negotiation

Buying a new car is a big deal, especially when it is your first.  In 2002, when I was 17, my parents bought me a beat up black 1999 Grand Prix that I absolutely loved.  I put that puppy through a lot and it was passed down to both my younger brothers before making its [...]

If you pay estimated taxes, you may find yourself facing a tax debt when you come to fill in your tax return. As estimated tax payments are predominantly based on your income for the previous tax year, you can easily be crippled with a tax bill that is more than you anticipated if your income [...]

Dude seriously? Ninjas are like the toughest, most dangerous, awesome things ever. I studied for hours as a kid to learn the art of Bo staff fighting and throwing star skillz. Sadly, it was never put to use and has faded. It does not mean that I’m not a ninja in my own special way, [...]

The global economy runs on a binge and purge cycle, which makes it especially difficult to stay steady and mindful on a personal level. It can be hard to resist living beyond your means during boom times, and even harder to keep your head up during the busts. But no matter how stormy it gets [...]

At an early age, it is difficult to teach children about money. Learning comes much more easily when it is fun. Game nights are a family tradition in many households and throwing in one of these board games can combine fun with a little financial education. The board games provide the basic concept for what [...]

The Cash for Clunkers Bill (aka. Gas Guzzler Rebate) entitles you to a $3,500 or $4,500 credit for trading a drivable car made within the last 25 years, with a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of 18 mpg or less to a new higher fuel efficiency car. If the mileage improvement is 4 mpg or [...]

These past weeks, my family and I have been shopping for a minivan to accommodate our extended family of 7 — and finally replacing our 11 years old Ford Contour. The experience left me wondering if the auto industry really needs the bail out money at all. If I have to judge by how some [...]

Investing in real estate, specifically small rental properties where I’d buy single-family or multi-family houses for the purpose of renting them out has been one of the things I wanted to do. However, the three musketeers of fear, doubt, and uncertainty discouraged me from taking any action toward residential real estate investing. So far, the [...]

How to ask for a pay raise? That’s the question that always come up one time or another during your career. May be you think you are underpaid, or your skills and responsibilities have grown, or you simply need more money. This article contains tips on doing your research, preparing for salary negotiation, negotiating techniques, [...]