When shopping for a mortgage, it’s important to follow the right path. Don’t get suckered in by promises of zero down payment, temporarily low interest rates, and no credit checks. Programs like this certainly exist, but will usually end up taking advantage of the buyer. You might save some money now, but you will end up paying through the nose in the long run. Read this article by Mark Riddix at Yahoo Real Estate for more mortgage mistakes to avoid:
-Adjustable Rate Mortgages- offer low interest rates up front, then raises them after a few years. It works, but only if the housing market is in full swing. If your home doesn’t build you any equity, it can quickly become a nightmare.
-No Down Payment- borrowers who make a down payment are more likely to make sure they don’t lose their investment.
-Liar Loans- these are loans that require little to no documentation
-Reverse Mortgages- there are high upfront costs, and the owner loses ownership of their home.
Everything you do today affects you in the future. If you exercise and eat healthy now, in the future you will probably have less medical problems. If you save your money and don’t buy that impulse purchase today, you can use that money for a vacation later. In fact, it’s especially true in the world of finance. Smart saving and frugal spending now will pay off big later! However, mistakes you make now can still do damage to future-you. Check out this post by 
A mortgage is probably the most complicated loan you will ever apply for. There are lots of steps- from getting pre-approved to closing, and everything in between. If you are totally new to the home buying process, this helpful infographic by 
Sure, you can always throw your own yard sale, get rid of some unwanted junk, and collect some cash. However, if you are crafty and have a good eye, you can also make money from OTHER people’s yard sales! Check out this post by 
Creating a budget is hard enough, but sticking to one can seem impossible at times. Even once you run the numbers, and find out how much you should be spending/saving each month, it takes a huge amount of will power not to spend any extra money on impulse buys. For tips on keeping your good habit and sticking to your budget, check out this post
The next vacation I’m planning will be for this Summer. I’m going to Michigan for a week with my boyfriend to visit his family and friends. We went last year, and I had a great time! What’s more, it wasn’t terribly expensive, since we had places to stay the whole time and transportation. But, we still had to pay for plane tickets (not cheap) and food for the week. That can add up! So, I figure it’s time to start saving a couple hundred “vacation dollars” now. That’s why I love 