Julie Rains's blog

Speeding through your mortgage

Now that many of you have crunched the numbers for accelerating your mortgage payoff, I think you are ready for a quick lesson on speeding through your mortgage. Now, I am not sayi

DIY Mortgage Acceleration

Do-it-yourselfers who are weary of yet another trip to the home improvement store may like this DIY project. It has the possibilities of increasing home equity just as quickly as a bath remodel or new deck. [more]

How to Build Your Own Amortization Schedule

Looking for a dull, but financially eye-opening home project? Great! Today, we're going to build an amortization schedule. [more]

Saving money for kids made easy (NOT) by banks

Last week, I closed a no-maintenance-fee account because I was charged a hefty you-haven’t-deposited-any-money-lately fee a/k/a dormant account fee. [more]

Is Infrastructure Destiny?

Today is National Ride Your Bike to Work Day. I have a bike but I chose to drive in my “Share the Road” license-plate embellished car today. Why? The route from home to office, though short, is treacherous. [more]

Covert transaction legal, life-saving: getting free drinks at the amusement park

In the interest of frugality and safety , I will pass along a tip that I received from a waitress when my family and I were visiting Williamsburg. She advised us that free water in