Mortgage Protection Insurance Basics
When we first bought our home we received a ton of advertisements for mortgage protection insurance in our mailbox within the first week. They kept on coming at least one or two letters per week offering mortgage protection insurance, mortgage protection plans, and mortgage cancellation insurance for the first six months of owning our home. It was insane.
I had never heard of mortgage protection insurance so I figured other potential home buyers would be interested in discovering what it’s all about before all those letters start hitting your mailbox.
Private Mortgage Insurance vs Mortgage Protection Insurance
Many of you are probably familiar with private mortgage insurance or PMI. Although the names are similar PMI is completely different than mortgage protection insurance.
Private mortgage insurance is almost always required by banks when you buy a house with less than 20% down payment. (Your only other option is a second mortgage at a higher rate than the first mortgage). PMI protects the bank’s investment, if you default on the mortgage loan the insurance kicks in and pays the bank what you owe them. PMI is basically a premium you pay for having a small down payment and it helps insure the bank’s money.
Mortgage protection insurance is an extra level of insurance you can buy whose purpose is to protect against unforseen life events (becoming disabled, losing your job, or death) that make it difficult or impossible for you to make your mortgage payments.
Mortgage Protection Insurance Coverage
MPI will pay your mortgage for you if your circumstances meet the criteria of your policy. Many policies have a limit on the amount the policy pays or length of time it will pay for you. (Some limit both.)
So when does it kick in? As I mention it depends on the policy but in general, if you:
- become disabled and unable to work
- lose your job and lack income to make mortgage payments
- die (these policies usually pay off the loan)
Mortgage Protection Insurance Alternatives
Let’s address each of the above issues.
Disability – One option is to buy a disability insurance policy. With this policy you’ll get a monthly check to replace your lost income. That’s income that you can use for anything — not just your mortgage like with MPI.
Unemployment – One common suggestion to guard your finances against losing your job is to build an emergency fund. An emergency fund can be used to fight not only unexpected unemployment but also any big financial issues like a car dying or unplanned medial bills.
Death – A term life insurance policy would be a good alternative to mortgage proection insurance. The benefit of life insurance is that your family can use the money as they see fit, they wouldn’t have to use it to pay off the house like mortgage protection insurance would do.
Where to Buy Mortgage Protection Insurance
Let’s start with two places to not buy mortgage protection insurance. You should not buy a policy from your bank or anyone your bank recommends simply because it is your bank. I’m not saying you shouldn’t consider these policies, just be sure to watch out for conflicts of interest.
Along the same lines, I would be wary about buying mortgage protection insurance based only on a direct mail advertisement. Not that you should rule a company out simply because they sent you an ad in the mail but make sure you research the company and the policy they offer. For example, The Hartford is a reputable insurance company and they sent me information about the product but I wouldn’t automatically use them simply because of their reputation. I would find out the terms and details of their policy before signing anything or paying any money.
If you’re considering mortgage protection insurance the best thing to do is probably consult with an insurance agent that specializes in the product. An alternative to an in-person meeting with an agent would be to do a lot of research of companies online. (But I wouldn’t buy this type of insurance online unless I was very, very sure of the company and website I was purchasing from.)
Comparing Mortgage Protection Plans
As with any insurance product there are a lot of factors to consider before you make a purchase decision. Here’s a quick run down.
- Cost/Benefit Ratio – How much is the policy going to charge on a monthly basis?
- Policy Cancellations – Are there a lot of “catches”? Do you have to pay a fee to get out of the policy?
- Health Factors – Do health risks increase the chances you might need need this insurance?
- High-Risk Occupations – Do you work in industries that are more likely to lead to death or disability (loggers, oil rig work, etc.)?
- Financial Situation – Can you afford the insurance and have you run the numbers on the alternatives?
The last factor to consider is the actual insurance you are purchasing. You pay a flat fee for a slowly less valuable payoff. If you use the insurance one year into owning your home then the insurance company will be paying you the full amount of the insurance.
The flip side is if you use the insurance with one year left to pay off your mortgage your benefit will be significantly reduced.
Is MPI for you? I prefer having insurance products and savings that cover me in a multitude of financial situations, but some people may find value in mortgage protection insurance.
Stock Analysis Ratios
Stock analysis across multiple stocks is much simpler if you take advantage of the insight you can glean from a collection of stock market ratios such as earnings per share, price earnings, dividend yield, and debt to asset ratio. The performance and market conditions for each company behind shares of stock you’re comparing will vary, making it harder to evaluate the companies all on the same criteria.
That’s where financial ratios come into the picture; they can help you understand where companies stand relative to one another in terms of cash flow, debt, earnings, and other important financial metrics. Once you understand what these ratios represent, you can setup stock screens on the various ratios to help you find stocks of companies that meet the specific criteria that are important to your investing strategy. Most online brokers allow you to setup stock screens to help monitor these ratios.
A while back we ran a series of posts covering some of the most widely used stock analysis ratios, below are links to each of the articles. Each one describes what the financial ratios represent and how you can use them to analyze a stock.
- Earnings Per Share & Price to Earnings Ratio
- Price to Earnings Growth, Debt to Asset Ratio, & Dividend Yield
- Price to Book Ratio, Beta, & Price to Sales Ratio
Cash Back Rewards When Moving
One of the things that I realized during two cross-country moves is that you can really rack up the credit card rewards points with a little help from doing something you have to anyway. Moving can be expensive, but you can offset some of the costs by being savvy about your rewards:
Cash Back Cards
One of the things I did for one move was to put my major moving expenses on my cash back credit card. If you rent a moving truck, or hire a moving company, you can put that large expense on your card.
Save up ahead of time for your move so that you can pay off the balance right away. That way the interest doesn’t destroy your rewards. Even better, if you are working for a company that will reimburse you, you can still put the cost on your credit card. Get the money back, and still reap the rewards.
Gas Rewards
Check to see what your rewards program offers in terms of gas. Some programs offer more for gas purchases. Use these cards when filling up the tank, whether its the UHaul you’re driving, or the car you’re taking across the country. If you have a gas credit card, you can use that to build up points at your favorite gas station.
Travel Rewards
If you belong to a hotel rewards program, try to plan your route so that you can stay at the hotel chain of choice as much as possible. The same is true of miles programs if you are flying to your new home.
Look for special promotions at one chain (stay two nights, get a third free). That way, you can get a little something extra for your trip. If you have a travel rewards credit card be sure to use it for your hotel or airline purchases, the points certainly won’t pay for your trip but every little bit helps.
Setting Up Utilities
Since part of moving your money requires that you set up new utilities, such as phone, Internet and TV, you can actually use that your advantage. Set up these recurring payments so that they are automatically charged to your cash back card, or to the rewards card that you use the most.
That way, every month you are building up rewards. Just make sure that you pay off the balance each month. Many power companies and other utilities are also starting to allow the automatic payment option. Moving is a great time to review your payment practices to work in your favor.
Tax Deduction
You can get some cash back for some of your moving expense if you’re eligible for a tax deduction. If you are moving due to a change in your job, or to a new business location, you can take an “above the line” deduction that affects your adjusted gross income.
Your new job must be at least 50 miles farther from your old home than your old job was from your old home. If you are starting a new job, that job must be at least 50 miles away from your old home. You also have to work full-time for at least 39 weeks in the 12 months following your move. This applies to the self-employed as well.
Change of Address Savings
When you fill out the change of address form with the post office, you receive a number of helpful discounts and coupons. For example, you can get savings from the following vendors:
- Lowe’s: 10% a purchase, $10 off a $50 purchase, $25 off $250 purchase
- AT&T Uverse: Up to $300 cash back for new customers
- Overstock: 10% off your order with $2.95 shipping
- Best Buy: 10% off one item
Look through the packet to see whether any of the savings can be useful to you as you set up your new home. Make sure, though, that you aren’t spending to just to get the discount. Carefully consider what you really need, and make your purchases accordingly.
Best Moving Companies for Your Money
The best moving companies for your money aren’t necessarily the cheapest. When it comes to moving you have to consider not just the hourly rate of the movers but also their level of experience and the speed with which they work.
Since you’re trusting them to load and move all your belongings you want to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable moving company that hires quality movers. Here are some of the things to look for when you’re screening moving companies.
Best Moving Company Practices
Try and find out a little bit more about the moving company before you sign the paperwork and turn your items over to movers. Some of the things to look for when comparing movers include:
- License with DOT: The best moving companies are licensed with the Department of Transportation. Check with the moving company’s home state to make sure there is a license.
- Presence with the BBB: When moving, it is a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureaus about the company in question. Carefully read reviews and identify problem companies.
- Physical address: The best moving companies have physical addresses that you can visit, and speak with actual people. Be wary of a mover that only has a P.O. box, or that does not have a place for you to visit.
- Clear about moving services: The best moving companies are clear about what included in the base price, as well as what is extra. Find out how the moving company charges for services (by weight or by space taken up), including whether a certain number of moving boxes are included, whether you get free days of moving storage, and find out what items cost extra.
- Satisfied customers: You can get recommendations from friends and family, whether you are using local movers or you are making a cross country move. Look online for reviews as well. The best moving companies have reasonably satisfied customers, and that is something to look for.
Moving Companies and Hidden Charges
When choosing a mover, it is important to realize that the cheapest moving companies are not always the best. These companies may offer what seems like a great deal, only to cut corners — or slap you with hidden charges.
Some of the short cuts that movers might take include not packing your items carefully, which can lead to costly damage or even loss. Some moving companies are lax on security, and your items can be stolen out of the moving truck. Even more costly can be the charges that start to add up with some moving companies. Some charges to watch for include:
- Packing materials: Even if the mover quotes you a price that includes a packing service, the quote may not include the cost of the packing materials, such as moving boxes and tape, used by the company. Make sure your quote includes the cost of packing materials. You might also be charged for moving blankets and other padding.
- Stairs: Most moving companies charge for moving things up and down stairs. Make sure you let movers know how many stairs you have in your old home and your new home, and tell them to include these charges in their quotes.
- Distance carry: If a mover has to carry items a distance from your home to the truck, you will be charged. You may also be charged for shuttles if the moving truck can’t get close to your residence.
- Surcharges: Find out about gas surcharges, as well as charges for going over the quoted weight. You should also look at all the fees for lading and other charges. Find out policies moving companies have for surcharges, and be prepared.
- Moving storage: If you items arrive before you are ready for them, you may be charged a moving storage fee. Find out what this fee is, and when the moving company begins charging it. Watch out for scammers that hold your items hostage until they are paid an extra amount.
Fixed Rate Moves
There’s a new trend in the local moving industry where some companies are offering fixed price moves. When you schedule your move you give them a list of all the items you need moved and they’ll quote you a fixed rate. Whether it takes them 4 hours, 8 hours, or even longer to move your stuff, the rate they quote you is what you pay.
The benefit of this approach over hourly rate movers is that you know up front what the move will cost you. It also prevents moving companies from inflating the cost of the move by taking longer than it really should pack and haul your household. Hopefully these tips on finding the best moving companies will be useful, good luck moving!
5 Keys to Retire Overseas
To retire overseas and live on the beach on a fixed retirement income may sound enticing but how realistic is this form of retirement living? The concept of stretching your retirement savings by moving to a place with a lower cost of living seems to make sense but some of what you hear about retiring overseas may be misleading.
Retiring Overseas
Retiring abroad is viewed as a way of maintaining one’s social standing on a reduced income, or possibly even improving it. The stereotypical view of a retired western expat is one of an older person on a state pension who lives a decadent beachfront lifestyle amidst the relative poverty of the new country he or she has settled in. Typically these countries are located in Southeast Asia or Latin America.
Stretching Your Retirement Money?
The information you see on the internet and in bookstores on places to retire is going to play this image up as much as possible. You are going to be shown “sample budgets” of a “typical” couple living on less than US$1500 per month on the beach, with servants, a car, and living on a steady diet of meals in finer restaurants. When you’re trying to decide where to retire, keep in mind many of these examples of this “new retirement” are exaggerations.
Retirement Living Abroad
The only real way to improve your standard of living dramatically on a small budget is to move to an impoverished country. Belize, Panama, Nicaragua are touted as the best places to retire for those with little savings but guaranteed incomes and a penchant for beachfront living.
What you aren’t being told is that you’re going to have pay for your own private health care, there’s a bit of paperwork you’ll have to fill out to qualify for a retirement visa, and these countries have high crime rates and often poor infrastructure. Poor infrastructure can mean anything from bad roads to intermittent electricity to run down hospitals.
Below is a brief retirement guide that I think you should follow in order to have a successful experience abroad in retirement. These guidelines are very broad, but if followed they can mean the difference between a miserable time overseas, and spending your retirement in peace and bliss:
1. Visit first. This might seem like common sense, but I don’t mean that you should merely visit your would-be retirement destination for a week during ideal weather. You should be intimately familiar with the country you plan to retire to.
This means being well aware of its weather regardless of the season. It means knowing what the country is like during growth and recession. Is it too humid in the summer? Is it politically stable after market crash? These are things you should know before you move.
2. Make sure your spouse/partner is on board. Which of you really wants to move overseas? In my experience living abroad, the happiest people are those who have a happy significant other. A couple is a team and there’s nothing more stressful than having your fellow team member not on board with something as significant as a move abroad.
A new environment combined with two people spending more time together because neither person works any longer can add to the strife. Learn to live with your significant other in retirement before making a move abroad.
3. Keep your home country’s health care. Many view moving abroad as a way to save on healthcare, particularly if you are American. It is true that health care in many countries, particularly in the developing world is comparatively inexpensive. However, to get this health care you generally have to have private health insurance and this health insurance is not guaranteed.
Your coverage can be dropped if you become too expensive, which is certainly an issue if you have a chronic illness and need long term hospitalization. By keeping your government backed healthcare going, you have the alternative of moving back home for treatment. Government backed health care, specifically Medicare, can’t be taken away no matter how expensive your treatment is. Private health care can and will be if your treatment gets too pricey.
4. Be passable with the local language. Again it seems like common sense but beyond making it easier to order from a menu, it allows you to save money routinely. The best offers are available to locals; in contrast the worst and most expensive offers are usually made to English speaking tourists.
Knowing the language will allow you to be aware of local rules and regulations which will help you avoid any legal entanglements and issues with local law enforcement.
5. Keep a home address. I’m not saying keep your old house, which may be too expensive to accomplish. I mean keep an old address for bills and to maintain a relationship with a bank. If you retire abroad you should keep the majority of your liquid assets in your home country rather than in your retirement destination. Why is this? Currency devaluations are a common occurrence overseas and local banks are rarely government insured.
One problem you may face is that many American banks don’t like it when their customers are living overseas and keeping a home address to give the facade that you are still living at home. Typically it is not illegal to maintain this illusion, but banks do not wish to be the victims of money laundered transfers.
In this age of increased government scrutiny of overseas travel and international money transfers, banks may try to close accounts of people they believe are no longer living locally. This is certainly an enormous issue for any expat.
Retirement Planning
These five tips are really just the beginning of the planning you’ll need to do if you’d like to retire overseas. Unfortunately, no amount of preparation can account for every eventuality of retiring abroad. There will always be surprises, some good, some bad.
But a dollop of common sense combined with a well thought out plan can help you achieve what you want in your new overseas life. I hope these tips serve as a beginning of your plan!
About the author: Rick Todd writes at Expat Investing where he discusses such topics as whether retiring abroad is right for you and if you can afford to live abroad on social security alone.
Ultimate Moving Checklist for Your Money
Your moving checklist is not complete without adding to-do’s to protect your money. One of the important things to realize about moving is that it comes with financial consequences. Whether you are moving across town, or moving across the country, it is important to make a list of the money moves you will have to make while accomplishing your physical move. Here is a moving checklist for your money:
Setup Electronic Delivery: Switching to electronic delivery means that you will not miss a statement, no matter where you move. And the new residents will not have access to personal financial information that may accidentally be sent to your old home.
Change of Address Forms: One of the most important things you can do is make sure that your financial institutions, creditors and service providers have your new address. Most companies allow you to change your address online, or submit it when you pay your latest bill. You can also call customer service to find out the procedure. Fill out a change of address form at the post office to catch those that slip through the cracks.
Schedule Bill Payments: Schedule bill payments ahead of time using your bank account or a credit card so that you do not inadvertently miss a payment in the confusion of moving.
Bank Deposits & Debits: If you are moving and need a new bank account in the local area, you will need to make sure that automatic debit and other transactions do not get dropped in the transfer. Plan ahead, creating a moving check list that includes which automatic payments and deposits need to be switched.
You may need 30 days for the switch to take effect, so plan in advance. It might be worth it to set up automatic billing on your credit card so that you do not have to worry about your checking account. Just be sure to budget enough to pay off your credit card each month.
Cancel Utilities: Cancel your utilities if you are moving out of town; you do not want to be charged for someone else’s usage. This is especially important if you are moving out of a rental. Make sure that your account is up to date, and provide a new address for the final bill. Your local moving checklist should include transferring your utilities; this often helps you avoid paying new fees and deposits.
Property Deposits: Your apartment moving checklist (or other rental) should include doing what you can to get back your deposit. Find out what needs to be cleaned in order to get your full deposit back, and follow the list. Go on a walk through with the manager and get written confirmation of the amount of the deposit that will be returned to you. Provide your new address so the deposit can be mailed, and follow up if you do not receive the deposit back.
Mortgage Payments: Make sure your old mortgage is paid off when you sell your home. Most banks allow you to request a pay-off quote via an automated system by phone or online. Also on your moving to-do list is setting up new payments with your new lender, if you are getting a new mortgage.
Insurance Policies: Update insurance policies so that your new residence is adequately covered by renters insurance or homeowners insurance. If it’s an older home you’re moving into you might also look into home warranties.
Property Taxes: Double check the county assessment. If your property tax assessment is significantly higher than the market value of your new home you can challenge the assessment. Take your real estate sales contract into the county tax assesor and make your case.
Document Tax Deductions: Make sure to document expenses related to your move, since these count as an “above the line” deduction on your Form 1040. Also, keep mortgage points paid and mortgage interest paid information for tax purposes.
Research Moving Companies: Whether you get a U-Haul, get a service like ABF, or get a full service mover, research moving companies. Run the numbers to see which would be most cost effective, and read reviews (check with the Better Business Bureau) on different companies. Be wary of moving scams that could cost you even more money.
Get Rid of Stuff: Sell or donate your stuff to avoid bringing it with you. The reduced weight and number of items will save money on moving, and you could get a little extra cash — or a tax deduction.
Protect Valuables: Do not pack your valuables on the moving truck. Instead, keep valuable items with you in the car, carefully packed and documented for insurance purposes.
Carry Cash: Make sure you have adequate cash for tips, unexpected expenses on the way, and any companies you’re working with that do not accept credit cards.
Blue Cash Rewards Increase
Our Blue Cash rewards card got a major boost last week thanks to our home remodeling projects. With a tiered rewards system like the Amex Blue Cash uses you earn the most cash back after you’ve reached the highest tier. The faster you reach that level, the more cash back rewards you earn over the course of a year.
Cash Back Rewards
Of course you don’t want to go out and spend more just to reach the highest rewards tier but in years where your expenses are much higher, you definitely get there faster. As we’ve been working on our new house, we put a lot of the remodeling costs on our Blue Cash since it’s one of the best cash back credit cards. Not everyone takes American Express, some of the individual contractors only accepted cash, but enough of them accepted it that we’ve reached the highest tier much faster this year.
Home Improvement Rewards
This remodeling comes at a good time for us in terms of credit card rewards because Blue Cash pays out your rewards on your anniversary date and then starts your tiered earnings over the following month. Since our annual rewards payout was just two months ago we hadn’t spent enough so far and were still in the bottom tier.
Our remodeling schedule was pretty tight since we had to be out of our old house and needed the new one ready before we moved in. That meant we had to make a lot of decisions and spend a lot of money in just a few days time. We used the card for so many big purchases last Wednesday that I’m surprised it didn’t start smoking from being swiped so many times. Now we’re well above the minimum to earn 5% cash back at gas stations, drug stores, and grocery stores.
Blue Cash Rewards
Now that the big spending for remodeling is (hopefully) over our card can cool down a little. The good news is that we’ve stayed in our remodeling budget so far; and since we put a lot of it on our Blue cash card, we’ll be earning more cash back rewards this year than last.
Moving All Our Junk
As you can tell from the first two groups of articles below there are two things on my mind this weekend: houses and saving money. I’m spending all weekend moving boxes into our new house; I told my wife I haven’t been this sore since soccer pre-season training back in college. I think every muscle in my body is sore; luckily we’re having professional movers take our furniture over for us later in the week.
I’m also thinking about saving money because everyone wants you to pay them when you’re selling a house and moving. On top of all the fees required when selling your house there are all kinds of moving expenses that seem to pop up. Anyhow, back to moving. I don’t have any good personal finance tips for you today so I gave you lots of money articles from around the web to check out. Enjoy the reading, at least you’re not moving boxes…
Real Estate
- Calculating Net Worth: Should Home Values Be Included? @ Frugal Dad
- Making an Offer on a Home: How to Negotiate a Deal @ Generation X Finance
- How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Mortgage @ Free Money Finance
- Should You Upgrade to a Larger Home? @ Good Financial Cents
Frugality
- Rent Textbooks To Save Money @ Suns Financial Diary
- How to Negotiate Like a Pro @ Five Cent Nickel
- How to Save Money when Eating Out @ Million Dollar Journey
- Saving Money by Eating Ethnically @ Money Ning
- 7 Ways to Avoid Paying Full Price @ Being Frugal
- How to Save Money on Household Cleaners @ The Money Crashers
- 6 Extremely Frugal Methods of Saving Money @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff
- 8 Ways to Stretch Your Printer Ink Cartridges @ Saving Money Today
- How to Save Money on Your Wedding @ Frugal Confessions
Investing
- Should You Invest in the Top Fund of the Decade? @ Lazy Man & Money
- Own Stocks For The Long Run @ The Digerati Life
- Vanguard Expands Target Date Funds to Young Investors @ Consumerism Commentary
- Morningstar Admits Fund Expenses More Important Than Star Ratings @ My Money Blog
- Why Invest In Stocks @ Free From Broke
- What Is A Price To Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio)? @ Canadian Finance Blog
- Are You Ready To Invest In The Stock Market? @ Nerd Wallet
- Tax Efficient Investing @ Investor Junkie
Personal Finance
- Avoid These Financial Products @ Bargaineering
- 50 Best Finance-Related Movie Quotes of All Time @ Go Banking Rates
- How to Make Time to Deal With Your Finances @ Christian PF
- 10 Steps To Improve Your Finances @ The Wealth Artisan
- 8 Smart and effective debt reduction tips @ Beating Broke
Career
- My First Job Ended in Unemployment @ My Dollar Plan
- Do You Have a Plan for Unemployment? @ Cash Money Life
- Why You Weren’t Hired for the Job @ PT Money
- 5 reasons why your boss doesn’t like you @ Moneyed Up
Carnivals
- 5 Good Reasons Buying a House Requires Planning in Carnival of Financial Planning
- Borrowing Money from Family in Carnival of Money Stories
AT&T Uverse vs Comcast Triple Play
We have the Comcast Triple Play package and have been a Comcast customer for 10 years but may soon switch to AT&T Uverse when we move. If you’ve ever had to pay the fees involved when selling your house and buying a house, you’ll know the last thing you want to do when moving is pay another fee!
Comcast Activation Fees
When I called Comcast to switch our cable, internet, and phone service to our new house I found out they’re going to charge me $150 in activation and setup fees. I asked the customer service rep if he could waive or reduce the fee since we’ve been a customer for 10 years but he refused.
AT&T U-Verse Promotion
So I got online to see what AT&T could do, turns out that not only do they charge a much lower fee, but the latest AT&T Uverse promotion will pay us to become a customer! I’d rather just stay with Comcast because they’ve done a good job for us for 10 years but if they’re going to charge me $150 to remain a customer, what choice do I have?
Switching to AT&T
I’d think it’d be worth it to Comcast to waive or reduce the activation fee to keep me as a customer for another 10 years but apparently it’s not. I’m going to try one more time, I’ll let Comcast know what AT&T is offering me and ask them to waive our fees. If not I’ll change my transfer work order to a cancel work order and sign up for AT&T Uverse at the new house instead.
Below is the transcript of the web chat I had with AT&T yesterday:
Welcome to AT&T. My name is Jake.
Jake: I will be happy to answer your questions regarding AT&T U-verse products. To start, could you please tell me which State you’re located in and the zip code?
you: XXXXX
you: Are there installation and activation charges if I switch to U-verse?
Jake: In order to answer your question I’ll need some additional details. Let me ask you a few questions so that I can provide you an accurate answer.
Jake: Which services are you looking to order online today (e.g. Home Phone, Internet and TV)?
you: all 3
Jake: Glad to know that!
Jake: There is a one time TV activation charge of $29.
Jake: Standard installation for the first 3 TV’s, Voice, and 1 computer comes at no additional cost.
Jake: Could you please tell me which TV, Voice, and Internet plan you are interested in so that I can offer the best online promotions today?
you: I’m with comcast, moving 1 mile away and they’re going to charge me $99 hookup fee plus $20 per TV
you: so $29 is much better
Jake: Good to know that!
Jake: AT&T U-verse will get you the best services + satisfaction. Trust me you will love our services and never regret for your decision.
Jake: By ordering any AT&T U-verse TV plan + Internet plan + Voice plan online today you qualify for $300 Visa Reward Card as well.
you: cool, how far out are you scheduling? would I be able to have it setup by next week?
Jake: I do not have the exact date;however, as you proceed, you will receive an option for the installation day and time. You can select your desired date while ordering the service online (if available).
you: ok, I would probably just go with the base package, I don’t see the difference between the $99 on and the $112 one
you: oh, now I see, one has more channels
you: where can I see the list of channels with each package?
Jake: On the order page you get the option to build your own bundle by selecting from different plans. So, you will get the prices depending on your choices.
Jake: Click here to view the Channel Line-up.
you: great, so what do I need to do to get the $300 Visa Reward Card?
Jake: You would just require to place the online order to qualify for the online promotions.
Jake: After you make the selections and able to see ‘Completed’ under the TV, Voice, and Internet section, then click on ‘Continue’ button to proceed to the Shopping Cart page.
Jake: It hardly takes a few minutes to complete your online order, and I am right here to assist you in completing it today.
you: great, thanks for your help!
Top Bloggers with Books
Would you lay on the beach and read your favorite blogs while on vacation? Without an iPad, it wouldn’t be easy; but a book is simple to throw in your beach bag and curl up with on a lazy afternoon.
Top bloggers who have consistently shown they have something interesting and/or valuable to share with you will sometimes compile their best work or share their insights by publishing a book. Here’s a list of top bloggers and their books in the areas of personal finance, business, personal development, and parenting.
Some of these bloggers have actually published multiple books but we’ve only listed one, either their most recent or best known book. It’s no small feat to publish a book so congrats to this list of smart and determined authors!
If you know a blogger with a book you’d recommend you can submit it to the list with the form at the bottom (it’s okay to submit your own book). Go ahead, check out what they’ve written and see if anything tickles your fancy.
Enter Your Email below to request free access to the member newsletter and article updates.
I'm Ben Edwards and I've been addicted to personal finance since I was 12 years old.
That passion for money has paid off for my family - so in 2006 I founded Money Smart Life to help you afford the life that you want. Read My Story...
