Ron and Sharon started a little side hustle…that unexpectedly morphed into a booming business. Initially, all those happy customers—and that sizable bump in income—were thrilling. But in time, their growing enterprise became a 24/7 obsession. Says Sharon, “At first, it was fun telling people, ‘We’re business owners!’ Now it’s more like ‘Ugh! This business owns […]
Are You a Victim of Your Own Business Success? Read More »
There’s an old maxim that “Two can live as cheaply as one.” Is that true? Or is it what people used to call “an old wives’ tale”? Consider… In 2006, in a State of Our Unions report from the Institute on Marriage at Rutgers University, Barbara Dafoe Whitehead declared, “Marriage is a wealth generating institution.”
Is Marriage Good for Your Financial Health? Read More »
It’s the time of year that people approach me for help in shoring up their finances. One of the questions they inevitably ask is, “What kind of rewards card do you recommend?” I always tell them the best rewards card I’ve ever seen is the one with the name of a wise financial planner on
A Wiser Plan for Spending in 2024 Read More »
Something about the week between December 25 and January 1 makes us reflective. It may have to do with the fact that we’re exhausted from too many Christmas festivities. We just want to pause and regroup. Or it could be a function of the fact that many of us have the luxury of time off
Three New Year’s Resolutions You Should Make Read More »
Let me guess…you haven’t even gotten your credit card statement, but you already know it’s going to be ENORMOUS. And you’d like some ideas for finding some extra cash to pay the proverbial piper. I have some ideas. Try looking in your banking app, your desk drawer, at your pay stub, and even in your
Four Surprising Ways to Pay For All That Holiday Shopping Read More »
Mark Gungor is a popular marriage conference speaker. In one humorous presentation, he explains the different ways men and women think. Women, Gungor contends, think in a very global, integrated, complex way. Their thoughts and feelings constantly interact together. Men, on the other hand, are much simpler. According to Gungor, we males think in separate
A Better Way to Think About Funding Your Kids’ Education Read More »
Does this scenario ring a bell? You have an old friend from college, or maybe a sibling. They’re well off financially—and their luxurious lifestyle—house, cars, vacations, hobbies, etc.—screams it. Next to them, your income is meager, and your lifestyle is decidedly middle class. You try not to compare, but it’s tough not to notice all
Three Ways to Escape the Comparison Trap Read More »
With inflation lingering like a chronic cold, everyone is looking for ways to stretch their dollars. Credit card companies know this. That’s why we constantly get all those offers for “rewards cards.” Use card X and get airline points…card Y and get “free” hotel stays…card Z and get cash back. You’d be nuts not to
About Those Great “Rewards” Cards Read More »
You probably have a friend who thinks about money and investments all the time. (Or, perhaps, YOU are that friend.) You know the type: Always monitoring the markets. Constantly trying to identify the hottest mutual fund. Relentlessly keeping one eye on CNBC or Fox Business. For some, this hyper-focus on money is thrilling, almost addictive.
Preparation Beats the Quest for Perfection Read More »
Someone recently said to me, “Your columns and emails haven’t been very upbeat lately. You turning pessimistic on us?” Me, pessimistic? Never! The word “pessimism” comes from a Latin root meaning “worst.” Seeing things in the “worst” possible light doesn’t do anyone any good. The mantra for pessimists is “Why even try? Nothing ever works
Pessimistic, Optimistic, or Realistic? Read More »
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