Budgeting

Having an emergency savings account is a must if you hope to keep yourself afloat when things go wrong. No one plans for life to go a little askew, but it does happen with job loss, injury and unexpected breakdowns with the car, the boiler and any number of appliances.

As you well know, breakdowns and life issues always seem to happen in three’s, which means that you need to have a savings account that is prepared for you to use it – just in case.

When life does go off kilter, you need to be prepared. It’s hard, though, to prepare yourself for something that hasn’t yet happened. You can’t exactly predict that the established business that you work for is going to fold. You also can’t tell whether you’re going to be a victim of an injury this year. The good news is that you can do something, just in case.

You can figure out how much you earn in six months and make this your emergency savings figure. This is the amount that you can hold in your savings account ready to cover you when life goes sideways. There are many things that your savings can cover, and here are four ways to get started with your emergency fund below:

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1. Medical Costs. You may have comprehensive medical insurance and coverage, but that doesn’t always cover everything. Sometimes, you have to pay out for things like glasses or a Starkey hearing aid. You may even have to cover the cost of crutches or a wheelchair.

Your emergency savings account can really get some use out of it if you are strapped for cash and your medical equipment breaks down; it means you can be rescued!

2. Home Appliances. Being a homeowner is a wonderful privilege, but it does mean that the buck stops with you. When the boiler decides to die in the dead of winter, it’s you that has to cover the costs of a new one, plus installation and the cost of an engineer. It’s not cheap, but it’s a great way to use the emergency stockpile that you’ve got to cushion you from a fall.

3. Pet Sickness. You have a dog, one that costs you enough in food, medical insurance and toys every month. Now that dog has a broken leg, and you’ve got to fork over the money to get him sorted out. You’d usually not dip into your emergency savings for this, but it’s an emergency procedure or the dog loses a leg. It’s a perfectly legitimate reason to use the account – so go for it!

4. Repairs. The one thing about living in your town is the climate – it’s unpredictable and you can’t tell when the weather is going to turn on you. The wind is strong enough without the roof being ripped off and costing you thousands in repairs. Emergency funds are there for things like this, especially if your card won’t cover the cost!

An emergency fund is for emergencies; it’s the literal definition. Always try to replenish it as fast as you can when you have to use it!

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One of the biggest stresses in life is money. It’s the one thing everyone always worries about not having enough of, and we spend our whole life trying to do all we can to make as much of it, as quickly as possible.

But the thing is, we rely so much on money that we begin to lose ourselves, and yet we don’t have much choice because everything has a price, and everyone wants to have financial freedom.

Because part of the difficulty is the stress that it gives us, because there are so many different things to think about once you hit the adult world, and that can be really overwhelming and can put a lot of pressure on you. You may then find yourself in a downward spiral as things build up until you explode – and that’s never a good thing.

Your mind can be so strong, and yet so sensitive, and you need to find a balance that works for you. Everyone is different, but there are basic ways to manage your money when times get hard. Here are a few examples to get you on the right track.

Home expenses

Homes get pricey, not only do you have to buy one and pay the mortgage off, but there are tons of bills that follow, like the water, the electric, and the insurance. While this is just part of life, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find a cheaper option. So have a sit-down and look through all of your current payments, you may find that there is something you are paying for that is unnecessary, or you are able to find a cheaper company that offers you the same thing.

Medical expenses

Let’s face it, medical bills can get so expensive, especially if you don’t have the latest insurance to cover you. So if something happens that you were least expecting and you find yourself in an accident with burn injuries that weren’t your fault, then it is important you go and seek out the legal help that can build you a case so that you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Personal expenses

We all want to have the finances to be able to buy that dress we’ve had our eye on, or the holiday next year to go away with the family or the upgraded car that runs way better than what you have now.

Life is about experiences and enjoyment, not just surviving, so it’s important to still go after the things you want so that you have a life that you’re happy with. The simple answer for this is budgeting. Break it up, understand it, and then use it where you see fit.

Now you know what to look out for, you may find that the edge is taken off a little. But if you’re still struggling, make yourself an appointment with a financial adviser who can give you all the beneficial advice to better yourself and your circumstances.

This post is sponsored by Diamond Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own.

While I love a good joke about lawyers as much as the next person, often these jokes are without merit. As most lawyers are honest and knowledgeable professionals that look out for the best interest of their clients. No different than doctors or accountants they are professionals with important services to provide.

While most of us don’t think twice about having a family doctor or keeping a handyman on speed dial, many people feel that having a lawyer is a sign that someone is either looking for trouble or doing something risky that might make them more likely to have legal problems.

Generally, most ex[pect to never have need of such services. But often times having an established relationship with an experienced family attorney prevents problems from forming entirely. Such as buying a home, when getting married, adoption services, establishing an LLC, venturing into business, protecting your savings, or personal injury claims . Especially if you are a parent who is responsible for the care, estate, and general welfare of others.

For these reasons and more, there are several reasons for you to consider why it is a great idea to get a family lawyer today:

1. They’re Affordable

One of the big reasons that people avoid talking with an attorney is cost. While lawyers do charge different rates and some can be very draining on the wallet, most are actually very reasonable. In fact, you can probably find a very capable attorney for a lower hourly rate than your doctor or even a licensed plumber.

With many attorneys likely providing free consultations prior to collecting retainers for services. In those consultations, they will talk with you about your situation and provide some idea of how they can help and how much it will cost. Eliminating the risk in talking with an attorney and trying to build a relationship with one.

2. Lawyers Provide Prevention

Most people think of attorneys as people who fix problems but most of the work that they do is preventative. Whether it’s reviewing contracts, writing up agreements, filing paperwork or making sure that their client is compliant with the law. Attorneys represent the interest of their clients and those interests are best served by keeping them out of legal trouble. Not just merely defending them when they are in the middle of it.

Having a lawyer that can read your contracts, keep up your business filings, and guide you through any paperwork you may have can go a long way to preventing legal problems saves you a great deal of money and headache down the road.

3. Your Competitors Have Attorneys

If you’re signing a contract to work with another company, chances are that they had an attorney write it for them and prepare it with their interests in mind. If someone you’re negotiating or competing with has an attorney working with them and you don’t, that puts you at a disadvantage.

Having a knowledgeable attorney in your corner makes this process all the more seamless in nature. And in terms of business negotiations can also act as a powerful contact. A good lawyer is a great place get contact information for other professionals, informally and formally. For all your business needs.

While you might not need to visit a lawyer every six months or even yearly, you should establish a relationship with one as soon as you can and see about stopping by every time your situation changes. Routine stuff such as minor car accidents, contracts, and wills and estate planning.

So take the opportunity to seek one out. Most likely, you’ve been putting off some legally-oriented task for a while to make it a late New Year’s resolution to get it done and, along the way, establish a relationship with a legal professional that can help you a great deal down the road.

For readers in the Tampa area, especially those seek a personal injury attorney in Tampa, or perhaps you need a Tampa Car Accident Attorney, you have numerous resources available to you. Because when you need your lawyer, you’ll be glad that you met them when you did.

Now friends, do you have a family attorney to handle your personal affairs or personal injury claims at home? Share your experiences below!

We don’t go through life with anything other than expectations and hopes for our futures. Each and everyone one of us like to dream about what we want in our lives and there are milestones that we like to hit to ‘tick all the boxes’ for ourselves. The problem is, those boxes all cost a little – and sometimes a lot of – cash.

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There are four major life events that most people want to achieve, and each of these has one thing in common: they’re expensive. When there are major life events ahead, we like to save up for them, but how can you do it? And what are these milestones?

First Car. Buying your first car and learning to drive is a big achievement. It’s a lot of responsibility to be on the road and in control of a vehicle and it’s also a responsibility to save for the right insurance and the right drivetrain warranty from Carchex. You should ensure that when you take on the difficulties of driving and being on the road with other vehicles that your particular car is in tiptop shape. Your first car should be one that is going to last you, so shop around and make sure that you find what you want for the price you want it to be.

Buying A House. You can choose to keep living with parents while you save for your house but consider that you should want to put a considerable down payment down to pay for your deposit. This would reduce the length of the mortgage and stand you in good stead for the banks to lend you what you need to cover the rest!

Getting Married. It’s a big day, but it doesn’t necessarily have to have a big price tag. All you have to do is learn to shop around when it comes to your wedding day and decide whether you truly need to have 300 people there for you when you get wed. Don’t be put off by the big venues and the dress costs and try not to go into married life in debt. If you cannot afford it for your day, do not buy it. It just takes a little sensibility to ensure that your day goes off perfectly.

Having A Baby. A first baby is a big step in life, but if you plan ahead you can ensure that you are not out of pocket with medical expenses and the initial costs of everything that a baby needs. If you fall pregnant unexpectedly, you can still rally; you have nine months to prepare after all. You can put other major expenses on hold to afford the baby in your life who needs your cash a lot more right now.

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Life gets in the way sometimes, but there are always ways and means to make savings when you need to. Don’t be held back by your finances; if you truly want something you will find a way to get it.