I first learned of “Saving the Family Cottage: A Guide to Succession Planning for Your Cottage, Cabin, Camp or Vacation Home” by Stuart J. Hollander, Rose Hollander, & David S. Fry a couple of years ago from a fellow attorney who recommended it. This is a very good book if you plan on passing on a cottage or vacation home to your children, if you have inherited a cabin with siblings or other relatives, or you just want to know how to keep property in the family and reduce or avoid the squabbles over it.

It’s a short book of 188 pages, with a glossary and bibliography that push it over 200. It is easy to read and answers the questions you need answered regarding the topic, and provides guidance on how to best find solutions for families who want to preserve vacation homes for generations to come, especially when family members have different interests and financial situations. It also lets you know how to best use a lawyer to assist you with the process.

Part One: Cottages at Risk contains three chapters that focus on why you need a plan and what the first step should be, avoiding the worst, and planning for the best. These chapters get you thinking of objectives and possible concerns.

Part Two: Choosing the Right Path is divided into four chapters that deal with how plans help, what happens when you don’t have a plan, legal types of ownership such as Tenancy in Common, Joint Tenancy, Community Property, and a few others. There is also a short chapter on using life estates and ownership agreements.

Part Three: Cottage Plans in Action discusses the legal entities available for your cottage such as partnerships, corporations, and Limited Liability Companies. The book recommends LLCs, and provides guidance as to why and how to go about forming one for the purpose of owning the vacation home. Chapters also cover topics like scheduling and use, and renting the cottage.

Part Four: Creating a Cottage Legacy contains two chapters that provide some basic information related to taxes and endowments.

If you own a cottage, cabin, vacation home, or whatever you want to call it, this book is a valuable read regarding the issues that arise when wanting to keep the property in the family. Use this guide along with your attorney to make the best possible succession plan to eliminate headaches and troubles for you and those you are leaving the property to.

If you have looked for the best interest rate for a savings account, no doubt you know that they can fluctuate greatly. Because they are based upon current federal reserve rates, which in turn are based on the strength of US currency. Since these types of interest yields are unpredictable, you are wise if you keep abreast of the rates of traditional banks as well as the rates of increasingly popular savings accounts online.

Many banks and other financial institutions offer a type of investment called “high yield savings accounts.” These types of banking services offer higher annual percentage rate than regular savings accounts do. This is likely to be attractive to a consumer who is interested in do a comparison before deciding on what type of account to choose for savings and investment. However, you should keep in mind that they usually require a greater minimum balance for the particular bank or institution you’re considering. You may have to commit to a higher starting deposit, a higher average daily balance, or a limited amount of transactions allowed per month. Sometimes, you may be required to have a checking account tied to the savings account.

A popular alternative to store front banks, online banking services offer rates of interest that, in most cases, are significantly higher than traditional brick-and-mortar banks. Some of these banking services include ING Direct, HSBC Bank, Emigrant Direct Bank, GMAC Bank, interest rates for these institutions are higher because there is much less overhead associated with an online-only bank. Therefore, they can pass savings from operational costs on to consumers like you by offering higher interest rates.

If you research online, you’ll find that there are many resources available to you if you want to compare interest rates and services between institutions, whether traditional store front, high yield, or online . You can easily do quick research for various types of saving products from a number of different financial institutions, as well as for versions of a savings account calculator, by going to such popular financial web sites as Financial Times and Motley Fool; you will be required to register, but it’s free. The calculator will help you estimate earnings on a particular investment based upon the initial investment, the length of time interest accrues, and the annual percentage yield received. With a little research you will be able to recognize and secure the best interest rate for a savings account online or at or at your local branch.

If you carry an outstanding balance on your credit card, you’re not alone. Nearly 70% of Americans keep a balance on one of their credit cards from month to month. And many of these cards have sky-high rates, which add up to hefty amounts in interest expense. By switching to a low interest rate credit card, you can save hundreds of dollars in interest. Starting with great introductory offers, low interest rate credit cards help you get back on track while enjoying the benefits of a credit card.

Introductory Offers

Credit companies continually offer customers incentives to sign up for their cards. This often includes an initial 0% interest rate. Many low interest rate credit cards carry this 0% APR feature. It allows you to begin saving even before the low interest rate kicks in.

The interest-free time is yours to take advantage of. You can make purchases and pay for them over a period of a few months, with no additional cost. If you carry an outstanding balance on a different credit card, you can transfer it to your new one. Then pay off the debt during the 0% APR time period. Before you do so, though, be sure to check that the charge for a balance transfer is reasonable.

Significant Savings

Low interest rate credit cards allow you to save even after the introductory period. Consider the difference between a credit card that charges an interest rate of 9% and one that charges 20%. If you have a 9% rate and carry a balance of $2,000 for an entire year, you will pay $180 in interest. With the higher rate of 20%, the interest expense rises to $400. That comes out to a difference of $220, which is a considerable amount. If you apply this figure to the principal balance, you will be able to pay off the debt much more quickly.

Check the Attached Fees

When looking for a low interest rate credit card, you will want to compare the various offers. In addition to looking at the interest rate, check the fees attached to the card. Some low interest rate credit cards include an annual fee, charges for balance transfers, and other costs. If the interest rate is low but the other fees are high, your overall savings may be reduced. For this reason, it is important to compare the interest rates and the other costs.

Create a Payment Plan

Even with the savings you’ll receive from a low interest rate credit card, it is wise to make a plan to pay off your balance. A simple way to do this is to check the minimum payment due each month, double that amount, and apply the extra cash toward the principal balance. If the payment due the following month is less, continue to pay the initial amount you chose. This allows you to reduce the outstanding amount in an organized, structured way.

Low interest rate credit cards are an excellent option if you regularly carry a balance. Over time, they can allow you to save a significant amount of money in interest expense. Check out your options online and then apply right away. You can take advantage of low interest rate credit cards immediately and benefits from the savings.

Copyright Ed Vegliante. Free online reprints of this article are allowed provided the resource box remains intact with a live link back to http://www.credit-card-surplus.com .

It is said that living in the mountains is something that your body and soul never forgets. Once it is in your blood, you are always looking for ways to return. There are many amazing mountain locales in America, but three stand out as being at the top of the list.

West Yellowstone real estate in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Wyoming, the mountainous areas surrounding Boulder, Colorado and the Sierra Nevada region of California all offer very different mountain living experiences. Yet they all have things in common like access to healthcare, airports and other amenities found in larger cities.

West Yellowstone Real Estate

West Yellowstone real estate, also known as the Teton Valley real estate area, is the area surrounding Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jackson Hole is a quaint, and beautiful “old west” style town. There are plenty of restaurants, art galleries, and small shops as well as the more traditional offerings such as major chain grocery stores, and medical facilities.

The outdoor recreation activities available in the West Yellowstone real estate area are plentiful. Both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are nearby and offer many different things to see and do that there probably isn’t a need for anything else! Hiking, fishing, boating, biking, or just plain sitting around and taking in the fantastic scenery are all options at both of the parks as well as the general West Yellowstone real estate area.

While it might seem like winter would shut the area down, winter really just gets everyone in Teton Valley going in a new direction. There is skiing and snowboarding nearby at both Grand Targhee Ski Resort and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Not to mention snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snow shoeing in both of the national parks as well as the surrounding national forest.

Boulder, Colorado Real Estate

Named number one in Forbes 2008 list of “The Smartest Cities In America,” Boulder, Colorado and its surrounding areas offer mountain lovers plenty to get excited about. The city is located In Boulder Valley where the massive Rocky Mountains slope down into the Great Plains. It is surrounded by more than 31,000 acres of open space and nature preserves, yet the city itself has all of the cultural, educational, medical and general living amenities a family could need.

Just like West Yellowstone real estate, there are plenty of outdoor sporting options like hiking, biking and rock climbing. The trails have a wide range of difficulty with some being quite technically challenging. World class rock climbing can be had in different locations around Boulder such as the nearby Eldorado Canyon and the Flatirons.

Sierra Nevada Real Estate

The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range that runs lengthwise through California – with a few places spilling over into neighboring Nevada. Translated to “snowy range” in Spanish, the Sierra Nevada area offers plenty of activities for mountain enthusiasts to enjoy. From hiking, backpacking and caving adventures to the splendor of Yosemite National Park – arguably one of the most photographed national parks in the country.

In fact, this proximity to Yosemite combined with the nearby metropolitan city of San Francisco makes the Sierra Nevada area a perfect combination of natural beauty and city amenities. San Francisco has an abundance of cultural and community offerings for residents, including top medical facilities, theaters, shopping and universities.

Depending on the mountains and activities desired, West Yelllowstone real estate, Boulder and its surrounding areas and the Sierra Nevada regions all offer various options for mountain enthusiasts to settle down and fall in love again.

Did you know that rich people keep piggy banks around their home? Yes, generally they do. Multimillionaire Kim Kiyosaki, wife of Rich Dad Poor Dad Robert Kiyosaki, and author of “Rich Woman: Because I Hate Being Told What To Do!” was on the Let’s Talk Marketing radio show November 21 and she confessed to having multiple ones piggy banks. See bio for link to show.

You may even have one or a few piggy banks in your home already. Maybe your child has one and you don’t. If not, you will want to start one today.

You don’t need to run out to the store and buy one. Look in your kitchen. There is probably a previously used jar that you were saving for that “something else, some day use.” I love using a jar because it requires me to unscrew the cap. The motion creates a physical pleasure that is associated with nurturing me. It’s like a jolt of joy. Then again, if you find yourself in the store and there is a piggy bank that tweeks your Twinkie, get it. Until then use something from your kitchen.

Now you are asking, “How is having a piggy bank going to help me become rich? If not this question, you may be saying, “So what, that’s what my parents did and it didn’t help them become rich.”

I am saying that having one a piggy bank will help you become rich. Let me further explain.

First, when you have a piggy bank with money in it, it changes how you feel. You feel more abundant. If you believe in the laws of attraction, you know that when you feel more abundant you are guaranteed to attract more abundance. If you don’t believe this, then there is some additional muck that needs work on — something beyond this lesson.

Did your parents tell you, “save for a rainy day” and that was attached to your piggy bank. Of course, this then became imbedded in your beliefs. You probably even had difficulty figuring out what they defined as a rainy day. Nevertheless, I’m sure you’re parents clarified that for you here and there. Maybe the definition was mucked in the process. You believed it was to buy a skateboard. Your parents believed that was frivolous. Chuckle, you probably even challenged it to the best of your ability to. It even got complicated sometimes when they told you; you could use it to buy your friend or relative a gift with the “rainy day funds.” How confusing was that — your friend or relative wasn’t raining upon.

Seeing some light? Sure you are.

What if you shift your belief from rainy to sunshine? What if you called the piggy bank, “Your Sunshine Account” and you were clear on what that meant? What if your sunshine account was just to nurture yourself, for instance, it gave you the pleasure of getting a pedicure once a month. What if you went to the movies or bought a book you would love to read with the money? Could you define nurturing? I am sure you can.

If you already have a piggy bank, have you labeled it “chump change” or “loose change?” What would you rename it so it fuels you internally and externally rather than seeming wasteful?

If you want to be rich, create a piggy bank, dump your pocket change into it, and add a few bills. I recommend that you stop reading and go do this right now before something else gets in the way and you table it for another activity that you may never get around to doing.

Go ahead, stop, go find a jar or something, and create a piggy bank. No, you don’t need to cut a hole in the top. Then return and continue reading.

Congratulations if you went and completed this exercise. You are still on the road to wealth. Go ahead and skipped the next paragraph, it doesn’t apply.

If you didn’t stop and complete the exercise, it says a lot about your beliefs. It says you have more doubt in your ability to become rich. Doubt is a characteristic of the poor. This is a whole other lesson, so I’ll need to stop now and save for a later discussion. Just know you need to work on this – so stop and find a piggy bank.

Can you feel the difference in yourself now that you have the piggy bank? I bet you even stand taller. Thousands of people who I have worked with over the years have, so I’m sure you will too.

Hmm, and to think it began with the simple use of a piggy bank. Well, that’s where becoming rich (or richer) begins! It starts with taking a different action and making a perspective shift along with it.

Enjoy you Sunshine Bank! Teach your children so they can teach their children and together we will change the future.