Take control of your finances with budgeting tips, spending strategies, and everyday money management tools. Whether you’re saving more, spending less, or setting new goals, this section helps you build a solid financial life.
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
Much of the U.S. government has been shutdown since the beginning of the October while the nation’s decision makers try to figure out how the government is going to pay its bills. Meanwhile, scammers are taking advantage of the shutdown to trick consumers into giving up personal information that can be used for fraud. Sallie … Read more
Most expenses are paid every month and so they’re pretty easy to remember. When you create your budget, you’re not likely to forget things like rent or mortgage, utility payments, credit card payments, etc. But, there are expenses that don’t come so regularly, that you pay only once or twice a year. These oft-forgotten expenses … Read more
Having an “I don’t care” don’t care attitude about anything is dangerous. Being careless about your money is a severe threat to your security and freedom, now and in the future. No matter how much money you have, you can’t afford not to care about your spending. Are you spending carelessly? Here are a few … 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
Once upon a time, before reality television, before the internet, before we had an intimate look into the lives of the rich and the famous (and the aspiring-to-be rich and famous), there was a such thing as “keeping up with Joneses.” The Joneses were the rich nextdoor neighbors who seemed to set the bar for … Read more
Growing up, you never really think about bills. You may hear your parents complain about them or warn you that you’ll one day have to deal with bills, but other than that, it’s like bills were just something adults had to deal with. Then one day, you were the adult getting letters in the mail … Read more
One of the best solutions to many money issues, especially those pertaining to cash flow, is to track your spending. If you can’t figure out why ends don’t seem to meet, tracking your spending for a month or two can help. Or, if you’re looking for places to cut back so you can accomplish other … Read more
Many of us probably have monthly expenses that seem to drain our financial resources. You probably think of this particular expense (or these expenses) and dream about the way your life would be if you didn’t have this major outlay of cash every month. Oh, the things you could buy, the money you could save … Read more
Every financial product that appears to make your life easier, likely comes with a fee that, in some way, will actually make your life more difficult. Take payroll cards, for example. Many employers are choosing to pay their employees via payroll cards in lieu of a paper check or direct deposit into a checking account. … Read more
