Personal Finance and Lifestyle Guide
{“description”:”Personal finance articles about saving, budgeting, loans, retirement planning, college saving, taxes, mortgages, investing and more.”,”interstitial”:””,”image_id”:””}
In our last installment of Budgeting 101 we discussed the importance of creating a budget and how it allows your money to work for you.  But how can you create a plan to whip your finances into shape if you don’t know where it stands in the first place? The first step in budgeting is […] More
The Holidays are fast approaching and having some extra cash available couldn’t come at a better time. Here are five ways you can save money today without losing anything in the process. 1. Internet/Cable: Do this today! Contact your cable and/or internet provider and ask about promotions or new packages they offer. Providers such as DirecTV and Comcast are always changing packages […] More
Infidelity, a word that has ended marriages for years and strikes fear in the heart and mind of men and women everywhere. But what if your spouse was cheating with a 3.370 x 2.125 inch piece of plastic or the bank at the end of the block? Would your feelings about infidelity change? What if […] More
Comedian Billy Connolly once said, “A woman’s mind is as complex as the contents of her handbag.” and as funny as that may seem, he’s right, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. A woman’s purse is perhaps one of her most private of possessions. Many men (my husband included) simply have no desire to venture […] More
For the first time ever, the amount of student loans taken out has reached the $100 Billion mark. You read it right, “B”illion. According to USA Today, the amount that students are borrowing is twice as much as they were a decade ago, even after adjusting for inflation. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York […] More
Lately I’ve been hearing quite a bit of chatter on blogs, twitter and forums about people choosing to put the majority of their monthly expenses on credit cards with the intention of paying off the card at the end of the month. While this may sound great in theory, you’re playing with financial fire. Two […] More
It seems no matter what decision we make as parents there is someone out there telling us to do the opposite. The same can be said about allowance. I’ve found over the years there are two distinct camps, allowance is payment for chores completed or allowance is just given. However the allowance for chores camp […] More
One of my favorite little surprises is putting on a jacket from seasons past or swapping out purses and finding money. You ladies know exactly what I’m talking about, the little thrill of finding a $5 or $10 dollar bill that you stuck in a pocket and forgot about. What if you found $50, $100 […] More
Budget, Budget, Budget. Diet, Diet, Diet. I’m going to keep saying these words until they lose their scariness factor. Why? Because, many people hear these words and a wall goes up, their listening mechanism shuts off and they tune out. To them “budget” is a four letter word similar to “diet;” indicating a need to […] More
When it comes to your credit history, you’d be amazed how many things in life are affected by the almighty FICO score. The interest rate you pay on loans and credit cards, car insurance premiums, rental agreements and in some instances whether you get that job you’re applying for. Something that can affect so many […] More
With the economy in a slow recovery, many people are still living paycheck to paycheck. Paying your bills on time can often be a struggle and late fees just throw a bigger wrench in your budget. Not only do fees make your balance larger, but for credit card accounts, a late or missed payment will […] More
It’s Sunday afternoon and your sprinkler system just sprung a leak. Are you sweating at just the thought of an after-hours plumbing call or cool as a cucumber? If you have a healthy savings account you probably didn’t even bead up, which is exactly why having an emergency fund is a non-negotiable budget item. Trouble […] More