Times are tough. With the economy the way it’s been people are spending cautiously. I hear on the radio every week that unemployment rates in my state are on the rise. I know a lot of people that looked into mortgage refinancing, just to save any money they could. For those that don’t know, mortgage refinancing allows you to pay off one mortgage in order to create a new one, as well as combine two mortgages into one. Sometimes people combine other bills into their new mortgage, to cut down on monthly spending. The oddest thing I ever heard of someone adding in was a minivan. Have you ever refinanced a mortgage? Did it help you?

If I could go back in time and do things again one thing I would do is plan my housing. As a teenager and young adult I never dreamed that buying a home could be so expensive. Looking back, I should have spent differently when I was younger. I think people should consider buying land early. It can be left empty until you’re ready to build. You can build yourself over time. Or, you can get a manufactured home. Think ahead, it’ll save you monmey.

The end of the year is almost here. If you have a flexible spending account make sure you’ve used it up. Some things that may qualify that you might not have thought of include prescriptions and weight loss products including gym memberships and exercise equipment. I paid for an exercise bike through my health insurance this way many years ago. I don’t have one any more. If you were getting a product for home to help you get in shape what would it be?

I am a great believer in having life insurance. It can help protect your family, your home and your belongings. One of the ways I try to cut costs is to get quotes every year on services that I have, and that  includes getting updated life insurance rates. Not only is it good to check your rates, it’s also good to evaluate if you have enough coverage. It’s not a particularly fun thing to think about, but it’s an important one.

If you travel away from home a lot one of the easy ways to keep a little of your family close to your heart is through jewelry. Items such as lockets and heart pendant jewelry often among people’s favorites. One of the great things about jewelry is that it feels great to give it as a gift to someone you care about. It will often take on special meaning to the person that receives it and when they wear it often it will make you feel good all over again. That kind of joy makes it worth the money you pay for it.