Many of us donate to a worthy cause year round. Unfortunately, just as there are good people trying to help others, there are also plenty of scammers out there. You want to feel good about where your money is going, and you want to make sure that you aren’t just lining the pockets of some […]
My finances are largely automated. Most of my regular bills are paid automatically with a credit card or through direct withdrawal from my checking account. This setup is convenient, and it means that I don’t have to spend a lot of time trying to remember when to pay my bills. Even my retirement account and emergency […]
We’ve considered buying a home a major milestone of financial and lifestyle achievement for years. It’s one of those steps that we all feel we need to take in order to be successful. However, I’ve been a homeowner, and I like renting better – even if I am “throwing money away.” (And I don’t think […]
Death isn’t a subject that many of us like to think about. But the fact of the matter is that we all must plan for that eventuality, including how we want our final days to play out. According to Amanda Bennet, author of “The Cost of Hope,” “From the 1970s to the 1990s, one study […]
My friend started a conversation on her high monthly grocery bill and told me to guess how much she spends. I quickly said, “$1,800” – mind you she is raising three growing preteen boys, and lives with her husband, mother, and stepfather, so basically seven adults. She seemed a little surprised that I was so […]
Not all of us need a budget for cars. Not all of us need a budget for pets. Not all of us need a budget for haircuts even. But without a doubt, we all need a budget for clothing. We all know how to shrink our clothes, but what many of us don’t know how […]
