Shopping for Opportunities to Give
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 […]
Where the Real Savings Are
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 […]
Investing in Relationships
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 […]
No Regrets
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 […]
Allowance 2.0
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 Live Without Your iPod?
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 […]
Happiness Doesn’t Cost Much
The _Wall Street Journal_ recently asked several happiness researchers what changes they’ve made in their own lives to boost happiness. University of California professor David Schkade tries to “combat adaptation” by celebrating more often. “If you save all your celebrations for getting married or becoming vice president, you won’t celebrate very much,” he noted. Princeton […]
Keeping Those Resolutions
With goal setting on so many people’s minds this time of year, _Money Magazine_ recently reviewed the tried and true methods for goal accomplishment. First, make a plan. Write your goals down, break them into manageable parts, and put the list somewhere where you’ll see it on a regular basis–not in the drawer where last […]
An Unusually Good Resolution
_MarketWatch_ recently asked several financial planners for their thoughts on the “most fruitful personal finance moves” people could make. Many of the usual suspects made the list: increase retirement savings, don’t go too crazy with holiday spending. But one suggestion stood out from all the rest: “Buy a really nice gift for your spouse.” h3(matt). […]
Getting the New Year Off to a Good Start
It’s New Year’s resolution time and the personal finance press is full of suggested goals. Here are two of the better recommendations from a recent _Yahoo Finance_ column. First, take advantage of the high interest rates being paid on savings accounts and money market funds, many of which are paying five percent or better. If […]