If you use a lot of batteries, you know how they can drain your wallet. So it pays to know which ones to buy for which devices. Consumer Reports (CR) recently put AA batteries to the test. For devices that need bursts of power such as digital cameras and frequently used toys, CR recommended taking […]
Author Archive | Matt Bell
Saving On Your Cell Phone Bill
Do you have the most cost-effective cell phone plan? There are two ways to find out. As noted by personal finance writer Gregory Karp in the Chicago Tribune recently, Validas will analyze one of your actual cell phone bills and recommend a less expensive plan for a charge of $5, or you can enter some […]
A Mint.com Update
After putting several free online personal financial management (PFM) tools to the test last year, I became a regular user of Mint.com. I found that it provided the best package of features with the greatest ease of use. Recently I had a chance to talk with Mint founder Aaron Patzer to get an update on […]
Spice Up Your Marriage With a… Budget!
Okay, a budget may not exactly add romance to your marriage, but it may help reduce marital money fights. A new national survey I commissioned from the market research firm Synovate found that married people who use a budget experience fewer financial disagreements with their spouse than those who don’t use a budget (see the […]
Keeping Cupid From Overspending
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and since romance has a way of fogging our financial sensibilities, MSN is out with a helpful story about gift giving. According to researchers at Stanford University, gift recipients tend to appreciate inexpensive gifts as much as expensive gifts. Researchers explain that gift givers usually have a number […]
Defensive Spending
It’s a financial jungle out there, so an essential part of wise money management is being vigilant about ferreting out shady deals. That’s the message of Bob Sullivan’s new book, Stop Getting Ripped Off. As summarized by MSN, one common ploy he warns against is the bait and switch, in which companies lure us in […]
Protecting Yourself Online
Walletpop recently put together an excellent list of resources for educating yourself and your kids about safe surfing on the Internet. The piece recommended a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) web site geared toward adults and a site for parents from an organization called Common Sense Media that offers guidance based on their child’s age. The […]
Be Prepared
Think an earthquake can’t happen where you live? Check this list of states that are at risk of experiencing an earthquake. I was somewhat surprised to see that Illinois, where I live, is listed as “high risk.” Even if you live in an area not at risk for earthquakes, there are many other disasters you […]
An Outpouring of Generosity
The tragic earthquake in Haiti has touched the hearts of people around the world, prompting donations of several hundred million dollars so far. Have you contributed to the relief efforts in Haiti? My family is doing so through a contribution to an organization that our church has partnered with: Water Missions International. There are many […]
Reshaped by the Recession
The Great Recession has impacted all of us. For some, the impact has been painful (think job losses). But the financial downturn also seems to be fostering widespread personal changes that, if they stick, have the potential to improve our lives. U.S. News & World recently summarized some of the key recession-induced changes that researchers […]