savings

No matter how much solid financial planning we put in, life cannot be reduced down to complete predictability. Indeed, there are always unexpected expenses, large and small, that can crop up. And, you never know when something catastrophic, like a major illness or a job loss, will happen. The reality of unexpected financial situations should [...]

Since passing my CFP® exam, more and more of my friends are coming to me for financial advice. Sometimes they have a specific question, sometimes they want to create a plan to get out of debt, and sometimes they just want some advice on how to manage their finances going forward. No matter what they [...]

The Associated Press reports a new finding by FICO, Inc. that 25.5 percent of consumers, or nearly 43.4 million people, currently have a credit score of 599 or less. With a quarter of the nation suffering from credit card debt and poor credit scores, it’s obvious that many are not aware of the number of [...]

I had a really bad banking experience last week – actually, it took place over 7 days and is still not quite over. I was going to blog about it and rat out the bank, but then some halfway decent customer service changed my mind. When I logged into my account today and saw YET ANOTHER [...]

Many people that create a budget have a difficult time sticking to it for one reason — incidental expenses. Although incidental expenses are only a small fraction of your expenses, they can have a really big effect on your budget. These tiny expenses often go unaccounted for and can destroy your carefully crafted plans. Here [...]

We are currently in a time when too much emphasis is placed on grades.  Far too many graduating seniors believe that good grades lead to good jobs which leads to a good life.  However, there are many other attributes necessary for success. What is success?  This post isn’t about equating $200,000 a year and success.  [...]

One of the best ways to avoid dipping your fingers into your savings (especially your emergency fund for non-emergencies) is to automate your savings accounts so that your money flows through your personal economy without much interference from you. When you automate your savings accounts, you can force yourself to practice financial discipline — and [...]

The economic decisions that you make on a daily basis have a direct impact on your financial future. Your decisions can either set you up for a nice comfortable retirement or force you to work much longer than you ever planned. If you want to get on the right track to a successful retirement then [...]

One of the keys to financial freedom is developing a habit of saving. It sounds really basic, but many people have trouble with this, and many just don’t know how to start. Here is an overview of how you can get started with savings accounts. The article will cover types of savings accounts, how to [...]

Let’s face it, being a business owner requires a specific type of personality and an unmatched level of passion and drive. Not many people have what it takes to start their own business and be successful. That said, it’s doubtful anyone who owns their own business would trade it for anything. Nothing beats being your [...]