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Normally I’m not one who’s up for traveling. However, here in southern Ohio it has snowed nearly every day for the past three weeks, the temperature has remained in the single digits on most days, and the roads are too bad to drive on. Saying that I’m suffering from cabin fever is a bit of an understatement.
While I’m stuck in the house crossing my fingers that winter will soon come to an end, I’m also dreaming about warm places. And, since I don’t have much of a vacation budget, I’ve been scheming up ways I can score a little getaway on the cheap.
If you’re in a position similar to mine, here are six painless ways to save money for a vacation. [ continue reading… ]
A baby on the way is a very exciting time for any family. Whether you’re new parents or adding to your growing family, preparing for your new arrival can already feel like a handful. Aside from the upcoming sleepless nights and never ending diaper changes, one of your biggest concerns is probably your finances. According to Parenting.com, the average middle class family will spend $12,000 on child-related expenses in the baby’s first year of life. That’s not a small chunk of change. So how do you prepare financially while trying to juggle all the new responsibilities that come with a new baby at the same time?
It’s definitely not an easy task and there’s really no rule book on how to parent, especially when it comes to finances. One tip we know works though, and it’s that the earlier you start preparing, the better you’ll be able to set up for your baby’s future. Before your baby’s arrival, take a look at this checklist on easy things you can do to financially prepare now: [ continue reading… ]
A year ago, I took the plunge and quit my job to be a full-time freelancer. It was a bold, scary move considering I was and still am in debt.
Of the many reasons I chose self-employment, flexibility and increasing my income were paramount in my decision. I believed I could make more money on my own since I worked low-paying nonprofit jobs for the bulk of my career, making roughly $30,000 per year. I’m happy to report I’ve accomplished that after a year, and more of that income is going towards paying off debt too.
Although I’ve reached my goals and have more balance and am earning more, it’s not been without trial and tribulations. I feel like I’ve been on an accelerated learning curve the past year, navigating the uncertain waters of freelancing.
Here are the top things I learned in my first year as a full-time freelancer. [ continue reading… ]
Warm weather, combined with recent rain, finally has my lawn green and growing. I’ve dropped my first application of fertilizer, pulled my lawn mower from the shed, and generally gotten ready for another season of lawn care. Soon enough, my lawn will need to be mowed regularly.
I love being outside and mowing the lawn, but I’m a busy guy — and the two hours it takes to cut the grass and trim around the house is sometimes hard to find.
That being said, I have a teenage son who is looking to earn some extra money. He’d like to get a part-time job, but getting one at age 15 is difficult, because most business require applicants to be at least 16.
Mowing the lawn would be a perfect way for me to save some time, and for him to earn some money. But here’s the question:
One of the most important things you can do is to save enough for retirement. Unfortunately, many Americans aren’t saving anything for their future.
According to a survey from GoBankingRates.com, it looks as though about one in three Americans has absolutely nothing in their nest egg. This is a concerning number since it indicates that many people aren’t preparing for their financial future.
Here are the results of the survey, indicating how much money the respondents say they have saved for retirement:
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