Negotiating your rent may sound intimidating, but it's really not all that bad. Before I show you how to negotiate your rent, you need to qualify as a good tenant. If you are not a good tenant, you probably won't have a shot at successful negotiations.

A good tenant:

1. Always pays the rent on time (unless understandable emergencies take place).
2. Has been there a long and time and will continue to be there for quite a while more.
3. Does not cause problems or issues with neighbors or the law
4. Improves the property in small ways (like cleaning, and small yard work).
5. Takes care of the small things without always griping to the landlord.

If you fit the bill of a good tenant, then read on. Otherwise, this may be a waste of your time... who knows.

There are three main ways in which you can go about negotiating your rent.

Our U.S government has decided to yet again give out more money in order to "boost" the economy.

There is another program called "Cash for Caulkers", similar to "Cash for Clunkers" but intended for those who make their homes more energy efficient. It will require that you hire an expert home energy auditor to come to your house and tell you where your windows are leaking and your insulation is thin. Then, after

Should you buy a house now, later or never? That is the question.

Let's tackle the last one first: Never.

Most people think that buying a house is a financial investment. It can be, however, it usually is not. When you start to adding up the costs of buying, financing, and maintaining a house, renting will usually win. The exceptions are few and far between, but the reality is that buying a house is usually not a financial investment, but rather a life-style investment.

It is an investment in the life of your family and maybe in your own well-being. Sit down and right out the pros and cons of buying a house before you jump at the chance. The answer to your question may be "never."

Now or Later?

I opened a free checking account the other day with First Bank. They were offering a $50 bonus, so I thought "why not?" It only took me a few minutes online.

Then, a few days later I got an envelope in the mail with my debit and credit cards. Inside the credit card information was this printed advertisement:

Are you ready to know the king of all money saving tips? Drum roll please....

Spend less than you make!

The only phrase that I hate hearing more than "spend less than you make" is "live on a budget."

While browsing the internet the other day I came across a startling, but not too surprising statistic. Current research suggests that 70% of Generation Y workers do not participate in their companies 401k (or similar savings accounts). For those unfamiliar with the term “Generation Y,” it refers to individuals born in the mid 1970s to 2000. It’s easy to understand why many young people would choose not to contribute to a 401K program. For a young person retirement is often the last thing on the mind. It’s easier to choose to spend the money NOW, rather than saving it for LATER.

What people do not often realize is that choosing to not participate in a 401K program is actually causing them to LOSE money. Until about a month ago I was part of the 70% who do not contribute. My employer will match up to 3% of your salary in a 403B (401K for non-profits) after working there for one year. I had procrastinated on signing up for this benefit and missed out on three years of contribution. When I went back and calculated the amount I would have had if I chose to be a part of the program, I realized that I had missed out on $3000! It blew my mind that I had lost out on that much!

A common misconception is to use the terms asset allocation and diversification interchangeably. But the truth is that there is a distinct difference between the two. It's important to understand this difference, even as a beginner-investor so that you can minimize your losses and maximize your gains.

Example:

Let's look at an example of the difference between asset allocation and diversification:

There's an entrepreneur who decided that he would like to spread his potential income out between several different business ventures. He opens up a floral shop, provides floral wedding decorating services, and becomes a business consultant for small businesses.

When stepping into the exciting and yet scary world of investing, one of the first things you need to understand is the difference between the three main structures you can use. The reason this is so important is because it affects your money NOW and in RETIREMENT.

Even though there are many different ways to invest, the three main structures you can use to get involved in the market are

1. Regular Investment Accounts
2. Traditional IRAs
3. Roth IRAs

Myths About Investing:

• You have to be a guru to invest.
• You have to be licensed in order to invest.
• You will not be successful without an investment broker.
• You can't trust anyone with your money these days.
• Investing will take up all of your time.
• Investing is gambling. Most lose, and some win big.
• You have to be good at numbers in order to invest.
• If my investment portfolio is not complicated, I won't see a very good return.
• ... [insert your own myth here]...