Tim McMahon

Work by editor and author, Tim McMahon, has been featured in Bloomberg, CBS News, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Forbes, Washington Post, Drudge Report, The Atlantic, Business Insider, American Thinker, Lew Rockwell, Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, Oakland Press, Free Republic, Education World, Realty Trac, Reason, Coin News, and Council for Economic Education. Connect with Tim on Google+

Finances Buy Home

Approved Methods to Prepare Your Finances To Buy a Home

Money Management, Real Estate / By

When you’re ready to buy a home, make sure your finances are in good shape BEFORE applying for a loan. A solid financial standing will help to ensure a smooth mortgage loan application. It could also establish you as a premiere buyer that property sellers will favor over other buyers. Here are a few tricks to help you get your finances in order before you purchase a property.

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Budgeting

7 Ways to Lower Your Household Bills

Budgeting / By

Day by day, products and services are getting more and more expensive, causing the cost of living to skyrocket. During such a time, it’s essential to try to identify areas where we can cut costs and put the money saved to better use. Our household bills are the first and most important area to start lowering expenses. Even if we can’t save as much money on those bills as we formerly did, a different approach could make a significant difference. There are many methods for lowering monthly expenses (both obvious and not so obvious) that you might be overlooking. Here are seven simple yet effective ways to lower your household bills.

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Tips for First Time Home buyers

4 Tips You Need To Know Before Buying Your First Home

Real Estate / By

Are you in the market for your very first home? Congratulations. Buying a home is an exciting milestone in anyone’s life. However, it’s important to remember that buying a home is also a major financial commitment. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in over your head financially. That’s why it’s important to plan and make smart choices when buying a home.

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11 Ways to get cheaper car insurance

How to Get the Best Deal on Car Insurance

Car / By

Every state in the U.S. requires that you have Car insurance. And of course, you want to protect yourself financially should something bad happen.
So with a captive audience, you might think that car insurance would be really expensive. Fortunately, competition among companies and a bit of knowledge on your part when looking for car insurance can help you lower your payments for this crucial coverage.

The biggest thing you can do to keep your car insurance rates low is by driving safely. Don’t get any speeding tickets! Having a clean driving record keeps your premiums lower than if you have any accidents or tickets to your name. Driver’s under 25 should take driver’s education or a safe driving school which will not only make them a better driver but also get them a nice discount on their car insurance. Some insurance companies offer an electronic device that plugs into your car and tracks your driving. It not only provides hard data proving you are a good driver but it also gives you real-time feedback on how you are doing. For instance, it will beep if you accelerate or stop too abruptly. This feedback will help you become not only a safer driver but also save you money on (now expensive) gasoline.

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Pros and Cons of Living in Florida

8 Amazing Pros And Cons Of Living In Florida

Family / By

Whether moving for work, school, or to be closer to family, many people dream of living in an area with a warm climate near the ocean. Many people fantasize about a resort-style life, where there is always something happening and lots of time can be spent outdoors. It seems that Florida can offer all of that to its residents.

As the southernmost state in the United States, Florida is one of those places that make people think of sunshine and fun. With great weather almost year-round, Florida has many outside activities for the entire family to enjoy. It is one of the most visited tourist locations in the US and the “Villages” is one of the fastest-growing retirement communities in the country. Continue reading for some things to consider and the pros and cons of moving to Florida is an option.

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Selling Your House

Should You Exploit High House Prices To Pay Off Debt?

Real Estate / By

Everyone knows that house prices have skyrocketed in the last couple of years… around the new millennium, housing prices started going “parabolic,” i.e., they curved almost straight up. The common refrain was “housing prices always go up”. And then the economy fell apart, and everything came crashing down, including housing prices. By 2012 the index was back down to 134, i.e., a 27% loss.

So obviously, housing prices don’t “always” go up. Generally, over time housing prices do go up with inflation.

With housing prices once again going up parabolically, we might consider selling and using the gains to pay off debt and then buy again once housing prices are lower.

About a year ago, we published an article entitled 7 Benefits to Downsizing, which is one approach to reducing debt. In the following article, we will look at whether Selling a House to Pay off Debt is a Good Idea.

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Empower Your Financial Future

How To Empower Your Financial Future With Realistic, Attainable Goals”

Money Management / By

If you truly want to empower your financial future and ensure a comfortable retirement you have to begin by planning ahead for your finances. The old saying, “failing to plan is planning to fail” definitely applies to retirement. Multiple studies including the “marshmallow test” have shown that those who take a long-term view, plan ahead, and are willing to delay gratification will ultimately become more successful than those who live for the moment and don’t plan ahead.

How To Empower Your Financial Future With Realistic, Attainable Goals” Read More »

Buying a house

Advice on What to Expect When Buying a Home

Real Estate / By

Some parts of the home-buying process can actually be fun. Dreaming of the features you want and rolling through neighborhoods and wondering if they’re your next home can be a time of hope. Then again, crunching your numbers to determine a budget and going to showing after showing without finding ‘the one’ can drain you. Knowing what to expect when buying a home helps you prepare yourself for the process.

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Insurance policy

What to Look for in a New Insurance Company

Insurance / By

Sometimes, you need to find a new insurance company. You might be moving, shopping around at renewal time, or just ready for a new policy provider. Regardless of the type of insurance, you’re looking for, it’s helpful to know what to look for in a new insurance company.

Getting your coverage right can be tricky. You want good coverage so that you are protected, but you also might want to minimize it in order to keep costs low for the policy. In some cases, you’ll have to meet state minimum standards. Often states mandate certain coverage minimums for passenger vehicles. There might also be unique circumstances where you want special kinds of coverage. For instance, a homeowner’s policy might not cover flooding or earthquakes.

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