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Practical Solutions to Money Problems
Practical Solutions to Money Problems If you read this blog even semi-regularly, you probably know that I tend to tackle the bigger financial stuff: Paying down debt, creating and sticking to a budget, saving for retirement, and so on. But there’s more to finance than responsible credit card use and having an emergency fund. During a typical week, you’re probably faced with dozens of small money-related issues. While most... -
Calling in the Experts: When to Seek Professional Money Help
You don’t have to be a millionaire to need professional financial help. Just about everybody can benefit from some professional guidance when it comes to things like saving, investing, and planning for the future. But if you’ve never worked with a financial professional, the whole idea can seem a little overwhelming. What kinds of things can you get help with? And when is the right time to seek help? ... -
Raising Financially Savvy Kids: A Guide for Parents
Being a parent is a full-time job — and it’s not an easy one, either. In addition to providing basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and so on, parents are also in charge of teaching life lessons and generally helping kids grow up to become good, caring, and responsible adults. And while there’s no single “right” way to raise kids or teach them those life lessons, there... -
Money Mistakes That Make You Poorer
When money’s tight, it’s easy to forget basics like budgeting, saving, and paying down debt. Broke folks tend to stop thinking about the long term and get caught up in day-to-day worries. The problem is, though, that losing sight of your long-term financial goals can have some serious consequences. Behaviors like making minimum credit card payments, not budgeting, and relying on less-than-legit sources of cash (like payday loans) can... -
Five Fantastic Apps for Managing Your Money
Staying on top of your finances doesn’t have to be difficult in the digital age. There are a variety of apps people with smart phones and tablet computers can use to help with debt consolidation, reporting expenses, paying bills, and more. If you’re ready to change the way you manage your money, consider downloading a few of these apps. Mint Keeping track of all of your money... -
Financial Red Flags: Signs Your Finances are in Trouble
Financial problems rarely happen overnight. In fact, if you know what to look for, you can spot money problems far before they get out of control. Are your finances on the right track, or are they starting to veer off course? Here are five red flags that might mean you’re headed for trouble: You don’t have savings and/or an emergency fund. This is a big one. Most financial... -
Thou Shalt Live Within Your Means (for financial happiness)
During a recent family vacation, I spotted a sign in front of a church parking lot that said: “Thou Shalt Not Park Here.” That sign gave all of us a good laugh – and it also gave me the (divine) inspiration for this week’s topic. Whether you’re looking for ways to get out of debt or strategies to stretch your hard-earned dollars just a little bit farther, these... -
Six Good Reasons to (Responsibly!) Use Your Credit Card
For this month’s blog, I thought it would be fun to talk about something I almost never talk about: the benefits of credit card use. Yes, you read that right. There are benefits to credit cards. I spend most of my time working with people who are struggling with crippling amounts of credit card debt – and there’s no doubt that, if used irresponsibly, credit cards can wreak havoc... -
Never be Late Again: Strategies to Stay on Top of Your Bills
If you’ve ever paid a bill late, you know how devastating a few days can be to your credit score — and your bank account. Missing the payment deadline on any type of bill can cost a small fortune in late fees — and even if you’re usually prompt with your payments, one late credit card payment can cause your credit score to dip temporarily. Miss several credit card... -
“I Don’t Make Enough to Save”
Four Ways We Talk Ourselves into Financial Disaster You make plenty of money – enough, at least, to allow you to pay bills, eat, get to work, and save for the future. You even made a budget once; a neat and attractive Excel spreadsheet that organized and allocated your monthly earnings, down to the penny. You even had spending money left over. Well, you should have, anyway. ...