Viewpoints Industry – Best Things to Buy in August

August is the month when back to school deals are sweet. It is also the month when summer clothing and bathing suits and the like go on sale. Viewpoints Industry reveals the best things to buy in August and what to avoid.

Check state websites for the tax-free weekend on back to school supplies. Florida’s was last weekend. The tax-free weekend can save families a bundle on school stationary supplies, clothing, uniforms, laptops and more. The state website should have a list of what is tax-free during this time.

Summer essentials and outdoor items are on sale now. This means bathing suits, shorts, lightweight shirts, sandals, beach and pool toys, beach towels and more. Sign up for email alerts from favorite catalog companies and save even more. Stock up for the remainder of the summer and early fall when the weather is still warm.

Avoid big ticket home appliances like washing machines and dryers, holiday items, smart phones and tablets, and travel plans for the holiday season. Labor Day and Black Friday are creeping up quickly and this is usually the better time to get a good deal on large home needs. Viewpoints Industry suggests taking advantage of summer sales both in the store and online. Stash the money saved into a savings or retirement account and feel better knowing that you saved twice.

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Viewpoints Industry Offers Tips for First Time Homebuyers

Buying a home for the first time is one of the biggest financial decisions anyone can make. There are many aspects to it that can boggle the most reasonable mind. Viewpoints Industry shares some tips for first time home buyers to help ease minds.

Young people, typically around age 30, are eager to find and buy their first home. Eagerly, they go online and find homes which seem affordable and are just what the buyer wants. But let’s take a look at what one needs to do first before hitting the Internet for that first dream home.

More than three-quarters of prospective home buyers are pre-qualified for a home loan. Yet many of those are not clear on the terms of the loan. Before getting pre-qualified, spend time hammering out a monthly home budget to see what is affordable without  having to scrape by. Find ways to cut back on spending such as eating more meals at home, taking lunch to work and skipping expensive coffee purchases.

How much of a down payment can be put on the home?  Typically, if less is put down, the private mortgage insurance is higher, interest rates are higher and closing costs are higher. Save as much as possible toward the down payment to reduce these fees.

Can one afford the monthly mortgage payment? How much will that be? Mortgage payments are not the same as rent. If the payment is late, fees incur. If one is more than 30 days late, the credit rating of that person takes a huge hit.

Viewpoints Industry also suggests regularly checking credit reports and scores during the lending process. Go online and find the best free resources for this, and to find the best calculators for determining mortgages and loans.


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Viewpoints Industry and the Value of Prepaid Debit Cards

There are different reasons as to why people use a prepaid debit card. Perhaps they wish to avoid using a standard bank or want to deposit a child’s allowance on a card. For some, this is a good option. Viewpoints Industry reviews the value of prepaid debit cards.

 Prepaid debit cards are safer to carry than cash, easier to use and allow a person to use it online when they have no other option. There are no overdraft fees with a prepaid card and everyone is approved. However, some of the cards come with a lot of fees and some of the rather hefty. Take time to research everything about the card before purchasing one and depositing money on it.

The money loaded on prepaid cards tripled between 2008 and 2012 as reported by Mercator Advisory Group, and the total is expected to more than double by the end of next year. Only 32% of the people who bought and used a prepaid card last year actually spent time reviewing the fees for it, according to a 2014 Pew study.

Fortunately, CardHub.com offers a guide for the top prepaid cards and their fees so possible users can find the best option. Having used a prepaid card for several years, this writer can vouch for their usefulness. Viewpoints Industry encourages readers to do the homework on prepaid cards to determine their value for your use. Not all cards are equal. Some are better than others. Follow the CardHub link above to find the prepaid card with the best terms.

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Viewpoints Industry Sheds Light on Auto Insurance Discounts

The cost of owning a car or other vehicle keeps rising every year. From gas to maintenance to safety, where can the consumer catch a break? Viewpoints Industry suggests looking for discounts that the auto insurer may not know about and are worth asking for when it is time to renew.

Instead of living with the rate the auto insurer gives, start asking for the discounts which might be available and check regularly to be sure they are being given. Many people choose the auto pay option when renewing insurance plans. But do a little research on available discounts first and then call the agent to get them.

Daytime running lights – Auto makers General Motors, Toyota , Volvo, Mercedes-Benz or Subaru already have this option on newer cars. If your car has daytime running lights, be sure to mention this to the agent before renewal to request this discount.

Alumni discount -- Almost half of the nation’s insurers offer some type of discount if you or a spouse belongs to an alumni association, fraternities, sororities, or professional organizations. If you belong to one or more, ask if a discount is offered.

Anti-theft devices, anti lock breaks, military service, safe driving record, kids of driving age with excellent grades – these are some of the other discounts one can take advantage of. Viewpoints Industry TV also knows that it pays to have a good credit score since that is the one item most likely to reduce the rate in the first place.

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Viewpoints Industry on How to Get What You Pay For

(The number of baby diapers per package is reduced but price stays the same)

Consumers should be aware that some food and product manufacturers are reducing the size, pieces or ounces in packaging and still charging the same price. Viewpoints Industry offers some samples and a few tips about how to get your money’s worth at the grocery store.

The next time you go to the store to stock up, check the item’s package to see if its size was reduced. Chances are it has. A consumer reporter found that the price of a popular juice box maker reduced the number of ounces in the box but still charged the same price as before. The reporter also found that a favorite brand of packaged cookies also reduced the number of items in the package and still charged the same price. The same also applies to a maker of baby diapers. While this may seem unfair to the average consumer, it seems to be occurring more frequently.

Viewpoints Industry TV encourages readers to check the price per ounce on the package. As food and other costs rise, manufacturers are passing them on to the consumer through price hikes and reduction in product size and quantity. And while it may seem like there is nothing a grocery shopper can do about it, we can buy products which have not been altered. If one must buy their favorite brand and the price per ounce is less, write to the manufacturer and lodge a complaint. We always want to be sure we get what we pay for.


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Viewpoints Industry with Tips for Buying a Car

How many readers are driving an older car that will soon need to be replaced with a newer model? If that’s you, Viewpoints Industry has some tips that might make this nerve-wracking time a little easier.

While a new car lease might seem the way to go, consider buying a used car. Forget the old adage that you’re buying someone else’s problems. Most reputable previously-owned car dealers run their inventory through testing before certifying it and putting it on the lot. Also, used cars are made better than the newer models. (Think about all those GMC and Ford recalls in effect now.) And a used car costs less.

Think about your needs and what you liked about your old car. Do you like the idea of a sedan with a trunk or do you like a little sporty vehicle with very little storage space? Do you use your car to commute to work or do you intend to take longer road trips in it? These are personal preferences that no salesman can talk you out of.

ViewpointsIndustry TV suggests to visit your bank or credit union first to see if you can get a car loan. Then when you walk into the dealership or a car lot, you have some room to negotiate. And do negotiate. Never accept the first offer. Always stay true to what your budget allows and don’t let the salesperson sway you into a deal you cannot afford. Good luck!

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Viewpoints Industry on a New Look at Retirement

(travel today because tomorrow you may not be able to)

A recent survey reports that many Americans fear being broke in retirement, yet really don’t want to change the way they live right now. This prompts Viewpoints Industry to take a new look at retirement for tomorrow.

Roughly 55% of those who responded in the survey said they fear not having enough money in retirement. The report from Bank of America’s Merrill Edge report, which is released twice per year, also found that 90% of the 1,000 people they polled do have retirement funds in various forms. Sixty-three percent said that living in moment is important to them while they believe that their standard of living will diminish in the after-work years. Many said that competing financial priorities get in the way of regularly saving for retirement. Some of those priorities are paying for a child’s college education, paying down debt, assisting elderly parents and rebuilding emergency savings after a job loss. Tomorrow’s retirement is much different than that of the Boomer Generation’s parents.

Many people who are nearing retirement age or are fast approaching it are finding a new way to enjoy view the coming years. Those who choose to “live for today” and spend earnings on rewarding vacations may know that they are more physically able to travel farther and enjoy new experiences while their health is good. Retirement is what we make of it whether that means endless games of golf and bridge, or working part-time to supplement any savings stashed away. Viewpoints Industry TV encourages readers to re-think what retirement means to them. Tomorrow is near. Retirement is close. What do you want your retirement to be?

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Viewpoints Industry and How to Get the Best Deal

Spring is the season for sales. But sometimes a better deal can be found online. Viewpoints Industry TV shares how to find the best deal.

Before getting in the car and heading to the mall, go online to see if the items you want can be bought for less on the Internet. Check email to see if there are any discount codes for favorite stores in the Inbox. Check out the store’s website for any discount codes on certain items or for savings on the total. Check out sale apps and only use the ones needed.

When in the store, ask lots of questions when with a sales person. Does the store offer price matching? Is the sale exclusive to shopping in the store or does it also apply online? Does the store offer free shipping with the purchase? What is the return policy? Viewpoints Industry encourages shoppers to get all the facts before buying something. No one wants to stuck with a higher credit card bill or an empty wallet.

Set the shopping budget in stone and do not budge no matter how heavy the sales people are pushing something. I was once followed around the store by a very pushy clerk who wanted me to sign up for their credit card right there on the spot. It apparently would have saved me an extra 20% on purchases that day. But when I got home, (without signing up), the same deal was online. Know what you want when walking in the store and do not be swayed by heavy-handed attempts to sell you something you don’t want or need.

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How Make Your Paycheck Last Longer from Viewpoints Industry

Does it seem like your paycheck does not last as long it used to? Does it seem like it’s getting smaller? Viewpoints Industry finds some ways to paychecks stretch and last longer during tough financial times.

Never pay full price for anything if you can help it. Use store sale circulars, clip coupons or use a smart phone code, stock up on sale items, and take advantage of every special you can. Don’t forget that sometimes the store brand is just as good as the name brand item.

Join store loyalty program to save money on food, gas, drug store items and travel. If giving your personal email address to such a program gives you the willies, register a new email address using another service.

Check out blog sites which compare coupon deals and post the best ones online. Three good sites are: Retailmenot.com, redplum.com, bargainbriana.com and moneysavingmom.com.

ViewpointsIndustry TV suggests signing up for email alerts with your favorite retailers. At least once a week, they will send out discount codes for certain items and sometimes offer free shipping and free returns.

Buy and use reusable products like water bottles, soft lunch boxes and blue ice which keep food cold. These are perfect for taking lunch to work and for always being sure you have plenty of water on your desk. This will help save a lot of money on fast food and the gas used to get to and from a restaurant.

Please let us know how your make your paycheck last longer. Every little bit not spent is more to save or more to put toward something special. 

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