarded to you in the form of a settlement and you will be able to use this form to pay for medical bills or other expenses that you have related to the injury or unable to pay because of the injury. This includes your monthly rent, utility bills and food that you need in order to survive but aren&#8217;t able to pay for normally because you are unable to work.</p>
<p>If you have a large settlement, you may find that it will be paid to you over a large period of time in weekly, monthly, or yearly installments, some settlements are paid within several years which could make it very difficult for you to manage because you owe money or need to pay things off now.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re someone who cannot afford to wait for periodic installments from your settlement, the best way that you can overcome this problem is to take advantage of services available to you. You can cash out any settlement that you have been awarded and this will allow you to access the money that belongs to you but you would normally have waited time to receive. Instead of waiting for several years, you will be giving the settlement amount in one lump sum. This is very useful for anyone that needs this money in order to make ends meet.</p>
<p>If your survival depends on cashing out a settlement, begin this process and you will be able to get the money that belongs to you quickly. There is no need to wait years and no need to suffer because of inability to pay for essential medical services. You can get the money that belongs to you quickly by beginning the process of cashing out a settlement amount now. If you would like to take advantage of this money in order to boost the way that you currently live, you should consider investing in <a href="http://amateurassetallocator.com/2010/06/09/top-5-income-producing-assets-ranked/">income producing assets</a>. Examples of this include securities, stocks and bonds. These offer some safe places to put any extra money that you have available and let that money work for you, instead of letting it sit in a low-yield bank someplace. These methods are very useful to help yourself generate a new income source especially if you&#8217;re unable to work because of your injuries.</p>
<p>Get more data on getting instant cash for your settlement at the author&#8217;s website.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Do you need an RESP?</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/03/16/do-you-need-an-resp/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/03/16/do-you-need-an-resp/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:30:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/?p=365</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Were you aware that the government is willing to give you five hundred dollars per year to put towards your child’s education?If you want to know how look into RESPs.Registered Education Savings Plans can be found at any Credit Union or Bank and can go a long way to providing your high school graduate with [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Were you aware that the government is willing to give you five hundred dollars per year to put towards your child’s education?If you want to know how look into <a href="http://myuniversitymoney.com/resp/">RESPs</a>.Registered Education Savings Plans can be found at any Credit Union or Bank and can go a long way to providing your high school graduate with the jump start they need to make in an ever more competitive world.</p>
<p>The way it all works is that the government wants your child to go to university.A well educated population provides numerous benefits to the government, and it’s just a good overall philosophy.In order to encourage people to save money for their child’s education they have created something called the Canada Education Savings Grant or the CESG.The CESG is a program that can pay out up to $500 per year to a lifetime investment.The beauty of the program is that after your money and the Government’s have been pooled together the interest gained on the cash is all tax free.</p>
<p>To take full advantage of the program it is advisable to invest $2500 per year.This will ensure the full government addition of $500 per year and will give your account a nice boost each year.Within the account you can take as much or as little risk as you want.If you want to invest the full amount in Wal-Mart stocks you can do that.If you want to put the money into Government of Canada bond ladders you can do that too.If you are super conservative about ‘little Johnny’s’ university fund you can simply put it all in a high interest savings account and just sit back and watch your money work for you.Do the right thing and make sure your son/daughter is not crushed under the considerable weight of student loan debt. Be sure to check out the <a href="http://myuniversitymoney.com/category/financial-advice/resp-financial-advice/">resp contribution limit</a>.</p>
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		<title>Stability of the Financial System</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/01/22/stability-of-the-financial-system/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2011/01/22/stability-of-the-financial-system/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:49:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/?p=303</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the major responsibilities of the Federal Reserve is to stabilize the financial system. The sections in the financial system can inhibit the ability of financial markets to us that the we channel funds between money lenders and money borrowers. Any reduction in the flow of funds will reduce consumer spending and business investment, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the major responsibilities of the Federal Reserve is to stabilize the financial system. The sections in the financial system can inhibit the ability of financial markets to us that the we channel funds between money lenders and money borrowers.</p>
<p>Any reduction in the flow of funds will reduce consumer spending and business investment, which will lead to slower economic growth. Also, individuals may find it more difficult or expensive to borrow and, best, maybe have to postpone certain purchases such as buying a new car.</p>
<p>Another major responsibility of the Fed is to stabilize the banking system &#8212; primarily upon depository institutions. Widespread failure of banks and other depository institutions can have debilitating effects on the economy. Without going into detail, the 19.9 stock market crash was followed by widespread bank failures and a devastating depression. Using the best analysis of the day, economists and politicians coalesced around the notion that somehow the Great Depression was caused by the misbehavior of Wall Street and the nation&#8217;s banks. The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 and other banking legislation of that. Separated investment banking firm commercial banking to remove various conflicts of interest, regulated margin requirements to reduce speculative investing in interest a number of anti-competitive measures in banking all in an effort to reduce competition and bank failures.</p>
<p>As one might expect, the number of bank failures drop to magically after this legislation and the country has not had a depression since. What is amazing is that what occurred during the Great Depression eerily reflects what is occurring in our nation today. He would be difficult to say that we made the same mistake twice as it is looking like this current depression that were facing was deliberate as it is an effort to murder the dollar so that the US population will embrace the world currency known as the &#8220;bancor&#8221;.</p>
<p>If you enjoyed reading this financial topic then you may be interested in learning <a href="http://thedigitalinvestor.com/stock-market-for-dummies">stock market for dummies how it works</a> as well as <a href="http://thedigitalinvestor.com/silver-coins-for-sale">silver coins for sale ebay</a>.</p>
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		<title>4 Tips for Finding Financial Success</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2010/12/24/4-tips-for-finding-financial-success/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2010/12/24/4-tips-for-finding-financial-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Dec 2010 19:48:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt consolidation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/?p=280</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Financial management can be a tricky, and often boring issue to deal with. However, when you get yourself on the right track when it comes to your finances, you will find that you will be much better off. Not only will you have more security in the future, you will also know how to better [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Financial management can be a tricky, and often boring issue to deal with. However, when you get yourself on the right track when it comes to your finances, you will find that you will be much better off. Not only will you have more security in the future, you will also know how to better manage your cash flow.</p>
<h3>How To Get Started</h3>
<p>Financial management starts by learning to correctly budget your money. Write down a list of how much you spend each month. Then make a budget for you, and the rest of your family to follow. By doing so, you will be able to save a lot more money, as well as keep up with how much you spend on a regular basis. This is key to properly managing your finances. Plus, the more you save, the more you&#8217;ll have to learn <a href="http://easyinvestingblog.com/">how to invest</a> with.</p>
<p>Next, you should focus on getting a <a href="http://learndebtconsolidation.com/">debt consolidation</a> loan. With this loan in place, you will be able to knock out your debt, so that you can have less stress.The loan will organize your debt, as well as consolidate it into one simple payment. Also with the loan, you can often get much lower interest rates, which will help you to get ahead on your debt.</p>
<h3>More Tips To Consider</h3>
<p>Another area that you can focus on is learning to make some extra money online. This can be done several different ways. One, is that you can build web sites, and even blogs for extra money. You could also learn to design web graphics as well. Other ideas include writing for web sites, and even participating in paid survey programs. These are easy ways you can earn extra income.</p>
<p>It is also very important for you, and your family to set aside a portion of your earnings each month. Open a special savings account for you to put this money in. That way, over time, you will be able to build a nice solid savings for your future. That way when times are tough, you will have cash to rely on, rather than using credit cards.</p>
<h3>Final Thoughts</h3>
<p>All of this will take time, and commitment. But, it will be well worth the effort when you realize that you have finally succeeded in the area of financial management.</p>
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		<title>What to Look for in a New Checking Account</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2010/12/18/what-to-look-for-in-a-new-checking-account/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2010/12/18/what-to-look-for-in-a-new-checking-account/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:41:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interst checking accounts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New checking account]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opening a checking account]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[When shopping for a new checking account there are certain things that you need to take into consideration to find the best deal. You don&#8217;t want to be hung with fees you didn&#8217;t know about or with a bank that doesn&#8217;t offer you any perks with your checking account. Here are some things to keep [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When shopping for a new checking account there are certain things that you need to take into consideration to find the best deal. You don&#8217;t want to be hung with fees you didn&#8217;t know about or with a bank that doesn&#8217;t offer you any perks with your checking account. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping around for a new checking account.</p>
<p>First, try to find a bank that is offering <a href="http://checkingaccountpromotions.com/the-best-types-of-new-checking-account-promotions-to-look-for/">new checking account promotions</a> at the present time. This can be a great way to get some extra money or a nice gift from simply signing up for your new checking account. Not all banks offer these promotions but they are rather popular with some of the bigger named banks like Bank of American and Chase.</p>
<p>Next, you want to look at all the fees associated with the checking account. Look at such things as ATM fees from both your bank and visiting banks. Some banks will have a reimbursement policy but make sure you look at what is required first. Other fees to be aware of are checking fees to cash or write a check as well as overdraft fees and monthly maintenance fees. Look for an account that has the least amount of fees associated with it.</p>
<p>You also want to look to make sure that the bank doesn&#8217;t charge you a fee for not carrying a minimum amount in your checking. This is common with interest checking accounts but you may also find it with regular checking accounts as well. If you are not sure that you can maintain that amount of money, don&#8217;t sign up for the account.</p>
<p>Lastly, if you are looking for an interest checking account, you want to make sure you compare rates between several banks. Find the bank that is offering the highest interest rate as well as has the lowest amount of fees.</p>
<p>Shopping for a new checking account doesn&#8217;t have to be hard if you know what to look for. Just be sure that you do your research and compare different accounts before you sign up with any bank.</p>
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		<title>Budgeting and Forecasting Basics for Household Expenses</title>
		<link>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2010/11/13/budgeting-and-forecasting-basics-for-household-expenses/</link>
		<comments>http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/2010/11/13/budgeting-and-forecasting-basics-for-household-expenses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Nov 2010 00:12:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budgeting and forecasting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[expense categories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[household expenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monthly expenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal finance programs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://financialplanningmadeeasy.info/?p=197</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The trick to successful budgeting and forecasting of monthly expenses is to be consistent in following it. It&#8217;s one thing to create a budget plan, but unless that plan is actually executed, it is worthless. Like any new habit, it will take a little trial and error to get it right, but persistence pays off [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The trick to successful <a href="http://all-about-anything.com/category/personal-finances/debt-management">budgeting and forecasting</a> of monthly expenses is to be consistent in following it. It&#8217;s one thing to create a budget plan, but unless that plan is actually executed, it is worthless. Like any new habit, it will take a little trial and error to get it right, but persistence pays off with more money in the bank.</p>
<p>There are many personal finance programs such as Quicken you can buy, or you can find free budgeting and forecasting spreadsheets all over the Internet. Most of these excel spreadsheets are far more complicated than they need to be, but you can dummy them down, or simply create your own. Do your best to keep categories to a minimum to avoid confusion and duplication.</p>
<p><strong>Category: Utilities</strong></p>
<p>These expenses are typically static (stay the same) except for gas and electricity which can change with the seasons. Other expenses here would include cable TV and Internet, phones, water and sewer, and garbage collection.</p>
<p><strong>Category: Food</strong></p>
<p>This is the category that gives people the most trouble in budgeting and forecasting. How much is reasonable to spend? $450 a month for two people is plenty, but probably won&#8217;t cut it for a family of four. The tendency is to cut back too much here, making it impossible to stick to. Trial and error over several months and a little common sense will help you come up with a reasonable amount.</p>
<p>Eating out should be included here as well, so budget in enough to eat out a couple times a month. It unrealistic to think you can give this up for good.</p>
<p><strong>Category: Personal or Miscellaneous</strong></p>
<p>Any other expenses that don&#8217;t need to be in its own category can go in this one. You can count on these to come out of the woodwork over the months and you can add them to the budget as they arise. <a href="http://all-about-anything.com/debt-relief-plan">Include a little fun money</a> for hobbies and such. This is an important budget item so you don&#8217;t feel deprived. If you don&#8217;t have a lot of medical expenses, than they can go in this category as well.</p>
<p><strong>Category: Housing and Maintenance </strong></p>
<p>Your rent or mortgage payment goes here, as well as any planned maintenance such as carpet cleaning or window washing.</p>
<p><strong>Category: Transportation</strong></p>
<p>Transportation includes the car payment, gas and any planned maintenance or repairs. Money for any public transportation taken on a regular basis goes in here as well.</p>
<p><strong>Categories: Debts</strong></p>
<p>Any credit card or loan payment goes here. Some people prefer to put the balances on the budget as well so they always know exactly how much is owed. Car and mortgage payments can go here as well if preferred.</p>
<p><strong>Categories: Savings</strong></p>
<p>Savings should include at least $1000 emergency fund and money for any annual expenses such as home owner or renter&#8217;s insurance, car registrations, subscriptions, vacations and Christmas (or other holiday). Put away a little each month for these expenses so you&#8217;ll have the money when you need it. If you give to charities, they can be put in here or under miscellaneous.</p>
<p>Being consistent with your budgeting is the key which leaves you in control of your cash, giving you financial peace of mind.</p>
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