New Year, New Plan
The start of a new year means it’s time to look back on your cash flow plan (aka budget) from 2018 and create a new plan for 2019. A good place to start a review of last year’s cash flow is to see which, if any, categories came in over budget. Of course, I hope […]
Profitable Ideas: The Lessons of 2018, Toward More Ethical Uses of Money, and More.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. The 10 most valuable financial lessons I learned in 2018 (The Simple Dollar). There are some good lessons for all of us on this list. The 10 best financial resolutions for 2019 (Forbes). I like these resolutions a lot (although […]
Top 10 List for 2018 (Plus a Few Extras)
As I look back on 2018, I’m grateful for many things, one of which is that you’ve chosen to subscribe to this blog. In case you missed any of these, here are the 10 most-read posts from the year, along with a few others that I especially enjoyed writing. 1) The absolute best way to […]
Profitable Ideas: 7 Financial Concepts You Should Know, A New Way to Recycle Your Christmas Tree, and More
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Seven ideas (Humble Dollar). Personal finance knowledge everyone should have. Dismantling my dreams, one brick at a time (Slate). All those home renovation shows make it look so easy. But one couple found out it’s much tougher than it looks […]
A Peace That Transcends Understanding
Each Christmas season when our kids were younger, we would change their bedtime routine to include singing some traditional Christmas carols like Silent Night and O Holy Night. The songs made for a soothing transition from playtime to bedtime. Silent night, holy night. They’re still two of my favorite Christmas songs. Maybe it’s because this […]
Profitable Ideas: Put Market Panic in Perspective, Build a Blessing Budget, and More.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Putting panic in perspective (ETF.com). If you’re feeling a little worried about the stock market, this piece may help put you at ease. Best resume template: 9 ways to update your resume for 2019 (Clark Howard). Is finding a new […]
Paying for Big-Ticket Items
We recently replaced the furnace/air conditioning system in our home. It was not the most enjoyable way to spend a big chunk of money. However, having the money set aside in savings made it far less painful than it might have been. If you own a home or a car, I hate to break it […]
Profitable Ideas: Unlikely Gifts That Matter, Volvo Doesn’t Want You to Buy One of Their Cars, and More.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. A celebration of stuff: Or why I might be flunking minimalism (She Picks Up Pennies). Really well written article about gifts that mean the most, and no, this isn’t about the importance of buying experiences. Volvo’s new pitch: Don’t buy […]
Three Ways to Deal With a Volatile Stock Market
If you have money in the stock market, you’ve probably noticed things have gotten a little bumpy. Here are some suggestions for handling the rough ride. 1. Take a deep breath When it comes to money — and plenty of other things — the emotional extremes of fear and greed can get the best of […]
Profitable Ideas: Raising Generous Kids, Financial Death by a Thousand Cuts, and More.
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Want to raise generous kids? Here’s how (Washington Post). Three recommended steps, but the first one is the most important one. How to decide whether to relocate for a job (Harvard Business Review). Making a pro/con list will only get […]