Many of us, when we make purchases, look at the price only. We consider the sticker price of an item or service and then make a judgment based on how expensive or cheap it is. However, the upfront cost should not be the only consideration. Your calculations should consider an item’s total cost of ownership. [...]
When your refrigerator suddenly dies, you obviously have to buy another one, pronto. You don’t have time to save money for a new one or watch for a great sale. Similarly, if you realize your patio dining set isn’t party-worthy right before you host your family reunion, you’ll probably run out to buy new outdoor [...]
A long time ago, when I was young and naïve, the tax system was able to shock me. Not anymore. When Congress passed the Tax Reform Act of 1986, it eliminated all installment sales. Things immediately got expensive for lot of nice, sweet old men I knew—and lots of others as well. Many people had [...]
In the course of life, we learn so much from our mistakes as well as those of people we encounter. Let me share some important estate planning and estate-related lessons I have learned over the years. Providing for your children You love your children. You care about their financial and emotional well-being. And you’ve probably made some [...]
With the recession dragging into its fifth year, many people are seeing little to smile about when it comes to their retirement savings. Year after year, the money they invested in the hope that it would grow into a nice nest egg has remained stagnant—or even dropped in value. As a result, some investors are [...]
A few decades ago, if you had a job at any given company, you usually had career security—and possibly a pension. That employment setup has been replaced by one in which companies replace workers without too much thought, and the average person is expected to have more than five jobs over the course of a [...]
As teenagers are taking part-time and summer jobs to earn some spending cash and help with saving for college, now is a great time to start instilling some money management skills. Here are some details about paystubs that you can teach your teen as he or she enters the working world. Fundamentals of paychecks Whenever [...]
Recently, I saw my friend’s bills for installing solar power systems into her home. It cost her about $20,000. Wow! That’s a big chunk of change. I had to wonder if this was really a cost-effective solution. First of all, her cost was reduced by tax credits from both the IRS and the state of [...]
If your retirement strategy includes a 401(k), you need to understand the specifics of your plan’s vesting schedule. If you leave your current job to pursue new career opportunities, you still have the right to access your 401(k). However, the vesting schedule may sway your decision based on the potential for a reduction of or [...]
