The Essentials of Investing
Investing is arguably the most challenging and intimidating topic within personal finance. There’s a lot to know and the terminology can be confusing. To lower the fear factor and cut through the confusion, here are some of the investing essentials. Get In The Game There’s a financial force in the world so powerful that Einstein […]
Practical Steps for Getting Out of Debt
People often think of a budget as a ball & chain. In truth, it’s the exact opposite – a tool that leads to great financial freedom. But there is such a thing as a financial ball & chain. It’s called debt. Debt is a drag. It creates stress, keeps us from achieving our financial goals, […]
Pay Yourself Second
Of all the things you can do with money, few are more boring than putting it into a savings account, right? Spending it? Now, that’s fun. Investing can be enjoyable, too. But parking some money in an “interest-bearing” savings account where $1,000 may turn into $1,001 in a year’s time? Who needs it? You do, […]
How to Truly MANAGE Money With Mint.com
If you’ve been following this series of instructional videos on how to use Mint.com, the hard work is now done. You’ve opened an account, connected it with your bank or credit union and credit cards, and set up a budget. As you’ll see in the following video, now you’re ready to start truly managing money […]
The Key to Getting the Most From Mint.com
Using a budget is not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal. You could use a paper & pencil system, the envelope system, an Excel spreadsheet, software like Quicken, or an online tool like Mint.com. For those interested in giving Mint a try, I’m showing how in a series of short instructional videos. In the video below, […]
How to Recession-Proof Your Career
Back in the day, jobs were for life. You put in your 30-40 years and got a pension. Maybe even a gold watch. That was then. Of course, there’s no such thing as guaranteed employment anymore. But there is such a thing as guaranteed employability. Learn to Earn In most jobs, if we’re standing still […]
Getting Started With Mint.com
People who’ve never used a budget usually hate the idea. They think of a budget as the wicked witch of personal finance whose sole purpose is to drive any semblance of fun right out of their financial life. In truth, it’s just the opposite. A budget, or as I prefer, a Cash Flow Plan, is […]
Creative College Funding: Ditch the Dorm and Buy Rental Property
With tuition costs soaring and the stock market not exactly helping those who’ve been saving for their kids’ education bills, some parents are getting creative in paying for college. With three sons fast approaching college age and not a lot of money set aside for their expenses, Greg and his wife began entertaining the idea […]
An Easy Way to Estimate Your Retirement Needs
One of the best steps you can take to prepare for your later years is to use a retirement calculator. Doing so can help you see if you’re on the right path and figure out what, if any, changes you might need to make. On the latest installment of my new video feature, Two-Minute Money […]
Giving Kids a Gift That’ll Pay Lasting Dividends
Do you have any kids on your gift list this holiday season? Why not give them the gift of stories that’ll help them understand how to use money wisely? Our kids are still pretty young, so most of the books that I have direct experience with are for younger kids. However, several parents of older […]