If you have just bought a new car, the first thing you got to do before celebrating is buying a car cover. A good car cover will keep your vehicle in mint condition through all weather conditions. This is much-needed protection indoors and outdoors. Yet, buying a new car cover can be tricky for first-time buyers. To help you out, here are some tips before buying a car cover that you should keep in mind. Read reviews Buying a car cover can be confusing with so many options to choose from. So, when in doubt, begin by reading reviews from other buyers online. See what worked for them and what didn’t. Especially check out the reviews of car covers that seem to be too good at a low price. Check reviews to ensure that these get delivered as per what was promised. This will help you make a good and sound decision. Check the right size No matter how good the brand of a car cover, if it doesn’t fit well, it does not help you at all. So, a car cover should not be too big nor too small. Too big means it will move around and not stay firmly in place in heavy or strong winds or rain.

We all grow up hearing about the importance of saving for a rainy day. Yet, a vast majority of college students do not have any money saved up. Around 26% of adults in the country have no emergency funds. This leaves you wondering what happens when emergencies come knocking at your doorstep. The best time to start saving money is as a student. With that in mind, here are the benefits of savings accounts for students. Emergency funds This is undoubtedly the biggest benefit of opening a savings account for any student. Emergencies can show up at any time and one should be ready to tackle it without blinking the eye. These emergencies can range from a broken car that needs urgent fixing to a malfunctioning appliance while you live thousands of miles away from home. Medical expenses are even more serious in nature. So, instead of waiting for help to show up, it is best to be ready. This is one of the benefits of savings accounts for students. Secured funds Money that is left lying around at home in a drawer can get stolen or, it can even get spent. This can see you fall short towards the end of the month.

Checking your car tires and making an assessment of its health is important for its overall longevity and practicing fuel economy. The tires play an important role in your car and if neglected, it could result in a potentially dangerous situation. If you do not look after your car tires, this can result in the tires becoming structurally weaker and in most cases, leave you with a flat far from home. But it could also result in your tires not being able to bear the brunt of sudden brakes, leading to accidents. To avoid this, it is necessary to follow certain tire care tips and ensure they become a part of your maintenance routine. These should be ideally followed once a month. Let’s examine 3 must-have points on car tire safety checklists. Get tire balancing and alignment Many people are unaware of tire balancing and this may pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of the driver. Whenever you buy a tire or two, ensure that a qualified technician balances the tires to ensure that they roll forward smoothly and without any hindrance. This also enhances the drive and ensures there is no vibration on the road. Neglecting the balancing of tires can expedite their irregular wear.

Most of us spend our entire day on our smartphones. These devices are mostly used for work and entertainment. But, that is not all. A smartphone has numerous other uses and one of these is that this can be beneficial to your health. Smartphones can accommodate numerous apps that are made just to monitor your health. So, even though smartphones have their downfalls, like privacy concerns, they are also capable of being a great help if used correctly. To elaborate further, here are the different ways of how smartphones benefit health through their apps. Fitness trackers Keeping track of fitness in the past was quite exhausting. Do you remember the previous hassles of timing everything just so you know you are on track? Or how you had to record everything from the steps you took to the number of stairs you climbed? You even had to time the whole duration of each exercise to be on a proper schedule. Well, these are no longer things you have to worry about. With the introduction of smartphones, every step you take is tracked and recorded. These can be done through various apps that calculate anything, from the number of steps you have taken to your heart rate.

If you are looking into 401(k) loan basics, then there are certain aspects that you should know about. It is very common for many people to borrow a loan from their 401(k) retirement plan. This way, they can meet any critical short-term financial needs such as medical emergencies. There are many important things that your financial advisor would have probably told you about a 401(k) loan. This could include information on how the loan is calculated, how the repayment amount is cut from your paycheck, and what documents are required while making an application. Through some more frequently asked questions, we shall discuss the repercussions of defaulting on a 401(k) loan and also look at some other 401(k) loan basics that are good to know. Why should I borrow from my 401(k) plan? You might wonder why you should consider borrowing from a 401(k) plan. Here are the possible reasons that can answer that query. Requesting the loan is easy and can usually be completed online in a quick process. The application for a 401(k) loan does not impact the borrower’s credit score. Although the maximum tenure to repay the loan is five years, you can choose to prepay the loan without having to incur any extra prepayment charges.

Getting a mortgage is a big deal; it is a long-term financial commitment. As a result, it is essential to carefully go through all your options before committing. Many people make mistakes when taking a mortgage for the first time. However, with the right information, these mistakes can be avoided. Let’s take a look at some common mistakes made when getting a mortgage so that you can make the right decision to get a good deal. Being untruthful or secretive on the application Providing incorrect or incomplete information on your mortgage application can backfire. In this regard, the most commonly omitted fields of information are payments made for alimony or child support. You would also need to disclose any information on a student loan that is deferred. Lenders want you to be in a position to repay the loans without any troubles. So, even if your other debts seem small or inconsequential, make sure to mention them on your application. Not taking pre-approval Buying a new house is a major decision and is exciting. With all-new things taking place, it is easy to forget what matters. One of the things that matters is getting pre-approval for your mortgage loan. In the pre-approval process, the lender runs a check of your finances and credit report to ensure that you qualify for the mortgage.

Paying off credit card debt after it has accumulated is a task, but avoiding the debt is relatively easier and only requires you to keep certain things in mind while using the card. To that effect, we have here for you five effective tips to avoid credit card debt: Know your disposable income The first thing that you need to do is to calculate your disposable income each month. Take into account all your bills and come up with an estimate of how much money is left after paying them off. Then, formulate a budget from your income and ensure that you spend accordingly. With a credit card in hand, it is often easy to think that you can spend as you please, but ensure that you only spend as much as you have. Credit money is not actual money, so don’t count that while preparing the budget. Plan the major expenses Avoid impulse buying when it comes to large purchases. In other words, don’t buy something that you would not have been able to afford without a credit card. This can include anything from a designer outfit to a new smartphone. A credit card could lure you to start prioritizing your wants over your needs, so it is always better to have a plan for making big expenditures and carrying out the major purchases.

A reverse mortgage is a loan that is accessible to individuals who are above 62 years of age. This funding can be used for a variety of reasons ranging from home repairs to personal expenses such as paying a car loan. If you are planning on taking this type of funding, let’s understand the basics of a reverse mortgage that are essential for you to know. 5 basics of a reverse mortgage that one should be aware of before applying for it An overview of the term In a reverse mortgage system, the individual making the application can get a loan against the equity of their home value. This is a good way to get money after retirement as there is no regular cash flow anymore at that stage. Once you have stopped earning money, expenses still continue and this can lead you to a difficult situation. With a reverse mortgage, the solution to getting money is simple. The loan also does not need to be paid back until the borrower passes away, sells their home, or relocates. However, do note that this type of loan is only for an individual who is above the age of 62 years. Anyone below that age would have to seek other sources of funding.

If you are planning to get a loan, the lender or bank will definitely ask you about your credit score. Also known as the FICO score, these three digits can make or break your request for credit. Now, you may not have paid attention to your credit score over the past few years, and it may also have fallen due to this. If this is the case and you need help on how to improve a bad credit score, here are five key tips for you: Pay more than the minimum due It seems simple enough to pay the minimum due every month and then forget about what you owe the lender. However, this is what lowers your credit score. Instead, make it a point to pay more than the minimum due each month as this will ensure that your debt is repaid faster. Additionally, this gives a good credit utilization ratio and leads to a better credit score. Have a mix of debt It might sound strange that you are being encouraged to have debt, but it is important to understand this. If you owe a total of $80,000, this debt should preferably be mixed in the form of several types like a mortgage, car loan, and credit card amount.

Many people do not realize that a smartwatch is more than just a glorified smartphone for the wrist. A smartwatch can also help you record your health vitals, use music controls, speak to virtual voice assistants, set reminders, and more. Many popular and lesser-known tech brands have entered the smartwatch game to help make your life much easier with the latest in wearable technology. These brands include Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin. Some of the top brand smartwatches and features to help you make a buying decision are mentioned below. Apple Watch Series 2 From the world-famous tech giant Apple, this is one of the best smartwatches to be sporting on your wrist. Its features include a water-resistant body for up to 50 meters, a quick Apple S2 processor for smooth operation, 8GB of expansive onboard memory, a 1.53-inch OLED display for brilliant visuals, a day and half of battery life, and support for watchOS 5. A good plus point about this option is that you do not have to worry about it getting wet in the rain as you jog. You also get a whole list of other features such as Bluetooth and NFC. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 An exciting option for Android users, this smartwatch works best with Android and Apple phones.