Embattled real estate markets and soaring foreclosures aren’t just affecting middle-aged Americans; there are plenty of young people who bought early at the wrong time. True, young homeowners have less invested in a home and plenty of time to rebuild their finances, but finding yourself staring down the barrel of foreclosure is unpleasant at any age. I want to share an email I received from one such homeowner, and ask: What do you recommend he and other upside-down homeowners do? [...]

First, it was the cell phone. Next came the camera-phone. Now, there’s the iPhone. Next up: the “wallet-phone”? (Actually, being able to pay with your phone is probably not that far off). Until then, there are already hundreds of financial apps for the iPhone that make tracking and managing your personal finances on the go as easy as texting. Want to enlist your iPhone to help you get richer? Here are 15 16 (we added one) of the best personal finance iPhone apps. [...]

Thanks to low mortgage rates, a housing glut, and generous tax incentives, mortgage applications are surging. Although the housing market is still a ways from a full-scale rebound, it is a great time to buy a home—especially your first. Over the years I’ve written several posts to help first-time home buyers navigate the complicated and stressful home-buying process. Here’s a recap of what you’ll need to know as you prepare to buy your first home. [...]

High fuel prices and Hollywood hype made 2008 the year to “go green”. But we shouldn’t table efforts to reduce our impact on our planet just because the economy has soured. In fact, you can do a lot of things to be green and save green at the same time. In celebration of Earth Day, here are a few suggestions. [...]

How often do you worry about money? Once a week? Once a day? All of the time? At one time in my life I was so stressed about money (specifically, how much I owed and how little I made), that I couldn’t focus on anything else. It had to stop. Worrying about money isn’t only a waste of time, it’s unhealthy, because as you worry, you put unnecessary stress on yourself. So if money worries are keeping you up nights or interfering with your life, read these tips and stop worrying about money! [...]

I read a great post this morning by Monica O’Brien of TwentySet about Generation Y bloggers and generational stereotypes. It got me pondering stereotypes I’ve encountered about how twentysomethings handle money. What are these stereotypes? Are you validating these stereotypes with your financial behavior, or smashing through them? [...]

I’ve been working on personal financial goals for over three years. During that time, I’ve also set goals to get stronger, eat better, and lose weight. Unfortunately, I frequently failed to achieve my health goals…until recently. I’ve lost more than 15 pounds since January and have been able to make a healthier lifestyle stick. As I continue to work on these goals, I see connections between getting fit and getting rich. [...]

Nearly all of the major U.S. credit card issuers have agreed to modify debt repayment terms for consumers enrolled in debt management plans, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) announced yesterday. If you’re struggling to repay credit card debt and are already enrolled in a debt management plan (or have ever considered one), here’s what the changes mean for you. [...]

Happy Tax Day! That’s right it’s April 15th, and hopefully you’ve already put last year’s tax return to bed. If not, you still have a few hours left to file your return or an extension (here’s a link to TurboTax Free Edition for those who really need it!) But just in case you’re considering trying to dodge filing a tax return (or paying Uncle Sam), here a few reasons to think again. [...]

Something I learned far too late into my twenties is that when you’re trying to get out of debt, finding the money to pay down debts is only half the battle. Sometimes, it’s even harder to avoid going into new debt than it is to pay down debts you already have. This year, for the first time in my life, it seems that I’m finally able to pay cash for everything. I have an emergency fund, and I’m confident that even if my car broke down tomorrow, I could fix it without tacking the bill onto my credit card balance. If you’re working your way out of debt, I’ve compiled some tips to help you with this half of the battle: Avoiding going into any new debt! [...]