If you’re employer has a 401(k) plan and you’re not contributing, it’s time to take a serious look at the financial benefits these plans offer. Company sponsored 401(k) plans allow us to deposit a limited amount of pretax income (taken from our gross pay before taxes are withheld) to an account that grows tax-deferred. This […]
Most experts agree that we need an emergency fund…a separate savings account that we set aside to cover monthly expenses in an emergency situation. If we experience a layoff or we’re unable to work for a period of time, the emergency fund is there to provide a financial cushion or safety net until our situation […]
Our saving plan should cover three essential areas: cash on hand for unexpected bills, money put aside to cover expenses in case our income is interrupted, and an account for later in life when we stop working or work in a reduced capacity. This approach protects our longer term savings from an unexpected withdrawal by providing for short-term […]
When we hear sales promotions that say that it will cost us pennies per day, or for just $1.00 a day we can have this or that, the idea is to keep us thinking in small numbers. But those small numbers add up and become big numbers over time. Well, it works the same way […]
If you’re employer has a 401(k) plan and you’re not contributing, it’s time to take a serious look at the financial benefits these plans offer. Company sponsored 401(k) plans allow us to deposit a limited amount of pretax income (taken from our gross pay before taxes are withheld) to an account that grows tax-deferred. This […]
When we hear sales promotions that say it will cost us pennies per day, or for just $1.00 a day we can have this or that, the idea is to keep us thinking in small numbers. But those small numbers add up and become big numbers over time, and it work the same way with […]
Will you be splurging a little or a little too much for the Holidays? Do you plan to set a spending limit this year, and if so, how confident are you that won’t spend above it? In the coming weeks, the news will be filled with statistics about whether holiday spending is up or down […]
Our saving plan should cover three essential areas: cash on hand for unexpected bills, money put aside to cover expenses in case our income is interrupted, and an account for later in life when we stop working or work in a reduced capacity. This approach protects our longer term savings from an unexpected withdrawal by providing for short-term […]
When we’re just starting out with little or nothing in terms of a personal finance plan, the task can seem daunting, even ominous. We struggle with where to begin, finding all of the information, condensing it, and determining a course of action. There are other important things demanding our time and as long as there’s […]
Economic changes over the last 3 decades have been dramatic, especially in recent years. The housing market, unemployment rate, and increases in medical expenses (to name a few), have contributed to many financial hardships and difficulties. Headlines tout glimmers of hope as enough jobs are created one month, the stock market rallies one day, or […]
Personal Finance Simply Understood 