Do you have an extra $3,000 you need to decide how to spend? It may have come from a work bonus, a tax return, a stimulus check, or a small inheritance from a long-lost uncle. Whichever way you received the money, there are many smart ways to spend $3000. … [Read more...] about Smart Ways to Spend $3000
Debt
Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
. About 15 months ago, we decided to refinance our home. The interest rate was lower than when we had bought our house six years earlier, and our house had appreciated enough that we could drop PMI (private mortgage insurance) when we refinanced. The mortgage broker working with us asked if we wanted a cash-out refinance to pay off debt. Our answer was a hard and fast “no.” … [Read more...] about Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
How Narcissism Affects a Couple’s Finances
Narcissism is quite common in our culture. In fact, The Cleveland Clinic reports that “experts estimate that up to 5% of people have NPD [Narcissistic Personality Disorder].” When you consider the United States’ population of approximately 330 million, five percent would be 16,500,000! Not surprisingly, there are many famous people who are narcissists: Kanye West, Kim … [Read more...] about How Narcissism Affects a Couple’s Finances
Financial Benefits of the Household Budget
Perhaps, you have the mindset that adopting a household budget will prevent you from living. This is simply not true. In fact, a budget will open the door to a better quality of life. Listed below are a few benefits that come with a household budget. Excessive Debt This past year was probably anything but a breeze regarding your finances. Lost or reduced wages put a large … [Read more...] about Financial Benefits of the Household Budget
How the Pandemic Changed How We Approach Finances
When I was young, my grandparents lived next door to us. I watched my grandma wash out sandwich baggies and used tin foil; I saw her clip coupons for groceries and the occasional meal out. She bought her clothes at second hand shops. When I asked my mom why, she explained that my grandparents had lived through the Great Depression, and it had permanently changed their … [Read more...] about How the Pandemic Changed How We Approach Finances
Rough Times: Pay Off Your Debts
If you're like us DINKs, you're probably wondering how to improve your financial bottom line. The recent covid related economic slowdown has torpedoed some people budgets, so some options for seeing immediate gains to one's net worth are limited. One way to immediately improve your bottom line is to pay off your debts. There are several advantages in doing so. First, … [Read more...] about Rough Times: Pay Off Your Debts
Couple has $232,000 In Debt – How Does That Happen?
I spend a lot of time on the internet, especially on personal finance blogs. Over this weekend I came across this posting. Evidently its written by a couple from Alaska. The interesting thing is...they have a lot of debt. Not just like a few thousand on a couple of credit cards, they owe about $232,000 in multiple vehicle loans, student loans, credit cards, and personal … [Read more...] about Couple has $232,000 In Debt – How Does That Happen?
How to Cure Quarantine Boredom Shopping
For some people, working from home during quarantine has helped them save money. After all, they’re no longer paying for parking, gas, lunches out, work clothes, etc. However, for others, quarantine boredom means that they’re spending a lot of time scrolling the Internet and buying things they need, but just as often, things that they don’t need. If you fall into the latter … [Read more...] about How to Cure Quarantine Boredom Shopping
Pay Less, Heal More: How to Save on Medical Expenses
Approximately one out of every four Americans avoid seeking medical care because of high out-of-pocket medical costs. According to a Bankrate survey of 2,500 U.S. adults, up to 22% of Americans in 2019 said they steered clear of some sort of medical care because it was too expensive. Americans aren't imagining these expenses, either. Between February 2019 and February 2020, … [Read more...] about Pay Less, Heal More: How to Save on Medical Expenses
Attention All Student Loan Borrowers: 5 Things You Need To Know About Your Debt
ATTENTION ALL STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS: Do you know what is actually going on with your student loan debt right now? Sure, maybe your payments were paused as part of the CAREs Act that the U.S. Government signed into law at the end of March but are you really paying attention to what's happening to your debt or what could happen? In this article, we will look at the top 5 things … [Read more...] about Attention All Student Loan Borrowers: 5 Things You Need To Know About Your Debt
