Yes, Living Frugal in an RV is a fun lifestylel

By Gary Pierce

Living frugal in an RV is not about depriving yourself. You will have lots of company with people who find this lifestyle fun and rewarding as well.

The current economic climate is forcing more and more folks to rethink their retirement plans. If your 401K is a now a 150K you have a lot folks in the same situation.

Consider living frugal in an RV as a way to still retire to a lifestyle that is a lot of fun. I heard one RVer say it well..."I don't care where I live as long as I have a steering wheel in the living room." I met him and his wife in Yellowstone National Park where they worked in the summers. They had been full time RVing, and loving it, for 10 years at the time.

If the last two years have sent your portfolio lemons...try the lemonade you can make by living frugal in an RV.

You can use RV living as a means to find your permanent retirement home. We chose Arizona after RVing for six years. It took us all six years to examine all of our retirement options. Therefore, living in an RV is a great way to prevent making an costly mistake. You can use the RV to thoroughly check out where you are going to retire.

Living frugal in an RV is not about sacrifice...it's easy. No more motel bills with your RV. Never having to pack and unpack is also a real plus to the RV lifestyle.

The more you travel in your RV the more favorite places to stay you will find. This is cheaper since parks offer monthly rates for long-term stays. You should figure about $500 a month for a pleasant park. That would not go very far in an motel.

Consider living frugal in an RV as a great way to retire and have fun. Enjoy, see you on the road. - 30547

About the Author:

For further information on frugal living in an RV Gary Pierce, sixty-four, has been retired for 15 years he has experienced various retirement lifestyles that are not only frugal but fun. Do not quit on retirement until you visit this site.

How To Determine The Best Roth IRA

By Bill Timmer

When making decisions about your retirement, it is vital that you look into the current tax implications regarding the best Roth IRA choices. A basic degree of financial knowledge is important when deciding what types of accounts are right for your retirement savings, and upcoming changes to tax law are important to consider.

The Roth individual retirement account is a retirement vehicle in which contributions are after-tax rather than pre-tax. What this means is that you have already paid taxes on the money you are putting into this account, and you will not have to pay taxes on this money again or upon distributions upon withdrawing the funds at retirement age. If you think that you will be earning more when reaching retirement and will therefore be in a higher tax bracket than you are presently, then a Roth IRA may be the best choice for you. However, it is important to consider that you will not gain the immediate advantages of a Traditional IRA-namely, the lowering of your current tax burden. Essentially it is best to think of this decision as being taxed now versus later.

If you decide to go for the Roth IRA, then you must remember that there are Roth IRA limits to be aware of. Most importantly, there is the income limit. If you earn more than $105,000 as a single filer, you may be ineligible a complete investment in the Roth. This figure may change depending upon inflation and IRS regulations. Another limitation is that earnings distributions cannot be made without penalty before age 59 , and they must be held in the Roth IRA for at least five years. Otherwise, if you choose to take funds out earlier, there is a ten percent penalty for early withdrawal. In addition, there is a contribution limit for the Roth IRA. The limits for the individual retirement account may change on a yearly basis, but the current limit is $5,000 per year. You must also keep in mind that if you have contributed to a Traditional IRA, then that does count toward your $5,000 maximum. That is, if you have put $2000 in a Traditional IRA then you may only contribute $3000 to your Roth for that year.

If you have read about your options and the Roth individual retirement agreement seems like a good option for you, then you should also read about Roth Ira rollovers. A rollover simply means that the funds, which are sitting in your traditional retirement account, can be transferred over to a Roth for tax reasons. This way, you can benefit from a tax-free source of income upon retirement.

Yet it is important to remember that you will need to pay taxes on the retirement funds that you are rolling over, which could potentially create a real financial burden for you in your current economic situation. Please note that another consideration is that beginning in 2010, the adjusted gross income limits, which are currently in place for rolling over to a Roth, will no longer apply, though it will be best to consult the Internal Revenue Service and also review your options with your financial advisor or tax accountant.

One of the advantages of the 2010 changes is the unique opportunity to pay your taxes induced by the rollover over two years instead of one. Instead of paying up in 2010, you can pay over two more years 2011 and 2012, thereby easing your finances.

The best Roth IRA decision depends on your current income, estimated future income, and your particular tax situation. Knowing all of your options, especially now considering the 2010 changes to the tax rules, is important to making smart decisions about your future. - 30547

About the Author:

Bill Timmer loves talking about Roth individual retirement accounts. How about you? Please visit his site on The Top ROth IRAs. Also, find out information on cashing out your Roth IRA!

Prepare Now While You Can For Long Term Care

By Adam Kaywood

Long term care is a term that means both medical and non medical services that are used by individuals that have a disability or a chronic illness. They include both personal and health related needs. Some of these needs classified as non medical would be getting dressed or taking a bath. In many cases long term care takes place in a facility of some sort that provides either assisted living or nursing care. But, it can also take place in the home of a relative or the home of the person needing care. It should be noted that not all people receiving this type of care are elderly.

The baby boomer generation is starting to get to the point of needing some sort of care. Statistics point to 12 million seniors will flood care services in around 2020. Many times family members will take a person needing care into their home and care for them but still need help. Others will be placed in a nursing home or other facility.

Care for a long period of time can cost a great deal of money. Many people make a living caring for those that have trouble caring for themselves and they should be compensated for it. Medicare will pay for those that become sick and because of health reasons they go into nursing care. However, if the person is in relatively good condition and just can not do a few things for themselves Medicare will not pay and other arrangements need to be made. Help in bathing, or cooking, or cleaning, or getting dressed is called custodial care and these things are not covered by Medicare.

In some states a low income person that has no assets at all might be approved for medical and custodial care through Medicare. It is hard to say if it will or not because every state has different rules. There are several factors that dictate if a person can use Medicare for long term care and they include income and the resources that person has at hand.

Care that lasts long term has several different levels with nursing care just the tip of the iceberg. There are services that deliver meals, there are transportation services, cleaning services or adult day care services. They have low costs but must be paid for out of pocket of the individual or the family of the individual.

If a person needs to be supervised part of the day but not for 24 hours adult day care may be the answer. Here the person will participate in social and recreational plans throughout the day. Another service provides a button that is worn around the neck and can be pushed if there is an emergency of some type. Telephone services call the individual on a daily basis and if they do not answer they send help. This service is great for the person that wants to stay independent as long as possible. If a person can not drive there are volunteer services that will take them where they need to go. Medicare will pay for transport in an ambulance for an emergency but nothing else. If a person can no longer cook for themselves there is Meals on Wheels. Cleaning services are also available but must be paid for with other funds besides Medicare. In many cases the financial burden falls on the individual or their families.

Long term Care insurance is available and will cover non medical and custodial services as well as nursing care. The cost varies from area to area and depends on the age and health of the person. It is paramount that a person obtain this insurance prior to needing it because you have to pass a physical in order to be able to buy it. It is available to people in all ages but the younger you are the less you will have to pay. These policies generally have to be sought out and purchased individually. They are rarely part of an employment benefit package. - 30547

About the Author:

Before you go out and buy a policy go to Long Term Care Insurance, ask questions and request a long term care insurance quote. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.

Baby Boomer Health Cost Factors

By Bill Lloyds

Baby boomer health cost factors are coming more and more to the forefront of any discussion on controlling health care costs in this country. That is because this important age demographic (those people born between 1945 and 1964) is one of the largest blocks of people in this country. They are also entering their retirement years at ever increasing numbers, and will require health care more often.

Just as with everything else to do with boomers, the movement of their demographic affects our society as a whole. In other words; what the boomers want, the boomers get and this is no different for healthcare than it is for just about anything else. Consider that many boomers who were extremely active in their younger years are now experiencing certain orthopedic issues, for example.

What this means is that the physical toll that this focus on activities that were physical in nature is beginning to manifest itself in hip and knee replacements, which are becoming an increasingly large proportion of the medical procedures that are being performed on boomers as they age. A single knee replacement can cost a princely sum of money and imagine what a double knee replacement runs.

Also, baby boomers move in these demographics as a group, therefore it is the group as a whole that will affect how healthcare resources are allocated across an increasingly strained system that may be in need of serious reform very soon. Medicare, which is already basically bankrupt, will not be able to absorb the costs needed to look after the health of this huge demographic.

It also seems that the current reforms being proposed by government -- depending on who you talk to -- may not come close to solving this problem. In fact, one of the ways in which the government intends to fund healthcare for everybody is to reduce the money given to Medicare by $500 billion over several years. Anybody who thinks that boomers are all that eager to see that happen needs to think again.

It may be that some sort of rationing scheme will need to be implemented to ensure that everybody who is entitled to healthcare gets it, but that is only one portion of controlling the costs involved in delivering health care to boomers. The whole system needs to be looked at, starting with how we keep medical records and what is done with them when they are needed, for example.

At any rate, rising baby boomer health cost issues will not be going away anytime soon, for it is this age demographic which is continuing to flood the retired ranks and is placing an ever increasing burden on government health resources such as Medicare. It is not their fault that they are doing this, but the medical issues that the elderly bring to the table are certainly helping to contribute to costs. - 30547

About the Author:

For more information on how Long Term Care Insurance can help prepare us as we age. Also you can get a long term care insurance quote. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.

How Would Like To Pay Little Or No Interest On A Mortgage?

By Marshall Foster

The concept of seller financing has caught on quite fast and is very beneficial to those who are planning to buy their first Phoenix investment property. It also helps those people who are unable to get a loan from the normal or traditional route. One does not have to deal with financial institutions and since the interest rates are low, you would find that it facilitates investment property purchase. It is possible to even refinance and sell as well as build credit while refinancing for lower payment. Sellers are able to take the 30 year rate and put a spread on it. Given the current real estate market sellers have made seller financing widespread and regular so the process has become quite standardized too.

When it comes to selling property, sellers are interested in a few objectives that they want to fulfill. For one, they want to sell as quickly as possible as they want to avoid a situation where the property sits on the market for years on end. They are also desirous of paying as little taxes as possible. When the real estate market is sluggish, one of the ways to push out a Phoenix investment property and make a sale is to offer seller financing. In some cases 100% owner financing is offered while in others, sellers are open to partnering with the right buyer.

When sellers offer seller financing to buyers, they in effect make it easier for buyers to purchase the property thus enhancing buyer interest. In these times, sellers should be helping buyers buy the property which is in sharp contrast to the opinion expressed by some sellers that financing shouldn't be a seller's concern. There are cases where sellers help in contributing 6% of the sales price which facilitates first time buyers' completion on the sale of their first investment property.

One of the key advantages of seller financing is that sellers and buyers are spared the rigors of dealing with a financial institution and hence there are hardly any problems in facilitating the sale. In the normal course, buyers can get as much as 50-60% financing, with a lower interest rate and a much longer amortization period. But the sellers must be aware of various rules and regulations like by-laws, insurance policies and budgets and also rules and regulations which could be reviewed by lending underwriters. There has to also be a knowledge that the property's master association should allow a sale in the first place, or else the sale cannot occur.

Seller financing is a loan in which the buyer assumes the seller's mortgage while the loan stays in the seller's name. The buyer becomes the owner of the Phoenix investment property when the seller signs the grant bargain, sale deed, or other specific device to transfer the property. Sellers that have built up equity in their home usually don't feel like waiting around 30 years to see a return on their money come out of the investment property. For these situations the interest is often set up on a balloon payment. Sellers also want to pay as little taxes as possible on the gains incurred. In numerous cases, the seller can have most of his needs satisfied by an installment sale rather than a conventional cash sale. - 30547

About the Author:

Marshall Foster owns several pieces of Phoenix real estate. He also enjoys talking to investors about generating passive income with property.

Buy Investment Property At Wholesale Prices With This Simple Method

By Roy Owens

Seller financing is especially advantageous to first time home buyers, or to buyers who are having a difficult time getting a conventional loan. It is a good idea for buying Dallas investment property, as the interest rates are generally lower, and there is no hassling with financial institutions. Sell or refinance anytime without prepayment penalties. We encourage you to build your credit and refinance for an even lower payment. Sellers that do a fair amount of owner financing tend to like to make it more of a standardized process. These sellers of owner financed homes typically will take the current going 30 year fixed rate and put a spread on it.

There are some concerns and objectives that sellers have. For one, sellers want to sell off their property fast and without much trouble. They also want to pay fewer taxes on gains. It is quite possible that in a slow market, Dallas investment property may remain unsold for years which also prompt sellers to be quite concerned about selling. If the property lingers for too long, owners would have to make mortgage payments on their own or by giving it out on rent. This is where sellers may look at owner financing which is 100% or maybe partner with a buyer for use as investment property.

Seller financing can give sellers the advantage they need to overcome a key purchasing hurdle, opening their property up to more potential buyers. Sellers and their agents often express the attitude that the Buyer's financing is the Buyer's problem, not theirs. Perhaps, but facilitating Buyer's financing should certainly be of interest to Sellers. Sellers can also contribute up to 6% of the sales price to help cover closing costs. This allows many 1st time home buyers (or seasoned investors) to purchase a home with little or no money down.

One of the key advantages of seller financing is that sellers and buyers are spared the rigors of dealing with a financial institution and hence there are hardly any problems in facilitating the sale. In the normal course, buyers can get as much as 50-60% financing, with a lower interest rate and a much longer amortization period. But the sellers must be aware of various rules and regulations like by-laws, insurance policies and budgets and also rules and regulations which could be reviewed by lending underwriters. There has to also be a knowledge that the property's master association should allow a sale in the first place, or else the sale cannot occur.

Another example of seller financing is the seller's mortgage is transferred to the buyer and the loan extended is in the seller's name. The ownership of the property is transferred to the buyer when the sale deed is signed by the seller. Sellers also would like to avoid huge tax liabilities on their Dallas investment property and are certainly not keen on waiting for huge periods of time like thirty years or so to get some return on their investment property. All of these needs can be met by means of installment sale rather than a conventional sale. - 30547

About the Author:

Roy Owens is an investor who uses Dallas cash flow property to make a living. He also helps individuals with creative financing for investments.

Guide to Investing - Set Investment Goals

By Scarlett Embs

When it involves investing, several first time investors wish to leap right in with both feet. Unfortunately, terribly few of these investors are successful. Investing in something needs some extent of skill. It is necessary to remember that few investments are a certain factor - there's the risk of losing your money!

Before you jump right in, it is higher to not solely notice out a lot of regarding investing and how it all works, but also to work out what your goals are. What does one hope to realize with your investments? Will you be funding a college education? Buying a home? Retiring? Before you invest one penny, extremely assume regarding what you hope to realize with that investment. Knowing what your goal is can facilitate you make smarter investment selections along the way!

Too usually, individuals invest money with dreams of turning into rich overnight. This is often attainable - however it's also rare. It is sometimes a very unhealthy plan to start investing with hopes of becoming rich overnight. It is safer to take a position your money in such a way that it will grow slowly over time, and be used for retirement or a child's education. But, if your investment goal is to urge rich quick, you ought to learn as a lot of regarding high-yield, short term investing as you possibly can before you invest.

You must strongly consider talking to a monetary planner before creating any investments. Your money planner can facilitate you establish what sort of investing you want to do to reach the financial goals that you have set. He or she will be able to offer you realistic data as to what sort of returns you'll be able to expect and the way long it can take to succeed in your specific goals.

Once more, remember that investing requires additional than calling a broker and telling them that you would like to buy stocks or bonds. It takes a sure amount of research and information regarding the market if you hope to take a position successfully.

Investing is additionally a manner of accomplishing the items that you would like, like a new home, a college education for your children, or expensive 'toys.' After all, your monetary goals can verify what kind of investing you do.

If you wish or need to make a ton of cash fast, you would be more interested in higher risk investing, which can give you a bigger come during a shorter amount of time. If you are saving for one thing in the way off future, like retirement, you'd need to create safer investments that grow over a extended amount of time.

The general purpose in investing is to create wealth and security, over a amount of time. It is important to remember that you may not perpetually be in a position to earn an income... you'll eventually wish to retire.

You also cannot count on the social security system to try to to what you expect it to do. As we have a tendency to have seen with Enron, you furthermore may cannot necessarily rely on your company's retirement plan either. Thus, again, investing is the key to insuring your own money future, but you need to make good investments! - 30547

About the Author:

Want to find out more about investment consultant Grand Rapids, then visit Scarlett Embs's site on how to choose the best fee only investment advisor Jackson for your needs.