One of the most important things you can do for your finances is to prepare for the future. If you want to be able to live your desired lifestyle after you leave the workforce, saving for retirement is a must. While you may not feel as though you have much extra money to save for [...]
Saving money should be easy, right? So easy you can be lazy about putting it into action. So, what are some lazy ways to save money? To start, you just take some of the money you earn and put it away in a savings account so you won’t spend it. Then you repeat. Yet most [...]
You’ve saved for a down payment and worked hard to get approved for a mortgage. After months of looking, you find a great house that meets your needs and fits your budget. Your offer has been accepted. Then you receive a letter from your lender. Your dream home has appraised 10 percent lower than you [...]
Would you consider yourself financially comfortable or financially well-off? Have you taken any steps toward financial stability? Most Americans do see a difference, according to a recent Countrywide Financial survey. Nearly half of Americans say $50,000 to $100,000 in annual household income is enough to live comfortably, but just 34 percent of Americans consider that [...]
Engagement ring or down payment? Apparently young women are increasingly opting for the latter. According to a survey of 1,000 people from ERA Real Estate, half of young women would rather have their mate propose with a plan to put money toward the down payment of a house than an engagement ring and 60 percent would [...]
Have you heard of the Rule of 752? For those struggling to save money, this one’s for you. We always hear that by cutting out small expenses, we can save big (I even have an eBook touching on 10 expenses that can kill your savings). We know those $3 daily lattes add up. But it [...]
The economy is continuing to improve, and many people who saved diligently during the recession to pay off debt are now feeling comfortable enough to borrow again for homes, cars, and other big purchases. As a result, U.S. household debt is climbing at its fastest pace in five years. Consumer household debt rose 1.1 percent [...]
There’s a lot to be said for simplicity, especially when it comes to your household budget. Micromanaging your money can get messy, and if you’re not careful, you’ll wind up over-budgeting and driving yourself crazy. Our family keeps a pretty detailed monthly spending plan. We’ve used Quicken software to track it in the past, and [...]
Q: My child graduated college and we still have leftover funds in a Georgia 529 savings plan; about $5000. If I close the account out, do the leftover funds become income to me as the parent or to my child who did not need the remaining 529 savings plan funds? A: It must be really [...]
For many people, adopting the “senior citizen” label is tough. But if you love saving money, you’ll find that it’s great to be in your 50s and 60s (and beyond!). In fact, there are so many discounts available to Americans as they enter their mid-50s and 60s that entire websites are dedicated to helping sift [...]
