Whether you're finishing your bachelor’s degree, getting your master’s degree or a professional certificate, or going to college for the first time, furthering your education is an expensive investment. But, like any other investment, you can earn a lot more than you initially spent, if you do it right. According to 2012 data from the [...]
Want to go green and save money? Remodeling your home with a few key features could improve its energy efficiency and increase its value over time. http://youtu.be/zOKA81kD-vk In fact, homeowners who choose to take on green remodeling projects can lower their energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent, according to the Sustainable Building Council. [...]
Americans are living healthier and longer lives. The average life expectancy is now 79—that’s plenty of time to save more than a million dollars. The upshot is that you need to start securing an income for the 10, 20 or even 30 years after retirement right now. You don’t want to spend your golden years [...]
Would you buy a place to live for your kids in college? Would you make the purchase while your kids were in middle school? Apparently some overeager parents are buying their college-bound kids apartments near some top ivy schools, long before they’re even accepted. Real estate agent Ed Feijo of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in [...]
When my husband and I were preparing for the birth of our son nearly 12 years ago, we were daunted by everything we were told we were supposed to have. It looked as though having a baby would bankrupt us. Today, costs are higher, and the list of things you should supposedly have for baby [...]
I have counseled numerous families on how to manage their finances, and there’s been a common issue among many: how to best help an adult child with his or her financial issues, from struggling to make mortgage payments to managing overwhelming credit card and student loan debt. Adults face a tough job market today—even with [...]
Can money buy happiness? That’s an age-old question, and one that I think that everyone asks themselves at some point. Most people wonder if all of their hard work will pay off and give them the financial freedom and happiness they seek. In short, the answer is yes—and it can be purchased for a lot [...]
The biggest threat to your finances could be your friends. It may seem counter intuitive that the people closest to you could negatively impact your financial life, but too often, people will spend more than they can afford in order to keep up with the lifestyles of those around them. It’s called “relative deprivation,” and [...]
This article was written by guest blogger Teri Cettina. Chances are good that when you budgeted for your summer travel, you remembered to build in the price of your hotel, the charge for your rental car and the estimated cost of your meals. But what about your hotel tax? Extra rental car fees? State and local [...]
Perhaps your teen is getting to the point where carrying around cash isn’t so convenient any longer. Maybe she’s signing up online for a crafts class, but she needs a credit card to do so. Or perhaps your student is away at college, and you’d rather he not carry a wad of $20s to the [...]
