Finance Globe

An emergency fund helps to get you through...an emergency. According to a Bankrate.com poll, only 4 in 10 Americans have an adequate emergency fund to fall back on. With three to six months of living expenses being the recommended savings, it's easy to see why. Putting away enough money in an emergency fund can take a typical family several years to build up. And all the while, there's the possibility that an emergency will come up,...

The size of your emergency fund depends on your personal situation. Just as there's a lot of conflicting advice on many money issues, there are different recommendations on how much to save in your emergency fund depending on who you get the advice from. Though the commonly accepted advice states you should save three to six months' worth of living expenses, some financial advisors feel that to be totally safe you should save a year's worth...

Moving out on your own is a big step towards independence, and means more freedom and increased responsibility. It's a good idea to begin preparation about a year before you actually do move, so you have a chance to save money for all the expenses related to moving into your own place of residence. Many have moved out on their own with very little advanced preparation, and while it is certainly possible, it's just more difficult...

Every parent wants to provide their children with the basic needs, and also enough of the extras to give their kids an enjoyable childhood. But kids don't always know what they need to have fun. You know how it is, they beg and beg for an item because they saw it on TV or their friends have it. You finally shell out the dough to pay for it after you believe that it means that much...

You could spend a small fortune preparing for the birth of your child, even before the little angel is born. So many cute outfits, cute bedding sets, and cute toys to choose from, it may be difficult for first-time parents to know what is actually needed and what you can go without. Save on baby gear, and don't deplete your savings or incur debt to welcome your new sweetheart home. It's good practice to control costs...

Ready for some changes in your living space, but don't want to spend big bucks? Relatively low-cost, and fairly easy projects can give your home a face lift. Smaller projects are great, because you can choose to do a little at a time, or you can choose to do it all at once, depending on your budget and your available free-time. And, a small project can make a big impact in the overall effect of the...

We spend a lot of money improving our homes, sometimes too much. Home owners just love to make their home-sweet-home a little sweeter. We spend a lot of money, put in some hard work, and then relax and take in the beauty of it all. It can be a never-ending process; often, we don't stop at that one project that originally prompted us to improve our home. One completed project often leads us to see the...

Your credit report may not be completely accurate. It's not uncommon for consumer's credit reports to have inaccurate information. These mistakes in your credit report can mean higher interest rates, larger down payment requirements, and less competitive loan administration fees. Catching those inaccuracies before you take out a big loan can save you big bucks. Check your credit report at least once a year, and especially before any major loan purchase, such as a home mortgage...

Choosing your business name can be fun, but it's one of the most important choices you'll have to make. Many other business decisions can be adjusted later on down the road if they're not working, but it can be difficult to successfully change the name of your business. As your business grows and you develop a customer base, a big reason they'll come back is familiarity with your business name. Changing it later can confuse customers...

A good business partner can make your life easier. Choosing to go into business with a partner definitely brings some benefits. Shared expenses, shared workload, and shared profit means that you'll be counting on this person. The right partner can help alleviate some sources of stress in running a business. But, the wrong partner can become one of your major sources of business stress. Is your prospective partner a good candidate? Your buddy from college may...