As the numbers of foreclosures continue to rise, you may be wondering what would happen to your home if a sudden job loss or illness left you without an income. Some companies are even offering mortgage protection insurance to help you protect yourself in just such a situation. Before you purchase a policy, CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich has some suggestions for how you can protect your home without paying the high cost of these insurance premiums.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
As I was driving home last night, I was checking out some of the Halloween decorations in my neighborhood when one house caught my attention. It wasn't because its decorations were particularly cute or overly scary. It was because they were really early. The house was decorated with Christmas lights. Granted they were simple white lights that could work throughout the holiday season, but they seemed really out of place among the ghosts and graveyards in the surrounding yards. I usually swap my autumn gourds and flowers for holiday lights right after Thanksgiving, but maybe I'm out of touch. What do you think?
Most basic online retirement calculators say that you need 85 to 90 percent of your previous income in order to maintain your quality of life after you retire. This may not be the case for everyone though, advises CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. The amount of money that you'll really need to retire depends on many factors including whether you live below your means and if your mortgage will be paid in full. Watch Carmen explain the variables and how you can tell if you have enough savings to enjoy your retirement.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
photo: GardenWeb user cindylouhoo
Get directions for making your own garbage bag wreath or check out the easy yarn wreath GardenWeb user luvstocraft's made from a round Styrofoam base, also from the Dollar Store, and black eyelash fringe yarn.
photo: GardenWeb user luvstocraft
Buying a home is a great investment. It's also a big step for couples whether they're married or planning to live together. It can often put a strain on the relationship, especially if both partners are contributing to the costs of the home but aren't sharing equally in the investment. If you're contributing to the down payment or mortgage payment, make sure your name is on the deed, even if it means paying a slightly higher rate. A slightly higher payment now could prevent some big problems down the road, advises CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. Watch the video to learn why.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
Should I add my name to our home's deed?The holidays can be an expensive time. After entertaining and giving gifts to family and dear friends, there may not be enough in the budget to contribute to office parties and gift exchanges. Don't let the pressure to contribute drive you to spend more than you can afford, warns CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. See Carmen's suggestions for avoiding or spending less on these office gift exchanges.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
Halloween is less than 2 weeks away but it's not too late to decorate. You can find some great deals on your decor as stores start marking down their seasonal decorations. Check out these 6 great decorations for $7 or less.
- Pictured: Halloween luminary ($7 at Target.com)
- Witch hat tealight candles ($6.95 at Crate&Barrel.com)
- Spiderweb bowl ($5.99 at SurLaTable.com)
- Martha Stewart Halloween mouse silhouettes ($5 at GrandinRoad.com)
- Skull appetizer plate ($5 at PotteryBarn.com)
- Ghost flameless LED candle ($2.96 at Pier1.com)
photo: target.com
Is it too early to start decorating for Christmas? I haven't even done any Halloween decorating yet, but the new Pottery Barn catalog came in the mail yesterday and it's full of holiday decorations. It has this pre-lighted outdoor garland that would look great on my retaining wall... But I'm getting ahead of myself. I know most of us are just starting to think about Thanksgiving.
One thing that caught my eye in the catalog is some great ideas for easy Thanksgiving centerpieces. The best part of these tabletop ideas, though, is that you can either buy them from Pottery Barn for somewhere between $12 and $20 or, with a little effort, you could make them yourself from things you find in your yard, at the grocery store or at the craft store.
This arrangement, for example, combines twigs, acorns, leaves and a candle in a glass vase. Everything but the vase and the candle could be found in my yard right now. Some other simple ideas for Thanksgiving centerpieces include wheat, pomegranates, cranberries and apples.
Want more ideas for autumn decorations that you could make with things you find after a brisk walk in the woods? Check out these 8 easy projects.
photo: potterybarn.com
Do you own a Billy Bookcase from IKEA? Have you ever? There's a good chance that you do or have, since in the 30 years since this product came on the market more than 41 million of them have been sold. I had one in my first college apartment, as did most of my friends. It was simple, affordable and a necessity for a college student with a mountain of books.
In celebration of Billy's 30th birthday, IKEA is releasing a limited-edition version of the classic bookcase. The Billy Jader is covered in quotations for William Shakespeare's sonnets. How's that for inspiration for a budding poet? And it's only $50. Or you can a glass door with the same quotations from Shakespeare to dress up your existing Billy for only $20.
photo: ikea
Shopping for a mortgage can be confusing. There are so many different types and terms that you need to know. For example, some banks offer pre-qualification while others offer pre-approval and even others offer both. So which should you choose? CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich explains the difference and why getting pre-approved can move you to the front of the line when you're looking for a new home.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
