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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 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.
Get the one budgeting app that truly does it all
Ever look at your bank account and wonder where your paycheck went? *Poof,* it's gone … and you have NO idea how you spent it all so quickly.
A budgeting app like Rocket Money could end this problem for you.
Now, some insider info: They *do* have a free version of the app ... but the real money-saving power is found in their premium subscription.
Select a premium subscription when you sign up, and you’ll unlock features that actually save you the most money possible. Like their “Cancellation Concierge,” which helps to cancel subscriptions for you. (It’s pay-what-you-want for premium, too — as little as $4 a month!)
With your premium subscription, you’ll also be able to create unlimited budgets, see your full credit report, and get automatic “smart savings” that help you grow your savings on autopilot.