You really can get free stuff, but yes, sometimes there are strings attached. For example, when we were at universal studios I got a free backpack. The catch? I spent six minutes filling out a credit card application. On the other hand, we ate pretty well...

Be a slumlord? Okay, I got your attention, now the truth. I really don't recommend that anyone endanger their renters with unsafe housing. Much of what people call slumlording though, is simply providing reasonable housing for those with low incomes. It i...

Is real estate investing only for the wealthy? Can you buy with no money down? Do you have to know the "right" people? Let's answer by looking at some of the myths of real estate. 1. Real estate investing is for the wealthy. Money helps, but my first ...

Can a bad credit rating save you from bigger problems? Hasn't it done just that for many young people? I'll explain how with a couple true stories. Good Credit Rating Story My friend started his adult years with good credit. Soon he was able ...

Why look at ways to save money in your business? Business isn't about how much you make, but about what you keep - the net profit. Cut an expense, and the savings usually goes straight to that bottom line. Learn a simple way to spend $25 less on electrici...

Have you heard about mortgage cycling? Maybe you've seen the ads for books on this "secret technique" for paying off your mortgage sooner. Is there some useful information in them? Yes, especially if you are not familiar with the basic premise that you ca...

Should you buy or rent? It depends on your circumstances, and the real estate market where you are going to live. Years ago, I sold a home for a young couple who owed almost as much as the sales price on their house. They needed to take money from savings...

Selling your own home can be a time-consuming and frustrating process. Though listing with an agent is probably the best plan, I won't leave you do-it-yourselfers without some helpful information. In the right market, it may make sense to save the commiss...

There is a simple money saving exercise that everyone should do at least once in their lives. It is ultimately one of the best ways to save money, because it is not about pinching pennies, but about discovering what you really want and getting it. It is s...

Room rentals? Why would you want to make your home into a boarding house? Maybe you shouldn't. I enjoyed having people living in my house, and most of them became friends. On the other hand, you might not like that arrangement. I hated being a landlord wh...

One of the most important negotiation skills you can develop is to get in the habit of finding the other side's deadline. Time is of the essence. It even says as much on most business and real estate contracts. What does this mean in negotiating? It means...

You include earnest money with an offer on a house to show the seller that the you are serious about purchasing the house. It becomes part of the down payment if the offer is accepted, is returned if the offer is rejected, or is forfeited if you pull out ...

I learned about business expenses at one of my first jobs. It was in a fast food restaurant, working as an assistant manager I was responsible for placing the orders for food and supplies. I noticed how many thousands of dollars we spent on ketchup, mayon...

How do you find cheap homes? There are too many ways to list here, but there are five basic principles to learn. Understand these, and you can save thousands of dollars on your next home. Cheap Homes Are In Cheap Towns Yes, there are still be...

Want to know how to get rich today? You could try the lottery, or try your luck at the roulette wheel. Of course, you know the odds are against you, right? Want a better way? Start thinking about what it means to BE rich. Consider that you are sitting ...