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You’ve put in an offer on your dream home and the seller has accepted. But before you get too carried away with celebrating, you may want to take some time to consider a mortgage rate lock.

A mortgage rate lock is a guarantee from a mortgage lender that the interest rate they’re offering you won’t change for an agreed period (typically from 30 to 60 days). This can prevent your lender from increasing your mortgage’s rate (due to changing market conditions) during the application and approval process. Depending on what’s going on with mortgage rates, a lock might save thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

Below, CNBC Select breaks down how a mortgage rate lock works and what to consider before asking for one.

When should you lock in an interest rate?

Ideally, you want to lock in the rate when overall rates are low. But no one can predict the exact movements of mortgage rates — not even industry analysts possess that kind of crystal ball.

For that reason, it’s best to avoid the guesswork and lock in the mortgage rate after you’ve shopped around for a mortgage lender and compared the rates offered to you. Your rate has a huge effect on your monthly payments, as well as how much you’ll pay in interest over the life of the loan. It’s a good idea to compare offers from at least three lenders to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

CNBC Select recommends SoFi if you’re looking to save money through discounts and other lender incentives, Rocket Mortgage if your credit score is on the lower side and Ally Bank if you want to avoid lender fees.

SoFi

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

    Apply online for personalized rates; fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages included

  • Types of loans

    Conventional loans, jumbo loans, HELOCs

  • Terms

    10 – 30 years

  • Credit needed

  • Minimum down payment

Terms apply.

Rocket Mortgage

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

    Apply online for personalized rates

  • Types of loans

    Conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans and Jumbo loans

  • Terms

    8 – 29 years, including 15-year and 30-year terms

  • Credit needed

    Typically requires a 620 credit score but will consider applicants with a 580 credit score as long as other eligibility criteria are met

  • Minimum down payment

    3.5% if moving forward with an FHA loan

Terms apply.

How a mortgage rate lock works

Mortgage rates move constantly. Many interconnected factors contribute to these movements, including changes in the Federal Reserve’s target rate, the overall state of the economy, conditions and trends in the housing market and the 10-year Treasury bond yield, to name a few. A mortgage rate lock is designed to protect the mortgage interest rate your lender offers you from the influence of these market forces. If you’re taking advantage of a mortgage rate buydown, you’ll also be locking in the cost of any discount points.

Usually, you can lock in your mortgage rate for 30 to 60 days. Certain loans, such as construction loans, may have longer lock periods to allow enough time to close. During this time, even if mortgage rates go up, the rate your lender has given you won’t change.

But what if the rates go down? Unfortunately, you may miss out on potential savings — unless your lock comes with a “float-down” option. This feature allows you to take advantage of a lower rate when it’s available, but you typically can only use it once and it usually comes at a fee. If your lock doesn’t have this feature, you may be out of luck. At the same time, the lock’s purpose isn’t to guarantee the best rate but to protect you from an increase in loan costs. And most of the time, that’s well worth the price.

A mortgage rate lock isn’t free. Even when there’s no official fee listed on your closing costs breakdown, the lender will factor it into the rate you’re receiving. Typically, you can expect to pay somewhere between 0.25% and 0.50% of your loan to lock in your rate. If you need to extend the lock period, you might have to pay an additional fee for that too — usually, 0.375% of the loan amount.

How to lock in a mortgage rate

To lock in a mortgage rate, you need the address of the property you’re interested in purchasing. Some lenders may allow you to lock in the rate once you’re preapproved, while others might require that the seller first accepts your offer.

Rate lock policies vary by lender, but usually, a loan advisor will offer you one once your application is approved and ready to go to underwriting. If they don’t, ask about the rate lock and how much it will cost you.

Can you change mortgage lenders after locking in your rate?

A mortgage lock doesn’t tie you to a lender. However, if you switch lenders, you’ll have to start the process again. This may result in closing delays that will force you to pay fees to the seller, or your deal might fall through altogether. Even if that worst-case scenario doesn’t occur, you may still need to pay expenses such as appraisal and credit check fees again. For that reason, it’s best to shop for a lender before you’re too far ahead in the process.

Your interest rate can still change after a mortgage rate lock

A mortgage rate lock protects your interest rate, but it’s not absolute. Certain situations may void your rate lock.

Your mortgage rate lock is tied to a specific property address. If your purchase contract is canceled, so is your lock. Once you find a new home, you’ll need to get a new rate.

Further, all the conditions of your mortgage contract, including your locked rate, are contingent on your financial profile staying unchanged. For example, if your credit score drops or you add to your debt, your lender will reevaluate your eligibility, which can affect what interest rate they’ll offer you. Because of this, avoid opening new credit lines or racking up balances on your credit cards until you close — otherwise, you might put your home purchase in jeopardy. Likewise, your interest rate may change if the appraised value of the property changes from the time you initially locked your rate.

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Bottom line

Mortgage rates often fluctuate, but a rate lock can protect the rate your lender has quoted you from such fluctuations. While you may need to pay for it and it doesn’t guarantee the lowest rate, it provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing the cost of your mortgage won’t increase before you close.

Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.

Source: cnbc.com

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Washington, DC
CNN
 — 

Commercial and multifamily mortgage delinquencies increased in the first quarter of 2023, according to a new report from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

“Ongoing stress caused by higher interest rates, uncertainty around property values, and questions about fundamentals in some property markets are beginning to show up in commercial mortgage delinquency rates,” said Jamie Woodwell, MBA’s head of commercial real estate research.

Commercial real estate was hit hard by the pandemic, with fewer people returning to offices and spending money — eating lunch, getting their nails done, using dry cleaners — in those corridors. Over the past 14 months the Federal Reserve has hiked rates 10 times, pushing the cost of borrowing ever higher. Together with tightening credit, as a result of bank failures this spring, commercial and multifamily companies are facing headwinds.

“Delinquency rates increased for every major capital source during the first quarter, foreshadowing additional strains that are likely to work their way through the system,” Woodwell said.

The quarterly analysis looks at delinquency rates for five of the largest investor groups: FDIC-insured banks and thrifts, commercial mortgage-backed securities, life insurance companies, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Together, these groups hold more than 80% of commercial and multifamily mortgage debt.

MBA’s analysis incorporates the measures used by each individual investor group to track the performance of their loans. Because each investor group tracks delinquencies in its own way — some include loans with payments 30-days late, some 60-days, some 90-days — delinquency rates are not comparable from one group to another.

For example, Fannie Mae reports loans that are in a forbearance agreement as delinquent, while Freddie Mac excludes those loans if the borrower is in compliance with the forbearance agreement.

Although the groups’ definitions of delinquency vary, delinquency rates for each group at the end of the first quarter of 2023 were higher than at the end of 2022.

Banks and thrifts had a delinquency rate of 0.58%, an increase of 0.13 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2022. Life company portfolios had a rate of 0.21%, up 0.10 percentage points from the end of last year.

Fannie Mae had a rate of 0.35%, an increase of 0.11 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2022. Freddie Mac had a delinquency rate of 0.13%, an increase of 0.01 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2022.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities had a delinquency rate of 3%, an increase of 0.10 percentage points from the end of 2022.

Construction and development loans are generally not included in the numbers presented in the MBA’s report but are included in many regulatory definitions of ‘commercial real estate’ despite the fact they are often backed by single-family residential development projects rather than by other income-producing properties.

The FDIC delinquency rates for bank and thrift held mortgages reported here do include loans backed by owner-occupied commercial properties.

Source: cnn.com

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Chelsea Dehner

  • Published Oct 8, 2019
    – [Updated Apr 26, 2021]
  • 1 min read

  • Sources

  • The views expressed on this blog are those of the bloggers, and not necessarily those of Intuit. Third-party blogger may have received compensation for their time and services. Click here to read full disclosure on third-party bloggers. This blog does not provide legal, financial, accounting or tax advice. The content on this blog is “as is” and carries no warranties. Intuit does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the content on this blog. After 20 days, comments are closed on posts. Intuit may, but has no obligation to, monitor comments. Comments that include profanity or abusive language will not be posted. Click here to read full Terms of Service.

    • When we think of things that will save the environment we think of taking the bus to work or buying local food — both expensive actions. Yet going green doesn’t have to cost you a ton of time or money. In fact, many of the eco-smart habits also help you save money by reducing excess and getting more use out of old things.

    We all know the phrase: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. However straightforward it may sound, it can still be hard to incorporate environmentally friendly actions into your everyday. Becoming familiar with the sustainability of every company and brand you support can be time-consuming and difficult. It can be confusing to determine which kinds of plastic can be recycled and which can’t.

    Thankfully, there’s technology out there that can make helping the environment a bit easier — all while saving money. There’s apps that help us monitor our energy and water usage to help us make smarter choices, and apps that make it easy to upcycle old clothes and electronics.

    Check out the infographic below for a full list:

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    Source: mint.intuit.com

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    Last week, I wrote about a conversation with my investment adviser. In the article, I mentioned that my current income roughly covers my current spending except that I’ve been spending an average of $2,000 per month on travel. Because of that spending deficit, I’ve been drawing down my medium-term savings, which should last me until the end of 2014. Meanwhile, I’m exploring a variety of options to bring the income and spending into equilibrium.

    Some GRS readers were taken aback by this.

    “Maybe the name of this blog should be changed to Get Poor Quickly,” Marsha wrote. Brian from Debt Discipline expressed the common concern that withdrawing from my investments seems like a step in the wrong direction. And Greg wrote that this blog must be losing its way if I’m writing about “stealing from the future to maintain a current lifestyle of travel.”

    Other readers, however, took a different view.

    Frugal Scholar noted that there’s nothing wrong with taking withdrawals if my total savings can support them. The always-perceptive Sam wrote, “If J.D. is living a life of semi-retirement, which it seems to me he is, then it would make sense to pull money from investments as that is what one does in retirement.” And EMH was even more direct: “Why have all those investments and not use them?”

    I spent a lot of time replying to comments on last week’s article. In doing so, I noticed that I’d done a poor job of sharing all the facts about my situation. I’ve been timid about total transparency, which means readers don’t have all the info they need to make a judgment. Today, I want to change that.

    It also occurred to me that there are differing opinions about what savings are for. On some levels, those differing opinions are a result of each of us having different plans and priorities. But I think something that gets missed is that money is used differently at different stages of life.

    The Stages of Personal Finance

    In February 2009, I wrote a meditative article about the stages of personal finance. This then led to a series of articles on the subject. Here’s how I defined them:

    • In the zeroeth stage of personal finance, we’re fumbling in the dark. We have no financial skills and has no idea how to best use our money. We live impulsively, reacting to life around us.
    • In the first stage of financial development, there’s a candle in the darkness, and we’re drawn toward the light. We become aware that certain actions produce better financial results. We learn basic skills like frugality and saving and debt reduction. We still make many mistakes, but we now have some idea of where we ought to be headed.
    • During the second stage of personal finance, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve moved beyond the basics to create a solid foundation for future growth. We’ve eliminated debt, built up our savings accounts, established emergency savings, and begun to set aside money for retirement. We learn that we are in control of our financial future and not at the mercy of some vast, uncaring universe.
    • In the third stage of financial aptitude, you light the way for others. (Boy, my metaphors were strained!) Our foundation is solid, and we now spend years (or decades) constructing a financial edifice that will support us for the rest of our lives. That generally means paying off the mortgage, supercharging our income (and thus, our saving rate), and preparing for the ultimate goal…
    • The final stage of money management is financial independence. At this stage, we no longer need to worry about money. We have enough saved to do whatever we please. Because we each have different goals, strengths, and weaknesses, financial independence means different things to different people. Financial independence is really just another way to say “retirement.”

    When I started this blog, I had just progressed from the zeroeth stage of personal finance to the first. Over the next few years, I documented my progress as I achieved greater knowledge and control of my money. Today, I am fortunate to be in that final stage of personal finance. I am financially independent.

    What do I mean by financially independent?

    Some people believe you’ve achieved financial independence only when you can live off the dividends or interest your savings produce. Others — including me — take the stance that you’re financially independent if, given reasonable assumptions (4 percent inflation, 6.5 percent long-term real return on stocks, 4 percent withdrawal rate, etc.) you’ll also draw down your principal.

    As I shared in the comments last week, I could stop working today and live off my savings for the rest of my life. In essence, I could choose to retire early — if I wanted. But I don’t want to, and for several reasons:

    • By continuing to work, I earn more money, which does two things. When my income exceeds my expenses, I add to my stockpile. When my expenses exceed my income — as they do now — income mitigates how much I need to draw down my savings.
    • Work gives me meaning. I enjoy writing about personal and financial freedom. It’s fun. Plus, the emails I get indicate I’m able to help other people pursue their dreams as well. So long as work gives me purpose, I’ll continue to work.
    • For me, work creates social connections. I get to meet readers and colleagues and financial professionals, which helps me expand my knowledge and learn about lots of other things.
    • And so on.

    When people choose to continue working even though they could call it quits, they’re said to be semi-retired. I think that’s an apt term, and that’s how I classify my current state. I am semi-retired.

    What Are Savings For?

    Saving is a key part of personal finance. In fact, I’ve come to believe it’s the key part of personal finance. When we save money, we build smart habits today while protecting and providing for our future.

    That said, saving plays different roles in different stages of personal finance.

    For instance, when you’re accumulating or repaying debt, saving ought not be a high priority. Aside from a minimal emergency fund (of $500 or $1,000), your money is better directed elsewhere. That’s why in my beloved Balanced Money Formula — which urges folks to spend less than 50 percent of after-tax income on Needs, more than 20 percent on Saving, and the rest on Wants — debt repayment is actually classified as saving. There are few uses for money that provide a better return than paying down credit cards and other high-interest loans.

    Once debt is eliminated, however, saving becomes a high priority. During the second and third stages of personal finance, we work to build three types of saving:

    • Short-term saving, such as in an emergency fund. Most experts urge people to save between three and twelve months of their current spending so that they’re prepared if something unexpected happens, such as a job loss or catastrophic illness.
    • Long-term saving for retirement. This is why we save in a 401(k), Roth IRA, and other retirement accounts. We’re saving for the far future when we’ll be unable to produce income at the level we can today.
    • Medium-term saving is what I commonly call targeted saving. For most folks, this takes the form of saving for a car or a house or a vacation or for college education. But other people use medium-term saving as a way to fund sabbaticals and mini-retirements. Others use this money to quit their job and take a chance on a new business or a new career.

    We save money for two purposes: To protect against an uncertain future and to help us fulfill our dreams.

    Short-term savings and long-term savings are generally defensive. They’re a form of self-insurance to shield us from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Medium-term savings is used more for offense; it’s to pursue the things that provide us pleasure and purpose.

    There seems to be a subset of people, however, for whom it’s never acceptable to spend savings. We’re all familiar with folks who spend too much and never save, but there are also people who save too much and never spend. They’re mocked in books like A Christmas Carol and Silas Marner. They’re demonized in movies like It’s a Wonderful Life. But for some reason, in real life, these types are often considered heroes. This puzzles me.

    I see nothing heroic about dying with a fortune. I see nothing noble about saving and saving and never spending. Money is a tool. Its purpose is to provide comfort and pleasure for ourselves and for others. Saving isn’t an end in and of itself. We accumulate savings so we can do the things we want to do.

    My Own Situation

    In the past, I’ve been close to the vest regarding my financial situation. My attorney, my accountant, and my ex-wife all wanted me to keep things quiet. However, after some recent conversations — including one with Pat Flynn — I’ve decided to be more transparent. I can’t (and won’t) reveal everything, but I’ll share some broad info.

    I’ve already shared that I’m currently outspending my income by about $2,000 per month because of travel. That’s what got some people riled up last week. I’ve also shared that I have enough medium-term savings to maintain this deficit until the end of 2014 (meaning I have about $25,000 saved for this purpose). I also have about $5,000 in emergency savings. Plus, I’m fortunate to have over a million dollars in long-term retirement savings.

    Note: Yes, it’s true: While writing a blog about how to get rich slowly, I got rich quickly. This irony is not lost on me. One commenter last week suggested that this could cause problems since I didn’t have time to build the necessary mindset to manage the money. This is a valid concern, and one reason I’m trying to be cautious and make only “small moves.” I’ve read plenty of horror stories about people who squander sudden wealth.

    In an ideal world, I’d be earning an income that meets my expenses. And, in fact, that was the whole point of last week’s article; I’m looking for ways to bring earning and spending into alignment. At the same time, I feel no shame about outspending my current earnings by $2,000 per month. Why not? Because that’s what my money is there for.

    If I were still in debt, this $2,000 monthly deficit would be a concern. If I had only minimal savings, it would still be a problem. But I’d argue that even for somebody in the third stage of personal finance, deficit spending for a short time is perfectly acceptable. And if you’re in the final stage of personal finance? Well, then that’s actually how you’re expected to be living. When you’re retired, you’re drawing down your capital.

    Note: Last week I wrote that Mr. Money Mustache would probably advise me to be more frugal. I was wrong. After reading the article, MMM e-mailed me to say: “Just enjoyed your latest post on GRS. I think you might be underestimating your passive income from savings…Since this is more than your spending by a wide margin, I would feel very confident that all your work income is 100% optional. Of course, you should still do enjoyable work because it makes you happy just as it makes me happy. But the paycheck is really just some icing on the cake.”

    In fact, the fundamental problem of personal finance is figuring out how much to save so that you can live off your investments in retirement and die with a zero balance. (Or, if it’s your intention, to leave money to others.) A quick calculation (using conservative assumptions) shows that I could choose never to work again and even if I lived until 80, my assets would allow me to live on about $4,000 per month for the rest of my life. If I sold my condo, that number would climb to $5,000 per month.

    And if I chose to spend $2,000 per month, which was the idea that created such a fuss last week? According to FIRECalc, my money will probably never run out! And, in fact, because of the extraordinary power of compounding, my savings will continue to grow forever.

    The Bottom Line

    Last week’s discussion was fascinating. If I were to draw down my savings in one fell swoop in order to buy a car or to purchase a house, I doubt anyone would object to my actions. After all, that’s how we think savings should be spent. But because I’m choosing instead to use my savings to fund travel and to buy time while I look for additional ways to make income, some people think I’m being foolish.

    I suspect that even after this long discussion of saving and retirement, there will still be folks who believe it’s irresponsible for me (or anyone else, for that matter) to draw down savings for this sort of thing. If that’s you, tell us what you find objectionable. Under what conditions do you believe it’s okay to draw down savings? Does it matter which phase of personal finance you’ve reached? How do you decide when it’s okay to use the money you’ve saved to do the things you want to do?

    Source: getrichslowly.org

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    This guest post from Ian is part of the “reader stories” feature at Get Rich Slowly. It’s the extended version of the story he shared in his prize-winning entry to this year’s GRS video contest. Some reader stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success — or failure. These stories feature folks from all levels of financial maturity and with all sorts of incomes.

    It dawned on me in college, having experienced several different summer jobs, that I really didn’t like being employed. Sure, the money is nice — but it’s just no fun at all to spend your days working to reach some boss’s plans or goals. I’m sure there are some folks out there who find a 9-to-5 job fulfilling, but that sure ain’t me. There’s too much fascinating stuff out there to learn and do to spend 40 years in a cubicle. The mere thought makes me shudder, and I wanted nothing to do with a career.

    Most of the financial advice out there is geared towards building up a big account to retire on. I figured that I would enjoy taking a different route — reducing the total income I needed to live on. With a significant reduction in expenses, it becomes feasible to live very comfortably on a part-time income, or even just income from hobbies. How do you reduce your expenses that much? Live off the grid.

    [embedded content]

    Planning

    By “live off the grid”, I don’t mean abandoning all your possessions to live in a shack in the woods. I mean taking control of your necessities and providing them yourself instead of relying on other to do it for you (and paying them to do so). Going offgrid requires a greater up-front payment, which is rewarded by great benefits in the long term (sound familiar?). Building a house yourself is a huge investment in time, sweat, and cash — but it allows you to enjoy freedom from rent or mortgage for decades. Like cooking at home instead of going out, but writ large (hundreds of thousands of dollars large).

    Note: My decision to follow this path was not purely a financial one — I simply am happiest out in the boonies. There are too many people in the city, and it’s just not enjoyable for me. I want some space. You may be different — and probably are.

    The more I looked at the offgrid option, the more financial advantages I saw in it. By choosing an earth-bermed home design, I could minimize heating and cooling expenses, as well as exterior maintenance. Having my own well and septic system eliminate the water bill, and having my own photovoltaic system for electricity cuts out another bill. My consumable fuels for the home are limited to some wood for winter heating (easily collected from the property) and propane for cooking (for which a couple hundred gallon tank is nearly a lifetime supply). Add some food production on the land, and you can also reduce grocery expenses.

    Does this mean intentional poverty? Absolutely not. It means that I can have great quality of life, make $10,000 per year with a part-time or online gig, and have more disposable income than most middle income debt-ridden wage slaves.

    Execution

    At the time I put this notion together, I was in the middle of getting a fancy engineering degree from a fancy university. I had been losing interest in engineering as a field to work in, and opted to jump to a more hands-on field of study and get the fastest two-year degree I could. I judged that it would be better to leave with some sort of diploma than drop out altogether.

    At the same time, I started looking for affordable rural land. I had a small inheritance from a great grandparent that I had been saving for something significant and meaningful, and a piece of land seemed like the perfect use for it. I eventually found a 40 acre parcel in the Southwest for less than $500/acre. I ditched school for a week to camp out on it, and fell in love. It had a good southeast facing slope for my passive solar house plan, and everything else I wanted in a parcel.


    Ian’s parcel of land

    On the third day, I signed a bill of sale, wrote a check for the price (10% off since I wasn’t financing it) and made it mine. And then (sadly) headed back to school. A year later, I came out with my degree and a $35,000 bill from Sallie Mae. That student loan was my only debt, and it meant a monthly payment of something like $250. Not bad at all, by most standards.

    I packed all my belongings into my truck (a paid-for beater of a 1970s Chevy) and embarked to find a job in the little windblown town nearby and build my house. Jobs were sparse, though, and I wound up making less than minimum wage as a commission mechanic. That $250 loan payment was a massive chunk of my income, and it became clear that I wouldn’t make any progress unless I changed my situation. So I packed up again, and moved to the big city (ugh). Not what I wanted to do, but it was necessary. After a couple false starts, I landed a bartending job that paid pretty darn well. Now that I was finally making more than I needed to just scrape by, I set about making some real progress.

    Saving was immediately gratifying, because I brought home my day’s earnings in cash every night. I budgeted out what I needed to live on (rent, gas, food), and put that much in my living expenses envelope each evening. The loose change (a couple bucks worth usually) became my “fun” spending money, and everything else went into the student loan envelope. Every time the envelope crossed the $1000 threshold, I took it down to the Post Office and sent a money order to Sallie Mae. I didn’t eat out, I didn’t go to bars, I replaced my big beater truck with a little beater truck that got much better gas mileage, I didn’t have a TV, and I split an internet connection with a neighbor in my apartment block. I grabbed every extra shift at the bar that I could manage. It paid off. In 53 weeks, I zeroed out that student loan. (I have the closure notice from Sallie Mae framed.)

    Then came a big moment of truth. I’d been focusing intensely on paying off that debt, and the house plan was a bit of a nebulous thing that I would do later, after the loan. Well, now the loan was gone, I had the good-paying job, and I was used to living on not very much. I could go do anything now! I could buy a slick new car, or a bunch of cool gadgets, or anything I wanted. Or I could make the earth-bermed, offgrid house a reality. It didn’t take much reflection to conclude that the house was what I really wanted. So I replaced my “Loan” envelope in the closet with a “House” envelope and went right on with the same budget. Soon the envelope filled up, and I replaced it with a shoebox. Eventually the pile of cash in the shoebox started making me a bit nervous, and I got a safety deposit box at my bank.

    When my second year on the budget netted me as much as the first, I crunched some numbers and concluded that a third year would be enough to get me enough money to build the house. I informed my manager at the bar that I would be leaving on May 31st of the next year, when it had warmed up and I deemed that building season was in full swing.

    During that third year, I started spending some of my savings to pay for some initial infrastructure that I had to hire out, like the installation of my well and septic system and the kit for my house (purchased from Performance Building Systems — a company I highly recommend). When I finally quit the bartending job (on exactly the day I’d selected a year earlier), I headed back to the property with a wad of about $40,000 in cash and a sturdy pair of work boots.


    Ian has his work boots on

    I spent that summer living in a neighbor’s barn and building. The house I’d decided on was a monolithic concrete arch, 24 feet wide and 36 feet deep. It came to 800 square feet total, and would be covered with 2-4 feet of earth when finished. The sides would be completely underground, and the front wall would be fully exposed, with a lot of glazing to let in light and warmth (you can see photos of a bunch of these homes at earthshelter.com). I first needed to dig into my hillside and lay a slab foundation, then construct the framework of the the house, build the front wall with concrete block, and then have the main framework shotcreted (concrete sprayed with a high pressure air hose, to form rounded structures). Once the shotcrete set, I began building wall framing inside, and running water and electrical lines.

    It’s not finished yet — some things cost more than I’d expected, and by the time winter really set in, I had a lot of interior work still left to do and had run out of savings. So I moved back to the city to find another job, and I continue to work on the house on my weekends.

    However, the house is complete enough that I could live in it if I had to. I’m working my current job (I leveraged my offgrid experience into a position in the solar power industry) because of a conscious decision that the income is worth the time, and I have an alternative option should I decide that I really dislike the employment. That option makes a big psychological difference.

    I can reflect on my job and know that I’m working it for a specific goal. I already have enough saved up again to finish the house interior, and what I’m doing now is saving up to build and stock a good workshop. With a good selection of woodworking, metalworking, and automotive tools I will be able to indulge in fairly technical hobbies. I can easily live on the proceeds of custom niche machine work, or have fun restoring and selling an antique vehicle from time to time. In addition, things like building my own furniture and maintaining my own vehicles will save a lot of money, and be more rewarding than hiring others to do the work for me.

    Thanks to the planning and hard work, I will retire by the age of 30 — if not sooner. That doesn’t mean I’ll spend my time watching TV and playing golf, it means I will be able to actually live life instead of sacrificing all my time to a job making money.

    Questions About the House

    Living off the grid isn’t what many people expect. With the dramatic recent reduction in solar power costs, you can really have every modern convenience without a power pole. You really can’t tell an offgrid home from the inside. The keys to doing this effectively are putting more attention into efficiency, and choosing the right power sources. Electric heat, for example, is extremely inefficient. Propane is a far cheaper way to cook, and a wood stove is a great inexpensive, renewable source of heating. Thoughtful home design to utilize solar exposure, prevailing wind currents, and other environmental factors can significantly reduce the amount of artificial heating and cooling needed in the first place. Modern efficient appliances and lighting further reduce electrical needs.

    Because of my high altitude and sunny climate, I chose to use a solar hot water heater instead of an electric or propane type. It’s a simple system with an 80-gallon tank (which should be able to supply comfortable hot showers through 3 days without sun), and it reduces my propane needs to just cooking. Internet can be provided by either satellite or wireless broadband (my cell phone reception is iffy at the house, but my Blackberry can get a pretty decent signal).

    What about my social life? Am I going to be some sort of loner hermit? The answer is definitely not.

    I’m not someone who needs constant social interaction, but you get plenty of it in the boonies. It’s clear from both my own experience and talking to other folks living in similar situations, that there is much more community socialization when there aren’t many people than when there are lots. I’ve never known more than one or two neighbors when I’ve lived in a city with dozens of people within shouting distance. But when there are only five families in a square mile, you know all of them, and their dogs, and often their friends and relatives who occasionally visit. It’s true for my house now — there are a few permanent residents and a few weekenders and we all socialize regularly.

    The other question I always get is about family. The short version is that I have no desire for marriage or children. The house isn’t big enough for a family, and it wouldn’t be feasible to put on an addition. If I wake up one morning and suddenly can’t live another day without offspring, I’ll just have to build a new house. But I don’t envision that happening.

    Tips

    If you’re considering doing something like this, I’d like to offer a couple quick tips from my experience. Just as a good financial decision now can have magnified implications down the road, time spent planning a house can prevent huge problems in construction. An hour spent fixing something in the foundation can prevent a day’s work in construction or a week’s work in finishing.

    My other suggestion is to not let the traditional rule your decisions. If you’re putting this much work into a place to live, you clearly plan to be there for a long time. So don’t worry about building a house that will be easy to sell — build the house you really want to live in. My bedroom is minuscule by most folks’ standards, because I like the idea of a cozy sleeping space. (I also ran a small water line and drain to the bedside table, so I don’t have to get out of bed for a drink of water at night.) The pantry is huge, though, because I will be growing and preserving food. I’m building a house to live in, not to sell, so I don’t care if it appeals to a real estate agent or bank loan officer.

    Most of all, if you have a dream, you should do it. Stop fantasizing and start planning. No matter how many years it might take, it won’t ever happen until you start. And once you do start, you’ll be amazed at what perseverance and dedication can do for you. There’s no better feeling in the world than deciding how you want to live and making it happen.

    Source: getrichslowly.org

    Apache is functioning normally

    Inside: Enjoy these millionaire quotes about achieving success! These statements will help you motivate yourself to achieve your goals and become a millionaire.

    Success is not a destination- it’s a journey.

    When you find yourself stuck, struggling to make progress on your goals, often the only thing that will inspire you to keep going is by reading quotes from other successful people who have been there before. So grab some time and read these meaningful quotes now!

    Quoting people is a great way to remind yourself of your goals and stay motivated.

    It’s easy to get distracted by the demands of life, so I like reaching for quotes that tell me what I need most right now.

    Quotes by millionaires are a great source of inspiration and motivation for anyone looking to achieve success in life. Not only do they offer wise words of advice, but they also remind us that failure is an essential part of learning and achieving greater things.

    So don’t be afraid to dream big and work hard towards making those dreams a reality.

    In fact, here are the most inspiring millionaire quotes.

    The power of millionaire quotes

    Millionaire quotes have the power to change your life. If you’re feeling down or unmotivated, reading a few words from a millionaire can give you the boost you need to get back on track.

    For example, Tony Robbins is one of the most successful millionaires in the world with a net worth of over $600 million. And he’s not the only one; there are countless millionaires out there who have made their fortune through hard work and determination.

    When it comes to making money, these people know what they’re talking about! Their advice is worth listening to, and if you take their words to heart, you’ll be well on your way to success.

    So next time you feel like giving up, read some inspiring quotes from millionaires and see how that changes your outlook on life. You may be surprised at just how powerful these words can be!

    How to use millionaire quotes to achieve success

    There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to use millionaire quotes to achieve success depends on your personal goals and objectives.

    However, some tips on how to use quotes to achieve success include:

    • Find quotes that resonate with you and inspire you.
    • Keep your goals in mind when reading quotes and using them to motivate you.
    • Write your own quotes and keep them in a place where you can see

    If you’re looking to achieve success, millionaire quotes can be a great way to get started.

    They provide inspiration and motivation and remind you that failure is not an option – which can be a great thing if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes.

    The benefits of using millionaire quotes

    Quotes by millionaires offer great advice and motivation for anyone looking to achieve success. They provide a unique perspective that can help you focus on your goals and push through any obstacle in your way. Additionally, these quotes can help increase productivity in any context and inspire creativity.

    While it’s important to remember that not everyone is able to become a millionaire, following the advice of those who have achieved this level of success can be incredibly beneficial.

    As Thomas A. Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

    This type of attitude will help you stay motivated even when things get tough.

    Walt Disney also had some profound words of wisdom: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” This quote speaks to the idea that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

    Reaching your goals may seem difficult at times, but with enough determination and hard work, you’ll be able to accomplish anything.

    This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.

    Millionaire Mindset Quotes

    These inspirational, motivational, and wise words from millionaires who achieved success despite all odds teach us that determination and perseverance is the key factor in life.

    Your mindset will determine your outcome.

    Enjoy some of the best millionaire mindset quotes…

    1. “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

    2. “Start with the end in mind. If you want to be a millionaire, talk like one, act like one, work like one.”- Bob Proctor

    3. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford

    4. “The easiest thing I ever did was earn a million dollars. The hardest thing I ever did, and it took years, was believing I was capable of earning a million dollars.” – Les Brown

    5. “There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire. If you’re jealous of those with more money, don’t just sit there and complain – do something to make more money yourself.” Gina Rinehart

    6. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs

    7. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.” – Oprah Winfrey

    8. “To win big, you sometimes have to take big risks.” – Bill Gates

    9. “Fail trying; don’t fail watching.” – Bob Goff

    10. “There are a ton of ups and downs, and many times our highest points come immediately after our lowest.” – Pat Flynn

    11. “Valleys don’t stop victories.” – Marshawn Evans Daniels

    Motivation Millionaire Quotes

    Motivation is key to success. It is what drives us to achieve our goals and reach our potential.

    There are many reasons why motivation is so important, but here are some of the most important ones:

    • Without motivation, it’s hard to stay focused and push through difficult tasks.
    • You’ll be more likely to give up if you’re not motivated.
    • Motivation gives you the energy you need to work hard and achieve your goals.
    • When you’re motivated, you’re more likely to take action and make progress towards your goals.

    Now, here are the best motivation millionaire quotes to keep you going.

    12. “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.” – Elon Musk

    13. “You simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Put blinders on and plow right ahead.” – George Lucas

    14. “You cannot push any one up a ladder unless he be willing to climb a little himself.” – Andrew Carnegie

    15. “The future of humanity: a choice between the past and the present, between stagnation or progress.” – Vladimir Vernadsky

    16. “If people are not laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.” – Azim Premji

    17. “Before you can become a millionaire, you must learn to think like one. You must learn how to motivate yourself to counter fear with courage.” – Thomas J. Stanley

    18. “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs

    19. “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” – Lucille Ball

    20. “Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” – Richard Branson

    Success Millionaire Quotes

    Your goals will help guide your lifestyle and create a more meaningful journey for you.

    By reaching your goals along the way, you find success. It is those small milestones that can help you along your journey. Believing bigger is about knowing deep down inside you are successful.

    Now, here are some of the best success millionaire quotes to start believing in today!

    21. “My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn’t have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don’t be afraid to fail.” – Sara Blakely

    22. “Success if not final. Failure is not fatal.” – Teri Ijeoma

    23. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. You only have to be right once and then everyone can tell you that you are an overnight success.” – Mark Cuban

    24. “I have had all of the disadvantages required for success.” – Larry Ellison

    25. “It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” – Bill Gates

    26. “Obviously everyone wants to be successful, but I want to be looked back on as being very innovative, very trusted and ethical and ultimately making a big difference in the world.” – Sergey Brin

    27. “You don’t have to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.” – Michael Dell

    28. “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

    29. “You can never quit. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” – Ted Turner

    30. “All of us, in a sense, struggle continuously all the time, because we never get what we want. The important thing which I’ve really learned is how do you not give up, because you never succeed in the first attempt.” – Mukesh Ambani

    Millionaire Mentor Quotes

    Self-made millionaires offer great insight and motivation for those working towards success. They remind us that failure is often a part of the journey, but it’s important to stay true to ourselves along the way.

    When you are building a business or starting a new endeavor, wouldn’t you want to have a mentor looking over your shoulder and motivating you?

    So, although you may not be able to afford to meet these millionaires in person, you can write their quotes on your planner or near your computer to keep you focused on making your million.

    When we spend time with people who have achieved success, their positivity rubs off on us.

    We can begin to see the world through their lens and get motivated to achieve our own goals.

    31. “The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” – Mark Zuckerberg

    32. “I believe people have to follow their dreams – I did.” – Larry Ellison

    33. “If you don’t live your life, then who will?” – Rihanna

    34. “Money is just a consequence. I always say to my team, ‘Don’t worry too much about profitability. If you do your job well, the profitability will come.’” – Bernard Arnault

    35. “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you’ll achieve the same results.” – Tony Robbins

    36. “Dedicating myself to actually following through was my single biggest achievement.” – Nick Woodman

    37. “Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer

    38. “I’m an entrepreneur. ‘Ambitious’ is my middle name.” – Kim Kardashian

    39. “Talent without working hard is nothing.” – Cristiano Ronaldo

    Strong Millionaire Quotes

    Okay, there are times you need to hear the hard stuff. Like the coach whispering exactly what you need to be told when you weren’t executing as you should be.

    These strong millionaire quotes are the ones that put us back on track.

    They remind us why motivating yourself to achieve great success is necessary.

    40. “Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom.” – Sam Walton

    41. “Winning is not always the barometer of getting better.” – Tiger Woods

    42. “If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.” – Kobe Bryant

    43. “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” – Warren Buffett

    44. “If you’re changing the world, you’re working on important things. You’re excited to get up in the morning.” – Larry Page

    45. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

    46. “As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” – Donald Trump

    47. “Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.” – Jack Nicklaus

    48. “You have to be able to accept failure to get better.” – LeBron James

    Millionaire Quotes about Life

    Successful people are usually happy because they have found a way to be content in life while still reaching for more.

    Regardless of the type of millionaire they are, they all find happiness in some form or another from their work. This in turn leads to greater motivation and a desire to keep growing and achieving more. Additionally, small challenges help to keep these levels of happiness and motivation high.

    Here are the best millionaire quotes about living life to the fullest!

    49. “I’d rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.” – Elon Musk

    50. “A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.” – Jeff Bezos

    51. “Everybody has equal opportunity, and I think that is true for everything.” – Mukesh Ambani

    52. “If you are born poor it’s not your mistake, but if you die poor its your mistake.” – Bill Gates

    53. “Treat your life like a game.” – Ray Dalio

    54. “Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.” – John Madden

    55. “Being rich is a good thing. Not just in the obvious sense of benefitting you and your family, but in the broader sense. Profits are not a zero sum game. The more you make, the more of a financial impact you can have.” – Mark Cuban

    56. “People should only profit to the extent they make other peoples lives better.” – Charles Koch

    Future Millionaire Quotes

    Success is a tricky thing to quantify.

    This perspective can help you stay motivated as you work towards your goals- knowing that things are always changing and evolving. Additionally, it’s important not to compare yourself with anyone else in this world. You’ll only end up insulting yourself!

    So from one millionaire to the next millionaire (you), here are the future millionaire quotes to memorize.

    57. “You can’t just wish to be a millionaire; you have to figure out how to earn it.” – Dolly Parton

    58. “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.” – Steve Jobs

    59. “The key to life when it gets tough is to keep moving. Just keep moving.” – Tyler Perry

    60. “Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable when you’re trying to do more than just make money.” – Tony Hsieh

    61. “Education is the most important for our children, and it’s also the best investment.” -Bill Gates

    62. “I never took a day off in my 20’s. Not One.” – Bill Gates

    63. “At the end of the day, you know yourself best.” – Abigail Johnson

    Millionaire Quotes about Money

    Millionaire quotes are a great way to get motivated and inspired to achieve success. They offer a glimpse into the mindset of millionaires and what drives them.

    Money is often seen as the key to happiness.

    And while it can certainly bring a level of comfort and ease, it is not the only thing that can bring happiness. Hard work and dedication are essential for success, and it is important to believe in yourself and your dreams.

    So, enjoy these millionaire quotes about money…

    64. “Never depend on a single income. Make investments to create a second source.” – Warren Buffett

    65. “If you do not see riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.” – Napoleon Hill

    66. “Most people fail to realize that in life, it’s not how much money you make. It’s how much money you keep.” – Robert Kiyosaki

    67. “Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No.1” – Warren Buffet

    68. “Why pay a dollar for a bookmark? Why not use the dollar for a bookmark?” – Steven Spielberg

    69. “I want the last cheque I write to bounce.” – Chuck Feeney

    70. “It’s not about the money, it’s about what you can do with the money.” – Thomas J. Stanley

    Which Thing will You do to Result in More Wealth Opportunities?

    So there you have it, 70+ powerful millionaire quotes to help you motivate yourself to achieve success.

    These are people worth at least 7 figures – maybe even 10 figures.

    If you want to become a millionaire, it all starts with taking action towards your goals.

    Use these quotes as inspiration and fuel to keep you going on your journey to success.

    Remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

    Enjoy the process and don’t stress too much about the outcome. As long as you’re taking action and moving forward, you’re on the right track. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next millionaire!

    Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

    Source: moneybliss.org

    Apache is functioning normally

    Life Insurance for seniors “Over 65 years old” width life insurance serves a purpose at any age, even when you are over 65 years old. There are millions of people over the age of 65 that assume that they no longer need life insurance. In some cases, this might be true, but there are a lot of situations that life insurance is still extremely vital.

    While getting older makes it a bit more difficult to find coverage, there are still many insurance options for people in the 65 year old age group.  A lot of older applicants are surprised to see just how affordable a life insurance policy for them can be. You shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to get a life insurance policy that will sufficiently cover you and your family.

    The application process and market is a bit different for older applicants though.  If you are interested in life insurance for people over 65, there are a few key pieces of information you should know beforehand.

    Table of Contents

    Uses For Life Insurance

    As you get older, some of your life insurance needs go away. For example, once you are 65 or older chances are you no longer need insurance protection to support your children. But you still may have people that rely on your income (if you’re still working), and it’s vital that they would have the resources they need, if you do have anyone dependent on your salary. Even if you don’t have someone that relies on your paycheck, don’t’ assume that you don’t need a life insurance plan.   However, there are still a number of benefits to staying insured.

    Eventually, everyone dies and this can be fairly expensive. Not only will your heir need to pay for your funeral, but they may also need to cover your unpaid debts. With life insurance, you make sure everything is taken care of.  If you were to die, your family could be left with thousands of dollars in debt. It’s vital that your life insurance policy is able to pay off all of those debts and give your family the resources that they need. Before you purchase a plan, you’ll need to add up all of your debts like your mortgage, your car payment, student loans, etc. Not having enough life insurance could easily leave your family struggling to pay expenses.

    In addition, people are living longer these days and many find they need to work past age 65. If your spouse is still depending on your income, you’d want life insurance to replace this income should you die.

    Lastly, you can use life insurance to provide an inheritance to your heirs. This is a great way to support your children and grandchildren by giving them extra money for a home or their educations.

    If you want to leave a legacy to your loved ones, you’ll want to ensure that you have a life insurance plan. While you want to leave your family with your hard earned money, Uncle Sam is going to want his portion as well. Your inheritance can quickly be cut down because of taxes and fees.

    Term versus Permanent

    When you look for life insurance, you’ll have the choice between two main types of policies: term and permanent. Term insurance is temporary coverage for a set number of years. If you die during this time, your heirs receive the death benefit. If you don’t your coverage expires. These plans are usually sold in 5, 10, 20, or 30-year terms, but you can purchase them in just about any length of time depending on your needs. Permanent coverage lasts your entire life. So, provided you continue to pay your premiums each month for the coverage, you’ll never have to reapply for a new plan. For anyone that is worried about losing coverage in the future, these permanent coverage options are a great choice.

    Because term plans have an expiration date attached to them, they are going to be cheaper than permanent policies. If you’re looking for the most affordable coverage, term life insurance is the way to go.

    For the same amount of coverage, permanent insurance is more expensive than term insurance; that’s the trade off of getting coverage that never ends.

    The right policy for you depends on your goals. If you just want to extend your coverage for a few years, maybe until you finish working or to pay off your debt, term is a better choice. Keep in mind that once your coverage expires, it will be very difficult to buy another policy. Most insurance companies refuse to sell insurance to people above a certain age.

    If you want to leave behind a death benefit for sure, than permanent coverage is a better choice. Permanent insurance is better for covering certain needs like your final expenses or an inheritance. In this situation, you’d be better off buying a smaller permanent burial insurance policy than a larger term one. Your heirs would be better off receiving some money for sure than to gamble on possibly receiving money from temporary coverage.  As you can see, each type of policy has its advantages and disadvantages that you have to weigh based on your life insurance needs

    Here are a few examples of what a $250,000 policy would cost for term and universal life insurance.

    $250,000 10 Yr Term 15 Yr Term 20 Yr Term Universal Policy
    Male Banner
    $108.50/mo    		 North American
    $145.25/mo    		 Minnesota Life
    $208.78/mo    		 Protective
    $383.02/mo

    Female Banner
    $68.69/mo    		 Banner
    $92.53/mo    		 Minnesota Life
    $128.92/mo    		 American General
    $304.94/mo

    Applying For A Policy When Over 60 Years Old

    Applying for life insurance when you are 65 or older is pretty similar to applying at a younger age such as applying for life insurance at 50 years old. You’ll need to contact a life insurance company and put together an application. On your application, you’ll need to list how much coverage you want and answer some health questions.

    From there, it depends on the amount of insurance you want to buy, your age, and your health, such as if you are seeking life insurance with diabetes. For smaller policies of only a few thousand dollars, you may be able to qualify just with your application. For larger policies, you will likely need to meet a nurse or doctor for a health exam. If you have any health problems, you might also need to take a medical test like an EKG.

    Insurance companies tend to review your health more as you get older as there is a greater chance that you have medical issues.

    Guaranteed Coverage

    If you don’t qualify for a normal life insurance policy, you still could buy guaranteed coverage life insurance. These policies are designed for older Americans that have health issues. When you apply for guaranteed coverage, you won’t have to take a medical exam. Many policies don’t look at your health history either.

    In exchange, you can only purchase a limited amount of life insurance, usually $50,000 or less. The coverage will also be more expensive than traditional life insurance and likely will have a waiting period of a few years. What this means is if you die during your policy’s waiting period, your heirs will only receive a percentage of your death benefit; they won’t receive the whole thing. Once you outlive this period, you’ll go to full coverage.

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    These types of policies work well for anyone that can’t be accepted for traditional coverage, but they should be a last resort because of how expensive they are. When it comes to knowing that your family would be protected if anything were to happen to you, peace of mind is priceless.

    Finding the Right Choice

    Many different life insurance companies sell to the 65 and older market so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. This can sometimes be a bit overwhelming as it’s not always easy to figure out which company is best for your needs. Working with an independent life insurance broker like our company can help.

    Working with an independent agent has several different benefits, but the main ones are that is will save you not only time, but money as well. Because there are so many different companies, each will view your application differently. Each company has drastically different rates for people over 65. Finding the perfect company could be the difference in thousands of dollars on your policy.

    Without working with one of our agents, you could spend days calling different insurance companies to receive rates. You would be answering the same questions dozens of times. Don’t waste your time talking to different insurance agents, let us take care of bringing you all of the lowest possible rates.

    Our company works closely with applicants over 60 years old so we know this market very well. We can not only assist you in completing your application, but we can also find superior companies that will have the best options for your particular situation. Since we aren’t working for any one company, we’ll be able to give you an unbiased opinion of your options.

    To learn more about getting life insurance over 65 years old, please call us. Or, you can get free quotes by filling out the online application form. Our agents want to ensure that you and your family are getting the insurance protection that you deserve. You shouldn’t have to go without a policy just because of your age.

    Source: goodfinancialcents.com

    Apache is functioning normally

    Over the past few years, I have been practicing positivity in my life to the fullest. And, I truly think the power of positive thinking has changed my life for the better.

    Everyone feels negative or sad occasionally no matter how great life can be. Those bad or sad times can completely take over a person’s life and negatively impact them, too. It may make you feel like everything is impossible, that everyone hates you, that you should give up, and more.

    My life isn’t perfect, and I understand that no one else’s life is perfect either. Everyone has something that may make them sad, angry, helpless, or scared, and I understand how in some circumstances it can be quite difficult to see the power of positive thinking.

    However, no matter how bad life may seem, I believe that having a positive outlook on everything can truly help a person persevere through tough times.

    The power of positive thinking may help you:

    • Find another option or route
    • Feel motivated, so that you can keep on pushing
    • Move on from your past mistakes
    • Convince yourself that you can improve your situation (career, financial, family, etc.)
    • Reach for your goals
    • Be happier

    I try to remind myself that being negative is just a WASTE OF TIME. Being negative can waste your time in that you dwell on the little things, you don’t look for the good in things, you live in regret, you think about things you shouldn’t be thinking about, and more.

    You will be much happier and more successful if you forget the negative and stick to the positive.

    Being more positive will potentially improve your financial situation, career situation, life, and everything else.

    Here are my tips so you can begin practicing positivity in your life and learn about the power of positive thinking:

    Smile more

    Smiling is contagious! Studies have even proven that smiling can improve your mood. Even if you have to force a smile, just do it.

    Smile at the next person you pass, smile when you’re talking on the phone, smile when your loved one comes home, and more.

    Spend less time dwelling on the negative

    Negative thoughts can sometimes completely take over a person. You may think about something negative for days, weeks, or even longer, whereas positive events usually aren’t thought about as long or enough.

    Next time you find yourself thinking in a negative way, you should stop and think about whether or not spending your time thinking that way will actually help. I’m going to guess it won’t help you at all, so stop!

    Instead, think about the positive, and go on with your life.

    Be thankful for what you have

    Next time you are down in the dumps about something negative in your life, I suggest you try to remember all of the positive and good in your life. This is the power of positive thinking at its best.

    You may be thankful for your family, friends, job, a past experience, opportunities, and more.

    Thinking about everything you are thankful for can make something negative seem very trivial. You may even laugh at yourself for being so negative!

    Find something good in a bad experience

    There may even be some good in a bad experience, even though it can be hard to think about the positive while you are experiencing something negative.

    Through the power of positive thinking you can use a bad experience to learn something new about yourself, to realize you made a mistake, to come up with a new plan you never thought of before, and more.

    Taking the negative and turning it into a learning experience can help prevent a negative situation from happening again. Or, maybe next time you’ll be more prepared!

    Spend more time with positive people

    There are negative and positive people out there. Negative people tend to attract other negative people, and positive people tend to attract other positive people.

    I’m not saying you should completely exclude everyone who is negative in your life, but you do have the option to find more positive people to surround yourself with.

    You may want to think about how a person that makes you feel horrible, negative, or unwanted fits into your life and whether or not you should change this.

    Help others see the positive

    You can become happier by making other people happy. While that may sound weird and possibly even a little selfish, if everyone is a little happier from it, then why not? The power of positive thinking should be spread to as many people as possible!

    Give someone a compliment, send out cards to those you love, hold the door open for someone, say hello to everyone, and more!

    Related: 58 Random Acts Of Kindness

    Be optimistic

    This is one of the positive thinking exercises you must do, no matter what. No matter how bad things are you should try to think about the positive things going on in your life. Think about how you can improve your life and how you are in charge.

    Do you practice positivity in your life? What do you think of the power of positive thinking?

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    Source: makingsenseofcents.com

    Apache is functioning normally

    Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further

    Your beautiful, food-bearing refrigerator, sad to say, will not last forever.

    They certainly last longer than, say, a light bulb, but expect to go fridge shopping every dozen years or so.

    Before that time comes, you’ll want to start saving up, so you don’t wake up one day to a warm fridge full of rapidly-rotting food, and no money to replace the thing.

    As with most things in life, there’s a best time to buy your refrigerator, and it turns out that might well be the month of May.

    Semi-scientific analysis (like the kind Beakman used to do, only with better hair) has shown that refrigerators, unlike pretty much every other appliance on the planet, regards May as its Happy New year.

    That’s the month when manufacturers will roll out the latest models, meaning the old ones need to go, and FAST.

    So you’re far more likely to get a nice, steep discount on last year’s perfectly good fridge models during the month of flowers than any other time of year.

    This might be surprising to you, since general knowledge states that most appliances are cheapest in September and October, when the latest models come out to play.

    Why Big Fridge decided to do it in May, we have no idea.

    Maybe they knew with the warmer months, we’d need something good and sturdy to store all those cold, refreshing drinks that’ll keep us going through the hot summer?

    Or maybe they just chose the month out of a hat and ran with it. You never know with those faceless industry leader types.

    OK, so you’ve committed to making a new refrigerator the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

    Here are some other money-saving tips to keep in mind, so as to drive that price down as far as possible:

    Go Shopping on a Weekday

    As anybody who’s braved claustrophobic parking lots on the weekends knows, that tends to be the time most people do their shopping.

    You, though, should be different.

    Pick a random Wednesday, use a personal day at work (or hack mightily into the phone and complain of the Plague, that works too), and hit the local appliance store.

    Prices may not be advertised as cheaper, but there’ll be much less rush, less competition to buy the best model on the sales floor, if you catch the right salesperson at the right time, you might just get yourself a bit of an “I like you” discount.

    Memorial Day Super Sale

    Memorial Day is a special time of year, when we celebrate our veterans by hitting the mall and drooling over anything with a 50% off tag attached to it.

    This goes for major appliances like refrigerators as well, especially since the sale already occurs in a month where the old models are on semi-liquidation.

    That one-two punch could net you hundreds, and possibly thousands of dollars in savings.

    The End of the Month

    If you can’t get away from your barbecue long enough to take advantage of a great Memorial Day sale, at least try to get to the store sometime at the end of May.

    That’s when appliance dealers will be at their most desperate, because those shiny new models are coming in just days from then, and the last thing they want is to write off the old stuff as a 100% loss.

    If they can get at least SOME money from you in exchange for them, that’s infinitely preferable than getting none.

    Time it just right, and you could be walking about with a $1500 fridge for under $500. Now that’s how you save.

    For those last two suggestions, by the idea, just hand Mom on IOU on her special day, and deliver the fridge later.

    She’ll understand, especially if you stick flowers in the crisper drawer.

    Mary Hiers is a personal finance writer who helps people earn more and spend less.

    Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further

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