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What If We All Bought Used Cars?

What If We All Bought Used Cars?

ByGrayson Bell

One of the longer running pieces of personal finance advice is to never buy a new car. Seriously, most experts use the word “NEVER!” I am cool with that, especially as someone who has purchased quite a few new cars, I have learned my lesson. The justification of this advice is you can save a lot of money by just buying a car one or two years old. The majority of depreciation happens within the first year. After that, most cars depreciate on a sliding scale. Some do it slower than others, but I am not getting into that. So, let’s talk about this “never buy a new car” advice.

Straight Talk Review – Bring Your Own Phone and Save
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Straight Talk Review – Bring Your Own Phone and Save

ByGrayson Bell

I have been testing out the Straight Talk service for a little bit now, so I figured I would post a review of how it has been going. There have been many questions from readers in regards to this topic, as I am sure many have been wondering how to get away from the big carriers, AT&T and Verizon. Since I am using the Straight Talk bring your own phone program, that is what I will be reviewing. Straight Talk uses SIM cards that are compatible with either AT&T’s or T-Mobile’s network.

See.ing Smartcam Review – Wireless Monitoring Camera
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See.ing Smartcam Review – Wireless Monitoring Camera

ByGrayson Bell

As a fan of both DIY and technology, I will always jump at the chance to review and test wireless video monitoring equipment. Luckily for me, that chance came up recently. There is a new product on the market to jump into the wireless monitoring arena. DXG has created their See.ing Smartcam product line to compete with the likes of Dropcam and D-Link. I enjoy competition as it allows for people to make an educated guess on what is the best. I have had a Dropcam for some time and have enjoyed it. There are some quirks, so this See.ing Smartcam review will be based on a comparison between the two.

How to Replace a Lamp Socket Quickly – DIY

How to Replace a Lamp Socket Quickly – DIY

ByGrayson Bell

Welcome to the first Debt Roundup DIY post! In my new house update, I told you I was going to be adding some new do it yourself content in order to help those looking to save some cash and learn a few things. Yes, that is me in the video above. I am a huge DIY advocate. I think you can learn so much while trying to accomplish tasks on your own. I fix my own cars, build fences, fix plumbing, run electrical, and have moderate carpentry skills. If something comes up in my house, I am going to try to build or repair it on my own. Why not? I have saved thousands by doing things on my own. Not only that, but I have learned valuable skills. Today, I am going to show you how to replace a lamp socket. Why is this one first? Well, here is the back story and how to do it.

My Argument For Married Couples Keeping Separate Finances

My Argument For Married Couples Keeping Separate Finances

ByGrayson Bell

First, let me give mad props to my fellow personal finance blogger, Holly of Club Thrifty, for rocking a Wall Street Journal essay and a Fox Business TV interview. She was dealing with the topic of money and marriage. This is a very controversial topic in the world of personal finance and I understand why. I wrote about it briefly some time ago when I was talking about paying off a spouses debt when they incurred it before marriage. That one got me some angry comments and emails, but I powered through. I don’t mind causing a little controversy. I read both the arguments on the WSJ piece and I am going to provide my argument for separate finances for married couples.

Money Talks – The Power and Influence of Money

Money Talks – The Power and Influence of Money

ByGrayson Bell

You have probably heard of the saying “money talks!” If you haven’t then it is a simple premise. If you have money, then you have power and influence. The more money you have, then the more power and influence you have. We see this premise in action everywhere really. It really shows up in business and politics. I figured I would share a story with you that would bring home this phrase. You probably don’t need a story to understand that money really does talk, but you are getting one anyway. This is about a co-worker that was deep into politics, so much that she was planning a career switch.

Six Home Improvements That Can Add Value When You Sell

Six Home Improvements That Can Add Value When You Sell

ByGrayson Bell

One of the popular ways to build long-term wealth is to own your own home. While simply owning a home and paying down a mortgage over time will lead a significant amount of wealth creation, those that are looking to maximize the amount of equity that they could ultimately have in their homes should look for ways to improve their home. Those that are looking for home improvement projects to consider, here are six specific home improvements that could add the most amount of value to your home when you ultimately try to sell your home.

Cell Phone Providers

ByGrayson Bell

Looking For A Cell Phone Provider? There is a large shift out there with regards to mobile phone providers.  People are looking to lower their monthly expenses and cell phone service has become a viable opportunity. I used to be with Verizon, but after having a hard time with their customer service and paying a…

Insurance Basics – Spreading Risk

Insurance Basics – Spreading Risk

ByGrayson Bell

Insurance is on the forefront of everyone’s thoughts these days. With the new healthcare roll out in the US, people are wanting to know more about insurance. Insurance is actually a pretty easy topic to understand, but there are still people out there that don’t carry any insurance or just don’t really know how it actually works. I am going to go over the simple basics of insurance and how it works, just on a top level. There are many forms of insurance, which include health, car, home, marine, business, life, banking, and many more. Insurance is a part of our life, so we should take just a little time to understand how it works.

Dear Verizon, This Is Our Final Goodbye!

Dear Verizon, This Is Our Final Goodbye!

ByGrayson Bell

Dear Verizon Wireless, I have been a loyal customer of your cell phone service since I was 16. You provided the best service at a reasonable price. You allowed me to get a nice phone for very little money and pay it off on my bill every month. Then, you would reduce my bill after the phone was paid for. Those were the days! Unfortunately, times have changed. Here is our final goodbye letter letting you know that were are dumping you for someone a little less flashy, but way more affordable.