Downtown Portland, Oregon is great! Restaurants and bars are almost endless, everything is within walking distance, public transportation is everywhere, and the Timbers and Blazers play there. If you live downtown you have access to all of this plus more, but it comes with a price, and its getting higher.

Apartment prices in Portland have risen dramatically over the past few years. According to reports by MSN, Portland is one of the top 10 cities expected to see a rent increase in 2013. People are seeing the convenience of living in a nice apartment complex rather than a home; No lawn to mow or leaves to rake, no painting or repairs.  An apartment building I am familiar with in downtown Portland has already raised the rent over 40% in one year. This was not only due to increased demand, but also due to the change in management.

Another factor to consider when living downtown is parking. If you own a car you will have to pay a premium for a parking space in your building, or even at a nearby garage. The average cost of a secured, underground parking space at a downtown apartment is   about $125 a month. Some income restricted property will offer parking below $100, but  finding available rentals in income restricted buildings is a whole other topic. The most expensive parking I have found downtown is $175 a month. I would expect the price of parking to increase along with rent in 2013.

Living downtown is not right for everyone, and is clearly not right for everyones budget. If you are looking to move into downtown this year be prepared to pay higher prices, see less available rentals, and pay a premium to park your vehicle.

The worst thing about driving downtown Portland, OR (other than one-way streets, pedestrians, bike riders, and taxis) is having to find and pay for parking. I drive a midsize SUV and sometimes it can be difficult to find street parking and I always hate paying. But I recently learned about the numerous car-share programs in Portland that can eliminate some of my downtown worries. Additionally, car title loans in Texas are an option worth considering for quick cash in emergencies. I’ve also known these ebikes. Electric bicycles have mainly been made in China or Taiwan, however, many brands are now manufacturing their electric bikes in Europe and the UK to control quality. If you get involved in a road accident while riding on your bike, a Boston, MA bicycle accident attorney should be able to help you file a claim.

ZipCar is a car-share program that has numerous cars throughout the city, parked at designated areas. They offer many different models of cars to choose from, including SUVs, hatchbacks, and coupes from makers like Ford, Audi, Honda, and Mercedes. The prices are charged per hour and are fair ($10 to $15), especially since the price includes all maintenance and 180 miles of gas. The downside to ZipCar is that there is an annual fee and they must be returned to their designated parking space in the city (which, on the upside, does eliminate the need to find parking).

Car2Go is another car-share option that allows you to pickup a car and go. These cars may be located anywhere throughout the city because they have no designated parking location. These vehicle have a “home area” that they can be parked and left, free of charge, to await the next needy driver. Personal injury lawyers know how to get results if you got injured. Anywhere outside of this area you can park, but you cannot “end your drive”, meaning you must continue to pay until you return it within its “home are”. Car2Go vehicles are easy to spot since they are all the same make, model, and color; Blue and white SmartCars. The prices are charged per minute and again are not bad ($0.38) and top out at $13.99 per hour. These also include all maintenance, gas for as long as you drive, and free parking in any non-restricted, public space in the city. And because the cars are so small it is usually very easy to find a spot.

Both of these services provide fun and affordable options for getting around the city. Like any other form of transportation, you also need to be careful as accidents may happen. If you get injured while using  a car sharing service, you may seek legal assistance from a personal injury attorney to help you file a claim or lawsuit. Injured in New York? Call a New York personal injury lawyer from Cellino Law. If you were using a ride sharing service when you got involved in a traffic accident, you should consider hiring a car accident attorney cincinnati to help you seek compensation.

Another advantage of these services is their widespread availability, with locations in numerous cities both nationally and internationally. This means you can use these services instead of renting a car if you don’t need one all the time. The apps provided make it easy to find and reserve vehicles wherever you are. So, if you’re tired of driving your own car, paying for parking, or perhaps you’ve been in an accident and are dealing with car accident attorneys, these services can conveniently “2Go” and “Zip” you and your friends around the city without the hassle. For a more personalized and comfortable travel experience, especially when visiting or residing in the area, you might want to consider the premium option of chauffeur services Stockport.

As the April 15^th tax deadline is quickly approaching I am reminded of the words of Benjamin Franklin,”…nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”  I am relieved to say that my taxes are finally done, with a big emphasis on finally.  Many years ago I stopped preparing my own taxes.  I determined that after countless hours of frustration, I finally decided the stress was not worth it to me.  I have paid a few tax prepares over the years, but in the most recent years I have been utilizing the CASH Oregon sites, which partner with AARP and VITA to offer free tax preparation.  To qualify for their service you must have a low to moderate income.  You can find further information about CASH Oregon by clicking HERE.  The volunteers have always been very helpful and efficient and I have always walked away with a refund.

Now, back to the emphasis on my earlier statement about my taxes finally being done.  This year I ran into a bit of a problem, as I am guessing many other taxpayers did, or at least those who have mutual funds.  As of 2012 you are now required to report your cost basis of your mutual funds to the IRS.  The friendly volunteer prepared my taxes in about 15 minutes, but when he got to this part on my taxes he was unsure of how to proceed.  He then called in the assistance of the site coordinator.  The site coordinator then took a look at my 1099 B form and then stated he couldn’t complete my taxes without the original price paid for the funds.  I told him I didn’t know that information, as I thought it would have been on the 1099 B form.  He informed that I would have to contact my Financial Representative to get that information and return with it.  I admit, I was pretty frustrated by this, as I planned on completing my taxes that day and not worrying about them for another year.  I understood it was new rule, but I’ll be honest, I am still confused why this information was not provided on my 1099 B form.  The site coordinator was very kind and stated that as soon I got the information I just had to return and they would quickly complete my taxes.  That is exactly what I did, and now I simply wait my for my tax refund to be deposited into my checking account.

My name is Sarah Janda and I am the new Program Manager for Financial Beginnings.  I am so excited to be a part of the Financial Beginnings team. I have always been passionate about education and helping people. It’s that passion, which inspired me to become part of the Financial Beginnings team.  I have spent the past 10 years in social services, specifically in employment and training.  Most recently, I worked for a vocational training program and that is where I first became familiar with Financial Beginnings.  I utilized Financial Beginnings’ programs regularly for a youth transition class I taught.  The students always learned so much, as did I, from the very knowledgeable volunteers Financial Beginnings provided!

Over the years, I realized I was not only passionate about employment and training, but also financial education.  I also saw firsthand the importance and need for both, especially with youth.  I noticed while I was helping youth find employment, getting a job was not a magical solution that would suddenly make their lives better.  For many youth gaining employment brought a whole new set of responsibilities they had never encountered before, such as rent, transportation, food, insurance and much more.  However, many of them had no idea how to manage their money and, for the first time in their lives, they were now expected to be self-sufficient.  I knew as much as it would be a struggle for them I always encouraged them to save money, even if it was only $5 from each paycheck.  Some of them would laugh and talk about how they were going to buy a flat screen TV, a new car, etc.  While others assured me that they did not want to end up in debt like their friends and family and intended on saving as much as they could.   Now as an employee of Financial Beginnings, I look forward to hearing many more stories of success that would not be possible without the support and dedication of the volunteers, educators, and partners.