Author Archive | Matt Bell

Looking for ways to free up some cash? Look no further than your driveway. As was pointed out in a recent _MSN_ article, the average U.S. household spends a whopping $8,000 a year on transportation. That includes car payments, insurance, gas, repairs, and public transportation. h3(matt). Matt’s View p(matt). Breaking the cycle of financing cars […]

These days, zero percent financing “deals” can be found on everything from trucks to TVs. But it’s important to read the fine print. According to a story in the _Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune_, the prices on some such items are often inflated to help retailers make up for lost financing charges. Or, they come with […]

A new organization is trying to help parents stop the one-upmanship associated with many of today’s children’s birthday parties. As reported by the _Associated Press_, was formed by a group of “concerned parents and professionals” to address the excesses they say have led to kids feeling stressed, envious, and entitled. Its web site lists some […]

We’re all accustomed to shopping for things to buy, whether flipping through the latest catalog that came in the mail or browsing the aisles of our favorite stores. But have you ever “shopped” for ideas about where to make charitable donations? The _Chicago Tribune_ recently profiled , an organization described as “a sort of philanthropic […]

It makes sense to manage even the smallest day-to-day expenses, but if you really want to maximize your money, look to your big-ticket items. That’s the message of an article in the February issue of _Money_ magazine, which said that trade-offs in what you drive (think Honda instead of Acura), where your kids go to […]

In the last issue of _Matt About Money_, I wrote about a financial planner who suggested an unusual New Year’s resolution: “Buy a really nice gift for your spouse.” His point, and I agree, is that relationships matter most. I asked readers what’s one way they could invest in a relationship that really matters to […]

The ability to delay gratification is one of the hallmarks of a wise money manager. That’s what it takes to build savings instead of indulging in all of the “must-have” items we see advertised. However, an interesting piece on _Yahoo! Finance_ recently focused on the regret of putting off fun purchases too long. Columbia University […]

The digital age is making the traditional children’s allowance much more complicated. According to a recent _Wall Street Journal_ article, many parents are having a hard time keeping track of which child is buying what online–usually with a parent’s credit card–and then deducting such purchases from their allowances. As a solution, the article listed several […]

Could you imagine life without a home computer or a microwave oven? According to a Pew Research Center study, in 1996 most people considered those devices luxuries. By the end of last year, 51 percent said a home computer is a necessity and 60 percent said a microwave is essential. Cell phones weren’t even on […]