Alison

Windfalls can be both a blessing and curse. When a sudden and unexpected chunk of cash blows our way most of us will squander it all in a New York minute. So say the statistics. We’ve all heard cautionary tales of lottery winners who, ironically, end up destitute within a year and a half of … Read more

Budgeting is actually pretty simple. Just use the math you learned in elementary school and don’t spend more than you have. Really, it’s not brain surgery. It just feels like it sometimes. Add an uncooperative spouse into the equation and you might feel like volunteering to get a lobotomy. Hello again, budgeting allies! How are … Read more

It’s here! The beginning of my new fiscal year, and in my new fiscal year I hereby resolve to get control of my finances. In order to accomplish that I have to be smart, or rather S.M.A.R.T. As in, that acronym that gets touted so often as The Formula for successful goal setting it’s almost … Read more

I have an embarrassing confession. It has taken me nearly eight months to write this. I’ve written and rewritten this column–heck, this sentence–more times than I care to admit. My original plan was to write a blog-like series in which I presented money management tips that I would actually follow myself, to be kicked off … Read more

Everyone knows that January is the time to buy holiday ornaments, wrapping paper and winter clothing at rock bottom prices, but did you know that you can save tons of money on many more exciting things this month? So, while you’re out stocking up on wrapping paper at 99 cents a roll, consider shopping around … Read more