How to Save Money Without Noticing #saving #money #college

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Are you sick of worrying about the budget and how you’re going to cut back and save even more? Well, don’t worry. Here are 3 easy ways to save some cash without even noticing:

Upromise and other programs like it allow you to accumulate savings for a college fund when you purchase items you already buy with registered store cards or credit cards. The best part – there are no sign-up or association fees.

You could save hundreds each year in bank fees simply by using your own bank’s ATMs. If you have a debit card, you can also get cash back at the grocery store and other places and you won’t get charged outlandish fees for accessing your own money.

Finally, one of the easiest ways to save money without cutting back is by keeping only the minimum balance in your checking account. Deposit everything you earn in to a high-yield savings account. Then transfer money for free online to cover any checks you write. This way you’re earning interest on the money you’ve earmarked to pay your bills.

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Not too late to obtain the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers…

You’ve already filed your 2008 tax returns and maybe you’ve already received your refund. That means it’s too late to obtain the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers enacted by President Obama‘s Stimulus Plan, right? Wrong. The great thing about this tax credit is that you can still get the cash this year, even if you’ve already filed your taxes for 2008 – and the money is yours to keep. You don’t ever have to pay it back, as long as you stay in the home for at least 36 months.

There’s a lot of confusion in the media surrounding this tax credit, but it’s actually pretty simple. Qualified first-time home buyers (anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the three years prior to the purchase) can receive a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price up to $8,000. All you have to do is purchase a primary home (that means a home you’ll actually live in, not an investment home) any time between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2009. If you make a qualified purchase after April 15, or after having already filed your 2008 taxes, you and your tax professional can submit an amendment to your return and receive the credit on your 2008 taxes – you don’t have to wait until next April.

There are some income limitations and other factors involved, but give us a call or a tax professional and we’ll gladly review your financial situation and see if you qualify. With today’s combination of low interest rates and lower home prices, this tax credit gives you a second chance to benefit from the great opportunities in today’s real estate market.

Seek a Mortgage Modification

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• An extension of the term to 40yrs
• A lowering of interest rates
• “Principal Forbearance”

There is advice for handling your lender at www.hud.gov or at www.housinghelpnow.org

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