Home ownership can lead to greater wealth in a variety of ways. Black Enterprise magazine says homeowners need to understand how they can best use their homes to their financial advantage. Three ways include refinancing to save on mortgage interest costs or to free up money, trading up to a larger home without a huge cash outlay and taking advantage of tax benefits.
Finding a job these days can take much longer than anticipated, and career counselors advise job seekers to stay focused, resilient and determined. How? Take care of yourself with exercise, proper diet and good sleep habits. Set short-term goals, such as meeting a weekly target for letters, phone calls and new business contacts. And educate yourself on the broader trends shaping your field to have an idea what jobs might be available or changing in a few months.
One reason job growth is so sluggish may be that many people are trying to go into business for themselves. Inc. magazine cites research showing that more than 20-million Americans are either running a new business or actively trying to start one. "When the "next big thing' hits - nanotechnology, Internet telephony, polymer-based computing chips - you can bet a small, growing company will be spearheading the effort," Inc. says.
Should you pull out your credit card for all those purchases? The Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Atlanta suggests asking a simple question: Can I pay off the full balance in three months? If the answer is no, returning some of the goodies to the store shelves could save you money later.
Women guide the investment decisions of one in five affluent households and are more likely to seek advice from financial advisers than are men, a study shows. The Spectrum Group report suggests these women decisionmakers may help bolster the recently troubled financial services industry.
