Happy Choices
Harvard Psychologist Daniel Gilbert was asked by the Washington Post for some suggestions on making choices that’ll make us happier in 2008. Gilbert said one mistake people often make is overestimating the negative impact of a bad decision, and that keeps us playing it safe. Got a dream? His advice is to go for it. […]
Saving Advice From Those Who Know
Consumer Reports recently asked its retired readers what they wish they had done differently in preparing for their later years. Their biggest regrets had to do with their saving habits. Some 35 percent wish they had started saving earlier (only 15 percent started in their 20’s) and 30 percent wish they had saved more each […]
May It Be
“For nothing is impossible with God.” – Luke 1:37 I love the start of a new year. It’s a chance to begin again, to set fresh goals and make new plans for the months ahead. As we make plans for 2008, whether financial or other types, let’s make sure that our plans are God’s plans. […]
Where Does All the Money Go?
In a surprisingly candid _New York Times_ article, a personal finance writer acknowledged losing sight of $10,000 of family income over the past year. She and her husband use a budget and track their “basic” expenses. Still, when they totaled up the year’s income versus expenses they found that $10,000 was unaccounted for. How did […]
Where There’s a Computer
If you don’t have a will, a _U.S. News & World Report_ story suggested several relatively easy and inexpensive solutions. According to the article, do-it-yourself wills are best suited for people worth less than $2 million (the threshold for triggering estate taxes), and those with a fairly straightforward situation (no step children, no family business, […]
Money Resolutions Top the List
Americans are more determined to get in better fiscal shape than physical shape in 2008, according to a study by Countrywide Bank. As reported by _Reuters_, some 67 percent of respondents to a nationwide survey said that becoming financially fit is a top New Year’s resolution, while 57 percent said they are committed to becoming […]
Happy Returns
Did you receive a gift for Christmas that you don’t want? If you didn’t get a gift receipt and even if you don’t know where it was purchased, all is not lost. An article on _MSNBC_ offered up some suggestions for figuring out where the gift was purchased. They ranged from the dubious (feigning sincerity […]
The Psychology of Money
The science of shopping is a hot topic, with a number of journals helping marketers get inside the minds (and wallets) of their customers. A recent Chicago Tribune article summarized some of the recent research. “Shopping momentum” was the topic of a recent Journal of Marketing Research article. Researchers have found that the first purchase […]
To Insure Your Rental Car or Not
If you’ve ever rented a car, you know the drill. The rental clerk recites an ominous list of expenses you could be liable for should you return the car with a dent or ding. The insurance costs a fortune, but declining the coverage can cost you some sleep. An _ABCnews.com_ story said that about one-third […]
Keeping Your Number to Yourself
Just because an organization you want to do business with asks for your Social Security Number doesn’t mean you need to provide it. According to a _Time_ magazine article, only a handful of organizations actually need your number: Your employer, your bank, and your doctor (if you are on Medicare or Medicaid). However, it may […]