Bridgeview
Where is Bridgeview
located?
About Bridgeview
Bridgeview is located in Illinois, Pennsylvania and,
San Francisco
Bridgeview is a village in Cook County, Illinois. It is located approximately 13 miles from the Chicago Loop.
66 Ways to Save Money
For most kinds of purchases, you can get valuable
advice and comparisons on the Internet. Ask a librarian
or friends which Internet sites they think are helpful,
or you can use a search engine like Google or Yahoo.
Be aware that information you find is often biased.
At many websites, the only products or sellers listed
are ones that pay to advertise. Before buying anything
on the Internet, check several websites and make sure
you deal with reputable dealers.
Airline Fares
Compare low-cost carriers with major carriers that
fly to your destination. Remember, the best fares may
not be out of the airport closest to you.
You may save by including a Saturday evening stay-over
or by purchasing the ticket at least 14 days in advance.
Ask which days of the week and times of the day have
the lowest fare.
Even if you are using a travel agent, check airline
and Internet travel sites, and look for special deals.
If you call, always ask for the lowest fare to your
destination.
Car Rental
Since car rental rates can vary greatly, compare total
price (including taxes and surcharge) and take advantage
of any special offers and membership discounts.
Rental car companies offer various insurance and waiver
options. Check with your automobile insurance agent
and credit card company in advance to avoid duplicating
any coverage you may already have.
New Cars
You can save thousands of dollars over the lifetime
of a car by selecting a model that combines a low purchase
price with low depreciation, financing, insurance, gasoline,
maintenance, and repair costs. Ask your local librarian
for new car guides that contain this information.
Having selected a model and options you are interested
in, you can save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping.
Get price quotes from several dealers (over the phone
or Internet) and let each know you are contacting the
others.
8. Remember there is no "cooling off" period
on new car sales. Once you have signed a contract, you
are obligated to buy the car.
Used Cars
Before buying any used car:
Compare the seller's asking price with the average
retail price in a "bluebook” or other guide
to car prices which can be found at many libraries,
banks, and credit unions.
Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially
if the car is sold "as is."
Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you
know and trust. They are more likely than other sellers
to charge a lower price and point out any problems with
the car.
Auto Leasing
Don't decide to lease a car just because the payments
are lower than on a traditional auto loan. The leasing
payments are lower because you don't actually own the
car.
Leasing a car is very complicated. When shopping, consider
the price of the car (known as the capitalized cost),
your trade-in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments,
various fees (excess mileage, excess "wear and
tear," end-of- lease), and the cost of buying the
car at the end of the lease. A valuable source of information
about auto leasing can be found in Keys to Vehicle Leasing:
A Consumer Guide, which is published by the Federal
Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission.
Gasoline
You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing
prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself,
and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner's
manual.
You can save up to $100 a year on gas by keeping your
engine tuned and your tires inflated to their proper
pressure.
Car Repairs
Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded
or poorly done car repairs. The most important step
that you can take to save money on these repairs is
to find a skilled, honest mechanic. Before you need
repairs, look for a mechanic who:
- is certified and well established;
- has done good work for someone you know; and
- communicates well about repair options and costs.
Auto Insurance
You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing
auto insurance from a licensed, low-price insurer. Call
your state insurance department for a publication showing
typical prices charged by different companies. Then
call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers
to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage.
Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles
on collision and comprehensive coverage to at least
$500 or, if you have an old car, dropping this coverage
altogether. This can save you hundreds of dollars on
insurance premiums.
Make certain that your new policy is in effect before
dropping your old one.
Homeowner/Renter Insurance
You can save several hundred dollars a year on homeowner
insurance and up to $50 a year on renter insurance by
purchasing insurance from a low-price, licensed insurer.
Ask your state insurance department for a publication
showing typical prices charged by different licensed
companies. Then call at least four of the lowest priced
insurers to learn what they would charge you. If such
a publication is not available, it is even more important
to call at least four insurers for price quotes.
Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace
the house and its contents. "Replacement"
on the house means rebuilding to its current condition.
Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping
your old one.
Life Insurance
If you want insurance protection only, and not a savings
and investment product, buy a term life insurance policy.
If you want to buy a whole life, universal life, or
other cash value policy, plan to hold it for at least
15 years. Canceling these policies after only a few
years can more than double your life insurance costs.
Check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
website (www.naic.org/cis ) or your local library for
information on the financial soundness of insurance
companies.
Checking Accounts and Debit Cards
You can save more than $100 a year in fees by selecting
a free checking account or one with no minimum balance
requirement. Request a complete list of fees that are
charged on these accounts, including ATM and debit card
fees.
See if you can get free or lower cost checking through
direct deposit or agreeing to ATM only use. Be aware
of charges for using an ATM not associated with your
financial institution.
Savings Products
Before opening a savings account, find out whether
the account is insured by the federal government (FDIC
for banks or NCUA for credit unions). Financial institutions
offer a number of products, such as mutual funds and
annuities, which are not insured.
Once you select a type of savings account, use the
telephone, newspaper, and Internet to compare rates
and fees offered by different financial institutions-including
those outside your city. These rates can vary a lot
and, over time, can significantly affect interest earnings.
To earn the highest return on savings (annual percentage
yield) with little or no risk, consider certificates
of deposit (CDs) or U.S. Savings Bonds (Series I or
EE).
Credit Cards
To avoid late payment fees and possible interest rate
increases on your credit cards, make sure you send in
your payment a week to ten days before the statement
due date. Late payments on one card can increase fees
and interest rates on other cards.
You can avoid interest charges, which may be considerable,
by paying off your entire bill each month. If you are
unable to pay off a large balance, pay as much as you
can. Try to shift the remaining balance to a credit
card with a lower annual percentage rate (APR). You
can find listings of credit card plans, rates, and terms
on the Internet, in personal finance magazines, and
in newspapers.
Be aware that credit cards with rebates, cash back,
travel awards, or other perks may carry higher rates
or fees.
Auto Loans
To save as much as several thousand dollars in finance
charges, pay for the car in cash or make a large down
payment. Always get the shortest term loan possible
as this will lower your interest rate.
Make certain to get a rate quote (or pre-approved loan)
from your bank or credit union before seeking dealer
financing. You can save as much as $1000 in finance
charges by shopping for the cheapest loan.
Make certain to consider the dollar difference between
low-rate financing and a lower sale price. Remember
that getting zero or low-rate financing from a dealer
may prevent you from getting the rebate.
First Mortgage Loans
Although your monthly payment may be higher, you can
save tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges
by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford.
For each $100,000 you borrow at a 7% annual percentage
rate (APR), for example, you will pay over $75,000 less
in interest on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage than you
would on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.
You can save thousands of dollars in interest charges
by shopping for the lowest-rate mortgage with the fewest
points. On a 15-year $100,000 fixed-rate mortgage, just
lowering the APR from 7% to 6.5% can save you more than
$5,000 in interest charges over the life of the loan,
and paying two points instead of three would save you
an additional $1,000.
Check the Internet or your local newspaper for mortgage
rate surveys, then call several lenders for information
about their rates (APRs), points, and fees. If you choose
a mortgage broker, make certain to compare their offers
with those of direct lenders.
Be aware that the interest rate on most adjustable
rate mortgages (ARMs) can vary a great deal over the
lifetime of the loan. An increase of several percentage
points might raise payments by hundreds of dollars a
month, so ask the lender what the highest possible monthly
payment might be.
Mortgage Refinancing
Consider refinancing your mortgage if you can get a
rate that is lower than your existing mortgage rate
and plan to keep the new mortgage for at least several
years. Calculate precisely how much your new mortgage
(including points, fees and closing costs) will cost
and whether, in the long run, it will cost less than
your current mortgage.
Home Equity Loans
Be cautious in taking out home equity loans. The loans
reduce or may even eliminate the equity that you have
built up in your home. (Equity is the cash you would
have if you sold your house and paid off your mortgage
loans.) If you are unable to make payments on home equity
loans, you could lose your home.
Compare home equity loans offered by at least four
reputable lending institutions. Consider the interest
rate on the loan and the annual percentage rate (APR),
which includes other costs, such as origination fees,
discount points, mortgage insurance, and other fees.
Ask if the rate changes, and if so, how it is calculated
and how frequently, as this will affect the amount of
your monthly payments.
Home Purchase
You can often negotiate a lower sale price by employing
a buyer broker who works for you, not the seller. If
the buyer broker or the broker's firm also lists properties,
there may be a conflict of interest, so ask them to
tell you if they are showing you a property that they
have listed.
Do not purchase any house until it has been examined
by a home inspector that you selected.
Renting a Place to Live
Do not limit your rental housing search to classified
ads or referrals from friends and acquaintances. Select
buildings where you would like to live and contact their
building manager or owner to see if anything is available.
Remember that signing a lease probably obligates you
to make all monthly payments for the term of the agreement.
Home Improvement
Home repairs often cost thousands of dollars and are
the subject of frequent complaints. Select from among
several well established, licensed contractors who have
submitted written, fixed-price bids for the work.
Do not sign any contract that requires full payment
before satisfactory completion of the work.
Major Appliances
Consult Consumer Reports, available in most public
libraries, for information about specific appliance
brands and models and how to evaluate them, including
energy use. There are often great price and quality
differences. Look for the yellow Energy Guide label
on products, and especially for products that have earned
the government’s ENERGY STAR, which can save up
to 50% in energy use.
Once you've selected a specific brand and model, check
the Internet or yellow pages to learn what stores carry
the brand. Call at least four of these stores to compare
prices and ask if that's the lowest price they can offer
you. This comparison shopping can save you as much as
$100 or more.
Electricity
To save as much as hundreds of dollars a year on electricity,
make certain that any new appliances you purchase, especially
air conditioners and furnaces, are energy-efficient.
Information on the energy efficiency of major appliances
is found on Energy Guide Labels required by federal
law.
Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour
rate programs offered by your electric utility may save
you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your
electric utility for information about these cost-saving
programs.
Heating and Cooling
A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to
hundreds of dollars a year on home heating (and air
conditioning). Ask your electric or gas utility if they
audit homes for free or for a reasonable charge. If
they do not, ask them to refer you to a qualified professional.
Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour
rate programs offered by your electric utility may save
you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your
electric utility for information about these cost-saving
programs.
Telephone Service
Once a year, review your phone bills for the previous
three months to see what local, local toll, long distance,
and international calls you normally make. Call several
phone companies which provide service in your area (including
wireless and cable), to find the cheapest calling plan
that meets your needs. Consider a bundled package that
offers local, local toll and long distance, and possibly
other services, if you heavily use all the services
in the bundle.
Check your phone bill to see if you have optional calling
features or additional services, such as inside wire
maintenance, that you don't need. Each option you drop
could save you $40 or more each year.
If you make very few toll or long distance calls, avoid
calling plans with monthly fees or minimums. Or consider
disconnecting the service altogether and use dial around
services such as 10-10 numbers or prepaid phone cards
for your calls. When shopping for dial around service,
look for fees, call minimum, and per minute rates. Treat
prepaid cards as cash and find out if there is an expiration
date.
If you use a cell phone, make sure your calling plan
matches the pattern of calls you typically make. Understand
peak calling periods, area coverage, roaming, and termination
charges. Contracts offered by most carriers will provide
you with a trial period of 14 days or more. Use that
time to make sure the service provides coverage in all
the places you will be using the phone (home, work etc.).
Prepaid wireless plans tend to have higher per minute
rates and fees but may be a better option if you use
the phone only occasionally.
Before making calls when away from home, compare per
minute rates and surcharges for cell phones, prepaid
phone cards, and calling card plans to find how to save
the most money.
Dial your long distance calls directly. Using an operator
to place the call can cost you up to $10 extra. To save
money on information calls, look the number up on the
Internet, or in the directory.
Food Purchased at Markets
You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping
at lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often
charge the highest price.
You will spend less on food if you shop with a list,
take advantage of sales, and purchase basic ingredients,
rather than pre-packaged components or ready-made items.
You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing
price-per-ounce or other unit prices on shelf labels.
Stock up on those items with low per-unit costs.
Prescription Drugs
Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive
than their generic equivalents, ask your physician and
pharmacist if a less expensive generic or an over the
counter alternative is available.
Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices
for the same medicine, call several. When taking a drug
for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies,
which often charge lower prices.
Funeral Arrangements
Plan ahead, making your wishes known about your funeral,
memorial, or burial arrangements in writing to save
your family or estate unnecessary expense.
For information about the least costly options, which
may save you several thousand dollars, contact a local
Funeral Consumer Alliance or memorial society, which
are usually listed in the Yellow Pages under funeral
services.
Before selecting a funeral home, call several and ask
for prices of specific goods and services, or visit
them to obtain an itemized price list. You are entitled
to this information by law.
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