Your Money Archives - Page 4 of 14

How to Plan & Create Your Unique Retirement Adventure

Your grandparents’ retirement is a thing of the past.

The Employment Benefit Research Institute 2017 Retirement Confidence Study shows that Americans preparing for retirement are planning to do things differently — retire later, keep active, and even continue working to some extent.

A new type of retirement is on the horizon. And, if you’re planning to exit the workforce in 20 to 40 years, your golden years might be the adventure of a lifetime! Here’s a look at how life after retirement is changing and how you can start planning your own unique future . . . [Read more…]

How to Jump-Start Your Retirement Savings

If you’ve got three or even four decades to go until retirement, saving for that time of your life may be the last thing on your mind. But you’ve actually got the most incredible element on your side — time.

In fact, with the power of compound interest, you’ll be able to get more bang for your contributions than your peers who wait until they’re closing in on retirement age to start really planning and saving.

Of course, wanting to save for retirement and actually doing it are two very different things. When you’re just getting started, it’s easy to feel intimidated by the confusing alphabet soup of terminology — 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth SEP, SIMPLE, HSA, and so on.

So I’m demystifying the options for retirement savings. And I’m walking you through the process of kickstarting your journey to a successful future. [Read more…]

What You Need to Know Before You Get a Cash Back Credit Card

Who doesn’t love free money???

It’s so tempting to jump on the opportunity to rake in dollar bills by signing up for cash-back credit card. However, before you apply for one, it’s important to understand how these cards work and determine which one, if any, is right for you.

This guide will not only answer those questions but will also help you get the most bang for your buck with a smart cash-back credit card strategy.

[Read more…]

Why You Need a Food Processor: 10 Ways You’ll Save Time & Money

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

Sometimes it feels as though you have to pick your poison when it comes to meal prep: save time with prepared ingredients or save money by handling the food prep yourself.

But you can save time and money on food prep with a surprisingly versatile kitchen tool — your food processor.

If yours is getting dusty on the back of a shelf — or if you haven’t made the investment to buy one — here are 10 compelling reasons to fire up a food processor to get great food ready quickly and inexpensively. [Read more…]

Should You Save for a Home or Pay Down Student Loans?

When you’re repaying student loans, it can feel as though you’re frozen in time. After all, if you’re buried under $10k, $25k, or $100k in educational debt, it’s easy to think you have to put the rest of your life on hold.

In fact, according to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors, wannabe homeowners with student loan debt wait seven years longer to buy homes than those without.

But is kicking those loans ASAP while waiting to buy a home really the smartest move you can make? Or is taking your time while amassing a down payment the way to go?

The path you should choose depends on your financial circumstances. Here’s how. [Read more…]

17 Budget-Friendly Autumn Activities Your Family Will Love

This post is part 4 in the series Budget-Friendly Activities Your Family Will Love.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

And now we’ve come full circle!

This year has brought us bountiful lists of winter, spring, and summer activities that are fun for the family and great for your budget!

Now that school is back in session and the leaves are just on the cusp of changing color, I’m ready to share some of my family’s favorite budget-friendly autumn activities.

Looking to enjoy some outdoor autumn adventures? Want to cozy up with some fun ideas inside on those windy, chilly day? Try out these activities for family fun that cost next to nothing! [Read more…]

Credit 101: Why Your Credit Score Matters & How to Improve It

Remember that college course you had to take about managing your credit? No? Don’t worry, you didn’t miss it.

And you probably never attended a seminar on one of the most important and frequently misunderstood areas of finance, either — your credit.

So it’s no surprise that some people struggle with understanding and managing their developing credit histories. In fact, a recent LendEDU survey found that only 25% of millennials could correctly define what a credit score is, and only 17% knew one of the best ways to improve their score.

Today, it’s time to set the record straight.

Here’s the scoop on what really makes a difference when it comes to your credit and the low-down on how you can take control of your financial destiny with a few easy strategies.

[Read more…]

6 Ways to Save Money on Your Car Insurance in Just Minutes

You may not know this about me, but I actually spent a decade working in the insurance industry as a mathematician. And during the last four years of that run, my main job was to analyze data and create predictive models to build auto insurance rates.

That’s right, my team and I figured out how much our insurance company should charge people for car insurance.

So I know firsthand that there are a lot of factors that go into the calculation of your insurance premium.

And there are plenty that you can’t change — at least not easily. Got a ticket or an accident on your record? It’ll take years for that mistake to stop impacting your rate.

But there are some things you can do almost instantaneously that can have a huge impact on your car insurance rates right now.

In fact, here are six of my favorite insurance hacks for lowering your rate right away: [Read more…]

How to Store, Display, and Enjoy Your Kids’ Art

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

Is your home slowly transforming into a kiddie art museum?

I know mine is.

My son’s day care teachers entertain him with a steady stream of cute, Pinterest-worthy art projects. He happily brings home crayon scribbles, clay molds, flung-paint abstract art, glitter-covered drawings (aah!), and animal drawings built around his footprint . . . which answers the question of why his heel was ever-so-slightly-tinted blue recently.

If your kids are anything like mine, they mass produce kiddie art. They draw pictures at home, finger paint at school, create mosaics in art class . . . you name it. You want your kids to get creative and make art. But what do you do with the thousands of masterpieces your little artists crank out day after day?

Here are some fantastic ways to display, consolidate, store, organize, and enjoy your kids’ artistic creations. [Read more…]

5 Big Life Insurance Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making

So you think you need life insurance. Or you have it already . . . but you’re worried your family isn’t sufficiently protected.

For many people, life insurance is a complex, intimidating entity with high stakes. Today, we’re looking at five of the biggest mistakes people make with their life insurance policies. And we’re demystifying the process, so you can take care of your loved ones with confidence. [Read more…]