By Rodney Anderson
A New Year. A chance to develop new habits and new successes. A chance to take what I call a “Financial Day Off.”
In my column and on my radio show, I’ve started “Financial Day Off’’ that is launching a movement. … and is about to trigger a “Credit 911” seminar in North Texas that you will hear all about in the coming days. I’ve gotten responses from literally hundreds of you who have taken advantage of my tips, gained yourself money, earned yourself an education … and all it takes is a sliver of your time.
The “Financial Day Off’’ … a few simple steps, right now, that I believe can save you hundreds of dollars a month. …
1 Read and re-evaluate your mortgage. If I told you that on a 30-year loan of $200,000 loan that a simple phone call might save you $100,000, would you make that phone call?
Of course you would. There is no reason to be intimidated by the process. There is no reason to procrastinate. It’s YOUR contract. YOU made it. YOU can change it for your financial benefit!
Do you know what the interest rate is on your home loan? Go find out. Do you know that the company you presently send your mortgage checks to has no exclusivity claims on you? Know it – and benefit from it.
2 Use your phone to call about your phone. Is there an extra line you’re paying for? A certain amount of something-or-other feature that could be free and “unlimited’’? An insurance plan you don’t really need?
I recently made one phone call on my cellphone account and cleared out $98 a month of wasted money. By doing so, I saved myself $1200 dollars a year!
3 Get assurances on your insurance. There is a “comfort level’’ – or, heck, let’s go ahead and say it – a “laziness’’ to the way we make financial arrangements with a service provider that goes unchecked for years and years. that many of us make one time … and then don’t ever bother to review. Instead, we only renew.
Don’t automatically renew. REVIEW!
4 Drive a harder bargain on your auto loan. One friend who followed my “Financial Day Off’’ advice found a way to move from a 13.99-percent rate on his car loan to a 7.99-percent rate. How did he do it? He gave himself exactly nine minutes “off’’ and saved himself bundle.
5 Don’t just watch TV. Watch your TV bill. Do you need this “package’’ and that, this “special’’ and that, this extra outlet and that extra feature? Is there a “cable box’’ that’s sitting out in your garage, unused, that you’re being charged for?
Go check that itemized bill. There’s money in there waiting to be grabbed back by you.
6 Utilize your time on your utility bills. The service providers have plans that can be customized to your needs. Does it take some homework on our parts? Yes; the electric company isn’t going to call YOU to offer you a discount; you have to call them.
There is a movement. The “Financial Day Off’’ is coming. Consider the time we spend concerning ourselves with so many issues from head to toe. We are digging for everything from solutions to hair loss in women to beating each other up over a pair of new Jordan sneakers.
In so many of these pursuits, however worthy you might consider them to be, you SPEND money. With a Financial Day Off, you MAKE money. It’s a New Year. A chance to develop new habits and new successes. And they New Year needs to start with a single day … a Financial Day Off.
