Knowledge Center

object(WP_Post)#429 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(181119) ["post_author"]=> string(3) "177" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2012-12-19 12:33:35" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2012-12-19 16:33:35" ["post_content"]=> string(2580) " Home energy consumption is one of those things folks don’t think about much. According to Accenture, the average person spends six minutes a year (or 30 seconds a month) thinking about their home energy use.This is unfortunate considering the tremendous impact that energy consumption has on our lives and on our wallets. We actually spend about as much annually on electricity and gas in our homes as we do for gasoline in our cars. But while we’re aware of every fluctuation in gasoline prices, we hardly ever think about our electricity/gas costs.One reason is that we don’t understand our home energy costs. When we go to the pump, we know what we’re getting for our money. Not so much with electricity. What is a kWh? Am I paying more or less than what I should be paying? And in contrast to gas prices, which are displayed prominently on giant gas station signs, your energy rates are usually buried in some obscure spot on your utility bill.The tool here, by Power2Switch, which helps you switch your electricity supplier and save on your electric bill, shows you what you can expect your annual energy costs to be based on your location and the size and type of home you have. Furthermore, it allows you to compare your expected energy costs to state and national averages. All numbers are based on public data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).If you are moving, especially to another state, this tool can help you predict how your energy costs will change and understand the impact of getting a big house vs. a more modest condo. Even if you aren’t moving, this tool, by providing a baseline for your expected costs, shows you your potential for savings throughout the year. Clicking the Power2Switch logo in the tool will connect you with a service to help you find lower rates for your area." ["post_title"]=> string(40) "What Should Your Annual Energy Costs Be?" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(149) "Energy costs have a big impact on our wallet but the average American spends six minutes a year thinking about them. Find out how your rates compare." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(39) "what-should-your-annual-energy-costs-be" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2012-12-20 14:48:44" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2012-12-20 18:48:44" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(67) "http://www.learnvest.com/?post_type=lv_evergreen_post&p=181119" ["menu_order"]=> int(13) ["post_type"]=> string(17) "lv_evergreen_post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["robotsmeta"]=> NULL }

object(WP_Post)#432 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(133614) ["post_author"]=> string(3) "177" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2012-06-04 18:08:51" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2012-06-04 22:08:51" ["post_content"]=> string(772) "When it comes to saving money on clothing, furniture and champagne (we'll celebrate that!), it's all about timing.And not doing what everyone else is doing, of course. Want a winter coat? Buy yours when spring is around the corner. Want perfume that's inexpensive but not cheap? Snatch up a bottle right after everyone's been giving and getting some for the holidays.[lv_share_bricks]These gems of wisdom and more are all in our What to Buy When tool. Flip through, take notes and refer to it every month to suss out the steals of the season.[bctool_what_to_buy_when]" ["post_title"]=> string(16) "What to Buy When" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(99) "Flip through our tool, take notes and refer to it every month to suss out the steals of the season." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(16) "what-to-buy-when" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2013-04-18 09:32:40" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2013-04-18 13:32:40" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(34) "http://www.learnvest.com/?p=133614" ["menu_order"]=> int(58) ["post_type"]=> string(17) "lv_evergreen_post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["robotsmeta"]=> NULL }

object(WP_Post)#435 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(98839) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "7" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2012-01-02 08:00:54" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2012-01-02 12:00:54" ["post_content"]=> string(5069) "The holidays are behind us and the chilly January wind may be nipping at our nose, but we’ve got a secret weapon hidden underneath that fuzzy scarf: resolve.2012 is here, and we’re planning to kick its butt.After all the New Year’s resolutions we made a couple weeks ago, we’re ready for business. There’s no time better than now to take control of your finances, and we’ll help you get there.So, take a seat, swill that hot cocoa and knock these to-dos off your list:

Make Your Financial Resolutions. Deadline: Monday, January 2

Studies have shown it takes 21 days to form a solid habit. If you create and stick to your resolutions now, by February you will be on the road to serious financial improvement. Your resolutions could include anything from paying down your credit card debt to starting an emergency fund or bringing your lunch to work three times a week. One of the keys to keeping your resolutions is understanding your own money baggage, so take a half hour today to dive into the hidden money beliefs driving your behavior with our quiz.

Reassess Your Budget. Deadline: Tuesday, January 10

A new year calls for a new, revamped budget. Look at your spending patterns from 2011 by linking your accounts and logging in to the LearnVest My Money Center to see the different categories of your spending, like nights out on the town and groceries. How does your spending in those areas compare to what you thought you were spending? Use the budget calculator in the My Money Center to craft a new budget for 2012—this is extra important if you’ve had any recent life changes, like getting married, going back to school or planning for a baby.

Check Your Credit Score. Deadline: Tuesday, January 17

Ring in the new year error-free. Check your credit score to make sure that there haven’t been any errors on the part of credit reporting agencies. This is so important that we recommend you do it once each season. Your credit score is a magic number that helps lenders decide whether you’re worthy of their credit when applying for a credit card or a mortgage. In addition to making sure that there haven’t been any unexpected issues, it’s good to check your score a few times a year to make sure you’re on track—besides, it’s fun to watch that number go up and up. For instructions on how to check your own number, read this.

Start a "Time Journal." Deadline: Friday, January 20

Modern life isn't just about budgeting money--it's also about budgeting time, which means spending your resources in the way that gives you the most fulfillment. For the next month, keep track of the best and worst time you spend every day. At the end of the month, review those moments to find patterns. Are you consistently unhappy when you spend more than an hour doing the same task? What haven't you been able to make time for? Here's a chance to overhaul the way you spend not just money, but something equally as important: Each of the hours in your week.

Compare Your Interest Rates. Deadline: Monday, January 23

Interest rates fluctuate, so make sure you’re getting the best value by comparing your savings account to others out there. Although interest rates are very low right now (even many of the best savings accounts offer less than 1% nowadays), make sure your rate is reasonable. Some big banks’ savings accounts are offering as little as 0.05% unless you have a huge balance. It might not be worth switching banks unless the difference is big, but it’s important for your money to work for you. Here’s how to know if it’s time to switch banks or brokerages.

Organize Your Taxes Now. Deadline: Tuesday, January 31

Keep an eye on your mailbox throughout this month so you don't miss any tax forms as they roll in. In particular, look out for your W-2 and 1099 forms. As you get them in the mail, save them in a safe and secure place, whether that means keeping them in a manila folder in your desk or scanning the papers so you have a digital copy. If you haven't received these forms by January 31st, call your employer(s) to inquire.Print out all of your to-dos and the full list of what to buy in January![bctool_what_to_buy_when]" ["post_title"]=> string(28) "Financial To-Dos for January" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(41) "its-2012-financial-to-dos-in-the-new-year" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2013-04-18 09:32:40" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2013-04-18 13:32:40" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(33) "http://www.learnvest.com/?p=98839" ["menu_order"]=> int(389) ["post_type"]=> string(17) "lv_evergreen_post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "1" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["robotsmeta"]=> NULL }

object(WP_Post)#438 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(100608) ["post_author"]=> string(3) "177" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2011-12-31 15:00:03" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2011-12-31 19:00:03" ["post_content"]=> string(822) "There are often a lot of competing interests when it comes to our money. We're interested in getting out of debt, but we also want to come up with a down payment for our first home. We want to get rid of our credit card debt, but we also want to save for retirement. Which is the right thing to do?[lv_share_bricks]Use the calculator below to find out just what we recommend based on several factors, including the interest of your debt and the return you anticipate from your investment.[calc_debt_or_invest]If you want to rejigger your priorities based on this calculator’s recommendations, head into the Budgeting Tool now to reallocate your debt repayment or savings plan." ["post_title"]=> string(27) "To Pay Down Debt or Invest?" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(141) "Use our calculator to find out whether you should pay down your credit card debt, pay off student loans or save up for retirement or a house." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(26) "to-pay-down-debt-or-invest" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2012-12-19 18:55:25" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2012-12-19 22:55:25" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(34) "http://www.learnvest.com/?p=100608" ["menu_order"]=> int(389) ["post_type"]=> string(17) "lv_evergreen_post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["robotsmeta"]=> NULL }

object(WP_Post)#441 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(100597) ["post_author"]=> string(3) "177" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2011-12-31 11:00:20" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2011-12-31 15:00:20" ["post_content"]=> string(1972) "We've all bought things we've immediately—and forever after—regretted.I bet just saying that has you thinking of a few purchases that make you wince at the memory.Just as with other mistakes we make in life, there are a few lessons to be learned there—and our tool below will help you do just that.Get a list of some things you’ve bought recently. Enter each one into the tool and see whether it’s a good purchase or a bad purchase. When you’re done, take a look at your bad and mediocre purchases to see if you can find patterns in them. Which factors usually lead you to make such ill-advised shopping decisions?[lv_share_bricks]When you identify them, create new rules of thumb that will prevent you from making more poor or bland purchases in the future. For instance, if you’re in debt, it may be that many of your bad purchases were simply beyond your budget. So maybe your new rule of thumb is that before you buy anything, you run the numbers to make sure it fits within your budget.After you set the rule, give yourself incentive to stick to it by giving yourself a reward if you stick to the rule for a month or two.Bookmark this page and also use it to rate purchases you are considering. Pull it out when you're about to click "checkout" on your favorite site, or about to bid on an eBay goodie, or when you're standing in the checkout line at the local store you can't resist.[bctool_purchase_appraiser]Stay committed to only making good purchases by regularly evaluating your transactions. Link your accounts Link your accounts in the My Money Center, do so now so you can see all your spending at a glance and learn from your purchasing habits." ["post_title"]=> string(22) "The Purchase Appraiser" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(107) "A big part of getting out of debt is learning how to spend better, and our tool will help you do just that." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(22) "the-purchase-appraiser" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2013-04-18 16:39:42" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2013-04-18 20:39:42" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(34) "http://www.learnvest.com/?p=100597" ["menu_order"]=> int(389) ["post_type"]=> string(17) "lv_evergreen_post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" ["robotsmeta"]=> NULL }