Earlier this year I wrote about the not-so-insignificant costs of having a baby, and several of you asked about the decision to go back to work or for one parent to stay home. For those fortunate enough to have this choice, choosing to return to … [Read more...]
Big Medical Bills: How to Cope When You Can’t Afford to Pay the Docs
November 6, 2012 by
Every year, I have thousands of interactions with readers, friends, and other bloggers about personal finance. Over the years, I think the thing that has scared me most is the potential for a major illness or injury to wipe out your … [Read more...]
Fired! How to Get Your Finances in Order When you Lose Your Job
October 29, 2012 by
Imagine the unimaginable: It’s Friday and you head to work in a good mood, primed for the weekend ahead. You settle at your desk, check your email, and see that your boss wants to see you in his office. You go in, he closes the door, and you notice … [Read more...]
What’s Your Number?
October 24, 2012 by
-- What’s your number? -- Excuse me? -- The amount of money you would need to be able to walk away from it all and just live happily-ever-after. See, I find that everyone has a number and it’s usually an exact number, so what is … [Read more...]
How Much Should You Contribute To Your 401k?
October 21, 2012 by
Ten percent? Twenty percent? More? Recently I wrote about the benefits of both 401ks and IRAs offer. We also looked at the emerging Roth 401k option and when it makes sense for young investors. But everybody’s next question is: “Okay, okay, … [Read more...]
How to Use a Credit Card Responsibly
October 15, 2012 by
This blog was born of stupidity. Between the ages of 18 and 25 I racked up nearly $80,000 of debt -- much of it on credit cards. I wrote this article in 2007 when I was still digging out of debt and struggling with how to quit my bad money habits, … [Read more...]
Mint Alternatives: Adaptu, Personal Capital, and Manilla
October 15, 2012 by
Technology is changing how we handle money. When I got my first bank account as a kid, I had a little passbook with my balance history stamped in it. There were no debit cards. And certainly no iPhone apps. And that was less than 20 years … [Read more...]
Your Most Important Money Goal
October 15, 2012 by
For the great majority of us, there will always be more ways to spend money than money to spend. As a result, managing money well requires making good decisions. A lot of them. Do you take that vacation or save a bit more this year? Will you … [Read more...]
Barclaycard Ring Credit Card Review
October 8, 2012 by
Let's face it: Few credit cards are innovative. When picking new plastic, you have similar choices and decide on trade-offs like rewards, annual fees, and interest rates. Occasionally, however, there's a card that's notably different, like a new … [Read more...]
How to Invest for Short-Term Goals (Less Than 10 Years Out)
October 2, 2012 by
Raise your hand if you’re trying to save for something big in the next 10 years. A new car? Your wedding? The down payment on a home? More education? Most financial advice tells you to save for two –- maybe three -- things: A rainy day (the … [Read more...]
