Money Roundup: How to Avoid an Audit, When to Close a Credit Card Account, and More
February 3, 2012
Of all the great (and crazy!) financial advice floating around out there, here are 10 articles that are worth reading. Don’t Get Audited: The IRS’s Dirty Dozen Red Flags (AOL DailyFinance). I recently described generosity as An Irrational Financial Act. Unfortunately, the IRS seems to agree. Claiming an Adult Child as a Dependent on Your ... [Read more]
An Irrational Financial Act
February 1, 2012
Forbes magazine may seem an unlikely place for an article about charitable giving. After all, Forbes is all about business and making money. But there it was. Under the headline, “Irrational Act,” publisher Rich Karlgaard wrote not just about giving, but about tithing, the biblical principle of giving 10 percent of one’s income. He told ... [Read more]
Money Roundup: Mastering the Art of Negotiation, Important Financial Goals That Are Easy to Accomplish, and More
January 27, 2012
Here’s what I found in my latest journey through the personal finance cyberspace – 10 articles that will help you win with money. Open Low Minimum Roth IRAs for Kids (Kiplinger’s). Kids who contribute to a Roth IRA will head into adulthood with a great financial advantage. Here are three companies with kid-friendly requirements. How ... [Read more]
How to Truly MANAGE Money With Mint.com
January 26, 2012
If you’ve been following this series of instructional videos on how to use Mint.com, the hard work is now done. You’ve opened an account, connected it with your bank or credit union and credit cards, and set up a budget. As you’ll see in the following video, now you’re ready to start truly managing money ... [Read more]
Carnival of Personal Finance – Words of Wisdom Edition
January 23, 2012
It’s my pleasure to host this week’s 345th edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance. If you’re not familiar with a blog carnival, it’s a showcase of some of the best writing from throughout the blogosphere, with bloggers submitting one of their best recent posts. This particular carnival, which features rotating hosts, has been in ... [Read more]
The Single Most Powerful Personal Finance Tool
January 20, 2012
If a tool was available that would give you a strong sense of control over your finances and help keep your financial stress low, wouldn’t you use it? If a tool was available that served as a financial roadmap, showing you clearly how to live within your means, be generous, and save or invest for ... [Read more]
The Key to Getting the Most From Mint.com
January 18, 2012
Using a budget is not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal. You could use a paper & pencil system, the envelope system, an Excel spreadsheet, software like Quicken, or an online tool like Mint.com. For those interested in giving Mint a try, I’m showing how in a series of short instructional videos. In the video below, ... [Read more]
How to Recession-Proof Your Career
January 16, 2012
Back in the day, jobs were for life. You put in your 30-40 years and got a pension. Maybe even a gold watch. That was then. Of course, there’s no such thing as guaranteed employment anymore. But there is such a thing as guaranteed employability. It comes about by putting into practice the second of ... [Read more]
Money Roundup: Feeding Your Family for $100 Per Week, What Your Kids Should Know About Money By What Age, and More
January 13, 2012
I’ve been at it again – scouring the web for the best in personal finance. Here are 10 of the most helpful articles I found over the past week. Keeping Your Online Accounts Safe (CNNMoney). Sure, it takes some extra work to follow these guidelines, but it’s wise to stay vigilant about online security. Money ... [Read more]
Getting Started With Mint.com
January 11, 2012
As we look in detail at each of the 11 core financial principles that form the foundation of my work, the core tool that enables us to put those principles into action is a budget. People who’ve never used a budget usually hate the idea. They think of a budget as the wicked witch of ... [Read more]
