Was it a Terrible Time for a Mortgage Refinance??

Was it a Terrible Time for a Mortgage Refinance?? #economics #mortgage #refinance #personfinance

  Well, slap me twice and call me ‘Mikey’, because I went and out-thought myself again – (just like when I lost 66% of our net worth). I got a little too cute, played a little fast and loose, and lost sight of the bigger picture. Or did I…? In December, 2018, I thought it was the perfect time for a mortgage refinance. Was I right, was I wrong, and is my wife still talking to me?   All this and more – below!     (Photo courtesy of Al Emmert)   First, the mortgage refinance “before” details so we can set up the “after picture” you’re all waiting for   In 2015, we purchased our home on a 7 year ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) at a 4.15% interest rate. (Translation: We were locked into the 4.15% interest rate for 7 years, then our rate would have the ability to […]

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Why I Write About Business and How YOU Benefit

Becoming a business owner was one of the most exciting and terrifying moments of my life. Here are the 5 resources that helped me most along the journey #business #personaldevelopment #goals

  Three years ago, my wife and I willingly jumped into the entrepreneurial deep end. And at that moment, effectively put our family under a near 7-figure sum of debt that we won’t shake loose from for a decade. Were we scared at times…? No – we were terrified, stressed, and on-edge for nearly 2 years. But looking back from the other side, I wouldn’t change those nerve-wracking years for anything. They’re what allowed us to pursue and fulfill our professional dream of becoming business owners.   Since we took that leap, our family and our business have been on a rollercoaster ride complete with tremendous highs and some… teachable moments. We earned 140 5-star reviews in our first year of business Grew by 8.7% in our first fiscal year Got blindsided with a 2-weeks notice from one of our most trusted employees Almost went bankrupt (and one of our proudest accomplishments) helped […]

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4 Financial Mistakes That Actually Improved our Lives

4 Financial Mistakes That Actually Improved our Lives #personalfinance #family #saving #emergencyfund #home

  Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Jon back onto the site! We first heard from him a couple years ago when he discussed how he and his wife paid off $89,000 of student loans in just over a year, and while he’s written a few articles since… it’s been a minute. That’s why I’m stoked he’s here today to talk about some of the financial mistakes he’s made and how they may have actually benefited his family!   It’s not all $89,000 student loan payoffs, friends – we’ve all made some mistakes from time to time. But as you’ll see – it’s less about the mistakes themselves, and more about how you respond.       (Photo courtesy of MissFunctional Money)   Take it away, Jon!     4 Financial Mistakes That Actually Improved our Lives     If you’re anything like me, it can be easy to obsess about […]

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How to Minimize the Impact of Bad Reviews on your Business

Bad reviews can kill a young business, and the worst part - you can't prevent them 100% of the time. BUT - there's a lot you can do to help your business shine through! #badreviews #reviews #business

Close your eyes and come with me on a journey… It’s Saturday at noon. You and your sig-other are brainstorming new restaurants for dinner tonight. After much deliberation, probably some constructive back-and-forth, and a few “I’m not feeling Mexican tonight’s” you settle on your final two options. Knowing that Saturday night is a sacred thing – and to waste one would be treasonous, at best – making the right selection is critical. If you haven’t done this already, what’s the first thing you’ll do to help aid your decision…? Let’s all say it together: “Check out the restaurant’s good and bad reviews!!”    Thanks, all – I was thinking the same. (Photo courtesy of Al Emmert)   I could use the same illustration with moving to a new town and looking for a new set of doctors, child care facilities, neighborhoods, dry cleaners, etc… With about 90% of customers reading […]

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How to Increase your Business’ Profit Margin in Under One Year

From Broke to Ballin - Up Your Business' Profit the right way #smallbusiness #profit #reviews #entrepreneur #growth

  Increasing your business’ profit margin can be an incredibly difficult task – especially when you’re juggling bills, chasing down accounts payable, and working to develop your staff to their full potential. Well, we’ve had some time to experience the highs and lows of business ownership, and this post is our step-by-step guide to earning more while doing the work you love.   How to Increase your Business’ Profit Margin in Under One Year    But first – A MikedUp Blog Original:   “We’re on track to come up about $20k short…” As I said the words to my business partner, she was understandably irate.   “Excuse me? $20k… That’s a lot of k’s!!!”   You see, there are great advantages to being in business with your spouse, but explaining the fact that we are about to be broke and maybe not make payroll in three months – is not one of […]

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What You Should Know About Health Insurance in 2019

What You Should Know About Health Insurance in 2019

    (This is a sponsored post discussing what you should know about health insurance – please see my disclosure for more details.)   Open enrollment just ended and 2019 is in full swing! If you’ve recently enrolled in health insurance, hopefully, you know a thing or two about your new plan. But if you’ve worked at the same company and have received the same health insurance year after year, it’s easy to just click a few buttons without fully reading the fine print.   Are you up-to-date with the latest news?   Knowledge is power and we’re here to discuss some of the most important 2019 health insurance trends—so that you can confidently make an informed decision about your provider and their packages.     What You Should Know About Health Insurance in 2019   You’re No Longer Required to Have It   You probably recall when it became […]

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How to Be a Financially Fit Day Trader

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  (This is a sponsored post discussing the in’s and out’s of how to be a day trader – please see my disclosure for more details. Image via Flickr by schrierc)     The basics of how to be a day trader   Day trading is a great option for those who want to make a good income while having the flexibility to work anytime, anywhere. However, it can be a risky venture, especially for beginners. Many new traders just want to learn how to set up their charts and start making money right away.   If you want to make a steady income from day trading, you need to spend enough time learning the ropes and have the discipline to follow a set of rules that many traders abide by to achieve long-term success. Discover how you can be a financially fit day trader.   Treat Day Trading Like […]

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Ideas For How to Make Extra Money on the Side

Ideas For How to Make Extra Money on the Side

  Michael Williams is here today with his post on how to make extra money on the side. We’ve talked previously about why you need to start a side hustle, and Michael is here to add context to that argument, as well as give you some great options on how to get started.    Take it away, Michael:     Ideas For How to Make Extra Money on the Side     The term ‘Side Hustle’ is used a lot now, gaining popularity over the past few years. Surprisingly, it isn’t a new term, being used by American newspapers as far back as the 1950s where it described the work undertaken by people outside of their main jobs.   It’s clear that making a bit of extra cash on the side has been a part of life for a long time, but in tandem with the term ‘Side Hustle’, it’s […]

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When you Accidentally Pay the Mortgage Twice in December

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“…But if you paid the mortgage twice, we’d be out of money in our checking account…?” Was Monica’s inquisitive statement.   “Exactly.” – My response     Let me briefly set the “I double paid the mortgage” table here…   We’re in the heart of December now. Christmas gifts, travel plans, party preparations, and a whole heap of other activities were on the mind (and the budget). Add that to the regular bills and responsibilities… I’m probably preaching to the choir here – we’re all busy, right? ’Tis the season!   I’m crying a bit to write this, but our student loan and mortgage payments only differ by a few cents. We take advantage of the automatic withdrawal functions for both but a recent refinancing of the student loans (blog post to follow next year) was done through a new lender, and hence a new website.   The combination of a hectic season […]

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7 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview

7 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview

This post originally appeared on Victori Media and is republished here with the blessing of its author – Tori Dunlap. As someone who has gone through his fair share of interviews as a job applicant and while we are new business owners who regularly interview hopeful candidates, I think Tori’s post below can help us all! That’s why I’m stoked she has agreed to share this information with us!   (Photo courtesy of Kevin Newton)   So without further adieu, I’ll let Tori take it from here…     Let’s play Would You Rather for a second: job interview or dental work with no novocaine? I know, it’s a hard question.   Job interviews can feel like you’re walking this strange tightrope: be confident, but not cocky. Excited, but not frantic. Professional, but not stuffy. You want to impress your interviewer: express your qualifications, ask good questions, and follow up flawlessly. And […]

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