When I signed up to take the Live Below the Line Challenge, I knew there was no way I’d convince my husband to partake, and my son? Well, I just wasn’t comfortable limiting his food for the sake of experiment. (And yes, I do understand that there are many kids who live under these circumstances, without a parent who can… Read more →
I’ll admit openly that when I run an analysis of where most of my family’s budget goes, it’s to food. Amazingly, it’s not really because we eat out or entertain often. We simply like to eat healthy–and we like to eat what we want–when we want it. So, while I’m sure I could free up a ton of… Read more →
When I was $15,000 in credit card debt, I was making just $31,000 a year. Needless to say, digging out from what I owed was going to be a lengthy uphill battle. But in fact, it wasn’t. I got out of debt in just three years. How? I found a way to make additional income–on top of aggressively budgeting, taking… Read more →
Most people have something they could improve about their finances, but most of us put alot more effort into wishing for more money than taking the actions that really make it happen. Your financial goals are within reach–but you have to know what you’re working towards in order to know your progress, and stay on track. Here are three ways… Read more →
I recently wrote an article for Mint.com revealing six steps to starting an emergency fund. In it, I mentioned some words of advice from Manhattan psychologist Dr. Joseph Cilona, who provides insight on the relationship that people have with money–and how understanding it can lead to financial freedom. As a personal finance writer, I’m not much of a believer in… Read more →
I just filed my taxes and low and behold–I got a refund. While I must admit that I’m thrilled to get the funds, I’m a tad ashamed as a personal finance writer. After all, I just lost out on access to thousands of dollars that I could’ve put towards, savings, or the stock market run (before it ran)! When you… Read more →
As a personal finance writer, I pull story inspiration from what is around me every day, including my own life, what I read and see in the mass media, and the viewpoints others share in social media and on blog comments. I love the Internet and social media for the very reason that people are so astonishingly frank and truthful…. Read more →
If you follow the mass media, you’ve heard about the recent study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission which revealed that as many as one in five credit reports contain errors. Not only am I not shocked, I’m surprised the figure isn’t not higher. Though I certainly don’t argue with the fact that it is unfair, it underscores the… Read more →
If you’re dealing with the winter blahs by planning your upcoming spring break getaway or summer vacation, you can save big bucks by tweaking a few of your typical vacation planning habits. Here are three simple changes that can help you offset the high costs of travel. Beware of the bundling trick. If you automatically assume you have to buy… Read more →
I love the stock market. But, I’ll be honest, I don’t really understand it. That’s what analysts are for, right? Well, yes, and no. While I in no way mean to suggest that stock analysts don’t know what they’re talking about, I do mean to say that unless you understand what you’re buying in the stock market, you’re kind of… Read more →
