One of the best steps you can take to prepare for your later years is to use a retirement calculator. Doing so can help you see if you’re on the right path and figure out what, if any, changes you might need to make. On the latest installment of my new video feature, Two-Minute Money […]
Do you have any kids on your gift list this holiday season? Why not give them the gift of stories that’ll help them understand how to use money wisely? Our kids are still pretty young, so most of the books that I have direct experience with are for younger kids. However, several parents of older […]
As I’ve shared in the past, I’m not the handiest homeowner on the block. But even I can change a furnace filter. And now that we’ve had to switch our thermostat to “heat,” my money-centered mind has turned its attention toward finding the best deals on filters. In our home, we’re a little fanatical about […]
There’s an ongoing debate among personal finance teachers: Should someone who’s trying to get out of debt pay off their highest interest rate debt first or their lowest balance debt first? In this installment of the Two-Minute Money Toolkit, I’ll introduce you to a simple online tool, Unbury.me, that’ll help answer that question. While the […]
Of all the issues swirling around the Occupy Wall Street protests, the one that seems to have struck the most sensitive nerve is financial inequality. It prompted one writer, whose article appeared in the Wall Street Journal, to accuse the protesters of calling for “radical wealth redistribution.” He didn’t define what he meant by “radical,” […]
Say what you will about the Occupy Wall Street protesters, but at least they’ve gotten people thinking and talking about our economic mess. While I can’t say I agree with their demands (at least, as I understand them), and I could do without all the name-calling that’s swirled around the discussion, I like the passion […]
I was surprised to read recently that there’s been a strong drop in the number of people turning to credit counseling agencies for help in paying back their debts. After all, plenty of people are still struggling under the weight of too much debt. Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, said, […]
Investing well is arguably the most challenging part of personal finance. Throw a volatile economy into the mix, and it can seem impossible. My advice? Don’t be a victim; be in the game. Take proactive steps to deal with your worries. Take responsibility for understanding key aspects of investing. Everyone should know the most important […]
If you have money in the stock market, you probably feel like you’ve been riding the wildest, scariest of roller coasters. Down 512 points. Down another 635. Up 430. Down 520. Up 423. Up 126. Where will it go next? When will this crazy ride end? When things seem out of control, I look for […]
If you’re thinking about using an online budget tool, you may be concerned about security. That’s because in order to do what they do best – automatically track your spending – you have to provide them with the passwords to your bank accounts, credit cards, and other accounts you want them to track. Recently I […]
