Money Saving Blog Archives:
October 2007   November 2007   December 2007   Jan-Feb 2008
March 2008

May 12, 2008
Save For House Money Saving Interview

Hi everyone! I'm a bit late, but wanted to make sure to post a link to an interview I did with How I Save Money.net. Overall, How I Save Money.net is one of my personal favorite frugal money saving blogs. How I Save Money.net always contains compelling content on how to save money and I especially like how the author is very open about her personal finances, tracking her progress right on the blog. I highly recommend you check them out for great money saving tips that will help you in your quest to save up your first house down payment. In the interview, we discuss all sorts of interesting stuff including how Save For House got started, my own favorite blogs, what keeps me motivated, and a lot more. Want to learn more about your Save For House webmaster and author? You may want to check out my about us page!

May 11, 2008
Save For Your Home Down Payment The Frugal Way

Hello everyone! I'm excited today to have two new money saving articles all about saving money the frugal way. Living a frugal lifestyle is essential to saving up for your 1st house down payment. While this way of life may require more dedication and work, just think of the huge benefits when you own your own home. Today's first article is about buying everyday items in bulk. I personally shop in bulk quite frequently for essentials like paper towels. This is a great way to save money because the unit price is lower and also avoid trips to the store resulting in gas savings. The second article today is about saving money with coupons and discounts. There are many coupons and discounts available to us that we often overlook or forget about. Time spent in frugally clipping coupons can result in some serious money savings. Thanks for visiting my site and I hope you find these articles helpful in your quest to save money!

May 4, 2008
Things To Do While Saving Up Your Mortgage Down Payment

Saving up your home loan down payment is not just about saving money. It's also the best time to educate yourself all about mortgage loans, real estate agents, and the home buying process. As you may have noticed, this site has evolved over time. While we used to focus primarily on money saving tips (which still is the main focus of the site), we have added more and more information about the home buying process. I'm really excited today to have two new articles all about things to do while saving for your first house. The first article discusses whether you should buy a house, condo, or townhouse. This concept is something I am personally struggling with. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so the prices are high. My first house will either be a condo or townhouse and I'm trying to determine which makes more sense for me. Today's second article discusses things to consider when deciding where to buy your first house while saving your down payment. There are many great communities around me but I have narrowed it down to two or three selections. To close out, I wanted to thank all of you for your continued support of Save For House. I'm really happy with the direction the site is taking and the wealth of free information we have to offer. I truly thank you for visiting my site and wish you the absolute best in your quest to save money and own your own house. If there is anything you would like to see on this site, don't hesitate to contact me. I am here to make the site useful and beneficial for you!

May 3, 2008
It's Never Too Early To Start Saving Money Towards Your House Down Payment

Let's start off May with two great articles all about saving for your first house! The first article explains why it's never too early to start saving up your down payment. This article really embodies my personal approach. Saving money and owning a house is all about the long term. Plant the seeds today and you will be growing long term financial success. Even though I'm personally a few years away from owning my first house, it is something I think about each and every day. I know when the time does arrive, I will be prepared because I am saving and learning all about home ownership today. Along these lines, I am very conscious of my purchases on credit cards and keeping credit card debt to a minimum. Today's second article is all about saving for your down payment by paying off your credit card debt. With extraordinary interest rates, this is one of the easiest levers to improve your financial situation and advance down the road towards home ownership.

April 20, 2008
Coming Up With Your Down Payment - Four Ways To Save Money

Hello everyone! I'm excited because I just added four new articles with tips on how to save up your home loan down payment. I'm very thrilled to continue to expand the money saving tips and strategies on this site and the first two of the four articles are very timely: save your down payment while helping the environment and saving money on your taxes. Earth Day is just around the corner and there is nothing better than saving money for your first house while helping out the environment. (On a similar note, you may want to also check out our existing article on saving money while giving back.) Taxes are over this year (thank goodness) but it's never too early to start preparing for next year. Guest author Doreen highlights some really neat ways to save money on your taxes. The other two exciting articles just uploaded: save money shopping and save money on clothing. I'm looking forward to continuing to add more articles all about saving up your mortgage down payment (or other savings goal) and expect to have another large update shortly.

April 18, 2008
Staying Motivated By Saving Up Your Down Payment In A Jar!

Saving up your home loan down payment is a big task that can take years to accomplish. Half the challenge in saving for your house mortgage is staying motivated. An exciting new way to stay motivated in saving money: save your money in a jar. By placing your savings in a jar (or multiple jars), you can see your money add up and play a variety of mental games that are sure to keep you on track. Another great way to stay motivated: Give back to your community while saving money. Giving back is a great way to clear your mind and do something great for others. That alone will create strong karma and bring good things your way (such as your first house). Moreover, many charity events are extremely cost effective and will end up saving you money at the end of the day.

©iStockphoto.com – jhorrocks

April 13, 2008
Two New Down Payment Money Saving Articles

There's no doubt! We're on a roll. Two more articles have just been uploaded, both of which are very different and very relevant in your quest to save up your home mortgage down payment. The first article discusses how your family can help you save money. We all love our families. Why not make saving up your down payment a family activity? The second article discusses the tax benefits of owning your own house. As you get ready to buy your first home, you'll want to learn all about mortgages and taxes, two essential topics in mastering the financial side of home ownership.

April 12, 2008
Saving Up Your Down Payment & Renting Versus Buying

I'm excited to have uploaded four new articles by new team member Doreen. In our newest series of articles, Doreen investigates the pros and cons of renting a home versus buying one. In your quest to save up your home loan down payment, you'll want to consider these pros and cons to make the best decisions, both financially and personally. These articles are full of neat money saving tips and insights about home ownership: reasons to rent versus buy a home, reasons to buy versus rent a home, hidden costs of home ownership, and hidden costs of renting your home.

April 7, 2008
New Team Member and Two New Money Saving Articles

I am extremely excited to introduce Doreen Martel, the newest member of the Save For House team. In addition to myself, Doreen will be writing articles all about saving money for your mortgage down payment or other money saving goal. I'm super excited because Doreen is not only an expert at saving money but is also an expert writer. This means we're going to have a lot more exciting articles about saving money. Doreen's first two articles are officially live: Tips To Save Money This Weekend and How To Save Money On Your Pet.

April 6, 2008
It's The Right Time To Save Money For Your Down Payment

Times are rough. Real estate prices are dropping, the Fed has had to make multiple emergency interest rate cuts, and we're starting to hear politicians talk about recession. Moreover, foreclosures are at record highs and large banks such as Bear Stearns are facing serious trouble. In face of all this turmoil, it's hard to keep a positive attitude. Whether you are a homeowner trying to save more money in face of high mortgage monthly payments, someone like myself saving for your first home, or just trying to get by and save money, I strongly urge you to hang in there and smile. When times are rough, it just means they can only get better. Maintaining a positive attitude is key and will allow you to emerge from a rough patch with financial success. Anecdotally, I have noticed two similar traits in all of my role models in life: a positive attitude and an unrelenting desire to succeed. Keep these two things in mind and you are destined for success.

Saving for your first house? It's definitely more difficult these days because most lenders are requiring a significant down payment. The days of small down payments and 100 percent mortgages are over. While this makes it harder to achieve your dream of homeownership, there are two very positive byproducts. First, your home loan will be more secured with 20 percent down. You will have equity in the game and will have a great start towards owning your home in full. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you are making an educated financial decision on the road toward financial freedom. If you save up 20 percent, you are 20 percent of the way there towards owning your home in full. Second, house prices are cheaper now. You have to save more for your down payment but home prices are lower helping to offset the down payment requirement. This is a great time to buy your first house while bargains are available. If you buy your first home in the next few years, I'm betting you'll build up some serious equity in the form of price appreciation ten years out.