Prosperity Trek by Prosperity Concierge » Side Trips to Control and Reduce Spending http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek The trek to prosperity, step by step. Improve cash flow, build net worth, enjoy life and give back. To earn, spend, save and invest for happiness and fulfillment. Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:20:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/ en hourly 1 Debt Problem – Signs to Look For – When to Get Help to Control Debt http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-problem-signs-to-look-for-when-to-get-help-to-control-debt/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-problem-signs-to-look-for-when-to-get-help-to-control-debt/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:56:23 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/steps/spend-steps/reduce-debt/debt-problem-signs-to-look-for-when-to-get-help-to-control-debt/ The line between a future of financial solvency and one of distress is thinner than you might think.

Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they’re on the wrong side of that divide until it’s too late.

You could call it the ostrich syndrome. You know that things aren’t good, but you just don’t want to face up to

Continue reading Debt Problem – Signs to Look For – When to Get Help to Control Debt

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-problem-signs-to-look-for-when-to-get-help-to-control-debt/feed/ 0 How to Hurt Your Credit Score Without Really Trying http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/steps/spend-steps/spending-tips/how-to-hurt-your-credit-score-without-really-trying/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/steps/spend-steps/spending-tips/how-to-hurt-your-credit-score-without-really-trying/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:55:18 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/steps/spend-steps/reduce-debt/how-to-hurt-your-credit-score-without-really-trying/ You don’t have to put a lot of effort into it to hurt your credit score. Just a misstep or two is all that’s required.

Let’s look at a few ways your credit card could get dinged.

Paying Late

Credit card companies are notoriously prickly about late payments — even a payment that’s late by a few

Continue reading How to Hurt Your Credit Score Without Really Trying

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/steps/spend-steps/spending-tips/how-to-hurt-your-credit-score-without-really-trying/feed/ 0 Reduce Spending and Debt by Looking at Variable Expenses http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/reduce-spending-and-debt-by-looking-at-variable-expenses/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/reduce-spending-and-debt-by-looking-at-variable-expenses/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:56:47 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-spending-and-debt-by-looking-at-variable-expenses/ The best way to begin getting the debt and spending under control is to reduce your monthly expenses. And one good place to start is to focus on reducing your variable expenses.

Variable expenses include those that can be changed or eliminated entirely.

Variable expenses are those that fluctuate each month, such as clothing, food, entertainment, vacations,

Continue reading Reduce Spending and Debt by Looking at Variable Expenses

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/reduce-spending-and-debt-by-looking-at-variable-expenses/feed/ 2 Pay Down Debt or Save for Retirement? http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/pay-down-debt-or-save-for-retirement/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/pay-down-debt-or-save-for-retirement/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:03:17 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/learn/enjoy/retire/pay-down-debt-or-save-for-retirement/ As important as it is to start saving for retirement early, you may be better off tackling your consumer debt first. In some cases, the amount of debt you have not only affects your budget today, but it can significantly limit your options in the future. So if you’re contemplating whether to pay down your

Continue reading Pay Down Debt or Save for Retirement?

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/pay-down-debt-or-save-for-retirement/feed/ 1 When Not to File for College Financial Aid http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/education-costs-how-to/file-college-financial-aid/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/education-costs-how-to/file-college-financial-aid/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:41:49 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=10400 When it comes to filling out financial aid forms there are some families that have high incomes or a lot of wealth that have every reason to question whether it is worth the effort.

First, check to see how you stand for aid eligibility by going to collegeboard.com and use the College Board’s Expected Financial Contribution, or

Continue reading When Not to File for College Financial Aid

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/education-costs-how-to/file-college-financial-aid/feed/ 0 How We Spend – Buying the Potential for Happiness http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/prosperity/happiness/happiness-spend-joy-enrichment/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/prosperity/happiness/happiness-spend-joy-enrichment/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:52:41 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9994 Studies that explore what makes us happy generally reach the same conclusion – we get the most happiness and joy out of time with family and friends or  activities that provide general enrichment, such as hobbies.

What the studies show is that it isn’t how much we spend but the quality of the overall experience. So

Continue reading How We Spend – Buying the Potential for Happiness

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/prosperity/happiness/happiness-spend-joy-enrichment/feed/ 0 Options for Getting Cash to Make Ends Meet http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/options-cash-ends-meet/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/options-cash-ends-meet/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:33:51 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9814 When you need cash to help make ends meet be careful who answers your call for financial help. A loan may help get you by, but you’ll want to borrow money at the best rates, according to terms that suit your needs – and steer clear of bad deals as well as those that look too

Continue reading Options for Getting Cash to Make Ends Meet

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/options-cash-ends-meet/feed/ 0 Use Your Car to Save Money on Your Quest for Cash http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/transportation-costs-how-to/car-save-money/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/transportation-costs-how-to/car-save-money/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:38:21 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9718 Your car gives you many opportunities to save money on your quest for cash.

Here’s one: the next time you pull up to the pump, think twice about paying for premium gas. In truth, most cars operate just fine with the less-expensive grade. Check your owner’s manual to see if premium is required or merely recommended. Then, look for

Continue reading Use Your Car to Save Money on Your Quest for Cash

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/transportation-costs-how-to/car-save-money/feed/ 0 Use Debt Wisely to Build Wealth for Enjoyment and Sharing http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-wisely-build-wealth-enjoyment-sharing/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-wisely-build-wealth-enjoyment-sharing/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:18:08 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9683 For most of us, debt and borrowing money is a fact of life. However, debt can also be a financial tool to provide us with leverage that we can use to build net worth and wealth that we can, in turn, leverage to enjoy life and give back to others.

While cash can be used for

Continue reading Use Debt Wisely to Build Wealth for Enjoyment and Sharing

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-wisely-build-wealth-enjoyment-sharing/feed/ 1 Steps to Protect Your Cash Flow http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/prosperity/cash-flow/steps-protect-cash-flow/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/prosperity/cash-flow/steps-protect-cash-flow/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:24:32 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9680 Here are some steps you can take to protect your cash flow during tough times. It may be a job loss, or large and unexpected medical bills. Whatever the cause, it threatens your income stream or raises your expenses. You’ll need to take drastic measures to restore your cash flow as much as possible.

Eliminate Nonessential Spending

One

Continue reading Steps to Protect Your Cash Flow

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/prosperity/cash-flow/steps-protect-cash-flow/feed/ 1 How to Sell a House – Best and Worst Improvements to Make http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/housing-costs-how-to/sell-housse/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/housing-costs-how-to/sell-housse/#comments Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:42:02 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9565 Here are the best and worst improvements to make when you are preparing to sell your house.

Best Improvement: Clean Up

Cost: Negligible

Give your home a top-to-bottom cleaning or, better yet, hire a pro to do a deep clean. Do it even before you hiring a real estate agent. If you don’t have a regular cleaner, hire

Continue reading How to Sell a House – Best and Worst Improvements to Make

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/housing-costs-how-to/sell-housse/feed/ 0 Health Savings Accounts – How to Compare http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-savings-accounts-compare/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-savings-accounts-compare/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:28:00 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9487 A health savings account, or HSA, is exactly what the name implies: a financial account that can be used to save money for future medical expenses. These accounts, combined with a high-deductible health insurance plan, also offer certain income tax breaks that make them even more attractive.

But which health savings account offers the best deal?

The

Continue reading Health Savings Accounts – How to Compare

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-savings-accounts-compare/feed/ 0 Your Lifestyle is the Most Important Consideration When Deciding Whether to Rent or Buy a Home http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/lifestyle-important-consideration-deciding-rent-buy-home/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/lifestyle-important-consideration-deciding-rent-buy-home/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:53:26 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9484 When deciding whether to rent or buy a home the most important criteria to consider is lifestyle.

If you’re traveling a lot, you may not want to be tied down to a house. Even if you tend to stay close to home it’s likely you’ll begin to tire of home maintenance chores within the next decade

Continue reading Your Lifestyle is the Most Important Consideration When Deciding Whether to Rent or Buy a Home

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/lifestyle-important-consideration-deciding-rent-buy-home/feed/ 0 Your Debt Philosophy http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-philosophy/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-philosophy/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:51:17 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9361 If you are struggling with how to manage your debt, start to take control by formulating your debt philosophy.

A debt philosophy is nothing more complicated than crafting a  financial mission statement, the structural foundation of your family’s beliefs when it comes to debt.

It doesn’t need to be profound or complicated. It can be as simple as:

We agree to

Continue reading Your Debt Philosophy

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-philosophy/feed/ 2 Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Cost http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/housing-costs-how-to/homeowners-insurance-cost/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/housing-costs-how-to/homeowners-insurance-cost/#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 15:25:38 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9359 Here are ways you can lower your homeowners insurance costs.

Just as with real estate values, location rules when it comes to homeowners insurance costs.

From the most expensive state to the cheapest, home insurance premiums vary by more than $1,000 per year. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average annual U.S. premium was

Continue reading Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Cost

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/housing-costs-how-to/homeowners-insurance-cost/feed/ 0 The Best Month to Get a Bargain on Your Purchase http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/general-spending-tips-how-to/month-bargain-purchase/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/general-spending-tips-how-to/month-bargain-purchase/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 12:37:12 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9356 Timing is everything in bargain-shopping.

The wrong time to buy anything is when you need it – then, the retailer has the advantage.

Instead, plan your purchase. Map out your purchases to the times when retailers are  offering the biggest discounts.

Furniture: the best times are in January and July, just before the new shipments arrive.

Jewelry: the busiest

Continue reading The Best Month to Get a Bargain on Your Purchase

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/general-spending-tips-how-to/month-bargain-purchase/feed/ 0 Homeownership: Your Mortgage and Other Financial Goals http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/set-prosperity-goals-how-to/homeownership-mortgage-financial-goals/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/set-prosperity-goals-how-to/homeownership-mortgage-financial-goals/#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 11:40:42 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9337 If you’re buying a house, never let a mortgage lender tell you what you can afford.

A lender makes more money when you borrow more money. And most lenders don’t really know everything about your finances. They just look at your income and do a quick calculation to tell you what they think you can afford. They

Continue reading Homeownership: Your Mortgage and Other Financial Goals

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/set-prosperity-goals-how-to/homeownership-mortgage-financial-goals/feed/ 0 How to Work With Customer Service To Make Sure You Get the Value You Paid For http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/general-spending-tips-how-to/work-customer-service-paid/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/general-spending-tips-how-to/work-customer-service-paid/#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 00:49:41 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9328 Whether your loyalty lies with a particular hotel chain, airline or car mechanic, if someone gives you good service, you keep coming back. On the other hand, if the cable company keeps you waiting past the two-hour window, you may be shopping around.

When you have a problem with a flight, you don’t want to sit

Continue reading How to Work With Customer Service To Make Sure You Get the Value You Paid For

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/general-spending-tips-how-to/work-customer-service-paid/feed/ 0 College Loan and Financial Aid Basics http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/college-loan-basics/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/college-loan-basics/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 00:46:29 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9284 When seeking financial aid and a college loan look first to the federal government before you resort to borrow money from a private loan.

Federal student loans typically charge a lower interest rate and don’t have much in the way of add-on fees.

The big federal loan programs are Perkins, Stafford and PLUS. You can get a

Continue reading College Loan and Financial Aid Basics

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/college-loan-basics/feed/ 1 Debt and Spending: Stay Afloat and Avoid Financial Disaster http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-spending-stay-afloat-avoid-financial-disaster/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-spending-stay-afloat-avoid-financial-disaster/#comments Sat, 08 May 2010 19:18:06 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9266 If you are worried about losing your job or getting hit with hefty unexpected bills you can improve your chances for staying afloat and paying your bills with these steps:

keep your core living expenses at less than half of your income Create an emergency fund in a regular, taxable account limit your debts, including credit card balances,

Continue reading Debt and Spending: Stay Afloat and Avoid Financial Disaster

]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/reduce-debt-how-to/debt-spending-stay-afloat-avoid-financial-disaster/feed/ 0