Wealth Tips

What to Do After You Pay Down Your Debt

You did it. It took discipline and patience. You had to give up a lot of little “extras.” It wasn’t always easy. But you stayed the course, and you’ve finally done it: Your high-interest credit card debt is gone.  So, how do you keep debt from coming back? Should you adopt a strict “cash-only” policy? Should you cut up all of your credit cards? Should you close all of...

A Perfectly Tailored Credit Card Can Mean Healthy Financial Benefits

In the market for a new credit card? Well, in the sage words of Smokey Robinson, “You better shop around.” Granted, it may seem like choosing a credit card is as easy as sifting through the endless offers you receive in the mail and simply choosing one, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In reality, different credit cards will appeal to different folks for different reasons. So...

8 Ways to Generate Passive Income

Who doesn’t want extra cash? I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t be happy to bring home a little extra money every month. But side income usually means taking a side job of some kind – and not everyone has the kind of schedule that can accommodate a traditional part time gig. That’s where passive income comes in. As the name suggests, passive income allows you to earn money...

A to Z Guide of Staying Out of Debt

The key to staying out of debt is to keep a better handle on your finances through things like spending less, budgeting, and saving money. It takes work, but it’s not impossible. And you might be surprised by how many small things you can do to work toward a debt-free lifestyle. Just for fun, I thought I’d break things down alphabetically, so here’s your official A to Z guide...

Raising Finance Savvy Kids

Financial education is a lifelong undertaking – and, unfortunately, it’s one subject that isn’t taught in schools. If you want to help your kids grow up to be financially responsible adults, it’s really up to you to help them understand money, budgeting, and finances. Ideally slowly with the basics, and work your way up to more complex concepts. Need some suggestions? Read on to get some ideas for age-appropriate...

The Do’s and Don’ts Before Applying for a Mortgage 

Maybe you’re dreaming of a suburban ranch house with a big backyard. Or perhaps a sleek urban condo in the heart of the city. Or a townhome that’s within walking distance to work. Everyone’s idea of a “dream home” is a little different, but there’s one thing that’s the same across the board: We all have to apply for a mortgage loan. You don’t have to have perfect credit...

7 Movies That Teach Valuable Money Lessons

Like most folks, I go to the movies to get away from my day-to-day life; to escape reality for an hour or so and think about something other than work, or bills, or dinner plans, or any of the other hundreds of mundane things most of us have to think about. But, as a financial guy, I can’t help viewing movies from a money perspective. I also can’t help...

Learn 5 Ways To Live Frugal from The Great Depression

Perhaps you have an older family member – a grandparent or a great-grandparent, maybe – who can remember life during the Great Depression. If so, you’ve no doubt heard stories about how tough things were back then: People struggled to find work. Finances were tight. Budgets were tighter. You didn’t spend money unless you absolutely had to – and when you did, you paid cash. If you’re looking for...

6 Ways to Pay Yourself First

It’s nearly impossible to read a savings or budgeting blog without coming across the phrase “pay yourself first.”  And there’s a good reason that this is such a popular piece of advice:  By “paying” yourself first — in other words, setting aside a specific amount of money out of each paycheck — you can build good financial habits and ensure that your savings account continues to grow. Sounds easy,...

Just Say “No” to These Credit Card Offers

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you already know that I’m a huge proponent of responsible credit card use:  When you avoid overspending and pay your balance in full every month, a credit card is a useful tool that can help you build good credit and/or repair not-so-good credit.  And when you’ve got good credit, you have an easier time getting approved for things a car loan...