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Photo Credit: Bald Eagle89

The 151st edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance hosted by Alpha Consumer featured this article.

Renting a place has a connotation of just trying to find something affordable and safe. It can so much more than that. Renting in a good neighborhood can improve your quality of life, reduce stress, and save you money in the long run.

Start with Google. It pays to look ahead on some things before considering a move, such as:

• Crime (look at the amount of crime and the type of crime)
• Shopping Areas (Are conveniently located?)
• Libraries, Parks, Attractions, etc. (You’re trying to find places that interest you.)

If the area doesn’t do well with the above criteria you may just want to skip visiting the location and save yourself time.

Here are some things to do while going though a potential neighborhood:

• Visit on a Friday or Saturday night. This visit lets you know if the place is too noisy and rowdy for you or if it’s not exciting enough. My cousin is a city girl, so she needs things to do and happen. (She’s a great salsa dancer.) My sister likes someplace peaceful and quiet at night. Each would have a different opinion of the same neighborhood.
• Look to see if your bank is located nearby. (This might not be an issue if you’re considering changing your bank.) With banks charging $3 for out of network users, this is something to seriously consider. I wrote some tips on how to cut down the ATM fees.
• Ask for directions a few times. Try and see if the area is generally friendly or not.
• See if good public transportation is available. Rising gas prices have made public transportation a consideration. If the area has a great system, then you can save thousands of dollars a year and reduce the stress of sitting in traffic .

Renting a place is a good opportunity to ‘test drive’ a place that you may considering owning a condo, townhome, or house. What are some tricks and tips you’ve used when looking for an area to rent in?

Photo Credit: fweez

I’ve had my (baby) cat for about five years. I got him while I was still in school, which meant I did not have a lot of money to play with. He’s been healthy and for the most part happy (he’s a bit mean at times). I’ve set aside money in my budget for him and it has worked so far. Now that I’m married and my husband has adopted my cat, there are two people looking out for him.

Having a pet is not cheap, so if you’re struggling to make ends meet and want a pet, please wait. Even though there are ways to cut some expenses down, it cost money to take care of an animal.

Find a good and affordable veterinarian

If you’re low income, consider speaking to your local animal shelter. Some of them have clinics with reduced fees for vet visits and commonly used medications for lower income families. Also ask around for more information on vets in your area. A good vet can save you money if they can diagnose the problem early.

Also don’t be afraid to ask the vet if you can workout a payment plan. Some are willing to work with you if you’re upfront.

Consider a healthcare plan.

PetSmart also has the Banefield clinics which are supposed to be affordable to most people. They also have a monthly health plan that covers many common appointments. I haven’t used it, but my sister swears by it.

Keep your pet up to date on vaccinations.

Some cities sponsor events that offer vaccinations at lower than normal costs. Take advantage of such programs.

Vaccination Recommendations for Cats

• FVRCP(Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Chlamydia)
• Rabies
• Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
• FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis)

Photo Credit: Harris Graber

My husband and I were able to meet Glblguy from Gather Little by Little for dinner at a local Cuban restaurant. The food was good and the company was great. He was charming and polite. My husband had a good time as well. I did bring my digital camera, but I had a such wonderful time chatting, I forgot to ask for a photo!