You Can Afford It, But Should You Buy It?
How well we manage money has much to do with getting some of the big decisions right. How much should we spend on a house? Should we finance a vehicle? Other financial decisions can be simplified by using a Cash Flow Plan and taking an objective look at how much a household of our size and […]
Profitable Ideas: Raising Less Materialistic Kids, 75 Ways to Save Money, and More.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. This daily activity will make your kids less materialistic (Moneyish). How to move from “the gimmes” to grateful. How to stay in the game (A Wealth of Common Sense). Words of wisdom for investors. Finding a new voice (Becoming Minimalist). This one may […]
Navigating The Mixed Messages Of Our Consumer Culture
If you’re really paying attention, life can be a very odd experience. Especially when it comes to money. For example, in troubled economic times, front-page newspaper stories regularly quote economists expressing concern that the personal savings rate is going up. I still vividly remember reading one such story during a previous recession. I had to […]
Profitable Ideas: Becoming a 401(k) Millionaire, 4 Ways to Avoid College Debt, and More.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. How to reach the $1 million 401(k) milestone (Morningstar). The advice in a nutshell? Steady plodding brings prosperity (Proverbs 21:5). Pets are like family. But as health costs rise, few are insured that way (NY Times). Does Polly need a policy? […]
The Most Underrated Type of Financial Knowledge
When it comes to managing money, there’s a lot to know. Which retirement savings vehicle is best, an IRA or a 401(k)? Which type is best, traditional or Roth? How much should you spend on a house? But there’s a type of knowledge that’s arguably even more important. Not having this knowledge can cause all […]
Profitable Ideas: Purchases That Get Better With Time, What to Tell Your Kids About Your Finances, and More.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Why experiences (not things) get better with time, according to science (No Sidebar). I couldn’t agree more. Most of my favorite purchases have been experiences, which I spent a lot of time anticipating and have spent a lot of time recalling […]
What Matters More — Your Spending Rate or Your Saving Rate?
Those of us who write about money for a living can get a little carried away by some of the nitty-gritty details. That seemed to be the case in a surprisingly impassioned debate that sprang up recently over what a person’s higher priority should be—controlling spending or controlling saving. At first, it seemed kind of […]
Profitable Ideas: Protecting Your Kids From ID Theft, You’re Paying Too Much For Car Insurance, and more.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Protecting your child from identity theft (Independence Advisors). It often goes undetected for years, and by then a lot of damage will have been done. It’s an emergency (fund)! (Monevator). If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s really necessary. Estate planning essentials (Retirement Field […]
Setting Yourself Up to Win
I just signed up to do something I really don’t want to do, and I’d like to encourage you to do the same. Not the exact same thing I signed up for, just something you may not necessarily want to do. Let me explain. You see, there are plenty of things I want, and I’m […]
Profitable Ideas: Your Digital Footprint Matters, Undervalued Financial Advice, and more.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. If you do any of these 8 things online you could be hurting your credit (Money). It’s amazing, and scary, what your online habits say about you, and how that information is being used. Financial success isn’t ‘impossible’ (The Simple Dollar). If […]