Each point costs a fee equal to 1 percent of the loan amount and typically reduces your mortgage rate by about one-eighth of a percentage point. So if you're borrowing $250,000 and the standard interest rate is 4.00 percent, you can buy a point for $2,500 and reduce your rate to 3.875 percent.
How much should you save every month? Many sources recommend saving 20 percent of your income every month. According to the popular 50/30/20 rule, you should reserve 50 percent of your budget for essentials like rent and food, 30 percent for discretionary spending, and at least 20 percent for savings. We agree with the recommendation to save 20 percent of your monthly income.
The standard that many experts set is at least 10 percent of your income. This is a good starting point, to save 10 percent of your salary. It is an easy way to start because it is a set amount of money each month. It should not be that difficult to save 10 percent of your income, but you may want to increase this amount over time. Eventually, you can work up to 20 or even 30 percent to increase your savings and plan for your future.