Difficult economic times continue throughout the first quarter of 2009. Despite recent gains in the stock market, portfolios remain badly damaged by the market performance of the last year and a half. Unemployment is still on the rise and the recession is still a serious concern. As we wade through these difficult times, you have to [...]
Continue reading about Managing Financially During A Recession
With all economists warning that the western world is on the brink of a global recession – and even inklings of another depression – find out what this means for the average person and how you can manage your finances through these financial times. Just the word ‘depression’ sends shivers down the spine of economists [...]
What if the only New Year’s resolution you made was to save money every day? Sound doable, or overwhelming? Even if the only thing you manage to do is to simply think about saving money every day, I guarantee that you’ll be in better financial shape this time next year. One Question to Stop Mindless Spending How [...]
Who buys the presents? Do we pay cash or charge them? How much should we spend? Money questions like these pop up during the holidays, and they can turn this wonderful season into the most stressful time of the year. The leading cause of holiday stress is money issues, a majority of Americans are experiencing [...]
Continue reading about Don’t Let Money Stress You Out This Holiday Season
Staying out of debt means spending less than you earn. And that means spending smart. To help you on your smart spending journey, here is a list of eight items that no matter how tempting, you shouldn’t buy new. CDs and DVDs: With iTunes, Netflix, and speedy CD-burning technology, it doesn’t seem like anyone even needs to [...]
Having a budget and living within it are two different things. There are always things that we want (or need) and credit is so easy to get. There are several ways you can establish good budgeting habits. 1. Determine why you want to budget. You need a pretty good reason or you won’t feel obligated [...]
Interest on the average home mortgage will cost the homeowner nearly TWO TIMES the cost of the home. If you were to purchase a $150,000 home with a $120,000 mortgage (80%), and you paid an interest rate of 9% for 30 years, you will have paid over $227,500 just in interest (in addition to the [...]
Here are some ways to start out the New Year on a financially positive note.
From gas, to electricity, to water and phone service, Utilities have the power to consume a lot of cash flow each month. Here are several ways that you can cut your utility costs. Electricity We all know to turn off lights and unplug unused electrical appliances in order to cut back on electricity consumption. (Many, if not most electrical [...]
The holiday season brings cheer, good tidings, and warm family memories. Unfortunately, for many Americans, the post-holiday season brings more credit card debt, and the stress and depression that accompany it. According to the National Retailers Federation, holiday spending increased by fifty-one percent in the ten years from 1997 to 2006. The Federal Reserve reported in [...]
Continue reading about All I Got For Christmas Was Credit Card Debt
