Unless you pay cash for everything, you’re impacted by interest – either as a lender or as a borrower. Understanding the different types of interest can give you a clearer picture of how your money accumulates and what things really cost...
I don’t want to date myself, but when I went to college, tuition was much more affordable and it was nearly impossible for students to qualify for credit cards and car loans. What hasn’t changed since then, however, is that many...
My friend Carol recently turned 50. Along with birthday cards she also received an invitation to join the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). After simmering down, Carol visited their Website, www.aarp.org, out of curiosity. In addition to health tips and...
One of the hardest parts of parenting is allowing your children the freedom to learn from their own mistakes. We all want to protect our kids from harm, but if sheltered too much, they won’t be ready to deal with real-world...
It used to be, you’d work hard your whole life, then retire with a gold watch and a few good years left to visit the Grand Canyon, spoil your grandchildren and get hooked on daytime TV. Pension plans were the rule...
You'll likely face many major decisions to make when you're ready to take the homeownership plunge, not the least of which is choosing the right kind of mortgage for your needs. Mortgage options used to be fairly limited, but in recent...
There’s a lot of confusion around credit reports and credit scores – what they’re used for, how they’re calculated and why they’re so important if you want to buy a car or house. Lenders and insurers review your credit history to...
Many American teenagers seem to have a cell phone permanently glued to their ear. With more than 200 million U.S. cell phones now in use, they’re clearly not going away, especially as cell phone manufacturers and service operators target younger audiences...
Benjamin Franklin once said, "Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Although I don’t have any updates on the former, at least where taxes are concerned I do have some positive news: As it does every year,...
I know people who love their careers and can’t wait to go to work each day. And I know others who hate their jobs and feel underemployed, underpaid or overworked. No matter where you fall in that spectrum today, someday you...
I’d rather get a root canal than go car shopping. How to choose among so many models, options and financing alternatives? But it’s worth a little homework to make sure you get a car you like and can truly afford; plus,...
I’ve learned the hard way that although New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to make a fresh start, if you set unrealistic goals they’ll likely fizzle out after a few Sometimes small steps are the answer, building momentum as...
When my wife and I signed our first mortgage in 1999, we had to keep convincing ourselves we were doing the right thing. Renting was safe, but buying a home was a major commitment with many big risks. We had long...
As hectic as life is at this time of year, if you can spare a few minutes I have a few suggestions that could save you a lot of money if you act quickly before the 2006 tax year ends. Beef up...
Now that the leftover turkey is gone, you’ve probably moved on to the next seasonal event – holiday Between gifts, entertaining and travel, many of us spend considerably more than we’d planned, let alone budgeted Add the inevitable 10-pound weight gain...
In my family, the holiday season is more than just a time for gift-giving and elaborate meals. It’s also when we make charitable contributions to help others who are less fortunate. My kids get in on the act and we all...
Like most new parents, my wife and I felt a full range of emotions while she was pregnant: joy, relief, and anticipation combined with nervousness, anxiety, and downright fear. What we probably should have been sensing, in retrospect, was just how...
I hate paying It’s not just saying goodbye to my money that hurts, but the tedious routine of writing and mailing I’ve also experienced a few late fees when payments got stuck at the post office and didn’t arrive in I...
Many people are so accustomed to frequent credit offers that when an application is denied, they’re shocked. Damaging credit report information or overextended borrowing are usually the culprits. Warning signals for debt problems may include: Making only minimum credit card payments or...
For women, it’s a classic "good news, bad news" scenario: The good news is, on average women live seven years longer than men; the bad news is, there’s a strong possibility they may have less money to live on during those...
