I recently started using Outright to record the income and expenses for my blogging “business”. In a word, I’m blown away! As a budding entrepreneur, Outright provides everything I need to track income, expenses, and taxes, but nothing I don’t. [...]

In December I suggested that it was a good time for young professionals to think about buying a home or a car. It was, and still is, very much a buyer’s market. (Assuming, of course, you have the cash and excellent credit available to qualify.)

But some disagreed with me, noting that property values will continue to decline. Fast forward two months, and mounting job losses has certainly added to the reasons not to make any big purchases this year. Still, are there reasons to buy your first home now? Perhaps. [...]

There’s a lot of buzz out there about FNBO Direct, high-yield online savings account from the First National Bank of Omaha. So I have to ask: If you’re not earning one of the best savings rates in the country yet at an account that also offers a free Visa debit card and billpay—why not? To make switching to FNBO as easy as possible, here’s a step-by-step guide to opening an FNBO Direct online savings account in just five minutes or so. [...]

At a time most credit card companies are cutting back on rewards, how many cards they issue, and even the kinds of cards they offer, Discover has rolled out a new travel rewards cards that should turn the heads of anybody who loves to bank credit card points for free air travel. The Discover Escape Card rewards cardmembers with unlimited double miles on every dollar spent that can be redeemed for unrestricted travel on any airline, cash, or merchandise rewards with 90 partners. [...]

As I’ve said before, I try to avoid writing excessively about the recession. I don’t believe that ruminating on lost jobs, retirement savings, and credit opportunities will fix anything—let alone make us feel in any better. In fact, I think the media’s obsession with economic horror stories is the last thing we all need. That said, I want to know: Has the recession has changed your life for the better? How? [...]

Rivka asks: I’m 25 and switching jobs. My old company didn’t match 401(k) contributions, so I put 6% of my salary into a Roth IRA. My new company, however, matches 100% on the first 3% of my salary that I contribute to their 401(k) and 50% of the next 2%. Should I contribute 5% to my 401(k) and then a little more to the Roth IRA? Or should I just let me IRA sit for the time being and not contribute? What about a savings account? (I currently contribute $300 a month to a high yield savings account.) [...]

It’s best to buy a car with cash—but not everybody has saved up thousands of dollars when the need for new transportation strikes. Although car shoppers have several options for financing a new or used car, including many online lenders, buyers with good credit may want to consider another option available to them—a peer-to-peer personal loan of up to $25,000 like those available from Lending Club. [...]

Often times, it seems that healthy food costs a lot more than junk food. But sticking to a budget and living frugally doesn’t have to mean forgoing eating healthfully. After all, what good is health without wealth? [...]