Gather Your Income Info Comparing your debt to your income gives you a better idea of whether you can afford your debt load. Start by gathering your income info. Most credit card companies and lenders consider your monthly gross, or before-tax, income when they’re qualifying you for a credit card or loan. Use your paystubs, or invoice receipts if you’re a contractor or self-employed, to figure out how much you bring in each month....

It makes sense, then, that many people are considering ways to lower their cost of living. Add a feeling of isolation and a desire for more social connection, and the single-family lifestyle might begin to lose some of its luster. One solution to this situation is communal living. Also known as cohousing, co-living, or intentional living, this strategy aims to combine the best parts of solo living with the benefits of a small community....

Learn how much money you should keep in your checking and savings accounts, when to move money around, and what the experts say about how to handle your account balances. How Much to Keep in a Checking Account There are several things to consider as you decide how much money you should keep in your checking account. First, there’s what you plan to use your checking account for. If you have only one checking account, you may use it for both bill payments and spending....

On the other hand, there are multiple ways to handle a challenge. One company might prefer an employee who takes a measured, methodological, and planned approach, whereas another organization might prefer individuals who dive in and do all they can to meet the challenge, without necessarily thinking of the bigger picture. What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know Every employee will face challenges from time to time. With this question, interviewers want to get a sense of your approach....

However, how you dress as a business professional will greatly depend on what business you’re in. If your business involves leading bicycle tours, then obviously spandex is a fine choice. If you’re a health care professional, you’ll be wearing a uniform. The general dress watchword for professionals is conservative. Want to be taken seriously? Dress seriously. Save the trendy pieces for off-duty times. Be sensible. Is it a good idea to be wearing those 4-inch heels when you have four properties to show that day?...

Your costs, revenue, and expenses are directly related to how good your financial management is. You sometimes hear the concept of net income called “the bottom line.” That term is used to refer to net income because it is, indeed, the bottom line stated on the income statement of a business such as a sole proprietorship. To help you gain a better understanding of this key financial figure, we’ll discuss what net income is, how to calculate it, and why it matters to your business....

The BBB helps consumers settle disputes related to sales, contracts, customer service, warranties, billings, and refunds every year. It accepts complaints even if the company that’s harmed you doesn’t belong to the Better Business Bureau. What Is the Better Business Bureau? The Better Business Bureau is a private organization with a stated vision to provide “an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other.” Its mission is “to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust....

Which Form Should You Use? Many states have dedicated forms for taxpayers who were residents for only part of the year, but some use the same forms as full-year residents with special calculations. Check your state tax authority’s website to find out which form you should use. It’s usually denoted with “PY” if your state has a special form for part-year residents, and that’s the form you should use. You must fill out a part-year resident tax return for each state where you lived during the year....

In general, the more information you have about a company, the better prepared you’ll be to interview and to make an informed decision if you get a job offer. Read below for information on how to use company reviews, websites that contain company reviews, and other strategies for learning about a company. How to Use Company Reviews Looking at company reviews can be useful at every step in the job process....

Types of Trusts and Probate A trust can be revocable or it can be irrevocable. In a revocable trust, the grantor—trust maker—is the trustee. They still control the property, can sell it, derive income from the property, or use it as they would before the trust. The real estate still remains property of the trust maker and creditors can claim against the assets. In an irrevocable trust, the grantor names a trustee to oversee the assets included in the vehicle....

Paying down debt takes time, but if you set reasonable goals around how long it will take you, you’ll pay it off in no time. Let’s take a closer look at how to get out of debt fast as well as some creative ways to do it. Know Your Debt Before you can start planning to pay down your debts, you need to know exactly what you owe. Start by creating a list that includes any debts you owe, such as credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, and student loans....

Overview of Thailand’s Economy Thailand’s economy is the second-largest in Southeast Asia (after Indonesia), but its per capita income is ranked fourth in the region, after Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia. Gross domestic product or GDP growth had settled at around 4% to 5% per year as a long-term average, driven by a strong automotive industry and its status as a significant exporter of rice and agricultural commodities, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic....

From what you should do (have plenty of patience) to what you shouldn’t (demand extensive repairs), these tips can help you put in a short sale offer that has a good chance of getting approved by both the seller and the lender. Offer a Strong Earnest Money Deposit There’s no set rule for how much money to submit with your purchase offer. Some homebuyers put down an earnest money deposit of $1,000, but an amount between 1% and 5% of the sales price speaks volumes....

What can you do to get your business beyond the bare sustenance level? What can you do to turn it into the income-generating powerhouse you envision? Like any element of running a business, there are multiple growth strategies that you can try. Recapture Existing Customers Getting new customers isn’t the only way to grow your business. Many times, the customers you already have are your best bet for increasing your sales, and studies have found that improving customer retention also improves the value of a company....

Your budget sounds great in theory, but resisting the temptation to order that second drink, skip dinner with friends or continue wearing frayed clothing doesn’t feel the same in the heat of the moment. Public Accountability Share your goals on social media. Update your readers, followers, and friends regarding your progress. Be transparent about the step backward you may take as well. Maintaining a sense of public accountability can force you to stick to your guns....

What Are Loan Origination Fees? Origination charges are fees that you pay to your lender for processing your loan application. Depending on your lender, the costs might be bundled into one line item, or they might be itemized. If they’re itemized, you may see the fees take on different names such as application fees, underwriting fees, and processing fees. Lender charges can also include “points,” which are optional payments that allow you to get a lower interest rate....

Build Up Your Emergency Fund Savings Account Do you have a minimum of three months’ worth of living expenses saved in a checking or savings account? Sometimes there are delays in the start date of pensions or Social Security. It is important to have savings you can rely on to cover your bills if you experience delays. Make a Retirement Budget Have you spent time analyzing your retirement expenses? Working through a before-and-after retirement budget is important....

Many people use retirement accounts, like 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), to save for retirement. These accounts let you invest money for the long term and give you tax advantages. However, investing in this way means that your retirement savings are subject to stock market volatility. If you’re concerned about how stock market volatility will affect your retirement savings and how you can protect your portfolio against it, here’s what you need to know....

Loans that you can transfer do exist. They are called “assumable loans.” However, there are not many offered. Find out more about transferring a loan and what you can do if you need to transfer one, but it isn’t assumable. Assumable Mortgages If a loan is “assumable,” you’re in luck: That means you can transfer the mortgage to somebody else. There is nothing written into the loan agreement that prevents you from completing a transfer....

Statistical analysis of mutual funds is just what it sounds like—a means of studying the quantitative aspects of a fund to help the investor gain an understanding of past performance for a clue about future results. Yes, there is no “guarantee” of future results but investing is not about guarantees—it’s about taking a calculated risk. Analyzing Mutual Funds With Statistical Measures Statistical analysis of mutual funds requires a fundamental knowledge of quantitative measures, such as Beta, R-squared, Alpha, Sharpe Ratio, Expense Ratio, and Tax Cost Ratio:​...