Refinancing involves replacing an existing loan by paying it off with a fresh one. Such an act usually costs somewhere between 3% and 6% of the loan’s principal amount, along with application fees, title search, and an appraisal. Since refinancing is a big decision to make, understanding whether this move could actually save you money is essential. So, the following reasons will help you know whether youn should consider mortgage refinancing. Lower interest rates Keep an eye out for lowering mortgage refinance interest rates in the market, and just when the rates drop, you can consider refinancing to pay significantly less in monthly payments. Today, the norm is that if mortgage refinance can give you even 1%-2% in lowered interest rates, it is a viable idea for a homeowner. Shortening the loan term As you refinance due to the change in mortgage refinance interest rates, you can even choose to reduce the loan term. Instead of paying a mortgage for 30 years, you can even half that time if the change in interest rate is significant. Keep your calculator handy and get a deal that will get you out of mortgage payments sooner. Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) In case of a forthcoming significant rise in interest rates, mortgage refinancing is a good move as you can choose to opt out of ARM and turn to a fixed-rate mortgage.

Renting a car may seem like a simple activity, something you can do online in a matter of minutes. But apart from renter’s insurance, the cost of the rental, and other fees chargeable, there are a number of points to consider so you can get the best deal, from location to size of the vehicle and budget tips; here are a few tips to get you started. Book in advance Book your travel arrangements well in advance, especially if you are planning a road trip. This way, you can switch vehicles in the cities planned along the route to save money and rent a different car each time. The location also matters as research suggests that car rentals in the suburbs are slightly cheaper than in a franchise that is smack dab in the center of the city. Also, avoid renting one straight out of the airport, as taxes and hidden charges will be levied on such rentals. Take the weather into account There is not much you can do when it pours or snows out of nowhere. But taking the weather into account can help you rent a suitable vehicle for those driving conditions. For example, four-wheel-drive cars work well in heavy snow conditions or places where traction is compromised.

Timeshares are a lucrative way of investing in property that you can own for a specific period. Investing in a timeshare opens up avenues for travel and affordable stay at exotic locations. But reselling the space is where it gets tricky, as the demand for these properties varies on factors like location and price. Here are some good ways to make a sale quickly: Go through an agent Real estate agents who specialize in buying and selling timeshare properties will help you unload your ownership quickly. You must do thorough research and choose an agent with plenty of experience in the area. Verified agents can broker a deal quickly because of their contacts in the market, and they will keep track of current listings and await an opportunity to broker deals for a quick commission. Find a website A lot of websites nowadays broker timeshare deals online. They connect sellers to buyers who are looking to rent or buy some vacation space. In exchange for a small transaction fee or even a membership, you can list your timeshare deal on popular web portals. Your ad will be made visible to millions of buyers. Websites also offer professional help to close the deal without much hassle.

In the age of smartphones, people have been able to make an app for practically everything. These apps have made it extremely convenient for us to lead our lives and carry out our day-to-day activities. You might not know this, but you can earn cash using apps in your spare time! Could you imagine how great it would be to get paid to be on our phone all the time? Here are some popular cash-making apps in 2021. Shopkick This app is perfect for those who enjoy indulging in a little bit of online shopping every now and then. This app only works on mobile, and you can redeem your points as gift cards whenever you decide to do so. Moreover, this app allows you to earn points whenever you walk into their partnered stores. You can also earn additional points by watching ads and videos as well as by scanning certain barcodes. The only downside to this app is that you aren’t paid in actual cash when using this app. ibotta This app is great if you are looking for an app that offers automatic payment options. This app can be used on your mobile phone as well as on your desktop browser.

Making money online is not as hard as you think it is. If you have a bunch of skills to showcase and a drive to get things done, you can easily make hundreds of dollars every month. Nonetheless, sometimes, phony websites and Ponzi schemes seem to make it difficult to find the right sources of money. Therefore, we have taken the liberty to note down five reliable websites to make money online easily. YouTube Got something to share? Is it interesting and non-explicit? Then YouTube is the place to be. All you need to do is create engaging videos, and you can make thousands of dollars depending on how many views you get. Keep up the good work, and YouTube will keep paying you depending on the number of views on every new video you upload. Fiverr Fiverr is a great place to make money if you’re looking for freelancing jobs. From content writing to marketing and web development, Fiverr has a job for everybody. The basic pay starts at approximately $5 an hour. The process, too, is fairly simple. Once you get an order, you complete it, get paid, and Fiverr takes a small cut (around $1). Shopify With Shopify, there is no definite pay scale.

Automated investing services or Robo advisors are becoming popular by the day, and financial experts around the world only expect to see a surge in their usage. This is because these intelligent services offer one crucial advantage that many investors benefit from: low-cost financial advice. With many top financial services companies jumping in the race to provide customers with the best automated investing services, there are plenty of great options available for every kind of investor. What is a Robo advisor and how much does it cost? A Robo advisor is a digital platform that provides algorithmic-driven money management services that require virtually no human supervision. It does this by collecting client data like financial situation, future goals, and other details through an online survey. This data is then used to automatically manage clients’ assets and provide them with the most suitable financial advice. Robo advisors are immensely cheaper than human financial advisors. Most services only charge an annual management fee that is anywhere between 0.25% and 0.5% of the account balance. Depending on your need, you can even find good Robo advisors that offer services free of charge and low minimum balance value. Top Robo advisors in the market There are several low-cost Robo advisors that you can choose based on your needs and preferences.

Investment of any nature and for any goal is always a good idea, apart from saving for your retirement. The rising rate of inflation coupled with reduced pension plans demonstrate the need for retirement-focused investments, which will not just deliver value over an extended period of time. That being said, not all assets are capable of delivering high returns at low risk and have their own set of importance to investor portfolios. To help you make an informed investment decision, here are some best retirement investments and their pros and cons. Cash-balance plans Similar to pensions, a cash-balance plan offers a fixed amount of return at the time of retirement. However, unlike pensions, every employee has a cash-balance account where the lump sum amount is mentioned. Employers credit this account with a set percentage of the employee’s yearly compensation plus interest charges. Pros: A defined-benefit is a major attraction of cash-balance plans. Additionally, you don’t have to pay a single penny for it and yet it offers a tremendous certainty of retirement funds. In case of a job switch, these accounts can be transferred to your new job. Cons: Should you choose to retire early, the plan wouldn’t benefit much.

ETF or Exchange-Traded Funds are a type of mutual funds that trade in stocks, securities and track various indexes. Exchange-traded funds often invest in a broad range of industry sectors and use various strategies to yield maximum returns. One of the biggest advantages of investing in high dividend ETFs is they have lesser fees than other indexed funds, thereby costing you less in taxes. Although ETFs help in diversifying your portfolio, it is important to choose the right funds that compliment your current investments. Here is how you can choose the right high dividend ETF funds. Consider tracking difference One of the factors that set high dividend ETF funds from other market investments is tracking differences; that is, the difference between ETF performance and index performance. The lower the tracking difference, the better the ETF fund. This ensures that the ETF fund is reasonably priced and trackable. Define your investment goals Identify your investment objectives to pick the best ETFs. Ask yourself if you want to invest in companies with specific characteristics, diversify your portfolio, or find a lower-cost alternative to mutual funds. Furthermore, consider how long you plan to invest. Financial experts suggest not investing if you will need the money within the next five years.