Jason Butler, Author at Dinks Finance

About Jason Butler

Jason Butler is an Atlanta native, as well as businessman, blogger and teacher. Not only is Jason a prolific flipper, marketer, writer and side hustler his number of years in higher education and student support have given him expert knowledge in understanding the economics of the student loan industry.

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Low-Cost Entertainment Ideas

Posted on May 23, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler 1

Hello, Dinks. If you’re like me, you enjoy having a good time. You look forward to having fun, but don’t want to go broke doing it. Today, I have some low-cost entertainment ideas that you may be interested in.

Take a walk

The first low-cost entertainment idea that I have is to take a walk. You and your significant other can take a walk around your neighborhood. If you want to go somewhere else, you can take a stroll at a park. You can get fresh air and enjoy each other’s company. Walking is also good for you. It will help you lose calories.

Play a game

Games are fun. You can play a board game or an outdoor game. Some games are fun with just you and one other person while others are better with a group of individuals. Monopoly, Uno, and Scrabble are examples of board games. Tennis and basketball are games that can be played outside.

Volunteer work

Volunteer work can be very helpful. You are giving back to your community and making a difference. Depending on who you volunteer with you may have the opportunity to meet some like-minded individuals.

Take a drive

Taking a drive somewhere can be exciting. It allows you to get out of your comfort zone especially if you go someplace new. You also get the chance to visit a new area in the city that you aren’t used to. With gas prices being so cheap, you can drive farther distances.

Attend a festival

The next thing on the list is to attend a festival. The city where I live in has a lot of festivals. They tend to vary in price. You should search for ones that are free or reasonably priced. You can check your local paper or online to see what festivals are coming to your city. We are currently in festival season in my area. It will last until October.

Check out a lecture

A lot of colleges and universities have lectures that are free to the public. The lectures are usually presented on numerous topics. The lectures may feature actors, writers, and activists. Check with your local university to see if they have any coming up.

Library

Don’t laugh, but visiting the library could be some fun. If you love to read, you have a plethora of books to choose from. Libraries also have music and movies that you can check out. Some libraries also offer different types of classes that you can take.

Cook a meal

The final item on the list is to cook a meal. Since this post is low-cost entertainment ideas, the meal shouldn’t be too expensive. A homemade pizza or a pot of chili could be something that you can make. These dishes are very easy to cook, and the ingredients are cheap.

In review, the low-cost entertainment ideas are to take a walk, play a game, do some volunteer work, go for a drive, attend a festival, check out a lecture, visit the library, and cook a meal.

What is your favorite low-cost entertainment idea?

Financial Aid Options For Returning Students

Posted on May 20, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler 2

financial aid options, financial aid tips, financial aid advice

A lot of people are going back to school in their late 20’s and early 30’s. They have lived life a bit and now realize that they need to either finish their Bachelor’s or pursue a Master’s Degree so that their career can get to the next level. Some of these people may not know or remember the type of financial aid that is available for them. Today, I want to go over several types of financial aid options that may be available for those returning students.

Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is free money that doesn’t have to be paid back. You can only receive the Pell Grant if you have not earned your Bachelor’s degree yet. The amount of Pell Grant that you can receive depends on your financial need, whether you’re a full-time or part-time student and your cost of attendance.

Federal Direct Loans

A lot of students qualify for some Federal Direct loans when they return to school. There are three types that I will be discussing.

Direct Subsidized Loans

The students with the lowest EFC score are awarded these types of loans. They are available for undergrad students. The US Department of Education pays the interest on them while you’re in school and for the first six months after you leave school. They also pay the interest for you during a period of deferment.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Unsubsidized loans are available for undergrad grad students regardless of need. The main difference with the unsubsidized loans is that they do charge interest on those loans while you are in school. You don’t have to make a payment until the loans enter repayment, check out paying off student loans.

Direct Plus Loans

Graduate or Professional students can apply for a Plus loan. The Plus loan is credit based meaning that if your credit is bad, you will probably get denied. If you are approved for the Plus loan, you will receive an interest rate that is lower than the subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

The Federal Perkins Loan

The Perkins Loans is a low-interest loan for undergrad and graduate students. This loan is for students that show exceptional financial need. Every college doesn’t participate in the Perkins Loan program. Make sure that you check with the schools financial aid office if you need it.

Private Student Loan

Another option for funding is to look for a private student loan. Private loans are based on your credit. You also have to choose the lender on your own. The school that you are attending isn’t supposed to tell you exactly which lender to choose. They can give you suggestions, though. A good place to start your private loan search is with a bank or a credit union. The fees with the private loans will be different per lender. The interest rate will be different as well. Make sure you do your research and find the best private loan that suits your needs.

Scholarships

The last option for financial aid is scholarships. Free money is always good. Different colleges offer various types of scholarships. To figure out what scholarships your school offers you should check with their financial aid office. There are also websites that you can search for scholarships such as Fastweb and Scholarships.com.

Tips to Help You Sell Your Home

Posted on May 18, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler

tips to sell your home, selling your home, home seller tips

Hello, Dinks. Selling your home can be a stressful process. There are a lot of things that can be done to help ease the stress. Today I will share with you some tips that should help you sell your home.

Clean your home

This one seems like a no-brainer, but make sure you take the time to clean your home before you have potential buyers look at it. Every room should be almost spotless. If you don’t have the time to do the cleaning yourself, hire someone. Potential buyers will love the fact that it is clean. That should speed the selling process up.

Competitive price

I know you want to make some money off your home but try not to overprice it. The higher the price is, the longer that it will stay on the market. That is never good. You should be reasonable with your pricing. You should also compare the prices of similar properties that have sold recently.

Landscaping

The third tip on the list is to do some landscaping. You should make sure that the grass is cut and that the bushes and trees are trimmed. If you want to be fancy, you can plant some colorful flowers in the yard.

Paint

Painting is another tip that you can do to help sell your home. A fresh coat on the inside and outside can do wonders for your home. If you don’t have the time to paint the outside you can paint certain rooms in the interior.

De-Clutter

Do you have a lot of junk just sitting around your house? Before you sell it, you should de-clutter. Take the time to see what you want and don’t want. The items that you don’t need can be trashed or sold via Craigslist or eBay. You can also donate the stuff to the Goodwill.

Repairs

If something is broken in your home, fix it. It could be cheaper to fix it now before you get a home inspection. Having the repairs fixed in advance is something else that can help you sell the home even faster.

Access to home

People need to be able to see your home for it to sell. You or your real estate agent should be available to show it to clients during business hours. By more people getting the chance to see your home, the chances of it selling faster increases.

Check your online listing

When you get a chance, check your agent’s online listing. You want to make sure that all the information is correct. You also want to make sure that the pictures for the listing are nice. The more pictures that you have of your house, the better. Homes with more pictures are viewed quicker than houses with only a few.

Neighbors help

The final tip to sell your home is to get your neighbors help. If you are a part of a homeowners association, let them know that you are selling your house. They may know someone that is interested. They may also be able to share that information with their Facebook friends.

Do you have any tips to help sell a home?

Different Types of Bankruptcy

Posted on May 16, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler

types of bankruptcy, financial advice, financial crisis

I know we’ve heard the term bankruptcy a lot over the years. Maybe your favorite celebrity has had to file before. Perhaps you or one of your family members have had to file. For those that may not know what bankruptcy is, I will explain it to you. Bankruptcy is a court procedure that helps consumers and businesses get rid of their debts and repay their credits. The bankruptcy court will protect you if you can prove that you are entitled to the possessions.

There are several types of bankruptcies out there. The most common of those are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Today I will discuss those two types as well as Chapter 10 and Chapter 11.

Chapter 7

The first type of bankruptcy that I will be going over is Chapter 7. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is designed for debtors who are having a financial difficulty. They do not have the ability to pay their existing debts. Individuals and businesses are both allowed to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is usually the quickest and easiest bankruptcy to file with typically lasting between 3-6 months.

Before you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy you must be able to show that you are eligible to. The amount of money that you make is one of the things that will let you know if you are eligible or not.

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 bankruptcy is the next one on the list. Only businesses can file Chapter 10. It helps when a company is preparing a reorganization plan. During this process a court appointed manager will oversee the reorganization process, In order for a company to qualify for Chapter 10 they must present documentation of their current financial situation to the court. They are protected if the court finds their reorganization plan workable.

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 bankruptcy includes a reorganization of a debtor’s business affairs and assets. Chapter 11 is generally used by struggling businesses. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy is usually the most expensive type of bankruptcy. The goal for this one is to eliminate certain debts while restructuring debts that are needed for continued operation. Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases can last for years.

Chapter 13

The final type of bankruptcy that I will be discussing is Chapter 13. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is also called the wage earner bankruptcy. Only individuals can file Chapter 13. You have to prove to the courts that you have a reliable source of income. You also have to show the courts that you will be able to meet your payment obligation. The debtor is giving three to five years to pay off the debt.

There are several types of income that you can use to fund a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan. Some of the ways are wages or salary from full-time job, income from self-employment, commissions from sales, social security benefits, unemployment benefits, royalties, proceeds from selling property and disability.

Bankruptcy isn’t always the best choice but sometimes it can be a great thing. Consider potential consequences before you file. If you have other options that can get your financial situation in order, use them first.

Have you ever considered filing bankruptcy? What is some advice that you would give to someone who is thinking about filing?

Easy Tips to Fix Your Credit

Posted on May 13, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler 1

fixing your credit, credit score tips, credit score advice

Hello, everyone. Having good credit is everything. Our economy basically runs on it. The better your credit is, the better the chance of you getting a mortgage or credit card with a low-interest rate. If your credit isn’t the best, it doesn’t have to stay like that. Today, I want to share with you seven tips that will help you fix your credit.

Pay your credit card bill on time

The first credit tip that will help you fix your credit is to pay your credit card bill on time. This is very easy to do, but for some reason, not everyone does it. Paying your credit card bill late will cause a decrease in your score. The messed up thing is that late payments stay on your credit for seven years. To make sure that that doesn’t happen to you pay those bills on time.

Don’t do too many balance transfers

For the record, balance transfers can do a lot of good for you. I’ve actually saved $60 worth of interest the last two months since did a balance transfer for my highest credit card. If you do too many balance transfers, they can have an adverse effect on your credit. You are delaying the inevitable. You will eventually have to pay that credit card off. You also will be getting charged balance transfer fees each time you do a transfer.

Don’t fall for credit repair scams

There are some legit credit repair businesses out there. Your Facebook friend who just started fixing people’s credit last month isn’t one of them. Use common sense and good judgement when looking for credit repair help.

Check statute of limitations

The next tip on the list is to check the statute of limitations on your debt. Certain types of debt have a statute of limitation meaning that there is only a given period that a debt collector can attempt to get their money via the courts. If the statute of limitations has run out, you can negotiate and pay a smaller sum. In some cases, you may not have to pay that debt.

Don’t close accounts at the same time

If you have a lot of credit cards, one of the worst things that you can do is close them at the same time. When you close accounts your credit utilization rate goes down. That’s never a good. One thing that you can do to limit that is to close cards that have low limits or you can find another card to replace your old one.

Don’t file bankruptcy

Filing bankruptcy will not improve your credit. It will probably make your score go lower. In most cases, the bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for seven to ten years. That’s a long time. Is that something that you want to deal with? During this time, you may not be able to get a loan or credit card. If you do, the interest will be ridiculous.

Try to negotiate a deal

With some debt, you may be able to contact the debt collector and work out some kind of deal. From what I hear this works well with old medical bills.

Do you know of any other tips to fix your credit?

Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Posted on May 11, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler 3

reduce food waste, food waste tips, food waste advice

Hello, everyone. Food waste is a big problem in America. According to Feeding America, we waste 70 billion pounds of food each year. That is very alarming. We can all do our own part in lowering that number. Today, I will be going over several ways to help reduce food waste.

Meal prep

Meal prep is the first way to reduce food waste. A lot of people are doing it right now. Meal prepping consists of planning your meals for a certain amount of days. People tend to do their meal prep for five days. By doing that, you will have enough servings to last you for the week.

Store food properly

In the past, I’ve made the mistake of storing food the wrong way. I’ve let fruit and vegetables go bad a few times. If you don’t know if something belongs in the fridge or not, ask someone or do a quick google search. Storing things properly in the refrigerator or freezer will allow them to last longer.

Monitor what’s being eaten

Look in your fridge and see what is and what’s not being eaten. Are there a lot of items in there that are expired or close to being expired? You may need to change what or how you eat. You can also buy smaller sizes of those items as well.

Leftovers

Eating your leftovers is another way to reduce your food waste. You can eat your leftovers for lunch the next day or two at work. You can also make a different meal with them. For example, if you had baked ham one night, you can make a ham sandwich for lunch the next day. It’s something quick and easy that won’t waste your leftovers.

Review what you have

Periodically check what you have in the fridge and the cabinets. Make sure that nothing is expired or showing signs of mold. If you have a surplus of something, make sure that you don’t include it on your shopping list.

Don’t eat too much

If you’re at a restaurant, don’t eat too much food. You don’t want to make yourself too full. You can share your food with your friends. You can also get a to go plate. That food can then be used for a late night snack or lunch the next day. There is no reason to leave any of it behind at a restaurant.

New recipes

The last way to reduce food waste is to try out new recipes. This is something that can be done with your leftovers. As I discussed earlier you can make new dishes with them. You can also make different meals with some of the food that is getting near expiration. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a site that has an easy recipe or two on there for you to try.

In summary, the ways to reduce food waste are meal prepping, storing food properly, monitoring what’s being eaten, eat leftovers, review what you have, don’t eat too much and try new recipes.

How do you reduce food waste?

Eco-Friendly Things To Do

Posted on May 9, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler

eco-friendly, going green, saving the envirnment

Over the years, pollution has done a lot of damage to Earth. As a people, we have to take better care of our planet. There are a lot of things that you can do that can be eco-friendly. Today, I want to share with you ten eco-friendly things that you can do.

Use fluorescent light bulbs

Fluorescent light bulbs use less energy. They can last up to ten times longer than regular light bulbs. Fluorescent light bulbs also generate less heat meaning that they are safer to operate.

Recycle

Recycling is the next eco-friendly tip that is on the list. Recycling helps to eliminate waste. Depending on where you live your city may have a recycling service where they pick up items weekly. If not you should be able to find a few recycling centers around your local area. Some things that you should consider recycling are glass, aluminum, and paper.

Turn off electronics at night

Turning off your electronics at night saves energy. Since you’re sleeping you won’t be using them anyway, so you might as well turn them off. Some people even go as far as to unplugging some of their electronics.

Reusable bag at grocery store

The fourth eco-friendly tip is to use a reusable bag at the grocery store. This is something that I eventually want to start doing, but I’ve just been a little lazy. Using a reusable bag at the store means that fewer plastic bags will be used. That’s good because plastic bags can take hundreds of years to degrade. Plastic bags can also kill wildlife and marine life.

No more paper bills

I’m old school so that means I won’t be using this tip anytime soon. A lot of people are opting out of receiving paper bills. They are receiving their statements online now. By doing that, less paper gets wasted.

Open windows

Opening your windows instead of using the air conditioner can save energy. This works better in the spring than the summer depending on where you live.

Turn off the lights

The next eco-friendly tip is to cut off the lights when you leave the room. We all probably know that person who keeps the lights on all over their home. Then they complain when their power bill is ridiculously high. Turning off the lights will cause your bill to go down significantly.

Reusable lunch bag

Using a reusable lunch bag saves money and eliminates the use of having to use paper or plastic bags for lunch. I’ve been using a reusable lunch bag for years now. By not having to use plastic bags I’ve helped save the environment even if it was just a little bit.

Adjust your thermostat

Adjusting your thermostat by 5-10 degrees during the winter or summer is another energy saving tip that should be done.

Ride bike when possible

The final eco-friendly tip is to ride your bike whenever it’s possible. Doing so lowers pollution since you’re driving your car or truck less. Riding your bike is also healthy for you.

Have you done any of these eco-friendly things before?

Preparing For A Job Interview

Posted on May 4, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler 2

career tips, job interview tips, job interview advice

Hello, Dinks. As you know, a job interview is imperative. If you bomb it, you can miss out on a potentially life-changing job. If you do well, your dream career could start shortly afterward. I’ve had a lot of job interviews over the years. Today, I want to share with you different ways that you can prepare for a job interview.

Research the company

The first thing that you should do is research the company that you are interviewing with. Unfortunately, some people go into interviews blindly. For some reason, they don’t review the basic information about the company beforehand. Nine times out of ten, the interviewer will ask you what you know about the company. If you’re trying to get a job, the last thing that you want to do is tell them that you don’t know anything. You might as well leave the interview then because they won’t take you seriously. With the internet being so accessible these days you should take some time to search the company and write done some key facts.

Be on time

The next thing that you should do is make sure that you’re on time. If you can’t make it on time for an interview, do you think potential employers will bring you on to work for them? I don’t. Being on time shows people that you are dependable and that you care about the opportunity. A good rule of thumb is to arrive about 10-15 minutes early.

Be prepared

You want to make sure that you are prepared for your job interview. Besides researching the company, you also want to make sure you’re dressed for the part, know exactly where the interview is being held and make sure you’re ready to answer any question that is thrown at you. Going over potential questions and answers could help you do much better in an interview. The more you practice, the more your interview answers should be able to flow. Practicing can also assist you if you are the type of person who tends to get nervous when talking to people.

Answer questions honestly

The fourth thing that you should do to prepare for an interview is to answer questions honestly. You may want to lie to make yourself appear to be a better candidate, but don’t do it. If you lie about a previous position of job tasks, and it doesn’t sound right, someone will check your references. If your story doesn’t match with what your references tell the interviewer, you won’t get the job. Experienced interviewers can usually tell when someone is lying. It’s best to be honest during an interview.

Turn off your phone

Turning off your phone during an interview should be common sense, but it’s not. Some people forget to turn the volume down on their cell phones. That is a huge mistake. Nothing can interrupt an interview more than someone’s phone going off. It’s disrespectful to the interviewer, and it proves that you probably don’t care about the interview as much as you should.

Are there any other ways that you can prepare for an interview?

Ways to Ruin Your Credit

Posted on May 2, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler

ruining your credit score, credit score tips, ruining your credit

Hello, Dinks. A few months ago I discussed different ways to increase your credit score. Today, I want to go over a few ways that you can ruin your score. Unfortunately, I’ve done a few of those things in the past.

Spend up to your credit limit

The first thing that you can do to ruin your credit score is to spend up to your credit limit. Don’t do it. The amount of debt that you have is 30% of your credit score. That’s nearly a third of it. You want to try and keep your credit utilization ratio under 30%. At one time my debt to credit ratio was at 90%. I was a mess back then. My score was also not that good. I worked at lowering my credit card debt, and I can now say that it is under 50%. I will get it to under 30% in no time.

Paying bills late

Paying your bills late specifically loans or credit cards is one of the quickest ways to ruin your credit. Your payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score. The more late payments that you make, the lower that your credit score will go. Pay your bills on time so that you won’t have this problem.

Having too much credit

Having too much credit can lower your credit score. Lenders will look at that as a red flag. Every time you apply for new credit, the lender makes a hard inquiry on your account. The more inquiries that are made, the more of a chance that you will see a drop in your score. You may also get to the point where you spend a lot of it, thus adding more debt to your debt to credit ratio.

Closing a lot of credit cards at once

The next way to ruin your credit score is too close a lot of credit cards at once. When you close a credit card, you immediately reduce the amount of credit you have available. When your total amount of available credit decreases, so does your credit score. To keep that from happening your best bet is to keep those old cards or close one card per year.

Co-signing a loan

Co-signing a loan is something else that can ruin your credit score. You may think that you are helping a family member or a friend but think again. If their credit were good, they wouldn’t need a co-signer in the first place. Once you co-sign for someone, the loan will show up on your credit report. If that person that you are co-signing with misses payments, it will negatively impact your score. Think long and hard before you co-sign for anybody.

Not checking your credit report

Everyone has the chance to get each of their three credit reports free once a year. It’s good to check them to see where you stand credit wise. You also want to make sure that there aren’t any errors on the report either. If you see something wrong, you should try to get it fixed ASAP.

To recap, the ways that you can ruin your credit score is by spending up to your credit limit, having too much credit, closing a lot of credit cards at once, co-signing a loan and not checking your credit report. I’ve made some of those mistakes before and have learned from them.

Have you made any of these mistakes regarding your credit?

7 Top Earning Dead Celebrities

Posted on April 29, 2016 - 6:30 am by Jason Butler

top earning dead celebrities, top earners, earning money

Good morning Dinks! Most celebrities have a ton of fans before they pass away. For some, that number seems to double once they leave this planet. I researched seven different people that were famous for various reasons. I was shocked to see how much some of them made in 2015. These next seven celebrities that I am about to talk about are earning millions, even though they are no longer with us.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was one of the best performers of all time. He started his career with the Jackson 5 and then continued to have a very successful solo career. He released several classic albums such as Thriller, Bad, and my personal favorite, Off the Wall. The King of Pop passed away in 2009. He made $115 million dollars last year. That’s incredible! His music sales, publishing empire and Las Vegas show are a few of the things that are generating that money. His money goes to his mother and his children.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley is referred to as the King of Rock and Roll. He earned $55 million last year. The majority of that was due to ticket sales to tour his Graceland estate. He is also still making money off of his discography. He recorded over 70 albums. That money goes to Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was an actress, humanitarian and businesswoman. She passed away in 2011. She made $20 million in 2015. Her “White Diamonds” perfume still generates a lot of money for her. She also receives royalties from her movie roles. Her estate receives all of that money.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer. He was one of the world’s best-selling artists. Besides his albums, The Marley Beverage group and House of Marley, which create audio and lifestyle products, have helped him earn $21 million last year. That is a lot of money for someone that passed away 35 years ago. His former and children share his estate.

Marilyn Monroe

The next celebrity on this list is Marilyn Monroe. She was and American actress and model. She was one of the most famous sex symbols back in the 1950’s. She earned $17 million last year through licensing deals. Authentic Brands Group handles her estate.

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor. “Old blue eyes,” as he was called, was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Sinatra made a little under $12 million with album sales, sponsorships, and endorsements in 2015. Sinatra’s family runs his estate.

John Lennon

John Lennon was one fourth of the Beatles. The Beatles were the most commercially successful band in the history of music. Lennon earned $12 million in 2015 with the help of royalties and licensing deals. Lennon’s wife, Yoko Uno is the sole executor of John Lennon’s estate.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was an American artist. He was a key figure in the pop art revolution. Warhol was also a filmmaker and an artist. He earned $6 million in 2015 through licensing and advertising. Warhol passed in 1987.

This brief list shows that even in death some celebrities are still making big money. Some have even made more money in death than they did when they were alive. It’s truly amazing that some of them are earning that much money.

Did anyone on this list surprise you? What other deceased celebrities do you think are making a lot of money?