From the category archives:
Saving for retirement can be difficult. With the recent increases in the cost of gas and groceries and other basics combined with a loss of income because of the economy (or a lack of raises over the last few years), saving for retirement can seem like a goal that is out of reach. Retirement can [...]
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Mother’s Day is right around the corner, which means it is time to start thinking about Mother’s Day gifts. While moms frequently get a meal in bed, dinner out and flowers for Mother’s Day, maybe this year you could give her something different that she will remember for years to come. Experience gifts are a [...]
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In this troubled economic slump we find ourselves in, it’s not uncommon to feel ambivalent or confused about how to best handle a savings, no matter how big or small. Fear of losing what we’ve worked so hard to save is often a sure cause for static immobility, and a failure to take beneficial and rewarding action with our money; [...]
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When you see your friends buying nice things such as a new car or a second home, do you automatically think that they have gone deep into debt for the purchase or do you secretly envy them and think they must have come into some money? Do you think, some people have all the luck [...]
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As a child, you may have played the game of LIFE and enjoyed those moments you get an unexpected windfall. The same can happen in real life. A few years ago, many Americans got an unexpected windfall when President Bush offered a tax rebate to a majority of U.S. citizens. Some people get an unexpected [...]
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For many people, putting money aside in an emergency fund is no easy task. Whether you are struggling with a low paying job or too much debt to repay, you may feel that every dollar is already accounted for. However, there are some ways to save that are (nearly) painless. Try some of the following [...]
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We spend a lot on beverages. Take a typical Saturday–you may grab some coffee in the morning and spend anywhere from $2 to $6, depending on the drink you buy. Later, you may go out for lunch and pay over $2 for a soda, then go out to the bar in the evening and spend [...]
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If you are like me, you detest moving. I stayed in an apartment two years longer than I should have because I so dislike the moving process. Still, most Americans average 11 moves in a lifetime. If you are planning to move soon, take advantage of these tips to save money hiring movers: Check Yelp.com. [...]
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Many people are so busy, they don’t have time to meal plan. When they leave work at 5 p.m., they start thinking about dinner and either go through the drive thru out of desperation or stop by the grocery store haphazardly putting food in their cart because they are hungry and don’t have a plan. [...]
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In the United States, 11% of people under the age of 30 live alone (U.S. News). I lived alone for two years when I was in graduate school, and I loved the experience. However, living alone, especially in an urban area, can be expensive. If your budget is tight, there are ways to live alone [...]
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People are waiting longer to marry; in fact the average age of marriage in the United States is almost 26 for women and almost 28 for men. Many of these individuals, before marrying, decide to live on their own. While living on your own offers autonomy and independence, it can be expensive, especially when many [...]
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How many items do you have that are used infrequently, maybe only once or twice a year? Some items might be tools such as power tools for the infrequent home improvement project, snow blowers, leaf blowing bags, and chain saws, to just name a few. Rather than buying each of these items individually, why not [...]
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Many people experience ups and downs with their personal income. One year may find them with an income at or above the median income of $50,022 (as calculated by the Census Bureau for 2009-2010), and other years may find their income below that level. If your 2011 income was lower than usual perhaps due [...]
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The latte factor is a term coined by financial author David Bach to describe daily, wasteful spending. For those of us trying to save more and lessen/consolidate debt, knowledge of the latte factor can cause a sense of guilt as we slyly shuffle into a Starbucks to spend our hard earned money. On the weekend, [...]
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If you are just starting out, it can be expensive to furnish your first apartment. When I moved to graduate school and lived on my own for the first time, I spent about $500 furnishing my apartment, and that included having many pieces my mom was generous enough to give me from her home. If [...]
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Negotiation can be a powerful tool to save you money, yet many people never negotiate because they think it is in poor taste or they are afraid their attempt at negotiation will be denied. In my experience, more than half of the time you try to negotitate, you will be successful. With odds like that, [...]
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The Super Bowl is just around the corner and if your house is about be invaded by party-goers, you might be worried about what hosting a huge party is going to cost you. Potlucks and BYOB are always a good way to host a party on the cheap, but if you want to keep the [...]
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Do you want to know a simple, yet effective way to save money on groceries and to save on the household items you love and buy regularly? Contact the company and let them know that you like their product. Almost every time they will send you coupons for as little as .50 off to as [...]
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Are you in debt? If so, you are in company with millions of Americans. However, 2012 can be the year that you resolve to be debt free or to significantly reduce your debt. My preferred method of paying down debt is two pronged—use the debt snowball (pay down smallest to largest debts, regardless of interest [...]
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Many parents seek to adopt children for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they are unable to have children of their own, or they already have biological children but cannot or do not want to have more or they simply want to expand their family and take care of a child in need. While people enter [...]
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