High-Tech Home (on a Budget)

Posted by Elizabeth Retton

You’ve no doubt been party to the “smart” tech craze.  At the very least, you probably have a smart phone (who doesn’t these days?).  But you may also be one of many consumers that has a smart car (not just the tiny 2-door, compact that actually bears the name, but one of many cars that comes with greater fuel efficiency and myriad technological innovations to keep you safely connected while you drive).  But it doesn’t end there; you can now live in a smart home that allows you to control security, lights, electronics, and even the temperature of your house from your home computer or a remote device (laptop, mobile phone, tablet, etc.).  However, some of the gadgets meant to take your home into the 21^st century can do serious damage to your wallet.  So if you want to get in on the home technology craze, but you haven’t got a lot to spend, here are a few ways to make your house a bit more high-tech on a budget.

Let’s start with communication.  Sure you probably have a cell phone, a computer, and internet access, and these are a good place for most people to start, but even they can be a bit pricy.  And when you start to look into laptops, tablets, and more, your head might be spinning with the price tag.  But there are ways to stay connected to the vast interwebs without the additional expense.  The first step is to find hardware for less.

When it comes to computers, Dell is the place to go simply because they offer the most options for customization.  You don’t want to pay for tons of stuff you don’t need, and Dell lets you order exactly what you need at a price you can afford.  Of course, refurbished equipment isn’t a bad idea either if you would like a system that’s a bit beefier at less cost.  As for tablets, forego the uber-expensive iPad and opt instead for the new Kindle Fire.  It can’t do everything the competition can, but with video capabilities and Wi-Fi, all you need is a wireless hub in your home to get similar usage out of it (and at $199 it definitely beats out the iPad 2, which starts at about $500).

Next you’ll want to consider services, and here, too, you can save.  Think about bundling your phone, internet, and cable with a service that offers a reduced price for all three (or even get rid of your land line…does anybody besides telemarketers even call your house anymore?).  And keep your communications costs down with one of the many free VoIP services available on the web (using Wi-Fi with your mobile phone means you can reduce the minutes on your plan).  You can even video chat for free with Skype (for your computer, and now a smart phone app).  The point is, quality tech and services are at your fingertips for a lot less, and in the comfort of your own home.

Even data storage is a cinch these days.  It’s not like you need a colocation data center to store your files and equipment, or even bulky external hard drives clustered around your computer console.  Thanks to cloud storage you can now keep all of your media and files safely online and share it amongst your many devices throughout the home.  And by the way, if you do want to control the temperature, lights, and security in your home (without the high cost of running fiber-optic cable), just contract with a security company (like Vivint or ADT) that offers wireless solutions and  apps to help you run your home security.

Get Out of Credit Card Debt in 2012 : My Big Risk with Even Bigger Payoff

Posted by Simon Wright

Credit cards have wreaked havoc in the lives of many American consumers. In fact, is there one person who has not had the urge to swipe their card at the drop of a hat? At some point in time, all of us have gone through the euphoria of using credit cards to make unnecessary purchases and have also gone through the nightmare of paying back the money also. Many of us haven’t been able to pay off our credit card debt and have faced embarrassing situations too. But many people don’t learn from these mistakes, and make them over and over again with the same repercussions. Americans thrive on debt, whereas with the global meltdown we’re finding it difficult to pay off credit card debt. Severe defaults are making banks incur huge losses and so they stop lending money. This has indeed created major confusion in our society. The only answer to this chaos is pay off your credit card debt.

Let me tell you my story. I got my pink slip a few months ago, and I am now online trying to make some money through blogging as well as promoting businesses. My credit card was over used and I was left with little money to tide over my expenses. I also defaulted on my mortgage (not surprising) and my credit score took a beating. Not knowing what to do I was totally frustrated. There was no hope of finding another job though I had applied to several companies. That is when I heard about car title loans. Since I live in Los Angeles, one of the epicenters of the car title loan industry, I heard about the option of car title loans in California through a friend who had also gone through the process.

Car Title Loans Help

A car title loan is a simple, hassle free loan that is given for your car title. If you own your car, you can pledge the title and get a loan. Almost 50% of the car value is offered as a loan. My beautiful Nissan Versa, which was a gift from my parents, was around $18k. I got $9,000 as car title loan. I paid 50% of it for my credit card dues and the rest for mortgage. This helped me to improve my credit score immediately. Once I got into the 650+ mark of scores I was eligible for personal loan from banks. Moreover I could also rework my mortgage. On receiving a personal loan I paid off my car title loan.

Though the interest rate is higher than banks I took car title loan as a bridge loan to pay off my credit card dues as well as improve my score and it helped. Even a person with bad credit is offered this loan. So you see there is hope for all of us. Remember, you can use your car as well as get a loan over it. Isn’t this wonderful?

Author bio- Simon Wright lives in Los Angeles and blogs about financial news and auto equity loans.