The most important factor in managing our personal finances is our control over where our money is going. Before we can establish financial goals or move forward with a financial plan, we need to be honest with ourselves about our spending habits. And our spending habits are most often driven by the lifestyle decisions that […]
Sensible personal finance can seem like going against the crowd. Spending wisely and saving according to a plan that meets short-term and long-term needs; paying down debt, and more than the minimum on credit cards, and making sacrifices all seem contrary to what everyone else appears to be doing. It seems like a lot of […]
It’s easier to find a job when you have a job. Statistics prove this out, and I think it has a lot to do with our attitude more than anything else. When we’re on an interview and we already have a job, we’re more confident. We don’t really need the position. We’re interested in the […]
The short answer is maybe, since it depends on how you answer a few simple questions. Are there family members who will need to be cared for financially when you die? Will your survivors or beneficiaries inherit debt such as a mortgage or a personal or car loan? Do you already have a large policy […]
For some people, their financial goals are to someday be out of debt or have a better handle on their financial situation. But these types of goals don’t lend themselves to an achievable plan, and progress can’t be measured. When we establish financial goals, we assess the things that we need and want in life […]
With interest rates staying at all time lows, we may be tempted to look at saving as a no-win situation. Monies deposited just aren’t accumulating any interest and with an annual inflation rate around 2%, aren’t we actually losing money on our savings? The short answer is yes, but a more prudent answer lies with the […]
We have to pay for necessities and make monthly payments on debt, so when we manage our finances these items get our attention. Saving on the other hand, tends to get the least attention because it seems optional. We can’t skip paying our rent or a car payment, but we can skip a deposit to our savings (or so it seems). […]
Did you splurge a little or a little too much for the Holidays? Did you set a limit this year, and if so, did you spend above it? In the coming weeks, the news will be filled with statistics about whether holiday spending was up or down this year and how retailers were affected. But […]
Buying a home is a major event in our lives, and the excitement can easily overshadow the long-term financial commitment we’re about to make. This is especially true when we’ve found a home that we love. The property taxes, maintenance, and mortgage obligation that we’re committing to, often take a backseat to the excitement of […]
People buy a lot of things that they don’t need, and in some cases don’t even want, and they often buy them with credit. It’s interesting that people who use cash spend less on average than people using debit or credit cards. Apparently we’re less likely to buy when we see the money that we’re […]
Personal Finance Simply Understood 