Hosting a celebratory party for your graduate doesn’t have to be a budget breaker. All it takes is a little planning and creativity to pull off a fantastic (and inexpensive) graduation party—and no one has to know you pinched pennies! Get colorful. Don’t waste money on overpriced graduation-themed plates, napkins, and tablecloths, as they’ll quickly [...]
Estate planning can give you control over what happens to your wealth after you pass away. In some cases, an individual doesn’t designate a person as his or her beneficiary. Depending on the specific situation, this can have different effects on how the finances are distributed. What if you don’t designate a beneficiary at all? [...]
College represents a new beginning, and it may be the first time that your child will be completely responsible for his or her finances. Help your student save money and budget for expenses by ensuring that he or she is set up with the right financial accounts. While you can start by helping your child [...]
This post was written by guest blogger Teri Cettina. You have fond memories of a road trip your family took as a kid, so now you’re treating (torturing?) your clan to something similar. Good move: A driving vacation can be significantly cheaper than a trip requiring air travel. However, it’s easy to lose track of [...]
This post was written by guest blogger Teri Cettina. The so-called lazy days of summer aren’t quite that laid-back for working parents of young children. Summer means no school for the kids for three full months—and instead, a complex patchwork of childcare or different summer camps. All this extra care can get expensive if you’re [...]
Considering expensive home upgrades? Expert tips on spending and saving money wisely, including paying off a mortgage and saving for retirement. Q: I have a $138,000 mortgage at 3.75 percent on a 15-year term with 10 years left to pay. The property is appraised at $300,000. I have $130,000 cash reserve. My wife wants to [...]
We all like to feel normal, and nothing helps you feel normal like having the same stuff as your neighbors. Having the same gadgets and cars lets you feel like you fit in with your neighbors, and there is also a status component—having what others have can trigger feelings of success. Unfortunately, all that stuff [...]
Your neighbor is running a 5K for a worthwhile charity and hopes you’ll sponsor her. A nonprofit agency to which you’ve donated in the past keeps contacting you about additional gifts. A coworker is collecting funds to buy a milk-producing goat for a needy family across the globe. These are all good causes, but donation [...]
Graduation season is upon us, and those of us who are parents are suddenly struck by the fact that, before we know it, we will be sending our children off to college. Use the time before they leave for school to have focused conversations that will empower and prepare them for the challenges ahead. In [...]
This post was written by guest blogger Teri Cettina. As summer approaches, most of my friends talk about the camps, classes, and other activities that their kids will be attending this summer. But when I raise the idea of the kids earning summer money—whoa. This may still be a foreign concept for many parents of [...]
