Want to save money AND live your best life? You can have both. Budgeting doesn’t have to be a bad thing. We have tips, tricks and tools that will help you save money without sacrificing the things you love.
Budgeting
If you read the first article in our “Retire at 55” learning path, then you’ve already taken a key step toward early retirement planning: calculating how much money you’ll need to retire at 55. If that number looks daunting, don’t worry. Follow our 11 budgeting tips and you’ll be in a better position to save […]
7 minute read
Budgeting
Being frugal isn’t so much about what you buy. Really, it’s more of a state of mind. A different way of living. Too often, we get caught up in penny pinching in a way that isn’t healthy for our finances – or our sanity. If you’ve been trying (and failing) to get your budget balanced […]
8 minute read
Budgeting
Money is a topic that comes up regularly in almost any relationship. No matter your situation, there is a good chance that you have been talking about money with your life partner. Unfortunately, money is often a sore spot. Many studies have indicated that money is the number one issue that people in a relationship […]
7 minute read
Budgeting
Many of us skipped Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings last year, due to the pandemic. That’s partly why so many of us are already focused on holiday shopping, decorating, menu planning, and everything else — and it’s only November. Many of us are probably also worrying we won’t have enough time or money to make it […]
6 minute read
Banking
A start of a new year brings plenty of bonus offers from various financial service companies. The best places to look for bonuses are from banks, cryptocurrency banks, student loan refinancers, and all-in-one companies like SoFi. In particular, 2022 is the best time invest in cryptocurrencies as the likes of Ethereum and Bitcoin are rising […]
6 minute read
Taxes
You 2021 Tax Return is due by April 15. If you suspect you will owe the IRS money, start making a plan for repayment now. Start planning for your 2022 Tax Return now, in order to avoid any last minute surprises. It’s a new year, and Spring is just around the corner. With the warmer […]
9 minute read
Financial Advice
In many parts of America, the cost of living has skyrocketed out of control. The resulting increase in costs for things like rent, groceries, utilities, healthcare, and transportation has seen thousands of Americans pack up and move to greener (or at least cheaper) pastures. There are still plenty of cities in the good ol’ U.S. […]
9 minute read
Money
The ultra-rich have lifestyles most of us can’t imagine. From buying smaller yachts for their superyachts to funding a private space race, the idea of having that much money is downright alien to the rest of us. Love them or hate them, America clearly has a fascination with billionaires. There’s just something so darn interesting […]
7 minute read
Financial Advice
Qualifying military members can set up a Survivor’s Benefit Plan (SBP) upon retirement. The SBP, along with standard Social Security, can be used by a widow to stay financially afloat. Both the deceased veteran and the surviving spouse must meet certain conditions to qualify for a SPB. The payment amount depends on a number of […]
6 minute read
Financial Advice
How much money do you really need to live well in retirement? While $1 million tends to be the conventional number thrown around by financial planners, the reality is that many of the warmest and most beautiful places in the world are also some of the most affordable areas to live. People willing to move […]
6 minute read
Budgeting
It’s payday! You look at your pay stub or bank balance to find the best surprise ever — you’ve been overpaid! It’s like the “Bank Error in your Favor” card in Monopoly. However, before you start making plans for how to spend your unexpected windfall, you should consider one sobering fact. Under U.S. federal law, […]
6 minute read
Budgeting
Budgeting is both an art and a science. A good budget can help keep people on track financially, enable them to save consistently for retirement, and ensure that they aren’t short of funds ahead of payday. However, while having a budget is a great idea in theory, the reality is that most people don’t manage […]
6 minute read
Budgeting
Many couples in long term, committed relationships are great at discussing the “big” stuff early on. These include views on marriage, children, religion, and politics (to name a few) – you know, the deal breakers. Unfortunately, one topic many couples tend to give short shrift to is money. With 78% of Americans living paycheck to […]
5 minute read
Budgeting
Food falls into a category known as “mandatory spending” in the personal finance world. We have to eat—it’s a fact of life. From a money management standpoint, buying groceries is a much wiser than eating out, as it costs far less to feed yourself than it does to pay someone else to feed you. Yet, […]
5 minute read