3 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage

The number of foreclosures continue to rise across the country. For those of us who's mortgages are still in tact, it is in our best interest to begin paying down those mortgages as quickly as possible.

Our parents purchased a home when they got married and in 30 years, those mortgages were paid off and they owned their homes free and clear. Unfortunately, we have not been as smart as our parents. We followed their lead and purchased homes, however, we then refinanced our mortgages to pay off our high credit card bills, and then, we refinanced again when the equity in our homes rose to help us live beyond our means.

Now we owe more than our homes are worth, and it doesn't look like we will be able to pay off our mortgages in the next 30 years. There are strategies, however, that we can use to pay off our mortgages in less than 30 years.

1. We can reduce the length of our mortgages by refinancing our homes (again) into a 15 year mortgage, with higher payments, but less interest and the mortgage will be paid off over a shorter time period.
2. We can reduce the length of of our mortgages by adding and additional amount to our payments each month. This will allow us to keep our 30 year mortgage, but by making additional payments we will pay off our mortgage more quickly.
3. We can reduce the length of your mortgage by making 1 additional payment each year. If we receive an income tax refund, or a bonus at work, make an extra payment on the mortgage to reduce the length of the mortgage.

Be creative. Whenever you have additional money, put it toward the principal balance on your mortgage. The more extra payments you make, the faster you will pay down your mortgage, and before you know it, your 30 year mortgage will be paid off in less than 30 years.

5 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

During these tough economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save money. Our mothers were always able to stretch a dollar. No matter how tough times got, we always had food to eat and clothes to wear. Today is no different than 30 years ago. Mothers are still finding ways to get as much from a dollar as possible. Over the years we have learned a few tips from our mothers. Here are a few of those tips to help stretch your dollar during these tough economic times:

1. Before you head to the grocery store, check the weekly store ads to find out which store has the best prices on the items you are looking for.
2. Each Sunday, go through the coupon section in your local paper. Clipping coupons, in addition to the weekly store ads, means more savings for you and your family.
3. Keep a coupon folder with all of your coupons, in your car. Whenever you go to the grocery store, you will have your coupons with you.
4. Shop in bulk. Your local club stores can mean great savings for you, especially when they also accept coupons.
5. Make your grocery list based on the weekly store ads and the coupons expiration dates. Purchase items when they are on sale, rather than paying a higher price once you run out of an item.

Coupons are a great way to save money in the grocery store. For more tips on shopping with coupons visit TheGroceryGame.com. Also visit coupons.com for money saving coupons.

Mother Knows Best - Five Ways to Avoid the H1N1 Flu Virus

There are now 4,298 confirmed and probable cases of the H1N1 flu across the nation and as we continue to track the H1N1 Virus throughout the world, we begin to remember all of the things that our mothers used to tell us when we were growing up. Wash your hands often. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. We realize that our mothers really did know best and we continue to follow those words of wisdom today.

Everyone has the responsibility to do as much as they can to prevent the spread of this virus as well as any other virus that may be going around. Here are Five Ways to Avoid the H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu):

1. Properly wash your hands using soap and water.
2. Utilize hand sanitizers.
3. Contain your cough and sneeze.
4. Distance yourself by at least 3 feet when coughing or sneezing and sneeze into a tissue.
5. Stay home if you have influenza-like symptoms.
   

If you take these five simple steps, you will help to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus across the nation.

Visit the Center for Disease Control and Protection for more information on the H1N1 virus.