MONEY

INFLATION BUSTING

INFLATION BUSTING

Prices are rising. I'm not sure how much... I didn't notice "inflation" from the news stories, I noticed it when chicken food went up 12% overnight.  Milk stayed about the same at the big store, but I now know it was a loss leader. Because I don't shop often, the...

PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE YEARS EARLIER

PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE YEARS EARLIER

If you have a mortgage, you might have PMI. PMI, or "private mortgage insurance" protects the bank if something hfappens and you can't pay. Certain types of loans require this and set different sets of rules. My FHA mortgage, for example, said I had to have it for at...

HOW TO SAVE $5K ON PMI WITH ONE PHONE CALL

HOW TO SAVE $5K ON PMI WITH ONE PHONE CALL

Every month I overpay my mortgage. Only a fraction goes to reduce the debt--most goes to taxes, escrow, and PMI.  An extra payment here, ten dollars there. It all adds up in the end. I'm not close to paying it off yet but I'm hoping to be close to the time when I...

COUPONING IS COSTING YOU A FORTUNE

COUPONING IS COSTING YOU A FORTUNE

Stop couponing! It's costing you money! There! I said it.  Couponing is bad. I’m the cheapest person on earth.  I’m the master of thrift, the Chieftan of Cheap.  I was reusing, recycling,  repurposing, and bringing my own bag long before it became cool.  When extreme...