Paying for a house is confusing and complicated. Luckily, Wise Bread has your back with all of the pros and cons of buying your new home in cash.




My husband said that when we do buy a house, he wants to just buy it with cash so we can own it outright and in our way say "screw you" to the banks. I like that idea, but just like any financial decision, there are pros and cons to doing this.

Pros

No Credit History Needed

A long time ago I read a story of a guy who avoided credit cards and loans like the plague so he did not have a credit history, but he had considerable savings. When he wanted to buy a house no one would give him a loan, so he bought a house outright with his savings. In situations where you do not have the ability to get a reasonable loan, then paying cash might be the best option.

RELATED: Building a Credit History

Risk Free Savings

If a mortgage costs 7% and you pay cash, you would essentially be saving 7% in interest risk free. So in the case where mortgage interest rates are higher than what you can get on your investments, you would come out ahead by paying in cash.

Read on for more.

If you're interviewing for a job, expect to get grilled. But take advantage of opportunities to ask some toughies of your own and learn more about the company with these tips from our friends at Wise Bread.

When you go into a job interview, you likely have rehearsed what you're going to stay to the interviewer about your skills and experience. But then comes the part of the interview when your potential employer offers you the opportunity to ask questions. Many in the hot seat will often reply that they don't have any, even though their brain is rapid-firing plenty of unanswered questions.

RELATED: How to Answer 23 of the Most Common Interview Questions

The presented opportunity to learn more about a company hiring new employees is one that should not be wasted. You want to be sure you are pursuing vacancies that are actually worth going after. If a job or company is not right for you, you will end up wasting everyone’s time. If a job does sound like a good fit, you will want to be sure you have the right expectations if you do get hired.

Here are five great questions to bring up during a job interview after the break

Have you ever heard someone's money-saving trick and thought it sounded absolutely insane? There are plenty of strange ways to save a buck or two. What's really great, though, is when it actually works. Head over to our partner site Wise Bread for some crazy yet effective forms of penny pinching:

I've been called many things in my life. Some good, some not so good. But I can't say I've ever been called crazy when it comes to being frugal. So, as I'm not getting any younger, I thought it was time to bring out a list of 10 crazy frugal schemes and earn the sobriquet. Some of these plans are certainly more "out there" than others, but all are worth a try, I think. Put some of them to the test and let us know how you get on.

Related: The Enemies of Frugality

And, if you have some even crazier ideas, chime in. While I was writing this article, a friend of mine told me they sometimes skip buying lunch and eat free samples from the grocery stores. It may save a few bucks, but that’s not my style. Anyway, on with the list.

Read on for more.

Our friends at Wise Bread have a bunch of ideas that can save you money:

One great thing about being frugal is that once you start doing it, it kind of snowballs.

I've been frugal my whole life, partly because I believe that saving money is just as good as making it, and I don't like overpaying for something. But what really kick-started my frugal lifestyle was being laid off in 2008 from the newspaper industry. Without a full-time job, I no longer had benefits and the same income I had before, so some frugality was called for.

Related: New Year, New Spending Habits

Here are 16 tips I've learned, either on my own or by talking to people cited below, to kick-start frugality and make it an everyday part of life. Some are small tips to save a few dollars a week, and a few are big that can add up to hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars, so be sure to start with the easy ones before jumping to the big ones.

Read on to find out what saves big time.

Make better use of your time by accomplishing one of the tasks mentioned by Wise Bread below. You'll feel productive in just 15 minutes!

Do you have 15 minutes to spare?

You can't tackle a long-term project or a complicated problem that requires deep concentration and uninterrupted thinking in the busyness of a typical day. But there are many things you can accomplish in 15 minutes or less. These can help boost your career, manage your finances, strengthen relationships, reduce clutter, save money, improve your health, and lots, lots more.

So the next time you have 15 minutes to fill, fill it with something productive.

RELATED: 25 Ways to Take Five Minutes for Yourself

Career

1. Document recent career-related accomplishments for use in your LinkedIn profile, private resume, upcoming interview, or performance review.
    
2. Ask your boss if the company will pay fees for your professional development, such as the cost to attend an industry conference or a certification exam that will allow you to earn a professional designation.
    
3. Practice a speech or short presentation.
    
4. Get ready for a meeting instead of showing up unprepared. Define what you want to get accomplished, such as approval for a decision.
    
5. Offer yourself as a resource to a valued colleague or customer via a short email, LinkedIn message, or handwritten note, particularly if you are looking to expand your professional presence and build your portfolio.
    
6. Follow up with a colleague, vendor, employee, whoever to make sure a task has been completed. If yes, express gratitude; if no, make a note to troubleshoot obstacles soon.
    
7. Reserve a book from the library that will help you in your career. Ask your boss, mentor, coworkers, customers, and friends for recommendations if you don't have a list of must-read titles.
    
8. Design an online survey to assess satisfaction among customers, employees, or groups your team serves. Use free versions of Survey Monkey or a similar tool.
    
9. Ask a trusted and discriminating friend for input on ways that you can improve communications.
    
10. Sign up for and/or try a new automated tool to see if you can recruit and organize people more efficiently.
     
11. Join your college or university alumni network via LinkedIn or consider another one of these 25 career changes you can make today.
     
12. For job hunters, start or revitalize your search by naming 10 companies you admire.
     
13. Conduct research on a desirable employer by reading about their products, getting familiar with its history, identifying those in your network with ties to the company, or reading latest news so that you will be prepared when you conduct an informational interview or participate in a phone interview.
     
14. Visit the careers section of targeted employers, locate opportunities that match your qualifications, and apply for a position or identify new skills you can acquire to increase your market value.
     
15. Send a congratulatory note or acknowledge someone else's accomplishment as a kind gesture and way to show respect for a colleague.

Read on for more

Thrift stores are veritable gold mines when it comes to finding some new stuff just for you! Head over to Wise Bread for tips on where to go and what to buy!

If you’re an avid thrift shopper like me, you know that every second-hand store has its own unique personality. Some stores are great for furniture, others for clothing; some seem to have the market cornered on books, and a few just seem to have older and more unique items than all the rest. But regardless of the personality of your favorite store, there are five standard items that you should always be on the lookout for in every thrift store. Here’s my not-so-scientific list of the top five items that offer the highest savings when compared to retail.

RELATED: 10 Things to Look for Every Time You Visit a Thrift Store

1. Shoes

If you can get over the mental roadblock of buying used shoes, it’ll do wonders for your budget. With decent-quality leather shoes ranging anywhere from $65.00-$85.00 retail, scoring a gently used pair for $6.00 means you’re saving at least 90%. Focus on condition and pay special attention soles and heels wear; avoid wear patterns that might affect your stride. Give leather some TLC with mink oil or shoe polish.

2. Belts

When did a buckled strip of leather with some holes at one end become worth $32.00? I’m pretty picky and my wardrobe reflects it, but I haven’t paid more than $4.00 for a belt in years. Sure, sometimes you walk away empty-handed. But if you’re willing to look and wait for just the right item, you can find great deals on all kinds of leather accessories like belts, wallets, and purses too.

Read on to Find More.

The root cause of your clutter can be deeper than you think. Wise Bread makes a case for fixing your mind to fix your mess.

I've been messy since birth. One of the constants in my life has been arguing with my mother over how to clean the house, any house, properly. My neatnik mother is one of those naturally tidy people. You know the type. She's so put-together that she looks like a flight attendant.

"A cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind," she'd say, passing me the feather duster. "If that's the case," I'd shoot back, quoting Einstein, "Then what does an empty desk signify?" 

RELATED: Clutter-Free: The Zero-Accumulation Household

I mean, really. Does it even matter that I have a messy mind?

I asked my friend Dr. Regina Lark, who chairs the Education Committee of the National Association of Professional Organizers, if there's any connection between a messy desk and a messy mind.

"Of course," she said.

Fudge.

I hate losing arguments to my mom.

To quote Regina, "There are people who are genetically messy because their brain is hardwired for non-linear thinking. They are very right brained and artistic. They are out there in the world. They are social. They'd rather do anything other than file. So when these people come home, they get an idea for a project, and everything else just goes on the floor."

Uh oh. As of this moment I count seven, SEVEN unfinished projects in my living room alone. On the floor. Of course.

So, how do non-linear thinkers clear their internal and external space? For me, this means less about relieving the footprint of clutter and more about maintaining a level of organization that allows me to spend the maximum amount of time pursuing creative projects.

I asked Regina how she would handle a client like me. "We'd develop a workaround for you. We'd find a fix that would solve the mess but not make you feel like you are losing your creative edge. For example, I have clients who have piles of clothes cluttering their bedrooms because they hate hanging up their clothes. They argue that, 'the clothes are just going to come off the hangers anyway so why put them on the hangers to begin with?' Since I'm never going to convince the clients that hanging up their clothes isn't a total waste of their time, my attitude is, 'If you just can't stand putting your clothes on hangers, let's go get you some really awesome looking hooks.' Take the sticking point — the hangers — out of the equation."

Read on for more.

Why pay more for the exact same product that you can find elsewhere for less? No one likes to feel cheated, so our partners at Wise Bread have broken down items that are prone to a price switcheroo.

Not dishing out more than you should isn't always easy — it takes a little research and sometimes means getting over the store brand stigma and embracing generics.

A recent question posted to "AskMeFi" — the popular crowd sourced question and answer subsite of Metafilter.com — asked users to suggest products that were priced differently, depending on market and intended use. The example offered was food-grade mineral oil, which is costly when marketed and sold as butcher block oil, but inexpensive when marketed and sold as a laxative (as much as $1.74 per ounce versus as little as $.29 per ounce).

RELATED: 21 Disposable Products You Can Reuse

Same product, different market, different intended use, different price. The next time I buy a bottle of butcher block oil, I'll visit RiteAid instead of Williams-Sonoma. How many other bargains like this are out there? Keep reading.

Tax time doesn't exactly send a thrill down our spines, but it is what it is. Get it over and done by taking the first step: gathering your documents. Wise Bread gives a helpful guide on what you need.

It's that time of year again, and you may start feeling overwhelmed when you think about getting your paperwork together and calculating your income tax payment or refund. Tax season can cause anxiety for even the most relaxed people! Steady your nerves with this checklist to help you prepare for filing your taxes and go into everybody's least favorite season with an organized plan of attack.

RELATED: 15 Surprising Facts About Income Tax

Gather Personal Information

You need several documents to get started.

• Social Security number
• Spouse's and/or dependents' Social Security numbers
• Last year's tax return

Read on for more.

Get educated on Capital One buying ING DIRECT and the changes associated with it from Wise Bread.

In 2012, Capital One bought ING DIRECT, the popular bank that conducted most of its operations online. The transaction took place in February of 2012, but the name change didn’t happen until November, when Capital One, N.A. and ING DIRECT legally became a single bank.

The bank remained ING DIRECT until February 1, 2013, when it became Capital One 360. The colors changed from orange to a red and blue motif to match Capital One, but for the most part, ING DIRECT customers should notice very few changes. Sign-in information, routing numbers, payments (on loans), and other items are all the same. In fact, I just logged in, and there really aren’t any discernible differences with accessing my accounts, even though it is now “officially” part of the Capital One banking family.

The main difference that will affect consumers is that now the FDIC coverage treats your ING DIRECT/Capital One 360 balance as part of Capital One. So, while you used to have a limit of $250,000 in coverage for balances at each bank, now that is combined, so you have a limit of $250,000 coverage total for all the money you have in Capital One accounts and ING DIRECT accounts.

RELATED: 7 Banks Still Offering Free Interest-Bearing Checking Accounts

Brief History of ING DIRECT

ING Group is based in the Netherlands and provides a number of financial products and services. ING DIRECT USA was established to provide services to consumers in the United States. Over time, ING DIRECT went from just offering a savings account with a very attractive and competitive yield to offering a range of financial products, including CDs, kids savings, interest checking, mortgages, investing, retirement, and business banking.

Read on for more.

It's never too late to turn over a new leaf and start good saving habits. Get inspired with Wise Bread's long list of saving changes for a healthier bank account in 2013.

Making changes to your savings plan is about so much more than deciding where to save your money and how much to put away. You can save money by not spending it (yet not losing out or making undue sacrifices), by spending wisely, by becoming more aware of where your money goes, and even by making more money.

Here are 37 ways you can make positive changes and save money — today.

RELATED: 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Today

Changing the Mechanics of Saving

1. Apply your latest raise entirely to your savings. You (hopefully!) managed to get by before you got the raise, so take the after-tax increase in your pay and sock it away.

2. Join company savings plans. Some allow you to save money from your gross pay before tax is deducted (allowing you to effectively save more money without feeling the pinch), and other company plans offer matching benefits. Always save the maximum amount you can that is subject to matching grants; it's like free money.

3. Review your asset allocation plan to ensure your savings are all going to the places you need — and want — them to go.

4. Set up an automatic savings plan.

5. Reevaluate your savings objectives (Why are you saving? When will you need the money?) to ensure you're on track to reach your goals. Tweak as necessary.

6. If you have a variable or unpredictable income, employ a savings technique that works with it.

Read on for more.

Watch out, consumers. Wise Bread shares how you may have to pay a fee when you swipe your credit card at checkout.

Would you pay a fee to use your credit card? I don't even need a nanosecond to answer this. My response is this: No freakin' way.

Here's why I'm asking the question. Last Summer, there was an antitrust settlement between merchants and Visa, MasterCard, and big banks about credit card interchange fees. These are the "swipe" fees merchants pay to the networks (like Visa) to process your payments when you buy something.

The settlement called for merchants to receive $7.2 billion in cash and temporary reductions in interchange fees. This settlement also gave merchants the legal right to add a "checkout fee" when you use a credit card to pay for purchases. These fees could start popping up as soon as Jan. 27, which is right around the corner.

Related: 12 Annoying Bank Fees and How to Avoid Them

How to Know If a Checkout Fee Will Be Charged

Merchants can't sneak in the fee without telling you upfront. They have to disclose that you'll pay more for using a credit card. So if you're in a store, look for notification at the entrance or at the register. When buying an item online, look for the checkout fee to be disclosed on the homepage of the business.

Retailers are allowed to charge a fee that's the equivalent of what they pay for the interchange fee, which is between 1.5 percent and 4 percent. I was kind of surprised to find out that merchants can add a surcharge of up to 4 percent. You know, that's a lot.

Read on for more.

Do you wince when you think about going into the office? Don't despair if you have a job you hate; Wise Bread has tips on how to cope.

Somewhere, sometime in life, everyone has a job they hate. Whether the hours are terrible, the pay is awful, the coworkers are wretched, or the boss is horrid, hated jobs are very much a thing of the present. We work them for different reasons, for different lengths of time, and with different levels of satisfaction, but almost all of us work them at some point. For many people, these jobs are a drag that make them feel like hollow shells of their former selves. However, there are a few people who manage to survive and thrive in jobs they really don't like. Here are a few of their secrets for making that hated job easier.

25 Career Changes You Can Make Today

Know Why You're There

Whether you took the job in the first place because you thought it was something other than it turned out to be or because you absolutely had to make rent and couldn't do it any other way, knowing why you took the job will help you maintain perspective while you're there. Remembering the process that led up to your current situation: the job search, the interviews, your conversations with others about the job, your conversations with yourself about it, hearing that you had the job, your acceptance of it, and anything else you went through during that time will remind you that you are more than your job. YOU took IT for a good reason. If that reason isn't so good anymore, well, then it's time to reevaluate. But you can do that, because you are more than the job.

Read on for more.

We've all heard the tired "spend less, save more" advice, but Wise Bread has some fresh frugal advice for those looking to change it up a little.

If you're a regular reader of my posts or Wise Bread in general, you already have a pretty good education on how to live a frugal lifestyle — the basics, if you will. Now it's time for the advanced course. That's why I've dug deep into my bank of frugal knowledge to pull out these money-saving nuggets. Peep the gems below and start saving savvier than ever before.

RELATED: 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Today

1. Put Something Back Every Time You Shop

This tip is especially good to remember at the supermarket — save money and guilt by putting back that bag of chips — but it can work wherever you're shopping. If you find yourself with an arm full of new shirts and pants at your favorite store, give one of them back to the associate at checkout. When you're at Target, just say no to at least one of the things in your cart that you definitely don't need. You can even institute this rule when you're Christmas shopping — one of those presents is probably for yourself; put it back, and wait to see what Santa has in store for you.

2. Treat Frugal Living Like Staying Healthy

Exercise and eating right is an uphill battle for me, but it's one that I'm committed to fighting. When I fall off the wagon, I don't give up my hopes of rock-hard abs, throbbing biceps, and bouncing pecs. Rather, I get back in the gym and work a little harder. Treat living frugally the same way. There will be times when you give in to temptation. It's OK. Just try not to make it a habit, and try to make up for your mistake somehow.

3. Look at Your Credit Reports Annually

Many of us only look at our credit reports when we're prompted to — applying for a new apartment or making a big purchase — but you should stay up to date on your financial status regardless. We're all entitled to one free report per year, and you should take advantage of it. It's beneficial to know where you stand, so you know what you can qualify for when it comes time to make those big purchases. It's also a good practice so you can be sure that your identity hasn't been compromised in any way.

Read on for more.

Between hosting parties, traveling, and buying gifts for friends and family, your bank account might be looking slim this month. Wise Bread has a few ways to make extra money over the holiday season.

Your bank account will likely take a bit of a hit over the holidays, but you can balance out what's going out by bringing more in if you commit to making money during your time off. To light your financial yuletide fire, here are a few ideas on how to pad your pockets over the holiday break. (See also: 9 Ways to Earn Extra Cash When Money Is Tight)

Babysitting

People with kids love to celebrate Christmas with their brood, but come Dec. 31, they're ready to pawn them off for a night out on the town to celebrate the New Year. If you have a friend or family member with little ones, offer your babysitting services for the evening so they can enjoy the festivities kid-free. While New Year's Eve is a boon for babysitters, also consider the nights before the holiday. There are often other parties planned for the few days leading up to it, so you may be able to make even more cash if you make yourself available for the entire week.

Related: Make Your Own Coupons: 20 Great Free Gift Ideas

Returning Unwanted Gifts

Perhaps this isn't the most ethical means of making money, depending on how you look at it, but if you're strapped for cash and have receipts for gifts that you don't want or need, return them to the store for a quick influx of funds.

Read on for more.

We always intend to make financial changes in life, but we don't often realize there are little things we can do to make a bigger change. Wise Bread has 21 ways to turn your finances in the right direction.

Making a big financial change in your life is similar to making any big change — it can often be overwhelming to the point of derailing you entirely. Here are 21 ways to help you stay on course and make big financial changes in your life.

Related: 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Today

1. Start Small

Going whole hog right from the start is a recipe for relapse. Instead, start small. As a parallel example, if you want to start exercising but can't fathom committing to a gym routine, then start with five minutes a day. (I started that way and progressed to an hour — which I now love).

Even if you don't think it will make a big difference, the small and manageable start creates habits you can build on.

Read on for more.

Banking can get expensive, but avoid those pesky fees with these tips from Wise Bread.

In recent years, we’ve seen a lot about the rising costs associated with banking. Looking for ways to increase profits, banks are turning to fees at an increasing rate. Indeed, fees represent one of the major sources of revenue for many banks, and a recent survey from MoneyRates.com points out that fees are in fact on the rise.

Some fees, such as overdraft fees, are obvious, while others might be a bit sneaky. In any case, it’s important to pay attention to the terms and conditions of your account, and check your statements and communications from your bank for information about fees.

If you have any questions about fees related to your account, speak with a teller or other bank representative. In the meantime, though, keep an eye out for these 12 annoying bank fees, and do your best to avoid them.

Related: Avoid Bank Fees

1. Overdraft Fee

This fee is charged when the bank clears a transaction even if there isn't enough money in your account. According to Consumer Reports, the average bank overdraft fee is approaching $35.

You can decline overdraft services and avoid the steep fee, but that means your debit card transaction will be denied. Another option is to link your checking account to a savings account or a line of credit. Money is automatically transferred into your checking account to cover the overdraft. There is often a fee for this transaction, too (usually $5 plus interest charges on a line of credit), but it’s much smaller than paying an overdraft fee.

Of course, the best defense is to track your spending and make sure you have enough money in your account.

Read on for more.

Before searching for a new job, it might be wise to take a long look at your current job. Wise Bread has drafted a list of 10 signs that might make you want to stay where you are.

So you don't have your dream job, and you're pretty sure you never will in your current corporation, but you're also not sure where else to go? You'd love to work at home but you're not sure where to start or if it's something you'd enjoy more than your current job? Love your boss and your coworkers but not sure you want to stay? Here are 10 signs that your current job might be worth staying at, at least until you have your dream job in the bag.

1. Your boss wants to use you to your fullest potential.

If it matters to your boss when you are under-utilized, that indicates that he values you as a person and not just as an employee. Which, in turn, means that he cares about your overall well-being at work, and not just your performance. Bosses like this are often more open to things like letting you telecommute or minimize your hours or tweak your job and procedures in it so your work conditions are as good as possible.

RELATED: How to Answer 23 of the Most Common Interview Questions

2. Your boss listens to your suggestions.

A boss who truly listens is a boss you can communicate honestly with. If you're looking at starting to work at home, this sort of boss would be more likely to let you try it. Also, having a real "say" in what happens at work will give you a lift — it might not be what you truly care about, but at least you are a person whose opinion matters.

Read on for more signs to stay at your job.

There are many ways to save money just by being yourself! Here is a list of skills from Wise Bread that will save you money.

Independence is at the heart of frugality. The more that you can do for yourself, the less you have to pay others to do those things for you. But to be independent, you need skills.

Then 20 skills below can all help you become more independent and frugal. Some of them might come naturally, and some of them might be frustrating — but they're all beneficial. And you don't need to develop full mastery to get the benefits; with many of these skills, just a little knowledge can provide a lot of help.

RELATED: 10 Lifesaving Skills Everyone Should Know

1. Gardening

Growing your own food can be a great way to get fresh produce for very, very cheap — as long as you know how to keep your plants from dying. I recommend that "budding" gardeners (I'm sorry, bad joke, I know) start with fresh herbs in containers. They can be grown inside or out, and since fresh herbs tend to be expensive at the grocery store, these plants offer a lot of value for a minimum of work. While every type of plant is different, having a couple of small container herbs will also help you get used to plants' needs — how much sun, when to water them, and so on.

If you're interested in starting a bigger garden, make sure to do your research before diving in — the last thing you want to do is pick a plant that will immediately wither in your or-so-sunny yard or never truly thrive in your moderate climate. Get Rich Slowly has a great post on starting your first garden, and if you're interested in learning more about what grows well in your region, contact your local Cooperative Extension office.

Read on for more frugal skills.

We all love to learn, but sometimes classes can get expensive. Wise Bread shares a few ways we can continue our education for free.

If you're still paying off your student loans (or soon will be), learning might feel like more of a chore than fun. The good news is that learning can be fun and free. Below is a list of 15 ways to learn something new at no cost. So take a look, go forth, and expand your mind!

Twenty Great Frugal Skills — and How to Get Them

1. Lowe’s and Home Depot Classes

Both home improvement headquarters offer free classes. Past classes at Home Depot have included lawn maintenance and bathroom workshops, and Lowe’s has partnered with Habitat For Humanity for Women Build — clinics dedicated to teaching women home improvement tips and tricks. Lowe’s also has a Build and Grow clinic geared toward kids. Check out your local store to see what they have coming up.

2. Grocery and Kitchen Store Classes

If you’re anywhere near a Williams-Sonoma, you’ll have the most options. They offer complimentary technique classes for everything from knife skills to braising. Of course, they’re trying to sell you a product, but you’re still going to learn something. Oh, and you’ll get a 10 percent discount in-store the day of the class. As for other grocery and kitchen stores, ask the manager if they have any events coming up or check out their website. Most of Publix’s classes are at a cost, but they might have a few for free!

3. YouTube

YouTube is probably the easiest (but at times, the worst) place to learn on the Internet: people are really into YouTube tutorials nowadays. You can learn to play the ukulele, apply makeup, or sing like Lady Gaga, all in one convenient place. Of course, YouTube has its downsides (like if the person trying to teach you doesn't really know what they're talking about), but anything has to be better than Phoebe’s method of guitar lessons. And if you can't find something that strikes your fancy, just stay on the TEDTalks YouTube channel and let the ideas roll.

Read on for more free ways to learn something new.