Keep the Joy, Ditch the Debt: Smart Spending During the Holidays- There is one thing about the gift giving whirlwind that will make a lasting impression - your credit card debt. That $500 or more you spent on all those things will follow you for months and possibly years to come. The toys will be long broken, lost, and stuck in storage, but you will still be paying for them, plus interest.
Keeping Credit Card Fraud At Bay- Credit cards are a dime a dozen these days and fraudsters are wasting no time in zooming in on technological improvement to cash in on this cashless payment system. We, cardholders must do our part to counter credit card fraud.
Living On What's Left- Are you one of those people that pay your bills no matter what? That is an admirable trait to have when managing your money. You made the bill and you feel you are responsible for paying it. Good for you.
Make Saving Fun for Your Child- We all set out with the very best of intentions
every year to "start saving more." But something
always come up; something we didn't expect. It
might be a refrigerator that needs to be replaced,
a transmission problem, or a hike in tuition for your kids.
New Marriage, New Budget- Recently a reader asked, "How do my new husband and I divide our finances when I am the only one with children?" Having been in a similar situation, I think you and your partner should consider a few things.
Obtaining Free Credit Reports- My husband will not get a credit report because he believes it costs too much. I told him that it is free once per year. He said it is only free if someone is denied credit. Which of us is correct? How much does it cost?
Paying For College- After buying a house, paying for a child's college education is the biggest expense most parents face. Check out this information-packed checklist to figure out how much it'll cost, where to save depending on your child's age, and more.
Realistic Credit Repair- My husband was out of work for 2 years. We were forced to live off credit cards, so we have 5 cards that are close to their limits, along with a mortgage and a car payment. Despite our circumstances, only a couple of credit card payments were late over that time, but our rates skyrocketed while our credit score dropped dramatically even though I had had a nearly perfect credit score before. My husband now has a job and our income has increased. What is the best way to get our financial life back on track? Does income count in calculating credit score or in assigning credit card rates? Is there something we can do besides paying off as much as we can as quickly as possible?
Seven Foolish Mistakes People Make When They Come Into Money- There is something uniquely human about the way many of us mishandle money, particularly when it's received unexpectedly. Whether it's a bequest from a long-forgotten uncle, an unexpected court settlement, or a sweepstakes winning, suddenly coming into a stash of cash can unhinge any of us.
Should We Fix Our Mortgage?- My husband got us into a variable rate mortgage and I would like to
change it to a fixed rate. We are paying 8% now and I am scared about
the rate we will be at in the next 10 years. Can you give me some advice?
We have only had the house for three years. We do not have the best credit either.
Squash the Squabling- We've all heard the theory that most
marital problems start with money
problems. But how does one define
money problems? They could stem
from any of the following:
Teaching Kids Their Financial ABC's- In this article, I will hopefully be passing on vital information to you about teaching your children good money management skills. In the process, of course, you too will hopefully learn better ways to manage your money. Before we delve into the nitty gritty of how to pass this knowledge on to your kids, let's first look at some of the reasons it is important to do so.
Teaching Your Child the ABC's of Money- Aaaarrrrrgh!!*!!*!! Do you scream every time you hear
your kids say in that whiney, all-too familiar tone, "I
want it, I need it, all the other kids have it." Do you
hate your own financial planning and wonder how you
can possibly help your child understand that money
doesn't grow on trees?
The Bills Can Wait- Have you ever wanted anything so much that you were willing to put off your bills to get it? A lot of people have and some do it month after month. The worst part of this is that these same people wonder why they are having money problems.
The Money Jar Trap- Hundreds of thousands of people place their extra change into a jar or bank every night when they return home thinking that they are saving money. In reality, the dynamics of saving coins has changed over the last 10 years so that by placing your extra coins in a jar, you may actually be losing money. This is the new money jar trap.
Vacation Savings- It's time to get the suitcases out of the attic and start thinking about the great family vacation! And we can expect to spend pretty freely to support that get-a-way. The average family will spend about $3,000 on food and lodging for a two week vacation.
Way Cool - Keeping Cool In Summer- It's that time of year when most of us begin to wonder how we'll keep cool in the summer without running up a huge electric bill. And there should be a way to do it. After all, the air conditioner wasn't common in homes until about forty years ago. So let's take a look at what we can do to keep cool that doesn't require large amounts of energy.
What to Teach Your Teens About Money- Lessons learned now could save them a lot of grief later. So let's spend a little time talking about what to teach your teens about money.
Why Budgets Fail- When you analyze it, there are really three reasons why people are unsuccessful in budgeting. The most common causes of failure are unrealistic goals,quitting too soon and misunderstanding what a budget really is.
Summer heat is here. Whether you are looking for fun crafts, great recipes, fun family activities or travel tips, you'll find it all here. Here are a few examples to get you started...
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FMR is a nationally syndicated radio program developed to help you live your best life, hosted by Caroline & Jacquie. No rants and raves - you get enough of that from your kids. Choose a segment below to begin listening!
There is one thing about the gift giving whirlwind that will make a lasting impression - your credit card debt. That $500 or more you spent on all those things will follow you for months and possibly years to come. The toys will be long broken, lost, and stuck in storage, but you will still be paying for them, plus interest.
My husband was out of work for 2 years. We were forced to live off credit cards, so we have 5 cards that are close to their limits, along with a mortgage and a car payment. Despite our circumstances, only a couple of credit card payments were late over that time, but our rates skyrocketed while our credit score dropped dramatically even though I had had a nearly perfect credit score before. My husband now has a job and our income has increased. What is the best way to get our financial life back on track? Does income count in calculating credit score or in assigning credit card rates? Is there something we can do besides paying off as much as we can as quickly as possible?
There is something uniquely human about the way many of us mishandle money, particularly when it's received unexpectedly. Whether it's a bequest from a long-forgotten uncle, an unexpected court settlement, or a sweepstakes winning, suddenly coming into a stash of cash can unhinge any of us.
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