Even though we are several months away from the holiday season, it will be here before you know it. While some people enjoy waiting until the last minute to shop for gifts, others realize the benefits of getting an early start. Would it be crazy to start your holiday shopping today? Rather than shoot down this idea, here are a few reasons why it makes sense: Not buying everything at the same time. When you buy...
Savings for your current child or future child needs to be a big goal for you and your family. I found this amazing, but a recent government study found that it can take over $235,000 to raise a child from infancy to age 17. In fact that number does not include college, extracurricular activities, or family vacations. Now that you know its going to cost a lot to provide for a child, I wanted to lay...
There is an issue I think needs to be addressed in public high schools. While the core classes like algebra, geometry, and English are critical, these schools are putting enough focus on everyday skills like personal finance. I think personal finance should be a core class in high school. Learning these skills in high schools will help the student through adulthood, and may even find a job. I bet there are many that find themselves behind...
Now that I am officially a family man, I have found that I have started to really look for ways for my family to save more money each month. I am sure other families feel this pinch and are constantly looking for ways to save money as well. While it is rare eliminating a single expense will give you control over your finances, you can usually save a lot of money by combining savings from several...
As you have read almost everyday, this financial crisis is creating havoc on a lot of individuals and businesses. However, I wanted to write a positive article on how you might be able to take advantage of this crisis with a fresh start. There may even be upside to the months spent at home. Below are a few steps for you to look into and you may be able to improve your financial position during this...
While a lot of people thought we may be done with COVID-19, it seems to have come back and it might not being going away for awhile! Given the economic uncertainties, it is very important to keep a close eye on your personal finances and to continue to assess your current financial situation. Below are a few common areas for financial concerns that may have already come up or could come up in the near future....
I think it is fair to say the coronavirus is bringing the U.S. economy to a slowdown, although likely could be a complete halt. Most are predicting a recession for at least this year. In order to prepare for a recession, below are a few tips to help you survive through a recession. Re-evaluate your priorities: During recessionary times, you should re-assess what your goals are. For example, a person that may be going into retirement,...
While the markets are in turmoil and everyone is in isolation due to the coronavirus, there is some potential positives out there from a personal finance perspective. Given the declining interest rates, this would be a great opportunity to refinance your house. In fact, low mortgage rates are leading homeowners to take cash out of their homes at the highest levels since the financial crisis. This is all due to the fact that the Federal Reserve...
Credit and debit cards make it so easy to make purchases, but they also make it easy to overspend. You can go on shopping sprees without ever leaving the comfort of your home. You can pay bills with the click of button. Unless you’ve told your bank not to process overdraft transactions, they won’t stop you from spending more than what’s available in your checking account. And if you’re short on funds and have decent credit,...
When it comes to planning for your first baby, it’s hard to find a balance between being budget conscious and feeling as though you are prepared for anything and everything your new baby may need. Here are three lessons (and huge cost-saving tips) that I have learned along the way. 1. Choose items that will grow along with your child. When it comes to car seats, there are two options: an infant seat, or “bucket”...
