While we can’t control what’s happening in the stock market we can control what’s happening in our homes, and now is an especially good time to look for ways to spend smarter. U.S. News & World Report offers a great collection of ideas for saving on the cost of food, clothing, healthcare, and more. Such […]
Author Archive | Matt Bell
Controlling What We Can Control
Eight in ten Americans feel stressed about money, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. Nearly 60 percent of respondents say they are concerned about job stability, while 50 percent say they are increasingly concerned about their ability to provide for their family’s basic needs. How are people responding to the stress brought […]
Why We Feel So Bad
According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, nearly 60 percent of Americans believe a depression is “somewhat likely” (38 percent) or “very likely” (21 percent). However, the CNNMoney.com article that reported on the findings noted that economists “generally don’t believe another depression is likely.” If “irrational exuberance” helped drive the market up, “loss aversion” may […]
Calming The Anxiety
Not surprisingly, a growing number of people are feeling some economic anxiety. According to Yakelovich, a market research firm, the percentage of Americans feeling high or severe financial anxiety has jumped from 33 percent in January of this year to 61 percent in June. Of course, that 61 percent figure was tallied well before the […]
Building On a Solid Foundation
Much of the financial crisis gripping our country can be blamed on bad mortgages. Some say the mortgage mess is due to a lack of regulation or corporate oversight. Others say borrowers simply bit off more than they could chew. While the blame game intensifies, the Associated Press just reported on new Census Bureau data […]
Money Market Funds Now (Temporarily) Insured
Whereas money market accounts are a type of insured savings account offered by banks and credit unions, money market funds are mutual funds, which until last week were not insured against investment loss. Historically, money market funds have been widely viewed as extremely safe. However, within the mix of bad news last week came word […]
Making Sure Your Money Is Safe
The news of the past couple of weeks has been unsettling for many people, with Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch being sold, and AIG getting a government bailout. Even if you don’t have money in these institutions it can make you wonder how safe your money is. In the midst of all the […]
Economizing Now and Forever
In the last issue of this eNewsletter, in an article about changes people are making in response to our tough economy, I asked what changes you’ve made that you believe will be permanent. Among those who wrote, Maria says she’s been taking a bus to work instead of driving. She’s saving money by doing so, […]
Couponing in a Hurry
Everyone knows that coupons can save you money when shopping for groceries. But not everyone thinks they have the time for all that sorting and clipping. Syndicated columnist Gregory Karp highlighted some sites that make the job easier. CouponMom.com, which is free but requires registration, enables you to easily scroll through a chain’s weekly deals […]
Getting Kids In The Game
If there’s a child in your life that you would like to teach about money, a recent MarketWatch.com article offered up some good resources. It mentioned a downloadable computer program from Kidnexions. Priced at $29.95 and designed for kids ages 6 and up, the program helps kids keep track of their money, save toward a […]