All posts by Mike Peterson

Dreaming of an Early Retirement? Avoid these Common Obstacles

If you’re in the middle of your career, you’ve probably given some thought to retirement. Whether you imagine a post-career future of traveling or pursuing a particular passion or interest, or whether you simply dream of the day when you don’t have to commute to an office five days a week, you probably have a few ideas in mind about what your ideal retirement looks like. But have you...

Financial Goals and Motivation: Eight Ways to Stay the Course

It’s not always easy to stick to a financial goal. Maybe you’ve decided to get serious about paying off that high-interest credit card in the next year. Or perhaps you’re finally ready to build up your emergency fund. Maybe you want to save up a down payment for a home. Maybe you want to get the money together for a big, much-needed family vacation.   No matter what kind...

Building a Better Online Banking Password

Most of my readers know that I’m a pretty big fan of technology, especially where money is concerned. Online and mobile banking options make it easier than ever to save money, pay bills, and track your spending habits.   Of course, this doesn’t mean that online banking is perfect: While it provides a super-convenient way to manage your finances, it also creates new opportunities for hackers and scammers looking...

No More Excuses! Common Ways we Justify Spending

Nothing derails a carefully planned budget faster than unnecessary spending. Sure, it would be great if we were all above temptation when it came to buying extra stuff that we don’t need (and can’t afford!) – but we all have our moments of weakness. Flash sales, special occasions, and peer pressure can all wreak havoc on our finances, especially when we come up with creative “reasons” to spend the...

Budgeting for Change: How to Handle More (or Less) Money

If you read this blog regularly, you already know that I’m a big believer in budgeting. And you also probably know that there are lots of great budgeting ideas out there, from the traditional to the creative.   But when it comes to budgeting, it really doesn’t matter what kind of budget you choose. What does matter is that you choose something that you’ll stick to – and that...

Protect Your Money from Hackers, Dumpster Divers, and Skimmers

If you’ve watched the news lately, you probably know that Home Depot is currently investigating a potential security breach that could leave an unknown number of customers at risk for credit card fraud. Last year, just before the Christmas holiday, Target made headlines after some 40 million of its customers’ credit card numbers were stolen by hackers. Around the same time, a variety of other retailers – including Neiman...

Five Must-Know Personal Finance Basics

You probably have distinct memories of learning to drive a car. Maybe you learned from your parents or an older sibling. Or maybe you took a driver’s ed class at your high school or community center. However you learned, chances are pretty good that someone showed you the ropes and made you practice – a lot – before handing you the keys to the family automobile.   This isn’t...

Tired of Traditional Budgets? Try the Proportional Approach

Budgeting is the foundation of healthy personal finances. It helps you set and achieve goals and identify finance habits that need work. If you don’t have enough money coming in, or if too much is going out, budgeting is the all-important red flag that can get you in motion in time to avoid an all-out disaster.   But while most people agree budgets are important in theory, it can...

Expect To Change Your Approach to Finances As You Age

For most people, the exercise and nutrition habits that work best for them in their 20s can change during middle age and again during the retirement years. This pattern holds true for personal finances, too. The things we should be doing in our 20s to stay financially healthy aren’t necessarily the same later in life. With that idea in mind, I’ve listed a few guidelines — an age-appropriate do-to...

The New Realities of Retirement: Safeguarding Your Future

Retirement is a much different reality today than it was even a generation ago.   First of all, the age when people retire is shifting upward: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the proportion of people age 65 and older in the workforce grew to 16.1 percent in 2010, up from 12.1 percent in 1990.   Another thing that’s different? The ways people are building their retirement funds. For...