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Owning a home is a huge financial milestone. Congrats! You've worked hard to get to this point so it's important to avoid missteps that could undermine all that hard work.
Luckily, you can learn from the mistakes other homeowners have made so you don't have to learn these lessons on your own. Here are a few of the most common ways that homeowners accidentally hold themselves back financially — and how to avoid these traps.
Not refinancing, especially with historically low interest rates
One of your biggest monthly expenses is probably your mortgage. So much of your hard-earned money goes to paying for it every month. But what if there was a way to lower your monthly mortgage payment... or even pay it off faster?
If your credit score is good or excellent, you might qualify to save money on your mortgage by comparing lenders and switching by using Lower My Bills.
Just answer a few simple questions about your home and finances, and Lower My Bills will try to match you with lenders who could help you refinance. Filling out the form takes less than 3 minutes, and it won't affect your credit.
Not canceling your car insurance
We’ve got bad news. You could be wasting $500 every year on overpriced, second-rate car insurance. And you should probably cancel your existing insurance right now, because there’s something much better.
This new tool from FinanceBuzz can tell you if you’re overpaying for your car insurance in just a few clicks. We match drivers with companies that report saving drivers up to $500 or more per year when they save! Each driver’s savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for. And once you try it out, you’ll never have to look for affordable insurance again because we find you the lowest rates that other companies can’t match.
Oh, and it’s also free. And come on — you can’t tell us you don’t want to save up to $500. To find out if you’re losing up to $500 or more a year, just enter your zip code here, answer a few questions and see if you’re overpaying. It takes less than 2 minutes.
Not getting a home warranty
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more. Not being able to make repairs could leave you in a bad situation — but a home warranty could protect you against surprise expenses.
Whether you’re a brand-new homeowner or you’ve owned your home for years, a plan from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where homeowner’s insurance falls short.
If a covered system in your home breaks down, you can call their hotline 24/7 for assistance to get it repaired. They have a network of over 15,000 technicians that can assist you, making sure any issue can be taken care of swiftly — without breaking the bank.
Not sure if it’s for you? Rest easy: they were named one of the "Best Home Warranty Companies" by US News 360 Reviews and were awarded Best Company's 2020 Consumer's Choice Award. For a limited time, you can get your first month free when you sign up for a Single Payment home warranty plan.
Don't put off home improvement projects when rates are low
If you're putting off home improvement projects, it's time to reassess that mindset, especially if those projects could increase the value of your home. With interest rates at record lows, taking out a personal loan to finance your project could be a smart financial move.
Our partner AmOne can match you with loan providers to fit your specific needs. In only 2 minutes, you could get matched for a loan up to $50,000 and rates as low as 2.49%.
Why not see if you qualify? It will NOT affect your credit score.
Cancel unwanted subscriptions and trim up to $720 from your bills
As a homeowner, you've got more bills than ever before to deal with and this makes it easy for unwanted subscription to slip by. Companies pull money from your bank account or charge your credit card every month and you pay it, sometimes unknowingly.
Rocket Money can help you cancel subscriptions and lower bills. The best part: you never need to pick up the phone. Their expert negotiators can call the cable company and phone company on your behalf to help lower your bills. They'll also help you cancel unwanted subscriptions and put that money back in your bank account where it belongs.
Rocket Money has already helped save its members over $50,000,000 on their bills without much time and effort.
Protect your money and get $1 million identity theft insurance
Identity theft can turn your life upside down. Your money could be stolen, your credit score could tank by hundreds of points, and worst of all… you could be liable for damages, even if you’re not at fault. It can be really bad.
Identity Guard can help protect your money in case your identity is ever stolen online. They keep you updated 24/7, constantly monitoring in the background while you go about your day with total peace of mind. Using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, they’ll alert you when potentially suspicious activity is detected, helping you take action to protect your money.
With Identity Guard, your money, identity, and credit score are kept safe and secure. Sign up today and get access to real-time monitoring and $1 million in identity theft insurance1 for as little as $6.67 per month.
Bonus: Build wealth better than the 1%
The 1% doesn’t deserve all the riches. So why do we keep letting it happen?
Worthy is an email newsletter that teaches you how to invest smarter, earn more money, and live the life you want. It’s for the rebellious, the radical, the 99%er who fights like hell to earn their keep. Easily consumed in less than 5 minutes a day, you’ll get the latest financial resources, news, and money trends that could impact your wallet for years to come.
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Lower My Bills Benefits
- Easily compare and switch lenders
- Filling out the form takes less than 3 minutes
- Checking rates will not affect your credit score