Master your money. Get organized. Take back your time.
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Ohhh, yeah. Summertime is here!
As you’re wrapping up your springtime family fun, it’s time to start looking ahead to what amazing summer activities await your family. Indoors or out, you’ll be ready to savor summertime with these awesome ideas: [Read more…]
One thing that’s certain in life is its innate uncertainty. Everyday living can surprise you unpleasantly with burst pipes, health problems, financial upset, tax audits, and more.
But there are things you can do now that will protect your family and your financial interests against future unknowns. In particular, you can take steps to ensure that your most important records and documents are simultaneously preserved and accessible — to you and to anyone to whom you want to grant permission.
So we’re looking today at ways you can keep your precious papers safe and your digital documents secure. [Read more…]
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Hellooo, summer!
The school year is coming to an end. The temperature outside is climbing. And the heat inside? Well, that’s heading up to uncomfortable levels too.
Staying cool in your home this summer can, unfortunately, cost you dearly.
If you want your home to be pleasantly livable when the outdoors feels like an oven, you may think that you need to pay for the privilege. But keeping cool doesn’t have to drain your wallet. In fact, here are some easy ways to stay comfy and money smart.
[Read more…]
You know a strong credit score is invaluable to your financial life. Want to secure the best mortgage rate? Nab that charming apartment? Pay less for your insurance premiums? Your FICO score, the most popular score used by lenders, makes it happen.
Ranging from 300 to a perfect 850, your FICO score determines what credit is available to you and at what rate. According to NerdWallet, once you hit 760, you’ll usually be offered the very best rates.
But some people can’t resist the challenge of achieving a FICO score in the 800s. If you want to know how to gain -– and maintain –- a top-notch score, you can learn from these five habits of card-carrying members of the 800 club. [Read more…]
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It’s that time of year again. Wedding season is in full swing!
And, if you’re committed to living on a budget, your worry may be that you have to choose between overly expensive and awful gifts for the happy couples.
But you can be generous, thoughtful, and money-savvy all at once.
In fact, here are 11 perfect wedding gifts that are sure to delight newlyweds without breaking the bank! [Read more…]
The holidays are long gone, but it feels like Christmas morning when your tax refund lands in your bank account!
Before you burn through that cash, though, take a beat. With the right strategy, you can use your refund to make some powerful financial moves in your life.
Here are the steps you should take — in order — to maximize the benefit of that windfall . . .
Being an all-cash person isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it probably means you’ve got little or no credit history to speak of — which can come back to bite you when you finally do need to apply for a loan or line of credit.
But starting on the right foot when it comes to building credit isn’t as hard as you might think. In fact, you can by tackling a few basic steps. [Read more…]
Let’s get one thing straight: I am 100% pro-college.
If a college education helps you get to where you want to be professionally and if you can afford it, then you go ahead and earn that college degree! I spent six years in college and graduate school and benefitted hugely from both experiences. So I’d love to see my son succeed in higher education.
But the price tag for that education … well, that’s going to be on him. Here are four reasons I’m not paying for my kid’s college costs: [Read more…]
Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.
It’s almost here!
Springtime is sooo close. And, if you’re anything like me, you can’t wait to see the snow melt, open up the windows, and watch the world turn green again.
Plus, it’s the perfect season for family fun that just couldn’t happen during those chilly winter months. And getting ready to play doesn’t have to drain your wallet.
In fact, here are 12 free or nearly free activities that you and your family can enjoy together this spring: [Read more…]
If you’re like most people, you’re probably a bit disappointed and frustrated right about now.
It’s a few months into the new year, and you’re already losing traction on at least one of your new year’s resolutions. You’re not where you hoped you’d be, or you’ve thrown in the towel already.
The problem for many of us is that we set ambitious goals that are nearly impossible to achieve. Think about it:
And once you mess up just one time, it’s tempting to get sucked into self-doubt that leads to even more mistakes.
But you can break this ugly new year’s resolutions pattern.
You can make big changes in your life. In fact, you can do it without any of the stress and self-flagellation. The trick is to realize that it’s rare that people successfully make those big changes overnight.
That’s where the magic of micro-actions comes in. [Read more…]