It’s not easy being green…

So ever since I read a “Green” issue of a favorite magazine I’ve been trying to be conscious about what I could be doing to help the Earth. I know I take a lot of things for granted but after reading about how many forests are cut down to make toilet paper I was depressed! It seems like everything I do thru the day has a harmful side effect on the world, so what is one to do who wants to help?

At first I started freaking out thinking I’m going to walk everywhere and never buy a piece of plastic again. That lasted all of five minutes before I decided I needed to drive to the store for some sandwich baggies because I was fresh out. L Hmmm this was going to be tougher than I thought.

Made a quick note to self: Self- be more realistic and change small things constantly until your lifestyle changes.

My change for this week is to get some bills and my bank statements e-mailed to me (uses less paper), and make a recycle pile for my junk mail. I’ve only been collecting my junk mail for a few days and have already filled a shoebox!

Plus almost anything I can think of has a recycled version. Its nuts, I’m a knitter and there is even recycled yarn, or bamboo yarn that is made from a renewable source. I had no idea that the acrylic yarn I was using to make mittens is more from an oil Derek than a Ewe! I encourage you to change something small and make yourself a little greener! The World appreciates our efforts! J  

Check out this link but make sure you are sitting down!

http://www.myfootprint.org/

HSA’s – Taking Care of Your Own Health Care Dollars

When I look at my paycheck and see how much money is taken out for health care, I feel like I’m going to lose my lunch.  After years of not going to the doctor’s office, I wonder why I am paying so much mullah for something I don’t use.  I believe the insurance people are using all my hard earned, unused money, to throw their daughters a sweet 16 party worthy of being on MTV.  When I think of all the things I could use that money for, well, I feel like I might actually need to see a doctor.

There is a way one can keep the money they don’t spend on health insurance; Health Savings Accounts!  HSA’s must be opened in connection with a high deductible health insurance plan, (So ask your boss if you have this, it benefits him too). HSA’s are tax deductible; the money inside them grows tax deferred and comes out tax free for qualified medical expenses.

Health Savings Accounts are ideal for healthy people who want to save money on health insurance by increasing their deductibles. If you don’t spend any of the money in an HSA in a given year the balance carries over to the next year and keeps growing.

Health Savings Accounts are the only investment vehicle where you get a tax break for putting money in, and then the moola (interest included) comes out income tax free.

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to feel better already.  That HSA guy should be a doctor.
 

Mortgages-Ask Questions, Save Money!

As soon as I graduated college I knew that I wanted to buy my own place. I had rented for four years, done the math of how much I had paid someone else, and was ready to start paying myself! Plus my family was done hauling my stuff to a new place every year. 

I figured out my gross income from my first full time job and thought, “I’m ready to buy a house and some patio furniture!”

I went thru the process the blind way. Got pre-approved on one program, didn’t ask enough questions and got a lot of surprises at closing time. I tried researching on the internet and it was a great place to start, but should have sat down with a mortgage professional to clarify things for me.

Fees, insurance, and taxes were all things I could have gotten a better grasp on before starting the process but I had no idea how many mortgage options were available to me! I took the first mortgage that was presented to me, not cool considering I looked at thirty houses before making an offer. Just like houses, there are several mortgage programs on the market as well. There are 100% financed programs and no PMI insurance programs just to name a few.

So these are not your parents 20% down 30-year mortgage days. And mostly the unbelievable rates on the internet and radio are too good to be true. Always ask about fees, its not just interest-rates you are shopping! And see where your mortgage will be serviced. A lot of places sell it to another company you’ve never heard of as soon as you walk out the door.

It helps to talk to a real-live person, tell them you are a first time home buyer, and ask them tons of questions. They don’t mind! They want to help you get the home and will show you responsible ways of getting the funds.  

So now I have a house, more information for next time, and still no patio furniture!!